I'm Supposed to be WHAT?!
Sesshoumaru began to steer her out of the room none to gently by the arm, thinking fast about where to put her now.
"I'll go for banishment," she said hopefully.
Sesshoumaru gave her a cold glare as they walked out of the room. "That is not an option."
Man, it's like talking to a walking corpse. She huffed before saying, "You have no sense of humor."
She saw his mouth tighten along with his grip as he replied, "For one who could die whenever it is my whim or want, you don't know how to hold your tongue. I told you not to insult me."
She held up a finger in defense as they made their way down the halls and quickly explained, "That wasn't an insult, merely an observation." She added nonchalantly, "Either way, you're too easily offended. You should take your time before deciding whether or not what I say is an opinion or just observation." She mused lightly and went on as he dragged her on out the door and down some more plain halls. "But, I guess fact can be insulting as well. I mean, my old Aunt Souji once told me I was a little on the chunky side and I had gained a few pounds, but—"
He gave her arm a healthy squeeze, instantly shushing her. "Onna, you talk too much."
"See, now that is an example of observation," she said in a tone much like that of a mentor to student.
Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed. What am I supposed to do with her? She's tried to escape once which means she'll try again so I don't want to put her too far away. …But I also don't want to hear her talk without ceasing.
He steered her into a room, and he heard her gasp, looking about slightly in awe. The place looked much like the library in its sense of style, but it contained no books. It resembled a sitting area—much like her living room, except more eloquent and elaborate—and had many brightly patterned fabrics and vases.
"Stay here." Sesshoumaru walked out of the room without a backward glance.
Stay here? Bah! He just leaves me and expects me to do as he says? He's so arrogant. She took off immediately, exploring the room, and sniffing at some of many flower arrangements crowding the tables. Where did all these flowers come from?
In her exploration, she noticed a door nearly hidden by the resemblance it had to the wall. Very faintly, Kagome heard the sound of singing through it. It sounded happy and gay, never once dying away. She made her way toward the sound, going through many connected doorways, not bothering to close them behind her.
Is that…a little girl? The voice got louder and louder as Kagome finally opened the last door, coming upon a large garden. A little girl pranced about between the various bushes, sometimes picking a flower or two and continued her circle around the place. So, that's where the flowers came from.
"La, la, la, la," the girl sang, apparently not knowing the words to the lively tune she had created.
Kagome stepped forward lightly, trying not to break the moment—bad idea. She stepped on a twig, instantly gaining the little girl's attention.
Sweet chocolate eyes peered at her in innocent curiosity. Brown hair swung happily about her shoulders and mid-way down her back. She had a small flower-print kimono on that fit perfectly to her small frame.
"Konnichiwa!" the little girl cried merrily as she ran forward to Kagome. "I'm Rin! What's your name?"
For a moment, Kagome was at a loss for words. What's a human girl doing in Sesshoumaru's castle? The click of the door behind her broke her train of thought and she turned swiftly, staring wide-eyed at the emotionless face once again. Something tugged on her kimono and she looked down into the face of Rin.
"I want to know the pretty lady's name!"
From the stare she was getting from Sesshoumaru and the pleading voice of the girl she let the words stumble out of her mouth. "Uh, K-Kagome."
The girl's face lit up with a dazzling smile that Kagome couldn't help but return.
"You can be my nee-chan!" She looked over at Sesshoumaru with hope written on her face, clear as day. "Can Kagome-chan be my nee-chan, Sesshoumaru-sama? Onegai?"
That's it! She's here for Rin. Sesshoumaru nodded his ascent which sent the girl into squeals of joy, and she ran to him, wrapping her short, chubby arms around his legs. He set his hand on her head, not daring to give it a pat.
"Rin, go to your room. I need to speak with Kagome."
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!" she squealed happily as she ran off through the open doors.
As soon as she was out of hearing range, Sesshoumaru spoke. "I told you to stay put."
Kagome just shrugged. "You left me there. What did you expect me to do? Actually listen to you?"
Sesshoumaru would have growled at her insolence, but he had too much control. He sent her an icy glare instead, making her turn her head away to avoid his gaze.
"Rin needs an instructor and a maid to keep her." Kagome turned back to him as he spoke, knowing she wasn't going to like his next words. "While you are here, or still alive, you will maintain this task and look after her."
She grated her teeth in frustration before she spoke. "And just what am I supposed to do with her? I can't teach her." Besides the fact that I'm leaving as soon as I get another chance.
His eyes narrowed a fraction. "Are you disobeying me, girl?"
Her eyes narrowed likewise as she said in a falsely innocent voice, "Why, whatever gave you that idea?"
Sesshoumaru took a menacing step forward, forcing her back as he continued, "I am master here. The sooner you learn that, the better the situation for you becomes."
"Are you threatening me?" she shot back, finally able to go no farther for the wall at her back.
He got close, looming over her like a giant oak. "And if I am?" She could feel his breath on her face. The smell wasn't bad; more like exotic spices.
"Um, well, I'll…uh, I'll……I'll do something!" she said lamely. Inside she was smacking herself on the head. Something?!
"You may try." He took a step back, eyeing her with a critical eye. "Those servants clothes are much better than that drab you had on earlier." Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment and anger as he went on; he smirked inwardly. "You will watch over Rin. There is no way out of this place that you would be able to exit anyway." With one more icy look, he turned and said, "Enjoy your stay."
If she didn't know better, she would say he was baiting her. And if she wasn't taught to do better, she would have made a rude gesture as he walked away so high-and-mighty.
"Jerk off," she muttered as she walked inside after him. This was going to be a long stay.
"Okay, it's a new game," Kagome said with false cheerfulness. "I'll go hide and you try and fine me, alright?"
Rin's face was alight with excitement. "Yes! Now what am I supposed to count to again?"
"One hundred," Kagome said with strained patience. Rin nodded eagerly. "Now, go to that wall over there, turn toward it with your eyes squeezed shut and count to one hundred."
Rin turned quickly and raced to the wall, quickly closing her eyes. Once Kagome was sure she had started to count and her eyes were shut, she turned and ran through the garden back to the vine covered wall she had seen earlier. Should someone see her, she was dead meat, and that possibility was enhanced by the fact that the wall was out in the open.
Her feet, shod in her tennis-shoes she refused to take off, took her to the wall as fast as they could. Twinning her fists in the flimsy green ropes, she began her treacherous climb to the top.
Sesshoumaru stepped out into the garden to discover Rin facing one stone wall with her eyes shut and counting loudly.
"Thirty-five, thirty-six,…um,…forty, forty-one—" she stopped when Sesshoumaru touched her shoulder. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" she squealed.
"Where is your nanny?" he asked gravely.
She smiled brightly as she replied. "She's teaching me a new game! See, one person goes and hides while another counts to one hundred with their eyes closed and then they go and find them! Doesn't it wound fun?!"
The whole time she spoke, Sesshoumaru had been surveying the garden, but finding no traces of her in sight.
"You can start counting again, Rin," he said, walking off.
"Okay!" She turned back, closing her eyes. "Fifty-two…fifty-four…"
Her voice got quieter as Sesshoumaru made his way through the garden. Continuing between the plants, he sniffed out Kagome's scent, following it until he could see her struggling form as her hands clung to the vines supporting her. As he got closer, he could tell the vines weren't going to hold much longer from her weight.
One, two, three… Kagome squealed as she fell, but Sesshoumaru caught her before she fell to the ground. He looked down at her closed eyes until one eye opened and saw him.
"Nice of you to drop in," he commented dryly.
Both her eyes opened as her face flushed. "Heh, yeah…"
He dropped her and she muffled another squeak as she fell on her rear. She stood, rubbing her hind end and glaring at him.
Just then, Rin came running through the garden. When she spotted Kagome, she ran up to her and grabbed her arm.
"I found you! I found you!" She jumped happily, blissfully unaware of the tension in the air. "My turn! Now you go to the wall and count!" She bounced back out of sight again, looking for a place to hide.
Kagome swallowed slowly, not really sure what to do. You try to escape and then get caught; what do you do? she asked herself in a commercial-like voice. Sesshoumaru stood in front of her, the silence stretching, as neither said a word.
Finally, Sesshoumaru broke the stillness. "Restriction to the inside of the castle." With that he turned and strode away, never once looking back.
Kagome stuck her tongue out at his back and mocked him in a whisper. "Restriction to the inside of the castle." She crossed her arms and made her way to the wall, starting her counting. "One, two, three…"
Heh, heh. Yeah, that's it unfortunately. Wish my brain could think of more, but it was frozen. The magical witches are about to turn me into a toad unless I get some reviews. ^^* I honestly don't want to become a toad, and I don't think you'd want me to be one either—I couldn't finish the story, could I? Be pals and review….please….*currently backing away from advancing witches* u, please?! With a cherry on top?! *gulp*