-1In Under Deep
A. N. I am saddened by the lack of response for In The Garden Of Good and Evil. I will admit that it will take a while to really get the plot down on it. But I will have to think about continuing to write it. Well, I am going back to my other love for now. My love for In Under Deep. I have spawned this story and I will finish it. My thanks to those that have nominated this story. I am very flattered. I didn't think this story would get that much recognition. Well, once I get these next couple of chapters out of the way, it will start getting juicy again. Not to mention that our characters will start getting warmer to each other (Sessh and Kags!) Let's just say that when the time comes, her telepathy will get the best of her. I am also afraid to say that when college starts back up, it might be a while until another chapter comes out. I will get this story done! I promise! LOL Enjoy!
After much prompting from Ty, Nicole finally came out of the water and downsized. Though, the dragon demon had the honesty to blush. As brash as she can be, Nicole didn't do such things for public view. Ty, on the other hand, had no problems with it, but with the love that he has for fire breather, he could see no wrong with a little display of his overwhelming affection for her.
After everything was settled, the group patiently waited for the newcomers so they could go back to the base they call home. It wasn't long, perhaps an hour, before a large car pulled up in the parking area and two individuals got out. They conversed with the driver, pulled out their belongings from the trunk, and waved when the vehicle pulled away.
Miroku and Inuyasha met them half way and helped them with their luggage. Being one of the heads of the main operation, Miroku introduced himself to them first.
"Hello!" He greeted cheerfully. "I am Miroku. I hope your ride here was a smooth one."
A tall male, relaxed and mild mannered in appearance, raised his hand. The tell-tale strips on his arms and face told him that he is a demon. A tiger to be exact. His skin held a dark tan shade with black strips running up his arms and disappearing into his clothing. Three long strips adorned his handsome face and bright orange eyes shined in greeting. His hair bore the same main shade of orange while streaks of black blended through it.
"Hi. I am Marc White. Pleased to meet you." He shook Miroku's hand firmly and let go, stepping back so his female traveling companion could introduce herself.
Bright red hair shimmered in the light as pale skin, covered in small freckles, shown her lack of sun. Her eyes were dark emerald, standing out against her fiery hair. She was very small in frame. More so then Kagome. She looked as if someone could break her if they held her too tightly. It didn't take away from her beauty, though. She had a graceful and classic appearance.
"Hey," she greeted casually, offering a warm smile that made Inuyasha take immediate notice. "I am Syren Taylor."
Miroku went to shake her hand, but Inuyasha quickly cut in front of him, ignoring the frustrated glare from his good friend. "Inuyasha."
Syren couldn't help the small smile and tiny flush that crossed in front of her face as she took hold of the half-demon's clawed hand. "Nice to meet you, Inuyasha."
"The pleasure is all mine." He spoke as he helped pick up the woman's luggage, totally ignoring Marc's outstretched hand in greeting.
Miroku frowned even more and couldn't help but be perplexed by Inuyasha's behavior. If he didn't know better, he could have sworn the half-demon pulled a stunt that would have gotten him smacked later on by Sango. He looked at Marc and offered an apologizing shrug. "He can be a little rude sometimes, but other then that, he is a pretty good guy."
Marc waved it off and picked up his belongings, following behind the small group to the large boat in front of him. To him, he was here to do a job, not make friends. If he did make some along the way, great. If not, it wouldn't be a loss on him.
Kagome greeted them with open arms, unlike the greeting that she gave Sesshoumaru. To his surprise, the dog demon found that he was jealous of it. Pushing it aside, he stoically introduced himself. The tiger didn't make him bat an eye. He is just an IT guy for Ty. He wouldn't bump into him a lot. Syren, though, caught his attention. She wasn't what she looked. To most, the tiny woman looked like a human, but his strong nose told him otherwise.
"You are a half demon." He simply stated when he briefly shook her hand.
Kagome glared at him, but the red head just smiled at him. "Yes, I am."
Her scent wasn't bad, but it held the smell of fresh water. A smell that couldn't be really detected. Sesshoumaru had smelled it before, but long ago. "What are your parents?"
Syren easily answered his question, unfazed by his straightforwardness. "My mother is human, but my father is a Koi demon."
Sesshoumaru guessed that had to be where her hair color came from, probably her eye color, too. Not many humans had such bright colors like that. "I see," he simply said.
Inuyasha huffed. "Ignore the ass that is my half-brother. He thinks half demons are beneath him."
Sesshoumaru sent him a cold glare, but chose not to humor him with a remark. Let her think what she wants, he really didn't care. What did bother him was the annoyed glare Kagome sent him. He found he wanted to kiss it off of her face. With that train of thought, he couldn't help the smug smirk he sent her, enjoying her confused look.
Kagome couldn't understand why he smirked at her. She really wished she could dig in his mind. Deciding to put some space between them, so she could override the temptation, she turned her back to the beautiful dog and started getting acquainted with her new crewmates.
Soon, the ship started out and the beach disappeared behind them. Kagome leaned over the railing and watched the water foam up as the vessel cut through the ocean. The wind tossed her hair to one side, exposing her narrow, slender, neck. Sesshoumaru found he could lick that flesh and suck it until it turned red from the ministrations.
He wanted to go over to her, tell her that he was sorry for what he did, but the truth is, he wasn't. If there wasn't people in that damn store, he would have enjoyed much more then her skin. He would have taken her, made her scream, made her cry in pleasure until she couldn't breathe….
"Hey, asshole."
Sesshoumaru felt his lips curl up in a snarl. Inuyasha stepped into his view, cutting off Kagome from his gaze. Hard golden eyes stared hard into his, showing his displeasure over something. "If you are here to tell me off over Syren, you can save it."
"I'm not here for that." Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. "I am here to tell you, again, to stay away from Kagome."
Sesshoumaru felt his eyes tint red. Taking a deep breath, he willed his dark blood to calm. "She is not yours."
"You're wrong. She is my friend. So that means that I do have some sort of claim on her. I don't want to see her get hurt, Sessh. Do her a favor and stay away." Inuyasha held his brother's challenging glare, not willing to back down.
Sesshoumaru shot out his hand and grabbed Inuyasha by the throat. Turning, he dangled him over the railing, not caring if anyone saw, but thankful that no one did. "Hear me and hear me well," he growled out, this time letting the red stay in his hard glare. "You will not tell me what to do. As for Kagome being yours, remember this. She is MINE. If you go near her in anyway, I will personally rip out your heart and hand it to you."
Inuyasha had a death grip on Sesshoumaru's arm, taking weary glances at the rushing water under him. He could hardly breathe, but it was what Sesshoumaru said that caused him to peer deep into his brother's red eyes. 'Mine.' It rang in his ears, penetrating his brain. Never in all his years, has he heard him say such things. To the dog demon, women were just a sexual conquest. He didn't delve in the secretes of females bodies much, but when he did, it was just for a release of tension. Never had the demon said anything belonged to him.
With a graceful movement, Sesshoumaru swung his brother back over the rail and dumped him on the wooden floor boards of the ship. "Leave me, or I will toss you into the ocean."
Massaging his sore, reddened throat, Inuyasha jumped to his feet. He wanted to punch the shit out of him, but held fast, not wanting to start a fight here. "Fucker." He mumbled and walked away, heading down below were Sango and the rest were.
As soon as Kagome got out of the cramped sub, she asked Ty to let her sharks out. Syren and Marc gave her a strange look when she mentioned the sharks being her friends, but went along with it. Kagome had Will and Shippo take their belongings to their new quarters and gave them a tour of the base.
It wasn't until the end, that Kagome took them to the water room, introducing them to Shi and Tom. Syren didn't fail to notice that she held two stuffed toys in her hand. One was a large teddy bear, fluffy and pink. While the other is a large stuffed soccer ball. The koi half demon just couldn't keep her curiosity at bay.
"What are those for?" Syren questioned.
Kagome smirked. "I was figuring that Marc would be the one that would be questioning me first."
Marc gave her a mocking smile before turning his attention back forward. The old cliché about curiosity and cats not being missed.
Kagome paused in front of the large metal door that resided in the lab. She reached over to the key pad and started punching her code in. "These are for Tom and Shi."
As soon as the empath opened the large door, Syren inhaled in awe. Most of the room being thick pressurized glass, made one feel like they stood suspended out in the deep dark ocean. "It's beautiful in here."
"That it is." Marc agreed.
"This is one of my favorite places. I spend a lot of time in here." Kagome headed into the room, followed by Syren and Marc.
The large door softly thudded in place and Kagome stopped were the large windows ended. She stood there quietly for a moment. Syren gave a puzzled glance at Marc, but the tiger merely shrugged. Her guess was a good as his.
"What are you doing?" Syren asked. The curiosity getting the best of her.
Kagome just gave her a kind smile. "Calling for them."
Syren was about to question further, but felt her mouth drop open when she saw two of the biggest great white sharks she had ever seen. They swam to the glass and stopped right in front of Kagome.
"Those have to be the largest sharks I have ever seen!" Marc exclaimed, voicing Syren's thoughts.
Kagome couldn't help the small giggled that escaped in mirth. "They aren't full grown, yet"
Syren gave the biologist a skeptical look. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Nope." She said as she shook the toys in front of the overgrown fish. Once Tom and Shi caught sight of the toys they quickly disappeared.
"Were did they go?" Syren asked, looking at Kagome with wide green eyes.
"Come on," Kagome waved her hand at them to follow and crossed the room, stopping at the large pool of deep salt water. "They will be coming up here shortly." Kagome sat down and dangled her feet into the frigid water.
Not long after she got comfortable, both toys in her lap, the two sharks surfaced. Seeing them so close, caused the newcomers to take a sizable step back. The larger of the two, came up and gently nudge her legs.
"Um..," Syren looked at how tiny Kagome appeared next to the great white's gray nose and casted a worried glance at her. "Is that a good idea? I mean, sitting so close to them?"
Kagome just smiled softly up to her. "They are harmless, like big dogs!"
'Big dogs with really big teeth,' thought Syren. She couldn't see their mouths from this angle, and felt glad of it.
Kagome didn't mean to hear the stray thought, but it came out so loud, fear making the mental words stronger then what they should be. So, she didn't think when she went to reassure the half demon that everything would be okay. "Oh, its okay. They may have big teeth, but they won't bit you."
Syren gave her a confused look, knowing that she didn't speak out loud at that moment. Kagome glanced away and started to explain why she said that, but Marc beat her to it.
"If you can form mental barriers, then do so. Ms. Higurashi is an empath."
"Why wasn't I informed of this before I came here?" Syren questioned. She wasn't mad at Kagome, just irritated at being left out of what she felt was crucial need-to-know knowledge.
Marc just lifted one of his shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. "I was told of this before I boarded."
Kagome cut in, feeling guilty, even though she didn't mean for it to happen. "I'm really sorry, Syren. Sometimes really emotional thoughts are strong enough to break through my own barrier. And don't be upset about not being informed of my abilities. Marc is a rare one. Normally they don't tell anyone."
Not expecting the response she got, but very grateful all the same, Syren just smiled in an understanding way. "It's okay. Wasn't your fault."
Marc, not very interested in what was being said between the two females, decided to go back to what had his interest the most. The great white sharks. "How did you get 'eating machines' so...gentle, anyway?"
Kagome broke her eye contact with Syren and glanced up at the handsome tiger. "Well, you might want to pull up that chair over their. It will take awhile to explain."
Tom and Shi grabbed up the toys Kagome handed them and swam away, while Kagome explained to the new recruits the basics on how Miroku and she came up with their giant fish. Syren had to admit that it was pretty impressive. Marc just nodded his head from time to time in understanding.
Sometime later, Kagome found herself alone, and she had to admit, after all the running around, and giving tours of the Guppy, it was nice to be left to her own devices. Syren and Marc left so they could get settled into their new rooms. The empath found Syren very pleasant and comfortable to be around. She took the small invasion of privacy really well. She could tell that having the half koi around will add to her small list of friends. Kagome couldn't help the small smile that grew at having a new friend. It was such a nice thing having them.
'Speaking of friends...," she quietly though. 'What am I going to do about Sesshoumaru?'
The sexy demon had kept his distance. Well, more like avoiding her. Was he that ashamed by what happened today? Perhaps he was merely embarrassed by his behavior? Or maybe, he didn't view her like she found herself slowly starting to view him.
Kagome sighed. Yes. She found herself enjoying his company. At first, he irritated her. Then , angered her. Finally, like the first time they kissed, she would get all warm and giddy. The emotion surprised her. Also made her feel childish. Adults aren't supposed to feel like some teen with a high school crush. Yet, Kagome couldn't help it. This isn't her department. No one has ever loved her. Hell, no one has ever shown any interest in her before. If they did, when they found out what she was, they high-tail it out of there. Perhaps it is time to talk to someone about these feelings.
"Yes," she said to herself. "I need some female advice. Someone that can help me sort out these feelings and not judge me by them." With a smirk, Kagome decided to find the person that could help her. It may be late, but this female will be up. She just needed to work up the courage to go first…
The loading dock sat quiet, most people asleep. Sesshoumaru felt grateful about this. He didn't feel like dealing with anyone right now. At this moment, he wanted to think. For the first time, he could mentally admit that he is confused. Yes, the great and wonderful Sesshoumaru, so sure of himself, felt very confused. The dog demon snorted. Inuyasha would have loved to hear that. And it was all because of a tiny, beautiful, empath/priestess named Kagome.
A small smile pulled at his lips. He couldn't lie to himself. Over the past few months, he had grown extremely fond of her. Now, it has grown to an obsession.
No. A need. He needed her.
Kagome is so different from what he found himself used to. She didn't run after him, try to get his money, she only wanted his friendship. The woman truly has a good heart. Something he could say most, including him, didn't have. She is also a challenge. He told himself in the past that if he ever found a woman to settle with after all these years, she had to be a challenge. He didn't want a woman that easily came to him. He wanted the thrill of the chase.
Sesshoumaru knew she felt some kind of attraction to him. He could also tell she felt confusion, too. Sango told him her sever inexperience with handling men. Although Kagome tried to keep out of others minds, it didn't stop strong thoughts from getting through. Her best friend didn't tell him what some of the thoughts were, just the uneasiness and rejection once they knew what she was.
He choose to live most of his life alone. He didn't mind...most of the time. But Kagome, she didn't want to live her life alone.
Shifting his tail, Sesshoumaru leaned back against the cool wall. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and sighed in frustration. His golden eyes fixed on the denim material as he realized how relaxed he had become with the people around him. He knew that he still didn't like many humans, but the ones he worked with seemed to get under this skin. Not in a bad way either. Sango, Miroku, even Richie the chef, seemed to be oblivious to his hard shell. They excepted him, not cared what he was or how he treated them. In return, after working so close beside them, he found himself not caring what they were. He started to dress like them, talk to them, and now, even fall in love with one of them.
It occurred to the dog demon that he wished to really get to know Kagome. Know her even more then what he did. He wished to court her. Well, date her. He was glad Inuyasha wasn't a mind reader. Not only would he go off the deep end, not that he cared, but would make fun of him to no end for using an older word. The little half-breed shit did that once, tease him for using old terms. Although he ignored it for the most part, it secretly pissed him off.
Turning his mind back to formally seeing Kagome, Sesshoumaru considered how he would actually go about dating her if she excepted him. It wasn't like he could take her out to a nice restaurant. There had to be some way to win a female's affection in this godforsaken base.
The big metal doors opened up with a soft groan. Sesshoumaru saw, and smelled, the second hand smoke before the person responsible for it partially entered. Shaggy short brown hair, on a small head, poked through the opening. Deep long sniffs could be heard as the dragon, at first not seeing him, tried to decipher who else occupied the large loading dock.
Sesshoumaru raised an elegant brow at the fellow scientist and announced his presence. "It is a wonder that you can still smell at all."
Nicole quickly located his still form, smiled warmly at him, and fully entered the giant room. "I smell just fine. Though my sense of smell will never be a good as a dog's."
The dragon stopped about six feet from him, grabbed a nearby stool, a half empty can of coke, and plopped down. Her wings slumped to the sides, relaxing along with the rest of her petite body. Nicole brought the cigarette up to her full lips, took a long drag and exhaled, making sure the smoke went in another direction then Sesshoumaru's.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her jean clad thighs and pointedly looked at the dog demon in front of her. "I do know that your scent in the hallway is old, meaning you' ve been in here for quite some time."
Sesshoumaru glanced at her, not in a cold manner, but in a way of someone thinking. Nicole could guess he had a lot of his mind. She wont press on it, though. If he wanted an open ear, or an opinion, he will ask for it.
Nicole swiveled around on the stool. A goofy smirk on her lips as she entertained herself. Ty had important matters he had to attend to, so she found herself at a loss of what to do. Most everyone at this hour was asleep and she didn't want to do any work in the lab right now. So, she grabbed up her pack of smokes and decided to come here. She didn't expect to see Sesshoumaru here, though. Not really a pleasant, but not bad, surprise. He just wasn't...good company.
Pressing her feet onto the floor again, Nicole pushed off, spinning faster. She almost lost her balance and squealed, wings immediately flapping open in hope to quickly slow down.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, finding it hard not to when in the presence of the American. "Act your age, dragon."
Nicole gave him a fake impression of being insulted. "What? I am!"
Sesshoumaru though of berating her more, but his mind shifted in a different direction. From what he understood, the two dragons met here. Perhaps she can offer some ideas on how to approach Kagome. It wasn't like she was ignorant to what has so far transpired between the two of them.
Hesitating at first, Sesshoumaru gave the dragon a calculating look. "Nicole..."
In the middle of a drag, Nicole lifted a dark brow, showing the dog that he had her undivided attention.
"How did you and Ty...meet?" He asked, trying to make it smoothly come out, but finding it hard to.
Nicole pushed herself into a spin again. She understood what he was asking and couldn't find any other way of hiding her knowing grin then spinning. The hard-headed demon finally admitted to himself that the human was worth more then just her weight in gold. But that didn't stop her from picking at him. "Well, we met here."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, showing her a golden glare. He didn't feel like playing games. "That isn't what I asked."
Planting almost black clawed toes on the floor to stop her movement, Nicole softly smiled at Sesshoumaru. "I know what you asked. You want to know how Ty won my affections."
Sesshoumaru simply nodded his head once.
"It wasn't easy for him." She began, leaning back. "Land and sea dragons don't really mix. I was told because land dragons carry a strong smoky smell to them, like something burning, adding to their natural scent. Though most care less, Serpents just don't like the smell.
"Well, my clan comes from deep with in England. We differ from most. Our eyes being a big indicator of that. We have to be in a deep blood rage for them to change like yours."
Sesshoumaru slid down the wall and made himself comfortable on the metal floor. Nicole grabbed the half filled Coke can and used it as an ashtray for her cigarette. "Anyway, Ty said that when he first saw me, and smelled me, he fell deeply in love." Nicole made a face at this. "When I first met him, I just wanted to finish sunbathing."
Narrowing his eyes, again, Sesshoumaru wanted her to get to the point of the answer he so desired. It appeared the dragon has a slight case of ADHD. "Can we get on with the part of courting?"
Nicole snorted, not caring if it sounded unlady like. "Do yourself a favor. Don't sound so damned old school and ask to court her. Shit, you must be older then me. That's saying a lot from a demon that is five hundred and twenty-eight."
"Nicole" Sesshoumaru's voice sounded frosty and she could tell that he was loosing patience.
The dragon held up one hand in a surrendering fashion. "Okay!"
Getting up from her stool, Nicole carried on while pacing. "Ty tried over a dozen times to get me to agree on a date. Finally, I broke down and allowed him one evening to 'woo' me." She stopped a moment, softly smiling over the memory of that night, before pacing again. "I didn't really think he could pull off anything. I mean, the base is kind of drab.
"Well, that damn sea dragon went to Richie, bought some wine and food, redecorated his room, and lit candles all over the place. By the time he finished, the place looked like a medieval fairytale."
Nicole gave Sesshoumaru a look that she rarely gave anyone. Normally, the dragon only projected her good natured rough attitude, but this appearance showed how much love she held for Ty. He felt himself wanting Kagome to give him such an expression.
Deciding that he had an idea on what he wanted to do now, the dog demon gracefully rose to his feet. "Thank you, Nicole. You have been very helpful to this Sesshoumaru."
"No prob!" She said with a careless wave of her hand.
Heading to the large doors, Sesshoumaru grabbed the handle, but paused when he heard the dragon's voice. "By the way, Sesshoumaru, should you hurt Kagome in any way, you might have more then Inuyasha to worry about."
A part of him couldn't believe Nicole threatened him, but out of all of Kagome's friends, Sango and the dragon seemed the closest to her. The engineer, more sisterly, while Nicole projected a guardian-like nature. Keeping that in mind, Sesshoumaru merely nodded and went back to his room. He had a lot of planning to do if he wanted this to work out.
After working up enough nerve, Kagome decided to go and hunt down Nicole. She didn't want to go to Sango. She may be her best friend, but she didn't know about the small involvement that her and Sesshoumaru have seemingly spawned. She didn't want to go to anyone else, either. Miroku would just make it all dirty. Shippo, though sweet, was too young to have any good advice. Inuyasha was so out of the question. He was too damn protective anyways. Ty, well, she wasn't going to bother the computer engineer. He had enough to do. So, that left Nicole as the best candidate for the job.
It was really late. She didn't feel like sleeping and knew that after she was done with this little quest for advice, it might be too late to get any sleep. 'Well, at least I will sleep good later on.'
The first stop to find the dragon, led her to Nicole's room. After knocking a few times, she realized that she couldn't be in there. If she wasn't in there, then perhaps she was in Ty's room. That thought made her pause. Perhaps she shouldn't go there. What if they are having sex? That would be really inconvenient to just go up and knock on the door. After standing in the hall for a few minutes, she decided that it wouldn't hurt to just of down the hall and check. If the pair was doing something that shouldn't be interrupted, then the noise alone should alert her.
To Kagome's relief, when she entered the hall, there was no x-rated noises. So, she walked down the hall and timidly knocked on the serpent's door. Again, no one answered. 'Okay, where is she?'
There could only be one last place the demon could be if she weren't in her or Ty's room. She knew it wouldn't be the lab. She just left there, so that just left the loading dock. Feeling a bit better about not finding her friend in a compromising position, Kagome headed back out to the main hall and down to the dock. After a couple of minutes, she found herself in front of the large doors.
Taking a deep breath of encouragement, the empath opened one of the doors and stuck her head in. As soon as she opened the door, Kagome was greeted with a large dark brown scaly hide. Yup, Nicole was in here.
She stepped all the way in and softly shut the door behind her. "Hey, Nicole."
The dragon shifted and swung her head around until she could see the small biologist over her folded wings. "Hey, Kagome. What are you doing up so late? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
The sound was beast-like and almost like a deep growl, but Kagome wasn't frighten by it. She could still hear the friendliness with a little bit of concern mixed with it. "I couldn't sleep."
Nicole frowned. Really, humans shouldn't go very long without sleep. They just weren't built like demons. "If you needed something for sleep, I am sure I could have found you something to help. You are not very productive at work when you don't get a few hours of sleep, Kagome."
This wasn't a new conversation for Kagome. There were many times in the past Nicole or someone else, like Inuyasha, fussed at her because of a miner case of insomnia. 'Why is it that if another human can not sleep, they could care less, but if it is me, God forbid!' With a slightly frustrated sigh, Kagome refocused her mind back to what she sought her friend out for. "I didn't come in here to discuss my lack of sleep, Nicole. I need…advice."
This caused the dragon to lift an inquiring brow, which looked strange in her true form. It caused her scaly brow to stretch the other scales surrounding her eye in a vertical fashion, making them lift when they were normally smooth and flat. "What advice could I possibly offer you, my dear?"
"Well," Kagome found herself feeling embarrassed and stupid all at the same time. It was like all of her resolve flew out the door when it came to this kind of conversation. "It is about Sesshoumaru."
Nicole tried with all of her might to hide her knowing grin, but had failed, resigning herself to a small wicked smirk instead. She shifted her body into a more comfortable position and lowered her head onto the front of her clawed feet. "What about him that you wanted to talk about?"
"I-I really like him. I feel like I am becoming very… attracted to him. But, what I feel is very confusing." Kagome laid her hands helplessly in her lap and told the dragon what had happened in the store they were at. How it felt when his long, thin, tongue slid up her arm. She told her about the rising feelings that have started to manifest inside of her, how she didn't really understand them. How she felt stupid, unsure.
Nicole couldn't hold it in anymore. Kagome was just so cute and innocent when it came to matters of the heart and the opposite sex. So the dragon did something that at first Kagome took the wrong way. She giggled. It sounded bazaar when she did it, more like a coughing sound, but it was a giggle no less.
Kagome huffed, feeling even more inadequate. "If you are going to laugh at me, then I am sorry for bothering you." She got to her feet and went to turn away, planning on leaving the large room Nicole lay out in, but was stopped by a large claw gently wrapping around her midsection.
"Wait, Kagome!" Nicole smiled. "I only laughed because I think it is cute."
Kagome threw a confused glance at her, making the dragon release her and explain what she meant.
"I mean that you are so innocent when it comes to things like your feelings. It is hard for me to believe that you are a telepath and not understand things like love. Have you not felt that emotion from others?"
"No," the empath explained. "I have not intruded on others. It is very confusing and stressful to open my mind up to others. That is why I use my mental barrier. The thoughts of others is like having your mind slip into a realm of insanity. It is just too overwhelming."
Nicole nodded her dragon shaped head once in understanding. Kagome's telepathy was fascinating, but when explained like that, she was glad she didn't have the gift. "Love is something that everyone feels in a different level, but almost the same."
Kagome looked slightly crestfallen by her explanation, but plastered on a fake smile. She didn't want the demon to think her words of advise was bad. She just hoped for something more informative then what she got.
Nicole noticed the disappointed glance and thought for a moment. After a couple of moments of silence, she decided the only way to explain the emotion of love, is to just go and show her. "I think I know a better way of explaining this to you."
Kagome shot her a small smile at her willingness to share more info. She didn't, though, expect what came out of the dragon's mouth next.
"Look into my mind."
Kagome protested the idea right away. "No. No way. I am not going to look into your mind. That is violating your privacy, Nicole. I wont do that to you."
Nicole grinned, showing her deadly rows of sharp teeth. "You wont be violating my privacy. Not if I give you permission to look into my mind. It wont hurt me. I think you can at least open up to mine. I wont fill your head with perversion. I promise." She held up one claw in a show of girl scout honesty.
Kagome couldn't help but giggle at that. The perverted side of Nicole would be a side she never wanted to see. She had a suspicion that it might even make Miroku blush. "I'm not thinking that! I am just worried that I might over…hear your other thoughts that you might not want me to hear."
Nicole lowered her head so that it was only a few inches from Kagome, making sure her horn didn't get in the way. Trust swirled in her large eyes, showing her friend that she had total faith in what she was allowing her to do. "Just open your mind, and I will open mine."
With that said, Kagome slowly lifted her hands and softly placed them on Nicole's hard plated cheeks. She watched as the dragon closed her eyes to her gentle caress and waited for her to do her thing. Kagome leaned her head on the dragon's forehead and closed her eyes as well. Slowly, she allowed her barrier to fall and pushed herself into the mind of the demon in front of her.
At first, Kagome didn't feel anything. No thoughts overwhelmed her, or wild emotions, just a calmness that felt almost like she were relaxing in her bed. "Nicole?" She called out, wanting the dragon to know she had entered her mind.
A mental version of Nicole appeared in front of her. Not in her dragon form, but her humanoid one, instead. "I am here, Kagome."
Relived, Kagome smiled at her. Nicole smiled back, showing her only trust and friendship. A clawed hand was extended out to Kagome, and the empath took it into her own. "I am ready."
"Good." Nicole simply said. "Now, just relax and remember, not all feelings of love is the same. I like to think of them as similar, but having their own signature."
Kagome nodded and waited. What she didn't expect was the first wave of devotion unlike she had ever felt. It almost made her physical form stumble, but her hands pressed harder onto Nicole's cheeks, seeking a steadier grip. She felt devotion, but not to this extent. The next feeling she got was a wave of giddiness that made her giggle. It made her body tingle, and to her surprise, felt much like the child-like feelings that washed over her. Finally, a wave of deep passion washed over her form. Just with Nicole thinking of Ty made her weak in the knees with desired to please him in every fashion. Not only sexually, but in all other ways. Even when she walked beside him, talked to him, sat by him, all of it. Everything she did, she wanted Ty to love. It was such a strong emotion that Kagome gasped and felt a sob escape her throat.
"Easy, Kagome." Nicole said. "There is one more that I have been waiting to deliver to you. Us demons are very willing to protect the ones they love and would do anything for their mates. Even though Ty and I are not at that point, it is still there."
With that said, a strong feeling of protection swept over Kagome. It made her feel like she would die if something were to happen to Ty. It also made her feel like she would walk to the ends of the earth for him. She found herself thinking that she would kill, steal, anything if it would keep the serpent safe from harm. It was just as strong as the devotion. It also frightened Kagome to some extent, too. This is a side of Nicole she had never seen. "Oh by the Gods…," she whispered.
Nicole just smiled at her, giving her a gentle squeeze of her hand. "Don't fear this, Kagome. Tell me, do you feel any of this?"
Kagome thought for a moment, but her emotions were such a scramble. The goofy giddiness, yes, but she couldn't understand any of her other feelings. "Some, yes, but I still don't know about anything else."
Nicole smiled at her. "Then my dear, you are falling in love."
The statement was pure and simple, but still had Kagome feeling a little fear. "But, what if he don't feel the same way? What if he just wants to use me?"
Nicole laughed. Not in a mean or teasing way, but a knowing way. "I think you will be surprised at what he thinks. Just believe in yourself. You doubt yourself too much. Open up and be who you are. That much is what everyone loves about you the most."
Once Nicole finished her sentence, she gently pushed Kagome out of her mind. Kagome moved back into her body, a little unstable at first, but finally let go of the demon's face and stepped back.
"Thank you, Nicole. For talking to me and sharing your knowledge with me." Kagome gave her a grateful, wide smile.
"That is what friends are for, Kagome." Nicole softly said. "Now go and at least try to get a couple of hours of sleep."
Kagome chuckled and turned to leave. "Goodnight, Nicole."
"Goodnight." Rumbled the dragon. Yes, Kagome had a lot to learn about love, but first and foremost, she needed to learn about herself. She had a good feeling about the two. They will most certainly make a good couple. A couple with a love that will last beyond eternity.