(A/N: I haven't done anything in this fandom in quite some time. I find myself disappointed by that so here's this. A Kagome/Sesshomaru story with a bit of Kohaku/Souta and Sango/InuYasha thrown in, just for my lovely head bunnies (and fans). I don't own InuYasha and I don't want to, I'd muck it up for everyone. Now, I don't really have any warnings to give except the slight slash and non-cannon pairings, but you'll live. Also, I don't know yet whether this is a one-shot or a chaptered affair. On with the show.)
Stuck in the Past
Kagome sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose dramatically at the sight of Souta climbing out of the well. It was something that he'd never managed to do before; follow her. He'd been following her to the well for years, watching her disappear and complaining that he couldn't go along. It seemed that he had finally given in to temptation and jumped in while the portal remained open behind her. Somehow he had utilized a window of a mere few seconds and come to her side of the well. Or maybe it was because he shared her blood and the well had had to rewrite its response to her because of the changes she'd undergone. Perhaps sheer determination had gotten him through. Either way he was likely stuck until she went through again.
"Uhh…Lady Kagome?" Kohaku's voice was full of concern. The 17 year old had been appointed as her personal escort to the well, and a strange young man crawling out of the portal behind her was probably shocking. Kagome smiled at the discomfort that both boys displayed when looking at one another 'Lady Kagome' was probably not something Souta expected to hear. But in the past it had been four years since she had simply been Kagome to anyone but those she cared the most about, and even then only in private.
"It is alright Kohaku. You may trust him. This is Souta, my younger brother. He's been trying to get me to bring him here for the last eight years," Kagome said in the same distant but sympathetic tone that she often used when communicating with Kohaku. She smiled as both boys bowed and greeted each other formally, of course, she hadn't thought about that. As her brother Souta would merit at least a small portion of the respect given to her. "Kohaku, I believe that my brother has determined himself to remain inclined to make this era his dwelling place regardless of hardships. Take a week and train him, see if you can't alter that notion for me, won't you?" Kagome asked in an airier more regal tone, one that robbed the color from Souta's face. It had been difficult to pick up the mannerisms belonging to a proper Lady of the West, but she had learned them and it was more difficult to abandon them.
"As you wish my Lady Kagome. Our Lord would have me bid you return to the Citadel before nightfall. You are needed at Council," Kohaku said, falling once more into his easily adopted formal mannerisms after the brief surprise of her request.
"Then I shall go. And Souta, perhaps I should mention that our Kohaku is a half-Demon, expect no breaks. Kohaku, give no pity short of sparing his life. I would like to send him back alive," Kagome said with a smirk that resembled one typically worn by the man she called Mate. She took a running leap into the sky and was gone, her more human façade vanishing to reveal Demonic symbols of power upon her skin, including the crescent moon on her forehead that designated her station. She wrapped her tail about herself to shield against the wind and made her way to the Citadel and her husband and friends with all haste. If the Council wanted her around then something serious was about to come up for consideration.
Her thoughts did not trail back to consider the wisdom of having left Souta with Kohaku. The young half-Demon would not harm her brother over much and perhaps Souta's true power would finally awaken if left in the hands of an opponent that could actually kill him. With all proper hope she would take him back home and he would be able to defend the shrine in her absence. The presence of Demonic auras had gotten rather overwhelming in what was typically a Demon free era. Kagome's chocolate eyes narrowed in thought, rogue rays of sunlight striking golden veins in their depths gave the only indication of their Demonic nature. There had to be a reason for the increase of Demon traffic back home, and she had a sinking suspicion that other portals like her well might have opened up.
"Kagome! Hey Kagome!" InuYasha's voice carried on the wind, hitting her ears and telling her exactly where he was. It had certainly taken some getting used to when it came to her new senses, and more so, pretending that she didn't have them when she went home.
"Yes Brother? I am on my way to the Citadel, what more is needed?" Kagome said imperiously, her nerves reacting more to the idea of her human family being threatened than anything InuYasha had done. He sighed in response and fell in pace with her as he rode on Kirara's back. So, Sango had sent him, interesting.
"I'm on my way as well. Sango is already there, I was out in the Western Isles, dealing with a small dispute. There has been some considerable upheaval lately. Apparently whole clans have been going missing," InuYasha provided softly, his body straightening as he stood beside Kagome, adding his power to hers so that they might reach their destination more quickly. Kirara looked bored as ever and curled up on his shoulder.
"Have they now? I'm most certainly going to have to divulge the truth of the predicament facing my home time. We have been experiencing a spike in Demonic possessions, attacks and general increase in presence. Until now there were only one or two decent auras before, now there are hundreds," Kagome provided, her mind once more wandering home. How could her life in the past be affecting the reality of her world in the presence?
"Interesting. Not in the least a good thing, but interesting no less, well, you won't need to wait long," InuYasha voiced after a moment and they began their descent landing shortly after at the large wooden gate that barred entrance to the Citadel. Sesshomaru was a proper Lord and kept his home well fortified, after all, it had to protect him and his Second, which was InuYasha, and their respective mates Kagome and Sango.
"Ah, my Lady, my Lord, welcome home. I trust your journeys were safe and prosperous?" Kinta, a guardsman said as he opened the gates at Kagome's request. Kagome regarded him for a quiet moment and then smiled regally.
"Yes, they were completed satisfactorily. Young Kohaku will not be back for about a week. I have set him to training a young Monk of some promise," Kagome provided so that the man did not look for the former Demon Slayer.
"Ah, I see. Well I won't delay you my Lady, you are looked for," Kinta said and Kagome sighed inwardly, there was something of a romance between Kohaku and Kinta, but it had never been serious. At least it hadn't been for Kohaku, he was still re-learning the proper way to experience emotion, being cursed into a half-Demon form hadn't altered his appearance but it had certainly hurt his personality. Of course, Kagome reasoned as she and InuYasha walked through the courtyard, spending a considerable amount of time with Naraku hadn't helped the state of things.
"Souta? You left him with Souta didn't you?" InuYasha said under his breath as they navigated wide halls, bordered by rice paper over wood frame walls, it was still light out so the lanterns hadn't been lit. The servants and guests, both lower class and dignitaries made their way through the halls, giving Kagome and InuYasha a wide berth lest an unintentional offense occur.
"Well yes, what would you have me do? He followed me into a world that his powers are not ready to cope with. If Kohaku trains him then they might awaken, if not, he is close to the well and has a quick escape route," Kagome defended her decision as quickly as she could, not wanting the man she called brother to get the wrong idea. She didn't have the stamina with her other stresses to have an argument over whether or not she was keeping Kohaku away from Kinta on purpose. If she was it was only for Kinta's sake. Kohaku was better off training someone than breaking someone's heart at his age anyway.
"Acceptable I guess," InuYasha allowed and broke away from Kagome's side to go find Sango as Sesshomaru approached. He looked harried, his golden eyes darkened with worry and perfect composure beginning to fray. It disturbed Kagome so much that she embraced him in the hall without considering the propriety of the action. It was true that no one was allowed to question them but typically Sesshomaru was stricter on respect. Not that day, however, his arms wrapped tightly around her slender waist and he buried his head in her hair.
"You have come home safe to me. I am relieved," he said, his voice shaking even as he attempted to retain his more dignified air. Kagome stiffened in fear at his statement. What could have possibly happened?
"Of course my Lord…"
"Kagome, I love you, please, for now just…I never should have allowed you to go," Sesshomaru said softly and she soon found that he had moved them into a sitting room that had been unoccupied. He was kissing her and clutching at her and she didn't quite understand his worry and concern until he kissed her stomach. The sudden knowledge sent her reeling and were it not for her Mate's arms she would have fallen.
"Sesshomaru, are you telling me that you were concerned for me because…"
"A pregnancy would render you weak, severely so. What kind of a man would I be if I allowed my Mate to be unprotected in her most vulnerable?" he stated softly and kissed her mouth.
"I'm pregnant. Are you sure? This has nothing to do with the missing clans or the Demons in my time? You were concerned for my health…and our child's…"
"Missing clans? Demons in your time? My love those are issues for the Council, my concern is your health and safety," Sesshomaru stated plainly and moved the piled scrolls from one of the pillows on the floor so that she could sit down.
(A/N: Well that's it for now. I'm assuming this will be multi-chaptered, but for right now I have no idea where it is going. Leave me a review and we will see if that points me in the right direction)