Misery Loves Company

'Weird….Weird, weird, weird, weird…I wonder, would I have noticed if I lost my mind? Like, maybe, I'm hallucinating or something. That could happen, right? Why else would Sesshomaru be escorting me, ME, back to the village? Or for that matter, why would he give a care about my distress? I practically blasted him a new one back there, and he's acting like nothing happened, almost like he has forgiven me. But why? Why would he? He's never held back before, what makes things different now? Just because I was with his father? It couldn't be that simple. Sesshomaru may hold his honor above anything else, but taking care of his father's mate? And for no reason! I can take care of myself, thank you very much!'

Sneaking a look at Sesshomaru from under the fringe of her bangs, and seeing nothing new of the youkai, but asserting the fact that, yes, he was indeed still walking with her, and, no, he hadn't grown an extra head or spouted a new set of tentacles that would comply with her thoughts that she was having a nightmare or had completely lost her mind; the young miko sighed.

'I wish I could just ask him, but it's not like he'd answer me anyways. Toga may not have had any trouble loosening up, but I'm all but certain Sesshomaru has an icicle permanently wedged up his ass! I mean, really, has the guy EVER cracked a smile? I bet he's like the wicked witch of the west, but instead of water melting him to death, for Sesshomaru it would be the sound of laughter. He'd be like, AHHH!! NO!! I'm smiling!!! And then his stupid perfect skin would melt of his stupid pretty face. Though it would be a shame to loose all that pretty hair. Damn! I should have asked Toga if I could brush his! Inuyasha never lets me, and like hell I'd ask Sesshomaru, but Toga would have let me, I'm sure of it. Sigh. Why couldn't I have thought of this earlier? Oh, right, I was a little busy.'

Her cheeks flushing in a heavy blush, Kagome snuck another look at Sesshomaru to make sure he was still ignoring her. A startled squeak left her when she realized that his piercing golden eyes were trained intently on her, and her reaction earned her a lifted brow from the stoic Lord.

'What is that girl thinking?' Sesshomaru couldn't help but wonder. Her emotions were changing so quickly he was having a hard time keeping up with her. Her fear had subsided almost immediately after he had spoken to her, being replaced with a heavy resignation. But, after the girl had gained her feet and began walking with him back towards the little village, she had continued tumbling through a wide array of poorly controlled reactions. From confusion, to anger, to resentment, to something she found amusing, then aggravation; but the last response had been most peculiar, she had become aroused, followed immediately by acute embarrassment when she looked upon him.

Though there was a part of him that was very displeased with the fact that he was close enough to the girl to pick up on her changing body chemistry that alerted him of her ever-changing moods, there was another part of him, a part that he truly wish he could rip out and tear into shreds for having the audacity to even bring up any remote fascination with this human, that found her reactions somewhat entertaining.

Of course, indulging in thoughts that suggested anything of the remote possibility that the miko was anything but a burden, had led another part of his mind, one which he was certain to reprimand fiercely in the near future, to suggest that if her reactions were so distinguishable from simple thoughts, that it might be worth noting how she would react to other forms of stimulation.

Startled by the fierce growl that suddenly erupted from Sesshomaru, Kagome took a nervous step away from him. 'What?' she questioned silently as she continued eyeing him warily. 'It's not like I was thinking about him or anything!' That thought though managed to make her embarrassed blush spread, now beginning to creep down her neck as the heat built in her body.

She hastily ripped her eyes away from Sesshomaru, focusing as much attention as she could on the path ahead. 'Damn dogs and their damn noses! Whatever. He can growl at me all he wants, it's not like he's going to do anything about it. If he was, he would have done it already and not been all chivalric by bringing me to my friends because I was upset. Woah! Did I just use the word chivalric as something to describe Sesshomaru? Weird. Totally weird. I wonder why though? Toga said that I wouldn't have to worry about Sesshomaru, but I didn't believe him, and even if I had, I would NEVER have thought he would go this far. I mean, what? Does he think I'm like…his mother or something?'…… 'Crap! Why did I have to laugh?! As if things weren't bad enough! Now he thinks I'm insane! Hell, I think I'm insane, but that's not the point. God! This has got to be the longest walk EVER! Where is that village?!'

Sighing in relief when the little settlement came into view, Kagome picked up her pace. She needed a distraction from Sesshomaru. Badly.

But they had only made it to the perimeter of the village when they were greeted by Sango and Kirara, Miroku, and Kaede; all sporting weapons and set in guarded stances. It took the young miko a moment to figure out the problem, being that her thought processes were currently in a scrambled mess; but, once she realized that their problem was also the same as her current dilemma, she stepped forward.

"Hey, guys," she greeted her friends with a small, timid smile. "I…ummm…and he…" gesturing nervously to Sesshomaru, she continued in her oh so elegant introductions, "We…errr…yeah."

'Oh that was wonderful!' her mind was screaming in response to her verbal diarrhea. 'Do you think maybe you could try and form a normal word? Or maybe even, I don't know, a full sentence?!'

With a nervous laugh, Kagome brought her hand up to rub the back of her head as she took in her friends dubious looks. "Guys," she tried again, "Sesshomaru and I have some…business to discuss. And, well, he thought I would be more comfortable here."

Miroku took a tentative step towards his miko friend. He didn't like how nervous she was acting, but, given the fact that she had arrived with Sesshomaru, the Killing Perfection himself, the monk couldn't really blame the young woman. He did, however, give his mind a hard shake when it threatened to elaborate on the miko's proclamation of 'business' with the demon Lord. THAT, he knew, was not something the bashful little miko was capable of, especially with Inuyasha's hated older brother. The poor monk, he was likely to have a hernia when he realized the full reasons behind the miko's nerves and Sesshomaru's presence.

"Lady Kagome," the monk addressed his friend. His violet eyes shifted apprehensively to the intimidating presence of the youkai, but, always the one to observe proper protocol, Miroku inclined his head slightly to Sesshomaru, "Lord Sesshomaru." His attention moving once again to Kagome, he continued to voice his concerns. "Lady Kagome, certainly you understand the reluctance of the villagers to allow a youkai Lord into their midst."

Actually, she hadn't really thought about it. Her brows drawing together slightly, the young miko began worrying her bottom lip as she worked through her options. She stole a subtle glance at Sesshomaru. He was, as always, completely unperturbed by his surroundings. He was standing near to her, his form tall and poised, but relaxed, ready for any necessary movements. His head was tilted slightly upwards and away from her and his sight was not focused on any of the humans present, his way of giving her space to answer their concerns on her own, Kagome supposed.

So, realizing it was up to her where to go from here, Kagome cleared her throat and spoke up. "The situation is…delicate," she told her friends hesitantly. "I would feel much more comfortable here, with you all, than outside of the village. Lord Sesshomaru has, no doubt, compromised a great deal already by having agreed to accompany me here. I'm certain that he would not resort to any behavior unbefitting a guest of this village. It would be improper and dishonorable, and whatever he is, he is not those things. Kaede," Kagome turned her attention to the old miko. "Surely you agree that to send him away when he has been nothing but civil would be a sign of disrespect, one that this village would pay more dearly for than a simple accommodation?"

The old miko, with her one good eye, looked over her young apprentice critically. When, she wondered, had their young Kagome turned into such a proficient mediator? "Hai, child," Kaede relented eventually. "I do see the truth in ye words." She turned to Sesshomaru. "Forgive this old woman, Lord Sesshomaru, but no measure of caution is too much in these times."

"Hn." Not caring in the slightest to hear the words of an elderly human, Sesshomaru turned his attention to the young miko. She had been…acceptable in her negotiations. Of course, being that these human were her comrades, it was not a surprise that they had listened to her. However, he could not deny that her assessment of the situation had been quite accurate, and, he grudgingly admitted to himself, that even were they not, to deny such logic would be foolish. Perhaps, he allowed, if this miko was so practical with such matters, as it had not been the first time she had managed to make a competent assessment of his actions and directives, then perhaps the coming negotiations would prove less tasking than he had initially assumed.

No, he corrected his errant thoughts as he watched the miko proceed to turn to him and give him a radiant smile and a wink as though it had been she that had just done him a favor, this task was definitely going to be unpleasant. Pulling back, once again, from the nearly overpowering urge to sigh in frustration, Sesshomaru nodded his head minutely in the direction of the miko's companions, a silent message for her to get a move on this to make his horrid day come to its undoubtedly equally as horrid end as soon as possible.

Thankfully, she took to his silent order quickly. Flashing him another of her hated, beautiful smiles, she turned and began making her way over to her friends. However, the words that she spoke when she met up with them had Sesshomaru recalling the immensity of his dislike for this of all days.

"Hey, ummm, guys? Where's Inuyasha?"

Yes, it was official. This was, absolutely and without equivocation, the worst day of his life.

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Hmmm, that was shorter than I was intending. Well, I guess that just means I have more time to write the next chapter tonight ;) Oh, how I love Sundays; the laziest day of the week. No work, no responsibilities, only lots of time to do whatever I want.

Well, till later.

Shadow