Sesshoumaru's Gift: The Courting by KEdakumi

Almond

They walked quietly in the woods, neither seeming to be able to breach the wall that had separated them. “Tell me of your Lords. How are the lands divided among the leaders? What position do demons hold in your future?”

Kagome took a deep breath. They had spoke of human history, technology, phones, cars, planes, war, weapons, other countries... but the talk of demons was danced around. He hadn't asked directly and she didn't tell him, until now. She went right to the point. She told him that his kind had been sent to the world of fiction. They were nothing but stories and legends told to children as bed time stories. She finished and watched as his face hardened.

They continued to walk in silence through the woods towards the stream. He said nothing as he contemplated everything she had said. Coming to the water's edge, he watched her crouch down and let the water flow freely between her fingers. She picked up a small almond-shaped stone and gave it a careless toss into deeper waters. “You don't believe me.” She said, breaking the moment, not raising her eyes from watching the soothing, cold water flow.

“This Sesshoumaru refuses to believe that he will not exist in 500 years.”

She stood and shook the water from her hand, looking directly at him. “So you think I am lying?” she asked.

“Or your human senses are flawed.” He replied. “Demons are a level above humans, physically and mentally, yet you say that humans will destroy us.”

She threw her hands into the air, loosing her patience with the being in front of her. “I never said that humans killed off all the demons, Sesshoumaru. And my 'flawed' senses are just fine.” she growled. “I am telling you that, apart from one or two demons that made it into my era through sheer luck, I wasn't able to find another.”

He looked into the woods, as if the shadows would impart some wisdom.

“But you still don't believe me.” She muttered. She had a feeling it wasn't that he thought she was lying. She believed he was wanting to bury his head in the sand. “Do you really think that by denying what I know to be true, that you will change anything? Stop pouting, Sesshoumaru. Something happened, I don't know what.”

“Then perhaps the best way to prepare would be to start getting rid of the vermin.” He growled, “Your kind will, obviously, multiply like bugs.”

Kagome didn't know if she should be more insulted that her 'kind' was compared to bugs or if that he thought she was lying. She was only concerned for him, that's why she didn't hold back this truth. Why did he have to start name calling and throw around his bigoted attitude? “So I'm possibly a liar, have flawed senses and am vermin.” She looked pointedly at him. “Why are we courting again? Oh, that right, a ghost told you so!” Why Santa Claus ever thought this would work, she would never know. A single, frustrated tear fell down her cheek. At that moment she came to a decision. “I don't like arguing, Sesshoumaru.” she started. “You said you took my personality and loyalties into account when you brought up the topic of courting, yet now you tell me you think I am either lying or I'm an idiot......Something changed over these last few weeks and as you enjoy pointing out, my life will be short, so I will not waste it watching you growl at me.” She looked at him as if measuring her next words. “I release you from your courting vow, Lord of the West.”

“Have I asked you to release me from anything?” he questioned.

“In so many words... no,” she shook her head, “But you made it very clear that you are using me for information and to be a tool, perhaps to give you a strong heir.... I don't know....your first loyalty is to yourself and your strength. In that, there is no room for me, and I will not compete for your attentions nor sit by quietly as you do as you please. This was, I thought, to be a partnership. I know it's not common for this day and age, but I am not a tool nor am I an ornament to decorate your keep. My only consolation will be that you may take a moment to feel a bit sad before brushing all of this off as a strategic lesson and not look back on it again.” She shook her head, taking a deep breath as she looked into his eyes. “Apparently we were not compatible.” she whispered, using the same word he used when he brought up this idea at Christmas time. With that, she walked off swiftly, trying not to run, but desperately not wanting him to scent her tears.

“Maybe the half-breed was right.” Sesshoumaru thought aloud to himself. Inuyasha yelled and screamed at both of them when they announced to the unusual group that Sesshoumaru would be courting Kagome. Later that night, when the humans were asleep, Inuyasha approach Sesshoumaru in an irritated, but calm manner.

“She is different from what you want, you bastard.” He huffed. Sesshoumaru refused to grant him any comment so he continued. “She is loud, obnoxious, clumsy and clingy... but she is also intelligent, happy, strong. She won't hesitate to put you in your place.”

“This Sesshoumaru is aware of her faults, half-breed.” The dog demon finally answered.

Inuyasha scoffed. “Faults.....You may think you know, but you don't.” He looked right at his hated half-brother. “She's as fragile as she is strong. She needs someone to love her, not the power she might be able to give to her kids. She won't tolerate anything less. Besides, you ain't good enough for her.” Sesshoumaru offhandedly wondered how many individuals would tell him that.

He tried to prove them all wrong. He was strong. He defeated his enemies with a practiced ease. He thought he could defeat his own misgivings just as easily, but apparently he was wrong.... not that he would ever say that out loud. His recent meeting with his honored mother simply brought all of his misgivings back to the front of this thoughts as she reminded him of his duty. Even his great father properly sired a full-blooded heir, doing his duty to his title, before running off to mate that human. Should he do any different?

It all started as a normal courting. He came by the village about once a week. Generally, she would take a walk with him and they would talk. Sometimes, if he came late, they would sit silently and watch the moon rise.

He graced her with several gifts, including having a small bath house built near her hut. One that could have the water heated and she could enjoy without the concern of prying eyes. She had been extremely happy with that and the flowers he had Jaken transplant from his private garden.

The more he was around her, though, the more he noticed the differences. She seemed to argue with him at every turn, that was something he was not used to. She told him stories of her time that were almost too fantastic to believe. By the time she told him of the lack of demons in her era, he was convinced, she either found a way to fool his nose so he couldn't smell her lie, or she was telling what she believed to be true, in which case she had to be mentally unstable. Either way, he was feeling slightly out of control and he hated it. He should have been the one to call off the courting, but something kept calling him back to her. He didn't know what it was though.

No matter, he would go back to the way things were. He would watch over his lands and he would prepare for the onslaught of humans that may happen in a few hundred years. No one would take what was his. He didn't realize that with this thought, he was accepting all she told him.