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You want to kill me yet you continue to protect me. You hate me yet you continue to comfort me. Why must you so be so confusing when all I want to do is understand you?
Chapter 3: My new Oka-san
I knew not how long I stood there just watching the interest of my existence, the bane of my life before something unusual happened.
As I watched her body tensed and her face formed a somehow concentrating looks, my body prepared to flee if ever the miko sensed my being.
My being that was concealed so great by my raw powers.
I usually am a great confident being but with the miko and her growing reiki, I am not certain if it was wise to grow overly comfortable with the thought of her not ever finding me out.
I could not be found by her just like a criminal thief should not be found.
I could not be found by her because that would surely depleted my male ego just like how a criminal thief's confidence in stealing would diminished.
I could not be found by her because if I ever was, what am I to say to her for being in a such situation just like what a criminal thief should say for stealing something special that was not his.
And I could not be found by her because if I ever was, will the jury, her, pardon my transgression against her and win back her forgiveness just like how a criminal thief's guilt and offense needed to be absolve to win back trust?
What foolish thoughts ran in my mind because can trust be given back when it wasn't even there in first place?
I mused, I guess not.
My trail of thoughts diminished when the miko started screaming at the direction of the other demon who was also watching her.
Ah, it would appear so that not only my person was interested in her being and it would appear so that many were also keeping a watch on her.
Just like how I was watching her.
Just like how I was fascinated in her yet I wanted to kill her more than anything else.
When I realized that those pathetic low lives demons and I have something in common, I felt disgusted towards my glory self.
How could she degraded my taiyoukai self in such a station like those imbeciles?
As I fumed because of her actions that she knew not, she continued to encourage it to come forth into the light with her silly woman demanding.
Did she intend to fight the high demon all by herself?
How foolish of her. She should have been running away ever since she started sensing the presence.
But she did not, she continued to stand her ground like a battlefield tower ready for anything to be thrown at her and as I saw this, I couldn't helped but be awed of her braveness.
Yes. Braveness and foolishness.
What an odd and unusual combination.
What a hideous appearance that bear demon was with its hungry looking eyes. With its hungry looking eyes just for her.
My blood boiled.
The miko was my fascination and no one else's. But I continued to watch the scene hoping that the demon bear would finish what I always intended.
I was wishing the demon bear would put my worthless amusement towards the miko into its end.
I was hoping it would kill her to save me some time from doing it in the future.
Ah, but the miko was a fierce warrior. She fought and used all the advantages she had over the high demon.
She was clever, yes, but did I not say foolish? Foolish because she was soft and kind. Why would she want to end the misery of the demon who wished to end her life just like so many other else?
If my being was ever in her place, I would cherish every groan of pain and scream the demon was producing for attempting to end my life. I would stand there and taunt it to add some more suffering as I watch it to die because as far as I am concerned, he deserve a long lasting pain.
And I would be more than glad to inflict it upon him.
But at last, the miko was not me and I was not her. So she lowered herself to end the demon and gave him some peace. But did she not know that demons were vengeful, deceitful and unpleasant being who would do anything to win their fights?
No, she seemed so unfamiliar with the concepts.
But should have I expected the opposite? Who was I fooling because once again, this was the Shikon Miko I was watching, such purity and innocence radiating from her.
I knew she would not be able to defend herself with such proximity so close to the demon. After all, her only weapon was her bow that usually works best with long range.
But I did not interfere nor make a sound nor stop the high demon.
And so I watched, I watched intently as the high demon struck the miko with its claws spilling some of her precious blood on her clothing and upon those soil making it ever more holy.
Did I feel triumph? No.
Was I satisfied for getting what I partially wanted? No.
Instead, I felt rage and an unfamiliar burning desire to tear apart the demon for placing a hand upon the miko.
And so, before the second attempt of clawing the miko succeed, I already had the high demon at the end of my own killing claws.
I had him at my mercy and I could feel my beast wanting to emerge. As for the miko, I heard her gasp for my unwelcome presence and heard her sagged on the tree behind her.
I did not know when she finally lost her conscious but I after I gave the demon what he deserved and throw his pieces in the forest, the miko was already unconscious or better yet dead.
With a mere second, I was already in front of her, cradling her wrist to feel her pulse and to know if she was still alive or not. If I succeeded or failed once again.
When I heard a weak but steady beat, I groaned with annoyance towards the miko's persistence to live yet my beast felt relieved and satisfied though I did not give his reaction any thoughts.
But just after all what happened and when the miko was starting to regain her conscious was the only moment I grew ever more annoyed of my actions.
This should not have happened. Not only did I expose myself like a fool but I also prevented her from her near death.
What an action only fit to be delivered by someone so idiotic.
I should have been hiding and heavily concealing myself while watching the end of her. I should have been listening to her screams and gasps as she perishes.
I should have got rid of her a long time ago.
Ah, but it was not yet the end because as I examined her wound, I noticed that she already had lose a good amount of blood.
I stopped myself from smirking. No, it was not yet the end. She could still die if she did not have any immediate treatment. And so I suggested her to stop her bleeding since she was a miko of calibre even though I knew she could not even move because of what the cheating and deceitful bastard did to her.
Then satisfied with my recent actions, I turned around to leave her to death.
But she called for me without even any respect added to my name and used my wards affections for her against me. I gritted my fangs as I made my way back towards her, towards the woman who continued to pest my stable and peaceful existence.
Yes, the miko should have been dead long ago. What a nuisance she was.
I watched her pathetic attempts to attend to herself and when I grew annoyed of the unnecessary time she was wasting, I decided to help the hopeless creature.
As I was attending to her like a mere servant, I asked her why she couldn't just die to save both of us some time.
She then ordered my high status self to shut up.
I glared at her, what an ungrateful woman.
I watched her face contorted into pain and exhaustion as I tend to her but her beauty never failed her once. If ever, her pure expression and emotions intensified it giving a look of a ragged damsel in distress.
What a pity she was a human and a miko to make it even worst.
"We do not care if she is miko. Miko is powerful, is she not?" My beast taunted me as I examined her closed eyes expression.
"This did not call you forth nor needs your attention in the moment." I forced my beast with a growl to go back to its cage and it whimpered like a petulant beast it was.
When the miko could clearly not walk towards her camp, I decided to carry her to make the turn of events faster and end the charades of the night as much as possible. And as expected, the woman demanded some explanations and forced me to have a conversation with her.
Along the way of our mostly one sided conversation since she was mostly the one talking, I decided to ask the question that had always been embedded in my mind.
I asked her if we have met somewhere before the event in the tomb of our father.
She said no, truthfully, if I might add and then I grew confused because those azure cerulean eyes had haunted me and my dreams even since I was young. And just like it was yesterday, I remembered quite well that it was her eyes and only hers.
How, why, when and where. Questions and mysteries ever since I met her continued to build up as I continued to feel this familiar feeling around her like she was pulled out of my yesterday's memories.
No, it could not be possible, she was only seventeen summers. She should have been dead if ever I had met her long time ago.
When we emerged in her camp, I lowered her to her makeshift bed then started to leave.
She called me rude then called my name again without even any honorifics. I faced her to know what she wanted now but was surprised when she just thanked me.
Hn. Odd woman.
Then I left her behind but her bid of goodnight echoed in my ears like a real memory of my yesterdays.
I sat in the camp of our pack as I reminiscence the events that had transpired. Jaken immediately greeted me when he saw me emerging from the forest like a faithful servant he was.
He kissed my boots.
I grew disgusted.
He worked to kissed the back of my hands.
I kicked him so hard that he flew out of my vicinity.
Rin was still sleeping near Ah-Uhn and my gaze softened as it lingered upon her but it did not stop my mind from coming back to the injured miko.
Hn. She would be sore tomorrow and her ragged clothing would be the main attention of the imbecile of my half-brother.
I pity her somehow. Who can stand that hanyou after all?
I continued to sat there while I forced myself to rest but Jaken's fussing and the miko's situation prevented me from doing so.
What a complete waste of time.
I gave an annoyed sighed before standing up. What a pest she was even though she wasn't around.
"Sesshou.. Sesshoumaru-sama! Where are you going again, My Lord!" Jaken ran and clung at the hem of my kimono.
I merely looked down glared at him. "Jaken, unclench."
"Yes! Yes! Of course, My Lord!" Jaken unclenched but did not move even an inch away from my being so I continued my stride away from him.
"But My Lord! Where is Sesshoumaru-sama going?"
"Jaken, ceased your talking and look after Rin."
"But she is an annoying child, My Lord! Why can't I can just come with you?"
Oh, I was about to kill the imbecile. I started pulling tokijin out of its sheath and when Jaken saw it, he took the hint and bid me a safe trip.
"Hn."
I found the nearest town and acquired the necessities I came for. After that, I did not go back to my camp but to the miko's.
I laid the present beside her and told myself that it was nothing of importance or meaning. Then, I hid myself near the bushes and waited for her to wake up and open it.
Seems like the miko was an early riser and after a couple of minutes of waiting, she was already opening my presents.
Curiosity, wonder, amazement, awed and gratefulness flashed on her expression and when she let out a laugh and smile did a feeling of contentment settled on me before I flee back.
I continued telling myself that I was just doing it to make Rin not suspicious of the condition of her favorite miko and probably person just after me.
She would, after all meet the miko very soon since she was insisting on it everyday since she last saw the woman.
How bothersome it was to have a ward so overly attached to the woman you wanted to kill for so long.
That morning, when my ward woke up to begin the day, as usual, she asked first if we can visit the miko she was so fond of before doing anything.
"You foolish girl! Sesshoumaru-sama has so much better to do than to visit your little miko!" Jaken screamed as usual as a response.
Rin just pouted. "But Jaken-sama, Rin haven't seen Kagome-neechan for a while now."
"And that is good for you stupid girl! Sesshoumaru-sama is a busy taiyoukai that has a lot of duty to do!" Jaken said with a huff.
"We are visiting the miko today, Rin." I said in my spot under the tree without opening an eye.
"But Se.. Sesshoumaru-sama..!" Jaken stuttered but immediately shut up when I looked at him.
"Prepare to leave, Jaken."
As my pack was nearing Inuyasha's I couldn't help but pick with my sensitive ears the shouting coming from the group.
Shouting, after all, was the favorite past time of the pack, it seemed.
" There was no danger last night, Kagome!" Inuyasha's shout could be heard from their location.
"Oh, yeah?! Then how the hell did I get this wound baka!" The miko retorted back.
Inuyasha hesitated.
"You.. You.. Well, what the hell are you doing out of your bed, Kagome!? You could've been killed!"
"And whose fault was that, Inuyasha?!"
"Heh, I told you now to wander at night, Kagome."
"Idiot! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!" The miko's screamed could be heard miles from them.
When my pack emerged from the forest, Inuyasha was still embedded in the floor of the forest he created.
Jaken halted Ah-Uhn as I stopped in front of me.
I just raised an eyebrow at the creater my half-breed half brother had created. The miko could be violent often times.
"Kagome onee-chan!" My ward, Rin, ran immediately towards the miko who was now wearing the kimono I gave her and had a proper bandage around her wound.
"Rin, I missed you." The miko gave a fond smile on my ward as she hugged back Rin with the kitsune boy on her shoulder.
My ward, Rin, was growing so fast like a normal human should unlike the miko. My ward was already almost under the chest of the miko but the miko did not have any problem treating my ward as a child.
"I miss you too, onee-chan."
"Hello to you too Jaken, Ah-Uhn." The miko greeted my servant and dragon.
"Hmmmp, stupid miko." Jaken shrugged while looking away while Ah-Uhn gave a nuzzled.
"Rin, do you want to see what oka-san gave me?" The kitsune was already proudly showing my ward the coloring materials the miko had given him.
"Sesshoumaru-sama." Both the monk and tajiya greeted me with respect and a bow unlike the miko who just smiled at me and waved at me while saying: "Sesshoumaru."
Unlike the miko and her other companions, Inuyasha did not welcome our arrival.
"Oi! What the hell you bastard are you doing here?!" The hanyou of my brother was already unsheathing his sword for a fight but the miko would have none of that.
"Inuyasha?" She said sweetly evil. "We don't want any fight so early in the morning, right?"
The woman could be evil sometimes.
"Che, then this bastard should have went the other direction, wench." Inuyasha said like an idiot.
"Sit! Sit! Sit! He is your brother and you will learn to tolerate him! Sit! Understand!? Sit!" I watched the miko rant towards the half-breed and was amused as Inuyasha go deeper in the ground floor.
When she was satisfied punishing and scolding the half-breed was only she left him alone to play with the children.
"You never learn do you, half-breed?" I asked the hanyou as I sat in front of the tree.
The hanyou just gave me a disdainful look. "Wha' the hell a' you doing here, asshole?"
I just raised an eyebrow at him. "My ward wants to see the miko. I am just granting her wish."
"Che, yo' better not have any funny business here, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha said hatefully before settling himself on a tree to probably sleep again.
Kami only knows what he and the dead miko did last night.
As for me, I closed my eyes and dangled my left arm on my knee folded up as I sat in front of the fire tree to rest too but I did not let my senses faltered.
I keep my ears open all the time.
"Do you think I should go back to my village soon to repair this?" The taijiya said.
"Mhmh… I think it would be best if you do." The monk answered.
But instead of a reply from the tajiya, a smack was heard.
I opened one of my eyes to see what happened. The monk had a handprint on his face while the tajiya looked ready to kill the monk.
Hn.
"Mama, do you think you can get me some more crayons from your place?" I heard the kitsune asked the miko with hope.
The three of them, the miko, my ward and the kitsune were all sitting near the bushes of flowers at the corner of the clearing where we were. I was merely five feet away from them still sitting under a fire tree.
Jaken was tending to Ah-Uhn's necessities farthest away from us while cursing the dragons.
"Of course, sweetheart. How could I say no to my only and adorable son?" The miko said as she hugged the kitsune to her chest making the kitsune blushed a little then giggled afterwards.
"Thank you, mama." The kitsune said with pure adoration in his voice.
"Such a natural Kagome is with children." I heard the tajiya muttered fondly towards the monk beside her as she petted the fire cat.
"Yes, my dear. Maybe you can learn one or two from Kagome-sama for our future children?" The monk said without a shame as his hand roamed again on the tajiya's body.
Slap!
It was not surprising even for my ears to hear the slap.
"Um.. ano, Kagome-neechan?" My ward said unsurely and I watched the interaction unfolded carefully because of her tone.
"Yes, Rin-chan?" The miko asked sweetly with the kitsune still tucked in her chest who was just across my ward sitting alone with flowers around her.
"Um.. can Rin also have some more crayons from your place?"
"Of course, Rin."
The miko merely smiled at her fondly but my ward only frowned.
I grew confused.
My ward continued to act strangely. She gripped her kimono fiercely as she looked away from the miko and the kitsune. Her eyes, on the other hand, had tears threatening to leave it.
What now?
The miko, of course, also noticed it because she motioned immediately towards my ward and hugged her.
My ward's arms immediately surrounded the torso of the miko.
"What is it Rin-chan? What's wrong?"
"Kagome-nee…. nee-chan.. you only smiled at Rin."
"Huh?" The miko said and for once she and I were on the same page.
Isn't smiling a nice gesture?
The kitsune and even the other companions except Inuyasha who was still snoring rather loudly on a tree were all also looking the miko and my ward confused yet worriedly.
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Rin-chan." The miko said as she rubbed my wards back in a circular motion and placed her head on top my ward's.
"Kagome-oneechan!... Rin.. Rin wants you as her mother too!" My ward declared in her third person language as she hugged the miko more fiercely.
Everyone gasped except me but I knew my eyes were as wide as the miko as our gaze met and my body tense.
"You stupid little girl! You can't possibly want that miko to be your surrogate mother?!" Jaken screamed all the way from his location but Ah-Uhn pushed him to the ground to be quiet.
My ward's sob was rather loud but it did not wake the hanyou. How fortunate.
"Ummm.. Rin. Well, you have your outu-san already, don't you? Sesshoumaru is like your father." The miko said unsurely as she continued to comfort my ward.
When she met my glare of a promising death, she gulped.
"I … I guess so. But Rin wants Kagome onee-chan as Rin's mother too.." Rin begged the miko.
At last, the miko's eyes met mine, it was pleading for me to say yes. As a response, I showed her my cold killing eyes that clearly said "I'll-give-you-the-most-painful-death-if-you-say-yes." because I definitely did not want to play the mother and father game especially when I was supposed to play the mate of that little miko.
Although, my beast purred or even howled inside of me because of the prospect.
And who said the miko was the best at reading people's eyes especially my neutral ones because she interpreted my cold glare as a response of yes from mine.
Rin gave a loud cry of triumph as she hugged her new oka-san and kitsune brother who was clearly happy to have a new sibling.
I scoffed at the ridiculousness.
The tajiya and the monk sweatdropped as they move subtly away from me.
That was probably wise because I was emitting my killing aura towards the miko who just smiled apologetically at me.
Damn that woman.
I decided to leave my ward and the miko's pack when I felt a demon coming to our direction. I knew Inuyasha and the miko felt it too because they tensed and gave me a knowing look when I left the clearing without saying anything.
The half-breed gave me his disdainful look as he continued to hang on his tree. He was probably even praying to our father for me to get killed.
The miko on the other hand, gave me a smile before playing again with the children she now called as children did not see me leave as they continued playing tricks on Jaken.
I knew the presence coming so fast to our location. I knew it so well because it was my most trustworthy, loyal and highest general, Kenji-san. Unlike my other general, Kenji-san was so fierce with his duty to me and to the Western Lands. He would most likely gave up anything to protect it and me if a situation arises but not like my being needs protection.
Even though the fierce general was still young, I knew his braveness, skills and patience could not be easily defeated by anyone else.
I admired the traits of my highest general but it would not be known since it was most unlike me even to give a simple praise.
I saw him standing near a stream like he could care less about the world. He was an eagle demon wearing the Western Land's uniform which showed that he was the highest general of mine.
He does not have a wings in his human form nor any feathers surrounding his body but he does have those green eyes with those ludicrous long peacock-like lashes like he was a real bird. His eye areas also have blue feathers like a real bird and his claws were shaped and sharpened like an eagle and I knew those eyes were as good as those birds at night and those claws were ready to kill as mine.
Over all, my general was pleasing to anyone's eyes with his muscular yet petite body that contributed to his speed but I've seen a creature far more pleasing with blue eyes also and ludicrous long dark lashes.
I stopped where my train of thoughts were going.
"Sesshoumaru-sama." Kenji-san bowed to me with respect just like how everyone under him should.
"Why are you hunting me down, Kenji?" I asked with authority as I looked at him with my neutral eyes.
"My Lord, I was looking for you to give you this." Kenji said as he produced a rolled parchment with the Southern Land seal.
"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded as I grabbed the parchment from him.
"We know not, My Lord. But the Southern Land is becoming even more greedy. They would most likely make an alliance with our kingdom or go against it."
"Is that all?"
"No."
"Then state your business."
"My Lord, forgive me for asking this but when will you come back to the palace? Everyone was anxious especially with the Southern Lands trying to dominate any weak lands."
"I will come back as I see it fit. The Western Land is the strongest land. It would be foolish for them to attack us. If that's it, dismissed"
"Yes, My Lord. Please do be careful" Kenji bowed respectfully then left without any question.
Going back to the clearing took longer than it should because as I went back, I encountered couples of low live demons lurking near the perimeter of the clearing who were probably looking for the little miko.
I decided to kill them all to vent out my frustration from the content of the letter before going back.
When I arrived around the late afternoon of the day, the hanyou was gone, the tajiya and the monk just excused themselves to look for woods and the children were still playing at Jaken at the corner with their silly flower crowns.
As for the miko, she was reading as she sat in front of a tree with a concentrating look. I sat in front of my tree which was a mistake because it was merely a tree away from the miko so noticing my being was a must for her.
"How did it go, Sesshoumaru?" She asked with a smile like she was just asking about the weather and not about the demon lurking near the clearing we occupied.
"It went well, miko." I told her as I looked at the strange reading material she had on her lap which had characters that I knew not.
"Oh!" She said as she saw my gaze on one of her foreign possession "It's in the language English so you wouldn't probably know how to read it, I just made the Japanese translation for my class if you want to read it?"
She said while tilting her head on the other side. I would have feel insulted that she knew something I did not if she really knew how to read.
"You don't believe me, don't you?" She narrowed her eyes on me.
Oh, who would have guess? The miko, after all, knew how to read expressions even his.
"Women aren't given education especially a ninjen like you."
"Never?"
"Higher born women can have a private tutor if they want to but seeing as you are not one of them, I do not see any logical reason how you would know such thing as reading especially in another language you call English."
She huffed in response and as I saw her eyes landed on the rolled parchment given to me by Kenji tucked in my obi, I knew she was thinking something.
"What is that?" She pointed at it as she leaned closer to my being making the spaces between us even lesser.
"A parchment you should not concern yourself." I said in a warning for her to leave me alone.
Apparently the miko never knew how to read my leave-me-alone statements.
"May I read it?" She asked as she let out her hand.
I shrugged because I knew she would not stop and it was not like she can read it anyway. I handed to her the parchment and when her face formed a confused look, I almost sent her a smug look. Almost.
"A proposal of marriage with the princess of the Southern Land? Really, Sesshoumaru?" The miko said with a laugh and before she could continue reading it, I grabbed the parchment so fast away from her hands.
I glared hatefully at her. Mirth never left her eyes nor the chuckling from her throat.
"What? You said I can read it." She asked innocently and if possible my glare became even more hateful.
"How is that you can read, miko? I am fairly certain you are not a highborn." I gritted the word with my fangs.
When will the mysteries surround the miko ever stop?
"In my place, everyone is treated equally and are given education, Sesshoumaru."
"Can you right as well, miko?"
"I can read, write, calculate numbers, read maps, analyze geography, study history, apply science and many more, Sesshoumaru." The miko said annoyed as she rolled her eyes.
"You are educated then."
"Yes, Sesshoumaru. Probably more than you are." The miko challenged with a friendly smirk plastered on her face. A smirk nonetheless.
Was it possible to even hate her more?
"I do not enjoy your games, miko."
The miko probably sense my darkening aura because she wisely changed the trek of conversation.
"Anyway, would you like some of my tea to you know? Relax… a bit?"
"Your poison could not kill me, miko."
A vein popped in the miko's forehead.
"It's not a poison, Sesshoumaru. It's a tea." She said as she demonstrated herself drinking it.
I wasn't fully assured.
She looked even more annoyed. "Look, if you don't like it then don't finish it. Just try, okay?"
I thought of it for a second. "That seems …. acceptable."
The miko beamed then poured a strange liquid on a cup before handing it to me. The scent of it immediately attacked my senses and I could feel my muscles starting to loosen up.
"Jasmine."
"Yup! It's Jasmine tea!" The miko beamed at me then watched me as I silently drank all of it.
She looked expectantly at me.
I looked at her blankly.
"Miko, you would serve this to me whenever this Sesshoumaru is around."
The miko sweatdropped. So much for saving her supplies.
When I thrusted my cup towards her for another cup of tea, my wrist became exposed because of my arm extension and I noticed immediately that the miko was looking intently towards the handprint mark encircling my wrist in an angry red color.
Her handprint.
She looked confused then she frowned then finally annoyed once again. She immediately caught the place in my arm just a little bit higher than my wrist where her handprint mark was proudly sitting on.
She inflicted it upon my person during the time I pinned her on a tree to demand her mortality. She gasped, said all she knew then asked me to release her. Obviously, I did not release her since I did not hear what I wanted to hear.
She then used a small portion of her holy power in her hand that was gripping my wrist. When I felt the burning sensation in my wrist, I immediately let go of her, making her drop on the ground floor to gasp for some air.
I remembered looking at her pathetic form with disdain before I left. The marks on my wrist, on the other hand, remained to be the continuous reminder of that day since it won't heal like I thought it would.
Any salve and herbal medicine wouldn't work on it and so I endured it. I endured the sweet burning torture the miko had given since that day.
"Why the hell this is not yet healed, Sesshoumaru?" She asked me annoyed and partially angry while she continued to grip my extended left arm.
"Maybe your holy reiki finally felt pity for your pathetic self that it let you know its full capacity." I said boredly then just shrugged.
I saw a vein popped in the miko's forehead as she tried to calm herself with everything.
We both knew that I was just lying. We both knew she already knew her true powers and how magnificent it was. She was, after all, the Shikon Miko. We also both knew that she knew how to use it especially in combat and battle.
Though I would never admit to her that she was the most powerful miko I knew nor that she could rival my own power.
There was also no way in the seven depths of hell that I would admit to the miko any of my weaknesses and not like my person has a lot to begin it. But I refused to give her any information about her small portion of power causing me a lot of discomfort.
"Does it still hurt?" She asked as she continued to cradle my arm after she removed my cup from my hand.
"No."
She then gripped the angry marks on my wrist rather hardly.
I then hissed loudly at her immediately. Damn her!
"Liar!" She said accusingly to me with pointed looks.
I glared at her hatefully. Oh, how I wish I could just kill her right then.
"Do that again miko and you'll find yourself in the afterlife before you can even scream an insult towards this Sesshoumaru."
"Be quiet! Why didn't you tell me!" She looked at me with… concern and full of care.
I looked away.
When I felt her rising holy powers, I looked at her alarmingly.
"What are you doing, miko?" I hissed at her and forced my voice lower so the children won't hear us.
"Did I not tell you to be quiet?"
"Miko, do not expect this Sesshoumaru to be quiet as you add some more marks on this person."
"I am not adding more, you jerk! Though you really deserve it for hurting my back like that."
"This one demand some explanation."
"I am healing you, stupid! Now, be quiet!"
Before I could retort back, the miko's hand gripping me was already glowing as she closed her eyes to concentrate.
I looked at her like she finally lost it. Though I didn't know who was more mad. She, for using her holy power to heal a demon such as myself or me as I let her heal me.
When I felt her power touched my bare skin, I needed to force my demon power down from fighting hers. Though I presume it was not needed since her reiki definitely screamed she was not doing any harm.
Her power felt warm and comforting this time unlike the last time when my flesh felt like it was burning, literally.
When she opened her eyes and finally let go of my hard, the marks were gone. I examined it. There was no sign that it was even there in the first place and the burning sensation vanished.
I looked at her and she was already looking at me innocently.
"More tea?" She asked me sweetly as she lifted her pot.
"Yes. A lot."
Rather close to us, the children were muttering towards each other.
"Rin thinks our parents are having their sweet alone time, ne Shippo?" Rin giggled at Shippo
That night, the miko served us a food, I would assume, that she called "ramen". Her companions were rather familiar with the food she served but myself and my pack were not.
Rin immediately gave a cry of praise towards her new mother for cooking something so delicious.
Jaken muttered his incoherent thanks towards the miko for feeding him too as the miko told him that it was nothing while still smiling.
As for my person, the miko forced me to eat her so called ramen. I would admit that it was one of the finest thing my tongue had ever tasted but I did not give her any praise like what my ward did after I finished my bowl.
But when I handed my bowl towards the miko and muttered my silent "Thank you, miko.", the miko seemed to know that I liked it a lot since she beamed at me like it was her born day.
My half-breed of a brother was still nowhere to be seen and as I looked at the expression of the miko to see if it was bothering her, I saw a lot of things.
Her face remained its somehow plastered smile as her eyes hid her sadness.
It annoyed me to see her in a facade.
Night time fell and it was time to sleep yet the two brats had other things in their minds. The monk and the tajiya were both already curled up near the fire cat as they get themselves ready to sleep.
Jaken was lying near Ah-Uhn who was also on the floor.
The two brats were both curled up on the makeshift bed of their so called mother who was on their left as they snuggled more deeply under the blanket provided to them by their surrogate mother, the miko.
I sat in front of the fire tree I usually sat in front of with one legs folded up and right arm dangling on it.
The burning fire was in the middle of us, in the middle of the small clearing.
"Mama, can you tell us a bedtime story, please?" The kitsune asked the miko and my ward joined in immediately.
The miko looked at the tajiya but the tajiya only giggled as she sent the miko an encouraging nod.
"Okay… how about this book I am reading?" The miko said as she produced the book she was reading that afternoon.
"It's called beauty and the beast."
"Yes, please!" My ward immediately agreed making the monk, tajiya and the miko laughed.
"Okay then… So once upon a time, there was this dashing, strong and handsome prince." The miko began the story.
Everyone was listening intently even the monk, tajiya, the fire cat, and Ah-Uhn who never heard the story before.
Jaken was trying to look like he was not interested but it was so clear he also wanted to hear the story of the miko.
I continued to observe.
"Oh! Does he live in a castle?!" My ward exclaimed excitedly."
The miko chuckled. "Yes, Rin. He lived in a very big and elegant castle surrounded by all his subjects and servants."
"Oh! He is perfect just like Sesshoumaru-sama! He is also a prince!" Rin exclaimed again.
"Be quiet, little girl! Sesshoumaru-sama is not anything like the prince that silly miko is telling." Jaken complained across the small clearing but the children just stuck their tongues out at him.
"Yes, he is perfect but… he does not know compassion." The miko said softly and our eyes immediately met.
"One day, an old and poor woman came knocking on his palace doors. The servants let her in. She said she was cold, hungry and lost and has nowhere to go because of the snow blizzard outside. The servants wanted to keep her in the palace so badly since it has a lot of rooms anyway and the old woman just look so cold but … they could not."
"Why not?" Shippo asked immediately.
"Because, my son, they do not own the palace, the prince does." The miko said as she caressed the boy's head.
"So, did the prince let her stay?" The tajiya asked curiously.
The miko smiled sadly.
"When they brought the old woman to the dining room where the prince was currently eating his supper, the old woman immediately saw all the raging delicious food that the prince could surely not eat all by himself. He was just sitting there eating his food as the woman started begging him to let her stay even for one night. But the prince was cruel and his heart could not be moved and so he said no."
"How cruel he really was, Kagome-sama." The monk said noddingly.
"What happened then to the poor woman, mama" Rin asked with her large eyes.
"She continued to beg the prince but when the prince was ready to throw her out of the palace, the old woman transformed into a very beautiful fairy."
The children gasped and urged their mother to tell the story faster.
"The fairy was very angry towards the prince because he was very selfish and self-absorbed that he did not even care about the other people surrounding him and so she cursed him."
"What happened to him, mama!"
"Did he die?!"
"The prince could not yet die, silly boy. The story is just starting!"
"Well, she cursed him and all his servants even after he begged for forgiveness. She turned his servants to furnitures, plates, bowl, pot, cup and in every utensils and home materials. As for the prince, she turned him into a very large, fury, hideous, scary looking beast with fangs and claws."
The children were now hiding under the blanket.
How ridiculous.
"How can the spell be broken, Kagome?" The tajiya asked the miko.
"Oh, please tell me it can still be broken, mama"
"Oh, it can be broken. Before the fairy left the prince, the fairy gave the prince now called as the beast a magical rose. Every time a petal falls from the magical rose, the closer he is to becoming a permanent beast. So,if all the petal fell and the rose die then he'll be a beast forever. Unless…."
"Unless what, mama?"
"Unless he found true love."
The children squealed and the monk and tajiya both smiled fondly at them.
"But as years past, the palace became even more haunted looking. No one even dared to go to its direction because of the scary stories it holds until a very old man entered it because he was also lost and cold because of the snow. He immediately saw the wonders of the castle and unfortunately, even the beast."
"The beast threw him into his dungeons. He thought he was going to die there since he was so sick already but the next day, his daughter appeared and told him that she'll take his place. The beast then appeared and demanded who she was. She was so horrified but she was very brave. He told her that her name is Belle but everyone in their village called her Beauty…."
The miko then looked around. The children were already sleeping even the fire cat, Ah-Uhn and Jaken."
"They had a fun day playing all day, Kagome." The tajiya said towards the miko she considered her apparent sister as she yawned too.
"I guess you just need to continue the story next time for the children, ne Kagome-sama?" The monk smiled as he also ready himself to sleep.
"Yeah. They would bug me to continued it." The miko said as she caressed both of the children.
"Yes, they will. Be ready for it." The monk advised.
The miko merely chuckled as they all bid their goodnight.
As the night continues, the hanyou was still nowhere to be seen and only two person were still awake.
"Go to sleep, miko. The hanyou would be back whenever he pleases to." I said towards the miko who was only two feet away from my person since the clearing was very small for all of us to be scattered.
The miko just huffed in response but did not deny that she was still awake.
"Do not also go wandering in the forest, miko. The children would still want to know the end of your ridiculous story." I said because I knew she would leave sooner or later to check on the hanyou.
"I can't sleep, Sesshoumaru." She whined a little at me.
I raised my hand with claws. "Do you need any help? I am feeling generous."
The miko glared at me. "You are a very thoughtful man, Sesshoumaru, but no thank you."
"Hn. Then go to sleep woman and stop pestering this Sesshoumaru."
"But I can't sleep! How about… how about you tell me a story?"
I looked at her passively. "You are not a child, miko."
"Not like that, Sesshoumaru! Something interesting." She said as she placed her head on her hand that was supported by her elbow as she looked at me.
"I do not know anything." I said with my eyes still closed as I try to ignore her.
"Umm.. how about the star? The constellations? Do you know their myths?" The miko asked curiously.
She could not be ignored.
I sighed as I give up ignoring the talkative woman. "I know all of them."
The miko gave a surprised gasp of amazement. "Will you tell me one them, then?"
The miko looked at me like I am the only wonder in the world with her azure eyes that I knew I've seen before, before I even met her."
"Hn. Pick one of them."
She looked up at the sky and pointed at the warrior like constellation.
"That is Orion, the hunter." I sighed as I began the story.
The miko continued to listen and look at me intently.
"He was a mighty hunter and he fell in love with Merope, the princess of Chios and daughter of Oenopion."
"That sounds nice." The miko mused.
"The king father won't let him have his daughter even after he get rid their island of wild beasts."
"That sucks. So what happened?"
"He forced himself on Merope."
The miko gasped.
"When the father finds out, he caused the hunter Orion to be drunk and lose his sight. The king then cast Orion out on the seashore without any sight nor guide to help him."
"That is cruel, Sesshoumaru!"
"Would you have him around the island after he forced himself on Merope?" I challenged.
She grew silent.
"After finding out that he did not have his sight, he followed the sound of the hammering of the cyclopes where he was given a guide out of pity."
"That s sounds.. n nice." The miko said and I fully looked at her after her cracked voice.
The miko was shivering despite with the burning fire in the middle. Among all of her and her companions, she was the only one who did not have any blanket on herself nor a proper sleeping makeshift.
My ward and the kitsune were sleeping with her and it would appear so that her blanket and her bed were only for two people. The children were probably small but they occupied the same space and so that left the miko with no room.
Why did she not say anything?
"Miko, come here." I said while looking at her hopeless self.
"Huh? Why?" She looked at me suspiciously.
"Do as I say." I said towards her still distrustful face.
"No." She was stubborn.
"Miko." I warned and a little threat in my voice.
She gulped then walked slowly in front of me. She looked at me defiantly then as if saying what-now-mister?
I could not believe I was about to do it but I kept reminding myself that it was for my ward's happiness and that she would be useful later on.
I encircled her small waist with my only arm and pulled her closer to me till she was sitting on my lap. I then keep my arm around her with my kimono covering her.
I took a look on the little miko before I closed my eyes once again. She was red as a tomato.
"Um… Sesshoumaru? What is this..?" She asked nervously as I feel her eyes on me.
"Would you rather freeze to death?" I asked her as I looked at her.
She shook her head vehemently. "Um… can you continue the story please, Sesshoumaru?"
"Hn."
I felt her head rested on my chest as she made herself comfortable. I cursed myself for only having one arm.
"He went east and met the sun god who restored his sight with a beam. Later on, he joined the hunters of Diana. They said she was about to marry him but Diana's brother, Apollo was against his sister marrying a mortal. One day, Apollo saw Orion crossing a river, he then told his sister, Diana that he could hit the black dot in the river. The goddess of hunting then thought of it as a challenge and hit the black mark in the sea with ease. When she took a look on what was that black mark his brother could not hit at all, the water of the sea brought the dead body of Orion on the seashore."
"No! I mean.. wh.. why!?" The miko asked with wide eyes.
I looked at her amused and curioused. "Miko, it is just a myth."
"But still.. what happened then?" The miko asked with sad eyes.
"Diana cried and grief so hard for killing her lover just because she wanted to prove to her brother that she was clearly the best huntress. She then placed her lover on the sky to be remembered."
"That was just sad, Sesshoumaru." The miko pouted.
I shrugged. "You got your story. Now, go to sleep."
"If you are Diana, what would you do? If you know.. accidentally killed your lover?"
"Mate."
"Huh?"
"Mate. This would have a mate."
"Oh.. okay… what would you do then?"
"None of your business, miko" I said with final tone.
"Oh! Come on, Sesshoumaru!" The miko insisted.
Oh, well, when did she ever listened to my order?
I sighed annoyed at her. "This Sesshoumaru would never kill his mate to begin with because this one would know that it was his mate even though she was in the middle of the ocean."
"Aww.. look at that! Sesshoumaru, that is so romantic!"
"Stop being a foolish, woman, and leave me be."
"Hey, Sesshoumaru." She asked when I thought she was ready to leave me alone.
"What do you want now, miko?" I looked down at her boredly.
"Are you considering the marriage proposal with the princess of the Southern Land?"
I was taken back with the question of the miko and I could not help it so I did not stop the question from coming out of my mouth.
"Why be so curious, miko? Are you jealous?"
If it was possible, the miko grew redder than a tomato before she huffed and looked away.
"Don't be silly, Sesshoumaru! It's not like I want to be the Lady of the West or like there is something to be jealous of. I bet you she's prettier, smarter and more powerful than me."
And I couldn't help it, I let out a chuckle at the antics of the miko in my arm. The miko looked like she wanted to flee from my arm or wake up in a dream. When the shock was over her face became annoyed.
"Oh! So, tell me what is so funny oh-so-mighty?" She asked me.
"This one just do not understand why are you getting so worked up for such a trivial matter, miko."
"I am not."
I raised an eyebrows at her.
She looked at way and did not speak again.
I sighed.
"You need to understand miko that this Sesshoumaru would only marry someone that would benefit the entire Western Land. It is my duty as their Lord. As for the princess of the Southern Land, I do not know what she looked like nor what is she like. But I personally do not care."
I saw a smile starting to tugged on her lips.
"As for who's more powerful, listen carefully and listen clearly because this Sesshoumaru would not repeat this again."
She looked at me curiously like a child.
"You are one of the most powerful woman I know and probably one of the most powerful woman that lived. That is why you are the chosen Shikon Miko."
I did not know why I was even telling these things towards the miko nor why I was even comforting her. It was not like it was my duty. It just felt … odd to have a silent and frustrated miko.
Also, why was she even getting annoyed over such a trivial matter? The miko probably still believed in marrying for love and not for duty.
How childish of her.
"Really?!" She asked me with big genuine smile I was surprised her face did not split.
"No."
"Sesshoumaru!" The miko whined as she hit my chest playfully when I took my words back.
"Do not push your luck, miko. Now, leave my person alone."
"Hmmp.. grumpy.. old.. hey, Sesshoumaru, you did not say your goodnight at me."
I felt a vein popped in my forehead. Kami, she was pushing it.
"Here, I'll start it. Good…..?"
Kami, I wanted to kill her so badly.
Breath in. Breath out. No killings tonight.
"Goodnight, miko. Now, for Kami's sake, leave this one's person alone."
"Now. now. It wasn't so hard right? Goodnight, Sesshoumaru."
She said it like a I was a common stray dog.
I almost lost it there. The miko knew all of my buttons and she enjoyed pushing them all.
A.U.: Hello! As promised, this is the next chapter of the story thanks to the 10 people who reviewed. Same rules applied, 10 reviews in this chapter before the next one.
I hope this chapter met your expectations. I know the past chapters and most likely this one contains a lot go grammatical errors and typos. Sorry! I usually type these stories at night and finish it after midnight. It's 3 a.m. now here in central USA.
Anyway, thanks again and tell me how is the story! Review!
Goodnight!