Faces of the Highwayman by EvilLilVixen

A Welcome Kiss

Faces of the Highwayman

By: EvilLilVixen

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Inu Yasha. This plot is based on a book by Valerie King called My Lord Highwayman, I do not own it.

Chapter 1: A Welcome Kiss

Kagome Higurashi, governess fresh out of London sat in a carriage as it drove down the dirt lane. It was late at night and the full moon shone down upon the green moors of the quaint town she was headed to. She let out a sigh of relief at leaving London and her stalker. She cared for Hojo deeply, but he could not give her the things she needed in life. So, as soon as her youngest charge had been introduced into society, Kagome packed up her belongings and headed out. She found a temporary job for a young lady a month near her coming out ball. But she was looking forward to starting afresh in the small little town of Shikon Hills. God knew she needed it.

She glanced out the window again and stared at the full moon. Its gentle rays shone down upon the grassy moors of the countryside and she knew that it would never pain her to settle down somewhere like this.

The hired carriage gave a lurch as it came to a stop. 'We are not there yet. Why are we stopping?' Kagome thought to herself. She was about to lean out the window to see the commotion outside.

"My good sir! I demand to see Lord Naraku Haux!" a velvety voice demanded. Kagome shot up in her seat and carefully peered out the window of the carriage. There upon the crest of a hill stood a lone horseman, his steed, blacker than the darkest night and the rider himself wore dark clothes. He had a hat thrown upon his head and concealing half his features while a half white mask covered the rest of his features.

"A highwayman." Kagome whispered to herself as she felt her heart speed up. "I am turning into a chit! I am giddy in excitement." She scolded herself but quieted down when the carriage driver spoke.

"Milord, tis only a lady in the carriage! She is heading into town." Kagome felt the carriage give a lurch as the highwayman demanded the driver to dismount. She heard the clomping of hoofs as she supposed the highwayman drove his horse closer.

"A lady? I will have to see for myself." A shadow covered her window allowing only a slim pane of moonlight to cast in the carriage. "Come to me, my fair lady." His words were seduction and she hesitated. What in the world happened to her? When did she become a young giddy girl? "I will not harm you, come where I can see you." Kagome stood up and began to descend but the highwayman picked her up and pulled her into his arms, not allowing her to descend the steps. Kagome felt herself blush and she never blushed. Though a majority of his features were concealed, she could see his strong jawline and his lips.

"Sir, could you release me?" Kagome asked hesitantly, the highwayman had still not released his grip on her. In response, it tightened. He moved her around a bit until the moonlight shone upon her. He gave a low hiss.

"The gods shine down upon me tonight and send me an angel." He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "You are beautiful, tenshi." Kagome swallowed as she felt her heart speed up.

"You are bluffing, sir." She replied. The highwayman let out a low chuckle.

"Tell me tenshi, why do you travel this moors so late at night? Do you seek adventure such as myself?" He asked her.

"I am always up to an adventure, good sir." She replied heartily. It was the truth, she thrived on life. This time the highwayman let out a laugh before pulling her closer.

"I have not had a good laugh in a long while, tenshi." He said.

"Then you should do it more often. The life blood lives off laughter." Kagome replied. He nodded and then turned his head sharply. A carriage was approaching.

"I must demand passage payment of you, tenshi. Whatever shall I claim?" even though his features were concealed she could see his smirk. "I will kiss you, my tenshi, and then let you continue on your adventure." He pulled her chin up and Kagome briefly saw a flash of gold before his lips claimed hers.

It was like the gods were out there to get her. She felt a pulse travel through her body and the highwayman tilted her head just so before he pulled back a little.

"What are you doing to me?" he asked softly before hungrily claiming her lips once again. He sought to deepen the kiss and she shyly allowed him as he plundered her mouth. She couldn't think as this mysterious highwayman pulled her closer to him and she could feel his hard body beneath his clothes.

"Milord! Milord! A carriage is fast approaching!" fainltly she heard another voice but there was no stopping the passionate embrace taking place beneath the moonlight. "Milord!" the highwayman pulled back leaving a flustered Kagome in his wake. His gloved hand came up and stroked a silky cheek for a moment.

"Until we meet again, tenshi." And before she could bring herself together he had mounted his horse and galloped to meet a second horseman she had not noticed before. She still stood there dazed as a second carriage pulled up. A slightly aging woman's head poked out the window.

"The highwayman was here!" she called before leaping from the carriage and rushing to Kagome. "Are you alright, my dear?" Kagome violently shook herself mentally to regain her bearings. She was not some chit!

"Yes, I am well. But, pray tell, can you tell the highwayman was here?" she asked hesitantly. The lady laughed.

"He always leaves flustered females in his wake. Come! We must get you to town once! Who knows what lurks on these moors at night!" the lady said as she shouted out an order to Kagome's carriage driver to mount. She turned to her own carriage as she stated that she would be riding with Kagome. A man with long black curly hair helped them get into the carriage before they set off again.

"Ah! Forgive myself, dear. I am Lady Kanna Haux." The young lady introduced herself. Kagome gave a smile to the lady.

"Kagome Higurashi." She replied like wise, "I am coming here as a governess for a young lady."

"So you are the governess for the Lord Shippo's daughter."

"Yes I am." Kagome said.

"Would you ever believe that I was once a governess as well?" Lady Kanna asked. Kagome shook her head. "Of course not, look at me! I am the Lady of a Manor, not some common man's wife!" she laughed and inwardly Kagome frowned.

"I would have never had guessed, Lady Haux." She kept up formalities for sake of etiquette when she really wanted to draw the lady's cork.

"You will really love it here in Shikon Hills. The village is absolutely wonderful! But I fear I must warn you now to be wary of certain people. It's for your own good." Lady Kanna said. Kagome raised an eyebrow in curiosity and she damned herself for it too. "I must warn you to stay away from Lord Sesshomaru Taisho for his heinous crime against my dear sister, Lady Raven. He convinced her that he was madly in love with her and to leave her husband to elope with him! Can you believe that?"

"I find that quite astounding." Kagome said. She really did find it fascinating even though she knew better than to get stuck in the middle of something like this. Her father taught her there were always two sides to every story and this one would be no different.

"Well of course! Lord Kurama, my dear sister's husband, came home in a fit of rage when he discovered their plan! He challenged Lord Sesshomaru to a duel where Lord Kurama was almost killed! Lord Sesshomaru walked away with barely a scratch!" Both of Kagome's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. She couldn't wait to meet this infamous Lord Sesshomaru.

Elsewhere the highwayman pulled to a stop and pulled off his mask and hat allowing his long silver hair to cascade down.

"Unsuccessful night, Lord Sesshomaru?" the second horseman asked. Sesshomaru snorted.

"It was hardly unsuccessful, Draco. Did you see her? She was absolutely beautiful!" Draco looked at his lordship incredulously. Was this the same Lord that he served?

"Aye, she was. But don't be telling my lady that. I am looking forward to our wedding." Draco responded.

"Of course and without your lady we wouldn't have known that Kanna would be traveling tonight." Sesshomaru said as he dismounted his horse. But his mind went back to the angel he had pulled from the carriage. She was breathtaking. Her locks were obsidian and her skin the color of moonlight. But her eyes, dear God, her eyes were sapphire blue. He was usually an aloof man as it was, more so now thanks to Lady Kanna having the entire township against him. What could he offer his tenshi as an out cast man?

"Perhaps you will see her again, my Lord." Draco said as he too dismounted and lead the horses to the small stream. Sesshomaru snorted.

"What decent woman would want to be with me after what Kanna has done? Gods, I hate that woman." He said as he sat down on a boulder. Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"This was your idea. I never said that we should tramps about the countryside robbing people dressed as highwaymen." Draco smirked. Sesshomaru shrugged.

"Lord Naraku is a vile man, to turn the entire township against building an orphanage just because I am supporting it. I cannot allow that to go on. So, their money is going to build the orphanage." He smirked. "Besides, it won't be that much longer till we have enough. Tonight probably would have done it if we didn't stop the wrong carriage."

"Not that I heard you complaining." Draco grumbled. Sesshomaru allowed himself another smirk.

"My dear friend, you will never hear me complain."