Hey everyone! Got hit with inspiration right around the time daylights savings wants to kick me...but I have a new chapter. Please don't think I own the worlds, I just play around in them.
Chapter 8
When Usagi woke up the next morning, she replayed the nights events in her mind. He had really given her a bath! How had he described it, an intimate act for ones intended...to show her she was special. She rolled over, and snuggled into him, glad that it had not all been a dream. As if on instinct, he pulled her closer to him and practically buried his nose in her hair.
"Best morning ever." She mused softly.
"This Sesshomaru would have to agree." He said sleepily, kissing the top of her head.
"I didn't mean to wake you. Would you like me to make us some breakfast?" Usagi asked, nuzzling her nose just under his jaw line. It was one of the gestures for comforting a Mate, something she hadn't thought she'd need to remember, but glad she did. He accepted the gesture greedily, holding her close.
"Aren't I the one that's suppose to be doing that?" He asked, with a smirk.
"I can't let you do all the nice things, you know." She teased. "Besides, this is my way of saying thank you."
"Hn. We can't just stay in bed all day? You haven't even fully recovered yet." He suggested.
"You're only saying that because you want to hold me some more." She giggled, and was out of the bed before he could pull her back in. "Now, you go take a bath, and I'll get started on breakfast."
"Alright, but you should know something is off downstairs." Sesshomaru said, leaving a confused Usagi at the door.
She didn't have to wonder what he was talking about when she went downstairs, tying her hair back as she went. There was someone there. She had an intruder in her home! It felt like a familiar presence, and yet she could not place the smell. Whoever it was, sat in the living room as if they owned the place. She could not help a warning growl as she walked into the room.
"You have exactly one chance. Get out now, or die here." Usagi threatened. She hadn't had breakfast yet, and already dealing with a break in. When he stood up, she knew immediately who it was. "Mamoru?"
"You use to like it when I surprised you like this." He said, playfully.
"This is different. You are not Tuxedo Kamen right now, we are not dating anymore, and I have a demon lord in my bathroom!" Usagi objected. "You can not do this. You can not come into my house like some stalker ex thinking it's okay to sneak in while I'm asleep."
"I thought we were still friends." Mamoru said, as if he were sulking.
"Friends call or knock, Mamoru." Usagi growled.
"They told me what happened...are you alright?" He asked, worriedly. "Usagi, they said you used your demon form this time."
"You could have called and asked that!" Usagi reprimanded. "Dammit, Mamoru! You can't just sneak into my house like this. How many times have we had this conversation? Did Luna put you up to this?"
"What? No, no...I just...wanted to meet my replacement...this Lord Sesshomaru." He admitted sheepishly.
"Sesshomaru is not a replacement. He is more than that to me! Mamoru, what's gotten into you?" Usagi asked, more than a little angry now, before heading back into the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Ah, come on, Usagi." He whined. "I traveled all this way and everything."
"You teleported through the command centers, and broke into my house." Usagi fussed, as she made breakfast. "Please, go home. I won't ask a second time."
"Alright, Usagi. I'm sorry I upset you." He said sincerely, as he made his way to the door. "You should know, that rock fools nobody."
"Just so you know, if I burn breakfast, I'm sending him to kill you." She said, with a mischievous grin. He laughed a little, knowing she was not mad at him anymore.
Sesshomaru had come down the stairs moments later, and found Usagi already halfway through making breakfast. The foreign smell still lingered in the air, but its source had gone. Usagi seemed unperturbed by anything, so he assumed she had gotten rid of the offending intruder. Her hair was tied up to keep it out of her face while she cooked, but not in her normal style. He could not help but run his fingers through what he could while she made breakfast.
"So what was off down here?" He asked.
"Would you believe Mamoru snuck into my house with the intention of meeting you?" Usagi asked, playfully. "And to see if I was alright, how well I'd handled the demon transformation, things like that. He really should have called first or something."
"He...wants to meet me? Why?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.
"To be honest, I'm not sure if it's the best friend part of him or the ex boyfriend part of him. However, if I burn breakfast, you get to kill him." She laughed.
He laughs, but replies. "Let's save that for another time. Today I believe this Sesshomaru is to properly court you."
"You haven't been doing that already?" She teased.
"Hn." He smirked, watching as she plated breakfast. "You always seem to one up me, which makes you all the more desirable. You either have amazing instincts, or an inside man."
"Both, both sounds good." She grinned, and the two sat down to eat breakfast. "So, care to guess the inside man?"
"I do not have to. I would bet anything it is InuTaisho. He has been harping about grand pups to InuYasha and his miko, and since he agreed to my plans for subterfuge so readily I can only assume he has been talking to you as well." He deduced.
"Yes, but not about grand pups." She laughed, as she blushed a bit. She became more solemn though as she continued. "He was alive before the moon kingdom fell, so he knew my mother...knew my past self...He could tell me things, help me make sense of the information I have, and help me to piece together what I do not have." She paused in thought. "He has been going over various demon customs with me as well, but his knowledge of the White Wolves of the Moon is limited."
"Hn, I will have to make a trip home before this evening. I fear I too will need an inside man. My knowledge of human customs for courtship is somewhat limited to nonexistent." He replied.
"Well, then you should go ahead and go home after breakfast then." When she saw his slight frown, she continued. "You have things to attend to that you do not know how long will take. I can use that time to make a few calls, and get a few things done before you get back."
His features softened then, but he looked up suddenly. "Usako, those girls yesterday mentioned something...Crystal Tokyo. How common is that knowledge?"
"It isn't. That's the thing...Before...when things were going along the path that lead to Mamoru as my future supposedly, we were shown Crystal Tokyo. Rini had come back from the 30th century to save her family, but she did not recognize me...only Mamoru seemed to have visions of the future she came to prevent or change...When we went to Future Crystal Tokyo, I saw myself, Sesshomaru, encased in crystal like a last shield. I could tell what it was, a way to heal myself when things got too bad. I saw the people around me, the future senshi...Diamond and the others...so much death...I couldn't do what she asked." She was crying now.
"You do not need to speak of this if it upsets you so." Sesshomaru stated, carefully wiping her tears from her face.
"I need to though." She stated firmly, and he nodded. "Those of the future acted as if everything were set into stone, that I needed to save them then and then go back to my own time...However, if I did that, it would still happen...It felt like a continuous loop of death...They didn't see what I saw. So I did what could not be done.
I erased Wiseman from existence, destroyed the crystal he had used to control Diamond and the others, and gave them a choice. They could be reborn in my time, or phase out of existence with Wiseman. They chose. With Wiseman gone, Diamonds obsession with me went back to admiration. The future became chaotic, and only Sailor Pluto seemed happy with my decision.
According to her, things would have gone very differently had I not made that choice. Diamond and the others would be dead, though Crystal Tokyo and the kingdom of earth would have been restored. The Generals would be dead, many would have lost their star seeds and died, Galaxia would be turned from us, the fight with Chaos...It could all have ended differently, because of one choice.
She broke the rules for me, had herself reborn in this timeline so that she could always help me. Because of my knowledge of the future, I saved everyone's star seeds, there were fewer deaths, Sailor Saturn was rescued from the life she would have had, Galaxia is freed before she could be altered, and my friends are allowed to chase their dreams.
But I feel like I failed Rini the most. I made it to where her mother never has to be in that situation, but will Rini exist? Will Crystal Tokyo exist? Very few should even know of it. The senshi, me, Luna and Artemis, Mamoru, and you. This Black Moon Circus could not have known, unless it was from a future where it exists." Usagi was overwhelmed with thought again.
"To do all of these things for the ones you love, you are very powerful indeed. Do not fret, my princess. You will always be able to count on this Sesshomaru to be there for you should you ever have need of me." Sesshomaru said, in comfort.
Sesshomaru had several things he needed to attend to when he got back to the Taisho household. As the new Lord of the Western Lands, there were many things that required his attentions. He took time between each meeting to secure what he needed for another matter, and returned to them. When those things were completed, Sesshomaru looked forward to seeing how things panned out. He was greeted with a sight he did not expect to see. Mamoru Chiba stood before him waiting calmly.
"Lord Sesshomaru, it is good to finally meet you." Mamoru stated.
"You will tell this Sesshomaru why you broke into the house of his intended." He kept his face stoic, but his voice was ice cold.
"I was worried for Usagi, and I did want to meet you." Mamoru replied sheepishly. "In truth, we were not a good fit for each other. I almost lost her as a friend. Don't worry, I've already had it soundly beaten into me not to break into her house again."
"See that you do not." Sesshomaru stated.
"The rest of the Senshi and I have seen this past week how much happier she's been with you." Mamoru admitted. "She describes you quite favorably, I might add."
"Hn" He could not help but be pleased that she spoke well of him. "You do not need to worry, by the way. Breakfast was not burnt."
Mamoru laughed outright. "She told you about that, did she?"
"Jakken will show you out. Unfortunately, it sounds as though I'm about to have other matters to attend to soon that will be quite...pushy." Sesshomaru said, and the small green demon escorted Mamoru away...just in time for him to begin dealing with his next problem.
"I'm sorry, Sesshomaru, I tried." Kagome stated, before InuYasha rushed into the room.
"YOU!" InuYasha yelled.
"What is it now, InuYasha? I was just beginning to like you, too." Sesshomaru stated, in a tired tone.
"What do you think you're doing with Usagi?" InuYasha asked, angrily. "She is too new to this life to be chased by you."
"She is my intended." Sesshomaru stated, without hesitation.
"Does she know what you were like before? Hating humans, the bloodshed, trying to kill me?" InuYasha could not believe his ears.
"She knows." Sesshomaru barely got out his answer before InuYasha hurled his next question at him.
"Why are you after someone too young to know you?" InuYasha asked, his anger apparent.
"...I do not need to explain myself to you, little brother." Sesshomaru stated, a bit unsure.
"InuYasha, stop it." Kagome yelled at him.
"Kagome,-" InuYasha started.
"No, InuYasha, I won't. He loves her. I'm not going to let you try and ruin the happiness of a friend, just because Sesshomaru's instincts are stronger than yours and Usagi returns his feelings." Kagome shouted, standing her ground.
"He...loves her?" InuYasha asked, turning to Kagome.
"I'd bet money on it." She replied. "Have you noticed he hasn't called you half-breed all week?"
"She's such a new youkai..." InuYasha shook his head. "She's too new...What happened last night should not have happened. Kagome, you didn't see her...She was...I've never seen another youkai that powerful, and to be so new..."
"I did not think I would be seeing her demon form so soon. She is...exquisite." Sesshomaru mused.
"I don't remember much about last night. InuYasha had to explain what happened. That part about you carrying her off to take care of her, so romantic." Kagome grinned. "I'm not even sure what in all a dog demon does for their intended. Every time I ask InuYasha, he blushes and leaves."
"In that regard, Kagome, your assistance is requested." Sesshomaru stated, turning to her. "Usagi has great instincts when it comes to demon culture and courtship, but this Sesshomaru wants to honor her human customs as that is what she is most familiar with."
"Wait. You need human dating advice from my girlfriend?" InuYasha asked, in disbelief. He turns and begins walking out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Kagome asked, confused.
"To find that crow I'm suppose to eat. Hell just froze over." InuYasha stated, and exited the room.
"What do you say, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked, once InuYasha had gone. "Will you help me?"
"She has been a good influence on you already. Of course I'll help you." Kagome replied.
Sesshomaru stood at the door with a bouquet of stargazer lilies. He wasn't sure why humans cared so much for dead flowers, but Kagome had assured him that Usagi would love it. Sure enough, when Usagi opened the door and he handed them to her, it was apparent. She breathed in their scent deeply and smiled at him. He stepped inside and waited as she put them into fresh water.
"Now why didn't she tell me it had to do with the smell? That is understandable." Sesshomaru muttered to himself.
"What?" Usagi asked, turning around.
"Nothing. Just thinking about human customs." He replied, hoping that answered her question.
"You're learning human customs for me?" Usagi asked, pleasantly surprised, as they walked out of her apartment. "I thought you hated-"
"That was a long time ago. It is wrong of me to hold onto such things." He stated.
He was wondering about another human thing. The walking or driving to a place. Demons had the ability to speed run great distances, some can even teleport. Usagi could even before becoming a youkai. So, why had Kagome insisted that they walk to this restaurant?
Sesshomaru became aware of the hand entwined in his own, which both answered his question and asked more. Spending time, even doing something as slow and simple as walking, was important to his intended. Touch was another important thing that seemed to be important not just to demons, but to humans as well. He realized suddenly, that Usagi had already been subtly showing him these things.
"You are thinking awfully hard about something. I can see the steam coming out of your ears." Usagi teased.
"This Sesshomaru apologizes for being lost in thought. If it is alright, I would like to ask you something." He stated, pulling himself out of his revere. "Until you discovered differently with Luna, you thought yourself to be human. Yes?"
"Yes." She said, appreciating his attempts to keep her secret and still talk. "There was no reason for me to think otherwise."
"This Sesshomaru thought as much. It would be wrong of me then, to belittle humans any longer, and court you as my intended. It was good to ask Kagome for advice." Sesshomaru stated, musing aloud. "If you are willing to learn demon customs of courtship for me, it is only fair I learn human ones for you." They were in front of the restaurant now.
"I never thought I'd see the day when Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands was willing to court a human." A fox demon stated, haughtily. "Where is she anyway?"
"She is me." Usagi said, somewhat perturbed at having the moment interrupted.
"Oh! I am sorry, my lady...I had no idea...but he said human customs." The fox demon stammered, trying to back peddle.
"That's right, I was. I regressed. Now if you will excuse us, you're being very rude by interrupting our date." Usagi said, mimicking his haughtiness. His eyes widened as be backed away slowly, and the couple walked past him. Sesshomaru could not help but smirk at the fox demon as they passed, and walked into the restaurant.
"Was that too much?" Usagi asked him, her eyes wide with worry.
"No, that was quite amusing." Sesshomaru assured her. "There is something though that InuYasha brought to my attention today. I am much older than you, and you are very new to being a youkai."
"Does that bother you now that you know me?" Usagi asked. A waiter guided them to their table.
"I should have been more mindful of it in the beginning." He admitted, and saw that she was now frowning. Well that wouldn't do. "That does not mean that I regret my actions."
She looked up, surprised. "Really?"
"This Sesshomaru will admit that my inner beast was attracted to you before we met, such was the deliciousness of your smell. When you came to speak to my father, I resigned to fall behind and observe as he went over customs with you. Then more I learned of you, the more interesting you became, the more I had to know." He explained.
The restaurant was excellent all around, just as he knew it would be. He would have only the best for his intended. Usagi appeared to be enjoying herself immensely. Often times he found it was he who initiated contact, as if he could not not touch her. Asking about her future plans, and interests, were things that he had already done but she described certain things in more detail than before. After ordering a desert Sesshomaru knew would take a little while, he stood up and offered his hand to Usagi.
"Where are we going?" She asked, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"This particular restaurant has a ballroom." He replied. Another human custom he did not fully understand was dancing, but assuming that touch had a lot to do with why they loved it so much.
"I love dancing." She replied. "I haven't been in a long time."
"Something this Sesshomaru is only too happy to remedy." He stated, and they set up for a slow waltz.
As they danced, Usagi was hit with the strangest sense that they had danced before with each other. One moment, she was looking into the eyes of her Sesshomaru. In the next, she was gazing into the eyes of someone who looked like him, but could not be him. They were in the moon palace. Prince Endymion was stalking away angrily, and yet she could not be happier as she danced with the one she loved.
"Usako? You seem lost in thought. Steam and everything." Sesshomaru teased, bringing her back into the moment.
She looked up, and he was her Sesshomaru again, and they were in the restaurant. "Oh? I just had the strangest vision. We've danced together before, you and I."
"Truly?" Sesshomaru asked, surprised.
"I think so." She said, and described to him what she had seen.
A look of pure joy crossed his face, one she had not seen on him before. "I do not know how I could have forgotten you."
"We could always ask, InuPapa." She replied, reluctantly. She would rather bask in the pure joy that crossed his face.
"Let's worry about that tomorrow. For now, this Sesshomaru is simply happy to be with you here."
She was practically humming with happiness, but said. "The nice waiter over there is trying to flag us down. I believe our dessert is ready."
"This Sesshomaru admits he is reluctant to let you go so soon. There is something to this dancing that humans love so much." He said, as they stopped dancing.
A few days later
"So? How did it go?" Kagome asked, eagerly. "Did my advice help?"
"Your advice helped. It went...better than I thought it would." Sesshomaru admitted, though he still appeared stoic.
"I'm glad I could help. Usagi has always been a dear friend. It's good to see her with you." Kagome said, as she was leaving.
When she was gone, he went searching throughout the Taisho household for his father. "We need to talk." Sesshomaru stated, icily when he found him.
"I thought we might, though it would be better for us to wait till you have Marked her." InuTaisho sighed in resignation.
"Usagi remembered something the other day. She remembered me dancing with her in her last life, but I do not remember that time...I thought I wasn't born until after the fall of the moon kingdom." Sesshomaru said, shaking his head. "Why does she remember me? Why do I not remember her?"
"When the moon kingdom fell...when Serenity died...we had to freeze you in time. You lost it." InuTaisho responded.
"So, I was right." Usagi said, from behind them, surprising them both. She looked to InuTaisho. "I don't understand. I was told...Prince Endymion...but it felt wrong. I believed it, because there was nothing to contradict it. No evidence to say it wasn't true...What happened? Why were my memories altered? I can't even know which ones are true now, they were all I had of her!"
"Explain." Sesshomaru demanded InuTaisho, standing protectively in front of Usagi.
"You haven't even Marked her to show your intent, and already you move to protect her." InuTaisho mused. "Alright, I will tell you both. You and Usagi both deserve to hear this."
He motioned for them to sit.
"Your mother and I were allies. She had been preparing for war with a dark force that was moving through the cosmos. On occasion, I would bring Sesshomaru with me. You two fell in love the moment you met, much to the chagrin of Prince Endymion with whom an arranged marriage had already been agreed upon. Though it risked the treaty with the humans of Earth, you convinced Queen Serenity of your devotion to her daughter, and she relented. They two of you had never been happier, and after seeing you even Prince Endymion could not deny your happiness. War with the humans was inevitable, though Prince Endymion implored his people to back down. They had been corrupted by the dark force Queen Serenity fought against, and no longer listened to their Prince. Sesshomaru, you were away from the Moon when the attacks began. Prince Endymion died defending her, and she died soon after. You felt her death instantly, and went berserk trying to get to her. We froze you to save the lands, the memories that left you were thought to be a healing process, but when we unfroze you nothing had changed. You did not remember her, but you were still angry. Usagi, your mother loved you enough to sacrifice her life to give you and the others another chance at life to save the universe from the evil that destroyed them."
"Why were the false memories of Prince Endymion given to me?" Usagi asked.
"I am unsure of that part. I can only assume that your mother could not find Sesshomaru's soul among the dead, and not knowing what had happened to him, sent Endymion with you as a temporary protector. That is my guess." InuTaisho reasoned. "When I saw you again, I realized what your mother had done. It was a surprise to me to see what you had become. It was even more of a surprise that Sesshomaru even remembered what a White Wolf of the Moon was. I am glad that the two of you were able to find each other again. Maybe, if you two decide to continue your relationship further, when she is Marked you two may begin remembering things from then."
