Mermaid Saga, Chapter 9
The ride back to the West was relatively quiet. Kagome was too busy taking in the sights below them, and Sesshomaru was brooding, more so lost in thought that he had ever been.
It dawned on him that he'd be the father of a half-breed.
Kagome was indeed in heat when he first brought her to the castle, though he did not believe her strong enough to bear his seed. Back then, he was unaware of her cast capabilities as a priestess. She was strong, and he had severely underestimated her.
As a pup, he despised his father's decision to take a human mate and he hated his half-breed of a brother even more. It seemed that fate would have him repeat his father's mistake.
However, no matter how he tried, he could not see being with Kagome as a mistake.
Something just would now allow him to.
He had a duty to his lands to mate with a female of pure demonic heritage. He had to produce a capable heir. A half-breed would be the bane of his existence. His legacy would be blighted by the stain of a half-demon child.
It was his carelessness that led to this point.
But, though the child would be of half-human and siren origin, his blood would still run through their veins.
He did not know what was more insulting, the idea that a mere half-breed's vessel would have his blood, or the fact that he had an obligation to protect them.
Even Kaede, that cunning old hag, seemed to know the repercussions of Kagome's pregnancy. She was the first to recognize their child in Kagome's womb- perhaps by way of filtering through the purifying aura and sensing the very faint demonic aura that was present. It was impossible for a demon to do. Pure light blocked every demonic essence around it. She failed to inform Kagome, opting to only tell Sesshomaru. Kaede was leaving it up to Sesshomaru to break the news to her, and the old woman knew that she placed him in a very awkward position.
"I want to visit Kaede as soon as possible again. I'd like to take Rin next time. There are a lot of children there that she'd be able to play with." Kagome abruptly spoke and she glanced back at the taiyoukai with a smile, "Think it's a good idea?"
Her words broke him from his trace like state. He merely caught the last bit of what she said. The castle was indeed becoming far too dangerous for Rin. She was attacked once, and the next bout was going to be life threatening. She was safest in Kaede's village, along with other humans. She'd live in peace there, but she wouldn't like it. She preferred living with demons over humans, as strange as it seemed. However, the Kaede would take care of her. Sesshomaru did not like the idea himself, yet it had to be done, at least until things around the West calmed down.
Kagome didn't expected Sesshomaru to reply. In her time knowing him, he had never been too talkative, but she didn't mind. As long as she got to spend time with him, she didn't care.
"The old woman said that you were with child…" He muttered, passing over the words as if they were not profound, "You cannot wander around unattended as you have, even in the human village." He could not allow her out of his sight as he used to. There was too much at stake now.
"…WHAT?!" She blurted out, quickly turning from her position in front of him. The quick maneuver caused the dragon to halt in place, and Kagome fell against Sesshomaru's chest.
Sesshomaru's upper lip twitched in a display of annoyance, but Kagome managed to sit upright, successfully pushing herself off of him. Her azure eyes were wide, clouded in disbelief, "But…but…"
Sesshomaru wasn't the type of person to joke, period, so his words were indeed true.
She felt her stomach tighten.
She was having Sesshomaru's heir.
They were going to have a baby…but Kagome was unsure of how she felt about it.
It was strange having a child by someone that destroyed her entire life.
She no longer despised him as she used to, but she was still somewhat bitter over the death of her family and clan. She had grown to care for him deeply- dare say even love him, but having his child was a different matter.
Kagome knew that their pup would not even be the next ruler of the West. She spent enough time around the castle to know that humans and half-breeds weren't accepted. Only a pure bred leader would be accepted. She didn't even know if Sesshomaru was going to accept him. She heard about the feud he had with his half-breed younger brother, and she knew of his hate for humans.
Their child's life was going to be miserable- forced to live in the shadow of Sesshomaru's legacy.
She was not ignorant of the outcome of the mating ceremony. By the end of it, Sesshomaru was going to have to mate one of those women. They'd be chosen over her, Kagome realized. Their child would be accepted over hers. It wasn't fair, but there wasn't anything she could do about it.
Sesshomaru seemed indifferent on the matter of informing her that she was with child. Sometimes, she couldn't stand his emotionless mask. He seemed so unfeeling, and it contrasted greatly with the passion he displayed on a numerous of nights.
He was such an enigma.
Her azure eyes began to mist over, and her brows knitted, "…Sesshomaru." She immediately lowered her gaze, "You're going to still choose one of those demoness, aren't you?"
He merely stared at her, his expression unreadable.
Kagome felt anger consume her.
She felt that he didn't care about anything.
She slapped him, or at least tried to, but he caught her wrist. This time, she wouldn't be stopped. Her free hand swung at him, and this time she struck him.
Sesshomaru did not think that she'd be able to hit him, but he decided to put an end to it. His hand shot out and he caught her around the throat. This time, he made sure that she'd be unable to breathe.
Her hands immediately flung up to his wrist, her lips sputtered to form words, an her eyes began to bulge in their sockets.
He disliked hurting her.
He disliked causing her pain, but she always forced his hand, "You will end this ridiculous behavior. The ceremony will continue, and you will remain at your place at my side…" Her pregnancy would remain hidden for as long as it could. He could not afford losing her to Abi, Kagura, or Toran's jealousy. He had confidence in his ability to protect her, but even Sesshomaru realized that he could not be in multiple places at once. If she was pregnant, she was even more of a target for his enemies.
Kagome's blunt nails sunk into his flesh. Before both of their eyes, a purifying light bursts from her palms, igniting Sesshomaru's hand in flames.
He lethargically released her, his brow lifting as he stared at the purifying flame. As he closed his hand in a fist, the fire diminished.
By then, Kagome was breathing deeply, her hands moving to massage her aching throat. Tears slid down her cheeks, and she cast her eyes away from him.
At times such as these, she despised him.
Xx
"Kagome!" It was the first word Rin had said in days, but she ran across the garden and latched herself onto the older girl, "I missed you!"
"Rin…" Kagome wasn't too excited by returning to the castle as she initially was. After her and Sesshomaru's fight, she really didn't want to be around him, but she'd merely have to deal with it "I hope you haven't been having too much fun without me."
"You look sad…" The little girl asked, her brows knitting as she gazed at the forming bruise along the base of Kagome's throat.
Kagome's lips pursed with the hesitation of responding to Rin, but Sesshomaru proceeded passed them, intent on pacing his way towards the castle's entrance.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin announced, skipping away from Kagome as she proceeded after him, "I missed you!"
Rin refused to talk beforehand. She failed to even to tell Sesshomaru of what really happened, though the taiyoukai did not push the issue. He did not want to upset her further. He was merely satisfied that she was back to her talkative and playful self. He paused once she latched onto one of his legs, her smile seeming to never end as she gazed up at him, "I'm all better now." It had merely taken one appearance from Kagome to lift the little girl's spirits.
Instead of Kaguya being Rin's caregiver, he' place Kagome in that position. It would be easier to keep up with them both then, "I suppose that you have faied well then…"
"Milord!" Jaken's loud squawk could be heard as he hampered his way through the sea of flowers. "It's your mother! She has returned…but..but.."
The scent of miasma was all over the little imp, Naraku's miasma no less. Something was wrong.
"Hm?" Kagome's brows knitted. She sensed something….something foul.
Xx
"You allowed this to happen!" Kaguya spat, making her way down the halls as she approached the Wind Sorceress.
They were both outside of Inukimi's room , but Kagura did not share Kaguya's anguish. Her arms were crossed inside the sleeves of her kimono and she bore a flat expression. "I tried to warn her. She insisted on going. Naraku left her for dead. I did you a favor by bringing her back here…"
It was true. There was nothing Kagura could have done to stop Inukimi. Once their Mistress set her mind to something, there was no turning back. She was stubborn in that aspect. Kaguya scowled, turning her attention away from Kagura. "Why did you not tell anyone?!"
"I figured that she could take care of herself." She muttered, drawing her fan closed with the snap of her wrist, "It matters not as of now. You should spend time with her while you can. She is not long for this world." Kagura could feel just how faint Inukimi's aura was.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Kaguya called as she spotted him pacing his way towards them, "She is in here...but.." She swallowed a lump building in her throat, "I do not think she can recover. Her body is filled with miasma, and she is at risk of dissolving. Tenseiga won't work…" This wasn't supposed to happen. Kaguya had her own plans for the Sacred Jewel, but it did not involve death. Only a dishonest bastard like Naraku would do something like this to Lady Inukimi.
Beforehand, Sesshomaru was not concerned with the matter. If his mother died, he was going to simply restore her life with the Tenseiga- and then he was going to kill Naraku. But, as he approached Kaguya and witnessed the despair within her eyes, his outlook on the matter became dismal.
"I suppose I'll leave you two alone…" Kagura murmured, soon turning on her heel to leave.
Though his façade remained passive, Sesshomaru was anything but. He was consumed with rage at the very idea that a half-breed would even think himself worthy enough to stand in his mother's presence…let alone take her life.
He was merely filth.
Inukimi had never been so blatant as to venture out into other territories, let alone the Spider's.
For the first time in centuries, worry welled within him. He wordlessly made his way passed Kaguya and stepped inside of his mother's final resting place.
Inukimi lied out on her back, covered in what seemed to be blood.
By Kami, there was so much blood, and it was concentrated in between her legs, nearest her upper thighs. Bite markings coated her flesh, more pronounced on her ivory flesh near the base of her throat, her shoulders, and lower, vanishing behind the cover of her shredded clothing. The skin of her wrists and ankles were nearly raw- perhaps do to another demon's claws, and her once flawless face was covered heavily in bruises. Her lower lip was split and dark colorations fell over each of her eye lids.
Sesshomaru experienced the gore that accompanied death and battle, and dealt it to his enemies personally…yet this, this was different.
In his mind, his mother was thought of as being untouchable- incapable of being physically degraded to the half-breed's common bitch.
Naraku forced himself on her, and took her several times over. His scent was heavy on Inukimi- nearly drowning out the thick smell of his miasma.
It…would not go unpunished. He'd see to it personally that the lowly Spider suffered for this.
His fingers tightened into a fist, so much so that his claws sunk into the flesh of his palms, drawing blood. He fought to remain control of his inner beast. He attempted to block the idea of traveling to the South and killing the Spider where he stood.
"S-Sesshomaru…." She murmured his name, her voice a faint croak. She did not see him, but she'd never forget the smell of her pup. She knew that it would perhaps be the last time she smelled his scent, and the last time she'd be able to gaze upon his twin, golden eyes that were so similar to her own.
He kneeled at her bedside. He didn't bother asking what business she had with the Spider. What was done was done.
"I hate for you to see your mother like this…" Gently, she brushed the back of her index finger over his cheek. Inukimi was vain…vain until the end.
Her fingers were growing colder by the moment. Life was draining from them. Sesshomaru brought her hand into his own, and lowered his head to nuzzle her knuckles, knowing that it'd be the last time he was able to inhale her scent, "Your words are empty. You have never been sentimental…"
"I suppose death changes things…my beautiful pup Sesshomaru…"The words were strained and low, so low that Sesshomaru nearly missed them. "You must forgive me…" She whispered- her tone strained.
"…The past matters not." He cut in, slowly lifting his head from her hand to look upon her face. Even when his father died, he was not as moved as he was now. He was bitter towards his father, bitter and angry, yet he held nothing against his mother…nothing at all.
"I was just trying t-to protect you…" She murmured, her fingers trembling as she drew them through the strands of his hair near his left pointed ear. It was her maternal instincts that drove her to the point of attempting to make a bargain with the Spider. "You must…aid Kagura."
"…Kagura?" He knew of Kagura's plan to destroy Naraku, but he did not believe her to be serious.
"She knows where Naraku's heart is. Without his heart, his body will merely regenerate itself, yet if you destroy his heart…he will die." Even in death, Inukimi sought revenge, "My only regret is t-that I will n-not see his demise."
He would further explore that matter later, yet he did not desire for his mother's last words to be about the lowly bastard that was the cause of her death, "Be silent…"
"…We d-do not…live by the trivial means of love…b-but if something s-such as love t-truly exists…it's what I feel towards you…" By now, Inukimi's voice was a croak, her lips trembled as she spoke, "I-It is wrong o-of me to admit s-something so foolish, but…" Her golden eyes shifted to rest on him.
Outside, Kagome ran her way down the halls, and upon spotting Kaguya, she stopped. Whatever she sensed was strongest there, "What's going on?!"
"Lady Inukimi is dying, siren. This is no place for you…" Kaguya muttered, waving a dismissive hand in Kagome's direction, "Be off." If she wanted to take the Sacred Jewel from her, she could have, but Sesshomaru was in the next room. He'd kill her before she got too far.
Sesshomaru's mother was dying? Kagome's lips pursed. It was what Sesshomaru deserved. He needed to feel the loss of another, and the fear that accompanied it…but it was unfair to Inukimi. She couldn't be forced to pay for his crimes. Sesshomaru was cruel…but, she was a priestess with a job to do. "I sense something inside of that room…"
"It's miasma..." Kaguya's brow lifted.
"I think that I can purify it." Kagome quickly added, "I might be able to save her…"
"Come quickly." Kaguya reached to grab the miko as she guided her inside of the dimly lit room.
By then, Sesshomaru was standing, his dejected orbs scanning Inukimi's lifeless form. When the door did open, he had no reason to glance back at them. He smelled that it was Kagome and Kaguya, but he did not understand why they were present. As far he knew, there was no saving her. She was too weak to even drink the potion created from Kagome's scales.
Kagome grew breathless at the sight of her. She had been brutally raped and beaten. She grew nauseas. Blood was everywhere…Kagome did not know how she survived this long. She slowly approached Inukimi's bed, and though no one else could see the purple gas seeping from her wounds, Kagome could.
She remembered that Kaede told her that she could get rid of any demonic aura that she was strong enough to overcome. The miasma was merely remnants of a demon's aura. Even as she stood beside her, the miasma was beginning to become purified. Gnawing onto her lower lip, Kagome stretched her palms over the demoness, and another light began to grow.
It was so…warm, Kaguya took note. This girl was indeed the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo The light grew- becoming a flash as it spread over the room. Kaguya shielded her face, though Sesshomaru stood motionless.
When it died down, the miasma was no more. Every bit of Naraku's essence was gone, and though Inukimi was not conscious, she was breathing.
Kagome saved her.
Xx
"We must wait before we attack the South head on. We are not ready." Totosai folded his arms across his chest as his bulging eyes cast over the advisors around him, "Naraku is more than likely waiting on us to attack. He has something planned. Otherwise, he would have not gone through all of this trouble."
"If we do not attack, then Lord Sesshomaru's honor will be insulted!" Jaken hopped is way onto the table, "This deed cannot go unpunis-" Before he could finish, a book was tossed in his direction, and he was knocked from the table.
Sesshomaru had thrown it at him.
"If we attack now, we risk having our forces eliminated. We should wait until after the mating ceremony." Kaguya suggested, "That way, if he does have a trap, we can still overwhelm him…"
The taiyoukai's golden eyes flickered over the faces of his advisors. As far as he was concerned, attacking the South was nonnegotiable. It was going to happen, whether any one of them liked or not. However, when they attacked was a factor.
"Speeding up the process of the mating ceremony would make attacking Naraku easier. Sesshomaru, do you believe that you are able to choose one of them at this point?" Kaguya asked. The ceremony had two more phases to complete, but they were pressed for time.
Abi or Toran were sensible choices, but Sesshomaru preferred Kagura. Besides having the key to defeating Naraku, she honestly suited the role of his mate well…though she'd have no tolerance for Kagome. However, it was merely his duty to take a mate, and feelings were trivial and beside the point, "Kagura will be chosen. I can overcome whatever trickery the Spider comes up with. We will still attack them as planned. Order Gatenmaru to ready the forces."
Xx
"I'm going back to the Continent…" Toran murmured, casting a glance back at the Fire Mistress, "I dislike the air around this place. War is coming. I'd rather not get caught is the crossfire."
"You're giving up?" Abi snorted softly, cocking her brow, "If you were worthy enough of becoming Sesshomaru's mate, you would try to aid him…"
"This land's conflicts are not my affairs until I am indeed his betrothed. Until then, unnecessary conflicts do not interest me…"
"Unnecessary? The Spider tried to kill Inukimi a few days ago. That is a direct attack on these lands, and it must be punished." The Fire Mistress observed as the panther demoness stalked passed her, still intent on leaving,
It came as a surprise, but a chuckle left Toran's lips. She paused in her steps before glancing back at Abi, "You cannot always allow emotions to guide your hand. This land is not prepared for war, no matter how strong Sesshomaru is. The Seekers of the Sacred Jewel are still a problem. There are several of his followers that will turn against him if it means getting a shot at the Sacred Jewel. It is merely Sesshomaru against them. Naraku needn't even invade these lands. They will soon be torn apart. "
"You are a coward!" Abi spat, placing a hand on the hilt of her blade, "I have no time for your fear…"
"And you honestly believe that you still have a shot at becoming Sesshomaru's mate? I suppose that you have not heard the rumors about Kagura. "Toran continued on her way, heading towards the entrance of the castle, "Give Sesshomaru my regards."
"…Rumors?" Abi's brows furrowed.
