USUAL DISCLAIMER
So boring right? Aha
XIII
Some time after tea, Lady Mother had left to speak with Bokuseno. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru stood in the garden, watching the cherry blossoms blow in the breeze. From the corner of his eye, he saw a pink mist making it's way towards him. Upon further inspection, he realized it was a wisp. A wisp made of reiki. He stared at it in amazement, but not daring to touch it.
It weaved and bobbed around him, before a tendril of energy reached towards him and ran down his nose, much like Kagome had done at the Southern fortress. Sesshomaru almost laughed as the wisp bounced off, inviting chase. He followed diligently, until he came across Kagome sitting upon a rampart overlooking the garden he had been in. He sat next to her, curiosity overtaking his expression.
"Inuyasha always thought I was so weak, but he never bothered to realize that I can do a lot more than barriers and sacred arrows." she said proudly, smiling at him.
"The wisp was very interesting. When did you learn to do that?" Sesshomaru asked, unwrapping his Mokomoko from his shoulder and passing it to her. She smiled and accepted it, wrapping it around her shoulders and snuggling into it.
"It's a part of you, isn't it? Like a detachable tail?" she asked, lighting his youki along the fluffy thing with her own powers.
"Indeed. And that tickles, Kagome." he said, chuckling. Her eyes grew wide and her face red.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't realize you'd feel it." she said. "Wait a second. You can feel everything this feels?"
"Essentially, yeah." he said. She deadpanned, looking at it skeptically. Sesshomaru laughed.
"Do not worry, Kagome. It will keep you warm, that's all." he said. Her face dimmed just barely before she caught herself.
"Right, thanks Sesshomaru." she said. He looked at her a minute, wondering why she looked sad for a second there. Finally realization dawned.
"You are quite powerful, Kagome, and have become...special to me. I wish only to show you I will not take advantage of your kindness." he assured her, tugging her chin up gently so he could look in her eyes.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru." she said, cuddling further into the Mokomoko. He smiled at her, gently infusing more youki to warm it up a bit more. She hummed in appreciation, leaning into Sesshomarus side.
"It's beautiful here, Sesshomaru. I see why Lady Shiori lives here, the view is spectacular." she mused.
"Yes, the view is quite beautiful. I used to sit out here and count the stars at night. I often wondered if some day I could reach out and touch them." Sesshomaru said softly. He gazed towards the sky, then back at Kagome. She glanced at him, a shy smile on her face.
"I did the same thing growing up. I'd climb to the roof of our house and watch the stars. They're so fascinating." she said. He smiled at her.
"Perhaps someday we can touch the stars together, hmm?" he asked.
"Absolutely. You and me, we'll go and see the stars, just the two of us." she promised, crossing her heart with her fingers. He smiled warmly at her.
"You seem much happier, lately. More open, and friendly." she observed, looking him over. Self consciously, he looked to the sky.
"Perhaps it is your friendship. Your kindness, it has caused a change in me. I have a thought, Kagome that goes against everything I have known." he said, looking to her. She nodded, motioning for him to continue.
"Perhaps, it is not necessary to keep people out of ones heart. Friendship, love, compassion, are not weaknesses, but strength. Friendship can be armor against dark times, and love a comfort always. Is this true?" he asked.
"I believe so. My father taught me that we should always treat others with kindness, and forgive people their trespasses because you never know what battles they've fought. He taught me people all have battles, even if we can't see them." she told him. He sat there with her for a while, pondering her words.
"Oh, Kagome! Are you ready for our spar session?" Shiori called from the garden. Both Kagome and Sesshomaru leaned over to look. Kagome gave a wave.
"Absolutely!" she said, before standing and stepping off the rampart. Sesshomaru jerked forward, to catch her.
"Kagome!" he yelled, falling over the edge to catch her. To his surprise, she had used her reiki to form wings that guided her to the ground. Quickly adjusting himself, he landed next to her, eyes wide with awe.
"Did I scare ya?" she asked him, smiling innocently. He got hold of himself, and laughed.
"I'd never say something like that. However, the wings were well crafted." he said, winking at her.
"Come come, you two. Flirt later. The miko and I have a match to begin." Shiori huffed, teasing the two. Kagome blushed beet red and stammered, while Sesshomaru cleared his throat and looked away.
"R-right! Let's get on with it, shall we?" Kagome said, walking to the training grounds. Shiori and Sesshomaru caught up to her, walking on either side.
"Get ready, little Miko. I do not plan to hold back." Shiori said, getting into an offensive stance. Kagome stood some feet away, in a defensive position.
"Bring it on, my Lady." she replied. Shiori chuckled and ran at Kagome. In the blink of an eye, she was where Kagome had been standing. But Kagome wasn't there anymore. She had made her wings appear and lifted herself into the sky, landing behind Shioro and throwing a blast of reiki towards her. Shiori turned, using her acid whip to dispel the blast.
Shiori flung her whip towards Kagome, seemingly wrapping her wrist. Kagome covered her arm in a layer of reiki, like a gauntlet before the whip made contact. Then she grabbed the whip, surprising Shiori and flung her into the air, then pulled her to the ground. With a laugh, Shiori stood and dusted herself off.
"My my my, Kagome. You are quite strong. And clever to boot." she said.
"Thank you, Lady Shiori. That is a high compliment, coming from you." Kagome replied, smiling.
In that second, Shiori snapped her whip at Kagome, aiming for her head. With a scoff, Kagome flicked a whip of reiki out, purifying the acid whip all the way to Shiori's fingers. The demoness hissed at the contact, but had no time to check the effect on her fingers. Kagome's reiki whip was headed her way again! She lunged out of the way, using her demon speed to get behind Kagome and wrap her arm around her neck.
Sesshomaru watched from the sidelines, growing more and more distressed as the so-called spar went on. It definitely didn't feel like a good-natured spar to him. Miroku and Naoshi walked up to him, sensing his unease. When Shiori appeared behind Kagome, they both grabbed Sesshomaru.
"Be calm, Sesshomaru. Kagome is just fine. Look carefully." Miroku whispered, nudging his head towards Kagome's neck.
Sesshomaru looked closer, and saw exactly what Miroku was talking about. Without Shiori's notice, Kagome had wrapped slender lines of reiki around her arm, from her fingers to her shoulder. Slowly, the lines grew in size.
"Really, Kagome you should pay more attention to your surroundings." Shiori teased. Kagome chuckled in response, causing the demoness to go rigid.
"So should you, my Lady." Kagome replied. In an instant, her reiki charged the lines and engulfed Shiori's arm. She pulled back with a screech, her arm smoking. Kagome pulled her reiki back, before making ropes. She wrapped Shiori in them again, without touching her skin.
"Do you concede, Lady Shiori?" Kagome asked politely. Shiori stared at her in open shock and awe.
"H-how!?" she asked. Kagome chuckled.
"My son is a fox. I learned from the best." she answered, looking to the little kit who had joined the men on the sidelines with a wink. Shippo chuckled and cheered for her. Shiori looked from Shippo to Kagome with a smile.
"I concede, to the Shikon Miko." she said, her voice bursting with pride. Kagome released the bonds, bowing to Shiori who bowed back. She walked to Kagome, linking their arms together.
"You are an absolute delight! I haven't had a real challenge like that since Takeshi was alive!" she gushed.
"Takeshi, my Lady?" Kagome asked, confused.
"My father. Inu No Taisho, is merely a title, though it is what he is best known as." Sesshomaru answered, taking Kagome's hand and pulling her to him. He checked her for injuries, shocked that his mother hadn't gotten even a single hit on her.
"I'm fine, Sesshomaru." she chuckled, taking his hand from her ribs and holding it in both of hers. "I promise."
"Very well." he said softly, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. She smiled at him again, looking on his eyes. She saw something there, that was perhaps not so shocking, but was shocking at the same time.
"Oh, Sesshomaru. I must speak with you, as well." Shiori said, walking inside.
"I will meet you after I speak with mother, and will show you all to your rooms." he said, looking at Kagome.
"Okay. Are we staying the night?" she asked. He nodded.
"Mother insisted." he answered, a small smile on his face. She chuckled and nodded.
"Go on, then." she laughed. Sesshomaru turned, and followed his mothers scent to the library once again.
"I spoke with Bokuseno." she said from her seat. He sat across from her again, almost eagerly this time.
"What did he say?" he asked. She smiled at him.
"He said though it never happened before, you could do so, with a little help." she answered.
"What kind of help?" Sesshomaru asked, perplexed. What could possibly help such a complex dilemma? Shiori reached into her robes, pulling a pouch out.
"His bark. Make a tea with it, then both of you drink it. After that, perform the blood bond. His magic, he believes, will make it possible for the bond to be formed safely." she explained.
"He believes? It could work, but it also might not?" he asked. Shiori nodded.
"It is not for certain it will work, my son. But we can hope with everything we are that it does." she said softly. Sesshomaru met her eyes.
"You support my decision, then?" he asked surprised.
"Yes, Sesshomaru. I support you and I will help you against the council, as well. She is incredibly strong, I believe she will be very good for you, and for the West." she told him, as she pulled him in for another hug, stroking his hair.
"Thank you, mother. Will you keep the bark safe?" he asked and she nodded.
"Of course, I will my son. Come back when she agrees to be your mate, alright?" she said.
"We will, mother." he promised before making his way back to Kagome and the others.
For once, I wanted a decent relationship between them so yeah ahahaha