A Taste of Beauty

Kagome found herself being gently toed into wakefulness, as was common these days. She groaned as she got up, huffing, "I'm up, I'm up. Lemme wash up and I'll be right back." She went to wash her face quickly, tie up her hair and change before returning to a patiently waiting Sesshoumaru. "The sun isn't even up yet. Do you ever sleep?" It had already been a month, and she had settled into his routine quite quickly, following him to find a quiet place to practice away from the others till they woke.

Sesshoumaru had to admit, she was a worthy student. She learned quickly, ever willing to find a new way to protect her loved ones. He had even taken to teaching her swordplay, using his Tensaiga as she wielded his half brother's Tetsusaiga in its useless state. Sometimes, even the monk joined in on the lessons, though he learned at a slower pace. Sesshoumaru was pleased with the girl and her progress. She was attentive, quick, and respectful, so long as he respected her as well.

He had tasted the girl's temper when he had carelessly left Rin to find her own food, as he often had. He still felt a small pang of guilt and grudging respect when he recalled the event. She had pulled him aside, actually grabbed his one, empty sleeve and dragged him away, along with Rin. She had disrobed Rin to show him her state of malnourishment and he had honestly been surprised. Rin had never once said a word, never complained, and he had assumed either she or Jaken had seen to her needs.

He had gone and hunted two venison for their dinner that night, surprising Kagome when she heard from Shippou that he was acknowledging her as Alpha female of the group. He felt all the more right in his actions when she still remained respectful towards him after his small display. He had her trust, and slowly, she was gaining his. He slowly learned just how devoted, honorable, and loyal she was. He found it stunning, amazing, and utterly desirable. It was too bad she was human, so short lived, but at least she may pass these traits to Rin. Perhaps Kagome would pass the traits to her own children, who knew?

He stood a ways from her as she blindfolded herself. He slowly moved towards her, and was gratified as she erected a barrier, but disappointed when he was still able to push through, although only barely. He grabbed her from behind, his claws at her neck, and he said "Again. Stronger." They continued until she was trembling from exhaustion.

He narrowed his eyes on his pupil, and in a flash of movement he snarled and charged. Her fear spiked and she turned, and with a graceful movement of her hand erected a barrier that repelled even him. Standing still, he again spoke. "Practice that until you can do it at will, without emotion." She panted slightly, nodding to him. She huffed when the blindfold caught in her hair. With a deft movement of his elegant claws, he untangled it easily, laying it in her hands. He started to move away, but stopped, not looking at her. "You are different than most humans." He turned his head to slant his golden eyes at her. "…You hold my respect, Ningen. For now." Again he walked away.

She was as surprised by the admission as he was.

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"Make sure to bring some pocky, ok? I wanna show Rin some bubble gum too! Oh and cotton candy! Definitely cotton candy!" Shippou bounced as he listed off the items, and Kagome caught him up, tickling his sides and nuzzling his head as she laughed and promised him she would bring them. She caught Rin's longing and shy gaze, and quickly delivered the same treatment, bringing a peal of delighted laughter. She caught the flicker of warmth in Sesshoumaru's eyes, and she smiled.

"I'll bring you some chamomile and thyme, too, k?" She laughed as he merely turned his head to inspect the lands around them, but not before she caught the dead pan look of annoyance on his face. Inuyasha remained uncharacteristically quiet as Miroku waved, wary of getting too close to Sango who was hugging her friend and sister. "I'll be back in a week, I need to get some last tests out of the way before I'm done for good!" Excited, she jumped in, not once noticing the approaching dark aura.

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Only a day later, Kagome realized she had left behind her history book, and was in a frenzy to retrieve the expensive and much needed item. She jumped through the well, carrying her yellow backpack so she could give Shippou the promised snacks while she was there. Sadly, just as she reached the top of the well in the feudal era, waves of ebony hair constricted her view, and she lost conciseness.

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Naraku stared down at the young priestess. Only 17, so young, and yet such a thorn in his side. How many times had her arrows sent him running, and that was when she had very little experience. Now she was being trained, by the Killing Perfection, no less. If he had any hope of defeating Inuyasha and his little group once and for all, he had to deal with the miko now while she was still untrained. His eyes narrowed on her, her pale skin and blue onyx hair, her rosy lips parted as she breathed softly. To think, he was apprehensive of a mere teenage human, and a pretty one at that.

He 'tsk'd at the thought as he reached out to try and snatch the jewel shards from her neck, not for the first time. Just as before, he was repelled by a small, constant barrier. If he tried to stab her, her barrier went up immediately, and he was repelled. Damn Sesshoumaru for teaching her so well.

His eyes narrowed as he thought of something. Grinning, he brought his hand down to her cheek slowly, with only curiosity in his mind. He wasn't repelled as he traced his claws across her cheek and down her neck. Lightning quick he tried to dig his claws into her throat, but found himself tossed clear across the room. He snarled, cursing, his ruby eyes now glittered with malice as he approached her, fingers curled as he withstood his need to flay her into pieces.

And the kicker to it all was that she slept through it all peacefully. Only now did her eyes flutter, snapping open as she looked at him with an expression of mute horror. He grinned. He was going to have fun, slowly breaking this girl down.

Immediately she rolled, taking a defensive stance as she gathered her energy, trying to direct her reiki into a blast. Kiss your ass goodbye, Nara-

"Harm me and Kagura will send Kohaku's dead body to Sango personally."

Kagome froze, glaring at him. "Coward!" He merely grinned.

"Tactician." He corrected. She was too easy. But also a puzzle. He already knew of her compassionate nature. She was friends with a hanyou and treated a demon kit as her own son. Not only that but now she was the student of a merciless demon lord. He had anticipated fear, not an instant will to fight. He narrowed his eyes on the girl, her eyes filled with flames. "You hate me." His voice held curiosity, as if he wondered why.

Of all the nerve! "You cursed Miroku and his ancestors, you murdered Sango's entire village, using her 10 year old brother! Now you're hiding behind him too! You hurt Inuyasha and destroyed Kikyo's life! What did you expect, Naraku? Sweets and flowers?" Her sarcasm had both his eyebrows up, but it was the way she said Kikyo's and his own name with almost equal amounts of venom that sent them to his hairline.

"But what have I done to you, miko?" If she didn't know better, she would have thought he was honestly curious.

"You hurt my friends. That's enough for me." With that she launched herself at him, and trying out a new trick, she focused her reiki in her fist. He caught her hand, not heeding his sizzling flesh as their hair billowed and waved from their combined auras.

"You would risk the boy's life?" He grinned. He knew she wasn't as saintly as she seemed. She was just like every other priestess. Ready to sacrifice a few innocents to save a whole. Typical.

"If you die, Kagura dies too. I'm not as stupid as you think." This, again, had his brow raised as he grinned again. She was… a delight. She had proved his assumption wrong, and he was loving her fiery nature. Oh how he would love taming her. He blocked another of her attacks, drawing out a blade. Her movements were more wary now, but as she lashed out again, he used her momentum to spin and trap her to the bed. He lay the blade of the knife against her skin and hissed as it glowed a light pink.

"You are not what I imagined, miko. I will enjoy my time with you, especially after your powers are drained…" She looked at him over her shoulder, the fear she should have felt before finally setting in. Oh man, was she in for it. Not only was she trapped with Naraku, she was challenging him and fighting with him as if she could take him.

Idiot, idiot, idiot!

He laughed as he felt her tremble, and as a sudden wave of heat flashed over him, he leaned down to nuzzle the back of her exposed neck. She froze and he inhaled her scent, the terror and disgust radiated off of her in waves, and he drew back. His garnet gaze was suddenly serious, pensive, his mood ever changing. He wondered why, but he didn't like that scent, not when it blocked out her natural aroma. He wanted to catch the perfume of her when she had slept, peaceful and warm. It was the scent of warm vanilla and sakura blossoms, and his dark world the reeked of blood and dank, cold cells, he wanted that aroma of warmth for himself.

His eyes narrowed, she would take the place of the dying garden. One piece of beauty, of reprieve in his world of death and deceit.

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Sesshoumaru lifted his face, scenting the wind. He sat atop the old miko's hut, close to the young priestess' well. He had been surprised to learn of her origins, and slightly humbled that he had tried to kill someone with sway over time. She was much more than he had expected. Not that he'd ever say so aloud. But for now, his concern was the faint scent of the afore mentioned human. He caught a whiff of her scent, then lost it as another intruded and left again. He recognized it, the same scent he'd been chasing for years. He dropped down, using his speed to reach the well.

Kagome's scent was old, faded now. So he must have imagined the whiff he had caught, but the dark hanyou's scent was fresh, but it was the scent of a puppet. He followed the scent, realizing it was long gone once he reached the forest. He returned to Kaede's, informing them that Naraku had paid a visit, but that he had not gone into the well, merely looked around. Still Inuyasha went to the well in a panic.

What he found was a shock. The well would not allow him passage, and Sesshoumaru had the honor of watching the amusing scene of Inuyasha, face dumbstruck and angry, jumping into the well over and over again. However, around the 15th time he stopped him. "It is closed. There is no use for it now. We will return in one weeks time, for the miko. For now, we track Naraku. His scent grows cold." And with the, he turned on his heel, a nearly inaudible whistle summoning Ah Un with Jaken and Rin astride. The monk, neko, taijya and kitsune followed suit. Inuyasha, giving up with drooping ears and a final glance, followed them as well.

They would return, because they needed her. Without Kagome, everything was futile.