Compliments
...OOO...
A small gasp of surprise escaped Inuyasha when he beheld them together- her torn, both unmoving.
"Sesshomaru?" the name was small on his mouth, but as realization set in, so did panic as he distinguished the form underneath his brother. "KIKYO!" Instantly he dropped to his knees beside them.
Sesshomaru opened his eyes, glancing up and perceiving Inuyasha, then the unconscious Kikyo under his arm. Sometime earlier he had absently drawn her closer to himself, trying to shield her from the falling rain. It was a vain attempt- they were both completely soaked through.
"Inuyasha," he greeted without emotion.
"What the hell happened to you?" Inuyasha cried, completely bewildered by the situation- unsure who to be angry at.
But it took only one word from Sesshomaru to set him straight, "Naraku."
"That- that bastard!" Inuyasha fumed. "What happened?"
"Not now, Inuyasha," his brother answered, motioning towards the woman. "Take her," he instructed, removing his arm.
Inuyasha obeyed, scooping her into his arms, but paused momentarily, "What about you?"
"I'll be alright. I'll see you in the morning," he returned not looking at them. Something about the sight irked him, though he did not show it.
"Oh...ok," Inuyasha conceded, but hesitated. "Are you sure you don't need...help?"
Sesshomaru growled angrily, "Yes."
"Feh," his younger brother replied, "be that way, you stubborn bastard." and took off towards the castle.
...ooo...
As soon as he touched down, Kagome came rushing up to him.
"Oh my god! What happened?" she shrieked, seeing Kikyo's torn body in his arms.
The noise awoke Kikyo momentarily, her bleary eyes opening to see them staring down at her.
"Where is Sesshomaru?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"What happened?" Inuyasha questioned.
Smiling thinly she replied, "He... he saved me," before slipping back into unconsciousness.
"What?" Kagome was confused. "What happened, Inuyasha?"
But he couldn't answer- he wasn't sure either.
They brought her upstairs to one of the rooms they had prepared earlier and laid her down on the sleeping mats, keeping the windows open so that her soul collectors could have access to her.
"Kagome, stay here, ok?" Inuyasha admonished, and she looked up confused as he made for one of the windows.
"What? Where are you going?"
But all he said was, "I'll be back, alright? Just keep her safe."
And then he was gone.
...ooo...
Sesshomaru had fallen back into slumber when he felt something tugging at him to rise.
Opening his eyes, he once again saw Inuyasha pulling him to his feet.
"What are you doing?" he demanded.
"Come off it, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha scoffed as he threw his brother's arm around his neck and held on, while his other hand grasp at his side for support. "You're not safe out here- you didn't even feel me comin'. Now can you walk?"
Summoning up the bit of strength that had returned to him, Sesshomaru climbed to his feet leaning heavily on Inuyasha's shoulder.
Wow, Inuyasha mused, noticing his brother's labored breathing. He really took a beating.
"What happened?" he asked again quietly as they trudged back around the mountain.
Sesshomaru wasn't sure how to explain the events of that night, so instead he asked, "Where is the priestess?"
"Back in the castle- she's safe... Sesshomaru..." Inuyasha hesitated. "She said you saved her. From who? Naraku?"
Saved her? He thought it had been the other way around.
Finally he explained, "He tried to use my body to kill her."
"WHAT?" Inuyasha nearly dropped him.
"She used her power to cleanse him from me, but he's not dead yet... He'll return- he's adamant about getting her."
"What does he want with her, anyway? Revenge?"
"No. He says he simply wants her."
"That bastard," Inuyasha seethed silently. "After all the hell he's put her through, now this?"
For a while they fell into contemplative silence.
Then Inuyasha said, "Sesshomaru... thanks- for looking out for her. I know you're not the biggest fan of humans, but... thanks."
"Hm," he answered stonily. "Don't misinterpret my intentions, Inuyasha- I simply refused to be used by Naraku. It has nothing to do with that human or yourself."
"Feh," Inuyasha grumbled just as stubbornly. "Whatever, you jerk." He had to turn away, however, to hide the half smile on his face.
Sesshomaru sensed it anyway, but pretended otherwise.
...ooo...
Kikyo awoke the next day bathed in late morning sunlight streaming in from the east window, and it took her a moment to realize where she was- back in Sesshomaru's castle.
"Good morning," Kagome called cheerfully, kneeling beside her. "How do you feel?"
Pushing herself up to a sitting position, Kikyo was surprised to find herself wearing only undergarments.
At her confused expression, Kagome explained, "When Inuyasha brought you back last night, you were soaking wet, so I took off your clothes. They're hanging out to dry right now, but your haori is pretty torn- I don't think it's very wearable anymore. Anyway, Sesshomaru got this for you to wear until they're dry and mended." And she handed her a pile of neatly folded clothing made of rich silks.
But Kikyo pushed them away stammering, "No, I couldn't possibly... These clothes are meant for a noblewoman, they... they won't do a priestess."
"Aw, come on," Kagome prodded. "What do you expect to do? Prance around all day in your underwear? Or would you like to borrow some of my clothes?"
At the thought of donning on one of Kagome's skimpy outfits, Kikyo finally accepted the clothes.
"I'll leave you to get dressed," Kagome declared, rising to her feet. She was making her way to the door when Kikyo stopped her.
"Where is Sesshomaru?"
"Out on the main balcony," she told her. "That guy sure recovers fast- he's been out there since little past dawn."
When she was gone, Kikyo slipped on the beautiful printed kimono- black with flowers threaded in silver- tying it as securely as she knew how, and left her hair loose. It felt odd to be dressed in such fineries, and when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she barely recognized her reflection. For so long now she had worn nothing but her priestess garb that they had become almost a part of her, as essential as any other of her physical features.
Shyly, she peeked out into the hallway, making sure no one was around before she stepped out. She knew they were only clothes, but the kimono made her feel awkward...
From an open window at the end of the corridor, Kagome's and Inuyasha's voices floated up to her, laughing and arguing in pretended annoyance. Quickly she retreated from it, seeking the stairs which lead to the upper balcony.
Finding them, she ascended to see Sesshomaru's back, his long hair swaying gently in the breeze, glinting in the sunlight. He was turned away from the entrance, staring off into the distant lands, but she knew he sensed her.
"Sesshomaru..." She took a few uncertain steps forward, her clothes making her feel self-conscious of her every movement.
At the sound of her voice, he rotated slightly to see her, eyeing her up and down in the clothes he had provided approvingly, but when his scrutiny made her step back, he asked, "Do they not suit you?"
"Well, no," she stammered, then catching herself, she explained. "That is... I am not used to wearing such... regal attire... It is very beautiful," she admitted. "How did you manage to acquire them?"
Averting his gaze back to the land, he responded cooly, "They were my mother's..."
"Oh," she gasped silently.
"It matters not," he continued. "She hasn't been able to wear them for centuries now... I'm surprised they are still in tact after so long."
They dropped into an odd silence, both wondering why they were talking about clothing.
Then she said, "About last night... I see you've recovered."
"Far from it," he told her and smirking slightly, added, "I suppose one can never fully appreciate power until one has been made to feel it."
Flustered, she apologized, "I'm sorry- I didn't-" But he cut her off.
"Don't apologize for your actions. You did only what needed to be done- that is what is important."
Another moment of quiet fell, before she asked, "Sesshomaru, do you know how Naraku managed to use you?"
In response he drew his hair away from his neck, exposing a smudged marking left behind by the spider that she had ejected with her power.
"Kagura paid me a visit last night."
"So I saw," she replied dryly, the image of their kiss flashing in her mind.
"If you saw, you could have interrupted."
"Why would I? You're free to do as you pleased- it is your castle."
"Oh?" he asked, provoked by her indifference. "Then why did you suddenly decide to rush off?"
Crossing her arms, she replied, "It might be your castle, but I am still free to leave when I choose, am I not?"
"No," he stated. "You are not."
"Oh?" she challenged. "You'd stop me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I can," he answered obstinately.
Laughing, she commented, "Before, I always wondered how you and Inuyasha could be related, but now I see- you're both as stubborn as the other."
He frowned at the mention of his brother's name, but she didn't heed it and approached closer.
Unfortunately, unused to the length of her clothes, she tripped on the hem and fell forward, crashing into him as he moved to catch her.
"Clumsy," he muttered, as she looked up to see him, then hurriedly pushed herself away.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm not used to moving in these..."
"Hm. They fit you well enough," he observed flatly turning away to descend the stairs.
She stared after him. Was that meant as a compliment?
...ooo...
Having stalked off away from Inuyasha, Kagome was muttering something darkly under her breath about him being and insensitive jerk, when she happened to glance up to see Sesshomaru and Kikyo talking on the balcony.
Right away her expression softened.
Those two make such a cute couple, she thought as she watched Kikyo laugh and then fall into his arms. Then of course, they pushed away from one another and Sesshomaru left. If only Sesshomaru wasn't such a cold hearted jerk...
At first Kagome was tempted to put her matchmaking skills to the test- after all, she had finally convinced Sango and Miroku to get together, hadn't she? But she held back. No- this was one couple even she dared not mess with.
It's too bad... if Kikyo got together with Sesshomaru... well, that would certainly make our complicated situation less complicated... providing Inuyasha is convinced to let her go, at least...
She frowned, lost in the thought. But that was the problem- Inuyasha would never let Kikyo go...
...OOO...