Chained In More Ways Than One
Daze
When the demon lord finally touched ground after a while and dispersed his floating bubble Kagome had to kneel with her head down until the world stopped spinning. " I don't think I'll ever get used to that feeling. What was the rush all about?"
"I just wanted to get this trip over and done with." Sesshoumaru responded.
"Where are we anyway?" Kagome asked in confusion after her vision started to clear and she realized that she didn't recognize anything. There were no mountains in view like she was expecting to see from Miyoga's description.
" We're at the border of where my lands meet Shizaru's. Near where the witch doctor lives." Sesshoumaru answered.
That answer immediately woke Kagome out of her dizzy daze and for her guard to be put up. "Sesshoumaru, isn't this where that virgin eating monster you were talking about earlier is?"
"Yes." Was the demon lords one syllable answer. Before he knew it the miko was up and at his side. Sesshoumaru raised one eyebrow at this action.
Kagome stood at his side waiting for him to start moving. When he didn't the miko started to tap her foot. "Well?"
"We should've at least been in that area?" Sesshoumaru asked himself out loud as he looked around.
Kagome had never heard the demon lord so unsure before. She finally actually looked at him only to realized how haggard he looked and dazed. "Sesshoumaru are you ok?"
Sesshoumaru looked a little reluctant but finally revealed his problem. " The reason why I hardly use my energy ball to travel is because it uses, well, so much energy. I've used it at least three times in the past couple days. This last time I ran out of energy and had to land prematurely from where I was aiming so I'm not exactly sure where we are right now."
"If you knew it took up so much of your energy why did you knowingly use it so much; just to annoy me?" The miko berated him. She knew how much pride the demon lord had and how much he must've resented to show weakness in front of her and admit it but had an immediate response to stupidity after so many instances with Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru didn't deem her with a response.
"Why don't we find someplace for you to rest so that you can recover. Somewhere not so out in the open." Kagome suggested as she noticed they were in the middle of a giant field.
"It's the middle of the day." Sesshoumaru looked at the sun high in the sky and back at the miko.
"Haven't you ever heard of a siesta?" Kagome asked rhetorically because she knew he probably hadn't.
"Who will keep watch if I'm asleep?" Sesshoumaru asked with a sigh. Ignoring her previous statement.
"I will of course." The miko answered. The demon lord gave the miko a skeptical look before shrugging and walking in a random direction. If he noticed how jumpy she was he didn't say anything. He was probably too tired to notice. Sesshoumaru looked like he was ready to drop any minute now.
Not too long after he found a small clearing of trees. "Is this sufficient miko?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Yes it's fine." Kagome responded after examining the coverage provided by the foliage. She opened he mouth to ask the demon lord a question about the virgin eating monster to ease her mind but closed it again when she noticed, "He's already asleep."
Sesshoumaru was sprawled out on his moko moko with his eyes closed and his breathing already evened out. Well he wasted no time at all Kagome thought to herself as she sat on a near by rock and watched the demon lord sleep.
Kagome was just about to take a book out to pass the time, maybe do a little home work. When she swore she heard a howl off in the distance, or maybe it was more like a growl.
Well whatever the sound may have been it sent chills down her spine.
Her imagination immediately started producing different images of what could've made the sound. Mostly dominated by the virgin eating monster; but since Sesshoumaru had never set eyes on it before she had no description to work off of so many different versions of the monster flashed across her mind. One was a giant purple squid creature with ten eyes.
For a moment she thought about waking Sesshoumaru but he looked so peaceful.
'Come on Kagome. it's the middle of the day.' Kagome berated herself. She'd fought many demons before in battle. The sound was quite a distance away and probably didn't pose a threat to her at all. Sesshoumaru didn't even stir at the noise and demons have heightened danger sensors, right. At least that's what she told herself.
Kagome hugged her bow and quiver of arrows close as she listened for a repeat of the sound. She started to count but then stopped herself. It isn't thunder. She looked back at the peaceful demon lord and prayed he would wake up soon.
When Sesshoumaru finally woke up he yawned showing his fangs, he closed his mouth with a click. When he used his arm to push himself up he found it strange that the grass was wet with what felt like morning dew. He couldn't have slept that long could he.
He looked up only to see the miko who's eyes were red and hair looked like she had repeatedly ran her hands through it to the point that it stuck up in odd directions. She was just staring off in the eastern direction and it seemed she had noticed he had woken up yet.
Sesshoumaru Cleared his throat making enough noise to bring the miko's attention to him and slowly take the faraway look from her eyes.
Kagome blinked a couple times before speaking. "You're finally awake."
Sesshoumaru noticed the miko's movements were slower than usual. "How long was I asleep?" He asked when he noticed it was still light out and not sundown like he expected.
"Its morning. You slept all through the night." Kagome answered.
"We've got to get going. I've wasted so much time. Why didn't you wake me up?"
Sesshoumaru asked as he jumped up and started to leave the clearing. The miko quickly standing up from the rock she hadn't left since yesterday and grabbed her big yellow bag before following after the demon lord.
After he was finishing berating himself he finally realized something and stopped without notice. "Miko have you slept at all?"
"No. Not a wink." Kagome answered. Just managing to stop in time before she would've crashed into the demon lords back.
"You didn't even nod off at all during the night?" Sesshoumaru asked incredibly. He knew how much the miko treasured her sleep. "Are you sure you don't want to go back to the clearing and rest a bit?"
"No. I wouldn't be able to fall asleep anyway. I heard this weird sound last night. I think it might've been that virgin eating monster you were talking about." The miko denied his request with shifty eyes.
The miko really needed to catch some sleep. She wasn't in the right frame of mind right now. Sesshoumaru thought to himself. Humans weren't meant to stay awake for days at a time.
"You forget Miko. That the demon avoids this Sesshoumaru who you are chained to so you can't go more than a couple feet from my person; by a chain that also allows no harm to come to you however minor it may be." The demon lord stated before walking in the direction of the witch demons house.
" Smart ass." Kagome grumbled under her breath as she followed. That must have been the longest train of words she had heard the demon lord sprout ever and they were to point out her flaw in judgment.
She also could have sworn she saw him smirk at her remark.
Though Sesshoumaru told her she had no reason to fear Kagome couldn't help but still feel paranoid. Every little sound set her off. It's like when a women's walking alone at night and she thinks someone's following her but it's just a squirrel.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes when the chain shortened. It must've been responding to the miko's fear.
"What? There's a known demon who likes to eat young untouched maidens around and I seem to be a magnet for those types of demons." Kagome defended her actions as she grabbed onto his empty sleeve.
There soon was a house in view right where Sesshoumaru said it would be at the base of the mountain.
"Wow no wonder this witch doctor traded everything for this house it's gorgeous. " Kagome exclaimed. She had seen many huts, castles and shrines since coming to the feudal era but all of them seemed wrong to her. Either too extravagant or not extravagant enough, but this one was perfect.
"Oh why thank you. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else." Came a strange voice out of no where.
Kagome was already so much on edge it made her scream and hide behind Sesshoumaru in her plight for protection. Even the demon lord was surprised and quickly reached for his sword and turned on his heel in the direction the voice came from.
Kagome peeked around Sesshoumaru only to see an old women who was giving them both an amused expression.
There was no doubt in her mind that this was the witch doctor they were looking for. Her clothes were a dead giveaway with the necklace made of bones. If they were demon or human the origin was unknown. Strangely she reminded Kagome of her grandpa. They both were about the same height and just as wrinkled with the same crazy look in their eyes; though hers bulged.
Kagome stepped out from behind the demon lord when she knew there was no danger. "Are you…?"
"I don't get visitors very often. Come. I have tea waiting. I've been expecting you two for some days now." The old lady told them cutting the miko off.
" Did someone tell you we were coming?" Kagome asked.
"No. I just knew. Now come." The old lady demanded before quickly walking in the direction of her house without waiting for them to catch up.
Kagome noticed Sesshoumaru was still holding his sword and had not put it away yet. He had a strong grip on it and a perturbed expression. She wondered why this women put the demon lord on edge so much.
The miko smacked the demon lords hand silently telling him to 'put it away or else' before following after the witch doctor. Sesshoumaru sheathed his sword before following after the miko in a daze.