The remnants of the arduous ordeal of the night lingered in the air of the new sunbreak. Kagome, when finally given permission to, had passed out on the satin sheets, now cleaned of the stains of the previous night's turmoil. She couldn't return home due to her fragile state, and as much as Sesshoumaru was pained by his loss of solitude, he knew it was common decency to play host to this recovering human woman who had previously helped him.
Throughout the fortress, whispers and murmurs among the servants arose with the new day, their routine disturbed by the unexpected guest.
Constrained to bedrest, Kagome found herself grappling with the stifling idleness. The tranquility, once craved, now seemed overwhelming as it left her mind unoccupied, save for the relentless reruns of the tragedy she couldn't escape. The events of the previous night played on loop, the startling realization of her pregnancy, followed swiftly by its cruel theft, haunting her.
Late into the evening, Kagome found herself sitting by the window, lost in her own world of sorrow. Her gaze was distant, the lingering pain evident in her expression. Sesshoumaru, upon entering the room, was struck by her melancholic profile. Despite his initial impulse to leave, he chose to remain, quietly clearing his throat.
"You're supposed to be resting," he stated flatly, his golden eyes giving away no discernable emotion.
Startled, Kagome turned towards him. "I am," she murmured. "I mean... I was just..."
"It's clear you're not," Sesshoumaru interrupted, his voice edged with mild irritation. It wasn't in his nature to be patient, especially with humans. He crossed his arms, keeping a safe distance. "Your recuperation is necessary before you can leave."
His cold words hung in the air, as Kagome stifled a harsher retort and acquiesced to a more neutral response. "I know, Sesshoumaru. I'm well aware of my... situation." The sadness in her eyes striking him harder than he had anticipated. "I know," she replied softly, "I just… I wasn't expecting…"
There was a pause, the room filled with an oppressive silence. "That... loss. It's not your fault," he finally said, his tone as detached as ever, even as he touched upon the delicate subject. "Unanticipated circumstances can be... unfortunate."
Kagome's eyes widened at his attempt at consolation. "Unfortunate?" She repeated, incredulous. "Is that your way of offering comfort?" A bitter laugh escaped her lips, "It's more than just the physical pain, Sesshoumaru. There was a life… A potential…" Her voice wavered, and she choked back the tears. "And now it's just...gone."
He sighed, a hint of annoyance lambent in his eyes. "I'm not proficient in... human sensitivities," he confessed. "But understand this, you will recover. You humans are, after all, surprisingly resilient."
It was perhaps the closest he would come to offering any semblance of sympathy. Their lives were worlds apart, their experiences diverged, but both knew the pain of a loss. It was a moment of awkward understanding, where, beneath the chill of his words, Kagome found small comfort. This was Sesshoumaru's way, cold and distant, but sincere in its own unconventional manner.
Upon seeing Kagome gradually recover, Sesshoumaru's mind began to turn towards the other pressing matter on hand — Rin. His young ward needed to be safeguarded in these tumultuous times. And for that, he had the perfect candidate in mind. Jaken, his long-standing, loyal underling, albeit somewhat bumbling at times, was an apt choice.
With a stern expression and an air of authority, Sesshoumaru summoned Jaken to his private quarters. The impish, green-skinned demon immediately heeded the call, shuffling nervously into the spacious room, his eyes lowered in reverence.
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru began, his tone even and measured. "You have a task."
The demon perked up at this, zeal coloring his features a deeper shade of green. "Yes, my Lord?" he eagerly asked.
"I need you to guard Rin. The threat from the rat demon clan is not yet over, and I will not risk her safety."
Jaken nodded in understanding, although he appeared mildly surprised. After all, the idea of Sesshoumaru entrusting him with the safety of Rin was indeed a big responsibility.
"There is more," Sesshoumaru continued, his golden gaze piercing. "Once you reach the village, find Kaede. Inform her that Kagome is under my protection."
Jaken wasn't in the habit of questioning his Lord's commands. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru. I understand," Jaken managed to croak out, taking a bow before exiting the room.
And so, with the safety of Rin and the assurance of Kagome's wellbeing resting on his shoulders, Jaken set off on his mission, determined not to let his Lord down.
Kagome, after some days of bedrest as demanded by Sesshoumaru, started familiarizing herself with her surroundings, acquainting herself with the staff, particularly the women working in the scullery. One especially stood out — a weasel demoness with a witty charm and a quick tongue, whom Kagome took a liking to. She was named Itachi.
Sesshoumaru, not keen on having Kagome perusing around the fortress, especially considering her recent ordeals, felt an irritable itch at the back of his mind. He had allowed this frail human woman into his home out of necessity, not out of the goodness of his heart, but he still had a responsibility for her well-being while she was his guest.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," Itachi piped up while serving the midday meal, "Kagome-sama seems to be adjusting well to the fortress. She's quite curious about everything."
His eyes flashed with mild annoyance. "She should be resting still," he replied curtly, "not poking around in places she has no business being. See to it she doesn't strain herself."
Itachi nodded, promising to look after Kagome, though a small smile played at the corners of her lips. This was a rare sight - the Great Dog Demon, the Lord of the Western Lands, caught up in the affairs of a human woman.
As the days wore on, the fortress seemed to stir with an unfamiliar liveliness. Kagome carried an aura of friendliness and inquisitiveness that permeated through the stone-cold silence that usually reigned. She found herself being drawn to the kitchen, to the warmth of the fire and the merriment of the servants. Itachi, with her infectious laughter was the central figure of this domestic harmony. Kagome admired the way Itachi, despite her demonic nature, seemed to navigate the human realm with ease and grace.
Itachi, who found Kagome's wide-eyed wonder charming, took her under her wing, explaining the ins and outs of the fortress, recounting tales of Sesshoumaru's exploits in the demon realm, and sharing anecdotes of her own escapades. The kitchen was abuzz with laughter and chatter, a sound that echoed oddly in the lonely halls of the fortress.
Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was disconcerted by the unusual bustle. He was accustomed to the quiet, the solitude, the lack of human trivialities. And yet, here was a human shaking up the order of things with her mere presence.