InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon's Heart and Ultimate Sacrifice (Kag/Sess) ❯ Back at the Castle ( Chapter 15 )

Naraku laughed to himself. The mighty Sesshoumaru would protect the human, but he also had great weakness when she was in danger. There was little doubt in his mind that he could use that weakness to get what he wanted.

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InuYasha stood there stunned as Kagome and Shippou left with Sesshoumaru. Kagome had called to Sesshoumaru to protect her. Then she chose to leave with him. He now knew that Kikyo had been using him. Now he had lost both women he cared about. There was no doubt in his mind that Sesshoumaru would kill him if he tried to go after Kagome. He also did not doubt that Kagome would refuse to go with him. He had failed her and she suffered greatly for that.

When they returned to the village InuYasha went off by himself. Sango and Miroku returned to their home. Sango understood why Kagome had gone with Sesshoumaru. He had come and protected her, when InuYasha had failed. When Miroku expressed his disbelief about what had happened, Sango decided to tell him about Kagome's attack, and how Sesshoumaru had taken care of her. She then told him about the gentle way he had treated her.

"I am almost sure he kissed her on the forehead, when he was waking her." Miroku was not as shocked by this as he expected to be. He had noticed the fierceness with which Sesshoumaru had protected Kagome in the forest the day they had come for her. He had seen how he gently turned to her and calmed her fear.

"At lease we know she and Shippou are safe. There is no doubt in my mind that he will protect her from Naraku." Miroku suddenly realized that the ominous presence he had detected those times before had been Kikyo. The monk felt sorry for InuYasha. No matter what, he would never be able to forget his first love.

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Sesshoumaru stopped in the garden near his castle. Kagome was now calm, but he could still feel the fear in her body. She clung tightly to the young fox demon, and her eyes were closed. He stood her on the ground and began to speak.

"Kagome, you are safe now. They were never really there; they were mere puppets of Naraku's." Though logically she knew they weren't real, just the sight of them had scared her. He studied her intently as she regained her composure.

"Rin will still be awake, and I know she will want to see you." Hearing the girls name put a little of the light back into Kagome's eyes. They walked towards the castle entrance together. Sesshoumaru called to Jaken and Rin, who appeared moments later. The look on Rin's face when she saw Kagome was one of pure delight. She ran towards Kagome, and Kagome knelt down and hugged Rin. Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome held both Rin and the fox demon in her arms. She looked like a mother to them both. This thought brought warmth to him.

"Rin has missed Kagome. Will Kagome stay with Rin and Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome gave Rin a look that was filled with love, then looked up to Sesshoumaru. "Yes, I will stay here with you, Rin." Again Rin hugged Kagome. This time she seemed to notice the young fox and grew curious. Kagome sat Shippou down and introduced the two of them. Rin immediately tugged one of Shippou's ears, and Kagome laughed. Rin then noticed his tail, and Kagome spoke before she had the chance to pull it too.

"Rin, you have to be nice to Shippou. Pulling on his ears can hurt him." Shippou looked frightened, but also interested in Rin. Rin then looked at Lord Sesshoumaru and asked "What happened to Lord Sesshoumaru's face?" Kagome looked up and notice the claw marks on his cheek.

"It was nothing Rin, just an accident." He replied. The two young ones began playing together. Rather Rin chased Shippou, until he leapt into Kagome's arms. Sesshoumaru then announced that it was time for them both to go to bed. He led Rin to her room, and told Kagome that Shippou could use the room across from hers.

As she put Shippou to bed, he questioned why they were with Sesshoumaru. "Right now Naraku wants to hurt me. I am safer here, and I would like you to be with me Shippou." She hugged the young demon to her and told him good night.

When she stepped out of his room, she walked towards Rin's. She walked in and went to Rin's bed. She hugged her closely for a moment, and realized that she was crying. "Why is Kagome crying?" Rin asked her innocently. "I'm crying because I missed you very much." She again hugged the girl and told her good night.

She turned to see Sesshoumaru waiting for her in the doorway. She looked at his face guiltily. After he closed Rin's door she became very nervous in his presence. He was staring at her again, and she was unable to tell what he was thinking. Finally she looked at the scratches on his face.

"Are those from me?" He looked at her for a moment, and then nodded. "You were terrified when you woke; you lashed out until you realized that it was I that was holding you." Kagome felt herself blush. "Please allow me to bandage them for you."

"Later, first you may tend to yourself." Kagome went into the room she had used and got a fresh kimono from the wardrobe. Her thoughts flew to InuYasha, and the way he had left her there to protect Kikyo. She still cared for InuYasha, but it was obvious that she would never have his heart. This made her cry. She sat there for some time, and then she put on the clean kimono. She left her room and again went to the room where she had dressed Sesshoumaru's wounds before. He was sitting there. He too had changed his clothes. His kimono was white, with green and blue on it. He was not wearing his armor.

She noticed that he had a bowl of hot water and a cloth set out for her. She went to it and got the cloth wet; she knelt beside him and focused on the scratches on his face. She is shocked at how deep they were. "I'm so sorry." He said nothing to her, but she felt his arm move around her and begin stroking her hair. This shocked her, but to her surprise it didn't make her feel uncomfortable. She had focused so intently on his wounds, that she did not notice he was watching her. She felt herself grow flushed when she saw the warm look in his eyes.

Sesshoumaru was saddened by the look in Kagome's eyes when she entered the room. He could tell she had been crying. She went directly to work cleaning the scratches. The look on her face told him she did not remember inflicting the wound. He thought back to the wild look on her face when she awoke. He saw what appeared to be guilt or even shame as she worked on cleaning the wound. When she apologized to him, he felt the need to again comfort her. He began stroking her hair. The fact that she didn't seem bothered surprised him. Suddenly she seemed to notice that he was watching her. At first she looked embarrassed. Then she looked closely at the scratch marks and began to caress them. The look on her face was one of compassion.

That night Kagome could not sleep. The events of the day rolled through her head. What stuck in her head the most were the warm moments she shared with Sesshoumaru. The fact that he was stroking her hair with such a caring look on his face had taken her by total surprise.

The next morning Kagome woke to Rin and Shippou both running into her room. They appeared to be getting along now, and both climbed onto her bed. The sat on either side of her and talked excitedly. Apparently, they had been up for quite some time playing. She told them to wait for her down in the dining room, while she dressed. As soon as she was finished eating the two young ones were trying to drag her outside. She told them she wanted to bathe first, and sent the two of them off to play. She gathered a fresh kimono and towel and headed towards the springs.

When she finished she noticed Sesshoumaru had brought the two children out to play. He was watching them run through the grass laughing. Kagome walked towards him, feeling somewhat awkward about the night before. Shippou noticed Kagome near Sesshoumaru and came towards her.

"Kagome, how long are we going to be staying here?" Shippou asked her. She glanced at Sesshoumaru, who also, seemed interested in her answer. "I won't make you stay here Shippou. If you would rather go back and stay with Sango and Miroku, I will understand." The fox demon looked at her, then at Sesshoumaru with a somewhat frightened look. She knelt down to him, "You don't have to worry about Sesshoumaru. He won't hurt you Shippou." Again the cub looked at them both and then hugged Kagome. "I want to stay with you, Kagome."