Eyes in the dead still water

Tried, but it pushed back harder

Cauterized and atrophied

This is my unbecoming

Unbecoming

The sound of muffled voices reached Sesshomaru's elven ears, waking him. His stomach churned and he groaned, rolling onto his side.

He couldn't recall a time he'd ever felt so horrible. Countless injuries from countless battles and not once had he ever felt quite so wretched.

His pulse throbbed painfully behind his eyes and at the base of his skull. His chest and shoulder ached as though he'd been stabbed. But his mind was less foggy than previously, which was promising.

Although, it also meant that he recalled his last wakeful moment, and vomiting on the miko.

Degrading, but certainly not his worst moment.

"He's waking up... I'll leave you to it, but if the bastard hurts you again –."

"Enough of that," the miko said softly. "He didn't mean to do it." She lowered her voice, though Sesshomaru still heard her clearly enough. "I'm not even sure he realized he was doing it."

Shifting occurred, clothing rustled. A soft inhale.

"He'll be okay, Inuyasha. I think he's past the worst of it."

"Keh. I didn't ask."

Quiet, feminine laughter.

"Of course not. Someone might accuse you of caring if you had."

Sesshomaru cracked his eyes open, fully taking in his surroundings for the first time.

Red oil lanterns hung suspended from the wooden beams of the ceiling. A set of doors opened onto a veranda allowing for a cool breeze to pass through the room. Warm sunlight washed over the bamboo floor, brightening the dark wood.

A few shelves were lined with random trinkets and scrolls and other things he couldn't make sense of. A desk near the futon was scattered with parchment, ink staining it's wooden top in sporadic patches. A half-burned candle rested upon it, and sitting beside that was a long handled, well-used brush dipped carelessly into a well of ink.

The walls were painted with scenes he didn't understand so his eyes passed over them without further examination. Instead, he peered out into the small garden, trying to gauge the time.

Inevitably his eyes came to rest upon the miko, herself.

And his half-brother.

They watched him from the opposite side of the room, awaiting something. What that was, he didn't know.

"How are you feeling, Sesshomaru-sama?" The miko – Kagome – asked, breaking the silence.

"Like I have been poisoned."

"Well, ya have. Probably would've died, too, if Kagome hadn't saved your ass."

"Inuyasha. Uncouth as ever," Sesshomaru said by way of greeting.

His brother only shrugged, a smirk rising to his lips. "Say whatever ya want; I'm not the one who showed up on her threshold barely alive."

The miko – Kagome – stepped forward then, assessing him with eyes that seemed to see too much.

It made him uncomfortable.

"You were in pretty bad shape when your friends brought you here," she admitted, kneeling beside him. "Do you feel like you can sit up? You'll feel better once you've eaten..." she paused, thoughtful. "If you can keep it down."

The thought of food made him queasy and he suppressed a grimace. Knowing she was correct, he pushed himself upright, ignoring her offer of assistance – though she assisted regardless, the petulant woman.

He closed his eyes against the dizziness, and was relieved when it passed quickly. When he was sure he wouldn't vomit again, he opened his eyes to find inhuman blue watching him closely from her perch beside him.

"Inuyasha, will you bring rice? And broth. And water. We'll start with that."

"Sure," his brother huffed before walking away, somewhere down the veranda and out of sight.

Kagome shifted, pausing several moments before speaking. "You had an arrow through your chest, Sesshomaru-sama. Do you remember what happened?"

Her audacity irked him. She'd always been too intrusive for her own good.

"Busybody, as usual," he said, glancing away to peruse the parchment scattered over the desk. Calligraphy, by the looks of it. "It is good to see some things never change."

"You're one to talk," she said with a smirk before reaching across him toward his right shoulder. Her fingers touched his bare skin and his narrowed eyes flashed to hers once more. "And I prefer 'inquisitive'."

She began to unravel the dressing over his wound and the discomfort concerned Sesshomaru enough to still her hand in his. He should've healed by then. So… why hadn't he? The poison likely played a key part in his slow regeneration.

"I do not require your help, miko."

"You do, and you'll accept it gratefully," she huffed with an irate glare.

In truth, it certainly couldn't harm him to accept her assistance. But it may very well harm him if he didn't. Sesshomaru believed himself wise, and so he pressed his lips together, rested back against the cushion behind him and allowed her to continue.

While her hands worked, he took stock of himself. Minor aches, less than minor aches, and an, admittedly, weakened body. Again, presumably due to whatever poison had coursed through his veins.

His hair felt crusted – with sweat or blood or both – and his skin itched. His kimono was missing. His hakama were, in fact, not his, and he wasn't sure he cared to know who'd undressed him.

His sword was gone and a quick glance around the room confirmed its absence. Even his shoes were unaccounted for.

"Where is Bakusaiga?"

His voice seemed to startle her as she was so absorbed in her treatment, but she glanced up at him before nodding her head toward the garden and continuing her ministrations. "Out on the veranda. I don't want that thing in my room. Too much dark energy attached to it."

"Your room?" The words were out before he could truly contemplate them, but he didn't really care past mild curiosity.

Her hands stilled for a moment before resuming their task but she didn't look up at him again.

"Yeah."

She offered no more and he didn't inquire further.

"And my clothes?"

"Being cleaned. They were… they were covered in blood. I'm not sure I'll be able to get it out."

He tried not to care, they were only material items after all. He wouldn't care. He didn't care.

Clenching his teeth only made his head pound more firmly so he sighed and let his head fall back against the wall.

"When did I arrive here?"

Seemingly satisfied, Kagome finished redressing his wound before sitting back on her heels.

"Three days ago," she revealed, watching his reaction closely – always watching. When he said nothing, she continued. "Will you tell me what happened?"

Golden eyes shifted to hers, weighing her as she weighed him.

"It is as you said," he finally allowed, holding her eyes. "I took an arrow to the chest."

She didn't even hesitate.

"They claim you killed your mother."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. His voice quiet as death when he said, "Who claims that?"

She seemed pensive suddenly, though she didn't stray away from where she'd settled beside the futon. She sighed and answered him.

"Your men? I don't know. They said they were the guards of the Western Shiro, sent by the High Council to apprehend you for matricide."

He looked at her suspiciously. There is no way that could be true. If they'd come for him…

"How is it then, miko, that I am still here? Still among the living?"

She grinned at him, entirely uninhibited. Uncaring of or unaffected by his presence, she smiled like it was her sole duty to do so. Or perhaps he was simply delirious.

"It wasn't that difficult to get rid of them," she said, reiki dancing over her fingertips for emphasis before she winked at him.

Had she ingested something? Had he?

"Did you…" Surely not… He shifted toward her, slightly. "Did you kill them?"

"What? No!" She seemed genuinely offended by his question, though he would have been very impressed had she said yes. His guards were highly trained. "Unlike someone, Sesshomaru-sama, I don't go around killing people at random and without good reason."

"If you are referring to me, miko, you are sorely mistaken. There is no pleasure to be had in the taking of lives. Only death and bad fortune."

"Well, then… I'm glad to know you've developed a conscience."

He glared at her, contemplating what it would take out of him to leave. Just get up, stumble – for he would most certainly be stumbling – out the door with his sword, a strangers pants and a bandage for a shirt. He didn't even have his gods damned shoes.

Would it be worth it in his weakened state?

No.

Sighing, he looked away, pressing his lips firmly together before opening them to speak quietly.

"I did not kill my mother."

Her folded arms came down beside her and she sighed as well, her fingers picking at a loose thread on the quilt – herquilt? – he used.

"I never thought you did," she admitted softly, eyes focused on her fingers.

Her words came as a surprise considering she seemed to believe he killed on a whim.

"When I find out who did…" he growled, curling his hand into an angry fist.

"Why do they think you did it?"

"I believe I have been framed. The one truly responsible does not realize the wrath they have brought upon themselves." His growl deepened in his chest, the vibrations near painful to his damaged flesh.

"All right, enough of that. You'll prolong your healing." Kagome reprimanded, and it was just shocking enough that it brought him up short. His angry growl stopped shy of complete and he blinked at her.

She lifted a brow, face blank, almost challenging. And perhaps she was right, loath as he was to admit it.

So he changed the subject.

"How did you get rid of the guards if not by killing them?"

Inuyasha chose that moment to return, his laughter preceding him.

The smell of the broth actually caused Sesshomaru's stomach to rumble. A good sign. But he'd start with some water and the bland rice.

"Now that was a hilarious experience," Inuyasha exclaimed, placing the tray of food on the floor beside the futon, well within the daiyoukai's reach.

Sesshomaru lifted the water to his lips eagerly, not realizing how parched he'd been until that moment.

"Drink it slowly so you don't get sick," Kagome reminded softly, her blue eyes on him all the while. "I didn't think it was all that funny, Inuyasha."

He shrugged. "I thought it was damn funny. All those guards, basically pissing themselves over a single, human female." The hanyou met Sesshomaru's eyes then, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. "By the way, Sesshomaru, your guards are kinda stupid."

Kagome snorted, but Sesshomaru looked on, waiting for the explanation that would surely come.

"So dramatic," the miko said, pushing herself to her feet and smiling indulgently at the hanyou. "There were only five guards and they weren't pissing themselves."

Sesshomaru listened curiously, bringing a bit of rice to his lips with a slightly shaky hand.

"Could've fooled me," Inuyasha said, shifting against the wall. "They wreaked of fear."

Kagome laughed, shaking her head as she moved around her room, straightening up.

"I think you're exaggerating. Sure, maybe they were a little concerned, but they were up against someone who could actually cause them damage. I'd say a little fear is healthy."

"You're too humble, woman," Inuyasha huffed. The hanyou's amber eyes shifted to his brother as he brought more rice to his mouth. A self-satisfied smirk pulled across Inuyasha's lips. "Don't eat too quickly – Kagome already had to deal with it once; wouldn't wanna blow chunks on her a second time."

Sesshomaru considered remaining quiet. Inuyasha was likely trying to get a rise out of him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the miko glaring at his half-brother.

He placed his bowl back down on the tray beside him, and addressed Kagome.

"I apologize for any trouble you've had to endure with my being here." He waited for her to acknowledge him, peering into her eyes when she turned to face him. "I am grateful to you all the more for it."

The ink well slipped from her hand, caught the edge of the desk to send it pinwheeling to the floor, ink flying in all directions.

Sesshomaru tried to dodge wayward ink.

Inuyasha bellowed in laughter.

The miko sighed. "Damn it."