OK super OOC, I did not mean Sesshomaru to come off like this, but I like it! If you do to drop me a review. (I rhymed)
Chapter Eight:
The beauty of this era never got old for Kagome. From the stars to the flowers, it always seemed to take her breath away. She had never felt a sense of peace in her time as she did here. Everything just seemed fresh and untouched. She stopped in the meadow they were walking and just inhaled. For one small moment, all of her problems were gone. She cleared her mind and just relaxed.
Sesshomaru watched her as she stood in the middle of the flowers with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face. From what she had explained about her world he could understand her appreciation for nature. He himself was used to it, but watching her made him see his surroundings as if it were for the first time.
"You know, I envy you." Sesshomaru gave her a questionable look. "There are times I wish I could just fly away, even for a little while, and just feel the wind as it made all my problems disappear," Kagome said as she laid down on the grass with her arms spread wide.
"Hn. Flying away from your problems does not make them go away Miko. It only delays them for a time." Sesshomaru came and sat beside her.
"I know. Running didn't work for me either." She stared up at the stars fighting her emotions. "I don't know what to do. He says he loves me, but...how can I trust him? I'm afraid, he says he loves me now but what about tomorrow."
"That is a question I do not know the answer to. I do not know much on the feeling of love, but as an inu, we are a loyal breed. When we commit ourselves to our mate there is no going back on it."
"Believe me I know, he is loyal to her to a fault." Kagome sighed. "When I told Inuyasha I wouldn't need to go home for school anymore, he seemed so excited. For the last year or so he had been opening up to me more, we fought less, I felt we started to become more than just friends. He always seemed to keep me at arms length before, and then one day he put his guard down. I knew it was wishful thinking for me to want him to love me more, but then he would look at me sometimes and I could just see it in his eyes. I saw the love he had for me and I let myself feel hope again. Hope that this was it, I was his choice. I knew a part of him would always still love Kikyo, you never really forget your first love, but I just thought that... so anyways, I was surprised when he told me I was a burden. That she was taking my place because she was better. I think that's what hurts the most. For all the times he put me down or insulted me, it never came as a surprise. He was loyal to her, no one came above her. He even stood up for her when she tried to kill me! But, I thought things had changed. I thought all of that was in the past. I let it go because I chose to stay, it was my choice so I couldn't hold his feelings against him. But, when he chose her over me again, all those feelings came rushing back. Every time he left, every time he looked down on me, every time he reminded me I was only second best. How can I forgive him again? He says he loves me, and maybe he does, but...is that enough? Will loving me be enough to erase all of the hurt?"
Sesshomaru watched as her blue eyes turned to crystals with unshed tears. He had never wanted to kill his brother more than in this moment, but he felt obligated to help him. He had never been good to his brother. Deep down he felt a sense of shame for treating a member of his family the way he had. Maybe he could make it up to him now.
"I never cared for my brother. To me, he was a reminder of my father's weakness. He died to save a human woman and his bastard whelp. My father was a powerful demon who was brought down by his love for a human. It did not make sense to me? Power was everything to me and feelings made you weak." Kagome looked at him surprised to hear him be so open.
"When his mother died, I sought out Inuyasha to put an end to my family's embarrassment. I found him half-starved and half-frozen. I did not kill him at the time because i believed he would die eventually anyway. I watched for years as my brother clung to life by a thread. He was always broken and half-starved to death every time I sought him out. It was my duty as my packs alpha to care for him, but I did nothing. I wanted the reminder of my father's betrayal gone." Sesshomaru looked off into the trees. "I crossed paths with him once more when he started seeing the priestess. Just like our father he too died for a human woman. I watched as he followed her around shamefully like a dog, and as the same woman sealed him to a tree."
He turned to look at Kagome. "It wasn't until I met Rin that I started to understand the love of a human. The feeling of having someone you need to protect. It made me open my eyes to what I have been blind to for years. Caring for another gives you strength, it is not a weakness." He put a hand on her cheek. "I see that same strength in my brother when he is with you. He did not have this strength with her, even back then. I believe that my brother was just a child then, seeking any form of affection he could get. For someone who knew nothing but hate his entire life, he latched on to the first being who showed him anything else." He put his hand down and stared into her eyes. "Now, he is a man. He protects what is his. The child in him has a hard time letting go, but the man, knows exactly what he wants."
Kagome looked at him finally letting her tears fall. She knew Inuyasha had a bad childhood, but hearing about it broke her heart. She could understand the attachment he had to Kikyo. She could not imagine being on your own and hated at such a young age. Even when she lost her father, she still had the love of her family. Someone to take care of her and show her love. She cried for the child that suffered so much. She wanted to be angry at Sesshomaru, but he looked so guilty as he told her about what he'd done...
"I'm glad that you seem to care about him now. I know you might not ever talk to your brother about the past or apologize, but I hope one day you'll reconsider. I'm sure it would mean a lot to him."
"Kagome." She looked over at him. "I have just told you of my heinous treatment of the man you love. How I overlooked his suffering because of my pride, and yet, you forgive me anyway. Why?"
She scrunched her eyebrows. "Well, because you explained the situation to me, and even though what you did was horrible, you are remorseful. I believe if you knew then what you do now, you would do things differently. You are my friend and I can see that what you did bothers you. Everyone deserves a chance to be forgiven."
"Hn...I believe if you took the chance to hear him out and let him explain the situation as you say, you might find it in you to forgive my brother as well."
She was stunned! Sesshomaru just outsmarted her! "Well... I...I mean it's not the same!"
Sesshomaru just smiled as he rose. He reached for her hand and helped her up. As they stood there he looked at her "Isn't it?"
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Kikyo was at a loss on what to do. She knew she needed to get rid of her reincarnation and fast. She made up her mind to sneak away as soon as the others were asleep. She hoped that Inuyasha would hunt her down, but now she wasn't so sure. Either way, she needed a plan, it would not be so easy to kill the girl now that she traveled with Inuyasha's demon brother. She knew of the sword he carried that could easily send her back to Hell.
Quietly she left the camp in the darkness of the forest. Her only option at the moment was to seek out Naraku and inform him of the girls return. She would let him risk his life to kill the girl. It was too risky for her now.
As she walked into the trees she was stopped by a powerful aura.
"So, have you finally figured out you no longer hold my brothers leash?"
Kikyo showed no emotion as she looked at Lord Sesshomaru. She would not show fear. "Inuyasha will come to me when I call him, make no mistake. For now, I will allow him to play with my copy if that is his wish. But, in the end, he will follow me."
Sesshomaru looked unimpressed by her. "Make no mistake, if you cause Kagome any harm, this one will show you no mercy."
"Why would I do that? She is of no concern to me." Kikyo raised her chin defiantly.
"We shall see." Sesshomaru started to walk off. "You are a fool if you believe my brother will ever again leave her side for you. Admit defeat and go back to the land of the dead, there is nothing here for you anymore."
Kikyo gave him back a dirty look. "We will see."
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Kagura looked bored as she flew on her feather in search of Inuyasha's wench. Her 'brother' Kage just sat there and did not speak. His only focus was on Kagome, and he made very bad company.
"Sooo. You see anything yet?" Kagura asked the strange demon.
Kage shook his head as his eyes continued to scan for Kagome.
"Geez stop talking already I get it." Kagura sighed.
They had been searching for days, with no sign of the girl. Kagura wanted to give up but she guessed it was better than being stuck at the castle.
"There." Kagura almost fell off her feather as she heard the guy actually make a sound. She looked to where he pointed and seen Kikyo, not Kagome, walking through the trees. She landed by her to see what was going on.
"Where's your puppy at Kikyo? Did he run away?" Kagura teased.
"That is none of your concern. I have news of my reincarnations whereabouts and need to speak to Naraku." Kikyo narrowed her eyes.
"For your sake, I hope it's good. Naraku is tired of waiting." Kagura pulled her feather back out to carry all three back to the castle. Kage stared off into the trees where Kikyo had come from. He narrowed his eyes as he slowly followed climbed on the feather.
'Hmmm. I wonder what that was all about.' Kagura thought. 'I really hope the mutt wasn't dumb enough to bring that girl out of hiding. They are my only chance to get my freedom.'
Kagura hoped the priestess was lying, and hopefully, Naraku would just kill her. She didn't like the priestess or trust her at all.
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"AHHHHHHHH! MY LORD WHY!"
Inuyasha and his friends were jerked awake from screaming coming from the next camp.
"What the fuck was that!" Inuyasha yelled as he pulled out tessaiga.
"It sounded like a dying animal." Sango rubbed her eyes as she tried to wake up.
The loud noise was followed by childish giggles as Rin and Shippo ran into their camp doubled over laughing.
"Did you see his face! That was SO funny!" Shippo laughed out.
"I can't believe Master Jaken actually fell for it!" Rin laughed in return.
"And what may I ask is so funny?" Miroku was smiling at their childish behavior.
"Ok haha ok, so we told Jaken that Lord Sesshomaru was mad that he didn't say anything about his singing." Shippo stopped to catch his breath. "So Jaken runs over to him crying saying he had the voice of an angel and that he could sing to him anytime."
"When Lord Sesshormau got mad, Jaken started singing and asked my Lord to join him." Rin giggled out.
"Then Kagome started laughing and Sesshomaru got red in the face! So, Jaken hugged him and told him not to be shy! Sesshomaru got really mad and he kicked Jaken so far he only looked like a speck in the sky!" The kids started laughing all over again.
Sango and Miroku lightly laughed as Inuyasha looked nervous.
"What's the matter Inuyasha?" Sango asked him.
"You're saying that Kagome laughed at Sesshomaru! And you guys left her there! What if he hurts her!" He looked ready to run over and save her.
The kids looked at each other and started laughing all over again. "My Lord would never hurt Lady Kagome!" Rin breathed out.
"Yea Inuyasha! She would just beat him up again if he tried!" The kids laughed at the memory of Kagome beating Sesshomaru in a spar.
Inuyasha didn't look convinced. He was gonna head over there when he smelled her coming towards them. She came out of the bushes looking red as she tried to hold in her laughter. He was gonna ask if she was ok, but the look on Sesshomaru's face stopped him.
He was blushing.
His brother was blushing.
The asshole who had a stick constantly stuck up his ass...was blushing.
The kids were still laughing, but he was too shocked to react. What...the...fuck.
"Ok, ok guys. It wasn't that funny!" Kagome attempted a straight face as she shook her finger at Rin and Shippo.
"We're sorry my Lord we will stop." Rin smiled at him.
Shippo just took deep breaths and looked away. He was sooo tempted to make a joke, but he knew he couldn't get away with what Rin and Kagome did.
"HN" Sesshomaru walked up to a tree and sat down. "I believe we have important matters to discuss this morning."
"Yes, we're sorry My Lord. We did not mean to hurt your feelings." Kagome started another round of laughter which quickly stopped as Sesshomaru glared at them.
"Soooo, Kagome, what exactly have you been up to all this time." Sango tried to get the conversation started. Her curiosity was killing her.
"Well, um there's really not that much to tell." At the looks they shot between her and Sesshomaru she shrugged. "No, really. I came back through the well the day after you guys left. When I got here Shippo was talking to Sesshomaru and Rin and one thing lead to another and he offered to train me! So, we went to his castle, trained for six months, then went searching for Naraku." They continued to just stare. "Um, yea."
"But, I mean...how did you come to be...you know..friends?" Sango asked awkwardly.
"Well, he offered me protection at first. That kind of broke the ice and we just started to talk. Once we got on a companionship level, he made me a part of his pack! After that, we just hit it off!" Kagome didn't understand what the big deal was.
"He let you join his pack...really?" Inuyasha looked skeptical that it was that easy.
"Yes! He's really a good guy once you get to know him. And I mean once he stops trying to kill you..." She sent Sesshomaru a glare which he shrugged off.
"Oooookkkkk. And, what position do you actually hold in his pack?" Inuyasha was gonna lose it if she was Alpha female. Only the Alphas mate held that rank. She was HIS!
Sesshomaru smirked and went to respond when Kagome jumped on him and covered his mouth. Miroku and Inuyasha became on guard thinking Sesshomaru would kill her for that.
"DON'T YOU DARE DOG!" Kagome yelled in his face. Her face had turned dark red and Inuyasha started to fear that he was right.
"My Lord said that Lady Kagome was the annoying bitch! Whatever that means." Rin stated innocently.
If possible Kagome's face turned even redder. She covered her face with her hands waiting for the others to laugh.
Sango smiled, having already heard the story, but surprisingly the one to break the silence was Lord Sesshomaru.
He barked out a laugh that scared the hell out of Inuyasha, but it seemed to break the spell as everyone else joined in.
"What did I say? Wasn't that what he said?" Rin looked confused.
"Rin! That, was awesome!" Shippo hugged her and she just shrugged her shoulders. Apparently she missed something.
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