Disclaimer: Finally I've got you *ties Inuyasha to a chair then looks back towards audience* See I told you I could do it. *chair topples over behind her, she turns* Hey wait where'd he go. Never mind I guess it's true you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Twisted Love
Chapter Five
Following Shadows
Sesshoumaru quickened his pace. He was almost there and it was getting late he needed to make sure all his miserable little servants had done there work and that Kagome had managed to make it home before him. She was always very careful about this and almost always made sure he was absent when she returned. He wanted to catch her one of these days sneaking back through the woods, make her tell him where she'd been but he would know soon enough thanks to his old friend.
He'd arrived at the small cabin dark and foreboding on the edge of the forest. He burst in the door never being the kind to knock. Inside the man sat on a soft cushiony chair brooding quietly a black dog whimpering at his feat. Without turning to face him the man addressed Sesshoumaru. "Any word about the Shikon no Tama? I heard that perhaps a certain miko might have it." Sesshoumaru didn't answer right away. He'd heard the rumors about Kikyo having the jewel but he knew it wasn't true. Before she'd become a miko she'd already had these powers that people were just now noticing. He was skeptical so kept his mind open for other possibilities.
"Yes I've heard the same, it may be just a rumor who knows, I myself wouldn't bet on it being true." He wondered why Niraku would mention that. He was the one who was supposed to be keeping track of its whereabouts. He ignored it wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. The shaman's power was inferior to his own but the man was creepy and there was no point in staying here any longer than was necessary. "Niraku." He addressed the man. "I want you to do a favor for me."
He turned, his black wavy hair tumbling down as he swept it off from the back of the chair. His face was young and handsome but lined with the permanent scars of evil his face never being able to contort its crooked features into a decent smile of joy. "What kind of favor?" He inquired rising from his chair with practiced ease. Snapping his fingers deftly he beckoned for the dog to leave holding open the door to the thick pitch night.
How could he say this without losing face? Sesshoumaru had never admitted his weakness for human women. It wasn't normal for any self respecting inu youki to fall for a human, weak inept and pathetic in their own right, but it was in his blood as his father had had the same frailty choosing that human woman to bear his second son. And look how that traitorous boy turned out. But he had no choice; Niraku was the only one he trusted to get the job done. He cleared his throat loudly trying to gather his courage. "I want you to trail someone for me. A human girl Kagome she's one of my servants. You remember her, the one we took from the shrine when her family couldn't give me the Shikon. I want to know where she goes on her days off." Maybe Niraku wouldn't suspect anything maybe he would look past all the evidence and just agree.
No such luck. He underestimated the conniving shaman, apparently not all humans were as stupid as he supposed. He waited on his decision watching the man's finger bounce rhythmically to his breathing as he tapped them up and down in annoyance. "I am not going to go and waste my time chasing some fantasy for you. Why don't you get off your lazy ass and do it yourself." A heavy growl escaped his throat at the insult but still he sat waiting for him to finish what he was saying. "I have enough problems trying to figure out if little old ladies are hiding the Shikon no Tama from me right under my nose." Niraku stopped suddenly fighting the urge to clap a hand over his mouth. He'd practically let it all out. How could he have been so irresponsible, so negligent? He would have to come up with a good excuse for that one.
"What's that supposed to mean I thought you didn't know anything about the jewel." Sesshoumaru was furious. That insolent little bastard who did he think he was trying to hide this from him. "Who, who is this lady you speak of."
He had to act fast. He brushed his hands across his shirt trying to come off as nonchalant as possible. "It was only a figure of speech your Lordship don't go and get your talons all tangled up yet. And I don't know anything about it. Why else would I question you about Kikyo?" He kept his composure wondering if Sesshoumaru was vain enough to lie about the Kikyo thing. He could be wrong about Keade having it and he needed to be sure. "Look, Sesshoumaru I'll make a deal with you. I'll trail your precious little Kagome but you have to give me all the information you have about Kikyo." If he was wrong and Kikyo did have the jewel things could get disastrous. At the moment it was whispered among the lowly thieves in the alleyways that her power could already rival his own. The wind hissed in his ear as though the farthest reaches of her power could still seek him out and follow his every move. With the added strength of the Shikon no Tama her energy would dominate all others. He was helpless against that kind of power. He needed to know.
"Perhaps I can accommodate that." Sesshoumaru commented slyly he'd get what he wanted out of this. "But I will tell you nothing until you have watched her for at least one day and reported on your findings."
He was in the clear. "Yes of course my Lord that will all be done." He watched as Sesshoumaru turned with a flourish his cape whipping through the silence as he marched out the door thinking he had been the smarter one.
He didn't think it had gone all that bad. At least now he would get what he would find out where Kagome was sneaking off to and all he had to do was tell Niraku a little information about Kikyo. He should be getting that information soon if his spy would hurry up. Tomorrow was time for their scheduled meeting, but he was unsure if she would even be there she'd been abscent the date of their first and he hadn't heard from her since. He wondered if something were wrong. Had something happened to that little worm Kagura? He doubted it, she may not have been his type but he admired her skill with the wind and even with her powers Kikyo would have to struggle to defeat that. He would send Miroku and Sango to go find her and retrieve her information.
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The floor creaked softly as he paced back and forth over it, thinking. Something was up with Keade and Kagome seemed very agitated lately. He didn't understand what either of them had to be uptight about. First he would have to find out what was wrong with Keade, he wouldn't push the issue with Kagome he figured she would tell him what was bothering her when the time was right. But Keade was acting out of character. He'd never known her to be so flustered over a purse as she had been earlier. He'd always known he to be more of the type to curse them under her breath believing that the gods would see to their punishment. He didn't know what to make of it and he'd been thinking about it for far too long by now. He walked over to his bed hopping up onto it. He laid down on his belly looking up through the window. The moon was a small sliver in the sky the large eye of light yearning to close in sleep itself. Almost time for the new moon. He hated those night, feeling so vulnerable and weak. He wondered if all humans felt that way, knowing their life could slip away so quickly if they weren't careful. He lived in a traitorous time, but at the moment he was glad for the lull in conflicts.
He rolled over to lay on his back. Tomorrow Kagome said she would be able to stay with him for a whole day. She'd said that her friend's family had come to visit and she'd felt like she was in the way after a while. A whole day. It seemed long to him he hadn't been with her for a whole day in weeks. It was more like short peeks of a few hours or so, never really long enough in his opinion and he was grateful for the chance to spend this kind of time with her. He was tired from all the work Keade had assigned him to presuming that he would love to do it. Sometimes that woman assumed to much responsibility for other people and not enough for herself. He closed his eyes a yawn creeping past him. He would deal with he slyness later but for now he was going to sleep.
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Sango started at a rough knocking on her bedroom door. It was far too early to start her chores and she wondered who needed to talk to her so urgently that it couldn't wait until she was properly awake. "I'm coming. Hold your horses." She called groggily rising from her bed and wrapping herself in a thick robe. Opening the door she all but shouted her guts out to shocked figure of Kagome framed in the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry Kagome didn't mean to shout." She stifled a yawn. "What do you want so early in the morning?"
"Sorry to bother you Sango it's just that, well…"She stumbled over her words. "I was frightened yesterday. Sesshoumaru was watching me when I went to see Inuyasha. He followed me all the way to the edge of the forest. Luckily he didn't go down the same path. But I wanted to ask you, if happen to you see him following me you have to keep him away from m. If he finds out about Inuyasha..." She gave Sango a worried look twisting her hands around eachother nervously. She truly hoped she'd only imagined that Sesshoumaru had followed her. If he found out about them it would be the last time she ever saw Inuyasha not to mention most likely the last time she saw the light of day. She shivered moving her hands faster as she threaded them in and out of one another.
Sango felt bad for Kagome. She didn't even know the half of it, but telling her about the two demons being brothers would only make things worse. She could watch out for her sidetrack the Lord, but she couldn't keep him from finding out that much she knew was inevitable. "I'll watch him for you Kagome. Just go and see Inuyasha. You don't want to waste you day off sitting here in this god-foresaken place."
"Thanks Sango." She gave her friend a warm hug before rushing out of the room and out of the mansion. She slowed her pace and headed for the forest.
She felt a little guilty for going off like this and enjoying a whole day away fro that hell hole. Last night she'd offered to do Sango's chores since she owed her for the night she'd had dinner with Sesshoumaru. Of course Sango had refused brushing off Kagome's proposal. She'd insitisted deligently that Kagome needed a day off from all the stress she'd been putting on herself lately. Sango was always like that. Kagome thought ruefully. Often wanting to put others before herself even when it should have been the other way around in some cases. She was grateful that Sango had let her go she hadn't had a whole day to spend with Inuyasha in a long time. Still, she felt obligated to make up for Sango's missed day.
She reached the trees forgetting all about her squabble with Sango as she drifted over the path towards the clearing. The sun through dappled light through the mess of branches above her. It hit her spotting her skin with sheets of light here and there the rest of her lost in shadows. The trees hummed with the sweet lull of birdsong as the morning grew old. She was enthralled by the beauty of this place. To her it seemed magical and enchanting. Lost in her own imaginings ahe did not notice the ape man as he followed her through the trees.
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Niraku woke before the sun rose trudging over to Sesshoumaru's estate. He donned his usual ape mask and grey pelt. They were good camouflage and besides that he'd gotten used to wearing them. He reached the outskirts of the forest a safe distance from the large mansion. He resented the conniving Lord Sesshoumaru for making him do this but he needed to know about Kikyo. He feared that if she did have the jewel she would definitely come after him. He'd been the one who brought Sesshoumaru all those years ago to see her and Inuyasha in that pub. She had blamed it on him that she had lost Inuyasha "her one true love" as she'd called him. Too bad she'd run to Seshoumaru the moment he'd calmed down about the whole incident. That had all been so long ago but he was certain she hadn't forgot especially after Sesshoumaru had turned her away after he caught her trying to get with that foul hanyou behind his back all over again. Some people never change.
He shook his head his mind roving back to the present a he watched the house waiting for Kagome to make her escape.
He didn't need to wait long; as soon as the sun was up he saw he walk out of the house wearing a bluish green kimono extremely flattering on her shapely figure and a good color to go with her eyes. Whoa, what was he thinking supposed to watch the girl for Sesshoumaru nothing more. He watched her step sure footedly onto the path her stride crisp and well balanced. He shrunk into the shadows, as she grew closer. He heard the soft crunch of her thin shoes on the dusty path as she passed him turning along the curve of the path. Hiding himself deep in the shadows he pursued her from a safe distance behind.
He traced her steps as appeared to glide into a clearing near the center of the thick foliage. She stood in the clearing staring up at the treetops for several minutes muttering something to herself before traipsing off in a different direction down an unmarked trail through the trees.
She led him through the forest down the invisible trail. She knew where she was going her eyes looking straight ahead never once glancing down at the uneven ground nor stepping astray. He followed quickly not wanting to lose his way with the absence of a marked track and in this gloom he didn't consider it likely he would be able to find his own way around. He himself lived in through the forest but he had never been this far deep into it. The trees grew thick and towered above him. They were clustered tightly together and made him feel a little claustrophobic. He stopped as she approached another clearing, larger than the first and lit by blaring sunlight. He shielded his eyes as the light caught him off guard. Bringing down his hand he looked through the colors and dots spinning before his eyes to where Kagome stood in front of a small cabin. She walked up to the door slowly and purposefully knocking sharply. He waited as she did with baited breath to see who would open the door.
It took a long time for anything to happen but when it did Niraku watched wide eyed and open mouth in surprise. A lone hand pushed the door open followed by the tall young hanyou that he had seen one too many times before. He moved fluidly his hand passing from the door to aroud Kagome's thin form in one graceful maneuver. He swept her up into his strong arms embracing her tightly. She smiled sweetly at him as he backed away. He led her into the house gesturing for her to enter.
Niraku was livid with glee. Inuyasha would surely be dead this time. Taking Sesshoumaru's claim twice in a row. The Lord was never one to wait for three strikes two fouls and you were out. And in Inuyasha's unpleasant case he was long past due to be hitting the bench. He turned ready as ever to be the bearer of bad news and inform Sesshoumaru about the untimely event of his brother's second betrayal when he heard a yelp that sounded predominantly feminine sound from inside the cabin. He tried to suppress the urge to investigate and continued to head away from the clearing back into the crowded forest but as usual curiosity got the better of him. He scuttled across the clearing careful to duck low as he neared. He sidled up along side a window and with his back to the wall he rose alongside it carefully peering in through the fogged glass.
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Sango hurried about the house sweeping the floors her broom moving methodically as she swayed unconsciously to the sound of birdsong floating to her ears from the open window. She'd already done the dishes from Sesshoumaru's breakfast and her hands were still feeling the chill from the cold water of the stream where she'd gotten water for the horses. She stopped sweeping as she finished up with the room listening intently to the soft whistling of Miroku out in the garden. She walked over to the window setting down the broom carefully. She smiled as the warmth of the sun flooded over her. Staring across the lawn at Miroku, something she couldn't help, she vaguely wished that she were free. Free from this wretched servant's duty. She longed to jump through the window and grab Miroku by his dark violet cloak and yank him off into the forest away from this place. She loved being alone with him he was so caring and loving his emotions plain to her but sometimes when others were around she perceived him to be cold and heartless. It was only a front he put on to shield his true self she knew but it worried her to no end that he had truly gone for that fake scowl and cruel demeanor leaving her to fend for herself. For now he would always return from his stupor of passion as if he had saved it all for her, but still his dark eyes were holding something back and whatever it was frightened her.
She started as the door creaked ajar. She whirled around to find herself almost nose to nose with Sesshoumaru. Backing away cautiously she curtsied. "My Lord." What did he want now? Didn't she have enough things to do without him adding to it. She stifled an audible sigh almost too late as he raised an eyebrow to her. He swept away whatever he had been thinking and addressed her casually. "Sango my dear I need you to go to the market place for me today. You can take Miroku with you seeing as one of you alone usually messes things up. Maybe this time two heads will be better than one. But back to what I was saying I want you to go to my hut on the outskirts of the town. A woman should be there waiting for you. Tell her that you are my servants and do as she says. Whatever she gives you, you must not open it or read it it is for my eyes only." He said the last bit noticeably threateningly.
Sango nodded slowly as she replied. "Of course my Lord it shall be done as you have said." She scrambled out of the room to get Miroku. Well maybe they would get some time alone after all. She smirked as she all but skipped out to tell him the news.
A/N: Hope you like this chappie next up i think i'll call it "realization" but don't qoute me on that one.
DisgruntledA/N: I'm glad my creative writing teacher lets me use his comp or else I woulda never got this chapter finished til next week curse my mother and her grounding me for 4 days of detention. I was so mad all I did was be tardy a few *cough* days and she got all control freakish. gosh hate to see if she found out bout dress code violations. but anyway she's at my lil sis's soccer game so I had tome to finish it i worked a lil on it last night but not a lot i was tired from a cross country meet. lol that and i wanted to finish a book i was readin but yeah ne way thanx for the encouragement i promise i'll get the next chapter up by tuesday i owe you guys. but yeah i g2g 4 my madre gets back. Ciao!!!
Twisted Love
Chapter Five
Following Shadows
Sesshoumaru quickened his pace. He was almost there and it was getting late he needed to make sure all his miserable little servants had done there work and that Kagome had managed to make it home before him. She was always very careful about this and almost always made sure he was absent when she returned. He wanted to catch her one of these days sneaking back through the woods, make her tell him where she'd been but he would know soon enough thanks to his old friend.
He'd arrived at the small cabin dark and foreboding on the edge of the forest. He burst in the door never being the kind to knock. Inside the man sat on a soft cushiony chair brooding quietly a black dog whimpering at his feat. Without turning to face him the man addressed Sesshoumaru. "Any word about the Shikon no Tama? I heard that perhaps a certain miko might have it." Sesshoumaru didn't answer right away. He'd heard the rumors about Kikyo having the jewel but he knew it wasn't true. Before she'd become a miko she'd already had these powers that people were just now noticing. He was skeptical so kept his mind open for other possibilities.
"Yes I've heard the same, it may be just a rumor who knows, I myself wouldn't bet on it being true." He wondered why Niraku would mention that. He was the one who was supposed to be keeping track of its whereabouts. He ignored it wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. The shaman's power was inferior to his own but the man was creepy and there was no point in staying here any longer than was necessary. "Niraku." He addressed the man. "I want you to do a favor for me."
He turned, his black wavy hair tumbling down as he swept it off from the back of the chair. His face was young and handsome but lined with the permanent scars of evil his face never being able to contort its crooked features into a decent smile of joy. "What kind of favor?" He inquired rising from his chair with practiced ease. Snapping his fingers deftly he beckoned for the dog to leave holding open the door to the thick pitch night.
How could he say this without losing face? Sesshoumaru had never admitted his weakness for human women. It wasn't normal for any self respecting inu youki to fall for a human, weak inept and pathetic in their own right, but it was in his blood as his father had had the same frailty choosing that human woman to bear his second son. And look how that traitorous boy turned out. But he had no choice; Niraku was the only one he trusted to get the job done. He cleared his throat loudly trying to gather his courage. "I want you to trail someone for me. A human girl Kagome she's one of my servants. You remember her, the one we took from the shrine when her family couldn't give me the Shikon. I want to know where she goes on her days off." Maybe Niraku wouldn't suspect anything maybe he would look past all the evidence and just agree.
No such luck. He underestimated the conniving shaman, apparently not all humans were as stupid as he supposed. He waited on his decision watching the man's finger bounce rhythmically to his breathing as he tapped them up and down in annoyance. "I am not going to go and waste my time chasing some fantasy for you. Why don't you get off your lazy ass and do it yourself." A heavy growl escaped his throat at the insult but still he sat waiting for him to finish what he was saying. "I have enough problems trying to figure out if little old ladies are hiding the Shikon no Tama from me right under my nose." Niraku stopped suddenly fighting the urge to clap a hand over his mouth. He'd practically let it all out. How could he have been so irresponsible, so negligent? He would have to come up with a good excuse for that one.
"What's that supposed to mean I thought you didn't know anything about the jewel." Sesshoumaru was furious. That insolent little bastard who did he think he was trying to hide this from him. "Who, who is this lady you speak of."
He had to act fast. He brushed his hands across his shirt trying to come off as nonchalant as possible. "It was only a figure of speech your Lordship don't go and get your talons all tangled up yet. And I don't know anything about it. Why else would I question you about Kikyo?" He kept his composure wondering if Sesshoumaru was vain enough to lie about the Kikyo thing. He could be wrong about Keade having it and he needed to be sure. "Look, Sesshoumaru I'll make a deal with you. I'll trail your precious little Kagome but you have to give me all the information you have about Kikyo." If he was wrong and Kikyo did have the jewel things could get disastrous. At the moment it was whispered among the lowly thieves in the alleyways that her power could already rival his own. The wind hissed in his ear as though the farthest reaches of her power could still seek him out and follow his every move. With the added strength of the Shikon no Tama her energy would dominate all others. He was helpless against that kind of power. He needed to know.
"Perhaps I can accommodate that." Sesshoumaru commented slyly he'd get what he wanted out of this. "But I will tell you nothing until you have watched her for at least one day and reported on your findings."
He was in the clear. "Yes of course my Lord that will all be done." He watched as Sesshoumaru turned with a flourish his cape whipping through the silence as he marched out the door thinking he had been the smarter one.
He didn't think it had gone all that bad. At least now he would get what he would find out where Kagome was sneaking off to and all he had to do was tell Niraku a little information about Kikyo. He should be getting that information soon if his spy would hurry up. Tomorrow was time for their scheduled meeting, but he was unsure if she would even be there she'd been abscent the date of their first and he hadn't heard from her since. He wondered if something were wrong. Had something happened to that little worm Kagura? He doubted it, she may not have been his type but he admired her skill with the wind and even with her powers Kikyo would have to struggle to defeat that. He would send Miroku and Sango to go find her and retrieve her information.
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The floor creaked softly as he paced back and forth over it, thinking. Something was up with Keade and Kagome seemed very agitated lately. He didn't understand what either of them had to be uptight about. First he would have to find out what was wrong with Keade, he wouldn't push the issue with Kagome he figured she would tell him what was bothering her when the time was right. But Keade was acting out of character. He'd never known her to be so flustered over a purse as she had been earlier. He'd always known he to be more of the type to curse them under her breath believing that the gods would see to their punishment. He didn't know what to make of it and he'd been thinking about it for far too long by now. He walked over to his bed hopping up onto it. He laid down on his belly looking up through the window. The moon was a small sliver in the sky the large eye of light yearning to close in sleep itself. Almost time for the new moon. He hated those night, feeling so vulnerable and weak. He wondered if all humans felt that way, knowing their life could slip away so quickly if they weren't careful. He lived in a traitorous time, but at the moment he was glad for the lull in conflicts.
He rolled over to lay on his back. Tomorrow Kagome said she would be able to stay with him for a whole day. She'd said that her friend's family had come to visit and she'd felt like she was in the way after a while. A whole day. It seemed long to him he hadn't been with her for a whole day in weeks. It was more like short peeks of a few hours or so, never really long enough in his opinion and he was grateful for the chance to spend this kind of time with her. He was tired from all the work Keade had assigned him to presuming that he would love to do it. Sometimes that woman assumed to much responsibility for other people and not enough for herself. He closed his eyes a yawn creeping past him. He would deal with he slyness later but for now he was going to sleep.
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Sango started at a rough knocking on her bedroom door. It was far too early to start her chores and she wondered who needed to talk to her so urgently that it couldn't wait until she was properly awake. "I'm coming. Hold your horses." She called groggily rising from her bed and wrapping herself in a thick robe. Opening the door she all but shouted her guts out to shocked figure of Kagome framed in the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry Kagome didn't mean to shout." She stifled a yawn. "What do you want so early in the morning?"
"Sorry to bother you Sango it's just that, well…"She stumbled over her words. "I was frightened yesterday. Sesshoumaru was watching me when I went to see Inuyasha. He followed me all the way to the edge of the forest. Luckily he didn't go down the same path. But I wanted to ask you, if happen to you see him following me you have to keep him away from m. If he finds out about Inuyasha..." She gave Sango a worried look twisting her hands around eachother nervously. She truly hoped she'd only imagined that Sesshoumaru had followed her. If he found out about them it would be the last time she ever saw Inuyasha not to mention most likely the last time she saw the light of day. She shivered moving her hands faster as she threaded them in and out of one another.
Sango felt bad for Kagome. She didn't even know the half of it, but telling her about the two demons being brothers would only make things worse. She could watch out for her sidetrack the Lord, but she couldn't keep him from finding out that much she knew was inevitable. "I'll watch him for you Kagome. Just go and see Inuyasha. You don't want to waste you day off sitting here in this god-foresaken place."
"Thanks Sango." She gave her friend a warm hug before rushing out of the room and out of the mansion. She slowed her pace and headed for the forest.
She felt a little guilty for going off like this and enjoying a whole day away fro that hell hole. Last night she'd offered to do Sango's chores since she owed her for the night she'd had dinner with Sesshoumaru. Of course Sango had refused brushing off Kagome's proposal. She'd insitisted deligently that Kagome needed a day off from all the stress she'd been putting on herself lately. Sango was always like that. Kagome thought ruefully. Often wanting to put others before herself even when it should have been the other way around in some cases. She was grateful that Sango had let her go she hadn't had a whole day to spend with Inuyasha in a long time. Still, she felt obligated to make up for Sango's missed day.
She reached the trees forgetting all about her squabble with Sango as she drifted over the path towards the clearing. The sun through dappled light through the mess of branches above her. It hit her spotting her skin with sheets of light here and there the rest of her lost in shadows. The trees hummed with the sweet lull of birdsong as the morning grew old. She was enthralled by the beauty of this place. To her it seemed magical and enchanting. Lost in her own imaginings ahe did not notice the ape man as he followed her through the trees.
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Niraku woke before the sun rose trudging over to Sesshoumaru's estate. He donned his usual ape mask and grey pelt. They were good camouflage and besides that he'd gotten used to wearing them. He reached the outskirts of the forest a safe distance from the large mansion. He resented the conniving Lord Sesshoumaru for making him do this but he needed to know about Kikyo. He feared that if she did have the jewel she would definitely come after him. He'd been the one who brought Sesshoumaru all those years ago to see her and Inuyasha in that pub. She had blamed it on him that she had lost Inuyasha "her one true love" as she'd called him. Too bad she'd run to Seshoumaru the moment he'd calmed down about the whole incident. That had all been so long ago but he was certain she hadn't forgot especially after Sesshoumaru had turned her away after he caught her trying to get with that foul hanyou behind his back all over again. Some people never change.
He shook his head his mind roving back to the present a he watched the house waiting for Kagome to make her escape.
He didn't need to wait long; as soon as the sun was up he saw he walk out of the house wearing a bluish green kimono extremely flattering on her shapely figure and a good color to go with her eyes. Whoa, what was he thinking supposed to watch the girl for Sesshoumaru nothing more. He watched her step sure footedly onto the path her stride crisp and well balanced. He shrunk into the shadows, as she grew closer. He heard the soft crunch of her thin shoes on the dusty path as she passed him turning along the curve of the path. Hiding himself deep in the shadows he pursued her from a safe distance behind.
He traced her steps as appeared to glide into a clearing near the center of the thick foliage. She stood in the clearing staring up at the treetops for several minutes muttering something to herself before traipsing off in a different direction down an unmarked trail through the trees.
She led him through the forest down the invisible trail. She knew where she was going her eyes looking straight ahead never once glancing down at the uneven ground nor stepping astray. He followed quickly not wanting to lose his way with the absence of a marked track and in this gloom he didn't consider it likely he would be able to find his own way around. He himself lived in through the forest but he had never been this far deep into it. The trees grew thick and towered above him. They were clustered tightly together and made him feel a little claustrophobic. He stopped as she approached another clearing, larger than the first and lit by blaring sunlight. He shielded his eyes as the light caught him off guard. Bringing down his hand he looked through the colors and dots spinning before his eyes to where Kagome stood in front of a small cabin. She walked up to the door slowly and purposefully knocking sharply. He waited as she did with baited breath to see who would open the door.
It took a long time for anything to happen but when it did Niraku watched wide eyed and open mouth in surprise. A lone hand pushed the door open followed by the tall young hanyou that he had seen one too many times before. He moved fluidly his hand passing from the door to aroud Kagome's thin form in one graceful maneuver. He swept her up into his strong arms embracing her tightly. She smiled sweetly at him as he backed away. He led her into the house gesturing for her to enter.
Niraku was livid with glee. Inuyasha would surely be dead this time. Taking Sesshoumaru's claim twice in a row. The Lord was never one to wait for three strikes two fouls and you were out. And in Inuyasha's unpleasant case he was long past due to be hitting the bench. He turned ready as ever to be the bearer of bad news and inform Sesshoumaru about the untimely event of his brother's second betrayal when he heard a yelp that sounded predominantly feminine sound from inside the cabin. He tried to suppress the urge to investigate and continued to head away from the clearing back into the crowded forest but as usual curiosity got the better of him. He scuttled across the clearing careful to duck low as he neared. He sidled up along side a window and with his back to the wall he rose alongside it carefully peering in through the fogged glass.
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Sango hurried about the house sweeping the floors her broom moving methodically as she swayed unconsciously to the sound of birdsong floating to her ears from the open window. She'd already done the dishes from Sesshoumaru's breakfast and her hands were still feeling the chill from the cold water of the stream where she'd gotten water for the horses. She stopped sweeping as she finished up with the room listening intently to the soft whistling of Miroku out in the garden. She walked over to the window setting down the broom carefully. She smiled as the warmth of the sun flooded over her. Staring across the lawn at Miroku, something she couldn't help, she vaguely wished that she were free. Free from this wretched servant's duty. She longed to jump through the window and grab Miroku by his dark violet cloak and yank him off into the forest away from this place. She loved being alone with him he was so caring and loving his emotions plain to her but sometimes when others were around she perceived him to be cold and heartless. It was only a front he put on to shield his true self she knew but it worried her to no end that he had truly gone for that fake scowl and cruel demeanor leaving her to fend for herself. For now he would always return from his stupor of passion as if he had saved it all for her, but still his dark eyes were holding something back and whatever it was frightened her.
She started as the door creaked ajar. She whirled around to find herself almost nose to nose with Sesshoumaru. Backing away cautiously she curtsied. "My Lord." What did he want now? Didn't she have enough things to do without him adding to it. She stifled an audible sigh almost too late as he raised an eyebrow to her. He swept away whatever he had been thinking and addressed her casually. "Sango my dear I need you to go to the market place for me today. You can take Miroku with you seeing as one of you alone usually messes things up. Maybe this time two heads will be better than one. But back to what I was saying I want you to go to my hut on the outskirts of the town. A woman should be there waiting for you. Tell her that you are my servants and do as she says. Whatever she gives you, you must not open it or read it it is for my eyes only." He said the last bit noticeably threateningly.
Sango nodded slowly as she replied. "Of course my Lord it shall be done as you have said." She scrambled out of the room to get Miroku. Well maybe they would get some time alone after all. She smirked as she all but skipped out to tell him the news.
A/N: Hope you like this chappie next up i think i'll call it "realization" but don't qoute me on that one.
DisgruntledA/N: I'm glad my creative writing teacher lets me use his comp or else I woulda never got this chapter finished til next week curse my mother and her grounding me for 4 days of detention. I was so mad all I did was be tardy a few *cough* days and she got all control freakish. gosh hate to see if she found out bout dress code violations. but anyway she's at my lil sis's soccer game so I had tome to finish it i worked a lil on it last night but not a lot i was tired from a cross country meet. lol that and i wanted to finish a book i was readin but yeah ne way thanx for the encouragement i promise i'll get the next chapter up by tuesday i owe you guys. but yeah i g2g 4 my madre gets back. Ciao!!!