A/N: Here's the next chapter!
Chapter Two
Kagome wondered if he'd mind her sitting with him. He didn't say anything to her. She closed her eyes and tried to recapture that moment that she'd experienced in the forest. It was still faint but she can feel Miroku and Sango's heartbeats. She could even feel Kikyo who must have been an hour or two away. Sesshomaru looked over at her as if he finally realized what she was doing. She started to sniff the air as if trying to pick up something in the air.
He could have laughed but she'd notice him watching her. She then opened her eyes when she felt something strange. Something about Sesshomaru's demeanor had changed. She looked at him to find him looking at her with the same expression that he always wore. Something about his face that she noticed was that it wasn't in a stressed expression. It was more of a relaxed look. Nothing in it felt cold or hateful just a neutral look. She found herself staring at him much to long and the turned around and looked down at her hands.
She closed her eyes again and tried to think about what she'd do now. There wasn't anything left to return to in the future and all she had left was her brother. She just wanted to curl up and forget the world around her. But sadly she couldn't something within her told her that she needed to hold on for a little while longer. Nothing in her would ever show how unhappy she was. The grief she felt wanted to push its way to the surface and she could feel that lump in her throat. Her fists started to clinch as the pain increased. It finally went down and she relaxed again.
"Tell me Kagome, what is it that you are hiding?" he didn't look at her but he watched the sky. She did the same. How was she supposed to react to that? For as long as they've traveled together that was the first time he spoke to her and used her name. That in itself was shocking enough. The way her name rolled off his lips made her stomach twist into butterfly-like knots.
"Nothing why?" the stars twinkled and a small smile formed on her lips.
"I'm the last person to really care and probably the only one in this group of odd creatures to even notice that there's something not quite right about you." He looked at her. She also looked at him. Tonight Sesshomaru was acting as though he knew something. That something must be her secret.
"Why are you asking me then if you don't care?" She raised an eyebrow. He did the same.
"Why are you avoiding the question at hand? Normally I'd just hide in the shadows and spy but I thought that I'd just ask since everyone else is sleep. That brings another question to the surface. You are human after all, why is it that you still sit here awake?"
"Let's just say that first I don't quite know if I'm ready to face my father. And I don't feel tired." Not even really caring that she mentioned something completely pointless she hoped his questions would pass.
"Who is your father?"
"That I can't tell you, but trust me after the journey is over he will be nothing but a blurred memory to me."
"Over the past year you and I haven't talked, this is a strange thing that we're doing right now."
"Why do you say that?"
"If you think about it without Rin here I'd most likely have just killed all of you without a thought. But Rin told me once that holding a life long grudge on someone who I've set out to kill and haven't done so yet seems like a meaningless task. In fact the whole reason we were down this way was because she wanted to join forces."
"Sesshomaru why are you telling me this?" His behaviour had her baffled beyond belief. Who was this demon lord guy sitting next to her and what did he do to Sesshomaru? This was just wrong on so many levels. A heart to heart with big bad Sesshomaru!
"Let's just say I have this crazy notion that there is more about you then these simpletons know."
"Then you know right?
"Yes, but I won't say a word." InuYasha watched from above. He wondered exactly what secret Sesshomaru knew that Kagome didn't want anyone else to know. But as he watched them he noticed something about Sesshomaru. He wasn't being harsh toward Kagome; he actually was having a civil conversation with her. This disturbed him a great deal. It was wrong to think that Sesshomaru could act 'civil' but also toward a human. Then again there was that Rin girl who traveled with him.
"You care for Rin don't you? I find that strange. Since I've known you you've hated humans."
"You are correct, but Rin wasn't afraid of me. She was too young to understand real fear. I just wonder if we'll find her. I find her company to be tolerable."
"We will. When Naraku last attacked he dropped all of his shards and they scattered across this era. If we find them before he does then this will be over. I'm sure that he wouldn't harm Rin, he might be sadistic but he knows her value."
"I suppose so. But I don't really understand how you can remain calm when that miko wanders around and could at any moment kill you." He stated changing the topic.
"Sesshomaru she won't. You see she and I once were trapped in this sort of cave that drains miko powers. She couldn't walk so I carried her on my back and then she and I combined the jewel shards so that we could defeat the monsters heart. I think that was about the time that any unwanted hatred died. I think we came to a mutual understanding. I couldn't let her die. InuYasha would have been heart broken." She looks back up to the sky.
"Why do you care for a mere boy who doesn't know about the goings on between you two?" She looked at him surprised by what he had just said.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I may not speak as all of you do but I did watch closely enough to see that you're in pain. Why allow yourself to be destroyed by such a worthless human emotion?"
"Why does my pain concern you? And who says they're worthless?"
"It doesn't but you should ask yourself if it concerns you."
"My heart doesn't feel anything right now. It's sort of numb."
"Hm." Was all he said. Though he knew all too well the feeling of numbness in ones heart.
"Say Sesshomaru; what do you plan to do after this is all over?"
"Go back to my castle and take it back from Naraku's bastard children."
"That's right, you were coming to make an alliance with us because they took your castle over and put up that strong barrier. Say why didn't you just tell InuYasha that?"
"I'm not an idiot; you don't think that I'd beg my half-brother, who can't even decipher what is real from what is artificial for help? Plus I don't ask for help." He folded his arms. She would have smiled at his comment he had just made but refused to show how that had cheered her up. She knew what he meant.
"No but you do pout about it. In fact most times you look like you've got this angry pout going on." He glared at her. "What, you don't have to get all touchy I was just telling the truth." She couldn't believe the words that had just fallen from her lips. She was...teasing him?
"Then maybe you should follow that path and confess your secrets."
"Some secrets are better left unspoken. My mother said that this advantage would later save our lives. Maybe once I can trust you enough we could discuss the contents of her letter. But for now Sesshomaru let's just keep what you do know to yourself." She stood and walked over to her sleeping bag. Sleep was the last thing on her mind, but she forced herself to hall into a dreamless sleep.
She was awakened by InuYasha's voice. She opened up one eye and found him running around the camp sight. Her body told her to just stay put and so did her mind but she ruled them both out and got out of her sleeping bag. Sesshomaru was up in one of the trees watching the scene below. Kagome was both angry and frustrated by the whole commotion. You could feel the hot flames radiate from her body. Sango and Miroku looked at her and knew what was coming.
"SIT BOY!" Miles away you could hear a thump and then silence. InuYasha's body lie on the ground, mouth full of dirt. When he could finally get up from the spell he marched over to Kagome. It was just a silly thing to do after so many years of going through that same routine.
"Why the hell did you do that for!" She turned on her heel without answer him and started to pick up her stuff. He followed her. Part of her was irritated by the past year and the other part was just frustrated by him waking her.
"InuYasha you need to learn that waking up someone is an offense that could lead to death. You're just lucky that's all that spell does."
"Say InuYasha why were you yelling moments ago?" Miroku finally asked.
"Huh?" InuYasha completely forgot why he was all up in arms about. "Oh Kikyo's missing."
"InuYasha you know that Kikyo sometimes wanders away for a while. She'll be back." This time Sango was the one to speak. She flung her huge boomerang over her so that she was now holding it around her. She and Miroku started on the path. Kagome followed in suit. InuYasha stood there watching they leave. He was a little depressed that Kikyo would just leave without saying anything. It was rather sickening to see him that way. Kagome tried her best to just forget that bubble of jealous, soon it would pop, for sure.
After about a mile Sesshomaru decided to jump from above the trees and join them in walking. InuYasha for once wasn't leading. Kagome and Sesshomaru led the group. Kagome could still feel a few shards, but they weren't close enough to them yet to capture them. Sesshomaru kept the look out since he could sense things farther than InuYasha. But the whole time that this was happening Miroku and Sango were watching Kagome and Sesshomaru. They noticed a change. Sure yesterday they were walking with one another. But today they seemed more comfortable around each other, like they both had a secret. Every once and a while they'd talk to each other, but otherwise they'd keep to themselves. InuYasha wasn't paying attention at the time though so he didn't react to their sudden increase in communication.
About five hours into the trip InuYasha's head popped up and so did Sesshomaru and Kagome's. Two shards were vastly approaching. InuYasha's face began to show signs of anger. Sango and Miroku looked confused by what was going on until a tornado started to appear before them. Koga stopped in front of Kagome and took her hands in his.
"Oh Kagome when are you going to run away with me? The mutt hasn't been treating you badly has he?" She gave a nervous smile. Same old Koga.
"Everything is fine Koga really." InuYasha approached and stood between Koga and Kagome.
"What are you doing here you mangy wolf?" He yelled into Koga's face.
"Kagome is mine dog-breath!" Koga answered back.
"Like hell she is!" InuYasha yelled back.
"Come on guys please don't start fighting." They ignored her and started wrestling on the floor. Sesshomaru watched with mild amusement. He remembered encountering the wolf leader. This very guy sent the wolves to attack the village. He had wondered then why suddenly the wolf leader had sworn off killing humans. He looked over at Kagome who was yelling at both of them.
It finally occurred to him that because Koga believed that Kagome was human she'd hate it if he were out killing her kind, so this would explain why the wolf leader has changed. Sesshomaru found it sad really that InuYasha would get jealous but still managed to chance the other miko around. Sesshomaru went over to his half-brother and held him by his shirt. Koga stopped fighting and started to laugh. Kagome gave him a disapproving look and he stopped. Kagome gave Sesshomaru a smile to thank him. He looked a bit shocked by her smile. Koga came to Kagome's side again.
"Kagome my love I have come to request your assistance."
"Sure but on one condition."
"Anything for you."
"Could you not call me your love anymore?"
"Okay, so you'll come then?"
"Lead the way." He took her up in his arms and started to run while holding her bride style. InuYasha ran after then while the others followed. Sesshomaru wasn't quite sure if it should matter at all that Kagome, who he now knew was also a dog demon was currently being whisked away by the leader of the wolf tribe, who by the was he could see wanted her more than his own half-brother. He folded his arms and followed a little slower than he usually did.
Koga placed Kagome back down once they reached his comrades. She looked around them and found that they were all wounded. She put her hands on her hips and gave them a look as if asking 'what did you do this time.'
"Lady Kagome, it's nice to see you."
"Hey, are you guys okay?"
"Now that you're here we are." She blushed a little by the comment.
"It's always nice to see you guy too." She opened her bag and began to heal Koga's friends. Sesshomaru watched with amazement as she healed each other the wolf demons. It surprised him that such a female as her could befriend a tribe that was bent on harming her kind. She would always be human to them and even to him. She had the scent of one and she remained in the form of one, but that day he saw her he remembered exactly how much of an attraction he had to her demon self. Now even with this form he finds himself intrigued by her.
Koga and Kagome stood a little away from the group and were in deep conversation with one another. Only Sesshomaru could hear them. He frowned at what he could hear.
"Kagome why do you waste your time with him? Come with me and I will make you queen of the tribe. My tribe loves you as much as I do." She blushed.
"Koga you are very sweet and I care about you, but you and I are friends and I treasure that friendship. You just need to meet the right girl and since I know you so well I'm most certain that you'll treat her with respect and dignity." Sesshomaru sighed inside.
"I still can't give you up yet. That idiot doesn't deserve your love."
"Much like you Koga, InuYasha is my friend. Sure I did love him once but why hold onto something that will never be. He does have a special place in my heart but it's different now than you think."
"So Dog-breath doesn't know that you've given up?"
"To be honest he hasn't really paid much attention toward me since I got back. It's like when Kikyo is near he becomes consumed in her. I don't hate her but I can't stand the way he acts."
"Why don't you tell him you're unhappy?"
"Because I don't think my complaints have anything to do with what our goal is."
"You know that there's always a place for you in the wolf tribe."
"I know, thanks Koga you're a great friend." She gave him a hug and could hear InuYasha growling from behind her. But what shocked her was what Koga did before vanishing with his tribe. He touched her chin and placed a soft kiss on her cheek then was gone before she had a chance to react to it. She stood there rooted in that one spot too shocked to say or do anything. InuYasha went up to Kagome.
"What was that?"
"None of your business!" She yelled back.
"Why did he kiss you for?"
"Why do you care?" He stopped yelling for a moment and just glared at her.
"Since you like him so much then why don't you go with him?"
"If that's how you feel maybe I will! I don't know why I say with you anyway. You don't care about me at all and the only time that I ever become a concern to you is why Koga shows up. You can't act this way InuYasha. I don't belong to you or to him and frankly I'm sick of this game! You've made your choice and I've been fine with it so why don't you leave me alone!" She stormed off into the forest to fume. InuYasha's mouth hung open like a fish out of water.
"About time. I was wondering how long she'd put up with him before it drove her crazy." Stated Sango.
"How right you are Sango. He doesn't deserve her. He's put her through hell and back. She's just too loyal for her own good. Poor Lady Kagome." Added Miroku.
"Hey I can here you!" Yelled InuYasha.
"You are an idiot little brother." Everyone looked at Sesshomaru in shock. He never really talked unless he and InuYasha were fighting.
"Go to hell Sesshomaru." InuYasha yelled
"Only when you join me." Sesshomaru started for the direction that Kagome went, Sango and Miroku followed.
When they found Kagome she was sitting on a rock still fuming.
"Hey Kagome, are you okay?"
"Yeah Sango I guess I just lost my temper. I'm sorry."
"You didn't upset me at all. I'm just glad that you did it. InuYasha is still a child. If he were really his actual age then he wouldn't be acting this way."
"He's still about twenty or so but he hasn't matured at all since we began our journey. I thought that maybe he'd changed. I guess maybe I'm the one who needs to change, I'm not that little school girl anymore, I'm twenty and should act like it."
"I know he's insensitive to your feelings and right now I want to put my boomerang someplace very uncomfortable to him, but he's still your friend and I'm sure that his small brain doesn't know the difference between a dead girl and someone like you. Don't let him make you feel like you aren't special."
"Yeah Lady Kagome there are many things about you that separate you from other females. You're beautiful, smart, caring, compassionate, forgiving, patient, kind, loving, sweet, and just so much more."
"You don't have to continue to waste anymore feelings on him."
"To be honest Sango I haven't. At first when Kikyo asked to join our group I so badly wanted to say no but when I saw how happy InuYasha was about her asking I couldn't say no."
"If you don't want to continue anymore on this journey it will be fine but we've got to continue."
"Miroku I never said I couldn't handle the journey. I have my own personal reasons now to continue."
"The Shikon Jewel that you broke is your responsibility I understand."
"Not only that but I have some last wishes from my mother to do also."
"Your mother? What does she have to do with this time?"
"More than you realize." They looked at each other confused. Sesshomaru remained next to a tree. He hadn't said a word since earlier. He remembered the conversation that Kagome and Souta had just the yesterday. Whatever her mother had asked her to do it must have something to do with her father. But she said she couldn't really remember him. His head was beginning to hurt.
"Miko I think it's time that you told us exactly what's going on. We will not leave this place until you do." He came out from the shadows of the trees and stood before her. She glared at him. He just smirked. "It was bound to come out soon or later. Its better that this group of yours has some knowledge to your secrets."
"What's he talking about Kagome?" She looked down at her hands. That damn ring taunting her. Ever since she first removed it she'd wanted to take it off again.
"Sesshomaru you promised." Though she meant to sound angry she couldn't. She completely understood his reasoning behind telling her friends. Part of her wondered how Sesshomaru's mind worked. If there were a monkey or a metal wheel inside there.
"And you trusted me? I thought you knew me better?" He partly joked, surprisingly she caught on to that fact and knew that she could in fact trust him. She realized that he was only looking out for her.
"I won't make that mistake again." She looked at her two friends and began to tell them about everything.
Writer's Note: Sorry but I had to leave it right here. I have so many ideas. I know it seems like it's too quick to rule out InuYasha and Kagome. Sesshomaru might be a little out of character but not by much. I've been watching the new episodes and some of the old ones. If you've ever just watched his facial expressions. I have so many pictures of him and most of the time he looks like he's pouting. Except for when he's in battle, he's a total bad ass! Next chapter soon! I'm actually up to 1,600 words right now on chapter three so if I get any reviews for this then I'll put the next one on. I just hope that people are actually enjoying this. By the time that this one is up the next one will be complete. In about three hours I should be done with it. Have fun on this story, shows that you should never trust anyone especially your parents whose job it is to lie to you on every occasion and make sure that you don't do anything that they have already done!
