Sounds Like A Plan
"How long have you been here!?" Kagome balked, catching herself and her mistake. She shook her head and rephrased, "Oh great Sesshomaru-sama, how long has thee been in-"
"You don't have to speak in lyrics, miko. I perfectly understand you." Sesshomaru said, selfishly pulling the blankets away from her, wrapping himself tighter under the poofy covers. His golden eyes seemed to glow under the dim of the moonlight, the white blankets wrapped on his body and over his head, only his face showing.
He looked like a white caterpillar, like a giant burrito on the humongous bed.
Kagome then realized, had he been lying beside her the whole time? Then she remembered his "tail" between her thighs.
She felt herself cringe.
"Is your stomach upset?" He said without concern. "Those stupid cooks. I told them not to leave the meat raw-"
"It's not that." Kagome sighed. "I was just thinking, there should be a loophole to this situation we are in. I mean, you might know of other youkai strong enough to break the contract? It's been so long and the journey I've been through to complete the shards was difficult, I think I deserve a little happiness. Plus, I don't want you to lose your lands, and..."
Kagome stopped dead, and she almost felt steam blow off her ears. The inuyoukai was squirming around in bed, like the caterpillar he very much resembled. He then proceeded to roll around like sushi-in the-making, and the girl's brow twitched.
"What in the seven hells are you doing?" she said, exasperated. The rolling stopped, and golden eyes connected to hers.
"Reclaiming my territory." He answered, and then proceeded to roll again. Kagome did not even move.
"Well, I'm sorry if my scent has offended you-"
The rolling finally stopped, for good. Sesshomaru then faced her, laying very still. "You bear the fox youkai's scent."
Oh. Kagome then remembered how territorial Inuyoukai were, but her thoughts were cut short when a flurry of cloth engulfed her small form. It was a silk yukata, his sleeping yukata. She stared at it for a long time in disbelief.
Is this the part where he shows his gentler side... and we end up with a truce?
A light blush dusted her cheeks, and she peeked shyly at the daiyoukai.
Don't tell me he is starting to get possessi-
"What are you blushing about?" His dead monotone destroyed the shoujo manga scene that started to form in her mind. "I said you stink of fox. Stupid onna."
Yes, he totally destroyed it.
She threw the silk back at him with scorn. "Hey, it's not my fault that I'm so darn lovable!" She exclaimed, and with great big ape-like strides she strode towards him and basically dumped herself on his bed, the burrito-Sesshomaru almost bouncing off.
She spanned her arms and started spreading her 'fox scent'.
"Stop that." Sesshomaru growled, but his death glare only fed the miko's smirk. He threw the covers off him and seized her wrists, locking her legs with his, imprisoning her underneath him. "I said stop that."
"Oh? Or else what?" Kagome challenged, and with one unprecedented move her leg slipped from his lock and flipped them both, the youkai now in submissive position. Still smirking she bent down and shamelessly glomped him, smothering him with the scent he had so much hated. Sesshomaru and Kagome struggled for control, tumbling in the sheets, knees and elbows clashing against each other. The youkai just dodged an uppercut from the miko, and she let out her best grappling skills, but she was no match for him.
Using his inhuman strength he slipped his hand free from her vice-like grip and poked her on the side, hitting her funnybone so painfully she let out a series of tortured, unwanted laughs. Taking advantage of her weakness he pinned her back down on the bed again, underneath him, and shifted all his weight on to her small form.
"Or else I eat you," he whispered seductively, satisfied with the terrified eep the woman gave off. He bared his fangs, intending to to scare her further when a blue light suddenly filled his vision, and his eyes widened when he realized what it was. "Miko, stop it or-"
Her holy power blasted smack on his face.
"I'm sorry." The girl said, keeping away from the bed as far as possible. Sesshomaru had put down a fifteen-feet away from each other rule for the night, and Kagome found it surprisingly hard to comply: the burn mark on his face made her feel extremely guilty.
"Perhaps I should start putting up a reiki barrier around me." Sesshomaru stated. He was lying on the bed, covers back over him, his back faced against her. "I swear, one day you will be the cause of my death."
"I really didn't mean it. You looked so scary and your eyes were red, I thought you would really eat me." Kagome grimaced as she hugged her knees closer to her. Her gaze drifted outside the window, to the crescent moon and the star-riddled sky. She remembered the many nights where she slept underneath the stars, and a sense of nostalgia swept through her.
Inuyasha.
Did Nobume get to him? Was he worried? He must have suspected something fishy going on. She wouldn't be surprised if he would barge in any minute now looking for her. Kagome allowed herself a small smile. The silence in the room lulled her to sleep, and without knowing it, she started to nod off into beautiful oblivion, until a rustle of cloth roused her again. Alerted, she snapped her eyes open only to find herself engulfed with familiar white silk-
the one that she threw at Sesshomaru earlier.
Gravity suddenly left her and she felt herself being lifted up by strong arms. The daiyoukai dumped her on his bed, threw the covers over her, and without another word, strode towards the foot of the bed and settled himself on the floor.
A great deal of silence passed between them.
She realized, as stuck as she felt she was with their situation, how much more him? He had everything to lose, and he was burdened with the Western Lands on his shoulders. Now he was stuck with a non-youkai whom he hated. "Sesshomaru-sama," she started, "have you thought of a plan yet?"
"No, blood contracts are mostly impossible to break." She heard him shift. "But tomorrow I shall head to Inoue, the old youkai who created the parchments. He might know of a way."
"Let me go with you," Kagome shot up from the bed. "I'm involved in this as well, so take me with you."
Sesshomaru did not answer but Kagome smiled. She plopped back on bed knowing he had conceded and she needed enough rest for tomorrow. Her heart paced faster at the thought of another journey ahead of her, and secretly, excited to have yet another set of companions to share it with.
What could be waiting for her in the near future? Inuyasha, she thought as she closed her eyes, wait for me.
"They look so sweet," a familiar woman's voice roused her from dreamland, and Kagome awoke, bleary-eyed to an adoring audience. "Ahww... just look at how she holds him! It's as if she needs him so bad she doesn't want to let go," It was Haruka, her hands clasped together, brought up to the side of her face. Her eyes held a magical twinkle. "Isn't that absolutely adorable, Katsumi?" Haruka blinked prettily at the Phoenix-youkai.
"That's young love to you. I remember when I was Sesshomaru's age, all the girls would flock to me and-" Katsumi was silenced when Nobume covered his mouth.
"Shush!" The snow-haired youkai hissed. "You're waking them up!"
Kagome absently rubbed her cheeks on the soft pillow, gathering the fluff selfishly on her person, embracing the soft little pleasure closer to her.
Her eyes snapped open.
She was on the floor, her head on Sesshomaru's lap, comfortably hugging his "tail."
In the speed of lightning she propelled to the other corner of the room. "What...? how...?!" her jaw dropped, pointing at the bed, then pointing at the still-sleeping Sesshomaru on the floor.
How did THAT even happen? AAAHHH!
Kagome opened her mouth to verbalize her mental scream when Haruka grabbed her by the collar and threw her outside. The three daiyoukai shut the door behind them and heaved a sigh of relief.
"What was that about?" Kagome was rubbing her sore behind when she stood, her bed-hair sticking out as she glared daggers at the three youkai before her. She tried to look as intimidating as she could, but Sesshomaru's yukata over her clothed form made her look like a toddler playing dress-up with daddy's clothes. Haruka only smiled at her sweetly.
"Ah, I know that you don't want to be separated from your love," Haruka started, and Kagome opened her mouth to protest but the Southern Daiyoukai continued, refusing to be interrupted. "But we've been dealing with a cranky Sesshomaru for the whole week, and if you wake him up mid-sleep he'll be crankier."
Kagome stared back at them blankly. "Really?!" Weren't they centuries older than him? Why the hell are they so scared? She felt her temperature rise in frustration and she clenched her fists, breathing deeply. Her behind was throbbing in pain from her landing. You can do this, Kagome. You're not a teenager anymore...
"Anyway," Katsumi continued for Haruka, "We stopped by to tell you lovebirds that breakfast is ready." He waved as he and Haruka turned to walk away. Nobume looked behind his shoulder, and seeing the hall clear he cautiously walked towards Kagome, searching for something in his sleeve.
"I didn't find him," Nobume whispered, his ears flattened. "He was gone when I arrived at the village, but the miko named Kaede handed me this letter to give to you. It's from him."
Kagome stepped forward to get the letter but the fox youkai stepped back. "Not too close," he said. "He might throw a fit if he'd find another scent mixed to his so early in the morning."
Kagome stepped back, letter finally in hand but confused as hell. He was sniffing around her from where he was, and he continued. "Considering your efforts in scent-marking every inch of each other the whole night-"
Kagome's cheeks flushed in realization. "It's not what it seems!" she waved her hands in negation, "we didn't do anything funny-" she watched in horror as the fox gave her a knowing smirk, "I swear! We didn't-"
"Who are you talking to?" Kagome and Nobume's gaze snapped to the opening door. Sesshomaru lumbered through, rubbing his eyes, still drunk from sleep. Kagome brought her gaze back to the fox but she found he was gone.
The plan was for them to have breakfast first before they head to their destination. At first Kagome thought it was so kind of Sesshomaru to think of her well-being, but she later found out he only considered it because he wanted her to shut up. Fine with me, she thought as she was halfway through her pile of food. I have to seek out for the cook, she nodded absently as she took another sip of her miso. This food is to die for.
If there was anything she did not regret it was the food. Ooh, extra firm tofu, let me get-
Something suddenly catapulted to her lap, and Kagome almost screamed, knocking her soup bowl over the table, the liquid pooling down the floor. The black mass on her lap moved, and she realized it was no black mass, it was a head attached to a kimono-clad body.
Rin.
Her toothy grin greeted her, a ray of sunshine from all her murky mood. "Rin is so happy you're here!" she hugged the shell-shocked girl warmly, "Katsumi-sama told me you'll be my mommy when the full moon rises next season. Rin cannot wait!"
"Errr..." Kagome said absently, unable to retort the girl. She shot Katsumi a death glare, and he only laughed nervously. "Uhh, Rin-chan..." Kagome grimaced as she tried to choose her words, "You see, that's not for certain yet."
"It's not?" The girl pouted and her eyes began to water. "You don't want to be with Rin-chan, or Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome watched in horror as the girl began to hiccup, "But Sesshomaru-sama told me he wants to be with y-"
"That's enough, Rin." Sesshomaru stood and strode towards Kagome, grabbed her wrist and dragged her with him.
"Uh, bye, Rin! I'll see you later, I guess," Kagome waved as they reached the door, and instantly the girl perked up.
"See you later, Kagome Oka-san!"
As she made her last preparations in "their" temporary room, Kagome stared blankly at the clothes laid in front of her. It was her clothes packed in her weekender bag, (the yellow backpack was laid to rest in peace.) and each and every item held holes and rips.
She couldn't recall any moment prior to this that could have warranted the destruction of her precious clothing. Perhaps the attendants she entrusted her bag with hated her clothes?
That would be ridiculous, though.
Who could have done this?
"Miko, the sun is high. You are wasting precious time." Sesshomaru's voice droned through her bewildered mind. "Miko." Still Kagome did not budge.
"Miko. I don't know what your problem is, but I'm guessing it's hard to pronounce-"
Kagome turned to him, a dry look plastered on her face. "Ha Ha, very funny." Not in the mood for arguing, she brought her gaze back to her torn clothes. "Somehow my clothes have been ripped."
"There is an entire chest with kimonos beside mine. Stop dallying and grab one." Sesshomaru turned to leave, and Kagome headed her way towards the said chest. She pulled a white one out and realized most of the sets had similar pattern to what he always wore.
And it was weird, because the one she tried on was her size.
Maybe this belongs to his mom. Kagome gasped. Could he be secretly holding a fetish?! Does he have the controversial Oedipus Complex?! Shrugging inappropriate thoughts she proceeded to undress and layer on the kimono. Or maybe from a past lover? Oh, and he couldn't get over his past love... he's a closet romantic!
A sharp knock on the door jolted her. "Miko." His bored voice drifted through, "Did you decide to die in there and not tell me?"
"Alright, alright. I'll be out!" she said as she tied her hanhaba obi fluidly without looking. She would admit, during her summer breaks she had been practicing tea ceremonies and kimono knots only because she wanted to be the perfect wife for her Inuyasha. At that moment she couldn't believe she would have to use these skills for him, the other brother. She opened the door to find Sesshomaru half-turned to her, his golden eyes absolutely glaring in impatience.
A small figure peeked from behind his legs.
"What's he doing here?" Kagome said as she strode towards the two. Jaken gave her an intimidating stare.
"Let me tell you, wench, that Sesshomaru-sama has appointed me as-"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." she said as she brushed past them. "Let's get going, we have a long journey ahead of us."
They finally started, although the 'long journey' was a bit disappointing.
It was only located right beside his displaced castle.
Kagome marveled at the beauty before her. They had reached a breathtaking shoin-zukuri style mansion, complete with cedar floors covered with tatami mats, and fusuma walls with cherry-blossom murals and giant inu paintings adorning the traditional dwelling.
She held her breath when Sesshomaru motioned for her to step in.