I don’t own Inuyasha.

YEAH!!! I got more reviews…Thank you! 

Flambeau-Willow- I too am sick of all the fics that overplay the Kikyo and Inuyasha death.  I can only go by the dub since I don’t have access to the original anime videos yet so info is limited…Cartoon Network isn’t releasing any more episodes that I know of…Political Intrigue is not something I usually add to a story, but for this one, it fits. I am trying not to go by any molds that I have seen with Sess/Kag fics…can you warn me of any?

Sessyluver- Please bear with me…I like to build up a plot and suspense and intrigue. There will be plenty of time for action and adventure.

Jenna- I repeat…please have patience. I can only write so many chapters a day…

Desert Wolf- Thank you!

Sunstar-1217- Thank you too!

Ok…I will try and get myself motivated to pick up the flow of this fic…not much…but just enough to satisfy curiosity.

Chapter Five

Sesshoumaru’s castle…

            It was the dawn of yet another day for the residents of Lord Sesshoumaru’s lands.  But it was not to be another sunny day.  Already, dark and heavy thunderclouds grew over the horizon, blocking out the brilliant light of the sun.  One Kagome Higurashi awoke, turning sleepy eyes to the window overlooking the gardens.  Groaning, Kagome slipped out of bed and drew on her robe.  Stretching out her arms, the Miko padded over to the wardrobe and opened its doors.  Gasping, Kagome looked over the contents.  She had been expecting to find her clean Miko uniform but instead there was a row of silk kimonos.  It was like a rainbow resided in the wardrobe.  Kagome ran her hands over the fabric…it was silk.  The Miko chose a light green kimono that had sprigs of water lilies sewn in.  Kagome slipped her robe off and bound her chest to fit into the kimono.  Soon, she was ready to join Sesshoumaru and Rin for breakfast.

            As Kagome dressed, Sesshoumaru was already in the dining room with Rin.  Rin chatted away as Sesshoumaru paid half of his attention to the sounds of footsteps just outside the dining room.  The doors opened and Kagome entered, with a grace born only to nobility.  Rin stopped her chatter and ran to greet the Miko.  Kagome smiled genuinely down at the cherub-like girl.  “Good morning, Rin-chan. Did you sleep well?” Kagome inquired of Rin.  The girl screwed up her face to look like Sesshoumaru’s, “I do not need sleep.”  Kagome laughed softly, the sound drifting to the Demon Lord’s ears.  Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the sound, part enjoying it; part chiding himself for even caring. 

Kagome took the seat to the right of Sesshoumaru, causing him to choke a little on his tea.  For to seat on his right, it indicated to onlookers that Kagome was Sesshoumaru’s chosen.  The Miko looked at Sesshoumaru, with a mix of humor and concern swirling in her blue eyes.  Sesshoumaru forced his gaze to look down at his plate.  “Did you sleep well, my Lord?” Kagome asked of Sesshoumaru.  The Demon Lord’s hand tightened his glass in frustration.  “Quite fine thank you!” Sesshoumaru bit out.  Breakfast continued on without further conversation.

The archery range…

            Twang!  Another arrow plunked into the target board.  Kagome wiped the sweat off her brow, adjusting her training uniform once again.  Notching another arrow, Kagome whispered a weak spell and wove it into the tip of her arrow.  Drawing back her arm, Kagome aimed for the target.  Twang!  The arrow flew, hitting dead center, cutting through the other arrows.  The Miko smiled confidently.  She had now surpassed Kikyo in all ways.  An old heartache bubbled within Kagome’s heart and the Miko let out a strangled sob.  ‘Why do I let him affect me this way!” Kagome screamed mentally. 

Clutching at her bow, Kagome sunk down to her knees.  There seemed no end to the pain, no end to the tears.  Kagome wept as thunder clashed once again in the distance.  Than, there was someone standing behind Kagome.  The Miko looked up and barely registered Sesshoumaru’s presence.  The Demon Lord just happened to be passing by the range when Kagome had cried out.  Sesshoumaru could not stand that, though Inuyasha was finally gone, he still left traces of himself on the earth.  The Miko was crying because of him.  Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome by the shoulders and lifted her up to stand in front of him.  “Stop this foolish crying, Miko. He is gone!”  Kagome refused to look the Demon Lord in the eyes.  Sesshoumaru dropped the Miko and walked away.  Kagome cried out in frustration.  ‘I can’t lose myself like that…’ Kagome chided herself, wiping away the rest of her tears.  Rain started to fall as Kagome grabbed her arrows out of the target and proceeded to go inside.

The hot springs…

            Sesshoumaru stepped into the secluded spring that he had used the previous night.  Thoughts lingering on a certain Miko, Sesshoumaru calmed himself and relaxed in the warm water.  It had been a long time since Sesshoumaru had felt what he did when Kagome had cried.  ‘I wanted to…to stop her from crying ever again…’ Sesshoumaru pondered.  The only other time a sense of protection had come was when his father had betrayed his mother’s honor…Sesshoumaru growled at the disturbing memories his mind was bringing up.  Jumping out of the water, the Demon Lord quickly clothed and took off down the hall.  He would bury his memories in the hunt.  Killing always made his mind numb…

I revised this chapter.  I did not want Sess and Kagome’s relationship to go too far (taking the advice of a kind reviewer).  Ok…question about fluffy thing that graces Sesshoumaru’s shoulder…what the heck is it?