Koikokoro (Awakening Love)
Chapter Four: Reconciliation
Dedicated to: Chimamireyuki Hiroya
Kagome found herself back in her bed. Cloud was curled at her side the warmth she exuded making her almost too hot. Sesshomaru rested with his upper body in her lap. He was also warm but the gentle look on his face could not make her move him. Kagome could remember all the times she had spent with him. The times he had been cruel and mean and also the times he had been kind and gentle. They had been accidental mates and though she had loved her sons she had always feared him after what he had done to her, but now that no longer existed. She had the memory but it had never really happened to her, now only the good times for vivid in her mind. It was a strange feeling, but she guessed it no longer mattered. There would be no pups between them this time.
Kagome had begun to doze off when Sesshomaru shifted. She blinked lethargically before looking down at him. She found him strangely more attractive with shorter hair and when he looked up at her she was shocked at how human he seemed. His markings were still there and she could feel the sharp points of his claws against her clothes, but something in his eyes seemed different. The new life he had lived; surrounded by his loving parents and with the souls of his sons in his body had mellowed him out. He did not have the harshness that death and killing brought. His life had been simultaneously harder and easier then the one before.
"Morning," Kagome whispered and brushed a straw piece of hair from his eye. She felt oddly affectionate towards him.
"Evening," he responded tilting his head towards the window, but his eyes were playful as he sat up and stretched. He looked cat-like as he flexed his arms over his head and arched his back. His shirt pulled up slightly revealing the detail of his chest and the start of the stripes he had along his hips.
Kagome had the urge to reach out and touch him but resisted it. Her stomach growled after a moment and she looked down embarrassed.
Sesshomaru stood and offered her his hand. "I believe mother and Izayoi just finished dinner, would you like to join my family?"
Kagome took his hand and stood with his help, her legs buzzing with sleep. She felt as if she was being asked on a first date. It was somehow amusing and she laughed and the idea. He gave her strange look but did not comment on it. With out letting go of her hand he lead her down the stairs and into the shop. Kagome wondered suddenly if he had that same affectionate feeling.
The most powerful demons in the world sat at the table in the middle of Crescent café, and all of them had their minds on the same thing. They were all wondering how Sesshomaru would be now that the souls that had been his burned for 500 years were gone. When they heard Sesshomaru and Kagome coming down for dinner they were all surprised.
Sesshomaru came down first with Kagome close behind. They had come down the stairs holding hands and Kagome had expected him to drop them, but like that night that would forever exist in both their dreams he never let go. He led her to an empty chair and with gentlemanly care he pulled out her chair for her. Kagome blushed as she sat down and tried desperately not to look at anyone. She was comfortable around Sesshomaru but these other demons were different. Inuyasha used to be a friend and she had considered Lord Toru one for a time as well but it was not the same now. It would never be.
"How are you feeling dear," Izayoi finally broke the silence by asking.
Kagome looking up surprised before smiling in relief. "I feel much better now, I'm not really sure what happened but thank you."
Sesshomaru looked over his aura surprisingly protective as he asked," Did something happen?"
Kagome shrugged. "I'm not sure I was on my way back to the dorm when a darkness of some sort attacked me. It's all very hazy."
Sesshomaru's brows knitted for a moment but he returned to his food without comment.
Others at the table watched the exchange with batted breath. They had all had time to digest and interrupt the conversation from earlier and none were entirely sure what to think about it. It explained a great deal and absolutely nothing at the same time. The shear idea of Sesshomaru having pups with a human was incomprehensible. Of course the idea of Sesshomaru being crazy, no matter how much proof was presented, had always seemed wrong as well. The story of the twins, their souls locked in the disaster of Sesshomaru's wish, was somehow more believable. It was only Kagome that made the whole picture incomplete.
She was so…pleasant.
…and wonderful.
How could Sesshomaru ever get involved with this girl? And yet the hellion that padded faithfully at her side proved that this girl attracted demons. Something about her scent or demeanor just drew them to her. Inu could feel the pull and he guessed that it was strongest around Inuyoukai.
Just as the conundrum that was Kagome and Sesshomaru's relationship grew, Kagome stood suddenly. "I should be going back. My roommate must be frantic. I'm not usually this late," she comment, her scent nervous but truthful.
Inu stood at the statement, "Then let me escort you back, you can never tell if shadow demons are gone."
"I'm perfectly capable of defending my own charge. I have never met so many rude dogs," Cloud snapped, holding her tail and ears high in challenge, but not yet full grown the little hellion just looked cute. Her fur was fluffed up around her like a cat and she was simply to cute to be frightening. Even the flashes of red in her icy gaze could not make her look in the least bit frightening, proven by the way the entire room ignored her. She huffed and moved closer to her master's side.
"No I will escort her," Sesshomaru interrupted, his eyes determined. Before Kagome could argue he took her by the arm and led her out. Once more the people at the table watched with surprise. Sesshomaru had not shown such determination since that day five hundred years ago.
Sesshomaru The Killing Perfection was back.
"Sesshomaru, really you don't have to," Kagome pleaded as she was dragged along. His hold didn't hurt, but it was firm and he kept a fast pace.
"I believe we have things to discuss," Sesshomaru stated flatly, slowing down his stride.
"What could we possibly have to discuss? This is a different dimension everything is different and we have nothing connecting us anymore," Kagome argued firmly, but somehow her own words stung.
Sesshomaru spun her around to face him and held her firmly. "Look me in the eye Kagome and tell me you feel nothing," he snapped. Cloud growled viciously at his treatment, but she was ignored.
Kagome looked him directly in the eye and opened her mouth to say something, anything, but she could not. In all honesty she could not admit that she felt nothing. There was pain her chest a flame that would not be smothered. With other thought she placed her hand on the curve of her neck with a warm buzz had started.
"You feel it then," Sesshomaru stated as he took her other hand and placed it over his heart. Beneath the silky fabric Kagome could feel a pulsing heat that warm her very soul.
"Impossible."
"Hardly," Sesshomaru let a smirk cross his features. "The very world has rewritten itself because of a single wish. Is it really that strange that we are still mates?"
Kagome gawked. "But it hasn't been… consecrated yet," she stammered.
The smirk widened. "That can be arranged," Sesshomaru responded. He was feeling amazingly playful; the greatest weight in the world had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Sesshomaru," Kagome spoke his name in warning. Eyes narrowed, back stiff, jaw clenched, she was serious. "It was not a good union to begin with, it was a mistake. Did you forget what you did to me?" she snapped and with all her will she freed herself of his hold and raced home.
Sesshomaru stood in the streets for a moment, dazed and sullen. Then with the same determination she had showed him he followed after her. He caught her at the door, jerking her into him by her wrist just as she had knocked on the door. She spun around, eyes wide but not all that surprised. "I remember what I did and regret it dearly, but I will show you the difference," Sesshomaru barely whispered but his conviction was greater then the loudest bellow. He swooped down and kissed his mate with all the gentleness and care he should have given the first time.
Kagome was astonished at first and then forgiving. This was a world of second chances, had she not felt something for this man, demon, before everything had ended. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
"Eh hem," someone coughed behind them and Kagome spun around, her face hot with embarrassment. Naduki stood there with a knowing grin on her lips and her hand stuck on her jutting out hip. She looked smug and womanly, and all the more embarrassing to poor Kagome.
Sesshomaru gave a slight inclination of his head to the girl before placing a peck on Kagome's forehead and heading down the stairs. "I will see you tomorrow," he stated and then was gone.
Kagome watched his retreating figure until he was gone into the shadows. "Naduki," she threatened when she turned around.
"I like your choice in men, he is very hot. He would make a great character in one of my manga," Naduki offered as he headed back into the dorm.
Blushing, Kagome spluttered, "Wha, no you wouldn't dare." Even as she denyed it Kagome could see all of Naduki's manga flashing vibrantly through her mind. Sesshomaru would be furious.
"You have to admit he would fit the part magnificently," Naduki grinned as she held her hand out where he pictures were scattered all over the floor.
Kagome looked at all the different men drawn about the pages and she had to admit that Sesshomaru really did look a character straight out of one of Naduki's manga. He had the face and hair for it, maybe it was the ponytail. Kagome laughed at the thought and shrugged. "Maybe, but just don't let him see it."
Naduki, who was not even remotely that kind of girl, looked ready to squeal. "So he'll be around more often."
Kagome laughed but nodded slowly as she leaned down to scratch Cloud behind the ears. "Yes, I believe he will."
"So what's mystery man's name?"
"Sesshomaru," Kagome answered, smiling softly. "His name is Sesshomaru."
"You drove them together?"
Ankoku smirked, his fangs gleaming with fresh blood. "Yes master I chased her right into the building," he hissed, tongue flickering out like a snake.
"Good, very good, Kumo fixed what had been broken, now we only need to wait."
"Do you think it will still happen? It was hard to produce the first set of twins," Ankoku asked, reclining back on a throne of skulls in the endless world of darkness and flames in which he resided.
"It was wrong the first time. It had to be consensual. This time, yes, this time it will be right."
Ankoku whipped the blood splattered across his face, enjoying the metallic scent that hit his nose as he flicked it away. "Then I will leave them be for now. Watching, only watching, until the children mixed from the love of miko and demon, cursed by the gods, are born."
"Then we can bathe in the blood of the world as the mighty House of the Moon and the very gods themselves fall to the creatures they have scorned."
Author's note: Sorry it's so short but you know how I am. For those of you wondering what the heck the conversation between Naduki and Kagome is about, first you need to know that Naduki is actually the Mangaka for a yaoi series called Our Kingdom that I own. She is insinuating that Sesshomaru makes a good yaoi character and she wants to draw him. If you do not know what yaoi is then look it up. I actually used a bunch of names from my manga/yaoi collection for all the side characters and for those of you who don't know the girl from before that was going to draw Kagome's story, Rumiko, is actually the name of the artist and writer of Inuyasha.