A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words by Eternal Misery

Captured in a Moment; The Prologue

Captured in a Moment

"Say cheese!"

Kagome lifted up her brand new camera and aimed it towards the arguing couple standing a few feet in front of her. Sango and Miroku both turned, at first a bit baffled, but at seeing the camera they smiled and posed. Within only two seconds the camera flashed and Kagome let the camera attached to a strap around her neck drop.

"D-Do you think it came out okay?" Sango asked, "Did I look too angry?"

"Picture perfect," Kagome confirmed, pulling her hair from her face. It was an exceptionally windy day that day, "and when I get the film developed, I'll make sure to print doubles so that you can both have a copy!"

"Great." Miroku smiled, "That sounds wonderful. That... camera there is a very interesting device."

"I still don't trust that time freezer." Inuyasha's voice came as the dog boy approached the unaware miko. He reached out and tugged on the camera, then brought his face up close to examine it, "Are you sure this thing doesn't suck up our souls whenever that bright light comes out?"

"It's called a camera, Inuyasha." Kagome said sounding rather annoyed as Inuyasha accidentally snapped pictures of himself over and over, "Be careful with that! It's brand new and I need it for school!"

Inuyasha backed up, staggering and dizzy from having such close eye contact to the camera's bright flash. "G-Get that thing away from me!!" he cringed, blinking repeatedly, "It's a demon!"

"It's not a demon!" Kagome cried, "You just wasted all my film! Now I have to put in a whole new roll. Thanks a lot, Inuyasha."

"You're such a dimwit, Inuyasha." Shippo sneered from atop Kagome's shoulder, "We've used Kagome's magic picture-taker before and we've been just fine. If Kagome says its okay then we have nothing to worry about. Right, Kagome?" With a smile, Kagome pat Shippo's head in praise then walked towards their camping area where she had left her back so that she could get some more film.

"Hey, Kagome," Shippo said along the way, "I think we should go for a walk. I don't know how much longer I can stand listening to that stupid Inuyasha."

"Agreed." Kagome laughed.

She was now in her third year of high school and she had a lot of time off from school so she could come and visit the Feudal Ages whenever she wanted. Well... most of the time. Her seventeenth birthday had just come and gone and what she had to show for it was the brand new camera hanging from her neck. She found herself steadily taking an interest in photography. It was her own form of creativity and it was rapidly becoming her passion. She even signed up for the photography club at school. They were always supporting her art and praising her photos. Kagome even submitted a picture of Sango she had taken.

The picture was taken of the Taijiya lying on the grass, staring up at the sky with a forlorn expression. Wisdom beyond her age, sadness impossible for any viewer to comprehend. Deep in thought she lay staring at the dim, evening sky. Surrounded by the soft grass blowing in the wind, one with nature. Kagome had come looking for Sango and when she saw such beauty in one scene, such a lovely sight, she couldn't help but reach for her camera. In awe, she snapped the picture from a small distance.

Sango, at first, had been a little distraught at having her picture taken while she wasn't posing and having been taken so off guard but when Kagome assured Sango that the picture would be a hit at school she seemed to like the idea a little more. Actually, the picture was hung up in the school hallway and the students in Kagome's class named the young woman in the photo 'the Mistress of the Night'.

"Kagome, what are you thinking about?" Shippo's voice roused Kagome's thoughts. A bit clueless, Kagome glanced his way and blinked.

"What?" she asked, wearily.

"You look... happy." Shippo smiled.

"Yes, I suppose I am happy." Kagome assured him, "I've finally found what I want to do with my life. I want to take pictures. I want to capture what words can't. I want to show the world life through my eyes. Through my camera lens, you know?"

"Huh?" Shippo blinked in that cute way of his.

"Never mind." Kagome sighed. Sometimes she forgot Shippo was so young and couldn't understand some concepts, even if he tried. With a smile she pat him on the head and continued to walk around the small lake.

"Hey, Kagome," Shippo smirked, "Let's go into the woods and look around. We can be explorers!"

"Shippo," Kagome scolded, "You know what Inuyasha said before we left; he doesn't want us entering the woods or straying too far. If we were attacked by a demon of some sort it would be too hard for him to track us down. He wouldn't even hear if we cried for help!"

"That's why I want to do it." Shippo sneered, "Because Inuyasha told us not to."

A mischievous smile spread on Kagome's face. "Good thinking."

With that, the two continued into the woods, along a straight path. It was impossible for Kagome to see what lied ahead because her path was blocked off by large plants and tree branches that she had to continuously whip out of her way. Shippo clung to her, trying with all his might to avoid the sharp branches and thorny vines that whipped by. Finally, after some time of walking, the greenery seemed to become less and less and soon enough Kagome found herself standing in a tiny clearing. A breather.

"Thank goodness." She murmured, "It's going to be a real pain to get back." She glanced at the blocked up path from which they came.

"You're telling me..." Shippo whimpered, "I hurt my hand trying to move a tree branch out of my way."

"Awww..." Kagome cooed, "Let me see. Does it hurt?" Shippo held up the afflicted hand and without a second thought Kagome gave it a healing kiss. He smiled and blushed.

"That feels a lot better." He said, "Thanks, Kagome. I wish I were your age so I could steal you away from that two timing mutt. I would treat you a lot better than him, you know, and I'd be strong enough to fight back when he attacks me."

Kagome giggled a bit. "Thanks, Shippo."

They seated themselves in the soft grass and Kagome took some snacks from her backpack out. They had a small picnic in the privacy of the shaded forest.

"So, Kagome?" Shippo said as he ate, "Wouldn't you rather be with Kouga? I mean, he treats you a lot better than Inuyasha, doesn't he?"

Kagome blushed slightly. "It's not that easy, Shippo." she explained, "I'm not attracted to Kouga in that way. I don't see his as any more than a good friend. Inuyasha maybe a jerk and he maybe still hung up over Kikyou, but in my mind he's the only guy out there for me."

"I think you're wrong." Shippo said his mouth full of potato chips.

"What do you mean, Shippo-chan?" Kagome asked, a bit interested in the child's point of view.

"I'll bet there is a prince out there, just waiting for you somewhere." Shippo smiled, "Inuyasha doesn't deserve you and it's not fair that you have to compete with Kikyou all the time. I'll bet you just haven't met your prince yet. Right now it may seem like Inuyasha is the only one out there for you but... one time, my mother told me that until you get a closer look at life you'll never know what might have been. I think you just haven't given life a second look."

"But..." Kagome's voice trailed off. Was she just put in place by a child? Then again, technically the young kit was older than she, but still he saw from a child's point of view.

"Don't worry, Kagome." Shippo smiled as he continued to eat, "You're smart and pretty and really nice. You'll find your prince, and when you do, I hope you can be happy and forget about the pain Inuyasha puts you through."

Kagome laughed sheepishly. "Inuyasha doesn't put me through so much pain, Shippo."

"Keep telling yourself that." He responded somberly. Kagome felt her face heat up. She really was being put in place by a child!!

"Oh..." Kagome gasped, desperately trying to change the subject, "It's getting kind of late. Shippo, we should head back." Kagome collected their food wrappers and tucked them away in her backpack, then she and Shippo got ready to leave. She looked all around the clearing and blinked.

"Which way did we come from?" Kagome asked, "I can't see the path."

Shippo looked all around. "Neither can I." he said, "It's all blocked up by branches and stuff."

"What are we going to do?" Kagome asked. She looked all around nervously, hoping for one sign as to where they came from. She couldn't find any.

"Inuyasha's going to kill us if we get lost!" Shippo cried.

"Shippo-chan..." Kagome said shakily, hugging him close, "We are lost!"

"N-No..." Shippo cried, "Don't say that! I'll find the way." With that he leapt onto the ground and frantically began searching for an exit. Kagome plopped down onto the ground and buried her face in her hands. Praying to Kami that Inuyasha would find them, she allowed Shippo to search while she panicked silently.

The sound of a twig snapping caused both Kagome and Shippo to freeze in fear. Looking around Kagome whispered shakily to Shippo. "Did you hear anything?"

"Y-Yes..." he whispered back frightfully, "Do you think it's a demon?"

"Wouldn't you be able to sense a demon?" Kagome asked.

"I... sense something, but it's too distant to tell. Whatever it is, its very powerful." He answered her, "I think it's even getting closer!"

"Could it be Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

Shippo thought for a moment, and then said, "No. Inuyasha's not this powerful."

Another twig snapped and Kagome and Shippo both let out frightened cries. Shakily, Kagome reached for her bow and arrows. Definitely something was coming closer. It was most likely watching them from behind the shrubbery.

Finally, one of the tree branches began to shake and a small figure emerged. A tiny squirrel stared up at them with wide eyes and reluctantly approached the center of the clearing where it collected small potato chip crumbs. Kagome let out a relieved smile and shook Shippo happily. "Shippo, that's the way out!" she told him, "That must be the path we took. Where that squirrel came from."

"I don't know, Kagome." Shippo said wearily, "I still sense something."

"Don't worry about it." Kagome smiled, "Whatever you're sensing, it's better to leave rather than stay here, right?"

"I...I guess." Shippo said, perching himself onto Kagome's shoulder. She readily pushed aside the branches and with effort worked her way through the woods. After a few minutes of venturing deeper, Kagome realized that there was no chance of coming across a path. She searched around and finally saw that the path was far off in the distance.

"We're going the wrong way, Shippo!" Kagome told the young kit, pointing towards the real path, "See? That's where we came from, not here."

"So let's go that way." Shippo suggested.

"I would..." Kagome mumbled, "But... I'm stuck."

"What?" Shippo asked, scratching the top of his head.

"I'm stuck in a thorn bush." Kagome whimpered, glancing down at her let. There were pricks from her knee down and blood stained her knee high stocking.

"Oh, Kagome!" Shippo cried, "You're bleeding! Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, Shippo-chan." Kagome smiled, "I just need you to go to that path. You're small enough to avoid all the plants and shrubs. You need to go get Inuyasha to help me. I can't move... it' hurts too much."

"You mean... go off on my own?" Shippo said, his bottom lip quivering.

"Please, Shippo." Kagome begged, "You've got to! Please, be my prince!" Shippo's eyes grew wide and he smiled genuinely and bravely. Without another word he puffed out his chest and sprinted towards the path. Kagome watched as he easily found his way and was finally out of view.

Sighing she dropped onto the ground and tried to gently remove the thorns from her tender flesh. A small breeze rushed by and for a moment she was positive she sensed something. Nothing like a sacred jewel shard. It was more like a feeling she had that she wasn't alone. Her eyes darted all around.

"Shippo?" she called, "Hello?" Her hand immediately reached for her bow and arrows that were lying beside her backpack. The feeling of being watched from afar just got stronger and stronger. A noise behind her is what got her attention. She tried to turn, causing the thorns in her leg to scrape against the flesh and she began to bleed even more. Letting out a cry of pain, Kagome dropped onto her back and fought back agonized tears.

Her eyes were shut in pain, but still she could feel the shadow looming over her. She could feel the presence of someone, ne something, powerful. Wincing, she opened one eye, then another.

There he was, just standing over her. A look of almost... curiosity on his perfect features. His eyes were fixed onto hers as he observed the situation she was in.

"S... Sesshomaru?" Kagome whimpered. She wasn't sure whether to be frightened or relieved. Would he help her or merely leave? Or would he kill her? He was so unpredictable she wasn't sure what to think. Her mind was racing and her leg was in so much pain that it was beginning to get numb.

It seemed that time was frozen. She stared up at the tall figure for what seemed like ten minutes straight. He stared back, not a word was said. Staring down at her, with such a look of seriousness, a mysterious shadow standing over her. This was a very odd point of view, to see from the ground, but still very amazing. Because she was so low, he seemed to stand even taller than usual, with a look of complete superiority. Kagome's hand groped along her chest and finally she found her camera. Without a second thought, she raised it to her face, peeked through the lens and snapped a picture.

The flash lasted only a second and didn't seem to have any effect on the Taiyoukai. He just continued staring down at her. If anything changed it was that his curiosity deepened.

"Is that your only form of defense?" he asked, "A light?"

Kagome blinked and suddenly burst out laughing. Whether it was out of nervousness or she was truly stuck funny by what he said, she wasn't sure. At the time she wasn't in the right state of mind. She laughed though, for what seemed forever and she could feel his anger rising, without even looking at him.

"You laugh a lot for a girl in your position." He sneered.

"Oh, I'm not laughing at you..." Kagome squeaked, "I just..." she couldn't contain her laughter enough to say anymore. Again her laughing continued. When she opened her eyes after the latest fit, she found that he was gone. For an instant she thought he might have been a fragment of her imagination, but that thought went as quickly as it came. Why would she imagine somebody like Sesshomaru? She barely even knew the guy!

Lying there though, she felt sad suddenly. She wondered if he was offended because she laughed... but why would he be if he didn't care about what humans thought? Then again, he was traveling with Rin. Maybe he had changed into a human-lover. Kagome began to crack up at that thought as well.

Still, though. Even with Sesshomaru gone, she felt as if she were still being watched from a distance. She looked all around. She knew that if her instincts were right, Sesshomaru must've been still watching her. He probably just didn't see the need to stand there and watch her laugh. Soon enough, a very disgruntled Inuyasha showed alongside a very frantic Shippo. It took a good long time to free Kagome from the thorn bush, but in the end she was free.

She felt his eyes on her up until she was out of the forest.

That night, she couldn't sleep. Had Sesshomaru really been imagined or was he really there? Had she really made such a fool of herself before the ice prince himself? She felt her cheeks heat up. Stirring in her sleeping bag, Kagome tried desperately to push the memory from her mind. It didn't even matter!

Then again, if he wasn't there, then why would she have imagined it? She sat up in her sleeping bag and let out a sigh. She wasn't going to get a wink of sleep at this rate.

'Could it be that deep down I'm really interested in him?' she couldn't help but wonder. She let out a small embarrassed squeal at that. Impossible! She would never...

Then again, he was extremely interesting. It wasn't as if she wanted to elope with him or anything. She didn't even consider him in that way... She just wanted to know more about him. Who wouldn't? Sesshomaru had always been such a mystery in her eyes. She wondered what he was like as a child... Did something happen to make him the way he is? Why does he hate humans so much?

Before she knew it, her mind was taking her in all directions. So many questions and no answers... it was enough to drive a girl like Kagome crazy. She let out a tiny moan in her frustration.

"You okay?" Inuyasha whispered. She glanced over at him, sitting against a large tree trunk beside her. If Sesshomaru had really been there, why didn't Inuyasha sense him and she did? Maybe Sesshomaru knew how to conceal his scent. But still... if he wanted to conceal himself, then she was sure he could've done so with her too. But maybe he didn't feel the need to hide from Kagome... "You okay?" Inuyasha repeated a bit louder, "Stop acting like such an idiot. I can't tell if there's something wrong..."

Kagome lay back in her sleeping back and covered her face with her pillow as she mumbled sleepily, "Sit."

...

And so, this is my first ever story. Okay, maybe I've tried before to write, but this one is better okay? I wrote about something I'm interested in. Photography. Review! Rate! Oh yeah, and read it too... if you have time.

EternalMisery

Updated: Sorry, I had to revise that chapter. *so embarrassed* Thanks to my reviewers for bringing it to my attention so quickly. Honesty, I am sorry!! I spoke with my photography teacher over the phone and asked about the 'film thing'. She told me that you guys were right, and seriously, I'm so embarrassed. She told me that in order to check the film, she develops the pictures in the dark room. So please disregard what I might have written before and what I replied to your reviews. You're all right and please forgive me for being so clueless... >.< I guess I'm not that good a photographer, huh?