Reminiscence

After the initial shock had worn off, embers of confusion dying within Inuyasha's gaze, his jaw clenched. His features, so similar to their fathers, became wary with distrust.

"The fuck are you talking about?" He rasped.

Sesshoumaru stared, trying to will himself to stop and curb his tongue into an insult, but his mouth refused to obey.

"When you were a pup, Izayoi took you to a compound after fleeing her lands. They recognised her title and allowed her to stay even though she held you. Only her title and heritage allowed you to remain within the relative luxury of the mansion."

Inuyasha's ears twitched and flattened, folding his arms. The lantern outside the hut entrance bathed the force of his scowl in a fiery glow, the shadows harsh.

"Tch, yeah that goodwill died the second she did so I was chased out. I know. You bring that up just to shit on me some more or something?"

"This one witnessed the humans playing the kemari ball years after you were taken to the compound," Sesshoumaru carried on, undaunted. "You seemed to understand that they did not want to play with you. Touch the same ball as a filthy Hanyou. You said you were aware of your half-demon heritage now. Your mother had explained it yet you still wanted to be friends, desired the acceptance of humans. They laughed at you."

"Seriously shut up now," bristling, Inuyasha growled, hands balling into fists.

"One kicked the ball into the bushes of the garden. It rolled to this Sesshoumaru's feet as I watched," Sesshoumaru uttered, features frozen in surprise. He'd never meant to divulge any of this. What was that miko doing?!

Inuyasha's sneer dropped, blinking. He straightened, raising a bushy brow.

"You… followed it's direction. Not wanting to be discovered, this one kicked the ball out of the bushes back-"

"To me," his brother muttered, gaze sliding away. "Yeah. First time I can remember smelling a demon."

"You picked it up and scented the air, inquiring if I was your… friend."

Inuyasha fell silent, frowning at nothing while his white ears pressed flat to his skull.

The words continued on, ripping themselves out of a place Sesshoumaru had thought he'd long since buried. "This one left you alone before you could see me," Sesshoumaru rumbled, claws digging into his palm.

The empty lapse in conversation felt deafening. Sesshoumaru's heart pounded in his chest with anger and humiliation. How dare the wench force him to divulge something from his memory.

"I was a stupid kid."

Sesshoumaru blinked, looking at the hanyou. Inuyasha slid his arms inside his sleeves while giving a dusty huff. "Didn't even put together that you were the same demon when I finally saw ya. Tch, was a long time ago."

"You desired… pack… particularly after Izayoi died," sharp claws bit in, drawing blood into his palm.

Inuyasha swung his attention back to him sharply.

"This one did not-"

A fist slammed into his striped cheek causing his head to snap to the side. Sesshoumaru staggered, boots dragging over the ground- catching himself. Straightening, he blinked at Inuyasha with a mildly perplexed look.

"Keh, ya good now?"

"Hn," Sesshoumaru paused a moment. "It seems to have stopped."

"Good. You talkin' about the past doesn't suit ya. Kagome must have gotten into a weird part of your icy bastard brain and opened ya up."

The Daiyoukai unfurled bloodied fingers from stinging palms, flicking away the wetness. Inuyasha's nostrils flared yet he did not look down. Some remnants of Sesshoumaru's pride held together by a hair's breadth from such a small act. Inuyasha did not acknowledge his moment of weakness.

"Not that I care but why were ya even watchin' me when I was a kid, ya creep?" The Hanyou turned on his heel, ears flicking.

Tawny eyes slid away, jaw clenching. Without whatever influence Kagome had just had over him, Sesshoumaru remained ever silent.

Inuyasha huffed, walking to the hut's entrance. "Right. Whatever just get inside already," he yapped, pushing back the flap and waiting.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened with just the vaguest hint of surprise. Approaching with his chin tilting up to try and save face, he followed his brother inside. A peculiar sensation radiated off broad shoulders like some unknown weight had been lifted from them.

Even though this one had been plagued with hatred and complicated feelings at the time, inuyoukai watch over those they consider their own. We may not interfere, but one...will always come back to watch.

Disbelief had rendered Kagome speechless. That was until she'd grinned, laughed and hugged Sadness close, chatting to him with alarming speed and pausing to hear small replies. It wasn't clear how his tongue had been returned to him, but Sadnesses throat remained scratchy sounding, weak with disuse. Letting her questions drop Kagome had allowed herself to fall asleep with him, not wanting to damage his vocal cords with too much too soon.

Stirring awake a few hours later, lithe fingers clenched into silky soft locks. Kagome eased closer, lulled by the warmth Sadness provided.

A velvety chuckle caressed her hearing. "You hug this one quite shamelessly, do you not, Kagome?"

Every fibre of her being froze. She cracked an eye open- finding a much more polished and decadent looking Sesshoumaru against her front, observing her with amusement. "Lust," she mumbled, trying to back up, only to find a solid wall behind her. Hands slid around her waist from behind while a leg hooked over her own.

"Gn...you smell good," lazy tones purred in her ear, nose gliding down her neck.

"Sloth- get off!" She squeaked, very awake now.

Her cheeks bloomed red as Lust picked up her hand, nuzzling against her palm and kissing the spaces between her fingers. "There is no need to struggle. From what I scented in the hot springs, you were left wanting, were you not?" He purred, honeyed gaze half-lidded. "This one does not like the thought of you aching, Kagome."

"Stop saying my name like that," she grumbled, tugging at her hand to no avail. "Where's Sadness? Is Innocence here?"

He huffed. "Fantasy took Sadness and Innocence to let them bathe. She'll likely give them new clothing too. We have plenty of time," a large hand slid down her chest.

"For what?!" She yelled, hating that she shivered and squirmed, rocking her hips back.

Sloth quietly groaned in her ear, pressing his hips forward. "Not so loud," he languidly complained, nipping the shell.

Lust smiled, leaning down and pressing cruel lips to her neck. The two males pressing and rocking against her caused Kagome's mind to spin and short circuit. This wasn't good, the pressure of their mouths and gliding tongues, strayings hands, the pressure of their hard, strong bodies against hers- it began to feel nice. It began to feel-

The sound of a door slamming back jolted her in their arms.

"Oh Luuussst~" a perfect replica of her voice cooed. "Your clothes are ready. But I guess since. You're. Busy," she gritted out. "I'll just throw them onto the fire."

The Sesshoumaru clone lifted his head from Kagome's chest, sighing. "If you would simply come over here and join us there would be no issue, dear one."

There was a pause, like the brief, heavenly calm before the storm. And then all hell broke loose.

In the ensuing 'Fantasy throwing everything she could find at Lust,' Kagome crawled out of the room on her elbows, army style. Sloth was too lazy to move so he buried his head beneath the covers like an ostrich, complaining about the noise.

Reaching the safety of the hallway Kagome breathed a sigh of relief, hurrying away.

Upon reaching the kitchen and finding breakfast already made, some guilt gnawed at her stomach. She could tell from the personal touches of flowers in the vase and the meat in what she presumed to be Innocence's bowl, arranged to look like a smiley face, that the meals had been prepared by Fantasy.

Sitting down, she waited until footsteps approached on the wooden floors. "Hello miko," Innocence greeted, golden eyes bright.

She grinned, turning to him and touching his shoulder, before tugging the boy in for a hug. "Hi again. It must have been a little confusing for you when waking up, huh? Discipline brought you here."

"Hn," the little lord nodded, awkwardly patting her back until she released him. "Sadness informed me," he gestured to his companion while smoothly taking his place at the table.

The more unassuming Sesshoumaru padded closer, having left his wet hair loose, trailing small droplets onto the floor. A towel remained around his shoulders.

Kagome giggled and stood, taking hold of it and dabbing at his face and the long silver strands. "Silly. You need to dry it or you'll catch a cold," she murmured, putting it over his head and rubbing.

"Hn," Sadness held still while quietly watching her, some colour darkening his cheeks.

After they took their seats, Lust and Fantasy joined them, neither commenting on what had just occurred. Some small talk flitted around, the group discussing Sadnesses newly acquired tongue and a few other subjects before the topic of escape inevitably cropped up.

"So, you're escaping the birdcage today, right?" Fantasy said, eating her rice. "It'll be an easy thing and I'll come with. Happiness isn't far below my home so I'll take you to him first. His mansion should have a fireplace that'll take you out of here."

Kagome felt a burst of warring emotions but grinned and nodded enthusiastically, "that sounds ideal, thank you! But...how is it 'easy' to get out of here?"

"Well we do have a bunch of flying demons to give us a ride," her clone giggled. "Even if they're not here though, there's a box in my room full of the perfect length of rope required to shimmy on down to the ground below us. It's a little daunting climbing down but that it exists in the first place should tell you something."

Kagome blinked and continued eating, wondering what that meant. Sesshoumaru repressed the idea of her inside his own head and yet lavished Fantasy with fine foods, clothing and grounds. Even essentially giving her the tools to escape. Maybe, deep down, he wanted the idea of her to slip out of the cage he'd created.

Accepting some new clothes from Fantasy once she'd finished eating, Kagome ducked back into her room after finding it empty. Stripping out of Lust's clothes, she folded the silks and dressed in the soft pink yukata, tying the obi and sliding a hair clip into her black locks. Intending on joining the others in the kitchen to finally leave, she wandered down the hallway and happened to chance a look into another bedroom where some double doors had been left open, catching sight of silver hair and hearing beautiful string music coming from outside. Curious, she stopped and padded through the room, stepping out onto the porch and peering into the gardens.

A Sesshoumaru stood near the hedgerow, long fingers curled around a stalk, delicately inspecting one of the flowers. Kagome squinted, managing to glimpse the soft pink colour of his crest. He then straightened and chanced a look in her direction, only to freeze. Bewildered, Kagome raised her hand to try and assure the panicked light in his eyes- but he tensely stepped back and disappeared with a rush of white silks.

"He's shy and wary. You will not be able to approach him through conventional means."

Turning on her heel, the continuous strums of strings lured the miko around the corner of the porch where Sloth lounged. From what she could see, he knelt before something resembling a koto. Perhaps it was the demon's version of the musical instrument. He plucked the strings without using the three-finger picks used for kotos, his claws careful. Winter lashes remained lowered on his task, creating soft, gentle notes that nonetheless rang firm and strong in Kagome's ears. It sounded peaceful and lulling. She couldn't describe the music yet it rose and fell like soft summer rains.

"How are you doing that?" She said gently.

"Is it not obvious by watching?" He drew his left hand wider over the instrument to pluck at a different area, drawing forth different notes.

"Yeah it's just...you're Sloth," Kagome pointed out, leaning against a wooden beam and watching with awe. "Laziness. Shouldn't you be incapable of doing this? I thought you'd find it a pain."

Sloth didn't take offence to this humming the affirmative. "One would think so. If you went off the traditional meaning of Sloth. But I am not culture's perception of Sloth. I am Lord Sesshoumaru's sloth."

Kagome thought about this for a moment, brow crinkling. "So he sees...such a wonderful hobby and talent as lazy?"

"Not lazy, exactly. This is something he'd only bring himself to do when he's idle and relaxed. A hobby for when he's 'wasting time,' so to speak. He does not particularly value this skill meant for such content times, therefore, it is mine."

She frowned outright at that. "He should value it, value relaxing as a whole more. You're very skilled. It sounds wonderful."

Sloth plucked a string too hard, making it vibrate and stutter. He blinked, pausing to consider her tiredly. "...Hn."

"How did he learn it?"

Long fingers curled and relaxed, plucking the strings anew. "Mother taught us," he hummed, pushing some stray hair behind his ear. It escaped again a moment later. "In those times, she ceased her teasing and picking at our imperfections. We were free to be content with one another."

The gentle music took on a nostalgic note, or perhaps it tricked her ears, influenced by his words. He stopped, golden gaze flicking to her. "The other Kagome is calling for you."

Kagome smiled gently, "yeah I should be going, leaving soon. I guess this is goodbye unless you're coming with us?"

He snorted and raised his brows, "carry me."

"No thanks~" she said brightly.

"Thought as much, cruel woman."

Bursting into laughter, blue eyes danced as they took him in. A Sesshoumaru with rumpled clothes, dishevelled bed hair and relaxed demeanour. Kagome knelt beside the emotion, taking out her hair clip and fixing silver locks behind his ear, securing it. The daisy-shaped clip looked pretty in the silver strands and she bit the inside of her cheek at the thought, embracing him. "I hope I get to see you again in the outside world," she mumbled.

He leaned into her, nose burying in her hair as he hummed in a dusty, dazed fashion. "Mn...it is possible."

A frightened, fluttering beat of wings had stirred in her chest ever since she'd heard about leaving the cage. Of course it'd been anticipated, she couldn't wait to get out, but her time within Fantasy's home had been luxurious in its reprieve. So leaving it, even though it was a necessity, had lit up her nerves, body ready for action.

But Sloth's calming scent of magnolia and faint spice had her drinking deep. Kagome relaxed in his arms, breathing in and out with treacle immediacy. Drawing back, she smiled at him, before frowning.

"Sloth, your hand is on my ass again."

"Indeed it is," he crooned lazily, giving her a relaxed, devilish smirk.

Wrestling herself free and pushing the lazy Daiyoukai over, Kagome huffed, cheeks blazing red as she stalked away, biting back a smile. It was only when she joined Fantasy and climbed onto Sadnesses back that she realised she'd forgotten to ask about that unknown Sesshoumaru in the garden.

The wind lashed at Kagome's hair as it flew back, a happy noise escaping as she gripped the fur beneath her. Sadness soared through the gaps in the bars, Innocence flying on their left. Fantasy rode on Lust, also in inuyoukai form. As the group flew down from the birdcage leaving it and the large mansion behind, they began the long descent down to the realm below.

Passing through clouds, Kagome's eyes took in the wash of greenery. Her breath hitched when the green sharpened into focus, in awe of the multicoloured specs below. They stretched out over the lands, only broken up by some trees and bodies of water. Drawing closer, she realised the colourful spots were wildflowers.

Shivering a little, she felt mildly grateful when they finally touched down onto solid earth again. Sliding off the inuyoukai's back, Kagome tucked her frazzled hair behind her ear while the demons changed into their inhuman forms. Fantasy stepped up to her side, squinting. "Happiness shouldn't be far."

"This is...his realm, right?" Kagome asked weakly.

Fantasy nodded the affirmative, making the miko bite the inside of her cheek. There would definitely be some teasing going on once she escaped. The fact that Sesshoumaru's happiness revelled in flowers and nature was simply adorable.

A long, drawn-out snarl bellowed through the skies. It roared and echoed, spreading out from behind them like a thunder clap. The skies flashed purple.

"Repression," Innocence said quietly, taking Kagome's hand. "He must have already noticed that you've left the cage."

She frowned slightly. Usually when an emotion influenced the sky, it would flash with their crests colour. Repression's colour had been a worn-out grey. So why is it flashing purple?

Fantasy jogged a few paces back, "we should go. If it comes down to it I'll act as a decoy-"

A silky chuckle reached Kagome's ears, Lust casually walking away, heading in the direction of the snarls as he started to strip out of the clothes that Kagome had returned to him.

"What are you doing?" She asked thinly.

"There is no need for Fantasy to act as decoy when your scent remains on these clothes. This one will lead him in a different direction."

Some sort of relief and pride glowed in Fantasy's features but Sadness remained solemn.

"What… is to stop him from scenting… Kagome here, with us? Her scent… it is stronger from her, than… on some clothing," he rasped.

Innocence nodded in agreement.

The group fell into tense silence. Kagome bit her lip, glancing up at the skies and feeling her hands curl into fists. She'd fight if she had to.

Hands clapping twice caught their attention, the sound quick and sharp. They glanced around, turning to look at the pale figure sitting on some smooth rocks.

"Are you all fools that have lost your senses around a pretty miko?" The Sesshoumaru clone huffed. A beam of light shone down from the sky, despite there being no sun, shining directly onto the crown of his head and making it shine like a halo. From the regal, arrogant tilt of his chin however, one could tell he was no angel. "Obviously you can mask her scent by releasing acid from your claws into this land. The potent smell will fool his nose."

"Uh- thanks?" Kagome blinked, "who are you?"

The Daiyoukai inspected perfect nails, tilting his head back to bathe his face in the sunlight, long lashes falling shut. He brushed some long, exquisite locks over one shoulder, hair flowing in a breeze that did not disturb the rest of the group as he crossed one long leg over the other.

Kagome stared. Is he...posing? She turned to her companions instead, "seriously, who is this guy?"

"Vanity," Fantasy sighed, rubbing her forehead as though experiencing the prelude to a headache.