Kagome's P.O.V
I awoke, seeing only violet. Weird, since when did the sky turn such a funny color? "She's awake, Inuyasha!" hollered Miroku, and the normal blue of the sky replaced the violet- which I supposed had been Miroku's eyes. Sheesh. Sango looked up with red slits you could hardly call eyes. I guess she must have thought I was a goner. She flung her arms around me and squeezed me tight. "Oh, Kagome! I thought you were dead; I should have tried to save you, but no, stupid me… and that Jaken was SOOO annoying, when I demanded why Sesshomaru did this to you, he just rambled on about how great 'LORD Sesshomaru' was and why I would think such a thing… oh, Kagomeeeeeee!'' She started shaking me whilst sobbing. I laughed, then checked my wounds. They were much better. I guess I could stumble along with the group if we absolutely had to set off. All the while, Inuyasha was stonily sitting beneath a tree. "Hey," I called out, " Good Morning." He snorted in response. I shrugged. It was expected. He was probably experiencing self-guilt due to his 'secret' visit to see Miss I- am-Kikyou-the-living-clay-pot. Since Inuyasha seemed to be in a mood to give monosyllabic – or not even word-like- responses, I decided to think about other things… such as my savior.
How could I thank him properly? I wanted to do something in return. Something… at least, maybe wash Ah-Un or something? Be his personal servant for a week? " Hey, Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled. I turned around, raising my eyebrows up. I didn't know he was able to manage more than one-syllable words today. "What?" I asked. " Just what did that guy do to you?" he demanded. " Which guy? You mean, MY SAVIOR, Sesshomaru, that actually nice half-brother of yours?" I innocently retorted, emphasizing on the savior part. At this, Shippo and Kirara awoke with a start and proceeded to stare at me. Sango's expression was priceless. If the mood were right, I would've laughed. But it was tense and I didn't dare to. Miroku smirked, and Inuyasha was silent. Deadly silent. " I'll kill him Kagome, I swear, for brainwashing you…" he mumbled. My eyebrow twitched. Brainwashed, huh? " That IS IT!" I screeched, without bothering to say 'sit'. I furiously grabbed my backpack and hopped onto my trusty bicycle. "Fine, baka, leave again. See if we even bother about you coming back." He nyah-nyahed, sticking a tongue out, just like a little kid. " Noooo!" shrieked Shippo, automatically leaping onto Inuyasha and throttling him. " Oka- san will be back SOON," I promised Shippo, as I headed for the Bone-Eaters Well, which I haven't done for a long time.
3rd person narrative
"Sesshomaru-sama, what if the girl died?" asked naive little Rin. "Does this Sesshomaru look like he cares?" He answered coolly, but in his heart he couldn't help but wonder if that human had died. After all, humans were weak. Pathetic. They deserved to be. But then again, there was something that made him want to know if she was still breathing… maybe it was because she had thanked him last night, though he hadn't replied. Rin pouted. She knew Sesshomaru was the ice prince, but even so, he still took her in. "Rin wants to see that lady again!" she whined, hopping up and down. She wanted a mother, and though it seemed a lot of females liked her 'daddy', her 'daddy' showed no interest in them. She truly wanted someone like Kagome- nice, caring, warm enough to melt the ice that Sesshomaru had…and so, she began to plot of a way to get Kagome, her idea of a good mummy, and Sesshomaru, her so-called daddy together.
"This Sesshomaru smells that ningen. She is angry. Ok, now, Rin?" he growled, after sniffing the air and finding that particular scent annoying. It was fruity and floral, but mixed in with an angry aura. Rin cheered. " Yay! She's not dead!" Sesshomaru shook his head lightly and walked on. Though the direction he was walking in was not originally planned, he took a route that led him to Kagome.
Kagome fumed by the Bone-Eaters Well, one foot on the wooden ledge and the other rooted on the ground. She sighed once more. Still, she had one thing to fulfill before she left to go back to Tokyo for a few days or so. And that was to express her gratitude towards Sesshomaru in a helpful way. A slight rustling of the bushes could be heard. She whipped her head around. Standing there was the almighty Sesshomaru… " Thank you again, Sesshomaru- Sama," she mumbled respectfully. He just looked at her with emotionless eyes. 'Um- I'd like to pay you back somehow…" she continued, feeling awkward talking to someone I used to hate thanks to always siding Inuyasha.
"No need. This Sesshomaru does not need a wretched human's help in any way." He icily told her, though he could feel a slight headache coming on from inhaling too much of that floral/fruity scent and the uneasiness that had replaced her anger. Rin frowned. " Rin needs someone to play with! Rin wants to bring Miss Kagome to the garden to play!" she told Sesshomaru. He did nothing but keep his lips a thin, straight line. Kagome pleaded him quietly with her eyes. " One day." He finally said. Rin squealed and proceeded to wrap her arms around Sesshomaru's legs in what was meant to be a hug. Kagome smiled and withdrew the numb leg that had been resting on the wooden ledge. "Arigatou," She whispered, as Sesshomaru trudged on, Jaken and Ah-Un at the back, and she and Rin in the middle. He turned his head 90 degrees and nodded. So he had a heart after all… though one encased in ice.
Soon they were at his castle, which was breathtakingly beautiful beyond belief. (Ooh, I love using alliterations!) "Wow," Kagome breathed. Wasn't Sesshomaru himself pleased with it? She scratched at her head. He hardly appeared to be glad. "Accompany Rin to play in the garden, mummy," Rin tugged at Kagome's hand. "Uh?" Kagome felt a slight blush coming on, and the heat of the blush as she glanced at Sesshomaru. 'Rin thinks of Sesshomaru as a father figure… so if she calls me mummy…eek, no, don't even go there! It was just something a little girl says… right…' she thought, as Sesshomaru's eyes met hers. Kagome nodded briefly and turned to Rin with a huge smile. Then, clasping Rin's hand in hers, she let the cute little child lead her to the garden.
Sesshomaru's P.O.V
Filthy human. Rin is an exception. This Sesshomaru hopes that he will not make the stupid ningen want to stay. He will keep to his word. One day was what he said; and it was one day that he meant. This Sesshomaru will not allow any more contamination of humans on his ground. Unless it's Rin. But did she call that miko mummy just now? If I'm her foster father, then calling her mother would make her… no, no… this Sesshomaru is thinking too much…
Kagome's P.O.V
I smiled. If this was paying back gratitude, then boy, was it fun! I had expected him to make me his maid or something. I shrugged as I watched Rin dance amongst the flowers. Sesshomaru wasn't bad at all. He was actually a nice guy… just a bit misunderstood. In fact, I snorted, Inuyasha was kind of evil, still loving Kikyou even though- ah, forget it, I scolded myself, walking over to Rin's side and picking a delicate daffodil. I smelt it and smiled. Then I heard a gentle lapping of water, seeming to come from behind some thick curtain of vines. I gently pushed the vines away and dropped the daffodil in surprise.
There was a mini waterfall, and a small pool where I could take a dip in. I grinned. Hmm… would Sesshomaru mind if I sneaked a bath here? Well, okay, perhaps I should just wash up first… I bent down by the poolside and cupped my hands, scooping a bit of the refreshingly cool water to cleanse my face. "Ahh… that was good," I said to no one in particular, then dipped my hands in for another scoop. But I quickly pulled them out as I spotted Sesshomaru's reflection beside mine. " I see you're in need of a bath?" He asked. " Y-yes." I stammered, feeling a bit shy. I shooed it away as just the awkwardness of being near him. And how near it was. We were just side by side, our elbows nearly touching, staring emptily into the mini pool, one shy and the other calm. "Good. Well, bathe here, miko." "N-now?" I asked. Sesshomaru seemed to grit his teeth. " Yes, now. It's the only time Sesshomaru will let you bathe today." He explained. " Rin-" I started, but was cut off by squeals of laughter and a joyful shout: " Gotcha, Jaken!" I smiled. So she was being taken care of by Jaken. Then I remembered my temporarily abandoned conversation with Sesshomaru. "And I suppose you'll be standing here watching?" I demanded, personally peeved at potential privacy intrusion. "Yes. Someone has to make sure you keep to your promise and don't attempt to escape to the side of my pathetic excuse of a brother." He collectedly said.
"Well, then TURN!" I commanded, before undressing and slipping myself into the pool. I closed my eyes and started to relax. After a few minutes of heaven, my relaxation time was interrupted by a eardrum- bursting: "SESSHOMARU-SAMA!" and a loud splash, causing me to get a few drops of water in my hair and to open my eyes in a blink. I jerked my head to the side. There was Sesshomaru, looking utterly hilarious with his silky smooth satin-like shiny silver hair (so sorry! Like I said, I adore alliterations! Ha-ha… another alliteration. Oops, yet another one!) Dripping wet and drenched from head to toe. Yet he could still remain so calm. I grinned. Must have been Rin who pushed him in. His eyes were shut, but he managed to open them soon enough. He then proceeded to glare at me. My grin disappeared, then I realized he'd stopped boring his eyes into me because, well, he'd also just come to the realization that I wasn't wearing anything. I instinctively covered my chest, and groaned inwardly. The time I was taken by the fake sage who wanted to use me for nutrition for the Tree Of The Human- faced Fruit, I'd accidentally exposed myself to not only Inuyasha, but also Tom Thumb- sized Miroku and Shippo hiding in his hair! And now I'd just let his half- brother see.
Rin giggled and pranced off, with Jaken following behind. That left a naked me, still half submerged in water, and a wet Sesshomaru, with his back facing mines. I took the opportunity to slip on my clothes, regardless of how they were going to be wet too. There was a comfortable silence, then he spoke. " Go back to Sesshomaru's castle and get something to eat. I will join you at the dining room soon." Not wanting to cross the line, I brushed past him and ran all the way back. The mortifying events that happened just now provided fuel. Ugh… thank goodness I'll only be here for one day… and that day's almost over.