The steamy cascade of water was comparable to having a spiritual experience. Her body was filthy from dirt and leaves, but she found it impossible to relax with Sesshomaru just beyond her bathroom walls. She scrubbed every inch of her body until it glowed pink. The memory of the men fondling her intensified her efforts. Her tears streamed freely from her blue eyes, mixing with the stream of scalding water from her shower. Her mind was racing at a speed that frightened her. "Kagome, she breathed in a heavy dose of misty air, get a grip. One step at a time." Her voice resounded in the small space. She turned the shower off, and stepped out of the tub. Her body ached from sore muscles, scrapes and bruises.
After quickly donning a yellow tank top and a pair of matching pajama bottoms, Kagome felt the sudden urge to have a stiff drink. 'I'm glad I put that Saki in the 'fridge for visits from grandpa.' Kagome walked out of her bedroom, without once acknowledging the angelic being, which was seated in the middle of her living room floor. He appeared not to see her, as he seemed to be in deep meditation. She grabbed the container from the top shelf and poured a generous amount into a glass. Without a second thought she let the fiery hot liquid flow down her throat. Her stomach began to tingle and a trail of warmth began to trace its way through her gut.
With a little false confidence in her belly, Kagome made her way into the living room, where her houseguest sat. His unwavering gaze followed her every movement. She took note that his eyes were no longer glazed with his demon aura. He seemed to have calmed the beast within. She was assured further when he spoke. "Be seated Miko. I wish to speak to you." Once again his voice flowed with its normal buttery calmness.
She almost argued that she'd rather stand, but her instincts instead, sent her bottom to the floor across from him. He sensed her initial defiance, and awaited the final result. As she lowered herself to the floor he was pleased that she had obeyed his command. He uncrossed his arms and by habit pushed his claws through his silken tresses. "It seems, woman, that I am now in your debt."
'Did she just hear him right? He's in my debt. He just saved me, so shouldn't it be the other way around,' Kagome's mind questioned his words. This whole night was like a terrible nightmare that wouldn't end. In the matter of a couple of hours, she had almost been raped, witnessed the gruesome deaths of four men, and now had her ex-boyfriends hated youkai half-brother sitting in her living room. 'Maybe I am going crazy.' Before she could question her sanity further, the shrill ring of her cordless phone invaded the quiet of the room. The sound was unexpected and made her jump. In a flash her visitor was poised over her phone and an acrid smell began to permeate the air. "No!" Kagome shouted at him just before her phone was destroyed. He froze, giving her a questioning look. "That's just my telephone!" She quickly leapt to grab the phone. She took a deep calming breath and answered it. "Hello?"
"Kagome, this is Kenta, I've been worried sick! I was afraid you were there." His voice sounded frantic, and Kagome wondered what could have upset him so. Had the police found the bodies already? She cringed at the thought of the trouble that was coming her way. Kenta interrupted her thoughts with, yet another, shock. "I heard on my scanner that the Sumida Museum was robbed. There are police there now. I was scared you may have been hurt."
"The museum was robbed," she asked? "Did they catch whoever did it? What was stolen?" The many fine artifacts that she valued so deeply crossed her mind in a flash. The treasures of the past, violated. Kenta began again, " that's all I know. Apparently the police responded to the alarm a couple of hours ago." Kagome processed this for a moment. 'A couple of hours ago are when I left. What is going on?' She had to get down there as quickly as possible. "Kenta, do me a favor and call my mom just in case she hears about this. Tell her that I'm fine. I'm going down there. Maybe I can help." Before he could reply, she hung up the phone.
'What to do with my six foot demon,' she thought as she made her way to her bedroom to change. She stopped and looked at Sesshomaru and realized that she couldn't leave him here alone. She may not have a home when she returned! "Sesshomaru, there has been a robbery at the museum where I work. I need to go there now. I will need you to come with me, but first we need to get your clothes changed."
"Change my clothes?" He looked at her in surprise. What was this Miko thinking? Being in her debt did not mean that he would take orders from her. "I do not think that will be necessary," Sesshomaru replied with a sarcastic glint.
She realized that he was telling her no. 'Good grief, this is going to be difficult.' She hastily pondered the way she should word her request in order to get him to agree. "My Lord, she began with a bow, you must understand that the clothes you now wear are from an ancient time. I don't know how you've managed to remain un-noticed this long in the year 2004. In order to accompany me, I ask that you please, follow me." He stared at her with his emotionless eyes. She couldn't tell whether he was going to follow or slice her open. Kagome didn't believe her eyes when he agreed to follow, producing a sigh of relief.
'Souta left a couple of outfits here last weekend.' Her brother was a couple of inches shorter, but the baggy pants he wears should fit just right. She threw open her closet and pulled out a pair of the kaki drawstring pants. They had baggy pockets on the thighs and down low on the legs. She grabbed the tee shirt hanging beside them. It was a white 'no fear' shirt with bold red letters on the back. It read 'If you can't hang with the big dog, stay off the porch'. There was a picture of three dogs cowering under a wooden porch. Kagome let out a giggle when she read it. She handed them both to Sesshomaru and quickly demonstrated how to work the zipper.
'Now for me,' Kagome turned and pulled open her dresser drawer to look for a pair of jeans. She grabbed an old pair of Levi's and a long sleeve blouse from the drawer to the right. She turned to slip into the bathroom, but stopped dead in her tracks. Sesshomaru stood before her in all his naked glory! Every inch of him was covered in flexing muscle. The lines on his chest rippled with each movement. His toned thighs bulged below the chiseled stomach. She suddenly choked as the shocking visage of his ample male staff swayed before her very eyes!
'Why would humans wish to wear these strange contraptions,' Sesshomaru pondered as he tried to figure out where to start. In an instant he caught the scent of something unfamiliar. It came to him faintly at first, but the heady aroma became suddenly strong. He sniffed once more, then turned to the miko who was just staring at him. He followed the scent, and took a step toward the source. He took another step and quickly realized that it was coming from the girl. She made no move as he closed the distance between them. Standing just inches from the miko.... he leaned down close to her neck. He breathed in deeply once more. 'Yes, it is definitely coming from the girl.' He bent a little further down and once again inhaled deeply. This aroma was maddening. Strange feelings were stirring inside his stomach. It took only a moment to understand what it was that he smelled. He stood to full height and gazed down at the girl before him. 'She is aroused.' Once again he felt the tug of his dark side.
Kagome was frozen. What was he doing? Was he sniffing her? 'This is just my luck, she thought, Who else but me could end up with a 6 foot tall naked dog demon in their apartment? Ayumi never has problems like this!' Her eyes moved with a mind of their own, taking in the delicious man standing so very close to her. 'Though she'd probably like to.' She let a little giggle slip out at the thought of that. That was all it took to snap them both out of the trance. Sesshomaru stepped back. Kagome swirled around and practically knocked the bathroom door down as she ran inside.
When she emerged minutes later she found him dressed in the modern clothes. He was just as handsome in the baggies and tee shirt. The modern clothing actually made him look taller. She quickly stepped back into her bathroom and grabbed a leather lace from the drawer. "Sit down here on the bed. I'll pull your hair back, and maybe that'll help a little." To her surprise he did as she asked. As she pulled her brush through his snowy locks, she reveled in the softness. 'I have tried every kind of conditioner, and my hair still doesn't feel this soft.' She was a little jealous. After she was finished he stood and looked at her. The markings on his face were going to stand out. "If anyone asks about the markings on your face, tell them that they are tribal tattoos. Tattoo's are really in, now, so that should be believable." He wrinkled his nose a little and repeated what she'd said. "Ta too." She smiled at him and nodded her head. "Let's go." She grabbed her purse and walked to her broken door. "Well, I guess I don't need to look for my keys. Maybe no one will stroll in here while we're out." Sesshomaru just stared at her with that emotionless gaze.