Bag of Goodies by perphila

They came from the woods

Ok, so, this is a follow up to Burn. I wanted to do something more funny but I am having trouble with the funny today for some reason. This is also for Hairann's Weird-ified Challenge. 

Song: Weasel Stomping Day

Word Count: 1235

I own nothing Weird Al related

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It was an annual event and she hated being there. She had to do it though to help her mother and grandfather raise money for the shrine. All she could think about was last year's party. Sesshomaru was by her side. His quiet presence calming her frazzled nerves. All the handshakes, bows and even the occasional grope had her on edge.

She had made the biggest mistake of her life walking out that door. Today made that even more evident. All the things she had complained about were now the things she missed most. The way he quietly thought things through first before answering. You knew he was not going to shout hurtful words in the heat of the moment. Unlike Inuyasha. She couldn't believe she had glossed over in her mind how he really was and why she never was with him before in the first place. She realized that day she had never even really gave Sesshomaru a chance to talk to her. In her heart of hearts she knew he wasn't as distant as she had claimed. He felt things deeply and showed it in small ways. Always remembering special events and her favorite things. He never hesitated. He didn't have to think about the name of what perfume she wore or which flowers made her smile. It was automatic.

Where was Inuyasha for her now? Probably with another woman. Again. He knew how much she hated this and had bailed anyway. Sango was a lifesaver for taking her in. It only took two days for her to run practically screaming from his apartment. She was to ashamed to go back to Sesshomaru. She was a fool.

Speaking of fools, she looked around her at the wealthy men the shine depended on to function. They really had no idea how much they needed the shrine and a miko as opposed to the other way around. Only six month ago she heard Kikyo had put down a thieving tanuki ring in Kyoto. Miroku too single handedly squashed a kitsune prostitution gang. She smirked internally. She doubted he only “innocently stumbled” upon the gang like he claimed. Still, as far as keeping the bad youkai element in line the shrines, mikos and monks were vital. People went about their daily lives in ignorant bliss of how vast the youkai population really was. The government thought it would lead to mass hysteria and so, shrines like her family's were forced to act as beggars. Thank the Kami's these business men believed mikos had to be virgins to keep their spiritual powers. If they knew the truth she was sure she along with her fellow mikos would be sold off for blackmailed for money to keep the holy places open. She narrowed her eyes, greedy pigs.

She felt him before she saw him. His aura always made her tingle all over. Tears pricked at her eyes. She wanted him there and yet couldn't face him. Before her mind could panic further she was distracted by one of the patrons. He eyed her hungrily and Kagome had to fight back a sneer.

Must. Be. Polite.

Smile plastered in place she bowed. He reeked of sake. This wasn't going to end well she knew. The stereotypical overweight, balding, sweating man ran his hand up and down her arm. He was right out of a dime store novel.

Almost simultaneously she heard two things, a deep growl and a low rumbling of the ground coming from the direction of the edge of the trees.

Turning from the man who complained loudly of her snub she grabbed her bow and readied an arrow. Most of the guests thought she was about to put on a performance. Her mother knew better and grabbed her little brother and edged to the house.

The trees began to shake and the plates of food vibrated on the tables set out for the party.

Kagome had no idea what was happening. She didn't feel any large auras coming but many small ones. Too many small ones. Her hand tightened on the bow. She didn't have enough arrows for this.

Sesshomaru was at her side, his hair whipping in the winds of his power. The guest began to panic. Grandfather was trying to calm everyone and head them to the other side of the house but no one was listening. The drunk man from earlier was on his knees crying.

Seconds later they came. Scared and running past the treeline the squeals and shrieks of the little youkai was deafening. She didn't want to kill them but it was beyond that point now. They were attacking the slower guests and biting them in their fear. She didn't know what they were exactly. Some kind of small forest animal for certain. Bigger than squirrels but smaller than raccoons. It didn't matter. She shot her arrows. She hoped to only stun them. Sesshomaru however was far more brutal. He had jumped out ahead of her closer to the trees He slashed at the animals as they ran up his body. He was twisting, turning, kicking and snarling, completely covered in brown fur. It was almost comical. Some of the animals noticed the food and became distracted. She sent off a few more arrows near them but not hitting to knock them out. In reality it only lasted two minutes before it was over. There were passed out little brown youkai everywhere. Some were hanging off tree branches Sesshomaru had hurled them too. Tables and chairs were overturned where some of the guests had taken refuge and were beginning to tentatively peek their heads from. One last helpless animal was running in circles in front of Sesshomaru who promptly stepped on it. Hard. It gave a yip and lost consciousness.

Kagome wiped the sweat from her forehead and walked over to Sesshomaru.

He was glaring at the animal under his foot daring it with his eyes to wake up.

Kagome couldn't help it and giggled.

The sound of her laugh brought him back to the here and now. His heart tightened. He didn't think he would ever hear her laugh again. Especially with him being the reason for it, even if it did entail the harm of a small woodland creature.

He stared at her and patiently waited for her humor to subside.

She looked up at him and smiled.

There was a small space of quiet in the air as they gazed into each others eyes.

“I'm sorry.”

He blinked at her.

“The animal attack wasn't your fault.”

She shook her head.

“I'm sorry Sesshomaru. For everything.”

His eyes widened in understanding.

“Thank you for coming. Being here, especially...,” she trailed off biting her lip.

“Where's Inuyasha?”

“Don't know. Don't care. I'm staying with Sango.”

His eyebrow rose.

“Is that where you want to be?”

He stepped off the animal and walked to stand in front of her. He took her hand in his.

“Where do you want to be?”

She looked up into his eyes, her tears evident.

“Home.”

Sesshomaru gathered her into his arms and crushed her to him. Kagome clung back fiercely.

Despite the joy he felt coursing through his body he did have one lingering doubt.

How was he going to explain what happened to the stuffed cat?