Somewhere in Time

Focus

Everything came at him in one massive wave of sensation the moment he leapt out of the well and into the dimly-lit room. The wooden walls cannot keep out the strange booming noises and the strong smell of substances he had no name for. In all the centuries of his existence, he had never allowed anything to render him absolutely bewildered. His supreme instincts have always helped him to strategically win over anything that stood in his way, but this... this was different.

He was five hundred years away from the world he knew.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" He heard Kagome call out to him and he realized he had set her down, and now she was looking at him uncertainly. "Are you okay?"

When he did not respond, she tentatively reached out to him. She held his hand and intertwined her fingers around his. Instantly, he calmed down. His tense muscles relaxed and his clamoring reflexes loosened up. He stared at her with amazement. She smiled, her face angelic despite the faint bluish marks on her jawline.

"It is... tolerable," he said at last, slightly wrinkling his nose as he caught another whiff of the human population spread out in the far distance. Humans. No matter how long Rin had been staying with him, the scent of the ningen filth was still deplorable to his sensitive nose.

To his surprise, Kagome stepped closer to him and tightened her grip on his hand. "I hope this helps you a little, Sesshomaru-sama. I know I'm being too familiar but I just... I want to help you calm down. Being here could be too much for you."

"Your scent helps me focus," he responded, realizing a little too late that he might have let slip his private thoughts regarding her proximity. When he caught her blush and sensed her embarrassment through her reiki, he knew he was right. However, it made her scent more appealing than ever. He decided to change course before she felt uncomfortable. That was the last thing he wanted. "Shall we go explore your modern era?"

The miko nodded, but then stopped in her tracks after a few steps. She looked up at him. "How did you pass through the well, by the way?"

Sesshomaru considered several excuses. If he told her they were connected by a mating ritual, she will certainly become agitated. She was not ready to know about his intentions just yet. His honor would not allow him to take advantage of her vulnerable state. For now, he would treasure her company.

"There are things best answered at the perfect moment," he answered instead, his tone sounding final about it. Kagome briefly frowned, but she shrugged it off eventually.

"Fine. Let's go meet my family then." She pulled him towards the wooden door up the stairs, and after a short pause to glance at him with a grin on her face, she opened the door to reveal the world waiting beyond.

Sesshomaru could not care less. He was too focused on her nearness, her overwhelming garden herbs and cherry blossom scent, and her hand locked with his.