Maiden of the Sword
Ch. 5
Sesshoumaru worked to keep his face impassive, but every few minutes he found himself stealing glances at the woman travelling with him. Sesshoumaru had traveled a week with Kagome. They'd already gotten into the habit of bickering with one another and Sesshoumaru wasn't used to the silence from the girl on this particular day. The gentle crunch of leaves of against his boots and the twitter of birds was the only audible sound he heard. Inutaisho held back his laughs, watching the young prince huff.
"You're quiet today," Sesshoumaru murmured finally.
Kagome didn't speak. Sesshoumaru clenched his teeth. He would not be ignored.
"I was speaking to you, half-breed," Sesshoumaru goaded. That phrase always provoked her. Still nothing.
"Sesshoumaru, she's in meditation," Inutaisho spoke.
Sesshoumaru glanced back at the woman and scoffed, "While she's walking? I doubt she has the kind of coordination."
"Apparently, she does; look at her eyes."
Sesshoumaru looked closer at her eyes. It was difficult to decipher, given their blue depths, but Sesshoumaru recognized the glassy sheen that showed she wasn't entirely conscious. Slowly, the unreceptive look on the woman's face eased into a frown. Sesshoumaru turned around when something hit him in the back of the head. Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome with a mirrored frown. Kagome stood wearing only one shoe, fuming at the prince.
"Even when I don't answer you, you can't help but insult me!" Kagome exclaimed, "Why do you have to be mean for no reason?"
Sesshoumaru held up the shoe and wagged it at the girl, "Why do you always resort to physical violence to express yourself?"
"Because you're so infuriating! You're such a jerk!" She countered, stomping her bare foot.
Kagome walked up to the prince, eyeing him angrily. She moved to snatch her shoe back, but Sesshoumaru tossed the shoe over his shoulder. Kagome watched the shoe sink into a puddle of mud. She wanted to believe it had been an accident, but the smirk on his face told her differently. Kagome stomped over to the puddle.
"Sesshoumaru," Inutaisho chided from up ahead, "Go get Kagome's shoe and behave. You were taught better than that."
Sesshoumaru slunk over to the shoe, giving another satisfied smirk at the rosy flush of Kagome's cheeks. He couldn't quite explain it, but angering the girl brought out a certain challenge in him. It riled up his beast, something he'd never felt before. Finally, it seemed that he was winning in the battle of back and forth banter.
Sesshoumaru bent over and Kagome shoved him as hard as she could. If the ground beneath him hadn't been wet, Sesshoumaru could have kept his balance. However, the ground was damp from the prior day's rain and the prince fell back. A flailing claw grabbed Kagome to break his fall, but instead yanked her down with him. Kagome yelped, sloshing in the mud. A low growl erupted from Sesshoumaru.
"You vindictive wench!"
Kagome's aura flared, pricking the dog demon's skin, "You started it! What happened to the oh so graceful Prince Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru stood and inspected his silk robes. They were covered in mud and stained in grass. Inutaisho chuckled. Sesshoumaru frowned at his father.
"I don't find this amusing," the prince stated sourly.
"Well it serves you right for your behavior, son."
Inutaisho sauntered past him and pulled Kagome up.
"Thank you, Lord Inutaisho," Kagome said with a dashing smile, "You're the true embodiment of a Lord. I pray the prince will one day take after your kind ways."
"His kindness is wasted on the likes of you," Sesshoumaru seethed.
"Why were you meditating, Kagome?" Inutaisho asked, changing the subject, "I never noticed you doing that in our travels before."
Kagome slipped on her shoe, "Kaede recommended I meditate at least once a week to improve my spiritual prowess. It should decrease the chances of me becoming corrupted by the Tsugara blade-"
Kagome stopped suddenly. The tiny hairs along the nape of the priestess's neck stiffened and she reined her spiritual powers in, as not to alert any suspicion. Kagome glanced around subtly. She could have swore she saw someone up in the trees. Though the mystery person was stealthy, Kagome could still feel the tremble of concealed power. They were being watched. The question was why. She glanced Lord Inutaisho's way, hoping to find any indication that he too felt something was awry. The Lord gave her a flash of a smile, nothing more. He stretched and walked ahead.
"Perhaps it is my age now, but you two pups have worn me out. I propose we rest at the village inn up ahead. It will be a welcome change not sleeping on the ground, wouldn't you agree, Kagome?" The Lord's tone was light, but Kagome noticed the man now walked touching the hilt of his sword.
Kagome returned the smile, "Definitely, and a nice bath wouldn't hurt either, especially after Sesshoumaru got me so dirty."
Sesshoumaru pushed past her, "You deserved it, but I would prefer a bath. Unlike you, I don't spend my days in filth."
Inutaisho shook his head as their voices rose, biting out insults at one other again. He kept silent but waved them on to the nearest town.
The town bustled, an oddity for such a secluded place. A village child ran into Sesshoumaru before shouting and running off.
"Oh this town is so spirited!" Kagome gushed.
"It's noisy," Sesshoumaru grumbled, "Of course you would like this chaos."
"Let's go you two. There's an inn up ahead."
The three walked in and the innkeeper greeted them warmly. The inn was run by an elderly couple with a sweet disposition and squinting smiles that threatened to break their faces. As Lord Inutaisho spoke to the couple, their brown eyes darted to Kagome with nervous grins. The unnerving smiles distracted the half-demoness from the words they exchanged and Kagome only caught the tail end of their conversation.
"Your Lordship, please accept our best room during your stay," the innkeeper explained.
Lord Inutaisho nodded with a smile, "Say, why is the town so lively? Is a festival about to commence?"
"A wedding actually. For Princess Natsuo in our lands," answered the innkeeper's wife, bearing another look at Kagome.
Kagome shrunk back, slinking behind Sesshoumaru's form. She whispered, "They keep looking at me like that. Why?"
"Perhaps they find you to be as odd I do," Sesshoumaru quipped.
Kagome frowned at his response, giving him a subtle shove.
"Forgive us for staring, but in a certain light, your female bears a resemblance to our fair maiden," the innkeeper explained.
Inutaisho glanced over Kagome, "I've met Natsuo before. She and Kagome do share some features, you're right. I can't believe she is to be wed. That is a great celebration."
The smiles of the couple faltered. The smiles returned, politely, but certainly not as before.
"We hope the wedding brings fortune to our village. Princess Natsuo does what she must to ensure we thrive. Now, let us show you to your rooms."
As the elder couple prepared the men's room, Kagome inched to Sesshoumaru's side once again. She whispered to him once they were the only two in the room.
"Hey, didn't that seem like a strange response? It sounds more like that Natsuo girl doesn't really want to get married-"
Sesshoumaru cut her off, speaking lowly, "Concern yourself only with purifying the Tsugara. These matters do not pertain to us."
"Would it kill you to care about someone else?" Kagome hissed.
Sesshoumaru fought the urge to snort at her remark, "You forget, woman. It is not with pleasure that I accompany you. My father has tasked me with this and I will be relieved of my duty once we enter the Western Lands and you have your blade. You shall not hinder me further."
Kagome rolled her eyes, "Being around you is no picnic either. I just don't trust this place. Something feels wrong."
Inutaisho reappeared, "The innkeeper is preparing a meal for us tonight. In the meantime, I would recommend bathing. I would like to give my wishes to Natsuo before we leave tomorrow."
Sesshoumaru nodded, and exited the room. Kagome sighed after Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru left. Perhaps she was being paranoid, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't safe. It seemed she was the only one who thought that though. She walked into her room, noticing the clean clothes laid out for her. A faint smile appeared. She picked up the clothes and headed to the bath. She wasn't going to let her guard down, and if she had to fight, she'd much rather do it not caked in mud.