CHAPTER TWELVE

Mikage

I really do hope that Lord Sesshomaru ate something... It would be bad if he didn't! He could get even worse off... But what if he didn't like my cooking?

I sighed. All of this bad thinking was getting me down, and even more worried. I had heard things from his room earlier, but thought it best that I shouldn't go and look. It might make this situation all the worse. So I sat. Lord Jaken hadn't woken up yet, and Lord Inu no Taisho had gone off elsewhere. Not that I minded, of course, but still... It was kind of nerve-racking being all alone in the house. Besides Lord Sesshomaru, anyways.

Ugh! Mikage! Quit letting your mind wander to him! I scolded myself. It made me wonder, though. Why was it that I wanted him as a friend so badly? I was used to playing by myself, since Mama and Papa didn't usually let me out of their sight. Honestly, I thought that I would have had a clear conscience after defeating the demon that nearly cost me my life, not more worry!

I felt my finger move up to my lip, feeling myself prepared to bite my nail. Right after, I drew it away.

I could still taste the bitter copper of the blood. His blood. I couldn't stand it.

I gazed down at the floor boards, tracing my fingernail along the ridges in the wood. Above me, I could hear the quiet pitter-patter of the rain against the roof. All was silent in the house, now. So much so, that you would be able to hear a mouse scurrying- which I did happen to hear. Lord Jaken wasn't even snoring like he usually did.

let my body fall back onto the floor as I let out all the air in my lungs. In that instant, I realized that I was so... Bored. There was nothing here to play with, and nobody was awake. I was given orders not to leave the house. So what was there to do?

I thought about sleeping, but I wasn't tired. I thought about leaving, but I wasn't supposed to. I even thought about going back up to Lord Sesshomaru's room, but that was just a bad idea in itself. Rolling onto my stomach, I thought some more. Maybe the last idea wasn't so bad after all. I could check on his wounds, and even see if he had eaten his food. Finally, I decided that I would. Sitting back up, I checked on Lord Jaken again, straightening his cap and adjusting his covers. He hadn't even moved a little bit.

"Poor Lord Jaken," I sighed, grabbing the hem of my sleeve. Actually, it was Lord Sesshomaru's kimono, but oh well... Shaking my head, I got to my feet. I felt almost naked, the kimono was so loose! I couldn't complain, though. It was comfy.

Looking towards the hall, I saw that there was a straight line in the floor boards leading there. Smiling, I proposed myself a challenge. I was going to balance on that line all the way to Lord Sesshomaru's old room, and not fall off!

Placing a foot on the line, I accepted the challenge. At first, my foot wobbled a bit. But soon, I was on my way.

In such baggy clothes, it was kind of difficult not to trip. However, it was providing me with some fun, so I stuck with it!

The wood was hard against the soles of my feet, and somewhat scratchy, but I didn't mind. The house smelt nice, along with the floor. It had the sweet scent of chrysanthemum and azalea... Boy, did I love both of those plants. I continued to think about it as I concentrated on the line. I was glad that I could do both things at once, otherwise I surely would have fallen off the line by now.

Yet as I stepped deeper into the hall, it seemed harder and harder to see the line. I knew that the place was dark, but it was especially shady in here. Now that I thought of it, I realized that I hadn't seen any lights in here at all. Maybe Lord Inu no Taisho could see in the dark. That would be amazing! Now I couldn't see the line anymore, but finally, I had reached Lord Sesshomaru's room. His window dimly lit a small area of his chamber. However, since the sky was grey outside with storms, it was even darker.

The air was damp and musty, the obvious reaction of the lack of light. Deeper, I noticed a crisp aroma.

Looking around, I quietly stepped in. There was a faint scent of mint and cinnamon from elsewhere in the room, and I immediately recognized it as Lord Sesshomaru's. Although I could see hardly anything, I followed the scent, and eventually found him. He had gotten up, off of the futon, and moved next to the wall. He was laying on his back, and from what I could see, even in his sleep he held an irritated expression.

His ivory skin looked almost blue from the storm's light, parts of it being lit up. His silver hair was gorgeous, shining brightly with the shifting of the night rains.

He must be uncomfortable, I thought, checking him over. The floor was so hard, as I observed earlier. There's no possible way he could have fallen asleep if he hadn't been exhausted.

Pulling back, I smiled a bit. He looked so cute with that annoyed expression... Even though it kind of scared me when he was awake.

Huh?! What was I even thinking?! I shouldn't be thinking such things of Lord Sesshomaru! That's horrible!

I felt my face heat up when I thought about it again. What on earth was I thinking? I promptly shook my head. I had more important things to think about! His bandages needed to be changed, and I needed to move him back to his futon.

I hesitated before reaching for him. One wrong move could mean annihilation. How was I supposed to bandage him, though? I would have to.

Lifting his head softly, I sat down beside him. I lay him down within my lap, allowing him to settle. I was surprised he hadn't awoken- of course, it was what I feared the most at the moment. Cautiously, I reached for the bandage. I was increasingly nervous to do this, but seeing as the blood had drenched through the cloth, it needed to be done. Biting my lip, I undid the tip. My eyes quickly returned to his face, but he hadn't moved. Mustering up my strength again, I began to slowly loosen them, until finally, they came loose. I let out a sigh of relief. Now I could rewrap him. I pulled out the bandages from within my shirt and-

He moved.

I froze, not even risking a breath. My eyes followed him as he turned over, rolling on his stomach. He had moved his hand onto my leg, breathing lightly. He hadn't woken up. Relieved, I continued to addressing the wounds. That was a close call... But now, how was I supposed to even get out once I was done? He had re-situated himself in such a way that it would be impossible to move, much less, get out without him waking up. I had really done myself in this time.

His skin was cool. Even through the kimono's fabric, I could feel his body, soothing and calming. His skin felt like water.

Ignoring those facts, I tied off the bandage, and examined it. I had done pretty well, even though I had tried my hardest not to look at the wounds at all. I really had hurt him, hadn't I? I rubbed his back gently, smiling as he slept. I wondered what he dreamed about. Did he have good dreams? Or maybe bad ones; hence his bothered expression. Looking at him though, I realized that the look had gone. He seemed completely at ease now. That made me happy. If only I could make him smile, though. Then, I would be truly happy.