InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Allies with Benefits ❯ Morning Surprises ( Chapter 7 )

Allies with Benefits

Chapter 7: Morning Surprises

“Come on Kaede! I know you know where she went!” Inuyasha slammed his fist against the wall of the hut, glaring at the old miko sitting by the hearth.

“I told ye all I know Inuyasha,” she said, turning to check her soup pot. “Kagome came and asked me to delay ye so she could go home for a few days and get some peace. I suggest ye check the well.”

“I already did!” the hanyou growled. “And her mom said she hasn't been home in weeks! Which means, you're lying to me!”

“Inuyasha!” Miroku shouted, feeling this had gone far enough. “You know Kaede wouldn't lie. Maybe Kagome did go into the future, but is staying with friends to avoid risking you finding her.”

“Shut up monk! You don't know what you're talking about. I would have smelled if her scent had gone away from the shrine. It didn't. It went to her room and then back to the well! Which means she's hiding somewhere in this time. And this old hag knows where!”

“Inuyasha you are a fool.” It was Sango who spoke this time. “Haven't you noticed Kagome wandering off quite a bit lately? Every time you run off to Kikyo?”

“What's that got to do with anything?”

“You seriously haven't noticed, have you?”

“Huh?” Inuyasha turned to face her, his anger momentarily forgotten. “Notice what?”

Miroku too, looked confused. “Indeed.”

Sango laughed. “You men are so stupid. You seriously haven't noticed Kagome has taken a lover?”

Inuyasha fell over.

~~~

“Mmm…that feels nice.” Kagome smiled as Sesshoumaru's fingers traced along her side.

“What is this?”

“Hmm?” Reluctantly opening her eyes, Kagome looked down to where his finger was slowly tracing over a small scar on her left side.

“This scar,” he said. “Where did you get it? I've never noticed it before.”

She chuckled. “That's probably because you've never had time to actually examine my body to your leisure before.” He raised a questioning brow, giving her a look that, had she not know better, she would have thought he was out for blood. A moment later, when he didn't move, she gasped, realizing he probably was out for blood…her attacker's blood. “Um…it's…” she mumbled, trying to find her voice. Her throat was suddenly dry, but she knew he wouldn't let her go without answering him. “I got it years ago when I first came through the well. I was attacked by a centipede.”

“I see. And did my idiot brother manage to kill it?”

He was looking at her so intently, she wondered if he was wanted her to answer yes or no, so he could go kill her attacker himself. “Yes, he did…and then he tried to kill me himself.”

“What?” he growled so loud, the reverberations echoed off the walls.

“It was right after I released him,” she said, holding up a placating hand to calm him. “Don't forget you also tried to kill me when we first met.” And several times after that…

His face fell into what could only be described as a pout and she chuckled. “He only tried the one time, and Kaede put the rosary on him so I could stop him if he tried again.”

“So, the old woman put the beads on him. I always wondered who'd done that. It was highly entertaining.”

“For you, yes.”

He `hmmm'd,' his fingers trailing away from the scar to continue his exploration and Kagome released her breath, realized she'd been somewhat afraid he'd go kill Inuyasha. But then his fingers trailed over something she'd hoped he'd never find.

“And this one? What'd you get this one from?”

“Um,” she replied nervously. “You, actually.”

If she hadn't been watching, she never would have believed it, but for a second he'd frowned. “But I never, after that first time…”

“You weren't aiming for me,” she assured him. “Inuyasha dodged an attack and you smashed a tree instead. I didn't get out of the way in time when it exploded and a chunk hit my leg.”

“I see,”

He was pouting again. She reached for his arm. “You got this because of me. We're even.”

“But Inuyasha,”

“And I gave him the sword. He wouldn't have been able to cut your arm off without it. We're even.” He looked like he wanted to continue arguing, but she shook her head, moving to get up from the futon.

“Where do you think you're going?” he said, catching her wrist.

“Nature calls,” she said, knowing it would confuse him. Then, chuckling at his expression, she said, “I have to pee.”

When she returned, he was getting dressed. “So, what's the plan?” She said, taking one last hungry look at his chest before it vanished beneath his inner shirt.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, this was your idea. What do you want me to do while you're doing your lordly duties?”

He paused in tying his obi. “I hadn't really thought about it.”

Kagome chuckled, somehow not surprised in the slightest. “Well, what are you doing today?”

“Land treaties.”

“Ewww, that sounds like so much fun.”

“You're more than welcome to go in my place. I'll happily hide in my room all day.”

“I'm sure you would, but I think Jaken might have an aneurism if I went in your place. But I do need something to do; I can't just hide in your room all day, even if that's what you wanted. Besides, I'm sure everyone in the realm knows I'm here now. Even if we hadn't shaken the walls with our screams, I'm sure Rin has told everyone.”

“I didn't want to hide you.” She looked at him dubiously and he sighed. “At least not for the reason you're thinking.”

Now that threw her for a loop. What reasons could he have other than the obvious?

“I didn't want you to be overwhelmed.”

“Huh?” She'd been s absorbed thinking about whether or not he'd answer her if she asked what he meant, she'd almost missed what he said. “Oh,” she said finally. “Thank you.”

How had he known? She hadn't even realized it herself until they were already safely locked away in his room. They'd shut the doors behind them and Kagome had felt her tension lessen. She'd been terrified they'd run into a servant or guard that thought humans were scum. She knew she was safe with Sesshoumaru, but she'd still feared their stares and whispers. She knew they were doing something blasphemous to most of the youkai community. They probably think he's just like his father…

“Why don't you go with Rin to the village?” he said, jerking her from her thoughts. “She has to buy a kimono for the gathering. And so do you.”

Another loop. Was he always this surprising in the mornings? They'd certainly talked a good deal more this morning than they normally did, but she'd just attributed that to their finally having gotten some privacy. Now she was wondering if he was always this talkative and he just didn't show it to most people. But she stopped herself there. This was Sesshoumaru. It did no good to waste time thinking he would treat her special over anyone else. He'd brought her here because he liked her body, and because he was tired of not being able to enjoy himself at his leisure. Nothing more. And that's all she wanted too. Sex. Not a relationship. Nope. Which meant he certainly wasn't buying her gifts because he wanted to, or because he was courting her. He just had to follow protocol and make sure she blended with the rest of the people at the gathering—not that her humanity wouldn't ensure she stuck out like a sore thumb no matter what she wore. Yep. That was all.

She looked up at him, surprised to find him watching her intently. “What?” She mumbled, her eyes falling to the floor as her body flushed in embarrassment.

“Don't you want to go?”

“That…” She looked up at him briefly before letting her eyes fall back to the ground. “That's not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just…are you sure?”

He was frowning again. “I would not have said it if I wasn't.”

“Sorry,” she said, wringing her hands as she looked anywhere but at him. “I guess I just didn't think you'd want me to go.”

“Why not?”

“I…I'm not a lady.”

He scoffed. “Don't be ridiculous Kagome. I already said I didn't want to hide you. If I did, I would not have brought you here. We have to hide from your friends because my idiot brother would undoubtedly react stupidly if he discovered us. But I have no reason to hide you.” He finished tying his obi with a flourish, especially for someone with only one hand, sliding Tenseiga and Tokijin into their rightful places. She watched him, finding herself utterly paralyzed with shock. Suddenly he turned towards her again, “I have to go. I'll send Rin to take you to the village.”

He crossed the room and was almost at the door when he stopped and sighed before turning back to her. She was standing in the same spot, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes staring downcast at the floor.

She gasped when she felt his fingers grasp her chin and lift her gaze to his. “If you do not wish to attend, that is fine. But you are a lady. I do not associate with peasants.”

She gasped again and nodded, trying not to cry. “I'll go with Rin. Thank you Sesshoumaru.”

He nodded, bending to kiss her before he once again walked to the door, pausing just inside the doorframe to say, “Buy whatever you like.” And then he was gone.

An hour later, Kagome was climbing onto a dappled white mare in the courtyard. Rin had taken her down to breakfast in the kitchens where she met the cook—Sasune—a spritely fire elemental who'd promptly sat Kagome down saying after last night she needed to eat up, making Kagome blush and Rin look confused. Now they were about to set out for the village and although she did not intend to take Sesshoumaru up on his offer to buy whatever she wanted, she had a feeling that Rin had been given her own instructions regarding Kagome's shopping purchases. The girl had already asked her what she was looking for other than a kimono, if there were any particular stores she wanted to go to, and what design she was hoping to find for her kimono.

“Are you ready?” Rin said, waiting for Kagome's nod before urging her horse towards the gate. Kagome was surprised to see two guards on horseback waiting at the gate as well.

“Who are they?”

Rin chuckled. “Our guards of course. You didn't think Sesshoumaru would let us leave unprotected did you?”

“Oh,” Kagome said, feeling stupid. Of course he would send someone with Rin. She was his daughter after all. Instinctively reaching to her chest, she realized with shock that she'd left her bow behind. How could I have forgotten it? She wondered, mentally berating herself. She always had her bow with her in the feudal era, and if she wasn't careful, she was certain to meet disaster. But then again, she had to admit, it was difficult to think of being attacked with Sesshoumaru's youki subtly caressing her senses. Only a fool would attack then while Sesshoumaru was around.

“Well, shall we?”

Smiling, Kagome nodded, brushing off her troubled thoughts as their horses entered the shade of the forest. She could worry about this stuff later. Urging her horse on, she was soon racing Rin through the trees as they sped towards the village completely unaware that halfway across Japan, her friends were preparing an all out hunt to find her.