Kagome could hardly sleep after their encounter. She felt giddy, alive, daring.
The next day, she could not wait to get away to the forest. To see him.
He watched her walk, saw her smile, and knew she was there for him.
It was a start. She would not call him out, but just before leaving the woods, she would look at him. She always knew just where he was.
Day after day until he grew tired of just watching her.
Weeks after it started, he came out as soon as she entered the woods.
"Lord Sesshomaru,"
It was an easy game for her when she was the one in control. He stared at her for a long time before vanishing again. But he wondered what she would do if he wasn't there.
He told Konna he would return in three nights and not to say anything to Kagome about it.
So the next day when Kagome came back, he wasnt there and she wasnt sure why. Afraid now, she backed out of the woods. She tried again the next day and the next.
She became melancholy. Konna shook her head; what was her uncle doing?
On the fourth day, she entered again and didnt feel him. "Did he get bored?" She asked herself,
"Board with what Miko,"
Kagome spun "Sesshomaru!" She said breathlessly, forgetting his title. He gave him pause because, in that instant, she seemed like her old self. How long had he waited to hear her say his name like that?
"Where did you go?" She asked,
"I do have other things to attend to, woman,"
Kagome blushed, and he walked right up to her. "Have you been looking for me?"
"Yes," She said,
He brushed her hair away from her face with the back of his hand. She took in a breath, reached up, and touched his arm. "My Lord?"
"Why?" He asked,
"Because I wanted to see you,"
"Not kill me?"
"Why, why would I want to kill you?"
"So you are choosing me as a lover and not an enemy,"
Kagome blushed. "Choosing, lover?"
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck "Kagome-
Then her father called, and she looked back, panicked.
Then back at him, "I have to go,"
He wondered, in those three days he was gone, who suffered more?
Her waiting was nothing compared to his.
He loosened his hand, and she moved to run back, but he grabbed her wrist. "Marry me," He said.
She froze. "Marry you?"
"Hn,"
Her father called her name again,
"I, I dont think I can,"
At her words, his hand went loose, and she slipped away.
Konna came to him a few minutes later. "Uncle?"
He stood frozen.
"Her father is growing worried,"
He snapped out of his musing and looked at his niece.
"Her coming to you every day, her father knows,"
"I fail to see your point,"
"He is sending for others,"
"Other?"
"To take her hand,"
Is that what she meant? Didn't she think she could? Did she know?
He looked at the village in the background and the pulled gold out of his clothes and handed to her.
"You can't buy her!" She snapped, and her ears went back.
"Konna," He said her name and her ears went up. "I have no plans buy her; she is already mine," He told her.
Konna sighed. "I understand,"
Konna returned to the village, and after Kagome went to bed, she sought to speak with her father.
They sat at a table lit only by candles. "What do you want to talk about?"
Konna put the money on the table.
"Did you steal it?"
She looked at him flat. "No, it is a gift from my uncle,"
"And what does he want for this gift?"
"To be included,"
He crossed his arms and sat back. "A bribe,"
Konna knew this was a bad idea,
"No, it was just to convey that he could take care of her,"
"I know about the demon Lord," Her father said. "I know what he wants,"
Konna perked up some, but his face twisted, and her hope died.
"He could very well afford to buy her, but her worth can not be measured in money," He stood. "The only reason I think to marry her off is to keep her out of his bloody hands,"
"What?" Konna whispered, her ears twitched. She knew Kagome was awake and listening.
"She is worth more than just some bride, we need her power,"
Oh no.
"And as if I would allow her fall pregnant with a half breed,"
Konna was hurt.
His wife put her hand on her husband's shoulders. "Dear,"
He looked away. "No offense to you,"
"You, you want to use her power?"
"I will offer her up to the strongest human with the largest army,"
Konna stood. "But Lord Sesshomaru-
"Is a demon,"
Her heart raced. She knew what was going on.
"I see,"
"If it is all the same to you, I will address him face to face,"
That wasn't going to end well, but hey, it was his deathbed.
"As you wish,"