The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Thoughts

Chapter 33 - The Thoughts *The Inevitable* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

After a hearty breakfast at the inn, they set out once more on their journey. Sesshoumaru had greatly enjoyed seeing Kagome's pleasure at the wide selection of foods. He could definitely offer her that. If she so desired, she could have a similar spread every meal of the day. She would, after all, be the Western Lady. She could have anything she wanted.

They had made good time the previous morning when Inuyasha had chosen to run, and so it was likely that they would arrive at the Western border, and the barrier, by early afternoon. Inuyasha was glad to be nearing the end of this trip. Once he tried to bring down the barrier, he and his group could part ways with Sesshoumaru. He didn't trust the taiyoukai, never had, and just because his elder half-brother had suddenly altered his opinion of him didn't change a thing. He had this nagging feeling that something more was going on, and he didn't like not knowing what. The thought that Sesshoumaru had some ulterior motive only made him more uncomfortable.

Sesshoumaru would always be considered his half-brother in his mind. The taiyoukai had treated him like a lower life form for as long as he could remember, and being acknowledged by him didn't make up for it. He didn't want to go hang out in the palace, even if his companions did. He didn't want to subject himself to the glares and unkind whispers he was certain would be coming from every direction, and he really didn't want to come face to face with Sesshomaru’s mother. The bitch hated him with a vehemence that not even Naraku could match. No, he wanted to turn around and go back to Edo the moment his task was completed.

The taiyoukai was stuck in a sea of tumultuous, shifting emotions. He was eager to have Inuyasha attempt to bring down the barrier. If anything could, it would be the red Tetsusaiga. However, he wasn't too hopeful that it would be successful. If no one else could sense the barrier in order to bring it down,  he had a sinking feeling it would be the same for the sword. Sesshoumaru was also dreading the moment Inuyasha finished his attempt. Then he would no longer have any reason to be in Kagome's company. He had been trying to come up with another excuse, but had so far been unsuccessful.

Inuyasha would leave, taking his group with him, and the taiyoukai would be alone again. How was he supposed to be working towards some kind of relationship with her if he was unable to think of a reason to be in her presence? He couldn't just tag along with their traveling party. Even if he was still unable to enter his lands, he knew he wouldn't be welcome. Inuyasha would throw a fit, and even if Kagome's kindness pushed her to invite him along, the hanyou would win that argument in the end.

Kagome was rather confused herself. She had been trying so hard to stop thinking about Prince, to stop worrying and wondering if he was safe. She would be successful for a time, but then for some reason she would glance beside or behind her, half expecting the dog to be there, and disappointment would fill her once more.

Sesshoumaru's presence wasn't helping things. Oddly enough, the taiyoukai seemed to remind her of Prince. It wasn't just the stripes, either. It was his eyes. Not the color so much as the warmth within. She could have sworn that in the past his eyes had been cold and empty of  any emotion  other than anger and hate. Now they seemed so different. There was a depth there that seemed so familiar, so like the way Prince's eyes would look when he gazed at her in an attempt to communicate.

That wasn't all that was bothering her about Sesshoumaru. Every time she looked his way, he quickly averted his eyes, as if he was afraid to be caught staring at her. Several times she thought he was going to say something to her before changing his mind. That didn't fit her impression of him at all. He had always seemed confident, over-confident even, but now he seemed almost shy. What in the world could he have to say to her, and why wouldn't he just say it already? Was she imagining it? Had the loss of Prince caused her to lose her mind?!