Good afternoon, and welcome back!
How was your Easter/ April Fools Day? Mine was filled with family and chaos. So this chapter is a bit rushed, but I sincerely hope it meets your standards and can hold you off until next Friday. So grab your favorite snack, beverage, blanket and get comfy for what happens next.
Please take great care, and I hope to see you again soon!
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Night had fallen upon the world yet again, leaving the group to stop for the night to set up camp. Kagome had returned to her old self, to the time before Kioko entered their lives and their party. However, the others, minus Shippo and Kirara, weren't exactly sure how to feel about that. They had always viewed Kagome as a sweet and innocent girl with a heart of gold, but the image of her slamming Kioko's head against the floor while choking the dear weakened woman wouldn't leave their subconscious'. The things she said and did that day and her behavior after had permanently changed their view of her. Especially Inuyasha. He never knew Kagome to be so barbaric. He knew her the longest out of this group and not once did he see a hint of that side of her. It sickened his stomach to think about how the girl was ruining his beautiful Kikyo's image, given she was the woman's reincarnation. Not to mention, the recollection of Kioko's body in declining health beneath the Scared Tree while Kagome ran home happy about telling their mother about the dispute.
He couldn't help but wonder how Kioko was doing. Seeing her in that condition was the last time he saw her before Sesshoumaru took her. Warning Inuyasha, with a dominance he hadn't known his brother to use against him, to not follow. He couldn't measure up, and as a result, he simply let Sesshoumaru take her. He was furious with himself, with his demonic instincts that submitted to Sesshoumaru's overbearing dominance that overpowered his own. The memory of Kioko's smile and her kindness, while under the tree that the two of them shared, as she told him of her younger years spent with him only fueled his anger further. Even he wasn't blind to the fact that, that beautiful heart of hers had been captured by the likes of his older brother. It wasn't until Inuyasha found himself about ready to kiss Kioko in her sleep did he realize, he had feelings for her. He wanted her. The thought of betraying his feelings for Kikyo and Kagome only had him sinking into self-loathing. Even more so the idea of Sesshoumaru having her had his jealousy rise to an almost overwhelming level. Kagome's behavior wasn't helping things either.
" I can't take this anymore! " Inuyasha heard Sango burst out in fed up anger of her own. His amber colored eyes looked over at the demon slayer he respected highly as she looked to be on the brink of frustrated tears. Miroku looked at her in understanding as Kagome looked at her in worried confusion. Sango looked back at the younger girl with slight distaste, causing Kagome to then look at Sango with a slightly hurt expression. " I'm sick of sitting here pretending things are alright. They aren't. We've seemed to have established some sort of unspoken rule of not bringing up what happened between you and Kioko and that even the mere mention of her name is some sudden taboo. I'm done staying silent. This group isn't going to function if we continue to go on without discussing it. I want to understand why you hate Kioko so much. I have seen nothing to warrant you treating her so savagely, Kagome. " Sango said with a voice filled with emotion. A flash of Kioko sitting under that tree battered and practically dying while smiling so beautifully warm at him with eyes that had him almost euphoric, passed Inuyasha's sight as he heard Sango's words.
Sango couldn't let go of the thought of what Inuyasha and Kaede told the group, before Kagome returned from her time, about seeing Kioko. The demon slayer wished she could have seen her too, but Inuyasha instantly told her she wouldn't want to see Kioko that way. So many images came to life in Sango's mind as to what Kioko's condition could have been, for Inuyasha to tell her that. How broken was Kioko for Inuyasha to protect even Sango from the sight of the priestess? The brunette missed the pink-eyed maiden that joined them for what seemed like such a short while. They had a bond that she didn't have with the others around her. Kioko understood Sango's loneliness, and Sango understood Kioko's. That was their icebreaker that started their friendship. The more Sango got to know Kioko the more she adored the woman. She was the kindest person she had ever come across even more so than she thought Kagome to be. Even as Sango watched in horror as Kagome repeatedly bashed Kioko's head in a fit of rage, Kioko held her younger sister's cheek with a smile. Sango could tell, she didn't know how but she could just see, that Kioko was telling Kagome that everything would be okay. Kioko was comforting Kagome from the younger sister's own emotions.
To prevent burdening the others with the sister's shredded relationship, Kioko let go of her happiness with them to return to her solitude and lonely travels. It broke Sango's heart to see the battered woman walk away in the pouring rain in the dead of night. She nor Inuyasha could stop her. Sango even worried that Kioko's sweet nature would be her own undoing, leaving Sango to feel protective of her. She couldn't stand the sight of such a happy Kagome after so many negative trains of thought regarding Kioko's current condition, filled her mind. How could Kagome not worry, or even care? It baffled Sango to no end. She worried more about Kagome's sister than Kagome did. Somehow, the thought triggered her mind to remember Kohaku. She couldn't imagine how Kioko must feel knowing this is what Kagome felt for her. Nothing. Kagome looked at Sango with a serious expression and a slight bit of scorn blazing in her eyes at the mention of her sister. Looking over at Miroku, almost stunned her as he looked back at the futuristic girl with a pressing expression of his own. His eyes were burning for an answer as his navy blue eyes looked into her brown hues.
He had to admit, he wasn't as close to Kioko as Inuyasha and Sango, but in observing the older sister in their midst, he had no doubt she was a pure woman with a heart that had even himself feeling shame just by being in her presence. Perhaps he could have prevented what had happened between the two sisters that day. He was the first in the group to see through Kagome's act towards Kioko and should have done something sooner. All he did was watch with no action. He would observe the pink-eyed beauty as she interacted with Sesshoumaru with an emotion in her eyes that practically screamed how she felt towards the demon man. He watched as Inuyasha would get jealous at the sight and how Kagome would look at the young woman with anger that he just couldn't understand. In trying to see the root of Kagome's anger, he watched Kioko do her best to treat Kagome no differently than the others, and care for a child that wasn't even hers as if she were. He admired her, and by the gods, he respected her even more so. Despite her pain, she was sweet and did anything to relieve another of their pain when no one helped to ease hers.
He recalled a night that neither he or Kioko spoke of. A night where he had awoken to Sango, who was sleeping nearby, whimpering and beginning to cry in her sleep. Before he could even register that Sango was having a severe nightmare, Kioko had sat up from where she was sleeping and looked over at Sango, her eyes instantly filling with worry. The woman got up from her rest and walked over to where Kirara was curled around the demon slayer, watching her human in concern. Kioko stopped before the two of them and had pet Kirara's head in comfort before walking over and sitting next to Sango's sleeping form with her back against Kirara. Miroku watched as Kioko held her knees to her body with her left arm reached out, shivering from the cold, and began to pet Sango's head gently with her left hand. Her fingers raking through the brunette's hair as she had done so. Before he knew it, Sango began to calm into a peaceful sleep. Kioko had stayed there the rest of the night, ignoring her need for sleep to ensure Sango's peace of mind. It was during sometime through the night that Miroku noted Sesshoumaru was watching the priestess as well with eyes focused solely on her. It was obvious he was keeping an eye on her in a sort of protective instinct. It wasn't until the sun was soon to rise when Kioko had stopped and stood from a slumbering Sango and waited to be sure Sango would stay asleep.
When she looked away from Sango and observed the camp at the others, she noticed Miroku was watching her. She simply smiled kindly and raised her right hand to place her index finger over her lips, indicating for him to stay silent. Miroku blinked in surprise before smiling with respect at her. She then left to obtain breakfast for everyone, and once she returned, the others were awake. She spent the entire day keeping an eye on Sango. The two spiritual beings never said a word about it. Kioko was someone Sango grew close to in such a short amount of time, and that was enough for Miroku to value her. He felt Kioko didn't deserve the treatment Kagome had given her that day, but he also hadn't known their history to the extent that he wished to. He wanted to know, but he never pried for the answers, and that was on him. Kioko never wanted any repayment for her acts of kindness and Miroku felt he should have done more for the woman who never asked them for anything.
" It's a long story that you wouldn't understand. " Kagome said with an empty tone. Sango didn't seem to like that answer as she stood in anger while continuing to stare down at the girl across the fire from her. Shippo sat in Kagome's lap nervously from Sango's glare as the two men of the group only watched the scene unfold.
" Then explain it to us. Kagome, after that display of hate you showed her I feel we have a right to know. Some of us grew attached to Kioko, and you ended up hurting her. You chased her away from our group. You were the one who asked us to allow her to join in the first place. You are our friend but so is she. Please. " Sango said as her anger was beginning to crumble to worry.
" We want to understand this animosity you have for her, Kagome. " Miroku chimed in as Inuyasha watched in cold anger that he's continually looked at Kagome with since she returned from her time after Kioko was taken away by Sesshoumaru.
" When Inuyasha and I left to go after her, after she left the group that day, she said she wanted us to mend things with you and that she didn't want to be the cause of our group being torn apart. That was what she asked of us despite how you brutalized her. " Sango said with a slightly quivering voice. Kagome looked at Sango with anger the woman wasn't use to receiving from the younger girl.
" Yet that's exactly what she's done! Why can't we just go back to how things were and pretend she doesn't exist? Like we never ran into her in the first place! " Kagome yelled in frustration. Why couldn't they back her play and trust that since she wasn't on good terms with Kioko that they wouldn't want to be either? She was their friend long before Kioko had been, she had been there for them, and had fought by their sides for a long time now. None of them looked at her the same way since that day. Inuyasha seemed colder towards her and didn't watch her with eyes filled with care as he used to. Sango was still decent with her, but they weren't nearly as close as they once were and Miroku seemed to keep his distance until it was required of him to do otherwise. Despite popular belief, she missed Kioko too, but not the Kioko they knew. She missed the Kioko from long before now, the one before the day their father died. The younger Kioko in which Kagome both loved more than almost anything, yet hated just as much at the same time. The others now stared at her in disappointment. Sango looked at Kagome with a defeated stare that almost crushed Kagome's heart.
" I want to go see her. I think we, as a group, should see her. To make sure she's doing okay, and perhaps get the answers from her. " Sango suggested. Inuyasha's ears perked up at the idea as his eyes held a glimmer of hopeful determination.
" I agree. I have heard that she was in critical condition after she left us. " Miroku said before Inuyasha jumped down, gathering the attention of the others. His face was serious as he looked at Kagome with eyes that spoke authority.
" Then it's decided. We'll go to find her at sun up. " Inuyasha claimed before Kagome stood in defiance and slight panic.
" What happened to looking for the jewel shards? We can't just drop what we were doing to go look for her. " Kagome said in desperation of changing the others minds. The others looked at her with solemn expressions before Inuyasha spoke in a harsher tone.
" We are going to go find Kioko. You can either join us or stay behind. " Inuyasha said catching the three humans and tiny fox demon by surprise. They never thought they'd see the day where Inuyasha gave Kagome such an ultimatum. Kagome looked at Inuyasha with a hurt expression before covering her eyes with her bangs. There was no winning here, and she had no intention of leaving the group. These were her friends, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing Inuyasha now after all she had invested and felt for him. So with a rejected and hurt tone, Kagome responded with only one word that settled the matter between her and the others.
" Fine. "
Elsewhere, many miles away, Sesshoumaru's party had built camp as well. Kioko had just tucked Rin in for the night as both she and Jaken were resting with Ah-Un as usual. It was earlier that day that they left Kikyo behind with Enju. Kioko already missed the undead priestess but knew she'd see Kikyo again someday soon and held comfort in that fact for the time being. Sesshoumaru was standing a bit of distance away from the campfire as he always did, staring up at the full moon sky above them. Kioko walked over to him and stood by his right side looking up at the moon with him.
" Such a lovely full moon tonight. " Kioko said calmly as Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly to look at her from the corner of his eye. The moonlight hitting her set her skin and eyes aglow, taking his breath away at the sight. Her kind smile gracing her soft lips gained his attention as he found he wanted to claim them. " I'm sorry we hadn't spent our usual time together while Kikyo was here. I hope you aren't upset. " Kioko said before looking over at him with eyes that spoke her feelings more clearly than her words.
" I am not. " Sesshoumaru said. Kioko's smile widened as she looked down at her the ground in front of her.
" Good. " She said. A minute passed between them when Sesshoumaru grabbed her left hand in his right and pulled her over to stand in front of him, surprising her. His frame blocked the view of her from their other companions as she looked at him in confusion as his left hand rised to graze against her still healing cheek while still holding her left wrist with his other hand. Kioko's eyes fluttered closed at the feel of his touch and claws move across her skin. He then cupped her cheek in his grasp before leaning down and kissing her with a passionate kiss that almost turned Kioko's legs into jelly. She kissed back immediately as she placed her right hand on his left shoulder and stood further on her tip toes to get closer to him and his kiss. Neither minded the chilled wind that nipped at their skin and fluttered through their hair as the heated feeling of fireworks sparked between their physical contact. Once they parted their hands never moved but Kioko stood with her feet flat to the ground beneath her again with a passionate gleam in her eyes, a blush that dusted her cheeks, and her lips slightly swollen from their kiss. Such a sight of her that way aroused Sesshoumaru almost instantly.
He wanted more than anything to take her right then and there. He didn't realize himself to be such an undisciplined man, as he was when he was with her. He could hardly contain his self-control in her presence. Everything about her had his attention and gained his desire to have her more than he did the moment before. He never knew he could want someone so desperately this way. To want to protect them more than his own safety and desire to provide both stability and happiness for her in a way that was different than his care for Rin. His heated gaze melted at the feel of Kioko's fingers brushing at the crescent moon on his forehead with her right hand before they brushed at his bangs and caressed his left cheek. Her eyes following her touch before looking into his eyes with that look of love for him that always broke his composure in some way. A small smile appeared on his face before Kioko took a step forward and leaned her forehead against the armor over his chest. Together they stayed in each other's arms before Kioko was too tired to continue standing.
Sesshoumaru lifted her and held her bridal style before walking over to a giant boulder and laying against it out of sight from his party and lowering her in his lap as she stayed in the same position. He wrapped his boa around the both of them as she dozed off, comforted by his scent as he held her close. Sesshoumaru sat there in silence watching her and taking in the smell of her scent while his mind drifted into deep thought. Inuyasha's dead wench was right about Kioko's weakened abilities. The cause was unknown to him, but he had the impression that the dead priestess had an idea. He should have made her tell him. Perhaps Bokuseno would know the answer. It was about time Kioko had met the ancient tree demon. The question of Kioko's race had not been forgotten in Sesshoumaru's mind, and he felt it was about time he found out the answer.
Once morning came, Sesshoumaru watched as Kioko's eyes opened and her body shiver from the cold as she left his body to stand up and stretch. His eyes wandered over her body as she reached up in hopes to spring her muscles to life and a smile graced her lips, obviously having slept well in his lap over the night. She looked back at him with pink eyes that glittered from the sun's light and smiled sweetly at him in her joy of seeing him awake. Before he could even consider bringing her back into his arms and return to resting with her, the two of them heard Rin yawn awake and Jaken groggily complaining about how he slept. Kioko looked over at their companions and walked over to get started on making a fire and breakfast for them all before they needed to head out.
She knew not to make Sesshoumaru anything, as he had informed her after their first meal together that he didn't eat human food. Instead, a demon of his caliber was sustained by the essence or aura of other living creatures. Such as lesser demons. However, he did tell her that he wasn't against her making him things to eat so long as it wasn't human food, but instead things like raw meat or white rice. She figured it was best to make it his request when he felt like asking rather than making the meal and forcing him to eat. To hear he ate the very essence of other living creatures put her off slightly but she let it slide, deciding to take it in the sense of him simply not liking the same sort of foods she did. An example being that she could love mustard and pickles but the next girl wouldn't. Once the bubbly Rin and cranky Jaken were fed, Sesshoumaru had stood and gracefully walked over to where the three of them surrounded the campfire. He stopped behind Kioko, who turned to look up at him curiously.
" Jaken, remain here and watch Rin. " Sesshoumaru directed. Kioko blinked in confusion at Sesshoumaru before standing and facing him. Did he not trust her to watch Rin? Where was he going all of a sudden? She hoped nothing was wrong as Jaken responded that he'd be honored to do so in a sniveling adoration towards Sesshoumaru before Sesshoumaru looked at Kioko. " You are to come with me. " Sesshoumaru ordered before turning and walking towards an unknown direction. Kioko blinked before running to catch up and once by his left side walked while looking up at him.
" See you when you return! " The two retreating forms heard Rin say from behind them. Kioko turned and began walking backwards to wave farewell to Rin for a moment before turning back to walk properly. Sesshoumaru looked at Kioko from the corner of his eye as she looked ahead of her with a smile. Her long black hair flowed loosely down her back, and her priestess attire shielded the perfect figure he had seen her reveal several times from his eyes. He looked ahead again before speaking to her in his average stoic tone.
" Are you not curious about where we are going? " He asked. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but wonder where her ever-present curiosity had gone to. Kioko was known to usually ask the typical who, what, when, where, and hows when it involved her. Her questioning didn't shy from asking him about himself or about anything regarding him. She was always fascinated by anything he told her and answer he gave her. She always beamed with delight whenever he indulged her with answers about anything or had something to say. Kioko looked over at him before speaking in a tone that spoke a relaxed kindness towards him.
" Of course, but I trust you. I doubt you would take me anywhere that would put me in harms way intentionally. " Kioko said before facing forward again to continue speaking as she watched where she was going. " Besides, this is the first time you've taken me somewhere alone without the others, and I don't want to ruin future opportunities by bombarding you with questions. " She finished saying. He didn't quite understand. What did going somewhere alone with him have to do with anything?
" Something regarding you had been brought to my attention, so you are to accompany me to see someone about it. " Sesshoumaru told Kioko, not wanting the discussion that was about to take place about her to blindside his priestess companion. Kioo stopped and looked at him confused at what he had said.
" Something about me? Like what? " Kioko said. The first thing that came to mind was Naraku. Had the word about his intentions for her been made clear? Sesshoumaru stopped to look back at her, hesitant on how to phrase what he was about to tell her.
" Your lineage. " He chose to say. She walked up to him, and they continued on their way as the conversation continued.
" My lineage? What do you mean? " Kioko asked. Sesshoumaru didn't respond as they continued on. Their destination being not that much further, he felt it better to wait until they arrived to discuss the topic. Kioko frowned as looked at her feet and her steps one after another. Sesshoumaru looked at her yet again through the corner of his eyes before looking ahead. He then stopped Kioko from walking any further then he continued on for another twenty feet ahead, stopping at a tree that had an elderly looking face on the trunk. Kioko looked at it in amazement. She could feel a demonic energy coming from the grand looking tree, but as the face opened its weary eyes, she could see that it was the actual demon, or at least it's host.
" Sesshoumaru, it's good to see you have returned. " Said the elder demon who looked at the taiyoukai with respect. Sesshoumaru stopped a few feet ahead of the tree before responding.
" Bokuseno. " Sesshoumaru greeted.
" I assume you have come here for the continuation of our previous conversation? " Bokuseno asked. Sesshoumaru stood silent, hesitating to Bokuseno's notice before Sesshoumaru called out for Kioko in his usual tone.
" Kioko, come here. " Sesshoumaru demanded patiently. Hearing the demon man address her by her name made her heart skip a beat, and a blush decorated her cheeks. Shyly she wandered over to Sesshoumaru's frame. Once in view of the elder demon, his old eyes widened in clear shock at her presence. Her beauty wasn't expected as he caught her human scent. Sesshoumaru looked over his left shoulder at her incoming form, the blush on her cheeks almost made him smile in humor. She was always so reactive to him speaking her name out loud; it was utterly endearing to him how sweet she was. Kioko stopped by Sesshoumaru's left side before Sesshoumaru looked up at Bokuseno again and Kioko had done the same. Her blush slowly withered away as her eyes looked at the tree hermit before smiling kindly.
He had to say, in his many centuries of life, Bokuseno couldn't recall the last time a human looked at him and at first, glance reacted by smiling with such kindness that he could feel it radiate through the very air around them. There was no denying that this was the woman in question that encouraged Sesshoumaru's last visit. It wasn't hard to tell why the dominant antisocial demon man was so ensnared by the ravishing woman. Kioko bowed to Bokuseno in respect, not blind to the fact that he was indeed an elder even by a demon's standards. The act had gained Sesshoumaru's attention as he turned his head to look down at her before the faintest of smiles appeared on his face in pride as his heart warmed at the sight. She was respectful even to the elders of his kind. Bokuseno was impressed and even struck with a sense of embarrassment at such a beautiful human woman showing him such respect.
" My, my. Aren't you a lovely creature. Please, young lady, do not bow to me so earnestly. You'll make an old man blush. " Bokuseno said in a kindness that Sesshoumaru wasn't surprised Kioko had brought to the surface. Kioko stood straight and looked at him as she giggled, her eyes glittering with laughter as well.
" Forgive me; I hadn't meant to cause such a thing. " Kioko said in a respectful mannerism before folding her hands in front of her, continuing to look the face in the eye.
" In all my years. It's true. " Bokuseno said in a tone filled with disbelief as he looked into Kioko's powerful pink eyes. Bokuseno then looked at Sesshoumaru as Sesshoumaru stared back emotionlessly. " I can't believe you've found one. " Bokuseno said before looking at Kioko again. He could feel it with a power he had only mastered in his elder years. He could sense her soul pulsate with a demonic power, yet appeared to be that of a human soul as well. It didn't feel like the essence of a half demon. Kioko was a full-fledged Celestial demon in the form of a human woman. The spiritual energy was unbelievable, but apparent works of the demon energy within her soul. It was the only telltale signs of her demonic powers. Kioko looked at the tree hermit then Sesshoumaru baffled by the old one's words.
" Found one? " Kioko asked as Sesshoumaru felt his stomach sink at her question.
" My dear, do you have any idea of what you are? " Bokuseno asked. Sesshoumaru was about to answer on her behalf but deemed too late when Kioko's voice hit his ears first.
" I'm a priestess. " Kioko said confused. Was the elder unable to tell by her attire? Perhaps the style a priestess wore had somehow changed since he had last seen one.
" No my child. You are so much more. " Bokuseno said still filled with awe. Sesshoumaru looked at Kioko to see her face show further confusion. " You are a Celestial demon. " Kioko looked at Bokuseno as if he had gone crazy.
" With all due respect, I think you are mistaken. I am human. As were my parents and their parents before them. " Kioko insisted as her voice became weakened by a sense of fear.
" One of them I assure you were not. " Bokuseno said. Her father's smiling face crossed Kioko's vision, and suddenly her face showed shock and fear all in one. Her father. Then the realization of Naraku came to mind as well. That must have been his keen interest in her. Not just her appearance matching Kikyo's or her strength but her bloodline. Sesshoumaru was instantly aware of the expression and glared up at Bokuseno in warning of displeasing his human ward, which the hermit quickly noted.
" Tell me more. " Kioko suddenly said with an expression that was no longer graced with a smile. Her eyes held a calm gaze, and her face was emotionless. Sesshoumaru's dread deepened at that moment. " Tell me, why you think this of me and all you know about this Celestial demon. " Kioko then demanded as she held her fear filled tears at bay. Kioko and Bokuseno ended up having the same conversation he and Sesshoumaru had when he last saw the dog demon. Every word pierced Kioko's mind with thoughts that gave her the feeling of wanting to just shut her ears and ignore everything she was hearing.
" I am amazed you are real, standing before me. Tell me which parent do you believe to have been the Celestial? " Bokuseno asked. Kioko hadn't cracked a smile since it fell, which had Sesshoumaru secretly concerned. Her eyes glazed with a hint of mourning that Bokuseno instantly became aware of and felt he pried onto a sensitive spot.
" My father. " Kioko answered with a slight crack in her voice.
" I take it, by the sadness I can see in your eyes tragedy befell your father? " Bokuseno asked. Kioko nodded as her bangs covered her eyes, no longer able to look the elder demon in the eye.
" Yes. When I was ten years of age. " Kioko said.
" Ah, yes. That would easily explain why you did not know. I am sorry for your loss, young one. It is to my understanding that humans feel everything very immensely. " Bokuseno said as he looked at Sesshoumaru who looked back at him with a glare that continued to give the hermit his warning to tread even lighter.
" It's quite alright; it wasn't you Master Bokuseno. " Kioko said as she attempted to calm herself, looking up at the demon tree with glossy eyes that had yet to shed a single tear. Bokuseno looked at her in sympathy of her pain. He then looked at the mating collar around her neck. He first noticed it when she looked up at him from her bow smiling, and upon inspecting Sesshoumaru, he could see the rosary that he could only assume came from the lovely woman.
" I see you bear a mating collar. I give you my congratulations. " Bokuseno said kindly as Kioko then reached up with her right hand, her fingers brushing gently against the fabric. A small smile graced Kioko's face, to the hermit's delight, at last.
" Yes. Though we have yet to wed. " Kioko said with a tone that Sesshoumaru didn't particularly like.
" Well, soon enough I am certain. " Bokuseno responded before Sesshoumaru turned to walk away, knowing Kioko would follow.
" We are leaving. " Sesshoumaru announced. Kioko quickly began to follow after her betrothed after bowing in farewell to the tree hermit. Bokuseno wished them farewell after calling out to them to come back again soon. Time had passed in silence as Kioko's head was swimming from all the new information. She wasn't human. All the time she thought her being human would be why Sesshoumaru couldn't love her. Now she was informed of being human with a demon soul. A rare and forgotten race of demon. She stopped walking as she looked down at the ground ahead of her. Sesshoumaru, hearing Kioko's footsteps stop, had stopped as well to look over his left shoulder at her. Kioko looked up at him with a guarded expression, making Sesshoumaru's heart nearly freeze.
" Sesshoumaru. He said, "You've found one." How long have you known about this? " Kioko asked warily, almost scared of whatever answer he was about to give her. Sesshoumaru turned to face her, realizing that this was to be taken seriously.
" After you released me from the rosary. I met with Bokuseno after I suspected that you might not be human. " He told her. Her eyes showed her surprise. For that long and he wasn't telling her until now? Not even after he'd proposed to her? Wait.
" Is that why you always watched me after you came back? Did you propose to me because I'm some sort of rare demon that you'd be able to obtain for yourself- " Kioko began to ask as her eyes began to reveal extreme hurt from the thoughts that were filling her head. Until Sesshoumaru interrupted her by suddenly appearing closer, right in front of her. She stopped speaking and looked him in the eyes as a tear fell down her right cheek. Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment, and lifted his left hand to wipe the tear away before he gently grasped her right shoulder. He pulled her close and leaned down pressing his lips to hers in a soft and gentle kiss to silence her before pulling away to look her in the eyes. His face held it's icy mask, but his eyes held a certain emotion to it that she couldn't place at the moment. " Sesshoumaru. " Kioko pleaded in hope for an answer.
" Yes, it is why I watched you at first. No, it isn't the reason why I've presented you that collar or wish to mate with you. " Sesshoumaru told her with a sincerity she wasn't used to hearing him use.
" Then what is it about me that you hold dear the most? If not this apparent demon business then what? " Kioko asked. She knew he cared for her; he already proved that to her for now. However, she wasn't looking to have him tell her he loved her. She wanted to hear why her. Of all the humans and all the demons of the world, why her? There were so many things about her that he had grown to love. Everything about her was worth caring for, and he loved her heart and soul more than anything else. Not because he thought she was a demon as he was, but because she was oh so human to the point that she was angelic and melted even him. Sesshoumaru raised his left hand from Kioko's right shoulder to cup her right cheek and his eyes melted into a gaze that spoke genuine love and adoration to her. The stare froze Kioko in shock, and a heat blazed throughout her entire body to the point her legs almost lost their strength.
" Your human heart. " Sesshoumaru said without blinking or looking away from her pink hues that were now shedding more tears. Her emotions began to overwhelm her as her chest radiated with warmth and love that she never felt before. Once the relief of his answer washed over her, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck as he felt her tears against his skin. His clawed hand laced through her hair when he wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and after a few minutes had passed spent unmoved Kioko calmed enough to loosen her hold on him. She looked up at Sesshoumaru with a tender gaze when Sesshoumaru began wiping her tears away again. A small smile appeared onto Kioko's face again causing Sesshoumaru's heart to flutter in his chest.
" Let's go back. I want to see our daughter. " Kioko said warmly, as she referred to Rin waiting for them at the camp. Sesshoumaru melted more from her words, and an amused smile appeared on his face.
" Yes, our very human child. " Sesshoumaru said making Kioko laughed at the humor of it. Taking his left hand in her right, Kioko began pulling Sesshoumaru along as her scent surrounded him thanks to the breeze's direction. She looked back at him smiling brightly.
" Absolutely. " Kioko said happily. Touches, kisses, and playful banter shared between them the whole way back.