NOTES: Hai hai... twas a little longer a wait this time around. Gomen, but I just have more extra time on weekends to type this up than I do on weekdays (mostly because my weekday time is earlier in the day and I snooze thru it... ^^; heh) so it takes a little longer to get the next chapter up. Anywho... thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot to me, they do! ^_^ Hope you all like this chapter! ^^
DISCLAIMER: Rumiko Takahashi is the owner of Inu Yasha... if I owned the show it'd probably stink and no one'd like it. IN fact... it probably would never have been created, so... I dun own it. ^^; This fic is mine, tho, so enjoy! ^__^
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Sesshoumaru landed just outside what Kagome could only describe as a mansion. The building was huge, even by her own time's standards, making it even more impressive here in the past. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how much of the yard and surrounding forest was considered to be the yard of this particular building. Rin was still asleep, and Kagome made a move to lift her and carry her, only then realizing that she was still clutching onto the leg of Sesshoumaru's clothing. "G-gomen..." she stammered as she let go, avoiding the glare she was receiving in return. She bent over to pick up little Rin, who murmured sleepily in protest, and stood with the child in her arms.
Sesshoumaru walked inside, already knowing that the human would follow. He watched with some satisfaction as Kagome gawked at the size of his property; for some reason he liked to see her surprised. Her entire being seemed to light up when she was caught off-guard, in both good and bad ways. Somehow... she was interesting to watch. To study, he told himself.
He led her around a corner and motioned slightly to a door. "That is where you will sleep." He didn't wait for a reply before moving on, though he only managed a few steps before he stopped to wait on the girl who had opened the door to look inside.
Kagome looked around the room, a little shocked. She had easily been expecting a servant's quarters, or something of the like. This room was not only not meant for servants; it was almost meant for royalty! It was very clean and, added to that, it smelled nicely. She noticed there was no window, and wondered about it. She lay Rin on the bed, noting that it seemed larger than it should. Made for two people, perhaps. She went back to the door, intending to close it and go to bed, and only then did she notice that she was being waited on.
"Oh! I didn't realize... gomen." She bowed in apology, blushing at having been so rude as to ignore him, but also annoyed that there was more. She was tired and there was a bed behind her...
Sesshoumaru noticed that she wasn't carrying Rin anymore, and told her to close the door. She obeyed, though he caught the scent of her annoyance as she complied. He could guess why. He headed farther down the hall, until he was nearly to the end. "These are my chambers. Study on this side, sleeping on this. You will not disturb me on anything short of an emergency." She nodded, obviously eager to see inside. He noted, with some satisfaction, her disappointment in his passing the rooms unopened as he headed back the way they came.
He led her though a different hallway and to the outside, indicating the bath houses. "You will need another person to keep the flame while you bathe, if you desire hot water. There are servants to ask." He motioned to his own, larger bath house. "That is off-limits." He turned to go back inside, and she followed wordlessly. He led her around, pointing out the servant's hallway, the dining room, and other such places of importance, and giving any rules to each with as little wording as he could. Then he dismissed her to sleep, heading down to his own bedchamber to sleep away the last few hours of the night.
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Shippou had barely managed to keep up enough to still see Kagome and Sesshoumaru, but had managed to get far enough to spot the outline of the building they had landed near. Noting the size, even from this distance, he reminded himself that it was perfectly worthy of the Lord of the Western Lands. Without interference, he may make it there by the time the lands awoke for breakfast...
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Kagome awoke to a knock on the door. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and she wondered how far into the day it was. The knock came to the door again and this time it opened without warning. A young (and probably weak) youkai female stood in the doorway. "Sesshoumaru-sama told me to come wake the humans for breakfast." She nearly spat the word "humans", and instantly Kagome knew she was probably not going to be most welcome here. The door was closed before Kagome thought to reply, so she awoke Rin and looked around. Were they to wear their nightclothes? She realized that in their haste to leave last night they had left behind all the garments Sesshoumaru had brought for them, but the ones they were wearing.
"What is Kagome-neesan looking for?" asked Rin, who was now awake and looking at her.
"Oh, Rin-chan! Good morning. I was just looking for some clothes to wear for the day, before we miss breakfast." She watched as Rin looked about to burst with laugher.
"Rin knows where the clothes are!" She ran over to the bed and pulled a chest out from under it. Kagome cast a glance under to see a few more such chests hidden away there, and looked inside the now-open one that Rin had. There were many little outfits all perfectly fit for Rin hidden away in that chest, but none Kagome's size. Kagome told Rin to get dressed while she looked to see if the other chests held her own sized clothing.
She pulled out the next chest to find that it held a child's clothing, but for a little boy, not a girl. She wondered about it, but brushed it aside. One thing at a time. The next chest had a woman's clothing in it, just slightly larger than Kagome was, but not enough to be a problem. The clothes fit, so she took out a pretty blue kimono and wore it.
Breakfast time!
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Sesshoumaru had eaten and was heading back to his study when Kagome finally pulled Rin out of their room. He stopped in his tracks, a small growl escaping him before he regained his control. Kagome must have noticed, because she was suddenly into one of her wordy explanations about not having clothes and finding these in a chest under the bed. Rin was wearing the clothes he had placed there for her, but he had honestly forgotten about what the miko was going to wear. He had certainly not expected to see her wearing the garments left behind by Inu Yasha's human mother.
Without explaining for her why he had stopped, he passed them by and went to his study. Only when Kagome lost sight of him did she turn again and take Rin to the dining room she had been shown the night before.
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Kagome stared at the room, noticing that there were plates of food already set out for the two of them... next to the empty plates at the head of the table. Surely they weren't to eat at Sesshoumaru's table? Not that she minded, of course. She merely wondered at the change from servant, to seemingly guest. Certainly she wasn't his guest here? 'Better to be a guest' she reminded herself.
They sat down to eat, barely making it through half the meal before they could hear almost all the servants rushing outside. Of the few words she could catch as she tried to follow, keeping Rin close to her, she caught "kitsune child" and "caught 'im trying to sneak in". Her heart missed a beat as she got outside and pushed through the crowd. If it wasn't for her being a "filthy human", and the servants making a point of not coming into contact with her, she may not have been able to get through the crowd. However, she did make it, just in time to see the kitsune that was being beaten for show by the guard youkai.
"Shippou!" Kagome ran out, still holding onto Rin's hand, and grabbed the kitsune child away from the guards holding him down. "Get away from him! Shippou... Shippou! Can you hear me?" She cradled the beaten child in her arms, trying her hardest not to cry when he didn't answer her pleas. She knew he was alive... he had the vital signs, however, in her anger she was ready to maim and slaughter the guards who had beat him, and the crowd who had been watching it for fun.
"How DARE you!" She screamed at the guards, who seemed suddenly wary of her as she stood holding Shippou, as if he were an infant, in one arm, and held onto a bewildered Rin's hand with the other. Then she registered a voice on the other side of the crowd and watched as it seemed to vanish completely, guards and all, to reveal Sesshoumaru on the other side. He walked towards them.
"Sesshoumaru..." Kagome was doing worse now in her attempt to hold back her tears. "Is there anywhere that I could..." She looked down at the broken kitsune cradled in her arm as if that would explain her intentions. Sesshoumaru even seemed to understand, though nothing in his expression could have given that away.
"This way." Was all she got as he walked towards the building again. She followed.
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Inu Yasha was cursing at Miroku right now, who was doing his best to keep his own calm against the insults he was receiving. "Inu Yasha, you were as asleep as we were when he left us."
"You were still closer to him! What if he saw Kagome? And we don't even know which way he went!" Inu Yasha growled.
Sango chose this moment to cut in. "Actually, we have some clue. At least, if you use your nose, Inu Yasha." She ignored the glare he shot her. "We'd have had a better option if his signal hadn't been erased." She motioned to the obvious traces of a foot dragging over what had been Shippou's arrow, though they hadn't had a chance to see the direction it had pointed because they had awoken to find it blurred away into a circle of dust.
Inu Yasha grumbled, but had to agree that it was a start. He went over to the once-was-arrow and put his nose to it, quickly recoiling and looking about them fervently. Ignoring the questioning protests of Sango and Miroku, he jumped up into a tree branch and scanned the area, saying only one word that told his entire reasoning to the two below him, as well as telling who had destroyed Shippou's marker.
"Kikyou..."
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NOTES: Oooh, I think that was my first evil cliffy! Mwuahahahaaa! Okay, okay... so not too much happened. This was a relatively short chapter, and mostly just plot-building, though I did add that last little twist! Don't worry though, because once I finish the next chapter (should it all go as planned) then there will be a nice chapter to read with some interesting turns. You'll get to find out why Kikyou erased the arrow, as well as why the guards were briefly afraid of Kagome, plus... other stuffs. ^^ Wh00t!
REVIEWS: (Yes! My new little section is arrived! Bwuah!)
DemonLady1: Thanks! ^^ I would move them together sooner, but I am very afraid of getting out of character too quickly. I'd like to be able to see how it could happen, instead of going so fast they are different people. ^.~ lol
erin: Thankies! I promise to update as my schedule allows (which isn't too bad! ^^) I love Sess/Kagome fics too, always so interesting because of the persons involved. That's why I'm inspired into writing this one. ^_^
pruningshears: Ah, this is definitely a Kagome/Sess fic! Very much so! I'm glad it's confusing in that way though... it means I'm not getting too off character, I think! ^__~ lol. Thanks for the review! (And I'm glad I was able to convey her reasoning there at the end for ya... ^^ It took a while to decide exactly how to get her out of her act of wanting to stay with him, to really wanting to stay with him.)
Chelsea: Thanks! I shall expect your review each chapter! ^__^ Mwuahahaa.. I shall hold you to your word! ^.~ Oh, and I was a little mean to Shippou, wasn't I? Especially if you count this chapter... I feel evil now... Shame on me! ~_~ Don't worry... I won't be so mean to him next chapter... And lastly... DON'T REMIND ME OF SCHOOL!!! *dies* That's the last thing I need... lol ^^; I hate my school... Maybe I'll hafta make a lot of fics now... just as many as I read... get away from the cursed Cockroach High... x_x
That's all the new reviews, and to all the reviewers from before I started doing this, thanks so much for the reviews because I'm a quitter. I'd have taken this off if I had been ignored. ^__^ Arigato!
DISCLAIMER: Rumiko Takahashi is the owner of Inu Yasha... if I owned the show it'd probably stink and no one'd like it. IN fact... it probably would never have been created, so... I dun own it. ^^; This fic is mine, tho, so enjoy! ^__^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru landed just outside what Kagome could only describe as a mansion. The building was huge, even by her own time's standards, making it even more impressive here in the past. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how much of the yard and surrounding forest was considered to be the yard of this particular building. Rin was still asleep, and Kagome made a move to lift her and carry her, only then realizing that she was still clutching onto the leg of Sesshoumaru's clothing. "G-gomen..." she stammered as she let go, avoiding the glare she was receiving in return. She bent over to pick up little Rin, who murmured sleepily in protest, and stood with the child in her arms.
Sesshoumaru walked inside, already knowing that the human would follow. He watched with some satisfaction as Kagome gawked at the size of his property; for some reason he liked to see her surprised. Her entire being seemed to light up when she was caught off-guard, in both good and bad ways. Somehow... she was interesting to watch. To study, he told himself.
He led her around a corner and motioned slightly to a door. "That is where you will sleep." He didn't wait for a reply before moving on, though he only managed a few steps before he stopped to wait on the girl who had opened the door to look inside.
Kagome looked around the room, a little shocked. She had easily been expecting a servant's quarters, or something of the like. This room was not only not meant for servants; it was almost meant for royalty! It was very clean and, added to that, it smelled nicely. She noticed there was no window, and wondered about it. She lay Rin on the bed, noting that it seemed larger than it should. Made for two people, perhaps. She went back to the door, intending to close it and go to bed, and only then did she notice that she was being waited on.
"Oh! I didn't realize... gomen." She bowed in apology, blushing at having been so rude as to ignore him, but also annoyed that there was more. She was tired and there was a bed behind her...
Sesshoumaru noticed that she wasn't carrying Rin anymore, and told her to close the door. She obeyed, though he caught the scent of her annoyance as she complied. He could guess why. He headed farther down the hall, until he was nearly to the end. "These are my chambers. Study on this side, sleeping on this. You will not disturb me on anything short of an emergency." She nodded, obviously eager to see inside. He noted, with some satisfaction, her disappointment in his passing the rooms unopened as he headed back the way they came.
He led her though a different hallway and to the outside, indicating the bath houses. "You will need another person to keep the flame while you bathe, if you desire hot water. There are servants to ask." He motioned to his own, larger bath house. "That is off-limits." He turned to go back inside, and she followed wordlessly. He led her around, pointing out the servant's hallway, the dining room, and other such places of importance, and giving any rules to each with as little wording as he could. Then he dismissed her to sleep, heading down to his own bedchamber to sleep away the last few hours of the night.
------------------------------------------------
Shippou had barely managed to keep up enough to still see Kagome and Sesshoumaru, but had managed to get far enough to spot the outline of the building they had landed near. Noting the size, even from this distance, he reminded himself that it was perfectly worthy of the Lord of the Western Lands. Without interference, he may make it there by the time the lands awoke for breakfast...
------------------------------------------------
Kagome awoke to a knock on the door. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and she wondered how far into the day it was. The knock came to the door again and this time it opened without warning. A young (and probably weak) youkai female stood in the doorway. "Sesshoumaru-sama told me to come wake the humans for breakfast." She nearly spat the word "humans", and instantly Kagome knew she was probably not going to be most welcome here. The door was closed before Kagome thought to reply, so she awoke Rin and looked around. Were they to wear their nightclothes? She realized that in their haste to leave last night they had left behind all the garments Sesshoumaru had brought for them, but the ones they were wearing.
"What is Kagome-neesan looking for?" asked Rin, who was now awake and looking at her.
"Oh, Rin-chan! Good morning. I was just looking for some clothes to wear for the day, before we miss breakfast." She watched as Rin looked about to burst with laugher.
"Rin knows where the clothes are!" She ran over to the bed and pulled a chest out from under it. Kagome cast a glance under to see a few more such chests hidden away there, and looked inside the now-open one that Rin had. There were many little outfits all perfectly fit for Rin hidden away in that chest, but none Kagome's size. Kagome told Rin to get dressed while she looked to see if the other chests held her own sized clothing.
She pulled out the next chest to find that it held a child's clothing, but for a little boy, not a girl. She wondered about it, but brushed it aside. One thing at a time. The next chest had a woman's clothing in it, just slightly larger than Kagome was, but not enough to be a problem. The clothes fit, so she took out a pretty blue kimono and wore it.
Breakfast time!
------------------------------------------------
Sesshoumaru had eaten and was heading back to his study when Kagome finally pulled Rin out of their room. He stopped in his tracks, a small growl escaping him before he regained his control. Kagome must have noticed, because she was suddenly into one of her wordy explanations about not having clothes and finding these in a chest under the bed. Rin was wearing the clothes he had placed there for her, but he had honestly forgotten about what the miko was going to wear. He had certainly not expected to see her wearing the garments left behind by Inu Yasha's human mother.
Without explaining for her why he had stopped, he passed them by and went to his study. Only when Kagome lost sight of him did she turn again and take Rin to the dining room she had been shown the night before.
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Kagome stared at the room, noticing that there were plates of food already set out for the two of them... next to the empty plates at the head of the table. Surely they weren't to eat at Sesshoumaru's table? Not that she minded, of course. She merely wondered at the change from servant, to seemingly guest. Certainly she wasn't his guest here? 'Better to be a guest' she reminded herself.
They sat down to eat, barely making it through half the meal before they could hear almost all the servants rushing outside. Of the few words she could catch as she tried to follow, keeping Rin close to her, she caught "kitsune child" and "caught 'im trying to sneak in". Her heart missed a beat as she got outside and pushed through the crowd. If it wasn't for her being a "filthy human", and the servants making a point of not coming into contact with her, she may not have been able to get through the crowd. However, she did make it, just in time to see the kitsune that was being beaten for show by the guard youkai.
"Shippou!" Kagome ran out, still holding onto Rin's hand, and grabbed the kitsune child away from the guards holding him down. "Get away from him! Shippou... Shippou! Can you hear me?" She cradled the beaten child in her arms, trying her hardest not to cry when he didn't answer her pleas. She knew he was alive... he had the vital signs, however, in her anger she was ready to maim and slaughter the guards who had beat him, and the crowd who had been watching it for fun.
"How DARE you!" She screamed at the guards, who seemed suddenly wary of her as she stood holding Shippou, as if he were an infant, in one arm, and held onto a bewildered Rin's hand with the other. Then she registered a voice on the other side of the crowd and watched as it seemed to vanish completely, guards and all, to reveal Sesshoumaru on the other side. He walked towards them.
"Sesshoumaru..." Kagome was doing worse now in her attempt to hold back her tears. "Is there anywhere that I could..." She looked down at the broken kitsune cradled in her arm as if that would explain her intentions. Sesshoumaru even seemed to understand, though nothing in his expression could have given that away.
"This way." Was all she got as he walked towards the building again. She followed.
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Inu Yasha was cursing at Miroku right now, who was doing his best to keep his own calm against the insults he was receiving. "Inu Yasha, you were as asleep as we were when he left us."
"You were still closer to him! What if he saw Kagome? And we don't even know which way he went!" Inu Yasha growled.
Sango chose this moment to cut in. "Actually, we have some clue. At least, if you use your nose, Inu Yasha." She ignored the glare he shot her. "We'd have had a better option if his signal hadn't been erased." She motioned to the obvious traces of a foot dragging over what had been Shippou's arrow, though they hadn't had a chance to see the direction it had pointed because they had awoken to find it blurred away into a circle of dust.
Inu Yasha grumbled, but had to agree that it was a start. He went over to the once-was-arrow and put his nose to it, quickly recoiling and looking about them fervently. Ignoring the questioning protests of Sango and Miroku, he jumped up into a tree branch and scanned the area, saying only one word that told his entire reasoning to the two below him, as well as telling who had destroyed Shippou's marker.
"Kikyou..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES: Oooh, I think that was my first evil cliffy! Mwuahahahaaa! Okay, okay... so not too much happened. This was a relatively short chapter, and mostly just plot-building, though I did add that last little twist! Don't worry though, because once I finish the next chapter (should it all go as planned) then there will be a nice chapter to read with some interesting turns. You'll get to find out why Kikyou erased the arrow, as well as why the guards were briefly afraid of Kagome, plus... other stuffs. ^^ Wh00t!
REVIEWS: (Yes! My new little section is arrived! Bwuah!)
DemonLady1: Thanks! ^^ I would move them together sooner, but I am very afraid of getting out of character too quickly. I'd like to be able to see how it could happen, instead of going so fast they are different people. ^.~ lol
erin: Thankies! I promise to update as my schedule allows (which isn't too bad! ^^) I love Sess/Kagome fics too, always so interesting because of the persons involved. That's why I'm inspired into writing this one. ^_^
pruningshears: Ah, this is definitely a Kagome/Sess fic! Very much so! I'm glad it's confusing in that way though... it means I'm not getting too off character, I think! ^__~ lol. Thanks for the review! (And I'm glad I was able to convey her reasoning there at the end for ya... ^^ It took a while to decide exactly how to get her out of her act of wanting to stay with him, to really wanting to stay with him.)
Chelsea: Thanks! I shall expect your review each chapter! ^__^ Mwuahahaa.. I shall hold you to your word! ^.~ Oh, and I was a little mean to Shippou, wasn't I? Especially if you count this chapter... I feel evil now... Shame on me! ~_~ Don't worry... I won't be so mean to him next chapter... And lastly... DON'T REMIND ME OF SCHOOL!!! *dies* That's the last thing I need... lol ^^; I hate my school... Maybe I'll hafta make a lot of fics now... just as many as I read... get away from the cursed Cockroach High... x_x
That's all the new reviews, and to all the reviewers from before I started doing this, thanks so much for the reviews because I'm a quitter. I'd have taken this off if I had been ignored. ^__^ Arigato!