InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elsewhere ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

By: flowers

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor am I profiting from this.

“Who's got their claws

In you my friend?

Into your heart I'll beat again

Sweet like candy to my soul

Sweet you rock,

And sweet you roll”

- Dave Matthew's Band, Crash

Chapter Five

“Really?” she exclaimed choking on a mouthful of tea. This was surprising and even stranger, almost comforting. “So you've seen me all through my life growing up?” embarrassment reared its ugly head and her face twisted slightly, “Everything!?”

He let out a shower of musically laughter in a clear baritone. She almost passed out. “I have watched many humans come into this world and eventually die, girl. Why does this embarrass you?” it was his turn for a question.

“Well, but, I guess... Everything?!” she exclaimed again. His eyes were frozen like golden pools, expecting an answer. “Humans like to think that maybe some things stay private. What I do in privacy is special to me. So, I guess humans don't like for people to know the whole truth about them,” she added. Why was she answering such a simple question to someone who has lived more than five hundred years?

“Only one who could read minds would possibly know the whole truth about anyone,” he said in a monotone voice. “I do apologize. I was, in fact, carrying out a promise I made many years ago,” his eyes hardened.

“Inuyasha?” she asked in a whisper.

“Yes,” he answered almost as quietly. She could see now that petty talk was over. Her questions were boiling inside, she needed to know.

“What happened to him Sesshoumaru?” she continued with much emotion in her voice. He was pleased in the way she addressed him casually. Rarely was he ever treated like an equal. With her tonight he felt for first time in a long while like speaking as if they were on common grounds.

“He died honorably in a battle to save the exterminator's village from an attack of despicable youkai,” he turned to look deeply into her eyes at this point, “Being a stubborn whelp, he took his `mortality' for granted. If I would have been there it would not have happened,” he stopped. She could sense a slight reflection of pain in his features. This news she took willingly; at least Inuyasha died for a good cause. Reaching out to rest her hand on his arm she realized the person taking this worst was he.

“Sesshoumaru it's not your fault. If you weren't there you couldn't have done anything about it,” she said in a comforting voice holding back stinging emotions of her own.

Anger flashed in his eyes and she removed her hand. He didn't need her to tell him that. It angered him that he wore his emotions too eagerly on his sleeve with her. No matter, it wouldn't happen again. His eyes softened.

“I understand that, girl. Thank you for your concern,” he said in a condescending voice. It was her turn to be angry, she was only trying to be helpful when she herself was facing pain just as biting. But she should have known that he wouldn't accept help from anyone on a topic that caused hurt, especially a human.

“You know my name. Please use it,” she snapped. Youkai lord or no, she didn't want to be treated like a child. He smiled again to himself. She at least took the news well. He wanted to get out of this house, as comforting as it was. All this emotion filled the air too tightly and made him want to cough.

“I apologize again Kagome. Would you like to accompany this Sesshoumaru to the garden?” he asked in a self-mocking voice, she smiled again. He already knew how to manipulate her moods with just a few words, but then again, he had been spying on her as long as she'd been alive so he probably knew her well.

“I would be delighted Sesshoumaru-sama,” she replied wiping stray tears and rose to her feet as he did. He directed her toward the back of the cottage and she could see the layout fully. This house wasn't as small as she had first believed. To the right and left halls shot back exposing many rooms.

Finally the kitchen was in view and a spacious dining area. One last wing shot to the right and she demised that this must be his very personal space. The walls were decorated with many floral scenes throughout the house but this hall bore a myriad of pristine white dogs chasing through dark blue skies.

She had almost forgotten his demon form and this was a quick reminder. She held back a shudder. So much power in one body was unbelievable even to someone who had witnessed it first hand. He sensed a slight change in her and noticed she was looking down his personal corridor. Ready to see that bright red he could easily induce he decided to test it

“Would you like a personal tour of my living arrangements?” he asked. She turned almost purple trying to hide her face from him. She was very amusing, he could see why his brother craved her presence.

“No, the garden will be fine for now,” she exclaimed, did she just say for now? `Man, I really can't control her mouth anymore' she thought. It was his turn to taken aback.

She hadn't taken his remark as innocent, noted by the light purple of her face, yet she responded to it in a way he didn't expect. He bent slightly and took her scent, fresh and untouched. He shook it off, she couldn't possibly know about what she implied. `Did he just sniff me? Man, he really is a dog!' she thought to herself feeling even stranger, maybe coming over here wasn't such a good idea. Her sudden shift in scent and mood made him decide quickly to rush to the front and open a set of glass double doors.

The movement was so quick that she could barely gage it then there he was swinging the doors wide open to an exquisite garden. Where simplicity pleased him in living arrangements, this garden was an intricate display of natural colors, aromas, and exotic beauty. Complete with a small pond and beautifully cascading waterfall. If she had not known better she would have thought this was where he seduced the fairer sex into his arms. Not that he needed anything to help him along.

Romantic wasn't the word for it. Hypnotizing was more appropriate. She watched him as he took a deep breath. This place almost seemed to react to him with a breathing all its own, greeting its master.

He turned to her. “Every flowering plant I have met on my travels are housed here,” she looked up and realized that this was a huge greenhouse. Giant panes of glass scaled the ceiling. She could hear faint music coming from the farther reaches of the structure. He picked up on her thoughts instantly, “My plants seem to respond well to music. When I can not have live sound I use something electronic.” She nodded trying to pick out the, tune it was really familiar.

She let her thoughts trail as the music flooded her ears. She turned to look at him as he adjusted a small dial situated on the wall of his cottage then sat by the quaint pond.

“Do you bring chicks in here for a reason?” she said before she could stop herself. His reaction was a little awkward and she watched as he rose to his feet to turn the music almost completely off.

“You take me for a petty human,” he exclaimed with disdain in his eyes. This time she could tell he meant it. She certainly didn't want to offend him.

“This place is just so beautiful especially at night and… come on now… this music. Do you understand those lyrics at all?” she admonished him. He had an appalled look on his face. She was much more forward than he took her for, after all, she had spent an enormous amount of time with his brother and the lecher of a monk. His face softened again.

“Yes I understand the speech. I speak and write in fluently in seven languages. I play music for my plants and let the children choose at times. I find this music soothing and the lyrics well written for a human song,” he answered then stood to peer down at her. This night had as many twists and turns as a raging river.

He was ready for some open and relaxing conversation and brought her here only to calm the mood. He wanted to know her thoughts and see her smile as well as answer her questions to the best of his ability. She had accused him of seducing her and been insinuating almost all at once. He could say that truly he didn't know what would come out of her mouth next. Tedious and entertaining all at the same time, he couldn't remember feeling like this for many centuries.

Feeling really stupid and keeping her eyes to the ground she felt an apology coming on. “I'm really sorry, I guess my mind is racing around and I really don't know how to act...” she met his eyes and saw that he thought the entire situation amusing.

“Please join me,” he motioned to a typical western style garden table and chairs crafted with an expensive design of glass and thick wire. She sat opposite him. “Now with the formalities tossed aside and in light of recent developments, I think we can speak freely to each other,” his golden eyes shown in the darkness. She felt the uncomfortable monster creeping up again.

“How do you mean?” she asked bluntly, trying not to act as foolish as she was feeling. She had never felt so exposed and ridiculous in front of someone before. He seemed to be taking all of this in stride. He sat pristinely and gazed at her with amusement, she could feel herself getting slightly annoyed.

“You may go first,” he stated coolly.

“Go first?” she asked awkwardly.

“Ask me anything you desire,” he replied.

She found this ethereal. Wasn't there questions she had for him? No, she took it that he meant conversational questions. What does she really want to know about him?

“Okay then,” she studied him, “what do your markings mean?” She offhandedly pondered this on occasion. Especially after a chance meeting between him and Inuyasha. She had never asked Inuyasha anything about him, not wanting to spoil her peace of mind. He watched her, thinking for a moment and answered.

“The hash marks are an InuYoukai trait. The half-moon is symbol of status that is passed along to heirs and mates of the western lands,” he replied. She seemed to take the information and process it then nodded, happy enough with his explanation.

“Now for me,” he announced with a slight glint in his eyes. He would exact questions on her that his station never permitted with any other humans or females in fact. Now that he felt this could be toe to toe, as his nature, he would show no mercy. She almost looked fearful.

“Alright, fire away,” inquisitiveness got the best of her.

“Why do females find it so arousing when I eat or drink?”

The question hit Kagome like a ton of bricks. She sat with her mouth gaping open. What would she say? He continued.

“I, at first, thought it was my all around appearance. But I found my person becomes almost irresistible with this mundane act. I have pondered this for quite some time and can not put my finger on it,” he stated flatly.

“Well, now…” she was very surprised he would ask her questions like this without knowing the answer. He must have some hidden agenda. She didn't like that thought and used the annoyance it brought to answer the question with less embarrassment.

“I think a simple act like eating or drinking makes you more… human. Or more real, real is a better word. You are usually very stoic and distant. Drinking a cup of tea makes you seem more attainable I guess,” she was pleased with her answer. The look on his face was very slight, as usual, and was almost akin to an Inuyasha smirk. Well couldn't he be full of himself at times?

“So you find me more attainable then?”

Good god, she completely forgot about the tea drinking earlier. Now she was definitely not pleased with her answer. She had to think of something before his opinion of her sank even deeper into the gutter.

“Oh no! For me, seeing you like that was very… not like you. It's strange to see you doing anything other than antagonizing Inuyasha, trying to kill me, or walking away. It's a hard thing to explain,” now she was pleased with her answer.

“That still doesn't answer my question,” he looked at her saw that she was at a loss so he continued with his own assumptions. “So in essence, I must first be found attractive in a more stoic state to bring this heightened sense of attraction,” her face turned a deep purple.

“Okay, I admit that you are attractive. I'm sure you get that a lot. I can't tell what you're thinking and that adds to it,” she was not enjoying this at all, what was he trying to get at. Was he teasing her? After a quick glance at his smirk she realized that he was. “Look, I don't know what you're trying to prove but it's getting late,” she started to stand.

“My apologies Kagome. These are real questions that I leave unanswered as my station doesn't permit me to ask them. I find you somewhat on an equal level. Forgive me for offending you so. This Sesshoumaru is not well versed on human etiquette for these situations.” He rose to stand and ushered her toward the doors. “Please, I see that we have spent much time talking and you must be famished. I would like to offer you a meal.”

She thought hard for a second. Maybe he was telling the truth. She couldn't imagine going on for centuries with no one to confide in, but then again he was Sesshoumaru.

She instantly felt sorry for him and she didn't want to show it. Pity might send him over the top; she came close to angering him a few times already. She looked in his eyes and he looked as he always had before, slightly softer. She smiled at him.

“Don't apologize, I'm the one that should be sorry. Questions are fine I just didn't expect for you to be the one asking them,” she dropped her eyes not sure if she should add more but the thought of such a lonely life plagued her. “You can continue to ask me anything as long as it's not super personal. Trusting me enough to ask is a great honor,” She looked at him again and as usual he was a blank.

“It is not a matter of trust but of honor. You have survived many battles and should think of yourself with a higher standard. There is not one in my company that holds such an honorable status and there has not been for many centuries,” he looked through her in remembrance. “I feel like I can speak with you as a peer of sorts and I would like to hear opinions. Your point of view,” he turned his gaze back to her now.

“Do not forget, Higurashi Kagome, I have observed you for many years. Youkai do not understand petty human emotions like embarrassment.” He opened the door and turned his head, “Remember that.” She took the cue and walked inside.