Surprising Love

Disclaimer: Refer to Ch. 7

Plan of Return

“Kagome, can we rest?”

Kagome looked back at the kit who was riding her back as she leapt between trees. “Why do you need a rest? I’m the pack mule here,” she told him in a jovial voice.

Shippo and she had grown extremely close during the two weeks of their traveling. Kagome wasn’t worried about the others following them. They didn’t seem to have the time for the kitsune she carried with her and she had no doubts that they were glad to be rid of her. She had known Inuyasha would be hostile, but she had never expected Sango and Miroku to be so mean. Both of the humans had chewed her out about being reckless and blood driven. She had only been happy to help in the fights like she never could before. She never put anyone in danger as far as she could tell.

The two demons had learned to survive on their own with great success. Kagome’s sensitive nose was superb at finding water and food, while Shippo collected any plants for the meals. He was also her eyes in the air. He helped to distinguish between the trees that she couldn’t smell the differences in.

“Are we almost there,” Shippo asked in a rather whiny voice.

Kagome gave a snuffle in the air and smelt the unique scent of the forest that surrounded Sesshomaru’s mansion. Pricking her ears forward, she tried to listen for any tall-tale signs of the bustling activity that was a well ran mansion. All she heard were the forest sounds.

“We are just about an hour away, Shippo.” She gave the little demon a reassuring smile. When she turned back to land on the next tree, she prayed she didn’t have to eat that promise later.

A little less than an hour later, Kagome had to pull up short as a barrier loomed in front of her. Letting Shippo off her back, Kagome paced in front of the shimmering image. She couldn’t think of how to get through. She remembered that when Sesshomaru brought her through, he had only to walk through and they followed as the barrier started to close.

‘Maybe it is just him’ she thought abstractly. Slowly, she reached her hand toward the barrier. Closer her eyes tightly, she waited for the shock of being rejected. After a second, she squinted her eyes until they were open slightly. Her hand was held on the other side of the shimmering barrier.

She motioned Shippo forward. “You have to follow directly after me, ok?” He nodded his understanding quickly. Just as they were about to go through, a small voice distracted them.

“Miss Kagome?”

Turning quickly, Kagome saw Rin coming out of the trees. She was filthy and cut up from the branches. Her pretty face had tear stains running down each side. Lowering to her knees, Kagome scooped the young girl up. Smiling gently, Kagome made soft cooing sounds to lull the child into a gentle sleep.

“Who is she?” Shippo was staring at Rin in rapt attention. Kagome pretended not to notice.

“This is Rin.”

“Why is she out here?” Shippo looked rather angry at the idea of the girl being out alone and unprotected.

“I don’t know.” Kagome gave him a small smile. “But she is Sesshomaru’s ward and this gives us a reason to be in there. Come on.”

Turning back to the barrier, Kagome stepped through with Shippo in her wake. The walk back to the mansion took another ten minutes. Kagome had to make soft noises every so often to calm Rin in her sleep. She seemed to be having nightmares.

Kagome had no real problems getting to the mansion. Most guards made a clear path for her when they saw Rin. Some even bowed, but the gate guards almost didn’t let her through, even with the Lord’s ward. Kagome settled the dispute quickly. Giving the guards a lethal glare tinged in demon red, she motioned them to step aside with a flash of her glowing nails.

They decided to move.

Making her way to Rin’s room in the children’s section of the mansion, Kagome tucked Rin into her own bed. She couldn’t imagine how the girl got trapped on the other side of the barrier. Kagome gave the girl a kiss on the forehead as Shippo stood transfixed by the girl. Even dirty, Kagome knew you could tell she would be a beauty one day. Suddenly, a tingling, amphibious scent assailed her nose.

“What are you doing here, miserable wretch?” Jaken’s shrill voice grated Kagome’s nerves and she struggled to maintain her distant calm.

Putting a steady hand on Shippo, she restrained him from retaliating. Standing up with a gracefulness cats would envy, she turned to the little toad demon. Jaken flinched involuntarily at the look of emotionless plastered on the demoness’ face that was so similar to his lord’s.

Speaking in a cold growl, Kagome threatened the despicable creature. “Watch your tongue, silly demon. You lost the lord’s ward and you dare speak to me like that. You’re luck runs plentiful considering I haven’t told Lord Sesshomaru.” She gave him a meaningful glare. The disgusting vassal spewed his apologies and excuses. “Take me to your lord and I won’t tell him of your dangerous laziness.”

Rushing to obey, Jaken started for the door. “Stay here with Rin, Shippo, and watch her.” Shippo gave a determined nod that made the kit seem older than only 14. Following Jaken in fluid strides, she soon found herself in front of Sesshomaru’s training room. Grunts and crashes could be heard from inside.

“This is where the lord is.” Jaken spared her a pitying look before running back the way her came.

Kagome gave a slight shudder at the idea of barging in on a fighting demon. She knew from her own fights, that they brought the demon out for it to exercise. Training demons, half or whole, were dangerous to mess with or interrupt.

Steeling herself against the worst, Kagome walked into Sesshomaru’s training room with an unyielding stride.