InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mark ❯ Knowledge of the Mind ( Chapter 4 )

Kagome felt two jewel shards moving toward them quickly. She sighed in exasperation. It would figure Kouga would put in an appearance when Inuyasha was in a bad mood. She glanced at the irate hanyou, wondering whether or not to warn him. Too late the dust cyclone came into view. Kouga grinned as he ran up to her. She took several steps back trying to maintain some sort of distance, but she wasn't near quick enough. He had an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. He smiled down at her and she reached up to pull aside the kimono and bare Sesshomaru's mark but he grabbed it and brought it to his mouth.

"Kouga-kun release me, now."

"Why would I release you? After all you are my woman."

"I am not your woman!"

Before the fight could go any further she sensed another youkai. She opened her mouth to warn them, but a silver blur shot out on the road and slammed into Kouga, sending him flying. Kagome stumbled back, but managed to maintain both her balance and her dignity. When the dust cleared a silver-haired kitsune youkai woman stood between Kagome and the wolf. She wore a deep blue hakama and matching haori with a silver crescent moon embroidered on the back. She snarled softly at Kouga, her forget-me-not blue eyes flashing with mischief.

"The Lady told you to release her. I suggest you obey from now on."

He jumped to his feet snarling. "What business do you have here, Gingitsune? We are well out of Sesshomaru's territory."

She smirked at the young prince's posturing. "I have been sent to protect the woman Sesshomaru has marked."

Kouga's eyes shot to Kagome and he gaped. "Her? Why would the Taiyoukai of the West want her?"

"Excuse me, I am still here."

"Sorry, Kagome, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that you're human. Why would Sesshomaru want a human?"

She crossed her arms over her breasts and shot him a glare so icy it was worthy of Sesshomaru. Gingitsune shrugged. "She bears his mark, I protect her. There is more to her otherwise you and I both know he would not have marked her."

-Is that true?-

It had been hard at first to keep her thoughts separate from his. No matter how far apart they were, they were still very much aware of each other. Only on rare occasions had he placed a barrier that blocked their connection. They'd agreed before hand that some of the youkai he was meeting with would consider her knowledge of their conversations a threat, and seek to kill her, despite Sesshomaru's protection.

-Yes, there is much to you, Kagome. You are far more than a mere human. I do not know what it is about you, but you intrigue me. Are you angry?-

-I don't know? Am I?-

-No.-

-Is that relief?-

-You're teasing me.-

-Yes. But then, you like to be teased.-

His memories flooded her mind and she smiled as she watched herself. It had been a true shock to her when she realized just how long he had been watching her. He had been intrigued by her and the mystery she presented, and that had quickly changed to something else. She could sense his joy at her love for Shippou, and his respect of her sense of duty. It was the only reason he had let her go with Inuyasha. He knew, deep down, that she would have resented it if he had tried to make her stay. Kagome came back to herself when Miroku waved a hand in front of her face. "Kagome-san, are you all right?"

-Go ahead and tell them the truth.-

"I'm fine I was just talking to Sesshomaru."

Gingitsune jumped. "What?"

"I was talking to Sesshomaru, now excuse me a moment."

-I won't tell them about you emotions, I promised you that.-

-Yes I remember. Kagome, Rin misses you, and I…dream visits are not the real thing.-

-I miss both of you too. I even miss Jaken a little.-

-I'll be patrolling the Western Lands in a few days time.- She could sense the hope behind the thoughts and smiled.

-Tell me when you get near. I look forward to seeing you and the others again.-

-Ah-Un was impressed with you, and they are not easy to impress.- She blushed and she could hear him chuckle. -Now I have embarrassed you.-

-I just don't really know how to take that.-

-Take it as a compliment. Now you should get back, and tell Prince Kouga I am most disappointed with his conduct toward you.-

-You and I both know I won't say that.-

-I know, but I want you to know I will not tolerate it.-

-Thank you Sesshomaru.-

She nodded and looked up at the group, a silly grin on her face. "Ok, now what is it you wanted?"

They all stood staring at her in utter shock. Gingitsune moved her kimono aside and examined the mark Sesshomaru gave her. "There is nothing unusual about the mark, so unless you and Sesshomaru-sama have a magical bond, there is no way you could be talking to him."

"But we do have a magical bond, after a fashion. That is, I used my own life force to heal him."

She stepped back absently fingering the sword at her hip. "Yes, that would do it, combined with a courtship mark. So, where is Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?"

Gingitsune grinned and tossed her long mane of silver hair over her shoulder. "A childhood knick name. He and I grew up together."

"He's in his mountain palace in the Western Lands, the one near the northern border, not the one near the sea."

She nodded slowly. "You really were talking to him. Well, aren't you going to introduce me to this handsome human friend of yours?"

Kagome giggled softly. "Miroku is the monk, Sango is the demon hunter, Kirara is the youkai, and Inuyasha is the hanyou." She hefted Shippou. "And this little trouble maker is Shippou, my pup."

She ruffled Shippou's hair. "Sesshomaru said you were unusual, he didn't say how, though."

Kagome looked at Kouga and felt her heart squeeze at the hurt look on his face. "Maybe we should make camp."

They found a likely place quickly. For once Inuyasha and Kouga were not fighting. They sat on the opposite side of the fire from her and watched her carefully. Gingitsune sat down next to Miroku and purred at him softly. Miroku smiled and took her hands in his.

"I was wondering, most beautiful youkai, but would you bear my children?"

Her eyes narrowed seductively. "I thought you'd never ask."

Miroku opened his mouth then closed it. "Um…what?"

She slid a hand inside his robes, her purring more pronounced now. "I said I thought you would never ask."

His eyes darted toward the others. "I don't really think this is the time or place."

"That's ok," she withdrew her hand, "I can wait."

Sango and Kagome giggled softly while Shippou looked on confused. He tugged Kagome's kimono lightly. "Okaasan?"

"I'll explain in a few years."

He harrumphed and stuck up his nose in a pout. This set Gingitsune off and soon all three women were laughing so hard they could hardly breathe. Sango was the first to get herself under control. She wiped tears from her eyes and turned to Kagome a serious expression on her face.

"All right, Kagome, how is it you have a magical bond with Sessshomaru?"

Kagome began to stroke Shippou's tail and after a few minutes to the kitsune pup was fast asleep in a tight ball on her lap. She nodded, satisfied with his reaction, then looked up at the group.

"After I escaped, Shippou and I found Rin playing alone in a field."

Miroku held up a hand to stop her. "Rin?"

"The human girl Sesshomaru is caring for. It was near evening so I let Shippou play with her for a little while. Then Jaken appeared. I was about to grab Shippou and run when we were attacked."

She broke off, a little flustered by what she had done next, Gingitsune saved her from having to continue. "Sesshomaru-sama told me some of this. You were using your purified arrows to hold off the youkai while protecting Jaken, Ah-Un, Rin, and Shippou beneath a shield. When you ran out of arrows you…you…"

"I purified the entire region. I sensed Sesshomaru and to be honest I didn't want to hurt him. While I was…I guess lost in my power I figured I would try to heal him. It was partially my fault he was injured anyway and he is a Lord, with people to protect. I'd never been that close to all my power before and I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to do it again. I was pretty much used up, so I used my own life force to complete the healing. It knocked me out for a few hours."

"You are indeed resilient if that is all the time it took to replenish your life force. I can understand now why Sesshomaru believes you are special and why he defended his claim on you to Lady Kan so vehemently. Tell me, can you speak with him now?"

"I can, but why would I need to?"

"I would like to ask him a question."

-I am here.-

"All right, ask."

"Will you introduce the woman at the annual meeting? Must I make sure she is there?"

-That is something I wish to discuss with you, Kagome. Tonight if we can.-

She nodded slowly. Sesshomaru had taken to meeting with her in her dreams. Once or twice over the past week she had even managed to slip into his dreams.

"He wants to talk to me about that first."

"Very well. How exactly will he do that?"

"We will meet him when he patrols his lands in a few days."

"Feh. Why would we go out of our way to meet with him?"

Kagome actually felt a snarl crawl up her throat. The entire group jumped at the hazardous noise so benign a creature was making. "If you do not I will `s' word you into the middle of next spring."

Inuyasha paled slightly then waved his hand dismissing her threat. In her head she heard Sesshomaru growl softly.

-The brat forgets his place. Call him pup and remind him about the butterfly.-

Kagome smiled at the playful cruelty in Sesshomaru's voice. "Inuyasha, Sesshomaru said something about a pup and a butterfly."

"What? He wouldn't…he would. Fine we'll meet him."

She giggled softly. -You'll have to explain this to me.-

-Later, I have to get back to work. Until tonight.-

-Don't work too hard.-

Gingitsune giggled softly. "I think Fluffy told me about that one."

Inuyasha growled softly. "You will not tell them."

She heaved a dramatic sigh. "Fine pup, whatever you say."

They all prepared for bed. Kouga made no move to leave them and in fact curled up under Inuyasha's tree. Gingitsune propped herself up against a tree. Miroku lay down near her while Sango lay down as far away from Miroku as she could. Kagome curled up around Shippou, careful not to disturb the slumbering child. She willed herself to sleep and immediately found herself in a walled garden. She smiled as the scents of the garden washed over her. Sakura trees bloomed and scattered the blossoms to the afternoon breeze. It seemed that every blooming flower on the face of the Earth had found its home within these stone walls. A small manicured brook ran into a pond where koi played in near the sun dappled surface. She lay down beneath the sinking branches of a sakura tree and waited. A few minutes later he appeared.

Sesshomaru looked the same in the dreamscape as in life with the exception that here he wore neither armor nor swords. He lay stretched out along side her, looking down on her prone form. A smile touched his lips as he looked at their surreal surroundings.

"I can see the appeal of this place for you. It is…"

"Beautiful."

He chuckled at the sighed adjective. "There are things that possess greater beauty than this place."

"Like?"

His intense gold eyes found and held hers. "You."

"Stop lying." She tried to punch him lightly on the chest, but he caught her hand gently in his. "Sesshomaru?"

"You and I both know I do not lie."

"I…you wanted to talk to me?"

"Hai. Kagome, I know that when we did this, we…I told you I had no intention of mating you."

"Hai."

"Kagome, I have reconsidered. I do want to mate you."

"Me? Why? I mean, I'm human."

"Are you?"

"Stop it."

"Kagome, even the most powerful miko to ever walk the Earth could not harness half the power you can. You heal as fast, sometimes faster than a youkai, and then of course there is your ability to sense the Shikon shards."

"I was born with it inside me."

"You only serve to reinforce my case. You think the Shikon no tama would appear inside just anyone?"

"I am Kikyou's reincarnation."

"Perhaps you carry her soul in addition to your own, but you are not her reincarnation. I can tell you that with certainty simply by looking at your aura."

"You…you are sure?"

"I would never deceive you."

"I want to consider this for a bit."

He released her hand and gently traced her face. He seemed almost pained to stop touching her. "I understand. This is a hard decision."

"I want to talk to my mother about this. It may be some time before I can go home though."

"Inuyasha will allow it, even if I must hold the pup down while you go through the well."

She giggled at the mental picture this produced. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, Gin will probably want to know about the meeting. I would like you come. I think you would be good for the other taiyoukai."

"Why is that?"

"Because to them you are a human, and weak. I think that knowing they could be purified out of existence will give them a moment of pause at very least."

"You are too politically minded for your own good."

That rare smile that only she ever got to see graced his lips. "I don't know whether or not to be insulted."

She laughed again and smiled up at him. "You know, I haven't smiled this much in a long time. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me a reason to smile. It seems like in all this, I lose everything that makes life bearable. Sometimes the only reason I put one foot in front of the other is because of Shippou." Her face fell suddenly and she looked away from him. "It hurts too much sometimes."

Sesshomaru gripped her chin gently and forced her to look at him. "Kagome, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You're lying."

Tears welled up and she jerked her head out of his grasp. "So what if I am?"

"Kagome?"

"I'm waking up now."