A Tense Encounter
A/N: Took a long time to write this chapter, sorry about that. Hope you enjoy.
Kagome walked off towards Sesshoumaru's study. Her step was confident until she came to the large door. "Not surprising" a voice muttered darkly to Kagome, "you are still untouched" Kagome's anger flared, those dull eyes spiking bright blue with her inner turmoil.
"Who are you talking to Kagome?" a small tired voice peeped out from the empty corridor.
"Do not sneak up on me, you wretch!" The small bundle bounced in shock and ran scared into a frantic Amaterasu.
'A Kitsune in here?' Catching the small child before he ran into another, Amaterasu cradled him in reassurance. Another cry echoed out of the empty
"Don't you dare scare my Shippou" Amaterasu poked her head slowly around the corner expecting to see two women, but there was still only one. Shippou cradled safely into her body, also confused by the sudden difference in his adoptive mother's strange words.
"Kagome" Amaterasu softly questioned to the woman standing aside the huge futon.
"What's going on? One minute I'm her then I'm me. I don't know what's going on anymore!" Kagome stuttered in distress. A pair of golden orbs had also now appeared in the doorway the trio had stopped at. The demon lord now gaining all their attention.
"You are the human Miko?" the cold voice questioned amusement evident only to the old demoness. Amaterasu excused herself taking the Kitsune with her, shushing the boy in their retreat.
"Yes" Kagome replied somewhat annoyed now alone with the arrogant lord.
"Prove it" Sesshoumaru responded flatly, his burning gaze not wavering in the slightest. Feeling more offended by his unbelievably flat tone the fiery teens eyes flashed revealing her anger.
"Let me think, in the past recent days you have managed to stalk me, fall on me, not to mention you've summon me to your house where you have threatened me, tricked me and tried to hug me on numerous occasions, does that do it for you fluff boy" her tone full of triumph at her interpretations of the past events.
"Miko" Sesshoumaru growled in warning. However this was definitely the defiant woman he had come across time and time again. At least she was fighting with the demoness inside her.
'Why hasn't she…?' Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the woman, analysing the woman.
"Why have you not purified the demoness?" he asked hoping to satisfy his concerns. "Or are you not capable of doing such a task?" Instantly irritated Kagome spat back,
"If your parents had bothered to teach you compassion, instead of filling your head with just fighting techniques. You would probably understand that killing is not the only answer in solving difficult situations!" Kagome instantly regretted losing her temper.
A strong clawed hand wrapped around her slender neck, instantly silencing her. Kagome was now suspended effortlessly in the air only inches off the ground, her hands clutching at the fine silk of his Haori. The fiery teen gulped, her body tingling in fear. A strong golden gaze burrowed into her, her tiny hands unlatched themselves from his fine silk as he lessoned his own grip. She could just make out the slight movement from the muscles around his jaw, he was holding back. Sapphire eyes widened in realization, he was showing compassion, to her.
"Sorry I didn't mean…" she whispered her voice laden with guilt, somewhat satisfied Sesshoumaru lowed the woman down to the ground.
"You are naïve to not purify the manifestation." Sesshoumaru began anger seeping away as he spoke "However, it may not be in vain." Kagome relaxed.
Removing his hand from the teen, her fingertips brushed his retracting fingers. The sensation sent shivers up the stoic lord's back. He turned away from the woman walking towards the closed door.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered.
The Inu Youkai stopped, tilting his head at the woman showing her he was listening.
"How did Shippou get here?" her voice filled with hope he would answer, sighing almost silently Sesshoumaru parted his lips.
"The Kitsune travelled through this Sesshoumaru's barrier," he said flatly. "You should be proud, not many can." Kagome could tell he was someone impressed by her adopted son's determination.
"Oh one more thing Sesshoumaru" she called again. The Inu Youkai paused again annoyed she had yet again addressed him so informally. Though he had not forgotten she had called him 'fluff boy' she would regret that. "I think it may be best if Shippou was to stay somewhere else. I may not wake up myself and I don't want this woman, this thing inside me to hurt my Shippou," her words laced with fire.
Sesshoumaru could tell how much she cared a lot for the Kitsune, a surprising trait for a Miko.
'She would make a perfect mate. A proud one, not to be dominated so easily. But soft for her pups.' he shook away those thoughts vigorously, he was glad it was too dark for the human to witness his apparent shock. Again his thoughts crept to his father. Stepping through the doorway, he looked at the woman one last time. Their eyes locked briefly before Sesshoumaru closed the door and closed her image off from him. Unfortunately for him he now had to address the ex-nanny.
"Do not" Sesshoumaru breathed to the old demoness now stood in his study. Just how did she get in here? Amaterasu had a rather large grin on her face.
"I take it that went well?" she said.
"I take it the Kitsune has already met Rin?" he countered Amaterasu dryly.
"Yes my lord." she stated still grinning. Once again the ice prince had let his resilient guard down allowing the older demoness to tap into his thoughts. To say she was somewhat intrigued at his inner wonderings would be an understatement. She never thought she would see the day the stoic lord would admit a woman was beginning to infiltrate the many walls around his cold heart.
"Very well, have the boy sleep their tonight" Dismissing the woman, Sesshoumaru headed towards his own bedroom annoyed with the ex-nanny.
'This is a question of lust, nothing more.' He purposely let the older woman hear his thoughts.
Closing the screen on his own room, Sesshoumaru rested his head on the wooden frame. His inner barrier back in place keeping his emotions inside. Was he falling into his father's footsteps? Sending his aura through the wall towards the cursed woman he could sense her irritation.
'Still unable to control her emotions' he smirked before stepping into his room some more.
Kagome slumped onto the futon, head resting on the wall connecting hers to the demon lord's,
'Why can't I stop thinking about him' she cursed hating the fact she was acting like a typical teenager of her time. 'He's Inuyasha's evil brother for the love of…'
Picking up one of the soft pillows probably stuffed with straw. The raven haired teen forcefully pressed her face into it sighing heavily as the heat from embarrassment riddle her cheeks.
'Why must it be him? Why must I have feelings for Sesshoumaru of all people? Is this punishment for not marrying Inuyasha after we defeated Naraku?' Kagome wanted to scream into her pillow, but feared for the demon ears around her. 'True ever since I met Inuyasha I was attracted, but I was fifteen!' As the pillow fell from Kagome fingers, she took note of the small screen opposite leading to the balcony.
Kagome stepped out onto the balcony, the cool winter's breeze instantly flickering her hair behind as well as tormenting the outer Kimono.
Kagome noticed a familiar red blob in the distance. Her past was huddled up on one of the roofs on the opposite side of the main house. Her body filled with chills as her hands brushed the cool wooden frame of the balcony. A small smile filled her face as she watched the boy she once loved bask in the moonlight.
'Well now,' she chuckled. 'Despite his cold indifference to Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru might not hate his brother at all,' sighing she gently pushed back one of her dancing tendrils behind her ear, before leaning closer enjoying the powerful wind now blowing against her slender frame. The breeze was free and untamed. Making Kagome smile widely, the air reminded her so much of the man next door.
A soft humming stirred the man next door from his slumber, however faint it was. To his demonic ears it was as clear as crystal. Flashes of those clear-cut orbs plagued his mind briefly, for one such as him the constant reminder of her presence was becoming a nuisance. Rising up off the futon no care for his present attire, he left in pursuit of the soft serenade.
Kagome became more confident in her hushed singing. Her body moved softly in her fine silks, she had put on after her bath. Why she had decided to let herself become so carefree all of a sudden didn't hamper her new found resilient behaviour, it was true she should be more troubled but she just couldn't. She was happy, how could she not in such beautiful surroundings. Another fast spin created another gust, picking up her already dancing locks as well as her creating her outer Kimono to float around her. The pit pat of her bare feet on hard wood filling the empty space around her. The giddy teen had no awareness to the golden discs transfixed on her spinning form. It wasn't like he hadn't seen a girl spin before, Rin did it quite often actually. But for someone as old as Kagome was someone who should be married with at least three or four children by now, but she was a Miko.
However Sesshoumaru couldn't deny she looked appealing. Her skin illuminated by the lanterns at the ends of the cornices. Creating a pinkish glow that shimmered on her and her Kimono. The black locks highlighted by the same light making her whole appearance warm and inviting. Kagome stopped, stunned sapphire eyes glistened at the proud figure stood on the adjoining balcony, only separated by a metre gap and a vast drop to the ground.
"Sesshoumaru…" she breathed, the harsh wind carrying her voice over to the still Taiyoukai. The same wind rattled through his silvery tendrils despite being tucked into a braid. Her small mouth dropped as her eyes settled on his undressed appearance, the usual red and white silk that covered his milky skin, just as loose as her own golden kimono. Dragging her eyes back up to the forbidding eyes that had not softened in the slightest, the teen started to feel quite uncomfortable.
'Crap one guess what he is thinking.' Kagome sighed, she didn't mean to ogle the man. But Kagome twitched biting her lip to stop the laughter building inside. The usual witty rebounds from the ice prince were completely silenced, had the juvenile woman finally overcome the powerful Inu lord.
Kagome blinked slowly, was he angry? The bubbly teen blushed parting her lips as her heart began to race. 'I hope he isn't like Amaterasu. I'd rather he didn't read my thoughts right now.' Sesshoumaru flicked his gaze back to and from the woman. 'Oh no did he hear those' her tiny body now riddled with dread. Kagome couldn't exactly hide her discomfort from the all-knowing dog Youkai.
"Humans emotions are troublesome" was that it? Was that all the well versed demon lord could think to say? The pensive human awed over the fact he was just as uncomfortable as her.
'And he has the audacity to spite my feelings, when clearly his own aren't under that roofless control he is so proud of, arrogant …' Kagome pouted, the furrowing of her brow in irritation had created an annoyance of its own; her gentle fingertips now covered her face as she collapsed in pain. Sesshoumaru quickly reached over the small gap that separated them, his clawed delicate fingers laced around her inner Kimono snagging the fabric as he pulled her close, steadying the falling human into his iron hold.
Molten orbs took in the woman, this was the closest she had ever been over the past couple of encounters. He could not deny he had spent far too many times in close proximity of the raven rarity and yet the sensation was still foreign. If he thought that night he had carried her back to his moronic half-brother had been close enough, he was quite mistaken. All new smells began to invade his sharp senses, a very dominant fruity smell coming from her luscious locks. This Fruity fragrance masked a less obvious extremely fresh cooling scent which teased at his sensitive nose with each soft breath she took. Sesshoumaru shifted his upper body away, perhaps he had been close enough just not so observant. The demon lord had been so lost in the woman's aroma, he failed to notice the beryl eye's patiently waiting for his own sunset orbs to notice.
As soon as the sunset orbs settled on the bland blue, she spoke.
"My, my Lord Sesshoumaru not suffering the same illness as your father are we?" her tone laden with sarcasm. Sesshoumaru did not favour sarcasm all that well. Instantly dropping the girl, the action followed with a loud thud. "That hurt!" The female cried, still hidden from sight.
After motioning his indifference to her moan of discomfort, Sesshoumaru took off back into his own room.
'That being is up to something.' He thought privately before reclining back into the large futon still riddled with the humans scent. She wanted Kagome but for what?
Amaterasu quickly walked to the furthest outhouse where she had left Inuyasha. The small thuds at his door alerted Inuyasha taking in a big sniff the boy realized it was only the old demoness.
"Well, at least you've calmed a bit, boy" hands on hips and a large grin now adorned her usual vacant expression.
"Yeah, yeah. When can I see Kagome?" Inuyasha snapped keeping his ears down in submission. The woman already proved she was capable of whipping the boy if he dared sass her again.
"In all honesty…" she started, her grin wavering as she looked at the hopeful teen. "I don't know" she admitted finally.
"But…" the same golden orbs flickered in deep thought, "Take me to Sesshoumaru now! If he won't honour his promise I'll rip him limb from limb" A strong fist collided with the silver head of the teen. Amaterasu now showing a scary expression similar to Sango's after she beats the pervert Monk.
"Seriously Inuyasha, sometimes I wonder how you've survived these many years." The older woman sighed, carefully she watched the boy who was now rubbing his throbbing head.
"Amaterasu," he began attentively, her attention still fully on the half demon, "Is Sesshoumaru…" once again golden eyes flickered as he thought over his words.
"Spit it out boy" the older woman sighed irritated by his lack of confidence.
Inuyasha began fumbling his claws together as his spirit lowered. He didn't know if he should say it, the notion had been tormenting him for many weeks now. Every time he smelt Sesshoumaru's scent on Kagome he exploded in rage. She was meant to be his. Wasn't she?
"Is Sesshoumaru courting Kagome?" He spoke deflated. Amaterasu felt every strain the younger son had gathered inside. She was beginning to understand Kagome's feelings. Only earlier that day he had stupidly thought the Chinese lord was courting the poor girl. What had set the boy into primal mode? Amaterasu stood by her judgement, the boy obviously needed to say it out loud. To acknowledge each and everything that may confuse him, it was a child's way of sorting out adult situations. The boy was obviously lacking in the attentions Sesshoumaru had received from his father. Such a pity, if only Sesshoumaru was not so hateful of the boy, Inuyasha could learn so much.
"Your brother has not stated a claim on the girl, but…" she spoke the last word with as much determination as she could. She had defiantly got his full attention now. "If he would, what would you do? You are the youngest son." She said matter-of-factly. Inuyasha interjected fully fired up.
"Kagome was mine to begin with, he can't have her!" As the red filled his eyes Amaterasu couldn't back away quick enough.
"Amaterasu" a dominant voice echoed throughout the darkened room. Inuyasha only snarled at the new presence. The older demoness bowed as her lord stepped into the ample light. His intense golden stare poured into the ex-nanny, bowing she excused herself.
'Go easy on him' she fed the words into his mind.
"Go away" Inuyasha started voice full of malice.
"Inuyasha." He spat. "I will speak you will listen, then you will tell your other human companions to leave." Sesshoumaru commanded with no fault in his voice. Sesshoumaru had no intention of letting any more humans into his home, not when some of the demon nobles were still guests in his house. Inuyasha was rough in speaking. His hatred for his older brother was obvious to any who could whiteness the formal address.
"Why should I listen to you" he spat out eyes as red as the blood boiling in his veins. Sesshoumaru let his own demonic blood seep into his eyes, instantly over powering the whelp.
"You will listen half breed." Sesshoumaru's aura's spiked in unison with his half-brother. The building pressure caused the old wood to creak under the strain. Sesshoumaru was now growing tired of the defiance, pushing more of his Youkai at Inuyasha who had no other choice but to comply.
"Your human will be returned. If this Sesshoumaru has to repeat himself one more time, I will not hesitate to throw her in the dungeons. Is this clear." Inuyasha gritted his teeth together, all red seeping away from his golden gaze. Inuyasha half nodded in agreement before dashing off after the human companions he had abandoned earlier.
Sesshoumaru decided to take the longer option back to his retreat. Truth be told he would have rather kicked the irritating pup half way to China instead of start another pointless battle inside his walls. But the other lords would have come to ogle at all the commotion. This he would not allow.
After walking up staircase after staircase. Sesshoumaru was once again stopped from his desire to relax when loud crashes could be heard from that damn Miko. Two pairs of small hands clasped onto his trousers. Their hands shaking in worry. Glaring down to the two children frightened by the noises, the stoic lord tightened his jaw.
'This is harassment from the gods' Sesshoumaru cursed stroking both the children's head subconsciously.
'Quit complaining and help me, you conceited bastard' Amaterasu spoke into his mind with such force his temple began to ache. Children still attached ruthlessly to the ice lord. Sesshoumaru stepped into the female's room. Grabbed the wailing human he effortlessly slung the women over his shoulder before striding into his room. Both children let go instantly with the help of Amaterasu who grabbed onto their collars.
'We'll leave these two alone shall we children' Smiling up to her lord who was evidently not amused.
A/N: Please continue to review, It makes my day. Honestly :)