The Hime Tradition- Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen- 'Go Away'

The sound of the study room door opening was heard. But already knowing who the intruder was, Sesshomaru continued to scan through a report. With a stoic voice, he said, "You are still here?"

Her scoff reached his ear before hearing, "As if I would return to the Western Fortress without meeting the Shikon Miko."

Golden eyes finally looked up from his paper work and narrowed towards his mother.

"I will not say anything about you, Sesshomaru," Inukimi said, while waving her hand in reassurance. Sesshomaru began to massage his temple at the headache his mother was causing.

"I also noticed that Inuyasha has left the Castle," she voiced her observations out loud. Glimpsing towards her son, Inukimi continued, "Even though he is all healed, you didn't have to send him out to patrol so quickly."

Not seeing the reactions she wanted to see, Inukimi said, "If I recall correctly, it isn't necessary to patrol as frequently as you send Inuyasha to do so. How odd…"

"Are you questioning how I run the Land?" Sesshomaru said coldly with a glare.

Inukimi released a disappointed sigh. She had wished to hear her son confess more of his feelings, but instead seemed to divert away from her intentions. Inukimi guessed that he would not reveal anything more than his love interest for the Miko. What worried her now was the fact that Sesshomaru was sending Inuyasha off to patrol more frequently and longer than required. It was obvious to her the reason for her son's actions. Another sigh, this time out of a heavy heart, was released.

"I will leave you with one last note," Inukimi voiced seriously, "Using your power, title, or position to make her only see you will never work. You will never get her to love you that way. Trust me; I know this to be true."

Noticing his golden eyes pause for a split second before continuing to read through reports, Inukimi knew he understood the meaning behind her words. Purposely sending Inuyasha away would not make the Miko love her son.

Exiting the study room, Inukimi turned to her maid and ordered, "Bring me the Shikon Miko."

Her footsteps echoed in the empty hallways as she made her way towards her room. Pushing two grand double doors, Inukimi stepped into her enormous room. She walked towards her balcony that had a table and two chairs. Already sensing her maid and the Miko nearing her room, Inukimi sat on one of the chairs and neatly smoothed out any visible wrinkles on her haori.

"Come in," she voiced coolly after hearing a light knock on her door. Scanning the Miko, she did not sense fear or nervousness, just plain curiosity. Inukimi moved her hand to point at the empty seat in front of her. Her eyes did not leave the Miko as she came to sit down.

"I heard that you were the one who assisted the 'Mu' rank elder from leaving his rank. Then, you replaced the 'Tsu' leaders. You were also challenged by the 'Sho' leader and won. Am I correct?" Inukimi asked stoically. It would be a lie if she said she wasn't surprised by the news of what the Miko had done. She couldn't believe that a mere human could achieve so much in a short span of time.

After a flash of confusion, Kagome nodded her head.

Inukimi ran a hand through her silver hair in silent frustration. Although she knew how the events occurred, she could not figure out the Miko's reason for causing them. Confused, Inukimi blurted out, "But why did you bother to assist the 'Mu' rank? Why replace Kura? Why accept the 'Sho' leader's challenge? You are only a human, so why bother changing the demon society? What benefit does it have for you?"

Inukimi searched for her answer by looking into the Miko's blue eyes. She was prepared to see the calculation or scheme behind the Miko's eyes. Instead, Inukimi met with innocent and pure blue ones.

Her questions rang through Kagome's mind. She didn't quite know how to answer the Lady's questions for she herself did not know why.

She was at loss of words.

Why?

It was everything. Because of everything. Everything she fought for screamed for her to change the demon society.

"Never mind," Kagome heard Sesshomaru's mother breathe out, "How can you answer when it seems like you did these things out of instinct. Such an odd human."

Kagome glanced to see the Lady's eyes softened and looked to her with approval. Kagome wondered what the approving look was for and the reason for Sesshomaru's mother to come seek her in the first place.

"I thought you would not wish to seek my presence, since I am Inuyasha's intended…" Kagome trailed off. Knowing the history of Inuyasha's birth, Kagome assumed that Sesshomaru's mother would have a slight grudge against Inuyasha.

"It is not Inuyasha who has betrayed me, was it? So I see no reason to place the blame onto him," Inukimi said nonchalantly.

A warm smile appeared on Kagome's lips as she said, "Sesshomaru resembles you in that sense. You both are fair and honorable."

A glint of mischief glimmered in Inukimi's eyes. She had caught the flash of affection pass the Miko's face. She had waited patiently for the topic of her son to come up.

"And here I thought that you would still be angry with him," Inukimi voiced her thoughts. She did not know how well the Miko knew her son, but the Miko should surely still be angry with Sesshomaru's actions of not stepping in to help Inuyasha.

"I was," Kagome said lightly, while Inukimi noted the past tense she used. Blue eyes softened to reveal a tender look as Kagome continued, "But then I realized that Sesshomaru did not step in to help because he knew that Inuyasha would win. Also, if he were to step in, then it would not help Inuyasha gain any more respect and make Inuyasha look weak for acquiring aid from another."

Inukimi found the Miko's response astonishing. The Miko had correctly interpreted her son's actions, even though there was a bit of jealousy that made him react that way. Inukimi tried to keep her voice stoic as possible as she asked, "And what do you think of Sesshomaru?"

Kagome had not been able to see Sesshomaru for the past few days. But, her thoughts always seemed to return back to him. The Lady's question was something she had been trying to figure out as well. Dazing off into her own world, the image of Sesshomaru stuck inside her head. Unconsciously, blue eyes reflected the burning sensation the thought of him would always stir within her. Drowned by the sensation, Kagome whispered out the words spoken from her heart, "I think he is amazing."

She found him to be so much more than she thought he was. But how could she explain such a feeling?

"He is strong minded,"

He went through such a rough betrayal at a young age, was surrounded by corrupt and greedy demons. Yet, he did not fall into the temptation to follow along.

"He is kind and shows it in his own small ways,"

He protected her several times. He did so many small gestures here and there that she could not exactly explain his kindness. But, she knew he cared because she felt cared for.

"Oh? And what is he to you, Miko?" Inukimi voiced in an interested tone. The Miko continued to surprise her more with her innocent confessions. No one was able to reach him to that extent.

Still in a daze of her own world, Kagome didn't recognize Inukimi's voice, but rather thought it was the voice of her inner thoughts. With an honest voice, Kagome answered, "An important person. He is very important to me."

An invisible smile began to form along Inukimi's lips. Maybe her son did have a chance to win the Miko's heart, she thought. But she knew it was still too early to tell. Standing up from her seat, she noted the Miko shake from her daze. Running her hand through her silver hair, she said, "That's all I wished to know. Come; walk me to the Western Gates."

Obeying Sesshomaru's mother, Kagome followed after her. She guessed the Lady was leaving the Western Castle. Silence remained between the two women as they walked through the Western halls. Suddenly, Inukimi broke the silence by voicing her thoughts, "I have never seen a human like you, Miko. No human has ever held such intelligence or unique attributes like you do."

'That's because I'm from the modern era,' she wished to tell her. In truth, she was just an average human in her modern era. It was because she was in the feudal time that made others think she was special.

Arriving at the Western Gates, Inukimi stopped in her footsteps.

"You would make an interesting Hime Candidate," Inukimi said coolly. Kagome quickly turned her head to look at Inukimi with a surprised expression. But before she could say anything, Inukimi flew off after saying farewell.

Kagome stood frozen for a few minutes in front of the deserted Western Gates. Blinking back her surprise, she headed straight for the flower field. Confused by the feeling of guilt began to sank into her heart, Kagome breathed in the smell of lilies as comfort.

'No human has ever held such intelligence or unique attributes like you do'.

The more she thought about it, she realized she wasn't intelligent; she was just as smart as everyone in her era. She wasn't unique; she was very average in her era. She was just from the modern era…that's all.

'You would make an interesting Hime Candidate'.

No, she didn't deserve the title.

She felt like she was deceiving people.

As time passed by, Kagome felt worse and worse. Guilt heavily consumed her causing her to not realize she had arrived in front of Sesshomaru's study room holding a handful of plucked lilies. Already standing at the door, Kagome knocked.

"Come in," she heard. She saw him busy at work as usual. Quickly placing the lilies in the flower vase, Kagome glanced at him once more. She noted that his hair was not tied and was in the way of his work. Before Sesshomaru could reach to tie his hair, Kagome asked, "May I?"

He looked to see her pleading eyes before agreeing to her request with a slight nod. Kagome smiled gently as she walked to stand behind him. She began to brush through his silky hair with one hand and gathering his hair with another. Immersed in the pleasant feeling of his soft hair, Kagome didn't realize Sesshomaru's shoulders gradually tense from her touch.

Each stroke through his hair helped Kagome calm down.

"I met your mother, Sesshomaru," Kagome confessed in a hushed voice. Sensing Sesshomaru's displeasure, Kagome heard him ask, "What did she say to make you seem so bothered?"

Her heart warmed. It was these small gestures that made her adore him more. He noticed she was bothered by something, but he would not comment on it unless she was willing to bring up the topic. Caring blue eyes glanced at the back of his head pretending he could see her expression. Slowly, her hand reached for a silver strand of hair along his ear. She then gently tucked the strand of hair along his ear and brushed her hand against his skin.

She could tell him about her secret; that she was from the future.

She could tell him and only he could understand her.

"You remember the odd clothing I wore when we first met?" Kagome asked. Feeling his head nod, Kagome blurted, "Well, they were my school uniform."

She heard his voice hint confusion, "School?"

Continuing to brush through his hair for comfort, Kagome said, "I'm from the future. Exactly 500 years. In the future, humans go to a huge building, called a school, to study all sorts of topics. But then, I was pulled into the feudal era through a well."

She regretted saying this to him while standing behind him. She really wanted to see his expression as she told him her secret. She wanted to know what he thought. Would he hate her for deceiving him? Would he lose respect or interest now that he knew the reason for her intelligence and unique attributes?

Not hearing any response from him, she continued to ramble on, "Your mother told me that she's never seen a human like me. She then said that I would be an interesting Hime Candidate. But…I realized that I'm actually really average, a normal human in my era. I just look special because I'm in the past. So, don't you think I'm deceiving people because I'm using the knowledge I have from the future? I'm sure if anyone else from the future was in my position right now, they would have the same respect from the demon society. I don't think I should fight for the title of 'Hime'. I don't think I'm deserving of it."

Finished tying his hair Kagome's hands dropped to her side. She couldn't believe she had just told him all her doubts and worries. So used to being the strong minded one in her group of friends, she was never able to pour out her thoughts to anyone. Yet, here she was making herself look so weak and vulnerable in front of Sesshomaru.

He must think she was pathetic now.

"You're wrong," she heard him say stoically. Glancing up from the ground, Kagome looked to see golden eyes turned to stare at her.

"If you think that anyone else from the future could gain my respect as you have, you are poorly mistaken. It was not only your intelligence from the future that made the ranks respect you, it was the way you handled the situation."

His words were like a magnet that latched onto her heart sending waves of warmth streaming through her. She felt her body moving towards him without her knowledge. Soon, her arms were embraced around his neck as she snuggled her nose against his neck.

For the first time in the feudal era, she felt that she had someone to rely on.

Someone who accepted her for all she was.

Embracing him, she felt his body heat comforting her. His scent filled her nose and seemed to have the same effect of her favourite lilies; relaxing.

'I never want to let go'.

Suddenly realizing what she was thinking, Kagome gently but quickly let go of him. Hiding her flushed red cheeks from him, she thanked him before rushing out of the study room. She ran towards her room and slammed her room door shut.

Kagome began patting her chest to calm her racing heartbeat. Blue eyes were still widened with shock at her own thought.

"Go away," she whispered to her thundering heart.

"Go away," she said again as she pat her chest.

"You have to go away."

Author's Note: For the readers who have been waiting for this chapter, I'm sorry! I was a bit stuck! But hopefully, from here on, things will run smoothly. What are your thoughts for this chapter? I hope it was okay!

Thank you for reading,

Your reviews are cherished.