Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
The Beginning And The End
Chapter 4
Sessho-maru knew where to find Kagome. Not just because he'd seen her walking in this general direction, but the closer he got to her, the more he could smell her. In the past ten days he'd become surrounded by her scent and he grudgingly admitted that he liked it. He continued through the dense forest, finally finding the priestess propped up under a tree twirling a flower in her fingers.
"So this is the important business of a priestess."
Kagome smirked at him and turned her attention back to the small pink bloom. "No, this is the important business of Kagome Higurashi."
"I see."
"Did you come out here to see me, or were you just out wandering?" Kagome sat up and placed the flower behind her ear, offering Sessho-maru a smile.
He sat down across from her, still marveling at how different she looked since coming to stay with him. "I came to see you. I was wondering when you would like me to escort you back to Inu-yasha and the others."
Kagome frowned and looked down at the ground, letting her fingers twirl the long strands of grass. "I'm sorry. I know I should have left days ago. You were kind enough to let me stay with you and now I'm just taking advantage." She looked up and offered a weak smile, "You don't have to go back with me. I'll just head to Musashi first and then I'll go find the others."
"I'm not telling you to leave, Kagome. Oddly enough I like having you here. And not just because of Rin. But I will be leaving in a few days to take care of some business and I thought it a good opportunity to accompany you. If you wish to stay here in my absence, you may. Rin and Jaken will still be here."
Kagome studied the inu youkai before her and once again she found herself confused and happy at the same time. Being around Sessho-maru made her happy. She was very comfortable around him and despite the arrogant persona he projected, she realized he was really easygoing. If he liked you. And from his own admissions, she knew he liked her, which thrilled her and caused a little flutter in her stomach every time she thought about it. And that was the confusing part. Why was she so happy at the fact that he liked her? She had no grand plans of using him in her battle against Naraku. On the contrary, she felt the need to keep him from it. And what truly scared her, was the fact that she didn't feel the need to rejoin her friends. Yet. But maybe Sessho-maru leaving was a sign that she should be moving along as well. She couldn't hide here forever, as much as the prospect appealed to her.
"You have been so kind to me Sessho-maru and I thank you for everything. I haven't been this happy in years. But it is time that I go. I'll leave tomorrow. That'll give you and Rin some time together before you go."
"You don't have to leave, Kagome."
"I know. But Naraku isn't going to wait for me to rejoin the fight. He's out there scheming and collecting jewel shards and somehow I don't think the flowers I planted are going to defeat him." Kagome heard Sessho-maru lightly chuckle and she looked at him in wonder. "Did you just laugh?"
The calm façade quickly resurfaced and his voice was as rich and commanding as ever, "If you tell anyone, I will be forced to kill you."
Kagome laughed at the rare joke from the demon. "I'll consider myself warned." She sat back, propped up by her hands and tilted her head, studying Sessho-maru. "I've enjoyed seeing the other side of you these past days."
"The 'other side' of me?"
"Well, I'm used to the arrogant prince demon with the frozen emotionless face you present to the outside world. But after seeing you in plain pants and a shirt with your hair tied back, reading a book….I think I'll always see you that way. It's you in your truest form without becoming an inu youkai. You are relaxed and all your guards are down and you're just being you. I realize you are the Prince of the Western Plains and that persona is an integral part of who you are, but beneath all those layers, is a youkai in plain pants and a shirt with his hair tied back." Kagome continued to smile at him, enjoying his confusion at her words. Maybe he thinks I'm some crazy human now, but I don't care. I'm comfortable enough around him now to speak my mind.
Kagome turned to the side and scanned the patch of flowers. She finally found a bloom to her liking and picked it. She stood up and took the few steps to close the gap between her and Sessho-maru. "And just in case you're wondering….I like both of them very much." She handed him the flower and started to walk past him back to the fortress when he grabbed her wrist. She looked down to see those golden eyes glittering, waiting for him to say something. Instead he stood up, never letting his eyes leave hers, and hugged her to him. Kagome wasn't sure what to do at first, but he felt so good she couldn't help but wrap her arms around him in return.
Sessho-maru pulled back and looked down into those green eyes that had become a fixture in his dreams. "Thank you. For the flower, and your words." He slowly backed away from Kagome waiting to see what her reaction would be. He'd noticed her flushed face, but that could mean anything. Embarrassment, fear, attraction.
"Anytime." Kagome smiled at Sessho-maru and hoped he couldn't tell how nervous she was. Obviously he could see her blushing, but her heart was racing and that flutter was back in her stomach. She could still feel his arms around her.
Happy that she wasn't upset by the gesture, Sessho-maru held his hand out, gesturing towards the fortress, "Shall we?"
Kagome nodded and the two proceeded to walk back to the fortress in silence. Just before they crossed the bridge leading to the stone compound, Kagome stopped. "Sessho-maru?" The white-haired demon stopped and turned to face her, "I changed my mind." She looked up at him, sure her nervousness was palpable in the air at this point. "I'd really appreciate it if you would accompany me back to my friends. U-unless it's out of your way. I don't want you to go through any more trouble for me. You've been so generous already."
Sessho-maru allowed a small smile to appear. "I will take you to them no matter where they are nisou."
Kagome blushed again under his gaze and just nodded her head, continuing along the bridge to the fortress. Sessho-maru watched her walk ahead and found himself wondering once again how it was that Kagome and Inu-yasha fought so much. The fault must lie with my hot-tempered brother. The stupid hanyou.
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"A-are you sure about this?" Kagome looked at Sessho-maru as if he had four heads.
"Are you afraid of flying?"
"No."
"Then it is settled." Sessho-maru walked a few paces away from the priestess and leapt into the air, transforming into his true demon aspect. When he landed, he was a large, white-haired inu youkai with crimson eyes and the telltale crescent moon on his forehead.
Kagome looked up at the enormous beast in awe. She'd seen Sessho-maru's true form before, but that was many years ago and she hadn't been entertaining any ideas of riding him. As a matter of fact, at the time she was trying to kill him before he killed her. But now, all she saw was a beautiful and powerful white inu youkai.
"How am I supposed to get up there?" She heard a growl, but somehow, she understood what he was saying. "O-ok." Kagome reached up and grabbed two handfuls of fur and began to climb up the inu's leg and onto his back. "I'm sorry if I hurt you." She heard another growl and she frowned down at the back of his head, "Oh yeah? I seem to remember this 'one little female' slowing you down a few times thank you very much."
Suddenly Sessho-maru took off into the air and Kagome yelped as she hung on for dear life. Once they had reached a steady altitude, she loosened her grip and looked down below at the passing landscape.
"This is amazing!"
Flying on Kirara was nothing like this. Sessho-maru was at least five times bigger than Kirara and he flew at a much higher altitude. The breeze from his powerful strides threatened to take her breath away as they raced over the land. And Kagome was surprised at how soft his fur was. She fought the urge to lie down and nestle herself within it.
They hadn't been flying around long when Sessho-maru picked up Inu-yasha's scent. He started his descent and they landed on the opposite side of a hill that bordered a village. Kagome slid down, landing in a crouched position. When she turned around Sessho-maru was already in his human aspect.
"Thank you for the escort."
"My pleasure. I should get going. I can smell Inu-yasha approaching and I don't want to be around when he shows up brandishing that damn sword of his."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you." Kagome gave the inu a playful smile and she was happy to see it returned. "But I understand." Kagome felt the flutter in her stomach again and this time she couldn't resist the urge within her. She walked up to Sessho-maru and hugged him. And to her delight he didn't hesitate in hugging her back. "Thank you for everything Sessho-maru. I'm…I'm going to miss you." She felt him squeeze a little tighter and it sent her heart racing.
Sessho-maru pulled back and gazed at the priestess with the deep green eyes. He lightly stroked her hair. "Be careful, nisou."
And before Kagome could say anything, he disappeared in a white blur. Kagome stood there staring at the empty space that Sessho-maru had left until her attention was snared by the sound of Inu-yasha's raised voice in the distance. Great. It's like I never left. She turned and headed up the hill turning one more time and looking back at the empty space, already wondering when she would see him again.
When she faced forward again, she saw the red and white blur quickly approaching. She sighed and braced herself for the inevitable argument.
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"Kagome? What the hell are you doing here?" Inu-yasha came to a skidding halt when he saw the priestess in his path.
"Hello to you too Inu-yasha." Kagome offered a quick smile and walked past him towards the village.
"Wait!" He caught up to her, walking by her side, but constantly looking over his shoulder, back the way Kagome had come. "You still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?"
"Did you think I was going away forever?"
"No. But---"
"Well then I don't see why you're confused."
"Alright, hold it right there!" He whirled Kagome around to face him, his voice hinting at his frustration, "I came out here because I saw Sessho-maru overhead. Except I didn't find him. I found you and you reek of that pompous ass. Care to explain?"
Kagome fought the urge to snap back at Inu-yasha after what he said about his brother. Instead, she shrugged casually and offered the story that she and Sessho-maru had agreed on earlier. "He saved me from a band of thieves in the forest and insisted on accompanying me until we found you. Can we go now?"
"No we cannot go now. Why would he save you and then bring you here to me? He must have had some ulterior motive."
"Are you seriously questioning why Sessho-maru saved my life!" Kagome took a step forward and poked Inu-yasha in the chest. She glared at him for a few moments then turned on her heels and headed for the village, "You are some piece of work Inu-yasha!"
Inu-yasha let her go, knowing that arguing with her right now would be a huge mistake. It had the potential to turn into another drawn weapons showdown which he really didn't want. After Kagome left, Miroku sat down with him and made him realize how much she had changed over the years and how strong she had become. She truly was an important member of their team, not just a compass and a cook. So he'd promised Miroku he would try harder not to argue with her.
But showing up with Sessho-maru required answers damn it and he was going to find out what she wasn't telling him. Inu-yasha headed back over the hill where Kagome came from and he searched the surrounding area, finding no trace of his brother. I'll find out the truth sooner or later. I know he's up to something and he's just using Kagome for his own selfish purposes.
To be continued…..