Disclaimer: I don't own the lyrics in this chapter. They are once again from "Dearest" by Ayumni Hamasaki. ~ Nev
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Chapter Six: The Nightmare
After the raymen dinner, which had been a success, Kagome took Rin back up to her room to read one of the fairy tales to her. "Kagome-chan?" Rin asked, scooting closer to her. The miko smiled down at her. Rin grinned right back. "Will you stay here and look after me forever?" the younger pleaded, grabbing onto Kagome's hands.
"Rin," Kagome spoke softly as she ran her hand gently over Rin's head. She hadn't decided whether to stay here or move on. It was true she had little to go back to. Inuyasha was with Kikyo now, not her. Sango, her best friend was going to be married to her other companion, Miroku. There was little for her back at Kaede's village.
On the other hand, how could she stay here? Sesshomaru certainly didn't like her. If not for Rin, there was no doubt in her mind that the Lord of the Western Lands would have left her to die in his wilderness. But how could she leave when this one girl valued her presence so much? Rin loved her and wanted her to stay here. Was the demon Sesshomaru going to keep Kagome from staying with a child whose presence she also enjoyed?
"Rin," she repeated, leaving her private thoughts. Kagome was interrupted by a deep masculine voice.
"It's time for bed, Rin," Sesshomaru entered the room.
The younger girl stood up, her small hand still encased in Kagome's. "Tuck me into bed," she begged, leading the girl past the demon with the flowing white hair.
Seeing the jealousy in Sesshomaru's gaze, Kagome stopped the girl. "Don't you want Sesshomaru to do it, Rin?" she asked, hoping the human girl would say yes.
"No, you!" the girl whined, pulling Kagome out the door. Giving up, she followed her down the corridors to her room.
Unaware of the pair of golden eyes, which trailed them, Kagome entered Rin's room. The girl had already leapt up into her bed. Kagome sat down on the edge of the bed. Carefully, the priestess tucked the child under the covers, wrapping the cloth tight around her body to secure the heat and keep her warm.
"There you go," she smiled warmly.
"Sing something to me, Kagome-chan!" Rin commanded, giving another tug on the opposite girl's hands.
"What do you want to hear?"
"A lullaby," Rin said as if it were obvious.
Kagome thought for a moment. "Alright," she agreed, "I'll sing you something my mother used to sing me to sleep with."
"Yay!" Rin clapped, then settled herself deeper into the covers so she could hear Kagome's sweet voice.
"It would be nice if we could put away and throw out everything except what really mattered, but reality is just cruel. In such times, I see you laughing whenever I close my eyes. Until the day I reach eternal sleep, that smiling face will have to stay with me without fail. People are all sad, so they go and forget, but-- For that which I should love, For that which gives me love, I will do what I can. Back then, when we met, it was all awkward. We went the long way, didn't we? We got hurt, didn't we? Until the day I reach eternal sleep, that smiling face will have to stay with me without fail. Back then, when we met, it was all awkward. We went the long way, didn't we? We got there in the end," Kagome finished in an almost silent whisper.
By the time she had completed the song, the girl was fast asleep. "Goodnight, Rin," she said while getting off the bed.
From the doorway, a dark shadow moved before pale blue eyes could catch him spying on her. On Sesshomaru's face was a slight smirk as he watched Kagome leave Rin's room. He hadn't expected her to sing. She was very loving to his charge, but to sit there and sing such a beautiful song was not within the main duties of her service. He was thinking this through when he saw her head toward the gardens.
He didn't know why she would be venturing out there at this time of night, but he was going to find out. He had a few questions of his own for her. And he would be receiving answers from her, one way or the other, whether she wanted to give them to him or not.
Meanwhile, out in the main garden, Kagome was sitting on the edge of the fountain. Her head was tilted upward as she stared wonderingly at the heavens. All the stars above her glistened, their pure white light enhanced by their dark back-drop. Back in her time, scientists knew everything about outer space, but here she wasn't sure if anyone even thought about that kind of thing.
The sound of water falling behind her soothed the immense cloud of nervousness that she had experienced when Sesshomaru had come to tell Rin it was bed time. The pain he had tried to hide in his eyes was fragile. She knew he was the most well tempered demon and she had tried to make a point of avoiding conflict with him. However, when it came to what Rin wanted, things went haywire.
When she had been allowed to visit her family, she had taken a special notice of certain details. For instance, when her mother was troubled by something her hands shook slightly. Kagome had noticed this when her mother had poured her a cup of tea while she was informing her why she had to return through the well.
Now, ever since she had begun to see small details like that, she was noticing more and more behavior patterns of the lord she served. Sesshomaru showed very little emotion if you looked for it in his motions or tone of voice. Those aspects of expression he could manipulate. It was the ever changing look within his eyes that gave him away.
When he was angry, or jealous, as he had been tonight, something flickered in the back of his mysterious amber orbs. She hadn't been around long enough to see him happy, but she was going to find out what it took to make someone as cold as him more pleasant.
A chill ran up her spine as the cool night's breeze, managed to get down her shirt. Ready to return indoors, she stood, brushing herself off. Kagome took one step, then froze.
Sesshomaru stood there looking down at the girl who was only about half a foot away from him. She was obviously startled by his presence, but she had yet to say something, which he found rather amusing. More often than not she always had a comeback.
"Is there something you want?" Kagome asked, finally finding her voice after what seemed like an eternity had passed.
"I have some questions for you, concerning my charge," he replied, speaking in a very lord-like tone. It was full of regal cord, authority, and power. She barely managed a nod before he continued. "Rin has taken a great liking to her, but in my opinion, you miss your family and friends. Why didn't you leave when you had a chance?"
By chance he meant when she had gone home for five days to visit her family. There was no possible way for him to follow her down the well and then she could have returned to meet up with Sango and the others once she had returned. What surprised him was that she hadn't. She hadn't taken advantage of his generosity and left behind his back.
"As hard as it might be for you to understand this, I care about Rin," she stated. "I have an obligation to take care of her because I promised I would but I continue to care for her because I want to."
Sesshomaru blinked. There was a pause of silence for a minute. Kagome thought he was done and moved to leave, but he started up again.
"When would you need to see your family again?"
She stopped walking. He was going to let her visit again? She had wanted to stop by at least once a month to check in on her mother and help Sota with his homework. After all, by now it was no use thinking about college. She had no time for it, or a job. She was too busy in the feudal era.
"If I could see them once a month for a few days. I'd appreciate it," she told him, trying to remain on polite grounds.
This time he gave her a small nod. "As you wish." He continued to stare at her.
"More questions?" she asked, letting the annoyance she felt become the prominent tone of her voice.
"Yes, actually," he growled, "I have one more."
"Well it can wait 'til tomorrow morning," she hissed, continuing on her way.
A shocking amount of pressure became applied to her right wrist. Sesshomaru tugged her forward, roughly. "When I want to ask a question, I will ask it. You need to learn your place, human."
"My name," she snapped through gritted teeth, "is Kagome. Ka-Go-Me."
Sesshomaru's chest puffed up. He didn't seem to be pleased, in fact, he looked down right murderous. His golden eyes grew dark red and she could swear his fangs were getting larger. "No one," he said so silently she could hardly hear him, "corrects the Lord of the Western Lands."
Bravely, Kagome pushed her luck even further. "I don't see anyone worthy of being called a lord here."
"You are walking on a thin line, human. You'd do well to remember not to be so bold around me," he grumbled, losing his angry features. He shoved her to the ground by barely touching her, then left her to think about what had just occurred.
She didn't have long to ponder why he had left so suddenly. Someone was screaming and that someone was Rin. Forgetting all about her latest encounter with Sesshomaru, Kagome darted out of the gardens, into the castle, and up the stairs with lightning speed. "Rin!" she cried, throwing open the doors.
The child pulled her face out of Sesshomaru's chest and looked over at her. "Kag-Kagome?" Rin whispered. She crawled off her bed. Stumbling over, she threw herself into Kagome's arms.
"Rin, what happened?" Kagome asked quietly, stroking the girl's hair. Over the girl's head, she glanced at Sesshomaru. He was staring at the floor, not looking either at her or Rin.
"I had a dream," the child whimpered. "All the demons were after me. They wanted the jewel, but I wouldn't tell them where you were. They were going to kill me!" She started to cry again and Kagome held her in a comforting embrace.
"Shhh, it's okay. It was only a nightmare. Besides," she paused, glancing at Sesshomaru, who was still avoiding her gaze, "Sesshomaru-sama and I would never let anything happen to you." Sesshomaru raised his head to stare at her, but when she didn't back down under his gaze, he resumed glaring at the floor.
Rin wiped at her cheeks, her palm becoming damp. Kagome smiled, understandingly at her when she requested an encore of the lullaby. As soon as she approached the bed, Sesshomaru go up and left. Rin's eyes showed her hurt, but she allowed Kagome to tuck her in and sing her to sleep.
Once the miko was done, she kissed Rin's forehead. Where she had touched the girl there now glowed a mark in the shape of her lips. It was shinning for a moment, then disappeared, a secret blessing to rid Rin's mind of nightmares. Pleased with herself, Kagome exited the room, closing the doors behind her softly.
"She cares about you almost as much as you care about her," a soft but tense voice told her in the dark corridor.
"She cares about you just as much," Kagome returned, dropping her sky blue eyes to the marble floor. She wanted to tell Sesshomaru about how Rin had been hurt by his leaving, but she didn't want to start another fight with the youkai. She had had enough for one evening.
"Hmm," he closed his eyes, thinking. "That may be," he spoke in the same tone as before, "but you are the kind of person she needs in her life right now. Rin is growing older each day. That is something I can not turn my back on. The more of a woman she becomes the more I must fight to ensure her safety."
Kagome remembered when she had her encounter with the Thunder Brothers. Even after all these years, she was still scarred by how they had treated women. She imagined there were other demons out there like Hiten and Manten, or ones that were worse. Either way, it provided a great threat to Rin.
Sesshomaru saw the worry on the miko's face. He knew his half-brother had killed numerous demons to save her. Inuyasha had even faced him down a number of times to protect her. He figured she had probably had her share of lustful attackers. After all, she was gorgeous. But she's a human, he reminded himself, nothing more.
"Go to bed, priestess," he told her, heading to his own chambers to retire.
Kagome watched him until he disappeared behind the corner at the end of the hall. With a sigh that made her shoulders slump, she went to her room like she had been commanded to.
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A small breeze billowed into a hut some many miles away. "The wind changed! I can smell her!" Inuyasha cried, leaping to his feet. He sent his dinner bowl toppling over onto the ground. Rice spilled all over the dirt floor of Kaede's hut. Kikyo, as well as everyone else, glanced up at him.
"Is it Kagome?" Sango asked, hopefully, Kelala's ears perking up at the sound of her master's hopeful voice.
"Yes," Inuyasha's eyes suddenly growing dark, "and my brother, Sesshomaru," he growled.
"Sesshomaru? What would Sesshomaru want with Kagome?" Shippo asked.
"Perhaps he wishes for someone to bare his child," Miroku said with a hint of light humor that no one appreciated. "Or not…"
Baring his teeth, Inuyasha left the hut, followed by everyone but Kaede and Shippo, who didn't stay behind voluntarily.
"Are we going to the well?" Sango questioned as she and Miroku rode on Kelala's back to keep up with Inuyasha, who had Kikyo on his back, where Kagome normally was.
"Yes," he grumbled.
Sango and Miroku exchanged looks from where they sat. Inuyasha had always been protective of Kagome, but now that he had Kikyo, they had thought he'd forget about her. On the contrary, he seemed to be acting like an actual friend.
The group reached the Bone Eater's Well. It still had the stench of Naraku's decay and Sango held her nose. Kikyo made a face, Miroku stepped back, and even Kelala tried to dismiss the grotesque scent. Of course, this didn't keep Inuyasha from sniffing every inch of the well to gather Kagome's scent.
"She was here alright," he told them, not looking very happy. "I'd say maybe this morning even."
"Why didn't she tell us she was going home?" Sango asked, worried.
"Kagome always told us when she was going to see her family on the other side. Why not tell us now?" Miroku pointed out.
"She was kidnapped," Inuyasha stated angrily. "I can smell Sesshomaru just as well as I can smell her. He probably saw her climbing out of the well and took off with her."
"But why? He has nothing to gain by taking her. Kikyo already gave him the Tetsusaiga," Sango insisted.
"Kagome has the Shikon Jewel," Inuyasha hissed as if it were obvious.
"She would never give it to him," Kikyo surprised them all by finally speaking. "She is a smart woman and has a great deal of power. Had she truly been captured I have no doubt she would find a way out of his prison."
Inuyasha clenched his hands into fists, "Then what's your explanation?"
Sango caught onto what Kikyo was hinting at. There was no other way. The two woman shared an understanding glance and nodded. Miroku got it and sighed, shaking his head. Inuyasha wasn't going to be happy. Sango closed her eyes, "She went on her own free will."
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A/N: Uh-oh! Inuyasha isn't going to like the sound of that Sango. And what is going on with Fluffy? He let it slip that he thinks Kagome is pretty. Hehehe, oh how I love my niffty little cliffhangers. More soon! But you have to work for it. Review! ~ Nev