Splinter by Aineyel [Oneshot #105 Butterfly]
Title: Splinter
Author: Aineyel
Theme: Butterfly
Genre: Romance, Humor, Drama
Rating: K+
Warnings: My first Dokuga entry. Characters might be OOC.
Word Count: 2,100
Summary: She was like a butterfly in his gaze, pinned down by his curiosity. His curiosity would soon cause a splinter in her heart, one he had put there himself by simply being, curious.
A warm wind blew, causing long silver locks to sway. Cold golden eyes glanced at a butterfly that fluttered across his vision. His eyes followed it as it landed on top of his sleeping ward’s head. He observed the way its wings fluttered gently, revealing its peculiar black and blue tinted wings.
“Lord Sesshomaru.”
Sesshomaru glanced down at Jaken as the green imp opened his mouth to send his lord his report.
“The half breed’s crowd will come across this area in a short while.”
Jaken left after seeing his lord nod, having heard the message.
Glancing over at Rin, Sesshomaru frowned slightly. She was still too exhausted to be moved, there was no doubt that he would be forced to be in the presence of his intolerable half-brother.
The butterfly in Rin’s hair stilled and suddenly took flight. He observed as it flew towards the trees a few feet away from Rin. A scent hit his nose and he nearly sighed, the tranquility was broken.
The butterfly flew past a woman who’s hair was just as black, and eyes just as blue as the butterfly.
How curious, the woman was alone.
Kagome stopped mid stride when she realized she had stumbled across someone else’s camp. Her eyes looked down at the young girl in Sesshomaru’s care before her eyes trailed over to the imp, and then finally landing on Sesshomaru himself.
She could feel a lump in her throat as her hand tightened on the bow she had over her shoulder. She turned around, completely intending to leave them alone.
As she started to take a step, she could hear his nearly silent foot steps behind her. She couldn’t move knowing Sesshomaru was walking towards her.
She could feel his hard glare on her back and it made her feel nervous. There was something about the demon lord that made her feel very small in the world. She knew his strength well and although she wasn’t necessarily afraid of him, she couldn’t say she felt very safe before him either.
“Human,” Kagome gulped and turned around slowly. “Why is the half breed not with you?”
Kagome blinked, slightly surprised at the somewhat normal question and lack of any type of threat.
“We separated looking for a good place to rest.”
“How foolish for him to send you alone in this part of the forest-” Sesshomaru trailed off as he glanced to his right. Kagome followed his line of sight and noticed a Hell Wasp deeper with in the trees. It quickly zipped out of sight having caught their attention.
Kagome shuddered, she hated that Naraku was watching their every move.
Sesshomaru looked at her thoughtfully as Jaken returned with some berries and mushrooms that he had collected for Rin to eat.
Jaken balked at the sight of the priestess and quickly put down the food, and stomped over towards her, intending to make her flee. Kagome’s eye twitched; there was just no way that she was going to be intimidated by something so small.
“Jaken.”
Jaken completely stopped moving, he didn’t even seem to breath, waiting for his master’s words.
“Gather more food, this human is staying for now.”
Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru in shock as Jaken sputtered, “But- But! She’s-!”
Sesshomaru glared down at Jaken daring him to refuse his orders.
Jaken shuddered and immediately left to do as he was told. He turned back to throw Kagome a quick glare before he disappeared behind a bush.
Kagome wanted to stick out her tongue, but held herself back, remembering in whose presence she was in.
Sesshomaru gave Kagome a bored glance and walked over to the slowly awakening Rin.
Kagome didn’t even have the heart to yell at him for forcing her to stay, even though she was probably a little safer in his camp. She just hoped Inuyasha and the others weren’t going to freak out that she didn’t return immediately.
“Lord Sesshomaru?”
Rin wiped her eyes and stifled a yawn. She looked around very groggily and when her eyes landed on Kagome she smiled brightly.
“Kagome!”
Kagome smiled back and walked a bit closer, putting down her pack, quiver and weapon. Seeing the little girl awake put her mind at ease and she no longer cared that she was so close to a deadly demon.
She shuffled through her bag pulling out an orange butterfly clip.
Rin gasped in awe, “Is that for me?”
Kagome laughed, “I promised last time didn’t I? I’m just glad that I was able to give it you before I went home.”
Sesshomaru looked between them curiously before walking away to lean against a tree, keeping watch over them as the sun started to set.
He couldn’t remember ever seeing them talking to one another, let alone making promises. How did he miss that this woman was influencing his ward?
He watched as the woman put the clip into Rin’s hair, in the exact same spot the black and blue butterfly had landed on.
Rin giggled and pulled out a bracelet made of some string and gleaming stones. Kagome’s eyes widened when she saw it.
“Did you make this?”
Rin nodded enthusiastically, “I remember that you said you were searching for pieces of a jewel. I know these aren’t anything special but they look like jewels.”
“Rin, thank you, it’s beautiful.” Rin slipped it onto Kagome’s wrist and positively beamed.
“Lord Sesshomaru helped me make the holes in the rocks so I could slide the string in.”
Kagome had almost forgotten the demon lord was even there. She looked up at Sesshomaru and nodded once towards him in gratitude. Sesshomaru looked away.
Kagome huffed in annoyance and stood up.
“Rin, since the sun is setting, want to help me gather some fire wood?” Rin nodded happily and she looked over at Sesshomaru for his approval. He titled his head slightly and Rin jumped to follow Kagome.
It didn’t take the two long for them to gather some wood and come back. They didn’t stray too far and luckily there were plenty of twigs and branches around to start a fire.
Rin put her bundle down and went to look for Kagome’s “matches.” Kagome bent down to organize the wood into a neat pile, putting some dry leaves in the center for the fire to catch.
“Ow.”
Kagome looked at her hand in surprise. She had gotten a splinter.
“Are you ok, Kagome?” Rin asked curiously as she brought a small box of matches over.
Kagome smiled at Rin in thanks for bringing the matches, “I’m alright I just have a small splinter see?”
Kagome cursed her bad luck. There was no big action today for her to get injured so she had to get a splinter. She tried to take it out with her nails, only succeeding in pushing it deeper into her skin.
The sun was setting a bit further now, casting shadows over her, preventing her from even seeing the splinter.
“Give me your hand.”
Kagome nearly jumped, she didn’t even realize that Rin had given Sesshomaru a look, pleading him to help Kagome out or that he had gotten so close already.
She held out her hand slightly as he leaned in closer to examine her hand. With his superior eyes he didn’t need so much light compared to Kagome. The bracelet Rin had given to Kagome gleamed in the remaining light of the sun.
Kagome just knew he could hear her heart beat as she watched him. Rin had left to pick up the food Jaken had left behind and began to clean it, knowing Kagome was in good hands.
Since Rin wasn’t close by anymore, Kagome just couldn’t help but feel awkward and nervous around Sesshomaru.
He was so close she could smell him. He smelt like the morning. He smelt like the cold and damp air that clung to the trees and grass for the sun had yet to touch it.
Kagome looked away nervously trying to stop herself from breathing any deeper, and failing.
Sesshomaru pinched his claws together and dug lightly into her hand, taking the splinter out. He flicked it away and stood, peering down at Kagome curiously. He had heard her breath catch when he had held her hand. He could smell the nervousness rolling off her in waves.
He watched as she took her small box and lit the leaves on fire. His nose wrinkled at the strange smell emitting from it. How intriguing, that small stick from some box could easily cause a fire. He continued to observe the human woman.
He noticed that while he was close she would practically hold her breath. When he moved away slightly, she would breathe a sigh of relief. He circled the camp sight, alternating watching his ward and the curious priestess by the fire.
Now she knew he was doing it on purpose. Sesshomaru would move around slightly to see the reactions he could cause from her. She cursed him in her mind and cursed herself twice as much. She just couldn’t understand why she liked how he smelled so much.
Sure, back in her own time she loved the morning smell as it was the closest she could get to fresh air without pollution interfering as much. But now she felt like she wanted nothing more than to grab him, bring him close and sniff him like a dog.
Kagome’s face went bright red at the thought.
Sesshomaru had stopped moving as he stared at the woman. Her face was red. Strange, what was she embarrassed about?
He stiffened slightly and frowned. He recognized that smell. He was irritated that he could not quell his curiosity of the girl, at least, for now.
“Hey! Kagome!”
Kagome actually did jump this time and looked at Inuyasha in shock.
Inuyasha looked at the scene in front of him and narrowed his eyes.
“Why the hell are you blushing?”
Kagome threw her hands up towards her face and if possible reddened further.
“You were a fool to leave her alone, half breed.”
“Keh! Mind your own business!”
Inuyasha glared at his older half-brother. He had fully intended on grabbing Kagome and leaving without even so much as looking at the older demon. He hadn’t counted on her to be all cozy with him.
“Come on Kagome, the others are looking for you.”
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes the ingrate was still as disrespectful as ever.
“Do not leave her alone again.”
Inuyasha growled, who was he to give him orders?
“What’s it to you anyways?”
Sesshomaru shrugged and turned away from him. Inuyasha scowled and roughly picked up Kagome’s things.
He froze at Sesshomaru’s next words.
“She invokes a curiosity in this Sesshomaru, if you don’t keep your eyes on her I will.”
Kagome’s heart dropped, she could feel butterflies in her stomach as she glanced at the full demon. Inuyasha shook with rage and yanked her up, dragging her along with him and away from Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru glanced at them and smirked. Kagome saw the smirk and her heart ached slightly. She looked away and glanced up at Inuyasha. She smiled at his jealousy he would always have her heart. Him actually being jealous made her feel warm and fuzzy.
She then looked back at Sesshomaru and their eyes locked briefly before he glanced down at Rin who was showing him how well she had cleaned the food. Jaken returned a short while later and gawked, feeling like he had gone on a useless errand for the priestess had left before she even ate.
Even though Inuyasha currently held her heart, Kagome couldn’t help but feel as though something had changed, there was a small crack in her heart. It was as small as the splinter that Sesshomaru had carelessly flicked away. But it was there.
Sesshomaru briefly glanced over again looking at the black and blue butterfly that had caught his curiosity. Although the butterfly was hanging by a tree a few ways down from where he was, he wasn’t referring to it. He watched as his foolish half-brother dragged her, undoubtedly leaving a bruise on her arm.
His eyes widened a tiny fraction as Kagome suddenly yelled out, “Sit, boy!” Inuyasha cursed as he fell with a thud. They bickered and Sesshomaru glanced slightly towards the right of them as the butterfly left its perch, having its sleep disturbed.
It fluttered around angrily before disappearing from sight.
When he had glanced back at Kagome, she too had disappeared from his sight.
Very curious. She truly did make Sesshomaru feel curious.