Disclaimer: The same old thing...
Lady Kurama: Hey to those people who read this, I really apologize for the longggggggggg break of this fic! As I've mention in the previous chapter, my grades really...ERM and therefore I had to study damn hard (with brother watching 24/7)
Kagome: And congrats to you Lady Kurama, you seem to do very well this time!
Lady Kurama: YEP and all thanks to... thanks to myself I guess sheepishly
Chapter 11 – Courting Mark
A lone figure sat comfortably against the green scaled body of a twin dragon. Staring up at the crescent moon, she sighed for the umpteenth time that day. The foliage around her rustled with the soft breath of the Lady Wind, who was in good mood that night, or perhaps she was doing it out of fear, for in the clearing lied the most perfect specimen of the deadliest youkai in Japan.
Again a sigh broke out of her lips, she glanced at the individual leaning on the bark of a tree before her eyes. He met her from the corner of his sharp eyes, causing her to rush her gaze back to the book on her lap. He had spotted her! She gazed lazily at her book, and once again, she sighed.
- Flashback -
Kagome had just tucked the sleeping children to sleep when she heard Botan's cheery voice shouted from the door. "Kagome-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama called for you!"
'What now?' she and Sesshoumaru had not talkedmuch ever since she discovered her power, not that they used to talk much before. Whenever Kagome tried to strike out a conversation, somehow our favourite Lord would leave her to talk alone, no words no gesture, just gone like that. It pissed her off whenever he did that but she never had the chance to speak it out loud.
Botan brought her to the library, her favourite room of all. He had all kind of book imaginable, his thirst for knowledge was greater than the two baka Lords whose name would remain unknown. There was a few that particularly interest her, one of it was about the classification of youkais.
She never realized until then, that youkais were classified into many different categories, the humanoid types like Sesshoumaru, the elemental types like Kagura, or the purely animal youkais like Hachi. There was also mononoke like the Mistress Centipede or the onis. Of course, the strongest ones were the humanoid youkais, and it wrote that Inu, Kitsune and Koumori were the most intellectual and were the most powerful of all.
As she entered, she began wondering what breed Sesshoumaru was, he was a dog, surely he had a specific breed. 'A Hungarian Kuvasz perhaps, he had white fur...' she was so into her thoughts that she did not notice where she was. 'Bah, highly doubt so, a Hungarian Kuvasz is too gentle... Well he is gentle with the kids' she pondered, 'Nay, what am I thinking? He's most likely a Great Pyreness, yep damn straight, stubborn, acting all high and mighty. A total jer-'
(A/N: Hey the dog owners out there! Don't sue me! I know that all dogs are great after or before they were trained but bear with me please! This is what my friend told me!)
"Miko"
She jumped three feet up the air, landing right on her butt. "Itai!" she stood up and rubbed her swollen ass, an eye clenched shut in pain. "Baka! You don't scare people like that!" she protested, hands on her hips with a face that portrayed her annoyance and anger, ah... she was just too predictable.
Sesshoumaru was as usual, face stoic, eyes revealing no emotions and stood proud in his normal stature. "I was right, you are indeed a Great Pyreness!" she glared at him, hard. Sesshoumaru was slightly confused, was it a comment? She did after all mention his greatness though from her tone, it was highly doubtful.
"Enlighten me Miko... What is this Great Pyreness you spoke of?" he quirked an eyebrow, the only sign that showed his curiosity.
Kagome stormed up to him, jabbing a finger to his chest, "Ok listen here Mr I'm-so-great! Stop acting all wise and ancient, I know that you're older than five centuries, but you can't be that old in youkai years?" she never had the word 'consequences' in her dictionary did she? "You're most likely 26 or 28, so stop talking like some grandfather!" she faced him bravely... bravely or foolishly?
Using his only arm, he grabbed the offending hand, what did he do now? He was not in the best of mood today, with all the piled up work that most likely even Jaken could do, and she was making it all worse!
"For your information Miko, this Sesshoumaru is only 20 in youkai years." he removed said hand by dropping it.
"20! USO!" Kagome exclaimed in disbelief, he was only four years older than her? "Then Inuyasha? I expected him to be 20 years old!" Sesshoumaru glared coldly at her, was she insulting his flawless look?
"That hanyou is of the same age as you Miko." Kagome gasped, same age? But Kikyo was 18! 'Uh... Inuyasha like older woman... Yucks that's gross!' she shook her head vigorously.
Sesshoumaru kept silent, letting her get back her coherent mind, "Uh...Yes... You called?" she knocked her head several times before she asked sheepishly.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow." He stated plainly. Kagome looked as though a pile of bricks landed on her head, "But... What about my training? All I can do is sense people!" she protested, he did not even teach her anything, all she did was just mediating and learning how to sense her surrounding.
"That's the only thing you need to know." Sesshoumaru once again, stated, his eyes stared at her, "Teaching you others is a waste of time, your bow will be sufficient." At every word that left his lips, Kagome felt different emotions, ranging from sorrow to anger and hurt. She shut her eyes before she glared insolently at the arrogant and cold Taiyoukai.
"Are you implying that I have no talent?" her fists were clenched tight, her body convulsing in anger and frustration, didn't she prove her worth previously?
The Taiyoukai merely pivoted and returned to his desk, "Think what you like."
Kagome snarled at him, she wanted to scold him, slap him, kick him and shove his tail up his ass for the entire world to see. 'Why can't he see that I can help?' Then again she never made a deal concerning that, she was just a bait and a Naraku detector, a tool, a property.
'Just one shout... Just one shout and I'll leave the room.' She really wished to yell at him, she really wished to, but why was it tears that welled up her eyes?
Tearing her gaze from his being, she went to the door. She bit her lips to force back the tears that threatened to spill, 'I'm strong, I'm strong, I'm strong.' she chanted as she slide the door open, she glanced back, what she wished to scream at him came out as a whimper.
"You're no different than Inuyasha." Warm liquid rolled down her pale cheeks as she dashed out, not bothering to even slam close the door.
She ran swiftly down the hall, servants watched with looks of sympathy, some satisfaction while the others simply ignored her. Her bangs hid her eyes from view, but did not erase the salty scent that marred her lovely fragrant. She kept on running, all the time without looking, it was a miracle that she did not crash to any of the servants
BLAM
Well, let's take that back.
"MEOW?" a familiar mewling was heard as Kagome fell once again. "MEOW! Kagome-sama! Gomenasai! I wasn't looking! I'm truly sor-MEOW?" she was interrupted however, when a body slammed to her again. "Botan-chan!" Kagome hugged the Neko youkai tight.
Servants started snickering, but soon they vacant the spot when the infamous Botan glare appeared, sneers on their face. No on dared to oppose Botan, not when the children adored her so much, in fear of their Lord's wrath.
"What's wrong Kagome-sama?" Botan gently patted her head. In a hushed and quiet voice, Kagome related her tale, of how the Taiyoukai acted like the hanyou she used to love.
"Botan-chan, it hurts so much! I don't want to be a tool, I want to be useful, not just a helpless audience... I just want someone to view me as me, not a Miko, not a ningen, not a tool! Just me!" she sobbed on her shoulder. Botan mewed softly, purring to soothe her, like a mother to a child.
"Meow Kagome-sama, have you ever thought that Sesshoumaru-sama did it for your own good?" Botan stated softly, "Perhaps Sesshoumaru-sama understands your pain, that's why he did not want you to fight." She heard her sobs ceased to sniffles, "You're a kind woman Kagome-sama, not a woman who is meant to kill. Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't want you to know about killing, he wants to protect you from both harm and the pain..." she took Kagome's hand and placed it against her own chest, "The pain in the heart."
Kagome shook her head, "That can't be, he's not that thoughtful." She clutched her chest, "He's not so thoughtful..."
Botan giggled, "He never show it, but deep inside, Sesshoumaru-sama is really kind. I am the prove to that." True, Botan had told her of how the teenager Sesshoumaru saved her in the brink of death, gave her food to eat and place to stay, though not many knew about it.
- End Flashback -
So here she was, under the moonlighted sky, it had been really boring, no youkai dared to approached their group. Jaken had bragged about his Sesshoumaru-sama popularity and influence in all lands, no one dared to cross him, except for some foolish ones. Her eyes strayed to a certain white figure again before she sighed, focusing on her literature book: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.
'Argh! All this English is driving me nuts! How can I analyze anything when I don't even understand the first sentence!' she cursed her literature teacher. Putting her book on the ground, she closed her eyes, what's the point in staying awake without doing a thing?
Soon, sleep consumed her.
Sesshoumaru gazed through his long lashes, what was the book she was holding? His curiosity was begging him to explore the words in the book but his rational mind told him not to get too involved with the Miko.
But... A little won't hurt. "Ah" he called the half asleep dragon, adverting his gaze to the book, he got his attention. Ah nodded, he lightly took the book in his jaws and flung it at his Lord. He caught it easily, knitting his eyebrows at the title, an English book? 'She could speak another language?'
He traced his fingers over the cover, 'What material is this made of?' he eyed it carefully, 'There was nothing binding it, how could it stick together?' he flipped to the first page, 'Her writing... is neat...' his eyes trailed down the page before flipping it.
He slowly read through it, 'So the Miko wrote this story... Impressive.' Even he, a being who lived for 5 centuries, found that some of the words were foreign to him. Another mystery added into his already long list, where was she from? He had never met such a educated ningen, he had never met a ningen whose brain could match a Taiyoukai either!
He growled when he realized what he had done, he had once again inserted the Miko to his mind. He must avoid her, avoid her at all cost. 'The only reason I was with her was for the deal we made, nothing more' he chanted in his mind
# The Next Day #
"She's near Youko... I can hear her heartbeat... she's awake." A dark figure bounded from trees to trees, the infamous Koumori youkai, also known as Kuronue, the Lord of the East. Our favourite Kitsune lord purred, sniffing the air, searching for her tantalizing scent, oh, what he would give for a simple lick, it smelt so delectably sweet that he wondered how was it possible for her to be unclaimed, she was pleasant to the eyes and had a body to die for.
Youko was however, brought to a halt when another smell assaulted his nose. Kuronue landed beside him, "What's wrong?" he questioned the smirking Kitsune. Uh oh, someone was going to be in trouble.
"Our little stuck up ass Fluffy-sama is with her." He announced, and softly to himself, he declared, "It's payback time."
Kuronue heard him with his sensitive ears, "Remember Youko, our first priority is not him." He reminded. Youko shrugged off the statement, staring ahead, he beckoned the Koumori youkai to follow him, concealing their aura and scent, they made their way silently.
Kagome was busily roasting the fishes the kids had caught, her supply of ramen was going low, now she was left with only 5 packets. She had almost laughed earlier that morning when she woke up to see Sesshoumaru reading her literature book with so much concentration.
She had really laughed when Sesshoumaru asked her who taught her to write so well. He had thought that she was the writer of the book! She had a hard time explaining without revealing where she came from and it appeared to her that Sesshoumaru did not believe her, but fortunately, he did not pry.
"Is it ready? Is it ready? Is it ready?" Shippou looked at her with those large emerald eyes. "Not yet Shippou-chan." Kagome giggled when the little kit pouted, he had been asking the same question over and over again for the past 5 minutes after she announced that it would be finish in 15 minutes time.
"Kagome-sama, is it ready? Is it ready? Is it ready?" Rin went to Shippou's side, giving her the infamous puppy dog eyes, it took all Kagome's willpower not to pull her cheeks for their cuteness.
"Stupid brats, do you want to get sick by eating it raw?" the frilly dressed Jaken came over, his body adorned with flower wreaths. Kagome stared at him with sympathy, 'poor Jaken, no matter how much it improve his looks though.'
A movement caught her attention, Sesshoumaru had stood up with his level 99 glare. "Miko, take the children to Ah-Un." Kagome sighed, just before she controlled her powers, he had called her by her name, why back to Miko now? She ushered the children and Jaken to Ah-Un before she strapped her quiver of arrows to her back and took her bow, notching an arrow.
"Ah... Should've known that it won't work." Kagome went tensed at the low, seductive voice, she knew that voice. Her arrows dropped from her hand when a figure emerged from the dense forest.
"So, how are you little vixen?" Youko smirked at her stunned form.
Kagome took a step back, 'What was he doing here?' Thousands of questions reeled in her mind as images of him trying to kill her surfaced.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the Kitsune Lord. Wait, where was... He whisked his head back, 'Damn it.'
Kuronue was behind Kagome, his arms wrapped around her waist. Kagome gasped, "Kuronue!" she attempted to wrench herself away from him, but his grip was like vice, escaping was futile!
"Shhh... Calm down Kagome..." Kuronue pulled her flush to his body, gently nuzzling the top of her head, savoring her sweet scent. "We won't hurt you... Trust me little angel." Kuronue muttered sincerely. Still, Kagome struggled for freedom, "Sesshoumaru! Help!" she did not even bother to add the 'sama' in panic.
Youko growled whereas Sesshoumaru glanced back, though this attention was solely on the Kitsune Lord. His hand went to his Tenseiga, "State your business Kitsune..." he paused for a second before adding with a smirk, "Okinawa" (fruit bat I think, tell me if I'm wrong)
Ignoring the seriousness of the situation they were in, Youko rumbled in laughter, "That hurts Kuronue." He chuckled at the tomato face Koumori youkai who was casting death glares at Sesshoumaru. "You bastard! Stop calling me that you Fluffy!" he yelled, with a blinking Kagome in his embrace.
Kagome turned her head, "Kuronue you're an Okinawa?" asked she, her eyes held a look of curiosity and innocence. "NO! I'M NOT! I'M NOT! I'M A FULL FLEDGE BLOOD SUCKING KOUMORI YOUKAI!" he denied loudly, shaking his head vigorously, his face beet red in total embarrassment, "Why are we talking about this anyway!" he yelled.
"Right... Put your hand down Fluffy, you know that against the both of us, your chances of winning is sli..." he paused for a second before uttering the word, "none." He gazed at Kagome, "Our business doesn't involve you anyway." He stated. Kagome shivered under his intense gaze, she squirmed, tearing her eyes away from him.
Youko smirked, he advanced to her with Sesshoumaru's eyes following keenly. The kids on Ah-Un's back too watch, with Rin in brink of tears, fearing for her Kagome-sama. 'Why is Sesshoumaru-sama not helping Kagome-sama?' she wondered, but dared not voice it out. Shippou on the other hand, was excited, her mother figure was attracting so much attention from noble youkais, he was sure that she would become a Lady of some lands one day.
"Little vixen..." Youko purred, "I'm here to make amends." He stopped right in front of her, his 6,6ft stature towering over her 5.6ft height. Kagome eyed him, her face a portray of bewilderment and a slight cautiousness.
Youko took her chin tenderly, "I apologize for my insolence that time, I shouldn't have harm you... it will never happen again." he promised.
Sesshoumaru bit back a growl, why should he care? It was better this way. It was her choice, he never care about her, she was just a bait he needed to lure Naraku.
"Promise?" Kagome asked, holding her pinkie up. Youko blinked, "Huh?"
Kagome beamed a smile at him, "If you promise then you put your fingers against mine."
Youko chuckled, nodding. He placed his pinkie against her, being extra careful with his claw. She wrapped her small pinkie around his large one, "You're forgiven." She grinned brightly. Youko glanced at Sesshoumaru with a victory smirk while Kuronue put his head on her shoulder, "From now on little angel." He whispered lowly, "We'll help you with this mission." He stated, earning a soft "Huh?"
"But... Why?" she asked, utterly confused.
Youko's attention went back to her, "You asked why little vixen?" he nodded towards Kuronue, who started to lightly kiss her neck.
"Kya Kuronue! Hentai!" Kagome gasped, trying to break free, but it was impossible, not with two Taiyoukais holding her down.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widen by a fraction, 'They...' he watched as Youko took hold of her chin and smoothed her hairs so that her neck was visible. He growled and leapt up, "Youko, sto-"
"We want you." With those few words, the two Lords sank their fangs into the junction between her neck and shoulder. Sesshoumaru landed a few feet before them, blood slowly seeping into his eyes, how dare they! He flexed his claws as Kagome lost her consciousness and slumped onto Youko's chest.
"Why so mad Fluffy? It's just a courting mark." Kuronue smirked, licking the sweet blood at the corners of his lips, "It's not as if you aren't allowed to challenge us."
Shippou, who decided that it was last straw, bounded to them, panic coursing through him, "Okaa-san! Okaa-san! Is Okaa-san alright?" he whined below Youko. Kuronue bent down to pick him up by the collar, "She'll be fine little kit, it's only a courting mark." He put him on his shoulder, his attention returning to the furious Taiyoukai.
Sesshoumaru was stuck in between challenging them or leaving them be. Why should he bother to challenge them? This way, he could rid of the strange emotions that were not meant to exist. Turning his back to them, he walked towards the tree he previously occupied, "Hn, it's none of my business." He never care about her... right?
Ah-Un, who watched the whole incident, looked at each other before their expression faltered, why was their Lord denying it?
TBC...
Reviews:
Brittney:Kurama Angle: Uh sorry, but this is a sess/kag, sort of a girl's fantasy of having so many suitors :P
Chaotic Rei: I'm really sorry for the late update!
Lady Inu: No worries,Youkoand Kuronueare impt people in this story :D
darkestlightangel:It won't be on hold unless i've something impt likevacantion or exams. -grin-
Mimiru: AW! I will update! Surely I will even though it take time!
snowball & her identical twin: ahahhaha! I don't mind at all! -grin-
animebook fan: I'm sorry I'm sorry!anyways, sesshiewill only be revealing himself at the very back back of the story!You'll see!
Brittany: I dunno if this is long enough... hopefully it is hehehehe
april: You'll see april! Coz i won't be abandoning this story!
ranchan23: hehehe... see it for yourself -grin-
Kill-All-Flamers: Oh well... glad u like it! aboutYouko being drunk... well he's just lonely and need some...ERM
Kage Otome: hahahaha! YEP only Kuronue is a gentleman! MUAHUAHUAHUAHA :P
xBankotsu's Girlx: Now that my finals are over, i will update sooner! sorry for the long delay!
inukuramaRmine: I AGREE! DIE KIKYO DIE! "soon..." whispered Lady Kurama, "kukukukuku"
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