When they had returned he had to tell everyone off so he could take her to bathe. Of course he himself needed to as well now that he too was covered in blood. He easily tore her remaining kimono to shreds as he did the same with his. Carefully he walked to the springs and laid her in it but wouldn't let her leave his arms. He looked into her deep blue eyes as he saw the confusion and questions.
She looked at him for a moment before looking away. She couldn't look him in the eye right now. It hurt too much. She was still sad from the comment he made the night before. This also led to confusion because he had said he didn't want her here. 'but then why would he save me again and bring me back?' she thought to herself
"Do not do that again!" he told her in his emotionless voice.
"Why would you care? You don't want me here anyway." She huffed angrily a she was able to squeeze free of him and swam to the other side
"Lord Haki asked for you for his son Toro. I simply told him I would ask you." He told her as he swam towards her
"Could have fooled me. By the sound of what you told Lord Kougaji last night you didn't want me here in the first place. You had told him you wanted to rid your castle of me." She reminded him as her arms crossed over her chest
"It is not my decision whether or not you go. It is yours and yours alone. I am merely the messenger." He explained as he now was face to face with her again
"What if I don't want to marry him? Then where do I have to go?" she asked sadly looking into the water at her reflection
"You may remain here if you chose too. I believe Rin would like that." Was his reply
She was upset that he said only Rin would like her to stay. She for some reason wanted to be here because of him, not Rin. I mean she didn't adore the adorable little girl, but she also wanted to remain here because of him. She enjoyed his company. His comfort and touch. She just simply enjoyed him. She would leave then, after she had declined Lord Haki's offer she would leave for home.
"Very well. I would like to decline his offer then." She informed Sesshoumaru
"I see. I will inform him after dinner." He told her
"I would also like you to take me home as well. If it's not too much trouble. If it is I can walk." She said hesitantly
She waited for a reply but one never came. She looked into his eyes again and gasped inwardly at what she saw. 'Sorrow?' she thought shocked by the emotion. 'Why would he be sad by my leaving? Unless it's because I declined the offer.' She wondered until she found herself confused again. She sighed as she tried to suppress her thoughts again.
She didn't want to think about this now. She wanted to have a nice relaxing bath and then lay down in her bed and drift into sleep.
After they had finished bathing he walked her to her room. She had said she wanted to rest for a while so he told her he would bring her dinner to her if she didn't make it down in time. He had left to meet with the other lords again now that they were all here. She had told him to tell Lord Haki of her decision.
She was sitting on her bed when a knock came to her ear. Unsure of who it might be she listened for a minute. Not hearing anything she called out for the person to enter. She was shocked to see who had come to see her. There inside her doorway were Koharu, Machi, Yuka and Toma. There was also two women she didn't recognize as well.
"Hello Lady Kagome. We came to see how you were feeling?" Lady Koharu spoke up
"I am better Lady Koharu. You are all doing well too I hope." She replied sweetly
"Please just call me Koharu." She insisted
"Then please call me Kagome. I'm not to big on formalities." She told her smiling warmly
"I would like to introduce myself and my daughter Lady Kagome." The unknown woman with blonde hair and blue eyes spoke up, "I am Goru's wife, Lady Somi of the Northern Lands and this" she said pointing to the girl with brown hair and blue eyes, "is my daughter Hitomi."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Kagome responded with a smile
"As it is ours Lady Kagome." Hitomi spoke up
"Please I ask that you all just call me Kagome." She told each one of them
"Of course Kagome. For now we will let you rest some more. We just wanted to see how you faired." Koharu told her with a smile
"Thank you all. I will try to make it to dinner too." She said waving as they all left
She looked up to find Hitomi still in her room. She looked at the girl curiously and noticed the wisdom in her eyes.
"Kagome, may I speak with you?" she asked
"Sure Hitomi." She answered moving over so the girl could sit on her bed
"I had heard about Toro asking for you from Lord Sesshoumaru after I had arrived. All the women had heard. I also heard from Toma that he was not pleased when he was asked this. Lord Kougaji had said he became angry. I also heard that was the reason why you had left. So I wanted to ask you if you had feelings for Lord Sesshoumaru?" she looked to Kagome
"Even if I did it would not matter. He doesn't want me here. He told me so last night." She spoke with deep sadness in her voice as her eyes were clouded by pain
"You must remember Kagome. Demons especially dog demons have a hard time with emotions. So please just stay a little while longer." She pleaded with the girl
"You know I'm actually suprised to see any of the women come here to my room. That was the first time any of them had uttered a word to them." She told Hitomi
"Like I said, sometimes demons have hard times with their emotions. Besides, I'm sure they were jealous that they didn't get any attention from Sesshoumaru like you did." She said and started to giggle
Sesshoumaru was in his study when Jaken had finally returned. He had forgotten all about what he sent Jaken out for until he came in and gave it to him. Thinking of the urgency he informed the other lords that he may not finish in time for dinner. He apologized early so there were no mishaps and headed for the kitchen. He made the mixture and mixed it with some soup and tea. He made a second glass for himself and then carried the other set to Kagome's room.
Hitomi had left a few hours ago saying she needed to speak with her mother and that she hoped she would join them for dinner. She lay in bed looking at the ceiling as she thought about what Hitomi had told her.
She looked over to her door when she heard a knock and got up to open it. She quickly jumped out of the way when Sesshoumaru came in with a bowl of soup and two cups of tea. She smiled at him being so nice and was thankful for her not having to eat with everyone tonight.
She noticed that he took a seat in the chair next to her bed while drinking some tea. So she had her soup and finished her tea and soon found herself quite tired. She looked to see Sesshoumaru tucking her in before she passed out.
Sesshoumaru quickly finished his tea and he to became tired. He crawled into her bed and lay down next to her as he held her tight inhaling her scent as he to drifted into his dreams.
She woke up in a pleasantly bright forest. Not like the miasma and death covered one she had been in earlier. She stood gazing around with a smile on her face. She walked to where she thought a clearing might be. She stopped looking up for a moment to see the God Tree touching the clouds as it stood in all it's glory. She smiled even bigger as she began to run towards it knowing her friends would be there waiting for her.
When she finally arrived at the clearing she stopped on the spot as a frown took the place of the once bright smile. She didn't understand. She couldn't understand. She would never understand why.
Was she not good enough? Was she not smart enough? Not kind enough? Was she not caring or loving enough? Not strong enough? Was she just not enough?
She felt herself fall to her knees as she wrapped her arms around her body and started to silently cry to herself.
Was it because of that? Because she cried to much? Yelled to much? Was angry to much? Left for home to much? Needed to be protected to much? Was she just to much?
She peeked out from her ebony drapes as waterfalls flowed from her eyes. She watched them as they all sat there underneath the wise tree. She watched as they all laughed and smiled together. She couldn't hear anything. There was no sound as she watched them smile and act as if it were her. They were all so happy. They seemed even happier without her there. Didn't they miss her? Remember or worry about her?
Sango was beating Miroku for his hands on approach as Shippou just sat and rolled his eyes at the two. Kilala was laying beside him ignoring the two completely as she tried to sleep peacefully.
Inuyasha and Kikyo were leaning on each other as Inuyasha just laughed his head off and Kikyo had but a smile on her face.
'That should be me!' she screamed to herself as she started to shake.
"Why? Why am I not good enough? Can she really replace me so easily?" she whispered painfully
She covered her face with her convulsing hands as she stood once more and turned around and just ran. She wasn't worried about where she was going or which direction. At that moment she stopped caring.
She stopped when she ran into something and waited for her body to connect with the ground. Instead strong arms wrapped around her in a comforting way. She didn't look up to see the person face but she knew it to be a man from their build. She just buried herself in the mans chest. And continued her sobs as she wrapped her arms around the mans waist.
She soon felt the mans hand as he comfortingly ran a hand through her hair to try and calm her. She did in fact start to calm at the touch of the faceless man. His warmth surrounded her in a caring way while he continued his ministrations. She then felt his other hand rubbing her back softly.
Soon she found herself no longer crying. She whipped her eyes clean of tears and pulled her hair from her face so she could gaze upon the caring man. Who she saw was not who she expected at all.
"Sesshoumaru.." she said as her eyes widened from shock
He was still holding her tightly as he smiled at her. He made up his mind and decided to shock her even more. Leaning down towards her he cupped her cheek in his hand gently as he sweetly kissed her. He started off slow licking and nibbling her lips until he cunningly slid his tongue in her mouth. He didn't leave a single crevice untouched by his tongue. He loved the way she tasted. It may be a dream but she still tasted just as pleasant as she had the other day. He unwillingly pulled away to let her breathe as he looked into her eyes.
Before either could speak a word everything went black.
End Dream
Her eyes slowly opened as she quietly sat up. She had woken in the middle of the night from a nightmare. She gazed around the room across the fire to the form that calmly laid there. She looked to her left to check on the second form when she realized the other missing.
Quickly with her eyes widening in horror she leapt from her spot grabbing her giant bone boomerang as she ran through the door. She searched the village frantically finding no trace of him. Running away from the village and towards the forest of Inuyasha she found her self changing direction from the splashing of water.
She looked to the small form as he sat by the water. Lowering her weapon she walked slowly to the younger boy and sat down beside him. She watched as he continued to scrub his hands as tears ran down his tanned cheeks.
"It won't come off Sango. The blood won't come off!" he said frantically
Her eyes softened from what he said. She knew what blood he spoke of and she knew it was not his fault. She grabbed him tightly and held him in a tight hug as she did her best to calm him.
"You need to calm down Kohaku. It was not your fault." She said reassuringly
"It is though. I killed them. I killed everyone of them. I killed father and the other men from the village. I tried to kill you and your friends. I even killed innocent people. And all with my own two hands. I killed so many people and their blood wont come off. I keep washing but it wont come off." Was the ramblings of Sango's younger brother as he looked to his hands in horror
"But even so it was not your fault. You did not do it on your own. Naraku was controlling you. He did the same to all of us. He did it Miroku, Inuyasha, me and even..Kagome." she said hesitating on the last name "He has deceived and used many people and hurt them deeply in the process. He did it not caring for those people he hurt. That was what made him evil. But you my dear brother are nothing like him. You are sweet, kind and very caring. I have not doubt in my mind that it was never nor will ever be you who killed those poor souls." She spoke softly as she gently rubbed his back
"I'm sorry Sango. I never wanted to do it. I coudn't..." she cut him off
"I know Kohaku. But for now let's go back to bed. You still need your rest." She told him as she offered her hand to him
He smiled as he excepted it and with Sango's help stood up. They walked back to Kaede's hut hand in hand and lost in their own thoughts.
A bright light hit her eyes lids as it seeped through the windows. She slowly opened her eyes as they took a minute to adjust. She looked around the room seeing the drapes around her bed were wide open. She closed her eyes in an effort to go back to sleep. She felt safe and didn't want to move from this comfortable feeling. The warmth and security she felt were a nice change.
She stiffened when she felt something wrapped around her body move. Something fluffy seemed to rub against her leg. She looked down around her waist to find two arms wrapped around her. She started to feel scared as they pulled her closely to the body that was snuggled behind her. 'Oh my god who is in my bed. Please someone help. I know I'll pretend I'm asleep until they wake up and leave.' She thought to herself proudly as she closed her eyes again.
He woke up before the sun had risen in the sky. His original thought was to leave her but he had decided against it when her warmth and pleasing scent reached his nose. So he closed his eyes as he listened to her breathe Every once in a while she would scoot closer to him in her sleep. She seemed to enjoy him being there as much as he did. After an hour of laying there she woke up from the sun shining on her face. He watched as she looked around the room and frowned when she stiffened when she realized he was holding her.
"I see you have finally awaken." He said breaking the silence
She stiffened even more when she realized whose voice came from behind her. She now knew who was in her bed holding her and she didn't know how to respond. She had become baffled and kind of scared from the knowledge. After a few seconds she relaxed when she thought it could have been worse. 'It could have been Toro.' She thought as she sighed.
He began to use his arms to turn her around when he turned to stone at the realization. Quickly he sprung up into a sitting position as he stared at his left arm. His eyes widen in shock at the thought of having his body complete again. He looked from his arm to the girl as he voiced his opinion.
"You! You did this! Why?" he spat angrily wanting to know
She looked over at the silver haired man as she searched his golden eyes for something. She became angry as what he had said hit her. The nerve of him to be angry with her because she healed him in her sleep. She had after all done it with out knowledge of the fact. So how could he be angry with her.
"If I did do it I don't know how. It must have been while I was sleeping. And your Welcome!" she huffed annoyed at the man in HER bed
"I do not need your help nor your kindness. I did not ask for this." He said with acid dripping from each word as he pointed to his fully healed left arm
Quickly he got up from the bed and left the room leaving her alone again and she became saddened by the sudden cold and insecurity she felt after he had gone. She now understanding yearned for it to return as she fell back to her bed and closed her eyes. Silently tears fell from her eyes as she mentally blocked all things with him in them from her mind.
She always wondered why he was kind and gentle one minute and harsh and cold the next. It confused her and brought her pain as well. She seemed to care for him as a person and at times it seemed he returned the feelings. Of course it didn't happen often, but when it did she admitted she enjoyed it. But the rest of the time he seemed to hate and despise her very being. She seemed to find no answers to why he acted this way towards her. Today she would tell him though. She would tell him her final decision whether he liked it or not. Maybe then she would find out why he acted the way he did.