Chapter 21 - The Stars
Blinding lights, the deafening roar of speakers and a sharp smell of beer hit Kagome all at once. The door shut heavily with an ominous thud behind her. She glanced back warily and hoped it wasn't suddenly locked.
The building held both a separate bar and club inside. On one louder side of the building there was a dance floor filled with people, with bright lights flashing energetically and music blaring out from speakers. It had plush looking sofas lined up against the wall, but it was too crowded to really see them. On the other side, a quiet, lazy atmosphere filled the lone bar. It had tables set up everywhere like a restaurant but no customers. It was hard to believe that these two places shared a large room together.
Kagome sweat dropped, unsure what her next move was. She'd wanted to see if she could find Souten, but she couldn't imagine the little girl hanging around in this dingy building. She decided to approach the bar, but froze in place when she noticed someone familiar behind it.
Manten was bent down, putting some beers in a mini fridge and humming to himself. Kagome squatted behind one of the tables, feeling silly. Since Hiten had all but announced his loyalty to Naraku though, she didn't want either of the brothers to know she was there. Did they own the place?
She wondered if Souten was living with them. She glanced around the area, her lips thinning.
"Brother!" Manten suddenly wailed.
Kagome started, and waited for Hiten to reply, but Manten just kept talking. "Brother why? Why couldn't you let me have the night off? Instead you leave all the work to me!" He wined.
Rolling her eyes, the miko spotted a door behind the bar. Looking around, it seemed to be the only one aside from the bathrooms that led anywhere. Kagome focused, spreading out her reiki aura. It climbed up the walls, feeling around upstairs for any signs of life.
A bright spark flashed in her mind, and Kagome drew her aura back. If she was right, then Souten was upstairs.
The only problem was that Manten was behind the bar, blocking the way through.
Survying the room, her eyes landed on a glass that had been left on one of the tables. She quietly moved the glass slightly over the edge, before kicking the table leg, giving it the nessisary jolt that made it fall to the floor.
Kagome quickly moved so that she wouldn't be spotted.
The sound of glass hitting the floor grabbed Manten's attention, who shuffled around the bar to look at the damage. "Those awful speakers are too loud, now look what they've done! The very vibration of them shake this buildings foundations!"
While he was distracted, Kagome crawled behind the bar.
"Hey!"
She froze, heart thudding in her chest, but Mantan carried on. "You! Behind the speakers! Turn down this music instantly!"
There was a snarky reply. "Make me baldy!"
"B-baldy?" Was all Kagome heard as she crept through the door and found a flight of stairs.
As she followed them up, the music dulled slightly. When she arrived at the top, several rooms awaited her. Kagome frowned, trying to place where she'd felt the spark of thunder energy come from.
She moved with soft footed steps to one door and pushed it open.
The interior was dark and gloomy, but it had colorful pictures stuck to the walls, almost like someone had attempted to brighten up the place in vain. Kagome closed the door behind her once she saw the pictures, instantly recognizing the child-like scribbles.
"Souten?" She called out softly.
There was a rustle of movement from under the bed, and Kagome knelt down to the floor, peering under it. Sure enough, Souten squatted underneath, hugging her legs.
"How did you get in here?" She all but demanded, her tone at odds with her wide, frightened eyes.
Kagome stayed where she was, wondering why the girl was so afraid of her. She'd given her the same fearful look on the day of the Cultural Festival before she'd ran away.
"I kind of sneaked past your brother." She smiled.
Souten snorted and looked away. "You lie, Hiten would have spotted you."
Kagome blinked, before shaking her head, grinning. "Ah I should clarify it was Manten. If it had been Hiten then it would have been a different story."
Souten perked up at this, almost subconsciously happier at the mention of her brother's strength. "Heh, that's true, sneaking around him would've been an impressive feat!"
The little girl laughed, and Kagome smiled, moving forward slightly.
Red eyes caught her movement. "You should probably go, you'll get caught if you hang around here." Souten looked at her seriously, but Kagome shrugged, tucking her knees underneath her and leaning back on her arms.
"I'd really rather talk to you first. How about you come out from under the bed? You know I'm not going to hurt you Souten, I'd never do that."
Souten shifted. "I-I know, I'm not stupid. It's just...you're going to try and take me away from my brothers, aren't you?"
Kagome's brows furrowed, and she moved to try and get a better look at the girls shadowed face. "I didn't really come here with that in mind. Shippo told me everything, about the marble, about you coming into this world deliberately. You did it so you could be with your brothers huh?"
Souten's red eyes darted away from her, and the miko sighed heavily. "I see...were you lonely?"
She waited until the thunder demon had nodded slowly, before saying; "I'm sorry. We should have visited you more, made more of an effort. I should have-"
"It's not that stuff. You guys did enough."
Kagome bit her lip. "What about Koryu? Why isn't he with you?" She asked softly.
Souten tossed her head and sneered at the mention of her dragon familiar. "He didn't wanna come. Said I was in over my head and that it was a stupid idea. He just doesn't understand, no one does."
Silence filled the room. The music from downstairs was a muffled hum underneath them, and served as the only break in the tense quiet. Kagome leaned forward, her face drawn in concern.
Souten breathed in heavily, her shoulders shaking. "I...I'm the last member of the Thunder Demon Tribe. I have no way of bringing honor to their name, and even if I did, nothing would be grand enough to measure up to them. I'm alone, and...I just missed them so much. I don't care about that revenge stuff anymore, they died honorably in battle. I could never be sad about that, but..." She broke off, wiping her eyes furiously and shaking her head.
Her voice was clearer when she continued, but held a note of softness to it. It didn't escape Kagome's notice that she spoke about her brothers in past tense. She hadn't deluded herself into thinking her brothers were alive, even though she'd surrounded herself with their illusions.
"Manten, he always made the best out of a bad situation. If I used a thunder magic technique and it didn't work right, he'd just do something stupid to make me feel better and say to try another day. And Hiten, he always knew what he wanted to do, knew what his purpose was. He'd give me silly missions, like to find a diamond that he'd hidden for me earlier that day. Then he'd tell me how great I was when I succeeded." She shook her head in frustration.
"I've just been sitting at home coloring, doing nothing since they perished. How can I call myself a worthy member of my tribe without them?" Her voice broke as a breath shuddered out of her.
Kagome moved forward until she was right next to the bed. She smiled slightly. "You kind of just answered your own question. Your brothers called you a worthy member of their tribe even when you messed up and did little missions for them right? They were happy enough with that from you."
She paused to gather her thoughts, and then smiled gently. "You don't need to do something big so that you can honor their name, you honor it every day, because your alive. You're living and carrying their memory. That's enough for them, I know it. When the illusion Hiten spoke about your drawings, he was so proud of you. That was all he needed from you to be happy. I'm sure the real Hiten would feel the same."
A sniff caught her attention, and Kagome fought the urge to scoop Souten up into her arms. The little girl had allot of pride, so it was best not to push her. Instead, Kagome turned and leaned against the side of the bed, hands in her lap. "Besides, you're not the only one who feels like they have no direction. I'm the same."
"But, you're the Shikon miko."
Kagome snorted, smiling wryly to herself. "Yeah, the Shikon miko...the one who fixed the jewel and wished it away. Have you heard me do anything since?"
Silence was her answer, and Kagome's smile turned gentle. "Without some guidance, sometimes its difficult to motivate yourself into doing anything. I've just been playing dating games since I wished the jewel away."
Souten gave a shaky laugh. "Dating games?"
"Yep, so really, don't worry about it. We just need to keep trying until we find our way again. A way that's right for us."
Kagome waited, listening for the thunder demons reply. A few sniffs and a hiccup later, Souten crawled out from under the bed. She sat beside Kagome at first, her cheeks tinged red, before shuffling into her side.
This was all the prompting needed for Kagome, who pulled the girl into her arms a moment later. Her heart warmed as Souten rested against her, hiccuping every now and then, stubbornly fighting away tears.
Since she was no longer under the cover of shadow her bed had provided, Kagome finally got a good look at the thunder demon. She was pale, almost as pale as Shippo had been before Sesshoumaru had given him youki. Kagome frowned in concern, placing a hand on her head. She was warm, but not feverish, yet this wasn't enough to reassure her.
It would probably be only a week until she fell into a state similar to how Shippo had been. Her levels of youki were weak, enough so that it had dulled her hair. Kagome bit her lip and hugged the girl to her.
What should I do?
She didn't get much of a chance to dwell on her thoughts as the door suddenly slammed open on its hinges.
Kagome turned in alarm, her eyes widening.
"I thought I sensed someone familiar, welcome to our humble abode Shikon miko." Hiten grinned, stepping into the room.
Souten stood up quickly. "Brother, Kagome was just-"
"Don't get riled up Souten, I just want a chat with our guest, nothing more. You don't mind, do you miko?" The thunder brother leered at her, but Kagome ignored him.
Instead she turned to Souten. "You know that youki is being drained here Souten, you cant stay in this world forever. Please be careful, and if you need help come find me."
Kagome felt a jolt as she was roughly yanked up by the back of her collar. She pulled herself free from Hiten's grip and glared, but he only grinned and walked out the door, expecting her to follow.
Kagome knew she couldn't take Souten with her, no matter how much she wanted to. She'd just have to trust that Souten would be alright.
She looked back at the worried little girl. "It'll be okay. Just think about what I said, alright?"
Souten stared at her, red eyes swimming with emotion as she nodded silently.
Kagome smiled and then walked out the room, finding Hiten waiting for her in the hallway. He gave her an unreadable look and then walked on.
She followed him past several doors, and then down a long passage that seemed to narrow in on itself. She fought not to feel claustrophobic as she noticed there weren't any windows.
At the end of the long passage was a door. Hiten opened it, waiting for her to enter first. Kagome hesitated, before stepping forward into the room.
OOO
It was as dark and gloom filled as Souten's room had been. It had all sorts of different weapons hung up on the walls, each looking sharp and threatening as they glinted in the light. Kagome felt sweat bead at the back of her neck.
"How about a drink?" Hiten's lips lifted, and he grabbed a nearby bottle along with two glasses held between his fingers.
"Um, no thanks." Kagome muttered, highly confused and suspicious.
"I'll take one."
Kagome jumped out of her skin, only just noticing Bankotsu in the room. He leaned against the far wall, looking bored.
"Ah, hey didn't see you there. How are things?" Hiten poured a drink for the mercenary, who shrugged.
"Slow as usual, you know how it is."
Hiten nodded sagely, handing him the drink. Kagome watched all of this with disbelieving eyes. They're catching up like old buddies? I thought this would be some sort of interrogation, what the heck?
When they continued to chat among themselves, Kagome found herself actually clearing her throat to interrupt them. Hiten blinked before seeming to come back to himself. He smiled and sat down on a nearby leather sofa, gesturing she do the same. Despite her protest, Hiten poured her a drink and placed it in her hands the moment she sat down.
"I really don't-"
Hiten's eyes glittered in amusement. "Don't start an argument about this Shikon miko. You can rest assured Naraku doesn't know you're here, I'm just giving you this as a sort of condition."
"Condition?"
The thunder demon leaned back in his seat. "Yeah, you drink that and I'll tell you some stuff I know about Naraku. Deal?"
Kagome's eyes widened. She didn't want to call attention to how ridiculous that sounded but really she was too suspicious not to. "That doesn't make any sense. You brought me here to help me? I thought you were on Naraku's side?"
Bankotsu laughed quietly to himself, sitting on the window frame not too far away. Hiten just smiled. "Yeah I am, but only because he promised to help me out in return. Since he's taking so long in actually sealing his end of the deal, I thought I'd speed things up a bit."
Seeing that she was still confused, he sighed. "I've had my memories back for awhile now, so has Bankotsu and Naraku. Anyways I know I'm dead, and that Souten came here to spend time with me and Manten again."
He shook his head and lifted the glass to his lips, suddenly allot more thoughtful and mature than Kagome had ever seen him. "After piecing everything together, I now know why Souten is getting weaker. It's because of that damn barrier you put up. It's draining her, it'll probably kill her soon. That's why I teamed up with Naraku. He said he could get you to use the marble and send everyone alive back to your world."
Kagome's eyes widened, and she stared at him for a long moment. He just wants to save his sister.
"B-but, the reason I don't want to use it is because it'll leave me behind when it takes everyone else." She murmured faintly.
Hiten's face darkened impossibly fast, his eyes brimming with a fierce hatred. "You think I care what happens to you?"
The room was plunged into silence. Kagome looked away, her hands tightening on the glass in her lap.
Bankotsu sighed at the drama of it all and spoke up. "Look just drink and we'll explain what we know about Naraku."
Kagome glanced up at him sharply. "Why are you here anyway?"
He rolled his eyes and smiled in a way that Kagome couldn't place. He looked so boyish and handsome that any dark expression didn't seem to fit his face. "I'm just here for the free food and the entertainment of course."
Kagome frowned and looked at the drink in her hand. It had a clear, greenish tinge to it. She wondered if it was sake, and took a sniff, instantly regretting it. She pulled the glass away from her sharply, trying not to retch.
"What the heck is this stuff?"
Hiten waved it off, back to his usual smirking self. "Just something strong for the road. I can't have you wondering out of this place sober, a place I own. Naraku's spies might see you and report back to him. Any idea how suspicious that would look?"
He has spies?
Kagome's gaze shifted between the two, not trusting them for a moment. Still, she felt like Hiten had been honest with her about his concern for Souten, so if he wanted to talk maybe he wouldn't harm her once she took the drink.
Still, she wanted a guarantee. "Give me your word that nothing bad will happen to me once I drink this. You wont hurt or kidnap me, and I mean both of you swear."
Bankotsu held up his hand and smoothed his expression in an attempt to mollify her. "I'm really not interested in starting something Kagome."
Hiten also swore, "same here, it'd be too much trouble."
"You said you don't care what happens to me. Also I remember Sesshoumaru saying that he...spoke with you, after you dropped me off at the house that one time."
He leaned forward, his hand ghosting over his neck a moment. A large smile split his face at the memory."Yeah, I remember too. He's got a good grip that Daiyoukai, I'll give him that much."
Hiten suddenly sobered, looking straight at her. "But those things don't matter right now. I'm not going to hurt you, idiot."
Her eyes narrowed, and hoping her instincts were right, she lifted the glass to her lips and quickly downed the drink.
Fire ignited in her throat, and she coughed harshly, putting a hand to her neck. Tears stung her eyes. Both Bankotsu and Hiten laughed at her reaction.
There was no taste to it, just a burning feeling on the inside of her mouth. Her tongue ached with the sting.
Hiten slapped her on the shoulder, "there you go Shikon miko! That'll put some hair on your chest!"
She chocked, "what?!"
"It's an expression." He rolled his eyes.
Bankotsu looked at the clock on the wall. "We have about 15 minutes before that stuff takes effect."
Hiten nodded and turned to Kagome, who was still rubbing her neck in an attempt to soothe her throat. "Alright miko, you know that Naraku wants to keep you in this world, right? That's why he wants you to use the marble, not win the whole game thing?"
She nodded, and he continued. "You ever wondered why that was?"
Kagome thought to herself. "He said he can't leave this world."
"Yeah, that's the thing. He's not real, just like Bankotsu and I. We're all illusions, but Naraku is a specific part of you. When you made this place, your thoughts kind of meshed with your nightmares, creating him. That's why he knows so much about you, where to strike, what weak points to hit. He was shaped by your memories of him like us two, but he's like a big piece of you that's been cut out and made in his image."
Bankotsu spoke up, arms folded and looking bored. "He wants to keep you in here because you fuel the illusions, without you in here, he dies, just like us. That's why he wants you to use the marble, it'll get rid of the competition and keep you in here, giving him life forever."
Kagome's head reeled, both with the bombardment of information and the drink working it's way through her system. She thought for a long moment. "Why are you telling me this?"
Bankotsu sighed, rubbing his head. "It goes against my survival instincts to say this, but I kind of don't want to live in this world. It's just day after day of working, no battles, no bloodshed. I don't care one way or the other if you win or not."
The thunder demon leaned into Kagome's line of sight, looking much more serious and solemn. "I need my little sister out of here. You're taking too long to get that dog demon to love you. I don't believe you'll win the game before something happens to Souten."
Hiten suddenly stood, walking over to a wooden cabinet and opening it. He took out a box, and opened it, taking out what lay inside.
Kagome's eyes widened at the sight of the marble. She stood up shakily and backed up against the opposite wall as Hiten stepped closer.
"That's why you're going to use this right now. I'm not gonna wait around anymore." He held it out to her, but Kagome shook her head.
If she did use it, then everyone would be saved. But on the other hand, she would be left behind, and Sesshoumaru would lose all his memories of their time together.
Hiten seemed to read her thoughts, and sneered. "So self righteous, and yet so obviously selfish. Am I right miko?"
Kagome put her hand on the wall behind her, feeling woozy. "I-I just need a bit more time, a week perhaps. I know I can win with Sesshoumaru."
"And what if Souten doesn't have that long? What then?"
"Sesshoumaru could-" Kagome broke off, realizing that she was signing him up to give youki without his consent. She put a hand to her face, feeling a sickness curl in her stomach. Her mind was begging to sink out of focus, a pleasant buzz drumming against her temples.
She couldn't keep asking Sesshoumaru to drain himself for other people. Eventually there'd be nothing left of him.
Hiten stepped forward, shoving the marble into her frozen hand. "Use it. If you're the hero its kind of expected you do this stuff. I got a good insight into your brain when I was created along with the illusion. You want to matter again, don't you? Use this and they wont remember what happened here, but people on the outside will be able to tell them, right?"
Rin, she could tell them.
"You'll be remembered as something more than just the Shikon miko. You'll have saved all their lives. Isn't that what you want?" Hiten's voice was sharp around the edges. He wasn't quite as good as Naraku at persuading people, used to getting what he wanted by taking it by force.
But Kagome could see the merit behind his words, even while frozen with uncertainty. Yet she didn't feel as stressed as usual, in fact she felt so bubbly she could dance.
A large grin spread over her face as she laughed. "Dunno! Boy you's guys look so serious! Lighten upp!"
Hiten blinked, "what?"
He turned to Bankotsu, who was fighting a grin. The mercenary shrugged. "Guess that stuff took effect quicker than expected. She must have had a light lunch for it to have worked this fast."
"Lets go sing karaoke! Woo-ho! Come on Hi-ten! Sing Thunderstruck with me!" Kagome giggled, pulling on Hiten's arm.
He cursed under his breath and grabbed onto her arms. "Hey, get serious. You need to use this-" Hiten gestured to the marble in her hand. "So activate your miko powers right now!"
"Okay!" She chirped. Immediately Hiten tore his hands away from her, roaring in pain. Her reiki danced in the space between them, burning brightly.
Bankotsu couldn't help but laugh, and Hiten rounded on him, glaring furiously. "What the hell are you laughing at!"
"Hey, don't that this out on me, this is your fault."
"My fault! You're the one who-" Kagome didn't hear anymore, she'd stepped out the room, walking down the hallway in a hazy state.
A relieved breath escaped her, and she carefully navigated down the stairs. She wasn't drunk like she'd pretended, but she could feel the effects of the alcohol, and feared that very soon she would be. She found the marble was still in her hand, and dazedly put it in her jacket pocket.
Shoving past a confused Manten, who spluttered a complaint, she made her way unsteadily to the door. Before she got there however, she noticed a familiar face.
"M-miroku?" She uttered, squinting. Sure enough, the monk was sat on one of the plush sofas by the wall, watching people dance.
He grinned up at her. "Hello fair maiden, would you consider baring my children?"
He sounded eloquent and put together, but Kagome knew Miroku when he was drunk. He appeared totally normal, except he could barely walk and had less control of his hands if that was possible.
Miroku smiled happily, offering her a drink, and it was then that she noticed his hand. She grabbed it and turned his palm over, noticing that it was covered in bandages.
"Miroku, what happened?"
"Hmm? Oh nothing, you see-" He pulled the bandages away, revealing no cuts or burns. Instead there was a black patch that looked like it had been painted on in the center of his hand.
His deep, kind eyes looked old and worn when they looked at her. "It's the absence of something that causes the pain."
Kagome reeled back, as though struck. She hadn't spent much time with Miroku in this world, but had he been suffering by himself all this time? Even without the barrier draining him, he must have been quietly wondering why he felt the need to cover his hand. She wondered if he felt a great japing hole within his palm.
The tender moment between them was instantly lost however when she felt his hand on her ass.
Smacking him upside the head, she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him with her. "That's it, you've had enough."
"Kagome! There's my woman!"
She froze, Miroku bumping into her as she stopped. Koga wandered over, laughing merrily as Ayame trailed in his wake, looking miffed. Her eyes brightened when they landed on the miko.
"Kagome! Please, you have to help me get him home."
The buzz that had been gradually wearing Kagome down now tingled warmly, making her relaxed. She smiled, when a part of her cried out in frustration.
"Of courrse! Two's a crowd and three's company after all!" She grinned. Ayame looked puzzled, before shaking her head.
This was how the unlikely group found themselves stumbling down the street late at night. Miroku's arm was slung over Kagome's shoulder, who balanced Ayame while she held onto Koga.
When they stumbled and Kagome grabbed onto Ayame, Koga growled; "Get your hands off my woman!"
Kagome laughed, "Ayame's not in danger from me, I don't swing that way." She held up her hand, dropping Miroku to the floor in the process.
"I swing towards Sess-Sesshou-...Mr. Grumpy pants." She shook her head, feeling dazed.
When they continued on, Miroku staggering to catch up, Ayame turned to Kagome. "I thought I saw something going on between you and Mr. Taisho. Is it true you're living with him now?"
"Yep!" Kagome smiled, happy at the memory.
She heard her name being called, and turned in confusion to see Hojo running up to her. "Kagome! Are you alright? Do you need any help?"
Kagome grinned and practically fell on him, hugging him close. Hojo blushed and stuttered while Koga distantly shouted; "Get yer hands off my woman!"
Hojo tried to right Kagome, feeling her forehead and seeing her wide, unfocused eyes. "Are you drunk?" He asked, scandalized.
"Nooo, I'm Kagome silly." She blinked up at him, only just noticing the Love Meter. It was at the blue marker, and even in her current state, Kagome distantly knew what that meant.
She swiftly backed away from him on pure instinct, laughing and waving her hands. "I really gotta go though, but we'll catch up soon okay?"
Hojo's hands dropped to his sides. "Are you sure you don't need help?"
"Nope! It's all good!" Kagome slung Miroku's arm around her shoulder, and turned, catching up with Ayame.
Hojo watched her go, a dusty blush still on his face as his Love Meter rose once more.
OOO
He surveyed the group that stumbled towards him, laughing merrily. The wolf seemed entirely out of it, being held up by a sober red head wolf who he recognized from school. The monk had a lost, almost mournful look on his face, but didn't appear as drunk as the miko, who was currently dancing atop a parked car.
Sesshoumaru sighed and walked forward, something between concern, uncertainty and anger gripping him. He was unused to dealing with drunks.
His voice was calm but clear. "Kagome."
Her eyes swayed towards him, and she suddenly brightened, looking so impossibly happy it caught him by surprise. The street light above bathed her in a glow, almost making her shine. Even her scent, though ridden with the sharp smell of alcohol, was bright and happy.
He hadn't seen her quite so free and unburdened for a long time.
Kagome waved at him enthusiastically and teetered on the edge of the car roof. "Sesshou-maru!" She sang, before looking up at the sky almost sadly.
"Why are the stars fake, Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru appeared infront of her when she swayed unsteadily, nearly falling off the car. His arm wrapped around her waist, his eyes roving over her face.
"You are inebriated."
She giggled, blushing. "No I'm not, I'm drunk silly."
He turned sharply, his eyes locking on Ayame, who gulped. Why did she have to be the only sober one?
"What happened?" He demanded.
Ayame looked away, intimidated despite the picture she was presented with of a Daiyoukai holding a giggling miko atop a yellow mini. "I don't know what happened to Kagome, we found her and Miroku at a bar and she said she'd help drag this simpleton home. Only we got turned around and now we're kind of lost."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flicked to Koga, who leaned against the girl heavily, half asleep. He then looked at Miroku, who swayed on the spot despite standing still.
He sighed inwardly, wanting to pinch the bridge of his nose. "My home is not far. You may stay for the night."
Ayame's eyes widened. "O-oh we couldn't impose."
Sweeping the miko into his arms, Sesshoumaru jumped onto the street, landing next to the monk. Pushing him forward slightly to get him to walk, he ignored the female wolf's protests. The situation was unfavorable, but he knew each of them had once been an ally against Naraku, that at least eased the situation somewhat. Also the miko would have a rant at him if he left them out in the street.
Kagome leaned her head against his shoulder as he walked. "You know, I've never seen you drunk before."
"Hn, the country does not have enough sake that would be up to the task. You forget this is not my true form."
"Ohh I never forget." She sighed sleepily against him before suddenly exclaiming; "Oh god, I'm attracted to someone who's actually a big fluffy dog!"
He heard a noise and noticed the female wolf hide her mouth behind her hand. Sesshoumaru decided to hang back from the group, murmuring to Kagome. "It appears I have fallen prey to a mule headed miko, fate is sometimes cruel."
Kagome's unfocused eyes gazed up at him, her hand resting on his chest as she smiled. His heartbeat picked up, and he was certain she felt it.
"You never carried me like this in the feudal era. Though you did kind of carry me when you let me ride mokomoko." She giggled faintly at the memory, her breath dusting across his cheek.
His lashes lowered. How he wished she were sober, then he could perhaps act on the warmth in his chest. He tried to instill logic and facts into his mind. Now is not the time, he reminded himself firmly.
"Inuyasha would probably have killed you had I carried you. He was reacting on instinct, and you covered in my scent would have sent him over the edge."
"Mmm maybe." Her hands tightened, and he looked down just as she leaned up to whisper in his ear. "But you know, mokomoko isn't the only thing of yours I'd ride."
Sesshoumaru's steps faulted, before he continued on. Unsure how to respond, he tried to stifle the tight feeling in his chest. "You are drunk." He muttered faintly, perhaps to remind himself.
Kagome laughed, eyes far away. "Drunk mans thoughts, and sober mans words Sesshoumaru!"
He cut his eyes to the sky at this. "You do not know what you do by tempting me."
"Maybe I do."
Sesshoumaru looked down at her sharply, but found only a lazy smile and glossy eyes. "Then you are cruller than I initially thought." He muttered, playing along.
"...You have no idea."
There was a note of deep sadness in her voice, and Sesshoumaru glanced at her again, finding her glossy eyes looking almost lifeless and filled with shadow. He did not like this new development, and tried to pry her thoughts away from whatever dark part of her they'd crept to.
His aura coated her in a thick layer of warmth, shielding her from the cool night air. She smiled faintly, and released her own, its power merging with his naturally.
Once they reached the house, Sesshoumaru's youki turned sharp as he flared it out towards Inuyasha and Jaken in a strong burst of power.
There was a crash and a bang, accompanied by the sound of a flower pot breaking, before Jaken joined them at the door. "Mi Lord! What can I help you with?!" He panted.
"Remove their shoes Jaken." Sesshoumaru gestured to the two drunkards, while Ayame took off her own and Kagome's.
Inuyasha eventually met them in the hallway, rubbing his face. "What the hell is going on?"
"Take our guests upstairs and find rooms for them." Was Sesshoumaru's curt reply, before adding; "Place bins next to their beds."
Inuyasha glared, but froze when Miroku leaned heavily against him, muttering Sango's name. Koga yelled in outrage when Inuyasha put his arm around the monk to try and steady him.
"Getcha hands off my woman!"
As they argued, Sesshoumaru carried his miko into the kitchen to get a glass of water. He placed her down, and put the glass in her hands. "Drink this." He said, hoping he could lessen the hangover she'd have tomorrow.
Kagome laughed softly. "You sound like Hiten." She then brought the glass to her lips and downed it as if it were alcohol.
Hot, white rage assaulted his bloodstream, and Sesshoumaru took a breath, his eyes burning. "Is the thunder demon the reason you are intoxicated? Did he do something?"
"Uh huh, he said it was my condition if I wanted information."
"Information." He tasted the word on his tongue. So that was why the miko was drunk. He had thought it strange she would be drinking, since she didn't seem inclined to it.
He carried Kagome upstairs after that, and placed her unsteadily in the hall as he opened the door to her bedroom. He turned when he heard the distant shouts of Koga arguing with Inuyasha about which room he could have.
When he turned back to the miko however, she was gone. Following her scent, he was brought up short when he found her in his room, falling onto the bed.
Sesshoumaru blinked, closing the door behind him. He wasn't exactly prudish, nor thought himself gentlemanly, but when she began to undress he quickly stopped her hands.
It was more for her benefit, since he could imagine her tomorrow, blushing and humiliated if he allowed her to continue. He did take off her socks, and helped her out of her light jacket, but after that he pushed her gently down into bed.
She smiled dazedly up at him, and he had to stifle the flood of wanting that filled him. There she lay, innocent and completely unaffected in his bed. He shook his head and smiled slightly as he sat next to her.
"Sesshoumaru, I gotta tell you something."
"Tomorrow miko, tell me tomorrow." If it were something important, he'd rather hear it when she were sober.
She grew quiet, before sighing. "I like you, allot. I like you more than pastrami."
"What?"
"Astronomy! I like you more than that." She motioned towards the space book she'd given him on Valentines that rested on his nightstand.
Her eyes were growing heavy as she murmured faintly. "Do you know how much I like Astronomy? I love it. My dad, he used to tell me all about the stars, which ones added up to that belt, which ones were dying. When he died too, I found out all I could about them so I could..."
Kagome trailed off, her words ending with a sigh. "So I could be closer to him."
Sesshoumaru watched her fall into sleep, his eyes never straying. When her breaths evened out, he looked over to the window.
Millions of stars should have greeted him, but as such, only a few glinted in the sky. He knew them to be fake, and not for the first time, wished he were back home. When he'd flown in the night sky, sometimes reaching them had felt possible.
He made a silent vow. One day, I will take you closer to them than you have ever been before Kagome.
ooo
This is just a bit of downtime before the next, which is where the drama really picks up and we start to wind down towards the ending. Hold onto your hats folks, there be bumpy seas ahead! Thanks for the reviews!