Masquerade

Author’s Note: In my defense, Kanela kept distracting me. You want proof?


Kanela: my little cousin is here with me
Kanela: and keeps touching my screen
Kanela: each time he pokes at it I die a bit on the inside...
Sada: Um... Sorry... That's gotta be just a little distracting
Kanela: my left eye is twitching
Kanela: he keeps babbling guau guau...figures he wants to look for doggy images
Sada: Just think happy thoughts. Like naked Sesshoumaru... and Legolas... and Miroku…
Kanela: good thing my cousin doesn't even read
Sada: That's what I was hoping, but your still imagining it aren't you?
Kanela: hell yeah....


You see?! Yahoo! Messenger is to blame. Then again, Kanz gets spoilers and is able read my stuff before anybody else because she talks to me on it.


Chapter Twenty-Three – Well Maybe We Were Made for Each Other



“I hate you!”

Upon Leiko’s arrival, Masao had been oddly pleased. Now, he was oddly not. “Why do you-”

“You left me to die!”

“I was the distraction! I helped you escape!”

Leiko growled and pushed her sopping hair away from her face. Briefly, she considered strangulation, but that wouldn’t do. Masao’s neck was too big for her hands. So instead, using one of those human guns would do.

Sesshoumaru stepped in between them, looking down on his dripping cousin. “Why did you have so many men chasing you?”

From her place by the fire, Hatsuho stood. “I can answer that.”

Sesshoumaru turned blankly to the dog… cat… female.

“The owner of the brothel doesn’t really exist. She’s actually-”

“But we saw her! She was small and lean and smelt-” Masao clamped a hand over Leiko’s mouth and smiled at Hatsuho.

“Please continue.”

Hatsuho grinned at their show, but turned back to the taiyoukai. “She is a puppet of the priestess in the Northern lands. I discovered this accidentally, and so-”

“When you left they wanted to stop you and silence you so no one would know what was happening… right?” Kagome asked, appearing next to Sesshoumaru.

Hatsuho looked at the priestess in a confused manner, “When did the human get here?”

And as the rocks from the canyon crashed down upon the shocked campsite and horror-stricken Northern lord, Inuyasha laughed.

He’d killed the Northern lord! The war was over! Now all he had to do was find the evil priestess and-

Shinidamachu.

Inuyasha watched the glowing thief as it floated through the air with a ghostly wail, transfixed for a moment. He sheathed Tetsusaiga and turned his back to it, surveying the buried camp of the Northern lord. Sniffing carefully, he searched for any signs of life. Finding none, his attention was drawn once more to the soul-stealer as it glided away.

Hesitation made his fingers twitch and the muscles in his legs tense as the howl from the creature faded away. He cast one more look to the avalanche he had caused, then turned and chased after the shinidamachu.

And this time they met by a river, water and memories rushing past the maiden fluently.

“Kikyou,” Inuyasha said in a strong voice, only the spasms of his dog-ears giving away his feelings.

Kikyou kept her gaze on the water around her feet, wishing she could experience the water beating around her legs in the middle of the stream. “Inuyasha,” she murmured to her reflection, her unbound hair hiding her face from the hanyou.

“Why did you call me, Kikyou?” Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. If you don’t look at me I can pretend I don’t love you. Don’t look at me.

Kikyou lifted her head up, but kept her eyes away from him. “You destroyed the Northern lord?”

Inuyasha grinned. “Yeah, the bastard didn’t stand a chance.”

A smile flitted over Kikyou’s lips, but disappeared without a trace before the wind could carry it. “He is not who you should be worried about.”

Inuyasha snorted and sat down against a tree, hugging Tetsusaiga to his chest. “He’s dead, of course I ain’t gotta worry about him.”

A mirthless laugh drifted from her throat, but Inuyasha savored it all the same. “Obviously you are not listening to me.” She turned in the water, looking straight at him. “The priestess is the one you should be hunting. The Northern lord was but a puppet for her…” Kikyou’s eyebrows drew down a little and her eyes grew distant in thought.

“What is it, Kikyou?”

Her gaze focused on his face once again. “I’ve heard… rumors… They state the priestess is not even that. That she is a form of demon… though I can’t be sure of their soundness.”

Inuyasha leaned forward, his neck straining as he took in her words. “You think another demon is behind this? But what about all the tainted holy powers that people have sensed on others hurt by the Northern lord’s followers?”

Kikyou shifted again and stepped onto the bank of river. “I said they were rumors, did I not?”

Inuyasha winced at the hard tone but nodded. “Yeah, I guess…”

Their eyes met, the brilliant gold of his melting into the dark brown of hers. His ears twitched once again and she couldn’t stop the small smile that came to her lips, nor could she hide it from the wind that blew. Inuyasha’s eyes softened, the stress from days and months and years pouring out of his body to get swept away by the current.

It was hate at first sight.

Kagome and Hatsuho were in a grudge match, both refused to be the first to give. Kagome’s eyes narrowed further and she crossed her arms. Hatsuho’s eyes followed her example, her body shifting to a more comfortably position in her seat.

On the sidelines, Masao and Leiko were locked in a crucial debate concerning the future of their daughter.

“She’s a hanyou-youkai. End of discussion.”

“No, she’s a youkai-hanyou.”

“Uh-uh! She’s a youkai. And a hanyou.”

“Nuh-uh! She’s a… neko plus inu… inu-neko!”

“Neko-inu. Cat comes first.”

“No way! I gave birth to her, so inu should come first.”

“I made her-”

“Hey!”

“It was my seed!”

“It was my stomach!”

“I started the entire process!”

“I made you orga-”

“Okay!” Kagome said standing up abruptly and waving her hands around, “It’s time to end the conversation. Before you banish my mind to a life of inertia.”

Sesshoumaru dropped to the ground next to her from a tree somewhere and stared at Kagome broodingly. “What’s wrong with you?” She asked, facing him.

Leiko, Masao and Hatsuho blinked. “Do you see something wrong with him?” Masao muttered, studying Sesshoumaru’s face.

“He looks exactly the same as always to me,” Leiko answered, scratching her head.

“The wolf is approaching,” Sesshoumaru responded darkly.

Kagome’s eyes lit up. “Kouga-kun?”

Sesshoumaru frowned minutely. “If that is what you insist on calling it, yes.”

Kagome’s nose scrunched. “It?”

“Kagome!”

Her eyes lit up again. “Kouga-kun!”

Masao groaned. Not this again.

Kouga ground to a halt, kicking dirt and leaves on Masao and Leiko. He’s fast even without the jewel shards, Kagome noted before she was seized and crushed into his arms. “It’s so good to see you again,” Kagome said hoarsely, trying not to choke on the fur covering his shoulder.

He released her and stepped away, grinning wolfishly.

Kagome winced at the cliché pun.

“How’s my woman?”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking. How have you been?”

Kouga shrugged and looked around, noticing for the first time the company. “Lord Sesshoumaru,” he greeted, nodding.

Sesshoumaru’s nose twitched and he turned away from the wolf. “Prince Kouga,” he returned icily.

Kouga glanced over at Masao and Leiko. “Inu, Neko.”

The two bowed shallowly, smiling.

Kouga faced Hatsuho. “Inu… Neko… Hanyou… Youkai…” He scratched his chin, “Youkai-hanyou.”

Masao laughed triumphantly. “Ha! I told you!”

Leiko growled and shoved her hands in her sleeves, complaining irritably.

Hatsuho, however, only glared at Kouga. “My name is Hatsuho. It would be best if you used it.”

Kouga glanced back at her briefly, “Yeah, whatever.”

Kagome giggled, trying to hide it by shoving her face in her hands.

Sesshoumaru turned back to the group, scrutinizing the lingering glare between the wolf and inu-neko, a conniving scheme forming rapidly in his brain. Kagome, noticing his stare, put her hand on his shoulder. “Sesshoumaru-sama?” Sesshoumaru shrugged her hand off and almost grinned in satisfaction. Kagome huffed and rolled her eyes. Jerk.

He could feel the cold exuding from her skin. He could feel the cloth of her priestess robes brushing against him. He could smell herbs, wildflowers, children and linen floating from her hair. He could feel her emotions – so much warmer on the inside than the outside – floating through her empty limbs.

She could feel his aura. She could feel the hope, anger, compassion, and doubt. She could feel a reflection of herself – of the living, breathing priestess who picked flowers and laughed with the village children – swimming through his memories. She could feel the eyes on the side of her face, trailing over her features longingly.

“So she is traveling with Sesshoumaru then?”

“Yeah… I still have to go beat the sh- crap out of him for that.”

Why do you guard yourself around me? “And the cat-youkai? Is he still with them?”

The same reasons you do. “What cat-youkai? There was another one?”

Oh. You’re undead too? When did this happen? “You couldn’t sense him on her clothing?”

That isn’t funny. You know what I meant. “It was a him?!”

We are both alone, then. Our emotions cause trouble in our lives and to face them would be certain doom. “He hadn’t returned to them, last I checked…”

… And we were both abandoned in a way. “So she’s traveling alone with my brother.”

Aren’t our similarities funny? “It would seem as such.”

Not really. “Stupid girl. She’s going to get herself killed, you know.”

I think so… You look half-dead anyway. “Perhaps… The youkai lord doesn’t seem particularly fond of her, anyway.”

How so? “He isn’t very fond of anybody. Least of all humans.”

You’ve faded. Your aura and energy, is it because of Kagome’s absence? “That’s how most demons are… Do you know where they were traveling?”

No… It isn’t, I guess… “Towards Okinawa Island.”

Then why? Is something wrong with that ridiculously large sword of yours? “What will they be doing there?”

Tetsusaiga is fine. I guess it’s because I haven’t seen you in such a long time. “Getting rid of the Shikon jewel once and for all.”

I don’t believe that. I refuse to believe that. “How do they think they can accomplish that?”

You always were abnormally stubborn. For a woman. “I’m not sure; Kaede just said it was really dangerous.”

I never thought you to be a hypocrite, Inuyasha. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

Are you calling me a woman? “She isn’t going there with Sesshoumaru. I won’t allow it.”

That… wasn’t funny. “And you think you will be able to stop her? They are most likely already half-way there.”

Yes it was. You know it was. “So I should probably get going then…” But I don’t want to.

Maybe it was… amusing. “You should.” I-… I don’t want you to either.

I knew it. “… Can I see you again?”

No, you only hoped it was so. “Perhaps…”

“Good-bye, Kikyou.” I’ll miss you.

“Farewell, Inuyasha.” It was funny. But you didn’t hear it from me.



It’s such a pretty night. Kagome sighed and dangled a leg off the branch she had situated herself on, trying to ignore the ground that was so far below her. She sighed again, inhaling the scent of the forest.

“Miko.”

Okay, that’s really getting old.

“Youkai.”

“What are you doing in this tree?” He asked, settling himself calmly next to her.

“Bird watching,” she said dully, ignoring his irritated stare.

“Have you finally gotten over your fear of heights, then?”

Sure. I don’t dream of plummeting to my death every time I raise four feet in the air. Nope, not me. “Of course!”

Your sarcasm is unappreciated. “We will be arriving at the coast in four days.”

But so worth it. “Are you sure your not going to come with me- us?”

Have you always been this way? “The others are not leaving the mainland. It will just be you and I at Okinawa.”

Sarcastic? Not really. I think it was my way of dealing with Kikyou-sensei’s constant pessimistic views. “That is very foreboding. Actually, it’s an omen. We shouldn’t go.”

So why am I on the receiving end of your ‘humor’? “Traveling to Okinawa is an omen?”

Are you calling yourself optimistic? “No, traveling alone together is an omen. And a very, very bad one at that.”

No. What do you think I am? “Someday I hope listening to you will pay off.”

I-… I can’t answer that, Sesshoumaru-sama. “What is that supposed to mean?”

And why not, miko? You have an answer for everything else. “It means that eventually something useful will come from your mouth, I hope.”

Because you can’t be defined. I’d call you heartless but you took care of an orphan, I’d call you emotionless but you grow so angry… Just, I’m not even going to try. “You have no hope.”

Good. You were completely off mark anyway. “What does that mean, woman?”

Oh? Then why don’t you define me? “You never look on the bright side of anything, Sesshoumaru-sama. Would it kill you to lighten up once in a while?”

You’re loud, annoying, powerful, short-tempered, cheerful, too hopeful, imperfect and… oddly acceptable. “Most likely.”

Uhm… I don’t know whether to blush or yell at you. “Har, har. But really… can I ask you question?”

Go with blushing. “How many times have you asked me that?”

Oh? You were complimenting me then? “Look, do you still hate me? For being human?”

No, blushing is just quieter then yelling. “I hate humans.”

Shut-up. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Are you ordering this Sesshoumaru to do something, ningen? “Hn. I was pretty sure it covered the answer.”

Yes. This Kagome is. “Well… I-… I hate you too, so there.”

You’ve signed your death warrant, then. “How very depressing.”

… We aren’t being serious… are we? “Oh, just be quiet.”

Hn. “Quit ordering me to do things, woman. I do not listen to others.”

“No, because if you did you would have picked up on all the signs Hatsuho was throwing you.”

“Signs?”

“Oh come on! You honestly couldn’t tell?”

“Tell what?”

“She was ready to spread her legs for you!”

“She’s the daughter of my cousin.”

“She doesn’t know that.”

Sesshoumaru’s nose wrinkled. Unacceptable.

Kagome’s eyes lit up and she looked to Sesshoumaru, sitting so she could tug on his sleeve. “Can I tell her? Please?”

Sesshoumaru gazed down at her. “Why are you so excited about this?”

She inched closer to him, her eyes dreamy. “Can’t you picture it? The disgust on her face when she finds out she’s been flirting with her… Uhm… what would that make you two?”

Sesshoumaru shrugged and continued to stare at her, ever more responsive to their nearness. “Relatives,” he offered as explanation.

That scent was wrapping around her head again, lacing indolently in her thoughts like a serpent. She blinked when a raindrop hit her and looked up. Lightening flashed through the dark sky and she whimpered, moving just a little closer to Sesshoumaru. “We shouldn’t be in this tree while it’s thunder storming. It’s dangerous and stupid.”

Sesshoumaru tilted his head a little to the right, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Another drop hit Kagome’s cheek and her tongue darted out to taste the water on her skin, looking up at the lightening.

Sesshoumaru’s hand clenched in the material of his pants, “Kagome,” he said slowly, drawing out her name.

Kagome turned to him, more raindrops trailing down her features. “Yeah?”

He tasted them. His tongue caught a single bead of water on one of her cheekbones, drawing up her smooth skin leisurely before retreating again. He pulled away and studied her wide eyes and open mouth for a span of two seconds before jumping down and to hit the soil. “You said it was dangerous being in a tree during a thunder storm, didn’t you miko?”

Kagome took a deep breath and climbed down the tree after him. Just ignore it. Yep. That’s what I’m going to do. “You could get electrified,” she said when she was standing next to him, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Hm. What does it mean to get electrified?”

Kagome looked up at him and smiled, happy to be on a subject she understood. “Well, everyone has positive or negative…”

Sesshoumaru listened intently to her explanation until they were back where they’d started. When she was finished she took a deep breath and smiled brilliantly. “And that’s what it means to get electrified.”

“Hn.”

Her shoulders drooped, “I give you a well though-out, detailed explanation and all you give me is a ‘hn’?”

Sesshoumaru inclined his head. “Hn,” he replied, stretching out the note.

Kagome grumbled and walked away from him, kicking a stone. “Stupid, stupid…”

The youkai lord stared at her back with sharp, dramatic eyes.

Electrified indeed.



Sesshoumaru: …

Kagome: You licked me.


Author: Smut. Soon. Smut. Soon.

Plot: Over my dead body! In fact, there will be no smut! In fact- What are you doing with that axe?

And the conversation thing ma-bobber is a “read between the lines” kind of thing. They can’t interpret each other’s minds or anything but… it’s like an unspoken sentiment.

SADA HATES BEING UNORIGINAL!

SO, NO, THEY AREN’T FUCKING TELAPATHIC!!

I've neglected this site because I was so far behind. But I'll start posting here again if I get positive feedback, all right?