Thanks for all of the reviews and I apologize for the wait. My mind decided that it wanted a vacation and didn't tell me. This chapter didn't go as well as I hoped, but it should be up to par with the rest, if not a little shorter than I expected it to be.
Chapter Five
"Did either of you notice the expression on Sesshoumaru's face when Kagome explained to us her reasons for being here?" Sango asked her two roommates.
"Yeah. They're definitely hiding something," Inuyasha confirmed.
"The question, however, is what?" Miroku added.
"You guys wait here. I'm gonna pay my asshole brother a little visit." He then took a look at his friends' faces. "Argh! Talk! We are going to talk! I'm not stupid enough to start a fight with him in his own home!!" That said, he stormed out of the room and toward his brother's.
'Glad to see that they have so much faith in my control,' the half-demon thought wryly as he approached the room.
As he raised his fist to beat on the door, he heard his brother's calm voice beckon him in. Stepping in, the younger brother saw the elder seated behind a large mahogany desk, reviewing some papers that were obviously boring him to death.
"What do you want, Half-Breed? Can't you see that I am very busy?" he asked as he began writing a response to the letter in his hand.
"Well first of all, what the hell happened to your arm? I clearly remember hacking the blasted thing off!"
"It regenerated. Anything else?"
"Why is Kagome here?"
"I believe the miko answered your question earlier. Now leave."
"One last question."
"What?"
"Why are you allowing a miko here after what happened? Or have you forgotten?"
In an instant, Inuyasha was grabbed by the throat and slammed into the wall, his brother preparing to run him through with his poison claws.
"Don't you ever bring that up in my presence again or so help me, I will not hesitate in killing you, you worthless idiot. Now get out, now!" he growled, struggling to maintain his composure. He squeezed his brother's neck tightly once, before dropping him to allow him to leave.
When he had exited, Sesshoumaru punched the wall. "Dammit!! Why did I allow him here?!"
Outside, the younger Inuyoukai heard the elder and sighed, bringing a hand to his now sore throat.
"I've never heard or felt him this angry before," he said to no one in particular. 'It's my own damn fault, though. I should have known better than to bring that up.'
"Do you understand, Rin?"
"But Rin is not sick."
"No, but I need you to pretend to be."
"Why?"
"Do you want to protect Lord Sesshoumaru?" The girl nodded her head vigorously. "Well, if people found out that he was sick, then they would come after him and try to kill him, so that's why I need you to pretend."
"I'll keep you company and play with you," Shippo stated.
"Rin will try, Kagome."
"Thank you, Rin."
Right then, the group heard a slam coming from across the hall.
"Shippo, stay here with Rin, okay? I'm going to see what's wrong." At his nod, she left the room and slowly entered his.
To say that she was shocked would have been an understatement. Sesshoumaru was seated in the chair by the door, head back and eyes closed. There was also an almost two foot deep hole in the wall.
"I take it Inuyasha was here," she stated. Sighing heavily, he opened his eyes to look at the girl.
Once their eyes met, however, she gasped and took a few tentative steps backward. The demon's eyes were tinted red and his jaw was tensed. It appeared that he was attempting to force back his rage using pure will power, but was having a very difficult time accomplishing the feat.
Not knowing what else to do, Kagome calmed herself, then gently rested her hand on his cheek, causing him to growl at the contact.
"What do you think you are doing, Girl?"
"Trust me," she whispered. "This should relax you as well as calm your rage. I just need to concentrate."
Suddenly, a warm feeling surrounded him, calming him instantly. He could feel the taming of his demonic rage as the crimson slowly drained from his eyes and his shoulders slackened.
'What is wrong with me?! Why is this girl causing such a reaction from me? She is nothing but a weak human child.'
She is anything but weak and you know it.
'She is human.'
Is that what is really bothering you about the girl, or is it that you wish to know why she is helping you, her enemy, so willingly.
'She has no choice in the matter.'
She does have a choice, and she is still her. She is well aware of the risks, yet she stays.
'But she is also a miko.'
There is no relation between them.
'And you know this?'
She is pure. You can sense it.
'I suppose.'
The girl can be trusted.
The recession of the warmth drew Sesshoumaru from his thoughts as the girl slowly sank to the ground, her breathing slightly heavy.
"What ails you, Miko?"
"I guess I used too much of my powers too quickly and in too short a time."
"What exactly were you just doing?"
"I was using a relaxation technique that the priestess Kaede taught me. I needed to concentrate because it involves the purification magic and I really didn't want to purify you, so I had to use just the right amount of each power."
"I see."
She then smiled up at the demon. "Um, Sesshoumaru, do you mind if I skip dinner tonight? I'm too tired to walk all the way down there and back."
He thought about it. "I will have Kira bring your food to you here."
"Not to sound rude, but I didn't think that you knew the names of your servants."
"Kira and I grew up together. Our fathers were very close, he being one of my father's trusted friends." She rose to her feet and yawned. "You may stay here and rest. I will inform the kit as to your whereabouts as we head to the dining room."
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I'm so tired that I doubt that I'd make it across the hall to my room. Though, are you sure that you don't mind my staying in your room?"
He nodded. "That reminds me. I hope you don't mind, but I had to tell Shippo the real reason why I'm here. He's going to play with Rin so she can play along with what I told the others without getting bored." He again nodded.
"Are you able to stay awake long enough for Kira to bring your food?" It was her turn to nod. "Very well. She will be here shortly." With that, the Taiyoukai got to his feet and left.
"Inuyasha, what happened to your neck?" Sango wondered.
He had just returned to their room and his companions noticed the five deep red marks on his neck, four on one side, and one on the other.
"No, let me guess. You said something stupid and your brother choked you. Am I right?" Miroku guessed. At his nod, the monk continued. "What did you say this time?"
"I brought up a memory that I shouldn't have."
"Like what?"
"It's a family matter. I may hate him, but I won't betray this."
"Okay," Sango cut in, changing the subject. "I'm hungry. How about we head to the dining room? A servant said to go there when you returned."
"I guess so."
"Just don't open your mouth and everything should be alright."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Miroku?!"
Kagome was slowly drifting to sleep when a slight knock drew her attention.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened, slowly revealing Kira. The demoness entered the room carrying a tray of delicious smelling food. She placed the tray on the stand beside the Demon Lord's bed and turned toward the priestess.
"If it is alright with you, I brought my dinner as well to keep you company."
"I'd appreciate it, Kira." She handed Kira her food and then took her own. "So Kira."
"Yes, Lady?"
"Kira," she warned.
"Sorry, Kagome."
"Better. Now, what type of demon are you? I'm guessing wolf."
"Kitsune, actually. My father was in the Lord InuTaisho's employ many years ago. Sesshoumaru and I grew up as brother and sister."
"And you also knew Inuyasha?"
She blushed slightly. "I did. I must admit, I was quite surprised to see him here after so many years."
"You have a crush, don't you?" Kagome stated knowingly.
"What is a crush?"
"You love Inuyasha!" she sang.
Kira's blush deepened considerably. "When I learned that he had been sealed to the God Tree by the undead priestess, I attempted to remove the arrow, but to no avail. I simply resigned myself to visiting as often as possible. It wasn't until Lord Sesshoumaru returned missing his arm that I learned or his revival."
"Mroo ssd trrll hrmm."
"What did you say?"
"Yroo sh'd t'll h'm."
"Kagome, maybe you should try swallowing your food before you try speaking."
Nodding, she swallowed and tried again. "I said that you should tell him."
"Oh, I couldn't."
"Why not?"
"He seems to have eyes for you, Kagome."
"He knows that it can never happen. When he sees me, he sees Kikyou." She paused to giggle. "Besides, he pisses me off too much. I have to 'sit' him at least twice a day."
"Sit?"
She laughed. "Just wait. You'll see."
"If I may be so bold, what do you think of Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"How do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
"Well, I can definitely tell you that I didn't think it was possible for anyone to look that beautiful, so I definitely enjoy looking at him, but we've been enemies too long for me to think of him as anything other than an emotionless jerk."
"I see." She paused. "You should rest. I need to speak with Sesshoumaru."
"I'll see you when I wake up. I expect that bath later, and you can keep me company."
"Sure thing, Kagome."
"What do you mean Kagome's not coming?!" Inuyasha roared, causing a collective sigh.
Rolling his golden eyes, Sesshoumaru replied, "Kira brought her food to her, then she is to rest."
"Then I'll go see her."
"She is resting in the one place that you will not bother her."
"Really. And where, pray tell, is that?"
"My room."
At that, Inuyasha's jaw dropped and Miroku and Sango choked on their food as they all stared wide-eyed at the demon.
"She's where?! Why?!" the hanyou cried.
"The miko was investigating a loud crash that came from my room moments after your departure, oddly enough, Little Brother."
Kira's entrance drew the brothers' attentions away from the impending fight. She cleared her throat and gracefully walked over to the Taiyoukai. The fox demoness whispered something in Sesshoumaru's ear and, after his nod of approval, left.
"Eat. I have important business that must be taken care of immediately." Rising, he abruptly left the room.