CHAPTER TWENTY

Mikage

I couldn't believe it! He actually said yes! It would be like a family trip, or something. That excited me more than anything in the world right now. I couldn't hardly wait!

I burst through the doorway, seeming to startle those in the room. For some reason, this time when I collected all of their gazes, I didn't feel threatened. I could hardly manage to contain my excitement as I cried,

"Everyone get ready-" I paused to swallow an extra ounce of fervor. "-because we're going to the lily fields!"

They all exchanged glances.

"All right, sis! I'm up for it!" Gakupo exclaimed, waving his hand about in the air. His long hair was now tied up in a small ponytail with the rest hanging down. Looking to Yuuhi, he grinned. "You coming, too, Yuuhi?"

She sighed, and rolling her eyes, she also smiled.

"Sure. Why not? It just gives me more of a chance to get fresh evidence," she hissed mischievously. I nodded, a bit nervous about that. Of course that's what she wanted to do. I turned towards the other two who just agreed without a care.

"Sure we can go, Mikage," Lord Inu no Taisho said, shrugging his shoulders.

"And I shall go because Milord and Milady are going!"

Upon obtaining all of their approval, I ran back out of the room to Lord Sesshomaru.

I ran straight into him with a hug, laughing loudly.

"They said yes, Lord Sesshomaru! Thank you!" I buried my face in his chest, still unable to stifle my giggles. I felt a hand come onto my head, being able to feel the cool skin through my thick hair.

"Yes, well... Don't get too excited. In that hour that we are there, I'm going to be training you," the voice said, equally as cool-toned as his hand. I pulled back a bit, my ocean blue eyes meeting pure gold. I knew that training would be fine, as long as I would be able to impress. I think that I could pull that off, especially being around the lilies.

"That's okay! I'm just really happy that we're going somewhere! All of us together, Lord Sesshomaru," my voice chimed, becoming noticeably quieter. I pulled back all the way this time, looking to the ground. I closed my eyes, still feeling a smile pulling at my lips. Lord Sesshomaru said nothing as I continued. "That's what I want most, you know. A loving family, and friends. I think... I think that I've gotten that now."

Neither of us said anything after that, but I was okay with the silence. It was a comfortable silence. The kind you feel when there's an unsaid agreement around you.

When I opened my eyes, he had gone. But I knew that I had said what I wanted to. Maybe he understood, or maybe he didn't. I didn't know. But either way was fine. I also knew that it was possible that he hadn't accepted me as his friend. That was okay too, now. At least we were beginning to get along better.

As Gakupo came beside me, I could still feel the slight smile on my face.

"Did you tell anyone about our birthday that's coming up, Sis?"

"Mm mm." I shook my head, simply gazing down the hall that Lord Sesshomaru had taken. Six years old already? Gakupo's pungent honeysuckle scent came closer as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I don't see why you're so selfless, Mikage. Most girls your age would be stating what they want left and right, but... You don't, do you?"

He lay his head on my shoulder, breathing lightly through his nose onto my neck. It was warm, slightly moist air that seemed to calm me. I didn't respond as he tightened his hold just a bit.

"You keep lusting for something that isn't much to ask for. It means the world to you, doesn't it? Friends. How come that's all you want?" he asked, playing with my hair a bit. I shrugged, making his head slide a bit closer to my neck. He drew back, shaking his head.

"Gakupo... Do you think that Mama and Papa are all right?" I questioned, gazing at him through my peripheral vision. He paused for a moment, now setting his hard chin on my head.

"Yes. They're just fine. You know, they're the ones who sent us here. Me and Yuuhi."

He was quiet again for a while longer.

"But I'm not gonna tell them where you are."

I drew away from him so that I could look him straight in the eyes.

"Why?"

He shook his head again, his eyes beginning to spill. Shining clear liquid drained down his cheeks, as he looked to the side.

"I don't want Ma hurting you again, Sis," he sniffed. I felt horrible for asking now. Unconsciously, I felt my hand travel up to my face, my fingertips gliding along the jagged ridges of the scabs, remembering that night. "Remember what she did when we finally found you?" I heard him gasp for breath, his voice cracking as he continued. "She hurt you so badly just because you had gotten lost."

"I know."

This time, it was my turn to put my arms around him. My height almost reached his, only being an inch or two shorter. I could taste the salty bitterness of his tears in my mouth as he calmed down a bit.

"I'm sorry, Sis. I'm supposed to be the strong one here, and I keep crying like a baby," he chuckled, his voice still hoarse from the crying. He wiped his cheek with the palm of his hand, meeting my eyes again with his now shining hazel ones.

"I don't mind," I replied, a smile meant to comfort him reaching my face again. "What do you say we head to those lily fields now?" I suggested, seeing Yuuhi and Jaken-sama beginning to descend from the room that Gakupo was previously in. He bobbed his head, the pink color around his eyes already beginning to fade. "Good."

Jaken-sama and Yuuhi were up to their same, normal bickering once again, about some obscure subject that I couldn't understand. As they came closer, I began to pick up on what exactly it was that their argument was based off of now.

"Milord is simply the strongest there is! No exceptions! Milady isn't even able to punch or kick properly yet, and you claim that she could beat him in a fight? How preposterous!" Lord Jaken screeched, waddling towards us.

"Yeah, well, I bet your 'lord' couldn't knock out a whole crowd of people with his cuteness, now could he?" Yuuhi snapped, baring her teeth at him.

"Milord is handsome, and could knock out an army of teenage girls!" Jaken retorted, holding his staff at the ready.

I simply had to stare, completely and utterly confused. Bewildered as I was, I couldn't even begin to believe that their arguments had resorted to this. I heard a loud smack as Gakupo face palmed. Behind them, Lord Inu no Taisho had begun to laugh loudly, his hair still down.

"You guys, just admit it. Sesshomaru and Mikage are equal in some things, and better than each other in other ways. It's only fair," he commented, coming to stand beside me. Looking around, he added, "Where is Little Sesshy anyways?"

"I... I actually don't really know... He was here moments ago," I murmured, shrugging my shoulders again. Sesshy? I had better not ask.

Lord Inu no Taisho sighed, before setting his hand on my shoulder and squeezing.

"He'll be here eventually."

I nodded, just as he returned to us.

"Fine then. Let's go to the flower fields."

It was glorious! All around us were millions of lilies, their fragrant scent washing over me. Some were coral color, some were golden, and some were a pinkish color. Surrounding me was my favorite flowers by far. I felt myself launch ahead of the others into the flowers, falling into them happily.

"I'm coming with you, Sis!" Gakupo cried, laughing as he rolled in beside me. We lay there laughing for a while until it hurt. The scent was so nice... Until a sudden cooling and spicy scent covered it. Opening my eyes, I gazed up at the irritated face of Lord Sesshomaru.

"Do you remember what I told you we were doing here, Mikage?" he asked.

Scrambling to my feet, I nodded. I had nearly forgotten.

"Oh- yes! I saw the lilies... And well... I got a bit carried away!"

Lord Sesshomaru crossed his arms across his chest. That's when I realized that he hadn't put his armor back on. Was he really comfortable enough to travel without it? That thought elated me.

"Well that's obvious," he grumbled, raising an eyebrow at me. The crescent moon on his forehead wrinkled with the movement of his brow.

"Well," I called, turning. "Are we gonna get to it, or not?"

I heard him sigh with exasperation as I continued into the field. The sweet scent only seemed to become stronger as I ventured, much to my pleasure. Still, though, Sesshomaru's cinnamon-mint smell continued to override it. It was so contradictory in itself that the lilies only added to the odd concoction.

Thinking about it now, though, the odor wasn't all that bad. I played around with the reasoning in my head for a bit, until finally, I settled on an answer. I liked lilies... As well as Lord Sesshomaru. So the answer was only logical. It actually wasn't all that surprising to me.

"Why don't we begin here. The first thing that I want to teach you is flight." I heard him say, as I myself came to a stop.

"Yeah... But wait... Flying? Do you think I can?" I asked, turning to face him. I was feeling myself becoming more nervous with each moment that passed, my blood beginning to run cold. What if I humiliated myself in front of him? I had already proven myself a disgrace to demons long ago. What if that came to bite me in the butt today? I didn't want to think about it.

"If you're a full demon, then you can fly. It is as simple as that, Mikage."

I swallowed, and when I did, it felt like I was swallowing a pebble.

"R-right. Okay." I stuttered, smoothing my hair down. I could feel his gaze on me, causing my face to heat up with embarrassment. Through my bangs that were now hanging before my eyes, I witnessed him slowly make his way in front of me, purposely letting his fur press against me. I could only guess that he wanted me to take hold of it, so I did. I soon learned that my assumption was correct, as he told me two words.

"We fly."

Before I knew it, we were off the ground, the lily field trailing several feet below us. I couldn't even scream, I was so terrified. I could only hug the fluff as tightly as I could, trying not to fall. Ugh. Falling. The idea made me sick to my stomach, and I was now feeling quite nauseous.

"L-Lord Sesshomaru... How does this help me?" I managed to squeak, squeezing my eyes shut so hard that it hurt. Finally, the wind that was pushing so hard above me stopped. It was remarkably colder, but I was fine.

"You'll see," he said simply, removing the fluff from his shoulder. Wait... He-

I hardly had time to scream as I was falling. The air rushed through my hair and my long sleeves. I was going to die. That was all that I heard in my head as I dropped. My blood felt frozen, and all I could do was keep my eyes shut to try and drown out the fresh image in my head. The image was of me hitting the ground. I was going to...

Suddenly, I wasn't falling anymore. Much to my surprise, I was merely hovering in the air. Looking around me, were miles of fluffy substance. I could feel my clothes stuck to my body. They were wet? Curious, I reached out to touch one of the puffy balls. I didn't touch fluff. Instead, my skin felt cold and wet. As I drew my hand back, I was finally able to realize that the clouds were made of water.

"I wouldn't recommend looking down," stated a voice. Turning my head to the source of the sound, I predictably saw Lord Sesshomaru descending from the higher sky. Turning made me lose my balance a little, and as I began to drop. I felt a firm hand grab me by my arm. "Ah. And you might be a bit clumsy."

"T-that would have been good to know!" I cried, glaring up at him. "You should have at least given me some warning!"

He chuckled at my accusing manner of speech as he lifted me to his face.

"Don't make me drop you," he teased. I growled a bit as he pretended to let my hand go.

"Y-you better not..." I whined, trying to find my balance. I could still feel my body racked with trembles from fear. I wasn't afraid of heights so much as falling.

"I would have expected you to be excited that you accomplished this, Mikage."

He lifted me over his shoulder, just like before. I felt as useless and defenseless as a sack of potatoes.

"I-I am... But-" I had to swallow in order to continue. "I'm scared."

I think that that may have been the first time I had ever really admitted to that out loud. At the moment, I wanted nothing more than to have my feet planted firmly on the ground.

"I suppose that that means you want to be done with training for today, correct?"

Although I doubted that I could even keep myself on my weak legs when landing, I didn't want to be dubbed a weakling on the first day. Training was meant to be rigorous, right?

"N-no."

I heard him pause for a moment before he murmured,

"We'll see."