A Silent Night by idreamofinuyokai

A Weary Traveler

AN: This story is based off of the song “Silent Night” by Joseph Mohr for Kaoruhanas' holiday carol challenge. Here we go...

Wandering the night Sesshomaru was without destination or direction. He was barely even concious of the forest that surrounded him; descending down a steep trail he came upon a waterfall that cascaded into a lagoon. Sitting to listen for a moment to the sound of the water, he found it too noisy and soon was on his way though to the forest that lay ahead of him.

“Halt” cried a deep voice from behind him. Sesshomaru was groggy but his temper flared when he heard the lesser demon attempt to boss him around. Turning he barely flinched and decapitated the demon with his poison whip. He walked on.

It was a day an a half before he found the next possible place that he could find rest. Walking up a dusty road he was looking toward the mountains when he scented a group of humans coming toward him. Turning he met them exasperated at the inconvenience.

“Devil Sesshomaru, it is the time for you to die.” the captain declared.

“Depart I do not have the time to deal with you.” he brushed them aside and continued walking, the humans were not worth his time. They were too loud. The captain rallied his army and charged him. He Yawned, breaking his impassive facade with his sincere exhaustion. “ very well.” he said and began his massacre. He left no one standing and smirked at the ease that his enemy was dispatched.

Looking back to the mountain he got an uneasy feeling and turned away from it. Jumping into the treetops Sesshomaru was getting irritated. He jumped into the sky and lept from tree to tree covering a huge distance very quickly. Scenting something that caused him to pause he sniffed the air to get a better picture.

It was familiar, not something his mind could recall, though it was something that nagged at him from the back of his mind. Jumping to the ground he walked through the old growth trees and listened to the faint sound of a woman's song. She was singing a beautiful ballad that spoke of peace and the beckoning call of sleep. He felt his eyelids closed and he shook his head.

“Hello?” she stopped singing and he opened his eyes sure that she could not sense him. It was not him that had caught her attention.

“Hello miss, I seem to have lost my way... could you direct me to the closest village?” a suave male voice asked. Sesshomaru slipped closer and got a look at both the woman and the male. He frowned, the woman was the same one that had been a companion to his brother. He recognized her that much. But he had not recalled her scent being so calming.

“ I can't help you, I have been traveling for days and I have not come across a village.” she said not aware of the danger that she was in. Sesshomaru scented the change in him, his malicious intent and he was about to walk away when he stopped.

“That is fortunate for me.” he said and grabbed her by the arm and hauled her up to her feet.” Kagome screamed and fought him kicking and scratching where ever she could reach. He hissed in pain and cocked his hand back and slapped her hard.

Sesshomaru had enough. He was too tired to listen to that, and without thinking he found himself walking up behind the human male. Kagomes eyes widened when she saw him but she quickly looked back at the male. “ you are no longer allowed to live human.” he said and decapitated him.

Kagome dropped to the ground and scurried out of the way of the mans body. Watching Sesshomaru she saw that he was acting sluggish and disoriented. Leaning closer to see if hie eyes were dilated, he caught her to him and jumped high into the tall branches if the tree. Squealing she grasped on to him as tight as she could.

“ Lord Sesshomaru, I am grateful that you saved me from that man.” she said hoping that it was a gesture of friendship. He grunted.

“ I did not save you. I am borrowing you for my own purposes. You will be returned here once I am done.” he said causing Kagome to feel a rush of panic.

“Uh, what do you mean!” she said backing up. Sesshomaru was getting impatient. He had been searching for two days for a proper place to rest and he was not going to miss an opportunity.

“Quiet yourself.” he said harshly and grabbed her arm and walking along the branch t the trunk. He scented the area and found a host of renegades and bandits. Frowning he pulled the woman to him and jumped down, landing softly on the ground. She gasped at the sudden neg-grav force and squeezed his neck with nervousness. He was not fazed, though if he were a human he most certainly would have been choked out.

He ran through the forest though he was running on no energy, he kept his wits by focusing on the cold wind as it whipped his face. Kagome was nervous, they were leaving behind everything, her home her friends, that she told that she would be right back, and with the late afternoon turning to night around them she was beginning to become weary from the day.

Stopping on an abandoned highway, he set her down. “ I know where we are. This is days away! Please tell me where your taking me and how long I will be with you.” she asked trying to get him to speak to her. Sesshomaru was unrelenting with his silent treatment and walked on.

Leaving the road he walked into the forest. It was a few minutes before they came to a cliffs side that went up 100 feet in front of them. While Kagome was in awe over the height of the cliff, Sesshomaru began his search along the wall. He found natural cave and descended into it checking out the interior.

He found the walls do be moderately dry and the cave floor to be smooth stone that gave way to a deeper tunnel. Sesshomaru did not scent anything within the cave and exited to pull Kagome inside. “erect a barrier.” he demanded Kagome did as she was told and looked around. She was glad that the barrier was hers. Thinking of escape Kagome devised a plan.

“ Now come, priestess." He beckoned and began to take off his armor. Kagome went to sit next to him he shook his head. Reaching out to grab her he pulled her against him and settled back seeking comfort.

“What is going on?” she asked softly. She was scared now. His arms were like bands of iron and she had never been allowed this close to any man before. She felt his body against hers and her face lit up red.

“Sing woman.” he grunted and caught her off guard.

“What?” she thought she misheard.

“Sing the melody you were singing in the forest.” he made his request an undeniable demand.

Kagome sang the old melody of her time and watched in awe as his eyelids slid down and he dozed as she was coming to the end of the first verse. She ended the song and tried to move. She was caught in mid action and pulled closer, He shifted seeking a more comfortable position. With his body stretched to his full height, he switched to his side, and laid with his back against the cave wall. Kagome was moved accordingly and she felt his tail warp around her. She touched it and admired the soft fur, finding, that being trapped between his fluffy tail and his warm body she was quickly loosing her own fight against sleep. With her eyes shutting for longer and longer periods of time, Kagome fell asleep in the arms of the last person she had ever expected.

Gentle snores and the sound of heavy breathing was all that could be heard through the cave. Sesshomaru was nestled in a warm embrace unable to comprehend why he was in such bliss. The lull of sleep soothed him, and the feel of another body next to his was indescribable. Reaching for her in his sleep he moved onto his back and drug her onto his chest. Still asleep her protests and escape attempts had long ago stopped and Sesshomaru nestled his nose in her onyx hair and growled comforted by her scent.

Small arms wrapped around him and in her unconscious mind Kagome reached for him also. Placing her nose in the crook his his neck she slumbered on. They slept on for hours. Undisturbed and free of noise or battle or intrusion. They were at peace.

It was mid day of the next day before he stirred from his sleep. Kagome was still laying on top of him her black heir spread out over him and mixing with his silver hair. He did not move, allowing her to sleep he just observed her. Her expression was different then any on the he had seen on her face and he was intrigued. Reaching his hand up to brush away her hair from her face he watched the gesture wake her slightly. It wasn't long before her blue eyes opened slowly and their noses were inches from each other. Kagome started awake and began apologizing like it had been her will to fall asleep like this.

Sesshomaru put his finger to her lips and quieted her. “ this one requires sleep, very seldom, I will properly show gratitude to you for helping me toget to sleep.” he said as though it were a normal thing. Kagome nodded. And sat up moving off of him to give herself some space. He frowned. “ return priestess.” he demanded. She swallowed and nodded walking slowly to stand before him. He sat up and pointed to the ground in front of him. She knelt and bowed her head not wanting the attention that she was getting.

“ Yes lord Sesshomaru?” she asked.

“Rise this one does not want your oath or your life. I am designating you as one of mine. Thus forth I shall be spending my sleeping hours in your company. And as mine, you are obligated to certain things: My will is ultimate, always do as I say, you are not to mate with any male without my approved under penalty of punishment and, if you come to harm call my name and i will protect you. This I swear.” he said finalizing it in his own mind rather then waiting for her to agree. Kagome nodded seeing no other way out. Sesshomaru was not ready to leave the cave and asked her to sing again. He listened with interest and relaxed to the sound of her voice.

Kagome was astounded that over the course of a day and a half her life would be claimed by yet another Inu demon. She was not unhappy with the arrangement. She had often been lonely since Inuyasha had gone after Kykio. She had managed for years without him or any one, but the thought of being a companion to a demon again, and one who wanted her company made her happy.She could not hide the warmth in her smile. Sesshoamrus' eyes widened a fraction but he recovered quickly. “ I will be honored my lord.” she bowed.

 Seeing her as though for the first time, he felt his blood run hot in his veins. Kagomes' smile had captivated him, and had opened a door into a world where her smile would be the first thing that he saw when he woke up, and the sound of her soothing voice would call to him in fear and joy. He was going to protect what belonged to him, and she would be his. Forever.