InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Faces of the Highwayman ❯ Lord Sesshomaru ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inu Yasha characters of this plot.

 

Chapter 2- Lord Sesshomaru

 

Kagome was dropped off at a quaint inn with Shikon Hills. The Inn was called the `Shattered Jewel'. She stayed there the night and met the acquaintance of a Hachi. He told her about her newest charge named Sango. It seemed that Sango had gone through a many governesses in the years. She was known for her pranks as Hachi warned Kagome about checking her sheets. She only smiled at the older man. She was a governess for several young boys and her days there were never boring.

 

As she supped that night, she overheard the men of the town placing beats upon how long she was going to last with Lord Shippo and his mischievous daughter. Hachi shocked them all with he bet fifty pounds that she would last the entire month. Kagome felt gratitude towards the man as she was leaving the inn that morning. She would arrive at Fox Hill Manor at the precise appointed time. She couldn't wait to meet Sango if only to take her mind off the highwayman who plagued her dreams at night.

 

 

Lord Shippo Levean sat in his study with a cup of tea. His red hair slightly silvering but his emerald green eyes still shone brilliantly. One Lord Sesshomaru Taisho was slumped in one of the chairs with a glass of brandy. Shippo snorted as he placed his tea aside and reached for the decanter of brandy. Sesshomaru gave him a knowing look as he watched his longtime friend chug back a good portion of the brandy.

 

“When is that blasted governess going to be here?” he demanded hotly as he looked at the time. She still had ten minutes left.

 

“Where is Sango?” Sesshomaru asked. He was use to being greeted by the young woman who called him `Uncle Maru'.

 

“Where else? She's in the attics.” Shippo grinned fondly at the mention of his only child. Sesshomaru grinned.

 

“Digging for spiders I suppose?' he asked as Shippo barked out a laugh. “She won't last the night.”

 

“I will take you up on that.” Shippo said. “Ten pounds says she will last the night.” Sesshomaru looked at his friend before he nodded his head. Shippo grinned as he heard a carriage pull up the drive. “Right on time, she was cutting it close.” He stood from his desk and walked to the window. Sesshomaru remained seated. He had no desire to see the governess. He couldn't stand them as it was.

 

“Dear God!” Shippo exclaimed. “This will not do at all!”

 

“She hideous?” Sesshomaru asked with a sneer. Shippo shook his head.

 

“I would have preferred she have blotches upon her face. She's beautiful! This will not do!” he stormed from his study to the front hall. Sesshomaru had sputtered his brandy everywhere. He tried not to think about the governess, instead his thoughts trailed to his tenshi who haunted his dreams the night previously.

 

Lord Shippo came bursting into the foyer as Kagome came in. He huffed.

 

“Put all those bags upon the coach, Jaken.” Shippo demanded. The butler looked at him like he was crazy before doing as he was told. Kagome looked at the older man before her. “I am sorry, but you just won't do. I will pay you your wages and your passage fare.”

 

“And may I inquire as to why?” Kagome demanded.

 

“I will not have my home swarmed with young bucks hoping to catch a glimpse of my new governess.” Shippo replied hotly. Kagome sputtered.

 

“I beg your pardon?” she demanded.

 

“I will refund your travel expenses.”

 

“Where can I place my bonnet and gloves?” Kagome said as she removed the bonnet and patted down her curls. Shippo frowned. She refused to leave.

 

“Miss…” he began.

 

“Kagome Higurishi. I understand that I should check my sheets?” she inquired. Shippo huffed.

 

“Now you listen…”

 

“You see Lord Shippo, I have become quite attached to Hachi at the inn. He had kindly placed a fifty pound wager on that I will last the entire month. I plan to see this through if only to allow him to collect what is going to be a staggering sum.”

 

“Hachi placed fifty pounds on you?” Shippo demanded. Kagome nodded.

 

“When do I meet Lady Sango?” she asked. Shippo sighed as Jaken came back in.

 

“The carriage has been repacked, milord.” He panted.

 

“Well then unpack it!” he said. Jaken looked as if he would collapse on the floor but did as he was told. At that moment, a young lady of almost eighteen stepped down the stairs. She was dressed nicely in a yellow dress with her curls pulled upon her head.

 

“Sango!” Shippo exclaimed. “Come meet you governess Miss Kagome.” Sango smiled at her father before curtsying politely before Kagome. She curtseyed back.

 

“It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Sango.” Kagome said. Sango smiled.

 

“As I to you, Miss Higurishi.” She replied.

 

“Sango.” Shippo said. “Why don't you show Miss Higurishi to her chambers?”

 

“Is Uncle Maru still here?” Sango asked. Shippo laughed.

 

“Miss Higurishi, I would like you to meet an old acquaintance of mine, Lord Sesshomaru.” Shippo said. Kagome smiled politely but inwardly she was excited. She was finally going to meet the infamous Lord Sesshomaru.

 

“Sesshomaru!” Shippo shouted. He cursed. “That blasted fellow left. Forgive him; he doesn't take kindly to governess.”

 

“It's his own opinion.” Kagome said. Shippo grumbled more before he declared that he was going to see what was taking Jaken so long. He left the two women together as Sango motioned for Kagome to follow her.

 

 

Sesshomaru was still in the study when he heard Shippo bellow for Jaken to replace the bags upon the carriage. He had just taken another swig of brandy when he heard his tenshi's voice ring through the foyer. He sputtered the brandy everywhere. Dear God… he thought to himself as he jumped from his chair. He lurked in the shadows as he watched Shippo argue with a woman. When she removed her bonnet he knew immediately that it was the same woman he had kissed upon the moors.

 

“No…” he said to himself. There was no way his tenshi was a governess! He had not kissed a governess. He refused to believe it. True, he wanted to see her again, but he would have never guessed she was Sango's governess!

 

While Shippo gave into her demands, Sesshomaru snuck out of the house and mounted his black horse as he headed back to Taisho Hall. He needed to prepare himself for when he was to meet his tenshi again that night at dinner. He wouldn't be wearing his highwayman mask this time and he was curious as how she would react to Lord Sesshomaru Taisho.

 

 

Kagome was led up several flights of stairs to the servants' floor. Sango stopped outside an old door.

 

“Forgive the room, the others have terrible leaks and this is the best we have right now.” Sango said as she pushed open the door. Kagome walked into the room.

 

Cobwebs hung from the corners and the bed was in disarray. The pitcher and bowel where cracked and chip and dust covered everything. Kagome walked to the bed and build back the quilt revealing a green garden snake. She laughed softly.

 

“Is there anything else I should know about Miss Levean?” Kagome asked. Sango grumbled as she stomped her foot. Kagome tenderly picked up the garden snake as it wound around her wrist.

 

“I only have a month before my coming out ball. The invitations are out and it cannot be stopped. I do not need a governess!” she exclaimed. Kagome raised an eyebrow at her.

 

“You obviously do if you resort to this childish pranks, girl.” Kagome said.

 

“I am not a little girl! I am almost a grown woman.” Sango retorted.

 

“You are a child as you continue these foolish games.” Kagome said as she showed the garden snake. Sango frowned.

 

“I am sorry.” She mumbled.

 

“Now.” Kagome smiled. “Is there anything else I should be weary of?” Sango nodded and went to the pitcher and withdrew a toad and placed it in a jar she pulled from the vanity. From the dresser she pulled out two jars with spiders and Kagome cringed. She opened another drawer and a mouse pounced out. Kagome had sat upon the bed and raised her feet as the mouse scurried beneathe the bed.

 

“Miroku!” Sango squealed as she caught the mouse. She gave it a little pat as she placed it upon her shoulder.

 

“A friend?” Kagome asked and Sango sighed. Kagome immediately knew that a young man named Miroku held her charge's heart. This could be useful for stopping her pranks. “Is that all?” Sango nodded. Kagome stood up from the bed and was about to ask about Lord Sesshomaru when the wardrobe burst open. Both girls screamed as a cream colored cat shot out of the large wooden structure. It gave a distressed meowed as it rushed from the room.

 

“Kirara!” Sango exclaimed at the cat as it rushed down the hall. She had covered Miroku with her hand as she watched the cat. “I am so sorry Miss Kagome. I did not know Kirara was in there! Poor thing, who knows how long she's been in there!” Kagome laughed as she calmed her beating heart. At that moment an older woman named Kaede came panting to the door. She was caught up at the butchers and she had tried to beat Sango to the room. She led Kagome down stairs to a much more suitable room. Sango stopped by to tell her about the dress for dinner. Lord Seshomaru Taisho was to be joining them.

 

Sesshomaru stood in his chambers preparing for the evening at Shippo's. He kept telling himself that he should forget about the governess but every time he did her startling sapphire eyes reappeared in his mind's eye and he could feel her lips on his again.

 

“Fancy meeting a lady?” Draco came into the room. Sesshomaru scoffed.

 

“What makes you think that?” he asked. Draco pointed to the ground.

 

“You have ruined three neckties.” He said and Sesshomaru looked beside him. Indeed, he had. For some reason he was taking the outmost care with his appearance.

 

When he arrived, he was greeted by Shippo and a hug and peck upon the cheek from Sango. His tenshi stepped forward dressed comely in a dark blue that was a shade or two darker than her eyes.

 

“Uncle Maru!” Sango exclaimed. “I want you to meet my new governess Miss Kagome Higurishi. She didn't fall for any of my tricks. She walked into the attic room all calm and pulled back the covers on the bed where she found the snake. She even picked it up!” Sesshomaru smiled down upon Sango's bobbing head of dark curls before glancing at Miss Kagome Higurishi. The governess was smiling at Sango. Shippo barked.

 

“It seems you owe me, Sessho. I won that bet.” Sesshomaru scowled at being reminded of the bet he just lost. They proceeded to dinner with Sango still telling the story of the morning's activities.

 

“Kirara was locked in the wardrobe and she gave us quite a fright when she pounced out. I had no idea she was in there. She gave us both quite a fright, didn't she Miss Kagome?” Sango said.

 

“Indeed she did.” Kagome laughed. She studied the Lord Sesshomaru from her place across the table. It was a wonder she didn't swoon when he walked into the foyer. No man had ever made her tremble by merely being in his presence. His hair was silver in color and long. Tonight it was tied tightly at the back of his head in a low pony tail. He was dressed wonderful in a dark grey and it brought out his gold eyes. Perhaps she would have swooned if the man hadn't opened his mouth. He seemed intent of interrogating her. For every comment she made, he criticized. Shippo laughing heartily wasn't helping either.

 

“I believe Papa likes Miss Kagome well enough.” Sango said to her Uncle Maru. “He pokes fun at her enough, you know that's his way of showing he likes someone.” Kagome scowled as Shippo roared with laughter. Sesshomaru watched her with feigned indifference.

 

After dinner they retired to the salon for tea and brandy. The gentlmen talked amongst their selves as Kagome tried to keep Sango interested in the conversation. Finally the young woman yawned and Kagome made the discreet comment that she should head up to bed. Sango nodded and kissed her father on the cheek and did the same to Lord Sesshomaru.

 

“Could I interest you in a game of chess, Miss Higurishi?” Sesshomaru asked. He felt bad after criticizing her during dinner. Kagome agreed and before long both were talking as if old friends. Shippo had dozed off in a chair by the fire with an empty glass of brandy in his hand.

 

“My, Lord Sesshomaru, I do not believe I have ever met such a worthy opponent.” Kagome said as she sat back in her chair. Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow at her, his golden eyes glowing in the firelight.

 

“Indeed. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.” He replied. He felt his heart skip as she gave him a radiant smile.

 

“Then we should do it again.” Kagome said as she studied the man before her. Sesshomaru nodded. He stood as if to leave but instead he bent of Kagome, one hand braced on the back of the chair and the other on the table.

 

“I hope you don't find Sango, difficult. She is quite taken with you.” He said. Kagome gulped at his close proximity but kept her composure.

 

“Yes, I am use to pranks. My last holding had five young boys with each more devilish than the last.” She said. Sesshomaru nodded before looking at her.

 

“Then you are an incredible woman…even if you are a governess.” He said with a smirk. Kagome sputtered indignations. The man was insufferable!

 

“Perhaps I will be able to change your opinion of governess…they are all not the same.” Kagome said breathless.

 

“Indeed.” He said as he intently studied her mouth. Kagome followed his gaze and wondered if he was going to kiss her or devour her whole with his gaze. She should have been asking herself if she was going to allow it. He bent his head and Kagome found her own reaching for his as her eyelids began to flutter close…

 

“Fire in the hole!” Lord Shippo shot up in his chair. Sesshomaru stood up and stepped away from Kagome. She placed a hand on her chest to steady her beating heart. It may have looked like she was given a fright with Shippo but it was the other Lord near her that caused her distress.

 

“You're dreaming, you old coock.” Sesshomaru said.

 

“Was I?” Shippo said as he rubbed his head. “Well, I must warn Kaede about putting too much yeast in the rolls…have no idea why I would be dreaming about rolls over running the kitchens.” Kagome breathed a sigh of relief at the distraction. She was about to let Lord Sesshomaru kiss her. This is what drove her away from London and to here. She did not want another stalker or another heart break. But she had a feeling that no matter where she went, cupid's arrow followed her.