Kagome woke up early morning when a servant came in her room.
"Good morning Lady Kagome. Lord Sesshoumaru requests your presence in his library when you have readied yourself." The old woman said
"Thank you. I don't have anything to wear and I need a bath though." She responded
"I will fetch you a kimono to wear milady. But first I will bring you to the bath house. Please follow me." She said handing her a white yukata as she made to leave the room.
She quietly got out of bed and put on the robe as they left her room. They were walking for about ten minutes before they came to a building that was separate from the main house. The servant opened the door directing her to go in ahead and shut the door behind them. When Kagome walked in her eyes went wide with astonishment. She gazed around the room at the scene before her.
There was a huge hot spring that could fit about twenty people in it all at once. Around the spring were a few Sakura trees and many multicolored flowers. With the steam rising from the spring it gave the whole room a god like quality.
"Wow it's so beautiful." She exclaimed
"I have laid out some towels for you milady so you may bathe. I will return shortly with a new kimono." She said bowing but was stopped by Kagome's voice.
"What's your name?" she asked the old woman
"My name is not important, but if you must know it is Kaede." She answered.
"Thank you Kaede. May I ask you something?" she questioned
"You may milady."
"First of all please don't use formalities with me. I am no better than you so it is completely uncalled for. So it's just Kagome between us. Okay? Second, have you seen Sango at all? I thought she would be the one coming this morning." She spoke sweetly
"Yes, Kagome. I believe Sango is helping Lord Sesshoumaru today. I am sure you will see her later on. Now I must go and fetch you something to wear. The master is waiting for you." She bowed and left without another word leaving Kagome to bathe alone.
She sat there in the relaxing waters for a while before somebody cam back. She assumed it was Kaede but was only met by another smiling face.
"Good morning Kagome. How did you sleep?" Sango asked with a bright smile
"Morning to you too. It was great, but this bath is even better." She replied with a warm smile
"I was told by Kaede that you were looking for me so we traded places. I brought you a kimono as well. You should come out of there before you turn into a prune though." She said giggling.
Kagome lifted her hands and looked at her fingers. "I already have Sango." She said joining the giggling Sango.
She got out of the hot spring and dried off. She got dressed in the beautiful silk kimono that Sango had brought to her and waited while Sango did her hair. She sat there thinking about the girl named Sango. It was weird but she felt like she had known her forever. She felt like she could tell her anything.
Sango had finished her hair and was waiting for Kagome to follow her. They both left the bath house and entered through a side door into the main house. After a couple of rights and lefts they stopped at a pain of double doors and knocked waiting for a reply.
"Come in." Said a deep voice
Sango opened the door and waved Kagome in. Before leaving Sango reassured her and said she would be back in a few minutes. She bowed low and left closing the door behind her leaving Kagome and Sesshoumaru alone.
She waited for him to say something to break the silence so she remained quiet. She was nervous around him for some reason she was not quite sure why.
Finally he looked up from his paperwork as he gazed over her. The kimono she had on touched the ground but had no sleeves. It was a deep blue with silver stars the trailed from the left side of her neck to the right and fell down the right side of her skirt. Her hair was done in a high bun and had chopsticks with silver-star charms dangling from the ends. She had blue slippers with the same silver stars that adorned her small feet. He found her very beautiful in that attire so he did the only thing he could. He looked back to his paperwork as he spoke.
"I am leaving for a gathering of the lands. It will last two weeks. All the Lords and Ladies from the other lands will e there as well. You also will be joining me. I have informed Sango and your friends. They will be coming as well. Your things have been packed and were already sent to our destination. We will leave after breakfast." Was all he said as he continued his work.
Assuming she had been dismissed she left the room and went in search of her friends. She walked around aimlessly before finding herself in the gardens. She went and sat on a rock by the small koi pond that was to the right. She watched as the giant koi swam slowly around looking for something to eat. While she watched she began to sing Shakira's 'Eyes like yours'. What she didn't know was somebody watching her from the doorway.
He stood there leaning against the doorway while he listened to her sweet voice floating in the wind as it gently caressed his ears. He became instantly relaxed by the pleasant sound. He was interrupted from his relaxing moment when someone called his name.
"Milord." Came a shaky voice
He didn't say anything to the portly man just stared telling him to continue.
"Everything is prepared for breakfast. The two guests are in the dining area waiting. But I don't know where the wench is." He said to his master
"I will be there shortly." He responded with a deadly voice dismissing the man before him.
After regaining his composure he slowly walked towards the pond and stood behind her.
"Your voice would be enchanting if it were not for the gurgling noise that comes from your throat." He said without thinking.
He could not see her face but he saw her body trembling. He wasn't sure if it were from anger, laughter of annoyance. When she stopped shaking she turned to give him a smile as she stood and left him there alone in the gardens. After he snapped out of his daze he followed her inside. He didn't see her anywhere so he just left to eat his breakfast.
Kagome easily found her way to the dining area surprisingly enough. She walked in to find Shippou and Kilala already there.
"Hey Kagome!" Shippou yelled as Kilala walked through her legs for a greeting. She picked up Kilala petting her as she made her way to the table.
"Hey Shippou, how are you this morning?" she asked with a bright smile which he gladly returned.
"Good. Good. Are you ready for our trip? I think it will be exciting don't you?" he exclaimed
She nodded and opened her mouth to reply only to quickly snap it shut when Sesshoumaru entered the room. He sat down at the table as the food was brought to the table.
Breakfast was eaten in complete silence and Kagome was eaten fast. She was the first to finish the meal. Standing up she spoke before leaving.
"Thank you for the meal. It was very good." She said with a short bow and quickly left the room.
Sesshoumaru finished his meal and left to find her. They needed to leave but he wanted to talk to her first. When he got to her door he heard her talking to someone. He was not one to eavesdrop but he was curious about the conversation.
"Do you think I should really go? I mean I'm not really a Lady. I don't feel like I belong here." She said
"I think you should go. You may enjoy yourself. Besides it will be nice to get out of the castle for once. You could find new friends while you're there." Sango said
"Yes Kagome. I agree with Sango. You should go and try to relax and have fun." Kaede told her
"I really don't want to go. I don't belong here. I know it in my heart. If anything I should be in your position. I may not remember my past but I know that I was in no way royalty." She said "Besides, I don't think he wants me to go. I think he is just taking me because he's afraid to leave me here." She added
"You should not say such things child. I have been with the lord for many years and he is not like that. If he didn't trust you, you would not be here now." Kaede replied
After that was said he decided to just leave and speak with her on the way there. He went to his study to finish some more paperwork before they would leave.
"Sango. Would you please tell Kilala that I would like to see her?" she said receiving an odd look from the girl. "She can understand what you say. In the meantime I would just like to be alone if you don't mind." She informed then.
Kaede and Sango both gave a short nod and left the room. A few minutes after they left Kilala came bounding in her room and jumped to her lap. She was waiting for Kagome to talk as she sat up looking at the girl.
"Kilala, I need your help as well as Shippou. Will you help me?" she asked and was answered with a mew. "Okay here's what I want to do."
She explained her plan to the fire cat and asked her to relay Shippou's part to him as fast as possible. After Kilala left she went to get dressed in something that she had asked Sango to bring her. It was a black stretch outfit that covered all of her. It was tight so it wouldn't get caught on anything and stretched so she could move freely in it.
Kagome walked to Sesshoumaru's study where she knew he would be. Knocking on the door she peeked her head in really quick to tell him something.
"Could you meet me in the gardens in a few minutes? I'm going to grab something really quick but I would like to speak with you." With that said she shut the door and left quickly before he could answer.
He sat at his desk wondering what she wanted to talk about. So he stayed there deep in thought for a few minutes before getting up to meet her.
Kagome was sitting in her room when a knock came from the door.
"Come in." She invited
"It's done. So when do we leave?" Shippou asked with a smile
She looked over to Kilala. "Do you think you would still be able to carry both of us?" she asked her.
Kilala just mewed letting her know she could. They all left the room and exited out a door on the opposite side of the castle where they knew no one would be. Their escape would be successful.
He was in the gardens but he found no sight of Kagome. 'Where is she?' he thought. He walked back into the castle after waiting for a few more minutes and ran into Sango.
"Where is she?" he grounded out
"Kagome?" she asked
He just simply nodded and waited for her to say something.
"Last time we saw her was in her room." She answered and watched him walk off angrily towards her friends room. As soon as he was out of sight she ran to tell Kaede of what had happened. She new something was wrong.
He knocked on the door twice and heard no answer so he walked in. He found no Kagome and when he searched the rest of the castle to find Shippou and Kilala missing as well.
They had escaped now and he realized how stupid he had been. Was she really that unhappy here with him? He sighed before heading towards the main hall. He didn't have time to deal with it now. He had to go to the gathering. After it was over he would deal with it then.
"Kilala? Can you take me to Inuyasha's forest? I want to visit with him and Kikyo. I have not seen them in a long time." She said in a wistful voice.
"Kagome, we could go but.." he trailed and continued when she gave him a questioning look. "He's not there anymore Kagome." He spoke, voice filled with sadness
"Well where is he? We can find him can't we?"
"No. He died a long time ago. Do you not remember anything?" he asked
"No. I don't remember anything about my life before I woke up a few weeks ago." She informed him sadly.
"Let's stop for a while and I'll tell you." He replied as Kilala descended from the sky.
He told her everything leaving out the part about Sesshoumaru and their past love affair. She learned how all her friends had died and they were the only ones that remained. She learned that she had slept for three hundred years. After hearing the story of her past she grew sad as she had when she lost her love. If she would of known about him he would fear she would turn herself to stone again. He didn't now how to cheer her up. It was true she had lost all of her friends and family and learned of it so quickly. The worst part is she remembered them but she didn't know she had cast a spell on herself. He felt bad for her for her loss. True he and Kilala had lost ones close to them as well but they remembered these things and knew it would happen when they had made their choice. They had both made sacrifices so they could be there for her knowing she would need some one with her when she did wake from her sleep. Of course they had also expected Sesshoumaru to return no more than a hundred years later and certainly not in a human body either. They were in quite a predicament because of that too. They helped Kagome out even though they know that they shouldn't in certain situations. They had to find a way to bring her and Sesshoumaru closer together. He decided to start now. Looking to Kilala she mewed in an understanding of what he said with his eyes.
"Come Kagome. I know some where we can go." He said with a mischievous smile.
They resumed their perch on Kilala's back as they all headed for the gathering unbeknownst to Kagome.
He arrived in the late afternoon and was in his temporary room readying himself for the first night. He had made up his mind and would stay for a few days and make up some nonsense about troubles in his lands and leave. He could not stop thinking about Kagome and how she had just left. She should have asked, but of course he knew he would have not let her leave. Even though he deeply denied it he enjoyed her company. It was nice and refreshing her personality. She was feisty and would be submissive if she didn't agree. That's what he liked about her. He was somewhat jealous how she could freely show her emotions while he had to remain cold to the world. He shook his head as he tried not to think of such things now. He would wait until he returned home to think about the subject again.
Kaede had come with him and was helping him get ready as she always did. Sango had come as well was off somewhere doing whatever she did.
Kaede knowing him since birth could tell of his thoughts and where they were at that moment in time and decided to speak.
"You should not worry so much. She will return soon. She just needed some time to herself. Do not be angry with her. Imagine how she must feel." She poke wisely
Sango came bursting through the door with a red face and ragged breathing. She was in such a panic she didn't think to knock. All she knew was she had to get Sesshoumaru quickly.
"Quick Lord Sesshoumaru. There is trouble at the front gate." She yelled and turned on her heels running towards the main hall.
Sesshoumaru and Kaede were not far behind her. When they barged through the front doors they stopped immediately.
There in front of them stood Shippou, Kagome and Kilala. Shippou and Kilala were in front of Kagome protecting her. Shippou looked over to him not sure if he would call the guards off or not. They exchanged glance, Shippou letting him know he didn't want to kill these men but would if he had too. So he called off the guards allowing the demons to relax.
As the three approached them he saw Kagome refusing to look up at him. He leaned over and whispered in Kaede's ear giving Sango and her something to do.
Kaede and Sango escorted Shippou and Kilala in and found them both a room while Sesshoumaru and Kagome remained in the front courtyard.
He looked down at the woman in front of him waiting for her to look up. When she made no move to do so he placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head so their eyes could meet. What he saw he did not expect to see.
Her eyes were filled with sadness. She looked like she would cry but he could not see a single tear in her eye. Realizing this was no time to reprimand her for her actions he simply said "Come." As he held her hand and lead her to a room that he had prepared for her.
It had been two weeks since their return home and she only seemed to get worse as the days went on. Nobody knew what to do about it. After three days at the gathering they had left. Kagome had changed and he wanted to return home. He noticed how upset she had been since her return and it had bothered him greatly. Her eyes haunted him all day even when he slept. He could not forget the sadness she held. He had noticed that she rarely left her room unless it was to eat or bathe. Well she only ate with them when he refused to let her eat in her room. Sango had informed him that she hardly even ate anymore. Which he had noticed the last time she ate with them. Shippou also raised some concerns. He had mentioned that this is what happened the last time before she fell into her sleep. So he worried no stop about her even though he didn't understand why. Being so confused and unsure of the situation he was in he stayed in his study hiding from what was happening. All he knew to do was hide.
Sango was in Kagome's room again talking to her like she did every day hoping it might help her. Everyday she hoped she might get an answer from the depressed girl. Shippou had told them what he told Kagome again leaving out the part about Sesshoumaru. She understood why she would be so sad but would not give up on her so easily. She wanted to see her smile and talk again. Looking in Kagome's eyes again she couldn't help but shudder. Her eyes were empty as if she had no soul. No feelings, thoughts or words seem to be there. Sighing from not getting a response she bid her friend good bye and promised to be back later to talk some more she left the room to finish some of her chores
Later, In the Middle of the Night
Sesshoumaru woke up feeling a slight draft in his room. He walked to his window seeing it was shut and happened to notice it was a full moon. He looked down to the gardens suprised to see Kagome there.
'What's she doing? It's too late and too dangerous.' He thought and left to fetch her.
When he got to the gardens he couldn't see her so her walked around until her found her. She was in the far back just standing there quietly not saying a word. He stopped noticing her back was turned. He seemed to miss the slight glowing of her body as he whispered her name.
"Kagome?" he questioned
She turned around eyes still empty as he finally noticed her glowing form. She looked like a lost soul. Like she has wandered the lands since the beginning of time still not finding what she seeks. She turned to face him completely as her voice drifted on the gentle breeze as it was carried to his ears.
"She is here but at the same time she is not."
That's when he realized another voice overlapped hers. 'What did it mean she isn't there.' He thought
"I do not understand." He stated in a flat voice
"You could say she is resting. She has learned so much of her past too quickly. Her mind could not take it all at once and she still has not learned all of it. Shippou held some things back for her sake. If he had told her she probably would not have survived. She is alive but she will not live unless she feels she has something to live for." The voice informed him
"What part did he not tell us?" he asked curiously
"You will soon find out, but for now you must care for her. She will need you now to help her through this. She needs you more than you know and you are the only one that can do it." The voice said and Kagome's eyes closed as her body plummeted for the ground but was caught by Sesshoumaru. He gathered her in his arms and carried her back to the castle. He was going to put her in her own room but instead laid her in his and curled next to her. He pulled her close and soon was met by dreams.
Sesshoumaru's DreamHe was in his gardens sitting on the rock by the koi pond as he often did. He felt a hand slide to his shoulder as the owner plopped down next to him. He could not see the face of his companion but was able decipher that it was a young woman.
"You have forgotten me." She spoke with sadness
"I did not mean to nor did I want to leave. I had to though." He replied not looking at her
"I know but you must remember or we will never see each other again. I want to be with you again but we must first remember."
"So you have forgotten as well I see." He stated
"I have. But soon I will remember and I hope your heart will open to me as it did before."
"I will never close my heart to you." He stated with annoyance laced in his voice
"But you have and you do now. I fear if you continue to keep it closed we will never see each other again."
He looked at her now even though he couldn't see her face at all he still looked straight into where her eyes would be.
"I will not lose you again!"
"I don't want to lose you either but you need to open your heart."
End Dream
He woke and sat swiftly and felt a thin layer of sweat covered his body. He laid back down next to Kagome afraid to leave her side since last night. The sun was not up yet so he decided to try and claim some more sleep. He wasn't sure if he would be able to. Ever since they had come back he had that dream every night. But tonight it seemed more intense than it had ever been. The dream plagued him and was in his thoughts as much as Kagome was. Just like her predicament he didn't understand them. He didn't know who the woman was or even how his body spoke of it's own accord. And every time he would rouse from his sleep he would be covered in sweat. He was not exactly comforted by these dreams by any means. For now though he would just try to sleep and later figure out what to do with the small fragile woman he held in his arms.