Chapter 4
A pounding ache brought Kagome back to consciousness. The most annoying thing about it was that she couldn't determine where the ache was coming from. It seemed that her entire body ached. Blue eyes cracked open a tiny bit as her mind struggled to bring into focus all that had happened. Suddenly, blinding visions of the events the day before came flashing through her mind. Tears stung her eyes briefly as she remembered the horrible moments at the end of the battle when she lost everyone who meant so much to her. Then memories of being carried back home and bathed as well as Sesshomaru's words all came back to her.
Her eyes snapped open, Sesshomaru! Looking around frantically, her eyes finally fell on the stoic demon lord, his back was against the wall below her window, his swords were leaned against his good shoulder and his legs were crossed. His eyes were peacefully closed and his hair hung all in a silver curtain that pooled on the floor around him.
She sighed quietly and relaxed back on the bed, her eyes darting to the clock on her bedside table, the unwavering red dial showing 4:30 in the morning. It was still dark outside, so she curled up more tightly in her towel and thought to fall back asleep.
Wait… towel? Oh Kami, that's right. He bathed me last night. A heated blush spread across her cheeks as her sapphire orbs once again fell on the deadly demon who just so happened to be sleeping in her room. Or not.
Kagome let out a startled "eep" when she found eerie golden eyes staring right back at her. Sesshomaru had come out of sleep the moment he heard her heart begin to speed up, signaling she was waking. He heard her breath quicken and smelled the sting of tears as her wakeful mind grasped all that had happened. It was when he picked up the hot flush and when he scent spiked oddly that he finally opened his eyes.
"You should rest more, you have much healing to do," Kagome stared at the demon lord from her position on her side wondering briefly why he had even stayed. Her eyes strayed down his figure, appraising him more closely. It looked as if most of his wounds had almost healed, but his usually pristine hakama was soiled and bloody and he generally looked a mess. Her eyes returned to his face to find him regarding her coolly with perhaps a twinge of annoyance.
"Will you stay?" the question took him aback. Golden orbs blinked once at her, the slight reaction betraying his confusion at her question. "I don't want you to leave. Not yet." He continued to stare at her and she sighed. "I've lost everyone, and so have you. I think we both need some time away and I want to make sure you're alright as well before you go back. Perhaps also get you some new clothes."
"The clothes are unnecessary," he stated cooly.
"I know, but after all you've done for me, it's the least I could do," the little miko replied, blue eyes staring into golden hopefully.
Sesshomaru was at a loss as to what to say. He did not expect her to ask him to stay, nor had he considered the option. The stoic lord thought to leave before she had even awoken, never to speak to one another again. His curiosity spiked briefly at the idea that he might get to explore the fascinating, albeit disgusting smelling world she lived in.
Thinking about it briefly, he really had no reason to hurry back, Rin and Jaken were gone, the western lands weren't going anywhere and had withstood his absence thus far. After a few moments of contemplation he shrugged elegantly, his silver hair spilling off his shoulder and turned away.
Kagome watched him while he thought things through, then marveled at how the demon could make such an insignificant movement as a shrug look so graceful. And that hair! A girl would kill for hair like that. Just the way the light of the setting moon spilled over it would make anyone green with jealousy.
"If you are quite done staring at me then you should go back to sleep," Kagome flushed a deep red and flipped indignantly onto her other side, wincing slightly at the dull, residual ache in her shoulder. Well he didn't have to be so haughty about it! Like it's MY fault he's gorgeous. Mentally slapping herself for that last comment, she calmed herself and finally managed to slip back into a deep, healing sleep.
Sesshomaru allowed his eyes to slip over to the young woman briefly before sliding back to stare straight in front of him. He was through resting and his chest wound was almost completely gone. By tomorrow morning there wouldn't even be a scar left. He really didn't know why he had agreed to stay, it just seemed like something to do. The thought of going back to the western lands and all the paperwork he knew had piled up for him there really didn't appeal to him. Plus, when was he going to get an opportunity like this again? Five hundred years into the future? Oh, the possibilities.