Chapter 10
Her Time
She caught on quickly, he would definitely give her that. It didn't take long for her to figure out how to take care of the household. It was simple enough since he didn't have a large one to begin with, not like some of the other lords whose houses retained their entire clan, like the ookamiyoukai, or their armies and servants, like the birdyoukai.
No, his was very small and simple, just the way he liked it. He loved his privacy and hated it when others intruded. Still, for some reason he didn't feel intruded upon by Kagome's presence. It must have been her scent, which was strangely relaxing.
The week went by so quickly he never even noticed until Sekira asked him what they would need to pack for their trip tomorrow. He informed her that only a change of clothes and some food for Kagome and the children was necessary.
Kagome was so tired by the end of the day that she was out cold the moment her head hit the pillow. In fact, she had also forgotten about their planned visit. Thus, she was truly surprised when Sekira laid out traveling clothes for her and Shippo and Rin were a thousand times more hyper then normal.
"How come you're so excited today?" She asked them sweetly as she joined them.
Sesshomaru rarely came down to breakfast with them, but today he had.
"Of course we are excited. We get to so Inuyasha and the others." Shippo shouted in joy.
Kagome blinked several times, than her face lit up in joy as well.
"It's been a week already?" She exclaimed.
"Yep. Sesshomaru-sama said I could come to." Rin said excitedly.
"That's great Rin-chan. When are we leaving?" She asked, turning her attention to him.
"After you eat." He answered calmly.
Kagome smiled and began to eat, the kids cheering her on. She most certainly did not resemble the Lady of the Western Lands at that moment. He had never seen her eat so quickly and was a little astonished, and highly amused. He hid his smile behind a sip of his tea.
When she was finished the kids bolted ahead of them as they walked a little more refined to the stables were Ah-Un was already saddled up and waiting, some supplies packed on his back for the two day trip.
The trip went uneventfully. Rin and Shippo alternated ridding Ah-Un and running amok all over the place. Kagome just smiled as she walked next to him, her scent radiating out in the simple joy she felt for walking through their lands.
It was this moment he truly felt a small tinge of bliss. Shippo and Rin were sleeping peacefully on Ah-Un and his mate walked silently beside him, matching his pace with her own. Her scent strong and relaxing. It was perhaps the most peaceful moment of his life.
Of course it didn't last long. The scent of his brother disturbed his peace first, followed by the scent of rain. There was going to be a thunder storm tonight. Kagome seemed to pick up his agitation, silently entwining her hand with his.
He glanced down at her in surprise, although none of it showed on his face. She kept her gaze straight as she answered his unspoken question.
"Where I come from, couples hold hands to indicate ownership of each other."
"What else do they do?" He asked, slightly curious.
"Well, sometimes the male gives his jacket to the female to wear. Sometimes the male puts his arm around the females shoulder when they are sitting or standing." She answered.
"I see."
Shippo and Rin were walking ahead of them at this point, both of them skipping cheerfully down the road. Finally, the Kitsune picked up Inuyasha's scent.
"Inuyasha." Shippo cried as he bolted down the road.
Sure enough, the Hanyou jumped down from his tree and caught the flying kit. Rin followed a little more slowly and hesitantly. She remembered him from the incident with Kohaku and trusted anything Shippo trusted.
"Took you long enough." He snorted to them as Shippo perched on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha." Kagome sighed.
"Come on. Sango and Miroku are waiting with Keade."
He turned his back on them and started marching down the hill to the village. Many people gave him strange looks, but non of them dared to challenge him. Kaede was waiting for them in front of her house, offering a bow to them as Kagome walked up to her and hugged the elderly Miko.
"Kagome-chan." Sango called as she, Kirara and Miroku appeared.
She hugged Sango, but held up a hand to stop Miroku.
"I am afraid I can't allow that Miroku-sama." She apologized.
Miroku blinked, then smiled.
"My apologise Kagome-sama. As a houshi, I should have known better." Miroku turned and bowed respectfully towards Sesshomaru. "Our thanks for permitting us to see our friend."
He ignored the houshi, though was pleased by the difference they were shown him. If only his brother would take a few lessons.
"How are you doing?" Sango asked cheerfully.
"If I have to look at another report, I'm going to explode." She answered with a smile.
Sango chuckled. "And here you were worried about becoming an ordainment."
"I almost wish I were. I have to go to the well and see my family for several hours, but I will be back." She promised.
"I'm going with you." Inuyasha said, coming up beside her and ignoring the glare his brother gave him.
"Um," She looked to Sesshomaru, knowing he was displeased by Inuyasha's statement. "Why?"
"Do I need a reason to want to see Souta and visit your family?" Inuyasha asked calmly.
"Um, no. I guess not." She looked to Sesshomaru again.
He was watching her, his displeasure clear, but clearly waiting and letting her make the choice.
"How about you both come?" She suggested. "I can show Inuyasha how to develop film so he can bring in Miroku's camera without me and I know my mother will want to see Sesshomaru-sama anyhow."
"Is that wise Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked calmly.
"It's only for a few hours." She answered, though she continued to look at both brothers, clearly feeling the tension between them. "Hopefully they won't tear all of Tokyo apart by then. Well, wish me luck."
She smiled at them as she fell into step behind Sesshomaru as they walked to the well. Inuyasha walked off to the side, ignoring his brother in favour of talking to her.
"There has been no sign of Naraku since you chased him off. He's probably plotting his revenge from hiding again." Inuyasha stated, talking to her as if Sesshomaru was not there.
She was impressed. Usually Inuyasha was the one who let his emotions get the best of them. However, this time it seemed as if Sesshomaru was the one upset. It was a strange turn of events indeed.
"Not surprising." She said knowingly.
She moved up next to Sesshomaru and took his hand in hers, moving in closer to him. Inuyasha ignored it as he continued to talk to her. Sesshomaru, however, did loosen up a little.
"Kouga returned back to his clan and promised to keep in touch about anything regarding Naraku. We've kept our ears out for rumours, but haven't picked anything up yet. What about you?"
"Nothing I've seen so far." She answered. "Sesshomaru-sama, anything from your reports?" She asked respectively.
"No." He answered simply.
She sighed, but turned her attention back to Inuyasha, who just continued to ignore his brothers discomfort. They stopped in front of the well, Kagome and Sesshomaru going through first, followed by a smirking Inuyasha.
They came out the other side and walked together to her house, just as her mother and little brother were leaving.
"Hi mom." She called cheerfully.
"Kagome, Inuyasha, Sesshomaru. How nice to see you? Are you staying long?"
"Just a few hours. Where are you going?" Kagome asked.
"To town."
"Oh. I have film that needs to be developed and I wanted to show Inuyasha how to do it. I don't suppose there is enough room in the car for all of us?"
"Of course there is dear. We can wait a few second if you want to change into something more appropriate. Inuyasha, Your hat is in the closet by the door as usual." Kagome's mother smiled a him.
"Keh. I hate the darn thing." He grumbled with a smile as he walked into the house, placed Tetsusagia in the closet and plopped the hat on.
"Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome hesitated. "It is forbidden to wear swords in this time period. Is there anyway I can convince you to leave Toukijin and Tenseiga here?" She asked respectfully.
He looked down at her, taking his attention away from Inuyasha for once.
"Please. I'll make it up to you latter, I promise." She almost begged.
He nodded his head as he took his swords off and placed them next to Inuyasha's.
Kagome smiled and bowed as she thanked him. She quickly explained to him what a car was and, of course, offered him the front seat. She, Inuyasha, and Souta sat in the back with Souta between them.
Souta and Inuyasha rambled to each other as Kagome filled her mother in on the things she had been learning as the Lady of the Western lands. She also pulled out her list and begged her mother for the cash to buy everything.
Her mother said she would spurn it if Kagome could bring back some cloth to make kimono's out of that her mother could sell. Kagome looked to Sesshomaru who merely nodded his head in agreement.
Trading for supplies was her responsibility, but this would require her to travel away from home, thus she needed his permission. She told her mother no problem, then turned her attention to Sesshomaru.
Outward he looked as calm and collected as always, but she could tell he was on edge, the new scenery, noises, and smells overloading his senses. His first was clenched so tightly he was drawing blood.
Inuyasha, of course, could smell it and couldn't help but to smirk at his brother behind his back. Kagome moved forward in her seat and wrapped her arms around him, whispering in his ear so Inuyasha couldn't hear.
"Your hand is bleeding." She said calmly.
He looked down at his clenched fist, instantly opening it. The cuts healed almost instantly. He turned his gaze out the window, astounded at the shear number of humans he was seeing.
"Where are all the youkai?" He asked calmly.
Kagome sighed.
"There aren't any. Or if there are, they are disguising themselves as humans."
"How could human's conquer youkai?" He asked disgusted.
"Humans invented technology. Look at this car for example. We are traveling at a fifty kilometres an hour right now, but we can get up to almost two hundred and keep that speed for many hours.
"Also, as fast as I have seen you move, you are not faster then a bullet."
"Bullet?"
"Bullets are projected by an item called a gun that launches many of them at speeds so fast that they can travel over a hundred yards in a fraction of a second. These guns can launch several hundreds of bullets a minute. Not even a youkai can dodge that many. Some bullets are designed for piercing inches of steel armour.
"There are other machines, like these cars, designed for war that have several inches of steel armour and have very large, more powerful guns attached to them. Kind of like comparing a crossbow to a ballista."
"I see." He said, understanding clearly how something that dangerous could put youkai in a bad spot. "Where are we going now?"
"To our version of a market. Um, Sesshomaru-sama. No one is going to know who, let alone what, you are, so they are going to be extremely disrespectful. I know it will be difficult not to put them in their place, but there are guards armed with these guns that keep the peace and they won't have a problem firing at you.
"Please try not to kill, harm, or maim anyone. If Inuyasha can keep his cool, then I certainly know you can. I promise I will make it up to you somehow."
He nodded his head.
"Thank you. I owe you a lot for this."
She smiled as she sat back in her seat. They arrived at a mall soon enough and it was crowded enough to put him on edge. She walked next to him, hand clasped in his and squeezing reassurance as they followed her mother through the parking lot and into the cool, air-conditioned building.
Instantly, Inuyasha was bolting to the food store, his nose following the smell of ramen noodles as Souta dived into a sports store. Kagome's mother stuck with them, after giving Inuyasha the bank card he and Kagome always used. He had watched Kagome use it enough times he knew how to.
Kagome wandered through the mall to the photo shop and handed in her film. Of course both she and Sesshomaru were getting odd looks, dressed in ancient attire as it was, never mind Sesshomaru had every girl within viewing distance drooling at him.
She was surprised she felt a twinge of jealousy, but pushed it aside. He wouldn't even look twice at the bimbo's in this place. He was still on alert, his senses tuned all around him and nearly being overloaded by the information being sent to him.
They promised to return for their photo's in an hour as she led him to the quieter section of the mall, away from all of the arcade games and to the large food court that had many private tables amongst the streams of goldfish and water falls, the plants offering privacy and the water drowning out the buzz.
"Where did Inuyasha go?" He asked, unable to hold back his curiosity anymore. The shop his brother had disappeared into had smelt strongly of many different kinds of food.
"Oh, a grocery store. They sell all types of prepared food, and other stuff. He loves Ramen. Inuyasha and I always went shopping when I came back to restock supplies and write my test."
She looked into the waterfall, her voice wistful as she remembered all the times they had done such a thing. Clearly she missed those days.
"I'm sorry." She shook her head and turned her attention back to him. "Are you hungry, my lord. I know you don't consume human food, but I know you haven't eating anything like what we serve here. Would you care to try something?" She asked.
He thought about it, then nodded his head.
"Alright. I'll be right back. I know you'll be able to follow my scent, but I am only going right over there." She pointed off to the side, then stood up, bowed, and left.
He waited patiently, following her scent and noticing when she came back that something was added to it. It was strange and appetizing. She set the tray between them and put down something before him in a strange container.
In the cup was tea, that he could tell, but the food before him was stranger.
"What is this?" He asked.
She smiled as she answered. "Chinese. Chicken chow main, sweet and sour pork, and beef teriyaki. If you don't care for it I'll understand."
He hesitantly tried some. It was surprisingly good for human food. It was not burnt or tasteless like most human food tended to be. While he would receive little nutritional value from it, it was still good.
"Do you like it my lord?" She asked.
"It is acceptable." He admitted.
Her smile widened.
"I'm glad. This stuff is good, but I can make better." She admitted. "I would happily cook some for you if you desire."
"I will consider it."
She started on her own meal, eating like she had been trained. This was how her friends found her. Sitting with a man who had every woman who set eyes on him hearts fluttering with both of them eating like a king and queen in court.
"Kagome-chan." Came an excited shout.
Kagome looked over to the three girls who had dared to intrude upon them, let alone dared to not offer her, or him, proper respect.
"Eri-chan, Yuka-chan, Ayumi-chan. How are you?" She greeted warmly.
The moment the girls eyes fell on Sesshomaru, there eyes lit up, caught in his stunning looks as well. All but Ayumi anyhow.
"Kagome. What are you wearing? It's astounding?" Ayumi gasped.
"Kagome, who is this?" Eri asked, pointing to Sesshomaru.
"Why did you drop school?" Yuka added.
"Please. One at a time. I am wearing a traditional Kimono that Sesshomaru-sama gave me. This is Sesshomaru-sama. I am unable to finish school because I moved to a new place." She answered.
"Moved? But your mother is still at the shrine. Kagome, did you move in with that jealous, hot tempered boyfriend of yours?" Eri challenged.
That arose Sesshomaru's curiosity, though he did not show it.
"No. I did not move in with Inuyasha." She sighed.
"Inuyasha? So that's his name." Eri shouted in triumph.
Kagome sighed again. She never had told her friends Inuyasha's name. She thought desperately, trying to find a way to let them know she was with Sesshomaru now without getting them upset about having missed the 'wedding.'
"Oh, Kagome. Are you engaged?" Yuka asked, pointing to the emerald and diamond ring Sesshomaru had giving her that she had never taken off.
"Bingo." She thought happily, her friend unknowingly giving her a way out. "Yes. I am. Eri-chan, Yuka-chan, Ayumi-chan, may I present Sesshomaru-sama. He comes from a very powerful and distinguished family."
The girls bowed politely to him.
"So when are you getting married?" Yuka asked.
"Um. We don't have a date set. Sesshomaru-sama is a very busy and important man, and I am busy helping him. If we do decide on a date, you'll be among the first to know. I promise."
"Kagome. That is so great. Does Hojo-kun know?" Eri asked.
"Um.. No. He doesn't."
"Who is Hojo?" Sesshomaru asked coldly, sending a child down all four girls spines.
"A friend of mine. He's kind of like a very, very, very timid version of Kouga." Kagome answered.
"Who's Kouga?" Ayumi asked, blinking her eyes in confusion.
"Another friend of mine you've never met. The one who declared me his woman. I told you about it a few years ago."
"I remember." Ayumi said dreamily.
Kagome sighed as her two friends looked at Ayumi as if she were weird.
"It was great to see you again, but we really must finish our lunch and get going." Kagome interrupted anymore of their questions.
While outward he remained emotionally calm, she could tell Sesshomaru was at the end of his patients. Her friends wished her goodbye, received promises to call and left, chattering away at each other about who they were all going to tell about Kagome's engagement to some rich and handsome businessman.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama, for having patients in dealing with my friends. They don't know youkai exist and just assumed you were a businessman of some sort. I have a lot I am going to have to make up for today."
Her apology cooled his temper a bit. The way he was banking her apologies and promises to pay him back, he would be able to ask for anything come evening. He was already making and tossing ideas about what it was she would do to pay him back.
They finished eating and returned to the photo shop to pick up their film. She stopped by another store and bought the gear on her list for schooling Rin and Shippo before meeting her mother and Souta on the walk back to the food store, where Inuyasha was piled under pounds of groceries.
Souta and her mother helped him carry the bags. Kagome also almost offered to help, but Sesshomaru had her hand again and she was sure he would be furious with her if she offered to help his brother. Already he had bent his patients for her today further then he normally would have.
Inuyasha nodded his head to her, indicating his understanding of her predicament when she looked at him with sorrowful eyes. The trip back to the car was silent, but the trip home was full of excited talk as she showed her pictures to Souta.
"Wow. You look stunning sis. What kind of youkai is that?" Souta asked.
Kagome chuckled as she explained who the people in the pictures were, setting one set aside for her mother, one set for her friends, and keeping the last set for herself. Inuyasha had claimed Miroku's film immediately and went through them quickly, dividing the set up and giving Kagome her half.
She smiled as she quickly went through them, then frowned when she noticed there was one missing.
"Inuyasha, there are only twenty-five here. Where is the last one?" She asked.
"That's all of them." He answered calmly, still looking out his window.
Kagome frowned. Then reached over and grabbed the pile from his lap.
"Oi!" He shouted.
She quickly went through them, fending Inuyasha off until Sesshomaru calmly caught one of his hands in his own. Inuyasha scowled at his brother, paying attention to him for the first time.
"Oh." Kagome gasped as she found the picture Miroku had taken of her, Sesshomaru and Shippo. "I never knew he took this."
"Keh." Inuyasha finally wrenched his hand free from his brother.
"Lets see." Souta asked.
She showed him the picture.
"You look so peaceful Kagome." Her brother commented.
"Hai." She agreed.
"Let me see." Sesshomaru commanded.
She pocketed the backup before handing the picture up to him. He looked at it for several seconds, silently admitting it was peaceful and also vowing to kill the houshi when he got back.
"Can I have it back my lord?" She asked respectfully and quietly.
He debated destroying it. Such evidence of his weakness must be destroyed before others saw it. However, Kagome clearly wished to keep it. He held onto it. She sighed, but didn't argue with him, casting Inuyasha an apologetic glance.
They returned home, gathered their swords, and went through the well, Kagome once again bagged down with a suitcase of the rest of her stuff. She wished her family a goodbye as they went through the well.