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Ripples in Time	By : Waterunleashed Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 7625 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Gah! I had to write the beginning of this chapter 3 times! Sorry for the delay this chapter was just being a pain in my ass.

Forgotten Echoes I truly heart you and congratulations to the many blessings coming to your life. I would absolutely love to have you as my beta.

Chapter 8: Unexpected visits

That night after dinner we began ‘photo flashcards’, where he would show me a picture tell me who they are, how I know them, what powers they have how influential they are and of course how power hungry they were. It made my head hurt and I tried to call an early night but Sesshomaru didn’t have any of it. After his little nap he was just bursting with energy and he was determined to use all of this energy to torment me.

Sadistic bastard, this was the thanks I got for helping him get some rest. He flipped through those fucking photos until 1 a.m. and would’ve kept going if I didn’t bury my head under a pillow almost suffocating myself to block out the incessant Lady Kagome you wasted too much time with your sensibilities’blah blah blah blah. I didn’t need the lecture I needed sleep.

Did I mention how much I hate this demon and his love for torturing me? Well eventually he took the hint and sat down by the couch in silence and I was able to sleep peacefully.

I woke up around 8 which was too early in my book but the smell of coffee and bacon and eggs was enough to pull me from oblivion and stumbling toward the kitchen ignoring his amused smirk as he placed a cup of coffee in front of me once I sat down.

I didn’t even get to eat breakfast in peace, as soon as I began to eat he pulled out the stack of photos from Gods only knows where and began flipping through them. It was like that the entire morning. Who’s this? How did you meet? Are they a threat? He was like a machine and once again I had no break.

While I made us some lunch he stayed by my side throwing out names and adding little tidbits of information that he thought I would need to know. But still while he was overloading my brain with facts and history he was still skirting around subjects. Like all these Sidhe had hands of power but he wouldn’t tell me mine or even if I had one or two or any. And believe me I asked, hinted, and demanded many times.

‘Sesshomaru who is the King and Queen of the demon court?’ I asked, it was the one house we weren’t talking about and in my opinion the biggest threat.

We were sitting at the kitchen table looking out the large back window, other than the living room these were the comfiest seats in his house and we were spending more and more time sitting side by side sipping one drink or another and watching the scenery while he drilled me.

‘There is no King or Queen,’ he said.

‘But every court has a King and or Queen to rule them, though Celeste is the High Queen and rules all of us.’

‘Very good, that is true for all other courts however demons never had a King or Queen there were only Lords so that is the highest title we can have. It was a rare title back in the feudal era and now that title is only given to two demons.’ He explained as he looked out the window.

It was just another way to make demons lesser, refusing to give them the title of King and Queen just because our country never had one. Like the rest of the information he gave me I digested it and moved on it was the only way to stay sane under all this new information. ‘Okay but who are they and how do I know them?’ He was always like this when it came to information about demons in this time. It was so frustrating to have to pry every last bit of information about them from his tightly shut mouth.

‘You do not associate with the demon court Kagome it is too dangerous. However you do know the Lord very well.’ He looked down at me, ‘Lord Shippo has been anxiously awaiting the day you would close the well.’

‘Lord. Shippo? My kit?’ He nodded. I smacked his arm. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you jerk?’

‘Please refrain from hitting me,’ he growled.

‘Sorry,’ I mumbled. ‘But why didn’t you tell me that Shippo ruled the demons? Why didn’t you tell me he was alive? You’ve been telling me everything about everyone to the point where one might think you were a busybody and then we come to the demons, to my kit and you’re as tightlipped as can be.’

His eyes narrowed to golden slits, ‘It is my job to know those around you in order to protect you woman.’ I could hear the soft rumbling growl under his words. ‘I am not a busybody.’

I smirked up at the angry demon next to me, ‘How is knowing that Queen Nye was caught by a few of the nobles frolicking in a field surrounded by demifey going to help me?’ Queen Nye was the Queen of the Dryad court, the image Sesshomaru had just about painted of the laidback Queen dancing with hundreds of little creatures that resembled insects had me in stitches.

‘I am trying to ensure that you have an accurate account of their personalities through their past actions and not my own thoughts.’ He said.

I waived it away with one hand. ‘We’re getting sidetracked, tell me about my kit.’

He returned his eyes to look out the window, ‘Lord Shippo was Inuyasha’s head spy and after Inuyasha died he became mine. When we were conquered Celeste took him in as a pet. However, it was all pretense as she employed his illusions and stealth for her own purposes. For two centuries we weren’t allowed to mate or breed any pup that was birthed was quickly killed as were its sires and mates before the war were separated to serve different houses and courts. The fey feared that our population alone would turn the power in our favor.’ He smirked, ‘we used our time wisely and honed our skills in secret.’

I wanted to shout about the atrocities that had befallen them over the years, the horrible things they were forced to endure but I held my tongue knowing he would take it the wrong way. ‘What changed? Why did they take back the decree and then give the demons their own court?’

‘Many things though I do not know the intimate details of all of it,’ he admitted softly.

I looked up at him with wide eyes he seemed to know everything like it was his job to know everything. ‘How come?’

‘I was always under watch at the time, no one trusted me and though Celeste used me for many things I was kept from all important meetings and no demon was allowed to talk with me. They feared I would start a rebellion and use my position and mark to over throw them. They had a right to fear me but they were foolish when it came to the others your kit especially.’ He was staring off into the distance and the sunlight coming in through the large window seemed to catch in his golden orbs and make them glow like twin suns.

‘Lord Shippo played the double agent perfectly, as a spy no one could keep close tabs on him and as he gathered important information he slipped through the houses building support slowly through the years until he found the right piece of information and held it over her head demanding the right to their mates and the right to have children.’

‘What was the information?’ I couldn’t take my eyes from his glowing eyes as they looked out at the landscape.

His eyes closed for a moment breaking the spell, I turned to look out the window and fought the blood that was trying to rush to my cheeks. Sidhe don’t blush, I was failing miserably at being Sidhe. He didn’t seem to notice my embarrassment since he didn’t reprimand me and just continued on.

‘I don’t know,’ those three words held years of frustration and I knew that was why he hadn’t noticed. ‘I was told to leave her presence and three days later they were beginning negotiations. Whatever it is I am certain it had something to do with the mark but I have not been able to figure it out and Lord Shippo has sworn by the Darkness that Eats all Things to never utter the information to anyone.’

I've come to learn that that is their most serious oath, and that if they broke their oath they would be hunted down by The Wild Hunt, which was comprised of the Sluagh. An oath breakers main fear was this Wild Hunt and not many are willing to risk it by lying.

‘Why do you think it had something to do with the mark?’ I asked.
He got up and took his cup to the sink, he answered me over the running water as he cleaned the cup. ‘Once the negotiations began my role for her changed everything for me changed.’

I stayed in my seat and just stared at his back, watching the muscles move under the blue ribbed sweater, they bunched and released as he set down the cup and turned off the water though he didn’t turn around. I chewed on my lower lip as I thought about what he said. He was a royal guard it was kind of the fashion to use your guards however you saw fit. The Unseelie Queen in America was notorious for her abuse of her guards. ‘Were you always a guard?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, nothing more nothing less. Did I push the subject or let it go? If I pushed it would he even answer me?
I shook my head and got up from my seat, ‘it’s a beautiful day outside. Will you join me for a walk?’

He turned around with surprise in his eyes. I smiled softly and walked over to the sink to put my cup in it but he didn’t move out of the way. As a matter of fact he was now leaning against it so that I would have to brush up against him in order to do it. I couldn’t just play it off that I was going for something else. He had already said this morning that we would work on my habit of showing my discomfort around him.

I looked up at him and scowled at the knowing smirk on his lips. I held onto the spark of anger and leaned around him. I was just about to let go of the cup when he stood up straight. His warm firm chest brushed up against my cheek and the blush that stained my cheeks pushed my anger away as he shifted slightly against me letting the soft material of his sweater caress my face.

I forced myself to stand up slowly instead of jumping away from him. I took a step back and he followed keeping his body a breath away from mine. I glared up into that perfect face and silently cheered that he wasn’t smirking anymore.
I stepped back again and he followed, I growled and was shocked when he growled back. ‘You’ve made your point Sesshomaru now back off,’ I hissed.

I watched his eyes travel from my face down my body and shivered at the sensation of his eyes caressing everywhere he looked. The gold in his eyes darkened as they slowly travelled back up to lock with mine. His eyes were burning into mine, setting my blood on fire and making it harder to breathe.

I forced myself to look out the window, searching for something, anything to concentrate on besides the big hunk of a demon towering over me.
He growled but I didn’t turn to look back at him I was afraid I’d get lost in his eyes again. His hand grasped my chin and turned it to look up at him. ‘Why does it embarrass you that you find me attractive?’

The blush was back full force, ‘damn it.’ I mumbled and focused on the magenta stripes across his cheeks, the smooth lines that seemed to point right at his soft lips. ‘Because it does.’

His brows drew together, ‘why?’

I stepped back from him and was surprised that he let me go but I didn’t cheer at the little victory instead I wrapped my arms around myself and looked back out the window. ‘It’s one thing to find someone attractive it is entirely different when they Know you do.’

‘What is so different about it?’ He asked and the softness of his voice let me know he truly didn’t understand.

‘Because then it’s out in the open, it changes the way they see you how they treat you and it leaves you feeling exposed,’ I whispered.

I heard him sigh, ‘Kagome the Sidhe are beautiful everyone is attractive and to deny that is a grave insult it doesn’t have to be about romantic or sexual feelings. It is an appreciation of beauty.’

Just platonic attraction, I wish. I over at my beautiful guardian in his blue sweater and black slacks, his swords strapped to his side and his tail curled over his shoulder and felt my heart skip a beat. I shook my head and walked out of the room thankful that he didn’t follow me as I walked down the hall to his bedroom and then out into the backyard.

The cool air brushed against my heated cheeks, I should’ve grabbed my coat on the way out but it was too late now I wasn’t going back in. Besides the Sidhe don’t get colds even if the cool nip of the autumn breeze still made us shiver.

I hugged myself and walked out toward the trees ignoring the urge to look back and see if he was watching me from the kitchen. Of course he was watching me even if I couldn’t see him I know he wouldn’t let me wander out here alone and the thought was comforting. More comforting than it should’ve been.

It hadn’t even been a week and I was losing the fight against falling for him. Back in the feudal era it had been easy to admire him from a distance and enjoy the small moment we shared without hoping for more. By easy I mean a lot of heartache and knowing it could never be, it was also easy to hide it from him.

He hated humans and though he tolerated out group it wasn’t like he was snuggling up to me or gently taking care of me.

And now in this new time I had to show my attraction to him as something platonic, a simple admiration of beauty as if he were a statue in an art gallery. Sure he could’ve pulled it off back then we had always accused him, in jest of course, of being a living statue.

I passed by the small table and kept going until I reached the first large tree in the backyard, it was pretty far out from the house I guess he wanted room to transform and relax in the open. Quickly I pulled myself up into the higher branches of the tree, getting lost in the bright yellow leaves. It wasn’t a habit picked up from Inuyasha though I had been accused of such I just liked climbing trees.

Settling down against the trunk of the tree I let my feet dangle on either side of the branch and fought the urge to scream out my frustrations. I’m pretty sure no one would blame me but even this far out from the house I wasn’t alone and I didn’t want him to hear what he was doing to me.

I know I saw desire in his eyes, the air between us had been charged when he stood a breath away from me. It couldn’t have all been him just admiring the beauty of the Sidhe right? And what if it wasn’t? What IF he liked me, as silly of a notion as that is, what they hell would happen? My mom didn’t trust him, he killed her mother and twin. And from what I could tell demons and Sidhe didn’t mix, maybe the lesser fey and demons but I doubt the Sidhe would ‘lower themselves’ to marry a demon.

I couldn’t even ask him about any of that; it would only prove that I felt more for him than I should. Closing my eyes I let my thoughts drift along with the wind. There were too many questions and not enough time or answers and now this.

I don’t know how long I sat there wasting time before I heard the back door slide open. I looked through the leaves toward the house. He stepped out onto the green grass. From here I could just make out the scowl on his face while he scanned the area, stopping only momentarily for his eyes to connect with mine before moving on.

I dropped from the tree and spread my aura out, feeling for anything out of the ordinary but all I could feel was him, his essence coated the land and seemed to be absorbed into it. There was a small life here or there of an animal or insect but nothing dangerous.

I walked toward him quickly and kept searching for the threat but there was nothing. ‘What’s wrong?’ I called ahead of me.
His eyes narrowed and he moved to the side so he wasn’t blocking the door. ‘Get inside,’ he said.

I rolled my eyes and stopped beside him. Turning I tried to find the source of his anger. ‘I’m not a weak child anymore Sesshomaru.’

He growled and stepped in front of me giving me his back, ‘go inside Lady Kagome.’

I looked up at him if he was calling me Lady it meant we were being watching but from where? ‘I’m not leaving you alone out here to fight whatever has you spooked.’

He growled, ‘I will join you inside momentarily Lady Kagome now please don’t make me repeat myself again.’

His back was tense I took a step toward him and received a low growl in response. Huffing I walked into the house. The door slid shut behind me and I turned to ask him what was going on only to see him walking slowly toward where I had been and a barrier locking me in.

‘You bastard,’ I hissed and looked around for any extra weapons. The sound of bees caught my attention and I spun around to find someone else’s face at the mirror. It took me a moment to recognize my cousin’s golden beauty standing in a small cream colored room. ‘Geez Amaya you scared me.’

She smiled her strange pink flower petal irises dancing with amusement, I’m sure she heard stories about Naraku and his poisonous bees. ‘Sorry Kagome but I just found out that you’re back and I couldn’t wait.’ Her soft voice carried each word like a beautiful song.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t contact you earlier a lot has been going on um I don’t have a lot of time right now,’ I turned around and saw Sesshomaru standing by a tree farther in the distance with a woman leaning against it. My jaw dropped, ‘what the fuck?’

‘Kagome I never thought to hear such language from you, what’s going on?’ Amaya asked.

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes but when I looked back they were still there, he didn’t even have his hand around the bitches throat.

‘Kagome are you listening to me?’ Amaya called.

‘What?’ I growled as I studied the woman. Her light blue hair was cut into a pixie style close to her head she was almost as tall as he was. I couldn’t tell much else from here, they were too far away. When he got back here I was going to purify his stupid ass.

‘You’re glowing girl, talk to me.’ Amaya nearly shouted and still it sounded like some kind of song coming from her lips.

I looked down at the golden glow coming from my balled fists and turned away from the two demons back to my cousin. ‘Oh nothing is wrong the oaf just comes into the yard on red alert tells me to get inside and then throws up a barrier before rendezvousing with a demoness.’

Her lovely eyes narrowed, ‘which demoness?’

Crap. I walked over and plopped on the edge of the bed, ‘I don’t know they are pretty far away she’s got really short light blue hair.’ I really hope I wasn’t supposed to know her or else I was caught.

‘That little tramp is outside the Sithen?’ Amaya paced the small room for a minute or two before she stopped in front of the mirror again. ‘Kagome I heard about the danger you’re in Queen Celeste has your friends sniffing out the bastard as we speak but it shouldn’t be taking this long. It shouldn’t take us this long to find the one that is after you if Toshiko is here it could mean that she and her sister are in on it.’

So her name was Toshiko, I stored that little tid bit away for later when I was going to make his life a living hell. ‘Yeah well he doesn’t seem to think she’s a threat,’ I growled and glanced back at the two of them far off in the distance. I closed my eyes and felt my aura fade back into me as my heart made itself know inside me, each beat felt forced and painful. It felt like it had years ago when it was two others in the woods together.

Gods what was wrong with me? He was my guard that’s all nothing more nothing less. Why did I have to fall in love with demons that spent their time protecting me? Did I have a damsel in distress syndrome?

‘Yeah like he would fall for her act, Kagome you know that he would never betray you,’ Amaya said.

I looked up and caught a soft smile on her lips, ‘I know,’ I whispered as my own lips turned up into a smile. ‘He is too honorable for that.’

‘I will have to report her actions to the Queen soon,’ Amaya said. ‘She told me you won’t be going back there.’

‘No I won’t my travels are done, I’m back for good.’ I really had to concentrate on keeping the smile on my face.

‘We’ll have to talk about this another time, I promise ice cream and your beloved hot springs the next time we meet and you can tell me all about it.’ Amaya said.
I was going to like this cousin of mine, ‘until we see each other again.’

‘Kagome he is just trying to protect you,’ she said before the mirror blanked and I was staring into my own eyes.

I got up and went to the back door; they were still standing by the tree though I could swear there was less space between them. I tapped the barrier and received a small shock but not enough to hurt. His tail raised and settled back on his shoulder. I tapped the barrier again and his tail twitched. An evil smile formed on my lips this was going to hurt but it would be worth it.

Pulling up all the pain, confusion and frustration I felt I pulled back my glowing fist and slammed it into the barrier. The barrier stung as it broke and my hand went straight through the glass door. Across the yard Sesshomaru stumbled backward a step and his angry growl could be heard over the sound of shattered glass falling to the ground.

I stared at my fist in shock, I broke his barrier. I broke his barrier and his door. Small cuts decorated my hand and as I moved it I could see slivers of glass reflected in the light. Super human strength, crap, I didn’t think I would be able to break his barrier.

I looked up into shocked golden eyes and knew he didn’t think I would do it either. Behind him was Toshiko, her black eyes glared at me with such hatred I instinctively took a step back. A smile spread across her face as she stepped closer to him.

I growled and turned away from them, I had to clean my hand and get the glass out of the cuts. I walked out of the room quickly and into the kitchen. It didn’t really hurt and I wondered if maybe I was going into shock.

In the kitchen I put my hand underneath the faucet and hissed as the water bit my skin, nope wasn’t shock.

The sharp crunch of glass let me know someone had come into the house. I left the water running and grabbed a knife from the block, the perfect demon would not make a sound but someone else would.

I waited for them to round the corner; Sesshomaru came into view his face devoid of anything he was thinking as he took in everything in the room. ‘Put down the knife Kagome,’ his deep voice was soft as he slowly walked into the room.

I looked behind him waiting for Toshiko to follow but no one came in and he was halfway in the room. ‘Where is she?’

‘Gone. Put down the knife no one is going to hurt you,’ he said.

I raised my bloody hand to keep it from dripping on the ground, ‘except me right?’ I kept my eyes on the doorway while I put the knife on the counter. ‘I need tweezers.’ I walked around him but he grabbed my bloody wrist before I could leave.

‘I don’t own any sit down and I will remove the glass,’ he said.

‘Who doesn’t own tweezers?’ I grumbled but I sat down at my spot at the table.

‘Those who don’t need such contraptions,’ he answered as he took a hand towel from a cabinet and placed my hand over it. He quickly began picking out the tiny shards of glass, each time he pulled one out sharp pain shot through my hand and it took a lot of stubborn will power not to pull away from him.

He worked in silence as the pile of glass grew I noticed that my hand was almost completely healed. ‘So where did Toshiko go?’ I asked and watched his hand pause before pulling out another sliver of glass.

‘How do you know her name?’ he questioned his eyes focused solely on my wounded hand.

‘I asked you first,’ he sliced my skin open and I yanked my hand away. ‘What the hell?’

He growled and grabbed my wrist, ‘you healed too quickly I wasn’t able to get all the glass.’

Reluctantly, I let the sadistic jerk take my hand back and winced when he had to cut the same spot again. ‘Answer me.’

‘Is that an order?’ he growled.

‘You wanted my trust Sesshomaru and you have it don’t make me regret it. You came into that yard ready for battle then as soon as I stepped into the room you threw up a barrier so you could talk with her. The least you could do is have the decency to answer my questions and tell me why a demoness that isn’t supposed to leave the Sithen is in your backyard.’ I said and bit back the whimper of pain as blood welled from another cut.

He pulled out another piece of glass, ‘she was spying on you.’

‘So do you converse with all our enemies or just the pretty ones?’ I hissed when he cut me again.

‘You unjust anger gives you a bold tongue woman,’ he growled and turned my hand slightly before making another slice. ‘I was trying to get information from her, now how do you know of her?’

‘Amaya was at the mirror after you put up your stupid barrier,’ I said.

He stood up and grabbed some paper towels before putting them under the water, ‘The barrier was meant to protect you.’ He shut off the water and came back to the table.

‘In case you didn’t notice I was never the type to hide from danger while my friends faced it.’

He took my off the bloodied towel and placed it closer to him before gently cleaning off the blood. ‘It doesn’t matter Kagome I needed her to talk and she wouldn’t have done that if you were with me.’

‘So what did she say?’ I tried to hold onto my anger while we talked but I was losing my ground and knew it wouldn’t be long before I started feeling guilty.

‘Nothing of importance,’ he put down the paper towels and grasped my hand gently as he examined it to see if there was any more glass embedded under my skin. His thumb gently brushed over my knuckles sending tingling jolts up my arm.

‘If I left you two alone would she have said something?’ My voice didn’t sound right and couldn’t pull my eyes from my hand in his larger one as the soft pads caressed my skin.

‘I don’t know,’ he held my hand more firmly.

‘I’m sorry about the door I didn’t think I would break it,’ my fingers closed around his and I didn’t dare look up at him.

‘It can be repaired, I did not expect you to try to break it or else I would’ve made it stronger.’

I nodded that would explain why it just crumbled around my fist, ‘I’ll pay for it, if you call like home depot or something you can use my card.’

‘That won’t be necessary Kagome I can replace it,’ he let go of my hand and stood up taking the towels to the garbage and shaking the glass into the trashcan. ‘We will pick up your lessons tomorrow morning until then you can do whatever you wish.’ He put the bloody towel on the counter and leaned against it.

‘Why? We don’t have much time left I can’t waste it,’ I looked up at his face as he looked down at me through his mask.

He shook his head minutely, ‘let your mind rest Kagome I’m sorry I pushed you before.’

I studied the pale wooden floor, ‘I’m sorry I just’ oh I don’t know what I was thinking.’

‘Kagome look at me,’ he commanded softly. I raised my eyes to meet his soft gold ones. ‘You need to control your emotions everyone at court will use them against you. Toshiko is a dangerous woman as is her sister and now that she knows how to get to you they will try it again at court.’

‘It isn’t that easy you know,’ I look out the windows toward the trees. ‘Amaya thinks she has something to do with the latest threats.’

‘What else did your cousin say,’ he asked.

I glanced up at him, ‘nothing important.’

He frowned, ‘Kagome.’

I got up and walked over to him stopping just in front of him I looked up into his narrowed eyes, ‘Sesshomaru.’

‘What game are you playing?’

I shook my head, ‘I’m not playing any games Sesshomaru I’m just letting you have a taste of what it’s like to be left in the dark. Where do you keep your dust pan and broom?’

‘You do not have to clean that,’ his hand wrapped around my upper arm and I fought the butterflies that were stirring in my stomach as he trapped me in his eyes. ‘What have I done to upset you?’

‘Nothing,’ he really hadn’t done anything it wasn’t his fault I had a few too many complexes.

‘Then what bothered you so much that you felt the need to punch through my barrier with so much force?’

I looked away and his grip loosened, he was going to let me run. Why? I looked back at his broad chest, the sweater clung to him, softly accenting the swell of his chest as it rose and fell with each soft breath. I wanted to step closer and lean against him, let my cheek rest over his strong heart while my arms encircled his waist.

I closed my eyes, ‘it’s nothing Sesshomaru I was pissed off that you had trapped me inside the house while you spoke with her.’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t have time to inform you of the situation but it will most likely happen again, there are beings that will not speak freely in front of the Sidhe.’ His hand slid down my arm slowly which sped my heart up until it was pounding in my ears and I knew he could hear the effect he was having on me. I pulled my lower lip between my teeth as his fingers entwined with mine. ‘I will never abandon you.’

‘I know,’ I mumbled and held his hand tighter. He pulled me forward gently until I was up against his chest. His hand left mine and slipped around my waist to rest on the small of my back pulling me even closer. I looked up into his molten pools of gold as my hands slid around his tapered waist. It felt so natural to do, I felt safe in his arms but I didn’t get why he was doing this. ‘Sesshomaru?’

His hand tightened against my back while he looked down at me his eyes burning through his mask of indifference. ‘I need you to know this Kagome, I know you trust me with your life but I need you to trust me with your heart. My place will always be by your side and no one is going to take me away.’

I let my head fall against his chest and his arm tightened around me even more as his chest rose and fell pulling in deep breaths, his heart was pounding against its cage and I held him tighter while the scent of the forest surrounded me. He said all the right things, held me so gently but I felt like I wanted this too badly. Could I be misinterpreting him?

I could feel his muscles work under my hands as he leaned down and his nose buried into my hair as he inhaled. I relaxed into his arm and closed my eyes allowing myself to slip into heaven.

His chest started to vibrate as a soft growl spilled from his lips as he held me tighter for a moment before he pulled back as much as he could. I looked up into his blank face as he stared at the wall behind me.

‘What’s wrong?’ Did I do something wrong?

He didn’t look at me as his hand went to my shoulder and he shoved me back lightly, I was so shocked I just stumbled back from him. He left the room in a blur and I heard a door slam shut seconds later. The warmth seeped out of my body as my legs gave out and I sank to the floor in a pile of confusion. How could he go from being so tender to just shoving me away?

He wouldn’t even answer me or look at me. The sounds of bird taking flight filled the air and I waited to hear a door open and close. When no movement came from down the hall I pulled myself to my feet and peered into the hallway, the bathroom door was closed.

Damn it all to hell. I walked down the hallway to the bedroom and fought the urge to hug myself as I passed by the quiet bathroom.

I was grateful to find the dark curtain that covered the back door was closed hiding the mess I made of it. I didn’t bother to close the door as I made my way toward the mirror. Celeste was sitting on her bed again she was dressed in a silver corset with a long silk skirt, her long hair flowed freely around her and created the illusion that she was wrapped in clouds.

When I was between the bed and mirror I bowed low, ‘Greetings Queen Celeste I beg forgiveness for keeping you waiting.’

‘Rise Miko Kagome and tell me what has happened today,’ she sounded annoyed and since she didn’t drop my title we were on formal business.

I rose from my bow and sat on the edge of the bed I didn’t know which she wanted first my progress or the news about Toshiko. ‘I have memorized the names and faces of most of the people I should know in the Sithen along with important information about them. After lunch I was out in the yard when Sesshomaru sensed another demon on his land.’

‘Amaya has informed me, where is your guard?’ She scanned the room, ‘Is the demon still there?’

‘No my Queen she left earlier after Sesshomaru briefly spoke with her,’ I answered and tried not to fidget as her eyes trained on me again.

‘Did he find out why she left the Sithen?’

‘Not the specifics though he believes she was here to spy on me,’ I said.

She nodded, ‘that was your cousin’s assumption as well though a spy should not be so easily caught. Where is your guard? I wish to ask him some questions.’

‘I am here my Queen,’ his deep voice carried through the room as he walked passed me to drop to both knees into a low bow. ‘What is it you with of me?’ I had to bite my cheeks to keep the blush from flaring at the site of his almost completely naked body, only a large navy blue towel hid the most intimate parts from view.

I forced my eyes back up to the Queen and found that she was appreciating the view as well. My jaw clenched in anger that I tried to keep off my face. ‘So good of you to grace us with your presence Sesshomaru,’ she didn’t tell him to rise which forced him to remain bowed before the mirror. ‘Toshiko has never been a spy why do you think that was her purpose for visiting you?’

‘No demon can encroach on my land undetected it is why Lady Kagome is safer here than at her home, I believe they were trying to see how far they could get.’ He answered in his usual bored tone even bent over in submission to the woman before us.

‘What did she say as an excuse for seeking you out,’ she asked without disputing his claim.

His muscles tensed and I don’t think it was from trying to remain in such an uncomfortable position. ‘She once again offered to grace my bed.’

I felt the energy around me begin to swirl and forced my anger down before I started to glow. I really hate secrets and after this was call was over I was going to pound that into his tiny brain.

‘Perhaps that was truly her reason for visiting with you,’ Celeste said.

He shook his head slightly, ‘we were never that familiar she was here for some other purpose.’

‘I will speak with her Lord, you are to report to me immediately with any other unusual activity,’ she turned her eyes on me again. ‘At the end of the week I am holding a ball and you are expected to attend.’

‘Of course Queen Celeste,’ I hesitantly answered her. I was going to a ball in the Sithen on my first day before we found the person that was plotting to take the Shikon, oh man I was in way over my head.

‘I will check on your progress tomorrow,’ Celeste said before she blanked the mirror.

Sesshomaru didn’t move, his head still bent low so I couldn’t even see his face in the mirror, not that it would show anything. His pale skin looked white under the twin magenta stripes that curled along his lower ribs.

‘Is there a reason you are still on your knees?’ Some of my anger slipped into my words but I didn’t care.

‘You are angry,’ was his monotonous reply.

‘No shit,’ I stood up and walked between him and the mirror, I glared down at his silver halo of hair ready to give him and earful. If he was Inuyasha I ‘Sit’ him a few times during the rant for good measure. He didn’t look up at me, reprimand me, nothing. Just remained bowed in that low submissive position that went against everything I knew him to be. My ire flew out of me leaving me hollow and cold. Who was I to yell at him?

I knelt down in front of him and still he remained an unmovable statue. ‘I don’t like secrets Sesshomaru.’

‘Forgive me my lady,’ he answered.

‘Damn it you frustrating youkai, I am not your master so stop pretending to be submissive and look at me,’ I shouted.

His head rose up and I was met with dead golden eyes, ‘I am not pretending.’

‘Bullshit,’ I whispered through my tight throat. ‘You don’t bow down to me, even if I am mad.’ I caressed his cheek and he flinched. ‘What happened Sesshomaru? What did I do? What did she do?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ he said and rose while his hand holding his towel firmly closed. ‘I’m going to redraw my bath.’

‘Sesshomaru wait,’ I got to my feet, he stopped just before the closed door.

‘I don’t want your pity,’ his voice sounded dead.

‘You don’t have it, I’m trying to understand what is going on I feel like I was dropped into the middle of something and I’m trying to figure it out since you are not very forth coming with answers.’ I crossed my arms.

‘Perhaps it is best left in the past you don’t remember,’ he opened the door and walked out on me for oh I can’t even remember how many times I watched him walk away from me today. I went after him I didn’t even bother to knock on the closed bathroom door.

Opening the door the bath water was draining Sesshomaru sat on the edge of the tub looking at himself in the mirror he didn’t even blink when I entered the large bathroom and closed the door behind me. I should’ve felt like a peeping tom with how loose the towel around his tapered waist was but I tried to focus on his face as I sat down beside him.

‘I’m tired of you walking out on me, though I guess I should be used to it by now, seems to run in the family.’ I waited for the growl of annoyance and all I got was silence. I flipped the drain switch and turned on the water to half speed as hot as it would go and still he just stared at himself. I don’t know if it was the lack of clothing but he looked pale, not his normal milky skin but dull just like his eyes.

‘You’ve been my rock for a few days now while I cried and screamed out my confusion and loss and you have no idea how grateful I am that you’ve been here,’ I watched his reflection for any kind of reaction but still there was nothing. ‘I’m beginning to realize how hard this has been for you, but I still don’t understand why it is hard for you.’

Still nothing, I reached out and took his warm hand in mine and saw his eyes shift down. ‘Talk to me.’

‘There is nothing to say,’ he replied.

I looked behind us at the almost full tub, I didn’t have much time. ‘Are you going to be all right?’

He closed his eyes and held my hand a little tighter, I could feel pressure building behind my eyes, I would not cry, he would take it the wrong way. Something was wrong with him, maybe it had been wrong for awhile and I had just been too blind to notice.

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ I asked just loud enough to be heard over the running water.

‘Clean the bloody towel,’ he whispered. It was so low I wasn’t sure I heard him right.

‘Um okay, my blood um affects you?’ I asked.

He looked at me with those dead eyes, ‘don’t ask me about this Kagome just please do it.’

I pulled my hand from his and turned off the water, ‘sure Sesshomaru. Is there anything in particular you want for dinner?’

He shook his head. I couldn’t help myself I gave him a quick hug and pulled back when he stiffened. Without looking back I got up and left the bathroom. I went into the office and logged into his computer quickly searching for a nearby store that could replace the door. The bathroom was quiet while I made a few calls until Lowes agreed to send out someone to make measurements and install the door tomorrow I gave them my card number name and address and hung up.

Next I searched for a good restaurant that also delivered and quickly ordered for both of us. Once that was done I went into the kitchen and threw the towel into the sink and tried not to think of how exactly the scent of my blood affected him though too many senarios played through my mind I didn't linger on them. I didn't want to make an ass of myself be assuming the wrong thing.

Once I finished washing it I pulled out a bottle of sake that I’m sure wasn’t meant for me to find and went about warming it while I waited for him to finish his bath and the food to be delivered.

TBC

I don’t know I think this was probably the best place to end it. I love hearing what you guys think. Please rate and review.
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Ripples in Time