She misheard. He could not have just said…
"I'm sorry My Lord but, did you mean to say ten months?" Kagome was too busy listening to the blood rush into her ears and thumping of her heart than to think about questioning the powerful demon lord.
The sharp sound of porcelain colliding with wood brought her out of her panicked state.
"I did not misspeak woman." Sesshoumaru was angry. No, he was furious. Not only was this girl questioning his own words but also being reminded again of the length of time this war would take him away from his lands was madding. Seeing Kagome's wide eyes and sensing her fear he closed his own eyes and took a deep breath. Upon exhaling he became aware of something wet in his hand. Looking down he found the sake cup shattered in his palm.
"Demon Warlords can fight for decades or even centuries." He looked back into the priestesses' cerulean eyes and lifted his hand up to his mouth and used his fangs to take out shards of porcelain before licking the wound clean. "This One does not foresee this one taking any longer than a single decade. We will make sure of it."
Kagome felt like a deer stuck in headlights. Her heartrate had risen to an alarming rate watching the demon clean his own blood with slow laps of his tongue. She remained frozen when he reached said hand across to grab her own teacup and proceed to fill it with what was left of her sake. Hell, the fact that Sesshoumaru even referred to himself in the first person left her momentarily mute.
Clearing her throat, the best she could to avoid any cracks in her voice she finally replied, "I-I apologize My Lord. It was not my intention to correct you." Finding the strength to break eye contact and looking back to her hands fiddling the tie to her simple white robes.
Her submission was enough to please the demon lord as he continued to sip his sake, being sure to use the same side of the cup Kagome had her own lips to not long ago. He watched while she stared down into her lap and decided to wait until the priestess was brave enough to address him again. Until then Sesshoumaru had no issue with simply watching as the fire behind her illuminated her raven hair with highlights of gold and crimson. When did her mane become so long and full? Another question for another time he concluded while shifting his gaze to watch as she lifted a hand to brush unruly hair off of her left shoulder to the exposed side of her neck. Sesshoumaru promptly downed the last of his drink.
Once again finding her voice but still averting her eyes Kagome continued, "When will you have to leave for the east?" She was much less startled when she heard him set her teacup down gently. Braving a look back on the demon she couldn't help but feel like cornered prey from the way he watched her.
"Within a fortnight." Sesshoumaru answered taking pleasure in her nervous look. Such a timid creature the priestess has become since traveling the land and defeating the Spider. Has the lack of danger or missing presence of his loud half-breed brother made her this way? Again, he finds more questions but sees no reason to bother finding answers. Not yet anyways.
"Once Rin awakens This One will inform her of his upcoming absence. We will return once a guard has been selected and goods gathered to keep for an extended time." The warmth of the sake had finally made its way through his veins allowing the demon to recline on his right arm and lazily stretch his long legs alongside the low table. He vaguely noted how soft the fibers were on the rug he had bought the priestess. Should he get one for himself as a reward after winning this foolish war?
Kagome was almost back in control of herself until she took in the sight of Sesshoumaru casually leaning back with a thoughtful look upon his face. His haori had spread open further and she watched while the glow of the fire danced across his smooth chest. Silver hair spilled over his right shoulder in a way that reminded her of a waterfall she once saw while foraging through the surrounding forest. She would never get used to the fact that even without his royal fur and armor this demon lord's frame dwarfed herself and made the room feel like it was no bigger than a closet. Even Inuyasha never took up this much space or suffocated her with his presence.
"A guard won't be necessary My Lord. But if it pleases you then I will gladly accept any protection and help you are willing to provide us." Kagome straightened her back before bowing slightly towards Sesshoumaru. The action caused her hair to fall back over her shoulder obstructing his view of her slender neck. A frown tugged at the corner of his lips.
Feeling out of sorts and afraid to be caught blatantly ogling the demon lord's chest, Kagome decided it was time to join Rin and head to bed.
"I think I should retire for the night" She stood and smoothed out the front of her robe not realizing the flames behind her gave the demon a clear outline of her hips and muscular thighs. "Please feel free to use the spare futon and blankets in the chest by the wine cabinet you gifted us last year. Goodnight Lord Sesshoumaru." After another short bow Kagome quickly made her exit before he could say anything more.
Sesshoumaru watched her flee to her room and it finally dawned on him what she had said regarding his added protection. Won't be necessary? Did she not think he could provide adequate security for his ward? His lips fully turned down this time as did his brow.
With a slow turn of his head the demon lord glanced behind him to the cedar chest the priestess had mentioned. He would not be needing sleep tonight so the futon was useless to him. The wine cabinet though… he could make good use of its contents.