There's something in the air
Burning ions in the oxygen
We're all aglow
A feeling everywhere
Premonitions of the storm that comes
But I won't go
5 Waiting On The Sky To Change
The rising sun rode in upon a glorious dawn. Rays of light filtered through the dyed rice paper, gliding across the floor in purples, blues, reds, yellows.
Sesshomaru no longer resided in the miko's personal room, having been given his own as he continued to recuperate. The slow pace at which he healed had alarmed him initially. The poison his enemies had created to subdue him was, at the very least, effective. At the most, lethal.
He could not allow himself to fall beneath another of those poison-tipped arrows, nor would he. The silver lining in all of this was that they'd missed their only opportunity to defeat him.
How long, he wondered, had they been cultivating such a poison? How long had they been plotting against him, the treacherous fools?
They'd signed their own death certificates with that treachery, and he would soon call upon them to claim their lives.
With revenge in his heart, Sesshomaru rose when the colorful rays of light reached the edge of his futon. He tested his range of motion as he dressed in his own clothing, grateful once more as the miko had proven capable of removing even the worst of the blood staining his white silk.
He had to admit to himself that she was quite the versatile female. Although, a jack of all trades is a master of none, as they say.
Sesshomaru paused as he pulled on a leather boot, his shoulder twinging less than the previous day. He supposed the assessment of her wasn't entirely fair. Though she seemed to be skilled at many things, she was, indeed, skilled.
Perhaps not a master, but close to it. She'd proven rather useful, nonetheless.
Dressed, he slid the door open, stepped out onto the veranda and into the warm sunlight.
The miko's garden was vibrant. Shades of red, green and orange foliage. The white and gray of the stones. The ripple of the blue-green pond. Songbirds and hummingbirds and other flying creatures.
It did not lack for warmth, despite its notable lack of the miko or his brother.
Inhaling deeply, he tried to catch the scent of his hostess. It trailed into the garden and he followed it sedately through the colorful foliage until it led him to a gravel path.
Passing through a wooden archway, he came upon a different kind of garden. The scents emitting from some of the plants were strong, though not strong enough to deter him.
Finally, he laid eyes on his target. She knelt, tending to a plant, her hands hidden within a pair of gloves. A wicker basket rested beside her, nearly filled with greenery.
To his surprise, she wasn't alone.
Jaken was nearby, babbling on about some thing or another. Ah-Un was curled comfortably beneath a shade tree slightly further away.
"My lord!" Jaken screeched, causing the miko to flinch hard and send a glare at the kappa.
"For the millionth time, Jaken," she said through clenched teeth, clearly trying to contain her temper. "He's fine. He'll find you when he's ready to."
When she realized Jaken stared beyond her with watery eyes, she turned in Sesshomaru's direction, her face heating. "Oh."
Sesshomaru paused, taking in the different herbs she was growing and handling. Some he recognized immediately, some only vaguely, but many he recognized not at all.
He finally turned his attention to his trembling lackey. "Jaken; you have been giving the miko a difficult time."
"Never," the kappa whispered reverently, falling to his knees in exaltation. He gazed, wide eyed, at Sesshomaru as if he'd disappear at any moment.
Twin dragon heads had popped up from where they lounged, each meeting Sesshomaru's eyes before snorting softly in acknowledgement and laying back down.
"What is it you grow here?" Sesshomaru inquired of the miko, peering around once more at the plentiful garden.
"Herbs," she said, turning her attention back to the plants. "Spices."
"Many of these plants are unknown to me."
There was a question in his comment, and Kagome had a petty internal debate. He didn't want to answer her questions or share his secrets, so why should she share hers?
More than that, on the less petty side of things, these plants were her livelihood and she wasn't sure she wanted to share the knowledge just yet. She'd shared aplenty already, bringing trade into the village and helping it to grow and prosper.
In the last decade, the villagers lives, for the most part, had only improved. She shared her wealth in that capacity and often donated funds to those who needed it in any other regard.
She had the means – more than the means – to do so, and would continue to do so, but she wouldn't share the source of her livelihood.
It may have been selfish, but she understood supply and demand. Flood the market with goods, lower the prices to compete, and they no longer held the same value.
She lived a very comfortable life, and she wasn't about to give that up.
But Sesshomaru wasn't just anyone.
And perhaps she could use this to her advantage.
She turned her conspiring smirk into what she hoped was a pretty smile and unleashed blue eyes upon him.
"Are you asking me what they are? Where they come from?" She asked with very subtle coyness. "What use they have? What I do with them?"
"I didn't ask anything, miko."
Her smile grew. Most people found his pride intolerable, or so she'd heard. However, Kagome found it endearing.
He expected people to read between the lines, but he was oftentimes so dispassionate that instead of delving deeper, most people wrote him off as an ass. And, true, his expectations may be slightly unfair, but all the better for Kagome.
It meant her competition was slim where Sesshomaru was concerned. Not because he wasn't desired – far from it. It was because not many people dared to delve too deeply with him.
He was an intimidating person. An impossible conquest to all.
But Kagome, she burned for him. Burned for his touch. For the incendiary words that fell from shameless lips. For the drag of his lethal claws across her heated, yearning flesh.
He was a challenge she accepted many times over. His expectations drove her to reach for the star in their solar system, become its conqueror and bring it back to him as an offering. She wanted to wrap herself in Angora silk, place a red bow upon her body and serve herself up as a gift.
She wanted, so badly, for him to just see her.
And he never did. Despite her past, wasted efforts, he never saw her. Not before Naraku. Not after. Not when she brought rare and exotic plants back from her birth world, planted and harvested and ground down the roots and seeds and sold them for spices previously unheard of and untasted.
She'd accumulated a vast wealth in the last ten years. She never, ever flaunted it, though she still wanted him to see. So she had a sizable, comfortable – though, still modest – home built for her and Inuyasha, who lived with her. She wore modest clothing, though the material was of finer making. She treated Rin to many of the finer things in life, knowing word of it would reach his ears – though that wasn't why she did it.
She'd even purchased or made worthwhile gifts for the daiyoukai in hopes he'd see and appreciate their use and value. In hopes he'd see and appreciate her.
But nothing she did had made a difference, and eventually her desire… her secret love for him became something she simply had to live with, without fulfillment.
When he fell into her pond, her world had stopped. For a moment in time, her heart had stopped beating, lungs had stopped expanding. For, the only reason he'd ever allow himself to be so graceless was if he was dead or dying.
She hadn't even realized until later that Inuyasha had appeared because she'd screamed – perhaps before jumping in to save Sesshomaru. That, and her reiki had become chaotic.
Kagome's smile and eyes softened as she gazed up at Sesshomaru where he towered over her in her garden.
"Didn't you?" She asked, knowing he had asked a question… he simply didn't wish to explain himself further. A senseless way to live, but it seemed to work for him. Suddenly feeling bold, she removed her gloves and stood, heaving her basket against a shapely hip. "I'll tell you. If you really wish to know."
His eyes flashed, narrowed, sensing some other meaning behind her words – reading between the lines.
If he wanted her to sate his curiosity, she demanded that he first admit he was curious.
The devious woman.
He pressed his lips together and she laughed at his ire.
"It's good to see you up and about," she said, resting her free hand on his upper arm, her hand warming his silk and his skin. "I'm relieved."
Her genuine words, like the warmth of her hand, lingered even after she'd walked past him, back toward her home.
Still curious, Sesshomaru bent over a grouping of white and green, inhaling the subtly sweet scent of the plant. Intrigued, he plucked a few leaves before popping them into his mouth, chewing.
He didn't recognize the plant, but it's leaves were fresh and sweet.
Turning, he trailed after the miko, stretching the muscles in his injured shoulder.
"Jaken, what of Rin?" He paused, eyeing the kappa over his shoulder.
"She is worried for you, milord."
"Is she safe?"
"Yes. The slayer is aware of the threat. He swore to remain watchful."
"Good. I need you to do something for me."
Jaken hurried over to Sesshomaru, prostrating himself. "Anything milord! You need only command it, and it will be done."
He spat the chewed leaves into the plant beside him, golden eyes turning westward.
"Go and survey the High Council. Remain hidden. You are only to watch and listen. Learn. Gather information and bring it back to me here."
"Yes, milord!" Jaken said, bowing multiple times as he backed away toward Ah-Un who was already ambling to his feet. "Immediately, milord!"
"Jaken."
"Yes, milord?" The kappa's eyes were wide and bright, almost feverish with the desire to do his lords bidding.
"Do not get caught."
Jaken, who knew his lord better than anyone else, also knew to read between the lines. It was because of this that his eyes pooled anew, and his bottom beak trembled noisily against his top.
"I will remain safely within the shadows, milord."
"See that you do," Sesshomaru commanded before disappearing beneath the wooden arch, trailing Kagome once more.
He had a proposition for the miko.