Chapter 9
Her eyes nearly fell out of her head. "Th-that's Lord Sesshomaru!" She felt as if she were going to faint. "Their hair is almost the same, and their eye colour...but, other than that, there's no way that you could tell they are related, in any way!" She looked at the frozen image of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, dreamily. "They're both so...so beautiful."
"Hey," Shippo said, "they both have short tempers and are really mean, too." He laughed, and continued to pet Hiro. "But, I think Sesshomaru has a kid of some sort. I think she's just a ward or something, not his real kid."
"Oooooh!" She squealed. "A child! How responsible, and full of surprises you are, Lord Sesshomaru! I'm sure you're the best father, too!"
"Father? Sesshomaru?" Shippo wondered.
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Sesshomaru sat, in thought, for a moment. "Do you know how the curse came upon you? An enchantment, or potion, or food..? Something you both did, at the same time?" He asked.
Kagome thought back to the morning they had woken up this way, then the night before. "Well, there was a strange black cat, one night. And, we were both drinking from the same water bottle, the night before this happened..." She explained.
"A black cat, hmm?" Sesshomaru sat up, and looked away from Kagome, toward the west. "I have heard of such a woman who possesses a rather infamous black cat, in my lands. Some villages have rumours that they saw a black cat, with a collar, leaving rooms of family members. Then, the family member has some sake, and never wakes up." He looked back at her, with a creepy glare. "They are not dead, merely sleeping...but, being the frail humans that they are, they do end up starving to death."
He stood up, and rested his hand on the fur lying, gracefully, over his shoulder. "You cat...did it have a black collar?"
Kagome blinked. "Ya. It was black, and it had diamonds..." She said, thoughtfully. The tall Youkai nodded.
"The stories are similar, then." He looked down at her.
"Do you know where the cat's from?" Kagome asked.
"Or, how about, who's it is?" Inuyasha chimed in.
"Rumour has it, that it belongs to a small-time priestess. Not a very strong one. She only has weak physical power, and she is more of a potions maker. So long as you do not eat or drink anything, you should do well." Sesshomaru said, with a smirk.
Inuyasha glared at him, and Kagome sighed. "So, do you have a name for this priestess?" She asked.
"Kiyori," Sesshomaru said, nonchalantly.
"Kiyori," Kagome repeated.
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Kiyori stared at the glass. "He...knows my name." She blushed. "And, now, Inuyasha knows it, as well." She blushed even deeper. She was excited, but angry at the same time. They would definitely be coming to her, now, but if Inuyasha and Kagome didn't fight hard enough to break the curse, then he would not be coming to her a happy Hanyou. Or, if they kissed...she didn't even want to think of what he might do to her.
"Damn!" She cried out. Shippo watched her, as she began to pace, again.
"Kagome and Inuyasha fight plenty, by themselves, you know? Even the stupidest things can start it. Especially, this Youkai called Koga. You wanna start a war? He's the one that can get it mean!" Shippo suggested.
Her eyes widened and she crouched down, in front of the cage, gripping a bar in each hand. "Where can I find this Koga?" She pleaded.
Shippo sat back, and shrugged. "I dunno...he just shows up from time to time," he said with a smirk.
She whined and leaned her head against the bars, closing her eyes. "Who's side are you on, anyway, little one?"
Shippo only responded with a wickedly, childish giggle.
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"Now, pull it back, really tight..." Kagome told Rin. Rin did as she was told, and pulled the butt of an arrow back against the bowstring, as hard as she could. "Hold it, and aim, with your first finger, there...eye along the arrow..." Rin followed the instructions, intently. "Let it fly whenever you've got your target."
"Alright", she said, with a slight nod. She let the arrow go, and it shot a few meters in front of her, landing just a few centimeters from Jaken. Kagome clapped.
"Yay! That was awesome!" She praised. "Now," she said, leading another arrow for Rin, " this time, let's hit him!"
Jaken stood still, occasionally trembling. He held his eyes tightly closed. "Lord Sesshomauuuuu!" He whined.
Sesshomaru turned his head from the warmth of the fire, and stared coldly at Jaken. "You will play Rin's target, if she wishes you to. If this human is skilled enough to teach Rin to perfectly kill a target, then perhaps I have no use for you, afterall. Remain silent!" Sesshomaru turned back to the fire. "She has talent with Children, Inuyasha. She will make a fair mother." His smile was slight, but still there.
Inuyasha blushed. "I-I don't know what you're babling about!" he sat up straight. "Anyways, there's none of that stuff going on with us, not that it's any of your concern." he let out a 'hmph', and looked away.
"Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "It seems that you are even slow, at this sort of thing."
"What!" Inuyasha was on his feet, now, centimeters from his brother's face. "I'll show you who's slow!" He said, balling his fists. Sesshomaru placed a quick scratch across Inuyasha's throat.
"I wouldn't make any stupid moves, pathetic Hanyou brother, or I shall not hesitate to destroy this frail human body you are trapped in." Sesshomaru snarled, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Hey! Hey! That's MY body!" Kagome cried out.
They both stood up and pointed at each other, like five year olds. "He started it!" They both said.
"I don't care who started it...I'm gonna finish it, if you pull that crap, again!"
Sesshomaru leaned closer to Inuyasha. "You're lucky, your Kagome has forced a truce between us, until i get you to Kiyori, I suggest you obey it; Otherwise-"
There was a yelp, and Sesshomaru turned, quickly to Rin. He allowed a very small smile. Jaken was lying on the ground with an arrow sticking out of him. He stood up, and walked to Jaken. As he passed Rin, he made a small, rather well hidden, motion, placing his hand, palm up, by his side. Rin tapped the hand discreetly...It was a secret sort of high-five. Sesshomaru drew Tenseiga, pulled the arrow from Jaken's body, and passed the sword over the small body.