Surprising Love

Disclaimer: Refer to ch. 6.

Inuyasha's Return

Kagome’s days were a strict schedule now. Every morning found her up before the sun rose, training. Afterwards, she ate a small breakfast followed immediately by meditating until lunch. She ate these two meals by herself, so she spent her afternoon with Rin, playing or teaching her. Dinner was a little tricky after the incident. Kagome and Sesshomaru actively avoided each other. Night found Kagome training once again before dipping into the hot springs and going to bed.

After about a month of this, a familiar scent wafted over the mansion as Kagome played in the field with Rin. Placing Rin in a dense patch of posies, Kagome motioned for her to stay quiet. With an effortless leap, Kagome landed on the wall surrounding Sesshomaru’s land. Both of her midnight black ears swiveled towards the sound of panting and pounding footsteps.

“I should’ve never left her…I should’ve went straight to her,” Inuyasha growls met her ears. Kagome leaned a little forward to hear better. “Kikyo is dead and I still went to look for her…How could I have been so stupid.”

Kagome growled dangerously low. She didn’t even realize she had picked up the irritating sound from Sesshomaru. Leaping off the wall, Kagome grabbed Rin and Jaken and sprinted straight for Rin’s room. Kagome gently placed them both inside the door, whispering instructions for them to stay silent and not to let Rin look out the windows.

Shutting the door quickly, Kagome sped off in the direction of Sesshomaru’s office. She didn’t know why she felt compelled to let her kidnapper know her rescuers had arrived, but she couldn’t let him be unprepared either.

Kagome burst into Sesshomaru’s study unannounced and skidded to a halt. Sketching a quick bow, Kagome apologized for the unexpected meeting. She could smell Sesshomaru’s slight agitation and his familiar affections even though he tried to mask it.

“Inuyasha is approaching, Sesshomaru,” she told him in the calm voice she had finally mastered. She was almost able to match Sesshomaru’s emotionless state, but she didn’t like to.

“So?”

“Well, I thought to let you know,” Kagome said in a slight bewilderment.

“I have all ready known this,” Sesshomaru told her blandly. He watched with a slight interest as her face remained carefully blank. “You’re nervous,” he told her matter-of-factly, “Don’t be. Come and let us deal with this occasion.”

Gracefully, Lord Sesshomaru rose from his chair and led the way out of the office. With long, fluid strides, Kagome and Sesshomaru covered the distance to the main courtyard and the main gates. Just as they neared the steps, Inuyasha ran into view.

His silver hair was in disarray from fighting. Blood was splattered across his kimono and his Tetsusaiga was dripping in it. Kagome could smell the blood of the demon guards easily. Kagome realized this was her first time having to smell blood, and she couldn’t see how Inuyasha and Sesshomaru could stand the reeking stench.

“Welcome to my home, half-blood,” Sesshomaru called out to Inuyasha and the rest in his cold detached voice. Kagome swallowed against her nervous jitters and remained in the shadows as Sesshomaru descended towards the guests.

“Where’s Kagome,” Inuyasha demanded in a sharp voice.

“You mean the young woman that you left to my care so you could locate a dead priestess,” Sesshomaru asked him in an icy voice. Kagome wondered if the contempt in his voice was for his brother’s life or his brother’s disregard of her life. “Do tell, Inuyasha, did you ever find your dear Kikyo?”

Kagome could hear Inuyasha’s teeth grind as he growled, “You filthy bastard! What have you done with her?”

“I have done nothing,” Sesshomaru protested in his emotionless tone, “She is right here.” He gave a gesture behind him.

“You lying son of a bitch,” Inuyasha snarled in a low voice, “She isn’t there. I would’ve smelled her.” He held the Tetsusaiga in a position to attack.

“Your emotions are controlling your thoughts again. Try mixing a more demonic scent to hers,” Sesshomaru told him slyly. Holding his hand out beside him, he gestured for Kagome to come down. Shutting off her fears, Kagome strolled out into the sun with a confident air. Her face was a careful mask of impassiveness and her limbs were loose. Kagome’s ears were pricked towards her friends as she clicked her black nails on her side.

“That’s a demon, not Kagome,” Shippo, the little fox demon yelled. Kilala growled and hissed while Sango and Miroku looked unsure.

“Take your demon slut back inside, Sesshomaru,” Inuyasha growled in a dangerously low voice.”

Kagome tilted her head at him and focused her blazing brown eyes on Inuyasha. Her glare spoke of her anger and the closeness of her demon side. All of her friends took their separate fighting stances, but Kagome had no intention of fighting any of them.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome’s voice rang through the courtyard. Inuyasha’s ears flickered at the familiar sound. Kagome answered his apparent disinterest with a frightening glare. “Sit, boy,” she screamed.

A look of horror and comprehension crossed Inuyasha’s face before he was pulled to the ground. Sango and Miroku gave uneasy smiles and Kilala gave a curious mew. Kagome started to feel antsy when little Shippo suddenly launched into her arms.

“Kagome,” he yelled in his shrill voice. Laughing and crying in his happiness, he started to rant and rave about how he kept telling Inuyasha they needed to come find her. Kagome smiled at the kit to reassure him.

“What happened to you, Kagome,” Inuyasha asked incredulously as he picked himself up off the ground. His ears were pulled forward like hers and he was staring open-mouthed at her.

“I had an accident,” Kagome answered hesitantly, ignoring Sesshomaru’s questioning look, “Sesshomaru mixed blood with me to make sure I lived.”

“And it would never have happened if you had come for her, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru told him mockingly. “Now it’s time to finish this.” Kagome watched as he brandished his nails, which were glowing their deadly color.

“I’m going to die one day, but it won’t be by you,” Inuyasha yelled as he rushed towards Sesshomaru. Not wanting to see either of them hurt, Kagome did the only thing she could do. Concentrating her energy, she caused her fingertips to glow a venomous black. Flicking her wrist, she landing the strips in between the two brothers, halting their fight.

Walking to Sesshomaru, Kagome growled in a voice she knew only his sensitive ears would catch. “Rin is watching from a bedroom window.” Kagome knew it was dangerous to point out a demon’s weakness, but she couldn’t allow the brother’s to kill each other.

Sesshomaru didn’t change his emotionless façade as he lowered his hand. Balling his hands were the only sign of his irritation at what she had done. Turning sharply to her, Sesshomaru gave her an order. “Leave,” was all he said as he turned his back to her and left for his mansion.

Maintaining an emotionless mask, Kagome left for the gates with her friends even as her heart broke and cried out in pain.