Self Contained Prison by Ayako Rin

Sneaking Out

The usual hustle and bustle of the house resounded in the walls and the rooms. Servants got to work cleaning, gardening, cooking; and doing whatever else they were hired to do. Everyone was busy and preoccupied with his or her work, each eager to finish with the rest of the day as quickly as possible. Tonight would be the night of the Firefly Festival signaling the height of summer. If any chores were left undone then no one would be able to join in on the festivities.

People were walking briskly here and there and the cleaners were dusting and mopping like crazy. The house currently smelled of an odd mixture of lemon soap, wood, and earth. The light from the sun that shone through the windows illuminated the halls and rooms. Everything about the house seemed homey and welcoming. But hidden in one of the corridors somewhere in the house was a young girl with raven black hair cascading down her back. She peeked out from behind a door looking around. After a few moments without spotting anyone she sighed with relief and slowly crept out of the door. As soon as she fully emerged a rough hand suddenly seized her shoulder making her yelp and spin around. What she saw made her entire body freeze for a moment before she took two cautious steps back. She laughed nervously with her right hand scratching the back of her head in what she hopefully thought would be an innocent gesture. Unfortunately she picked up the said gesture by her troublesome friend Inuyasha who was...well...troublesome.

"Hehe...um...hi there?" The girl said with a sheepish smile. She silently prayed to Kami that she would survive this encounter.

"Ka-go-me..." The person in front of her said in a strict and disapproving tone.

'Uh oh...' thought the girl now known as Kagome. The person in front of her would never...I mean never use her name unless he was

1) Serious like in a life threatening situation.

2) In a Panic or fearful state (which she was sure he would never be in)

3) Annoyed/Seriously Pissed off

By the look that he was giving her, no matter how controlled, she could tell it was most likely number three that caused her name to be used. She inwardly gulped as a shiver went through her. The hairs at the back of her neck rose and the sense of impending doom filled her.

"Um...I was...uh...going to the...um..." Kagome started to say but her mind was practically frozen at the moment. A mantra of 'I'm dead, I'm so dead' going over and over in her mind. 'Darn it! I should've come up with an excuse first!'

The man raised one of his eyebrows at her as she continued to try and figure out an excuse. She ended spluttering something along the lines of library, kitchen and the sewing room.

"You were going to go to all these places at the same time." He stated flatly.

"Um...yes! I mean no! Err...I was going to go to them one after the other?" Kagome mumbled the last part softly.

The man continued to stare at her making her fidget. She suddenly found the floor and the carpet very interesting and decided to make a point and stare at it instead of the being in front of her. She could feel him the pressure of his stare, which, if she had the confidence to look up, had probably turned into an all out glare. After a few moments she sighed and gave up.

"Sesshou! Just come out and say that I'm in trouble and that you're going to bring me back to my room and to that evil, vicious, and horrible lady!" Kagome half shouted.

"Actually she's you're governess." The young man said amusement danced his golden-amber eyes.

"Hmph...she's a demon! No offense of course." Kagome huffed.

"I see"

"Sesshoumaru..." Kagome said softly.

Again he raised one of his eyebrows in response.

"Do I really have to go to her?" Kagome asked her voice begging him.

"I suppose not." Sesshoumaru responded in a bored tone.

"You're trying to raise my hopes up and then crash it down aren't you?" Kagome stated more than asked.

"It depends." Again with that bored tone. If Kagome had not gotten use to it by now she would be screaming at him.

"Depends on what?"

"If you promise to not leave my side while we're out." Sesshoumaru replied.

He watched as her eyes lit up and her lips spread out into a wide smile. The air around her seemed to brim with excitement and anticipation. Sesshoumaru had expected all of these things before hand but what he had not expected was her sudden assault on his person.

"I promise! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!" She yelled out as she pounced on him and gave him a huge hug.

"Little miko remove yourself from my person before I make you!" Sesshoumaru growled trying to get her off of him.

Kagome giggled but didn't let go. She loved annoying him. She was immune to all his threats as long as it didn't pertain to his duty to guard her. But then she noticed something...off...instantly Kagome froze.

"Sessh..." She said slowly.

Confused at her sudden change of mood he looked down at her questioningly. She was looking at his shoulder her brows knit together in concentration. She had a frown upon her face. Then she looked up at his face with what could be named the "heart broken puppy dog eyes".

"Sessh...your tail...it's gone!!" She said clearly alarmed. She ran behind him looking for it and then ran back in front of him and lifted his arms up. She then proceeded to lift up his cape and shirt. Sesshoumaru watched as she raised herself in an almost hysteric state before he placed both his hands on her shoulders to stop her movement.

"Kagome"

She stopped and stared at him, her eyes still teary. "Sesshy..."

Sesshoumaru wondered about her sudden strange behavior. 'She's acting like this just because I hid my tail?' wondered Sesshoumaru before saying out loud "I still have my tail."

"THEN WHERE IS IT!?" Kagome yelled out.

Sesshoumaru once more raised his brow. 'This is turning into a nasty habit'

"You know how much I like your tail!" Kagome said still upset

Sesshoumaru continued to give her that weird look. Then his eyes widened and said "No"

Kagome's expression turned baffled clearing says huh?

"I allowed you to do it only when we were younger..."

Kagome's eyes widened in realization and then went into a fit full of giggles. Her mind went back to when she was six years old and he was ten. She had been fascinated with his tail. Somehow, some way Sesshoumaru would end up sitting next to her and allowing her to use his tail as a pillow and blanket.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her. After a few moments her giggles stopped. But she still had a wide, and according to Sesshoumaru, annoying smile on her face.

"I meant I liked seeing it on your shoulder. I was surprised since you're always so proud of it" Kagome explained. And after Sesshoumaru once again gave her a weird look she quickly explained, "You always said that your tail in your humanoid form is made from your excess youki. You said that your tail was big and fluffy like that because it shows just how you strong you are. I also heard Father telling his friends that it's impressive because you're still really young in demon years. He said that younger demons usually can't do that."

"It is better to not have it visible." Sesshoumaru stated to her. His emotionless mask was back in place to hide his slight embarrassment at her praise, unintentional or not.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked

"It would draw unwanted attention while we're out."

Kagome's face showed a look of realization "You decided to take me out from the very beginning! You know you could've told me! It's harder for me to sneak around! I'm not as quick and stealthy as you."

"...." Sesshoumaru made no response and stiffly turned his back on her and started walking forward.

Kagome laughed at this and followed him when suddenly "Kagome, Sesshoumaru where do you think you're going?"

Kagome tensed and halted to a stop at the voice. Sesshoumaru ignored the voice and continued on while calling over his shoulder "Mouse, do you wish to go or not?"

"But Sess..." Kagome started to say but was interrupted.

"Come."

Kagome took a quick glance at the woman behind them before running to catch up with Sesshoumaru. Her face still troubled but held a smile nonetheless. Just in case she grabbed the edge of his long sleeves while keeping pace with him.

"I said where do you two think you're going? Kagome you should be in your room! Sesshoumaru stop walking! Do you hear me? Master Higurashi will be very displeased" The sound of the woman and her footsteps grew closer.

Sesshoumaru walked a few more steps before turning around and giving the woman an intense 'you better not take one more step near us' glare. The woman, startled, took a step back. She then straightened herself up and placed her hands on her hips and glared back.

"Well? Do I have to report this to Master Higurashi or not?" The woman asked annoyed.

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru who was still glaring and sighed. Her head was down and her shoulders slumped in resignation. She had really wanted to get out of the house today to see the preparations being made for the festival.

"Do not think to threaten me, your words are worthless to this Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru replied his voice cold and sharp as ice.

Kagome inwardly shuddered at his tone. 'I don't even like her and I feel sorry for her' thought Kagome. Anyone on Sesshoumaru's bad side would be stabbed, gutted, or made just plain miserable. Despite her pity for her governess she also made a silent dance in her head. After all that torture with the dresses and the poking and the sewing, the evil witch deserves it!

"So you don't mind that I could easily get you fired." The governess asked.

"I highly doubt that's possible" came the stiff reply

"Fine, then. Don't blame me when you're kicked out of this household." The governess stated angrily and then stomped off.

Kagome gasped at this. She did not think Sesshoumaru would provoke her that far. 'What if he really gets fired!?' Kagome thought.

She grabbed his arm tightly looking up at him.

"Sesshou that was-"

"Your father gave me permission to take you out"

Kagome's eyes widened and then she broke out into a grin. She hugged him once more but this time it was a quick one.

"You're so bad" Kagome said "You even tricked me!"

Sesshoumaru scoffed "Hardly, she'll probably be fired by the time we come back"

They walked on in silence for a while and then Kagome said softly "Thank you"

"For what?"

"For convincing father to fire her."

"..."

"..."

"I did no such thing"

"Liar!"

"..."

"Admit it!"

"..."

"Sesshou!!"

"..."

"Come on!"

"..."

"Fine."