…From the Ashes the Phoenix Rises
By Danyealle
(FanFiction/Angst)
Chapter 6
After all the dramatics they were on their way. As Sesshomaru had expected, it was slow going. Since they had no hard clues as to where to look for anything he was more than content to move at a slow pace that was comfortable for Kagome. Inuyasha had started on his usual weak, pathetic humans rants but was shut up a couple words into them by Kougas’ fist. After about five times the hanyou got the point and shut up.
As dark was starting to fall they made camp. Kagome and Sango prepared dinner then took a bath in a nearby hot springs. After that Kagome pulled out her books and laptop to do some homework. While at her home Sesshomaru had seen a computer and had its’ basic function explained to him. He understood that this was a smaller version of it but was fascinated how it could be shrunk that small and still be effective. But what drew his attention more than that was the picture she used as the ‘wallpaper’ for it. It was some kind of orange/yellow bird surrounded by flames. “What kind of creature is that Kagome?” He asked, pointing to the wallpaper.
“A phoenix,” she replied as she looked something up in a book.
“What is that?” He asked, interest peaked.
“It’s a mythical bird that when it’s time for it to die it burst into flames. Then it’s reborn in the ashes left from its’ death and starts over.” She explained as she scribbled in her notebook.
“Interesting!” He said fingering the screen.
“Would you like to watch a movie?” She asked distractedly.
Glancing at her, “Like on the TV last night?”
“Yup.” She said. Grabbing the laptop, she set it up on her pack and put X-Men into the drive. After maximizing the player she let it run. Within minutes everyone was gathered around watching it while she did her homework.
Everyone sat mesmerized by the pictures on the screen. By the time the movie was done her homework was finished for the night, which was good because it was time for her medicine.
Honestly, Sesshomaru hadn’t thought to warn everyone about what would happen when she took it so there was almost a panic when it began to take effect. He waited until she had fallen asleep, curled up in her sleeping bag beside him, to explain what had happened.
~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~
For about the first week after her return Inuyasha waffled between outrage at being kept away from her, every time he even tried to talk to her Kouga was there ‘to show him the error of his ways’ and guilt at the changes he saw in her. The Kagome he knew seemed to be gone. She no longer laughed, joked and smiled all the time. She was replaced with someone that was quiet and solemn, whose eyes no longer danced. She did talk, just not much and it was mostly quietly to Sesshomaru. Yes, she still talked with Miroku and Sango but not like before.
He had overheard them talking and even they said it was as though some of the life was gone from the miko. He was also well aware that they blamed him for some of it. Quiet honestly, though he refused to accept all the blame, he knew he was responsible for part of it and felt like the worlds’ biggest jackass for his part in it.
On the other hand, there was pure fury at not even being able to talk to the wench! Good to his word, his babysitter kept him away from her. Any time he made a move her direction Kouga was there. If he opened his mouth to talk to her or make a comment Kougas’ fist was in it. If he made a move her direction, that mangy wolf yanked him back. If that fucking wolf wasn’t around Lord Asshole was and he was worse than the damn wolf! He had gotten one chance where he had caught the wench alone but did he get to explain things to her? No, of course not! He started talking quickly, knowing he wouldn’t have long so he was going to make it worth it, then she had given him an unreadable look before walking away. Of course he had gone after her but no more than two dozen steps and there was Kouga. Yet again the wolf demon had given him another ‘reminder’ to leave the wench alone. Fuck! His life sucked! As if the dumb bitch needed to be kept away from him! Quite honestly, he was damn sick and tired of that mangy fucking wolf and Lord Fuckhead! Gah!
Then there was the fact that the wench herself hadn’t made any kind of move to talk to or anything else towards him. Usually after any kind of ‘fight’ she would yell then forgive him. This time she didn’t do either. Yes, he understood what he had done was rotten but he felt he deserved another chance!
In the end it only took a couple more days for him to reach the end of his rope. They had camped early that night. Right after supper Kagome had put in a movie for them to watch while she did her homework. While they watched it he tried to come up with a way to get her to finally talk to him. Honestly, he couldn’t take any more of the silent treatment. If it kept up he was going to snap and end up doing something he would regret.
As everyone was preparing to bed down and were distracted he slid over as close to Kagome as he could get little by little so no one would notice what he was doing. Both Kouga and Sesshomaru were busy going over that nights watch schedule. Because they were both close to Kagome they didn’t expect him to try anything. When he got as close as he could to her without drawing attention he took a deep breath and braced himself. He knew he wouldn’t get very far with it but he hoped to at least get a bit out and make her angry enough to ‘sit’ him. That would at least show she wasn’t totally ignoring him and would open the door. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself again then began. “Yo! Kagome! When the fuck are you going to quit playing the victim and get over it? Or is it you like the attention?” That was as far as he was able to get but even that little bit didn’t have the desired effect.
Rather than her rounding on him in anger she just stiffened up a bit. Then she grabbed her pack and took off towards the hot springs without even looking towards him.
“You really are a dumb fuck you know that Inuyasha?” Kouga snarled, cracking his knuckles.
“Leave her ALONE Inuyasha!” Sesshomaru hissed then took off after her.
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Silently cursing the half-breed, he followed her smell to the hot springs. Knowing she liked to soak in the bubbling water, he slowed when he got close and called he name rather than barge in and embarrass her.
“I’m dressed.” She called back softly.
Stepping into the clearing he found she had changed into her night clothes and was relaxed on the grass, reclined, leaning back on her elbows with her feet in the water idly swishing around.
Sitting down by her, he relaxed a bit. “You OK?” He was worried that the idiot had upset her again.
“I’m fine.” She said simply. “I thought it was best for me to just walk away. If I stayed he would have kept going. It’s hard to argue with someone that isn’t there after all.”
“Very wise, I’m impressed.” He said, looking at her.
Shrugging, she looked up at the stars but a small smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “I knew you would follow so I would be safe. Plus you would be able to hear when it was all over and safe to return.”
Putting Tokijin aside, but within easy reach, he knew because of her miko powers it really made her uncomfortable, then he stretched out on the grass by her. “Very smart Kagome. Well reasoned out.” He was impressed. Most people wouldn’t have thought of that and stayed there to be forced to listen to the filth from the hanyou.
Remembering it was time to take her pill; he slid the bottle out of his pocket and gave it to her. He assumed, from the sound of the arguing coming from the camp, that she would be asleep before it ended. From what was reaching his ears it was sounding like what had been said to the hanyou in Edo the day she returned was just a warm-up. Now, it seemed, they had moved to the main event and everyone was blasting him with everything they had.
Feeling the wind pick up and a chill come with it, he sat up and removed his armor. Her sleep attire was thin and wouldn’t keep her warm so he pulled her over and sat her between his legs, letting her lean against his chest. His body heat would keep her comfortable until they returned to camp. Like what happened with Rin, she curled up to his chest and seemed to take comfort in him. Considering what he was like he didn’t understand that. Why would two basically helpless women take comfort in his presence? Sensing her relaxed state he decided to ask her. Maybe she could explain it to him. “Tell me Kagome. I’m one of the most feared taiyoukai in Japan yet you and Rin seem to take comfort from my touch and presence. I’ve even tried to kill you, although I have apologized for it, but one would think there would be a bit of apprehension on your part being this close to me. Can you explain that to me?” He asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, that’s easy.” She said, looking up at him. “It’s because of your strength and power. Rin knows you’d never hurt her and protect her. To her your power and strength are comforting. It’s the same for me. You’ve promised you won’t hurt me and to protect me. I know you don’t lie. I’m also well aware how powerful you are and what that means in terms of my protection. You might be Mr. Big-Bad-And-Scary but you’ve told me I have nothing to fear from you and I believe you. So why shouldn’t I take comfort in you?”
That was reasoning he could understand but he also suspected that it had to do with the make up of both Rin and Kagome, especially Kagome. As he had learned, she was quite trusting. Most he knew wouldn’t trust anyone who had tried to kill them, and in her case more than once. Hell, his true form had gone after her yet she did trust him. Trusted him enough to curl up to him like she was.
“I can understand that I believe. But must, after that had been or seen me like you have wouldn’t let themselves trust me like that again. You’ve even been attacked by my true form and lived to tell the tale. Why is this?” At this point he could smell her scent start to change and sense the change in her aura, telling him he needed to get the answers he wanted because the medicine was starting to take effect.
“I’m not most people. We’ve encountered each other enough for me to know when you give your word you will keep it. Most others don’t have that experience with you.”
“I can accept that.” He said, nodding. But he noticed an odd twinkle in her eyes. Arching an eyebrow he looked down at her, “What?”
Though her pupils were starting to dilate it was obvious that twinkle didn’t come from the drugs. “I have a confession to make.” She said, chuckling.
Arching his other eyebrow, he queried, “And that is?” From her reaction he knew it wasn’t anything bad. In fact, knowing her, it would probably give him a chuckle.
“My first reaction to your other side was ‘oh, big doggie! I wonder if he would like his ears scratched.’ Well, then after that there was a lot of running and screaming…”
As he expected, it gave him an internal chuckle. Outwardly he just smirked. If anyone else had said that he would have been furious and appalled but, somehow, he would expect something like that from Kagome. It was just who she was. The reaction from his beast was about as he expected as well. It emitted a growl that sounded very much like a cats purr and its tail was all but wagging. Its’ opinion was she could scratch him all she wanted to. Sesshomaru was also pretty sure it would roll on its’ back and show its’ belly to be scratched as well. Not surprising really, for a long time his beast had liked the girl. She treated them well and she wasn’t like other females they had encountered. Unlike most humans, she had honor and did things ‘because they were right’. It also added, almost as an after thought, that it adored her smell.
Inclining his head, he whispered in her ear, almost as though he was afraid someone would overhear, “I think he would let you Kagome. Maybe some time in the future that can be arranged.”
Those big eyes of hers turned up and gazed at him, sparkling a bit and the corners of her mouth twitched up a bit. “For being Mr. Big-Bad-And-Scary you aren’t that bad Sesshomaru.” She said, sliding an arm around his waist and giving him a squeeze.
“I would prefer you keep that observation to yourself.” He said quietly but liked that she thought that way. He also liked the ‘hug’ she had given him. Honestly, he couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him like that. It felt good, he admitted to himself.
“Who would believe me if I did tell them?” She asked.
When she finally dozed off he wrapped both his arms around her and held her close, liking how it felt to have her so close. In fact, he held her long after the commotion at the camp had died down.
Though he didn’t want to, he wanted to hold her close all night, he finally carried her back. After he had the slayer unroll her sleeping bag, he slid her into it. Settling down by her, as was now his habit, he did a quick scan of the camp. Seeing a bruised hanyou perched in a tree on the edge of the camp, sulking, he smirked internally. Though the lesson had been imparted, he doubted the half-breed had learned it. It would probably take several more sessions before it was pounded into his skull. Then he doubted that the boy would have actually learned anything, more like just avoiding the beatings.
~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~
In the middle of the night Sesshomaru was jarred awake by Kagome shaking him and the soft, slurred words, “Jewel shard!”
After ascertaining where it was coming from, he jolted everyone awake. He had Kouga take the groggy Kagome while he and the rest dealt with whatever was coming there way. The low-level snake youkai was no match for the pack. They retrieved the shard and Miroku’s’ wind tunnel cleaned up the mess to keep the scavengers away.
As everyone was settling back down, Sesshomaru took the already soundly sleeping Kagome from Kouga and slid her back into her sleeping bag. That, however, answered his question as to whether she could detect jewel shards while on the medication.