Fallen

Chapter 11

The early dawns light filtering through the trees had a greenish haze as it filled the clearing. The sounds of birds and other life filled the otherwise silent air. The world paused for an instant as though taking a breath and another form of light filled the clearing almost to the point the it leeched all color from the surrounding scenery.

When the light faded the clearing was occupied with an odd sight to any who would behold it. A inhuman silver haired being was curled protectively around an ebony haired woman. Both were sleeping deeply and unaware of their current state of being.

Golden eyes opened slowly as he was gradually returning to awareness. His nostrils flared for a moment and he glanced down at the source of the scent invading his senses. She was so close, too close. With a sudden mental jolt he realized the situation and had to fight his urge to jump away from her. The Gods were enjoying this far too much for comfort. This was the second time he'd woken to find them lying naked together. Were they testing his control?

She sighed and breathed his name. Her thick dark eyelashes fluttered against the rose tinted ivory of her skin as she moved further into the protection of his arms. It was almost his undoing. His skin was heating from the mere fact that there was a undeniably feminine form lying nude in his arms. He closed his eyes as he fought down the urges that came naturally based on the mere biological facts. 'Yes, it is simply that'. He reasoned, for it could not possibly be an an attraction to the miko herself. It was preposterous that he, the mighty and powerful Sesshomaru could possibly be interested in the mere slip of a woman. She was human and he was being a fool. Carelessly he extricated himself and stood ignoring her whimper of protest.

Raising his nose to the wind he could smell humans not far from where they were. His attention shifted as the miko came around. Looking around curiously she finally spoke.
“Where are we?” she asked. Sesshomaru fixed her with a glare forcing his eyes not to drink in the complete image that she presented in the soft light of dawn, with her hair tousled and her pale, very nude, flesh glistening with the dew from the grass. “In a forest miko, do you not see the trees?” he asked with as condescending a tone as he could muster. Kagome huffed and then took a better assessment of the situation.

Sesshomaru watched her face avidly and he found to his surprise it amused him how quickly she could change colors. “Not again. Why are we naked?” she squeaked shielding her eyes from the sight of him, frantically searching for something to cover herself with. “Hide yourself and follow.” he commanded before he walked away. Glancing around Kagome spotted a bush and ducked behind it clutching her bag to cover her.

Sesshomaru followed his nose to an odd settlement, Kagome trailing keeping just her head in sight. Silently he was pleased to find that there were clothes strung on a rope not far from where he stood and as no one was yet awake he would not be seen. Like a shadow he slipped over to the ropes and took the odd clothes hanging there. Walking back in to the trees he tossed the smaller ones he'd pilfered to her and dawned the other set of strange garments finding to his surprise they fit as though tailored for him personally. Kagome also scrambled into the odd clothes and though very loose, covered her decently. Kagome sighed and looked relieved. “That's much better.” she stated. Sitting down she rummaged through her bag for her brush and began drawing it through her ebony hair.

Sesshomaru found his eyes watching the movement of the brush. It was hypnotic, soothing, it was an action that simply entranced him by its simplicity. It reminded him of centuries past. It reminded him of his mother. Though she had been and was as cruel and heartless as he had become, when she sat to brush her hair she had looked softer and more approachable with her features relaxed.

Though in power Kagome was formidable, while she sat in the clearing brushing her hair it was hard to imagine her as such. She was just too soft for her own good. He'd faced her in battle before and knew that it was not an entirely fair assessment of her but with how off kilter he felt after awakening twice with her in his arms pressed skin to skin, he was fervently searching for a means to quell the heat in his blood. Reminding himself of her failings seemed to be the best he could do.

This was all her fault after all. If she had not bound him to her, eventually he would have forgotten her. Perhaps after another century he could have forgotten that there had lived such a woman. Perhaps he would have been able to overcome the heated dreams that had merely changed and not abated at all. In time he could have erased from his memory the soft sweet scent that had teased his senses every time he'd run in to Inuyasha's pack. She was his shame. His obsession. His deepest darkest secret. It was his deception to the world and now he was bound to her. It was a dangerous game he played, especially now as the Gods were aware of his true heart. It angered him that they continued to place her in such a situation as they surely knew that it was wearing his restraint thin.

Was that perhaps the game? Were they waiting for his will to break, for him to lose control and defile their sacred vessel so that they could pass a judgment down upon him? But if so, he couldn't help wondering, why her? Surely if that was the goal of their situation it would hurt her as well, so why would the Gods torment her? Even to his infallible senses it seemed extreme after the suffering she had received at the hands of fate and that undead bitch.

He had witnessed more than once the girls heartbreak as she had caught his foolish half brother time and again with the counterfeit miko. He did not fault entirely the half breed's behavior and treatment of the girl to Inuyasha, though part of him wanted to. Sesshomaru was too aware of reality not to realize that the hanyou's upbringing or lack there of was mostly to blame. He was used to getting shit and could only give back the same. From what he had gleaned in following the pack, the undead one had been the half breeds first love. As for the rest he had not cared to know. The very idea that one of his Father's blood would choose the dead over life disgusted him.

It took him a moment to realize he'd been staring for some time and that he'd been caught doing so. Had he been less in control of himself he would have blushed but instead he narrowed his eyes, daring her to comment.

Kagome raised her eyebrow at his look and then shrugged. After all it would be silly to think he'd been staring at her. He had probably been looking through her. Or maybe he'd been lost in thought and not realized that he was looking her direction. That seemed more likely. Kagome tossed her glossy hair over one shoulder and began loosely braiding it as she let her mind wander.

He seemed different this morning. She couldn't put her finger on the cause or the specifics of the change, but his aura when she'd woken felt unsettled and his eyes had spoken of a subtle touch of dissatisfaction. Remembering their recent state of undress she felt an odd pang of self doubt. He'd seen everything again. Was it truly her that he found lacking and not simply her humanity? She had no reason to think he'd been lying when he said that she did not and could not tempt him physically but she'd hoped that they could be friends at some point, but if she revolted him then there could be no such friendship.

His constant opposing actions were confusing her, almost as though he was saying and giving acceptance through his actions and yet warning her away with his words spoken or not. To her it seemed almost like he was fighting himself. She had been certain earlier that he was disgusted by her but just a moment ago while he'd been staring, the subtle change in his eyes had made her heart pound. In Atlantis why had he gotten so possessive and protective when that priest had almost touched her? Her life had not been in danger yet he'd stepped in anyway. In some ways he'd acted almost jealous. But that couldn't be right.

Kagome's eyes darted to where he stood waiting turned partially away from her. Curiously she studied him as though hoping to pull the secrets from him with her eyes. He looked different dressed in the rough cloth of the tunic and breeches he wore. They seemed completely out of place on his regal form, however they did lend an air of earth to his otherworldly beauty. Over all Kagome found that she liked the look. The style of the clothes made her frown. They seemed familiar but it was as though the information was permanently on the tip of her tongue...

“Hey you! What in the bloody hell are you doing with my laundry?”