InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution ❯ The Spring at Night ( Chapter 3 )

Kagome held the once-again sleeping Shippou, stroking his little head as she watched Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru whisper to each other from across the fire pit. She supposed they were plotting a course of action. Any course they took with Sesshoumaru, she knew, would entail a lot of blood and pain for his enemies.

Gently, she placed Shippou on her sleeping mat. She stretched tired limbs before tiptoeing over to the two brothers and placing her hands on Inuyasha's shoulders. "Come on, guys, let's get some sleep. I know you want to get this all sorted out tonight, but you both need rest. Especially you, Inuyasha," she said, looking from him to Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha figured she meant he needed rest because Sesshoumaru had given them a bit of a beating that day, and he snarled. "We're men, Kagome, we don't need a woman to tell us what to do. Now, leave us alone." Kagome's eyes went wide, then narrowed into tiny slits.

"Inuyasha… osuwari!" she shrieked, and Inuyasha was trounced into the ground at her feet. With a satisfied smirk, Kagome turned and walked back to her sleeping mat, gathering Shippou into her arms once more.

One corner of Sesshoumaru's mouth lifted slightly as his brother picked himself up from the dirt. "While it may be true that you do not need her to tell you what to do… next time I suggest you do it anyway," he said. Inuyasha glared at him, his hurt pride showing in the angry golden orbs.

"I don't need her or you telling me what to do. Remember that, Sesshoumaru," he spat, and walked stiffly into the woods. Sesshoumaru sighed and stood, stretching, and walked back over to where Kagome was cuddling the kitsune.

She watched him approach her, noticing the grin on his face. "I know, you get a kick out of watching me sit Inuyasha, don't you? I would say that's mean, but I'd be a hypocrite," she giggled and patted the ground beside her before she realized what she'd done. Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru sat down without killing her.

Kagome could almost hear the demon's internal conflict as he debated with himself whether or not to speak further. Finally, the battle was won, and Sesshoumaru turned his regal head her way.

"Some day, miko, I would like to speak with you about… what happened to me after Rin died," he said, clearing his throat. "I would like to tell you how I feel, because these emotions are new and foreign to me. I have never loved anyone, with the exception of my mother, and I suppose it is the emotion that I felt for Rin. But I do not have her anymore. I cannot hold her as you hold that kitsune, miko… and that causes me unimaginable pain."

Kagome looked into his eyes for the second time that night, and almost gasped. If she had wanted to know exactly how much grief Rin's death had caused him, she needed only to look into his haunted face for the answer. His eyes, usually sparkling with life and energy, were dull and clouded. His visage was no longer the stone mask it had once been. Now he wore a constant frown on his noble brow. His beautiful features were shadowed in pain.

"Poor Sesshoumaru-sama.”

Kagome bit her lip after letting that slip out, and quickly explained herself.

“Sorry. I don't pity you, Sesshoumaru… I just think you could use some compassion," she said in a low voice, and took his hand in her own. She was a bit wary of the claws that grew menacingly from his slender fingertips, but was relieved when he did not use them to tear her to shreds at the boldness of her actions.

That thought stopped her in her tracks.

Do I really think so little of him? Sesshoumaru has nothing if not his honor… so why am I always so convinced he'll kill me for the tiniest misstep? Kagome was a bit disturbed by this, but realized she wasn't totally off the mark. He had tried to kill her before… But now the fight, at least toward she and her group, had left him. It was almost as if his strong, noble spirit had been squelched under the heel of the beast that was Naraku. Even his nails were unkempt.

Kagome thought this was, if not pitiable, extremely unfair.

"We'll talk, Sesshoumaru, but we have to do it some other time. You need sleep, and I need to visit the hot springs after that close encounter I had with the ground today. Not to mention my head is really sore," she smiled and released his hand

Sesshoumaru bowed his head in apology. "I was only determined to take the sword, not harm you." Kagome waved his words away.

"I know that now, and besides, you just scratched me. My little brother has done worse than that, believe me," she laughed, and Sesshoumaru almost smiled.

"Perhaps, miko, I might join you at the hot springs. It shames me to admit that I have not kept myself as groomed as I did… before…" he trailed, and looked expectantly, though quite innocently, at Kagome. She blushed from head to toe and wiggled a bit.

"Um, that's not really… appropriate," she gulped, looking at her nails. What in the gods names did he think he was doing, asking to bathe with her? Didn't he know you don't bathe naked with people of the opposite sex? He must not have.

"Is it not? Humans do not bathe together? This is strange. I cannot understand your reasoning for this, miko. Youkai tribes bathe in groups as it is much safer to be in numbers lest an enemy attack while they are unarmed." He stopped himself there, and looked at her as if this was all supposed to make perfect, undeniable sense, and she was supposed to bow in acquiescence.

Kagome sighed. Could she really argue with his logic? She probably could, and would if he wasn't looking at her like she'd be a complete and utter fool to disagree with him. She had wondered what he was doing, now she wondered what she was doing.

"No, Sesshoumaru, it's alright. You can come with me, but… but you have to promise me that you will stay out of sight until I say you can come in to the springs. Agreed?" she asked, and looked at him.

"Agreed, miko," he said. And while Kagome gathered her bathing supplies, Sesshoumaru headed off into the woods to find the springs, his keen nose leading the way.

oooooooo

Kagome looked around the hot springs, trying to locate Sesshoumaru. When she could not, it was to her great relief. She relaxed then, and slipped off her uniform. Part of her wondered why she still wore it. In all honesty, she'd been at school only five days in the past month. And in the last three years, she'd been there for a grand total of two months. Fortunately graduation could be put off, but the fate of the Shikon no Tama could not.

With her bra and panties still firmly in place, Kagome slid into the warm water and piled her hair on top of her head, keeping it out of the way until she was ready to wash it. "Sesshoumaru, you can come out now!" she called. She squeaked when he stepped out into the clearing before her, naked as the day he was born.

"Sesshoumaru! What the-! You're naked!" Kagome squealed, covering her horribly red face with her hands. "You could've at least come out in your underwear, geez!" she huffed, and dared to peek through her fingers. Sesshoumaru, in all his naked glory, was wading hip-deep in the water. Kagome let her hands fall.

"You are certainly strange, miko. Of course I am without my clothing. Do you bathe in yours?" He asked, looking inquisitive. Kagome pointed to her bra and underwear, still scarlet.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side, perplexed. "Very strange indeed." With the grace of a swan, the taiyoukai waded over to Kagome and sat up against the rocky side of the spring.

Suddenly, Kagome was very aware of his proximity… not to mention his nudity.

Her cheeks flamed, but she continued to look at him. Truth be told, he was a very intimidating person, clothed or not. But without his armor, Sesshoumaru looked more at ease, and less intense. The lines in his brow were gone now, smoothing his features. Kagome decided, evil or not, Inuyasha's brother was the most beautiful being she had ever laid eyes on. And with that embarrassing thought, she slid under the water.

Sesshoumaru noticed the miko staring at him, but he did not mind. He had admired her beauty, and it was pleasing to him. Though he considered himself to be above such base emotions as lust, he could appreciate beauty, and did on many occasions… this being one of them.

Unbeknownst to the miko, he had been able to see her from his position in the woods, and noted how lovely she was… for a human. He was glad when she shed her strange, immodest clothing. A woman such as herself should be wearing a yukata, not that thing she had on. And when she did drop her outfit on the rocks, he was surprised at how beautiful she really was. Why did she want to hide her body from others? She was certainly not ugly, nor did she have any deformities, save for a small scar on her hip. Sesshoumaru sighed. Yes, humans were indeed strange creatures.

Kagome emerged from the water and swam to her shampoo and soap. She kept her eyes away from Sesshoumaru, who was still watching her for some reason. "Here," she said, "Use this to wash yourself." She handed him the ivory soap, and he took it without a word. She then poured shampoo into her hands and began to gently lather her hair. When she had rinsed it, she turned back to Sesshoumaru. He was still watching her intently.

"What is that you are putting in your hair, miko?" he asked, sniffing the air. He smelled flowers, and assumed it was coming from the liquid the miko was using. Perhaps that was why she always smelled like a field in spring.

"This is my shampoo… you put it in you hair and it, uh, cleans it," she said. "Would you like to use some?" Kagome thought it would be hilarious to see the great Lord of the Western lands using her Herbal Essences, especially when she thought about the commercials on TV, and burst out laughing at the image of Sesshoumaru going 'ooh' and 'ahh' while washing his hair.

She shook her laughter off when she saw the eyebrow he had raised at her actions. "Sorry, sorry… Look, just take this," she said and squeezed some into his hand after he had dropped the bar of soap, which began floating harmlessly around the two.

"Now, put it in your hair, and… rub."

She watched as Sesshoumaru plopped the goo on his head and began to dispassionately rub it in. "I do not understand, miko. This seems pointless," he sighed, dropping his hand into the water, foam still in his hair.

"Just turn around," Kagome said, and Sesshoumaru complied willingly. Kagome stood, strategically placing her hair over her bra-covered breasts. She put more shampoo in her hands, and then gently put it in his hair. He glanced back at her and she gasped, cheeks once again flaming. "Hey! Turn back around," she hissed at him, and he sighed but did it anyway. She grabbed his long, white-silver hair and began to lather it. It took her a good three minutes to get all of it sufficiently covered in suds.

While she was rubbing the 'shampoo' through his hair, Sesshoumaru could not help but feel very relaxed. This was also pleasing to him. Her small hands in his hair felt wonderful, and he smiled. The first stirrings of desire rumbled deep in his being, and his eyes flashed open.

No. He could not, and would not feel this way toward the human. It was against everything in his nature, and he did not want to trouble one who was being so kind to him with his… afflictions. But his damnable body could not be controlled, and he felt his heart beat a bit faster, his breaths become a bit shallower. He gritted his teeth and hoped the miko would not notice the aroused state he was in.

But Kagome did notice his breathing pattern change. Her heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she thought, what have I done? What if he can't control himself? There's no one to hear me out here… Once again she berated herself for thinking such horrible thoughts about Sesshoumaru. He was always in control, right? She steeled herself for anything that might happen, and told him to sink down so she could rinse the shampoo from his hair.

"On second thought, why don't you do that yourself? I need to go over here and get my condition-… er… what exactly are you doing?” she asked the demon who had turned around to stare at her for the third time that night.

Kagome stopped her retreat and gave him a questioning look. "Sesshoumaru, please stop staring at me like that," she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't know whether to be flattered or scared right at the moment.

"Months ago, miko, my mind was clouded with inconsequential things, and only recently did I realize just how inconsequential they were. Such as my hatred of humans, and that includes you, Kagome," he said, advancing upon the girl before him.

Kagome's mouth dropped when he said her name. She didn't think he actually knew what it was, but boy, was she wrong. And coming from his mouth it sounded beautiful, even to her. She stiffened as he closed in. "You mean you don't hate me anymore?" was the only thing she could think to say, Sesshoumaru's heated gaze upon her body making it very hard to think.

"No, I do not. In fact, I quite admire your determination, your strong spirit, your kindness…your beauty," he said, and reached out to stroke a clawed hand gently down her arm. He saw her eyes widen and heard her breathing slip into a pattern more like his own. So she also felt he was desirable. He very much wanted to show her just how desirable he was.

"Sesshoumaru," she whispered, and put a hand on his chest to push him back. That seemed to break the spell that was holding him.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and bowed his head, allowing his arm to drop away from hers. “Apologies, miko. Sometimes, I am unable to…” he started, but stopped and looked up into her eyes.

He didn't have to finish, because Kagome knew exactly what he was going to say.

He was going to say he can't control himself… It was the one thing Kagome had not wanted him to say, for it meant the danger she felt might be for a good reason after all.

“No, it's alright. You don't need to apologize for anything. I just want to get back to camp and go to sleep, that's all.”

Sesshoumaru gazed down at her and sighed. "Perhaps you are right. It is quite late, and we must start our journey tomorrow." He stroked her hair absently, and she looked up at him with flaming cheeks once more. "Come… let us get our rest."

He turned away from her and walked to the shore, his still-wet hair clinging to his body. Kagome felt her heart beat in double time as he faced her, grabbing his kimono. "Come," he reiterated, and she also made her way to the shore. She blushed as she emerged, quite aware of the fact that she was now standing before him in wet, see-through undergarments.

They dressed quickly and began the walk back to camp in silence. Before they arrived, however, Sesshoumaru touched Kagome's arm, and she turned to look up at him.

"Thank you.”

Then he was off again. Kagome watched his retreating form for a moment before following him. As she settled herself into her sleeping bag, placing Shippou on her stomach, she smiled, thinking about her strange, strange evening. Kagome Higurashi, what have you gotten yourself into now?