Chapter 12: Brought Together
Kagome could feel the dried tears on her face. But as she woke she felt better. She felt so free. That was... except for the arm wrapped about her waist that was pinning her back against a warm figure... She stiffened, and felt the person she was laying against was stirring as well. She was a bit nervous at first... who was this person? But then her mind awoke and her memories flooded back into her.
ỗỘỗỘỗ
For hours, it would seem, she had stood there against the soft frame of the demon lord. When had he become soft? When had he begun to welcome her to him? Thoughts crossed her mind, but when she sniffled he drew her closer to him as it to send away the cold betrayal she felt in her heart with the warmth of his body. And she snuggled into him, gripping the front of his kimono even though it was likely to wrinkle it. She was beyond caring. He offered this comfort to her. It would be wrong to reject him... Not that any part of her wanted to ever let go.
When he shifted, she whined, wondering if he was done babying her and was prepared to pull away. But was a slight bit surprised and he drew her alongside him, stroking her back as he led her off into the forest. Further away from Inuyasha.
And never did she hesitate. Only walking closely to him so that her hip bumped against his at times. Leaning into his arm and closing her eyes. Paying no mind to her surroundings as of yet.
She felt him slow as he led her into a clearing. Her eyes peeling open to look at Ah-Un. The great beast lounging with a curious Rin tucked in by its side. Jaken sat atop Ah-Un's back, and was sound asleep. And Sesshomaru gestured for Rin to be silent and go to sleep, and so she smiled and laid down. Paying no mind to the demon lord and the little miko at his side.
Sesshomaru seated himself at the base of a nearby tree and pulled her down with him. Drawing her up against his side. She was so tired that she simply went lax in his hold. His arm wrapped around behind her as she surprised him by wrapping her thin arms about his torso. Snuggling her face into his side. A soft smile gracing her lips. Her eyes closed and soon she was asleep.
ỗỘỗỘỗ
And now she was here... Now that she remembered she relaxed against the demon lord again. If he had done all of that last night without really meaning it, then let her enjoy this 'fairy-tale' while it lasted.
Though even now he stirred. His golden eyes opened, looking down at the little miko and seeing the chocolate brown of her eyes looking right back up at him. The corners of her mouth came up slowly into a faint, testy smile. She noticed how his eyes softened and he nodded to her, shifting and looking up, about the clearing. Seeing Jaken perched atop Ah-Un still. Rin was sound asleep as well. Ah-Un was awake, one head laying on the ground, the other up and alertly looking about. But the dragon was always doing that. It's heads switched off on watch duty.
Kagome drew him away from his thoughts when she spoke, saying softly, "You...heard...last night?"
She frowned when he nodded and drew herself up, and would have moved back a bit if his arm hadn't tightened its grip about her. He startled her by drawing her closer. So she sat beside him, leaning slightly on his side.
A light blush came to her cheeks and she asked softly, "Why did you help me?"
"Because you needed it", he said. Had she not heard those words before? He was turning them back on her again. She smiled very softly...but there was a bit of a disappointed look to her expression now.
"What?" He whispered softly. but she shook her head. How could she explain to the demon lord that she had wanted to hear something along the lines of, 'Because I love you."
She blushed a bit again, and looked away. A distant look in her eyes. Yes... this was just a fairy-tale. He comforted her because she had helped him once before and his pride made him return the favor. She began to rise, drawing away from the confused Taiyoukai and saying softly, "...I still have to help Inuyasha defeat Naraku... even though Inuyasha treats me wrongly...I owe it to him."
Sesshomaru rose and said in soft, but firm tone. "You owe nothing to Inuyasha. He has the full jewel except for Naraku's. You are free to return to your time."
She looked back towards him and there were strange emotions in her eyes. 'She lacks the desire to return home...to all the comforts of her world...' He could not understand this young woman. 'And is that...longing in her eyes? What is it that she wants that makes her remain here?'
Kagome stepped forward, hesitantly. Saying, "I started this long ago...and I wish to see it through."
Something in her tone told him she was not thinking entirely of Naraku. Of whom did she think then? What else had she to finish in this era?
He nodded and she took a few more steps forward, towards him. And he felt an odd feeling rising up inside of him. So he quickly distracted the both of them with the statement, "You will travel with Rin and this Sesshomaru until Naraku is dead, then. Inuyasha is undeserving of your presence."
She was so startled by his statement that she could only nod. Drawing back a bit, to his disappointment. And saying, "Yes... okay..."
--
Inuyasha had given them no trouble whatsoever. He didn't need Kagome to find Naraku's jewel shards, he had Kikyou with him. Kagome didn't know whether to be relieved that they were not being hunted down...or disappointed. She had traveled with the hanyou for nearly two years...and he didn't care that she was gone?
The young miko had been traveling with Sesshomaru and his group for two days so far. Not long at all. And the days went by fast. That was because they were rather eventful.
--
The first day, Rin woke up and was very excited to see Kagome was there, though she had only seen the older woman once before. And she had spent the entire time chattering loudly with the elder girl. Sesshomaru pretending to ignore it, when in fact he was enjoying how much the two seemed to enjoy each other's company. Jaken just led Ah-Un in silence, not understanding why his powerful lord put up with either of the chattery humans. But he couldn't question it, lest he risked his own neck for insulting his Lord's favored companions.
That day ended after a long travel, though it was less of a toll on her body when she was enjoying the company she walked in, of course... not carrying a heavy pack helped also. Sesshomaru's pace was set high, but it helped that whenever they grew tired they could just hop onto Ah-Un and the dragon would carry them without complaint.
Kagome had had a bit of trouble getting used to riding on the dragon at first, but Rin had finally gotten her to haul herself up and ever since she had been relaxing on Ah-Un whenever her legs cramped up.
It was actually so enjoyable, talking with Rin, that she didn't even notice that Sesshomaru had stopped, that was...until she ran into him for the third time. He glanced down at her, a hint of humor in his eyes and said, "We bed down for tonight."
Kagome had to hold in a groan of protest. But then she looked around and realized it was, in fact, getting quite dark. And Rin was clearly ready for a good rest.
Ah-Un laid out underneath a tree and Rin ran over to curl up against the dragon's belly. Kagome walked over in silence and tucked herself alongside Rin. The girl surprising her when she cuddled against her.
Sesshomaru sat down apart from the dragon and watched Kagome close her eyes, dozing off. She looked so peaceful...
But he felt alone, after the last night of sleeping with her tucked up against his side he was spoiled by the warmth. He growled, shaking his head. He mustn't be so weak. He grit his teeth and then closed his eyes. Let Ah-Un be the sole watch for tonight.
--
The second day, Kagome woke bright and early to a far softer being tucked up against her. Kagome smiled and stroked the little girls black hair. Not noticing the golden eyes watching her from across the clearing.
Sesshomaru smiled as he watched how the young miko treated Rin. 'She mothers that kitsune that travels with Inuyasha...and she mothers Rin. She would be a fine mate...' He didn't know whether to choke the part of him that had thought that, or to agree. So he rose, startling Kagome when he spoke. "Do not wake Rin, but get up, Kagome."
The girl nodded and carefully removed herself from Rin's grasp and went to the demon lord, "Yes?" She asked. And he held out a bow and a quiver of arrows to her. Which she stared at in shock, then took.
They were so beautifully made. Well-built. She could tell they were high quality.
He explained himself with, "You will assist me in fighting Naraku. You will need a weapon for that. And there it is. But you will allow need weapon training. Which is where we begin this morning."
Kagome only nodded, a bit confused, but understanding nonetheless. And so the demon lord led her off to a clearing in which he instructed her to fire an arrow at him.
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "I can't do that! What if I hit you!"
"You will not, I assure you. This is only a demonstration."
She stuck her lip out in a pout and notched an arrow to the string of her new bow, aiming it at him. He had said that as if there was no way she could hit him! So she drew the string, concentrating so to show him up.
When she loosed it she watched it soar at the demon lord, but he moved aside just before it could strike and caught it between two fingers. Saying, "That sort of firing will not do well against Naraku. He will expect your arrows. You will have to get better."
Kagome glared at him and said, "How am I to do that?"
She was startled when he came up behind her suddenly. Right up on her and placing his right hand over hers on the bow string. Whispering in her ear, softly. "Fire more arrows in succession. And don't hesitate. Use your miko energy. You will need it against Naraku. Using it will make it stronger." Kagome shivered from his breath on her ear. But as quickly as he had come up, he was gone.
Sesshomaru stood across the clearing again, looking at her. "Fire three arrows, one after the other, as fast as you can."
Kagome nodded and drew her first arrow, notching it to the string and firing. She clumsily reached back for the next arrow, in so much of a hurry she dropped the first arrow she grabbed, snapped the second on accident, and then dropped the quiver on her third try.
She stood there, looking miserable, when he voice cut across the clearing. "Pick them back up and try again"
This was how her morning was spent. Firing arrow after arrow. And of course, she got better pretty quick. Faster than he had expected. And soon the demon lord was dodging left and right. The arrows were charged lightly with her energy and when one finally nicked him right across the cheek it stung like a bee!
He hissed a bit and Kagome dropped her bow instantly. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" She ran forward, looking up at him. Concerned.
He looked at her and said, "No, congratulations."
She blinked for a moment and he explained, "If you hit me then you have gotten far better than you were earlier." Kagome blushed, he was right and she knew it.
He sat down, relaxing. A bit tired from flitting all over the place. Kagome knelt down beside him and said, "Still, I didn't want to hit you."
She began to dab at the wound with the sleeve of her white blouse and he looked at her from the corner of his eye, smiling softly.
But this moment was interrupted by a noisy Jaken saying that Rin was up and he could not handle her, she was far too hyper. "Where's Kagome! And where's Sesshomaru-sama!"
The two gathered the arrows up and returned. The rest of the day was spent traveling. Kagome talking with Rin as before.
And Sesshomaru listened in, thinking to himself. 'She is skilled...Do I love her? Is this what I feel?' It was hard to believe. But it was true, and he knew it.
--
Now, on the third day, Sesshomaru awoke to the scene of Kagome tucked up with Rin again, by Ah-Un's warm side. And briefly he felt jealous. He wanted to be there as well, with the miko's arms about his waist and Rin tucked up on his other side. He loved them both... He loved the two humans.
He was stirred from his thoughts when Kagome woke, yawning and stretching slowly before looking right at him with a smile. "Good morning", she whispered.
Instead of simply nodding he said, "Good morning, Kagome." In a warm tone.
He watched Kagome shiver a bit, and then she broke out into a larger smile. Rising slowly.
The two went to a clearing in silence, and set to training.
The miko was fresh now and she fired off arrow after arrow nonstop. Clipping him at times. But she did not charge her arrows this time, but focused on speed.
When all her arrows were spent out of her quiver she dropped down, panting a bit, but smiling. Pleased with her own performance.
Her teacher went to her, seeming just as pleased. Saying, "You have learned fast and you will do well against Naraku..."
The way he trailed off got Kagome's attention.
"How far are we from where you think he is hiding?" She asked softly.
His golden gaze switched to her and said, "He expects us... and we will be there by tomorrow."
Kagome's eyes widened a bit in shock and she echoed, "Tomorrow...?"
Sesshomaru nodded and seated himself beside her. Saying, "Inuyasha and his group will arrive just after we do, I expect."
The woman nodded and then said softly, "I am...afraid."
He leaned forward, saying, "I would be more worried if you were not."
Her attention focused on him, her eyes showing confusion. Why was he so close?
But whatever she was going to say was cut off when she heard him inhale.
Drinking in her sweet scent he drew closer, until his lips covered hers for a brief kiss.
Her could hear her heart break into a loud dance in her chest and just before he drew back he could feel her responding a slight bit. Accepting, and returning, his kiss.
Their eyes opened at the same time and met. Chocolate brown looking into pale gold. And pale gold looking right back into chocolate brown. They were silent for a moment. Before Jaken once again managed to interrupt. Rin was awake again and creating mayhem.
The two drew back, but not before Sesshomaru whispered in her ear, "Should something go wrong... I wish you to know...that I love you, Kagome."
But with that he was gone so fast in the direction of the camp that she was left breathless for a moment. Before she quickly rose to scurry after the group.
She spent the day staring at the back of the Taiyoukai, which did not go unnoticed by Rin. Her answers to the little girl's conversation short, and less animated as they had been the two days before.
Rin shrugged, supposing it was just a mood swing and that her Kagome would be just fine in a bit.
--
And so the group soon walked in silence, comfortable silence to be truthful.
Going towards the Final Battle.
And all that Sesshomaru could think about was...if she loved him back.
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Yes, darlings, the Final Battle draws near. Love on one side is declared. But does the other side share the same feelings? You won't get to know just yet! HAH!
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