Wow, I'm not dead! I know I know. Sorry guys, we all know life happens. But I'm still trying to at least get a chapter up. I haven't abandoned my stories but life does get in the way. However I'm still trying to get something out to you guys even if its far and few in between, more so than you would like. But still thanks to everyone who is still reading this….and to those of you who still review….I sincerely appreciate you guys!
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LAST TIME….
Even when she finds a way back to her proper time, will her life still be in danger with the emotionless Sesshoumaru of the near future?
There were just too many questions, and the miko knew she needed rest in order to be able to ponder every single one…and maybe, just maybe…be able to come up with a suitable answer that would not place her exactly back, where she had started from.
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CH. 12 Awake and Alive
Kagome saw her then, so near to her she could practically feel her breath upon her. They began to multiply, more and more females surrounding her ready to kill her, to destroy her and devour her. She couldn't fend them off, too many to take on. The scratching and cutting of her skin was making her flinch with the pain as she tried to stand valiantly to no avail. There was nothing she could do as she saw their razor sharp teeth and claws coming for her.
She screamed as a nothingness began to surround her then. While she didn't know where she was she soon realized that the darkness turned into a familiar magenta light…the well.
Her feet soon stood on solid ground and she hefted herself out of the well and into familiar surroundings.
Inuyasha suddenly stood before her, screaming at her in a panic, his face full of fear, so unlike him, that it made her terribly afraid. Her friends lay dead behind him, all bloodied and bruised as she realized that it was no doubt the spider hanyou's doing.
"Where have you been Kagome?! The red clad hanyou screamed with anger and tremendous sorrow lacing his voice.
She tried speaking, explaining what had happened to her, but he would not listen as he turned his back on her and left. She ran after him begging him to listen, to understand. As he turned around she could see his golden eyes staring at her as if he did not even recognize her. They bore into her with such an intensity she thought he was looking at her very soul. She heard him call her name.
"Kagome. Kagome."
With a start she awoke, breathing rapidly, while trying to regain her senses. Sitting up, the miko was suddenly staring into such similar eyes she was unable to determine what was real and what was only a dream.
Feeling a gentle touch upon her arm, the young woman was only too glad for the masculine voice she heard trying to ease her worries. "Do not fear Kagome, I am here. I will not leave your side," he assured while trying to soothe her with his gentle ministrations.
Realizing that it had all been a dream her confusion soon returned as she questioned, "Sess -Sesshoumaru? Is that you?"
The room she was in was not brightly lit, so she could not make out his every feature and the genuine concern he was showing for her right at this moment.
"Hai, it is I," he answered stroking her arm, glad that she had finally awoken. He had been waiting for her.
"I -I had a nightmare," she answered attempting to lift the grogginess that was still settled over her mind.
She felt horrible. Like if she'd overslept and her entire body was protesting with every movement.
"How long have I been asleep?" she questioned while rubbing her eyes with her hands and stretching her muscles trying not to think about the horrible dream she had just had.
Sesshoumaru sat by her bed contemplating the young woman. She seemed to be fine and back to her normal self. She was moving her arms and legs, and looked as if she had rested well enough. Her skin had a rather unhealthy look to it, but he only imagined it was because she had not been out in the sun for some time.
"You have slept for fourteen days," he answered with a bit of sadness lacing his voice.
"Whha…?" the miko couldn't comprehend what he had just said. "How can that be? I was -it was only…" she couldn't remember. How had she fallen asleep?
"Your body was recuperating, your powers healing your body after so many injuries. The battles you endured took a toll on your body and your power."
Scrunching her face in concentration, her memories soon came flooding back, everything that had happened as she had fought demonesses for her very life, and for the right to be Sesshoumaru's girlfriend, and perhaps his mate.
She groaned.
_xXx_
He was so…hot, yes that was the word, hot.
Kagome couldn't think of any other word, or anything else for that matter, as she stood outside under the shade of a spruce tree watching Sesshoumaru train with another youkai she assumed was his teacher.
After she had been awoken from her two week slumber, the miko had been allowed to recuperate slowly, no one seeming to bother her or enter her room except for Sesshoumaru and a maid who always brought her hot food.
The old demon whom had initially given his assessment of her condition had also been in to see her, and he had informed her that while she had been quite injured and wounded, her miko powers had immediately helped to speed up the healing process, thankfully, including her hearing. While everything seemed to have gone back to normal within her body, it still seemed to not be quite at its best, nor her hearing. It felt like she needed for her ears to 'pop' in order to feel better.
After a few days, being allowed to bathe in an indoor hot spring, which she knew she would have to revisit more leisurely soon, eating alone in her room while the servant eyed her suspiciously and warily, and getting dressed with the clothing provided for her, she had been led to this the very spot where she now sat.
The servant had briefly informed her that the young inu youkai had just been taken from her side by his father as he needed to "attend to more important duties outside," making the miko frown with the information.
Now, here she sat feeling the warm breeze playing with her hair and clothing as she watched Sesshoumaru train diligently, his lithe, masculine form bringing a girly sigh to her throat.
The miko could feel her heart stir as she watched the inu youkai's silver hair sway with each graceful movement. She had always thought Sesshoumaru was quite attractive, but seeing him and Inuyasha battle ruthlessly time and time again, she also knew he was quite deadly.
Yet…if he was so deadly, so precise, so emotionless….why was it that he had never killed Inuyasha? She began to wonder, suspicion of his true motives beginning to creep in more and more.
Every battle they had had, every violent encounter, Inuyasha had somehow always managed to come out of it alive. Sesshoumaru was much stronger and much more powerful than the hanyou, so then…had he purposely allowed Inuyasha to get away each time? He would have had to or else the hot headed teen wouldn't have been able to survive each battle. So…that meant that the inuyoukai of the future wasn't as bad as he tried to make himself seem?
Wow.
Such easy conclusions if only she would have thought about them with more time and clarity before.
She smiled until she realized that the Sesshoumaru of the future didn't seem to fancy her too well. He had never really even looked at her, and whenever she had happened to be within his line of sight, he had always looked right through her quite dispassionately and with no regard, as if she wasn't even worth his time. He had tried to kill her that one time after all, when they had first met in his fathers tomb, so did that mean he actually felt something for her?
She frowned, knowing that in all reality, he did feel something for her. He had disliked her so much that he had no need to ask questions before he sprayed her with his acidic poison.
She swallowed.
He had tried to kill her, hadn't he. Hmm, that little important detail always seemed to elude her when she was with him, well until now that is, until she watched him train with his katana, his deadly skill so evident to everyone present.
This little obvious thought was not the only one which came to her mind though. Even now, the dream she had had when she had woken up several weeks before also tried to creep up into her mind. Reminding her that it indeed must have meant something. Even if dwelling on the dream always gave her a longing for home, a longing to make sure her friends were safe, and gave her goosebumps as she thought about the possibility of something horrible happening without her there. One thing the miko did know, was that she was going to have to find a way back to her proper time….and soon.
"You are quite pensive today."
The priestess screeched with the sudden thought that somehow manifested itself into her mind while instantly trying to stand in alarm.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you!" the young demoness apologized frantically while waving her arms out in a placating manner, looking at the priestess she had managed to surprise, hoping by the kamis that she would not retaliate.
The face of an angered and protective inu soon came into her line of sight making her take a hurried step back and away from the young human woman, thus away from the Western heir protecting her. She didn't want to anger him after all they had recently been through.
"Its…no, I'm fine, its alright." The miko began apologetically trying to stand and keep Sesshoumaru from slashing through the youkai female with the deadly katana as he stood in front of her protectively. "I was just thinking about something and I didn't know you were near. I didn't feel you either," she added somewhat abashed, "just that you know, I am surrounded by a lot of demons right now," she said while trying to placate the protective male before her, her hand absently rubbing his upper back in a soothing manner as she spoke to the wary female.
The small hand upon his flesh seemed to appease him, calming his protective instincts. Hearing her frightened scream had immediately mobilized him, bringing him to stand between her and whatever was the cause of her fright. He did not like to see the small female bothered by anyone, nor frightened in any way. Sesshoumaru would see to it. But after seeing that the youkai female before them had no intention of harming the miko, he quickly succumbed to her tender touch.
"If you must speak to my intended mate, be certain you do so in audible tones," the inu reprimanded. "Do not frighten her by speaking within her mind. She is well enough to hear," he continued as he began to sheathe his sword, not sensing any threat from her.
"I -I apologize Sesshoumaru-sama, and to you my lady," the female bowed to both of them with regret.
"Its quite alright," Kagome immediately offered waving her hand in dismissal feeling a bit ashamed she had been too busy pining over Sesshoumaru, trying to come to the conclusion about his feelings for her in the future, and pondering her dream.
As she was about to ask the female what it was she needed, not having seen her or spoken to her since she had awoken, she was quite suddenly interrupted.
"We are not done with our training Sesshoumaru."
Kagome had been so entranced by Sesshoumaru's training lesson, and well by his masculinity as a whole, that she had not even bothered to pay any attention to the one training him. That is until said trainer stood before the three of them with a frown marring his features, while sheathing his katana in the scabbard at his waist.
The miko couldn't help the way she stared. She really did try not to make it too obvious but it was a rather difficult feat. She had never seen anyone like him after all.
He was tall, about the same height as the Inu no Taisho and therefore taller than Sesshoumaru. His hair the color of the blackest night, seemed so odd when her own hair was also black, although nothing that seemed to resemble his. While his was loose, it was not overly long but settled to his waist, even as his thick bangs were perfectly settled over his forehead revealing no mark of status or eyebrows that she no doubt knew would also be the same color. Nevertheless, the male did have four small black jagged marks below the corner of his right eye, much as a claw mark when it is left behind.
His eyes were also another peculiar matter, their dark depths almost so black that you could hardly distinguish his irises. It was quite eerie really. He had a fuller set of lips than the inu he trained, a square and chiseled chin and contoured face, with a thin and almost perfect sized nose. Even his body was more muscular and slightly more hardened by muscle than Sesshoumaru's. And of course, he had to be wearing all black, looking much like a ninja in Kagome's mind, however, with samurai clothing and black boots that obviously complemented the outfit.
"Sensei," the inu daiyoukai addressed with respect, "perhaps it is better if we continue with our lesson at a later time," he offered, not wanting to leave the woman. He had not wanted to be far from her, however his father had insisted he continue on with his usual training.
Turning his unnatural black eyes upon the human female, his gaze was so unnerving, that it made the girl begin to fidget with the sleeves of her kimono. Somehow she seemed to be caught in the gaze of a predator and no matter how she tried to look away, she could only stare back haplessly. His eyes were so deep and dark, almost as if one was falling into a bottomless pit with no salvation.
What kind of youkai was he? She wondered through the haze that had enveloped her.
"Priestess," he finally addressed, snapping the connection that had seemed to have a grip on her.
"Oh, erm…hi, hi. I'm Kagome, " she introduced.
He returned her greeting with a stare.
She could have slapped herself. Really, she was sure he already knew who she was. The whole darn place did. She had fought a bunch of females for the right to date Sesshoumaru after all. Ugh.
Even the female that stood with her, looked at her with a bit of humor in her green eyes. The inu daiyoukai on the other hand simply stared at his trainer with an uncharacteristic show of annoyance.
"Kuraimi," the daiyoukai remarked dryly, using his given name as opposed to his title with the obvious purpose of asserting his own title and authority.
"We will continue this now Sesshoumaru. You should not be so easily distracted," he chastised the young lord countering his initial command with one of his own. He was the one in charge of the inu's training after all as per the Inu no Taisho's request, therefore his authority superseded the young daiyoukai's. However, Sesshoumaru still had a thing or two to learn about submission. The youthful pup still had to be taught and he was just the male to do it.
Hearing said pups light growl of indignation made him smirk.
Perfect.
"I am the one in charge here Sesshoumaru and you will do as I say. Unless…you wish to challenge your sensei?" he questioned with a slight smirk.
Kagome couldn't help but think him to be quite handsome. Although he was a bit uncharacteristic of demons she had seen thus far, she couldn't help but think there was something darkly dangerous and seductive about the male. Well he seemed to give off that aura anyway, she thought sheepishly feeling a bit guilty about even thinking these things.
Clearing her throat to get her girlish thoughts under control, she couldn't help but think many of these demons to be quite beautiful. She was used to seeing the more hideous, deadly, and poisonous ones when traveling with Inuyasha, and fighting for ones life really didn't leave too much time to admire the few she did come across, like the Sesshoumaru of the future.
And apparently it also seemed this youkai seemed to have a higher ranking status than Sesshoumaru, well at least when it came to things like training and such.
He looked upon the human miko's face one last time before turning and walking away, knowing that the young inu would most likely follow. He wasn't too certain what to think of the woman. Hai, she was powerful, that he had to concede, but it seemed it was all done by chance, and by luck. She had no real training, or else she would have known how to handle her power; and by the sound of her earlier screech, it seemed she was only able to access it when she was in mortal danger. He had felt her power come forward but remain contained.
Hmm, quite interesting.
She was a distraction to his charge as well. That he could not allow. Not only had the Lord of the West made it quite clear, but he knew -as the inu's teacher- that he had such great potential just waiting to be set free.
He could already tell. This woman was going to be a hindrance to his plan.
_xXX_
Future
"What the hell do you want you Sesshoumaru?" the hanyou questioned, with his sword ready for battle.
"Where is your miko?" he questioned angrily, looking around their sparse little camp and not feeling the priestesses' energy.
He growled lowly as another set of images bombarded his mind, though he tried to push them aside, hiding the intense pain that was making him narrow his eyes at the insolent pup before him.
"What the hell are you talking about you bastard?! The red clad hanyou screamed yielding his sword even more threatening. Why the hell did the ice frost want with Kagome anyway? He wondered.
Seeing the monk and taijiya stand and come to stand besides his half brother in interest, Sesshoumaru decided to question them wanted nothing more than to ignore the foul words that were now coming out of the idiot's mouth.
"Why do you ask Sesshoumaru-sama? Kagome is not here with us at the moment," answered. After a brief exchange between the two humans they added," she has gone home to visit her family, she has not yet returned."
Seeing the ningen woman step forward she questioned, "Is -Is Kagome in trouble?"
The narrowing of his eyes and the slight smirk that touched the corner of his mouth made them look at each other once more, only this time, in fear. Then as if sensing her eminent demise if he got a hold of her, the hanyou attacked with Tetsusaiga.
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Please review. I know some of you are probably like 'what? What was this story about anyways?' and you have to go back and re-read a lil bit of it to understand it again. But really, the ideas are flowing a bit, and no worries, we're building up to the part where the two Sesshy's can finally meet, don't be so inpatient! :0)
Oh and to those of you reading My beloved, which has also been updated, please check it out because I have a poll going on for that one and I need your input. THANKS!
