So sorry about this extended delay. I promise to be more active. Thank you for staying with me! Hearts for you all!
Feet
Kagome could only stare after Sesshoumaru as he departed. After all, he had been getting along famously while getting hugged quite thoroughly by her. Until he realized it, of course.
Sighing in frustration, the girl hopped off the chair she was previously standing on, not bothering to replace her shoes back on her feet. Instead, she padded over to the bed and just sank into the plush furs draping over the entirety of it. Figuring that the taiyoukai wouldn't be coming back any time soon, Kagome freely sprawled herself out, and pondered what went wrong earlier.
Well, for starters, Sesshoumaru had lost control over his emotions, and let himself indulge in a novelty not afforded to him until now. The miko could only imagine how he was berating himself for being so lax in judgement. But as much as she knew he wouldn't admit it, the taiyoukai had needed that contact, and desperately.
Secondly, the poor demon was most likely embarrassed beyond all belief. After all, he had been purring at her. That couldn't have been something he wanted to disclose about himself, much less to her, who could easily relay the information to his brother. And wouldn't Inuyasha have a riot with the information provided?
And then Kagome hit upon it. If Sesshoumaru had shown her a vulnerability, why couldn't she turn the situation around and share a vulnerable side of herself as well? It stood to reason, since the demon was all about fair trades and what he could gain from situations, so this idea just might appeal to his nature.
So now the question was, what was the miko going to expose to him? Surely nothing involving Inuyasha or their travelling group. That would only disinterest him. Perhaps something about her future life? Yes, that would be perfect!
Kagome would tell the taiyoukai about the well, and her true era. Sesshoumaru would know her biggest weakness, and could possibly use it to his advantage in getting information about the future. That surely would tip the scales in his favor, and perhaps make him understand her good intentions.
Nodding her head surely, Kagome resolved that it was a brillaint plan of action, and decided to put it in gear as soon as Sesshoumaru came to take her back the rest of her traveling companions. For now, though, she was exhausted after the long trip and the two flea baths. Without much further thought, the miko pulled the furs around her and drifted asleep.
Eight hours later, a certain taiyoukai found her. Well, rather, smelled her out, since all he could see of her right now was a lone foot sticking out of the pile of pelts on his bed.
"Miko."
No response.
"Miko."
Still no response.
Reaching out a finger, Sesshoumaru ran it along the inside of her arch. The covers shifted and the foot retracted out of sight.
Giving a long-suffering sigh, the demon simply scooped up all the furs, and the miko within. Then promptly dropped the whole bundle back onto the bed.
The action got the desired results he wanted, and a very sleepy, bed-headed Kagome popped out to stare at him blankly.
"Five more minutes…"
Then she was out again, burrowed back into her bedding. And Sesshoumaru was not pleased. Trying a different tactic this time, the taiyoukai grabbed one end of the fur and tugged. Hard.
This resulted in a very unhappy squawk from Kagome as the momentum from that caused her to roll off the bed and into a very crumpled position on the floor. Shouting out a hearty "Sit boy!" at the floorboards, she regained her footing, only to find herself nose-to-chest with Sesshoumaru. And he did not look pleased.
Nervously chuckling up at him, the miko hastily explained, "Sorry. It was a knee-jerk reaction. I thought you were…uhm…your brother."
Looking haughtily down his nose at her, the taiyoukai icily said, "Half-brother. And I am nothing like him."
Almost tripping over herself to correct him, Kagome blurted, "Oh, no! Heavens no! It was just a reflex. I'm dreadfully sorry about it."
She would have babbled on for quite a bit more had she not been distracted by Sesshoumaru raising his arm slightly. Cringing in anticipation of a blow, Kagome was pleasantly surprised when he just flicked a claw and set to rights a stray curl of hers.
Blinking owlishly up at him, she was surprised to see an amused expression on his face, but then again perhaps it was her sleep-addled brain playing tricks on her.
Erasing all doubt, the taiyoukai murmured, "So, this is what my half-brother has to endure with the subjugation beads. How very droll."
Giving him a lopsided grin, Kagome said, "Well, he does deserve it….most of the time."
Sesshoumaru made a noise that sounded decidedly like a snort, then motioned for Kagome to follow him, simply saying, "Come."
