"When she wakes, we will discuss this further." Sesshou crossed his arms over his chest, and widened his stance. He was standing guard over Kagome's unconscious form, back at the hotel. Both Hakkaku and Kakushin had come to discuss what had occurred, but he shot them down and kept them both out of arm's reach of her. It's not like he knew what happened any more than Hakkaku did. He glanced at her still body, breathing slow and even in sleep as the two wolves evacuated their hotel room.
It was their last day in California, and they still had to come to a decision over the engagement. He swore to himself he would tear her away from Kakushin and murder him if she said yes. He wouldn't allow it. She spent all of thirty-six hours around the wolves' territory and she becomes possessed. He would not have it. She was not safe.
Kagome groaned in her sleep, hearing muffled voices just out of reach. She didn't fight the heavy feeling in her eyelids and allowed herself to relax as she slowly came to. Sesshou was at the edge of the bed in an instant, having felt her heart rate change pace. His cool hand was on her forehead instantly, checking for a fever. Her eyes fluttered open at the sensation.
"Sesshou?" Kagome asked, taking his hand off her forehead. Sitting up, she noticed she was still dressed in wolf clothing. No wonder he thought she had a fever. Their clothes were designed for warmth. She was sweating under her dress.
"Are you yourself?" Sesshou asked, his hand still in hers. He would not shy away from any comfort she might need. Their argument no longer mattered.
"What do you mean?" Kagome tilted her head in confusion. "What happened?"
"That's what I would like to know." He dipped his head down in disappointment, his silver hair blocking his face from her sight. "What do you last remember?"
"Um," She crossed her legs underneath herself, "The old mistress sat me down by the fire." Sesshou's interest was piqued once more. He picked his head up to observe her openly. "She showed me so many things of the past." Kagome's eyes watered and she removed her hand from Sesshou's to rub away the tears with the edge of her sleeves. "I'm so sorry, Sesshou."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Sesshou immediately responded, knowing she wasn't at fault for anything that occurred five hundred years ago.
"Yes, I do," She dried her face and peered up at his golden eyes through her ruffled bangs, "I was horrible to you last night. I'm so sorry for everything."
"I accept your apology." He smiled warmly, patting her head. "And I offer my own in return. I was harsh. You did not deserve my unkind words."
"Thank you," She smiled back at him with blurry eyes, and couldn't seem to shake the fire light in her mind's eye, the shape of the demon lord before her dressed for battle, holding a single bloom over a grave. "Thank you," Kagome's lip trembled as she fought back her tears. His own senses were telling him she was in more distress than she let on. "I'm so sorry," Kagome launched herself into him, grasping him tightly around the waist, with both hands clutching the back of his shirt. "I'm sorry," She sobbed again, "I'm so sorry, about," She hiccuped, "About everything."
Sesshou had held her enough times in their relationship over the course of five hundred years. Sometimes to save her from harm, other times to catch her mid air, and recently to carry her from one location to the next, and they had embraced once before when he addressed the awkwardness of whether she could rely on him as a friend, but this was different. He glanced down at the teary girl leaning heavily into his form, her face buried into the crook of his neck, and her arms wound tightly around his torso. This brought other thoughts to mind, thoughts that he questioned when she flushed heavily and startled him out of a nap. Her soft weeping left puffs of her warm breath on his flesh and he didn't hesitate to lean into her touch. His own hands found their way around her shoulders and into her wavy black hair. She wasn't the only one who needed this.
"Shh," He hushed the apologies that escaped her mouth, resting his cheek into the crown of her head. "You needn't worry, Kagome." He let her cry herself out. She was distraught, and he would not force her to push for memories she could not grasp. They had time to figure out what happened.
As he felt her grip loosen, and her sobs quiet, Sesshou guided her back into the pillows, and tucked her in. Her eyes were closed and her face tear stained, but she was still awake. He could feel her breath easing as she approached sleep.
Just as he was about to exit the bedroom, he heard her whisper so quietly, a human wouldn't have understood her, but with his demonic ears he heard, "Tell Kakushin I'm going home." She paused, but he knew she wasn't finished. "With you."
"Okay." He breathed, and grabbed a hotel key and his concealment before leaving her to rest.
It was late morning when Sesshou returned to the hotel with a classic American breakfast from the nearest to-go restaurant for the teary eyed sleeping beauty he'd left to rest. Upon entering the lobby, he saw that Kakushin was waiting for him.
"So what happened exactly?" Kakushin didn't need to fake his charm without Kagome around. He was straight to the point, just how Sesshou preferred.
"She does not remember." He didn't feel the need to keep this information to himself. Kakushin would find out one way or another. At least this way he was able to keep the wolf cub from doing anything drastic.
"May I see her now?" He asked, crossing his arms uncomfortably. He appeared nervous, even guilty looking. Sesshou narrowed his eyes.
"She does not wish to be betrothed." Sesshou's commanding voice not so subtly hinted that visitations were unwelcome.
"Regardless, I need to speak with her." Kakushin didn't back down, his eyes growing murky with his sour disposition. Whatever was on his mind was worth investigating. Sesshou passed the wolfling and didn't protest when he followed.
Entering the hotel room, Sesshou was pleased to see Kagome awake, showered, and dressed in her own clothing. She had donned a flowing pink skirt and a peasant top with brown sandals. It seemed she had dressed for their departure, preparing for the heat of the California sun and the possibility of uncomfortable means of travel.
"Good morning," Kagome smiled at Sesshou, her face still swollen from crying. "Oh." She gasped when she saw who followed her companion in. "Hello, Kakushin." She blushed a pretty color from embarrassment, knowing it was obvious she had cried. If not for her puffy face, then the scent of salty tears staining the fabrics around them certainly gave away her moment of weakness.
"Good morning, Kagome," Kakushin eased passed Sesshou, who began to unpack breakfast after nodding his hello. "I wanted to ask you about your encounter last night," He sat in the loveseat by the window that overlooked the desert plains behind the casino. "With the elder."
"Oh, um," Kagome popped her lips, and sat at the edge of the bed, facing the wolf, "I don't really remember what happened. One second I'm seeing images in the fire," She accepted the coffee Sesshou handed her, "And the next, I'm waking up here."
"Tell me about the elder." He said.
"She was old, very old," Kagome took a sip of her coffee, pleased that it was lightly sweetened with vanilla cream, "And she wore furs. She could show me so much in the fire, like a story."
"What do you remember last? In the fire?" Kakushin crossed his legs and leaned forward, curious.
"I remember Sesshou," Kagome said around the rim of her paper coffee cup. At hearing his name, Sesshou stopped setting up breakfast and turned to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. "Or, Sesshoumaru, I should say."
"You may call me either." Sesshou added. He did not mind either name, but he knew with the rise of humans and demons going into hiding, he had to take on a new, less threatening name that wouldn't give away exactly who he was. He was already asked often enough by humans if he was named for the mythical Lord of the West.
"Well, Sesshoumaru is the last thing I remember seeing." Kagome took another sip, "And I know I was upset. Everything I saw was terrible, and all true."
"Why would this woman show her these images?" Sesshou asked the wolf.
"I don't even know who the woman is," Kakushin appeared pensive, "I've only ever heard the elders when I came to power over my tribe." He paused, mulling over all that he knew, "Kagome your reiki is odd, due to the nature of it's birth, yes?"
"I guess?" Kagome was taken aback by the lack of Kakushin's charm and glad to see this was the real him. The one who didn't mess around. The kind of demon her friend would create treaties with to band together demon kind. "I don't really know much about being a priestess." She looked away in embarrassment.
"The jewel was within her body when it was reintroduced to the world five hundred years ago. Perhaps it allows her emotions to clarify the target of her reiki." Sesshou spoke his thoughts, "I was able to enter your force field to reach you."
"I have experienced strange occurrences due to my powers." Kagome began counting off her finer moments on her fingers, "I reflected the curse on Tsubaki, or on Mount Hakurei I had gotten lost in a vision of some sort but I managed to learn to target the demon within a host by shooting them with an arrow, and I can bring my reiki to my hands when my life is in immediate danger," She tapped her chin, "I can see invisible hair?"
"Have you had visions before then?" Kakushin asked.
"Only when they're put into my head." Kagome recalled the corrupt jewel that took over her body, and the baby that held Naraku's heart.
"I have a theory," Kakushin uncrossed his legs and leaned both elbows on his knees, "The elder came to you as a spirit. She had a purpose, but it wasn't malicious."
"Then what has she done?" Sesshou asked, knowing that whatever did happen, the old woman possessing her managed to control her powers. "Kagome's power was never so great before. I expanded my own energy to level with her, but it was the witch who spoke, and then vanished from her body."
"I know, I felt it even from outside the property." Kakushin murmured behind his hand. "I don't know the purpose, but maybe this elder knew you?"
"Uh, I don't think I did." Kagome sighed, scratching the side of her head. "The only female wolf I knew was your mother and this woman was much older than even Sesshou's father."
"This is true." Sesshou affirmed.
"Do you feel well?" Kakushin asked, his voice soft as he peered into Kagome's own blue eyes. It was the first time she felt genuine concern from him. He wasn't all cocky and charming, it seemed. He was a real person, and now having been rejected, she could truly get to know the real Kakushin. The kind and fierce son of her two friends. Tears blurred her eyes, but they did not fall. She smiled.
"I am well." She reassured him. "And I would like to return home now." Kagome turned to Sesshou, "Can we leave now?"
"Yes." Sesshou had never been satisfied by her requests. Standing, he added, "Let us go."