Chapter One:
The Month
"Do you really think this will work Father?" Inutaishou Sesshomaru disdainfully inquired for roughly the third time since his father, Inutaishou himself, had confided in him their destination and it's purposes. Considering more than five collective sentences from his older son a day was abnormal this open repetition from him today could only be an ill omen Inutaishou thought sightly amused. "Well, I do understand how little this tactic is used in modern human or even demon society now, but with the new trade embargo with DOU, thanks to your brother's silly squabble with Naraku, I thought the best way to teach Inuyasha the meaning of consequences would be this degrading punishment." He watched his son's slim eyebrow ascend a few more degrees giving his aristocratic face an even more imperious and cold demeanor. More so than usual anyway. 'Today seems to be a new day for limits for Sesshomaru.' his father thought to himself. Yet another ill omen.
If he were the suspicious type (which as an age-old demon he could not resist a bit of superstition every once in awhile) he would reconsider his plan. Actually, ever since he had taken Sesshomaru's brother's mother as his second wife she had made him a bit more...of a believer, let's say. And besides, Inuyasha was of an age and blood rank where he (and their stocks) would benefit from an auspicious marriage to another business tycoon's daughter. So he would commence with the age-old punishment that would seem authentic and charming to the press and their shareholders. His older son, a full-blooded demon, had been hard to come around to the idea of a human stepmother. Still to this day he had a smidge of disdain for the second in line for apex predator of the modern age. Or rather, humans. He knew the sudden and...unnatural death of his mother still greatly affected him to this day also. There would be no getting Sesshomaru to settle, but there may still be hope for his youngest with more of his current wife's human attributes.
"Is Inuyasha aware of your little...bargain yet?" Sesshomaru asked, and Inutaishou sighed. 'Always raining on someone's parade, could I really have been so stiff back then?' The son who never let him get away with anything. "Hardly. Hopefully if the crazy old mortal we're dealing with is correct it won't matter much, the girl is supposed to be very beautiful." Inutaishou watched his aloof elder son carefully. Any interest in anything other than success would be welcome now. Just one sign from him he had something alive deep down, some need for companionship. Even as a child Sesshomaru had been quiet and distant. Granted the feudal era had been both rough and prosperous on his kind, but Sesshomaru had seemed born in ice. It had worked for him, and he was now alone. Perhaps forever more.
Before these modern times, when peace existed between humans and demons and their societies had integrated, Sesshomaru had stayed far from affection. Demons had offered little to each other throughout history in terms of peacekeeping as most of their inner power-struggles were solved by killing each other and innocents relentlessly. Or at least until humanity had essentially used their best gift, otherwise known as procreation, to outnumber demon-kind. There was much struggle, but eventually a truce was struck between the ancients of demon-kind, including Inutaishou and all human governments. Their cultures then blended, teaching demon society concepts of love and, well, humanity. Now humans and demons mated and loved each other seamlessly with only a few occasional deaths, mostly from more powerful demons loosing control. Peace reigned between the two cultures relatively consistently otherwise. And in this time of normalcy and love Sesshomaru remained immune. Timeless, in a way.
No friendships, no mate, no love expressed in any sense. He was a dark moon and his other son Inuyasha a flaming, passionate sun. Sesshomaru made a fine heir for his company (majoring mostly in pharmaceutical sales and other slight military interests) while Inuyasha kept him up at night. The boy had flunked two Ivy League schools abroad, bungled missionary work, and lacked the calculation for the world of business. Then again his mother was much the same, which is why he had fallen madly in love with her in the first place. Inutaishou sighed again. His shot in the dark had not worked. Sesshomaru had not even noticed. Not even a rumor of beauty could pull him into a more corporeal state.
...
"Rin, hurry! Gramps will whine if we're late!" Higurashi Rin stumbled over her feet following Kagome into the stretch town-car leaving from their family estate, but regained her footing just barely only half-falling into the car and onto the seat after her cousin, Higurashi Kagome. "You look beautiful Kagome! He will no doubt fall madly in love with you!" She squealed, noticing she had dressed as nicely as she could and fallen far short of Kagome's chaste beauty. Kagome sighed morosely and turned to face younger Rin. "Only twenty-one and marriage suddenly looming; my wish was to at least finish school before this nightmare began. Still I suppose I have a duty, in a sense. It was a custom in our family in the feudal ages, and it did work well for my family in most cases in the past. I'm scared of the statistics though Rin-chan. What are the chances I will love this man? That we will share any interests, or even like the same jokes? I am scared of the odds, little one." Her mahogany eyes gazed into the distance after voicing her concerns and Rin watched her eyebrow furrow. She pulled herself almost heavily from her trance and faced Rin elegantly in her ceremonial kimono, worry etched in her deep eyes and soft loving face.
"But I've forgotten little Rin, today has been a rough day for you as well." She lowered her voice to a conspirator's whisper: "Does it hurt much?" Rin blushed and a hand moved to her stomach reflexively. She was fifteen now and her body had finally caught up to womanhood. Her blood had started that morning. It had taken forever and now Rin wished she could give it back. She had woken to it and Kagome had been there for her through the care and maintenance. She had known it would be happening soon they had covered this in school of course, but the pain had been something else.
She had noticed other things over the years of course. Growth and blossoming, becoming a new person in almost every way. She was still shy, and ignorant to physical love, but a few of her friends had not been. The stories she had occasionally heard made her wonder at night. Flushed still, she nodded fiercely to Kagome. "I'm fine, this is your day!" Kagome smiled compassionately at Rin's embarrassment then nodded in understanding. "Someday little Rin this may be you. Legal sister and whatnot." She winked and gave Rin a thumbs-up.
Rin smiled sheepishly up at her. Her parents had passed when she had been just young enough to miss her mother's touch and father's laugh. Her mother's sister had adopted her within the month. Easily done for the heiress to the well-established Higurashi Firm, now handling straight financial investments and philanthropic ventures of their caring and giving grandfather.
Now it was Kagome's turn to contribute to the family business. Seal a deal with the son of a business tycoon and secure more success for her family. And today was the day she met him. She and Rin had known this may happen at some point, Kagome had seen some childhood friends go through blind engagements, but it had seemed to come to them so fast. As their driver entered downtown Tokyo, Rin worried this may pull Kagome away from her, more than the Shikon and the training Kagome had been receiving would. Kagome was shaking as they neared her future, closer and closer. Rin, the sweetest, most innocent, and most supportive took her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.
...
"Feh. Father can blow this out his ass, no human girl can handle this." Inuyasha flicked his ears in annoyance. "Quiet. I am in charge here and this will go to plan. Try not to be too much of a barbarian." For the ninth time Sesshomaru established leadership over his brother. Although the demon species had conformed closer to human standards there was still a highly-traditional and symbolic pack mentality in dog demons. The Inutaishou's were unmatched in power and wealth his father had made it clear to the public eye that they held tightly to the traditions and practices of their breed.
Sesshomaru was now, as of the past thirty-or-so years, at the head of the family as the caretaker of his newest families legacy (according to his father anyway): their company. His father was still a prime consultant in title, to keep appearances, but mostly spent his time smoozhing the media with his eye-candy, the young, human wife. The world, his world, feared Sesshomaru still. Much like his past rule of the Western Lands. One little upstart mutt would not change this fact now or ever. 'Am I just trying to convince myself?' He wondered, but quickly pushed this away.
His father had known he could control his brother, and here they were smack in the middle of his scheming, despite their resistance. And in his own office no less. He and his brother sat in (what had been called by the architect) the "leisure space". Sesshomaru called it the "waste of space", bemusedly and to himself. Occasionally to Inuyasha as well, who would chortle. A wide chestnut table with an L-shaped couch that curved around it, giving the waste more space. It did offer a perfect view of the Tokyo skyline from a seated position however, especially now with the crimson sun sending fractals of crystalline light through the office. His home, truly. This place was almost all he had known in the past fifty years. He thought he was content with this fact.
The 'ding' of the elevator behind the thick carved doors set both brother's slightly on edge in their own ways. Inuyasha lolled back, seemingly relaxed, but Sesshomaru knew he was searching with his heightened senses and acting callous in rebellion. Sesshomaru was ramrod straight, partly due to his five-thousand dollar deep blue Armani suit, and the tight ponytail his moonbeam-colored hair was pulled into; the other part due to his alertness. He rose and motioned for Inuyasha to do the same. With another "feh" he did, and both brother's took the small step up onto the slightly raised platform at the back of the room where his desk rested at the moment and faced the door. A timid knock, his assistant, and his deep voice summoned them to enter. And they did.
...
Rin was nervous for Kagome as they waited up to the huge doors. She had no idea what the other girl must be feeling. This was her future behind those doors. Another pain tripped her stomach and she grimaced. Kagome noticed and leaned down slightly to whisper in her ear: "I'll make you some tea when we get home, should help a bit with the cramping." Rin smiled up at her again as Kagome prepared herself to enter on the harsh command from the other side of the door. 'That voice is so cold…' Rin remembered thinking; and they entered.
...
As the doors swung open, his assistant introduced Higurashi Kagome and her cousin Higurashi Rin, his demon senses immediately took over. This was common, he considered it the better half of himself. Today he had to hide himself behind a veil of humanity, but upon first meeting a person he could not control his dog demon from seeing, hearing and smelling everything about them. At least for a second. He could be free for a moment, truly powerful. At least for that second. And this happened now to the veiled girl in the flowing kimono and then her small, cowering companion. As he took notice of the smaller girl three things happened very fast and simultaneously.
The girl in the kimono threw back her veil brown eyes blazing. "An InuYoukai! Are you kidding me Gramps!" To which the small girl gasped and Inuyasha prickled. "Great! A loud-mouth! I'm never going to hear the end of this, literally!" He spat right back. The would-be bride's offense was lost on him then. For his senses had gone haywire.
His eyes had focused on the small creature behind her and his nostrils flared, picking up something instantaneously that made him lose the tightly-wound restraint he possessed over himself. All ounce of control in fact. Her smell! That smell! Nothing like it had ever assailed him before. He knew the scent of a mortal woman flowering, it was not unknown to him, but this…this was everything. It was unique, it was indulgent, delicious, sumptuous…words flew through his confused mind and he was feeling the profound effect it had on him.
He could smell in her scent of being her body was in full heat, and he knew just like that she was untouched. And with that he broke. The demon in him, normally so restrained, so controlled, burst from him starting from his lips. A growl erupted and he felt his teeth elongating, his claws emerging, his eyes crimson. A step away from his monstrous dog form. He was vaguely aware of a scream and Inuyasha calling his name as he lunged. He recalled in that moment his speed and power. She would see this, see he came for her, admire his strength. He was the strongest male in this room, and the female would know this. His female now. He observed her features once he crossed the room to her faster than she could hope to glimpse.
A girl, the most beautiful one he had ever seen. Her eyes, the most primal, warm, glittering shade of hazel he had ever beheld. Gentle, kind, pixie-like features-but those lips! A lush wonderland! Full, perfect, and completely delicious. The most flattering shade of pink! And oh, he would flatter them. A wolfish grin spread across his lips, a grin mad with her.
Now, even closer, he could smell her blood even more strongly, and he roared almost into that cherub face. Senseless now with the threat of her being injured overcoming him; he thought she had been hurt- to be bleeding. His earlier conclusion of her flowering had fled him as he became only base instinct. The distance was finally gone between them and his clawed hands closed on either side of her head as she shuddered into the wall behind them. From her lips, his eyes began roving her body for injury. No one could have hurt her, his female! His! No one could touch her, he would kill them, rip them! Deep, menacing growls left his fanged mouth.
He could find no visible damage so he moved back to her face, concern registering now. "Who hurt you!" He demanded. She was scared now he could see it reflected back at him from those deep, pool-like eyes. "Sesshomaru-sama I am not hurt." Her voice, the sweetest whisper! He wanted nothing more than to hear his name shouted in ecstasy. The honorific was sinful coming form those pink lips. He growled heartily and his nails curled through the wall, dust exploding everywhere, coating her. "You're bleeding!" He snapped and her face blossomed into color. She looked to the ground, completely crimson. "Women do." She muttered and then he lost it again. Her proclamation reminded him and allowed him to fully register the fact that she we was, in fact, in heat and he now only registered in his slightly-crazed mind that she needed him with her at all times. If he didn't make her his some other male would! His blood boiled at that thought.
His hands uprooted from the wall and took her incredibly small shoulders in his hold. Despite his raging demon he touched her like glass. Short-sleeved yellow sundress, he could feel her skin. Soft as rose petals. He could feel her fear too. He did tower over her and he was a red-eyed, fanged demon at the moment. She a fragile human girl. Smoothly, he brought his face down to her elegant neck. His knee moved between her legs and she whimpered and spread them as he pinned her to the wall with the sheer force of his body. Another whimper and he growled into her neck. He inhaled her scent deeply, listened to her racing pulse.
She gasped at his visibly-suggestive actions, trembling beneath him. So good, so delicious, all his….he extended his jaw to bite into her, marking her as an Inuyokai's mate, even more particular to their traditions. Deep scarring bites said to be as painful as they are pleasurable, thus marking the mate for life and bonding the two together until death. Sometimes with magical effects, barely explained by modern science.
"SESSHOMARU!" Before he could seal his fangs into the girl, two semi-clawed hands gripped his angled shoulders and pulled him off of the girl, his mate. Roaring he turned to face his foe. A jealous male?! Some usurper?! "What the hell is wrong with you, you lunatic?!" All he could see was red and he felt his skeleton shifting taking to his true, majestic form. His bones cracked as he morphed and he knew victory and salvation would be his. Then he could return to marking his mate, his now only true desire.
Then, a flash of bright piercing light, a woman's clear voice ringing out beyond the brightness…and then blackness.
...
A/N: Hello beautiful! Yes, I mean you! So, this is re-edited (for like the nth time) Thanks to Frou Frou and Joanna Newsom's Divers album. So much inspiration! Also to T-Bone, my backbone. Review, favorite, follow, you will have my un-dying love!