Life has been very distracting but I'm still working on the story. I promise. Also, one of my characters is made with love of Skyrim. Thank you for reading! ~Catclass
Chapter 7
Into the warmer skies of Japan's southern islands, Sesshomaru led the group to their next destination. Kagome's raven hair had been tied up into a messy bun to hide the un-brushed knots from her last trip on Ah-Un. Jakken sat with her as they lightly discussed some of the things that had happened while he guarded their steed. Moments like this made the long trips bearable.
On top of a hill, sat a white palace surrounded by black earth. It took a moment to register why the ground would look that way, but Kagome eventually remembered. The daughter of a phoenix general lived here by the name of Hina. She vaguely wondered what the girl would look like in comparison to the ones she had seen before with Inuyasha. Japan's phoenixes were more like bird demons with fire element powers, so they weren't that uncommon.
Whatever Kagome might have guessed for the girl's appearance, crashed into a pile of ashes as a tall form came out of the palace. So far, many of the demonesses had been girls that barely looked the same age as Kagome if not younger. This woman proudly swept from her patio and towards the landing party.
"Welcome!" The strawberry blonde woman greeted, "Please call me Hina. I've been anticipating your arrival for days now." She stood just barely below Sesshomaru's height, with large golden wings framing her curvaceous figure and gracefully trailing behind. Tanned skin and a plethora of orange feathers adorning her shoulders framed deep, red eyes.
"Lord Sesshomaru, please follow Tanaka to the meeting room. He shall see to it you get any food or beverage you desire. As for you," The fire demon turned her attention to the surprised miko, "What did you do to your beautiful hair?"
Before Kagome could blink, Hina was already in front of her muttering little "oh no" and "what is this". The shorter human meekly explained, "The wind got to it."
The demoness tutted, "Won't you come with me to fix this, dear?" She had already hooked the miko around the arm and ushered her inside before Kagome could respond.
"We'll just be a moment, my lord." Hina called over her shoulder before disappearing around a corner.
Just as she promised, the demoness returned Kagome with a clean and proper ponytail. Sesshomaru sat on a cushion with the tea and tray of food before him untouched. Colorful feathers tickled the miko's pale cheek as Hina leaned in to playfully whisper, "I don't think he liked the tea. What say you?"
Kagome whispered back, "Don't take it personally. I can't remember the last time I saw him eat or drink."
Painted lips parted for a light, "oh" as they continued their way into the room. Once everyone settled into their appropriate positions, Hina spoke up, "Well, a little birdy tells me you are looking for a mate, Lord Sesshomaru. Might you be here with interest in my hand?"
A curt nod was enough to send a warm smile spreading across the fire bird's cheeks. "Then, perhaps there are questions you need me to answer or should I talk about myself?"
"Would you be able and willing to provide an heir to rule the western lands?" The stubborn lord asked. Kagome looked at him in shock; he usually spoke so little. Hina, on the other hand, simply smiled, "I would."
"Would you be willing and able to fight to protect said land and heir?" His tone was as flat as usual.
"I would." There was a moment of pause before the hostess added, "My father and I have fought many battles together, my lord."
With a subtle hum, Sesshomaru bowed and stood to leave. Kagome stumbled after the lord while offering her good byes. She was under the impression that they were staying here for the night, but apparently he was not.
"Sesshomaru, wait!" The raven haired girl yelled as she ran across the path between blackened dirt. "Why are we leaving?" But, instead of answering her, the demon lord just gave her a look. Wanting to believe that that look meant "you already know the answer", Kagome thought about the next stop. They were supposed to go to the Southern Palace in the morning.
"Oh" There was a chance the cryptic lord referred to the number of ladies that awaited them. Lord Alduin had sent word of his four daughters and younger sister. They were expected to stay as the lord's guests for a couple of days so that Sesshomaru had time to personally meet each one. But, there was also a chance that he just found her annoying.
Haasshuk! Un sneezed as Ah jerked up in surprise. Jakken searched for more wood to add to the campfire while Sesshomaru lounged against a trunk. They hadn't traveled long and made camp a mile from the palace's private island.
Even in the dark, Kagome had her scrolls out to be updated. Chouko was a 'no' because of her butterfly transformation, but she wasn't sure about Satomi or Hina. Personally, Satomi was out as well, but the cold lord might have liked her sweet personality. She kept her blue eyes on the paper as she asked, "Satomi?"
"No." He stated.
"Why?" Kagome wearily questioned for records sake. Only his lips moved as he uttered, "She would never be this Sesshomaru's equal." A sigh relieved the great pressure in the miko's chest at his words. There were several ways to interpret the lord, but Kagome took it as she wanted.
"What about Hina? We left quickly, but did you decide?" The miko thought fondly of the fire demoness and was pretty sure what he'd say.
"Yes." Sesshomaru confirmed. She privately celebrated for guessing right until it had to be her hand that wrote it. It had been the slightest hesitation, but Kagome knew. She felt that old ache in her chest and frowned. Packing back up, she got ready for bed. By the time Jakken returned with a sizeable amount of wood the young woman was drifting to sleep. Her back was turned to the fire and demon lord.
With the approaching dawn, birds sung cheerfully in the surrounding trees. It was the tenth day of travel and the first spent at the majestic Southern Palace. Kagome held her large, yellow backpack as one servant guided Ah-Un to the stables and another ushered them to the throne room. She was surprised to see western architecture in this era, and even more of a surprise when she saw the lord and his daughters.
Older, red eyes looked down upon his guests before greeting, "Sesshomaru." To which, the western lord responded, "Alduin." A soft smirk stretched across the dragon lord's lips, his hand motioned the girls forward.
"My daughters are daughters of the world: Terra is from the land of Bathala, Gael is from the land of Zeus, Pyro is from the land of Odin, and Oceana is from the land of Brahma." Alduin proudly stated. "Each of their mothers had the privilege to birth my children, so that they might one day be presented to one such as you."
She doubted Sesshomaru had the slightest idea about what the dragon's descriptions meant. They all shared a majority of Japanese features, but as he had said, each was different. In all honesty, Kagome only recognized two of the deities mentioned, but was pretty sure she knew where those outfits were from. You can't blame a modern Tokyo girl for knowing some classic fashion.
Now, by "classic", the miko took in the sight of a short, white toga draped over the curvy, tanned woman. Her wavy, blonde hair matched the gold bands adorning her arms, legs, horns and waist. Olive green eyes twinkled in mischief as they made brief eye contact. Gael looked like she could be Aphrodite. Then, there was the other pale skinned girl. Her light blue eyes stayed leveled to the floor, causing Kagome's to return to a sprinkle of freckles along her cheeks. Curly, orange hair had been stuffed into two braids that hung well past her waist. Kagome would have put her dress at a basic renaissances fair with its simple, red design and floor length. She would have guessed Italy or England, but the mention of Odin put her straight. The meek, awkward dragoness named Pyro looked like she would run away at any sudden noise.
Another "classic" that Kagome recognized, was a beautiful turquoise sari. However, this daughter stood out from the others with her blue tinted skin and extra pair of arms. Her green, curved horns and matching eyes contrasted to the ornately knotted, black hair. Oceana nodded a quiet greeting upon seeing the miko. And then, there was Terra. Kagome could not recognize the deity or the outfit. Her black hair fell around soft brown shoulders that were covered in intricate patterned tattoos. A watery blue skirt hung low on her shapely hips with its matching top barely holding supple breasts. Her decorated and visible stomach would surprise any normal citizen of this era, but it still left the miko without any clue. Regardless of skin color, the red eyes and black hair definitely made her look more like Lord Alduin than any of the other daughters.
"I believe you have a lady to introduce yourself, don't you Sesshomaru?" Both blue and gold shot up to the smiling dragon. Kagome glanced to the hesitating demon lord, surprised to see a frown marring his pale skin. His words came out sharp and final, "She is the miko, Kagome."
"My first wife was from this island, but it has been far too long since I have tasted its beauty." Alduin sighed in nostalgia while gaining Kagome's full attention. His four daughters took their cue to leave and returned to their daily activities elsewhere.
"Do not insult this land by tasting something so common." Sesshomaru sneered towards the innocent girl standing beside him.
"A common dish to be sure, but my tongue detects an array of ingredients that would compel me to eat it again and again." Lightly wrinkled eyes squinted with his large, intimidating smile. "Show our guests to their room." Alduin's face relaxed but he still exuded victory.
The pair was quiet until the servant left them in the shared chamber. Kagome started by slowly turning to face Sesshomaru; her voice was unusually higher pitched, "What?" She took a stuttered breath, "Was I the dish?" When he didn't respond she grew even more panicked, "Sesshomaru, I wasn't the dish, was I?" Gold eyes stared down at her with trained lack of expression, but she knew, "Oh my god! I was the dish."
The stoic lord quietly watched as she moved to sit down on the bed. Kagome was gasping as she translated the previous conversation. "I don't want to sleep with him! No way!" She squeaked. In an instant Kagome was back on her feet and with a finger against Sesshomaru's chest.
"And you! You called me common!" She poked him a couple times as she continued, "I will have you know sir that I may be the only human in this era that knows about proper hair care and hygiene." A clawed hand hooked a lock of ebony strands before letting it slide over slender fingers. There was a flicker of amusement as Sesshomaru hummed.
Those feelings that haunted Kagome came to a surprising new level as chills shivered down her spine. The warmth from standing so close to the lord started reviving the butterflies in her stomach. It felt as if spring had come to wake them from a year's hibernation. Kagome touched her blushing cheek as she realized that she was in love with Sesshomaru.
When the girl chanced looking back at his golden eyes, she found the smooth face much closer than before. His eyes were definitely amused now as a visible smirk pulled at his lips. Again, he hummed in acceptance before pulling away, but the miko was left frozen in place. Was he ok with a human reacting as she had or did he find her blushing funny? The cryptic lord went about his usual lounging while Kagome tried to figure out what just happened.
Nobody could say that the young woman gave into her feelings and allowed them to get in the way of her job. Kagome had struggled through all of that in the years of her Inuyasha infatuation. The best distraction, she decided, was rigorous study.
A steady knock on the door had both guests look up in surprise. It had been some time in their private room, though Kagome still wondered why she kept having to share a room with a grown man. Sesshomaru remained quiet as the interrupter of peace continued knocking; it had to be the miko to go open it.
It was a Chinese woman with floating fabrics and long decorative nails. Everything about her told Kagome that this was a holy goddess, but something was wrong. Her sad eyes hinted at a horrible truth, and those small hands fell protectively over her pudgy stomach. She was pregnant, although she barely showed. A red jewel glowed ominously from an ornate necklace around her neck.
"Lord Alduin requests the presence of Lord Sesshomaru in the main office." Painted lips spoke perfect Japanese. Said, demon lord stood and followed her down the hall. Kagome watched as the beautiful woman walked across the floor as every other mortal and couldn't help but grow angry at the unnatural sight.
With a mixture of rage and curiosity, Kagome snuck after them. It wasn't Sesshomaru that she followed, though; it was the grounded goddess. After the Chinese woman delivered the lord, she solemnly walked back to her quarters. Not wanting to be rude by barging in, the miko quietly knocked on her door.
Instead of the short, pale skinned woman, Kagome was greeted by a heavily pregnant African. Her brown eyes widened just as much as the miko's did. In an instant, the darker skinned woman glanced about the hall before dragging the girl inside.
"Child, what are you doing in such a place?" Again, a foreigner spoke perfect Japanese.
This tall African woman towered over her with dark, textured hair in small beaded knots over her scalp, full, natural lips, and proud, high cheekbones. A large, male lion pelt decorated her head and simple, waist wrap. Her neck was covered in rings and beaded necklaces that hung low enough to hide her nipples. However, just as the other girl, she also wore that ornate necklace with the red jewel.
"I am here with Lord Sesshomaru." Kagome explained. "Why are you here?"
The pregnant woman sighed before motioning to the rest of the room. Kagome gasped at the large room filled with women of different stages of pregnancy. There was a woman dressed in ancient Egyptian garb with grand wings and a red crown. Another one looked like she wore harem or belly dancing garb. There were seven women with four of them showing with swollen bellies.
"The woman who gave birth last called Lord Alduin a 'World Eater'." She began. "He flies around the world and takes women born of their land and people. We are forced to bare him a child and raise them before we are freed." Several of the ladies touched the necklace as Kagome realized that it was more like a collar.
"Is it the necklace that allows you to speak our language?"
It was the Egyptian that spoke up, "We hear our own language from your tongue as you do ours."
"And your children, what happens to them?"
"We don't know." She replied as another continued in her place, "I've seen the children of others and they didn't know the current locations of their mothers. They said that they were Lord Alduin's children of the world and he made sure they lived well."
Kagome couldn't believe they were the guests of such a monster. The taller goddess held the younger girl's hands and stared at her with grave warning. "You must not catch his eye, child of the future." The miko gasped at her with an open mouth as she finished, "Return to your room and do nothing to be more than common."
With that, the African lady expelled her from the room. Kagome stumbled into the hallway and quickly snuck back to her quarters. The danger of being caught seeming much worse than it had before. Finding Sesshomaru sitting at a low table in the room, the dark haired girl closed the door and then ran to his side.
Kagome collapsed to her knees and clutched at the trailing fabric of his left sleeve. She couldn't speak so she rested her arm and head on the table corner beside her. Quietly watching the stoic lord continue writing his letter, Kagome felt tears slip out. The young miko tried to calm down, but she was scared. If that lord could take a goddess from her home, what stopped him from taking her, a human priestess, from hers? How many women had this man raped and impregnated? Even Naraku hadn't threatened her in this way. Kagome was truly scared.
All too soon, it was time for dinner, and all too quickly, Kagome and Sesshomaru stood before a banquet table seated for dozens of people. They were shown to their seats with Kagome at Alduin's left and Sesshomaru to his right. The rest of the seats were filled with his children and a couple of mothers. The eldest four daughters sat closest to the guests while a couple young children sat near the end.
Lord Alduin stood before his family and toasted, "Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome have come to consider one of my children as his bride. We celebrate!" The family chanted in union, "We are the children of the world. Dragons are its future."
An eerie feeling would have consumed the unusually timid miko if she didn't know that humans would prevail. The pair remained quiet through dinner, even as the three of the four daughters tried conversation. Kagome only spoke when spoken to, taking comfort in the soft, white fur that curled around her ankle.
"Lady Kagome, where are you from?" The blue skinned Oceana asked, having given up on the stoic lord.
"I am a native shrine maiden with a hut in the village near Inuyasha's Forest."
"Oh? Isn't that in the eastern lands? Why is the Lord of the West traveling with a priestess of someone else's land?" Suddenly, more eyes focused on the young woman.
"Lord Sesshomaru became an acquaintance through my travels with his half-brother." There was a wave of mixed reactions amongst the audience, but Oceana was relentless.
"The lord's brother must be demon or half-demon, at least. Why would a holy woman travel with someone they would view as tainted by evil?" Even Lord Alduin subtly watched as the shock and anger stunned the miko in question.
"Subjugation beads, Kagome tamed that embarrassment." Sesshomaru intercepted, stealing back the attention of the table with his confident voice. Not much more was said beyond this point, and the pair was allowed to return to their room.
Instead of entering, Sesshomaru stopped at the door. "This Sesshomaru shall go seek audience with the first daughter, have the report ready for my return." Kagome nodded before watching him return down the hall. Gazing at the white figure, her thoughts reminded her that he had said her name at dinner. Her cheeks flushed red and her heart fluttered to life at the memory of his voice. Then, there was his mokomoko and how he walked her to their door. Kagome sighed with the thought that he needed to stop being so kind or she would be in trouble. If she fell anymore in love, then the miko might not let him go.
"Lady Kagome, I was just coming to see you." A masculine voice called out from behind her. "Won't you join me for a walk through my garden?"
Lord Alduin stood too close and already held her smaller hand in his. "Come." The dragon commanded as he led her in the opposite direction of the western lord. His grip around her hand and waist was firm but not aggressive in anyway. Her simple red and white clashed against the grays, reds, and blacks of his luxurious robes.
Once they arrived, Kagome was released but the tall lord stayed at her side. Foreign flowers and fruit bloomed here. It was hard to feign surprise when the girl was so nervous.
"Here, try this." Lord Alduin shoved a red tomato in front of her face, chuckling as Kagome took a messy bite. The fruit had been ripe with juices and they made sure to drip down her chin. The next fruit of choice had been a mango followed by a strawberry.
"Please, no more, Lord Alduin. I'm full from dinner." Kagome begged in a jokingly light voice so not to insult him.
"Very well" He laughed as he pulled her along to the flowered part of the garden. Sesshomaru's garden looked vacant in comparison, but blue eyes were drawn to the one flower you could find there. It was a simple white bloom that Rin had planted to remind her of her lord while he was away. Kagome knelt in front of the plain flower sitting amongst the vibrant rainbow surrounding it.
"Do you prefer this one, my lady?" The dragon lord interrupted. "I was under the impression women liked ornate and colorful things, but I suppose a lady of the shrine would prefer a life of simplicity." Blue eyes refused to fully turn and meet his red ones. Kagome felt it was better to let him believe such things, but he continued. "You know, there is a rumor about a powerful and skillful miko that traveled the land looking for shards of the Shikon Jewel." Kagome froze in her knelt position. "They say she returned to life after fifty years and helped defeat the insufferable Naraku."
Her shoulders relaxed as the young woman stood to face Lord Alduin. "Her name was Kikyo and she came from my village." Kagome had to think how to word this without lying, "She died loving Inuyasha, and did not agree with my connection to him."
With disappointment dulling those red irises, they continued walking through the manicured flowers and plants. Barely a minute later, they happened upon a blonde with her hands in the dark dirt. When they approached, she stood in surprise.
"Ah, Gael, what perfect timing. I have some business to attend to, take care of our guest." The dark lord lightly shoved the shorter miko towards his daughter before hastily exiting.
The two women quietly judged each other for a moment before the taller dragon lady returned back to her gardening.
"You seemed to have offended my father, may I ask how?" Tanned hands softly patted the dirt around a freshly planted sprout.
"I think he thought I was somebody else." Kagome replied, crouching down to watch the girl work. The blonde accepted this answer with a hum, but this time it was the miko to ask a question. "Is there a reason behind the names: Gael, Terra, Oceana, and Pyro?"
"Shovel" Gael commanded with an open palm, as Kagome handed it to her, she responded. "You would have to have knowledge beyond that of a shrine maiden to perceive a pattern. I don't care how, but be more careful if you wish to remain hidden." Black hair bobbed as she hastily nodded in agreement.
"Gael is the name I was given when I showed signs of controlling the air around me. It isn't even in consideration of my mother's homeland, just as my sisters' names. Terra can summon any plant forth to do her bidding and Oceana can manipulate water. Sweet Pyro has power over fire but she is too scared to use it as frequently as us. Plant" The miko awkwardly grabbed the potted sprout and handed it to her.
"Do you enjoy gardening as a wind dragon?" Kagome continued her questioning.
"Yes, it is my favorite hobby. My mother raised me amongst these flowers, and I will tend to them until I am free to join her." The tanned features softened in memory.
A spark flashed in blue eyes, "Do you know where she is? Do you know what happened to her?" The image of those poor pregnant goddesses trapped in that room haunted her thoughts, but Gael shook her head.
"No, father said she left because she didn't want a dragon for a daughter, but I know that isn't true. Where ever she is, I'll find her. Nothing else really matters."
"Miko" A strong, angry voice called out from behind them. For a moment, Kagome turned expecting to see Sesshomaru, but it wasn't. Lord Alduin had returned and glared down at the two kneeling in the fresh dirt.
"Those matters are private." His head turned to his daughter, "As for you, Gael, I expected you to return her to her room. Instead you force our guest to dirty her clothes for your own amusement, shame on you."
His long fingers reached out and grabbed Kagome's left arm. Pain shot through her as his hand squeezed around her wound, the miko couldn't help the pained yelp. It took everything not to zap him with her holy powers as he continued to drag her up. A blade rested on the dragon lord's wrist as Alduin locked eyes with a furious Sesshomaru. The room froze as Kagome was released and crumbled back to the floor.
With Tokijin sheathed, the western lord stared down the dragon with molten gold eyes. The miko sneaked a quick look to Gael and mouthed, "Help me." Kagome made sure to whimper as she ghosted a trembling hand over her poor arm. The blonde got the message before helping the girl to her feet. The miko continued to lean on her as the two walked past the angry men and into the clear hall. Kagome had to make sure that her new friend wasn't left alone with an angry man and his treatment of women.
It was a standoff between the two men, and neither of them would break eye contact. "Sesshomaru!" The soft voice of the injured miko called out in the hopes to stop any actual battle from sparking. Lord Alduin smiled and bowed, "Go on, Sesshomaru. Your human is calling. Perhaps next time you could put a leash on that little tramp. I might not be able to remain so dignified if she keeps bewitching me with her advances."
"Please, Lord Sesshomaru." Kagome tried again. This time, he listened and turned his back to the still smiling dragon. Gael left to hide in her sister's room as the lord joined the miko in the hall. Kagome walked upright as they returned to their room; her right hand clutching at her elbow.
The moment the door was closed behind her, the miko bowed, "I'm so sorry!" Kagome tried to blink away the tears that started building around the edges of her vision. If someone like Miroku had come instead, Sesshomaru would not have to be dealing with such difficulties.
"You were not here with your report ready." His words were distant and cold. When she tried to look at him, his head was turned away.
"He came as soon as you left. I hadn't even gone in yet before he dragged me to the gardens."
The tall form refused to budge, causing Kagome more distress. "Please, Sesshomaru, look at me. I willingly went with him against your order of preparing my records, I'm sorry." When the demon lord still refused to meet her eye, the miko reacted as she always had with a troublesome Inuyasha, she got mad.
"Damn it, Sesshomaru, give me your thoughts on the girl you spoke with while I check my wounds." Regardless of being uncomfortable cursing, Kagome sulked her way to the yellow backpack and then flopped down at the low table. Years with Inuyasha's foul attitude was bound to take its toll. Sesshomaru hadn't been expecting this defiance but he never could predict the girl.
A quick glance had those golden eyes widen as Kagome slid out of the left side of her kimono top. She knew he had seen her shirtless several times by now, so letting him see her cutest bra was barely a passing thought. He still hadn't spoken, but at least moved to sit across the table from her. They both eyed the stitched skin, looking for any new imperfections. Lord Alduin's fingers had pressed and ripped open a couple of the branches but the main wound seemed untouched.
"Oceana is acceptable." Sesshomaru began, "She is intelligent and quiet. You were with the one called Gael?"
Kagome hummed to show she had heard him as she wrapped ointment covered gashes with fresh bandages. He didn't speak again while she finished both bandages and report edits. The miko could feel him watching her, but her frustration with the lord kept her from looking back at him. It continued this way as she got out her calculus book and started relearning one of those old lessons that plagued her time with Inuyasha.
"Miko, this Sesshomaru does not like to be ignored." His voice interrupted after several minutes of reading. Kagome didn't reply this time, simply continued reading. Another minute passed in silence and the miko liked to believe she could feel the growing anger from the dog demon across from her.
A large hand slipped into her vision and blocked her view of the book. It slid closer until a single claw hooked under her chin; a sudden sting showed how sharp it really was. The pain increased as it was pushed into the soft flesh until she finally allowed her head to rise. Even with her head facing Sesshomaru, blue eyes stayed lowered on either his sleeves or the table.
"Kagome" Sesshomaru commanded. Hearing her name still sent shivers down her spine and she couldn't help but look at him now. His silver hair pooled over the decorative red pattern on his shoulder while his arm stretched out to hook that lethal talon against her skin. And his eyes, god, she regretted looking in them. Pools of liquid gold hot enough to melt away any negativity, Kagome felt her mind and body grow tingly. What was worse was that she knew the lord was well aware of his bewitching effect and did it anyway.
"Sesshomaru" She hadn't meant to say anything; it just slipped out. Blushing at the mistake, the miko tried to look away again. A sharp pain from the claw, a quick gasp, and Kagome was back to looking at the demon lord.
"You were with Gael, were you not?"
"Yes, it was Gael in the garden." The miko hazily replied.
"Your thoughts"
"My thoughts are…" It was very hard to think when his full focus seemed to be locked onto her. Kagome swallowed as she tried to think louder than her raging heart beat. It didn't help when his eyes flickered to the sudden movement. "Gael wants to find her mother. I'm afraid mating you would come second."
The dangerous hand receded into his sleeve with a subtle nod, "Then she is a 'no', as you would put it." Not trusting her voice, Kagome nodded and reopened the scroll. She could breathe again as his attention on her relaxed.
Once the miko was at some steady level of calm, she spoke up, "You know, don't you?" A slender brow rose in question. "About… about my feelings." She held her breath until his smooth voice replied, "I do." Her stomach dropped and her heart skipped a beat. Kagome had hoped that he was as clueless as Inuyasha, but she knew how eerily perceptive the demon lord was.
"If you feel somebody else would be better qualified to continue this job, then I can leave." She offered, pausing in her calculus.
"That will not be necessary." Blue eyes glanced up only to see the ghost of a frown.
"Then please do not call me by name in the company of your possible mates." It hurt for her to ask this. Kagome preferred to hear her name than the generic title and she often fought to have it said.
"This Sesshomaru remembers agreeing to address you by name if you could manage basic formalities." His head tilted against the white mokomoko. "Are you nullifying such agreement?"
Kagome knew he could sense the sadness she felt, whether it be by smell or some other talent. It was with a solemn nod that she admitted, "I am."
"Very well"
Well into the night, the miko looked at the thing that they had managed to ignore all day. Barely lit by the candlelight on the table before her sat a large, four poster bed. Sesshomaru had moved to sit on it with his back against the headboard. Of course, he had only taken to one of the sides, leaving Kagome to pine after the other. It looked so cushioned.
"Sleep, Kagome." She jerked in surprise as the lord sat there with his eyes closed. It was like he hadn't spoken at all. The miko stared in disbelief until one of his eyes peeked open at her. "Miko" he warned. That was all it took to trigger the girl into blowing out the candle and slipping into the comforters of the western styled bed. Of course she kept to the far edge of her side, but that didn't stop the embarrassment and comfort that came with mokmoko slipping over her side.
"Good night, my lord." She whispered, hiding her burning, red face in the cool sheets. The fur covered pelt squeezed at her hip in response as she drifted off to sleep.
