"HENTAI!"
Kagome's deafening scream reverberated in Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears. Momentarily, Sesshoumaru entertained the idea of dropping the kicking and screaming girl. Luckily for Kagome, Sesshoumaru could just imagine Rin's face when she found out what happened to her precious Kagome-neechan. That didn't stop the youkai from glaring at the squirming girl and tightening his hold so the foolish girl wouldn't fall. I, Sesshoumaru, a hentai?
Kagome covered her face with her hands, not wanting Sesshoumaru to see her flushed face. I just called Inuyasha's brother a hentai. I just called the Lord of the Western Lands a hentai. Would that be like calling the Queen of England a baka? Kyaa, and I just called him a hentai out of the blue. And it's been two months since he kissed me. I doubt he remembers. He probably just kissed me to get Inuyasha mad anyway so he probably has no idea why I just called him a hentai. SO embarrassing! Peeking up through her fingers she saw that Sesshoumaru was paying no attention to what she was doing giving her a chance the chance to study his noble profile. It occurred to Kagome, the longer she watched the youkai, that she was being extremely ungrateful. After all, Sesshoumaru did save her from getting shot by Kikyo. Kagome winced, remembering how she had screamed in Sesshoumaru's ears. If they were anything like Inuyasha's ears they must be very sensitive.
"Ne" Kagome sweat-dropped as Sesshoumaru didn't even bother to glance at her. She wondered if it was a family trait, this aloof behavior. Remembering how Inuyasha had acted the first time she thanked him Kagome hid a grin. "Arigato."
It wasn't long until they reached their destination and Kagome got out of Sesshoumaru's arms in a hurry, blushing. They had landed in an open space not far from where she had been chased by Kikyo. Once there, Sesshoumaru started walking, leaving Kagome to stare at his retreating back in confusion. Okay So he saves me and then he just leaves me in the middle of nowhere. But I guess being lost is better than being dead. Not knowing where she was, Kagome had no choice but to follow Sesshoumaru. The youkai continued walking even though Kagome was sure that he knew that she was following him. He must be used to me, or something. He doesn't seem to care that I'm following him.
Staring at Sesshoumaru's back, her thoughts fell to the events that had occurred ever since that fateful day. The day she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo together. A lot of things had happened but yet it seemed as though a very long time since she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo kissing in that forest. Kagome remembered a time when it would have been ludicrous to suggest that she and Sesshoumaru travel together. But here they were, traveling together for the second time. Circumstances had been such that that it was Sesshoumaru who found her crying on the ground and not Inuyasha. The hanyou had not gone after her at all. From that time on, things changed and became the unexpected came topass. Who would have thought that trying to teach Sesshoumaru about love had helped her let go of her love of Inuyasha? It was an unexpected side effect of what happened with Sesshoumaru. This was the conclusion that she came to during one of her many sleepless nights she spent staring up at the night sky. How or when she stopped loving Inuyasha was a mystery. But, one thing was certain, she knew it happened after parting from Sesshoumaru after that shocking kiss. Maybe it was because she had never told anyone her feelings and thoughts about what happened in the Sengoku Jidai before that time with Sesshoumaru. Maybe saying aloud all that was pent up inside made her face her situation with Inuyasha more realistically. Or was it that she had felt something that time when Sesshoumaru kissed her, a pounding of her heart. Either way, she had finally reached a decision.
Inuyasha was her first love, her first bittersweet taste of love. It was said that a person's first love will always hold a special place in one's heart. But all firsts are special, so is it any wonder that first love strikes the heart so strongly? For some, first love will be the only love but more likely than not, it is the love found after which will last. Kagome knew that no matter what happened between Inuyasha and her, she would always remember him fondly as the first person to inspire such love in her. Her time with Inuyasha had been filled with joy and sorrow, good and bad. When she was an old granny she would have interesting tales to tell her grandchildren about her first love. Kagome felt no regret in loving Inuyasha, for because of him she had experience the complicated emotion known as love. She had learned what it meant to love and the sacrifices entailed when a person loved another. What was it I heard? If you love something, set it free. If it doesn't return then it was never meant to be.
So deep in her thoughts was she that Kagome was not even aware of where she was going, her legs moving of their own accord. Next thing she knew, she had walked into something soft and fluffy. She felt two hands on her arms, keeping her from falling forward. I didn't. Her heart began to pound. Kagome looked higher to see a certain youkai's white kimono and battle armor. I did. Kagome nervously lifted her eyes to those of Sesshoumaru. The youkai looked amused. Kagome blinked. That can't be right he definitely looks amused.
Sesshoumaru released the shocked girl and walked into the clearing in which they had arrived. Inexplicably, the girl's actions made his lips itch to smile. But it was not to be, because as Sesshoumaru slowly surveyed the area any happy thoughts faded. The youkai lord's thoughts turned grim. There was no sign of Rin but that was not alarming, as the child knew to hide to prevent meeting up with stray youkai. The problem was that Sesshoumaru could not sense her presence even with his powers. In normal circumstances, Sesshoumaru could easily locate Rin as he had become accustomed to her presence and ki, her life essence. Instead, Sesshoumaru smelled the lingering stench of a spawn of Naraku, Kagura.
Feeling carefully with his psychic senses Sesshoumaru felt the weak youki of a youkai. Striding over as though unaware of the youkai's presence, he neared the youkai's position. As expected, the youkai unaware that Sesshoumaru knew of his plan, attempted to launch a surprise attack. With a quick slash of his claws Sesshoumaru destroyed the youkai. As the remains fell to the ground, a piece of paper floated downward. Snatching the note out of the air before it could fall into the bloody remains, Sesshoumaru read the message from Naraku.
"Naraku has Rin."
Kagome gasped in horror.
"He wants me to give you to him in exchange for Rin."
Kagome stood stock still as she waited to see what Sesshoumaru would do. Strangely enough, she trusted him. Why am I just standing here? What am I thinking? Why wouldn't he just give me to Naraku? He cares about Rin not you, baka. Maybe you should start running, Kagome, not that he won't catch you
"I dislike being used. I will get Rin back, but on my own terms. I am going to find Naraku and if you continue to follow me, you might die."