Chapter 16
Sesshoumaru could barely keep his mind focused on the paperwork before him. After leaving Kouga's place, his driver had taken him to his office downtown.
Now, he was standing at his windows, looking down on the city, thinking.
It was not Kagome who occupied his mind. No, it was something else, something that had been bothering him nearly the entire day. Something was very wrong.
Frowning, he shook himself. He was being foolish, he told himself. Even as he turned away from the city view, his senses were still troubled.
Later, as he made his promised appearance at Kouga's house, he found that Kagome, Sango and Yuki were still out. This troubled him greatly. Something was not right in Tokyo and Kagome's safety was dependent on a brash, smart-ass elf.
The girls had better be all right...for the elf's sake.
Yuki drove the now subdued girls back home. He wasn't angry at them so much as he was furious with himself for falling asleep when he was supposed to be watching them. How could he have been so lax? He had stupidly let his guard down and she was nearly snatched by something horrible, right beneath his very nose. But man if Kouga or Sesshoumaru found out... He didn't want to think about it.
Up ahead, traffic was backed up due to a car accident. Yuki slowed Kagome's BMW down to a full stop. It appeared that they wouldn't be going anywhere for awhile, so he put the car in park and turned in his seat to face the girls sitting behind him.
"Look, I know that what you two did was just a joke, but it's not even close to funny. This is serious business. I am supposed to protect you, Kagome. You may think that I take this lightly, and well, perhaps I did at first. It was inexcusable of me to fall asleep, but I wasn't used to being dragged around all over a shopping mall like that."
Sango and Kagome felt terrible. Sango reached out and lightly touched his seat. "We really are very sorry. I suppose we should have warned you. But Hiro's always been able to keep up and we figured you could do the same."
Yuki raised a fair eyebrow. 'Hiro could actually keep up with them? Wow, now I really DO respect him!'
Kagome grinned suddenly. "Didn't expect that, did you? Hiro's always been a great sport when it came to accompanying us to the mall."
Yuki's heart did a flip in his chest when she smiled at him. "N-no. I'd NEVER have expected Hiro to have such...such stamina."
Sango chuckled and sat back against the seat, arms crossing over her bosom. "He's got patience in spades, that one. Is he single?" she asked suddenly.
Yuki was not the only one taken aback. Kagome stared at her as if she had sprouted a second nose. "Are you kidding? Miroku's already pissed at you for..." She broke off suddenly and shot Yuki a nervous glance.
But Yuki already figured it out. He laughed heartily when Kagome blushed. "You mean for this morning," he said in an amused voice. "No, I don't believe the houshi was very happy with me for smiling at his woman."
It was Sango's turn to blush. "No, I'm not his woman, Yuki. He's never really asked me anything like that. I thought he would ask me to be when we were...were still...back there but...it never happened." She looked out of the window at the traffic.
Yuki looked thoughtful. "Yeah, Hiro's single," he remarked, emerald eyes twinkling. "And so am I."
Both girls stared at him. "Really?" Sango asked, curiously. "Why is that? Why are the both of you single? I mean, it can't be because no one wants either of you. Both of you are really hot."
Again Yuki laughed. Sango was really straightforward and he liked that in a woman. "Well," he explained, "Hiro and I have lived for a very long time. We've both been in relationships before, but it gets boring after awhile. I mean, you live forever, your partner lives forever...it gets tiresome. Nothing exciting has come along for us in a very long time. The last time something cool happened, it happened to Hiro."
He stopped and stared at Kagome. "Kouga contacted Hiro about a holy miko he knew. He told Hiro that he felt something bad was going to happen to her." He noticed that Kagome had no idea he was discussing her and he continued.
"Well, Kouga asked Hiro to watch over her, for she had an upcoming battle and he couldn't fight by her side. Hiro agreed, telling Kouga that he would remain hidden but would assist her. When the miko was on the battlefield, ready to fight, Hiro used his winds to hold back the hordes of demons so she could gather her powers."
Kagome nodded absently, then stopped and blinked a few times. What! "Wait a minute! You...you're talking about...me! I remember now! The gust of wind that blew by me on that day! The wind that held Naraku's forces back just long enough for me to..." Her brown eyes misted. "That was Hiro's doing?" she asked, remembering when she felt as though she had not been alone on that battlefield.
Yuki nodded and Sango gasped. "That wind saved us as well!" she cried softly.
When Kagome looked at her in surprise, Sango explained. "We had just retrieved your body when we heard Sesshoumaru above us. He was beyond pissed and we ran like hell for the well. Twice he tried to make a dive for us, but both times he was repelled. A strong gust of wind held him back both times." Sango looked back at Yuki. "We never knew. Even that night at the party, I never put two and two together."
Yuki turned a bit to see if the cars had moved yet. "Hiro never was one to toot his own horn." Satisfied that no one had moved, he turned back to face them.
"Anyway, back to the subject of taking this situation seriously. Never again play a joke on me like that. But if you do, I might have to turn you over on my knee. The elves are bound to you until you die, Kagome and thanks to Kouga, we have found you again. Always remember that Hiro and I will never leave you alone, no matter how much you want us gone."
Kagome was moved beyond words. She really had never considered that Yuki was actually serious about protecting her until today. Hell, she had always thought that he never really liked her much.
Yuki smiled at her tenderly. She was such a sweet young woman and so...very...
When she returned his smile, he again felt that strange pull to her. He wanted nothing more than to take her away from all of this and protect her all by himself.
"Oh, by the way Kagome, would you like to go for a ride on my motorcycle later on?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could.
"Which one? You have two of them," she asked, wondering why he would wish to take her for a ride on one of his precious babies.
"Hmm. It doesn't matter. You pick," he replied.
Kagome, who had never been on a motorcycle before, readily agreed, saying she didn't care. Both motorcycles were awesome. She'd seen his bikes before and had really wanted to try them out. One was a silver Honda Interceptor and the other was a blood red Honda VTX1300R. Both were fabulous pieces of machinery and she drooled over them every time she saw them.
The accident was slowly being cleared off the road and the traffic began moving again. Yuki let out a relieved sigh, turned around and put the car in drive.
Sango turned to look at Kagome, who was blushing furiously. She nudged Kagome and grinned at her. Kagome smiled back, clearly embarassed.
"He likes you," Sango mouthed at her friend and grinned broadly.
Kagome's eyes widened with shock and shook her head vigorously.
Sango nudged Kagome again and this time, happened to get Kagome on her tickle spot, causing her to laugh out loud.
The sound of Kagome's laugh made Yuki's insides flutter and do some kind of weird dance. There was just something about this girl, Shikon or not.
Sesshoumaru heard that Yuki and the girls arrive about an hour after he did. He, Inuyasha and Shippo were all waiting in Kouga's study. Kouga himself had gone into the basement to talk to Hiro.
The men in the study watched Kagome and Sango, apparently deep in conversation, pass the open study doors and head upstairs. They were toting numerous bags.
"Poor Yuki," Shippo muttered, feeling genuine sympathy for the elf. He'd had to deal with Kagome and Sango's merciless shopping sprees once before. It had not been a pleasant experience.
Their chaperone, fair hair mussed and clothing rumpled, burst into the study. "Where's Kouga?" Yuki asked urgently.
"In the basement w" Shippo began, but Yuki had already dashed off.
"ith Hiro," Shippo finished, frowning. He turned to his companions. "What the hell's gotten into HIM?" he asked.
Inuyasha frowned too, and shrugged. If it didn't concern Kagome, it didn't matter to him.
Sesshoumaru however, got up from the leather sofa and went off after the distraught elf.
Yuki came into the basement where his brother and Kouga were talking quietly. They looked up when they heard Yuki come in.
Hiro smiled up at his wild-eyed brother, thinking that Yuki was about to give him a good bitching. "So, how was your outing?" he asked, grinning smugly. His grin vanished when he saw the intent way Yuki was staring at him.
Kouga caught the look as well. "What's wrong, Yuki?" he asked, concerned.
But Yuki's piercing green eyes never left his brother's face. "You didn't sense it, did you?" he asked steadily. "Or were you not paying attention?"
Hiro frowned. "What are you going on about, Yuki? Sense what? I've been here all day. Nothing has gone on here."
Yuki shook his head in agitation. "Not here at the mansion, baka. I mean in general. You haven't sensed anything out of the ordinary? In the air maybe? Something?"
Hiro and Kouga shook their heads. None of them heard Sesshoumaru enter the room on his silent cat's feet. "I have," he answered quietly, startling everyone in the room. "There is a familiar presence of evil in the air."
Yuki turned to him and nodded. "Yeah, I noticed it too when...when I was...um...with the girls when they got their nails done. Kagome had gone outside for a quick breather when I sensed something coming straight for her."
Sesshoumaru's eyebrows snapped downwards. "How, pray tell, do you know that?" he asked coldly. The bad feeling he had had was now back in full force.
Yuki glared at him. "Look, I just KNOW okay? Damn, get off my ass. I know I sensed it. It was big, it was evil and it was out for Kagome."
"Oh, well, since you put it THAT way," Sesshoumaru snarled and his arm snaked out to grab Yuki's throat.
But Yuki wasn't having it. His own hand shot out and grabbed Sesshoumaru's wrist. The second his hand touched the taiyoukai's wrist, it caught fire.
Snickering, Yuki pulled his hand back as Sesshoumaru looked with amazement at his hand.
"Damn it, Yuki!" Hiro cried. He shot out of his chair and covered Sesshoumaru's blazing hand with his own. Water poured from Hiro's hand, dousing the fire.
Hiro turned angrily on his brother. "You are an idiot, Yuki. How many times have I told you to not set people on fire? Damn...!"
Yuki gave a short, harsh laugh. "I did it because he deserved it. You KNOW I've made it my personal mission to make his life as miserable as possible."
He turned and left the basement.
Yuki went outside to the gardens to smoke. While he was lighting up, he heard soft footsteps coming towards him. He turned and saw Kagome standing behind him.
"Yeah?" he asked gruffly.
"Thank you for saving me today, Yuki," Kagome said softly. She leaned forward and whispered, "I could feel it too. That sense of evil."
Yuki looked startled. "You could feel it too?"
Kagome sighed heavily. "Well yeah, of course I could. I'm a holy miko, right? I know when something wicked my way comes."
Frowning, he took a drag off his cigarette. "You weren't scared. Why not?" he asked, flicking some ash off the cigarette.
She studied him for a moment before answering. He was just as beautiful as Sesshoumaru. He had baby soft golden hair that brushed his ears and hung in those magnificent emerald green eyes. He looked all of twenty one years of age although he was most likely a thousand years old.
"Because," she said, taking his cigarette from between his fingers and putting it to her own lips, pulling a drag as she did so. "I knew you would find me and save me, if necessary." Handing back the stub, she blew a stream of smoke through her nose.
'Damn that was sexy,' he thought, stunned. 'And when did she start smoking?'
She stood on tiptoes and gave him a gentle kiss on one of his smooth, lightly tanned cheeks before walking away.
He was in a complete state of shock. If Sesshoumaru wanted to take his ass out, this would be the perfect time.
Slowly, he lifted a hand and touched the spot where she had kissed him. If a mere brotherly peck on the cheek made him feel like this, he could only imagine what would happen if she kissed him full on the mouth.
He stubbed out the cigarette he was holding and lit another. He grinned wickedly to himself. 'Oh yes, my little miko. I haven't forgotten about taking you out on my bike later today. It'll be the best ride you'll ever have.'
As soon as Kagome came in the house, she walked smack into a hard chest. A pair of iron-like arms went around her and she gasped, looking up. A pair of golden eyes looked down at her.
"S-sesshoumaru!" she managed to get out as his lips came crashing down on hers.
Kami, he tasted wonderful! He'd had some of Kouga's cognac, she realized as his tongue dipped down into her mouth. If this could get her drunk, she'd gladly accept the hangover.
When he finally raised his silver head, she was a limp as bowl of ramen noodles. "Kagome," he began softly, "I need to speak with you."
Kagome, still dazed by his kiss, nodded silently. For a split second, she wondered if he'd sucked out her tongue by accident, because she couldn't speak at the moment.
He lead her to Kouga's library and shut the door behind them. Pulling her into his arms, he said, "This morning, I came to speak to Kouga. Since he is obviously your guardian of sorts, I wished to seek his permission to ask you out. I realize the mistakes I had made back then and want to correct them. I wish to court you properly, because I want to mate you again."
Kagome pulled back as far as his arms would allow and stared up at him. "You want me to become your mate again? But" she began, but he silenced her with another scorching kiss.
When he pulled away, she was again dazed. He smiled tenderly down at her. "I love you, Kagome. Kami knows I have been the biggest ass since Inuyasha, but I truly have changed. I want to begin again, with you by my side. I swear to you that I'll never do anything more to hurt you. Please."
Sesshoumaru had been reduced to begging? Kagome thought, thunderstruck. The world must be coming to an end soon.
But could she trust him? She sighed inwardly as that voice inside her also agreed.
"Fine, I'll go out with you. But you have to prove to me that you've truly changed. From what I've seen between you and Inuyasha, not much has changed." She stared sternly up at him.
He smiled at her and swept her close to him and gave her another toe-curling kiss. Thank Kami she agreed!
As he pulled her down on the nearest couch with him, he was well aware of Inuyasha and Kouga opening the library door and finding them together. But he did not care. For his Kagome had given him another chance.
