Blind Stitch my Heart
Part 10– "Winged Sandals Guide Me"
Written by: profiler120
Rating: PG-13 (rating is probably higher than necessary)
Email: profiler120@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha.
(. . . ) - Denotes p.o.v. change within the same scene.
Authors Notes: Note about updates, I'm going to try to update them Sunday evening so they'll show on Monday. I have a habit of forgetting I want to update on Monday and then it doesn't show up as updated' on my page until Tuesday it seems. But I guess that's just the way it goes. The chapter title makes no sense, so ignore it.
Are you a Naraku x Kagome fan? Better yet, have you written any Naraku x Kagome fics or know someone who has? Or even a Naraku/Kagome/Sesshoumaru fic. There's someone else floating around here at ff.net but I can't remember the author's name, can someone tell me who it is? I don't even remember the title but oh, I created a Nar/Kag website. Check my profile for the address and come visit. ^_^
Akari Sennyami – "Jane Eyre" is one of my favorite books, but I didn't even think about that when I was writing the candle scene. I was surprised when you mentioned it and then thought oh yeah', I remember that! ^_^ Your review made me want to read the book all over again, but I can't find it anywhere
E-mail updates!! If you wanted me to notify you when this story was updated and you didn't get an email leave your address in a review. I lost a lot of reviews when ff.net wasn't working last time, it shows them in the 400 something but they aren't visible on the review page and they don't show on my Stats page either, so I don't know if I missed anyone. So let me know, okay? ^_^
"Ahem."
Kagome looked up from staring down at the table. There was a book off to one side, but she was not reading it. "Oh, hey Sango, what's up?"
"Nothing much," she replied. "What about you?"
She folded herself down on the other side of the small table with a curious look.
"Nothing," Kagome replied. "Um, why are you looking at me like that?"
"I couldn't help but notice him touching you last night in the kitchen. After he ordered everyone to leave, capturing your hand, it was so romantic. Especially after jerking Miroku around, so what's going on with you and the Master?"
Immediately her smile gave her away. "Actually I'm not quite sure."
Conversation drifted but really didn't go anywhere with Sango's probing questions and Kagome's ambiguous answers.
"Have you noticed anything odd today?"
Kagome looked up again. "Like what?"
Sango shook her head. "I just I keep thinking I see faces at the windows and people sneaking around outside. It's creepy, but maybe it's my imagination."
"Faces at the windows?" Kagome asked standing. "Hmm, I'll see you a bit later."
She wandered out the door and down the hall toward his room. She wondered if he was still sleeping or not. She knocked.
No response. So she knocked again. Nothing.
"The Master is in his library."
She just caught sight of Jaken before he slipped into another room close by and out of sight.
She turned back, heading toward there before common sense kicked in, warding her away from spending too much time with him. She planned on meeting him for lunch, so there was no need to pester him.
She took the upward path and took her place in the sewing room. Maybe there was a project she could finish for someone.
'Where is he?' She wondered. Was he still in his library even though she'd specifically asked him the previous evening to meet her today for lunch? He had agreed to it, and yet he was not here. She wanted to make sure he was healing okay and ... well, maybe to spend a little time with him.
It didn't help that Sango's comments had left her feeling uneasy and she felt his presence would make her feel safe again. She passed through a sitting room over to another hall. She could see the door was partially open.
She approached cautiously, peering inside. He was sitting at his desk. She was tempted to barge in and demand to know what he was doing at his desk, but refrained. She wasn't too sure of her place here, so she knocked diminutively and awaited a response.
. . .
Sesshoumaru looked up at the small knocking at the door. He knew almost instinctively it was she. That and no one but her knocked quite the way she did.
"Come," he called briskly. He had deaths to plan; he didn't need her hanging around at the moment and clumsily discovering his plans. Sure enough it was she that strode in the room, looking half timid and half annoyed. The overall appearance of her was awkward.
"Why aren't you working?"
Her eyes widened marginally in surprise only to be batted aside by another emotion he thought looked much like offense or perhaps even hurt. All vanished however under something heavier, but unidentifiable as she continued to stare at him.
She blinked innocently. "Working on what?"
"You should be keeping a better eye on things. New material arrived this morning, it's upstairs."
"What am I supposed to be making?" She fidgeted slightly under his gaze as he formulated a response.
"A ladies kimono, use only the new material."
She seemed contemplative for a moment. "What size?"
He gave her a cursory once over. "Your size should be adequate."
She turned, intending to leave. "Are you feeling better?"
He wondered why she was suddenly so diffident; everything about her appeared fragile at the moment.
He nodded silently and she turned, leaving him alone. Tempted as he was to follow or call her back, he needed to do this. He wanted Naraku dead and he didn't delude himself into thinking it was going to be an easy task. Even if he longed for it, Kagome's presence was a distraction at the moment and he needed to think.
. . .
Kagome retreated from the room quietly, slumping back against the wall softly once outside. What was with his mood swings? She sighed heavily as she recalled his words.
"Why aren't you working?"
The comment made her feel singularly worthless. Like a servant to be swept under his feet, she thought absently. She tried not to think of it, heading up to her room quietly, but thoughts of him followed.
Lunch then, was out of the question. She pulled the sewing doors open, stepping within, a smile coming to her face despite her wretchedness. She left the doors open, her mood lifting in spite of her previous discontent. Something about this room always seemed to lighten her mood, and make her smile. As she gazed about however her eyes fell on a roll of fabric across the table. Her eyes widened in surprise as she walked to it, pressing her fingers against it and gasping in pure delight.
It was stunning! This was probably for Kikyo's wedding, she thought. It had to be! She smiled, her gloom forgotten as she immediately began rolling out a length of material, carefully measuring.
Sesshoumaru stepped out of his library with a tired sigh. Lunch. Kagome had asked him to join her for lunch and only now had he realized what time it actually was. How long ago had he sent her off? Why hadn't she come to bother him about not keeping his appointments?
Unless of course that's why she'd been there earlier. He nearly growled at himself. Perhaps that's why she'd looked so crushed.
As she came to the dining room he found it empty almost confirming his suspicions.
He slipped out, passing through the main room and up the stairs intending to visit the sewing room. The doors were pulled open wide like they had been many a day before. He proceeded toward them, thinking over what he would say to her when they finally came face to face again. He peered inside expecting her to be gloom faced, maybe even staring sadly out the window like a caged puppy, but the sight surprised him.
She sat at her table contently, he could hear her humming as she sliced through the fabric he'd had bought for her. She looked happy with her work, apparently pleased by some aspect of it. He could not recall having seen her look so pleased while sewing before, not like she was now. So what was different? She was most certainly not thrilled with him sending her up here; he remembered the look on her face only too clearly.
He stepped inside, approaching her from behind and peering over her slim shoulders.
"Something wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
So she'd noticed him after all. Good, otherwise he might have had to chastise her for her obliviousness.
"You're late," he growled lowly, watching with well hidden amusement as the hurried activity of her nimble little fingers abruptly ceased. He could see the tension build in her frame.
"What did you just say?"
To his pleasure, and further enjoyment she stood turning around to face him, hands on her hips angrily.
"I am late? Me? What do you think I came to see you earlier for?! You are the late one!" she snapped.
"Am I not the Master of this house?"
For a matter of moments, she was clearly startled speechless. She almost backed away, she almost hesitated, she almost slipped back into her role as his docile servant, but then the fire in her eyes rekindled.
Rather than challenge however her thoughts took a new direction, apparently not willing to make an issue of his standing as the master.
"This must be very important, I don't get to work with silk brocade very often. I'm a little worried about making a mistake and ruining the whole thing, especially since it costs so much."
She looked so utterly thoughtful and worried over such a trivial thing. The fabric was worthless; he could buy a hundred more bolts of silk brocade if he so desired. Her worrying over her workmanship was needless considering her proficiency.
"For the moment it is insignificant. As I so before stated, you are late."
He watched the scowl return to her face, fury reigniting in her eyes, teeth clenching down.
"Are you even listening to me?" She snapped.
"Entirely too much, you're just wasting more time."
He grabbed her by the elbow pulling her out of the room. She trailed along behind him, for all he knew still scowling at the world. But along the way he felt her tension fade a bit and she seated herself with him in the dining room without an argument.
"Me late just ignores what he doesn't want to hear twists everything around to suit him master humph!" she mumbled.
Her anger seemed to abruptly fade however when he plastered an overly serene' look on his face. She took the cue he wanted, eyes lighting with worry.
"Are you not feeling well again? Perhaps something for the pain? I have been trained as a miko so-"
"Sit down," he quietly ordered as Sango stepped into the dining room already bearing trays of food. The servant girl smiled secretly at Kagome, causing her to blush wildly, bowed and then departed back into the kitchen. Most likely to gossip.
She did so settling back as she was and reached for her soup.
"What have you done today?"
She looked at him as though he'd suddenly sprouted fluffy white wings or something. Wasn't he allowed to make normal conversation on occasion? Really, everyone was always giving him the strangest looks when he inquired, however rarely, about another.
"I've um been sewing. That's pretty much it. I was going to ask Inuyasha if he wanted to go to town with me, but I haven't seen him around and then I got busy with the kimono upstairs so I forgot all about it."
"What do you need at town?"
"Nothing, just wanted to get out a little bit and figured you'd get upset if I went alone."
He was tempted to grimace at his movement knowing she was likely to start pawing over him in concern. There really wasn't anything quite as relaxing as Kagome's hands over his skin. He'd love nothing better at the moment than to curl up in his room with her for a couple hours of blissful rest, but he had plans to make. He'd spent the last couple hours looking over reports about Naraku's activities, plus he had business affairs to oversee.
. . .
Lunch was a quiet affair. Sesshoumaru wasn't really given to talking leaving the burden on Kagome or else they were to suffer with the silence. She'd asked him a multitude of things, his health, the kimono, his plans for the day. He'd answered vaguely on every matter, so she'd given up questioning him in light of simply speaking about nothing.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, where is Rin?"
He looked up from his thoughts.
"She's out for the day."
"Oh."
He pulled himself up, mindful she was merely watching. When he reached the door he turned back to see her collecting the dishes, thinking they were finished.
"You are not a kitchen servant. Come."
She stood, not sparing the dishes a glance as she followed along behind him. "Where are we going?"
"Did you not wish to go to town?"
He shouldn't be indulging her. He would have plenty of time for walking her around later, right now he should be getting down to the business of making two halves out of Naraku, but he wanted some time with her. It had been so long since he'd enjoyed himself in pleasant company. He couldn't remember feeling so at ease since before his mother had died all those years ago.
"I wanted to walk to town, you'll probably just make me ride that horse that's always giving me the funny I-know-you-can't-control-me-look', like he's just waiting for the opportunity to throw me off."
He grinned, what an imagination she had.
He continued without comment while she followed along down the path toward town. He was even going to walk with her. Really, what a sap he was turning into, he thought absently.
She tarried along at his side, casting curious little glances up at him every so often with increasing frequency. The air was fresh and energizing as they passed by a stretch of dense woodland. The cheery chirping of birds and rustles in the thicket of leaves assaulted their ears soothingly. Nature's invisible caress seemed to soothe the girl at his side dramatically as her nervous look melted into one of tranquility. A small smile played upon her lips while she cast her shining eyes in different directions, happily pointing out a squirrel as it scurried up a tree. Amazing how much like Rin she could be.
She was chattering again something about squirrels. He listened inattentively, thinking more about quieting her. She was making hand motions as she spoke. He reached when she dropped one hand, and snagged it at the wrist.
She hastily quieted, looking to him inquiringly, cheeks gently flushed. Before she could utter a word he slid his hand down her wrist, capturing her hand, pressing their palms together and entwining his fingers with hers. She smiled warmly, squeezing his hand as he was hers, and they walked the rest of the way in silence.
Town was bustling as it normally was. Their joined hands had fallen apart when they reached the lively center and he had left her at the shrine stairs when she expressed a desire to grab a few things from her room. He promised to be back in an hour, and that he would not be kept waiting.
She wasn't expecting company, but it was what she found. Her mother was simultaneously fussing over wedding preparations and her cousin Kikyo.
She eyed them with a weary smile before walking off, her mother hardly noticing. Kikyo too seemed to slip away as she appeared beside the back doorway where Kagome was standing, staring out into the garden. It was such a peaceful day; she'd only planned on peering out into the back garden for a moment.
"Kagome?"
Their eyes met and Kagome looked away uneasily, her happy mood suddenly deflating.
"Something bothering you?"
"I'm an idiot."
The corners of Kikyo's mouth turned up. "Why do you say that?"
"I'm engaged to marry Senaka Naraku."
Kikyo nodded solemnly, her smile fading. "I have heard. I was surprised at such news. Are you all right?"
"No." She turned away. "I'm engaged to one man, and in love with another."
"Sesshoumaru?" Kikyo questioned, looking outside also. "I thought so."
"I don't know what to do. I can't I can't do anything."
She had a lingering shadow of doubt in her mind about her safety alone with Naraku that she didn't have with Sesshoumaru. Not that her virtue mattered where Naraku was concerned. It wasn't that she feared he'd physically hurt her, she feared he'd seduce her.
Yet as before mentioned, it wouldn't matter. She was betrothed to him and Naraku probably had no plans of breaking the engagement.
She hadn't actually intended to talk to her mother, but that's where her feet led her after she parted with Kikyo. She found her mother seated at her favorite place in the dining room, a cup of tea on the table while she embroidered an elaborate pattern onto white silk.
"Mother?"
The woman gazed up, eyes lighting.
"Ah, Kagome! Come, sit with me," the woman urged, and in a surprising show of attention, put aside the sewing. "How are you? I have not seen you much lately."
Although a tad confused with her mother's new attitude, she answered. "Okay "
"You look troubled, can I help?"
Kagome tilted her chin down, turning her gaze to the table. "You ever fall in love?"
Her mother's gaze turned wistful. "Ah, young love," she chirped. "I loved your father. Did I ever tell you how we met?"
"You told me your marriage was arranged."
Her mother's smile faded minutely. "It was, but did I ever tell you how that arrangement came to be?"
"No."
"When I was your age I was working as a seamstress for a large family, much like you do now for Masaharu. I met your father there, I was headed to town to buy some fabric when I came upon a broken down carriage. There were two young men there, toiling over it, trying to fix it. I recognized one as the young master of the house where I worked."
"Dad used to own a grand house like Masaharu?" Kagome interrupted.
Her mother smiled gaily. "Of course not, your father was his manservant."
Kagome frowned, turning her head away. "You married a servant?"
The older woman laughed. "What was I, but a servant?"
"Yeah but this is your family's shrine. What do we have left from Father, except his memory? What did marrying him bring you?"
"I have you." She replied. "You and Souta. I wouldn't trade ten grand houses for you and your brother, nothing will ever mean as much to me as you, my children. When you have your own, you will understand."
Kagome frowned. How did any of this help her, exactly?
"Mother?"
"Hmmm?"
"That doesn't help."
She looked up from the sewing she had once again picked up. Kagome almost shrunk under her mother's sharp gaze, startled by the intensity.
"You spend far too much time at the Masaharu house. It is in your best interest not to return there. Forming attachments will only make things harder for you."
Kagome tore her gaze away, dropping her head. It was already too late for that and perhaps her actions bespoke the message for her mother spoke again.
"Let it go. It won't be easy, and he won't like it, but it must be done. Your future has been decided upon and Masaharu is not in it."
Angry, bitter and disheartened, Kagome silently retreated from the room. Outside the door she was caught, and pulled back, arms folding around her. At first she panicked, thinking it might be Naraku, but when she saw the white material she realized it had to be Sesshoumaru.
"My mother says-"
"I heard," he cut her off. "I don't care what she says," he whispered; tone just as low as hers. Her mother was in the room right behind them and the door was open. Not that the flimsy shoji doors kept any sound in or out.
"But—"
"Nothing," he interrupted once more. "Your family's opinion means nothing, they do not have the power to oppose me."
As if on cue, the woman herself stepped out of the room, empty-handed no less. Kagome eyed her fearfully. Oh, no.
She felt Sesshoumaru stiffen behind her, tensing at the sight of her mother.
"Higurashi," he spoke as though it burned his tongue.
Oh they weren't going to get along, Kagome thought.
"Where are you going, young lady?"
"Um" she hesitated.
"She is coming with me."
"Oh?" Her mother raised one disapproving brow. Oh no, that wasn't good.
Kagome attempted to intervene, but Sesshoumaru only held her tighter.
"Kagome needs to stay here, this is her home."
"She is mine, she comes with me." He argued.
Kagome wanted to throw a hand over her face and hide. How could she stop this?
"If you insist I will have to report you to the authorities." Kagome stared disbelievingly at her mother. She didn't actually think that would work did she? This was Masaharu Sesshoumaru, didn't he own the town?
She could almost feel the smugness as he answered. "You know where to find me."
He pulled her along toward the door and she could only watch helpless.
Once outside she looked up at him in disbelief. "I can't believe you just did that!"
He barely spared her a glance. "Let's go. You've had enough fresh air for the day."
"Master! Come please! Quickly!
Naraku rose at the shrill, desperate shout to investigate.
"Senaka-sama he's he's. He stopped breathing and then he just moved and"
Naraku looked over the man-taking note of the torn shoulder and the bloody mass where there had once been an arm. The man looked half crazed, perhaps not even noticing his arm was now gone. Naraku narrowed his eyes carefully following the pathway to his father's room, keeping a good grip on his sword.
The servant slid down the wall, blood still pouring out of him. He was probably going to bleed to death in his delirious state and then there would be a mess to clean up.
The doorway was half open, haphazardly so and blood stained, presumably from the servant's mad dash out.
He slid the door open more fully, peering inside. The heavy, coppery scent of blood pervaded the room. He took a perfunctory glance around startled and horrified at the sight. Servants, his servants were strewn about, most of them in pieces. His father however was missing. What happened?
He moved, turning hastily as he heard what sounded like a gargle of liquid in the back of one's throat. He tore open a side door across the hall just in time to see his half sister Kagura slammed flat onto the tatami floor and his father leaning over her, pulling at her kimono.
"Father!" He hissed angrily.
He turned, cocking his head to one side. "Father?"
The voice was different and his eyes glowed red.
"Ah, the human!" He laughed heartily, his mouth twisting into a wide, feral grin, as his body seemed to expand, clothes splitting up the back as two more sets of arms suddenly sprouted to hold down the girl. "The human is dead."
Kagura struggled weakly even as her blood seeped out of the wound at her throat. She would be dead in a matter of minutes; he couldn't save her even if he fought off this demon that had once been his father.
The demon looked away and Naraku physically cringed as his glittering fangs sank into Kagura's throat. Her eyes widened, focusing on him briefly before she expired. He turned, fleeing toward the front door. Was everyone in the house dead already? He shoved the front door open, leaping over the railing rather than following the path down. He grabbed the reigns of the horse out front and took off.
This wasn't good. What the hell was that Shikon no tama' anyway?!
Kagome yawned reaching for the red thread. She was really quite tired today. Everyone was busy it seemed. She was determined to at least finish this last part and then she would call it quits for the day, it was almost dinnertime anyway and she longed for a little break. She also longed to see how Sesshoumaru was doing, but she was holding off on bothering him. He'd been quiet the entire trip back yesterday, seemingly preoccupied. His distant attitude hadn't bothered her much but the glower on his face had.
She hadn't tried to talk to him because of that attitude. He looked ready to snap someone's head off.
"Kagome?"
She looked up. "Hmm? Oh, hi Sango. Something up?"
"Rin says she's still not feeling well. Masaharu-sama wants you to sit with her."
Kagome was on her feet immediately. "Poor Rin-chan, still feeling a bit unwell after her trip yesterday. Is she okay?"
"I don't know, I haven't seen her actually."
Kagome followed Sango downstairs. "Where is she exactly?"
"I'm not sure, he only told me to come get you." She shrugged and Kagome sighed.
"Thanks, Sango."
Sango moved off to the kitchen and Kagome was about to head to the hall where she would find the master's room to check there first when a knock upon the door stopped her.
She pulled it open, eager to be rid of any guests and head off to find Rin when the sight stopped her cold. She gasped.
Dark haired tumbled over disheveled clothes and was that blood?
"Senaka-san?" She queried.
. . .
Where was she? He'd asked the girl to bring Kagome almost ten minutes ago. He moved to leave Rin, displeased when she started whining. He cut her off with a look and left the room. He headed down the hall and stepped into the main room. Where was she?
That's when he noticed the open door and the shadow of people beyond his vision. He stalked toward it, growling when he finally came face to face with the occupants of the doorway.
Senaka Naraku. Well, that saved him a trip, he thought bitterly, snagging the girl and all but throwing her into the house behind him.
He heard her sound of angry indignation but ignored her.
"State your business." He growled at the unwelcome intruder.
"I merely came to visit my betrothed."
There was something though, something disturbing about Naraku's mannerism. Something in his eyes and appearance that was all off. Something that seemed to suggest that he was here for more than to just antagonize him.
"Will you –" he finally allowed Kagome some leeway and she moved to stand beside him in the doorway. "This is serious!" she scolded him, before turning concerned eyes back to Naraku.
Well that did it; he shouldn't allow Naraku to leave his property under use of his own power whether Kagome saw him eviscerate the man or not, he thought resentfully.
"He's not well, is he?"
Sesshoumaru peered down sharply at Kagome troubled at the sudden turn in her tone. Whatever it seemed was bothering Naraku had suddenly seemed to jump to Kagome. Wonderful, it was contagious.
Naraku however seemed surprised by the question. "Who?"
"Your father," she replied, staring at Naraku with an intensity that left Sesshoumaru with a snarl growing in his chest.
Naraku's eyes seem to light up in silent wonder.
"I had a feeling. It's been bothering me all day that something's happened. Did your father have the jewel with him?"
No words about the theft or destruction of the shrine passed between them. She was merely concerned for Onigumo at the moment.
"I believe so," Naraku replied after a lengthy pause.
Kagome sighed heavily, and turned away. "You should come in so we can talk."
Sesshoumaru frowned. "No."
"Then I'll go and-" she stared.
"You'll do nothing of the sort."
"What am I supposed to do then?" She asked in an exasperated tone.
"You're doing nothing; he is leaving while he is still able." Sesshoumaru growled at her.
"But what about Onigumo?"
"He stole the damn thing, if he gets consumed by it, he's on his own. He should have been prepared for the consequences."
She pouted. "That's not the way it works."
"I do not care."
He pulled her inside and closed the door in Naraku's face.
"You can't do that!"
He leaned down, nose to nose with her. "Are you going to stop me?!"
Author's Notes: Yeah! It's done! I had this done last week, but then I read the review left by Yami about wanting to know how Kagome reacted to his kissing her forehead and the whole chapter just fell apart for me. It went off in weird directions so I spent the whole day rewriting the chapter, and I'm extremely glad I did.
IMPORTANT! - Do you believe the content of this story exceeds the PG-13 rating and that I should raise it to R? If not ignore this, if so will you please leave a review saying so. I got another review earlier today and I've become concerned over the matter.