Agent
"Kagome."
His voice was soft, like a feather brushing the edge of her ear. She laid against him, rubbing her face against his silk kimono, enjoying the cool feeling of the fabric mingled with the warmth of Sesshoumaru's body heat. "Hmmm?" She replied, still in a sleepy daze.
"Wake up. We're not alone." He said more firmly.
Not...alone? Kagome's eyes blinked open as she sat up abruptly, causing his fur to slip from her shoulders. The fire had died, and in the early predawn light, she could only see the shadows of trees and shrubs. She opened her senses, searching for other auras.
A youkai was close. She could hear the soft bubbling of the creek nearby, but not much else. It unnerved her that she couldn't pinpoint where the youkai lurked.
"Excusssse me, my lord." A soft, hissing voice filled their campsite.
"Who are you?" Kagome demanded, blue eyes searching the dim light.
A figure appeared out of the shadows opposite of them. Kagome's nose wrinkled as the scent of infected flesh and blood barged into her nostrils. Instinctively, her eyes darted to her bow and arrows just out of reach.
"I come here on friendly termssss. Pleasse hear me out."
Kagome's head tilted to the side in thought. This voice...it sounds familiar..."You! You are that snake that attacked me at the inn!"
Sesshoumaru's otherwise benign aura grew taut with tension. His hold on Kagome became slightly tighter as his youki swirled around them protectively-a warning to the approaching youkai.
The snake took a step closer to the two of them before easing down to her knees.
"Please, Sesshoumaru-ssama, grant me a moment to speak. I would like to explain mysself."
Sesshoumaru went to move, but Kagome placed a staying hand on his chest.
"No, wait."
To the snake's utter surprise, the great powerful lord, sat back against the tree. His cold amber eyes never left her though. Kagome took a deep breath, preparing herself.
"What is your name?" Kagome asked as she herself moved from Sesshoumaru's lap to sit beside him.
"Mariko."
"Alright, Mariko-san, why did you attack me at the inn?"
Mariko's forked tongue darted out to nervously lick her dry lips. "Miko-sama, I beg your forgivenesss. I was ordered to attack villagers by one of our tribe leaders, Azuku."
"Why did you run off?" Kagome asked, eyeing the blood covering Mariko's tunic.
"Not to be crassss, Miko-sama, but after the injury you gave me I knew it wasssn't worth it!" She said forcefully. "While I am willing to lisssten to my leaders, I am not willing to throw my life away for their corrupted schemesss."
"Coward." Sesshoumaru growled. It was dishonorable to abandon one's orders.
"It'sss not like that. Our leadersss are waging a useless war against you and they will not see reassson because they have wool over their eyesss."
"Hmm." Sesshoumaru grumbled. He smelt no lies coming from her. She was being truthful.
"What makes you think they are corrupted?" He asked.
"About 6 years ago, a sstrange youkai approached our tribe to the south. He told us tales of the flowing riches that came from the northern territories. He was ssso...powerful. The power he held ssshook you to your very core. He went on and on about how humans would one day overtake us, and that we should unite together to conquer the land. However, you ssstood in the way. He complained that you would never give up your position of power, or would you share your wealth. He was very persuasive. Our leadersss felt that with this stranger's power, that we could claim the northern territories. We only had warriorsss, but no active army. It took time to organize. The stranger also went to other youkai tribes and rallied them to his cause. Their numbers are great."
"Who is this stranger?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Mariko leaned forward to whisper. "Ananta Vasssu."
"Ah...We've heard that name before haven't we?" Kagome mumbled. The decapitated snake head that Rin had brought back, said as much.
"Hmn. It is hard to believe that these clan leaders have put aside their own squabbles to join forces." Sesshoumaru offered.
"Yes! It makes no sense! Before thisss, most leaders refused to speak to each other!" Mariko thumped her fists on her knees.
"You have seen all this first hand. What do you think their reasoning is? Surely, it cannot be just the promise of wealth. Why give up their sovereignty to a stranger?" Kagome asked.
"You may think me a fool...but...I think they are being hypnotized."
Sesshoumaru glared at the snake for her idiotic suggestion.
Kagome sat forward. Her eyes wide. "Really?"
"Yesss, it is what I believe. I'm not saying all of the troops are hypnotized, but the clan leaders certainly are."
"These are formidable youkai that you speak of. How could they all be under someone's control?" Sesshoumaru wondered aloud.
"Ananta Vassu...it's hard to explain. It's as if he has drained the personality out of them."
As they spoke, the sun had begun to rise, softly illuminating the area. Kagome startled, as she was able to fully see Mariko's features.
The tall youkai wore the standard armor that she had seen on other snake youkai, yet her chest was a bloody mess. Her scaly skin was pale and sickly. Her short black hair framed her face.
"You're hurt!" She exclaimed.
Mariko furrowed her brows and wrinkled her nose in confusion. She cast her gaze to Sesshoumaru, then back to Kagome. "Do you not recognize your own work?" She asked, curling her lip up, revealing a fang.
"She's human. She couldn't see you until now." Sesshoumaru explained.
Mariko's eyes widened. "Wow...are you serious?" She asked with curiosity.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "May I look at your wound?"
Mariko flinched, and moved back an inch. "No."
"I promise I am not going to hurt you." Kagome cajoled, moving closer.
"Uh...no thank you." Mariko scooted backward away from Kagome's pursuit.
"Just let her do it! We'll be here all day if you don't." Sesshoumaru barked.
Mariko froze in fear. Her yellow snake eyes wide.
Kagome put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. I'm just going to remove my reiki from you, so you can heal." Kagome gently placed her hand over the infected wound. Mariko hissed, her tongue darting out. Reiki flowed down Kagome's arm as she concentrated on sending her power to the wound, the reiki mixing with what was already there, before finding its way back to the contact point of Kagome's hand.
"You should feel better soon," Kagome stated, watching as Mariko's youki reformed scales starting the healing process. Kagome applied slight pressure on the wound, gaining Mariko's attention.
"You have been very helpful to us, but know, that should you cross me...I will return that pain a hundredfold. Got it?" Kagome gazed at her intensely.
Mariko nodded eagerly. "I got it."
Sesshoumaru gazed at Kagome with admiration. She might seem trusting, but she was no fool.
Mariko stood and bowed deeply. "My Lord and Lady, I wish to offer my services as a double agent. I do not wish harm on my own people, but my own clan members cannot be trusted! Please help me stop Ananta Vassssu." She hissed.
Sesshoumaru offered Kagome a hand to help her off the ground.
She was staring at him, and he could only assume she was trying to figure what he thought of Mariko's offer.
So far, Mariko had been truthful. She did seem to have another motive, but so far, it didn't seem to be malicious.
"Hmm. What do you think Kagome-dono?" Sesshoumaru reached over and curled his fingers in her dark hair.
Kagome smiled broadly, obviously delighted. His question had the intended effect.
"I think we should accept her offer."
Mariko looked between the two people she should fear the most, and just felt baffled by their interactions with each other.
"Very well. Tell us, where are the troops stationed on the border of my lands?" Sesshoumaru drew his eyes from Kagome's bright, beautiful face.
"Ah, there is a town named Gifu at the bottom of Mount Haku, where they have overrun the population with their army. This is the base of their operations in your territory." Mariko explained.
Kagome's jaw clenched. Those poor villagers. Be it youkai or humans, she had seen what that army could do to a village. Her anger built the more she thought of other children like Shippo who might be sitting in a pit waiting to be saved. "We must go liberate them." She said strongly.
The tension left Mariko's shoulders and she looked relieved.
"You have my utmost gratitude." She said, bowing As she straightened, her face became solemn. "One more thing...I just..." She clenched her fists at her sides. "Please keep in mind that...they're not all bad. Most are being led astray."
Kagome narrowed her eyes. "Your snake tribe murdered my husband. Do not expect mercy from me."
Sesshoumaru slid his eyes to her in slight surprise.
Mariko's new found hope wilted a bit. "I see, my lady. No words can describe how sorry I am that that happened."
Kagome tilted her head to the side, observing the snake youkai.
"Tell me what you know of Kudando."
Mariko's body froze. Kagome doubted that she breathed.
Sesshoumaru took a threatening step closer.
"I...uh." She gulped. "He is the leader of my tribe. He is stationed in the southern territory still."
Kagome raised an eyebrow. What about Kudando has frightened Mariko so badly?
"I must go now. I will do my best to stay out of your way. I cannot act as if...I am traitor." Mariko said taking a step back.
"Be careful, Mariko-san." Kagome said softly. The snake bowed again before making her exit.
The two of them stood in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts.
Kagome moved to the other side of the fire pit, where their clothes had been hung up to dry. She carefully pulled down clothing, folded it, and packed piece by piece away in their saddlebags.
Kagome turned around to see Sesshoumaru staring. "Would you like me to make you some tea?" She rummaged around in the bags, and pulled out a small jar with loose tea leaves.
He moved closer to her, causing her to look up at him in question. "Eh?"
Sesshoumaru bend down and kissed her softly. Kagome's eyes closed instinctively as she leaned into him.
"You accepted a courtship with this one." He said against her lips.
Kagome pulled away enough to look into his eyes. A shy smile grew across her face.
"I did." She said quietly. To her shock, he plucked the jar from her hands.
"I will prepare tea for you this morning." He stated as he moved around the camp gathering a pot and clean water.
Kagome stood flushed in amazement as she watched him work. Not knowing what else to do, she began preparing her armor. She knelt on the ground, pulling her leather chest-piece to her. She hummed a song that had been popular when she was in high school; it was one she used to sing with her friends when they had after school cleaning duty.
Sesshoumaru watched her out of the corner of her eye, while he brought the fire back up to full strength, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile. Kagome was already lost in cleaning her armor that she jumped when a bowl of rice appeared in front of her face. She looked up from her work to see Sesshoumaru raising an eyebrow.
"Oh! Thank you." She put her armor piece down and took the food from him. He placed a cup of tea down next to her. He sat beside her watching her carefully as she took a bite of rice and dried fish. She sighed in happiness, shoveling it into her mouth with abandon.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and sipped his tea, feeling a moment of quiet contentment wash over him.
Kagome set her bowl down and wiped a stray grain of rice from her face. "I didn't realize how hungry I was..."
Sesshoumaru gave a slight huff of amusement. He stood and took their dirty dishes.
"Are we going towards Mount Haku?" Kagome asked as she began to put her bracers on.
"Yes. No doubt we will run into other encampments along the way." He picked up his own armor and tied it into place around his chest.
Kagome laced her boots, then stood picking up her leather chest piece. She pulled it around her body, reaching for the ties.
Sesshoumaru moved behind her, and began tying her armor around her.
"Ah, Sesshoumaru-sama..." A flush crept up her neck as his hands ran across her back and sides, his fingers ghostly, barely touching her and when they did, had her wondering if it had been his finger or if she had imagined it.
His hands had been on much of her body before, but this act seemed much more intimate. Kagome realized she was wishing for him to place his hand on her, to touch her with a fervor that shocked herself. Maybe she felt this way because Sesshoumaru was the one doing it, or maybe it was because she the one person Sesshoumaru would be willing do this for.
With a final tug of leather ties, he swept her hair away from her neck and bent down to kiss it, nipping her with the edge of his canines before he pulled away.
Goosebumps grew to life on her skin. "Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama..."
xxxxxx
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews!
As always, a big thank you goes to my beta reader, Saruwarui. Without her help, this fic would never get updated!