Sesshomaru X Kagome

Sesshomaru's POV:

I was glancing around looking for the traders. Everyone who recognized me bowed respectfully. I didn't notice them though as my mind was wrapped up about something else. A scout informed me that early in the morning some slave traders had came into the village surrounding my castle. Slave traders were rare and even though I disliked mortals I hated the ones who made slaves of others. Slave traders captured innocent people and enslaved them. I had forbidden them from entering my lands, but the last ones had been here two hundred years ago and the rule forgotten. I glanced at the demons and humans around me. Most were demons but a few brave humans lived around them. Humans were allowed in my land but none were brave enough to live in my castle or get jobs as servants. Rin was the only human to live in my castle.

I smelled Rin ahead of me. 'She must have gotten away from Jaken.' I thought to myself. I also smelled a second familiar smell, though I couldn't remember who it was. I wandered towards the walls around the village and manor to where the markets were set up at. I turned down a final road and came upon the market road. I quickly walked down the road, weaving in and out of the stalls and buyers. I saw my objective and headed towards it. My destination was ten wagons lined up. On the wagons were cages with people in them. Only the troublesome slaves were made to walk, and at the moment there were none. It disgusted me how so many mortals gave up so easily.

A few demons and humans were looking in the cages most were looking at them with pity and looked to be trying to figure out a way to get them free. A few were looking at them with interest, and a couple of children were handing food to the slaves when the guards weren't looking. I counted twenty-five guards, twenty oxen for pulling the wagons and ten horses for some of the guards. Most of the guards were gathered in one area along with many spectators.

I looked over and scowled. The center of attention was a woman in men's clothes who was tied to a cage. Her legs were free and she was growling. She had many wounds and dried blood along with fresh blood, coating her. Her hair was plastered to her face, it to was soaked with blood. The guards were yelling at her and cracking a whip. Every time the whip hit her she would lash out at the guard with her feet. It looked like she had hit a couple too. One was doubled over gasping, one was unconscious and one was holding his side and lying on his back. Suddenly a small girl ran out and stood in front of her.

"Stop that!" Rin yelled backing closer to the woman who looked down at the girl.

"You want some of this too, girl?!" The guard asked snarling.

The man stepped closer and raised his whip. I was about to jump in but the woman Rin was 'protecting' suddenly started to glow a faint pink. The air was tingly and I realized the woman was a miko. 'They even enslave their miko's?' I thought, 'That is just barbaric. Mikos are sacred and holy.' The ropes binding the woman snapped and she dropped to the ground. I could tell she had used the last of her powers. She grabbed Rin and jumped away from the whip.

"Get her!" The guard yelled.

Five guards unsheathed their sword and lunged at the woman and Rin. The miko jumped back. She set Rin down and pulled the unconscious man's sword from its sheath. The guards charged her and I saw Rin gasp. I also heard a woman from one of the cages yell out for the miko to stop. The miko didn't listen she just stood calmly in a fighting position. Then when the guards were almost on top of her she moved quickly and moved her sword with unnatural speed. She jumped away from the men. Four of them fell to the ground and cried out holding numerous wounds. 'She's skilled and fast.' My beast said. I raised my eyebrows slightly in surprise at the miko's skill. The fifth man was panting and had smaller wounds. I saw the miko shudder and start to waver. The guard also noticed. He smiled and advanced on the woman. As soon as he did the Miko stopped wavering and waited.

Then suddenly she threw the sword. It flew forwards and embedded itself in the man's heart. The man gasped and clutched the hilt, dropping his own sword. He looked up at her surprised, before falling to the ground dead. The miko shivered and leaned against the wall. The five who attacked her were all lying on the ground. Four were wounded and one was dead. Three guards were still lying on the ground from when she kicked them. But that still left seventeen guards fresh and angry, who had all pulled their swords out. I decided to stop this. I jumped over the spectators and landed near Rin. The guards stopped and one snarled at me.

"Move."

"Do not speak to me like that petty mortal."

"I'll speak to you how ever I want."

All the men lunged at me. I sliced them to ribbons in a second with my whip. Now only seven guards were alive; four that had attacked the miko and three that had whipped her. One of my own demon guards ran up to me.

"Dispose of the bodies. Take the seven that are alive and seven horses and send them on their way. Tell them if they ever return I'll kill them."

"Hai, milord."

The guard ordered a few others and they started to clean up the mess. I glanced at the miko she was barely standing and she was hugging Rin close and not letting her see the massacre. I strode over to her. She looked up at me with calm and emotionless eye. She gasped and then fell backwards, unconscious. I grabbed her and lifted her bridal style. 'Why did you grab her?' my beast asked. 'She is very interesting. A miko, trained with a sword, captured by slave traders, and fast. I would like to learn more about her.' I replied. He snorted and I looked to Rin who was looking at the miko in my arms. Suddenly a green toad came running up.

"Lord Sesshomaru! I'm sorry Rin got away from me when…What is that in your arms!?"

"Jaken, you and Rin will go do something till dinner, then come back to the castle."

"Hai."

"What are you going to do with her lord Sesshomaru? Please don't kill her." Rin said.

"I won't kill her. Now go."
Rin and Jaken ran off and I surveyed the cages. There were four women and five men. My guards were letting them out. I walked over to a guard.

"Give them the choice of staying or leaving. What ever they choose, make sure they are accommodated."

"Hai."

My guard walked off and I headed to the girl who had cried out to the miko. She looked to be about fourteen, agile but delicate, and bustling with energy. She jumped when she saw me but no more.

"Kati." She stuttered, when I asked her name.

"Kati, tell me who this miko is."

"I don't know much about her. She was my partner in this cage. They chained her to me to stop her from trying to run. They caught her about three weeks ago. She was lying in a clearing with injures. When she came to, she was furious. She destroyed a cage and killed a guard. Over the three weeks she tried to escape and free us but with no avail. She was forced to walk most of the time and was whipped daily. We told her to give up but she said, 'I'm not a slave and I will never be one. You can cage me but not make me obey. I will always fight, right up until I die'. She never cried or cried out. She only yelled curses out and fought back. She never told me her name though. And I didn't know she was a miko."

"Did she have anything with her when she was captured?"

"All of her old things will be in that wagon. I don't think the guards sold them."

She pointed to a covered wagon. I walked over and looked in.

"What stuff is hers?"

Kati looked thoughtful then jumped into the wagon. She grabbed a bag and handed it to me along with one sword, a spear, a dagger, and two short swords only two half feet long and slightly curved on the end.

"What will you do with her?"

"…"

"Can I come? She's my friend and I can't abandon her!"

I nodded to the girl and started off. I heard the girl follow after me. She followed close behind as I walked into the castle. I headed to a guestroom and ordered a servant to get the healer. I walked into the guestroom and laid the miko down on the bed. The girl Kati sat beside the bed. With in a minute the healer came in and swooped down on the miko. The healer was an old demoness who healed everyone in the castle when they had wounds. The healer stripped the miko's shirt off and I respectfully turned my back.

"You girl, get me some hot water and a cloth."

Kati jumped up and ran into the hall. She came back a moment later with a servant. The servant was carrying some cloths in her arms and Kati was carrying a bowl of steaming water. They passed me and I could hear the healer washing the blood off the miko. The three women behind me hissed in sympathy and I sighed. I waited for another ten minutes before Kati shot past me. She grabbed one of the miko's bags and pulled out some clothes. I figured they had finished bandaging her. A moment later the healer walked out without a word followed by the servant.

I turned around and looked down at the miko. She was dressed in brown baggy pants with a white T-shirt. Her night black hair was dripping wet from were they had washed blood out. And her skin was perfect, a creamy color wit only a few fresh cuts. She looked very familiar. I heard thumping coming down the hall. The door slid open and Rin came. Rin lunged at the miko and I realized she had sat up, awake. She glanced around then Rin wrapped her arms around the miko giving her a hug.

"Lady Kagome! I'm so glad you're okay."

Rin's words hit me like a ton of bricks. 'It's the miko who traveled with your brother, and the one who landed the final blow on Naraku!' My beast yelled in surprise. My eyes widened slightly. 'If she is here then were is my brother?' I asked.

"Rin…" Kagome started softly.

"Rin, the miko is hurt."

"Sorry."

Rin let go but stayed near the bed's edge. Kati sat at the end and Kagome smiled at her. Then she turned to me.

"Thank you for saving me, Sesshomaru."

"…"

"I'll leave immediately."

"You are too injured. You may stay until you are healed."

She looked like she was going to argue but then thought better of it.

"Thank you."

Kagome dipped her head. I studied her for a moment.

"Where is my brother? He should be protecting you."

Kagome looked momentarily sad.

"Inuyasha is no longer with the living."

I felt surprised.

"Who killed him?"

"No one."

"Tell me the story. And tell me why you do not smell like a normal human."

"When we defeated Naraku, we got the jewel. Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Kohaku returned to the demon slayer village to restore it. Inuyasha, Shippo, Kikyo, and I went back to Kaeda's. Inuyasha and Kikyo got back together. Kikyo was still dead, and she asked Inuyasha to go to hell with her. He agreed. Right before they left Inuyasha asked for the sacred jewel. I gave it to him, along with the wish. He wished that I would have the strengths, speed, abilities, and immorality of a demon so I could live with and protect Shippo, my adopted son, and look after myself. I still look like a human, and have the personality of a human. I don't think like a demon, and I don't act like a demon. The wish was a selfless wish and the jewel ceased to exist. So I am not completely human, but not a demon either."

I studied her.

"Where is the kitsune Shippo?"

"He went to stay with Sango for a while."

"How did you become captured by slave trader?"

"I ran into a couple of demons. I killed them but got some wounds in the process. I passed out from blood loss. I do have the ability to heal like a demon, but they got me before I cold completely heal. I also have a demon's strength, or some of it, so I did destroy a cage and wreak some havoc. I could have gotten away but they always made sure I was exhausted and wounded."

"…"

The miko sighed and leaned back. Rin crawled onto the bed and sat down beside her.

"Have you been good Rin?" she asked quietly.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Well…I did play some tricks on Jaken and run away from him a few times." She said guiltily.

Kagome just gave a quiet musical laugh. Rin grinned. Jaken came running in suddenly. He starred at the three humans on the bed before turning to me.

"I'm so sorry, Rin just got away from me."

I just raised a brow. She seemed to be doing so a lot.

"Also there is a demon wishing to speak with you milord."

"Show me to him."

"Hai."

"Rin, you will stay here with the miko or you will stay in your room. Kati you will stay with the miko. And miko I do not want to see you up at all."

Then I turned and followed Jaken out the door. He led me down some halls to a courtyard. In the courtyard was a tired looking tiger demon. He had stripes like a tiger and a tail. He was breathing hard and had many tears in his clothes. His one side had a wound, and he looked worried and nervous. He bowed when he saw me.

"Lord Sesshomaru. I'm from a small demon village near the border of your lands. I am the only surviving demon from my village. When I last saw my village it was burning. I've been sent to warn you."

"Warn me of what?"

"There is a group of demons and humans heading towards your castle. They are burning and killing as they come. The leader of the group is named Rehenshin. He is a demon who says he has a grudge against you. Smaller demons have joined him and many humans have also. They are coming straight for you and they are gathering more people by the day. He also is looking for a…someone named Kagome."

I blinked at Kagome's name. I decided to ask her later. I remembered Rehenshin well. His father had been a strong demon who had almost rivaled my father in strength. He had tried killing my father and taking his place as lord. My father had always been a little stronger and killed him. His son Rehenshin had been banished.

~~FLASHBACK~~

My father was standing over Rehen's body. He sighed.

"You were a very good general. I will miss your advice. But you brought this on yourself."

He swiped the blood off of his blade and slid it into his sheath. He motioned to a guard.

"Bring Rehenshin, his son here."

The guard bowed and hurried out. A moment later we heard a yell. Rehenshin burst in the door and saw his father's body. He cried out and leapt at my father. His sword was already bloody telling us he had killed the guard. My father stood there. Then at the last instant he rushed forwards and punched Rehenshin in the stomach. Rehenshin had coifed up blood and shot back into the wall. He was still conscious but stunned. My father watched the boy.

"I will not hold you responsible for your father's actions. But you must be punished for attacking me and killing my guard. You are hereby banished from my land. A lord of another land may take you in but you are to never step foot my land."

A guard walked in and stared to drag the boy out.

"I'll get revenge for my father someday! Just wait!" The boy yelled as he way dragged away.

He glared at my father once before he glared at me. Then he was dragged out the door. I hear later that he had been escorted to the border of my lands.

~~END OF FLASHBACK~~

'I guess he's coming to fu-fill his promise.' My beast rumbled. 'And we won't be merciful like my father.' I said. 'But what does he want the miko?' My beast asked. 'I suggest we keep her close till we get some answers.' 'I agree.' I replied.

"Thank you for the information. Jaken will make sure you are accommodated. You may stay here and work in the castle or village or you may leave and go where you wish."

The man bowed again.

"Thank you my lord."

I turned on my heels and walked off. I headed to my study were I sat down to do some paper work.

Kagome's POV:

As soon as Sesshomaru was out of earshot I sighed.

"Who would have thought I would be saved by my old enemy, Sesshomaru."

"Is being saved by Sesshomaru a bad thing?" Rin asked.

"No. It's just surprising."

"Oh."

"You know the lord of the western lands personally?" Kati asked. "You're friends?"

"I wouldn't call us 'friends'. He has tried to kill me a couple of times, he tried killing my friends and taking his brother's sword."

"Oh. He has a brother?"

"Yes but he is dead."

There was a painful silence for a minute.

"Kagome, where is Shippo?" Rin asked.

"He is with Sango and her brother Kohaku."

"Ooh! Kohaku is better and with his sister now?!"

"Yes."

"I'm happy for him! He seemed so sad with Naraku."

"Well now he is living with his sister and they are happy."

"Maybe Sesshomaru will let me visit them!"

"If he says yes I can take you for a while when I leave."

"Yay! I'll ask him at dinner."

"Umm…Can I come with you when you leave?" Kati asked quietly.

"Of course! I won't abandon you."

Kati gave me a big hug and then sat back down on the bed. Just then her stomach rumbled loudly. She turned red in embarrassment. Rin and I just giggled. Rin jumped up and headed for the door.

"I'll get you some food."

"I thought Sesshomaru said to stay here?"

"But if he doesn't catch me it'll be okay. And if he does catch me I'll just say you were hungry."

Then she skipped out. 'It seemed she has grown up in the last couple of years. She is more mature now. And she no longer talks in third person.' I thought to myself. Kati laid her head on the bed and seemed to fall asleep. After about five minutes the door slid open and Rin jumped in grinning. She slammed the door and started giggling.

"Jaken almost caught me but I run to fast for him." She giggled.

Rin ran to Kati and hid a piece of cloth filled with food under a pillow. Then she sat and pretended she had been talking this whole time. Jaken threw the door open and jumped in panting.

"Ha! I found you! What did Sesshomaru say about staying in here!?"

"Why Jaken, I've been in here the whole time." Rin said innocently.

Jaken opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't think of anything to say. He just closed his mouth and scowled at the girl. Finally he stomped out of the room. Rin giggled and pulled out the food. She handed it all to Kati. Kati's eyes opened in surprise at all the food there.

"How did you get so much?"

"I just asked the cooks for some food for my new friend and they gave me this."

"Thank you."

"Now eat up. You need to get stronger."

Kati nodded and started to eat. She ate slowly as if savoring every bite. It made me wonder how long he had been with the slave traders. They had only fed us enough to keep us alive and no more. I was surprised at how calmly and slowly she ate it, considering how hungry she must be. I also took a bun, some meat, and some cheese from the pile of food. The pile contained cheese, strips of cooked meat, buns, some small oatcakes, a couple of vegetables, and some fruit. I ate what I had taken and then leaned back and closed my eyes. Rin and Kati talked softly but I soon tuned out their soft voices and fell asleep.

Sesshomaru's POV:

I was only in my study for a minute before I smelled Rin run past my door. She was so quiet my demon hearing barely caught the brush of her kimono. All the time she had spent here had taught her stealth and speed. I waited till she was down the hall before I silently slipped after me. I followed after her as she walked into the kitchen. I realized she was getting food for the miko and her friend. I saw Jaken run into the kitchen. Suddenly Rin came running out giggling. She ran right passed me and grinned at me. I smiled slightly. Jaken came running out a minute later. He bowed to me.

"I'm sorry I let Rin get out of the room. I'll send her right back."

"Mmh? Rin is out of the room? I haven't seen her."

Jaken looked confused but quickly ran down the hall again. I decided to go check on the miko and them. First I went to the kitchen and asked how much Rin had gotten, for the guests. The cooks said they had given her enough for three people. So I walked back down the hall to the guestroom. I heard soft voices talking. I opened the door and stepped in.

The miko was sleeping, and Rin and the girl Kati were talking. I looked at the two and realized Kati was only about a year older then Rin. They were talking about Kati's village and Kati was eating slowly. When they saw me Rin smiled and the girl Kati tensed up and bowed.

"Did the miko eat?"

"Yes."

Then Rin jumped up.

"Sesshomaru Kagome said she would take me to visit Kohaku and Shippo if you would let me go. Can I go?"

I blinked.

"I will think about it."

Rin grinned and sat down again. I looked them over once more. My eyes rested on the miko a moment before I turned and once again headed to my study. For the rest of the day I did my paper work. Jaken checked on the humans once in a while and reported that Rin and Kati had drawn some picture, talked and Rin had gotten more food at dinner. Jaken also said the miko stayed asleep, and she was healing quickly. When night had covered the castle for a while I stood up. I walked out of my study. Jaken had fallen asleep long ago, along with most of the castle inhabitants. I walked to the guestroom and looked in. Kati and Rin were sleeping together on the bed, but the miko was no where to be seen. I saw her backpack against the wall, so I knew she hadn't left. I tried smelling for her but she had cloaked her scent when she reached the door. I decided to go look for her. I walked down the halls but I couldn't find her. 'She is probably outside somewhere.' My beast said. I headed for the garden closest to her room.

I walked out into the warm summer air. The garden was covered in the light from the full moon. I followed the stone path, towards a small pond at the back of the garden. I saw Kagome standing before the pond as I rounded the corner. I just starred at her for a moment. Her straight, long, coal-black hair fanned across her back and the moonlight made it shine. The brown pants and white T-shirt looked like the richest garments ever made, on her. All of her curves showed under the loose clothing showing her beauty. She sighed.

"Sorry. But I had to get up. I was going mad just lying there in bed." She said.

I snapped out of my trance and walked up to her. She wasn't looking into the pond she was actually looking up at the moon.

"It's beautiful, is it not?"

"Yes."

She smiled at me and returned to looking at the moon. I saw that she was holding a sword in her arms. It looked very familiar. I starred at it in shock.

"What are you doing with the Tetsiaga?" I asked.

"Inuyasha gave it to me. I thought you noticed it before, because Kati said you carried it for me."

I blinked. 'I held the Tetsiaga in my hands and didn't notice?!' I laughed inwardly at myself.

"How was I even able to hold it?"

"I removed the barrier, so that I could use it."

I looked at it then I reached for it. Kagome easily jumped back out of my reach. She laughed and I growled. She slid the sword and its sheath into a belt at he waist.

"If you want it you will have to take it from me." She taunted.

I growled and jumped at her with my demon speed. Her speed seemed to match mine, which slightly surprised me. I summoned my whip. Now it wasn't just about getting Tetsiaga, I was also testing her skills. She pulled out was her half a foot long dagger from her belt. I sent my whip after her. It clashed against her dagger. I blinked.

"No normal weapon can block my whip."

"This isn't any normal weapon. It was made by Totosi, and I put my miko powers into it to make it stronger."

I shrugged and lashed out with my whip. She just blocked it again. Every time I tried to hit her with the whip she'd block it, and every time I got close enough to grab the sword, she'd lash out with her dagger, and then jump back. After an hour I put my whip away. She also put her dagger away. She had two cuts from where she wasn't fast enough with her dagger and only locked half of my attack. I had four slashes in my clothes and two bleeding cuts from where she had got me with the dagger.

"You may keep the sword for now, but I will get it sometime. It will be more interesting trying to get the sword from you then trying to get it from Inuyasha."

"Nh."

I raised my eyebrow at her answer. She just grinned. Then I remembered a question.

"Why is Rehenshin after you?"

She squinted at me and her guard went up. She slowly reached for her dagger.

"You know Rehenshin?"

"We are enemies."

She relaxed a bit.

"My father killed his, he wants revenge." I said.

"Oh."

"So what does he want with you?"

"We met when I was traveling. He had heard that I was with Inuyasha. He said he wanted to kill one of Inuyasha's old enemies. And now I'm guessing that the enemy was you. He wanted me to join him. I told him I did not care about killing Inuyasha's enemies, and that I did not want to help him with is petty revenge. I guess it ticked him off. I escaped him and his 'army' but he sent men after me. I've killed some of his human and demon allies, and each time I escape him, he sends stronger ones and more. Last time, he sent five demons and ten humans. I would have killed them easily, but one of the demons breathed a poison gas I accidentally breathed in. I used my miko powers to get rid of the poison and purified demon, but then I was weak. I killed the others but I got wounded. That's when the slave traders caught me."

"Hn."

I thought about this and what she had said before piecing it together. Then a question popped into my head.

"You said before that you got the abilities of a demon. What abilities do you have?"

She smiled.

"Well I did get the knowledge on how to use different weapons instantly, and I control water and wind."

"Water and wind, the elements?"

"Yes. Watch."

She walked to the pond and reached down into it. She pulled her hands out of the water. In one hand was a swirling sphere of water, and then she held he other one out. A swirling sphere of wind swirled in her palm. Then she threw the sphere of air at me. Just before it hit me it burst. A breeze of wind hit me, then died as suddenly as it had appeared. She smiled and dropped the water sphere back in the pond.

"I can also fly, and swim for longer periods of time."

She sounded thrilled. I smirked slightly.

"Nh."

"I would like to thank you for saving me from the slave traders."

"Nh."

"I'm planning on leaving tomorrow."

"No."

"Nh?"

She looked confused.

"I wish for you to stay here a while."

"You just want to try and get the Tetsiaga."

I smirked.

"If you stay here, you will meet with Rehenshin again. He is heading this way."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Mmh. Maybe I will stay then."

I smiled and she grinned.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll head back to my room now."

I nodded and walked back with her. When I saw her to her room I walked off to mine. I laid down on my bed and quickly fell asleep.

.--.

When I woke up it was a little after dawn. I stood and quickly got dressed. I walked off to check on my two guests. I found the miko sleeping. I didn't see Rin or Kati though. A few seconds later I heard a splash and some yelling. The two girls jogged in giggling.

"Lord Sesshomaru, master Jaken fell in the pond." Rin said.

I raised an eyebrow. 'Fell or helped in?' I wondered. Then the two girls ran off again.