Title: Demonheart
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Rating: R
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Pairing: Kagome/Sesshoumaru
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Distribution: Feel free. Just let me know where it goes :- )
Notes: This first chapter is a bit on the short side. Ooops. I hate short chapters! Bear with me, eh?
Chapter One: Alone In A World Foreign
She would not let it get to her, Kagome told herself firmly as she forced her eyes away from the dawning horizon.
"…in a couple of days," Kaede continued, her voice almost indifferent even as her one eye seemed to soften with compassion.
"The JERK!" the girl mumbled angrily under her breath, quickly forgetting her resolution of just a second before. Nodding at the old priestess, who had politely pretended as though she didn't hear the grumbling, Kagome leaned against the thin wooden wall of a village hut.
"Well," she began, pushing out her chin defiantly as she looked at the priestess, "while he's chasing that shard all over Japan, I'll do some looking too… "
"Kagome, without Inuyasha's powers to protect you and the Shikon no Tama, I don't think it would be wise for you to leave the village."
"I'll take Shippou with me."
Kaede just stared quietly at the girl, her calm brown eye speaking volumes even as her mouth did not.
Sighing in defeat, Kagome pushed herself away from the wall. Great, this mess was just what she needed. With her family staying at her Aunt Furiko's for the weekend and the shrine completely abandoned for the next few days, Kagome felt no desire to return there. Plus, there's nothing more irritating than being told you can't do something because you are too weak, she growled silently as she bit her bottom lip. Really. It wasn't like she was useless!
"I told him I'd be back today," the teenager started, her voice soft as she looked up at the woman. "I've just gotten so far behind in my classes, Kaede-sama. I would have failed my exams if I hadn't stayed away this week…"
"It is a large burden to carry," the old priestess interrupted, her wrinkled face jutting out towards the brightening sun. "Inuyasha may not like it, but he does understand it. Which made it even more important for him to shoulder some of the responsibility for retrieving those shards he can."
Kagome nodded slowly, fighting the urge to cry as she wondered where the lecherous priest and short tempered half-demon were at the moment. Probably having a grand old time without me bogging them down, she thought bitterly.
Oh, get over it, she rolled her eyes suddenly as the pettiness of her jealousy hit her. You know that wherever they are, undoubtedly they are arguing and insulting each other. Do you really regret missing that?
Take it as a gift, the girl decided as she ran a hand through her wavy black hair. "I haven't had a time to really get to know the people here," she said softly as she looked to the priestess. "Maybe this weekend will be the perfect chance to really get a hold of life in the Age of the Warring States."
Kaede's habitual frown softened into a half-smile as the optimism in the girl's voice took control of the melancholy.
"There are a village of people here," the priestess nodded as she laid a gentle hand on the girl's back, "who would like the chance to know the woman who protects them."
"Yes," Kagome smiled happily as she watched a brilliant blue bird fly overhead. How beautiful, she thought as she felt her heart fill with joy. No, this may work out after all. After the last few years of non-stop stressing over reassembling the Shikon no Tama and studying for exams, she had earned the right to take a couple of days off. To forget her responsibilities for one weekend: what a wonderful opportunity was that?
"Yes," Kagome continued as she started walking in the direction of the whispering stream, "a weekend of peace and quiet may be exactly what the doctor ordered."
