-1Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of his friends and family. They're Rumiko Takahashi's.
Chapter 12
Last time:
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The miko stomped her foot in a very childish manner, then marched over. She threw the cloth at him then snapped, "I thought you might like to bathe before we go back seeing as how my 'stench' is probably all over you too by now."
Sesshomaru eyed the towel with disgust then regained his feet and towered over her in an instant. How dare she speak to him in such a manner! It took every ounce of his restraint to simply stare passively down at her instead of ripping off her head as she deserved. However far from being frightened, she appeared to be contemplating a similar fate for himself.
Several times she opened her mouth then closed it without speaking until she finally whirled and stomped out of the room.
"The bathroom is this way," she called over her shoulder.
For reasons that would forever be a mystery to him, Sesshomaru followed.
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"Okay, there's shampoo, conditioner and body wash inside, and you already have your towel. There's a robe hanging from the hook here so you can toss your clothes outside the door if you'd like them washed," the miko spouted out hurriedly as she pointed out various objects located inside the strangest room Sesshomaru had seen yet. It amazed him how her anger from earlier had dissipated in the amount of time it took to ascend the stairs.
A large mirror lined the wall above a small basin, though it was sectioned and appeared as though it might open. A strange variety of objects cluttered the counter surrounding the basin, some of which smelled very much like that vile spray the miko had used on him when they had first arrived. He wrinkled his nose at the memory.
Beside this stood another basin with a tall, lidded tank attached behind it, only this one was much deeper, closer to the ground and already held water though it smelled terribly. If she expected him to wash himself in that, she would be sorely disappointed- no very painfully and life-threateningly disappointed.
He listened to her explanation with half an ear. What the hell was this shampoo and conditioner? The body wash he could guess based on its oh-so-clever name, but the rest could have been another language. He held the towel loosely and stared at the strange tub she now indicated with a careless sweep of her hand.
It was long and about as wide as it was tall and a strange curtain made of some shining material hung around it. The wall at one end contained a spout, some knobs and another very odd-looking spout near the ceiling. He peered inside and noted with an amused snort that this tub had a hole in the bottom. How did she expect to fill this tub if it had a hole?
He nodded his approval of the facility, though that was very loosely given, and he wondered vaguely where she was going to bring the water from and if she had any servants to help carry it. She, of course, had lacked the foresight to fill the tub before bringing him up.
She stared at him a little hesitantly, then exited and closed the door behind her. Sesshomaru waited impatiently for about ten minutes, but still the miko did not return with his water. Certainly, she did not expect him to use what was in that strange basin?
A short time later, there was a soft knock on the door and the miko softly called, "Sesshomaru?"
Finally, she had returned, but why did he not smell any water with her?
"Enter," he said flatly.
"Um, aren't you going to bathe?" she asked timidly. Her face reflected a mixture of relief and confusion upon seeing him standing there, dressed and waiting as she had left him.
Sesshomaru blinked and responded, "That had been my intention, but how am I to bathe without water?" He indicated the water-filled basin. "And I refuse to use that!"
To his utter shock, the miko burst out into a fit of laughter until she literally had to prop herself up on the wall. Sesshomaru felt his anger flare and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"And just what is so amusing? It is you who forgot to fill the tub with water."
"I- I-m sorry, Ses- Sessho-ma-ru," she gasped between dying fits of giggling. She held her side and wiped a few tears from the corner of her eyes. "I just forgot that you wouldn't know how to use a shower. I don't have to bring water; you get it yourself."
She waved off his scandalized glare and indicated the knobs. "See here, you turn this one for hot water and this one for cold."
The miko gave them both a firm twist and to his surprise a stream of water poured out and into the tub.
"To turn them off just turn them back the opposite direction. And this turns on the shower so you can wash your hair." She gave his knee-length locks an appraising look, then sighed a little sadly as she glanced at the strange containers that lined the edge.
"Those open by lifting the tops, see.." she demonstrated on the nearest bottle. "This one first, then the other, then that one for your body. Oh, and make sure you close this curtain while you're inside so the water doesn't get all over the bathroom."
He bit back a growl at his utter lack of knowledge about her time. It angered him to no end how she spoke as though this was the most basic thing in the world.
"If you need any more help just shout, but- um- put on that towel if you do," the miko added then slipped quickly out and closed the door again. Sesshomaru picked up the sound of her laughter as she moved on to another part of the house, and allowed a soft growl to escape his lips. She seemed to find too much amusement in this situation for someone he could easily kill so much as look at.
Quickly as he could with one arm (he mentally cursed Inuyasha) Sesshomaru stripped off his armor laying it, his fur and his swords in the corner. His clothing he dropped just outside the door once he was certain none of the humans was near enough to catch a glimpse of his naked form. Not that he was ashamed of his physique or had any qualms about being nude, he simply did not feel these or any humans were worthy.
He caught sight of himself in the mirror as he turned to enter the tub, and hesitated. He scarcely looked at his own reflection, after all he looked the same as he had for centuries, however each time he did it struck him how much he resembled his father. His golden gaze drifted down to Tenseiga as he whispered, "Father."
He let his gaze return to his reflection. The same long, white hair, golden eyes, and very similar features. Their markings were different, but if he wore is hair tied up, he could be mistaken for the late dog demon.
"Hmph," he sniffed and stepped into the basin where the water poured out in a steady stream. His hair brushed the backs of his knees without the familiar silk of his pants to stop it and he shivered in response. He stood directly facing the flow of water and frowned.
The miko had said to push that lever to start a "shower." As Sesshomaru reached down to push it, he thought wryly, What the hell is a shower?
A sudden burst of water shot out from the spout overhead blasting him directly in the face. Shocked he threw himself back and out of the surprisingly hot stream of water so quickly he ended up slamming into the wall. The slick tub, not meant for such quick movements from a human much less a demon, did not hold the sudden shift in his weight, and for the first time in his long life, his feet slipped out from under him. Still able to maintain his composure and think quickly, the demon lord shot out his claws and drove them into the wall beside him, silently cursing Inuyasha again for not having a second to steady him.
His long hair, now partly wet, clung to his damp skin and he blinked his dripping bangs out of his eyes. He hesitated until he was certain he could regain his feet without the risk of sliding, then slowly stood, removed his claws from the wall, and flicked bits of tile from the ends. Straightening to his usual ready stance, Sesshomaru glared daggers at the stream of water. Oh, how he loathed this place!
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Downstairs, Kagome and her mother gathered up the bits of the television to put in a giant garbage bag. Sota pouted off in the corner where Sesshomaru had been sitting very forcefully taking away hero points for him. The fact that he was a full demon kept him from being completely removed.
"Well, I guess we were needing to get a new set. And since we have a little extra saved up this year and your medical bills are all covered, we should be able to get one. Maybe we can even go to the store tonight." Mrs. Higurashi told her children as she put on one of her optimistic smiles.
"Really! Can we get one of those new high definition big screens?" Sota exclaimed once he heard what his mother was saying. Sesshomaru regained a few points with that one.
Mrs. Higurashi shot her son a look that screamed "yeah right," while Kagome just sighed and said, "Just don't get it until we get Lord Full-of-himself a safe distance- oh, say, 500 years- away."
"Now, Kagome, he went through a lot to save your life, and he has behaved himself-" she cut off Kagome's retort with a look, "as well as can be expected. Besides, the television is the only thing that he's damaged."
A loud crash overhead alarmingly near where the bathroom would be caused them all to jump. Even Grandpa heard and came running into room shouting, "Is the demon attacking?"
Four pairs of eyes drifted towards the ceiling.
"Oh, my!" Mrs. Higurashi said softly.
"At least he didn't come running out naked like Inuyasha did when he bathed with me!" Sota pointed out.
Kagome blushed slightly at Sota's words, then began to busily shove broken glass into the trash bag. "I don't even want to know, but I have a feeling the television is just the first of many 'home repairs' we'll be making."
"Well, things can be replaced," Mrs. Higurashi put in. "But I do hope he doesn't damage that shower curtain. It's my favorite and they no longer sell them."
"Then I'll bet that's the first to go," Grandpa muttered under his breath as he returned to what he had been doing.
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Once he had stared the impudent water into submission, Sesshomaru slowly slipped his body beneath the warm stream. His eyes widened in surprise and he felt the tension drain from his muscles as his entire body relaxed beneath the water's firm spray. Letting out a long-held sigh, he released all frustrations and worries into the steamy air. The demon tipped his head backward allowing the water to massage his scalp and run slowly down his back.
A contented growl stirred in his chest and he raked his fingers through silky white locks to encourage complete saturation. He remained like this for a while, enjoying the simple pleasure of the water's caress before he attempted to figure out the miko's soaps. Once he opened the lid, he found himself with a slight dilemma as to what he should do next. Had he two hands, he would have put some of the substance into his palm and then worked it into his hair; but as it was, he would have to settle for applying it directly to his head.
The fluid consistency surprised him as the liquid poured onto his head and immediately ran down into his eyes. Muscles clenched and he bit back a roar of anger and pain when his eyes began to burn and sting as much as his mouth had from the human seasoning. Immediately, he spun and plunged his face into the water until every trace of the soap had washed away. What was the miko trying to do to him? He had only tried to kill her, not torture her. Surely such treatment was uncalled for.
Much more cautiously this time, Sesshomaru added the shampoo to his hair and worked it into a lather. The earlier discomfort was quickly forgotten as his tension melted into growls of pleasure at his gentle ministrations to his hair. The gentle tug of the water as it washed over it reminded him of Rin's curious play on the few occasions he allowed her to touch his hair which he would never admit made him feel deliciously at ease.
Now having some experience, the demon repeated this procedure with the conditioner much more swiftly, though it took twice as long to thoroughly rinse out afterwards. Warily, he eyed the body wash suspicious after his previous two experiences. He reached back and twisted his hair so that it would not become soapy again, then proceeded to lather himself with the floral scented liquid. Rin would definitely approve of his new scent, although he knew it would give him a headache for the next few days.
Finally clean, if somewhat too flowery, Sesshomaru turned back to the knobs to turn the water off. Having only one hand, he realized he would have to do this one at a time. Without hesitation he reached out and turned one until it stopped. The stream of water lessened and became suddenly icy. The shock sent a shiver through his slick skin, but that was his only reaction. The other knob ceased the spray and he smirked in satisfaction.
Unfortunately, he forgot how slick this tub was and that it was even more so because of the thin film of soap that now lined it, and he spun a little too quickly. For the second time in his long life, the demon lord slipped. Cursing Inuyasha out loud this time, he latched onto the curtain which his claws tore through like butter. Reacting on instinct, he twisted his arm until the curtain had been wrapped around it enough to support his weight and he could regain his feet. That done he slowly stepped out onto a small rug then released his hold on the curtain.
However, the curtain did not release its hold on him.
Something would have to die. And he sorely hoped it would be that half-breed nuisance. Again, with two arms he could have easily used his other hand to slice the curtain from his arm. The hand he did have was currently tangled so that his claws could only swipe harmlessly at the air. Poison would only fall to the floor, and his whip would simply strike the wall. Deciding at once he did not care for the survival of the humans' decor, he tugged with his full strength until the entire curtain, rail and some chunks of the surrounding wall came crashing down to the floor.
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Sota, Mrs. Higurashi and Kagome all paused when they heard a second much louder crash followed by what could only be cursing.
"It sounds like he's tearing down the walls," Sota commented.
Mrs. Higurashi had a very worried look on her face, and asked, "Kagome, dear, don't you think you should go check on him?"
She frowned at her mother and said, "I don't want to go up there when he doesn't have any clothes... Oh, my, his clothes!"
Kagome forgot her previous hesitations and darted upstairs. Mrs. Higurashi watched her daughter's sudden departure and blushed slightly. She thought Kagome had not wanted to see him undressed.
Kagome slowed and tried to tiptoe when she neared the door. She had completely forgotten that she had promised to wash his clothes. She hoped they were machine washable, because she had no intention of doing all that work by hand. There was no sound of running water or any movement at all from inside the bathroom. She paused after she had collected his garments and stared at the door. It was too quiet. What could he be doing in there?
Deciding that there were some things she preferred not to know, Kagome ran downstairs to throw his clothes into the machine.
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Sesshomaru eyed the ruined curtain with contempt. He did not feel one bit of remorse for the destruction of worthless human objects, however he did consider such wanton destruction to be a poor reflection on his manners. Only one as boorish as Inuyasha would create such a mess then do nothing to compensate.
Sesshomaru quickly put the curtain, the rod and bits of wall into the tub, and, carefully regulating the strength of his poison, released a fine mist of it over the objects and watched with satisfaction as his poison dissolved it all into nothingness. That accomplished, the room looked much better. There was nothing he could do about the gouges his claws had left in the wall, or the holes created as the curtain came down, so he shrugged and dried himself with the towel.
Not once in his own era, had he ever encountered a problem due to the length of his hair. Bathing in a stream or hot spring offered plenty of room to move. However as he swung his dripping hair over his shoulder to wring out any excess water, Sesshomaru discovered just how small this room was.
First, a large section tangled on the door knob, while the rest swept every one of the strange objects sitting near the basin and mirror onto the floor or into the water-filled basin below. An annoyed growl escaped his lips and he glared at the foolishness of his predicament reflected in the mirror. One long strand of silver locks was attached to the doorknob and held him so that he could not stand upright. His bangs clung to his forehead and dripped into his eyes while the rest of it lay like a silver cloak over the counter and basin.
Sesshomaru tried turning his head so he could see the knot and work on removing it without any breakage, unfortunately the angle was all wrong and his own hair obstructed his view. He blinked water from his eyes and swept his bangs back with his fingers.
Before he could do anything, however, the soft sounds of someone tiptoeing towards the door caused him to freeze. The miko's scent reached his nose and he began to imagine the many ways he would kill her, life debt or not, if she even attempted to open the door. The sound of rustling silk told him she had gathered up his clothing and he couldn't help but think, About time. He held his breath as he sensed her lean closer to the door as if listening. Oh, yes, the miko would die a horribly slow and painful death if she so much as touched that handle. Fortunately for her, she moved away and ran downstairs again.
Once he could no longer hear her footsteps, Sesshomaru returned to his study of his predicament in the mirror and decided to work using the reflection. Cautiously, he unwound the strands using the tips of his claws and the last of his patience.
A moment later, he was able to straighten and wring out his hair as he had intended all along feeling a degree of vindication as a large puddle spread across the floor. Hardly an equal payment for what he had had to suffer, yet he could not very well demolish the offending knob. Wary of said doorknob, Sesshomaru settled his hair on his back again and debated retrieving the strange objects that had been knocked down.
Finally, curiosity won out over pride and he knelt down to gather them. Several tiny, tubes tried to roll out of his reach, but he hurriedly gathered them and tossed them onto the counter. A mirror had fallen, but remained remarkably unscathed. As he returned it to its place, he wondered why humans needed so many mirrors. From what he had seen, most were not very pleasant to look upon and he thought they would be more likely to avoid having to see their own reflections.
The few objects that had fallen into the water of the lower basin remained there. Instead he focused on the strange pink paper box that had spilled a number of tiny things wrapped in a strange pink material. The purpose of these completely eluded him. He assumed the outer layer was removed, but why were they scented?
After returning them to the box, he held on to one and carefully removed its pink wrapping. A small, white object fell out and unfolded on the floor. Curiosity hopelessly piqued, the demon lifted it between two claws. He noticed another, thinner layer of paper which he promptly removed and instantly regretted.
The paper had been concealing some sort of sticky substance and the thing attached itself to his hand. Snorting his frustration (and deciding that he would cut Inuyasha's arm off), Sesshomaru shook his hand trying to remove it. Had it any writing on it, he would have assumed it was some sort of sutra- a much more effective one than the old man's, at least in annoying him.
He absolutely refused to resort to using his teeth to get it off, but began to reconsider when all else had failed. Finally, after one firm shake, the thing broke loose and sailed somewhere over his head. Pleased, he did not even bother to search for the hated object, partly out of fear that it might stick to him yet again. Standing, he debated destroying the box, then decided he simply wanted to leave this room as quickly as possible.
Sesshomaru moved his gaze to the robe the miko had mentioned he could wear. His features were ice, and he simply blinked at it. The miko would die, no question about it. Her suicidal plea hung right there in front of him decked with very unrealistic pink and purple kittens that were frolicking in a very cat-like manner across a pastel yellow background.
Withholding a shudder, he shrugged it over his left stump then slipped in his right arm. In all seriousness he had considered just going down naked rather than degrade himself in such a manner- cats!- but decided it would only reveal exactly how much she was getting to him, and he refused to give her the satisfaction.
Downstairs, Kagome had started the washing machine for Sesshomaru's garments and was in the kitchen getting her pack ready for her return to the feudal era. Her mother was putting away the dishes she had washed earlier. Kagome sensed a very strong and agitated demonic aura moving closer, and turned a little fearfully to the doorway she knew he'd be gliding through at any moment. What had happened in there to get him so riled up? Mrs. Higurashi noticed her daughter's tension and turned to follow her gaze to the door. They both fought to hold in laughter when the demon lord of the west stalked with a god-like grace into the room.
Sesshomaru stood in the doorway staring at both women with a look that could have frozen hell, and judging by the sight Kagome saw meant that it really must have frozen. The pastel yellow robe adorned his regal frame with as much dignity as a clown costume. She had honestly not thought about it having kittens playing on it, but now that she saw it on him, the irony sank in. Aside from that, it was decidedly too short for him- the hem fell only to his knees. Even his hair was longer, which Kagome noticed was still dripping.
Yet even the cats and the girly color did not incite giggling like his demeanor. From his stiff, yet graceful stance to the indifferent expression on his face, he held himself as though he were still in full armor. However, his armor and swords were balanced all on his one arm, and he promptly deposited them on the kitchen table. His large fur pelt perched in its usual position over his shoulder, looking even more ridiculous than the cat robe in Kagome's opinion. It lost something without the rest of the demonic ensemble.
If he knew her thoughts, he made no sign as his face remained emotionless. Kagome knew she should have been scared out of her mind at that point, but seeing a dog demon wearing kittens just destroyed her sense of self-preservation. A grin curled her lips.
"You are prepared to leave, wench?" Sesshomaru questioned, monotone as usual, as though he did not even notice his attire.
Kagome really wished she could pull of a poker face like that, especially since she knew that her smile now could cost her life. "Um, I'm ready whenever you are, Lord Sesshomaru."
She did it! She hadn't laughed. Though Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her when she had mentioned his title. Damn, he knew what sarcasm was.
"If you find something about my attire amusing, then perhaps I should remove it," he suggested in a way that made it sound like a threat. Kagome's cheeks heated, and her mother let out a surprised squeak. "And what have you done with my usual clothes?"
"Um, they're in the washing machine," Kagome replied quickly sensing that she was on thin ice as it was with the demon lord.
He simply glared at her and barked, "Explain."
Kagome shook her head at him and said, "I'll just show you. It'll save us both time."
Sesshomaru followed her into the small washroom. The washing machine thumped gently as it churned the dirt and grime from its load. Kagome watched him from the corner of her eye, still struggling not to laugh, though inwardly she was quite impressed at his self-control.
That led to a twinge of guilt for testing his patience so. Life debt or not, he had saved her life, gone through quite an ordeal, actually, with the doctor trying to keep him for tests and then even getting shot, for whatever reason he had been shot.
Kagome felt Sesshomaru's golden gaze burning into her and started when she remembered why they were there.
"That is a washing machine," she told him and pointed at the vibrating machine. "I put your clothes inside with detergent and then I turn it on. The machine fills with water and then washes and rinses the clothing."
His nose tested the air, but he said nothing, merely nodding his understanding. His stance had not relaxed, well, had not fully returned to its usual effortless grace, but remained rigid, a sign of his discomfort. Kagome let out a sigh.
"Sesshomaru," she called softly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
His face remained neutral.
"About the cats," she clarified quickly. "I honestly didn't even think about it being a girly robe with kittens, I just looked for the biggest robe I had."
She peeked up to judge his reaction, but the only difference in his appearance was a slight softening of the eyes. She timidly held up the vial of his blood and the small mirror and said, "Here, I found these in your pocket and removed them before I put your clothes in."
He glanced down at her, an enigmatic expression on his face, but extended a large, pale hand. Kagome shivered at the sight of his sharp claws hovering just a short distance from her delicate skin. The sleeve of the robe, being much shorter than the billowing silk of his usual attire, revealed the maroon stripes on his slender forearm. In her mind, she saw that arm clinging to her tightly while its tiny owner cried his fears into her shirt.
Forcing back a smile, Kagome realized she would never be able to look at him the same. Sure, she would be fearful and respectful of him, but no matter what, she would always treasure that precious moment when a creature condemned to self-isolation for his own mysterious reasons had sought comfort and acceptance in her arms.
Breaking from her reverie, Kagome gently lay the objects in his palm allowing her hands to tenderly cup his and a slight smile to curl her lips as a brief reminder that he always would find it there. Though not a flicker of emotion passed over his face, she felt his hand stiffen at her touch, and an overwhelming surge of pity for him welled up in her chest. His reaction reminded her of a neglected child denied affection for so long that casual contact was foreign to him.
Acting against her better judgment and common sense in general, Kagome found her hands running slowly up his arm, before they snaked themselves around his waist in a firm embrace. His whole body reacted this time as every muscle clenched and his lungs seized up and held the last breath he had drawn. As quickly as she had embraced him, she released him and backed a respectful distance away. At least he hadn't told her not to put her filthy human hands on his person as she had half expected. Her cheeks heated and she silently wondered what the heck she thought she was doing.
Daring to meet his frigid gaze, Kagome took a deep, reassuring breath and said, "Look, we both know I am not going to forget this incident anytime soon, and I have no intention of ever telling anyone what's happened here... not even Inuyasha. Especially not Inuyasha. But you ought to take advantage of the time you have here to let your guard down. It must be tiring to act like you don't feel anything all the time. I understand why you do it and you have my silence, but this isn't your era. Just think about that."
Kagome's courage faltered and she broke from his intense gaze. Nothing. Outside of the sudden tensing of muscles, Kagome would have thought he had not even noticed her touch. Then again, he hadn't killed her, yet. She took that as a good sign and continued, though in a much more hesitant voice.
"Your clothes will be done in a little while, then it'll take probably another twenty minutes for them to dry so we can go back out to the living room where it's more comfortable if you like. And I'm sorry about what happened last night. You wouldn't even be here if I hadn't gotten hurt..."
"Indeed, miko, if you hadn't interfered with that mirror then I would not be here. Remember that you are culpable for all that occurred last night, and realize that I, likewise, will not forget what has transpired here for a long, long time," Sesshomaru responded a little more fiercely than usual, and he tapped a claw against the vial of his blood. "And you would do well to keep in mind that it is dangerous to assume that because I accepted your comfort as an ignorant child, I would continue to do so now."
Kagome watched him turn and glide gracefully from the room, the kittens on his robe dancing as the subtle movements stirred them. A smile split her face as she thought, "I knew I was right! If you really meant what you said, I wouldn't be standing here right now. I guess even demon lords need a hug every now and then."
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Sesshomaru practically fled the tiny washroom, trying desperately to be repulsed by her utter lack of regard for his person, yet all he felt was utter revulsion for his own behavior. He had permitted a human to not only touch him, but embrace him as though he were some pitiful creature in need of comfort. His reactions to her while in a vulnerable state were forgivable as he had literally not been himself.
But even after those memories had been restored, why did her touch cause him to react in such a manner? It had been all he could do to not sink into her embrace and, worse, return it. Their shared kiss earlier had reassured him that neither of them was in any way physically attracted to the other, yet this was somehow different. Her attentions had been... enjoyable, though he would never allow her to know that, no matter what her claims to secrecy were. He glared down at the kittens thinking at least they had served some purpose by absorbing the brunt of her embrace... now he would not have to bathe again to remove her scent.
And that was yet another thing. Despite all his threats, she still continued to treat him as kindly as she had the day she pulled him from the river. He could feel the icy memory of the water's touch and withheld an instinctual shiver. Her acceptance of him had been immediate and without condition up to the point of defying his half brother when the hanyou wanted to kill him. She had embraced him in full acceptance, yet he had dismissed that as a female's reaction to a distressed child.
Sesshomaru quickly forced back the accompanying memory of his response to his brother, unwilling to explore a reaction he could only define as respect for the hanyou. He did not even want to think on what he had said to him just yet; his problem with the miko was enough to ponder for now.
The strange little miko. She defied logic; continued to offer her unconditional affection to him in his rightful form even knowing that he despised her for it and could kill her. Despite her gross error in taste, she had provided him with food, a bath and clothing while his washed. He had sensed no lie when she claimed to have not intentionally given him the cat robe, and she had even apologized for that. She had accepted him into her home though he had been her enemy. Perhaps she was right, and he had been wrong. She was far from weak, possessing a rare strength like that of Tenseiga.
"Sesshomaru?" The miko's soft call broke him from his thoughts. He stood in the middle of the room where the strange box's absence was strangely noticeable. The boy stood staring openly at him and held one of those 'phone' things loosely in one hand. Sesshomaru was inadvertently letting his guard down in this place, but he made sure to hide his displeasure at being caught unawares.
"Well, we have a while till your clothes are done," she continued just as meekly, which really surprised him, because her scent flared with anger. He noticed that her feelings, though, seemed to be focused solely on the boy. "I would offer to let you watch some TV, but that is no longer an option. I bought some magazines at the store I thought you might like to read, or you're welcome to any of my books. I'm going to get some homework done until time, so if you need anything, I'll be upstairs."
"Hmph," he grunted vaguely when she extended some strange, colorful books emblazoned with faces of human females. When he did not take them, she simply dropped them at his feet and continued on up the stairs with an odd smile playing about her lips.
Sesshomaru frowned. Hers was a smile to either enjoy or fear, he had learned; and this one was a smile that roused his suspicions.
xxx
Kagome marveled that her brother was still alive; obviously Sesshomaru had not really been paying attention. Sota had just taken a picture with their mother's camera phone of the demon lord wearing a fuzzy yellow bathrobe with frolicking kittens that bared his legs nearly up to his thighs and hair that was still dripping from his recent shower. If she were to keep her promise, she would have to confiscate the picture, but there was no reason she couldn't keep it hidden somewhere safe... for her own amusement.
Kagome heard her mother's sighs and soft words coming from inside the bathroom as she passed. "Oh dear, it was my favorite and they no longer make that design. I just wonder where they went."
Kagome forced herself not to look at what her mother was talking about, not really feeling strong enough to see the results of those ominous crashes.
Back in her room, she closed the door and let out all the laughter she had been holding in since Sesshomaru had strode confidently into the kitchen. She would have to treat Sota to some burgers or something for taking that picture, after she took it from him. Trying to force the image from her mind, Kagome pulled out her math book and began to study the equations and formulas that she would need on the test.
Just as the endless drone of numbers had sufficiently numbed her mind to the white-haired distraction, the demon opened the door and glided inside. He stared at her back (she firmly kept her eyes trained on the page before her knowing that if she saw him, all hopes of study would be gone) and then the bed creaked signaling that Sesshomaru had settled himself on it.
She read the same problem over and over without ever actually understanding a word of it. The soft rustle of pages turning told her he must have decided to read the magazines after all. After ten minutes of staring blankly at her math book, Kagome finally turned to face the nuisance that disturbed her in her own room.
Sesshomaru sat cross legged and straight backed on her bed. Kagome slumped with relief upon seeing that he had had the decency to cover anything the robe failed to with his fur. There were some things she considered beyond the bounds of even her curiosity, though this thought led her to the realization that she had indeed seen him in all his glory when he had readily given Inuyasha back his fire rat just before they purified the mirror.
Hoping that her cheeks did not match Inuyasha's outfit at the moment, Kagome shifted her focus to the slightly tangled length of rather sopping silver hair that currently soaked her comforter. Irritated rather than embarrassed now, Kagome also noted that his armor and swords had been tossed against the end of her bed and had created a very ugly snag in the soft fabric.
Filled with anger now, Kagome returned her scrutiny to Sesshomaru who steadily flipped the pages of a magazine, but his gaze had settled on the window watching the hut that housed the well. Her annoyance evaporated as she studied this new facet of the mysterious demon lord.
His face remained stiff, and unreadable, but his eyes belied a sadness. It appeared as though he looked at the well with longing, as though there was something or someone there that he missed. A little brown-eyed girl in an orange kimono came to mind, and Kagome smiled. He must miss Rin, she decided, and her smile broadened at the thought.
Another thought hit her suddenly as she yet again noticed the growing wetness on her bed.
"Sesshomaru!" she exclaimed brightly. He glanced her through the corner of his eye, but did not acknowledge her.
Kagome gritted her teeth and ground out, "Lord Sesshomaru."
He turned his head to face her that time and waited silently for her to speak. Jerk, Kagome thought then asked, "Not that there's anything wrong with your being here in my room, but did you need something?"
He blinked at her then replied, "No."
Kagome should have known better than to expect a real answer. "Then why are you here? Did you miss me?" She couldn't resist adding that last bit.
Sesshomaru must not have been in the mood to joke. "The old one wants for me to put him out of his misery, yet I do not feel inclined to assist him."
"Oh, sorry about that, and thank you, for not killing him," Kagome replied feeling a little awkward now that she had his attention. Those cold eyes were unnerving, like he was sifting through her soul and judging the innermost parts.
"Well, since you don't need anything, I thought I'd offer to dry your hair for you," she told him brightly, and forced those unsettling thoughts from her mind.
Her statement must have caught him guard because his eyes widened a little in surprise before he reined in all emotion and said, "I was unaware mikos possessed such an ability. Nor did I think you had any desire to groom me."
Kagome blushed at his insinuation and snapped, "It's not that! I just didn't want you to keep getting my bed wet. And I have a hair drier to do that, not some special ability."
In response to the glimmer of confusion in his eyes, she added, "It's a machine that blows hot air."
"And what makes you think I would want a human pawing at any part of my person?"
"I'm just trying to be nice and save my comforter. I'll use a brush; I won't touch you, so you don't have to worry about my scent," she fired back at him and spun back around to face her math book.
What had possessed her to think that Sesshomaru would allow a filthy human to touch his precious hair? Gosh, she'd seen him play with it before and knew by its luxurious condition he obviously cared for it more than a little. The vain prick! It wasn't like she really wanted to mess with it anyways; she just wanted it to stop dripping on her bed, though it wasn't likely he cared about that in the least.
"Very well." His voice made her jump. "You may use this hair drier, but under no circumstances are you to touch a single strand."
Kagome was still too stunned for words when she returned with a spare hair brush and her drier. She motioned for him to turn so that his long hair would be able hang straight over the edge of her bed. She parted it with the brush and focused on one side. Carefully, she eased out any tangles.
As she worked, Kagome noticed Sesshomaru's initial stiffness start to subside. He even closed his eyes, until she gently warned him about the hair drier. He merely nodded his understanding, and closed them again. Kagome was very careful not to touch the silver strands which became much more difficult as they dried and floated lazily beneath the force of the drier.
Though the drone of the drier made it difficult to tell, she thought she heard a low, contented growl rumbling in his chest and smiled. When she turned the machine off, the low growl continued. Surprised that he would continue to do this when she would be able to hear for certain, Kagome peeked around at his face. His chin had dropped nearly to his chest which rose and fell with deep, even breaths. His eyes were still closed and his face had relaxed completely.
He's asleep! she realized with a start. How the heck do they sleep sitting up? He, Inuyasha, Miroku- they're all old pros at it, I guess.
Kagome just shook her head at the demon and moved over to start on the other side. This was really taking a lot longer than she had first thought and her arms felt a little tired. She stretched and hoped it wouldn't wake him when she started to work the tangles from the other side. She knew for a fact he would not be pleased at having fallen asleep in front of her, much less because of her "grooming" him.
Something partially hidden in his hair caught her eye, something a slightly different shade of white. Kagome was about to reach for it when her door burst open and her mother walked in. Kagome jumped and Sesshomaru let out a fierce snarl. His eyes bled red and he had bared his fangs at her mother before he seemed to recognize where he was and erected his indifferent mask.
Kagome's mother jumped also and backed up a step. She glanced nervously at a blushing Kagome and said, "I was just bringing Sesshomaru his clothing. They're dry and I'm sure he's more than ready to change out of your old bathrobe."
xxx
Kagome, her mother and Sesshomaru finally stood just outside the entrance to the well house. The demon, decked once again in his regal kimono and armor, stood as keen and aloof as he had each and every time Kagome had previously encountered him. His golden eyes and stoic face revealed nothing of what could possibly have been going through his mind at that point. Kagome smiled briefly at the mental image of Sesshomaru glaring at her in nothing but her kitten robe and his large fur pelt, and reminded herself to thank Sota for having taken that picture.
Speaking of the devil, neither he nor her grandpa were anywhere in sight, though this was not at all surprising. Sota had not shown himself since taking that picture and Grandpa had been about to follow them outside, but after one of Sesshomaru's particularly icy glares, he had wisely found something that needed his immediate attention on the other side of the shrine.
That left Mrs. Higurashi to see them off. She adjusted Kagome's backpack that was now near overflowing with the ramen and other supplies and gifts she had gotten for her friends. The doll for Rin had been hidden safely at the bottom already freed of its packaging. Kagome smiled at her mother and gave her a quick hug. The package of ramen crinkled as it was squeezed in her grip; she had decided it would be best to arrive with peace offering in plain sight so that she could distract the irritated hanyou who was very likely pacing at the well.
After promising her mother to return as soon as she had reassured Inuyasha that she was fine (and seen to it that Inuyasha did not get himself killed by Sesshomaru), Kagome slid open the door to the well and walked up to the rim. Sesshomaru followed, once again a silent angel of death hovering over her shoulder.
Kagome glanced up at him and gave him a broad smile that was not returned. "Well, are you ready to go back?"
Sesshomaru merely glanced down at her before settling his gaze firmly on the dark recess of the well. Kagome thought he look pretty eager to get back, well, about as much as a sculpture can look eager to be on display, but that was a pretty open display coming from the demon lord.
"You will keep your promise of silence or I will make certain you are unable to break it. Is this understood, miko?" he finally said. His words dropped like icy stones into a pool and sent chilling ripples of fear down Kagome's spine. He was already back to his old feudal attitude, that was for certain.
Forcing back those shivers, Kagome flashed him a brilliant smile and replied, "Of course. I'm a little smarter than you give me credit, Lord Sesshomaru."
He did not respond to her playful jab, his indifferent facade firmly in place. She shook her head at him and said, "After you."
The demon did not hesitate, but leapt gracefully into the well in a brilliant display of fluttering silk and white hair. Kagome let out an envious sigh, climbed awkwardly over the rim, and followed him into the familiar blue light.