InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Telling ❯ What's in a name? ( Chapter 14 )

Inuyasha awoke at the first sign of daybreak. Opening his eyes he caught sight of the miko in his arms and once again found himself awestruck by her beauty. Her face was peaceful as she slept and the few rays of sunrise reflected in her glossy black locks. The last thing he wanted to do was get up and face the day, preferring instead to stay encased in the sleeping bag with Kagome where it was warm. But at the nagging of his brain, he knew that he should go to check up on the monk and the slayer. He knew that the houshi hadn't been to badly injured when he had trampled over him, but it was better to go and make certain of the fact than to just stay here and assume. Heaving a soft sigh he kissed the top of Kagome's head and quietly rose from the confines of the sleeping bag. The air was still quite chilly as the sun had yet to really rise and he gave little shudder at the sudden loss of warmth. After he had checked in on his pack he would return to the spring and collect Kagome's things so that she could put on something warm and he could get his kimono back.

He walked over to the campfire and stoked it a little to encourage it to produce more heat. Scenting the air, he was confident that no demons were nearby and that the miko would be safe in his absence. He did not plan on being away from her for long after all. With one final look at the sleeping woman he took to the trees.

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Sesshomaru watched the hanyou leave the camp and was baffled. Why was it that Inuyasha was willing to leave the sleeping woman alone and unprotected? It was a fortuitous thing that the demon lord was there, as he planned on keeping the woman safe. But, first things first- it was time for him to return her things and make amends.

Rising from his position in the trees, he grabbed the yellow bag and moved steadily towards the sleeping miko. He noted that the smell of her heat had rapidly diminished during the course of the night, and for that he was thankful. Things would be easier without that intoxicating smell permeating the air. Looking down at her sleeping form he noted how peaceful she appeared. Not wishing to disturb her, he sat down facing her. He would wait for her to awaken on her own. He looked at the steadily rising sun and determined that he would not have to wait long as she would surely wake with the beginning of the day. He knew from his previous surveillance that Inuyasha's pack often rose with the dawn to begin their travels. Habit was a difficult thing to break, so the woman should start stirring in no time at all.

Losing himself in the way that the dawn's pink light caressed the miko's sleeping form, he was reminded of the great power that simmered just below her tranquil surface.

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All she wanted to do was turn over and stay asleep. Sighing, she realized that her internal clock was stubbornly raising the alarm that it was daybreak and time to get up. Slowly cracking an eye open, hoping that her body's clock was wrong and that it was still dark out, she caught sight of long leg clad in white stretched out before her. Holding her breath, she opened her eyes and followed the leg up to a yellow obi, another leg, this one bent, to the arm that rested on it to the large striped hand that was attached to said arm. She really wanted her brain to be wrong. She REALLY didn't want the demon who had attacked her last night to be sitting in front of her. She had already noticed Inuyasha's absence from her side and assumed that she was alone. Continuing her upward investigation, her blue orbs took in the long silver hair falling loosely towards the ground, the fluffy mokomoko-sama and finally the bright honey eyes that looked back at her.

Great, this was SO not the way to start the day.

“Woman, do not scream.” a soft baritone voice stated.

“What? He's giving me commands now? After what he tried to do?” Her brain screamed. “Who does he think he is?”

“I wasn't planning on it.” She said venomously. “I can take care of myself.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And what do you think you're doing here, giving me commands, after what you pulled last night?” She accused. Her brain recoiled and scolded her “You know Kagome, sometimes it's better to keep that big trap of yours closed. If you want to live to see your family again anyway. If not, then continue.” She inwardly grimaced.

“It was not a command miko, merely a request.” The baritone voice stated, clearly amused. He had seen the horror of what she had said flit across her face, and it had lightened his mood. She was very brave, this woman. No one spoke to him like that, and the fact that only this slip of a human would do so, well it was droll.

“Oh. Ummm... well then....” She was at a loss. She had been prepared to be reprimanded for her sharp tone and even sharper words, but instead, the taiyoukai continued to recline gracefully and even sounded amused. Not knowing what to say next she blurted out “What are you doing here anyway?”

“This Sesshomaru came for many reasons miko. The first and most important was to offer you the humblest of apologizes for the events of last night. I had no idea that you were in heat, and had I been privy to the fact, I would have left the area immediately instead of staying to partake of your company. I am defaced by my actions and I can vow to you that nothing of that nature will ever again transpire.”

Kagome was dumbfounded. He had apologized? The stoic Lord of the West had apologized? To her? A human? And he had stopped using the third person to refer to himself for most of it? Her mind was blown.

When she didn't respond he chanced a glance at her. She was obviously shocked, and rightly so. He did not offer apologies lightly, or often. Standing up from the ground, he picked up her bag and continued “The second reason was to return your things to you. I discovered upon waking that you had left them at the spring, and found it only just that I should be the one to return them.”

“My stuff!” She squealed happily as she clamored out of her sleeping bag and shot towards him. He found himself torn at the sight of her donning the hanyou's kimono. He did not like the fact that it was Inuyasha's, but he could appreciate the way it left little to the imagination. He found himself picturing her wearing only his kimono and felt himself harden at the visual. She slowed her approach as she neared him and noticed how focused he was on her attire. Blushing, she raised a hand to clutch the front of the fire-rat robe tightly closed. He noted her discomfort and averted his eyes while holding her yellow pack out to her. She grabbed a strap and pulled it from his grasp with a soft “thanks.” She bowed her head, not knowing what to say and more than a little embarrassed. “I really wish I was at least wearing underware.” She thought with a blush.

There was no question abut it, the little woman was quite endearing. Everything from her emotional outbursts to her frequent bouts of discomfiture drew the taiyoukai to her. Reaching out with his new hand he placed his fingers below her chin and lifted her face up so he could make eye contact. “This is my final reason for coming to you.” He told her steadily while looking into her dark blue eyes.

Kagome didn't understand until he placed his hands on either side of her face and pushed her sleep mused hair behind her ears. With a gasp she grabbed his new appendage and studied it, bringing it closer to her face and turning it this way and that. It was large but almost fragile in build. Long tapered fingers were tipped with sharp claws. Along the narrow wrist well defined magenta stripes adorned the pale and flawless skin telling anyone who cared to look of Sesshomaru's station in life. Totally absorbed in her study, she pushed his sleeve up and moved beyond the hand to study the long and lightly muscled arm.

Had anyone else dared to touch his person in such a manner, they would have found themselves missing some parts at the very least. But this miko was so lost in her examination of him that he had no thought to harm her. Her touch was gentle and innocent, filled with wonder, and she momentarily reminded him of Rin. He could sense her wonder and excitement, and could not help the small smile that passed over his normally stoic face.

Kagome was amazed. Somehow Sesshomaru had gotten his arm back, and it was perfect. She was thankful since she knew that the reason he had lost his arm in the first place had been partially her fault. And although it never seemed to hinder him and he continued to carry himself with dignity it seemed somehow wrong that this remarkable creature had lost so many things that were important to him on that day. He had lost his father's fang to Inuyasha, his arm to battle, and surely some of his pride when he had been forced to admit defeat to the hanyou. She found herself pleased that at least part of the damage had been restored, although she was still puzzled about the whole thing.

Still gripping his wrist she looked into his eyes, her bewilderment apparent in her ocean eyes. “This is great Sesshomaru, but I don't really understand what it has to do with me” she told him.

“This Sesshomaru does not fully understand the implications of it either miko, but I did not possess this arm until after I awoke from your attack. I can only theorize that the force of your purification caused my healing powers to increase drastically in their attempt to keep me alive and therefore enhance the speed of this arm's re-growth.” Looking down at her small hand still clutching his wrist in disbelief he questioned lightly “Are you satisfied that it is indeed intact and existent?”

“Oh Kami! I'm sorry Sesshomaru!” She blurted while quickly releasing him. “I just.... It's so..... it's unbelievable is all.” She looked up at him with a faint hint of color in her cheeks. “I'm glad you have it back.”

He couldn't understand it. She should be angry at him, or at the very least frightened of him after their encounter the previous evening. And yet she showed not a hint of either emotion. In fact, the only thing he could sense coming from her was joy. “This Sesshomaru wonders as to why you seem to bear him no ill will little miko.” He said.

“Oh. Well, you know...... Inuyasha explained about my scent and the whole heat thing. I understand what happened, that your demon took control and that you couldn't really help yourself. I'm not saying it's okay, but I do grasp the concept. Besides, it all turned out alright, so.....” She trailed off and shrugged.

To say that he was astounded did not even begin to cover it. “What an amazing woman.” He thought to himself. From the moment he had laid eyes on her, alone at the hot spring four night prior she had surprised him and drawn him in. No longer did he question why his brother would waste his time protecting this weak creature. Indeed, she was anything but weak and she was singular in her very nature. She was a treasure and Sesshomaru hoped that Inuyasha was aware of what a precious commodity he guarded. He looked into her dark blue eyes, and she gazed back into his, and for a moment something almost forbidden passed between them. And then it was gone.

“Well, thanks again..... for my stuff” Kagome said, breaking eye contact. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she had seen something there, hidden in the depths of Sesshomaru's honeyed gaze, and she knew that there would be major implications if she explored it.

He had felt something stir inside him, something that he hadn't even known was there. When she broke eye contact with him, he knew. He would never let anything happen to her. He would make sure she remained safe, and he would regain her trust. She had wanted him before last night, and he found that he returned the feeling tenfold.

Walking away from her he turned his head to reply “You are most welcome Kagome, and my thanks to you as well.” With that, he was gone, lost to the trees, but vowing to stay close to her.

Kagome stood facing, open mouthed where he had disappeared from view with more questions than she had answers. “He called me by my name?” She thought, struck dumb by what this could all mean.

 

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