InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Feudal Family ❯ An Old Friend ( Chapter 8 )

After three hours had gone by, Sesshomaru and Kagome were exhausted and soaked completely to the bone. They were having such a good time that they lost track of the time; it was dusk now.

Together, they got out of the water, shivering. Kagome was coldest of all, for she had been dunked underwater by Sesshomaru more than a few times, and they were not accidents. She sneezed, not able to stop herself.

“Oh great… I think I'm catching a cold,” she grumbled, hugging herself and trying to stop herself from shivering.

Sesshomaru sighed and stripped from his wet shirt, wringing it as dry as possible before whipping it open and wrapping it around Kagome's shoulders.

“Here. It's damp, but it's better than nothing,” he said.

Kagome smiled at him gratefully, drawing the shirt around her tightly. Sure enough she did find that it was still a little warm from Sesshomaru's body heat.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“You're welcome. Shall I make a fire so we may warm ourselves?” asked Sesshomaru, looking at Kagome expectantly.

“I don't know… Rin must be worried about us since we've been gone so long,” stated Kagome.

“Yes, I suppose you're right. Korari!” called Sesshomaru.

Korari, who was napping under a nearby tree in her large form, opened her eyes and perked up her ears, lifting her head from between her paws and staring at Sesshomaru.

“Do you think you can transport us both home, Korari?” asked the demon lord. “We are both very tired and cold, so it would be very kind of you if you would bring us back to the castle.”

Letting out a soft roar, Korari stood up and made her way up to her master and mistress, waiting for them to climb on. She had no objections to what Sesshomaru was asking her to do.

Sesshomaru smiled and swung his left leg over Korari's back, seating himself in the curve of her spine. He was amazed at how much more comfortable it was sitting on the large feline's back than sitting on Ah-Un's hard saddle. He looked down at Kagome and smiled at her, holding his right hand out to her.

“Come. It would be best if you sat in front of me so I can support you while we're in the air. You're tired and might not have the strength to stay awake,” he explained.

Placing her hand in his, Kagome agreed and climbed onto Korari's back, sitting in front of Sesshomaru and leaning her back against the front of his body. “Thank you. I appreciate this, Sesshomaru.”

After Korari had taken a running start and began soaring toward the castle, Sesshomaru replied, “It's no trouble, Kagome. Now, close your eyes and rest. You've had a long day and should get some sleep.” When Sesshomaru saw Kagome give him a look of uncertainty, he smiled lightly at her. “Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't fall. I can balance well without use of my hands while riding Ah-Un, so this shall be no different. Go ahead and sleep.”

Smiling, Kagome closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax against Sesshomaru's body behind her. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

Sesshomaru looked over Kagome's shoulder at peered at her face, seeing if she was asleep. A gentle smile tugged at his lips and he wrapped his arms around Kagome's stomach, holding her firmly against him so she wouldn't fall off of Korari's back. Sleep well, my dear Kagome…

About 25 minutes later, Korari landed gently in front of Sesshomaru's castle, looking over her shoulder at Kagome and Sesshomaru. It seemed like she was waiting for them to get off so she could continue the nap which Sesshomaru had interrupted.

Sesshomaru gathered Kagome in his arms and got off Korari's back, walking to the entrance of the castle. Before he went inside he spoke to the cat demon.

“Thank you, Korari, for carrying us home. Come inside,” he said while disappearing into his home.

Korari simply blinked, transformed back into her smaller self and dashed after him, meowing repeatedly as though trying to say, “Wait for me!”

When Sesshomaru got upstairs, he made his way to Kagome's room, stepping inside (the door was still open) and peering at Kagome's sleeping face. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep.

He gently placed her down on the bed, sitting beside her. He couldn't help but stare at her beauty and smiled, reaching over with his right hand and stroking her wet bangs away from her face. Korari, who was right behind him, sat down next to him, looking up at him curiously.

Apparently, Kagome wasn't in as sound asleep as Sesshomaru thought, because that one gentle touch of his hand brought her eyes fluttering open. She gazed up at Sesshomaru sleepily, smiling warmly at him.

Sesshomaru withdrew his hand from Kagome's and bowed his head apologetically to her.

“I apologize for waking you from your sleep. I shall leave if you wish to be alone,” he stated respectfully.

Kagome sat up and yawned, shaking her head slightly. “No, you don't have to leave. I only needed a short nap anyway, not a big long one. You don't have to apologize to me for waking me up.”

“Alright.” Sesshomaru glanced at his left shoulder when he felt Korari jump onto it. He blinked, sitting still and idly wondering why Korari liked him so much.

Korari mewed and rubbed against the side of Sesshomaru's neck, closing her eyes and purring quietly, her tails twitching back and forth.

Sesshomaru chuckled slightly and smiled at the little demon, reaching up with his left hand and gently scratching her behind the ears with the tips of his claws. “Korari, what has gotten into you?”

Kagome laughed, a happy gleam in her big brown eyes. That's so cute!

“She just likes you a lot, Sesshomaru. Just like I do, she feels attached to you. The same is for Sango and Kirara. Kirara almost never leaves Sango's side for anything. They have a special bond, and apparently, Korari shares the same bond with you, me, Rin, and maybe even Jaken,” explained Kagome, smiling.

Sesshomaru nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. So wherever either of us go, she follows. I see.” After a few minutes, he saw Kagome shiver and frowned, moving closer to her and wrapping his right arm around her shoulders. “Are you alright?”

Kagome blushed when he did this; not because she was embarassed, but because Sesshomaru was still bare-chested due to the fact that his shirt was still draped over her shoulders. “Yeah, I'm okay. I'm still wet from when we went swimming in the lake, so I'm a little cold,” she stated.

“Ah. I'm feeling rather benumbed as well,” admitted Sesshomaru, getting to his feet and making his way over to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To get you a change of clothes. I don't want you to get sick.”

“You don't have to do that, I brought a change of clothes with me, remember? I always do.”

Sesshomaru stopped in the doorway at this. That's right, she does bring a change of clothes whenever she comes back. How could I have forgotten?

“That's true. Kagome, I have another gift for you.”

Kagome blinked in surprise. “Another gift?”

Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder at her and smiled warmly. “Yes. Would you like it now, or…”

Kagome smiled and shook her head. “No, it's okay. I think you should surprise me with it in the morning. Is that alright?”

“Of course. Well, I'm going to go change,” announced Sesshomaru, leaving the room.

“Okay. I'll see you downstairs!” she called after him. Standing up, she went over and closed her door so she could change her clothes.

In Sesshomaru's quarters, the demon lord was rummaging in the trunk in the corner for something else to wear. Korari, who rode into the room on his shoulder, kept jumping in the middle of the chest and burrowing into the clothes, poking her head out playfully and mewling.

Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile. “You wish to help me find something to wear?”

Korari blinked her eyes in agreement, staring at him expectantly.

“Very well then. What do you think Kagome will like me wearing?” asked Sesshomaru. He wanted to wear something special, just for his soon-to-be wife. He remembered when he wore a very formal attire a couple of years before at Miroku and Sango's wedding and how Kagome loved when he was dressed like that. The memory brought a smile to his face.

As if on cue, Korari buried herself under the kimonos in Sesshomaru's trunk, wanting to help. Finally, a muffled meow escaped from the trunk.

Sesshomaru dug through the kimonos until he saw Korari, who was holding a kimono shirt between her tiny, sharp teeth, her claws dug into the cloth of a matching pair of pants. Sesshomaru smiled.

“Good job, Korari,” he said, picking up the little demon and placing her down on the floor. Once Korari was no longer holding onto the kimono, he picked it up, examining it. It was of a dark blue color, with a yellow flower pattern around the left side of the collar. The pants were the same color as the top was, except there was no pattern on them. Sesshomaru smiled.

“Perfect. I shall wear this. Thank you, Korari.” The reply he got was a small meow.

After Sesshomaru had the new kimono on, his memory was refreshed on how very comfortable it was. He had also forgotten how close-fitting the top part of it was and how it showed the muscles in his torso more than his usual one.

“This kimono may be comfortable to wear, but I don't know if I'm comfortable wearing it,” he said to Korari. “It's a bit too… revealing, for lack of a better term… I wonder if it's appropriate for me to be wearing this when there isn't really a special occasion…” He was interrupted by a small growl from Korari and glanced down at her.

“Oh, that's right… Today is Kagome's birthday, isn't it? This is a special occasion,” corrected Sesshomaru, chuckling softly to himself. “I suppose it's alright for me to be wearing this then.”

Korari nodded her head and scratched herself behind the left ear with left hind paw, closing her eyes as she did so. She then got to her feet and padded over to the door, pawing at it.

Guessing that she wanted to be let out, Sesshomaru walked over to her and slid the door open for her, watching as she ran out of the room. For one reason or another, he found himself wondering what Kagome was wearing now. Shaking an image of Kagome out of his head, he flipped his long white hair over his right shoulder and proceeded to wring the lake water out of it. Since his hair was almost dry, there wasn't much to squeeze out. When he was sure all the water was gone from his hair, he flipped it back over his shoulder and stepped out of the room, going across the hall to Kagome's.

“Kagome, may I come in?” he called, waiting patiently for an answer. But rather than a spoken response, the door opened and there stood Kagome. Sesshomaru blinked and stared when he saw what she was wearing.

Kagome was wearing a sky-blue, satin nightdress, her hair tied back into a ponytail at the back of her head. She looked like an angel as she stood there in the dark corridor. She tilted her head to the side, smiling sweetly at her soon-to-be husband as she looked him over and took her time enjoying what he was wearing.

“You look really nice in that kimono, Sesshomaru. Isn't that the one you wore at Miroku and Sango's wedding a couple years ago?” she asked.

Sesshomaru nodded, smiling slightly. “Yes, it is. Does it please you that I'm wearing it?”

“Mm-hmm. It looks good on you,” stated Kagome truthfully, placing a brief kiss on Sesshomaru's lips before turning on her heel and starting off toward the stairs. Smiling, Sesshomaru followed close behind her.

Kagome led Sesshomaru into the living room of the castle, seating herself on one of the exquisite cushions on the floor and smiling at Rin, who was sitting a few feet away and playing with Korari. Patting the cushion next to her, Kagome looked at Sesshomaru expectantly.

Sesshomaru smiled and walked over to her, taking a seat on the cushion.

“Kagome, is there something you wish to discuss with me?” he asked curiously.