A Sister's Gift

Chapter 10 – My Fabled Lord

“Ohayou Sesshomaru,” Kagome called as she walked up to the main gate of Sango’s estate. Sesshomaru was standing patiently awaiting her arrival. She took in his otherworldly beauty. He wore a white tunic over a chiseled bare chest, and matching pants. A red sash was tied neatly around his slim waist. With his flowing white hair blowing slightly in the breeze, he looked like a deadly angel. A very handsome and deadly angel.

“Greetings Mistress,” he nodded. It took only seconds for Kagome to slip her key into the huge lock. Sesshomaru removed the heavy item from the bars and opened the gate. He shut it and slipped the lock back in place. Kagome once again turned the key, locking the door as Sango does each and every time she leaves the compound.

Kagome looked towards the path, and began to speak, “Sesshomaru, let us use today as a practice for when we visit the great city. We will use our commands, she turned and smiled brightly, but still have a wonderful day.”

Sesshomaru eased upon seeing her smile. He had been afraid that she would be leery of him today. “Yes Mistress.”

Kagome started on her way. “Heel.”

Sesshomaru fell into step just to her left and three steps behind her. He studied the surroundings. This was his first time setting foot outside of the slayers gates since his arrival. He felt a little silly at the tiny flitter of excitement he felt. The slayers estate was set a ways from the village, and just across the wide dirt road was a dense forest. He longed to disappear in the lush undergrowth. Shaking off those feelings of longing he turned his head back to the miko ahead. He sniffed the air, searching for any signs of danger. Nothing came back except the wisps of lavender and magic from the little miko. He relaxed a bit.

They walked in companionable silence to the village. The morning mist still hung in the air giving everything a hazy appearance. The sounds and smells of the village were the first things he noticed, but as they approached closer the fog cleared somewhat giving him a clear view of the early morning bustle. The villagers were scurrying about. Merchants were busy setting up shop for the day and there was a steady stream of visitors to a from the building at the end of the square. He assumed this would be the shrine of his miko.

He followed her closely, keeping his eyes lowered slightly, as was required of him. His eyes still took in everything around him. No detail went un-noticed. The miko received many greetings as they passed, and every single human stopped to stare as they walked. His demonic ears caught many whisperings of the miko’s new slave. A gift from the great Taijiya, Sango. Sesshomaru let out a low rumble from his chest. He didn’t like these people gossiping about Kagome this way, and he still had problems with the term ‘slave’.

Kagome stopped at the sound and turned. “Is everything alright, Sesshomaru?”

He just nodded, never looking her in the eyes, “Yes Mistress. Forgive me, it was unintentional.”

Kagome shrugged her shoulders and once again headed to the Shrine. At the door of the shrine, Kagome stopped. She turned and looked up to Sesshomaru with a confused expression. “I imagine you would rather wait for me here?”

“I will do as you wish Mistress, however, I would rather wait for your return.” He replied obediently.

Kagome smiled knowingly. “Fine. Just have a seat under the tree over there until I return.”

Sesshomaru watched as she disappeared and went to sit under the huge old tree. The grass was completely dry under the tree, which had a huge canopy of thick dark green leaves. He leaned against the trunk with his knee’s bent in front of him. He rested his right hand on his knee loosely, as he observed the goings on of the humans.

Not surprisingly, the people there went out of their way to avoid him, even though he was more than adequately out of their path. Once again he thought of the irony that he, the powerful taiyoukai, was now a slave to this weak race of ningen. Such irony indeed.

After an hour or so his Mistress emerged from the Shrine. She greeted him with one of her many lovely smiles, and he found his heart lunged at the sight of her. He gracefully arose from his rest, and joined her.

Kagome stood by the little wooden bench, gazing up at those enchanting golden eyes for a moment. She hoped that her prayers would grant her some enlightenment to her current feelings for this handsome demon. If anything she did feel a little better after prayer. Maybe she was just being silly, but looking into those eyes once again made her unsure of herself. She shook her head a tad, and smiled. “I wish to do a little shopping at the market today. Heel”

Sesshomaru obediently fell in behind her. He could feel the eyes on them and wondered if the miko was feeling strange being the center of all this attention. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a young male voice.

“Lady Kagome! So nice to see your lovely face.” Said the happy young monk, Miroku. “Is, by chance Lady Sango nearby as well?”

“Ohayou Miroku. Unfortunately Sango was called away on business.” Kagome replied. She smiled at Miroku. She liked him very much. He was very appealing to the eye and had such a pleasant aura. He fell in beside her after taking a quick glance at her taiyoukai shadow.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Lady Sango has such a way of livening up my day.” Miroku said happily.

Kagome giggled, “Actually, monk, the last time I seen you she darkened your day.”

Miroku feigned a bit of shock. “Why yes, that was quite a hard knock over the head.” He laughed a bit. “I must say that I do appreciate your concern for me.” With that statement his lecherous hand began to find it’s way to her plump little bottom. ‘Just one little squeeze...’

Sesshomaru was watching this houshi closely. He sensed no danger in the mortal, but felt his spiritual strength clearly. When his Mistress entered into a conversation with the man, he quietly followed a few steps behind. He thought, at first, that his eyes were betraying him, when the man’s hand began to slowly creep around towards Kagome’s backside. Upon the realization of what the monk was about to do a warning went off in his mind. He let out a low warning growl, and the hand stopped in it’s tracks. Sesshomaru smiled slightly as he watched the hand re-trace it’s path back to the monk’s side.

Miroku almost pissed himself when the demon let out that growl. He knew very well what brought it out and mentally kicked himself for being such a baka. Sometimes his hands just had a mind of their own. Kagome never gave an indication that she heard the growl, nor did she turn an accusing eye on him. She just walked briskly along, as if nothing at all had occurred. Feeling a little more than discouraged, the monk decided to seek out a nice female round rear, which did not have a taiyoukai attached to it.

“Well, Lady Kagome, I must see to my duties. There are many troubled souls that need my administrations.” He smiled mischievously, as he waved a good-bye to her.

Kagome watched him go. Noticing that he made a bee-line straight to a lovely young maiden near the center of town. She laughed softly, and heard a grunt from her shadow. She didn’t stop her progress, or turn to him, but she directed her words to her Protector. “What disturbs you my taiyoukai?”

Sesshomaru was reluctant to answer, as he was unsure why he felt so strange when the young human male made an attempt to touch his mistress. A strange thing that went beyond protectiveness had surged and he fought the urge to rip the man’s arm from his body. Finally he muttered, “That man should watch his hand.”

Kagome giggled. “Ah, the lecherous Houshi, Miroku. Yes, I believe he has an addiction to the female anatomy. You should have seen when he grabbed Sango many moons back. I thought for sure that she had killed the poor man.”

Sesshomaru gave no reply, but mentally chalked up a point for the slayer. She had his approval on this issue if nothing else.

Kagome knew that he followed just behind, and it was strangely comforting, although she felt the staring eyes of the entire village. The little children were just a little more brave than the adults as they would actually come within mere meters of Sesshomaru, trying to get a better look. She knew he wanted to growl at them, but was proud that he held back.

The merchant booths were already crowded this morning, and Kagome began to notice that her presence was driving people to step well away from her. Not her. From Sesshomaru. She felt a little awkward, trying to shop, with the other’s skirting around her like she had a fatal disease. She turned to Sesshomaru, “Sesshomaru, I want you to go over to that tree just across the road, and have a seat, while I shop for just a bit.”

Sesshomaru was not happy with this, and made to protest, but the necklace flared just a little and he immediately shut his mouth. He walked away, turning back every other step to keep her in sight. The infernal woman was not supposed to send him away. That was a direct breach of the Protector’s code. He almost turned back, but feared to suffer the pain of the spell for disobedience. Instead he found a spot under the tree that gave him a direct view of Kagome.

Kagome made her way from one booth to the next. An old merchant, by the name Myoga, caught her attention. “Konnichiwa Myoga”

“Ah, Lady Kagome, It is a pleasure to look upon your beauty this day. I see you have a Protector. From Lady Sango, I presume?” The wise old man asked. He loved to share in the gossip with the ladies, and he was sure that the young priestess would certainly be the center of talk after today.

“You are correct, Myoga. Sango gifted me with Sesshomaru. She feared for my safety during my upcoming trip to the emperor’s palace.” Kagome replied as she thumbed through the bolts of fabric.

Myoga drew a deep breath, “Did you call him Sesshomaru?”

Kagome glanced up, “Yes. That’s his name.”

Myoga peered over her shoulder, trying to get a better look at the demon across the street. “I wonder if he is the same? Could it really be?”

Kagome laid down the cloth. “Why Myoga, what in this world are you talking about?”

Myoga returned his complete attention to the young woman. “There is a great taiyoukai by that name. He was once the Lord of the Western Territories, until the wars spilled over into his lands. He has become more of a myth than fact, I’m afraid. I am sure it could not be him.” He shook his head and turned back to his work.

Kagome found that she was still curious about this demon lord. “Myoga, have you ever seen the lord of the west?”

“Once young lady. Only once, but one does not forget something like that.” Myoga replied.

Kagome pulled a bolt of silver fabric from the pile, as well as a bolt of crimson and white. She put them to the side. “Myoga, I wish to have some extra clothing sown for my Protector. We will be entertained by nobility and I wish him to be dressed suitably. Does your skillful granddaughter still sew?”

Myoga smiled as he nodded several times. “Yes, yes, she would welcome your business, my dear.”

Kagome told him to hold the fabric, while she retrieved Sesshomaru for his measurements. She walked to the edge of the street and motioned for his to come. She watched as her regally strolled toward her. Even in the stance of a slave, the taiyoukai simply emitted an air of authority.

“Yes Mistress Kagome?” he asked.

“Sesshomaru, I wish to have some clothing made for you. Follow me.” She headed to the merchant stand and stepped to the side. “Myoga, this is Sesshomaru, I assume you can retrieve his measurements?” Kagome watched the old mans reaction, as he turned to face her Protector. Visibly he froze.

“Sess... Sesshomaru-sama?” Myoga asked skittishly.

For a moment Sesshomaru forgot his stance. He looked up into the man’s eyes. He had not been called Lord Sesshomaru in a very long time. The pain at his throat stung his skin, and he immediately lowered his eyes. “Once I was called by that title. As you see, it clearly no longer applies.”

Kagome almost choked on her tongue! Her taiyoukai Protector was once the fabled Lord Sesshomaru, the Great Taiyoukai of the Western Lands? What cruel fate. A once proud nobleman reduced to slave.