Characters and plot belong to their rightful owners.
XII.
The sun had passed its zenith in the sky marking mid-day, and had long since started its laborious descent toward the relatively flat horizon, casting the world aglow in hues of red, pink, gold and orange as Sesshoumaru made his way towards the hill.
"Miko," Sesshoumaru called, stopping at the base of the green acclivity. "Come out."
An exasperated huff met his elegantly tapered ears and the sound of the grass being crushed under her footfalls.
"And here I thought I was being stealthy." Kagome enthused sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest and setting her lips into a stubborn line as she sidled up next to him.
"Miko," he addressed her, because he had never bothered with the familiarity of using first names. "One would think a bear might be quieter than you." He criticised.
"It's not nice to spy, Sesshoumaru." She countered, breaking his name down into four teasing syllables and ignoring his comment at the same time.
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow as he glanced down at the raven-haired woman, half amused half annoyed with her. "Indeed, and I am here to smell the flowers. What is your excuse, Miko?"
She huffed again, stomping her foot. "Oh, fine. I'm out here to spy; now let's go, I want to know what they're doing!" In response to her ever-so-eloquently put demand, his other eyebrow rose, disappearing behind the curtain of his silvery bangs before turning abruptly and continuing up the hill, Kagome following behind, pouting.
She found it half amusing to see the regal demon lord squatting behind a conveniently placed bush. Well, that was a lie. She found it amusing to find him doing anything that wasn't a natural pose, she was envious, though, that he could take such a simple action and make it look... well, not simple, to put it bluntly.
Soon, Rin's voice found its way to her ears and she had to bite her tongue to keep from groaning in frustration.
"What's your relationship with Kagome?" Blunt, direct, and to the point. The only thing it lacked was the original questioner's face and vicious intent. It was ironic: the same old story re-enacted by different people. Or, the same people in their case, just a different Kikyou.
"Keh, that wench?" Inuyasha asked, surprised. "Kagome's nothing. Why?"
"No reason," Rin replied, sounding much happier than before. "Just curious."
Kagome hummed under her breath, cuing Sesshoumaru's attention. "There's no way she wants their relationship to stay at a purely platonic state." She explained upon noticing the direction of his attention.
"Rin is innocent of these intentions." He defended the oblivious girl-child before them, but not quietly enough. Neither noticed the white ear swivel in their direction.
"No she isn't!" Kagome insisted, her voice slightly louder. "I'm a woman, trust me."
Sesshoumaru fought back the urge to roll his eyes.
"And what does your apparent gender have to do with Rin's intentions?" He questioned, not getting it at all. What did her being female have to do with Rin and Inuyasha's relationship – which was purely platonic, and he'd be damned if he didn't see to it that it stayed that way.
"It's woman's intuition: I know these things, and trust me, she's–" Kagome was cut off by the rude clearing of a throat. She looked up to see Inuyasha standing before them, hands on his hips in a demeaning manner. Kagome squeaked and fell backwards in surprise, landing on her butt with an audible 'oof'.
"We're not spying! We're looking for his grandmother!" Was her hasty defence.
Kagome flinched at the lameness of her excuse. Inuyasha was never going to buy that in a million years.
Rin's irritated glare made her cringe and shrink back as she asked, her voice strained: "Do you even have a grandmother?"
"Told you." Was all Kagome could say to Sesshoumaru.
(Izayoui: Is-a-U-ee. For some reason I can't spell it like that, it has to be Izayoi. It's funny; I spell everything else with a 'u': Shippou, Sesshoumaru, Kikyou, colour, but not Izayoi. I don't like this chapter at all. It feels...fake. Unrealistic. Grr. Cheers guys, have a good weekend. – Incomprehensible)