I implore you, my watchers, to read Unspoiled by forthright. It is an amazing and wonderfully crafted story. And also, thank you for all of your advice and kind criticism, I try to listen well.
When Kagome woke the next day, she felt stiff… Moving her arms a little, she realized that it was indeed illness overtaking her. If this feeling was anything to go by, the annoying, gritting sensation of it, she knew she was going to have one hell of a sickness. Sitting up wasn't a simple task, her body did its best to ignore her will of it to move, upsetting her.
Did getting sick always have to make you feel so icky? She didn't appreciate the preparation for what she already knew was coming. She'd rather have a few more, great days left and then just… Fall into it.
"How do ye feel, child?" Keade asked, surprising Kagome from her review of the stiffness she was feeling.
"Uh, not as good as yesterday." Kagome smiled weakly before glancing around, noticing it was too roomy and too quiet. "Where is everyone, Keade?"
The old woman sat rather quietly for a moment, continuing to stir some sort of stew, if the scent was anything to judge by. "They have gone off to discuss ye predicament, though ye demon guard rest outside and Lord Sesshoumaru is no where to be seen."
Kagome swallowed the information, uncertain of how she should feel. "Why wouldn't they talk to me, Keade? After all, it's me that's got to deal with whatever is going to happen."
Sighing, Keade simply remained very still. "I can not say, Kagome." Watching the girls unhappy expression, she added. "Ye would do well not to dwell. Rest, try to retain your strength."
She frowned, shaking her head. "No, I don't like this. I'm not being told something, and I won't sit here doing nothing." Kagome winced as she forced herself to stand, still dressed in her pants and light, long sleeved top from yesterday. "Akin?" She called softly, semi winded.
The dragon demon was by her side in the blink of an eye. "Lady, I agree with the priestess. You should-" She interrupted his obvious concern, anxiety in the demon that Keade did not miss.
"You're either going to help me there, or I'll be going alone, whichever you prefer." Kagome said firmly, her blue eyes sparking with a determination.
Akin's expression hardened briefly before he bowed tensely before Kagome. "Very well, Lady. Shall we go now?" He asked through grit teeth, concerned over her. She was already smelling of illness, which left him uncomfortable. She needn't travel to any sort of destination, else risk growing even more ill.
Kagome walked from the hut, looking up to Akin as he came by her side. "Which way?" She asked.
He let out a very low, nearly unnoticeable hiss, surprising her before he lifted her into his arms, moving quickly to the group's position. The sooner this was dealt with, the sooner Kagome would rest her ever growing weary body. Then he could keep a strict watch over her as the others searched for a way to cure her.
Akin stopped abruptly, leaping backwards into a low stretching tree limb, his eyes growing colder. Kagome started in surprise, looking before them. "Sesshoumaru…?" She whispered, confused.
His eyes met her own for one moment, long enough to send her heart stuttering, before his eyes clashed with Akin's frosty apricot. "You are an inadequate defender, Akin. Leave the girl to my care."
This would more than likely be what his Lord wanted, but Akin couldn't willingly let Kagome be left to Sesshoumaru's eyes. Who knew how she would be treated should her temper flare and she direct it at Sesshoumaru. He wasn't known for dealing with insubordination. "Are you so certain it is I whom is the one unable to look after the miko?" He asked, a dangerous undercurrent to his voice.
Kagome watched Sesshoumaru quirk one white brow into his bangs before slowly turning her eyes to Akin. At first she'd been so happy to see Sesshoumaru, surprised, yet happy. Now… She wasn't sure… What was Akin thinking? Sesshoumaru wouldn't take well to his words, which she didn't even understand why Akin had said such a thing in the first place. What was up with him? He was acting funny around her anyway…
"You do not question a Lord, Akin, and you certainly do not question this Sesshoumaru." The Taiyoukai warned, angry.
Kagome shuddered as Akin's aura suddenly electrified warningly, affronting her spiritual powers. She was happy to feel them after her excursion yesterday and quickly held them in check for fear of harming the dragon demon, but she did not like his sudden willfulness. It was always good to have a will, but not the sort he was brandishing now. Sesshoumaru would surely kill him if he kept it up.
"You can not guarantee me that you will not harm Lady Kagome in your righteous anger. Without such a guarantee, I wouldn't dare release her to your wayward care." Kagome looked at him like he had lost his mind, and Akin thought he very well may have, but he had never trusted Sesshoumaru. That would not change now.
"You will release her. It has been made clear by Kagome herself that she has desire to be near I rather than you." Sesshoumaru took Tokijen from his side. "Do not and you will die."
Fear entered her blood. "Akin, do as he says. Just let me down and-"
His demonic energy surrounded Kagome in a very fierce, protective manner. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as the inner demon twitched, realizing what Akin did not. "No." He told her.
Kagome wasn't sure what she had intended to say, but whatever it may have been, the comment stuck in her throat as something grazed her nerves, a demonic energy from the opposite end of the pathway in the woods. The familiar flicker of demonic power, the only that could belong to Sesshoumaru, flared in agitation. "Then I will make it so you must unhand her." Kagome turned her eyes to Sesshoumaru just before he moved forward, giving Akin just enough time to deposit her safely on the forest floor.
Sesshoumaru wasn't playing games, he raised Tokijen when Akin moved from Kagome and she could feel the power envelope the sword before it rocketed out from it. Akin avoided it, but just barely as he summoned energy from within him, lightning charging the ground from the sky.
Sesshoumaru parried away the strikes before running at Akin head on, his eyes pulsing with brightness in the shade the tress offered. "Sesshoumaru-" Kagome began to call when a strike nearly hit him.
"Be silent." He said loudly enough for her to hear.
Kagome swallowed, wanting to do anything but keep quiet. Yet, would she be a distraction to him if she continued speaking? For fear of such a possibility, Kagome swallowed her next comment and only watched, uncertain of what she should do. She wouldn't want to purify either demon, and without beads of submission, it wasn't like she could make either of them immobile, could she?
Akin leapt up, barely avoiding Sesshoumaru's forward thrust of the blade, pushing a torrent of wind down toward the dog demon. Being so close, he couldn't avoid it. The wind slammed into his right shoulder and Kagome heard a popping sound as Sesshoumaru winced. Her heart leapt into her chest, but as soon as the two moved away from one another, Sesshoumaru's arm popped itself back into place, relieving her, but only somewhat.
Where Akin landed, she realized he was favoring his left side, which made her nervous. Was his injury still bothering him? As if to answer her question, blood slowly began to show on the back of his hoari. "Akin, stop fighting!" She called, afraid for him.
He was her friend, she didn't want to see him hurt. Why was he acting this way? Sesshoumaru wasn't going to hurt her now. Of course this was all very confusing, but when she and Inuyasha had gotten closer, it was rather sudden. So this change could be somewhat explainable, couldn't it? If they stopped fighting, maybe she could talk to Akin so he wouldn't be so worried…
Kagome's thoughts were torn from her as Akin stood his ground, energy swirling around him, lighting his face as the aura suddenly crackled. He acted as though he didn't hear her and it hurt her beyond words. "Please Akin, stop this! You're my friend, I don't want you hurt!"
"The only one who shall be injured on this day, is Lord Sesshoumaru." He hissed, the youkai rising in him with a fiery rage.
"Hn," Sesshoumaru scoffed, feeling the energy rising all around Akin. Suddenly the demon threw one arm out toward him, sending blue and green lightning directly for Sesshoumaru. Kagome's heartbeat still sounded over the sizzling of the demons power, annoying Sesshoumaru. Even when she didn't speak, she was a distraction. Wonderful.
Holding Tokijen before him, he let the energy swirl around the sword, murmuring. "Dragon Strike."
The miko's heart faltered at the name of the attack, watching as the blue dragon screeched along the ground, flying over it fluidly, meeting the lightning head on, dueling with it and devouring the power before move head on for Akin.
She screamed, rushing forward, the purity in her body suddenly gushing to life. Calling it so demandingly the day before left it right there in her grasp and it came so willingly that she had no time to hold it back. Blue light came from her spread palm, making its way to the dragon. The beast was struck by her power and Tokijen's attack was rendered useless.
Kagome dropped to the ground after a moment, her breath difficult to drag in and when she did, it sounded garbled. She tried taking in another, but could only shiver as it refused to do as she desired. "Se-Se…" She couldn't even speak.
Sesshoumaru was beside her instantly, his eyes revealing nothing, yet within he felt subtle hints of anxiety. He pushed the useless emotion down. He needed to reason and think logically. "You can not breathe in the least?" Though she took in air, from the sounds of it, he needed to know if any actually made it into her lungs, rather being lodged in her throat.
Kagome shook her head.
"Lie down." He demanded, assisting her as she did what she was told. He placed two fingers in between her chest, making Kagome nervous. Had she the ability to be embarrassed, she would have been. Not being able to breathe changed things. She was just afraid of whatever he was doing…
His demon snaked out onto her skin, forcing its way into her lungs. The purity immediately did as he expected and rose to meet his, though it did not harm him, it pushed back. The clashing of their aura was all it took to open her lungs. Kagome gasped wildly for air, her body shuddering with the relief of being able to actually breathe.
He watched her impassively as she gasped for air, looking at him just as closely. Tears stung her eyes, as he had expected. She'd been suffocating and when most humans survived such a thing, their fear of death caught them and they often proceeded to cry. Kagome, he had known, would be no exception.
Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to Akin and the guard did not miss the way his eyes heated with rage, just as Sesshoumaru did not miss the guilt. "Because of your foolishness, her illness has been made into that much more of a problem. If you ever behave in such a manner again, I will not hesitate to strike you down."
Kagome struggled for words, confused. "You weren't going to kill him?" She wondered, confused.
"He would have survived at least that, miko." Sesshoumaru gazed into her blue eyes, the hostility no where to be found. "Tokijen can muster more power than that."
The admittance surprised her, but her mind recalled something of equal importance. "Can I go to them now?" She asked, referring to the group of shard hunters.
"They have left just recently to find a wild herb that is supposed to heal whatever illness may come over your human body." Sesshoumaru said. "Akin senses the demon slayer who remained with the kit."
Kagome nodded. "Are they coming-"
"They have sensed the battle. It will be moments more before they reach us."
There was a decent paused between the two, the wind fluttering their hair in the brief silence.
Kagome broke it. "Did you mean what you said yesterday?" She asked, her heart catching for a moment. "You know, that you will always protect me?"
His jaw tightened and he gazed down at her with an indescribable expression. Was she such a foolish human that she did not know anything of honor? "I do not say anything I do not mean, human." Sesshoumaru said in annoyance.
She bit her lip and his eyes narrowed upon the action. Rin often did so and usually asked something ridiculous after. He wondered if the human would do so as well. "Even if I'm really, super sick and dieing, will you be here?"
Insufferable woman. "No." He said, bored. Before Kagome could be hurt by his words, he added. "I will be wherever you may be." Kagome stared at him surprise. "Be it future, present or, should you fall farther, the past. I will not leave you to your death, miko."
"Kagome…" She whispered, wanting to hear him say her name.
Sesshoumaru raised his head higher, arching a brow. The look in her blue eyes, the way they glowed showed a need. "I will not abandon you in your pathetic, human weakness, Kagome." Somehow, the annoying girl still managed to smile breathtakingly at him for such a remark. Perhaps he should have said something more insulting… That smile irked him, perhaps because he found he enjoyed it, as odd as it was to enjoy a smile.
Then the smile he was trying to decide whether or not he enjoyed faltered and turned into a worried expression as she tried to sit upright. He found he rather her smile as she took a sharp breath, making it to a seated position. It had taken all of his will not to help her up, because he didn't know how to feel towards her knowing just how much his inner demon desired to assist her.
She turned, her eyes scanning the trees and the battles sizzling destruction. "Where's Akin?" She asked.
Sesshoumaru had noticed his leave some time ago, but had not mentioned it. What would the point be? "He has gone." Sesshoumaru stated the obvious.
Before she could ask which direction, she watched as Sesshoumaru stood, facing behind her. Turning her head just in time to see Sango crash through the trees, her boomerang bone at the ready. "Kagome, are you alright?" She asked, her worried eyes first scanning the clearing, only finding Sesshoumaru. That was still enough reason to her for keeping her weapon poised.
She could not trust him yet.
Shippo ran right over to her anyway, leaping up into Kagome's arms as she forced her body to rotate toward the two. "Miroku, Inuyasha, Kikyo and Kilala are following Tokaruman to find a plant that can get you better again, Kagome!"
Sesshoumaru watched the exchange between the two with mild interest. "Well that's nice of them. Wish I could have been talked to about it…" The last was a grumble, making Sango smile softly as she approached.
"You wouldn't have let them go without you, Kagome." Sango promised.
"I know, and there's a reason for that. What if Naraku tries something, Sango? I mean, it's not good for us to be separated." She whispered, unhappy.
"The hanyou is waiting." Sesshoumaru informed, his tone revealing a little of his annoyance. "He desires you weaker than this before the coward will strike any you care for."
Kagome frowned. "I'm not that much of a force to be reckoned with, why is he waiting for me to be powerless?" She asked, confused.
Sango began to say something, opening her mouth, but the Taiyoukai beat her to it. "Your strength lies in the love you bind fiercely for those dear to you. When they are in danger, you become one not to be trifled with, which infuriates and terrifies the half breed. You alone are the key to defeating Naraku, a fact which he knows. In this fact he also realizes he must find a way in which to destroy your weak life."
Kagome smiled unhappily. "Guess he's found a way, huh?" She asked.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as Sango shook her head, saying disbelievingly. "Kagome, you can't be giving up, can you?"
The miko looked into her friends brown eyes, like honey bark, and shook her head. "I just think it's going to be a close call, Sango. I'll never give up, but I'd like us to finish this war over the jewel now, before it's too late."
"You won't die, Kagome!" Shippo shouted, his green eyes showing his love for her and his protective youkai nature. "I won't let anything hurt you!"
Kagome just hugged him a little tighter, trying to quell the young fox demon. Sesshoumaru looked down at the two for a moment before he shifted his gaze, rather quickly, to the demon slayer. Sango twitched under the sudden scrutiny, the two not abating in their gaze, not until an understanding came between them.
She would be watching carefully over her friend.
He would not be leaving, giving her quite a job to perform.
"How much further is this damn plant?" Inuyasha growled to Tokaruman's slithering form, irritated that they'd wasted half a day.
Kikyo wasn't really beginning to be a bothersome weight or anything, it was just annoying. He wanted to get whatever this thing was and cure whatever might start happening to Kagome. After she wasn't in danger, he'd be more calm.
"We have ssssome dissstanccce to go yet, Inuyassha." The snake demon hissed.
Inuyasha snorted, unhappy. "Kagome will not fall ill so speedily, Inuyasha." Kikyo promised. "So long as she does not use her powers of purification or over exert herself physically, she should be well for two more days. After that, as with most illness, it will truly begin to take effect." Only then would Kagome be bound to a bed, or as bound as Kagome would allow herself to be.
"I understand Inuyasha's concern." Miroku said from where he was atop Kilala. "Being separated never bodes well."
"Exactly." Inuyasha agreed. "The last time we were so broken up, all kinds of shit started happenin'."
"I also agree with Lady Kikyo though, Inuyasha, in that we must go forward and not look behind for a while. Eventually, we'll be returning in that direction anyway."
The half demon snorted, his eyes trained on the road before them. He didn't voice what he was wondering within the confines of his mind, though the oppressive thoughts refused to leave. "What if we get this plant and it doesn't help Kagome at all?" He swallowed the chill. "What if she dies?"
"Kanna." Naraku called almost silently, his red eyes not looking to where she suddenly appeared, but instead simply staring at the wall, his eyes not quite focusing on any one thing. "I sensed Kai's demise. Did the illness enter the priestess before his death?"
"Yes." She answered.
He smirked. "Do they know what's happening to her just yet? After all, Tokaruman joined their ranks. He's probably figured it out."
"Yes. They are searching for a cure." She answered just as tonelessly as before hand.
"Let them waste their precious energy. Victory will be so much easier when she dies." The hanyou laughed. "Who's closing in on the girl next? Goshin or Tara?" He glanced at her then and she knew he wished to see who was near the miko.
She lifted her mirror and sought the image, forcing it to display itself on the glassy surface. "The mated pair stay a safe distance from the miko." She confirmed as the image of the fiery bird demon appeared. "Lia is planning her attack carefully. She is much more thoughtful than the rest, while Ryukotsei hunts the Inu no Tashio."
Naraku laughed. "Vengeance does not die easily." Let the dragon hunt the Inu lord. At least that would take care of one problem. Hopefully Lia would take care of the other; Sesshoumaru. If the phoenix did not wait until Kagome was too ill to move, he feared Sesshoumaru would survive.
Even if the dog demon did, at least the miko would die. By sealing off her own well, as the future of Kanna's mirror provided to be the most wise, Kagome would die in this era. There would be nothing anyone could do to save her, especially those three miserable dogs. Satisfied, he stood from his seat and decided to dine. After all, even he, as powerful as he was, needed food. Why keep a human manor and servants if you were not to have a well stocked kitchen?
Kagome, after getting two bowls of Keade's beef stew, she left the priestess' hut, going to where she sensed a flickering energy, two water bottles under each arm. It was a distance from where she'd come, and even in the tiring walk, the stew had not cooled.
Sesshoumaru watched her in annoyance. Foolish mortal, she was already out of breath. Pushing herself was not entirely wise. Curious, he masked his aura from her, wondering if she would turn back to the warmth of her friends. Kagome, he noted, paused, blinking in confusion for a moment before frowning. A spark of fire lit her eyes and he couldn't help the small twitch of his mouth. He should have known the human would insist upon finding him.
Still determined, Kagome walked into the encroaching forest, looking around for white slk. In all the darkness, if the moon hit it, how hard could Sesshoumaru's clothes and hair be to spot? "Miko," he stated calmly from eight foot to her direct right. She managed not to jump, but her heart pounded right through her chest it felt. "Why is it you see it necessary to leave the safety of the human village?"
She stood frozen for a moment, looking at his closed lids, the curve of his face while his eyes were not upon her. It was rare to simply gaze at the demon lord. She could not look long, for his eyes opened and she seen the honey dance in his eyes like little slivers, a color she hadn't noticed before as it was surrounded by the deep, rich amber, the outer most ring a beautiful gold. They glowed in the night, illuminating beautifully. He was stunning in that untouchable sense. How could she ever hope to have him as hers…?
Sesshoumaru listened to the strange flutter of her heart, scenting the air without her knowing. Kagome smelt… uncertain and sad beyond her illness. She watched him with a wide, awed expression at first, her blue eyes slowly gaining an untouchable longing and sorrow as she stared at him. There was an unexplainable heat in her eyes along with the longing, it left him confused.
What brought this expression to her eyes and taste to her scent? Just looking at him? Her eyes flickered and he knew she was debating internally, trying to redirect her gaze, but she was locked. Interesting that she both wanted to look away and did not. How could humans confuse themselves like so? You either desire one thing or you do not. There can be no middle ground.
Can there?
The question caught him off guard. Never breaking her gaze, he assessed his inner most reaches and felt the most instinctual part of him actually wanting this human child and yet his pride, his logic, demanding otherwise. He would much rather leave and not see the girl again and yet…
"And yet…" A voice within whispered. He wasn't sure how to finished the thought. The inner youkai provided him with a few thoughts… He had already swore to defend Kagome, always, but there was more to this promise than simple guarding, was there not? He'd already known Kagome was more than an ally, but what else was it? The human was… attractive, he would grudgingly allow that. Her scent, when not clouded with this sickness, was not deemed unpleasant. Her eyes were an unnatural shade of blue, a curiosity and Sesshoumaru enjoyed such things, but that wasn't it either. There was something more to Kagome, to this miko, and he was trying to comprehend where his thoughts were leading him.
Where were they leading him exactly?
Damn it, he did not know. This displeasure, though not shown greatly, did somehow leak enough that he narrowed his eyes, the sudden brighter glow breaking the trance Kagome was under. She looked away abruptly, feeling foolhardy for staring at Sesshoumaru for so long.
He probably thought she was-
Wind suddenly fluttered her face as she could feel Sesshoumaru's aura again, but that wasn't what caused the brief movement of her hair. She gasped as he was suddenly just before her, his height dwarfing her embarrassingly. The magma like quality to his eyes almost made her shiver, hot bowels of stew forgotten.
"You did not answer me." Sesshoumaru said, his eyes glowing brighter, yet somehow in a dark manner. The colors swirled, the honey moving into more amber, the amber becoming gold and the golden rim darkening into a harvest night. It did not mean danger, but this sudden shift left Kagome edgy. Her stomach bottomed out with a very new feeling… One she recalled from the first dream, where he'd traced her lips with his thumb.
"I-I…" She couldn't grasp a coherent thought for a moment. "Wha-what was it you asked, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome swallowed the dryness in her throat.
His eyes softened somewhat at her respectful title, though he did not notice, Kagome did and warmth pooled in her belly. He could feel the shift in her and it interested him, no more, or so he whispered to himself. "And yet…" His mind replied as he lifted one clawed hand, very slowly, as though reaching to touch a terrified animal ready to fly. Sesshoumaru raised his hand near her face, resting his thumb carefully on her cheek, the long fingers cupping her jaw.
Kagome's eyes fluttered closed at the touch of his hand and she swallowed again, damning her dry throat. She was sure he could hear her heart beginning to pound and yet flutter… The feelings in her were crashing like waves, like desire, anticipation and even, dare she wonder, love, bombarding the rocks of relief in a turbulent ocean. The violence of the water brought on by the moon that was Sesshoumaru, controlling the tide and stormy sea brewing in Kagome's soul, within the fire of her very human, very youthful body left her feeling so strangely alive.
What had convinced him to touch her, he wondered. She had not bewitched him, no, not at all. It was something he wanted, some desire refusing to disperse without being fulfilled… "And yet…" Sesshoumaru slowly raised the other arm, the left she had given him, and placed it in the same position on the opposite side of her beautiful face.
Kagome felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest and into Sesshoumaru. She was afraid, somewhere in her, of giving her heart to him just yet. Yet what he was doing was making her so… So foolish. She knew he shouldn't touch her, that this was going to be too much if he continued. She should stop him… "And yet…" She didn't want to. Whatever was going to happen right now was going to happen. Whether he rejected her suddenly or he stayed. Acknowledging this night, the two of them standing together like this, was very telling, of the utmost importance. Kagome laid her trust in the stoic demon lord, however unwise it may have been.
Sesshoumaru felt her sudden calming, whatever emotions flying around in her mind slowing and leaving her so open. She did not open her eyes to look at him and he was somewhat glad she did not. He wanted to view her face, he enjoyed looking at her trusting, human face. The Taiyoukai found he enjoyed the weakness of how open she was to him. The beauty of her imperfect, human countenance pleased him and he drank in her every feature from her slightly parted lips, to her absurdly long lashes, closed gently on her blue tinted cheeks due to the moon filtering down through the canopy above.
Sesshoumaru realized suddenly that he was sinking… He wasn't in love, but he was attracted to this miko. The thought should have left him enraged, it should have torn him from her and he should have sent her back to the village to those vile creatures. He should have reminded her she was human and she could never touch him, not ever would she reach his level… "And yet…" Looking down at her, staring down at her beautiful, imperfect, human, miko born face, Sesshoumaru felt his inner demon watching her just as closely, content.
He moved his thumb of the right hand to her bottom lip, slowly, gently, and almost started when she sucked in a ragged breath, her eyes tightening as her scent alerted him to something odd for the pure, unspoiled miko. It caused his eyes to widen in surprise, but nothing else changed. He continued to move the thumb slowly over her lips, not disgusted by the ill breath fanning across it more quickly as he move to the upper lip.
So soft, so very fragile… Her entire body was, even the human spirit was known to be fragile. Yet this weakness of her seemed to draw him nearer, for in this human body housed something more…
Touching her in such a manner was inappropriate and it needed to stop. He struggled with himself to pull away… "And yet…"
Kagome slowly opened her blue eyes, surprising Sesshoumaru enough that she seen his already wide eyes shift in their brightness. The blue of the little miko's eyes were stunningly bright, almost glowing themselves. Human eyes could do no such thing and yet Kagome's were beautiful. The navy rims, though darker than normal, glowed. The closer one looked to the pupil, the light her eyes became… Sapphire and cerulean, azure becoming like the crystal blue of water… How could such depths be so warm?
Looking at Sesshoumaru, Kagome didn't know what to think. Seeing him surprised woke her from her odd stupor, the haze of it still boggling her mind somewhat. Looking at him, unwavering in her stare, she studied his beautiful, perfect face and knew she should step away from him, knew she should leave him and return to the village… What if he hated her later for allowing him so close…? She couldn't stand the thought, so she had to leave, had to…
As Kagome found the resolve, she slowly closed her eyes and began to step away…
And yet…
"Kagome?" He whispered her name so softly, almost a hint of uncertainty, that her eye lids fluttered open to reveal blue eyes, searching his amber ones. His thumb was no longer on her lips, rather resting on his chin, but a fire burned her lips like never before and an ache rest deep inside of her, one her young mind was not prepared to answer and her soul was too uncertain to.
"Y-yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She asked in a whisper as quiet as his previous.
His heart gave an odd, unsteady squeeze for a moment and he knew his inner demon desired something more of this contact, something warm and soft of hers he could claim. His eyes flickered to her lips, a momentary wonder, an errant thought let loose foolishly…
And yet…
"This Sesshoumaru does not eat human food." He told her simply, releasing her.
Kagome stood very still for one moment, confused for the briefest time as she looked upon him. One minute he was holding her face so softly, touching her lips… And the next he was telling her he did not eat human food?
"I-I didn't know." She said, looking at the ground in her embarrassment. Not for the food, they each knew that, but for what had just transpired. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. I'll leave you now…" She still didn't look up, turning from him when his hand snaked out and took her by the elbow.
"You will not walk so far in your present state." He murmured, referring to her health. Their eyes held for a moment and anything he had been feeling cooled over before she could really study the once blazing warmth. "Sit. Eat." He indicated to a decent sized tree. "This Sesshoumaru will return you to your friends after you have finished." He indicated.
Kagome nodded almost unnoticeably, surprised. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama." She whispered.
He said nothing, going to where he had been previously and sitting down without a sound. Kagome looked after him, watching for a moment before going to his side and sitting much closer than she'd have dared before. Sesshoumaru did not miss the fact, but he did not mention it either. Looking up into the night sky, he nearly wondered what had transpired, nearly.
Instead he remained thoughtless, watching the surrounding forest as he listened to the miko eat nearly silently. Her chewing, was surprisingly not noisy, a relief. He had not remembered from her months of care… Perhaps month and a half of care as he was blind. Yet that fever made it so he remembered very little.
She finished her bowel of food, slowly, sitting quietly for a time. Kagome did not look at him after she had finished, indicating she was not yet ready to return to the village, so he simply let her sit quietly. After nearly an hour of silence, he murmured. "You should return to the warmth the hut offers." She was becoming chilled. He sensed the illness beginning to reveal it's self more so than before.
Kagome bit her lip, which did not bode well for the demon lord, or so he assumed. "I," she began tensely, nervous. "I want to stay with you, if it's alright?" She still did not turn her eyes to him.
Sesshoumaru gazed at her for a long while, deciphering the deeper meaning to her words, looking deep into what she could not yet say courageously, but was trying to in some other form.
"Yes." He answered, feeling her relief.
He did not love Kagome…
And yet…
So, how's that for chapter twenty two? I'm sorry, couldn't have them kiss. Ha, ha. You guys should know, Sesshoumaru isn't the type to do something like that right away anyway. Him touching her worthless human body, as he sees it, is a shock enough to his system. This is all very new and strange for our beloved demon lord and though he denies the blossoming affection for Kagome, he is beginning to accept that he is doing just that, denying it.
I hope you enjoy, my readers.