InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Starlight ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

"And this one's hib-is-cus..." Rin annunciated slowly from Kagome's lap, squinting in the fading light and pointing to the faded, paper-thin flower lying on a page of her book. "We find them all over the place!"

"It's pretty..." Kagome nudged Rin's head with her own, smiling. "You've got quite a collection here."

Rin beamed up at her. "Yep! Sesshomaru-sama says putting them in my book helps keep them pretty for a long time."

"That's true." Kagome nodded and turned the page. "Oh this one's really pretty..." She gently brushed a small purple flower.

"Oh, yeah. That one's a snaaaaa..." The vowel lengthened into a yawn. "Aaap dragon..."

"Someone's tired."

"No I'm not..."

Kagome smiled slyly down at the girl. "Really?" She gently closed the book. "Then I guess you won't be curling up, all nice and warm..." She hugged the small girl, as Rin's eyes started to droop and another yawn interrupted. "All snuggled up tight..." A heavy breath escaped Rin's mouth and she promptly, without further protest, fell asleep.

Kagome continued to hold her. (She's just so...) Her smile fell. (Innocent.) She leaned forward and kissed Rin's forehead. "One day some guy's going to break your heart." Her smile slowly returned. "No. You'll definitely break his first."

"Her...heart will be just fine." Sesshomaru seemed to appear behind Kagome. "And any other hearts broken will have deserved it." He spoke in an uncharacteristically irritated voice, as he knelt down and took Rin from Kagome's arms. However, he did note the look of pain that passed over Kagome's face. "I must speak with you once more before we move on." (Get things straight before you leave. Then be done with the whole issue.) He turned on her and set Rin down under a tree nearby. Casting Jaken a look of warning, he turned and once again stood next to Kagome. "Stand before me."

A look of defiance briefly passed over her face, but she complied. "You said you wanted to talk?"

"Yes." He pulled in a silent breath and watched Kagome intently, searching for a starting point.

Kagome waited patiently. (Just let him start. He obviously has things on his mind...)

Sesshomaru searched for what he had to say. He was suddenly distracted as Kagome began to fidget and bite her lip. (Beautiful lips. Soft lips.) Something in his chest ached as he wished he could reach out and trace a claw along the tempting blossoms.

Suddenly feeling out of place under his stare, Kagome took a deep breath. "You wanted-"

Prompted out of his reverie, "Stay away from the hanyou" spilled from his mouth. Sesshomaru felt foolish suddenly, foolish for caring for the welfare of a human, foolish for repeating a statement he knew she would again ignore, foolish for becoming mesmerized by the simple movement of a woman's, a human woman's lips. "I will not repeat myself again." He covered up the tightness in his chest with anger.

He took a step forward and Kagome suddenly found herself unable to move her legs. "Oh God, he's so close, he's so close..."

(What are you doing, what are you doing...) Sesshomaru's mind replayed over and over as he leaned in. An offhand image, barely on the edge of his consciousness, flashed. An older woman, Inuyasha's mother, stumbled backwards from him, a red mark on her cheek. Sesshomaru stopped. (What am I doing?)

"Leave, human."

His words pulled Kagome back to consciousness. "Huh?"

"Leave. Now." He turned coldly on his heel. "I have once warned you to stay away from Inuyasha. If you are hurt because you disregard my warning," He began to walk away. "I am not responsible."

Kagome released an unsteady breath and put her hand to her chest. (What...just happened?) "Hey!" The word jumped from her lips before she could stop it. Sesshomaru stopped but did not turn. Kagome opened and closed her mouth. "Tell...tell Rin I said bye." She said slowly.

Sesshomaru ignored the disappointment in her voice and nearly snorted. (Stop fooling yourself human. You and I will never come in any manner of contact again.) He walked to the edge of the clearing, scooped up Rin in his arms and disappeared into the sky, Jaken on his heels.

* * *

"What...just happened?" Kagome asked the wind. (He, what was he doing? And then...) Her eyes dropped to the ground. (Did I do something?)

"Ka...Kagome!"

Kagome turned to see Inuyasha stumbling towards her. "What are you-"

"Wha's that smell?"

Kagome took a step forward. "Are you..." The smell of whiskey wafted through the air. "Drunk?"

"I smell him again!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Smell what? What do you smell?" Kagome approached him slowly. (Just stay calm...Just stay calm...)

"You..." He swayed dangerously. "...were with him again!"

Kagome stopped. (Oh no.)

"How could you...Kagom...me?" His breathing came labored, and his fists clenched.

"No, just please don't... Si-!"

* * *

"Where's Kagome?" Rin asked, still half-asleep, in Sesshomaru's arms.

"Sleep now." Sesshomaru ordered gently.

She nodded limply and fell back asleep.

Blood. The scent stung the air like poison. Sesshomaru's head snapped up as he realized whose scent it was. (Kagome.) His eyes darkened. (Inuyasha...) His cloud swiftly descended and he jumped to the ground and deposited Rin and Jaken under a tree.

"Do not leave this spot." He growled and leapt into the air.

* * *

"We gotta do it now!"

"But-"

"What `but'? She's powerless!"

"We have to do something."

"Just give it back to her!"

"But this could seriously screw things up..."

"If he kills her, it'll screw things up even more!"

"Fine! But at least hold back the memories."

"Then how the hell is she going to know what's going on!"

"Stop it! Just give her the power-"

"But then-"

"But then give her the memories of how to use it."

"Fine."

"Okay."

"Then do it already!"

Short chapter, granted, but I had to leave it off like that. Sorry ^_^. Anyway, thank you to my reviewers, I hope I get a few more in this chapter too... So please review!

Oh yeah, I don't know if they had whiskey then, but it just seems more like something one would get more than a little tipsy off of. Saki just didn't seem to cut it. Sorry if it seems odd.