An Unlikely Mating
Chapter 8: True Value

Hanging in the back and keeping my mouth closed seemed like the best course of action with tensions running high, so that's exactly what I did. Even if I tried to vocalize all the thoughts buzzing around my head, I knew that the floodgates would break and pour open, and that I'd say something I would really regret. So Instead I chose to hide at the back of the group and quietly deal with all the anger, hurt, and confusion I felt.

As my friends trudged in front of me, a certain detail captured my attention and then bugged me to no end. Everyone in the group was keeping completely silent, and if I had to watch my friends act like docile housewives for one more moment, I would lose my mind. Just because I felt miserable didn't mean all my friends needed to suffer. The kids should have been laughing and playing, not marching quietly and worrying about me. With all the heaviness Naraku brought, I figured they did enough worrying without adding my sorry butt into the mix.

I glanced around, looking for something to lighten the mood. I didn't want to make my purpose blatantly obvious; the kids would just worry more if I seemed desperate. As I gazed at the long grasses growing along the side of the path hoping for an idea, inspiration struck. Picking a piece, I sent my plan into motion and snuck up behind Shippou.

He gave me a funny look at suddenly coming so close, but the moment he turned his attention away from me, I used the piece of grass to tickle his neck. His eyes snapped back to me, but I was the picture of innocence with the piece of grass already hidden behind me. I pulled this on him three times before he finally caught me.

After my ruse was up, I gave him a sly smile and passed him the piece of grass. I gestured to Rin, and with a determined nod, he set off to antagonize his unsuspecting victim.

In no time at all, the children were laughing and playing games once more. Because the kids started acting normal, the tension seemed to dissolve, and as we traveled, the group became a little lighter than before. With the attention off me, I was now free to hide at the back of the group and sulk without my friends constantly worrying about me.

"Clever ploy, miko," Sesshomaru said as he came up next to me. Because my mood was so funky, I had almost forgotten he was back here with me. Almost.

"I didn't do anything bad or try to harm them. Don't make me sound like some sort of sneak," I grumbled and crossed my arms.

"Was that not the point?" he said with a condescending eyebrow raise. "You tricked the rest of the group to forget their worry for you."

"Hey!" I interjected. "Tricking my friends was never my goal! I just couldn't handle the kids looking so miserable. As a mother the heavy stuff is my cross to bear, and mine alone. I try to shield Shippou from the horrors I can—a courtesy I intend to extend to Rin. They already have enough on their plates to worry about with Naraku and this stupid jewel looming over all our heads. I just want them to act like children whenever they can. If that means 'tricking' them into having fun, then so be it."

"You present me with an enigma. I do not understand how you put the wants and needs of others before your own and remain so… bubbly," Sesshomaru replied after a while.

"You know, I think you put way too much faith in me, Sesshomaru." Wow. I never thought that would be coming out of my mouth.

"I give respect where I see due. You would distract you friends so you may suffer alone rather than allow them feelings of discomfort for your pain."

"I still have my faults. Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same for Rin—I see the way you look at her; I look at Shippou the same way," I noted.

"I cannot deny that I view Rin as more than a retainer, and I allow her liberties I do not extend to others. Shielding your son is sound, and I am grateful you extend the same courtesies to my ward."

We walked in a comfortable silence as I allowed his words to digest. The fact that Sesshomaru cared for Rin so deeply warmed me towards him. Sure, he still seemed frightening with his feral beauty and biting frigidity, but knowing he cared for Rin thawed him a bit and softened the harsh edges. For a fleeting moment, I felt as if the cold demon Sesshomaru allowed us to see was very different from the demon he really was on the inside. Him allowing me to see these two entities blew me away.

Glimpsing into the hidden side of Sesshomaru raised more questions than I cared to admit. How much did he really hate humans? I mean he obviously cared for his human ward. And why did he really keep everyone at a distance—people didn't just become cold for no reason. How could he stand not expressing himself, and why was he allowing me of all people to see this even more complex and confusing side to him. And most importantly: did we just carry on an entire conversation?

"Sesshomaru, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful you decided to talk to me, but why exactly are you actually talking to me? Usually you just stand at the back of the group all typical Prince of the Deadly Smolder like." Yes, I really just called him Prince of the Deadly Smolder.

He shot me a dirty look, but he didn't shove his hand through my guts, so I figured I'd live for the time being.

"Miko, even the most solitary creatures crave intellectual conversation. Many people fail to offer worthwhile discussion, so I seldom bother. I find no need to waste my breath on pointless talk."

"You definitely have the wrong girl, then. I never shut up, so meaningless chitchat is kind of my middle name. If you're looking for intelligence, you should hit up Miroku. I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed," I admitted, feeling no shame over my easy admittance.

"You are a worthy conversationalist. You carry a heavy burden, yet you don't buckle under the weight. That makes you a worthy opponent. When you aren't blathering just to hear your own voice, you can be quite intelligent."

"Thanks, I think." Sesshomaru may have just delivered a backhanded compliment, but that was the only praise I would likely earn from him. Seeing as he didn't give praise lightly, I decided to feel flattered.

Neither of us talked for the rest of the evening. For once, I felt unbothered by the silence between us—knowing that he didn't want to rip out my jugular also helped soothe some of my nerves. As we walked, I thought about my troubles, the battles to come, and even what might come after that disaster. Easing back into my friendship with InuYasha would benefit the both of us—really, this decision would do good to the entire group. This gave InuYasha and me the opportunity to move on without jeopardizing the friendships we'd forged along this journey. Even if doing this felt like ripping my heart out now, I knew that this would help everyone in the end. Knowing what I planned to do next allowed me to feel lighter, and I enjoyed the rest of the beautiful evening around me.

By the time I motioned for the group to stop and make a camp, the atmosphere seemed significantly lighter. Sadness over breaking off my first love still weighed heavily on my heart, but the twinge of hope I felt would be more than enough to get me through whatever came next.

I repeated this to myself like a mantra as I prepared dinner. I even kept this thought running on a loop through my head as my friends started getting ready for bed around me. When I was almost done with the dinner mess, I knew my time to procrastinate had run dry. I needed to prepare myself mentally for what could happen after this.

"Ready, Kagome?" InuYasha asked quietly as he seemingly materialized by my side.

I'd been so wrapped up in my thoughts I hadn't noticed him approaching. Instead of seeming angry, as I expected, InuYasha seemed uncharacteristically resigned and polite. Automatically, I threw up my guard and waited for him to snap out of whatever hit him and start screaming at me.

"InuYasha," I started cautiously. "I think maybe it's a good idea for Sesshomaru to take over watch."

InuYasha sat down next to me, looking mildly annoyed but trying to keep the emotion off his face.

"I can do it," he replied stubbornly. However, the usual brazen gruffness was missing from his voice.

"InuYasha, I know that you want to keep your promise to protect me, but I'm letting you off the hook right now. Sesshomaru is plenty capable of keeping me safe. Plus, you still need to get some sleep, and right now I need my distance from you."

"Kagome," he started to groan.

"Just listen to what I'm saying for a minute!" I cried, successfully cutting off his complaints. "I did a lot of thinking today, and I've made a decision that I will stand by even if you test me. I'm not proud we fought, but I feel that this was inevitable—things became too complicated when I fell in love with you. The team worked better when we were just friends. I was happier that way.

"You are my best friend; I never want something stupid like a fight come between us. I'm not mad at anyone—I just need some space to settle my emotions and get my head on straight. I love you, a part of me will always love you, but I'm sick of this cycle. We fight, I cry, then I forgive you because this tiny little voice tells me maybe you'll eventually love me if I give you one more chance. This time has to be different. I have to break out of this cycle if we want to have any chance at beating Naraku and finding happiness."

As my quiet words drifted into the night air, I gazed across the fire at my little group of friends. Seeing them chattering and laughing sent me back to the time before I loved InuYasha—the time before my conflicting emotions came into play, and InuYasha and I felt free to joke and bicker without worrying about bruised feelings. More than anything, I longed to return to that point in time, and because of this intense feeling of longing, I knew I could never be more than friends with the man a little part of me would always love.

"This won't be easy for me," my voice broke our little bubble of silence, "but I will stick to my decision. Please don't treat me any different from the rest of the group—any special treatment will just make this harder on me. I know you regret what happened, but let's not dwell on that. Can we make this a new beginning?"

All through my speech, I gazed at the flickering fire, but as the last sentence tumbled from my mouth, I looked up at InuYasha.

"'Gome, I just want you to be happy. If you need space or whatever, I'll give ya your space. I am sorry. I want us to be friends again," he admitted with a soft smile.

I beamed with relief as he started to push himself up from his spot next to me.

"Oi, wench," he said as he turned back to me. "You know I'll always love ya too, right?" I couldn't help but smile when his ears twitched as he listened for my response.

"I know," I breathed with a soft smile. Nodding, he turned back and walked to the rest of the group.

"Hey! Can it, people! I need to get some rest!" he announced before jumping to a low branch in a tree and settling in for sleep.

My friends looked from InuYasha to me, relieved smiles adorning their faces. I knew this would take time, but soon everything would return to normal. My little family would survive—we always did.

I tucked the kids into their sleeping bag and gathered mine into my arms. Having already brushed my teeth and changed into flannels, all that remained was for me to actually settle down and sleep. Unfortunately, the sleeping is what had my stomach churning with anxiety.

"Sesshomaru," I ventured as I toed my way over to him. "Do you mind taking watch for a bit? Over me, I mean. I guess you could watch over everything at the same time, but-."

"Miko," he snapped, cutting off my nervous babbling. Despite our conversation earlier, I couldn't help but feel nervous. Even if Sesshomaru didn't think I wasn't completely incompetent didn't mean he wanted to get all cuddly with me.

"Sorry," I mumbled. In response he simply gestured to the space next to him, indicating I should sleep there. There, barely a foot away from him.

I swallowed and rigidly shuffled over with my sleeping bag. As I bent down to spread out the darned thing, I felt Sesshomaru's eyes following my every motion. My stiff, awkward movements were counterproductive to my task, so with a sigh I gave up and crawled into my sleeping bag.

"Is not the point of this for you to sleep?" Sesshomaru inquired after a few moments. My constant shifting and sighing must have gotten on his nerves.

"Sorry, Sesshomaru. I'm having trouble falling asleep. I'm just too nervous," I admitted as I rolled over to look at him.

"I fail to see the reason for your nerves."

"Well, I guess the idea of you keeping watch sets me on edge," I whispered after a moment.

He answered with a menacing growl, and I couldn't help but jump at the threatening noise.

"You doubt my capabilities," he accused. The anger and annoyance in his voice threw me for a moment, but then confusion cleared and horror took its place.

"I'm not nervous because I think you are inadequate to keep me safe! We both know you are more than capable! I'm nervous because you're not exactly cuddly and I feel like a burden to you."

"Hn."

"I'll just shut up and go to sleep now," I mumbled, once again turning away from him.

I heard a low chuckle rumble in his chest, and the sound had a soothing effect. Sesshomaru was more than capable of watching over me, and this was only awkward because I felt so awkward. Knowing I was safe and that Sesshomaru probably wouldn't gut me for rolling too close, I allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

PAGE BREAK

Days passed, bled into weeks, and soon enough Sesshomaru had traveled with the group for a month. Out of this month, three weeks I slept under guard to make sure Naraku didn't enter my dreams. Two of these weeks I spent under Sesshomaru's guard.

What seemed awkward became normal. Slowly, I grew used to Sesshomaru and his quiet collectiveness. Before I thought of him as icy, cold, and proud, but watching him allowed me to see he was these things, but he also had many redeeming qualities. He watched and observed like a hawk. Nothing slipped past his notice. He seemed to take everything into his mind and catalogue whatever he noticed. Sesshomaru knew each person in the group, even if he kept this knowledge to himself.

What surprised me the most was the fact that Sesshomaru was sweet, and he seemed to really love children. I mean, why else would he travel with Rin if he didn't like children. However, I doubt anyone else in the group saw this side to Sesshomaru—no, I knew no one else suspected Sesshomaru to have a secret sweet side. Still, I saw everything. The rest of the group largely ignored Sesshomaru, but I took to hanging out with him in the back. Because of this, I noticed happenings no one would believe if I chose to voice them.

Sometimes Sesshomaru randomly disappeared. One moment we'd be walking side by side, and the next I walked alone. Eventually he would reappear and we'd keep walking as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. After his disappearances I'd notice Rin and Shippou always seemed happier. Often times Rin ended up with crowns of flowers I know she didn't braid, or Shippou munched on leaf-fulls of berries he hadn't had time to pick.

When I noticed these occurrences I'd give Sesshomaru a secret smile, and he'd just "hn" in response. Imagining Sesshomaru frantically picking berries or braiding a crown of flowers seemed laugh-worthy, and I knew my friends would say I was crazy if I mentioned the scenario. Still, knowing Sesshomaru did these sweet little things on the sly warmed my heart and proved he had one of his own somewhere behind that spiky breastplate. The fact that he did these things for the kids, demanding no credit or thanks in return, made me appreciate him more.

I never would have noticed the presence of Sesshomaru's heart if not for the use of InuYasha's. After our fight and my first night with Sesshomaru, InuYasha gave me the space I needed. As each day passed, I felt the weight on my heart lessening. The atmosphere of the group changed each day, and this seemed to be for the better.

Even after only two weeks of having my space, the group seemed happier. As I finished cleaning up the remnants of our dinner, my friends seemed content as they settled in for the rest of the night.

"Need any help, Miss Kagome?" Rin asked as she came to my side.

"No thanks! I'm just about done here. If you want, you and Shippou can come with me while I brush my teeth, wash my face, and change into my sleeping clothes!" Rin and Shippou nodded excitedly at my suggestion, and I smiled widely as I finished my task. "Well, let's get going!" I said as I slung my pack over my shoulders and took their hands in mine.

"Miss Kagome?" Rin ventured after we'd prepared for bed and were walking back to camp. "You seem happier since you and InuYasha broke up," she stated quietly.

"Well, I guess you could call all of that a break up. And I am happier, Rin. InuYasha and I just work better as friends." I heard the conviction in my own voice and knew I spoke the truth. Slowly, I was feeling happier.

We walked in silence until the light from the campfire flickered over us and I heard the faint sound of InuYasha and Miroku talking. Just as we were about to walk back into the warm circle of firelight, Rin grabbed my sleeve and turned big, brown eyes on me.

"I'm glad Miss Kagome is happier, because that makes Sesshomaru-sama happier too."

"What?" I asked dumbly, but by then Rin and Shippou were scampering to their sleeping bag, leaving me standing at the edge of the firelight, mouth hanging open in shock. I snapped my jaw shut and gave a little shake of my head, trying to clear my jumbled thoughts. My attempt failed and I found myself mechanically walking to Sesshomaru, spreading my sleeping bag, and slipping into its warm depths.

My friends too settled in for bed, pleasantly talking for a bit before their murmured conversations dwindled and their auras went calm as they each drifted to sleep. Soon enough only Sesshomaru and I remained awake; I decided to take advantage of the moment alone and get to know Sesshomaru a little better. I'd already witnessed the existence of his soft side, so maybe Sesshomaru would open up and allow me to know him. Still, I really doubted the demon Lord and I would be swapping secrets and braiding each other's hair anytime soon….

"So Sesshomaru, how've you been lately?" I inquired. When he raised an eyebrow and sent me a look that questioned my competency, I decided this wasn't the best route to take.

"I'm trying to make some small talk here. You know, get to know you better! Think you could spare me and play along?" Even as I asked, I knew the answer I'd receive.

"This Sesshomaru does not make 'small talk' or 'play along'." Without changing his bored expression, he still managed to look both horrified and disgusted by the suggestion. "The best way to gain knowledge comes through asking directly."

I blinked a few times, staring at him blankly. Did this mean he'd actually answer a question if I asked?

"So you'll actually answer my questions?" I vocalized my thoughts.

"Within reason," he shrugged.

Bingo.

"What's that fuzzy thing you always wear? Is it your tail or something?" I gestured to the mass of fur spilling around him.

"That 'fuzzy thing' as you eloquently dubbed, is a pelt. This pelt has been in my mother's family for many generations," he announced proudly.

"Wow! So that makes your fluffy old—really old since you demons seem to live forever!"

"Hn," came his response, followed closely by silence.

"This is the part where you ask me something," I stated when I felt certain he wouldn't say anything more. He gave me a bored look, and I sat up with a huff.

"Come on! Isn't there something you want to ask me? Anything at all that you want to know?"

Raising an eyebrow Sesshomaru gave me a look that screamed, "What could I possibly desire to know about you?"

"Rude," I huffed, flopping back down in my sleeping bag. I turned on my side, determined to ignore him and go to bed, but an annoying thought circled around my brain, demanding that I ask and get my answer. I had no choice but to surrender, so with a sigh, I rolled back towards Sesshomaru.

"How long can you go without sleep? We've been traveling for about a month now, and I've never really seen you sleep. Sometimes I see you meditating, but that's not really the same."

"Demons require significantly less sleep than human. On the road meditation suffices to give my mind the rest needed. At my fortress, however, sleep is a luxury in which I frequently indulge."

"But eventually you'll have to sleep when you are on the road, right? I mean, meditation probably can't cut it forever."

"You are correct in your presumption."

I chewed over this information for a bit until Sesshomaru spoke and broke me free from my thoughts.

"When the night comes, InuYasha will be your guard. How will you react?"

"I know that day will come, and I guess we'll just have to see when that moment arises. For now, I just need my space from him. I'm trying to get over InuYasha, which I'm sure you know from your superior hearing."

"Indeed."

"You probably think I'm some stupid, fickle girl," I laughed. Sesshomaru was the King of Cool and here I was, constantly falling apart.

""I believe you are strong and smarter than most people give you credit. People underestimate you, which give you an advantage. I will not make such a mistake."

"Thanks, Sesshomaru," I responded, understanding the true weight of his words and the enormity of the compliment he paid me.

I rolled over, fully prepared to go to bed, but a thought caused me to look at Sesshomaru over my shoulder.

"You're really not too bad once you get to talking. People underestimate you too."

"Kagome, sleep," he growled, but instead of being threatening, the noise seemed more playful.

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

I snuggled into my sleeping bag and smiled. I drifted off to the deep rumble of Sesshomaru's chuckle.

Original Posting Date: June 28, 2015

Word Count: 4039

A/N: Hello everyone! I've been super busy this summer, but I'm trying to keep writing every day! This chapter just kind of happened, and not in the way that I planned it xD I hope everyone likes it because I think I like how it turned out! Writing Sesshomaru was hard!

Leave me a review and tell me what you think! Also, come be my friend on Twitter! I'd love to get to know my lovely readers!

Also, I'm looking for a Beta reader to look over all of my stories. I feel that it would be nice to have a fresh set of eyes. I want someone that will tell me what I'm doing wrong so that I can figure out how to correct my own mistakes :) I know that I won't improve if I don't see exactly what I'm doing wrong! If anyone is interested, please message me!