Chapter 3
Kagome awoke at the feel of a light landing. She opened her eyes and was greeted with the sight of a large castle. It was surrounded by tall green trees. To the left was a river and to the right was a large garden full of the most beautiful flowers. The castle was bigger than anything she had ever seen. Only royalty was fit to live in a place like this. 'I wonder where I am. How did I get here?' Looking ahead she saw Shesshoumaru walking gracefully towards the front gates. The sight of him made the memories of what happened come flooding back to her. 'I can't believe I opened up like that to him. The last time I saw him he was trying to kill me. I'm so confused right now.'
Shesshoumaru stopped his walk, noticing the smell of confusion. He turned to look at Kagome, wondering what was on her mind.
"What's wrongKagome?"
"I was just wondering…"
Shesshoumaru raised an eye brow. He nodded for her to continue, showing that he was listening.
"Well I was wondering why you brought me here. The last time I had an encounter with you, you tried to kill me. Now I'm at your castle and it's like… like we're just two people who know each other and do things like this all the time. And I know you've been following me for a while. What's going on?"
"Follow me and I will explain."
With that said, he turned and continued his walk up to his castle. Kagome jogged to catch up and even after she did, she had to half jog just to match his long stride. He slowed his pace so she could keep up easier. When she had settled into a comfortable pace, he began to speak.
"I appeared to try to kill you then to acquire the tetsaiga, something I have no use for now that I have Tokijin. My intent was never to really hurt you but to scare Inuyasha into giving me his sword. It would have worked if you would have not foiled my plans countless times. You're braver than most humans. Only one other human was as brave, and that was Inuyasha's mother. As for why you are here, I do not know what made me bring you here. Instead of asking so many questions, why don't you show some gratitude?"
Kagome stopped dead in her tracks. 'Why is he being like this? I was just curious. There's no need for him to bit my head off!'
"I will not be treated like this. I am grateful you brought me here but there is no reason for you to be rude. I did not ask to be brought here so I have no reason to really show your arrogant ass any gratitude!"
Kagome stopped there knowing losing her temper would be fatal. She stood there glaring at Shesshoumaru trying to keep her anger in check, a task proving not easy. He looked at her with a smile threatening his normally stoic features. In the blink of an eye, he had her pinned to the nearest tree, her wrists in one of his hands above her head. His other hand was on her waist, sending shivers up her spine. He leaned in and kissed her the long kiss she had been longing to receive. As he drew away her knees became weak and she would have fallen to the ground if he had not still had her pinned to the tree. He looked her in the eyes, searching through the emotions so easily found in human eyes. He saw something warm, something making him want to hold her forever.
"You wear your emotions where anyone can see them. That is dangerous. Someone could use them against you."
"Not if you protect me and my emotions," she whispered. "Can I stay with you?"
He nodded and picked her up bridal style and carried her back to the castle. 'I never imagined she would stay with me willingly. I am definitely not going to regret this.' He looked down at her in his arms. She had a dazed expression mixed with a smile of pure bliss. 'What is she thinking?'
'I must look like an idiot right now, but I can't help but look this way. He is an amazing kisser. I'm glad he's letting me stay. When I'm near him I start to feel all warm inside. I think… I think I'm falling in love with him. I can't though. What if he hurts me too? I'm afraid of the pain it might cause.'
'What is that delicious smell? Is that Kagome? What could she possible be afraid of while she is in my arms? Does she not know that I would never let anything happen to her?'
"What worries you love?" he asked in a strangely soothing voice.
"I'm… afraid to be hurt again. I want to stay with you because I don't think you will hurt me and I hope that you will protect me from Inuyasha when he comes. He's still hunting me."
A shocked look came upon Sheshoumaru's face. 'He's hunting her. The idiot. How could a walking corpse have this much of an effect on him?'
"Do not worry. I will protect you from my idiot half-brother." He walked into his castle and set her down. He grabbed her hands in his and spoke in what he hoped was a comforting voice, "I will not hurt you, Kagome. I promise."
He held onto one of her hands and guided her to a room in the largest hallway. 'I'm going to get lost. This place is a giant maze.'
"This will be your room while you are staying here. Mine is to your left and Rin's is to your right. I suggest you get some sleep. Rin never sleeps past dawn and is sure to find and wake you."
"Thanks Shesshoumaru- sama, but I do have one question."
"Yes."
"If I am correct, isn't the room of the one mated to the lord of the house on the right of the lord's room?"
Letting a smile creep to his lips, he responded, "You are correct."