Chapter 7

Dogs and Cats

Kagome held onto Sesshomaru tightly as he leaped into his castle and sped into a lavishly decorated room. The large cherry wood bed was draped in blue and silver silk, and the walls were colored with painstakingly detailed paintings of large dogs battling. She didn't have much time to appreciate the room before she was pinned against the wall.

His arms were on either side of her head, trapping her to stare at the angry demon lord. Her face flushed. His eyes had regained their normal golden hue, with a bit of red still pulsing at the edges. He was angry with her.

"Why do you cause such problems for me, girl?" He spat the question like it burned his tongue, and she looked down in shame. She hadn't meant to be such a bother to him, but it seemed like no matter what she did, she was the main source of frustration for him.

"I'm sorry, Lord Sesshomaru... I don't mean to cause you so much anger." She looked up at him, and noticed his face had begun easing back to the face of perfect blankness, aside from his narrowed eyes. "I don't mean to anger the whole city..." She choked slightly on her words as the pain of them filled her heart. Previous concerns about not belonging rose again, but this time they were backed the actions of that demon earlier. Her eyes welled with tears but she would not shed them in front of him. She would not be considered weaker than she already was.

He blinked at her, before leaning in, sniffing her face. It tickled, but more so made her heart race. "Why do you cry, miko? Did that demon do more to you than what I witnessed?" She could have laughed at his naivety of her human emotions, but instead felt comforted by his notice of her tears and they began to fall with no end in sight.

She leaned onto his shoulder and let her tears spill. A part of her imagined what an odd sight they made, a miko crying on a large bull-headed demon's shoulder. She felt an arm wrap around her, and a low vibrating growl fill his chest. Her tears fell harder and she wrapped her arms around him. She knew this would not last, but in the meantime, she felt safe, accepted. She would stay here as long as he allowed.

-S-

He did not mean to make her cry, but his beast forced him to wrap his arms around her. Her crying only intensified. She had never answered his question about the demon causing her more harm than he knew, and he growled with anger. He would kill the fiend. Her small arms wrapped around him, and felt her head fall onto his shoulder. The angry growling turned to one of comfort. His inner beast whined at her sadness.

He could have never imagined he would comfort a human, especially one so infuriating. It seemed his beast had made her a vital part of his life. While he still fought it, he could feel the impending closeness that they had already shared. He looked down to her when she whispered lightly. "I don't want to be a burden to you. You have enough troubles as it is."

While he agreed that she had been an added source of troubles to his already giant pile, he couldn't help but feel as though the troubles she caused were not nearly as awful. He was willing to protect her, and keep her in the castle. It was hypocritical that he had removed several servants from the castle for causing much less of a problem than her, but she was different.

His beast called out for her like it would a mate, and he had such a difficult time remaining neutral in her presence. He would have to accept that she would need protecting, or else he would be forever tormented by running away. He never ran from a challenge, and this was no different.

"I have no objections to keeping you under my protection, miko. Now stop your crying, and make yourself decent." He backed away from her, and moved to the door, looking over at her briefly. "I will send in a housemaid to show you to your new quarters." With that he left, shutting the door behind him.

-K-

He had left her once again in such a quick manner, making her head spin. He was fine with protecting her? The great lord of the west was willing to personally protect a orphaned miko? Before she could get too wrapped in her thoughts, a mid-aged maid with black feline ears and a long, slick tail moved her way into the room.

"My lady..." She bowed deeply, making Kagome blink in confusion. She wanted to explain that she was not royalty but the girl cut her off. "I am Kinu, and I will be your personal handmaid." She stood, urging Kagome to follow her to a close by bedroom, which was equally, if not more so, exquisitely decorated. The walls were painted with tigers doing everyday activities, including swatting at large cranes and bathing in the sun. It was beautiful.

"This is Lord Sesshomaru's least favorite room." The cat demon next to her stated in an amused tone. Kagome looked over to her, shocked.

"Why? It's gorgeous!" Kagome ran her hand along the purple silk sheets with delicate flowers weaved in. Kinu laughed conservatively, covering her mouth with a small paw-like hand. "Well, my lady, dogs and cats do not quite mix. It was painted for the young maiden long ago."

Something clicked in her mind, and she realized suddenly that Sesshomaru was a dog demon. His actions made so much sense now. What didn't make sense was why he had put her in a room of a girl who he was so close to before. She didn't want to make a mess of anything that he held dear. "Is it alright that I stay in this room? I don't want to disturb a room that holds so much meaning..." Kinu held up her paw and nodded her head.

"The lord specifically asked me to put you in this room, my lady." Kagome was shocked, but she accepted it. It must just be another room to him, he most likely did not ponder on such sentiments.

"Please, Kinu, call me Kagome. No one has used my real name in a long time." Kinu bowed her head with a small smile.

"Yes, Lady Kagome." Kagome could have done without the 'lady', but she was happy with being called by her name for once. "Shall I draw a bath for you?" Kagome realized she was covered in filth from the herbs she had gathered and blushed, embarrassed.

"Yes... please." She smiled sheepishly, her mind beginning to slip away into daydreams of a steamy bath to soothe her aching muscles. Kinu slipped into the second door in the room to the bathroom where she begun preparing the bath, while Kagome sat in a plush chair, waiting patiently. She felt unworthy of such treament, but decided to enjoy it. It most likely would not last forever, and she would most likely be unwelcome after Naraku was destroyed.

Unwillingly, she thought back to the dream she had a week ago and frowned. It felt so real. It still vividly replayed in her mind and made her sick to her stomach. What he had said in her dream was so demented, she had no idea why her mind would create such sick delusions. It must just be the stress of being in a new place. She was a bit homesick, and missed the simple life of her shrine. Kagome started at the sound of Kinu's voice.

"The bath is ready, Lady Kagome." Kagome nodded with a forced smile, and decided to push such thoughts from her mind. Those things were in the past, and would stay in the least, she hoped desperately that they would.

She didn't know if she could handle another one of those nightmares.