Chapter Seven – Battle
Kagome had lingered in the bathroom on purpose, but more to gather courage than out of spite. Emerging in a flowered, strapped dress with smooth, tangle-free hair, she quickly discovered Sesshoumaru had set glowing candles in every passage and then promptly vacated the underground premises. She searched each shadowed, dimly-lit room, including one housing his old armor and Bakusaiga and Tenseiga, calling his name. Her fruitless hunt left her wandering back to the entryway, trying to quell a rising note of panic.
Why isn't he here? Did I drive him away?!
Breaking into a hurried rush, she took the stairs to the surface in frantic bounds, bursting into bright sunlight. Kagome spun, surveying the surrounding field of green wildly.
"Sesshoumaru!" She cried, wincing at her own shrillness.
A blur of white zoomed from her periphery, blasting back her still-drying hair in a rushing breeze, leaving a materialized daiyoukai before her, face impassive.
Her shoulders sank in relief, and she palmed her chest, trying to muffle her pounding heart.
Sesshoumaru fixed her with an unreadable stare. "Did you not request privacy?"
Kagome nodded slowly.
"Then why are you distressed?" Though his features were a mask, confusion lay thick in the question.
"I… I thought you left."
"You asked me to," he said crossly, letting the mask slip. "Why would I permanently depart my own home on a whim?"
Dawning struck, and her face flushed bright red. "I'm an idiot."
"Hn," without another word, he stalked for the steps. Kagome hurried after him, struggling to swallow down mortification.
Sesshoumaru led them back to the kitchen, retrieving a cold plate from the counter she hadn't noticed. It was piled high with rice, fish, vegetables, and an abundant assortment of fruit. There was no trace by the firepit he had assembled the breakfast, save for a smolder of dying embers. Shame replaced her embarrassment as she realized he must have gone out special to pick the fresh berries and sliced apples heaped generously among dried varieties she had spotted last night.
Kagome's face burned to the tops of her ears, and she rushed into a seat without being asked. A clawed hand thrust the plate before her, and she dug in with a murmured 'thank you', knowing such appreciation was too late, but attempting it anyway. Sufficiently meek from her overreaction, Kagome ate everything while Sesshoumaru watched wordlessly, leaning against the counter. When he pushed a second bowl of rice in front of her, she put a hand out to refuse, patting her stomach.
"Please. I can't."
Gold eyes narrowed. "You, more than any soul left alive, know that a youkai cannot simply 'turn off' their senses when it suits them. Yet, you accuse me of eavesdropping and perversion, then proceed to scream as if in mortal danger when I try acquiescing to your wishes," the bowl was pushed closer. "You will consume sustenance to my satisfaction."
Kagome peeked up, cringing at the fury in his gaze. "As an apology?"
"As the start of one."
Looking at the rice in misery, she picked up her chopsticks. "I am sorry," her fingers trembled as she retrieved a small clump. "I didn't mean to lose it and fall to pieces like that. I don't know why I freaked out so much."
Sesshoumaru was familiar enough with the speech his retainer had used in his youth to understand the meaning behind her odd phrasing. "You reacted as if I were Inu-Yasha," he said evenly. "The exchanges you two shared consisted of yelling, accusation, and bids for dominance," he flashed his fangs in warning when the girl opened her mouth, proving his point by looking about to argue. "But I am not my brother, and will not be badgered for perceived offenses I have not committed," he finished.
Kagome snapped her jaw closed. She grew thoughtful, staring at the burning candles propped around the room before bending her head and bringing the rice to her lips. She finished the portion, wincing in discomfort as she swallowed the last bite. "You're right," she murmured, setting the wooden utensils beside the empty bowl. "All you've done is been accommodating, and I've just cried, argued, and teased," she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry to have imposed so long Sesshoumaru-sama."
The return of her formality was immediately noticed; silk and fur swished, stopping at her side. "None of that," he said. "I raised Rin. I know what you're doing."
Kagome cracked an eye open. "It's not a ploy to wheedle something from you Sesshoumaru-sama. I truly feel bad. And you're right – I was treating you like I would Inu-Yasha, though not on purpose."
Sesshoumaru considered her, weighing his next words. "You can show me the proper respect in your future actions," he offered evenly. "You do not need to employ it when addressing me."
"No, I shouldn't have been so familiar—."
"You are the only one who knows my true name, Kagome," his gaze grew serious. "I will permit it."
Kagome lay sprawled out on a grassy knoll, fighting to hold in the moans pushing to get past her clenched teeth. Trees shaded the spot, and a gentle summer breeze brought the pleasant smells of earth and forest drifting past.
Her stomach hurt too much to enjoy the idyllic setting, every inhale stretching it in agony, and she settled for squeezing her eyes shut and breathing in short, pained pants.
Sesshoumaru sat beside her, cocooned in his remaining mokomoko, one arm hanging from a bent knee. "You are being dramatic," he grumbled. "Again."
Kagome's only response was to roll away from him onto her side.
"If you are trying to illicit guilt or sympathy, it will not work."
A groan escaped. "I'm not Sesshoumaru, but we're even now," the words were muffled by grass. "I was rude and unreasonable, and you force fed me so much I've had to lie down and digest for an hour."
"Your stomach is unsuited for its intended task," he groused. "It's as worthless and small as your reserve of patience."
The woman snorted. "That's rich, coming from you."
Sesshoumaru stared over as she curled up, beginning to rock back and forth. "You have emitted 37 whimpers, snivels, and hisses in this supposedly-torturous hour, and I have not commented on their frequency or unnecessary embellishment once."
A blue-gray eye opened, glaring back. "But you counted them."
"I thought perhaps you were attempting to break some long-held record."
Kagome returned her head to the grass, rocking harder.
Sesshoumaru sighed under his breath and shifted close, brushing her hair away with careful claws before laying a hand on her back. She stilled and tensed as he spread his palm wide and began moving it in small circles.
"What are you doing?" She snapped, too peeved to manage more than mild surprise at the initiated touch.
The circles continued, growing stronger and wider. "When Rin lived in your well's village, she developed a fondness for sweets. Occasionally on my visits, she would ignore my counsel and ingest too much wagashi. She said rubbing her back was the only thing that helped."
Kagome craned her neck, looking over her shoulder again. "Rin lived in Kaede-sama's village?"
"Yes," Sesshoumaru watched his hand, mindful his claws didn't catch on the straps of her dress. Kagome was quiet under his attentions, keeping her gaze fixed on him; she obviously wanted him to elaborate.
Sesshoumaru capitulated, hoping information would put an end to the pitiful noises that had, indeed, drawn out his remorse. "The old priestess confronted Jaken, saying Rin needed to practice living among humans, so she could choose which life she wanted when she was an adult," his hand stuttered briefly.
"Which did she choose?"
He resumed his ministrations, focusing intently on the girl's back, so his memories wouldn't overtake him. Running his fingers over warm skin and cotton in measured strokes, he absently noted the start of freckles along her bare shoulders from the sun.
"I'm sure you can imagine," he said, forcing his tone nonchalant. "It is not a difficult decision. A future of harsh travel with a callous demon, or the comforts of your own kind."
Kagome reacted, surprising him by sitting up, twisting to face him, and grabbing his wrist mid-circle. "She had to pick between her father or making new friends," she rushed. "A hard choice for a girl who's becoming a woman."
Sesshoumaru yanked his arm free, flooded with dubiety and outrage at her presumption. Who is she to think she knows?!
"Rin did not see me as a parent," he clarified, trying to tame his rancor, its intensity unsettling. "Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in the village," he inhaled sharply as he realized the truth – the failing – he had just shared. How does this woman bring forth so much? This Sesshoumaru does not rise to such baits!
Kagome's fingers shot out and grabbed the end of his mokomoko, knowing he was about to rise. "She did see you that way!" The girl assured. "She told me herself!"
"You lie!" He snarled.
She pulled on his fur, bringing his head down to hers. "Remember when you and Inu-Yasha had to work together to defeat So'unga, your father's third sword? When Rin and I were hiding, after you'd saved us, she told me how important you were. You should have seen her faith in you, Sesshoumaru. You were everything to her!"
He lifted his lip, baring fangs in displeasure, willing the human to understand the inu gesture. "Then 'everything' was not enough to make her stay."
Kagome sighed. "Some people aren't cut out for the life youkai lead."
"And you?" Grief danced in his gaze, as fresh as if Rin was still there, heading towards a circle of huts. "Are you 'some people'?"
She looked purposefully around the field, then to her handful of his true form, before returning to his face. "What do you think?"
"I think you are bestowing more charity," he muttered, shoving her away.
Kagome fell back into the grass and immediately scrambled up, getting to her knees so her head inched above his. "I'm not the casually-friendly, kindness-spewing girl I once was, Sesshoumaru," her tone darkened dangerously. "And of all the people I might dredge such sickening sweetness back up for, you wouldn't be it," her glare was livid. "I am not lying about Rin. I would never do something like that," her little frame nearly vibrated with indignation. "She loved you."
Fire sparked her gaze, and Sesshoumaru found himself unable to look away. The girl's cheeks were flushed, long hair mussed from his shove, and the bands of her dress had fallen, revealing another set of pink straps, attached to the top of a mysterious, rounded undergarment that peeked from the dress's slipped, flowered bust.
Sesshoumaru wanted to move away from their confrontation, as upset by her claims as his own honesty. One exchange couldn't undo the centuries he had spent tormenting himself, wondering if his ward had ever seen him as more than a timely protector, viewing him even remotely like he'd viewed his own sire.
Kagome caught his linger at her bra and hastily pulled her dress back into place. "Are you listening to me?" She said sharply. "We're having a conversation here. I can answer your questions about foundational underthings later."
Sesshoumaru responded by staring directly at her chest, a puzzled crimp in his forehead.
"Nope," she stretched over, reaching for his chin. "You know better. Don't pretend like common courtesy didn't exist in Sengoku Jidai," she tried pulling his face up, but he refused to let her, resisting easily.
Kagome brought both hands to his jaw, pushing with as much force as she dared. Golden eyes flicked up in feigned boredom.
"I'm not letting you change the subject this time," she insisted. "And certainly not with my bra."
"Why do you wear such a contraption?" He asked, testing the unfamiliar word silently.
Kagome gave a final thrust on his chin before abandoning her struggle, aware he was drawing her away from Rin, but allowing him the reprieve anyway. "Stop staring like Miroku and I'll tell," she folded her legs crisscross, sitting on a curl of his mokomoko.
Sesshoumaru jerked his face up on his own. Even he'd known of the monk's lecherous proclivities, and didn't like the association. As if he would stare at her in that kind of appreciation. "Is it a form of armor worn under your clothes?" He pressed.
"No," Kagome rolled her eyes. "It's for support."
"Why? You are young."
"It's to…," she should have just zinged him with her power to stop his study. A dose of mild purification would've done wonders for his manners. "Shield from… weather… and attention."
The crimp smoothed. "Ah. Yes. The cold provokes a noticeable response, and human males think coveting is their due."
Kagome went beet red. "Y-You did not just say that!"
Sesshoumaru cocked his head, mocking innocence.
"And you're one to judge human men," she added. "You were staring."
"Not in sexual interest," he assured, taking more satisfaction in her discomfiture than he should. She was a welcome distraction to his bleak thoughts.
Kagome's blush spread down her neck and up to her ears. "H-How do you not know about bras anyway?" She spluttered. "Women have been wearing them for ages."
"My last female attendant was three generations ago."
"Yeah but—," Kagome's mouth dropped into an 'oh' as understanding swelled.
Sesshoumaru frowned, realizing the connections she was making. How had he gone so swiftly from gaining the upper hand to losing it once more?
A rueful smile started in the corners of her mouth. "Been awhile, huh?"
He exhaled, blowing his bangs. "It is unseemly to speak of such matters."
"Mm-hmm."