Misfortune Followed Us Home ch.28


A Challenge Issued


Kagome pressed herself lightly against Sesshoumaru, burrowing her nose in the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. He smelled of oak, pine, and spring water. He smelled like the forest, like nature. "Would he taste as good," she wondered. Her mouth opened to find out just what he tasted like. Her gums ached but she paid it no attention as she inched forward in anticipation.


She let out a large gasp as she stood abruptly, water streaming down her face. She turned around coughing as her body rejected the water that made its way into her lungs. Vomiting water into the soft grass, she took great heaving gulps as she replenished the precious oxygen she had missed. She silently swore never to fall asleep in the bath again. Her skin resembled that of a ripe tomato and she was sweating dangerously. She needed water badly and maybe some fresh air. That would be nice. She got out of the spring and toweled off. But, that sadistic youkai had locked her in. She sighed as she draped her towel around herself and let down the kekai surrounding the room. She stopped surprised when she walked into the bedroom, the door was open. She hurried over and peeked out the door, the remains of the youkai had been cleaned and the hall was polished as if there had never been a fight. She closed the door to a crack, afraid that if she closed it completely, she would be locked in again. She dressed quickly and made her way out of the room and around the corner.


A small knock sounded on the wood of a sliding door. The servant knelt patiently waiting to be acknowledged. The occupant let out a gruff, "Enter," as he set down an ink stained brush.

"My lord," the servant bowed low before the desk waiting for him to allow her to proceed.

"What is it," he questioned.

"The miko has left her room. She seems to be making her way to the garden, though I do not know how it is that she makes her way so easily."

Sesshoumaru almost audibly sighed as he rose to his feet. "Prepare tea for two and bring it to the garden."

"Right away Sesshoumaru-sama," she responded before quickly disappearing. This miko was seriously beginning to exhaust his patience.


Kagome sighed in relief as she stepped outside. She took in a great lungful of air and her face scrunched up in confusion. Everything smelled different. A sweet fragrance drifted through the air, she walked up to various plants, memorizing their new scent. She sniffed delicately at the flowers and the shrubs lining the walkways and paths. The old, familiar scents blended with the new ones and she could tell that these were enhanced, sharper than she remembered. Scents she used to remember as subtle were mild, the previous mild scents were bold. Plants that she used to believe had no scent at all now tickled her senses with their new fragrance. She was entranced by the beauty of nature in that moment. She took another lungful of air, catching the full, blended scent of the garden. A familiar scent pierced through the sweetness of flower blossoms and she followed it out of curiosity. As she followed it, she came upon a hedge maze formed of hydrangeas. Every possible color combination seemed to be melded together into a beautiful 8 foot high wall of blooms. The scent beckoned to her from within its depths and she followed unquestioningly, around numerous twists and turns until she found the center. In the center stood a towering sakura tree. The full pink blossoms swayed in the breeze as they drifted down to carpet the viridian grass beneath it. Under that massive, sprawling giant sat Sesshoumaru, sipping patiently from a cup of tea. The mysterious scent forgotten, she walked over to sit before him watching as a blush stained blossom drifted through the air before becoming entangled in his silver-white locks. She focused on his citrine eyes as he spoke.

"Miko." Her attention drifted to his bland expression as he stared pointedly at the tea pot between them. She gave him a withering look as she poured herself a cup and set the pot back down between them. He glared as he refilled his cup himself, resisting the urge to throw the pot at her head. She had become that annoying to him already.

"Miko, clearly you are beyond the scope of reason. I distinctly remember telling you to remain in your room, yet here you are. What exactly will it take for you to behave?" Sesshoumaru observed her as he spoke. Her vivid blue eyes flashed in anger as she bit at her lower lip trying to contain it.

"I am not a child Sesshoumaru. I'm strong enough. I can take care of myself. Not that I don't appreciate the help, but I'm not some weakling that needs to be saved. Just let me take care of myself," she exclaimed.

"I have yet to see that."

"Then let me prove myself, give me three days to train. On the fourth day, we spar. You get to witness my own fortitude. My ability to hold my own. And if I impress you, let me move about the shiro on my own until the others get here. I won't cause any undue trouble for your household."

"I am not certain that you know what it is that you ask but, very well."