InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ A New Light ( Chapter 21 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 279 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 279 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
A New Light
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Nestled between two of her favorite people Kagome was the picture of comfort. She hadn’t rested so well in weeks. Sighing contently she rolled onto her side unconsciously pulling the sleeping form of Shippou more snugly against her. Already larger than he had been four years ago, the kit had gone through a tremendous growth spurt in these past few weeks and she knew that very soon, he would no longer be able to share a bed with Rin or herself. But right now, as she drifted on the paper thin line between sleep and consciousness she would not worry about such things. She would simply enjoy a level of peace she had not felt in quite some time.
Tap, tap, tap!
The miko moaned quietly, hoping that the sound was merely a dream and that she could sleep for just a bit longer.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
The sound was a bit more insistent this time, and Kagome knew, unfortunately, that it was time to get up. “Just a moment!” she answered as she sat up and began to rub the vestiges of sleep from her eyes. Pulling herself to her feet, she ran a hand through her hair, attempting to make herself reasonably presentable before she went to the door. Smoothing her clothes as best she could to rid them of wrinkles, Kagome went to the door and flipped the straw panel aside.
Outside stood a petite older woman with a medium sized basket in her arms. She had a gentle but lightly creased, face the faint lines about her brow and along the sides of her mouth doing little to disguise the obvious beauty she had possessed in her youth. Her long salt and pepper hair was partially hidden beneath a well worn scarf. Her matronly form was clothed in an old green and white kimono which was clean but slightly tattered, the bottom half covered by a blue mo (apron) which appeared fairly new.
Taking in the young miko’s haggard appearance, the woman’s eyes widened slightly. Quickly, she offered an apologetic bow. “Forgive me Kagome-sama! You were still sleeping!”
It wasn’t a question, but Kagome answered anyway. “No… well yes I was, but its okay. It was time that I get up anyway. What can I do for you?”
Still looking fairly repentant, the woman hesitantly met the miko’s eyes. “Forgive me,” she said again, “But you treated my husband a few weeks ago. He had an accident while out hunting and injured his left arm. The wound had been healing fairly well, but he recently injured it again.” The woman sighed heavily. “He has always been a stubborn man, and did not follow your orders. I can re-wrap the wound for him, but we have used up the salve you gave us the last time.”
A thoughtful frown creased Kagome’s brow. “Oh, you mean the disinfectant.” she said after a moment.
“Yes!” the woman agreed brightly. “I believe that is what you called it before.”
Kagome smiled reassuringly. “I made some more up just yesterday, hang on a moment.” The woman watched as she ducked back inside before returning a short time later with a jar resting in her palm. “You don’t need to use very much.” she instructed, “Just make sure to clean the wound and change the bandages at least once a day. You only need to use just enough salve to cover the wound.”
The woman nodded her understanding. “Thank you Kagome-sama.” she said, but looked slightly awkward.
“Oh!” Kagome cried as understanding dawned. She took the basket from the woman before handing her the salve. “Do you need help carrying this back? Shippou’s still asleep but I‘m sure he wouldn‘t mind…”
“No.” the woman cut her off. “It is yours.”
Kagome looked into the basket and noticed that it contained several pieces of fresh fruit; a small sack of what she assumed was rice, and a bundle of dried meat. “Oh…” she began “No, you don’t have to…”
“Please.” the woman cut her off again. “My husband is a very proud man. He would be very upset if you did not accept such a small offering. If you do not wish to accept it as payment, then simply consider it a small gesture of our appreciation.”
Kagome relented with a small sigh. “Thank you…” she trailed off unable to remember the woman’s name, and too embarrassed to ask.
“Hoshiko.” the woman filled in, sensing the girl’s unease.
Kagome smiled. “Thank you Hoshiko-san.
The woman waved her off. “No, thank you Kagome-sama.” Then she straitened and gave Kagome a somber look. “We know you have sacrificed much to remain here with us. Since Kaede-sama…” she trailed off sadly, her eyes instantly falling down to the small jar in her hands. “We are fortunate to have you.” she said after a long uncomfortable moment. Then she shook her head slightly as if pushing unwanted thoughts from her mind. She dispelled the discomfort of the moment by bringing a bright smile to her face and saying, “At any rate, for future reference please do not think to refuse any gifts or payments we may wish to offer you. It is very little in comparison to what you have done for us.”
Returning her smile, Kagome inclined her head. “Alright, Hoshiko-san.”
The woman bowed reverently. “Thank you again. Good day to you Kagome-sama.”
“Good day.” Kagome replied. She watched as the woman turn and began to walk away before she went back into the hut.
‘Well, I guess I may as well start breakfast.’ she thought as she settled down near the fire-pit. Her attention was drawn when she saw movement from the corner of her eyes. “Hi Rin.” she called quietly so as not to disturb Shippou, “I didn’t wake you did I?”
The girl stretched her arms over her head before brushing her sleep mussed hair away from her face. “No.” she yawned behind her hand. “I usually wake up pretty early any way.” She rose from the futon before coming over to sit next to the miko. “May I?” she asked eying one of the large peaches in Kagome’s basket.
“Of course.” said Kagome as she handed her a piece of fruit.
“I was going to make some rice, but I need to go and get some water.” Kagome said as Rin examined the peach she had given her. She seemed to be looking the fruit over with more than the necessary amount of interest, and Kagome wondered what she was thinking about.
“Is something wrong Rin?”
The girl gave her an odd look. “You got out of bed last night.” she stated quietly.
“Oh, yeah. I’m sorry, I couldn‘t sleep. You weren’t afraid were you? I was only outside.”
“At first I was, but then I realized that Lord Sesshoumaru was with you so…”
Kagome frowned, “How did you know that?” She didn’t think they had been talking very loudly.
Rin looked away from her and there was a trace of discomfort in the ways she was holding herself. Kagome was beginning to feel nervous. She frantically searched her memory trying to remember if she or the demon lord had said something the girl should not have heard. When she came up with nothing she asked, “What is it?”
Rin sighed. “This may sound kinda funny, but I… I can feel him.”
Surprised by her answer, and not wanting to assume anything the miko asked. “What do you mean?”
The girl sat the peach in her lap as she searched her mind for the right words. “The first time I noticed it was about almost a year ago, but whenever Lord Sesshoumaru is near, I get this weird feeling. It kinda feels like a cold breeze, and it makes my skin feel… funny. I get a similar feeling around Shippou and Inuyasha too, but its not as strong.”
Kagome’s eyes widened as understanding washed over her. “Rin…” she breathed quietly. “I-I think you can sense demonic auras.”
The girl’s expression brightened instantly. ‘Is that what that weird feeling is?’ she wondered in amazement. “So, you mean I might… I might be a miko… like you and Lady Kaede?”
But Kagome just stared into space, her mind apparently lost in thought. “I‘ll be right back!” she said suddenly. She went to the back room where there was a small collection of bows and several arrow filled quivers. She grabbed one of the smaller bows along with a small partially filled quiver. Quickly heading back to the other room she told the girl “Come with me.”
Rin was on her feet in an instant, and followed the miko outside. They walked for several moments until they were near the outskirts of the village. Sighting a suitably large tree, Kagome stopped and turned toward Rin. “Here.” she said as she offered her the bow and arrows. She ignored the strange look the girl was giving her and helped her situate the quiver on her back. She then instructed her how to stand, and how to hold the bow. She helped her position an arrow against the string before standing back to watch. “Shoot it.” she instructed evenly.
Feeling slightly awkward and a little nervous, the girl did as she was told. The arrow flew forward, missing the tree by no small margin. Rin sighed quietly thinking that she had disappointed her mentor. ‘I’m sorry Lady Kagome.’ she was going to say, but the miko’s voice gave her pause.
“Again.” Kagome told her as she moved to the girl’s side. “Don’t worry so much about hitting the tree. I know you’ve never done this before. I’m not worried about your aim; I’m looking for something else.”
Not wanting to question her, Rin simply nodded and pulled another arrow from the quiver. Kagome narrowed her eyes watching the girl’s uneasy movements as she positioned the projectile against the taut string of her bow. She could tell the movements were unnatural for her, but the child was clearly doing her best. She pulled back on the bowstring, her eyes focused on the tree ahead of her. Her face was the picture of concentration as Rin released the arrow. Kagome watched with interest as the thin wooden projectile whipped through the air. A quiet gasp escaped the miko’s lips. ‘I don’t believe it!’ she thought, her eyes wide with surprise. It was only very slight, but she was pretty sure of what she’d seen. Had she not been specifically looking for it, she would have missed it altogether.
With a quiet ‘thunk’ the arrow plunged into the tree trunk, and Rin squealed with excitement. Though the arrow landed no where near where she had intended, it had at least hit the tree.
“I did it!!” the girl cried a she leaped excitedly into the air. “Did you see that Lady Kagome?! I hit the tree!”
But the miko was only listening with half an ear as she mentally replayed the arrows flight over and over in her head. Though she was reasonably certain as to what she saw, she did not want to leave any room for doubt. The idea that Rin might possess miko powers was extremely exciting to her, and even though she could barely stop herself from vibrating with anticipation, she did not want to get ahead of herself. “Very good.” she said, somehow managing to keep much of her excitement from her voice. “Let’s do one more, but this time think of the tree as being something… threatening or evil.” When Rin scrunched her little face up in confusion Kagome searched her brain for better instructions. It was kinda difficult to think of what she could say. The girl held no aversion toward demons. Her favorite person in the world was a demon, and she even loved Jaken, though the miko could scarcely imagine why. Coming up with nothing she finally said, “Just humor me. Pretend the tree is evil, and that only your arrow can stop it.”
The girl gave a dubious nod and loaded another arrow. “I’ll do my best.” she said quietly as she attempted to dispel images of Bokuseno, the kindly old tree demon from her mind. ‘The tree is evil, the tree is evil…’ she chanted mentally while pulling the arrow back against the bowstring. ‘Evil!’ she thought one last time as she relaxed her fingers, and released the arrow.
“Yes!” she heard Kagome scream as the arrow whizzed through the air. She did not understand the miko’s excitement as the arrow only grazed the tree, dislodging a few pieces of bark before landing on the ground. “I’m sure I saw it that time!” the miko continued, completely oblivious to her charge’s disappointment.
Her brows furrowed in confusion the girl asked, “What, Lady Kagome…? What did you see?”
Kagome smiled down on her, the image of the last shot still playing through her mind. Wrapped around the thin wooden projectile there had been a faint pink glow. It had been much like her own first few attempts at archery, and Kagome just knew that it would only get stronger with age and practice. “You have spiritual powers! Just like mine.”
Rin’s eyes widened, a bright smile finding her lips. “Really?” she whispered breathlessly, her voice colored with awe.
“Really!” Kagome assured as she wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder to lead her back to the hut. As excited as she was about this newest discovery, a tiny hint of worry lingered at the back of her mind. She wondered how Sesshoumaru would take such news. Would he be displeased?
‘Oh well,’ she told herself, ‘I probably won’t have to tell him for some time yet. He was just here last night. It’ll probably be weeks before I see him again.’
_____________________________________________________ ___________________
Later that day…
___________________________________________________________ _____________
Golden hues clashed with chestnut brown in an intense battle of wills. With a confidence she did not truly possess in this moment, Kagome held the demon lord’s gaze without wavering. Inside however, she was trembling like a wet kitten. What had she done??!! She had walked right into his trap! ‘M-maybe he doesn’t see it!’ she thought frantically, but she knew she was only fooling herself. She had had scant few choices, and now her very life hung in the balance.
A soft breeze ruffled the straw panel door making it clatter lightly against the wooden frame of the entryway, but neither she nor the demon lord looked away. In spite of adequate circulation in the room, Kagome was feeling more and more flushed by the second. Intently watching for any signs of benevolence, the miko’s hopes were dashed when a tiny smirk formed on Sesshoumaru’s lips. Her heart began to race. ‘He does see it! He does!! I KNEW it!!!’ But there was nothing she could do about it now; nothing but sit back and await the inevitable. This was going to hurt!
The woman glared at him with an intensity that would have meant a swift painful death had she been anyone else. But he was not a fool. The bravado she displayed was nothing more than an insubstantial veil of deceit which concealed nothing from his knowing gaze.
Alone together with the miko inside the quiet little hut, the daiyoukai savored his impending triumph. As if to move, he deliberately flexed the muscles of his right arm. The miko cracked. Before she could prevent it, her right eye twitched, and a mild shudder wracked her small form.
“Hn.” he murmured immodestly, his smirk threatening to spread.
If nothing else, Sesshoumaru had to admire her willful nature, for even though fear and anxiety rolled off her in thick, succulent waves, she dared not look away. Certain that he had her attention; he allowed his nostrils to flare ever so slightly as he drew in the scent of her trepidation. He savored it, wrapping it around him, and rolling it on his tongue like fine wine.
She was doomed and she knew it.
He was as a predator, poised to go in for the kill. But he would not do so right away. No. He would take his time. He wanted nothing more than to draw it out for as long as possible; for there, beneath the girl’s fear, beneath the anxiety and trepidation was something else. It was only slight, but his sharp senses could not be deceived.
Exhilaration.
He could practically feel it rolling off her skin. It was there, hiding beneath everything else; a tiny morsel of pleasure which teetered on the dangerous, razor-sharp edge of eroticism. Her fate was sealed and yet she welcomed it; probably just as much as he.
He had her right where he wanted her, Kagome realized as his small smirk spread into a triumphant grin.
She was going down and they both knew it.
Still, she would do so with as much honor as she could muster, even though she lay exposed to his leering gaze.
Without warning, his eyes traveled south. Kagome felt heat rush to her cheeks as he looked down between them, the evidence of her folly on clear display. His golden tones rested there for only a moment before his gaze ensnared her again. He was doing this on purpose! He was drawing it out, making her twist in the wind for his own evil pleasure!
‘Jerk!’
Slowly licking her dry lips, the miko decided she’d had enough torture.
“Just do it already.” she whispered darkly.
His smug little grin turned predatory as the sharp tip of a white fang peeked from between his lips.
“As you wish miko.”
His hand reached forward; his movements so slow, so painfully measured that Kagome thought she would explode in the wait. She wanted to look; wanted to watch the movements that would end it all, but she dared not look away from those eyes. Tipped with dangerous claws, his fingers wandered ever closer. Kagome bit her lip, her body stiffening with anticipation.
This was it.
Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers made contact with the small circular, umm… thingy. Then, with a series of deft movements, it was all over. A heavy pant rushed from the miko’s lungs. She watched helplessly as his lips began to move.
“King me.” Sesshoumaru declared haughtily, the infuriating smirk remaining on his lips.
“Darn!!! I should have known my winning streak couldn’t last!” the miko whined resentfully as she placed a black little checker piece atop the one Sesshoumaru had just moved.
“Indeed.” he replied smoothly, unusually content with the world. Sesshoumaru was beginning to realize that the miko seemed to possess a vaguely unsettling ability to coax him into doing things that he normally would not even consider. Though this development was somewhat discomforting, he found that he did not regret his decision to engage her in this “checkers.”
“Hey Sesshoumaru, would you like to play a game with me?” she had asked batting her eyes girlishly. When he had simply raised a brow in response, she had proceeded to pour it on. “Please?!” she had pressed in a way that she may have thought was charming.
“This Sesshoumaru does not play.” he had replied, mildly disgusted by the notion.
“C’mon, I think you’ll like it. It’s a game of conquest and strategy.” she had sang, a bright smile tilting her lips.
“No.”
Feigning defeat, the miko had moaned quietly. “Fine be that way. You probably wouldn’t be good at it any way.” He’d glared at her menacingly, but the miko was not deterred. With a tiny smirk on her lips she’d explained, “The rules are fairly simple but…” she trailed off giving him an appraising look. “Nah!” she’d finished turning away from him almost dismissively.
“Miko.” he warned, but she proceeded as if he had not spoken at all.
“Maybe Inuyasha will stop by today. He’ll play with me. He already knows the rules and he’s pretty good. He’d probably be a better challenge for me anyway.”
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. He could see the miko peering at him through thick dark lashes and the slight tilt of her lips. He knew she was only baiting him, but the idea that the hanyou would be better than he at something, even this ridiculous “checkers” was not something he could accept. And so with a level of reluctance he had accepted her proposal.
The rules were simple indeed, and he easily caught on. For reasons he still could not identify, he had decided to lull the miko into a false sense of security. The daiyoukai threw the first match. Allowing her to believe it was a close game; he threw the second one as well. He’d watched with an air of utter disdain as the girl leaped to her feet to engage in a ridiculous gyration in celebration of her victory. Her confidence set on high, the miko had challenged him to a third game. The trap was set. He had felt much like one who had fattened up his prey only to lead it to the slaughter. It was not a feeling he was familiar with, but he found that he liked it just the same.
This time, she would be shown no mercy. He had annihilated her rather quickly, cornering her off again and again, before finally setting her up for the dreaded “triple-jump.” She never saw it coming.
Kagome smiled. Though he had destroyed her this last game, she had actually had quite a bit of fun. She hadn’t even been sure she would be able to convince him to play with her, but to her surprise, he was far more susceptible to goading than she would have believed. Kagome looked down at the board. It was all over, there were no moves she could make now. He’d get her no matter what she did. She sighed quietly. She had wanted to put off the impending conversation for as long as she could, but she knew that now was probably the best time to fess up.
“Sesshoumaru,” she began carefully, vaguely hoping that his victory had left him in a reasonably good mood. Rin, Shippou and Ah-Un were out goofing off, but she knew the children would be back soon and ready for dinner. She wanted to get this off her chest before they returned. “Today I discovered something… about Rin.” Attempting to gage his response, the miko came up short when he merely raised a brow.
“Go on.” he said after a moment.
Deciding that there was really no easy way to tell him, she just went for the direct approach. “She umm… she has miko powers.”
The demon lord stared at her.
Kagome stared back at him. Though he had not said a word, she felt as if he were waiting for her to elaborate. Feeling a bit nervous now she continued, “I think she can sense demonic auras, and today she shot a purification arrow into a tree. I told her that I could start training her, but I didn‘t want to umm… I mean if you don‘t want her to…. I mean…”
Sesshoumaru listened to the girl’s flustered ramblings with mild amusement. Clearly she thought he would be upset by this news, though why he could not begin to imagine. “As long as it is agreeable between Rin and yourself, you may do as you please.” he finally said.
The miko’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open soundlessly. “You mean… you mean you don’t have a problem with it?”
An elegant brow rose again. “Should I?”
“N-no! I just… I just… Miko’s and demons don’t typically get along. There are a few exceptions, but I didn’t think you’d…”
“It is of no consequence.” he cut her off.
Kagome stared at him. He was such an enigmatic person. Any time she made the faintest of predictions as to what he might say or do, he would do something completely different. Before she could stop it, the question of her mind spilled from her lips. “Why?”
The daiyoukai looked away from her toward the door, but she could tell that it was not the straw panel that held his attention. “Because she is still Rin.” he said after a short pause.
Kagome’s breath caught in her throat, his response a complete surprise to her. There was something so incredibly endearing about what he had just said. ‘It is of no consequence… because she is still Rin.’
It was so very true, but she had not expected him to be so… understanding; his feelings to be so unconditional. It forced her to look at him in an entirely new light. She had suspected that there was more to him than one would initially believe, but this was far beyond anything she could have imagined.
Just as she thought to respond, a familiar brush of youki tingled against her skin. She looked to the door just in time to see the straw panel flip open revealing a scowling Inuyasha. He didn’t even bother looking at her as he entered the room, his attention instantly drawn elsewhere.
“What the hell are you doing here, Sesshoumaru?
__________________________________________________________ ______________
A New Light
_________________________________________________________________ _______
Nestled between two of her favorite people Kagome was the picture of comfort. She hadn’t rested so well in weeks. Sighing contently she rolled onto her side unconsciously pulling the sleeping form of Shippou more snugly against her. Already larger than he had been four years ago, the kit had gone through a tremendous growth spurt in these past few weeks and she knew that very soon, he would no longer be able to share a bed with Rin or herself. But right now, as she drifted on the paper thin line between sleep and consciousness she would not worry about such things. She would simply enjoy a level of peace she had not felt in quite some time.
Tap, tap, tap!
The miko moaned quietly, hoping that the sound was merely a dream and that she could sleep for just a bit longer.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
The sound was a bit more insistent this time, and Kagome knew, unfortunately, that it was time to get up. “Just a moment!” she answered as she sat up and began to rub the vestiges of sleep from her eyes. Pulling herself to her feet, she ran a hand through her hair, attempting to make herself reasonably presentable before she went to the door. Smoothing her clothes as best she could to rid them of wrinkles, Kagome went to the door and flipped the straw panel aside.
Outside stood a petite older woman with a medium sized basket in her arms. She had a gentle but lightly creased, face the faint lines about her brow and along the sides of her mouth doing little to disguise the obvious beauty she had possessed in her youth. Her long salt and pepper hair was partially hidden beneath a well worn scarf. Her matronly form was clothed in an old green and white kimono which was clean but slightly tattered, the bottom half covered by a blue mo (apron) which appeared fairly new.
Taking in the young miko’s haggard appearance, the woman’s eyes widened slightly. Quickly, she offered an apologetic bow. “Forgive me Kagome-sama! You were still sleeping!”
It wasn’t a question, but Kagome answered anyway. “No… well yes I was, but its okay. It was time that I get up anyway. What can I do for you?”
Still looking fairly repentant, the woman hesitantly met the miko’s eyes. “Forgive me,” she said again, “But you treated my husband a few weeks ago. He had an accident while out hunting and injured his left arm. The wound had been healing fairly well, but he recently injured it again.” The woman sighed heavily. “He has always been a stubborn man, and did not follow your orders. I can re-wrap the wound for him, but we have used up the salve you gave us the last time.”
A thoughtful frown creased Kagome’s brow. “Oh, you mean the disinfectant.” she said after a moment.
“Yes!” the woman agreed brightly. “I believe that is what you called it before.”
Kagome smiled reassuringly. “I made some more up just yesterday, hang on a moment.” The woman watched as she ducked back inside before returning a short time later with a jar resting in her palm. “You don’t need to use very much.” she instructed, “Just make sure to clean the wound and change the bandages at least once a day. You only need to use just enough salve to cover the wound.”
The woman nodded her understanding. “Thank you Kagome-sama.” she said, but looked slightly awkward.
“Oh!” Kagome cried as understanding dawned. She took the basket from the woman before handing her the salve. “Do you need help carrying this back? Shippou’s still asleep but I‘m sure he wouldn‘t mind…”
“No.” the woman cut her off. “It is yours.”
Kagome looked into the basket and noticed that it contained several pieces of fresh fruit; a small sack of what she assumed was rice, and a bundle of dried meat. “Oh…” she began “No, you don’t have to…”
“Please.” the woman cut her off again. “My husband is a very proud man. He would be very upset if you did not accept such a small offering. If you do not wish to accept it as payment, then simply consider it a small gesture of our appreciation.”
Kagome relented with a small sigh. “Thank you…” she trailed off unable to remember the woman’s name, and too embarrassed to ask.
“Hoshiko.” the woman filled in, sensing the girl’s unease.
Kagome smiled. “Thank you Hoshiko-san.
The woman waved her off. “No, thank you Kagome-sama.” Then she straitened and gave Kagome a somber look. “We know you have sacrificed much to remain here with us. Since Kaede-sama…” she trailed off sadly, her eyes instantly falling down to the small jar in her hands. “We are fortunate to have you.” she said after a long uncomfortable moment. Then she shook her head slightly as if pushing unwanted thoughts from her mind. She dispelled the discomfort of the moment by bringing a bright smile to her face and saying, “At any rate, for future reference please do not think to refuse any gifts or payments we may wish to offer you. It is very little in comparison to what you have done for us.”
Returning her smile, Kagome inclined her head. “Alright, Hoshiko-san.”
The woman bowed reverently. “Thank you again. Good day to you Kagome-sama.”
“Good day.” Kagome replied. She watched as the woman turn and began to walk away before she went back into the hut.
‘Well, I guess I may as well start breakfast.’ she thought as she settled down near the fire-pit. Her attention was drawn when she saw movement from the corner of her eyes. “Hi Rin.” she called quietly so as not to disturb Shippou, “I didn’t wake you did I?”
The girl stretched her arms over her head before brushing her sleep mussed hair away from her face. “No.” she yawned behind her hand. “I usually wake up pretty early any way.” She rose from the futon before coming over to sit next to the miko. “May I?” she asked eying one of the large peaches in Kagome’s basket.
“Of course.” said Kagome as she handed her a piece of fruit.
“I was going to make some rice, but I need to go and get some water.” Kagome said as Rin examined the peach she had given her. She seemed to be looking the fruit over with more than the necessary amount of interest, and Kagome wondered what she was thinking about.
“Is something wrong Rin?”
The girl gave her an odd look. “You got out of bed last night.” she stated quietly.
“Oh, yeah. I’m sorry, I couldn‘t sleep. You weren’t afraid were you? I was only outside.”
“At first I was, but then I realized that Lord Sesshoumaru was with you so…”
Kagome frowned, “How did you know that?” She didn’t think they had been talking very loudly.
Rin looked away from her and there was a trace of discomfort in the ways she was holding herself. Kagome was beginning to feel nervous. She frantically searched her memory trying to remember if she or the demon lord had said something the girl should not have heard. When she came up with nothing she asked, “What is it?”
Rin sighed. “This may sound kinda funny, but I… I can feel him.”
Surprised by her answer, and not wanting to assume anything the miko asked. “What do you mean?”
The girl sat the peach in her lap as she searched her mind for the right words. “The first time I noticed it was about almost a year ago, but whenever Lord Sesshoumaru is near, I get this weird feeling. It kinda feels like a cold breeze, and it makes my skin feel… funny. I get a similar feeling around Shippou and Inuyasha too, but its not as strong.”
Kagome’s eyes widened as understanding washed over her. “Rin…” she breathed quietly. “I-I think you can sense demonic auras.”
The girl’s expression brightened instantly. ‘Is that what that weird feeling is?’ she wondered in amazement. “So, you mean I might… I might be a miko… like you and Lady Kaede?”
But Kagome just stared into space, her mind apparently lost in thought. “I‘ll be right back!” she said suddenly. She went to the back room where there was a small collection of bows and several arrow filled quivers. She grabbed one of the smaller bows along with a small partially filled quiver. Quickly heading back to the other room she told the girl “Come with me.”
Rin was on her feet in an instant, and followed the miko outside. They walked for several moments until they were near the outskirts of the village. Sighting a suitably large tree, Kagome stopped and turned toward Rin. “Here.” she said as she offered her the bow and arrows. She ignored the strange look the girl was giving her and helped her situate the quiver on her back. She then instructed her how to stand, and how to hold the bow. She helped her position an arrow against the string before standing back to watch. “Shoot it.” she instructed evenly.
Feeling slightly awkward and a little nervous, the girl did as she was told. The arrow flew forward, missing the tree by no small margin. Rin sighed quietly thinking that she had disappointed her mentor. ‘I’m sorry Lady Kagome.’ she was going to say, but the miko’s voice gave her pause.
“Again.” Kagome told her as she moved to the girl’s side. “Don’t worry so much about hitting the tree. I know you’ve never done this before. I’m not worried about your aim; I’m looking for something else.”
Not wanting to question her, Rin simply nodded and pulled another arrow from the quiver. Kagome narrowed her eyes watching the girl’s uneasy movements as she positioned the projectile against the taut string of her bow. She could tell the movements were unnatural for her, but the child was clearly doing her best. She pulled back on the bowstring, her eyes focused on the tree ahead of her. Her face was the picture of concentration as Rin released the arrow. Kagome watched with interest as the thin wooden projectile whipped through the air. A quiet gasp escaped the miko’s lips. ‘I don’t believe it!’ she thought, her eyes wide with surprise. It was only very slight, but she was pretty sure of what she’d seen. Had she not been specifically looking for it, she would have missed it altogether.
With a quiet ‘thunk’ the arrow plunged into the tree trunk, and Rin squealed with excitement. Though the arrow landed no where near where she had intended, it had at least hit the tree.
“I did it!!” the girl cried a she leaped excitedly into the air. “Did you see that Lady Kagome?! I hit the tree!”
But the miko was only listening with half an ear as she mentally replayed the arrows flight over and over in her head. Though she was reasonably certain as to what she saw, she did not want to leave any room for doubt. The idea that Rin might possess miko powers was extremely exciting to her, and even though she could barely stop herself from vibrating with anticipation, she did not want to get ahead of herself. “Very good.” she said, somehow managing to keep much of her excitement from her voice. “Let’s do one more, but this time think of the tree as being something… threatening or evil.” When Rin scrunched her little face up in confusion Kagome searched her brain for better instructions. It was kinda difficult to think of what she could say. The girl held no aversion toward demons. Her favorite person in the world was a demon, and she even loved Jaken, though the miko could scarcely imagine why. Coming up with nothing she finally said, “Just humor me. Pretend the tree is evil, and that only your arrow can stop it.”
The girl gave a dubious nod and loaded another arrow. “I’ll do my best.” she said quietly as she attempted to dispel images of Bokuseno, the kindly old tree demon from her mind. ‘The tree is evil, the tree is evil…’ she chanted mentally while pulling the arrow back against the bowstring. ‘Evil!’ she thought one last time as she relaxed her fingers, and released the arrow.
“Yes!” she heard Kagome scream as the arrow whizzed through the air. She did not understand the miko’s excitement as the arrow only grazed the tree, dislodging a few pieces of bark before landing on the ground. “I’m sure I saw it that time!” the miko continued, completely oblivious to her charge’s disappointment.
Her brows furrowed in confusion the girl asked, “What, Lady Kagome…? What did you see?”
Kagome smiled down on her, the image of the last shot still playing through her mind. Wrapped around the thin wooden projectile there had been a faint pink glow. It had been much like her own first few attempts at archery, and Kagome just knew that it would only get stronger with age and practice. “You have spiritual powers! Just like mine.”
Rin’s eyes widened, a bright smile finding her lips. “Really?” she whispered breathlessly, her voice colored with awe.
“Really!” Kagome assured as she wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder to lead her back to the hut. As excited as she was about this newest discovery, a tiny hint of worry lingered at the back of her mind. She wondered how Sesshoumaru would take such news. Would he be displeased?
‘Oh well,’ she told herself, ‘I probably won’t have to tell him for some time yet. He was just here last night. It’ll probably be weeks before I see him again.’
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Later that day…
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Golden hues clashed with chestnut brown in an intense battle of wills. With a confidence she did not truly possess in this moment, Kagome held the demon lord’s gaze without wavering. Inside however, she was trembling like a wet kitten. What had she done??!! She had walked right into his trap! ‘M-maybe he doesn’t see it!’ she thought frantically, but she knew she was only fooling herself. She had had scant few choices, and now her very life hung in the balance.
A soft breeze ruffled the straw panel door making it clatter lightly against the wooden frame of the entryway, but neither she nor the demon lord looked away. In spite of adequate circulation in the room, Kagome was feeling more and more flushed by the second. Intently watching for any signs of benevolence, the miko’s hopes were dashed when a tiny smirk formed on Sesshoumaru’s lips. Her heart began to race. ‘He does see it! He does!! I KNEW it!!!’ But there was nothing she could do about it now; nothing but sit back and await the inevitable. This was going to hurt!
The woman glared at him with an intensity that would have meant a swift painful death had she been anyone else. But he was not a fool. The bravado she displayed was nothing more than an insubstantial veil of deceit which concealed nothing from his knowing gaze.
Alone together with the miko inside the quiet little hut, the daiyoukai savored his impending triumph. As if to move, he deliberately flexed the muscles of his right arm. The miko cracked. Before she could prevent it, her right eye twitched, and a mild shudder wracked her small form.
“Hn.” he murmured immodestly, his smirk threatening to spread.
If nothing else, Sesshoumaru had to admire her willful nature, for even though fear and anxiety rolled off her in thick, succulent waves, she dared not look away. Certain that he had her attention; he allowed his nostrils to flare ever so slightly as he drew in the scent of her trepidation. He savored it, wrapping it around him, and rolling it on his tongue like fine wine.
She was doomed and she knew it.
He was as a predator, poised to go in for the kill. But he would not do so right away. No. He would take his time. He wanted nothing more than to draw it out for as long as possible; for there, beneath the girl’s fear, beneath the anxiety and trepidation was something else. It was only slight, but his sharp senses could not be deceived.
Exhilaration.
He could practically feel it rolling off her skin. It was there, hiding beneath everything else; a tiny morsel of pleasure which teetered on the dangerous, razor-sharp edge of eroticism. Her fate was sealed and yet she welcomed it; probably just as much as he.
He had her right where he wanted her, Kagome realized as his small smirk spread into a triumphant grin.
She was going down and they both knew it.
Still, she would do so with as much honor as she could muster, even though she lay exposed to his leering gaze.
Without warning, his eyes traveled south. Kagome felt heat rush to her cheeks as he looked down between them, the evidence of her folly on clear display. His golden tones rested there for only a moment before his gaze ensnared her again. He was doing this on purpose! He was drawing it out, making her twist in the wind for his own evil pleasure!
‘Jerk!’
Slowly licking her dry lips, the miko decided she’d had enough torture.
“Just do it already.” she whispered darkly.
His smug little grin turned predatory as the sharp tip of a white fang peeked from between his lips.
“As you wish miko.”
His hand reached forward; his movements so slow, so painfully measured that Kagome thought she would explode in the wait. She wanted to look; wanted to watch the movements that would end it all, but she dared not look away from those eyes. Tipped with dangerous claws, his fingers wandered ever closer. Kagome bit her lip, her body stiffening with anticipation.
This was it.
Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers made contact with the small circular, umm… thingy. Then, with a series of deft movements, it was all over. A heavy pant rushed from the miko’s lungs. She watched helplessly as his lips began to move.
“King me.” Sesshoumaru declared haughtily, the infuriating smirk remaining on his lips.
“Darn!!! I should have known my winning streak couldn’t last!” the miko whined resentfully as she placed a black little checker piece atop the one Sesshoumaru had just moved.
“Indeed.” he replied smoothly, unusually content with the world. Sesshoumaru was beginning to realize that the miko seemed to possess a vaguely unsettling ability to coax him into doing things that he normally would not even consider. Though this development was somewhat discomforting, he found that he did not regret his decision to engage her in this “checkers.”
“Hey Sesshoumaru, would you like to play a game with me?” she had asked batting her eyes girlishly. When he had simply raised a brow in response, she had proceeded to pour it on. “Please?!” she had pressed in a way that she may have thought was charming.
“This Sesshoumaru does not play.” he had replied, mildly disgusted by the notion.
“C’mon, I think you’ll like it. It’s a game of conquest and strategy.” she had sang, a bright smile tilting her lips.
“No.”
Feigning defeat, the miko had moaned quietly. “Fine be that way. You probably wouldn’t be good at it any way.” He’d glared at her menacingly, but the miko was not deterred. With a tiny smirk on her lips she’d explained, “The rules are fairly simple but…” she trailed off giving him an appraising look. “Nah!” she’d finished turning away from him almost dismissively.
“Miko.” he warned, but she proceeded as if he had not spoken at all.
“Maybe Inuyasha will stop by today. He’ll play with me. He already knows the rules and he’s pretty good. He’d probably be a better challenge for me anyway.”
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. He could see the miko peering at him through thick dark lashes and the slight tilt of her lips. He knew she was only baiting him, but the idea that the hanyou would be better than he at something, even this ridiculous “checkers” was not something he could accept. And so with a level of reluctance he had accepted her proposal.
The rules were simple indeed, and he easily caught on. For reasons he still could not identify, he had decided to lull the miko into a false sense of security. The daiyoukai threw the first match. Allowing her to believe it was a close game; he threw the second one as well. He’d watched with an air of utter disdain as the girl leaped to her feet to engage in a ridiculous gyration in celebration of her victory. Her confidence set on high, the miko had challenged him to a third game. The trap was set. He had felt much like one who had fattened up his prey only to lead it to the slaughter. It was not a feeling he was familiar with, but he found that he liked it just the same.
This time, she would be shown no mercy. He had annihilated her rather quickly, cornering her off again and again, before finally setting her up for the dreaded “triple-jump.” She never saw it coming.
Kagome smiled. Though he had destroyed her this last game, she had actually had quite a bit of fun. She hadn’t even been sure she would be able to convince him to play with her, but to her surprise, he was far more susceptible to goading than she would have believed. Kagome looked down at the board. It was all over, there were no moves she could make now. He’d get her no matter what she did. She sighed quietly. She had wanted to put off the impending conversation for as long as she could, but she knew that now was probably the best time to fess up.
“Sesshoumaru,” she began carefully, vaguely hoping that his victory had left him in a reasonably good mood. Rin, Shippou and Ah-Un were out goofing off, but she knew the children would be back soon and ready for dinner. She wanted to get this off her chest before they returned. “Today I discovered something… about Rin.” Attempting to gage his response, the miko came up short when he merely raised a brow.
“Go on.” he said after a moment.
Deciding that there was really no easy way to tell him, she just went for the direct approach. “She umm… she has miko powers.”
The demon lord stared at her.
Kagome stared back at him. Though he had not said a word, she felt as if he were waiting for her to elaborate. Feeling a bit nervous now she continued, “I think she can sense demonic auras, and today she shot a purification arrow into a tree. I told her that I could start training her, but I didn‘t want to umm… I mean if you don‘t want her to…. I mean…”
Sesshoumaru listened to the girl’s flustered ramblings with mild amusement. Clearly she thought he would be upset by this news, though why he could not begin to imagine. “As long as it is agreeable between Rin and yourself, you may do as you please.” he finally said.
The miko’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open soundlessly. “You mean… you mean you don’t have a problem with it?”
An elegant brow rose again. “Should I?”
“N-no! I just… I just… Miko’s and demons don’t typically get along. There are a few exceptions, but I didn’t think you’d…”
“It is of no consequence.” he cut her off.
Kagome stared at him. He was such an enigmatic person. Any time she made the faintest of predictions as to what he might say or do, he would do something completely different. Before she could stop it, the question of her mind spilled from her lips. “Why?”
The daiyoukai looked away from her toward the door, but she could tell that it was not the straw panel that held his attention. “Because she is still Rin.” he said after a short pause.
Kagome’s breath caught in her throat, his response a complete surprise to her. There was something so incredibly endearing about what he had just said. ‘It is of no consequence… because she is still Rin.’
It was so very true, but she had not expected him to be so… understanding; his feelings to be so unconditional. It forced her to look at him in an entirely new light. She had suspected that there was more to him than one would initially believe, but this was far beyond anything she could have imagined.
Just as she thought to respond, a familiar brush of youki tingled against her skin. She looked to the door just in time to see the straw panel flip open revealing a scowling Inuyasha. He didn’t even bother looking at her as he entered the room, his attention instantly drawn elsewhere.
“What the hell are you doing here, Sesshoumaru?
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