InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ripples ❯ Hold on Loosely ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Hold on Loosely

Sesshou pulled up to the shrine and sighed heavily. Since when did he sigh? Shaking the thought off, he trudged up the shrine steps and was about to knock on the door, when he heard a loud thud. Thinking Kagome may be in danger, he quickly barged into the house only to be met with the most unusual sight. Kagome was dancing around the room, on furniture, and holding a brush like a microphone. Her stereo was blaring Quiet Riot's rock song `Cum On Feel the Noise' at a killer decimal. The dancing girl was singing and spinning along with the song. Suddenly the guitar broke into a rift and Kagome stuck up her pointer and pinky finger as she headbanged to the music.

Sesshou put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Here was the Shikon no Tama's legendary Guardian, who had taken out more insane demons than he cared to recall, one of if not the most powerful people in the world, shaking her groove thang to Rock `n Roll. It was not something he would soon forget. The song went off and Kagome turned off the stereo. She had just pushed a stray hair out of her eyes when she spotted him. Her eyes were as big as saucers.

"Um, Sesshou, how long were you standing there?"

He grinned. "Not long at all. Tell me, where did you learn to dance like that?"

Kagome smacked him on the shoulder playfully. Her face was extremely red as she huffed up the stairs to get her things. She was still embarrassed when she came back down to find him shuffling through her stack of CDs.

"I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

He shook his head thoughtfully. "I don't really think so. Just be glad it was me that walked in and not Inu. He would torment you mercilessly about it."

She sighed, agitated, and picked up her pack. "Ok, I've got batteries, portable stereo, flashlight, food, weapons, clothes, toiletries and paper and pencil. Oh, yeah, matches and scissors. Is that all I need?"

"I think so. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," she said as she tried to pull the door open. For some unknown reason, the door was stuck and refused to budge. She grasped the handle and pulled as hard as she could, putting all her weight into it. With a jolt, the door swung open and threw her backwards. Luckily, Sesshou caught her before she hit the floor. She glared at the ajar door as Sesshou righted her and handed her her pack.

"Thanks, Sesshou. What would I do without you?"

"Heaven only knows. Come on, I happen to know the person waiting for you is not a patient man."

Kagome giggled and marched over to the well house. Sesshou helped her onto the ledge and readjusted her pack on her back.

"Be careful, `Gome."

She looked at him. "You already know what's going to happen, so don't worry, jackass."

The corners of his lips turned up. "Just do what I tell you to, for once, little bitch."

Turning so she met his eyes, she gave him a small smile before kissing his cheek and jumping into the well. Sesshoumaru's eyes crinkled in worry as he brought his hand to his cheek.

"Be safe, Koi."

**Kagome landed at the bottom of the well in feudal Japan. Grimacing, she began her tedious climb to the top. Soon, she was clear of the well and caught sight of a confused Sesshoumaru walking toward her.

"You have only been gone an hour, wench."

"I wondered if it worked here too. See, I spent a day here, but when I went home, it had only been an hour. It works the same way when I'm in my original time. I spent a day there, but it was only an hour here, understand?"

He nodded, but suddenly sniffed the air. His eyes darted to her and he began to sniff around her body.

"Sesshoumaru! What on earth are you doing?"

Pulling back, he looked at her. "You smell like me."

"Well, duh. I'm standing right next to you."

"No, you smell like I have touched you and I have not."

Kagome rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You are on the other side of the well, too, ya know. I almost fell down this morning trying to open a stuck door and your future self caught me before I fell. Then you helped me onto the well. Satisfied?"

"Pray tell, just what was I doing at your house in the morning?"

"Honestly, Sesshoumaru! You are exhausting. You were over to check out the well. I don't question every little thing you do. You asked to come over and check out the well, and I agreed. End of story. Now, could we please be on our way?"

Rin came running out of the woods and glomped Kagome. "Kagome-neechan! Rin missed you sooo much! Where is Shippou-kun?"

A veil went over Kagome's eyes. "Shippou is away at school and won't be coming back anymore, Rin-chan. I'm sorry."

Rin looked sad for a moment before perking up. "Rin will just have to play with Kagome-neechan, then. I will miss Shippou-kun, though. He was fun."

"You'll see him again someday Rin. I promise."

The little girl grinned and nodded enthusiastically. Sesshoumaru picked the two girls up and flew toward his castle. Kagome squeaked and held on tightly, but not harmfully so.

"I really hate it when you do this without any warning."

Sesshoumaru looked at her with an eyebrow quirked in question. Kagome laughed nervously and looked at Rin, who was laughing her head off with glee.

"Do I fly with you often, wench?"

"No, but when you do, you never give me any warning. You just scoop me up and take off like I should have no complaints."

He smirked and looked ahead. "Perhaps I have not changed overly much."

They touched down in the castle garden and the young lord set them down. Rin immediately began picking as many flowers as she could carry. Kagome watched her with humor before swiveling around and walking toward her room. She had a lot of pages left in the last book, and she was eager to read them.

When she had settled herself into a comfortable chair, she was just about to pick up the Guardian book, but noticed something on her pillow. Walking over to her bed, she found a single white orchid there. Smiling, she picked the delicate flower up and stroked her cheek with it. It was lovely. She sat it in a vase and tried to bury herself in the Guardian book. Every now and then, however, she glanced at the flower and smiled. Finally, she finished the book and sat back, thinking. There was only one thing left to do now: train. She had to learn to control her miko abilities. Gingerly, she rose and made her way to the dojo.

Sesshoumaru was leaning down to tell Rin the difference between a weed and a flower when the wall of his dojo exploded. Grabbing Rin, he thrust her to a servant to keep her safe and rushed over to the now crumbling wall. His claws elongated and his golden eyes glowed an eerie yellow as he stepped into what was left of the dojo. There, in the middle, stood a very stunned looking Kagome.

"Wench, what the Hell happened?"

Slowly she pivoted to gaze at him with her eyes still out of focus and her jaw slack. "I, um, I-I blew up your dojo."

The demon's eyes went back to normal and his claws retracted. "What?"

Her eyes seemed to focus on him and she shut her mouth. "I was trying to find a way to control my miko abilities and I guess I used to much power. I was standing here concentrating on bringing my power out, when `BOOM' your wall exploded."

Sesshoumaru looked at the damage and then back at her. "I think it would be wise for you to train outside from now on."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama! I didn't mean to do it! Oh geez, oh geez, I just blew up half your house. Holy St. Bartholomew."

She was practically hyperventilating. He walked to her and snapped his fingers in front of her face.

"Get a hold of yourself, woman. The wall can be repaired in a matter of days. You, on the other hand, will henceforth train with me."

A weak smile came forth on her strained face and she followed him outside. He had her sit down and focus her mind and energy on her miko powers.

"Now, I just want you to try and take hold of the power, don't try and loose it. Try to familiarize yourself with it and it with you."

Kagome reached deep inside herself and grasped the pink power of her miko Guardian self. It kicked at her and refused to yield, but she held fast until it kicked one last time and submitted to her control. Her stormy eyes shot open and she gasped at finding it nightfall already. Sesshoumaru was sitting next to her with a candle and some documents. It seemed as though he had stayed with her the entire time.

"Sesshoumaru? I did it."

He extinguished the candle and gave his papers to a waiting servant. Then he faced her with a tired smile.

"I figured you would. It took you long enough, though. Come, let's retire for the night."

Standing, Kagome's world swirled around her and she vaguely felt herself falling. Abruptly she was stopped by something. No, not something, Sesshoumaru. He had caught her and was looking at her in question.

"I think I wore myself out. Gomen ne, Sesshoumaru."

He sighed, shook his head and picked her up. She gave him a thankful smile before snuggling into his tail and closing her eyes.

"Ya know, in my time, you keep your tail and markings invisible. I sometimes wish you wouldn't," she said as she slipped into Dreamland.

The taiyoukai peered down at the sleeping Guardian in his arms. She had a look of contentment on her face that betrayed nothing of the painful life she had to lead. She was interesting: she was the only one of her kind, and was almost destined to be forever alone. Tragic, yes, perhaps tragic was a more apt description. To have infinite power, but to only want a normal life. To be given everything but what she really desired. Yes, tragic was a fitting word for this sleeping creature. For this Kagome.

**Kagome woke to find the sun high in the sky. Yawning, she rolled over and found a white orchid on her night stand. A smile made its way across her face as she sat up and inhaled the orchid's scent. She put it in the vase next to its brother and began dressing herself. She was training today and didn't have to wear that insane kimono with the psycho ties. Just good old fashioned sweats. Her hair pulled into a pony tail and a piece of toast in her stomach, she walked outside to begin practicing.

A pink ball of ki appeared in her hand when she concentrated. She threw the ball and watched as it obliterated an entire tree. She grimaced and focused on a different kind of power. Another ki ball formed in her hand and she touched the singed tree. Suddenly, it was healed as if nothing had happened to it. Kagome gasped in amazement. She practiced the other things the Guardian books had spoken of until it was dinner time. She took a quick bath, dressed in a hurry and rushed into the dining room. Rin was just finishing her supper when she sat down.

"Where's Sesshoumaru, Rin-chan?"

"Sometimes his work keeps him from eating with me. I think he stays up late just to finish it. One time I saw him going to bed just as I was getting up. He works a lot, but he always plays with his Rin."

Kagome smiled and gave the girl and kiss before the girl scampered off to bed. An idea pushed its way into her head and she resigned herself to her self appointed task.

**Sesshoumaru growled as a knock disturbed his work. He had just focused his attention on a matter of state involving the Demoness of the Southern Lands' daughter. It was difficult to look forward to negotiations with the Southern Lands when every letter from her contained at least a page of reasons why he should mate the daughter. Did the woman have no shame? It was bad enough he had to see her at social functions, did she really have to bother him at home? The knock sounded again, jerking him back to reality.

"What!?" he barked.

The door slid opened to reveal Kagome carrying a tray of food as large as she was. She slowly walked over to his table and set the tray down. Tea was placed on his desk and then she exited the room. Sesshoumaru sat there, stunned. She had brought him supper. He got up from his desk and walked over to the table. In the center of the tray was a vase filled with sweet smelling violets. Immediately, he regretted having been so curt with her. <Regret? I do not feel regret. The wench disturbed me and got what she deserved. Still, she brought violets.>

He ate his fill and finished his letter, then he made his way over to Kagome's room. Sliding the door open, he silently padded over to her bed. She had her right arm thrown over a pillow and her left under the pillow supporting her head. The sheet had slipped down to her waist, revealing a blue sleeveless nightgown. Sesshoumaru lay an orchid on her nightstand next to her vase that held two more. A smile crept across his face upon seeing that she was keeping the gifts. He had just reached down to pull up her sheet when something caught his eye.

She was facing away from him and her nightgown had slipped off of one shoulder. A nasty scar began on her right shoulder and disappeared under her gown. Gently, he pushed her raven hair aside and looked at what her gown exposed. It hung loosely on her and dipped almost to her waist, but what caught his attention was the scars that marred her body. It looked as though someone had burned a game of tic tac toe onto her skin. Whip marks were there as well as degrading words burned and cut into her. It looked like she had survived Hell. Lightly he traced one of the deeper scars and his breath hitched in rage. No one deserved to go through what she had. Especially not someone as pure as Kagome.

Even the prisoners of war he captured were not subjected to this kind of cruelty, and never was a woman treated this way. What kind of monster would do this? Kagome whimpered and Sesshoumaru leaned over in time to see a tear slide out of her closed eye. Quickly, he caught the tear and stared at it on his fingertip. His tongue snaked out and tasted it. It was salty and tasted of a deep, unending sorrow. Elegant eyebrows drew together as he stared at her face awash in moonlight.

He pulled the sheet up over her shoulders and leaned down to whispered, "What are you, Kagome?"

Striding to the door, he was almost gone when he heard a tiny voice reply, "I don't know anymore."

Kagome had woken when she heard her door open, but relaxed when she realized it was Sesshoumaru. She had almost cried when he moved her hair and looked at her back, but something inside her-probably Lynx-kept her still. She had hardly been able to bear him looking at the wounds when it happened, much less now that she wanted him to think well of her.

<Wait a second, girl, are you saying you care what Mr. Stoic thinks about you?>

<Hai, he's been very kind to me. Sesshoumaru-sama and Sesshou have both become my friends.>

<Friends? Is that what they call it these days. Face it, you like him.>

<I don't know, I'll have to think about it.>

She snapped out of her inner conversation when he traced her worst scar. She couldn't help it, a tear escaped her eyes and she heard herself whimper. Astonishingly enough, he caught her tear and-what?-tasted it? When he gently pulled the covers over her and asked her a question, she didn't know what to do. So, she whispered her answer to the night, giving him a choice of turning around, or leaving. Slowly, he came around to the other side of the bed and looked into her open eyes.

"Should I apologize now? Or can I hope to save myself the embarrassment and pretend you just woke up with my question."

Kagome watched him sit on the edge of her bed and his tail curled around him. She grinned and pointed at the fluffy appendage.

"I like your tail. It seems to have a mind of its own, though."

He looked down at it. It perked up and seemed to `stare' back at him. Suddenly, it `looked' at Kagome and wound its way over to her. She watched it near her and then it nuzzled the bottom of her chin, like a cat wanting to be stroked. Laughing, she rolled onto her back and gave the insistent tail a stroke. It puffed up with happiness and nuzzled into her, encouraging her to continue. She giggled and petted it some more.

"I think your tail likes me, too," she grinned.

Sighing in mock annoyance, he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his obviously giddy tail. Usually, it didn't get this much attention and it was like a spoiled child when it did. But a smile made its way through his emotionless mask as he watched Kagome play with his tail like a favorite pet. `Pet' was an appropriate word. It pretty much did what it wanted to do when he was home. His tail stroked the miko's face and she smiled at it. He decided to pretend that the sensations rocketing through his body with every one of Kagome's strokes, didn't exist. That is, he tried to ignore them, but almost bit his tongue out when he heard what distinctly sounded like a purr erupt from his own chest.

Kagome's eyes shot to the, what appeared to be, terribly embarrassed demon lord. Embarrassed? Yes, she could just make out a faint blush on his normally pale cheeks.

"Your tail is horribly deprived of attention, Sesshoumaru."

"Yes, well, it does tend to cause scenes when let loose."

Kagome's eyes twinkled in amusement as she set up. The blasted tail, instead of coming back to him, like it was supposed to do, curled up in the Guardian's lap. He inwardly promised retribution to the rebellious thing.

"Why did you come here, Sesshoumaru?"

He looked at her sharply before loosing himself in her beautiful eyes. He never could decide if they were blue or grey. They shifted colors with her moods and pulled anyone in who stared too long into their bottomless depths. Looking into her eyes was like looking into eternity. Shaking himself, he racked his brain for an acceptable answer.

"I behaved badly to you in my study."

"You said one word to me; that's not behaving badly."

"I was rude, and I should not have acted as such."

"Alright, apology accepted. Your tail seems to be asleep."

The appendage in question perked up drowsily, that is, if tails can be drowsy. Sesshoumaru beckoned for it to return to his shoulder, but the tail had found something that petted it. It wasn't about to give up that easily. Faster than a blink, it had wound itself around Kagome's waist and was rubbing her arm comfortingly. The demon lord yelped when his tail jerked him painfully all the way onto the bed. Kagome sat there, trying to take in what just happened, when the sprawled out taiyoukai groaned and rubbed his back. Slowly, she crawled over to him and shook his shoulder. His arm was thrown over his eyes.

"Sesshoumaru? Are you ok?"

"I'm going to cut the bloody thing off," he moaned.

The tail tightened around Kagome in fear. Kagome gasped because it was restricting her air flow.

"Um, Sesshoumaru? Your tail is scared and it's kinda cutting off my air supply."

He put his arm down and looked at the tail shaking and squeezing a red miko. Gently, he tugged on it, but it had a death grip on her. He tried threatening it, coaxing, and bribing. Still, it wouldn't ease up. Slowly, Kagome began stroking it again. It bit by bit began to puff up in happiness once more, but still, it wouldn't let go.

"Roll, over," she told the taiyoukai.

He glowered at her, but rolled onto his side anyway. Soothingly, she began petting his tail from the tip, all the way up to his spine. By the time she had gotten the very apologetic tail to let go, it was very fluffy and Sesshoumaru was asleep, purring up a storm. Rolling her eyes, she took off his boots and draped a blanket over him. His tail remained wrapped around her as she snuggled into bed and went back to sleep.