Hey guys! I'm extremely sorry about the late update. It's been a few days. Life kinda just got in the way. Well, school did anyways. I'm a junior at al all women's college and I'm working towards a religion degree. (A little fact about me) I haven't forgotten about the story, so no worries! I had someone comment that the Sesshomaru in this story is a bit OC (Out of Character). Yes, he is a little bit. I'm not good at writing lengthy things, and I'm trying really hard with this one, but in order to keep it shorter and more drawn out, I decided to let Sesshomaru give into his beast and his feelings faster than he normally would have. I promise it will still be a good story though. Okay, now on with the next chapter! Please feel free to leave reviews and let me know how I'm doing. (:
Chapter 8
Kagome was sitting around the fire thinking about her and Sesshomaru's encounter when said demon lord strode into the camp with his own pack following behind him. Kagome looked up and caught his golden gaze as he walked in and seated himself at the base of a tree across from her line of sight. Cheeks reddening she asked "So, you're really gonna travel with us now?" "Hn. I thought we already discussed it and made things clear, Miko." Sesshomaru said before closing his eyes. "It would be in everyone's best interest if we stayed together." "Yeah, I guess you're right." Kagome said still staring at him. Sesshomaru opened his eyes and reached into his haori pulling something out. "I found this in the demons remains. I thought it might be of some use to you." he said before tossing it to her. Kagome caught it and looked at what he had just thrown her. "Oh, a jewel shard! I had almost forgotten about it. Thanks, Lord Sesshomaru!" she said smiling widely and then began to pour her powers into the jewel purifying it. She stuck the small fragment into a small bottle in her bag and pulled out her hairbrush and began brushing her hair. Sesshomaru stared at her from across the fire. He noticed the way her dark hair was not only longer, but fell in beautiful waves to her hip. If he had been honest with himself, he would agree that she had the most beautiful hair of any woman he had ever met. Closing his eyes he began to ponder on the being sitting across from him. 'How long have I ha these feelings?' he thought. "You have for quite some time. Yet, the blind fool that you are when it comes to humans, you have been unable to identify exactly what it is you have felt for the little woman.", his beast chimed in. Sesshomaru decided to do something he never normally did when it came to his inner beast; listen to him. Realizing that Sesshomaru wasn't going to give him a cutting remark and was going to let him speak his mind for once, he continued. "You have always known that she was a better match than most other demon women you have come across. She is beautiful, so much so, that she captures even your attention. She is strong. You can feel the power radiating off of her. She is kind to those she does and does not know. She accepts everyone regardless of their gender or species. She is loving, caring, and compassionate. She has even taken a small demon child under her wing and now claims herself to be his surrogate mother. She is maternal. There is nothing you despise about her. The only thing that has ever irked you has been her absent fear of you. You have always thought these things in the very recesses of your mind, but you have only just begun to realize that you actually feel something more than ally-ship with her. It has been a little over a year when that happened. We hadn't seen her or her group is a little over a year, what with them looking for Naraku and you tending to a war proclaimed by the Southern Lands for declining their offer to mate with their daughter, Azuki, an bring the lands together. You fixed that problem though by offering them your second best warrior, which they took with gratitude. After that we were off again in hunt for Naraku when we ran across her. At first you didn't recognize her. She had grown into a woman, and was no longer a child. Her hair was longer, she wore different clothing, and she was powerful. Oh so powerful. It sizzled in the air around her. Inuyasha caught you staring at her and proclaimed yet another battle with you. Before he could pull his sword, Kagome ran over and stood in front of you and muttered that simple incantation. She turned to look at you and in that instant your mind whispered "Beautiful". That's when I knew your deepest desires, because they were mine as well. You have fought for so long against what you feel, simply because you are not used to feeling. The only being you have ever truly felt for has been Rin. We see her not only as pack, but as a daughter, though you are still yet to call her that. This feeling scares you. And knowing that Goshinki was right, and not you, also scares you. You are used to being right. But you need to accept the fact that I and you have mentally claimed her. The claim is not spoken yet, but that will happen in due time. You need to get to know her better; more personally. I suggest you train her. You will get quality time with her then. She already seems to be attracted to you, so I doubt that she will deny your offer. Simply state that you wish to train her in hand to hand combat. Her weapon is her bow, but she has never tried any other weapon. Test her swordsmanship skills. Teach her something else that will benefit her and her safety." Sesshomaru thought about everything his beast had said in long strides. He realized, for the first time in his existence, that he was right. He was simply too proud and stubborn to say it out loud, but his beast had out smarted him. Damn him. No one out smarted him, but his beast just so happened to. That was probably only because he knew him better than anyone else did, even his own parents. This was going to take a while to get used to, but he supposed this was not the worst thing to have ever happened.
Kagome stared into the fire as thoughts filled her mind about a certain demon lord. She glanced up and noticed that his eyes were closed and that he seemed to be deep in though. She decided that meditation was in order before she went to sleep. Standing and grabbing her bow, she turned to face Inuyasha who was perched in a tree next to her. "I'm going to go meditate. I'll be back in about an hour. Don't wait up." She said smiling at the hanyou. "Feh. Just don't get yourself killed." He retorted and she turned and began walking away. A different set of golden eyes followed her as she disappeared into the forest after her and Inuyasha's conversation. Sesshomaru got up and began to head in her direction. "Hey bastard, just where do ya think you're goin?" Inuyasha asked sitting up from his spot in the tree. "Inuyasha, if you do not wish to accompany her and see to her safety, then I will." He said coolly before disappearing himself. Kagome walked through the forest and came across a small green clearing. Setting down her bow she sat down in the middle of it and crossed her legs. Laying the tops of her hands on her knees, she closed her eyes. That's when she felt it. A huge powerful aura was heading her way. She opened her eyes and came face to face with Sesshomaru. "Kyahhhh! What the hell are you doing?!" Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at her. "Whatever do you mean, miko?" "You can't just sneak up on someone when they have their eyes closed, you know! Why are you here anyways and sitting in front of me?" Kagome said blushing and averting her eyes to look at a blade of grass that had suddenly become very interesting. "You should not be out here alone at night, so I decided to accompany you. Besides, I wished to know why you were meditating." He said while staring at her downturned and reddened face. Kagome looked back up at him. "Oh, really? Well I meditate because that's how I am able to keep my powers in check. It helps me concentrate too. Do you meditate?" "Hn. I see. Yes, I do. I do it for the same reason as you and it relaxes me." Sesshomaru stated. "Oh okay. Yeah same here. I guess you can stay as long as you don't interrupt me." Kagome said sheepishly before closing her eyes again. She breathed in deeply and then breathed out releasing all built up tension. Reaching inside of her, like she had on so many other times, she found her power. She began to fan it out in every direction until she knew she was glowing with it. Sesshomaru stared at her in utter amazement, which for him, was him looking on with wider eyes than usual. So this was her power? If she was as powerful as he could feel then he couldn't wait until the final battle. He looked down at her palms and two pink energy spheres started glowing in them. They stayed there for a few minutes then began to recede back into her body. Kagome, having finished, summoned her powers back into her body. After every last trace was no longer visible she opened her eyes to see that Sesshomaru was staring at her wide-eyed. "Oh, you haven't seen me show my powers yet. I forgot about that. Actually, you're the only one who has ever seen me in this state." Kagome blushed. "You are quite powerful. Do you realize that, Miko?" "I didn't for a while. It's been a year since I first realized how much power I actually had. Inuyasha puts me down so much and calls me incompetent, that I decided the best time to show him would be during the final battle." She said smiling. "Hn. Miko, this Sesshomaru would like to make you and offer. How would you like to learn hand to hand combat? It would improve your fighting skills and give you an edge." Kagome just stared at him. "Y-you want to teach me how to f-fight?" "I believe that is just what I said. Just think, when the final battle is here, Inuyasha will stand there staring at how far you've come. He might even apologize to you for thinking you incompetent." Kagome grinned at this. "This could be really interesting! I'll take you up on your offer, if not for myself, then to see his face." "Good. I will also be teaching you how to fight and wield a sword. A miko of your power deserves a weapon more deadly." Sesshomaru stated and smirked at Kagome's now pale face.