Enlightened by Smortz

Freedom

A/N

So, I said I would wait to post this one until I returned home from Vegas, but I could not wait... seeing as it was all done and completed.

Read and Enjoy.

~Smo

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any characters associated with the manga/anime InuYasha. They are just puppets to further enhance my creative imagination.

Chapter 4

Kagome held a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly. Sesshomaru tried not to show his offense. Standing knee deep in a shallow part of the river, he watched as Shippo tried to show him how to catch the fish. “You are too loud, bigfoot!” The boy’s frustration showed on his face.

“Pardon my feet size,” Sesshomaru excused, giving a mocking bow. Kagome snickered from the side of the river. He found his golden eyes glancing at her again. She was currently shaping a few arrows with her knife while Sango was gathering herbs in the deeper forest on the other side of them.

“You must stay still,” Kagome ordered. “Be still, and only move your arms. Watch Shippo,” she repeated her earlier instructions, gesturing to the boy with one hand. A proud smile was on her face whenever she watched Shippo. Sesshomaru had learned while traveling the past day that Kagome had taught him everything he knew.

No woman in her right mind would do such a thing back in his home. To take in an orphan while being a single, young woman was giving up on marriage. It was a sure way to become an old spinster. Kagome hadn’t cared. She had seen a boy who needed to be cared for and had taken him in under her angelic wing.

“See! Another one!” Shippo exclaimed happily, holding a large fish in his two hands. Sesshomaru cursed, having been so caught up watching Kagome that he missed Shippo’s catch. The boy tossed it over to the side of the river where it flopped. Kagome stabbed it through with the same arrow she had used on the other fish before adding it to the basket.

Sesshomaru eyed a fish that was beginning to loiter around his feet. Shippo was practically shaking in anticipation. Sesshomaru’s fingers curled as he prepared for the catch. He crouched, slicing his hands through the water. His fingers closed around the slippery tail. The fish jolted and curled, slipping out of his grasp. He groaned in frustration, effectively waving at the fish as if uncaring before trudging out of the water and collapsing beside Kagome.

The woman was laughing, holding her hand over her breast. Her eyes were closed tightly as she laughed at his failure. Shippo had already refocused his attention on the river. “You are too clumsy and slow,” she told him. He had never been called those two things. On the contrary, he’d been called quick and smooth by his soldiers.

“Yea, well let’s trade duties. I’ll make the arrows while you fish for the village,” he grumbled out, rolling his pants back down his wet calves and reaching to pull on his military boots. “Unless you were bluffing and can’t do it,” he baited. He knew it was false. Kagome spoke from experience, not to mention she had trained Shippo. Still, to see her laughing at him made him want to knock her off the pedestal he had put her on.

Kagome glanced at him, wiping a laughing tear from her eye. Huffing, she stood up and stepped out of her boots. Shippo watched with wide eyes as she entered the river. Sesshomaru saw the little boy was actually intimidated now. Surely, she couldn’t be that good.

Sesshomaru watched her with interest and curiosity. She tied her black hair back at the base of her neck and took a deep breath. Her legs were spread, knees slightly bent. Her blue eyes searched the water before they focused in on their target.

Suddenly, she was holding the fish out of the water. Sesshomaru was sure he hadn’t even seen her move. A victorious grin spread on her lips. With a toss, the fish landed in his lap, slapping and hitting him in the arm with its tail. By the time he looked up at her again in astonishment, she was holding another fish. “W... What the hell?” he whispered to himself.

Kagome patted Shippo on the shoulder and made her way back to the quiver of arrows. Silently, she pulled another slim branch and went back to shaping it. So casual about it, like nothing had ever happened and she hadn’t just proved him wrong.

Sango approached from behind, picking up the large woven basket of fish and lifting it up on her shoulder. “This should be enough for dinner. Thank you, Shippo!” she called. Sango turned to leave, not even glancing at Sesshomaru. It would seem the woman had not forgiven him for thinking of shooting Kagome.

Taking a deep breath, Sesshomaru sighed and lay back on the grass. Kagome watched from the corner of her eyes. He was much more relaxed than she had ever seen him. His jacket long forgotten, his white shirt slightly dirtied and faded, he looked more like a farmer than a soldier. She focused on the strange silver hair and golden eyes. The combination was unheard of, almost mystical. What had caused such a thing?

“It is a family trait,” Sesshomaru spoke. It startled her from her stare. Flushing with embarrassment at having been caught, she refocused on her arrows. “They say my father cursed us or something,” he mumbled casually. Kagome could tell it was deeper than that. She could tell he had looked into it and not liked what he had found. She did not press the issue though.

“It is beautiful,” she answered, ignoring the blush of embarrassment at the confession. From the corner of her eye she saw him glance at her with a raised brow. She could see that in a society where conforming to the latest look, his coloring had brought on negative attention. “It is like the sun and the moon, having both day and night protecting you. It is a strong force.”

Sesshomaru thought of her words, but remained quiet. Never had anyone made such a statement about his coloring that was so... flattering. Suddenly, the touch of her hand made his eyes shoot open. She cupped his cheek, her thumb rolling just beneath his eye. Her eyebrows were furrowed as if she were deep in thought. “It has an enchanting effect,” she finally released before standing up and heading to the village.

Sesshomaru could only remain laying there. His own eyes tried to decide if he had actually seen her hovering above him with those gorgeous pools of blue penetrating his soul. Growling, he pushed himself to stand and smacked his cheek. This could not be happening. He was a soldier, being so close to this tribe was beginning to hinder his judgement!

~Enlightened~

Kagome released a laugh from deep within her belly. Shippo was dancing around the fire. Swallowing the last bit of rice that was in her mouth, she set down her tray and clapped her hands together as the boy continued to dance. His feet kicked out at times, his hands above his head, twirling and clapping every once in awhile as he howled.

Her eyes flickered to Sesshomaru. He was conversing with Miroku. Those two had been chatting since dinner. Miroku’s eyes were always light and casual, so Kagome wasn’t worried. It was Sesshomaru she was nervous about. He seemed tense since she left him beside the river.

Even now, his jaw was clenched. His golden eyes weren’t bright like they had been during his fishing excursion with Shippo. They were dull, calculating. “You should not stare at him so,” Koga grouched from beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Kagome tensed, but made no move to get away.

She smiled sheepishly at the lead warrior of their tribe. “It is interesting, is it not?” she asked, referring to the man and the way he was integrating with his tribe. He had helped the woman cook the stew, and then divided the herbs with Miroku and Kaede.

“It is a ploy,” Koga declared knowingly. His tone already decided that Sesshomaru had ulterior motives for everything he did. Kagome did not wish to believe it. She wanted to believe that they were being friendly and changing his mind. Maybe, when he went back to his troops, they would leave them alone, forget about the tribe.

Koga moved from beside her. He stood up and caught Shippo in his arms. The boy laughed and grinned. Koga pulled the decorative wolf fur from off his shoulders. It was far too large for the boy to wear and cloaked him like a blanket. Laughter filled the night air as Shippo continued his dance in the large fur. Koga slapped his knee, leaning over with his belly laughs. Kagome chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.

The wolfish grin Koga gave her made her contemplate leaving. It was too late though. He pulled her from where she sat on a fallen tree trunk and towards the fire. He lifted her hands in his, jumping and dancing. Giving a timid smile, Kagome laughed and began to loosen up. Usually dances were either performed by men alone or women alone. Koga always liked to make a party though.

She hopped from foot to foot, moving her hips as Miroku beat the drums and continued his conversation with Sesshomaru. Crouching, Kagome tugged Shippo towards her, dancing with the young boy and causing Koga to bark out a laugh as they circled the fire. Kagome could feel the heat encircle her body. It felt invigorating, and memories of dancing like this with her original tribe filled her. She remembered dancing with her mother while her grandfather told the story of their ancestors to the young children, including her younger brother. She held her hands above her head, reaching for the stars, wondering if they were up there watching her or dancing beside her in spirit.

As she danced, she watched Koga pull Sango from the ground, who glared at him but joined nonetheless. Several of the other fighters joined. All of them laughed as Koga prodded Kaede, who smacked him upside his arm. Kagome spotted Sesshomaru and found herself slowing to an almost stop.

Those golden eyes flared to life as the flames of the fire caused them to dance for her. He was watching her so intently, as if she were his prey. Smiling, she hopped over to him, gripping his shirt sleeve. He gave her a warning growl, sounding like a scared dog. “No,” he got out, about to sit back down.

Miroku pushed him up with his hand, laughing. Sesshomaru shot the man a glare, eyeing him as if he was inwardly plotting Miroku’s demise. Kagome pulled him towards the fire, still hopping from foot to foot. “Relax,” she ordered.

Sesshomaru moaned in humiliation. His movements were jerky, as if he were trying to step out of mud or squash a bug. His upper body was tense and arms spread out for balance. Kagome laughed lightly, twirling around in a circle and shouting her happiness to the night. “Come on moonlight, let the sunshine out,” she teased. She had no idea what gave her the courage to give him such a nickname. When he froze and gave her a look of shock, she closed her mouth and pursed her lips with her nerves.

Koga jerked her out from in front of him, pulling her along with him. Sango took her place, eyeing Sesshomaru before pushing him into the circle. “I do not want you around him,” Koga warned her. Kagome bristled. This was why she was nervous and wary around the warrior. He had always been possessive and territorial of her.

“Koga, if we are nice to him, he may not lead his troops back here,” Kagome explained, trying to justify her actions to him. Glancing in Sesshomaru’s directions, she released a smile to see he was beginning to dance more fluidly as Sango encouraged him with claps and instructions. “If you are going to be cold to him, he may just hunt you out,” she grumbled to Koga, seeing his glare.

“He watches you too much,” Koga stated. Kagome turned away from him to hide her sudden flush. She had caught him staring at her several times that day. To know that Koga had been watching too made her feel like a child in trouble.

“It is only because I got him into such a mess,” Kagome excused. Koga gave her a disappointed look. The excuse was weak, she knew. Breaking free of Koga’s hold, she gave him a look of warning. “I do not need you acting like a father,” she growled, heading back towards where she had sat.

She watched from there. Her eyes drifting every so often to the man she had kidnapped. He was relaxed again. Whatever his worries had been earlier, they were now gone. Getting up, she made her way to Miroku and leaned on his shoulder.

“Koga gave you the warning?” he asked knowingly. Kagome’s eyes watched his hands beat the drum rhythmically. All she did was give a nod, but he understood. “He will eventually leave. Kaede believes you to be only curious. You have always been too curious, Kagome. He will leave and never return. There is no other path. He does not belong with us.”

She knew this deep within. He probably had a house and a few women he was courting. Women who were beautiful and rich, decked out in glorious dresses with ruffles and bonnets. She huffed. Never could she understand having to wear so many layers or ride sidesaddle.

“Until then, I will treat him as I do everyone else,” Kagome declared. “Friendly.” Miroku nodded with a grin. They both watched the dance. Sesshomaru gave a tight laugh every now and then when he tripped. Kagome sighed wistfully as she looked at the smiles and listened to the laughs. This was freedom. This was worth fighting for. It was worth moving and relocating as long as they could hold on to this freedom.