(Disclaimer: for the rest of the story refer to chapter 1's disclaimer)
On Sesshomaru's Cloud
On Sesshoumaru's cloud somewhere between Inuyasha's forest and the Western castle. Kagome was now on her knee's and had a tight grip on Sesshoumaru's hakama pant leg as she watched the scenery pass a very long distance below her. For Sesshoumaru's cloud was higher up then she's ever been on Kirara or Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru looked down at the human miko on her knee's at his feet holding tight to the leg of his hakama.
"Human, let go of this Sesshoumaru's hakama and stand up." Sesshoumaru said out with his emotionless icy tone. Kagome shook her head and did neither. "This Sesshoumaru said let go and stand up!" Again she shook her head and he smelt the slight scent of fear coming from her. He reached his right hand down for her to see and take. "Take this Sesshoumaru's hand." He watched as she looked up at him and slowly reached up and took his hand as she stood up and gasped. "Human, you've been on the back of the fire cat as well as the half breed so why is it that this Sesshoumaru smells the scent of fear?"
"For one, I've never been this high on Kirara, the fire cat as you put it and your half brother has never been this high. Besides at least with them I had something that looks solid and not like at any moment your going to fall right through. Second, I am in the air with a youkai lord who is known to hate humans and who's tried to kill me and his half brother more than once and not knowing that anytime that you choose to could kill me with your claws or throwing me off this cloud thing. So, YES I'll admit that I am very much afraid to be up this high." She admitted.
"This Sesshoumaru assures you that tis quite safe. Yes as you say I could kill you at any moment without hesitation without you knowing until it's to late so you would have to trust me as you told the exterminator. Now prepare yourself we are close to my castle."
"What about those who serve under you? If you are known to not like other humans other then your ward!" Kagome asked.
"It's true that there has not been a human within the castle other than my ward since father... but for the welfare of my ward you are this Sesshoumaru's guest." With that they started to descend and landed in the courtyard. As they landed servants came and bowed and greeted their master. Seeing his servants he spoke "Ready a chamber in the Royal wing next to my ward's and prepare food and have it brought to the chamber for my guest!" He said and his servants bowed and left to do his bidding.
"Sesshoumaru, I may be out of line by saying this but I thought after Rin allowed your servants to heal her that I would be returning to the village and not staying at your castle over night. For that I didn't bring anything to sleep in our a change of fresh clothes for the morning." Kagome said.
"To heal my ward will not take long and this Sesshoumaru knows that my ward has been wanting to see the human miko Kagome for many days. So you will be this Sesshoumaru's guest for the night. Now come along I'll bring you to my ward's chamber." With that he headed to the flight of stairs. She followed him until he came to a door and he opened it and walked in with he following him.
"Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin said with a scratchy voice. "Rin wishes that she felt better so Sesshoumaru-sama would take me to see Kagome-chan." Rin puffed her bottom lip out. Sesshoumaru stepped to the side.
"What if I was brought to see you, Rin?" Kagome said as she took a step forward.
"That would be great if Kagome-chan would be brought here to see..." Rin's eyes widened as she looked up and saw Kagome. She pushed the covers back and ran towards Kagome saying "Kagome-chan, you're here!" She said as she wrapped her arms around Kagome.
"Yes Rin, I'm here!" Kagome pushed Rin away slightly so she could kneel down in front of Rin and looked at her. "You should not be out of bed yet not until you are healed so back to bed for you!" Kagome wrapped Rin's arms around her neck and picked Rin up bridal style and took a step towards the futon as Rin laid her head in the crook of Kagome's neck. Once Kagome laid Rin back down on the futon she covered her back up. "Now, you must let Sesshoumaru's servants do their job alright." Kagome went to stand up but Rin hand stopped her.
"Rin wants Kagome to stay here." Rin said.
"I'll still be here. I'll go over and stand by your Sesshoumaru-sama, so the servants have better room to do their job. Would that be ok? Would you let them?" Kagome looked down at Rin and saw her nod. Kagome bent down and kissed Rin on the forehead. "Now, that's a good girl." Then she stood up and walked over and stood by Sesshoumaru. They both stood there watching the servants work. When all of a sudden Rin started laughing while smiling at the same time.
"Rin, what's wrong?" Kagome asked.
"When Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin and Jaken-sama travel and we come to a village some of the children and adults whisper and say mean things like I'll never have a mommy or a daddy because I travel with Sesshoumaru-sama and Jaken-sama. But Rin needs not another daddy because I have Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin just needs a mommy. Then Rin will have both a father and a mother. Would Kagome-chan be Rin's mother?" Rin came out and asked. Kagome almost lost her balance and fell at hearing what Rin said.
"I would like that, Rin, but I would not be able to do that." Kagome watched as the servants finished what they were doing then went and bowed to Sesshoumaru and left the chamber. Then Kagome walked over and sat with her left side facing Rin.
"Does Kagome-chan not like Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked looking up at Kagome-chan's eyes and she noticed the slight yellowish-blue mark on the left side of Kagome's face. "Who hurt Kagome-chan to have yellowish-blue mark by eye to her chin?" Rin asked as Kagome lowered her head as a servant came in.
"My lord, your guest's food is ready and is in her chamber. If you would like I could take her next door." Sesshoumaru nodded. "Come this way, miss." The servant lead her to the chamber next to Rin's so she could eat. Once in the chamber she closed the door and walked to a low table by the balcony door and sat down.
Back in Rin's Room
"Sesshoumaru-sama, could Rin take Kagome-chan to the gardens after she eats before I go to bed?" She asked. "I think Kagome-chan is sad. Could Rin go to Kagome-chan's chamber while Kagome-chan eats then go to garden?"
"I'll have her brought here after she eats then you can then take her to the gardens. But you must stay in bed till then." Sesshoumaru said as he turned and walked to the door opening it and walking out shutting it. He walked next door to the chamber that held the miko and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Kagome called out and the door opened up and in walked Sesshoumaru. "Hello, Sesshoumaru."
"This chamber to your liking?" He walked over to the low table where she was.
"Yes, this room is great. Thank you. Would you care to sit and talk?" She notched that he did not move to sit. "Or stand."
"When you are finished eating my ward wishes to show you the gardens. Who or what gave you that bruise? This Sesshoumaru cares not I'm just curious." He watched as she slightly lowered her head.
"It was my fault. I should have not degraded his girlfriend while defending myself." She said. "As well as you." She whispered that part.
"What do you mean by that! Defending yourself as well as this Sesshoumaru?" His icy tone more demanding.
"It started out when a member of the group asking what happened the day I was bringing your ward back to you. I was telling them when Kikyo piped in telling your half brother not to listen to the lies. That I was telling you we were going to be looking for the shards so you could follow us to try and take the sword from Inuyasha or take the jewel shards. I said I would not betray Inuyasha's trust or that of my friends like that because it's called honor and respect. She then attacked my virtue of being a innocent virgin and that I probably been sneaking off at night and..." She cut off and looked at the bowl then said "You did say your ward wanted to show me the garden after I was done eating right! Should I leave these here and go to Rin or what?" She asked.
"A servant will get those. You may rejoin my ward after you finish telling this Sesshoumaru what happened!"
"Kikyo said that I was probably sneaking off at night rutting with your half brother and being his little human whore. I yelled at her and telling the truth about what she did and does with Naraku and Inuyasha raised his hand and backhanded me across the face knocking me to the floor." She looked up from the bowl and looked at Sesshoumaru. "But to him, I'm a jewel detector. But now since his first love is once more and is with the group I'm starting to mean less. We are starting to not be as close as we were. Sure, he still protects me but how much longer will that last?" She looked once more at Sesshoumaru before looking out the balcony door to the outside. She did not see any sign of emotion on his face. There came a knock on the door and in walked a servant.
"Oh pardon me, my lord. I just came in to see if your guest was done with her food." The servant bowed.
"Yes, I'm done. Thank you very much." Kagome watched as the servant came over and took the bowl and walked back out of the room shutting the door. She stood up and walked over to Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru, may I go to Rin now?" Getting no answer Kagome turned to the door and walked to it and walked to Rin's room and knocked.
"You may come in." The little voice rang through the door. So Kagome opened the door and was greeted with "Kagome-chan done eating? Rin wants to take Kagome-chan to see the gardens before Rin has to go to sleep for the night." Rin reached out and took Kagome's hand. "So, let's go." Rin pulled on Kagome's hand and they walked out of the room down the stairs and out a door to the left and down a path to a small bridge going over a stream. "This is were Rin fell in and got wet one night as she walked in her sleep." Rin pointed to the stream.
"Is that how you got sick?" Kagome asked. Rin shook her head yes. Rin lead Kagome into a large garden that had many different flowers and trees. On one side there was a section that had sacred lotus flowers, camellia's, peonies, and foxgloves. There were a mixture of trees from sakura trees, japanese dogwood, white birch, magnolia tress. Then on her right there were more foxgloves and lotus flowers along a path. They walked down the path and came upon another bridge that lead to another garden that had roses of many different colors, as well as jasmine, and honeysuckle. With different trees all around. They were different from the last garden. There were doubled-flowered weeping higan cherry, Plum yew's, and more sakura trees. "What's over there?" Kagome pointed.
"Open meadow." Rin said. Rin and Kagome walked over and sat under a double-flowered weeping Higan cherry tree with honeysuckle wrapped around the trunk of the tree.
"Mmmm, it smells so lovely here in the garden. I can see why you like it out here." Kagome took in a deep breath as she leaned against the tree next to Rin.
"Kagome-chan no like Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin turned to look at Kagome. While they both did not know that Sesshoumaru was in hearing range and heard the question as he slowed his walking to listen.
"I didn't say I did not like your Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin! To tell you the truth I don't know him. All I do know is he's very strong willed, alot more mature than Inuyasha his half brother and..." She stopped when Sesshoumaru came into view. "Say Rin did you eat all of your brownies and fruit?"
"Yes, Rin ate all of them. But Rin not sure if Sesshoumaru-sama or Jaken-sama did. Rin wants more sweet tasting food gifts." Rin smiled.
"When I am able to, I'll try to bring more." Kagome smiled back.
"Rin, it's time for bed. You'll have more time with Kagome tomorrow. Now, go your servant is looking for you."
"Night, Sesshoumaru-sama, night, Kagome-chan." Sesshoumaru and Kagome watched as Rin turned and walked towards the castle.
"You never finished the question my ward asked you before you saw this Sesshoumaru. This Sesshoumaru is curious. What else do you think of this Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru said coming to stand in front of Kagome.
"Ok. We are enemies far as I know because I am human and helped and am helping your half brother but since I am here on your lands at your castle I am not so sure now. I think your arrogant, a bully, To proud for your own good at time, sometimes I think your heart is a block of ice or you don't have a heart, That you must have a caring heart even for humans or you would not have Rin with you and would not of cared if she was sick and I would not be here talking like this let alone still be living after I've challenged you many times. I don't think your bad looking. Matter of fact I think your quite masculine and sensual and very pleasing to the eyes to look upon for a Inu-youkai male in humanoid and in dog form. I also think it would not hurt to show a little emotion in your face. You would look alot more handsome then you do now if you would smile, and for a inu-youkai male you smell very nice." Kagome then stopped and realized how close she was to him after saying all of what she did and backed away from him.
"My ward, enjoyed the sweets that you gave her. She ate them all before we got to the castle that day. Her servant had a hard time keeping up with her and she terrorized my retainer relentless until she was put in her chamber to sleep. Then the night just before she fell in the stream she had come to my study to say good-night when she saw the tin and opened it to find it full. My ward gave me back the same speech I gave her about eating what is given her or at least trying what's given. Then she left. After she left I Sesshoumaru who don't eat human food tried what you gave as a gift and found that it was very tasty and you will be happy to know I ate all of your gift." He said.
"I'm glad, you liked them." Then she sighed. "Well, I better be off to my chamber to sleep since I'll be heading back to the village and to that ungrateful ignorant hanyou Inuyasha and leaving to find more shards as soon as I get back. I am not seen as anything but a jewel detector and a cook whom he thinks can't fight very well. I'm starting to regret releasing him from the spell that sealed him to the sacred tree by the bone-eater's well by his one and only true love, Kikyo." She sighed one more time then went to walk around Sesshoumaru then stopped next to Sesshoumaru and reached out and touched his right hand and said "Oh and Sesshoumaru thank you for bringing me here, to your castle to see your ward and having it feel like I'm a welcomed guest even though I know it's really bothering you to have another human within your castle grounds." After she said that she let go from touching his hand and walked passed him and walked towards the castle.
"This Sesshoumaru will walk you to your chamber." He said and they walked side by side back towards the castle. Once back to her chamber Sesshoumaru opened the door and Kagome walked in and saw a white yukata laying on the futon for her. "Since you had not the attire to sleep in, I had this brought to your chamber." Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome picked it up and went over behind the shoji screen in the corner of the room to change behind and undressed putting her clothes over the top of the shoji screen and slipped on the white yukata. Then came out from behind the shoji screen holding the yukata up a little so she could walk and came up behind Sesshoumaru and let the part she was holding to walk fall back to the floor.
"Sesshoumaru, may I inquire as to whom this belongs to?" She asked.
"You are wearing one of my many yukata's." He said as he turned around. He had to take a step back mentally at seeing the way she looked wearing one of his inner yukata's. With it riding low on her shoulders where she had to hold it closed at her chest to keep from exposing herself.
"As you can see it hangs off of me. I'm just glad for the tie for around the waist so I can keep this on and closed from the waist down. But I have to admit it's really comfy and soft." She said as she used her free hand to raise a side of the yukata a bit to be able to walk up closer to Sesshoumaru and raised up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and said "Thank you for letting me borrow one of your extra yukata's to wear to sleep in. That was nice of you to do and out of character for you since now it will have my smell in it. But I should go to sleep as I'll be leaving in the morning to return and I bid you a very restful sleep yourself." As she walked over to the door and opened it for him and waited there. As he in turn walked over to the door and out into the hallway. She started to close the door before she said "Goodnight, Sesshoumaru." She watched him nod as she shut the door and then walked over to the futon and laid down. While she was laying there it finally dawned on her that she had kissed Sesshoumaru on the cheek. "OH KAMI, I JUST KISSED SESSHOUMARU ON THE CHEEK!" She said out loud.
Down the hall in his chamber Sesshoumaru heard the human miko and what she had said and chuckled at the shock that was in her voice. Then he thought "Why did I allow her to touch this Sesshoumaru and better yet why did this Sesshoumaru take one of his yukata's for the miko to wear?" Then he recalled what she looked like wearing it.