The Bone Eater's Well
Chapter Nine
Waking was a dream of sorts inside itself. The fluttering of her hair tickled her nose and she sniffed dramatically in an attempt to will the hair off her face. For a moment, she sighed, content with rolling her head to rest against the bark of the tree. Rays of sun dipped through her closed lids, and Kagome squeezed her lids tighter. A small puff of air rustled her bangs and Kagome swiped a hand absentmindedly. Resting her hand back over her chest, she stretched her shoulder out to relax herself further.
Another puff of air blew her hair straight off her forehead, and she shook her head to settle her bangs.
A small snort had her hand flying back up to knock away whatever was hovering.
"Shippo," she cooed, "stop it."
Kagome's fuzzy mind heard a soft whine and had her heart melting instantly.
"Fine, come here." She patted her lap tiredly and yawned.
A rather large mass dropped into her lap and she raised her arm with a sigh to rub her beloved friend's head. Her fingers curled around a tuft of hair and she ran them over the mass. She frowned, fingers just dipping over a large crevice. She paused, mind unable to properly process the notion, and then continued to trace the dip until her fingers crossed a thinner appendage.
Another whine and a quick heated rush of air had her eyes shooting open.
A large, black muzzle was leaning over her. The dog's mouth was parted, hot air blowing over her nose, and it's wide green eyes were sparkling in the sun.
"Ah!" Kagome squealed, jumping in place.
Her hand smacked the mass in her lap, a mop of golden red hair bouncing as her knee jerked. The head of another massive dog swiveled up before the body followed. Kagome squealed again realizing that she had been petting another dog as the two startled.
The dogs towered over her, nearly the size of Kirara in her transformed state. She bolted upwards, and the two dogs reacted. The golden red dog yipped before bumping into the black dog who snarled instinctively. She gasped and scrambled to sit upright further scaring the duo.
Back pressed to the tree, hand over her pounding heart, Kagome swallowed down her panic. The two dogs zipped about in the garden, their large bodies colliding with each other to hide behind a flowering bush. Their own eyes peaked curiously at her.
"Oh no," Kagome clutched the front of her shirt in her hands as she shifted to lean forward on her hands. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Guilt crashed through her as their heads dipped down before slowly peeking at her. The red mane on the dog was bristled and the black dog was caught between baring his teeth at her and attempting to sniff her out from a distance.
"Come here. I'm sorry." She cooed, arm out stretching slowly toward the two dogs.
"I don't want to hurt you." Kagome smiled beckoning to the two.
Slowly, the red head's muzzle crept closer before the dog was crawling on its belly to her. She kept her arm still, body aching at the stretch as hot hair blew across her fingers.
"That's it. You're ok."
A soft pink tongue darted out to lick her fingertip. Kagome giggled as the massive dog jerked back. It crept forward again, nose twitching violently as it sniffed her hand. The other dog cautiously stepped over the red dog's hindquarters to investigate her from afar. She smiled and cooed to the duo, stretching her hand out to allow the other dog a chance to scent her as well.
"You're ok, honey. Come on." Kagome beckoned, making small kissing noises.
The black dog shifted down, stepping on his partner's body to lap at her hand. Kagome giggled excitedly. The red dog bumped the other to shift out from under him. The pair collided, yips and small snarls escaping them as they tousled to stand. Kagome remained seated, tucking her legs to the side and allowing her hand to drop to her side. Running a hand through her hair as the pair seemed to momentarily forget her, she studied their illustrious manes and massive paws.
Eventually, as she yawned dramatically, the dogs settled on tentatively coming closer. Kagome allowed them to approach her, knowing if she made a sudden move to stand, they would skirt off. The black dog dropped its muzzle to sniff the top of her hair and she closed her eyes as the hot blast of air. Curious green eyes peered down at her. He inhaled, her hair plastering to its snout before dropping against her face.
She outright laughed and the dog unexpectedly skirted back. The red haired dog shuffled to sniff at her waist. Kagome raised her arm to tentatively stroke his head. His brown eyes flinched, but he allowed her to trace her fingers over the crest of his head. Bravely, she ran her palm over his head a few times. When she saw his face release of tension, she moved to scratch gently behind his ears.
There was an instant shift in his startled behavior and he flopped against her legs in a huff. His jowls pulled into a semi smile and she scratched harder. His head lulled revealing orange stripes under his jaw. Obviously jealous, the black dog shuffled to her other side, nudging her shoulder with silent command. She obliged with a soft murmur.
Now scratching both dogs, she took the opportunity to move herself into a more comfortable position. She cooed softly as if to soothe a baby, body languishing into a soft roll as she stretched her legs and draped her arms over their dogs to scratch their soft sides.
"Now where did you two come from?" She asked, leaning her forehead against the tuft of the head of the black dog. "You're both so handsome!"
She continued to gush as though the two dogs could understand. When the black dog huffed, kicking its legs out to press its back to her legs, she realized maybe they could. The dog beamed up at her, long white canines flashing in the sun and tongue lulling as she scratched a particularly sensitive patch of skin.
The red head made a soft whine and she turned brilliant blue eyes to gush further. "Oh, don't be jealous. Come here."
Kagome scratched at his belly too as he rolled onto his backside, belly exposed for her. She laughed carelessly and adamantly relishing in pure joy. Turning, she dropped onto her belly and lovingly rubbed her head into each of their bellies. The dogs shifted, both on their backsides now to squirm at the touch. Both dogs happily responded, rubbing their own faces against wherever they could reach.
Her laughter spilled from her and she rolled onto her side to cradle the golden red mane of the one dog before equally spoiling the other.
"So cute!" Kagome poured, peppering each pooch with kisses.
Youki snapped at her backside and both dogs snapped up, heads dipping low and whines escaping their throats. Bewildered at the sudden change, she crawled upright, head tilting back uncomfortably to twist around to gaze past their large bodies.
"You shame my soldiers' sons, ningen." Sesshomaru boredly announced, black boots barely crunching the foliage at his feet with his slow descent into the garden. "You'll make them soft."
Kagome huffed, tongue clicking at her teeth. Seems even younger he had a knack for spoiling all the fun. Talk about a mood killer. When did he even get here? Dismissing his statement, she waved him off. She lazily stood, flattening her clothes and dusting the grass from her legs. When she lifted her head again, she found the Daiyoukai of the West peering at her with such an intensity her muscles grew taunt like a predator cornering its prey.
And her being said prey.
Tugging her shorts down at the hem, she fiddled with the edge of them. How did he get so clo-
A growl enveloped the small garden clearing and the dogs whined again. The sound of Sesshomaru's growl vibrated in her chest and she felt the hair stand on the nape of her neck. The dogs quickly darted off, paws stamping in their quick flee. Kagome, clearly shocked by his brazen attitude, snarled in response. Her brow pinched together as the demon prince stepped within a few feet of her.
"Well that was rude!" Kagome snapped, back ramrod straight as her fists clenched. "You didn't have to scare them off like that! They were just playing!"
Sesshomaru seemed unperturbed by her statement, and she clenched her teeth tight as he continued his slow approach. "Pups have no need to be spoiled."
"Yes, they do." Kagome turned to face him fully, fists landing on her hips.
"Onna, do you know nothing of pack laws?" He drawled, claws flexing as he looked at his hand before picking at his nails. "Perhaps not based on your lack of manners."
Kagome huffed. The audacity of this man.
"They have to earn it." Sesshomaru turned his golden gaze to her face and she felt heat bloom across her cheeks in anger.
"Maybe they did." She folded her arms over her chest, slowly deflating as his youki swarmed her like a suffocating heatwave. "They were brave enough to approach a total stranger!"
Sesshomaru took pause at her words and she defiantly squared up with him.
"A miko, no less." He murmured.
Kagome nodded with a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "And I think their bravery should be rewarded."
"With what?" Sesshomaru drawled, tone dipping low causing her skin to rise in goosebumps and her thighs to clench. "With kisses?"
The heat of his aura flared wildly around her. Her reiki danced under her skin in warning, vibrating in tandem to his scorching energy. Her hair fluttered around her as the morning wind blew by. She raised a hand to attempt to block her hair from pressing in the side of her face and blocking her view, but suddenly Sesshomaru's was there. The warmth from his skin was radiating and she flushed harder.
The sleeve of his hakama brushed against her exposed arm and she realized the proximity of the man had come in the short timespan of their brief conversation. How she hadn't noticed more precisely his closeness was beyond her, but he loomed over her. She had to tilt her head back to stare with uncertainty up at the defined face of the future Lord of the West.
She wished she didn't.
His face was passive, but his eyes were a liquid fire turning from curiosity to anger to something more primal which had her heartbeat racing in her chest.
"And what would you reward this lord with for winning his battle?" He murmured, silver hair cascading around him. "I doubt a dragon suffices."
Her mouth became dry and words were unable to form on her lips. She parted them in an attempt to say anything, anything at all to retort back with, but when nothing processed in her mind, she opted to licking her parched lips instead. The Inu youkai followed the motion, amber flecks dancing in the gleaming sun and a fang exposed itself as his mouth parted.
She was cornered it seemed as he moved impeccably closer yet, his face tilting down so his own breath could fan over her face.
"I wonder, is this how you entrapped my father, miko?" Sesshomaru whispered.
As soon as the moment occurred, it was done. His body was already several feet away as he coolly dismissed himself from her. Flabbergasted, she gasped and then indignantly huffed. Hands curling into fists, she stomped her foot.
"Hey! Get back here!" Kagome screeched. "What do you even mean by that? You can't say that and just walk away!"
Sesshomaru continued on, white hakamas a stark contrast against the green foliage of the garden as he ignored her. Fuming and inwardly confused, she stormed out of the garden back towards where she remembered her quarters being. Just who does he think he is?! What an ass!
The shiro was quiet, but it did nothing to ease her pounding nerves. She took a sharp left, feet skittering on the wooden floors as she rushed to put space between her and the dog demon. And since when did Sesshomaru get so bold? And why would he even care?! Stupid, stupid-
Mumbling under her breath about the rude behavior of said youkai, she whipped open the nearest shoji door and gasped in surprise as she turned to walk in.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" She spewed.
Of all things, she stepped back into the hallway in a flash, hand reaching up to cover her mouth. Fumbling, she tried to grab the shoji door to slam it shut, but the Captain's hand held it firm. Takeshi's tired face peered down at her, black hair undone and spanning over his shoulder. His black sleeping yukata was open at the chest, barely held closed by his obi. The smooth span of his tan skin glistened with a sheen of sweat and she fought the temptation to feel the taut muscle underneath.
"Miko," his tired voice drawled, "must you always make such a ruckus this early?"
Gaping, she skirted back into the hallway, bowing her head rapidly to avoid looking at his face. "Sorry!"
Skirting off, she passed a few more doors before slowly entering one that was slightly ajar. Thankfully, this room was hers. She shut the shoji door with a snap and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. Kami, why me?
She quickly dived into her yellow bag to pull out a brush and her school uniform. Quickly combing through her hair, she set on dressing herself for the day. As she finished a soft call at the door startled her. Kagome put her things away and cleared her throat. Stepping to the shoji door, she slid it open to reveal the pale face of the red headed warrior she had saved.
"Oh! How are you feeling? You look better than yesterday!" Kagome reached up to press her wrist to his forehead to daintily check his temperature. "You don't have a fever, so you probably don't have an infection. Did someone check your wound though?"
The demon flinched, pale hand taking hers in his grasp to step back and separate them. "Milord wishes to speak with you."
The gravel in his voice told her that perhaps he wasn't healed entirely or how fatigued he must have been, and she frowned. Her own fingers slid through his as he moved away from her. Kagome hesitated as he began to tread away from her. She fought the urge to grab her pack thinking maybe she'd have something to give him to tend to his wound, but a sharp jab at her shoulder distracted her.
"Miko, that means to get moving."
Kagome stuck her tongue angrily out at the Captain who appeared beside her.
Why does he always sneak up on me?
Slipping out, she adjusted her green skirt before closing the sliding door behind her. She followed pace with Takeshi hot on her heels, and then ascended some stairs. Most demons seemed to dip and dodge the trio as they passed. Most paid the red head no mind, but they bowed politely to the Captain while inconspicuously assessing her.
They approached a large door which both demons kneeled in front of. Deciding it was best to follow suit, Kagome dropped to her knees and tipped her head down to peer up at the door through her lashes. She jumped when a resounding bark startled her. The Captain slid the door open revealing a large room and a long low table. Seated at the table was the Great Dog General. Do we go in or what?
Eyeing the two of them, she chanced a glance at the lesser evil. The red head remained still, eyes closed and head bowed lowly. A sharp nudge from her left had her fuming.
"Stop pushing me!" Kagome whispered heatedly at the Captain who glared dangerously at her.
"Come, miko." The General beckoned, hand waving her in calmly.
"For the last time, it's Kagome!" She stood, shoving off her knees and briskly entering the room.
The shoji door slid shut behind her and she whirled around to find herself alone with the Dog General, his youki swirling lazily around him. She gulped, not entirely ready to deal with him considering how their last encounter ended. Kagome rubbed her hand over her elbow as she turned to face him again.
"Kagome," he drawled slowly, claws curling in a come hither motion. "Come sit with me. We have much to discuss."
Kagome blanched, "We don't have anything really to talk about."
She came nonetheless, much like a toddler who was to be scolded. What on Earth could he want to talk about? Her mind raced, replaying the past two months in an endless loop. I guess there is a lot to talk about.
Kagome attempted to settle on a pillow at the end of the table, but the growl vibrating in his throat had her standing and moving closer to where his claws pointed to. Inutaisho sat at the head of the long rectangular table and he guided her to his right around the corner of the table. She politely sat, fumbling with the edge of her skirt as she looked out ahead of her. The sliding doors to his left were open revealing a lovely view of the garden, the one where she had that strange brush with his oldest son.
Feeling the heat of his gaze, she turned to focus on his gold eyes. His long lashes drooped as he stared at her and she felt herself squirming on the pillow to maintain eye contact.
"What do you want to talk about?" Kagome asked in an attempt to shake off the growing anxiety in her stomach.
Inutaisho, unbothered by her, touched his tea cup, clicking his nails on the porcelain. His attention wandered to the garden view and Kagome sighed with relief. When he returned his focus to her, Kagome was slightly more at ease having traced his relaxed features in her mind.
"Kagome, you are versed well on the battlefield and seem oddly comfortable fighting." He began turning his body to study her and Kagome flinched under his scrutiny. "While I understand your training to fight against demons, I'm afraid I don't understand your comfort with fighting alongside us."
Kagome blanched before her brows pinched together. She shifted her balled fists in her lap to keep from shaking.
"I haven't been trained to fight demons particularly. I don't believe in that." Kagome huffed, thinking of her many battles against humans as well while traveling alongside her companions. "I've been trained to survive. To fight for what's right. I'm not necessarily good at it, but I can at least protect myself and the people I love."
The dog demon contemplated her words and she fidgeted. Kagome found herself looking away from him in his quiet study of her and she fixated on the tea. He pushed the tea cup towards her and she briefly glanced at him.
"You may have it, Kagome." He offered slowly.
Nodding, she took the cup from him, frowning when she realized it was cold. She voiced it. "How long has this been sitting? It's cold."
The Inu youkai responded with a thin smile, his face turning to the open garden again. When he did not openly speak, her brain scrambled. Looking at the point he was focused on, she saw the small clearing with the two pups lazing in again. She then drew the dots together.
"How did you say you knew my son again?" He asked softly, commanding tone unexpectedly biting at his words.
Kagome grasped the cup and gulped down the bitter cold tea before holding a hand to her lips. What did he see? Did he see us? Not that anything happened, but still. Her blue eyes met his inquisitive golden ones. What do I tell him?
"I never formally met him." She opted.
"You seem familiar."
Kagome huffed. "Familiar isn't the right word. I think he loathes me."
The dog General raised a thick brow at her strange response, but Kagome felt him watch her over the rim of the cup as she drank some more tea.
"You say you were trained to survive. An honorable task for a woman, but you still have not answered me entirely."
Shit.
Kagome nodded, scratching the back of her head and running her fingers through her dark locks. I guess I can't avoid it for the most part. I guess it won't hurt to tell him part of the truth.
"You are right that some of my companions are demons. The kitsune you smelled, he's just a child, orphaned in battle. He's like a kid brother to me." Kagome rubbed small circles on her forearm.
"And the Inu?" He pressed, leaning forward so his arm could brace against the wood.
Kagome sighed, breath leaving in a whoosh. "He's a good friend of mine. One I care deeply for."
"Hm." The Great Dog General sat back, claws clicking on the wood of the table.
Kagome drummed her fingers against the teacup and took a deep breath. She released it slowly through her nose. Thinking back on all the years traveling in Feudal Japan, she wondered when her feelings for Inuyasha changed. She spent most of the time in Kikyo's shadow, chasing after his backside to be alongside him. There were many moments where he caused her heart to flutter- times where he would embrace her tightly and ease her fears, times where he would share his own private feelings when they were alone, and times where he would look at her with such depth that she thought he loved her too.
"He didn't though." She murmured. "Not the way I did."
The shuffling of material had drawn her from her musings and the Dog General's large hand encompassed her wrist. He forced her to rest the teacup on the wood of the table, and Kagome picked her chin up to lock eyes with the smoldering demon.
His thick brows were pinched together, golden eyes piercing and searching her face passionately. The ragged markings on his face pointed directly to the thin frown he wore. Kagome felt warm and her eyes pinched with tears as his hand came up to brush a stray tear away with the back of his free hand.
"Is that why he hasn't come back for you?"
Kagome shook her head. "I chose to leave. There wasn't anything left for me."
"Then why did you stay waiting if you knew he would not come?" The dog demon leaned forward, pressing her.
Kagome realized she may have said too much, but couldn't fathom retreating now. She was too vulnerable. Her vision was starting to well with tears and her nose starting to burn.
"Because it felt safe there by the well." She finally murmured while attempting to collect herself.
He hummed in the back of his throat, the sound soft and gentle. He encompassed her wrist tightly and brushed his fingers over the pulse. It fluttered and momentarily distracted her as he drew the cup away from her.
Kagome willed her bubbling emotions aside to focus on the youkai, but she wished she didn't when she noticed how intently he was staring into her face. She blushed, drawing herself to sit back, but he was a force of steel, pulling her across the top of the wooden table to pointedly be face to face with her.
"You have this one's word that no harm shall fall to you while in my care." The Great Dog General was firm, words sincere and thriving with promise.
Her heart swelled and she felt herself give in. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she hiccuped. Kagome tried to wipe her face, but the demon was firm in coaxing her closer so that he could do so. Suddenly the overwhelming loss of her friends and her family came rushing. All the dark, lonely days of waiting for the well to reopen drifted away, and she let herself sob into the demon lord's shoulder.
When the sobs settled into quiet murmurs, Kagome pulled as far as he would allow her.
"Thank you." Kagome patted his shoulder where her tears soaked his kimono top. "I'm sorry."
The General's arm lingered around her side as though he was unsure of what to do and she awkwardly shifted backwards. She squealed as he held firm.
"Why do you apologize?" He asked while shifting to guide her to the forgotten cup of tea. "There is no need."
"You've done nothing but protect me since you met me." Kagome fidgeted before taking the cup to smooth her hands over the rim of the cup. "I don't get it."
The dog demon became quiet, contemplating her. She fought not to look up at him, but when his chest vibrated against her, she forced herself to return her attention to him.
His face was passive, but the youki around him swirled in tense motions. While he didn't speak, she judged the energy buzzing around him. Curiosity got the better of the miko, and she tapped her energy against his. He jolted minutely at the invasion of her reiki and his youki swelled hotly on her. She sucked on her lip, studying the demon lord.
"General-"
"Toga."
Kagome frowned at his interruption, but his smirk caused funny butterflies to erupt in her stomach.
"You may call me by Inutaisho or by Toga." He barked suddenly.
She cleared her throat and repeated herself, "Inutaisho, I don't understand. Why would you go out of your way to help me? I'm a miko! Aren't I your sworn enemy or something?"
Inutaisho cooly fixated on her, etching her face into memory it seemed, and she fidgeted. Growing anxious as he didn't respond, she became angry.
"Aren't you going to answer me?!" She slammed the cup on the table and sat up ramrod straight.
"Curious little minx, aren't you?" The silver haired demon laughed, turning to the garden. "There is something in your spirit that calls me to you. Perhaps we are more similar in our situations than you think."
Kagome frowned. What on Earth is he talking about?
"I don't understand." She fiddled with her shirt.
"Inutaisho-sama," Captain Takeshi's voice flooded the room through the screen door. "I have word from the ningen castle."
Inutaisho's demeanor changed. His youki swarmed and swirled pensively. His shoulders stiffened and his arm fell from her side. Kagome missed the warmth of his body as he stood and stepped to the garden. With his back to her, Kagome openly stared at him.
"Report Captain."
"The ningen decline visitation and request no further communication."
"Dismissed."
Kagome pondered for a moment the words of the Captain, but was drawn from her musings when the demon turned abruptly to her, extending his hand.
"Come, Kagome, there is much I have to show you."