Fallen

Chapter 3

Later that day, after arriving at the mountain fortress and giving a firm look at Jaken to remain silent Lord Sesshomaru headed to his rooms to finish his preparations that had been interrupted. He had been careful to avoid the main gate given his current state of dress or lack there of and his unwelcome company. Kagome followed like a shadow trying as hard as she could not to draw attention to herself. Jaken's incessant squawking was starting to give her a head ache and considering all that had happened earlier that day, her fuse was short and her patience had worn to fraying, something inside Kagome snapped.

“Do you ever shut up you bug-eyed, loud-mouthed, slimy toad-like, son of a whore?!” Kagome snapped at the Kappa. His bug eyes widened. “How Dare you! You filthy disgraceful human, you have no business speaking to me that way! It was wise of the half breed to use you and then be rid of you. You insult my Lords presence with your dirty...” What ever he'd been about to say was lost in the resounding slap. Kagome towered over him shaking in fury. Jaken had seen his lord in Full demon array several times before but for some reason the look in Kagome's eyes made his small frame shudder with regret at stirring this human to her full priestess form. Jaken gulped looking frantically at his Lord...

Truthfully Sesshomaru should have stepped in and stopped the fight as it began, but he was far too amused with the idea that Jaken had picked a fight with the shikon no miko. It would be informative to learn her abilities but it would also be a nuisance to try to train another servant and though annoying Jaken was capable. Kagome glared with stored up fury and a thunderous expression on her face. Jaken lowered himself further and skulked off toward the kitchens. Kagome watched him with unabated dislike and loathing. “Miko, enough.” Sesshomaru stated turning his back to continue. He was loath to rush but Jaken's announcement of the onna's presence had been made at the top of his loud screechy voice and he did not want to be seen dressed as he was with a human woman. There would be questions enough as it was. He did not need his honor questioned as well.

Without looking back Sesshomaru made his way to his rooms and slipped through the shoji screen. He paused as there was an odd sensation with in him and a slight pop to his left. His lips turned down in displeasure. “Onna, what do you think you are doing?” Her blue eyes were impossibly wide as she looked around at the darkly opulent room. “I didn't do anything...” she stuttered nervously. Sesshomaru glared, “Remove yourself from this room at once.” he ordered cutting her off.

Once her back was turned and she was walking to the door he pulled on the thin obi of his bathing robe...and blinked. He was standing in the hallway facing Kagome his hands on the ends of the loosed obi. Kagome's face was bright red and she looked horrified. With a growl Sesshomaru spun back to his room and shut the screen with far more force than necessary. No sooner had the screen closed then Kagome reappeared. “I am losing my patience with this game. Remove yourself this instant!” he ordered harshly. “But, I didn't choose to come in here!”Kagome protested “ I was standing in the hall and then when I could no longer see you...” he looked at her as she hesitated. “Finish.” he commanded. Kagome frowned feeling helpless. “I found myself in here.”

He growled again. “Fine turn yourself and do not look.” Kagome spun around crossing her arms. “Who would want to!” she snapped back. He turned his own back and moved dress. Irritated and unnerved by the potential situation that the spell had put him in, he was harsher on the ties and fastenings than usual and he winced internally as he heard the sound of tearing silk. His sharp eyes examined the rip and found it to be a minor one where it would not be seen. He finished dressing and turned tucking his sword through his obi.

Properly clothed he swept from his rooms and headed to his study with Kagome red faced and chewing her lip in tow. “Sit.” he said walking to his shelves of scrolls. She wasn't used to being told to sit, again thoughts of Inuyasha shot into her mind and she clenched her fist and fused her teeth together willing thoughts of him to leave her mind. Silently Sesshomaru began digging through the documents and setting one or two aside. His hand brushed one scroll and he pulled back in surprise. Lifting the ancient parchment he blew the dust from it. It pulsed in his hand. Silently he studied the roll of parchment with his watchful eyes. It seemed to be similar to the scroll that the girl had. If there was a hope of undoing one spell it would be with another and hopefully this scroll would hold the key.

Walking back to his desk he removed his sword and sat on his floor cushion. Setting the scroll on the desk he removed the tie binding it closed. Reaching down to the opposite side of his obi he retrieved the other scroll. Kagome watched his deliberate moves with trepidation. Though his face was the same perfectly blank mask his eyes held a dangerous gleam. If the spell was undone Kagome knew she was going to die. But her jaw set in a firm line as she promised herself she would not die with out a fight...

Sesshomaru ignored the onna as he focused on the scrolls. He was unsurprised at the reaction of the new scroll and forcefully encouraged it in to submission as he had it's counterpart. “Now then.” he said picking up the scroll and giving it a tug. It didn't budge. He frowned as he looked at the uncompliant document. He growled and tossed it Kagome's direction. “Open it.” he fairly snarled. Kagome's eyes narrowed at the order but she did as asked. Another set of lines in the same elegant scrip were written there. “Read it.” he ordered reasoning that as she had been the one to cast it she would have to undo it.

Kagome looked at the scroll and back at the youkai lord. “Oh no. Reading one of those things got me in to this. You read it.” she argued. His eyes narrowed. “I have neither the time or the patience for this. Read it.”

She raised her chin stubbornly. “I will not.” she said. He raised an eyebrow at her tone and gave her his coldest glare. She glared back. “You must think I am a complete idiot, well I'll have you know I am not. I know very well that if I read that scroll and undo the spell that you will kill me. I don't really like the situation but it seems that you need me so I would like to negotiate.”

Sesshomaru's eyes widened minutely as he took in her words. The girl had some nerve if nothing else. It was a first for him. No one had ever dared to act the way this human onna had to him. Her total lack of deference was shocking. She did not lower her eyes and she spoke her mind incessantly. Begrudgingly he had to admit she was smarter than he'd taken her for. It annoyed him to no end that she was right. But that was usually the way of such spells, one either had to cast a separate spell and hope it canceled out the first or get the original caster to undo it. She was no spell caster and so there was no way to undo it. He resisted the urge to sigh. “Very well, what are your terms?”