Slow Dance by Shikura Harunai

The Bait and Kagome's Second Life

Kagome opened her eyes slowly. She was in a dark cave, and it seemed like she was alone. She walked around the cave, then asked to herself, How did I get here? Then she remebered she was kidnapped. But by who? She asked herself once more. Then her memory slowly came back to her. Oh yeah, she thought, I was kidnapped by Sesshoumaru. "You are conscious." said a cold voice from a dark corner. The voice nearly made her jump. "InuYasha should be arriving her shortly." the cold voice again pierced her ear.

"Sesshoumaru!" yelled Kagome, "Why did you kidnap me?" He then looked at Kagome with golden eyes and said, "Because.. You are the bait." Kagome's anger grew. She charged at Sesshoumaru. Foolish girl, thought Sesshoumaru and grabbed her by the neck. Kagome made weak sounds as Sesshoumaru's grip tightened. His eyes were cold and threatening. About a few seconds later, Sesshoumaru dropped her. She was still furious and asked him in a loud voice, "Why didn't you just kill me?"

When he looked at her this time, his eyes were red. He then growled, "Silence, human girl! I don't have all the time to answer your pathetic questions." Then there was a long silence between them.

Meanwhile, with InuYasha, he was extremely furious. That stupid bastard took Kagome, he thought to himself, I'll never forgive him! Then his nose caught a familiar scent.

This is Naraku's scent! he thought, I guess I'll just kill him on the way. Then the next moment, Naraku was in front of him. "Hello," said Naraku evily, "I haven't seen you in a while." InuYasha opened his mouth to speak, but Naraku laid his hand on InuYasha's head, and said, "You are under my control now." He smiled, then said, "Now, kill Kagome." InuYasha's eyes were blank, and his possessed body went hunting for her.

After 15 minutes, which to Kagome seemed like a thousand years, Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. So that hanyou IS coming, he thought, I always knew he was weak. But as soon as InuYasha entered the cave, Sesshoumaru noticed that an evil aura was surrounding him. So, thought Sesshoumaru, he was even weaker to be taken control by Naraku. Kagome was extremely happy to see InuYasha that she ran over to him and rested her head on his shoulder, calling his name solfly.

Then Naraku 's voice rang inside InuYasha's head repeatedly, "Kill her." InuYasha, having no control over himself, ran his claws through Kagome's abdomen, leaving her to bleed to death. InuYasha then disappeared with Naraku to his castle.

Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome for about 2 minutes and started to leave, but stopped when the Tenseiga started to pulse. He tried to ignore it, and walked toward the exit, but he bounced off the barrier of the Tenseiga. So, he thought, you won't let me leave until the girl is healed? The Tenseiga kept pulsing.

So he drew his sword and healed Kagome back to life, making Kagome wonder what happened to her. Then she saw Sesshoumaru's hand on the Tenseiga. Did he heal back to life? She thought desperately, Nah, I don't think so.

When Sesshoumaru started to leave, Rin asked him, "Can Kagome come with us? Master Jaken says he doesn't like playing with me." Sesshoumaru sent a cold glare at Jaken, who shuddered, then turned back to Rin and nodded. Rin let out a yelp of joy, and ran to Kagome to help her up.

"Thank you, Rin," Kagome thanked her, "If it wasn't for you, I would be dead here." Rin then looked at Kagome happily and said, "Yeah, but if it wasn't for Lord Sesshoumaru's approval, you would still be dead here," She then looked at Sesshoumaru and said, "Thank you Lord Sesshoumaru for letting Kagome stay."

Then Rin ran back to Kagome and followed Sesshoumaru into the forest. That stupid mortal girl! thought Jaken, she wouldn't keep her mouth shut. Jaken sighed, then kept walking.

* * * * *

Walking about 6 miles today, Rin was exhausted. When Sesshoumaru noticed Rin falling down next to a tree, Sesshoumaru finally said, "Let's rest here." Rin gave him a slight smile. They built a fire and slept, except for Sesshoumaru, since he was way too busy thinking. Why did the Tenseiga long to heal the girl? he thought, perhaps we should just treat her like a companion. After all, Rin does need a better company than Jaken.

Why is it that I'm getting weaker by the second? he asked to himself, why did humans, those non-powerful humans, change my life? He then looked at Rin. I guess humans have something useful, he thought, and slept a little bit.

The next day, Sesshoumaru woke up first. He woke everyone up. They started to walk again. Kagome sighed. Another day of walking, she thought, oh great. Then she looked at Sesshoumaru, and thought to herself, why is Sesshoumaru ignoring me? She shook her head.

Rin then saw Kagome shake her head, so Rin asked, "What's wrong, Kagome?" Kagome then looked at Rin and smiled. "Nothing." Rin seemed satisfied. Then Rin spoke up again. She said, "Are you afraid of Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome, surprised at the question, thought about it. He WAS our enemy, she thought, I guess so. So Kagome nodded.

Rin then smiled a little and said, "Well, Lord Sesshoumaru isn't anything like that. My lord is just misunderstood by many, because of the fact that he is powerful and keeps all his emotion to himself. You shouldn't be afraid of someone misunderstood, don't you think?"

Rin's smile grew bigger. Kagome was surprised. Then she asked, "Rin aren't you afraid that Lord Sesshoumaru might hurt you?" Then Rin answered her, "No, of course not! Lord Sesshoumaru always protected me from danger and everything else," Then she blushed and said, "I've also saved him once before, too."

Kagome was not surprised, but shocked. There is a lot to learn about Sesshoumaru, she thought, I guess he doesn't REALLY hate humans that much. Rin then ran to him clinging to his legs saying, "Thank you so much, Lord Sesshoumaru, for EVERYTHING."

Sesshoumaru was quite surprised at this. Then Sesshoumaru said quietly so that only Rin can hear, "Your welcome, Rin." Rin smiled, then ran back to Kagome. Kagome thought her heart stopped or something. Rin clung to Sesshoumaru's legs, and got out of there alive!

Kagome's expression changed slowly from shocked, to a smile. I guess I don't know much about this gang, she thought, maybe this is an opportunity to stay here and learn about what they do.

But, Kagome still had many more locks to unlock, and secrets to reveal about this gang. Well, she thought, maybe it IS a good thing I ended up here. I would be one of the few who gets to understand something about the great demon lord, Sesshoumaru.

* * * * *

After walking 7 miles straight, Kagome thought she was already dead. Kagome sighed. Does he do this everyday? she wondered, then understood. He is a full demon, she thought again, InuYasha was a half-demon, but he was able to travel more than 7 miles.

When she recalled his name, a strong pain came upon her. What's this? she thought to herself, why is there such pain against my sides? She groaned, and Rin looked at her, worried. "Are you ok, Kagome?" RIn asked, softly.

"Yes," Kagome managed to reply, "It's only a little sting." Rin was still worried. Kagome then looked into Rin's worried eyes, and eased herself before her. "I'm fine," said Kagome with a bright smile, "I am not hurt. You don't have to worry." Rin's emotion changed from a worried frown, to a soothing smile. "I am glad." Rin replied. Kagome didn't realize Rin falling every time she was trying to keep up with Sesshoumaru. She was in such deep thought.

Sesshoumaru, picking up every word they were saying, thanks to his sensitive ears, said to himself, Do mortals always talk this foolishly? He sighed. When RIn came up to him and told him, "I am tired, Lord Sesshoumaru. I cannot walk any longer." Sesshoumaru then noticed Rin's scars and bruises, she fell each time she tried to keep up with him.

Then he immediately told Jaken to set up a camp. "We're resting here tonight." he announced quietly, and spoke of nothing more. Kagome sighed. She seemed to have made eye-contact with everyone except Sesshoumaru. Perhaps, she thought, it is not the right time yet, for it may take some time for him to realize that he haven't looked into something, or SOMEONE that was so near him, yet so far away from him, by heart.