Black hair swished through the air as Kagome tossed her head back, laughing uproariously. Her cheeks were flushed, the rosy glow accenting her sapphire eyes. Her companions all laughed around her, finding more joy from her excitement than from what ever meaningless joke Miroku had made. Rin and Shippo were each sitting by her crossed knees.
Kaede was seated by the fire place, the warmth easing her arthritis. Sango and Miroku were close to Kagome, their hands casually joined together.
All of them were joking, telling aimless tales. The kids were fairly sleepy, rubbing their eyes every few minutes. The atmosphere was cosy, and welcoming.
All of this Sesshomaru observed discreetly through the half open door. He had just come upon the village after his daily patrol. The sun was setting, streaking red and orange across the midnight blue sky. His eyes were calculating as he observed the gathering of humans, plus the kitsune kit.
The monk and Taijiya seemed to be harmless. Well, they could hold their own in an average battle, but were no match for someone of his caliber. Then again, very few were at the level to give him trouble in battle. Now, social situation were a different game entirely.
He wasn't sure if he should venture inside the little hut. Usually, the younger Miko would walk with him, or they would sit and talk about their days, and plans for when she was healed. He did not want her to think he was slighting her by not appearing tonight, but he did not particularly want to go and greet the new arrivals. He was saved from the dilemma as Kagome's head snapped up, her eyes flicking out the door as she senses his presence.
"Ah, excuse me for a moment." She gently laid the half asleep children on their back, the adults not paying her much mind as they continued to converse. She picked her way around them, carefully exiting the hut.
Sesshomaru stood back from the doorway, his arms crossed over his armor as he waited for her. She gave him a comfortable smile, as he observed her flush from laughter.
"Good evening Sesshomaru! How did your patrols go today?"
"No one dared to challenge this Sesshomaru for his lands." She gave a sly sideways glance.
"No one did, or there weren't any good fights?" His eyes narrowed imperceptibly, but inside he was smiling at her attentiveness in reading his character.
"Perceptible as always, Miko." She gave him a cheeky grin, and started to walk. She'd just noticed that the sun wasn't gone yet, and wanted to watch it set. Not really caring where they were, Sesshomaru followed her quietly.
"Sango and Miroku returned today," she said casually, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
"I have noticed that."
"I'm happy to see them," Her eyes slipped away from the stream that babbled beside them, looking into his amber eyes. "They bring some odd news thought."
He regarded her curiously, watching as she bit her lip, blue eyes stormy. "Such as?"
"All over this region, many human are joining up with groups of priests. They are attempting to exterminate youkai. Apparently they're still quite a weak group, but it's worrying."
His eyes grew frosty at her words. The audacity that scum had, to be troublesome on his lands. "I shall monitor the situation."
"Yeah, that's a good plan. We need to make sure nothing drastic happens." He gave her a curious glance, wondering why she seemed so distressed for his kind. The little Miko was unmatched in empathy, her heart was open for any and all creature's well-being.
"Why do you care so deeply for youkai?" She smiled at him, the setting sun lighting her black tresses and streaks of red, and illuminating her with a glowing complexion.
"Why wouldn't I? You aren't very different from us, and don't give me that look Sesshomaru." He had arrogantly smirked as she said that, thinking of his own superiority in battle. "You have families, hopes, dreams, aspirations...you love and live, just as humans do. There isn't a difference to me."
The taiyoukai was silent for a long moment, thinking over her words. Kagome wasn't worried though, he had a thoughtful look in his eyes. She supposed that the idea of tolerance was as foreign to human-hating Sesshomaru as being quiet was to Jaken.
After a while, Kagome's thoughts shifted from the silent taiyoukai at her side to her newly arrived friends. She was glad to have their company again, but worried about how long it would last.
"Um...Sesshomaru?" His gaze flicked to her, one silver brow raised on question.
"I was wondering...are we leaving when I'm healed? Because Sango and Miroku just returned, and I don't really want to leave them just yet." She finished in a bit of a rush, feeling nervous under his imperceptible gaze.
Eyes narrowing lightly, the taiyoukai thought about the two humans. He didn't have any particular dislike for them, but no particular tolerance either.
"I do not have plans to accept them into this Sesshomarus pack." He bit his lip as her crestfallen eyes dropped from his face. "However...we shall see when the time comes."
The Miko perked up a bit at that, and she nodded happily. They turned around when the river reached the forest, a companionable silence around them.
The taiyoukai stiffened, his hands coiling into fists. A dark, corrosive stench drifted through his nose. The meatiness of an incomplete body, the open flesh was disgusting.
Naraku.
He turned toward the Miko, eyes narrowed in distaste to find that her mouth was set into a firm line, hands clenched. Her stormy eyes turned towards him, a shiver running over her skin.
"I can sense Naraku's miasma." His lip curled in distaste.
"The hanyou approaches us." The mikos gaze flicked over to Kaedes hut, eye brows drawing together worriedly.
"The kids..." She mumbled.
Sesshomaru's thoughts immediately went to Rin and Shippo, defenseless. "We shall meet him else ware."
Kagome nodded, her jaw set. They set off again at a brisk pace, feeling the spiders malformed power creep closer and closer to them. As they passed the cozy hut, she grabbed the sleek wooden bow and quiver, propped up against the wall. Slinging the quiver over her back, she held the bow close to her chest, protectively. Sesshomaru's stride lengthened, he walked quickly to the edge of the village, a small clearing between them and the encroaching forest. The taiyoukais hand rested upon Tokijin, eyes narrowed in preparation.
Kagome had extended her newly found senses out, and was ready as Naraku stepped out between the dark trees. He was tall as ever, adorned in his usual baboon fur robe. The browned bone of the skull rested on his forehead, casting a shadow over his features. Nevertheless, his eyes gleamed with a spark of cruel curiosity, arms crossed as he observed them, a dark miasma leaking from his person.
"Well, I wouldn't have thought that pure little Kagome would move on to another so soon. And with Inuyasha's brother, how cruel you can be, my dear." His voice was amused, eyes flicking between the Miko and Sesshomaru cooly. Kagome felt her skin flush with anger, fists curling around her now. How dare he say such things to her? Futilely taking a breath to calm herself, it turned to a gasp of shock as Sesshomaru spoke.
"Do not make assumptions about matters you are oblivious too, hanyou."
Naraku tossed his baboon fur arrogantly, halting as he was about ten feet away from them. "Oh, I am far from oblivious, Sesshomaru. I know all about Inuyasha leaving the sad Miko over there for her original incarnation. I did say he would tire of you, didn't I dear?"
The flush only grew on Kagome as her rage rose. Angry, she stalled a few steps closer to the hanyou. "You don't know anything! What Inuyasha does is none of your business Naraku!"
Sesshomaru only sighed lightly at her outburst. He understood why, but didn't the silly woman know that shouting would only encourage the puerile Hanyou?
"Actually, is it you who shouldn't assume that I have no part in this." The man's voice had dropped lower, the playful tone replaced with an edge of anger.
"Why should this Sesshomaru care?" He could see the Miko grower redder by the second, and didn't particularly need her rushing at the dangerous man, as she had probably leaned from his half wit of a brother.
The spider hanyou only laughed, an arrogant chuckle as his eyes gleamed with anticipation. "That is for me to know, and you to find out." A low growl ran through the clearing at his words, making Kagome shiver as she glance at the taiyoukai beside her, his golden eyes dangerously hard.
"But, before that fun day, I need your jewel shards, little Miko." His cruel gleam towards Kagome, who's hand came up to grip the necklace the rested just above her chest. A glass vial, containing about half of the Shikon No Tama.
"Never!"
Sesshomaru drew his sword, just as tentacles flew out from the hanyou's body, attempting to twine around the mikos legs. The taiyoukai sliced them to ribbons, his eyes tinted with red. Kagome slipped back a few steps, nocking an arrow quickly, and training it upon the Naraku.
"Do not think yourself capable of harming this one's pack." Sesshomaru's deep voice rumbled out.
Naraku only spit more laughter at them, slowly stalking around the tensed pair. "I doubt it's so difficult, she already wears the marks of meeting Inuyasha. You can't web protect your 'pack' from a weak half demon, my my." Despite his cavalier attitude, the words were hurdled like bullets at the imperious taiyoukai.
Sesshomaru growled at him, but his face remained as impassive as ever. He swore to exact punishment tenfold on the insolent hanyou for blighting his own honor. It seemed that the Inuyasha needed to be reminded of his own inferiority. But first, the hanyou before him...
"So what if Inuyasha injured me? It was my fight, and not Sesshomaru's!" The miko blazed like the sun as she stood up for him, eyes storming and shaking in anger. He could feel her reiki sizzling just under the surface. Because of her training, the woman was more in touch with her Miko powers, and had less control over them right now. This could get dangerous.
The spider's eyes narrowed, and he started to stalk towards the woman again. "You are no longer useful, woman. Hand over the shards."
She scoffed, turned her head to the side as she scorned him. Sesshomaru took that moment to make his attack, springing close to the hanyou and slicing at his neck. The fickle man dodged to the side, tentacles dripping with poison launching themselves at the woman and taiyoukai.
A gaunt boomerang intercepted the malicious limbs, slicing them neatly in half. The Taijiya caught Hiraikotsu as it swung back to her, expression fierce. The monk stood next to her, a few feet behind Kagome and Sesshomaru.
"Naraku!" She yelled. "Why can't you just leave us alone?" They stalked up the demon and Miko, all four of the powerful beings standing up to Naraku. His eyes narrowed, a scowl appearing on his fine features. Even the cocky spider knew when he was outnumbered.
"It seems you shall live another day, Kagome. But don't forget, your shards are mine." Before he outraged woman could retort, the demon exploded into a mass of flesh, acidic limbs flying towards the tachi. Kagome unleashed her arrow, purifying all that was coming towards her. Sesshomaru disposed of the annoyance with a flick of his acid claws, and Hiraikotsu was unleashed on the last of the tentacles.
Kagome's bow dropped to her waist, one hand coming up to grip the necklace hanging in the folds of her red kimono as she looked upon the shreds of baboon pelt. The clone of Naraku was all that remained, surrounded by a few strips of flesh. The anger faded from her eyes, and her gaze dropped to the ground. She had forgotten about Naraku, if truth be told. She'd been wrapped up in joining Sesshomaru's pack, and the drama with Inuyasha. She was slacking. Kagome knew that she had a responsibility to collect the jewel shards, and she hadn't even thought of them these past weeks.
Miroku's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, hand dropping from the little glass necklace. "Kagome-sama, why would Naraku be after the shards?"
She spoke slowly, looking up at the taiyoukai to fill him in on her confusion. "He must have new plans, before he was content to leave them in my care."
Sesshomaru carefully sheathed his sword, thinking over the miko's words. It made sense for Naraku to wish to take the shards. He did not have need of Kagome, because there was another Miko he would easily use, if he needed it. Especially since that Miko had twisted Inuyasha around her undead finger. Even though the Kagome had been on fire with rage earlier, she seemed to have wilted after the spider left. Her eyes were downcast, and he could scent guilt coming from her. He understand that the mention of Kikyou would be upsetting, but why would she be guilty?
"This is unusual...we need to collect the rest of the shards." The monk's voice interrupted his thoughts. He would question the woman later anyways.
Kagome bit her lip, and look up at them, shoving away her guilt. "Yes, we do. I'm almost healed, so there's nothing stopping us."
Sango cocked her head to the side, eyeing Sesshomaru darkly. "Healed from what?" Kagome's face paled, eyes flitting away from the Taijiya's.
"This one's half witted fool of a brother attacked her." All eyes turned towards Sesshomaru with shock; However, Kagome's eyes were laced with appreciation.
"What?! How could he do that?" Sango's voice was aghast with shock and confusion. She had known that the hanyou had mated with with Kikyou, but how could he have lost all feelings for Kagome?
Sesshomaru answered her, his voice an octave lower, and tinged with disgust. "He is an honorless being. Surely this doesn't shock you, Taijiya." Sango lowered her eyes, thoughts filling her head. Miroku's lips were pressed together firmly, his dark eyes sad as he beheld the Miko.
"I am sorry that you had to experience such things, Kagome-sama." She gave him a tiny, gratefully smile, lacking her usual splendor.
"It's okay," she said softly.
"Well, I suppose that tomorrow we shall have to make a plan of action. I shall see you then, Kagome-San, Sesshomaru-sama." Miroku nodded to them both respectfully, and gently led the still shocked Sango away from the clearing, back towards Kaede's hut. As she watched them walk away, Kagome seemed to deflate. Her shoulders shrugged, and she heaved a sigh, eyes flicking towards the ground again. Sesshomaru gave her a long glance his expression softening just the tiniest bit.
"Miko, walk with me." He strode into the woods, the inky night swallowing up his figure quickly. Kagome stepped after him, slinging the bow and quiver over her back. She had to run slightly to catch up, he was walking faster than usual. Once she was at his side, she gave him a Curious glance, peeking into the taiyoukai's amber eyes. His eyes did not look into hers, but his stride slowed to a gentle walk.
"You lost your temper today, Miko." She laughed humorlessly, hands balling into fists. Her eyes looked to the forest around them, trees lit with glow of twilight. "I understand that the mention of the undead Miko would be upsetting, however, you must not lose yourself to emotion."
Kagome gaped at him. How dare he say such a thing to her. He didn't understand at all. "No, you don't." She said, voice hard as her stormy azure eyes. "You have no idea what it meant to me."
He cast her an icy glare, steps slowing even more as he turned in her direction. "So he loves her more than you, move on already."
Kagome's jaw dropped in a gasp, but only briefly. Her eyes hardened, and her mouth twisted into a scowl.
"You don't understand at all! It's not that he loves her more, it's that I have no purpose at all! NO ONE EVER CHOOSES ME!" She screamed her words at him, chest heaving. She opened her lips to yell some more, when Sesshomaru moved. He slammed her back into a tree, one hand around her neck, ans the other above her head, caging her in. His eyes were bleeding red, and he growled menacingly at her. It took her breath away.
"You foolish woman!" In anger, the demons voice only got quieter. While Kagome burned with anger, Sesshomaru froze everything. "Do you truly believe I do not understand?! Do you believe that I have not stood by and watched and my loved one choose another, day after day, after god damned day." His own chest was heaving, pressing against her with the force of his breath. No space existed between them, but it would have burned with the heat of them. Kagome was silent, her mind whirling under the weight of his words. "When I say to 'get over it' Kagome, I know exactly what I'm saying. Bury those foolish emotions deep within you, and they will cease to exists."
His eyes were manic, cheeks grazed with the slightest flush of pink. The red was receding from his eyes, but there was a dangerously fragile edge to his words. Sesshomaru could feel his control slipping, and he was struggling to rein it back in.
Kagome's lips parted, but gently this time. Her voice was softened with compassion, and her eyes melted as they looked into his torn golden orbs. "Your father. He choose Inuyasha, didn't he?"
Sesshomaru growled, his lip curling in distaste. But he was so close to Kagome. He couldn't hide the pain in his eyes any longer, the agony of watching one of the only brings be cared for pick sometime else, again and again and again. The taiyoukais honey eyes seemed to shatter before Kagome. It took a moment for her to realize that it was her own eyes, welling up with hot tears.
"Oh, Sesshomaru...I h-had no right to say those things to you...You must be in more pain than I am." The tears welled up, and spilled over her cheeks in a hot, unstoppable flood. "I'm sorry, Sesshomaru." She brought up a hand to cradle the side of his face, this tiny human woman. His hand was slack around her neck, eyes wide with shock as she cried the tears he had never been able to shed.
~~~ hey everyone! Thank you for reading, and I'm sorry this one toll a while to get up. Please leave a review!