Less Than Strangers by FczLostHope

LTS I

Random Rantings: Heh...I think I've already done my ranting up there...*sob* *clears throat* Ok, I'm over it...I hope you enjoy this Fic, It's my first Sesshy-n-Kagome Fic, and I love the pairing...^^ Prendre plaisir à! Ja ne, minna-sanz!

♦

The autumnal breeze fluttered sensually through the tall trees of the forest as the sun began it's descent to the other side of the Earth. It had to be about six in the evening, as the young woman stepped carefully through the foliage around her.

She was a sight to behold in herself, her long black hair with cobalt tints flowing gently back and forth behind her, being brushed back constantly by an impatient hand. Even though it was pulled into a high horsetail, much like her demon exterminating friend's during battle, it still was to the point that it would get in her way, no matter how it was put. Many times she'd thought of just chopping it off, but...she just couldn't go through with it.

Sighing again, she took a moment to just stand in the peaceful environment, and take in her surroundings. She was standing in the center of a ring of Live Oaks and Weeping Willows, their branches hanging down to brush her sides slightly with each gust of wind. She smiled gently, and then jumped to sit in the nearest oak tree. She was glad of her new choices of outfitting, for it wouldn't have been possible to do so in a short skirt.

She had changed a lot in the three years she'd been in the Feudal Era, and she couldn't bring herself to regret it, even if she wanted to. Her hair was now almost knee length, and was always up as far as possible from her face, which had thinned out to an aristocratically sculpted art piece, with high cheekbones, plump ruby red lips, and silvery gray eyes that shimmered with a depth of ocean blue, rimmed with black. She wore a fighting kimono now, black with a silver dragon wrapping up from the floor length hem to come around her shoulder blades and rest it's head on her collar bone, which was more covering than her old school outfit, though still mobile thanks to two long slits on each side clear up to her thighs, which on the left gave her easy access to the dagger strapped there.

She was well versed with weapons now, and had a deadly katana at her hip and a quiver on her back. A strung bow was in her right hand, leaving her left hand open to reach for an arrow at any time.

Bringing up her hand to cover a yawn that threatened to spill from her lips, a shimmering tattoo that wrapped around her wrist to half way up her arm winked up at her. It was a dragon much like on her dress, but it had a habit of moving, as it was now. As she watched in amusement, it first turned slowly around to stick its long tongue out at her, then slip down her fingers to come totally off her skin all together, and soon a miniature dragon was sitting across from her on the branch. It grinned at her, and leaned back on the branch, pulling off a slightly browning leaf to twirl between its claws. Its voice rang out, as if three different people were talking as one; a soprano, an alto, and a shadow.

"Soooooooooooo, Kagome. Are you going to say it yet? You know I'm right."

Kagome glared at her companion, and 'hmphed', leaning back on the trunk of the tree defiantly. She took out a filer and began to file down her nails, inwardly grinning as the dragon's eyes narrowed. "I'm not saying anything, because it's not true. I am not. I am not saying it, because it's not true, so why should I say it? I will not cave. I will not say something that's untrue..."

Kahn smirked at her, and waited. ~Any minute now...right...about...now...~

Sure enough, Kagome threw the file away from her in a huff and smacked herself angrily in the head. "GAH!!!! I'M LOST!!!" She glared at the gloating dragon. "Oh stuff that stick up your pie hole, Kahn."

"Hmph." Kahn rolled his pearly black eyes at her, and ignored her, shining his hoary scales with the padding under his talons, swinging his long tail delicately beside him. Finally Kagome'd had enough, and while he kept his attention on a particularly annoying scale, she shoved him off the branch. She giggled as he plummeted to the ground, to expand thin, shimmering wings open, parasailing to the ground. They were thin boned, and when the light hit his wings the bones glowed a pearly white, creating a gorgeous radiance to appear around him like a halo. He glared up at his Companion, throwing a rock at her head. Suddenly they both froze, and he automatically flew back up to her. In the blink of an eye he was in his medium sized form, about twice the size as their friend Kirara. She swung up on his back, sitting at the section right where his long neck stopped, and kept the best protection from his painfully sharp scales.

Kagome winced slightly as she settled down, and let her powers expand around them, listening for what was making the disturbances in the air currents. Grabbing an arrow, she knocked it quickly, and then leaned forwards as her boundary spell reported back to her. "Hey Kahn, there's a rogue demon playing with a human child about a mile west of here. He's a class F demon, so not too much to worry about, but let's get him off our territory."

Kahn nodded once, and with a mighty swoop of his wings he was on his way. ^Kagome, you know this technically isn't your territory. ^ He'd opted for telepathy, for when he went to a larger size, so did his vocal cords.

"Yea, I know Kahn, but still. This isn't right, and it needs to be stopped. Once this is done we'll get back to Our Territory, and maybe go throw rocks at InuYasha." She grinned as mental pictures flew back and forth about how to get back at their hanyou friend for his last prank on them. Icy water was NOT very nice at four o'clock in the morning...

♦

Before they knew it they were coming to another clearing, this one near a hot spring. A little girl no older than seven years old was screaming as she was being cornered to a surrounding tree by the large demon. It looked to be a cross between a crab and a slug, and it looked hungry. Deciding not to see if that proved true, she pulled back on the bow string, taking careful aim before letting it free, straight at his neck junction. It was the only thing that would do any damage, for it had a snail shell on its back, and some type of armor on its head and legs. The arrow shone a bright green right as it impacted, and the evil creature's head blew clean off its body, the rest turning instantly to dust. Jumping off the already lowering dragon, she ran over to the petrified little girl. Kneeling next to where the child had fainted to the ground, she quickly checked for injuries before checking for some sort of way to see who her family was. Luck was in for her today, because as she'd been brushing the ash of the demon off the girl she saw the Western Crest on the shoulder of her kimono. Kagome turned to look at Kahn, who was still in his medium form, now untrusting to the surroundings as he trotted slowly forwards.

^Hmph. Bring her to the Lord of the Lands. That's his personal crest,^ he nodded to the white dog with a dripping blood red rose in it's jaws leaping over a crescent moon, ^ and underneath,^ he pointed with his nose at the flying dove under the crest, ^is the mark for it being his ward. We'd best get her back to him. ^ At her nod he knelt down, waiting for her to climb on. Kagome scooped up the little girl, and carrying her bridal style, she hopped on Kahn, shielding the girl from the chilly air as they flew through the clouds.

♦

The little girl groaned, and wriggled in Kagome's arms. Kagome watched as large doe brown eyes blinked confusedly up at her for a few moments. The little girl finally sneezed, before asking, "Uhm...who are you?"

Kagome chuckled. "I'm Kagome, and he's Kahn."

The girl blinked. "Who...oh..." She looked down at scales of Kahn, then over at the long neck and large head that wound back to glance at her before going back to watching where they were going. "I'm Rin. Last I remember this big demon was over my head, then he kind of...blew up...are you bringing me back to Lord Sesshy?"

Kagome smiled. "Yes, actually we are. And don't worry about the demon; he's definitely taken care of. You just rest up now, because it's quite a long way from here...how'd you get that far away, anyway?"

Rin frowned. "Uh...I'm not sure...I was playing with Jaken, and then he just told me to go find flowers...and...Next I knew I was all the way over there."

Kagome scowled, and she knew that Kahn was doing the same. "You mean he sent you there?"

"Yea, basically. But that's okay, because there were really pretty flowers, and I was going to pick them all but Mr. Big and Scaly had to come and ruin it by stomping on them and trying to eat me..."

Kagome's brow rose. "You know, you're pretty smart, kid. A lot calmer than most your age as well."

Rin only shrugged. She reached out to touch a scale, careful not to touch the razor sharp edges. "You're really pretty Khan. Your scales are really shiny." Kagome rolled her eyes as Khan's bond showed his cockiness. That's another point to him now. She's going to have to give him more time for polishing.

After asking quietly for permission, Kagome found a loose scale, and pulling very lightly, it fell onto her hand. She ran her finger along the edge, her magic covering her finger as she dulled it from its razor like sharpness. It glowed once before settling down, and as Rin watched amazed it began to reflect different settings, like sunset and stormy waters. Rin reached out, touching it, and was surprised to feel dew collecting on it. "Why's it wet?"

"Because water helps it create the colors. Here, you try it." She handed it to Rin, and as the little seven year old cradled it in her hands, Kagome made sure that all of her things were in place, and fixed her hair from it's falling down and frizzy mess it'd become because of their fast ride.

"Look, Lady Kagome! It worked!" Kagome looked down to see a small rainbow across the middle of the large scale. "Very good, Rin. With practice you'll be able to do more than colors, see?" She touched the middle of the scale, and a small portrait of Rin came up in the middle. Rin clapped happily as Kagome smiled down at her. "This is great! It's so mythical!"

Kagome grinned. "Well, you keep that, Rin. If you ever need me at any other time, just hold it to your heart, and Kahn and I will come to you, alright?"

Rin's eyes bugged, and her hand brushed the shimmering scale with wonder, not even noticing Kahn begin his descent to the ground below. "Thank you!" She looked up to see a familiar castle come into view. Smiling happily, she sat back, and before they knew it she was out of the running, snoring ever so lightly in Kagome's lap, the scale held to her like a teddy bear.

Kagome brushed the kid's hair back with her fingers, fixing the horsetail, then looking up to see her Companion halt at the large gates to the castle. She climbed off him gently, carrying the girl in both hands bridal style once more as her bow hung on her shoulder with the quiver. Kahn walked sedately next to her. ^I demand to see that idiot demon that was supposed to watch her. ^ He glared at the door.

Kagome nodded, his anger mixing with her own to where it shined brightly from both of their eyes in equally high levels. She watched as the gates slowly opened, and five soldiers promptly met with them, all Level B demons.

The first was the one to talk. "State your name and business here." He had a raspy voice, and seemed to be a cheetah demon from the spotted blonde and black hair that hung from under his armor down his back.

"I'm returning Lord Sesshoumaru's ward, and I am Kagome, a Dragon Rider. This is my Companion Kahn. I intend on seeing the idiot overseer responsible for sending this girl miles from this area and your lord as well, if he is not busy. Now."

The demon's eyes bugged and he quickly bowed with the others to her before asking her to please come through the gates, and that they'd send a messenger to signal her arrival. She nodded once, yet glared when one of the other demons offered to take Rin from her arms.

♦

Sesshoumaru had been going over some documents up in his office, trying to get his mind off of ways to kill Jaken for losing young his ward. Shaking his head, he scowled as he stood, walking to the balcony that overlooked the back gardens of his estate. His mind wandered to whether the scouts that he'd sent had found her or not and whether she was alright when a small elemental messenger popped up a few feet away from him, bowing to him respectfully. He sighed. "Report."

"Sire, there's a woman and her Companion down at the gates wishing to speak with yourself and Jaken. She has Mistress Rin with her."

Sesshoumaru's brow rose. He pushed back the relief that his young ward was back down in the back of his mind, and walked from the balcony into the room, the messenger following. "Tell them to bring her inside into one of the main sitting rooms. Then fetch Jaken and bring him in, be it with the threat of the seventh Level of Hell."

The messenger bowed again, but timidly said, "Sire?"

He stared at it blankly, signaling the creature to continue, quickly.

"Well, her Companion's quite big, so..."

"One of the larger of the Sitting rooms then. Now go."

"Yes Sire." It disappeared, and Sesshoumaru brushed his long silvery-white hair from his face and picked up his haori and armor. At least Rin was back. Now to see what comes with that bargain...

♦

A little messenger popped up between the guards who were watching the gates for any others and Kagome, who was leaning on Khan with Rin snoozing in her arms. Its little voice rang out for all to hear. "Three of you are to escort Lady Kagome, her Companion, and Mistress Rin to the Largest Sitting Room in thought of Master Khan's size and stay until Lord Sesshoumaru and Idiot Jaken arrive there. The other two are to get the toad and bring him with the threat of the Seventh Level of Hell on his heels." The Messenger bowed to all of them once before disappearing. The cheetah and two others walked forwards as five other guards came over to take their place. The other two were already gone to get Jaken. Nodding once to the guard, Kagome stood and followed them as they lead the small group to the castle.

The castle itself was quite large, most likely four stories above ground, just from outside appearances. Tall oak doors with long silver handle-work were the entrance, and seemed to be quite heavy as two guards pulled them out. The Cheetah, who'd been recognized as Jared, ushered them through quickly, and the guards then ran through as the doors slammed back shut.

^Definitely not an open door policy. ^

Kagome rolled her eyes. "You'd best be glad that I'm the only one who can hear you, Khan." She whispered, low enough to where the demons couldn't make out what she said. Rin squirmed in her arms before settling down once more.

They all continued down the long hall, and stopped under a large chandelier, which hung from the top ceiling at the knot of the hall where all the different hallways came together. Jared took one second to the right, and waved them to follow behind him. At the forth door down he slid open a tall Cherry door, to show a large room of different shades of blue and green. A chair opposite of the door had room around, so Kagome was sat there, with Khan curling menacingly around the chair, leaning against the wall as well. She nodded her thanks to the guys, to which they just shrugged, and went to guard the door.

Kagome had sat back further into her armchair, thinking it actually quite comfortable when the door was slid back open, and the guards automatically fell to one knee. She stood, setting Rin in the Chair as Khan's head came up from his resting spot on the floor as well. She watched as Lord Sesshoumaru walked in, in all his glory. Long silvery-white hair fell down past his waist with unruly bangs in the front, parted to show his marks as Taiyoukai of the West, and molten gold eyes that glowed upon his indifferent features. Tall in build, he towered over her easily in size, and wore a white Hakama and Haori, the haori adorned with a red flower pattern over the shoulder, and armor over his shoulder. On his opposite shoulder was his long white tail, twitching slightly as he took in all the information in the room as was possible, and black shoes ended the outfit. She bowed to the waist to him, but no further before coming back to normal posture. His eyes narrowed at her.

♦

"Why is it that you do not give your superiors their proper respect, wench?"

The guards' eyes widened, and curiosity filled him as the scent of fear came off of them. What was it that was causing them to fear his words? He looked back over to the girl, to see her smirking at him, not moving an inch. Suddenly the shadowing behind her moved, and a medium sized dragon stood up, his large wings stretching open once before coming back, and his large head swung to look straight at him, black eyes with an inner fire burning angrily at him. He blinked up at it, and turned back to the woman standing in front of Rin. He bowed respectfully to her. "Forgive me, Ride-Mistress, I was not informed of your status."

She nodded once to him, and then her eyes flicked towards the door. It swung open, and a stubby little green blob was thrown into the room, his staff flying in after him to bonk him on the head. He squawked indignantly, oblivious to the hate filled eyes looking down at him. He continued on about how his Lord Sesshoumaru would get them for what they'd done, for he was his most loyal servant after all for several moments. Tired of his chatter, she finally spoke. "Be Silent, Idiot."

Sesshoumaru glanced over at her as she spoke, slightly surprised at how musical her voice was. Shaking it from his head, he focused on the Toad in front of him, as he looked at the Dragon Rider in horror, and at what was behind her. He gulped, and then chanced a glance behind him. Turning yellow, he saw what he feared, a deathly angry Lord Sesshoumaru. Automatically he went into groveling mode.

Another sliver of patience escaped the already enraged Rider as the stupid good for nothing toad groveled at his Lord's feet, who in turn looked like he was about to kick the filth away from him. Not giving him the chance, an arrow was flying through the air before any acknowledged that one had even been notched, shooting the toad through the arm and pinning him to the door, where he then writhed in agony. Kagome stalked forwards, stopping in front of it. Not turning to face him, she asked, "Lord Sesshoumaru, you wouldn't mind if I taught this imbecile a lesson, now would you?"

Sesshoumaru grinned slightly. "By all means, go ahead."

Kahn grinned as he slipped over to Kagome, showing long, sharp canines at the pale and shivering demon.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "The name's Jaken, huh? Well, that's a gay name, wouldn't you agree, Kahn?" He nodded once before she continued talking. "Well, Jaken, you've been quite the idiot lately, haven't you? Sending an unarmed human child into rogue youkai infested territories. Do you have some sick pleasure in doing so? For I have a distinct feeling that this hasn't been the first time from what young Rin has told me. Since you enjoy doing this so much, I believe that's what your punishment's to be. You, Jaken, have been striped of your name and any unimportant titles that you may have obtained over the years, you're to be striped of your you-ki to a human child, and placed unarmed into a youkai infested territory of my choice."

As she spoke Jaken slowly turned into a short, fat and stubby little human boy, with stringy yellow hair that stuck out at odd angles and a pointed nose much like his old beak. He started to fade away as he was sent to another place, but before he was gone, she added her grand finale, "Your name is now Bob. Have fun, Bob." With that and a screech of protest he was gone.

Rin stirred from where she'd been sleeping, and sat up, rubbing her eyes gently. "Lord Sesshou-?" She looked up to see him nod once to her, and to see Kagome standing at the wall across from him. She sprang up, hugging him, before running over to Kagome. "Lady Kagome, look! I got it to work!" The scale in front of her showed a blob-ish Jaken-err-Bob running from a large Oni as he screamed for mercy. Khan was snickering behind her as she grinned wickedly down at the picture.

"Very good, Rin. I like it. Don't forget what else it's for, young one. I should be going now though-."

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat, stopping her mid sentence. "As repayment for bringing my ward back, dining in your honor is in order Ride-Mistress."

Kagome's brow rose. "Well..."

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An: That's it! I'm done! YAY! XD That's Ch.1, tell me what you think! Well, Ch.2 will be some time soon! Ja ne!

"Your's Truly" -**VaSr