Chapter Three: Espionage

Sesshoumaru took control, ordering Rin and Shippou to follow him. "Come children."

Kagome held up a finger. "They're adults here," she prompted. "Use their names if it helps you remember."

"Yeah, come on R—Kagome," Shippou tugged on Rin's sleeve. "You should follow me. I'll protect you."

Rin blushed. "You seem nice, Inu-Brasha," she mumbled. "Where do you want to go?"

Sesshoumaru scowled. "He is not 'nice'… Kagome," he ground out. "This one has seen him go through multiple females before casting each aside. You would do well to stay away from him."

Kagome's excitement at Sesshoumaru actually participating completely eclipsed the fact he undoubtedly thought her one of those females – it even swelled as Rin stayed in character enough to respond.

"Is that true, Inu-Brasha?" The girl asked.

Shippou stuck his hands into his blue sleeves, clearly imitating Inu-Yasha's habit with his haori. "Not at all," he risked a peek at the daiyoukai. "This guy's just jealous."

Jealous?!

A surge of youki rose up, and Shippou instantly deflated, squashing himself back.

"Now, now," Kagome brought her own power to bear, banishing the angry churn of demonic aura with a flick of her glowing wrist. "You're going to ruin it, Sesshoumaru-sama. You can't menace him in real life. Respond to him in game."

The demon lord couldn't decide who to glare at – the woman who thought she could chastise, or the kit who needed sound punishment. With the slight sting of spiritual energy around them, he opted for the latter. "You are the jealous one, whelp. You covet what's mine."

"K-Kagome's not yours," Shippou rebutted, scooting farther away. His mind whirled as he came up with an explanation on the spot. "S-She said she liked me during our last mission, when we defeated that big spider demon."

Kagome's glee returned. "Oh, this is wonderful!" She cried. "You're all doing great!"

Sesshoumaru grimaced. "This is frivolous and infantile."

Kagome pointed at him. "Said the paladin dismissively, stomping off towards Pernith in a snit," her finger wagged. "You're talking as the Sesshoumaru who commands Tessaiga now," she admonished.

"Oh, so you may break from your role to comment on the game, but we cannot?" He countered.

Her eyes widened, and she managed an undignified squawk. "I-I was just—."

"We are following your example, miko," Sesshoumaru said dryly. "You are the teacher here."

Color rushed her cheeks. "Point for you," Kagome grumbled. Swallowing down embarrassment, she sat back, addressing Rin. "Well, Lady Cleric? What say you? Shall you go with Inu-Brasha or Sesshoumaru?"

Rin glanced between the two youkai. "I'd like for us all to be friends," she said quietly. "And I think we should visit this village's healing hut first," earnest, brown eyes beseeched her stoic protector. "Together."

Sesshoumaru frowned, immediately returning to Kagome. "If I am not allowed to physically threaten the kit, Rin cannot make requests of me in real life either."

The girl gave a big, innocent blink. "What do you mean Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Kagome bit her lower lip to suppress a creeping smile at the glimpse a ten-year-old mortal could coerce the millennia-old demon with a mere look. Somehow, she didn't think Sesshoumaru would appreciate the insight he'd just revealed. "My lady, are you wishing to charm the paladin into accompanying you and Inu-Brasha?" She asked.

Rin's mouth dropped into an 'oh'. "Can I do that?"

"You can certainly try," Kagome reached behind her rock and produced a handful of brightly-colored pebbles, edged with sharp, symmetrical lines. "These are the dice I mentioned earlier. You roll them to see if you can complete certain acts in and around Pernith. Usually, the higher you roll, the better."

Sesshoumaru watched as she handed the largest pebble to Rin, who promptly cupped it, shook vigorously, and released it into the dirt at the woman's feet.

A bright '16' glittered from its shimmery purple face, and Rin looked up. "Is that enough to charm Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Kagome picked up the die, this time holding it out towards him. "He's going to make a wisdom saving throw, to see if he's too smart to fall for your spell."

After a long moment, where golden eyes scrutinized them both, a clawed thumb and forefinger stretched through the air, plucking the pebble from her grasp. "I need no shiny rock to determine such," he muttered, casting it in an aimed fling for Kagome's ankle.

It struck true, and she flinched as it bounced to the ground. "Ow! That hurt!"

The daiyoukai's gloat was interrupted as the die careened to a stop and satisfied smugness replaced the miko's wince of pain. Even from his awkward angle, his sharp sight caught a mutinous '1' staring back.

"Oh look," Kagome brought hands to her cheeks, mocking regret. "A critical failure. The paladin is most definitely—."

The twenty-sided die disappeared in a blur, and a green light followed, unleashing an acrid smell into the air. All three sniffed, making faces as the stench of melted plastic wafted up. Kagome glared at Sesshoumaru, who opened his poison-filled palm to reveal a tendril of smoke dispassionately.

"It appears her charm spell met an unfortunate end," he intoned. "One of the unsolved mysteries in this ridiculously-backwards, useless world."

Nonplussed, Kagome swiveled in her seat, rummaging in a clinking collection before returning with a new pebble, this one neon pink. "No worries," she assured cheerfully. "Like all D&D players, I have way too many dice. It's a curse that infects us rather quickly. There are plenty more for any future 'unfortunate ends'," she turned a sickly-sweet smile on the demon lord. "Care to chance fate again, Sesshoumaru? Or would you like to accompany your fellow adventurers under your own power?" She offered the die out. "Should Kagome succeed in charming you, you will carry out her every whim," a note of challenge sparked her gaze. "With a spring in your step at the prospect to please."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "I wish to have a word, miko," he glanced to Rin and Shippou, who were poorly pretending to be interested in suddenly braiding grass. "In private."

Kagome obliged, setting the die down and getting to her feet. He rose and led the way, departing the circle they had made for themselves without checking to see if she followed, a strange stiffness in his stride. She traipsed after his trailing mokomoko, curious at the clipped control in his steps. They traveled silently towards a copse of trees, far enough away that whispers wouldn't carry to Shippou's ears. When they reached trunks and shade, Sesshoumaru whirled around, and she saw why his gait had been so bridled. Fury contorted his face to savage lines.

"We must strike an accord, you and I," the detached calm in his tone contrasted sharply with his physical ire. "Or Rin and I are done with this diversion."

Kagome stepped back instinctively, memories of his father's tomb looming large. "I-It's training—."

"I see now it is a game of falsehoods meant to amuse," he spat. "One which I find more and more insulting," Sesshoumaru leaned into the space she had made, grazing her with the spikes of his armor. "Did you lure me here so Inu-Yasha could stumble upon us and witness my humiliation?"

"W-What?" Shock filled her, but indignation quickly flooded to replace it. "Why would I do that?!" Kagome jabbed a finger into his chest to repel his digging breastplate. "I know we don't know each other Sesshoumaru-sama, but I am not that kind of person."

"Yet, you seek to humble me in front of the pups."

She jabbed harder. "I'm not! I just don't want you taking over the story! This is their time to shine!" She lowered her voice. "They are always following adults, dutifully doing what they're told, never getting to decide anything for themselves," anger flashed in her blue-gray eyes. "I only wanted Rin to have a bit of fun. Truly. It wasn't some elaborate espionage scheme where Inu-Yasha could spy and take notes as you thought of someone besides yourself," Kagome's lip curled in an uncharacteristic sneer. "As if that would ever happen."

She turned to go, bunching fists for a good storming off, when claws circled her upper arm. The grip was restrained, but unyielding.

"I am not finished," a deep voice spoke at her ear.

"If you want to leave, fine," she muttered, trying unsuccessfully to wrench her arm free. "See if I—."

The world spun wildly as Sesshoumaru whipped her around, pushing her up against a tree. Kagome collided with hard trunk and squeaked in protest as gold eyes, long stripes, and a crescent moon consumed her vision.

"An accord," Sesshoumaru repeated. "One where consideration is given to all."

She opened her mouth, but found it – for once – lacking words.

"You will pay me the proper respect in front of the children—."

"I have!"

He gave her a knowing look. "And in return," he continued. "I will not melt any more of your numbered rocks if their results displease me."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "That's supposed to be a given."

"So, you've played this game of make-believe with demons then?" He answered, mimicking her earlier jeer. "Ones strong enough to snap your neck as easily as they inhale?" Sesshoumaru craned his head, spilling silver hair down her front. "Then you must know we are capricious creatures who lose patience with inferior beings quickly. Not melting dice is a vast concession on my part."

Kagome palmed the back of her skull, scraping her knuckles against rough bark. "You almost broke my neck just now!" She hissed.

"I assure you, I knew exactly how much force I was using," he roamed her countenance and frame, contradicting himself by checking their state. "I am familiar with the frailty of humans."

"One ward makes you an expert?" Kagome bestowed her iciest glare, torn between her desire to fume and actually play. Sesshoumaru leveled it with his own, wordless and waiting. Eventually, she released a reluctant huff. "Being respectful isn't going to mean letting you get your way," she vowed stubbornly.

"I would settle for you not actively working to thwart me."

Kagome gauged him anew, trying to suppress an unbidden, traitorous thought rising from their rare proximity. Had his stupidly-close features always been so stupidly-perfect when they weren't all rage and spite?

Stupid cheekbones. Stupid jaw line. Psh.

The ache of her tailbone berated fervently. Stupid!

"Fine," she agreed, brushing the invasion of silver from her uniform.

He released her arm, but didn't step away. "If you are deceiving me miko—."

Kagome cut off his warning with a glower. "I'm not," she seethed, relieved to see only enmity and arrogance in his face once more. "Come on," she flounced out from the cage of his chest. "Rin and Shippou are waiting."

Prompt: Espionage (Day 3)

Date: Originally posted 7/22/20 on Dokuga

Words: 1800