"Miko. Wake up," A sharp voice rang through the air, piercing through her cloudy, sleep filled mind. Why couldn't she just sleep some more? She hadn't felt this good in ages, and there was something so comfy beneath her. A fuzzy, silky thing that was coiled beneath her head, and oh it was so warm.
"Miko! Get off!" Her head crashed to the ground as the silky object was ripped away from her.
"Ughhh..." She cracked an eye open, not surprised to find herself on the ground, in unfamiliar territory. Sitting next to her, glowering furiously, was Sesshomaru. He was indignantly grasping that furry tail thing that was always on his shoulder, yet right now was trailing towards her...oh.
So that was her new pillow. Kagome felt a blush dust her cheeks as she sheepishly smiled up at him. How the hell had she gotten away with cuddling his tail? She gulped as he flexed his claws.
"S-sorry Sesshomaru-Sa-" Her apology was punctured by a huge yawn, tipping her head back as she sat up.
The Daiyoukai was prepared to scold the young woman for touching, caressing even, his tail, but his beast was subdued at the sight of her baring her neck. He knew she wasn't consciously appeasing his inner yowoukai, but it was quelled nonetheless by the subservient gesture.
She sat quietly, looking around at the forest surrounding them. It was a sigh she had become used to over the years of traveling with Inuyasha.
A pang ripped through her heart at the thought of the two-timing hanyou. Who does that? Who says that they love someone only to turn around discard them like a used toy?
Because that was all she was to him, just a plaything to fill the time untill he could be with Kikyou. Surprisingly, there wasn't another jolt of pain with these thoughts, just a sense of melancholy that flooded through her. She has gotten past the worst of it, the betrayal and indignation last night when she had cries for hours.
The miko turned in shock to look at the calm Daiyoukai next to her, realizing that he had stayed by her the entire night, even let her cling to his tail in her need for comfort.
"Sesshomaru-san...thank you," Shesmiled hesitantly at him, but for the first time those cerulean orbs were free pain. Tired, and a bit puffy, but she bestowed upon him a look of pure gratitude.
"Don't. It is the alphas responsibility to care for the packs health, physical and mental," He amber eyes were as impassive as always, despite the surprisingly compassionate words he spoke. The miko felt her jaw drop open slightly in shock. She knew that Sesshomaru took his honor seriously, but this...this was something that Inuyasha had never done. He had always complained about the burden of protecting her.
"Really? I knew it was his job to protect them, but not to such a degree," Sesshomaru raised one slim eyebrow at her, was the hanyou really such an awful alpha? He has his suspicions but to know that he shared blood with one that was so honor less disgusted him.
"The alpha must be the strongest memeber of the pack to uphold all of the others, to shelter them, and provide a fulfilling life. If not, the pack has the right to appoint a new alpha, or join a more suitable pack," His Amber eyes did not shift from the miko's face as he told her of the basic Inu-youkai rules. Did she really not know? By the way her jaw was gaping he assumed this was a new concept to her.
Kagome slammed her mouth shut as the cold gaze of the Daiyoukai appraised her. She had no idea that youkai society was so...fair. "That sounds much more reasonable, Inuyasha would always say to be thankful for his protection, and I was...but I didn't always ask him to protect me." Sesshomaru merely narrowed his eyes, irritated at the continued mention of how crudely the hanyou behaved.
The miko was oblivious to his spark of agitation and leveled a shocked gaze at him."Wait, if the alpha helps his pack, does that mean that I...that I'm part of your pack now?"
The Daiyoukai smirked inwardly at how even though it had taken the girl a moment, she had caught his hint. "No. You will recieve the protection of this Sesshomaru while our paths coincide, but a pack memeber must first prove their worth before they are accepted."
Kagimes eyes narrowed at him, her brain quickly forming an idea,"So, if I'm useful then I can stay with you guys for longer?"
His amusement with the small woman grew, she cut right to the center of the matter. "Hn." Then again, she was still a weak human. Though her miko power was intriguing, she would need to show some talent for it before he deemed her worthy. Although she didn't seem dismayed by the idea, by her scent of excitement and slight apprehension she was conceiving a plan.
"Speaking of pack, is Rin okay? I don't feel like jaken is very good protection for a little girl..." She trailed off at his frosty stare that clearly conveyed how important he thought her opinion on the matter was. Nonetheless, he gracefully rose off the ground and delicately sniffed the air to discern the location of his ward.
lKagome sighed again before standing up beside him and running her fingers through her hair, attempting to calm the tangly mass. She looked up at the daiyoukai to see him holding out an arm to her, his fingers were clinched together in a fist, but the meaning was clear. She tentatively grasped his forearm, right below the hem of his white and red silk sleeve.
The cloud of youki gathered beneath them, slower than last night as they gracefully ascended above the tree tops. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, her grip on the daiyoukai's arm tightening. She was expecting the furious wind of the night before, and was surprised when it was only a slight tickle. She slowly cracked open one blue eye, and gasped at the sight below her.
The ground below them was moving quickly by, but enough for her to see the rainbow of colors. From the light green of pastures to the darkness of forests, with silver rivers weaving through it. The periwinkle sky seemed larger then ever as it unfolded around them.
Sesshomaru almost wanted to smirk at the mikos awestruck expression. Last nights flight hadn't nearly the same effect, she'd been too distracted to pay any attention then. He would never admit it, but Sesshomaru remembered feeling the same sense of exhilaration when he discovered flying. The endless sky, the wind in yo-
Youkai. The daiyoukai's body stiffened as the scent of hungry kumoyoukai hit his sensitive nose. Usually this wouldn't bother him, but the measly pests were slowly making their way to his defenseless ward. Sesshomaru pulled his arm in tightly, dragging the woman away from the edge of the cloud as he greatly sped up.
"Woah! Hey why are going so fast?" Kagome almost regretted her indignant statement when Sesshomaru glared at her, but she thought it was justified. She could have falled off just then! But the daiyoukai was in no mood to reply as he stonily gazed ahead, the cloud steadily accelerating.
The miko new that Sesshomaru was a logical person, he wouldn't ignore her for no reason. Even if he wasn't inclined to share it with her, he wasn't trying to be a jerk. She sighed, resolved to wait and see why his demeanor had changed.
Narrowing his eyes, the daiyoukai sunk the cloud below the tree tops, landing Ina small clearing. The woman let go of his arm and took a few steps forward, opening her mouth to express yet anther question when a shrill scre rent the air.
"Sesshomaru-sama!"
"Rin-chan!" Kagome barely had time to utter the little girls name before dashing after the Inu lord, who was running through the tree so fast he appeared to be a blur. She crashed through the brambles much less gracefully, earning several new scratches along her arms. She burst through the tree to see Sesshomaru battling several humongous spiders. They were about the size of Kaedes hut. She looked around wildly for the little girl, seeing her tied up in what could only be spider silk a few yards away. She rushed to the little girls side.
"Don't worry Rin, I'll get you down safe!" She reached for an arrow to cut the thread around the little girl when jaken spoke up from behind her.
"Foolish human! Kumo thread cannot be cut by any mortal blade, blood must be shed for it to loosen its grip!"
Kagomes mouth set in a hard line. "Then it will taste blood." Without hesiating, she slashed the tip of her arrow across the palm of her hand, letting the blood drip onto the silk. As expected, the red dyed strings quickly fell away from the sobbing little girl.
Kagome clasped the little girl to her chest, quickly running her eyes over the small body to make sure Rin was free of injuries.
"Shhh...it's okay Rin-chan, you're safe now," The little girl was quieting quickly, happy to be held in Kagomes comforting embrace.
Sesshomaru flicked his blade, slinging the kumo blood onto the nearby foliage. His temper had been quelled by the quick dissection of those foolish enough to prey upon his ward. Hmph. He turned to see the miko holding Rin close to her, surprisingly emanating the scent of blood, even though he knew that she hadn't been involved in the quick fight.
"My lord! You are as powerful as ever, Sesshomaru-sama, to have saved us so quickly!" He almost growled at the loud toad Youkai, who had been so incompetent as to let Rin be attacked. Jaken made to hug the daiyoukai's leg, only to be sent flying as his boot connected with his head.
"Oh don't be mad at Jaken-sama, Sesshomaru-sama! He assured Rin that you would come and save me right away!" The little girl had finally calmed down enough to notice her lord was nearby, and embraced his leg, still sniffing slightly.
She grinned her toothy smile up at him, puffy eyes shining,"Thank you for saving me Sesshomaru-Sama." In a rare show of affection, the daiyoukai let his hand rest on the little girls heads for the briefest of moments before turning to face the miko.
"You are injured," Kagome wouldn't have known that his statement was more of a question if she hadn't caught the slightly quizzical air in his eyes. She was quickly learning that the tiniest hints of emotion could be found their, in those amber orbs if one looked hard enough.
"Yes, she was caught in that spider silk, and Jaken said that spilling fresh blood would make it release her."
The daiyoukai's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, but his shock was great. He had always known that humans were an honorless bunch, and so hadn't expected the woman to be of much help to his ward. He was grateful that he had made this oversight, as she had quickly found the fastest solution to help Rin and executed it, regardless of the personal risks it posed.
The mikos azure eyes were fastened on his, and he could see that she neither expected or wanted any thanks for her selfless actions. Yet even though no words were exchanged, he let his gratitude, and worry for the little girl show through in his eyes. A moment of vulnerability, understanding and respect passed between the woman and the Daiyoukai.
hehe authors notes here! Thank you for reading my story, and please review, constructive criticism is always welcomed!
Oh! I have forgotten about the rest of the tachi, or Inuyasha, they should all be returning soon. And though I will try to make them more regular, don't expect close updates!