Heirlooms

Author: Shortey 83

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do NOT own InuYasha or any of it's characters!

Story Start:

Inu no Taisho woke a few hours later, the dim firelight lighting the room. The sweet smell of Kiyoshi close by, but not her body. It irked him a little to see her snuggled up to Sesshomaru, but he watched as Sesshomaru rolled onto his back, bringing Kiyoshi to lie on his chest, one of her hands wrapped tightly around his waist, while one of her legs rested between his- again there was that sigh. It was a sigh of complete bliss. The great demon knew then, watching his own, son, void of all emotion wake briefly to check on her, then fall back to sleep, that the only reason he had been kept alive was not to defeat this new panther master ( that had only been a cover up). He had been kept alive in order to bring this soft, gentle, and warm being to warm his son's icy demeanor, and of course to get to know his younger son. He realized then that never had her family said that it was he who would destroy this new enemy, but he was needed in order to do so. Perhaps it was this sweet little kitten who had been meant to do so all along, or maybe there was something else that her ancestor had seen... He reached out to stroke her soft hair, and sat up to place a gentle kiss on her cheek, "Sleep well, Kitten." he said to her softly then stood up and dressed.

Faintly, he remembered reading a scroll… who knew how many centuries ago, that had recently cropped up into his mind, and he had to find it. He placed on his armor just so he could carry it back to his room, and quickly bathed before heading to the library. He headed to the section of the library that held the oldest scrolls and pulled out a few to read. He continued to read scroll after scroll none of them the one he was looking for, but he continued on as dawn approached and finally the castle began to stir. He was frustrated to say the least, yet he was more determined, feeling like this one little scroll would answer the question of 'Why'. Why was Sesshomaru so instantly attracted to Kiyoshi? Why was she so attracted to him? Why was Sesshomaru so possessive of her? Why was she so willing to submit to Sesshomaru, and yet ignore himself, who was both stronger and more deadly than his son? And finally, Why did she seem so necessary to Sesshomaru, who had, for centuries, held such a strong hatred for humans and now acted as though she was the center of his emotionless universe? He knew the answer was probably in this one scroll, and it was a simple, unexplainable answer. Finally! he thought as the sun rose to mid morning. It explained and answered every question with just two words… Life Mates… Inu no Taisho thought. He remembered hearing stories when he was only a child about a demon finding his life mate, but apparently it was so rare that was all it was believe to be, a story. According to this scroll, once a demon saw his or her life mate, the connection was both instant and permanent for both. Well… he thought, leaning back and folding his hands behind his head, This changes things…

Sesshomaru heard his father leave the room a few hours before dawn and opened his eyes once more to see Kiyoshi still cuddled up to his chest and sleeping soundly. After how hard they had worked her, Sesshomaru guessed she would be out cold for many more hours. He couldn't explain the…relief he had felt once his father had left. The relief that he was now alone with his Kiyoshi and wouldn't ever have to share her affections again with anyone. The connection they shared only continued to grow the more they were together. He felt her panic once his father had pulled her away from him and placed her on his own lap, but she began to calm with only a touch and began to go with things once he had told her to relax. It was like if she had him near and he 'approved' of the situation, then she would do as she was told, although it was as if she had been attempting to loose herself in the sensations rather than enjoy them. The exception to that would be the last time he had taken her with no interruption from his father. That simple fact made her his female, dammit, and he would not share her again with anyone! Carefully, as not to disturb her peaceful sleep in the least, he moved out from under her and exposed her neck to him. He didn't care if he had her permission or not, nothing was going to keep him from taking her the next time. Without any hesitation, he bit down on the exact spot his father had placed his mark, and held his bite to leave a more potent dose of his scent on her. When she began to stir was when he let go, licking the wound and leaving an angry red patch and two deep purple circles lining his fang marks. Now his father wouldn't be able come within five feet of her without getting a strong smell of his son's scent rather than the sweet smell of Kiyoshi. Smirking to himself, he laid down beside her, not knowing that his father wouldn't be the only one to face the little human's wrath.

Kiyoshi woke up in her own bed and the light shining in the window helped her to determine that it was some time in the afternoon. Sitting up, she found herself still exhausted and aching all over. Briefly she wondered what could have happened to her, but images of naked, straining bodies popped into mind, and not of just her and Sesshomaru. That evil, deceitful, conniving bastard! she screamed mentally, balling her hands up into fists up nearly tight enough to draw blood. After all we did for him, he still took advantage of me! If anger could have been seen like heat, wave after wave would have radiating from her every pore, melting everything in the entire room. And Sesshomaru! she continued to seethe. How dare he keep that from me! He decided to wait and…inform me, when it was convenient for him! I don't think so… She glanced to the bedside table and found a goblet with that nasty herb mixture that made her sleep, and quickly downed it. She had already decided she didn't care how foul the stuff tasted, and laid down falling into an angry sleep.

Inu no Taisho decided he had gone long enough without speaking to Kiyoshi and made his way to her rooms. She had slept all day yesterday and all night with the help of a sleeping potion, and today she would be getting out of bed. Secretly he hoped he could wake her, although it seemed to annoy her last time. However, when he opened the door, he was surprised to see her sitting up in bed- almost as surprised as seeing her expression and boy did she look pissed. She merely sat there an glared at him, her arms crossed over her chest and leaning against the head board. Sesshomaru appeared beside him and looked in the door as well, his eyes widening in surprise at her appearance. "Kitten?" he asked nervously, wondering if she had been possessed possibly. "Don't. You. Dare. Call. Me. That." she said slowly, making sure to emphasize every word. "Now Kit-" he began. "I said don't call me that!" she cut him off. "Not after what you did." Originally, he had felt good, believing he had brought her pleasure, only a little concerned at finding out that she and Sesshomaru were possibly life mates, but now he really felt guilty. He had taken advantage of her out of sheer curiosity, and to provoke his son a bit, knowing that her family had cared for him. For the first time, the great Inu no Taisho felt… ashamed of himself. She needed say nothing else to him. He understood and walked away.

Sesshomaru watched his father, a proud demon, hang his head in shame as he walked away from Kiyoshi's chambers in defeat. It made things better in his perspective, knowing that Kiyoshi was mad at him after what he had done and turned to walk into her room. "I don't think so." she said, stopping him dead in his tracks. "I'm mad to you too." she informed him. "Because you decided to wait until it was convenient for you to tell me what he did." Damn he thought deciding it was better not to argue with her and followed his father, also defeated. He found him sitting outside on the lawn of the palace and a few jars sitting beside him. Sesshomaru, despite how mad he was at his father, sat beside him and took sakazuki he handed to him. "Women" Sesshomaru muttered, taking a sip of his sake. "Human women." his father corrected, and also took a sip of his sake. It wasn't long before all of the jars were empty.

It was late in the evening when someone knocked on her door. "What?" she asked whoever it was. The door opened and InuYasha stepped in. "Yes?" she asked, her irritation disappearing at seeing it was the half demon. "Look out your window." That was all he said, heading that way himself. Kiyoshi's brows pulled together in confusion, but she got up off the bed, stood beside him, and watched in utter disbelief as Sesshomaru and his father calmly sat beside each other…drinking. "Tell me they're not drinking what I think they're drinking." She pleaded the half demon, but he wasn't merciful. "It's sake… and a very strong sake at that." he paused as they each refilled their sakazuki "It's even effective on demons, although it takes a bit more than for a human." Speaking of human… "Where's Kagome?" she asked, wondering why he had come alone. "We got into it again, and well… See for yourself." And there, sitting on the other side of Inu no Taisho, was Kagome a small sake cup in her own hand. "huh" That's all Kiyoshi could say. "Shouldn't that be you sitting there?" she finally asked. InuYasha nodded "It would have been if I had decided to go the way she went and the other way around." The two of them stood there and watched for a few minutes and decided, once Kagome started to attempt walking, that it was a good time to go and get her. As far as Kiyoshi was concerned, the other two could make complete fools out of themselves.

When they got outside, Kiyoshi decided it was best if she went and got Kagome rather than InuYasha, since she was mad at him after all. She ignored the other two. "Kitten! Have you forgiven me yet?!" Inu no Taisho boomed after downing another swallow of sake. Kiyoshi ignored him and made Kagome look at her. "That's enough for you, my dear." she said, prying the sake cup from her unsteady hands. "Who says?" she demanded rather loudly. "I do." Kiyoshi moved the sake jar away before she could grab it instead. "You're completely drunk." Kagome's drunken face suddenly looked offended. "I'm not drunk!" she protested "You witch. Bitch." she giggled "You bitchy witch." Kiyoshi cocked an eyebrow "I understand the witch, but a Bitch?" Kagome nodded. "You slept with Sesshomaru, and he's a dog demon, so that make's you his bitch." she explained, somehow managing to grab another jar of sake and take a sip before Kiyoshi snatched it away from her. "Exactly…" Sesshomaru chimed in, glaring at his father. "She's my bitch." He dropped his glare to take a sip of his sake. "But the real question is," Kagome continued "Is why did you do it? Now that you've had him, your going to be stuck in this hell! Once you're in, there's no getting out." She pulled down the neck of her kimono, exposing two puncture wounds that had healed but left their scars. "You see, once they mark you permanently, there's no living without them. Hell, I tell you, Hell!" Kiyoshi looked at her surroundings before she asked "This hell?" Her brows had raised in question. "This castle-hell with lush rolling hills of never ending, beautiful landscape, fierce demons bent on protecting you, and a strong, handsome silver haired, dog eared warrior who's madly in love with you? That Hell?" "Yes! You understand!" They were interrupted by Inu no Taisho "A demon's mark is usually regarded as romantic for willing human mates!" he objected. "It's hardly romantic" she muttered before she perked up drastically "But it'll make you come!" "Can't she just stop talking and pass out already?" she heard InuYasha ask from a bit closer, but Kagome paid him no mind. "Kagome," Kiyoshi asked "Are you unhappy with InuYasha?" "No!" she shouted "I love him so much!" it looked as if the raw emotion had her to the point of tears. "All right then." Kiyoshi said, standing her up. "Then why don't you tell him?" She wobbled a bit before she threw her arms out and stumbled over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I Love You!" she shouted, and Kiyoshi wondered if merely drinking sake hindered a person's ability to hear clearly. "Come here, Sweet." She suddenly heard Sesshomaru say. "I think we should 'make up' as well." He took another sip of his sake. "I'll not be making up with you until you're sober." she told him, enjoying that he stopped mid-sip and tossed the sakazuki over his shoulder. "Anything for you, Sweet." He didn't say another word, but simply laid down on his back and closed his eyes. He's asleep! Kiyoshi thought with irritation, and before his father could say anything she told him. "Not a word out of you. I would much rather you pass out as well." He did and she stormed back inside and wondered how drinking ever solved anything.

Kiyoshi checked on them every now and again until it began getting dark and, consequentially, cold. She was well aware that they were demons, but she still didn't like the idea of Sesshomaru being out in the cold, his father, however, she hoped he would get frostbite. As the afternoon had progressed, clouds had been increasing in number, now there were small specks of white drifting past the window. She went over to the bag she had brought with her sitting in the corner (nearly forgotten since she had been wearing so many kimonos) and pulled on a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, and her light jacket and headed outside. Biting cold met her as she stepped out of the castles warmth and into snowy night, making her regret waiting so long to come and get Sesshomaru… and, reluctantly, his father. They were laying exactly where she had left them, sleeping soundly with a thin layer of snow for a cold blanket. She knelt down next to Sesshomaru and gently shook his shoulder. "Sesshomaru, wake up." she said softly. Sake must have worn off faster for demons than humans, at least somewhat, she guessed since Sesshomaru slowly opened his amber eyes, only slightly glazed over. "Come on. It's cold out here." she said, wrapping her arms around her body since the cold was already working it's way through her thin jacket. He did as he was told and stood up, a bit unsteady. Maybe he's not as sober as I thought… Kiyoshi thought, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling his arm around her shoulders, helping to steady him. He leaned some of his weight on her, and man was he heavy…at least to her. "Let's go." she said, walking them back to the castle, stopping by Inu no Taisho long enough to kick the sole of his foot. He sat up, startled and looked around then to her. "It's cold. Go inside." she told him and continued to help Sesshomaru inside.

It took a lot longer for her to get back up to their rooms than it had for her to get down, but that was because Sesshomaru kept swaying each time they went up a stair. It seemed to Kiyoshi though that he appeared to be sobering up even more as they walked since his stumbling became less and less. After what seemed like an eternity, Kiyoshi finally had him in his room and sat him down on his bed. Deciding his armor looked uncomfortable to sleep in she began to unfasten the straps securing it to his body. "I thought you were mad at me?" he asked, his voice as emotionless as ever. Kiyoshi moved his furry pelt from his shoulder to reach another strap. "I am… I was, but that doesn't mean I want to leave you out in the cold." He sat there another moment not speaking, only watching her as she pulled part of his armor away, and decided to move the heavy material to the floor since she seemed to be struggling with it a bit. "You have forgiven me then?" he asked, standing and turning around so that she could loosen the last two straps. Kiyoshi moved his long silver hair to the side and removed the last two straps, letting him move them out of her way. She couldn't even fathom how he moved so quickly with it. "That depends…" she told him. Sesshomaru turned and sat back on the bed, swaying only slightly, and raised a brow. "As I told you, my father will never lay his hands on you in such a manner again. He gave me his word." Kiyoshi nodded. "While I'm glad with that," she said pulling down the collar of her shirt, showing him the mark his bite had left, "I was actually talking about this. There will be no more biting without asking first." He thought a moment. "That mark keeps other males away from you." he paused, confusion settling into the features of his perfect face. "Would you refuse me for another?" "No!" Kiyoshi gasped, a bit insulted he would ask such a question. "Then why would I bother to ask?" He has a point there… Kiyoshi thought, but answered instead "Because I said so." He thought on that for a moment. "How about we compromise and I ask you once to cover all future situations?" She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed "Fine…" His face cleared of all emotion again. "Very well. May I mark you as my woman when need be?" Kiyoshi frowned. "I didn't mean right now… but sure."

He nodded, and untied the knot holding his haori shut, baring his chiseled chest to her, and tossed it across the room. "Then shall we 'make up' now?" She sighed, knowing he was still a bit drunk. "No, I wouldn't feel right if I took advantage of you while you're still so drunk and venerable." Though it was a tempting idea… "This Sesshomaru is never venerable." he objected as she removed his swords from his obi, and set them next to his bed. She pushed him so that he would lie down on the bed and climbed up beside him, snuggling into his chest. "If you insist…" she yawned, "We'll see in the morning… if you're completely sober then." He nodded and let his head fall back into a pillow. It was only after his chest began to rise and fall in a steady rhythm did Kiyoshi fall asleep.