Chapter Two: First Encounter
Kagome woke as the birds first began their song. Soul stealers flew past; sounding out light trills to welcome the dawn (it had taken a while for her to figure out that the musical sounds were coming from her soul stealers). Stretching lazily a stealer wrapped itself around her arm, she looked up at it as the scales brushed along her skin, she smiled, this was the first stealer that 'spoke' to her, strangely enough it had an almost greenish tinge to its light, in fact each soul stealer had something to differentiate them between the others. She accurately dubbed this one Emerald, he was her favourite simply because he stayed with her no matter what, the others would swap places but he was always near. Emerald unwrapped himself and releasing a light musical trill he rose into the air, coiling above her as she quickly got changed into her miko uniform and prepared herself some ramen (Ha Inuyasha! No more ramen for you! That teaches you for sending me away like that!). She couldn't help the thought and although she felt slightly guilty/depressed after thinking it she couldn't stop grinning as she slurped up the noodles.
A smirk crossing her features she finished her breakfast and, clearing it up at a nearby stream she was ready to head off once more. Her stealers spread out, Emerald faithfully following her, always keeping a stronger touch within her mind, the others moving out all around her, scanning the area for any demonic presences. Moving toward the large human road she moved parallel to it, heading in the direction that took her the furthest from her ex-friends. This was a west, north/west direction. Not that it mattered. She simply had to search for shards and help people as a travelling miko until Naraku showed himself for the final battle.
She pushed herself hard, using the punishing exercise to keep her thoughts from turning dark, the stealers warned her should anything come to close, be it human or demon; she avoided them all. She stopped for a brief lunch, silently glad that soul stealers only fed on energy; otherwise her rations wouldn't last very long considering she had 13 mouths to feed, including herself. She was soon travelling again, moving late into the evening with her stealers light as guidance. But finally she could push herself no more, and so asking her stealers to search for an adequate clearing she sent them out. Then she sat with her back to a tree, ignoring as the rough bark bit into her back through the miko outfit, sighing she let her mind wander as the light trills from her companions sounded through the night.
Her scouts came back much later with the aggravating news that only one large clearing was nearby, and that it was occupied by some yokai. Rising and pushing away the exhaustion in her mind she followed as the soul stealers wound their way through the trees, absently she wondered if this was how Inuyasha felt when he followed the stealers in the past to Kikyo. Pushing such thoughts aside she moved through the wood, unaware that the way she moved was what could only be described as graceful. Seeing a lighter area up ahead she soon entered the large clearing, and to her surprise she found a campfire and the Lord of the Western Lands, with his entourage around it. Whilst the others were asleep he was on his feet and watching her with impenetrable eyes.
Her soul stealers moved closely around her, touching her constantly, seeking comfort from the strong presence in front of them. She could feel her own heart beat speed up and her breath hitched, not only with fear but awe as well. The moonlight shone on him just so, highlighting his hair and facial structure whilst throwing sharp shadows across his features, giving him a very ethereal look. She couldn't know that with her stealers lights constantly moving and twisting around her she looked just as otherworldly as he did, the light playing with her own assets and turning her into a being of beauty.
Gasping slightly she suddenly remembered her manners, and wondering vaguely whether he recognised her; she bowed deeply, her black hair falling over her shoulders to glide just above the ground.
'Milord. I apologise for intruding. This was the only clearing in the area and I seek a camping site here, just for the night.' Using her best language she prayed to whatever kami's were listening that he not recognise her and lop off her head simply for knowing his half-brother. When she finally peeked under her bangs at him she caught a gasp when she saw that he was now standing mere feet from her. How did he move so quietly? Weren't cats the silent ones, not dogs?
'I suppose calling you wench would be inappropriate now, considering you are no longer dressed as such.' Automatically straightening she glared at him before remembering belatedly that she was trying to not piss off the demon lord. He was eyeing her with a considering gaze, she lowered her eyes just enough as to not appear subservient but not threatening either, I mean c'mon, everyone knows you don't stare dangerous animals/beings in the eyes.
'I would appreciate being called by my birth name, milord. Under different circumstances I would respect you with the same.' She could have bitten off her own tongue, she hadn't even realised she was speaking until the words were out of her mouth! Hesitantly raising her eyes she tried to gauge his reaction. He was no longer looking at her but off to the side, as if she wasn't even worth looking at.
'Respect is earned, not granted. Until then, Miko, I shall refer to you by your station.' She sighed but nodded her head in agreement, it was better than some of the things Inuyasha had called her anyway. 'Where is the half-breed, Miko? Do you not travel with him?' He was once again looking at her and she fought the urge to fidget under his gaze, the light her soul stealers were giving off was reflecting off of his eyes, making the colour deeper and his gaze even more piercing, she sighed inwardly, as if he needed the advantage.
'I no longer travel with him, Milord. Circumstances changed and we had to part ways. They do not know where I am, and I would prefer it that way.' She looked away from his eyes and her eyes fell on the sleeping child, her eyes softened. She didn't know much about her except her name was Rin and she travelled with Lord Sesshoumaru, but she did know that the child was the most innocent she had seen in a long time. Noticing the fire she stared longingly at it, the temperature wasn't that bad yet, but it would drop soon and Kagome was too tired to make her own fire. She would have to settle for her sleeping bag…maybe she shouldn't have pushed herself so hard today. She could barely stand as it was.
Lost in her night dreaming (get it? Daydreaming/night dreaming. Hehe :D) she didn't notice Sesshoumaru's calculating gaze. He had questions, ones he wanted answers to, but he was not an idiot like his brother, and he could clearly see the miko was close to collapsing with exhaustion. He supposed no answers would be forthcoming should she go into a sleep-induced coma. It was a good thing she was no longer dressed as she used to be, otherwise he wouldn't even consider doing what he was about to do. Twisting around he strode across the clearing and stopped before the fire, he heard the miko's slight sigh of relief and inwardly smirked at what might happen next.
'You may use my fire, Miko. But in return I will have answers tomorrow to questions of mine.' He heard her start before she walked lightly over to him, inwardly he raised an eyebrow. Where was the careless, trip-happy miko he knew? Maybe his brother had a deteriorating effect on all those around him and now that she wasn't near to the half-breed, she was no longer affected...it was an interesting idea, one worth exploring.
'That seems an adequate offer, Milord. But knowledge is power, perchance I do not like the question, may I answer to the best of my ability, should it compromise those I am loyal to?' Thank you Kami, she took those etiquette lessons! When she had time she would pray an apology to her mother for not taking her seriously when she had been forced into it, before coming to the feudal era. He turned to her, looking her over once more, outwardly he seemed slightly annoyed, but inwardly he was impressed. Considering their past encounters he did not think it possible she could talk in any way a dignified manner. He also knew that knowledge could be a dangerous weapon when wielded correctly, and so he allowed it, giving her a slight down turn of the head.
As soon as she saw the small nod her dignified graceful persona went out the window. Grabbing her pack and weapons she had soon set up her sleeping bag near to the fire, and was revelling in the comforting light and warmth for a few seconds. Her companions looped around her taking extra energy from her and helping her set up her stuff, she voiced quiet good nights to them and they quietly trilled a reply. She was soon lying in her sleeping bag and letting sleep encompass her, not wondering at her judgement to sleep beside the same fire as Sesshoumaru, even if it was just for the night.
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In the morning Kagome woke up with a huge yawn and a giant stretch. Her attention was immediately caught by two things. One, the strong demonic presence was still nearby and Two, the wells energy was higher than usual. The second registered slowly and it was with sudden alarm that she was standing and looking around the clearing, ignoring the being sitting across the fire from her in favour of finding her companions.
She was soon sighing in relief when she spotted them circling together a ways away, the second they realised she was awake they flew back and started collecting energy from her, she sighed in relief as the pressure building within her receded, it was like water building up in a dam, waiting to burst its banks lest she release some of the water somehow. What was confusing her most was the fact that the wells aura was starting to take on some of her signature, each aura for different beings was slightly unique, these differences were called signatures; the fact the well was taking on hers was confusing and slightly worrying.
As her stealers circled around her, brushing along her in a confusing feel of scales and cloth on skin, she wondered why they had been away, what were they doing? Holding a soul stealer conference? Smiling slightly she figured there wasn't really an easy way of asking them without prying; if they didn't attempt to tell her then she wasn't supposed to know. That was when she remembered the demon lord whose presence she had ignored in favour of some soul stealers…shit. He was going to kill her. Running back to the campfire she noticed he was still sitting down and lucky for her, nothing was glowing green.
'I'm sorry Milord, for not greeting you this morning. I was…distracted.' She hastily bowed, soul stealers winding around her, for some reason they were all staying close to her, it was actually hard to see past the flying creatures. Holding the bow she wondered when she should start praying, before or after the death threat? Choices, choices.
'Why were you so distracted, Miko, that you forgot the presence of a demon lord?' His voice was lightly amused and he hadn't moved yet. Pulling out of the bow she sat on her sleeping bag, ordering some of the stealers to leave, so she could actually see said demon lord. 'And why, Miko, do you allow such…parasites…to travel with you.' His voice filled with scorn as he regarded her with sharp, impatient eyes. She supposed this to be the beginning of the questioning. Fighting back her urge to yell at him for disrespecting her companions (he was a demon lord, he could disrespect stuff as much as he wanted) she thought her answer through, wondering how much to tell him.
'I cannot tell you all of it, Milord, suffice to say it is important they travel with me.' She looked up, hoping that was a good enough answer. Apparently not because his eyes narrowed and he asked with aggravation hidden in his tone;
'Why must they travel with you, Miko? And what happened between you and your previous companions to make it necessary for you to travel separately?' This time his eyes were dangerous, daring her to side step his question again. She sighed, it wasn't too important to tell him the second, but if she told him the first what might he do? Kill her soul stealers so the wells energy overflows and kills her? Because if he did, she would die if the wells energy got out of control. She would tell him as much as possible without endangering herself or them. Stopping the anxious fidgeting she hadn't realised she was doing she raised cautious eyes to look at him, his mask was in place but that dangerous glint was still there.
'They help me in my travelling, Milord; they warn me if dangerous beings are nearby etc. They helped me find this clearing, even telling me that there were yokai here.' He looked her over before looking deep into her eyes, he knew she was holding something back, but for now he would let it rest, he had said the previous night that he would let her tell him what she could without compromising her loyalty…Damnit. He nodded slightly before looking away and at the forest, indicating her to answer his other question.
'My…friends were distracted in the last battle with Naraku…when he nearly killed me. They asked me to return to my…home…'She felt the familiar tears well in her eyes but angrily held them in place, she wouldn't cry for them anymore, if they were willing to disown her then she was unwilling to give anymore of herself to them then she already had. Realising she had lapsed into silence and he was watching her curiously from the corner of his eye she continued, fighting to keep her voice from wavering, 'They…insisted I leave. My son…disowned me…I left, saying I would go…home, but I didn't…instead I acquired a miko garment and…well…here I am…waiting for Naraku to show his ugly hide so I can join in the final battle and help take him down…' She looked up at him but he was once more regarding the forest as if it held the answers to life hidden in the shade.
'Miko, it seems a foolish thing to send you away now, just because of your nearly dying. Surely your companions have been in similar situations and they weren't asked to leave?' His voice was low; he seemed mystified, as if the idea of protecting someone was completely foreign.
'Yes, Milord, but they didn't know that I have trained. They assumed I was only able to sense jewel shards, and as such I was…putting myself in danger unnecessarily, also there was another who could sense the shards, who they believed had more experience then I did…' He nodded, what she said made sense. Her comrades decided to cut off what they thought was a weakness to replace with someone of more power. He could understand that, but he could also see the pain in her gaze. They probably thought they were doing better by her by sending her back to her village, they did not consider that she would prefer to stay with them. He also understood that, glancing at his own entourage, he understood the need for companionship; even if he would not admit it to anyone else. He was drawn out of his thoughts by her hesitant but curious voice,
'Milord…may I ask…considering our past, when I entered the clearing…why did you not kill me on sight, or at least threaten to do so?' Kagome hoped she wasn't pushing her luck but it had been nagging at her. When they had seen each other before, he automatically attacked or ignored her, the fact that they were almost having a…a conversation, the mere idea of it was, for lack of a better word, foreign. Looking at him she flinched when she noticed how hard his gaze was, but he turned it to the sky and looked at it for so long that she didn't believe she was going to get an answer when his voice finally broke the silence,
'I shall answer only this one question, Miko; considering you have answered mine…At one point Naraku captured Rin, he intended to use her against me, as he is want to do. I went to rescue her, but she was taken to Mt Hakurei, a pure mountain, and although I could enter…the purity significantly lowered my abilities. When I found her she was about to be killed, I could not get to her in time. But an un-dead miko shot an arrow and saved her, when I asked how I could end my debt she asked that if I encounter you, I should never attack unless you provoke me. I honoured her request and have not attacked you unless you attempted to do me or mine harm, which you haven't, and so I as of yet I have not harmed you.' Kagome was stunned at first; she didn't even notice Sesshoumaru watching her reaction. Then her face broke into a brilliant smile and she clapped her hands together.
'Kikyo did that? But why me, why not the group as a whole? Or especially Inuyasha…actually…holy crap.' Her eyes turned to him in blank surprise, he raised his eyebrow and inwardly smirked at her deterioration in language use, it was only a matter of time. 'You've never attacked him have you?...' Now he was confused. Was she not there during their countless battles, did she not watch as he used his poison whip on Inuyasha, did she not treat Inuyasha after he stuck a hand through the hanyou's chest? She must have sensed something because she hastily continued, waving her hands in front of her as if to ward off his questions, 'No, I mean, you provoked him sure, but you always let him attack first, except for that time with Tokijin, every other time he has been the one to launch the attack first…no wonder Kikyo didn't ask for Inuyasha, it would have been a waste as a few well placed verbal barbs and he would have attacked you immediately…' Slightly impressed he watched her with raised brows, since when were humans so perceptive? Maybe it was just this one? About to ask her about it the sound of a yawn and Rin sitting up took his attention.
They both watched as the child sleepily blinked herself awake, letting her arms stretch out she suddenly seemed to waken and her eyes hastily scanned the clearing, a huge grin crossed her face when she noticed Sesshoumaru on one side of the clearing. Her eyes completely missed Kagome in favour of her Lord. She was suddenly up, and running around the fire she came to a stop next to Sesshoumaru, her face a huge smile, her eyes bright and happy, she left just enough space between her and Sesshoumaru that she wouldn't be crowding him.
'Good morning Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin is awake now, can Rin go find some food Sesshoumaru-sama, the berries Jaken-sama got Rin yesterday were icky!' The child said emphatically but in an almost soft voice, clearly respecting his sensitive hearing. During her short speech she used wild hand motions and lots of face movement to describe just how she felt about the berries without getting into too much detail. Both their attention, though, turned to the Miko when she let out a light laugh at Rin's antics. As soon as Rin noticed her she started examining the priestess curiously, and finally pointing at Kagome Rin turned to Sesshoumaru and said in a child-like, curiosity-filled voice,
'Who's that Sesshoumaru-sama? Rin thinks she has seen the pretty lady before, but Rin can't remember where.' Sesshoumaru fought the urge to smile at the child, her innocence was priceless, and out of all the humans/half-demons he was acquainted with, she was the only one who spoke softly so as not to hurt his hearing. He watched as Rin ran back around the fire to the miko's side and hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly, she asked in an excited voice,
'What's your name pretty lady? Rin's name is Rin.' Kagome smiled at the child and said in an equally excited voice,
'My name is Kagome, Rin. Nice to meet you. I used to travel with Sesshoumaru-sama's half-brother, that's where you know me from.' Rin's eyes widened and she did a little skip-dance where she was standing, a huge grin on her face as she pointed at Kagome again,
'Rin remembers you Kagome-san, you helped to save Rin that time with Kohaku-kun.' Kagome nodded before glancing at Sesshoumaru, her eyes alight and her face in a grin she didn't think about who he was when she mouthed to him with a little point at Rin,
'She is sooo cute!' He mentally rolled his eyes at the antics of females, put them in each others company and they forget all forms of etiquette and also, apparently, the stations of those around them.
Just as Kagome was getting into a lengthy discussion with Rin about flowers a soul stealer, Emerald actually, came down and wound itself around Kagome. Rin was noticeably shocked but Kagome didn't notice, her eyes were blank and she was absently stroking the stealer. Her eyes suddenly cleared and she glanced up at the sun, her eyes widening and a short gasp escaping her,
'Oh my Kami! I didn't realise the time! I've got to go if I want to make any distance today.' She started packing her things up, apologising to Rin for needing to leave so soon after making her acquaintance. Rin looked devastated but was soon her happy, smiling self when Kagome promised to spend an hour or two with her the next time they met (after getting a nod from Sesshoumaru, she was glad he gave permission, if he had of said no who knows what Rin and Kagome would have had to resort to to convince him otherwise).
Kagome was soon ready to go, her back pack in place, bow and arrows strapped to her she glanced once more around the clearing. Sesshoumaru too, was standing as he oversaw the breaking down of the camp by Jaken and Ah-Un (Jaken had thrown quite a hissy fit when he realised there was a human wench in their campsite, he learnt the hard way why you don't piss off Kagome. Rin was reduced to a ball of laughter after watching her Jaken-sama get told off by her Kagome-san). Turning around she bowed low to Sesshoumaru,
'Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama, for letting me share in your campsite. If you have any more questions at some point, I won't mind answering them to the best of my ability.' Turning to Rin she gave the girl a hug, 'See you around Rin, it was great meeting you!' With a smile she turned to the three remaining demons, 'Goodbye Jaken, sorry for being so harsh on you (she got quite physical when she 'told off' Jaken), and it was nice meeting you Ah-Un.' Jaken huffed and turned, secretly pleased that for once someone acknowledged him, even apologised for hurting him, it was a new and pleasant feeling. Ah-Un shook their heads and one let out a snort, their own version of a wave. She waved back before turning and heading into the forest once more, giving one last bow to Sesshoumaru before leaving their sight. Sesshoumaru shook his head slightly, she was such an unusual female, by the end of her very short stay she had managed to befriend everyone in his entourage and even acted familiarly with him. Turning he watched as his followers finished packing and then they too headed off in a slightly different direction then the miko. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he was actually looking forward to her next visit, and looking over his entourage and noticing their happier-than-usual countenance, he knew he was not the only one.
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AN: Hey, here is the next chapter, I was actually going to have Sesshoumaru come in much later, before remembering this is supposed to be a sess/kag and as such I have to have him appear a little more than I had planned :D
I bet a few of you thought she was going to join him. Hehe. Nope, I need a few more things to happen first before she even meets him again, but don't worry, its all going to be interesting and hopefully, fun to read.
Thank you to everyone who had read and reviewed this story, its because of you guys that I'm even writing this, I started it quite a while ago and couldn't get myself motivated enough to continue, focusing more on Night of the Eclipse, but here you go, the next chappie, hope you enjoy :D
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