Misfortune Followed Us Home ch.16
“What the hell just happened,” thought Kagome as she sat in the onsen.
She pulled out her body wash and began to wash mechanically as she tried to decipher what had just occurred. Sesshoumaru had just kissed her, ravished her and left her confused and wanting for more. She had closed her eyes in anticipation of what he would do to her, waited as a passing breeze caressed her skin and when she opened her eyes, he was gone. To say she was angry was putting it mildly but, as the heady haze of lust faded away she realized it was for the best. She started to prepare to return to camp but realized at the last moment she must be covered in Sesshoumaru’s scent so she settled back down in the water to wash it off. She began to wonder why exactly he had responded to her that way and furthermore, what was she thinking giving in so easily. Had she lost her mind? The answer was clear, she wasn’t. From the moment he touched her, no, from when that drop of water disappeared, she had been ripe for the picking. She had felt that growing need, that desire. His touch had warmed her, his kiss set her ablaze. Now that she was cooling off she didn’t know what to do next. She rinsed off and washed her hair. She wrapped a towel around her sodden locks while she dressed in her sleeping kimono. Gathering her supplies she made her way back to camp. It was silent when she entered; looked as if everyone had gone to bed already. A pot sat above the fire pit simmering, Kagome leaned over peeked in. Rabbit stew, it smelt delicious and her stomach growled. She went into her tent, checking on Shippo, he and Rin still in the same position, before she ventured into her bag to drop off her dirty clothes and bathing supplies. She grabbed a cushion off the shelf and went back outside. She tossed the cushion down next to the pit and grabbed a bowl, ladling stew into it. The bowl warmed her hands as she settled down on the cushion and began to eat. Sango had really become a good cook. “Sesshoumaru isn’t here,” she thought, not that she expected him to be. She tried to forget, kept trying, but the feel of his lips could not be erased from her mind. She finished eating and wandered back to the stream to wash her bowl and utensils. She unwrapped her towel from her head as she made her way back to camp, it was still damp and she rubbed the tresses gently trying to remove the excess water. She dragged the cushion back into her bag and found a hair tie and a comb; she sat, combing out her locks before she twisted her hair into a messy bun. She stumbled out of the bag tired and crawled into her sleeping bag, cuddling her pillow and drifted off to sleep.
Kagome awoke to darkness the next morning. Groggy and disoriented she crawled out of her tent and looked around trying to sense what it was that woke her. Finding nothing she prepared to go back to sleep when she felt it, a subtle push against her aura. She groaned inwardly as she looked at the sky. Judging by the moon and the stars it could not have been more than four thirty or five o’clock in the morning. Whoever it was could wait she grumbled as she crawled back into the tent. She felt another push, this one more forceful and she angrily stormed out of the tent. Another gentle push and she stomped after the trailing aura to a small forest glen. By the time she stopped, turning around in circles and searching the glen, her aura was dancing wildly with her anger. Kagome was not a morning person.
“Miko.”
She growled rather impressively as the Inuyoukai came strolling out of the forest. “You!”
“Perhaps you would like to take a seat,” he said as he gestured to the center of the clearing.
“You!”
“Yes Miko, we have already established that I am me, have a seat.”
She huffed and, while glaring angrily, plopped down where he pointed. She stared pointedly at him with crossed arms while drumming her fingers on her bicep.
“Miko-“
“You left me,” she stated rather matter-o-factly.
“Miko-“
“Why?”
“What do you know of youkai?”
“Not much for raising one. They, you are instinctual creatures. You speak more with actions than words. Canines are a more protective and pack centered breed. Of course this is all based upon my interactions and most of those have been of canine origin.”
“That is enough. Youkai are indeed instinct driven. What occurred earlier was a consequence of sorts.”
“Consequence.”
“You are entering your heat cycle.”
“Heat?”
He nearly sighed, “Your fertility cycle Miko.”
“Oh,” she said, heat flushing her cheeks. “So what does that have to do with last night?”
“Your body is giving off a scent that calls to a youkai’s baser instinct, telling that you are ready to be pupped.”
“That means pregnant, right?”
“Correct.”
“But, my scent hasn’t affected Inuyasha.”
“The hanyou is of no consequence in this matter. His inferior senses would cause nothing in him but a more aggressive need to protect you. He perhaps might stay closer to you than usual. His instincts war with each other. He does not fully grasp the concept.”
“So-“
“Miko. Enough questions. We have not yet addressed why I brought you here.”
“And that would be?”
He resisted the urge to bang his head against a tree. “I need to teach you how to mask your scent. It should decrease the amount of hostility you will undoubtedly bring our way.”
“Hey!”
“Miko. Be practical. You aura alone is a beacon. The scent of your heat charged with your power will tempt even the strongest willed youkai. The temptation will only grow each day you heat progresses. What will you do if a youkai traces your scent and finds the shikon no tama?”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Hnn.”
“I’m going to ignore that little snide remark, and just let you provide the lesson.”
“Hnn. It is simple. Take it and draw it into yourself.”
“How?”
“It is not so difficult Miko, simply try.”
Kagome shifted to the lotus position, concentrating. She tried to pull her aura back, deep into herself. She imagined pulling her aura close, like a blanket covering her head to toe, and it sinking into her skin.
“Well Miko you at least managed to suppress your aura, but we are trying for scent. In all actuality your aura keeps away most lesser youkai, the promise of death being too great. Try again.”
Kagome growled but did make a second attempt. This time she imagined a trail, stretching as far as the eye can see. It fell like a ribbon behind her. She grasped the imaginary trail and pulled it into her, inch by inch until it disappeared.
“Hnn.” Sesshoumaru rose gracefully, turned and walked back into the forest. “Are you not coming Miko? I assume you remember the way to camp, do you not?”
Kagome huffed and marched ahead of him into the forest in the direction of camp.
AN: I don't really like that explaination of scent masking. At the time that was all I could come up with. It seems too simple to me (I wanted her to work for it) so if someone has a suggestion, PM me. I would greatly appreciate it.
