Disclaimer. I don't own the characters in Inuyasha because i just don't.
Chapter 9
We walked on for what seemed like hours that would fade into eternity. We never stopped once. We just kept going. By this time Rin was awake and fully aware of me walking next to Sesshoumaru, and holding hands no less. Rin had thoughts racing around her mind as she thought about what it would be like to have a mother. She didn't particularly remember hers.
Jaken was still on his bunny. It turned out that the rabbit was of a rare breed that could do all of the same things that Kirara could do but it could fly even in its small form. He seemed to enjoy traveling with us. Jaken was becoming attached to it as the days went on. He was working on what he should name it. He figured that keeping it would be a good idea and that naming it should be the first step to a good friendship.
"Hey Sesshoumaru... are you hungry?" I asked him.
"I don't really eat. But if you must stop and make camp you may do so and tend to Rin as well." He said. I remembered our agreements before I had went away with him were that I had agreed to help him take care of Rin. Another one of those things that I had agreed to was marriage. Was I ready for a commitment like that with someone that was waaayyyyyyy older than myself? Even though he had the appearance of a young man between the ages of 17-20, he was well over 50 if he was Inuyasha's older brother and Inuyasha was pinned to a tree for fifty years of his life. I didn't care, I brushed away the thoughts about what modern day life would be like if I married a 60 or 70 year old man. I think I would be in the news.
"Yes if you don't mind." I said after a while of my thinking.
So we stopped and made a fire while I pulled out some food from my bag that was mysteriously tied to Ah-Un's saddle. (A/N I say mysteriously because I'm not the one that put it there. Rin put it there when Kagome got off and had her quarrel with Inuyasha.) I stuck some sticks threw a few raw dumplings that I had packed and set them against the rocks that contained the fire in its pit. As we were waiting I stole a glance at Sesshoumaru. He was sitting on a fallen tree, his long hair slightly blowing in the gentle breeze and the orange glow of the fire warmed up his face. It was a Kodak moment in my eyes. He looked at peace and relaxed sitting there staring into space. Then I felt a tugging on my shirt and realized it was Rin.
"Yes?"
"Are they done yet?" She was obviously hungry and impatient.
"They'll be done in another minute or two." I told her with a smile.
In a moment or two I grabbed one of the sticks and poked at the dumpling to see how hot it was and once I decided I was satisfied with it I handed it over to Rin who eagerly took it. I then grabbed one for myself and offered another to Sesshoumaru who didn't want it but took it anyway. I then remembered that Jaken might want some and realized that there were two sticks left and handed him one. He eyed it cautiously to make sure it wasn't poisoned for any reason and then took a bite out of it. I then went on to nibbling on my own. It was delicious! It had to be the best campfire meal I've ever made. When Rin was done she looked at me and asked if she could have the last one. I looked at her and then asked everyone else if they wanted anymore but they were all full so I gave it to Rin.
After I was done rolling out my sleeping bag I went into the woods to put on my pjs. When I returned I found Rin sitting on my sleeping bag and questioning Sesshoumaru about it. He obviously knew nothing about it and ignored her.
"Kagome! So what is this thing exactly?" Rin asked curiously.
"It's called a sleeping bag. You sleep inside of it so you have a blanket and you don't have to sleep on the ground."
"WOW! That's so cool!" Rin was fascinated with the idea that I could carry a minnie bed with me.
"If you want to you can use it tonight." I offered.
"Really?!"
"Sure"
"That would be SO cool!"
I smiled and sat down on the log next to Sesshoumaru.
"What about you? Where are you going to sleep?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"I'll sleep against a tree or something."
Sesshoumaru was quiet. He didn't want me to be uncomfortable or feel that I had to give my bed to Rin. He decided what he would do.
After ten minutes of coaxing, Rin finally went to sleep. Jaken went to find his bunny and used him as a pillow and slept near Ah-Un. After they were all asleep I still hadn't decided which tree to lean on. After all... they all looked so cozy. I settled down by a tree that was near Sesshoumaru. He sat near the fire and watched it slowly die down. After a minute or two I got up and sat next to him. It was a cold night and I wasn't exactly dressed to occasion. I slowly scooted closer to him and when I was so close that I could touch him if I leaned any closer; he put his arm around me and pulled me in close to his body. He was generating burning hot levels of body heat which warmed me up in an instant. I then wrapped my arm around his waist and snuggled in close to him. Then I felt the most shocking thing, his left arm. When did this happen? I touched it again and quickly withdrew my hand to sit up and look at him. I leaned over and around him and saw that his arm really was there. I cautiously grabbed it and pulled it in closer for me to look at. I pulled back the sleeve and the markings were there, it was his arm. How could this be?
You can imagine Sesshoumaru looking down at me. Wondering what the heck I was doing. I was holding his hand and deeply examining it. He had forgotten to mention it and thank me for it.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"For my arm. When you were crying, your tears regenerated it. Thank you."
"Your welcome." I said warmly with a smile.
I then went back to holding onto him. Then when I least expected it, he picked me up and carried me over to a tree and sat down against the tree and shed his armor and sat me between his legs and held me from behind. I was surprised yet happy that he did it. It wasn't like him to make such a bold move but I won't criticize him for it. I leaned back against him and completely relaxed and lifted my chin to tell him something.
"I love you." I whispered.
Sesshoumaru gently smiled at my words and responded:
"I love you too Kagome and I'll only love you."
I got all warm and fuzzy inside and smiled. The next thing I new he had bent his head around me and kissed me.
(A/N) Well I'm sorry it took so long and I have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen next : thanks for reading and reviewing!
XxCaddyxX
