When Dark Meets Light

Chapter 9

Arashi reluctantly opened her eyes...it had been one of the all time best rests she had ever had. Looking around she found the others still sleeping deeply. She went to the window and saw that it was dusk, and therefore safe for her to go outside. She walked to the door of their room and walked through it as to not wake the others.

She arrived outside the inn and stretched dramatically. "I was wondering when you would wake up..." Sesshoumaru's voice whispered from the trees. "You don't need sleep?" She asked out of curiousity. "No..." He emerged and stopped. "I thought I should get blood before the others wake up...I don't want to cause another fit..." She nodded her head and turned to go further into the small village they were staying in.

Not having anything better to do Sesshoumaru decided to accompany her. He admitted...to himself, that the talk they shared that morning had left him even more curious than before. Arashi stopped and waited for him to catch up to her. They began walking together and Arashi glanced at him, but didn't say anything.

They reached a hut at the far end of the village that looked to be abandoned. Of course both Arashi and Sesshoumaru knew otherwise. Whoever was inside was probably homeless and stayed there out of necessity. "I'll be right back..." She whispered to Sesshoumaru who nodded and watched her enter the hut. There was a strangled cry and a minute later a soft thump on the floor. Arashi emerged and smiled at Sesshoumaru. "I feel better already." She told him.

He looked at her and noticed a small trail of blood coming from the corner of her mouth. What he did next shocked him, and almost brought Arashi to her knees. He reached out with a clawed finger, cleared the blood, and with a fluid motion brought the finger to his lips licking the blood off. Arashi stared at his finger and couldn't get her mind to work properly, before she knew it Sesshoumaru had his back to her and was waiting rather smugly for her to pay attention.

Sesshoumaru never flirted, it was beneath him as he could have practically anyone he chose. It never was an issue in the past, and had on several occasions indulged himself, and the lucky women, but he never once went to that level...therefore it shocked him that he had gone clearly over the line, past flirting and straight into blatant seduction. Her reaction had his ego expanding exponentially and he acknowledged that he liked the feeling very much.

Arashi blinked several times and shook her head. She turned to find Sesshoumaru waiting for her and she mentally smacked herself. 'Two can play at this game...Sesshoumaru.' The thought of how fun it would be had her smiling evily. She never would have thought that Sesshoumaru would ever have a playful side, but found that she wanted to exploit it to the best of her ability. She laughed and started after Sesshoumaru.

With the girls...

Kagome woke up with a start and looked around the small room. Sango and Shippo were still sleeping, but Arashi had left from the corner. "Arashi?" She whispered as to not wake the others. She heard no reply, so she carefully disentangled herself from Shippo and went to the window. Peaking through the shades she saw it was nearly pitch black outside. She heard her friends beginning to stir and turned around to find them rubbing their eyes and looking at her questioningly. "It's dark already, and Arashi is gone..." She informed them and they got up and began getting ready.

After Kagome got dressed she went across the hall to the boys' room. Knocking quietly she heard a grumbled reply that could only be Miroku, and a startled yell of "Who the hell is it?" That was purely InuYasha. "Um...I think it's time to get up you guys... "She said quietly and saw Sango and Shippo heading towards the entrance of the inn. Not hearing anything other than shuffling from the room Kagome left and met her friends out front.

InuYasha and Miroku showing up a few minutes later, looking disheveled and remotely confused. "Hey guys...Arashi was gone when I got up...so I thought maybe we should be getting ready to go." Kagome informed the men. Suddenly InuYasha's ears perked up and he looked off to his right. Kagome and the others noticed and looked as well. They saw Sesshoumaru and Arashi walking together in the direction of the inn.

Kagome gasped and InuYasha shot her a look that said 'be quiet.' 'What the hell is goin' on here?' InuYasha was having a difficult time wrapping his brain around the fact that Sesshoumaru was walking beside Arashi and looked to be completely comfortable with it. "Oi! What's goin' on?" He yelled to them. "InuYasha...you forget that it's night now...you need to be quiet." Kagome scolded. Arashi and Sesshoumaru looked up to find the confused but completely hilarious looks that the others were giving them. "We were wondering when you would be getting up." Arashi spoke for Sesshoumaru as well as herself.

Sesshoumaru stopped a few feet and let Arashi continue ahead. He still hated his brother, and didn't want to appear soft. Looking in the direction of where he and Jaken stayed that day and went off to bring Jaken. Arashi stood before the group and laughed. The looks were still getting to her. "What are the faces for?" She asked calming down. Her voice snapped everyone out of their stares.

"What's going on with you and Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked giddily. Something clicked within Arashi 'That's what the stares were for...' She laughed and shook her hand. "It's not what you think...honestly." She lied. "Besides we have a job to do, right?" She asked looking from one person to the next. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were oblivious, but Kagome had a glint in her eye, and InuYasha raised an eyebrow in suspicion. He suddenly took Arashi's hand and lead her away from the others.

"InuYasha?" Kagome saw them and got worried. He waved his hand, which told Kagome they'd be right back. "Hurry back...we need to get going." She called after them. They soon disappeared behind the trees. "I wonder what's going on?" Sango asked Kagome, who shrugged.

Arashi and InuYasha...

"InuYasha...do you mind?" Arashi yanked her hand from his grip. "Listen...I know what you're going to say. You shouldn't worry, I'm a big girl." She tried comforting him. "And you truly don't know who you're dealing with. He's a ruthless tyrant and won't think twice about killing you." He replied rather harshly. He didn't even know what had compelled him to come out here. She wasn't his friend, and she could indeed take care of herself. "Ruthless tyrant? I suppose that is a good description..." A cold voice spoke from the trees. "Sesshoumaru...what are you doin here?" InuYasha called in the direction of his brother.

"Listen...as far as I'm concerned, as soon as I find Yuri, were looking for a way back home." Arashi knew something was about to happen, and she didn't want to be in the middle of a brotherly tussle. Sesshoumaru came forth and narrowed his eyes at his brother. "Who are you to be giving advice to someone?" Sesshoumaru questioned darkly. "I wasn't giving advice...I just wanted her to know who you really were..." InuYasha spat back. "How would you know who I really am?" Sesshoumaru moved closer to the other two.

"Hey we don't need to start fighting alright?" Arashi warned. The gleam in both brothers eyes spoke volumes and she didn't know what to do. Suddenly a scream rang out. They all paused before taking off in the direction of the inn. "That was Kagome..." InuYasha informed the other two.

'Kagome...please be alright...' InuYasha kept repeating in his head.

To Be Continued...

A/N: I know that is was kind of short, but I'm saving it all for the next chapter. So thanks and please R&R!