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Unexpected Endeavors	By : Scottishfae Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 70550 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Unexpected Endeavors
scottishfae

A/N: Apologies for the delay. I had to completely revamp this chapter b/c of a plot hole and I got a little frustrated and walked away for too long. Not to mention I’ve had some major health issues. I will post this and the next chapter today, and then a couple more tomorrow.

Again, I’m sorry.

Arc 1: The Deal
Chapter 15: Day 13

Kagome sat sipping tea. She was in a magnificent courtyard garden; stone benches placed in perfect vantage points to view the different flora. The plants were in their summer greens, slightly bleached from the sun, and waiting patiently for their time to turn and fall. She noticed a few sakura, but it was the momoiro that took dominance; they surrounded the estate and were sprinkled between the buildings. Come spring, the entire area would be dyed in pinks and purples; Kagome couldn’t wait.

“Enjoying the garden?” a male voice came from behind her.

The miko nodded. She put her tea cup down on a lacquered tray beside her. Then placed the tray on the ground and moved slightly over. Miroku walked over the stone path and sat down beside her. He looked around; looking peaceful for once. “This is quite an exquisite place,” he murmured.

“And you didn’t have to con your way into this one,” she teased.

Miroku gave her his most dashing grin, but didn’t deny it. “I’m surprised Sango-san isn’t out here enjoying this with you.”

The smile slipped from Kagome’s face. “I think she’s mad at me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“She always either training out at the river or with Cho. She barely speaks to me.”

Miroku looked at the girl. She was grasping the shard bottle around her neck and looking out at one of the small pine trees. Two squirrels were screaming at each other; both claiming the tree as their own. “The idea of her best friend giving herself to a youkai may be a little awkward to her,” Miroku offered. “But she’ll get over it. You mean a lot to her.”

Kagome gave a half-smile. She shrugged it off and turned towards one of the buildings. Two female inuyoukai were housed as servants and were currently cleaning the outer walkways. They stopped and bowed to Kagome before returning to their work. “I wish they wouldn’t do that.”

“You’ll have to get use to it; Sesshomaru-dono is a very important person and by your attachment to him, you are too.”

He chuckled at his own play on words. Kagome groaned. “I’m still just plain Kagome though.”

“You were never ‘just plain,’” he stated, all joking gone.

“And you’re not always a lech,” she countered.

Again the chuckled, “Kagome-san, I would figure you knew me better. After all, I crave the beauty and the bodies of women more than anything in this mortal realm. I think of nothing else.”

“Liar. I do know you very well.”

He smiled brightly at her; a smile of a boy that wasn’t dying from a hole in his hand. He reached out with said wrapped hand and touched hers, still holding the bottle.

“I can’t feel them anymore,” she admitted. “Part of having my spiritual powers dampened, I think. It freaks me out.”

“You will get them back. Though we will definitely miss your expertise during the shard hunt. I have a feeling Inuyasha will be hard to control without you there. Hopefully, Sesshomaru-dono will be there to control him, in your absences. Though perhaps not as efficiently as your ‘sits.’”

Kagome giggled. “You may not have to find Naraku, with all the fighting between Inuyasha, Sesshomaru-dono, and Koga-chan will do.”

“I take offense that I would be pulled into such demeaning activity. And what are you speaking of?”

Kagome and Miroku turned to see Sesshomaru standing at the entrance of the garden. She smiled brightly at him and stood. Miroku followed, both bowing politely as he came closer. “You have not been fitted for appropriate clothes yet?” he asked, eyeing her usual green seifuku.

“They measured me this morning,” she answered. “I should have yukata by tonight.”

“Acceptable.”

Sesshomaru turned to look at the monk; Miroku openly returned the glance with an open smile. “Welcome, Sesshomaru-dono.”

“Behaving yourself, monk?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Miroku moved then, walking over to another stone bench not too far from the other. He waited for Sesshomaru to sit before he did. Kagome followed suit; shifting nervously at being so close to the man she would intimately know the next day.

“Your travel here was uneventful, I presume?”

“We ran a little late,” Miroku answered. He turned his gaze to look at Kagome. “Someone is a fast sleeper and not easily awaken. We ran into the village watch right after they changed guards.”

Sesshomaru looked at Kagome; she was looking down at her feet. A murmured apology was barely heard. “You are not hurt?”

“No,” she answered. “We got away fairly easily.”

“Then it does not matter.”

Kagome looked up at stared at his face. There was no scorn on it. “Thank you.”

There was a quiet moment between the two; both forgetting completely of Miroku who was watching both carefully. He also took notice of Haru entering the garden, and obviously so did Sesshomaru. He pulled his gaze away from Kagome and turned to watch his carefree brother approaching them. Haru had a cocky grin on his face. “Nice to see you arrived, Sesshomaru-nii.”

“I am surprised you are here. I will need to talk to Cho about altering the seals correctly.”

Haru continued to smile, turning to greet Kagome. “I hear you were talking about our human encounter.”

“We were,” Sesshomaru answered. “Do you have any other information to add?”

“Perhaps,” he drawled.

Sesshomaru sighed. He slid back slightly, allowing his side to rest against Kagome’s. “Haru is always asinine when he has pertinent information,” he explained to her.

She brought a hand up to her mouth a giggled. She hoped it hid how pink her face was becoming feeling him against her. Haru huffed in indignation and crossed his arms. “Well I guess I won’t tell then.”

“Oh, Haru-san,” Kagome placated. “Please tell us. I’m sorry.”

“You’re not the one to be sorry.”

“Sesshomaru-dono is also sorry.”

“I am not.”

Kagome swatted his shoulder playfully. He looked at her and rolled his eyes. “Fine, this Sesshomaru concedes that you are a wealth of information and idol gossip.”

“That wasn’t an apology,” Miroku pointed out.

“But it’s a good start,” Kagome interceded. “Don’t you agree Haru-san?”

The younger inyoukai snorted. “Well at least you’re becoming less of an ice block around Kagome-san. I was at the end of the pack and as they began to run back, the humans were talking of humans being kidnapped by youkai.”

“Kidnapped?” Kagome repeated.

“It makes sense,” Miroku explained. “This village doesn’t just fear youkai, they hate them. I doubt any of them would understand why a human would associate with youkai freely.”

“That’s horrible.”

“It’s not totally undeserved,” Haru noted, staring blankly at his brother.

“But not every youkai is bad.”

Miroku shrugged. It was rare for humans to understand this; Kagome was definitely an exception--and certainly one of the main reasons their little group stayed together despite the differences in races and upbringings.

“And sometimes,” Kagome began, looking slightly to her right. “sometimes, they surprise you and aren’t what you really thought.”

Haru laughed out loud at that point. He doubled over, his silver hair draping forward over his shoulders, guffawing. “What’s going on?” Shippo asked, jumping through the trees towards Kagome.

He landed in Kagome’s lap and immediately began to ask her what was wrong with her face. It was bright red. That only made her blush more and Miroku joined in on the laughter.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and looked up at the building on his left. He nodded to the occupant in red up there. Inuyasha nodded back; possibly the most amicable gesture the two had between each other since the death of the hanyou’s mother.

*

In a large sitting room, everyone joined to eat dinner. lacquered trays had been set out for the seven adults and two children. Jaken, as he was use to doing, was eating with the servants. Everyone was seated but Rin. She had been pouting since she had arrived, not liking the attention the older girl was getting.

Entering the room, the little girl dressed in orange and white checkered yukata, walked over to her tray. She was placed to the left, perpendicular to Sesshomaru, who sat at the head. Kagome, she noted, was sitting directly to his right. Rin picked up her tray and walked towards Sesshomaru. She sat down between the taiyoukai and miko; both looking startled by the action.

“Rin-chan, sit back where your tray was placed.”

“But Rin wants to sit by Sesshomaru-dono.”

He looked at her pointedly. She got up and moved her tray back. Sitting down, she crossed her arms and sulked. Kagome looked at her sadly. “Maybe I should switch places with her?”

“No. This is your place, Kagome-chan.”

She met his eyes and smiled. “But, maybe...”

Sesshomaru shook his head. Kagome nodded and looked at the little girl. Assured that that subject was over, he turned to address the group. “Now to discuss some matters of importance. Cho will be remaking the seals for the estate. Inuyasha will be the only male that will be allowed full access once those are in place, obviously. Monk, you will be allowed access to the middle ground, where the main guards are. They know to allow you.”

“What about me?” Koga asked.

Sesshomaru regarded him cooly. “You have no place here. The same goes for you, Haru.”

“Sesshomaru-dono, you asked earlier and we got side-track, but I have something important to talk to you about,” Kagome began. She took a deep breath before continuing. “Naraku is still a real threat and I still have a responsibility to that.”

“You wish to back out of our deal?”

“No! That’s not it. I was hoping, while I am out of commission, you would help our group out. With you as an ally, I’m sure Naraku would be much easier to findand defeat.”

The Taiyoukai regarding the miko, understanding what she and the monk had been talking about in the garden. Sesshomaru wanted to avoid alliances with his choice to sire an heir, but it looked like that wouldn’t happen. At least it was a short-term deal, and a beneficial one for him as well. “Acceptable. I have reasons to defeat the nuisance. It would be to our benefit to work together.”

He turned to Inuyasha. “You will collect the members of your group the day after the last new moon of the cycle. We will leave in search of Naraku.”

“And Koga?” Kagome asked.

“If you would like, you may joins us. Your speed, when directed with tactic and planning, would be of use.”

The wolf prince grunted. He was insulted by the whole affair, but figured he would tag along for now.

“I assume, Taijiya, you will be staying here as a companion.”

Sango pursed her lips and nodded.

“I will remain also,”Cho added. “At least for the time being.”

Sesshomaru nodded his acceptance. “And you will have the seals up...?”

“I can put temporary ones up today, and then put up the permanent ones as you leave.”

“Acceptable.”

The group had been slowly eating throughout the discussion. With most of the points covered, they trailed off into periodic conversations between consumption.

“Kagome-chan,” Sesshomaru addressed to the woman at his right. She looked up at him.

“Tomorrow Cho will guide you through preparations. You will have a late mid-day meal, and then will wait for me in your chambers.”

Kagome’s face was beat red as she nodded. Her stomach knotted, threatening to push up the food she was just eating. “I-I understand.”

Sesshomaru moved his attention back to his front again. Before him stood the kit. “Um, Sesshomaru-dono,” Shippo called.

The Taiyoukai raised a brow, the only indication that the kitsune should continue.

“What about me? You didn’t say what I was--could do.”

Shippo was shifting nervously from foot to foot but looked Sesshomaru straight in the eyes.

The elder youkai approved of such bravery and confidence. “The decision will be yours, though I had thought to leave you here with Kagome-chan.”

“I can stay here?”

“Yes. I had intended you and Inuyasha to stay in a separate building, but you could set up a futon in this room, if you desire. Or, if the Taijiya is okay with it, you may stay with her.”

Shippo nodded happily. He was glad he could continue being near the woman who so kindly took care of him. “Thank you, so much!”

He bowed deeply before running over to Miroku and scampering onto his shoulder.

“You know this means you can’t sleep with Kagome anymore,” Inuyasha bated him.

It worked. The two reduced into their usual teasing banter.

“Thank you,” Kagome whispered to Sesshomaru. “He already lost his family, I would hate to not be able to be there for him. Especially for an entire year.”

Again Sesshomaru face changed slightly. Golden eyes became a bit more yellow and he didn’t seem so cold. “It is my pleasure. I enjoy seeing you happy. You have a...beautiful smile.”

Kagome was too busy trying to hide her own embarrassment at the sweet--and unexpected--compliment to notice the room had gone into a shocked silence.

Except Haru.

He was laughing.
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Unexpected Endeavors