Tranquility
Chapter 5: The Lady pt. 2
Kagome's eyes fluttered open. Her surroundings were dark; she couldn't see. She decided that it was too early and that she didn't want to get up. She shouldn't have to. "Pleasant morning is it not, Lady Kagome?" she heard that unmistakable voice, coming from Sesshoumaru. Deep and melodic but somehow sad and empty—but now was not the time to comment on that.
She jumped, and only then did she notice Sesshoumaru's silhouette standing at the foot of the bed. Oh my god…was the first thing to cross her mind. She could help but blush, and pray that Sesshoumaru didn't see it through the darkness. She took a breath. We didn't do anything, she told herself. Nothing happened…no, wait, you agreed… She felt like a high school girl, freaking out over absolutely nothing at all. She was his 'Lady' now. It wasn't a decision she regretted; she still felt a strong attraction to the youkai despite her initial jealous thoughts towards Sesshoumaru's brother, which had overnight become only a numb aching in her heart.
Something about her thoughts prompted her to respond. "Er, so it is…my Lord Sesshoumaru," she said, remembering how Rin had addressed him earlier and trying to mimic the language.
"You sound…fatigued, my Lady," he replied, voice as still as stone, "would you like to return to sleep?"
Kagome was amazed by his calmness. No emotion at all, not even after he'd asked her to be his Lady? Kagome sighed. Even though he didn't show emotion, even she knew that he saw some sort of potential in her for something, or else she wouldn't be there—unlike a certain hanyou who couldn't even voice his feelings, let alone show them—Stop thinking about him, she chided herself. "No—my Lord Sesshoumaru," she said, adding his name at the last moment to sound like Rin did. She sat up as he gave her a questioning stare, and she bowed her head slightly. "I apologize, Sesshoumaru—this…is all kind of new to me." She blushed again.
Light suddenly poured into the room as Sesshoumaru opened a pair of curtains. The youkai smirked. "My Lady Kagome, all will be learned in time." He said, before approaching the side of the bed, and stretching his hand out to her. Kagome took it and she allowed herself to be helped out of bed. That sounded a little catchy: Lady Kagome. Sesshoumaru then pulled Kagome to his chest and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. His lips were cool. "I am sure Jakken is almost finished preparing breakfast," he said, walking her to the door and opening it for her. "I will join you shortly."
Kagome blushed, simply because his voice was so wonderful, even if it was empty—like a vase. "Yes, my Lord Sesshoumaru." She said, stepping delicately out into the hallway. She sighed happily as he closed the door, holding herself.
"Did he ask you yet?" asked a high-pitched voice. Kagome was startled for the second time that morning. Rin had been standing behind the door the entire time. How long had she been there? Not all night, she hoped.
"Rin…what are you doing here?" Kagome asked.
"Waiting for you, my Lady Kagome," she said.
"I…" Kagome began. Then it actually began to sink in, what that title meant. She was his Lady now. It wasn't just a request to stay here, away from Inuyasha—she was to stay here with him. She might as well had married him. "I…am." Did I just marry Sesshoumaru?
Rin smiled. "I'm your handmaiden now!"
Kagome looked at the child strangely. She had never heard a more ridiculous thing in her life. No one had handmaidens anymore. "But I don't need a handmaiden."
Rin nodded. "Until you get used to this castle, you do. This here is only the East Wing!" she giggled, and Kagome marveled at the girl; she sounded so different from yesterday, when she was speaking so properly. "You have a lot of rooms to memorize, Lady Kagome—"
"You don't have to call me that. Just Kagome is fine."
"…alright…Kagome-dono."
"Please don't," Kagome said, "or find something less prestigious if you have to be so formal…" Kagome hoped she would get the picture and just call her by name.
"Kagome-sama," Rin amended.
"Okay, still creepy, but…" Kagome murmured. It was acceptable, she guessed.
"Jakken's breakfast isn't ready yet. He or Sesshoumaru will come to get us when it is." Rin said. "Until then, you may stay in my room if you wish, Kagome-sama." So she did. She and Rin had a pleasant conversation about the castle. Rin told her about her favorite places, rooms where Kagome (-sama) could find Sesshoumaru at given times, where Jakken and she could be found in the case of an emergency, and other things that made Kagome honestly rethink everything that she'd seen yesterday. Although they were his servants, Rin and Jakken often seemed like family. They had emergency plans for if some calamity occurred, and they all seemed to know where to find each other as well as had their own haunts. It seemed like a family to her. And so, since they were on the subject as far as Kagome was concerned, she told Rin a little bit about her family—the one she had back at home in her time. She didn't mention anything about Sango or Miroku—she felt quite guilty about leaving without telling them. Without a doubt they were looking for her.
"What about Inuyasha?" Rin asked curiously. "Won't he miss you? You're always with him when we see you…"
Kagome smiled and shook her head. "No, he has another miko. Her name is Kikyou."
"You're a miko, too?" Kagome nodded. "Kagome-sama, don't miko use magic?"
"…yes," she said properly, thinking of what she had been taught by her grandfather. "We protect."
"Kagome-sama, if I may ask…what is it that you're protecting?" Strangely Kagome found that she couldn't answer that.
"Lady Kagome." They both turned to the doorway and Sesshoumaru was standing there. Waiting. She hadn't noticed him step in—how long had he been there? How much had he heard? "Jakken has informed me that breakfast has been prepared. Shall we?" he said.
"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru," Kagome and Rin replied in unison. Kagome smiled to herself; she was getting used to it already. She would get the hang of things here in no time.
Breakfast was good, although it passed in the same manner dinner had the night before, with few words being spoken. It was hard to see them as a family when they were eating, because they didn't seem to speak with each other much. Kagome had always had her best conversations with her family at the dinner table; it was the most time that they spent together, all four of them.
After the plates and glasses were cleared by Jakken, Sesshoumaru stood. "Lady Kagome, may I have a word? In my chambers, after you change for the day."
"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru," was her immediate response. Then she blushed slightly at the thought of being alone with Sesshoumaru, feeling like a little girl again. She tried to gain control of herself, to appear more mature and calm and ready for whatever task she might receive from him, but the more she tried, the more she felt that she was failing. She wasn't as stiff as Sesshoumaru—she didn't give off that imperial aura, and she didn't think that she ever would.
"Come, Kagome-sama," Rin said. "We must get you ready for the day."
When Kagome rose to leave, Sesshoumaru took her hand and kissed it. Kagome blushed for the gazillionth time that day, and Sesshoumaru smirked slightly before heading into the kitchen to join Jakken. It made her wonder how he could sound so cold, how his eyes could be so sharp when he made gestures like that.
Rin took the lead, and Kagome followed her up the same staircase that led to her room. This time, she was led into a pearly white room; the bathroom. Everything was a pristine white; Even the walls and floor had been hewn from some strong white substance that felt like Marble but was a bit more rough. "Do you require assistance removing your clothes Kagome-sama?"
Kagome immediately shook her head. "No. I—I'm fine."
"I will be back with some garments for you to wear. And specific color you wish for today, Kagome-sama? We have a collection of all kinds."
Kagome felt slightly guilty, having her own choice of clothes when Rin had none. Every time that she had seen the girl so far, she had worn a purple kimono with highlights and a navy blue obi. Nice, yes, but it was the same thing nonetheless and Kagome felt bad about it. "…black," she said, thinking of Sesshoumaru and his sad eyes.
Rin began to run a bath for Kagome, mixing in lavender scent from a bottle held in her garments. Lavender was Sesshoumaru's favorite—not that she told Kagome-sama. Rin liked having Kagome around, and she would do anything in her power—which was quite a lot, despite her position—to keep her there. She only hoped that Inuyasha didn't find a way to ruin it. Despite numerous "fool proof" situations, the hanyou seemed to always burst his way through, if Rin had learned anything about him from their previous encounters. Her Lord's happiness came first, and that happiness was, in large part, Kagome-sama. "I will return in ten minutes so as to not keep Sesshoumaru waiting. Is that enough time Kagome-sama?"
"Of course, Rin." The child smiled, then left, closing the door behind her. Kagome undressed herself, strangely calm. It seemed foreign for her to bathe without having to look over her shoulder for Miroku or Inuyasha, or even Kouga in some cases. She waited for the tub, as white as the rest of the room, to fill before she stepped in—this had been one of the very few locations here in the feudal era that housed an actual bath tub, and she was slightly amazed. She let her body sink down, the water coming up to her neck. It was warm, and she relished it. What with searching for the shards a second time, it had been two days since she had taken a proper wash. As much as she wanted to languish there, though, she didn't have very much time. Ten minutes later, almost to the second, Rin returned, and Kagome could see the black robes in her arms. Rin unfolded the kimono so that Kagome could see it; it looked to be made out of silk, though not as transparent, and had a pattern of golden flowers on the sleeves and hem.
"Do you like it, Kagome-sama?" Kagome nodded. "Would you like some jewelry, Kagome-sama?"
Kagome blushed; jewelry was one thing that she'd missed from her own time. Here the only women with jewelry were princesses and the daughters of wealthy families. "I-I don't have any."
Rin smiled. "I have some!"
Kagome shook her head. "I'm fine. Besides, what do I need jewelry for?" But while she was saying it, she was becoming more and more nervous. Rin was obviously expecting something to happen. What's supposed to happen? Kami-sama, something's going to happen! She tried to calm herself down. Nothing would happen. She was already his Lady; what else could possibly happen? Her mind came up with a million things.
Rin stepped out the room, reappearing at the precise moment Kagome had finished dressing. That girl was really starting to creep her out. "Would you like me to accompany you to Lord Sesshoumaru's door, Lady Kagome?"
Kagome took a deep breath. "I'm fine." She said. She really wasn't. But nonetheless, she walked out into the hall by herself; she felt that Rin being there would only make even more self-conscious. But she was already in pieces. She didn't know what to say or do or think. She only thought enough to knock on the door.
"Enter," she heard Lord Sesshoumaru say.
She opened the door, and stepped in. Almost like always, Sesshoumaru stood, in the center of the room, looking at Kagome with his golden eyes. Kagome approached him hesitantly, inclining her head slightly, not sure what to expect. "Lord Sess—"
Sesshoumaru pulled her close to him, cutting her off with a large…hug? Kagome blushed, and slowly hugged him back. It was a gesture that made her skin prickle, especially because she could feel the tip of his claws on her back. But just as suddenly as he had embraced her, Sesshoumaru pulled back, holding her at length. "Why…?" he said solemnly, almost as though he were speaking to himself. "Kagome, I do not quite understand…" Sesshoumaru genuinely looked confused…plagued. Like something was bothering him. Kagome began to worry. Had she done something wrong?
"What? Sesshoumaru?" she asked, smiling slightly to help encourage him, but realized that her words were too informal.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as if in thought. "I do not quite understand the feelings…that I have for you."
Kagome looked down, expecting the worst. She thought of how Rin would answer—or ask, about this problem. She didn't want to botch this. "What…troubles you…my Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"I…do not quite know. That in itself is the problem." Something clicked in Kagome's mind, despite her pessimistic thoughts. They were having an intimate conversation. Even she knew that it was a breakthrough with Sesshoumaru. "My Lady Kagome," he continued, "There are things…everything, in pure actuality…that I have not felt…" Kagome couldn't hold back a small smile. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as she had originally thought. "However…I do not know…exactly what those feelings are." Oh, that was it? That was the problem?
Kagome smiled more brightly. "Yes?"
"I…do not know much about these matters, seeing as I am a demon. But," he reached up, holding Kagome's chin. "I believe you humans call it…Love? Or at least that is what Rin says. But…it confuses me. How…do you truly know when…it is Love?" Was this really the problem? Was he really that unfamiliar with…with emotion? It depressed Kagome just to think about it; to go through life without feeling warmth
He gazed at her through his piercing eyes, and Kagome somehow felt as if he were testing her. "My Lord Sesshoumaru," she said. "The only way to find true love is…to try, over and over and—" she closed her eyes, remembering, "—hope for the best. Hope that…the other person feels the same way."
Silence.
"But…doesn't that put your human 'feelings' at risk?" he asked. The way he said "feelings" had made her skin crawl, as though there was an ocean between them.
"You risk something in everything that you do," Kagome retorted. "The breaths you take are a risk."
"True," he agreed, then paused. "What…does one say…when expressing love? How does one do it?"
Kagome blushed. "You…tell the other person that you—love—them. Or that you care for them, or that you need them. And you try to show it by being considerate to them." The demon looked puzzled for a moment, and Kagome could think of a million questions that he could be asking; she was probably asking the same ones. Telling someone you loved them didn't mean that you did, and there were so many other contradictions that Kagome wouldn't have known where to start had she been asked about them. As she tried to sort out her thoughts, Sesshoumaru leaned extremely close, to the point where their faces were centimeters—no, millimeters apart. Kagome could feel his very breath.
"My Lady Kagome," he said softly, slowly, "I love you." He said it with such confidence and meaning; there were no doubts in his voice, not one single trace of uncertainty. Kagome wanted to believe that whether he was familiar with the feeling or not, that he meant it. He seemed to believe himself as well.
Kagome couldn't have been happier to hear it. "I love you, too, my Lord Sesshoumaru," Kagome said, both determined that he received a reply no less confident than his, and surprised that she was uttering those words. But she felt an inner peace within herself. She wasn't quite sure if she meant it, and while that wasn't fair to Sesshoumaru at all… she had finally found someone. It seemed that the silver-haired demon was making an effort to be intimate with her, and she wasn't one to discount effort. It was much too soon for her to know that she loved him, but if he was that determined for her feelings she was sure that she would feel the same.
Sesshoumaru kissed her, pulling her closer still. His tongue immediately slipped through her lips, mingling with hers as though it came naturally, and she didn't stop him at all. Kagome still couldn't believe how happy she felt; her doubts melted away in the minor heat of the embrace. Sesshoumaru loved her; he cared. Her fingers tangled themselves in the youkai's hair, which seemed to have an extra shine in Kagome's eyes. It was the first place her hands wandered, she realized, and hoped that he hadn't noticed that. If he had, he gave no indication of it. Almost just as suddenly as he had kissed her, he broke away from her, moving to pepper kisses on the side of her neck. Kagome closed her eyes, silently lamenting the loss of his lips on hers, but concentrating on the feeling of his mouth, his tongue on her neck.
But suddenly, he bit her. Hard, on the right side of her neck. She yelped despite herself; that had actually hurt. "I apologize, my Lady; it needed to be done. Here…" Sesshouamaru said, kissing the wound apologetically. Kagome had felt it—he had punctured flesh.
It was then that she remembered—the memory crept up on her like a nightmare. Inuyasha had done the same to Kikyou. She shook her head, trying to focus on the moment, here and now with Sesshoumaru, but the images were already playing through her mind. Inuyasha and Kikyou had been in Kaede's hut, but Kikyou had pretended as though nothing had happened, still smiling despite the small amount of blood going down her neck, Inuyasha nuzzling her while licking it up. It had left a small scar that had been on Kikyou's neck to this day.
It was a bit creepy to think that she and Kikyou shared another similarity. "What…does it mean?" Kagome asked, thinking aloud. She was both surprised and happy when he answered:
"That you will forever be mine, Lady Kagome."
EDIT: 6/9/10: I liked this chapter a lot, although I wish that I had made things bit more hot than this. If I recall correctly though, scenes between them get better, so I won't edit this scene for now. I did add some more detail and touch up some spelling and grammar issues, though. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^^
OLD COMMENTARY:
I know...isn't it cute! I'm so lonely, and I really wish that even half this stuff would happen to me...At least Kagome's happy. I want to thank my friend who reviewed the last chapter: too many names to remember. She finally visited my story. How do you like it?
And, kudos to everyone who's hung in there with me this far...I'm sorry to say, but we only have... FOUR CHAPTERS LEFT!
As for Lady Emerald Black, do not tell them. you know what I mean. DON'T! DO NOT! And don't feel bad if I don't mention you; both the people I mention before are people I went to school with, and both have read the original manuscript...
See ya!
"I will return, for I am the darkness..."
