Disclaimer: Takahashi Rumiko owns Inuyasha, not me. *pout*
Author's Note: Although I love the tidbits of information you all give me on the Japanese, I just don't think I can keep up with it all. @_@ So, the Japanese is going to be greatly reduced (also, Japanese will only be used when a character is talking). I'll only use words that need no translating on my part. To those of you learned with the language, I admire and envy you.
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thoughts
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 4: Meeting the Demon Within
Kagome gazed after the demon lord's retreating figure before she shrugged and prepared herself a bowl of rice porridge for breakfast. Upon finishing, she remembered the materials she had collected in the forest and retraced her steps outside to collect them. By now they were dry enough to hang, having been left outside to bask in the warm sunlight. Gathering everything, including the forgotten weapon, she strode to her room and set down the armful. With an innovative mind, she used her hair jewelry and somehow managed to hang the herbs and roots about her bedchamber, embellishing the bare white walls and causing the room to smell strongly like a shrine. She hummed quietly to herself, her hands busily working while her mind drifted. Inuyasha. Okaa-san. Souta. Shippou. Sango. Miroku. Kirara. She missed all of them. Her heart filled with despondency. A year. An entire year of waiting to see them. Unknown to her conscious self, a tear slid down a porcelain cheek, leaving a shiny trail in its wake.
In his study, Sesshoumaru glanced up from reading a scroll to curiously sniff the air. It smelled. . . different. More plantlike. He snorted. 'Just what in the seven _hells_ is that wench up to now? She is making my home _stink_!' he thought irritably as he rolled up the scroll and set it in the pile on the corner of his desk. He stood up and stretched before sliding the door open and heading for the teen's room. The smell grew thicker and thicker, and Sesshoumaru almost gagged as his nose was so sensitive. Resisting the urge to pinch his nose, he flicked away the water welling up in his eyes. He reached her door and shoved it open. The full strength of the herbs hit him like a battering ram in the stomach, yet he stood firm. His eyes, although watering, were bright with annoyance directed at Kagome.
Kagome spun around the moment she heard the door open. Her eyes widened at the sight of the aggravated Lord of the Western Lands. She stubbornly willed away her fear and replaced it with her usual anger directed towards him. She glared coldly at him; she opened her mouth to say what he was doing when he cut her off.
"What are you doing to my home, wench?" he growled. He watched as her jaw clenched and her lips pressed themselves into a thin line. She considered the words tumbling in her mind before she spoke.
"I am drying these herbs and roots," she explained stiffly, gesturing to the upside down hanging leaves and roots. "Each of these combined are able to make different ointments and creams I can use as medications and potions."
He eyed the strings of vegetation draping the walls of her room; they were a wondrously strange décor for the chamber. He did not want to have to smell this every day, and his nose wrinkled up at the mere thought. His amber eyes settled on the girl once more. "Miko," he ground out, "Take these things and hang them elsewhere. I will not tolerate you contaminating my home."
Kagome blinked before retaliating. "Then where should I hang them, my lord?" she asked, sarcasm heavily drenching each word, "In your lordship's bedchamber?"
Sesshoumaru snarled. "I do not tolerate insolence either, wench," he snapped, taking a threatening step towards her. He could smell the distinct scent of fear radiating off her and savored every bit of it, despite the overwhelming herbal fragrances. He took another step towards her, and another, each one coupled by a retreating step on Kagome's part. Soon enough he had her up against a wall. She stiffened as she realized there was no more space to retain the distance between the demon and her, and he was steadily drawing nearer. She mustered up her courage and cocked her head back, her chin jutting proudly out, burning brown eyes locked on his. A look of defiance, one that meant she would never surrender. That same independent spirit Sesshoumaru wanted to break.
Kagome organized her thoughts. She feared him; no doubts there. She hated him. But now, she wasn't so sure. Not after getting to know Rin. She recalled the time she spent in the fields with the child.
*Flashback*
"Rin-chan?"
The girl glanced at the speaker as she skipped happily. "Hai, Kagome- chan?"
The teen looked thoughtful; her eyes were somewhat unfocused as she gazed at the grass covering the path they were traveling. Kagome brought her eyes up to Rin's. "Why do you live with Sesshoumaru?"
"It's Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-chan," the eight year old said.
"All right, Sesshoumaru-sama," she corrected. 'Just to please her, I guess. . .'
"Well, Rin used to live in a village full of people. Rin had parents. Then bad people attacked the village. They killed Rin's parents. They killed everyone in the village. Rin lived. Rin didn't speak. Rin helped Sesshoumaru-sama when he was hurt. Sesshoumaru-sama didn't want Rin's help. Rin helped anyways. Then Rin got killed by wolves." During her short narration, her face had fallen. But it automatically brightened with these next words: "But then Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin!"
Kagome gawked. 'Sesshoumaru actually. . . _saved_ this girl? But doesn't he. . . hate humans?' Her head spun madly as she tried to make sense of the new information. Rin gave her a perplexed look. Kagome shook her head, smiled, and walked on towards the field with her handful of vegetation.
*End flashback*
Sesshoumaru noticed the girl had seemingly zoned out. Her eyes were boring into his forehead, but without any heat in it. They were vacant, expressionless. He raised an eyebrow.
"You know I could kill you before your scream reaches your lips?" he asked in a hushed voice that carried clearly in the still (and, to Sesshoumaru's nose, stinky) air of the room. She started out of her trance. He was pleased to see her flinch, but was dismayed by the fact that she still stood with that seemingly unbreakable pride. He slowly inched towards her until his bangs lightly brushed hers. His solemn amber eyes never strayed from their contact with her brown ones.
He abruptly backed off, growling too low for Kagome to hear. He had heard the rapid beating of her heart, the roaring of her blood through her veins. Her breath came in short pants and she was extremely tense. His keen sense of smell had picked up on her scent, entwined with no small amount of fear. These observations in turn quickened the demon blood running in him; made him feel more like a predator closing in on its prey. His tail flicked in eager anticipation; his eyes colored a startling blood red. A deep, feral growl rumbled from his throat as a knowing, sly grin crept across his face.
Kagome stiffened as she pressed her backside against the wall. She knew what was coming, after being with Inuyasha through good moods and bad. The transformation, for Inuyasha at least, was into a full-blooded demon. Against her better judgment and reason, Kagome fled. She rushed out of the open doors, her footsteps pattering frantically on the polished marble floors of the halls. She was frightened, yes. But she half knew what to expect. What she didn't know was what Sesshoumaru would do, nor what animal he would change into. She knew from experience with past demons that each acted instinctively according to what animal species they transformed into. She could somewhat predict a dog, for Inuyasha was, of course, a half dog demon. But in her present frenzied state, her mind could not even form a coherent sentence.
The resonating howl let loose a torrent of panic within her mind. On instinct alone, for now her mind was focused solely on survival, she pushed herself to run as fast and as hard as she could. She didn't care where. . . just as long as she got away from. . . it. She turned down multiple corners and ran up and down several flights of stairs, not caring about the stitch that was biting painfully into her side nor the burning sensation in her legs. There was the thunderous pounding of feet somewhere in the castle; no doubt the demon was intent on finding her, and possibly killing her. Suddenly it stopped, all was silent. Kagome pressed herself against a wall as she turned a corner and clutched her chest, striving with desperation to calm the strident, rapid beating of her heart and the heavy puffs of her breathing. She peeked around a corner, her eyes flitting to each adjoining passageway. She could hear the deafening roar of the blood pounding away in her ears in the otherwise silent castle.
The silence worried her greatly. Kagome knew she was quite a powerful priestess in her own right, for she had fought and survived multiple battles. But how would she fare against someone as powerful as the Great Demon of the West? A picture flashed in her mind- she, Kagome, lying in a bloody, mutilated heap at the feet of Sesshoumaru. She shivered and forcefully batted the idea away. She wouldn't die! She still had her responsibilities to her village, even though she was far away. She had to go back at the end of the year to protect the village and her family. But in her absence, she was sure Inuyasha would protect them while she was away. And she had to guard the Shikon no Tama as well. She couldn't just yet! She stretched her senses out. When she was only able to sense Jaken and Rin, she became even more anxious.
A hot breath on the back of her neck made her body paralyze in terror. She knew it was him. . . Sesshoumaru, in his true demon form. A purr close to her ear made her whip around, only to see Sesshoumaru, in his humanoid form, standing _extremely_ close to her. He seemed indifferent, as usual. She jumped at the close proximity of their bodies and pressed up against the wall (again), still quite shaken. A glint of amusement shone in his eyes as he backed off a bit.
Kagome's fury flared up, consuming her previous trepidation. Her eyes blazed brightly. "Sesshoumaru," she ground out, her fisted hands trembling at her sides, "That was absolutely _despicable_." Her cheeks flushed with her ire.
"It was interesting," the demon lord corrected coolly, "You reacted better than all those other bitches. They screamed their heads off and ran as though they were chicken with no heads. They most often would run in circles. At least you had the sense to remain silent. What you could have done, however, was to withdraw your aura. Since you are a miko, you stand out all the more." He gracefully folded his arms across his chest and waited for her response.
Slowly, Kagome's rational mind began to kick in. His words faintly registered in her mind. She suddenly shook herself and gazed heatedly at him. "You. . . you _planned_ this?!?" she shrieked. She glared at him and noted the tenseness of his body despite the relaxed position, as though prepared for any possible threat. She steeled herself in mind, body, and spirit as well. She wouldn't be caught unawares. Not again. . . not after what just happened. This time, if he did it again, she would strike out with her priestess powers.
Sesshoumaru grinned wickedly at her. "Of course I planned it," he replied calmly, "It is how I've evaluated every bitch I've had in the past." His tail twitched in amusement. "And so far, you have emerged the best of them. I congratulate you," he sneered.
Kagome's anger weaseled its way beyond the clutches of her long trained temper control. Sayonara, rationality! Unknowingly she gathered the cerulean mist in her palms. They danced on her fingertips, sparkling with unbelievable intensity. Sesshoumaru eyed her warily. Amusement was lost to the tension that crackled in the air between them.
The friction broke abruptly as Sesshoumaru felt something snuggle up against his legs. Swiftly sliding a glance down, he found Rin hugging his legs, eyes closed, mouth in a content smile. The brittle shine of the demon lord's gold eyes softened at the sight.
Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding during her face- off with Sesshoumaru. As soon as he noticed Rin he had broken the heated eye contact with her. She looked down at her hands and finally noticed her purifying powers curling about her hands. With a small squeak she hastily withdrew the magic, lest she did something regrettable.
With a relieved sigh, she once again gazed at the Lord of the Western Lands and his charge. How utterly different they were; yet how well they fit together! Kagome almost heaved a sigh at the thought. If only that were that true with Inuyasha. Sadness clawed at her heart, and Kagome bowed her head to keep the other two from seeing the tears that had sprung into her eyes. With a mumbled excuse she turned and fled to the relative safety of the back gardens.
Rin and Sesshoumaru watched the young shrine maiden disappear around a corner. Rin, still clutching Sesshoumaru's leg, cocked her head up quizzically to look at him. The dog demon met the child's gaze. "Why did Kagome-chan leave?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
Sesshoumaru looked back in the direction in which Kagome had left. He sniffed the air slightly, and was slightly surprised to smell salt. Tears. "I don't know, Rin," he lied. Closer analysis revealed sorrow and yearning. For what, he did not know. But as his curiosity was aroused, he was determined to find out.
Gently detaching Rin from his lower appendages, he swiftly and silently trailed the girl. Rin followed, skipping and chattering happily about everything and nothing. Mentally Sesshoumaru wondered how he ever ended up being stuck with this human girl that talked to no end. He wondered how such energy could be contained within the frail body of a human, much less a girl. An infant compared to him. Rin never exhausted easily; she kept up with him during his rounds through the Western Lands. Even the bitches he'd brought home would go one single round with him and then stay tucked away in the luxury of the castle for the remainder of the year. Each and every one complained of the hardships endured, the danger that inevitably haunted them while out in the wilds. Yet Rin had never complained. She would complain of hunger, yes, but never tiredness. Sesshoumaru had decided she was an odd human child. Stranger than average human children. He concluded that she was indeed human, but a different, more evolved species of human.
With that settled, Sesshoumaru continued on towards the back gardens, Rin in tow. He withdrew his aura as he silently mused over the causes of the priestess' tears.
Kagome sat on the boulder, her long hair trailing loosely down her back. The noonday sun was warm; the day, pleasant. She had pulled her knees to her chest, her arms draped casually around them. She faced east, her eyes distant and unfocused, glazed with hidden pain. Yet her face betrayed nothing, her face was cool, placid, expressionless. Suddenly a thought hit her, and she mentally whacked herself. She could see her friends and family, despite the distance. Her telepathic ability, a rarity in itself, could be amplified by her priestess powers. 'Why didn't I think of that before?' she thought, thoroughly annoyed with herself.
The priestess closed her eyes and settled into a meditative position. Relaxing and taking a deep breath, she straightened her back as she drew on her master's teachings as she used her mind's eye to seek out those she loved. Images flashed before her closed eyes; the fields, the forests. And then, the village. Her home.
The shrine appeared, and her mother came into view. She sat on a straw mat, humming gently to herself, fingers nimbly crafting another silk kimono. The cloth was a lustrous silver, the embroidery on the edges a soft blue. Kagome's mother sighed and glanced up at the ceiling for a moment. But in that moment, Kagome saw unshed tears glisten in her warm brown eyes. Kagome's heart ached with the knowledge that she was the cause of it.
The priestess' mind withdrew from the shrine and sought out her nine-year- old brother, the ever-active Souta. He was out in the fields, playing a mad game of tag with the other village boys. His cheeks were tinged with a healthy, ruddy hue, and there was dirt smeared all over his face and clothes. He laughed happily as a boy of ten tagged him and rapidly retreated. Souta tore after him, making the other boys scatter.
The scene moved on to Sango, Kirara, Miroku, and Shippou. They were in the midst of yet another battle, fighting a hoard of centipede demons that daily ravaged a small town. The Hiraikotsu flew gracefully in its deadly arc; Miroku's staff flashed as he parried the swiping, poisonous claws of a centipede demon. Shippou clung to Sango, using Fox Fire every now and then if a demon came too close for comfort. Kirara was slashing at every demon within the range of her claws and fangs. They seemed to be faring well enough.
Kagome now sought out Inuyasha. Surprisingly, for her at least, she couldn't detect him at all. Not a trace as to where he could be. Kagome opened her eyes, her brows furrowed in anxiety. 'He couldn't have died, could he?!?' she thought worriedly. She chastised herself for that thought. Inuyasha wasn't _that_ weak! But _where_ could he have gone?
Rin was about to shout out Kagome's name when she felt a large hand slip gently but firmly over her mouth. She gazed up questioningly at its owner. Sesshoumaru motioned for her to be quiet, to which she immediately complied. He lifted his hand from the girl's lips and gazed out at the priestess. She seemed to be deep in meditation. Her eyes opened as her brows knit together in concern. She sighed as she arranged herself in a more comfortable position on the boulder.
Sesshoumaru carefully monitored her aura. There was an overwhelming amount of sadness, mixed with homesickness, longing. And then he felt a strange emotion emanating from her. What it was he could not quite identify. He watched her for a while, eyes narrowed slightly in concentration.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" came a quiet voice. Sesshoumaru snapped out of his reverie and gazed down at his ward.
"Nani, Rin?" he asked.
"Ne, Sesshoumaru-sama, can Rin go and play with Kagome-chan now?" asked the little girl.
"Rin, didn't I tell you already?"
"Gomen, Sesshoumaru-sama," was the soft reply.
'Well, you can go now."
With a smile Rin bound off towards the priestess, giggling cheerfully as she crossed the sun kissed meadow towards Kagome.
Sesshoumaru jumped into a tree, effectively shielding himself from view as he observed the child and the priestess.
~*~*~*~
FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! Wow, school is really sucking away my time! @_@
Sesshoumaru: *snickers* I love scaring people.
Kagome: *grumbles* Of course you would, you sadist!
Sesshoumaru: I'll take that as a compliment.
Kagome: *glares* I hate you.
Sesshoumaru: *flatly* And I to you.
FT: *clears throat nervously* Well! Aren't we the happy family? -_-;;;
Rin: Hai!
FT: *smiles at Rin and gives her a hug* I love you too, Rin-chan! Okay, I know many of you (through your reviews and AIM) have been wondering why all the human girls Sesshy chooses become prostitutes. I will explain in a later chapter, okay? Oh, and whoever is the unchosen one, you probably had a finger spasm there, ne? ^_~ Review!
~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Although I love the tidbits of information you all give me on the Japanese, I just don't think I can keep up with it all. @_@ So, the Japanese is going to be greatly reduced (also, Japanese will only be used when a character is talking). I'll only use words that need no translating on my part. To those of you learned with the language, I admire and envy you.
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thoughts
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 4: Meeting the Demon Within
Kagome gazed after the demon lord's retreating figure before she shrugged and prepared herself a bowl of rice porridge for breakfast. Upon finishing, she remembered the materials she had collected in the forest and retraced her steps outside to collect them. By now they were dry enough to hang, having been left outside to bask in the warm sunlight. Gathering everything, including the forgotten weapon, she strode to her room and set down the armful. With an innovative mind, she used her hair jewelry and somehow managed to hang the herbs and roots about her bedchamber, embellishing the bare white walls and causing the room to smell strongly like a shrine. She hummed quietly to herself, her hands busily working while her mind drifted. Inuyasha. Okaa-san. Souta. Shippou. Sango. Miroku. Kirara. She missed all of them. Her heart filled with despondency. A year. An entire year of waiting to see them. Unknown to her conscious self, a tear slid down a porcelain cheek, leaving a shiny trail in its wake.
In his study, Sesshoumaru glanced up from reading a scroll to curiously sniff the air. It smelled. . . different. More plantlike. He snorted. 'Just what in the seven _hells_ is that wench up to now? She is making my home _stink_!' he thought irritably as he rolled up the scroll and set it in the pile on the corner of his desk. He stood up and stretched before sliding the door open and heading for the teen's room. The smell grew thicker and thicker, and Sesshoumaru almost gagged as his nose was so sensitive. Resisting the urge to pinch his nose, he flicked away the water welling up in his eyes. He reached her door and shoved it open. The full strength of the herbs hit him like a battering ram in the stomach, yet he stood firm. His eyes, although watering, were bright with annoyance directed at Kagome.
Kagome spun around the moment she heard the door open. Her eyes widened at the sight of the aggravated Lord of the Western Lands. She stubbornly willed away her fear and replaced it with her usual anger directed towards him. She glared coldly at him; she opened her mouth to say what he was doing when he cut her off.
"What are you doing to my home, wench?" he growled. He watched as her jaw clenched and her lips pressed themselves into a thin line. She considered the words tumbling in her mind before she spoke.
"I am drying these herbs and roots," she explained stiffly, gesturing to the upside down hanging leaves and roots. "Each of these combined are able to make different ointments and creams I can use as medications and potions."
He eyed the strings of vegetation draping the walls of her room; they were a wondrously strange décor for the chamber. He did not want to have to smell this every day, and his nose wrinkled up at the mere thought. His amber eyes settled on the girl once more. "Miko," he ground out, "Take these things and hang them elsewhere. I will not tolerate you contaminating my home."
Kagome blinked before retaliating. "Then where should I hang them, my lord?" she asked, sarcasm heavily drenching each word, "In your lordship's bedchamber?"
Sesshoumaru snarled. "I do not tolerate insolence either, wench," he snapped, taking a threatening step towards her. He could smell the distinct scent of fear radiating off her and savored every bit of it, despite the overwhelming herbal fragrances. He took another step towards her, and another, each one coupled by a retreating step on Kagome's part. Soon enough he had her up against a wall. She stiffened as she realized there was no more space to retain the distance between the demon and her, and he was steadily drawing nearer. She mustered up her courage and cocked her head back, her chin jutting proudly out, burning brown eyes locked on his. A look of defiance, one that meant she would never surrender. That same independent spirit Sesshoumaru wanted to break.
Kagome organized her thoughts. She feared him; no doubts there. She hated him. But now, she wasn't so sure. Not after getting to know Rin. She recalled the time she spent in the fields with the child.
*Flashback*
"Rin-chan?"
The girl glanced at the speaker as she skipped happily. "Hai, Kagome- chan?"
The teen looked thoughtful; her eyes were somewhat unfocused as she gazed at the grass covering the path they were traveling. Kagome brought her eyes up to Rin's. "Why do you live with Sesshoumaru?"
"It's Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-chan," the eight year old said.
"All right, Sesshoumaru-sama," she corrected. 'Just to please her, I guess. . .'
"Well, Rin used to live in a village full of people. Rin had parents. Then bad people attacked the village. They killed Rin's parents. They killed everyone in the village. Rin lived. Rin didn't speak. Rin helped Sesshoumaru-sama when he was hurt. Sesshoumaru-sama didn't want Rin's help. Rin helped anyways. Then Rin got killed by wolves." During her short narration, her face had fallen. But it automatically brightened with these next words: "But then Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin!"
Kagome gawked. 'Sesshoumaru actually. . . _saved_ this girl? But doesn't he. . . hate humans?' Her head spun madly as she tried to make sense of the new information. Rin gave her a perplexed look. Kagome shook her head, smiled, and walked on towards the field with her handful of vegetation.
*End flashback*
Sesshoumaru noticed the girl had seemingly zoned out. Her eyes were boring into his forehead, but without any heat in it. They were vacant, expressionless. He raised an eyebrow.
"You know I could kill you before your scream reaches your lips?" he asked in a hushed voice that carried clearly in the still (and, to Sesshoumaru's nose, stinky) air of the room. She started out of her trance. He was pleased to see her flinch, but was dismayed by the fact that she still stood with that seemingly unbreakable pride. He slowly inched towards her until his bangs lightly brushed hers. His solemn amber eyes never strayed from their contact with her brown ones.
He abruptly backed off, growling too low for Kagome to hear. He had heard the rapid beating of her heart, the roaring of her blood through her veins. Her breath came in short pants and she was extremely tense. His keen sense of smell had picked up on her scent, entwined with no small amount of fear. These observations in turn quickened the demon blood running in him; made him feel more like a predator closing in on its prey. His tail flicked in eager anticipation; his eyes colored a startling blood red. A deep, feral growl rumbled from his throat as a knowing, sly grin crept across his face.
Kagome stiffened as she pressed her backside against the wall. She knew what was coming, after being with Inuyasha through good moods and bad. The transformation, for Inuyasha at least, was into a full-blooded demon. Against her better judgment and reason, Kagome fled. She rushed out of the open doors, her footsteps pattering frantically on the polished marble floors of the halls. She was frightened, yes. But she half knew what to expect. What she didn't know was what Sesshoumaru would do, nor what animal he would change into. She knew from experience with past demons that each acted instinctively according to what animal species they transformed into. She could somewhat predict a dog, for Inuyasha was, of course, a half dog demon. But in her present frenzied state, her mind could not even form a coherent sentence.
The resonating howl let loose a torrent of panic within her mind. On instinct alone, for now her mind was focused solely on survival, she pushed herself to run as fast and as hard as she could. She didn't care where. . . just as long as she got away from. . . it. She turned down multiple corners and ran up and down several flights of stairs, not caring about the stitch that was biting painfully into her side nor the burning sensation in her legs. There was the thunderous pounding of feet somewhere in the castle; no doubt the demon was intent on finding her, and possibly killing her. Suddenly it stopped, all was silent. Kagome pressed herself against a wall as she turned a corner and clutched her chest, striving with desperation to calm the strident, rapid beating of her heart and the heavy puffs of her breathing. She peeked around a corner, her eyes flitting to each adjoining passageway. She could hear the deafening roar of the blood pounding away in her ears in the otherwise silent castle.
The silence worried her greatly. Kagome knew she was quite a powerful priestess in her own right, for she had fought and survived multiple battles. But how would she fare against someone as powerful as the Great Demon of the West? A picture flashed in her mind- she, Kagome, lying in a bloody, mutilated heap at the feet of Sesshoumaru. She shivered and forcefully batted the idea away. She wouldn't die! She still had her responsibilities to her village, even though she was far away. She had to go back at the end of the year to protect the village and her family. But in her absence, she was sure Inuyasha would protect them while she was away. And she had to guard the Shikon no Tama as well. She couldn't just yet! She stretched her senses out. When she was only able to sense Jaken and Rin, she became even more anxious.
A hot breath on the back of her neck made her body paralyze in terror. She knew it was him. . . Sesshoumaru, in his true demon form. A purr close to her ear made her whip around, only to see Sesshoumaru, in his humanoid form, standing _extremely_ close to her. He seemed indifferent, as usual. She jumped at the close proximity of their bodies and pressed up against the wall (again), still quite shaken. A glint of amusement shone in his eyes as he backed off a bit.
Kagome's fury flared up, consuming her previous trepidation. Her eyes blazed brightly. "Sesshoumaru," she ground out, her fisted hands trembling at her sides, "That was absolutely _despicable_." Her cheeks flushed with her ire.
"It was interesting," the demon lord corrected coolly, "You reacted better than all those other bitches. They screamed their heads off and ran as though they were chicken with no heads. They most often would run in circles. At least you had the sense to remain silent. What you could have done, however, was to withdraw your aura. Since you are a miko, you stand out all the more." He gracefully folded his arms across his chest and waited for her response.
Slowly, Kagome's rational mind began to kick in. His words faintly registered in her mind. She suddenly shook herself and gazed heatedly at him. "You. . . you _planned_ this?!?" she shrieked. She glared at him and noted the tenseness of his body despite the relaxed position, as though prepared for any possible threat. She steeled herself in mind, body, and spirit as well. She wouldn't be caught unawares. Not again. . . not after what just happened. This time, if he did it again, she would strike out with her priestess powers.
Sesshoumaru grinned wickedly at her. "Of course I planned it," he replied calmly, "It is how I've evaluated every bitch I've had in the past." His tail twitched in amusement. "And so far, you have emerged the best of them. I congratulate you," he sneered.
Kagome's anger weaseled its way beyond the clutches of her long trained temper control. Sayonara, rationality! Unknowingly she gathered the cerulean mist in her palms. They danced on her fingertips, sparkling with unbelievable intensity. Sesshoumaru eyed her warily. Amusement was lost to the tension that crackled in the air between them.
The friction broke abruptly as Sesshoumaru felt something snuggle up against his legs. Swiftly sliding a glance down, he found Rin hugging his legs, eyes closed, mouth in a content smile. The brittle shine of the demon lord's gold eyes softened at the sight.
Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding during her face- off with Sesshoumaru. As soon as he noticed Rin he had broken the heated eye contact with her. She looked down at her hands and finally noticed her purifying powers curling about her hands. With a small squeak she hastily withdrew the magic, lest she did something regrettable.
With a relieved sigh, she once again gazed at the Lord of the Western Lands and his charge. How utterly different they were; yet how well they fit together! Kagome almost heaved a sigh at the thought. If only that were that true with Inuyasha. Sadness clawed at her heart, and Kagome bowed her head to keep the other two from seeing the tears that had sprung into her eyes. With a mumbled excuse she turned and fled to the relative safety of the back gardens.
Rin and Sesshoumaru watched the young shrine maiden disappear around a corner. Rin, still clutching Sesshoumaru's leg, cocked her head up quizzically to look at him. The dog demon met the child's gaze. "Why did Kagome-chan leave?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
Sesshoumaru looked back in the direction in which Kagome had left. He sniffed the air slightly, and was slightly surprised to smell salt. Tears. "I don't know, Rin," he lied. Closer analysis revealed sorrow and yearning. For what, he did not know. But as his curiosity was aroused, he was determined to find out.
Gently detaching Rin from his lower appendages, he swiftly and silently trailed the girl. Rin followed, skipping and chattering happily about everything and nothing. Mentally Sesshoumaru wondered how he ever ended up being stuck with this human girl that talked to no end. He wondered how such energy could be contained within the frail body of a human, much less a girl. An infant compared to him. Rin never exhausted easily; she kept up with him during his rounds through the Western Lands. Even the bitches he'd brought home would go one single round with him and then stay tucked away in the luxury of the castle for the remainder of the year. Each and every one complained of the hardships endured, the danger that inevitably haunted them while out in the wilds. Yet Rin had never complained. She would complain of hunger, yes, but never tiredness. Sesshoumaru had decided she was an odd human child. Stranger than average human children. He concluded that she was indeed human, but a different, more evolved species of human.
With that settled, Sesshoumaru continued on towards the back gardens, Rin in tow. He withdrew his aura as he silently mused over the causes of the priestess' tears.
Kagome sat on the boulder, her long hair trailing loosely down her back. The noonday sun was warm; the day, pleasant. She had pulled her knees to her chest, her arms draped casually around them. She faced east, her eyes distant and unfocused, glazed with hidden pain. Yet her face betrayed nothing, her face was cool, placid, expressionless. Suddenly a thought hit her, and she mentally whacked herself. She could see her friends and family, despite the distance. Her telepathic ability, a rarity in itself, could be amplified by her priestess powers. 'Why didn't I think of that before?' she thought, thoroughly annoyed with herself.
The priestess closed her eyes and settled into a meditative position. Relaxing and taking a deep breath, she straightened her back as she drew on her master's teachings as she used her mind's eye to seek out those she loved. Images flashed before her closed eyes; the fields, the forests. And then, the village. Her home.
The shrine appeared, and her mother came into view. She sat on a straw mat, humming gently to herself, fingers nimbly crafting another silk kimono. The cloth was a lustrous silver, the embroidery on the edges a soft blue. Kagome's mother sighed and glanced up at the ceiling for a moment. But in that moment, Kagome saw unshed tears glisten in her warm brown eyes. Kagome's heart ached with the knowledge that she was the cause of it.
The priestess' mind withdrew from the shrine and sought out her nine-year- old brother, the ever-active Souta. He was out in the fields, playing a mad game of tag with the other village boys. His cheeks were tinged with a healthy, ruddy hue, and there was dirt smeared all over his face and clothes. He laughed happily as a boy of ten tagged him and rapidly retreated. Souta tore after him, making the other boys scatter.
The scene moved on to Sango, Kirara, Miroku, and Shippou. They were in the midst of yet another battle, fighting a hoard of centipede demons that daily ravaged a small town. The Hiraikotsu flew gracefully in its deadly arc; Miroku's staff flashed as he parried the swiping, poisonous claws of a centipede demon. Shippou clung to Sango, using Fox Fire every now and then if a demon came too close for comfort. Kirara was slashing at every demon within the range of her claws and fangs. They seemed to be faring well enough.
Kagome now sought out Inuyasha. Surprisingly, for her at least, she couldn't detect him at all. Not a trace as to where he could be. Kagome opened her eyes, her brows furrowed in anxiety. 'He couldn't have died, could he?!?' she thought worriedly. She chastised herself for that thought. Inuyasha wasn't _that_ weak! But _where_ could he have gone?
Rin was about to shout out Kagome's name when she felt a large hand slip gently but firmly over her mouth. She gazed up questioningly at its owner. Sesshoumaru motioned for her to be quiet, to which she immediately complied. He lifted his hand from the girl's lips and gazed out at the priestess. She seemed to be deep in meditation. Her eyes opened as her brows knit together in concern. She sighed as she arranged herself in a more comfortable position on the boulder.
Sesshoumaru carefully monitored her aura. There was an overwhelming amount of sadness, mixed with homesickness, longing. And then he felt a strange emotion emanating from her. What it was he could not quite identify. He watched her for a while, eyes narrowed slightly in concentration.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" came a quiet voice. Sesshoumaru snapped out of his reverie and gazed down at his ward.
"Nani, Rin?" he asked.
"Ne, Sesshoumaru-sama, can Rin go and play with Kagome-chan now?" asked the little girl.
"Rin, didn't I tell you already?"
"Gomen, Sesshoumaru-sama," was the soft reply.
'Well, you can go now."
With a smile Rin bound off towards the priestess, giggling cheerfully as she crossed the sun kissed meadow towards Kagome.
Sesshoumaru jumped into a tree, effectively shielding himself from view as he observed the child and the priestess.
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FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! Wow, school is really sucking away my time! @_@
Sesshoumaru: *snickers* I love scaring people.
Kagome: *grumbles* Of course you would, you sadist!
Sesshoumaru: I'll take that as a compliment.
Kagome: *glares* I hate you.
Sesshoumaru: *flatly* And I to you.
FT: *clears throat nervously* Well! Aren't we the happy family? -_-;;;
Rin: Hai!
FT: *smiles at Rin and gives her a hug* I love you too, Rin-chan! Okay, I know many of you (through your reviews and AIM) have been wondering why all the human girls Sesshy chooses become prostitutes. I will explain in a later chapter, okay? Oh, and whoever is the unchosen one, you probably had a finger spasm there, ne? ^_~ Review!
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