InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Acceptance ❯ Cold Compassion ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Disclaimer: Yada, yada, yada.
AN: Well. I've been informed about Sesshomaru's OOC-ness, I know it's annoying (I don't like Sesshomaru OOC in fanfics that I read either…), but I'm going to make him have kind of a mood-swing attitude. Though he thinks he's in love with Kagome, he will start to have doubts…When I read fics, I like a lot of conflict… (I hate one-shots. =D ) Well, I guess I'll get the story rollin'!
A special thanks to Sesshomaru-San, your reviews (as well as everyone else's) are so helpful, but I especially liked that you commented (with constructive criticism) on each chapter! Very helpful! Also, thanks so much for giving me insight to what other people thought on forums…thanks so much!!
Again, please continue reviewing, everyone, arigato!
"…" --dialogue…of course.
Italicized text-thoughts/flashbacks ^___^
Chapter 6: Cold Compassion
Kagome awoke to the fresh smell of a rainy morning, but was not discouraged that it was going to be a droll day. She had loved the rain, ever since she was little she would urge her Jii-chan to take her outside so she could splash in the puddles. A frown graced her subtly beautiful features…there would be no going outside in her condition.
Gingerly flipping her legs off to the side of the bed, she used her arms to carry her to the ground. She almost fell as her wobbly legs that hadn't been used for a couple days now, weren't used to the weight of her body. Using the bed post, then an armoire as railings, she made her way over to an ornately decorated full body mirror. She slipped out of her sleeping yukata, and undid her bandages. Turning around to see the extent of the damage, she gasped. What the bandages had concealed was hideous. Marred flesh that barely stuck to tissue was hanging down, and had turned a sickly yellow color, most likely from the doses of acid Sesshomaru had her endure. She frowned at the memory.
“I fainted before he gave me an answer…what if I make him angry again?” Kagome thought over what could have possibly made Sesshomaru act that way. He was being so gentle with her earlier, or, as gentle as a powerful taiyoukai could be. It puzzled her, and would not cease until he gave her an answer. For now, she was satisfied with his “hospitality” even though it came with an acid-burned scar in the shape of an “S” on her back.
She gasped when someone had apparently let themselves into her room uninvited. “HENTAAAI!” She screamed at the intruder, who had not even stepped foot inside of her room. She quickly made her way across the bedroom to grab her sleeping yukata, but her wrist was caught in an iron vice. She froze. This was all too familiar. As if a switch had been flipped on, Kagome struggled to get free, jerking her arm away for dear life.
“Onegai! Please don't hurt me, Sesshomaru-sama!” She gave up jerking away, and fell to the floor, bowing her head at his feet, even though it probably reopened the wound on her back. “I didn't know it was you…Onegai, just let me go back to my friends, and I'll never bother you again.” She sniffled as shrunk back as he stepped toward her. He didn't know that he had that affect on her already, but was slightly pleased at her submissiveness.
“It isn't that easy, miko.” He spat out, watching her as her failing façade finally revealed the sadness she had held in since he had beat her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and her sobs echoed in the room. Her nails dug into the polished wood flooring underneath her, and she bit out a reply. “I hate you.”
Sesshomaru nearly giggled. The girl was amusing. Did she think that the Taiyoukai of the West would actually care? He championed that he would protect her and eradicate any who tried to come in the way of that, but he had only blamed his rash and protective behavior based on the fact that it was an inuyoukai mating season. That had passed, and like him, many inuyoukai had calmed down about the beautiful girl in the Palace of the West.
“Funny, girl, but I am not here to be loved.” He left with a flourish of silk, leaving her and her tears upon the cold hard ground. She gritted her teeth, and glowed a light pink before resorting to pounding her fists into the floor to release her anger. How could he? She had fainted in his seemingly-loving arms, but was terribly wrong. “The guy has friggin' PMS…” She jumped as a light tap came at the door.
“Kagome-sama?” Called a meek and small voice at the door, “May I come in?”
“Uh…H-hai, come in.” She fixed her hair in order to look presentable to the youkai. “A kitsune youkai!” She quickly remembered Shippo and shook the thought out of her head before she became too melancholy. “What can I help you with, milady?”
The youkai turned red and quickly giggled, her beautiful peridot eyes twinkling in the sunlight before she regained her composure and merely smiled at the utterly confused Kagome. “Kagome-sama, may I present yourself so that you may understand my humble position in the court of the Western Lord. I am your handservant, Kirei.”
Kirei, the name suited the beautiful kitsune perfectly. Her petite form was dressed in a green silk kimono that had embroidered floral patterns on the pink obi. It accentuated her deep eyes, and fiery red hair, making her look more like she belonged to the aristocracy rather than at the feet of them.
Seeing the stunned Kagome, she quickly bowed, and apologized profusely, as if she thought that the meek Kagome would bring her bodily harm if everything wasn't perfect. “It's alright, Kirei-san! I just thought that you were Sesshomaru's mate…” At this statement, the servant blushed.
“Nothing of the sort, milady! That position is for you! Now” she continued without letting Kagome respond, “Let's go to the baths so that you can be presentable for Sesshomaru-sama during lunch.”
~~With Inuyasha~~
“Dammit! Where is that wench!?” Inuyasha was down on all fours, searching frantically for second best possession. That is all she would be to him now that Kikyo was back from the dead…and obviously enjoying his company. Kagome would be there for him to look at when Kikyo wasn't by his side, eye candy for a man who loved someone else. Of course, he was also his jewel hunter, but the team seemed to be doing pretty good by just killing every youkai they came across. So…did they really need Kagome?
Sango and Miroku were scouting ahead, each of them kicking themselves because they had left Kagome unprotected. Inuyasha said that she had ran off after yelling at him pointlessly, but Kagome certainly wasn't pointless.
“WHY…Why did I let her have a taijiya suit…I should have seen it…” Sango cursed her stupidity, while Miroku told her that she probably couldn't have prevented the spirited young miko from escaping the oppressive grasp of Inuyasha. She would come back to them, wouldn't she? She had to return to at least talk to Inuyasha, Kagome was level-headed, and would eventually realize that she needed to let them in on where she had been. But, they couldn't help but be worried.
Suddenly, Inuyasha turned his canine nose up to the sky, sniffing spastically in order to pinpoint the familiar scent of Kagome mingled with another scent. As he got closer to the stream, he was expecting to lose the scent if they had jumped into the stream, but then the other scent that had masked Kagome's became as clear as day.
“Sesshomaru…”
~~With Kagome~~
Trailing behind the small kitsune youkai, Kagome couldn't help but wonder how anyone could find their way through the catacomb of long corridors, and abundance of shoji doors. She was glad when they had reached the hot spring, and Kirei let her know that she would be right outside the door when she was done. I wouldn't want to get lost and bump into Sesshomaru…
“Thank you, Kirei-san.” Kagome said shyly. She had blushed when she accidentally ran into the kitsune when she stopped in front of the door leading to the hot springs. Grabbing the bathing yukata and towels that Kirei had draped over her arm, she secretly wished that Sango was here, so that she could share all of the things that had been going on…she missed them.
She slipped into the shoji door that concealed what she perceived to be the epitome of luxury, Sesshomaru's indoor hot springs. She was about to hop out of her yukata, but quickly remembered her back and whimpered. She would have to take it slow. Unwrapping the bandages that she assumed Kirei had put there, she twisted so that she could see the wound, pleased that it was healing, but still disgusted as to why Sesshomaru was so…well…spontaneous? She shrugged it off and hopped in, instantly regretting it when her back ached, and a black haired creature lunged at her.
“PRETTY LADY-SAMA!” This sudden shriek that seemed to come from the strange creature startled Kagome, and caused her to scream.
“Kagome-sama! Are you alright?! I heard…you…shr—”
Kirei rushed in with a dagger drawn, ready to take on any foe to protect her Lady. She caught her breath before she started to laugh out loud at the scene. A recovering Kagome had been cowering in the corner, and Rin was latched to her arm.
“Pretty lady? Rin is sorry that Rin scared you…” Rin sounded completely and innocently sincere, and Kagome couldn't help but compare her to Shippo.
“That's okay, Rin-chan! Oh, and by the way, you can call me Kagome!” Kagome still had her hand clutched over her chest, still having difficulty breathing, however, Rin found it all very funny, which lightened Kagome's spirits. Until Rin asked an almost ominous question…
“Kagome-chan! Is Kagome-chan going to be Rin's okaa-san?!”
Kagome gasped. What Kirei had said certainly startled her…Sesshomaru's mate? But now…a mother?! The word rang in her ears… `mother'…She didn't know what to think when both questions came up, but only thought that Kirei was mistaken, and that Rin was just naïve. She also wondered…was this just another day where she would have to endure Sesshomaru's coldness…or was he being compassionate by not mauling her? Kagome continued to bathe with Rin, enjoying some company that wasn't a servant or youkais with icicles up their asses; even though she hated being away from her friends…she could get used to this!
Sinking into the soothing warmth of the water, Kagome let her insecurities and problems atrophy into the bubbly water. The different colored soaps were arranged on the side of the spring, all smelling different, luxurious fragrances. Kagome picked sakura and jasmine, and then added them to her personal hot spring before letting the aroma and warmth drift her into a deep sleep.
~~
From a distance, a taiyoukai watched the shocked look on Kagome's face when Rin asked her to be her mother. What was she thinking? Certainly she did not think that he had feelings for her that quickly.
He mentally slapped himself. It would never happen. He would never have feelings for her.
When she got out of the main tub where Rin was bathing in order to go to her own soaking spot, Sesshomaru got a nice view of her entire naked body. Her slender neck covered by her raven black tresses, which also stuck to the sides of her face. Her slender arms, quickly wrapped around her torso in order to warm herself up, and he was amused as her long legs quickly got goosebumps.
I could warm her up…Sesshomaru thought devilishly. Smirking, he ripped his eyes away from the scene and donned his stoic visage once more. Gracing the hallways with his cold aura, he thought up a schedule for Kagome's stay. He had her wrapped around his finger; she would not be leaving, unless she wanted the company of a hanyou that never let her be Kagome. She could be Kagome with him…and he knew that she would long for that after spending some quality time around his estate.
AN: Ugh…short chapter…I just didn't think that I should add too much to this chapter…any rants?
-Your wittle fanfic writer
FoF