Sesshomaru's senses had been on alert all morning. Inuyasha's abrupt departure mere hours before he was set to retrieve the Miko from her well had him on edge. Though he hadn't sensed the dead one, Sesshomaru believed she was most likely the cause of the whelps sudden disappearance.
Though he was on alert, he had managed to pass the morning normally, without causing alarm with his uneasiness. The Monk and Slayer had recently returned from gathering supplies in the village while Rin and the kit had just finished eating their midday meal.
Everyone seemed currently happy to relax and prepare to depart upon the Miko's arrival. At least, at first they were. But as time continued to pass and she didn't arrive, the entire group began to worry.
"Sesshomaru-sama? Kagome-sama should've been back by now shouldn't she?" The worry in her voice was obvious, causing Sesshomaru's own distress to increase. But before he had a chance to respond, an all too familiar annoying squawking rang out through the clearing.
"Quiet Rin! Our illustrious Lord doesn't have time to worry about some stupid silly nin- gak!" As Jaken began to let out a derogatory comment, a rock suddenly came flying and hit him right on the head. With a loud thud, Jacken fell flat on his face, much to the shock and amusement of those around him. Rin couldn't help but suppress a small smile as she watched him groan in pain on the ground. It was a satisfying moment for her and a quick distraction from the worries clouding her young mind.
But the distraction didn't last long as Shippos own nervousness could be heard in his agreement. "Rin's right. Momma said she'd be back before the sun rose above the treeline." Rin and Shippo anxiously looked towards the blazing afternoon sun, their worry increasing by the minute.
Kagome, the woman they both saw as a mother figure, was hours late and there was no sign of her returning any time soon. They had been waiting in the clearing near the village, where she usually returned with Inuyasha, but there was no sight of her familiar figure. They had both grown to rely on Kagome's presence and her absence left a void in their hearts. As the day grew hotter, their disquet intensified, wondering if something terrible had befallen their friend.
"It's not like Kagome-sama to be late. Wasn't Inuyasha-san supposed to pick her up?" Rin fiddled with her hands nervously, thoughts about what could have happened to Kagome swirling through her mind. Shippo, usually the mischievous one, had a weary expression on his face instead of his regular jubilant smile.
While the children continued to discuss their growing concern, a sudden shift in the wind caught Sesshomaru's attention. It was an unnatural shift that made him narrow his eyes in contemplation. After a few minutes of focusing his senses he heard it.
The Miko's screams.
Without a word, Sesshomaru stood and rushed toward the bone eaters well. The scent of the Miko's blood began to waift through the air and Sesshomaru let out a growl of irritation.
He shouldn't have chosen the clearing. The pack wasn't any safer closer to the village, he should've just made them wait at the well clearing.. He KNEW Inuyasha was unreliable and that once he took off, he probably wouldn't show back up on time. He KNEW the Miko had just as many enemies as she had friends.
Enemies that would seize the chance to catch her alone and off guard.
Not only was her life in danger, her secret could be exposed! Sesshomaru wasn't so naive to dismiss the possibility of devastating consequences should someone learn of her true origins. The chaos that would ensue should time travel be proven a reality was unimaginable.
He had to hurry. He needed to set things right. It was his fault she was in trouble because he stupidly depended on the half-breed to keep his word. After what felt like an eternity, but was more likely two or three minutes, he made it to the clearing.
He knew he needed to be prepared for his Miko to be injured... But what he saw as he walked through the trees had him seeing red and fighting the urge to shift.
~~
Kagura knew the moment the brat had accepted her fate. The look of defeat in those exotic blue eyes was delicious. She was savering the sweet taste of victory when a pulse of yokai caused her to stumble and nearly drop her fan. Icy cold splinters of fear worked their way down her spine and her instincts, as weak as they were, were screaming at her to run. A predator had just arrived.
With dread creeping into the place her heart should have been, Kagura slowly turned her head just enough to visually verify what she already knew. She recognized that aura the moment it brushed against hers. She also recognized the fury and possessiveness laced within it.
It was at that moment that Kagura knew... she had, utterly and completely, ROYALLY fucked up.
"Kagura." The vehemence in his voice caused her to shudder involuntarily. The only thing more terrifying than a bored Naraku, was an angry Western Lord. Trying not to let the fear show on her face, Kagura turned to face the pissed off inuyokai, wondering if today would be her last. "You were warned before to stay away from what belongs to This Sesshomaru."
Having been on the receiving end of his ire before, and not wanting to re-experience the pain that came from it, Kagura struggled with how to respond. She didn't want to further infuriate the dog, but hearing him claim the little tramp pissed her off to no end. "That little whore doesn't deserve your protection or your claim!"
A single silver brow rose in amusement. The puppet thinks herself worthy of This Ones notice? Laughable. She wasn't even a real being. The wind witch was obviously delusional. "And you do?"
His statement seemed to hit Kagura like a slap to the face. She recoiled as if she had been hit, the sarcastic cutely lacing his words biting into the recesses of her mind. "Of course I do! Once you free me from Naraku we can-"
"You are bold to assume This One would waste effort on one such as yourself." Sesshomaru would not hear any more of the wind witches asinine ranting. So he didn't give her the opportunity to argue.
"You, witch, are but a construct. An extension of the vile hanyous will. Much like an extra limb, you are a part of him. When the Miko destroys the abomination you call Master, you too will perish." The stricken look on Kagura face did little to quelm the pure of furious yokai Sesshomaru felt rising within his very being.
The onna really thought she was important enough for him to care. The idea was ludicrous. After the scene he walked in on, seeing the murderous glare Kagura had aimed toward the Miko, the brokenness in her eyes as she tried to deny his claims was somewhat gratifying. "This One would never allow ANY part of that creature to touch this Sesshomaru's person. You Kagura, will never touch This Sesshomaru."
"You're a monster!" With burning eyes Kagura fixed her watery gaze on the weakened Miko. Regret flooded her veins as she ripped her feather from her hair. If she hadn't gloated so much, if she had struck faster, maybe she could've taken the skank out before Sesshomaru appeared.
She could have played it off somehow and not fallen into the Western Lords illl favor. She could have made it look like Naraku, like she tried to help. Sesshomaru would have turned to her for consolation and eventually she could've won his heart.
But it obviously wasn't meant to be. Kagura had no idea why Sesshomaru was so upset over the human wench, but the wind elemental wasn't an idiot. She knew she had no chance of coming out of this interaction alive if she decided to keep fighting.
As she climbed aboard her vessel she decided to leave with the last word. Sesshomaru may have saved her this time, but...
"The next time we meet, I'm going to kill you. Count your days Priestess."
~~~~
Too focused on her upset at the unexpected attack to focus on the precarious position she found herself in, Kagome allowed herself to be carried without complaint as she questioned the events that had just unfolded. She couldn't understand WHY Kagura would just... freak out on her like that.
Sure they weren't friends, but Kagura had made it clear over the years that she didn't necessarily have anything against the members of their group. From what Kagome understood, Kagura was basically a slave to Naraku's will. The wind yokai was known for holding back and retreating the moment she wasn't being watched.
So why now, did she decide that Kagome was a threat? And what on earth did Sesshomaru have to do with any of it? It was like Kagura was a scorned lover and Kagome was the homewrecker she was seeking revenge on. Kagome was no Izoyai thank you very much!
It was a horrible thought to have but it was true. As much as she loved Inuyasha, she had her own private opinions about his parents. Though she would never voice such opinions aloud for fear of upsetting either of her inu friends, but Kagome honestly lost most of her respect for the late Inu no Tashio the more she learned about him.
He was a warlord that actively sought out battle. He was a bad father who pitted his son's against each other even from beyond the grave. And he was unfaithful to the woman he voted to spend his life with. Regardless of the reason behind it, he made a promise and broke it.
Kagome didn't believe in infidelity had sworn to never be a part of such acts. And she hadn't! So what the hell was Kagura problem? "I don't get it. I've done nothing but try to help Kagura, why would she attack me like that?"
Sesshomaru, having been pondering his own ideas on the situation he had witnessed, was jerked from his thoughts by the sound of Kagome's distraught voice. As soon as the wind witch had vacated, Sesshomaru had wasted no time in gathering up the injured Miko and her enormous backpack before walking away from the scene of destruction.
He had about half an hours walk to think before they made it back to the village clearing, but it seemed his thinking would have to wait. The Miko was highly, and rightfully upset. She had been attacked for no reason outside of a madwoman's delusions. She deserved answers and though he didn't have them all, he could share the ones he did.
The fact that he felt no reluctance to answer the onna would have been unsettling BEFORE, but NOW, he found he wanted to do something to get rid of the tumultuous look in her deep blue eyes.
Eyes that were normally full of joy and optimism shouldn't be so distraught, it upset him greatly. "Kagura is being illogical. She is angry the future she fantasized about will never come to pass and taking her frustrations on what she views as an easy scapegoat."
At her quizzical look Sesshomaru inwardly sighed. As intelligent as the Miko was, she could be obstinately dense. He often wondered if she was truly so stolid or if it was purposeful on her part. He couldn't imagine her being manipulative enough for the former, so, he decided, she must be genuinely perplexed. "In other words, she believes you have stolen This One's attentions from her "
"But... that's ridiculous! You aren't mine and you were never hers!" Kagome, being so caught up in her confusion, didn't see the flash of irritation in Sesshomaru's eyes at her statement. True, he wasn't the Miko's and he most certainly wasn't the wind witch's, but that didn't mean he was necessarily happy with the current status quo.
Though why was still unclear to him. Sesshomaru belonged to himself, he always had. But for some reason, that sentiment didn't appeal to him the way it did in years past. Her next statement though, had him forgetting his upset and struggling not to chuckle aloud.
Most of the idioms the little Miko came up with were nonsensical, but they were amusing nonetheless. "Gah! I knew she was a few tacos short of a combination plate, but that's just stupid." Unsure of how to respond seeing as he felt a mixture of confusion, frustration, and amusement, Sesshomaru opted for his usual responseless response.
They settled into a few minutes of contemplative silence, each gathering their thoughts and coming to terms with the abrupt chaos of the day. It was during these few precious moments of silence that kagome realized something important. "Sesshomaru, Where is Inuyasha?"
When he didn't answer, Kagome knew the answer was something she wasn't going to like. "Why wasn't he here? She should have never been able to ambush me like that!"
Her upset was turning to anger, which he supposed was better than confusion and sadness, but it still irked him. The Miko was meant to be cheery and joyful. Not angry and emotional. Not that he didn't understand her turmoil. The betrayal she would soon feel would surely increase these feelings tenfold, and he would learn how to handle it.
"Indeed." With an inaudible sigh, Sesshomaru mentally prepared himself to deliver the news. "This One was unaware of your scheduled return time or you would not have been unaccompanied. It is regrettable."
"It's not your fault. But you still haven't answered my question." Kagome knew Sesshomaru was avoiding answering her because the answer would most likely hurt her, but she needed confirmation of her fears.
"The whelp left after throwing a tantrum yesterday. He has not returned." As he spoke, the Miko visibly recoiled as if she'd been slapped. The hurt and betrayal that overwhelmed her scent was unacceptable.
Feeling the sudden need to explain himself, he continued explaining the circumstances of his younger half brother's departure. "This One simply attempted to impart combat lessons and the whelp was ... less than appreciative. When the dead ones soul collectors appeared, he took the opportunity to leave."
"Of course he was. Kami forbid he do anything to make life easier for the rest of us." The sarcasm dripping from her voice made obvious her upset at the situation, though, Sesshomaru couldn't say he didn't empathize with her. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. Maybe I shouldn't have left-"
"Enough." Sesshomaru wasn't one to raise his voice often, but he refused to sit there and listen to the Miko berate herself because of Inuyasha's idiocy. "Your trip home was not only necessary, it was earned. You do not need Inuyasha's permission nor should you feel guilt."
It seemed his last statement made some impact as she nodded thoughtfully in agreement. She needed to understand that just because the whelp was unhappy didn't mean she did something wrong. "Your pack enjoyed the rest. The children ... frolicked, Jaken and Ah-Un hibernated, and the Slayer Monk traveled to her village. Inuyasha seemed to be the only one upset."
A few minutes of silence passed as Kagome contemplated everything Sesshomaru said. He was right. It wasn't her fault Inuyasha reacted to everything like a child. As long as everyone else has fun, that's what mattered. From the sound of things everyone has a productive rest during her trip. "And what did you do?"
A smirk slowly spread across the inu lords face, a singular fang peeking from his lip as he thought of all the things that were soon to come. "This Sesshomaru pondered and came to a decision."
"O-oh. Was it an important decision?" Kagome couldn't help the blush that spread at the look. It was sinful, no male had the right to look THAT good without trying.
Sesshomaru on the other hand enjoyed the Mikos reaction and wondered just how his little Miko would fare once she realized the scope of his decision. "Indeed."