Chapter 3: When Emotions Are in Our Way
Kaori rubbed her eyes, sitting up. She saw something red and saw her hand bandaged. Some blood was shown through the bandage and Kaori sighed. She had fainted while Sesshomaru took the glass out. She wondered if he had gotten it all out. It was still painful as she got up. She couldn't close her hand without pain and still needed to get ready for school. She was going, whether she could write or not. She dressed in her black and red uniform. It had a black skirt that went to her knees. The shirt was black with the short sleeves red and black stripes. She tried to pull her hair into pigtails but couldn't with her hand injured. She just left it how it was after brushing it with the hand that wasn't injured and headed downstairs. Sesshomaru sat on a chair, staring at the table.
"Morning," Kaori said. Sesshomaru looked back at her and saw she had gotten dressed.
"Are you going somewhere?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah, school," Kaori told him, trying to get some cereal. She couldn't pour the box with her right hand because it was injured and it was her dominant hand. She sighed and held her head in one hand.
"School?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It's something I have to attend during most of my life," she told him.
"But you're injured," he told her.
"Yes, I know," she said, sighing. "I really should get this looked at."
"It hurts, right?" Sesshomaru said, hold the hand in his hand, palm up.
"Yeah," she told him.
"Where is your healer?" Sesshomaru demanded.
"We don't have healers. We have doctors and nurses," she told him.
"Where are they?" Sesshomaru asked. "I want you to heal."
"At the hospital. But I have to go upstairs to get my Health Card," she told him. "And you need to get dressed."
Kaori went upstairs to get her purse, but couldn't find it anywhere. Sesshomaru went to Kaori's parents room to get changed and quickly joined Kaori downstairs. She was searching for something and she looked worried.
"If I don't find that fucking purse..." Kaori mumbled.
Sesshomaru went to the couch and found what she called a "purse." He passed it to her and she sighed with relief. She put her heels on and headed out with Sesshomaru. She looked through her purse franticly and pulled out keys, locking the door. Usually her parents would be home, but now they weren't so she needed to lock the door. She walked down the street with Sesshomaru with the hand still bandaged. They got to the hospital and asked to see a doctor. They had to wait in the waiting room and Sesshomaru held her in his lap. Anything to comfort her. She was slightly worried and tired, seeing she had fainted, not technically slept. She had fallen asleep while waiting and woke up in time for the doctor to see her. Sesshomaru walked down to a room with her, the smells killing him. It smelt like it was overly clean; not a single dirty thing. When they stepped in the room, the doctor took the bandage off and looked at the wound, seeing if any glass was left. He complimented Sesshomaru on removing all of the glass and went to get some more bandages for Kaori's hand. Kaori sat next to Sesshomaru, head in his shoulder. The doctor had put her through some pain while looking at in and Sesshomaru allowed her to press her head into his shoulder compared to digging her nails into his arm like before. The doctor replaced the bandages and sent her out, telling her not to move it or use it too much. Kaori got a doctor's note and walked home. She never realized it, but they had spent the day in the hospital and while walking home, she saw Yori. She waved to her friend and Yori crossed the street over to her friend.
"Hey Kaori. You weren't at school. Why not?" Yori asked.
"Look," Kaori told her, showing her hand to her friend.
"Looks bad. What happened?" Yori asked.
"Broke a lamp last night with my hands," Kaori said.
"You always were deadly when you got angry," Yori laughed.
"Yeah," Kaori laughed.
"Uh oh. Here he comes," Yori said.
Kaori turned and saw Jenji, the boy Yori had mentioned the day before. Brown hair and good looks, every girl was after him. He was tall and sweet, but Kaori and Yori did not like how he treated them. He was sweet just to get you to the movies, then started making moves on you in the dark. Most girls wouldn't mind, but Kaori and Yori weren't like the other people.
"Hey Kaori. Haven't seen you for a while," Jenji said.
"Yeah," Kaori said.
"Hey, I was wondering if you would like a second date. Maybe this time you won't slap me," Jenji laughed.
"I'm sort of not looking for someone anymore," Kaori said.
"Or, so you're taken?" Jenji asked.
"Uh," Kaori said.
"Yes she is. So get out of my... our way," Sesshomaru said, grabbing Kaori's arm and walking forward. Jenji moved aside, Yori and Jenji just noticing Sesshomaru there. They were shocked and watched Kaori get dragged down the sidewalk. Once far enough, Kaori brushed herself off.
"Oh, so I'm taken huh? By who?" Kaori asked.
"He was annoying me," Sesshomaru told her.
"So, you annoy me. I don't lie to you! What am I supposed to say if he asks whom it is?" Kaori said.
"Me," he told her.
"You? What the hell do you mean?" Kaori asked.
"It's another lie, but he'll leave you alone. I can tell you don't like him," Sesshomaru said.
"Yeah, so? Doesn't mean I should lie!" Kaori yelled.
"Calm down," Sesshomaru ordered. She took a deep breath and looked at him.
"I'll do it then, but just hope he doesn't make me prove it," she told him, walking towards her house.
"Why not?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori halted. "Uh... we would have to kiss," she told him.
"What are you saying?" Sesshomaru asked, glaring. "Are you saying you wouldn't want to kiss me?"
"That's not what I meant," Kaori told him.
"What? Do you think I would be inexperienced to kiss you?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No," Kaori said.
"Then what?" Sesshomaru asked, angry.
Kaori looked up at him, her eyes soft and innocent. "Nothing my lord," Kaori said softly.
Sesshomaru backed up a step. What was that look in her eyes? Was that love? Sesshomaru mentally shook his head. She couldn't love him. No one did.
"Let's go to your home," he told her. She walked beside him, quietly. Neither said a word as they walked. No one stared or pointed at either of them, though a little kid publicly admired Sesshomaru's hair. He had lowly growled and the kid skipped off to her mother. Kaori just laughed and ran ahead, making Sesshomaru to catch up to her.
When they got home, Kaori called some friends, chatting with them while twirling her hair. Sesshomaru had to keep moving to keep Cleo away from him. She would always find him and curl up in his lap. Even though Sesshomaru would push her off, she would still return to him. Some infatuated cat.
Kaori finally had enough talking and said she had to go. Sesshomaru had giving up on pushing the cat off a long time ago, sitting with a cat purring in his lap. He was obviously perturbed, sitting with a cat in his lap, doing absolutely nothing.
"Hey, Sesshomaru, what do you want to eat?" Kaori asked.
"Anything you want," Sesshomaru said, pushing the cat off again and walking with Kaori to the kitchen. The cat screeched at Sesshomaru, but followed him to the kitchen. Once Sesshomaru had stood still, the cats walked between his legs, rubbing her face against his leg. She purred loudly and Sesshomaru glared at Kaori. Kaori just laughed and looked in the fridge. Nothing was in there except some random stuff. Kaori sighed and got her purse. Guess they were going out for dinner. Sesshomaru walked over the cat and up the steps, Cleo right on his heels. He went in Kaori's room and closed the door quickly to not allow the cat inside. Kaori could hear loud meows behind the door and just laughed.
"You and Cleo should get together," Kaori laughed.
"Be quiet," Sesshomaru told her.
"Well, you'll get a break from her. We're going out for supper," she told him.
"Out for supper?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes. Maybe WacDonalds," she said. She got her purse and Cleo could be heard behind the door still.
Kaori sat down on the bed, looking at her hand. It looked all right at the moment, but it was still in the bandage. She was too scared to open it up and then have to get new bandages on it if it was still bleeding. She then caught Sesshomaru looking at her and looked up at him.
"What troubles you?" She asked.
"Nothing," he told her.
"Something's troubling you," she told him. "Tell me."
He glared at her then looked out to the window.
"How about we..." He looked down at her. "We will go looking for the black pearl tomorrow."
"Sure," Kaori said. The meowing stopped and Kaori opened the door and went downstairs, Sesshomaru behind her. They got outside and Kaoru got her keys out, locking the door again. But this time she didn't put her keys back in her purse. She went over to her car. Sesshomaru looked puzzling at her as she entered. He stood outside.
"What is this?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori got out and opened the door for him.
"It is a car. Just get in. It'll get us there quicker than walking," she told him. He looked suspiciously at the car and then Kaori. He got in smoothly. He sat down and Kaori buckled him in. He felt odd, but Kaori assured him he wouldn't get any harm. She buckled him in. Then she closed the door and went in on her side. Buckling up herself, she turned the car on. Sesshomaru was slightly startled, but remained cool. Kaori drove them to WacDonalds and got fries and a burger. She got one drink as well and drove to the parking lot. She gave Sesshomaru his fries and ate hers as well. She just sat there eating, nearly starving. He took one and couldn't stop. They were good. Sesshomaru finished his and Kaori did as well. She broke the burger in half and gave Sesshomaru one half. He tried it, but didn't like it. He put it down and Kaori didn't mind. Some people didn't like pickles and mustard.
She finished her burger and took a sip of her drink. She then realized that she forgot to get one for Sesshomaru. She asked if her wanted to have a sip, and he just took the cup and took a sip from the straw; exactly where Kaori had taken her sip. He said it was all right, but he didn't want a full one. Kaori was in shock, barely hearing a word he was saying. He had just gotten a taste of her spit!
"Here," he told her.
"Uh, thanks," she said. She put it in the cup holder and started driving home. They were delayed in traffic, but got home around ten.
Kaori parked the car and helped Sesshomaru out of the car. They walked to the door and inside, Kaori locking it behind her. She placed her keys on the table along with her purse and fell into the couch. Sesshomaru stood behind her, leaning onto the couch.
"So," Kaori said.
Sesshomaru looked down at her.
"What do you want to do?" Kaori asked.
Sesshomaru just looked at her. She moved her head up and looked at him. Sesshomaru looked like he was in thought then looked at the TV.
"That popcorn, if that is what you called it," Sesshomaru told her.
"Oh, sure," Kaori told him. She jumped from the couch and hurried to the kitchen. She looked at the freezer, then the fridge.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Do you want homemade or frozen?" Kaori asked.
Sesshomaru just blinked at her a few times and said, "homemade."
"Deal," Kaori said.
"Excuse me?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.
"Just sit down and out of the way," Kaori told him, getting out some kernels and the popcorn machine. She got out the butter and started cooking it on the stove. Putting them together when each were done, she sat down next to Sesshomaru at the dining table. She placed the bowl between them and started taken pieces. Munching slightly loud, she pushed the bowl closer to Sesshomaru.
He didn't need to take a bite. He could smell how good the popcorn tasted. It smelt just like at the mall. He took one piece when Kaori stopped eating and stared at Sesshomaru.
"It's odd," Sesshomaru told her when she asked how it was.
"Well, it most likely would be for you," Kaori said, laughing. She took handfuls and ate them in bunches. Sesshomaru looked somewhat disgusted at Kaori and she looked questioning at him.
"Manners," he told her, looking away. "You eat like you haven't for days."
"It's how I eat popcorn. Have a problem?" Kaori asked.
"No," he told her and turned back to eat popcorn.
It was silent in the house other then the munches from Kaori and Sesshomaru. Once the popcorn was finished, Kaori yawn widely.
"I should get ready for bed," Kaori told him. She headed upstairs, Sesshomaru behind her. He waited for her outside of the room while she dressed. He could hear her cussing and swearing behind the door and then came out wearing a robe.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No," Kaori said sarcastically. "I can't find my damn pyjamas!"
Sesshomaru went in and looked under her bed. Her pulled out some white, silk clothing.
"Is this it?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori turned around and saw Sesshomaru holding up her silk pyjamas she had never worn before. She was saving them for a special day or when she had a guest. Well, she had a guest, so she sighed, took the clothing and pushed Sesshomaru out, closing the door behind him. Sesshomaru just stared at his hand.
The material was like silk; he could tell instantly. But why did it have the nice scent on it and felt silkier than his silks? He lowered his hand and Kaori exited her room, still wearing the robe. Sesshomaru could see Kaori's pyjamas slightly sticking outside of her robe at places. She looked like she was blushing and went downstairs, not a word to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru jumped from the second floor to the first, right in front of Kaori.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No, not really," Kaori told him. "Please move."
Sesshomaru stepped aside and Kaori ran into a room. He followed and the scent that was on the clothes he held earlier hit him hard. Kaori looked in the washer and drier and found no clothes inside. She looked in the hamper and found her pyjamas lying on top. Kaori sighed and looked over at Sesshomaru. He was standing there looking around.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked. He looked at her. "I can't see you tonight."
Sesshomaru just looked at her. "Your reason is because of the clothing you wear, correct?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes. The pyjamas were washed and became see through. It seems my mom put my other pyjamas in the hamper and didn't wash them," Kaori told him.
"Wear one of my tops," he told her. "They will cover."
"Sesshomaru!" Kaori exclaimed. "How could you think of such a thing?"
"I do not understand," Sesshomaru told her.
"I just don't want to share clothes with you. I bought you those clothes for you, not for me," Kaori told him.
"You will wear it and that's final," he told her.
Kaori sighed and went upstairs. Sesshomaru gave her a red top that no logos or signs on it at all. She put it on in her room and came out. She shook her head no. It was way too loose. Sesshomaru went into her room uninvited and searched through Kaori's closet. He found a sash and turned her forcefully to turn away from him. She yelped and he tied the sash, a bow at the back. He was harsh and Kaori had to hold onto the banister to not fall to her feet. Once it was tied, he turned her to face him. She looked all right. The red sash kept the shirt together and was a nice finish.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kaori asked.
"You said it was too loose, I made it tighter," he told her.
She sighed and went to her mirror. She looked all right, but she hoped no one would visit her. She looked at the time and sighed. No one would come at this time of night.
Sesshomaru was admiring how Kaori looked. She was all right, but he wanted to be the only to see Kaori like this. Kaori turned to him and shrugged, telling him it was good enough. She went downstairs and started turning off lights and seeing that the doors were locked. Then she headed upstairs. Sesshomaru followed.
"Are you going to sleep somewhere tonight?" Kaori asked.
"Demons don't sleep," Sesshomaru told her.
"Everyone sleeps at one time," Kaori told him. She turned off the light and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up. Sesshomaru sat in a chair that was pulled out.
"We will be heading back tomorrow," Sesshomaru told her.
"Why not a discussion? Who made you boss anyway?" Kaori asked.
"I am your superior," he told her.
"Until I get the black pearl," Kaori told him. He looked over at her and saw her sitting up, her legs crossed, the sheets just over her legs.
"You need your sleep for tomorrow," Sesshomaru told her.
"Huh?" Kaori asked.
"Sleep," he ordered her.
"Fine. Good night," she told him, lying down again.
He heard her breathing even out and he said quietly, "good night, Lady Kaori."