Trying to keep up with an angry demon was next to impossible. Trying to keep up with an angry Sesshoumaru was even worse. Half jogging and half sprinting to keep up, Kagome thanked the heavens that Sesshoumaru had so much control over himself. Glancing at the young human girl trying to keep up with him and failing miserably, she thought back on what had happened in the Great Hall.
As soon as Inu Taisho had made his announcement, the Hall had become deathly quiet. In addition to Sesshoumaru's anger, Kagome could sense the anger of many other youkai around them, as well as the fear of the humans present. Unconsciously moving closer to the raging lord, she allowed her aura to expand slightly in an attempt to calm him down. Mentally warning him not to do anything he would later regret, the miko breathed an inward sigh of relief when she felt his emotions calm.
Stepping forward, Sesshoumaru spoke. "Lord Inu Taisho, as… flattering… as your offer may be, I am afraid that I cannot agree to it. I have many other obligations, the majority of which involves the wellbeing of the Western Lands, which I must fulfill before I am able to take a mate."
"So you would disobey me, then? I find that there is nothing wrong with Kumiko. She would be no hindrance at all and she would make an excellent mate," Inu Taisho replied, a threat underlying his every word as he brought forth the young human girl.
Unfazed, Sesshoumaru answered, "My loyalty lies first and foremost with the House of the Moon and the Youkai Council. Nothing that I do must be detrimental to that loyalty. Surely you, Lord Inu Taisho, must admit to the importance of this."
Knowing that he was trapped by those words, but refusing to admit defeat, Inu Taisho answered, "Very well, Sesshoumaru. I had originally planned for your wedding in a fortnight. However, in light of current circumstances, I will postpone it. Until then, I am sure that accompanying your fiancée will be suitable for you. Am I correct, Sesshoumaru?"
Having no other choice, Sesshoumaru nodded in the affirmative. "If that is all, I have other matters to attend to."
"As you wish. However, Kumiko will be going with you. She must learn how to be the future Lady of the Western Lands." Waving a hand, Inu Taisho dismissed his son, turning to converse with presumably the father of the bride-to-be.
Turning around, Sesshoumaru had grabbed Kagome arm, pulling her out of the Hall, not bothering to wait for Kumiko.
So deep in thought was Kagome that she didn't realize that they had arrived in front of the lord's study and that Sesshoumaru had halted and turned around until she crashed into a solid chest, falling backwards. Preparing herself for a brutal landing, she breathed a sigh of relief when she felt two arms wrap around her, pulling her back towards the chest that had caused her to fall to begin with.
Sesshoumaru looked down at miko that he was currently holding in his arms, his ire disappearing momentarily. He couldn't help but be amused at her clumsiness. Had it been anyone else, he would no doubt have beheaded them in his current state of mind. However, something about her was different.
Although she had no way of knowing, Kagome had helped him immensely in the Hall. For the first time in his life, he had almost lost control. If not for her presence, he knew he would have done something he would later regret.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "I wonder how you've survived for so long. You pay so little attention to your surroundings that you wouldn't realize it if you walked into the mouth of a ravenous oni."
Sticking out her tongue, Kagome didn't dignify his comment with a reply. She did, however, come to the realization that she was still in his arms, with his supposed fiancée looking on. Cheeks turning red, she quickly stepped away from him, muttering something to the extent of a 'thank you'.
Her action brought Sesshoumaru back to the present as well, causing his irritation to return. Addressing both women, his façade present, he spoke in a bone chilling tone, "Lady Kumiko, I am sure that you are tired from your journey. Lady Kagome, you've had a strenuous day. I will have a servant show you to your rooms."
Turning, the young lord entered his study as a servant appeared. Knowing that disobeying him at a time like this wasn't the wisest course of action, Kagome also knew that leaving him alone was even worse. As she was about to push open the door to his study, a hand shot out to stop her. Following the hand to its owner, Kagome was more than a little surprised to see that it was Kumiko who had stopped her.
In a sugar-coated voice, the girl said, "Lady Kagome, milord has asked that we rest. It would be insulting to him if we disobeyed. On behalf of my fiancé, I ask that you return to your room."
Resisting the urge to gag at Kumiko's words, Kagome answered through gritted teeth, "I assure you that this is none of your business."
"It becomes my business when it involves my fiancé, Lady Kagome," the girl replied.
As Kagome's anger escalated to a new record, the door of the study opened. Sesshoumaru had had no choice but to dismiss both women, but he had been hoping that Kagome would follow him. Listening to their conversation and feeling Kagome's anger rise, Sesshoumaru knew that Kumiko would most likely be injured if he did not interfere.
Standing in the doorway of his study, he couldn't help but find the situation amusing in a satirical way. In his monotone, he said, "Kagome-san, if you would please wait for me in my study." Watching Kagome as she shook off Kumiko's offending hand that still held her wrist, he turned his attention to Kumiko after Kagome had entered.
Although his voice was still the same tone, there was an undeniable layer of ice under it as he said, "Lady Kumiko, you will remember your place here. You are not, and will never be, my betrothed. Regardless of what Lord Inu Taisho has said, you and I will never mate. So never use my name as leverage. In addition, Lady Kagome is under my protection and that grants her command second only to mine. If you hinder her actions once again, the punishment will be severe. Is that understood?"
Tears began to well from the girl's eyes as she nodded, hoping that her act would buy at least some sympathy from the frigid demon. Unfortunately for her, sympathy was more likely to come from a rock. The door shut firmly in her face as Sesshoumaru retreated into his study.
The tears disappeared as fast as they had come as Kumiko stared at the study door. 'That "Lady Kagome" must be disposed of,' she thought as she turned and followed the servant down the hallway.
His guests had retired for the evening, thoroughly exhausted from both their journey and the ceremonies after. The servants finished cleaning the Great Hall after the festivities. Yet, the lord still lingered.
Inu Taisho smirked as he recalled his son's raging aura when he had introduced Kumiko. The Western Lord was no fool. He knew of the unrest he had caused and he knew that this latest turn of events would prove to be more than interesting, but he had his reasons and they would be revealed in due time.
Continuing with his musings, Inu Taisho allowed his mind to wander back in time, to memories that he had long tried to suppress. Closing his eyes, the lord allowed a smile to slip onto his face as an image of a glorious woman flashed by his eyes. She was ethereal, glowing with her own light. Vaguely, Inu Taisho thought that she looked so much like their son.
Snapping out of his thoughts, the youkai forced back the onslaught of emotions that always accompanied the thoughts of his first mate. Schooling his features once again, and hiding the lingering scent of sadness that surrounded him, Inu Taisho stood and stepped back into his role.
How easy it was to live a lie.
Sitting in Sesshoumaru's pristine study, Kagome couldn't help but calm down. Kumiko's words had struck a strange cord in Kagome's mind. She had an unpleasant feeling settle in the pit of her stomach when she had first seen the girl, but considering the situation, she hadn't found it strange. But, the feeling lingered for the remainder of the time that Kumiko had been present.
Knowing better than to dismiss her instincts, Kagome resolved to speak to Sesshoumaru about her concerns as soon as he was finished speaking with the girl. She could her parts of their conversation, feeling uncharacteristically smug when she heard Sesshoumaru tell Kumiko to mind her own business. Hearing the lord's dismissal, she prepared herself to speak with him.
Blue eyes followed the weary looking figure as Sesshoumaru settled himself on the cushions in front of Kagome. Taking one look at her, he said, "What is troubling you?"
Raising her eyebrow in mimicry of the young lord, Kagome replied, trying to liven up the drab atmosphere in the room, "You mean besides the fact that you now have an obviously human betrothed?"
Her attempt failed miserably as silence met her jibe. Sighing, she continued, "I know you have a lot to worry about and I hate to add to that, but something's not right with Kumiko. I don't know what it is, but just be careful around her. Please?"
"So you've felt it too, then? From what I could decipher while looking through her thoughts, she desires this union because of the power that she believes she will gain. Inu Taisho and her father had apparently discussed the specifics in her presence, the majority of which included the wealth and prestige that her family would gain. She is not as innocent as she looks, Kagome-san, and Inu Taisho has, in a sense, told her to spy on this wing of the palace. I ask that you say nothing to her unless necessary and impart no essential information in her presence."
Kagome gestured that she understood when a stray thought occurred. Without the hesitation she felt before, she asked, "Sesshoumaru-sama, if you have the ability to read minds, how is it that you did not know of Inu Taisho's plans beforehand?"
Not knowing whether to throttle her for her observations or to congratulate her, Sesshoumaru explained, "While I can read minds, I am in no way omnipotent. The majority of minds worth reading have barriers that need to be broken and for the most part, I have no wish to break those down. My ability is voluntary, a tool that I am able to use, so it is not as if there is a constant influx of thoughts. Only when I seek information do I gain that information.
"I had no reason to believe that I needed to seek information from Inu Taisho's mind, which is why I had no knowledge concerning this whole fiasco. More likely than not, even he had some doubts as to how the situation would end up occurring. I am only able to gain information that is known to whomever it is that I am reading. I cannot extrapolate from their minds."
Nodding in understanding, the miko rose to her feet, about to bid the drained lord a good day. Smiling slightly, she thought of a solution to lift some of the burdens of the past day.
"Perhaps you'd like to accompany on a walk in the garden, Sesshoumaru-sama. It's such a lovely day."
About to decline considering the vast amount of work that he still had to complete, the lord decided that a small recess would do no harm. Rising to his feet, he followed the miko down the corridor, thanking whichever Kami who had placed her in his path. Considering the events of the past week, her constant antics were a welcome distraction.
Glancing towards the woman walking beside him, Sesshoumaru decided to share something only he and his mother, when she had been alive, had ever seen. Gently grasping her elbow, he guided her towards a different direction.
Kagome looked at him, slightly surprised that he had changed their course. She did, however, learn in the short time that she had been here that Sesshoumaru never did anything without a reason. Allowing him to take her towards some unknown destination, she couldn't help but wonder where they were headed.
Mariko rested beside a dozing Ryuukotsusei in his suite. Inu Taisho had been occupied all day with Sesshoumaru's future in-laws. She couldn't help but laugh at the predicament that the arrogant youkai now faced. If Sesshoumaru disobeyed his father, there'd be hell to pay. If he disobeyed the Council, hell would only be the beginning.
Sighing slightly, Mariko's thoughts turned to her child, the infant that Inu Taisho had so heartlessly taken from her. Fighting back the tears, she comforted herself in the fact that at the very least, the miko would ensure that Inuyasha stayed safe. That in no way meant she forgave the girl, but it might lessen her suffering when Ryuukotsusei's plans came to fruition.
Closing her eyes, Mariko thought back to a time long past. As a child in her father's palace, she had dreamed of a perfect family, of the fairy tales that only youth could conjure. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine being mated to a taiyoukai while maintaining another youkai as a lover.
'Fate is strange,' she thought, as she tamped down the regret that arose with the thought of the family she would never have.
Breathing was out of the question. The sight that greeted Kagome's eyes was, for lack of a better word, perfect. The early afternoon sun shone through the foliage of the weeping willows, their tendrils drifting on the sparkling water of a large crystalline pond. Flowers of every imaginable shape and colour surrounded the magical centrepiece, their combined fragrance drifting in the air.
Kagome stood there, in complete awe of this piece of paradise. Sesshoumaru stood by her, silently revelling in the joys that this place brought him. Looking down, he couldn't explain the sense of satisfaction of seeing the blue-eyed miko so happy.
Leaning so that he was able to speak into her ear, the lord said, "This was my mother's sanctuary before she died. She and I used to spend much of our day here, simply enjoying nature."
A bittersweet look briefly flashed in Sesshoumaru's eyes. Kagome noticed the forlorn look but couldn't think of anything to rectify it. That is, until she saw that they were standing on the edge of the pond.
Turning to the young lord, she asked innocently, "Do you know how to swim, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Yes, why do yo—" The rest of his sentence was cut off as Kagome pushed the demon with all her might, causing him to lose his balance before dashing away, fleeing for her life.
Sesshoumaru resigned himself to his fate as the inevitable splash came. Normally, a human would never have been able to move him, much less push him over. However, he was so lost in thought and so at ease that he wasn't prepared in any manner. He could also have regained his balance had there been anything to hold onto, but luck didn't seem to be on his side.
With as much grace as he could muster, Sesshoumaru stood up in the shallow water and regained his bearing. He could see Kagome running as fast as her legs could carry her. Without thinking, he sped off after her, intent on taking his revenge. Thoughts of why he would act so juvenile surfaced in his mind, but were pushed back forcefully. It had been a long time since the lord had felt so carefree.
The miko could fell him gaining on her fast. Just as he was about to catch her, Kagome pivoted and began running in a different direction, suddenly realizing that she could practically disappear. Withdrawing her aura, hiding her scent, and casting an invisibility spell, Kagome stopped running to catch her breath.
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru appeared in front of her, reaching forward blindly, almost catching her.
"You make enough noise panting to wake the dead, Kagome-san."
Smirking slightly, Sesshoumaru was pleased at her quick thinking. She had made the game much more interesting. He knew that she would take even more caution now and was not disappointed when all sounds that indicated her presence disappeared…until he felt a tug on his hair.
Turning as quickly as he could, the demon heard light tinkling laughter heading away from him.
"So you think that was funny, do you? I will have my revenge, miko."
This time, he felt a jab on his side as the miko said through their mental link, I believe I've told you to use my name, youkai. A picture of Kagome with her tongue sticking out at him flashed in his mind.
Unbeknownst to Kagome, her foot had made imprints on the grass on which she was standing. She had concentrated so much on sending the image that she hadn't noticed the lack of reply from Sesshoumaru.
Emitting a loud gasp, the miko felt her heart jump to her throat as two arms encircled her waist. Struggling against the lord's unrelenting grasp, she gave up at last, laughing as she said, "I admit defeat, Sesshoumaru-sama." Letting her illusion drop, Kagome giggled helplessly.
"You don't really think that I would release you so easily. I will have my revenge, miko. Are you ticklish, Kagome?" Seeing the wide eyes, Sesshoumaru couldn't help himself from laughing for the first time since his mother had died.
Moving his fingers slightly along her side, he delighted in the squeal that the woman emitted. Showing no mercy, Sesshoumaru tickled Kagome for all he was worth, glad that no one else was permitted into this section of the garden. He would never be able to regain his dignity is anyone saw him like this, half wet and tussling with a human woman.
Finally deciding that he had tortured her enough, Sesshoumaru dropped to lie on the grass beside a gasping Kagome. He was truly happy and enjoying himself for the first time in what seemed like eons.
Propping herself on one elbow, Kagome glared playfully at him. "That was pure evil, Sesshoumaru-sama. All I did was help you take a dip in the pond."
Emitting something very close to a snort, he silently winced at the honorific that she used when she spoke to him. It sounded so formal, completely the opposite of their blossoming friendship. The lord decided that perhaps now was the time to remedy that problem.
"Kagome, I ask that you call me simply by my name. There is enough formality in life without adding to it."
Hearing the gently rustling of grass as Kagome nodded, Sesshoumaru allowed a small smile to grace his face. He knew that this peace wouldn't last, but that didn't stop him from hanging onto it for as long as possible. The woman lying beside him was now talking senseless about the shape of the clouds in the sky.
'Yes, holding on to this peace would be wonderful.'