It Is What It Is

By Danyealle

(MF/angst/fanfiction)

Chapter 7

The Miko’s Return

Immediately, Inuyasha began barking out orders. “Shippo, grab the containers and go get some water.”

For once the kitsune didn’t argue or cause problems. Grabbing the containers they used, Shippo took off toward the river.

Turning towards Miroku, Inuyasha told him, “Take Kirara and head to that village we passed through yesterday. Get some milk, bread, fruits, and vegetables. As many as you can.”

Nodding, the monk answered, “Will do!”

As though she was agreeing, Kirara mewed then shifted into her full-sized form. After the monk hopped onto her back they were off.

Turning to Sango, the hanyou asked, “Does Kagome still have that bed thing in her pack?”

“Yes, I think so,” the slayer answered.

“You’re the only one that knows how to work with the thing so could you get it set up? After that could you get the spit set up too? When Shippo gets back have him go get more firewood.

“Also, do we have any more of that peanut stuff and dried meats Kagome brings?”

Nodding, Sango replied, “Yes.  There’s a whole jar of it in her pack. We have some of the dry stuff left but not much.”

“Alright,” Inuyasha said, nodding. “Fix up some sandwiches, Kagome’s going to need to eat and lots of it.” Stepping closer to her, he lowered his voice so his half-brother couldn’t hear. “See if you can’t get Lord Asshole to eat some of it, too. He needs to eat something.”

“Will do,” she replied, nodding.

“I’m going hunting. I’ll be back soon.” He told her then took off into the trees.

As soon as the hanyou was out of sight she went to work, digging through Kagome’s pack for what she was going to need.

While the slayer was busy, Sesshomaru found a place to sit down. Shifting around, he made himself comfortable. Gently, he moved Kagome around and put her in his lap, lying down all curled up with her head resting on his thigh. Sighing, he shut his eyes. Yes, he was tired. The mating and blood exchange had worn him out. Although he was exhausted and wanted to sleep he didn’t allow himself to do so. With it being only himself and Sango being in camp, he wanted to stay awake. Yes, he was well aware how good of a fighter the exterminator was but he wasn’t willing to have her be the only one awake. He would wait until the hanyou returned to allow himself to sleep. Until that time he would allow himself to do no more than doze.

Shutting his eyes, he allowed himself to slip into a light doze until a strange whirring noise jarred him awake. Opening his eyes, he looked over to where it was coming from. With wide eyes, Sesshomaru watched as Sango held the thing that was making the noises. From it there was a pipe that led to what looked like a mat on the ground. That mat seemed to be inflating. Fascinated, he watched as it grew in height and width until its length and width were roughly the size of a folded out futon and was tall enough that it came up to about his knees. Once it was the size it was suppose to be she made it up like one would a bed then tossed several pillows on it. Straightening up she looked at him and smiled. “There you go. That should be more comfortable for the both of you.”

Eyebrows both arched, the taiyoukai looked at it but scooped the sleeping miko in his arms and stood then walked over to the bed.

“Just be careful of your claws or you’ll puncture it. Kagome’s already had to repair it a couple times because of Inuyasha and Shippo’s claws. Same goes with your swords. Just lay them on it; don’t wear them.”

Nodding, he pulled both his katanas out of his sash and laid them on it then slid onto it himself.  Surprisingly, he found it very comfortable. Settling himself in, he laid her down on the mattress with her head on his thigh.

As he was settling in, Shippo returned with the water. Once he delivered it, the kitsune dashed off to gather firewood. After he left, Sango busied herself making sandwiches and something to drink from the instant powders Kagome always brought along. After everything was made, she brought them over to the demon lord. Handing him a small piece of a sandwich, she asked him to try it.  “Inuyasha says you need to eat too. This is some stuff Kagome brings with her. It’s really good though it’ll stick to the roof of your mouth.”

Sniffing it, his eyebrow arched. It had a pleasant enough smell but he couldn’t identify what it was. “What is it?”

“She calls it peanut butter. A peanut is a kind of nut. They grind it up until it’s a spread. Nothing else in it. Kagome says that it’s a substitute for meat.”

Dubious, he hesitated but popped it into his mouth. Unexpectedly, he found the taste quite pleasing but she was right, it was sticky.

Smiling, she explained what the dried fruits and meats were then stepped back.

Gently, he woke the little priestess and slid her between his legs. No, she wasn’t fully awake and alert; it was like a groggy half-asleep wakefulness. Her speech was a bit thick and muzzy, eyes only half open. She also was listless. Curled up between his legs, leaning against his chest, she ate quietly, not even noticing Sango until he pointed out she was there. Then she looked at the woman she saw as a sister and gave her a small smile then a slurred ‘hi’ before going back to eating.

Understanding what was going on, the slayer wasn’t upset or taking it the wrong way. As it was Sesshomaru had to keep waking her to finish eating because she kept falling asleep. Leaving them alone, Sango went back over to finish what needed to be done. 

Once he and Kagome finished eating, Sesshomaru found it increasingly hard to stay awake. Sitting up, he had to fight to keep his eyes open. For the first time in his existence he was actually pleased to see Inuyasha when he returned. When his half-brother stepped back into camp, he kicked off his boots then lay down, gently taking the already sleeping miko with him. Within five minutes, he was out cold with his sleeping mate curled up to his chest, arm draped around him.

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Noticing Kagome and his half-brother both asleep, Inuyasha tried, for once in his life, to stay quiet while he cleaned the boar he head brought back. Quietly, he asked Sango about what had gone on while he was gone, nodding approvingly when it appeared everything went smoothly.

Looking at the hanyou Sango asked him quietly, “Are you OK, Inuyasha? You’re taking this awfully well.”

Sighing, he stopped and looked at the ground, “Yeah, I’m OK. It hurts but I’m OK.”

“I thought you’d be mad at the two of them,” she told him quietly.

Looking over at where the two were curled up, sleeping, he sighed again. “The only person I’m really mad at is myself. Kagome patiently waited for me to pull my head out of my ass for a long time but I didn’t do it.  I can’t really blame her for going to look elsewhere. Yeah, part of me was arrogant enough to think she would wait for as long as I wanted her to but that’s obviously not what happened. I can’t blame or be mad at her over something that I’m the cause of. She did all she should have and plenty more. It was me that was the fuck up.” He told her with a heavy sigh.

Surprised, Sango looked at him, wide-eyed. She most certainly wasn’t used to this kind of maturity from him.

Once again, looking over to where the couple was sleeping, ears flattening a bit, he sighed. “As much as I don’t like Lord Pain-in-the-Ass, I know he wouldn’t take Kagome as a mate just to piss me off or to get tetsusaiga. If he were to mate for power of some kind, he wouldn’t have chosen Kagome. So there has to be more to it than what we know. Nor would Kagome consent to such a thing if there weren’t feelings of some kind between them. I’m sure there is some part of him that is gloating a bit over it but he wouldn’t have shown the gentleness he has with her if it was all about revenge.” He said in a soft, quiet voice.

Looking back over his shoulder again, he sighed, “All you have to do is look at them to see there is something between them and it’s probably been going on for a while now.

“The way I see it they’ll probably be good for each other.” Stopping, he grinned. “At least it isn’t that flea-bitten wolf. If she had chosen him there would have been a fight. Lord Asshole, I can tolerate. That mangy wolf… No fucking way!”

Chuckling, Sango grinned. Now that was the Inuyasha all of them knew and loved!

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A couple hours later, Sesshomaru was pulled back to the waking world by the tantalizing smell of cooking meat. Because he wasn’t ningen, he didn’t need as much sleep as they did. When he opened his eyes he felt 100% better and completely refreshed. Gently, he extracted himself from Kagome’s grasp then pulled his boots back on before disappearing into the trees to take care of his business. When he came back he settled back onto the mattress and was about to pull Kagome back into his lap when the monk came over carrying a couple plates. 

“Here you go,” he said in a friendly tone, handing them to the demon lord. “The bread and fruits are fresh. Sango made the rest up for you. It’s from the heart, liver and a few other things. Would you like some milk with it?”

Nodding, Sesshomaru said nothing but his stomach growled at the smell. Sliding back so he was at least touching Kagome, who immediately curled up to him, before beginning to eat. He had to admit, he was surprised. What he had expected was for it to have been prepared the way humans would eat it but it was raw and seasoned the way a youkai would have fixed it. He made sure he let the slayer know it was good.  In fact it was better than what his own cooks would prepare.

After he had eaten and everything was settled down the monk, slayer and the kit grabbed some containers then headed out to a clutch of berries the kit had found while gathering firewood.

Once they were well out of ear shot Inuyasha, who had appeared to be dozing, opened his eyes then stood and made his way over to the mattress. Looking first at the sleeping Kagome, who was once again curled up in the taiyoukai’s lap, then up at his half-brother. “I want to talk to you.”

Expecting this, Sesshomaru nodded, “Alright half-breed.”

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