SHE'S A GIRL.
Akane had been traveling with Sesshomaru for three whole weeks now. Ever since the day she had found him alive in the woods and demanded to stay by his side and repay him for saving her life. The day he had, for mysterious reasons, said yes without much protest about it. Even though she could tell he thought she might be a little crazy for wanting to follow him instead of her friends.
And on that the day she had witnessed him bring a human child back from the dead, also for mysterious reasons that he refused to voice, simply stating he had been testing his Fathers sword for a second time.
Both she and Shen called bull crap on that excuse.
Clearly some part of him cared for the child, since he didn't say a word against her following after them as they all walked off together that day as if he had expected it.
They did nothing but travel after that, Akane and the little girl named Rin getting to know one another while both of them tried to figure out how the dynamics of their new group worked, with little to no help from Jaken. The imp was clearly not happy with his master's sudden choice to add two human females to travel around with. But regardless of Jaken's rude behavior, he was still more talkative then the two headed dragon named Ah-Uhn, not to mention FAR more talkative then their brooding leader.
This was a far cry from the loud and friendly atmosphere of Inuyasha's group to say the least, and Akane was very thankful to have little Rin for company while walking and flying around with the oh so silent "Yokai Lord of the West", as the imp kept calling him.
And even when Akane asked Sesshomaru just what his goals were, and if there was a point to their constant moving, he rarely gave more then the barest of answers.
But between his short responses, and some snappy comments from Jaken, she had been piecing things together little by little. It seemed he might have given up on taking the Tessaiga for now at least, and now might be looking for Naraku to punish him for trying to trick Sesshomaru with the tainted human arm from before.
And apparently Sesshomaru had been traveling previously before all that, fighting strong yokai in his territory and building up a reputation as if trying to show he was worthy to have his Father's title as Western Lord.
It didn't sound like he HAD to do this, since he already had the title, but was more doing it of his own choosing. Whether it was animal instinct to patrol his territory or possibly him just proving to himself he was worthy, she didn't know, but it made her all the more curious about him.
Since she had joined him, a few times Akane crossed paths with Kagome and the others, Sesshomaru keeping a distance but allowing her to see her friends whenever he caught their scent close by, and Kagome got to where she would try and drop off any school work on those days.
Akane's schoolwork seemed to be the one thing about her that peaked Sesshomaru's interest these past few weeks whenever he caught her studying. The man would actually ask her something about it now and then, also showing a mild curiosity to where she was from, which for him was a big deal considering he never usually was the one to initiate conversation normally.
Shen had encouraged her to feed this tiny hint of interest and see what would happen, the dragon spirit had lately been trying to push her to speak with Sesshomaru more despite his constant look of disinterest whenever she tried.
When she explained her studies as best she could, and added that she was one of the tops in school, it had caused him to stare at her for a long time. And while his expression had remained impassive as always, he had ended the conversation with practically ordering her not to lack on her studies just because she was with him.
There had been a little flutter in her chest because of this, and Shen was beyond pleased that the Western Lord thought her education to be important. That small bit earning the grouchy white haired man some serious points in the "Maybe he's not a complete stuck up ass" jar.
This interest in her good grades also gave Akane a bit of hope, and she finally got up the nerve to ask if she could make a trip home for an important test Kagome said was coming up soon. While there she would also recharge the Nintendo DS that the young Rin had fully drained the battery of. The little girl had become very addicted to Pokemon games once Akane had shown her the basics and it kept the child occupied on the many days that Sesshomaru would vanish without a word.
Akane herself was bothered by how he would go fight and who knows what else, expecting them to wait and worry about him. Needing a way to keep herself from going crazy, she planned on getting herself something while home too.
When she had explained all this, including the small annoyed lecture of him leaving them, she asked to return home for at least a day or two. He said nothing and gave no reaction to her lecture other then to stare, like always, but instead of a verbal response he simply brought over Ah-Uhn and offered her it's reins, which she took as his own way of saying yes to her question.
Akane had gathered her things and prepared to get on Ah-Uhn a few minutes later, promising a confused Rin that she would return in a few days. The child still didn't exactly understand the whole time travel thing, and Akane knew upon her return Rin would have a whole new barrage of questions to ask about it.
The two headed dragon carried her in the air shortly afterwords, flying close behind Sesshomaru for half the day as he led the way back to Kaede's village. She noticed that he went the long way around the small village to the magic Bone Eaters Well, no doubt trying to keep his brother from catching his scent.
Akane found herself regretting her request. He was going out of his way for her after all, taking the risk of a worthless fight with Inuyasha and taking time from his routine.
"I'm sorry." She blurted out the moment they landed by the well, Sesshomaru helping her off of the dragon with a perfectly raised curious eyebrow.
~Sorry for what exactly?~ Shen asked in her mind, voice filled with the same confusion that painted the Western Lords face in front of her.
"It's selfish of me to make you come all the way here. I could have found the way on my own, and I didn't even THINK of you having to avoid Inuyasha while dropping me off. I really am sorry, Sesshy-sama." She bowed her head lightly to him and toyed with a strand of hair.
When she glanced up to look and see if he was annoyed with her about it, his head was tilted ever so slightly to the side, staring at her with wide eyes. It was such a curious animal expression that she found to be a shockingly cute look for the serious man, and did her best not to blush.
"If it was a bother, I would not have done it." He stated calmly, matter of fact, and did that slow blink thing.
She smiled up at him, causing him to frown at her, turning her smile into a laugh. He was an odd man. A tad arrogant, stubborn, and lived on his pride, but at times he was simply freaking adorable. And she found that she liked seeing that rare side of him the most.
"Thank you then! I'll be back by sundown in two days okay? And I'll do my best not to be late! Akane responded with a beaming smile she couldn't keep off her face.
"Hn." As always, he seemed to not care one way or another.
She paused for a moment, staring at him with all serious concern as she wondered just what he would do while she was gone. Patrol some more? Or stay close while avoiding his brother as best he could? Hopefully he would stay out of trouble and not go off hunting Naraku without her…
Or forget to come back for her. He wouldn't leave her behind would he? While Sesshomaru tended to leave them alone for days at a time, he didn't SEEM like the abandoning type.
~He doesn't seem to like how you're staring at him…~ Shen pointed out, making her notice she had been half glaring while in thought, and she quickly shook her head and gave a somewhat worried smile instead.
"Promise to take care and stay alive while I'm gone, okay? And umm, don't forget about me…" She said this in English, not wanting to offend him with her worry but needing to say it out loud to feel better.
Like every time she said something in her native language, he lips twitched in a puzzled frown, but gave no other reaction or bothered to ask her to translate.
Before she did or said anything else that would make him question her sanity more then he already did, Akane waved as she turned and jumped into the well.
Had she waited a second longer, she might have caught the way his golden eyes followed after her, or how he leaned over the well after she jumped just to be sure the fall wouldn't cause her some kind of harm.
…
He watched her go, pondering what had possessed her to say such odd things in that foreign tongue of hers.
Did she truly have such little faith in his abilities as to think he would get into some kind of trouble or die within just two days of her leaving? The woman was always worried about him, asking so many things about him despite his best attempts to ignore her and offer little response, it was bothersome.
Not only that, she seemed to not fear him in the least bit, speaking to him like a scolding mother at times and being bold with her rude words. Granted she never said such things in his tongue, thinking he did not understand her own, so of course he had to act as if he didn't KNOW these things she said to him. But keeping a blank face had always been a skill he possessed since childhood, and he seen no reason to tell her that he understood English well enough.
He was curious what else she would say while thinking he didn't understand, and strangely enough, rather then wish to punish her, he found it all comical most of the time.
Such a strange human female she was, he thought in amusement while staring down into the well that looked like nothing special. The well she had completely disappeared into in a flash of blue light. A portal to a supposed future.
What would happen if he were to step inside?
How was this place not known and coveted for it's powers of time travel by those who would use it for gain? Sesshomaru glared down into this unnatural thing, but a familiar and unwanted scent made him bristle and surface from his thoughts. Inuyasha was on the move. And by the other scent he was with his woman, Akane's friend, the one he had tried to kill. Kagome. The other future human that now would wave at him in an almost friendly manner whenever they crossed paths.
Turns out Akane had been talking to the girl about him, so now she too, seemed not to fear him as much as before despite all their previous violent encounters. What on earth did Akane say to cause Kagome to forgive him so easily for trying to kill her on their first meeting?
With an annoyed sigh, Sesshomaru quickly made his leave before they could sense him. Thankfully the brat didn't have half as good a sense of smell as he should, most likely from being a hanyou.
The last thing he wanted was for Akane to hear he had gotten into a fight mere moments after her departure. Not that it mattered of course, just that he simply didn't wish to hear her lecturing him about it.
….
When he returned to the imp and child, with Ah-Uhn in tow behind him, the conversation that met his ears was a strange one that made him take pause.
"I keep telling you Jaken-sama, Akane-san is a girl." Rin all but spat in an exasperated tone, as if this had been going on for a while now.
The imp scoffed at her like she was crazy. "And as I have said, that human is no woman! It speaks and acts just like some foolish boy, even dresses like one. Besides, no GIRL could whack me as hard as it does!"
"Well, she dresses funny, but that could be normal where she's from… Oh! And-AND- the clothes on her are just too baggy for you to see her girly parts!" At this, the child pointed to her own chest.
Which of course proved no point, seeing as how she herself had none to speak of at this age...
Sesshomaru smiled inwardly at the girl. Indeed, things were far more entertaining with Rin, who gave the imp a run for his money most days. The two always bickering.
"Then why does Akane not bathe with you then?" Jaken pointed out. "Cause he has no GIRLY parts, that's why! He's just messed up in the head. It happens with humans, and besides, have you heard him talk to the pendant around his neck? Clearly he has problems!"
"She TOLD you it has a spirit inside it!"
"He's just a few rice balls short of a dozen and so are you!"
"Jaken-sama! That's just mean!" At this moment, Rin spotted Sesshomaru as he made himself known, standing behind the imp with a glare, beyond annoyed.
"Welcome back, Sesshomaru-sama!" The child smiled up at him, just as unafraid as Akane.
Jaken, however, froze and looked all the way up at his master with a audible gulp. "Why S-sesshomaru-sama! H-how long have you been here?"
"Are you saying, Jaken, that this Sesshomaru would not know the scent of a girl?" He said in answer, the comment proving he had heard the whole thing.
"Oh! Rin didn't even THINK of that! Yes! Jaken-sama, are you saying that Sesshomaru-sama is wrong?" Rin asked with wide eyes, as if daring him to correct her now.
The imp, knowing he was screwed no matter his response at this point, stammered. "W-well, no, it's j-just-"
Sesshomaru smiled down, thinking of what he could do as punishment for the disrespect, not only to him for questioning his senses, but to the human child as well.
Now it looked like Jaken was the one a few rice balls short of a dozen, as the imp just gaped up at his cold smile.
"Akane-san is just really, really, shy. Right, my lord?" Rin piped up. "That's why she dresses funny, cause she's shy."
"Hn, perhaps..." He said blankly, knowing full well why she dressed that way but it wasn't his place to say. He made it obvious that the topic was over by stepping on Jaken as he went by, making his way over to rest himself against a tree.
"Told you so Jaken-sama!" Rin giggled before going about the place in some strange kind of dance.
Jaken merely lay indented into the dirt in wise silence.
…
Akane felt stupid.
Scratch that, she felt totally ridiculous to the core. Pausing, she grinned at the memory of all the times Sesshomaru used that word, ridiculous.
It seemed to be his favorite word to use...
But that did not stop her from feeling it. Stupid, and not right at all as she sat where she had landed at the bottom of the well, staring up at the blue sky above her head.
"This is such a ridiculous idea. WHY did I decide to wear this?! Why does KAGOME wear this here anyway?" Akane whined to herself while standing up again.
~You look fine. And why so self conscious about it all of a sudden? You wear this at home too you know.~
"I KNOW! But here, in this time, it just seems to wrong y'know? K-chan says it's the best since we have a few of them, and it's easy to repair and clean but… but…"
The tightness of the white blouse, the shortness of the green skirt, the entire girls uniform had her feeling the urge to go right back home and yank on a pair of pants!
Akane had decided to be brave, to try and dress in a more feminine manner. And she didn't even know why.
She wanted something from it. But what? What did she want? To make Jaken shut up? To prove to herself she could? No, she knew why, deep down. But didn't want to admit the selfish reason for her sudden change of clothes.
She went to the wall of the well, frowning as she took hold of a tree root and gave herself one finale once over.
With an annoyed growl, she tugged at the stupid looking green collar, bothered by the sailor style uniform her school had the girls wear and remembering just why she normally wore the boys despite frowning teachers.
So form fitting, so FREAKING girly, and she didn't even LIKE the Sailor Moon anime enough to want to wear this crap.
"Why didn't you tell me how stupid this was Shen!" She snapped accusingly, almost able to sense his amusement through the pendant swaying at her neck.
~To rob you of being young and awkward? Perish the thought! As long as it posses no danger to you, I intend to let you make all your own choices unless you specifically ask for the advice of this old dragon.~
"You are a horrible mentor then." She pouted, glaring down as the jeweled center switched from a light blue to an aquamarine color. Slowly but surely, she was learning the changing colors had to do with the mood of the male trapped inside, and right now he was pleased with himself.
~Stop blaming me for something bad that hasn't even happened yet, go on now! Show him already! I'm beyond certain his reaction will be worth your embarrassment.~
Akane groaned at her stupid choice to try and get some kind of facial reaction from Sesshomaru by wearing this, filling with even more embarrassment knowing that Shen had figured out the reason for her change of clothes.
Deciding there was no going back now without being late, she climbed up the side of the well carefully while using the tree roots growing inside, sensing a hint of Sesshomaru's aura somewhere over by the tree line. She smiled at the fact he had come for her, on time no less, and hadn't forgotten her after all.
Looking down at herself, she gulped and continued to climb up and up. Each pull on the roots bringing her closer to the top and closer to seeing if he'd even notice at all. And the moment she reached the top, a gust of wind hit her hard in the face, almost causing her to fall backwards.
"Damn it all, why me?" She spat out in English, letting out another annoyed growl as she knew her hair must look crazy now. She climbed out quickly, sitting on the edge, and she tried to fix it desperately before he seen her.
~Well look at that, right on time.~ Shen mused to alert her before she could even look up. But as she did, sure enough, there Sesshomaru was standing.
Staring right at her as if he was angry or wanted to eat her, she honestly couldn't tell, and had never seen the look before in those freaky intense gold eyes.
"Well fuck…"
…
Sesshomaru caught her scent the moment she entered this world, so curious as to how that well could be a pathway between two separate spaces of time. He intended to ask her if she herself knew the reasons and workings of such a strange thing, but the moment Akane came up into view, all of his previous thoughts vanished.
Her sunny hair blown by wind, it framed her face in a way that made her look wild and fierce as she growled at it and went to tame it with her hands.
But her clothes...
She matched that girl Kagome, with the white and green outfit, yet the material showed curves that the other female did not have. He simply could not stop staring at her, taking in the clearly female form that had not at all been visible in her normal black clothes.
HOW did her normal clothing somehow manage to hide this curvaceous figure just beneath? And even more of her sun kissed skin was in open view to the world. It dawned on him that he had never seen her legs before, the skirt far too short and showing hints of those thick thighs with every tiny bit of breeze, he couldn't help but glare at the thing for being so teasing…
She looked up, and caught him watching her, cursing in that language of hers and causing a wave of guilt to hit him for being caught looking so intensely. Akane went red for no apparent reason, and his heart did a strange flip at the flustered expression on her face.
What in the seven hells had made her decide to alter her way of dressing all of a sudden?
Not that it bothered him in the slightest of course, but it was proving to be very distracting.
"Hi hi, Sesshy-sama!" She waved, having quickly recovered from her embarrassment and ran to his side.
As she ran, her breasts moved under the blouse, something the black clothing never showed, or at least he had never noticed them before.
"I'm back, right on time too! And so are you, though I hope you didn't wait too long…" She paused and leaned closer, watching him as if she could she sense the heat he suddenly felt towards her.
He frowned at her stare, and was about to turn around to fetch Ah-Uhn for her when something else caught his attention, specifically her face. Did the girl actually have a hint of makeup on those blue eyes today?
Yes, yes she did. Her eyes lined in black with a dusting of silver visible with each blink. But WHY?
Now those sapphire blues batted up at him in pure amazement as she gaped at him for some reason.
"Sesshomaru-sama, are you... blushing?"
His own eyes went wide at the remark.
Surely he wasn't!
Yet, even as she said so, he felt his face heat even more then it had a moment ago. He hadn't even realized it. He forced his expression to remain impassive, tried to tame the heat that now assaulted his face while turning his back to her and walking off as calmly as he could manage.
"Ah-Uhn is this way, we're leaving." His tone came out harsher then he intended, but damn it all, why did she have to stare at him so?
"That was so cute." She sounded both shocked and amused while whispering that, unaware he could hear her just fine.
He glared ahead as he walked, going to Ah-Uhn and practically shoving the reins into her hands before he took off into the sky ahead of them and doing his best to clear his mind of every thought about what just happened.
….
Akane couldn't keep the smile off her face.
He had sooo been blushing at her a moment ago, even Shen had made a little comment when he noticed.
Not that Sesshomaru would ever admit it. Oh no, the mighty Western Lord most certainly did not blush.
She giggled, recalling the shocked look in his eyes when she asked if he was blushing just to see what he'd do.
And the fact he was COMPLETELY ignoring her now only confirmed her suspicion from before, now she knew the look from when he had been taking in her uniform had not been anger, but a little bit of lust on his part, and that made all doubt about her clothes vanish without a trace.
If it made him look at her like THAT, she could get used to being in more girly clothes!
Shen added jokingly as they flew that she should thank him for allowing her to make her own choices after all, to which her response had been a fit of laughter, which Sesshomaru ignored, and she only hoped he didn't think she was laughing at his previous behavior.
…
When they arrived at camp, the reaction from the other two smaller members of the group had Akane looking a mixture of annoyed and flustered, which made up for her laughing on the way back. Sesshomaru found his annoyed attitude was replaced by an amused light as he watched the scene play.
"What on EARTH are you wearing?!" Jaken said in horror, pointing a green finger at Akane.
"Clothes." She said smugly, those blue eyes glaring.
"You know what I mean, you fool!"
"You look so cute, Akane-san!" Rin said as she circled the other girl, wide eyes, grinning as Akane blushed.
"Don't say that about him! Do not go around encouraging this cross dressing nonsense!" Jaken snapped.
"Don't be stupid, Jaken-sama, can't you see her girly parts now? They are very visible!" The child even pointed to them just in case the imp was blind.
Akane gaped. "Girly parts?!"
Sesshomaru was finding it hard to keep a straight face at this point, mouth twitching, and glad that nobody seen because he was standing in the back near the trees.
"Don't be fooled child," Jaken said in a huff. "It is easy for a man to make himself look like a girl."
"But Jaken-sama, what about Sesshomaru-sama and his sense of smell? Are you calling him a liar again?"
Jaken seemed to recall his lords presence, and gulped, glancing his way. It took everything to keep his face calm as the imp instantly paled and began to babble.
"P-please take n-no offence my lord! B-but even enough perfume could mask his-"
Akane cut Jaken off with such a loud and inhumanly deep growl that it made Sesshomaru believe her tale of being part dragon, his eyes almost as wide as the imps at the sound. He watched as Akane's face twisted in a cute mix of anger and embarrassment. Her cheeks bright red as she placed her hands on her hips, which tugged the skirt up ever so slightly and he made a point not to look at it.
"EXCUSE ME!" Akane burst while glaring down at the little green man at her feet. "But I happen to be a girl, you stupid toad! I've told you this from the start. And I can dress however I like! Girls in pants is normal in my time!"
The imp sneered at her. "Your not the first human boy I've seen to cross dress you know."
"Aaargh!" She roared, causing both Jaken and Rin to back up and Sesshomaru blink in shock from his spot by the trees.
"Ya know what?! Fuck it all!" Akane said in a rage as she flung the shirt up and over her head in one swoop.
She stood there, gasping, calming after her fit.
Jaken gasped and fell on his ass, Rin blinked and started to laugh. But Sesshomaru could not breathe at the site of her bare chest, thank the gods that her breasts seemed to be held in place by some smaller item of clothing. However, it was small enough that not much was left to the imagination.
And he swallowed back a sound of approval that tried to escape from his chest, frightening himself. The animal in him liked what it seen. Liked it and wanted a taste.
This was not good at all.
….
Akane knew her face was on fire when she quickly put her shirt back on, ignoring the way Shen was cackling like a lunatic in her head for her heated outburst.
Rin was now giggling and dancing in circles around her, pausing long enough to beam a smile up at her again.
"Akane-san is not just a girl," she stated with glee in her face and voice. "She's a lady."
"Huh?!" Akane yelped, gaping like a fish and wondering if her face could get any more red. Sure, her breasts were bigger then most Japanese girls, and she totally blamed her busty American mother for this, but she didn't think she looked like an adult! And definitely NOT a lady!
"Lady Akane, Lady Akane." The girl sang as she went over to Jaken, crossing her arms with the cutest smug look.
"You should say sorry to her now, and for calling Sesshomaru-sama a lair too!" Rin stated while staring down.
The imp had yet to stop staring at Akane, and nodded his head slowly with what had to be a blush on his green face.
"Ah, y-yes! D-deepest apologies." He muttered with a swallow loud enough to be heard.
Akane gave the imp her best impression of Sesshomaru's "Fuck off and die" stare, making Jaken retreat to behind Ah-Uhn for his own safety. Rin going back to singing and dancing by the fire like nothing had happened. Even Shen had calmed down a little and apologized for his laughter, going silent once again when she ignored him.
Finally, Akane got up the nerve to look at the one person that made her regret her little outburst. Sesshomaru had been silent this whole time, practically hidden under the shadow of the tree he was leaning against as the sun began to set in the sky above.
But his eyes shined like a predator in the fading light, the color matching the golden sunset perfectly.
He was staring at her, and for once she could not read what exactly that strange expression was supposed to be.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" She asked, walking up to him slowly, instincts making her feel like she was approaching a distracted animal that might bite if startled.
He followed her with his eyes, yet didn't seem to process her words at all, lost in thought as she suspected. But there was something else there in those eyes, an inhuman shine, truly like that of a observing animal. It was unnerving.
~Keep talking to him, it will help bring him out of it. I think he and his beast are having a mental conversation.~
"His… beast?" Akane barely said aloud, having heard that animal yokai had a dual nature that was similar to having a split personality. This was her first time seeing a hint of it.
~Yes, his beast is the one closest to the surface at the moment, so continue to talk to the man. It will bring him out of it faster then waiting.~ Shen assured her, all but pushing her towards him. She was sure if he had a body he would be.
With a look of determination, she moved to stand before him, giving a nervous and apologetic smile.
"Hey, Sesshy? I'm sorry if my yanking off my shirt like that somehow… I dunno, offended you? Or annoyed you in some way. To be honest, in my frustration with Jaken, I totally forgot that you were still here. I just wanted to make him shut up you see, and knew no other way." Akane all but babbled at him, feeling stupid but unsure what to do.
He did that slow blink thing again. Seeming to come out of deep thought as his eyes looked normal, that animal light fading away like a lantern dimming. And when he spoke, the tone of his voice was almost... tender.
"You did not offend me, Akane."
She blinked up at him, blush tinging her cheeks at the strangely soft tone from him, especially when he said her name at the end. He had never spoken like that before.
"Oh… Well, that's good then." Was her half assed reply.
"You did prove your point after all." He went on, leaning so close to her face she could feel his breath, voice changing back to it's normal bored tone, but there was a hidden undertone she couldn't place.
She held her own breath, heart stopping as their eyes locked for the count of ten, yet she still didn't know what he was thinking behind that intense stare.
"You are indeed a girl, Akane." Sesshomaru finished calmly, no other hints of what his reaction to her bared chest might have been as he pulled away and moved around her, walking off and disappearing into the trees.
WHAT. WAS. THAT?
She stared after him as her held breath came out in a rush, confused, flustered, and embarrassed for reasons she barely understood.
~Someone liked what he seen tonight!~ Shen chuckled in her mind as if he was in on whatever thoughts the Western Lord kept locked under a tight lid. And every fiber of her being was set on fire at his words, heart flipping at the possibility of him being right.
Was the reason behind all that odd behavior…
Did Sesshomaru actually find her, a human, attractive?