Chapter 05: Happy Trails
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The slightly enlarged traveling group began the journey towards Inuyasha's forest. Sango and Miroku were in the lead riding on the transformed Kirara. Sesshoumaru had sent his stooge, Jaken, away and was walking in the middle of the ensemble. Kouga and Kagome trailed behind.
"Do you know anything about him, Kouga?" Kagome asked the wolf youkai.
Kouga was so intoxicated by the woman's fragrance that he almost didn't hear her when she began to inquire about the inu-youkai. "Sesshoumaru is an honorable lord. He is extremely protective over things he deems as his own."
Sesshoumaru whirled around and faced the two gossipers. "You realize I can hear everything you say. You might as well simply ask me yourself if you are curious miko."
"Actually, it's Kagome and I'm not a miko."
"If that is what you choose to believe."
"So tell us about yourself Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome requested respectfully.
Sesshoumaru smiled at the miko, pleased with her choice of surname. "What would you like to know?"
"What family business do you have to attend to?"
The faint smile disappeared. "I'm afraid my idiot half-brother has gotten himself in some trouble."
"Who's your brother?" Kouga asked interested.
"I doubt if you know him. He's a disgrace. He is a hanyou."
Kouga glanced at Kagome to gage her reaction from the corner of his eyes. He saw annoyance at the disregard Sesshoumaru showed for his brother.
"There is nothing wrong with a hanyou. One can not help be what they are." Kouga answered. Kagome smiled at him. 'Score one point for me!' he silently congratulated himself.
Sesshoumaru glared at the wolf-youkai incredulously. "You can't be serious? You would accept a half-demon?"
"He's your brother. How can you not accept him?" Kagome shot back.
Sesshoumaru gave her a cold look. "I have accepted him. However, that does not mean I like him."
"How come he's a hanyou and you're a full demon?" Kagome asked curiously.
"I told you before. He is my half brother. He is the mistake that caused my foolish father his life." Sesshoumaru then quickly turned about face and walked away.
"You know, I met this hanyou when I first arrived in the village. His name is Inuyasha. After meeting his brother and seeing how he regards him I can no longer wonder about the sadness I saw in him now." Kagome's gaze veered to the woods to her right side. A saddened expression crossed her face as she let her empathetic feelings consume her.
Kouga draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him to offer comfort. The saddened expression left her face as she gave him a warm smile.
"Do not let the bitter feelings and animosities of this era upset you. I promise you we are not all so condemning to those that have performed no crime other than breathing."
"I'm glad you said that. Maybe that means there's hope yet between those brothers. Let us try and help them resolve their family conflict!" Kagome whispered as a conspirator.
Kouga smiled at her but shifted his gaze towards the demon-lord in front of him. He noticed Sesshoumaru's ears twitching towards their direction listening to their conversation. "Like I said, hanging around you promises adventure."
She then leaned in towards him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Kouga- kun." Then she removed his arm from around her and caught up with the demon- lord. A moment later Kouga walked on the other side of Sesshoumaru.
"What do you two think you are doing?" Sesshoumaru finally asked. He couldn't pretend to be indifferent any more.
"We just want to become better friends with you is all." Kagome replied cheerfully.
Sesshoumaru raised a well sculpted eye brow. "Are you implying that we are already friends?"
"Yes. So tell us more about yourself and feel free to ask any questions of us." Kagome answered.
"Okay. How did you two meet?"
"She was traveling through my woods on her way to seek the houshi." Kouga replied.
"Why were you seeking the monk?" Sesshoumaru asked the human girl.
"I needed him to answer a question. I was hoping he could help me return to my home."
"You are not from here?" Sesshoumaru wasn't too surprised considering her odd behavior.
"No, actually, I'm from a far away place. I'll tell you if you give me your word that you will keep it secret."
"Why would you trust my word?" Sesshoumaru asked surprised that she would place so much trust in him.
"You are honorable."
"You have my word then." Sesshoumaru answered.
"I am from here only nearly five hundreds in the future. I fell through a time portal near the village. We are going to the village to examine the portal to determine how it functions."
"That was wise to not blindly jump back through the portal." Sesshoumaru nodded his approval. "How long have you two known each other?"
Kouga looked past Sesshoumaru at Kagome before answering. "We've known each other a couple of days now."
A surprised look crossed Sesshoumaru's face briefly. "But you act as old friends."
"I have only met everyone in this group recently. We are a newly formed ensemble." Kagome smiled invitingly at the demon lord.
Sesshoumaru almost smiled back. Suddenly he no longer found himself as the outsider, but as a member of a newly formed team. Perhaps he might enjoy his time with these interesting characters.
The three took turns asking questions of each other through out the day. A little before sunset hunger and fatigue plagued the humans. So the group stopped to make camp. Sesshoumaru offered to do the hunting. Kagome and Sango went off to a nearby spring to bathe. Kouga had to hold back the monk. He had a mischievous look in his eye and kept trying to venture towards the women.
Sesshoumaru sat next to the men around the fire. "Where are Kagome and Sango?"
Kouga finally released Miroku from his vice-like grip. "You actually know their names? I'm surprised."
"Of course I know their names. I know all of your names. I simply choose to address in the ways of which I do. So where are they?"
"They are bathing in the spring." Miroku answered with a wishful longing in his voice.
"It is dangerous out here. Perhaps someone should be standing guard over them. They are only human after all." Sesshoumaru stood.
Kouga angrily jumped to his feet. Neither noticed Miroku taking off at full speed towards the spring. "You will not stand WATCH over them while they bathe."
"Why is that? Because you want to stand watch?" Sesshoumaru was enjoying teasing this wolf-youkai. It was obvious he desired the miko.
"That's not the point! Besides, there are hardly any demons around lately anyway."
Sesshoumaru became serious now. "I have noticed that as well."
"What do you think could be causing the lack of demons?"
"There are a few possibilities. One is that they have all been destroyed. Another is that they are in hiding from a powerful entity. And the other possibility is if one performed the Rite of Konlado."
"What is the Rite of Konlado?"
"It is where a being with a soul makes a pact for power. In exchange for his soul he merges with thousands of youkai serving as the core. The result is a being composed of thousands of youkai with a corrupt heart."
"How powerful would such a being be?" Kouga questioned.
"Let's just say if such a being were to be in possession of say the Shikon no Tama then the darkness that would cover the world would be with out end."
In the distance the word 'hentai!' could be heard. Sesshoumaru and Kouga looked towards the direction of the disturbance. Miroku was stumbling back towards them with an angry couple of girls marching behind him.
Kagome flopped down onto the ground beside Kouga and began to prepare the food that Sesshoumaru had caught. After dinner Sesshoumaru jumped into the high branches of a large tree to stand sentinel. Sango set up her blankets nearest the fire. Miroku inconspicuously placed his palate disturbingly close to hers. She didn't seem to notice though.
Kagome set up her bed under Sesshoumaru's tree and Kouga lay nearby. After she went to sleep Kouga was still laying on his back staring at the stars. He always loved the stars. At least two hours had passed. He had contented himself with staring at the stars and listening to the breathing of the human girl beside him.
However that breathing suddenly became uneasy. He rolled onto his side to see Kagome curled up in a fetal position clutching her abdomen. The wound that she had received in the previous battle had opened back up in her sleep. He rushed to her side.
"Kagome! Kagome!" He whispered to her in an attempt to awaken her. Sesshoumaru watched from his high vantage point a tiny bit concerned.
"It hurts. It hurts." Kagome mumbled in her sleep clutching her side.
"It's okay now, I'm here. I'll make it better." He removed her palm from her side and inspected her wound. He used some of the water gathered to clean the wound. He didn't have anything to bandage it really. However he did know another way to make it heal faster.
"Kagome, I know a way to make it heal faster. Do you want me to do it?"
Soft painful crying was all he received as response. He used a claw from his right hand to slash his left palm. He then pulled Kagome into his arms to sleep and he placed his palm upon her wound. His blood would mix with hers and she could use his youkai healing abilities to mend her flesh quicker.
Once he pulled her into his arms she stopped whimpering. She even smiled slightly when he placed his hand upon her stab wound. Now instead of staring at the stars he focused his gaze upon her ebon crown. He thought to himself, 'I could get used to this.'
Sesshoumaru turned his gaze away from the scene below his tree. It was curious that Kouga had opted to share his healing factor with the woman. But the feeling in his stomach that developed when he saw the wolf pull the miko into his arms was discomforting. He quickly diverted his eyes back to the stars.
'What is this feeling in the pit of my stomach? This Sesshoumaru does not get jealous. Besides, what is there to be jealous about? She's just a human.'
Satisfied with his personal conclusion his focus was directed to the sky. However he couldn't prevent his gaze from wandering down to the ground below his tree.
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The slightly enlarged traveling group began the journey towards Inuyasha's forest. Sango and Miroku were in the lead riding on the transformed Kirara. Sesshoumaru had sent his stooge, Jaken, away and was walking in the middle of the ensemble. Kouga and Kagome trailed behind.
"Do you know anything about him, Kouga?" Kagome asked the wolf youkai.
Kouga was so intoxicated by the woman's fragrance that he almost didn't hear her when she began to inquire about the inu-youkai. "Sesshoumaru is an honorable lord. He is extremely protective over things he deems as his own."
Sesshoumaru whirled around and faced the two gossipers. "You realize I can hear everything you say. You might as well simply ask me yourself if you are curious miko."
"Actually, it's Kagome and I'm not a miko."
"If that is what you choose to believe."
"So tell us about yourself Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome requested respectfully.
Sesshoumaru smiled at the miko, pleased with her choice of surname. "What would you like to know?"
"What family business do you have to attend to?"
The faint smile disappeared. "I'm afraid my idiot half-brother has gotten himself in some trouble."
"Who's your brother?" Kouga asked interested.
"I doubt if you know him. He's a disgrace. He is a hanyou."
Kouga glanced at Kagome to gage her reaction from the corner of his eyes. He saw annoyance at the disregard Sesshoumaru showed for his brother.
"There is nothing wrong with a hanyou. One can not help be what they are." Kouga answered. Kagome smiled at him. 'Score one point for me!' he silently congratulated himself.
Sesshoumaru glared at the wolf-youkai incredulously. "You can't be serious? You would accept a half-demon?"
"He's your brother. How can you not accept him?" Kagome shot back.
Sesshoumaru gave her a cold look. "I have accepted him. However, that does not mean I like him."
"How come he's a hanyou and you're a full demon?" Kagome asked curiously.
"I told you before. He is my half brother. He is the mistake that caused my foolish father his life." Sesshoumaru then quickly turned about face and walked away.
"You know, I met this hanyou when I first arrived in the village. His name is Inuyasha. After meeting his brother and seeing how he regards him I can no longer wonder about the sadness I saw in him now." Kagome's gaze veered to the woods to her right side. A saddened expression crossed her face as she let her empathetic feelings consume her.
Kouga draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him to offer comfort. The saddened expression left her face as she gave him a warm smile.
"Do not let the bitter feelings and animosities of this era upset you. I promise you we are not all so condemning to those that have performed no crime other than breathing."
"I'm glad you said that. Maybe that means there's hope yet between those brothers. Let us try and help them resolve their family conflict!" Kagome whispered as a conspirator.
Kouga smiled at her but shifted his gaze towards the demon-lord in front of him. He noticed Sesshoumaru's ears twitching towards their direction listening to their conversation. "Like I said, hanging around you promises adventure."
She then leaned in towards him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Kouga- kun." Then she removed his arm from around her and caught up with the demon- lord. A moment later Kouga walked on the other side of Sesshoumaru.
"What do you two think you are doing?" Sesshoumaru finally asked. He couldn't pretend to be indifferent any more.
"We just want to become better friends with you is all." Kagome replied cheerfully.
Sesshoumaru raised a well sculpted eye brow. "Are you implying that we are already friends?"
"Yes. So tell us more about yourself and feel free to ask any questions of us." Kagome answered.
"Okay. How did you two meet?"
"She was traveling through my woods on her way to seek the houshi." Kouga replied.
"Why were you seeking the monk?" Sesshoumaru asked the human girl.
"I needed him to answer a question. I was hoping he could help me return to my home."
"You are not from here?" Sesshoumaru wasn't too surprised considering her odd behavior.
"No, actually, I'm from a far away place. I'll tell you if you give me your word that you will keep it secret."
"Why would you trust my word?" Sesshoumaru asked surprised that she would place so much trust in him.
"You are honorable."
"You have my word then." Sesshoumaru answered.
"I am from here only nearly five hundreds in the future. I fell through a time portal near the village. We are going to the village to examine the portal to determine how it functions."
"That was wise to not blindly jump back through the portal." Sesshoumaru nodded his approval. "How long have you two known each other?"
Kouga looked past Sesshoumaru at Kagome before answering. "We've known each other a couple of days now."
A surprised look crossed Sesshoumaru's face briefly. "But you act as old friends."
"I have only met everyone in this group recently. We are a newly formed ensemble." Kagome smiled invitingly at the demon lord.
Sesshoumaru almost smiled back. Suddenly he no longer found himself as the outsider, but as a member of a newly formed team. Perhaps he might enjoy his time with these interesting characters.
The three took turns asking questions of each other through out the day. A little before sunset hunger and fatigue plagued the humans. So the group stopped to make camp. Sesshoumaru offered to do the hunting. Kagome and Sango went off to a nearby spring to bathe. Kouga had to hold back the monk. He had a mischievous look in his eye and kept trying to venture towards the women.
Sesshoumaru sat next to the men around the fire. "Where are Kagome and Sango?"
Kouga finally released Miroku from his vice-like grip. "You actually know their names? I'm surprised."
"Of course I know their names. I know all of your names. I simply choose to address in the ways of which I do. So where are they?"
"They are bathing in the spring." Miroku answered with a wishful longing in his voice.
"It is dangerous out here. Perhaps someone should be standing guard over them. They are only human after all." Sesshoumaru stood.
Kouga angrily jumped to his feet. Neither noticed Miroku taking off at full speed towards the spring. "You will not stand WATCH over them while they bathe."
"Why is that? Because you want to stand watch?" Sesshoumaru was enjoying teasing this wolf-youkai. It was obvious he desired the miko.
"That's not the point! Besides, there are hardly any demons around lately anyway."
Sesshoumaru became serious now. "I have noticed that as well."
"What do you think could be causing the lack of demons?"
"There are a few possibilities. One is that they have all been destroyed. Another is that they are in hiding from a powerful entity. And the other possibility is if one performed the Rite of Konlado."
"What is the Rite of Konlado?"
"It is where a being with a soul makes a pact for power. In exchange for his soul he merges with thousands of youkai serving as the core. The result is a being composed of thousands of youkai with a corrupt heart."
"How powerful would such a being be?" Kouga questioned.
"Let's just say if such a being were to be in possession of say the Shikon no Tama then the darkness that would cover the world would be with out end."
In the distance the word 'hentai!' could be heard. Sesshoumaru and Kouga looked towards the direction of the disturbance. Miroku was stumbling back towards them with an angry couple of girls marching behind him.
Kagome flopped down onto the ground beside Kouga and began to prepare the food that Sesshoumaru had caught. After dinner Sesshoumaru jumped into the high branches of a large tree to stand sentinel. Sango set up her blankets nearest the fire. Miroku inconspicuously placed his palate disturbingly close to hers. She didn't seem to notice though.
Kagome set up her bed under Sesshoumaru's tree and Kouga lay nearby. After she went to sleep Kouga was still laying on his back staring at the stars. He always loved the stars. At least two hours had passed. He had contented himself with staring at the stars and listening to the breathing of the human girl beside him.
However that breathing suddenly became uneasy. He rolled onto his side to see Kagome curled up in a fetal position clutching her abdomen. The wound that she had received in the previous battle had opened back up in her sleep. He rushed to her side.
"Kagome! Kagome!" He whispered to her in an attempt to awaken her. Sesshoumaru watched from his high vantage point a tiny bit concerned.
"It hurts. It hurts." Kagome mumbled in her sleep clutching her side.
"It's okay now, I'm here. I'll make it better." He removed her palm from her side and inspected her wound. He used some of the water gathered to clean the wound. He didn't have anything to bandage it really. However he did know another way to make it heal faster.
"Kagome, I know a way to make it heal faster. Do you want me to do it?"
Soft painful crying was all he received as response. He used a claw from his right hand to slash his left palm. He then pulled Kagome into his arms to sleep and he placed his palm upon her wound. His blood would mix with hers and she could use his youkai healing abilities to mend her flesh quicker.
Once he pulled her into his arms she stopped whimpering. She even smiled slightly when he placed his hand upon her stab wound. Now instead of staring at the stars he focused his gaze upon her ebon crown. He thought to himself, 'I could get used to this.'
Sesshoumaru turned his gaze away from the scene below his tree. It was curious that Kouga had opted to share his healing factor with the woman. But the feeling in his stomach that developed when he saw the wolf pull the miko into his arms was discomforting. He quickly diverted his eyes back to the stars.
'What is this feeling in the pit of my stomach? This Sesshoumaru does not get jealous. Besides, what is there to be jealous about? She's just a human.'
Satisfied with his personal conclusion his focus was directed to the sky. However he couldn't prevent his gaze from wandering down to the ground below his tree.