(This is in Kagome's POV)
It was early in the morning. The sun was inching slowly above the horizon with purpose fusing in its path.
I, of course, took no notice of this. I was too immersed in my weaponry. Swing down, parry, thrust, parry, trip….
(Regular POV)
"You're dead." He said smoothly sheathing his sword. Kagome brought her knees to her chest and sighed deeply. "You need to be more aware of your surroundings as you have to always be aware of your opponent. You cannot devote your attention to one solely for the other will surely backfire."
"I know but it is like the ground put the root there just to trip me." She stuck her tongue out at it in a most childish manner.
He walked over to her and offered her a hand. "It was not the root that was to have been aware of you. I am most sure it is even older than I."
She glared silently and accepted it. He pulled her to her feet and waited as she dusted herself off. "Take guard." He unsheathed Tensaiga again. He used this because he would never expect her to harm him. He was after all the great lord of the west. He was a swords master and if she did somehow manage to threaten his life it is likely Tensaiga would save him first.
"Watch yourself." He amended when she let his moving to her right go unnoticed. He watched as she withdrew from herself a dagger to block his move. The metals clanged together merrily.
"I was merely waiting for the correct moment to give away my motive." She smiled and jumped back as he made a swing horizontally. She spun and blocked his counter attack with her katana. He watched as fluidly the dagger disappeared as stealthily as it had come. He observed as the sun turned her hair auburn. The braid in it was long and to her buttocks, swaying delicately in her actions.
He narrowed his eyes when he noticed her directing him with her moves. For reasons unknown. She may have no idea she was even doing it. But her body knew. It was almost as if she was relearning everything. Everything from a time before.
He grunted, if it would help her any. At least, he admonished she had more grace and control than the one she used to travel with had represented.
She swung perilously and threw herself into a position teetering between balance and gravity. He used this to his advantage and attacked from the right, causing her to attempt to parry his move but only ended up tangling her feet and falling to the ground in a dignified heap.
He positioned his katana at her hilt. "Dead."
This time she huffed and got to her feet with inhuman speed. "What purpose does this serve to humiliate me over and over again with how worthless I am? I have heard it for my extended stay here more times than you have heard your own name in a month."
She had naught more to say so she place her katana within the sheath and strode away purposefully, set on avoiding her annoyance.
She walked a few feet more and tried to conceal her surprise when he was before her looking as if he had been there waiting for her in the first place.
"I had not given you permission to leave."
She worked to conceal her annoyance but hen she responded it sound more sarcastic than even she had intended. "My apologies, My Lord."
He snarled at her disobedience. "You would do well to not anger me further than you have already accomplished. For without me you have little guarantee, that against one as Naraku, would you succeed."
She bowed her head and realized her mistake. She after all was in his debt for ensuring the safety of herself and her charges.
Her face was obstructed from his view in her action. Her bangs fell across her face leaving it in the shadows caressed by the sun peeking through the trees. It would not due for her to be so submissive. When he attacked through her to get a rise out of her, he had expected her to show more of a fight. It had to come from years as a human. Did she truly not know of her status? Of course she knows not her heritage. She is only a young one among us. It would be wise to teach her of the rankings in caliber so as she does not give more to someone that is of lower ranking. She would be considered royalty among mine clan. It would do well to show her.
"You are dismissed." She turned swiftly away from the direction she once hindered and began a trek farther than his nose could reach. He knew she would not run away from him, for now at least. So he inclined himself to make his way back to his charges.
Rin welcomed him with a guile of laughter. "Sesshomaru-sama, Rin has done much today."
He listened with only half an ear to her ramblings about her day. While with the other he pondered how to go about teaching her of the Inu-clan. He deliberated over it until Rin had long ago left him to his thoughts and he decided Kagome had been gone far too long.
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She skipped another stone along the docile lake. She had sat here many an hour contemplating her next move. She watched placidly as her foot swung back and forth, her toes skimming the water. She had long ago abandoned her shoes and clothes welcoming her nakedness. She sighed again. She could come up with many reasons to stay but naught one as to why she should go.
Sure she could try and attack Naraku on her own but that would betray her promise to Miroku and Sango. They shared more troubles with Naraku than she could ever amount to. Even if she should some how escape and try to kill Naraku, she knew Sesshomaru would never allow it.
She sighed again. She had been gone for the better part of nine hours. Either someone would be sent to look for her or she would be expected back soon. She didn't want to leave. She was content to sit here on the rock in the middle of the surf, mist spraying every so often, letting her toes skim the water thinking.
She has her suspicions about Kikyo but it would all be proved in given time.
Oh Inuyasha, one can only hope it is true. You were me best male friend and I realize now that is what you were always destined to be. I was foolish to try and make it otherwise. But now it is all clear to me.
She sighed once again and wiggled her toes a bit feeling the sand beneath the water. She could feel every tiny grain slide silkily across her skin. It was amazing that this would eventually find its way inside a clam and irritate it enough that in a defense mechanism from the clam a rare and beautiful pearl would be formed. One that would forever be developing until the day man found them and ruthlessly worked to acclaim them and sell them for outrageous prices. But that was all in the past for her. Well her past but their future.
During her sit in her mind had puzzled over many things. Most had gone unnoticed before now but others were of a greater nature. She no longer loved Inuyasha like that. But she was unsure of her next actions. True Sesshomaru had told her they were to finish acquiring some stray shards. Mainly Kouga's and some that were rumored to be around some cites in the north east and south west. They were heading toward the south west. The south being full of lakes, ponds and swamps had been the distraction she so desired. But since today when they had taken a break and made camp, she and Sesshomaru had begun their nightly fighting.
It was nice to be away from duty, for once her duty had become to her pleasure. So far se had accomplished a night of relaxation and thought. Her mind had become more organized and filed into a respectful amount of information. She was still entirely confused about the Sesshomaru deal. But she was too cowardly of his answer.
Wait a minute wasn't she supposed to not be fearing anything since cowardice is a mere branch of fear.
"You are right my dear. I can only say there is no way to truly rid your self of fear. My mate could only grant you your old warrior's instinct back. But it has done you good."
Kagome had jumped because she had not been expecting anyone to interrupt her while she was here. Why the hell hadn't she sensed she wasn't alone? "Who are you?"
"Ah that is a question for another time but what I can tell you is that I am the Angel of Life."
"And your mate is the Angel of Death." Kagome said in realization.
"Ever as bright you are Hi."
"Who?"
"Huh oh sorry, I meant Kagome. It has been so many years." The Angel of Life said with a tinge of longing deeply laced within her voice. The statement, Kagome assumed, had multiple meanings. "I am afraid dear one. Things have gone astray of what was originally planed. I never expected such a result. Who would have known that by this you would have become the carrier of the sacred jewel?"
"Um…"
The Angel of Death turned to her as if realizing she was still here and hadn't been rambling on for the past minute or so. "Sorry?"
"If you don't mind me asking. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was merely here to answer your thoughts. It would be disastrous for you to think Unmei had failed."
"Unmei? Fate?"
"Oh forget I said anything. Well I just wanted you to know and don't ever doubt it. I have to go now it seems we won't be alone much longer."
Kagome had so much more she wanted to ask but as always fate or, Unmei rather, had other plans.
Well at least that woman hadn't been wrong. She had time to replace her long discarded clothes as Sesshomaru speeded into the clearing. She was finishing the tie to her obi when Sesshomaru came to a stop in front of her.
"You have been gone for many hours."
"I decided to relax for a bit in the water. I felt you coming so I got out and decided to redress." It was possibly only half truth but all in all it was all he needed to know.
"I wish for you to accompany me back to camp."
"As you like my Lord." Nope no sarcasm there. She had left her bitterness in the clearing.
They walked companionably as he led her to the campsite. Opting to walk rather than hurry back. Since her meeting with the mate of 'Unmei'., her mind had become just as confused and muddled as before she had organized it. It seemed that once she felt she had it all together something else was thrown her way and confounded her even more.
"I sense something is on your mind."
She jumped at his voice it had really been quiet. "Maybe…" She trailed. She remembered hearing a story once from her grandfather, a tale of betrayal. And the names Hi, Aisu, and Unmei seemed all too familiar. "I would like once we collect the remaining fragment to very much look around the library at your castle."
The way she said your castle stirred something inside Sesshomaru he hadn't felt in a long while. Something akin to hurt. It really was not like it was her home too, but for her to not even consider it to be something of one…hurt, somewhat.
"As you wish. Could it be something I might be help of?"
She stayed silent as she thought. What would it hurt to tell him her thoughts? Leaving out her meeting with the Angel of Life. "I remember once hearing a tale of god's and goddesses named Hi, Aisu, Mori, Ame, Iwa, Kaze, Hara, Hana, and the two most powerful of all Chigiri and her mate Unmei."
He recognized the ancient Japanese for what it was. Fire, Ice, Forest, Rain, Rock, Wind, Destiny and Fate. He too had heard the tale. As a young child perhaps. But who told him? His mother? No. He would think on this. "I have also heard a tale and recognize the language. I will think on this and ponder as to where. Are you sure that is all that is bothering you?"
She nodded. He accepted it for now. She sensed they were a mere few miles from camp. She let him recede to his thoughts and he in return to hers.
When they did reach camp it was late into the night. She crept around the sleeping forms of Sango, Miroku, Rin, and Jaken. Ah-Un had returned a mere few minutes before them and was crunching contentedly on the carcass of some poor animal.
She made her way to her sleeping bag and was about to slip inside when she felt a gentle but firm tug on the back of her kimono. She turned and saw an expectant Sesshomaru. She knew that tonight would be a little different. Ever since they had come back a few days ago she had slept with Shippo in her sleeping bag. It seems tonight Sesshomaru wanted her to sleep with him. She made a motion to kiss Shippo goodnight. Sesshomaru nodded and made himself comfortable beneath a tree that overlooked the cliff the camp was next to.
Kagome bent down and kissed Shippo on the forehead whispering goodnight in his little ear. He stirred a bit and moved to make himself more comfortable. She smiled.
She then made her way to where Sesshomaru sat. He looked up at her as she sat down next to him. That wasn't good enough for him. He pulled her into his lap and nestled his nose deep into her neck. Then he kissed her softly in that place. "I missed you."
She smiled a bit. "I missed you too, My Lord."
He growled softly and placed a kiss upon her shoulder. Tonight she rested in her lovers arms where she knew she was safe, thoughts of earlier gone astray.
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I wonder what would happen if I did what other Authors do and said I won't update untilI get 25 reviews or even more ridiculous 50!.(Well hell we can all dream. I am not that mean.I just think it is stupid to demand reviews when if a person likes the story normally they would review anyway.)Well I think it added to the more romantic aspect of the story, plus there was a little hinting of things to come. (not that you perverts) Lol. Well thank you for stayin with me this far. I write for myself and you guys(of course) but mainly for the pleasure of myself. I still love you all.
Well review please. I thrive on reviews. They let me know my efforts are appriciated,
Ja ne
XOXOXO,
Raining Tear Drops