DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN INUYASHA
Chapter 14: Proclivities
Gentle fingers caressed Kagome's cheek, coercing her from slumber. The miko pressed her face further into the warmth of the hand that lingered near her and she sighed with subconscious content. A face nuzzled her hair and warm breath swept across her temple sending a shiver of sensation flowing through her body. She tightened her eyelids attempting to retain her sleep.
"Miko," a sweet voice whispered in her ear as a nose gently prodded her to pay attention to its owner, "it is time to arise."
Kagome's brows furrowed lightly and she brushed a hand in the direction of the voice, attempting to fend off her unwelcome wake up call.
"Five more minutes," she slurred almost incomprehensibly.
A soft chuckle sent another flow of warm sweet breath washing across her face. The fingers were back, this time a sharp set of claws gently grazing across her temple. "Awaken, miko."
"Osuwari," she muttered and rolled over again.
The gentle voice snorted indignantly and she felt the youkai nuzzle her again, gently prodding her awake. With a moan of discontent, Kagome rolled to face her tormenter and cracked an eye open.
Sesshomaru's face was inches from her own, his eyes sparkling with what her groggy mind could only consider mirth. She offered him a slight smile before closing her eye again and rolling back over. He would just have to learn that she was grouchy if she didn't get enough sleep. She'd rather face an angry youkai than not get a full nights rest.
As if sensing her thoughts, an equally stubborn swell of youki rushed across her before an arm was wrapped around her and she felt herself being hoisted into the air and flung unceremoniously over a broad shoulder. This sudden change of events woke her fully and she pounded a weak fist against her captor's back.
"Sesshomaru!" She whispered harshly, "Put me down!"
The youkai lord beneath her repositioned her roughly, knocking the air from her lungs in the process. Kagome struggled to regain her breath, what on earth was with him today? She was just about to voice her thoughts when he swung her to the ground, swiftly, but gently. Kagome had to grasp his shoulders in an effort to remain upright then turned indignant eyes onto his face.
"What are you doing?"
The youkai smirked at her. "You would not awaken to gentle prodings so I was in need of some force."
"So! Why is it so important to wake me at such an ungodly hour anyways?" Kagome put her hands on her hips and angled them to one side in a show of defiance. Sesshomaru eyes appraised her stance and he lifted an eyebrow, a faint smile adorning his lips. Kagome blushed and wished she was wearing something more covering than her pajamas. She straightened and crossed her arms protectively in front of her. "Well?"
"I wished to discuss a matter with you, but had no desire to awaken the others in our party. When it became apparent that I could not awaken you quietly I decided that I must remove you from their vicinity."
"Oh…" Kagome felt a blush rising on her cheeks as she thought of how to word her next question. "Umm…what was with all that…head rubbing?"
Sesshomaru tilted his head quizzically. Ok, so head rubbing might not have been the best term to use, but what exactly was that considered?
"You know…" she leaned in and stood on her tiptoes, her crown still barely reaching his chin, and rubbed her head against his jaw, "all of that…"
Sesshomaru blinked down at her and for a moment she was certain he wasn't going to answer.
"Nuzzling is a customary way to awaken a companion."
Kagome stared at him, "Nuzzling?"
Sesshomaru's eyebrows furrowed, "It is an inu-youkai custom."
"Ok, so you nudge each other awake?"
"Occasionally. The custom is generally reserved for family and mates."
"Umm…so why were you nuzzling me exactly?"
Sesshomaru stared at her in silence for a moment then snorted, looking with avid interest at a nearby tree. "It was an unfortunately futile attempt to awaken you without rousing the others."
"Uh-huh…" Kagome narrowed her eyes skeptically then tilted her head at her sheepish companion. "So, what did you want to discuss?"
Sesshomaru's eyes flitted to her face momentarily then went back to studying the shrubs and his feet. She started getting the feeling that he was embarrassed to look at her.
"We are less than a days journey from our destination…" he started.
"Really! That's wonderful!" Kagome clapped her hands in excitement, she couldn't wait to have a proper bath, even if it was hot outside, a hot bath was always welcome.
"However, there is a village nearby…a days journey in the opposite direction," he looked at her expectantly, she waited for him to continue, "I was wondering whether you would like to replenish your stores before we continued on our expedition or if you should wish to visit the village after the hot spring."
Kagome's eyes widened slightly. He was always such a staunch leader, he never asked anyone their opinion.
"Umm…Are you offering me to lead?"
Sesshomaru growled softly and straightened, all of his seeming embarrassement gone. "I am the alpha of this pack, I lead."
"I know that, Sesshomaru-sama," she slipped his honorific onto his name in an attempt to placate him, "I wasn't insinuating that you were giving me full reign, I just wanted to know why you would give me the option…"
"Hnn." Sesshomaru shrugged slightly, his anger gone as quickly as it had come. "You prefer to use your future amenities when you bathe. I was uncertain whether you were well supplied. We shall be staying at the springs for some time, the warm season is nearly over and winters descend quickly in this part of the land."
Kagome smiled brightly up at him, his proclivities for thoughtfulness and kindness hadn't been something she had previously expected of him. The more time she spent with him, the more she was growing to respect him. His quirks and his habits were endearing. "Arigato, Sesshomaru-sama!" She trilled sweetly, executing a slight bow.
"Sesshomaru," he stated softly, running his clawed fingers gently through her hair in a gesture of welcome. "Just Sesshomaru."
Kagome's heart caught for a moment as the eyes that looked into hers melted into a smoldering glow, then Sesshomaru's back was to her and he was moving gracefully towards camp.
"Jaken!" Sesshomaru kicked the imp in the ribs, yanking the poor wretch from his slumber with a yelp.
"Hai! Sesshomaru-sama." The small youkai bowed to his master and Sesshomaru fought the urge to roll his eyes.
If the imp would stand up for himself once in awhile, he would be more likely to respect the miserable creature. As it were, Jaken had no mind of his own.
"Awaken Rin and Ah-Un, we resume our journey in a half-hours time." Sesshomaru turned and watched the miko brush past a tree, tripping over a root in the process. The foolish woman, would she ever learn to watch where she was going? Kagome caught her fall and looked up at him, an embraced smile on her face. She giggled at her own clumsiness then walked towards her sleeping bag. Sesshomaru turned his attention back to Jaken. "We will be stopping at a nearby village for supplies before we continue towards the springs."
Jaken's eyes widened, he wasn't used to an explanation, just a sharp 'Jaken, come' or, 'Jaken, bring Rin.' Sesshomaru sighed. The small creature was a nuisance but he was a good servant.
"Hai….Sesshomaru-sama…" Jaken managed to wheeze. Sesshomaru turned from the frustrating youkai and stalked to Kagome's side. The miko's presence was calming, her aura always seemed to caressed his youki allowing him to relax in a way he hadn't before.
Kagome turned and gasped, nearly colliding with him in the process, he placed his hand on her shoulder to steady her. "Miko, what are you doing?"
"Oh, um, I was going to the stream to wash up…"
Sesshomaru placed his nose close to her throat and gently inhaled her scent, the sudden heat that rose from her skin and the fluttering of her heart gratified him more than he expected. The sweet, waxy smells of her bathing supplies had dimmed from her skin since her last bath and she was engulfed by her own scent. He sniffed again seeking out the different aspects of her smell, tangy and sweet with the sharp tinge of pure power beneath the surface, like sunlight reflecting on a pool of water. "Miko," he breathed, enjoying the way she reacted to his nearness, "you need not bathe; your own smell is exquisite." Kagome swallowed hard and tried to speak, but she finally just nodded an agreement. Sesshomaru smirked.
"Uh-uh-uh…Sesshomaru-sama!" The sharp screech of Jaken's voice brought Sesshomaru back to the world and he turned on the smaller youkai with a death glare. Jaken's eyes were as wide as saucers and darting from his master to the human woman he had been speaking to.
Sesshomaru cursed himself under his breath. He had let his guard down. He had forgotten that the imp was there and had shown something more than his usual disinterest. The wolf's words came back to him and he chanced a glance at Kagome who was making a valiant attempt to compose herself; she was changing him.
"Uh…Sesshomaru-sama…Rin….Rin is ready, m'lord…"
Sesshomaru's gaze softened as he fixed his eyes on the small girl who was standing meekly behind his insufferable servant. She was smiling at him with such joy and such admiration. His heart squeezed and he allowed his eyes to crinkle in reaction to the smile that wanted to be seen. Rin understood his heart and her smile widened in reaction; Jaken, however, mistook his fondness for anger and began to bow and grovel at his master's feet. Sesshomaru snorted his disgust and turned foot, walking towards the miko's belongings.
"Come." He scooped up her bag, leaving her to gather her bedding and his armor.
"Kagome-chan!"
Kagome looked down at the small girl beside her, "What is it, Rin-chan?" They had been traveling all morning and she had finally convinced Sesshomaru that she and Rin needed to eat something for lunch since they had skipped breakfast and he had graciously agreed to a short break. Kagome bent low to stoke the fire then turned her attention back to the girl who was beckoning her to lean in. After a short whisper, Kagome smiled, "I don't know Rin, why don't you go ask him."
With a big smile and a little nod, Rin took off across the small clearing towards the stoic youkai who was staring intently at the sky.
"Umm…Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin tilted her head, looking up at her caretaker sheepishly, her hands linked behind her back and her right foot scuffing in the dirt.
"What is it Rin," the man answered after a glance at the child.
"Would you let Rin braid your hair?"
Kagome supressed her laughter as the youkai turned towards the child with a startled expression on his face. Sesshomaru lifted his eyes to hers and she nodded encouragingly. He glared at her for a moment before turning back to the girl.
"I am not accustomed to having a woman braid my hair, Rin." He said softly, sinking to one knee.
"I promise to do a real good job, and if I mess up, Kagome will fix it!" The little girl smiled big and Sesshomaru met Kagome's eyes again.
"It will give her something to do while I make lunch," Kagome suggested. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed but he nodded once.
"As soon as you have both eaten we shall be on our way, there is a storm coming."
"Oh, well I'll cook quickly then…" Kagome shifted her gaze to the excited little girl clinging to the youkai's hand, "Think you can braid his hair quickly, Rin?"
"Oh, yes! I definitely can!" Sesshomaru cast a glare in Kagome's direction and she winked at him. His expression turned to confusion and she whispered a reply to him, knowing that his canine hearing would pick up her words.
"That's what you get for teasing me." She smiled at him as he narrowed his eyes, and before her eyes could even refocus he stood before her, clawed finger lifting her chin.
"If this is a game, I promise that you shall lose, Miko," and he was gone; back to Rin's side as the little girl settled into work on his long silver hair. Kagome watched with envy as small fingers brushed through silvery strands. For a moment she wondered how his hair would feel, was it a soft as it looked? Kagome shook the thoughts from her head and went back to the task at hand. One thing was for sure, Sesshomaru was not the youkai she had always thought him to be. His merits far outweighed his shortcomings. To the outside world he was proud, uncaring, cold-hearted, temperamental and aloof. In reality, he was strong, caring, gentle, thoughtful, and inclined to touch. How could he wear a mask that was so against his actual nature? Who did he have to share himself with before they had become friends? Certainly it was draining to act so against your own essence. Kagome caught Sesshomaru's eye, I'll have to ask him about that sometime she thought. A sudden heat on her fingers brought her attention back to her cooking and she focused on the task, if only to keep from burning herself.
It had been raining for hours and they were nearing the outskirts of the village. Sesshomaru raised his hand to single his pack to stop. Rin ran around him, his chest-plate raised over her head to keep her dry. She had been pretending to be a bird flitting from tree to tree. Sesshomaru tossed his hair over his shoulder, the soaked braid smacking against his kimono with a wet flop. He snarled, why had he allowed the child to do this to his hair? He turned towards the miko, fully intent on glaring at her, but the sight she made turned his annoyance into mirth. Her hair clung to her, small rivulets of water running from the tip of each lock weaving their way across her face. Her future clothes, she had refused to change into 'those hot period clothes,' stuck to her every curve and she looked absolutely miserable. Sesshomaru glanced at Jaken who was too busy trying to stay under Ah and Un's heads to notice what he was doing.
Sesshomaru covered the distance between himself and Kagome in an instant and brushed her hair from her face. "Perhaps Rin should have braided your hair as well." He stated, smiling down on her.
Kagome winced, "I know! I'll never tease you again, I promise." She lifted the braid at his shoulder and let it flop back to his chest. "You actually look pretty good with a braid….even if it is wet." She winked at him, and he smirked in reply.
"We are on the outskirts of the village. It is late, we will set up camp here and you and Rin shall go into the village in the morning." Sesshomaru turned to Ah-Un and pulled a small pouch from a bag on the beast's side. "Here is some money for you to make your purchases." Kagome's eyes widened as she took the small pouch from his hand.
"Arigato…" she whispered. Sesshomaru smiled and she smiled in return.
…. ... ... ...
Sesshomaru tested the air for any hint of Mitsuye's presence. He knew she had been following them all day but he had lost her youki shortly after the rain had begun to fall. Being a neko-youkai, she hated the rain. She had likely found a place to hunker down and wait out the storm.
The inu-youkai turned his attentions to his small pack, sleeping peacefully under the shelter of some towering pines. Kagome had built some sort of canopy from the blankets in her bag for everyone to sleep beneath. Rin and Jaken snuggled together beside the small fire, Ah-Un's heads wrapped around the two small beings in a large circle. Kagome was alone, lying closer to the edge of the overhanging protection. The space she had left free was obviously for him. It was thoughtful, unnecessary….but kind nonetheless. A thought occurred to him and he strode to Kagome's side, sinking down beside her in a low crouch. He brushed the hair from throat and inhaled deeply of her scent. How was it that things always smelled so much better in the rain?
"Miko," he whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and leaning her into his chest. Her words from the morning came back to him and he smiled to himself as he nuzzled her ear and prodded her head with the side of his jaw. "Miko."
"hnn…" she mumbled as she turned towards him and nestled her body closer to his. He wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her as tightly against him as could. What was it about this small human woman that attracted him so? He had a desire to be near to her, to touch her, to hold her. Every few hours he found himself standing close enough to her for her scent to block out all others. If too much time passed between those small moments he would put himself in the situation to speak to her, to hear her voice, to touch her arm or cause her to notice him. He wasn't sure he wanted her to wake up now, this sudden closeness, this desire to never let go…he almost didn't want to leave this moment. Sesshomaru closed his eyes and inhaled deeply of the woman's smell again, then forced himself to do what he'd come for.
"Miko," he whispered a little more loudly, shaking her slightly. Kagome blinked and squinted, stretching and squirming in his grasp. She snaked an arm around his waist and adjusted her position so that she could look into his face. She smiled so sweetly that he wanted to bury his face in her hair and never take it out, but her smile quickly faded into a confused scowl.
"Ses'maru? Wus gowen on?" She raised her hand to his face and cupped his cheek in her palm. Closing his eyes, Sesshomaru pressed his cheek into her hand's warmth and felt a shiver go through him. He refocussed on her face and smiled at her.
"I wanted to show you something."
Kagome removed her hand from his face and began to disentangle herself from his arms, he begrudgingly allowed her some space. She wiped the sleep from her eyes as he assisted her into an upright position and she yawned a jaw cracking yawn before turning back to her captor.
"What'd you wanna show me?" She asked sleepily a small smile playing around the edge of her lips.
"First, I want to ask you a question, are you awake enough to answer?"
"Hang on a sec," Kagome pried loose of his grasp and took to running steps into the rain, the shock of the cold and wet registering on her face before it was replaced with a wide mouthed smile. With eyes closed, Kagome lifted her head to the heavens and twirled in a circle that would have made a dancer look clumsy. Sesshomaru couldn't tear his eyes away, she was so graceful. Her hair fluttered and whipped, getting wetter by the second, her clothes flew about her as she twirled, her aura sparkling and widening with her joy. A wave of her energy flew over Sesshomaru's skin, tingling and skipping across him. A few weeks ago this straight contact with her miko powers would have hurt him, it seemed he was becoming accustomed to the accosting aura. More than accustomed even, he could feel his youki furling and unfurling with the flow of her power, it awoke a desire in him, one that he could not name. Whatever that desire was, the feeling of her power on his skin both warmed him and exhilarated him. Before he could regain his composure, the miko was at his side, one hand sliding into his, the other holding a finger to her lips. She pulled him with her into the rain and he followed for a moment before taking lead and walking her further into the forest.
"I don't think they'll be able to hear us out here." The miko's smile sent another surge of longing through the youkai and he smiled back, reaching clawed fingers up to brush her wet hair from her face. She laughed and returned the favor, undoing the braid that still lay loosely at his shoulders. She ran gentle fingers through the released hair, untangling knots and smoothing distressed locks. Aside from Rin this afternoon, Sesshomaru couldn't remember the last time someone had run their fingers through his hair and he was discreetly enjoying the sensation. "What did you want to ask me? I'm definitely awake now."
"Why do you follow me, Miko?"
The seriousness of his question hit her hard. Her countenance as well as her aura fell and for a moment he was afraid he had hurt her.
"What do you mean?" She said softly.
"I promised Inuyasha I would care for you and so I have done," Sesshomaru gazed at her softly, fighting the tears that always threatened when he thought of his younger half-brother, "You have no need of my comfort any longer, yet you choose to stay with me rather than return to your…friends. I wish to know why."
Kagome's face flitted through several emotions, her scent was suddenly heavy, laden with uncertainty and hurt. She mistook him, she thought he didn't want her there. He took her hand again, prodding her with his youki and her aura reacted in kind, the physical and spiritual contact working to reassure her.
"Umm…well…I don't really know how to answer that, Sesshomaru." She turned her eyes to meet his and he saw pain and healing within their depths. He waited patiently as she processed her thoughts. "I guess…" She looked away, " I guess I feel safe with you. I know that you will protect me, and I know that I can follow your lead without fear." Her eyes slowly rose to meet his, the earnestness in her gaze in complete contrast to the pensiveness that had been there previously. "You're strong, you're thoughtful, you're kind….you're my friend. I know that my other friends would welcome me back with open arms, but they have their own family to attend to; here, I feel like I have a place. I'm not in the way." Kagome shifted her hand and brought her other one up to cradle his between both of her. "I belong here, just like I told Koga…I belong here, following you." A tear slid down her face and Sesshomaru pulled his hand free and caught it on her cheek.
Sesshomaru sank to one knee, wrapping his arms around the fragile woman, and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "You do belong her, Miko." Sesshomaru felt her smile into his shoulder and grasp his kimono.
"I was afraid you were going to tell me to leave…" she whispered.
"Never." Kagome tilted her head to look at him and he nuzzled her temple, making her laugh. "Miko, do you trust me?"
Kagome's face lit with a surprised expression, "Explicitly," she replied without hesitation.
Sesshomaru couldn't contain himself and he allowed an animalistic grin to spread across his face, flashing the vulnerable girl a show of fangs. "Are you certain that is wise?"
Kagome narrowed her eyes but didn't move. "Yes." She replied again.
"Good." Tightening his grip on the woman, Sesshomaru launched them straight into the air, pushing branches aside like spiderwebs. Kagome squealed softly and buried her face into his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulder. Her faith in his strength brought a smile to his lips. Once above the trees, he drew his youki together and forced it beneath him to form a supporting cloud. A crash of thunder echoed through the air as the storm waged around them. The miko hunched her prone form closer into his protection and he soared upwards, lightning flashed through clouds around them and the rain whipped their skin. A sudden surge of electricity warned Sesshomaru of a near bolt and he quickly maneuvered out of its path. Kagome's powers flared in reaction to the dangerous proximity and he felt her aura wrap around his youki layering itself under his protective energies. Another surge of youki and they were above the clouds, the wind and rain stopped and there was calm. Kagome's power settled and she slowly lifted her head to gaze around them, Sesshomaru set her feet on his and held her steady as she turned her back into his chest and looked out over the ocean of storm clouds beneath them.
The miko gasped in awe as she took in the breath-taking view. The deep indigo sky hung velvety about them, dotted everywhere with stars that shone brightly as diamonds. A full moon hung low in the sky, a deep silver sphere so close they almost felt like they could reach out and touch it. And that's just what Kagome did, she released her hold on him and reached both hands out towards the sky; her trust that he would not allow her to fall sank into him with such appreciation. He tightened his grasp on her, not for fear of dropping her, but in the desire to keep her close. She leaned back into him and lay her head against the hollow near his shoulder. She tilted her face towards him and smiled, "Sesshomaru, it's so beautiful." He smiled gently at her and she turned her face back to the sky.
Lightning rippled through the indigo and grey clouds beneath them, lighting the shifting blanket and giving it the appearance of an unsettled, billowing ocean. Kagome lifted both arms above her head and wrapped them around his neck, pushing herself to her tiptoes and arching her back to keep him from needing to bend down. He lowered his head to rest against hers and maneuvered his hand so his fingers splayed across her abdomen, holding her securely to him. Kagome inhaled deeply and smiled, "You smell just like the storm, Sesshomaru." He nuzzled her.
They hovered there, watching the moon and the sea of untamed clouds, for quite some time before Kagome curled into him once more, seeking refuge from the cold of the low atmosphere. Sesshomaru slid the crook of his left arm beneath her knees and cradled her with his right, pulling her against his chest protectively. The woman was asleep within moments. Sesshomaru waited until the storm had died down enough to pass through the clouds with relative ease and Kagome didn't wake until his feet were once again firmly on the ground. She stretched and looked up at him apologetically. He smiled reassuringly and carried her back under the protection of her makeshift tent. She slid out of his arms and he sank to the ground beside the tree, leaning his back against the trunk in his customary sleeping position. Kagome shivered and reached for her sleeping bag. Sesshomaru reached out and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her down into his lap with a satisfying huff. She looked up at him quizzically and he rubbed his nose against her temple. "You will sleep here tonight," he whispered and a gratifying blush spread across Kagome's cheeks, but she nodded her acceptance and snuggled into his arms. He adjusted the heat that emanated from his body, attempting to dry the little female in his arms. He just wasn't ready to put her down yet.
He remembered the first time he had seen Inuyasha on the full moon. The hanyou had been a mere pup and gotten lost in the woods surrounding his village. The child's mother had called on Sesshomaru to find the missing boy and he had begrudgingly followed the pup's scent into the forest. He found him cowering beneath a mighty tree, it was storming, much like tonight. The hanyou's ears were plastered to his head and his face was streaked in tears. Sesshomaru had pulled him to his feet, ignoring the small hands that reached to him for comfort. He had returned the pup to his mother, but he had neither comforted nor warmed the terrified, wet child.
Sesshomaru tightened his grip on Kagome. How he wished he had been kinder to his brother while he was alive. He wouldn't allow his prejudices to damage his relationship with this woman, he would comfort her when she needed comforting, and warm her when she needed warmth. Sesshomaru buried his face in the miko's hair, inhaling her scent. Soon he was asleep, falling swiftly into a deep slumber.
Kagome felt the youkai beneath her relax, his breathing settling evenly in his sleep. She lifted her head to look at him and smiled, stretching up to nuzzle the bottom of his jaw as he had been doing to her all day. A soft, content growl rumbled through his chest and she snuggled further into the warmth and comfort that his arms provided. She fell asleep contemplating his unexpected proclivity towards snuggling.
Ok…so fluffy chapter, but I was
dying to fluff it up so yeah.
I had major writers block, so
I apologize for the wait
R&R and thanks so much to my
faithful readers
I LOVE YOU GUYS!