CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sesshomaru

Sunlight streamed through the window as I opened my eyes. It was bright at first, but as I sat up, I got used to it. Strangely, though, my hand rubbed against something. That girl's scent... Was in this room...! She was laying on the floor directly behind me, clinging to my moko moko. I growled. What on earth was she doing in here?! I would kill her for this! She was forbidden from ever entering my dwelling- and although I never spoke of the rule, I thought that it was fairly obvious.

"Wake... Up!" I snarled, grabbing her arm. She squeezed her eyes shut, before yawning nonchalantly. She seemed completely unconcerned as she opened her eyes half-way. Her eyelashes were so long, that they nearly covered what she had open.

"Oh... Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru..." she murmured, yawning again. Did this girl just enjoy infuriating me? I was the Lord of the Western Lands! I wasn't to be disrespected! Yet, this girl had no problem in doing so. She buried her face back into the fur, not caring to look me in the eyes. Grabbing her my the kimono collar, I lifted her to look at me.

"What... Do you... Think you're doing...?" I hissed, letting my temper escape. She had woken up now, but still, she seemed to have an air of indifference around her, as if she didn't care. She moaned, closing her eyes, before pushing me back.

"Let me sleep, Lord Sesshomaru..." she grumbled. That just angered me more. I held her closer to my face, only inches away. Her eyes were still closed, but she looked irritated. Well then her and I did have something in common at the moment.

"Tell me what you're doing in my room..."

"Just let me sleep..."

She pushed me more forcefully this time, letting her whole body fall like a rag doll back onto the floor. That girl had some nerve... But thinking about it, she acted nothing like this when she was fully conscious of her surroundings. Knowing her normal personality, she would be apologizing repeatedly if she found out.

Though she deserved to be punished for such discourtesy, I decided I would let it go this once. However, I would be sure to question her thoroughly as to why she was in my room. I got to my feet, pulling my fur away from her grasp. This time, she did wake up.

"Mm... Lord Sesshomaru...? What-"

Suddenly she gasped, backing away. She was holding something in her hand. It looked like a bandage. She looked extremely worried. She was muttering something about 'falling asleep', and something about 'trying to get out'. Then, she threw her head back, biting her lower lip, with her eyes closed tightly.

"Would you like to explain to me now, why you are within my room, Mikage?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. She squeaked, and backed down.

"I'm so sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry!" she cried, shaking her head. Ugh. I had predicted as much. Terrified. Mikage went and hid underneath the futon. As though that would help her. I rolled my eyes, waling over to the floor mattress. All that could be seen of her was a small bunch of her hair that was protruding from beneath the futon. Otherwise, she was just a trembling lump beneath the bedding. Kneeling down, I lifted it up. She looked panicked. She backed into the shadows underneath, trying to hide herself as much as possible.

"Are you frightened...?" I asked, knowing the answer already. She didn't know what to say, only uttering small sounds like whimpers. I repeated myself, not saying it any louder this time. I didn't want to risk scaring her so much that I didn't get an answer. This time she nodded. Sighing, I replied, "You don't need to be." Although I was angry, she was only five. So I suppose that excuses some of her annoying behavior.

"I-I'm sorry... I just wanted to change your bandages... I d-didn't mean to fall asleep... B-but... I couldn't get up because you were l-l-laying on me. Um..."

Wait. I was what? Not even in my sleep would I do such disgusting things1

"What do you mean I was 'laying on you'?" I spat, feeling my temper rise yet again. Again, she squeaked, backing into the shadow. I snorted. "As if I would do such a thing!"

"Y-you did... I had lifted you a little bit into my lap so I could bandage you... B-but then, you turned around so I couldn't get up... I-I... Um... Must have fallen asleep then..."

She was stuttering even more than usual.

"I'm sorry..."

"Stop apologizing!" I yelled, finally through with it. I was sick and tired of her asking for forgiveness so often, when she had nothing to apologize for. I saw her recoil, shocked at my sudden outburst. "Every single time I even ask you a question, all you do is apologize. Don't you ever know when you have nothing to be sorry for?!" When I glanced over at her, she had gone from terrified to happy. "What are you smiling about?" I was genuinely curious now.

"Are you apologizing, Lord Sesshomaru?" she inquired, smiling even more. What was she rambling about now?

"What are you talking about?"

She leaned forward, poking my nose with a single finger. Then she giggled.

"Well, you said when I had nothing to apologize for, that means that you're taking the blame for some of the times when I said sorry for doing what I thought was wrong to you. And if that's the case, then you're apologizing!"

She had completely lost me mid-sentence. Who would put so much thought into such a measly statement? I shook my head, narrowing my eyes.

"I did no such thing, Mikage," I scoffed, grabbing her by the ear. "Now come on. We're finding your parents, and getting you out of my hair once and for all." She struggled a bit, trying to get out of my grip.

"Let me go, Lord Sesshomaru!" she complained, pulling back. She had never been so resistant. She started squirming even more, until finally, I had to let her free. She got to her feet with great haste shortly after, running out of the room. Where was she off to, I wonder?

Contradicting what my mind told me to do, I followed her. She was an interesting girl, to say the least. The question is, why did she pique my interest so much?

As I turned the corner of the hall, I picked up the scents of those similar to the girl's. Her guardians? Had they come to take her? If I was correct, that would mean that they had followed her scent trail all the way here. Odd, though. If they could do that, wouldn't they have done it before when they had gone looking for her? Mikage stood, leaning against the sliding door. She looked up at me with a worried expression.

"It's Mama and Papa," she whispered. I was confused now... Why did she seem afraid of such an event occurring? I thought that she had wanted to see her parents again. Yet, by the way she was guarding the door told me otherwise. She put her head down, allowing her bangs to cover her eyes. Ever so quietly, she told me something that I hadn't expected to hear. "You know, I... I might not ever be able to see you again."

I felt my eyes widen a bit. Hadn't I wanted her to leave? It didn't make sense to me. Now some part of me... Had wanted her to stay. But it wasn't just me either- wasn't she the one who had insisted upon searching for her family earlier? Now she had a new opinion that completely differed from her old one. She wasn't just trying to figure out her emotions. She was toying with mine.

"Lord Sesshomaru... I-if they think that you took me, they'll forbid me from ever seeing you and Lord Jaken ever again!"

I knew that she was trying to keep her voice low, but any demon I knew of would be able to hear our conversation; or at least, what she was saying to me. That was more accurate.

Without knowing what I was doing, I drew nearer to her. I saw her glance at me with a puzzled expression, before I grabbed her. I covered her mouth, and disabled her from moving. I heard her attempt to muster a surprised cry, but knew she was unable to. Feeling her sharp tooth rake my hand a bit, I grimaced. As I backed away from the door, I began moving towards the cellar. Her reaction differentiated from what I had expected. Instead of thrashing, she was remaining perfectly still. I kicked open the door.

"Keep your mouth shut. I will explain shortly," I demanded, just as I retreated into the darkness of the house.