Disclaimer: I don_ t own Inu Yasha.
This chappie contains some fluff, so if you don_ t like the pairing, or if you shouldn_ t be reading this, your warning is now.
I apologize ahead of time, I know this is going to be hard to read. I'm on vacation and therefore not using my PC. This one is old and reeeeaaaaally outdated. I think you can prob. figure out what's talking and what's thinking, so just kind off work your way through. Sorry this took so long, but I spent almost three days just getting this PC to translate to this point, it was all boxes before. Anyways………
_ are quotes
Last time: Sesshoumaru glared at Kagome. She mearly returned the favor.
_ Seshoooouuumaaaaruuuu-saaaammaaaa!_
A little girl, may be eight or nine came catapulting down the hall and flung herself at Sesshoumaru, clinging to his legs.
She whined into his pant leg, _ Sesshoumaru-sama left Rin. Rin wants to eat with Sesshoumaru-sama._
The girl withdrew from Sesshoumaru_ s pant leg, noticing Kagome.
Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru, _ Is pretty lady going to be Rin_ s new okaasan?_ (please tell me if that_ s not the right word!! ^.^; )
Sesshoumaru expected Kagome to go into angry hysterics. He was surprised to see her kneel down beside Rin and smile.
_ My name is Kagome. It_ s nice to meet you, Rin. I_ m sorry that Sesshoumaru-sama didn_ t come back soon enough. I_ m afraid I_ ve been distracting him. But we can go now, if you_ d like?_ Kagome asked.
Rin grabbed Kagome_ s hand, _ yes, Rin would like that._
Kagome stood and followed her down the hall to the dining room. Sesshoumaru followed them, utterly shocked. _ Rin never bonds with people that quickly. Why this girl? This& Kagome?_
Dinner was uneventful. Rin chattered to Kagome, who nodded and smiled. Sesshoumaru watched them silently, only speaking when Rin asked him a question.One of Sesshoumaru_ s servants, Jaken, came to collect Tin and the girl scampered off after bowing slightly and saying goodbye.
Kagome smiled as she watched Rin run off. She stood and was about to excuse herself when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She sat back down.
Kagome regarded Sesshoumaru weerily. Rin had cheered her up and she wasn_ t up to being belittled again.
Sesshoumaru looked at her, once again lost in her appearance. She held a regal heir, but she was not greedy or spiteful. She had a love for children, and appeared to love the outdoors. She had a well-toned figure, one that came from constant fighting. Yet she still had an inhuman graceful-like appearance. The way she moved, spoke, and slept were beautiful. Her eyes were a sparkling blue- wait blue?
Sesshoumaru asked surprised, _ your eyes are blue?_
Kagome blinked, startled. He had stopped her from leaving to ask her eye color? _ Hhmm& sometimes._
Sesshoumaru nodded, _ they were gray when you came out of your room._
Kagome looked calmly at Sesshoumaru. He was obviously curious. _ I probably shouldn_ t tell you this, but my eyes change colors according to my mood. Like if I_ m mad, they_ re grayish-blue, and if I_ m sad or serious they_ re gray,_ Kagome finished.
Sesshoumaru looked at her, _ they_ re blue now, why?_
Kagome smiled, _ because I_ m in a good mood._
Sesshoumaru frowned. _ This girl is getting to me. Why do I care what eye color she has? Why should I even notice such a petty thing?_
Because she_ s beautiful.
_ Shut up. She means nothing. Nor is she attractive. I have the right to know more about Rin_ s new caretaker._
caretaker? Shouldn_ t you ask her first?
_ She doesn_ t have a choice. She will do as I say._
Sessoumaru spoke coldly, _ Rin seems to have become rather attached to you. I have been looking for someone to care for her, and it seems you will assume that role. You will make sure she arrives to her morning classes on time, as well as meals. You will take her out in the afternoons. Your job is to make her happy and to protect her. You start tomorrow. I suggest you get some sleep._
Kagome narrowed her now gray-blue eyes. Kagome nodded. She spoke spitefully, _ you have yet to realize you have no authority over me. However, I am fond of Rin and so I will accept you kind offer. Good. Night. Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands._
Sesshoumaru growled, meaning to threaten her for her insolence. Before he opened his mouth however, she had turned and walked from the room.
I told you to ask her.
_ shut up._
Sesshoumaru left the dining hall and went to his study. He entered his library and shut the door behind him. He walked around the room unproductively. All the while thinking about his new aquisician.
_ Why didn_ t I strike her? If it had been anyone else, they would have been severly punished. Why not her? And what is Rin so attracted to? What does this girl have that keeps me so intrigued? I want to know her, or at the least, know about her. She is beautiful. Her father always said she was._
A look of shock passed quickly over Sesshoumaru_ s features. _ I_ ve never met her. For all the years I_ d known her father, I never met her. Why?_
Sesshoumaru got up uneasily and left his study. He would talk to her about this. He had to know why they_ d never met. He didn_ t understand, and he didn_ t like the feeling.
Sesshoumaru walked to her room, pausing outside the door to listen. He inhaled softly, and then again deeply. She was afraid.
Sesshoumaru opened the door quickly, but silently. He approached her quickly, bending over her lithe form in the bed. She was breathing rapidly and unevenly. Beads of sweat pearled on her face. She was shaking slightly, whimpering all the while.
Sesshoumaru was appalled. This girl was a princess. What things could she have experienced that would bring on a nightmare like this? What memory would bring on this type of horror? _ Wait. Memory? How do I know it_ s a memory?_
Sesshoumaru_ s gaze swept over her form again. Somehow, he knew. It was a memory.
Sesshoumaru grabbed hold of her shoulders, shaking her.
_ Kagome!_ Sesshoumaru called her name in the hopes it would wake her.
Kagome whimpered, _ ……no.. ..no, ..please!.. I can_ t....can_ t.. please don_ t!!.. .I... .I.. I can_ t..._
Sesshoumaru pulled her body towards him and into his lap. He held her against him, lending her his warmth. He ignored the voice in his head that was asking _ why am I doing this?_ Instead, Seshoumaru concentrated on comforting Kagome as much as he could. He ran his fingers gently though her hair, and brushed the bangs back from her face.
_ She really is beautiful ._
Sesshoumaru continued to ignore himself. He laid her back down on the bed, laying behind her so that her back was to him. She was still whimpering, though he couldn_ t make out what she was saying.
Sesshoumaru began to rub Kagome's back in order to calm her down. His fingers worked in small circles that traveled slowly over her shoulder blades. To his surprise, Sesshoumaru noticed Kagome leaning into the caress. She was starting to relax and Sesshoumaru felt himself sigh in relief, though he didn't understand why.
'Because she got to you. You care about her.'
Still ignoring the voice in his head, Sesshoumaru repositioned himself so that he was facing Kagome. Her face looked serene, a small smile graced her lips. Sesshoumaru brushed a lock of hair gently behind her ear, before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.
The hours passed, and sleep claimed him, though Sesshoumaru's senses stayed tuned to the girl sleeping in his arms.
Some time later, Sesshoumaru awoke, his senses buzzing in his head. He inhaled deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of discomfort. He found it immediately. Salty tears. Kagome was crying in her sleep.
Kagome's face was no longer serene. The tears fell softly onto the pillow beneath her head. Sesshoumaru pulled her close again, circling his arms around her and clasping his hands behind her back. He whispered her name over and over, nuzzling her neck.
Sesshoumaru whispered sadly, "Kagome… Why can't I help you?" He buried his head in the crook of Kagome's neck, inhaling her scent. It was saturated in sorrow, fear, and the ghost of pain. Sesshoumaru shook her again.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru called again.
Sesshoumaru felt her jerk and stopped all movement. She jerked again.
"Kagome?" Sesshoumaru dared breath her name.
"NO!" Kagome screamed. Her eyes flew open and she started to cry. She had half lifted herself off the bed and she was shaking violently.
Sesshoumaru pulled her back into his arms, allowing her to cry into his chest. Her fists were balled up in his shirt, and her face was pressed hard against him. Seshoumaru rubbed her back, hoping it would have the same calming effect as earlier. It seemed to, and after a few minites Kagome had stopped crying and her breathing was under control.
"Shiro……………" Kagome murmered the name as she readjusted her head against Sesshoumaru's chest.
Seshoumaru's stomach dropped. 'She thinks that I'm some other guy. No. She thinks I'm her personal body guard.'
Kagome jumped slightly, "wait, you're not…………"
"No. I am not." Sesshoumaru spat out. His words were ice and he felt Kagome shiver slightly. She looked up slowly. Her eyes met Sesshoumaru's and she flew backwards, jerking out of his embrace. Sesshoumaru growled.
"Sesshoumaru……?" Kagome whispered.
Sesshoumaru glared at Kagome, "you will never call me that again. Do I make myself clear?"
That's all for now. Sorry, I know it's short. I'll do a couple more chappies before school goes back in session. Ja ne!