Mermaid Saga, Chapter 8
Tired.
Sesshomaru had never been one to succumb to the trivial urges of sleep nor was his body ever forced to submit to exhaustion.
Yet lately, just lately, he was becoming more drained than he realized.
The mating ceremony, the plans for Kagome, and the arrival of the Sacred Jewel took a toll on him. He needed rest if he was going to remain at his full potential, and this time, he wouldn't fight it.
He was unsure of when or how he got into bed, but he now lay on his chest, on top of his sheets, one arm hanging off of the bed with Tokijin lazily within his grasp.
He was merely in his hakamas, having recently discarded his haori, and he was about to put the sword within its sheathe before the sleep hit him like a wave.
Though he was deep in slumber with his body resting, his senses were alert. The soft padding of steps coming down the halls woke him up, but he did not move.
It was Rin.
Slowly, she pushed his door open and closed it behind her. She then scampered her way across the floor, crawled into bed, and nestled against his side.
She was still afraid; Sesshomaru gathered.
What attacked her was no wolf, or at least it did not smell like the wolf. The taiyoukai saw no reasoning in his mother and general lying to him. It was…ridiculous, absurd even. Inukimi was the last being he expected to be dishonest with him. She was his mother, and she had always given him blunt honesty. It was she thought taught it to him.
Yet why would they both claim that a wolf injured Rin? Sesshomaru's tired mind could not wrap around the idea.
Xx
"And what honor do I owe this visit?"
Inukimi found the Wind Sorceress within the gardens, gazing at the stars almost longingly. The Spider's daughter was a strange one, "…Kagura, I have a proposition for your father. You are to take me to him…" She was used to getting what she wanted, no matter how extreme the request.
Kagura merely arched her brow, "I'm sorry, but Naraku isn't always in a talkative mood…A 'please' wouldn't kill you either."
Ignoring the last portion of her statement, Inukimi began to stalk her way closer, "I am certain his tongue will loosen when it comes to the whereabouts of the Sacred Jewel…"
"The Sacred Jewel? I am assuming Sesshomaru does not know of this..." She thoughtfully tapped at her chin with her closed fan, "…He'd be displeased if he found out, wouldn't he be?"
"Whether my son knows or not is any of your concern. However, I will be prompted to kill you where you stand if you do not take me to him…."
"Hmph, very well…" Kagura lifted a hand to one of the feathers present in her hair, and she snapped it loose, "Let's be off."
Xx
"…That's Kagura's plume." Kaguya muttered, her eyes never leaving the sight of the Wind Sorceress' large feather as it left their castle.
"Perhaps she has gone home for the time being, back to the Spider…" Gatenmaru muttered, pacing his way over to her side, "Lady Kaguya, I request an audience with you…"
"Gatenmaru…." A smile came to her lips, and her eyes grew partially lidded as she glanced back at him.
Before she could say anything further, he was already upon her form. His arms tightly secured around her waist, and he pressed a kiss to her lips, "…do not deny my request."
"I could never…" She brought her arms to rest around his neck, "But you know that we cannot be seen together…"
"So says the Mistress of the Night, who can shadow her movements if she so desired, and with a mere spell, dispel both our scents…"
Kaguya's face fell, "…what are you hinting at, Gatenmaru?"
"My love, do not play coy. I was thinking about it before it hit me. The human girl, she was attacked, and though it was blamed on a mere wolf, the scent of such evidence has yet to be found. I have known you in the most…intimate ways possible. Though most do not know, I realize that cloaking yourself is one of your specialties…"
"Your point?" By now, her arms dropped from around his neck, though his grasp around her waist remained. "You know that I would have not done as such if the situation did not call for it. I adore Rin. My actions were desperate…"
"Desperate? What is it that you are after Kaguya? You must fill me in, otherwise I cannot help you reach your desires." He brought a clawed hand up to caress her cheek, "You can trust me, you know this…."
After a lingering moment of staring at her mate's face, her lips pursing as she did so, she spoke, her tone a mere whisper, "…I need the Sacred Jewel."
"…Why?" That truly came as a surprise to the moth demon. Kaguya was on Sesshomaru's board of advisors, and her military capabilities had yet to be seen. What need did she have for power?
"Do you not see the night sky? How beautiful it is?" She backed away from him, but her steps led her towards the balcony, "How the moon is full and ever present? It all should be mine. Was I not sent from the moon as a celestial being bound within a demon's form? I am the ruler of the eternal night. I will have that which is my birthright…"
"But how does the human child fit into all of this?"
"Sesshomaru, though he'd never admit it, cares for her, maybe even loves her. I know that as long as Rin is kept in danger, his attention will be turned away from the siren. The Sacred Jewel will amplify the power of my mirror, and I'll be able to break the demonic bonds of my current host. My spirit will be free to reign over the night." She glanced back at him, her brows furrowing, "This cannot get out, my love. You cannot tell a soul. Otherwise I'll be forced …forced to..."
The moth demon shook his head, "Worry not. I will even aid you in carrying out your plan. What shall you have me do?" It would require betraying his beloved, since he had every intention of giving the Sacred Jewel to Naraku. It simply had to be done.
Xx
It had been another day, and Sesshomaru had yet to return for Kagome. As of currently, she was in the village's river, submerged calmly within the currents. Whenever she was in her true form, she received a lot of attention from the villagers, and by now, she was used to their staring. They had never seen a being of the Koro, so it was expected.
What was truly unexpected was how much she missed the taiyoukai.
Her body literally ached for his touch, and she longed to see that unwavering ashen gaze as it fell upon her flesh. She wanted to see him so badly, yet until he returned, she wouldn't get the chance.
During her short time in the village, she was given a lot to digest. She was introduced to the full role of a priestess, the archery, the healing, the sutras, everything. It all came so natural to her that it was frightening. She did not understand how she knew of which herbs cursed ailments, or how she knew how to properly use a bow and arrow. She had never seen such things, but Kaede proposed that it was because she was the reincarnation of Kikyo, and that she was somehow utilizing Kikyo's prior knowledge and experiences.
She felt like she was living the life of two completely different people without even realizing it. It was if the Sacred Jewel ordained everything- as if it was destiny for Sesshomaru to retrieve her from the Koro, and for her to pick up where Kikyo left off.
She really had no choice in any of it. Her sisters had to be killed, the Sacred Jewel had to return to the mortal world, and a priestess to protect it was necessary.
At least she was beginning to feel like her old self. The initial anguish she felt because of the death of her sisters and her captivity was still present, but she was also happier than she had been since the incident.
Her head broke the surface of the water once she sensed Kaede coming.
"Child, get dressed. The demon slayers are here to see you!" The old woman called from her position on the bank.
"…Demon slayers?" Kagome repeated, beginning to swim her way over.
Xx
"I realize that you are not familiar with the surface dweller's customs quite yet, but I am called Kaiji." The head of the demon slayer tribe spoke, bowing before he approached her.
As far as Kagome could see, there were scores of them, and something told her that there were more, "Uh, you wanted to talk to me?" She gnawed onto the inside of her jaw. What business would slayers have with her?
"Our ancestors stood by Lady Midoriko and Lady Kikyo's side during their time protecting the Sacred Jewel. Lady Kagome, it is our duty to do the same with you. We are here to free you."
"…Free me?" Kagome blinked a few times. "Free me from what?"
"The Ruler of the West Sesshomaru. We realize that he holds you captive." Kaiji nodded, "We are here to slay him."
"You want to go after Sesshomaru?!" Kagome's eyes widened. "You can't!" They were going to get themselves killed- no, slaughtered. First of all, she wasn't allowed to leave the village because Sesshomaru was going to slaughter everyone living there if she did so. Second of all, the demon slayers had no idea what they were up against, "Uh, you misunderstand. Sesshomaru's isn't holding me captive."
Kaede's brow arched.
"Yeah, he's not holding me captive." Kagome released a nervous laugh, "He's...uh..." Her eyes rolled above thoughtfully, "Protecting me and the Sacred Jewel! Yeah, that's it."
"Protecting you, but why? That beast holds no affinity to humans and their affairs." Kaiji gripped onto the hilt of his blade. "I know of how he despises us."
"He's just protecting me and the Jewel so that Naraku doesn't get his hands on it." That at least was the truth, as far as Kagome could see it. Not to mention, she wasn't exactly human. "I'm not enslaved or anything."
"Naraku, the Spider of the East?" Another demon slayer asked, rising from his kneeling position.
"Naraku is well known for his want for the Sacred Jewel." Kaede cut in, "If anything, he is the threat to all of our well being. He is the one that took my sister Kikyo from this world."
"If you want to help me, then help Sesshomaru." Kagome bit onto her lower lip, "Naraku is the biggest problem here. Sesshomaru is trying to fix everything."
Xx
"…I have not known anyone to speak that highly of Sesshomaru, except for his loyal followers." Kaede murmured, staring at Kagome from across the fire. They were inside of her hut. The demon slayers were gone, and the sun just descended beyond the horizon. It was dark now, and another day had gone by without an appearance from Sesshomaru. Kaede even wondered of his whereabouts, "They came to assist you. Why did you deceive them?"
"They were going to get themselves killed…" Kagome released an exasperated sigh as she slowly turned over on her mat to face Kaede, "I didn't want them to die…"
"Are you certain you do not hold any affection for Sesshomaru, Kagome?" Kaede abruptly asked, beginning to fuel the fire with sticks.
At that, Kagome's cheeks grew red, "Uh, why do you ask?"
"Merely a thought…" The old woman responded, "You know well as I that he holds you captive, but you wish to remain with him."
"Is that so bad?" Kagome asked, her voice barely above a whisper now. Her azure gaze lowered to the fire.
"No, it's not bad at all."
Kagome felt a smile come to her lips, yet she suppressed it. She simply nodded, "Thank you, Kaede."
Xx
The following morning, Sesshomaru set out to retrieve Kagome, knowing well that he risked rumors spreading that she was in the human village if she remained any longer. He'd return her to Kaede's care periodically, he decided, to better ensure that she was becoming the proper priestess the Jewel needed.
Rin was adamant about following him, yet he left her in Kaguya's care, knowing that she'd be safe with her. His mother was no longer trusted to watch Rin, though Inukimi wasn't around that morning. Sesshomaru supposed that she returned to her palace in the skies, though he was not concerned of her whereabouts, not yet. Her disappearance was not out of the ordinary.
It did not take him long to reach Kaede's village, and as he was landing, he did not dismiss the unmistakable sight of Kagome and the old woman proceeding out of a hut.
Kagome wasn't sure when she started running to meet him, though her steps slowed once she was mere feet in front of him. By now, she was unsure of what to say, but she managed to speak, her arms folding back her back. "I was beginning to think that you forgot about me."
She was…happy, happier than she had ever been during her stay at the castle. He could see it within her eyes- the pure joy that was present. Was she indeed glad to see him? "…Gather what you have. We are to be off."
"Right…" She nodded, the smile on her features never fading. She proceeded forward and drew her arms around him tightly in an embrace.
Sesshomaru, initially taken back by the action, remained motionless, though a single arm of his came up to wrap around her the same. He could not deny that he missed having her beside him. She was becoming a part of him, similarly like Rin.
"Sesshomaru, I must speak to you…" Kaede's called, hobbling her way towards them.
"I'll go get my things…" Kagome mumbled, regretfully releasing the taiyoukai. She quickly turned, beginning to make her back to Kaede's hut.
"She has grown really fond of ye. Though I'm certain you have not sensed that which is within her." The old woman said, though Sesshomaru's expression remained indifferent.
"How has she fared?" Was his only question. He left her in the village to get trained, the old woman knew.
"Well, it is if she were my sister Kikyo's equal, minus the discipline of course." The old woman peered at the young taiyoukai closely, "Keep an eye on her, for her and…your pup's sake."
"...My pup's sake?"
