From the Ashes - Chapter Seven

Sesshomaru walked calmly through the forest, his hair waving behind him, his eyes watching the path ahead of him and his arm, tightly wrapping around a pair of legs.

He couldn’t help the smirk that kept pulling at his lips every time she had attempted to injure him in some way, first he had felt fists, then an elbow and he was convinced she had even attempted to bite him. Of course this was all before they had both discovered her miko powers had no effect on him… what a wonderful turn of events.

“I hope you know, I hate you… and not like a normal amount of hate, like the type where if I could, I would purify you!”

He felt another sharp jab at his back, his lips twitching once more as he tried to contain his amusement, he was thankful for his surroundings, it would not do for others to see him so free with emotion.

“This Sesshomaru cares not if you hate him, besides we both know you cannot harm me.”
Kagome groans, giving up on her abuse to his back as she pushes herself up as much as she could.

“Can you let me down now at least? I swear all my blood is in my head.”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know?! Besides, my legs hurt… and my back hurts and I think m-“

Before she could continue her rant, she screeched as she was unceremoniously dropped like a sack onto the ground, landing hard on her behind. Her head quickly whipping up to shoot dagger’s at the stupid annoyingly perfect daiyoukai.

“That hurt! Why are you such are jerk?!”

His brow raised, as he stood a few feet away.

“Why do you talk so much?”

Kagome growled, pushing herself to her feet as she brushed off her butt, marching her way to stand by his side and glare up at him.

“I talk because if I didn’t I would go mad by your lack OF talking, why are you such a bore anyway?”

Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed as he turned to look at her.

“This Sesshomaru is not a bore.”

“Um, yes you are… You never say anything! Oh, and don’t get me started on your personality, I would most likely have more fun talking to… hm, perhaps that tree!”

She points off at a random tree before moving a hand to rest on her hip, nodding as agreeing with herself at the idea.

“You talk nonsense, that tree cannot talk.”

She throws her hands up in the air, overly exasperated.

“You cannot be that dense!”

Sesshomaru merely blinked, amusement in his eyes as he turned continuing his path through the forest, he didn’t need to turn to know she was following behind, as to him, her footsteps sounded close to that of a bear. How does something so small make that much noise?

“Sesshomaru?”

“Hn?”

Kagome ran to catch up, walking by his side before turning her head to look up at him.

“How much farther until your fancy castle of ice?”

He raised a brow, looking back at her.

“Ice?”

“Yeah… Like your personality right?”

She looked smug, a playful smile on her face as she tried to look as innocent as possible, turning to look at the path ahead.

Sesshomaru glared at the side of her face.

“I’m going to kill you.”

Kagome only seemed to smile more at his threat, stopping in her tracks to look up at him.

“Ok, we both know you’re not going to kill me… so let’s not play that game.”

Sesshomaru also stopped, looking down at her with is famous stoic expression as he internally groaned. She was correct, he wouldn’t kill her, he had more honour than that and besides, he didn’t know what it was causing the strange connection he could feel. He couldn’t have her knowing that though…or the fact he actually was beginning to enjoy her company.

He came to a conclusion, he would have to scare her. Simple enough seeing her miko powers had mysteriously not worked on him. He raised a brow before stepping closer, and then again until the small miko had backed herself up to a tree. Her eyes wide as they held his, confusion written across her face but to his annoyance he didn’t smell a trace of the fear she should be feeling.

He narrowed his eyes, quickly moving his hand up to grip her throat firmly, but not enough to actually hurt her. Moving his face close as he allowed some red to seep into his eyes. His nose brushed against her own sending an involuntary shudder down both of their spines.

Kagome stared up at him, her own eyes turning a slight shade of red, unknown to her, as she wondered what is was she had done. Her hands pressed back against the tree as she waited to see what he would do next.

Sesshomaru inhaled quickly, her scent changing ever so slightly as he noticed the red in her eyes, a curious thought entering his mind. It is like she is youkai, but she is not and yet this is another thing she seems oblivious of… Perhaps this is connected? He filed the new piece of information away for later use. Leaning in closer, he growled slightly to try and get some kind of reaction from her but was not met with the one he had hoped.

Kagome couldn’t help it, she tried and she knew he was hoping for a different reaction, but she just couldn’t stop it. She laughed, and she couldn’t stop laughing. She watched as Sesshomaru jerked back, his face actually one of shock and that set her off even more until her throat was released and she was curled in on herself, having to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“Wow….Ok….I’m sooo, sorry! I mean…. Oh my….you’re so scary I promise!”

He was in disbelief. That was the only thing he could tell himself as his entire façade faded away at her laughter. Her laugh was infectious and soft, not over bearing like some females he had met. It had thrown him completely, had he completely lost his touch, or was this woman just insane. He preferred to think on the latter as the more correct assumption.

“Come.”

He turned, not wanting to dwell on his absolute failure at being intimidating and stalked off, making sure to keep paces ahead of the woman so he could attempt and recover whatever resemblance of dignity he had left.

Kagome followed behind once again, still giggling every now and again as she decided for health reasons it might be better not to start pestering him for a little while yet. Of course that was until she got bored, and thus the humming began. She couldn’t remember many tunes from her own time so decided to make one up.

Sesshomaru winced, his ear’s not welcoming the tone deaf humming coming from the overly annoying woman behind him. Could she not endure silence? He sped up slightly, lengthening his steps as if that would help, but unfortunately she was quite good at keeping pace and would even job to keep up.

Eventually he gave in, turning his head slightly as he continued his walk.

“Will you stop with the incessant noise?!”

Her humming paused to his relief, to be unfortunately replaced with her chatter once again. Clearly she had seen his words as an opening.

“Why? I thought you were ignoring me so why should it matter? My feet are starting to hurt anyway, can we stop soon… Oh! I would love to find a hot spring, you’re a dog demon right? Inu- I mean, I used to know someone who could find them with his nose.”

She finished, pointing to her nose in an obvious manner before shrugging. Looking expectantly up at him as she had edged her way closer to be walking by his side.

Sesshomaru exhaled.

“If I take you to a hot spring, will you stop talking?”

She looked in genuine thought, a finger pressed against her lips as she seemed to think for a painfully long time, the fact her finger still lingered on her lips was far too distracting and thus he moved his eyes back to the path ahead, willing himself to stop the urge to look at her.

“I will, but only for as long as I spend in the hot spring!”

He glanced at her, before rolling his eyes but deciding this would be better than nothing and besides it was getting dark, it would be another day until they reached his castle.

“Hn.”

He changed his course slightly, moving through the more overgrown area of the woods as the loud steps of Kagome trailed behind. It had been only a moment on their new path until a small eep was heard and a small miko seemed to be clinging to his back.

Turning his head he glanced over his shoulder, looking down at the woman now hanging from his robes.

“If you wish to touch this Sesshomaru, you should merely ask.”

He quirked his lips, not being able to help himself at the bright red that appeared on her cheeks and then the sudden anger that he was becoming increasingly used to.

“I was not! I fell! Ugh! You… Just… Gah!”

She plucked herself from her awkward position, storming passed him as she grumbled insults as she tripped, stumbled and fell over various roots and rocks.

“Miko.”

She spun around, glaring at him, clearly still embarrassed if her reddening cheeks where anything to go by.

“WHAT! Oh, and its Kagome, I know you know it! Now are we going or what, I thought you where taking me to the spring!”

Sesshomaru just looked at her before lifting his clawed hand to point in the opposite direction she was going.

“It’s that way.”