A Sister's Gift

Chapter 13 – Temporary Shelter

The trip had so far been fairly uneventful. Four days on horseback to Kagome, was more than enough. She had places aching in pain, that she was, until now, unaware of even having on her body. She wriggled a little to the left. The blasted saddle kept slipping to the right. Humph. Kagome was not at all sure that this particular gift was all that great.

‘She’s shifting around again. Hmmm that’s three, no four times, in the last thirty minutes. Sesshomaru shook his head lightly. The miko was becoming an intriguing creature indeed. He found that she was a constant source of entertainment. She refused to complain, but her body movements and facial expressions clearly advertised the emotions for her. Things of beauty drew her attention and she would absolutely glow while taking it all in.

Kagome had never been so bored in her entire life. Sesshomaru wasn’t exactly Mr. talkative, and there was only so much one could do on horseback, besides groan in pain. Kagome sighed, as she leaned forward and gave her mare a nice pat on the neck. She really wasn’t a bad horse, and Kagome was thankful for her mounts gentle disposition. Suddenly the mare stopped, and Kagome looked over to Sesshomaru who had reined in his horse.

He had his chin tilted up and was sniffing the air. Kagome glanced around. The narrow road was cut through a rather thick portion of forest, and the gray skies looming above blocked out much of the light, making the path rather dim. Up ahead it appeared the road took a turn to skirt around the base of a mountainous cliff. She hoped there was no danger, but knew better than to interrupt Sesshomaru.

“Come Kagome, we must ride hard for those cliffs. There is a powerful storm about to rain down upon us.” Sesshomaru kicked his horse hard and momentarily the animal was startled into rearing onto its hind legs. Kagome gulped when her mare pranced about. Pent up energy ready to be released. Both horses burst forth into long galloping strides.

Sesshomaru observed the miko as she crouched down against her mare. The wind flying through her hair sent her ebony locks dancing behind her. Her garments beat against the winds resistance. Her full lips were turned up in an exciting smile, as she urged the black mare faster. For the first time she was truly enjoying the ride. She was a magnificent woman.

The taiyoukai allowed Kagome to pull ahead as he took in her wind swept features, but as the cliffs began to loom above he released the tightly controlled hold he had on his spirited steed. The gilding took the lead from the mare and Sesshomaru turned his attentions back to the cliffs ahead. He spotted what he had been hoping for and headed for the cave.

Kagome felt a huge drop of water pelt her face as Sesshomaru began pulling in the horses towards the shallow cave at the base of the cliff. Another drop, and another as she quickly leapt down from her saddle, immediately moving to untie the pack thrown over the back of the saddle. She looked to Sesshomaru who had just deposited his saddle in the shelter. He moved to her side and slipped the girth strap loose and snatched the saddle from the mare.

The bottom broke through the clouds and a flood of rain began to pound the dry earth. Both taiyoukai and miko stood at the mouth of the cave watching the downpour. Lightning illuminated the sky and the boom of thunder made Kagome squeal out. Sesshomaru instinctively placed his arm around her waist, sending shooting flames of sensation through Kagome’s body. Suddenly Kagome noticed how small the cave really was.

Sesshomaru immediately noticed as Kagome stiffened at his touch. Once again he watched as the rosy flush covered her delicate cheeks. She looked up to him with shyness in her eyes. He briefly wondered if she had any idea how lovely she was, when her dark heavy lashes batted innocently up at him. He knew it was wrong. This feeling that surged through his body. He knew it would only bring him pain in the end, but still he lowered his head to capture her full lips.

Kagome gasped as his soft lips brushed against her own. The tight heat in her belly flared to an almost unbearable pain. Kagome closed her eyes and enjoyed the tender kiss, which ended sooner than she would have liked.

Sesshomaru quickly released her waist and stiffened his back. He stepped back from Kagome and much to her horror he fell to one knee at her side and began to stroke his cheek on her stomach. “Please forgive this Sesshomaru, Mistress Kagome. I should never have done that.”

Kagome didn’t know what to say. She had enjoyed the gentle kiss entirely too much, all-the-while her mind was screaming that this would only lead to heartbreak. Now he was begging her forgiveness, reminding her with a vengeance of the true reality of their relationship. He was her property. Magic bound him to her. Kagome felt the tears building as she moved her tiny hand to his head. She patted him reassuringly as the tears traced a path down her cheek.

The remainder of the evening they were trapped in the damp cave as the sky unleashed its fury upon the Earth. Kagome gnawed on her piece of jerky as she stared out into the downpour. The pelting rain was invisible in the darkness, but the sound of it lured her eyes. Better that than to look at Sesshomaru. By the Gods she had never wished more to be somewhere else.

After the incident when they first arrived, neither had spoken a word, and the tension in the air was simply stifling. Kagome washed down the dried meat as she picked through a bowl of stale rice. Deciding she’d really rather go hungry than to attempt to force down another bite, Kagome cleared the mess and returned to settle in for the night. She shivered a little from the chill in the air, and snuggled down into her makeshift bed. There had been no dry wood for a fire, so unfortunately the blanket would have to do.

Kagome replayed the kiss over and over in her mind. Why had he kissed her in the first place? He was an exasperating man. One minute he was a proud and powerful taiyoukai, and the next minute he was groveling at her feet. Why? Why had he done it? He knew very well that he had not angered her or disobeyed any rule. He made that move of his own accord. Perhaps he wished to burn the fact of his status into her mind. Did he wish to punish her for his lost freedom? These questions and more raced around in her mind as she finally began to drift off from the exhaustion her body felt.

Sesshomaru relaxed once Kagome’s breathing evened out. She was sleeping at last. What had he been thinking kissing her? What possessed him to bare his soul to her at that moment? He silently cursed himself for the baka he was. He became wrapped up in the moment, forgetting his station. Forgetting the differences between them. As soon as he pulled away from her sweet lips he was assaulted with the tremendous stupidity of his actions. He reacted rashly, dropping to his knees in an act of submission, begging for forgiveness. Even as he spoke the words he regretted having done so. The salty smell of her tears stung his nose, sending a wave of remorse coursing through his heart. What had he done?

He fixed his gaze on her as she slept. Her troubles of the day were washed away from her soft features. She appeared to be so peaceful, as if she were an innocent cherub. Her pouty lips parted just a fraction, as she slowly drew in each breath. Sesshomaru felt a heavy weight on his heart, as he looked upon her sleeping form.

A taiyoukai who had survived three centuries in this cold hearted world. The Great Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands. A demon who had once reigned above all others. A fierce and proud leader, who ruled with an iron fist. Too confident in his status as ruler and too sure of his own power, he had walked through year after year of his life ignorant to anything except the stone around his heart. Sesshomaru released a deep breath as he leaned further against the saddle at his back. How blind he had been.

He lost it all, and it happened so fast. He underestimated the impact that the neighboring ningens would have upon his own lands. The secret alliances made. As their bloody battle spilled over into his domain, he fought with the strength of his ancestors to hold them off. His army of youkai, were simply out numbered. Wave after wave of humans rushed against his troops. They never really had a chance. It was only a matter of time, before their bodies became exhausted. For every one he killed, two more humans came to take the place. Two days of continuous battle weakened him, until finally he made a mistake and a fatal blow was delivered. A flash of the devastation around him was the last thing he remembered.

Sesshomaru had awakened many days later. How many? He had no idea, but the stench of decaying warriors sent his body into a blinding fit of painful heaving. The hole through the left side of his chest was gaping and the flesh was torn and filthy. It had taken a willpower beyond anything he knew he possessed to drag himself to a stream. He lay for days hidden in a huge burrow, until he regained enough strength to move to a safer location. It was a month before the pain was completely gone, and his body healed. By that time his fortress and holdings had been lost to the Emperor’s soldiers. His own forces had been decimated.

Sesshomaru wondered the countryside for many years. Alone, he moved through the forests as a phantom, avoiding every other living being. Destroying mindless beasts who crossed him and burying his emotional pain securely inside his stone heart. Until the day he met her. She changed everything. He lost his freedom because of her, but what kind of life had he really been leading? He had been making his way through his pathetic existence day by day. An empty shell of what he had once been. Yes, he lost his freedom, but in a sense he had regained something that had been stripped from him, something completely forgotten. Passion. Passion for oneself, and passion for another. Passion for life.

The little miko’s sleeping face brought a smile to his stoic features. She has sparked a zest for life in his soul. Her innocent looks, and batting eyelashes. Her feminine giggles and pouty expressions. Sesshomaru let his thoughts drift away. With his mind exhausted, the demon closed his shining golden eyes, as sleep finally claimed him.