Chie: Excuses and such will follow later. For now, please enjoy the chapter. –bows-
Chapter four – The unexpected alliance
A week had passed since the day Kagome gave Naoko a piece of her mind and Sesshoumaru still hadn't returned. Kagome still slept in Sesshoumaru's bedroom though, alone, not because she liked to be there but because she knew it would piss the hell out of Naoko and Yoruko. And neither of them could do anything to her any more.
Immunity was an amazing thing.
"Lady Kagome, are you awake?"
"Yes, Takumi, I am."
"A servant is here. Shall I send her in?"
"Please do."
The door slid open and then shut.
"Good morning, milady."
Kagome turned and saw that the servant was on her knees, her forehead touching the floor.
It was the same crow-demoness from before; she had come every morning to dress Kagome.
"Please get up", Kagome gently said. Even though the grovelling and all had its own charm, she still felt awkward most of the time. However, usually she was forced to hide her true feelings, of course she couldn't let her displeasure show. Such a grovelling was only a sign of her heightened position. And She was now fully involved in this little war and she was not going to let Naoko win.
The crow demoness straightened herself.
"Rin-hime picked this up for you, my lady", she said, showing a silver and blue silk kimono.
"Beautiful", Kagome said, smiling to herself. She got up.
A moment later she stepped out of her room fully dressed. The crow-demoness bowed again and hurried to fulfil the rest of her tasks. Kagome turned to look at Takumi, the oldest of the dog demon brothers who now openly were known as her bodyguards.
"I'm going to have a breakfast now. Will you accompany me?"
"Yes, Lady Kagome!"
Kagome smiled and started to walk towards the dining hall, closely followed by Takumi.
The servants they met on their way bowed in respect. Finally they reached the dining hall. Tsuyoshi and Takashi, the two younger inu-brothers, were waiting at the door.
"Good morning, Lady Kagome!"
"Good morning", she replied calmly.
Takashi kneeled down and slid the door open.
Kagome nodded her head in recognition.
Tsuyoshi stepped in first. Kagome came next, followed by Takumi. Takashi slid the door close again and stayed outside in guard.
The persons sitting at the table looked up. Neither of them was surprised to see Kagome enter in such a way anymore. They had all got used to her little guardian dogs.
"Good morning, everyone", Kagome wished, before sitting down between Rin and Mitsuko-san.
It had been a week but to Sesshoumaru it felt as if a decade had passed since he saw Kagome the last time. He had missed the little miko more than he had thought was possible. Since when had he become so dependant of her? It felt as if he wasn't able to completely relax before she was by his side. Her presence alone seemed to lighten up his darkened soul.
It was morning when he arrived at the palace-gates. He had been travelling all night long and was very hungry. Sesshoumaru decided to go to eat before sneaking into his bedroom, hopefully finding Kagome there. He smirked to himself. He would surprise her.
However, in the end it was Sesshoumaru who got the big surprise.
As he approached the dining hall he spotted one of his guards standing by the door in watch. That was odd. Since when were the guards positioned in here?
"Welcome back, Lord Sesshoumaru", the guard briskly said, bowing.
"Why are you standing here, guard?"
"Because I was ordered to, Lord!"
"Who ordered you", Sesshoumaru asked, narrowing his eyes.
"The Lady of the West did, my Lord."
Sesshoumaru bit back a growl. He had known that his mother would take all the authority over the palace the moment he was gone but he had not expect her to go quite as far as ordering his guards around!
"Is the Lady perhaps currently in the dining hall?" Sesshoumaru asked with a feigned calmness.
"Yes, milord. She's eating breakfast with the other ladies."
'Good', Sesshoumaru thought to himself. Mother or not, this time he would let the demoness know her place.
"Open the door", he said coldly.
The guard bowed and opened the door.
Sesshoumaru stepped in.
"Please explain why is my guard – " his icy voice faded away in mid-sentence. His eyes widened, not really believing the sight before him. There, sitting around the square table were indeed the ladies of the west. Yoruko and Naoko were sitting next to each other on the other side and Mitsuko, Rin and Kagome were occupying the opposite one. There were two more guards in this room too, but surprisingly they were sitting behind Kagome.
"What is the meaning of this", Sesshoumaru barked out. He really wanted to hear an explanation.
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome got up, taking two hesitant steps towards him. She was smiling. "We were just having a breakfast. Please join us." She reached her hand out in an inviting gesture.
Sesshoumaru mutely walked up to her, grabbing her outstretched hands into his own. Kagome's smile widened. Rin, also smiling, moved aside so that Kagome could pull Sesshoumaru down to sit next to her.
"Welcome back, Sesshie-kun", his grandmother warmly greeted.
"Welcome back, my lord", Yoruko said with a stiff nod.
"Glad to see you, Sesshoumaru-sama", Rin said cheerily.
"Sesshoumaru", Naoko merely said in acknowledgement.
Kagome was still smiling at him, her hand fleetingly darting out to caress his knee. Then she turned to a maid-servant hovering nearby. "Please bring a new set of dishes for the Lord."
"Right away, my lady", the maid replied with a bow and hurried off.
Sesshoumaru could but stare.
Since when had Kagome behaved in that way? Ordering around the servants with such an ease...
But what she did next really surprised him.
Kagome turned to look at the two guards behind her.
"Tsuyoshi, Takumi, since Lord Sesshoumaru has returned I believe I do not need your assistance anymore. Please go and patrol the lands. Tell Takashi my greetings. Thank you for the good job."
"Yes, Lady Kagome!" The both guards bowed simultaneously, first to her, then to Sesshoumaru.
"Welcome back, Lord Sesshoumaru!"
Then they got up and left the dining hall.
A silence followed their leave.
Sesshoumaru turned to look at the woman sitting next to him like he had never seen her before. Well, maybe he hadn't. Who was this human onna and what had she done to his Kagome?
But the series of surprises didn't end there.
Oh no.
The servant returned, bringing a set of ceramic set of dishes and set the cup and the empty bowl in front of Sesshoumaru. She bowed and left the room.
"Naoko, would you please pass the tea?"
Sesshoumaru's jaw nearly dropped as his mother complied with the miko's request, handing over the tea-kettle.
"Thank you", Kagome said as she took it from her. She poured Sesshoumaru's cup full to the brim.
The rest of the breakfast went on peacefully. Mitsuko and Rin cheerily inquired about Sesshoumaru's trip while Kagome, Naoko and Yoruko ate in silence. The mood could by no means be called a cosy one but the heavy oppressiveness and threat had noticeably lessened even if they weren't completely gone.
How much could things change in a mere week?
The door closed and they were alone. Just the two of them. At last.
Sesshoumaru unceremoniously tossed her onto the mattress. Kagome didn't even have time to gasp before he was hovering over her, his lips firmly pressed against the side of her neck and his hands untying her obi.
Kagome shuddered.
His kisses came up her neck, gently following her slender jaw-line until they finally found her soft lips which were slightly open in anticipation.
His lips determinedly melted against hers and he watched as her lids fluttered over her hazy cerulean orbs, the long black lashes gracing her cheeks.
He pulled back after a while, watching as her eyes slowly opened again. Sesshoumaru laid down next to her, pulling her into his arms.
"I missed you", he whispered while kissing the top of her head.
She chuckled against his chest, her small body trembling because of the delighted laughter. Her hand came to rest on his chest.
"I missed you too."
"It seems quite a lot happened while I was gone", Sesshoumaru dryly remarked.
"Well... Quite a lot, yeah."
"Report to me", he asked, his amber eyes glowing.
"First Naoko came to yell at me on the day you left, barely after I had woken up. I told her to piss off."
"Did you, really?"
"Well not exactly. I placed my words more carefully. Then I had a long and interesting conversation with Mitsuko-san. Then I found out that there was a warrant on my head..."
"A what?" Sesshoumaru barked out with a low growl.
"A reward for my head. Your mother's doing."
"I'll kill her", Sesshoumaru snarled.
"No need to, we have come to an understanding."
"How did that happen?"
"Well, with Takashi's, Tsuyoshi's and Takumi's help I broke into her room – "
"You what?"
" – and had a nice little chat with her. After that we agreed upon a truce. Takumi and his younger brothers became my bodyguards after making an oath of allegiance to me."
"They what?"
"And now everyone's pretty much treating me like I'd be one of the ladies, for some reason."
Sesshoumaru regarded her for a moment with a long, steady stare.
So basically what had happened was that Kagome had turned the whole palace upside down.
"You said you and my mother made a truce?"
"Kind of", Kagome replied thoughtfully. "It's not out in the open anymore. We're not trying direct, physical attacks. It's moved on to psychological stage now."
"Oh Kami", Sesshoumaru groaned. "When will all this idiocy end?"
"This 'idiocy', as you call it, won't end until you finish it! Don't you realise, Sesshoumaru? You are the reason and the motive. Everything is up to no one else but you. What I do, what Naoko will do, what Yoruko might do... All of it is pointless. We can as well spend an eternity here, circling around each other, forming and executing witty plots... But nothing will come out of it; no things will proceed until you stand up and raise your own voice. That's why, Sesshoumaru..."
"I know what you mean, Kagome, I know that you're right. But I can't do it yet."
"But why, Sesshoumaru? What are you afraid of? You're strong enough."
"I'm just not quite ready yet. Let's drop this subject now. I don't want to worry about silly wars when I'm finally with you after our time part."
A little disappointed, Kagome let the subject drop. Her disappointment vanished a few moments later, as Sesshoumaru presumed his earlier attention to her lips.
"Now what is this", a brown-haired wolf-demon drawled on, a smug smirk on the corner of her lips. "Glance along this way, my dear Kanami and tell me that my eyes are not failing me."
The kitsune turned around, a mocking grin twisting her features as she saw who had just stepped in.
"My lovely Lady Yoruko! What gives me this honour?"
There, in the middle of the concubine's quarters stood defiantly Yoruko, honoured Lord Sesshoumaru's mate. The contrast between her royal appearance and the looks of the mere concubines was great. She glared at the lowly concubines who were all gathered to one side of the room, clad in simple light-coloured yukatas, sitting on the silken cushions.
The woman who had spoken before got up. Yoruko recognised her; she was Kanami, the fox-demoness often referred to as the 'Onee-san' of the concubines.
Determination flowing through her body, Yoruko's hands clenched into fists and she set her jaw.
"I'm here to offer a truce."
"You finally have forsaken that pride of yours?" Kanami smirked and crossed her arms across her chest.
"I'll never throw my pride away", Yoruko retorted, coldly glaring at Kanami. "I am fully aware that this feeling of hostility is mutual. I couldn't be happier if I got rid of all of you lowly whores..."
".. And we couldn't be happier if we got rid of you spoiled little ass of a princess. So why would we want a truce with you?"
"Because I believe it is time we put aside our mutual feelings of hate towards each other. I believe there is someone you all detest even more than me."
Kanami's eyes narrowed.
"I assure that I hate that same person more than all of you combined", Yoruko said with a little snarl.
"Still, why would we form a truce with you? I think the best course of action is to sit and wait. Naoko-sama will surely get rid of that nuisance, no matter what."
"You're wrong."
This time it was Yoruko who smiled, it was a cold little smile full of scorn. Kanami bit her lip in annoyance. Her green eyes were blazing.
"Explain – !"
"Naoko's hands are bound. She's now powerless against Kagome."
"What? How did this happen?"
"We all underestimated her", Yoruko said. "She turned three of the palace guards to her own side, using them as bodyguards. I heard that she had a talk with Naoko during which the agreed upon a truce. How exactly she did that, I do not know. But it is clear that Naoko can't do anything to drive her out anymore."
"Damn it", Kanami snarled, feeling more and more pissed off as the minutes passed by.
"That is why I have come here now. We hate each other, but we hate that ningen onna even more. If Naoko will just sit and watch, it is time for us to take the matter into our own hands."
Kanami regarded the lord's mate for awhile in silence. Then she took a few steps forward, reaching out her hand.
"I accept your offer of a truce."
Yoruko smirked.
"Servant, bring us a bottle of sake and two cups."
Yoruko and Kanami sat down onto the opposite sides of the little tray set onto the floor. They both were holding a cup of sake in their hands.
"Alliance", Yoruko simply said, raising her cup to the level of her eyes.
"Alliance", Kanami agreed for once without any scorn or mock.
With all the other concubines witnessing the newly formed unexpected union, the two strong-willed, arrogant women downed their saké as one.
Rin glanced up from her flower-arranging and looked at the older woman sitting by the open shoji-door giving to the garden.
The scroll the miko had been reading earlier was now lying forgotten in her lap as she gazed into the garden lost in her thoughts.
"What is it, Kagome-sama", she asked quietly.
The woman startled and quickly glanced at the young hime.
"It's nothing, Rin-chan."
"Doesn't seem like it", the old dog demoness said taking part in the conversation. "You seem to be worried."
Kagome gave a little sigh.
The great Inu no Taisho's mother was also in the room, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. Her wise bright eyes were locked on the chosen mate of her grandson.
"What is troubling your mind, child?"
"I have a bad feeling", she replied, turning back to look over at the garden.
"Bad feeling about what", Rin asked in alarm.
"It's like the calm before the storm", the miko replied. Somehow she seemed different to her usual self. She was more alert and serious as if she was mentally getting ready for a battle.
Well, in these circumstances Mitsuko wouldn't be surprised the slightest if she actually was.
Kagome finally turned to look at the old demoness.
"Something is about to happen."
The tone of her voice was grave, but that wasn't what amazed Mitsuko.
It was her eyes, cerulean blue and deep as the ocean, speaking of a silent determination.
The eyes of one who has once nearly lost one's life in a battle. The eyes of a warrior.
"This isn't going to work", Rei, Kagome's only friend among the concubines furiously declared.
"Hmh, I'm certain it will", Kanami replied arrogantly.
Rei hissed and tried once again in vain to struggle against the chains binding her down.
"You can't bring her down as easily as this", Rei insisted.
"Somebody silence her already", Yoruko barked out. "The bitch should be here any minute."
Yoruko and Kanami were standing beside the bound cat demon in the great hall of the usually unused Eastern Wing. Behind the three were anxiously waiting the rest of the concubines, ready to fight.
The shoji screen was pushed open.
"Rei...?"
"Kagome! It's a trap!" the cat demon shouted out in desperation.
The figure standing in the doorway froze.
"Get her", Kanami snarled.
A bat demoness, wolf-demoness and snake twins charged forward.
Kagome stepped into the dimly lit hall.
"I see", the human woman said to herself with a soft sigh. Then with one fluid motion she pulled out two ten inches long ornamented needles that had kept her heavy ebony locks in place on the complicated traditional style. Her bluish tinted long hair fell down to grace her back as she extended herself into a fighting position, holding the two long sharp hair-needles in either hand like daggers.
"Without a weapon she stands no chance", Yoruko said triumphantly under her breath.
"You're wrong", Rei retorted stubbornly.
As the four demonesses were closing in on Kagome the long slender silvery needles began to glow on the purest azure tint.
"Think we forgot something, Kanami?"
"I think we did", the kitsune spat out.
All of them had blissfully forgotten one simple detail.
Kagome was not any human; she was a human who had holy powers.
"I told you that you were wrong", Rei exclaimed with glee.
Kanami bit her lip and Yoruko snarled.
Kagome dodged easily the first attack made by the bat youkai. With one needle she stopped the wolf youkai's punch aimed at her face. The demoness cried out in pain as the holy powers loaded to the needles attacked, burning her hand.
The wolf demoness held her injured, now useless, hand tightly against her chest and fell back.
The snake twins attacked next. With a graceful move Kagome stabbed each with her hair needle.
The silver items clanked as they hit the floor, lying on top of steaming piles of ash that had few moments earlier been two demonesses.
Kagome raised her gaze and smirked.
There was something in her eyes that alerted Kanami.
"Ne, Yoruko... The war some years ago where our lord took part in..."
"The war of Shikon? What about it?"
"Wasn't there rumoured to be a miko?"
"The un-dead one? Former guardian of Shinkon no Tama and Inuyasha's lover?"
"No. There was another one. What was her name?"
Yoruko frowned.
"The new guardian of Shikon no Tama, legendary Midoriko's reincarnation?"
"Yes, that one. What was her name?"
"I believe it was something that started with K..."
The demonesses both suddenly glanced at each other.
Realisation was clearly written onto their faces.
"The guardian of the Shikon no Tama, eh?" A dark voice drawled in. "Looks like finally you have found something interesting..."
Kanami turned around and saw a tall woman with long jet-black hair. A smirk slowly spread onto her lips.
"Step forward, Michi. There's finally an opponent worthy of you", Kanami stated with a purr.
Kagome looked at the tall woman called Michi who was now steadily walking towards her. Unlike the other concubines, Michi was dressed in simple red haori and black hakamas. Kagoma also noted the katana strapped to her waist and couldn't help but to be reminded of a samurai.
This one wasn't just any concubine of Sesshoumaru's. This one was a fighter. How such a creature had ever ended up into Sesshoumaru's harem, Kagome could but wonder.
"Michi from the black dragon-clan", the demoness said as she drew out her sword. Kagome swallowed. This could end up pretty badly.
Gracefully the dragoness launched herself into an attack. Kagome, now completely unarmed, jumped out of the way as the shining sword slashed through the air.
This was very bad. She didn't have any weapon to defend herself with, against this experienced warrior who was a dragon youkai nonetheless. Dragon demons were known for their thick protective skin and their incredible strength.
Had not Sesshoumaru's own father, the great Inu no taisho perished due to his battle against the dragon Ryuukotsusei?
Kagome heaved a sigh and concentrated to gather her powers into her hands. Now she didn't have anything through which canal her holy powers. She could use her powers even without canalling them, but that way it put a strain on herself. That was why she avoided it as much as possible. Right now though she did not have any other choice.
The next attack took her off guard. Kagome hissed as the blade painfully sank into her skin. It was gone as quickly as it had come. Red blood was starting to stain the shoulder of the silken kimono.
Kanami laughed out gleefully.
Sesshoumaru abruptly looked up from the documents he had been going through. Something was off right now, his senses told him that. An odd restlessness tugged his soul and he got up, abandoning the important documents. Not really knowing what he should do the inu taiyoukai walked over to the door and stepped into the light-filled corridor. For a moment he wandered aimlessly about. And then it finally reached him. The faint sweet scent he had experienced before. Kagome's blood.
Sesshoumaru abruptly turned around and started to run towards the eastern wing as fast as he just could.
Kagome stood helpless before the dragoness, panting to herself and squeezing her bleeding right shoulder. Still her blue eyes shone of defiance. Even if she was about to killed, she would not show a pitiful expression. That was the decision she had made before the final battle in the war of Shikon. Unyielding, she watched the dragoness charge forward. And then suddenly she saw a white blur from the corner of her eye. Next thing she knew was that Sesshoumaru stood protectively before her. The dragon youkai's katana dropped onto the floor as the taiyoukai picked her up by her throat like a bug.
The relief Kagome felt was immense. Her knees gave in and she fell to the floor.
Kanami and Yoruko stared at the taiyoukai before them, jaws dropped. Neither of them had ever seen the Lord that angry.
"What is the meaning of this?"
His voice was cold and demanding.
No one dared to reply.
He tossed the dragon youkai to the ground and glared at everyone in the room, his gaze finally settling in Kanami and Yoruko.
"Make this the last try if you value your life."
Then Sesshoumaru picked the miko up and left the room.
The concubines mutely stared at his retreating back, filled with fear. His threatening aura still lingered in the room, heavily oppressing, making it hard to breathe.
"What happened?"
The old dog demoness hurried over to the futon on which the miko was resting.
"She got attacked. This is a stab-wound from a katana. I know of your healing skills so I immediately brought her to you."
Mitsuko nodded, looking at her grandson.
"Now, step aside, Sesshou-kun. Let me work."
Sesshoumaru sat down on his knees, looking from the side as his grandmother started mixing some herbs together.
"It doesn't hurt that much, really", Kagome meekly tried to assure.
"Quiet down, my child. You'll see that you won't even get a scar of this, I promise."
Kagome smiled to herself and turned her head to look at Sesshoumaru.
"Don't blame yourself. There was nothing you could do. You saved my life for the second time today, I'm truly grateful."
Her smile was dazzling and Sesshoumaru indeed forgot the blame that had started to build inside of himself. Her smile washed away all of his negative feelings, it cleansed him and made him pure.
Kagome lay quietly on her place as Mitsuko spread the herb-mixture over her wound.
Suddenly the door was slid open and a servant burst in.
All three heads turned to look at the servant who swallowed and bowed his head in shame.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother milord on such a moment..."
"Tell me", Sesshoumaru simply said. "What is it?"
"The word just reached us from the Northern mountains – "
"Northern mountains?" Mitsuko gasped. Could it be..?
"The heir passed away last night."
Kagome watched in puzzlement at the shocked faces of the two inu youkais. What was happening now?
Chie: Yes. I know. It's late.
No, scratch that. It's later than late.
My humblest apologies for posting yet another chapter late. I really am hopeless, huh? –sighs-
If you do not wish to hear (read) any stupid excuses, please skip/ignore the following italicised text.
During the past month I've survived of a week full of course exams, some weeks of break and lastly but not least, the finals. Now I'm completely done with my high school, even though the formal graduation won't be 'til June. Also, I finished this chapter several weeks ago. The beta-ing however took some time. I'm not blaming the Dah, mind you. She had all her exams as well, course exams and finals. Other reasons for being late were slacking off (yes, I admit it) and the extra attention I had to pay to TT (which also was greatly delayed). Hmh. No more excuses to offer to you. Feel free to judge me. –bows-
In any case, I wanted to share with you one remark I just realised while writing one scene in this chapter. Sesshoumaru's mate Yoruko really reminds me of the character Hatsumomo from Arthur Golden's novel 'Memoirs of a geisha'. I swear to you it was not intentional O.o I only realised that just now. :S Well, it's bye-bye for now. 'Til we see again. –waves-