Whisper

By: akemiryuu

Summary: Having been promised to one of the princes of the west, Kagome has finally been given the chance to meet her soon-to-be mate. The eastern lord gave her a choice of taking one other person with her. The person she had chosen was sure to make hell freeze over.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha characters!!! I own plot and made up characters!!

Chapter 8 Falling Further

Tonari sat before them as she tried her best to keep the tears from falling again. It was so hard for her to tell them that Hanayoshin wasn't going to live long enough to see their happy lives flourish. She took in a deep breath and then straightened in her seat. She met their anxious gazes. She stopped when she reached Sesshomaru's. Somehow, she had found herself loving him. She felt like she wanted to mate with Sesshomaru but her mind was telling her that she was wrong to love him when he clearly loved Hanayoshin. She couldn't help but be jealous at her sister for receiving Sesshomaru's love. She sighed and closed her eyes. "It was two years after the war between Naraku and my father had ended when Hanayoshin came to me," she began.

xXxXx

Tonari sat in front of her mirror brushing her long hair. She heard a soft knock on her door and went to open it. She gasped when she saw Hanayoshin standing before her. "Good evening, Hana-chan," she said. She moved to let her in.

Hanayoshin nodded and entered her room. She sat down on the chair beside the bed as Tonari climbed on the bed and sat before her. Hanayoshin watched her fiddle with her hair as her eyes roamed the room.

"Are you nervous?" she asked so suddenly.

Tonari turned to her. "A little bit. You've never called for me before," she said.

Hanayoshin nodded. "Forgive me for making it seem as though I do not care for you," she said full heartedly.

Tonari shook her head in surprise. "No, that intension never crossed my mind. I know how busy you are managing the entire northern lands," she said.

Hanayoshin nodded. "I hope that the maids are treating you well," she said.

Tonari nodded. "They are."

There was a long pause both barely saying a word. Hanayoshin was debating over telling her of the information the healer had just given her. Tonari was merely too nervous to say anything.

Hanayoshin sighed making her turned to her. "I just returned from seeing Kaeda," she said.

Tonari nodded. "How was the check up?"

"It went well."

"How is Kaeda?"

"Well."

Tonari nodded. "There's more isn't there?"

Hanayoshin nodded slowly. "Yes."

Tonari brought her knees up to her face as she pulled her knees into her chest. She sighed. "Is it about me?"

Hanayoshin shook her head. "Quite the opposite."

Tonari looked at her in shock. "What do you mean?"

Hanayoshin stood up and walked over to the opened window. "Do you remember what Father told you about the poison within miasma?"

Tonari nodded. "Father said that the poison is a mixture of dark magic and demon blood. Once a demon is exposed to it, the demon is possessed, corrupted and becoming a carrier for a weaker demon or eaten from the inside out."

Hanayoshin nodded. "What happens when the miasma has completely entered the blood stream?"

"The blood carries it to the heart of the demon and slowly begins to eat away at it. As the years go by, the miasma within the body grows stronger and stronger until it completely takes over the body."

"How would you get rid of the miasma?"

"You have to cut yourself open and have water blessed by a priestess to purify the miasma before it spreads."

"What happens after that?"

"After that, the demon has to be in bed resting for the next year or so before moving again. The demon must no be exposed to the miasma a second time for if that happens, the miasma cannot be purified unless by the same priestess from before."

Hanayoshin nodded. She turned to face her. "You have been paying attention."

Tonari pouted. "Of course I pay attention!!!"

Hanayoshin smiled. Tonari beamed at her smile. She smiled back. Hanayoshin's smile faded. "Tonari," she whispered suddenly serious.

Tonari's face suddenly fell from happy to concern. "Hana-chan, is something wrong?"

She sighed. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to tell you this," she said. She turned to face the window as Tonari started to move towards her.

"Hana-chan?"

"Tonari, I am infected," she said.

Tonari flinched. She stared at her back completely shocked. "What?"

"Kaeda told me that during battle with Naraku, he had injected miasma into our bodies to weaken us enough to kill us. Because his plan back fired, he used miasma to hide his scent. We were all sniffing it while he searched for him. During the last battle, he hit me from behind injecting a large portion of miasma into my body. He wanted to weaken me enough to escape. When Tatsuke pushed me away from him and out of the battle, Naraku attacked them while they were weak. Naraku disappeared after that."

Tonari was speechless. She couldn't say a word. She watched her sister turn. For the first time since the war, Tonari saw emotions flash in her sister's face. Guilt, guilt and pain were written all over her face. Tonari felt her heart skip a beat when she saw a lone tear trail down her cheek.

"Forgive me Tonari. I couldn't save them. I couldn't bring one of them back with me to watch over you while this poison ate through me." Hanayoshin said as she lowered her head while she kneeled before her.

Tonari rushed to her. She embraced her. "Hana-chan, don't say that. We'll always be together no matter what. Always."

xXxXx

"Ever since that day, I have been keeping a close eye on her," she said.

Kagome was on the verge of tears. "Is that why…" she trailed off.

Tonari nodded. "That is why she made me Sesshomaru's intended," she whispered.

Now he understood. All because of her infection, she made sure to have someone protect Tonari before she died. Not only that but she had chosen someone with power. Because he was the heir of the west, his first son will take after him while his second son took control over the northern lands Tonari being the princess of the north. He lowered his head as Tonari began to speak again.

"Hana-chan didn't want you to know because she knew that you would protest. She knew that you would offer your help. She didn't want that. She wanted me to be protected and looked after. She wanted me to be happy and not brutally tortured. She searched the lands hoping to find someone suitable. Only when she met you Sesshomaru did she make her final decision."

"Tell me, did she choose me because I am strong and the heir to the west?" he asked.

Tonari stared at him in shock. She didn't know he was going to ask that. Tonari lowered her head. Hanayoshin's words suddenly rushed into her mind. "No," she said.

He looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"She chose you because…because…" she couldn't say it. She took a deep breath as she pushed back her tears. "She chose you because she loved you."

Inuyasha, who had been leaning back in his chair, fell over. Miroku choked on his tea as Sango spit her tea out right at Miroku's face. Inuyasha stumbled to his feet. "She loves him?" he asked.

Tonari nodded. "The night we arrived here I went to her study wanting an explanation as to why I had to be Sesshomaru's intended," she began.

xXxXx

Hanayoshin looked up from the parchment in her hands as a soft knock reached her ears. "Enter," she said.

Tonari walked into the study and sat in front of her. Hanayoshin placed her seal at the bottom of the parchment confirming the order and rolled it up placing it in the shelf behind her. She faced Tonari giving her full attention to the younger demoness.

"Why him?" she asked.

She sighed. "Have I not made myself clear?" she asked.

"Hana-chan, I don't want to mate him," she said.

"Tonari, it is not a matter of wanting."

Tonari narrowed her eyes. "You want him to protect me when you're gone don't you?"

Hanayoshin didn't say or do anything. She leaned back in her chair. She sighed after a moment of silence fell between them. "And what if I do?"

"Hana-chan, nothing is going to rip us apart."

"That I cannot be sure of that is why Sesshomaru is your intended."

"But, how do you even know if he would actually protect me?"

Hanayoshin remained quiet. She stood and walked over to the window. She poured herself a warm cup of tea and took a sip. "I know," she paused, "because I love him."

xXxXx

Sesshomaru stared at her in disbelief. He felt his anger suddenly rise. "If she loved me she would have known that I would have protected you with my life," he said.

Tonari shook her head. "It is not the same as me mating you. For you to merely protect me would mean that I am much too weak to care for myself. Beside, a male dog demon can always sense when his mate is in trouble," she said.

Sesshomaru felt himself relax a little when she said that. He however felt that she was keeping something else from them. "There's more, isn't there?" he asked.

Tonari lowered her head. She nodded. "After she told me about you being my intended, she told me why she support Lord Hiten and Lady Yura on their decision to make Kagome Inuyasha's intended. She said that she didn't want Kagome's priestess abilities to go uncontrolled. Those seven years that she had been gone was when she was in a cave hidden the western lands training Kagome to harness her abilities and control them to their full potential.

"She had said that Inuyasha needed a sheath for his demon within. She found that Kagome was the only person that could continue standing by Inuyasha's side no matter what because she was stubborn and she was always cheerful which is a combination with Inuyasha's arrogance."

"She said I was arrogant?" Inuyasha asked rather hurt.

Kagome giggled. "Haven't you noticed yet?" she asked. He shook his head making her laugh. She turned to Tonari who held a sad smile.

"I can never have what the two of you have, can I?" she asked.

Kagome looked at her. "Of course you can," she reassured.

She shook her head. "Not with Sesshomaru," she said. She lightly laughed. "It's funny. I protested at being his intended but now…I find myself loving him." Kagome sadly watched her tears fall. Tonari continued to smile She stood and walked over to the door. She stopped her hand on the door knob. "If only she would allow herself a chance to be truly loved before leaving this world."

She opened the door and left. Kagome sadly stared at the door. She looked at Sesshomaru. He was deep in thought. "Sesshomaru," she said softly. He looked at her. "It's time to choose. You can't have both of them, its either Tonari or Hashin."

Sesshomaru turned away from her and looked at the fire. "How can I choose? Tonari needs my protection. Hanayoshin and my Father had already agreed to make her my intended. Even if I wanted to I can't have her," he said.

Kagome kneeled down in front of him and held his hand in hers. "You'll never know that until you try. Hashin may be tough but she does have a soft side," she said smiling. "All I can say is that once you take a risk, however things turn out, your risk is worth it."

Sesshomaru nodded. He returned Kagome's smile. "I'll think about it," he said.

She nodded. "I wish you luck," she said hugging him.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha and linked her arm with his as he led them towards the door. "Good night everyone," she said and they left.

Everyone said their good night and left. Sesshomaru was left alone to think about Kagome's words in the main lobby. He imagined himself with Tonari. He shook the thought from his mind. He then imagined himself with Hanayoshin. Somehow, it felt so right to see himself with her.

He could see himself standing beside her with a bunch of little pups running around them. She held a happy face and he watched them all around him lovingly. He could see her smile fade then she disappeared. Their children began to cry making his heart lurch out in pain.

He quickly sat up from where he was lying. He looked around him seeing as how he was still in the main lobby. He had fallen asleep while thinking over Kagome's words. He stood and made his way down the dark corridors towards the courtyard. Something was calling out to him.

He walked out into the courtyard and stared up at the moon. He could see her reflection in it. It was twisted in pain as blood rushed down her face. His ears picked up Kagome's voice as she screamed. Sesshomaru's sensitive nose told him that Inuyasha had finally taken her as a mate. Her screams were proof of it. He was happy for them but for some reason he couldn't help but feel empty.

Yes, he was somewhat jealous of Inuyasha for having a powerful mate that would remain at his side for a very long time. If he took Tonari, it wouldn't be for love and if he took Hanayoshin, she would die from the miasma infection and Tonari would be left defenseless.

He was now more confused then ever. He didn't know what to choose. He was so lost and so confused. It didn't matter which one he took one of them was likely to be unhappy. He lowered his head as the night breeze blew through his hair.

He walked over to where Hanayoshin stood when she drew out her sword. He could remember how amazing she looked standing before them with her family treasure in front of her. He seriously thought she was some sort of warrior goddess or something.

He knelt down at the spot. Strands of her hair shimmered in the light. He picked it up and smoothly ran his fingers over it. A memory suddenly flashed into his mind.

xXxXx

Sesshomaru drew out Tokijin as the sand worm attacked. Sesshomaru jumped to avoid its slobbering mouth. He slashed the worm's back making it thrash in rage. He side stepped dodging the worms sand attack but was hit from behind by its tail. The worm swooped down at him with its mouth opened wide.

Its head suddenly shot up into the air. Sesshomaru jumped to his feet and grasped Tokijin. He watched in confusion as the worm thrashed. Its head shot up towards the cloudless night sky as a dark figure ripped through its body.

The worm fell, its body disintegrating to nothing but sand. The figure landed gracefully in front of the demon. Just as the female demon, from her scent, sheathed her sword, blood burst from wounds he hadn't seen before. He tried to call out to her but she disappeared.

xXxXx

He let the silky hair slip through his fingers. Now he remembered. What happened to Hanayoshin was so familiar because he had seen in once before. He started seeing her more and more often after that. Instead of her entire body being completely covered only her face and wrist were hidden.

He knew he had seen her somewhere once before. Her scent had changed dramatically from the last time he had seen her. Seven years and she was a completely different person.

He felt a chill in the air. He could smell her scent though very faintly. He looked at the wall. 'Did she come back already?' he mentally asked himself. Following her scent, he leapt over the wall and started running towards the mountains.

He skidded to a stop when he reached abandoned cavern. He looked around him to make sure he was alone before entering the cavern.

He made his way through the maze within the cavern following her scent. He reached a large wall at the end of the path and growled. He took a step forward and the wall was suddenly lifted revealing a door.

Steam seeped from the room making its way up the walls of the cavern. Her scent washed over him. He could feel himself growing more and more aroused as he walked further and further into the room. He growled. 'Why am I getting aroused?' he asked himself cursing his betraying body.

He heard a splash and stopped. He turned his head to the right where the steam was coming from. He approached it and noticed a figure in the middle of the small hot spring. He felt a wave of power overtake him suddenly as he stopped at the edge of the spring. His eyes immediately went to her back. A red dog with black wings was engraved on her back like a painting. The marking covered almost every inch of her body.

The demoness began floating above the water. Her feet touched the surface of the water and she stood as if it was the ground. She turned toward Sesshomaru and his eyes grew wide.

Entire body was covered in slash like wounds. They were pink and slightly blue around the edges. He presumed that they had been bleeding while she was running here. What truly caught him off guard was the look in her eyes. It didn't show in her face but it did in her eyes.

She crossed the path between them standing right in front of him. She circled him like a predator circling its prey. She was the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. She was beautiful whether she was naked or not.

She smirked. His arousal hit her nose the moment he walked through the cavern entrance. She felt her body reacting much the same way his was but she hid it well. She placed her hands on his shoulder having stopped to stand behind him. She wrapped her arms around him from behind and took in his scent.

"I've missed this scent," she said.

Sesshomaru relaxed in her arms. "So you were the demon that took out that sand worm," he said.

She nodded her head while still resting it on his back. "I knew you would remember eventually."

He wrapped his arms around hers. "Tell me, what is the real reason why you made Tonari my intended?" he asked. He already knew the reason; he just wanted her to say it.

She sighed. She knew he knew. She answered him nonetheless. "She has already lost some many people within her life. Soon, I too will join those people. She will be left to roam the north on her own trying to understand everything," she paused. She moved away from him despite his protest. "You see, I had my father and Tatsuke to teach me everything I needed to know about the lands. They wanted me as the elder daughter to teach Tonari when she came of age. Unfortunately, that plan backfired when Naraku attacked."

He nodded. "So you want her to be cared for before and after you die?"

She nodded. "Correct."

"Why me? There are other lords with powerful sons."

"First, Kagome is mated to Inuyasha. Second, you are the heir of the west. Third, I love and trust you enough to put the life of my sister within your hands."

Sesshomaru's shock was clear to her. He has heard it from Tonari but hearing it from her was completely different. Hearing those words pass through her lips held so much more meaning then when Tonari was telling him how she felt. "How long have you felt this way?"

She stayed quiet for a moment. "Since the day I saw you at the crescent moon ceremony for Inuyasha."

He nodded. He fell for her much earlier than that but he wasn't complaining. The demoness he loved was standing right in front of him but he could do anything. He was intended to someone else. He would dishonor her if he ravished her right here and now.

Hanayoshin hissed as she felt her wounds beginning to open again. She fell on all four as she gasped for air. Sesshomaru wished she didn't fall in that position. His thoughts were pushed back once he felt her aura hitch a notch growing hot in the air. He looked down at her. She hissed as blood burst from her wounds.

Sesshomaru immediately ran to her side. She was doing everything she could to prevent the miasma within her from spreading. She was trying he could tell from the beads of sweat on her forehead. He grabbed her and carried her bridal styled towards the entrance of the cavern.

Her hand flew to his chest and gripped his unarmored kimono. She shook her head as she growled in pain. "Take me to the spring. I need the holy water to close these wounds," she said.

He nodded. He walked to the spring and walked right in caring less about his now wet kimono. He watched her face twist in pain as her wounds were exposed to the holy water. To his surprise, the holy water wasn't purifying him. Hanayoshin felt his question rush through him.

"Don't worry; this holy water is mixed with demon blood. It won't purify you," she said. She cringed in pain again.

Sesshomaru felt his heart skip a beat. He wanted to help her. He wanted to take away her pain. He wanted her to smile at him like she did to his father and to Shippou and Rin. He wanted to kiss her, make love to her. But most importantly, he wanted her as his. Seeing her in so much pain hurt him. It was like someone was taking a knife and stabbing at his heart continuously chipping away his life.

She shivered in his arms. She lightly pushed away from him. She stood in the middle of the spring like she had done before. Her back faced him. He saw the marking on her back glow gold. Red transparent wings began to form on her back by her aura. They engulfed her body as they seeped into her wounds.

Painfully slow, her wounds began to close. He felt the tension she felt slowly ease. The transparent wings stayed wrapped around her until all her wounds were sealed. The once pink wounds were now blue from their abuse. They then turned the same color of her skin and disappear.

Her wings opened and lifted into the air. She took a step back and the wings shattered. Sesshomaru rushed to her as she fell backwards. He lifted her out of the water and walked to a smooth flat boulder beside the spring. He laid her down. He took off his kimono shirt and covered her wet naked form.

She was breathing hard. He was worried about her. Never has he seen something so magically painful before in his life. He has never seen magic collided with magic. He turned to look at her. He was relieved to see that her pained look was gone. Her eyes were closed.

"Why can't I have you?" he asked himself.

"I refuse to let Tonari take my place," she answered.

He flinched. "You're awake," he said.

She nodded. She pushed herself into a sitting position letting the kimono fall from her chest to her waist. "I will not Tonari become the lady of the north because I mated the heir of the west. She isn't ready. Demons would take advantage of her kindness. She wouldn't be able to control the demons around her," she said. He nodded. She stood. She walked in front of him as he stood. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She took in a deep breath as he wrapped his arms around her bringing her closer to him. "For tonight, I will be yours. Not as a mate, but as a lover." He captured her lips in a passionate kiss sending shivers down her spine. Yes, tonight, he would accept her love as she had his.

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How do you like that? And yes they did sleep together. Inuyasha and Kagome didn't sleep with each other until this chapter. Strang huh, Sesshomaru and Hanayoshin sleep with each other at the same time Inuyasha and Kagome do. Thats what I call a strong bond, if you ask me. Well anyway, Chapter 9 Minions Of A Greater Threat will be posted as soon as possible. Sorry for the delay. R&R!!!

akemiryuu