A Repetitive Encounter
A/N: Revised 07/07/15.
Kagome scrambled to her feet the room was chillingly cold. She reached out into the vast darkness, she was thankfully unbound. The tips of her fingers slid along a smooth damp stone surface. Kagome's heart beat frantically, was she in a cave? A dungeon? Breathing in the cool air refreshing against her dry mouth, Kagome calmed herself
'Come on Kagome, don't panic; what to do?' closing her eyes she listened intently for something; any noise. She didn't want to use her abilities just yet. If she was not alone like she suspected it could sign her death certificate.
A pair of shameless ice eyes watched the human, chuckling inwardly at her feeble attempts to establish her whereabouts.
'The female is quite comical, easy prey, tasty I bet.' the demon stood still poised.
A wave of warmth tingled around the small stony prison and alerted the other presence to the girl immediately.
'Now you see me girl; this should be interesting.' The demon pushed himself off the opposite wall from Kagome
"Show yourself?" Her voice wobbling, showing her distress. The demon narrowed the gaze fixed on the girl in front. With a flick of a clawed hand, the demon toyed with the futuristic Miko. The flick had echoed through the whole cavern, Kagome had tried to pin point exactly where it had come from, her heartbeat now elevating at an alarming rate.
"Are you a coward, show yourself?" her voice becoming steady as she bellowed into the darkness. The opposition growled at the suggestion. He was no coward.
Her blue pools flickered at the sudden abuse from the light now engulfing the surroundings. The damp stones glistening a brilliant blue around her,
'Oh wow' she mused before remembering this was no museum visit. Tensely Kagome looked at the revealed kidnapper. The creature in front was as black as midnight, a scaled lizard like creature who was now curiously eying the girl. She wondered silently if maybe this was as close to human he could get. He closely resembled her friend Jinenji, around the same size too. His stare was piercing like diamonds. Buried deep behind a large snout, two whiskers fell from the tip also midnight in colour, he was simply a being of the night.
Kagome gulped at the proud demon seemingly allowing her to examine him. Kagome was lost in her own thoughts. Knowing some history helped Kagome throughout her time in the Edo period, Kagome had begun to research more into political history, though it was difficult as Demons were seen in her time as stuff of legends. She had invested on a small trip over to the continent and discovered that Lord Sesshoumaru appearance was more suited to that of ancient China than ancient Japan.
Kagome noted he wore something similar to Sesshoumaru. Battle riddled unlike the Stoic Lords perfect appearance.
"You are Chinese" she spoke clearly, the man seemed too refined to be too much of a threat. He also remained on the far side of the cave, keeping his distance.
The lizard like demon, turned his head towards her and her statement, His whiskers floated bouncing around under the snout from his sudden movement.
'Perhaps he only speaks Chinese' she thought bringing her hands to her lips. 'What was it again?' now furrowing her brows in concentration. "Qǐng wèn?" she asked in Chinese grabbing the demons attention. Her eyes looking up in hope.
"You speak my language?" Kagome jumped as his voice infected her ears, instantly becoming irritated by her pointless intentions to help the demon understand her.
"A Little" she spoke softly, her eyes not leaving the figure in front; he did in fact kidnap her. "Er, why did you take me?"
"I was ordered to do so" he stated matter-of-factly before turning away, Kagome let a small sigh escape her.
'Wait, scales, crystal eyes, is he a dragon too? Does this mean he and Lord Bo Lei are…' a horrid realization crept up from within Kagome. Her hands covering her mouth in shock, had the dragon lord ordered her capture?
Sesshoumaru growled in annoyance, sunset orbs narrowed as he headed towards the room that held the accused dragon lord. He would get his answers for the treachery dealt in his own house. The swift sound of silk rippling through the air notified the many servants that their lord was approaching, each one side stepped away from his apparent anger. A slight curve of his lips, Sesshoumaru slid the screen open to the Chinese demons allocated room. Lord Bo Lei stood confident to the western lord.
"Lord Sesshoumaru" he spoke a hint of amusement leaving his thin lips.
"Where is the female?" he was not in the mood to play games.
"The female, being the holy woman Kagome?" he said now supporting an equally small smirk as Sesshoumaru's.
"Yes, the Miko" Sesshoumaru barked in retaliation. The Chinese lord held his grin, his crystal eyes narrowed slightly.
"Someone will think you like her, if you keep losing your temper my lord." his Japanese spilled effortlessly off his lips. Sesshoumaru launched at Bo Lei. His clawed hand outstretched however never made contact as he moved out of the way of the stoic lord's attempt on his throat. With one fluid motion Bo Lei opened the door to the balcony, before speaking softly. "She is there." He teased pointing towards the now revealed crystalized sphere, floating alongside the cliff edge.
"What is your purpose with the Miko?" Lord Sesshoumaru questioned testily. Lord Bo Lei had no intention on keeping Kagome that much was apparent. Sesshoumaru began to feel he was being tested, if that was the case he would not fail. Sesshoumaru calmed instantly, there was a strategical way around this, and Lord Bo Lei held all the cards.
"I know you can understand me, Lord of the west. So I will be brief" he spoke in fluent Chinese. "I have no intention on hurting the female, I am simply interested in your abilities, and I will test these using her" he finished pointing at the sphere. Sesshoumaru understood him perfectly characteristically narrowing his gaze. "You are known throughout all of Japan and China. However Sesshoumaru son of Inu no Taishō, I believe you are lacking in a crucial extent. You strive for power, and take it with ease." The accused just stood staring at the foreign lord.
"Make your point Lord Bo Lei." the muscles in the stoic lord's cheeks strained, as his voice had become darker. The dragon demon shook his head, a soft jingle from the golden charm hanging off his restrained hair rang around the room.
"She is the key." His cryptic demeanour irritated the stoic lord, it was however predictable.
Kagome suddenly dropped onto dirt. Her prison and prisoner had disintegrated like the walls around her. Kagome noticed she was thankfully still in the western palace. Wearily she took a shaky peak over the edge. Suddenly she withdrew.
'Crap I'm so high up and its way to slippery for me to attempt getting down.' The rain had stopped but had done its damage to the moss clagged stone. Looking around for another solution, she eyed a small opening in the cliff.
"Well better than nothing." She spoke to herself spirits raised. "At least if it rains again I'll be dry inside." Kagome took one last look back before entering the small doorway into the rock. Her thoughts went back onto the weird encounter in the crystal room. It seemed the demon who captured her was buying time. The scaled creature had ignored her every question after stating he was ordered to capture her and after a mere couple of minutes he had disappeared, just like that. Gritting her teeth as she slipped on some more moss, Kagome supposed she should watch where she was walking.
A few moments of walking in the dark damp corridor it chiselled outwards. In the distance Kagome could hear running water, rounding a small corner a small burst of orange firelight caught her attention. Kagome quickened her pace.
-Smack-
The sound of flesh on flesh travelled through the vast open space by the Lakeside. In all fairness the lecherous monk had gone hours without the slightest unholy thought, so it was anticipated. Miroku stood up scratching his now throbbing head.
"You never learn do you Miroku?" The tiny demon teased, stuffing his face with the fish Sango had cooked for dinner. Purple pools looked on the younger lad, radiating with warmth and defeat from the incident involving his beloved Sango.
"I was only conveying my particular thoughts on bathing arrangements. As Sango no longer has Kagome to accompany her, I merely suggested I would…" Another smack rang through the camp.
"He is a child, you perverted monk." She snapped, her fiery gaze overpowering the campfire. Shippou giggled at his silly human companions.
"Kirara is more than capable to protect me." Turning abruptly she stormed off towards the spring they had found tucked away in the corner of the cliff. A small sigh left the female Taijiya, she was soon to be in her twentieth year and had hoped to be married by now. She understood why Miroku had expressed until Naraku was gone, he would not feel free to start a family. She had agreed knowing Miroku didn't want his children cursed with the wind tunnel. But still she couldn't help feel depressed, twenty was old for marriage. She couldn't help feel something was wrong with her. The demon cat felt her downed spirit, nocking against the woman's legs she mewed quietly urging the slayer to smile. "Thanks Kirara." How could she be thinking of this, "If only Kagome was here, ne Kirara?" Sango quickly bathed in silence.
Kagome was stunned, the unnoticeable crack glowing from a small torch had turned into a large cavern. There was three large orange lanterns, the size of herself hanging from the outstandingly high domed ceiling, each beautifully painted. Under the three large lanterns there was a large pool, so still Kagome had thought it was the floor had it not been reflecting the light from above. Kagome dropped her fingers into the Crystal blue water. Each finger creating a ripple, animating the silence. Her eyes were glued to the pool, it was inviting her in. Her body pulled closer to the water. Each ripple felt like bursts of energy calling out to her. She was captivated, hunger stemmed from within for the refreshing liquid.
Her fingertips inches away from the deluge. Kagome looked down, her abdomen had become strained with an unaccountable pressure,
'Arm?' she looked deeper, confused by the sudden appendage obstructing her goal. She couldn't quite make out, it sounded like words but they were very distant. Concentrating hard, she listened for what she wasn't sure she herd.
"Miko." he pressed again, all irritation that he had held lost in the stony room. He'd arrived at the cliff summit alone. The human female nowhere in sight. He did not expect her to have walked into the supposedly sealed chamber. Had Bo Lei done this on purpose? Keeping an iron grip on the girl, mind lost in the enchanted water. He pressed again, this time his voice softer she should not have been able to enter here. Kagome shook her head away from the water turning to look at a very typical Sesshoumaru. Realising how close they were, she pushed away.
"What the, what is that?" she said turning again to look before a firm grip on her face stopped her from doing so. Another moment was lost in regaining control of her senses before the dog demon released his hand from her.
"It is the Taoists Mirror" he spoke plainly. Kagome rubbed her stressed temples and her breathing shallowed. Suspecting she was close to fainting, Sesshoumaru led her away through a small screen that he had emanated from earlier.
'So the pool is enchanted.' she thought, suddenly feeling better not near the offending waters. Narrowing her gaze on the preoccupied lord, so preoccupied he had yet to release his grip on her. Feeling her gaze upon him, golden eyes flicked to sapphire. When he noticed his clawed hand still wrapped around her, he let go quickly, feeling rejected Kagome pressed the stoic demon for answers.
"The Taoist Mirror, are we talking Ying and Yang here?" she asked quietly, they were uneasily closer due to the narrow corridor. With no obligation to answer the Inu Youkai lord kept walking in silent. Kagome was not going to let this slide however, Sesshoumaru could feel the anger radiating off her.
"Miko, control your emotions." He spoke teasingly. Oh yes she was fun to torment. However it was just all too much for her. Firstly being kidnapped by god knows who, then left on a slippery summit to finely almost be succumbed by a spell ridden puddle. No Kagome was not going to let the proud demon just snub her.
'Alright, if he wants to play.' Kagome sneered. Her face changed to that of a boastful teen.
"Sesshoumaru, why do you have so many hidden Chinese artefacts buried around you?" He said nothing. "Ne, Sesshoumaru why are you pretending to be Japanese?" Kagome blurted out. Maybe it was just the whole evening, the Chinese lord, the Chinese objects tucked away here and there and then there was the enchanted pool, the Taoist Mirror. Everything had begun to link up in her head, there was his unusual armour and the fact he can speak fluent Chinese with no hint of an accent. Of course this had just put more strain on her already needling headache, but it was all too coincidental.
Sesshoumaru pushed the Miko through the end of the corridor she had failed to notice. Her body aching at the sudden force around her forearms. Expensive silk fluttered around as her body collided with a soft surface. Wide eyes took in the figure above her. Sesshoumaru had straddled her, eyes seeping red her body trapped in the fabric that had pooled onto the cushioned surface. Both clawed hands dug into the teen's flesh. Her cheeks now sodden with tear streams.
'It hurts, it hurts,' she tried to escape. To no avail.
"It hurts." Her voice trembling. Fear radiated off her in waved overpowering his demonic blood. Golden orbs flickered from under the prominent red stare. "I'm sorry" she whispered over and over.
'Why do I have to go and open my big mouth every time?' she sobbed closing her eyes from the man fighting for control.
"You overstepped your boundaries" he growled out as more gold drained into the determined on killing gaze.
'Pathetic' he sighed mentally. The lord lifted off the woman her tears had stained his personal sleeping quarters. He hadn't meant to lose control again. What was it with this human and emotions? Truly pathetic of him to succumb to her level of uncontrolled emotions. The woman shifted slightly. Getting a quick glance at the rather dark room they were in. On a rather large futon. A sudden heat glazed over he once tear soaked cheeks, was this Sesshoumaru's room. She didn't think that just any room would lead to a secret enchanted pool. Meaning this room had to be his.
'I'm on his bed…' the look of horror rushed over the woman hunched up against a wall. A small tinge of amusement glinted in the depths of his molten stare. She couldn't get much further away he smirked slightly. He was no longer disturbed by her human body upon his own sleeping futon, the fact this had been his doing didn't warrant any apprehension either.
"I am in no mood to go around in circles Miko." Sesshoumaru uncharacteristically pinched the bridge of his nose. "You will tell this Sesshoumaru what you know, now?" fangs peeked from under tight lips. Kagome couldn't help shudder. "Miko" Kagome jumped slightly. She was in no position to fight right now.
"Are you in fact Chinese?" Well it wasn't in her nature to be submissive; she countered not caring for the level of her tone.
'She has the audacity to challenge me in my own house, nay in my own room' his eyes widened at her nerve.
"And don't even start on the whole 'you dare to be disrespectful' crap; I have no intention of being domesticated" Kagome huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"This is my house, and you will act with the utmost respect within my walls" He spat, aura spiking in authority.
"I thought you found my nature charming?" she back chatted quickly.
"What made you think that." He spoke, true he had thought that when she had over shouted the Hanyou. But he didn't remember telling her that. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes.
"You said I intrigued you, that time I caught you peeping on me in the hot springs." She clarified. He knew he would regret saying that.
"I was not 'peeping' as you said it" he breathed, obviously offended.
"Whatever, does the demon lord not know how to compromise?" her dark locks fell forwards, as she moved to become more comfortable.
"You wish to compromise?" he pointed out. This was too easy, Kagome agreeing firmly not knowing what she had let herself in for. "Fine, you will tell this Sesshoumaru what he wishes to know…" he began stopping the Miko before she interrupted. She was very good at that. "Then this Sesshoumaru will let you leave."
"Wait what? But you promised" raising her hands in frustration before dropping them onto the futon. The act rippled through the mattress to a now comfortably sat Sesshoumaru opposite an equally comfortable Miko. "You said once the party is over I could leave!" she whined quietly.
"Yet this Sesshoumaru was once again subjected to rescuing you. Twice I might add. I was planning on overlooking this major detail yet your ungrateful behaviour forces me to reveal this to you, you wished to compromise…" he prompted flicking his sunset orbs towards the Miko.
'Her scent will be all over the futon at this rate.' he needed his information. Bo Lei urged she knew the answers, but talking to this female was exhausting.
'That sneaky, mutt' she narrowed her blue orbs, whilst the stoic demon lord raised one eyebrow; waiting for her answer.
"This is unfair." she stated calmly.
"Miko." He paused, thinking over his next move. "This Sesshoumaru was jesting, I will let you leave this room." Kagome stared in shock. Kagome picked up a small pillow and launched it at the demon lord. Before she erupted in a fit of giggles. Sesshoumaru had dodged the offending upholstery. His mood lifted momentarily.
Kagome spent the next hour explaining what she could to the Inu Youkai, treading thinly around her whole 'time travelling' truth. It wasn't long before she had explained her knowledge on Chinese clothing, traditions, and politics. Her brain had came to the conclusion he could therefore be Chinese more than Japanese.
"Your observations skills are impressive, but this does not explain why the Dragon lord attempted to kidnap you." Kagome shrugged, how was she supposed to know what that perverted demons intentions were? Sesshoumaru on the other hand had a sour feeling.
"So, does this mean you are Chinese?" she spoke softly. Hoping to get a feel for the story behind this complex man.
"It is a possibility" he spoke as softly as she had. Eyes vacant of any emotion.
"You mean, you don't know?" she spluttered, shocked by the uncertainty of the other being in the room. Sesshoumaru was becoming acutely aware the Miko was straining to stay awake. Her words were beginning to slur and her eyes had dropped several times.
"Stay here, I will send Amaterasu to fetch you." Fabric rustled softly as he stepped off the futon. Without looking back Sesshoumaru left.
Kagome however had no intentions of waiting. She peeked at the small screen hiding the hidden corridor.
'I don't know why, but that strange water was singing to me. It felt like a warm burst of light coming through your window on a hot summer's day.' she thought maybe she could find out something. Standing up the teen slid the screen open. The overwhelming sense of calling shutting off all other senses it wanted her but why? Each light step she took her bare feet pitter-pattered around the narrow corridor. The warm light from the huge lanterns engulfed the futuristic Miko, whilst the small tickle of water called out to her, pulling her closer.
Amaterasu entered her lord's chambers, no sure what to expect. She wouldn't question the boy but when he had said the girl was in his room, and falling asleep on his futon. Well any servant would've been shocked at the statement. Shaking her head at the young lord, chuckling to herself she flung the door open.
"Where is she?" the older lady hurried back to her lord. Her heart pounding in worry, something wasn't right she couldn't even sense Kagome's thoughts wherever she was she was far away or being shielded.
A/N: Thank you so much for everyone's lovely comments, I hope this chapter has enough of an exchange between our two favourite characters.