New Routine
Three ordinary nights and days have come and gone since Lord Sesshomaru, little Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un joined them on their search for the jewel shards. Ordinary… sure, if one decided to completely disregard the added tension that can be tasted in the air, you might be able to apply the word ordinary to this new routine they were slowly starting to establish.
Yes, perfectly ordinary... there were really only a few notable changes, almost insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
The first notable change worthy of comment would be the fact that Inuyasha has yet to return and join their growing group of friends. But one must go ahead and assume that getting over the fact that he lost a potential love interest as beautiful as Kagome to his loathed and envied full-fledged youkai half-brother is going to take some time. It is, after all, a very deep and ugly wound he'll be liking in whatever corner he chose to crawl to.
The other change worthy of mentioning is that Lord Sesshomaru is the one catching their dinner, unintentionally of course. Meaning that he got dinner for Kagome and innocent little Rin and since those two can only eat a certain amount of food it allows the rest of them to enjoy the benefits of Lord Sesshomaru's impressive dinner catching skills.
Miroku's eyes wandered around the circle they formed, assessing the new additions to their group.
Jaken was not necessarily the most pleasant being to be around, but entertaining enough not to be much of a bother.
Shippo and Rin seem to be happy to have each others' company if their constant whispering and giggling is anything to go by. He shudders to think about all the mischieve they are going to have to pull those two out of.
And then there is Lady Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru, shyly stumbling awkwardly around one another. In truth, Lady Kagome is the one doing the awkward stumbling, and Lord Sesshomaru tries to contain his growing amusement, maybe even slight frustration. However, that is absolutely none of Miroku's business.
As his dark eyes turned to the blazing flames in front of him, he couldn't help but think about one other change, one much more significant than the others. Lady Kagome's abilities.
His left eye twitched as he suppressed a shudder. Three days later and he could still feel the ghost of the tight grip her energy had around his throat.
Lady Kagome showed that she has a frightening measure of power at her disposal, but even more terrifying is the thought that she doesn't know that she does.
If she doesn't know, she can't possibly be able to control it.
Now that thought is positively paralyzing.
While Lady Kaede has been trying to educate her in the ways of being a priestess, and Kagome herself mentioned to be training, he didn't know how far all that extended to.
To have done what she has been able to do… not knowing… consequence...
''Lady Kagome!'' he called out to her in between bites of absolutely mouth-watering deer, spittle flying in all directions.
''Mhmm?'' she hummed through a yawn as she happily rubbed her full stomach.
''How are you fairing with your meditation training?'' he asked, trying to keep his tone light and void of the alarming dive his thoughts have just taken.
''Med-meditation training?'' She blinked at him, once, twice, completely uncomprehending the sudden turn of questioning.
Fear did not spike within his veins. It didn't - truly.
''Yes, meditation,'' he deadpanned trying not to choke on the bile of fear that just rose in his throat. ''I thought you were working on it with Lady Kaede?'' He's utterly certain that he and Kaede spoke about it a few weeks ago.
''I was,'' she agreed with a small smile, seemingly still not able to follow his meaning if her furrowed brows and dimples were any indication. Sometimes he truly wondered.
''And?'' he prodded, hoping for a more detailed explanation from her.
''I found it very boring?'' she asked him rather than stated.
Miroku was trying very hard not to rub the bridge of his nose.
He felt as if the Kamis were mocking him. It had to be. Why else place him in this position if not to point at him and laugh?
''Has Kaede not mentioned the importance of mastering the art?'' he asked her as aloofly as he could, all the while trying not to imagine all the ways he and all his friends could die.
Sweet innocent Kagome rubbed at the back of her neck, her cheeks heating slightly in embarrassment. ''She might have mentioned that to me in passing,'' she mumbled, throwing him a nervous smile.
''Out of curiosity...'' Miroku trailed off, not even knowing where to start.
''Yes,'' she asked, raising her left brow in question, already taking on an irritated tone.
''You have not been practising, have you? What you told us about the shield was a simple fib?'' he asked her, dreading the answer she was surely going to provide him with.
Kagome looked away from him and mumbled something unintelligible under her breath. Miroku might not have caught it, but if Sesshomaru's sharp look was any indication his fears have been confirmed.
''But you-'' he started, but couldn't find it in him to fish out one of the many questions swimming around in his head.
This time Miroku did rub the bridge of his nose.
''Hey!'' Kagome cried out indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. ''It's not like I've had any time to practice. When do you suppose I would have done all this training you mention? In between chasing after jewel shards or after we are done being the ones chased?''
''That may be true,'' Sesshomaru spoke, the first time Miroku and the original jewel hunters heard him do so since he joined them three days prior. ''What I think the monk is finding hard to grasp are the feats you have accomplished while admitting your lack of instruction and practice.''
Miroku nodded his head vigorously while repeatedly jabbing and pointing his finger in Sesshomaru's direction.
''He is also probably concerned about his welfare should you, in your inexperience and lack of tutelage, lose control. His pores are exuding an exhilarating stench of fear,'' he stated as an afterthought.
Miroku thought that Lord Sesshomaru looked anything but exhilarated but kept on nodding his head in a steady rhythm, glad that Lord Sesshomaru seems to understand his plight.
''Might want to watch that head before it falls off Miroku,'' Kagome told him dryly.
''The monk's concern isn't completely unfounded,'' he told her. Was that Miroku's overactive imagination or had the mighty daiyoukai just agreed with him?
''You think I'm incapable of controlling myself?'' she asked him in a small voice that had the hairs at the back of Miroku's neck stand on edge. Despite the self-preservation that he felt, he couldn't help but feel excited at the beating the youkai would be getting from the powerful Miko.
''I don't,'' he answered quickly, trying to avert the catastrophe that Miroku was so excited to see. ''What I do know for facts are that you are a powerful Miko and that you would be devastated if anything were to happen to your friends at your hand."
Crisis successfully averted, thought Miroku darkly as he narrowed his eyes at the pair.
"You think I could hurt them?" she asked her soon-to-be mate in a pained whisper.
Miroku refrained from rubbing his throat at that comment.
"Never intentionally, but it is a possibility, one that I know you wish to avoid at all costs."
Kagome's forehead creased with a new found determination as she gave Lord Sesshomaru a resolute nod. "We start now," she told him through a large yawn.
Sesshomaru smirked and shook his head. "You're tired, it would be best if you start your training with a fresh mind. Take a few hours to rest, we start in the morning," he instructed.
Surprisingly enough Kagome didn't fight him on his decision, she just sighed and nodded through another infectious yawn. "Morning means before the break of dawn, right?" she asked him with a small wobbly pout on her full red lips.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes playfully at Kagome, making it very hard for Miroku not to rub his eyes to assure himself that his eyesight was not deceiving him. "If we are to continue our search for the shards before the sun reaches the high sky, yes, that means before the break of dawn," he agreed, and it almost looked like he wanted to smile, a genuine smile of fondness, but he didn't.
It was in the middle of the night, and Jaken was having a very pleasant dream, one in which his Lord was honouring and rewarding him for all his years of faithful service and hard work.
His Lord was just about to hand him his reward when-
"Jaken! On your feet," came the harsh command from his Lord, rousing him from his slumber.
Jaken jumped to his feet, eyes wide and frightened. "Yes, Milord. At your service, Milord."
"I need you to find Totosai and give him this letter. Do not even think of returning without the requested weapons," he threatened him, dropping said letter into his small startled hands.
"But, Master-" he was about to protest but was swiftly cut off with a single look, one which wasn't even a glare.
"Right away, Milord," he nodded in quick agreement. Jaken grabbed his staff and scurried away without a backward glance.
Once Jaken knew that he was far enough away he hung his head, exhaled loudly and grumbled. "And it was such a nice dream."
To all the very confused people out there. Yes, I've decided to try and turn this into a full story.
I don't promise regular or very long chapters, only that I am going to try an make sure not to leave it unfinished.
Thanks to all those who reviewed! And thanks to all you guys reading and following!
Please feel free to leave a comment ^^