Disclaimer I do not own Inuyasha, nor Yu Yu Hakusho
Rated M - Warning contains blood, cursing, prostitution and other sexual themes. Warnings will be provided for any lime or lemons below!
The Wandering Lotus
Chapter 3
Sitting atop Inukimi's cloud with her legs hanging over the side of the cloud, as they flew through the sky father west. The great expanse of pure, lush green land and colorful flora they passed over never ceased to amaze her. It was hard to imagine it would all be repleaced with lifeless, cold skyscrapers and roads with millions of vehicles spewing harmful wastes into the air. A part of her felt grateful she could see Japan in its untouched and untamed state. She still missed her family greatly even after so many years not seeing their faces, but she knew she'd seem them again even if it might be from afar. Not sure if she could handle meeting up with them again only to watch them fade away with time while she continued to live never aging, stuck with the youthful appearance of an eighteen year old woman.
Kagome had calmed her nerves down since Inukimi had bold declaration that they were going to see her son.
Rubbing a hand over her growing womb, the kids were content but moving around. Their auras were more playful now like they were playing a game of chase inside her belly. She'd asked Inukimi about that. Never having carried normal human child let alone a demon's kid inside her before. The inu demoness had smiled, telling her it was normal. Apparently demon children were more sentient like Kagome had surmised. The pups, as all canine demons referred to their unborn and children as, knew their mother and father's presence and became sentient a few weeks into their growth in the womb. They could sense their mother's emotions and their fellow siblings if there was more than one present in the womb. The constant need for youki was due to the fact that their own would not fully develop until they were in the late part of the third trimester near birth. Feeding them youki from both parents helped the pups own youki to gain similar power traits from their parents.
Inukimi had gushed as they were preparing to leave, that when she was pregnant with Sesshoumaru she'd fed the child her youki at least three times a day. Apparently the reason Sesshoumaru possessed such potent poison abilities was thanks to her.
'I sort of wish she hadn't.'
She thought sardonically when she heard the older, inu demoness state that. She still remembered to this day in her first meeting with Sesshoumaru in the underworld, Sesshoumaru spraying acid at her when she pulled the tetsaiga from his and Inuyasha's father's resting place. If it hadn't been for the sword she'd be dead right now.
There was still so much for her to learn about inu pregnancies, but Inukimi insisted she would be fine with her there. Not to mention once they saw Sesshoumaru. It was important for the children to receive youki from him as he held gifts in his youki from his father that could be passed down to his future pups.
The ride was smoother than riding on the crow demon, Shoga kept a firm hand on the chains holding Myoga who wanted to flee at the prospect of seeing the cold Western Lord.
She honestly harbored no hatred towards the elder inu brother outside of that first occassion. They all fought together in the final battle as allies, and despite the attempts made on her life the western lord had saved her before when the poison master of the band of seven. Of course she held an understanding that at the time she was protecting Inuyasha whom Sesshoumaru hated with a passion.
She recalled the conversation she had with Myoga before coming to see Sesshoumaru's mother about the older brother's hatred.
Flashback
"Sesshoumaru's mother? She's alive? But how did that work out with Inutaisho and Izayoi?" Kagome was confused, her brows drawing together as she tried to imagine the scenario. As a woman brought up in the modern world in the future her first thought was threesome, but quickly shook away the image. From what she did know inus were much like their lesser animal forms, mating one female for life and were possessive and did not share well.
And Sesshoumaru's mother was an inu demoness as well. But perhaps she wrong and the woman didn't mind sharing her mate.
'Unless they were divorced?' She knew humans didn't divorce in this time period, but she knew of two women from Hinageshi who were divorced from their husbands. They hadn't mated their males, which was a more permanent form of marriage. Perhaps the same could be said of Inutaisho and this Gobodō-sama as Myoga called Sesshoumaru's mother.
Myoga sat on Kagome's shoulder with Shoga right next to him as he told her what she wished to know.
"Lady Gobodō-sama and my dearly departed lord were mated. It was a political mating, but Sesshoumaru's mother deeply loved him even if my lord did not share the same feelings. To him Gobodō-sama, was and for the most part. still is a very cold and calculating woman. She actually came from a family of more noble birth than Lord Inutaisho's clan, the House of the Moon. However, her clan preferred to keep apart from the lands below and ruled the Western Skies. Unlike the Taisho clan, that only came to power and noble status around one thousand years ago; Gobodō-sama's clan ruled the West for nearly two thousand years before they chose to live in the skies fighting back the plethora of dragon youkai that roamed the skies back then. It was actually, because of the multitude of dragon youkai presence that both forged a unity to rid themselves from the serpentine pests for good, as the dragons were known for pillaging, setting many villages ablaze, and selling off young demonesses into slavery. With their unity, Inutaisho-dono and Inukimi killed off many of the dragons, including Ryūkotsusei's father the leader of the dragon clan at the time."
Sighing as he thought relived those days. "Ryūkotsusei only managed to survive by fleeing to the Northern skies to amass power. With peace restored to the Western skies they settled down to have Sesshoumaru, but my past lord wanted more adventure and passion-like fire in his life. Inukimi returned to guarding the skies in her clan's palace, while Inutaisho-dono took full control of the Western Lands. Raised majorly by his mother till he hit his teenage years, Inutaisho-dono spent much of his time fighting wars before establishing peace over the land, traveling to far off lands outside of the continent periodically. Sesshoumaru came to train with him around his one hundred and fiftieth year of life. Two-hundred years ago, my lord was listening about an uprising by a noble who was using weak priests to target the lower class demons of his land and like any good lord went to see to the threat against his subjects personally. It was at this point he met Izayoi-hime, the daughter of said lord and fell for her gentle beauty and warm, caring heart. He whisked her away to one of his secluded manors and they began a brief passionate, love affair. Izayoi near the latter part of her pregnancy and wishing to see her own mother was allowed to return to her mother's ancestral home, while my lord went to deal with Ryūkotsusei, who'd come back with a vengeance and more powerful than his sire and those of his brood loyal to him. The rest of their tale you are aware of," he told her.
She nodded remembering the first time she heard of the tragic love story of Lord Inutaisho and Princess Izayoi.
"Yes, well what you do not know is what happened afterwards," Myoga said, Kagome urged him to continue.
"What happened?"
"After being revived by my lord, Izayoi-hime, who knew not of Lady Gobodō-sama but knew of Sesshoumaru-sama had assumed was from a previous marriage and his mother dead, sought him out. Caught up in her love for Inutaisho-dono and their fairy tale romance, I suppose it never crossed her mind to ponder upon such things. After all, why would a handsome man stray from his demon mate for a mere human. After all, most demonesses are known for their unearthly, almost heavenly beauty. She traveled to the grand Western Palace a couple of months after Lord Inuyasha's birth, having only heard fascinating stories about it from my lord and myself, as I had met her a few times throughout their short love affair. Izayoi-hime wished to meet Sesshoumaru-sama, whom she'd only seen a portrait of and heard about from his father. Lord Inuyasha was a babe, while half human he was demon also and she desired for her son to have knowledge of his other half and his family. Sesshoumaru-sama only found out about the woman during the war with Ryūkotsusei and was greatly affronted that his father would betray his beautiful mother by having a dalliance and even siring a child with a lowly human. Prior to this, Sesshoumaru-sama had not harbored any true hatred towards the race, simply found them weak and feeble-minded creatures that procreated like rats like his mother had always told him. Growing up with his mother and seeing his father a handful of times, he'd never witnessed any dislike between his parents and his mother had only ever spoken with love and the highest praises for his father. You could say while training in sword and combat with his father, he held much hero worship for his sire. I have no doubt that finding out about his father's transgression shattered this view and his family. You must take into view that while old by human standards, Sesshoumaru-sama was barely into his teens. His mind more so that of a young teenager, who had his whole world come crashing down after only half a century spent with his father.
Gobodō-sama too had only found out about the woman a week prior to her mate's death. It greatly hurt her, though she greatly tried to hide such weakness displaying the cold front that had been ingrained into her since birth to not show emotion. In her time raising their son, she'd begun to show more emotion and perhaps she'd planned to express her feelings which I encouraged at first not knowing my lord had just began his affair with Izayoi-hime. After finding out about her mate's betrayal, Gobodō-sama became cold again. Speaking of open disdain for humans, eventually Sesshoumaru-sama took these words and his mother's hurt to heart and mind. By the time Izayoi finally arrived at the Western Palace it was to a cold and hateful Sesshoumaru. He turned away Izayoi-hime, who with no other choice returned to her family that would later go on to treat them both as outcasts, Lord Inuyasha more so than his mother for his half demon heritage. However, Gobodō-sama did come to regret this, as many decades later after the hurt and betrayal had waned, she better came to understand her departed mate after reading a letter left for her along with the meido stone. Unfortunately, it was too late at that time to undo the damage she'd done as Izayoi had passed away and Inuyasha had cast out from his mother's home never heard from for many years and by then Lord Inuyasha wanted nothing to do with them. "
Myoga's face was somber as he no doubt relived those years as if it was yesterday.
She sighed as she digested the new information.
End of Flashback
Kagome was taken aback by Myoga-san's words at the time.
Honestly when she heard the story of Inuyasha's father and mother's love story, she'd been moved like any teenage girl would when you heard a romance story that surpassed the hatred and opposition of those around them and led to the birth of her once dear friend and first love. However, the information she now held sort of stained the innocent love story from the past. It also gave her a better understanding of Sesshoumaru's hatred, along with the inu demoness they had been going to meet.
Of course, Myoga's description hadn't matched with the demoness she met only a few hours ago.
But she supposed, the demoness was more expressive and accepting of the situation as she carried Gobodo-sama's future grandpups.
It was a lot to take it still and she would try to make the best of her situation as she'd always done.
With this new information, perhaps she could make it work with Lord Sesshoumaru and strive for peace...At least until she gave birth. She wasn't sure how things would go after giving birth, but she doubted she would be able to leave so easily after carrying the pups in her womb and bringing them into the world even if they were not her own. Her heart and mind were already starting to see them as hers. Rubbing her stomach affectionately.
'I even thought of a few names earlier. I really need to stop before I get ahead of myself!'
"Hōrō Hasu-san we shall be arriving soon, take a look ahead at the Western Palace," Inukimi announced drawing Kagome from her thoughts.
She'd asked Sesshoumaru's mother to address her by her name she'd been given at Hinageshi, not yet ready to part from the name that had given her strength for over a decade and a half. Soon she figured she would return to her birth name, but that would take time.
Looking out towards the land, she saw they were above a huge forest. About to ask what palace, the question was caught in her throat.
The forest below gave way to farmland, then a huge town. She could sense the demonic auras below, even pick them out as they traveled above the town. Like many demon towns it was more structurally built than normal villages and towns, looking like a town for nobles than just the common people. However, this was not what really caught her attention. Past the town, that gave way to rich farmland and rice patty fields and another set of bigger manor-houses that were even more beautiful and unique in design, was what held her attention.
A looming, white fortress built into the side of surrounding white peaked mountains. The Western Palace had to have been four or five stories tall, as it was taller than the wall surrounding it, though not by much. It reminded her of a mixture of an Arabian palace, like the ones she watched in cartoons and movies as a child, and the Japanese Imperial Palace she'd toured back in junior high before starting her adventures down the well. High towers, clean cut and arched windows. Tall red lacquered pillars visible even from their height above. A large wall that had to be at least twenty meters high surrounded it, guards towers situated on top behind parapets with demon guards patrolling the walls. A huge, foreboding gate was situated in the center with a moat ten meters wide and drawbridge surrounding it and the castle, separating it from the rest of the land.
"Beautiful," she whispered.
Inukimi giggled along with Myoga.
Every person who laid eyes on the palace was impressed by its opulence and grandeur. Her deceased mate may have been unfaithful and his predecessors and himself had spent entirely too much time in battle, but they knew beauty and liked to show off what their power had brought them over the many centuries. She hadn't come to visit since a few years after her mate's passing. Partly due to old resentment, but also sadness. She could still remember like it was just the other day and not nearly half a millennia when she was running through the forest they'd passed over on her cloud; her running through the forest as her mate chased after her in a mating run, followed by their savage yet passionate rutting on the forest floor that blessed her with her beautiful son.
"Yes, it is beautiful. It would appear Asuma-kyodai has been busy," she murmured.
"Kyodai?" Kagome asked.
This was her first time hearing of other family members related to the demoness and Sesshoumaru.
"Yes, this Inukimi has five brothers. All of whom are younger, three live outside the West. Normally they travel amongst the various demon courts of the lands, sending correspondances of things going on to keep the West thriving and safe. This one's second youngest and eldest of my younger brothers, on the other hand, live within the Western Palace. Mikadzuki-kyodai, serves as adviser to this one's son, while Asuma-kyodai is the Royal Architect for the palace and surrounding lands along with my departed mate's younger brother," she informed her.
Kagome supposed she shouldn't be surprised the inu demoness nor Lord Inutaisho might have siblings. Part of her felt sad Inuyasha would never have the chance to know them, because of his father's infidelity and death.
They passed over the gate entirely and with an outstretched hand from Inukimi, she gracefully rose to her feet despite the extra weight. It was easier to adjust to the weight of her growing womb now, she likened the weight to the first time she wore a jūnihitoe for a minor demon lord. He'd paid a large amount of coin and a small power stone to have her come to his court to entertain him, wishing to see the only human to occupy a demonic okiya. Madam Kikumaru had lent her the twelve-layered kimono, determined that her Wandering Lotus would impress and not mess up while performing for an important and frequent client of Hinageshi. Naturally, she'd bedazzled the lord with her sword dance and reciting haikus about her namesake and forlorn love, before she shared the lord's bed and impressed him further.
She bit the inside of her cheek to draw her from that memory.
Now was not the time to think of such unsettling things, not when she had more pressing issues ahead.
When Kagome's eyes connected with Sesshoumaru's she steeled her resolve and her mask of the Wandering Lotus fell into place, locking away the nervous and somewhat frightened teen she used to be. Her posture straightened, her head held high. She stared straight ahead as if she was looking straight through him rather than at him.
The pups growing in her womb and possibly her life hung in the balance.
While she'd trained with her powers over the years, there was no denying Lord Sesshoumaru's overwhelming strength and prowess, a fight between them would be detrimental. Plus, she had to remember, her pregnancy and did not yet know the effects her powers would have on the little ones growing inside of her yet.
"Honorable mother," Sesshoumaru addressed his mother in a emotionless tone, "What brings you to this Sesshoumaru's dwelling and with my bastard, half-brother's wench?"
Kagome took a deep breath, she had to keep her emotions in check, knowing demons could sense and smell them. Even though her brow wanted to twitch at the remark about being Inuyasha's wench and go off on the daiyoukai. She sent up another prayer to all the kamis she could think of to give her strength to endure and make it through this meeting and her pregnancy.
'Yes, just remain calm and composed. I am Hōrō Hasu. I've heard worse comments spoken about my person than being called a wench.'
'Remember the pups,' she reminded herself one last time.
She gave a slight nod of her head in respect, as bowing was not an option.
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Author's Note: To better understand the timeline this is an overview of the story. A.N.D. refers to After Naraku's Defeat, while B.N.D. refers to Before Naraku's death.
Story Timeline
3,500yrs B.N.D. - House of the Crescent Moon, Inukimi's clan ruled the west
1,500yrs B.N.D. - House of the New Moon, Inutaisho's caln comes into power
500yrs B.N.D. - Both Inukimi and Inutaisho unify their houses through a political mating and wage war against Ryūkotsusei's father and his clan. The war lasted nearly 90 years before the successfully killed Ryūkotsusei's father, causing the rest of the clan and Ryūkotsusei to flee with their numbers decimated by the mated couple and their family. They would spend nearly ten years trying to rebuild the damage wrought by the dragon clan, before Inukimi fell pregnant with Sesshoumaru.
400yrs B.N.D. - Sesshoumaru is born
250yrs B.N.D. - Sesshoumaru (14 years old Appearance and mind wise) leaves the Western Sky Palace to live with his Lord Inutaisho and begin training with him.
200yrs B.N.D. - Inuyasha is born and Izayoi revived.
160yrs. B.N.D. - Izayoi dies of old age, leaving Inuyasha alone. Still young child, despite being 40 years old, Inuyasha is thrown out of his mother's birth home. He lives in the wild and fends for himself, until he hears rumors of the Shikon no Tama and goes after it with the intent to become full demon and be accepted by society.
50yrs B.N.D. - Inuyasha is sealed to the Goshinboku by Lady Kikyo and she dies of the wounds by Inuyasha soon thereafter, burning the Shikon no Tama.
3yrs B.N.D. - Kagome is pulled down the well into the past, where she shatters the Shikon no Tama.
Death of Naraku - The same day the final battle is won, Kagome wishes Lady Kikyo and Kohaku back to life. She is made immortal, as well as kidnapped and sold into slavery.
3yrs A.N.D. - Kagome (18 years old) spent 3 years as a servant in a brothel before being sold
5 and 1/2yrs A.N.D. - Kagome worked in a tea house as a serving girl.
9yrs A.N.D. - Kagome was sold to Hinageshi and completed her training as a maiko, becoming Hōrō Hasu aka the Wandering Lotus. Addressed informally as Lotus, or Lotus-san by her 'sisters' of Hinageshi
18yrs A.N.D. - Lord Yomi of the South West, purchases Kagome now Lotus, clearing her debt in exchange for her finding the Gem of Lost of Things to purchase her friend whom Madam Kikumaru would not give up as easily as she would Kagome, who is human and she believe beauty will fade soon not aware that Kagome is immortal or she might not have.
22yrs A.N.D. - Kagome having found the Gem of Lost Things, after finding a way to venture into the netherworld and retrieve it purchases her friend and sees her delivered to Lord Yomi, thereupon being released by the Demon Lord.
24yrs A.N.D. - Traveling the land still under the name Lotus, she comes upon the inu demoness, Tayatsue-hime and through ancient spell has the woman's pups transferred to her womb.
