Nightingale

Nightingale

Chapter Seven – Moon

…

The House of the Moon was everything Kagome pictured and more as they stepped through the gates and into the enormous courtyard. Sentries were posted throughout as the battle weary men slowly trekked their respective ways. Many yelled their farewells and embraced her before departing, some even asked her to marry them, which only made her laugh, apologetically decline, and plant sweet kisses on their cheeks.

Kagome was then led into the main house, through long corridors where beautiful murals hung and shoji screens rested. Not paying attention to her surroundings, much too engrossed in everything around her, she didn’t notice Sesshoumaru stop and bumped into him, body bouncing back. She rubbed her nose, cheeks turning a light pink as she apologized to a somewhat bemused daiyoukai.

“Your room.” He slid open the bamboo painted shoji. “The hot springs are two doors down if you wish to bathe.”

“Thank you Sesshoumaru.” Kagome smiled and stepped through, feeling his eyes on her the entire time.

…

Steam curled all around her as she soaked in the hot water, lost in her thoughts. It was okay that he knew what she was. For some unexplainable reason, Kagome trusted him. Maybe it was the power he exuded or maybe the way his eyes were always calculated, alert and revealed so little but so much.

He was an often silent companion, but he was comforting, his presence secure and all encompassing. Within the three days it took to get here, she’d enjoyed his quiet company very much, enjoyed the camaraderie of his men, his brother, and his two healers who’d provided female friendship she hadn’t had for a very long time. Maybe if things were different, if they weren’t they way they were, she’d ask Sesshoumaru if she could stay here.

Kagome brought a hand out of the water and smoothed over her wet ebony locks. Her skin was starting to prune. Rising up from the spring, water rushing down her naked body, she stepped out and pulled on the yukata a servant had given her. Her stomach decided to growl then as she slid the screen open and close. Perhaps some food was in order.

…

“What are you?” Inuyasha asked curiously, looking at his dinner companion as they sat at the cook’s table in the kitchen. “You don’t smell like a demon or even a human for that matter.”

“I’m Kagome.” She replied simply with a teasing smile and took another big bite of the chicken leg. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled the aroma of food wafting through the kitchen doorway.

Inuyasha glared at her, but decided to drop it. Everyone had their secrets after all so who was he to pry? This woman before him was probably the most puzzling creature he’d ever come across anyway. He’d bet his brother was feeling pretty much the same too.

Perhaps he would never find out what she was, what kind of power flowed in her blood that was able to disintegrate a full-blooded vulture demon. A miko maybe? No, she was something much more than that.

But as he watched her devour her food like a mad woman starved, he guessed she was right. She was Kagome. An intriguing, beautiful woman with eyes like sapphires and a bright smile that warmed the hearts of those she met. And he decided he’d like to get to know her more. That after they killed Naraku, he and Kikyo could show her their home just outside the House of the Moon.

…

She had spotted the gardens from her window and found she couldn’t resist the temptation to walk the winding stone paths. Day had long since slipped beneath the horizon and it was nightfall once again. Her breath came out in small white puffs as Kagome quietly walked by the frozen pond.

Winter jasmines peeked through the dusting of white and making her way over, she softly wiped off the snow and smiled at the fragrant yellow flowers. Fingers about to touch the soft petals, Kagome paused when the wind shifted, blew at the ivory and gold kimono she wore. And quite suddenly, another gust swept by, fanned over the flowers until no more snow was present and it was all just a sea of dark green spotted with yellow.

“I don’t know why he wants you so much.”

Kagome turned around and saw the owner of the feminine voice sitting on a large white feather. A wind demoness.

“But he’s promised something that’s very precious to me so I’m afraid I’ll have to take you to him.” Kagura beckoned with her fan and Kagome felt a hard push from behind.

She stumbled forward, was grasped by the back of her neck and hauled painfully up and onto the feather. She then heard the demoness sigh in annoyance.

“Sesshoumaru…” Kagome whispered before silenced by a dagger to her throat.

“If you want Naraku Sesshoumaru-sama, then I suggest you follow me.”

“Release her Kagura and I might let you die a painless death.” He took a step forward but she moved back swiftly, pressing the sharp blade into Kagome’s skin until it wept soft droplets of blood.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his gold eyes, warned the wind demoness that she treaded on dangerous ground.

“I can’t do that. Naraku wants her and I want my heart. Follow if you wish to kill him.”

Kagome looked at him and nodded her head, told him without words that this was probably his only chance to end it all so take it. And he knew it too. She saw it in his flashing gold eyes that hardened with resolve, in the almost imperceptible nod he gave her. She closed her eyes, readied herself for the inevitable and soon felt the cold wind rushing by, telling her that the moon was waning and the stars were falling and the end was near.


…to be continued…