***SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT BUT SUPER IMPORTANT!
So I actually have the next chapter draft done, as well as some of the one after that (sometimes it's just translating that into a final that takes so long -_-' ) but now I need QUESTIONS! What do you want to know? What do you want Sess to ask? These kind of questions/conversations will actually be a recurring theme for them, so please keep them coming!
I have at least partial answers to the questions about exactly when/where/how Kagome is in this place, as well as what has happened to the jewel. I'm probably going to be getting into some theories and philosophy as well (I actually kind of like that, I'm a debater at heart).
SO PLEASE, ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS WILL AT LEAST BE CONSIDERED!
Thank you and please enjoy!***
Chapter 9 – The First Claim
(words: 796)
As the silence stretched on, Kagome's nerves increased, slowly winding tighter and she would have begun to panic, had she not had control of herself- if only a little. She kept herself from squirming in her steat by observing the room. Sesshomaru's lightly opened mouth and dazedly darting eyes captured his attempt to comprehend this large shock of information. They were still seated around the low table, Inukimi on Sesshomaru's right, between himself and Kagome, who sat on her right, taking the adjacent side of the table, rather than the opposite, as was custom.
But distracting herself with observation, even of the highly amusing, slightly fish-gaped, look on Sesshomaru's face, could only last for so long. It was Inukimi's reaction that Kagome fretted over the most. For all the short time they had known each other, she believed herself to have found a good friend in the Western Lady; to lose one of the truest- and most open, friendships she'd had in decades...
She was not ready to loose yet another thing so precious. Her nerves continued to elevate out of control as she waited for Inukimi's verdict.
Currently the Lady's eyes were closed, looking as if she was carved of the most elegant marble, all signs of life- and even her aura, if not for the calm anchor she had on Sesshomaru, gone or slowed to near non-existence. A sign of her massive control, which Kagome did not believe boded well for her. After a few more moments, even Sesshomaru was coming out of his daze with slight concern for the health of his dam. It shocked both parties when she finally moved, eyes opening to show a gaze practically feral with glee, as well as a matchingly smug quirk parting her lips. In less than a blink, Inukimi was at Kagome's side, one hand companionably around her bicep, another resting over the same wrist. The excitement in her aura both soothed and agitated Kagome's worry, though she still leaned unconsciously into the warm touch as Inukimi spoke with a brand of mischievous humor that would be very detrimental to its target.
"Kagome-chan, there are almost no words for the boon you have proven yourself to be. Not only will you be helping the extreme lack of good sense in this pack," Kagome choked up as the impact of those words hit her, all the while Inukimi's smile became downright wicked as she leaned into Kagome conspiratorially. "You also provide the proof I need to crush that old Gem Master and positively smother his with his own maleness!" The pointed glee of that sentence helped startle Kagome into being able to speak past the lump of fear in her throat.
"Maleness? You mean- you believe me Inukimi-san?" Kagome, especially with the long pause, had prepared herself for the worst, or at least for Inukimi to look at her like she was a loon. The female simply gave her a teasing look, a vicious glee clear in her eyes.
"Yes; male must surely be the dirtiest word in any language." She then became serious, the hand she had cupped now in a gentle grasp as she made soothing circles into Kagome's wrist. Locking eyes with not a hint of challenge, Inukimi gently crowded her space. "Kagome-chan, you have proven yourself to me multiple times, each without a shadow of a doubt, indebted me to you beyond words and yet have not even mentioned claiming reward or compensation. You have entrusted me with your scars. Whether you wish it or not, you are pack to me, Sister, and will remain so until the end of our days and so far beyond." In comfort, and to silence any protest, Inukimi leaned the rest of the way in and nuzzled against the side of Kagome's face, banishing the tears that had begun to gather in the miko's eyes. Kagome let out a small whimper, reciprocating and reveling in the contact she had not had since her son.
Slowly breaking contact, the females pulled back, though they stayed pressed against each other and Inukimi squeezed the wrist she held captive before returning to stroking it occasionally. Checking quickly on Sesshomaru, who they had ignored for quite a while now, his dumbfounded look brought the amusement back to Inukimi's expression. She turned back to the emotional but calming Kagome, genuine smile on her face.
"Now, in light of this, I must insist you call me Tsukiko, Kagome-chan, when not in Court. I do believe you mentioned some of the faces are the same, so as a female pack-mate, you really must tell me everything." And again, Tsukiko's smile turned wicked as Kagome smiled genuinely, a small giggle in her throat.
'Oh, I have missed this.'
***Thank you for making it to the end!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO FEED THE AUTHOR! I NEED QUESTIONS PLEASE!***
