Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru watched in silence. "She shows pity on a demon that died due to their own stupidity. What a peculiar miko…"
After several agonizing minutes of self-loathing Kagome allowed her shattered frame to sit up and lean against the doorway that lead into the main room.
Her body shook uncontrollably as her eyes scanned the room. The house was in disarray, but whether from the neglect of the old woman's family or from the shape shifter, one could not say for certain. Warily, Kagome made her way to the kitchen, her feet lazily dragging the floor as she could not find the strength required to lift them fully. She grabbed the wash basin and gingerly began to clean her wounds. Several were very deep, but nothing more than a good wrap would help heal.
After her wounds were clean and wrapped Kagome walked back towards the living room. She eyed the trail of red that lead to the closet. Taking a deep breath she pressed forward and gently turned the handle, and as expected, once open the elderly woman's corpse fell undignified to the ground, landing with a harsh thud at Kagome's feet. Kagome jumped back a foot or so in shock. While she had expected this, she didn't feel quite ready to handle it. She fell to her knees, gripping her chest in pain as she couldn't help but allow her tears to fall. Only she would cry for this woman, only she would know the fate, only she would be the one to lay her to rest, only she would truly care for her. Kagome, though only knowing the woman in death, couldn't help but reach down and gently kiss the top of her forehead. "Goodbye, Grandmother"
Sesshomaru moved closer to the window, curious now as to how the miko wished to continue with the old woman's remains. He found himself shaking his head again, as another thought itched itself inside his mind. "She shows compassion for those she does not know, and honor those whom she has bravely fought against by shedding her tears. She has proved herself not only as an ally, but also a plausible threat to the western lands." Sesshomaru snorted in disgust at his beast as it finished the sentence. "Powerful Miko or not, she poses no true threat to this Sesshomaru." Again, he sighed, "Why are you obsessed with this woman?" He received only two words before a laugh erupted inside him. "Why not?"
"This Sesshomaru will not entertain that thought." And with that, silence was left inside Sesshomaru, who unused to the sudden onslaught conversations with his inner beast, was left a bit perplexed. In his centuries of life he has never had such intense reactions from his beast for a female. The only woman that it ever mentioned was his ward, Rin, whom was a blossoming young woman now. The beast, however, did not go into detail with Rin as it did with Kagome. With Rin, he merely showed a beam of pride that swelled within him, one comparable to that his sire most likely felt for Sesshomaru and the hanyou, Inuyasha.
Again Sesshomaru couldn't help but frown in disgust as he realized what exactly his beast was after in regards to Kagome. "Her scent drives you." He heard another chuckle inside, "As it should. If it did not, one would begin to wonder why you have not rutted in any recent time. Or chosen a mate" This caused a very deadly eyebrow arch as Sesshomaru struggled not to strangle himself. "This Sesshomaru has control over his… desires and will not give in to any lowly being that offers themselves." Again another deep laugh inside, but beyond that, nothing.
Kagome bowed her head low, nearly touching the floor as she prayed for the woman. She prayed for her safety into crossing the otherworld; she prayed that when death did come for this woman, it was a gentle wind, preferably in her sleep, or at least without pain; she prayed that the woman would not harbor ill will towards those that had attempted to harm her, those she trusted; those who abandoned her; she prayed that at last her soul could be in peace. As she rose walked over to the small table and began clearing it.
After this Kagome picked the elderly corpse off the ground, her stomach churning unconsciously as she realized the lightness of the body. While true, some of the stomach organs were missing thanks to the shape shifter, there was much weight already lost. Kagome felt another tear roll down her face as she considered the possibility that this woman starved to death. She laid the body on the table and reached for the wash basin. The body needed to be cleansed before the burning of the body, which Kagome would do most likely near sunrise as it was nearly halfway through the night already.
Sesshomaru watched her, almost enthralled in the delicate and intricate manner that the miko washed the body. Even though the woman was dead, she found it necessary to place the remainder of the organs that were violently ripped from her abdomen back in and sew it closed with care. She made certain every inch of the woman was washed clean of filth, and then placed sacramental oils in key points on the body, while muttering unheard prayers and requests to God.
After the body was cleansed, Kagome placed a blanket over the elderly woman and walked to the bedroom. She needed to find the woman her best clothes, but as she noticed, there was more to this woman than meets the eye. She found several fine silk kimonos, but was stuck out most was her miko attire that was folded nicely in a corner. This woman was a miko. Kagome smiled as she picked them up. She would be burned and honored as such.
Once Kagome dressed the elderly corpse she prayed again and then walked outside to the front of the house to begin the fire that was to serve as the vessel to the other world.
Sesshomaru watched her begin the fire; first laying large stones around the outer part of the pit to serve as a barrier and then placed kindling and such before laying large pieces of lumber that would serve as a rack to lay the body on. She allowed a small smolder to begin before she turned to return back into the house. She was stunned to say the least when she ran into the Lord of the West.
She wasn't aware it was him until she landed undignified on her ass and looked to see where the wall that she had to have run into came from. Her breath left her body in such haste that she found herself slightly dizzy and unable to speak. "Again, miko, you test this Sesshomaru's patience. Do you value your life so little? This Sesshomaru does not run around making idle threats." Kagome found no words, let alone the ability to stand and defend herself. Sesshomaru found this amusing how she lain on the ground in a very vulnerable position, open to any and all of Sesshomaru's attack. He raised his arm, pulsing the youkai, ready to strike down the girl.
Kagome soon found her voice as she rushed forward off the ground, unfortunately stumbling into Sesshomaru's waist line, pulling slightly at his robe. "Please wait! I am almost done! Please, allow me to finish! I only need a few hours to burn the body! Please… please" She began sobbing uncontrollably; burying her face deeper into the fold of his robs. Sesshomaru's face showed nothing, however inside his beast began to take hold. "Allow her to do as she pleases, and I am sure she will do all she can to please you." Another chuckle. "Miko, you will desist in the nonsense. You were aware of the consequences of your actions. This Sesshomaru warned you, which is more than any enemy has received." Kagome looked up at him pleadingly, "Did she have a choice? Did she know that she was out here? Did she know she was going to die alone, starving, and scared?" Her voice started strong, but ended weak, nearly a whisper.
Sesshomaru paused as she dropped her head again, this time letting go of his robes and slumping to the ground. Against his better judgment he allowed himself to listen to his beast on this matter. "Miko, rise and face this Sesshomaru." When she didn't Sesshomaru sighed and roughly grabbed her, throwing her into the doorway of the home where she landed on her face. "This Sesshomaru will not repeat himself." He said as he stepped into the home, eyeing her small frame. Kagome jumped up quickly after she landed and faced him, bringing her aura out to surround herself in hopes of deterring Sesshomaru from killing her. "Calm yourself Miko, this Sesshomaru has an… offer."
Kagome eyed him suspiciously before she allowed her aura to seep itself back inside her. "This Sesshomaru is not fond of his lands being soiled by humans, so this Sesshomaru will allow you to burn the corpse as you wish, however you will be indebted to this Sesshomaru for something of equal value. Do you comprehend girl?" Kagome allowed the information to seep in before she shakily nodded her head, "Of equal value?" "Hn, equal value." She considered her options rather quickly. Die? Or pay back a debt in value to his land? "Very well, I accept the terms." Sesshomaru smiled then, which Kagome knew could only mean something terrible was about to happen. "This Sesshomaru will return in four hours, and if you are not prepared to repay the debt then be prepared to lose your life."
After Kagome thanked whatever gods appeared to be saving her life and granting her the ability to negotiate, even though it was more or less her agreeing not to die… yet. She pondered briefly what he could require he to do to repay her debt, but figured the land wasn't more than an acre or two, so the cost would not be too steep, and if so, she was sure her miko abilities were worth more than enough to cover any compensation he was looking for this land. She pushed the thought of payment out of her mind for later and once again lifted the grandmother's body and walked outside to begin the burning ceremony.
The body burned for over 3 hours before it became nothing more than ash. Kagome prayed the entire time, and kept an eye over the flames, ensuring they remained hot to burn the body properly, and within the timeframe that was set for her. Once finished she gathered the ashes and placed them on the offering stone. The wind was to be the carrier of the ashes to the underworld for the woman.
After a final prayer, Kagome walked inside and awaited the return of Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru remained within a mile of the home, but was lost deep in thought. "This Sesshomaru is a fool. What could that girl even offer to repay the debt for the land she soiled? Not only did she blatantly disobey this Sesshomaru, she soiled the land with the blood of a ningen, and the blood of a demon. All three acts are tantamount to death!" "Hn, it does appear this Sesshomaru is a fool. You claim this girl cannot repay the debt. All her actions amount to death? You are the fool." The beast angrily growled. Sesshomaru allowed himself to breathe deep before responding. "How is this Sesshomaru not the fool? Did he not warn her, well ahead of her journey? She soiled not only the land she burned on, but also the surrounding 5 miles of land. No demon would pay for this land as it stands. A filthy, ningen, human, miko corpse being burned and honored? That will not simply wash away with the rain, as will the shape shifters blood, as you are so aware. It leaves a permanent mark. It makes it holy. Its value is now that of a human settlement." "Again, this Sesshomaru is a fool." "Explain yourself." Sesshomaru growled, becoming more and more agitated by the second. "Or this Sesshomaru will simply remove his earlier agreement and kill the miko." "You claim she cannot repay you, however she, herself is more valuable than this land. Her miko powers alone are strong enough that she could even attend an auctioning of such a piece of land. Add to that her education, and her seeming understanding of the demon culture, and without having the complete disregard of the destruction of the youkai, as most miko of her stature should have. Regardless, while she, obviously, does not possess the funds to purchase this land, she does offer something that will more than compensate for the acres this land sets upon."
And at that the beast silenced himself. Sesshomaru sat, perplexed, as what his beast was hinting upon. "What can this girl offer this Sesshomaru in payment for his lands?" At this his beast spoke, accentuating every word. "This woman can offer her virginity."