Raising the Phoenix
Summary - Death overtakes the creature, but a flicker of hope remains.
Disclaimer - It's not like they hand out ownership for anime in Wisconsin, you know.
Rating - "Z"
Warnings - I hate to do this to you guys again, but forgive me, I have to disappear for a few days. I have a family emergency that requires me to go to Ohio tomorrow. I'll be back Tuesday - I'm very sorry.
Chapter 6 - With All the King's Men
Kagome didn't quite know what to make of the Taiyoukai's words. Surely he himself had called her worse, and yet there he stood, 'defending her honor'. It had to be the oddest thing she'd ever seen. But, as human minds were wont to do, she found the simplest solution and fed it to herself. He's only angry because he said it in front of Rin. Satisfied, she promptly let it drop.
But the occasion lingered in her mind. Yes, she understood why Inuyasha would call her such things, and truth to be told, she always felt a little twinge, punishing him like that. The beads had been meant to preserve her life - to tame the hanyou enough to aid her in her quest, but now, now they were completely unnecessary. Inuyasha would never hurt her - that is to say, he'd never do her physical harm... yet she continued to sit him. Perhaps he was right to call her that.
Her mind continued on sadistically with that thought, silent voices asking her how the man could have ever loved her with the way she treated him. He was her whipping boy, her protected, why, she could even go so far as to see times she'd used him as hired muscle. To top it all off, she'd ridden around Japan on his back - how had she missed all of this?
How could she have ever imagined Inuyasha caring for a brat like herself?
Sesshoumaru was not pleased. His initial foray into his plan had no success. True, true, he had to be patient, but it seemed the foolish girl didn't even realize what he'd done! This Sesshoumaru stooped to defend no one, particularly not weak little girls who lost their powers. It was maddening!
And for that matter, why didn't the miko defend herself? Certainly the subduing spell was a cute trick, but wasn't it obvious to the girl by now that such things would not teach any lessons to the thick headed Inuyasha? Why would she just take that kind of abuse from a wretch like him?
Through his inner musings, he maintained a placid mask. He knew this was going to be a challenge - why, if one or two measly sentences repaired her powers, the plan wouldn't even be worth his time. No, he was simply going to have to find a more bold method for gaining her attention.
But what? Surely moonlight odes to her beauty would be out of character, not to mention nauseating. Should he play the role of gallant and save her from some evil - certainly that was what must have drawn her to his obnoxious sibling, and yet... Maddening.
He let himself relax a bit, allowing his mind to wander to other thoughts, other details. An answer would come to him, he just had to wait for the opportune moment.
Shippo had a nose for trouble. He'd always known it. Everyone knew it. But what most didn't know, was his knack for sensing mischief as well. If he were older and more concerned with things such as that, he might chalk it up to his race, for what were kitsunes if not mischievous? But, seeing as he was just a kit, he didn't think on it. Instead, he became curious.
The clearing had become tense, and despite his youth, he was well aware of it. Whatever delicate cease fire that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had woven between them was deteriorating, yet the youkai remained. He wanted something, Shippo was sure, but what was a mystery to him. There had to be something though, why else would the powerful Sesshoumaru take such insults from his brother so lightly?
It puzzled him.
Kagome watched as the sun dipped closer to the horizon. Sure, the sky was lit like an inferno, casting rich shades of reds, pinks and purples throughout the heavens... The air was pleasant and crisp... heavens, even the sleepy final songs of the birds chirped a soothing good night to her - she still felt desolate.
As a small child, she would lay upon the grass near her family's shrine and gaze at the sky. Sometimes, if she laid there long enough, she could feel her body melt into the Earth, she could feel it become part of the sky. It was all childish fantasy - she knew, but there had been such an overwhelming sense of peace in those times - if only she could get it back.
She lay back against the soft grass, gently tangling her fingers in its carpet-like depth. Above her, candy colored clouds floated lazily through the sky, the first glimpses of the heaven's brightest stars peaking through.
She couldn't help but let out a startled 'eep' when Sesshoumaru's head came into view.
Trying to recover some dignity, she sat up abruptly, running fingers through her hair to rid herself of stray bits of grassy debris. She could only hope it helped - because his face betrayed none of his thoughts.
"Miko, why do you accept the abuse of that insolent hanyou?"
To say she was taken aback by the question was to say too little. But she feared that too much hesitation on her part would lead to angering the taiyoukai, and she didn't want to go though that again, "He's really not that bad."
His eyebrow twitched up the slightest bit - A trick of the fading sun? "Your tolerance of his behavior is - beyond me."
She couldn't help but smile at his statement, the casual conversation between them making her forget that the man standing in front of her was her enemy, "Patience is a virtue."
"That it may be, but still, you should make him value you more, Kagome. Rumors of your prowess as a miko have reached even my ears in the West." He flicked his eyes back to the sun, which had nearly completed its daily journey across the sky. "Please forgive my abrupt departure, but I must check on my charge. Good night."
As he turned his back, he allowed himself a smirk. Yes, frustration had driven him to approach the miko about Inuyasha's behavior - but it had bee nothing short of ingenuity thtat had graced him with the plan to win the miko. So quickly had she relaxed around him as they spoke. She'd been receptive, even laughed a little as she spoke of patience. Could it really be so simple? Put down his brother - gently, ever so gently - all while playing the part of the caring listener?
Silly child. Poor silly child.
Review Responses
Silver Quick - It makes me really happy to know you enjoy this fic. And that was a real heartwarmer - Christmas in the summer! I'm still blushing. Thank you.
Hazardous - Thank you - I totally hate mushy Sesshoumaru - it's like Twelfth Night - 'This is a trout that must be caught with some tickling'. Honestly, that's the fun in Kagome x Sesshoumaru fics. Anyway - glad you like my story.
Lexia Riddle - Yeah, thanks again. I don't know what happened, but some how, my wires got crossed. Anyway, I'm glad you like the stroy, and yeah, Kagome's a weirdo magnet... That's ok though, it makes for fun writing! And yeah, it gets entirely too easy to hate Inuyasha - but I'm trying to be nice to him, I swear!
JennytheWhiteWolf - Well glad you like it... to be honest, I'm not quite sure where this is going, so I can't promise you Inuyasha ass kicking, but you never know.
Pegasus Rider - Oh he will burn, trust me... Thanks for reviewing.
AKA Hummer - Work's jerking me around and wound up promoting my arch enemy at work, this insufferable dick of a guy who goes out of my way to make my life a living hell. I've litterally been told that if I don't kiss up to him, my ass is beating the pavement to find a new job. How we hates the tricksy one. Anyway, it was just a really bad, bad day, but your reviews always pick me up, as does your Sleeping Beauty story - I've told you its brilliant, right? Cuz it is, It's brilliant. Anyway, enjoy your noodles, and thanks for the praise, it took some serious squishing to get my ego out of the apartment door after that. (Wink)
T - You have got to be the most understanding reviewer ever... WHAT A SWEETHEART! Anyway, thanks for leaving me some review-lovin', I hope this was worht the wait.
Kuraii Koneko - (Faints) My goodness, that much praise just goes right to my head. Thanks, lovey, And I tried to make the chapter longer, I just kinda failed, too much stuff came up.
Ikimono Joufu - Thanks!
Childlike Empress - Thanks you, and of course everyone loves Sesshoumaru... He's the HOTNESS!
Bluediamondhime - Of course He'll succumb, I'm too vindictive for him to not. And thank you dear, I appreciate your kind words.
Scruffy Wolf - Thanks, I will.
Isisoftheunderground - Oh, its all about this thick plots (wink) And thank you for reviewing, I don't care how crappy you may think it is, but it means the world to me.
Inu Youkai Gurl - Hmm, I think you're trying to send me a message, but I'm not quite certain what it is... (wink)
Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed. Love ya!