InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Weekend Interlude ❯ A Day of Peace ( Chapter 4 )

My thoughts about Sess is that he isn't lacking emotion, just not prone to showing it. All we ever really see of him is when he's in a fight or going to fight soon. What would he be like relaxed? Do we ever really know? As a "Lord" he would have to control his features to not reveal anything because of politics. He would need to know how to keep his emotions in check and not let them rule him. He seems the type to do it very rigidly and completely to the extreme. Someone like that would have a lot of pent up emotion just waiting to explode. I think Kagome is the type to get under his skin just because she is completely different from any woman he would have ever met. The whole future mannerisms thing...I just don't think he would know what to do with her if she got mad at him degrading her, especially since although she is rather inept, she isn't entirely helpless.

 

Red Falcon

E-mail: red_falcon0001[at]yahoo.com

 

Chapter 5:

 

Kagome found herself aimlessly wandering the halls of Sesshoumaru's home. She and Shippou had been practically booted out of his study after their conversation. Shippou was right. His home really was awesome. Vaulted ceilings covering beautifully tiled floors and wide open spaces. Enough space that his true form could fit comfortably in, she supposed. The furnishings were surprisingly modest. Simple, yet elegant. All in all, it was exceptionally tasteful.

 

Hmmm, she thought as she stopped in front of a giant oil painted canvas. It was positioned near the master chambers as a piece of great skill and honor. A wooded scene covered the bulk of it, but the center held a large white dog tending a pup. Cute, she mused silently.

 

“My mother.” A smooth baritone voice interrupted her thoughts. Kagome jumped and covered her racing heart with her hand.

 

“Don't scare me like that!” She whirled around to glare at the youkai, who ignored her in favor of the painting. He glanced down at her and quirked one elegantly arched silver eyebrow at her small outburst. Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, but blushed when she realized to whom she was glaring at.

 

“Is that you?” She asked, pointing to the pup.

 

“Yes.”

 

“You were cute.” Kagome smiled over her shoulder in a sudden mood swing that caught even the unflappable Lord of the West off his guard. “Before I forget, when your finished with whatever you do all day, would you show me the gardens? I wanted to go earlier, but I was afraid I'd get lost.”

 

“If you so wish.” Sesshoumaru nodded.

 

Smiling brilliantly, Kagome turned and walked down the hallway towards the entrance hall. Sesshoumaru blinked at her retreating form. Slightly dumbfounded, one thought made it through his fogged mind.

 

Cute?

 

~<>~

 

Kagome mentally berated herself as she slipped outside. She had almost forgotten who she had been speaking to. Sesshoumaru could not be spoken to like Inuyasha. Her icy host could, and would, kill her without second thought.

 

The miko made her way down a stone path leading to the garden's entrance. Shippou had long since abandoned her self-guided tour of the house and joined Rin in this area of the grounds. Their laughter was intoxicating and Kagome was hard pressed not to smile at their rousing game of tag.

 

As their game wore them out, Kagome found herself to be the new recipient of their attention. She sat under a large shade tree as they came to rest with her. Shippou sprawled out on his back while Rin made a slightly more graceful show of sitting primly, despite the grass stains on her kimono.

 

“Kagome, tell us a story,” Shippou pleaded. He made his best cute “puppy” eyes at his adopted mother.

 

“What kind of story?” Kagome reached over to pick some twigs out of Shippou's ponytail and then smooth it down.

 

“A whole bunch!” He exclaimed as he squirmed to get away from her hand. Rin giggled beside him. And that was how Sesshoumaru found them late that afternoon. Shippou and Rin both lay on their stomachs paying rapt attention to the fantastic tales the miko wove. He approached silently, listening to Kagome finish a tale of a boy who never grew up.

 

“Wow! That was great!” Shippou enthused.

 

“Yes! Will you tell us more?” Rin pleaded as Shippou nodded beside her.

 

“I'll tell you more tomorrow, I promise,” she said smiling. “What did you think of the story?” She turned around and looked up at the youkai standing behind her. Sesshoumaru blinked.

 

“Intriguing.” He glanced at the children. “Amuse yourselves elsewhere for the time being.”

 

Shippou and Rin jumped to their feet and scampered off. Although Shippou managed a hug for Kagome before he raced after Sesshoumaru's ward. Kagome looked up at the outstretched hand before her. She reached up and let the tall lord pull her to her feet.

 

“You still wish to see the gardens, I presume.” He watched her brush the grass from her kimono. He found himself slightly pleased at her appearance in proper clothes.

 

“Oh yes! Would you mind?” Kagome turned hopeful eyes to her would-be guide. Silently pleading, she used her greatest tactical weapon: doe eyes. Even the cold western lord was not immune.

 

“Come miko.”

 

“Kagome.” She lightly corrected as she followed after him. Sesshoumaru smiled inwardly at her cheer.

 

Sesshoumaru lead the girl to a lattice archway covered in vines. It lead into the heart of the estate's gardens. Over half of the existing gardens were planted by his lady mother. The rest, by her successor. His father was a rare man of the times. He allowed his mate almost full voice in a position of honor at his side. Neither mate was kept at a distance, silent and two steps behind him. An equal. It was probably the one factor Sesshoumaru agreed on with his father. A weak mate was useless.

 

“Oh my! It's absolutely beautiful!” Kagome flitted from side to side along the path trying to see everything at once. He watched from the corner of his eye as she attempted to smell any bloom she passed. He did not comment on her behavior or really comment on anything, but he lead her on a two-hour journey though a veritable maze of pathways.

 

As the sun began to wane, Kagome hissed as a sharp rock made itself known to her. The youkai in front of her stopped and turned to fix her with an intent look. She attempted to balance on one leg while she picked the stone out of the bottom of her slippers.

 

“The salve will be wearing off.”

 

“I guess so.” Kagome hopped in little mincing footsteps to a small bench to rub her protesting limb.

 

“We will return when you find yourself ready.” He said as he sat down next to her.

 

“Your home is really beautiful.” Kagome said shyly to end the silence. Sesshoumaru only nodded in what she assumed was a thank you. “So when do you think I'll be leaving?” She tried again.

 

“You will be well enough in two days time.” He glanced down at the girl, relaxed by the easy feeling between them. She fidgeted with them hem of her sleeve.

 

“What will happen when Shippou and I leave?” Kagome looked up at her once enemy. Searching his face, she found nothing.

 

“Do not distress yourself, miko. I have no intention of harming either you, the kit, or any member of your party.” Kagome looked up and watched his eyes.

 

“What about Inuyasha and Tetsusaiga?” His amber eyes locked on her suddenly, revealing a great depth of emotion before vanishing quickly.

 

“This Sesshoumaru has no need for a sword he can not touch. I have found another that suits my needs adequately.”

 

Toukijin, she realized in relief.

 

“Come.” He said standing. “Your feet need attending to.”

 

Kagome rose shakily to her feet. Enviously, she wished for the natural grace her lord host possessed. She managed only one step before another rough stone had her wincing.

 

Sesshoumaru watched her struggle and mentally sighed. He knew what he needed to do. His mother would have quite likely jerked him around by his ears if he did not assist the girl. Especially since, this was a girl who had shown much honor. A flighty human at best, but she was honorable all the same.

 

Kagome glanced up at the short exhalation of breath that on anyone else would have passed for a sigh. She eeped slightly as he turned to face her. Slipping his arm around her middle, the cool lord pulled her up against his chest. The miko found herself clinging to him with her arms around his neck.

 

“What are you doing?” She squeaked.

 

“Assisting you. Unless you wished to walk,” he said cocking a sardonic eyebrow.

 

“Stop that.” Kagome frowned.

 

“Stop what?” his face altered back to its usual neutral expression.

 

“That eye thing.”

 

“Eye thing?” He repeated as he leapt into the air.

 

“I'd swear you were teasing me,” she sighed. Leaning her head on his shoulder, Kagome closed her eyes as he took them back to the main compound.

 

“Ah,” he started. “But that, my dear, would require me to have a sense of humor.”

 

Kagome harrumphed silently and refused to rise to his bait. Someone, after all, had to be the adult. Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly at his small victory and sped through his estate until reaching her apartments.

 

He deposited the girl on her bed and moved to grab the salve. Kneeling down in front of her, he removed her slippers and cut through the bandages with his claws.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“I should have thought that it was obvious.” Sesshoumaru glanced up with a rather bland expression on his face.

 

“Do my feet look bad?” Kagome asked curiously. She had yet to figure out what she had done to them.

 

“For all they look like raw meat, they are fine,” he said as he reapplied the medicine.

 

“What happened to them?”

 

“I believe you took a page from my brother's book and went for a run without coverings for your feet.” The youkai lord fixed her with an intent look that bordered on scolding.

 

“Too much for my human flesh, huh,” Kagome commented dryly. “Don't be grumpy, I was just teasing,” she finished as an odd look crossed his features.

 

“Grumpy?” Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her gall. He sliced new bandages out of the strips left by the raven and managed a one-handed feat by tying them neatly off.

 

“Thank you,” Kagome smiled as he rose to his feet. “How did you learn to do all of this so well?”

 

“If one is likely to fight, it would be prudent for them to be able to heal as well.”

 

“Sage advice,” Kagome commented as she slipped her feet back in to her slippers.

 

“My mother was a wise woman.” The sudden change in his voice caused Kagome to look up at him. She finally realized what it was that she had been noticing all day. Sesshoumaru was relaxed. Enough so, that he had divulged something about himself that she was sure not many others knew. He was still cool and collected, but there was a slight warming in his eyes that spoke volumes to Kagome.

 

“You should do that more often,” she said looking up at him through the fringe of her bangs. When he blinked in his stoic youkai version of `what' she said, “Relax.”

 

“Come,” he said extending his arm to her in gentlemanly fashion. “Dinner will be ready shortly.”

 

“Alright,” she said thoughtfully and took his arm.

 

~<>~

 

Dinner was surreal to Kagome. Shippou and Rin sat on one side of the long table giggling as only children do, Jaken sat across from them complaining about the maintenance staff. Sesshoumaru sat at the head of the table across from her not paying attention to either party. He leaned to one sided with his chin resting on his hand. Kagome thought it to be a rather slovenly posture for him.

 

“Certainly, master, I could find you a better staff to maintain the house while you are away.” Jaken thumped his hand on the table in his irritation.

 

“Enough, Jaken.” Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the imp as his cold demeanor returned. And that was that. Jaken found little else to complain about.

 

“Miko.” Sesshoumaru leveled a glance at the girl across from him who was giggling at the expression on Jaken's face.

 

“Kagome,” she corrected glaring at her host. His amber eyes narrowed fractionally and she backed down.

 

“Why do you continue to search for Shikon shard with my brother, despite his dalliances with the clay miko?” His voice softened marginally at the pain that surfaced on her face.

 

“Because I broke it,” she said simply.

 

“Is that all?” Sesshoumaru blinked. He had not realized she had been the one who broke the jewel.

 

“Well, yeah. It's my responsibility.” Kagome sighed. It was something Inuyasha never tired of reminding her. Kagome blinked at the satisfied expression on Sesshoumaru's face. In all the times she had faced him, she had never once really paid attention to his eyes. Any emotion she wished to see was there, locked within his eyes. All she had to do was look. It was a lot like Inuyasha's ears. Not even he knew how much they gave away.

 

“Jaken,” he started to catch the toad's attention, “take the children off to their beds.”

 

“But my lord…” the imp trailed off at the look on his master's face. He got up and began the task of shooing Shippou and Rin away from the table.

 

“Wait! I need to say good night.” Shippou bounced back to Kagome and gave her a small peck on the cheek and a hug.

 

“Night, Kagome,” he said.

 

“Night, Shippou. I'll come tuck you in later.” Kagome smiled and pat the top of his head to smooth it down again.

 

“Kay,” he squeaked and scampered off after Rin and Jaken.

 

“You mother the kit,” Sesshoumaru said after they left.

 

“Well, he has no one else. I couldn't leave him, I am a girl after all.” Kagome raised her chin haughtily and sniffed.

 

“So I noticed.”

 

Kagome sputtered. Her eyes widened at the implied leer. She watched with fascinated horror as Sesshoumaru let his eyes travel down her form.

 

“Why you!” The girl sputtered in feminine outrage. She crossed her arms over her chest to hide herself from his wolfish expression.

 

“I dare anything I please in my home,” he stated, flicking his silvery hair back over his shoulder. “As for why, I am male.”

 

“But you hate humans!” Kagome cried, incredulous at his behavior.

 

“I dislike filthy, uneducated weaklings with no sense of honor. You, my dear, are both educated and while you are naïve, it only enhances your purity. And you are anything but weak. Naraku would not desire your death so, if it were so. Besides, you smell pleasant. And that, I assure you, does wonders for my opinion of you.” Kagome gaped at his speech and the flippant final comment. Never has Sesshoumaru said so much in one breath to her. Nor had it ever been complimentary. She stared at him in amazement as he approached her.

 

“Come.” He said, taking her arm. “You will answer my questions.”

 

Sesshoumaru gently yanked the girl out of her seat and all but dragged her out of the dining hall and into the surrounding hallway. He was only mildly surprised when she numbly followed without protest. Upon reaching his study, the doors automatically opened to allow their passage. Sesshoumaru dumped Kagome in one of the leather chairs facing his desk before moving to sit himself.

 

“What is your problem?!” Kagome demanded as she straitened herself in the chair and glared at the youkai who had manhandled her. “You can't just drag a girl all over the place like that!”

 

“I repeat, Kagome,” he stressed, using her name, “I can do whatever I wish in my home.” Sesshoumaru sat back in his chair and glared at the miko in front of him. He watched in satisfaction as she sputtered for a few moments before settling for a look of pure irritation.

 

“What questions could someone like you possibly have for me?” Her brown eyes snapped with an inner fire as she glared into the amber depths of his own.

 

“You do not behave like any human woman I have ever met.” Sesshoumaru surprised her by saying.

 

“What?”

 

“How is it that no man has ever taken you to task for your behavior?” Sesshoumaru queried ignoring all of her earlier outbursts. The look Kagome shot him was laced so heavily with his own brand of haughtiness that Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West was momentarily taken aback.

 

“Taken me to task?” Kagome repeated in a manner that sent the youkai's instincts into overdrive as her aura fairly crackled.

 

“Your attitude, woman. How is it that you have come to behave like this?” Sesshoumaru's pride and considerable ego would not allow him to back down at the anger of a mere human female.

 

“Well obviously, I'm not from around here,” Kagome remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

 

“I have traveled this country completely. I have also done this more than once. Nowhere in this land are women prone to behavior that you have shown. Nor do they dress as indecently as you are apt to do.” Sesshoumaru fixed her with an intent look. Kagome frantically tried to find an explanation that would satisfy her lord without giving away her secret.

 

“Do not attempt to lie to me, miko. I have seen you enter the dry well outside my brother's village. I have felt its magic.” Sesshoumaru turned a rather bland expression on the girl who was beginning to panic until latching on to his words.

 

“What do you mean, you saw me enter the well?” Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. “You were following me!”

 

“Do not be ridiculous. As a taiyoukai of these lands, I am well informed of strange occurrences. Your behavior and dress draw much attention, besides your power. I took it upon myself to learn more. I found more questions than answers. Now stop delaying and explain,” Sesshoumaru ground out. It was not the first sign he had displayed of loosing his patience.

 

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you,” Kagome said softly, dropping her eyes in submission. It was an instinctual act meant to calm him. She had grown wary of poking the proverbial bear.

 

“Try me.”

 

“You'll think I'm crazy.” Kagome felt the prick of tears beginning to form behind her eyes as she realized that this youkai's opinion of her really did matter.

 

“Miko, I already find your actions questionable in terms of your sanity,” he said placidly.

 

“Please,” she begged. Sesshoumaru sighed.

 

“Fine. Keep your secret for now.” He dismissed the topic with a wave of his claws. Kagome practically wilted back into her chair.

 

Sesshoumaru leaned back in his seat and brought his hand up to rest his chin upon. The girl was no doubt a puzzle. Her nervousness was so acute that it bordered on fear, and it was radiating off her in waves. He could have forced the answers out of her, but he found he would rater have her volunteer the information. The scent of her fear bothered his blood instincts. A disturbing fact.

 

“Why are you staring at me?” Kagome began to fidget restlessly as Sesshoumaru continued to watch her without speaking. He blinked.

 

“You do not use my title, you speak out of turn, flaunt your legs, and do not cower from me as all other humans would.” Sesshoumaru stated blandly without changing expression. The lanterns behind him cast shadows around his face causing his eyes to appear to glow.

 

“Um, yeah. That's me, bad manners and all!” Kagome shrugged sheepishly and grinned nervously at him.

 

“A vexing issue.” Sesshoumaru sighed and shook his head slightly. He stood and walked to the door.

 

“I'm not vexing!” Kagome cried, jumping up to follow him.

 

Sesshoumaru turned quickly and Kagome found the tall youkai's face inches from her own. His eyes darkened to a deep gold. “Then what are you?” His voice was low and rough. It sent shivers down her spine.

 

“You're just thinking about it too much,” Kagome stammered slightly as she attempted to smile.

 

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly and pressed in closer until he could feel her breath. Her scent spiked with his movement. Interesting, he thought. He let the corners of his mouth turn upward ever so slightly. Her scent spiked a little further.

 

“No,” he drawled slowly. “I think about you too much.” He left the girl gaping as he walked to the door to her apartments. She followed numbly and moved to pass him as he opened her door for her. He caught her arm as she passed and pulled her close to him. Leaning down, he said softly in her ear, “You are a vexing problem. One that I will solve.”

 

~<>~