18º - Scream
(*)
Sesshomaru had tangled his left arm with Kagome's right one, and escorted her to the gardens. Within a ten minute silent walk, the couple was standing near the sakura tree, one of Kagome's favorite spots in the gardens. Sesshomaru was feeling a bit reluctant in releasing Kagome's arm. She, however, had no trouble releasing his and moving away from him.
She walked to the tree and decided to take a seat near its base. Her kimono would probably get stained but who cared about that right now? She was far too concerned with Sesshomaru's attitude to be worried with her clothes. 'On the other hand, he may not feel much inclined to sit in the grass.' She didn't have expectations that he would follow her example.
Sesshomaru saw her move away from him and took a seat at the base of the sakura tree. When she looked up at him his heart nearly stopped. The moon was full that night, and her figure under the moonlight was just ethereal. She looked like a goddess on earth, perfect and peaceful, capable of love and forgiveness. The blue of her eyes was just… Sesshomaru was feeling very small at some point while she almost felt too perfect to be real. 'Focus!' He was getting distracted again. In order to stop his wild thoughts, Sesshomaru took the place next to her, near the base of the tree. He needed to breathe normally again if they were to have a normal conversation for a change.
To say that Kagome was surprised with his action was an understatement. He was Sesshomaru, the perfection. Kagome had seen Sesshomaru's kind side, but she had also heard rumors in the palace on how ruthless he could be. Mostly he was known as a cold killer with no feelings, capable of ripping an enemy's head off without even thinking twice about it. Truthfully, she had never seen it. She had observed his cold side, but his killer side she just couldn't imagine it.
Kagome took a deep breath before looking to Sesshomaru and saying, "Thanks for coming. I wanted to ask you something."
Sesshomaru never looked away from the moon before answering. "It's my pleasure. Although you got me curious as to the why."
Kagome was still looking at him. She simply couldn't look away. The moonlight was giving his silver hair an amazing glow, while the wind was playing with his hair. He looked so perfect, so unachievable to her. 'But of course he is unachievable to you. He's perfect and I'm just a runway-slave.' Kagome was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't realized that she had started shaking from the cold. Winter was almost upon them, and the cold winds were getting under her skin. It shouldn't be too long until the first snow started to fall. Sesshomaru, however, didn't miss her shivering and not wanting her to get a cold, wrapped his pelt around her shoulders, bringing her a bit closer towards him.
"Thanks, Sesshomaru," Kagome said while red covered her cheeks. "Anyway, the reason I asked you to come here was because I wanted to talk about your changing attitude…" She was nervous; her heart's pacing was accelerated, just like her breathing.
Sesshomaru was shocked. His changing attitude? What had he done wrong? In his viewing, he thought he had been polite and sometimes even charming towards her. So, why did she want to talk about his attitude? Deciding that it would be better to let her finish, he remained quiet.
"You see, I noticed that you have frequent mood swings. When we are alone as we are now, you are sweet and caring. But when someone else approaches, you change completely. You become cold and unattached." Sesshomaru was not expecting her to speak out so boldly. It was clear that she wanted to know why he treated her differently. But before he could answer, she continued. "Sesshomaru, I think you should show your caring side to others, too. Most of them are afraid of you, and I'm positive that if you showed some emotions now and then, you would have a lot of friends and people who care for you."
'Wait, she's worried not because I treat her differently from others, but because she thinks I'm lonely?' And that was it. Sesshomaru couldn't hold it anymore, and the love he felt for her at that moment was overwhelming. She was concerned with his wellbeing and with the fact that she thought he was lonely. Without thinking twice about it, Sesshomaru grabbed her chin and raised her head. With both of his hands on each side of her face, he kissed her forehead. He wanted to kiss and taste her lips, but his control was already running thin. His inner demon screaming to mate her. For now, her forehead would have to do.
Kagome stopped breathing for a second. When he raised her head and kissed her, she was slightly disappointed. 'Wait, disappointed?' Was she disappointed because he decided to kiss her forehead? Yes, she was. When he raised her head, she thought that he would kiss her lips. But of course he would not. With so many options to choose from, Sesshomaru would never select her. When he released her face, he took a deep but discrete breath of her scent and answered her.
"First of all, Kagome, you need to know that I am not lonely nor feel the need to have constant company from others." He smiled. Her face was so close and adorable, like what he was saying didn't make sense to her. "People in general are vicious and greedy. In our world even more so. They will do anything to grow in power and influence, even if it means to hurt others. So you see, if I show emotions I will look weak in their eyes and be a target."
Kagome couldn't believe it. How could he think that? Not all people were like that… Were they? Looking to him again, she told him, "You must have suffered a great deal to make you think like that…"
Sesshomaru could see that she didn't agree with him. Her eyes were angry and agitated. So he decided to be honest with her.
"I did, Kagome. And it wasn't just once nor a particular situation. It was many, coming from every direction. Lords trying to grab my attention so that they could reach my father, demoness' hoping to have my heir, friends who sold vital information to enemies… With time, I realized that being powerful and cold on your own was the best defense against it all."
The more he talked the more lonely Kagome felt. She wanted to shake him and make him realize the truth: that the whole world was not against him. That there was good in this world and that life shouldn't be so easily thrown away.
"I'll make you see differently," Kagome said with resolve in her voice. "I´ll make you change and appreciate what you have."
Sesshomaru was astonished with her determination. His surprise, however, was well hidden under his normal expression. Yes, she was determined to make him change and see the world her way. Would she be able to do it? Well, she could try, and Sesshomaru would be grateful for the extra attention, but he wasn't very confident that she would be able to. He, however, would not deny her the pleasure.
They sat five more minutes under the sakura tree, before Kagome's shivering got harder and harder to ignore. Sesshomaru then rose to his feet and held her by the hand, and took her to her room. As he had done many other nights, he kissed her forehead and said goodnight.
(*)
Another five months went by. Winter had come and gone, leaving them with beautiful weather, perfect for training outside.
Kagome and Hideo now spent all mornings outside training and increasing their endurance. Hideo was now getting excited with Kagome's performance and dying to see how much more Kagome could accomplish. She was becoming deadly, even without a proper weapon; her body had naturally developed, and she was now able to stop all his attacks and give him attacks on her own. With such perfect performances, she would most probably become his most talented student very soon. However, there was something missing in her and that was a cold heart. Hideo had fallen in love with her bright personality, yet that could become a disadvantage when engaging in battle. She needed to become ruthless if she wanted to win; her personality, however, was just too warm and kind.
Sesshomaru was sitting on top of a tree, just observing Kagome from afar. He could see the fire in her eyes, her strong will and her kind heart. 'A very dangerous combination.' With time, he was becoming more and more certain that she was truly the demoness from the prophecy. Even without her powers ascending, she was already a worthy opponent to Hideo. When she got her powers… Well, that he would think about later. 'Maybe it is time for me to take over her training.'
Hideo was a good teacher, but just like her, he was a dreamer and had a soft heart. During battle he changed, but not around her. Never around her. He was just smiling and enjoying her company. She needed more than that; she needed defenses against her heart. She was now strong enough to hold him off, and he would make her grow cold in battle. Yes, it was decided; she would start training with him tomorrow.
When Sesshomaru jumped off the tree to tell her that after today she would be training with him, he heard his father calling him from afar.
Kagome was having a blast. Now that she knew how to work with her body, she was able to make some amazing moves, and sometimes she was even able to hit Hideo. She could also feel Sesshomaru's eyes on her, following her, measuring her. That was his routine. For the last five months their relationship hadn't change much. Despised her best efforts, he was still cold and unpleasant towards everyone, except her and his mother. She tried with all her might to show him how it felt to have others around them or to laugh at a joke during dinner. But he never cracked.
After four months of continuous trying, she decided to give it a rest. After that she started realizing that he was always close to her. She could always feel his energy nearby. Due to that behavior, she hoped that maybe with time he would grow warm and affectionate. Hideo, on the other hand, was his opposite. He had always a smile or a joke to share.
When she started analyzing what she noticed between both of them, she realized something. They were opposites. While Sesshomaru was cold and lonely, like the moon, Hideo was warm and bright, like the sun. Both gorgeous and powerful, but opposites in every other aspect. While Hideo was preparing his next attack, they heard Inu no Taisho call Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru, we need your help… now!" Inu no Taisho's voice was urgent and harsh. There was something wrong. Before Kagome could ask them anything, Inu no Taisho looked at Hideo and added, "I need you to come too, quick." Only then did Inu no Taisho looked at Kagome as if he was seeing her for the first time. "Oh, Kagome, I didn't see you, pup. Listen, stay here until someone comes to get you, is that clear?"
He was agitated and angry about something. Not wanting to be a burden, Kagome nodded once and gave them a small smile. Hideo looked at Sesshomaru and both of them started following Inu no Taisho inside the castle, while Kagome watched them go.
(*)
Kagome had lost track of time, sitting with her back against the tree. She wanted to follow the order that Inu no Taisho had given her. However, she was feeling tired, and during the middle of the afternoon, she finally gave in and let sleep take her. A few hours later, she woke up after hearing a strange noise. Looking around her she could barely see anything in front of her. It was nightfall and apparently she had slept through the rest of the afternoon, and her back was killing her because of her weird position against the tree. Some strange noise had awakened her. What was it?
Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on her hearing until she heard it again. It was a scream.
(*)
*A big thank you to my beta, BelovedStranger! She's absolutely amazing!
**Also, a big thank you to everyone for reviewed! Really, thank you!