The Heart of the Nile: Confessions
That evening Sesshomaru and Kagome were lounging on one of his balcony recliner chairs snuggled up watching the night sky. It was a cool evening due to the rain that had fallen earlier that afternoon so Sesshomaru pulled off one of the blankets on his bed. He wrapped it around them to keep warm, earning a content sigh from Kagome. They sat in silence listening to the sounds of the night and enjoying the heat of each other's bodies being of such close proximity.
Every once in a while a wisp of dark energy would brush up against her skin but it was never strong enough to lead her to its source. With the assassin still walking about Sesshomaru had taken the liberty of doubling the guards around his home. While Kagome was snuggled up in his arms with her head resting on his chest, the memory and images of the horrible vision continued to play over and over in her mind. Sesshomaru was running his fingers through her hair when he noticed her discomfort while deep in thought.
"What is it that has you so deep in thought my lady of the night?" Sesshomaru asked while running his fingers in her hair. He brought his nose to her hair taking in the scents of spring rain and water lilies.
She closed her eyes while taking a deep breath. She then sat up on the lounging chair, pulled out of his arms with her back to him and said, " While I was in my trance saving Kikyo I was attached by some of the dark magic. It showed me a horrible vision of what is to come of your people if someone were to wish upon my stone impurely."
Sesshomaru then sat up to where they were looking at each other while still sitting on the reclining chair with the blanket covering their laps. He brought his hand up to her face and brushed her hair back behind her ear. Then ran his hand down her neck then arm until he took hold of her hand in her lap. Looking into her face he then said,
"This one did not know you were attached during the ceremony. He is sorry he was unable to protect you. It frustrates him that he was unaware and powerless to stop it."
"That is alright, it didn't hurt and it is gone now," she said rubbing her thumb over top of his.
"What was the vision you saw while in the trance? You do not have to tell this one if it is uncomfortable for you," he said to her gently.
She then took her eyes from her hands up into the moon above them. After a moment she collected herself and began to retell the horrible vision of his lands.
"I saw the city of the Nile and all of the kingdom was on fire. People were running around covered in blood and boils. Bugs, frogs, locus, and disease spread across your lands. Cows, sheep, and goats were rotting along the river making the water unclean. All of the unharvested crops were destroyed from famine. I saw darkness and then I heard terrible screaming of war before eerie silence. The last thing I heard was the soft cry of every firstborn child as it died," she said as a tear ran down her cheek. Whipping it away with her hand she turned to look back into his horrified eyes.
Sesshomaru just sat there in shock. This was a terrible vision and it horrified him of the possible future of his people if an impure wish was made. He would be sure if he were ever to ask of such a powerful wish it would be pure of heart. Pulling her back into his chest he held her head close to his heart resting his chin atop her head.
"This one will do everything in his power to avoid such a fate. Thank you for sharing," he said.
They then stood up from the chairs hand in hand and made their way to walk around his courtyard towards the small pond. While Kagome was holding his hand he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of it sitting in his. Her hand was so soft and warm. His large calloused hand swallowed up hers. He never wanted to loose the feeling. It was then he began to think of what it would be like without her once the spell had been broken and she was free. Would she stay?
His feelings for her had grown significantly stronger since having her join them in the palace. Even in her jewel state he felt her warmth wrap around him throughout the day. His chest tightened uncomfortably at the thought of her leaving. He disliked the idea of someone else holding her like he was earlier. He had to ask, he had to know of her heart and if she too felt the same.
"Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked causing her to turn from looking at the pond up at him. She mentally sighed; she loved it when he said her name.
"Yes, my Lord?" she replied.
"When the curse on the Wishing Stone is broken have you given much thought as to what you will do once you are free?" he asked her.
"Well, seeing as how all of my people are gone and I now have nowhere to call home I was hoping to possibly live in your city as a healer or work in the temple. I have come to love your people and I would love to stay close to you, that is… I mean uh, that is uh if…, if that's alright with you… I mean." She finished nervously with a blush across her cheeks. She turned away from him to look back at the small golden fish swimming under the water flowers in the pond.
"This news pleases this one." He said quietly. He then continued by saying, "Kagome, this one wants you hear his thoughts regarding your decision after gaining your freedom. You do not have to say anything but if anything displeases you please stop this one."
Sitting her in the chair next to the pond he then turns his back to her with his hands crossed behind him as he looked up into the moon. Taking a deep breath he then says,
"You are unlike any woman this one has ever met, Kagome. You are kind, loving, and selfless and make this one feel things for a woman he has never felt before. This Sesshomaru realized his feels have grown stronger for you the longer he is with you. You are a very special woman to him and he does not mean because of being tied to you as a master or because of your abilities. The thought of having you leave his side to be with another man gives him pain in his chest. He is unsure if these emotions are what people call love but they are growing stronger and he is beginning to believe that it is. If this curse ever breaks and you are set free from the jewel…"
He then turned to look at her and saw she was sitting quietly on the chair listening intently. He then continued by saying,
"If you were truly free from its curse would you come live with this Sesshomaru? He is sure these feelings for you will continue to grow. We could grow old together, have children together and be happy. Would you become his wife, his queen, the mother of his children and live with him until the end of his days?" As he finished saying all of this he kneeled down on one knee and took both of her hands in his as he looked into her eyes with hope.
Kagome was over run with emotions. She too felt what he had said as tears began to fall down her emotionless face. After coming out of her temporary state of shock a huge smile spread from ear to ear on her face as she said, "Yes…. a thousand times yes!"
She then swung her arms around his neck as he picked her up under her arms and began swinging around in circles. Their laughter ringing in the air. Sesshomaru smiled the biggest smile he had ever made. It warmed her heart and she would cherish it always. After they finished spinning Kagome slid down his body and he began to shower her face with butterfly-soft kissed. She laughed as his tender lips tickled across her face lovingly. However, he never kissed her on the lips. He wanted to keep their first kiss for their wedding day thus forgetting a crucial part to the curse. He was very traditional and wanted to make it special. Pulling away from kissing her face they looked into each others eyes just as the sun popped over the horizon.
"I'll see you tonight my Lord," she said before kissing his cheek then laying her head on his chest as she began to disappear.
Sesshomaru hugged her until her essence gave way just like all of the times before. Putting her stone back into the box he slipped it into his desk drawer before walking into the bathing room to begin getting ready for the day. However, the lid on the box did not close all of the way leaving a small crack not wide enough for the music to sound. As he was in the bathing room Kohahu's spiritual form slithered in from the darkness taking his human form next to the desk.
Kohaku opened the box pulling out the stone before closing its lid. He then placed a common rock in its place and returned the box back into the drawer. After that he returned to his spiritual form evaporating back into the shadows along with Kagome. Sesshomaru finished his shower and got dressed. After he was finished he pulled the box out of the drawer and put it into his leather bag like normal and walked out the door not realizing Kagome was no longer inside.
He then made his way to the dinning hall to send off his uncle and cousins who would be leaving today. Entering the dinning hall he sees he is the only one left not already eating. Sitting to his left was his uncle followed by his two children and the Band of Seven. To his right was an empty seat, then Rin, followed by Inuyasha and Kikyo. Now sitting at the head of the table he begins to eat enjoying the silence and soft table clatter of people eating this early in the morning.
"Rin, it was so nice to meet you and attend your birthday party. I hope some day soon you could come visit me in my home." Narakututmote said after he finished eating. Rin just nodded her head as she looked down at the food on her plate with her mouth full of bread.
"Are you all still planning on heading out after you finish eating?" Sesshomaru asked before taking a sip of his imported coffee.
"Yes, after my men have filled their bellies, the last of my possessions have been accounted for and are loaded onto our caravans we will be on our way Nephew. Don't you worry, we will be out of your hair soon enough." He said before he too took a sip of his coffee while his eyes remained looking at him over the rim.
After breakfast was finished Narakututmote, his children, and his men returned to his bedchambers. It was then Kohaku came out hiding in the shadows behind a curtain along the wall. Narakututmote quickly made his way over to his slave.
"Do you have it?" Narakututemote asked.
Kohaku extended his hand dropping the wishing stone into Narakututmotes. He then slipped the stone into his leather pouch attached it to his belt and he and his men began to quickly make their way out of the palace before the stone was found to be missing. By mid morning they were well on their way across the desert plains. Just before sunset and almost a full days ride from Sesshomaru and his men, Narakututmote pulled out the stone and made his wish…