Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3529460.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con,
      Underage
  Category:
      Multi
  Fandom:
      InuYasha_-_A_Feudal_Fairy_Tale
  Relationship:
      Higurashi_Kagome/Sesshoumaru
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-03-12 Updated: 2017-11-06 Chapters: 82/? Words: 95605
****** Double Vision ******
by sammymadison
***** Chapter 1 *****
The demon slayers had been paid in sake. Though they returned to Edo with no
rice, Inuyasha had hunted, and come back with a fat boar, which they spitted
and roasted in a little clearing close to the village. Now, with night upon
them, Inuyasha and his partner Miroku feasted with their women beside a roaring
bonfire. During all the time they had hunted the shards of the sacred jewel,
they could not afford such luxury. Their fires had been small and discrete,
their campsites quiet and well guarded. Now, with Naraku gone, so was the tense
silence and air of waiting. Embers glowed orange and blue. Flames leapt high
into the air, and sparks shot up and then drifted even higher. There were stars
in the dark, dark sky, but no moon. Inuyasha’s hair had gone black and his eyes
violet with the coming of night. It happened each month, on the night of the
new moon. It was his human night, a night he had once dreaded and suffered in
solitude.
Sake had little effect on the half-demon Inuyasha, but in his human form he was
prone to all of the weaknesses of a full human. Inuyasha took some satisfaction
in being able to drink Miroku under the table on any moonlit night, just as he
took satisfaction in being faster and stronger than the more clever, worldly
monk. Inuyasha, for all his many years, was not known for his wisdom or
cunning, but for his bravery and strength. Moonless, human nights like this
robbed him of the superhuman gifts his demon father had left to him. Strength
might be lacking, and there were no sweet dumplings, or the rice that his human
wife, Kagome, craved so much, but there was much sake. The village they had
saved was renowned for its potent spirits. Inuyasha had learned a lesson or two
from Miroku during their years together. Miroku had spent his youth and
childhood afflicted with a deadly curse, placed upon first his grandfather,
then his father, and then himself and his offspring by the evil half-demon
Naraku. The palm of one hand was not like that of other humans. It contained a
void, which would grow with age and use. He knew it was sure to eventually
engulf him, and his loved ones as well, if he let them get too close. Miroku
lived with the memory of his grandfather, and later his father, being sucked
into the void in their own palms while he could do nothing but watch,
powerless. After the death of his father, Miroku had been raised by the
debauched monk Mushin. Mushin had done his best to teach Miroku many lessons,
mostly about working hard and being humble. Chopping wood and fetching water.
While Miroku grew up to be gifted and spiritually powerful, he never cared to
embrace the virtues of toil or humility. The real lesson he learned from Mushin
was by watching him, and what he learned was that he could use the distractions
of sake and loose women to make his curse bearable. Now Naraku was gone, and
the void in his hand was too, but the tribe which had formed around the half-
demon and the monk had new troubles, and they were now well-schooled in the use
of sake as a palliative.
Miroku had sworn in good conscience to give up his other women when he married
the demon slayer, Sango. She had presented him with three children, and another
was on its way. Without knowing it, Miroku had borne two curses, one for each
hand. Naraku’s curse was the newer one. Before Naraku ever existed, an
ancestor, who had been as beautiful and filled with sacred power as his great-
great-great grandson, had been cursed by a spurned lover, who also happened to
be one of the kami. The wind tunnel was gone, but the lover’s curse remained.
Miroku would not be capable of fidelity.
Inuyasha had mourned for Kagome for three years when they were separated by the
well and the cursed sacred jewel. He had treated the powerful little priestess
horribly, and considered it his punishment to be separated from her. No matter
how far he and Miroku roamed in search of paying work, at night he would rush
back to the well in the forest that bore his name. The longest he had neglected
his vigil was three nights, and that was when he was grievously wounded.
Inuyasha did not really expect to find her there, at the well, waiting for him
as she had done in the past. The night watch was a vigil. A penance. She had
returned to him over and over, even when he went to his ex-lover, Kikyo.
Inuyasha, though not overly perceptive, had lived a long and very tragic life.
He understood the irony of fate, and it seemed fitting that, once Kikyo was
returned to the grave forever, her reincarnation, his second chance at love,
would be lost to him also. He knew loneliness. After his mother died, the rest
of his two-hundred years had been spent alone. The day Kagome returned to him,
he made a vow that he never would hurt her again.
***** Chapter 2 *****
Kagome leaned against Sango. They swayed together, close to the great, orange
fire. Sparks cracked and shot up into the night sky. Their bellies were full of
boar meat, and the fire of the sake they had consumed rushed through their
veins. Neither one was happy.
Their men wanted them to stay in the village, safe from the danger and
privation they had suffered during their travels. So Kagome worked on improving
her miko powers, and learned healing and plant lore from Kaede, whom she
regarded as a grandmother. Sango devoted her time to raising her children to be
demon slayers, while honing her own abilities as best she could, given her
almost constant state of pregnancy. Though Sango took pride in her heritage,
and her own personal skills, it hurt her to train her babies as she herself had
been in the ancient demon slayer’s village. She had seen what it did to her
little brother, Kohaku. Even before she knew of the existence of Naraku, she
had felt that the life of a demon slayer would somehow harm her sweet and
sensitive younger sibling. She had been proven right, to an obscene degree.
Sango, even as a very young girl, had been acknowledged as the greatest slayer
in their village. Kohaku was now a warrior, and had surpassed even her own
skill. But he had been killed, resurrected, and made Narauku’s minion and
whipping boy. He had been used by Kagura and Hakudoshi in ways his sister did
not want to contemplate. While Miroku and Inuyasha were a team, often joined by
Rin, Kohaku hunted demons alone, and returned silent to the village with his
pay. This was not the fate Sango wanted for her children.
Kagome had problems of her own. All she had ever wanted was for Inuyasha to
love her as she had loved him, from the moment she laid eyes upon him, shot
through the heart by Kikyo’s arrow, hanging from the god tree. Now she knew why
she had loved him so suddenly and so surely. As the reincarnation of Kikyo, was
it not a given that she also would love the same being? She knew Inuyasha had
trouble distinguishing her from Kikyo. She had schooled herself to consider
that he was not a man. He was very much like a wild dog. Their love had taken
the form of him vowing to protect her, and she joyously embracing his
protection. It was a kind of love Inuyasha could understand, and strangely, it
was the kind of love she had demanded from him from the beginning, but
sometimes she felt like it was not enough. Kikyo was gone. Inuyasha had never
really chosen her, Kagome. Kagome had won by default, by her rival’s final
descent into hell. And while Inuyasha continued to protect and provide for
Kagome, he had not lain with her since the month they were married.
Drunken Inuyasha was dancing, in the western manner taught to him by Kagome,
with the equally intoxicated Rin. Rin was straddling Inuyasha’s knee, and his
large hands cradled her ass. Rin had grown to look much like the young Kagome
when she had first come through the well, but was dressed in one of the rich
silk kimonos provided by her lord, Inuyasha’s demon half-brother. Kagome had
grown to look almost exactly like Kikyo, who had ceased to age upon her death
at about the age of twenty. Kagome had an elegant, shapely body, long, smooth
legs, and even, perfect teeth, thanks to her twentieth-century origins. Rin’s
teeth were gapped, her legs were not as long, but her face and her scent were
almost identical to Kikyo and Kagome’s. Shippou, a full demon with a sensitive
nose, had told Kagome how much little Rin’s scent resembled her own when the
group first encountered Rin as a child. Now it was Rin who Inuyasha carried on
his back when they traveled to distant villages to perform slayings and
exorcisms, her stocky legs wrapped around the half-breed’s hips.
When Kagome stumbled, and almost fell forward into the fire, it was Kohaku who
wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back. Kohaku drew Kagome into
the trees at the edge of the clearing. It was fall and the air was crisp away
from the bonfire. He held her against his side, for her sense of balance was
lacking at the best of times.
“Kagome, listen. You will accompany this Kohaku when he leaves the village in
the morning.”
Kagome actually managed to summon a giggle. Kohaku spent a lot of time with
Sesshomaru. They were similarly stoic, and Kohaku had absorbed his lord’s
manner of speech and aristocratic gravity. It was amazing to Kagome that Kohaku
was pursuing the subject, and not for the first time. Kohaku was quietly
outraged by Miroku’s repeated betrayals of Sango, but kept silent about it,
allowing his sister to live in a state of denial. He was not so tolerant of
Inuyasha’s poor treatment of Kagome, and his disgust with Rin was made
abundantly clear. The whole village had assumed Rin to be Kohaku’s intended
wife. Aside from his attempts to reason with Kagome, Kohaku tried to remove
himself from the emotional chaos engulfing Edo as much as possible, returning
only periodically with offerings of coin, spices, and cloth.
“They’re just drunk, Kohaku. By morning Inuyasha will be a half-demon again,
everyone will sober up, and life will go on like always.”
Kagome had borne Inuyasha’s betrayal over and over. She had had it pounded into
her for years that there was something lacking in her, that she was not as good
as Kikyo, that she was never meant to have all of Inuyasha’s heart. For years,
the part of her soul that would have allowed her to hate had been missing. It
had been part of the resurrected Kikyo. Now it seemed only natural to
accommodate this latest insult. She had stayed when Inuyasha went to Kikyo, and
she intended to do the same now that Inuyasha went to Rin.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Kagome had a sense of déjà vu as she looked up at the ceiling of a cave. She
was sprawled on a pile of something soft and sweet-smelling. Bracken, browned
by the autumn cold. Her mind supplied this information easily. The rest was not
so easy. For a moment she thought she was still with Kouga, in his cave. Then
she remembered Kohaku leading her into the trees in the dark, she remembered
that he had said something funny, she remembered laughing at him, and then his
fingers at her neck. Kohaku? She had been kidnapped… by Kohaku? She rolled to
her side, toward the light that entered through the mouth of the cave. There
was no sign of Kohaku, but a small fire burned nearby, and there was a bamboo
water carrier beside her bed of dried herbs. She managed to sit up, and drank a
little water. She felt strangely lethargic. Granted, being kidnapped was
nothing new for Kagome. She was really quite accustomed to it. But shouldn’t
she be more worried, alarmed, outraged? She felt none of those things. She felt
as though she had been waiting for something like this to happen. She felt like
she had been waiting for a long time.
Rin felt stiff, and sticky, and there was a heavy weight on her chest making it
hard for her to breath. For a long while, she lay as still as she could,
breathing quietly and shallowly so she wouldn’t wake Inuyasha. She wanted to
savor the moment, the weight of him, the smell of his semen in the air. After a
long time like this, she reached down to the head that lay nuzzled between her
breasts, running her fingers through Inuyasha’s thick, coarse white hair. He
opened his eyes, and gazed into hers. Her eyes. He crawled up her body,
bringing his mouth to her neck, sucking and licking her salty skin, and finally
to her mouth. He knew that human women liked this kissing, and knew that if he
did it to her satisfaction she would let him take her again. He cradled her
head in his big, clawed hands and rubbed the tip of his tongue against her
teeth. She let him in, and he made love to her mouth with his tongue, while she
wrapped her own around his, welcoming it and drawing it in. He ground against
her mound while invading her with his tongue, and soon she parted her legs,
cradling his hips, and welcomed him inside. As she wrapped her legs around him,
he thought of the times Kagome had done the same, and felt the first familiar
twinge of regret. He combated the resultant softening by tucking in his chin,
and stared at her fat little breasts as they moved up and down. He loved the
smell of her, the taste of her sweat and juices. He focused on her smell and
her taste, and the feel of her heels pressing against the small of his back, as
he came inside her again.
Kohaku had exchanged a few coins for the sweet, sticky rice balls he knew
Kagome relished, and a twist of good tea, which he could brew in the small
metal cup he carried with him everywhere he went. Both he and Kagome enjoyed a
nice cup of tea. Kagome loved her little luxuries, which were becoming fewer
and fewer as Inuyasha became more distant and less indulgent. Kohaku earned
good money as a demon slayer, and any village would be glad to welcome them
should she desire to settle down. He reflected on the many things he shared in
common with Kagome. Granted, Kagome was a little older, but he was very mature
for his years. He was becoming more powerful all the time, and it was well
known that Kagome was drawn to powerful warriors. With his years of intense
training and his new demon bone, forged by Totousai, he had gained a reputation
that far outstripped that of Inuyasha and Miroku, whom he considered his rivals
on every front.
Kagome needed to pee, urgently. She found that she was restricted to an area of
about ten feet, seemingly by the metal chain now adorning her slender right
ankle. ‘Kohaku had better get his ass back here in a hurry’ she thought in
frustration. It had been a while since her last abduction, one advantage to
leading a boring life in a small village. She had regular and vivid dreams
about her stays with Naraku, his minions, and the random and assorted humans
and demons that had attempted to claim her for one reason or another, but this
was one aspect of the experience she had forgotten. She probed the anklet using
her miko powers in an attempt to find some weakness in the spell binding her to
one spot. She found none. Kohaku had a reputation for only using the best
weapons and equipment, which apparently extended to bespelled jewelry as well.
She was relieved when she heard Kohaku hail her as he approached her little
den.
“Kohaku, you brat, let me go this instant!” Kagome screamed as Kohaku entered
the cave. It occurred to Kohaku that his inferior human hearing was another
definite advantage he had over Inuyasha when it came to living with Kagome.
Normally soft-spoken, with a sweet and loving voice, she was nonetheless
capable of realizing an amazing level of shrillness and volume when under
stress. Kohaku was actually somewhat puzzled by her outburst. She seemed more
upset at finding herself in her new home than she had when he nearly killed her
with his scythe.
Over a breakfast of tea and rice balls, Kagome became much more reasonable. The
priestess agreed to accompany the demon slayer in his travels, as she had once
followed Inuyasha. Kagome, considerably mellowed by the sedative Kohaku added
to her tea, was sure that in no time at all her husband would come to reclaim
her. He always did.
***** Chapter 4 *****
It was time to do the washing, again. Sango rubbed her round belly. It was
stretched tight and felt like a ripe melon. She was so tired, and when she bent
over to pick up her laundry she could hear the blood rushing in her ears.
Lately, she had been losing blood when she moved her bowels. But she had no one
to blame but herself. She knew that. She had wanted too much. She should have
been satisfied with having her beloved Kohaku back, should have never wanted
more, wanted love, wanted children of her own. Because she knew the kami had
only meted out one tiny bit of happiness to her and that was used up when
Kohaku was returned to her alive.
Sango always knew Miroku was not one to settle down, regardless of his dreams
and promises. Would he be there for her when this baby came? He was out
performing an exorcism with Inuyasha when his son was born. Miroku had been
there for the birth of her twins, his first children. Barely in time, but there
nonetheless. Her little girls. So sweet and innocent, yet already so fierce. So
full of love too. They loved Sango and they loved their papa, no matter what.
But no matter how seldom they saw their father, her girls always ran to him,
always forgave him for not being there. And they loved Inuyasha, even when he
growled at them and played too rough. More like Kagome than the bitter Sango,
really. Maybe someday she would cease to be awed by Kagome’s ability to forgive
Inuyasha for any transgression. It had been going on for so long now, first
with Kikyo and now with Rin, but last night was the worst, by far.
Sango did her laundry alone. Usually Kagome helped, but today she had not
appeared. She was probably off hiding in the forest, using the excuse of
gathering medicinal herbs or practicing her archery. Monday was washday for all
the other women of Edo, so Sango waited until Thursday. She did not know which
of the village women her husband had gifted with his affections, so she kept
her distance from all of them. Kagome was her best and only friend. As Sango
scrubbed her family’s clothing with coarse lye soap, she thought of ways she
could eliminate the little changeling Rin without drawing the wrath of her
demon father or the half-demon that now appeared to be her lover. If she sold
the girl into slavery, she was sure to be rescued. A tragic slip at the edge of
a waterfall might work, or her body could be found in the pen with the village
oxen, crushed. Sango liked poison, but poison was risky, given Inuyasha’s keen
sense of smell and Sesshomaru’s knowledge of poisons. Even the slightest trace
of a foreign chemical on the dead girl’s corpse would be sure to bring down the
wrath of both dog demons. Sango was short of breath and dizzy by the time she
was done violently pounding the fabric on the rocks of the river. The water was
bitterly cold and her knuckles were raw.
When Sesshomaru brought his child to live with Kaede, Sango worried. When the
well returned Kagome to Inuyasha’s arms, Sango worried. Given Inuyasha’s
frequent absence, Sango was the chief warrior and guardian of Edo. She had
responsibilities to protect her children, Kagome, and every peasant and
tradesman of the village. As a demon slayer, Sango had been taught that humans
were not meant to live with demons, no matter what Kagome said. Sango worried
for Kagome, worried for all of the humans in Edo.
Miroku was making a pretense of meditating, assuming the lotus position on the
worn patch of grass in front of his hut. He was supposed to be watching his
offspring, but the precious jewels had taken off to join in the rough play of
the village brats. So instead, he watched Miyuki, Edo’s only widow. Miyuki was
pretty indeed, very plump and jolly, and very different from his beloved Sango
in every way. Sango ran her home like a military encampment, and, while he knew
she loved her children, she treated them like little soldiers-in-training. She
was tough and serious, and rarely allowed herself to smile, let alone laugh. So
seeing the cheerful, haphazard Miyuki sweeping off her front step, Miroku
allowed his mind to wander into a daydream, where he was married to Miyuki and
every night was spent in her warm, harum-scarum home, rather than in scattered
villages with random women. His daydream had just reached a very critical
moment, with Miyuki bent over the low table in her hut, when Sango arrived,
returned from the river. Once he would have jumped up, and hovered over her
attentively, showering her with little attentions, but she had been so cross
lately, it made him nervous to be too close to her. As a younger man he had
relished the slaps and shoves his lovely fiancé meted out, but of late he had
found it more prudent to keep his distance from his increasingly troubled wife.
Where the hell was Inuyasha? It felt long past time to leave Edo and go
exorcise some demons.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Miroku waded through the tall, brown grasses toward Onigumo’s cave. He made a
point of whistling a cheery tune as he drew near, knowing that regardless of
what was going on inside the cavern, Inuyasha’s excellent hearing would alert
him to the approach of his friend. Usually an eager voyeur, Miroku had no
desire to see or hear anything that might be going on between the half-breed
and young Rin. Miroku admired and loved Kagome. He had from the very beginning.
The first time he set eyes upon her they were both naked as the day they were
born, bathing in the same hot spring, separated by a rock outcropping. At the
time, he could not believe his good fortune at catching more than a glimpse of
her generous, perfectly shaped, adorable breasts. He could not count the nights
he dreamt of those breasts, her heart-shaped ass, and her long, long legs. Her
spiritual powers were unmatched, even by Kikyo, though he could never convince
Inuyasha of that. Her mercy and tenderness toward all, human and demon, living
and undead, had become the stuff of legend, stories were told of her in the
farthest places to which he had ventured. Miroku cursed his best friend,
Inuyasha, for the way he treated the little priestess. Back when it was Kikyo
and Kagome, Inuyasha had whined that he didn’t want to decide between the two
women, that he wanted both. Sango had told her husband of the times Kikyo tried
to kill Kagome, stole her shards, mocked and terrorized the younger girl. It
was obvious to Miroku that Kikyo was not good for his friends. Inuyasha’s
devotion to the walking dead woman brought him and Kagome nothing but misery.
Miroku had owed Kikyo, big time. Kikyo had kept him alive through his darkest
hours. Even as a walking corpse, she had done good things, helped people. But
that did not stop Miroku from waiting for the day Kikyo was returned to Hell,
and when it came, he rejoiced for Kagome, and for Inuyasha as well.
Now it was almost as if Kikyo was back. How could Rin have replaced Kagome in
Inuyasha’s heart, when he had waited so long for Kagome to return to him?
Miroku cleared his throat as a disheveled Inuyasha emerged from the cave.
Barefoot as always, clothing askew, and blurry eyed. There was no sign of Rin,
and for that, Miroku was grateful.
“Time to get this show on the road, lover boy.” It gave Miroku some sense of
satisfaction to call Inuyasha that, for a change. He thought of all the
disapproval the sanctimonious dog had heaped upon him over the years. Once they
were far enough from the cave, so that there was no chance of Rin overhearing,
he gave in to temptation. “What the hell are you thinking, Inuyasha?”
“What?” The half-breed replied, giving him his patented “Baka Inuyasha” look.
Miroku had to admit, his friend was a fine-looking creature, powerful but also
surprisingly cute. Being a con artist himself, Miroku often wondered how much
of the cute stupid mutt routine was an act. He had witnessed some startling
intelligence from Inuyasha, but only on rare occasions.
“What are you doing with Rin. Your brother is going to kill you.”
“Half-brother.”
“Whatever, Inuyasha. This whole thing is stupid. You’re destroying Kagome’s
soul, all over again. I wish you were capable of seeing her aura, the poor girl
is miserable. Can’t you let her have any happiness in her life at all?” Miroku
could see Kagome’s sacred aura. He was not capable of seeing the aura of his
own wife, who possessed no spiritual powers whatsoever.
“Listen, you hypocritical monk. You’re making your wife miserable, too. I don’t
think you have anything to talk about.”
“Dump her, Inuyasha, before you get her knocked up. What’ll you do then,
blockhead? You want to tell Kagome when that happens?”
Inuyasha wondered, not for the first time, if the monk could read his mind. Rin
was already knocked up.
***** Chapter 6 *****
Rin opened the drawstring on her little silk bag. The bag had been a present
from Master Jakin, and it held all of her fondest small mementos. She shook the
contents out onto her stomach. The fang from Inuyasha’s necklace rolled into
her little tummy button. She fingered the ivory fang. She vividly remembered
the day she found it, forgotten in her pocket after the mess with the sword
Sounga, and that horrible Takimaru. Everything was so clear in those days, when
she was just a child. Sesshomaru Sama’s child. She loved him so much, she
worshipped him like the god his was, and would always be. But when Rin began to
bleed, he sent her away. To live in a dirty little hut with a fat, dirty, ugly
old woman, who used her to haul water and wood for the fire. Since the bleeding
started, memories started coming back too, of when she was very small and lived
in another dirty little hut, with her mother and father in a filthy, poor
little human village. She remembered after her parents died, and there was no
one to take care of Little Rin, no one to protect her or make sure she had food
or stayed warm at night. Then came the stealing, and the beatings. And other
things she didn’t like to think about at all.
Absently, she cupped a handful of dust from the cave’s floor, and let it sift
down onto the fang. She loved the cave, she loved her fang, she loved her
Inuyasha. Because when her daddy sent her away, when she was too dirty to
remain near the great dog demon, there was his brother. Half-brother, she
giggled to herself. He was dirty too. She had heard it said so many times over
the campfires of her childhood. Inuyasha was a dirty, half-human, bastard. He
would die, in time, by daddy’s hand. There was only one worse, and that was the
other half-breed, Naraku.
Rin had been ignorant of what her blood meant, coming from down there,
accompanied by the piercing, tearing cramps. Old Kaede tried to tell her, but
it was too horrible, and she ran to the forest. That is when she found her
cave. Later, when Kagome came back through the well after being so long gone,
she explained in the gentle way she had, that the blood was not anything to be
ashamed of, that it meant she was becoming a grown-up woman. That soon she
would find the one she loved, who she would bear children for, and who would
protect her for ever and ever.
Rin really did not like thinking so much. Her mind churned and churned over
whether the blood meant she was dirty, or if it truly meant she was growing
into a beautiful woman, as Kagome had said. A long time ago Kohaku told her she
was beautiful. He told her he had noticed something, something that all the
grownups wouldn’t tell her, because it was meant to be some kind of secret. He
led her to a clear spring, with its bottom dark with fallen leaves. He had her
look at her reflection. Then he told her the secret.
“Rin, you know the lady who travels with Lord Inuyasha?”
“Of course, Kohaku-kun, Rin knows the pretty lady. Her name is Kagome. She is
Rin’s very special friend, because she likes Rin a lot. She told me so.”
“You know how pretty she is, Rin, so pretty that Lord Inuyasha, and Lord Kouga,
and even Lord Sesshomaru all look at her all the time and want to be with her,
right?”
Rin looked at Kohaku, wide-eyed at the idea that her lord would look at a
filthy human this way. “No, Kohaku, it cannot be!”
Between his own fixation with Kagome and Rin’s denial of Sesshomaru’s interest
in Kagome, the conversation was getting away from Kohaku, “Shut up, Rin, and
listen to me. Someday, when you grow up, you are going to look just like Lady
Kagome. And you know the dead lady, Lady Kikyo?”
Rin nodded her head in shock at the rough way Kohaku was speaking to her. Lord
Sesshomaru would not like this if he knew. She would keep the whole
conversation a secret. That was the best way, and Rin was good at secrets.
“Well, Rin, someday, after you grow up and look like Lady Kagome, then you’ll
grow up some more and look just like Lady Kikyo. And so will Lady Kagome. You
will both look like the Lady Kikyo.”
***** Chapter 7 *****
“How can I feel this happy?  I never feel happy.  Never, since I was a kid
living in the slayer’s village, anyway.  Definitely never since then.”
 
Kagome was kind of concerned about Kohaku’s strange mood.  She had only just
graduated from high school, and never taken a psychology class, but she
suspected that Kohaku was finally losing it.  Possibly post-traumatic stress
disorder.  This put her in her “help mode”.
 
“It is a beautiful day for a walk,” she ventured weakly.  She had no idea why
she was feeling so lax, not like herself at all.  In a way, she kind of liked
the feeling, after all the drama with Inuyasha and Rin.  It actually was a
beautiful fall day, the temperature slightly cool, the sky bright blue, and
asters and goldenrod blooming in every meadow.  She was out on a demon-slaying
expedition once again, rather than stuck in the village studying and
meditating.  Inuyasha was sure to come soon, and in the meantime, she could
help out Sango’s little brother.  It was a great deal, all around.  After all,
every time Inuyasha had come to save her in the past, it seemed to make him
love her more, for a little while, at least.  She mentally reviewed the topics
she should probably avoid while talking to Kohaku about his feelings.  These
included:
 
   1. Rin. Wasn’t she supposed to be Kohaku’s fiancé?
   2. Inuyasha. Kohaku probably wasn’t a big Inuyasha fan right now.
   3. Sango. Sango was not doing too great. No need to give Kohaku more to
      worry about.
   4. Miroku. The reason Kohaku’s sister was not doing too great.
   5. Sesshomaru. Who was sure to be royally pissed when he found out about his
      little brother and Rin.
   6. Naraku, Kagura, Kanna, Hakudoshi, or anyone or anything else that would
      remind him of those days.
“So, Kohaku, tell me about that new bone you’re using these days.  It looks
like a truly awesome weapon.”  That should be a great icebreaker, every guy
loves to talk about his bone… err, weapon. 
 
“Totousai made this for me, and you can see that it’s similar to my old scythe,
but a much bigger blade.  At first it was a little heavy for me, but I’ve
worked with it, and now I think it’s the best weapon ever.  It is a demon
blade, and very soon it will rival the Tetsusaiga in power.  It will grow to be
a sentient blade.  Lord Sesshomaru actually commissioned its creation, and gave
up a fang to have it made for me.  He said that a strong warrior needed a
strong weapon.  I have been working hard to make a name for myself and Edo by
defeating the strongest and most destructive demons in existence."    
 
She was right.  This guy REALLY enjoyed talking about his weapon.  It was hard
to believe that this was the depressed boy who hardly ever spoke a word.  He
sounded like some kind of Knight Errant out of a western fairy tale.  He also
sounded kind of like her little brother, Souta, enthusing about one of his new
video games.  Kagome was a little startled when Kohaku took her hand in his,
and swung their arms back and forth with enthusiasm while they walked.  Gods,
he also was starting to remind her of Houjo.  Not the klutzy Houjo of this
time, now happily married to a nondescript girl, named, unbelievably, Kagome. 
The other Houjo, the one from her own time, who was quite the athlete, scholar,
and all around nice guy.  Kohaku was much tougher than Houjo though.  He was
tough like a ninja, or maybe Spider Man.  Kagome suddenly thought that someday
soon, Kohaku would grow up to be as tough as Inuyasha.  She shook back her
shiny black hair, and laughed.  It was turning into a really good day.
 
It had been a great day, the best of his life.  He had hunted down a sow with
seven little piglets.  He took one, and returned to camp with the gutted
carcass.  When he got to the campsite, he found that Kagome had started a fire,
collected extra wood, and found a source of fresh, clean water to fill the
bamboo water carrier.  Kagome spitted the suckling pig, and languidly turned it
before the fire as they rested in companionable silence. 
She hadn’t walked this far in years, and was not accustomed to the
tranquilizing drug that Kohaku consumed on a regular basis.  She did not notice
anything strange in her tea, and figured the fresh air and healthy exercise
tired her out.  After a wonderful meal, which also included a couple of dried
persimmons Kohaku had purchased when he got her breakfast, she was ready to
sleep.
 
“Kohaku, you’re human!  You need to sleep too, so we will have to take turns
keeping watch.”
 
When Kohaku was alone, he usually slept in a tree.  He already knew how Kagome
felt about sleeping in trees.  If she wouldn’t do so for her precious Inuyasha,
she definitely would not do so for him.
 
“I’ll take the first watch, Kagome.  You lay down, and I’ll lie beside you to
keep you warm.  Tomorrow we should reach another village, and I’ll buy you a
nice blanket.”   She lay down without protest, and he snuggled up to her back,
with her head tucked under his chin, his arm around her waist.  It was the
nicest thing he had ever felt.  He never noticed slipping into a deep, peaceful
sleep.  His first peaceful sleep in years.      
***** Chapter 8 *****
Jaken had obtained the most stunning cape for Rin, made of the choicest fox
fur, and lined lavishly with heavy, oily silk.  Sesshomaru bespelled the cape,
giving it protective powers in addition to its great warmth.  They were due to
reach Edo with her gift the next day.  The nights were steadily growing colder,
the wind whispering through the tops of the trees.  Sesshomaru left Jaken by
the fire in a snug cave, resting his brittle old bones.  Ever vigilant,
Sesshomaru patrolled through the night, stopping suddenly when he detected the
scent of his human boy, Kohaku.  Kohaku had been ranging far and wide of late,
growing strong in the ways of the warrior.  He would make an adequate mate for
Little Rin.  Another scent was borne to Sesshomaru on the wind.  Was Rin
accompanying Kohaku in his travels?  As he neared the source of the scent, he
changed his mind.  The scent was similar, but not the same.  Inuyasha’s human
wife.  Kagome.  His golden eyes widened with shock when he came within sight of
the camp.  Kohaku lay with his body curled around Kagome’s, shielding her from
the cold of the night.  There was no sign of his brother, Inuyasha.  Kagome’s
scent was off, tainted by some foreign substance.
 
Kohaku’s eyes flew open.  He detected a great demonic presence, and it was
close by.  He stealthily separated himself from the sleeping Kagome, searching
the surrounding shadows for the demon he sensed.  When he saw his lord, his
first feeling was that of relief, followed in very short order by dread.  How
was he to explain about this mess.  Rin and Inuyasha and Kagome… and him.
 
Kagome’s miko powers were screaming for her to wake up, but she felt so weak
and tired.  She was unable to swim though the layers of sleep to achieve
consciousness.  It was as if her mind was far away from her body, held by just
the merest thread.  She felt like a helium balloon, if the thread broke she
would float away.  Vaguely, she recognized the feeling of nausea threatening to
overwhelm her, and she felt hot and cold and shaky all at the same time.
 
From a great distance, she heard the voice of an angel.  “What have you DONE,
boy?”
 
Even as he asked Kohaku the question, it was becoming clear to Sesshomaru what
he had done.  In the dark days when Naraku still existed, the vile half-breed
had kept the boy’s memories of killing his family and destroying several
innocent villages at bay, at least most of the time.  Kohaku had functioned in
a state of partial amnesia for years.  It was amazing that he managed to cope
as well as he did after his return, but he was plagued by night terrors, and
lived his days in a fog of misery and shame.  Using a scroll from his father’s
library, Sesshomaru had devised a potion to help Kohaku cope with his
emotions.  It was obvious that, for whatever reason, Kohaku had poisoned Kagome
with an overdose of psychoactive tea.  “When,” he growled softly at the young
human.
 
“She was fine last night.  I’ve given her the potion four times.  I guess I
gave her too much.”
 
“You may have killed the girl, Kohaku.  Later you will tell this Sesshomaru why
you have done such a thing.  For now, we must get her someplace warm.  It is
too late to purge the poison from her body.  You will follow as best you can.”
 
The great lord cradled the girl against his chest, curtains of his flaxen hair
falling around both of them.  As he stood, her pale hand dropped limply to the
side, and she whimpered faintly in distress at being moved.  Sesshomaru deemed
it best to proceed slowly.  His orb would put more stress on her weak
constitution.  He summoned his mystic cloud, and gently carried the girl to the
warm cave where Jaken waited with Ah-Uhn.
 
  
***** Chapter 9 *****
Jaken leaned against the wall of the cave, drool hanging from the corner of his
beak-like mouth.  He did not waken when his lord entered in a sweep of cold,
crisp air.  “Jaken.  Wake up.  Put more wood on the fire, and bring Rin’s
cloak.”
 
Sesshomaru lowered himself to the floor, positioning the limp and trembling
girl on his lap.   Her heart was fluttering alarmingly, and she was very, very
cold.  He had noticed that there was more amiss with the little priestess than
simple poisoning.  Her body was unnaturally light, and in carrying her he could
feel every rib on her tiny form.  The dark circles under her eyes had not been
made in a day.  Kagome had been badly neglected, and Kohaku’s slip up was
merely the culmination of what must have been months of decreasing health.  He
could send Kohaku to a human village to fetch a healing broth to strengthen
her, but even on Ah-Uhn, he could never return in time to do her any good.  He
decided to resort to a method he had used with Rin, when she was still fragile
and feeble after her first resurrection and which the two had continued for
years as a source of comfort to them both, and in hopes of possibly extending
her life from that of a mere mortal.  Sesshomaru loosened his top, pulling it
askew to expose his chest.  Positioning the girl carefully, he made a deep cut
in his own flesh, and pressing her cold lips to the hot blood which welled
forth.  Just as he did, Kohaku charged through the mouth of the cave, arriving
much sooner that his lord would have predicted.  Seeing the blood, and Kagome’s
intimate position cradled against the demon lord’s chest, Kohaku closed his
eyes, then opened them again, only to be met by the same sight.  He dared not
say a word.
 
“Kohaku, where is my half-brother?”
 
“I do not know, Sesshomaru Sama.  Most likely in some village performing an
extermination or exoricsm.”
 
“And what, pray tell, are you doing in possession of my half-brother’s wife?”
 
“Rescuing her, my lord.”
 
“To rescue her, you poison her?  Surely that is not the most effective means of
rescuing a damsel in distress, Kohaku.”
 
Kohaku detested his lord’s ironic wit.  Being exposed to Sesshomaru’s idea of
humorous teasing reminded the boy of watching Kirara torment a small rabbit. 
Kohaku being the rabbit, in this case.  His discomfort with watching Kagome as
she was fed the blood of his lord, coupled with his frustration at Sesshomaru’s
arch manner, had the desired effect of bring forth a flood improbable
information.
 
“That miserable whelp has abandoned Kagome in favor of my Rin?”  Kohaku gulped,
and nodded.
 
“And what part has Rin played in all of this?”
 
“I have no idea my lord, other than the fact that Rin seems to be most fond of
your brother, and totally oblivious to the injury done to Kagome.  It is this
Kohaku’s intention to take Kagome from Edo and make her my wife.”
 
“Impossible.”
 
“He has not claimed her as his own.  Only married her in a human ceremony,
performed by a corrupt Monk.”
 
“She has been injured by the son of my father.  No human can right this wrong. 
It is this Sesshomaru’s duty to repair her honor.” 
 
  
***** Chapter 10 *****
Inuyasha’s head was pounding.  This was the first time in months he went out
slaying without taking Rin along, and he felt almost sick in her absence.  She
would be pissed, and he would know about it.  Rin was much more like Kikyo than
Kagome that way.  His brother’s sweet little girl had grown vengeful, and full
of spite.  So unlike his ever-patient Kagome.  He had not spoken to Kagome
before leaving.  What was there to say?  Everyone who said he was a fucking
asshole was right.  He did bad things, things so bad there was no way to make
them right.  No matter how many fucking hundreds of years old he got, he just
did the same stupid things over and over.  Baka Inuyasha.  Another part of his
brain corrected him.  Not stupid, Inuyasha.  What you have done is beyond
stupid.  What you have become is evil. 
 
Miroku was throwing him bad looks.  If he still had his wind tunnel, he would
probably suck Inuyasha into hell. 
 
“Fuck you, asshole!  Keep your stupid thoughts to yourself!”
 
“I didn’t say anything, Inuyasha, “ the monk replied with perfect tranquility,
a smug look on his pretty face.
 
Inuyasha and the monk had left Edo so suddenly that neither one knew Kagome had
been missing since the night before.
 
Sango was beginning to worry.  Kagome had been gone too long.  She had to be
hurting, bad.  Really, really bad.  Inuyasha had been her everything for years,
and now she had nothing.  Sango’s mind supplied vivid pictures of Kagome
slashing her own wrists, swallowing poison, running over the edge of a rocky
cliff, and Sango’s own all-time personal favorite self-destructive fantasy,
committing death by demon.  In her worst moments, Sango envisioned finding some
huge, vindictive, and undefeatable demon, pissing the thing off, and fighting
to the inevitable end.  She wished she were a demon herself, one with a good
nose for tracking, so she could sniff Kagome out.  No sense asking Inuyasha,
Kirara was hopeless at tracking, and Shippou was nowhere around.  Human methods
of tracking were no good, the area around Edo was highly populated, rendering
any technique Sango was capable of completely useless.  What could she do to
help her only friend?
 
Sango leaned casually against the fence that bordered Kaede’s garden.  Kaede
was harvesting medicinal root crops and bundling them to be dried in the
rafters of her hut.  One of her last chores before winter closed in.  “Kaede,
where are your helpers?”
 
“All gone, child, all gone.  With my sister, I suppose.”  Sango looked sharply
at the priestess.  Was the old biddy going senile?  She’d be happy if Rin had
gone to be with Kikyo in Hell, by Sango’s estimation that’s exactly where she
belonged.  But Kagome?  No way was she letting that happen.  Sango returned to
her own hut, where she expected to find utter chaos.  But the hut was strangely
silent.  Miroku appeared to be gone, probably back on the road with his best
buddy, Inuyasha.  Her kids?  Who the heck knows.  She headed back out the door,
only to hear familiar sounding voices shrieking from Miyuki’s hut across the
way.  Sango sighed.  She really, really hated Miyuki.  And now, apparently, she
was in charge of Sango’s three brats, and Sango would have to appear eternally
grateful.  Fine.  Just fine.
 
Taking advantage the empty state of her hut, Sango grabbed the braided rug that
Kagome had made for her.  Kagome had told her that rug braiding was considered
a very old-fashioned craft in the twenty-first century, but to Sango, the rug
seemed to represent all that was modern and luxurious.  She flung it over the
porch rail and grabbed her broom, beating on the rug until dust billowed all
around.  It felt great to wale on the rug, at least it felt great until she
felt a sharp tug in her abdomen, and a sharp rush of liquid between her legs. 
She sunk into a pained crouch, then hollered for help.  One good thing about
living in Edo, there were always plenty of nosey neighbors around to hear you
whenever you screamed.  The neighbors were used to hearing screaming coming
from Sango’s hut, so it took a while for help to come.  Kaede was summoned, her
mental capacity a further worry for Sango, and both of Kaede’s apprentices were
missing in action.  Today was not Sango’s day.
 
“Calm down, child, it’s not too early. The baby should be fine.” Sango panted
in pain. Miroku and Inuyasha were apparently gone. If they were here, she would
have to take a time out between contractions and kill them both. She was glad
her baby was coming. Once the baby was born, she would be more able to take
care of her sister’s problems for her. She would bind her breasts, pad her
crotch with rags, and set out to unleash vengeance on Rin and Inuyasha. But
first she needed squat this baby out and go to find her sweet Kagome, to make
sure she was safe here on the surface of the earth, and not in Hell with Kikyo,
as Kaede had implied
***** Chapter 11 *****
Rin returned to Kade’s hut.  Usually the place was packed with filthy humans,
but for some reason there was nobody around, not even the old bitch that
resided there.  Rin removed her beautiful kimono and donned her miko garb,
grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows, and strapped her short sword on her hip. 
The sword was actually a demon blade, once part of a pair, possessed of very
low power.  Sesshomaru did not consider her worthy of a blade of great power,
as he did Kohaku.  That miserable brat was older than her, yet Sesshomaru
continued to coddle him.  Rin had been privy to some very sordid details
regarding Kohaku’s time with Naraku and company.  Knowing even part of what had
been done to Kohaku disgusted Rin.  To think that the dog expected her to mate
with such filth made her jaw clench in anger.  Rin didn’t like to remember when
she was very small, and such things had been done to her also.  She had hated
it, every moment of every time.  Rin suspected that Kohaku had enjoyed himself,
even when he was used by the sadistic Hakudoshi.  She used to pity him for his
terrible dreams, from which he often woke screaming.  Now she was sure that he
had gotten just what he deserved.
 
She slammed out of the hut, and stomped down the well-worn footpath toward the
next town.  She had no idea where she was going, but she was sure any road she
took would carry her to her Inuyasha.
 
Inyasha was not a happy camper.  He had resorted to carrying the monk on his
back to make better time.  Where the hell was Kirara when he needed her?   He
wanted to make it to the next town, kick some ass, and collect his pay.  He
also couldn’t wait to see if the monk would strike out or score with the local
talent.  If Miroku managed to seduce a young maiden, or be seduced by a lonely
widow, Inuyasha could rake him over the coals for his hypocrisy.  If he didn’t
get laid, Inuyasha could tease him about losing his appeal.  Either way,
Inuyasha would win, and boy did his ego need the boost.  He had carried the
monk before, but not often.  It felt weird and so wrong to feel his friend’s
powerful legs wrapped around his hips, and his muscular arms around his neck. 
Miroku’s breath on his bare neck was annoying the hell out of him, too.  He was
about ready to throw him down at a fork in the roadway when a lone horseman
approached from the direction of the tiger.  The man was dressed as a samurai,
and the horse was handsome but looked worn out and winded.  Miroku hailed the
soldier, showing no embarrassment about his own eccentric mount. 
 
“Hail, good fellow.  We are seeking a town of some good size.  Can you tell me
which road to choose?”
 
Miroku was accustomed to receiving odd looks from strangers they met, but the
look the samurai gave him was odd indeed, and exceptionally penetrating. 
 
“If I were you, monk, I would go to the left.”  With that the man kicked his
horse into a trot, leaving the monk and the half-breed in a cloud of red clay
dust. 
 
“Take the fork to the right, Inuyasha.”
 
“Right.”       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
***** Chapter 12 *****
Kagome’s strength seemed to rallying for the moment, given the shared heat of
Sesshomaru’s body and the ingestion of his demon blood.  Sesshomaru used his
soft, fluffy, and prehensile moko-moko to cradle her gently, while his hands
caressed her face and body under the cover of Rin’s fur robe.  It was driving
Kohaku crazy to try to figure out what his lord was whispering and crooning
into Kagome’s ear, his voice was so soft and low.  Whatever Sesshomaru was
going on about, it seemed to calm the agitated girl.  From time to time Kohaku
could see his lord’s hands as he stroked her hair, or ran a knuckle softly
along her cheekbone.  Those times were bad enough.  It was worse when Kohaku
could not see his hands. 
 
Kohaku had known of his lord’s infatuation with Kagome for a long time now. 
Ever since Kohaku became aware of the world around him he had been brutally
trained by his real father, the chief of the demon slayer village, to observe
closely.  The second step in becoming a demon slayer.  The first step was
simple survival.  Kohaku still remembered his father forcing him to follow him
from the village, walking for miles into the cold, dark woods, further and
further and further from his warm hut, and the protection of his big sister,
Sango.  His father told him to wait, and left him there in the dark, with no
fire, no food, no water, no blanket, no nothing.  He waited for a long time, as
the sky grew light, then dark again, and then light again.  Then, slowly, by
instinct, the tiny boy placed one foot in front of the other and made his way
painfully back to the slayers’ village.  The physical aspect of the test was
bad.  The mental aspect was devastating.  Watching his adopted father with the
woman he loved felt just as bad, if not worse.  He wanted to kill his lord in
the most brutal of ways, to hack those hands from his arms, decapitate him with
the bone made from his own fang.  His own fang singing through that flaxen
hair, his head landing on the floor of the cave, thick hot blood pooling all
around.  Kagome would be grateful for his intervention.  As Naraku’s captive,
he had been unable to protect her from Naraku and his minions.  It was her own
blazing purity which prevented the vile half-breed from actually penetrating
her, but Kohaku had been forced to watch as Naraku did everything else to the
innocent maiden. 
 
Kohaku was a resident of the village of Edo when Kagome returned from the well
that last time.  Edo was part of Inuyasha’s Forest, separate from the Western
Lands of which Sesshomaru was Lord.  That made Inuyasha Kohaku’s Lord, but
Kohaku was still strongly tied by loyalty to Sesshomaru.  Kagome was so happy,
so relieved to be back in Inuyasha’s arms.  Foolish girl.  Sango had told him
of all the times Inuyasha betrayed her for Kikyo.   Kohaku would be the most
vile of criminals if he were to slay his feudal master and steal his human
wife.  Were Kohaku a powerful demon, capable of achieving similar status, he
could defeat either lord, and Kagome would be his by default.  But Kohaku, in
spite of his amazing abilities, was still a young human boy.  There was nothing
Kohaku could do or say to save her from that half-breed, or his full-demon
master, any more than he could save her from Naraku.  All Kohaku could do was
to watch, and wait.
 
Kagome was conscious, and awake now, but still very weak.  She heard every word
whispered to her by Sesshomaru, words she had never thought to hear from his
lips.  She had known Sesshomaru first as a fierce and evil feudal warlord, the
enemy of her beloved Inuyasha.  Over time, she began to see him in a different
light.  He was harsh, but he was also capable of great compassion.  He saved a
little human girl from Hell.  He tolerated the seemingly intolerable little
toad, Jaken, and allowed the disgusting creature to follow him everywhere.  He
had saved the life of Kagome, herself, numerous times.  He listened to her
petition for Kohaku’s life, when the boy had attempted to kill Rin.  He honored
her pleas for the life of the river otter demon killed by Hakudoshi.  He saved
her from rape at the hands of Muikotsu, the hideous poison master of the Band
of Seven.  She had been in real peril that time.  Her purity had been no help
to her with Muikotsu, who was an undead human, not a demon.
 
Now Sesshomaru said that he loved her, that he had for the longest time.  That
he would protect her, and never abandon or betray her as his brother had done. 
That he would do anything for her, anything in the world, or in Heaven, or in
Hell, that she asked of him.  He begged her to renounce his brother.  Told her
that her brother had not claimed her properly, and that Inuyasha knew better,
that a simple human ceremony could never bind one of such strong demon blood
for life.  He told her a secret that she dreaded to hear, that she had
suspected in some tiny corner of her mind for a long time.  He told her that
Inuyasha had mated his first priestess, Kikyo, well over fifty years ago during
her human life.  This was why Inuyasha took Kagome as his wife, but never as
his mate.  He had already taken a mate, and it was not Kagome.
 
Kagome did not possess the power to speak, barely had that strength to
whisper.  But she raised her pale little hand as best she could, and ran her
tiny fingers of the great lord’s soft, full lips.  She tried to respond, but
her vocal cords refused to work.  His great golden eyes stared deeply into
hers, and she moved her lips, giving him the answer he had longed to hear for a
very long time.
 
***** Chapter 13 *****
Inuyasha could smell smoke in the cold crisp autumn air as they made their way
down the clay road.  The road was much greater than the one that stopped in
Edo, usually a sign of a trade route, heralding the possibility of a larger and
more prosperous town, rather than a poor village or hamlet.  Over the years
since Kagome freed him from Kikyo’s arrow, Inuyasha had become more tolerant of
human habitations, and humans in general.  He was, after all, half human just
as he was half demon.  The concentrated smells of sewage, farm animals, wood
and coal-fires, and fabric dyes assailed his nose as they drew closer to the
town.  His sensitive ears picked up the clopping of horses' hooves on cobbled
roads, the lowing of cows, cries of shopkeepers and children, and some kind of
dull, clanging, industrial noise reminiscent of Kagome’s time. 
 
“Surely a town of such great size also possesses great wealth, and the promise
of a cheerful inn,” Miroku crowed with glee.
 
“Get off my back, monk, the ride’s over.”
 
Miroku slid off his friends back, and the two swaggered into town, eyeing the
hustle and bustle and fine buildings around them appraisingly.  Inuyasha
criticized Miroku’s avarice, but he was just as guilty himself, nowadays. 
Since he acquired Rin, who was accustomed to the finer things his brother could
afford to give her, he had given up on his former asceticism.  The re-formed
group stayed in inns just about every night, and dined richly on roasted meats
and rice.  Sake was had every day, rather than as a luxury, and most nights
ended in drunkenness.  He did not acknowledge that Kagome had given up just as
much to come to him, as her time provided riches and comfort unparalleled in
this pre-industrial era.  He thought of Rin, who was sure to be angry with him
when he returned to Edo.  A fine present might help.  Rin possessed kimonos
galore, of absolute royal quality, so there was no sense picking up clothing as
a gift.  She went barefoot, just as did Inuyasha, a trait he found endearing. 
Her feet were hard and calloused, so unlike the slender, white, tender feet of
Kagome.  So shoes were out as well.  Perhaps a jeweled or ivory comb for her
hair, he mused.  It was getting so long, so fast.  Just as Kagome’s had as she
matured.  The hair of both girls had given up their layers and waves with
maturity, becoming long and silky as Kikyo’s had been.  His Kikyo. 
 
“Look, Inuyasha.  There’s a fine inn ahead!  Let’s see what kind of amusements
this town has in store for us this night, my friend!”
 
They sauntered up to the entrance of the inn, which possessed a substantial
porch in front and pagoda-style roofs. The façade was white stucco, and the
building as a whole seemed to Inuyasha to combine a prosperous, medieval style
with the more graceful aspects of temple design.  There was a well-carved sign
representing a sun emerging from behind a mountain, which bore the shape of
Mount Fuji.  Surely such a building was bound to bear a malignant spirit or
two, in need of exorcism.
 
The proprietor was a very short old man with a wispy goatee and thin, waxed
moustache.  He reminded Inuyasha strangely of Kagome’s grandpa.  Grandpa was
surely dead by now, reflected Inuyasha.  The old goat.  Inuyasha remembered all
the times Grandpa had tried to slap charms on him, but also remembered the
times spent with the old man going though the many dusty storage buildings,
fingering leftovers of the past, which still seemed far in the future to
Inuyasha.  He was actually slightly fond of the priest.
 
“So, old man.  Does this place have a name?”
 
“Most certainly, my son.  This is The House of the Rising Sun.”
 
Miroku was almost surprised.  The concept of synchronicity had not been
developed yet, but his religious and philosophical education coupled with
bizarre life experiences led him to assume that the sign outside had
represented the sun setting in the west, not rising in the east.  He had grown
to expect references to the West.  The concept of last names was newly
emerging, and reserved only for the most noble, but Kagome had told him her
family name was Higurashi.  Her shrine was the Sunset Shrine.  Inuyasha’s
brother was the Lord of the Western Lands, as had been Inuyasha’s father, after
he arrived from the mainland many many centuries before.  Inuyasha’s forest was
seceded from the Western Lands, and most would consider the area a protectorate
of the West.
 
“I sense a foul presence, noble innkeeper.  A dark cloud looms over this
establishment.  I detect demonic influences, and the taint of the undead in the
air.”
 
“That’s no surprise to me my lad.  Come inside and I’ll treat you two fine
young men to a drink.” 
 
 
***** Chapter 14 *****
“Jaken, take Ah-Uhn seek out news of Rin and Inuyasha.  Kohaku, there is a
village a few hours in the direction of the ox-tiger.  Bring back food for
yourself and Kagome.”  He tossed a bag of coins to Kohaku.  “Find her a kimono
of suitable quality, as well.” 
 
Kohaku knew Sesshomaru was trying to get rid of him, so he could be alone with
Kagome.  He didn’t like the situation at all, but he as accustomed to
situations he didn’t like.  The best he could do would be to hurry.
 
Once the cavern was clear of vassals, Sesshomaru lay Kagome down on the fur
robe.  Looking into her eyes for any sign of fear or reluctance, he knelt
between her legs, propping himself up with one arm and using the other to untie
the fastenings on her top.  He didn’t like seeing her in the miko outfit, and
would be glad when she had garments that reminded him less of her history with
his brother.  He untied the drawstring on the loose red pants, and then removed
his own top, leaving his chest bare in the flickering light from the campfire. 
 
Kagome was weak, and not too responsive, but she was by no means blind. 
Sesshomaru shirtless was even more beautiful than she had thought possible. 
She still didn’t really comprehend the strange events that led to the
regeneration of his missing arm, but at the moment she just praised the kami
that it had happened.  She summoned the strength to part her legs for him
slightly, and smiled up into his eyes as he settled down above her.  It was
obvious that he was taking great care not to hurt her.
 
Sesshomaru was at something of a loss as to what exactly to do next.  Kagome
was a human, and he knew that human women were delicate.  In her present
condition, he would need to be very gentle.  He had witnessed many couplings,
in the animal world, between humans, and between demons.  Mating could be very
brutal, but he knew it could be tender, too.  He had seen his father with
Izayoi, as well as with other women, demon and human.  Inutaisho had used his
mouth and tongue on his bitches in many ways.  Sesshomaru had grown up hearing
the coarse jokes about his father’s tricks with women, particularly his
willingness to eat them out.  He concluded that this was not what he wanted for
Kagome, at least not yet.  He wanted what happened between them to be sacred,
not the stuff of ribald humor.
 
He lowered his lips to the side of her neck, kissing her there first.  He could
taste her blood rushing beneath her soft, white skin, hear her pulse pounding,
smell that first, faint scent of her arousal.    Sesshomaru was known far and
wide for his iron discipline, and he intended to put it to good use in his
dealings with Kagome.  Cradling the back of her head in one big hand, he kissed
his way upward, to her chin, and finally her lips.  He dragged his own lips
softly and slowly from side to side against hers.  No tongue.  He wanted to
plunge his tongue deep in her mouth and ravish her, but this was not the time. 
 
Kagome was in awe.  This beautiful, beautiful creature.  She remembered a poem
she had read when studying English in high school.  About a tiger.  Fearful
symmetry.  Oh, kami…
 
She parted her lips, it was the most she could do, she felt so weak.  He kissed
her more earnestly, a little more deeply.  She could feel him against the
inside of her thigh, he was hard as a rock, and shaking all over.  He drew
back, staring into her eyes.   She felt she knew what he was asking, and nodded
her head a little.  He pulled off her pants, and then his own.  She closed her
eyes, still very modest.  She had only been with Inuyasha a very few times, and
it had never been this intense.
 
“Kagome, look at me…”  She peeked at him reluctantly, and he could almost have
laughed, in different circumstances.  Kagome had such a cute way about her.  It
made his heart clinch most strangely. 
 
“This Sesshomaru does not…”  Kagome gasped, as she looked up him, and she
knew.  He had kept himself pure.  She felt engulfed by an intense warmth.  Her
heart swelled, then felt like it melted inside her.  She summoned all of her
strength, and wrapped her arms around his neck. 
 
“Oh, Sesshomaru, oh, yes... Please…”   Sesshomaru lowered his forehead to hers
for a moment, gathering his self-control.  If his beast came out, as it
sometimes did in battle, it would be a very bad thing.  He touched her lower,
moving his hand down cautiously until he felt her wetness.  He positioned
himself at her entrance, careful not to crush her or move too fast.  His own
pulse was thundering in his ears as he slowly pushed himself into her soft, wet
opening.  It surprised him when she wrapped her legs around his hips.  He
gasped, shocked as he was forced inside her.
 
Oh, Kami, he was huge.  She felt stretched to her limits, full of his hot
throbbing hardness.  Kagome felt another rush of heat, and joy flooded through
her again, even more intensely.  She didn’t know why her strength was
returning, but right now that seemed totally irrelevant.  Just as she felt her
soul regaining its place in her physical body, she felt something else, a
strong bond connecting her to the male sheathed so tightly inside her.  It had
never felt like this with…
 
Sesshomaru let out a loud groan.  She looked at him sharply, with concern. 
That didn’t sound good.  She remembered that time he had used the Tetsusaiga,
and it had brought him to his knees in pain.  He was shaking like a leaf in her
arms. 
 
“Sess, please, go ahead, you feel so good, I want you so bad…”  He gasped,
pulled out a little ways, and then eased back in again.  It was so obvious he
was trying not to hurt her.  It made her heart melt all the more.  “Oh, please,
come on, faster…”  She grabbed his hands, and positioned them under her so he
was cradling her ass.  Grabbing his shoulders, she ground herself against him. 
Just the excitement and feeling of fullness was enough to bring her to bliss.
 
Feeling her throbbing around him, and the sudden rush of wetness, he couldn’t
hold back any more.  He pushed inside, her, then pulled back out.  Nothing had
ever felt like this, ever.  As he established a rhythm, she regained her
senses, and started to move with him.  Her second time brought him over the
edge.  He came with a hoarse groan, feeling an indescribable mixture of
emotions and physical sensations.  He had to struggle against the instinct to
mark her.  He could feel that his fangs had extended, and he knew that they
would hurt her badly.  She had been through so much, he didn’t want to hurt her
any more, and he was terrified that she would hate him.  She was already his
mate, he had bonded to her big time, and he had felt her response,
reverberating through him to the depths of his being.  There was no doubt about
that.  His mark would seal the bond, it was critical, but it could wait.
 
Kohaku had raced like the wind to perform his mission.  The purse Sesshomaru
had given him was heavy, and the town he had sent Kohaku to was a demon town,
meaning the goods for sale were more luxurious and of better quality than human
goods.  Kohaku quickly purchased a silky, sapphire blue fighting outfit for
Kagome, rather than the kimono his master had ordered.  He would cite ease of
movement and the coming of winter if Sesshomaru called him on his selection. 
He made sure to pick out a size too big for her, so that her figure would be
somewhat hidden.  He found a pair of soft, fur-lined booties he knew she would
love, and even a few jeweled hair sticks.  For food, he purchased prepared rice
from a fine inn, some dainty, sweet confections, and a sumptuous assortment of
dried fruits.  His master was wealthy, and generous to a fault, he thought
maliciously, knowing Kagome would consider the extravagant gifts at least as
much from him as Sesshomaru.
 
Making quick time back to the cave, Kohaku paused outside.  Kohaku had many
attributes which made him a powerful warrior, but he also possessed the stealth
of a scout and hunter.  He was capable of moving as silently as the most
graceful panther demon.  He had spied on Inuyasha when the half-breed had taken
Kagome by the God Tree.  That first time, and probably every time thereafter,
though that hadn’t been many.  He couldn’t help but feel his blood heat,
hearing her cries, and feel nauseated when he heard Inuyasha’s shout of
climax.  But this, this was worse by far.  He heard the sounds coming from the
cave, little gasps and moans from Kagome, and words of love which he had never
heard her speak to Inuyasha.  Then, a heart-wrenching groan from Sesshomaru,
followed by words Kohaku so did not want to hear, ever.  “My Kagome, my mate,
this Sesshomaru loves you, and will stay beside you forever.”  Kohaku sunk to
the stony ground, crouching in misery against the hillside.  His shoulders
shook with silent sobs of agony.               
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
***** Chapter 15 *****
Sango had maintained strict control throughout her previous labors.  This one
was not the same.  She had been told to expect it to get easier every time she
gave birth, but this was harder, much harder.  There was more pain, more blood,
and she felt tired, so tired.  She labored for hours, into the night, and into
the next day.  Kaede was encouraging, and Miyuki, who had sought help for Sango
after hearing her shout, stayed to assist in the birthing. 
 
Kaede tried to stay encouraging, but Sango was fading fast.  She had lost a lot
of blood.  Kaede had suspected she was physically unwell for a long time, but
was too intimidated by Sango to force her to submit to an examination.  That
stupid, foolish boy of a monk.  His spiritual powers were great, far more so
than Kaede’s, and he was book-smart, and well-travelled, too.  But any iota of
common sense he may have possessed seemed to be constantly overridden by his
need for instant gratification.  Thus, all these children, and Sango left
behind, responsible for protecting the village from demon attacks and raids by
bandits and stray samurai.  Now, she would die for his selfishness.  Who would
take care of these poor children.  Not even named yet.  Sango had told Kaede
why her children had no names, but asked her never to tell Miroku.   The
training of young demon slayers was truly brutal.  Only after being taken from
the village, and left in the wilderness to survive or not, could a child be
named.  Sango couldn’t bear to subject her babies to that, but could not
abandon the ways of her tribe either.  So the babies remained unnamed.
 
“Miyuki,” Sango gasped. 
 
“Yes, Sango?”  Miyuki held Sango’s cold yet sweaty hand in both of her own.  It
reminded Sango of Miroku’s two handed grasp.
 
“I want you to take care of my children.  I’ve seen how kind you are, and I
know Miroku and even Inuyasha will give you money to help take care of them and
your own.  I’m going on a mission, and I can’t take them with me.”
 
“Sango, I will take care of your children until you can.  I’m sure everything
is going to be fine.  This baby will be born healthy and you will be all
right.”
 
“I know that, Miyuki.  I just don’t know how long I will be gone.  I might even
die.  I want to know they have someone to love them.  I know you can do that.”
 
Kaede had no idea what mission Sango was referring to, but she was glad to have
the matter settled.  She was going to need to cut the baby out, and Sango would
surely die.  Having a guardian for the children was a good thing to get
settled.  Best to let the mother name her own children, though. 
 
“Name your children, Sango.”  She also knew that all the demon slayers were
named for rocks and minerals.  Sango’s name meant coral, and Kohaku’s name
meant amber. 
 
“Name my firstborn daughter Toyotama (radiant pearl), and the second one Ishi
(a stone).”  Kaede winced at this.  Sango was so blunt.  The older twin did
glow from within, like Kagome, and was very beautiful as well.  The younger
girl, however, was somewhat plain.  Sango had told her she intended the plain
daughter to be a dependable warrior.  “Name the boy Taro (firstborn son).  It
is against the ways of my tribe, but I do this for my husband.”  Sango
swallowed.  “As for the new baby, if it is a girl, name her Kagome.  If it is a
boy, name him for my brother, Kohaku.”
 
Sango could no longer push.  Kaede prepared a strong sleeping potion, and
forced it down her throat.  She used rags to tie her hands and ankles down to
the iron loops set into the wooden floor of her hut.  This would not be the
first time or the last she performed surgery here.  She quickly cut the baby
from Sango’s belly.  Another girl.  Minutes later, Sango died in a pool of her
own blood.    
 
 
***** Chapter 16 *****
After a long time, Kohaku gathered his resources, wiped his eyes, and entered
the cave.  Morning would come in a few hours.  He quietly added a few chunks of
wood to the fire.  He didn’t want to look, but he had to.  Sesshomaru was
sprawled limply on his back on the fur cape, sound asleep, snoring lightly. 
Totally disheveled and obviously nude, Kagome lay on top of him, twisted in his
hair and moko-moko.  Moko-moko gave Kohaku the creeps.  The way his master used
moko-moko in battle reminded him too much of Naraku, with his hideous
tentacles.  It looked like a tail, which he could deal with, but he knew it
wasn’t a tail.  He had seen Sesshomaru bathing without it, and had seen Rin
bundled in it on numerous occasions.  Sesshomaru and Rin both stroked the thing
like a pet.  He didn’t like seeing it twined around his Kagome like some kind
of intelligent, fluffy snake. 
 
Sesshomaru detected Kohaku’s presence in the cave.  He was not oblivious to the
boy’s feelings for Kagome, but to him, the situation was not untenable or
novel.  As long as Kohaku continued to serve him, he would allow him to stay
close to his mate.  The boy’s devotion to Kagome could prove invaluable, and he
would not dare to betray his master, who outranked and outclassed him in every
way.  He felt no shame about the intimate dishabille of him and his mate.  Were
he willing to live in a palace, as his father had and his mother still did, he
and his mate would be bathed and dressed by numerous attendants.  It was the
norm in this era for even fairly prosperous families, human and demon alike, to
live and sleep in one common room.  It was expected that servants and children
would witness the most intimate of acts, though Sesshomaru vowed to himself
that when he serviced Kagome, it would be in private. 
 
Sesshomaru relished the feeling of his mate draped on top of him.  Humans, why
love them?  Why indeed.  His father’s fetish for human women never made sense
to him until he encountered Kagome, and then Rin.  Now he knew firsthand.  They
were so soft and warm and giving, in a way a female demon could never be. 
Sesshomaru had never felt any physical attraction to a female demon, and only
compassion for the wind witch, Kagura.  The human girls made him feel very
protective and possessive.  But they also felt like prey.  Therein lay the yin
and the yang that made them so delicious.  He had sent Rin away from him when
she became a woman, fearing he would damage her as his brother had damaged
Kagome, for his beast had fixated on Kagome from that first time he fought her,
in his father’s tomb.  Rin might share Kagome’s soul as Kagome shared Kikyo’s,
but it was clearly unjust to treat them as though they were interchangeable, as
his brother did.  His brother was greedy and undisciplined to the extreme, but
even he, who distained Inuyasha so much, had never considered the possibility
that he would attempt to take Rin, too.  
 
Kagome had somehow regained her strength during their activities.  He did not
know how or why, and it was not prudent to assume that the improvement in her
condition was permanent.  Her breathing was even, and less shallow than it had
been.  Surely a good sign.  He would let her rest, and see how strong she was
upon waking.  He spent several hours in this manner, staring into the embers of
the fire.  He was young, for a Lord, yet had lived for many centuries, and
possessed a deep patience and capacity for quiet contemplation.  He could stare
into the sky for an entire night, soaking in the beauty of the moment, thinking
about little or nothing at all.
 
He came back to himself when he felt Kagome stir.  He opened his eyes, and
gazed upon his little mate as she woke up from their first night together.
 
Kagome thought she was laying in her bed back home at first, her surroundings
felt so soft, yet firm, and fluffy and warm.  She yawned, and stretched,
preparing to jump up and get ready for school.  Wait, hadn’t she graduated? 
Wasn’t she supposed to be in the feudal era?  Was it all a dream?  When her
blue eyes opened, they were looking into slanted golden ones.  Sesshomaru.  He
began to run his fingers though her hair, grooming and caressing her.  Not
knowing how to act, she smiled gently and pushed herself up on her palms,
testing her limits.  Sesshomaru arose and helped her to her feet, draping her
in his top.  She walked shakily toward the mouth of the cave.  The ground was
rocky and harsh against her bare feet.  It was cold outside!  Either winter was
coming fast this year or she had been sick longer than she thought. 
 
When she returned, she found Kohaku preparing breakfast.  It appeared to be a
feast of the first order, and she ate appreciatively.  She loved rice and sweet
things so! 
 
Kohaku smirked.  Kagome ate like a trooper.  She slowed down, and stopped
sooner than he had expected.  He was shocked when she leaped to her feet and
ran for the outdoors again.  What was wrong with the girl?  He looked at
Sesshomaru, who looked back at him blankly.  Kohaku jumped up and ran after
Kagome.  She was behind some bushes, puking her guts out.             
 
      
***** Chapter 17 *****
The Rising Sun had a proper bathhouse, not the wooden tub provided by so many
inns.  Miroku and Inuyasha relaxed in the hot spring, waiting for their saki to
arrive. 
 
“This is the life, my friend.  A pity your little Rin is not here, eh?”
 
Inuyasha blushed.  Rin had made a habit of sneaking into the baths with the
boys, sharing their saki and laughing at their jokes.  Her immodesty both
intrigued and repelled him, making her totally irresistible.  He liked to rub
it in to the monk that he, a lowly half-breed, had two gorgeous, willing women
at his beck and call, and that Sango had become too busy to be a companion to
her husband.  Anyone could see that his priestesses were the most beautiful
women to live in Japan since his own mother, Izayoi.  Kikyo and Kagome were the
stuff of many men’s fantasies.  He and Miroku had been hearing tall tales told
by strangers in the inns and taverns they visited for years.  On one hand, it
engaged his jealous streak, but on the other, well…  it felt strangely kinky to
hear his own women talked about in such a coarse manner.  Now he had Rin.  He
did not even try to justify the fact that he recognized that she had a slutty
charm all her own, very different from Kikyo’s icy, reserved beauty, and
Kagome’s warm, soft loveliness, with the fact that he rationalized his right to
possess three women using the argument that they were all the same being.
 
A young man dressed in flowing white linen entered the bathhouse, bearing two
huge pottery jugs of saki and four little china cups.  As he knelt beside the
two in the baths, he softly whispered “It’s been so long, Inuyasha.” 
 
Inuyasha yelped and jumped up in the water, only to blush and sit back down. 
Miroku grabbed the dagger he always kept close at hand, still not realizing who
their attendant was, but recognizing the implied threat. 
 
Inuyasha screamed in outrage “You’re supposed to be dead, Jakotsu, you
perverted little bitch!”
 
“I told you we would meet again, Inuyasha!  Don’t you believe in fate?” 
Jakotsu screeched in return.
 
The old proprietor ran in, followed by another well-built young attendant in
white.  “Boys, boys, calm down.  Bankotsu, why don’t you keep an eye on your
little brother.  He seems to be disturbing the clientele.” 
 
Miroku now recognized the two as members of the Band of Seven.  Apparently they
had managed to escape from Hell again.  With no jewel shards left, he had no
idea how they had accomplished that feat.  They were not known for their
intelligence or any great gift of sorcery, so someone powerful must have
summoned them.  He held up his cursed hand.  No sign of a wind tunnel, so
Naraku wasn’t back.
 
The innkeeper addressed Miroku.  “Relax, enjoy your stay, and tomorrow we will
discuss the work I need you to do for me.”  He turned on his heel and left the
room.  Somehow all four boys ended up in the hotspring, drinking the excellent
saki provided by their host.  At first Inuyasha was leery of Jakotsu, but the
little jerk seemed to be on his good behavior, only wanting to party with the
others. 
 
“So, Bankotsu, what brings you back to the land of the living?  Where are the
rest of your brothers?  Is it just you and Jak, this time?”  Miroku asked
casually.  He had learned to accept resurrection with resignation, having
witnessed it so many times in his brief life.  Maybe this time the brothers
would be more mellow, since they did not bear tainted jewel shards.         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
***** Chapter 18 *****
“Ah-Uhn, you miserable beasts!  Come back at once!”  The little toad grabbed
the dragon's spiky tail, hanging on for dear life as Ah-Uhn barreled into the
sky.  Jaken barely made the perilous climb to the dragon’s back, where he clung
to the leather saddle.  Thank kami he did not lose the staff of two heads, he
reflected, using the staff to bash the dragon’s thick skulls.  One head turned,
giving the little toad an evil hiss.  Neither Ah nor Uhn had ever liked the
bumbling, officious little imp.  Ah-Uhn flew quickly through the cold gray
haze.  The first snow of the year was fine and gritty, especially at the
altitude the dragon was flying at.  Wherever Ah-Uhn was going, he was in a
hurry.
 
Rin huddled in a hollow tree, trying to keep warm while waiting for her loyal
mount to arrive.  She considered Ah-Uhn hers, and Sesshomaru owed her
something, after all the time she had spent following him around like a little
puppy.  Ah-Uhn would provide her with a source of warmth, and help her travel
much more quickly in her search for Inuyasha.  She was going to give him a
piece of her mind, that was for sure.  She couldn’t believe he had just gone
off and left her like that.  He might get away with treating Kagome like that,
but this Rin would not accept such poor treatment!  Let Kagome put up with that
bullshit, that’s all she was good for anyway.   Still, she missed the pathetic
mutt.  She didn’t know why she felt so drawn to him, yet at the same time so
disgusted.  It was almost as if there were someone else in her head, who had
confused thoughts about Inuyasha, making her love him and hate him at the same
time.  When they had their little talk about growing up, Kagome had warned her
that she might feel moody and confused, but she had no idea it would be like
this.
 
Snow had sifted down from the branches of the huge trees, frosting the broken
brown ferns on the forest floor with white by the time Ah-Uhn touched down. 
Rin hadn’t expected Jaken, but his company was almost welcome, at this point. 
She was cold, hungry, lonely, and felt an overwhelming compulsion to head East.
 
“Rin!  You terrible child!”  Jaken squawked.  Jaken was like a mother to Rin,
and from him verbal abuse seemed to her like an endearment. 
 
“What’s the matter, Master Jaken?  Don’t you like the snow?”  She jeered in
return.  It was just like old times.  How happy they had all been, before the
dog sent her away into exile. 
 
“Why have you stolen your master’s beast, you lowly little brat?” 
 
“Don’t you love me anymore, Master Jaken?  Have you turned against me too, like
our lord?”  She practically sniveled.  Their lord was not there to be amused or
annoyed, but hamming it up was a long-standing habit for the pair, and they did
it so well.
 
Her little toad governess sniffed her curiously.  Then gasped with outrage,
which was real for a change, not manufactured.  “Rin!  What have you done?  Why
do you reek of that wretched bastard, Inuyasha?  And you’re pupped!  I can’t
believe I raised such a little slut!  How could you?  After all I’ve done for
you, you ungrateful bitch, you betray me like this!  Just wait ‘til I tell Lord
Sesshomaru!  He’ll kill that half-wit, half-human, half-brother of his!  And
you, you little hussy!  He’ll send you to live with his mother.  That’s what
he’ll do.  She’ll put you in that dungeon of hers, that’s what she’ll do with
you.  You ungrateful whelp…”
 
“SILENCE, Jaken.  Besides, you’re repeating yourself.  You must be very old. 
Obviously you are becoming senile!”  She stuck out her tongue at the outraged
little imp.  “Come, we head east.”  She commanded grandly.       
***** Chapter 19 *****
Sango had suffered a blackout.  She knew what it was, because she had had them
before, when she had been exhausted from fighting too long, weak from blood
loss, or badly concussed.  She found herself walking alone along an unfamiliar
road.  She was dressed in her demon slayer outfit.  She checked her gear.  She
had her bone, and her sword, the blades she kept hidden in her forearms, her
poison mask, her throwing stars, her throwing knives which also doubled as
daggers, and even the long, black whip which Miroku had given her as a funny
present, but which she had practiced with assiduously until it became one of
her favorite, if not most deadly, weapons.  The road led through a dark, thick
pine forest, and seemed to be heading east.  The sky was very gray and there
was a fine, driving snow falling.  She should have a cloak, she mused.  She
didn’t know where she was, so she didn’t know if she could purchase one in a
nearby town.  She jangled her money pouch, which felt reassuringly heavy with
coin.  She felt surprisingly warm, and not tired at all.  She actually felt
better than she had in a decade or more.  Raising her children and serving as a
one-woman army had worn her down and left her perpetually fatigued.  It felt
good to be on the road again, striding purposefully one step at a time into the
unknown.  The snow got thicker as the day grew darker.  She concluded that
night would be falling soon.  She should be looking for a place to bed down, to
maintain her body heat and conserve her energy, but she continued to feel
comfortably warm and was not tiring.
 
Walking felt great.  The outdoor air was brisk and bracing.  Though she had no
idea where she was or how she got there, she felt drawn down the dark road,
into the driving snow.  Her mission was very urgent and very simple, find
Kagome.  She had no logical idea where to look, but she felt the need to head
east.
 
It was very quiet in the forest.  The snow muffled any sounds.  She couldn’t
really make out the road anymore.  As the snow grew thicker and the sky grew
darker, the dark green pines that lined the road were her only touchstone with
the physical world.  A few times, she found herself veering off course, almost
smashing into a great rough tree trunk, only to stagger back on track once
again.  The snow and the darkness reminded her of when she was a child.  Her
mother was still living, and it was she who took Sango out into the wilderness
and left her there.  For some reason, the woman had decided to do this in the
middle of the winter in the middle of a snowstorm.  Harsh as the demon slayer
culture was, such an action was unprecedented.  Sango’s mother was hailed for
years thereafter as the best mother in the village, to have such confidence in
her child, a mere daughter at that.  Sango’s amazing prowess in years to follow
was largely credited to her mother.  Mother died bearing Kohaku, apparently not
proving as resilient as her young daughter.
 
It was now completely dark, but somehow Sango remained able to make her way
onward.  After hour upon hour of walking, she sensed a demonic aura.  Sango
possessed no spiritual abilities at all, so whatever it was had to be very
powerful.  It could be Sesshomaru, Sango speculated.  He had the most
overwhelming demonic aura she had ever encountered.  She began to think she
could make out something whiter within the field of white snow.  Presently she
became sure to she could see a figure taking shape, a big and very white
figure.  It was Sesshomaru!  She reasoned that she had nothing to fear from
him, so she merely readied her whip, just in case.  She practiced the deep-
breathing meditation exercise Miroku had taught her.  One of the very few
worthwhile things the lecherous monk had ever taught her, she reflected out
loud. 
 
A deep, rumbling voice boomed out in the pine forest.  “If your husband was
that reprobate of a monk, I’m sure he taught you a lot more than meditation
exercises.”
 
This was so not Sesshomaru.              
***** Chapter 20 *****
Kagome was starting to feel weak again.  If she was going to suffer a relapse,
she wanted the chance to at least bathe first.  “Kohaku, do you have any
soap?”  Kohaku rummaged through his bundle of purchases, proudly producing a
plump, fragrant bar of soap.  He knew how much she liked to bathe, so he had
made a point of purchasing some.  She looked over at Sesshomaru, whose face had
resumed its characteristic stoic expression.  “Is there a hot spring nearby?”
 
Sesshomaru nodded distractedly, and swept her up in his arms.  She felt cold
again.  Damn.  “Kohaku.  Follow.” 
 
Kohaku repacked the bundle, and followed several steps behind, as was his
custom.  The hot spring was small and intimate, and the perfect temperature for
bathing.  Kohaku laid out Kagome’s new clothes, and set the bar of soap close
to the edge of the spring.  Then he withdrew to the little ring of trees that
surrounded the spring.  Sesshomaru set Kagome gently on her feet, removing the
voluminous silk shirt that was her only covering.  She quickly folded her arms
across her breasts.  She was not yet at ease with him seeing her naked. 
Sesshomaru removed his pants, entered the pool himself, and then gently
gathered her into his arms and lowered her into the water.  The hot water felt
heavenly.  Sesshomaru worked the soap into a rich, creamy lather, carefully and
thoroughly washing every inch of her body.  His big warm hands seemed to know
just the right way to loosen her tight muscles and soothe every ache.  Throwing
up had left her feeling wretched. He began to work on her hair, massaging her
scalp with his nails.  He had to ask, but he knew he had to phrase his question
carefully.  He was no diplomat, and had never cared if he offended a woman
before, even his mother.  “Kagome, you were married to Inuyasha,” he began. 
Kagome looked at him over her shoulder, eyes wide. 
 
“Yes, I think I was, anyway.  Even if he had been mated to Kikyo, she was back
in hell by the time he married me.  So the marriage was legal, wasn’t it?” 
Sesshomaru shook his head.  He just didn’t know. 
 
“Determining such was not this Sesshomaru’s intent.  This Sesshomaru has no
interest in human law.  You are now my mate, and will be marked as such as soon
as you are well enough to bear the attendant pain.  I wished to determine, in
the most delicate way possible, how long it has been since my brother laid with
you.”
 
Kagome turned bright pink.  She waved her hands in front of her.  “It’s that
throwing up thing, isn’t it.  There’s no way I’m pregnant, Sesshomaru.”  ‘At
not least by Inuyasha’, she thought.  “Remember that time, when I had just
recently returned through the well, and you came to Edo to bring Rin a new
kimono?”  He nodded.  He remembered it vividly.  Seeing her in his brother’s
arms, and smelling that his brother had taken her, was not one of his better
days.  “Well, I must have said something that day that really upset him,
because he never touched me that way again after that.  We only ever did it a
few times.”
 
Sesshomaru felt a surge of relief.  If she had truly been pupped by his
brother, it would have complicated matters immensely.  He was very pleased that
Kagome had been almost as innocent as he when he took her the night before. 
Ideally, they would have both been pure.  But she had been more innocent than
he had dared to imagine.
 
“Kagome, when did you start to feel ill?  Was it after Kohaku took you from
Edo, or before?” 
 
“A little bit before, I think.  I know we’ll have to talk about Inuyasha and
Rin eventually, but it makes me very uncomfortable.”  Sesshomaru smoothed the
lines that formed between her eyebrows with a gentle fingertip.  She took
courage, and dove into the subject.  “I have been very upset lately.  Inuyasha
had been rejecting me and avoiding me for a long time.  Rin was traveling with
him on demon hunting expeditions while I stayed behind in Edo.  I couldn’t eat
much, or sleep very well.  So I haven’t felt good for a long time.  But
recently, there’s been something troubling me.”
 
“I need to tell you a story.  A long time ago, there was a dark priestess named
Tsubaki.  She was the enemy of Kikyo.  She’s the one that placed a curse on
Kikyo, telling her that if she were ever loved by a man, she would be doomed. 
Tsubaki was very vain and very beautiful.  In order to gain immortality and
remain beautiful forever, she welcomed demons into her body, kind of like
Sara.  You remember.”  He nodded.  He most certainly did remember Princess
Sara.  “When I used to go home, Inuyasha or Miroku would wait for me by the
well, and bring me back to Edo.  One day I came through the well and there was
no one there to meet me.  It was the time of year when the grass is tall.  I
felt something bite me on the leg.  It was Tsubaki’s shikigami, a serpent.  I
could sense someone trying to take the soul from my body.  It felt like a
tugging.  Sometimes it felt irresistibly strong, and other times I could barely
feel it.  That’s what I feel like now,” she completed, lapsing into a worried
silence.  She looked up at him hopefully.  Sesshomaru was not just a very
powerful demon.  He was also known as a great sorcerer.  Maybe he could help.
 
“Do you have any idea who could be trying to steal your soul now?”
 
“No”, she shook her head, but he sensed her hesitation. 
 
“Who do you think could be doing such a thing?”
 
“You won’t like it, and I don’t think it could be true.”
 
“Tell me, now.”
 
“Well, Rin doesn’t like me too well any more.”
 
He wanted to shake his head in denial, but he was centuries old and had grown
up surrounded by court intrigues.  He knew that a jealous concubine or spurned
wife could be one of the most lethal creatures on earth, having been at the
heart of the destruction of many ancient and noble families.  Sesshomaru
decided there was only one thing to do.  He had to make Kagome as strong as
possible.  He would leave her with Kohaku, and go out in search of Rin and
Jaken, who now seemed to be missing in action.  He just hoped that Kagome’s
suspicions were wrong.
 
Once Kagome was dressed in her new clothes, with her hair up and held in place
by the jeweled hair sticks, she felt like a new woman.  Well, she felt a little
better, anyway.
 
          
***** Chapter 21 *****
“I know you.  You’re Inutaisho.” 
 
“And I also know you, Sango.”  He touched her gently on the tip of her nose. 
“Sango, Sango, Sango.  Such a pretty name.  Such a pretty girl.”
 
Sango looked at him in disbelief.  “Are you coming on to me?  Because, I’ll
have you know, I’m a married woman.”  
 
“I have to ask you, Sango, did it hurt too much?”
 
“What are you talking about?  Did what hurt too much?”
 
“When you fell down from heaven.”
 
“Shut up, Inutaisho.”   Sango was not overly impressed by beauty, but great
kami, this demon was beautiful.  His face was sculpted and aristocratic,
totally unlike Sesshomaru’s perfect, delicate features.  The lavender markings
on his cheekbones were jagged, like Inuyasha’s were when he went full-demon. 
He lacked the Prussian blue crescent moon that Sesshomaru bore on his
forehead.  He stood half a head taller than his eldest son, and was half again
as broad, and every last bit of it appeared to be solid, ripped muscle.  He was
definitely a war machine, which actually did impress the hell out of Sango.
 
“You could call me Inu.”  He preened.   That was kind of cute.  A lot like
Sesshomaru when he flipped his hair and looked back over his shoulder.  Deadly,
but cute.
 
“That would remind me too much of your asshole of a son, Inuyasha.”  Inutaisho
managed to look subdued for a moment.  Kind of subdued, anyway, since it’s hard
to look too subdued when you’re a seven-and-a-half-foot, white haired, hunk.
 
“Right.”  He looked down, seeming embarrassed.  She bought it for a moment,
until she realized that he was checking out her breasts.  She raised a fist,
ready to cuff him soundly, but reconsidered.  Probably not a good idea.
 
“Get serious, Inu.  What brings you here.  I mean here, like in the land of the
living.”
 
“I’m on a mission.”
 
“What kind of mission?”
 
“To save a damsel in distress.”
 
“Wait- Kagome?  You’re here to save Kagome?  Me too!”
 
“Then let’s get this show on the road, my dear.”
 
 
 
   
***** Chapter 22 *****
Miroku woke up first, with the worst hangover of his life.  He never woke up
before Inuyasha, but this morning, it appeared they had both slept in.  He
managed to sit up, and poked his friend in the side.  Inuyasha opened his eyes,
which were so bloodshot they matched his fire-rat robe.  Somehow they had ended
up in a private guest room, but Miroku had been too bombed to remember much
about last night, other than being surprised at how fun Bank and Jak were, when
they weren’t working for Naraku.  “Hey, Inuyasha, he began.  Inuyasha just gave
him an evil look.  “Don’t tell me you’ve got a hangover.  You NEVER get a
hangover.”
 
“Well, I’ve got one this morning.”  Inuyasha looked disturbed.  “Jakotsu didn’t
try anything with me last night, did he?”
 
“I have to tell, you Inuyasha.  I never thought I’d see the day you went for
the guys.”
 
“Kiss my ass, monk.”
 
“I would, since you ask so nice, but I’d hate to make your old friend
jealous.”  Just then, the old innkeeper came through the door with a pot of tea
and two cups. 
 
“Morning, boys.  How are you both faring today?”  Miroku and Inuyasha both
scowled.  “So, once you get up and attem, how bout you check the inn for evil
spirits.  Work off your bar bill.”  He winked.
 
“Say, old man, you look kind of like my wife’s grandfather.  What’s your
name?”  asked Inuyasha.
 
“Just call me grandpa, sonny.”  Inuyasha gulped.
 
Miroku made a point of poking into every nook and cranny of the inn.  Though
the preponderance of his exorcisms were for show, in a building of this size he
almost always found at least one room with a dark shadow lurking in a hidden
corner.  But today he felt nothing.  Strangely, he wasn’t even picking up on
Inuyasha’s demonic aura.  Ever the showman, he performed his exorcism with a
flourish of robes and the dramatic pasting up of sutras.  He actually went a
little overboard, due to his confusion over not detecting anything at all. 
Grandpa appeared impressed, and even made them an intriguing offer.
 
“You boys have done such a fine job, if you are willing to stay for a few days,
I’m sure I can line up some more work for you.”  The exterminators thought this
was a great idea.  There was probably quite a bit of work in a town this size,
but it was hard to gain the trust of the locals, and usually they moved from
town to village to hamlet on a daily basis.  It would be sheer luxury to stay
in the same place for several nights.  They agreed to head into town, Inuyasha
to find a present for Rin, and Miroku to buy candy for his kids, and maybe a
little weapon for Sango, if he could find something amusing.  Inuyasha’s ears
were twitching as they made their way from stall to stall, fingering luxurious
fabrics and jeweled trinkets, discussing the merits of this sweetmeat or that
nougat.  Inuyasha felt a stab of regret when the candy made him think of all
the pocky and candy and chewing gum Kagome brought back through the well.  Much
as he loved Rin, he couldn’t help but think that those were the good old days. 
He thought of how great Kagome was with kids.  With how much she loved him,
there was no way Kagome would have any children of her own, now.  She would
never go to another man.  Maybe she’d like to help Rin out when she had her
little pup.
 
Inuyasha found the perfect jeweled comb for Rin’s ebony hair, and Miroku picked
up a bundle of candy and an exceptionally well-balanced throwing knife for
Sango.  He hoped the gift would cheer her up.  She had been pretty depressed
lately.  Shopping had been fun, and the pair had enjoyed themselves immensely,
flirting with women and haggling spiritedly to get the best deals.  Inuyasha’s
ears were still ringing with the constant, low-level humming and banging. 
There must be a large smithy in this town.  On their way back to the inn,
Miroku drew Inuyasha aside near a low, stone wall.  “Do the ‘blades of blood’.”
 
Inuyasha looked at his companion as if he were crazy.  “You want me to do the
‘blades of blood’ here?  For what?  Do you just want to see me bleed, you
creep?”
 
“I have a good reason, Inuyasha.  Just do it.”  So Inuyasha gouged himself with
his claws, flinging his blood against the side of the wall. 
 
“Blades of Blood!!!!!”  Passersby stared shamelessly at the spectacle.  The
blood that spattered the wall was just that.  Blood.  “Hey, Miroku, how’d you
know my ‘blades of blood’ wouldn’t work?  That attack ALWAYS works!”
 
“I don’t know, my friend, I just don’t know.” 
 
They had wandered quite a ways while shopping, and by the time they made their
way back to the inn evening was coming on fast.  The air was redolent with the
scent of rich, roasted meat.  They were met at the door by Grandpa, who looked
very pleased with himself.  “Well, my lads, I’ve found what should turn out to
be quite a nice job for you.”
 
“What is it, Grandfather?”  asked Miroku, respectfully.  He always did respect
a well-paying commission.
 
“A rich and beautiful princess needs you boys’ help.”  Inuyasha and Miroku
exchanged glances.
 
“How beautiful?”  asked Miroku. 
 
“Fuck that.  How rich, Grandpa?” asked Inuyasha.
 
“Very rich and very beautiful.  She has asked to speak with the monk tomorrow,
and you, Inuyasha, some time later.  She indicated that she had two different
assignments, one well suited to each of you.”        
 
  
***** Chapter 23 *****
Back at the cave, Kohaku was trying to coax Kagome to eat a little solid food,
even one bite.  She couldn’t bear to think about eating, after her bad
experience at breakfast.  Sesshomaru decided it was imperative that he spend
some alone time with Kagome, so he gave Kohaku a number of things to retrieve
from the village.  Kohaku hid his reluctance, accepting another purse, though
he had not spent one-quarter of the money in the first one.
 
Once they were alone, Sesshomaru settled Kagome in his lap.  The fire was
snapping and crackling merrily, and Sesshomaru and moko-moko were soft and
warm.  Kagome felt like she was coming home for the first time in a long, long
time.  Sesshomaru encouraged her to drink as much of his blood as she could,
drawing out the process as much as possible.  He knew he needed to get her
strength up quickly, and having her consume his blood in a tender and loving
way was sure to nurture their new relationship.  He hated the thought of
leaving her, especially so soon after winning her love.  He was glad to see
that, in spite of her sickness earlier, she had not regressed to the coma-like
state she had been in before.  He had been sure his blood would strengthen her,
but he had not had any idea what effect their coupling would have on her
health.  He had felt overwhelmingly guilty at the time.  He knew he was rushing
her.  But he feared that if he did not claim her immediately, she might have
time to regret her decision and return to his bastard of a brother.  He had
seen it happen before.  Kagome had forgiven Inuyasha time and time again. 
Sesshomaru felt confident that he had Kagome’s loyalty now, since she had told
him she loved him and promised stay with him.  Now, he cringed at the thought
that it was he who was going to be forced to leave her, and to go in aid of her
rival, no less.  It was hard to overlook the fact that his actions would come
across as very much like Inuyasha’s.
 
Sesshomaru petted Kagome’s hair, and moko-moko twined around her lovingly.  She
stroked the furry thing as she snuggled into her new Lord’s warm chest.  It was
almost as though it possessed its own intelligence.  Sesshomaru was reluctant
to break the comfortable silence.  This was sure to be another painful
conversation.  But it must be done.  He decided to speak simply and
informally.  “I worry for Rin.”
 
He couldn’t have been more surprised at her response.  “I’m worried about her
too, Sess.”  He softly kissed her cheek.  Kagome was amazing.  How could she be
so forgiving?  “I know you need to go to her.”
 
His heart lurched in his chest.  He hated himself so much right now.  He also
experienced an epiphany.  His father must have felt much the same way when he
had to leave his firstborn son standing alone on the shore of the ocean in the
snow that day, to go instead to his certain death, all for the sake of
Inuyasha.  Fate was truly a bitch.  “Let us spend this night together, then I
will depart at dawn.  I promise you, Kagome, that I truly love you, and will
return to you as soon as I can.”
 
“Let me go, too!  I know I’m weak, but I can help.  And if you need to fight,
Kohaku can watch over me when you can’t.”
 
“You know you are too weak, and if Rin is the one stealing your soul, it is
surely dangerous to get close to her.  Kohaku will watch over you, here in this
cave.  Do not doubt for one moment that I will return to you, I swear it.  Now,
silence, for I will not allow you to waste a single minute of this time
together on arguing.”
 
He began to kiss her playfully.  She could not believe how different his
personality was around those that he cared for.  She began to return his
kisses, and soon their kisses turned from playful to earnest, and then to hot
and needy.  She untied the strings that held his top in place, and he in turn
used his incredible dexterity to remove her clothing with unbelievable speed. 
More slowly, he pulled his own clothes off, and lowered her to the fur cape on
the floor of the cave.  His hair falling around them like a curtain, he buried
his face in the side of her neck, nuzzling and kissing her senseless.  Kagome
was amazed at how exciting it was, being kissed on the neck like that. 
Inuyasha had never gone anywhere near her neck, and she had never thought
anything of it.  She had been an amazingly inexperienced young girl when she
came through the well at fifteen, and Inuyasha had been the only boy she was
ever interested in.  She was aware that demons placed their mating marks on the
neck and shoulder, and now that she knew he had mated Kikyo, she realized that
he had never even been tempted to make her his true mate.  Sesshomaru, on the
other hand, was going crazy on her neck, his fervor increasing as he began to
nip and suck sharply at a spot where her neck merged into her shoulder. 
 
“Kami, you are beautiful, my mate.  You have beautiful shoulders.”  She smiled
a little at that.  Count on a warrior like Sesshomaru to find her well-
developed shoulders a thing of beauty.  After years of firing her bows and
arrows, she had shoulders that almost rivaled Sango’s.  She ran her fingers
through his silky long hair as he continued to drown her in love. He was
already cradled between her hips, and her thoughts became more and more focused
on having him inside her.  She whispered in his ear, very softly, “Please,
Sess, I want you so bad.  You’re driving me crazy.”  She could feel his lips
smile against the sweaty skin of her neck.  He unerringly aligned himself with
her opening.  He was getting the hang of things pretty fast, she thought.  Must
be a demon thing.  She gasped at the sensation of him entering her.  There was
nothing else like this, nothing.  She came as quickly as she had their first
time together.  There was just something so incredibly exciting about how he
felt inside her as he stretched her and filled her up at the moment of entry,
it brought her to a shattering climax right away.  He laughed softly, and kept
going, so much stronger and surer than he had the first time.  His hips were
soon moving like a piston, and he was obviously totally fixated on gaining his
own satisfaction.  She hung on for dear life, her legs twined around his hips,
her fingers tangled in his long, long hair.  Moko moko seemed to be writhing
around too, because she felt the movement of something very soft and furry
twining around different parts of her body, squeezing her with a firm but
gentle touch.  She could sense Sesshomaru was coming to his end.  He was
shaking as he had before, and she found it endearingly poignant.  He made his
love so obvious.  He showed no reservation and he held nothing back, and it
made her feel so warm inside.  Her heart filled to bursting with love, she came
again, crying out “Sess!”  He came with a shout, and quickly bit down on her
shoulder.  She had always considered his fangs petite.  They appeared
considerably smaller than Inuyasha’s.  But they didn’t FEEL all that dainty. 
He didn’t withdraw them as she had thought he would, instead seeming to work
them deeper into the muscle.  She couldn’t help but whimper as he held on to
her with his teeth, his claws now digging into the flesh of her hips as well. 
He was pounding into her, filling her with his seed.  It was incredibly
painful, but also incredibly beautiful.  After what seemed like a very long
time, he withdrew his fangs from her flesh.  She could feel the wound pulsing
and bleeding.  He licked it over and over, seemingly enchanted by the act.  He
pulled out of her, rolling onto his back and pulling her to his side.  She laid
her head against his chest, listening to his heart beating fast and hard.  He
stroked her side with one hand.  He fell asleep almost immediately, and she
followed soon after.
 
Kohaku had a long list of items to buy.  First he found a powerful bow, truly a
thing of beauty.  The bow was by no means his weapon of choice, but he had no
trouble appreciating how fine this one was nonetheless.  Next he visited the
hut of the fletcher, selecting a generous supply of arrows, making sure to
carefully pick out only the most well-made and flawless.  He wished he could
have them blessed, just to piss Sesshomaru off.  He knew the demon would have
been able to feel the purity as soon as he brought them near the cave, though
he knew his master was remarkably untroubled by purification.   But this was a
demon town, with no shrine or temple, and blessing was unnecessary, since
Kagome’s powers purified arrows on contact anyway.  At the armorer’s he found a
good stout knife.  He bought more food, very dainty stuff since he would surely
have a hard time getting Kagome to eat, and some nice linen cloth she could use
to dry herself after bathing.  He bought some sweet-smelling pomade,
remembering that she and Sango considered it a luxury item, applying it to
their hair after washing it, then rinsing it out rather than leaving it in as
other women did.  He found some very soft and fuzzy tabi socks, hoping they
would keep her feet warm when she was wandering around the cave.  He wanted to
get anything they could possibly need, since he would not be leaving Kagome
alone to venture into town.  It took him hours, and a few hours more to return
to the cave, so he was spared from having to listen to them making love, though
the air when he went inside the cave bore the scent of it.  He ignored the
entwined lovers, curling up to sleep in a little nook as far as possible from
the pair.     
 
***** Chapter 24 *****
“My baby is having a baby…”  Jaken sobbed.  Rin couldn’t tell if he was happy
or heartbroken.  A little of both, she guessed.  Then he snapped, “Couldn’t you
have found a better father for it than that half-breed mutt?”  He continued to
ramble on, and on, and on.
 
“Cheer up, Master Jaken!  You can come and live in Edo with Inuyasha and me,
and you can help raise the baby!” 
 
“Oh, joy!”  He moaned sarcastically.  Rin tackled him, laughing, tickling his
little ribs and shoving snow down the front of his shirt.  They were rolling
around on the wet, snowy ground when the little hairs on Rin’s arms stood up on
end.  The air was filled with the smell of ozone, and there was a loud, sudden
crack of thunder.  A blazing white lightning ball appeared, morphing into the
shape of her father.
 
“Sesshomaru Sama!”  screamed Master Jaken.  Traditionally, Rin would have
screamed “Sesshomaru Sama!!!” a half beat later, but today, she didn’t make a
sound.  She sat there on the ground, scowling at the pristine dog demon.
 
Sesshomaru looked down his nose at his followers, giving his hair an elegant
side flip for extra drama.  Jaken was soaked and muddy, with a large bubble of
green snot emerging from one nostril.  Rin looked very much as she had as a
young child, with streaks of dirt on her face.  Her miko outfit had seen better
days, and she even had her hair bunched in a little side pony-tail, a style
Sesshomaru thought she had abandoned long ago.
 
“Rin.”  He stated.  Then his eyes grew wide.  He sniffed the air, did a double-
take, and sniffed again.  “Do you know that you are pregnant?”
 
“Yes, Sesshomaru Sama, Rin knows.” she chanted.  He looked at her sharply, and
she returned his look,  her normally wide eyes seeming for a moment to grow
just as narrow and slanted as his own. 
 
“And who, pray tell, is the father of this child, little girl?”  he sneered. 
He knew that she knew that he knew, but it sounded good.
 
“Your half-breed, half-brother, my Lord.”  She replied just as snottily.
 
“You realize that Inuyasha is married to Lady Kagome, do you not, Rin?” 
 
“What IS your point, my Lord?”
 
“What of Lady Kagome’s feelings, Rin?  How could you treat her so poorly?”
 
“I could care less about Lady Kagome’s feelings, FATHER.  I love Inuyasha, and
he loves me.  That is ALL I care about.”
 
Sesshomaru could not believe that this was his sweet Rin.  If he didn’t know
better, he would think the little minx had been raised by his bitch of a
mother.  Which gave him an idea.  “This Sesshomaru will put you under the care
of my mother!”
 
Jaken wailed in horror!  “No, my lord, not your mother!”  He scrambled to his
knees in supplication.  “You mustn’t!  She will EAT the baby!  She will throw
our Little Rin in the dungeon!”
 
“Stop being so dramatic, Jaken.  It is the only solution.  My brother is
already married to the Lady Kagome.”  Now was not the time to share the happy
news of his mating. 
 
“There is no need to concern yourself, Lord Sesshomaru.  Your brother will take
care of me and our baby just fine.  We are no longer your concern.  You have
made that abundantly clear.”
 
“Rin.  Inuyasha is not the most reliable male for you to pick as the father of
your child.  He has betrayed and abandoned two other priestesses before you,
Lady Kikyo, and Lady Kagome.  How do you know he will not push you aside when
the next priestess comes along?”
 
“Inuyasha never loved them as much as he loves me.  He never made babies with
them.   And besides, I’m the last one, and the best one.  Lady Kagome gained
Lady Kikyo’s power when she passed on, did she not?  I will surely gain the
power of both of them, in due time.”  She smiled, slyly. 
 
“Rin, you will remain here with Jaken and Ah-Uhn until I send for you.  If you
are plotting against the Lady Kagome in any way, I expect you to cease in your
actions immediately.  Jaken, gather food and fire wood.  There is a human town
nearby.  Make sure she is well cared for, or I will send you to my mother as
well.”  He tossed the toad a small bag of coins.  
 
Sesshomaru now had a much better understanding of why Kagome thought it
possible that Rin was the one trying to steal her soul.  The sweet little girl
who had once loved and admired the older priestess now seemed to hate her and
wish for her demise.  Though he didn’t think she was accomplished enough to be
the one responsible, there was obviously much he didn’t know about his Little
Rin.
 
 
***** Chapter 25 *****
Miroku decided to skip the partying that night, so he could be at his best when
he met with the “Beautiful Princess” about the job she had for him on the
morrow.  He was intrigued by Grandpa’s description of her as both beautiful and
very rich.  She sounded like just his kind of woman.  Perhaps she would be
willing to bear his child.  It never hurt to ask.  Since he was only drinking a
little, he had a chance to subject Jak and Bank to a more critical evaluation. 
They both could certainly hold their liquor, he had to give them credit for
that.  Bank’s humungous sword, and Jak’s trick sword, were nowhere in
evidence.  Neither man wore face paint, unless you counted the lip paint,
rouge, and kohl that Jak sported.  Bank claimed that he had no idea where the
other five brothers were, or even if they were still dead or had been
resurrected.  Miroku spotted Jak counting on his fingers, and looking surprised
that two plus five did, indeed, add up to seven.  Miroku was curious about what
it was like to be dead, though he had an aversion to finding out firsthand. 
Neither Bank nor Jak could remember much about the experience.  Bank, the more
intelligent of the two, was hardly a philosopher, and was possibly the least
articulate man Miroku had ever met.  He would only say that when he died the
first time, he didn’t really realize he was dead.  Jak nodded his head
emphatically in agreement.  He remembered being in Hell, but only vaguely, with
throngs of other people.  Jak shuddered, dramatically.  The second time, he
realized that he was dead, but only because of his past experience.  He seemed
to have blanked out the circumstances of both deaths, completely.  Jak
apparently agreed, one-hundred and ten percent.
 
Miroku retired early, slept well, and made sure he looked his best for the
interview.  Grandpa showed him to a private room used by the local merchants
for conducting meetings.  Inside, there sat the most beautiful woman Miroku had
ever seen.  His mouth literally fell open in shock and admiration.  Words could
not describe how very beautiful she was.  Kikyo, had she been glowing with
radiant life, would have barely been worthy of serving as her handmaiden.  The
dark miko Tsubaki, known to rival Kikyo in beauty, and the so-called celestial
maiden Kaguya could not even hope to compare to this goddess.  She was swathed
in a robe of transparent, pale pink silk, golden earrings, and a gold ring on
every finger.  Her hair was elaborately dressed in the most elegant fashion
imaginable.  Miroku fell to his knees before this vision of loveliness.  He did
not even consider asking her to bear his child.
 
The Princess laughed sweetly.  Her voice reminded him of delicate wind chimes
on a soft spring morning. 
 
“How may I serve you, my Lady?”  Miroku asked respectfully. 
 
“No need to be so stuffy, my dear monk.  I am, after all, an old friend of your
family.  I have actually been watching over you for years.  I am so glad it is
finally time for us to meet.”
 
“May I enquire of your name, dear Lady?  Perhaps my father may have mentioned
you to me, if you are an old friend of the family.”
 
“Oh, no, my dear boy.  Your darling father would not know me, though I knew him
well.  It was your seven-times great grandfather who knew me, very well indeed,
I must say.  As a matter of fact, it is I who placed the curse of lechery upon
the your family’s male line.  You may call me Amaya, as your grandfather did. 
You bear the look of him.”
 
This beautiful goddess was an actual goddess, and had apparently had traffic
with some fortunate ancestor of his.  This called for some fancy footwork. 
“Amaya, such a beautiful name.  I apologize in my ancestor’s stead for the
injury you suffered at his hands.  Any pain your curse may have placed upon my
family or me personally was surely worth it for just a glimpse of your
loveliness.”  Miroku was rather proud of himself for this artful speech, but
Amaya apparently did not feel the same way.  Her expression grew thunderous,
and suddenly she looked much more frightening than inviting.
 
“I wonder if your wife would say the same.  I cannot blame you for your
lecherous ways, since it is I who levied the curse on your family.  But rather
than taking it as the punishment it was intended to be, you have enjoyed it
thoroughly, have you not, you wretched little man!”
 
“I humbly apologize, my Lady.  Is there any way I may lessen my offense in your
eyes?”
 
“My patience with you is at an end, yet I am a merciful being.  Listen well. 
You are to return to your family, and be the husband and father you were meant
to be.  If you choose to continue in your prior path, you will surely lose your
entire family, to the youngest child.  I have lifted your curse, go now and
make amends to those you love.”
 
He bowed and backed toward the door.  “Monk!”
 
“Yes, my Lady?”
 
“Don’t screw up.  This is your last chance.”
 
 
***** Chapter 26 *****
Sesshomaru’s mother reminded him of tales from the continent of a creature
called the Sphinx.  With the head of a woman and the body of a lion, the sphinx
was known for taking malicious enjoyment in misleading and confusing others. 
Living in a beautiful and elaborate palace in the sky, his mother was powerful
in ways Sesshomaru did not understand.  She was a gifted but mysterious
oracle.  Possessing great knowledge, she preferred toying with others rather
than guiding them.  He did not like asking his mother for advice.  It was
frustrating and often without profit, but with Rin pregnant with Inuyasha’s pup
and Kagome in danger of losing her soul, he didn’t have a lot of options.  He
also owed her the courtesy of announcing his mating.  As for Rin, he had not
been totally bluffing when he threatened to send the girl to live with his
mother.  He was at the end of his rope with his human daughter.  He found
himself actually hoping that she was possessed. 
 
Escorted by two shikigami in the form of human children, he swept into his
mother’s receiving chambers.  He found her reclining languidly on a huge pile
of silk cushions.  Her eyes were closed, and he was almost sure she was viewing
something far away.  Her petal pink lips were quirked in an ironic little
smile.  First one slanted golden eye slowly opened, then the other.  “My loving
and dutiful son, come to visit his poor old mother at last.  What a wonderful
day this is!”
 
“I’m not here to play with you, mother.  Tell me what you know about Kagome and
Rin.”
 
“All this fuss over three little priestesses and one tiny jewel.  Do try not to
so much like your father, Sesshomaru.  Human girls are not your concern.  Leave
Rin to Inuyasha.  I’m sure he’ll take excellent care of things.  I wash my
hands of the girl.”  She smirked maliciously.
 
“You know that the jewel is gone mother, and the only reason I am here is
because I’m doing my best not to be entirely like my father.  This Sesshomaru
will not turn away from his child or his mate, as my father did.”
 
“I’m shocked at you, my son mating a human.”
 
“You and I both know that nothing shocks you, mother.  Tell me who is trying to
steal my mate’s soul, and what I can do about it.”  He didn’t expect a straight
answer.  He was pleasantly surprised when she spoke simply. 
 
“The closer you keep your mate to you, the more anchored her soul will stay to
her mortal body.”   That part, he had already figured out.  “Your problem is
twofold.  The kami above struggle with the demon below for the soul of your
mate.”
 
“What business could the gods have with my mate?” 
 
“You underestimate the importance of your mate, my son.  You see her as a
companion and lover, but she has huge potential to be used as a weapon and a
source of power.  There were seals placed upon her powers in the past, which
have since been removed.  There is one in Hell who desires to access Kagome’s
powers, which would be used for malice and destruction.  Her powers are great
enough to destroy the balance between light and darkness.  The kami cannot
allow that to take place.
 
“Would it be possible to placate the kami, so that they would release their
hold on Kagome’s soul?”  Never before had his mother been so helpful to him. 
 
“I have interceded on your behalf.  They accept you as her champion, and others
have been summoned who will also fight for your mate.  You must not fail her,
my son.”
 
 
 
       
 
        
***** Chapter 27 *****
He was met at the door by an elderly man, who bowed deeply, and inquired of his
needs.  Sesshomaru described his brother, inquiring if he was a guest of the
establishment.  He was led to a private room and asked to wait.  A remarkably
pretty and fit young man brought him a pot of green tea and a delicate cup.  As
the man was pouring tea, Sesshomaru tried to place where he had seen him
before.  Sesshomaru’s natural inclination was to identify people and places by
their scent, and he did not quite recognize this young man’s scent.  His face
and form were annoyingly familiar.  Sesshomaru noticed that he was wearing lip
paint, rouge, and had accented his eyes with the dramatic and lavish use of
kohl, and that is when he realized who he was.   Sesshomaru raised the teacup
to his lips, eyeing Jakotsu with interest.  Just then, Inuyasha came rushing
into the room.  “So dear brother, you continue in our father’s footsteps.  You
send your undead mate to her grave, marry her reincarnation, impregnate her
other reincarnation, and yet that is not enough for you.  You feel the need to
summon an additional concubine back from hell to warm your bed.  Father would
be truly impressed with your prowess.” 
 
Inuyasha held up his middle finger, giving himself time to frame a suitable
response.  “At least I’m not an impotent loser like you, Sesshomaru.  I bet
you’ve never even bedded a woman.”
 
Sesshomaru gracefully extended one elegant claw.  Inuyasha laughed
hysterically.  “Try it, asshole.  Your powers won’t work here.”  Inuyasha hoped
this was true.  His own powers did not work there, he was only assuming that
his brother’s wouldn’t either.  He was right.  He wasn’t  expecting it when
Sesshomaru  lauched himself across the room and delivered a bone-breaking
uppercut which landed perfectly on his jaw.  Jakotsu flattened himself against
the wall, screeching in glee “They’re fighting over me!”
 
Inuyahsa managed to land a few punches of his own, only to receive a knee to
his groin followed at lightning speed by a rabbit punch that took him to the
floor.  His brother might not have use of his powers, but he clearly still
kicked ass. 
 
“Why, Inuyasha?”  Sesshomaru cried in a hoarse voice.  He punched Inuyasha in
the nose, which began bleeding profusely.  “Why?  Punch.  “Why?”  Punch punch
punch.  Followed by a slap delivered to the right cheek, then a backhand to the
left.  Inuyasha would soon have two black eyes to set off his broken nose and
jaw.   The odd thing was, Sesshomaru did not really intend it as a rhetorical
question.  If Inuyasha could tell him why he had done such things, it might
finally explain to Sesshomaru what his father had been thinking when he
abandoned him and his mother.   Sesshomaru was panting in rage.  Jakotsu was
laughing and crying at the same time, the battle-hardened mercenary who had
literally been through hell, twice, driven to a state of gleeful hysteria at
all the emotional drama.
 
Inuyasha just lay there.  Even if he were capable of speech, what could he
possibly say.  Sesshomaru was Rin’s adopted father after all, and no one could
deny that he cared as deeply for the girl as if she were his own natural
offspring.  He had every right to beat the crap out of Inuyasha.  Obviously he
had crossed paths with Rin, and knew she was pregnant and that Inuyasha was the
father. 
 
‘Why?’ thought Inuyasha.  ‘Why?’  He wished he knew himself.  It was like he
was looking for something, and every time he was sure he had found it, he
suddenly realized that it wasn’t what he was looking for after all.   He was
just a stupid mutt, but even he knew that sounded really bad.  Like he had
never really loved them at all.  But he had loved each of them, at the time. 
He still loved them, all three of them, when he was man enough to admit it and
not cheapen it with his habit of belittling and demeaning them.  This need to
devalue them was like an irresistible compulsion.  He hadn’t verbalized it yet
with Rin, but the thoughts were there.  That she wasn’t half the woman Kagome
was, that she lacked her compassion and wisdom, that she couldn’t understand
him because she hadn’t been there as a member of his pack, fighting Naraku.  He
wanted to blame Rin for not having Kagome’s long, long legs, for not knowing
how to prepare the noodle dish that Kagome had created for him because he had
craved ramen.  He hadn’t hesitated in telling Kagome how she wasn’t a wart on
Kikyo’s ass.  He knew he had tormented Kagome for years, telling her she wasn’t
as pretty, as good with the bow, or as powerful as his first lover.  And it was
hard to admit, because he held Kikyo up to the world as having been the ideal
woman, but her love had been cold.  She had treated him like a pesky little
puppy, regarding him with haughty amusement, as if she were so much better than
him, a mere half-breed. 
 
When he and Kagome were finally reunited, and joined in marriage by Miroku, the
whole village of Edo witnessed his vows to love and cherish her.  He was sure
he had finally found what he was looking for as he lay in her arms under the
God Tree.  He was going to try so hard to please her, to be a good husband.  He
was going to start fresh and treat her right this time.  Kagome’s goodness and
love would make it possible, where he had failed with Kikyo because she was
self-righteous and superior.
 
His brother had appeared several weeks after the wedding.  Kagome had called
out to him, her voice full of joy.  She called the bastard “brother”.   He
tried to tell himself that it was natural for Kagome to feel a connection to
his brother.  How many times had Sesshomaru stepped in to save her when
Inuyasha was off with Kikyo?  A small jealous voice in the back of his mind
whisperd “He’s so much stronger than you, so handsome, and he’s a lord, not a
dirty little half-breed.  You’ve seen how he looks at her.”  So instead of
reassuring her when his brother snarled at her, he just had to start ripping
her a new ass, and that night was the first night since their wedding that he
didn’t lay with her under the god tree.  
     
***** Chapter 28 *****
It was nighttime, and the inside of the Cloud Palace was dark.  That’s the way
Ai liked it.  She gazed out at the moon and stars, which looked so close and
bright.  Ai was very old, so old she couldn’t remember her own mother or
father, or what part of the world she originally came from.  If she tried very
hard, she could remember flashes of memories of things that must have happened
very long ago.  A scene of a huge flood, animals that had not walked the planet
in a thousand years, an angry god yelling unintelligible things at her.  Part
of her life had been spent as a captive in a cave on the Continent.  That was
when she first met Inutaisho.  He had come seeking enlightenment from the
oracle.  That was her.  She was in the guise of a young human girl, and
Inutaisho had found her beautiful.  She couldn’t tell him her name, because she
couldn’t remember it, so he named her Ai.  She didn’t even know that the form
of a slender, dark haired girl was not her true form.  He had to fight the
spells and bonds that held her there.  It was a fierce and epic battle,
involving huge monsters that looked like strangely colored bulls with many
eyes, and giant snakes.  She thought that maybe it was the angry god who had
placed her in the cave, perhaps as some kind of punishment, but she really
couldn’t remember.  The gasses which rose up from the deep cracks in the rock
that made up the cave had driven her mad, and at that time she was capable of
little coherent thought indeed.
 
Inutaisho took her back with him to Japan, and made her his mate.  She began to
regain her senses, if not her memories, during her early years on the island. 
She found that she could change her form so easily that she could not figure
out what her true form actually was.  She settled on appearing as Inutaisho’s
female counterpart most of the time, though she did like to mix it up a little,
for special occasions.  She bore him one son, Sesshomaru.  Her child was a
little like her and a little like his father, as is usually the case with
children, and he grew in size and strength, as children tend to do.  Inutaisho
called him his “pup”, and put him through hard training as a warrior.  His
trainers were high-ranking soldiers home on leave, so he learned many different
things, relative to fighting and life as a whole.  Those were the years that
Inutaisho built his reputation as the Great Dog General.  He was gone a lot,
and had little time for her or his pup.  When he visited them, it was usually
because he was recuperating from severe wounds.  At these times he would make
Sesshomaru demonstrate what he had learned in his absence.  Inutaisho showed
little interest in Ai, whom he had once found so captivating.
 
Sesshomaru lived to please his father.  That’s how he became so obsessed with
power.  He practiced with his sword for hours each day, and learned sorcery
from a strange, white-bearded old magician at night.  He resolved to become
learned, and arranged to be tutored in many foreign languages.  His life was
very full, but singularly lacking in love.  His mother tried, as much as she
could, but she was very old, and very different.  Her attentions usually took
the form of riddles and taunting.  Her nature was not nurturing or supportive
in the least.  As he matured, female demons began to make advances toward him. 
He wasn’t sure if it was because of his position, or his personal attributes,
as his admirers would have him believe.  By this time, his father had become
the ruler of the Western Lands, and many other pieces of real estate, including
huge tracts of land on the Continent, where he had originated.  His son would
make a fine catch for any demoness.  But Sesshomaru felt no attraction toward
any of them, and gave them no encouragement.  A few of the more enterprising
females sought to entrap him, but he evaded their snares.  He became more cold
and solitary with each passing year.
 
He was an adolescent, still small and spare, when his father impregnated a
human princess named Izayoi.  There had been many other human women in his
father’s life, but this is the first one he got with child.  Suddenly Inutaisho
decided it was time for him to step up to the plate and be a father.  Not a
father to Sesshomaru, who he had begun to see as an up-and-coming rival, but to
the unborn half-breed pup of Izayoi.  He made an official announcement that he
intended to acknowledge his half-breed child.  When he broke the news to
Sesshomaru, he made sure to tell him that, while he had once thought he loved
Ai, it hadn’t been true love.  And, of course, that he really, really loved
Izayoi.  He notified his mate that he no longer wanted her, and that he was
leaving her.  He soon entered into a battle with a huge and powerful dragon
lord who took exception to Inutaisho’s acceptance of a half-breed child.  He
was gravely injured in the battle.   Izayoi awaited the birth of her son at her
family’s manor, surrounded by her father’s samurai soldiers and other human
vassals.  A past lover of the beautiful princess, Lord Takimaru, drove his
sword into Izayoi’s pregnant belly as she prepared to go into labor.  Inutaisho
hurried in his canine form over land and sea to reach her in time.  The samurai
guarding the castle did their best to fight off the already mortally wounded
demon lord, and he arrived at Izayoi’s side stuck through with arrows and
bleeding from a hundred sword wounds.  He defeated Takimaru, but not before the
human lord ordered that the manor be burned to the ground.  Inutaisho barely
made it to his lover’s side in time to use the Tensaiga, his sword of healing,
to bring her and the baby back to life.  With his last dying breath, he named
the baby Inuyasha.  Injured beyond hope of recovery, Sesshomaru’s father
perished in the burning manor house.
 
Ai now lived in the Cloud Palace, guarding over the gate to hell and using her
powers to keep track of the doings of Inutaisho’s sons and any other beings
that caught her interest.  Her son visited the Cloud Palace only rarely, and
then only when he wanted something.  Usually, she treated him much as she had
when he was a child, but this time was different.  Ai had been watching Kagome
since she first emerged from the well in Inuyasha’s forest, and had come to
feel a kinship for the strange little priestess such as she could not remember
feeling for any other being.  She had resolved to do what she could to assist
her.  If Sesshomaru could protect Kagome well enough to reassure the kami that
Kagome’s soul was not in imminent danger of being used as an instrument of
evil, they would set aside their intention to take her soul for themselves. 
The rest she would leave up to her son.               
***** Chapter 29 *****
Bright light streaming through the mouth of the cave woke Kagome up.  She
squinted, then got to her feet, dragging moko-moko along with her as she
stretched and went to look outside.  The snow that had fallen overnight was
bright white, and the sun was shining on it, making the world a brilliant place
that morning.  It appeared that Kohaku had thrown some new logs on the fire and
went out to work on his training.  He was doing cartwheels, back flips, and
various elaborate handstands and rolls.  If Kohaku lived in the modern era, he
could easily be an Olympic athlete, Kagome thought.  When he spotted Kagome, he
ran over to her, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his
forearm.  He was dressed in his black leather demon slayer outfit.  Clearly he
had grown a lot since she first met him.  “Say, Kohaku, where do you get those
demon slayer uniforms?” 
 
Kohaku smiled boyishly.  “Why, Kagome, want one?”
 
Kagome blushed a little.  The uniforms were not too modest, looking to her
modern eye like some kind of fetish gear.  “They seem to be really good for
working out, but they must get really hot.”
 
“Not really.  I know it sounds kind of funny, but these suits are made by
demons, from demon leather.  In most places it’s very light but tough.  They
use thicker hides in some places, from different species of demons.  Their
design is well known to demon armorers, because even though most of the demon
slayers are gone now, there used to be more tribes and most of the armorers
have been in business for centuries.”
 
“Like Totousai,” Kagome supplied.
 
“Exactly.  Now I was serious.  Do you want me to get you a demon slayer’s
uniform?  I think it would come in handy.  I could help you with training,
too.  You’re already in great shape, and I’ve noticed you’re really flexible.”
 
Kagome hoped he wasn’t being a letch.  He seemed enthusiastic, and it wasn’t as
if he were leering at her when he said she was flexible.  “Maybe…”
 
“We can go into town this afternoon.  You have to go along, because you’ll need
to be measured.  I know Lord Sesshomaru marked you, so since he won’t be with
us, I think it might be best if you covered the mark up with a scarf or
something.  We’ll say that you are another demon slayer.  I’ll act like you’re
my fiancé.  That way there is less likely to be trouble about you being a human
mated to a demon lord and all.”
 
Kagome thought his plan was unnecessarily elaborate, but Kohaku had been around
the block, and she trusted him to know about the dangers of a demon village. 
Whenever she had traveled in the feudal era, she had been in the company of
Inuyasha, and they had more trouble with human prejudice than that of demons. 
Really, the last thing a full-blooded demon wanted was a half-breed competing
for demon females.  She really liked the idea of working out and becoming a
skilled fighter, and she thought there was a chance she might actually be good
at it.  She had been really good at gymnastics and dancing when she was in
school, and even though she had been kind of accident prone as a young teen,
she was now unusually graceful.  Her mother had always told her she would
eventually grow into her long limbs, and she had turned out to be right.  ‘Mom
knew everything,’ she thought wistfully.
 
“Let’s have breakfast, then we’ll go to the demon village.  On the way back, we
can gather up some firewood.”
 
“Sounds good to me, Kohaku.  I know you went to a lot of trouble to bring back
food for me.  I don’t want you to think I didn’t appreciate it, but there’s
something going on with me that’s making me feel kind of sick lately.  Today I
feel better, though, so maybe I can try to eat a little.”  Kagome mentally
crossed her fingers.  She really didn’t want to lose her cookies again.  That
was a miserable experience.
 
“You’re not pregnant, are you, Kagome?  My sister always got sick in the
mornings when she was expecting.”  Kohaku didn’t look too happy at the thought.
 
“No way, Kohaku.  You know Inuyasha wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole.” 
Kohaku had no idea what a ten-foot pole was, but he agreed that Inuyasha hadn’t
touched Kagome in a long time.  “And morning sickness doesn’t set in as soon as
a woman gets pregnant.  It takes some time, though it varies from one woman to
another.”  Kagome loved to show off her knowledge of healing and midwifery. 
She had been made to feel inferior for so long, she sometimes felt like the
American comedian Rodney Dangerfield.  Though she had to study hard and put in
a lot of hours as an apprentice to Kaede, it felt really good to know that she
was accepted as being basically a doctor in this era. 
 
Kagome managed to eat about a cup of rice and several small cups of tea. Kohaku
decided to try to hunt for a game bird on their trip to the village. Many
people considered a small roasted bird to be of medicinal value, and she could
probably tolerate a small amount of the mild meat. They set off for the village
shortly after breakfast. Kohaku knew that Sesshomaru had intended for them to
stay close to the cave, but at the moment, he didn’t particularly care. He was
enjoying the day thoroughly, and Kagome seemed to be very happy, too. She
almost skipped now and then as they made their way through the forest, enjoying
the sunshine and fresh air. Life was always so serious for Kagome, and Kohaku
found it remarkable that she seemed capable of finding happiness in the middle
of such turmoil. He thought of a tale he had once been told by an old woman who
had offered him shelter for a night, about a princess who was capable of
spinning happiness out of cobwebs.
***** Chapter 30 *****
The last thing Miroku remembered, he was running for the front door of inn.  He
asked himself what he had been thinking leaving Sango at such a time, when it
was nearly her time to give birth.  He grabbed Grandpa’s sleeve on his way
out.  “Tell Inuyasha to do what he will, I must return to Edo!”  He practically
tripped on his way down the steps, and was soon heading westward out of town.
 
Sango didn’t know how long she had been walking during her blackout, but she
surely she should be getting tired by now.  The sun had come up quite some time
ago, and they continued to soldier on.  She figured her lack of fatigue was
probably because of her “mood disorder”.  She was also not hungry, which didn’t
surprise her in the least.  Sango was accustomed to her appetite coming and
going.  Kagome had told her a long time ago about eating disorders when she
noticed that Sango would sometimes go for days without eating, even when there
was plenty of food.  Kagome thought that Sango felt bad about Kohaku and what
had happened to her tribe, so she didn’t feel like she deserved to enjoy food. 
She went on to explain mood disorders.  She thought Sango might be bipolar. 
She explained that this was a term used in her time to describe people who went
through periods of almost superhuman energy, creativity, and productivity, only
to enter another stage where they felt overwhelmed by life and suffered greatly
from depression.  She told Sango that it was very important that they speak
regularly about how Sango was feeling.  Even when they were very busy with
their responsibilities to the village, they made a point to meet at the hot
spring to bathe and engage in what Kagome called “girl talk”.  Kagome’s
understanding of her situation was an epiphany for Sango, and as always she was
amazed at the power Kagome had to make her feel better.  She knew she should
try to eat, even if she didn’t feel like it.  She had to maintain her strength
if she were to find Kagome, make sure she was safe, and eliminate anything that
was threatening her well-being.  She had avoided going into too much detail
regarding her mission with Inu, since Sango considered his son Inuyasha, and
Rin, who was the closest thing he had to a granddaughter, to be the threat she
needed to take out.  Sango was surprised that Inu hadn’t asked her if she
wanted to stop, or needed to eat.  He was a demon, and was capable of great
feats of endurance, but he had spent time with human women, and she would have
expected him to realize that she needed to eat and rest.  For all his charm, he
certainly wasn’t very solicitous.  Since she had no desire to waste unnecessary
time, she let the matter slide. 
 
As they walked, Inu asked her about her life as a demon slayer.  Sango told him
that she and her brother were the last of their tribe, which had resided in a
fortified village in the Eastern Mountains near Midoriko’s cave.  He told her
he had “known” Midoriko, and that she was a powerful warrior.  Sango grimaced
at the emphasis he placed on the word “known”.  She really didn’t want to hear
the gruesome details, so she asked him what he knew about the history of her
village.  He told her many interesting and entertaining tales of her ancestors
and their adventures, and the time passed pleasantly.
 
Suddenly Inu became silent.  His body language was very much like Inuyasha’s
when he was listening and scenting the air, and Sango reacted as she would if
she were in Inuyasha’s company. ‘Something’s coming.’  She readied her bone,
her best long-range weapon of deadly force. 
 
Inu softly whispered, close to her ear “I’ll be back.”  He faded into the
forest like a great white ghost.  Sango didn’t know whether he was scouting out
the danger or leaving her to face it on her own.  She could hide in the woods
and spy on whatever was coming, but that wasn’t Sango’s style.  She readied
herself for combat, only to be surprised and shocked at what, or rather who,
she saw heading down the roadway from the east. 
 
A monk dressed in black and purple robes was making his way swiftly in her
direction.  Only Miroku had such a long, ground-eating stride.  Forced to adapt
to traveling in the company of Inuyasha, Miroku possessed almost inhuman
endurance and could cover distances with amazing quickness on foot.  When
Miroku saw Sango standing there in her demon slayer uniform, he ran forward and
tried to take her in his arms.  She stepped neatly aside.  Accustomed to her
stand-offishness, he grasped her free hand in both of his.  Her hands were
bone-chillingly cold.  “Sango, you are much too cold.  We need to make a fire
and get you warm.”  He quickly led her to a clearing near the side of the
road.  He made her sit on a tree stump, and left to gather wood.  He was well-
practiced in quickly locating the driest wood available, and came back with an
armful of dry pine.  The large size of the trees and the density of their
branches meant that the lowest branches stayed small, and soon died off.  The
upper canopy protected these dead twigs from exposure to snow and rain.  A few
still bore brittle brown needles, which would help start a hot fire quickly. 
Miroku quickly prepared a fire, using tinder from the small tinder-box he
carried with him in his robes, and once it appeared to be going well, went back
into the forest to get some bigger pieces of wood.  It didn’t take long before
he had a nice fire going and had prepared a little campsite for his wife, who
had yet to speak to him.
 
“What are you doing here, Sango?”  Sango wondered how long it would take him to
notice that she was no longer pregnant.  She gave him to the count of three. 
One…  Two…  Three… 
 
“Sango!  The baby!”
 
“Is back in the village, monk.”
 
“Why did you leave our baby in the village?  What are you doing way the hell
out here?”  He suddenly looked ashamed.  “Were you looking for me?”
 
“Of course not, my devoted husband.  I performed my duty to you.  Your child
awaits you in Edo.  I am on another mission, which is no concern of yours.”
 
Miroku looked at Sango in shock.  He knew she was tough, but when had she grown
so cold?  She hadn’t even told him if the baby was a girl or a boy.  He took
her hand again, alarmed that it still felt just as cold as it had earlier. 
 
“Sango, I may not have given you reason to believe so in the past, but
everything about you is of concern to me.  I want to be a better husband to
you.  Something has happened that I need to speak with you about, but right now
I’m really worried about how cold you are.  We need to do something to warm you
up.”
 
“Don’t even think of it, monk!”
 
“Sango, I didn’t mean anything like that!  What do you take me for?”
 
She just smirked at that.  “I appreciate the fire monk, and I admit I should
probably eat something as well.  Do you carry any provisions on you?”  Miroku
handed over a small packet of dried meat, but she didn’t taste it, just tucked
it into her boot.  “Now, I have places to go and things to do.  If you care
about your family at all, you should go to Edo and check on the well-being of
your children.”
 
“Will you return to Edo when you have completed your mission?”  He gave her his
patented look, his big purple eyes wistful, lower lip slightly pouting.  Sango
was a hard sell, but it had worked for him before, many times. 
 
“It all depends on the outcome of my mission.  Right now, that’s all that
matters to me.  What you choose to do, or not to do is no longer my concern.”
 
“My dear Sango, if your mission is so critical, could I not be of service to
you?” 
 
“I don’t need you Miroku.  I have never needed you.  I just thought I did, for
a little while.  Now I want you to leave me alone.”  She softened, but only
slightly, when she saw his eyes grow moist with genuine tears.  “I’m serious,
monk.  Our children need you.  Go to them.  Meet your new child.  Try not to
disappoint them too much.  As to my return, we shall simply have to wait and
see.  I think I have every right to ask for your forbearance.  I waited long
enough for you, right?”
 
“I know that you’ll do what you must, Sango.  That’s one of the things I admire
about you.  You are so strong.  Please, try to rest, at least until the morrow,
and try to eat and stay warm.”
 
“I will, husband.  Now, go back to Edo.  If Kirara is anywhere about, send her
to me.”
 
“Farewell, my dear Sango.”  He stooped down, and kissed her softly and chastely
on her lips.  He headed off down the road toward the west, looking back once
and waveing as he was about to go out of sight. 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
***** Chapter 31 *****
Kirara, in full battle-form, launched herself through one of the Cloud Palace’s
windows and landed at Ai’s feet.  As soon as she hit the ground, she changed
forms in a flare of fire, reappearing as a cute little yellow kitten, with big,
bright eyes and a little button nose.  “Trill…”
 
“What is it Kirara?  Do you want some breakfast?”  Ai summoned her shikigami. 
As soon as they saw Kirara, they bustled off to prepare her meal.  Ai settled
down on her dais, patting the silken cushions invitingly.  Kirara was an old
friend.  Inutaisho had found the little orphan kitten by her dead mother’s
side, and brought her to Ai to raise.  Kirara jumped up beside Ai, who stroked
and petted her soft fur.  Kirara butted her tiny moist nose against Ai’s hand,
and Ai obligingly scratched along the cat’s jawline.  Kirara purred
contentedly.  Ai buried her face in the kitten’s warm fur.  She found it easy
to accept Kirara’s love.  Perhaps it was because it was so unconditional and
uncomplicated.  She knew the cat would never pass judgement against her, or
turn against her.  It made her happy when the cat returned to her for a special
meal, some petting, and a warm, soft place to sleep. 
 
Kirara had played a big part in helping Ai regain her sanity when she first
came to Japan.  Having the baby cat relying on her felt familiar and
comforting.  She theorized that she must have kept a pet cat before, in the
time before she was placed in the cave.  It took many years for the kitten to
grow up, as is the case with most animal-form demons.  As soon as the cat could
reliably change into her battle-form, Inutaisho took her away.  He told Ai that
the cat had a job to do, that fire cats like her were meant to be warriors.  Ai
had sobbed for days, neither sleeping nor eating, and all she could think of
was where her only friend had been taken, and what had become of her.  In her
sorrow, she felt her soul separate from her body.  She felt drawn to the
nearest being, who happened to be Inutaisho’s vassal, Miyoga the flea. 
Suddenly she saw the world through the little flea’s eyes.  She saw herself,
reclining on her dais, her face blotchy and streaked with tears, one arm
hanging limply to the floor.  It only took her a moment to figure out how to
make the little flea body she possessed walk, and she hopped nimbly up on to
the robe of a passing servant.  Soon she was looking out through the human
servant’s eyes.  Thinking quickly, she walked to the stables, to the area where
the master’s hunting falcon was kept.  The falcon was a mortal animal, not a
demon in animal form, but she possessed power and grace, and in her body Ai
would be free to fly across the lands.  Ai removed the hood and jesses from the
falcon, discretely carrying the bird to the roof of the stables.  As she
released the falcon, she entered her body, reveling in the freedom she felt in
her heart and the strong beat of her wings against the air.
 
Ai flew and flew through the bright blue sky.  She felt a joy such as she could
never remember feeling before, not that she could remember much, but she did
not allow her excitement to stop her from searching for Kirara.  She flew all
over the Western Lands, over meadows, forests and fields.  From time to time
she captured a small rabbit or dove for sustenance, as for many days she flew
in an ever-increasing search pattern.  To the east, she encountered rocky
mountain peaks, but she did not let that stop her, and it was there that she
spotted Kirara, hunting mice in the stableyard of a village of demon slayers. 
Why had Inutaisho taken Kirara to live amongst demon slayers?  She perched atop
the village watchtower, using her keen eyesight to observe the village.  She
watched humans come and go about the business of everyday human life, and
discovered little of interest until a woman in priestess garb emerged from a
small, crudely constructed shrine, calling out sharply, “Kirara!”  Kirara ran
up to the priestess, standing up on her hind legs to receive a pat on the
head.  “Transform!” the priestess commanded.  Kirara changed into her battle
form, and the priestess jumped on the big cat’s back.  They flew off quickly,
Ai following behind, hoping to remain unnoticed. 
 
Kirara set down in a small meadow.  The priestess drew a sword, and she and
Kirara began to practice attacks and defenses.  After a while, Ai felt the
approach of a familiar demonic aura.  She feared Inutaisho had come for her,
but she soon saw that she was not the one he had come for.  She watched in
great sorrow as her mate laid the priestess down in the grass.
 
Ai was tempted to remain in the body of the falcon, and live out her life
flying free over the lands, but she knew she could not do so.  She had a secret
she had concealed from her husband and all the servants and nobles that
surrounded him in his palace.  Inutaisho was going to be a
father.                        
***** Chapter 32 *****
Kohaku was watching for game trails that would be suitable for setting snares. 
He wanted Kagome to know how to feed herself in the wilderness, and a bow and
arrow were not the best tool for bagging all kinds of game.  He spotted an area
where the snow appeared slightly disturbed, and saw that birds had been picking
through the thin layer of snow to get at some  short, woody plants, with flat,
glossy green leaves and  little bright red berries.  Kohaku liked the fresh,
almost minty taste of the berries, which remained tasty and edible during the
fall and winter.  He called Kagome, pointing out the plants.
 
“Are you familiar with this kind of berry?” 
 
“Yes, Kohaku.  I have eaten the berries, and made a tea from the leaves.  Kaede
says the tea acts as a mild pain reliever.”  She stooped down to pick some
berries,
 
“Don’t pick them, Kagome.  I want you to try to spot the pathway that animals
would use to get to these berries.”  Kagome looked around carefully.  She
finally spotted a place where a fallen tree was laying on the ground, covered
in a layer of snow like everything else.  There was a spot where there was a
bit less snow, as though something small had climbed over the log, making an
almost unnoticeable trail.  She walked closer, but could not see any tracks. 
 
“That’s really good, Kagome.  You won’t always find actual tracks when fresh
snow has fallen, but you still managed to find the game trail.  Now we need to
set a snare, so that the next time an animal uses the same route, you have a
chance of trapping it.  He produced a tiny bundle of what looked like fine
cord, seemingly out of nowhere.  He showed the cords to Kagome.  They appeared
to be very thin cables,  finer than kite string.    
 
“Will they be strong enough to hold anything, Kohaku?”  
 
“They are bespelled.  They will hold anything that gets caught up in them.”
 
“Kind of like that chain you had around my ankle, right, Kohaku?”  He didn’t
reply, but took out a knife and cut a long, thin stake to anchor the snare. 
Then he showed her how to tie the snare and set it up.
 
“You could choose to pick a few of the berries to bait the snare, or you can
choose to leave it unbaited, since the animal will be traveling this path,
anyway.”
 
“Let’s not bait it.  It seems more fair to the animal, that way.”  Kohaku
smiled at her.  She noticed the way the corners of his eyes crinkled up a
little when he smiled.  He was really cute, she thought.
 
As they continued their journey to town, they set quite a few more snares. 
Kohaku explained that there was no guarantee that each snare would catch
anything, so it was best to set many.
 
Though he enjoyed the sight of Kagome having fun, he made sure that she
remained on the lookout for danger, as well as good sources of firewood, and
signs of game.  He was training her in the ways of the wilderness in a lot
gentler manner than he himself had been trained.  Both his father and Sango had
had a hand in his own training, and while Sango was kinder than his father, she
followed the harsh customs of their tribe.  Not for the first time, Kohaku was
amazed that no one had bothered to teach Kagome how to take care of herself or
physically defend herself.  He knew Inuyasha had deliberately neglected her
training and ignored her potential, seeming to want her to be dependent on him,
but Sango and Miroku could have intervened, in his opinion.  Now he found
himself glad.  He felt bad about drugging her, and binding her with the
bespelled anklet, and it felt good to be able to do something to help her for a
change. 
 
Eventually they came to the town.  Kohaku pulled a very thin, silk scarf from
inside his uniform.  He reminded Kagome of a magician from the modern era, the
way he produced items from his seemingly skin-tight  outfit.  For years, she
had packed her trusty yellow backpack with huge amounts of gear, somehow never
realizing that there was no way the bag could possibly hold so much stuff. 
Only much later did she realize that she had unconsciously placed a spell on
the bag, allowing items such as a full-size propane lantern to fit in the same
space occupied by her sleeping bag, textbooks, bathing supplies, water
bottles,  pocky, candy, and ramen, ramen, and more ramen.  Could the slayer’s
uniform be similarly bespelled?
 
She held still and allowed Kohaku to drape the scarf artfully around her neck,
tying it loosely so it covered her mating mark.  She jerked away, however, when
Kohaku tried to rub his face against  the curve of her shoulder.  She looked at
him, offended.  Kohaku frowned at her, then sighed.  “Kagome, we need to place
my scent on you.  It won’t completely hide Sesshomaru’s scent, but I’m hoping
it will be good enough to make our story believable.”  This time she allowed it
when he rubbed his cheek against her neck and shoulder, first one side, then
the other.  They went to the armorer, who directed them to the village tailor. 
The tailor happily agreed to make a uniform for Kagome.  He summoned his wife,
who skillfully measured Kagome, using a length of string while he scribbled
down the measurements.  The tailor told them how much the outfit would cost,
and that it would be ready in two days’ time.  The pair stopped to buy a small
basket of eggs from a peasant woman, and left town without experiencing any
problems. 
 
Since they would be returning to town using the same route soon, Kohaku decided
to leave the snares which had not trapped game in place. The first three snares
they checked were not tripped.   The fourth snare held a pheasant.  It had been
strangled by the snare.  Kohaku was pleased with their success.   The next few
snares were empty.  They were shocked when they came to the next snare, only to
find they had trapped a young red fox.  When the fox saw his captors, he let
out an angry yip.  “Stay back, Kagome.”  Kohaku advanced toward the fox, saying
“Shippou, is that you?”   He gingerly grabbed the stake holding the snare in
place, pulling it from the ground.  The fox, its leg freed, suddenly
transformed into an adolescent male fox demon.  “Shippou!”  Kagome cried out,
throwing herself into his arms.  She hadn’t seen Shippou in a few months, and
he had grown several inches.  The top of his head now reached her chin.  He had
changed so much from the little baby kit she had treated like her own child. 
She often wondered if he spent so much time away from Edo to avoid the
unpleasantness between herself and Inuyasha.  It was a very happy little group
that made its way back toward their campsite.  There was much talking and
laughing,  Shippou showing off the tricks and spells he had learned since they
last saw him.  Kagome decided she wanted to wait until dinner was over before
she told him all that had happened in his absence.   
 
They found a hare in the next snare.  Kohaku took a few minutes to gut the
pheasant and the hare and ready them for roasting, away from camp.  He disposed
of the offal a good ways away from the snare, which he re-set.  If they had
been planning on fishing soon, he would have saved it for bait.  They were
getting close to the cave, and Kohaku began gathering wood for the fire.  He
handed a few chunks to Kagome, carrying a much heavier load himself.  Shippou
managed to carry as much as the taller boy.  As a demon, he was naturally
stronger.  When they got back to the cave, it was time for dinner.   They got
the fire going, using the embers that still glowed red beneath the ashes of
this morning’s fire.  Once the flames subsided they spitted the meat and
roasted it, and ate it with some of the delicacies Kohaku had bought with
Sesshomaru’s money as side dishes.  They were all full, warm, and content. 
Kagome decided it was time to fill Shippou in on their recent adventures.  She
was concerned that he would be angry at her for leaving Inuyasha and mating
with Sesshomaru.  Shippou and Inuyasha had fought a lot, but Inuyasha was the
closest thing the little fox had to a father.  “Shippou, you know that Inuyasha
and I haven’t been getting along very well for a long time, right?” 
 
Shippou gave her a look that spoke volumes.  “Well, duh.”
 
“He’s been spending a lot of time with Rin, and he’s decided he wants to be
with her.”  Kagome was trying to be as bland and noncommittal as possible.
 
“What?”  Yelled the little kit.  “What in the hell are you talking about?” 
This was going about as well as Kagome had expected.  She steeled herself for
what came next. 
 
“Lord Sesshomaru offered to make me his mate, to protect my honor, and I
accepted.”  Shippou fell over in a dead faint.  Kagome did her best to make
Shippou comfortable, hoping that he could get a good night’s rest.  Her mother
always said that things looked brighter in the morning, she reflected.   
  
The day had been so eventful that Kagome didn’t have a chance to miss
Sesshomaru until she was laying by the fire, trying to get to sleep.  It was
moko-moko that reminded her that she was actually mated to the demon lord, she
hadn’t thought about him once all day.  She stroked moko-moko remorsefully, as
if that would make up for being a bad mate.  Kagome was a modern girl, and
though the dissolution of her marriage to Inuyasha saddened her, she didn’t
question her decision to start a new life without him.  But maybe, in the heat
of the moment, she had rushed into things with Sesshomaru.  Kagome had admired
Sesshomaru for a long time.  Who wouldn’t?  He was beautiful, powerful, and
charismatic.  Those weren’t the qualities that had caused her to accept his
proposal, however.  She had watched him evolve from a cold and seemingly evil
demon lord, becoming humane and caring.  He had saved her life several times,
kept her from being raped by Mukotsu.  The way she felt whenever he was near… 
the little priestess had never felt that way before. 
 
She had seen the heated looks he gave her from time to time, but she had never
thought he would want to enter into a lifetime commitment with her.  And the
term “lifetime commitment” came with its own set of issues.   Sure, she was
attractive now.  She wasn’t vain, but she knew how people talked about her, and
how males, both human and demon, looked at her.  She didn’t take any personal
credit for her looks.  After all, she had inherited them from Kikyo.  How would
Sesshomaru see her when she turned  50, and he continued to look 19?    She had
more than enough power to go the dark miko route, like Tsubaki, and extend her
youth, but that just wasn’t her style.  Kagome shuddered at the thought.   She
had always known that Inuyasha was immortal, he was, after all, over 200 years
old and still looked about 15.   But somehow with Inuyasha, it hadn’t mattered
all that much.  She had an uncomfortable feeling that was because, though she
had dreamed of being his mate since she was 15 years old, she had always known
in her heart that they wouldn’t be together when she was 50.
 
There were other issues, too.  Though Sesshomaru seemed to lead a solitary and
nomadic existence, he was still the Lord of the Western Lands.  Kagome knew she
could never be happy surrounded by the demon court, or live in a marble palace,
like Sesshomaru’s mother. 
 
The situation was confusing, but even in her anxious state, Kagome had to admit
that it was not all bad.  She knew Sesshomaru cared about her.  His tender,
almost desperate words when he declared his love for her practically broke her
heart, and the physical attraction they shared was so intense it almost scared
her.  She promised herself that, no matter how complicated the relationship
got, that she would do anything it took to make things work out.  Somewhat
comforted by her resolution, she finally managed to drift off to sleep.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          
  
***** Chapter 33 *****
Miroku touched his fingers to his lips.  Her lips had felt so cold.  He was
very worried about Sango.  She was the toughest human he knew, but it just
seemed wrong that she was on a mission so soon after giving birth.  She should
be home, sitting by the hearth, nursing their new baby.  He knew it was his
fault.  For years he had asked every woman he met if they would bear his
children.  He had obsessed over Naraku and the cursed void, sure that it would
expand and pull him in, ending his miserable life before he had a chance to
have a family of his own.  Then, when Naraku was finally defeated, everything
he had wanted had fallen into the palm of his hand like a sweet, ripe plum.  He
had his own comfortable home, a strong, beautiful wife, and the children he had
thought he would never live to see.  Only to have it all fall apart.
 
Amaya had given him the chance to take the easy way out, absolving himself of
all blame.  There were two curses on his family, the one placed by Naraku, and
the one Amaya had placed on his seven-times great grandfather.  His lechery was
not his responsibility, after all.  In his professional capacity, as a monk, he
would tell another man in his situation to go, and sin no more.  Heck, he’d
even give the guy a sly wink and add, “at least don’t get caught”.  Therein lay
the crux of the problem.  As Amaya had said, he enjoyed his curse way too
much.  And Miroku knew that that was his fault, and his alone.
 
He traveled through the night, anxious to get home and start doing right by his
family, as Sango had commanded.  As he walked, he obsessed over Sango.  He
truly did love her.  It felt like a stab to the heart for him to contemplate
the idea that she might not come home.  Oh, he had known that she could fall in
battle, he had accepted that a long time ago.  That would be very bad.  But to
think that she wouldn’t come back because of his own behavior was infinitely
worse. 
 
The long night ended, and the sun rose coldly over the countryside.  He had
emerged from the big deep forest and was now crossing a region of meadows and
cultivated farmland.  Cresting the top of a hill, he looked down into a little
valley town, swathed in a haze of frosty mist that was rosy with the early dawn
sunlight.  He strode past the first enclosed pastures, where horses and cattle
grazed, their warm breath visible in the cold air.  A little bridge arched over
a rushing stream, and here the frost had settled hard on the shrubs and the
overhanging branches of a weeping willow.  The icy crystals shone like the
faceted diamonds of Inuyasha’s “adamant barrage”.  The beauty brought a tear to
his eye.  Holy Buddha, he must be tired.  He rubbed his eyes vigorously with
the back of his sleeve, took a deep breath, and stepped over the bridge.
 
He raised his hand in benediction as he passed a family in a farm wagon.  A
sturdy farmer led the broken down nag, while his fat wife rode in style with
young twin sons and a nubile, wholesomely pretty daughter.  Miroku told himself
not to even look.  And it turned out to be easier than he thought.  He waved as
the family called out cheerfully to him, and he called back a cheerful “good
morning”.  He entered the area of commerce, and came upon a tavern, serving
breakfast.  He went inside, and a buxom maid brought him a steaming bowl of
miso soup.  Her breasts were bound tightly, but not with the intention of
subduing them.  Rather the upper portion had been left to burst forth
abundantly, generously left visible for the appreciation of any who cared to
partake in the view.  Normally, Miroku would have been all over her.  He
gulped, thanked her sincerely for the meal, and bowed his head in a brief
prayer.  The soup was excellent.  Thick and hot and slightly spicy.  He
couldn’t think of the last time anything had tasted quite this good.  As he was
leaving the tavern, he blessed the establishment and pasted up an ofuda,
without even speaking to the owner or asking for payment.
 
Miroku felt much stronger as he left the town.  The soup warmed his belly and
fueled his moral resolve to be a better man.  The day grew slightly warmer. 
Though he was very tired, he began to enjoy his walk.  It had been a while
since he had journeyed alone. 
 
Since Inuyasha’s estrangement from Kagome, he and the half-breed had been
practically inseparable.  Sango spitefully called Inuyasha his “butt buddy”,
but it was nothing like that.  He uncomfortably decided that he and Inuyasha
were not good for each other, each using the other’s bad behavior as a cover
for their own.  As long as they were together, he could tell himself that he
was not so bad.  After all, Inuyasha’s forsaking Kagome for Rin was downright
cruel.  When he stood beside Inuyasha, it was Inuyasha the people of the
village skewered with evil glances.  Miroku knew what they said of his friend. 
Though they enjoyed his protection and feared his power, they called him
“wicked dog”, “cradle robber”, and “abuser of priestesses”.  And those were the
nice things they said about him.  Miroku’s transgressions were more pedestrian,
and the villagers found them easier to forgive.  Every village had a Miroku,
though Edo could pride itself that their lecher was exceptionally handsome and
successful in his endeavors.  Where the villagers cursed Inuyasha, they laughed
fondly at Miroku.  But was he truly any better than his friend?
             
Walking alone down the road, which had long since reverted to a mere rutted
cart-path, Miroku felt just a fragment more clean inside.  If he was striding
along beside Inuyasha, they would probably be making bets about what kind of
success he would have with the ladies of the next village, or joking about the
ones in the town they had just left.  If Rin were along, he would have to watch
them flirting, Rin grabbing Inuyasha’s forearm, Inuyahsa caressing her butt, or
worst of all, Rin would be riding piggy-back the way Kagome used to.  Miroku
hated that.  He really, really hated that.  There were times he wanted to beat
them both with his shakujo until they were bloody and bruised. 
 
For the first time ever, Miroku wondered how Sango felt about the compassion
and love directed toward the little priestess because of Inuyasha’s betrayal,
while the female warrior received very little sympathy, though everyone knew of
his infidelities. He bet it hurt her a great deal, though Sango would never
admit it. He vowed that he would never give her reason to doubt him again, and
prayed he would be given another chance, as Amaya had implied.              
***** Chapter 34 *****
Shippou came awake to find himself staring at the ceiling of a cave, glowing in
the orange light of a campfire. He rolled over, and saw Kohaku, lounging
against the wall of the cave. He was reclining as Sesshomaru habitually did,
sipping tea out of his battered metal cup and staring at Kagome. Kagome lay
sprawled on her back, her perfect skin glowing apricot in the firelight, the
incredibly soft, fluffy bounty of moko-moko’s fur contrasting beautifully with
her smooth, sleek curves. Shippou was creeped out by the way Kohaku mimicked
the demon lord, and he was creeped out by him staring at Kagome. He remembered
Kagome saying Sesshomaru and Kohaku reminded her of two pashas, princes of
Persia, a strange opulent land on the Continent, its nobles known for their
elegant decadence. Whatever about all that. Shippou rolled into a crouch, and
launched himself, hissing, at his friend. Kohaku did not react, continuing to
sip his tea.
 
“What’s with you and that tea, you little jerk?” Shippou whispered, rather than
shouted. He didn’t want to wake Kagome.
 
“You wouldn’t like me if I didn’t drink my tea, Shippou.” Kohaku replied
calmly, ignoring the fact that there was a pissed off fox demon baring a set of
very sharp fangs inches from his neck.
 
“Stop staring at my mom! You’re creeping me out! You’re a sick, twisted
pervert!”
 
Kohaku had no arguments with Shippou referring to Kagome as his mom. They were
all orphans, and it was clear Shippou belonged to Kagome and Inuyasha just as
he and Rin belonged to Sesshomaru. He didn’t like his friend referring to him
as a pervert. That reminded him too much of Miroku, of whom he was none too
fond. “You don’t know anything about it, Shippou, so just shut your mouth if
you know what’s good for you!”
 
Kagome began to shift restlessly in her sleep. Kohaku set his tea down and
crawled across the floor to her, leaning low across her body. Shippou growled,
very quietly, as Kohaku stroked her forehead. Kagome calmed instantly, at which
Kohaku looked Shippou straight in the eye and smiled. “Why don’t you go hunt
some game for breakfast, Shippou. You’re small, but even you should be able to
bring back a few rabbits or something.”
 
Shippou left, looking back to sneer at his friend as he exited the mouth of the
cave. The night was very cold. Every star shone brightly in the blue-black sky.
The moon was starting to go down, meaning that morning would come soon. Kohaku
was right, it was a good time to hunt. Shippou hated that Kohaku was a better
woodsman that he was. Being raised by Kagome had done that to him. She had
spoiled him rotten when he was young, and she still did. She loved to coddle
him when he was home, making him special sweet treats with fruit and honey.
Nobody had ever told her that he was probably older in years than her
grandfather on the other side of the well. Don’t ask, don’t tell. That sounded
like a good policy to Shippou. And now this thing with Sesshomaru. Hadn’t she
been hurt enough by Inuyasha? From what he had observed, it was too late to
change things now. He had seen, and smelled, the mating mark on her neck.
Though it was obvious Kohaku had tried to obscure it with his own scent, it was
easy to tell that Kagome had been intimate with Sesshomaru. He had known
Sesshomaru was interested in his mom for a long time, ever since he was a kid.
But he never thought the lord would mate with her. He would be expected to have
at least one full-demon as his heir.
 
Shippou’s mind started going a mile-a-minute. If Kagome was his mom, Sesshomaru
would be his father, right? Was there any chance he could persuade the great
lord to name him as his heir? All the other kitsune said he was going to be big
and handsome, and he was growing very powerful. If he could prove himself
worthy, he could become the Lord of the Western Lands! Unless his mother’s new
mate were to go the traditional route, and kill him. Shippou shuddered at the
thought. If Sesshomaru were to decide to end his little life, there was nothing
anyone could do about it, not even Inuyasha.
 
Shippou returned to the cave a couple of hours later with a nice brace of
birds, one each for Kagome and Kohaku, and a rabbit for himself. He still
enjoyed eating as humans did, though he had come upon a raccoon during his
hunt, which he killed and drained of it’s blood. He enjoyed the blood of such
beasts, but knew better than to bring its meat home as food. Kagome would never
eat such gamey meat.
 
Kagome was up, and she told him how proud she was of what an excellent hunter
he had grown up to be. Shippou stuck out his tongue at Kohaku, cuddling up to
Kagome, who petted his hair and rocked him in her arms as if he were still just
a little kit. Kohaku prepared the meat for roasting, and soon the homey little
cave was filled with the tantalizing smell of well-cooked pheasant and rabbit.
There were rice balls and persimmons, and even a ripe pear, which they cut up
and split three ways. Kagome insisted. Kohaku had wanted her to have the
delicacy all for herself. He was relieved that she seemed to be back to eating
normally, even heartily.
 
After breakfast, Kohaku suggested that they train for a while, then Kagome
could take a bath in the hot spring. Kagome was eager to see what Kohaku had
planned for her training. She was delighted when he told her they would be
working on agility and flexibility, as he had been doing the other day. He
guided her through some stretching and breathing exercises, working up to
simple yoga-like poses, giving her gentle advice and repositioning a limb now
and then. Shippou watched cautiously. ‘What the hell is Kohaku thinking.
Sesshomaru would have every right to rip his arms off for touching his mate
like that.’ He hoped for his friend’s sake that Sesshomaru would consider
Kagome a mother to Kohaku. That was the only way the boy would get away without
injury.
 
They worked up to the kind of exercises she had seen the slayer performing
yesterday. Kohaku, who had never seen evidence that Kagome was even moderately
athletic, was beyond impressed.   He and Shippou set up some logs for her to
balance on, and he spotted for her while she performed a few cartwheels and
back flips, ending in a graceful dismount. Shippou stood openmouthed. Kagome
bowed as Kohaku clapped his hands in admiration.
 
For lunch, they ate some eggs, which Kagome had buried in the ashes at the edge
of the campfire, sprinkled with a little salt.   They were just slightly
gritty, but very good nonetheless. As they ate, Kagome explained to the boys
about attending school in her time, and how she had practiced gymnastics in
“physical education”, just as they had done today.
 
“I will make you into a real demon slayer, Kagome!” Kohaku enthused.
 
“Yeah, Kagome, in no time at all you’ll be able to kick even Sango’s ass!”  
The little fox threw in.
 
Kagome hoped Sango was doing ok. It was time for the baby to be born, and she
had promised her friend that she would be her midwife. She kept quiet, so as
not to worry Kohaku. She suspected that he worried more about his sister than
he let on.
 
After lunch, Kohaku left to check the snares while Kagome bathed in the hot
springs. It felt great after all the exercise that day. Shippou kept watch,
sitting at the edge of the spring with his back to her, handing her the soap or
the hair pomade when she needed it. Even though Inuyasha had abandoned Kagome,
he had told Shippou that if he caught him around her when she bathed, he would
rip his arms off and beat him with them. This was the closest the two had been
in a long time. There was something about bathing that fostered a family-like
warmth they both missed. They talked about inconsequential things, avoiding the
big scary issues looming all around them.              
***** Chapter 35 *****
Sesshomaru looked down at his brother, working on regaining his usual remote
façade. What a mess, in more ways than one. He had toyed with Inuyasha for
years, inflicting injury, but never maiming him beyond his capacity to heal.
Lately he had begun to regret not having killed him outright. Then he wouldn’t
be in this quandary. Rin had selected Inuyasha to father her pup. He had always
let Rin choose her own path, up until the time he was forced to leave her in
Edo. If he continued to let her determine her own destiny, she would surely
want to stay with this useless mongrel. Resigning himself, he admitted that
there were no good options. He might as well drag his brother back to Rin and
try to intimidate the hell out of both of them, in hopes of getting them to
grow up enough to serve as adequate parents to the new pup.
 
He was still lost in thought, staring blankly at the bloody heap on the floor
when Jakotsu launched himself across the room, throwing himself to his knees
and wrapping his arms around the demon lord’s legs, crying hysterically.
Sesshomaru, distracted with his depressing train of thought, had to stop
himself from placing a comforting hand upon hysterical young man’s head. His
stance was so reminiscent of the way Rin used to attach himself to his person.
Disgusting. But opportunity never knocks twice, and there was no way the demon
lord was going to carry his brother out of there himself.
 
Sesshomaru left the inn and strode majestically down the main road, heading
westward out of town. His white silks bore no stains from the fight, for they
were bespelled. He appeared pristine and dignified as befitted a great lord.
Behind him trailed a beautiful youth with streaks of tears and makeup running
down his face, carrying Inuyasha’s bloody and battered body in his arms.
 
The demon lord made his way out of town. The place made him very uneasy. His
most immediate concern was that there was something about the town that
prevented his powers from working. When he had passed through roughly a hundred
years ago, his powers had not been affected. He remembered it as a hamlet
called Fudo. Situated at the base of the eastern mountains, it had been the
home of a small group of humans who supported themselves by mining and smelting
iron ore. Since the last time he had been there it had grown by leaps and
bounds. In his recent foray into Fudo, he had observed many signs of heavy
industry. The air was redolent with coal smoke, and there was an incessant
clanging and banging, as from a huge foundry. The infrastructure of the town
was obviously in the process of incredibly quick growth, with human and demon
workers hurrying to and fro and carts full of stone and wood being pulled down
the streets by large, low-level demons in harnesses. He had heard of attempts
to use such demons as draft beasts before, but such endeavors invariably
failed. Could the same phenomenon that had stolen his demonic powers be taming
the normally intractable oni?    
 
He was troubled by this industrial build-up and the extremely overbuilt roads
he had observed. While good roads benefited commerce, it was his experience
that the only reason such heavy roads were constructed was to accommodate
massive weapons and large armies.   It was not just the east-west road through
Fudo that was built to military specifications, but the north-south one as
well. He turned to look back at the town, gesturing to Jakotsu to keep walking.
As he had when he first came upon the road, he dug his heel into the roadbed.
This time, he paid close attention to the methods and materials that had been
used in its construction. As he had first thought, it was a typical Roman-style
metalled road. The road itself was considerably wider than Sesshomaru was tall,
and banked so the center was higher than the sides. Curbstones bordered the
edges of the road. Within the roadbed, there was a bottom foundation of stones
the size of a human skull, topped by fist-sized stones, then a well-packed
layer of what he had originally thought to be red clay and gravel. The roads in
the populous part of Fudo had been paved with flat stone joined with the same
substance, but once the road left the borders of the town, the surface, which
he had earlier assumed to be clay, was clearly slag left over from the
manufacturing of iron. Though the term “road metal” referred to the common,
non-metallic, crushed stone commonly used for paving, he had seen slag used as
metalling in regions where iron was being worked before. It made an extremely
durable, solid road surface.
 
He was not the tactician his father had been, but he was the Lord of the
Western Lands nonetheless, and such military preparations did not bode well. He
caught up with Jakotsu easily. Once he had returned his brother to Rin’s side,
he would deal with Fudo.
 
As evening fell, Sesshomaru stopped near a stream to give his brother a chance
to recover from his beating, and for Jakotsu to rest. Jakotsu went to the
stream, and filled his hands with ice-cold water, which he dashed in Inuyasha’s
face, bringing forth a blistering string of curses. It would take a good day’s
travel on foot to come to the place Sesshomaru had left Rin. Jakotsu told them
that he did not need to eat in his current state, but he did need to rest
occasionally, so they all settled down for the night to get what sleep they
could.
 
     
 
 
 
                      
 
 
     
***** Chapter 36 *****
“You ungrateful child! How dare you speak to Lord Sesshomaru in that way!”
Jaken squawked.  
 
Rin was stacking wood to make a fire.   “He doesn’t care about me. Only
Inuyasha cares about me now. He’s the one who loves me and he’s going to take
care of me and the pup, not Sesshomaru.”
 
Jaken had noticed that, when she was under stress, Rin had taken to fingering
the little bag that hung around her neck. He had suspected for a while that Rin
was possessed. Could the bag he had given her as a gift have something to do
with her recent behavior? She was not acting at all like the sweet little girl
who had once followed him and his Lord on their adventures. He sighed
wearily.   He was always having to rescue their human girl. ‘I’m on your side,
Rin. I’ll always protect my little girl.’ He did not put his thoughts into
words. He considered himself the strong, silent type, like his Lord.
 
He watched Rin closely, waiting until she fell into a deep sleep. Jaken crept
softly to her side, being careful not to stumble or make any noise that might
alert her to his nearness. He grasped the bag, severing the cord that held it
in place with his sharp little claw. Clutching the bag against his chest, he
scurried out of camp. He emptied the bag out onto a large, flat rock. For years
the bag had held a variety of keepsakes, but now there was just a single ivory
fang and a pile of dust. Jaken stared at the fang, his mind churning.   The
fang might have nothing to do with the change in the girl’s behavior. There was
only one way to find out. He brought the base of the staff of two heads down on
the fang, pulverizing it. Then he incinerated the remains with the staff of two
heads.
 
Rin’s eyes flew open. Her hand grabbed for the pouch, and when she found it
gone, she jumped to her feet. “Jaken!” Jaken scrambled back into the circle of
firelight. He had hoped to somehow slip the now empty bag back around her neck,
but obviously he had been caught red-handed. “Pack up Ah-Uhn. We’re going to
find Inuyasha. NOW!”
 
The sky was lightening slightly as morning approached. In their sketchy
campsite by the side of the road, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were standing on
opposite sides of the small campfire, engaged in a pissing match.   Jakotsu sat
on the ground, legs sprawled out before him, leaning back on the palms of his
hands, watching intently.   Sesshomaru was the epitome of perfection, as usual,
his straight, silky hair blowing in the early dawn breeze. Inuyasha was far
less refined, his red fire-rat clothing looking somewhat the worse for the
wear, his coarse white hair rumpled. Anger and testosterone were thick in the
air.
 
Jak thought both brothers were really hot when they argued. He couldn’t
understand why they were getting so worked up over a couple of human females.
Jak, who lived for battle, considered women useless. He had gone up against a
few female Samurai in his day, and the had proved to be lightweights. The bone
of contention in the dispute appeared to be breeding rights to two females.  
From what he could gather, Inuyasha had knocked up Sesshomaru’s daughter, but
was married to that bitch, Kagome. Jak remembered Kagome from his earlier
sojourn in the land of the living. He hadn’t been all that impressed. She
looked too skinny for childbearing, and he could not even contemplate wanting a
female as a comrade-at-arms. He remembered Sesshomaru’s human girl as a mere
child. He was shocked and disappointed. His former crush Inuyasha had turned
out to be a cheater and a cradle-robber. Sesshomaru quickly superseded Inuyasha
in Jakotsu’s affections. He was a real man, noble, strong, and loyal to those
who depended on him. My Sesshomaru, he thought dreamily. He was startled to
alertness when a two-headed dragon, bigger than two war-horses, came barreling
out of the sky and into the middle of camp.
 
Rin made a flying dismount from Ah-uhn, and threw herself into Inuyasha’s arms.
Inuyasha pushed her away roughly, more intent on his argument with his brother
than catering to Rin, who he was coming to regard as difficult and demanding.
Sesshomaru caught Rin just as she was about to hit the ground. Seemingly out of
nowhere, the staff of two heads came crashing down on Inuyasha’s skull. Master
Jaken was enraged. “How dare you, you miserable half-breed bastard! How dare
you lay a finger on our Rin!” Inuyasha kicked Jaken into the nearby stream, not
wanting to be bothered with anything but fighting with his brother.
 
Sesshomaru set Rin aside, launching himself at Inuyasha with his claws
extended, dripping with sweet-scented, green poison. The poison that hit the
ground hissed and bubbled. His claws raked his brother’s cheekbone, laying it
open in four deep, parallel gouges. Sesshomaru felt a surge of satisfaction.
Regardless of his brother’s healing and regenerative powers, the acidic poison
would leave a permanent scar. Inuyasha gouged his own claws across the flesh of
his arm, flinging the blood at his brother. “Blades of Blood!” He screamed.
Sesshomaru ignored the injury inflicted by the attack. He closed in tight,
using his full weight and momentum to drive the back of his forearm against his
opponent’s windpipe. He followed through with a knee to Inuyasha’s groin. Once
Inuyasha was down, Sesshomaru planted his right knee in the small of Inuyasha’s
back, while yanking his right arm savagely up to the level of his head.
Inuyasha continued to struggle, but his taller, heavier brother had him
subdued.
 
Sesshomaru leaned close to Inuyasha’s ear, speaking in his low and dangerous
voice. “I’m not going to kill you now, much as I want to. You are going to take
care of Rin and her pup, and I am never going to have to intercede in your
miserable life from this day forward, because if I do, if I hear even the
faintest whisper of a rumor that you have harmed either one of them, that will
be the end of you, dear brother.”
 
Inuyasha hoarsely responded with one word. “Kagome,” he whispered.
 
“Kagome is no longer your concern. You made your choice, now live with it,
Inuyasha.”
 
“I have to protect Kagome! She‘s my wife!” Rin listened to this exchange with
disgust. Inuyasha loved her, not Kagome! Why was he saying he had to protect
Kagome?
 
“You have relinquished any claim you had on Kagome, Inuyasha.   You have
dishonored and abandoned her. As your brother, I have taken her under my
protection. She is now my mate, and you will not interfere, or I WILL send you
to Hell, you miserable little prick. Do not doubt this.   She is mine, and you
will not touch her, you will not speak to her, and if you so much as THINK
about her, I will not spare you, even for Rin’s sake.”
 
Inuyasha let out an agonized howl, so loud it echoed for miles through the
surrounding hills and valleys. “No! She is MINE!” Sesshomaru jacked his twisted
arm painfully higher. But Inuyasha had ceased to care. He fought against his
brother, and his shoulder dislocated with a sickening ’pop’.
 
Sesshomaru could tell that his brother was well on his way to going feral. He
was whipping himself into a fury of epic proportions. Inuyasha was now lying on
his back, Sesshomaru straddling his waist. When Inuyasha transformed, his claws
and fangs were far bigger than Sesshomaru’s own. Sesshomaru narrowly escaped a
powerful swipe of his brother’s claws, only to have Inuyasha latch onto his arm
with his huge, razor-sharp fangs. The demon lord cuffed his brother sharply in
the head with his other fist. When that didn’t work, he repeated the action
several times. It was only the half-breed’s apparent inability to shut up that
freed Sesshomaru’s arm from his jaws. “MY MATE! I WILL KILL YOU!” Sesshomaru
rammed his forehead into Inuyasha’s face, rebreaking his nose. He chopped
Inuyasha’s windpipe viciously with his forearm again, but the half-demon was
now totally out of his mind with rage, and no amount of punishment was going to
subdue him. He managed to twist his way out from under Sesshomaru, and took off
running. He was moving like a bat out of hell, and Sesshomaru realized with
dismay that he was heading in the direction of the cave where he had left
Kagome.
 
Sesshomaru transformed into his energy orb with a crack like thunder. He had to
get to Kagome before the half-breed did. Judging by the unerring way Inuyasha
had taken off in Kagome’s exact direction, the two still shared a strong
connection. Now firmly loyal to Sesshomaru, Jakotsu unhesitatingly hopped onto
Ah-Uhn’s saddle, and the two took off following after the lightning ball that
was their Lord.
 
Rin unnoticed and unwanted, crept out of camp, heading back toward Edo. A few
minutes later, Jaken clambered, wet and half-frozen, from the river where he
had been kicked and scurried after his little Rin.
***** Chapter 37 *****
Miroku made his way into Edo as the sun was setting. The rice paddies that
bordered the village reflected the orange and pink ribbons of the late-
afternoon sky. Smoke from cooking fires spiraled upward through roof vents in
the tiny, homely huts of his adopted village. He was so glad to be home. For a
moment he allowed himself to imagine that Sango was preparing dinner in their
snug little hut, chatting with Kagome and Inuyasha. In his imagination, his two
friends were happily together again, and Sango greeted him at the door with a
kiss. Perhaps soon, he prayed. If only I can be good enough, and never let
anyone down again, it could all come true. He would say many prayers. He would
make many offerings.
 
He went straight to Kaede’s hut, pushing past the bamboo screen that acted as a
door. Inside, he found Kaede sitting, staring into the fire. She looked into
his eyes. Her expression was strangely guarded. “Sit down, boy.”
 
Miroku sat by Kaede’s fire, as he had a thousand times in the past. Kaede
gently said, “I have news for you. Some of it good, and some of it very bad.”
She continued. “You have a new daughter. She is small, but seems to be healthy.
Sango named her Kagome. She also named your other children, before she died.”
 
“Impossible! Sango is not dead, I met her on the road the other day, and she
was fine.” Sango had to be fine. Hadn’t Amaya told him he had one more chance?
 
Kaede looked at him, the wisdom of a long, sad life reflected in her eyes. “I
had to cut the baby from her belly. Her body has not been cremated yet. I was
awaiting your return. I knew you would want to say good-bye to her.” Kaede
lurched to her feet. It was getting harder every year. Soon she would need a
cane to walk.
 
Miroku was beyond speech. He thought that there was a chance Kaede had finally
gone senile, she was, after all, the oldest person in the village. He did not
want to contemplate the other possibility. Sango’s hands, her lips, had seemed
so cold. He knew only one other whose hands had felt so cold upon him, when she
nursed him through the time when he was almost overcome by Naraku’s curse.
Kaede’s sister, Kikyo. Kikyo, who was the walking dead. And then he knew. He
would still look at the body of his wife, but he did not need to see it to know
that Kaede was telling him the truth. His Sango was truly dead. He cried over
her body. He kept a vigil at her side throughout the night in the cold, dark
hut where she lay, sometimes stroking her hair, sometimes kissing her hand. In
the morning, the village prepared for her cremation. He stood by the funeral
pyre as her body was turned to ash.
 
Afterward, he went to Mayuki’s hut, where he met his new daughter for the first
time. Kagome.
 
Many days later, a dispirited Rin limped into Edo, followed by the loyal Jaken.
She would not speak of what had befallen her, and brought no news of Kagome,
who had gone missing at the same time. In the course of the days that followed,
Miroku spent much time with Rin. He became Rin’s only ally in the village,
making sure that she ate properly and trying to involve her with the children,
to distract her from her own sorrows. There was no sign of Inuyasha or Kagome.
 
 
 
***** Chapter 38 *****
All the measuring had paid off, the slayer uniform fit like a black leather
glove, but did not restrict her movement in any way. She came out of the little
dressing room to show the boys.  “I miss full-length mirrors.  I’d really like
to be able to see what this looks like.”  She twisted this way and that, trying
to get a view of how she looked in the outfit.  Suddenly, in the place of the
kitsune that had been there the moment before, there appeared in front of her a
stunning dark-haired girl, with big wide eyes and high cheekbones.  She was
dressed from head to toe in skin-tight black leather.  “Shippou, that’s not
really what I look like.”   Kagome blushed.  There was no way that was her…
 
The girl disappeared, and was replaced by her foster son. “You look really hot,
Kagome.”
 
The tailor’s wife left the room and returned with a leaf-green kimono. “Try
wearing this over the uniform.”  The kimono was made of very light silk, and
was much looser than Sango’s had been. 
 
Kohaku whistled softly. “You look perfect, Kagome.” 
 
After leaving the tailor, they went to the armorer. Kohaku wanted to find
Kagome a chisakatana (short katana) so that she would have a suitable weapon
for fighting up-close and personal.  The daikyu he had purchased for her before
was a powerful weapon, but bows are not appropriate for close-quarters combat. 
He looked at the weapons.  Since it was a demon village, most of the swords
were nodachi and okatana, too long and heavy for the human girl.  The armorer,
who introduced himself as Ken, suggested they visit the pawnshop.  Kagome had
never been inside a pawnshop, and was surprised at the number and variety of
weapons to be found there.  She was fascinated by the tessen.  Kagura had used
the tessen to great effect.  Of course, the tessen Kagura had used was
enchanted.  “Kohaku, do you think you could teach me to use the tessen? 
Perhaps I could learn to channel my powers through it.”  Kohaku did not like
the tessen, it reminded him too much of Kagura.  He and Kagura had had a very
complicated relationship, and he didn’t want what he had with Kagome to be
tainted by memories of the wind witch. 
 
The pawnbroker pointed out an impressive collection of kansashi. Kohaku called
Kagome over, and added several of the six-inch hairpins to her updo, which she
had chosen to show off her jeweled hair sticks.  “I will show you how to use
them later.”  
 
He continued to poke around, until he heard Kagome cry out softly. “What about
this sword, Kohaku?”  The sword was much shorter and lighter than the
Tetsusaiga, its blade only about two feet in length, but possessed the same
curved shape as the big sword in its transformed state.  It seemed to call out
to her.  It was definitely a demon sword, but could it be sentient?  Kohaku
came over, and hefted the sword.  It appeared to be of excellent quality. 
 
The pawnbroker rubbed his hands together, and said unctuously, “An excellent
choice, young master and mistress. This chisakatana was made for a very
prominent and powerful family, and was passed down for generations.  The last
owner was financially embarrassed and left it with me years ago.  I am pleased
it has finally found a suitable owner.”  Kohaku stepped outside, followed by
Kagome, Shippou, and the pawnbroker.  He plucked a red hair from Shippou’s
tail, held it high in the air, and let it drift downward.  He swiftly swung the
sword, cutting the hair cleanly in half.  Kagome gasped at Kohaku’s speed.  It
was not the first time that she had thought he was as fast as a panther demon. 
Surely no human could possess such reflexes.
 
“How much?” Kohaku asked.  Kagome wandered off to take another look at the
contents of the shop.  She was sure the requisite haggling would take some
time.  Near the back of the shop she found something that took her breath
away.  Tossed negligently in a neglected corner, covered in dust, was a leather
pack.  It seemed to be made of material similar to her slayer’s uniform, and
had two straps, like her old yellow backpack.  She dusted it off, and shrugged
her shoulders into the straps.  It fit perfectly.  Smaller than her old pack,
she was nonetheless sure she could fit everything she needed inside it.  All it
would take was a very small spell. 
 
She returned to Kohaku and the pawnbroker, who seemed to have come to an
agreement, and asked the price of the pack. “Consider it a gift.  Such a pretty
girl deserves anything her heart desires.”  The old demon winked at Kohaku, who
blushed.  Kagome thanked him nicely, thinking he was kind of a letch.  She was
glad she was wearing the green kimono over the revealing slayer’s uniform.
 
On the way back to the cave, the trio picked up their snares. As they walked,
Kohaku gave Kagome some basic instruction on how to wield her new weapon. 
“Kagome, don’t hold the sword like Inuyasha.  He was a very bad role model for
swordsmanship.”   There was a crashing, as if trees and brush were being broken
off, and a battered and bleeding Inuyasha stormed into their midst, his
breathing rough, eyes glowing crimson, and his fangs and claws hideously
enlarged.  Jagged stripes adorned his cheeks.  He had obviously gone feral. 
 
Kohaku stepped forward, pushing Kagome behind him. He didn’t want to use his
bone on Inuyasha, but would do so to protect Kagome if he had to.  Kagome
peeked out from behind Kohaku, her new sword still clutched in both hands. 
Inuyasha cried out in a rage “MINE!” and lunged for the pair.  Shippou stood
back.  In his experience, Kagome was the only one who could calm Inuyasha’s
beast.  Kohaku leapt forward to meet the much larger demon’s charge.  He used
the heavy shaft of his weapon to bludgeon Inuyasha.  He could not bring himself
to use the blade against him, in spite of the conflict surrounding Rin and
Kagome.  Inuyasha had no such compunctions.  His huge, sharp claws ripped
through Kohaku’s side.  The smell of his opponent’s blood made him even more
aggressive.  He flipped the slayer to the ground, pounced on him, and drew back
to bury his fangs in the boy’s neck.  Kagome reacted on instinct.  She darted
forward, swinging her new sword with unexpected skill.  As Inuyasha’s fangs
sank into Kohaku’s flesh, the sword cut through the demon’s left arm like a
knife through butter.  All action ceased.  Inuyasha howled with agony and ran
into the forest.  His severed limb lay twitching in the churned-up mud and snow
and blood.  Kagome kneeled over Kohaku.  He was bleeding very badly from the
claw wounds in his side and the bite on his neck. 
 
The little priestess had learned to use her powers for healing, but could not
perform miracles. She concentrated, hoping to be able to stanch the bleeding
long enough to get him back to the cave, where she could clean the wounds and
stitch them up properly.  Her hands were slowly engulfed in a soft pink glow. 
She placed her palms gently over the claw marks.  It took some time, but the
bleeding abated.  She moved on to his neck.  Fortunately, the flesh had not
been torn too badly.  The bite mark was fairly clean, but it was deep.  The
bleeding was very bad, and it took longer to stop.  Once she felt she had done
all she could under the conditions, she asked Shippou to carry Kohaku back to
the cave.  Shippou transformed into a large crow, and crouched down so Kagome
could drape the boy over his back.
 
 
 
            
   
***** Chapter 39 *****
Kagome came crashing out of the forest, followed by a huge black crow, bearing
an injured Kohaku on its back.
 
“Sesshomaru! I’m so glad you’re here!”  Kagome cried.
 
Sesshomaru went to the crow and lifted the demon slayer into his arms. He
carried Kohaku to the cave, where he settled the boy onto the fur cape.  He
removed the upper portion of Kohaku’s uniform, examining his injuries.  It
appeared Kagome had used her powers to seal the wounds, but they should be sewn
up as well.
 
Kagome was rummaging through Kohaku’s pack. “Shippou.  Throw some logs on the
fire, then see if you can make this cup bigger, and boil some water.”  She
found a needle and thread, and the toweling Kohaku had brought for her to dry
herself after her baths.  She had taken to using her purification powers on the
bandages and medical supplies she used in the healing of humans.  More lives
were lost in this era though infection than through blood loss or trauma.  She
was confident that her powers sterilized the items, and she had never had a
patient suffer an infection of any kind.
 
Sesshomaru knelt by Kohaku, supporting his shoulders as Kagome washed the
crusted blood from around his wounds. The little priestess tried to make the
tidiest stitches possible.  Kohaku was sure to carry the scars from these
wounds for life, but she was determined that they would not be disfiguring. 
Once she was done, Sesshomaru brushed his hand across Kohaku’s forehead. 
Kagome was amazed by the tenderness shown by the demon lord.  He laid the boy
down on the cape and stood up.  Sesshomaru took Kagome’s hand and pulled her to
her feet.   
 
“I smell my brother’s blood. What happened?”
 
“In the past, Inuyasha always did his best to protect me, but I wanted to learn
to be able to take care of myself. We thought it was best that I be trained as
a slayer.”  Sesshomaru took in Kagome’s new apparel.  She had removed the green
kimono so that it would not be ruined by Kohaku’s blood, and he thought she
looked luscious in the tight black uniform.  Kagome blushed at the look in his
eyes.  “While you were gone, Kohaku has been working with me on speed,
strength, and agility.  He decided it was time to advance to hand-to-hand
combat and weapons training.  Kohaku bought me a sword.  We were in the forest,
getting me accustomed to my new sword, when Inuyasha attacked.  Kohaku tried to
protect me, but Inuyasha was out of control and mauled him.  I cut off his left
arm with the sword.”  She handed the sheathed sword over to her mate, taking
care to do so in the proper manner.  She wanted him to respect her, and she had
been around warriors and nobles enough to know how important it was to handle
one’s sword with dignity. 
 
Sesshomaru held the sword in his hand, and swiped it through the air much as
Kohaku had done at the pawnshop. “I know this sword.  How did you come by it?”
 
“We went to the armorer’s in the demon village. The swords he had were all too
big and heavy for me, so we went to the pawnshop.  This sword seemed to call
out to me.”
 
“It is a fine weapon. It was commissioned for the women of a very old and noble
family.  You have made a good choice, and you seem to have used it most
effectively.”  Sesshomaru suspected the sentient sword had played a hand in her
proficiency. He returned the weapon to her, and she slid it back in her belt. 
He pulled Kagome close, burying his face in her hair.  He made note of the
kansashi and smirked softly to himself.  His mate seemed to be taking to
weapons with a vengeance.  “When Kohaku has recovered sufficiently, he can
train you in swordsmanship.”
 
 
Kagome was surprised. “Why don’t you want to train me yourself?”
 
“Kohaku is a satisfactory warrior, even by demon standards, but the katana is
not his weapon of choice. He will train you to the extent of his abilities, and
in the process become a more accomplished swordsman himself.  When you have
both attained an acceptable level of proficiency with the katana, I will work
with you both.  He grew serious.  “You smell like Kohaku, Kagome.”
 
She blushed. “We didn’t know how the demons in the village would react to a
human being mated to the Western Lord.  Kohaku decided it was best to muddle
our scents.”  Sesshomaru had to agree with their fears.  All hell had broken
loose when his father had set aside his demon mate in favor of a human
concubine.
 
“I hope Kohaku will choose to stay with us after he has healed. He doesn’t
spend much time in Edo.  He loves his sister, but he doesn’t get along well
with Miroku.  It will seem more like a family if he stays a member of our
group.”
 
“You have made a powerful enemy, and I have yet to determine who it is. Kohaku
can train you and stay with you when I am not able to be there to protect you,
but I want you to be careful around Kohaku.  He has been through a lot, and he
seems to care for you.  Sometimes men in such situations make foolish choices. 
I would hate to have to kill him.  I have regarded Kohaku as a member of my
pack for a long time, much as I have Rin.”
 
“How is Rin doing?”  
 
“She will barely speak to me. She blames me for abandoning her in Edo.  She is
filled with anger to the point of unreason, and she refuses to acknowledge the
pain she has caused you.  She is so unlike herself, I feel as if she is
possessed.” 
 
“Have you ever thought that Rin looks an awful lot like me… and like Kikyo?”
 
“I noticed that the first time I saw her. I had hoped her personality would
continue to be like yours, but she seems to grow more like the dead woman every
day.”
 
“From the first time I saw Inuyasha, I felt compelled to be with him, even when
he treated me badly. Maybe she didn’t have any choice about pursuing Inuyasha.”
 
“It is irrelevant. She carries Inuyasha’s pup, and you are now my mate.  There
is no turning back, Kagome.  I told you that before.”  Kagome had not known
that Rin was pregnant. Kagome had never been a fan of “The Doctor Phil Show”,
unlike many of her friends, but she was sure he would have a field day with
their dysfunctional little family.
 
“I have no desire to return to the way things were. I feel as if I were under a
spell that had been lifted.  I am happy to have found someone who will treat me
well.  You are the most honorable, powerful, beautiful creature I have ever
seen, and I am proud to be your mate.”  He nuzzled against her hair, rewarding
her loyalty with a show of affection.
 
“Do you know why Inuyasha came after me and attacked me?”
 
“I was having a discussion with my brother, when Rin interrupted.  Inuyasha
repudiated her, and claimed you were his mate.  You know this to be false.  He
was mated to the dead priestess, and was only married to you in an invalid
human ceremony under false pretenses.  He lost control and changed to his full
demon form and ran off to find you.  I followed as quickly as I could.  I can
only be grateful that you were able to prevent him from taking you.”
 
“And what of Rin?”
 
“Rin is with Jaken, who is very loyal to her. I am sure he will protect her,
and they will most likely return to Edo.”  He was interrupted by a bellow from
outside.  “Kagome, Ah-Uhn has arrived.  We have a visitor, and it is someone
you have met before.  I ask you to be tolerant of him, we need all the allies
we can get.”  Kagome had been through a great deal of trauma that day, but her
curiosity overwhelmed her.  She rushed to the mouth of the cave, and looked out
into the clearing.  Mounted proudly on Ah-Uhn was her old “rival”, Jakotsu.
 
 
 
 
***** Chapter 40 *****
Sango sat close to the fire, taking comfort in its glow. To those who travel in
the wilderness, fire holds an importance far greater than just preserving body
heat.  A good fire rallies hope, soothes the soul, and provides a gathering
place where even the most hardened warriors come together to laugh and trade
tales.  Across the fire sat Inutaisho, who was taking a break from hitting on
her.  He watched her as she took the jerky Miroku had given her from the top of
her boot.  First she touched the tip of her tongue to the meat.  Inu found the
action arousing, then laughed at the disgusted look that came over her face. 
 
“Does it taste bad?” He asked. She stared at the jerky oddly.
 
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m not hungry.  Sometimes I get like that.”
 
“Midoriko was like that. She worried a lot, had a lot of responsibilities. 
Sometimes she would go for days without eating.  Izayoi was completely
different.  She loved to eat, especially sweets.  Kind of like Kagome.  It’s
odd, that you would be more like Midoriko and Kagome would be like Izayoi” 
 
Sango was surprised at how familiar he seemed with Kagome. “Have you been
watching us much?”
 
“Over the years, I watched my Inuyasha, and when Inuyasha formed his pack, I
watched all of you. That’s when I became so fascinated with you, Sango.  I
admire your strength.  You are truly a warrior worthy of respect.  Kagome
possesses an unparalleled degree of power.  My son surrounds himself with
beautiful, powerful women.  Reminds me of me.”  Inu flashed a roguish smile.
 
“Inuyasha’s first priestess Kikyo was a powerful woman as well. Even when she
returned from death, she had impressive powers.”
 
Kikyo’s fixation with vengeance and hatred of Kagome had bothered Sango
greatly. All of the resurrected she had encountered shared similar obsessions. 
Obviously, Inu would not share her misgivings about the undead.  By her
standards, he should not be walking in the mortal realm, himself.  “She played
a part in fighting Niroku, and she saved my husband’s life.  I have to be
grateful for that.”
 
“But…” He prompted.
 
“I don’t want you to think I’m passing judgment on your being here, but I can’t
help but think that when you die, you should just stay dead.”
 
He studied the fire for a while, then said “Tensaiga was created from my fang.
The power to transcend death is in my hands.  It has been for many centuries. 
Would you have had me watch as Izayoi and Inuyasha perished, when I had the
ability to save them?  And what of me?  The most powerful warrior of all time. 
Unlimited potential for power.  Would it be right to let that be sacrificed at
the hands of a pitiful little Samurai like Takimaru?  The last thing I remember
is being pinned to the floor of a burning building, My last breaths were
agony.  Then I woke up in Hell.  I knew then that I didn’t belong there, that I
wouldn’t stay there.  Think of all I can do in this world.  To allow such power
to perish would be a tragic waste.”
 
Inu toyed with the idea of telling Sango that he had brought her back from the
dead, but he needed her, and he was unsure how she would react. He doubted he
would be overwhelmed with gratitude.  Although he knew he would have to tell
her sooner or later, she had made it amply clear that she didn’t approve of
bringing the dead back to life.  When the time came, he would most likely use
Sango’s preoccupation with Kagome to keep her under control.   Inu had observed
the obsessive nature of the dead who walked among the living.  Though the
complexity of their ideas and behaviors varied, undoubtedly determined by their
original personalities and the motives and methods used by the entity who
resurrected them, they all shared this obsessive trait to one degree or
another.  Sango’s fixation with Kagome’s well-being was sure to help in
obtaining Kagome’s trust. 
 
If he could solidify his hold on Sango’s loyalty, Kagome would be more likely
to have faith in him and accept his guidance. The slayer’s presence in his pack
would help insure the little priestess stayed content.   Kagome had been off
his radar for a short while, as his mate and oldest son had always been. 
According to his latest intelligence reports, however, Kagome was essentially
estranged from his half-breed son, Inuyasha.  For years she had followed the
boy back and forth across Japan, sleeping on the forest floor and fighting by
his side, with never a word of appreciation.  The priestess had put up with
unbelievable abuse at his son’s hands, and Inu planned on treating her much
better than Inuyasha had, showering her with all the love she had been denied
and making sure she had every luxury she could possibly desire.  He had
observed that Kagome was very loyal to those who she loved, a trait attested to
by her repeated forgiveness of Inuyasha’s transgressions.  It was her nature to
connect love with protection, and to be attracted to powerful warriors who
would also be able to keep her safe.  She enjoyed sensual indulgences, like
eating sweets and bathing in hot springs, much as Izayoi had.  Inu knew that he
could provide security and luxury better than any being that had ever existed. 
He was very rich and very powerful.  Even if such practical considerations were
taken out of the picture, he had no doubt that he could persuade Kagome to bond
with him.  Despite Inutaisho’s bloodline being diluted with human blood, two
powerful priestesses of the same line as Midoriko had been irresistibly drawn
to Inuyasha.  He also reasoned that Kagome would be likely to venerate him as
Sango did, for being essentially the progenitor of Inuyasha’s pack.  With Sango
and Kagome by his side, he would finally attain the power decreed by destiny.
 
By now, Inuyasha was sure to be in Fudo, waiting at the inn. Inu had told Amaya
to keep his son there with the promise of lucrative work.  He had instructed
her to have Bankotsu eliminate Miroku, but she had assured him that she would
take care of Inuyasha’s constant companion, and promised there would be no
chance of his interfering. 
 
Once upon a time, before he was a great general, Inutaisho had been a
mercenary, like Inuyasha had become. He had wandered the Continent, performing
little services for whatever party would pay him well.  He found it amusing
that it was his half-breed son who was following in his footsteps.  Unknowingly
and instinctively, Inuyasha had obtained the love of Kikyo and Kagome, just as
Inutaisho would have done in a more calculated manner. 
 
His legitimate son, Sesshomaru, on the other hand, had always been a closed
book to him. Literally.  When Sesshomaru was a very young pup, Inu had tried to
use his powers to influence his son, with no success.  When magic failed, Inu
tried charisma, attempting to charm the young demon into becoming one of his
admirers.  Sesshomaru remained cold and aloof.  Inu soon gave up on his son,
blaming Ai’s strange blood. 
 
When Inu was a himself a pup, his own father had told him of the power-bearing
priestesses of legend. Finding such a priestess had been his quest since
adolescence.  He had been at a public house in some forsaken outpost,
celebrating the successful termination of a minor lord, when he first heard the
story of the beautiful young oracle.  Inu traveled far to reach the land where
the oracle was said to be imprisoned.  He had found her there, held captive in
her cave, and fallen in love with her youthful, human beauty and overwhelming
aura of power.  The fight to free her from her prison had been one of the
hardest battles of his life.  For a while, he was content, feeling as if he had
found what he had sought for so long.  He named her Ai, mated her, and took her
to Japan, where he began to consolidate his power.  Even her madness could not
dampen the love he felt for her. 
 
Inutaisho lay with Ai each night, making passionate love to her, always hoping
she would regain her sanity. He believed it was her madness which made him
unable to access her powers.  He waited for her to become pregnant, thinking
that having a pup might bring her to her senses.  Unlike most nobles, he hoped
for a female pup.  He had no need of a male heir.  He planned to live for a
long, long time. 
 
One tender spring day, he was patrolling his ever-expanding lands when he
crossed paths with a large, angry fire-cat. In the stories told to him by his
father, the power-bearing priestesses of legend often went into battle on the
back of a fire cat.  Inu decided that he would capture the cat, tame it, and
present it to Ai.  The cat was incredibly fierce, and the fight was long and
bloody.  He was unable to take the cat alive, as he had planned.  Once the
noise of their battle subsided, he discovered why the cat had been so
determined.  He heard a soft sound coming from the surrounding forest.  When he
investigated, he found a little two-tailed kitten curled up in a hollow log,
mewing weakly.  He bundled the kitten into his shirt, warming it against his
chest, and took it home to Ai.   
 
     
***** Chapter 41 *****
When Ai awoke, her dais was surrounded by retainers and physicians. It appeared
that her pregnancy had been discovered while she was searching for Kirara. Now
officially confined to her suite, Ai spent her time learning more about her
powers.  She found it was very easy to enter the body of any being she
touched.  She could travel with them, seeing what they saw, feeling what they
felt, or she could take total control of their body, which would respond as if
it were her own.  After a great deal of trial and error, she found that she
could enter the bodies of more distant beings.  This power was more
problematic.  After her first few tries, it became easy for her to seek out
Kirara.  She supposed this was because of the close bond she shared with the
fire cat.  It was more difficult for her to make contact with acquaintances or
strangers.  The more she practiced, the more successful she became.  It was
only by accident that she discovered that she could enter a trance state by
gazing into a dark basin of water, and that she could see visions in the
surface.  Her powers of divination were not perfect, for the visions were
random and confusing.  It was during this time that she also learned to change
her own body to assume any form she desired.  For many years, Ai had been left
alone by her mate’s retainers.  There was no political benefit to be had in
currying favor with the Lady, who was regarded by all as an insane human
witch.  Ai was free to practice her new skills without interference.   
 
Ai spent a lot of time looking out through Kirara’s eyes. The warrior-priestess
and the fire cat left the slayers’ village each morning and went into the
surrounding forest to hone their skills.  Most days, Midoriko was met by
Inutaisho.  Ai watched as Inutaisho presented the priestess with a great sword
and demon armor.  He seemed to be taking an extreme interest in turning the
human woman into a killing machine.  When the pair was not training, Inutaisho
was tender and caring.  Ai became hardened to the sight of her mate coupling
with Midoriko.  The demon lord and the priestess did not care that they had an
audience.  Kirara was a mononoke, incapable of speech or assuming human form. 
 
Their battles became more intense every day. Fighting seemed to bring out
Mikoriko’s powers.  The more fierce the engagement, the more her power grew. 
One late afternoon, when the beams of the sun were slanting through the leaves
of the surrounding trees, Inutaisho called a halt to their sparring.  S’ounga
was thrumming with energy.  The sword seemed to take joy in the vicious
sparring.  The crystal orb set into the hilt of S’ounga glowed with a strange,
intense light.  After staring intently at the orb, Inutaisho returned S’ounga
to the sheath at his back. He swept the sweaty, disheveled priestess into his
arms and carried her to one of his favorite places, where a waterfall cascaded
from high above into a pool of crystal clear water.  The water was tepid in the
shallows, warmed by the sun, but grew increasingly cold in the deeper areas
where the water crashed down from above.  Surrounded by a thick border of
flowering shrubs and vines, the pool was very secluded, the only sound that of
the falling water, and the calls of many small songbirds.  The demon lord
removed the priestess’ armor, stopping now and again to kiss and lick the beads
of sweat from her heated skin.  He peeled off the sweaty leather uniform, and
then quickly removed his own white silk.  Midoriko pressed herself against
Inutaisho’s lean, hard body.  She wrapped her arms around his slender waist,
nuzzling her face into his sculpted, rock-hard pecs.  He was so much bigger
than she, and considered by all to be the greatest warrior in all of Japan.  In
the demon lord’s arms, she sometimes had to struggle against the urge to
believe that she actually deserved to be treated like a fragile, cherished
princess.
 
He led her into the pool, stopping when the water reached his waist. He scooped
up warm water in his big palms, rinsing the sweat from her body, taking the
opportunity to caress every inch of her skin with the greatest of care.  She
clung to him, trembling with a mixture of fatigue and anticipation.  He held
her against him, kneading the tight muscles of her shoulders, as she pressed
her lips against his chest.  Next he ran his hands down her back, using long,
firm strokes, practically hypnotizing her as he repeated the motion over and
over.  Lowering his hands to her buttocks, he squeezed them gently and
rhythmically, insinuating his knee between her thighs.  She sighed against him
as he grasped her hips, lifting her up in the water and down onto his length. 
 
Giving in totally to his domination, she gazed up at him, and caught him
staring into her eyes intently. Not for the first time, she wondered what he
was thinking.  Did he love her?  She had always been told that demons were not
capable of love.  She knew he had a beautiful young mate.  So why was he
investing so much of his time in her, a simple priestess from an insignificant
village?  The men of the village had never shown any interest in Midoriko.  She
was too tough, too driven, and her body bore too many muscles and too many
battle scars to be considered beautiful.  She was grateful for the training he
was giving her, and the demon sword and armor were better than anything she had
ever hoped to possess.  But she was a plain, hard woman, not in the habit of
engaging in fantasy.  There had to be a reason for the great demon lord’s
interest, and Midoriko intended to find out what it was.
 
The more time Ai spent in Kirara’s body, serving as Midoriko’s sparring partner
while they waited for Inutaisho’s arrival, the less she resented the priestess.
Through Kirara’s eyes, she saw that Midoriko was sad and lonely, and realized
that Inutaisho was most likely her only close friend.  That is the way it had
been for her when Inutaisho rescued her from the cave and brought her to
Japan.  He had showered Ai with attention, spending hours with her that he
could have spent attending to his lands.  As Ai had gradually regained her
grasp on sanity, she came to find the way Inutaisho would stare at her intently
for hours to be strange and disconcerting.  It was as if he were looking for
something when he gazed into her eyes.  What she had once viewed as romantic,
she came to see as disturbing.  It was when she was listening to palace gossip
through the ears of a little servant girl that she came to realize that not
only did he never encourage the members of the demon court to interact with
her, he actually led them to believe that that she was dangerously insane.  He
told Ai, in turn, that it was not safe for his human mate to get too close to
the court, which was full of deceit and intrigue.
 
One morning when the sun rose in an orange haze, Midoriko felt it was too hot
and muggy to spar. She sat with Kirara, petting the big cat, and speaking to
her gently.  Ai listened as Midoriko attempted to puzzle out Inutaisho’s
motives. Ai learned that the priestess felt the same misgivings as she did
about her mate’s strange behavior.  She resolved to use her powers to find out
what he was up to.
 
As Midoriko stroked Kirara’s head, Ai’s soul jumped from the fire cat to the
priestess. Ai relished the strength and coordination of the bigger woman’s body
as she made her way quickly to the nearby pool.  She came to an overhanging
willow tree, which shaded the water.  The bottom of the pool was covered in the
dark fallen leaves of the willow, rendering the surface reflective and suitable
for scrying, though she usually preferred nighttime and candlelight for
practicing this form of divination.  Leaning over the pool, she stirred the
surface with her fingers, gazing fixedly into the water.  She thought hard
about her mate.  She gradually entered a trance state. 
 
She saw a large room, which she assumed to be a dungeon. The floor and walls
were made of quarried squares of gray stone, fitted tightly.  There were no
windows, and only one visible door, a sturdy one bound in iron straps and
hinges.  Light came from strange, colored crystals that had been mounted here
and there on the walls.  In the middle of the room, strapped to a high wooden
table, was the body of a dark haired young woman.  She appeared to be dead at
first, but then Ai noticed the signs of shallow breathing.  Suddenly, the heavy
door slammed open and Inutaisho swept into the room.  Ai watched as he took
care to secure the door with a spell.  He moved quickly to the table, where he
seemed to loom over the captive woman.  No matter how hard she tried, Ai could
not see the captive’s features, or even the details of her body, just pale
female skin and the long, blue black   hair that lay loose and tumbled on the
wood of the table.  She had no idea if the vision was taking place in the past,
the present, or the future.  Her mate was unchanging in his appearance.  The
woman on the table was nude, so she could not use the fashion of her dress as
an indicator of the time period.  She could also not be sure if the vision was
literally true, or a symbolic representation of something less concrete. 
Inutaisho reached over his shoulder and grasped the hilt of S’ounga, drawing
the sword from the sheath he always wore at his back.
 
Inutaisho sensed Midoriko’s presence by the pool. The day was becoming very
hot, and he was not surprised to find his lover in the cool shadow cast by the
great willow tree that leaned over the pool.  He detected the presence of
strong magic, and felt hope swell in his chest.  He went to her, and drew her
up by her hand.  He tipped her chin upward and looked into her eyes.  What he
saw was indeed strange.  Midoriko seemed to be in a trance.  He shook her
shoulders lightly, and felt relieved when she came to herself.  The priestess
resonated with power. 
 
Ai returned to Midoriko’s body to find herself staring into her husband’s face.
She traced the jagged markings on his cheeks with Midoriko’s fingers, bringing
her palms to rest on his chest.  Ai could not think of how to trick Inutaisho
into revealing the secrets she was now sure he kept.  She decided to try the
direct approach.  “When you look into my eyes, what is it you are looking for,
My Lord?”
 
Inutaisho encircled her in his muscular arms. He had searched so long for the
priestess who would finally grant him the power he deserved.  Surely, Midoriko
was the one he had been seeking.  He leaned his chin on the crown of her head. 
“All my life, I have been looking for a very special woman, the one who will
make all my dreams come true.  And I think, after all my years of searching, I
have finally found her in you.”                                          
***** Chapter 42 *****
“It’s Inuyasha’s baby.  He’ll have to take care of you.”  Miyuki said with
conviction. 
 
Jaken let out an outraged squawk.  “He doesn’t deserve the chance to even see
the baby.  I’ve always told you, Rin, he’s a dishonorable bastard, a stain on
his noble father’s name!”
 
“Inuyasha is married to the Lady Kagome.  He has been in love with her for
years.  I believe that for a while he was under some kind of spell, which has
been lifted.  He must be very confused.”  Miroku laid a comforting hand on
Rin’s shoulder.  “Do not fear, Rin.  With or without Inuyasha’s support, you
are a part of this village and you and your child will be well cared for.”
 
“Kagome doesn’t even want Inuyasha anymore.  It sure didn’t take her long to
seduce Lord Sesshomaru.”  Rin pouted.
 
This made everyone think.  For a moment there was silence around the fire in
Miroku’s hut.
 
“That whore placed a spell on Lord Sesshomaru!  There is no way My Lord would
mate a mere human!” 
 
This earned Jaken a thunk on the head from Miroku.  “The Lady Kagome has been
treated most poorly by Inuyasha.  I hope that she will experience the happiness
she deserves with Lord Sesshomaru.”
 
Rin muttered resentfully, “I hope she gets what she deserves, too.”  She was
really angry at Miroku.  Wasn’t he supposed to be on her side now?  Kagome had
told her that, when she grew up and became a beautiful woman, the right man
would come along and love her forever.  Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had both
left her for Kagome, and now Miroku was speaking up on behalf of her rival. 
“Kagome, Kagome, Kagome!!!”  Rin shrieked, and ran from the hut.
 
Rin had been sneaking off from the village every day, spending hours in her
cave huddled over a little fire, thinking.  She had concluded that the baby was
a deficit.  All she had to do was look at Mayuki’s lardy ass to know exactly
what her life would be like if she were to stay in Edo to raise Inuyasha’s
baby.  The baby wouldn’t even be a half-demon like its father, just one-
quarter.  Not special at all.  She knew there were ways to get rid of an
unwanted baby.   Kaede would never help her get rid of it, but she had thought
of someone who would be happy to help.  She went to Kaede’s hut, and dressed in
her miko outfit.  She put on a warm cape, and a pair of leather booties that
Jaken had bought for her when she was still traveling with Sesshomaru.
 
The snow was not deep enough to keep Rin from making good time, but it still
took her several days to reach the little town where she had last seen Master
Ungai, the monk who had become famous, or infamous, as an enemy of demons.  He
trained a large and loyal band of fanatical acolytes in his methods for the
purification of demons, and they were known far and wide for the number of
powerful demons they had exterminated.  Long ago, when Rin was still small, she
had been bewitched and kidnapped by an evil demon.  He had used the music of a
magic flute to lure her away from camp, and held her captive in a cave filled
with small children he had stolen from the surrounding villages to sell on the
slave market.  Rin had told the other children not to fear, that her lord would
surely come for her, and that he would save them all.  A strange monk, who had
earlier seen Rin riding Ah-Uhn, had come instead, and reunited the children
with their families.  Rin had instinctively known better than to reveal that
her master was a demon lord, but Master Ungai was clever and found out Rin’s
secret.  He had tried to take her from Lord Sesshomaru, but her lord was strong
and possessed remarkable resistance to the monk’s purification.  A little baby
in its mother’s womb, however, would be a different story.  Rin’s mouth twisted
cynically.  The old monk had been right when he had warned her about Lord
Sesshomaru, and would now be the one to rid her of her demon baby.
 
Rin was greeted by the town’s head man, being accorded the respect always
afforded the traveling miko.  Master Ungai was in residence, as Rin had hoped.
 
Master Ungai rose to his feet when Rin was led into the temple where he
conducted his business.  Ungai’s face had aged since he and Rin had last met,
but he still had the body of a man in his prime.  Years of traveling and self-
denial had kept him lean and fit.   He stepped forward, and reached his hand
out to Rin, tipping the young priestess’ face up to meet his gaze.  “Kagome!”
the old monk exclaimed.  Weary, Rin decided not to correct the old monk.  She
called upon years of training under the guidance of the histrionic Jaken,
summoning tears which she hoped would trickle becomingly down her cheeks.  She
lost control, however, when Ungai drew her against his chest, murmuring,
“There, there, my child.  Everything will be all right, with time.” 
 
She was wracked with sobs, and the tears which had begun as spurious became a
bitter deluge.  Her nose was running, her eyes were red, and her face was
splotchy when she finally pulled herself from his embrace.  He pulled her back
to him, stroking her hair, which had become silky and black as a raven’s wing,
unlike the wild mess it had been when she followed her lord across the length
and breadth of Japan.  He crooned to her tenderly, and she nestled back into
his arms.
 
“Now, tell me child.  What could be so bad, to make you ruin your pretty face
like this?”  Rin recoiled when she felt something hard brush against her belly,
but rallied.  She needed the nasty old man’s help.
 
Rin looked into Ungai’s eyes, her lower lip trembling.  “You were right, Master
Ungai.  When you warned me about demons…  It was terrible.  You have to help
me, please!”
 
“What has that monster hanyou done to you?  You poor child, you must tell me. 
I will not judge you, so do not fear.  It must be told, in order for me to know
how to help you.”
 
“He did things to me, horrible things.  I tried to make him stop, but he was
too strong!  Now I bear his child!  You must help me, Master Ungai.  I know you
can make it all go away.  I know you can!”  Rin was immersed in her role,
almost believing herself, that she was a misused young innocent, rather than a
willling accomplice in her own fate.
 
Ungai rocked her gently in his arms.  “Do not fear, Kagome.  You can count on
me.  I know of a way.”
 
Rin forced herself to sniffle, then look up at him again.  “What will you do,
Master?”
 
“It is a ritual, it may be hard on you, child, but when it is complete you will
once again be pure, and will not be burdened with a filthy demon child.” 
 
Rin nodded, biting her lower lip.  “When can we
start?”                             
***** Chapter 43 *****
Miroku could not find Rin anywhere in the village. He knew she had been seeking
out the solitude of Onigumo’s cave when caring for his and Miyuki’s children
became too overwhelming for her.  He would let her be, for a while at least. 
Miroku knew what it was like to need time alone.  Maybe some quiet and
meditation would help her deal with the hand fate had dealt for her.  Rin did
not return in time for dinner, and still had not turned up when it was time for
breakfast in the morning.  Miroku made the trek to Onigumo’s cave, but she was
not there and snow had obscured any tracks she might have left.
 
Inutaisho felt a prickling of awareness rush over him, a sensation he had not
felt in over a fortnight. Kagome!  Not being able to detect her whereabouts had
made him very uneasy.  He knew she could not have passed from the earth in any
conventional way without him being told about it.  His servants in hell were
well aware of his interest in the little priestess.  He had begun to worry that
she had been claimed by the kami.  It would not be the first time they had
thwarted him in such a manner.  He raised his nose to the breeze, feeling as if
he should be able to catch her warm scent on the cold, snowy air.  He scoffed
at his flight of fancy.  He knew she was far away, but she would be by his side
soon, very soon.  He glanced over at Sango.  They had continued to travel east,
and were a day away from Fudo.  He considered his options.  He could not assume
that Sango would be loyal to him, not yet.  If he took her with him when he
went to retrieve Kagome,  she would be an unpredictable wild card.  If he left
her behind in Fudo, well cared for and pampered, he could persuade Kagome to
accompany him to be reunited with the slayer, whom he knew she regarded as a
sister.  He assumed Inuyasha and Miroku had already been dealt with.  He had
known Amaya for what seemed like a thousand years, and though he had never met
Bankotsu or Jakotsu, the two mercenaries had come highly recommended by their
comrade, Renkotsu.  The innkeeper had proven his reliability as his agent and
go-between.  “Sango, I have some business that needs to be taken care of. 
There is a good-sized town up ahead, with a comfortable inn and hot spring.” 
He handed her a purse, heavy with coin.  “Take a few days to relax and regain
your strength.  I will seek out information about Kagome while I am gone, and
when I return, we will find her together.”  Sango accepted the purse, and
continued eastward toward Fudo.  Inutaisho regretted that he could no longer
change into his true form, he missed running wild across the countryside as a
giant, white dog.  But he could summon an energy orb.  With a crack like
thunder, he shot away westward in a blazing ball of red light.
 
Rin lay on a sleeping mat, covered with blankets. She was cold to the bone and
shaking.  She felt terrible.  Master Ungai’s female servant knelt by her side,
chaffing her hands, trying to warm them.  “Lady Kagome, my master says you must
have had some of the demon’s blood inside you.  You are suffering the effects
of his purification.  But you should be better soon.”  Rin gritted her teeth,
and nodded her head.  At least the baby was gone.
 
Three days later, she did feel better, though she was weak. Ungai had been
avoiding her, but now that the blood had ceased to seep from between her legs,
he came to her room and knelt by the side of her pallet.  “I know you feel weak
now.  The demon blood running through your veins gave you a false sense of
strength and well-being, but you are better off without it.”  Rin nodded
bravely.  “You will once again be the pure priestess you were always meant to
be, before that animal led you astray.”  He picked up Rin’s hand and held it to
his lips.  “It is my hope that you will choose to stay with us, my dear Kagome,
and aid us in our fight against monsters such as the one who misused you.”  Rin
was relieved when a loud crash and shouting from outside interrupted his
speech.  Ungai ran out of the room to investigate the uproar.  Rin quickly got
up and gathered her belongings.  She would make good use of the disturbance to
escape from the temple.  She had no intentions of staying with Master Ungai.
           
Inutaisho was refused entrance at the front gates of the town. Ungai’s acolytes
formed a well-trained militia which guarded the town well, and demons were most
definitely not welcome. 
 
The demon lord smelled Kagome’s blood coming from inside the fortified walls of
the town. There was no way he would lose her now!  He rushed the gate, holding
his great sword to the side as he used his shoulder as a battering ram.  The
town was uncommonly well defended.  The guards at the gate were dressed in the
brown and saffron robes of an order of monks dedicated to the eradication of
demons, so he felt no regret when he decapitated two, and cut off the arm of
another.  Archers and warrior monks armed with pikes had been alerted, and
arrows rained on Inutaisho from battlements built into the walls of the town. 
Arrows protruded from his body.  He had incurred what would otherwise have been
mortal wounds from pikes and swords wielded by the town’s defenders, but they
had no effect on him as he slashed his way toward a large temple, the source of
the scent of Kagome’s blood.  The weapons of man could have no effect on
Inutaisho in his present form.
 
Inutaisho stormed his way into the temple, severing limbs and decapitating more
of the fighting monks at every turn, and fought his way into a ceremonial room
containing a raised dais and basin carved from stone. Here the scent of
Kagome’s blood mixed with the remnants of purifying magic were strong.  Though
his sense of smell was nowhere near as good as it had been when he was alive,
he could tell that she had lost a hanyou pup, which he knew must have been
Inuyasha’s.  The little priestess was not present.  He continued on to a
sleeping chamber, where she had obviously lay for several days, bleeding.  The
monks had stopped coming.  The few who had not been felled by his sword had no
doubt fled.  He was alone in the temple.  Kagome was nowhere to be found.  He
concluded that either she had been led away or she had managed to escape on her
own when he attacked the temple. 
***** Chapter 44 *****
Miroku, Jaken, and Kaede huddled around the fire in Kaede’s hut, making plans.
Kaede had served up bowls of her famous stew, which even Jaken seemed to
relish.  Normally Jaken would not consider eating food that had been prepared
by a human female, but Lady Kaede was a truly exceptional woman, and her
cooking was excellent.  Jaken eyed Kaede up and down.  The priestess reminded
him in many ways of his former fiancé, whom he had abandoned when he left his
troops to follow his Lord.  The wrinkles, sparse, stringy gray hair, and pasty
skin were enhanced by the eye patch she wore.  Her squat figure spoke of
strength and endurance.  Jaken felt the eye patch lent her an enticing air of
mystery, and as for the missing eye, his mother had always said every woman
needed one little imperfection to set off her beauty.
 
Kaede caught Jaken staring at her, and cast him a withering glance. Jaken’s
face contorted in response.  She was interested!   He scooted closer to her
place by the fire. 
 
Miroku gave his report. “Lady Rin disappeared yesterday afternoon and did not
return for dinner last night or breakfast this morning.  She has been spending
time at Onigumo’s cave, so I went and checked it out.  She was nowhere in
sight, and I could not see any tracks.  Snow was falling, so she may have been
there earlier and left.  Now the sun is nearly down, and she has still not
returned to the village.”  He looked down into his bowl of stew.  He hoped that
long gray thing was not a worm.
 
“Onigumo’s cave!” Kaede exclaimed.  “The girl has been frequenting that place
of evil?”  She shook her head in dismay.
 
“I exorcised it, years ago, and every spring I place new ofudas around the
entrance.” Miroku responded.  “I told Rin that bad things had happened there. 
She seemed strangely attracted to the place though.  It’s where she and
Inuyasha held their trysts.”
 
Jaken gagged. “Too much information, monk!”
 
Kaede loved to pontificate, and here was a golden opportunity. “Yon child has
been acting most strangely of late.  She was once a sweet and willing young
lass, but has grown rebellious and angry.  She seems to have become most bitter
toward Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome, and this occurred well before their
mating.  Strange as it may seem, I have witnessed such behavior many times in
this long life, in girls as they enter womanhood, especially when they have
been subjected to abuse when they were younger.”  She directed her one-eyed
glare at Miroku.  “Do you sense any signs of possession?”
 
“None, and surely Kagome would have said something if she had detected such a
thing.”
 
All three were quiet for a while, staring into the fire. Jaken hawked and spit
into the embers, producing a flare of green flame and an indescribably bad
smell.  “Rin is a good girl.  Don’t any of you dare say any different.  I
raised her myself since My Lord brought her back from the dead.”
 
Miroku was placating. “You did a marvelous job with Rin, Jaken.  She was always
a delightful child.  Now she needs our help, and in order to help her, we need
to figure out what is making her this way.”
 
Jaken, who considered any acknowledgement of emotions to be not befitting a
demon and warrior such as himself, shifted nervously. “Rin has had a lot of bad
things happen to her in her short life.  We don’t talk about these things, but
human males used her badly when she was very small.  She used to wake up
screaming, sometimes.  When Lord Sesshomaru resurrected her, she was very thin
and frail.  She had to steal food from the villagers, who would beat her until
her bones broke.”  He surreptitiously wiped away a little green tear, which was
trailing down his furrowed cheek.  “It was only after Lord Sesshomaru began
feeding her his blood that she got better.”
 
Miroku and Kaede exchanged alarmed glances. Jaken had seemed awfully matter-of-
fact about a human child ingesting demon blood.  Miroku cleared his throat, and
asked as casually as he could, “Jaken, do demons commonly make a practice of
feeding their children on blood?”
 
Jaken shook his head. “No, I have never heard of such a practice before, but
Lord Sesshomaru said that his mother did the same for him.  He said that his
mother had special blood, and that because of her, he also had special blood. 
He wanted to make Rin strong and well, and his blood did that for her.  I saw
it myself.  She put on weight, and grew taller very quickly.  Her bones were
not straight when she came to us, as the bones of a healthy child would have
been.  But soon after she began taking My Lord’s blood, little Rin started to
grow straight and strong.  She stopped having so many bad dreams.”  Jaken was
now openly crying.  Kaede handed him a small cloth, which he used to mop up his
tears.  “My lord would never do anything to hurt our Rin!”
 
Miroku gently patted the little green imp on the back. “There, there, my man. 
I never meant to suggest that Lord Sesshomaru harmed Rin.  How long ago did he
cease to feed her his blood?”
 
“When Rin began to bleed as a woman does, Lord Sesshomaru deemed it unfitting
to engage in such intimate acts any longer. That is when he brought her to Edo
to study as a miko.”
 
Miroku rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Hmmm…  Very interesting.  So her strange
behavior could be caused by the evil influence of the cave, her unfortunate
past, the fact that she was resurrected, the sudden withdrawl from Sesshomaru’s
blood, or even the feeling of resentment at being abandoned by her adopted
father.”
 
“My Lord also had to venture into Hell to retrieve her at one time.” Jaken
added helpfully.
 
‘Great Kami, what a mess!’ Miroku thought privately. But he knew the importance
of speaking in a positive and decisive manner.  “Rin needs all the help we can
give her.  Let us convene at Onigumo’s cave at first light.  Kaede, bring the
ritual objects you need for purification.  Tonight I will prepare special
ofudas.  Jaken, I know you are knowledgeable in the ways of sorcery.  Bring any
charms you might have that could help in subduing a malicious spirit.”
 
Kaede added, “I think it would be best if we could totally destroy the entrance
to the cave, so Rin or some other innocent soul who comes along will not stand
any chance of becoming contaminated by any remaining evil influence. You have
tried to exorcise the cave once, monk, and Onigumo’s lingering spirit may not
have been eradicated.”
 
Jaken cried out, “The slayer’s explosive powder! We can use that to blow up the
whole cave once it has been exorcised and purified!”
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
***** Chapter 45 *****
“Oh, my poor little Ninja.” Jakotsu cooed, kneeling by Kohaku’s side.  He
picked up the slayer’s hand, stroking it gently.  Kagome sat cross-legged
across the fire from Jakotsu and Kohaku, while Sesshomaru assumed his trademark
stance, lounging against the wall of the cave.
 
Shippou looked uncomfortable for a moment, then muttered, “I’m going to hunt
some game for the humans. Kohaku should have some broth when he revives.”  He
remembered the vicious Jakotsu from when he was a little kit, and he was not
happy to find that he was to be part of Sesshomaru’s pack.
 
“I thought you died at Mount Hakurai, Jakotsu.” Kagome ventured.  Like her son,
she remembered Jakotsu’s thirst for blood and lust for Inuyasha in less than
favorable terms.  “What has brought you back to the land of the living?”
 
“Like I owe you an explanation, you miserable wench.” Jakotsu growled, quietly
so as to avoid disturbing his “little Ninja”.
 
“Jakotsu, Kagome is my mate. She is the alpha female of this pack.  If you
intend on following me, you will take care to treat her with the utmost
deference.”
 
Jak blushed, and stared into the fire, still holding Kohaku’s hand in both of
his own. He was accustomed to the hierarchy of the Band of Seven, but being
held in lower esteem than a mere female was a tremendous blow to his ego.
 
Sesshomaru continued, “My mate’s safety is of the utmost concern, and I will
not be able to be around to protect her all the time. We have a powerful enemy,
whose identity is as yet unkown.  It is imperative that his identity be
discovered and the threat he poses eliminated.  Kohaku has been safeguarding
Kagome for me, but now he will be out of commission for an unknown period of
time.  I remember fighting you, and you are a powerful warrior.  You already
hold this Sesshomaru’s respect.  Whether you become a member of this pack is
your choice.  You are free to go if that is your desire.”
 
Jak bit his lip. Decisions, decisions.  He could return to his big brother,
Bankotsu, in Fudo, or he could stay here and become a member of Sesshomaru’s
pack.  He and Bank had been lingering at the inn in Fudo for months, with no
prospect of blood or battle in sight.  As usual, Bank was treating him like a
mushroom, keeping him in the dark and feeding him shit.  In his current form,
he couldn’t even eat solid food, though he had developed a capacity to drink
sake.  Sake had been his only pleasure for too long.  The demon lord had
promised him a place of respect in his pack.  Judging by the condition his
little Ninja was in, the prospect of bloodshed and violence was near at hand. 
“I will follow you, My Lord.  And I will watch over your Mate, and treat her as
I would my own sister.”
 
“Good.”   Sesshomaru responded.  The subject was obviously settled, Kagome
thought grimly.  She would be stuck with the nasty deva as a watchdog if her
mate decided to take off again, and she had no say in the matter.
 
“So, Jakotsu, it was Naraku who brought you back from the grave the last time
we saw you. To whom do we owe thanks for the pleasure of your company this
time?”
 
“I do not know. My big brother did not see fit to tell me who summoned us or
what our mission was to be.”
 
“So Bankotsu has been resurrected, also. What about the rest of the Band of
Seven?”
 
Sesshomaru was proud of his mate. She possessed an incisive mind.  She also
wasn’t afraid of cutting right to the heart of an issue.  He sat back to
listen.
 
“Bank is the only one I’ve seen. We’ve been staying at in inn in a town named
Fudo, near the Eastern Mountains.  The innkeeper is taking care of us while we
wait for our assignment.  At least that’s what Bank told me.”  He finished
sullenly.  He knew there was much information his big brother was withholding
from him.  Lord Sesshomaru, on the other hand, had stated his options clearly,
and given him a choice as to whether he would join the Lord’s pack or follow
his own path.
 
“Where’s your folding sword?”
 
“The innkeeper is holding my sword and Banryu in safekeeping, until we are
called upon to do battle.”
 
“That’s gotta hurt.” Muttered Kagome.  She knew how much pride Jakotsu took in
his trick sword.  ‘Give credit where credit is due, Kagome,’ she told herself. 
Jakotsu was an amazing swordsman.
 
“We need to get Jakotsu a new sword, Sesshomaru.” Kagome instructed.
 
“Hnn.”
 
“He and Shippou can go to the demon village and purchase a sword tomorrow,
while we stay here and watch over Kohaku.”
 
Sesshomaru could see more than one advantage to Kagome’s plan. Jak really did
need a sword to fight effectively, and the errand would keep Shippou and Jak
occupied for most of the day, allowing him to spend some time with his mate. 
He was becoming disturbed at how little time they were getting to cement the
bond of their mating.  Demons mate for life, that was a given, but some unions
were more felicitous than others.  He was treading on dangerous ground by
neglecting his mate. 
 
Kagome gave Jak a blanket Kohaku had purchased in the demon village, then
settled down to sleep with Moko-Moko. Soon the only sound in the little cave
was the fire crackling away merrily.
 
Kagome awoke with a start. She was lying by the fire, a strong masculine arm
holding her against a hard chest.  “Kagome, hush.”  She relaxed.  It was her
mate.  She lay as still as she could as she felt his hand work its way downward
to the junction of her thighs.  She was dressed for the night in the green silk
kimono, and nothing else, so it was easy for him to gain access to her private
places.  He was very gentle as he caressed her clit.  She felt herself break
out in a sweat.  It had been too long, and she missed his touch.  She had
witnessed the tolerance for public sex which prevailed in this era far too many
times for her own comfort, and prayed Sesshomaru did not intend to go all the
way with her here, in the presence of Jakotsu and Kohaku.  They appeared to be
asleep now, but Sesshomaru had not proven himself to be the silent type in
their prior couplings.  She was relieved when he rearranged her in his arms and
rose to his feet with his characteristic grace.  He carried her, bridal-style,
from the cave, and made his way through the snow to the hot spring where had
been taking her baths.  The heat of the onsen kept the snow from building up on
the nearby ground, and the air was much warmer there.
 
Sesshomaru lowered Kagome so her body dragged down the length of his, then
undid the ties that held her lightweight silk kimono in place. He went to his
knees before her, something he had never thought he would do.  From this
position, the great difference in their heights was equalized, and he easily
bent his head to bring his mouth to the mating mark on her shoulder.  He felt
her clutch his shoulders to keep her balance.  He knew that the mating mark
would increasingly become a major source of physical pleasure to his mate, but
it would take time to cultivate it and teach her to regard it as the erogenous
zone it was for female demons.  He caressed the mating mark with his lips and
tongue, then began to lightly bite the sensitive skin of her neck.  After
paying thorough attention to her mating mark, he kissed his way down to her
breasts, holding her in place with one hand and pressing his palm firmly
against the breast he was not working with his mouth.  Her nipples were as hard
as little stones, and he could smell her arousal.  She was fertile, and he
dared not join with her this night, but he was sure he could satisfy her
nonetheless.  He grabbed her waist in both hands, urging her to the ground. 
Moko-Moko curled around her obligingly, protecting her from the rocky surface
that surrounded the hot spring.
 
Kagome wondered why Sesshomaru had not shed his own clothing, even his sword.
He parted her legs with his strong hands, then lowered his head to kiss her
stomach.  She felt a thrill as she began to expect what he had planned for
her.  No one had done this to her before, not even her husband Inuyasha, who
had seemed to know of only one position, that being doggy-style.  Even though
Kagome had been a virgin, her friends from school were not so virtuous, and she
had been regaled with heavily-embroidered accounts of their exploits.  She had
intended on introducing Inuyasha to other practices, but the time of their
intimacy had been so short.  He had never kissed her below the waist, and the
sensation was new and strange to the little priestess.  She shivered as
Sesshomaru found a remarkably sensitive spot near her hip.  Kagome could feel
her mate’s lips smiling against her when she let out a little moan.  He teased
her with his tongue, working his way slowly toward her clit while holding her
hips still with his big hands.
 
Suddenly, Sesshomaru let out a startled grunt, and jumped to his feet. Moko-
Moko curled into its place around his shoulders.  Kagome gathered her kimono to
cover herself, thinking that he had sensed the approach of danger.
 
“Kagome. Return to the cave, and stay there.”  She saw his eyes were turning
red.  For some reason his beast was taking over.  He ran from the hot spring so
quickly that he became a white blur that faded into the falling snow as he
disappeared from her sight.
 
She had never realized how similar the two brothers were. Here she was, left
alone in the middle of sex, in the middle of the wilderness, in the middle of
the night, with no weapon, no shoes, and hardly any clothes.  He hadn’t even
left Moko-Moko this time.  Kagome sighed.  He had told her to return to the
cave, but it was several miles away, through the snow, and it was bitterly
cold.  The moon was out, but the thickly falling snow obscured its light.  She
could stay near the warmth of the onsen, but she knew no one would come for
her.  The others would assume that she was with their Lord.  ‘First things
first’, she thought.  She crouched down close to the water, and did her best to
clean herself up without getting too wet.  She donned the kimono, and began to
retrace the path through the forest to the cave.  Her feet were unaccustomed to
being bare, and the cold snow and ice made them become numb almost right away. 
She didn’t even feel the cuts that began to form as she stepped on sharp stones
and sticks, but did gasp with pain when one sharp stick pierced all the way
through her right foot.  She could feel the warmth of her blood as it flowed
over her frozen flesh.  She would have to hurry.  She found a branch, which she
decided might make a suitable walking-stick, and limped in the direction of the
cave as fast as she could.  She grew colder and colder, and found herself
considering stopping to rest.  She knew this would be a fatal error, and
resisted the temptation, and kept lurching along as best she could.  As she
neared the cave, she was forced to resort to crawling.  She let out a weak
little mew as she used the last of her energy to pull her body through the
mouth of the cave.            
    
***** Chapter 46 *****
Cyclonic winds shot through with brightly colored orbs of energy and sizzling
bolts of lightning whipped around his figure as he allowed his beast to take
control. The great white dog that emerged from the electrical storm howled and
launched himself into the snowy night sky, desperately seeking his pup. Little
Rin, who had followed him across Japan, and who had always had perfect faith in
her Sesshomaru Sama. When she was very small and frail, he had fed her his
blood. Even when she grew strong, he continued the ritual, binding her close so
that wherever he went, he could feel her presence deep inside his soul, every
minute of every day. Though she was now an adult and no longer loved him as she
once had, his blood still coursed through her veins, and he would never abandon
her. He was with his new mate, pleasing her by the side of the onsen, when
suddenly a piercing pain stabbed through his heart, and for the first time in
many years he could no longer feel his pup’s presence. No matter how much she
changed, he would always remember her as she had been as a child, her face lit
up by her cheerful, gap-toothed smile. Once Naraku was defeated, his primary
focus had been to find the perfect way to extend her life without changing her
into something else or sacrificing her mortal soul. He could not conceive a
world without Rin in it. He stretched his consciousness out across the land, to
the east, south, west and north. He could not feel the presence of his Rin,
anywhere. The beast darted through the night sky until he came to Inuyasha’s
Forest. From there he circled outward in ever widening circles, seeking out
Rin’s scent.
Master Ungai huddled in the escape tunnel that ran from a concealed door in the
temple to the thick forest outside the town’s walls. He remembered Kagome’s
companion Inuyasha well. He was a mere hanyou, armed with a demon sword, yet
seemingly of little consequence. When he heard the disruption at the town’s
gates, the monk had expected to find his men fighting Inuyasha. What he had
actually encountered in the ceremonial room of the temple was a vision from
hell, an evil god of chaos set loose upon the earth. A huge warlord of a demon
whose white silk garments and long white braid were stained by the blood of
Ungai’s acolytes, bearing a fearsome sword and howling with the rage of a great
wild beast. Could the Lord of the West, Sesshomaru, have grown into this
monster in the years since he had last seen him? There was a strong
resemblance, but demons were known to change slowly, and the demon lord who was
the master of little Rin had been fearsome, but slender and agile, graced with
tender features any hime would envy, not the rugged behemoth he had just seen
slaughter his troops. Regardless of the demon’s identity, there was no way
Ungai could defeat such a monster in battle. The little priestess was on her
own now.
Rin ran from the temple, and out a minor gate in the town wall, into the
surrounding forest. There were no guards. They had all apparently been
slaughtered. The temple and the streets of the town were dripping with the
blood of Ungai’s troops. She had felt the attacker’s overwhelming demonic aura,
and knew it was not that of Lord Sesshomaru. She assumed the unknown demon was
raiding the stronghold out of enmity toward Ungai. Although she had no idea he
had come for her, she knew it was best to try to evade his notice. Rin
evaluated her options, and decided to avoid any well-traveled roads and stick
to the cover of heavy forest on her way back to Edo. Traveling with Lord
Sesshomaru had made her skillful at finding her way in the wilderness. She
headed in the general direction of Edo until she found a game trail heading in
the right direction. She had traveled a few miles on the narrow footpath, which
wound through a dark and creepy swamp, when suddenly a bloody, disheveled form
came crashing out of the underbrush.
“Inuyasha!” She cried, rushing to him. He pulled her to his side as best he
could with his right arm. To her horror, she saw that his left arm had been
hacked off, leaving a bloody stump protruding from his shredded fire-rat robe.
She cuddled into his side, leaning her face against his chest.
Inuyasha sniffed, then looked at her in shock. “Rin! What happened to the pup?”
Rin had no trouble summoning the tears that streamed down her face. Her heart
was suddenly overwhelmed by remorse. Her life had been spinning out of control,
and she had told so many lies and hurt everyone who had cared about her. How
had she become such an awful person? Rin was caught in a trap of her own
making. Though she regretted all the lies she had told, she knew she did not
dare to tell Inuyasha the truth. He would surely kill her for deliberately
aborting his pup. “Oh, Inuyasha!” She sobbed. “It was so horrible. Master Ungai
did it. He purified our pup!”
Sesshomaru had found her scent. Rin was still alive, and she was with Inuyasha!
He shape-shifted in mid-air, assuming his humanoid form. Spotting the two, he
plummeted from the sky, landing with a flourish of white silk and fur. Inuyasha
shoved Rin behind him. Pathetic! As if Inuyasha could keep him from his Rin. As
Sesshomaru advanced on the pair, Inuyasha clumsily pulled his sword and used it
to hold his brother back. “You have only one arm, little brother. It would
appear the worm has turned.” With incomparable grace, he drew his own sword,
disarming his half-brother in one elegant motion. He lunged for Rin, grabbing
her wrist in his free hand. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind at the
story her scent told. None of them reflected well on Rin. “You have broken your
bond with me, Rin, and you have lost Inuyasha’s pup. You have been a busy girl,
have you not?”
Inuyasha snapped. “Don’t talk to her like that! Ungai purified her and the pup.
It was none of her doing!”
“How did you come to be in Ungai’s company, Rin?”
Rin was caught. Sesshomaru was much older and more cunning than Inuyasha, and
there was no way she would be able to manufacture a lie that would fool him. “I
didn’t have any choice. When Inuyasha cast me aside, I sought out Ungai. I knew
he was the only one who would be willing to help me.”
Rin struggled against the hold Sesshomaru had on her wrist. He let her go, and
she ran to Inuyasha, sobbing hysterically. “I still love you Inuyasha. Please,
let me stay with you!” Inuyasha turned away. He had betrayed her, as he had
betrayed Kagome. But Kagome would never have killed his pup! “Shut up, Rin! I
just don’t give a damn any more!”
“Inuyasha, return Rin safely to Edo. Either take care of her yourself, or give
her into the care of Jaken. It is your choice.”
Inuyasha replied in his sarcastic voice. “Haven’t we already been through this
once before? She’s no good, Sesshomaru. All she does is manipulate everyone
around her. I made a big mistake having anything to do with the lying,
murdering bitch!”
“No Lord Sesshomaru! Don’t make me go with him! He doesn’t want me! Take me
with you! Please, I’ll be good, I promise!”
Rin would always be his daughter, though she no longer carried his blood in her
body. He wanted to protect her, and instinct compelled him to take her back
into his pack. But Kagome was his mate, and she had suffered too much already
at the hands of Rin and Inuyasha. He thought of how he had left her at the
onsen, and felt a twinge of remorse. It seemed he was destined to hurt her too.
Though it cut him to the heart, he would spare Kagome this indignity at least.
“Kagome is my mate. She treated you like a little sister, but you betrayed her.
Perhaps someday you will be able to redeem yourself to her, but it will take
time and effort. I will come to Edo in the spring to check on your well-being,
but you must make your own way in this world, Rin.”
***** Chapter 47 *****
Kohaku lurched to his feet, swaying dizzily. He stumbled to where Kagome lay
sprawled, half in and half out of the cave. “Help me carry her, Shippou!”
Shippou rushed over, gathering his foster mother into his arms. There was no
way Kohaku could even help to carry Kagome, he could barely stand, himself. The
fox demon laid Kagome gently on the fur robe.
“Jakotsu, add more wood to the fire.” Kohaku commanded. He knelt down beside
Kagome, taking her hands in his own. “She’s freezing.” Pulling open her kimono,
he inspected her for injuries. She bore only a few purpling bruises and the
marks of love bites on her body. She had not been savaged, as he had feared.
The palms of her hands were abraded and oozing blood, but the injury was not
severe. Her feet were badly damaged, though. She must have walked for miles
through the snow in her bare feet. “Jakotsu, get some water heated up. Shippou,
bring the medical supplies.” He needed to get her warm, quickly. He pulled
their only blanket over the shivering girl. He tried to warm her hands by
holding them in his own. “Kagome, what happened? Where is Sesshomaru? Is he
hurt? Does he need help? “
Kagome tried to speak, but her jaw and tongue were numb with cold and did not
want to cooperate. Finally, she managed to slur out, “He’s okay. His beast took
over and he left me by the onsen.”
Kohaku stared at the priestess in disbelief. A newly mated demon would never
leave his mate in such a way. “That water should be warm enough, Jakotsu.”
Though most of the linen cloth had been used to bandage his own wounds, there
was more than enough remaining to clean her feet and bind them up. The slayer
cut off a small piece of the clean fabric to swab the wounds on Kagome’s feet.
Slowly, as Kohaku bathed her feet in the warm water, Kagome began to relax. “Do
you know why he left you, Kagome?” She shook her head. She had been
disappointed, but not surprised, by the actions of her mate. After all,
Inuyasha had treated her the same way for years. She felt tears prickling at
her eyelids, but had long ago stopped allowing herself the indulgence of self-
pity. Kohaku was watching her face, as he continued to gently bathe her feet.
He saw how hard she was trying to hide her intense sadness, and his heart
twisted in his chest. ‘That bastard.’
“Go ahead and cry, Kagome. None of us will hold it against you, will we guys?”
“It’s okay, mama. We’ll take care of you. We don’t need him, anyways, right
Kohaku?”
“Right, Shippou. Kagome, you are the alpha female of this pack, and we are all
here to protect and support you.”
Jakotsu bit his lip. Kagome was like him, she could never catch a break. “I’ll
stand behind you all the way, Kagome. Neither one of those dogs knows how to
treat a lady.” He sniffled. When tears started running from his black, shiny
eyes, Kagome found she could hold out no longer. She began to cry too. It
started with just a few teardrops, but soon Kagome and Jakotsu were both
wailing. Shippou and Kohaku looked at each other, disconcerted.
“You’re the one who told her it was all right to cry, Kohaku. Idiot.”
“Brew some tea, Shippou. Hot tea makes everything better.” They were using
Kohaku’s metal mug, enlarged by the kitsune’s spell, to heat water, but Shippou
and Jakotsu both carried their own drinking cups, and they shared between them.
Jakotsu found that he had no trouble drinking the hot tea. He found it very
comforting after his crying jag. They decided to settle down and try to get
some sleep during the scant hour of darkness remaining.
Kohaku lay down by Kagome, pulling her to his side. He expected the other boys
to object, but they both studiously looked the other way. He smiled into the
little priestess’ hair, as he drifted off to sleep.
Shippou, the only demon in the group, didn’t need a lot of sleep, so he set out
at first light to hunt and gather more wood for the fire. It was late morning
by the time the rest of the little band began to get up. Kohaku lay beside
Kagome, luxuriating in the feeling of holding her close against his side. He
found that he was feeling much better. His wounds itched where Kagome had
stitched them up, but the swelling was down and the weak feeling that comes
from losing too much blood was beginning to recede. He knew that his quick
healing was the result of sharing Sesshomaru’s blood when he had traveled as a
member of the demon lord’s pack, but he wasn’t feeling particularly grateful to
his father figure after what he had put Kagome through. The slayer stroked the
little priestess’ hair, waking her tenderly. He would need to check her feet
for signs of infection. As soon as she began to stir, Jakotsu, who had been
curled up like a cat, was on his feet in a flash. ‘Gods, that little pansy is
fast,’ thought Kohaku. He doubted Jakotsu had actually been asleep. Though he
was the youngest of the group, both Jakotsu and Shippou seemed to be accepting
him as the pack leader in Sesshomaru’s absence. That was good.
Kagome yawned and stretched, managing to sit up on her own. She and Jakotsu
chatted as the mercenary prepared a new pot of tea. Both Kagome and Jakotsu
seemed to be in almost festive spirits after all the crying last night. Kohaku
carefully unwound the bandages from Kagome’s feet. They were battered and torn,
but there was no sign of infection. Kagome winced when Kohaku prodded the deep
puncture wound that went all the way through one foot. The slayer quickly re-
bandaged her feet.
Shippou returned to the cave, bearing a big armload of firewood and a haunch
and back straps from a good-sized deer. Jak spitted the chunks of meat, and sat
turning them as they roasted, while continuing to talk with Kagome.
“Should Jakotsu and Shippou go to town today to buy a sword and some more
supplies?” Kagome asked Kohaku.
Jak didn’t like the idea of leaving his little Ninja and Kagome alone. They
were both injured, and he doubted their ability to defend themselves. Still,
what good was a swordsman without a sword? “We could make it quick, and get
some more bandages and some salve for wounds, maybe some eggs and rice.” He
ventured.
Kagome added, “Take my backpack with you. Buy more tea, and a couple of
lightweight pots for cooking. Get me a mug like Kohaku’s, and a few more
blankets.” She looked at Kohaku. “Do we have enough money?”
“We should. You know you won’t be able to find another sword like your
Jakotsutou, though, right Jak?”
“I know, but I am a master of all swords, Kohaku. I might try for a nodachi or
some other big sword, though. It might cost more than an average katana.”
Kohaku tossed one money pouch to Jakotsu. “Bargain hard, Jakotsu, and don’t
forget to try the pawnshop as well as the armorer. We had great luck finding
Kagome’s sword there.”
After making sure the cave was well stocked with firewood, and that there was a
fresh pot of water for tea, the fox demon and the mercenary headed into town.
***** Chapter 48 *****
He didn’t summon his energy orb when he left Rin and Inuyasha. His heart wanted
him to fly to Kagome. It wanted him to take her in his arms, and kiss her
senseless, and beg her forgiveness. But after everything that had happened with
Rin, he needed time to be alone, and to think. So he began to walk, at the
stately pace he used when he was patrolling the Western Lands.
“And look-a thousand Blossoms with the Day
Woke-and a thousand scatter’d into Clay:
And this first Summer Month that brings the Rose
Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away.”
‘Humans,’ he thought. ‘Why protect them? Why miss them? Why love them?’
“I sometimes think that never blows so red
The rose as where some buried Caesar bled;
That every Hyacinth the Garden wears
Dropt in its Lap from some once lovely Head.”
‘Father…’
“That ev’n my buried Ashes such a Snare
Of Perfume shall fling up into the Air,
As not a True Believer passing by
But shall be overtaken unaware.”
“Father!” That scent! One he never thought to encounter in this world again.
Sesshomaru changed directions, following the scent trail of his sire.
Kohaku poured Kagome another cup of tea. The slayer was on edge. He hadn’t
taken Sesshomaru’s potion that morning. He did not want to risk dulling his
senses. He was uneasy over his decision to divide his pack. “United we stand.
Divided we fall.” An ominous saying from Kagome’s time. He had told Shippou and
Jakotsu to take Ah-Uhn to hasten their return and as a beast of burden for
their purchases, but he had also wanted them to have a way to make a quick
escape from the demon village if things went sour. Kohaku was even more worried
about his ability to defend Kagome. He was healing, but not in fighting form.
He thought of all of the dangers that lurked outside the cave. Bandits and oni
roamed the lands, ready to rape and rob the unwary. Jakotsu was also not to be
discounted as a potential threat. The slayer had known Jakotsu years ago, when
Naraku had resurrected the Band of Seven to fight Inuyasha and his pack.
Jakotsu was a very dangerous and bloodthirsty warrior. The Jakotsu he had known
back then would not befriend a human female, and he did not trust the change.
Kohaku was making Kagome nervous. He was acting twitchy and paranoid. The
slayer kept checking and re-checking his weapons and pacing around the mouth of
the cave keeping watch. It seemed best not to try to engage him in
conversation. She did not want to anger him. Taking her new sword in hand, she
began to polish it industriously, using a scrap of linen cloth. The action made
her think of Sango, who had spent so many evenings polishing her weapons as
they hunted for Naraku. How she wished Sango was with her now. She gave the
sword a final swipe, proud of her work. Kagome stared at the flawless surface
of the blade, and gasped in shock. The face she saw reflected in the mirror-
like finish was not her own, but that of Kohaku! Kagome shivered. What could
this possibly mean? Was this some kind of portent? Was she hallucinating? She
closed her eyes for a few moments, deliberately calming her uneven breathing
and clearing her mind. Finally, she dared to look again. Kohaku’s eyes looked
back at her from the shining metal. She carefully set the unsheathed sword by
her side.
Kohaku was standing across the fire from her, giving her a concerned look.
“What’s wrong, Kagome?”
“Nothing. Just nervous, I guess. I hope Shippou and Jakotsu get back soon.”
“Why? Don’t you want to be alone with me? Do I frighten you?” Kohaku got up and
went to check the area outside the cave again. When he returned, he sat close
beside her, taking her hands in his own. Kagome broke out in a sweat. This
didn’t feel right at all. Kohaku brought her hands to his lips, kissing her
knuckles softly. She tried to draw away, but he hung on tight, refusing to
release his hold on her hands. Instead he used them to pull her closer.
“Kohaku, what are you doing? Please, stop!” She pushed against him. There was
no way she could run away, she couldn’t even stand on her feet. Kagome had been
forced to let Jakotsu carry her outside to use the bushes that morning.
Kagome closed her eyes and prayed for her mate to come to her rescue…
“Father, I had not thought to meet you outside of Hell.”
“Sesshomaru. What are you doing so far from the West? Are you neglecting your
duty to my lands, perchance?”
“Actually, father, I am sojourning with my new mate.”
“A fine powerful demoness, I presume.”
“You would favor her yourself, father. A lovely young human girl.”
“You surprise me, son. I will make it a point to take good care of her when you
have assumed my former place in Hell. I’m sure she would be honored to serve in
the court of your brother’s wife, Kagome.”
“You plan to make Inuyasha Lord of the Western Lands?”
“As usual, my son, you are incapable of understanding. I plan on resuming the
throne that is rightfully mine, and taking your brother’s wife as my mate.”
“You already have a mate, father. It is my mother. Or have you forgotten?”
“Oh, my dear boy. I have not forgotten your mother. I will make sure that
monster gets what is coming to her, at long last.”
“Father, I do not believe you have met my new sword, Bakusaiga.” He unsheathed
his sword, with lordly grace, as always the epitome of perfection.
“And I know that you have met my own sword, S’ounga.” The battered warrior
pulled His great sword from over his shoulder. He was not so pristine as his
son. A few arrows from Ungai’s warriors still protruded from his back, and his
flesh was furrowed with slashes left by their swords. He showed no sign of
faltering as he brought the great sword down in a mighty stroke, bellowing in
his deep, bull-like voice “S’OUNGA!”
Sesshomaru responded saying softly, “Bakusaiga.”
Energy crashed from both swords. Lightning bolts of yaki intertwined, lighting
up the sky for miles around in a sizzling electrical storm. The power of the
swords converged in two blazing paths of destruction, creating a massive field
of smoking rubble between the two warriors.
Opening salvos dispensed with, father and son charged toward each other,
meeting in the middle of the devastated forest with a resounding clang of
steel. Lightning-fast blows were exchanged with bone-crushing power. Each was
familiar with the fighting style of the other, and they were equally matched in
prowess. The father was more massively built, and strong as a bull. He had
already done battle with a hundred trained warriors that day, and suffered
damage at their hands. The deaths of Ungai’s troops had given S’ounga a massive
power boost, which offset the physical damage Inutaisho had incurred.
Sesshomaru was primed to fight, and while he still possessed the supple grace
of youth, he had become a hardened warrior and was much larger than his father
remembered. The battle continued for hours. At first Inutaisho seemed sure to
prevail, but then he found himself pushed back by his more graceful son. Both
had suffered massive injuries. Sweat ran in channels through the blood, which
coated the bodies of the warriors from head to toe. In a pivotal moment,
Sesshomaru caught his father off-balance, and the bigger demon slipped in their
combined blood. Inutaisho laughed into his son’s face and disappeared from the
field of battle just as Bakusaiga came crashing down in a killing blow.
Sesshomaru watched his father’s energy orb flash through the darkening sky
toward the east.
***** Chapter 49 *****
Sango let herself sink into the hot water up to her chin. It felt so good! She
had few pleasures in life, and she was really grateful to Kagome for teaching
her to appreciate soaking in the onsen. She remembered warning Kagome that if
she insisted on bathing every day, her skin would surely wear off. Kami, how
she missed her little sister. Sango heard the approach of soft footsteps. The
woman who entered the room was gradually revealed through the mist formed by
the hot water of the onsen. This was no servant. She stripped out of her
translucent silk kimono, revealing skin which glowed with inner light. Sango
gasped in admiration. The slayer had never seen such a perfect, hourglass
figure. Her silent visitor stepped into the hot spring, dainty as a young deer,
and made her way to Sango’s side. Sango always wore a tanto strapped to her
thigh when bathing. Her father had told her that more assassinations occurred
in the bath than anywhere else, and Sango’s credo “be prepared” had worked for
her so far.
“Sango.” The woman’s voice was like little bells.
“Do I know you?”
“My name is Amaya. I’m a friend of Miroku’s”
“I don’t really think I want to hear this.” Sango began to stand up, but the
woman grabbed her arm.
“Not that kind of friend.”
“What kind of friend are you, then, and what do you want from me?”
“I want to help you.”
“I stopped believing that line about the time I learned to walk.”
Amaya looked sad. “I know that, Sango. But I do owe you a debt. Please, hear me
out.”
Sango sighed and receded back into the spring. Amaya looked down into the
bubbling water, stirring the surface with her delicate, perfectly manicured
hand. When she took her hand from the water, she was holding a metal flask.
Amaya arched a brow at Sango. “Would you care for a drink?”
“I’ve had enough sake to last a lifetime, Amaya. Maybe next time.”
Amaya laughed. “Drink, Sango. I guarantee you’ll like it.”
“I don’t know what you’re up to, Amaya, but I’m not going to drink that, so
give it up.”
“You already know, don’t you Sango.”
“What!”
“You know that you’re dead, don’t you. There’s no use pretending with me. As if
poison could hurt you, in your condition!” Amaya shook her head, causing her
earrings to sway violently. Each pearl was the size of a pigeon egg, a king’s
ransom hanging from each ear. “This flask holds the nectar of the kami. Drink,
and you can leave this place, and be with us. Inutaisho brought you here to use
you as part of his plan to get to Kagome!”
“Quiet, Amaya,” Sango hissed. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you, the walls have
ears?”
“No one can hear us. They’re all asleep. I’m not incompetent, you know.”
“Give me the flask, Amaya.”
“Will you drink it?”
“Not now. I need to be here for Kagome. But I’ll keep it for backup.”
Amaya handed over the flask. “You don’t trust him?”
“Of course not. He’s just too charming. It’s obvious he has his own agenda.
Which it appears you know all about. Now, spill.”
***** Chapter 50 *****
The pool where Inutaisho took her to make love was a tranquil and private spot.
Midoriko found it an excellent location for practicing her meditation, or just
sitting with Kirara and thinking. She had been growing increasingly troubled of
late. “Inutaisho has some ulterior motive for all this, these gifts, the
training, all the attention. This armor alone must have cost more than, well,
more than I can even imagine. I want to believe it’s because he is the only one
who has ever seen the real me, how special I am, how hard I try. I want to
believe it, but I refuse to lie to myself, Kirara.” Midoriko leaned her head
against Kirara’s side, sighing in frustration. “I’m a warrior, and a bit of a
priestess. But I’m not a spy, and I have no idea how to go about finding out
what Inutaisho’s really after. I have to know, Kirara!”
Midoriko rubbed her eyes. Kirara was getting blurry. The colors that made up
her yellow fur and black markings and red eyes were running together and
rearranging themselves into a pillar of swirling color. The pillar suddenly
came into focus, and standing in Kirara’s place was a beautiful young girl,
dressed in rich clothing. Her belly was big with child. “I have to know too.”
Midoriko peered at the girl. “You’re not Kirara, are you.”
“I am Ai, Inutaisho’s mate.”
Midoriko was a proud warrior, but she knew right from wrong and was filled with
regret for what she had done with this poor girl’s husband. She fell to her
knees before Ai. “I am so sorry, My Lady.”
Ai placed her hand upon Midoriko’s head. “It is of no consequence. As you have
said, my mate has his own agenda. I have known for a long time that he wants
something from me, and now it would appear he wants the same thing from you.”
Midoriko had not expected Ai to be so forgiving of her trespasses. “He was so
charming, and I was so willing to accept anything he had to offer. I am
mortified by how weak he has made me.” She finally looked up into Ai’s eyes. It
was then that she knew for sure that this young, pregnant girl was no human.
She was on her knees before a being that was very ancient and filled with
magic. “What are you?”
Ai shrugged negligently. “Who can say? Not my husband, or the toadies he
surrounds himself with, or anyone on this young island, surely. Now it is my
turn to ask you a question. What is it that my mate sees in me, that he also
sees in you?” She stared at the priestess.
It took all of Midoriko’s self-control not to squirm under Ai’s regard. “I
realize there can only be one thing, My Lady, but my powers are so very
insignificant compared to yours. There can be no comparison.”
Ai took hold of Midoriko’s wrist, and pulled her to her feet. She led the
priestess to a fallen log, where she seated herself, and patted the space
beside her. Midoriko complied with some degree of hesitation. Ai made her very
uncomfortable.
“Long before you were born, a powerful young demon was wandering the Continent.
He was on a quest. One day he heard the tale of a human girl with the powers of
an oracle, being held against her will in a cavern. He made the long journey to
the land he had heard spoken of, defeated the wards and seals and enchantments
that kept the girl imprisoned, and once he freed her from her captivity, he
made her his mate.”
Ai stopped, and stared at Midoriko again. “The demon was Inutaisho and the girl
was you.” Ai remained silent. Midoriko sighed. She was beginning to see how
this was going to work. “Inutaisho thought you were a human girl.” Ai continued
to stare. “He had heard a tale of a human girl with special powers. That must
have been his quest. That’s why he came after you and rescued you.”
“For a long time, I lived in a state of confusion. After countless years of
seeing only visions, this world was a strange and overwhelming place. Inutaisho
was my hero, my champion. To my eyes, he was very beautiful, and he treated me
with great solicitude and compassion. I was lonely and isolated in his palace,
and he was the only one who spoke with me. Every night without fail, he would
come to our bed, and make love to me.” Ai fell silent.
“I understand what you are telling me. He befriended you, worked his charm on
you, he kept you away from others, and made himself your whole world.”
The priestess drew a deep breath. “Okay, now it’s my turn. There is one child
in each generation of my family who is born with special powers. I have been
trained since childhood to be the priestess and guardian of my village. One day
I was fighting an oni that had been coming to the village at night and stealing
our cattle. After I defeated the oni, Inutaisho appeared. I prepared to defend
myself from this powerful demon. But he did not want to fight. He spoke with me
instead. He was so charming. He paid me many compliments and gave me some good
advice about my fighting skills. After that he came every day, bringing me
presents, training me, and saying kind things to me. He made me feel good about
myself. I had never even been around a man, err, male, except to spar. I don’t
even remember my father. He died before I was born. Because of my position in
the village, I have always had to devote myself to my training as a priestess
and a warrior. I live in a hut with my mother and my little sister. Before I
met Inutaisho, we used to laugh and talk together. Now I barely speak to my own
family.”
“He seeks our power. It does not seem probable that his intentions are benign.”
“Ai, I think it has something to do with S’ounga. That sword feels old, and
powerful, just like you do. I can tell it is sentient, full of malice. I have
seen Inutaisho staring into the crystal orb mounted on its hilt, and it glows
most strangely at times.”
Caught up in their conversation, neither of them noticed that there was someone
listening, who had heard every word.
***** Chapter 51 *****
Kohaku was kneeling between her legs, holding her wrists in his hands. “Kagome,
you have to trust me. Let me protect you.” He shoved her back against the fur
of the cape, looming over her. “Let me save you from him, before it is too
late.”
“I am in no danger, Kohaku, unless it is from you. You need to come to your
senses!”
The slayer dug his fingers into her shoulders, giving her a shake with each
word he spoke. “He’ll use you, and abandon you. He’s already shown himself for
what he is, Kagome! Look at you. He’s the one who has done this to you. What
kind of animal would treat his mate that way?”
“He’s a hard man, but I chose him. I have faith in him.”
“Sesshomaru is not a man! He is a demon! A demon, Kagome! He will tear your
heart out of your chest, rip it into little pieces, and walk off laughing.”
“He is my mate, and he will protect me, Kohaku. As he has protected you in the
past. Remember that he his your Lord, too, and that you owe him your loyalty.”
Kagome began to cry.
“I owe that dog nothing.” Kohaku hissed. The fire cast harsh shadows across his
face, turning him into a stranger. “For years I’ve been watching you, while you
wasted your love on that half-breed Inuyasha. While you have been pining for
him, I have been working as hard as I could to prove to you that I could be the
man you needed. Do you want wealth? I will get it for you. If it is a Lord you
want, that is what I will make myself Kagome. Anything for you.”
Kohaku ran his fingers tenderly down her right cheek, tracing the path of her
tears, then backhanded her sharply.
“All you had to do was wait. Just a little longer. But you couldn’t do it,
could you? If you needed to get fucked so badly, why didn’t you come to me? I
could have given you that too, if that’s what you wanted.” He grasped the thin
silk of her kimono, tearing it apart in his hands and leaving her naked beneath
him on the fur. Kagome scratched and bit and kicked. The pain from her wounded
feet was excruciating, but she persevered. She felt a bone break in the foot
that had been pierced through. Kohaku was very strong, very agile, and very
fast. There would be no sense in fighting fair against one so much better
suited to combat. He grabbed his hands in his, holding them above her head.
When he forced his lips down on hers, she bit them viciously, tasting his
blood. He cursed and let go of her hands to slap her again. Her head was
ringing with the blow, but she managed to reach up and claw at the side of his
face, narrowly missing his eye. She grabbed his hair, using it as a handhold to
pull herself upward, and secured her teeth in his ear. Kohaku yelled out in
rage and grabbed her around her neck, shoving her back roughly again and again,
pounding her head against the floor of the cave. Only the fur she rested on
kept her skull from being cracked open. Kagome knew she would lose
consciousness soon, either from the pounding her head was taking or from the
choking hold he had on her neck. If she did, all would be lost. He heard her
gasping for air, and released his hold on her throat. He drew back to punch her
in the face. She felt her hand make contact with the blade of her sword. She
grasped the sharp blade, feeling the pain as it cut deep into her flesh.
Kohaku gasped as he felt the blade penetrate his ribs. Looking into Kagome’s
eyes, he pulled his body downward to meet hers, forcing himself down the short,
curved length of the blade, until just the hilt of the sword separated his body
from Kagome’s. Blood was streaming from Kohaku’s mouth as he pressed his lips
to hers.
***** Chapter 52 *****
Shippou sighed with relief when Jak finally emerged from the herb shop,
clutching a large bundle to his chest. “I’ll never complain about shopping with
Kagome again, Jak. You make her seem like a rank amateur.”
“Being beautiful is a big responsibility. It takes a lot of work.” Jak tossed
the bundle to Shippou, whose arms were already piled high with packages.
“Yeah, right. Did you remember to get the salve and bandages, or is that all
face paint and kohl?”
“I remembered to get everything we need. I even picked up a few special things
for Kagome. She could use a little cheering up.” The two made their way to the
woodland clearing where they had left Ah-Uhn. Jakotsu watched absentmindedly as
Shippou packed one parcel after another into Kagome’s leather backpack. After
the fifth large package was shoved into the backpack with ease, Jakotsu started
to pay closer attention. Six, seven, eight… he began to count. “Hey, is that an
enchanted pack? How clever!” Shippou tied the backpack to Ah-Uhn’s harness.
“It comes in really handy. Now, let’s go find you a sword, and then we’re outta
here.” Shippou had not wanted to be gone so long. Jakotsu had insisted on
examining the wares in each little shop, saving the armorer’s and the pawnshop
for last.
“Shopping for weapons is the best, even more fun than buying cosmetics!”
Jakotsu enthused. He realized that he would not find another sword like
Jakotsutou in this backwater demon town, but he still planned on enjoying
himself thoroughly. The pair strolled into the armorer’s shop, where Jak
immediately cried out with joy and ran over to examine the weapons offered for
sale. The armorer, a big, good-looking demon named Ken, grinned at his partner,
the blacksmith. Jak’s enthusiasm was endearing, even if he was a human. The
blacksmith, Kin, flexed his big shoulders, indicating Jak’s impressive
physique. His partner nodded and raised an eyebrow, silently communicating that
he had already noticed. Jak went through the shop, carefully examining every
sword, before finally returning to stare at an exotic Tsurugi, a big Chinese
sword. He looked over at the armorer, who came over and passed the sword to
Jakotsu with all the appropriate decorum. Jak stepped out the door, enchanted
by the big sword. “Truly a sword of heroes.” Jak sighed. He looked over at
Shippou with melting eyes.
“I’m sure it’s gonna cost way too much, Jak. It’s old and it’s obviously a
really nice sword.”
Shippou looked over at the armorer, who shrugged. “It belongs to Kin, the
blacksmith.”
The blacksmith moved closer to Jakotsu. “You were correct when you said that
this is a sword of heroes, young man. It was my father’s sword. He brought it
with him when he came here from the mainland, many years ago. It has seen many
a battle.”
“If we can afford the sword, it will see many more.”
“You may have it for the same price as our standard katana. My father would be
pleased to see you have it, were he still with us.”
Shippou was surprised that Jakotsu did not squeal with delight and embrace the
blacksmith. The mercenary bowed with great dignity, and thanked him formally.
Ah-Uhn seemed eager to return to the campsite, and the trip went very quickly.
The boys gathered their purchases and unharnessed the dragon, making haste for
the cave. “I can’t wait to show Kagome my new sword!” Jak squealed.
Shippou was getting worried. “Jak, I smell blood. A lot of blood.”
Jak pulled his sword, and the pair ran into the cave. Shippou, who could see in
the dark, called out “Jakotsu. Sheath your sword. There is no threat, but stay
back.” He pulled Kohaku off of Kagome. Jak had followed, and began stirring the
embers and throwing wood on the fire. “He’s dead. Take him outside.” Jak pulled
Kohaku’s bloody body from the cave. When he was out of sight of the entrance,
he quickly went through Kohaku’s uniform, stripping him of several heavy purses
of money and a few other valuables. “My Little Ninja,” he thought sadly,
closing Kohaku’s eyelids gently. He went back inside the cave. Shippou was
kneeling beside Kagome, trying to get her to wake up. “Jak, heat some water,
and get out the medical supplies. Then go bury Kohaku. Make sure the grave is
close, but out of sight from the mouth of the cave. I don’t want Kagome seeing
it. I’ll come out later and find rocks to build a cairn.”
After Jak left to go bury Kohaku, Shippou carefully cleaned the blood from
Kagome, wincing at the purpling bruises that covered her body. Kohaku had
really done a number on her, but somehow Kagome had stabbed him with her short
sword. Shippou carefully cleaned the blood from the sword as well, not wanting
Kagome to be reminded of what she had done when she woke up. He unwound the
bandages from her feet. The wounds on her feet had opened up and started
bleeding again, and the punctured one was horribly swollen and purple. He
applied salve and bandaged them up tightly. Next he straightened up the cave,
stowing Kohaku’s weapons in an out-of-the way corner.
The two boys slept close to Kagome, not wanting her to be alone if she woke up
during the night. When morning came, Jak brewed tea, while Shippou bathed
Kagome’s forehead with tepid water. She was a little feverish, and seemed to be
having bad dreams. ‘No surprise.’ Thought Shippou grimly.
The harsh light of the morning sun slanted through the mouth of the cave, and
Jak got his first good look at the damage Kohaku had inflicted on the girl. He
shook his head sadly. “Have you ever thought that all the bad things that
happen us hang over our heads like a dark cloud for the rest of our lives?”
Shippou shook his head sadly. “Kohaku had a rough life. It affected him really
badly. I knew he was interested in my mother, but I always trusted him to
protect her. This is all my fault. I never should have left him alone with
her.”
“It’s nobody’s fault, Shippou. It’s fate. Believe me. Life’s a bitch, and then
you die.”
***** Chapter 53 *****
Kagome woke up in pain from head to toe. She couldn’t see, because for some
reason she could not seem to open her eyes. Someone was stroking her forehead
with a soft, wet cloth. She managed to moan. ‘That was encouraging.’ She
thought. She tried again. “Inuyasha…”
“Kagome, it’s me, Shippou.”
“Shippou, I can’t open my eyes.”
“They’re swollen shut, Kagome. Try to just open them a little.” Kagome managed
to open her eyelids enough that she could see a little light.
“What happened? Was there an accident? Where is Inuyasha? Is he all right?”
“He’s fine, Mommy. Just be quiet for a moment, and try to relax.” Shippou
started to pat her hand as a gesture of reassurance, but pulled back when he
saw it would cause her pain. If he patted her anywhere it would cause her pain.
“Mommy?” mocked Jakotsu, but he was quiet about it. He had been badly injured
many times, and remembered having a bad headache when he woke up. Suddenly, he
remembered something else, as well.
“Just shut up Jakotsu. Kagome IS my mom, okay? She’s the one who raised me.”
“Jakotsu?” Whispered Kagome.
“Kagome, what is the last thing you remember?” asked Jakotsu.
Kagome tried to turn her head in the direction of his voice, but her neck hurt
really badly and she gave up. “I don’t know. Just tell me what happened.”
Shippou could tell that she was getting angry. He exchanged glances with
Jakotsu. He wished he were a little kit again. Then Kagome and Jakotsu would be
the adults, and he’d just do what they told him. But now he was almost grown up
too, and had to make a decision about what to tell her.
Jakotsu took the choice out of Shippou’s hands. “Kagome, Kohaku tried to kill
you. You stopped him with your sword.”
“Oh, yeah. Kohaku. I remember.” The boys exchanged relieved looks. “What about
Inuyasha. Is he all right?”
“Kagome, I know you’re having a hard time right now, but a lot of things have
happened recently. Do you remember mating Sesshomaru?” Jakotsu asked.
“Sesshomaru?” Kagome was starting to drift off. Shippou was almost relieved.
Once she was fully asleep, he took Jakotsu to the side and said “Look, Jak, I’m
going to catch a couple of pheasants to make broth for her to drink when she
wakes up. That’s probably all she will be able to handle. You stay with her,
keep your sword ready and be prepared for trouble. I don’t know what we’re
going to do if she’s in this condition and Sesshomaru comes back. All hell
might break loose. Play it by ear. If Inuyasha shows up, get rid of him. Don’t
let him near her, no matter how you might have felt about him in the past,
okay?”
“Understood. Now go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll make it back.”
The next time Kagome woke up, she could open her eyes far enough to be able to
see a little. She didn’t ask about Inuyasha again, which was a big relief to
Shippou. The kitsune cradled Kagome against his chest and helped her sit up,
urging her to drink a little broth from a cup.
“Kagome, do you want me to carry you to the bushes?” Jak asked. Kagome nodded.
She was still pretty out of it, but was obviously embarrassed nonetheless.
Someone had cleaned her up and dressed her in the top to her blue silk fighting
outfit, but she still felt sticky and uncomfortable.
“Can I take a bath?” The boys looked at each other.
“One of us will have to get in with you, Kagome. You can’t even sit up by
yourself. Are you all right with that?”
Kagome started to nod, but changed her mind and whispered softly, “Yes. I just
want to feel clean.”
Jak felt a chill run up his spine. He was not one for praying, but just this
once he made an exception. ‘Please, don’t let Kohaku have raped her.’ Would
Shippou have recognized the signs when he was cleaning her up?
Jak helped Kagome use the bushes, but Shippou was stronger, so he carried
Kagome to the hot spring. “Kagome,” Jak asked, “I’m going to get into the hot
spring, and Shippou will hand you to me, so you don’t get jostled around, okay?
I promise I won’t look, and you know I don’t like girls anyway, so you don’t
need to be embarrassed.” Kagome nodded slightly. It still hurt, but not as much
as before. Shippou handed her over to Jak, who cradled her against his chest.
“Ship, hand me the soap and a scrap of cloth.” He washed Kagome tenderly,
taking great care not to cause her unnecessary pain. He gently rinsed the dried
blood from her hair, and even applied pomade, combed it through very gently,
and then rinsed it clean for her.
“You’re so good at this, Jak.”
“I used to bathe my sister. She got hurt a lot like this.” Jakotsu, swallowed,
then said softly, “Shippou, could you go keep watch a little ways away, until
we call you?”
Once Shippou was gone, Jakotsu mustered up the courage to continue. “Men used
to hurt my big sister, so I know what they do. Do you remember what he did to
you, Kagome? Did he hurt you down there?”
“Oh, Jak, I’m so sorry. No. I stopped him in time. This must be so hard for
you.”
Kagome had always noticed how Jak’s shiny black eyes showed emotion. He had the
most expressive eyes she had ever seen. Now they were brimming with tears.
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“Things like that never get to be okay, Jak. You must have really loved her.
What was your sister’s name?”
“Aiko. She was my darling. Our mother was a very bad woman, so it was me and
Aiko against the world.”
“Where is she now, Jak? Did you ever go back to look for her?”
“I didn’t need to. When she was twelve, mother sold her to a man from the next
village, who was going to marry her. They found her body the next day, at the
side of the road. Mother had told the man Aiko was a virgin. He must have been
disappointed.”
They were both crying now. Kagome leaned her head back against his chest. “What
about your mom?”
“I killed her with a big knife, and then I ran away. She was the first person I
ever killed. After that is when I met Bankotsu. He took care of me after that.”
“Jak, I want you to stay with me from now on. This has nothing to do with
Sesshomaru, or his pack, or anything else. You can be my brother, and I’ll be
your sister.”
***** Chapter 54 *****
Sesshomaru stared off to the east. He wanted to go and end the old dog’s life,
or what passed as life, once and for all. He was torn because he knew he had a
duty to Kagome, and his pack. As if he didn’t already have enough on his mind,
something was amiss with Kohaku. After what had happened with Rin, he stopped
himself from jumping to the conclusion that his boy was dead. Sesshomaru
transformed, and took off running in the direction of his mate. When he came to
a large lake, he charged right in, water splashing all around and shining like
diamonds in the bright sunlight. After he got out, he rolled on his back in a
snowy field, his tail thrashing from side to side, his big legs churning in the
air. He got up and shook himself, hard. He felt much cleaner now, in more ways
than one. His father was unimportant. A mere nuisance. This time when he took
off running, it was with joy in his heart.
He hunted on the way back to the cave, taking the time to bring down a small
boar to take back to his mate. He knew he should not have left her alone and
undefended at the hot spring, but maybe the respectful offering of a suitable
gift would win her forgiveness. He thought of all the times she had forgiven
Inuyasha for similar infractions. Her fertile period would undoubtedly be over
by now. His mind filled with images of the things he intended to do with his
new mate. Suddenly the wind shifted, and he was alarmed to smell blood, and
lots of it. Kagome’s blood, and Kohaku’s blood.
Sesshomaru’s heart was pounding hard in his chest as he changed into his
humanoid form and walked into the cave. He dropped the boar at the entrance. He
saw Shippou and Jakotsu kneeling beside Kagome, who was resting beside the fire
on the fur robe. The two boys silently made way for their lord, who swept up to
the girl and stood staring down at her, his face expressionless. “Mate. Tell
this Sesshomaru what has happened here.” Kagome was terrified. Kohaku had been
a part of his little pack for a long time, and she knew he cared for the slayer
a lot, maybe even as much as he did Rin. How would he react to the news that
she had killed his boy?
Jakotsu spoke up. “My Lord, there is much you do not know. Your mate is not
well. I beg you to step outside with me, and I will tell you the news of what
has happened in your absence.” Shippou’s jaw dropped. Jakotsu was stepping into
the role of beta, and doing so with great dignity. He had just diverted, or at
least delayed, what would surely have been a total disaster.
Sesshomaru, reacting to Jakotsu’s propriety, inclined his head graciously. He
walked outside with Jakotsu. Jak pointed in the direction of Kohaku’s grave. He
didn’t know what to say, but it was clear to him that Sesshomaru knew
immediately who was buried under the large cairn. When Sesshomaru began to grab
the stones that Shippou had placed on the grave and fling them to the side,
Jakotsu touched his arm. “My Lord, let him rest in peace. He has suffered much,
and there are things you need to know.”
It was much later when the two returned to the cave. Shippou left with the boar
carcass, saying he was going to place it high up in a tree in hopes no
scavenger would take it. Sesshomaru sat down cross-legged, and pulled Kagome
into his lap, taking great care not to aggravate her injuries. He was ashamed
when he saw the frightened look in her eyes, and even more so when he observed
the protective stance Jakotsu had assumed when he approached his own mate. He
ran the back of his index finger over one bruised cheek, more softly than the
lightest feather. “I won’t ask you to forgive me, Kagome. That wouldn’t be fair
to you right now. But I ask that you give me time. I will show you that what I
have been to you so far is not the kind of mate I mean to be. I swear to do
much better, if you will give me a second chance.” Kagome reached up and
grasped the finger that he had used to caress her cheek, pulling his hand down
so it rested over her heart.
Kagome was grateful for whatever Jak had said to Sesshomaru. She didn’t want to
answer any questions. To do so would require that she remember what had
happened between her and Kohaku, and she never wanted to think about that
again. She had already relived the incident in her dreams. It made her afraid
of going to sleep that night. She hoped that, if Sesshomaru held her as she
slept, he might be able to hold the dreams at bay.
***** Chapter 55 *****
Kagome rose to her feet and walked to the mouth of the cave. She heard the
sound of water dripping. The snow was melting. The moon was big and bright,
illuminating the dense fog, which shrouded the landscape. Walking out into the
moonlight, Kagome made her way across the clearing where she had trained with
Kohaku. Finally she came to a pile of boulders, and fell to her knees. She felt
an overwhelming compulsion to pray. As she prayed, a pearly pink light began to
emanate from her clasped hands. The light spread until it engulfed her body and
the cairn. The priestess prayed fervently for a long time. She felt a sense of
ominous foreboding. The more she prayed, the stronger her feeling of dread
grew.
Sesshomaru jerked awake. Something was wrong. Kagome! Screaming! He jumped to
his feet and ran out of the cave. With his incredible speed he was at her side
in a minute. He found her staring fixedly at Kohaku’s grave, screaming in
abject terror. He gathered her into his arms. Her body was stiff as a board,
and she did not stop screaming. His first instinct was to slap her across her
face to bring her to her senses. He experienced a surge of self-loathing for
even thinking of such a thing. Her face was already so damaged. He could not
sense what it was that was terrifying his mate. Sesshomaru cuddled her body to
his chest, crooning to her. Suddenly, Kagome seemed to realize that she was
being held. She stopped screaming, but her eyes remained wild, her gaze fixed
on the grave.
Kagome struggled to regain control. She had nothing to fear. Her mate was
powerful, undoubtedly the most powerful being alive in Japan today, and he had
promised to protect her. He was holding her in his arms, and there was nothing
out there strong enough to take her away from him. Ignoring the pain, she
nestled her damaged cheek against his warm chest, seeking reassurance in his
steady heartbeat.
The boys were both awake when the returned to the cave. Shippou had thrown more
wood on the fire, and it was blazing brightly, as if to fend off the eerie mist
that lurked outside. Sesshomaru laid Kagome down on her bed, unwrapping the wet
and dirty bandages that bound her feet. He winced at how cold they were. His
mate was only human. Walking on those damaged feet must have been intensely
painful. He applied salve to her feet and began to bandage them in clean cloth.
“Why?” He finally asked.
All three males looked at her expectantly. Kagome shook her head. Shippou
asked, “Was it a bad dream, Mommy?” He was scared, and he was not going to
pretend otherwise. He had learned fear from a very young age, first at the
hands of the Thunder Brothers, and then as his adopted pack hunted that living
nightmare, Naraku. The kitsune was well-versed in the power of nightmares.
“I don’t know, Shippou. I just woke up, and felt like I had to go outside. It
was as if I was being pulled toward Kohaku’s grave. You made that cairn, didn’t
you?”
Shippou nodded. “Jak didn’t want anything to disturb his rest. Kohaku’s been
through enough.”
“Is that what you are afraid of, Kagome?” Sesshomaru asked. “That someone will
bring Kohaku back to life?”
“I saw his hand! Reaching out from the rocks!” Kagome turned her head into the
fur of her bed, refusing to look at her mate.
Sesshomaru resolved that he would fix the grave so that nothing could get into
it. “There are many ways to bring the dead back to life. Not all of them
require a body.”
They all looked at Jakotsu. “Jak, you said you don’t know who brought you back
this time. Do you know how it was done?” Kagome asked.
Jak shook his head. “I have no memory of it at all. I woke up on a pallet at
the inn. Bank was there. That’s all I know.”
“It’s nothing like when you were resurrected before, right, Jak? Naraku used
bones from your grave, and shards from the Shikon jewel. The jewel is gone now.
Does that mean there’s some other source of power?” Kagome looked at
Sesshomaru. She remembered something Jaken had said long ago, back when they
were enemies. ‘Bringing the dead back from the grave is easy for one such as
Lord Sesshomaru.’
“How are we going to protect him?” Nobody answered her. They all stared into
the fire.
After a while, when his little pack appeared calmer and their unease seemed to
have abated somewhat, Sesshomaru ordered the boys to bed. He gathered Kagome
into his arms, and held her as he arranged himself against the wall of the
cave. The fire was glowing reassuringly. Their little home was comfortably
warm. He looked into her eyes as he parted his haori and cut into his flesh. He
did not want to make any assumptions about how completely she had forgiven him.
She nodded, and he cradled the back of her head gently in one big hand, holding
her against his chest. “Kagome,” he said softly. “I think I may know who
brought Jakotsu and Bankotsu back to life.”
Kagome looked up at him, questioningly. He pressed her head back against him.
“I was tied to Rin, as I was to Kohaku and as I now am to you, through my
blood. One moment she was there, and then suddenly, she was gone. I thought she
had died. That’s when I left you by the onsen.” I am so sorry, Kagome, he
thought. He could not bring himself to apologize out loud, but he hoped she
understood that that is what he meant. She snuggled closer, and he let out a
quiet sigh. He knew he would have to leave her again, all too soon. Tonight, he
would offer his mate what comfort he could, and he would cherish their time
together. He quietly told her of his encounter with his father, hoping she
would understand when he left her again in the morning.
***** Chapter 56 *****
“What’s the matter, aren’t you happy to see me, baby?” Amaya cooed, trailing
her fingertips down Inutaisho’s chest.
“I don’t have time for this, Amaya.” The brainless goddess had appeared right
in front of him, blocking his path.
“Oh, Inu, so impatient. You must be on your way to an appointment. Am I making
you late?” She tucked her chin, so that she was gazing up at him through her
beautifully curled eyelashes.
“I had heard you moved on Amaya. Why are you here bothering me?”
“There’s no one like you, Inutaisho. How can you expect me to just forget? Your
such a cruel, heartless bastard.” She said it with great relish, as though she
were biting into a ripe, juicy plum.
“I’m in no mood to play. And you were right. I do have an appointment, and you
are making me late.”
“With your wife? Or with your pet priestess, perhaps. Please, don’t tell me
that either one of those little girls can compare to me.” She pouted cutely.
“Besides, I am so, so much more loyal than either of them. At least I can say
with good conscience that I have never been guilty of plotting against you.”
Inutaisho grabbed her by the shoulders, digging in with his claws and shaking
her sharply. “What are you saying, Amaya?”
“I love it when you play rough, baby. Do it some more, please.”
He slapped her sharply across the face. She smiled an unearthly smile. “Why do
you care so much, Inu? They’re just mortals, aren’t they?”
“I know you’re dying to tell me, so just spit it out. I really don’t have time
for your stupid little games.”
“The stupid little games of human girls are just so much more interesting to
you, aren’t they, Inu. I wonder why.” She touched a pointed fingertip to her
lower lip. “Hmmmm… If the games you play with them are so amusing, why don’t
you teach me? I’m sure I’d be a much more worthy pupil.”
“Your petty jealousy disgusts me, and I’m sure the only treason you know of is
your own.” He pushed back on her shoulders, sending her sprawling.
He was surprised by her laughter. She sounded genuinely amused. “Fine, Inu. Do
as you will, that’s what you always do anyway. Just remember, when your little
mortals let you down, I’ll always be here for you.” He watched as she rose to
her feet and began to walk away. Her hips swayed gracefully. No woman, mortal
or immortal, walked like Amaya. She looked back over her shoulder at him, gave
a little wink, and disappeared.
Inutaisho had expected to find Midoriko training, but she surprised him by
running to meet him. She threw her arms around his waist. He was used to
finding her soaked in perspiration, but today she was fresh as a spring
morning. “Aren’t you training today, my little dove? You must increase in
power, if we are to be together. I worry for your safety. I have many powerful
enemies, who would be more than grateful for the opportunity to hurt me through
you.” Inu was becoming seriously annoyed. First he had his run in with Amaya,
who was always willful and annoying, and now Midoriko, who had always been
unfailingly compliant, was suddenly thwarting him. If she stopped training, she
would never grow in power. Women were surely going to be his downfall. “So, if
you do not wish to spar, what is it you do wish, my dear girl?”
Midoriko blushed and stared at his chest. Inutaisho laughed. She wanted him.
She couldn’t wait to have him. “So, you do not want to wait?” He pulled her
into a brutal kiss. Yanking her hair back in his big, clawed hand, he laved her
neck with his tongue until she was shivering in his arms. “Do you desire to lay
with me, girl?” She nodded her head. He lowered her to the ground, pulling her
clothing from her roughly. This time he did not remove his own clothing, or
even his weapons. He loosened the ties on his hakamas and knelt between her
legs. “You seem different today, my little dove. What are you thinking, I
wonder?” He didn’t give her a chance to reply. He was in a rough mood. Perhaps
it would have been better to give that little vixen Amaya what she had wanted
after all. Midoriko was too valuable to damage. The priestess was staring at
him apprehensively. “You look frightened, my dear. Don’t worry. I won’t bite.
Too hard, anyway”
Midoriko wasn’t too sure about that. After her meeting with Ai, Inutaisho
suddenly seemed more threatening, like some large wild animal that was toying
with her for his own amusement. She knew she was playing a dangerous game. She
reminded herself that she was no ordinary woman. She was a warrior and a
priestess, and it was her duty to find out if he was planning something evil.
“I’ve been taking it easy on you, since I didn’t want to hurt you. But I see
that you’re ready for something more.” Inu thrust into her brutally. She shoved
her fingers into the ground, bracing herself as he pounded into her. What had
been frightening suddenly became very thrilling. She cried out in excitement,
and looked up and saw his eyes, glowing red as they had never done when he took
her gently. His breathing was rough. S’ounga’s hilt loomed over his shoulder.
The sword’s crystal orb glowed brilliantly. Inu slid his right leg up over her
hip, bringing his own lean, hard hip into sharp contact with her clit every
time he thurst. Inutaisho came with a shout, biting into the muscles of her
upper arm viciously as he emptied himself into her.
Midoriko was shaking in his arms. What had he done? He looked into her face,
expecting to find tears and recriminations, or even worse, horror. What he saw
instead shocked him. She was shaking with laughter. He was not a young demon,
and he had had women react this way before. “Did you like it?” She stopped
laughing and nodded her head wordlessly. He reached back over his shoulder, and
caressed the hilt of his sword. “We will have to do it that way again, often.”
He bent his head to lick the blood from her arm, where he had bit her.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t bite hard. That really hurt.”
Inu paused in his licking. “I have found that sometimes pain can intensify the
pleasure of sexual release. I never would have done that if I didn’t know you
are a warrior, Midoriko. I had hoped you would enjoy it also. By all
appearances, you did.” She blushed and turned her head away. He laughed, a big
hearty laugh.
As she lay in his arms, she absentmindedly ran her fingers up and down the
length of his back. “Tell me about your sword, Inu.”
“S’ounga? He has been my companion for years. He is older than memory, and oh,
so powerful. I owe this sword much.”
She stroked him softly. She knew he loved it, he was so like a dog. “What of
the orb? Does it have a function, or is it just for decoration?”
He had been feeling lazy and generous, swimming deep in a warm haze of
satisfaction. When she asked about the orb, he suddenly snapped to attention.
“Why do you ask, Midoriko? What is my sword to you?”
She continued to stroke his side reassuringly. “I just love you so much, Inu. I
want to know everything about you.” He relaxed, but he would not forget. He
would be speaking to Amaya again, very soon.
***** Chapter 57 *****
“Amaya! Amaya!” His voice echoed through the Eastern Mountains, disturbing the
many birds that made their homes in the glade surrounding Amaya’s waterfall.
They scattered to the skies in an explosion of bright colors. Inutaisho was
getting very angry. He had been looking for the wench all day. Usually, he
would only have to say her name once, and she would appear. His little lover
was obviously defying him. What of her vaunted loyalty? Had women been placed
on this earth for the sole purpose of driving him mad? “Enough!” he roared. He
reached over his shoulder and ripped his great sword from its sheath.
“S’ounga!” His deep voice thundered across the land. Gigantic slabs of dark
basalt that had been slowly rounded and polished by the action of water over
countless springs and summers and falls and winters were suddenly shattered
into jagged shards, which thrust their way up through the ruined, rocky soil
like agonized fingers. Peace and serenity had governed over the waterfall and
pool for millennia. He felt a pang of regret as chaos overtook the sacred
glade. This was the place he had first come upon Amaya, bathing in the tranquil
pool. He had been an inexperienced youth, awestruck by her beauty, and could
not believe his good fortune when she called him to her. She had run her
pointed fingers through his hair, allowed him to kiss her petal pink lips, and
finally taken him between her plump, rounded white thighs on this very spot, so
many years ago.
Amaya appeared in a flash of light. She folded her arms across her bounteous
chest and glared at him. “That sword has a bad influence on your temper, Inu.
Maybe someone should take it away from you.”
He mimicked her gesture, crossing his own arms inside his billowing sleeves.
His usually deep and powerful voice took on a sarcastic tone. “Who’s going to
do that? You, Amaya?”
“Don’t try my patience, little boy!” She scolded. “If you push me too far, you
may not be happy with the results!”
“Where were you? I called and called! You told me you would always be here for
me!”
“You are such a child, Inutaisho! Just tell me what you want.”
“The other day you spoke to me of betrayal.”
“And you did not want to listen.”
“I’m listening now.”
Inutaisho stormed into his palace, ignoring the toadies and retainers who
attempted to claim his attention, and made his way to the apartments of his
wife. When he swept through the door to the audience chamber where she spent
her days, he found her laying on her back in a trance, her belly big and round
with his pup. He slapped her sharply across her face.
Ai woke with a gasp. “Inu! What’s wrong?”
“Tell me what you are Ai!”
“I’m your wife, Inu! The mother of your pup!”
Inu stalked around her dais, his white hair and silk garments blowing about in
the ominous wind generated by his outrage. “I saved you, made you my mate, the
Lady of the Western Lands, and what have you given me in return?” He glared at
her, his chest heaving. “Lies! Deceit! Betrayal!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“You are no mortal woman, are you, Ai? When you lived on, for year after year,
far exceeding a proper human lifespan, I credited it to your holy powers. But I
was wrong, wasn’t I. You are not a priestess, Ai. You are an abomination! Not a
human, nor yet a demon. I ask you again, Ai, What are you?”
When she didn’t answer, he grabbed her by her hair and dragged her through long
winding halls and down wide, elegant stairways, past the public places made of
polished white marble, and beyond the kitchens and armories and storerooms,
where the halls became narrower and the steps steep and treacherous. Deep down
into the depths of the fortress into the harsh gray foundations that housed the
dungeons and torture chambers of his palace. Inutaisho kicked open a heavy
wooden door and tossed Ai inside, sending her sprawling on the cold stone
floor. He followed her into the room and slammed the door shut. The mate who
had once shown her so much love and patience now loomed over her like some kind
of living nightmare. She tossed her head from side to side. “Please, Inu!
Please, don’t hurt me!”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Ai, I’m going to fucking kill you!” He yanked her
up by her hair and tore the silken robes from her body. He twisted her arm in
one hand, shoving her onto massive wooden table. He tied down her wrists and
ankles with thick leather cuffs. When he unsheathed S’ounga and laid the sword
beside her on the table, Ai suddenly realized that it had been her own future
she had seen in the pool under the shade of the willow tree.
Ai sobbed as her mate grabbed a whip from a hook on the wall. He stared into
her eyes as he caressed the supple, well-oiled leather. The whip cracked,
leaving a stinging welt across one tender thigh. “Don’t hurt the pup!” Ai
pleaded.
“It is best if it dies. It will surely be a monster, like its mother.”
“I promise you, the pup will be of pure demon blood. It is your pup, your son,
and he will be an Inu, just as you are. I beg of you, Inutaisho, spare your
son’s life and you will see that what I say is true.”
Inutaisho could not afford to ignore his mate’s claims. Inutaisho was the last
of his bloodline. With no hope of finding a female Inu to breed with, he had
resolved himself to being the last dog demon on the planet. Although he had
little interest in producing an heir to his throne, if Ai could produce pure
Inu offspring, it would mean the redemption of his whole species. He returned
the whip to its place on the wall.
He kept his back turned to her. “Tell me what you know of the priestess
Midoriko.”
Ai knew it would be a mistake to deny any knowledge of Midoriko. It was obvious
that her mate knew she had met with the priestess. She did not know whether he
knew what they had spoken of. She decided to exercise extreme caution in her
answers.
“She is the warrior-priestess who is the current guardian of the demon slayers’
village in the Eastern Mountains.”
Inutaisho spun around and stepped closer to his mate. His eyes were cold and
hard as he looked down into her face. “Fascinating. Now tell me what interest
the Lady of the Western Lands could have in the affairs of the priestess of the
demon slayers?”
“There has been talk in the palace that it is the Lord of the Western Lands who
has an interest in the priestess. I merely wanted to find out if the rumors
were true.”
“You were jealous, Ai? How touching.” He smirked. “I will make sure that you do
not need to suffer such an indignity again.”
“You’ll stop seeing her, then?” Ai asked hopefully.
“I’ll kill her.”
“No!” Gasped Ai.
“Why do you care, Ai? She’s just a human. I’m beginning to suspect that you
care more for this priestess than you let on. Are the two of you perhaps
plotting some form of treason against your Lord?”
Inutaisho smiled wickedly, exposing his long fangs. Ai shuddered. She realized
in that moment that he knew everything. The demon lord returned his sword to
its sheath, and used his sharp claws to cut through the leather straps that
bound her hands and feet to the table. Sweeping his mate into his arms, he
exited the dungeons, climbing the steep stairs to the main part of the palace.
“Where are you taking me?” Ai was in a panic. She had no idea what he was
planning as he launched himself into the sky, still carrying her in his arms.
***** Chapter 58 *****
At the first light of day, Sesshomaru quietly roused Shippou and Jakotsu.
“Bring Kohaku’s weapon.” They made their way to the cairn, where he told
Shippou to place the bone with Kohaku’s body. When Shippou finished placing the
scythe over the place where Kohaku was was buried, Sesshomaru drew his sword.
This seemed to Shippou like the kind of plan Inuyasha would come up with.
“Wait, Sesshomaru! This is dangerous! We need to get Kagome out of the cave if
you plan on bringing down the side of the mountain!”
Kagome awoke to the sound of rock sliding on rock. The ground was shaking.
Shit! A cave was a very bad place to be during an earthquake. She grabbed for
her sword and her backpack, and scrambled for the mouth of the cave. After the
first few steps, she ended up crawling. There was no sign of Sesshomaru,
Shippou, or Jakotsu. They must already be up and out of the cave. The ground
stopped shaking, but the sound of rocks falling continued for a while. A ragged
cheer went up from somewhere near Kohaku’s grave. What the hell were those boys
doing?
Using her bow as a crutch, she made her way through the shallow, mushy snow
toward the group gathered at the gravesite. As she approached, her mate
sheathed his sword with a flourish, tossing his hair back over his shoulder.
Shippou and Jakotsu were watching him, both big-eyed with admiration. The two
appeared to be suffering from a bad case of hero-worship.
Kagome eyed their morning project. It looked like Sesshomaru had used Bakusaiga
trigger a landslide. Where Inuyasha would have brought the whole mountainside
down, Sesshomaru had used Bakusaiga with great precision, causing a single
slope to fracture and cover the grave with countless tons of massive boulders.
“Well, I don’t think anything’s going to be able to get in there. But you guys
should have woken me up. I thought there was an earthquake going on!”
Shippou told Jakotsu, “If Inuyasha had pulled that stunt, Kagome would have sat
him straight to Hell.” Kitsune were known for stirring up trouble and causing
mischief, and Shippou was no exception. He was disappointed when Kagome quietly
dropped the subject and allowed Sesshomaru to sweep her up into his arms.
Carrying her bridal-style, Sesshomaru led the group back to the cave.
Sesshomaru knew Inutaisho had already been wounded and exhausted when they
began their battle. The younger demon had suffered no major injuries, and was
by now fully recovered. He estimated that the damage his father had sustained
should take a day or two to heal. If he did not set out in pursuit of Inutaisho
soon, he would be throwing away this advantage. As he knelt by Kagome’s side,
gently unwinding the wet, dirty bandages from her feet, the part of him that
longed to spend just one more day with his new mate battled with another part
of him, which acknowledged his father as a supremely powerful and deadly rival
who must be eliminated immediately, before he had a chance to gain more power.
Kagome leaned back on her palms, watching her mate as he smoothed his fingers
over her legs and feet. His touch felt so soothing. Inuyasha had never done
anything like this for her, in all the times she had been injured. She wished
they could stay like this forever, in the warmth and shelter of the cave, but
Sesshomaru had made it clear that he had intended on leaving with the light of
day. He had already delayed his departure to placate her fear of Kohaku’s body
being exhumed like Kikyo’s had been, and now he was on his knees by her side,
comforting her and nursing her injuries. She didn’t want to repeat the mistakes
she had made with Inuyasha. Shippou’s remark about Kagome sitting Inuyasha had
brought a hundred memories to her mind, and she could not help but wonder if
she was not as much to blame for the failure of her marriage as Inuyasha had
been. If she were a better wife, would he have still gone to Rin? She resolved
to show Sesshomaru that she was not the needy, demanding little girl that
Inuyasha had always accused her of being. She bit her lip, hating to be the one
to bring this tender moment to an end.
 
“I was thinking that it might be best if I were to return to Edo. Kaede is
there to help with my healing, and I need to tell Sango about Kohaku.”
Sesshomaru frowned, focusing his gaze on his hands as he carefully wrapped her
feet in fresh bandages. “Edo is not safe for you right now. I sent Inuyasha
back to Edo with Rin. Inuyasha is not as powerful as my father, but he poses a
very serious threat. He refused to acknowledge that you are my mate, and he is
still determined to reclaim you.”
“I’m the one in trouble, and I want to help, not just sit here doing nothing!”
Sesshomaru had wondered for a long time why a being who positively radiated
power seemed to have so little idea of how to make use of it. “You used your
powers to heal Kohaku’s wounds, Kagome. Could you not do the same for your
own?”
Kagome looked down, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “I have never been properly
trained as a priestess. Kaede taught me the skills of an herbalist, a medic,
and a midwife, but whenever I asked her to help me learn to use my powers,
something important would come up, and the training would never happen. Miroku
offered to help me, he is a powerful monk, but he tended to lose focus…” She
let the sentence trail off, blushing.
“Yet I can attest to the effectiveness of your sacred arrows, and while you did
not heal Kohaku’s wounds fully, you did manage to seal them and keep him from
bleeding his life away.”
“I taught myself archery on the field of battle.” She gave him a demure look.
“You served as one of my first targets.” He smiled at her in return, and she
felt a strange tug at her heart. Who could have known Sesshomaru would have
such a beautiful smile. “I have been experimenting with healing, but my powers
seem to work better on others than on myself.”
“While I am gone, I want you use your powers to heal yourself. Focus is the
key. Have confidence in your abilities. Eat well, and try to get all the rest
you can. Practice meditation.” He turned his attention to Jakotsu. “When she is
well enough, instruct Kagome in swordsmanship. Shippou as well. Make sure
Kagome familiarizes herself with her new bow. Shippou, you will use Kohaku’s
katana, he would have wanted you to have it.” Shippou gulped and nodded,
suddenly teary-eyed. “Above all, beware of strangers, and watch out for
Inuyasha. If he should show up, I want you to treat him as an enemy. Do not let
him trick you into trusting him.”
Sesshomaru rose to his feet with unearthly grace. He took one last long look at
his mate before he turned and walked away.
***** Chapter 59 *****
“Bankotsu!”
He turned slowly, and smiled. One of Inuyasha’s women, the one who dressed from
head to toe in black leather. She didn’t have Kikyo’s beauty, and wasn’t as
young and cute as Kagome, but she was really stacked, and she was tall. He
could fuck her standing up. Bankotsu smiled. “I remember you. You’re Sango, the
demon slayer. What brings you to the finest inn in all of Fudo?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Bankotsu. Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
“I don’t know. Define dead for me. I think I’m starting to get a little
confused about that.”
Sango actually laughed. “So, if you’re back amongst the living, where’s the
rest of your motley crew?”
“The only one I know about is Jak. He left with Inuyasha and his gang over a
week ago, and I haven’t seen him since. Guess I’m not his best bud anymore.”
“Inuyasha was here, in Fudo?” Sango fingered the magic stone Amaya had given
her. The goddess had assured her that it would keep her private conversations
from being overheard by others. It looked like it was going to come in handy.
“You’re not traveling with dog boy anymore?”
“No. I’m alone. But I like to keep on top of things, so…” She shot him a
flirtatious look.
“Inuyasha was here with the monk. They performed an exorcism on the inn, and
the innkeeper was so impressed he lined up a gig for them, with some rich,
beautiful princess. Next thing you know, Inuyasha‘s older brother shows up and
trashes the joint. That‘s the most excitement we‘ve had in this place in
months. I guess I can‘t blame Jak for taking off with them. It‘s been pretty
boring around here.”
“How about you, Bankotsu. Who brought you back from the dead this time?”
Bankotsu shook his head. “I don’t know and the innkeeper won’t tell me.
Grandpa, that’s the innkeeper, is our liason with the client. He says we’re
supposed to just sit tight and wait for our assignment. I’ve been hanging out
here waiting for word from the customer for what seems like forever.”
“So you don’t know what’s going down or which side you’re supposed to be on
when the shit hits the fan? That doesn’t sound too good.”
Bankotsu liked talking to this chick. She was tough, and she knew the business.
“You’re telling me. It reminds me too much of our last gig, before Naraku
brought us back from our graves. Me and my band were set up and ambushed by the
client. It’s been too quiet, and it’s starting to make me uneasy. There’s been
no action at all.” He smiled, and looked into her eyes. “Hey, since you‘re not
working with Inuyasha anymore, how about we join forces? I’ve seen you fight,
and, you know, the more the merrier. Maybe we can hook up with Jak again and
call ourselves The Band of Three or something.”
Bankotsu had charm and charisma, all right. “Is this how you recruited The Band
of Seven, Bankotsu?”
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. I found Jak first. I just wanted to help him
out, he was such a cute kid. But he loved to kill from the start. I’ve never
seen anyone who enjoys bloodshed as much as that little nutcase, and you gotta
admit, he‘s great with a sword.”
Sango didn’t mind the fact that Bankotsu was a sword for hire, but his
bloodthirsty nature was disconcerting. Still, if she was going to have to go up
against Inutaisho, she would need all the help she could get. “You don’t know
where the rest of your band is, so what about Banryu?”
Bank scowled. “Grandpa’s got my baby and Jakotsutou locked up in his chambers.
The whole area is protected by some kind of barrier. He says we get our weapons
when we prove our loyalty to our employer. He called it an incentive.”
“I assume you’ve tried to get through the barrier?”
“You bet, but no luck. There’s some major magic going on in this place, and I
have a feeling that it will take a skilled sorcerer or holy person to get at
those swords. I was hoping I could persuade the monk to give it a go, but it
looks like he‘s long gone. So much for that plan.”
Sango fingered the money pouch Inutaisho had given her. A ninja or demon slayer
would use just about any katana, but a sword worthy of Bankotsu would be
expensive. Inu had been most generous, and she had her own money as well. She
and Amaya were scheduled to meet and hit the shopping district as a cover for a
reconnaissance expedition later in the day. Sango hoped Amaya enjoyed shopping
for weaponry.
Sango spend the rest of the day keeping Bankotsu company and working on
cementing their relationship. She found out that he had no money, and was being
kept in sake by the innkeeper, Grandpa. She drank a little sake along with him,
but even in her current dead state she could not keep up with his consumption.
“You know that princess that Inuyasha and Miroku were supposed to be working
for?”
Bank didn’t want to give away too much. Better never to talk about one woman to
another. Amaya was seriously hot. Drop dead gorgeous. “Yeah, I’ve seen her
around.”
“Well, her name is Amaya, and she and I are going shopping later on. Maybe you
could accompany us.”
Bank tapped his index finger against his front teeth. Sango noticed he had
beautiful white teeth. Kagome was the only other human she knew with perfect
teeth like that. “Jak and I were both told not to get too far away from the
inn. Jak’s already screwed that up royally. I don’t know if it’s worth risking
it.”
Sango considered the situation. She was ninety-nine percent sure that it was
Inutaisho that had brought Bank and Jak back from the dead. He had sent her
here, to the inn. It would follow that he expected her to meet up with Bank and
even possibly Amaya. No telling if Inu already knew of Jak’s defection. “If
Grandpa shows up before Amaya, I’ll ask him if you can go along as our
bodyguard. It’s not right for a couple of women to wander around without
protection.”
“Sounds good to me.” Bank downed another cup of sake. They killed time with a
little more drinking and a little more flirting, until finally the hour
appointed for Amaya’s arrival rolled around. They made their way to the front
door, where they found Grandpa greeting Amaya.
Amaya looked over Grandpa’s stooped shoulder, making eye contact with Bankotsu.
“Grandpa, who is this juicy hunk of man, and why haven’t you introduced him to
me before this?”
“This here is Bankotsu, Princess. He’s a mercenary, so mind your jewelry.
Wouldn’t want to have you lose your baubles to his trade.”
Amaya giggled, fingering the pearl pendant that nestled between her breasts. “I
bet it would be worth it! Say, Bankotsu, I know how much big, strong men like
you enjoy shopping. Why don’t you come along with Sango and me and carry our
packages?”
***** Chapter 60 *****
He was ruined, fucking ruined. And the reason for it all was crouched in front
of him sniveling and whining, her black hair hanging over her face in stringy
strands, wet with her tears and snot and mud. “Look at me, bitch!” He screamed,
totally enraged. When he saw that she was staring into his face, he clashed his
fangs and bared them at her. Like a flash, he used one bare foot to flip her to
her back, then stepped onto her chest, pinning her down in the melting snow. He
used his intact right hand to tug the firerat robe out of the way, so that she
could see the bloody stump that was once his left arm. “Look at what you’ve
done!”
“You’re crazy, Inuyasha! I didn’t do that to you!”
Inuyasha lowered his face toward her, tilting it to display his permanently
scarred cheek. “You wanna play with the big boys, little girl? You’ve got off
to a great start, haven’t you. You proud of yourself?” He prodded her chin with
a dirty toe. “Daddy’s gone now. So, whatcha gonna do, bitch? What’s your new
plan? I’m just askin’ cause I know you. You’ve always got a plan, don’t you,
you skanky little whore?”
Rin could tell he was losing it. His eyes were turning pink, and she could see
the beginnings of jagged purple lines darkening on his cheeks. An unnatural
wind was whipping his long shaggy hair around his body and blowing dried brown
leaves from the branches of surrounding trees. He was going demon and once he
did, nothing was going to hold him back from ripping her to pieces. “I’ll grow
it back for you!”
“Oh, I don’t think so. I think you’re just making promises you can’t keep, just
like you always do.”
“It wasn’t me, Inuyasha! It’s not my fault you lost your arm, and I’ve never
made you any promises I didn’t keep! Just give me a chance, and I’ll find a way
to get your arm back!”
Inuyasha sneered at her “Kikyo could have probably grown my arm back for me.
Kagome, she loves me enough that she’d go through hell to find a way. But you,
Rin? Have you ever done a single worthwhile thing in your entire fucking life?”
“Loving you, Inuyasha! That was supposed to be what I did with my life! And you
screwed that up, didn’t you? Casting me aside to take back Kagome! So who are
you to talk? You’re a dog that can’t even stay loyal!”
Inuyasha hissed and drew himself up to his full height. The air was heavily
charged with energy and smelled of ozone. His fangs had lengthened and his eyes
were as red as garnets. Rin flattened herself into the ground. She knew that
any attempt to move now would prove fatal. “Sit, Inuyasha,” she whispered.
Inuyasha fell to his knees beside her. He brought his face close to hers. “I
don’t think that will work for you, Rin.” He ran his claws down the side of her
face with what almost seemed like tenderness, carving four deep, bloody furrows
into the firm young flesh of her cheek. The pain was excruciating, but fear of
further enraging him kept her from crying out. “That’s for my face, but you
still owe me, Rin. Big time. I don’t like thieves, and you’ve stolen more from
me than Naraku or your precious Sesshomaru ever did. The way I see it, you owe
me my arm back.” He gave her a vicious shake. “You owe me my mate back.” He
gave her another shake, then grabbed her by the collar of her miko outfit,
lifting her upward so his lips were almost making contact with her own. “And
you owe me a pup, Rin.” He shoved her back into the muddy, slushy snow.
He rose to his feet, graceful in spite of his missing arm. Rin was relieved
that he seemed to be regaining control of his beast as he stared down at her
with contemptuous golden eyes, now only slightly tinted with pink. “Here’s the
plan, Rin. I’m going to take care of your good buddy Master Ungai, and you are
going to watch, and learn. If you’re real smart, you might figure out that I’m
not some stupid guy you want to play games with, like you seem to think. So get
walkin’, cause I’m not gonna carry you. I don’t even want to touch you, cause
if I do, I’ll kill you right here and now.”
It was only a couple of miles back to Ungai’s village, and Inuyasha made quick
work of sniffing out the spot where Ungai had left his escape tunnel and taken
flight through the forest. Inuyasha did not say a word, but he made sure to let
Ungai get a good look at him, knowing he made a horrible sight, maimed and
covered with blood as he was. “Get back, vile demon!” Screamed the old monk.
Inuyasha just smirked. He knew the monk was powerful, and it would be unwise to
give him a chance to regroup, but he was savoring the dramatic scene. Rin
picked that moment to stumble onto their little tableau. He laughed when Rin
screamed out “Master Ungai! Run!”
In his confrontation with Rin, Inuyasha had exerted great control over his
animalistic side, unwilling to surrender his power of reason to the raging
beast that was lurking just below the surface of his being. But he had no use
for Master Ungai, other than as an example to Rin and an immediate, satisfying
outlet for his bottled up aggression. Now that his audience had arrived,
Inuyasha pounced on Ungai like Kirara would jump on a fat mouse, sinking his
fangs into the back of his neck and shaking the monk until first his bladder
and bowels gave out, then his screaming, pleading voice, and finally his very
life. Inuyasha was in full demon mode now, every muscle in his powerful form
engaged in violently tossing the old man’s body from side to side. At last the
vertebra in the monk’s neck separated, flesh and cartilage tore through, and
his bald, tanned head landed with a sickening thud right at Rin’s feet, his
watery old eyes staring up into Rin’s. Rin screamed and screamed until her
vocal cords gave out and she could not make another sound.
***** Chapter 61 *****
The snow had turned to rain, and it was coming down hard. Shippou passed Kagome
a cup of tea. The metal cup radiated heat, and felt good in her hands. She
lowered her face to inhale the warm steam and savor the fragrance of the tea.
Rainy days spent inside brought on a flood of memories. Kagome stared out at
the gray afternoon sky and thought of all the times she had been caught out in
the cold and wet when she traveled with Inuyasha. She sighed and sat back on
the soft fur robe. Shippou had volunteered to cook the boar Sesshomaru had
brought for her, and the cave was filled with the delectable smell of roasting
pork. The sizzling juices and crackling skin were making Kagome’s mouth water.
The warmth of the fire and smells of cooking made her think of her mother. She
always pictured Mother in the kitchen, wearing a frilly apron, cooking
something good. The tea made her think of Kohaku. Every cup of tea forever and
ever would always remind her of Kohaku. She prayed that he was safe now, away
from all the pain he had experienced during his life.
The cave was beginning to feel like a real home, rather than a campsite. A
well-lit corner was now graced by a good-sized mirror in an ornate frame. Jak
was standing before it, applying and re-applying his rouge and kohl and lip
paint. Jak had gone out early, saying he needed a little practice to become
accustomed to his new sword. He returned many hours later, soaking wet and
carting this big mirror and an armful of rain-sodden garments in with him. The
clothing had been draped here and there to dry, the bright colors of the silk
fabric standing out gaily against the dark basalt walls of the cave. Kagome was
sure the items were stolen goods. Only the wealthy could hope to own such a
mirror in this day and age, and the clothing was of very fine quality. She
shook her head in bemusement. She had learned not to question such windfalls,
and had gratefully accepted a lovely lavender kimono, which Jak said would
bring out the pink in her cheeks. Trickery and stealing were a way of life in
the feudal era, and something she had grown resigned to a long time ago, with a
mendacious monk and an artful kitsune for traveling companions.
“Want to eat, Kagome?”
“I don’t know Shippou, maybe in a little while.” Kagome sighed.
“Are you scared?” Shippou asked her.
“Half scared and half sad.”
“Me, too. I really thought that when you came back from the other side of the
well, everything would be all right, you know?”
“Yeah, Ship. Me too. But I guess things don’t work out that way in real life,
after all. Do they?”
“No, Mommy, I guess they don’t.” Shippou moved close to Kagome, and cuddled
into her side, like he was still a little kit. Kagome stroked his long, soft
auburn hair. “At first I thought everything would be all right once Naraku was
defeated. Then the Shikon Jewel took you away. Inuyasha told me not to be sad
that you were gone, that you were with your mom and grandpa and your little
brother Souta. Inuyasha told me not to be sad, but he was sad, too, Mommy! I
know he was!” Shippou had started to cry, and Kagome put her arm around him and
rocked him gently. “I always knew he was a big idiot, but why’d he have to go
and ruin everything?”
“Aw, Ship. I don’t know. He wasn’t happy with me, I guess. All those times he
called me a stupid human girl, and weak and pathetic, I thought he was just
being Inuyasha. You know. Gruff. I guess he was kind of forced into marrying
me. It all seemed so romantic, like some kind of fairy tale.” Kagome sighed
again, continuing to rock Shippou gently against her side. “Even after he got
tired of me, I kept telling myself that if I learned to use my powers like
Kikyo, he’d start loving me the way he had loved her. I tried to get Kaede to
teach me, but it just never happened. Now Sesshomaru wants me to learn to be
like Kikyo, too!”
Jak cut in, “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s no way Sesshomaru wants you to be
like that bitch. He hated Kikyo.”
Kagome looked over at him in shock. “What did you say?”
“Sesshomaru had nothing but contempt for Kikyo, even when she saved his little
girl from me and Suikotsu.” Jak moved away from the mirror, and seated himself
close to Kagome. He had painted his thin lips with a dark red pigment, and they
looked almost as black and glossy as his eyes. “You know that nasty little girl
Sesshomaru used to keep with him?”
“That’s Rin, dummy. The one that stole Inuyasha away from Kagome!”
“Oh, right. Silly me.” Jak smirked, an evil look in his obsidian eyes.
“The plan was to kidnap the brat, then use her as bait to lure Sesshomaru close
to Mount Hakurei, where Naraku told us he would be weakened by the purification
barrier. Then we were going to take him out. It was going really well, too.
Suikotsu was holding onto the girl, and Sesshomaru and I were getting into it
pretty good. It was a luscious fight. First, he ripped my kimono half off.”
Jak’s eyes narrowed in remembered bliss. “I managed to cut him with Jakotsutou,
but he got the better of me. He’s such a good swordsman, and sooo strong. He
shoved his claws right through my heart. That’s when I began to realize just
what a sexy brute Inuyasha’s brother really is.” Jak’s little pink tongue
darted out to lick his dark painted lips. Shippou shuddered. Jak might be on
their side now, but he was still a specter from the grave. Creepy. “My brother
was just about ready to rip the kid’s throat out when that dead bitch shot him
in the neck with a purifying arrow. It turned Suikotsu back into a damned
saint. Suikotsu begged Kikyo to remove the jewel shard from his neck. She
couldn’t do it. She asked Suikotsu if he was certain, if he chose death. You
should have seen the look on Sesshomaru’s face. Believe me, he didn’t like that
bitch at all. He had no use for her sanctimonious, hypocritical bullshit, just
turned his back and walked away right in the middle of it.”
Kagome gifted Jak with a tremulous smile. His story was truly awful and most
disturbing. She somehow felt that it said more about Jak than about the way
Sess had regarded Kikyo, but she understood the point he had been trying to
make. “Thanks, Jak. You’re being such a good brother to me. I want you to know
how much I appreciate it.”
Jak leaned in close beside her. He reached into his hair and pulled forth the
butterfly hairpin that always adorned his little updo. He stared into her wide
eyes as he carefully positioned the ornament in her hair, along with the
jeweled hairsticks and kansashi. “This belonged to my sister, Aiko. I want you
to wear it for me now, Kagome.” She stared into his wicked black eyes, and
nodded wordlessly. Who’d have known Jakotsu would turn out to be this caring?
They discussed their plans over dinner, which turned into a kind of spontaneous
banquet. The roasted boar turned out as good as its aroma had promised, and
Shippou made sure Kagome got the most tender portions of the meat. They even
had salt to sprinkle on it, and some dried persimmons and leftover rice balls.
Kagome hadn’t been able to eat solid food in days, so she was in heaven. She
had managed to bite through her tongue when Kohaku was slamming her head into
the cave floor, but the injury seemed to have healed completely. Her teeth,
which had felt disturbingly loose, gave her no pain when she chewed. She rolled
back the loose sleeves of her kimono. That morning when she woke up, her arms
had been covered with massive, black and purple bruises, the color of Miroku’s
robes. The bruises had faded to a mottled yellow, as if her skin had been
brushed with egg yolk. “Guys, look. I’m healing really fast.”
She was definitely healing faster than the average human. Was Sesshomaru’s
blood or her own power responsible for this accelerated healing?
***** Chapter 62 *****
The next day dawned clear and dry. Jak decided Kagome’s injuries had fully
healed. He announced it was time to begin training with their swords, as their
lord had instructed. He led Kagome and Shippou through a few kata, or forms. It
was obvious that both had already learned the proper manner of unsheathing and
holding their weapons. He reclined on a blanket for about an hour, calling out
guidance as Kagome and Shippou repeated the ritual movements he had shown them.
Growing bored, he decided his students would take the path Bankotsu had chosen
when training him, randori, which involved non-ritual fighting as opposed to
kata. They would use bokken, or wooden practice swords. Under his guidance,
Shippou used his claws to quickly carve out three bokken of approximately the
same dimensions as their true swords. While probably not at all what Sesshomaru
had in mind when he told Jak to train Kagome and Shippou, randori would
certainly be much more exciting than practicing forms. Sensei and pupils
happily slashed away at each other, what had begun as a fairly sedate lesson
quickly devolving into chaos, which was actually the theory behind randori. Jak
began to throw in spins, tumbles, rolls, and other gymnastic maneuvers to avoid
his students’ strikes, and they all began to happily incorporate taihenjutsu or
“body changing skills” into their practice.
Kouga limped along, supported by Ginta and Hakaku, his right-and-left-hand men.
He had managed to take out Kyokotsu of the Band of Seven, but just barely.
Goraishi, his revered tekko-kagi, was the only thing that had made a killing
blow against the gigantic beast possible. His left leg had been badly shredded
in the battle. How he missed his sacred jewel shards! While he was still an
effective fighter and the fastest being in all the lands, he could never hope
to equal his earlier prowess without the jewel shards. It would take time to
recover from his grievous injury. His legs had taken a lot of damage over the
years, and no longer healed within a day or two, as they had when he was
younger. He had lost a lot of blood, which would further slow his healing. The
wolf prince had decided to leave the mountains around Fudo and take refuge in a
well-hidden cave he had used in the past. As he recalled, there was plentiful
game all around, a nice hot spring, and a demon village conveniently located
nearby.
As the three comrades neared the mountain valley that provided shelter for the
cave, they began to hear sounds of fighting. Kouga’s ears pricked up when he
heard a feminine voice shout out a loud “kiai!”
“Kagome!” Kouga yelled, ripping himself from the grasp of his men. He ignored
his damaged leg as he ran over the rise and down into the midst of the heated
battle taking place in the valley. His woman Kagome and her fox kit Shippou
were fighting off Jakotsu, a member of the Band of Seven! “Jakotsu, if you want
to fight, fight me!” He roared. Jak rounded on the intruder. If he had wielded
his true sword, rather than a wooden bokken, he would have ended the wolf’s
life then and there. Kouga had not possessed his hand claw weapon last time the
two did battle, and managed to land a terrible blow to Jak’s abdomen. Jak
collapsed backward, clutching his gut.
“Kouga, stop! Jak’s not our enemy any more!” Kagome tried to run to Jak’s side,
but was held back by Kouga, who had taken her little hands into his big ones,
and was staring into her face with his usual look of utter devotion.
Ginta and Hakaku ran onto the scene, panting with exhaustion. “Hold that
specter!” Kouga ordered his men. “Kagome, are you telling me this zombie is a
friend of yours, now?” She nodded. “Why was he attacking you and Shippou,
then?”
“He was teaching us to fight!” She struggled out of his grasp, and ran to Jak’s
side. “Jak, how bad is it?” Kagome didn’t know what to expect. Jak wasn’t a
living being, after all. His kimono was ripped open, and his stomach bore five
deep gashes from the blades of Kouga’s tekko-kagi.
“This kimono didn’t come cheap, you stupid wolf! I expect you to buy me a new
one, and it better be really pretty, too!”
Kagome let out a sigh of relief. If Jak was that concerned about his kimono,
the wounds would not apparently be ending his sojourn in the land of the
living. From her position kneeling by Jakotsu’s side, Kagome caught sight of
Kouga’s wounded leg, and cried out in horror. “Kouga, you’re hurt, too!” She
took command of Shippou and Kouga’s men. “Come on guys, let’s get these two
into the cave!”
By the time they reached the cave, Jak’s wounds had closed up, leaving no sign
he had been injured at all, save the damage to his silk kimono. Kouga’s wounded
leg, on the other hand, looked serious. Kagome knew Kouga wouldn’t put up with
laying flat on the floor, so she dragged the fur cape close to the cave wall
closest to the fire. “Set him on the fur, guys.” She ordered. She grabbed the
bundle of medical supplies, and knelt between Kouga’s extended legs. “What
happened to your leg, Kouga?” She asked, as she prodded the extensive wound.
“The Band of Seven’s running amok in the Eastern Mountains. But I guess you
already know about that, huh?”
“I only knew about Jak, here, and his brother Bankotsu. Are you saying the rest
of the Band of Seven is around, too?”
“That’s not all. I just killed Kyokotsu for the second time. The third time,
actually, if you count the time I killed him when Naraku brought them back.”
“Kouga, do you know who brought the Band of Seven back this time?”
“Ask him!” The wolf jerked his head at Jakotsu, who was busy sorting through
his collection of stolen kimonos. Judging by his mumbling, he was having a hard
time picking out one that he felt would go well with his complexion.
“Jak doesn’t know who brought him back, or why. Are the rest of the Band of
Seven fighting on behalf of some warlord or something?”
Kouga didn’t answer. He was looking around the cave, sniffing. “Where the hell
is Mutt Face, Kagome? Why isn’t he here protecting you?”
Kagome was getting tired of having to explain her marital problems to all and
sundry, so she was relieved when Shippou answered for her. “Inuyasha left her
for Rin. But don’t get any ideas, wolf. She’s mated to his brother, Sesshomaru
now.”
“That utter asshole! I warned you about him, Kagome. Wolves mate for life, dogs
don’t. They’ll climb on top of anything warm. And now you went and mated
another one!” Kouga was fuming. “I told you I would wait for you. Why the hell
did you go to that frigid prick Sesshomaru? You have to have known I would take
care of you!”
“I love Sesshomaru, Kouga!”
“Last time I checked, it was Inuyasha you loved. Even though he kept running
off to be with that damned dead priestess all the time! What the hell’s wrong
with you, Kagome?” Kouga was pissed. His eyes, usually a beautiful, serene
Mediterranean blue, were now glowing red, and his fangs had extended, becoming
wicked looking weapons. Kagome was sure they were a full two sun in length, as
long as her little finger.
“Kouga, knock it off! I need to take care of your leg, or you might lose it!”
Kagome refused to let him see her fear.
Breaking eye contact with the angry male, she gentled her hands over his
wounded leg. ‘If I allow myself to fear Kouga, there’s a chance I could purify
him.’ She wanted to be very careful not to purify her demon patient. Purity was
the basis of her power. That was very clear. At her weakest, with her powers
restricted, she had still been able to shoot sacred arrows that contained
enormous amounts of purifying energy. Everything else she knew about her powers
stemmed from that single source. Her accuracy had been lacking, at first. But
the power was always there, and it was very strong. She had taught herself how
call upon her powers to accurately hit a target, every time, and to infuse not
just arrows with her powers, but other weapons as well. While Kaede was
training her in herbal medicine and midwifery, she had quietly experimented
with infusing the knives and needles and bandages she used on her patients with
her spiritual energy.
Under ideal circumstances she felt confident of her ability to fine-tune the
same spiritual energy that could totally obliterate a demon and direct it
towards healing, at least enough to help a little. Kouga’s enraged state made
the situation far less than ideal. “Kouga, saving your leg is what’s important
right now. Just relax, and let me do this for you. We can worry about every
thing else later, after I’ve healed you, okay?”
Kouga nodded, sagging back against the wall of the cave. Kagome suspected that
he was feeling weak, but didn’t want anyone to know. He had always been so much
like Inuyasha. She breathed in deeply, remembering Sesshomaru’s advice about
meditating. Emptying her mind of everything but thoughts of healing, she
focused on her hands, watching as they began to glow with a faint, pink light.
She closed her eyes, visualizing Kouga’s leg, whole and undamaged. Gently, eyes
still closed, she stroked her fingers softly up and down the length of Kouga’s
leg. She repeated the gentle caress, over and over, totally losing track of
time. She was startled out of her trance when she felt her hands captured in
Kouga’s. Her eyes opened to stare into his, which were once again a tranquil
blue. He smiled softly at her, and she lowered her gaze to his leg.
Ginta, who was leaning close, gasped. “Ooh… Look, everybody. His leg is
completely healed!”
Hakaku peered over his shoulder “Ahhh…”
“How are you feeling, Kouga?” She asked softly.
“Better than ever, Kagome. Thank you, my woman.”
She smiled back at him, feeling a little misty. “I think I’m going to cry!”
Ginta and Hakaku both waved their hands in dismay. “Don’t be afraid, little
sister! Kouga’s leg is healed now, and he can protect us all from the Band of
Seven again!” Jakotsu, who had been staring into his mirror, made a point of
smirking.
Kouga pulled Kagome into his lap, stroking her hair as she rested her head
against his bare, muscular chest. “Are you tired, Kagome?”
She nodded. She was very tired, and felt strangely weepy, the way she often did
when she started… Shit. Just what she didn’t need. Stuck in a cave with three
wolves, and she was about to start her period.
Kouga rocked Kagome in his arms. She did not have the strength or even any
desire to resist. She just wanted to be held right now. A mean little voice
inside her head added that if Sesshomaru didn’t like it, tough. He wasn’t here
for her when she needed him, and he’d just have to suck it up.
Ignoring Kouga and Kagome, Shippou decided to find out what Ginta and Hakaku
knew about the situation with the Band of Seven. He had always thought Kouga’s
men were more intelligent than their leader anyway. “I take it you guys don’t
know who brought the Band of Seven back, then, right, Ginta?”
“Right, Shippou. Over the last year, more and more humans have been cutting
down trees in the Eastern Mountains, around the area of the old demon slayers’
village and the mining encampment at Fudo. The humans have always cut down
trees to use for charcoal, to make steel for swords.”
Hakaku took over. “But more and more trees started being cut down. We haven’t
ever seen deforestation like that, even when Naraku’s demons were running wild
all over the Eastern Lands! And it’s not just the forests they are destroying,
either. They’ve wiped out all of the game our wolves use for food.” He looked
over at Kagome, who was still cradled in his leader’s arms. “Our tribe hasn’t
started hunting humans for food again, Kagome. We’ve been sending our hunters
farther and farther afield to look for meat. But the tribe has been trying to
recover our numbers after all the lives we lost to Kagura, and our new cubs are
going hungry because of all the new human activity in our territory.”
“Right.” Added Ginta. “A lot of the new demons we’ve taken in from other
tribes, especially Ayame and the wolves she brought with her from the Northern
Tribes, wanted to use all these new humans for food. Kouga ordered that we just
conduct raids on the work crews out cutting wood and the humans hunting our
game, to try to drive them out of our territory. Just to scare them, though,
not to kill them or eat them. Kouga’s refusal to let the wolves eat humans led
Ayame and her wolves to form a separate pack, which doesn’t abide by Kouga’s
rules.”
Hakaku finished the story. “It seems like that’s what brought the Band of Seven
into the mountains. They’re killing off the wolves in both Kouga’s tribe and
Ayame’s tribe so the human woodsmen can keep harvesting wood for making steel.”
Kouga, still stroking Kagome’s hair, added quietly, “I won’t ever go back on my
promise to you, Kagome. My tribe will never use your kind for food again.”
Kagome really did start crying, then.
***** Chapter 63 *****
Kagome slipped out of Kouga’s arms. He didn’t wake. Kagome wasn’t surprised. It
sounded like he and his wolves had been fighting an organized opponent with
infinite resources, just has they had in their war with Naraku. Ginta and
Hakaku were lying in a snoring heap in a corner, dead to the world. She caught
the glint of firelight off Shippou’s reflective fox eyes, and gestured to him,
grabbing her sword and a wad of bandages on her way out the door. “Hey, Ship,
I’m thinking Kouga will want to take his men and head out tomorrow. You know
him. Do you think you could go hunt up a deer or something so at least they
leave here fed and rested?” Shippou nodded and slipped away into the shadows.
It was starting to feel like old times.
Dried brown grasses crunched under her feet as she made her way into the
bushes. Kagome looked up at the moon. It was very bright and lit up the whole
sky. Her sword was a heavy weight in her hand. She felt like it wanted her to
look at it, something she had been avoiding since the incident with Kohaku. She
felt a sharp pain, coming from somewhere near her heart, and suddenly found
herself missing her mate, very, very much. She stared up at the moon. She
thought of his slanted golden eyes, and his long silky hair, and the way he had
held her on the few times they had been able to spend together. Still feeling
compelled to look at her blade, she lifted it to the sky, tilting it so the
moonlight was reflected in the shining polished steel. There it was, his face,
his eyes, just as she had pictured them a moment before. It wasn’t just an
image. It was as if he were looking right back at her. “Sesshomaru.” She
pressed her warm lips to the cold steel of the blade, and when she removed
them, the image had disappeared. She shivered, the moonlight suddenly feeling
cold and alien. She finished her business and hurried back to the warmth of the
cave.
Taking care to be as quiet as possible, Kagome stirred up the embers and fed
the fire with several big, solid logs. She could tell by the way the moon shone
in the clear sky, and the way the grasses had felt under her feet, that it
would only get colder as night gave way to the early hours of morning. By the
time Shippou returned, the fire would be ready to begin roasting the meat. Like
Ship and Inuyasha, Kouga and his men had grown to enjoy cooked meat and even
the rice and noodle dishes Kagome had introduced them to. She remembered how
they had become addicted to the greasy potato chips she had brought back
through the well from her time. Remembering how Kouga and Inuyasha had fought
over the flavored chips made her smile. Boys. They were just too cute. And the
chips had been garlic flavored. Funny, she thought. How quickly her heart had
healed from all the pain inflicted by Inuyasha. She could even bear to think
about him and his rivalry with Kouga without breaking down in tears.
‘A month ago, I wouldn’t have been able to remember those days, traveling with
Inuyasha and the gang, and how much I used to love him, without crying for the
way it turned out. It hurt so bad when he abandoned me. I know it’s because of
Sesshomaru that I don’t hurt anymore. It’s like he’s filled me up inside in a
way that Inuyasha never could. There’s no room for anyone else in my heart, not
even Inuyasha, who I used to think was my whole world.’ Being Kagome, she began
to feel guilty. ‘Was my love for Inuyasha really that shallow? That I could
forget him just like that?’ It was true. Every little iota of love that had
filled her heart for Inuyasha was gone. She felt bad for having cut his arm
off, but not nearly as bad as she should have. She wished she hadn’t had to do
it, she even knew he must hate her now. But she found herself not really
caring. How Inuyasha felt about her just didn’t matter any more.
Her chores done, Kagome went to Shippou’s corner of the cave and bedded down in
his blanket. She took comfort in the familiar smell of her kit. She drifted off
to memories of how it had felt to cuddle him against her chest when he was
small, how fluffy and soft his little red tail had been as it tickled her
cheek.
The cold, thin morning sunlight crept into the cave, waking Kagome. Jak was
gone. No doubt out raping, robbing, and pillaging. She shuddered at the thought
of Jak raping. Not something she wanted to think about. He had a real kink,
that was for sure. Thinking about Jak’s tendencies fell into the same category
as thinking about Kouga eating humans. ‘Just don’t go there, Kagome.’ Shippou
had returned, and there was a fat deer roasting over the fire she had prepared
earlier. Kouga and his men were still asleep. Kagome stumbled over to the
entrance to the cave. There was a little alcove that stayed cold, but not
freezing, which she considered her refrigerator. Really, there was something to
be said for winter. Food spoiled so fast in hot weather. She rummaged through
the basket of luxuries she had been saving for a special occasion. There were a
few more eggs, some rice, and some spices. If she combined them with the few
remaining scraps of leftover meat from Sesshomaru’s boar, she should be able to
come up with a fairly interesting fried rice dish. “Hey, Ship. How wide and
flat can you make this mug?”
Kouga woke to the delicious smell of frying rice, meat and eggs. His mouth was
watering. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to eat much.
Anything he managed to catch, he gave to the cubs and mothers of his pack. He
stretched luxuriously, feeling his back crack. Across the fire was his Kagome,
crouched down cooking his breakfast. He could get used to this. He could
really, really get used to this.
“Hey, Kagome, watcha cookin?”
“Something special for you and your men, Kouga. And Shippou went hunting last
night. He brought back a nice young deer, so you guys should have plenty to
eat!”
He sniffed, his nose twitching. “Smells great!” The food wasn’t all that
smelled great. Kagome was in season, a scent that always drove him crazy. He’d
really have to watch himself. He was self-confident, but not a big enough fool
to think he could take on Inuyasha’s brother. Kagome was strictly off-limits,
at least for now. Kouga was a young demon, but in two hundred years, there’s at
least one lesson he had learned. That is that if you wait long enough, things
are sure to change.
***** Chapter 64 *****
Sesshomaru was bold, but he was not suicidal. His first inclination was to
charge in and resume the battle that Inutaisho had abandoned, but he knew that
taking such action would be rash to say the least. He would not be lured into a
trap so easily. The situation called for restraint. Fudo, as it existed now,
had been engineered by his father, a legendary tactician. Any battle conducted
within its walls would not be a fair fight. Given Inutaisho’s fondness for
tactics and trickery, the town was sure to be fraught with hidden dangers. He
already knew his powers would not work inside the city gates. There was no
telling what other inconvenient surprises lay in wait for any invader foolish
enough to charge into the town unthinkingly. Bankotsu and Jakotsu had no doubt
been resurrected to fight on Inutaisho’s behalf, and there were sure to be
others, as well. Scouting would be required to determine their numbers and
level of power.
Flying over would be the most efficient way to gather such intelligence, but
would give away his presence immediately, so it was out of the question. Given
the circumstances, he judged it best to approach Fudo on foot, from the rugged
wilderness to the east. If he used the cover provided by the mountainous
terrain, he should be able to get a better idea of the size and layout of the
town, and study the behavior of its inhabitants.
He had expected to find the lower elevations of the mountains covered in an old
growth mixed forest of evergreen and deciduous trees. Instead he was met with
raw earth and exposed bedrock where the trees had been ripped out of the
ground. Piles of roots and branches which had been roughly hacked off littered
the landscape. Logging trails, heavy with the scent of oni, criss-crossed the
devastated mountainside. He made his way through the wasted land, as stealthily
as he could given the lack of cover. Each stream and pond he encountered reeked
of chemical poisons. He caught the scent of the self-styled “poison master” of
the Band of Seven, Mukotsu. Pathetic. Mukotsu had touched Kagome, held her in
his filthy arms. He had overcome her with his poison. Kagome, as she had gained
in experience, had become capable of counteracting the effects of Naraku’s vile
miasma, a form of chemical poison created by the demon’s own malevolent jaki.
But her purity held no sway over the poisons concocted by Mukotsu, and she was
powerless before him, despite his pitiful stature and weak constitution. The
image of such an abomination laying his hands on the beautiful and pure young
priestess who had become his mate made Sesshomaru’s stomach turn. There was an
upside to Mukotsu’s resurrection, and that was the satisfaction Sesshomaru
would take in killing him again. This time would take much longer and involve
much more pain, as a tribute to his mate.
Twilight was approaching as he knelt by the side of one of the ruined ponds,
which shone in the light given off by the blue-green evening sky. The rising
moon and even the large, bright stars which accompanied it were perfectly
replicated in the black, oily surface of the water. Idly, he stirred the
mirrored surface with his long, elegant fingers. He had no fear of Mukotsu’s
poisons. Such held no sway over a being such as Sesshomaru, whose very blood
and marrow were permeated with the most potent of toxins, which yet smelled as
sweet as a maiden’s bower in summer, clad in wisteria blossoms. On and on he
stared, as the color leached from the surface of the pool, to be replaced by
pure blackness, and the rippling, reflected white light of the moon.
A small band of wolves watched from the adjacent hillside, taking advantage of
the prevailing winds to prevent Sesshomaru from detecting their scent. Their
leader was a wolf demon in the guise of a humanoid female, clad in a brief
outfit of white fur. Ayame, the princess of the northern wolf tribe, who had
once hoped to become Kouga’s mate. Her green eyes narrowed in hatred as her
powerful senses took in the demon lord’s scent. His scent was mixed with that
of the priestess Kagome. Her enemy, who had bewitched Kouga, leading him to
reject her as his rightful mate and side with the filthy humans who were laying
waste to this land. She kept watch patiently, as the night grew deeper.
Sesshomaru continued to stir the surface of the pool, seeming fascinated by
whatever it was he was seeing. After a long time, he seemed to return to
himself, as if from a trance. Ayame shivered when the demon lord looked
straight at her little pack. “There is no sense in continuing your pathetic
attempts to hide yourself from this Sesshomaru.”
Ayame came forward, flanked by her wolves. Sesshomaru far outranked her in
status, being a Cardinal Lord. Still, she refused to grant him any obeisance.
“What business do you have here, Sesshomaru?” She asked disrespectfully.
Sesshomaru did not like Ayame in the least. Her grandfather, who had served
under Inutaisho, had offered her up as a potential mate after she had failed at
persuading Kouga to take her. He had briefly considered the offer, but upon
meeting the girl, had found her to be unbearably rude, obnoxious, and
unfoundedly arrogant. She had further failed to endear herself to him when she
had launched into a lengthy and heated diatribe against Kagome, whom she blamed
for her own failure to secure a mate.
The demon lord gave Ayame his coldest look, and she could not restrain the
involuntary shudder which racked her body. Sesshomaru possessed the strongest
and most disturbing demonic aura she had ever encountered. She spoke again,
this time more cautiously and politely. “Please, excuse my hasty speech. I was
merely surprised to find you so far from the Western Lands, Lord Sesshomaru.”
 
Sesshomaru knew Ayame was a human-hater, and judging by her breath and that of
her wolves, had taken to eating them, as well. He would prefer to deal with
Kouga. Despite the wolf’s disgusting cheerfulness and lack of protocol, he had
been a solid ally in the fight against Naraku. Though he disliked the thought
of needing help to defeat his father, there was just too much at stake in this
matter to tolerate any chance of failure. He would do whatever it took to send
his father back to Hell, and this time he would make sure he stayed there.
“Where is Kouga?” Sesshomaru asked abruptly. He was not going to waste words on
this despicable female.
“He was badly injured in a fight with one of the Band of Seven. They have been
resurrected again, and are providing protection for the humans who are ruining
this land. His men took him to a safe location to give him a chance to heal.”
***** Chapter 65 *****
Amaya had insisted they visit every shop and street vendor in Fudo, giving
Sango the opportunity to thoroughly scout out the entire mercantile district
and even make some subtle forays into the industrial east side of town, where a
few pawnshops and vendors specializing in metalwork were interspersed among the
numerous foundries and factories. Literacy was rare in the feudal era, reserved
for the religious orders, clerical class, and a few select members of the
nobility. Because she could not read or write, it was second nature for Sango
to remember huge amounts of detailed information. She had a well-trained
memory, and would retain a mental map of all she had observed. Her mind also
held all the technical knowledge of her tribe. Prosaic stuff, which would be of
use to a warrior. Her maternal grandmother had been one of the few members of
the village who cared about the oral tradition of the tribe’s past, which was
largely lost to time, including the story of her distant ancestor, Midoriko.
Sango’s father had frowned upon his children wasting time listening to useless
ballads and romantic drivel, as he called his mother-in-law’s tales. Against
his orders, Grandma sneakily supplied Sango and Kohaku with her famous sweet
rice balls, along with the only hugs and kisses they ever received. Kagome
reminded Sango of her grandmother. The way she had of lighting up from within,
her stories and songs and games, her warm embraces.
They arrived back at the inn laden down with bundles. Amaya and Sango laughing
and chatting about their purchases, Bankotsu somewhat quiet and grim. They had
not been able to find a sword he deemed worthy of carrying. He had been
unwilling to settle for even the best sword the merchants of Fudo had to offer.
Grandpa was waiting for them on the porch. “Lord Inutaisho has arrived. He
awaits you all in his quarters.” Amaya rushed into the inn, followed closely by
Sango.
Bank went alone to Sango’s room, where he dropped the packages he was carrying
onto the floor, and threw himself down on a pile of cushions, covering his eyes
with his forearm. Just as looking at other swords had made him pine for Banryu,
shopping with the girls left him longing for Jakotsu. Though it was easier just
to waylay travelers to obtain food and clothing and such, Bank would lead the
Band of Seven miles out of their way to make sure Jak got a chance to visit the
larger towns. Jak loved to while away hour upon hour in the shopping districts,
taking a break now and then to have tea and cake at some little tea shop. Bank
sighed ‘Jak, Jak, Jak… What am I going to do?’ He had to get him back, along
with Banryu and Jakotsutou.
Inutaisho lay face down on a huge, elaborately cushioned sleeping platform. He
was dirty and bloody, and the broken shafts of several arrows protruded from
his back. Amaya threw herself down at his side in a flurry of feminine concern.
“Inu, baby, what’s happened to you?”
Sango stood off to one side. This would undoubtedly be her best opportunity to
eliminate Inutaisho. He was a mess, but as a demon he would heal from his
wounds in mere days. Or would he, given his undead status? She still had no
idea what form of being he was. A specter, a spirit being assuming a material
form? Or what Kagome would call a zombie, a being of actual flesh and blood,
governed by the laws of the physical world? If she drove a blade into his
flesh, even stilled the beating of his heart, would he truly perish? A wrong
decision would not only put a final end to her career, it would also separate
her from Kagome. Sango hesitated, her hand hovering over the blade she wore
sheathed on her thigh. She made eye contact with Amaya, who shook her head,
frowning. Sango casually walked closer, wiping Inu’s forehead with the same
hand that had hesitated on the grip of her tanto moments before. “Do you want
me to cut those arrows out, Inu?” If Amaya didn’t know the nature of his being,
maybe she could find out by cutting into his flesh. He grunted in response.
‘Was that a yes, or a no?’ He was just as frustrating as both of his sons. Damn
Inus.
Sango saw Bank standing by the door. “Fetch water, and plenty of cloths for
cleaning, and bandages. Some unguent. And sake.” Sango cut Inutaisho’s shredded
haori from his body, then used the hot water Bankotsu brought to wash the blood
and battlefield dirt from his body. Combat stirred up a lot of dust, and Kagome
had taught Sango the importance of cleanliness when working with wounds. Once
the visible filth was removed, Sango poured a thin stream of sake over Inu’s
back. He did not flinch. “Okay, Inu. Here comes the moment of truth. You ready
for this?” She drew her tanto, sterilizing it with sake as well.
“Don’t cut. Just pull them out.”
“That’s barbaric. I’m not going to do it.”
“I’m a demon. My body is different than yours.”
She could not count the number of times she had heard Inuyasha say the same
words to Kagome. Amazing, Sango thought, how alike father and son could be,
though Inutaisho and Inuyasha had never actually met. While Sango could care
less about the pain and tissue damage she could be inflicting, she regretted
the lost opportunity to cut into his flesh and explore its composition. Some
revenants she had encountered actually leaked bright green goo when their outer
skin was compromised. Some simply dissolved when damaged badly enough, their
physical form being nothing but illusion.
Sango raised the tanto, deciding to test Inu’s resolve. Her answer came when
his hand whipped out, quick as a snake, and sent the knife spinning across the
room.
“Calm down, alright? I just don’t want to hurt you! She grabbed an arrow by its
jagged shaft, and pulled it out as straight and true as she could. Instinct
would have led her to avert her gaze from the tortured wound, but she forced
herself to look. Green fluid pooled around the base of the arrow as it pulled
from his body, changing to dark red, almost black blood. Or something which
resembled blood. ‘Well, that’s certainly ambiguous.’ She thought. She had seen
Sesshomaru leaking green fluid, which smelled strongly of sweet flowers. She
knew it was an acidic poison, but she could not smell anything sweet emanating
from Inu’s wounds. Repeating the procedure on the second arrow, this time she
cautiously dipped the tip of one finger into the substance, before it had a
chance to turn to blood. Bright green, glowing, not acidic enough to burn.
Hmmm.
“Hurry up, wench.” Inu gritted out.
‘He must experience pain, on some level.’ Sango thought. She quickly pulled out
the third arrow, swabbing the entire surface of his back down with more sake.
She watched as the first wound began to very slowly knit together, dabbing at
it a little before applying the unguent. Deciding she had learned what little
she could from the experiment, she efficiently bandaged his back, Amaya helping
to tie the bandages in an aesthetically pleasing knot over his muscled chest.
The girls settled him into a more comfortable position, smoothing the silken
sheets around him. Amaya undid his braid, threading her fingers through his
long, silken hair as if she had done so many, many times in the past. Inu
closed his eyes, and sighed in contentment. Sango was awed by the extravagance
of Inu’s hair. Freed of its braid, it was longer than Sesshomaru’s, which was
bone straight and reached to mid-calf. If Inu didn’t braid his hair and secure
it high on his head, it would be trod underfoot. Almost involuntarily, she
reached out and felt it. It lacked the coarse texture of Inuyasha’s, being as
smooth as the finest silk.
“Do you want us to go after whoever did this to you, Inu?” Sango asked, hoping
to be sent on a mission which would give her an opportunity to track down
Kagome.
Inu considered his options. He had already wreaked havoc on the humans who had
shot the arrows into his back. His eyes slid to Bankotsu. The innkeeper had
told him how Bankotsu’s partner had left in the company of Inu’s two sons.
Perhaps there was something there.
“Bankotsu, I fear Jakotsu has been stolen by my traitorous sons. Your first
mission as my vassal will benefit you as well as me. Take Sango with you. Get
Jakotsu back. If possible, take out either or both of my traitorous sons.
Return successfully to Fudo and you will regain your halberd as well as your
companion.” His gaze shifted to the slayer. “Sango, odds are Kagome is with
Inuyasha, or he at least knows where she is. Use this opportunity to find her
and bring her back to me. You are both guaranteed positions of respect and
honor in my realm.”
Bank, with years of being a mercenary under his belt, felt the occasion called
for a little bargaining. “If I had Banryu, the success of the mission would be
guaranteed.”
Inutaisho thought for a moment. Without Banryu, Bankotsu had no chance of
defeating either of his sons, who he very much wanted out of his hair. “Your
petition is granted. However, Jakotsu’s sword stays here. If you attempt to
double cross me, be assured I will come for you.”
***** Chapter 66 *****
Chapter Summary
     Posted chapters 57 through 66 4/7/2017
“Methinks you used too much.” Kaede coughed, choking on the gritty dust that
clouded the air.
Miroku stared in awe at the cloud of dirt and debris that hung in the air after
he detonated Sango’s explosive powder. “That was most impressive. Better than
the windscar!” He crowed, doing a victory dance and hefting the bag holding the
remaining powder aloft in one hand. ‘Good, there was plenty left for future
use. Who would have thought that blowing things up would be so amusing!’ He
scrambled over piles of rubble to get to the ruined hillside. He plastered the
area with sacred sutras, hoping that they had finally vanquished any influence
from the villainous Onigumo that might be lingering around the site of the
former cave.
Jaken sighed dejectedly, rubbing dirt from his bulbous eyes, refusing to let
himself be amused by the monk’s antics. “Rin is still missing. It breaks my
heart to think of her alone out there, with no one to watch over her and her
pup.” Turning back toward the village, he mumbled and plotted as he stumbled
along on his little clawed feet. ‘Fear not, Lord Sesshomaru. At risk of his own
life, this Jaken will find our Rin.’ He thought, resolving to set things right
for his little girl. In his robes he kept a little flute, which he could use to
summon Ah-Uhn.
“The imp is correct. It is much too early to be celebrating.” As Kaede trudged
along, she pondered what to do. The reasonable course of action would be to
dispatch Miroku to look for Rin. On the other hand, the monk had finally
stepped up to the plate and was taking an interest in his children. From what
he had told her, a kami had told him that he had one last chance to redeem
himself if he returned to Edo and become a good father to his family. She
mentally reviewed the burden of responsibility she bore toward the village.
Winter had closed in early, her garden was put to bed, and the herbs she had
strung from her rafters would dry without any help from her. No babies were
scheduled to be birthed for many months to come. The village could continue on
without her if she saddled her horse and rode out tonight.
The trio returned to Edo, and sat around the fire in Kaede’s hut in silence,
bowls of hot soup cradled in their cold hands. Jaken finished his first bowl of
soup off quickly and smacked his lips in satisfaction. “You cook like a
goddess!” he told Kaede, holding his bowl out to be refilled. “Actually, you
cook much better than that. One time there was this goddess, who held some
deluded hope of becoming Lord Sesshomaru’s mate. She prepared a special dish
for My Lord, but of course he wouldn’t touch it. He forced me to eat her
miserable cooking.” He shuddered. “I would have been better off taking the
beating My Lord promised if I failed to swallow every last bit of it.” Kaede
and Miroku both laughed. The imp was surprisingly amusing, when he wasn’t being
obnoxious. When his bowl was empty, Jaken patted his tummy in appreciation.
“Your cooking, my dear, is the kind that sticks to a demon’s ribs. Most
delectable.” He bowed, and made his way out of the hut. He scrambled off to the
darkening forest, where he found a secluded spot out of sight of the village.
He fumbled in his robes until he found the flute that was used to summon Ah-
Uhn. He blew a single long note on the flute, then settled down against the
trunk of a tree to wait.
“Thank you for the most excellent repast, Lady Kaede.” Miroku rose to his feet
gracefully. “Time to check in on my dearest children.” He waggled his eyebrows
expressively at Kaede, who giggled, almost girlishly. The monk may be
reforming, but he still had his charm.
Miroku made his way to Kaede’s garden shed. Kagome’s contraption rested there,
surrounded by shovels and pitchforks and worn-down old brooms. As quietly as he
could, he wheeled the “by-sik-el” out of the shed, pausing in the side yard to
make sure the tires still held air. He remembered Kagome telling him that, once
you learn how to ride a “by-sik-el”, you never forget. Taking her at her word,
he swung his leg over and found the pedals with his sandaled feet. Black robes
flapping like the wings of a bat, the monk rode off into the darkness.
Once the men had left her hut, Kaede donned her dark hooded cloak, slung her
bow and quiver over her shoulder, and headed to the stable where her horse was
kept.
***** Chapter 67 *****
Jak had found it hard to sleep the night after Sesshomaru used Bakusaiga to
bring down the rockslide to cover Kohaku’s grave. He tossed and turned,
thinking about the sad life his little ninja had led. Like Kagome, Jak was
worried that whoever had brought him and Bank back from the grave might do the
same to Kohaku. When morning came at last, it dawned gray, cold and rainy. Jak
felt restless. He had to get out of the cave and find some action. Ah-Uhn was
flying low and slow, barely above the tree line, with Jak mounted on their
back. Jak had been practicing wielding his sword from his place on Ah-Uhn’s
saddle. When they spotted a band of ten ronin making their way on foot down the
small road that wound through the dense forest, Ah’s ears pricked up with
interest. Lord Sesshomaru had made a practice of harrying ronin who dared to
venture into the Western Lands. Uhn, more impetuous and less cerebral than his
other half, was excited to be carrying an armed warrior rather than a young
child. Not waiting for a command from their rider, he sent their body into a
precipitous dive, summoning searing bolts of lightning and crashes of thunder
to add to the excitement. Jak looped one bare leg through the dragon’s leather
harness, hanging on for dear life and shrieking with alarm. He had no idea
whatsoever what was going on.
Finding himself mounted on a rampant and seemingly mad dragon in the midst of a
milling and panicked band of ronin, Jak did what came naturally. Leaning far
over one side of Ah-Uhn, and using the other side as cover, he drew his sword,
and set about slaughtering as many of the rogue Samurai as possible. Slashing
and parrying, he took out one, two, then three of his opponents. His heavy,
flat, two-handed sword hacked through the human men like butter. Their flesh,
bones, and even their armor, which was largely wood and bamboo. His sword
flashed again. A severed head, like a turtle in its metal helmet, spun through
the air, bright arterial blood spinning out from the stump of the neck. Ah-
Uhn’s long, heavy tail, covered with armored spikes, flailed from one side to
the other, making it hard for Jak to hang on, but affording him time by
knocking several ronin yards away from the battle. Great sharp dragon claws
slashed at human flesh, disemboweling one man that had nearly severed Jak’s
left leg, which was twisted into the dragon’s battle harness. Jak’s heart beat
fast in his chest, sweat broke out under his arms, and trembling took over his
body from the tips of his toes to his painted lips. The adrenalin rush was
incomparable. Though wounded, for once he felt truly alive. He was disappointed
when his last opponent cut and ran for the cover of the forest.
When Jak had wielded Jakotsutou, he had the ability to reach out and slaughter
his enemies from a good distance. The weapon was unique, and he had enjoyed the
shocked looks of his victims when he whipped the strange sword over his
shoulder and let it unfurl like chain lightning, leaving pools of blood and
severed limbs in its wake. With Jakotsutou, he could easily take down a dozen
Samurai single-handed without ever coming within striking distance of their
katanas. His new sword, while a venerable and worthy blade, harbored no hidden
secrets or surprises. It was a plain, heavy broadsword. He carried it over his
shoulder, as he had Jakotsutou. The broadsword required that he get up close
and personal with his victims. He could only take on one, or at the most two
opponents at a time. There was a lot more risk involved in fighting at close
quarters, but the flesh of his leg was already binding itself together, his
bodily fluids going from bright green, to dark green, to dark red, and finally
to pitch black. Jak had found the blood bath exhilarating.
‘Exhilarating and profitable.’ Jak told himself, as he rummaged through the
trunks and bundles that had been carried by the ronin. They had apparently been
making their living as bandits, and their booty included a trunk filled with
fine and colorful kimonos. Protected by the silk, he found a very special
prize. A mirror, a most precious and valuable treasure to be sure. Gazing into
the reflective glass, he grimaced at the blood that coated him from head to
foot. So messy! He fished out a kimono to clean himself with. Spoiling the
mustard-yellow silk didn’t bother him at all, it was a tacky monstrosity which
offended his eyes anyway. He quickly stripped down to bare skin, taking his
time as he carefully re-dressed himself in an exotic caftan of glowing rose
silk. He smiled into the mirror. Truly lovely. He finished up by searching the
dead bodies and pocketing the money and jewelry he found on them.
The spontaneous adventure brought to mind memories of his early career as an
assassin and highwayman, when he was very young and it was just him and Bank.
The pair had worked out a variety of scenarios. The common factor in all of
them was that the young and vulnerable-looking Jak served as bait, or a decoy,
while Bank closed in for the kill. It had been a hell of a lot of fun at the
time, a sort of deadly street theatre. The pay was great too. On the way back
to the cave, Jak’s mind was busy imagining different ways he could use the
battle dragon.
The next day was taken up with training Kagome and Shippou to fight, and the
arrival of Kouga and his wolves, followed by another restless night spent
thinking about Kohaku. By dawn, Jak was gone again.
Jak and Ah-Uhn flew over the countryside, covering miles of territory in every
direction. The landscape was painted in shades of brown and gray. Brown fields,
brown leaves carpeting the forest floors under gray, skeleton-like trees, gray,
rocky, mountains. Evergreen forests were colored a green so dark it looked
almost black. Lakes reflected the color of the sky, dark expanses of slate. The
villages they soared over were brown and gray too. Weathered wood shacks, dull-
coated farm animals. Jak sighed. He loved summer, and bright colors. Silk and
blood and flashing swords.
After flying for many hours, and seeing only poor villages, and livestock, and
trees and deer and suchlike, they spotted an oni, a large purple humanoid
thing, fishing in a stream for his dinner. He had nothing of value to steal,
but Jak and Ah Uhn engaged him in battle anyway, leaving his dismembered body
to rot once they had killed him, slowly and messily. Jak suffered no qualms
over killing needlessly. He had no concept of waste, and left the dismembered
body to rot by the side of the stream.
It was coming on toward evening, and they had traveled far. Jak shifted his
weight, signaling Ah-Uhn that it was time to return to the cave to watch over
their master’s pack. Twilight was darkening towards night, and they had almost
made it back to the cave, when Ah-Uhn startled Jak with a sudden change in
direction. Jak looked around, thinking they must be under attack. He saw
nothing. No giant bats, flying lizards, two-headed carrion crows, nothing to
account for Ah-Uhn’s sudden mutiny. He pulled the reins sharply to the side,
bringing both heads around so they were pulled against his knee. Ah-Uhn
struggled against him, but Jak was very strong and agile. He clung to the
dragon, which was thrashing in the air. The dragon did a fast barrel-roll,
attempting to dislodge his rider, who clung on tenaciously. Ah-Uhn’s sensitive
ears had picked up the sound of Jaken’s flute from far away, and he had been
trained to obey the summons, Jakotsu or no Jakotsu.
Inside the smithy, Ken and Kin were sharing a bottle of sake and relaxing after
a hard day of work. Ken, the armorer, cocked his head to one side. Kin knew he
had heard something of interest. His own hearing was not the best, dulled by
centuries of pounding metal and demon bone at his forge. He was about to ask
his partner what he had heard, when Ken grabbed his arm and pulled him through
the door. The street outside was filled with villagers. Every face was tilted
up toward the sky.
“That’s Jakotsu, the boy I sold my father’s sword to!” Exclaimed Kin,
excitedly, as he watched the battle taking place in the sky. Jak was clinging
like a monkey to the harness of a very fierce and annoyed-looking battle
dragon, kicking the brute in the head while sawing madly on the reins. The
dragon was spinning in the sky, attempting to dislodge its rider. Jak drew his
sword, and began to beat the flat edge of the blade against his mount’s
muscular neck. This was too much for Uhn, who grabbed Jak by the scuff of his
neck and peeled him loose, throwing him down into the midst of the crowd of
onlookers.
Normally, Jak could fall from a great height, twist and turn, and land like a
cat. But Uhn had hurt him badly, biting deep into his neck and shoulder with
his big, wicked teeth, then ripping him loose from the hold he had on the
dragon’s battle harness. He had not fallen to the ground, but been hurled with
great force, and he landed badly, with a sickening crack. He felt bones give
way, great pain, and then nothing at all.
***** Chapter 68 *****
“The Tyger” is a poem by William Blake, from his collection “Songs of
Experience”, written in 1794.
Sesshomaru paused as he crested the hill and looked down into the little valley
below. It was nighttime, and an orange flicker of firelight revealed the
location of the cave’s mouth. With his keen ears, he could hear the rise and
fall of voices from inside the cave, low and comfortable. The warm scent of the
cave carried on the cold night wind. He could smell the scent of wolves, fox,
roasting deer, and the rich, alluring fragrance of his mate. It was her time of
the month. He trembled as he stood there in the dark, silhouetted against the
moon, smelling her scent on the air. It bothered Sesshomaru that, while he
could smell Kagome, and wolf, and fox kit, he could not detect any essence of
himself. After all the years he had spent pining over Kagome, thinking about
her, dreaming about her, he was still in the same place. He knew all about
Kouga, and how he felt about Kagome. He knew about it because all the time he
had been lurking just outside Inuyasha’s camps, outside the village of Edo,
hoping for some glimpse of Kagome, some scent of her on the air, Kouga had been
there too. Just outside the firelight. In the dark and the cold. Outside
looking in.
The beast that lived deep in his heart could not help but regard the wolf as a
rival, his presence in the cave an intrusion on his territory. But he reminded
himself that it was not Kouga’s fault that he had been pulled from the side of
this new mate. It was his father, and his never ending thirst for power. He
steeled himself, reining in his demonic aura, when instinct told him to spread
his terrible spirit across the land and make every creature for miles around
tremble in fear. He cloaked his scent, and walked softly as he approached the
mouth of the cave. Pausing outside, he rested his forehead against the cold
stone of the mountainside. He concentrated on breathing deeply and calmly. His
mate was speaking, in her soft, sweet voice. She was speaking low, but
vehemently, so quietly that he could not make out her words. Speaking,
obviously, to the wolf prince. His claws pierced the flesh of his hands,
drawing his own blood when his beast howled jealously, demanding that he set
himself loose on Kouga, that it be the wolf’s flesh that dripped blood on the
stones outside this cave, his home, rather than his own.
“I can’t back down on this, Kagome. I’ve allowed myself to be driven, and
driven, and driven. The Eastern Mountains are mostly rock, and the way Fudo is
growing, there are fewer trees and less game every day. There are only a few
slopes and valleys that are heavily forested enough to support the kind of game
I need to feed even the small pack I have left. Me, and Ginta and Hakaku, ten
females and their cubs, twenty wolves, and a dozen hunters and warriors who are
trying to feed and protect them. This is my territory we’re talking about, my
lands, my people, my responsibility. We managed to save it all once before,
when my wolves were so badly outnumbered by the birds of paradise. It was you
that made it possible Kagome. You make me strong, my pack strong. Things looked
bad then, too, remember?”
“The birds of paradise were mortal, not undead. Every one we killed stayed
dead. And it took all of us, Kouga. All your wolves, and Miroku, and Sango, and
Kirara, and even Inuyasha, though you’re too proud to admit it.”
“Don’t even talk to me about pride, Kagome. I don’t have any pride left. If
it’s what it would take to save my people, I would even get down on my knees
and beg that filthy mutt for his help against the Band of Seven.” Sesshomaru’s
jaw clenched, until he realized that the wolf was referring to his half-
brother.
“You can start over Kouga. You’ve already proven that. Find new lands, with
enough game to feed your pack. You can’t just keep beating your head against a
wall like this while your cubs starve to death! You are trying to kill off
opponents that just won’t die!”
“Kagome…” Kouga’s voice died off as Sesshomaru stepped softly into the cave,
his aura still subdued.
“Sesshomaru!” Kagome gasped softly. She had been kneeling by the fire, turning
the spitted deer. She rose up, but Sesshomaru noted she did not run to him. He
thought of all the times he had seen Kagome run to this brother, and throw
herself into his arms.
Sesshomaru took great care to speak with gravity, a lord speaking to a prince.
“Kagome is not with Inuyasha anymore, Kouga. This Sesshomaru is Kagome’s true
mate, and it is this Sesshomaru that you should be petitioning for an
alliance.” He stepped up to his mate’s side, taking her hand in his and raising
it to his lips. He pressed his lips to her knuckles, then turned her hand over
and kissed her palm, staring into her eyes. Kagome’s cheeks took on a rosy
blush, and her spicy scent warmed even further. Smirking, he dropped her hand,
and turned to Kouga, who was staring into the fire.
Kagome’s heart swelled in her chest as she watched her mate speaking to the
wolf prince. Inuyasha had never been able to carry on a civilized discussion
with Kouga. Sesshomaru was just so noble, and dignified, and well… lordly. She
lost track of their conversation as she stared at her mate. So handsome. Not
for the first time, she tried to remember the words of the poem. It was her
senior year, and each student in her English Language class had been assigned a
poem to translate and read aloud in front of the class. She had been assigned a
poem called “The Tyger”, but she had always thought of it as the poem about
Sesshomaru. Using a stick, she began to scratch the words into the floor of the
cave.
“Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
The warmth of the nearby fire, and the droning voices of Kouga and Sesshomaru
made it easy to pull the words of the poem from her memory. She continued to
write…
“In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?”
Kagome thought of the fire of Sesshomaru’s eyes and the time he had grasped the
Tetsusaiga, and held it aloft, a flaming sword…
“And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?”
At first, Kagome had doubted that Sesshomaru even possessed a beating heart, he
had seemed so cold. But now, now she knew.
“What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?”
“When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”
“Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?”
Sesshomaru walked over to his mate to see what she was writing. He stopped
behind her, and lowered his clawed hand to her shoulder. Kagome looked up into
his face, which remained expressionless, as always. But his eyes, when he
finished reading, burned like suns as he looked back at her.
“Come, mate.” Sesshomaru offered Kagome his hand, and she took it, letting him
draw her to her feet. He led her outside, far away from the sight and hearing
of the others, and pulled her into his arms. Kagome leaned her head into his
hard chest, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. She could feel
Sesshomaru’s chest vibrating rhythmically, as she nuzzled close to his warmth.
After a few moments in the absolute silence of the cold night, she began to
hear the low, thrumming purr of contentment coming from deep in his chest, as
he cradled her close against him. She had never felt so safe or protected, or
so emotionally close to anyone before in her life. They stayed like that for a
long time, before he kissed her lips and led her back to the warmth of the
cave.
***** Chapter 69 *****
Sesshomaru cut his eyes at Kouga, who understood his silent command, though he
didn‘t like it.
“Come on guys, the moon is coming out. It’s going to be a good night for
hunting.” Ginta and Hakaku sprang to their feet, glad to be given an excuse to
escape Sesshomaru’s overwhelming aura. “You too, Ship. Kagome, don’t worry
about your kit, we’ll keep an eye on him. There’s plenty of game in the area,
so don’t expect to see us before dawn.”
Kagome was embarrassed and nervous. Embarrassed because Kouga and the others
knew what Sesshomaru wanted, and nervous because she knew what he wanted. Even
in their young and innocent days, Inuyasha had been very aroused by her time of
the month. Kouga was obviously drawn to her during her menses as well. He
always seemed to make a point of visiting “his woman” every month like
clockwork, resulting in vicious fights and jealous arguments between the wolf
and the dog. So she had a pretty good idea what kind of effect her bleeding was
having on her new mate. She turned away, looking into Jakotsu’s mirror as she
removed the pins and ornaments from her hair. She watched Sesshomaru step up
behind her. Reflected in the mirror, his eyes met hers, suddenly narrowing. He
reached over her shoulder, running his fingers over the surface of the mirror.
“Where did this come from?”
“Jak.”
Sesshomaru was accustomed to being the taciturn one. Kagome’s single-syllable
response intrigued him. “Where is Jak?”
“Out with Ah-Uhn. Breaking in his new sword.”
“And the mirror?” He looked around the cave, noting the drift of brightly
colored kimonos. He raised an eyebrow.
“I was afraid to ask.”
“Hnn…” He murmured, turning the mirror around so the reflective side faced the
wall. There had been so little opportunity for them to be together since their
mating, he wasn’t going to waste precious time worrying about what a mirror
from the cloud palace was doing in his cave. His cave. Somewhere along the line
Kagome’s presence, and strangely enough, Jak’s clutter, had changed the place
from a temporary campsite to something very like a home. Even the smell of
roasting meat had taken on domestic connotations. It meant his mate was being
properly fed and cared for, something he had often worried about when she lived
with his brother.
He pulled Kagome back against him, nuzzling her shiny, black hair. So soft, and
silky, and clean. Kagome always smelled so fresh, her purity and love of
bathing made it hard to believe that her scent was that of mortal flesh. But
now, her clean scent was overlaid with the spicy, enticing scent of her heat.
On an intellectual level, he knew that a human female’s monthly bleeding was
not the same as the spring heat of a demoness, and was not an indicator of
fertility. But he could not stop his body’s instinctive reaction to her
condition, nor did he want to. “Kagome, you smell so good.” He placed his big
hands over her small ones, lacing their fingers together, and resting them
against her warm belly. It felt so right just to hold her. Part of him wanted
to stay there with her cradled against his chest forever. Another part of him
wanted to throw her to the floor of the cave, rip off her clothes, and rut with
her over and over until sunrise. He pressed his lips against the slope of her
shoulder, pushing the loose kimono down to expose more of her silky skin. He
touched his tongue to her flesh. Mmmm… So soft, so sweet. “Kagome, lay with
me.”
She turned to face him, looping her arms up around his neck. He was so big and
tall and strong. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent. Even
though she was human, she could smell his arousal. He touched her chin with one
slender finger, tilting her face up so she was forced to look into his eyes.
She couldn’t look at him, knowing what he wanted to do with her, without
blushing. It made him smile, just a little. He knew what was said about him.
That when he smiled, it meant someone was going to die. Before Kagome, what
reason had he ever had for happiness? He lowered Kagome down onto the fur cape.
Moko moko slithered along with her, twining sensuously around her body. Staring
into her eyes, Sesshomaru pulled his swords from his sash, laying them down
carefully. He slowly unfastened his armor, and piled it neatly alongside his
swords. Next came the ties on his haori.
She lay there, in the pile of soft fox fur, wrapped in moko-moko, and watched
him remove his garments and lay them down neatly, almost ritualistically. The
firelight played upon his defined muscles, the total perfection of his body,
the silky straight sweep of his hair, the perfection of his features. Fearful
symmetry. She felt hypnotized by his unearthly beauty.
Sesshomaru knelt between her legs, bracing his body above her. His hair draped
around them like a curtain of opalescent white silk. Kagome reached up and
touched it, winding a strand in between her fingers. He smiled down at her, and
she used the strand to slowly pull his face down to hers, welcoming his lips in
a tender kiss. She parted her lips for him, and allowed him to kiss her deeply.
He took the time to kiss her thoroughly, lips softly rubbing against hers,
tongue stroking the roof of her mouth. Kagome had never imagined that kissing
could be like this, so deep and intimate and reciprocal. She welcomed his
tongue with her own. Slowly withdrawing his tongue, he gently kissed her lips
one more time. Easing back on his knees, Sesshomaru parted her kimono,
revealing her bare, unbound breasts. They were the most lovely, vulnerable
things he had ever seen. So round and soft and perfect, and beautifully,
innocently pale, they seemed to be begging him to take them into his mouth. He
kissed one little pink nipple gently and chastely, then moved his mouth to the
second, which he kissed in the same manner. Kagome gasped as she felt her
nipples harden into tight buds under the soft attention of his lips.
Looming over her, Sesshomaru began to nibble at one hardened nipple. The
neglected one felt so lonely that Kagome could not help but cover it with her
hand, pressing it tight. Distracted by the sight, Sesshomaru grasped the hand
that she had used to cover her breast, and moved it to her side, holding it
down forcibly as he bit down on the entire breast, taking the greater part of
it into his mouth and sucking hard. Kagome gasped. The slight pain of being
bitten, combined with the sensation of being restrained by his great strength,
was exciting in a way she had never experienced before. She became acutely
aware of how hot and hard he felt pressed against her. She was no longer
reluctant to lay with him because of her bleeding, but rather looked forward to
the roughness it seemed to be bringing out in him. She tugged at his hair with
her free hand, rubbing her pelvis against him to show how eager she was to go
all the way.
Releasing her breast from his mouth, Sesshomaru began to kiss his way down the
centerline of her chest, toward her belly button. He had never been very close
to Kagome when she was in season before, and it was affecting him more than he
would ever have imagined. He knew he should draw back to avoid the danger of
Kagome being ravaged by his beast, but the smell of her blood was going to his
head, making him feel overheated and out of control. There was no way he could
stop now. He ground his nose into the spot where her hip became her belly,
knowing from before that it was very sensitive. When she moaned in response, he
gave the area a long, slow lick. He was rewarded with a gasp and a shudder, and
an increase in her scent. She began moaning steadily, tossing her head from
side to side, and her hips were twitching desperately. He was feeling much the
same, his rod hard as iron and aching to be buried inside her.
Sesshomaru let his fangs sink into his own lower lip, in an attempt to remain
control. With shaking hands, he began to unwind the binding she had used to
absorb the flow of blood from her womb. Finally, her private parts were exposed
to his sight, bright pink and achingly tender. His heart thundering in his
chest, he lowered his mouth to her clit, kissing it reverently. Kagome
responded by pressing herself against him. He held her hips down with both
hands, and began to lave her clit roughly with his tongue, causing her to cry
out and try to squirm from his grasp. Releasing his hold on her for a moment,
he gave her a sharp slap to the curve of her hip, then held her down again, and
moved his attentions away from her clit, to the swollen lips below. Kagome
sobbed as he ran his tongue down the length of her pink, swollen valley.
Sesshomaru licked and sucked at the soft flesh between Kagome’s legs, delving
his long, rough tongue as deep inside her as it would go, tasting and breathing
in the scent of his mate. He was totally involved in tasting and smelling her
flesh and menstrual blood, barely even registering the fact that Kagome’s
fingernails were digging deep gouges into the flesh of his shoulders, as she
twisted and moaned in desperation.
Feeling his cock throbbing against her leg, Kagome could not stand to wait any
longer. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled with all her might, dragging him
up her body. Jerked away from servicing her with his mouth and tongue,
Sesshomaru felt the pain of having his hair practically ripped from his scalp,
coupled with the indescribably exciting and frustrating sensation of having his
cock dragged, one sun at a time, up the long smooth curve of her thigh. He
grabbed her wrists and slammed them to the ground, stretching her arms out to
the sides, forcing her to intertwine her fingers with his own. He centered
himself over her, seeking out her hot, wet center with the head of his cock,
and plunging as far as he could get inside her with one long, hard stroke.
Kagome shrieked as he filled her, still not quite used to his size and shocked
by the suddenness of his invasion. Feeling that she had not taken in all of his
length, she put all of her strength into pressing against the floor with the
heels of her feet, grinding hard against him in an effort to take him all the
way in.
Sesshomaru gasped, feeling her flesh give way as she drove herself upon him,
his rock-hard length clenched in her tender and swollen sheath. With a groan,
he withdrew just a bit, then worked his way back into her, as far as he cold
go. He felt her fingers clasping his tight, and lowered his lips to caress her
throat, venturing to one side in search of the mating mark he had placed there.
As soon as his mouth made contact with the mark, Kagome shrieked out and
thrashed beneath him, causing him both agony and overwhelming pleasure. She was
just so tight. Suckling on the mark, which caused Kagome to continue to writhe
beneath him, he tightened his hold on her hands and began to move cautiously
within her, unwilling to let things come to a premature end.
Kagome seemed determined to thwart his efforts to hold back. Now that he was
inside her, she discovered that she missed the action of his tongue on her
clit. In her single-minded attempts to rub her aching clit against his hard
pelvis, she was making it practically impossible for him to keep from coming
inside her much sooner than he had planned. Sesshomaru abandoned the mating
mark, and shifted to one side, lifting a leg over her hip and continuing to
thrust as forcefully as he could without losing his load. Kagome immediately
lost her mind, as the new position allowed her to rub her clit against his
hipbone every time he thrust. With his mate distracted, Sess concentrated on
the sensation of his aching cock as he buried it over and over in her sheath.
It felt both hotter and softer than it had the other times he had taken her,
and his head was still spinning with the scent of her menstrual blood. Several
more strokes, and he knew he wasn’t gong to last much longer. When he resumed
sucking on the mating mark on Kagome’s neck, she began crying out as if in
pain, begging him to come. He obliged, gasping as he pumped into her, feeling
like the hot stream of cum was never going to end. His poor little mate was a
sobbing heap of jelly beneath him. Finally, he was done, soaked in sweat and
shaking with exertion. He replaced the linen between her legs, cuddling her
trembling body against him and stroking her back.
“Hmmm, Sess?” She asked weakly.
“What is it mate?”
“I’m so glad you came back. I missed you so much.”
“And I, you, mate.”
“Take me with you when you go.” Kagome was getting teary.
Sesshomaru slapped her hip with the flat of his hand. “Hush. Sleep. We will
discuss this in the morning.”
‘Typical male.’ Kagome thought, but snuggled as close as she could, wrapped in
his arms and moko-moko. It felt so good to be held against his strong chest.
She fell asleep to the sound of his deep, even purring.
***** Chapter 70 *****
Kagome had a list of things she didn’t enjoy about getting her period. Right
now, having to wake up several times during the night to take care of things
was at the top of the list. As quietly as she could, she wiggled out of
Sesshomaru’s embrace and shrugged into her kimono top. Back in Edo, she had a
supply of sea sponges, the best substitute she could find for the feminine
products of her own era. The ones sold in herb shops for applying cosmetics
were just the right size… Cosmetics! Kagome scurried over to the corner of the
cave Jak had made his own. He had practically bought out the contents of the
herb shop in the demon village. She scrabbled through his cosmetic box. Jars,
little covered pots, brushes, and, happily, a cloth bag filled with little
sponges.
Sesshomaru felt himself get hard again when he watched Kagome bend over to put
on her boots. She must be intending on going outside.
Kagome gasped in shock when she felt his arms wrap around her waist. He moved
so quietly. She struggled out of his embrace. “Sess, stop. I need to go
outside.”
“If I suggested we go to the onsen, would you purify me?” he asked, getting
into his own clothes.
“After last time? I probably should. But I’d actually be really grateful for a
hot bath.” She stuffed the bag of sponges inside her backpack, and followed him
to the door.
Sesshomaru swept her into his arms. Not for the first time, he thought of how
glad he was to have both arms to hold her in. “Want to fly?”
Kagome was used to flying on Kirara’s back, so she had no problem with heights.
She nodded, and he placed a little kiss on her forehead. The night was very
cold, but Sesshomaru’s body was warm, and with moko-moko wrapped around her,
she felt like she was bundled up in the softest, fluffiest fur coat in the
world. The stars were big and bright in the sky, and the moon was waning,
reminding her that it was almost a month since she had left Edo. That had been
the night of the new moon. “Sess, you know about Inuyasha’s human night.”
Sesshomaru sighed. Why did she have to mention Inuyasha and spoil such a
romantic moment?
Apparently the same thought had occurred to her, because she apologized. “Sorry
to bring it up, but I feel really rotten about cutting off his arm.”
“Did you worry about me, when Inuyasha cut my arm off?” He regretted his
jealousy. He just couldn’t get over it.
“Actually, I did. I know you would have killed us if he hadn’t done it, or at
least you would have killed me, since I realize you could have gotten rid of
Inuyasha at any time you if you had really wanted to, but you were so beautiful
and perfect. Seeing you hurt bothered me a lot.” She thought for a moment, then
added, “though you were an asshole, at the time.”
There was no debating that. “I had reasons for my dislike of Inuyasha,” he
growled, but inwardly, he smirked. Even then, she had found him beautiful and
perfect.
“I know.” She snuggled further into his warmth. “Things change. People change.
I’ve forgiven you for everything you did back then. Please forgive me for my
part in you losing your arm?”
“There is nothing to be forgiven.”
“So, about Inuyasha…”
“I sent Inuyasha back to Edo with Rin, so if he needs help, he can get it from
his pack. There are things I need to tell you about Inuyasha and Rin, but that
conversation can wait.” He gracefully touched down at the edge of the onsen,
setting her carefully on her feet.
Kagome felt bad about bringing up Inuyasha on such a beautiful and magical
night. To make up for it, she decided to perform her traditional duty as a
mate, and began to help him remove the minimal clothing he had put on to make
the short trip from the cave to the onsen.
“Get in the water. I’ll be right back.”
Sesshomaru stepped into the onsen, realizing that Kagome probably needed a
moment of privacy. When she reappeared, she was still wearing the kimono top
she seemed to favor for lounging around in, tied tightly around the waist. She
set about laying out her bathing supplies, acting as though he wasn’t even
there. Once she was done, she turned her back on him and slowly untied the sash
that held the kimono in place. She tossed the soft fabric to the side casually,
and turned to face him. Finally making eye contact, she smiled at him, and set
about removing the kimono with tantalizing slowness. He hoped for a glimpse of
her breasts, but her long, black hair was swept forward, hiding them from view.
Sesshomaru finally realized that his little mate was playing with him. He
lunged forward with amazing speed, grabbing her and pulling her into the water
with him.
Kagome shrieked, shocked at how fast he moved, then giggled and splashed him
playfully. “Now you’ll never know what I was going to do next!”
He growled at her, pushing his body against hers demandingly. Ignoring his
advances, she grabbed the bar of soap, and rubbed it between her hands to work
up a rich, creamy lather. Human soap could not compare to what the artisans in
demon villages made. She adored the subtle scent. She began to clean her mate’s
muscular chest, enjoying the way the suds allowed her hands to glide over his
smooth skin. Unable to resist, she placed her mouth against the area she had
just washed, touching her tongue to his pecs. “Mmmm.” The soap even tasted
good. Sweet and clean.
Undone by the sensual sound she made when she tasted his skin, Sesshomaru let
his head fall back, closing his eyes and deciding to let her do anything she
wanted to him. Lathering her hands once again, Kagome set to work massaging his
shoulders. She thought that maybe his shoulders and upper arms were the most
perfect part of his wonderful body. She whispered, “Did he smile his work to
see?” Her mate was truly a work of art, the ultimate creation of the gods.
Kagome was driving him crazy. Her soft, gentle touch conveyed the reverence she
had for him. When she quoted the line from the poem she had scrawled in the
cave floor, his heart swelled in his chest. Gods! The way she made him feel! He
swore to himself, yet again, that he would never disappoint her. He thanked the
kami for having made Inuyasha a disloyal fool, like their father had been.
Being the recipient of Kagome’s love was an indescribable privilege.
“Get your hair wet.” Kagome whispered, as softly as she could. She did not want
to disrupt the magic that was happening between them. Once again, she worked
the soap into a lather, and began to gently massage his scalp. He was so tall,
she had to stretch as far as she could to reach the top of his head, causing
her breasts to rub against his chest. She paused to rub more soap onto his
chest, loving the way her nipples, which had become as hard as little pebbles,
felt against the creamy slipperiness of his flawless skin. Sesshomaru could
take no more. He dunked himself into the water, rinsing the suds from his hair,
and grabbed the soap from his mate’s hands.
“Hey, I wasn’t done!”
“Shut up, Kagome.” He said roughly, rubbing the soap until his big hands were
covered with a thick layer of the creamy soap. Backing her up against the side
of the onsen, He kissed her brutally, bringing his hands to her breasts and
massaging them, no trace of gentleness to his touch.
The pressure he was applying to her breasts felt amazing, and suddenly her
belly was filled with an overwhelming heavy, aching feeling. She cried out, and
pressed her body hard against his. Sesshomaru put more soap on his right hand,
and plunged it into the water, seeking out the area between her legs. He ran
his knuckles back and forth across her clit. He did not hesitate to rub hard,
remembering her obvious enjoyment of rubbing against his hip when they had been
together in the cave. Kagome clung to him, whimpering as the tingling,
throbbing sensation in her clit somehow transmitted itself to her core, leaving
her feeling empty and frustrated deep inside, even as she felt such great
pleasure at what his knuckles were doing to the outside of her body. She
reached down to where she could feel his cock rubbing against her side, running
her fingers gently over the hard shaft. It was no wonder she had a hard time
accommodating him. His cock was huge, long and thick. She was not very
experienced, but it was clear that if he were the least bit bigger, there was
no way he would be able to work his way inside her.
When she touched him, Sess knew he could not put off entering her any longer.
He lifted her up and sat her down on the edge of the onsen, with her legs in
the water. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” He ordered hoarsely.
Using his hand to guide himself into her, he gasped at how tight she felt. He
reached for the soap once again, drawing back to apply some of the slippery
stuff to his cock. He grabbed her waist to support her as he pushed his way in,
gasping at the pleasure he felt from being squeezed by her inner muscles.
Kagome couldn’t get enough of the sensation as her mate entered her from that
position. She closed her eyes, and let her head fall back, concentrating on the
feeling of being filled with his massive hardness. “Oh, Sess.” She murmured
close to his ear, wrapping her arms around his neck and hanging on for dear
life. “Be rough. It feels so good. You’re not going to hurt me.” He obliged,
setting himself free to plunge into her depths as fast and as hard as he
wanted. Every time he was with her, he learned a little more about how much of
him she could take. He was pleased that she liked it rough, though he knew he
would never be able to totally let go and take her as his beast would have
liked. “Oh, gods, Sess, just like that. That feels soooo good. Oh, yeah, keep
going.” She kept whispering softly. She had begun to learn that he was turned
on by her words, especially when she begged him to satisfy her or when she
cried out when he succeeded in pleasing her especially well. She could not
believe how brazen she had had become with her new mate. It was not like her to
be so demanding, but he seemed to enjoy it so much. “Faster, Sess. I’m gonna
come any minute. Does it feel good?” He moaned in response, the vibration in
his big chest setting her off. “Oh, gods Sess, please, yes. Uh, huh. Just like
that. Ooohhh…”
Sess gritted his fangs. He had resolved not to give in so soon this time.
‘Think about Jaken, think about Jaken, think about Jaken…’ He managed to hold
out through Kagome’s convulsions, and bent his head to kiss her as he resumed
pushing into her, but at a slower pace. His lips close to hers, he decided to
give up his silence. “You please me so much, mate. I’m so glad I waited for
you. I vow to you that you are the only one I will ever be with like this.” He
could feel and smell her excitement rising again. Her excitement transmitted
itself to him. He was proud that his mate found him so attractive, and that he
could satisfy her so well. He held off a little longer, but when he felt
himself beginning to tighten and throb, more urgently this time, he decided to
let it happen. “Okay, Kagome. Here it comes, are you ready for me?”
“Uh, huh,” she panted, “Do it. Come on. I want to feel you come inside me,
Sesshomaru, please….”
He did not know if it was the position, or the talking, or if he was getting
better each time he serviced his mate, but his orgasm this time was absolutely
mind-blowing. Judging by her cries, his mate was pleased as well.
***** Chapter 71 *****
Sesshomaru had washed Kagome’s hair. He held her against him, with one arm
wrapped around her waist, while he ran the fingers of his other hand through
her hair, to remove the tangles. It felt so good, to finally be able to spend
time with her as he should. Although demon matings were sometimes conducted
during times of war and upheaval, resulting in separations such as he and
Kagome were experiencing, it was not considered the norm and could lead to
trouble. Being mated for life to someone you had grown apart from was a very
bad thing. He had to look no further than his own mother and father for
evidence of that. But this, this was just what he had dreamed of when he had
fantasized about being with Kagome. It had seemed like such an impossible
thing. He was a demon, she was a priestess. He was hard, and she was soft. She
belonged to his brother. Hell, she didn’t just belong to his brother, she had
loved him without reservations.
The first time Sesshomaru had dreamed of being with her, he had been resting
against a great tree in a forest clearing, injured by the Tetsusaiga. She had
appeared at the edge of the glade, dressed in her short skirt and white top,
with the little red tie at the collar. He smiled when he thought of that
outfit, it was so scandalous, leaving bare her long, toned legs, the thin
material of her shirt skimming her round, ample breasts. He had been unable to
move, the way it sometimes is in a dream, as she walked slowly toward him,
falling to her knees when she reached his side.
Sesshomaru remembered the dream vividly. It must have been a fever dream. He
could even smell her. Her scent was so pure and clean. She had looked into his
eyes, and it was the first time he had realized that her eyes were blue, not
brown, as he had assumed. She had reached out with her hand, it was so small,
and stroked the stripes on his cheekbone with her soft little fingers. The
expression on her face, the look in her eyes, was indescribable. Full of love
and admiration, yet she looked so sad. It made him want to comfort her, a
feeling he had only ever had for his mother. His mother had always been so
inaccessible, he had never dared show her how much he loved her, or wanted to
make up for how his father had hurt her. In his dream, Sesshomaru was glad he
could not move. Otherwise he would have had to stop his brother’s woman from
kneeling so close by his side, and touching him with such pleasurable
tenderness. He would have had to hurt her with harsh words, and make her bleed
with his claws. But he could not move, or speak, so he was allowed to indulge
himself in the guilty pleasure of having her so close.
He could see her breasts, the way they moved under the silky material of her
shirt. He had grown hard as he watched her walk toward him across the open
glade, sunlight dappling her skin and clothing. Now, with her soft breasts so
close, he began to throb. It was a pleasurable agony to be caught in his dream,
unable to move, and feel such intense emotions and sensations.
The girl had leaned toward him, bringing those luscious breasts even closer. He
could see down the front of her shirt. His heart pounded in his chest. He was
very young, and had spent his entire life studying and fighting. He had never
looked at a woman this way before, he had never wanted to. And he had most
definitely never felt like this before.
She brought her face close to his, and gently pressed her lips to his own. She
drew back, and looked into his eyes, still looking sad, and regretful. She bit
her soft, full lower lip, which she had just used to kiss him so tenderly, with
her perfect, white teeth. He could smell her blood. There was just a drop, and
it was so red. He willed her to kiss him again. He wanted to taste that drop of
blood. It was all he would ever have of her. Her scent told her that she was
meant to be his, but it could never be. His heart clenched in his chest.
Seeming to respond to his will, she kissed him again, less chastely this time,
parting his lips with her own, and even running her tongue over his fangs. He
tasted the blood from her lip, then more as she cut her tongue on his razor-
sharp fangs.
Then, suddenly, she had disappeared. He closed his eyes, his breathing ragged.
A few weeks later, their paths had crossed again, in real life. After his
brother’s group had left, he had spotted a splash of red on the forest floor.
The red tie from her uniform. He had picked it up, and held it to his nose,
relishing her scent, exactly as he remembered it from his dream. He had kept it
with him all those years, inside his haori, against his skin. It was still his
most treasured possession.
Kagome felt him harden against her buttocks. He was cradling her against his
chest, supporting her with his thigh between her legs. She snuggled back
against him as he began to caress her breasts with his free hand. With his hard
thigh between her legs, it didn’t take long for her to get excited again.
Sess picked Kagome up in his arms, lifting her out of the water easily. She
weighed nothing, so small, yet so full of power and love. He arranged her wet
body so she rested on her knees, taking care that moko-moko kept them from
being cut by the rocky ground. Kneeling behind her, he ran his hands down her
back, over and over, gentling her and readying her for his entry. He could feel
her tense up, not the response he had been hoping for. He knew she had been
aroused. “Are you too tired, mate?”
“No, Sess. I want you. Go ahead.” She brushed against him invitingly, but he
held back, feeling that something was not right. He leaned over her, covering
her kneeling body completely with his own, allowing his long, full hair to
cover them both, blocking out the outside world.
He could smell her clean scent, mixed with his own, so intensely like this. It
was bliss. Still, he thought she felt a little stiff. He lowered his mouth to
the mating mark on her neck, caressing it with his lips and tongue, even
nipping at it and drawing a small amount of blood. She moaned, and rocked back
against him. Remembering the taste of her blood in his dream, so long ago, he
savored her essence against his tongue. Sucking harder, he drew more of her
blood into his mouth. He could feel his fangs extending, and the rush that he
felt when his beast began to take over, a feeling he only allowed himself to
indulge in during the heat of battle. “Kagome!” He moaned, unable to force
himself to remove his fangs from her shoulder.
Kagome had felt reluctant, when she found herself before her mate on her knees.
He had only ever taken her face-to-face before, and she had liked it that way.
Looking into his eyes, she knew he was not thinking of someone else when he was
inside her. Like this, with him taking her from behind, she would not have that
reassurance. But suddenly, with his fangs in her mating mark, she felt a stab
of unparalleled excitement shoot through her belly like a bolt of lightning.
She gasped at the feeling, and rubbed her ass against him, now wanting him
inside her really badly.
Sess hesitated. He had worked so hard to keep Kagome from being taken by his
beast, which now was very close to gaining control. He felt the wind kick up
around them, the increasing heat of his own skin, the lengthening of his claws
and the increasing sharpness of his fangs, and knew that he could not hold back
that side of himself. That side of him wanted her so badly.
He had experienced a lot of jealousy over the years, seeing her with his half-
brother. The worst times were when Inuyasha gave in to his father’s
uncontrollable demon blood, and he had been forced to watch as Kagome clung to
that bastard, pouring out her heart to him to keep him from running amok.
Combined with the genuine fear he felt for her safety, was envy that his
brother’s beast was allowed such liberties, to hold her and touch her when he
was in his most true form.
He allowed the thinking part of his being to recede, only praying that he would
not hurt her. Strangely, the situation was very like that first dream he had
had of her. He had no control. He could only wait for what came next, as if he
had been swept away by the current of a powerful river. He continued to suckle
at his mating mark, less gently now, greedy for the taste of her blood. He
pushed the head of his cock between the cheeks of her ass, feeling for the hot,
wet spot. As he felt her flesh give way, he shoved himself into her, holding
her tight against him with his forearm.
Kagome braced herself as she felt him push into her. Gods, this was exciting!
Sess had been so careful with her so far, and that is what had given her a
chance to build up trust for him, but this was totally different and totally
amazing. She wasn’t stupid. She knew his beast was coming out, maybe because
Sess had finally chosen to take her in this more animalistic position. She was
almost positive he wouldn’t hurt her though. ALMOST positive. The small element
of doubt that remained, however, was incredibly exciting and arousing. Not to
mention, the amazing currents of power that were whipping around their bodies.
She thought of the thrill rides she had been on when she had been a modern-day
schoolgirl. There had been one ride, called the Gravitron. A big, silver, fake
UFO, covered with cheesy multicolored, flashing lights. She had been
embarrassed, waiting in line with her friends, but they had insisted, telling
her that she would love the ride. She felt her clit tingle when she thought
about it, the sensation she had first felt on that ride. There had been
pounding music, and lights, and she was pressed up against the padded, yet firm
wall of this thing as it spun faster and faster, and the music seemed to get
louder and louder, and the gravity as it spun pushed her and the other riders
further up the walls. She had ridden the Gravitron ten times that day, and
snuck back for more without telling her friends. And this is what it felt like,
with the beast that was her mate pushing into her, biting into her shoulder,
drinking her blood, the combined energy of their powers whipping around them
like a typhoon. When he adjusted his grip with the arm he was using to hold her
against him, she felt his thumb make contact with her clit. “Oh, my, gods!
Sess!” She couldn’t help but scream. She felt embarrassed, in some far off
corner of her mind. But she had absolutely no control. She pressed back harder
against him, grinding her ass against his hard hips, trying to take him as deep
inside herself as she could. Her mate was groaning as he labored over her back.
The sound of his voice, the way he was pounding into her without control, were
all so exciting, that she came again, only a few moments after her first time.
She felt her mate’s teeth leave her shoulder for the first time since he had
entered her. He let out a bellowing roar, and she felt him coming inside her,
throbbing as he filled her with his seed.
***** Chapter 72 *****
Jak felt like he was lying on his back in the soft muck at the bottom of a very
deep lake. He heard voices that seemed to be coming from very far away. They
were calling out to him, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. This was
unusual for Jak, who normally welcomed attention. Right now, he did not want to
be bothered, and the voices were a pesky annoyance. He seemed to be able to
feel hands, pulling on his arms and legs, cradling his head, tugging at his
clothes. He realized that all this touching hurt, but he really did not care.
He imagined his new outfit was ruined, he could feel the silk being cut from
his body, but he could not bring himself to care much about that, either. While
he did not care about anything, he found that he could think with perfect
clarity. This was unusual for Jak, whose mind was always cluttered with things.
At any given moment, he needed to worry about his hair and makeup and clothes,
what other people thought of him, who he could subjugate and kill, and where
Bankotsu was and whether he was all right. Now, none of these things mattered
in the least, and his mind was functioning with a sharp, well-oiled precision
he had never experienced before.
He wanted to move, but did not know how to do so. Since he felt as though he
were under water, he thought that he should try to swim. In some part of his
mind that could see even though his eyes were closed, he saw a light and felt
that he needed to move toward it. Somehow, he was able to will himself to move
toward the light. He had no ability to move his arms and legs, but he did feel
as though he were traveling toward something, some goal he needed to reach.
Then between him and the light, something seemed to be taking shape in his
mind’s eye. It was a humanoid form. It was small and bright. He had a sudden
realization that the form was that of his sister, Aiko. He knew it was her with
perfect certainty. As he had wanted to use his arms and legs to swim, he also
wanted to use his voice to call out to Aiko, but he couldn’t. If he succeeded
in using his voice, or his arms and legs, he would be drawn back into his body,
which was not what he wanted.
“Jak!” Was that someone in the external world calling out to him, or was it
Aiko? Angrily, he wished that the people who were touching his physical body
would just stop, and that they would shut up, so he could focus on his sister.
It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he wanted to find out if she
could talk to him.
“Jak. Listen to the people who are calling you. It’s not too late, you don’t
have to die again!” It was his sister’s voice. Unfortunately, what she had to
say was just as annoying as the babble of voices from the distant people.
Apparently, they all wanted the same thing, for him to return to his body.
“Why, Aiko? I’ve finally found you. We can be together now.”
“No, Jak. There are things you need to do. You’ve been given a great gift. You
can continue to live. You can make a difference, help people, save lives.
There’s a young girl. Her name is Rin. She needs you. You need to help her. Go
back to your body, and help her.”
“I’m tired, Aiko.”
“Remember all the things we used to talk about doing when we got away from the
village? It’s not too late. You can still do them, and more. This girl, Rin.
She’s like us, Jak. People have done bad things to her, she’s made mistakes.
But you can give her a second chance, just like you’ve been given.”
“She’s made mistakes all right, Aiko. I’ve crossed paths with that little bitch
before. She’s just like mother. Pure poison. The only way to help her is a
blade between the ribs. She’s made my friend’s life a living hell, and she’s at
the top of my to-do list.”
Aiko shook her head. She had been watching over her brother, and knew all about
his involvement with Kagome. She also knew that Kagome was totally lacking in a
thirst for vengeance. Kagome had enough problems, without the guilt she would
suffer if Rin were to die for her sins against her. “Kagome would never have
left Inuyasha, Jak. She was tied to him, and severing that tie was going to
hurt, no matter who did it or how it was done. Kagome belongs with Sesshomaru,
not Inuyasha. She’s had to suffer at the hands of Kikyo and Rin, but she’s
finally with the one who has truly chosen her over all others.”
Jak realized that this was true. Kagome was dead loyal to Inuyasha. She had
proven it over and over again. The idea that Rin had done Kagome a favor was
hard to digest, but impossible to deny.
“Even if I don’t take vengeance for what she did to Kagome, why does she need
to be saved, Aiko? Let nature take its course. What goes around comes around.
All that.”
“You’re way more than human. You know that. You’ve always been tough, and in
your present form, you’re hard to kill. You were resurrected by Inutaisho to be
part of his army because you were a mercenary, Jak. Is that what you want to
be, a tool? If you fight beside Kagome and Sesshomaru, you can be way more than
that, and make up for all the bad things that people have done to us. You’ll be
an individual, not just something to be used and thrown away. But to serve
Kagome and Sesshomaru, you need to do what’s right, and right now that is
saving Rin. I promise you, Jak, Kagome does not want her to be punished. That’s
your idea, not hers.”
“I’m not going to be a saint, Aiko. But you are right, Kagome would want me to
save Rin, and I will do it for you, and for Kagome. So, how will I find her?”
“Return to your body. When the time comes, what you need to do will be clear. I
love you, Jak, never forget that. And I know that Kagome loves you too. Go, and
be happy.”
Jak allowed himself to focus on the people who were attempting to summon him
back. He knew he was getting closer as their voices became clearer and clearer,
and the pain he felt became sharper and more pronounced. He could feel their
hands on his skin, the sharp pain of his broken bones, the wet moisture of his
bodily fluids.
“He’s back, Ken!”
***** Chapter 73 *****
Sango and Bankotsu rode side by side, the hooves of their horses stirring up
clouds of red dust in the cold, dry air. Puffs of moist, hot vapor steamed from
the horses’ muzzles. Their mounts were mortal animals. Fine animals, she
thought with approval, patting the muscular neck of the black mare she was
riding. Well-bred, well-trained, heavy warhorses, perfectly matched in size and
color, shod in iron and equipped with the best harnesses money could buy. Their
horses and gear had been allotted from a garrison of a few hundred mounted
human samurai, all armed to the teeth and busily training.
Under other circumstances, it would have been a pleasure to work for an
employer with plenty of money and a willingness to spend it on weapons,
soldiers, and fine mounts. But the vibes she got from Inu reminded her too much
of the personable, overly handsome “young lord” who had been responsible for
the eradication of her tribe. Both her enemy Naraku and her own husband Miroku
had taught her to regard charm and good looks as weapons, rather than natural
personality traits. She could not bring herself to think positively about
Inutaisho’s charming nature, which she perceived as calculating and
manipulative. In light of the lessons taught to her by Naraku and Miroku, there
was no way Sango was going to buy into the positive spin Inutaisho was
attempting to put on his interest in Kagome. Regardless of the stories she had
heard in the past, which portrayed him as a great leader and hero, it was very
clear to Sango that Inutiasho did not have Kagome’s best interests at heart, as
he wished her to believe.
Clutching the magic stone Amaya had provided her with, Sango decided it was
time to broach the subject with Bankotsu. She had the feeling that he was the
type whose loyalties changed with the direction of the wind. She feared that
his willingness to side with her and Amaya against his benefactor spoke more of
restlessness and a short attention span than any kind of enlightened moral
judgment.
“It looks like you’re going to be getting what you wanted most, Bankotsu. Your
sword Banryu and your comrade Jakotsu.”
“It would appear that way.” Bankotsu smirked as he rubbed the grip of his great
halberd.
“Once we find Jakotsu, what’s keeping you from returning to Fudo to honor your
commitment to Inutaisho? Inutaisho is really rich. He’d make a great employer
for you and Jak. It’s pretty obvious he’s gearing up for war, and that’s your
thing, right?” Bankotsu tilted his head to one side and turned his peacock
blue, slanted eyes upon Sango. She caught her breath at their beauty. It was
hard to believe Bank had been a mere human before his death. He possessed the
exotic looks and perfect body she had come to associate with demons in their
human form, not mere mortals. She felt something inside her belly clutch, her
nipples harden. It was a reaction she had felt around male demons a few times,
the handsome powerful ones. Even, to her shame, Kagome’s love, Inuyasha. “What
are you, Bankotsu? Really?”
“Just a man, Sango. I was born to two serfs in a dirty hut in a dead-end
village. Everything I am, I’ve made myself. Our lord was a demon, and I used to
watch him ride through the village dressed in silk and riding a fine horse.”
Bank stroked the neck of his mount with his long, pale fingers. “Can you blame
me for wanting that for myself? Power, riches, wealth?”
“No.” Sango breathed. “I don’t blame you at all, Bankotsu. We are all what we
make of ourselves. I admire your determination to better yourself.” She thought
of another young lord, Kuranosuke Takeda, the one who had attempted to court
her. Everything he had or was had been given to him on a silver platter. He was
a nice guy, tall and rich and handsome, but his sense of entitlement had turned
her off, big time. “But you did make an agreement with Inutaisho. Then you fell
in with Amaya and me so easily. How can we trust you not to double cross us?”
“That army he’s building up. All the men and horses and equipment. And all the
metal work that goes on in Fudo, and the roads. It’s all so… military. I’ve
never been one to follow orders, be a part of something that big and organized.
I can’t be a part of that, Sango. And what about Amaya? She seems awfully cozy
with Inutaisho. What makes you trust her so much, and not me?”
Sango reflected on what Bankotsu had told her. He had sounded sincere, and more
importantly, what he had said resonated within her own soul. She too felt the
desire to excel and succeed, yet remain autonomous. Did he truly feel the same
way she did, or was he just another man, using his looks and winning ways to
trick her? She knew she had paranoid tendencies. Kagome had told her it was
understandable, given all the betrayals she had suffered. But she had to trust
someone. There was no way she could take out Inutaisho on her own. She had made
a leap of faith in accepting Amaya as an ally. Amaya was obviously closely
connected to Inutaisho, his trusted mistress. If she could bring herself to
trust Amaya, it was hardly a stretch to take Bankotsu at his word.
They rode on in silence. They had agreed to meet up with Amaya once they
reached the heavy woodland about four hours ride west of Fudo. Sango spent the
rest of the trip sneaking glances at her companion.
They found a perfect spot to set up camp, a clearing in the forest with enough
dried grasses to satisfy the needs of their horses, and a clear little stream
for them to drink from. Sango searched for firewood while Bankotsu took care of
the horses, removing their saddles and harnesses, and hobbling them out where
they could graze and drink to their hearts’ content. He stroked them fondly as
he wiped the sweat from their big, warm bodies with a soft cloth. He admired
horses, as symbols of power, grace, and wealth, but he loved their loyalty and
companionship. He thought again of Jak. He had been the only member of the Band
of Seven he could truly trust and count on. He patted Sango’s horse on the
flank. He was much closer to getting Jak back than he had been just the day
before.
It was easy to find lots of dry firewood, and Sango had built a big fire close
to a fallen tree. The log made a nice, comfortable seat, and she stared
dreamily into the leaping flames as she waited for Bank to join her. She smiled
when he sat down close to her side, producing a bottle of sake, which they
passed between them as they sat together, and the night closed in on their
little camp.
Sango was a little out of it, mellow with the heat and light of the fire, the
alcohol, and Bankotsu’s closeness. Their thighs touched as they sat side by
side, drinking until the bottle was empty, sitting in a comfortable silence,
leaning against each other. She jumped when Amaya walked into the circle of
firelight, one hip at a time. Bankotsu got up to add more wood to the fire, and
Amaya took over his spot by Sango’s side. Instead of returning to sit beside
the women on the fallen log, Bankotsu sat cross-legged on the ground off to one
side.
Bankotsu poked the fire with a long stick. The flames leaped up, lighting his
beautifully sculped face. “Sango interrogated me about my willingness to switch
sides and betray Inutaisho, Amaya. Now I’m curious about your reasons. Why
would you turn against the man you love?”
***** Chapter 74 *****
Amaya got up and snatched the stick from Bankotsu’s hand, prodding the fire
briskly. Flames leaped high into the air, sparks spiraling up into the night
sky. “I loved Inutaisho. But he’s a prick. That’s what I do. Fall for pricks.”
She poked the hot, glowing embers. Stab. Stab. Stab. “I tried to move on. You
know his son, Sesshomaru?” Sango nodded. “He’s mated your friend, Kagome now.”
“Kagome is married to Inutaisho’s younger son, Inuyasha, Amaya.”
“Not anymore. I should have seen it coming. You know what they say, ‘Like
Father, Like Son.’ All I’ve ever wanted is to come first with SOMEBODY. Is that
so much to ask?” She demanded, throwing the stick down in disgust and returning
to sit beside Sango on the log.
She turned her attention to Bankotsu. “Why do I always have to come second
behind these human women? Am I that repulsive?” A single, crystal tear made its
way down the goddess’ cheek.
Bankotsu was horrified. This goddess was beautiful, but she was even more
histrionic than Jakotsu. He said the first thing that came to his mind. “Don’t
ask me. I don’t do this relationship crap.” That probably shot any chances he
had of nailing either woman. Well, he had never claimed to be a quick thinker.
That’s what he had kept Renkotsu around for.
Sango put her arm around Amaya’s shoulder. “It’s not you, Amaya. You’ve just
been picking the wrong men. I mean, really, Inutaisho and Sesshomaru? What were
you thinking?”
Amaya nodded her head, her lower lip trembling. “And Miroku’s seven-times great
grandfather. A mere human monk, and he rejected me too!”
“You placed a curse on Miroku’s ancestor.” Amaya nodded. Sango experienced a
flash of insight, and decided to see where it would lead. “And Inutaisho?”
Another nod. “I’m afraid to ask, but what was the nature of the curse you
placed on Inu, Amaya?”
“Itwasjustalittlelovespell!”
“You placed a love spell on Inutaisho? What happened?”
“He met Izayoi. He fell in love. Really, it was brilliant. Izayoi was
beautiful, but incredibly stupid and lacking in spiritual powers. And Inutaisho
couldn’t even look at another woman once he had seen her. All he wanted to do
was make pups with her, protect her, and find a way to make her immortal. It
would have kept him out of trouble forever!”
Sango realized that, had Amaya’s plan worked, it would actually have been
brilliant. An all-consuming, eternal love would have left him little time or
energy to pursue absolute power, as well as being a fitting fate for an out-of-
control serial philanderer. Amaya seemed to have a gift for administering
justice with a poetic twist. “So, what went wrong?”
“The whole human versus demon thing. I didn’t predict the enemies Inu had made
amongst the ruling class of demons using the situation as an excuse to try to
overthrow the Western Lands.”
“That didn’t end up happening, did it?”
“Ai and Sesshomaru managed to keep control of their holdings here. They lost
all of Inu’s holdings on the Continent.”
“So why a human princess. Why not make him fall for you, if you loved him so
much?”
“I was his first, and he never loved me. Never showed any signs of being
interested in any of the demonesses who came on to him, either. So I set him up
with the most beautiful mortal in all the lands. After all, he had already
proven he was willing to mate with a human, even have pups with one.”
“What do you mean, Amaya? Wasn’t Sesshomaru’s mother Inutaisho’s first mate?”
“She was. When Inutaisho brought his bride back from the Continent, she
appeared as a human priestess. A little, black-haired thing very like your
Kagome. Brimming with power. She disappeared for a while, and when he brought
her back to his palace, she came back as a white haired dog demoness, carrying
Sesshomaru in her arms. That’s when Inutaisho began getting the Western Lands
into more and more wars, expanding his territories, even regaining much of his
father’s original lands on the Continent. He managed to kill off all of his
court that way, within a matter of a hundred years or so. The only courtier
left from those days is old Myoga, the flea. And he’s such a coward, and so
loyal to Inutaisho, that he would never speak of such things. I don’t even know
if Sesshomaru himself knows his mother is not as she appears to be. Though she
still does seem to be a very strange demon. She is as reclusive as a woman can
be and still live in a huge palace. She has more dealings with the Kami than
she does with demons.”
“After all the grief Sesshomaru gave Inuyasha about being a hanyou, he isn’t a
pure demon himself?” Sango’s head was spinning. “So, you knew Inutaisho
wouldn’t have a hard time with the idea of falling for a human princess. What
about Sesshomaru’s mother? Don’t dog demons mate for life?”
“WOLF demons mate for life. Dog demons are not native to Japan, and the only
ones I have ever encountered are Inu and his sons. From what I have seen, they
are not overly loyal to their mates.”
“And you’re telling me that Kagome is with Sesshomaru now? How the Hell did
that happen?” Sango was now certain that Amaya was delusional.
***** Chapter 75 *****
Kagome had expressed her desire to stay with him, rather than be left behind
while he dealt with his father. Sesshomaru ran his fingers through her hair as
he stared into the glowing embers of the fire. He felt comforted by the feeling
of her soft lips against the hard muscles of his chest. He was cradling her in
his arms again, and she was in a half-doze, exhausted by their activities. A
trickle of his blood escaped her lips, and ran down his chest. He smiled down
on her. So soft, so cute, so loving. She did not want to be apart from him.
That made him happy. He knew he was a better mate for her than Inuyasha had
been. His thoughts turned sour. To be able to claim to be a better mate than
his half-wit, half-brother was not saying much. During the short time they had
been mated he had already let her down in so many ways. Kagome, being who she
was, would always forgive such transgressions and hide her hurt away inside.
Damn it! He wanted to please her, and for his own sake wanted to keep her with
him. And, after all, she was not truly safe here either, in this cave. Even if
the chances of his father finding her hiding place were small, Inuyasha was
also a great threat, to one as vulnerable as she. And involuntary growl came
from his chest, his beast reacting to the thoughts of his rivals disturbing
this peaceful time with his mate.
When he was younger, everything had seemed so clear. He would train, and study,
and gain power, until he became powerful enough to surpass and defeat his
father. He would expand his father’s holdings, and build an empire. The older
he got, the more complicated and confusing life became. He began to realize
that the empire he had talked about, all those long nights with just Jaken for
company, had not been his dreams, but those of his father. When his missing arm
regenerated, it was symbolic of his coming of age, finding himself, claiming
his own power because he had grown enough that striving after his father’s fang
no longer held any meaning. ‘What is an empire to such as I, Sesshomaru?’ He
continued to stoke his fingers through the satiny hair of his mate, his love.
‘I, who could never bring myself to spend my time, entombed in a marble palace,
my days taken up by parchment and ink, surrounded by pathetic sycophants?’
Kagome could never be happy under such conditions. He would never ask that of
her. He had already begun pursuing his next quest, finding a way to extend
Kagome and Rin’s lives without spoiling their innocence. That’s what he and
Jaken had been away doing when he left Rin in Edo after the defeat of Naraku.
Rin’s innocence seemed to be thoroughly compromised at this point, but not
beyond hope of redemption. Given enough time, there was always hope of
redemption. Another reason to find a way to overcome the girls’ mortality.
He was grateful, not for the first time, that his mother was content to spend
her life in the palace, while he was free to roam the length and breadth of
Japan. He thought of abdicating, finding a strong mate for his mother, and
wandering with his bride. The thought actually made his beast purr. His mouth
quirked. His beast obviously had no interest in founding an empire. It all
sounded so simple, but he knew that any new mate his mother took would be
forced to try to eliminate him and Kagome. Otherwise the succession to the
throne of the West would be complicated by any offspring he and Kagome
produced. Not that he intended to pup her. The last thing the world needed was
more hanyou filth. This was all so annoying. Why did everything have to be so
convoluted?
Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere of the cave was disrupted when Kagome raised
her hand and slapped herself hard, across the cheek. Sesshomaru looked down in
shock at her reddening face. “What are you doing, mate?”
Kagome was looking down at the palm of her hand. “Grandpa Myoga!”
“Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagome! Greetings and Salutations!”
Sesshomaru growled. Myoga was Inuyasha’s retainer. He was disturbed by Kagome’s
obvious fondness for the useless flea.
Myoga found himself surrounded by the heady warmth of Kagome and Sesshomaru’s
mingled scents. He watched as a jewel of garnet blood ran from the corner of
Kagome’s mouth. He was beyond shocked when Sesshomaru reached out with an
elegant hand, using his knuckle to wipe the drop of blood from Kagome’s face.
Kagome was drinking Sesshomaru’s blood? He must be dreaming. He pinched
himself. It hurt! Not a dream.
“What brings you here, Grandpa Myoga?” Kagome asked gently. She always felt
guilty after smashing the flea demon, not matter how annoying it was to be
bitten by him. He was a friend and ally, after all. And a font of information.
“Do you have any news of Inuyasha and the others? Has Sango had her baby yet?
It’s beyond time…”
Myoga was normally a pompous little character, but the strange circumstances
put him at a loss for words. He was frankly terrified of Sesshomaru, and
finding him and Kagome together in such an intimate setting was very strange
and disturbing. He cautiously hopped onto Kagome’s bare shoulder, suddenly
assimilating the ramifications of her state of dishabille, Sesshomaru’s bare
chest, and their mingled scents. Her shoulder bore the mating mark of the Lord
of the West. “Errrr… It would appear that congratulations are in order, My
Lady.”
Kagome tried to think of an appropriate response. What could Myoga possibly be
thinking of her? He was Inuyasha’s retainer, after all! “Thank you, Myoga. Lord
Sesshomaru is a most honorable mate.”
Sesshomaru growled. “Is that all I am?”
Kagome blushed prettily, and raised her eyes to gaze into his. Her pupils
expanded, her big pansy-like eyes becoming almost black, and he could feel her
heart beat faster against his chest. Her scent went from contentment to
excitement. Sesshomaru laughed. Just a short bark of a laugh, but still…
“That’s more like it, mate.”
Myoga could not believe his eyes. “Who are you, and what have you done with
Lord Sesshomaru?” He demanded. He did not notice Sesshomaru pull a strand of
his long, white hair from his head. Sesshomaru quickly formed a little noose,
and used it to collar the flea. Sess tied the loose end to one of the tassles
on his armor, which lay in a pile by the side of their bed.
“You will not attempt to escape. Now, I believe the Lady of the West asked you
some questions. You will answer. Or die.” Myoga recognized the look he was
receiving from Sesshomaru. It would behoove him to answer Kagome’s questions,
and do it in a way which would not upset her.
“My Lady…”
“Kagome.” She interrupted, “Just Kagome, jii-chan. Surely I do not have to tell
you that.”
Myoga sketched a little bow. “As always, it is an honor that you regard me so,
Lady of the West or not.” He crossed two tiny rows of arms across his chest. “I
came across Lord Inuyasha in the forest. Someone has cut off one of his arms.
When I asked him who had done such a thing, at first he was reluctant to
answer. But finally, he told me it was you, Kagome. How could such a thing be
true?”
“Flea!” Sesshomaru said menacingly. “Your Lady is asking. You are answering.”
“It’s okay, Sesshomaru. He needs to know, and then I’m sure he will tell me all
about my friends, right, Myoga?”
“Thank you, Lady Kagome. I’m sure you can explain how such a thing happened. It
is beyond the comprehension of this old flea.”
Kagome sighed at his assumed modesty. She knew that Myoga valued himself very
highly, indeed, and that his respect was just a put-on to satisfy her
aggressive mate. “I was the one who cut off Inuyasha’s arm, jii-chan. And I am
very sorry, but I had no choice. He was about to kill Kohaku, and try to take
me away from my mate. He had lost control to his demon blood, and it was the
only way I could stop him!”
‘Try to take her from her mate?’ Myoga thought. He had seen some very strange
things in his long life, but he had never once imagined that Kagome would
willingly abandon her lawful husband, who was also her true love, for his
vicious and high-strung brother. Sure, Sesshomaru had the looks, and the
status, and the wealth, and the power, but Kagome was no gold-digger. Something
was very wrong here.
“I did notice that Inuyasha was not wearing his beads of subjugation, Kagome.
Was it you who removed them?” Myoga had never noticed that Kagome possessed the
necessary physical strength or skills to overcome Inuyasha with a sword, but he
did not mention that. Now was no time to be insulting the girl.
“No. I would never have been so foolish, no matter how many times Inuyasha
tried to talk me into taking them off. It was Rin that did it.”
“And what of Rin? If you crossed paths with my wretched half-brother, did you
also see my ward?” Asked Sesshomaru.
“Rin was with him, My Lord. She seemed… subdued. They both were in very poor
condition, soaked in blood and filth. Neither one looked well-fed or happy.”
Sesshomaru sighed. He had harbored no expectations of a happy reconciliation
for the pair, but he had at least hoped they would make their way back to Edo
safely. He had no obligation to share information with Myoga, but it seemed
like a good time to bring Kagome up to speed on the situation with Rin and
Inuyasha. “You know the saying ‘Like Father, Like Son’. As our father did to my
mother, Inuyasha betrayed Kagome for another. My ward, Rin. He pupped her, then
threw her away when he discovered that I had mated Kagome to regain her honor
and that of our family.”
“Is that all I am to you as well, Sesshomaru?”
He looked down to find Kagome looking back at him, a blank look on her face.
Shit. He was not good at this. “I would die for you, Kagome.” Still the blank
look. “I love you, Kagome.”
She smiled up at him. “And I you, mate. To the widths and depths and breadths
of all my heart.”
“Ahemmm…”
Sesshomaru wrenched his gaze from that of his mate. It was difficult. Returning
to his typical, no-nonsense style, he finished his story. “Rin ran to the
exterminator monk Ungai. She tricked him into purifying Inuyasha’s pup.”
Kagome gasped. It was so sad! Sure she was not happy with Inuyasha and Rin, and
their callous treatment of her, but she would never have wished something so
horrible upon the pair!
“Sesshomaru, it sounds like they need us. We have to go to them, now!”
***** Chapter 76 *****
Chapter Summary
     Sorry for the delay! Not edited...
Morning was on its way, and Sesshomaru was still undecided as to what to do
about Kagome. He was also beginning to become perturbed with Jakotsu’s extended
absence. If he and the wolves returned east, without her, Kagome would be left
with just a young, undisciplined kitsune to guard her. Unacceptable. Settling
his mate down on the fur, he placed a kiss on her forehead and stepped outside.
The wolves and fox were getting close. He flared his aura, and gave a long, low
whistle, which would carry far. That should bring Ah-Uhn back. Hopefully the
dragon would bring the errant mercenary with him.
As he dressed, he listened to his mate as she questioned Myoga about the well-
being of her former pack. The flea had not been in Edo recently, and could not
give her any news of the slayer, monk, or elder priestess.
Kouga came though the entrance of the cave carrying a piglet over his shoulder
like a keg. He threw the gutted carcass to the floor in front of Kagome. She
praised him lavishly. Kagome smiled to herself as she remembered how
ungraciously she had reacted to such gifts when she was a mere 15-year-old
girl. Amazingly, the quest to find the scattered jewel shards and their fight
with Naraku had lasted just one year, followed by her forced three-year exile
in the 21st century.
She had learned a lot in the six years since she had first come through the
well. Being presented with a fine kill was an honor, and showed acknowledgement
of her status as alpha female of the pack. She was unsure if Kouga was honoring
her as alpha female of the wolf tribe, or Sess’ pack, to which he had allied
the Eastern Wolf Pack. Did Sess know of her position in Kouga’s pack? If not,
would there be trouble when he did find out? She sighed. There was always
something new to worry about.
Shippou efficiently set up the fat young pig on a spit close to the fire, which
glowed nicely, just right to start roasting the meat. When he heard his mother
sigh, he threw himself down by her side. “Hey, Kagome. How ya doin’?” He asked
gently, reaching out to stroke her hair. Sesshomaru had a lot of self-control,
but the fox had been a little worried that he would overtax her. Kagome hated
being treated like a weak human, but her body would never be as tough as that
of a demon, and she needed regular food and rest to stay healthy. He knew there
was no chance she had slept that night, but she seemed not only unhurt, but
wide-awake and full of energy as well. More effects of sharing her mate’s
blood?
“I’m fine, Ship. We need to get started making plans. Can you find me some
paper and something to write with?”
Shippou drew a small leather sack from inside his haori, and dumped it out onto
the floor of the cave. Kagome was touched beyond words when she saw that he had
managed to save some of the crayons she had brought him to color with when he
was very small. She watched as he selected the longest stub, which he then
performed some magic over, turning it into a pink pencil.
“Shippou! My ‘Hello Kitty’ pencil! You remembered it!”
Shippou handed her the well-chewed pencil, which he remembered her using to do
her homework by firelight. “Of course I remember, Mommy. I remember
everything.”
Sesshomaru growled when he smelt tears.
“It’s okay, Sess. I’m just feeling a little… sentimental, I guess you could
say.”
“Hmmm.”
“All right, how about paper, Ship?”
Shippou reached into his haori again, pulling out a few scraps of cheap
newsprint. The remains of an old coloring book were transformed into a sheaf of
writing paper.
Kagome lay on her belly, knees bent, ankles tangled together as she set to work
with her paper and pink pencil. Kouga shot a glance at Sesshomaru. The demon
lord’s eyes were following the movements of Kagome’s little bare feet as they
wandered back and forth in the air. The thin sillk of her kimono clung lovingly
to the shape of her rounded buttocks. This was like the good old days, all
right. The wolf had come across Sesshomaru watching the little priestess as she
labored over her schoolbooks in just this stance on more than one occasion.
Kouga didn’t even feel any need to deny to himself that he had been watching
her as well. He had always considered it his right to keep tabs on Inuyasha‘s
pack and check on his woman. The wolf demon maneuvered himself so that he was
able to look down the front of her loose kimono without being too obvious.
Sesshomaru saw the way the wolf was watching Kagome, but decided not to make an
issue of it. His beast was tranquil, calm and satisfied after being set loose
by the onsen. Kagome’s scent proved to whom she belonged.
Kagome drew two lines from the top to the bottom of the paper. She created
columns, labeling the first one “Sess”, the second one “Kagome”, and the third
one “Kouga”.
“Okay, I’m making a list. Sess, I’m guessing your primary goal is to defeat
your father. Is that correct?”
“Not really. My primary goal is to keep you safe. My father is, however, the
biggest threat to your safety.”
She poked the eraser of her pencil between her smiling lips, thinking about how
sweet her new mate was. Kouga let out a groan. Once again, Sesshomaru managed
to ignore the wolf.
“So Sess’ number one goal is to defeat his father. What else, Sess?”
“After you, Kagome, Rin is my next concern. But I don’t think we should be
chasing after her and Inuyasha. They have made their choices, and need to work
things out between the two of them.”
Kagome nonetheless wrote ‘Rin’ in Sess’ column. “Anything else, Sesshy?”
He shook his head at the way she mangled his name, but the way he was feeling
after last night, he was not going to voice any complaints. “Protect the
Western Lands. My father announced his plans to take them from me, as well as
you, mate.”
“How about you, Kouga?”
“The safety of my people.” Kagome scrawled that down under Kouga’s name.
“What else?”
“My lands.”
“Okay.” She scribbled some more, tongue poked out a little as she concentrated.
It had been a while since she had done anything like this.
“Here’s mine. Number one: Stop hiding in this cave.” She looked hard at
Sesshomaru. “I know your father is dangerous, but so was Naraku. Number two:
Kouga’s tribe. I don’t know if you have been informed of this, Sess, but I am
considered a member of the wolf tribe, and as their sister, I want them moved
somewhere where they will be safe, and have game to hunt. They can‘t be allowed
to starve to death while Kouga fights for his territory. Then, number three:
make sure Sango, Miroku and Kaede are okay. I had promised Sango I would be
there to help her give birth to her baby. I’ve been gone for a month now, so
I’ve obviously broken that promise. Besides which, I just disappeared from Edo
with no warning. I‘m sure they must be worried about me.”
“How did that happen, Kagome?” Kouga had not been told about her abduction by
Kohaku.
Sesshomaru did not want to waste the morning with a detailed recounting of past
history. “Inuyasha once again proved himself incapable of remaining faithful,
betraying his vows to Kagome and impregnating Rin. Kohaku drugged Kagome and
took her from Edo. When I found them in the forest, Kagome was almost dead. I
brought her here and made her my mate, then left her in the care of Kohaku
while I sought out Rin and Inuyasha. Inuyasha chose to dispute my right to mate
with Kagome, and came here to take her back. She had been practicing her
swordsmanship, and cut off Inuyasha’s left arm with her new sword when he
injured Kohaku.
“Wow, Kagome. I knew you had been practicing your swordsmanship, but I had no
idea you were good enough to take on Inuyasha!” Ginta cut in, impressed.
Inuyasha may be a half-breed, but he was a very powerful fighter.
“She is not that good.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence, Sess.” Kagome sighed. “Actually, he’s
right. I’m not that good. The sword is sentient, and I suspect it made me do
what it thought was necessary.”
“Where is Kohaku? I haven’t seen him around since we arrived.” Kouga asked.
Kohaku was an impressive fighter, and could prove to be a valuable ally.
There was a long silence. It was Kagome who finally broke it. “He’s dead,
Kouga. I killed him.”
“You killed him? The slayer?”
Kagome nodded miserably.
“ENOUGH!” Sess didn’t want to feel the waves of depression which were taking
over Kagome’s aura.
Kagome decided to plow ahead. “Our objectives are to move Kouga’s tribe to a
safer location, defeat Sess’ father to keep him from getting his hands on me
and the Western Lands, take back Kouga’s lands, and make contact with my
friends in Edo. Do we all agree on that?”
There seemed to be no disagreement. “Kouga, are there any areas in your
territory with enough game that are far enough from Fudo so your people can be
safe?”
Kouga shook his head. “The Eastern Mountains are mostly rock, rock, and more
rock. Though there are a few river valleys here and there, the only part of my
territory that will support more than a few wolves is the area around Fudo, the
old Slayer’s Village, and Midoriko’s Cave.”
Kagome had never been able to keep track of the various lands when she had
traveled with Inuyasha. Demons, however, seemed to possess an instinctive
knowledge of the lands and their borders. “Are we in the Western Lands now,
Sesshomaru?”
He looked at her in disbelief. Moments ago, he had been marveling at her
literacy and how astute she was. Now she was admitting that she didn’t even
know that she was in the Western Lands. “Yes, close to the border with the
Eastern Lands. The Eastern Lands are rocky and mountainous, the West is rich
and fertile.” He said with pride. Of course, his lands were the best.
“Would it be unthinkable to move Kouga’s pack to the Western Lands, just for
the time being? Or would that violate some rule of demon society that I don’t
know about?”
“Is it true, Kouga, that my mate was considered a member of your pack?”
“Kagome is not just a member of the Eastern Wolf Tribe, but the alpha female.
Nothing will ever change that, as long as I live.”
“When you give in and mate Ayame, we will see how well that goes over.” Kagome
offered with a saucy smile.
Kouga looked at her, a serious look on his normally happy-go-lucky countenance.
“If you do not stop suggesting that I mate with that obnoxious bitch, I will
become very angry with you, Kagome.”
Kagome gulped. Kouga did seem to be very close to getting angry. She knew she
sometimes annoyed others with her attempts at matchmaking. Even gentle Miroku
had become perturbed when she tried to push him to declare himself to Sango.
“Sorry, Kouga. I just thought it would be the best thing for your tribe. You
two would have powerful pups, and she has loved you for a very long time, after
all.”
“You seem determined to believe that I promised to mate with Ayame, and that I
am going back on my word to her. It is you that I made such a promise to, never
her.”
Kagome looked over at Sesshomaru. He did not seem to be too disturbed by the
way their conversation was going. Curiouser and curiouser.
Sesshomaru caught her glance, and said something that shocked her even more.
“You should be honored by Kouga’s devotion to you, Kagome. However, if he were
to get stupid and try to kill me to take you from me, he would surely fail.
This Sesshomaru is no weakling, and has no plans to die any time soon. If the
Wolf Prince chooses to anticipate such an event, he will simply grow old and
gray waiting.”
“So you accept that I am the alpha female of Kouga’s pack?” She asked in
disbelief.
“Such a thing is not unheard of. Besides, my mother occupies the Cloud Palace,
and I will never ask her to leave. I cannot see you wanting a life at court. Am
I not correct, mate?”
Kagome shivered with dread. “No! I never want to live that kind of life. You
won’t try to make me, will you?”
“Do you see this Sesshomaru living in a palace, Kagome?”
She felt a surge of relief. “No. You seem to wander all over Japan on a whim.”
“I would never demand of you what I am unwilling to undertake myself. While you
are by title the Lady of the Western Lands, I have no pack as such, and will
not begrudge you keeping your place in the Eastern Wolf Tribe. This
mountainside is full of adequate caves.”
Kagome jumped to her feet and flung herself at Sesshomaru, who caught her in
his arms. He could not help directing a triumphant smirk at Kouga. For
Sesshomaru, it was a win-win situation. Kagome would be surrounded by wolves,
any of whom would gladly protect her with their lives. And this was the first
time she had ever run to him, the way she used to run to his half-brother. He
cradled her to his chest, surrounded by her warm, happy glow.
***** Chapter 77 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
“Stop.” Sesshomaru’s deep voice rang out as Kagome reached out to untie the
strand of hair that secured Myoga to her mate’s armor. “This Sesshomaru has
business to discuss with the flea, and if you free him, he will run.”
Kagome opened her mouth to protest, but stopped herself before she uttered a
sound. She lowered her hand to her side. Sesshomaru had astounded her when he
didn’t make a fuss when he was told she was the alpha female of Kouga’s tribe.
He had even gone along with her idea to bring the wolves to live on Western
Lands. The least she could do was grant him the same respect he had accorded
her. Sesshomaru had told her of his determination to be a good mate to her. She
would do no less in return. Kagome felt a glow of achievement run through her.
She could do this. Be a good mate. If it had been Inuyasha in Sesshomaru’s
place, she would have argued with him and “sat” him, in front of Kouga, and
Kouga’s men, no less.
Sesshomaru, accustomed to Kagome’s stubborn nature, was surprised when she
calmly complied with his order. He gave her a warm look, which she returned
with interest. He stalked toward her, smirking when her scent suddenly became
spicy and her heart beat quicker.
Kagome sighed with disappointment when he bypassed her and started donning his
armor. She picked up the last piece, and their hands collided, then worked
together to buckle it in place. She stroked the silk of his haori smooth, and
looked up into his face. Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru, and he smiled back.
‘Sigh.’
Sesshomaru drew back and walked away from her, dragging Myoga along with him.
At the mouth of the cave, he paused and looked back over his shoulder. “Prepare
to leave on short notice. Kagome, dress in your slayer uniform, and make sure
your weapons are in order. Wrap the mirror and prepare it to go into Ah-Uhn’s
saddlebags.” He swept out the door in a flourish of white silk and fur. Kagome
clasped her hands over her chest. Her mate was so dashing!
Kouga came up behind Kagome, laying a warm hand on her shoulder. “You are
certainly doing a lot of sighing lately, Kagome.”
“Did I sigh out loud?” She asked, her cheeks glowing scarlet with
embarrassment.
“At least three times in the last few minutes. I told you that you were making
a mistake, choosing that over-bred show dog.”
“Kouga! If you really must know, I was sighing because he’s so…” Kagome caught
herself before she used the word ‘dreamy’, and made an even bigger fool of
herself. No need to let the guys know how much of a dork she really was. “Err…
Honorable. Noble. He didn’t blink an eye when he found out my position in your
pack, and I have to think that it was really generous of him to allow your
people to move into the Western Lands.”
“It’s a load off my mind, I can tell you that. With you watching over my
people, I can put all my efforts into fighting.”
“I will do my best, Kouga. You know that.”
“Hey, you two, break it up!”
Kagome pulled her hands from Kouga’s grasp. She hadn’t even noticed when he
took hold of them. She blushed again. “All right, Ship. Let’s get this show on
the road!”
Sesshomaru walked a good distance from the cave before speaking to Myoga. The
little flea demon was not just Inuyasha’s retainer, he was the oldest of the
few remaining nobles of his father’s court. While Myoga was a coward, and of no
use in a fight, his father had kept him around for a reason. While the flea was
termed an ‘advisor’, what he really excelled at was information gathering.
Grandpa Myoga was a very skillful little spy.
Sess pinched the flea between two elegant claws, and held him up at eye level.
“So, Myoga. What really brings you to my camp?”
“As I said, Lord Sesshomaru, I came in search of the Lady Kagome.”
Sesshomaru pinched harder. “Inuyasha did not tell me you had made her your
mate!”
“Inuyasha, or Inutaisho, flea? Which one do you serve now?”
“I… I don’t know of what you speak, My Lord!”
“You are useless to me then. Die.” He pinched much harder, until he heard a
chitonous crunch.
“Please! Master! I beg of you…”
“Do not ‘Master’ me, vermin. You have never acknowledged my rightful place as
Lord of the West. You have ever been a faithful lackey of my father, and my
wretched half-brother after him, and I have no doubt you were among the first
he summoned when he returned from Hell.”
“Inutaisho has returned from Hell?”
“I will play your little game for the moment, flea. Do not be too surprised
when it ceases to amuse me, however. Inutaisho has returned from Hell. I came
upon him in the forest, and he informed me of his intentions to steal my throne
and my mate from me.”
“Kagome?”
“I have only one mate, fool.”
“Oh, dear me. That could be a problem.”
“Indeed.”
***** Chapter 78 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
A tatara is the furnace in which the steel for Japanese swords is created.
Earlier, it meant the bellows that was used to make the fire hot. Tatara can
also be a woman’s name, and signifies heat. A murage is the overseer of the
tatara. They often lost their vision due to the bright light generated by the
tatara. While the word tatara often refers to both the furnace itself and the
whole operation, the traditional name for the building that housed the tatara
was called a takadono.
KSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSK
None of the other villagers were interested in a human who would soon be dead
anyway, and they cleared off once the free show was over. Kin and Ken thought
Jak’s body felt very cold, and as it was nearly winter, they took him to the
takadono, the building where the steel-making furnace was housed. At least his
last moments would not be spent lying on the cold, muddy ground. Jak was badly
damaged, too damaged for even the strongest demon to have any hope of recovery.
And yet, he did not fade away as they expected. As they watched, his bones
began to knit. Seeing what was taking place, though having no idea how such a
thing was possible, Kin and Ken hurried to straighten his limbs. They needed
more help. Kin called out for his mother.
The old murage left her place by the furnace, and crouched by Jak’s side. She
could feel the presence of her mate’s sword. “Is this him, the boy you
entrusted with your father’s sword?”
“Yes, Tatara. He is a most amazing human.” Ken answered for Kin, who was busy
making sure Jak’s right arm, broken in at least three places, was perfectly
straight. Ken got up, and returned with a basin of water and a cloth, which he
wetted and placed in the old demoness’ hand. “Clean him up, will you? I can’t
even begin to see all his injuries. He’s all covered with blood, or something…”
He stuck his finger into the dark green fluid, looking at it curiously. “Maybe
he’s not a human after all.”
Tatara scrunched up her face in an attempt to make out Jak’s features. She was
a mole demon, so her eyesight had never been too good. Century upon century
watching over the forge, with its intense light, had damaged what little
eyesight she had been born with. “Poor boy.” She carefully began washing the
sticky substance from Jak’s body, cutting the fine silk caftan away with her
claws. She crooned to her patient as she worked, stroking her fingers over his
face. “Ken, his face isn’t healing well. Tell me what you see.”
Ken pulled his attention away from Jak’s left leg. There was nothing more he
could do there anyway. It appeared to be healing straight and true. “What a
shame.” He muttered. The pins that held Jak’s hair in place had come loose, and
he pushed a stray lock behind the boy’s ear as he surveyed the damage to his
face. “I got the impression that his looks were very important to him.” Ken was
extremely vain, and he felt he had encountered a kindred spirit in the pretty
young mercenary.
Kin had an enviable physique. Unlike Ken, his face was not overly attractive.
His father was a badger, but had inherited his mother’s mole-like squint. He
thought Ken was way too concerned with physical appearances. “He’ll live. That
in itself is a miracle.” He peered closely at Jak’s face. “One side isn’t too
damaged. Maybe he can wear a mask or something.”
“You should make one for him, Kin. Your father forged just such a mask for the
old Inutaisho, whose handsome face was ruined in a battle. It was before we
crossed over from the Continent with his son. In those days we still did a lot
of work in bronze. The mask was the face of a snarling inu, very fierce and
warlike!” Tatara could ramble on for hours about the old days before she and
her mate had come to Japan.
“You could make him a mask like a geisha!” Ken suggested.
Jak moaned. What the hell were these people talking about? Mask like a geisha?
He tried to open his eyes and sit up, and felt hands holding him down. All he
could see was a little light. “Can’t see…”
“You are among friends. Your face is a little swollen, that’s why your eyes
won’t open all the way.” Ken did not want to make the injury to his face sound
too alarming. “Tatara, stay with Jakotsu while Kin and I find some blankets for
him.”
“Do I… know you?” Jak asked weakly.
“It’s Kin and Ken, and Kin’s mother Tatara. You were thrown from a demon steed
into the street in front of our shop. Do you remember?”
“Ohhh, yeah. I remember.”
Kin and Ken left, leaving Jak alone with Tatara. “Head hurts so bad.”
“Hush, child. If your rate of healing is anything to go by, I’m sure the pain
will go away soon. Apparently you are not as human as you appear.”
“No. Much more than human.”
When Jak awoke in the morning, he was suffering much less, and he was able to
open his eyes without a problem. Tatara still sat by his side. “Thank you for
staying with me.” His voice sounded rough to his own ears. He cleared his
throat and tried again. “It was very kind of you.” Jak had not experienced a
lot of kindness in his life. Really, other than his sister, only Bankotsu and
Kagome had ever treated him well.
“I’m a mother. I’m used to sitting up with silly boys who hurt themselves
roughhousing.”
“I’m in the demon village, right?”
“Yes, it is my mate’s sword you carry.”
“My sword?” Jak asked. “Did I break it?”
Kin heard his mother and Jak talking. “You were really waling on that dragon
with it last night, but it is my father’s sword, forged by his own hand. It’s
still in one piece.” He grabbed the sword and placed it in Jak’s hand.
Jak kept his hold on the sword, and inched up so he was resting on his elbows.
“Help me up. Please.” The sword in his hand helped, but he hated feeling
vulnerable.
With Kin’s assistance, he made it to his feet. Kin draped a blanket over his
nude body. “You were hurt badly. It looks like your body has healed completely,
but there’s something you need to know.”
“What?” Kin didn’t answer right away, which scared Jakotsu. “What is it that I
need to know?”
“Your face…”
“I don’t think I want to hear this.”
“Be grateful that you are even alive. The fall you took would have killed most
demons.”
“Do you have a mirror?”
“No.”
Jak glanced down at the blade of his sword. He had polished it for hour upon
hour, and the blade, though ancient, had taken on a respectable shine.
“Don’t look, not yet. The swelling hasn’t gone down all the way, and I’m sure
it will get better.”
“I’ll kill myself.”
“Don’t be stupid. You are a warrior. Who cares about your face?”
Jak bit his lip, thinking of Bankotsu. Even though Bank was the most beautiful
human Jak had ever seen, he had always praised Jak’s looks.
He held the sword up and gazed into the shiny surface. One side of his face
looked fine, a little beat up, maybe. The other side looked… really bad. He
cleared his throat. His voice was still hoarse. “Well.”
“Your body still looks great, and if you want, I will make you a mask.”
“Thank you.” Jak lowered the sword to his side. “Did you save my clothing?”
“In the corner.”
Still bundled in the blanket, Jak made his way over to the pile of filthy, rose
colored silk. He rummaged through the ruined garments, unobtrusively feeling to
determine if the money and jewelry he had concealed in them were still there.
‘My saviors must be very honest,’ he concluded. They had not searched his
clothing for valuables. “I will need to buy new clothes.”
“I’m sure the tailor will be glad to come here. In the meantime, would you like
some breakfast? I have no idea what you eat, but I’m sure we can find you
something…”
“Sake?” Jak asked, hopefully. He needed it.
A short while later, the tailor and his mate bustled into the takadono. The
squirrel demons busily set about measuring Jak for a new set of garments. “We
don’t see many humans around here.” Said the female. She interrupted herself to
call out some measurements to her mate. “You must belong to that group of demon
slayers that have been coming to our village lately.”
“Yes.” He answered tersely.
“What are you slayers doing in demon territory? These lands belong to Lord
Sesshomaru. He does not allow humans to settle on his lands, you know.”
“I am in the employ of your lord. Right now, I am looking for his ward. The
young human girl that followed him everywhere. She may be in the company of
your lord’s half-brother, Inuyasha.”
“Hmmm…” The squirrel mumbled. “What kind of clothing did you have in mind?”
Jak could not bring himself to get excited over selecting styles and fabrics.
Normally he would be verbose and excited about having a new outfit made just
for him, but now that his face was ruined, it changed everything. “Demon
slayers uniform. Plain black. Even the armor.”
***** Chapter 79 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
Kagome set aside her slayer’s uniform. She would save changing into it for
last. Clothing seemed to play a strange role in her life. Her school uniform,
with its short green skirt and red tie. The red and white miko’s outfit. She
remembered how upset Inuyasha had been the first time he saw her dressed that
way. She found herself understanding Inuyasha a little better. The form-
fitting, black leather uniform was like a lodestone for memories of Sango and
Kohaku, and the ghosts of their extinct tribe. It must have hurt Inuyasha badly
to see her dressed in clothing that had once belonged to Kikyo. She took the
mirror from its place on the wall, gently placing it on a pile of silk kimono.
She gazed thoughtfully into the mirror, staring into her own eyes. More serious
looking, they were the eyes of a grown-up now. Other than the expression in her
eyes, her reflection hadn’t changed much over the years. The same heart-shaped
face, the same pillowy pink lips. So many of her schoolmates had undergone
collagen injections to plump their lips, plastic surgery to open up their eyes,
even operations to remove a set of ribs to give themselves a perfect figure.
Even at fifteen, she had been taller than her mother. She thought of her
grandpa, with his classic Japanese looks. He was her mother’s father. She had
only ever seen one out-of-focus photograph of her own father, but he must be
the one who gave her blue eyes and long legs. Just right for the 21st century.
She giggled. In this era, Jak would be considered the beauty, even if he was a
boy. Now she frowned. She had been pushing her concern for Jak to the back of
her mind. He had been gone an awfully long time.
Thoughtfully, she touched her fingers to the surface of the mirror. Where could
he be? He wouldn’t have left her, would he, to go back to Bankotsu? To Kagome’s
shock, her fingertips sunk into the surface of the mirror, as if it were a
basin of water. She pulled her hand back like it had been bitten by a snake.
That’s the way Sesshomaru found her, still dressed in her short kimono,
crouched over the mirror. His first reaction was lust. Though the kimono
covered more of her than her old uniform had, there was something very poignant
about the way the fabric rode up to reveal the soft, pale flesh of the backs of
her thighs. When he saw the mirror, and how still she was, he felt a stab of
unease. He had known that mirror meant trouble. He came up behind her, wrapping
an arm around her waist.
“Check this out, Sesshomaru…” She said, very softly. She reached out to touch
the surface of the mirror. He wanted to grab hold of her hand, but restrained
himself, watching over her shoulder as her fingers stroked the shiny glass.
“Show me Jak…” The surface rippled. “Look, Sess, it’s Jak. And I think I
recognize that man with him. He runs the armorer’s shop in the village. I don’t
recognize the building they are in, though.”
“It is the takadono. See the high roof beams?”
“Oh, yeah. Can we go get him, Sess, please?”
“No telling for sure what this vision represents, Kagome. Could be what is
happening now, could be the past, could be the future. Could be something that
just might happen. I have summoned Ah-Uhn. The image in the mirror doesn’t look
troubling, so we will wait and see if he returns with the dragon.”
“You recognize this mirror from somewhere, don’t you?”
“It looks like one that my mother kept by her side, in the Cloud Palace. I
don’t know why she contrived to send it here.”
“You are her son. She must have sent it to help, right?”
“Maybe, maybe not. The woman is a cipher. You can really only trust my mother
to do what is best for herself. Don’t make any assumptions that she holds any
loyalty to this Sesshomaru, or to yourself, especially, Kagome. If you do, you
are bound to be let down.”
No wonder Sess was so bitter and angry! Back in the old days, before Rin showed
up, she was under the impression he was just pure evil. Rin. She was surprised
and grateful that Sess had chosen to be with her rather than chase after Rin.
She wasn’t used to being placed first, and she would show him her appreciation.
“Show us Rin.” The mirror revealed a scene in the forest. Rin was down on her
knees, bracing herself on her forearms as Inuyasha pushed into her from behind.
Kagome jerked her hand back from the mirror. “Well, they seem to be getting
along okay, after all…” She giggled nervously, looking back over her shoulder
at her mate to gauge his reaction. Rin was like a daughter to him, after all.
It must be strange seeing her doing THAT with his brother. Sess was hard to
read, but if she had to place a bet, she was thinking that he looked strangely
relieved.
“Show Sess his father.” They both watched as the mirror rippled. There was
Inutaisho, minimally draped in a silk sheet, being tended to by a very
beautiful woman. She was tenderly combing out the muscular demon’s long, silky
hair. Really, was this mirror tuned to the porn channel, or what? Even down to
her gauzy, pink harem outfit, the woman looked strangely like Barbara Eden, in
the old American television show. Kagome whispered in awe… “Jeannie!”
“That is no genie. That is just a very minor goddess, Amaya, one of my father’s
sluts.”
Sess pulled her back from the mirror, turning it face-down on the pile of silk
kimono.
Kagome decided not to make an issue of his high-handedness. She would check on
Sango later. She turned her attention to the flea, who remained tied to
Sesshomaru’s armor. She addressed him sternly, and this time did not call him
Grandpa. “Myoga. You have told me a lot of romantic stories about Inutaisho and
Inuyasha’s mother. Never once did you indicate that Sesshomaru’s mother was
still alive, and that Inutaisho abandoned his mate and his child. Now it turns
out that he wants to abduct me and use me for my power. It seems to me like you
haven’t been honest, at all. Everything you have ever told me has all been a
bunch of bullshit, hasn’t it?”
“My intentions were the best, Lady Kagome! My tales were merely the
reminiscences of a loyal old retainer. I never expected Inutaisho to return
from the grave, and become a danger to you! It is all the fault of that
S’ounga…”
***** Chapter 80 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
Kagome sat cross-legged on the floor of the cave. Her eyes drifted shut. She
imagined Miroku’s deep, charismatic voice. ‘Breathe in through the right
nostril, fill the lungs from top to bottom. Now, hold. Starting at the top of
your lungs, breathe out through the left nostril. Feel the tension leaving your
body.’ Maybe she was wrong to be upset with Myoga. She linked her hands behind
her back, and pressed them upward, holding the stretch for a moment, the
relaxing. ‘He was just telling stories. Inuyasha grew up without his father,
and Myoga’s stories at least gave him a heroic father-figure to look up to.’
She stretched her right arm up in the air, inhaling deeply, pushing her hand as
high as she could reach, and flexed her fingers. ‘Could Myoga be trusted now,
if I were to ask him for the real truth about Inuyasha’s father?’ Exhaling
slowly, she brought her hand back down to her lap. She reached upward, slowly,
slowly, with her left hand, managing her breathing so her lungs were filled to
capacity exactly when her hand reached its apogee. ‘Hold, now imagine you are
picking an apple from the high branch of a tree overhead.’ She flexed her
fingers as if she was palming the apple. The stretch felt good. Emptying her
mind as she exhaled, she changed positions, stretching her left leg out
straight in front of her, and bending her right knee so the heel of her foot
rested behind her butt.
Sesshomaru had watched her doing this many times before, most often at sunrise,
in the company of the monk. Now, as in the past, she made a beautiful, sensuous
picture. He growled lowly, so as not to disturb her concentration, and the
others exited the cave. His eyes did not leave her body as she raised both
hands toward the ceiling, then sank backward gracefully, so that her head
rested on the floor. The monk had never been able to resist the urge to
“assist” her in this pose, and more often than not, what was supposed to be an
exercise in tranquility would end abruptly, with the monk receiving a sharp
smack on the cheek, and the camp would erupt back into its typical state of
chaos and disorder.
“Breath out completely. Feel the negative energy flowing out through your
fingertips.” When she peeked at him out the corner of her eye, Sesshomaru
raised one eyebrow in response and continued on, his voice slow and calm.
“Stretch, and reach. Reach further. Further. Now release, and inhale. Slowly.
Feel the positive energy filling your body.”
Next, he guided Kagome through reversing her stretch. She leaned forward
gracefully, grasping the ball of her outstretched foot. Sesshomaru smirked. He
continued to use his voice to lead her through her routine of stretches and
yoga poses, but refrained from touching her, and soon she was able to relax as
his voice led her down a path, into a state of harmonious balance. Afterwards,
he held her relaxed body to his chest. Even Myoga, who remained tied to his
armor, had the good sense to keep still for once.
Kagome burrowed her face into her mate’s silk-covered chest. Hmmm. It felt so
good to be held like this. He was so strong, and so warm. She allowed herself
to drift off to sleep, more content than she had ever been in her life.
Sess held her like that for a few hours. She needed the sleep, and he was
soothed by her calm fragrance and the tranquility that permeated her aura. This
is the way she should smell and feel all the time. As soon as his father was
taken care of, he would make it so. The quiet was disrupted all too soon,
however, by the sound of Ah-Uhn’s arrival, accompanied by the annoying
shrieking that always announced the presence of his retainer, Jaken. Deciding
to spare his mate an unpleasant awakening, he bent his head down and nuzzled
her cheek, and was rewarded by the look in her eyes as they slowly opened up,
gazing into his.
Kagome snuggled closer against him, and in return felt moko-moko wrap snugly
around her. She petted the fluffy fur gently. Jaken was getting closer, his
quarrelsome voice getting louder, and she felt the tranquil moment fracture.
Sigh.
The little green imp came barreling through the mouth of the cave, waving the
Staff of Two Heads around and crying little green tears of impotent rage. “Lord
Sesshomaru, we have to find Rin. That little stinking turnip has no common
sense, and no respect for her elders. She wandered off without telling me or
Lady Kaede where she was going! I summoned Ah-Uhn and ordered him to find her,
but he brought me here instead!” Jaken eyed Kagome, who was looking dewy and
very happy in his lord’s arms. The sight further infuriated the little toad. If
Jaken was having a bad day, everyone else should as well. “Wipe that smile off
your face, hussy! Little Rin is missing, and you are keeping Lord Sesshomaru
from finding her!”
“Jaken.” Sesshomaru’s voice was quiet and very forbidding.
“Yes, Master Sesshomaru, sire…” Jaken groveled.
“You have disappointed me, Jaken.”
“But master, Rin is such a sneaky little ningen! It was really not my fault…”
“Silence, Jaken. Rin had a reason for sneaking off. She sought out that
wretched monk and tricked him into purifying Inuyasha’s pup.”
Jaken had been around his master for a long time, and was accustomed to his
manner of speaking. “Wretched monk, wretched monk. He can’t mean Miroku, though
he IS kind of wretched… Ahh. Ungai.” Jaken let out an outraged squawk. “That
wretched monk purified our pup?”
“The pup was Inuyasha’s.” Replied Sesshomaru, laconically.
“But master! This is terrible news!”
“It was Rin’s choice, Jaken, and most likely for the best.”
Kagome felt a bit of a chill. “Why do you think that, Sesshomaru, is it because
it would have been a hanyou?”
Sess did not like where this conversation was headed. He did not intend on
entering into a debate with her on the subject, ever. He threw out a red
herring. “Inuyasha has not shown himself a loyal mate, and Rin’s behavior has
become erratic, since she entered adulthood. Getting rid of the pup was the
most level-headed thing the girl has done in the last five years.”
Jaken was left blustering and stuttering. Kagome was rendered speechless.
Sesshomaru smirked. He didn’t talk much, but that does not mean he was without
skills in the art of verbal combat.
“But, Lord Sesshomaru. You have to save Rin!” Jaken squawked. Sesshomaru felt
he had had this conversation before.
“Is Rin not capable of making her own decisions?”
Kagome thought that Sess had a point, but she had a bad feeling that Rin was in
trouble. Hadn’t Sess told her that the visions shown by the mirror could not be
taken at face value? Maybe the scene the mirror showed her was some time in the
past. Rin could be wandering, alone and confused, in the forest. Another
thought lurked at the back of her mind. What if Rin was with Inuyasha, but it
was against her will? She did not want to beg Sess to look for Rin. It would do
no good, anyway. She knew him well enough to know that he would do what he
considered right. But she was his mate. Lady of the West, right?
“Jaken,” Kagome spoke commandingly, “Take Ah-Uhn. Go to the demon village and
retrieve the mercenary Jakotsu for me.”
Jaken looked at her hopefully.
“I gather that Ah-Uhn is somehow capable of locating Rin?”
“Yes, milady.”
“ You and Jakotsu are to find Rin, and take whatever measures are necessary to
assure her well-being. Am I to assume you are willing to stay with Rin, and
watch over her?”
“Yes, milady.”
“Then do so. When you get to Edo, or wherever it is Rin decides she wants to
go, send Ah-Uhn and Jakotsu back to me.”
“Yes, milady.” Jaken bowed, scrambling backward.
When the imp was gone, Kagome had to fight the inclination to give Sesshomaru
her best puppy-dog eyes. She was a big girl, and it was time to put on her big
girl pants. “Time to question the flea, My Lord.”
Sesshomaru did not say anything, but he did not seem displeased.
***** Chapter 81 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
“What do you think, Bank, is she going to betray us?” Amaya had decided to go
back to Fudo, telling them she would keep an eye on Inu.
“I think it’s too late to worry about that now. It’s a beautiful night, so shut
up and look at the stars.” When Bankotsu wrapped his arm around Sango, her
first instinct was to pull away from him. But she had been thinking a lot
lately. Growing up, her life had been defined by discipline. Then, Naraku had
come along, and it was about pain. When Naraku was defeated, she had actually
dared to hope that her life would change. At first, it seemed she had gotten
everything she had hoped for. Kohaku made it through the ordeal alive. Miroku’s
wind tunnel disappeared, and he asked her to marry him, just as he had promised
he would. But soon she had found that her life had not really changed all that
much. Kohaku had survived, but he would never be the same gentle boy she had
tried to protect from the hard world they grew up in. Miroku got her pregnant,
and went out on the road with Inuyasha, leaving her to watch over the village
of Edo. She knew that, although Miroku had married her, he was up to his old
tricks, not just with girls in far off villages, but with the women of Edo as
well, whom she had to pass in the street every day. She looked down at her
hand, and watched Bankotsu’s thumb as it rubbed her palm in a circular motion.
His touch felt so good. No words were spoken, but she allowed herself to relax
against his side. Now she was dead. Now she was dead, and it didn’t seem like
an entirely bad thing. She remembered one of the things Kagome had told her.
‘Stop and smell the roses.’ Kagome had explained that that meant to set duty
aside for a moment to appreciate the beauty of the world, and its simple
pleasures. Sometimes, when it seemed like her life was too much to bear, ‘stop
and smell the roses’ was the only thing that kept her going. Kagome had taught
her to appreciate the beauty of a small moment. Sango looked up, to find
Bankotsu looking at her intensely. What was that other thing that Kagome said?
‘Seize the day.’
Bank was startled when he found himself shoved to the ground. Had Sango spotted
some danger, an assassin’s silent arrow shot into the circle of light cast by
their fire? Her face was very close, her eyes staring intently into his own.
Her lips came crashing down on his, her tongue was in his mouth, her hands
cradling the sides of his face. He reached up and wrapped his arms around her,
and let her have her way with him.
***** Chapter 82 *****
Chapter Summary
     Not edited
Sesshomaru untied the long strand of hair that attached Myoga to his armor. He
handed the dangling flea over to Kagome. Kagome found her writing tablet, and
threw herself down on the fur in her favorite thinking position. She stared at
the blank page in front of her for a while, chewing on her pink pencil for
inspiration. She wanted to approach this interrogation methodically. Myoga had
been very close to Inutaisho, and it was very possible that he might hold the
key to defeating him. She began scribbling industriously. ‘Jak is not like the
walking dead summoned back from Hell by S’ounga. Does Myoga know what method
Inutaisho is using to resurrect the dead?’ Kouga had said that he had killed
the same revenants repeatedly. If she knew how they were created, she might be
able to figure out what powered them. If she found out what powered them, she
might be able to discover a way to end the cycle. She skipped a space and wrote
‘Seal S’ounga once and for all.’ Heck with that sending S’ounga back to Hell
bullshit.
Sess had been looking forward to watching Kagome question the little flea. He
wasn’t expecting to witness any bloody mutilations, but her lack of aggression
was disappointing. It appeared that she was preparing to write more lists. He
had been hoping for a lot more action. “Time is of the essence, Kagome.”
Her thought process interrupted, Kagome snapped back without thinking. “You’re
just like your stupid brother, Sesshomaru. You want to rush off without
thinking and hack things up with your big fucking sword. Well, from what I’ve
heard about your father, I don’t really think that’s going to work out so well.
I think you know that too, or you wouldn’t be willing to degrade yourself by
even be talking to a “loser” like Kouga, now would you?”
Looking up, she stared into his eyes, shocked at her own words. They had both
been trying so hard to treat each other well.
“You think I am not strong enough to defeat my father alone, Kagome?”
Sesshomaru grabbed the collar of her kimono and dragged her to her feet. Pencil
and paper went flying. “If he had not fled dishonorably, I would have sent him
back to Hell already!” He snarled vehemently, shaking her for emphasis.
Kagome clasped Myoga to her chest, staring up at her mate in alarm. This was
the old Sesshomaru she was dealing with. She gathered her resolve. She had
never been one to back down, and she wasn’t going to let his intimidating ways
shut her up. “And if you had, what then? He’s got S’ounga, for crying out loud!
Why the fuck did any of us think it would do any good to send that sword back
to Hell? Tetsusaiga can open a portal to Hell. Tensaiga could open a portal to
Hell. Bakusaiga can open a portal to Hell. Your mother-fucking mother has a
necklace that can open a portal to Hell. Even that stupid bitch Kikyo was
capable of opening up portals to Hell, for Kami’s sake!” Kagome was shrieking
at the top of her lungs. After being nice for so long, it felt kind of good to
cut loose.
Sesshomaru shook her harder, causing her head to whip backwards hard enough
that her jaw snapped shut on her tongue. Ouch! That hurt! And the situation was
getting really scary. Sesshomaru’s intimating demonic aura made it hard to even
breathe.
“Lord Sesshomaru! Lady Kagome! Please! Just stop!”
“Shut up, Myoga! Don’t try to act blameless, like you always do! All your
stories about the great and noble Inutaisho! Lulling us into a false sense of
security! Fine! Sesshomaru. Leave. Go do whatever the fuck you want! Take this
damned flea with you. I hope you both get killed! Fucking demons! Shit for
brains!” She began kicking at Sesshomaru’s shins in her rage.
“Silence!” Sesshomaru roared, his lengthening fangs too close to her face for
comfort.
Kagome raised one hand to claw at his face, her own fingers growing pink. “Why
should I care what happens to you, anyway? You don’t care what I think. You
never cared about me at all! You are so full of shit! The only reason you mated
me was to keep me away from your father!” Kagome was panting in rage.
“How dare you, stupid girl.” Sesshomaru hissed. He flung her to the floor of
the cave, even in his anger taking care to make sure she landed on the fur. He
loomed over her, demonic powers blowing his hair and moko-moko’s fur in a
chaotic wind. “For years, I watched over you, thinking you would always belong
to my wretched brother. I never even looked at another. I gave myself to you,
and this is what I get in return. Dishonorable human! I am your mate. You will
give me the respect I deserve.”
“If you want my respect, then respect me in return! Listen to my ideas. I
didn’t mean it. I don’t want to see you dead, alright?” Kagome began to sob,
tears running down her cheeks.
Her tears brought him back to his senses. Sesshomaru threw himself down on top
of Kagome, once again taking care not to hurt her. She clenched her eyes shut,
and turned her head to the side. It was unintentional, but by doing so she
showed him the side of her neck which bore his mating mark. He burrowed his
face between her neck and shoulder, nuzzling the mark, energized by the
crackling tension between them. He whispered in her ear. “You do not wish to
see me dead?”
“No!”
“I will do my best not to disappoint you, Kagome.” He began to kiss her neck,
with passion.
“Ahem…” Myoga was sweating liberally. He had never thought to see so much
intensity from the cold-natured Sesshomaru.
Kagome looked down to find the little flea clasped tightly in her hand. “Oh,
Myoga. I’m so sorry! You didn’t get squished, did you?” The flea finally
succumbed to his shattered nerves and fainted.
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