Thanks for the reviewage! Sorry this has taken so long, but between my mother having surgery and my own health issues as well as the kids starting school, it has been a very hectic couple of weeks. So please don't hurt me! Meep. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter. I'm going to aim for a once a week update. We'll see how it goes.
The forest floor was covered in a thick, springy moss. The forest path was completely clear of obstacles, except for the occasional squirrel that hurried from one tree to another. With the addition of the cool breeze and the soft chattering of songbirds in the trees above, it was the perfect day for a stroll. Unless, of course, you were currently handicapped by a broken leg, and had only a walking stick to help you on your way.
Kagome stared at the path before her, determination written all over her face. She put her makeshift crutch down upon the ground with a thud, as if trying to show herself she had the strength to do this. She slowly put her weight on it, the weight her right leg normally supported. With a grunt, she took a cautious step forward, clutching onto the wooden staff... And once more she crumpled to the ground with a cry.
"Oh, stop Kagome! Your leg will never get better this way!," Rin protested from where she kept watch. Her eyes began to brim with tears as she watched Kagome struggle to move, and she hurried forward to help. Kagome had allowed her to help her get out of the house, but was now attempting to walk on her own, with only the wooden staff to aid her. Sesshoumaru watched from a distance, mildy interested. His usual placid expression was in place, framed by long white hair.
"I can do it!" Kagome gently waved away Rin's offers of help and brought her left leg beneath her. Leaning on the staff, Kagome heaved herself up, and only luck prevented her from losing her balance and falling once more. Brown eyes glinted with the stubbornness that Kagome had possessed her entire life, and once more she took a step.
Sesshoumaru became more than slightly interested. He rarely saw humans display such raw spirit and conviction as he saw in Kagome's every movement. Golden eyes narrowed as he contemplated this. He watched her carefully.
Kagome moved forward a step, but every muscle cried out for her to stop. Her head pounded and her leg ached. The trees all around began to blur, and her breath became ragged. It was just too difficult. There was no way she could go traveling alone in her condition, and she seriously doubted Sesshoumaru would give her a ride. An image of herself perched on the back of such a noble seeming person made her laugh out loud. She had to lean hard against the staff to keep herself from falling.
One of Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose slightly, and Rin stared at Kagome as if she had gone mad. "Eh, Kagome? What's so funny?," Rin asked the still chuckling girl.
"Her fever drove her mad," Jaken muttered from where he was seated upon a rock. Rin frowned at him. "That's not very nice, Jaken," she said. The toad demon huffed his lack of concern and looked away.
"Never mind, Rin. A funny thought just crossed my mind. I think I will go sit back down and rest. No, I can do it," Kagome said, and began to limp her way back to her room.
Sesshoumaru quietly watched her, noticing the level of her pain in her movements and voice. He could smell it coming off her in waves; yet she did not let it defeat her. She would not allow Rin to help her walk, but kept making her slow yet steady progress alone. He found his interest piqued.
"Are you so prideful you are willing to injure yourself further rather than accept help?" Sesshoumaru's cool voice reached the ears of Kagome, and she froze for a moment, as if surprised he had even noticed her. She slowly turned, and the eyes which met his steady gaze were strong and unafraid. Rin and Jaken watched them both carefully, but did not interrupt.
"I do have some pride, yes. But that is not the problem. I just know that if I want to get better, I have to do the work myself, not let someone else do it for me. If I did, how would I ever walk again? Seems like a silly question from such a wise seeming demon. But I guess you don't deal with many humans other than Rin. Just because we humans don't have the powers of a demon does not mean that we are weaker than you in the heart and soul." Kagome nearly started at her own bold words; she half expected Sesshoumaru to strike her down for speaking in such a disrespectful way. And yet she knew so little about him, she really couldn't begin to guess at how he might react. He seemed to be almost a stark opposite of Inuyasha; calm, unemotional to an extreme extent, and possessing a presence which demanded respect.
Sesshoumaru walked over to Kagome, and while she felt a slight pang of fear, she did not take her eyes away from his. He stared down at her for a long moment, and Kagome could feel her heart pumping ever faster. Why couldn't he frown, or smile, or laugh? He gave no indication of what he was thinking. It was terribly unnerving.
Finally he responded, and his voice was a gentle whisper. "I suppose we shall discover the truth to your claim, Kagome," he said, and carefully picked a blade of grass from her dark hair. Then he turned his back on her and strolled into the forest with his usual fluid grace and was gone within moments, Jaken hurrying after.
Kagome stared after him, willing her heart to slow down. Rin hurried over. "What did Sesshoumaru say?," she asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Kagome looked down at her, and took a deep breath. "Nothing, Rin... I guess he expects me to prove myself to him." Kagome laughed, but her voice did not hold the same merriment it had moments earlier. She straightened, tossing her hair out of her face and squaring her shoulders before continuing on her way to the cottage. She didn't know how to react, as the demonm's motives were completely unknown to her. At least with Inuyasha she always knew why he was angry, and it was a simple matter of letting him know what an idiot he was.
That night, Kagome's dreams were troubled. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, reaching for something of vital importance. Was it the shikon jewel? She couldn't make it out, but it was so close...
"Good morning Kagome!" Rin's beaming face was the first thing Kagome saw. After a long moment of disorientation, Kagome regained her bearings, and the dream fragmented and was forgotten. She yawned loudly, and rubbed at the sleep in her eyes.
"Mmmm. Good morning Rin. What are you so excited about?," Kagome asked, smiling at the happy girl.
"I found a whole bush full of berries! Come out of bed and see! They're really good!" Rin pulled at Kagome's hand, and her childish exuberance finally affected Kagome. Beaming back at Rin, Kagome carefully swung her bandaged leg out of bed and pulled her clothes on. Rin handed her the wooden staff and they made their way outside and into the cheerful early morning sunlight.
Within minutes they had gotten to the bush, and Kagome was enjoying a bountiful breakfast of berries and river water with Rin. She was glad to sit and rest her already sore leg. Rin took advantage of the time and excitedly told Kagome stories about the times she had spent with Sesshoumaru and Jaken.
"And then Jaken was healed before sunset? You must have been so glad. You were so brave, to go looking alone for the cure, Rin," Kagome said at the end of one story. Rin flashed her a very red, juicy grin.
"How very sweet... You both look good enough to eat!" A voice came from above, low and menacing.
Kagome and Rin cried out when several nasty looking demons surrounded them. They were a mix of different creatures, some with tails and other with wings, and more than a couple with claws and fangs. Kagome tried to block Rin from their grasp.
"Leave us alone!," Kagome yelled, fearing for Rin's safety. The demon which had spoke before laughed. He had the face of a hog and tusks curled at the sides of his mouth. They matched the sickly yellow of the teeth he flashed when he laughed, and the hooves he had for feet pawed at the ground. His body was covered in a thick black fur, and his beady yellow eyes leered at them. "I think I would rather have some fun with you girls... I like 'em young. They scream so much more," he said, and a black tongue flicked out to moisten cracked lips. He snorted derisively through his long snout. Kagome shuddered in disgust; the creature was repulsive to every sense she possessed.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll back off," Kagome said, and with the help of her staff she rose and glared at the demons. They all laughed and jeered, their narrowed eyes raking over her body. She felt violated just by their glances. The thought of their hands on her got her skin to crawling.
"And just why should we feel threatened by a wounded human woman and a little child?," the pig demon asked with a sneer. Kagome swallowed and glanced about, desperate for an escape of some sort. A desperate idea flitted through her mind, and she blurted it out before thinking.
"Because, my dear demons, I am the lover of Sesshoumaru, Lord of The Western Lands. And if you so much as lay a finger on me or our... daughter... you will have to face his wrath!," she stated firmly, one hand on her hip and eyes bright with defiance.
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Are we all amused? I hope so. :3 Don't forget to review! See ya next week!
The forest floor was covered in a thick, springy moss. The forest path was completely clear of obstacles, except for the occasional squirrel that hurried from one tree to another. With the addition of the cool breeze and the soft chattering of songbirds in the trees above, it was the perfect day for a stroll. Unless, of course, you were currently handicapped by a broken leg, and had only a walking stick to help you on your way.
Kagome stared at the path before her, determination written all over her face. She put her makeshift crutch down upon the ground with a thud, as if trying to show herself she had the strength to do this. She slowly put her weight on it, the weight her right leg normally supported. With a grunt, she took a cautious step forward, clutching onto the wooden staff... And once more she crumpled to the ground with a cry.
"Oh, stop Kagome! Your leg will never get better this way!," Rin protested from where she kept watch. Her eyes began to brim with tears as she watched Kagome struggle to move, and she hurried forward to help. Kagome had allowed her to help her get out of the house, but was now attempting to walk on her own, with only the wooden staff to aid her. Sesshoumaru watched from a distance, mildy interested. His usual placid expression was in place, framed by long white hair.
"I can do it!" Kagome gently waved away Rin's offers of help and brought her left leg beneath her. Leaning on the staff, Kagome heaved herself up, and only luck prevented her from losing her balance and falling once more. Brown eyes glinted with the stubbornness that Kagome had possessed her entire life, and once more she took a step.
Sesshoumaru became more than slightly interested. He rarely saw humans display such raw spirit and conviction as he saw in Kagome's every movement. Golden eyes narrowed as he contemplated this. He watched her carefully.
Kagome moved forward a step, but every muscle cried out for her to stop. Her head pounded and her leg ached. The trees all around began to blur, and her breath became ragged. It was just too difficult. There was no way she could go traveling alone in her condition, and she seriously doubted Sesshoumaru would give her a ride. An image of herself perched on the back of such a noble seeming person made her laugh out loud. She had to lean hard against the staff to keep herself from falling.
One of Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose slightly, and Rin stared at Kagome as if she had gone mad. "Eh, Kagome? What's so funny?," Rin asked the still chuckling girl.
"Her fever drove her mad," Jaken muttered from where he was seated upon a rock. Rin frowned at him. "That's not very nice, Jaken," she said. The toad demon huffed his lack of concern and looked away.
"Never mind, Rin. A funny thought just crossed my mind. I think I will go sit back down and rest. No, I can do it," Kagome said, and began to limp her way back to her room.
Sesshoumaru quietly watched her, noticing the level of her pain in her movements and voice. He could smell it coming off her in waves; yet she did not let it defeat her. She would not allow Rin to help her walk, but kept making her slow yet steady progress alone. He found his interest piqued.
"Are you so prideful you are willing to injure yourself further rather than accept help?" Sesshoumaru's cool voice reached the ears of Kagome, and she froze for a moment, as if surprised he had even noticed her. She slowly turned, and the eyes which met his steady gaze were strong and unafraid. Rin and Jaken watched them both carefully, but did not interrupt.
"I do have some pride, yes. But that is not the problem. I just know that if I want to get better, I have to do the work myself, not let someone else do it for me. If I did, how would I ever walk again? Seems like a silly question from such a wise seeming demon. But I guess you don't deal with many humans other than Rin. Just because we humans don't have the powers of a demon does not mean that we are weaker than you in the heart and soul." Kagome nearly started at her own bold words; she half expected Sesshoumaru to strike her down for speaking in such a disrespectful way. And yet she knew so little about him, she really couldn't begin to guess at how he might react. He seemed to be almost a stark opposite of Inuyasha; calm, unemotional to an extreme extent, and possessing a presence which demanded respect.
Sesshoumaru walked over to Kagome, and while she felt a slight pang of fear, she did not take her eyes away from his. He stared down at her for a long moment, and Kagome could feel her heart pumping ever faster. Why couldn't he frown, or smile, or laugh? He gave no indication of what he was thinking. It was terribly unnerving.
Finally he responded, and his voice was a gentle whisper. "I suppose we shall discover the truth to your claim, Kagome," he said, and carefully picked a blade of grass from her dark hair. Then he turned his back on her and strolled into the forest with his usual fluid grace and was gone within moments, Jaken hurrying after.
Kagome stared after him, willing her heart to slow down. Rin hurried over. "What did Sesshoumaru say?," she asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Kagome looked down at her, and took a deep breath. "Nothing, Rin... I guess he expects me to prove myself to him." Kagome laughed, but her voice did not hold the same merriment it had moments earlier. She straightened, tossing her hair out of her face and squaring her shoulders before continuing on her way to the cottage. She didn't know how to react, as the demonm's motives were completely unknown to her. At least with Inuyasha she always knew why he was angry, and it was a simple matter of letting him know what an idiot he was.
That night, Kagome's dreams were troubled. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, reaching for something of vital importance. Was it the shikon jewel? She couldn't make it out, but it was so close...
"Good morning Kagome!" Rin's beaming face was the first thing Kagome saw. After a long moment of disorientation, Kagome regained her bearings, and the dream fragmented and was forgotten. She yawned loudly, and rubbed at the sleep in her eyes.
"Mmmm. Good morning Rin. What are you so excited about?," Kagome asked, smiling at the happy girl.
"I found a whole bush full of berries! Come out of bed and see! They're really good!" Rin pulled at Kagome's hand, and her childish exuberance finally affected Kagome. Beaming back at Rin, Kagome carefully swung her bandaged leg out of bed and pulled her clothes on. Rin handed her the wooden staff and they made their way outside and into the cheerful early morning sunlight.
Within minutes they had gotten to the bush, and Kagome was enjoying a bountiful breakfast of berries and river water with Rin. She was glad to sit and rest her already sore leg. Rin took advantage of the time and excitedly told Kagome stories about the times she had spent with Sesshoumaru and Jaken.
"And then Jaken was healed before sunset? You must have been so glad. You were so brave, to go looking alone for the cure, Rin," Kagome said at the end of one story. Rin flashed her a very red, juicy grin.
"How very sweet... You both look good enough to eat!" A voice came from above, low and menacing.
Kagome and Rin cried out when several nasty looking demons surrounded them. They were a mix of different creatures, some with tails and other with wings, and more than a couple with claws and fangs. Kagome tried to block Rin from their grasp.
"Leave us alone!," Kagome yelled, fearing for Rin's safety. The demon which had spoke before laughed. He had the face of a hog and tusks curled at the sides of his mouth. They matched the sickly yellow of the teeth he flashed when he laughed, and the hooves he had for feet pawed at the ground. His body was covered in a thick black fur, and his beady yellow eyes leered at them. "I think I would rather have some fun with you girls... I like 'em young. They scream so much more," he said, and a black tongue flicked out to moisten cracked lips. He snorted derisively through his long snout. Kagome shuddered in disgust; the creature was repulsive to every sense she possessed.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll back off," Kagome said, and with the help of her staff she rose and glared at the demons. They all laughed and jeered, their narrowed eyes raking over her body. She felt violated just by their glances. The thought of their hands on her got her skin to crawling.
"And just why should we feel threatened by a wounded human woman and a little child?," the pig demon asked with a sneer. Kagome swallowed and glanced about, desperate for an escape of some sort. A desperate idea flitted through her mind, and she blurted it out before thinking.
"Because, my dear demons, I am the lover of Sesshoumaru, Lord of The Western Lands. And if you so much as lay a finger on me or our... daughter... you will have to face his wrath!," she stated firmly, one hand on her hip and eyes bright with defiance.
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Are we all amused? I hope so. :3 Don't forget to review! See ya next week!