Kagome dragged herself through the forest. She'd been running for days and hadn't had any time for a proper rest. Sango and Miroku had followed her and were asking everyone if they had seen her. She'd almost had a run in with them at the last village she passed. Upon seeing them she turned tail and ran for the forest. Now, here she was, barely enough energy to continue walking never mind run if they caught it.
Exhausted and starving, Kagome collapsed against the nearest tree. Her eyes refusing to stay open slowly closed against her will. Within moments she found herself on the border of unconsciousness. Finally giving in to her body's needs accepted the darkness and allowed herself to drift. However, before she could embrace the darkness fully a high pitched voice snapped her back to reality.
"Miss Kagome?" before Kagome could open her eyes something rammed into her stomach.
"Rin?" She breathed opening her eyes.
"Miss Kagome! What are you doing here?" Kagome didn't really want to answer the little girl.
"Well..."
"And where are your friends?" Suddenly she beamed and, without waiting for an answer, she stood up and began dragging Kagome out of the forest. Not wanting to upset the young girl Kagome followed. "Lord Sesshomaru! Look who I found!" Kagome froze.
"Hn." Sesshomaru replied turning around. Upon seeing Kargome he raised an eyebrow. "Where's the half breed?"
"He died." Kagome said, feeling fresh tear pool in her eyes. Sesshomaru's expression didn't change and he didn't speak. He seemed to be waiting for her to continue. Not knowing what to say Kagome just turned her head away from him.
"The Hanyo died?" Rin asked tilting her head. "How? If Lord Sesshomaru couldn't kill him then how-" Kagome clasped her hand over Rin's mouth and glanced wearily at Sesshomaru. He seemed to be completely ignoring the little girl.
"He was caught by surprise..." Was all Kagome said to the girl.
"Come with us." Rin said with a smile.
"Rin! We can't bother Lord Sesshomaru with such things." Jaken spoke coming into view for the first time.
"Lord Sesshomaru lets me come along. Why not Miss Kagome?" The little girl seemed genuinely confused.
"You are different. Besides-" He was cut off by Rin.
"Why can't she come? Lord Sesshomaru, can she come?" She asked turning to the demon lord.
"Hn." He said not looking at her. Kagome didn't know if that was a yes, no or an I don't care, but as Rin jumped up and down happily she guessed his answer.
"You can ride A-Un with me." Rin smiled.
"A-Un?" Just as Kagome asked she saw the two headed beast behind Sesshomaru. She wasn't sure how she hadn't seen it before. Cautiously she walked up to A-Un.
"He's friendly." Rin said leaping onto it.
"I... I... I think I'll walk..." Kagome stammered but Rin wasn't having it. Grabbing hold of her hand, in tried to pull her onto A-Un. Sighing Kagome got on to keep the girl happy.
"We're heading to Lord Sesshomaru's castle." She beamed.
"Hmm..." Was all Kagome replied as she began to fall asleep. Before she knew it she was asleep with Rin snuggled into her arms while they rode on A-Un.
******* time laps *******
Opening her eyes, Kagome found herself inside a room she had never seen before. There wasn't much to be said about the room but it gave off a light happy atmosphere. Looking down at herself she noticed that Rin was still snuggling into her arms. Moving slowly so as not to wake her up she tried to get Rin off of her so she could stand up.
Finally succeeding in her task Kagome left the room quietly and started wandering around. She had no idea where she was going but she figured that if a child lived here then it was OK to wonder around.
Around an hour passed and Kagome became worried. She was completely lost. Turning corners randomly she slowly began to panic. The castle was like a labyrinth or a maze. Suddenly she caught the scent of clean water. Not knowing where it was or where the scent led to she started walking in the direction of the smell. She figured it was better to have an aim even if she was lost so that she didn't panic and end up hyperventilating.
Turning a corner and walking down the corridor Kagome noticed that the scent was coming from behind a door. Not thinking anything of it she slowly opened the door. She found herself in front of a stair case. Descending the stairs, she noted that the scent was getting stronger and the air became warm.
At the bottom of the stairs there was another door. Opening this door too, Kagome found herself in and underground hot spring. Staring in wonder she only vaguely thought about how it got here before she dismissed it. Sesshomaru was a demon lord. He could do whatever he wanted. If he wanted a hot spring, he would find a way to get one.
Completely drawn to the idea of her first hot bath in over a week, Kagome stripped down to her bare skin and inched her way into the hot spring. Sighing contently, she moved so that her back was too the warm rocks in the spring and allowed herself to completely relaxed. Closing her eyes she happily soaked in the water.
"This is my private hot spring." Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin. Snapping her eyes open she turned around to try and see the one who spoke.
"Who..." She began but stopped seeing no one. She turned around again thinking she was imagining things.
"I will not go ignored, human, and I will not repeat myself." The voice growled. Kagome sharply stood up covering herself with her hands. She squinted into the steam that the hot spring was creating. Gasping she threw herself back into the water seeing a figure relaxing in the spring just across from her.
"I- I- I- I'm sorry... I d- didn't know..." She stammered, not knowing what to say or do.
"Leave." He ordered. Kagome still hadn't seen the man's face so she didn't know who it was.
"But..." she began. "But you'll see... emmm... you'll see me."
"I saw you when you came in human. Now leave." A scarlet red blush erupted into Kagome's face.
"But..." The man growled and stood. Walking towards her through the water Kagome covered her eyes before she could see anything she shouldn't. A hand clasped around her throat and she gasped surprised. Covering her breasts with one hand and the other going to the man's arm as he lifter her and squeezed her throat lightly, she opened her eyes to see who it was.
Sesshomaru stood in front of her completely naked. She tried to keep her eyes glued to his face but she failed miserably. She turned an even darker red when she looked. She'd never heard Sesshomaru speak so much so she had originally amused that it wasn't him. She was dead, she thought. Still unable to keep her eyes on his face despite the fact that his hand was around her neck.
"Why are you red? I am not holding that hard." His eyes darted down to her body. "There is no need to cover yourself."
"I- I- I... There is a need." She said trying to act brave. Sesshomaru just tilted his head.
"I have seen many females. Your body is not new to me."
"I- It's new t- to me." She said blushing even more. At this Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.
"I see... I assumed the half breed had mated you." Kagome squirmed in his grip. She had loved Inuyasha, that was true, but he had never seen her for her.
"No..." She replied not knowing if he actually wanted her to answer.
"Fine. You may use this hot spring." Kagome was beyond shocked.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"You may use this spring."
"But this is you private... Bathing... area..." Saying this couldn't stop her eyes flickering down.
"I do not like repeating myself, human. You may use this 'bathing area'" He said cocking his head slightly at 'bathing area'. With that he let her go and walked out of the spring. Kagome kept her eyes on the water as the heard him getting dressed and heard him leave.
