Kali crept into Kagome's room and found Lord Sesshoumaru laying near
her, gazing at her with eyes full of concern. The amulet Kali held in her
hand made her invisible to him. Kagome was still unconscious, but Kali felt
Kagome's mind working diligently and she entered it cautiously, for not
even amulets can hide intruders in the mind.
"If only I stay with the wind," Kagome said.
Kali's face lit up. The old woman knew that Kagome sensed Sesshoumaru's presence, but in her unconscious state she perceived him only as a gentle breeze. "The wind," Kali whispered to the girl. "The wind is your true love. Turn towards the wind."
"How do I know where he is?" Kagome asked.
"Open your eyes, child, and see," Kali suggested sweetly, and then left the room without making a sound.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Light crept into the room, and Sesshoumaru crawled silently out of the bed, his eyes still locked on the girl. Without warning her eyes fluttered open. He thanked the gods that he had gotten out before she had awoken.
Kagome found it difficult to focus on anything, and the dim light of morning didn't help. She saw a tall white figure standing near her and she whispered, "Are you the wind?"
Sesshoumaru thought she was babbling for Kali, who was a wind youkai. He said nothing but turned to get the old woman. She seemed strangely pleased when she heard of Kagome's unusual question.
"Now, my lord, go and rest. She has awaken, so honor no longer holds you to her. " Had Kali been less controlled her eyes would have glimmered as she baited him with that statement. But, she had all the control of Sesshoumaru without his rigid appearance.
"Kali," he hesitated. She simply looked at him as if to say, "Well, continue."
He tried again. "Kali, I think. I mean, I don't think, I know. I know. Kali, I care for her," he floundered over the words like a school boy. Kali's apparent lack of interest irked him, and in his uncommonly flustered state he snapped. "Well, say something woman!"
"Lord Sesshoumaru, what do you wish me to say. You care for the girl as you care for Rin. The master is merciful. What is there to say?"
"It is different than my feelings for Rin. It is like. Oh never mind," he said and turned to walk away.
"Love," she said in his mind.
He wheeled around, "I, Lord of the Western Lands, can not love a mortal girl!"
"I never said anything of love," Kali lied.
"Don't try that trick with my old woman," Sesshoumaru growled.
Kali shrugged and walked into the room where Kagome was waking up. Kali was the only person alive who had the gall to walk away from him like that. After his own mother died, Kali had taken care of him, and it was his undying love for her that allowed her more freedom than his other servants although he would not admit it. Kagome was sitting up now, wondering where she was exactly. Nothing seemed clear to her, and she could barely remember what had happened to her.
The door opened and an old woman came in carrying a tray of breakfast. "Lady Kagome," she said sweetly. "It is good to see you awake. I am Kali, your humble servant. May I interest you in breakfast."
"Where am I?" Kagome groaned as she grabbed her aching head.
"In the palace of Lord Sesshoumaru, of course," Kali replied as she set the table. Upon hearing her response Kagome flopped back down on the bed. A rush of rose fragrance met her nose and she realized that there were rose petals on her pillow.
"Are you his mother?" Kagome asked in a daze.
Kali laughed out loud. "No, the master's dear mother went to Nirvana many years ago. I am only a servant."
"Am I a prisoner?" Kagome asked although in her lush bed with rose petals thrown on it she felt anything but captive.
"I believe Lord Sesshoumaru said that you were a guide of some sort, but no, most definitely you are no prisoner."
"What happened to me? did he try to kill me?"
"You went through the barrier spell unprotected. Any lesser mortal would have died, Lady Kagome. And Lord Sesshoumaru never tries to kill anyone. He either intends to kill them and fulfills his intention or he does not intend to kill them from the beginning. Here let me help you to the table." Kali put her strong arms under Kagome's arms and helped her get up and walk to the little table by the windows.
"This is a beautiful room," Kagome said as she walked toward the table.
"Yes," Kali said without looking from Kagome. "Lord Sesshoumaru's grandfather built this wing of the palace for his wife before they were wed. My lord's mother stayed here, too."
"But, why am I here? Surely he doesn't. No, not him." Kagome said disgusted.
"I do not pretend to know what the master feels or thinks," Kali lied.
"I didn't think he felt anything," Kagome said as she peeled an orange.
Kali laughed again lightly. "So young and nieve you are. The master feels with greater intensity than humans can fathom, this is why he hides his emotion. It takes much control for a youkai to master his intense emotions, but it is necessary because the lose of control over their emotion could drive them to insanity. Do you understand?"
"I think so, but I still don't see why he put me in this room," Kagome said.
"Perhaps it is because you are strong and beautiful and this was the only place he saw fitting for you."
"But I. . ."
"Up up, no more talking now. You need to save your strength. Eat your breakfast and then I will go draw your bath water." "I can take a bath?" Kagome's face lit up.
"Of course. You have taken one before, right?" Kali knew many humans disdained bathing as unhealthy, and although Kagome looked fairly clean on could never be sure.
Now Kagome laughed. "Yes, all the time." Kali sighed with relieve for she could not abide the stench that clung to most humans.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kagome smiled as she lay back in the warm water. Light streamed in from stained glass windows, making pretty patterns on the golden tub Kagome relaxed in.
"Well, I have to admit, for an evil youkai lord, Sesshoumaru has really good taste," she said to herself.
"I like to think so," came a voice from behind her. Kagome jumped a little then under the water so that only her head showed.
"What are you doing here?" Kagome screamed. "You lecher!"
"I've already seen you naked before, or at least half naked so why cover now."
"Hentai! You've never seen me naked at all! Have you?"
"Well, that indecent kimono you used to wear did not leave the imagination much room. But, I have more urgent business, we need to talk about my revenge." As he said that he sat down cross-legged on a huge couch near the tub.
"I'm not going to talk to you in here, you filthy lecher!" Kagome yelled.
"I assure you, I have no attraction what so ever to your feeble human body. And another thing to remember, if you can. Scream again and I will slice your neck from ear to ear."
"Get out!" Kagome said coldly and forcefully.
"It is still my palace. You are still my prisoner. And I still have dominion over both as long as they are in my possession."
"I am no prisoner, you heartless baka," Kagome hissed. "If I was you would have never put me in your mother's room."
"Who told you that was my mother's room? Sesshoumaru almost shouted at Kagome. She smiled wickedly as she saw his control giving only slightly.
Kagome didn't answer his question but took a daring chance and began to verbally attack him. "Are was she a prisoner, too? I bet she never loved you, and that's why you are so heartless." His anger swelled to unspeakable heights, but only the beginning of a growl rose from his throat. Kagome charged onward, "You never loved her either did you? I bet you never even cried when she died!" She paused for a moment, enjoying his pain. "I bet you killed her," she snarled.
Sesshoumaru's top lip curled upward slightly as he fought back his overwhelming anger. "Bitch!" he growled. "Do not speak of things can never understand? Stupid, filthy mortal? I should have killed you when I first laid eyes on you!" He stormed out of the bath house, and ran into Kali.
"Oh master, what is wrong?" she asked. "Read my thoughts if you want answers, for I have not the heart to relieve that again," he said bitterly and walked off.
She caught hints of the conversation he and Kagome had had. She felt the painful wounds Kagome had thoughtlessly ripped open. As she watched him go to his chambers she hung her head.
"Of all the women in the world for him to love, he chooses one who hates him," she said ruefully to herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Kali entered the room Kagome was just tying the last knot on the purple, silk kimono Kali had laid out for her. Kali found it hard to be angry with the girl, even if she had hurt her master. The girl reminded her so much of her own daughter, who had died long ago.
"Lady Kagome, why did you attack Lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked Kagome gently but firmly.
Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes, which she couldn't explain. "Oh Kali, I didn't mean to, it just happened. He wouldn't leave, and he was so mean, so, cold. I just snapped."
Kali was silent for a long while and wrapped her arms around the young girl who was now crying softly on her shoulder.
"Do you remember your dream when you were unconscious?" Kali asked in a whisper.
"Yes," Kagome whispered hoarsely.
"Would you like to see what really happened?"
Kagome hesitated a little . "Yes," she said finally.
Kali covered Kagome's eyes with her hands and then rested her own head against her hands.
"If only I stay with the wind," Kagome said.
Kali's face lit up. The old woman knew that Kagome sensed Sesshoumaru's presence, but in her unconscious state she perceived him only as a gentle breeze. "The wind," Kali whispered to the girl. "The wind is your true love. Turn towards the wind."
"How do I know where he is?" Kagome asked.
"Open your eyes, child, and see," Kali suggested sweetly, and then left the room without making a sound.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Light crept into the room, and Sesshoumaru crawled silently out of the bed, his eyes still locked on the girl. Without warning her eyes fluttered open. He thanked the gods that he had gotten out before she had awoken.
Kagome found it difficult to focus on anything, and the dim light of morning didn't help. She saw a tall white figure standing near her and she whispered, "Are you the wind?"
Sesshoumaru thought she was babbling for Kali, who was a wind youkai. He said nothing but turned to get the old woman. She seemed strangely pleased when she heard of Kagome's unusual question.
"Now, my lord, go and rest. She has awaken, so honor no longer holds you to her. " Had Kali been less controlled her eyes would have glimmered as she baited him with that statement. But, she had all the control of Sesshoumaru without his rigid appearance.
"Kali," he hesitated. She simply looked at him as if to say, "Well, continue."
He tried again. "Kali, I think. I mean, I don't think, I know. I know. Kali, I care for her," he floundered over the words like a school boy. Kali's apparent lack of interest irked him, and in his uncommonly flustered state he snapped. "Well, say something woman!"
"Lord Sesshoumaru, what do you wish me to say. You care for the girl as you care for Rin. The master is merciful. What is there to say?"
"It is different than my feelings for Rin. It is like. Oh never mind," he said and turned to walk away.
"Love," she said in his mind.
He wheeled around, "I, Lord of the Western Lands, can not love a mortal girl!"
"I never said anything of love," Kali lied.
"Don't try that trick with my old woman," Sesshoumaru growled.
Kali shrugged and walked into the room where Kagome was waking up. Kali was the only person alive who had the gall to walk away from him like that. After his own mother died, Kali had taken care of him, and it was his undying love for her that allowed her more freedom than his other servants although he would not admit it. Kagome was sitting up now, wondering where she was exactly. Nothing seemed clear to her, and she could barely remember what had happened to her.
The door opened and an old woman came in carrying a tray of breakfast. "Lady Kagome," she said sweetly. "It is good to see you awake. I am Kali, your humble servant. May I interest you in breakfast."
"Where am I?" Kagome groaned as she grabbed her aching head.
"In the palace of Lord Sesshoumaru, of course," Kali replied as she set the table. Upon hearing her response Kagome flopped back down on the bed. A rush of rose fragrance met her nose and she realized that there were rose petals on her pillow.
"Are you his mother?" Kagome asked in a daze.
Kali laughed out loud. "No, the master's dear mother went to Nirvana many years ago. I am only a servant."
"Am I a prisoner?" Kagome asked although in her lush bed with rose petals thrown on it she felt anything but captive.
"I believe Lord Sesshoumaru said that you were a guide of some sort, but no, most definitely you are no prisoner."
"What happened to me? did he try to kill me?"
"You went through the barrier spell unprotected. Any lesser mortal would have died, Lady Kagome. And Lord Sesshoumaru never tries to kill anyone. He either intends to kill them and fulfills his intention or he does not intend to kill them from the beginning. Here let me help you to the table." Kali put her strong arms under Kagome's arms and helped her get up and walk to the little table by the windows.
"This is a beautiful room," Kagome said as she walked toward the table.
"Yes," Kali said without looking from Kagome. "Lord Sesshoumaru's grandfather built this wing of the palace for his wife before they were wed. My lord's mother stayed here, too."
"But, why am I here? Surely he doesn't. No, not him." Kagome said disgusted.
"I do not pretend to know what the master feels or thinks," Kali lied.
"I didn't think he felt anything," Kagome said as she peeled an orange.
Kali laughed again lightly. "So young and nieve you are. The master feels with greater intensity than humans can fathom, this is why he hides his emotion. It takes much control for a youkai to master his intense emotions, but it is necessary because the lose of control over their emotion could drive them to insanity. Do you understand?"
"I think so, but I still don't see why he put me in this room," Kagome said.
"Perhaps it is because you are strong and beautiful and this was the only place he saw fitting for you."
"But I. . ."
"Up up, no more talking now. You need to save your strength. Eat your breakfast and then I will go draw your bath water." "I can take a bath?" Kagome's face lit up.
"Of course. You have taken one before, right?" Kali knew many humans disdained bathing as unhealthy, and although Kagome looked fairly clean on could never be sure.
Now Kagome laughed. "Yes, all the time." Kali sighed with relieve for she could not abide the stench that clung to most humans.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kagome smiled as she lay back in the warm water. Light streamed in from stained glass windows, making pretty patterns on the golden tub Kagome relaxed in.
"Well, I have to admit, for an evil youkai lord, Sesshoumaru has really good taste," she said to herself.
"I like to think so," came a voice from behind her. Kagome jumped a little then under the water so that only her head showed.
"What are you doing here?" Kagome screamed. "You lecher!"
"I've already seen you naked before, or at least half naked so why cover now."
"Hentai! You've never seen me naked at all! Have you?"
"Well, that indecent kimono you used to wear did not leave the imagination much room. But, I have more urgent business, we need to talk about my revenge." As he said that he sat down cross-legged on a huge couch near the tub.
"I'm not going to talk to you in here, you filthy lecher!" Kagome yelled.
"I assure you, I have no attraction what so ever to your feeble human body. And another thing to remember, if you can. Scream again and I will slice your neck from ear to ear."
"Get out!" Kagome said coldly and forcefully.
"It is still my palace. You are still my prisoner. And I still have dominion over both as long as they are in my possession."
"I am no prisoner, you heartless baka," Kagome hissed. "If I was you would have never put me in your mother's room."
"Who told you that was my mother's room? Sesshoumaru almost shouted at Kagome. She smiled wickedly as she saw his control giving only slightly.
Kagome didn't answer his question but took a daring chance and began to verbally attack him. "Are was she a prisoner, too? I bet she never loved you, and that's why you are so heartless." His anger swelled to unspeakable heights, but only the beginning of a growl rose from his throat. Kagome charged onward, "You never loved her either did you? I bet you never even cried when she died!" She paused for a moment, enjoying his pain. "I bet you killed her," she snarled.
Sesshoumaru's top lip curled upward slightly as he fought back his overwhelming anger. "Bitch!" he growled. "Do not speak of things can never understand? Stupid, filthy mortal? I should have killed you when I first laid eyes on you!" He stormed out of the bath house, and ran into Kali.
"Oh master, what is wrong?" she asked. "Read my thoughts if you want answers, for I have not the heart to relieve that again," he said bitterly and walked off.
She caught hints of the conversation he and Kagome had had. She felt the painful wounds Kagome had thoughtlessly ripped open. As she watched him go to his chambers she hung her head.
"Of all the women in the world for him to love, he chooses one who hates him," she said ruefully to herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Kali entered the room Kagome was just tying the last knot on the purple, silk kimono Kali had laid out for her. Kali found it hard to be angry with the girl, even if she had hurt her master. The girl reminded her so much of her own daughter, who had died long ago.
"Lady Kagome, why did you attack Lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked Kagome gently but firmly.
Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes, which she couldn't explain. "Oh Kali, I didn't mean to, it just happened. He wouldn't leave, and he was so mean, so, cold. I just snapped."
Kali was silent for a long while and wrapped her arms around the young girl who was now crying softly on her shoulder.
"Do you remember your dream when you were unconscious?" Kali asked in a whisper.
"Yes," Kagome whispered hoarsely.
"Would you like to see what really happened?"
Kagome hesitated a little . "Yes," she said finally.
Kali covered Kagome's eyes with her hands and then rested her own head against her hands.