Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters in the story Inuyasha.
Author notes: WOW. I love the amount of responses to my first chapter. All of the readers who read and reviewed - you are the reason that I kept on writing. Obviously I am extremely motivated by reviews. THANK YOU + READ AND REVIEW.
Kagome started to slowly climb out of the well on her way back from the future era. Her muscles were still sore from their latest Youki battle - even after a couple days in the future healing slowly from her wounds and bruises.
She was anxious to see if Sesshomaru was going to keep good on his promise or if he was simply meaning to scare her. "It seems to be a huge commitment for him to constantly be watching and waiting for me to come from the well. That means he would have to always be within a couple days of the well and willing to travel to spend time with me. The whole thing just doesn't add up." She mentally reassured herself as she winced from pain climbing from the well. She hadn't realized how hard her body had been rocked by the Thunder Brothers. As she thought back she was thrown around quite a bit - and her throat still hurt from the attempt at choking her to death. If that wasn't bad enough she was pretty sure that she failed her final - "Why did I even come home?"
At the top of the well waiting an extremely impatient Inu Lord. He was not used to waiting for someone so slow. He was growing angry until he heard a small moan of pain escape the miko's lips. He suddenly become anxious "My plan will not work if the ningen woman dies". He started sniffing the air anxiously attempting to sense if the woman was injured or bleeding. His anger suddenly switched to a startling concern. He reached his arm into the well and pulled the woman out of the well rest of the way.
Sesshomaru started sniffing the woman from top to bottom to sense where she was injured. She had some large bruised on her sides, legs and throat but besides that she was in perfectly good health. He sighed internally of relief while still holding his face perfectly poised on the outside.
"Um... Hi Sesshomaru-sama" Kagome murmered as the Western Lord still held onto her firmly. She was blushing from the attention and confused as to why he was suddenly so concerned with her scent. He let go of her gruffly and started stalking off in the direction opposite of Kaede's village. They walked for quite some time before he stopped suddenly and sat with his legs hanging over the edge of the cliff. He motioned for Kagome to sit next to her with her giant yellow backpack.
Kagome was started to become nervous under the weight of the silence. She was used to noise, chatter and company. She was confused that Sesshomaru wanted to spend time sitting silently with her.
"So Sesshomaru-sama..." Kagome murmured quietly. "Why did you want to spend this time with me?". She felt brave for asking the question. It only took her a couple hours to work up the courage. She knew that if he had wanted her dead by now she would be. She was twitching with nervous energy sitting next the man made of serene glass. Her mind suddenly popped to Inuyasha - coming through the well and rescuing her from the noh mask. She thought of how selfless he was - and how brave and her mind began to wander. She almost didn't hear Sesshomaru's reply.
"I wish to understand who and what you are..." He answered ambiguously. She turned toward the Inu-Lord. He was much taller then Inuyasha - he made her feel even more petite in comparison. His features were sharper - more classic and dignified then Inuyasha's and he spoke with a certain royal grace that she enjoyed listening too. "I suppose it isn't really fair to compare them - they barely knew each other growing up. They lived in such different worlds." She kept her body turned toward him waiting for him to say more. "If he wants to know more about me - surly he will ask?" She wondered.
"How did you obtain those injuries?" he asked after a long gap in time. She really was surprised by that question - she expected him to ask more personal information but she was grateful for a softball question to get the ball rolling.
"Inuyasha and I were looking for Shikon Jewel shards and came upon a fox kit named Shippo whose parents had been murdered by the Thunder brothers, they were brothers who possessed jewel shards themselves and killed many, so we went looking for them. Unfortunately I was kidnapped by the youngest brother who intended to turn me into a hair potion. He was pretty rough with me. I convinced him that Inuyasha was my 'lover' and had many jewel shards they could possess if only they gave me back to them. During the fight however the youngest brother got his hands on me - I was thrown around quite a bit and he tried choking me to death. Inuyasha managed to defeat both brothers but I am still pretty sore from their attack. Ningens do not heal as quickly as yoaki seem to." She had spoken slowly making sure that she didn't leave anything out. When she ended he turned toward her - looking her up and down. He nodded curtly in her direction before standing and making his way in a different direction where Kagome followed him hurriedly.
"So how did you harm your hand?" He asked - she realized she had left out the part about the Noh mask.
"I cut it on some glass when a demon attempted to steal my shards of the Shikon Jewel where I am from." He stopped suddenly and a turned on a path heading into another small village similar to Kaeda's.
"Only a brave Ningen woman would take on so many Yoaki in such a short period of time" Sesshomaru said as they walked briskly into the village. Kagome blushed at the compliment, she had not been expecting praise from him. She knew the only reason she was here was because she had no choice and because she feared what Sesshomaru could do to Inuyasha. Even though Inuyasha had won the battle against his brother last time they met she had a feeling just from the energy she could sense radiating off of him that Inuyasha would not get lucky enough to win the war against this man.
"Well... I.. It is my responsibility to fix what I broke - It would be dishonorable to walk away when I know so many people are being hurt because of my mistake". She said it simply - no hint of resentment or pride, just a fact.
"So the rumors are true - you broke the jewel?"
"Yes I was pulled through the portal by a demon and when I came here the Shikon jewel was ripped from my body. When I attempted to get it back my arrow struck it and shattered it into hundreds of pieces and sent it all around this world. " Her head hung sullenly feeling the weight of the mistake that she has made. He cocked his head slightly to the side, a very Inu mannerism, and sighed deeply. "I was correct, these ningen females are too emotional. I can feel the disappointment in herself already. Maybe I should have just killed her - however, in the long run, my revenge will be much sweeter. I will attempt to comfort this female emotionally and maybe she will begin to trust me slightly"
"It sounds as though you are doing the honorable thing" He finished lamely. She looked up at him confused and shocked and scent of anger was starting to radiate off of her. "How could she possibly be mad at me? Was that not what she wished to hear?"
"Seriously Sesshomaru why are you making me relive all of this pain? Why do you even want to get to know me? I am trying to do the honorable thing but I am wasting time wandering around with you when I could be looking for jewel shards. Are you trying to get dirt on your brother? Because ALL I can tell you about Inuyasha is that he is brave, smart, kind, funny, stubborn..." The more she spoke the more shrill her voice became and a loud and livid growl escaped the Lord's lips and read yoaki anger started to bleed into his eyes.
"I do not need to hear of my brothers greatness miko - I have hear quite enough my whole life" He spoke with a deadly soft tone.
"You will not take that tone with me again young one. I have lived many of your lifetimes and never let a single being yoaki or ningen speak to me that way without removing their disrespectful head from their body" He was purring with pleasure now seeing her fear "Good - someone needs to teach this Bitch a lesson on respect and it may as well be him". She was shivering before he realized how dangerously far he had taken his comments. He had forgotten that his long-term goal was to trick the ningen into thinking he was kind and bedding her well before returning her to Inuyasha a broken, abandoned mess. He turned on his heels and continued walking in the direction he had been headed. Maybe his original plan would still work - he had gained a fair distance on her before he heard her footsteps begin to follow her "You may fear me miko. However, you will still want me - my plan will still work. You fall in line well for someone with such a loud mouth." He turned into a small house on the furthest edge of the property and sat down, waiting for Kagome to finally enter. "I cannot believe I am forced to spend time with someone so ready to kill me. He is a monster, I must find a way out of this deal so I can return to Inuyasha and continue this search for the Shikon Jewel sooner." She pulled back the flap to the house as she entered and gasped in surprise at what she saw.
"Who is this?" Kagome breathed out suddenly. Sitting across from Sesshomaru was a small ningen woman and on the futon nearest her sat a young child. He was clearly a half demon and Kagome suddenly felt fear for the child, as if Sesshomaru would hut him. Sesshomaru's sensitive nose picked up on the fearful scent and turned toward Kagome.
"Do not worry Miko - I am not hear to harm the child. We are here to help him. He is under the protection of the Western Land and unfortunately a couple months ago a jewel shard imbedded itself into his arm. For so young a child he cannot wield this power and people in town are starting to fear him. His mother wrote me in haste and I figured this fell more specifically under your expertise." Kagome didn't know which surprised her more the fact that Sesshomaru was willing to help a hanyou or that he had just spoken so much. She sat down near the child who looked drunk with power - his eyes glowing and his fangs were too long for his body. The mother of the child was tear stained and heart broken - unable to help her child and fearful for his safety. Upon closer inspection Kagome figured that the child was probably some sort of half snake demon, with his tongue so long and pointed.
"Sesshomaru you will need to restrain the child - once the demon side of him started to feel threatened he will become wild and pull energy from the shard and I will not be able to stop him" Kagome could see the jewel shard was starting to become tainted relying on the baser instinct of the demon within. Sesshomaru's lifted one eyebrow quizzically. "I do not sense any danger from this child - this assignment should have been easy. Why must she complicate things?" The child started to sense the Miko energy radiating off of Kagome he started growling and attempted to jump at her throat. Sesshomaru grabbed the child mid-air causing Kagome to yelp and held onto him easily, even as he struggled in his arms to attack Kagome. However he could feel the power growing and was impressed by the strength but embarrassed by the small half breeds lack of control. Full blooded Yoaki could control their baser demon and temper those outbursts - half breeds were not so lucky.
"Alright Sesshomaru - hold still." Kagome pulled a small sharp knife from her medical supply kid and cut opened the child's arm. She reached inside and pulled out the jewel shard, purifying it easily. Once the shard was removed the child's eyes became clear and his body calmed down. He started to become scared sensing the power off the demon holding him.
"Mama!" Scared tears started to fall down the childs face and after a nod from Kagome, Sesshomaru allowed the child to jump into the mothers arms.
"I cannot thank you enough Sesshomaru-sama and your Miko. I finally have my son back. I am so grateful" She bowed many times in respect and thankfulness. With brief goodbyes Kagome and Sesshomaru exited the small home and started walking back toward Kaede's village. Kagome was stunned into silence, not knowing what to say to the tall monstrous and handsome Lord. "I dont understand - Why would he help a half breed... he hates them, doesn't he?" She was so confused her scent was starting to annoy Sesshomaru.
"If you a question I suggest you ask is." Kagome baulked at his directness
"Why would you wish to help a hanyou Sesshomaru-sama?" He stopped suddenly and his body tensed. Kagome had stopped a couple feet behind him instantly regretting her decision. He looked mad - he never 'looked' anything and she suddenly felt two feet tall.
"I suppose my little half breed brother would wish you to believe that I hate all ningens and hanyous?" He chuckled darkly
"I am the Lord of ALL of the western lands Kagome. Upon these lands live many Ningens, and Hanyou's. I allow them to live here as my people and have the ability to protect them and overrule their human lords if I feel as though a decision has become unjust. I am constantly traveling around the Western-lands to make sure that my people, ALL of my people are safe and being treated fairly. Unfortunately I am only one man and can only help so many people. I very rarely get the pleasure of returning to my own home. My obligations, like yours, are honorable but sometimes do not bring me pleasure." He continued walking on - his body language changing to a determined speed. Kagome had to jog in order to keep up with him.
Before she knew it they were standing besides the well - no other words spoken between them. "I cannot believe that I spoke so intimately to this Ningen Bitch.. how did she get me to say that? A thing I have never said aloud".Heturned his body to leave her at the well without another word. He knew he was dropping her off too early but he didn't care. Being around the young woman was starting to make him angry.
"Sesshomaru- sama" She called out gently and stopped in his tracks. She could feel the angry energy radiating off of his form. He had been stewing with angry energy for the two hours it took to walk back to their destination.
"We still have some time left in our day. Can I make you some tea to thank you for helping me get that jewel shard?" He twisted his body so his profile was facing her.
"Hn" Sesshomaru consented begrudgingly. The very fact that she requested his presence amused him. "My plan must be working" . They enjoyed a silent cup of tea before Sesshomaru took his leave of the Miko.
"Goodbye Sesshomaru-sama" Kagome bowed as he left her.
"Until we meet again Miko-Kagome" He left this time slightly less confident in his plan. "That ningen woman is more complicated that I had anticipated. She isn't impressed by my power, my royal features or my vast fortune. She cared most for me when I told her something far too personal. I will need to rethink this plan".
Authors Notes: Thanks for reading and reviewing readers! You guys rock! I am planning on making this story a longer one. There are so many great episodes that I can play off of with this relationship. This is just the beginning. Remember the more reviews the faster I write - you guys are my motivation!