What Do My Eyes See

The silence of the room was broken by a knock at the door, for some it was a welcome relief. " Come." Sesshomaru called out, but he already knew who it was.

Jaken stepped through glancing around the room. " My Lord. Everything is as you requested." As he walked through the room he slowed and snarled at Sango and Miroku. A low growl was hear from the direction of the bed causing Jaken's speed to increase and the door to quickly close behind him. Rin giggled when she saw Jaken's body slightly jump.

With the help of his boa Sesshomaru cradled Kagome close to his body. " Slayer you will assist me." Nodding her head Sango started to follow Sesshomaru, until he stopped at the door. " Monk if you value your life, you will not follow any further." Sango turned around to look and indeed Miroku was right behind her. Between the look she was now giving him and the threat from Sesshomaru, Miroku decided to sit down and wait for them to return.

Sango wasn't sure what she was suppose to do, but if it was for Kagome she would try. Stepping though the door she realized he was going to try to bring down her fever as she looked at a cool spring. While Sango was getting towels, Sesshomaru was doing his best to undress Kagome. By the time she returned Sesshomaru was already in the cool water cradling Kagome on his lap.

His eyes lingered down Kagome's body as he admired her womanly curves and smooth creamy skin. He had never missed his arm being gone, until now. For the first time he silently wished he had his missing arm back. The entire spring became engulfed with the shimmering blue light that covered Kagome's body. His skin itched and crawled as if thousands of small insects were all over him and his entire body felt like it was on fire.

Sango could do nothing, but stand back and watch as the shimmering light pulsed over the spring, hiding them both within it. For a moment he wondered if he was being purified as pain went though him time after time and through it all he refused to let go of Kagome. When the light finally dimmed it revealed Sesshomaru holding Kagome tightly against his chest.

When Sango gasp he opened his eyes to see Kagome looking up at him. " I am...... pleased you have decided to wake. Slayer you may go. I believe she will be able to do what is needed on her own now." His voice sounded deep and smooth as honey to Kagome's ears. Sango started to object and didn't move to leave the room, until Sesshomaru turned and look at her. He could hear the excitement that eminently followed in the moments of her rejoining their friends who waited through the door.

With a small movement her body slid across his skin, only stopping when her hip came in contact with his lower abdomen. She could feel something hard between them and eminently knew what it was. Her eyes went down as if she could see below the water. It was only then she realized she was naked and her face became a deep crimson red. Seeing this she quickly tried to cover herself from his view.

To Sesshomaru modest was something he wasn't. He could smell her embarrassment and grinned inside. " The scent of embarrassment blends well on you." He commented and watched as her face turned even a deeper red and spread further down her neck. Kagome's body refused to listen to her as he leaned forward and inhaled her scent deeply.

When she felt something warm and wet touch her neck, her eyes went wide and an intense tight tingling started in her abdomen. She quickly moved away from him to the other side of the spring. The smell of her arousal quickly started filling the room. " I umm. umm I need to go and ahh see my friends. I'm sure they are worried about me." She didn't bother to try leave by way of the steps that were next to him. Instead she quickly raised herself over the side grabbing a towel as she hurried toward the door.

The edge of his lips pulled up in a small smile and his eyebrow raise as he watched her hurrying away from him. The idea of needing to chase after Kagome excited him in ways he had never felt before. He looked forward to the challenge and jumped out of the spring toward her. In the past it had always been the females that chased after him, but now it was he who would get to do the chasing.

She abruptly stopped when he appeared in front of her. Her eyes lingered slowly down his body as she very slowly backed away from him. Sesshomaru stood completely still allowing her to see as much of him as she wished. She admired his hard muscles, following each line they made. Droplets of water ran down his chest and her mouth suddenly became dry. The thought of licking the droplets from his smooth skin caused her to unconsciously lick her bottom lip.

She swallowed hard and her pulse quickened when she reached the middle of his washboard stomach. For the first time she was grateful that demons viewed things differently than humans. She was pulled from her train of thought by a sudden constant knocking and the voice of a small kits calling her name. Her eyes shifted to the door both in relief and disappointment.

Sesshomaru was not pleased when Kagome vanished behind the silk changing screen. As Kagome dressed, her mind was a flurry, racing in many different directions. She wanted to slap herself for the thoughts she was having about him. She wondered if maybe she was going insane, but somewhere in the back of her mind she wanted more.

In a flash he was dressed and jerked the door open. He was greeted by a very upset Shippo, who wanted to know where Kagome was. Those who had been waiting quickly stood looking at Sesshomaru and the doorway behind him. Shippo jumped onto Miroku's shoulder, glaring at Sesshomaru. " Where is Kagome? What have you done with her?"

Even though he was young Sesshomaru could hear the protectiveness in Shippo's voice. Normally any who dared to speak to him in a demanding tone would die. But in the time he had been traveling with the group, he had noticed the fact Shippo looked at her as a mother. For that reason he decided to answer his question. " She is unharmed kit. She has woke and shall be joining us soon enough."

Shippo's body visibly relaxed and he calmed knowing she would be with him soon. He stood facing the doorway, waiting and refused to move no matter what Sango tried. A smile burst across his face when she first came into view. " Kagome!" Rin and Shippo yelled when she finally emerged through the door. In the blink of an eye he jumped from the floor straight into her arms. Rin's arms wrapped around Kagome's waist, hugging her tight.

Like any child who had been worried for a loved one, his voice held a light wine as he told her of his fears and how glad he was that she was back with him. She held them both close to her and eased their fears. Everyone laughed when Kagome's stomach growled from hunger, causing her to lightly blush. With the suggestion they all venture to the dinning room, talking on their way. Kagome was almost overwhelmed with question after question about what had happened.

Kagome didn't mind answering them, until they finally ask the one they had all been wondering about. The smile Sango was waring slipped away and a serious look took its place. " Kagome what happened with Kikyo and where is Inuyasha?" Kagome's face lost all expression and a far away empty look entered her eyes.

Instead of answering however she stood and walked to the window on the other side of the grand dinning room. She stood staring at the tree line of the forest that was only a short distance away. Feeling something at her leg she looked down and saw Shippo looking up at her with sad eyes. She picked him up and stared back out of the window as she lightly stroked his head. Sesshomaru was slightly angered when he saw pain enter Kagome's aura.

With a deep breath she finally spoke. " If your wanting to know if I kill either of them, I didn't. I let Inuyasha kill her with his own stupidity." The sound of her voice sounded almost as if she was holding back laughter. They each gasp at her admission and she turned around to face her friends before she continued. " Inuyasha always called me her. Compared me to her. I always thought it was a little sad he couldn't tell us apart when we wore the same clothes." She sat Shippo down and slowly walked toward the door as she spoke.

" I took Kikyo onto the mountain side with me. I told him to chose who he thought Kikyo was and to save her. Then I grabbed her and jumped from the cliff. He lost track of who was who as we twisted in the air." She stood in the open doorway and looked back at her friends before she finished telling her story. Her eyes turned dark and angry.

" He chose the wrong one and he let Kikyo fall to her death." A small evil grin crossed her face. " Then I left him there so he could watch her as she slowly died. It really is sad, even when her life depended on him getting it right, he couldn't tell. He couldn't hear her screaming his name. Or could he? It makes me wonder."

Kagome walked out of the room, leaving her shocked and stunned friends staring at each other. She didn't regret what she had done, not in the least. She knew that from then on, no one who ever call her Kikyo again. Indeed she had returned the favors given to her by Inuyasha and Kikyo at the same time. She had proved to Inuyasha at last she was not Kikyo. Best of all, it was Inuyasha who made it possible, making it all the sweeter.

The rest of the day Kagome spent resting either in her room or in the garden. Shippo, Rin and Sango stayed close by watching over Kagome in case they were needed. Shippo was glad that even with all of the changes Kagome had been through she still treated him the same as always. They each wondered how Kagome could act as if nothing had happened, but that was something none of them would ever ask.

Later that evening Miroku and Sango sat under a tree in the garden. Their conversation came to a halt when Kagome came into view. Kagome noticed how a silence fell between them when she was seen and knew they must have been talking about her. She felt almost insulted that they thought she wouldn't notice.

They were both surprised when Kagome didn't sit with them. Instead she sat alone under a Cherry Blossom tree. The sweetness of the trees flowers filled her senses, making her smile. The warm feeling of the sun covered her face and she closed her eyes enjoying the comfort it gave. She started wondering where Inuyasha was and what he was doing. She scolded herself for daring to think about him while she watched Rin and Shippo playing chase around a fish pond.

As much as she didn't want to think about Inuyasha, she was sure sooner or later he would show up. She knew there was no way he would except Kikyo's death as his own fault and he would blame her. I just hope that when it is time....That everyone stays out of the way. She thought looking over at Shippo and Rin. With a sigh she looked down at her sword.

Through out dinner she sat quietly eating listening to those around her. Everyone laughed and talked unaware of the battle that was raging within Kagome's mind as well as her body. Sesshomaru however noticed the constant changes all around her. He could see how the crimson red fought with the dark pink of her aura. What had him a little nervous was he knew why it was doing it. It made him wonder if the pink were to be overcome by the red if she would become the same as Naraku. If she would become a new evil with the same goal he had.

Deep inside he refused to believe she could even be like the vile half demon was, but his mind still wondered if she could. When dinner was over Sesshomaru went to his study while everyone else went to the garden. Those in the garden watched Shippo and Rin play as Sesshomaru sat behind his desk trying to concentrate on his work.

As hard as he tried he couldn't keep his mind on what was in front of him. He became irritated when he started to read over a response he had written and saw what it said.

To the headman of the village,

In response to your request for my help. It is denied. I care not if the lack of rain has made it to hard to grow food for your winter. This is your problem not mine. If you do not like things the way they are. I suggest you do as the Miko did and change it yourself.

Lord Sesshomaru Ruler of The Western Lands,

Sesshomaru sat staring at the paper in his hand. He lightly growled annoyed that he had been unsuccessful at concentrating on his work. Never in his life had he allowed anything or anyone to distract him like she seemed to. He crumbled the parchment paper in his hand as he walked to the window.

His eyes searched the garden below, finally finding Kagome sitting on a large rock talking to Rin. He could see sadness and pain in her aura and it made him angry it was there. He turned from the window wanting to free himself from the torment of seeing her emotions. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath then looked at his desk once more.

Determined to finish his work he started to write his reply again. Time slipped away from Sesshomaru as he worked into the night. Many times he had to redo replies he had written due to writing things that related to Kagome in them.

She didn't know what to do. The idea of someone else maybe getting hurt weighed heavy on Kagome's mind. It was something she had been thinking about since she woke up, even though she had not realized it. Looking down into the young kind, trusting eyes of Shippo and Rin, Kagome knew she couldn't stay. She knew Shippo would never leave her side and because of that he would be hurt or even killed.

Even with all that had happened Kagome didn't want to fight or kill Inuyasha. For too long she had traveled with him and relied on his strength for protection. Although she had cried many many time over what he had done or said, she knew she would not be able to do it. While she sat in the garden she formulated a plan in her mind.

That night Shippo didn't want to sleep alone and asked to sleep with Kagome. Making up a reason she explained he couldn't sleep with her. Rin happily invited him to sleep with her and it seemed all was right with the world once more. Kagome tucked them both in bed and told them a story. In her own way Kagome was telling them goodbye and was glad when they didn't understand.

She took one last look at their half sleeping faces before stepping out of the room. She walked through the halls only momentarily stopping when she reached Sesshomaru's study. Something inside of her wanted to enter the room just to see him before she left, but instead she quickly moved away almost in a run.

His head snapped up when he felt her aura coming toward his study. When she stopped he stood from his desk and moved to the door. He lightly snarled when she quickly moved away. Damned Miko. Not only does she intrude on my work, but she can make me want to see her. Damn her. What is wrong with me here of late? If she does not wish to see me then that is how it shall be. He thought as he returned to his desk.

He blocked out everything around him as he tried to concentrate on his work. She slipped into her dark room and retrieved her pack and bow. The erie glow of the moon lit up the world outside. Taking a deep breath she jumped from her balcony, landing with a small thug. She didn't linger when she landed and took off running for the trees.

Entering the hidden protection of the trees Kagome finally stopped and looked back. She hoped no one would notice her missing at least till morning. She felt much more relaxed as she started running in the direction of Kaede's village. Her plan was simple. Make it to the well and see her mother.