Chapter 4: Awakening
Kagome felt the warmth of the sunlight hit her skin and flash across her eyes. She groaned sleepily as she rubbed her head, which was pounding like a hammer, as she tried to remember what had happened the night before. I must have had too much sake last night… she deducted as she sat up in the bed as silk covers slid off her body to pool around her waist.
She rubbed her eyes as her blurred vision cleared to reveal the room she was curiously residing in. Where ever she was, it must be very expensive by the looks of the polished wood furniture, ordinate carpet rugs, elegant tapestries, silk curtains, full length mirror (which she knew was expensive to get in this time) and silk and fur bed spread. She winced and closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness passed over her and she swayed slightly as she rubbed the bridge of her nose in an attempt to relieve the pain that had settled between her eyes.
She felt a little figure beside her move underneath the covers, the impatient wiggling of a child. She slowly glanced down, expecting to see the red hair of Shippo but instead she saw big brown eyes open sleepily as a mass of brown hair poked out from the fluffy pillow. She was only a little surprised to find a little human girl where a youkai boy usually was. It wasn't the first time she woke up to find herself in a bed with the hotel owner's little daughter or son. She was just a mother magnet for children.
"Good morning Pretty Lady," said the little girl beside her as she sat up in bed and stretched her arms above her head as she yawned sleepily. She seemed to see Kagome through half open eyes, still blurred by sleep no doubt.
Kagome giggled. She had never been nicknamed "Pretty Lady" before by such an adorable child. "Good morning Little One!" she responded happily as the last dregs of sleep seemed to vanish from her body. Usually Kagome was awful about getting up in the mornings but this little girl made it really easy to want to get up for some reason. The girl only looked to be about 10, with stunning brown eyes and a mess of long brown hair that was perched in a messy half ponytail on the side of her head and her voice was a soothing soprano as words flowed from little pink lips like sakura petals. This girl was cute from her funny hairstyle right down to the way she talked!
"And good morning to you too Sesshy-sama!" the little girl cried excitedly, hopping out from the silk covers and looking over Kagome's shoulder as she noticed Sesshomaru's presence in the room.
"Good morning Rin." He responded in monotone, his facial features never showing any feeling.
Kagome turned to look over her won shoulder to the see the figure in which Rin was referring to. "Who's Sesshy-sa…!" She stopped in middle question and her eyes got big and frightened, like a deer about to get hit by a car as she looked into the unfeeling face of the Lord of the Western Lands only a foot from her own.
"SESSHOMARU!" she cried weakly as she scrambled slightly to get away from him but only succeeded in falling from the risen bed on the carpeted floor, face first. She yelped more in surprise than pain as she found herself eye level with a pair of polished black boots.
She rolled away from them as she heard the girl on the bed giggle and she stood up while trying to regain some composure but failing because every time she looked at demon lord's icy features, her knees began to shake. She opened her mouth to demand why she was here but she found that her tongue wouldn't let the words leave her throat. She was standing naught ten feet away from the one of the most powerful Taiyoukai in Japan, who had more than once tried to kill her, unarmed. Nothing but panic gripped her heart as she waited in shock for him to charge her and put a hole in her chest or something, like he had done to Inuyasha before. She seriously doubted she would live through it like Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru watched in pleasure as horror marred her pretty features and he inhaled her scent as the fear mingled with it, which now smelled like the white roses were about to be cut down. He could almost taste her distress and oh he loved it! Nothing like the smell of fear from a human to brighten a youkai's morning, that's for sure. He inwardly smirked in satisfaction as he stared icily at her.
"Good morning to you as well human…" he paused for a moment as he pretended to think, knowing the best way to reveal her situation to her while getting the optimum reaction. "Or should I say wolf?" he asked her, his voice filled with amusement.
Kagome's fear turned to confusion in .25 seconds. "Huh?" she responded most intelligently, almost forgetting she was talking to a person who she was previously imagining ripping her heart out. Human curiosity had command over any desperate situation.
One moment, Sesshomaru was the preferred 10 feet from her and in the blink of her eye he was standing in front of her, his head towering above her own. Before Kagome could even think about escaping his presence to put yet more space between them, he ferociously grabbed her small hand with such speed that Kagome didn't even see it and shoved it in front of her face. Kagome paled at the appendage, not even noticing that Sesshomaru had released it and went back to his pervious spot on the pillow by the bed.
On her hand, at the tips of her fingers where there used to be smooth, oval nails there were razor sharp claws.
She stared at it in disbelief, not believing what she was seeing. There is no way those could be claws! She used her hand, also claw lain, to touch them, hoping that this was all a figment of her imagination.
But to her disappointment, she pricked her finger on the claw and a red blood droplet formed at the place of abused flesh. They were real.
She gasped in surprise as she dashed to the mirror she had spotted earlier across the room. She stood in front of it and stared, her body freezing in shock.
Holy Crap!
The person that she found in her reflection was a stranger. The stranger was dressed in the same long sleeved pink shirt that she had worn that night she left Inuyasha but the shoulder was ripped, revealing a crescent moon like scar on her neck like a bite mark. She lifted a hand to touch the scar only to find that the person moved with her, only confirming that it was indeed her own reflection. Slowly and almost painfully, she forced her hand to rise and touch the part of her forehead underneath the curtain of her ebony bangs where the crescent moon was etched, her fingers lightly brushing it as if she would smug the paint only it wasn't painted on. As soon as she did that, every difference seemed to scream at her, begging to be noticed.
She inched closer as she stared into her reflection's wide eyes, revealing fear and surprise in their silver depths as she saw the slitted pupils. Those aren't hers! They used to be blue! She smiled experimentally, only to find that she had two extra long and pointed teeth in her mouth where flat ones used to be. Fangs! I have fangs! She thought frantically as she touched them, claws brushing against her rosy lips. She felt an ear twitch and she looked toward her ear in the mirror to find that they were now pointed like a elf's, much like many full demon's she had encountered when they were in their human like form. That in turn led her to notice her hair, which was unbound and felt heavy on her head.
She stepped back and turned around to see that her hair now touched the ground in a wavy ebony waterfall, having grown many feet in what seemed to be a short time. Her body also had muscles underneath her torn shirt and dirty jeans and even her bare toes had claws! She felt faint, taking in her new appearance.
Houston…we have a problem.
She turned on Sesshomaru as he sat lunging around, half sitting on the pillow and half leaning on the bed on the platform, mentally laughing at her as she examined herself in the mirror. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!" She cried with her eyes full of angry fire as she closed the gap between them with long strides. Anger, like curiosity, had command over any desperate situation as well.
Sesshomaru nearly slapped the wench as she towered over him as he continued to sit. How dare she talk to him like that! According to the change in her scent, she seemed to have forgotten her fear of him completely and was more bent on harming him, as if it was all his fault. He would have to remedy that notion quickly or she would likely engage in a fight he knew she would lose.
"I've done nothing." He answered while glaring at her icily as he stood, forcing her to look up at him. He preferred the scared human to this angry one. At least the scared one wanted distance from him but the angry one was invading his personal space. She was only a foot away and well within striking range, should the need overwhelm him. "You don't remember," he asked, the question more of a statement then and genuine question.
Kagome glared, only slightly intimidated by the fact she only came up to his chest. "Remember what?" she barked, crossing her arms stubbornly.
Sesshomaru almost rolled his eyes. In that pose, she reminded him of his half brother. Defiance must be a human trait. "You were kidnapped by a werewolf."
Kagome stared at him, trying to keep her mouth from gaping. Kidnapped by a what!
"I saved you." Sesshomaru continued, not seeming to be at all discomforted by her intense gaze.
She was saved by WHO! She began to sway as another wave of dizziness swept over her, making her feet light-headed. Why was did she keep getting this dizzy spells? She leaned on the wall for support before she sank down to the bed in defeat.
Sesshomaru watched as she sat on the bed. Standing must be having a toll on her after a week of no food. He secretly smirked at her weakness. Oh he was loving this! Her internal anguish was painfully evident! She was so confused and scared that she had no idea what's going on!
"Oh I want to tell the story!" said the little girl as she bounced up and down on the fluffy bed and silk sheets. She had been watching Kagome and Sesshomaru for a while in interest but now she wanted to tell the other girl how she came to be in her room. Kagome couldn't help but giggle and smile at the little girl, all signs of confusion, fear, or anger disappearing from her face with that smile.
Sesshomaru nodded his approval before sinking back onto the pillow yet again and resuming his position of comfort. Now that the human had calmed down, she was no longer entertaining. He had to admit, the angry version was sure more appealing than the scared version; having someone so weak want to pick a fight with him was most amusing.
Rin squeaked in excitement as she sat down beside Kagome on the silk sheets. "Ok. I was almost asleep when I saw Sesshy-sama suddenly leave the castle, probably going to kill some demon on his lands so just incase he got hurt, I snuck out and followed him. But then he flew to fast on his Fluffy Cloud and I lost him and then I became lost. After a LONG while, I came to a Big Hole and on the other side you, the Pretty Lady and the…the…" she paused, fear clouding her features and Kagome placed a hand on her shoulder, concerned. Why was this girl pausing?
"Wolf." Sesshomaru finished for her, waving a hand for her to continue.
At the sound of his voice, Rin seemed to snap out of her little trance and once again grace Kagome with a wide grin, acting as though nothing had happened. "Anyway, you were fighting and then…it tried to attack me but you jumped on…it and you both fell down in the Big Hole and you got bitten. Then Sesshy-sama came out of nowhere and flew down to save you and took you home after I asked if I could keep the Pretty Lady. Then when I saw you the next day, I asked Sesshy-sama if I could keep you in my room till you woke up and he said yes so you've been sleeping in my room for a long time and now you are awake and we can have all sorts of fun!" she said in a sense of finality and she sat a little straighter, as if proud of her story telling.
Kagome at first was quiet, taking in the information, but then just burst out laughing! This girl was too cute!
Rin looked at her in confusion and then turned to her foster father. "Did I say something funny?" she asked in confusion, at a lost to why the other girl would be laughing so hard. There were tears streaming down her cheeks that the girl was frantically trying to wipe away.
Sesshomaru shrugged indifferently as he rose from the chair and pointed to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. "Get dressed in something appropriate and Rin will show you to the dining hall." He turned to leave the room, closing the distance between him and the door with measured and even strides.
"As you wish Sesshy-sama," Kagome said jokingly, feeling much better after she laughed as she rose from the bed toward the wardrobe he had spoken of. To think the Great and Powerful Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands would have such a funny nickname! It almost…humanized him, which Kagome thought was a strange way of putting it, since as a Taiyoukai he could never be human in any way but that seemed the only way to describe it.
Sesshomaru stopped in the doorway, his hand on the handle and Kagome felt his jaki rise just a little, making her stop on her own tracks as Rin squeaked a little in surprise. He turned his head and glared at her, his golden eyes burning her flesh. "You will address me as Lord Sesshomaru and bow when dismissed from my presence. Is that clear human?" his usually calm voice was filled with such hatred when he used the word "human" that it sent chills down her spine. He watched her expectantly. If she is to stay alive in his presence she will have to show him some respect: he would see to that.
Kagome felt her anger rise. He wanted her to WHAT! She may be in his "presence" but she still had her pride! Her first thought was refusing but he may kill her…and she wanted to stay alive. She was at his mercy…until she found out what the hell was going on and managed to make her escape.
She sighed in resignation as she slowly arched her back in the tiniest bow, as if every moment pained her as her pride seemed to crack a little. "Forgive me Lord Sesshomaru," she muttered through gritted teeth. She never felt so low! She preoccupied her mind with images of Sesshomaru's beautiful face kissing the carpet like Inuyasha kissed the ground when ever she "sat" him. Oh how she wished for that necklace right now!
Sesshomaru turned away from her and left the girls. Outside the room, he smirked in satisfaction. She was a strong willed one. He was sure it KILLED her pride to do that. This human promised to be very entertaining during her stay at his castle. He continued to smirk as he walked through the hallways to confront the guards who stood watch last night about Rin's little escape.
Yes…fear in the morning was always refreshing.
Kagome glared at the door in which "Lord Sesshomaru" had left, feeling so sure that he was laughing at her just beyond it. She was wondering idly if he would stay behind it long enough for Kagome to "accidentally" open the door to slam it into his face.
It was not like Kagome was mean or anything. In fact, she was a nice person, always putting other's needs before her own and she took pride in that fact. It was just the whole "collar" situation she found herself in. While she was in his house, she would have to do anything he told her to or risk being killed.
She hated the thought completely.
From what she could gather, he was rude, arrogant, pompous, cold, unfeeling…well not unfeeling. He had shown amusement and anger towards her hadn't he? She snorted, not really considering those "feelings". Basically, he was everything she had expected since had met him their first battle.
There are just some things about a youkai that are just so predictable.
She looked down as she felt the impatient tugging of Rin as she pulled at her sleeve. Remembering what her new "master" had ordered her to do, she walked up to the wardrobe and opened it to find folds of silk, all different colors and sizes, all so beautiful that it made Kagome gasp. Her hands brushed along the different folds until she stopped on a pretty pink pattern of sakura blossoms, one of the larger ones meant for her. She pulled it out and it unfolded gently as it touched the floor.
The fabric felt smooth and soft under Kagome's fingers, giving her the notion that this kimono was older for if it were new, like Rin's, then the cloth would be thicker and slightly tougher. Rin had already chosen a solid pink kimono, probably based off of Kagome's own decision, and began to struggle into it, used to having to do it most her life.
Such was the life of a Lord's daughter.
Kagome awkwardly stripped herself of her old clothes, ones she will probably have to throw away, and began to wrap the kimono around her. Though it fit her nicely, the sleeves fluttered past her finger tips and the hem of the dress went past her feet and drag on the ground, unlike the kimonos of the common Japanese people, whose hems stopped high above the ankles and sleeves were much, much shorter than this because such things were impractical for the working populace.
This was the kimono of a noble person; one not made or meant to work.
She tied the red obi around her waist, noticing how much thinner she was, and started to twist her super-long hair into a huge braid, using the brush she dug from her back pack that was sitting by the wardrobe.
As much as she didn't like Sesshomaru, she was at least appreciative that he wasn't going to force her to wear a servant's clothes if he was going to make her wear anything. She momentarily wondered where he had gotten so many nice kimonos for her. She doubted that there was a Mrs. Sesshomaru of the Western Lands and she seriously doubted that he would let a human wear his mother's things. She didn't think Inuyasha's mom had lived here but maybe she did and she left or died before she moved them out. But if that was the case, why did Sesshomaru keep them around?
She shook her head, clearing it of her thoughts as she finished tying the end of her braid. Why did the thing have to be so damn long?
"By the way, what's your name Pretty Lady?" Rin asked as she struggled to tie the obi around her little waist. Kagome rushed to help her and tied it tight but not too tight before answering.
"It's Kagome." She tugged at Rin's shoulder and she turned obediently, large brown eyes staring as the disarray of brown hair on her head swayed with her moments. Kagome smiled as she untied the tie in the girl's messy hair, letting it fall down in a tangled wave as she got her brush and started to pull it back into a ponytail. The girl shook her head stubbornly, wrenching her locks from Kagome's loose grasp. "I want a braid!" she stated stubbornly before standing still in front of Kagome once more. Kagome laughed as she started over, this time beginning to braid her wild brown hair.
"Kagome…" The girl said as she patiently waited for Kagome to finish. "That's a pretty name!" She decided before she began to wiggle impatiently. Kagome gently ordered her to stay still before she let her mind wonder.
The she thought about this situation the more she didn't like it. Why does Sesshomaru have a human in his presence if he's supposed to hate them so much? Why did Sesshomaru save her, a human herself? Why didn't Inuyasha rescue her? Why isn't he here now?
Something was up. She didn't know why she felt that her being in the continued "presence" of Sesshomaru was all Inuyasha's fault.
She finally finished binding the little girl's hair in a thick braid that railed to the middle of her back, tangle-free and out of the little girl's way when Rin bounced away, twirling in her kimono. "Do I look pretty?" she asked seriously, looking deep into Kagome's eyes, expecting an honest answer.
Kagome smiled as she pretended to wrinkle her brow in concentration as she circled the little girl, acting as if she were studying her intensively. The kimono the girl had picked was a slightly darker shade pink than the one she herself was currently wearing, the sleeves considerably shorter and the hem higher on her legs for it was a child's kimono, ready for playing use. The silk looked to be about the same quality or Kagome's but it was newer and shinier than her own, bringing out the girl's flushed cheeks and soft pink lips. Now that the girl's hair was in order, her brown eyes looked bigger and her round face made her look even more adorable than before.
Kagome nodded her approval. "You are the prettiest little girl I have ever met!"
Rin clapped her hands and twirled, pleased by her success. Kagome laughed as she crept up behind the girl and began to tickle her sides. Rin fell to the floor in a fit of giggles as Kagome looked innocently at her, as if she was not to culprit but some unseen ghost instead.
"By the way, what is your name?" Kagome asked as she helped the little girl to her feet. Rin brushed off her kimono before pointing to herself with her thumb.
"My name is Rin." She said proudly, grinning as she did.
Kagome laughed and then bowed slightly as she gestured to the door with her hands. "Well, Lady Rin, could you please show me to the dinning room? I am starving!" she said, which was the truth. She felt as if she hadn't eaten for a week!
Rin excitedly dashed out the door but before Kagome herself left to follow, she found herself looking out Rin's giant window, the flecks of snow drifting past the glass uncovered by the curtains. She closed her eyes and silently prayed Inuyasha came soon.
Sesshomaru waited at the low dining table, nails drumming in a bored gesture as his claws left light indentions in the wood while he sat indian-style upon a black floor pillow set at the head of the long table. Even though his food had been placed in front of him, including at the two places near him, he had not taken a bite. Being a demon and all, he didn't really need to eat human things like rice and such but Rin always made such a fuss about him needing to eat.
She still hasn't realized that he and she were two different beings.
Anyway every morning, he usually just picked at his food, taking little bites as Rin rattled on about some dream she had or what she done the day before that she hadn't mentioned at dinner last night. Usually Sesshomaru just nodded as he all but ignored her, instead taking this time to order his plans for the day in his head.
This morning, however, was anything but usual.
For one thing, Rin and the human were late. That was nothing that surprised him. Females, whether human, hanyou, or youkai, had this thing about taking so long to get dressed to do anything. He winced at how the different female youkai he had courted in the past had done this, taking forever to dress up in an impractical manner as if to impress him of their beauty and make him feel the wait was worth it.
He, of course, had only felt annoyance but had been patient nonetheless.
And instead of his usual mellowness, he actually was in a semi-good mood this morning. After winning the battle of wills with the human this morning and then scolding his fearful soldiers had put him in a contented mood of sorts. He felt as though he could wait all morning for his daughter and the wench to show up but knew he wouldn't. There was too much for him to do instead of waiting for them.
As if the previously mentioned females had heard his thoughts about him, he smelled the combined scent of daisies that was Rin and roses that was "Kagome", both giving off a morning freshness. He looked up as he heard the pounding of feet and the creaking of the door's hinges as it opened to reveal a flash of pink as Rin ran toward his direction while the wench calmly followed after her with a smile on her lips.
"Sesshy-sama!" Rin cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck in one of her embraces. He sighed as he patted her arm with his only hand. This hugs were becoming more and more frequent, to his dismay. He gently pulled her off him and tilted his head at Kagome, in a gesture that Rin should look as well.
"Rin, we have a guest remember?" he inquired gently, in hopes that she would remember some of the manners he and some of the other youkai had tried to teach her.
Rin stared at Kagome for a moment before it dawned on her. She dashed over to Kagome and tugged at a sleeve, much like she did to Sesshomaru when she wanted his attention, and led Kagome to a pillow.
"Would you please have a seat, Kagome-chan?" She asked politely as she gestured with her hands for Kagome to sit and did a little bow.
Kagome, catching onto the change to formality, folded her hands and did an appropriate bow before responding. "Thank you, Rin-chan." She went over to the suggested place, a black silk pillow on the right side of Sesshomaru and, as gracefully as she could, kneeled, sitting on her legs as the pillow took her weight. The silk folds of the kimono fluttered about her momentarily with her movements before settling around her knees and feet, leaving them completely covered as she felt her braid bundle up behind her like slack rope on the floor. She wondered if it would grow back like a demon's would if she cut a few feet off…
Rin, seeing that Kagome was comfortable, turned and quickly walked around the end of the table where Sesshomaru was, following her moments with his golden eyes as she sat on his right side so that she was on the opposite side of Kagome.
Kagome looked at the food on the tray in front of her as she took in its pleasant aroma. Before her was a bowl of white rice, still steaming though the food had been here before her, with a tray that looked to be chopped pickled radish, yet another tray with what smelled to be sliced fish that had been grilled and smothered in an unidentifiable savory sauce and a cup of what was clearly fresh green tea next to a saucer of rice cakes.
The smell of all this warm food made Kagome stomach growl with hunger but before she grabbed the pair of wood chopsticks on the napkin at the right of the food she had noticed that Rin had not touched her food but was instead looking up at Sesshomaru expectantly.
Kagome too glanced at the emotionless Taiyoukai as he sat quietly, his plate untouched. Kagome had the sudden feeling that this was one of his superiority things…the man of the house has to start eating before the women etc… and she had to suppress the urge to grab a chop stick full of rice, put it in her mouth, and stick a half-chewed rice-covered tongue at him.
To her surprise Sesshomaru turned to Rin and gently asked, "Rin, why are you not eating? Your food is getting cold."
Kagome was even more surprised when the Rin stuck her chin up defiantly while crossing her arms stubbornly as she looked her foster father in the eyes. "Sesshy-sama you haven't touched your food at all! How are you supposed to run this castle if you don't eat food for energy?"
Sesshomaru inwardly groaned. He knew this was coming. It came about every morning. She just refused to eat till he had at least had a bite. And what was worse was that the woman on his right was trying hard not to laugh at the situation. He glared at her while grabbing a chopstick fill of rice to force into his mouth and she quickly hid her smile behind a hand.
Kagome reached for her tea as she tried not to giggle uncontrollably at the scene she was witnessing. She had thought that Rin not eating was just a rule of Lord Sesshomaru, not that the little girl was upset that he had not begin to eat. Rin scolded him like a mother would a child, or like a woman would her husband, and seeing the demon lord obey was positively riveting!
That little girl had the youkai wrapped around her little finger!
"Kagome-chan, are you going to eat?" asked Rin as she began shoving a slice of pickle radish into her mouth with her chopsticks. Kagome needed no further invitation as she began to all but shove the food in her mouth, her manners preventing her from fully digging in.
Sesshomaru watched as the girls began to eat, occasionally forcing himself to take a tiny bite of food at Rin's glance. Rin had already begun chatting about what she had done the day before, as she usually did, as she and Kagome ate their food, the other girl only nodding and commenting every once in a while, too busy trying not to shove all the food in her mouth.
Sesshomaru was only slightly appalled at her eating habits. It was understandable considering she hasn't eaten anything in the week she was unconscious and he could see how she was trying to control herself enough to eat with at least a little poise.
Humans…He scoffed before choking down yet another bite of rice.
The other reason at why her eating hadn't bothered him so much is that he had seen much worse. Although most of the demon nobility had manners, there were a few that didn't, like the wolf tribes to the North. He had remembered the last banquet he had been to up there…it was disgusting and an experience he has no desire to repeat if he could help it.
In fact, he should be using this time to put his daily affairs in order but he found himself continually glancing to his left at the wench. It wasn't that he found her particularly fetching or anything…in human terms she was desirable but she didn't hold a glow to a true female youkai's beauty. Then again, that wasn't fair to say for true demons can alter their human appearances, making themselves as beautiful or as homely as they wanted.
The only things they couldn't change were certain traits of heritage, his being his facial markings and tail, and the signs of age. Though demons age much slower than humans or hanyous, they inevitably show signs of aging. Sesshomaru himself was still young in youkai terms, him being only 500 years old or so. He still had about 600 or so years to go before he even began to look even slightly different. Other than aging and their permanent traits, demons could look like anything they wanted and stay that way. Usually when a demon finds an appearance he or she likes as a child, they keep it though their whole life, only changing it when they absolutely have to. Most demons, like him self, try to look a variation of their parents, taking pride in their lineage. Even after Sesshomaru's father had become infatuated with a human female, Sesshomaru hadn't bothered to change his appearance, being too used to it already to go through the uncomfortable process of changing what he looked like.
He could give the wench this though: she didn't need the face paint or jewels that he had seen other human woman dawn to make her look attractive. Now that she had been bathed, sponge bathed anyway by servants only last night in hopes that her human scent would deaden, and properly clothed she was a different person that the girl he had previously brought into their mists just earlier that week. She sat very still and in a straight posture as she tried to eat daintily while giving Rin almost her undivided attention. She was wearing a light pink sakura kimono that she obviously found among the many he had the servants supply for her in the wardrobe, its edges pooled around her kneeling legs, completely covering them. She had slid the large sleeves down her pale arms so that she could eat properly without them hindering her while she became accustomed to eating with claws on chopsticks. He had taken into account that this kimono that the girl had chosen had also influenced his pup's own decision, for the young girl also garbed in a pink child's kimono.
His eyes drifted down to her waist and he was slightly surprised by how tight the obi was able to be tied. She must have lost a lot more weight than he had first thought, once more slightly sympathic to her current eating condition.
From there his eyes continued to scan, noticing briefly the scar she had received from her previous adventure on her smooth pale neck before going to her face. Indeed he was not surprised to why she had been shocked earlier, the changes drastic to him as well and he had only seen her occasionally through the years. Her cheeks were slightly thinner, due to lack of food obviously, her ears were pointed like demon in their human form, full pink lips that parted only to let food pass by them, the flash of fangs only momentary. Her hair had grown much longer than his own, barley trailing on the floor in a long black braid that now lay in a coil behind her back while her bangs and whatever small wisps of hair that had worked their way loose from the bound bunch framed her face. He also noticed with slight amusement that his pup had also taken up this hair style as well, trying to match her new friend.
However, what he found most captivating about this girl's appearance was her eyes.
Given they were now unnatural silver with slitted pupils like an animal youkai, their color wasn't the thing that fascinated him. No, what did was the fact that, like Rin's, they showed whatever emotion she was feeling at that exact moment. In Rin's room, he had seen her fear in them before he even smelled it in her scent, saw the fire of anger before she even dared to approach him. After being around youkai all his life, most of whom all held frozen, protected glances at those who were not kin unless it was amusement or rage, it never ceased to amaze him how humans mostly just showed their emotions to anyone, friend or foe. Kagome's eyes were no exception to this rule, her eyes dancing as she laughed hearty at the child across from her who had obviously been describing some comedic event.
She turned his way slightly, probably feeling the force of his gaze on her person, and her cheeks flushed the light pink glow of embarrassment, adding color to her fair skin that only matched too well with her sakura kimono. She seemed to hesitate, her lips parted as they hung slightly a gape as if she wanted to ask a question. He waited, putting another mouthful of rice in his mouth as he waited patiently.
Kagome stared at a waiting Sesshomaru, mouth ready to ask the question she wanted so badly to be answered: Why is Rin here? A simple question that had plagued her years back when she helped him rescue her from Naraku and had risen once again like a ghost as her curiosity began to take command once again. But she thought better of it. Maybe she'll just ask Rin how she came to meet "Sesshy-sama" later. Instead she settled on another question that also tugged at her mind about her current situation.
"Lord Sesshomaru, how long had I been asleep?" she asked, still hating the fact she was to refer to him as "Lord Sesshomaru". He was more like Lord Pain-in-the-Ass as far as she was concerned, acting so smug all the time and making her feel stupid like he did in Rin's room. However it did worry her a little when Rin had mentioned that she had been asleep for a "long time" that made her wonder just how long she had been out.
"A week," Sesshomaru answered before taking a sip from his tea cup. He knew that hadn't been the question that was really on her mind, seeing her hesitation, but he answered her nonetheless. Her reactions to shocking information were proving to be reliably entertaining…
Kagome nearly choked on the bite of fish she had been eating and began to cough uncontrollably as she reached for her tea cup to clear her throat. The tea did the job, though it scolded her slightly from taking such a big gulp of the steaming liquid. She coughed only a little more before she wheezed, "A week!" in surprise. However long she thought she had been out, she hadn't thought it to be that long! No wonder she was so hungry!
"That is what I said human," Sesshomaru said to her sarcastically, as though she was a simpleton. He couldn't help baiting her. Human emotions had a way of taking things to the extreme and he wanted to study this unusual trait now that he had an adult female in his mist, which he was lead to believe to be the worst about displaying their emotions. He was not disappointed as he felt the human's anger rise in her scent as her eyes once again filled with that angry fire he had seen earlier.
If Kagome thought she had previously had "mean" thoughts back in Rin's bedroom, they were almost nothing compared to now. Kagome had to admit, this was a little out of her character…oh hell, who was she trying to fool? She hated it when Inuyasha had talked down to her and she certainly had more feeling toward him than his heartless brother. Pompous asshole seems to be the only way to really describe him: why does he keep calling her "human" like it was disgusting? She is human, or was once anyway, get over it. If the thought of him killing her hadn't loomed in her mind, she certainly would follow her notions of grabbing a hand full of his beautiful silver hair and bashing his head repeatedly on the table.
Ok, she had to admit, she definitely was feeling more aggressive. This was the third time in one morning that she thought of actually physically harming the Taiyoukai who apparently saved her life. Was it just the way he provoked her or was she changing thanks to that bite? The thought was not comforting.
Sesshomaru watched with mild amusement as she looked as if she was going to snap a remark at him, witty or not he couldn't tell, but seemed to change her mind and calmed herself to ask another question instead.
"What do you think is going to happen to me now that I have been bitten by a werewolf?"
Sesshomaru paused, deciding on how he should answer this one. The girl had no tact or preferred none for she was blunt and to the point instead of trying to pry the answer from him like others would have tried to do. Since her curiosity was annoying, at least her honestly was somewhat appreciated. That just gave him one less thing to worry. Plus the more questions she asked the less human food he had to force-feed himself with the excuse of answering them and that was almost worth the trade.
"I think the obvious conclusion is that you will become one yourself. Though I'm sure that the process is well underway, considering your new appearance, I still think it will be a while before the transformation is complete."
Kagome groaned as she slouched miserably. So that part of the stories was true.
Damn… Couldn't the gods just throw her a freakin' bone? Just once?
"So…what am I? Human or youkai?"
That question had also been bugging her. He kept calling her human but he had also called her wolf so now she wanted to know. If he was going to call her something, he might as well get it right.
Sesshomaru had expected this question would come, especially after he kept calling her human to bug her. He had been looking into the subject in his library, for it is imperative for him to know about any…thing staying in his household and had already come up with what was, to him anyway, a suitable and understandable answer.
"I believe you are both."
Kagome raised an elegant, raven eyebrow. "Like a hanyou?"
Sesshomaru merely nodded before he continued in his usual monotone. "While you have demonic like features and abilities in your human form like quick regeneration and other powers, you are unable to use your full abilities till you enter your wolf demon form. However, you have almost no control or consciousness while in your full form, so you could lash out at friend as well as foe."
Kagome nodded, knowing that kind of situation all too well. It was just like Inuyasha, who was a perfect mix but if he wasn't grasping the Tetsusaiga in battle, his demon blood takes control of him and his power greatly increases but at a price. He will continue to kill or be killed, whether the people he struck down were innocent, guilty or his friends. It seems that Kagome is going to thrown into that same delicate balance.
Sesshomaru noticed that her eyes had become sad and thoughtful as she digested this new information. He had no doubt in his mind that she was thinking of Inuyasha and how much more alike they are now, both plagued with the same curse: powerful demonic blood in human bodies. It was the fate or many of the children of the more powerful youkai's, for his father wasn't the first to lay with a human and he certainly won't be the last.
Once again, Sesshomaru was thankful that he wasn't a result of one of those unions like Inuyasha was. As much as he hated the idiot, pity was by far the most overpowering of the emotions he had towards his half brother. It was Inuyasha's fault that he turned into what he was: a wild, uncivilized, overly emotional, rage-driven, human-loving fool that had little or no control of what forces that lay dormant inside his weak body nor was he accepted by either the youkai or humans.
Still didn't mean Sesshomaru didn't hate the bastard. He did lose an arm to him after all, in some fluke accident.
"I don't suppose you know of any way to cure it?"
Kagome felt stupid for asking such a dumb question. It would be noting short of a miracle if he knew anything along those lines. Still she couldn't prevent holding her breath just a little in anticipation.
Sesshomaru knew that she didn't think he would be able to answer that question. If he hadn't spent so much time reading on it, he wouldn't have the slightest idea either.
"From what I understand, if you are able to get a hold of some wolf's bane before your first transformation it ought to turn you back to normal. "
Kagome was slightly surprised. Not only did the answer make it seem easy but he seemed to have done some research.
"Do you know where any wolf's bane is?"
To her dismay Sesshomaru merely shook his head and she slouched again in disappointment. Of course, an easy solution just not so easy way of finding it.
"The last I heard of any wolf's bane was in the Eastern Lands. The Dragon Youkai used to have some problems with the Wolf Youkai attacking them from the North so they had grown some and used it to hold the wolves at bay."
Kagome sighed. "Eastern Lands" was a very broad image but it was better than nothing... did he say Wolf Youkai?
"Is Koga one of those Wolf Youkai?"
Sesshomaru raised a silver brow at this question. It seemed a little out of nowhere… how did she know the Lord's son?
He mentally slapped himself. He had forgotten that she was at that battle where Inuyasha, himself and Koga had battled the cat demons from the continent. If she hadn't known him before that, she would definitely know him from that incident.
He might as well put her face at every instance he had seen Inuyasha over the past four years just to save time.
"Koga is son of the current Lord, though he hardly spends time at home. Ever since his father gave him his own pack, Koga does what he pleases." Personally, Sesshomaru never liked Koga. Wolf Youkai, like the humans, had no problems displaying their emotions so the wolf demon had only reminded him too much of Inuyasha. He would give Koga this though; he wasn't an idiot.
This news about Koga made Kagome feel a little better. He or his kin would have a better idea where to find the wolf's bane, though she could just hear him now:
"Why change? You are almost wolf now and that's makes you ideal for my wife!"
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow as he studied the miko. For some reason, she had begun to blush again, a deeper red than before as if her thoughts of the wolf prince had embarrassed her. He tucked that information away in his head; unlike the human in front of him, he had tact when wanting information from someone. He would find out what he wanted, if it still interested him at a later date.
Kagome pushed her thoughts of Koga aside. Even if she wasn't so smitten with the hanyou, she still wouldn't marry the demon who had announced his love for her and kept referring to her as "My Kagome" or "My Future Wife" or "My Mate". She just never harbored any feelings other than friendship toward the stubborn youkai.
Well now that she knew where she needed to go now she just need to make her plans for escape. She knew she couldn't just waltz out the front door. If Sesshomaru's castle was anything like a human Lord's, the guards would catch her before she even stepped a foot out into the courtyard. No doubt they had already been aware that she was the prisoner and will not to let her out.
Kagome was still at a lose as to why Sesshomaru was treating her like a prisoner. He was a full-blown human-hater; that was no secret. The only reason he put up with her and probably hadn't killed her was that he gained something from her presence. But what was Kagome's question.
Suddenly she had an idea.
She immediately glanced over at Sesshomaru, glaring so hard as if she wanted him to spontaneously combust. No… it wasn't against him to hold a human who he felt he could use as a bargaining chip.
Whatever gratitude she held for him about him saving her life vanished completely and was replaced by the urge to get as far, far away from him.
She was leaving as soon as possible.