#seskag

She pushed away, her cheeks now blazing. "N-not when they are barely more than acquaintances!"

Sesshomaru allowed her to pull from his embrace, and she took several steps back, turning to face away from him. He made no move to follow her, and Kagome could not comprehend his actions.

"You make no sense! You can't come here and grab mortal women! Not like that," she berated.

Sesshomaru had likely never had a cross word spoken to him in his life. No one crossed a daiyoukai and lived. Especially not an unnervingly silent one who's yoki could be felt rising by the second. This did not stop Kagome, who now had an overwhelming urge to release her pent up frustrations.

She swiveled on her heel and took a step towards him, one finger in the air, and her other hand clenched into a fist by her side, now shaking with indignation.

"First, you abandon me before the sun rises in a foreign location with nothing but scraps and a ridiculously fancy hakimono. Any number of things could have accosted me as scantily clad as I was!"

Taking a breath and wagging her finger, she continued, "Second, you pretend that nothing happened at all, never even once dropping by or checking on me. As if it would have been difficult for you to pop in or even have Rin ask after me."

She'd only listed two things, but scowled and shook her head before stomping away, leaving her belongings behind. Sesshomaru appeared to be taken aback by the display, merely standing still with an eyebrow raised. He seemed to know Kagome was not done with her tirade, which irritated her all the more. She would not give him the satisfaction for which he longed.

'Damn yokai,' she thought to herself. 'I cannot believe he would come here and...and…' her thoughts trailed off.

Changing her mind, Kagome stopped mid stomp and turned, stalking back in fury to add, "And how can I forget that I never see you at all until today…" she paused to drag in a breath, "BY CHANCE," she yelled, "Where I find that you plan on caroming off into the distance with a perfectly-perfect yokai bitch so she can spit out a couple of pure-blooded puppies, never to be seen again."

Kagome felt faint after practically screaming at the man, who just stood there with some form of bemused expression painted on his face. She placed a hand on her hip and began to grab her things from the ground, slinging her quiver over her shoulder and snatching up the bow, all the while shooting furious glances his way. Part of her wanted to stay and continue making practice shots, pretending they were certain yokai's heads. The other part did not want to pretend. It incised her to leave when he should be the one going, but she knew she needed to move her legs and march as far from him as possible.

A new wave of anger washed over her as she walked away, yelling over her shoulder, "Who comes and throat-grabs a pregnant woman, honestly?"

Perhaps she'd been foolish to think she could yell at Sesshomaru and walk away unscathed. It hadn't surprised her all that much when he stepped in front of her path, a smoldering look on his face.

"Haughty words to be spoken so callously by you to the likes of me. Does my brother also feel the sting of your barbed tongue?" he queried. It was his taciturn demeanor that threw her off every time — never knowing what was going through his mind now pressed on her when, in the past, she had no more reason to care.

She stopped and sighed in exasperation, "Evidently, you both inherited your dense skulls from your father. I can't imagine two people to be so obtuse coming from two different gene pools."

"You insult me and expect to walk away unscathed, wench?" he asked dryly.

If there was anything else she could say to instigate her funeral, it might not have mattered. She had likely already succeeded. At this point, she did not care.

"You've 'scathed' me enough, Lord Sesshomaru," she said sullenly, seemingly deflated. Re-adjusting her quiver, she walked around him, and he let her pass, following her with his eyes.

"You speak as if you are the only party impacted," Sesshomaru called to her retreating figure.

She stopped but did not turn around. He continued, "Are you not my brother's woman? Am I to assume that you wish him dead?"

Kagome felt a lump form in her throat and tried to swallow it down. "No," she called out.

It was obvious what to what Sesshomaru alluded. If Inuyasha found out about this, he would, undoubtedly, attempt to kill his older brother, which may or may not result in one or both of the brother's deaths. Kagome knew that Inuyasha was capable of great feats, and his potential seemed to know no bounds, but hanyo against daiyokai… The odds seemed to be stacked insurmountably in Sesshomaru's favor.

Kagome was brought out of her reverie once she felt his yoki approach, stopping directly behind her. She could almost feel the warmth of his breath upon her neck; he was so close, nearly close enough for her to lean into him, but she quickly drowned that sentiment.

"You speak hypocritic words. Are you not as capable as I to seek this Sesshomaru out?" he urged.

'Damn,' she thought, her head jerking to the right subtly and her eyes narrowing.

His words held truth. Kagome could have sought him out, but perhaps she was afraid of rejection. It would have come at a cost, two-fold.

"I suppose it does not matter now," she all but whispered.

"Your confliction is understood. There is a thread that binds us. Placed upon ourselves by an incantation for reasons I have yet to ascertain," he told her.

A shudder ran through her when she felt his hand run lightly down her arm. She turned swiftly, looking up into his eyes again. She cursed herself, for they were so like his brother's, but markedly different. Where one was unbridled, the other was reserved. Both held an unwavering ability to sweep her away from where she stood.

Sesshomaru's golden stare held her enraptured, and she saw something much more than cold, stoicism. Maybe he was just as intrigued as she was. Perhaps he felt the same pull that was too painful to go unheeded. There was no way she was alone in these feelings.

Kagome felt drawn to him, sure, but could that be the spell from months ago? That night she had felt hazy and immured deep within her own subconscious, but much of the magic had been drawing her to that spot. Everything that happened after arriving at that cave occurred by her own volition. She likened it to mild inebriation where people made conscious, albeit uninhibited decisions.

He raised a hand to her face in a caressing motion. Kagome could see the gesture from the corner of her eye even after he stopped himself with a tiny jerk, his arm falling away in surreptitious restraint.

This was all so strange, the way he was acting and all of a sudden. It was enough to make her stomach flutter with anticipation. The fluttering continued and was followed by a kick. The blood drained from her face, and her eyes widened in surprise. Something she'd never felt before that had come from within and a not so subtle reminder of a more great secret she carried.

"Oh!" she gasped.

Sesshomaru looked down to see her hands resting now on her belly, and his face turned sour. Any warmth that had settled within his eyes had been replaced by disdain again. Whatever it was that had him acting out of turn was gone, bringing him back to his former self.

Kagome chewed her bottom lip and felt hollow. The cold, sadness that had consumed her these past few months threatened to return in force. Her hands trembled as she brought them around herself, and she drew in a shaky breath.

"It would be prudent for me to exit post-haste and deal with this nuisance," he uttered as a snide remark, gesturing to her. He pushed past her, and she stood planted in place. He'd just referred to her as a nuisance!

Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but once she turned around, she realized that Sesshomaru had risen to the air and was well off into the distance. 'Dammit!' she thought. She fumed with anger now, and that was the only thing that seemed to keep the hollow bitterness at bay.

With her belongings still in hand, she felt another prodding from within and placed a hand there; what a time to feel what had to be the first kick from her unborn child. As inconvenient as this entire situation seemed to be, Kagome was struck with an epiphany. The epiphany fueled her, spurring her to march to her home.

It only took a few moments to reach the dwelling, where she promptly pulled out a large rusuck back and began to pack it full of items: food, supplies, and other necessities for a trip. Without a second thought, she made her way towards the village.

                                                  o - o - o - o - o

Kaede's hut looked just as she'd left it only hours earlier, unassuming and quiet. Once Kagome entered the house, she spotted the older woman snoozing next to the flames. A quick look around confirmed that Rin was not in attendance to the Miko, and Kagome sat her items down near the door before moving to rouse Kaede.

The older miko grumbled at having been woken from her nap. It was a struggle for the woman to move unassisted, which is likely why she napped while Rin was away. Or rather, Rin ran errands while Kaede napped, which was more frequent as the seasons pressed on. Kagome pulled Kaede into a sitting position and moved to sit near her.

"Kagome, child," the woman grunted. "Why have ye come? Is the matter urgent?" she asked, eyeing Kagome and the supplies near the door. "What is happening?"

Kagome placed a hand in Kaede's lap, gently wrapping her fingers around Kaede's gnarled ones, and looked into the older miko's eye. "Kaede, I have a boon to ask of you?"

"Aye, what is it?"

"There was a spell cast on me several months ago," Kagome began. Kaede nodded along, looking unsurprised.

She continued, "I need your help to find out who cast it and how I can break the spell."

Kaede closed her eye and brought up a hand to her face in a thoughtful gesture. "Hmmm," was the only sound she made as she considered.

"Are ye certain it was a spell?" she queried. "Would ye not see the spell now, child?"

Kagome fidgeted a little under Kaede's scrutinizing stare. "I don't know, I've seen spells before. Could this be like some curse?"

Her bony and misshapen fingers felt odd against Kagome's hand when the woman gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"I am not blessed with the powers of mine sister, Kikyo, child. I cannot assist thee as thee would have me," Kaede answered.

The crestfallen look that overtook Kagome's features must have caused the older woman to change her mind.

"Tell me about the spell," she sighed.

Remembering that night was something that Kagome did every day, reliving the passionate tryst, dissecting the moments, and glossing them over with rose-colored glass. Trying to describe the event without sounding like a love-sick, spurned fool was no simple task.

"It woke me from my dreams, calling out to follow. It was as if I had not fully awoken and had little control over my own body. There was this constant pull, and I could feel the slice of thorns and the cold, damp grass underfoot, but none of that made me coherent. When I remember the night, it was like looking through gauze. Hazy, but candescent," Kagome explained.

Kaede nodded as the tale was spun. She'd a look of recognition written on her features. "Twas a summoning spell, no more," she explained.

"That's it? There has to be more," Kagome urged. Kaede unknowingly made it sound as if that night was nothing more than a meeting of two people who held secret passions for one another.

"I cannot say for certain," Kaede shook her head.

Kagome was filled with incredulous fury. Nothing made any sense, and she had to figure out why this happened and make it right. "Who would do that? Why?" she asked aloud.

With a shrug, the older miko responded, "It sounds like a witch, and I only knoweth of one, though the lady should be dead by now."

This admonition sparked a light of hope. "Tell me about her. How can I find her?"

"If 't be true, the lady is still alive; thee wilt find her deep in the woods on the highest mountain in the west. Though why thee would seek her out is beyond me," Kaede supplied, eyeing Kagome suspiciously.

Kagome looked off into the glow of the hearth, saying absently, "Those are Lord Sesshomaru's lands."

"Aye. That is precise. The most wondrous witch Yamauba was that lady's name. It hath been said the lady was once a beautiful mistress who was spurned by a yokai lover and cast out by her family. Twas that lady's bitterness and rage that slowly turned her into the twisted creature she was. Any who crossed that lady by hapstance ended up in her large cooking pot," Kaede explained.

She went on to explain that the stories were such that she had heard as a child, but knew them to be accurate based on past experiences with her sister. Kaede told her that Kikyo was once also called by a similar spell but had not been so foolish as to allow herself to get caught up.

Kaede smiled to herself. "I had forgotten that until just now."

Kagome narrowed her eyes and expelled an annoyed breath. Of course, Kikyo would not be fool enough to allow a curse to be placed on her. She consoled herself with the fact that Kikyo had also allowed herself to be fooled by Naraku, believing her eyes over her own heart.

A nudge reminded Kagome of her urgency. "Thank you, Kaede. I am going to get to the bottom of this!"

"The bottom of what, child?" Kaede called out once Kagome all but jumped up and grabbed her things. "Do thee truly plan to journey out and find the witch? Even if 't be true, the lady was alive, thither is much we do not know about her nor what she is capable. Is it not best to leave well enough alone?"

A determined look crossed Kagome's face. She could not just sit around and let things happen to her. It was driving her crazy with melancholy. "I need to figure this out. I'll be back before you know it!"

"Kagome! It is not wise to go in your condition!" Kagome could hear from the house as she hurried out.

o - o - o - o - o

Maybe it was true that it was not wise to travel alone to visit a witch while being pregnant. That was a notion that Kagome pushed out of her mind. She'd decided to get this over with, and that was precisely what was going to happen. Nevermind that it did not make sense for her to do this. Maybe if she'd had an answer, she could make sense of her feelings.

Her exit from the village was hasty. Kagome did not have a mind to take up a conversation with Sango or Rin at this time. Not when they would only attempt to persuade her not to follow through on this foolish venture. She did not need them to convince her of the folly when she knew full well of her plans stupidity. Yet, it was something she was going to do all the same.

Before leaving, Kagome had borrowed a horse from one of the villagers who owed her a favor. Apparently, doling out medicine, tending to wounds, and helping to birth babies had its kickbacks. Asking the family to stay quiet about the horse would make the news gossip-worthy, so Kagome claimed she had business to attend to in a neighboring town. No one questioned a miko on her business, and the news would spread at a snail's pace, hopefully not making it to Sango before Kagome concluded her journey and a horse's speed would shorten the trip.

Kagome had never traveled unaccompanied before. Not here in the Feudal Era. Even during her quest to find the Shikon Jewel shards, she'd always been among her friends. That was all different now. To place an unnecessary burden on Sango was not fair and not something Kagome would ask. The woman was busy enough with her children now. Even had Inuyasha been around, there was no way Kagome was prepared to share her secret with him.

The journey to the witch would likely only take a day or so. Kagome recalled taking a trip to Mount Fuji in her youth, but the trip had been by car and only lasted a couple of hours. Of course, that knowledge did not help her now as she set forth on what could only be described as a nag. Beggars could not be choosers. The villagers lent her only what they could afford to lend out and not the reliable steed she had eyed. Even so, she was thankful not to make the trip on her own two feet.

It was not long into her journey that loneliness set in. There was no playful banter to watch, no meaningful conversation to pass the time, only quiet introspection. The hours passed agonizingly slowly, giving Kagome plenty of time to worry. Despite the trip being relatively short, she prayed that Inuyasha would not return while she was gone. He would most definitely come looking for her, and she was sure she was not that difficult to find.

Another of Kagome's fears was that she would be set upon by bandits or yokai. Traveling alone as a woman was not necessarily the wisest of decisions, but her ability with a bow, coupled with her status as a miko, ensured she was not bothered. It was still considered a time where women of a certain status could travel unaccompanied, and no one would bat an eye at them.

The first night was equally lonesome. Kagome set up camp, rationing out some of the food she'd packed and tended to the mare, tying the harness a bit closer than necessary to ward off the chill of the night and to provide some level of company.

"We should get there tomorrow afternoon, Bullet," Kagome said to the horse.

The old mare picked at some of the shoots of grass surrounding her tie in, ignoring Kagome's words. She'd named the mare Bullet in jest, seeing as how the horse was anything but speedy. It may have been apter to name the horse 'Snail' or 'Lolligag,' but if anything, the horse was sure-footed and got her where she needed to go much faster than she could on her own.

Morning came too soon; just as Kagome had fallen asleep. Sleep, it seemed, was just as evasive as the mastery of her feelings.

With a groan and the persistent nudging of the mare for a morning meal, Kagome rose up and put her sleeping gear away.

"I'm coming, Bullet. Hold your horses," she laughed.

After finishing a quick meal, Kagome set off on the last leg of her journey. The mountain loomed before her, looking large and imposing even from a considerable distance. The dark woods that encompassed the base of the mountain seemed thick and lush, hiding her destination from view.

The remainder of the journey turned out to be pensive for Kagome as she went over different scenarios in her head. What if Sesshomaru had already found the witch? What if he was there? What if Inuyasha found her out? Too many 'what ifs' rattled through her mind.

Hours later, Kagome broached the perimeter of the forest. She pulled Bullet to a stop and looked around. Kaede had not said exactly where the witch could be found, but Kagome was confident she could sense the yokai once she came near. Now Kagome had come to a literal fork in the road. She could go left or right, either way, possibly being the direction of the witch's home.

"Which way should we go?" Kagome asked aloud.

She looked down and patted the nag's neck, reassuringly. Whether she was reassuring the mare or herself, she did not know.

The horse lifted its head suddenly, peering towards the right with its ears forward at attention. Something had caught its attention. Without a guiding hand, the horse began to dance towards the left, pulling the reins nearly from Kagome's hands.

"Woah!" she called, grasping the reins tightly. "What's wrong, girl?"

The horse did not seem to want to go down the path that led right — all the more reason for Kagome to go that way. The horse could sense something ominous and possibly foreboding. Kagome pondered on why she could not feel anything. Putting the strange thought to bed, she steered the reluctant horse down a lightly traveled path.

o - o - o - o - o

It had been prudent to secure a suitable domicile with haste. Sesshomaru had entrusted Jaken with the task and knew it would be so by the time he'd returned. The instructions left for the imp were simple, locate his human vassal with the largest estate in his lands, and have them vacate the premises immediately.

He did not require a conventional home, instead preferring to migrate through his lands on an endless pilgrimage. This was not to say Sesshomaru did not have an estate. That could not be further from the truth. There were houses and castles, yes, plenty as befitting a daiyokai lord. The reality of the matter was residing in a structure that seemed useless and frivolous to Sesshomaru, who preferred to be on the move and unshackled to things and responsibilities that seemed beneath him.

Owning and maintaining such things were a necessary nuisance that he obliged by delegating tasks to his retainer and his human vassals. Lording over the western lands had its perks, and even though Sesshomaru held humanity in disdain, he could not turn his nose up to his subjugates, the humans who resided in his territory and paid him tribute for protecting their homes and livelihood. It would not honor him or his name to turn his back on all that his lineage had amassed.

Sesshomaru flew westwards swiftly, riding upon the currents of his yoki and sailing gallantly through the sky towards a sprawling estate. Too much time had been wasted amusing himself with the human woman. He had allowed himself to nearly give in to that most profound temptation that tickled the edge of his senses, and that would cost him later. But her haughty responses were scintillating, and it made things more difficult. He could feel a tiny smirk tug at the corner of his mouth, but he quashed it neatly before landing on the ground at the terrace of his new abode.

The lesser yokai imp, Jaken, waited patiently nearby, sensing the return of his lord and master. The green toad shambled over to bow low, waiting for an acknowledgment before he would prattle on about useless matters. Sesshomaru raised a brow and awaited the imp's news.

"Great Lord Sesshomaru! I've graciously awaited your return! Just as you instructed, I've procured the largest palace in your lands," Jaken explained. "The previous tenants, they whined and complained, those ungrateful humans!"

"Make sure to clean the entirety of the grounds. The smell of mortals linger here," Sesshomaru sniffed. He looked around at the vacant palace and could nearly hear the loneliness echo through the halls. So, this was to be his home. It seemed like a cage; he thought as he took in the building.

Jaken sputtered, "B-but M-mi-Lord, it will take nearly a fortnight for the scent to dissipate on its own."

Sesshomaru looked down at Jaken, who trembled from the annoyed stare being directed at him. "There is no time for that. My bride arrives before the next full moon, and her people have little tolerance for humans." He paused before adding, "Even less for toads who question their masters."

Jaken nodded profusely, "Y-yes, Master. Which leads me to tell you-"

Sesshomaru, ignoring Jaken's quibbles, began to move swiftly towards the house to asses the area more thoroughly, leaving the imp to rush along behind him.

"Master! Master!" Jaken called.

There was much to do and little time with which to do it. The marriage alliance brokered by his mother was precarious at best. Sesshomaru's intended was from the mainland and accustomed to certain fineries. The elite yokai from the mainland were revered as gods, which they were in comparison to the mortals who revered them. Long-lived and all-powerful, the yokai had no respect for creatures that were considered to be the lowest in the hierarchy of the world.

The mansion seemed to be well furnished, all of which the previous tenants could lay thanks at Sesshomaru's feet. It was due to his protection that they were able to accumulate wealth, wealth, which was their Lord's by proxy.

"Continue with the preparations, Jaken. There is another matter I must attend to before the next moon," Sesshomaru instructed as he walked.

"Master! Please! There is something you must know!" Jaken urged. The small green man was hesitant to impede upon his lord's musings.

"Have you learned the whereabouts of the witch, Jaken?" Sesshomaru inquired in a harsh tone, turning to face the imp.

Jaken pulled up short, his large yellow eyes widening in surprise. His master rarely spoke directly to him, mostly preferring to talk at him or in his direction. It was a matter of deference that Sesshomaru did not look the small yokai in the eye unless it was a matter of great importance or annoyance.

"Mi-Lord, I have learned of the onibaba, yes. It is Yamauba, lord."

"Yamauba?" Sesshomaru asked, testing the name. "I have heard of this oni before?"

"Yes, Master! Your honorable father battled the oni Yamauba many times. I did not know she still lived, but I did find her," Jaken said. He looked around, seemingly nervous of Sesshomaru's reaction. "But Master," he pressed.

Sesshomaru turned and continued walking down the hall, making mental notes of the surroundings. "And?" he asked, still walking.

Jaken paused, confused, "And?" he repeated. "Oh! And the onibaba is to the east on the mountainside. She has been dormant, only plaguing those who pass her residence. Why are you concerned about a haggard old oni?"

He turned a corner into the castle's great hall. "It is none of your concern," he replied coolly.

"Is it a concern of mine, beloved?" a voice called from within the room.

Before him within the great hall stood a small woman. Her amber eyes gleamed with a pearl of aged wisdom that belied her youthful features. A small, knowing smile adorned her face as she looked up at Sesshomaru. Despite her stature, she brimmed with a power that was surprising given her appearance.

The woman, clearly yokai, wore deep red outer robes that covered a delicately embroidered ruqun printed with cranes and a dark, un-tied sash loosely draped over her arms. A large fur pelt, much like Sesshomaru's own, overlay her outer robes around her shoulders, making a warm collar. The woman's hair, also white, was worn up, and the top of her head was crowned with an intricate ornate headdress.

The woman gave a dip of her head, and her golden headdress tinkled with the movement.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she addressed him.

Sesshomaru shot daggers at the imp, who whispered, "Master, I was trying to tell you…"

Jaken cleared his throat and bowed, "My Lord, may I introduce, Lady Tsering Dawa and...um...her entourage."

A/N: *Sigh* I really think that Sesshy is a bit denser than he'd let us believe. I mean, honestly people (in my Dr. Evil voice). Even I can't wait to see the look on his face when he finds out "the news". Hehe.

Some have asked about Kag and Sesshy's relationship and if they will get together in the end. Yes, patience please! This is gonna be a slow burn. Stick with me ya'll ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

F/M

Relationship:

Higurashi Kagome/Sesshoumaru

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Modern Setting

Slow Burn

Domestic Fluff

Mutual Pining