InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon's Heart and Ultimate Sacrifice (Kag/Sess) ❯ Pleasant Dreams ( Chapter 16 )

Sango sought out InuYasha. She knew he was in pain and thought she it would be best if she spoke to him.

"InuYasha, I need to speak with you." She was standing below the tree he was sitting in. He stared down at her but did not offer to move.

"InuYasha, please, I have to talk to you about Kagome." He seemed to show some interest and jumped down from the tree.

"What about Kagome?" "InuYasha, while Kagome was with Sesshoumaru she was attacked by some men. He saved her and nursed her wounds." InuYasha looked at Sango with pain in his eyes.

"Why would she keep something like that from me?"

Sango thought a moment, then explained "InuYasha Kagome told me because I am a woman. It is hard for women to talk about such things. She felt embarrassed. She probably called to Sesshoumaru today because he made her feel very safe during such a frightening ordeal. The men that Naraku made appear today, where the ones that attacked her. I believe that is why she chose to go with Sesshoumaru. She felt very vulnerable and being with him again helped her feel safe."

The explanation did help him to understand, yet didn't help him feel any better. Kagome now trusted Sesshoumaru more than she trusted him. He had never felt like such a failure before. Sango hugged him. "Don't worry InuYasha; I'm sure she will come back soon."

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Sesshoumaru woke again to the sound of Rin at his door. "Kagome is scared, Lord Sesshomaru." He walked down the corridor and found the cub standing outside Kagome's door. He told them both to go to bed, and the reached for her door. He heard a small noise from behind him and realized the fox cub was growling. He turned to him and understood that he was trying to protect Kagome.

"I will not harm Kagome. She is having a nightmare and I am only going to wake her." Shippou looked at Sesshoumaru with apprehension, clearly fearing the demon lord yet wanting to protect his surrogate mother. Apparently he thought better of taking on Sesshoumaru and went to his own room.

When he entered Kagome's room he could tell that she had been having a restless sleep. He could almost smell her fear. He gently touched her hair and spoke her name. She opened her eyes and after a moment smiled up at him.

"Are you going to be alright?" She nodded her head, and he could tell she was nearly asleep. He sat in the chair next to her bed, watching her. Some time had passed and she began to whimper. The sound brought him back to her bedside. This time he sat next to her on the bed, and spoke to her softly. This seemed to calm her and again she was in deep sleep.

Kagome woke in morning to find her self confused. She felt a weight over her shoulder. She was no longer lying down, but nestled into something very soft. As the world began to come to focus around her she realized Sesshoumaru was sitting on her bed and she was embracing him, her right hand entwined in his hair. She was very shocked by this, but did not make any sudden motions to move. She glanced up at him and found that he was awake. She suddenly felt embarrassed. She pulled away from him and he looked at her.

"You were very frightened last night. Rin woke me and I came to calm you, so that the children would not worry." She quickly moved to get out of her bed. It was likely that the Rin and Shippou would be there soon. She pulled a robe on over her pajamas. When she turned around he was standing near the door.

"Were you able to get sleep last night, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"I do not require sleep every night. Watching over you is not a bother." He turned and left for his own room. She gathered her things and left to get her bath.

Sesshoumaru was surprised when he awoke to find Kagome's arms wrapped around his waist. He had not intended to fall asleep on her bed. He looked down at her and noticed that she was sleeping peacefully, so he made no attempt to move her just yet. Her scent was very strong now and found it to be pleasant. She had moved her right hand and begun stroking his hair. He then heard her say his name; he looked down to find out that she was still asleep.

The idea that she was dreaming about him left him curious. Except for Rin, he had never before allowed a human to touch him. Any that had tried, usually found themselves at his mercy. His emotions towards the human had him perplexed. When he first brought her to his castle, his sole purpose was to prevent Naraku from capturing her. Then he came to hold respect for the priestess, and after seeing her immense fear and pain he began to pity her and had a desire to protect her. Watching her with Rin and the fox cub had given him a warm feeling that he had never before felt. Now looking at her sleeping so closely to him, he realized that he did care about the human, much as he cared for Rin. Though the feelings he held towards the priestess were different, for he did not feel as a father to here.

Kagome spent most of the day playing in the gardens and fields with Shippou and Rin. Sesshoumaru watched the three of them sit in the grass, while Kagome searched through her bag. She pulled out a chocolate bar and gave a piece to both Shippou and Rin. Shippou adored chocolate, but Rin had never tried it. Rin's eyes became wide when the piece first touched her tongue. She let it melt in her mouth, seeming to savor every bit. After it was gone she asked for another piece. She laughed and gave the girl another. Rin smiled with delight and again let the chocolate remain in her mouth.

Sesshoumaru felt the need to inquire about what Rin was eating. Kagome explained that it was a chocolate bar she had brought from her own era. She saw a slightly curious look pass over his face and stood.

"Why don't you try a small piece, most humans love chocolate." He looked as though he wouldn't take it, and then finally reached his hand towards her open palm. The three watched him put the chocolate in his mouth. Though his reaction was subtle, Kagome saw his eyes widen slightly. She could not tell if he liked the chocolate or not. She giggled then turned back towards Rin and Shippou. She dropped her bag and began tickling them both, causing them to run from her. Sesshoumaru stood there looking down at her bag, unsure as to whether or not he wanted a second piece.

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"Miroku, I feel very badly for InuYasha." Sango looked up at Miroku, who was holding her.

"I know InuYasha feels guilt about what has happened; I had noticed Kikyo's presence on a couple of occasions. The first was the day he suddenly decided to go for Kagome. I believe Naraku used Kikyo to get to InuYasha. It pains me to know that he still feels so much love for Kikyo, even after all that has happened. So much love that he put Kagome's very safety in jeopardy." Miroku said with sadness in his voice.

"For now we must do our best to raise his spirits. I believe that eventually Kagome will come back, because she is not a person to turn her back on friends. We will then continue our search for the jewel shards.

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Sesshoumaru found that he could not sleep. He walked to Rin's door and saw her sleeping quietly. He next checked on the small cub that Kagome cared for so dearly. He too was asleep. Next he opened Kagome's door. She was sleeping and he could sense no fear in her. He entered her room and sat on the chair next to her bed. He did not want her waking the children again, so he would stay here for awhile and see that she was going to remain in a peaceful sleep.

Kagome woke in the middle of the night and sensed someone in her room. She turned to see Sesshoumaru asleep in the chair next to her bed. She quietly got out of bed, and put her blanket over him. She looked down at his face and saw that while he slept he almost looked happy. Gone was the need to be on guard. She sat on her bed wrapped in her sheet. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. For awhile she watched him sleep. She thought he had been losing sleep in order to watch over her. Then she just stared ahead, lost in her thoughts. She missed Sango and Miroku. Even InuYasha, though she was still hurt by him. Then her thoughts went to Shippou and Rin, who had grown quite attached to each other. Both had spent much time around adults and found other children to be fascinating. She also realized that she would need to go home again soon. Her family was surely beginning to miss her.

She then looked at Sesshoumaru, and remembered the very first time she had met him. He had transformed into his demon self, and InuYasha had taken his arm. On more than one occasion he had tried to kill her, and yet here he was sleeping in her room protecting her. She also noted that not once since they returned to his home, had he worn his armor. He seemed so much more vulnerable without it. She was beginning to feel confused about her feelings for him. She knew she still cared for InuYasha, but over the past few weeks she had felt those feelings changing. She knew that he loved Kikyo and could never love her fully. She felt tears coming to her eyes but blinked them back.

She then gave thought to Sesshoumaru. Just a month ago, he would have killed her without a second thought. Now she could see a demon that held love for a human child. She remembered him caring for her wounds and calming her when she was frightened. Never would she have believed him capable of these things. Perhaps, he was not so unlike his father, who had found love for humans.

Sesshoumaru awoke to find himself covered with a blanket. Kagome sat on her bed. She had her knees up at her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her head was resting on her knees, and appeared to be thinking about something sad.

He watched as tears came to her eyes, only she did not let herself cry. Then he noticed a soft smile moving over her face. She must have felt his eyes upon her, because she turned towards him and smiled kindly. "I hope I didn't wake you." He attempted to regain his composure. He stood and carried the blanket back to her bed. He could see that she had wrapped herself in her sheet and was probably cold.

He put the blanket down and turned towards the door, when she called to him. He faced her again, and she thanked him. He nodded to her and walked out of her room.