Isshi no Ichimu
By: Lady Kaiba
DISCLAIMER: (that which was forgotten in the last chapter…) I dun own it, okay?!? Now leave me alone! I only like writing and playing with the characters. Rumiko Takahashi owns them, not I…
LK: I wanted to thank everyone that reviewed this story. I'm happy you like it because this is my first –posted- Inuyasha fic! I have others that are being worked on, including the next one to come out, Kaori no Yamazakura. And just to let all of you know, I am really fond of the Sess/Kag pairing right now…so now you won't have to wonder what pairings are in my fics anymore! ^_^ I'd really like to thank Profiler120 for being so perceptive while reading the first chapter. A lot of questions were asked, and so I thought that I would answer some of them now.
~The first chapter was written the way it was on purpose, in case you were wondering. I meant to begin it two weeks after her mating with Sesshoumaru. As for the morning sickness bit, I didn't really know when it started, but three months later doesn't fit into the story. Those of you who were paying attention and got my meaning of 'change' will understand later if you don't already. I've made Kagome and Inuyasha think of each other more as siblings because I really love Inuyasha and am against being mean to him unless I read a story where he really pisses me off. So, I hope that is understood.
~ Now, the firefly bit. ^o^ I was having some fun. It just happened that way while I was writing it. That's all I'll really say about that…I plan on later explaining why/how Sess and Kag fell for each other, so just be patient! I will begin to explain it in this chapter. If anyone else has questions too, don't be afraid to ask them. You'll only make me angry if it's a flame, and I'm told point blank that it is. Otherwise, I look at it and see what you're saying. ^_^ Thank you for asking these important things, profiler120. Now, then, on with the story! …And apparently some questions need answering for Mistress Fluffy. 1) Just because. She's in love with him. She…just didn't want him to stop once he started, pick an answer! 2) Inu couldn't smell Sesshy on her because of her scented lotion. And 3) Lets face it, our little Inu-chan hasn't ever been really great at catching details like that. I mean, yeah, he can tell from pretty far away when Kag has come back, but he wouldn't be able to tell –that- unless he were looking for the smell. ^_^ There ya go…those of you who are confused, go read Mistress Fluffy's review…^^;; gomen…
Lara: I know most of you are wondering, "What the hell does Isshi no Ichimu mean?!" Well, I thought I'd let ya know, since my lovely hikari decided not to. Isshi no Ichimu means Child of a Dream. LK chose that, because what she originally came up with wasn't too good…
LK: Gee, thanks…
Lara: ::grin:: Welcome! Please R+R! Ja ne~!!
Key:
~~*~~ - New scene
~~~*~~~ - Flashback / end flashback
'Italics' – thinking
-Eh- - emphasized words
"Duh" – talk
LK: I think I'll leave that up until the fourth chapter…R+R!!! And enjoy! ^-^ hm…and if this is too far apart, well, that's just FF.N's screwy format. And I hate it…
~~*Last time*~~
"How do -you- know?" came Inuyasha's rude voice. Yup, back to normal.
"I think it's pretty obvious if he stops glowing altogether, Inuyasha!"
"Hm, yes." Miroku thought for a moment. "This must be no ordinary firefly, if it-uh…he replies to your words. You are lucky to have made this friend."
"When did you find him, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked.
"Hm…two weeks ago. I went for a little walk one night when you guys were asleep and I stumbled upon him." She replied.
"Food is ready." Kaede said. Tsunagi floated into the air and with a gentle touch to Kagome's cheek, he floated out of the hut and back to the forest.
"He must really like you, Kagome-sama. I believe that was a little kiss." Miroku said, smiling.
Kagome smiled. "I guess so." The group moved over to the fire and thanked Kaede for making lunch for them.
~~*On to the Chapter*~~
Kagome walked out of Kaede's hut, pack slung over her shoulder, and Shippou in her arms. The sun sat high in the sky, directly above their heads. It was noon and the group had eaten, so now they were headed out of the village, toward another shard rumor they were just lucky enough to have heard about that morning. Inuyasha, of course, had wanted to leave then, but didn't persist on that topic because Kagome was still sleeping, and he had told her it was okay for them to wait.
So now here they were, walking out of the village and into Inuyasha's forest. The young miko walked quietly, Shippou sitting on her shoulder, as she became lost in thought. 'Where will Sesshoumaru meet us? Will Inuyasha try to fight him again?? ……And I thought women didn't get sick until their second trimester, or something. It's only been two weeks!' Shippou watched as his 'mother' walked, a far away look in her eyes.
'I hope Kagome-okaasan is okay…' he thought. 'Maybe I should snap her out of it.' The kitsune nodded to him self. He waved a small hand in front of Kagome's face. "Kagome?" The young miko blinked several times before smiling up at Shippou.
"Hai?" She asked.
"Are you okay? You're not paying attention to where you're going…" Kagome giggled quietly.
"Hai, Shippou-chan, I'm fine. I was just thinking about stuff." She replied. Shippou nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off of her, even after she looked away to stare at Inuyasha's back. Shippou looked up at Inuyasha and an idea popped into his head.
"Hey, someone should carry your pack for you! It must be pretty heavy." He said loudly. Kagome smiled at him again.
"Naw, that's okay. I'm fine."
"Are you sure, Kagome-sama? I could carry it for you if you're too tired." Miroku spoke up, turning to look at her and walking backwards. Kagome waved it off.
"I'm fine, really!"
Miroku nodded. "Alright. Just let us know when you get tired of carrying it." Kagome nodded with a 'Hai' just before something quite amusing to the group happened. Miroku stepped on his robe and fell flat on his butt. Kagome tried to stifle a giggle and Sango couldn't help it.
"Are you okay, Hoshi-sama?" she asked. Miroku chuckled to himself.
"Well, that'll teach me not to walk backwards again." He said as he stood up and brushed himself off. After a few more chuckles, the group continued on their way, as luck would have it, west.
'Imagine that.' Kagome thought with a small smile. 'He shouldn't have any trouble at all helping us.' Something caught the corner of her eye and she smiled upon realizing what it was. She held out her hand and Tsunagi landed on it again. "Well, Tsunagi, it really would seem you like me." she said softly. The little firefly glowed a light pink before returning to its blue tint.
~~*~~
Sesshoumaru walked through the forest of the western lands, headed toward Inuyasha's forest with Rin and Jaken trailing behind him, lost in thought. He had been wondering one thing the past two weeks. Why had he mated with a human? Why does he love her?? These thoughts plagued him night and day, and only let him be when he was near the young, alluring miko. 'I do not understand it. For years I have never felt anything for anyone, other than hatred toward my father and Inuyasha. So why did that change? When??' he questioned himself. He knew though, that the answers to his questions were obvious. He had thought the miko quite interesting at first, two years ago. As time passed, he found himself thinking of her more and more often, his interest turning to respect, curiosity, admiration, and an unknown feeling of love, until the very thought of her wreathing in pleasure beneath him plagued his dreams.
He had, at first, thought of it as an obsession. He scoffed. 'I would never obsess over a mere human!' A little voice in his mind countered that thought.
Really, now? Never? You have never even worried for the safety of a human?? Not even for Rin? It asked.
'…'
Ah ha! You have worried! You don't deny it! You know why, -Fluffy-. You know why you fell in love with the Miko.
He mentally glared at the voice. 'If this is true, then why, pray tell, did I fall in love?'
Because you can sense it. There is something different about her. Something…inhuman… Sesshoumaru could practically hear the smirk/grin in the annoying little voice.
Better yet, you fell in love with her because of something completely different. Something much more…complicated.
A low growl emanated from his throat without his knowing. 'And -what- would THAT be?' The little voice grinned.
Now then, if I told you, it would be no fun. You and Kagome must figure it out for yourselves. In the meantime, I shall be Right. Here. The last two words were punctuated with the smirk that laced them.
Sesshoumaru glowered, thoroughly annoyed. 'Annoying voice. Go piss someone else off for a change. Believe me, you do NOT want to piss this Sesshoumaru off.' He warned. The voice, however, seemed to be ignoring him. He sighed in frustration. 'Fine. What to tell Inuyasha when I meet up with them…' He mused over the question for quite a while before an idea suddenly popped into his mind. 'Yes, that should do perfectly…' he thought, pleased, to him self. He finally took notice of the little glowing light floating around them, entertaining Rin and causing her to giggle. He sighed. "And yet another annoyance…" he mumbled.
Jaken looked up at his master. '"And yet another annoyance?" Dose Lord Sesshoumaru speak of the child?' he paled slightly, 'or does my lord think of this Jaken as an annoyance?!' for the remainder of the time, the small toad retainer wondered about his master's words with great worry he had been speaking of him.
~~*~~
Kagome wandered on, lost in thought again. Shippou was walking beside Kirara now, having gotten tired of riding in his 'mothers' arm's while she walked in a daze. The thoughts now floating around in her mind were, What would her mother think if she knew her only daughter had decided to live in Sengoku Jidai for the rest of her life? A new thought popped into her head suddenly. When had she fallen in love with Sesshoumaru? Or better yet, -why-?
'Well,' she thought, 'He's tall, handsome, powerful…' A little voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Hai, but is that really why you fell for him? It asked. Kagome thought about the question.
'No…'
Then why?
'I…' the young miko sighed, 'because I feel safe whenever I'm near him. I get a feeling in my stomach, like butterflies. It's that feeling when you get when you drop from a high altitude on those park rides Souta loves so much…'
And…
'And…I've felt that way ever sense we were in their father's grave and I pulled out Tetsusaiga.' She answered.
There you go. You have answered when and why you fell for him. A smile lined the voice. Kagome blushed. 'Yeah, there I go all right…'
Inuyasha looked over his shoulder to see that Kagome was in thought… again. Something caught his eye. 'Is she blushing? Or did she get a fever??' he wondered. Silently, he dropped back behind the group, back to where Kagome was, and startled her out of her stupor as he placed a hand on her forehead.
"Wha-what are you doing, Inuyasha?" she asked in a nervous voice.
"Your face is red. I was checking to see if you have a fever, but you don't feel hot…"
"No, I'm fine! Really!!" she insisted, trying to shoo him away. Inuyasha frowned.
"Let's rest here." He said before jumping into a tree.
"He's acting odd…" Kagome muttered as she set her pack down and began to sift through it, searching for some things.
"That's because he's worried, just like we are. Kagome-chan, if you aren't feeling well, do you really think traveling is a good thing to do?" Sango asked from behind her friend. Kagome nodded.
"I'm fine, Sango-chan, really!" She looked over her shoulder when an idea popped into her head. "Hey, Sango-chan!"
The taijia blinked. "Nani?"
"Want to bath with me? I'd rather not be alone today." She asked. Sango smiled and nodded.
"Hai, of course I will." Kagome smiled up at the taijia before turning back to finish gathering her things. Before she stood, Kagome felt a tugging on her shirt. She looked down to see the little kitsune looking up at her with a kawaii little pout on his face.
"Kagome, can I come?" he begged. Kagome smiled and nodded her head, giggling.
"Hai, Shippou-chan!" His pout disappeared and he cheered, running around excitedly and eagerly waiting for the girls to catch up to him, though he never left their little camp. As they walked into the trees, Kagome called over her shoulder, "Inuyasha, you and Miroku better not spy on us!!" She smiled as she heard his answer.
"Feh, don't worry!" Inuyasha called after her. "It's not like there's anything -I- want to see!" He cringed, waiting for the inevitable, but it never came. He blinked and looked down at Kagome as she smirked at him. "What, no sit?" Her smirk turned into a sweet smile.
"Now, Inuyasha, if I did use the s- word on you, who would keep Miroku from following us while you're out?" she asked sweetly.
Miroku pouted and replied in a hurt voice, "Don't you trust me, Kagome-sama?" Both girls giggled as they walked away from their companions and toward the spring, Shippou trailing ahead of them. Miroku added under his breath, "Darn, I would have been able to get a peak in without them noticing…"
Inuyasha smirked down at him. "You mean before being brutally murdered." Miroku sighed, sitting against a tree trunk with his right arm draped across his right knee and his left elbow on his left while he rested his face against it.
"Yeah, you'd beat the crap out of me, then they'd finish the job." Inuyasha's smirk widened as he ran the scenario over in his mind, minus the dead-houshi part.
~~*~~
Kagome and Sango sank into the warm water of the hot spring, relaxing from their so-far short travel, as Shippou swam around, giddily splish splashing the spring water. "Kagome-chan, are you really okay?" Sango asked seriously. Kagome smiled and Sango and nodded.
"Hai. I think it was just a short thing. I don't even feel nauseous anymore, and I was before." She replied. Shippou swam up to her.
"I'm glad. I don't like it when you're sick, Kagome-okaasan." The kit admitted. Kagome smiled and pulled him into a hug. Shippou hugged her back before pulling away and diving into the water. The girls giggled as the little kit pounced on some imaginary foe that was lurking in the water.
They hadn't taken very long to bath before the girls were ready to go. Sango got out and dried, beginning to dress again. Kagome was about to get out also, when Shippou pouted at her. "Okaa-san, I wanna play a little longer! Onegai?" the kit placed his most adorable little pout on and Kagome sighed.
"Alright, just a while longer." She looked back at Sango. "Sango-chan, we'll be back soon. Make sure to keep the guys there, ne?" She asked. Sango nodded with a laugh. Kagome sat back into the warm water while Sango walked back to the guys and Shippou played some more. 'Well, Kagome, this'll be the best chance you have to let him know before we meet with Sesshoumaru again…' she told herself. "Shippou-chan." The little kit stopped his play and looked at his 'mother'.
"Hai?"
Kagome motioned him over to her. He slowly came and sat on her lap. "Shippou, I have something that I need to tell you. I wanted to let you know before I choose to tell the others, so can you keep this secret for me?" The kit nodded vigorously.
"Of course! What is it?" He asked looking at her in curiosity. Kagome took a deep breath before revealing the mark on her neck that she had concealed with a small spell she knew. Shippou's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything, waiting for her to explain.
"Shippou-chan. I wanted to…to ask you something…" she paused, "I really like being your okaa-san and I want you to know I always will." She smiled down at him. "And I was wondering how you would feel about having a little sibling." Shippou blinked at her several times, sorting the information she just gave him.
"So…" he said slowly, "…When you were sick…you weren't really sick?" he asked. When she nodded, he continued. "And you've mated with someone, but we don't know who. And we know it's not Inuyasha." Again she nodded. Shippou asked the inevitable, something Kagome knew he would ask eventually, but she was fully prepared to answer it honestly. "Do you love him? Your mate?"
The miko smiled a genuine smile. "Hai, Shippou, very much." The kit nodded, then grinned at his adoptive mother and launched him self into a tight hug. Kagome laughed. "Should I take that as a yes?" she asked. Shippou nodded.
"Hai!! When will I be able to meet my new otou-san and when will the baby come?" he asked, the questions flying out of him so fast one might think Kagome wouldn't have been able to answer him.
"Well, you can meet the father sometime soon, but I don't know when. I know it'll be before the final battle with Naraku. And I really don't know when the baby will come. I don't know what to expect." She replied. "Come on, Shippou-chan, we need to get to the others before Inuyasha really does come to get us." The kit nodded and climbed out of the water. He dove into Kagome's towel and quickly dried as she giggled. She chanted the little spell to conceal her mark again, the one she had chanted to herself yesterday morning as she made her way away from Sesshoumaru and the spring, back to Kaede's hut, and then dried off her self while her little kit dressed.
~~*~~
It had been three days since Sesshoumaru had gone back to his abode to retrieve Rin and his retainer, Jaken, when they just happened to come across a particularly cruel youkai that was abnormally strong. The silver-haired taiyoukai narrowed his eyes at the lowly youkai. The stupid Tora had been dumb enough to try and kill Rin! HIS pup!! Sesshoumaru took a step toward the pathetic youkai, his eyes growing colder by the minute. The tiger backed up slowly when he felt his space was being invaded too far by the taiyoukai. Jaken desperately tried to turn the ningen child away and quell her fear, for fear that his master would punish him, while shaking in his own skin.
"You're not very smart now, are you?" Sesshoumaru questioned the poor baka in a voice colder than ice and completely void of emotion. The youkai's eyes widened slightly and he backed up more. Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly at that and momentarily stopped advancing. The inu-youkai looked the tiger over, sensing abnormal power within it. He allowed a vicious smirk to play across his lips for barely a moment before it disappeared, hidden by his stoic mask again. 'So, this pathetic youkai has a Shikon no Kakera in him. How fitting, he needs false power to overcome his opponents.'
Deciding to bait the youkai into attack, the great taiyoukai of the west took multiple steps backward. His amusement rose when the youkai took notice of it and took it to mean he was retreating in fear after feeling the power of the Shikon shards in his possession. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes again as the youkai attacked, swiping with dangerous claws. 'But that is all they are. Dangerous claws. No poison, just claws.' Sesshoumaru thought disdainfully. 'At least I get the fun of tearing this pathetic excuse of a youkai apart.' He sidestepped the attack, and a few more, before landing his own fatal blow.
At the youkai's third attempt at an attack, the silver-haired Inu-youkai struck, putting his right hand through the youkai's shoulder. With a short side-glance to Rin and Jaken proving to him that his retainer was capable of protecting Rin from the site of the youkai's death, Sesshoumaru filled his claws with his poison and attacked again, driving his hand through the youkai's heart, and, just for good measure, decapitating it. Luckily, for he did not wish for Rin to see such carnage at her young age, the poison made quick work of the youkai's flesh and remains, leaving behind three, tainted Shikon no Kakera. Stooping down, the golden-eyed lord picked up the Kakera and, straightening, he turned back to his companions.
"Rin. Jaken. Let's go." He commanded. The young girl nodded and quickly ran to her lord, holding onto his Hakama and sticking close to him, still frightened. Sesshoumaru looked down at the girl with soft eyes and placed a gentle hand on her head, giving her the most amount of comfort he could at the moment.
Behind them, Jaken stared at the place the youkai's remains had been as he passed. With a squawk he quickly ran to catch up with his lord and the ningen child.
Sesshoumaru smiled to himself as they walked in silence. 'Now this is another excuse to join them. I can help retrieve the lost Kakera.'
~~*~~
With a giant yawn, Kagome almost fell asleep where she stood, walking and all! They had been heading in the direction the shards were said to be in, but so far they hadn't found anything. Not even a stray Kakera-possessing youkai! All this walking was starting to tire her. 'I wonder where Sesshy is…' her weary mind wondered nonchalantly. She decided now was as good a time as any to speak her body's request. "Inuyasha, why don't we set up camp here?" Kagome inquired. Miroku nodded, agreeing with her.
"Hai, it would be nice to stop and get some sleep." Sango added, stifling a yawn. They had been walking since they had finished lunch, and now the sky was almost completely dark. Inuyasha snorted.
"Feh." He stopped and set Kagome's pack down. "Fine. We'll stay here tonight. I'll get us some firewood." He muttered the last bit as he wandered just barely out of site of the camp. In no time at all, Inuyasha returned to the camp and set up the fire. Kagome and Miroku rolled out the sleeping bags while Sango cooked their evening meal.
Kagome plopped down, tired, onto her sleeping bag and watched her companions go about their nightly activities. Sango cooked, Miroku groped and got hit, Inuyasha sat near the fire, waiting for the food, and Shippou and Kirara were lying at the bottom of Kagome's sleeping bag, Shippou using Kirara as a pillow as they both napped. The young raven-haired miko smiled at the little Kodak moment. 'Kawaii…' she thought. 'That would be even cuter with Rin there, too.' She smiled as she rested her head on her knees, which were drawn up to her with her arms around them. 'Where are you, Sesshoumaru?'
As if on cue, a rustling sounded in the trees not too far from her. Shippou and Kirara sprang up, suddenly on alert, Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, Sango pulled out Hiraikotsu, and Miroku held his staff at the ready. Kagome merely turned to look behind her, as casual as if she had been expecting it. She watched as the taiyoukai of the west, Rin, and the toad walked out of the forest.
"What do you want, Sesshoumaru?!" Inuyasha sneered, spitting out his brother's name like poisoned food. Sesshoumaru stole Inuyasha a short glance before looking at Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kirara. His eyes moved to the person in front of him, finally falling on the being he was there to see. Kagome smiled up at him.
"Konbanwa, Sesshoumaru-sama." She said casually.
"Konbanwa." He returned.
Kagome looked back at her companions to see shock on their faces. Inuyasha soon snapped out of it and snarled at his brother again.
"I asked what you're doing here!"
"Inuyasha," Kagome said sweetly. He never turned his gaze away from his brother, whom in turn never took his eyes from Kagome.
"What?" he snapped.
"Sit." It was a simple command with a big impact. With a loud cry, Inuyasha was sent head first into the dirt.
"What the hell was that for?!" he yelled from his current state; eating dirt. Sesshoumaru chuckled inwardly.
"Don't use that kind of language around children!" Kagome first snapped, ignoring the glare she received from the hanyou. "And you're scaring Rin!" Kagome held her arms out to the little girl, who happily sought her warmth and safety. Kagome, now facing Sesshoumaru, smiled up at him from her place on her sleeping bag. "To what do we owe the honor, Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked with a smirk in her eyes. She knew perfectly well why he was there…
"I've come to lend my assistance." He replied. He then pulled out the shards and handed them to Kagome. "I believe you are in my lands searching for these?" Kagome stared down at her hand, nodding.
"When did you get these?" she asked.
"Earlier today." Rin answered her. "It was a mean youkai that tried to eat Rin!" she whined. "Mean youkai scared Rin!!" with that, Rin pouted. Kagome smiled and giggled a little at the pout.
"Don't worry. Sesshoumaru-sama protected you, ne?" she asked. Rin nodded. "And we'll all protect you here." Kagome said with a smile.
"Even me!" Shippou spoke up, puffing out his chest like he was the toughest and bravest youkai in the world. Kagome giggled, joined by Rin, Sango, and Miroku chuckled quietly.
"Inuyasha, put Tetsusaiga away. It's clear Sesshoumaru-sama did not come to kill us." Miroku said as he relaxed his staff.
"How do you know that?!" Inuyasha shot back.
"If I had intended on harming any of you, do you really think I would have brought Rin with me?" Sesshoumaru asked, turning his cold gaze to his hanyou brother.
"…" Inuyasha stayed silent. Relenting, he put Tetsusaiga away, but didn't take his eyes from his elder half brother.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Really, Inuyasha." She mumbled.
"We were just about to eat. Are any of you hungry?" Sango asked. Rin brightened up and hopped off of Kagome's lap, skipping up to Sango.
"Hai!!" she replied, all the while. Sango smiled and began to hand out bowls of ramen.
"Jaken." Sesshoumaru directed to the toad beside him.
"H-hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Go to some of the nearby villages, find out what you can about any shard possessing youkai in the area."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" With a short bow, the retainer scrambled back into the forest, grumbling under his breath about needing a break.
Sesshoumaru ignored his servant and took a seat next to Kagome on her sleeping bag. She was barely eating the food Sango had given her. The silver-haired taiyoukai lifted a thin eyebrow. "Has the hanyou made you walk too much already?" he inquired. The miko giggled and shook her head.
"No. I'm just tired. I didn't get much sleep." Her attention was caught by a little glowing light that floated around him. She smiled. "So, you have one following you too, huh?" Sesshoumaru sighed in annoyance.
"Unfortunately." His response caused the miko to giggle again.
"Have you named it yet?" she asked as the little firefly came to her. It landed on her outstretched hand, soon joined by Tsunagi. The taiyoukai merely answered with a small growl of annoyance. "I'll take that as a no. Well, then, it needs a name!" She sat watching the little firefly as it started to change colors. "You must be related to Tsunagi!" Sesshoumaru's curiosity was sparked. Who was Tsunagi? His question was answered when she continued. "Lets see…His name is Tsunagi…so why don't I call you…Hyourin?" both little fireflies brightened before the quickly floated away to the children.
A thin eyebrow was raised, again, as Sesshoumaru watched his mate. "Hyourin? Tsunagi? You -named- them?" he asked.
"Yes. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go to sleep." She replied. Sesshoumaru said nothing as he stood, took her bowl and walked away. Kagome watched as he gave the bowl to Sango and walked back toward her, passing her and sitting at the base of the tree nearest to her. 'To protect me, most likely.' She thought to herself with a smile. She turned back to her friends. "Sango-chan, I'm going to sleep now, I'm really tired."
Sango looked back. "Okay. Goodnight, Kagome-chan."
"Oyasuminasai." Kagome responded. Before long, the miko was tucked safely in her nebukuro, breathing evenly as she fell into the realm of sleep.
Sango walked over to the taiyoukai and quietly asked, "Would you like something to eat, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru only replied with one word and his icy glare. "No."
Sango gulped. "O-okay. Oyasuminasai." She said just before walking away. Sesshoumaru didn't reply.
As Sesshoumaru sat against the tree, surveying the camp, he studied his new companions. Sango put the remainders of the food away before going to her own sleeping bag and going to sleep. She didn't fall asleep right away, however. The taiyoukai watched in slight amusement as the taijia glared daggers at the houshi as Miroku lay in his own bed, exceedingly close to the exterminators. He continued on, looking for Rin and Shippou. He found his pups (he now considered both as his) curled up against the ebony-haired, and greatly intriguing miko. He was almost jealous of the kit as he slept, curled up against Kagome's back, nose buried in the tip of his little tail. Rin had fallen asleep on the other side of Kagome.
As he tore his eyes away from the little scene, he searched for the final member of their party, his annoying half-brother, Inuyasha. He found the hanyou sitting up in a tree on the left side of their camp, from where the taiyoukai sat. Inuyasha surveyed the area, spotting for danger, before turning his golden orbs upon his brother, glaring daggers at him. Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly. He ignored his brother, turning his eyes on his new little family before closing them, appearing as though he was asleep. He heightened his senses, listening to everything around him. Smells drifted past his nose, most unpleasant, but they were almost covered up by the alluring scent of Kagome; suzuran and a fresh spring rain. He could never grow weary of that scent. Never.
The silver-haired taiyoukai drew his right knee to him and used it as an armrest as he continued to keep watch with his sense of smell and hearing. His ear twitched slightly as a suspicious sound drifted to him. Opening his eyes slightly, Sesshoumaru looked in the direction the sound was coming from and found… a smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as an elegant eyebrow rose up just slightly. 'I had no idea Inuyasha snored. Perhaps I should…ask him about it later…' he thought with amusement. 'I wonder how he was ever able to protect his friends before. Certainly not by sleeping.' A new scent drifted to the taiyoukai's nose as he thought. He looked down at his arm to see Tsunagi and Hyourin sitting there. Their glow was a royal blue, and it was light, illuminating nothing beyond Sesshoumaru's sleeve. Lifting his eyebrow again, the taiyoukai closed his eyes once again, choosing to ignore the little annoyances.
He smirked as he remembered the look Inuyasha had given him earlier. 'Just being here ticks the Hanyou off…now I can hardly wait for him to learn of Kagome's little secret…' Little did he know, that Kagome's secret would surprise everyone there, including the taiyoukai and the miko…
~~*~~
LK: ::grin:: An evil thing to say at the end…but then again, that's why I put it there!
Lara: That…isn't really a cliffhanger…
LK: I know. But, there ya go. Chapter 2. I think I'm gunna try to update this fic every Monday, if not, I'll be sure to let you know… Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this! Wow, I'm so happy with all of the reviews! 33 and 30 in only the first two days!! Of course, I'm still waiting for two other reviews, from my friends, ::nudges Soli and Brit-chan:: ^. ~ I really hope you all liked this, now then…I -do- have a plot, amazingly, and it will be showing up soon. Although I think this fic has several plots to it…hm…Well, I guess I should get started on the next chapter! Oh, I suppose I should thank my reviewers first, huh?
Lara: Uh, yeah, I think they'd like that.
LK: ^^; okay, here they are. Thank you, mina, for reviewing!! ^_^
Thanks to: Sunstar, Shenya, boo21, silverstar-monk, Silver Dragon Myst, profile20, Mistress Fluffy, dark angel-justice, kagome-reborn, Kalika, Sesshoumorru, Inu-Leeli, Kinyta, Rei, uniko3000, Mala Valva, Tokyo Bunny, tessa, Angelie, hot_anime_babe, jen, tara, Cinderelly, Raven, Peaches, Poppadop, nari-thundergirl, Micah, Shadow, Zoe Tellerman, Sanjiian, and Ely Siriar. Thank so much for reading this!! ^_^ And I really hope you'll all check out my next Inuyasha fic that will most likely be up after I finish this, maybe when I'm mostly through it. Ja ne~!!
LK: Oh, and to let you peps know, I think FF.N's word count is off by about 422 words…So just so that you know, the word count on here is according to my Word program. Well, Ja ne~!! ^_^
~~*~~
Japanese Translations:
Suzuran – Lily of the Valley
Nebukuro – sleeping bag
~*~
Words: 5, 725
Pages: 11 (technically, 10. This little bit doesn't count page wise…)
Written: June 27, 2003
Finished: 11:18 PM
~*~