Chapter Nine- Her Influence

The sun brightened the morning sky with light colors of blue and white. The summer heat was cooled down by the cool breeze that swept by within the Western Castle. Kagome sat in a flower field she had come across this morning. Humming a song quietly to herself, she plucked some of her favourite flowers. Even though she had already spent an hour in the sunlight, not a single sweat trailed down her face.

She loved the weather in the feudal era compared to the modern era. She found that the summer was much longer and less hot in the feudal era. Since she loved the beauty she was surrounded by in summer but hated the heat, sweat and stickiness the modern era weather caused, the feudal era was perfect for her.

Basking in the embrace of the sun, Kagome hummed a light tune to a modern song she remembered. But, her humming slowly silenced for she heard crying echo in the garden entrance.

"Why is Lord Sesshomaru so cold to me!?" Kagome heard a demoness cry out. The thick bushes prevented her from seeing the owner of the voice. Guessing that the demoness was talking to someone, Kagome tried to remain as quiet as possible so that she didn't disturb them.

"What do you mean?" the other demoness replied.

"I've been waiting to see Lord Sesshomaru, so I waited in front of his study. Then, I caught him right before he could enter,"

'Oh boy,' Kagome thought.

"And he glared at me with cold eyes!" the demoness continued to cry out.

Kagome assumed that is was probably because the demoness was blocking his way into the study.

"He was probably controlling his face from looking too pleased to see you," the friend demoness replied.

Kagome froze in her spot after hearing the comment and had almost smacked her forehead.

The demoness sniffed before saying, "Well, he didn't reply to any of my questions or comments too!"

'Probably because he didn't find the need to answer,' Kagome thought.

The friend demoness voiced reassuringly, "Don't worry. He was probably scared that if he talked to you it would end in stutters."

Blinking, Kagome's thoughts blanked. She was sure she didn't hear that comment being said correctly. Sesshomaru…scarred?...stuttering!?

"Ah! You are right! It all makes sense! I guess I will just have to come out stronger if he is so shy," the demoness said cheerfully.

Even after the two demonesses left the garden, Kagome sat there in a daze. Replaying the conversation in her head again, it wasn't until a few replays did she realize the two demonesses were actually having a serious conversation.

Kagome burst in laughter as she rolled on her back. The image of Sesshomaru stuttering and looking shy stuck in her head. Laughter rang like bells through the clearing as a strong gust of wind passed through. The stems of every flower and the leaves on the trees swayed in the wind. In that moment, it appeared as if all of nature was laughing with her and enjoying her presence.

After a few minutes passed by, Kagome soon managed to collect herself to remain calm. Glancing at the lilies she plucked, she felt the need to bring them to Sesshomaru. It would be her silent apology for laughing at him. Lightly chuckling, Kagome picked up the lilies and headed towards Sesshomaru's study.

Already knowing her way to Sesshomaru's study, Kagome lightly knocked on the dark wooden door.

"Come in,"

Struggling to open the heavy door to his study room, Kagome slipped past the crack she managed to push open. She held the vase filled with water and lilies in her hand; her silent apology. Looking to see Sesshomaru busily reading over several scrolls, she quietly placed the flowers near the window. Kagome noticed that the window gave a view of the entire Western gardens. Wondering if perhaps Sesshomaru had heard her laughter or seen her, she quickly glanced at him. But once she saw his eyes concentrated on the scroll in front of him, she let out a sigh of relief. He would have been too busy to notice her in the gardens.

Just as she was about to leave the study, she heard Sesshomaru say, "What are they doing here, Miko." Kagome knew he was referring to the lilies she brought in.

Turning to see that Sesshomaru was still focusing on the scrolls, she answered gently, "I thought they would lighten up the room. And plus, the scent of lilies always helped calm me down. That's why they are my favourite flowers."

Silence filled the study room.

Kagome remembered that she needed to tell Sesshomaru of the incident last night at the evening ceremony. The incident where she had helped the 'Tsu' rank. But figuring that Sesshomaru was still busy, she decided to just leave.

Hearing the door shut, Sesshomaru put down the scroll he had been reading. The footsteps of the Miko echoed in the hallways, but the sound grew further. Standing up from his desk, he walked closer to the plant the Miko had brought in.

Flowers were just flowers.

He never cared for them.

It was normal. He had lived for centuries with the same objects repeatedly growing each season. It was only natural for everything to look dull before his eyes.

Yet, the Miko seemed to see the beauty of them.

Silver hair glowed in the rays of sunlight the window gave off. Sesshomaru leaned against the side of the window and stared at the garden below. He spotted the flower field he had seen the Miko spend hours in. Then glancing at the plant, his golden eyes traced the round edges of the white flower.

Silently breathing in, the flower's scent filled his nose.

'Lilies,' a voice echoed.

The inuyoukai echoed the name of the Miko's favourite flower. It was the first flower that was remembered by its name by the inuyoukai instead of thinking of it as just an object. Blank eyes that were used to passing through nature with blind eyes now stared at the flower in a different light.

-Evening Ceremony-

The ceremony hall filled with noises of chatter. Demons and demonesses alike all chattered amongst their own rank. Blank golden eyes scanned the crowd. Not one entered into his eyes. There had never been a person he wished to confront or speak to. He knew too well that all of them were the same; fake.

"Lord Sesshomaru," blank eyes glanced at Lady Inari.

Noting the smirk on her lips, he heard her say, "You missed a very entertaining evening ceremony last night."

"Hn," his blank eyes turned away from the demoness in disinterest. He did not care for the gossip that went around. Lady Inari did not realize this and continued to explain the events that occurred last night.

"The 'Gon' leader got drunk last night as always," Lady Inari snickered before continuing, "And tried to sleep with one of the 'Tsu' ranked demonesses."

Though he was usually left unfeeling about these sorts of situations, this time had been different. Disgust sank into his mind at the thought of the 'Gon' leader's action. A slight furrow appeared on his brows as he wondered why his reaction towards the news differed this time.

'Kura should be stopped! Why are you allowing her to exploit other demonesses? That is so wrong!'

The Miko's words only seemed to cause the disgust grow. Since when had the Miko's words influenced him, or anyone's words?

"Oh, but then things got really entertaining!" Lady Inari said with excitement. Sesshomaru knew that the others had probably just stood there to watch the scene. Golden eyes hardened as he expected Lady Inari to tell him that the 'Gon' leader slept with the 'Tsu' demoness during the ceremony.

"The Shikon Miko kicked the 'Gon' leader to the floor and saved the pitiful demoness!" He froze when he heard what the Miko had done.

Lady Inari laughed with a high pitched voice as she continued, "That Miko is too naïve. She threatened everyone not to touch any of the 'Tsu' demonesses for they were her friends! Friends!? The Miko will surely be used by the low class demonesses; how utterly pitiful."

He had thought so too. Centuries of living within this society, it was predictable that the Miko would only be used for her kind heart.

His chest tightened.

"Lady Kagome!" the sound of several scholars calling out reached Sesshomaru's ears. Noticing that the Miko had just entered the ceremony, he watched all the scholars move towards her.

The entire 'Tsu' rank walked towards the Miko as they too called out, "Lady Kagome!" For the first time in history, three ranks seemed to mingle with one another.

Admiration shined through the eyes amongst all the 'Mu' rank and 'Tsu' rank.

'Impossible,' Golden eyes hardened at the sight before him.

An air of respect lingered in the air that surrounded both ranks. In the middle, the Miko held a sweet smile on her lips as she greeted each person individually, personally.

Sesshomaru patiently waited for any evidence of deception to crack through. Yet, used to centuries of encountering superficial beings, he knew that what he saw was not the same. No, what he saw within the 'Mu' and 'Tsu' rank was sincere respect; the respect she honorably earned.

The stubborn Miko had once again managed to write off his predictions.

The Miko's laughter rang throughout the ceremony hall as the other ranks continued to tell her a funny story. With the other two ranks laughing along with her, the Miko's blue eyes glowed with joy.

Golden eyes that had always remained cold towards the unforgiving demon society slowly seemed to melt from the sight.

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