InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgettable ❯ Cleansing ( Chapter 6 )

Under cover of moonlight and trees, the pair left the camp headed in the opposite direction of the spring.

Kagome studied the pale taiyoukai who lead the way through the shadows so stealthily and elegantly that his movements were soundless. The tree cover was heavy and oppressive in the darkness of night, but every so often a beam of moonlight would break through the thick ceiling of leaves to shine unhindered upon her guide. In those moments she would catch glimpses of flawlessly pale alabaster skin, shining thick white hair and magenta markings. During one of these intermittent breaches of light, she caught sight of glinting gold as the taiyoukai shifted his gaze to her. For a single moment she thought she saw curiosity there, but before she could be certain, the towering youkai passed back into shadow.

When they finally broke through the trees, Kagome found that they were at a river, instead of a spring as she had expected. She raised questioning blue eyes to Sesshomaru.

“This is the only source of clean water nearby excluding the spring where this Sesshomaru found you” he told her placidly.

Kagome gave a shiver at the idea of returning to that place, and looked back at the river. The current was far from swift, the waters peaceful and tranquil, but the night air was cool, and the waters certainly chilly. Anticipating the icy nature of her bath, she began to slowly remove Sesshomaru's kimono from about her shoulders. She turned her head over her shoulder to ask him to give her privacy, only to see that he had already turned his back to her.

Sesshomaru understood the human need for modesty, and as her small hands reached up to remove her clothing, he turned away from her. He had no desire to look upon her nude form for she was mortal, and he was uninterested. Hearing the quiet splashing of water and the small and sharp intake of breath, he determined that the miko had entered the river. Turning around to better watch and protect her, he was struck by the sight she presented.

The crystal waters of the river covered her only until the swell of her backside, leaving the deliciously curved area where her back joined her rump bare to his view. Long, wavy onyx hair was thick down her back, the very bottom of the strands caressing the water like a lover's hand. She had brought her lean arms up to wrap around her chest in defense of the cold, and he could hear the chattering of her teeth from the shore. As she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him, the light from the moon reflected off of her cerulean eyes, and he was momentarily struck by the unusual color. They held no hint of gray, but were not the pure blue of the afternoon sky. Her eyes were dark and captivating, so deep that one could drown in their depths, but so lovely he doubted that anyone would mind finding death in such a place. The unfathomable blue, dark as the deepest trenches in the ocean, seemed to bear the weight of all the world's sorrows and the levity of all it's joys simultaneously. He broke her gaze, only to be met with his own reflection in the shallows of the riverbed.

Sesshomaru studied his face in the water. It was pleasing surely, possessing high cheekbones, flawless pale skin, full lips and an aristocratic nose. The dramatic markings professing his heritage and status as taiyoukai only enhanced his handsome features. But the golden eyes that looked back at him lacked the thing that made the miko so beautiful and rare. The honeyed eyes lacked warmth or feeling, rather they were flat as burnished bronze. The dark lashes that fringed the large and slightly slanted orbs were almost pretty, but the lack of emotion found within evidenced a warrior's eyes. Looking at himself, Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Never before had he gazed upon his person and found any part of himself lacking beauty, but after seeing the miko in the moonlight, he was aware of possessing an inadequacy. It was irritating that this little human wench should have something that he did not.

A sudden group of ripples broke through his reflection and he tore his gaze away from the water to see that the miko had completely immersed herself in the river. He watched the now still surface and waited for her to break through it. After a full minute had passed, he felt a tight constriction in his chest. Surely she should have surface by now? He felt more than heard a low growl rumble in his chest as he quickly undid the ties of his hakama and stepped into the water.

As he reached the center of the river, the water covering his trim hips, Kagome rose up from the water like a phoenix from the ashes. She ran her small hands over her face, pushing her sodden locks out of her eyes, only to be met with the sight of a well defined chest not two inches from her nose. Letting lose a small squeal, she moved quickly backwards, only to lose her balance and begin to free fall.

Closing her eyes in anticipation of impact, she was unaware of the strong arm that wrapped around her waist and held her still. When she did not hit the chilly waters as expected, she cracked one eye open in surprise. There, holding her, was Sesshomaru.

He said nothing to her, merely held her, and looked down into her face. Kagome couldn't being to understand the flickers of emotion that were passing through the usually stoic youkai's eyes, but after a long and uncomfortable silence, she finally asked “Sesshomaru?”

The taiyoukai's eyes shut-down, effectively sealing off his emotions once again as he gave his head a small shake and set her lightly on her feet. “You should be more careful woman. This Sesshomaru did not revive you merely to have you drown while under his care.”

And with that said, he turned away from her.

Kagome watched as he left the river, admiring his body despite her attempts to not do so. But as he reached the shallows, and the water no longer covered his hips, she forced herself to turn away. A blush rose unbidden to her cheeks, and she suddenly was no longer cold.

“Come miko” she heard his velvet baritone voice call from the shore. “Your frail human body will become ill if you linger in the water any longer.”

With a small shake of her head, Kagome turned to the shore to exit the river. Sesshomaru, for his part, turned his back on her to wait.