{Disclaimer: Check previous chapters... Why? 'Cause I'm too lazy to do one today...}
NL: Hey, everyone! *Mexican accent* Guess what, man! I know Mexican Judo!! Judonno if I gotta knife, judonno if I gotta gun, judonno if I'm crazy or not! *normal accent* Okay, so you know that I'm crazy... But hey! It's cool, right?
Hiraikotsu Slinger: *quirks an eyebrow and smiles* Only in your world, NL.
NL: *playful glare at HS, then starts laughing*
HS: *sweatdrop* What?
NL: I just realized!! *laugh, laugh, guffaw* Your initials are almost like *giggle, laugh* THE HOME SHOPPING NETWORK!!!
HS: O.o'' Right..... *looks away from the laughing loony she calls her "friend"* Anyway, the real reason that we're here is to introduce the next chapter to you. *looks at NL* Dude, it wasn't that funny...
NL: *continues laughing* Sure it was!! *gets slapped by Inu-chan* Hey, what was that for?
Inu-chan: ...............
NL: What?!
Inu-chan: ........You wouldn't shut up and it was hurting everyone's ears..........
NL: Oh... whoops.... Gomen nasai, minna... I guess you were right, HS. It really wasn't that funny.... Okay, now that I'm calm, here's the next chapter!!
Chapter Six
Dinner and Dreams
As Akira helped Kagome put her obi on, she couldn't help but ask. "Milady, if it isn't to bold to ask, what exactly happened?"
Kagome looked at her new friend before lowering her eyes. ".......Nothing...."
Akira gave a good natured smile and waved the other servant off. "Kagome-sama, if something is ever troubling you, all you have to do is say my name and I shall appear before you the moment the word escapes your lips."
Kagome raised her eyes in surprise. "How will you know where I am when I call for you? How will you even hear me?"
Akira smiled gently and stepped back from Kagome. "This body is a disguise for what I really am." She glowed a baby blue, an aura surrounding her.
As the light engulfed her, Kagome could feel youki beginning to fill the room. 'She's... She's youkai? I thought she was human!!' The light reached a blinding peak, and Kagome covered her eyes, barely able to stand the intensity of the aura's light. When the brightness dissipated, Kagome lowered her arm to reveal a beautiful inu youkai. She had cerulean eyes, matching stripes on each cheek, pointed elvin ears and a strange seven-pointed star on her forehead. Her hair, originally just a red that reminded Kagome of Shippou, turned to a fire-engine-red with white, black, and blue stripes sprinkled throughout. "You're... You're a dog demon?"
"Hai."
"And... you're Sesshoumaru's servant?"
"Hai."
"But... Why?! I mean, wouldn't he want you as a mate? You're much prettier than me!"
Akira looked down. "It was a trade," she said softly.
"What?"
"It was a deal that Sesshoumaru-sama made with my mother, Chimene." Akira looked up into Kagome's eyes, tears forming in her own. "Chimene, being the possessive dog that she is, did something that really twisted Sesshoumaru-sama's tail in a knot, if you'll forgive the expression. I'm not exactly sure what it was, for I was still young in youkai years... Anyway, Sesshoumaru-sama declared war on Chimene. She persuaded him to cease fighting with her by giving her only child over to him. He only agreed because the child seemed precious to the taiyoukai of the north... He was sadly mistaken......" Akira's voice trailed off as she struggled to hold back a sob.
"Oh, Akira... I'm so sorry..." Kagome walked over and wrapped her arms around the oujoyoukai's shoulders. Akira turned in her arms and sobbed into her shoulder. Kagome remembered a similar time when Sango had done the same after betraying the group. As she pat Akira's hair, saying comforting words, another smaller inu youkai walked in and requested that they come to dinner. "Both of us?"
"Hai," the dog demon said, flipping his golden hair back over his shoulder. "Sesshoumaru-sama has been awaiting your arrival for ten minutes."
"Fine. Tell him that I am disinclined to acquiesce to his request for a few minutes. I'm sure he can wait that much longer."
The youkai smirked. "He said you'd say that. And he said if that would be the case, you shall be dining with the male servants, and you'll be naked."
{NL: BONUS POINTS to whoever knows where I got that from!!
Sesshou: *rolls eyes*
NL: That was a very girly eye-roll, Sesshou.
Sesshou: *growls* Keep your mouth shut and continue with the chapter.}
Kagome glared at the inu and stood, dragging Akira up with her. They walked past the demon, Akira attempting to dry her eyes and place the sealing spell back. Kagome stared down the hallway and came to a halt. '.................' She didn't know the way to the dining room. "Hey, Akira?"
"Yes, milady?"
"........How do we get to the dining room?"
Akira perked up and walked ahead of Kagome. "This way, Miss." And within two minutes, they arrived in a magnificent room with a cherry wood table that was at least six feet in length.
"God Almighty..." Kagome breathed. "It's beautiful..." As she gazed at the ceiling, Kagome thought, 'Well, Sesshoumaru, now I have no reason to doubt that you've got taste.' As she brought her eyes down, she came face to face with... "Speak of the devil."
"And thank you for that comment."
"You're welcome."
Sesshoumaru smirked and walked away from Kagome toward the other end of the table. As he reached the head of the table, he turned and said, "Kagome, please. Come over here and join me."
Kagome gave a wry smile and strolled to the seat to the right of Sesshoumaru. She was about to pull the chair out when Sesshoumaru reached out and stopped her. "That is not necessary." He clapped his hands once and Akira appeared behind Kagome's seat, pulling it out.
Kagome smiled at Akira and sat down, tucking the skirt of the kimono beneath her as Akira pushed the seat back into place. "Thank you, Akira."
"It was my pleasure," she answered, keeping her eyes low. She bowed as she stepped back towards the wall.
Kagome gave her a pensive look before turning to Sesshoumaru, who was being seated by another female neko youkai. She smiled at the feline demon before asking Sesshoumaru, "Sir, if I may, why aren't the servants allowed to dine with us? After all, they're... youkai, just like you. And you've got so much space..." She motioned the rest of the table. "...it's not like they would crowd the table."
"True, but they are not of the same rank as this Sesshoumaru."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh, please..."
"Nani?" Sesshoumaru said as he turned to Kagome.
"That 'this Sesshoumaru' thing is so lame... Why do you even bother? It's not like everyone doesn't know who you are."
"That is not a proper dinner discussion." Sesshoumaru lifted his left hand and waved it slightly, signaling for the first course. It was vegetable greens from the garden, along with a little bit of bread, sort of like croutons, only softer. As Sesshoumaru lifted his chopsticks (grabbed just sounds so informal!!), the doors quietly slid open to reveal a figure draped in a baboon cloak. Sesshoumaru's head jerked up, his growl reverberating throughout the room. "Naraku... Why have you disturbed us?"
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru before turning her head toward the unwelcome guest who had just arrived. Her eyes widened in shock as she thought, 'Naraku? Here?! Why? What does he want?" She jumped as Sesshoumaru shouted.
"Answer me, half breed!"
The demon's deep chuckle resounded all through the room, sending shivers up Kagome's spine. "Ku ku ku... (Gods, don't you hate his laughter?!) Why, Sesshoumaru-sama, I was just dropping by to see how you and your human were doing." He turned his head just right to let Kagome see that his gaze was on her. "I am surprised, my lord. You would let so lowly a creature dine with you?"
Sesshoumaru stood up, his youki flowing enough to knock his chair back. "You will defile our presence no longer, hanyou." A gust of energy blew Naraku's hood off his head to reveal the smirking demon.
"Oh, I think not... I find it quite unexpected that you, my lord, are not as hospitable as usual to your kind. After all... she is but a human, and yet you won't bid a fellow demon to join you?"
"Your words are poison in this fortress, half breed. Be gone, and plague us no longer." With that, Sesshoumaru threw his chopstick at Naraku, lodging it in the hanyou's right shoulder.
The half-demon looked at the chopstick with distaste. "Is that all you have? One measly eating utensil?"
At this, Kagome stood. "No, that isn't all he has. He's got me."
Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome warily. 'Great. She's opened her big mouth...'
Naraku laughed, the sound seemingly dripping with venom. "Oh, he has a human, has he? What, pray tell, is he going to use you for? A... human shield perhaps? Or maybe as a sex slave..."
"Naraku, have you already forgotten? Do you not remember of the damage this girl had done to you?" Sesshoumaru said boldly, a smirk growing on his face, anger blazing from his eyes. "Do you not remember of the girl who almost caused a horribly pure death for you, via an arrow to the chest?"
Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru. 'How do you know about that?!'
'I have my ways, koi.'
'Koi?! Dream on, Doggy.'
Sesshoumaru's smirk turned into a grin as Kagome's thoughts transferred at the same time that Naraku's face paled to a near white. "I take it you remember this miko."
"Kikyou's reincarnation..." Naraku whispered. 'She looks exactly like her.'
'And you would do well to leave, half breed.'
Naraku glared at Sesshoumaru. "I shall bid you farewell..." With a swish of his baboon cloak, Naraku sauntered from the palace.
Kagome sighed and looked down at her plate. She was hungry, but she'd lost her appetite the moment she'd spotted the hanyou. Keeping her head low, she walked toward the exit of the room, a taiyoukai hot on her tail. "Yes, Sesshoumaru? I am sorry if I annoyed you. I did not mean to seem so embarrassing..."
Sesshoumaru walked beside her, his hand grasping hers lightly. "Do not be troubled, Kagome. You needn't apologize. Everyone is entitled to have their sudden outbursts..." He gave her a good natured smile as Kagome looked up at him. He wrapped his arm around Kagome's waist, earning a smile from the miko. "Come with me."
Kagome smirked and glared playfully at Sesshoumaru. "As if I have a choice?"
Sesshoumaru led Kagome out of the room and toward glass doors at the end of the hallway. As he slid them open, he heard Kagome gasp lightly. He glanced at her and quirked an eyebrow. He followed the direction of her eyes and was led to the hedge maze . 'If she thinks that's beautiful, wait till we get to the end...'
Kagome couldn't believe the charm that the greenery held. It was captivating. She never noticed the arm disappearing from her side. It was only when Sesshoumaru spoke that she was brought out of her trance.
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru whispered. "If you want to, we can have a race to see who will get to the end first..." He inwardly snickered. 'Of course, I don't plan on getting to the end before her... I don't even plan on racing her... I plan on... heh heh heh... "hunting" her...'
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru with excitement shining in her eyes. "Alright, you're on." Without a second's hesitation, she ran for the entrance of the maze, looking back to see if Sesshoumaru were there behind her. 'Why is he still standing there? ...Oh well! HEAD START FOR ME!!' With that, she turned back around and started her way through the hedges.
Sesshoumaru smirked. 'Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four...... Aw, heck with it.' He walked through the archway and followed Kagome's scent. Confusion, panic, and excitement flowed from it. 'She's having fun... Good... I want her in a pleasant mood when I catch her.' He increased his stride to a light jog, still pursuing the smell of Kagome. When he knew they were getting close to the end, he ran at about medium speed until he caught sight of her. He quietly hovered above the ground and moved closer to the exploring miko. When he was but a foot away from her, he landed on the ground and pounced, turning Kagome in his arms as they fell to Mother Nature's wall to wall carpet, the grass. (Wow, that was Corny!!)
"AACK! Sesshoumaru! What are you doing?!"
Sesshoumaru grinned. "What can I say? I was on the hunt." When Kagome's eyes grew wider, Sesshoumaru laughed. "Not like killing. Just playing." With that he kissed Kagome's cheek and traced his tongue down to the junction of her neck and shoulder. He lightly grazed his fang on her skin, sending shivers throughout her body. 'She's enjoying it...'
Kagome's mind brought up memories of the bath. 'We can't do this... Not now...' Then Sesshoumaru ran his fang along her skin. 'Oh, Kami... That felt so good...' "Do it again, Sesshoumaru...' The sensation was incredible. She was suddenly hoisted up and carried bridal style to the end of the maze, where a beautiful pool of water awaited them. "Oh, Sesshoumaru... this is so aesthetic. It's absolutely magnificent." Sesshoumaru set her down on a bench that sat two feet from the water. As the inu taiyoukai sat down, a shout was heard from the maze.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!!"
'Ahh, so she came...'
A little girl popped out of the maze and gazed at the two. "Sesshoumaru-sama! You didn't tell me that Kagome-sama was staying the night!" She ran over to the couple and held out her hand. "Hi! I'm Rin!"
Kagome smiled and took Rin's hand. "Nice to meet you."
Rin hopped up between the pair and grinned. "So, how do you like it here, Kagome-sama?"
Kagome smiled. "Just call me Kagome. No -sama. It's not necessary. But I love this place. It's like a dream."
Rin's grin (hey, that rhymes!!) grew wider. "It's a dream come true!!"
As the two girls giggled happily, Sesshoumaru gazed at them, lost in his own thoughts. 'Kagome would make a wonderful mother for Rin. She's human, so she knows how fragile a child is, and she also seems to know good values.' He watched as the two went over to the pool and looked into the water, giggling as their reflections were blemished by the ripples. 'Isn't there a saying about ripples? As they first begin, they're very apparent, then as they die and are pushed aside by the next, they're forgotten? ...Why would I think of that? Maybe that is how I feel that Kagome will think of me...' Sesshoumaru's thoughts were disturbed by a hand tugging on his own. As he looked up, he saw a pair of bright brown eyes.
"C'mon, Sesshoumaru. Come over and join us!" Kagome said as she dragged him from the bench. She giggled as the taiyoukai smiled kindly. 'I wonder what's on your mind...'
'Do not let it worry you, koi.'
"There you go with the koi thing again..."
"Koi?!" Rin exclaimed. "Awww, Sesshoumaru-sama, that's so sweet!"
Sesshoumaru glared at Kagome, who just grinned back. "What? How was I to know that she knew what koi meant?" (Actually, to tell you the truth, I don't know what it means either!! I just know that it's a term for affection... I think... *runs offstage* SF!!!)
*~*
After putting Rin to bed, Sesshoumaru walked Kagome to her room. Before she entered her room, he grasped both her hands and smiled, looking deep into her eyes. As she returned the smile, he said, "I had a lot of... fun today, Kagome..."
Kagome mocked surprise, her eyes widening. "You actually had fun?! Wow! I never thought I'd see the day!!"
As Kagome laughed, Sesshoumaru felt that it was like an angelic melody. He'd never felt this way before. He'd never felt so... free... so unimpeded. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Kagome. Pleasant dreams."
"'Night, Sesshoumaru-chan. Sweet dreams to you, too," Kagome said as she opened the door and stepped through. Before Sesshoumaru left, she pulled him through the threshold and kissed him light on the lips. As she slid the door closed, she smiled innocently at Sesshoumaru before the gap closed. 'Thank you, Sesshoumaru.'
'For what?'
'...Everything...'
*~*
Kagome was walking though a strangely familiar forest. As she looked at the trees, she remembered, 'We flew over these trees!' She gazed in front of her, and noticed a fire burning with five figures seated around it. As she walked toward it, she noticed one had dog ears. 'Inu....yasha?' She stepped forward into the light and looked around.
Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kirara were all huddled together, with Miroku and Sango on opposite ends, of course. 'What's wrong with everyone?' Their eyes were all open, yet they didn't see her. She walked over to Sango and waved her hand in front of her eyes, yet she didn't even blink, let alone look at the palm. She gave her a perplexed look and started over to Inuyasha. As she stepped toward him, she tripped on a log, falling... 'How did I fall right through him?!?!?!?' As she fell, she tried to scream, but nothing came out. 'This is... just like it was with the un-mother!' Her eyes widened. 'Oh, no... Maybe this time, it's worse!!'
Then, as she picked herself up from Inuyasha's gut, she noticed another fire beyond the one she was at. While she tilted her head in puzzlement, Kagome crawled over to the fire. There sat another silver-haired being. 'Wait...' She looked back and saw that the fire she was previously at had disappeared. 'What?!' She walked to the demon and didn't see any twitching dog ears. 'So this is... Sesshoumaru?' Suddenly the body turn and met with glowing red eyes. 'Sesshoumaru?'
The taiyoukai didn't seem to hear her. "What do you want?" His eyes searched through the forest as if he were blind. His ears perked up as Kagome stepped forward.
'Sesshoumaru! Can you hear me?! SESSHOUMARU!'
"Who are you?! Speak, villain!!"
Kagome closed her eyes, tears building up. She suddenly fought to scream, "SESSHOUMARU!!" and startled herself when she heard herself.
"GAH!! What, woman?!?! You do not have to yell so blatantly! I'm standing right here!"
She walked forward, smiling. 'That's the Sesshoumaru I remember...' She waved her hand in front of his face, noticing his eyes were not following, but his nose was. "Sesshoumaru... can you see me? Can you see my hand?"
"..........."
Kagome let a tear fall as she stepped forward and embraced her friend. 'I will not let you stay blind, Sesshoumaru...' Her face formed a grimace as she transferred some of her vision to him. When she opened her eyes, she found that she herself had no sight. 'Oh, no... I miscalculated...' Then, at once, she saw herself being embraced by the taiyoukai. (You know, one of those dreams where you actually see yourself instead of seeing the dream from that point of view? It's confusing, I know...)
"Kagome, why do you cry?"
Kagome saw her form look up unseeingly at Sesshoumaru. "...I gave you all of my sight..."
Sesshoumaru looked sadly into her eyes and hugged her tighter. "Oh, Kagome... You didn't have to..."
She choked back a sob. "Yes, I did. I couldn't let you stay blind." She felt Sesshoumaru's breath on her face, automatically lifting her head.
Kagome saw Sesshoumaru lean down to kiss her form, but before the lips made contact...
*~*
"No, Sesshoumaru!!" Kagome cried. She placed a hand over her racing heart, opened her eyes, and saw said taiyoukai sitting beside her, holding her other hand. "Gah!!" She sat up and back against the cherry wood headboard. "Jeez, Sesshoumaru! Did you have to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Scare me like that!"
Sesshoumaru smiled and chuckled. "Gomen, Kagome. I did not mean to." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You were shouting and whimpering in your sleep, so I came in thinking you were in trouble. When I saw you thrashing about, I sat alongside you and grabbed one of your hands as it was flailing around. That's when you started to calm down." Sesshoumaru mentally smiled sadly. 'Little does she know that I know of everything that went on in her mind.' Sesshoumaru had entered her mind when he came in and saw the exact same dream that he had earlier, before he heard Kagome scream.
Kagome blushed lightly. "Oh, sorry for waking you, Sesshoumaru. I-"
"Kagome!!" Rin shouted as she came in.
"Get back to bed, you impudent girl!" Jaken yelled as he followed Rin.
The young girl jumped onto the bed and bounced over to the miko. "Are you okay? I heard you scream all the way down the hall."
Kagome smiled and giggled. "Hai, I'm fine now. It was just a... strange dream..."
As Sesshoumaru smiled, he thought, 'Just a strange dream... That's all she thought of it? It wasn't a bad dream? I figured for her, she would have started crying when she woke up... Maybe I underestimated this human...' He turned to the girl who was currently yapping away about something her mother said when she was alive. "Rin?"
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"I think you should go back to bed."
"But why?"
"Because, you have lessons tomorrow."
"Oh, yeah! I forgot!" Rin hugged Kagome and said, "It was just a dream, Kagome-chan. Just remember that." She hopped from the bed, moved to the door, turned around and waved. "See ya tomorrow!" Rin exited the room, a grumpy Jaken following behind.
Kagome giggled softly. "How I miss being her age. So carefree and everything..." She looked up into the taiyoukai's golden eyes. "Thanks for coming in to comfort me."
"Think nothing of it." Sesshoumaru brushed aside a stray lock of jet-black hair and kissed the end of her nose. "Just remember what Rin said." He smiled when Kagome laughed. He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly.
Kagome returned the kiss, her lips gently grazing his. When he moved his lips down to her neck, Kagome laid back on the bed, Sesshoumaru ending up on top of her. "Oh, Sesshoumaru...."
As the taiyoukai continued kissing her, he thought, 'What am I doing?! I am a Great Demon Lord! I can't be flirting, let alone courting a human!'
'Yes, you can.'
'What do you know about it? Nothing! You didn't grow up with a father who left your mother for a human.'
'As a matter of fact, I did. If you recall, I am you, you are me. We are one and the same. No matter how you deny it, you can't run away from it. And you can't lie to me about your affections for this human miko.'
"Sesshoumaru?"
"Hai, Kagome?"
"...What's wrong?"
Sesshoumaru sat up. "Nothing. I must be going back to my chambers. I have a meeting that I must attend tomorrow." Sesshoumaru walked over to her door, stopped, and turned his head. Looking at the threshold, he said, "Good night, Kagome." And without looking back at her, he left.
Kagome could smell his confusion, thus her question. Before he left, she smelt rain and salt. 'Was he... upset over something?' Her head full of questions, Kagome rolled over and fell into a dreamless sleep. "...Sesshoumaru..."
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NL: Bah...
Kagome: What?
NL: I just realized, this entire story... Hell, the anime itself is kinda like a soap opera.
HS: So?
NL: I dunno... Half the time, I hate soaps, but I guess anime soaps are okay. *grins*
HS: Right... So?
NL: So what?
HS: Aren't you going to put the previews and recommendations? Oh, and the review responses?
NL: Oh, yeah!!
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PREVIEW: Chapter Seven, Exploring
Okay, you know in Beauty and the Beast how Belle goes someplace she's not supposed to? Well, Kagome does it this time. And we also go and check up on the Inu-tachi. Then Rin gets into trouble while frolicking through the woods and Kagome has to help her. Will she get there in time?
RECOMMENDATION: Second Chance, by Striking Falcon
I absolutely loved this story. Sesshoumaru is supposed to wed a human in the beginning, but when he says no, she (being a miko, can you guess who?) puts a spell on him and turns him into a full-fledged canine. Not his true youkai form, but a plain, ordinary dog. Okay, so he ain't so ordinary. Anyway, fast forward to 2003... I think. Kagome is driving either to or from work and a dog runs out in front of her beetle. "Oh, kuso!!" Who do you think the dog is? Anyway, after Sesshoumaru, who is officially dubbed Chance, comes home from the vet's, he meets Kagome's stalker, Onigumo Naraku. Fun, ne? Well, can't spoil it all! Just read it! Another great masterpiece by Striking Falcon!!
Review Responses:
HiraikotsuSlinger: You are the only one who reviewed for chapter five!! *cries* Have people forgotten about me?! *bawls* But hey, one reviews better than none!! Thanks for the review, Rici-chan!! Luv like a sis!!! Hope you liked this chapter. I don't know where I got the idea for the dream. But whatevers!! Laterz!!
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NL: Well, that's it! C'mon, peeps! If you read the chapter or story, review it! Please?! *chibi-pouty-eyes* Purty-pwease?
Inuyasha: *gags*
NL: *zaps Inu-chan with Flames of Hell whip* Once again, you have angered me, young hanyou.
Inuyasha: Damn you...
NL: Kagome?
Kagome: SIT!
Inuyasha: *thump* @.@ Oi... that hurt!
NL: DUH!! *akanbe* Well, thanks for checkin' out Namida no Ame! PLEASE REVIEW!!
Over and out!
