Fallen

Chapter 9

The night was quiet as Kagome slipped from the bed in the rooms they'd been given. Sesshomaru sat against the wall seemingly asleep in the pale perfect moonlight. Kagome was restless.

She frowned slightly at his face remembering the conversation from earlier. It had continued as a one sided monologue for the most part. Sesshomaru only giving pointed looks when she had expressed her elation at being considered his ally. He'd squashed that thought with a look and he drove his verbal barb home. “I never said you were my ally. I simply said you could be considered now as a potential ally now that you are no longer worthless.”

His words had been intended to hurt, to cut deep. Of this fact she was certain. The look he'd had in his eyes was one of revulsion but instead of their intended effect Kagome had been further elated by them. It had been like he had given her a great gift. He had said she was no longer worthless. But the conflict of his look and his words confused her. Why had he said them in that way? As she replayed the words in her mind she watched him silently. What had he been trying to say? Ugh, he was so frustrating.

Why did she have to keep getting mixed up with these stupid males with their stupid arrogant mind games? His eyes said he was disgusted but his mouth said she wasn't worthless, argh what did it all mean?! What did he really think of her? Or did he just say all that to irritate her? 'What's his problem anyway?' she thought as she folded her arms a crossed her chest. All in all she was seriously starting to wonder if even with all of his irritating quirks, if Koga wouldn't have been a better idea. At least she never have to wonder where she stood.

But no she just had to read the stupid spell and bind herself to a stubborn arrogant inu youkai who was more like his half brother than she had realized. Even with his silence and coldness, just like Inuyasha he could get under her skin with a off placed comment, she was certain he didn't even realize how his words had affected her. And that made it all the more irritating that she couldn't bring herself to be angry with his denial of her role as a partner in this mess they were in. Strangely she found the fact that he had probably spoken more to her in the last forty eight hours than he probably ever did, encouraging.

If he didn't think she was worthless then it was a start. Maybe someday she'd earn his trust and maybe she'd come out of this adventure with a new friend. And maybe the sky would turn pink with purple polka dots. She wanted to laugh at herself but it was too sad. Did she never learn? Her late friends had been right, she was far too trusting for her own good. She was far too hopeful as well.

A small sad smile graced her lips as she looked at her unwilling companion there in the moonlight. He was so perfect. Perfect form, perfect hair, perfect features. He had no flaws, nothing about him was weak or unnecessary. He certainly never indulged in things like pity parties and she doubted very much that were it him watching her sleep that he would be feeling such an acute pain at the sight of her. He looked so achingly inhuman in the moonlight. It was just a physical reminder that she could never be normal. She would never fit in anywhere. Humans were so human and her time seemed so lifeless with out the glorious wildness that embodied the youkai.
How could she have ever hoped to be normal after spending time in the wild untamed world of the past? It had been a delusion and she knew it. Her world had become a prison to her heart. And though she felt contrite for the pain and worry she inflicted to her family, she knew that she could never hope to live a normal life in the future. Perhaps that was the real reason she continued to return? Perhaps that was the true reason that the shikon jewel still hung about her neck even after everything was finished. She just could not let go. The very idea shook her to the core. As long as she could live wild and untamed in the past why would she choose the future? Guilt washed over her in waves. She was being selfish. But what could she do, really? Any wish made on the jewel would be twisted.

She sighed softly and moved to the doorway. Her feet softly treading on the cool floor alerted him to her movement again, he had been awake since she had stirred. Silently he rose and walked like a shadow behind her. She'd obviously forgotten the spell and he was loath to remind her of his leash.

Even with his silver hair and pale skin he melted in to the shadows unseen. She was distracted or she would have felt him behind her. What had she been thinking of as she'd watched him? He had been able to feel her moods as they shifted but they confused him with their speed and intensity. Absently he found himself wishing that the spell would have granted him access to her thoughts as well, just before he ruthlessly crushed such a ridiculous notion. If he had access to her thoughts she would have access to his and that would most definitely not do. His mind was the only place he had that was untainted by anything else. It was the only thing he had that was completely his own even if he did have to share it sometimes with the instinctual mind of his baser self, it was still him and therefore the same.

“What do you want?”

He was brought out of his inner musing by her whispered demand. His temper flared at her tone and temper but then he realized she was not speaking to him. From the shadows he watched the onna, curiously sniffing the air to discover to whom she spoke. His lip curled in disgust. That damned priest. He wrinkled his nose in distaste at the stench of the man. Something about his scent made little warnings go off in his head that the girl was in danger, but that was ridiculous she was under his watchful eyes. And so he remained in the shadows to watch...

Kagome wandered aimlessly through the halls of the pavilion and in to the main temple not truly seeing any of it. As she stopped in front of the huge golden statue she looked at in in awe. It was a depiction of Poseidon in a chariot driven by six winged stallions. But one detail of the statue gave her a reason to pause. Instead of the statues right hand holding the reigns of the stallions, it held the largest oddest colored pearl Kagome had ever seen in its outstretched hand. It was as big as her small fist and the color of a stormy sea. It's blue gray surface held a luster not unlike that of the sacred jewel but this gem did not hold a self-contained power. Kagome stared at it in wonder as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I found it.” she breathed.

“Do Goddesses make a habit of wandering the mortal realms at night? Or perhaps thine consort no longer pleases thee?” a masculine voice whispered in her ear. She felt a shiver of dread race up her spine as she realized she'd come here alone. Her mind while locked on the current threat didn't register anything else...

“What do you want?” Kagome demanded in a rough whisper trying to hide her panic. He walked closer to her and she took a step back. “I should be getting back.” she hedged as he continued to force her back another step. When the cool stone met her back she cringed. He trapped her there with an arm on either side of her slender shoulders. “The fates are smiling upon us tonight. Our meeting twas written in the stars.” he said as he looked down at her diminutive form. He raised his hand and traced a finger along her cheek and down her throat to where her pulse was hammering wildly in fear. He pressed himself closer and Kagome instinctively tried to shove him back.

“NO, they are not. My companion will be rather furious when he finds me gone. You won't get away with this.” She said quite proud that her voice did not give away her fear. He leaned close to her ear. “thou mayst be powerful but I know thou canst feel pain. If thou dost fight me now thou canst be certain that many others will suffer like that child. One sound and I will personally find that boy and kill him before thee.” he warned before leaning down to take her lips...

“One such as you shall not touch one bound to this Sesshomaru.”