A seemingly peaceful miko was slumbering away without a care in the world
when, suddenly, a loud thud woke her from her dreams. Still lethargic,
Kagome froze when she felt a dangerously powerful aura in the room next to
hers. Snapping to attention, she called on Eriko's training to hide her
presence in every way possible.
The now invisible miko crept to the adjoining door that led to Sakura's room, silently thanking Sesshoumaru for his foresight. Willing herself to keep from panicking, Kagome opened the door a fraction to check on Sakura. The sight that met her eyes made her blood run cold.
Creeping closer and closer to the bed was a figure dressed in black, a needle-like dagger held in a gnarly hand. Just as the apparent assassin held the weapon in preparation to strike, Kagome leapt through the door and hurled herself at the figure. Catching whoever it was by surprise, the dagger tumbled from his grasp and landed on the floor.
Quickly righting herself again, Kagome could not see the figure. Spreading out her aura, she felt that he was still in the room with her, having mimicked her earlier actions to cloak his existence. Pinpointing the assassin's exact location, the miko began to send wave after wave of purification energy towards the villain, weakening him at an alarming rate.
The frame of the black-clothed figure reappeared, stumbling in agony from the pure energy that bombarded it, knocking over a table in the process. The sound of a vase shattering broke the stranglehold that Kagome had on the assassin. The lapse allowed the assassin to gain the upper hand as he quickly grasped the miko's throat, his hand tightening as the air was squeezed from her lungs.
Fighting the black oblivion that threatened to overtake her, Kagome clawed at the appendage that held her. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, the main door to Sakura's room was flung open and the assassin was thrown to the wall. Hands coming to her abused neck, Kagome looked on in awe at the sight of her saviour.
Sesshoumaru stood in all his glory, clad only in a pair of white silk pants. The window that had been opened by the assassin allowed for a small breeze to enter, ruffling the material slightly. Glowing eyes showing nothing but malice, the lord growled in warning. The moonlight streaming into the room only enhanced the gruesome beauty of the demon.
Blurring, Sesshoumaru reappeared holding the neck of the intruder. Using the psychic abilities that were a part of his birthright, Sesshoumaru mentally ravaged the assassin's dark mind. Finding all that he needed to know, the amber eyes hardened as the clawed hand tightened. Silently calling for servants, the demon lord turned to look at the miko.
No longer at the place where her life was almost taken, Kagome had moved next to Sakura's prone form on the bed, gently probing for any additional damage on her fragile body. Concluding that there were none, she turned her attention to the demon that was now staring intently at her. Fighting down the urge to blush at the intense gaze, Kagome spoke.
"What the hell was that, Sesshoumaru?" As she talked, the miko allowed the fear that she had ruthlessly smothered earlier to surface. Her tone bordered on hysteria as she continued. "What more do they want from her? They've already taken her mother, and almost her life! What else is there?"
Looking at the distraught woman, Sesshoumaru fought the urge to sigh. Taking a delicate hand, he pulled Kagome up from her seat on the child's bed and led her through the door to her own.
In a stern, commanding voice, the lord said, "Sleep. We will talk more of this tomorrow after your training. I would suggest that you obtain adequate rest. Training under me will not be easy." Casting a last glance toward the miko, Sesshoumaru swept out of the room.
With a last sigh, Kagome crawled back into her bed, her last thoughts yet again on how different the silver-haired demon seemed. The comparison led to her life in the Sengoku Jidai. Fighting back tears, Kagome thought of those she had left behind.
Dawn settled into the Western Land, chasing away the tumultuous affairs of the night. A servant hurried down the hallway of the Western Palace, knowing that tardiness was not a quality that the young master appreciated. Coming to the room that the miko resided in, she knocked before entering.
As she had suspected, the young woman was still in bed, entangled in the silks that covered her. Saying a small prayer, the servant moved towards Kagome, hoping that she wouldn't be purified by a startled miko. Placing a hand on the Kagome's shoulder, she roused the miko from her slumber.
Yawning "delicately" and stretching like a cat, Kagome shifted on the bed and fell back into whatever dream she had been pulled from. Slightly emboldened by the fact that she was still alive, the servant once again shook the miko.
The woman merely batted that the offending appendage and rolled over. Fearing for her life now, the servant tried in vain to wake the miko, her attempts thwarted time and time again. Cold sweat began to form on the servant's brow as she realized that a powerful aura was approaching. The master did not like to be disappointed... Maybe it would have been better for the miko to purify her after all.
Turning around as she felt Sesshoumaru enter the room, the servant bowed low, stating in a quavering voice, "Forgive me, milord. The miko would not awake... I tried many times... Please spare this lowly one."
Sparing a glance at the servant, the somewhat agitated lord dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Moving to the bed, he couldn't help but be amused at the state the miko was in. Her hair was tousled, fanning across the white silk on the bed. One of her arms curled around a spare pillow, clutching it as if it were a favourite doll. The other hand was by her head, the thumb stuck in the miko's mouth. The sight of this powerful woman suckling her thumb alleviated whatever frustrations that the lord suffered from.
The sun peeked out from behind fluffy white clouds, momentarily brightening the room but hiding behind more clouds. The brief interlude allowed Sesshoumaru to regain his focus. Growling softly, he bent to wake the sleeping miko, shaking her none too gently.
"Five more minutes... I'll go potty later, mommy... I promise I won't wet the bed."
The lord's mouth began to twitch as the infernal woman finally began to wake up. Apparently still groggy, Kagome asked, "Sesshoumaru? What're you doing here?"
Arching an eyebrow, the lord replied, "You seemed to have forgotten about our training session this morning, Kagome-san. Be ready within fifteen minutes and someone will come to fetch you. If you are tardy yet again, you will not enjoy the consequences."
Turning, Sesshoumaru walked away, pausing at the door. There was a slightly amused tone in his voice as he spoke again. "I do hope you are able to 'go potty' by yourself, Kagome-san. After all, wetting the bed is most unbecoming... and I rather like the silk sheets unstained." Smirking, he walked off towards the dojo.
Kagome sat up in the oversized bed, completely mortified. 'I thought I was dreaming... Kami-sama... how the heck am I gonna face him now? It's not my fault I was dreaming about when I was five!'
Grumbling to herself about ungodly hours and slave driver demons, Kagome prepared herself for the arduous task that was about to come.
A large fist slammed into the table, startling everyone in the small room. After all, Ryuukotsusei angry was nothing to be taken lightly.
Half speaking to himself, the dragon youkai growled, "How could he fail?! He was our best assassin!"
A female voice spoke, its tone devoid of emotion. "Calm down, love. It is done already. There is nothing we can do to alter the past." Thinking aloud, she continued. "Sesshoumaru killed him. That much is obvious. The slip of a miko couldn't possibly have snapped his neck. That would mean that Sesshoumaru knows that you're behind this." Raising a hand, the woman waved aside a comment from the still seething dragon. "However, no one knows of my involvement. That means that the majority of our plan can still be salvaged."
Another growl sounded from Ryuukotsusei. Nodding slightly, he allowed his anger to become slightly appeased. Allowing a smirk to appear on his lips, he drew the woman towards him. Pressing their bodies together, he lowered his face to within an inch of hers.
Voice low and husky, the dragon whispered, "You are so much more than you seem, my dear Mariko..."
Sweat slid down the side of her face, her chest heaving in exhaustion. Kagome growled to herself while cursing a certain demon lord. It had been at least two hours since they had begun the training. On most days, she wasn't a morning person. But on a day like today, Kagome was hard-pressed not to purify everything in sight.
It had started out as a simple test. Sesshoumaru had asked her what she knew how to use, what she could do, and so on. Too bad he didn't believe that crawling came before walking. Before she knew what was happening, Kagome was holding a real katana, facing a deadly serious demon. To say that she was nervous would have been like saying Jaken was ugly.
Her lack of experience mingled with her anxiety no doubt led to the numerous nicks and cuts that littered her once whole skin. Deciding to heal them later, Kagome focused on her task at hand.
Sesshoumaru had said that the lesson would be over as soon as she managed to draw blood. Easier said that done. Half the time, Kagome couldn't even see him. The other half, she was too busy trying to stay alive, and therefore cutting the demon wasn't exactly a priority. To make matter worse, she could sense Yoshiro in the room.
Although he was on an assignment for Inu Taisho, Yoshiro couldn't help but be curious as to how the miko was faring in her first lesson. He had been surprised to say the least. Sesshoumaru had not been holding back on the girl, yet she had lasted longer than the others who had sparred with Sesshoumaru. Granted, Kagome had her miko powers, but that didn't lessen the astonishment.
Finally, the miko had had enough. Manifesting her purification powers as small daggers, she flung the tiny points in every direction. Yoshiro barely had time to duck and cover before the weapons flew towards where he had been standing. Sesshoumaru, however, was not so lucky.
The demon lord had been moving around the dojo, not particularly paying attention to the miko that he was supposed to be training. She had natural talent. Even he had to admit that. However, the talk that was to follow the training session commanded much of the lord's attention. Perhaps that was why he didn't see the flying projectiles until it was too late.
An acute pain shot through the demon, followed by another, and then another. Finally, the agony became too great and Sesshoumaru dropped to the floor, bleeding profusely from several cuts upon his body. Turning to the miko, he noticed that her eyes were wide with shocked horror.
Kagome stared at the sight in front of her. Sesshoumaru wasn't only bleeding, but he seemed as if he were in a lot of pain, his left had in particular bleeding heavily. Snapping out of the shock of actually doing some damage to him, the miko ran to his side, regret shining in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. It's just that... I..." Kneeling down, Kagome tried to explain her actions as she healed the silver-haired demon.
Seeing her flustered and guilty appearance, Sesshoumaru silenced her with a wave of his now healed hand. "It was a fair fight, miko. Although from now on, I must insist that we keep the training to only the physical aspects." Tilting his head slightly, he added as an afterthought, "Tomorrow we will begin the real training. Today was an assessment of your skills." Saying this, Sesshoumaru gracefully rose to his feet.
Nodding dumbly, Kagome stood up as well. Wrinkling her nose, she paused and asked, "Could I take a bath? I feel so icky... and I probably stink."
Amused at her childish language, Sesshoumaru nodded and called for a servant to show her to the bathing area. Looking down at the bloody clothes that covered his body, he decided that he too would bathe. After all, it's not like the servant would lead the miko to his personal bath... Right?
Praying that it was so, Sesshoumaru headed to his private baths, biting back a groan as he realized that Kagome was indeed using his private baths. Making a mental note to behead the damned servant who had shown her here, the lord decided somewhat stubbornly that he would bath here, seeing as how this was his bath, and hence he was the priority. If she couldn't accept that, then that was just too bad. Biting back another growl as he realized how childish his thoughts had become, Sesshoumaru stormed into the bathing room.
As learned as the lord was, he was in no way expecting the shoe that came flying at his head along with the piercing screech of "HENTAI!" that the miko emitted. Only his fast reflexes saved his from being hit in the head with the projectile.
Advancing on the cowering miko, Sesshoumaru growled, "I suggest, Kagome- san, that if you value your life, comments such as those should be kept silent. After all, these are my personal baths... How do I know that it is not you who are trying to seduce me?"
Kagome had become extremely docile when she realized that she had chucked a slipper towards the head of one of the most powerful demons in existence. However, when she heard his last comment, Kagome couldn't help but feel the anger pulsing again. Just as she was about to open her mouth to retort, Sesshoumaru continued.
"I would suggest that we not stay here any longer than necessary. I swear that I will not look on purpose, and I expect the same of you. There are things that we must discuss, especially concerning that events that transpired last night." Effectively derailing Kagome's rant, Sesshoumaru began undressing, much to the dismay of the miko who turned around quickly and resembled the shade of a tomato.
Washing as quickly as possible, the duo found themselves in the study in record time. Sitting opposite each other on tatami mats, the two seemed to be embroiled in a staring competition.
Sighing slightly, Kagome said, "Sesshoumaru-sama, this is getting nowhere. If all you needed me here for was a partner for a staring contest, then I really need to get back to Sakura." Rising to leave, she was waved back down by an equally annoyed Sesshoumaru.
Feeling the throbbing that signaled an oncoming headache, the youkai lord decided that perhaps it would have been less trouble to simply bring Hikaru here. Looking at the miko that sat across from him, expectantly waiting for whatever he had to say, Sesshoumaru decided against that idea. After all, she had been a source of amusement in his usual monotonous life.
Using his trademark toneless voice, Sesshoumaru said, "The attack on Sakura was not random, as you might have thought. Whoever leads this particular group of rebels did now wish to be traced, and killing Sakura would have ensured that. Whatever youki that lingers on her body would disappear the moment the child dies."
Although Sesshoumaru had seemingly rushed through the explanation, Kagome caught the one thing that he had prayed she wouldn't.
"So you're saying that the girl that I'm supposed to protect could potentially be the key to unlocking this whole damned rebellion and you've decided that this piece of information shouldn't be given to me?" ranted an indignant miko. "What the hell is wrong with you? I don't care if you're the Queen of Sheba. I needed to know that and your arrogant ass could have gotten both Sakura and me killed!"
"Woman! You will cease in using that tone of voice with me. I will not tolerate disrespect in my own house." Crimson began to seep into the whites of Sesshoumaru's eyes as he fought for control.
Just as Kagome opened her mouth to retaliate, she realized that truth behind his words. Everything considered, Sesshoumaru had been surprisingly respectful of her. Not only had he not killed her, he had taken the responsibility of teaching her, extended his hospitality towards both Sakura and herself, as well as treating her with the common courtesy that she craved.
Sighing slightly, Kagome replied, "Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama. I didn't mean to sound so uncivilized. I was simply angry at the fact that the information that was withheld from me could have resulted in more than an attempt at Sakura's life. My fear that she won't survive along with the stress of the past few days have caused me to vent my anger on you."
Nodding slightly, Sesshoumaru accepted that apology, inwardly surprised that the miko had backed down. Even from his limited experience, the demon knew that this did not happen often.
Deciding that the situation had progressed far enough, Sesshoumaru turned to the second reason to meet with Kagome. Taking a deep breath, he began.
"Kagome-san, there is one solution for Sakura's current state. While we cannot be completely rid of the youki, and therefore cannot fully heal her, there are certain spells to repress the youki. At the very least, the child would be conscious again.
"Nevertheless, there are certain risks involved. In order to do this, the child must be bonded to a miko. This allows the aura of the miko to be 'lent' to the child, thereby strengthening her. There is no problem here since I presume you have no qualms about aiding her. However, Sakura must also be bonded to a youkai to stabilize her state. If she were only bound to you, there is a chance that your aura could completely purify her. Were she bonded to both you and a youkai that your blood recognizes, then she would be safe."
Looking slightly baffled, Kagome said, "I'll be glad to help her, but Yoshiro isn't exactly supposed to be here right now. If anyone felt his aura on Sakura, wouldn't that give away whatever mission Inu Taisho sent him on? And what do you mean by 'bonded'?"
Sesshoumaru caught Kagome's eye, holding her gaze as he replied. "That is one of the reasons that Yoshiro cannot be the one bonded to the both of you. The other reason is the fact that Yoshiro's demon aura does not have the ability to match yours. And as for being bonded, it is done through the transfer of blood. A minute amount would suffice."
"So if Yoshiro can't do it, who can?" asked Kagome.
"There are two youkai in the palace who would be able to match your power. One is Inu Taisho, although I doubt that you would wish for such an arrangement." Sesshoumaru paused as he finished speaking.
"And the other?" inquired an impatient Kagome. "Who is the second youkai that you were talking about?"
"Me."
The now invisible miko crept to the adjoining door that led to Sakura's room, silently thanking Sesshoumaru for his foresight. Willing herself to keep from panicking, Kagome opened the door a fraction to check on Sakura. The sight that met her eyes made her blood run cold.
Creeping closer and closer to the bed was a figure dressed in black, a needle-like dagger held in a gnarly hand. Just as the apparent assassin held the weapon in preparation to strike, Kagome leapt through the door and hurled herself at the figure. Catching whoever it was by surprise, the dagger tumbled from his grasp and landed on the floor.
Quickly righting herself again, Kagome could not see the figure. Spreading out her aura, she felt that he was still in the room with her, having mimicked her earlier actions to cloak his existence. Pinpointing the assassin's exact location, the miko began to send wave after wave of purification energy towards the villain, weakening him at an alarming rate.
The frame of the black-clothed figure reappeared, stumbling in agony from the pure energy that bombarded it, knocking over a table in the process. The sound of a vase shattering broke the stranglehold that Kagome had on the assassin. The lapse allowed the assassin to gain the upper hand as he quickly grasped the miko's throat, his hand tightening as the air was squeezed from her lungs.
Fighting the black oblivion that threatened to overtake her, Kagome clawed at the appendage that held her. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, the main door to Sakura's room was flung open and the assassin was thrown to the wall. Hands coming to her abused neck, Kagome looked on in awe at the sight of her saviour.
Sesshoumaru stood in all his glory, clad only in a pair of white silk pants. The window that had been opened by the assassin allowed for a small breeze to enter, ruffling the material slightly. Glowing eyes showing nothing but malice, the lord growled in warning. The moonlight streaming into the room only enhanced the gruesome beauty of the demon.
Blurring, Sesshoumaru reappeared holding the neck of the intruder. Using the psychic abilities that were a part of his birthright, Sesshoumaru mentally ravaged the assassin's dark mind. Finding all that he needed to know, the amber eyes hardened as the clawed hand tightened. Silently calling for servants, the demon lord turned to look at the miko.
No longer at the place where her life was almost taken, Kagome had moved next to Sakura's prone form on the bed, gently probing for any additional damage on her fragile body. Concluding that there were none, she turned her attention to the demon that was now staring intently at her. Fighting down the urge to blush at the intense gaze, Kagome spoke.
"What the hell was that, Sesshoumaru?" As she talked, the miko allowed the fear that she had ruthlessly smothered earlier to surface. Her tone bordered on hysteria as she continued. "What more do they want from her? They've already taken her mother, and almost her life! What else is there?"
Looking at the distraught woman, Sesshoumaru fought the urge to sigh. Taking a delicate hand, he pulled Kagome up from her seat on the child's bed and led her through the door to her own.
In a stern, commanding voice, the lord said, "Sleep. We will talk more of this tomorrow after your training. I would suggest that you obtain adequate rest. Training under me will not be easy." Casting a last glance toward the miko, Sesshoumaru swept out of the room.
With a last sigh, Kagome crawled back into her bed, her last thoughts yet again on how different the silver-haired demon seemed. The comparison led to her life in the Sengoku Jidai. Fighting back tears, Kagome thought of those she had left behind.
Dawn settled into the Western Land, chasing away the tumultuous affairs of the night. A servant hurried down the hallway of the Western Palace, knowing that tardiness was not a quality that the young master appreciated. Coming to the room that the miko resided in, she knocked before entering.
As she had suspected, the young woman was still in bed, entangled in the silks that covered her. Saying a small prayer, the servant moved towards Kagome, hoping that she wouldn't be purified by a startled miko. Placing a hand on the Kagome's shoulder, she roused the miko from her slumber.
Yawning "delicately" and stretching like a cat, Kagome shifted on the bed and fell back into whatever dream she had been pulled from. Slightly emboldened by the fact that she was still alive, the servant once again shook the miko.
The woman merely batted that the offending appendage and rolled over. Fearing for her life now, the servant tried in vain to wake the miko, her attempts thwarted time and time again. Cold sweat began to form on the servant's brow as she realized that a powerful aura was approaching. The master did not like to be disappointed... Maybe it would have been better for the miko to purify her after all.
Turning around as she felt Sesshoumaru enter the room, the servant bowed low, stating in a quavering voice, "Forgive me, milord. The miko would not awake... I tried many times... Please spare this lowly one."
Sparing a glance at the servant, the somewhat agitated lord dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Moving to the bed, he couldn't help but be amused at the state the miko was in. Her hair was tousled, fanning across the white silk on the bed. One of her arms curled around a spare pillow, clutching it as if it were a favourite doll. The other hand was by her head, the thumb stuck in the miko's mouth. The sight of this powerful woman suckling her thumb alleviated whatever frustrations that the lord suffered from.
The sun peeked out from behind fluffy white clouds, momentarily brightening the room but hiding behind more clouds. The brief interlude allowed Sesshoumaru to regain his focus. Growling softly, he bent to wake the sleeping miko, shaking her none too gently.
"Five more minutes... I'll go potty later, mommy... I promise I won't wet the bed."
The lord's mouth began to twitch as the infernal woman finally began to wake up. Apparently still groggy, Kagome asked, "Sesshoumaru? What're you doing here?"
Arching an eyebrow, the lord replied, "You seemed to have forgotten about our training session this morning, Kagome-san. Be ready within fifteen minutes and someone will come to fetch you. If you are tardy yet again, you will not enjoy the consequences."
Turning, Sesshoumaru walked away, pausing at the door. There was a slightly amused tone in his voice as he spoke again. "I do hope you are able to 'go potty' by yourself, Kagome-san. After all, wetting the bed is most unbecoming... and I rather like the silk sheets unstained." Smirking, he walked off towards the dojo.
Kagome sat up in the oversized bed, completely mortified. 'I thought I was dreaming... Kami-sama... how the heck am I gonna face him now? It's not my fault I was dreaming about when I was five!'
Grumbling to herself about ungodly hours and slave driver demons, Kagome prepared herself for the arduous task that was about to come.
A large fist slammed into the table, startling everyone in the small room. After all, Ryuukotsusei angry was nothing to be taken lightly.
Half speaking to himself, the dragon youkai growled, "How could he fail?! He was our best assassin!"
A female voice spoke, its tone devoid of emotion. "Calm down, love. It is done already. There is nothing we can do to alter the past." Thinking aloud, she continued. "Sesshoumaru killed him. That much is obvious. The slip of a miko couldn't possibly have snapped his neck. That would mean that Sesshoumaru knows that you're behind this." Raising a hand, the woman waved aside a comment from the still seething dragon. "However, no one knows of my involvement. That means that the majority of our plan can still be salvaged."
Another growl sounded from Ryuukotsusei. Nodding slightly, he allowed his anger to become slightly appeased. Allowing a smirk to appear on his lips, he drew the woman towards him. Pressing their bodies together, he lowered his face to within an inch of hers.
Voice low and husky, the dragon whispered, "You are so much more than you seem, my dear Mariko..."
Sweat slid down the side of her face, her chest heaving in exhaustion. Kagome growled to herself while cursing a certain demon lord. It had been at least two hours since they had begun the training. On most days, she wasn't a morning person. But on a day like today, Kagome was hard-pressed not to purify everything in sight.
It had started out as a simple test. Sesshoumaru had asked her what she knew how to use, what she could do, and so on. Too bad he didn't believe that crawling came before walking. Before she knew what was happening, Kagome was holding a real katana, facing a deadly serious demon. To say that she was nervous would have been like saying Jaken was ugly.
Her lack of experience mingled with her anxiety no doubt led to the numerous nicks and cuts that littered her once whole skin. Deciding to heal them later, Kagome focused on her task at hand.
Sesshoumaru had said that the lesson would be over as soon as she managed to draw blood. Easier said that done. Half the time, Kagome couldn't even see him. The other half, she was too busy trying to stay alive, and therefore cutting the demon wasn't exactly a priority. To make matter worse, she could sense Yoshiro in the room.
Although he was on an assignment for Inu Taisho, Yoshiro couldn't help but be curious as to how the miko was faring in her first lesson. He had been surprised to say the least. Sesshoumaru had not been holding back on the girl, yet she had lasted longer than the others who had sparred with Sesshoumaru. Granted, Kagome had her miko powers, but that didn't lessen the astonishment.
Finally, the miko had had enough. Manifesting her purification powers as small daggers, she flung the tiny points in every direction. Yoshiro barely had time to duck and cover before the weapons flew towards where he had been standing. Sesshoumaru, however, was not so lucky.
The demon lord had been moving around the dojo, not particularly paying attention to the miko that he was supposed to be training. She had natural talent. Even he had to admit that. However, the talk that was to follow the training session commanded much of the lord's attention. Perhaps that was why he didn't see the flying projectiles until it was too late.
An acute pain shot through the demon, followed by another, and then another. Finally, the agony became too great and Sesshoumaru dropped to the floor, bleeding profusely from several cuts upon his body. Turning to the miko, he noticed that her eyes were wide with shocked horror.
Kagome stared at the sight in front of her. Sesshoumaru wasn't only bleeding, but he seemed as if he were in a lot of pain, his left had in particular bleeding heavily. Snapping out of the shock of actually doing some damage to him, the miko ran to his side, regret shining in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. It's just that... I..." Kneeling down, Kagome tried to explain her actions as she healed the silver-haired demon.
Seeing her flustered and guilty appearance, Sesshoumaru silenced her with a wave of his now healed hand. "It was a fair fight, miko. Although from now on, I must insist that we keep the training to only the physical aspects." Tilting his head slightly, he added as an afterthought, "Tomorrow we will begin the real training. Today was an assessment of your skills." Saying this, Sesshoumaru gracefully rose to his feet.
Nodding dumbly, Kagome stood up as well. Wrinkling her nose, she paused and asked, "Could I take a bath? I feel so icky... and I probably stink."
Amused at her childish language, Sesshoumaru nodded and called for a servant to show her to the bathing area. Looking down at the bloody clothes that covered his body, he decided that he too would bathe. After all, it's not like the servant would lead the miko to his personal bath... Right?
Praying that it was so, Sesshoumaru headed to his private baths, biting back a groan as he realized that Kagome was indeed using his private baths. Making a mental note to behead the damned servant who had shown her here, the lord decided somewhat stubbornly that he would bath here, seeing as how this was his bath, and hence he was the priority. If she couldn't accept that, then that was just too bad. Biting back another growl as he realized how childish his thoughts had become, Sesshoumaru stormed into the bathing room.
As learned as the lord was, he was in no way expecting the shoe that came flying at his head along with the piercing screech of "HENTAI!" that the miko emitted. Only his fast reflexes saved his from being hit in the head with the projectile.
Advancing on the cowering miko, Sesshoumaru growled, "I suggest, Kagome- san, that if you value your life, comments such as those should be kept silent. After all, these are my personal baths... How do I know that it is not you who are trying to seduce me?"
Kagome had become extremely docile when she realized that she had chucked a slipper towards the head of one of the most powerful demons in existence. However, when she heard his last comment, Kagome couldn't help but feel the anger pulsing again. Just as she was about to open her mouth to retort, Sesshoumaru continued.
"I would suggest that we not stay here any longer than necessary. I swear that I will not look on purpose, and I expect the same of you. There are things that we must discuss, especially concerning that events that transpired last night." Effectively derailing Kagome's rant, Sesshoumaru began undressing, much to the dismay of the miko who turned around quickly and resembled the shade of a tomato.
Washing as quickly as possible, the duo found themselves in the study in record time. Sitting opposite each other on tatami mats, the two seemed to be embroiled in a staring competition.
Sighing slightly, Kagome said, "Sesshoumaru-sama, this is getting nowhere. If all you needed me here for was a partner for a staring contest, then I really need to get back to Sakura." Rising to leave, she was waved back down by an equally annoyed Sesshoumaru.
Feeling the throbbing that signaled an oncoming headache, the youkai lord decided that perhaps it would have been less trouble to simply bring Hikaru here. Looking at the miko that sat across from him, expectantly waiting for whatever he had to say, Sesshoumaru decided against that idea. After all, she had been a source of amusement in his usual monotonous life.
Using his trademark toneless voice, Sesshoumaru said, "The attack on Sakura was not random, as you might have thought. Whoever leads this particular group of rebels did now wish to be traced, and killing Sakura would have ensured that. Whatever youki that lingers on her body would disappear the moment the child dies."
Although Sesshoumaru had seemingly rushed through the explanation, Kagome caught the one thing that he had prayed she wouldn't.
"So you're saying that the girl that I'm supposed to protect could potentially be the key to unlocking this whole damned rebellion and you've decided that this piece of information shouldn't be given to me?" ranted an indignant miko. "What the hell is wrong with you? I don't care if you're the Queen of Sheba. I needed to know that and your arrogant ass could have gotten both Sakura and me killed!"
"Woman! You will cease in using that tone of voice with me. I will not tolerate disrespect in my own house." Crimson began to seep into the whites of Sesshoumaru's eyes as he fought for control.
Just as Kagome opened her mouth to retaliate, she realized that truth behind his words. Everything considered, Sesshoumaru had been surprisingly respectful of her. Not only had he not killed her, he had taken the responsibility of teaching her, extended his hospitality towards both Sakura and herself, as well as treating her with the common courtesy that she craved.
Sighing slightly, Kagome replied, "Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama. I didn't mean to sound so uncivilized. I was simply angry at the fact that the information that was withheld from me could have resulted in more than an attempt at Sakura's life. My fear that she won't survive along with the stress of the past few days have caused me to vent my anger on you."
Nodding slightly, Sesshoumaru accepted that apology, inwardly surprised that the miko had backed down. Even from his limited experience, the demon knew that this did not happen often.
Deciding that the situation had progressed far enough, Sesshoumaru turned to the second reason to meet with Kagome. Taking a deep breath, he began.
"Kagome-san, there is one solution for Sakura's current state. While we cannot be completely rid of the youki, and therefore cannot fully heal her, there are certain spells to repress the youki. At the very least, the child would be conscious again.
"Nevertheless, there are certain risks involved. In order to do this, the child must be bonded to a miko. This allows the aura of the miko to be 'lent' to the child, thereby strengthening her. There is no problem here since I presume you have no qualms about aiding her. However, Sakura must also be bonded to a youkai to stabilize her state. If she were only bound to you, there is a chance that your aura could completely purify her. Were she bonded to both you and a youkai that your blood recognizes, then she would be safe."
Looking slightly baffled, Kagome said, "I'll be glad to help her, but Yoshiro isn't exactly supposed to be here right now. If anyone felt his aura on Sakura, wouldn't that give away whatever mission Inu Taisho sent him on? And what do you mean by 'bonded'?"
Sesshoumaru caught Kagome's eye, holding her gaze as he replied. "That is one of the reasons that Yoshiro cannot be the one bonded to the both of you. The other reason is the fact that Yoshiro's demon aura does not have the ability to match yours. And as for being bonded, it is done through the transfer of blood. A minute amount would suffice."
"So if Yoshiro can't do it, who can?" asked Kagome.
"There are two youkai in the palace who would be able to match your power. One is Inu Taisho, although I doubt that you would wish for such an arrangement." Sesshoumaru paused as he finished speaking.
"And the other?" inquired an impatient Kagome. "Who is the second youkai that you were talking about?"
"Me."