She awoke, a sharp pain shooting down her spine. Turning to investigate, she discovered she had fallen asleep on the floor, back pressed against her prison bars, legs stretched out before her. She could have chosen to sleep on the mildly comfortable burlap cot, but defiance towards her captor had prompted her not to.
Suddenly becoming aware of a squirming bundle on her lap, she glanced down, looking somewhat surprised at the little girl she found to be desperately clinging to her slim waist. "Rin-chan," the miko softly spoke the child's name, gently stroking the top of her head.
Said girl's warm chocolate eyes slowly fluttered open. "Kikyou-sama?" she sounded groggy. However, it was not a minute more before she fully awoke, back to her usual, perky self.
"Rin is hungry!" the small girl declared, tumbling out of Kikyou's lap. "Sesshoumaru-sama is always waiting with breakfast for Rin when Rin wakes up!"
"He cooks?" Kikyou looked more than a tad surprised as she arched a brow in inquiry.
"No," Rin admitted, with an energetic little bounce of her head. "Sesshoumaru-sama just brings it. It is Jaken-sama who makes it for Rin."
"Jaken?" Kikyou questioned, looking slightly overwhelmed at all this new information.
"Yup!" Rin babbled on, oblivious to the miko's confusion. "He's this short and ugly and green little toad man!"
"O-oh..." Kikyou did not quite know what to say to that.
"Impertinent child!" a voice squawked, interrupting Rin's bout of giggles at the miko's reaction. "Have you no respect for those older and superior than yourself?"
Rin's head cocked to the side and she radiated with innocence. "But if Jaken-sama is older than Rin, why is he shorter than Rin?"
The olive-colored little creature visibly fumed and, stamping one of his little webbed feet, demanded in his rasping voice, "Stop asking such stupid questions, human girl. Such is the nature of my people and not up for the questioning of some foolish, fleshy child like yourself."
Kikyou could not help it: the combination of his awkward speech mannerisms and the indignant look that held his expression sent her into giggles herself.
"Enjoying yourselves, I see." a dry voice drawled from the doorway, causing Kikyou to look sharply in that direction and cover her mouth with the back of her hand, her laughter halting at once. It was apparent he had been there for some time.
"Milord!" Jaken cried, at once throwing himself down and prostrating at Sesshoumaru's feet. "You just stand idly by and let your most humble and loyal servant get mocked by these unworthy pests?"
Sesshoumaru merely sent a pointed look in his direction. The toad-like youkai fell silent immediately, though not before uttering a despondent, "Woe is unto me!"
Never taking his eyes off of Kikyou after fixing his gaze on her, his voice leveled and he commanded, "Take Rin up to the castle and fetch her something to eat, Jaken. I must speak with the shrine maiden."
"Y-yes milord!" he stammered and, in his haste to comply, tripped on his way out the door, sending Rin into peals of laughter once more.
Once she had conquered the urge to smile, Kikyou turned her eyes to Sesshoumaru, her gaze unwavering. "You wanted something?" her tone was bare of emotion, just like her expression.
At first he pointedly ignored her question, merely folding his arms and staring at her with something akin to defiance. However, in a moment, he relented. "Indeed."
"And what would that be?" she chose her words carefully.
His nose was twisted in the air with an arrogant thrust of his chin. "One would find herself well advised that company shall be arriving but shortly."
Kikyou's eyes narrowed. "If I remember correctly, I believe I told you I absolutely refuse to be confined to such close quarters with such a woman..."
His shoulders rolled into what could only be read as a shrug; a rather careless one, at that. "None of my concerns, miko..." he growled, his tone warning he had no time to deal with such petty complaints, particularly so those coming from one such as herself.
"You're absolutely loathsome... " she hissed, her eyes glinting with steely resolve. "And I shall never assist you."
He threw back his head and laughed, which alone, was a startling thing. "How amusing," he murmured, drawing closer. "What power do you think you hold over me, human? Pray tell, for your I must say, your little attitude as sparked my interest..."
When she did not answer him, his eyes grew even more cold and calculating, if at all possible. A few more moments of silence passed between them, during which it seemed they were having a battle of the minds, trying to see which one of them would bend and crumble under the other's will.
"So this is how you want to play?" Sesshoumaru's quiet voice broke the still air at last.
She stared straight ahead with an air of rebellion, refusing to meet his harsh gaze. "And if it is?" determined to get in the last word, she threw back a brief response, feeling quite churlish. This inadvertently fascinating creature known as Sesshoumaru seemed to have a knack for crawling right up under her decaying flesh. And it was really starting to irk her.
A/N: Update at long last! Fluff - without romance, though - will be coming soon, I assure you! And for those who have inquired how in hell's half acres these two could ever possibly get together at the rate things are going? Well you'll just have to see, won't you xD! Oh, I implore of you to check out my other InuYasha fics and review! *shameless plug* Oh, and if Lupin is your cup of tea, I have a story for that fandom too ^^...
If I don't do another update before Christmas (or even New Years ....) Happy Holidays!
Please Review!