A/N: I hope that you wonderful people enjoy this and perhaps take part in Stella Mira's great challenge yourselves. Oh, and please leave a review!
The Shikon no Tama Challenge
Prompt: Courage (Aramitama)
The circumstances in which Kagome Higurashi and Sesshoumaru Tashio met were not ideal. He was irritated and stony-faced, whilst she was snot-nosed, teary-eyed, red-cheeked and... well, the less said about that the better.
The demon was not only the head of an incredibly influential company dealing in cutting-edge technology, but also one of the most sought after bachelors in Japan- for both his incredible appearance and ridiculous wealth- and many a woman (and man) had attempted to woo him unsuccessfully. It was one of these pathetic displays that currently had him in a riled state; some obnoxious demoness at a competitor's company had taken it upon herself to perform a very public song about her 'immeasurable love' for him. It had been in his workplace, in front of his employees, and had almost shattered his eardrums. Security had promptly escorted the wailing woman from the building, but needless to say, Sesshoumaru was not amused.
A quiet and relaxing walk through the local park was in order, and halfway through he started to feel the tension in his shoulders dissolve. Taking a seat on one of the cleaner benches, the daiyoukai shut his eyes, content to let the warm rays from the afternoon sun caress his porcelain skin. All was well, until the shouts of playing children met his ears. He valiantly tried to ignore the piercing voices, once again annoyed that he was being disturbed; but when the sharp, unmistakable scent of blood crept into his nose, Sesshoumaru felt obliged to take a quick look.
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"You're a liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!"
"My mum says I can't play with liars- she said that their dirt will rub off on me."
"Yeah- and stain your clothes with their filth. No one wants a liar around."
"My dad says lying stains your soul! We should clean her, the dirty little brat."
"I don't wanna touch that dirty little thing... get a stick or something! Hit it like you hit Inubaka!"
Kagome cowered into the climbing frame, terrified that the children would swarm her if she made herself too obvious. She didn't understand why they hated her, she hadn't lied! All she had wanted to do was play with them, impress them- since they had seemed so cool, they being ten and she being only eight. But it had all gone wrong somehow... the oldest boy, Ryouma, had turned on her, their smiles had turned to sneers, and she was suddenly being branded an outcast.
Without warning, a sharp kick was delivered to her shin, and the little girl crumpled onto the metal floor of the slide platform.
"Ahhh! Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" Sobbing, Kagome tried to reach out for help only to have her hand slapped away.
"Ugh, the liar tried to touch me! She's gonna make my soul dirty!"
Kagome managed to blink through her tears, and shook fitfully as seven angry faces looked down at her. She wouldn't let them beat her. She was strong- a Higurashi! How could she face her mother if she gave up?
As if sensing her resolve, Ryouma stepped forward and pulled her up by her ponytail.
"Let go! Let go, you're hurting me! Stop! I'm not a liar! You are all horrible bullies, and I'm not afraid of you! You make me SICK!" Yet even as the words left her mouth, Kagome could feel her resistance wavering, her blue eyes frantic as she desperately looked around for help, but there was no one in the playground except for the bullies and herself.
One of the girls, the one who had accused Kagome of being a liar, piped up, a grotesque smile on her pretty face. "Push her off!"
And in the spur of the moment, Ryouma did as suggested, and shoved Kagome from the frame.
Kagome's eyes widened as she felt herself falling, mouth open in surprise and horror, and just as she was about to scream, a firm object stopped her plummet to the hard ground.
Eight pairs of shocked eyes stared at the tall adult who had just caught Kagome, his long arms securely wrapped around her small body. Golden eyes flicked up towards the mob, and they ran, afraid of retribution from the stranger.
Kagome sniffled as she was removed from his warm embrace and set down on a cold steel bench. Abruptly, the man pushed up her trouser leg to inspect the bleeding grazes underneath, and she heard him growl under his breath. She suddenly felt very vulnerable, and her tears escaped, streaking down her face as she fought to keep calm.
Her angel raised his head, and she gazed into his odd-coloured eyes, immediately feeling safe and secure. She flung her arms about his shoulders and pecked him on the cheek with a sloppy, snotty kiss.
"Thank you so much Angel-sama! You frightened the bullies away! You were brave, and didn't let them scare you. But I was scared..."
As Kagome watched, a light smile etched its way onto his lovely face, and she knew then that this man would always make her better. He spoke then, and his voice was low and rich, like a warm duvet on a cold winter night.
"Ah, but you see little one, it was your courage that made me brave."
Kagome hiccuped with relief and grinned, happy in the knowledge that she hadn't been courageous for nothing. She had gained a friend, and that made her grin even wider.