DISCLAIMER
XI
The next morning found them at the Southern fortress, having flown the rest of the way with Naoshi's guidance. They sat in the dining hall, eating breakfast and having small talk as the fortress came to life. All over they could hear demons bustling around, going about their work and their day.
Kagome and Sango got to talking to Naoshi's mate, Raya, who was also a sea serpent demon. Sesshomaru and Naoshi got deep into conversation as the kids talked and played.
After breakfast, Raya took Sango Kagome and the kids to the gardens, before excusing herself to handle some business. With the promise of her return, the girls waved her off. After some time, Sesshomaru joined them in the gardens, taking a seat with Kagome and Sango in the shade of a tree.
"This garden is so beautiful, and the weather is perfect!" Kagome said, stretching her arms towards the sky. Sesshomaru looked towards her and chuckled.
"You look like a feline." he said simply. She huffed out a laugh and looked at him.
"And what's wrong with cats?" she asked. He looked at her pointedly before shrugging.
"Pesky little things. Always poking and lounging about." he said, peeking at Kagome from his peripheral. She laughed and poked his side, causing him to jerk away.
"You've proven my point." he said, bopping her head. She scoffed at him in return.
"And it's so like a dog to bop someone for attention." she countered, stroking her finger down his nose. He stared at her in shock, while she giggled with Sango.
After a few minutes of them watching the kids, he reached over and bopped her again. When she snapped her head over to look at him, shocked laughter bubbling out of her, he was no where to be seen. She looked around, but couldn't see him anywhere.
Until a strand of hair was tugged from the top of her head. Her and Sango looked up, before bursting into surprised laughter. There Sesshomaru hung, upside down, Kagome's midnight locks between his thumb and forefinger with a mischievous smile on his face.
"What are you doing?" Kagome laughed. He shrugged.
"Getting your attention." he answered simply before tugging her hair again, smile still in place. He fell from the tree, landing on his feet before snatching Kagomes backpack and running off.
"Hey!" she yelled, jumping to her feet and running after him. Sango, laughing, gathered the children and followed after them. They ran for a good fifteen minutes before Sesshomaru came to a sudden stop in front of a door. Kagome, not expecting the stop or able to slow down in time, ran right into him. He turned in time to catch her, and stood there with her pressed against him.
"Sorry." she breathed, looking into his eyes. The beautiful amber color seemed to pull her in like bees to honey. They stood looking into each others eyes until they heard footsteps getting close, and they took a couple steps away from each other. He handed her her backpack as Sango ran up with the children, Miroku and their two hosts. Sesshomaru nodded at Miroku before he looked at Kagome.
"I have a gift for you, Kagome." he said, putting his hand on the handle of the door. "I sincerely hope you like it."
When he opened the door, he put his hand to Kagome's back and guided her forward. She took a few steps forward, before she let out a gasp and whipped her head around to look at him. He smiled brightly at her, so only she could see, and gestured for her to keep going.
Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Kagome continued forward, following the sound she'd longed to hear her whole life. Finally, when she rounded the corner, she could see the path to the sea they were at the coast of. With a squeal of joy and a grip on Sesshomaru's hand, she ran forward until she stood just a few feet from the water.
She stood staring at it, a smile on her face. As Sesshomaru stood next to her, still holding her hand, he couldn't help but feel at peace. He looked over to Kagome to see her still smiling brightly, but with a single tear running down her face. He leaned close to her, squeezing her hand gently.
"He is always with you, Kagome. And I'm positive that he's incredibly proud of you." he whispered. She looked up at him, her eyes shining before she flung herself at him, hugging him around the neck. He held her tightly, rumbling comfortingly.
"Was it a good gift?" he asked, nudging her cheek with his before pulling back to look at her.
"It's the most amazing gift I've ever gotten, Sesshomaru. I'll never be able to express my gratitude, thank you so much." she said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. She turned, reaching into her back pack for her and Shippos bathing suits.
"Shippo! Wanna go for a swim?" she asked excitedly, walking towards Shippo and leaving a very stunned Sesshomaru behind. Miroku and Naoshi walked up to him, knowing smirks on their faces. Instantly, Sesshomarus went blank.
"Ahh, come on, Sesshomaru. Don't be afraid to show some emotion every now and then. You're among friends." Naoshi said, gesturing around him and smiling. Sesshomaru looked to Miroku, perhaps a bit hopefully and said monk nodded in response, smiling warmly.
"You can confide in us, my Lord." Miroku said, bowing his head with his hand on his heart. Sesshomaru nodded, a small smile on his face.
"Do you like the Lady Kagome?" Naoshi asked, gesturing towards her as she waded into the water with Shippo, laughing at the waves as they pushed against her. Sesshomaru's gaze followed her, his smile warming and growing.
"My beast claimed her. But I do not know how to feel about it." he said, simply. Both of the other mens eyes widened.
"Your beast claimed her? That means he-you-uh.. wants her for a mate?" Miroku asked. Sesshomaru nodded, his gaze still on her. "So why don't you know how to feel about it?"
"She is human." he said, looking at them both. "She has a human lifespan."
Naoshi and Miroku looked at each other, then Sesshomaru.
"I do not wish to fall in love with her, only to lose her so soon." he continued.
"What about the blood bond?" Naoshi asked suddenly. Sesshomaru stared at him.
"Naoshi. Kagome is Miko, it could kill her. Or both of us. There's never been a blood bond between a Miko and a Demon, we do not know what would happen." he said somewhat morosely. Naoshi smiled.
"But you've considered it." he said smugly. Sesshomaru glared at him and Miroku chuckled.
"I have an idea, my Lord. What if we asked the Lady Mother? Surely she'd have an idea?" he asked. Sesshomarus eyes widened.
"Shit." he said. Miroku and Naoshi's eyes widened in shock. "Mother is not going to like this."
Naoshi cracked up laughing, doubling over and holding his stomach. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru stood there, a haunted look on his face. Miroku looked back and forth between them.
"Does the Lady Mother not like humans?" he asked.
"Not so much. She doesn't like weak humans, but she knows the council would never accept a human as their Lady, let alone a hanyou as the heir. It'd take work to get them to agree and not kill them." Sesshomaru answered. Miroku nodded solemnly.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome called, jogging down the beach towards them.
Miroku's eyes bugged out, and Sesshomarus breath hitched at the sight of Kagome, wet, in a bikini. Well, scraps of cloth to them. Sesshomaru growled loud enough for the two men to hear and they instantly averted their gazes. Kagome got up to them, and clutched onto Sesshomaru's arm.
"Come swim with me, Sesshomaru! This is such an amazing gift and I want you to share it with me, please?" she asked, pouting.
"Aww... you're hitting him with the puppy dog face?" Miroku groaned, feeling pity for the poor demon Lord. If he hadn't been so distracted by everything that was Kagome, he would have asked Miroku about what he said.
Instead, he found himself being tugged towards the water. Just before they got to the water, Sesshomaru gathered himself enough to halt and remove his boots, socks and haori. Without a second thought, he sliced his hakama to the knees before following the spirited girl into the water.
She turned to look at him as she walked in, the water just caressing her bottom. She took in his change, and smiled at him.
"I didn't expect you to ever cut your hakama just to swim." she giggled. He felt it wash over him like the water licking at his ankles. Walking farther in, nearer to the girl he desired, he let out a chuckle.
"Well, a certain Miko wanted me to enjoy the sea with her for the first time. I couldn't possibly refuse such a request from a friend." he replied, reaching out for her hand. She took his, as he stepped closer to her. When he got right up to her, he smiled.
"Can you hold a solid barrier? Sealed, nothing in or out?" he asked, as he took her other hand. Distracted, she nodded.
"Uh.. I think so. Probably, why?" she asked, looking up into his eyes. So beautiful, with the sun reflecting off the sea onto him, making him look incredible. He chuckled.
"Hmm. I will do it this time, and I'll teach you later." he said, forming a solid barrier around them, that they could still see out of. Smiling, he ran his hands up her arms to her waist, pulling her closer. "Hold on."
When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he took off, out to sea, then down into the water. Kagome shrieked from the initial shock, expecting the water to rush them, and laughing when it merely brushed across the barrier. She met his gaze, excitement in her eyes.
"This is incredible! Oh, Sesshomaru thank you so much!" she exclaimed, hugging him again.
She turned, but didn't move away; staying in his arms, but looking at the ocean life around them. Schools of fish passed by, jellyfish, they looked around the reef, and saw sharks. Kagome turned in his arms again, looking up into his eyes.
"You really are absolutely amazing. I'm really glad we've become so close." she said, smiling. "I know I said it already, but... today will be in my heart forever."
They returned to their friends, who greeted them with shouts and waves. Still holding onto Sesshomaru, Kagome walked further in, enjoying the waters caress against her legs and stomach. Sesshomaru watched her, a smile on his face. Without warning, he snatched Kagome up bridal style, and tossed her into the water, just a foot in front of him. Laughter sounded all around him as Kagome came up for air, gasping. With most of her hair in her eyes, she pointed at him.
"Dead." she said simply, before chasing after him. With a laugh the others barely believed came out of his lips, he took off down the beach, always staying just out of Kagomes reach.
With an extra boost of reiki that he wasn't expecting, she lunged forward just enough to grab him by the arm, then leaped, effectively tackling him to the ground. With the ocean tide splashing against them, she straddled him, hands on his shoulders.
"Do you concede, my lord?" she asked, chest heaving with her efforts to catch her breath. Sesshomaru had to take a minute to remind himself she was still innocent. She knew not what she does.
He growled playfully, flipping her over right as a wave came through, covering them both before retreating. She sputtered a cough, looking up at him in shock. She recovered quickly though, throwing him a tricksters grin. Before he could figure out what she planned to do, her arms flew up, knocking his out from under him before sliding down the sand as quick as she could and taking off at breakneck speed.
Naoshi's eyes widened in worry and he hit Mirokus shoulder perhaps a tiny bit harder than intended. With a gasp of protest, Miroku looked where Naoshi was pointing. Kagome had unwittingly invited chase.
Though Sesshomaru kept repeating to himself that she didn't know she was inviting chase, the looks she shot him over her shoulder as he chased her riled his beast to no end. He caught up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist which caused her to scream with giggles. He hoisted her in the air, spinning her around, relishing in her laughter and how their hair seemed to come together like the night and the moon.
He let her down gently, and she wobbled around obviously very dizzy. She continued to giggle though, even as she fell over into the water. They played by the ocean side until the sun had set and the children were shivering. Kagome quickly changed her and Shippos clothes, and pulled out a small night gown she'd bought at a village for Rin, changing her from her wet clothes. Her and Sesshomaru carried their children in, helping them eat at least a little bit before putting them to bed. Sweet things were completely exhausted.
What do you guys think? Sweet chapter?