InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Is Blind ❯ Agreements ( Chapter 3 )

Sesshomaru sat in his great hall on a pile of cushions that was more for appearances than comfort. He listened with unfeigned disinterest to the whinings of the youkai before him. She was a simpering pathetic creature seeking nothing more than petty revenge. In the garden he could hear Jaken berating Rin as she sat, blissfully ignoring the lectures of the toad youkai. Sesshomaru nodded absently to the youkai before him as his thoughts drifted. Rin needed a mother, as did all the children in his palace. Not a true mother, but rather a servant who's sole function was to care for them and protect them if the need arose. He had been raised by such a servant after his mother had died. Where, though, could he find a person powerful enough to protect the children, but also worthy of his trust?

He almost smiled when he thought of Inuyasha's miko. The woman was perfect. He'd seen the way she doted on that kitsune they carted everywhere, and the way she had thanked him for not harming the boy bespoke the depth of her caring. Yes, she would make an excellent mother for the children of his palace. Her debt to him would ensure her loyalty and there was not doubt in his mind that she was powerful. He was drawn, suddenly, back to that moment, when she had laid her body across his. Her eyes filled with pain as she protected his life with her own. There was a debt there that he could hardly repay. Perhaps enslaving her was wrong. He would find her, though, and ask, not Lord to subject or youkai to human, but man to woman.

The answer firmly in mind he rose and brushed past the assembled youkai. It was easy enough for him to get out of the palace without Jaken following him. A growled warning sent every servant and lordling running as he stalked toward his gates. Sesshomaru's temper was famous and dreadful to behold. It was several days journey to the place near the dry well where he had saved the woman. He could scent her by the well, the smell similar to jasmine and the fresh mountain spring, but the smell was almost a day old. He tracked her carefully until he found a village. The smell of unwashed humans bombarded his senses and he fought to close the stench out while still clinging to her unusually clean scent.

He found her sitting beneath a tree near a field where several of the children played. A book was propped on her knees though she was not paying a great deal of attention to it. Her bow and quiver sat at her side. He began to approach and froze as she rose, bow in hand, arrow notched. The children saw the motion and stopped their game. Kagome frowned at the forest around them. Sesshomaru almost gagged. She could sense him! No wonder Naraku had to employ the reanimated dead against this woman. She frowned into the trees.

"Whoever you are, please either leave us in peace, or step forward and state your intentions."

Sesshomaru almost smiled as he stepped into a break in the trees that would reveal him to her, but not the children. "I wish to speak to you, miko, of your debt."

She sighed softly and removed the arrow, replacing it in her quiver. "It's all right, children. All is safe."

Taking her word at face value they resumed their interrupted game. Shouldering her quiver she walked a short way into the forest, her eyes never fully leaving the children.

"What can I do for you, Sesshomaru-sama?"

"To begin with, let us be clear that you owe me little if anything at all."

"You saved my life, and the life of my brother. I owe you more than I could ever hope to repay."

"Yet you saved my life, almost at the expense of your own. I was never in such danger. That is why I have come to ask you this, not order you."

"Ask me what?"

"I want you to come to my palace and be Rin's mother. You would have no other duties save to raise and educate her and the other children in the palace."

She seemed flabbergasted. "Why me?"

Kagome almost kicked herself for the question, though she did want the answer. "You are strong, miko, and you would protect them, even though they are youkai and I think…I think I can trust you."

He said the last part in a rush, as though he had to get it out before it ate him alive. Kagome nodded slowly. "I…I agree, but I will need to get my things together and explain to the others…gods what am I going to tell them?"

"The truth, miko, and nothing less."

She looked up into his startling gold eyes. She nodded slowly. "Yes, the truth."

He waited as she gathered the children and sent them home. It was nightfall when at last she returned, the sleeping kitsune in her arms and a bag over her shoulder. She gave him a weak smile. They started their walk through the woods toward his palace. She was silent for a long time. At last Sesshomaru could take it no longer.

"Why are you acting as though someone has died? You will see your companions again. If I know Inuyasha, you will see them far sooner than you believe. He will never accept that you would leave him."

"He doesn't exactly have a choice. It's not as though he claimed me, or even tried to mate me. Well, except for that one time, but that wasn't his fault."

Sesshomaru almost tripped over his own tail. "Wasn't his fault? How is almost mating you not his fault?"

"Well, it was the full moon, and he was in his heat, and so was I, and he could smell it on me. He lost control. I had a long night, sitting up, making sure he didn't sneak up on me. To be honest if it weren't for Sango, Miroku, and even Shippou here, I would probably not be a virgin right now."

She flushed at the sudden and unintended admission and Sesshomaru had to fight to hide a smile. If Inuyasha had not laid a claim to this woman then he had made a very crucial mistake.

"There are certain conditions I would like to set on your duties, miko." She looked up at him attentively and he continued. "First, if at any point you wish to leave, you may so long as you will not be endangered. I will see to it you are conducted wherever you wish to go. Second, you have full power over the children. Anything they do wrong is a reflection on you. Third, you are also their teacher. I expect them to learn to read, write, and figure properly. And finally, I want you to…to teach me about humans." Kagome's big blue eyes blinked trying to comprehend what he was asking her. "I have never met a human like you, miko, nor like your companions. Perhaps if I had I would not feel as I do toward them. As it is, I wish to better understand how some humans can be petty and cruel and others can be kind and helpful and how still others can be a little of both."

He looked at her, hoping she understood. She nodded slowly. "Very well, but I have some conditions of my own. The first is my name. It is Kagome. Please stop calling me miko."

He nodded. "And the others?"

She shrugged. "Protect me."

"Of course."

"And finally, let me help protect them. I may not be youkai, but I have destroyed my fair share of them. Do not send me to hide when there is a battle to be fought. I will not obey you."

"I think I understand that."

"Also I consider it my duty to gather the shards of the Shikon no tama. It was my fault the jewel was shattered and that evil creatures seek to use its power against innocent people."

"I respect that." He reached into his robes and pulled out the jewel shard he had taken from her brother. "Here. Consider this a symbol of my trust in you."

She took it with a smile and slipped it into a bag that she wore around her neck. Sesshomaru tried not to watch as the bag disappeared between her breasts. They walked in silence for a few moments more before she touched his only arm.

"There are two youkai up ahead."

He nodded and they continued. After a few moments he too could sense them and he marveled at her range. He drew Tokijin and she notched an arrow. They advanced slowly and he felt a smile at how silently she moved through the forest. Up ahead in a clearing he saw Jaken sitting astride his dragon sniffing the wind. Sesshomaru sheathed his sword and stepped into the open, a smile curling his lips. Jaken threw himself to the ground.

"Oh please Sesshomaru-sama, don't smile. It's only worse when you smile."

Kagome stepped out, her arrow already returned to her quiver. "It seems your meddling has finally paid off, Jaken."

He secured Kagome's bag and lifted her astride the dragon. Then he too mounted behind her. Jaken began to walk toward them, but Sesshomaru's low growl stopped him.

"Just what do you think you're doing toad?"

"I was returning with you, Sesshomaru-sama."

"You disobeyed me, Jaken. That does not go unpunished."

They leapt skyward and Kagome gasped. Her arms were full with the sleeping Shippou and she had no way to hold on so Sesshomaru wrapped his arm around her, steadying her. She watched the land drop away beneath them and laughed softly. This was better than with Inuyasha or Kirara, and certainly much more exhilarating than a modern airplane. She yawned suddenly and frowned. It was late and she'd been walking for many hours. She leaned back against Sesshomaru's chest, trying to take the view in as she felt sleep over take her.

Sesshomaru watched Kagome fall to sleep. It was strange talking to her. He'd never really talked to anyone as just a man. Always he was a Lord or a youkai, something to be feared. She had talked to him almost as though he were a friend. Certainly she had treated him as someone she could trust. He felt her shiver and wrapped his tail around her as well. She sighed and shifted, one arm still cradled the kitsune, but the other now caressed his tail. The effects were immediate. Sesshomaru bit his lip to prevent the more obvious signs of his arousal. He tried to shake her awake, but it did not work. Her fingers dug into the fur of his tail and he gasped softly. Much more of this and he would lose control. The thought of Inuyasha in a similar situation and this woman forced to guard her virtue against one who was supposed to be her friend helped restore his control. He was not his brother. He was Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, greatest of the taiyoukai. His body obeyed his orders and no one else's.