Thank you all for reading this far. It really does mean a lot. I would especially like to thank my first reviewers- mangadreams, PiratekitAG, InuYashaFreak, yoyo person, husbandsangel and g2fan. You all made my day with your reviews and I promise to try and update quickly. Well, here is the next chapter of She Came With the Sea Shells.
'Kagome. Kagome.' a soft voice called to the girl, drifting in an endless sorrow filled ocean. She sat there, in the dark, alone and confused. Only one thought ringing out in her head- why. Repeatedly a voice called out her name, worry seeping into its tone. But Kagome did not answer; she didn't feel the need to. It was over. The jewel was complete, Inuyasha was gone, and she was gone. She was fairly certain that she was dead. Who could've survived her injuries and that fall? Only a Demon, maybe even a… the word was too painful to say. Her heart wrenched and flipped over in her pained and broken chest, mourning for him, and mourning for her. The calling voice faded into soft murmurs as Kagome sunk deeper into the surrounding black abyss.
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He stood there, cold and stoic. On the rocky shore he watched the ocean tumble before him, silently thinking. 'Naraku is dead.' The words had rung in his head from out of no where. He did not know if there was any truth in those words, but they seemed to reassure him, almost as if it were comfort to feel the Demon dead. Hearing soft pattering foot steps he turned, dismissing his previous thoughts for a later time.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin laughed as she ran towards her master. She was such a happy child, especially one for what she went through in her early years. Rin had grown taller and more womanly looking even though she was still a girl. Sesshomaru could tell that she would become a lovely young woman, but he kept that thought to him self. She ran to him and bowed clumsily before latching herself to his hip in a tight hug. Sesshomaru had become accustomed to her ways of showing affection long ago, but it still put him slightly on edge when she hugged him so openly. "Good afternoon My Lord. Rin was wondering if she could go collect sea rocks down on the sand shore." Sesshomaru internally laughed at Rin, she still used third person much like him. It was obvious that the little girl adored him. Sesshomaru nodded in response and turned back to the ocean.
"Fine." He spoke coolly. Smiling Rin ran down to the sand beach. Sesshomaru enjoyed the fact that his estate was on the shore line. The ocean comforted him, especially when he was loaded down with work and the matters of his land. Sesshomaru let his thoughts drift off when they were interrupted by an ear piercing scream.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin screamed her eyes wide with alarm as she bent over something. The great lord was by her side in a split second. Rin started to panic over what she was looking at. Her breathing began to go ragged as she knelt down and reached a hand out to touch the thing.
"Do not touch her Rin." Sesshomaru stared upon the woman; she was wounded, scratched all about her face, arms, and legs. She had deep clawed out gashes that weren't healing. Her face too pale and her chest barely rising and falling with each sharp breath she took. He looked at her for a moment, trying to recall something when it struck him; this was his idiotic half brother's wench. He inspected her further from his standing position. She had a hole in her chest as wide as a fist, it went all the way to her back and her Miko garbs were sticking to her body from the blood she'd lost. Her once white haori was streaked with crimson and burgundy. Sesshomaru looked at his claws and then to the girl, he closed his hand creating a fist, silently measuring it and the wound. The wounds were made from claws definitely. Perhaps even… No Sesshomaru thought. That stupid half breed wouldn't try and kill his own woman, unless she dishonored herself with another. He sniffed the air subtly. Only smelling him, Rin and the maiden he looked down at her with a scowl of pity. She didn't even go that way with him. But why would the fool try and kill the Miko. Not bothering to contemplate on the possible answers he turned and motioned for Rin to follow."Let's go." Sesshomaru glided away gracefully, not caring about the girl whom littered his beaches, she would be dead soon enough.
"But my lord! We can't leave her here! It's Kagome." Sesshomaru turned to Rin and gave a dangerous warning glare telling her to stand down. "Please my lord. Let us at least help her a tiny bit." Rin pleaded with him giving him her sweet and sad look. Sesshomaru growled softly in defeat.
"Fine." He said harshly. He was getting soft, him, the great Taiyoukai of the west. Getting soft! "But you must carry her inside by yourself and get her set in a room. Also, you must take care of her." He spared a glance at the ten year old and stomped off unhappily.
Rin smiled deviously and made sure Sesshomaru was gone before she called out to her best friend and pack mule. "Jaken!" the little green imp made his appearance minutes later, knowing to obey to Rin's call before he was beaten by the child, or worse, Sesshomaru. "Jaken, Rin needs you to help her bring Miss Kagome up to her room."
"What! Bring a human wench into lord Sesshomaru's palace intentionally, never!" Jaken crossed his arms and turned his back to her. "I'd rather die." Immediately he regretted saying those words. Rin lifted her leg and kicked the little imp in the head squarely, knocking him out. She'd learned that trick from Sesshomaru when the green Demon had talked out of line. Rin grabbed Kagome's arm and dragged her away, stepping on Jaken's back and head as she did so. Rin struggled to get the woman to the door, although Kagome was light weight, Rin was still a child and didn't have the strength to lift her up the stairs to the door.
"TaiJakou!" Rin hollered. A man in orange and white dress with tiger like markings on his face came to Rin's side. "Rin needs you to put Miss Kagome in a room." Not saying anything but acknowledging her with a nod he picked up Kagome and walked inside the colossal manor. Finding a suitable room for her the Taro Demon set the woman of the bed, bowing he exited off to go tell Rin that her request was done as asked.
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Kagome awoke slowly to see bright chocolate brown orbs staring at her from behind tangled masses of bangs and hair, rosy pink cheeks and a glittering smile only from that of a child. The cute little girl jumped up to her and latched her into a large caring hug. "Kagome! You're awake!" the little child squealed. Obviously happy to see her. Kagome flinched, her wounds still hurting, inside and out.
"Rin. Where am I?" Kagome breathed looking around her lavish room, it was beautiful, and like nothing she'd ever seen. A large mahogany door to her right some fifty feet away. The knob a bright gleaming crystal surrounded by beige and soft light rose colored tiles that lined the room. Near that door was an open doorway against the back wall of the room about ten feet away from the main entrance mahogany door. Looking down she saw scarlet covers upon a king sized bed, a canopy of red and pink lace like material surrounding it before large burgundy curtains settled over it. Looking to her left she saw a large balcony and stained glass windowed doors, framed again by the heavy crimson curtains separating her from the outside world. Ahead was a living room type area with three sofas of deep red, pink, and pale brown. With two large chairs and some tables, all surrounding a grand fire place, and above the fire place an oil painting of a bright white bunch of Hydrangea flowers surrounded by a red pool. Lastly Kagome saw a door on either side of the fire place. Bewildered beyond belief Kagome rushed out a breath. "What is this? I really did die…" Rin laughed and shook her head with a smile.
"You're silly Kagome, you didn't die. We're in Sesshomaru-sama's castle! This is your room. It's next to Rin's and lord Sesshomaru is that way!" Rin pointed towards the back wall, Kagome turned and looked at the wall, giving it a perplexed expression. She picked Rin up gently and set her on the bed before getting up stiffly and sorely. Looking down Kagome saw that she was bandaged and dressed in new Miko garbs. She shrugged and turned. Kagome walked to the elaborately designed door and turned the knob, looking back at Rin she made a stay sign with her hand and crept around the side of the door; looking back again she started to walk forward, suddenly running into something hard and painful, causing her to fall backwards onto her butt.
Kagome stood up and rubbed her backend and groaned. "Ow." Looking up to see what she bumped into she nearly jumped five feet in the air. "Oh, Sesshomaru, sorry, I'll…" Kagome was cut off by the cold cruel look her gave her.
"Miko. It would serve you well to not speak before spoken to. You now are under my roof so you shall obey my rules. One- you are only being kept here and alive because you serve some meaning to Rin. The minute she is unhappy with you, I will dispose of you properly. Two- this Sesshomaru will be referred to as Lord Sesshomaru or Sesshomaru-sama, He will accept nothing else and you will pay the price if you disobey. Three- you will attend to daily duties that shall be assigned. Four- you are not to associate with any of the royalty that may arrive at my palace. To do so would mean punishment. Five- you are not to enter any rooms aside from the ones a maid will show you. You room is marked with a symbol that will direct you to the correct room. Six- you are not to leave the western castle's grounds without permission. Do I make myself clear Miko?" Kagome glared defiantly. Who was this guy to boss her around! She could leave if she wanted to and he wasn't going to stop her.
"Well seeing as how I'm leaving today, your rules shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for saving me, but I'll be going now." Kagome turned on her heel only to be thrown back by a strong arm. He held her by the back of her clothing; a snarl escaped his lips as he glared at her viciously. This Miko annoyed him so. He hated annoying people, but he refused to kill her because she made Rin happy. And he needed her; she had the ability to teach Rin all that she needed to know, to educate her in the way of the Miko and in life.
Letting her go roughly he bit out. "You will stay here." He sensed no fear off of her. Why was she not scared! She was supposed to fear him, to plead ad beg for mercy and forgiveness, not defy him like he were some maid making the child take a bath. He was the lion and she was the lamb. It angered him further on this issue as he growled.
Kagome crossed her arms stubbornly. "Oh yeah. Watch me!" she turned and walked off before he could regain his composure after being told off. She stomped back into her room and looked at Rin who was sitting on the bed patiently. "Rin…" Kagome started, walking over to the child. Rin knew what was coming back, it had happened before, more than once in fact. She'd made friends with the maids and eventually they had done something wrong or had wanted to go off and back to their homes, so they left her, alone again. "Rin." Kagome started once more. "I cannot stay here with you. Not now at least. I still have a duty to fulfill and until that duty is complete I cannot nestle down. Please understand." Rin nodded soberly and hopped off the bed. She walked out the door, shutting it quietly behind her, Rin walked to her room with her head down, bangs covering her eyes.
Kagome grabbed her weaponry from where it was laid by the bed, opening the window she stared out at lush gardens. She could see it, the gate; it was far out, probably over a thousand yards away. She sighed and looked down, the ground was below her twenty or so feet, Kagome was about to jump when she spotted a thick vine, winding itself up the side of the home. "Even better." She smirked triumphantly and moved to get down from the balcony when the door burst open revealing Sesshomaru, startling Kagome she slipped and tumbled down from the edge, landing with a sickening thud. She could feel her wounds that were now re-opened bleeding through the bandages. Kagome groaned in pain as she watched Sesshomaru glare from her balcony two stories up.
Sesshomaru scoffed as she fell. "careless." he walked over to the balcony and leaned over the rail. Glaring at her before jumping down to confront her on her stupid mistake. "Miko. Next time you make an attempt to escape my lands, do it properly." The Taiyoukai pushed her body with his foot lightly. "Now, as your punishment for breaking the rules, you are to clean my office tomorrow at dawn. If you are late there will be more consequences atop of the ones you already have." If Sesshomaru could show emotion properly Kagome would have seen that he was quite amused with her little stunt, but instead of making a snide comment Kagome groaned again, cursing Sesshomaru under her breath as he walked away. She knew full well that he could hear her and she was glad. He deserved some bullshit for once in his life.
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Bright and early at dawn Kagome was awoken by a maid entering her room and opening the blinds to reveal a slowly rising sun. When Kagome moaned and pulled her covers over her head, the maid pulled them off with a simple tug. "Miss Kagome, lord Sesshomaru sent me to wake you for your morning duties." Rang a sweet soprano voice that almost made you want to get up. But almost wasn't enough for Kagome, she didn't want to get up, period. When Kagome didn't stir for another three minutes the maid huffed and grabbed the Miko's leg, sliding the girl off the bed and propping her upright. The maid move to the open door way near the main entrance and stepping inside. When the Demon didn't return, Kagome follower her into the room.
She bolted awake the second she stepped into the room it was loaded with yukatas and kimonos of all different colors and styles. Kagome marveled at the silks and satins they consisted of. Looking through them the maid selected a dark blue one and started dressing Kagome. After a little struggle, and many yawns Kagome and the maid now known as Shizuki, a rabbit demon, were headed up and down hallways to Sesshomaru's office. Shizuki turned to Kagome and bowed before walking away.
Kagome took a deep breath and faced the door, raising a small gentle fist to knock upon the door she heard a very commanding voice speak "Enter." Before she'd even knocked on the wood. Turning the glass knob uncertainly and slowly she peered inside, seeing Sesshomaru staring at her, she stepped in quietly. Silently fuming over the humiliation she was suffering at the moment; being forced to clean Sesshomaru's office because she'd fallen off a railing when trying to escape from the person who'd saved her when she'd washed up on his shore, injured by her love after sharing their most romantic kiss that had ever existed because Kikyou had taken over her body and sealed him to another tree when he'd given in to his demonic form because Kagome had taken Kikyou's jewel shard therefore ending her life and setting her free and completing the jewel after the final battle with Naraku. What a way to 'live the moment'. Kagome sighed and looked about Sesshomaru's office. Her eyes bugged out of her head as she saw the papers strewn about everywhere, books tossed carelessly about, stacks of files and bindings. Kagome would be there all day. "Organize it all. Dispose of any old papers. Maybe next time you'll think before being so foolish." She glared at him. Sesshomaru laughed internally at her, trapped here in his castle until he said she could leave. Thinking it over Sesshomaru could come up with yet another reason to keep her around; she was entertaining, she'd certainly keep him busy, especially with her escape antics. He internally smiled and nodded. It wouldn't be so bad to rile the Miko up a bit. Make her suffer. Punishment. He laughed again, the tiniest smirk playing on his ice cold outer shell.
Kagome got to work immediately, starting in the back left hand corner near the glass plated window was. Sesshomaru was very modern for a feudal era resident, he didn't have mats to sleep on but rather full sized bed, and he had windows, but also he had sofa's, chairs, and desks, all seemingly imported from the continent. Perhaps even as far as Europe. Her thoughts wandered as she straightened the room slowly, soon beginning to hum a song that she remembered from the back of her mind. Sesshomaru cleared his throat as a sudden though occurred to him. "Miko." He ordered curtly. "Why are you not with my stupid half breed of a brother?" True intrigue was something hard for him to come by, but he was actually curious as to why she was not with him.
Kagome froze. It felt like she was just punched in the stomach fifty times over. A sinking pain filled her hollow heart. What would she tell him? That a couple of priestess' had taken over her body in the middle of the night and had effectively sealed the Hanyou to a tree forever more? That was just insane. But then again, she was standing in front of the great Inu Demon of the west. Kagome bit back tears and didn't face him. "I… we… left each other." Kagome hoped that he wouldn't ask why but her hopes were short lived when he asked that dreaded question she'd been asking herself- Why. Kagome could feel her eyes moistening as silver shining liquid pooled in her hurt eyes. "I shot him…and… bound him to a tree when he… when he… Attacked me." She wiped furiously at the tears, whipping them away from her eyes she got back to work on cleaning his office.
Sesshomaru merely turned back to his work with a sound "Hn." Trying to make it seem as if he didn't care. But deep down somewhere under his cold and cruel façade he could feel pity and sympathy for the girl, knowing how much she'd trusted the fool and how many times the damned half breed had hurt her with his betrayals. Never once had she betrayed him so severely. Sesshomaru shook his head quickly in sheer horror at his thoughts. He was Taiyoukai he was Sesshomaru! He did not show sympathy. He did not show compassion or pity! I'm becoming weaker in my… youth. Damn it! I've been spending too much time with that petty girl and toad. Sesshomaru growled inwardly and took a deep breath. Inhaling he smelt the burning aroma of salt. But this was not from the ocean it was from the Miko. Refusing to look back at her, he continued his work on solving a dispute between two of the northern lords. After about fifteen minutes or so the salt began to fade.
Kagome made her way along the wall, picking up and organizing the papers and clutter. Tossing any old pieces of wrinkled paper into the fire burning near Sesshomaru's desk. A few silent tear slipped down her cheeks and jaw line as she thought about the events occurring up to this moment. Images of Inuyasha and all of her friends flashed through Kagome's head, of all of the times she had battled demons and met new friends and acquaintances on their journey. She thought of the betrayal and pain she'd gone through. Kagome didn't understand anymore; why couldn't she just let Inuyasha go? He'd betrayed her, broken her, and left her countless times, yet she couldn't just walk away from the fact that he was gone. He'd befriended her when she needed a friend, and cared for her when she was ill or hurt. He'd saved her. Kagome listened silently to all of the sounds in the room, her heart beat in her chest pulsing slowly and surely even though in great distress, her breathing, steady and calm but she felt anything other than serene, the fire crackling, licking upon the logs, beating them down with little effort. And the occasional shuffling of papers from either her or Sesshomaru. Picking up a stack of old, ripped, wrinkled papers she moved towards the fire, her eyes slightly swollen from her recent trip down memory lane. Kagome bent down, her wounds screaming in protest as she placed the papers in the fire. Standing she caught Sesshomaru's eye and looked away immediately, going back to her work.
Several hours later Kagome looked over the office room with contentedness and pride, she's finished; finally everything was organized and put away. "All done." Kagome said cheerfully, turning to face Sesshomaru who looked up from the document he was signing. He looked about the neat room and turned back to his paper.
"Fine, your task has been completed; tomorrow you shall come here in the morning at dawn for your next job." He said in a bored and icy tone. Waiting for what he knew was coming with some interest.
Kagome gaped. Her punishment wasn't over? She growled, sounding quite like an angry animal. "You listen to me bud! I didn't choose to be saved; I'd rather be living like a wild animal out there instead of in here with the king of cold!" She yelled, pointing to the window and Sesshomaru on every word to emphasize her point. "I will not do your stupid chores for you whenever you demand it! Now, I have served my 'Punishment" Kagome put extra tone on the word punishment and continued on yelling at Sesshomaru. "And I'm going home and you will not stop me." She turned quickly, opening the door and slamming it loudly. She stomped down the halls for a good fifteen minutes when she realized that she had no idea where she was. Still moving forward in hopes of finding a servant or maid she looked about the darkened halls. It was eerie here, as if someone had died long ago and left this place to be haunted by there spirit. Kagome heard something move behind her and she spun to see what it was. Looking about and seeing no one there she turned back to the way she was facing, hearing a squeak she jumped and looked down. Only a little mouse. Kagome sighed with relief and continued her walk through the corridors, winding a corner she spotted a familiar door; the one with a flower engraved into the wood. Breathing in again Kagome opened the door, her stuff already laid out on her bed. Odd. I don't remember setting my stuff here… maybe the house cleaner stopped by and set it out for me. Picking it up she walked once more to the window, but not before turning and locking the door to her room, not that a locked door would stop Sesshomaru from bursting into a room. Turning back to the window she gave it a small tug, finding that it wouldn't open she tugged harder, quickly forcing all her weight upon it. Becoming frustrated Kagome banged on the window, an attempt to break it with no avail. Furious, Kagome searched for an object that could be used to shatter the glass but with nothing to suffice she screamed out "Sesshomaru!" and collapsed onto the bed, screaming again and nearly ready to purify the whole castle when she heard laughing from outside her door. Yes, the stone cold man of Antarctic-Japan was laughing. At her.
This chapter was a bit short but I promise to make the next one – being typed first thing tomorrow morning - to be really really good. Thank you all who have read this far into my story, and even more thanks to my reviewers who have given me a new motivation to finish this story especially for them.
- Iz.