Jackie: WOOHOO! I got my reviewers back! I've gotten a few suggestions on how to spell the names of the sword, since I have conflicting information I'm going to go look it up tonight after I post this chapter. Bare with me! I'll get it right eventually!
Thanks to everyone for reviewing. BTW, if you have suggestions that you don't want to put in the reviews I believe my email is public so drop me an email. I listen very carefully to my reviewers and I do try to keep everyone happy, and the easiest way to keep everyone happy is for you to tell me what you want!
I'm currently up to chapter 13 in pre-writing, but that doesn't mean I wont change things if someone has a rockin' suggestion!
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Chapter 9; Joining Forces
It was a few hours past dark. Rin and Jaken were asleep in Ah-Un's saddle. Miyoiki was trying to be held without holding Sesshomaru back, and one of the nubs on his armor was digging into her side. She tried to shift and bit and he grunted with dissatisfaction.
"Stop squirming," He said, "It is not easy to hold your weight this long with one arm."
"It's not exactly easy to be held this long with a hunk of metal jabbing my side," She grumped back at him.
"You'd be able to shift a bit easier if you would help by holding on," He growled back at her.
"You told me never to touch you again," She snarled.
His face twisted to hers. He was about to say something but she would not give him the satisfaction. Whatever this disease was it had her whole body overly sensitive. She could smell things, sense things, and taste things on the wind. She was in complete sensory overload, and worse, she had more hormones in her system than when she went through puberty. She was NOT comfortable, and he was not going to get in another cutting remark without her getting in a lick or two.
"Why?" She growled, "Is it because I'm human? My hands are automatically so filthy? I am surprise you can contaminate yourself with my presence, let alone hold me this close for hours while we fly to- to- wherever!"
"You're not human," He said quietly, "And keep it down, you'll wake them."
"What are you talking about?" She asked in a whisper.
He did have a point. It was best not to wake Rin. He looked down into her eyes. The look he gave her had her absolutely sure that he believed his words, "You are not human."
"Of course I am," She said, "I'm the daughter of a noble family. I was being trained by monks so I could return a powerful ruler and-"
"Your family's name?" Sesshomaru asked.
"The monks vowed silence until I came of age," She answered.
"There is no family," He said, trying to adopt the same softness of tone he had earlier, "You are a metamorph; a creature with the ability to wield both demon and human spiritual powers. Your kind has been extinct for over a thousand years."
"You're crazy," she whispered.
"Those scales, that silk coming from them," He started, "They are the beginning of a cocoon. You will be fully encased by your 30th birthday, and you will stay that way for one month. You-"
"That's what happened that day," She cut in, "Someone told you these lies! That's why you wanted to know when my birthday was! Don't you see? They've deceived you, and they've set this curse upon me."
"It was Naraku," Sesshomaru said, "And curses aren't his style unless he has someone else do it. He was telling the truth, and then he let down his barrier. He wants you and your metamorphic power."
His arm tightened on her waist, and it actually trembled as he said, "I am not going to let him have you."
There was protectiveness in his voice, and… Something else, but she couldn't make herself concentrate on that. Could it be true? Was she one of these creatures he spoke of? She shivered as she said, "So if you didn't want me to touch you, and it isn't because I'm human, then…"
"Stop this nonsense," He growled, "Insecurity and broodiness does not-"
He was cut short by a howl of complete pain. Miyoiki howled and bucked in his arms. He was forced to land or he would drop her. She writhed and screamed as the scales appeared on her face. Rin and Jaken both startled awake. Rin ran towards her but Sesshomaru held her back.
"Lady Miyoiki!" Rin cried, "What's wrong with her, my lord."
"Apparently the monks lied about her birthday as well," Sesshomaru said placidly.
The screams attracted a passing party of travels.
"It came from this direction!" Miroku shouted.
"I can smell my brother!" Inuyasha yelled, "I bet that bastard is torturing some poor unsuspecting human."
There was nothing to be done. He couldn't leave Miyoiki, and he didn't have time to hide Rin. Inuyasha and his companions came upon them. Inuyasha looked down at Miyoiki and then to Rin. Then to Sesshomaru, then Miyoiki, then Rin. Then Sesshomaru, then-
"Can't you're puny brain digest the situation?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah," Inuyasha said, drawing his sword, "You put some kind of spell on that poor girl's mother. I knew you were low Sesshomaru, but not THAT low. I'm going to enjoy this."
Miroku looked at the beauty he recognized from the hot springs, remembered that Inuyasha had mentioned smelling his brother that night, and knew immediately that Inuyasha was wrong. He put his staff in front of Inuyasha to stop him. Miroku shook his head at Inuyasha to say 'no'.
"Your human friend, at the least, has some sense," Sesshomaru chided.
"What is going on here, Sesshomaru?" Miroku asked.
"I'd sure like to know," Kagome stepped in, pointing at Rin, "Look Sango, it's that girl that was riding Sesshomaru's dragon."
Inuyasha was truly shocked. He looked back and forth between Sesshomaru and Rin, it was the girl Sesshomaru had left with after sparing Kahaku. Then he steadied himself and sheathed his sword. His ears twitched and he looked coldly into Sesshomaru's eyes for a moment as though weighing something. The screams were still going which was really grating on Inuyasha's protective nature.
Sesshomaru seemed to pick up on this and said, "There's nothing we can do. It's part of her normal growth process."
Sesshomaru turned to Miyoiki and watched as silk spun out from her. Her screams died down and her eyes met his. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and he said, "I'm sorry; there really is nothing I can do to ease the pain."
With that her eyes went vacant. Her body began to buck and spin until it had wrapped itself neatly in the silk, making a perfect cocoon. Sesshomaru stared; he had hoped to get her to his castle for an easier defense. This complicated things greatly.
"So this must be Rin then," Inuyasha said kneeling down beside her and patting her head.
Rin scurried away and hid behind Ah-Un, peaking around his legs. Sesshomaru let himself smile simply because he knew it would grate on Inuyasha's nerves, "She doesn't like strangers."
"Hurmf," Inuyasha sniffed and pointed at Miyoiki, "Well then, who or what, was that?"
"Miyoiki," Sesshomaru answered, "Rin's nanny."
"Poor girl," Sango said softly.
"Yeah," Kagome said, "Is that really part of her growth process?"
"Yes," Sesshomaru answered, "And she didn't know it was going to happen."
"Come again?" Miroku asked, wide-eyed.
"She didn't know she wasn't human," Sesshomaru restated, "She was complete taken by surprise."
"She had no way to prepare herself," Sango breathed.
"Oh that poor woman!" Kagome said.
"Why didn't you tell her if you knew?" Inuyasha growled.
"I didn't know until yesterday," He answered.
"Who told ya?" Inuyasha asked.
"Naraku," Sesshomaru said and sniffed the air, "He wants her power and he's coming this way."
Inuyasha sniffed the air. Sesshomaru was right. Naraku was far away, but coming in this direction. As if Inuyasha hadn't had enough to deal with having Naraku's incarnations coming out of the wood work over the past few days. Inuyasha looked back at Sesshomaru, who was looking back at the cocoon. For the first time since, well… Ever, Inuyasha could swear he saw worry etched on Sesshomaru's normally placid features.
Mindful of the tension Kagome stepped forward and whispered to Inuyasha, "A little girl. He's been taking care of a little human girl all this time."
They'd known it for a while, but it still seemed shocking. Inuyasha plopped down Indian-style where he had been standing and said, "I guess it's settled then."
"What is settled?" Sesshomaru turned quickly as he asked.
"Look, we don't like each other much," Inuyasha said, "But I think we can both agree that if Naraku wants that girl we can't let him have her."
"I don't need your help," Sesshomaru growled, "Quit sticking your nose in business that is not yours."
"What?" Inuyasha yelped and stood, ready to fight.
"SIT boy," Kagome commanded, and Inuyasha hit the ground with a loud thump.
Inuyasha whined, "I can't believe she did that in front of Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru's eyebrow twitched in disbelief as he said, "You let yourself be made a slave to this human? You truly have found all new definitions of low."
"Just you wait til I get up!" Inuyasha roared.
"Wait!" Kagome shouted, "Sesshomaru, I know you don't need our help, but we'd like to offer it anyway. Naraku won't come alone. Can you really guard Miyoiki, Rin and Fight multiple targets? Yeah, maybe you can, but given the people you are risking isn't it better to have every possible advantage?"
Sesshomaru looked to Rin and back to Miyoiki. The people you are risking. He even spared a glance for Jaken. Jaken stepped forward and said, "My lord. I think it would be wise to at least consider-"
"Will it appease you then, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked with that same chilling voice.
"Well I-" Jaken started.
"Very well," Sesshomaru said, "For your sake."
"Thank you, my lord," Jaken said and bowed.
Inuyasha growled that he wasn't going to help that pompous ass do anything, and Kagome sat him again. Sesshomaru sat beside Miyoiki's cocoon and waited.
He would not believe that she was going to come out a monster. Not his Miyoiki. He didn't know when exactly she became his Miyoiki, and he didn't care. He only knew he had fallen in love with her, completely. He almost laughed at how pathetic he'd become. Counting on his brother and his brother's friends for assistance, falling in love, losing hundred's of years of hard won control, and even running away from Naraku. Sesshomaru looked down at his sword and said, "This is what you've driven me to."
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Jackie: Two more weeks of school, then I should be able to crank out the chapters a little faster.
