Just a quick disclaimer, I'm in the process of editing right now, so if there are a few continuity errors between here and the end, that would be why. Hope it's not too bad, and I'll have it finished before the day is out for sure, so hang in there readers!
Chapter 6: Comfort
The sunrise seemed to come too early the next morning. She rushed out the door to school with a smile on her face, something she hadn't done in over a year. Her classes flew by, and she finally had the time to tell her friends about the tall stranger with white hair. Her friends were appropriately wooed by her story: a doctor she knew from when she was sick a lot, he's cold, but a genius, the top of his field. After class was over she apologized to her friends for being unable to go out yet again before heading straight back to Sesshomaru's house.
Once she was standing before his door she wondered if she should knock, or just wait, as Sesshomaru seemed to already know when she was there. He opened the door as she was still deciding. "Kagome." He greeted as usual, with the flattest tone manageable. This time he didn't immediately move aside to let her in. instead he leaned on one arm over his head against the doorframe, looking down at her calmly. "I know I said you should come, but I have a lot of work to do today." He sounded oddly tired. Did he even get tired? She realized he may have been asking her to leave, but she'd already had her heart set on seeing him today.
"Ah… well- I do too!" She said, coming up with a reason to stay on the fly. She remembered his odd concern with her school work from the previous days. "I can do my homework until you're done." Her voice was just the smallest bit pleading. He thought it over a moment before stepping aside to let her in with a heavy sigh.
Kagome happily hopped through the doorway and stepped out of her shoes before heading to the kitchen, sitting in her usual seat. "Kagome, this way." She swiveled around to his voice, watching him walk past the kitchen door while pushing his clawed hand through his shaggy hair. She wandered after him, a little excited to see more of his home. She was not disappointed, as the rest of his house was much the same as the kitchen. Sleek modern architecture and furnishings, expensive antiques. He walked to a small room that held little more than a large window with a wide sitting area beneath it, a neatly kept work space with a desk, and hundreds of books. He gestured to the window, moving to the desk, an open laptop waiting for his attention. "Sit." he commanded. She did as she was told, very obediently. She smiled inwardly at the way 'sit' seemed to work just as well for her as it did Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru immediately got to work, alternating between typing and scribbling on the stack of papers next to the laptop. He seemed content to ignore her for a while. She pulled open her bag, remembering she was supposed to study if she were going to stay. She did just that for around twenty minutes until her mind began to wander. She let her eyes drift over the books lining the wall in front of her. There were so many, she wondered if he'd read them all. He'd certainly had the time. She wondered again about his occupation, but looking up to see him still engrossed in his work, she decided to get back to studying.
She tapped her pen lightly against her lips as she tried to concentrate, but failed. She wanted so badly to bother Sesshomaru. Now she knew how Inuyasha felt when he distracted her from studying. He never sat this quietly for so long, though. Kami, she missed that jerk. As her eyes were drifting over the walls of book titles they fell on the area behind Sesshomaru. She wondered for a moment why she'd not noticed it before but decided it was because she was focused on Sesshomaru himself, never bothering to look at the wall. Hung there for display there were two swords.
"Did Inuyasha still wear his beads?" She asked the question quietly, testing the waters causing Sesshomaru to hum a rather annoyed note. She took that to mean 'wait until I'm done, please' in Inu. She did just that, silently leaning against the window, gazing out at the birds like a bored housecat. Despite the appearance of boredom, her mind raced thinking about all the things she would ask when Sesshomaru decided he had time. Eventually his tying stopped, and her attention was caught with the 'click' of his laptop closing. She looked at him excitedly, parting her lips to start her daily barrage before being interrupted.
"I'm very busy, you know." He said coldly, causing her lips to snap shut and her face to take on a scolded look. She nodded, showing she understood what he meant. Just to make sure, he scribbled a note on a piece of crisp paper and handed it to her over the desk. "From now on I'll text or call you. Write yours down here." She took the paper, marvelling at the neatness of his writing. The numbers almost looked printed, though she'd just seen him write it by hand. She tucked the note away into her school blazer before returning her attention to Sesshomaru, typing her number into the phone he handed her. Once he took it back, saving it, she felt suddenly unsure if he wanted her to go or not. Seeming to read her mind, he told her it was ok to stay today. She thanked him, once again feeling like an obedient puppy. "And one more thing…" He said, "I've told you most of everything I know about your, and my brother's fate."
Her heart fell. He didn't know any more? So what should she do now? She couldn't just leave, he was her only link to the past! Two more years of this reality with nothing at all to connect her... No. She would find some reason to bug him until he threw her out, or changed his address. For now… she needed more questions.
"So... what is it you do?" He didn't look fazed by the question, although she wondered if it was too invasive.
"I deal in antiques, among other things." While that was never his primary business, it wasn't a lie. He dabbled in hundreds of occupations, finding the ones with the most risks to be his favorite. He had only happened to be going through some records of all of his holdings in various museums and universities across the world when she showed up, so that became his answer for today. Kagome almost laughed. What a genius occupation for someone who is close to immortal!
"I should have guessed, with the way you decorate. Is all of this stuff you've kept over time, or is it stuff you bought?" He scoffed, raising his brow at her.
"You ask that question in here?" She looked around the room, once again glancing at all the books and decorations. She had to admit, some of it seemed a little familiar, but she'd lived over a year of her life in the feudal era! Anything from then would look a little familiar. Sesshomaru stood when she didn't respond, walking towards the wall at her back, the only space blocked by her place in the window seat.
"You mean you don't recognize it?" He pulled down the two swords from their mounts on the wall, leaving a third hanging, leaning one on his desk and offering her the other. She almost cried out in surprise, her hands shooting to cover her shocked lips. She reached out tentatively, letting her fingers dust the old sword as it's name silently passed her lips. Her wide eyes looked to Sesshomaru's calm amber as she accepted the blade, clutching it close, as though it were her beating heart itself.
"Te-Tessaiga..." She whimpered, hands shaking. Her heart shattered at seeing the worn sword, but also soared at the way it almost pulsed in her hands. As a miko she could sense it's long dormant power, seeming to greet her. It was like being reunited with an old friend. How many times had Tessaiga saved her life? The love of her life? This sword was his. It belonged to her Inuyasha, literally a piece of him. His fang had been used to repair it! The surge of energy she felt was almost like touching the Hanyo himself... almost. "Sesshomaru…" she whispered, eyes still locked to the sword in her hands. "Do you have his robe?" He looked away from her at the question to his own sword. He had been gone for years after they had been killed. Totosai had been the one to tell him, giving him his brother's sword and leaving him with no more information than that. Looking back to the girl he saw her shoulders beginning to shake as she pulled the sword free of its sheath, only a couple inches before closing it again. His hand pressed her shoulder lightly, comfortingly even as her tears fell, despite her fighting them.
"No. It was lost." He said calmly, showing no hint of warmth in his voice, although he was trying to comfort her. It seemed to be working as she calmed down, releasing her death-grip on the sword just a hair to look down at it, turning it over and over in her hands. She handed it back to Sesshomaru, suddenly wishing for it to leave her sight, the memories too overwhelming. After taking care to wipe away any fingerprints that could harm them, he replaced both swords on the wall mount.
"Antiques..." She muttered. "That's brilliant... really." She smiled but the joy had gone from her voice. It pained him to see this. Even if they weren't the closest of kin, he still cared about her in some odd way. Maybe it was only his way of repaying Inuyasha for watching over Rin all those years ago, but he didn't want her to suffer.
"Kagome... I apologize, if that was too much." She shook her head, taking more care to appear happy.
"Sokay! Really, I was just surprised." She smiled brightly at him. Sesshomaru was instantly struck by how well she lied to him. He could smell her sorrow, but she truly sounded happy. He groaned.
"You don't have to... and can't, lie to me, Imouto." He said with a bit more softness than usual in his voice. His face still looked hard and annoyed, but his tone was genuine. She dropped the fake smile, letting it fade as she turned again to look out the window.
"I forgot... about the sense of smell." She sighed. Something in her seemed to break at that confession. Silent tears began to roll down her cheeks. Sesshomaru inwardly groaned. How would Inuyasha handle this? Probably... call her stupid or something. That idiot. He sighed, thinking instead about his Rin. When she cried... He sighed again, knowing deep down he was about to regret this, but wanting nothing more in this moment than to stop her tears.
He walked slowly toward her and sat on the window seat, pulling her close as her first sobs finally broke. He let her rest against his chest and lifted a hand to pet her hair. He simply let her weep and continued the soft motion until she was finally quiet, realizing only a second too late that she was falling asleep. He cursed silently. He was always good with Rin. Apparently Kagome wasn't so different. With nothing better to do, his mind wandered back to the girl that was now long dead. The first human he ever cared about. He tried not to think on it too often, lest he re-anger himself. That feeling, no matter how much time had passed never seemed to dissipate. He hated the man who had taken her from him, but he knew he should let it go. Even revenge, blood for her blood, had not quelled his rage. He'd left the continent. He'd run, not knowing what else to do. Everything in Japan in the spring seemed to hold a bit of her scent. Just to be safe, he let several hundred seasons pass before returning. When he did, well... At least he was not reminded often. He let out a long suffering sigh, resigning himself to laying still until morning.
As dawn broke Kagome felt a hand pet her hair, and a low voice call her "Kagome." Her eyes shot open the instant she realized where she must be- and who was under her! A small yelp of surprise crossed her lips as she shot up. Sesshomaru looked at her with mild annoyance as a deep shade of embarrassment graced her pale cheeks.
"S-Sesshomaru- I-!" She took a deep breath as he stood up and stretched.
"I'm making breakfast. You will eat before going home. I have work to do today." With that he walked leisurely to the kitchen to begin, never letting her properly squeak out an apology. She sat still on the window seat, hands covering her face. She wished she could just run out! Kami! But that breakfast sounded more like a command than an invitation. She whined a note, forcing herself to swallow her pride and follow to the kitchen. She wasn't expecting much, as she never saw Sesshomaru eat anything other than... enemies... her stomach clenched at the memory. He was so savage for one so regal, when he wanted to be. She quietly sat at the table in her usual spot. He placed a cup of coffee before her, as well as a simple omelet that smelled heavenly and left her with a simple command of "Eat." before turning to go.
"Wait!" she said, still wanting to apologise. He stopped in the doorway for a moment before turning to her with annoyance drawn on his features. Why is he only good at hiding his positive emotions? "Where are you going?" she asked innocently, still not brave enough to apologise directly.
"I need to shower before going to work, Kagome." She bit her lip, hating herself for the stupid question. He sighed. "You may leave as soon as you are finished." Feeling thoroughly dismissed, she turned back to her food as he left. Go to work? If his job was antiques, where would he need to go? She knew something was just a bit off as she ate quickly, rinsing her dishes in the sink like he did before gathering her things to go.
As she walked out into the sunlight to go home, she wondered how she looked. School uniform on a saturday morning, hair probably a mess. What would mama think? She cursed herself for being so stupid once again before making her way home.