Disclaimer: I have not, do not, and will not *choke* own Inuyasha!
Author's Note: Arigatou to AngelWriter2006 for pointing out that mistake! ^_^
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thoughts
*___* = Special 'stuff'
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 2: Underneath the Exterior
About the time the sun touched the western horizon, Inuyasha trotted back from hunting with a lean doe slung over his shoulder. He arrived at the village and headed for the butchering shed. As he made his way across the square, he caught the scent of Sesshoumaru, mingled with the scents of Kagome and the other girls. He dropped the doe off in the shed and cleaned himself up before making his way towards the Higurashi shrine. Mrs. Higurashi greeted him with a smile as she cleaned up a dirt smudged Souta.
"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as he peeled Souta off his leg.
Mrs. Higurashi's smile wavered and she sighed. "Kagome. . ." she slowly spoke, "Was chosen by the Lord of the Western Lands." She bowed her head. "She resisted. . . but he simply picked her up and left."
Inuyasha stood there, shocked. Then he growled deep within his throat and quickly left the shrine. 'Sesshoumaru,' he thought as his lips curled in a snarl, 'Don't you _dare_ touch my Kagome!' He began sprinting towards his half brother's home. 'This will be pleasant,' he thought dryly, 'Besides, I have to pay my annual respects for him. . . Chikushou! Even running will take several days to get there! Damn you, Sesshoumaru!'
As night blanketed the lands, a ghostly red and silver blur could be seen flitting though the darkened tree trunks of the forest, heading west.
*Back in the castle*
After Rin had left, Sesshoumaru had turned towards his study. But his acute hearing could hear Rin's excited, innocent babble, so he decided to investigate, his curiosity getting the better of him. Usually the women he brought home would shun the girl. To his surprise, he found Rin in the priestess' arms.
"Rin," he called. He stifled a snicker as the teen looked up and paled a little.
Kagome instinctively clutched the girl closer to her body and somewhat shielded her from the dog demon's gaze. Rin squirmed in Kagome's arms and managed to slide out of the girl's grasp. The giggling Rin ran to Sesshoumaru and hugged his legs again. Kagome gawked.
"Rin thinks Kagome-chan is pretty, Sesshoumaru-sama!" she squealed.
Sesshoumaru gazed at the little girl but did not do anything. "Rin, did Sesshoumaru not tell you?" he reprimanded, referring to her grammar.
Rin looked up at the demon lord with pure adoration in her eyes. "Gomen nasai, Sesshoumaru-sama," she apologized as she hugged his legs even tighter.
Kagome had stayed on the bed, watching the scene with a mix of shock and amazement. That this human girl had not died by the demon's hands was a miracle enough. That he was teaching her was even more so.
Sesshoumaru disentangled Rin's arms from his legs and glanced at Kagome. "Dinner will be served shortly. I expect you to smarten up a bit." He closed the door as he left once again, with Rin trailing on his heels.
Kagome slowly got off the futon and looked herself over in the full-length mirror provided in her bedroom. A proud, young woman with brown eyes and long black hair gazed back at her. Kagome sighed. 'Is that me? Is that really me?' In reality she felt like a lost little girl- she had no idea what to do with Sesshoumaru. How was she supposed to dress? Formally? Casually? But then again, he said he'd provide her with clothing. And _how_ was she supposed to act? She wasn't from the aristocracy, and therefore didn't know a lot about etiquette. She knew she had a lot of self-restraint from years of training to become a shrine maiden, but in the long run, would she be able to maintain her composure for the entirety of a year? She trembled. She knew that if she caused enough trouble he'd kill her without a second thought. 'After all,' she thought sourly, 'He's a youkai. He wouldn't care.'
A smart rap on the door startled Kagome. She watched the door somewhat fearfully, and her heartbeat increased as the door slid open. Two round, yellow eyes peered around the door, and suddenly Kagome found the toad demon peeking in. She glared at the creature and asked straightforwardly, "What do _you_ want?"
Jaken started; he hadn't expected her to be that. . . blunt. Usually the women would ask in a more indirect way, as it was more polite. "Dinner is being served."
Kagome nodded and followed the squat demon out of her room. He led her down the many corridors and into a large dining area. The room was quite large, and elongated. The table, as Kagome perceived it, could seat approximately fifty people. Yet the only beings seated were Sesshoumaru, at the head of the table of course, and Rin, who sat to his right. Jaken led her to the demon lord's left side and promptly left for his seat next to Rin. Food was already at the table, and Kagome was quite hungry; but she knew enough to wait until Sesshoumaru began eating first before she began as well.
Dinner was somewhat eventful, as it was evident that Rin usually goaded Jaken with her chopsticks rather than eat with them. Jaken would squawk with every chopstick prod from Rin, and the little girl would giggle happily. Kagome gently admonished Rin for misusing her eating utensils while discreetly keeping an eye on the dog demon; she wondered why he didn't teach her table manners if he taught her grammar and syntax. After dinner, a content Rin led Kagome back to her room; upon opening the door, Kagome bent down and kissed the girl on the forehead.
"Oyasumi nasai, Rin," Kagome said, smiling.
"Oyasumi, Kagome-chan," Rin responded, hugging Kagome's legs before leaving for her own room.
Kagome stepped into her room and shut the door softly. With a sigh she pressed her back against the door and slid down, clasping her knees with her arms. Her lips quivered as she fought the tears that threatened to spill. Her mother, her brother, Sango, Kirara, Miroku, Shippou, Inuyasha. . . she wouldn't be seeing them for an entire year. Already her heart ached in longing for their collective presence. Idly she wondered what each was doing at that moment in time. A sad smile quirked her lips at the thought of Sango beating Miroku across the head for groping her.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Kagome got up and draped a dark azure colored cloak on her shoulders before heading out the door. She strolled down the hall and exited the building, emerging in the back gardens. She sucked her breath in at the wondrous beauty of the landscape. The moonlight touched each blossom, shading them a soft silver. The sakura trees littered their petals, making the scene even more like a surreal dreamscape.
'If only Inuyasha were here with me,' Kagome thought as she leaned against the trunk of a sakura tree. "Inuyasha. . . I miss you," she whispered, "If only you could see this place. . . it's so beautiful." A cool night breeze swept through the garden, lifting strands of her untied hair in a graceful, twirling dance.
She reentered the building and strode towards the dojo. Inside, she found a large assortment of weaponry. She picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows and headed for the training grounds beyond the back gardens. She found the training grounds to be an open field, well kept and neatly lined with rows of benches. Targets were lined up at the far end of the training grounds. She set her cloak on a bench and slung the quiver on her shoulder. Positioning herself so that her body was facing almost perpendicular to a target, she proceeded to notch an arrow and aim it at the target. With her experience from years of training to become a shrine maiden, she loosed the arrow and it embedded itself in the bull's eye with a THUMP.
Calmly she plucked another arrow from the quiver and shot it a hair's width below the first. She continued shooting them, all of the arrows centered about the first. As the last arrow hit the target with another THUMP, she felt someone's eyes on her, and she looked up to find the demon lord himself standing there, watching her. She felt anger rise within herself and mentally cursed herself for letting her senses down to feel his presence; after all, she was a priestess and had the ability to sense demons around her. She immediately regretted shooting her last arrow; it was her means of defense besides hand to hand combat. And even if it came to fighting, she guessed she wouldn't be able to overpower the elegant creature that stood from afar, studying her every move. Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself down.
She forced herself to nod her head in acknowledgement to his presence. He merely stared at her, unmoving.
"Do you need something, my lord?" she managed to say without a cutting edge of sarcasm.
Sesshoumaru raised a fine black eyebrow. "Iie," he replied coolly. "I was simply watching you shoot the targets." In reality he was somewhat hypnotized by her. Standing there in the cool glow of the moon's rays with the bow and arrow in her hands, she was a beautiful creature. Graceful, feminine, and deadly. Her accuracy with the weapon in her hands proved the last adjective. He was shaken out of his trance when she directly addressed him.
She stood there, bow in hand, eyes practically glowing with suppressed animosity. The glitter in her eyes made her look more like an ethereal being than mere human. He immediately squashed this train of thought. 'She's a _normal_ ningen. Besides, she'll probably end up a prostitute like the others.' He snorted quietly to himself. Kagome gave him a strange look that faintly hinted at the anger he knew was smoldering away beneath her cold façade. He sniffed arrogantly and turned his head away. 'Perhaps later. . . when I find out more about her.'
Kagome controlled her breathing and steadily strode over to the target to retrieve the arrows. After yanking them all out, she slid them back into the quiver and absentmindedly picked up her cloak. "Oyasumi nasai, my lord," she spoke curtly as she passed by him.
Sesshoumaru snapped his head in the direction she left. Her scent, a pleasant aroma comprised of spring rainfall and sakura blossoms brushed his finely tuned nose tauntingly. He shook his head as if to clear his mind of her alluring fragrance. 'Ningen no baka,' he thought grumpily, even though there was no reason on his part to insult her. He felt somewhat puzzled by the fact that he liked her scent. 'Why is she so different from the rest? Even the previous wenches still stunk. Perhaps it is her miko power that prevents that stench?' He sniffed the air again, and this time, analyzed every minute scent his nose picked up. His acute sense of smell confirmed his theory. Her powers as a priestess gave her a less human and more pure smell. . . thus effectively covering the human "stench" he smelled so often. Or maybe it was because of the Shikon no Tama.
Sesshoumaru snapped out of his pensiveness. He suddenly noticed he had involuntarily sat down on a bench- the bench she had placed her cloak on- her lingering fragrance had relaxed him quite a bit. His muscles, constantly tensed from being prepared for battle at any moment, were deliciously unwound. He abruptly stood up and retreated after the comforting, fragrant scent of the woman-child.
Kagome had entered her room after dropping off the weapons in the dojo. She was leaning on the door with her back pressed against it. She sighed and willed thoughts of her friends and family away. Homesickness laced itself through her soul, and she yearned to be with her mother and brother. Her mother, always kind and gentle, always reassuring her with soft-spoken words. Souta, although annoying at times, was often a comfort to her, for he knew exactly how to cheer her up with his crazy antics and pranks. Inuyasha- he was gruff, and at times, downright rude, always hiding his affection for her. Shippou, Sango, or Kirara would be of some comfort to her at the moment as well. Hell, even Miroku would be welcome, although she'd have to be wary of his ever-creeping hand.
She got up and opened the window. Then she settled her self on the grass mat and folded her legs gracefully beneath her. She faced the window, letting the moonlight wash over her front. The gentle wind blew through the outside portal to her room and caused the curtains and her hair to flutter slightly. She sat up straight, her eyes closed. Taking deep, even breaths and clearing her mind, she proceeded to meditate.
Sesshoumaru followed the shrine maiden's scent trail to the dojo. He stopped as soon as he realized her smell was headed for her room. He pondered for a little. He was slightly curious as to what made a priestess different from a "normal" woman. Feeling that she would immediately sense his presence if he came by the door, he decided to peek through her window. Of course, the window was outside, so he exited the building and levitated himself to a tree near her window. He withdrew his aura, knowing that she could probably feel him within a certain radius, regardless of his approach. He sat down on a branch and gazed through the open window, scrutinizing her with his bright golden eyes. He noticed the silky hair floating in the breeze, her chest gently rising and falling with each breath, the way the moonlight illuminated her placid face and blue kimono.
He studied her aura. It was calm, strong, and pure. 'Pure. . . mochiron. . . she's a miko,' he chided himself silently. It swirled around her gently, pulsing with the strength of her spirit. Yet in the midst of the calm, sadness lightly tainted her aura, sadness mingled with longing and sorrow. He had the impression that she was quenching her pain with a large amount of effort. He vaguely wondered if he was the cause of her pain. 'Nonsense!' he snapped at himself, 'I did not do anything to hurt her.' He intently studied his twitching tail before returning his gaze to the raven- haired girl.
He watched as she suddenly scrunched up her face in thought. 'Evidently whatever she's thinking about is frustrating to her,' the demon lord mused. What he didn't know was that she was confused about him.
Kagome furrowed her brows in concentration and annoyance. Sesshoumaru was so hard to understand! 'He supposedly hates ningen, takes in _ningen_ females, takes care of Rin, who is a _ningen_, is know for bloodlust, yet he hasn't done anything like that, rather, he seems to have endless patience, tries to hide the fact that he is a youkai in the face of a village of ningen. . . what is _wrong_ with this guy?' she pondered. 'He's an arrogant, pompous ass who refuses to let people get to him- could that be a defense to let everyone know he's the ruler? Perhaps. Yet why do I get the feeling that he's bored and lonely?' she paused in her thinking to let these newfound thoughts sink in. 'Maybe that's why he takes females like he does. . . and maybe that's why he has Rin. . .'
Suddenly she felt herself pitying him. She pitied him for his loneliness, his self-induced isolation. She snapped herself from these thoughts. 'I hate him!' she growled at herself, scowling. 'He made a whore of Ayume! I'll never forgive him!' Yet she could feel her resolve weakening. 'Damn my compassion!' she snarled at herself.
Sesshoumaru watched with mild amusement as different expressions flickered across her face. First was frustration, then pity, then anger. He idly wondered what was the cause. 'Maybe it is Inuyasha. . .' he thought, smirking. He imagined what Inuyasha would do when he found out his wench was missing, taken by his older half brother. The silly boy would go on a rampage, with feral scarlet eyes, fangs grown out, and deep crimson stripes on his face. The Lord of the Western Lands chuckled quietly to himself.
Kagome started when she heard a soft, deep chortle. She opened her eyes slowly, gazing calmly outside the window. Her soft brown eyes spotted glowing amber eyes floating in the dark shadows of a tree. She felt the urge to scream, but thanks to her priestess training, she restrained herself and managed to look only startled. Curiosity abruptly took hold of her, and she got up and leaned on the windowsill. "Inuyasha?" she whispered breathlessly, hoping it was her boyfriend.
Sesshoumaru frowned when he heard the name. He pushed himself up onto his feet and drifted towards her window. Kagome gasped and backed off a little when she realized it was not Inuyasha, but Sesshoumaru. She felt a sudden surge of anger rush through her and she narrowed her eyes. "What do _you_ want?" she demanded as she drew on her courage to stand her ground.
Sesshoumaru stepped on the floor with catlike grace. He arched an eyebrow at her grating question. "It _is_ my home, so I can go where I please," he replied stoically, internally enjoying the fact that she was practically fuming. 'Hai,' he thought crisply, 'I am a sadist.' He smirked.
Kagome felt her unease growing in leaps and bounds. His seemingly sinister grin only added to her discomfort. 'Why is he grinning like that?!?' she thought frantically, 'It's really creeping me out. . .' They stood staring at each other for several minutes. Finally her patience wore off and she suddenly burst out, "Will you _stop_ standing there grinning like a baka and say something?!?"
Before she knew it, a clawed hand grasped her slender neck and she was pressed against a wall with her feet dangling about a foot off the ground. Brittle gold eyes gazed unflinchingly at her. She clawed frantically at the unyielding hands. "Do _not_ snap at me, wench," he growled, "Or you will end up. . . how should I say? Injured quite badly. . ." He squeezed her neck a little, making her cough. She could distinctly feel the pointed tips of his claws pressing painfully into her flesh. Just a little more pressure, and he'd break the skin. Then he let go, not caring that she crumpled into a spineless ball against the wall. She gingerly sat up, rubbing her sore throat and glared at him. He returned the favor with an icy glare of his own.
He turned and paused by the door. "Oyasumi nasai, wench," he said without turning around. He left without another word.
Kagome sat on the ground, unmoving. Her mind was racing. 'He said oyasumi nasai? Did he just loose his head or something? Was there something I missed?' she thought, puzzled over his suddenly civil behavior. Shaking her head, she got up and changed into the provided sleepwear. She went to the nightstand and poured water into the silver washbasin. She cleaned herself, and then settled in bed. As sleep took her over, she curled up under the silken sheets, whispering, "Inuyasha. . ." as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Sesshoumaru slid into the hot spring, his bath. Steam billowed from the water's surface, condensing on any solid surface, including Sesshoumaru. His kimono and armor lay in a pile on the tiled floor. He sat on a seat in the water and watched his white tail drift on the surface of the water along with his long silver hair. He felt his muscles relaxing and he closed his eyes. He thought more about the girl. Her spirit, her indomitable spirit, was the reason he hadn't killed her already, along with his promise to tame her. Had she been any other person, he would have killed her in the blink of an eye, literally. Yet she perplexed him. And he, being Sesshoumaru, the one on top of all things, did _not_ like being confused about _anything_.
He thought of the fiery spirit she possessed. . . and what made her lash out at him. He knew that she knew she should be more respectful, but she was purposely being rude towards him. Of course, he wouldn't even _dream_ that _he_ was the cause of her ire. He assumed it was from some external stimulus, something that his habitat reminded her of, thus sparking her anger. But when not around him, she was depressed and lonely. When he was up in the tree, he could almost _taste_ her loneliness, despite the fact she had shoved it under calming thoughts. This he knew, deep down, that he was the cause of. He sighed and continued bathing in the scalding water.
~*~*~*~
Japanese Translations
Chikushou- damn
Gomen nasai- sorry
Youkai- demon
Oyasumi [nasai]- good night [formal]
Iie- no
Ningen- human
Ningen no baka- stupid/idiotic human
Mochiron- of course
Miko- priestess
Hai- yes
Baka- idiot
~*~*~*~
FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! This is the last chapter I shall be able to post since school is starting. *cries*
Sesshoumaru: *bored* Hmm. . . so when is Inuyasha coming?
Kagome: *huffily* Soon enough!
Rin: *picks flowers* Want some, Kagome-chan?
Kagome: Sure.
Sesshoumaru: Strange. *shakes head*
FT: *blinks at Sesshy* Nah!
Inuyasha: Where is that. . . that. . .!!!
FT: *idly* Temper, temper, Inu!
Inuyasha: Damn temper! Where is that asshole?!? *spots Sesshoumaru* DIE!!!
*Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fight*
FT: *sweatdrops* Well, review, onegai?
~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Arigatou to AngelWriter2006 for pointing out that mistake! ^_^
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thoughts
*___* = Special 'stuff'
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 2: Underneath the Exterior
About the time the sun touched the western horizon, Inuyasha trotted back from hunting with a lean doe slung over his shoulder. He arrived at the village and headed for the butchering shed. As he made his way across the square, he caught the scent of Sesshoumaru, mingled with the scents of Kagome and the other girls. He dropped the doe off in the shed and cleaned himself up before making his way towards the Higurashi shrine. Mrs. Higurashi greeted him with a smile as she cleaned up a dirt smudged Souta.
"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as he peeled Souta off his leg.
Mrs. Higurashi's smile wavered and she sighed. "Kagome. . ." she slowly spoke, "Was chosen by the Lord of the Western Lands." She bowed her head. "She resisted. . . but he simply picked her up and left."
Inuyasha stood there, shocked. Then he growled deep within his throat and quickly left the shrine. 'Sesshoumaru,' he thought as his lips curled in a snarl, 'Don't you _dare_ touch my Kagome!' He began sprinting towards his half brother's home. 'This will be pleasant,' he thought dryly, 'Besides, I have to pay my annual respects for him. . . Chikushou! Even running will take several days to get there! Damn you, Sesshoumaru!'
As night blanketed the lands, a ghostly red and silver blur could be seen flitting though the darkened tree trunks of the forest, heading west.
*Back in the castle*
After Rin had left, Sesshoumaru had turned towards his study. But his acute hearing could hear Rin's excited, innocent babble, so he decided to investigate, his curiosity getting the better of him. Usually the women he brought home would shun the girl. To his surprise, he found Rin in the priestess' arms.
"Rin," he called. He stifled a snicker as the teen looked up and paled a little.
Kagome instinctively clutched the girl closer to her body and somewhat shielded her from the dog demon's gaze. Rin squirmed in Kagome's arms and managed to slide out of the girl's grasp. The giggling Rin ran to Sesshoumaru and hugged his legs again. Kagome gawked.
"Rin thinks Kagome-chan is pretty, Sesshoumaru-sama!" she squealed.
Sesshoumaru gazed at the little girl but did not do anything. "Rin, did Sesshoumaru not tell you?" he reprimanded, referring to her grammar.
Rin looked up at the demon lord with pure adoration in her eyes. "Gomen nasai, Sesshoumaru-sama," she apologized as she hugged his legs even tighter.
Kagome had stayed on the bed, watching the scene with a mix of shock and amazement. That this human girl had not died by the demon's hands was a miracle enough. That he was teaching her was even more so.
Sesshoumaru disentangled Rin's arms from his legs and glanced at Kagome. "Dinner will be served shortly. I expect you to smarten up a bit." He closed the door as he left once again, with Rin trailing on his heels.
Kagome slowly got off the futon and looked herself over in the full-length mirror provided in her bedroom. A proud, young woman with brown eyes and long black hair gazed back at her. Kagome sighed. 'Is that me? Is that really me?' In reality she felt like a lost little girl- she had no idea what to do with Sesshoumaru. How was she supposed to dress? Formally? Casually? But then again, he said he'd provide her with clothing. And _how_ was she supposed to act? She wasn't from the aristocracy, and therefore didn't know a lot about etiquette. She knew she had a lot of self-restraint from years of training to become a shrine maiden, but in the long run, would she be able to maintain her composure for the entirety of a year? She trembled. She knew that if she caused enough trouble he'd kill her without a second thought. 'After all,' she thought sourly, 'He's a youkai. He wouldn't care.'
A smart rap on the door startled Kagome. She watched the door somewhat fearfully, and her heartbeat increased as the door slid open. Two round, yellow eyes peered around the door, and suddenly Kagome found the toad demon peeking in. She glared at the creature and asked straightforwardly, "What do _you_ want?"
Jaken started; he hadn't expected her to be that. . . blunt. Usually the women would ask in a more indirect way, as it was more polite. "Dinner is being served."
Kagome nodded and followed the squat demon out of her room. He led her down the many corridors and into a large dining area. The room was quite large, and elongated. The table, as Kagome perceived it, could seat approximately fifty people. Yet the only beings seated were Sesshoumaru, at the head of the table of course, and Rin, who sat to his right. Jaken led her to the demon lord's left side and promptly left for his seat next to Rin. Food was already at the table, and Kagome was quite hungry; but she knew enough to wait until Sesshoumaru began eating first before she began as well.
Dinner was somewhat eventful, as it was evident that Rin usually goaded Jaken with her chopsticks rather than eat with them. Jaken would squawk with every chopstick prod from Rin, and the little girl would giggle happily. Kagome gently admonished Rin for misusing her eating utensils while discreetly keeping an eye on the dog demon; she wondered why he didn't teach her table manners if he taught her grammar and syntax. After dinner, a content Rin led Kagome back to her room; upon opening the door, Kagome bent down and kissed the girl on the forehead.
"Oyasumi nasai, Rin," Kagome said, smiling.
"Oyasumi, Kagome-chan," Rin responded, hugging Kagome's legs before leaving for her own room.
Kagome stepped into her room and shut the door softly. With a sigh she pressed her back against the door and slid down, clasping her knees with her arms. Her lips quivered as she fought the tears that threatened to spill. Her mother, her brother, Sango, Kirara, Miroku, Shippou, Inuyasha. . . she wouldn't be seeing them for an entire year. Already her heart ached in longing for their collective presence. Idly she wondered what each was doing at that moment in time. A sad smile quirked her lips at the thought of Sango beating Miroku across the head for groping her.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Kagome got up and draped a dark azure colored cloak on her shoulders before heading out the door. She strolled down the hall and exited the building, emerging in the back gardens. She sucked her breath in at the wondrous beauty of the landscape. The moonlight touched each blossom, shading them a soft silver. The sakura trees littered their petals, making the scene even more like a surreal dreamscape.
'If only Inuyasha were here with me,' Kagome thought as she leaned against the trunk of a sakura tree. "Inuyasha. . . I miss you," she whispered, "If only you could see this place. . . it's so beautiful." A cool night breeze swept through the garden, lifting strands of her untied hair in a graceful, twirling dance.
She reentered the building and strode towards the dojo. Inside, she found a large assortment of weaponry. She picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows and headed for the training grounds beyond the back gardens. She found the training grounds to be an open field, well kept and neatly lined with rows of benches. Targets were lined up at the far end of the training grounds. She set her cloak on a bench and slung the quiver on her shoulder. Positioning herself so that her body was facing almost perpendicular to a target, she proceeded to notch an arrow and aim it at the target. With her experience from years of training to become a shrine maiden, she loosed the arrow and it embedded itself in the bull's eye with a THUMP.
Calmly she plucked another arrow from the quiver and shot it a hair's width below the first. She continued shooting them, all of the arrows centered about the first. As the last arrow hit the target with another THUMP, she felt someone's eyes on her, and she looked up to find the demon lord himself standing there, watching her. She felt anger rise within herself and mentally cursed herself for letting her senses down to feel his presence; after all, she was a priestess and had the ability to sense demons around her. She immediately regretted shooting her last arrow; it was her means of defense besides hand to hand combat. And even if it came to fighting, she guessed she wouldn't be able to overpower the elegant creature that stood from afar, studying her every move. Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself down.
She forced herself to nod her head in acknowledgement to his presence. He merely stared at her, unmoving.
"Do you need something, my lord?" she managed to say without a cutting edge of sarcasm.
Sesshoumaru raised a fine black eyebrow. "Iie," he replied coolly. "I was simply watching you shoot the targets." In reality he was somewhat hypnotized by her. Standing there in the cool glow of the moon's rays with the bow and arrow in her hands, she was a beautiful creature. Graceful, feminine, and deadly. Her accuracy with the weapon in her hands proved the last adjective. He was shaken out of his trance when she directly addressed him.
She stood there, bow in hand, eyes practically glowing with suppressed animosity. The glitter in her eyes made her look more like an ethereal being than mere human. He immediately squashed this train of thought. 'She's a _normal_ ningen. Besides, she'll probably end up a prostitute like the others.' He snorted quietly to himself. Kagome gave him a strange look that faintly hinted at the anger he knew was smoldering away beneath her cold façade. He sniffed arrogantly and turned his head away. 'Perhaps later. . . when I find out more about her.'
Kagome controlled her breathing and steadily strode over to the target to retrieve the arrows. After yanking them all out, she slid them back into the quiver and absentmindedly picked up her cloak. "Oyasumi nasai, my lord," she spoke curtly as she passed by him.
Sesshoumaru snapped his head in the direction she left. Her scent, a pleasant aroma comprised of spring rainfall and sakura blossoms brushed his finely tuned nose tauntingly. He shook his head as if to clear his mind of her alluring fragrance. 'Ningen no baka,' he thought grumpily, even though there was no reason on his part to insult her. He felt somewhat puzzled by the fact that he liked her scent. 'Why is she so different from the rest? Even the previous wenches still stunk. Perhaps it is her miko power that prevents that stench?' He sniffed the air again, and this time, analyzed every minute scent his nose picked up. His acute sense of smell confirmed his theory. Her powers as a priestess gave her a less human and more pure smell. . . thus effectively covering the human "stench" he smelled so often. Or maybe it was because of the Shikon no Tama.
Sesshoumaru snapped out of his pensiveness. He suddenly noticed he had involuntarily sat down on a bench- the bench she had placed her cloak on- her lingering fragrance had relaxed him quite a bit. His muscles, constantly tensed from being prepared for battle at any moment, were deliciously unwound. He abruptly stood up and retreated after the comforting, fragrant scent of the woman-child.
Kagome had entered her room after dropping off the weapons in the dojo. She was leaning on the door with her back pressed against it. She sighed and willed thoughts of her friends and family away. Homesickness laced itself through her soul, and she yearned to be with her mother and brother. Her mother, always kind and gentle, always reassuring her with soft-spoken words. Souta, although annoying at times, was often a comfort to her, for he knew exactly how to cheer her up with his crazy antics and pranks. Inuyasha- he was gruff, and at times, downright rude, always hiding his affection for her. Shippou, Sango, or Kirara would be of some comfort to her at the moment as well. Hell, even Miroku would be welcome, although she'd have to be wary of his ever-creeping hand.
She got up and opened the window. Then she settled her self on the grass mat and folded her legs gracefully beneath her. She faced the window, letting the moonlight wash over her front. The gentle wind blew through the outside portal to her room and caused the curtains and her hair to flutter slightly. She sat up straight, her eyes closed. Taking deep, even breaths and clearing her mind, she proceeded to meditate.
Sesshoumaru followed the shrine maiden's scent trail to the dojo. He stopped as soon as he realized her smell was headed for her room. He pondered for a little. He was slightly curious as to what made a priestess different from a "normal" woman. Feeling that she would immediately sense his presence if he came by the door, he decided to peek through her window. Of course, the window was outside, so he exited the building and levitated himself to a tree near her window. He withdrew his aura, knowing that she could probably feel him within a certain radius, regardless of his approach. He sat down on a branch and gazed through the open window, scrutinizing her with his bright golden eyes. He noticed the silky hair floating in the breeze, her chest gently rising and falling with each breath, the way the moonlight illuminated her placid face and blue kimono.
He studied her aura. It was calm, strong, and pure. 'Pure. . . mochiron. . . she's a miko,' he chided himself silently. It swirled around her gently, pulsing with the strength of her spirit. Yet in the midst of the calm, sadness lightly tainted her aura, sadness mingled with longing and sorrow. He had the impression that she was quenching her pain with a large amount of effort. He vaguely wondered if he was the cause of her pain. 'Nonsense!' he snapped at himself, 'I did not do anything to hurt her.' He intently studied his twitching tail before returning his gaze to the raven- haired girl.
He watched as she suddenly scrunched up her face in thought. 'Evidently whatever she's thinking about is frustrating to her,' the demon lord mused. What he didn't know was that she was confused about him.
Kagome furrowed her brows in concentration and annoyance. Sesshoumaru was so hard to understand! 'He supposedly hates ningen, takes in _ningen_ females, takes care of Rin, who is a _ningen_, is know for bloodlust, yet he hasn't done anything like that, rather, he seems to have endless patience, tries to hide the fact that he is a youkai in the face of a village of ningen. . . what is _wrong_ with this guy?' she pondered. 'He's an arrogant, pompous ass who refuses to let people get to him- could that be a defense to let everyone know he's the ruler? Perhaps. Yet why do I get the feeling that he's bored and lonely?' she paused in her thinking to let these newfound thoughts sink in. 'Maybe that's why he takes females like he does. . . and maybe that's why he has Rin. . .'
Suddenly she felt herself pitying him. She pitied him for his loneliness, his self-induced isolation. She snapped herself from these thoughts. 'I hate him!' she growled at herself, scowling. 'He made a whore of Ayume! I'll never forgive him!' Yet she could feel her resolve weakening. 'Damn my compassion!' she snarled at herself.
Sesshoumaru watched with mild amusement as different expressions flickered across her face. First was frustration, then pity, then anger. He idly wondered what was the cause. 'Maybe it is Inuyasha. . .' he thought, smirking. He imagined what Inuyasha would do when he found out his wench was missing, taken by his older half brother. The silly boy would go on a rampage, with feral scarlet eyes, fangs grown out, and deep crimson stripes on his face. The Lord of the Western Lands chuckled quietly to himself.
Kagome started when she heard a soft, deep chortle. She opened her eyes slowly, gazing calmly outside the window. Her soft brown eyes spotted glowing amber eyes floating in the dark shadows of a tree. She felt the urge to scream, but thanks to her priestess training, she restrained herself and managed to look only startled. Curiosity abruptly took hold of her, and she got up and leaned on the windowsill. "Inuyasha?" she whispered breathlessly, hoping it was her boyfriend.
Sesshoumaru frowned when he heard the name. He pushed himself up onto his feet and drifted towards her window. Kagome gasped and backed off a little when she realized it was not Inuyasha, but Sesshoumaru. She felt a sudden surge of anger rush through her and she narrowed her eyes. "What do _you_ want?" she demanded as she drew on her courage to stand her ground.
Sesshoumaru stepped on the floor with catlike grace. He arched an eyebrow at her grating question. "It _is_ my home, so I can go where I please," he replied stoically, internally enjoying the fact that she was practically fuming. 'Hai,' he thought crisply, 'I am a sadist.' He smirked.
Kagome felt her unease growing in leaps and bounds. His seemingly sinister grin only added to her discomfort. 'Why is he grinning like that?!?' she thought frantically, 'It's really creeping me out. . .' They stood staring at each other for several minutes. Finally her patience wore off and she suddenly burst out, "Will you _stop_ standing there grinning like a baka and say something?!?"
Before she knew it, a clawed hand grasped her slender neck and she was pressed against a wall with her feet dangling about a foot off the ground. Brittle gold eyes gazed unflinchingly at her. She clawed frantically at the unyielding hands. "Do _not_ snap at me, wench," he growled, "Or you will end up. . . how should I say? Injured quite badly. . ." He squeezed her neck a little, making her cough. She could distinctly feel the pointed tips of his claws pressing painfully into her flesh. Just a little more pressure, and he'd break the skin. Then he let go, not caring that she crumpled into a spineless ball against the wall. She gingerly sat up, rubbing her sore throat and glared at him. He returned the favor with an icy glare of his own.
He turned and paused by the door. "Oyasumi nasai, wench," he said without turning around. He left without another word.
Kagome sat on the ground, unmoving. Her mind was racing. 'He said oyasumi nasai? Did he just loose his head or something? Was there something I missed?' she thought, puzzled over his suddenly civil behavior. Shaking her head, she got up and changed into the provided sleepwear. She went to the nightstand and poured water into the silver washbasin. She cleaned herself, and then settled in bed. As sleep took her over, she curled up under the silken sheets, whispering, "Inuyasha. . ." as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Sesshoumaru slid into the hot spring, his bath. Steam billowed from the water's surface, condensing on any solid surface, including Sesshoumaru. His kimono and armor lay in a pile on the tiled floor. He sat on a seat in the water and watched his white tail drift on the surface of the water along with his long silver hair. He felt his muscles relaxing and he closed his eyes. He thought more about the girl. Her spirit, her indomitable spirit, was the reason he hadn't killed her already, along with his promise to tame her. Had she been any other person, he would have killed her in the blink of an eye, literally. Yet she perplexed him. And he, being Sesshoumaru, the one on top of all things, did _not_ like being confused about _anything_.
He thought of the fiery spirit she possessed. . . and what made her lash out at him. He knew that she knew she should be more respectful, but she was purposely being rude towards him. Of course, he wouldn't even _dream_ that _he_ was the cause of her ire. He assumed it was from some external stimulus, something that his habitat reminded her of, thus sparking her anger. But when not around him, she was depressed and lonely. When he was up in the tree, he could almost _taste_ her loneliness, despite the fact she had shoved it under calming thoughts. This he knew, deep down, that he was the cause of. He sighed and continued bathing in the scalding water.
~*~*~*~
Japanese Translations
Chikushou- damn
Gomen nasai- sorry
Youkai- demon
Oyasumi [nasai]- good night [formal]
Iie- no
Ningen- human
Ningen no baka- stupid/idiotic human
Mochiron- of course
Miko- priestess
Hai- yes
Baka- idiot
~*~*~*~
FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! This is the last chapter I shall be able to post since school is starting. *cries*
Sesshoumaru: *bored* Hmm. . . so when is Inuyasha coming?
Kagome: *huffily* Soon enough!
Rin: *picks flowers* Want some, Kagome-chan?
Kagome: Sure.
Sesshoumaru: Strange. *shakes head*
FT: *blinks at Sesshy* Nah!
Inuyasha: Where is that. . . that. . .!!!
FT: *idly* Temper, temper, Inu!
Inuyasha: Damn temper! Where is that asshole?!? *spots Sesshoumaru* DIE!!!
*Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fight*
FT: *sweatdrops* Well, review, onegai?
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