Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran or Inuyasha. The rights belong to Bisco Hatori, and Rumiko Takahashi respectively.
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"Talking"
Thinking
Chapter Twelve: Reflection
Sesshoumaru landed gently in the large garden of his home. He glanced down at his mate and graced her sleeping form with a rare smile. How he'd missed her. Instead of returning directly to their room, he took a seat on a marble bench that was next to the path. He rested Kagome on his lap and leaned her against him.
Sesshoumaru looked down at her and remembered. When he had first met her he was quiet, full of contempt for his younger half brother who, in his eyes, was the cause of their father's demise. His first reaction to Kagome, had been to try to melt her with his acidic spray. He'd despised her for being with his hanyou brother, who at the time was in love with her, despite his denial of such a thing.
Sesshoumaru knew of Izayoi, the human woman who had ensnared his father with her wiles. He'd viewed his father as weak for falling for such a trap, and declared himself immune to the ways of human women. When he observed Inuyasha's concern for Kagome, he realized that Inuyasha had also fallen victim to a human. Sesshoumaru had ignored her at first, but when she pulled his father's fang from the tomb, he'd been enraged.
When Kagome survived the onslaught of his poison, he'd rethought his plan. Maybe she was more cunning that he'd originally thought, and due to her encouragement, Inuyasha had bested him, and cut off his arm. He'd tried to kill her a second time, weeks after meeting her. Again, he'd failed. His thoughts had been consumed with curiosity about the mortal, and his brother had dealt him a near fatal blow, which removed the dragon arm he had attached to himself.
Sesshoumaru had collapsed against a tree, where he rested from his injuries. During this time, he thought again about Inuyasha's strangely dressed ningen, with her odd ways. Her kimono was ungodly short, and he found himself wondering why she chose to wear it. He sensed she had the powers of a miko, so why would she not wear the traditional miko garb? She left her hair down as well, where in most cases, the miko would wear her hair back.
While he was pondering this, he had sensed a presence. He quickly discovered a young ningen. The girl must have been around eight summers, and he expected her to scream when she noticed him. Instead she stood there silently for several seconds before turning and walking deep into the forest. He figured she was gone and went back to thinking on the strange human girl.
Her name was Kagome, he gathered, for that was what his brother had called her. He noticed that her speech and actions were strange as well. He could understand her when she spoke, but her mannerisms baffled him. Never had he known a human woman who would disrespect a demon, much less the great Lord Sesshoumaru. He wondered why his idiot brother would keep her with him, if not to mate her?
Night had fallen. He heard the rustling of leaves, and glanced to the side. The small girl was back. She edged her way toward him and silently deposited some mushrooms and a cooked fish at his feet, along with a container of water.
His eyes closed he addressed her as she turned to leave. "Mind your own business girl. Your generosity is wasted, I don't eat human food."
The girl stopped and glanced back at him before turning and leaving.
The next morning she had appeared again, this time with some wheat.
"No thanks." he said calmly.
She ran forward a few steps before kneeling down and offering it to him. "Un."
"I told you I don't need anything from you."
The girl looked slightly disappointed and sighed.
Sesshoumaru, out of curiosity had asked her, "Where did you get those bruises?"
The girl had looked surprised and glanced up at him.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
He glanced at her, and she smiled. He noted a missing tooth. "What are you smiling about?"
The girl continued to smile. It slightly annoyed him. "I simply asked a question. I don't care, I'm just curious."
The next day he felt strong enough to leave his resting place. His retainer, Jaken had found him, and they were in a field. He stilled as the wind brought forth a familiar scent.
Blood…blood and the smell of wolves. he thought as he glanced at the forest. I recognize this blood.
Sesshoumaru had walked down the dark forest path, Jaken several steps behind him. He stopped as the sight of the girl laying in the path met his eyes.
"What is that?" Asked Jaken as he too caught sight of the girl. "phew, she's a goner for sure. She must have been attacked by wolves, look at the teeth markings. Do you recognize this pathetic human?" He asked his master.
Sesshoumaru recalled the girls smile, and her slight laugh from the night before. Sesshoumaru placed a hand on his sword, and drew it from the sheath. It pulsed a bit and it intrigued him. "Interesting." he murmured.
Several grey and green demons with scythes appeared around the girl.
I can see them. They are from the underworld. He narrowed his eyes. "I'll do another test. I'll use the Tenseiga."
"Huhhh!" Jaken inhaled sharply. "Another test? What are you doing sire, what are you doing?"
Sesshoumaru had swung the sword, effectively cutting through the underworld demons surrounding the girl. He carefully lifted the girl slightly off of the ground. Jaken gasped and sputtered as he did so.
Sesshoumaru watched intently, and was surprised enough to gasp quietly as the girl awoke.
"She came back to life! Lord Sesshoumaru, you resurrected that girl with the power of the Tenseiga?"
Sesshoumaru helped her stand, then stood up himself. He then walked away without a word. He could hear Jaken muttering behind him.
"Eh! Hello? Lord Sesshoumaru?" Jaken asked. "Lord Sesshoumaru saving a human girl is surprising enough, but then again, more importantly, didn't Lord Sesshoumaru just say that he was going to test the power of Tenseiga once again?"
Sesshoumaru smirked to himself as the implications sunk into his retainer's thick leathery skull.
"Th-th-th-that would mean I was cut down with no guarantee of survival! And to think I've devoted myself to you all of these years! Ehhehehe!" he cried, "Lord Sesshoumaru it's so unfair! W-why would you do that! I can't understand it…Oh!" he said as he realized that the girl had followed after his master.
Sesshoumaru had been surprised when the girl had began talking again. She was quite the talker, and he found out that her name was Rin. Sesshoumaru had spent the next year and a half traveling with the girl following him. He began to get used to it. Furthermore, several times, when Rin had gotten sick, the Miko had used her strange powers to heal the girl. Sesshoumaru had learned kindness and compassion when Rin had died the second time, and was relieved when his mother brought her back. It was then that he'd resigned himself to thinking about the miko.
When his brother had approached him about banding together to defeat Naraku, he'd agreed only because of the Miko. Over the past year he'd thought of her almost constantly, and was sure of his feelings of her. He used this time to get to know her. Several months before Naraku's supposed demise, he'd asked Kagome to become his mate. She'd agreed wholeheartedly, much to his delight.
Sesshoumaru had changed, and for the better, not that his mother cared one way or another, she hadn't talked to him since the mating, saying he was just like his father. He was happy however, and when he'd smelt Kagome in heat, he'd taken the chance, and had been rewarded handsomely. She had gotten pregnant with his pup. He could scent it's presence, even now.
Sesshoumaru felt Kagome stirring and smiled down at her. "Mate." he murmured softly.
"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Where are we?"
"Home." He told her.
She snuggled up against him. "I've missed you." she told him.
"And I, you." he replied.
Sesshoumaru rubbed her stomach gently, he felt his pup, and he could feel that it recognized his hand. It kicked softly. He allowed another smile.
"It'll be here soon." Kagome told him. "a few more days at the most."
Sesshoumaru looked at her. It still amazed him that he was soon to be a father.
"Have you thought of any names?" Kagome asked him.
"I've had hundreds of years to think…so yes. I have."
"What have you thought of?" She inquired.
"Toga for a male, and Ai for a female." he told her.
Kagome's eyes brightened. "I like that. We'll use your names. They're better than the ones I had picked."
Sesshoumaru smiled at her. "Are you ready for bed, mate?"
"I just woke up." Kagome reminded him.
"I wasn't talking about sleep." Sesshoumaru smirked, when Kagome realized his intent.
"I think I am." she grinned.
"Let's go." Sesshoumaru said as he lifted her in his arms once more.
Authors note: I apologize for the wait, and I hope you liked this chapter. I'll update again as soon as I can. Until then, please review.
~Kiera
