Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to own the characters they all belong to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
A/N: Please review because my motivation bar is going down for this story. If you all want more chapters please review. Thank you. XD
A Gap Across Time
VIII: Understatement
Kagome was surprised that a week had already gone by that Sesshoumaru had resided in her home with her family. It was rather strange that it didn't look like his wounds were healing at all - usually a demon's natural healing capabilities should have aided him into recovering faster. Sesshoumaru's wounds were odd indeed, Kagome could only guess what really happened to the taiyoukai before he ended up on this side of the well. Alas, if only she could get answers from the silent Demon Lord.
"I'm going to go to Hiruko's birthday party," Kagome announced, bowing to her mother and younger sibling, "I promised her that I'd go so it'd be rude to decline now. Please watch over Sesshoumaru for me while I'm gone. I'll come home as soon as possible."
"It's quite all right, honey, stay there as long as you like and enjoy the party," her mother told her.
But it's hard not to think of him when he's like this though . . .
"Well then, I'll be seeing myself out the door!" Kagome bowed one last time before exiting the house and hopping on her bike. "Bye!"
"Bye!" Souta called after her.
"Have a good time!" Mrs. Higurashi said.
Humans, must they be so loud? I can hear them from this puny room, they have no sense of peace and quiet. Sesshoumaru looked down at himself. My body still refuses to heal; this is troublesome.
The persistent pain he was feeling without Kagome's touch to soothe it was annoying him. Yet, nothing could be done about it since the girl was no longer home.
-----
"Look at all the food, Inuyasha, I bet this could feed a whole horde of you if there were that many!" Shippou remarked.
Inuyasha squinted his eyes at him, one eyebrow twitching out of irritation. "Are you trying to say that I eat a lot?" Shippou smugly shrugged. "Listen here, pipsqueak, one more word out of you and I'll have the guards toss you into a cell," Shippou merely laughed, "I mean it."
"Eep!"
"Heh, you better be scared."
"Now, now, Inuyasha, no need to be so rude to a fellow companion," Saiai reprimanded. Inuyasha turned on him, giving the tree youkai his best scowl; Shippou watched with amused interest. "More overly, enjoy this meal, eat however way you like because after today you will need to learn proper manners."
"This is going to be good seeing you struggle to be prim and proper!" Shippou squealed in delight.
Saiai looked to the demon child, he was only making things much more worse for himself by provoking the hanyou further. It wasn't in his place to order him around so he remained silent as Shippou lashed out at Inuyasha. Watching them argue was a new thing for the tree youkai - sure, he'd seen arguments before, but between his Lord's younger brother and his friend their argument was much more lively. Needless to say, Saiai hadn't laughed as heartily as he did now in a good while. Both Shippou and Inuyasha turned to look at him, obviously they were confused.
"What's so funny?" Inuyasha asked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you, my Lord. Watching you and your little friend argue seemed rather pleasing."
"Pleasing?" Inuyasha was confused by what Saiai was trying to explain. "Are you some kind of nutcase or something?" Saiai immediately ceased his howling and looked seriously at his new Lord. "Did my brother subject weird youkai like you to work under him? I knew he was a loony himself!"
Saiai blushed - it looked like he was tainting his real Lord's ego.
Inuyasha can be so stupid sometimes.
Shippou felt it was time he intervened. "He's not a lunatic, you're just too dense to understand anything your puny brain can't handle." The fox child quickly ducked when Inuyasha tried to hit him squarely on the head; Shippou stuck his tongue out at him and scooted off his seat to the floor. "Let me get this straight, Saiai was laughing at us because he doesn't normally see two people argue like the way we do, I suppose. Living in a place like this could only mean that disputes about land, partnerships, and contracts are heralded here. Or at least things like that, aren't I right?" Shippou looked to the tall youkai standing not too far from him.
"Y-yes . . ." Saiai even went so far as to look meekly at Inuyasha.
"Keh, whatever."
By the time the two companions were done eating pretty much everything on the table had been cleared. They even went so far as to fight over some of the food that was served, Saiai was amazed by how much the both of them could eat in one sitting. Letting out a loud belch that reached several perimeters around the palace Inuyasha could care less what the others saw him as. Saiai grimaced at the lack of manners Inuyasha possessed - it could only mean he and the other counselors needed to work harder with this new Lord of theirs. Tsume, just then, decided that she show up and explain a thing or two about proper etiquette.
"Lord Inuyasha, was that you who belched so loudly?" Inuyasha craned his head at her; giving her a look that clearly said, 'so, what if I was?' To prove that he didn't care he shifted his diner chair back, and lifted both of his feet onto the table in a lazy manner. Tsume gasped at such a sight; she was thoroughly disgusted already with Inuyasha's immature behavior. "Please refrain from doing such foul actions, the Lord of this palace would--"
"Look here, I'm the Lord now so I can do whatever I want for tonight, okay? Our training or whatever you call it for proper etiquette can start tomorrow so lay off." Geez, these youkai are a bunch of stiff-wads that need to get out more. That annoying sparrow youkai could sure use more sun, I've even seen some of her own kind more tan than she is now. He could see Tsume's expression go from anger to subtle repulsion. "Now that I've gotten that across leave me be, I have the rest of the night to myself."
Tsume turned on her heels and stalked off. Saiai quickly bowed before following after her.
"Did you have to be so mean, Inuyasha?" Shippou remarked more than asked.
"You don't know anything so shut up."
"No, you shut up. You're the one who doesn't know anything."
They went back and forth like this for a long while until a nearby guard politely told them that they've awoken some of the guards that were sleeping several hallways down. Shippou apologized while Inuyasha ignored the guard and let the little fox youkai cover for the both of them.
"We're really sorry. I'm assuming their shifts will begin soon, we didn't mean to wake them up." Shippou bowed over and over. "We--"
"Stop already, idiot." Shippou glared at Inuyasha. "He's the subordinate so stop talking to him."
The soldier Shippou was speaking to looked at Inuyasha none too friendly - he was punctually disliking Inuyasha all the more as each minute progressed. Lord Sesshoumaru was in some ways not too different than his younger sibling, but some of their other differences were so distinct that it was hard not to notice them right away. Shippou knew then that Inuyasha was heading down the path of hatred lane because it was already so obvious that this one soldier, and perhaps many others did not like their new substituted Lord.
Does he ever stop to think before he opens his mouth? Looking at he odds Shippou merely shrugged to himself. Inuyasha never was the type to think before he spoke. This had some vantage points, and yet it also had it's downfalls.
-----
It wasn't surprising; Tsume was not waiting for her by the door, instead she was lead somewhere by another youkai she had no adherence to whatsoever.
Out on another section of the palace Kikyou was lead by a female youkai servant to a elaborately decorated room melded in with scented flowers and herbs. It was spacious and housed a great many dressers and a large mirror hung to one side, with a large canopied bed veiled with violet sheets. Kikyou walked towards the bed to feel the soft material of the covering slip through her fingers; everything was of fine quality here.
"This room is beautiful," she breathed out.
"Lady Rin had it specifically made this way for female guests such as yourself," the youkai told her. "She has great tastes, doesn't she?"
"This Lady Rin you speak of, is she the mistress of this palace?" The female youkai laughed and shook her head, Kikyou was rather perplexed by her reaction. "Dare you say Lord Sesshoumaru is alone?"
The female youkai nodded. "Yes, he is. And please do let me introduce myself, my name is Surin and I am the caretaker of Lady Rin, you see, she is nothing more but a mere child."
"I see." Lord Sesshoumaru is housing a child here at his palace? Never in a million years did I believe I'd see the day he took someone in, letting that person live with him here. She must be a very special child. "Lady Rin, is she a human child or a youkai?"
"Human."
"Human . . ." Surin looked at Kikyou worriedly: she could only wonder what the young woman was thinking about. ". . . That's very interesting. Has it been a idle passing that Lord Sesshoumaru pick up this human girl you call Rin to live here with him?" The swan youkai didn't say anything but she never let her eyes leave the woman before her. "I'd like to meet her sometime. Would that be all right?"
"Oh, of course, Lady Rin loves company! Especially if it's around other girls like herself, it's a sad fate that while living here she hardly sees another human soul around. Still, it does not bother her that she is surrounded by youkai like us," Surin stopped to smile warmly at the thought before continuing, taking on a notion of her Lord, "her cheery attitude is not what Lord Sesshoumaru normally likes, but if he hasn't tossed her away after all this time, then I know that he cares for her deeply. Whether he'll ever admit it or not."
That human girl has the power to change him? Absurd.
"Surin," Kikyou began, "I may be a woman but I am no longer alive. I dwell with the dead." She half expected her to be shocked and half expected her to show some sign of disinterest, but none came. "Will it bother Lady Rin to converse and spend time with someone such as me?"
"Hardly." Rin will like you all the same: whether you be a youkai, a wandering soul, a human man or woman, small or big, it's all the same to her.
Kikyou actually smiled and sat down on the large bed provided for her. Her mud brown eyes wandered to the pillows situated not too far from her; it looked so inviting to lay down and simply sleep. Surin having seemed to have caught onto this, so she hurriedly excused herself before the dead priestess could even utter a single word. All was silent when she was left alone inside the room. It was strange that she now noticed things she didn't notice before - there were new sounds, smells, and sights to be seen.
This place almost reminds me of sacred ground . . . That child does have good taste indeed. It'd be quite intriguing to meet her.
-----
Kagome looked at the large, black clock hanging on Hiruko's living room wall every couple of minutes. It appeared like she couldn't keep the taiyoukai out of her mind. Why do I keep thinking about him? It's not like he's cast a spell over me or anything . . . His wounds should be all right, right? When I left he seemed to be fine, but then again he always looked like that. Should I go home now? No, I shouldn't yet, besides it's only been an hour. Come on, Kagome, clear up your mind of him. Kagome looked back at her friends as she tried to persuade herself to forget about him, even if it was just for a while.
"Kagome, are you all right? You seem a bit distracted," Hiruko told her.
"Oh, uh, I'm not distracted. I was just thinking how great this party has been so far," she looked to the other girls gathered round the living room, "isn't this party great, guys?" They all nodded. "This party is really great; let's continue on."
Hiruko lightly frowned. She wasn't going to be easily fooled - something was bothering Kagome despite the fact that she tried to hide it. "All right, then." She looked at the candy land game board in front of her. "Who's turn is it now? I lost track."
"It was me." A girl with short black hair picked up the two dice and juggled them within her palm before letting them fall onto the candy land game board with a soft thud. "Awesome, I rolled exactly twelve!" The other girls groaned. "I'm almost too damn lucky!"
"You're going to win, Asa, it's so obvious with the way you roll the dice," another girl said.
Even as Kagome watched she wasn't really focusing on the game no matter how hard she tried. It became quite annoying. What's wrong with me? Standing up, she excused herself to go use the restroom. Closing the bathroom door quietly behind her Kagome stared at herself in the mirror while she leaned back against the door. Her hands were tucked behind her securely. She could recall the other day when she bathed the Demon Lord; all over again nostalgia was plaguing her mind. I've never felt so worried about someone like him before . . . Kagome nearly yelped when she heard someone speak on the other side of the bathroom door - it was Hiruko.
"Are you all right in there?" her friend inquired of her.
"I'm okay."
"No really, Kagome, you can tell me if something's bothering you," her friend continued.
It's her birthday. I don't want to ruin anything for her.
"I am fine, Hiruko. Stop being such a worrywart because you're starting to sound like my mother." Kagome waited for a response, and yet when none came she was starting to wonder if Hiruko was still on the other side of the door. She placed her ear close and tried to listen for sounds on the other end. "Hiruko, are you still there?" No response. "Hiruko?"
Deciding that she didn't want to stay inside the bathroom any longer she opened the door only to have Hiruko nearly pummel her to the floor. Rather dazed she automatically reached out an arm to try and grab a hold of anything that could give her some sense of balance - her arm met nothing but air. Hiruko laughed as she then helped her friend to her feet and dusted off the front of her shirt and skirt for her.
"Hahaha, you should have seen the look on your face, Kagome!" Hiruko teased.
"Well, you did surprise me after all."
"Now I like you the way you are." Kagome gave Hiruko a funny look. "What I'm trying to say is that the frown I'd seen earlier on your face is gone, and you look better this way without it. Really now, if something is troubling you it won't hurt my feelings or be a bother if you tell me what it was." Hiruko saw the hesitant look on the other girl's face. "Is it boy trouble?" Kagome flushed and slapped both of her hands to her cheeks. Hiruko gave her a knowing smile. "A-hah! I knew it. It is boy trouble, so tell me who it is. Is he cute, rude, nice, short, or tall?"
"Err . . . I'm not sure how I should describe him, Hiruko . . ." Sesshoumaru is so many things at once, and yet he's like not so many things at once. Uh . . . Hmmm, what am I saying? I'm only confusing myself! "He's mean I guess and . . ."
"And?" Hiruko urged.
Kagome snapped her head up then and looked at her friend seriously. "Look Hiruko, today is your birthday so let's go enjoy it instead of talking about me. I'm sure the other girls are waiting for us out in the living room. And besides we haven't eaten your birthday cake yet, or did you forget?"
"Forget? Never, I would never forget about my own birthday cake!" Hiruko roared playfully. "You did have a point. Yeah, let's go back to the others."
By the time Kagome left Hiruko's birthday party it was already dark outside, but it was still bright enough that the street lamps were not yet turned on. Feeling the cool air hitting her face she shivered and rubbed her arms against her body as she tried to circulate heat through them. All the while that she was doing this her mind kept drifting to the silver haired taiyoukai residing in her home - in fact he had been on her mind the whole time that she was at her friend's birthday party. It made her wonder why she kept thinking about him so much when she only left her house for a couple of hours for some enjoyment time.
Back at home Mrs. Higurashi was busy preparing dinner for the Demon Lord. She wasn't sure what types of food he liked to eat so she decided to make a dish that she knew Kagome loved as a child. It was miso soup with brussel sprouts sprinkled with a lot of black pepper and green onions. Aside from this lone dish she also made honey glazed beef and a tofu sandwich which was stuffed with greens. To finish all this off she also set a bowl of steaming rice beside the rest of the food.
"Souta, please take this to Sesshoumaru."
Souta gave his mom a stupefied glare. "Grandpa told me to keep my distance and watch what I do around him . . . I don't want to take that up to him. Grandpa told me that he tried to kill him and if it wasn't for Kagome he would have been dead!"
"Don't be silly, Souta, I'm sure he won't hurt you."
"But mom--"
Mrs. Higurashi gave her son a stern glare. "Don't be difficult, Souta. The food is going to get cold if you don't let him eat it soon." She placed both of her hands by her hips and tapped one foot lightly on the ground as she waited for Souta to do as he was asked. "I'm waiting."
"F-fine . . ."
Souta walked up to the platter full of food and utensils warily - he gave his mother a furtive glance before taking the tray and steeping towards the stairway. Even as he placed one foot on the stair step he could feel his mother's eyes watching him from behind. He knew she was making sure that he brought it up to the taiyoukai whether he was going to be skinned alive by him or not. This little conviction wasn't helping Souta at all as he thought about the things the great Demon Lord could do to torture him despite the fact that he was injured.
I better not be dead by the time I get there!
Taking one slow step after another Souta tried his best to forestall the inevitable - he was going to have to face Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai looked his way when he gingerly opened the bedroom door with a trembling hand and poked his head inside. The look on the Demon Lord's face was not that of murderous intent, but that of curious suspicion. Stepping inside the room fully Souta tried his best to smile and resist the urge to run away right there and then.
"What human food have you brought me?" Sesshoumaru asked, quickly peering at the contents within their separate bowls.
Souta waited a moment before he responded. "My mom made it . . . I don't know what it is, but whatever she makes tastes really good. I'm sure you won't mind the flavor."
"Hmmm . . ."
Why is he staring at the food like that? What I wouldn't give right now to trade places with Kagome! How can she not be scared of this guy, he's so stony and creepy at the same time! I hope he doesn't kill me!
"Well, ah, I'll be going."
"Hold it." Souta froze at the sound of the taiyoukai's voice, although his back remained facing the Demon Lord he was listening intently to what he had to say. "Turn around, address me with your front side, not your backside."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Souta quickly turned around and stiffly bowed; he was getting more fidgety by the second.
He's trembling.
"Where is that ignorant sister of yours?"
It wasn't that he didn't know where she went because he heard her and her family talking loudly before she left - it was just the matter of asking to relieve the tension the child was feeling around him. In some ways he was like Rin, only a boy counterpart of her.
"Kagome?" Sesshoumaru made no notion to reply. "She's not home . . . yet. Did you need her for something?" Still, the Demon Lord did not reply. Souta felt his confidence returning as he continued to watch the silent taiyoukai; the thought of getting killed was dissipating. "She went to a friend's party, but don't worry she should be back anytime now because I'm sure she's worried about you."
Sesshoumaru's brows furrowed together at such a thought.
Ridiculous.
To be continued!