Lookee here…I'm still alive. –sigh- I can't believe I poofed again, right after I promised myself I wouldn't. I'm sorry. –bow-

The Only Way

Chapter Ten

Sesshomaru glanced down at her and smirked, "Kagome, you don't have the slightest clue as to how very much you belong to me."

Those words haunted her for the rest of the day. On and off she'd suddenly remember him saying them, and a burning blush would lance across her cheeks. Kagome didn't understand why something that should have pissed her off, as an independent modern woman, kind of…did the opposite.

The first lesson was silence. Sesshomaru explained in no uncertain terms that she was to stay near him all evening and that she was not to initiate any conversations. Kagome didn't mind that, she was a loud girl but at the same time agonizingly shy. Not that the Feudal Era had given her much opportunity to be shy.

Almost seeming surprised by her lack of argument, Sesshomaru hesitated for a second. Kagome tilted her head gently, "I'll do as you say." She promised softly.

"Of course you will." He responded, his haughtiness almost seeming forced as he finally stopped walking, leading her into his study and settling her onto a couch and himself into his familiar wingback chair.

The second lesson was how to respond to contact. When a Taiyoukai spoke to her, she was to respond as tactfully as possible, and should she be forced to speak their name or otherwise refer to them she was to use the proper honorific. Sesshomaru assured her that almost every creature there with a title would state it, so it wouldn't be difficult. Should a servant speak to her, she was to remain tactful but could consider them her equal.

Kagome snorted at that, but nodded with a sigh, "Okay," and shifted on the couch for more comfort. A strange rumbling echoed in the room, and her confused eyes drifted toward Sesshomaru's stomach.

He frowned imperiously, noting the funny look, "It's thunder, you idiot girl." He snapped, pointing at the window. Kagome's gaze went to it, and she saw that indeed the clouds were a threatening black.

The third lesson was clothing. Sesshomaru promised to furnish her with proper clothes, but she would need assistance in putting them on, and as he stated – "The fabrics are worth more than you, so don't you dare ruin them."

By the fourth lesson Kagome was beginning to feel another headache. She wasn't really paying attention anymore, not caring which silverware went where and how she was to sit and where she was to sit and which side of her backside Sesshomaru could kiss. She found that last thought so amusing that she finally dozed off with a contented grin on her face, completely giving up on listening to the InuTaiyoukai beside her.

"Now, when you finish with the third fork…" Sesshomaru's ranting on proper fork-use trailed off when he ventured a glance at the girl and found her fast asleep. He checked his first instinct to shake her awake, taking a slow breath.

She looked cute asleep. If she were more than a lowly human, he might even have called her beautiful. Her guarded expression; the knit eyebrows, the angry turn of her mouth, the frustrated shine in her eyes…it all melted away when she slept to reveal the face of a child.

How had this thing gotten involved with his brother? She was pathetically tiny, probably had no idea how to hold a sword, and he'd kidnapped her…what, twice now? So obviously others had managed it. Honestly she was more trouble than she was worth.

"Stupid girl." Sesshomaru whispered, disgusted at the tiny hint of fondness in his voice, gently reaching a clawed hand out and brushing it over her cheekbone to push her hair off of her face. "What use are you? What was my brother using you for?"

Honestly, he was fairly certain that he had known the answer…but he had forgotten. So in his mind it was something he'd never bothered to look into. Yes. That's it.

Kagome stirred as his claw gently traced her cheek, fascinated by how easily he could just twitch a finger and lay open that delicate porcelain skin. Sesshomaru absent-mindedly made little shushing noises, and she settled down again.

Now thoroughly disgusted with himself, he snatched her into his arms as roughly as he dared and stormed out of the study, taking the girl back to her room.

000ooo000ooo000

Did I fall asleep on him again? Kagome wondered as she stirred, a hand brushing gently over the sheets of the futon. Obviously she had. Dammit. He was probably pissed, too. But if he's mad…who brought me here? Ha, a good question.

She yawned softly, sitting up, her head no longer even hinting at pain. Fantastically pleased with that, Kagome rubbed her eyes and crawled out of the futon – missing her bed at home, what with its nice squishy mattress and pillows. Folded neatly at the foot of the bed was a kimono. Gasp! New clothes? Hooray!

Quite pleased with that, she grinned and went about changing into the kimono. It was a silky material, pitch black with delicate silver flowers embroidered along the bottom and the sleeves in a swooshing pattern. The obi was silver with black flowers, which was also exciting. Illogically excited, she ran her fingers through her hair and went to the door of the room once more.

Just as she reached for the shoji, it swung open. Sesshomaru hesitated, at first looking startled – and then his eyes resumed their normal size and slowly slid up and down her frame. Blushing, Kagome swallowed hard and looked away from him, scuffing her toe. No way did he just give her an up-down look. He was obviously…ah…looking for…at…um….he was making sure her kimono was on properly. That was it. Definitely.

Sesshomaru smirked at her red cheeks, and held out a cup. "Tea." He murmured. Kagome smiled, startled, and took it from him with a nod of thanks. "Come."

Mulling over his wordiness, Kagome nodded again and followed behind him as he headed down an intricate pattern of hallways. And just like that, they were standing outside in the garden and Rin was chattering noisily all about her new grasshopper friend, which she had hidden in her cupped hands.

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru knelt beside her, and with a few gentle words convinced the young girl to let it go. Surprised that he hadn't just told her to squish it or something, Kagome took another long sip of her tea and tilted her head at Rin. The little girl was racing around after a butterfly now.

"I thought she wasn't allowed out here alone?" Kagome wondered softly.

"She's not alone."

"She was a moment ago!" She argued, frowning.

"She was fine." He snapped, "Silence yourself."

Startled at how insulted he sounded, Kagome flinched and decided to shut the hell up, just sipping her tea. He kept frowning at her until it became obvious that she'd been cowed into silence. Then he just smirked, until she looked up and made a face at him. Then he looked annoyed and just turned his face away.

The beginning of a beautiful friendship. Haha.

000ooo000ooo000

Kagome had never attended a real ball before. Or even a fake one, really. The closest she got was a school dance, but she didn't expect to hear any rap music and definitely hoped the dancing would be less like having sex standing up in the middle of other people doing the same thing.

The music was actually a beautiful symphony, the moment she trailed Sesshomaru into the room Kagome knew she'd be focused on the fantastic instrumentals for the rest of the evening. At least it had some sort of entertainment value.

Her kimono was stunning, white with delicate red detailing. It was similar to Sesshomaru's, which she assumed helped the others discern that she was with him. Rin had been sent to bed hours ago, or she would probably have had the same style of outfit…that would have been adorable, if not eerily 'family'-esque.

"Sit." Sesshomaru muttered. Kagome started, having been completely unfocused on what was going on, and barely managed to adjust to sit down instead of walking into his suddenly unmoving back. She settled onto a cushion, her legs neatly folded beneath her. After being sure that she was secure, Sesshomaru walked away.

Fan-freaking-tastic. Kagome finally took up a pair of forks and played makeshift drums with them until she saw him coming back. Then she put them down and looked around innocently, pretending she'd been completely good the whole time. Shhhh.

Sesshomaru frowned down at her for a moment, and then a new song began to play and a smirk crept over his face. "Dance?" He offered softly, holding his hand out to her.

Kagome stared at it. Dance? Was that allowed? Wasn't she technically a servant?

Ah, why not.

Taking his hand, the dark haired girl stood, twitching her kimono into place as she followed him onto the floor. The song reminded her of the tango. And when she suddenly found herself pressed hip-to-hip with the demon lord it became apparent that it was a lot like the modern day tango.

Blushing, she tried to shy away, and Sesshomaru frowned imperiously, "The dance must be done a certain way. Come now." He began to walk her in one direction as Kagome squirmed uncomfortably, not pleased with this game. A dip, a spin, and they were going the other way.

"I feel stupid." She snapped.

"That shouldn't be a new sensation." Sesshomaru responded smoothly, smirking as she went red.

They kept dancing.

At first he refused to let her bolt, forcing her to continue. Slowly it evolved into coaxing, his hands gentler as he led her through the moves, teaching her. Finally Kagome was dancing with him willingly.

The music came to an end abruptly, and Kagome felt an irrational surge of sadness. No more Sesshomaru's warm body? But he smelled so nice.

A hand wrapped around her wrist from behind, spinning her away from the Inutaiyoukai and pressing her to a new chest.

"How's about you dance with me now, girl?"

A growl sounded from behind her, where Sesshomaru stood alone now. Uh-oh.