Author Note: AHHHH!!!!! flops on floor I'm so exhausted!!! You guys all seem to like this story enough, so I've been trying to get another chapter up… now… just a warning… it sucks. I've had so many things going on lately, what with Christmas coming up, and school work, people just being idiots (trust me, I get a lot of idiots where I live XD) Also, I'm VERY happy!! I just bought the D.N. Angel DVD's recently (which is also my favorite manga) And they were great!!! tear I'm so sad I already finished watching them… But whatever, you guys don't care about my fangirlish ways, haha. Wow! I'm getting more reviews than I thought I would. I might have to start just writing names down and saying simple 'thank you's' instead of these more elaborate ones that take up half a page, hehe.
Alana124pyro: DUN DUN DUN!!! Haha, I love dramatically evil sounds. Yes, I am a tad evviiiiiill (cat-like grin). SilVer-mOOn-LiGHt-kAGURa: Yaaay!! Reading these reviews make me so happy! I'll get to updating! (runs off to work more) darknozomi: I hope it will! I'm trying my best, and you guys seem to like it! I'll try and work faster! the-redwolf42: Yay! Party for Yukio! Wait… no… (smacks Yukio with newspaper) BAD BOY!!! Haha, had to do it. :D Thank you! Tsuki Tenshi: Haha, locking people in closets! WOOH!!! Edward-Elric-x: Aww, I know! I didn't like making Inu and the others die, but alas, I did anyways (I'm so mean!!). And thank you! MissAlviss: Lol, thankies! Erm… I'm not sure what bishounen means… hehe. I don't have that big of an inventory of Japanese words, I only know a few (it is a Japanese word, right?) Haha. If you could tell me that would rock out loud :D) SCK6: I know, I suck at making decent-length chapters, haha. But thank you! mangatb: Yay!! Thankies! The Kikyo Hater: Woot! I hope he's an alright character. Sometimes I suck at making characters, haha. chicana: Ha, nice. It's silly because I figured my story was getting worse and worse, haha, Yay me!!Gothgirl18892: Don't let me kill you! AH! Haha. I always get writers block after one of my stories start getting good, I don't know why XD But I'll try and get rid of the writers block! Pixie-love: Ha, thanks! Tsuki Tenshi: Ahh! I'm so sorry it's been so long!!! I'm trying but my brain keeps shutting down, haha. And Merry Christmas to you, too:D AiRyuhou: I will!
Eeh! I know that Jaken and Rin just vanished at one point after one appearance (but who gives a damn about Jaken, anyways? Lol) so I'm gonna try and not forget about them (trust me, I do things like that all the time) and throw them in again. Awww… my tea is all gone (pout) oh well. Please enjoy! (omg… that was longer that I thought it would be ;)
Note: I didn't really edit this chapter, because I was anxious to get it up :D Forgive any major mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of InuYasha, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi, not me! sob
Chapter Twelve
I'm Only Human
"What are you doing here, wench?!" The green imp was shouting at Kagome.
Kagome sidestepped to stand behind Yukio, as though that would protect her from Jaken's barrage of insults.
"I assure you," Yukio said calmly, trying to reason with the retainer, "Kagome is to be here, just ask your-"
"No. She's with that half-breed. My master will want nothing to do with her- umm…." Jaken slowly turned and looked up at an angry Inu Taiyoukai, staring daggers at him. "Milord…"
Sesshoumaru kicked him, and Jaken was sent flying forward and his face planted into the snow. "Jaken,"
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" A higher voice called, and soon there was a young girl clamped around the Demon lord's waist.
Sesshoumaru sighed and patted her head. "Rin… I was just inside with you… I haven't left…"
Rin giggled. "I know. I just wanted to hug you." She grinned as she released him and smiled up at him. "You keep leaving without telling us where you're going, so I want to hug you as much as I can in case you leave again."
Kagome smiled and looked back from the two, stepping out from behind Yukio.
"You've met my new servant?" Sesshoumaru asked her. He looked away for only a second to see Jaken picking himself up off the ground, grumbling about something before coming to Rin and leading her inside for 'bedtime'.
"Oh, yes. He helped me find my way back here."
Sesshoumaru let his gaze fall on the new servant. "Did he now?" He raised an eyebrow. Judging by Kagome's attitude, nothing unacceptable had happened, although there were trace amounts of his scent on her which nerved him a bit.
"Yeah… oh," she remembered suddenly, and set her large backpack on the ground and began digging through it. She pulled something folded out and handed it to him. "Here, it's your haori. I felt really bad about getting it dirty so I washed if for you." She smiled, a dash of red gracing her cheeks.
Sesshoumaru looked at the cloth as though it were something strange before taking from her hand. "I…" Kagome just held a hand up to stop him. "It's fine. I'm going to go to bed now, it's getting late." She yawned.
Sesshoumaru nodded and watched as she passed him and entered his domain, and noted also with a twitch of the eyebrow that Yukio watched her with much interest.
"Are you courting her?" Sesshoumaru heard, and his fist tightening in the silken cloth of the garment in his hand and his claws stabbing little holes in it. His attention snapped his servant.
"What?" He growled.
Yukio narrowed his eyes at the silver-haired demon and grinned, "You heard me."
"She is human…" Sesshoumaru stated, as though it would answer all of Yukio's questions. Before he could say anything more, Yukio spoke.
"But that doesn't mean it wouldn't be some fun…"
Sesshoumaru, without thinking, punched the black-haired demon in the face, sending him flying backward. "I told you never to touch her, or even think of touching her…" Sesshoumaru snarled threateningly, fangs bared and eyes narrowed.
Yukio lightly touched to bruise on his cheek with mild interest. "Touchy… then if you aren't' courting her, why am I not allowed to do so myself?" He choose his words carefully and spoke them with a tone that pricked and prodded at the Youkai Lord in just the right way.
Sesshoumaru was beginning to think maybe he had chosen the wrong servant. But until he obtained more, Yukio would have to do… but that didn't stop him from imagining disemboweling him, decapitating him, and any other delightfully gruesome and sadistic thoughts that came to mind. He clenched his fists at his sides and finally turned. "Just stay away from her. That's all you need to know."
Kagome found the room she had occupied before, after nearly getting lost, and entered, sliding the door shut behind her. She set her bag down and began rummaging through if for her pajamas. She was smarter this time and brought warmer clothing. She pulled out a thick top and fuzzy pajama pants and changed into them, then slid down in the covers of her pallet. She felt at home here, now. Maybe it was because Sesshoumaru wasn't as cold as he seemed, but since the last time she had stayed here, she felt a lot more comfortable.
It was cold that morning. Kagome's eyes cracked open and searched to room, having almost forgotten where she was. It was still fairly dark, probably about five or so in the morning, she deducted, and looking at the window and seeing the indigo sky fade to red at the horizon. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes of their sleep and listened to everything around her. It was almost unbearably quiet until she realized that she could hear music playing; a flute. It didn't seem like it was coming from inside, or anyway too near her, so she went to the window and opened it, leaning out and looking around. A gust of chilled winter air slapped her in the face and she felt tears brim at her eyes. That's when she noticed the flute stopped playing.
"Stupid wind…" Kagome muttered, ready to close her window, when the flute started up again, then stopped. She frowned; a tad annoyed that she wasn't able to find the source of the noise when she nearly screamed, as someone was suddenly standing outside her window in front of her.
"Nosy, aren't you?" Yukio said with a slight grin on his face, holding a flute in his hand.
"What the hell-" she caught sight of the instrument in his hand. "Why are you playing music this early in the morning?" She groaned, scratching her head.
Yukio let his eyes roam her form quickly before meeting her eyes again. She didn't seem to notice. "I don't sleep much, being a demon."
"Right… well next time you want to play music, or whatever, keep in mind that humans like to sleep. And this particular human enjoys it quite a bit." Kagome's hands were on her hips now while she gave him a stern look. When he didn't answer she tapped her foot one. "Okaaaay?"
"Yes, ma'am." He said, giving a slight bow with a playful smile.
"Okay. Go back to… well, not playing that," Kagome said, gesturing to the flute, "Because I'm going to-"
"Lady Kagome, would you please take the time to sit out here with me?" He asked casually.
"Oh… well, I'm so tired, and it's so cold…" she stammered slightly.
"It's alright." Yukio gave her a flashy smile.
'For you, maybe…' she grumbled in her head. "Fine."
Kagome, being somewhat of a klutz, began to climb out the window, rather than taking the time to get lost trying to find a door leading outside and then get lost again trying to find where he was, and tripped.
"Oww…" she groaned, rubbing her backside. "This sucks."
Yukio took her hand and pulled her up to her feet, and then without any warning, curled an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Ah, what are you…" she stammered, heat climbing to her cheeks quickly.
"Hold on," he said, crouching and leaping up. Kagome yelped and felt her stomach jump. She wasn't sure if it was being so close to him so suddenly, or the speed he had jumped. When she finally loosened her death-grip around his neck and opened her eyes, she could see that she was now atop the castle roof.
"Wow…" she said, putting a little distance between her and the demon, while dragging tired feet through the snow on the roof. The sky looked so magnificent from the height they were at. It had already changed more color since she had last paid attention to it. Now it was an amazing blend of gold, fading into red, and then into purple, and lightening still. "It's so pretty." She said, turning to see Yukio sitting down and clearing away some snow next to him.
"Come sit," he instructed, but smiling all the while.
Despite the fact that Kagome's feet were going to loose all sensation within a few minutes, she sat down next to him.
"So, what's the point of bringing me up here, anyways?" She asked, fixing a few of the buttons on her pajama top.
Yukio's eyes watched her hands were at the buttons before answering. "Just to talk." He said. "So, how is it that a human came to stay with Lord-Sesshoumaru?"
"Oh, that…" she said. It would seem a little odd. Sesshoumaru had become famous, in a sense, for his hatred of ningens. "Well, I guess it was a promise he made… to his brother…"
"Half-brother, you mean?" Yukio corrected, drawing tiny swirls in the snow with his claws, his other hand supporting his chin while his elbow rested on his knee.
"Yeah… wait, how do you know that?!" She squeaked.
Yukio chuckled. "Most demons know of two half-brothers, one the Great Inu-Youkai, ruler of the Western lands, son of InuTaisho. And InuYasha, half-demon son of InuTaisho."
"Yeah…" she said.
"So you were saying, about a promise?"
"Oh, well, InuYasha and I had been traveling together for a long time, after I…" she tugged at the hem of her pajama top. "After I shattered the Shikon no Tama…"
"You did that?!" He laughed.
Kagome pouted and pinned him with a glare. "It's not funny. I felt really bad about it…"
"Okay, I'm sorry. Go on."
"Well, after we had gotten the last shard, InuYasha and all of my other companions were killed…" her voice quieted noticeably, as though she were telling him a secret. "And I was put in the care of Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome took a fistful of snow in her hand as the wind brushed her messy hair off of her shoulders and cooled her hot cheeks. It was strange now… she didn't feel so much like… crying anymore.
"Ahh," Yukio continued. "I see. Did you love him?"
Kagome wasn't sure if the color had left her face or if she was blushing. Maybe it was somewhere in between. "Nani?"
"InuYasha, I mean."
"Oh… well…. I guess… I did, and I will always, as he was a dear friend of mine… but I do realize I can't dwell on it forever…"
"Hmm…" was his only reply.
The silence was only a little awkward after that, until Kagome spoke, her eyes sparkling in the morning sun's rays. "Well, I should probably visit their graves today. It's been a while."
Sesshoumaru had returning from patrolling his territory when he spotted two figures high up on the roof of his castle. He quickly caught the scent of Kagome, but also of Yukio. A low growl emitted from his chest as he came closer to his home. When he was only 15 meters from his said home he was able to hear there conversation clearly enough.
Yukio was asking about how she had come to stay with Sesshoumaru. He thought she might stray from the subject, perhaps it being too painful to discuss, but she went right into it, with petty interruptions from Yukio in between.
He listened a little further before he grew bored and decided that he would leave them, when he heard Yukio say something that particularly made him stay and listen.
"Did you love him?"
Sesshoumaru stood frozen where he was. It was just a simple question, so why was it affecting him so much?
Then Kagome answered, not agreeing completely, but not denying her previous affections for the hanyou, either. He supposed it was somewhat of a weight lifted off his shoulders, since he had been contemplating asking her a question similar to Yukio's himself. But he hoped maybe she would have replied differently.
He watched as they both stood, and Yukio put his hands on her and leapt off the rooftop. It sickened the Demon Lord, for some reason, to see him touch her, and also that he had gotten so 'friendly' with her within a day.
Kagome spied Sesshoumaru very near the castle after she was off the roof and waved to him. "Good morning, Sesshoumaru!" She called.
Sesshoumaru took his time getting to them, walking at his own pace so that he could indulge himself in the thought of countless ways to slay his servant. Just the mere thought of 'disposing' his servant caused the beast inside of him to stir.
"Kagome…" he nodded, supposedly his way of saying 'good morning' to her. "Yukio…" he said, his voice holding a cold, lethal tone to it.
"Good morning, Master," Yukio said, smiling somewhat defiantly.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome began, and continued when his golden gaze was locked on her again. "I was wondering… would I be able to visit my friend's graves today?" She locked her hands behind her back and gave him an award-winning smile.
"That is acceptable." He responded, as their eyes stayed locked for another moment before Yukio interrupted the pleasant silence.
"I can escort her."
"No. I will." Sesshoumaru growled softly.
"But Master," Yukio prodded, "I insist." He grinned, fangs peeking from behind his lips.
"Yukio…" Sesshoumaru restrained himself as well as possible so that he wouldn't snarl or strike at the assistant. "Assume your duties as my servant. Do as I say."
Yukio eyed his master carefully, and then Kagome next, before nodding and saying his farewells and going off.
"Get yourself ready," Sesshoumaru said once Yukio was gone. His voice had already become softer and less threatening. "We will go soon."
Kagome smiled and saluted him. "Hai!"
Author Note: Few… my writers block is finally GONE!!! I just did this chapter today. I'm sorry if it wasn't good, but nevertheless, please review!!! I did end this one at a weird place, but that's only because I finally have some ideas for the next chappie :D! I love you all!!!