CHAPTER 9

I am very thankful for all of the support that I am receiving for this story. Thank you to all that have read and reviewed; it makes me eager to write a new chapter. I will thank the following and then get off my soap box.

XxHaku-Spirited-Away-RoseXxXx

Takengoddess

Angelfright/wild_fire

Well on with the show. Don't forget reviews are a highly acceptable form of praise.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and story belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, this is just a fan fic.

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A week passed by uneventful and kind of boring for the daiyokai. He had refused to talk to the blind miko, unless to inquire after Rin. Said miko seemed to want to avoid him as well and kept to herself or the children. After the third day, Inuyasha had taken off looking for clues of Naraku's whereabouts with Sango and Miroku. Sesshoumaru wasn't leaving the clearing because of Rin, and well Kagome couldn't go far because she was blind. All in all it was a quiet week.


Rin had recovered nicely and Kagome was spared the illness so that soon everyone would be on their way. During the week, Sesshoumaru did a lot of thinking about the miko, even if he barely spoke more than three words. He had somehow become attached to her in an unhealthy manner, and was prone to daydream about her. At first it hard started out innocent enough with him just swiftly killing her while Inuyasha watched, or him killing Inuyasha while she begged for his life. Then the daydreams morphed into just her and him, but no killing. They would be talking, or rather she would be talking and he would listen. Or she would be serving him tea and there was silence. The daiyokai didn't really know which day it was when he stopped imagining her death and just imagined her. But it was last night's dream that left him wondering what his course of action would be when Rin was fully recovered.

The previous night was filled with nothing but wantonness and debauchery that left Sesshoumaru gasping for breath, and dare he admit it, longing. He had left the clearing shortly after waking and went to the nearby spring to get a drink and splash a bit of water on his face. He was always composed and these visions had unsettled him. As he leaned over the side of the bank and stared at his reflection, he saw that his eyes were tinted red around the edges and that his strips were jagged. The miko was killing him. What kind of witchcraft was this? Damn, damn, damn! Sesshoumaru sat back and ran a hand over his face. What was he going to do now? He was always honest with himself, and he honestly was infatuated with the miko. Dare he approach her and tell her of his attentions? Hell no! There was the whelp Inuyasha to take into consideration. Sesshoumaru was quite certain that the miko and the half-breed were involved in some kind of relationship, but he didn't know how serious. The few days that he had spent with the miko and Inuyasha were uneventful, and there were no looks between the two that suggested a closeness between the two. Well maybe on Inuyasha's part, but the miko seemed oblivious, or she just didn't acknowledge it. But all that aside, what exactly was his intentions? Sesshoumaru sat back and thought about what he wanted from the miko, and after sometime he had no definite answer. Perhaps it was merely lust and would easily pass as before when he was feeling a bit frisky.

Bedding a female was something Sesshoumaru only did when he couldn't get the notion out of his system. The women in his life were few and far between because he saw no profit from sex but a temporary release. He had never been in love. There had never been a woman that he felt he must have or protect from any other male. So maybe it was just lust. But then why was he hesitant to leave the miko with Inuyasha after Rin was well? She didn't belong to him, but he now found he didn't want her to belong to Inuyasha either. Decisions, decisions.


Rin was well and it was time for Inuyasha to get back. It had been decided that Kagome and the gang would continue looking for Naraku, and Inuyasha would just keep her close until her sight returned. This loss of eyesight had to be in conjunction with her power because Kagome hadn't had a dream since the night she went blind. She had explained the dreams finally to Inuyasha, while Sesshoumaru listened on. Inuyasha complained that she should have told him sooner, but agreed that her sight had something to do with the shield she had raised. Sesshoumaru never said a word.

Kagome didn't really know what the daiyokai was thinking, but there had been no more threats to her life, and to be honest, she didn't really say anything to him either just to keep the peace. He was odd and unpredictable. One minute he was hot, the next cold. "I am going to kill you miko," one minute, "thanks for the tea," the next. Ah men. But on the bright side, Kagome had become very close to Rin and looked upon her as a little sister. For her part, Rin adored Kagome and secretly wished that she were her mother. If only she could stay with Lord Sesshoumaru and Kagome, then everything would be perfect.

Inuyasha returned to the camp a few hours after dawn with Sango and Miroku in tow and began taking everything back to Kagome's home. He was instructed to bring back a full pack with first-aid and ramen. Kagome already had everything she needed but it would do well to have more bandages and instant food. Rin was quiet and edgy thinking that her time was running out with Kagome; but Lord Sesshoumaru had vanished and maybe she would have more time until he returned. Kagome was dreading the fateful goodbye with Rin also, and was surprised when Rin and Shippo had informed her that Sesshoumaru was missing. He hadn't left camp all week and decides to leave on the day there are leaving? How odd.


Inuyasha was finished clearing the camp, the group was ready to move, yet Sesshoumaru was a no show. "Maybe we should just leave his brat here and go. She has his retainer and the dragon thing," Inuyasha said as he shouldered Kagome's backpack.

"Are you crazy? We can't leave her by herself; she is just a kid," Kagome cried as she gave Inuyasha a stern look. "I ought to S-I-T you for saying that."

"Keh, she has been left alone before now by that bastard. It ain't nothing new."

"I would have to agree with Lady Kagome, Inuyasha. It would do us no good to leave the child unattended, and we might incur Lord Sesshoumaru's wrath if we were to do so," Miroku stated as he leaned against his staff eyeing Sango's bottom.

"Who cares what that asshole thinks? If he cared that much he would be here."

"You would do well to shut your mouth half-breed, and only speak when you can improve the silence," Sesshoumaru ground out as he walked into the clearing. It had taken some time for him to come up with a plan, and now that he had it, he was ready to put it into action.

"Well fine you are back, take your runt and have a good day. Come on Kagome let's go. We got daylight to burn, and jewel shards to look for," Inuyasha announced as he turned his back on Sesshoumaru and crouched down for Kagome to climb on.

For some reason the image of Kagome climbing onto his half-brother bother the daiyokai so much that he immediately spoke to prevent her from throwing her slender leg across his back. "I have decided to join your group in the defeat of Naraku."

The whole camp froze and focused on the demon lord. Kagome's leg that was half way around Inuyasha, paused in mid-air and then slowly lowered itself back to the ground. Inuyasha's eyes had grew round like saucers when he heard the words that came out of his brother's mouth, and he cocked his head to the side to give Sesshoumaru a heated glare. "Say what?"

"I will not repeat myself half-breed. We will travel by foot because Rin has just recovered."

"Like hell we are!" Inuyasha cried. "Who died and made you leader? This is my pack, and you don't order me around."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and flashed a fang at Inuyasha. Did the half-breed think he could challenge his authority? Inuyasha saw the defensive look Sesshoumaru tossed his way and made to grab Tetsusaiga, when Kagome stayed his hand.

"Inuyasha I think it's a good idea," Kagome chirped. "We would be stronger and have a better chance of defeating Naraku with Sesshoumaru's help."

"I don't need his help!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Stop being unreasonable. You know this would be a better battle plan."

"Fuck that! I don't want him anywhere near us. And I sure as hell ain't taking any orders from that prick."

"Inuyasha don't make me say 'it' now. It makes sense and I say we have a vote. Sango, Miroku, what do you say?"

Sango and Miroku gave each other a look, then Inuyasha and Kagome, and then finally Sesshoumaru. While it was true that it would be better for the defeat of Naraku, nobody in the group really trusted Sesshoumaru. It was like dating a tax collector in hopes that you won't get audited. If the relationship went sour he could do some real damage to your livelihood. After some careful consideration, Sango looked at Miroku; then Miroku said, "if Lady Kagome trusts Lord Sesshoumaru then we will accept the situation."

"What the fuck?! What about what I have to say?" Inuyasha bellowed.

"Obviously your group has more faith in the miko's judgment half-breed," Sesshoumaru smirked.

Kagome turned to the daiyokai and gnawed on her bottom lip. Should she trust him with his black aura? Was he honorable enough not to kill them later for some offense, or even Inuyasha's sword? Decisions, decisions.

Rin stood watching the whole interview holding her breath hoping that Kagome agreed to Lord Sesshoumaru's request. This would mean that she could stay with Kagome and her lord. What fun she could have playing with Shippo and Jaken. If only Kagome said yes.

Kagome blinked and drew in a breath. She was going to say yes or no, and Sesshoumaru felt for the first time a slight panic. If she said no, what would be his next course of action? Would he force her, or stalk her from a distance? His face began to mar into a slight frown. She had better say yes so he didn't have to deal with these 'what if' scenarios.

After what seemed like forever, Kagome breathed out and said, "Welcome to the group Lord Sesshoumaru."

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A/N: Yeah Kagome is always so nice, but little does she know that Sesshoumaru isn't just here for Naraku. But if she knew the truth, would she really care? Muhahahhaha Take care. ^_^