Chapter 24: Wrapped around her finger
Kagome felt something sharp poking her in the arm. "Dammit, I already helped you out with the test… You don't need me anymore…"
"Kindly stop mumbling and wake up, woman." She started awake, almost knocking over Sesshoumaru. "What? Huh? Eh?" Looking around, she panicked. "Where are they? Oh, no! I fell asleep! Dammit!"
"Will you be quiet? Your screeching is irritating my ears." Sesshoumaru glared at her.
"But—"
"They are at the old woman's home."
Kagome turned wide eyes towards the demon lord. "Are you sure?"
He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Okay, okay, I understand." She yawned and stretched. "Why were you poking me, anyways?"
"You were asleep."
She frowned. "So what? Haven't you heard of shaking someone awake?"
"You are awake, are you not?"
Sticking out her tongue, she stood. "Never mind. Thanks for waking me."
A clawed hand grabbed her by the arm. "You cannot leave. We have to talk."
"SIT! What is it with you males grabbing someone to talk?" Neither noticed the distant thump from somewhere in the woods.
"Did you forget you cannot 'sit' me, woman? And besides, I was…" Sesshoumaru paused, and twin round pink spots appeared below his eyes.
"One can only wish. And you were what, exactly?"
He let her go and moved under the shade of a tall maple tree, mumbling something. "I'm sorry, I thought you said you were ordered to talk to me."
Sesshoumaru frowned as he watched her approach and bite back a smile. "Tell me, oh great Lord Sesshoumaru… Who is powerful enough to force you, the Lord of the Western Lands, into doing something like this?"
He scowled at her. Damn slip of the tongue… "No one forced me, woman. Now sit down."
"Didn't we have this conversation before? My name is Kagome. Ka-go-me." She plopped down under the tree. "Join me, please. I know, I know," she said before he could reply, "you're a demon Lord and above such things, blah, blah, blah, but I'd rather not have to stare up at you. You're too tall." She grinned up at him. She reminds me of Rin… So carefree…
Sesshoumaru gracefully descended next to her. "Who received help with a test?"
Kagome's cheeks turned pink. "Erm… No one."
Sesshoumaru's eyebrow quirked upwards. "You are not a good liar."
"And you ask too many questions."
"I, Lord Sesshoumaru, would not let my lips betray my thoughts while sleeping."
"Well, excuse me for mumbling!" Kagome huffed and crossed he arms, pouting. "Fine. I have a classmate who had trouble with the history test. I merely helped him learn to concentrate better. Satisfied?"
Him? That must be the male Inuyasha ranted about. Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly. I wonder… "Are you in the habit of helping distressed males?" Before Kagome could answer, he continued, "Because that is not the type of tutoring I want for Rin."
As expected, her jaw dropped and she became angry. "How dare you?"
His only response was to turn his usual blank face at her, which only served to upset her more. "You heartless bastard, how dare you insinuate that about me? I should purify your worthless hide right here."
Sesshoumaru frowned. "I asked you a valid question. I do not understand why you are upset."
Kagome scowled. "First of all, I'm not tutoring Rin anymore. Remember? I quit? Second of all, what I do or don't do with my classmates is none of your concern. I was doing nothing wrong with Thomas. Third, if I did not help out distressed males, that baka brother of yours would still be pinned to a tree, Shippou would be dead, Kouga's pack would have been wiped out, Miroku would be alone, and Rin would be without a tutor. So don't you dare tell me helping distressed males is wrong!" She stood suddenly and stalked off.
She was almost to the woods when a solid wall stopped her. Looking up, she stared into Sesshoumaru's golden eyes. "I apologize."
Kagome took two steps back and frowned. "Did—did you—"
"Yes, I, Lord Sesshoumaru, did." He paused. "It was necessary."
Kagome's puzzled look caused him to smirk. "What?"
"Never mind. There are concerns about you, Kagome-sama. I was sent here to inquire as to your well-being." And smell you…Dammit, why did I let Rin talk me into this?
Kagome smiled. "Well, thanks but, other than being tired lately, there's nothing wrong."
"I was not the one who fell asleep while accompanied by three small children, one of them human, far away from protection. You should be grateful someone came to find you."
Kagome frowned. He's right… "Okay, okay, fine. Thank you for coming over to find me… wait a minute. How'd you know to come here?"
Sesshoumaru remained silent. "Oh, I see." She smiled at him, and he resisted the urge to scowl at her. "Well, as you can see, I'm fine, even if I did fall asleep."
"I disagree, Kagome-sama." He suddenly leaned closer and inhaled. Ah, yes. They were right…
"Ew, Sesshie!" Kagome backed away from the demon lord. "What's wrong with you?"
Sesshoumaru merely looked at her. "If you will excuse me…" Generating his cloud, he flew off towards the village, leaving a stunned Kagome behind.
*****
He landed outside Kaede's, where three small figures were sitting tensely under the watchful eye of Jaken. Signaling for them to follow, he went into the woods, towards the well. Jaken stared after them, then went inside the house.
He was almost there when a figure by the well stopped him in his tracks. He turned suddenly and glared at the kids. Rin understood and shushed her companions.
Satisfied the kids would keep quiet, Sesshoumaru turned back to the well. He observed the figure look into the well and glance around. He then watched as the figure climbed onto the well wall and jumped in, his robes flying around his body. He sensed the magic from before emanating from the well for just an instant, then dissipate just as quickly.
Sesshoumaru frowned. There was something peculiar going on, and he did not like it. He turned to the kids, who were watching him, yet were too far to have witnessed the monk's actions. He pointed to a different location, and the trio followed.
*****
Miroku had seen Inuyasha do it a million times since he'd met the half-demon and his friends, but he never thought he'd be able to pull it off. Now he looked up to find a wooden ceiling above the well, and he knew.
This had been stupid.
Why had it been so important for him to achieve this? What had been the point?
What if I'm trapped?
He panicked. He felt his chest tighten up. Relying on his years of Buddhist training, he took several deep, calming breaths. He felt around the well wall until he found a ladder, then started climbing. Miroku frowned. Hmmm… There's something… missing…
He came out of the well and looked around, letting his sight adjust to the lack of light. He spotted some stairs leading to what looked like double doors.
He made his way to the stairs. Just as he took one step up, he heard a male voice call out, "Good afternoon, sir! Is Kagome-chan home?"
Miroku's heart stopped. He paled.
"Kagome's sick! She has… Polio! Yes, polio! Now leave! I'll let her know you came by—Who are you again?" The older man who replied had stopped sweeping when the younger man's voice first rang out. Now he swept again, faster this time.
"Thomas, sir. Just let her know I came by." As footsteps receded, Miroku stepped back from the stairs. Blind fury swept through him. Who in the HELL was that? He clenched his hands into tight fists.
He suddenly put his cursed hand in front of his face. There was no air rip. His hand didn't have a black glove around it. There were no prayer beads around his wrist. What did it mean?
He then sighed and dropped his head onto his chest. His jaw hit something hard. With a shaking hand, he grasped what he'd hit and stifled a gasp. Lifting them up towards what little light there was, he could just make out his prayer beads, could feel their weight around his neck. He stared at his curse-free hand, then at the beads. How had this happened? Why had it happened? When? Where?
He sat down next to the well, alternately staring at his hand and at the beads around his neck. He chuckled, which in turn turned into a laugh, which evolved into a guffaw, until he was laughing hysterically. He didn't notice the tears that fell, drenching his robes. He didn't notice when his laughter turned into loud sobs, which reverberated inside the darkening well house. If he had been paying close attention to his surroundings, he would have noticed the sweeping sounds stopping, the sound of steps coming closer, and the sound of steps receding.
He finally calmed down long enough to wipe his face. He looked at his hand, then at the beads. He smiled at himself. So the air rip will go away. That is indeed good news. Another thought came to him. Does this mean…
Kagome's smiling face appeared in his mind for an instant. Smiling back, he watched as she came into view at the top of the well stairs, dragging her yellow backpack inside. Looking around the courtyard, she came inside and closed the doors. As she came down the stairs, Miroku took in her long dark pants and long-sleeved blue shirt. He also noted that her hair was in a high ponytail, yet it almost touched the ground. Kagome also looked… older.
Ignoring Miroku, Kagome threw her bag inside the well before jumping in after it.
The well doors opened, and he was blinded by the light. Light? But it was dark a moment ago… A male figure ran down the stairs with something in his hands. A confused Miroku turned back to the well and saw a smiling Kagome pop out, reach over and grab whatever the male had, peck him on the cheek, and vanish down the well again. The male stood there for an instant, shook his head, and shoved his hands inside his back pockets before heading back up the well stairs, whistling.
Miroku almost growled, then froze. The male had a dark glove around one hand.
Before he could do anything about it, the doors closed, and the well house plunged back into darkness.
Miroku looked around, bewildered. Was this one of Naraku's tricks?
He heard another voice outside, this time a young boy's. "Grandpa! I'm home!" A door slammed in the distance, snapping Miroku out of his befuddled state. He frowned.
What in Kami's name have I done?
Shaking his head, he made his way back to the well, climbed up, and jumped inside.
*****
He was almost out of the well when white hair flashed above him and a clawed hand reached over and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "You are an idiot."
"Sess—Sesshoumaru?"
"Be grateful it was I who saw this." Sesshoumaru dragged the monk off away from the path to the village, going instead in the opposite direction. "What would that idiot brother of mine do if he had seen you achieve that which he believes can only be accomplished by him?" He threw him into the underbrush. "What would Kagome-sama say if she knew?"
Miroku remained silent. "I see." Sesshoumaru then turned and went to the village with demon speed, coming back a minute later with a protesting Kouga, which he proceeded to throw next to Miroku. "Settle this. I will not have any of you distracting Kagome-sama while I convince her to return to her duties." He then vanished a second time.
"Come back here! No one does that to me!" Kouga growled after Sesshoumaru, but the youkai lord was too far away to have caught what he'd said—or was ignoring it. Kouga huffed and plopped down next to the monk. "What'd he mean anyways?"
"I do not know. Excuse me." Miroku stood, but Kouga's yank on his robes made him crash back down. "What the—"
"Oh no you don't. We need to talk."
Miroku reared back and punched Kouga. "That'll teach you to yank people down."
"Ow! Why's everyone hitting me?" Kouga held his cheek, which was quickly turning a nasty shade of purple. "Kagome, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru… Now you? What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem!"
"Obviously you do." Kouga poked his cheek. "Otherwise, this wouldn't be here."
Miroku's hands fisted. "You want another one?"
Kouga growled. "Try me."
"I can't leave you two alone for a minute!" Both males turned to a smiling Sango, who had her boomerang on her back. "Hello. I shall be… What did Kagome call them? Referees? Anyways, I'm here to supervise this talk. So talk."
"There's nothing to talk about! Why does everyone say that?"
"Probably because you were moping for three weeks next to the well. And probably because you vanished for two entire days when Kagome returned. Or could it be because Kouga wants to say something to you?" Sango turned to the wolf youkai, who blushed.
"Um, erm, eh…" Kouga smiled suddenly. "Yes. Sango insisted we tell you… Well, that is…" Kouga puffed out his chest. "Sango has agreed to be my woman."
Miroku's jaw dropped. He turned to Sango, who was blushing. "When did this happen?"
"If you hadn't been at the well for three weeks, houshi-sama, you might have noticed."
"What about Kagome?" Wait, what am I asking?
Kouga smirked. "Unlike the puppy, I can tell when I've been defeated by another male."
A large boulder lifted from Miroku's shoulders, and he smiled. "Does this mean you won't be able to bear my children, Lady Sango?"
Sango hit him with the boomerang. "Pervert!"
"You can't talk that way to my woman!"
Miroku rubbed his head, grinning and wincing. "Sorry, I couldn't resist." He pinned Kouga with a look. "You will take good care of her. Otherwise we're all coming after you."
Kouga grinned. "Of course I will. Then again, she can take care of herself." Kouga looked at Sango, who turned crimson.
"Never mind me, what about you, Miroku-sama?"
Miroku's grin vanished. He blanked his face. "What about me, Lady Sango?"
Sango sat next to Miroku. "We all know how you feel about her, houshi.
What are you going to do about it?"
*****
© 12/24/03, M.A.R.
Aphiopsyduck: Hello again, my readers! *ducks* Eep! Wait a sec! It's not MY fault Sango and Kouga-- *ducks again* It just HAPPENED! Go throw stuff at THEM if you're that upset!
*mob leaves to find Sango and Kouga*
Aphiopsyduck: *sigh* Okay, fine. I'll just talk to myself then. Long chappie, huh? And as for what happened... It'll be explained in a later chappie. Promise.
The story has been up to chapter 29 since before I vanished at the end
of October. I got stuck there last time I sat down to write too, and there
hasn't been any change. Unfortunately, I'll be going out of town, so I'm
leaving you guys here until I return--hopefully with at least two more
chapters written. I'm also leaving you with a temporary alternative, so
look for a holiday-themed short story--which I hope no one has done before.
:o)
Happy Holidays! :o)
(More or less) Permanent A/N: *sweatdrops…* Ehehe…
First fanfic… If nothing else, it's a test run, since this will be my first
real fanfic posted anywhere. I don' really know where it's going though,
so please bear with me. Reviews are welcome, and flames will be used on
undead mikos who refuse to leave our heroes alone. :o)