Hi there Caleesci here! I hope you are all doing wonderful! Here is another chapter for Of Slaughter and Salvation, Developing Relations. Please let me know what you think! I promise a lot more action is coming up soon!
And as always, I hope you enjoy.
(Also, I have not stated this yet, but all the Inuyasha characters are not mine J. )
Sesshomaru sat at the base of a tree, one leg outstretched while the other bent at the knee. Rin and Jaken had long since fallen asleep, their soft, and in Jaken's case loud, snores dulled into the background as his mind drifted off to his problem at hand. His curse was something heavily guarded. None except his closest of kin knew about the curse, and most of them had passed away or vanished. Sesshomaru closed his eyes and pushed those thoughts away, not having the control over his still furious beast to pursue that road. Instead he shifted his thoughts to what he would do about his human charge. The evil within him had already proved that when it managed to take control, it locked Sesshomaru and his beast up so tightly that he had no influence over its actions. No matter how he tried, he was not able to overpower it. Losing control to his curse was not a common occurrence, once every few months at best. However it used to be once every few years. Sesshomaru could always predict its occurrences too, for a familiar stirring of power would well within him and he would literally feel three auras clash. The first, and ultimately the strongest, was his own youkai. The two other presences were less distinct, but he knew that one aura was the evil that he housed within him, and the third was the power within his pelt. Absently his hand reached up to stroke the fur.
"That feels oddly nice doesn't it?" A shimmer of white appeared next to him. Sesshomaru cracked one eye open to glare at the offending spirit. "Though, if you truly think on it you are stroking a man, even if he is connected to your youkai now." The spirit sat beside him, his form shimmery and translucent. Though he had little color, Sesshomaru knew that it was because the spirit next to him was similar to him with his white hair, pale skin, and crescent moon upon his brow. Though in contrast to Sesshomaru, the spirit had blue eyes with a sharp piercing look and a single blue stripe marring each cheek.
"Still as silent as ever, Sesshomaru." The spirit said. Blue eyes traveled to the moon, and his gaze seemed to harden. "I wonder what the gods will do about you. The more he kills the stronger he gets. Soon he may take control of you completely." At that Sesshomaru did respond, sending a warning growl to the man.
"This Sesshomaru will not lose control." He snarled at the offending spirit.
"I pray that is the case, but at the rate things progress now it seems unlikely. You must decide soon what to do with young Rin. She may be safest in your care, but in his she is at her greatest danger." The spirit paused in his words, letting them sink in to the inuyoukai next to him. "I suppose this whole circumstance is my fault. I was meant to kill you, and I did not." He continued. Sesshomaru snorted lightly at that.
"You did not because you could not."
"This is true have you decided what to do with the young human girl?" Sesshomaru felt annoyance rise within him.
"Why do you desire to know?"
"I am quite fond of her, as are you. It would seem only natural I worry for her safety."
"I will protect her."
"From him? How can you possibly protect her from him? He is you after all."
"He is not me." Sesshomaru snarled, his patience wearing thin.
"No he is not, just as I am not you either."
"You are a part of me, he is not."
"I suppose that is true, since I am now fused with you. I find it odd how I am different from my former self yet still the same. Odd how one ages yes?" The spirit signed, his eyes fixated on some unknown point on the ground. "You must hide her, Sesshomaru. When he releases his control and you return to normal, it will crush you if he kills her. Put her somewhere safe, with someone you trust."
"It would matter little, if he found her he would kill whomever I have left her with."
"You forget, Sesshomaru, that he is still far weaker than you. Perhaps someone you know that has an affinity for collecting human females, as you so delicately put it. You know the one whom I must say you look remarkably similar too." Sesshomaru's eyes held a crimson tint as he turned his furious gaze to the spirit. The spirit bowed his head in submission, but not before shooting him an amused smirk. After a moment of silence, blue eyes traveled back to the moon, followed closely by gold. There they sat in silence until the spirit next to him began to shimmer. His presence began to fade, but before he was gone all together, he turned his gaze back to Sesshomaru.
"You know Sesshomaru, that outfit… it really does not suit you."
She smiled at him coyly, her beauty unparalleled by any in the land. She gazed at him with lust and admiration, her full pouty lips parting lightly at let forth her ethereal voice.
"Oh you brave, handsome man, serving Sesshomaru-dono so loyally. You are a youkai of exceptional power, Jaken-sama." She moved then, lifting herself off the rock she had been lounging upon. Her kimono slipped then, revealing the delicate flesh of her shoulder to him. Jaken puffed out his chest, giving her a superior smirk.
"Yes, I am the lord's most trusted companion and his most loyal advisor, for I am…"
"Jaken-sama! Rin made you a present!" Cold reality crashed down upon the poor youkai who leapt from his spot.
"Jaken-sama were you having a bad dream? You were making funny noises." Rin asked, her innocent look peering up at her keeper. Bulbous eyes bulged even further, and his face turned different shades of purple.
"Why you filthy little brat! How dare you imply that I, Sesshomaru-sama's most trusted…"
"Jaken-sama I made you flowers!" Rin plopped the wreath of flowers over her keeper's head, effectively silencing the toad's squawking. A far off, pitiful look crossed over Jaken's face and he hung his head in depression.
"Why me?" He mumbled pitifully to himself.
"Jaken, Rin." Sesshomaru's smooth voice interrupted Jaken's pity party, and the toad looked up with pure admiration in his eyes.
"Yes my great Sesshomaru-sama, what can this humble and loyal servant do for you?"
"Come." Jumping up with renewed vigor, the toad hurriedly rushed after his lord, carrying the staff of two heads in his hands. The lumbering behind him signified Ah-Un followed behind with a happy Rin atop its back.
"Sesshomaru-sama, are we going someplace special?"
"Edo."
"Eh? Inuyasha's forest Sesshomaru-sama? Are you finally going to kill the halfbreed?" A look of evil passed over the toad's face and a cackle of the same caliber fell forth from his beaky lips.
"Sesshomaru-sama! That means Rin will get to see Kagome-san!" The young girl gave her trademark gap-tooth smile. Jaken grumbled something about indecent wenches but Rin paid him no mind. Sesshomaru glanced back at his entourage and gathered his youkai beneath him. Jaken hurried to stand behind his lord just as the cloud lifted to the sky. Ah Uh unleashed their great wings, spreading them wide and giving a mighty flap. A squeal of excitement urged them on as the young girl perched preciously on their back bounced in excitement. Taking off was always her favorite part.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the purple robed man in front of him, as if trying to decipher his very soul. Sango felt an unusual pang within her chest, not sure why she was so affected by Miroku's suggestion.
"And why should you stay here?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. Miroku had approached them and informed them that he wished to remain behind with Kagome. Needless to say, the suggestion was not as well received by the hanyou as Miroku would have liked.
"Inuyasha, my desire to stay comes in the form of many reasons. First, Kagome-san is quite upset with you for your rather careless words. It would be detrimental to have us all go and leave her. Second, I wish to discuss in more detail the happenings surrounding the village's attack with Yuki. I do not know why, but something is churning within me at this unsolved puzzle. I feel there is a piece that I am missing, a piece that may be able to help me unravel some of the mystery shrouding this event. I know we discussed the possibility of Naraku being behind this, but it just does not fit. And my final reason is that there should be some protection here for Kagome-san and this village. The demon that did this is still at large. It would be foolhardy to leave Kagome behind to save her the pain of having to see the village, only to leave her to the same fate." Miroku's voice was hard, but not too harsh. He wanted to leave no room for argument amongst them.
"But hoshi-sama, I could always stay with Kagome…" Sango started.
"You got a thing for Kagome don't you! Your dirty perverted bastard!" Inuyasha shouted, pointing a finger at the offending monk. Sango whipped her head from Inuyasha to Miroku, then back to Inuyasha. Though she knew Inuyasha was just having one of his jealous rages, Sango secretly wanted to hear the monk deny it.
"It wouldn't matter if I did Inuyasha, Kagome-san is a free woman," His eyes suddenly turned dark and fiery and he leveled his gaze upon the hanyou who suddenly shrunk at the look. "Remember?" Inuyasha blinked, resisting the urge to fidget under the glare. Sheesh! When did Miroku become so scary!
"Um, hoshi-sama, are you alright?" Sango asked, still looking from Inuyasha to Miroku.
"I thought you guys were leaving?" They turned to Kagome, and Inuyasha's jaw hit the floor. He turned his offending figure towards her, his eyes wide.
"Wha…wha… take that off Kagome!" Kagome stood, her hair down and flowing in the gentle breeze. She was dressed in the traditional robes of her miko.
"Inuyasha, did you just tell Kagome-san to take her clothes off?" Miroku could not help but say, sending the hanyou into angry red sputters.
"Do not worry Kagome-san, there has been a change in plans, I will be staying here with you. There are some things that require my attention here." Miroku added smoothly. He moved towards the still confused Sango and took her hands gently in his.
"Do not worry Sango; I will have you in my heart while you are gone." She gave him an uneasy smile, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the events.
"Keh fine. Let's go Sango, with just us it should only take a week to get to the village, check it out, and return. As soon as we get back we are going right back on hunting for shards got it!" Inuyasha snapped, still trying not to look at Kagome. She looked so much like Kikyou it was making unwanted feelings rise within him. He suddenly felt the overwhelming need to leave.
"Good Luck Sango, Inuyasha! Have a safe trip!" Kagome called to them as she waved. What Miroku had said to her in the hut had made her truly feel much better. She turned her smile back to Miroku, thankful that he chose to stay with her. Sango saw the smile, and suddenly felt a little less confident in her former opinion of Inuyasha's insanity.
'Hoshi-sama.' She thought wistfully. Turning back to the path ahead of her, Sango urged Kiarra faster to catch up with Inuyasha.
Naraku stood against the frame of the door, his eyes closed as if he were deep in thought. His lips were in his usual soft smile, one that Kagura had learned to be weary of. In truth, Naraku was a handsome man with his chestnut brown hair that fell in lush waves down his back and his warm colored complexion. His words dripped with honey covered venom, luring you in unknowingly with their sweetness, and then destroying you from within before you could even taste the bitterness.
"Destroyed you say?" Came that sugary sweet voice that sent shivers down her spine. Distaste and distrust curled within her and she forced it down in hopes he would not see it. His smile widened ever so slightly, proving to her that he did indeed see it.
"Yes. Buy a demon, or so I heard..."
"So Inuyasha and his team have separated? What a wonderful surprise. The miko remains at the village then?" His eyes opened and the glee found shining within their depths bordered on ecstasy.
"With the damn hoshi and the kitsune." The smile widened ever more, revealing shining white fangs.
"I want her." Kagura snapped her fan shut, knowing that he had just given her an order. She backed out of the room, not wishing to see the hungry look upon his face any longer.
"Kagome, sweet little Kagome, I shall have you yet, and the jewel shards you carry." Naraku whispered aloud.
Yuki and Kyosu sat beside Miroku, their eyes widening in awe of the monk as he recounted stories of his adventures with Inuyasha and the group. Shippou would chime in with his view, sometimes transforming to act out the different stories. Kagome laughed along with them at some of the memories as she worked on some of her homework. Miroku was careful to leave out the scarier ones, such as the battles with Narkau. The children were already terrified of demons and he did not wish to taint their feelings more. Instead, he focused on the more humorous and heroic stories, such as the ones involving Inuyasha and his eternal battle with Kouga the wolf prince over Kagome's heart.
"Kagome-sama," Kyosu asked shyly, the six year old still nervous around the pretty miko. "Are you really going to marry the wolf?"
"Kouga is just a friend, but I do not see anything wrong with marrying a demon as long as he is kind."
"Yeah, Kagome would be better off mating a demon since she always draws so much trouble!" Shippou added, crossing his arms over his chest to make him seem more adult. "A human couldn't protect her well enough!" Kagome gave Shippou a withering look.
"Won't he eat you?" Kagome gave him a sheepish smile and a light laugh.
"Kyosu-kun, he is not going to eat me." She said gently.
"Well, not in a bad way." Miroku said, earning a shocked glare from Kagome and three confused faces from the Shippou and the boys.
"There is a good way to eat someone?" Yuki asked.
"Miroku! Ahhh no no, oh do you want to hear a story about um powerful robots that transform into cars!" She said nervously. Not only did she get blank looks from Yuki, Kyosu and Shippou, but now Miroku was looking at her oddly. "Uhhh I mean about… umm InuTaisho-sama! He was the leader of the Inuyoukai and was the most powerful demon to ever live!" The boys seemed nervous at the mention of a powerful demon, but at least they forgot about the subject Miroku had mentioned.
"Oh no, don't worry Yuki-kun and Kyosu-kun, InuTaisho was a kind youkai, he even married a human!" She began telling them of some of the stories Myoga had told Inuyasha about his father. After a few tails, the young boy's eyes were wide with hero worship.
"Wow, Inuyasha-san is InuTaisho-sama's son? So does that mean he is the ruler of the west too?" Yuki asked. Kagome laughed at that thought.
"He doesn't seem like a lord, he seems grumpy." Kyosu added, frowning a little.
"Ha! Inuyasha is the Lord of Grumpiness!" Shippou added, transforming into an image of Inuyasha and started jumping around shouting like the hanyou often did. The group laughed at that.
"Inuyasha has a very powerful older brother named Sesshomaru-sama. He is the lord of the West." Miroku clarified. "He is a full blooded Youkai and quite the formidable warrior."
"Is he nice too?" Kyosu asked.
"Umm, well he isn't evil." Kagome said tentatively. "He saved me once, from an evil poison master who was trying to force me to marry him!"
"Are you going to marry him Kagome-san?" Kyosu asked. Kagome's face fell and she gave a dumbfounded Eh!
"Well if he saved you, doesn't that mean he loves you? That's what father always said you protect the ones you love." Yuki quoted wisely.
"Eh, I think Sesshomaru-sama only saved me because the poison master was in his way." Kagome added sheepishly. Miroku watched as Kagome laughed with the boys, her genuine kindness shining through like a diamond in the sun. It was this essence, this exact trait that Miroku was trying so hard to protect. She was his reason, his proof that future held great things. He couldn't help but picture Kagome, surrounded by dark haired blue eyes children of her own. He wondered then, would they have little doggy ears too? He knew that Inuyasha had successfully burned the bridge to Kagome's heart, for it had been him she had run into as she attempted to flee back to her era. She had cried to him them, poured out her soul to him. That was the first time he saw a crack in that warmth shell around her. She cried about how she was nothing compared to her predecessor. The inferiority that she felt about herself was slowly destroying the woman they all cherished. He loved Inuyasha, but he had never felt more furious at the hanyou. With the hanyou's uncalled for words a few hours back when they had been discussing the village, Miroku had seen that crack spread. When he had seen those tears gathering in her eyes, he vowed then to do everything in his power to mend that crack.
"Shippou, why don't you take Yuki and Kyosu to Kaede's hut and show them the crayons Kagome-san has brought you." Kagome gave Miroku a questioning gaze but said nothing. Shippou jumped up excitedly rushing the two boys towards the hut, all while shouting excitedly about magic sticks called crayons.
"Everything all right Miroku?" She asked as the children disappeared from sight.
"Kagome," He started, once again dropping his normal honorific. "I was hoping to speak with you about the way you have been changing." Kagome seemed a little surprised as this was clearly not what she had expected.
"Huh? What do you mean? Oh, you mean about Inuyasha?" Kagome dropped her head, shame seeming to engulf her.
"Yes, well, in a way. Kagome please listen to what I have to say." He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her eyes to stare into his. "You have had a mindset lately that I do not approve of. Let me start by saying you are a woman of greatness. You are kinder than any soul I have met, and your beauty still captivates me, and you are far beyond Intelligent…"
"Well I am not really, I am just from 500 years in the future so what's common sense to me is god like to you guys." She joked, giving him one of those smiles, the kind that made his heart race and worries disappear.
"Quiet cricket, now listen." Kagome made an unusual face at the nickname but he knew he had her undivided attention. "You are a rare treasure, even in your own time of that I am sure. But you have been led to believe otherwise and I will not stand for it anymore. Never have I sensed such raw power in a miko or a hoshi before. You doubt your abilities, but that is wrong! Don't you see it? You are not just a miko from the future, you are the Shikon Miko, and not only that, but the Shikon no Tama was within you. Kikyou is strong, and do not flinch at the name for she can hold nothing to you." Miroku scolded her before continuing. "Allow me to train you. I can teach you to hone your abilities." He had not expected to offer to train her, the words slipping out without him even thinking it. Her eyes widened and her mouth parted slightly.
"You would train me? Really?" The hope and gratitude shined from her eyes and Miroku felt happy. He nodded and was completely unprepared as Kagome launched herself into his arms.
"Thank you! Thank your Miroku! I promise I will try really hard to make you proud!" Miroku laughed lightly, patting her on the head.
"Do not worry Kagome, now how about we go have some dinner? We can start first thing tomorrow morning."
That night Kagome was tossing and turning in her bedroll, her body covered in a fine layer of sweat. She felt like small strikes of electricity spark against her skin. She let out a soft moan as the tingling sensation grew stronger. She opened her eyes, giving up on sleep. She knew that aura; it crackled against hers like lightning to metal. She sat up, blushing lightly as Miroku's eyes connected with hers from his area against the wall.
"You sense it too huh?" He asked. Kagome nodded.
"It seems stronger than normal. The only time it's ever felt that strong was when he transformed and attacked Inuyasha at their father's grave.
"Yes, Sesshomaru is rather… unguarded tonight it would seem. He will be here within 10 minutes I would guess."
"I wonder why." She climbed out of her bedroll deciding to change into something a little more suitable to greet Sesshomaru. Her hello kitty shorts and cami pajamas just did not seem like an acceptable option. As she left the room, Miroku looked upwards.
"Thank you, future fashion." He whispered. He wished he could get Sango to wear things like that, just thinking of it made his hand twitch. Oh how he would love to grope her but with those 'shorts' on.
Kagome reappeared dressed in the miko garbs she had taken to wearing when in Kaede's village. She felt a tremor pass through her body as his youkai brushed against her miko powers, creating a delicious spark. Kagome did not know why, but Sesshomaru's aura always did this to her. Just the sheer power behind it was impressively terrifying.
"He is here." Shippou answered, coming to rest atop her shoulder. Miroku stood beside Kagome and fought back the feeling to hide her behind him. Kaede stood on the other side of Kagome, her lips pursed into thin lines, a sure sign of her confusion. As Sesshomaru stepped into the clearing, Kagome could not help but let her jaw drop. There, standing in all his regal glory was Sesshomaru. Instead of his fine white silks he stood in an outfit very familiar to her. He wore the very same style outfit as Inuyasha. The exact same one. Kagome briefly wondered if he killed Inuyasha and took it for himself, but then realized that there was no possible way as Inuyasha was much shorter than his brother. Sesshomaru sensed her stare and flared his youkai in annoyance. Kagome quickly closed her mouth, blushing lightly.
"Honorable Sesshomaru-dono, what is it that ye seek from us? Is it Inuyasha?" Kaede asked. Sesshomaru turned his gaze to the elderly miko; his cold gaze seemed less guarded than normal as well.
"Miko," this time he turned his gaze Kagome. "Where is Inuyasha?"
Kagome felt a bud of fear bloom but bowed lightly none the less. "Sesshomaru-dono, Inuyasha left the village this afternoon to investigate a village that had been destroyed by a youkai." When she looked up, she thought she saw Sesshomaru flinch ever so slightly at her words.
"Then you, as his intended, shall take over for him. I have sought to leave my ward, my retainer, and my steed in your protection." Kagome's jaw dropped once again, her mind going through a whirlwind of emotions. Intended? Leave Rin? What? Then it hit her. The village, he knew something. He had to know something, that village had been right on the border of his lands! Sesshomaru turned from her, ignoring the indignant gawk of his retainer, who apparently had the same issue as Kagome with keeping his mouth from hitting the floor. Kagome reached forward.
"Wait, Sesshomaru-dono!" Her fingers gently grabbed on to the pelt at his shoulder when suddenly the world flashed a brilliant white.
Love,
Caleesci
