Before I say anything, I hate this chapter. I don't know why. I had it written out for months now, but I could never get it right, and now I'm submitting it as it is. I'm sorry, I know, you wanted the last to be best, but this sucks in my opinion.
Naraku's mind games
Final Chapter
"So this is supposed to be good for her?" Kagome asked, poking at a few herbs Kaede brought. They were bright purple and squishy. The healer nodded. "They're for bringing the fever down; we'll deal with everything else later." Sesshomaru stared silently at the old healer. He had previous experience told him that Kaede was often the one to take care of this group's wounds when they were injured (quite often), so he trusted that she knew something about herbs.
"Yes. I have seen this disease before just once, before. I was able to heal the child completely." Sesshomaru nodded. So she had experience. Good. "But should we be giving all the treatments all at once?" Kagome asked, she and Inuyasha, still out of breath from when they had shown up a few minutes ago. Since they had only spent about a few hours in modren tokyo, they weren't too far behind from Sango, Kohaku, and Kaede who had set out immedisatly after healer-napping Kaede.
"That's proabably not the best of ideas....." Miroku admitted, returning from the village empty handed. Sango was suspicious that he only went there for the inn famous for it's beautiful waitressess. He didn't deny or confirm it.
"Since I use my demons powers to heal, and they can't backfire, I think I should go first. If my powers don't heal her, then you can try the other things." Fudo suggested.
"On the contrary I think you should go after everyone else. Your demons powers won't interfere with the other forms of treatment, right? So we should have you and one other thing going right now." Sango said.
"I think it will. Remember the time you tried that on human who couldn't be healed any other way? He shrivled up. And THEN died." Kouga reminded Fudo.
Sesshomaru paled. Shirvled?
"We really aren't getting anywhere here." Shippo commented. Kohaku nodded. "But I still think that in comparence to Kaede's herbs, her herbs will suit Rin better, since she's used to them, but the ones from my era are far more powerful. Rin is still in the early stages of the sickness, and it hasn't had time to spread and affect anything yet, so we should let Kaede's herbs work first. She has to return first too."
Kaede chuckled. "Edo will attack your castle if you don't return me, you know."
Sesshomaru felt like banging his head on the wall. Just because Rin's fever dropped a bit today, doesn't mean she's all well now! And evreyone else was acting like it was nothing. "Very well. Lady Kaede, you try to heal her first. Healer Fudo, you will be led to your room by Jaken. The rest of you, stop acting so relieved and get outta here." Sesshomaru's tone changed immediately from formal to frank when he was adressing the rest of his compainions. As soon as Fudo was out of sight, Kagome poked Sesshomaru in the arm. "What? Don't we get the royal treatment too?"
Sesshomaru replied gruffly. "You are. You're being treated as royal guests and Inuyasha's already in the royal quarters. Miko, remember naraku is dead. I have no use for you. I WILL kill you when you get out of hand."
Putting up her hand to silence Inuyasha and Kouga, Kagome turned away from all of them to Kaede. "Kaede, look how much your neckalces have served me. Fluffy."
Kaede surveyed the not-so-graceful demon lord with an all knowing smirk. "I thought you would put one on him. That's why, these two: she pointed to Kouga and Sesshomaru's neckalces, "Are more powerful then Inuyasha's. He is a halfdemon after all."
Inuyasah smirked. "For once, I'm glad I'm not a full demon here."
Kaede was at awe of how utterly frank and informal they all were with the taiyokai of the west. Weird, because the only person she had ever seen touching him without dying was Rin. And here Kagome was POKING him. The world was coming to an end. She breifly wondered if Sesshoamru hadn't developed some kind of affection for Kagome (her cheeriness was infectious), but then disgarded the thought, immediately reasoning that Inuyasha would rather die then let Sesshomaru make a move on Kagome, even if the taiyoukia did like the human miko in that manner.
What was she doing playing matchmaker anyways? Kagome and Sesshomaru still hated each other, judging by the dirty looks being shot in every direction.
Kagome, who had just realized what Kaede was thinking, chocked on her spit and gagged. What the hell are you thinking Kaede?!
A few minutes of coughing and wheezing later, Kagome raised her eyes and gave her a look that left Kaede in shivers.
Wow....it's almost as if she read my mind then..... Kaede reflected, all the while grinding herbs.
"Kaede, I need your help in something. Could you meet me after this?" Kagome asked, ans then walked out the door.
"I need someone to grind these herbs. Someone who can do it fast." Sesshomaru silently held out his hand for the grinding pot.
Kaede silenltly handed it to him, smiling inwardly.
Within three mintues, the Lord of the Westren Lands had mushed it to paste. That wasn't surprising since his arms were blurs, how fast they were mashing. He could have just dripped poison into it and turned it into ashes, but they would be toxic and .. Not really what he'd want Rin to be taking as medicine.
"Done." he handed it back. Kaede took it, and handed him another bowl full of herbs. "This one is for the rashes, that one she had to mix with water and drink for the fever, this one is for the stomach pain, and the last one for the actual disease." She pointed to other bowls all of strange looking herbs, all piled in one sack that Kohaku had hurridly thrown in when they kidnapped Kaede.
Sesshomaru had to supress his surprise. THIS many herbs? Compared to Kagome's medicine this was comparing a moutain and a hay stack.
Kagome had given him a little box filled with the pill llike things she used for headaches, and Fudo said he didn't need any medicine to heal the way he did.
How could he be sure he was making the right decision? Wasn't Kagome's era indeed more advanced then theirs? In that case, wouldnt it be more wise to let Kagome's drugs try healing her first? Or will they backfire, like the fever pills did......or would Kaede's herbs not work, and instead just give her time for her condition to worsen?
Was sending Fudo away for now the right choice? Could he really heal beter then Kaede or Kagome? He shook his head. He needed to go to the gardens to clear his head. There were plenty of servants to grind the herbs for Kaede in the same speed he did. He wasn't exactly practiced at it....
Although his castle had excelled healers, they were demon healers who worked through methods similar to Fudo, except Fudo had altered his way of healing so humans could benefit, while his castle healers catered only to demons.
Sheesh, his mind was clogged. All this tension wasn't helping him think properly, neither was the smell of vile herbs inside Rin's room.
"I'm going to the gardens. I want to be informed immediately if there is any change in her state." he stated, to which Kaede grunted and the servants nodded.
Walking outside into his private gardens, he stood there quietly trying to gather his thoughts, letting the breeze fondle him. It rippled through his hair, and brushed his hakama.
For a second all he did was take breaths of fresh flowery air. It did little to calm him. He was still in a turmoil to what he should do regarding Rin. It wasn't the fact that her life was in his hands. He had had that kind of responsiblty for her as long as she remained had under his care. Protecting her from Naraku, from crazy pigs from China, etc.
It was the fact that he was clueless in human medicine, and he had to make a decision that might cost her her life, was his problem.
He was totally unaware what to do here, and Rin was too young and too weak to figure out what she needed for herself. In fact, if it were not for Kagome and the others, he wouldn't even have figured out the name of the disease, nor what was wrong for having demon healers for a human girl.
Pathetic......
Behind him, a figure aproached. It seemed his appearance in the gardens reserved for higher level officers had caused a certain other person to be alert. She was sitting under a tree in the far side with a book in hand, apperntly something concerning the castle's finances. She had pretty much taken over managing the castle, and he had to request her not to take over his place in political meetings too. It was like she was the one controlling everything, when he went to his study all that was left of the paperwork was his signatures. And he had a slight inkling that she had ordered all the servants and underlings to give him one report daily, instead of coming to him all the time. This meast he could finish all the tasks at once, then have time to sit by Rin. It was a lot more time utilizing, and the matters that he could not deal with for one reason or another, Sorai took it upon herself to complete for him. She was a real help....he thought.
Usually he would have denied any form of help from here, but since she was already his advisor, and she thought he didn't know these things, he let it slide. What was the point of having sensitive and smart servants of you weren't going to let them be helpful, eh?
Besides, he was grateful for her help, although he would hardly admit it. He turned around and attemped a slightly 'happier' face, like the one Rin and Kagome seemed to have taken it upon their honor to bug him about making. She beamed back and after chuckling almost silently she asked, "May I ask you a qeustion, milord?"
"You already have." he replied, having turned back to face the flower patches. The flowers reminded him of Rin, another reason of why he came here to think.
"Leaving aside the obvious." she clarified.
He nodded, not bothering to answer her or to turn around. He could almost picture Rin here......no wait! She wasn't dead! He had many medicines yet to try, she would be back here soon! He stopped himself from reminincing on her memory in these fields.
"Did by chance, Rin or Kagome-chan ask you to do that?"
His eyebrow quirked. "Do what?"
"Um...the happy face." she said thoughtfully.
Sesshomaru almost burst out laughing on this one. She saw through his act right to who told him to do it......that's his top advisor for you.
Thanks to his mask, however, he manged to get away with a little smirk.
"How very preceptive of you, Sorai." he answered, turning just in time to see her flush in pride.
"No, no, not at all, milord. May I offer my opnion here?" he nodded again, his eyes sliding over her hopeful stance.
"It looks like mi'lord had been drinking sake with Kagome-chan." she said, then grinned a rascal-ish smile afterwards.
"That's quite an ....interesting view." he answered with some difficulty. Did he really look like that? In other words, he didn't look good.....
"So it's unbecoming?" he asked. Sorai shook her head. "No mi'lord. Just....we aren't used to seeing it on you." She bit back her tounge when she was about to say 'and you should be happy more often, it looks great on you' when she remembered that Rin was sick, and therefore, asking Sesshomaru-sama to be happy during this time would just be stupid.
He could, however, read her thoughts.
So it didn't look bad on him? Oh well. It was not like he ws going to go smiling to his entire castle even if it suited him really well. Smiling was a emotion, he reminded himself, only to be shown rarely. Maybe to Sorai, since she enjoyed it so much.....
He aleady smiled slightly around Rin, and the girl loved it, and around Kagome...he shuddered inwardly. She would probaly take a picture of him with her 'cam-re-a' and then have it stuck all around the castle. If not to blackmail him. She was too evil to smile infront of....honestly, what Inuyasha saw in her was a TOTAL mytery to him. Another obscurity, ambiguity of life. One of the many, of which the list only increased since his idiot brother had come back into his life with his band of humans. Pfffffffft. Oh crap. Now he was making inuyasha noises in his mind! Shit! Crud!
From behind him, a form came running, dressed in a miniskirt and a uniform top. Once she had approached the lord, it was easy to see why she was having a hard time running. She was laughing too hard to stand up straight, let alone run. "Hehe......Inuyasha noises?!" she gasped, her eyebrow twitching like crazy. After a second, she decided to give up the struggle and collapsed to the ground where she continued to have fits of giggles.
What is this all about? He heard Sorai think. Meanwhile, kagome was still gasping on the ground. "Sess...hom....aru.....that....was..hilarious.... wait 'till I tell Inuyasha he's rubbing off on you!"
Inuyasha? Rubbing off on me? When'd you come up with that?
After hearing you go 'pffffft' in your mind, just like Inuyasha. He even says that sound in his mind.
I know he does.
Then are you trying to imitate him?
No. I just thought it! It's from being around Inuyasha. Or rather him tagging behind me!
"Um....are you alright? Kagome? Milord?" Sorai waved her hand rather akwardly infront of Kagome's face, then turning to look at Sesshomaru. The both had spaced out, and although they were doing it less these says, they were still doing it pretty often, and always when in the complany of each other. She was starting to think that the body swap thing had some sort of side effect on their brains.....
Turning around, she suddenly flicked Kagome in the nose. Kagome snapped out of her reverie, with Sesshomaru a second later. "Are you two ok?"
Sesshomaru straightened. "Why do you ask?"
"You two are spacing out, at the same time, in the same place, and it's been going on for a long time now!"
Kagome and Sesshomaru suddenly looked quite uncomfortable.
The miko in present tuged at her collar. "Um....so...yeah...I think I hear Kaede calling me....gotta go! See ya Sorai, Iceblock!" Sesshomaru twitched.
He wasn't sure wheather to thank Kagome for giving him a topic to change, or to curse her for how she did it. Calling him 'iceblock' wasn't exactly a favorable distraction, even if it DID work.
I wonder what Sesshomaru would say if I called him 'iceblock'......
He growled unconciously. In no cirsumstances did he want Sorai calling him names and stuff like Kagome. He had his hands full with one overly cheerful miko, thankyou very much. And even if Sorai wasn't going to actually turn into a miko (that would just be painful) acting like Kagome was WAY too much. He would just have to kill her....not that he would EVER EVER want to kill her....at all...and she would, if she wanted to, put up a fight too......wait a second! What was he thinking? His mind kept on wandering in circles.... and for some reason, he passed Sorai every too often in the circle.
He shook his head. This was stupid. He had to get back to Rin now. "Sorai, I'll be back with Rin now." he informed her.
She nodded, and before he had a chance to turn himself, she whisked away. At once when she stepped in the castle, two servants ran up to her side and started blabbering something about 'having a lot to do' and 'where do you want' and 'what should we do' and typical leader stuff. Sesshomaru stared at her. So she left all her duties to come here and stand by him? This is getting confusing.....
He shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts and paced back inside the room in which he spent all time available.
Kaede was hard at work. Applying balm to her fastly-spreading rash, tryong to force medicine down Rin's throat, you name it, Kaede was hard at work.
That's healer for you.
He sat down in his spot, on a chair placed there fr him. He would usually bring a book or some of his scrolls to read there..... it got a bit disturbing to look to Rin all the time....all he could think of how she was sick.
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"Why do you ask?" Sango whispered back to Miroku, both of them sitting in the guest common room.
"Well......they DO both freqently spaces out like that toghether....and always when in each other's company....and well... it's a bit weird after a while isn't it? I'm starting to think that the body swap had some kind of effect on them..." she clarified.
Miroku put a hand on his chin thoughtfully. "They- Kagome does laugh at jokes no one but Sesshomaru understands a lot more often then before....he's the one smirking and we're all left clueless....'
Sango added. "It's almost like they can communicate with each other and tell jokes privately."
Miroku leaned in closer to Sango. "It's almost like they DO have some form of communication...."
Kaede agreed, coming out from Rin's room and into the guest's common room. She stated so clealy. "It looks like to me as if the body swap spell had some sort of side effect, wanted or not wanted. Like that time when I was thinking.....some irrelevant thoughts and Kagome suddenly started spulttering as if she could tell what I was thinking."
Miorku nodded. "I think...this is a large step to take...but they can....somewhow read each others mind....or something....all those times when Kagome just hit me for nothing, well, if I had been saying my thoughts outloud, then she would have hit me too...."
Sango gasped. "So, your saying that they have some sort of strange power....? You don't think....?!"
Miroku nodded. "Like that time right after you and Kagome put the beads of subdugation on Sesshomaru...they both fainted and there was a weird light! We couldn't figure it out then, but I think.....they started acting weird after that!"
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Sesshomaru sat up straight as he noticed Rin up and walking around. "Rin? What are you doing up? You shouldn't be up!" he scolded the little girl, who look apologetic then smiled. "No, but Sesshomaru-sama, Kaede said I could walk again today!"
Kaede stepped out of the shadows, smiling. "I did. This child is well enough to be walking around, and if she doesn't get enough excersize then the fever's after effecs might start to affect her legs. Make sure you run around, eh?"she patted the girl's head.
Sesshoamru felt a wave of releif. Rin was finally well enough to be running around, but she really shouldn't overdo it. Besides, how come she was too sick to get up yesterday, but was being ordered to run around today? He looked down on her small form. She was still pale, but the rash that had spread across her body had fladed and flaked off. The bags under her eyes were still as dark as ever, and her cheeks were still slightly flushed from fever.
"What are you doing in my study, so far away from your bed?" he demanded. Just becaise the girl could walk deosn't mean she started roaming the catsle now.
She lost her smile for a second. Instead of answering him, she handed him something that made him truly remember old times.
The remains of his priavte gardens.
He stared, speechless at the fact, that she had gone into the gardens and had enough energy to uproot it in her current pale state. Just goes to prove that she wasn't all that weak. Thank goodness. Now that it had finally sunk in, that she was alright, Sesshomaru was so happy he could jump around like that hysterical miko if his pride let him. But since it didn't, he just compensated with a small smile as he led Rin back to her room and told her to go to sleep.
Next to know about Rin's health now, were Kohaku and Shippo, both of whom who came together for daily vists and were overjoyed. The castle was filled with joyful shouts (mostly from Shippo) before Kagome and Sango had to forcefully lead them out so Rin could get some rest.
Kohaku was releived, Sesshomaru could tell even without mindreading. That he had taken it upon himself to blame for Rin's sickness, seeing as he was the one with whom she had fallen in the pond with and all that. He didn't shout like Shippo, nor try to jump around like with her, he simply sat there and smiled widely for the world to know that he was glad.
But thought like that were for later, he dismissed, watching the begruding but generally happy smiles of Inuyasha and Kouga. Despite their claimes to hate Shippo and ALL his friends, they had been the ones running off to get her medicine.
Kagome hopped over to him. "This is great, isn't it? Rin's gotten better much faster then normal children with scarlet fever!" she beamed.
Sesshomaru's happiness was no less infectious, even if he didn't show it.
Miroku stood up. "Then, in the favor of Rin's health, I propose we a sake party!" the light in his eyes coulden't be good for everyone....
At once Sango smashed him down. "No." was her quick answer, and answer enough to make him shut up and sit down. "No crazy party, monk." both Kouga and Inuyasha threatned, quite unneededly, their friend.
"Yeah, we all know you only want a chance to get drunk and have an excuse for your lecherous actions!" Kagome declared. He smiled rather wolfishly, earning im another bop on the head from Sango.
Rin spoke up, coming over from Shippo and Kohaku. "Do you really want to celebrate that I'm well again, Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked cutely, with eyes so large that Sesshomaru had to look away for fear of starting to show any signs of being affected by how absoultuly CUTE she was. This was getting a bit uncomfortable......even she know how to do the puppy eyes thing Inuyasha and Kagome had done.....it MUST be a conspiracy!
Kagome giggled and put her hand on Rin's shoulder. "Rin, your starting to scare him!" Sesshomaru silently let a breath of relief. That was really awkward.
"But will I get a party?" she asked, now raising her puppy eyes to Kagome and Sango, who cooed mentally and pet her head. "of course!"
"Can I plan it?" she asked so innocently that even Inuyasha was forced to look away, while all the girls openly cooed and Kohaku and Shippo stared. Where'd you learn how to to do THAT?! Shippo almost yelled out. How come she knew how to do that and she isn't after world domination yet!
"Yes, Rin I think that would be appropriate." She almost jumped for joy. "Kohaku and Shippo are going to plan it with me!" she cheered and ran over to her shocked friends. Once there, she snickered. "They have no idea what they just agreed to.....Kohaku, Shippo, we have to agree to make this the best party ever!"
They nodded. "Definitely."
After seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, she aimed a weak hit on Kohaku's shoulder. "Not that kind of best! We're going to make it the most amusing for us!" she grinned. "Like the evil kind of fun!"
Shippo grinned back but Kohaku shivered. "Rin...that look really doesn't suit you." she smiled back at him. Kohaku shivered again. Women are evil....now I realize why Inuyasha and Miroku would say that.........
And for some reason only the heavens (and possibly Sesshomaru) would know, Kagome started laughing suddenly and ruffled his hair affectionately.
Kohaku looked up at the miko fawning over him. Why was she laughing like this? And almost on cue with what he thought...he was sure that the adults would laugh and be amused if they knew what he was thinking....just like Kagome was. He concluded suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
Something was definitely up with her. And the way Sesshomaru had a small smirk while looking at him.....
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Rin was happily giggling with Kohaku and Shippo. The girl had been granted her wish, she was allowed to use as much money as she wanted to on her little party, but of course of obvious personality reasons, she wanted to keep it simple and inexpensive. Even if this was Sesshomaru-sama's way of spoiling her.
She had been running around all week, prancing in and out of Sorai's office, Sesshomaru's study, and out of everyone's rooms, asking them to so various things for her and giving them her cutest puppy look so they couldn't refuse if they wanted to. Except for Kouga, who had urgent matters back in his tribe, and had left to take care of them, everyone else was helping her in their own ways, although they had no idea how what they were doing would help her any.
Kagome had asked to hurry up the party, supposedly because it had been way to long since she went to school and her exams were going to take place soon now, and therefore Rin was as busy as ever. She was using all of her recently regained power to the point that Sesshomaru had to vist her himself to tell her to get some sleep.
Fetching her stuff that they couldn't imagine for the life of them why she would need, was getting boring. Like chocolate and a pile of candy, and cotton, and toys, and fertilizer.
And another thing, she always asked the hard things from Inuyasha or Miroku. Getting stuff like fish from the koi pond, and helping her to label things all around the castle and other stuff among that.
She asked for things that were troublesome to get; like mud from every garden in the castle, and a strand of hair from every being in the castle ( except for Jaken because he didn't have any hair) without them knowing.
Rin, Kohaku and Shippo laughed to high heaven and back watching Miroku get chased by people for trying to rob their hair.
Finally, the day came. Rin was running around busily; her still slightly pale face flushed from excitement. But, alas, at the hour set......it poured. First huge hail; then raindrops as large as her thumb. She wasn't going to let the weather stop her, though. They held the arrangemnet in the rain; with a tent above them that Sorai had managed to set up at last minute.
Huddling outside the door while the grownups ate and drank (in moderation) Kohaku looked at his two friends. "Are you sure you want to do this; Rin, shippo?" he asked. They both nodded solemnly. "All right. Then I trust you know the plan?" they nodded again. He grinned. "Tonight, we're going to find out what's with Kagome....and maybe Lord Sesshomaru while we're at it!" he prepped.
Rin patted his head. "Kohaku, it's alright. We'll discover it today for sure!" he gave her what could be decifered as a insolent glare.
Rin entered the tent in which Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Sorai, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Shippo, Kouga, Jaken, and a few of the servants were in. It was basically a tea party in the rain. Kaede had gone back to Edo despite her begging, saying that she had healer duties to attend to.
She had on a kimono like she always wore, except she had changed the color to jelly red. Kohaku smiled from beside her, himself wearing a white hakama. "This is going to be great!" Shippo exclaimed, looking at the sweets piled on the table.
"Don't stuff yourself!" she laughed back at the kitsune in a dark green silk haori.
"I will!" he replied back cheekily and ran over to his surrogate mother sitting in jeans and silk shirt. Sesshomaru made his way over from his chair. He silently pet her head; nothing needed to be said. He was releived that she was better, and she knew it. Going back to sleep in his own room proved it.
Kagome had gone through the trouble of making Inuyasha dress fomally; for which reason he was pouting in the corner.
I haven't worn a formal clothes for DECEADES what's the problem now?! He fumed looking at the girl who put him through the trouble of waring this silk red haori and hakama with white cherry blossom petals floating past through the shoulder and over the chest. The white of the petals matched perfectly with his hair; and the red he wore was now gleamy and shiny. He actually looked quite good, but he wasn't going to admit that anytime soon. Kagome had wanted to make him wear clip-on doggy earrings but he rebelled. Severely.
Where they got the new clothes from (everyone except for Kagome) was not a mystery anymore. They had met the smug castle seamster yesterday. "You all are in dire need of some fashion sense and a new wardbrobe!" the eagle demon had proclmaied pompously. Sesshomaru immediately took his robe and left without too many comments, but Taka had annoyed the rest of them to no end. Kagome didn't have her own clothes measured; so she simply tried and failed to contain Inuyasha. Too bad for Inuayasha, Taka was a reasonable fighter and was able to dodge the attacks until he cooled down. His room didn't fare so well though...
Since it was a children's party Sesshomaru had strictly prohibited sake; a rule of about which Miroku was currently complaining about.
"A little sake wouldn't have hurt the children, Lord Sesshomaru." he reasoned. Sesshomaru shot him a glare that re-set hell afire if one of previous looks froze it. Miroku gulped and ceased complaining immediately, but he stayed with Sesshomaru for a occasional conversation and drinking tea. Kagome was trying to cope with a still-pouting-inuyahsa, and Sango had threatned to knock his teeth out if he went anywhere in a ten foot distance of her; as a punishment of an action committed earlier. Therefore, he had decided on Sesshomaru to give company (coughbugcough) to.
Shippo gave Rin a look of dertemination, and huddled behind the great demon lord's legs. Kohaku stood by Kagome, hand twitching and mentally telling himself, that here, timing was everything. Rin blinked. She at one jumped up as fast as she could onto Sesshomaru, holding onto his neck and swinging around with both her hands despertaely cluinging onto the back of his collar.
His eyes windened in shock and he backpedaled.....tripping over Shippo.
He went sprawling on the ground with Rin ontop of him, just when Kohaku pushed Kagome over his outstretched foot, making her stumble...and fall on top of Sesshomaru, without even Rin in the middle, because she had rolled aside just in time.
Inuyahsa's eyebrow twitched.
Kagome stared at Sesshomaru beneath her, hair fanned out, with his eyes as wide as she'd even seen them go. Carefully, she removed her elbow from his shoulder, and got up to the side, brushing off her clothes.
Sesshomaru glared at anyone who bothered to stare, before doing a garecful leap up and went on drinking his tea like nothing had happened.
Miroku whisled. Sango's jaw dropped along with her plate.
"Hey! Sesshomaru! Whaddya think your doing?!" Inuyahsa yelled at his half brother, throwing his tea across the tent, landing quite hilariously on Jaken's head.
"Drinking my tea, brother, before it gets cold. I suggest you do the same." He replied cooly, then took another sip totally oblivious to everyone except for Kagome staring at him.
Besides, Kagome already apologized about three hundred times in her mind right now.
"This was.......weird?" Kagome offered, trying at failing to look innocent.
Mirkou put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "This.........incident could mean two things. One, that they're quite used to that position and therefore-" He was smacked by Inuyasha before continuing any further.
"Or it could mean that Kagome already apologized." Rin said slyly, from the side. When all she recieved were confused looks, she clarified, "Mentally."
Rin turned her eyes toward the two. "Sesshomaru-sama and Kagome-sama.....you can read minds, can't you?"
Kagome visibaly jerked and balked while Sesshomaru blanched, now finally putting down his tea. Kohaku and Shippo stepped out on either side of Rin. "You can, can't you?" Kohaku confirmed.
Sesshomaru smirked and let out a good natured laugh. Yes, he laughed. It wasn't even a evil one either. It was enough to send the other already traumasized guests into a coma.
Despite staying with Sesshomaru all the time and knowing him better then anyone else, the sound of his rarely heard laugh made her look up at him and smile. He smiled back, making the two by her side cringe at the sight while she beamed sunnily back at him. He knelt down by her and patted her head. Sorai was the first one to come out of her reverie. (except for kagome who was now frantically looking for something to do or say and blushing furiously) "I KNEW IT!" she yelled and pointed her finger at Sesshomaru and Kagome. "You two ARE phsycic, I don't know why or how, but you respond to everyone's thoughts!"
Inuyasah looked faint. "Y-y-you.....mean.....you could read all my thoughts?" he asked, almost giving into the urge to lean on something for support. Kagome nodded a bit ashamedly; the cat was out of the bag.
He crossed his arms. "Prove it again. This might have been a fluke." Kagome replied almost automiatically, "Miroku, get your mind out of the gutter." Miroku looked down but Kouga didn't belive it. "Miroku's mind is always in the gutter! That's not proof!" he protested.
Sesshomaru straigtened. " I suppose there is no merit in hiding it now; miko." she grinned sheepishly. "Nop, iceblock."
"Phsycic iceblock" he corrected. Kagome let out a throaty laugh. Sango stared. So THIS was the reason they were frank with each other! They probably talked to each other all the time in their minds!
Inuyasha suddenly pointed at Kagome. "So THAT'S what the lipsing thing was about!" he yelled excitedly. She nodded. "You fell for it."
he sighed in releif. "Good. There was NO way I would nominate Kouga as better then me!"
He suddenly reddened. Kagome, can you hear me? She nodded in his direcetion. That's how you found out what I was thinking that day...........when you kissed me....he added unconciously, forgetting Kagome was listening.
Sesshomaru let out a snort. "Little brother, when you think things like that with Kagome, remember that I can hear you."
Inuyasha paled.
Kohaku and Shippo, who had been watching the spectacle with Rin, jumped up in joy. "We figured it out!" they yelled. "And we proved it too!" Rin added, smiling.
Sorai put her clawed hand on Kohaku's shoulder. "Aou three are too smart for your own good." she taunted. She got back three wolfish grins.
"I think we raised devils...." Kagome said helplessly, looking back and forth from one grinning mastermind to the other.
"Kaede suspected it too, I think. I heard her murmering something about kagome freaking out when she thought something......I wonder what that was?" Sango asked. Kagome grasped for words. "Um......yeah....she was wondering why I was so frank with Sesshomaru...." on the word 'frank' and poked Sesshomaru in the side. He didn't even flinch.
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Sesshomaru was walking back to his study from the tea party with Sorai.
"I suspected it, but knowing it is still a shock." she commented on the evening's activites. "Does this really mean you've been reading all out minds since you had a rosary?" she asked, cocking her head up to see his face. She simply couldn't take it in.
he nodded. A few seconds later, he smiled inwardly at the demoness when she head a mental meltdown. Oh no! He's been reading all the thought about him...everything I thought...think......i hope he doesn't turn away from me beciae I've started acting like the couteaseans he hates so much......oh please don't do that, Lord Sesshomaru!
"Sorai, I can still mind read." he informed her, and then watched her blush and stammer somthing about forgetting.
Now he knows everything. I wonder if he will..... she thought again, unable to keep herself from thinking. Afterall, the mind was SUPPOSED to be the most private place to keep your thoughts.
"Will?" Sesshomaru asked. A pink tinge crept across her face.
After a few seconds silence, Sesshomaru interrupted her franticlly supressed thoughts again.
"I am relieved." he said.
Sorai looked up curoiusly. "That....I'm like this-you're like this." he said simply, his tone barely out of the monotone accents.
Sorai could barely believe what was happening. He was......accepting her!
"You may call it that." he answered. Damn! I keep on forgetting that he read my mind.....what a cool add to his abilites!
Sesshomaru chuckled. Sorai cursed mentally again. A few seconds later a bold hand found it's way to Sesshomaru's fluff.
"Don't ever make me say something so emotion-filled again, ADVISOR." he joked, half serious. "I don't plan to, LORD SESSHOMARU." she teased back cheekily. Saying that, she ran off to her room as fast she could to calm herself down. (which was quite fast) She was going to start jumping around with happiness if she stayed any longer.
Sesshomaru stated after her running blur, amused.
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Next morning, Kagome jumped him as soon as he exited his room. Not that she caught him off guard (he could smell her from half a mile away), but he still jerked slightly. She was on his back, her langs wrapping around his high waist in a piggy back ride. With her chin on his shoudler, she leaned towards his ear and said, "Say...Sesshomaru....you must have been tired last night." when he didn't respond, she continued, not bothering to converse mentally. "You know...having the phycic secret, a party, daily duties AND a confession to Sorai all in one day...."
The taiyoukai sighed. It was bound to get out sooner or later, since Sorai couldn't stop herself from thinking things like that. Might as well admit it. "Yes, Kagome, I did." he said slightly wearily.
"Did whaaaaat?" she asked, tightening her grip on his shoudler.
"Confessed to Sorai."
"Confessed whaaaaat?" she prompted.
"That I appreciate her, and I am releived that she is here. Happy?"
"No." kagome pouted. "From her memory it was a lot less professional. But still not straightforward."
"Like you and Inuyasha?" he asked her, smirking. He felt a weak impact of what might have been a punch in his back. "No! You didn't even tell her straight that you love her!"
Sesshomaru smirked again. "She knows."
Kagome was so surpised she dropped from his back and fell hard on her back with her mouth wide open.
"Come out!" Sesshomaru commanded to the pillar out from which stepped a sheepish Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kouga and Sorai. "Just by taking baths, doesn't finish your scent, it only dims it. I can smell you from this close." A great deal of embarassed grumbling later, Soria looked upto her lord and smiled. He let a shadow of a ghost pass his lips looking at her. Kagome sprang up immediately and waved her hand wildy towards the two. "SEE?! I TOLD YOU! I KNEW IT!" she yelled manically loud.
"Hai, hai." Inuyasha and Kouga replied wearliy as they both turned to leave the couple in peace. "NOT GONNA HAPPEN!" Kagome yelled again. "Sesshomaru has a girlfriend! I have to use this opputinty to bug him! You two will never be alone......NEVER!" she declared. Sorai calmly flicked a wind barrier around the crazed miko and carried her to follow Inuyasha and Kouga.
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This is it. Kagome whispered. Kouga had handed her his bloody shard a few days before, silently with an unreadble expresstion on his face, and Sesshomaru had revived Kohaku after taking out the jewel shard. Sango was hysterical with joy.
She gathered the jewel in on hand and concentrated on unifying it. This little jewel was the start of it all...her adventures in the fuedal era, the reason the caterpillar demon had dragged her down the well in the first place. And now, when she opened her palm, it was comlpete. What to do with it; she didn't know. She had already decided that this era was like her second home, and now she could never leave one. I guess I get two lifestyles now, she thought, marveling over the innncent looking purple light emitting out of it. I love them all too much to leave now. Mybe I could even start a buisness by bringing things from this era through the well.....and when they atomatically age; voila! They're antiqes!
Kagome chucked. The idea wasn't bad......
The jewel unified in her hand, and glowed bright enough that it was blinding. Her arm was shivering suddenly, and her mind was blank. Slowly, trembling, the jewel made it's way to her face.
Her mouth and jaw refused to stay closed, and the jewel sunk in. She swallowed.
"I swallowed the jewel."
Huge disbeleiving bug eyes from everyone at the dinner table when she finally brought up the topic.
"I swallowed the shikon jewel. I'm a trained miko now, I can hide it's power. The shikon-no-tama is no more!" she cheered. Kouga and Inuyasah were dumbfounded and too shocked to move. She had done WHAT?!
It was an abnoramally simple solution......but if it worked.....then kuso. This was all it took? SWALLOWING IT?! Damn this was crazy......
SUCH. A. GODDAMN. SIMPLE. SOLUTION.
Inuyasha hated the jewel. Kouga hated the jewel. And they both hated themselved of not thinking of this outragoeously stupidly simple solution before.
And thourgh it it all, Kagome had only marveled at the feeling of the jewel melting painlessly through her stomach flesh to the position it was in for most of her life; on the side of her stomach, in the flesh. Where it was now.
It was all over! Kagome felt like cheering.
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"See ya later, If you don't invite me to your wedding, I WILL come and kill you all!" kagome threatened Sorai, who had come to see them off. Sango wanted to get back to demon slaying, her passion, her job. Miroku.....well he just wanted to settle down with Sango....
They were heading back to Edo, for Kagome's exams and to live there. "say, where's Sesshomaru?" she asked Sorai. "I think he said he was going to the hotsprings or something..." she replied thoughtfully.
The miko let out a small 'eep' and proceeded to drag everyone on kilala as fast as she could. "we have to leave now, we'll visit, even if you don;t want us to!" she yelled, jumping on Inuyasha. "i'm not a horse, Kagome. A little slower..." he muttered reffering to the backwards jrek he got when the miko hopped onto him.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go! Mush!" she yelled. Inuyasha's ear twitched and he took off running, with Kilala carrying Shippo, Kohaku, Sango and Miroku flying above them.
Sorai let out a small smile from where she stood by the castle. The miko.....was unique enough to change everything, and everyone. And she had proven it.
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exactly fiev mintues later a shreik from inside the castle made Sorai realize why Kagome was in such a hurry to leave. She feared for her life.
Sesshomaru raged outside, dressed only in a knee length yukata he used for bathing. Sorai looked up and burst into hyterics. His hair was neon pink.
"KA-GO-ME!!!" he holllered at the top of his voice. About five minutes of travel distance apart, they could hear his scream loud and clear. Kagome and Inuaysha high-fived despite Kgaome being on Inuaysha, and grinned.
"What did you do?" Sango asked wearliy, almost fealing sorry for the taiyoukai they left behind.
"I gave him shampoo." she anwered, biting her lip to keep from laughing. Inuayasha smirked. "You have no idea....."
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Sorai had to sit down to keep from falling over. She was laughing so hard that after a moment breathing became a pain. Sesshomaru, with neon pink hair. Oh wow, this was a sight to behold. The aforementioned, now pink-haired person tapped his foot.
"Sorai, this isn't funny." he said irritably, although he privately admitted that if it happened to someone else.......Inuyahsa lets say, it would be hilarious. Right now he just hoped that it came off in a week before a political meeting with the Lords of Japan. Sorai was still laughing her wits out on ground of the castle gardens, by the gate where a certain evil miko had left.
It doesn't look bad, you know. She said in her mind, not being able to gather her breath enough to say it out loud.
"Sorai, I have PINK hair. Get real." he said sourly. For once he didn't bother hiding his emotions.
You look as handsome as ever, Sesshomaru. She replied.
"Are you trying to make me feel better or something?" he asked.
Nop! I'm trying to flatter you.
"And why would you do that?" he was almost curious now.
hm.....would you begrudge me if I said I wanted a kiss right now? I never kissed a pink haired person before. Always wanted to, though.
"I'll think about it." he sad thoughtfully. It must have looked strange to onlookers that Sesshomaru was the only one talking.
You're being cold hearted right now, you know that?
"Im a demon. A powerful, bloodthirsty, cold, sadistic bastard to quote Kagome."
I don't think so.....
"If you really want it so much then you doesn't have to go through all of this." His voice was perfectly monotone.
Ok, fine. And she leaned foreward and gave him a slight peck on the cheek before walking back to the castle.
"That's it? On the cheek only?"
Ooops, forgive me. I didn't know you didn't like being kissed on the cheek.
"That wasn't even a proper kiss. More like a hard peck."
I have work to do........MI'LORD.
"Alright, of you want to be a workaholic, fine then, ADVISOR. I'll see you some other time."
No doubt you will. Sorai thought offhandedly, trudging through the gardens back to her favorite yellow room, smiling, a silently wondering whether Sesshomaru would let her wash his hair in hopes of getting the dye off later.
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It's finished!
The story had come to an end. It was a bit abrubt, but here it is. For some reason, strories in which you smell the climax from a mile away, are boring to me. Sorry if you disagree, but I like this ending. Kagome continues to live double lives, and everyone is happy and dainty. What more could you want?
And no, there was no way in hell I would write a scene with Inuyasha and Kagome, Sesshomaru and Sorai, and Sango and Miroku married. NO WAY. I like the characters as they are, not all grown up and married. This is kinda an open ending, but stories never end for good unless everyone is dead...which I couldn't do. I had a hard enough time killing Naraku and Usagi....
Please, tell me how you liked it, I will be indebted to you. And no, just because this story is completed doesn't mean people reading this after the completing date don't have to leave reviews. I will still reply, and and I will ALWAYS want to know how people liked Naraku's Mind Games.
But no, I will not be in the Inuyahsa fanom anymore. I read the ending if the manga....and my enthusisasm sapped right there. I dunno why...it seemed ok enough?
And I'm now tired of Inu....really. Newest anime obsessions: Bleach, Kyou Kara Maou, Shugu Chara etc. (I only watched the first episode of Shugu Chara but I loved it and plan on watching more soon.)
Soooooo, it has been a pleasure writing this for you all, when I had writers block, your awesome ideas and reviews kept this story (and me) going. Thanks!
-0mohni0