InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Between Heaven and Hell ❯ Jealousy ( Chapter 12 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: DestinysTears 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.14.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 332 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.14.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 332 | Status: Work In Progress
Apologies for taking so long to update. I do not frequently update on MM. Though you
can find my work carefully maintained and cared for over at dokuga.com, as well as
fanfiction.net.
To find my most recently updated work, you can find me here:
http://dokuga.com/component/comprofiler/viewprofile?user=85 5
Thanks for reading!
~ “*†~
Brushing off her cotton blue yukata neatly, Kagome sighed, considerably more at ease.
She was purely relieved to have her clothes back on at long last. The majority of her
insecurities flowed away like a refreshing rush of current, allowing room for her usual,
blissful temperament to flood back in.
As Kagome ran her petite hands through her long, midnight hair, she took note of the
damp ends that had inadvertently dipped into the river. After a thoughtful look, she
gathered up her raven black waves in one effortless swoop, fastening it into a more or
less taut bun at the crown of her head.
“Looks like I’ll have to dry again,†Kagome stated in a now slightly humored tone, a
small smile gracing her lips as she lowered herself beside the river bank to sit. She turned
her head towards the noiseless youkai, curious to see what he planned on doing.
The vivacious girl found Sesshomaru with his hands tucked carelessly into their opposite
sleeves and his face devoid of any hint of emotion that could possibly give away his
thoughts. But as Kagome thoroughly scrutinized the tall, silver-haired man, she had not
failed to notice the slight, almost nonexistent way he tilted his head to the side. Taking
the liberty to interpret the action as she may, she deduced the small gesture as nothing but
curiosity.
As insignificant as the subtle motion might have seemed, or had even been, Kagome
could not help but widen her smile. It was something so… common in the average
person’s day. But such things only served to make things that much more real to her.
Sesshomaru was not that far off from an average person with the average curiosity, she
thought to herself pensively; nothing near the bloodthirsty, heartless animals everyone
had believed demons to be.
Turning her attentions back to Sesshomaru, she decided to lend the daiyoukai a bit of
biased guidance, however unnecessary the gesture was. Kagome gently patted the grassy
earth beside her. “Would you like to join me, Sesshomaru-san…?†she asked him in her
naturally saccharine voice.
Sesshom aru raised a slender brow at her question, watching the way her eyes seemed to
brighten with her suggestion. After spending a brief second in contemplative silence,
Sesshomaru removed his hands from his haori sleeves. To Kagome’s elation, he began to
move forward gradually, just until he had reached the patch of verdure by her side.
However, he did not lower himself to sit – he only stood near, his amber-gold eyes gazing
over the mist filled sight with vague presence.
“Your leg,&aci rc;€ Sesshomaru said after a moment, continuing to stare at the roaring white
waterfall. Shortly after stealing a glimpse at the ostensibly distant daiyoukai, Kagome
realized the supposed statement had been meant more as a question.
“It’s doing much better,†she replied, beaming with a cheerful twinkle in her cerulean
orbs, “thanks to you, that is.â€
After barely catching what she thought to be the sound of ‘hn’ as a nearly inaudible
response, Kagome looked up into the cloudy blue sky, brilliantly illuminated by radiant
rays of gold.
“Sesshomaru-sanâ&eur o;¦ If you don’t mind me asking,†Kagome asked in genuine curiosity,
“why did you come here?†Tilting her head, the blue-eyed girl peeked up at him from her
comfortable spot on the grassy bank. He had turned his head slightly at the question,
looking at her from the corner of his molten eyes with an unreadable expression.
As the soft breeze caught his long, silvery tresses in its current, Sesshomaru shifted his
attention to stare almost calculatingly at the misty falls.
“â&euro ;¦No reason,†he replied simply, before lowering to a sitting position on the ground
beside her in one fluid motion.
Kagome let his plain yet puzzling response absorb for a ;second or two before smiling
sweetly, although she was unable to put a finger on why such a reply made her feel so
amused.
Stretching her arms high above her head, Kagome sunk back to lie on the glistening,
green grass. Staring up at the vivid sky, she traced the softened edges of the hazy clouds
with her gaze. Taking a short breath, Kagome turned on her side, peeking up at the
impenetrable daiyoukai as he watched the glistening pond in silence.
In all honesty, Kagome had lost track of the number of times she had mulled over him.
Even more so after the kiss they had shared the night before… Kagome felt her cheeks
heat before she quickly tossed the thought and directed her attention to the protruding
blades of grass before her eyes.
But it was true that she often found herself lost in thought about him. Though, not all
were of mere admiration. Even as she was aware of this, it still proved difficult to elude
such musings. Sesshomaru was just simply a mysterious person.
He always held a mixed air about him. At times, Sesshomaru would seem to have this
untouchable demeanor to him, perhaps even unapproachable. But then, on rare occasions,
he unconsciously let a milder, more melancholic side slip past his carefully placed
façade. But no matter his disposition, his presence always seemed ethereal to her, as if he
himself was sent from heaven; perfect, yet all the while, real... Distant, yet so close.
His unearthly beauty, his cold, yet smoldering eyes, those almost menacing yet elegant
marks on his face, and that silken, silver hair… But also, that small, apparent desire to
smile, just as she did…
Rising to sit regularly, Kagome ran her fingers along the bed of grass. Picking a few
blades of green, she feigned an interest in them, toying with them in her lap. Then
pausing for a second, Kagome looked up, watching the crystalline waters alongside her
silent youkai companion.
Any small thing she could possibly learn about this mysterious youkai, she wanted to
know. Anything that would help her to understand him a bit more, even if it was just a
little. Even if it was the simplest of questions, she wanted to get to know him better.
“Why do you make such an expression?†Sesshomaru’s low, baritone voice suddenly
struck through the quiet between them.
Startled, Kagome blinked, all of a sudden feeling extremely mindful about her face. “W-
what…?â&eur o; she asked, touching her face unconsciously as she wondered in embarrassment
about what kind of look she might have made.
“You look as if you are deep in thought,†he clarified, leaning forward to rest an arm on
his bent knee.
Kagome gave out a small laugh, looking slightly away in order to hide the warm blush
rising to her cheeks. “Oh, it was nothing. I just…†she began before her voice trailed off.
Scratching her chin with her finger lightly, Kagome searched her mind for the right
words to say, or in other words, the words not to say. As Sesshomaru waited patiently for
her full reply, he only raised his eyebrow in apparent curiosity, continuing to watch her
carefully with golden-amber eyes.
Desperately hoping to deter the direction of the conversation, Kagome quickly tried to
think of something to say that wouldn’t make him think she was a complete idiot.
Looking back at the waiting Sesshomaru, Kagome forced a composed demeanor.
“So…Where& nbsp;do you live?â€
Kagome mentally kicked herself. ‘Where do you live?’ she questioned herself
incredulously. That was quite possibly the strangest thing she could have asked at that
instant.
But now that she thought about it, she never really did know where he slept at night, or
where he stayed. After all, everyone had some place they had to go back to, didn’t they?
Some place they called home?
Luckily, Sesshomaru had not seemed too stunned at her odd question, the only reaction
suggesting surprise being a slight tilt of the head. But as his narrowed gaze moved from
the clearing’s view and to the girl’s flustered face, he seemed to actually contemplate the
question for a brief moment.
“It depends,â€&n bsp;he said quietly before turning away again, eyes now locked on the rustling
leaves of the pink sakura tree.
Kagome watched him carefully out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t seem to find the
right words to fit his mysterious expression. And that tinge of nostalgia she had thought
she had heard in his melancholic voice…
â€&o elig;That taijiya,†his voice abruptly broke her train of thought before she could continue.
“Who is he…?†It hardly sounded like a question; more like an indifferent bout of weak
curiosity.
But even without directly looking at the girl, Sesshomaru did not fail to notice her blue
eyes fill with worry at the mention of him.
“Oh… Ichir ou, you mean…?†she said with a bit of hesitance as a hazy memory of
Ichirou and Sesshomaru’s encounter in the woods flooded her mind. However, the loss of
blood prevented her from remembering the event well enough to piece out the outcome.
It wouldn’t be surprising if that was the reason for her not thinking about the situation
until now.
Kagome only remembered seeing Sesshomaru standing there before her and Ichirou…
And Ichirou had…
Kagome frowned slightly as she tried with difficulty to remember. From that point, it was
blank. That is, until she woke up to find herself in her own room recovering from her
injury. Ichirou had been fine, and now Sesshomaru was before her, fine as well. So what
had happened? Or perhaps, it was merely a dream of her imagination… But no, that
couldn’t be right – how else could Sesshomaru have known about her injured leg that
night when he healed it?
Sesshomaru noted the way Kagome’s expression had changed. She seemed as if she was
struggling to remember everything that had happened then. Desiring to test his theory, he
prodded the issue further.
“Do you recall who protected you that day?†Sesshomaru asked, analyzing the confused
girl’s face carefully.
The daiyoukai was not sure why he was playing this game with her. And even stranger,
he felt the small desire in the back of his mind for her not to remember his being there at
all. It was as if his chest felt heated, as if in anger, but it was a subdued feeling; one he
felt he could suppress if he truly made the effort to, but something that he let linger
anyway.
“Ichirou†¦ wasn’t it?†Kagome replied, now beginning to become unsure of herself. At
first, she thought she knew for sure that Ichirou had been there, and that Sesshomaru’s
sudden appearance was possibly only her imagination. But now she was beginning to
second guess herself even more.
Kagome met Sesshomaru’s gaze, noticing in surprise the way his calculating eyes
watched her. The fog surrounding the cloudy memory seemed to lift slowly as she
realized what Sesshomaru was doing.
“…What happened between you two…?†she asked in concern, finally recollecting the
tense atmosphere bet ween the two.
Sesshomaru looked at the way Kagome’s brow creased in fear. So she did remember.
“Nothing that would have revealed us,†he told her, feeling a subconscious urge to
reassure the uneasy girl.
Kagome felt her heart flutter at the sound of that small word. Then mentally shaking the
thought from her head, she determined that she would not allow herself to become
distracted by such a small gesture.
“ Please, tell me what happened, Sesshomaru-san,†Kagome urged him gently as her blush
subsided.
Leisurely focusing his g aze on the distant sakura tree, he explained simply to relieve her
anxious ears, “This Sesshomaru left, and the taijiya brought you back to your village.â€
“&acir c;€¦That’s all?†Kagome said in half relief, half uncertainty. She trusted that Sesshomaru
wasn’t the one to jump into things unnecessarily, so she hadn’t been too concerned with
Ichirou being hurt by him then. But knowing Ichirou’s rash personality and his disdain
for youkai, she would expect him to have done something, whether it was in word or
action.
“I†™m sure you know by now, but… Ichirou isn’t…†Kagome paused, opting not to finish
her sentence. She continued in a quiet, yet apprehensive voice, “He must have done
something&nb sp;completely stupid, didn’t he?†She looked at Sesshomaru in worry,
surreptitiously searching for any sign s of injury on him.
“This Sesshomaru is here now, is he not?†Sesshomaru said, seeing the&n bsp;young female’s
shoulders gradual ly relax. He could still not help but think how strange she was – why
did she worry for him? She knew how fast he healed, didn’t she? Besides, did she really
think that someone as weak as that taijiya would even be able to put a scratch on him?
“I suppose so,†Kagome sighed resignedly, knowing Sesshomaru would tell her nothing
more and deciding to let the subject rest.
“However, you still have not given me an answer concerning the taijiya,†Sesshomaru
continued, his eyes now turning to meet Kagome’s own.
“Oh,&aci rc;€ she responded as her eyebrows raised slightly as she remembered the question.
“About Ichirouâ& euro;¦? Well, he’s one of the people who protect our village.†With a little
shrug she continued, “They say that he’s young, but he’s very accomplished.â€
Sesshomaruâ€&trad e;s lips tightened unnoticeably at her answer.
“But who is he,†he repeated, sounding as if he were rephrasing the question, “to you?â€
Kagome paused, looking at him in blatant confusion as well as curiosity. However, he
somehow continued to maintain his apathetic demeanor.
Kagome sighed and looked up at the blue sky, giving her cheek a delicate scratch as she
tried to think of what to say and how to word it.
“To me…?†she began hesitantly as she thought about the question aloud. “I guess you
could say… he’s like a ;brother to me.â€
Sesshomaru raised a delicat e eyebrow as he listened to her soft, sing-song voice. “How
so?â€
Kagome smiled unconsciously, tucking the wisp of hair that had been swept up by the
wind behind her ear. “Well,†she began, “I remember, when we were younger, we would
play a lot together since we were around the same age...â€
Kagome laughed a little bit. “And he always watched out for me. Growing up, I was
always so clumsy. I used to trip and fall almost every time I tried to run around. But he
would always be there to help me and get me onto my feet.†She leaned back on one arm
with a pensive smile on her lips while watching the way the water rippled onto the bank
before it receded back into its prior form.
As Kagome’s story progressed, she increasingly spoke more freely, speaking more from
her heart than from her memory. However, unbeknownst to her was the faint, downward
turning of Sesshomaru’s lips as she continued to talk about the boy she seemed to hold so
dear to herself.
“It was strange,†Kagome added musingly, “I always stopped crying when he was there.
And it was nice, especially since Kikyo couldn’t always be with me. Though now that I
think back on it, I guess I was a bit of a crybaby.†She laughed, mostly at herself and her
childishness. “Especially after my parents passed away–â€
Kagome&ac irc;€™s smile faded as she cut her sentence short. It was so easy to talk to Sesshomaru.
Maybe it was because he never really said much, but would only listen intently. Or
maybe it was because it had just been so long since she had talked about this sort of
thing, to anyone for that matter. But why now? Kagome shook her head, knowing
Sesshomaru probably didn’t care for her endless chatter.
“Well, never mind,†she laughed, giving him a smile as she straightened. “I’ve talked
enough&nb sp;about myself. …So how about you? What about your family?â€
Sesshomaru seemed to frown as she attempted to change the subject. But he only leaned
his cheek lightly against his fingers, seeming to ignore her question. “I do not mind
listening.â€
Kagome turned away quickly, looking at the shimmering water again as she felt heat rise
up into her cheeks. She said nothing, not knowing what to say.
“Tell me,†he said in his usual low, baritone voice, intently looking at the back of her as
she continued to look away, “about your family.â€&nb sp;
Kagome looked at her hands in her lap, wondering why someone like him would even
care to hear about something so trivial as that. Nevertheless, she complied to his wish.
“Well,†she thought for a moment, her hands still resting gently in her lap, “I only have
one sibling, my older sister, Kikyo. She’s the only family I have right now, since my
parents passed away when I was little.†Kagome stopped soon after beginning, wondering
if Sesshomaru would soon lose interest. She did not turn back to look at his expression,
but when he did not say anything, Kagome reluctantly continued.
â€&oelig ;I was too young to remember myself, but my sister told me that there was a fire in the
village. She said that our parents were trying to help another family out of their home, but
they got caught in the flames…â€
Sesshomaru still did not breathe a word, and if it were even possible, he seemed to
become even quieter.
“But it’s okay. Like I said, it was a long time ago.†She laughed slightly, looking out
towards the glimmering waters again, but seeing another sight in its place. Kagome eyes
widened in surprise, instinctively wincing. It had been such a long time since she thought
about those dreams…
“ Do you miss them?†Sesshomaru asked her suddenly, making the vivid image dissipate
from her mind.
Kagome blinked, still half in her daze as she turned to look at him. ‘Do I miss them…?&aci rc;€™
repeating the question in her mind as if trying to catch its meaning.
However, she did not fully snap out of her reverie until she felt the sharp chill of the wind
brush against the nape of her neck. Now fully conscious, she almost laughed at herself for
nearly missing what Sesshomaru had said to her because of her daydreaming.
“Well…& nbsp;It’s funny,†Kagome replied, not able to help but think how ironic that question
was, “but… I donâ€&t rade;t really know.â€
It had been so long since she had talked about her parents, let alone think about them. It
wasn’t that she was ungrateful; it was just that she couldn’t exactly remember them all
too well. After all, it had always been her and Kikyo, just the two of them living together
for as long as she could remember. She was so used to it by now.
Sesshomaru raised a delicate eyebrow, and though he did not say anything, she knew he
had to be puzzled as to what she meant.
“It’s just that I… don’t really think about it too much,†Kagome explained it to him.
“But… every once in a while, I suppose…†she admitted with a sigh, “I wish there was
someone else.â€
Ka gome shook her head, trying to lose the gradual depression of her mood. “Well, I think&nbs p;
I’ve talked enough about myself,†she concluded, hoping to change the topic. “So tell me
about yourself, Sesshomaru-san! You never did tell me about your family.â€
With an encouraging smile, she patiently waited for his reply. Kagome watched as he
gazed out at the water as she had done so many times already. His face could be seen as
cold or expressionless, but as she looked more closely, she realized that that was not the
case at all.
The dist ant look in his eyes, perhaps, was not in fact just cold indifference. It almost
seemed as if they were… restless.
But was that right…? Could someone so composed as Sesshomaru really feel that way? It
was something… She just couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“I do not have a mother,†he finally responded.& nbsp;He paused for a moment, as if in thought.
“I suppose I do not have a father either.†Sesshomaru did not continue, deciding the rest
of his family was not worth mentioning to her. After all, his own parents were hardly
worth mentioning either for that matter.
Kagome tilted her head in question. “What do you mean, ‘you suppose’?†she asked
curiously.
The muscle in Sesshomaru’s jaw tensed. “It is… complicated.â€
Looking down at the long blades of grass, Kagome’s shoulders dropped. “Oh… I see.â€&n bsp;
As Sesshomaru heard the drop in her voice, his eyes flickered towards her. She looked
almost… disapp ointed. Had she hoped he would say something else besides what he had
about his birth mother and father? No, somehow, that didn’t seem quite right. Regardless,
whatever the reason was, all he knew was that it irked him to see that sort of expression
on her face. He had already become so accustomed to the blissful smile she had always
worn on her soft, rosy lips until now.
Sesshomaru let out an inaudible breath as she continued to run her fingers idly along the
grassy verdure.
&ac irc;€œThough,†he said unexpectedly, “…I have an uncle.â€
As Kagome raised her head, her eyes seemed to brighten at his words. Just the small
effort it took him to converse with her in this way was enough to make her glow with
happiness.
“Oh!â&eu ro; Kagome replied elatedly. “That’s nice! Do you still see him?â€
Sesshomaru gave a slight nod.
“Famil y is such a great thing, isn’t it? If I had it my way, I would have a huge family,â€
Kagome said enthusiastically. She giggled, shrugging admittedly. “I guess that’s why I
like to consider Ichirou as my own brother. Is that silly?â€
The corner of Sesshomaru’s lip jerked. Unexpectedly, Kagome felt her heart drop as he
turned away again, looking out at nowhere in particular.
With a sigh, Kagome looked away too, wondering if Sesshomaru would ever speak more
than just a few words to her. Tilting her head upward, she narrowed her eyes at the still
bright sky, noticing that the sun had moved slightly past its peak.
“I guess I should be heading back now,†Kagome said with a resigned sigh as she stood,
giving her yukata a gentle sweep with her hands.
“Hn,†w as his response as he moved to stand as well.
Kagome glanced at his golden-amber eyes for a moment before looking back at the dusty
road leading back to the village. Those restless eyes had only once looked at hers during
their nearly one-sided conversation today, but she resolved then that she would not give
up. Perhaps it was just that one, fleeting glance that was all it took to urge her
determination further.
“So I guess it’ll be goodbye for now, Sesshomaru-san,†Kagome smiled anew, her eyes
shining with a new brightness. “I’ll see you soon.â€
Sesshomaru’s eyes only persisted in following the ripples of the shimmering water, yet
all the while listened to the endearing lightness of her voice.
With one last longing look at the distant man, she began to head back to the village,
following the dusted, dirt road lying along the edge of the endless forest.
After she had left and had walked for a distance, Sesshomaru turned his head slightly
over his shoulder to glance back at the disappearing figure that so perplexed him.
Straightening, the corner of his eye caught sight of a dull, white cloth that lay neatly
folded on the contrasting green of sleek grass.
‘Such an absentminded one…’ he thought, bending down as he scooped up the towel with
his hand. His thumb ran across the cloth’s coarse surface before gently holding the fabric
to his nose.
The same scent of earthy jasmine he had smelled the night when he had kissed her… A
heavenly, perfect scent…
‘Why must you do this to me…?’ he wonde red, closing his eyes as he reminisced in the
aroma of her soft skin.
That girl, with such a capacity to love… The one who worried for him needlessly. But
oddly en ough, he didn’t mind it. It caused in him a feeling he did not quite understand,
but then again, that human, Kagome… she was difficult to understand.
She worried for him, when she should have been putting her efforts in a more sensible
area of her life. She seemed not to care for her own wellbeing, especially when it came to
him, and she acted as if she did not fear him. She loved and considered that taijiya as her
brother, though he clearly was not blood related to her.
Though he could understand her love for him. Perhaps that was why he felt angry when
she talked about him the way she did.
He couldn’t deny any longer that a small part of him desired that affection for himself.
The taijiya might be a stupid, irrational boy, but deep inside, he could see the taijiya had
every good intention. Whereas he, himself… He had none of that.
Sesshomaru looked at the thin, white cloth in his hand, before he slowly raised it to his
nose once again. The sweet scent flooded his mind, beginning to intoxicate him with
thoughts of her.
‘It is true that you are able to love greatly,’ he considered to himself in the precincts of
his mind as he disappeared from the peaceful enclave.
‘But can you ever hold this Sesshomaru as dear to yourself as him?’
~ “*†~
That night, he found himself by her home yet again, staring cautiously at her open
window. After a long while, he quietly entered her room, walking noiselessly towards the
sleeping figure underneath the covers of the futon.
Kneeling down, he examined her face more closely, noting the lock of hair that fell
across her soft, moonlit cheek. Reaching forward, he took her chin lightly, turning her
face towards him and letting the wisp of hair fall away.
Leaning forward, he kissed her gently before slowly raising his head to look at her. But
instead of moving completely away, he allowed himself to linger above her lips for a
moment, taking in that sweet scent of her skin…
At this moment, it was difficult to decipher his thoughts. It was a foreign feeling – never
had he been so unsure of what to think. Everything had come so easily to him until he
met her.
He was only sure of two things. Sesshomaru closed his eyes slowly, still breathing in her
intoxicating scent.
He knew he had allowed himself to venture far too deep in this foolish game. And now,
he knew he could not pull away from her.
No; not now.
~ “*†~
Kagome yawne d, stretching her arms above her head as the glow of morning sun poured
forth into her room. Looking casually to her bedside, she was surprised to find her towel,
lying there quietly. Just sitting in its neatly folded form, it seemed to stare her blankly in
the face.
With a shrug following a short moment of thought, she rose from her futon, wandering
her way into the kitchen to find something to eat.
can find my work carefully maintained and cared for over at dokuga.com, as well as
fanfiction.net.
To find my most recently updated work, you can find me here:
http://dokuga.com/component/comprofiler/viewprofile?user=85 5
Thanks for reading!
~ “*†~
Brushing off her cotton blue yukata neatly, Kagome sighed, considerably more at ease.
She was purely relieved to have her clothes back on at long last. The majority of her
insecurities flowed away like a refreshing rush of current, allowing room for her usual,
blissful temperament to flood back in.
As Kagome ran her petite hands through her long, midnight hair, she took note of the
damp ends that had inadvertently dipped into the river. After a thoughtful look, she
gathered up her raven black waves in one effortless swoop, fastening it into a more or
less taut bun at the crown of her head.
“Looks like I’ll have to dry again,†Kagome stated in a now slightly humored tone, a
small smile gracing her lips as she lowered herself beside the river bank to sit. She turned
her head towards the noiseless youkai, curious to see what he planned on doing.
The vivacious girl found Sesshomaru with his hands tucked carelessly into their opposite
sleeves and his face devoid of any hint of emotion that could possibly give away his
thoughts. But as Kagome thoroughly scrutinized the tall, silver-haired man, she had not
failed to notice the slight, almost nonexistent way he tilted his head to the side. Taking
the liberty to interpret the action as she may, she deduced the small gesture as nothing but
curiosity.
As insignificant as the subtle motion might have seemed, or had even been, Kagome
could not help but widen her smile. It was something so… common in the average
person’s day. But such things only served to make things that much more real to her.
Sesshomaru was not that far off from an average person with the average curiosity, she
thought to herself pensively; nothing near the bloodthirsty, heartless animals everyone
had believed demons to be.
Turning her attentions back to Sesshomaru, she decided to lend the daiyoukai a bit of
biased guidance, however unnecessary the gesture was. Kagome gently patted the grassy
earth beside her. “Would you like to join me, Sesshomaru-san…?†she asked him in her
naturally saccharine voice.
Sesshom aru raised a slender brow at her question, watching the way her eyes seemed to
brighten with her suggestion. After spending a brief second in contemplative silence,
Sesshomaru removed his hands from his haori sleeves. To Kagome’s elation, he began to
move forward gradually, just until he had reached the patch of verdure by her side.
However, he did not lower himself to sit – he only stood near, his amber-gold eyes gazing
over the mist filled sight with vague presence.
“Your leg,&aci rc;€ Sesshomaru said after a moment, continuing to stare at the roaring white
waterfall. Shortly after stealing a glimpse at the ostensibly distant daiyoukai, Kagome
realized the supposed statement had been meant more as a question.
“It’s doing much better,†she replied, beaming with a cheerful twinkle in her cerulean
orbs, “thanks to you, that is.â€
After barely catching what she thought to be the sound of ‘hn’ as a nearly inaudible
response, Kagome looked up into the cloudy blue sky, brilliantly illuminated by radiant
rays of gold.
“Sesshomaru-sanâ&eur o;¦ If you don’t mind me asking,†Kagome asked in genuine curiosity,
“why did you come here?†Tilting her head, the blue-eyed girl peeked up at him from her
comfortable spot on the grassy bank. He had turned his head slightly at the question,
looking at her from the corner of his molten eyes with an unreadable expression.
As the soft breeze caught his long, silvery tresses in its current, Sesshomaru shifted his
attention to stare almost calculatingly at the misty falls.
“â&euro ;¦No reason,†he replied simply, before lowering to a sitting position on the ground
beside her in one fluid motion.
Kagome let his plain yet puzzling response absorb for a ;second or two before smiling
sweetly, although she was unable to put a finger on why such a reply made her feel so
amused.
Stretching her arms high above her head, Kagome sunk back to lie on the glistening,
green grass. Staring up at the vivid sky, she traced the softened edges of the hazy clouds
with her gaze. Taking a short breath, Kagome turned on her side, peeking up at the
impenetrable daiyoukai as he watched the glistening pond in silence.
In all honesty, Kagome had lost track of the number of times she had mulled over him.
Even more so after the kiss they had shared the night before… Kagome felt her cheeks
heat before she quickly tossed the thought and directed her attention to the protruding
blades of grass before her eyes.
But it was true that she often found herself lost in thought about him. Though, not all
were of mere admiration. Even as she was aware of this, it still proved difficult to elude
such musings. Sesshomaru was just simply a mysterious person.
He always held a mixed air about him. At times, Sesshomaru would seem to have this
untouchable demeanor to him, perhaps even unapproachable. But then, on rare occasions,
he unconsciously let a milder, more melancholic side slip past his carefully placed
façade. But no matter his disposition, his presence always seemed ethereal to her, as if he
himself was sent from heaven; perfect, yet all the while, real... Distant, yet so close.
His unearthly beauty, his cold, yet smoldering eyes, those almost menacing yet elegant
marks on his face, and that silken, silver hair… But also, that small, apparent desire to
smile, just as she did…
Rising to sit regularly, Kagome ran her fingers along the bed of grass. Picking a few
blades of green, she feigned an interest in them, toying with them in her lap. Then
pausing for a second, Kagome looked up, watching the crystalline waters alongside her
silent youkai companion.
Any small thing she could possibly learn about this mysterious youkai, she wanted to
know. Anything that would help her to understand him a bit more, even if it was just a
little. Even if it was the simplest of questions, she wanted to get to know him better.
“Why do you make such an expression?†Sesshomaru’s low, baritone voice suddenly
struck through the quiet between them.
Startled, Kagome blinked, all of a sudden feeling extremely mindful about her face. “W-
what…?â&eur o; she asked, touching her face unconsciously as she wondered in embarrassment
about what kind of look she might have made.
“You look as if you are deep in thought,†he clarified, leaning forward to rest an arm on
his bent knee.
Kagome gave out a small laugh, looking slightly away in order to hide the warm blush
rising to her cheeks. “Oh, it was nothing. I just…†she began before her voice trailed off.
Scratching her chin with her finger lightly, Kagome searched her mind for the right
words to say, or in other words, the words not to say. As Sesshomaru waited patiently for
her full reply, he only raised his eyebrow in apparent curiosity, continuing to watch her
carefully with golden-amber eyes.
Desperately hoping to deter the direction of the conversation, Kagome quickly tried to
think of something to say that wouldn’t make him think she was a complete idiot.
Looking back at the waiting Sesshomaru, Kagome forced a composed demeanor.
“So…Where& nbsp;do you live?â€
Kagome mentally kicked herself. ‘Where do you live?’ she questioned herself
incredulously. That was quite possibly the strangest thing she could have asked at that
instant.
But now that she thought about it, she never really did know where he slept at night, or
where he stayed. After all, everyone had some place they had to go back to, didn’t they?
Some place they called home?
Luckily, Sesshomaru had not seemed too stunned at her odd question, the only reaction
suggesting surprise being a slight tilt of the head. But as his narrowed gaze moved from
the clearing’s view and to the girl’s flustered face, he seemed to actually contemplate the
question for a brief moment.
“It depends,â€&n bsp;he said quietly before turning away again, eyes now locked on the rustling
leaves of the pink sakura tree.
Kagome watched him carefully out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t seem to find the
right words to fit his mysterious expression. And that tinge of nostalgia she had thought
she had heard in his melancholic voice…
â€&o elig;That taijiya,†his voice abruptly broke her train of thought before she could continue.
“Who is he…?†It hardly sounded like a question; more like an indifferent bout of weak
curiosity.
But even without directly looking at the girl, Sesshomaru did not fail to notice her blue
eyes fill with worry at the mention of him.
“Oh… Ichir ou, you mean…?†she said with a bit of hesitance as a hazy memory of
Ichirou and Sesshomaru’s encounter in the woods flooded her mind. However, the loss of
blood prevented her from remembering the event well enough to piece out the outcome.
It wouldn’t be surprising if that was the reason for her not thinking about the situation
until now.
Kagome only remembered seeing Sesshomaru standing there before her and Ichirou…
And Ichirou had…
Kagome frowned slightly as she tried with difficulty to remember. From that point, it was
blank. That is, until she woke up to find herself in her own room recovering from her
injury. Ichirou had been fine, and now Sesshomaru was before her, fine as well. So what
had happened? Or perhaps, it was merely a dream of her imagination… But no, that
couldn’t be right – how else could Sesshomaru have known about her injured leg that
night when he healed it?
Sesshomaru noted the way Kagome’s expression had changed. She seemed as if she was
struggling to remember everything that had happened then. Desiring to test his theory, he
prodded the issue further.
“Do you recall who protected you that day?†Sesshomaru asked, analyzing the confused
girl’s face carefully.
The daiyoukai was not sure why he was playing this game with her. And even stranger,
he felt the small desire in the back of his mind for her not to remember his being there at
all. It was as if his chest felt heated, as if in anger, but it was a subdued feeling; one he
felt he could suppress if he truly made the effort to, but something that he let linger
anyway.
“Ichirou†¦ wasn’t it?†Kagome replied, now beginning to become unsure of herself. At
first, she thought she knew for sure that Ichirou had been there, and that Sesshomaru’s
sudden appearance was possibly only her imagination. But now she was beginning to
second guess herself even more.
Kagome met Sesshomaru’s gaze, noticing in surprise the way his calculating eyes
watched her. The fog surrounding the cloudy memory seemed to lift slowly as she
realized what Sesshomaru was doing.
“…What happened between you two…?†she asked in concern, finally recollecting the
tense atmosphere bet ween the two.
Sesshomaru looked at the way Kagome’s brow creased in fear. So she did remember.
“Nothing that would have revealed us,†he told her, feeling a subconscious urge to
reassure the uneasy girl.
Kagome felt her heart flutter at the sound of that small word. Then mentally shaking the
thought from her head, she determined that she would not allow herself to become
distracted by such a small gesture.
“ Please, tell me what happened, Sesshomaru-san,†Kagome urged him gently as her blush
subsided.
Leisurely focusing his g aze on the distant sakura tree, he explained simply to relieve her
anxious ears, “This Sesshomaru left, and the taijiya brought you back to your village.â€
“&acir c;€¦That’s all?†Kagome said in half relief, half uncertainty. She trusted that Sesshomaru
wasn’t the one to jump into things unnecessarily, so she hadn’t been too concerned with
Ichirou being hurt by him then. But knowing Ichirou’s rash personality and his disdain
for youkai, she would expect him to have done something, whether it was in word or
action.
“I†™m sure you know by now, but… Ichirou isn’t…†Kagome paused, opting not to finish
her sentence. She continued in a quiet, yet apprehensive voice, “He must have done
something&nb sp;completely stupid, didn’t he?†She looked at Sesshomaru in worry,
surreptitiously searching for any sign s of injury on him.
“This Sesshomaru is here now, is he not?†Sesshomaru said, seeing the&n bsp;young female’s
shoulders gradual ly relax. He could still not help but think how strange she was – why
did she worry for him? She knew how fast he healed, didn’t she? Besides, did she really
think that someone as weak as that taijiya would even be able to put a scratch on him?
“I suppose so,†Kagome sighed resignedly, knowing Sesshomaru would tell her nothing
more and deciding to let the subject rest.
“However, you still have not given me an answer concerning the taijiya,†Sesshomaru
continued, his eyes now turning to meet Kagome’s own.
“Oh,&aci rc;€ she responded as her eyebrows raised slightly as she remembered the question.
“About Ichirouâ& euro;¦? Well, he’s one of the people who protect our village.†With a little
shrug she continued, “They say that he’s young, but he’s very accomplished.â€
Sesshomaruâ€&trad e;s lips tightened unnoticeably at her answer.
“But who is he,†he repeated, sounding as if he were rephrasing the question, “to you?â€
Kagome paused, looking at him in blatant confusion as well as curiosity. However, he
somehow continued to maintain his apathetic demeanor.
Kagome sighed and looked up at the blue sky, giving her cheek a delicate scratch as she
tried to think of what to say and how to word it.
“To me…?†she began hesitantly as she thought about the question aloud. “I guess you
could say… he’s like a ;brother to me.â€
Sesshomaru raised a delicat e eyebrow as he listened to her soft, sing-song voice. “How
so?â€
Kagome smiled unconsciously, tucking the wisp of hair that had been swept up by the
wind behind her ear. “Well,†she began, “I remember, when we were younger, we would
play a lot together since we were around the same age...â€
Kagome laughed a little bit. “And he always watched out for me. Growing up, I was
always so clumsy. I used to trip and fall almost every time I tried to run around. But he
would always be there to help me and get me onto my feet.†She leaned back on one arm
with a pensive smile on her lips while watching the way the water rippled onto the bank
before it receded back into its prior form.
As Kagome’s story progressed, she increasingly spoke more freely, speaking more from
her heart than from her memory. However, unbeknownst to her was the faint, downward
turning of Sesshomaru’s lips as she continued to talk about the boy she seemed to hold so
dear to herself.
“It was strange,†Kagome added musingly, “I always stopped crying when he was there.
And it was nice, especially since Kikyo couldn’t always be with me. Though now that I
think back on it, I guess I was a bit of a crybaby.†She laughed, mostly at herself and her
childishness. “Especially after my parents passed away–â€
Kagome&ac irc;€™s smile faded as she cut her sentence short. It was so easy to talk to Sesshomaru.
Maybe it was because he never really said much, but would only listen intently. Or
maybe it was because it had just been so long since she had talked about this sort of
thing, to anyone for that matter. But why now? Kagome shook her head, knowing
Sesshomaru probably didn’t care for her endless chatter.
“Well, never mind,†she laughed, giving him a smile as she straightened. “I’ve talked
enough&nb sp;about myself. …So how about you? What about your family?â€
Sesshomaru seemed to frown as she attempted to change the subject. But he only leaned
his cheek lightly against his fingers, seeming to ignore her question. “I do not mind
listening.â€
Kagome turned away quickly, looking at the shimmering water again as she felt heat rise
up into her cheeks. She said nothing, not knowing what to say.
“Tell me,†he said in his usual low, baritone voice, intently looking at the back of her as
she continued to look away, “about your family.â€&nb sp;
Kagome looked at her hands in her lap, wondering why someone like him would even
care to hear about something so trivial as that. Nevertheless, she complied to his wish.
“Well,†she thought for a moment, her hands still resting gently in her lap, “I only have
one sibling, my older sister, Kikyo. She’s the only family I have right now, since my
parents passed away when I was little.†Kagome stopped soon after beginning, wondering
if Sesshomaru would soon lose interest. She did not turn back to look at his expression,
but when he did not say anything, Kagome reluctantly continued.
â€&oelig ;I was too young to remember myself, but my sister told me that there was a fire in the
village. She said that our parents were trying to help another family out of their home, but
they got caught in the flames…â€
Sesshomaru still did not breathe a word, and if it were even possible, he seemed to
become even quieter.
“But it’s okay. Like I said, it was a long time ago.†She laughed slightly, looking out
towards the glimmering waters again, but seeing another sight in its place. Kagome eyes
widened in surprise, instinctively wincing. It had been such a long time since she thought
about those dreams…
“ Do you miss them?†Sesshomaru asked her suddenly, making the vivid image dissipate
from her mind.
Kagome blinked, still half in her daze as she turned to look at him. ‘Do I miss them…?&aci rc;€™
repeating the question in her mind as if trying to catch its meaning.
However, she did not fully snap out of her reverie until she felt the sharp chill of the wind
brush against the nape of her neck. Now fully conscious, she almost laughed at herself for
nearly missing what Sesshomaru had said to her because of her daydreaming.
“Well…& nbsp;It’s funny,†Kagome replied, not able to help but think how ironic that question
was, “but… I donâ€&t rade;t really know.â€
It had been so long since she had talked about her parents, let alone think about them. It
wasn’t that she was ungrateful; it was just that she couldn’t exactly remember them all
too well. After all, it had always been her and Kikyo, just the two of them living together
for as long as she could remember. She was so used to it by now.
Sesshomaru raised a delicate eyebrow, and though he did not say anything, she knew he
had to be puzzled as to what she meant.
“It’s just that I… don’t really think about it too much,†Kagome explained it to him.
“But… every once in a while, I suppose…†she admitted with a sigh, “I wish there was
someone else.â€
Ka gome shook her head, trying to lose the gradual depression of her mood. “Well, I think&nbs p;
I’ve talked enough about myself,†she concluded, hoping to change the topic. “So tell me
about yourself, Sesshomaru-san! You never did tell me about your family.â€
With an encouraging smile, she patiently waited for his reply. Kagome watched as he
gazed out at the water as she had done so many times already. His face could be seen as
cold or expressionless, but as she looked more closely, she realized that that was not the
case at all.
The dist ant look in his eyes, perhaps, was not in fact just cold indifference. It almost
seemed as if they were… restless.
But was that right…? Could someone so composed as Sesshomaru really feel that way? It
was something… She just couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“I do not have a mother,†he finally responded.& nbsp;He paused for a moment, as if in thought.
“I suppose I do not have a father either.†Sesshomaru did not continue, deciding the rest
of his family was not worth mentioning to her. After all, his own parents were hardly
worth mentioning either for that matter.
Kagome tilted her head in question. “What do you mean, ‘you suppose’?†she asked
curiously.
The muscle in Sesshomaru’s jaw tensed. “It is… complicated.â€
Looking down at the long blades of grass, Kagome’s shoulders dropped. “Oh… I see.â€&n bsp;
As Sesshomaru heard the drop in her voice, his eyes flickered towards her. She looked
almost… disapp ointed. Had she hoped he would say something else besides what he had
about his birth mother and father? No, somehow, that didn’t seem quite right. Regardless,
whatever the reason was, all he knew was that it irked him to see that sort of expression
on her face. He had already become so accustomed to the blissful smile she had always
worn on her soft, rosy lips until now.
Sesshomaru let out an inaudible breath as she continued to run her fingers idly along the
grassy verdure.
&ac irc;€œThough,†he said unexpectedly, “…I have an uncle.â€
As Kagome raised her head, her eyes seemed to brighten at his words. Just the small
effort it took him to converse with her in this way was enough to make her glow with
happiness.
“Oh!â&eu ro; Kagome replied elatedly. “That’s nice! Do you still see him?â€
Sesshomaru gave a slight nod.
“Famil y is such a great thing, isn’t it? If I had it my way, I would have a huge family,â€
Kagome said enthusiastically. She giggled, shrugging admittedly. “I guess that’s why I
like to consider Ichirou as my own brother. Is that silly?â€
The corner of Sesshomaru’s lip jerked. Unexpectedly, Kagome felt her heart drop as he
turned away again, looking out at nowhere in particular.
With a sigh, Kagome looked away too, wondering if Sesshomaru would ever speak more
than just a few words to her. Tilting her head upward, she narrowed her eyes at the still
bright sky, noticing that the sun had moved slightly past its peak.
“I guess I should be heading back now,†Kagome said with a resigned sigh as she stood,
giving her yukata a gentle sweep with her hands.
“Hn,†w as his response as he moved to stand as well.
Kagome glanced at his golden-amber eyes for a moment before looking back at the dusty
road leading back to the village. Those restless eyes had only once looked at hers during
their nearly one-sided conversation today, but she resolved then that she would not give
up. Perhaps it was just that one, fleeting glance that was all it took to urge her
determination further.
“So I guess it’ll be goodbye for now, Sesshomaru-san,†Kagome smiled anew, her eyes
shining with a new brightness. “I’ll see you soon.â€
Sesshomaru’s eyes only persisted in following the ripples of the shimmering water, yet
all the while listened to the endearing lightness of her voice.
With one last longing look at the distant man, she began to head back to the village,
following the dusted, dirt road lying along the edge of the endless forest.
After she had left and had walked for a distance, Sesshomaru turned his head slightly
over his shoulder to glance back at the disappearing figure that so perplexed him.
Straightening, the corner of his eye caught sight of a dull, white cloth that lay neatly
folded on the contrasting green of sleek grass.
‘Such an absentminded one…’ he thought, bending down as he scooped up the towel with
his hand. His thumb ran across the cloth’s coarse surface before gently holding the fabric
to his nose.
The same scent of earthy jasmine he had smelled the night when he had kissed her… A
heavenly, perfect scent…
‘Why must you do this to me…?’ he wonde red, closing his eyes as he reminisced in the
aroma of her soft skin.
That girl, with such a capacity to love… The one who worried for him needlessly. But
oddly en ough, he didn’t mind it. It caused in him a feeling he did not quite understand,
but then again, that human, Kagome… she was difficult to understand.
She worried for him, when she should have been putting her efforts in a more sensible
area of her life. She seemed not to care for her own wellbeing, especially when it came to
him, and she acted as if she did not fear him. She loved and considered that taijiya as her
brother, though he clearly was not blood related to her.
Though he could understand her love for him. Perhaps that was why he felt angry when
she talked about him the way she did.
He couldn’t deny any longer that a small part of him desired that affection for himself.
The taijiya might be a stupid, irrational boy, but deep inside, he could see the taijiya had
every good intention. Whereas he, himself… He had none of that.
Sesshomaru looked at the thin, white cloth in his hand, before he slowly raised it to his
nose once again. The sweet scent flooded his mind, beginning to intoxicate him with
thoughts of her.
‘It is true that you are able to love greatly,’ he considered to himself in the precincts of
his mind as he disappeared from the peaceful enclave.
‘But can you ever hold this Sesshomaru as dear to yourself as him?’
~ “*†~
That night, he found himself by her home yet again, staring cautiously at her open
window. After a long while, he quietly entered her room, walking noiselessly towards the
sleeping figure underneath the covers of the futon.
Kneeling down, he examined her face more closely, noting the lock of hair that fell
across her soft, moonlit cheek. Reaching forward, he took her chin lightly, turning her
face towards him and letting the wisp of hair fall away.
Leaning forward, he kissed her gently before slowly raising his head to look at her. But
instead of moving completely away, he allowed himself to linger above her lips for a
moment, taking in that sweet scent of her skin…
At this moment, it was difficult to decipher his thoughts. It was a foreign feeling – never
had he been so unsure of what to think. Everything had come so easily to him until he
met her.
He was only sure of two things. Sesshomaru closed his eyes slowly, still breathing in her
intoxicating scent.
He knew he had allowed himself to venture far too deep in this foolish game. And now,
he knew he could not pull away from her.
No; not now.
~ “*†~
Kagome yawne d, stretching her arms above her head as the glow of morning sun poured
forth into her room. Looking casually to her bedside, she was surprised to find her towel,
lying there quietly. Just sitting in its neatly folded form, it seemed to stare her blankly in
the face.
With a shrug following a short moment of thought, she rose from her futon, wandering
her way into the kitchen to find something to eat.