I feel so horrible making people wait this time because I've wanted to post this for a while. However my internet was never very stable and it cause many problems. I started school again, which means I can get on more often, but my updating might be a bit slow when it comes to midterms, finals, and exams. Not to mention that time is something that I don't have much of. How I wish for the days I could sleep in every day. Anyway…
Beyond Memories helped me with editing this chapter. I want to give her a big thanks.
So without further ado….
Disclaimer: Inuyasha doesn't belong to me and I make no profit from this story
Meeting Nine: Commencing
Sapphire eyes reflected in hazel hues. The black hair, much like her own, was pinned in a braid and flow down her back to the woman's waist. The pale porcelain face was recognizable but Kagome couldn't say a thing before the woman bounced into step. Immediately a growl echoed through the halls as Sesshomaru, guarding his mate from beside her, stepped between the oncoming woman and his mate. Rin skidded to a halt and tilted her head around the inu she saw as father.
"I want to give Kagome-sama a hug," she pouted batting her lashes innocently.
"You will proceed with caution," the taiyoukai warned slowly, stepping off to the side once more to watch the females interact.
It was a few hours after Kagome had collapsed and he was still uncertain about her being out of bed so soon. Yet she reminded him that since Rin was practically family it wouldn't be an insult if she excused herself to retire early for the night if need be. The healer was unable to diagnose what had caused the sudden unconscious state. It could range from exhaustion, poor health, under eating, lack of sleep. So to be certain the female healer had explained the miko should take it easy for a while. Tomorrow would be her next appointment but he wasn't willingly to let her out of the house so arranged for the doctor to come to them. Pregnancy was the nekko's territory and he was certain he would find the answer to problem when she examined his mate. Defiant as ever though, the female had come to greet the arriving guest and escort them to the dining chambers for close friends and family. Although he trusted the being he saw as a daughter he didn't trust the miko to take it easy. It was his job to see to her health and his beast wanted her to rest to make sure the mother of their pups was indeed fine. But she looked so excited when Rin was announced to have arrived that he couldn't help but give in.
"Sesshomaru-sama, good evening," the young wolf pup greeted warmly with a bow, "I wish you and your new mate all the best in the upcoming challenge."
The inu narrowed his eyes and growled just as Kagome spoke up: "Challenge?" which only caused his growled to increase.
"Uh… sorry… I shouldn't have. It wasn't my place," the ookami bared his neck and took a step back upon realizing his mistake.
"What challenge?"
"One of the other lords thinks you aren't suitable to become a lady. You're a miko and some youkai still have a grudge against them," Rin explained not caring about the warning her previous lord gave her.
"Sesshomaru?" Kagome turned her focus on the inu who didn't say anything but it was obvious he was irritated.
It occurred to her that her mate was worried about losing her and therefore hadn't told her anything because he didn't want her to worry either. It was hard and against everything she wanted to say at that moment but she dropped it. At least while they had their guests to attend to.
"There's tea in the drawing room Rin, would you like to join me while the men uh… talk things out?" she asked remembering what she had be taught earlier.
Rin nodded and linking arms together they walked away leaving Sesshomaru and Keitaro to talk certain issues over. In the familiar room Rin helped Kagome to sit on the pillowed floor sitting at a tradition low table. From there the lady of the house poured a cup of tea for her guest and then for herself.
"Tell me Rin, what's it like living in a youkai society," Kagome begun hoping that Rin would ease her concerns.
"I don't think my experience will compare to anything you will face," the woman answered honestly without a second's pause.
"Why?"
"Because of your status… as a miko you're a hated enemy to many youkai. Don't get me wrong, Lord Sesshomaru won't let anything happen to you, he's very protective, but the obstacles you will face with him will be much different from me. Many will most likely be difficult and tasks that I would personally never be able to overcome. But I know you're strong and you were able to change my lord so I know you can handle anything the other Lords or Ladies throw at you."
"Oh," Kagome sighed letting silence fall over the women for a few moments as they sipped their tea, "So what is this challenge thing exactly?"
"Lord Sesshomaru will have to explain the rest to you, it's not my place," Rin mumbled.
"What? Why?"
"I can't interfere with this household anymore since I have a household of my own to run now," she obediently replied.
Kagome furrowed her brows a little confused, "But isn't Sesshomaru like your father?"
"Yes but once a female pup is mated she belongs solely to her mate. That's why the father must find a strong reliable mate for his daughter."
"I don't know if I agree with that…" she trailed off with concern for future pups.
"You won't have to worry for a while. You'll get use to it… and a pup can't mate before turning one hundred and fifty years old. So you have plenty of time and you can request visits from them at any time."
"Wait a minute, how did you survive so long before mating with you."
"Lord Sesshomaru shared his blood to create a bond until he found a mate to overrule the power he had over my life force," Kagome was fascinated but still couldn't help question something that concerned her.
"Didn't you want to choose your mate on your own?"
"I suppose, but I'm use to this lifestyle. In a way I guess I did have a choice. Lord Sesshomaru gave me multiple potentials to pick from and I secretly had a crush on Keitaro for quite some time. So it was arranged to an extent but we're happy this way."
"Hn," this time their moment of silence was broken by the maid coming to announce dinner was ready, "Say I was wondering Rin… Sesshomaru he wouldn't bore easily would he? I mean… of me?" Kagome whispered before they left the room.
"Again that's not my place to say," Rin began, "but he seems much happier now. I've witnessed a change some time ago, but it vanished leaving his previous coldness except when he was alone with Keitaro or me for training purposes. It would seem that the source of his pleasure has returned."
The small kind words were pleasantly soothing, calming her fears quite nicely and the two quick friends slowly headed out of the room to the formal dining room. Sesshomaru and Keitaro greeted them at the bottom of the grand stair case to escort them to the family dinner.
"Did you sort things out my lords?" Rin giggled wrapping her arm around her mate's.
The serious aura about her mate concerned the miko but she said nothing and happily obliged in letting her arm become the prisoner to the inu's will. Through the dinner Kagome was led through a polite conversation, something that she would need to continue to practice for the upcoming dinner in a couple of weeks.
Sesshomaru remained silent except when answering a question Keitaro brought up here and there. Kagome was fascinated with the tales Rin had to tell. In a short time she learnt a lot about the woman now. The two had yet to have pups but we contemplating the thought for the near future once Keitaro gain full control over his lands. But it grew annoying to the miko when the other woman mumbled it wasn't her place to say. At times like these she would look to Sesshomaru who would say nothing forcing a under breath grumble from the woman.
"Do you know what you are having gender wise?"
"Yes, two boys and a girl," she happily forgetting her slight anger with the topic change. "I do hope you are allowed to come see them when they are born."
"I will come once I am permitted to be around them."
Looking confused, Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, figuring that once again Rin would be unable to answer. She noticed the hues swirling hues contemplating before he decided to answer.
"You will not be permitted visitors for the first couple of weeks."
Kagome glared. There was more to this all that the inu wasn't sharing and she knew it.
"My beast will not consent to guests until it assures your health is well and stable. You need time to rest and heal from prying eyes."
Hiding a sigh Kagome decided it would be best to discuss things with Sesshomaru later when they were alone. It wouldn't do to get in the habit of arguing with people around if she would disgrace him and dishonour herself in the process. It was bad enough there were people who would hate her simply because she was a vessel of holy powers.
Instead her attention turned to Rin, "Perhaps you could come along for a shopping trip with me. There still lots to get…" Kagome picked up on the slight tilt of her head to the male beside her. Picking up the hint Kagome looked to Keitaro. "I mean if that is alright with you Lord Keitaro."
"Please do," his voice reflected relief.
Both the women's eyes sparkled. Before they began talking about possible stores to go for. But the miko was careful to note the way Sesshomaru seemed tense through the rest of the meal.
"We should do this more often," Rin suggested before they finished the last of their meal. "Women need a lot of company, not just a mate and maids." Her enforcement was from experience, which told its tale in the way she darted a glance to her own mate.
"You are my woman. I will not share you with others," Keitaro growled possessively.
The sight pleased Kagome. It showed her that Sesshomaru wasn't the only one show a desire to keep her close and hidden from others.
"Kagome when would you like to go shopping?" Rin asked.
"Hn," Sesshomaru pushed his chair back and stood. Kagome waited until he offered his hand for her to take. Such discussions can wait for a later time, for now my mate needs to rest."
"Sesshomaru, I'm feeling fine. You don't have to send them away so soon."
The inu stared at her, first it seemed he was feeling disbelief, but his eyes narrowed suggesting anger. "Come," he barked.
Looking to Keitaro and then Rin she wished them good evening and politely excused herself. Kagome followed Sesshomaru back to their room in utter silence. Once the door shut softly behind them the miko was firmly pressed against it with a snarling inu caging her body.
"You will never question your mate's judgement before an audience again. Do you understand?" his voice was little more than a low hiss.
"No," Kagome stated shakily, "I don't understand. I am not use to this way of handling things. This is ludicrous. Women have been given right all over the world and have held those rights for many years now Sesshomaru. I like my freedom and my freewill. I don't think I can submit in the way you want me too."
Both beings glared. After a few moments Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around the miko then lifted her from her feet before carrying her to the bed in the adjoining room and depositing her carefully but none too elegantly. Kagome, bewildered at the action, scrambled to sit up. Her feet curled beneath her as she propped herself up with her hands and demanded with irritated eyes to know what the man before her thought he was doing.
"I cannot allow you to question my actions in matters that you do not understand. You will not leave these chambers until I return."
Sesshomaru sharply turned and closed the doors before Kagome could even climb to her feet. By the time she pried open the double doors to the outer chamber the doors to leading to the hall were shutting, leaving a small click to signal Sesshomaru's departure to the top of the stairs. The woman rushed forward, stumbling on her feet, but catching her balance, to reach the doors and yank them open. Her full intent was to speak her mind to the arrogant inu that thought he could control her as if she were less than he was. However, the doors didn't budge and she quickly realized he had locked her in with the same spell that would allow her to wander the corridors of the house.
"Damn you Sesshomaru. I am not some animal you can cage whenever you feel like it! I know you can hear me! Let me out! SESSHOMARU!" Her fist pounded on the door. Pain rushed through it but she ignored the sensation and the redness forming with each smash of flesh on wood. "You'll regret putting me in here," she promised as her aura flared violently.
A sudden wave of pain washed over her and she was forced to retreat to the fluff that belonged to the one being she hated at the moment. With the fur wrapped tightly around her she slowly roamed about the two rooms, waiting patiently as she ranted through the many dark passageways of her mind. Though she was trapped at the moment, she was well aware he would have to return. At that time she hoped he had a death wish. Kagome Higurashi was not a force to be reckoned with when angry.
xXx
On the other side of the house the inu waited. Time did not move quickly as he impatiently lingered within the walls of his study. The dark room remained free from all natural light. Everything about the place enforced concentration on the work piled with little logical organization. It mattered not to him how his desk appeared since there were few who were ever permitted in the room.
In the distance he could hear and then feel his mate brooding. But it was something that had to be done. Though his beast had been lenient with the human creature, he was unable to allow anything to overrule his instincts now that his mate's safety was in question. He was the dominate partner and it was high time she learnt the lesson she would have learned five hundred years earlier if she had not been taken back to this time. It was unnatural to have a woman question the alpha and mate's judgment. It would take time but he would correct her bad teachings he simply needed form a plan that bent rather than break her.
"Milord," a maid bowed while entering the room after a quick knock, "Seiji is here to see you. I've escorted him to the parlour and presented him with tea. Did you need anything else?"
"Hn."
Golden eyes fell upon the only hanyou of his household. He didn't understand what had brought him to accept the mix blood in his household. A vague memory reminded him it was a favour for a friend of the family, but it didn't explain why he had said yes.
"Does your family keep to tradition?" he posed before the female left the room.
"Excuse me Milord?" she stopped her leave to pay attention to the sudden words from the inu.
"The family you live with, do they heed to the traditional role of women?"
"Ah… no Milord. My father seeks my opinion on many matters, so long as I am obedient when I am around others he doesn't care if I speak out around familiar, friendly faces."
"Hn."
"If I delete Milord would hear me out, though my request is out of place." The servant listened to her master's silence and proceeded before she was denied her chance to help the woman she was growing attach to. "Milady is reserved, more so than most. I am certain if she has free range within the house she would agree to your terms outside these walls."
"May I prepare tea and a light snack for Milady?"
A short nod before he rose dismissed the female to the kitchens as Sesshomaru headed to the parlour, all the while thinking about the hanyou's words. Perhaps he needed to go about things in a different manner? But in return he would assure his female understood there were things she simply had to accept.
"Sesshomaru, you've kept me waiting," a voice interrupted.
"Withdraw Seiji, your foolishness will mean your death."
"Ah, the young miko seems to have cast a spell on you, for you know better than anyone else the damage her kind has caused."
"I am under no enchantment," Sesshomaru replied casually.
"Is this a way to torture the souls that live after witnessing the deaths of love ones?"
"My mate was not involved in the deaths you speak of."
"No, not personally, but what of her family? With her immense power she must come from a powerful line of mikos. She is a threat that must be extracted. She cannot be permitted within youkai society. She would become the death of us should she wish to exterminate us or lose control of her power. If you kill her now you will prevent yourself from growing too attached."
Sesshomaru growled deeply from his throat. "Kagome carries the pups of this house, I will not allow any to harm the mother of this Sesshomaru's pups. To even suggest such a traitorous act could cost you your life."
"Pup another Sesshomaru. There are many females who will grace your bed and would be honoured to carry your cherished child. Even more would willingly do so without the need to be mated. Don't follow your father's steps and pup a hanyou to disgrace your line even more. You know what you must do in order to keep your title and lands from war. Kill the miko. She trusts you does she not? So slip poison into her food, or when she's asleep…"
Eyes bled red as the vibration from the low dangerous croon deepened further. But another heartbeat located outside of the room caught his attention. Rotating around golden eyes landed upon the confused, shocked, and hurt filled sapphires.
Ja ne
Angelic Memories
© 2009
