Words: 940
Dusk was fast approaching as she lay in the field surrounding the rice paddies of the village, eyes closed. Despite the sun's steady decline, she was determined to absorb what few bright ray were left. As she sprawled her limbs over the dewy grass, throwing her arms above her head, more than likely creating bold patches of green in the shoulders of her blush kimono, Kagome's mind drifted impulsively, but pleasantly, to the past three years. Much had stayed the same, yet much had also changed.
She and Inuyasha still bickered, but he eyed her with a newfound respect, one he did not seem to willingly display prior to Naraku's death. Perhaps his final walls had crumbled along with Naraku's threat.
She still loved him, but it was no the longer a pure, whimsical love of child bewitched by a fairy tale. It was now a sound, justified love that she was disheartened to admit she felt for Miroku and Sango as well. A kind of love she cherished, but not the kind she once yearned for.
She continued to fight-to keep the village and its inhabitants safe, but there was significantly less adventure in her life. A tiny, implacable twist resonated within her. Though it had been daunting and dangerous, she had only realized how much the adventure suited her after it was no longer necessary.
She had retained her powers, but once again, it was no longer as necessary.
She had kept her friends-her feudal family-but she had lost her home.
No. Not her home. This had been her home for over three long years. For a majority of that time, she had stopped referring to the modern era as 'home' in any way other than through words.
And yet...
Once the jewel was completed and Naraku destroyed, the inability to return to her time was an earth-shatteringly mind-numbing experience. It left her incapable of much for weeks.
It had now been three months and, after reassurance, encouragement, and comfort from Sango, Miroku, and Kaede, one-hundred and seventy-six carefully picked and greatly appreciated flowers from Shippou, and a few sacrificed arguments from Inuyasha, she buried her thoughts and memories of a past future and immersed herself in the present past. And it had been beautiful.
One cannot not truly appreciate history from textbooks and lectures. Kagome was reminded every day that she was lucky enough to be able to experience history.
Smiling lightly, she once again extended her arms far above her head, turning her face to the side as she let out a small squeak mid-stretch.
"Girl."
Another squeak, though this was out of significantly less delight than the first. Kagome bolted forward, holding herself against her elbows as she looked up at the figure mere feet away.
"S-Sesshoumaru-sama." She was minutely disappointed to find that it left her lips in more of a nervous whisper than she had intended it to. Here before her (for some odd reason) was another thing that had remained the same yet changed. Sesshoumaru was ever-elusive, only now, he was somewhat of an ally who posed little to no threat. She cleared her throat. "Um, what brings you here?"
The taiyoukai peered down at her, head tilted up despite already towering over her form. He was quiet for some time, seemingly mulling over the reason for being there.
Kagome wondered if perhaps he was just out for a stroll and she happened to be in his way. But surely he couldn't have felt too superior to even walk around her. As her mouth opened to speak, his voice cut her off at the barest click of a now-lost sentence.
"You are human."
Kagome cocked her head back a fraction of an inch at his proclamation. She blinked, then opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. Her eyes left his as she scanned across his sleeve, then a large rock to her right, then her kimono-covered knees, searching for something to say.
The statement was so utterly preposterous for being complete truth and completely unimportant. Sesshoumaru was never one for such... trifling.
"Are you not?"
Kagome glanced at him just as a delicate brow was raised in her direction. She suddenly felt very silly for not responding. "Er, I... am."
He made a throaty noise, sounding almost like a rumble. "Yes."
Kagome stared at him incredulously. "Sesshoumaru-sama," she began, lifting herself up into standing position. As she swept the grass and dirt from her sleeves, she continued, "I'm sure you didn't come all this way to remind me of my breed. Can I... help you?" The offer felt foreign on her tongue but she didn't let her discomfort show.
Sesshoumaru once again seemed to be weighing his options. She patiently returned his gaze as she waited, swaying a little where she stood.
His eyes narrowed marginally in thought. Sesshoumaru was no fool. He knew enough about the girl to know that she was mindlessly optimistic and overbearingly kind, and that she harbored deep maternal instinct. She tended lovingly to the kitsune as though he were her own and even looked after (as well as imposed rules and punishments upon) his half-brother, just as the child he inevitably was.
He knew of her power as a miko and of her strength as an opponent of Naraku. He knew of her loyalty to her strange little pack and of her incessant will to please.
He knew she was female, and so infallibly human. He knew she could be trusted.
And that was important.
"I require your assistance."
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A/N: I have quite a bit of this written already, I'm just going through and adding final touches before uploading. So expect quick updates!