Masquerade

Chapter Six- The Feared and the Fearless











Masao’s throat ran dry at the happy, melodic sound coming from the priestess. Sesshoumaru stared down at her, bewildered, and Rin’s joyous face fell. “What did I say?”



Bent over and gasping for breath Kagome answer was halting, “You-you thought,” More random laughing, “No. No Sesshoumaru and I are not –not- mated, married, or in any form of relationship past acquaintances, maybe allays.”



Masao’s eyes widened in realization, “Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin is married to the son of the town’s most influential merchant. You have nothing to… fear, I suppose.”



Sesshoumaru blinked, letting the words sink in, then immediately removed his hand and stepped away from Kagome, sighing in relief. Rin bowed slightly and smiled again.



“Good afternoon, Sesshoumaru-sama. Kagome-san. It has been a while.”



Kagome nodded dumbly and stared as Sesshoumaru and Rin regarded one another silently. She turned and walked toward Masao, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the clearing.



“Where are we going, Kagome?”



“We are going to leave those two alone for a while. They have catching up to do.”



Masao nodded and stared ahead, looking around. “But where are we going?”



“I don’t really know.” She stopped and looked at the deer path she’d had been following, shrugged, and moved on, humming lightly.



Her voice faded and she walked swiftly among the hanging branches of trees and large bushes. She glanced back at Masao, who was watching her silently as he followed along her path. A sudden mischievousness sparked in her and she turned back around, hiding the grin. It had been a while. Suddenly she sprang forward, her sandals clattering to the ground as she ran swiftly, her long, swift strides as silent as a ghost while she twisted in and out of the green shrubbery.



Masao looked up, startled, and stared as she disappeared into the dark woods. A completely feline smirk spread over his features and he took off, grasping her wooden shoes.



Kagome could sense his aura speeding and took a sharp turn, skidding slightly before she picked up momentum again. She lost herself in the pounding of her feet and the rush of her blood. Her heart raced, and sweat beaded on her skin. She’d done this often when she’d trained with Kikyou. When she got tired of the elder priestess’ seeming perfection Kagome would wander off, ignoring the world around her in favor of running aimlessly.



Masao followed behind, jumping rapidly between the aged forestry. He caught sight of Kagome, her form flitting through the trees surprisingly fast. His eyes narrowed, the demonic senses making everything light and clear, focusing on the bright red and white robes. He grew closer to her, breathing deeply of the scent of she emanated. Musky incense with hints of exotic spices clouded around the human, leaving a trail Masao could practically taste.



Kagome veered to the left suddenly, and he aimed to follow, dropping from the trees down to the forest floor. He shot off again, getting close enough to touch her before she swerved away again. A slight chuckle escaped Masao, he turned onto her trail once again, then jumped into the air and landed almost on her back, on of his arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her back. One of her feet slipped on the grassy hill, and Kagome and Masao went down, tumbling together until they landed on the ground in two separate tangled heaps.



It was silent for a few minutes until Kagome let out a shaky laugh, “I thought cats were always supposed to land on their feet.” She said slowly, still panting from the exercise. Masao joined in her laughter and stood, giving her a hand up while handing her the sandals with an amused sound. Kagome grinned with a slight blush and took them from him with a nervous giggle. Masao shook his head and started walking away, Kagome jogging to catch up to him.



They walked quietly for a while, then stopped along side the road leading into the village Rin now lived in and sat down. “So… did you meet her husband?” Kagome questioned.



“Yes, I did.”



“Was he nice?”



“Yes.”



“Was he as influential as you say?”



“Yes.”



“Was he smart and able to hold an intelligent conversation?”



“Yes.”



“Was he prejudice against demons?”



“Would Rin marry someone who was?”



“…”



“Mm-hmm. Exactly.”



“Was he handsome?”



“Kagome-san!”



“What?”



Masao shook his head, causing his white hair to fly about. Because of their close proximity a few strands fell over onto Kagome’s shoulder. She picked them up and twirled them around her finger absently, staring out at the horizon.



“Do you think they’ll meet us here when they’re done?”



“Yes.”



“’Kay.”



Several minutes passed in silence.



It was late afternoon, sunny and bright. The two looked out at the rice fields and the diligently working peasants, savoring the peace. A bird chirped from nearby and Masao looked up slowly. It was the falcon from before, a small vial tied around his leg, a messenger vial. Masao’s eyes widened and he glanced at Kagome, to see if she had noticed. She hadn’t, and Masao’s panic lessened.



“Masao, may I ask you a question?”



His gaze shot to her again, trying to appear calm. “No matter my answer to that question, you’ll always ask anyway.”



“…Was that a yes?”



“Yes.”



“How come whenever a man has… um, intercourse… with lots of women he’s congratulated, but if a women does it she’s a whore?”



Masao stared at her, startled by her bluntness. “K-Kagome-san?”



“I mean, it’s a common double-standard, isn’t it?”



“W-Well-”



“Its sexist and unfair and- I don’t think prostitution is good or anything, and teahouses and brothels are kinda icky but-but, you know-”



“Kagome!”



“I was just wondering!”



“You haven’t even ever done… that… have you?” He asked hesitantly, dreading her answer.



“No… have you?”



The answer made him less dreadful. The following question did not.



Masao’s eyes widened and he looked away from her, his eyes flitting about as he thought of an excuse-



Of an honest answer! Cause-cause honesty was always the right answer!



…Right?



“I’m very old Kagome-san, and-and I’m a man. And I have manly… urges… so-”



“You’ve done it. A lot. With a lot of different women.”



“…Maybe…”



“So, does that make you a man-whore?”



His eyes shot to her face, his mouth dropping open. She looked at him smugly, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “See my point, Masao-kun?”



Shaking his head, Masao grinned and plucked a piece of grass, chuckling lightly. “Yes, Kagome-san. You got me.”



A throat cleared from behind them and they whirled around, Masao dropping the grass and Kagome dropping his hair. Rin and Sesshoumaru looked at them calmly, Rin sporting a deep blush. “Are your conversations always so… profuse?” Sesshoumaru drawled slowly, the barest of smiles dancing on his lips.



“Yes.” Kagome answered instantly, but stuttered when she realized what she said. “I-I mean, n-no. No! Our conversations are-are deep and-and profound and…”



Rin giggled, bowed and waved while walking down the road. “I have to get back to my family, goodbye everyone!”



Kagome stood up and smiled broadly. “Bye Rin!” She called, waving enthusiastically. When she stopped she turned back to Sesshoumaru and Masao, her countenance brighter. “That was fun. We should ditch Sesshoumaru more often.”



Masao made that choking sound again, laughter dancing in his eyes.



Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed, but he made no comment.



“Where are we going now?”



“The Eastern lands. Though I hear he’s holding a reunion of sorts at his home.” Masao said, his face calm once more.



“Really, what kind of reunion?” Kagome asked as they began walking once more.



“The family kind.” Masao glanced behind him once, watching as the large falcon jumped from its perch and disappeared into the tree line, the small note still tied around his leg.



Kagome froze at the answer. “Family?”



“Yes.”



“As in, all of the family?”



“Yes.”



“Even cousins?”



“I assume.”



She smoothed her hand over her face slowly, chuckling with less mirth than she should have been.



Well, today’s score was fate- (23), Kagome- (negative 84). Stay tuned after the break.













Sesshoumaru: That was just pathetic.



Kagome: I think this chapter brought up a valid point.



Sesshoumaru: What? I can’t leave you and whiskers alone?



Masao: I resent that.



Sesshoumaru: You would.













Inuyasha: When am –I- coming in?



Plot: You will never know.