A/N WARNING! There be lemony conduct ahead! It is not the sunny happy kind either. We're talking group sex, oral and a bit of sexual menacing. If you can't handle it or it offends you take yourself elsewhere for this is not the place for you! It is only a part of the chapter and no...I won't be warning you with a page break. Get over it. :-)
Kagome was livid.
She filled the silence of the western manor with the tapping of her pacing feet.
"How fucking dare he?" she thought furiously.
Shippo and Satoshi had just briefed her on the state of affairs in the main village. She couldn't believe Suzaku was this brash with his newly appointed power. It had only been a few short weeks and the bastard barely waited for the ink to dry on the proclamation before changing things to suit his own preferences.
The guards were the first thing to change. The walls and gates were now overseen by hawks and herons while the inu and neko youkai servants and soldiers had been either dismissed with severance pay or relegated to menial tasks such as gardening or cleaning. The only loyal retainers that remained were Shippo, Satoshi and Amaya.
Takeshi had been dismissed along with the rest of the fighting force, but was still in contact with Amaya, whose regular forays into the villages provided Kagome with the knowledge that those loyal to Sesshomaru remained in the area ready to jump at her word.
At her request, Kikyo had taken to spending her days with Akira serving both as nanny and protector of sorts. Amaya's service as Kagome's maid still hid her true purpose and abilities which was a great boon for Kagome's morale. She wasn't sure what she would have done without the four of them to help her.
Her contact with her youngest child had been cut down to a minimum. Suzaku only let her see him once every few days and never unsupervised. There were always guards hovering nearby to listen for any seditious whisperings. Kagome spent her time with Akira in the garden usually, or the dojo if it was raining out. She kept him from worrying as much as she could although she knew he was afraid and unsettled by the recent turn of events. and she refrained from asking him about what Suzaku taught him during his time with the phoenix.
Kagome had kept her tongue behind her teeth through all of these changes, speaking up only when Suzaku had sought to dismiss Shippo and Satoshi, informing him of Shippo's status as her adopted son and Satoshi's position as personal bodyguard. She had seen anger in the flaming depths of his eyes but he let her have her way.
This news from the village was too much for her. Kagome couldn't just watch as all her hard work was undone by petty prejudices and childish control games.
Shippo and Satoshi stood outside Kagome's door and listened to her pacing. Their sharp ears picked up the sounds of her frustration, grinding teeth, heavy sighs full of unspoken screams. They flanked her door and listened, both regretting giving her such information to upset her so. They had watched as she held onto her temper with threads of resolve that grew thinner with each passing day. Belatedly, Shippo wondered if this would be the last straw for her.
He had been hatching plans on his own, silently trying to fulfill his final order from Sesshomaru before he left.
'Keep her safe kit.' The tayoukai had told him.'Especially from her own folly.' Those golden eyes had pinned him with an intense stare.'If she or Akira are in danger, you are to remove them from it, do I make myself clear?' Shippo had bowed in acknowledgment.
'Do not waste time trying to solve the problem, just take them far from harm and wait for me, understood?' His voice severe and hard brooked no room for argument.
'Hai Sesshomaru-sama, I will keep them safe.' The silver Inu had studied him for a moment before nodding and turning away. His parting words floated on the breeze back to the auburn kit. 'Knock her out if you have to, Shippo.'
Shippo bowed to hide his grin.
At the time, he didn't think he would need to fulfill that part of his duty, but events since made it appallingly clear that a growing threat surrounded Kagome and Akira. He felt bad that he wasn't sharing his plans with Satoshi, but he knew if he was found out that Satoshi would be as well, and he would rather have him as an ally roaming freely if that happened.
All movement stopped within the chamber and the two kitsune glanced at one another questioningly. Both their eyes widened when they heard "That's it!" from within and before they could react Kagome had thrown open the doors and swept out into the hallway in fine temper.
Having reached a point at which she could no longer hold her tongue, she marched swiftly through the corridors of the manor, making her way to the room that used to house her marriage bed with Sesshomaru. The phoenix had claimed the chamber days after becoming regent and Kagome had moved her things to the other end of the family wing. Suzaku had then decreed Akira's new rooms to be adjacent to his own in the interest of being near to meet every need the inu lordling may have.
Kagome was not fooled.
The subtle threat to her child had been the only thing keeping her silent, but this was too much to bear. She approached the phoenix lord's chambers only to be blocked by his falcon guards at his door, Shippo and Satoshi caught up to her just in time to see her reishi swell about her in anger.
"You will remove yourself from my path!" she hissed at the avian guards who, though nervous, stood their ground.
"My pardon milady, but milord does not wish to be disturbed." A rather impressive snarl came from Kagome accompanied by a pulse in her reishi.
"I am here to disturb him, so are you prepared to stop me with the point of your lance?" the two falcons shifted nervously, but were saved from this decision by the oily voice of their master.
"Let her in."
The doors were opened to reveal Suzaku reclining in Sesshomaru's beautiful bed surrounded by several courtesans. None of the beds' occupants wore a stitch of clothing nor did they seem disturbed by her angry entrance.
Suzaku watched her enter with bored eyes and smirked as her face flushed as soon as she realized what she was seeing. Suzaku tapped one of his servants on the shoulder indicating they should withdraw from his lap. With a small sigh of resignation the courtesan shifted and covered his masters' hips with a thin silk cloth.
"To what do I owe this honor Miko-chan?" He grinned lasciviously, taking in the high color that painted her cheekbones and flushed the skin on her chest. "Has your loneliness finally overcome your mistrust?"
Kagome's nostrils flared as did her reishi. "I would speak to you without your…toys present." She managed.
Suzaku emitted a theatrical sigh and turned sad eyes on his companions. "I must ask you to leave for a little, my pretties." He stretched his lean body back onto the pillows, reaching languidly for the breast of one of his hummingbirds. The courtesan let out a breathy sigh as the taiyoukai fondled her nipple, a sigh that turned into a sensual cry when he pinched. "Do come back soon, for I am not finished with you."
The courtesan who had been removed from the lap of the phoenix turned…oh his head and looked reproachfully at Kagome before leaning in to nuzzle Suzaku's nether regions, eliciting a chuckle from him.
"It won't be long my pet." He said, bucking his pelvis against the boy's face.
Kagome felt her stomach lurch, doubly so as the four courtesans all rose unabashedly from the futon naked as the day they were born. She steadfastly ignored them as they minced past her bodyguards, petting them with straying hands on their way out.
"Now, my dear." Said the phoenix as he rose from the futon and lazily donned a thin sleeping yukata. "What may I do for you?"
Kagome looked at him with such ire that he felt his cock jerk with want.
'She's so ravishing when she's angry.'
"How dare you!" she hissed at him.
His feathery brows lifted toward his hairline and he glanced at the two kitsune hovering behind her. "I must confess my dear, I do not know what you are referring t,o but could we have some privacy?" He looked pointedly at the two rangers.
Kagome spoke without turning. "Shippo, Satoshi, could you please remove yourselves to the corridor? I have some things I need to discuss with Suzaku-sama." Kagome had to consciously add the honorific fighting the urge to replace it with baka.
Shippo hesitated for a moment, but turned and followed his blonde companion out of the room. The chamber doors shut and Kagome found herself alone with the fire bird. Suzaku moved over to the tea service and gestured to it.
"May I offer you some refreshment, miko-chan?"
"Cut the crap, Suzaku. Where do you come off driving people from their homes?"
"People?" He frowned in thought for a moment. "Ah, you must mean the ningen degenerates that infested your villages. No need to thank me my dear, I just took it upon myself to clean up the riff raff."
"Degenerates? Riff Raff? Surely you do not take me for such a fool." She replied darkly.
"Not at all Miko-chan, I find you intelligent, feisty and quite….pleasant." he said this last with a suggestive leer. He drew closer to her, the thin yukata hanging freely without a tie around his nude form.
Kagome glared at him.
"I don't understand your anger miko-chan. I am merely providing your son with a fine example of how to improve the lives of his people."
He was looking down at her smugly with his arms crossed loosely over his chest. She wanted to scream and rage at him. Instead.
"They were all his people. Ningen and youkai alike."
Suzaku waved one hand dismissively. "Don't worry my dear, I will teach him the ways of the youkai. Our strengths and how to use them to keep your power. Our power and how to use it to get your pleasures, few though they are in this world." He stepped closer to her, eyes roving over her form, lingering hungrily in certain places.
Kagome held eye contact with him until she realized he was almost touching her. Then just as quickly realized he was also very aroused.
Suzaku watched with a smirk as she colored deep red and looked away from him in consternation.
"I do very much hope you and I can become...friends." he said, drawing out the last word. He reached out and took gentle hold of a single lock of her raven tresses.
Her gaze snapped up to his with a ferocity he had not anticipated.
"Remove your hand from my person." she leveled at him with a deadly flat tone. Her eyes were snapping green and he felt her reishi curl around him, stinging his skin.
He shivered deliciously and looked down at her with hooded eyes of flame.
"Remove it or I will purify it off and damn the council!"
That got his attention.
Abruptly his smile fell as did his thin fingers from her hair. He had not been so aroused in a very long time and he was so hard it hurt, but he still had the presence of mind to employ self preservation. He was quite attached to all the pieces of himself she might take it in her head to purify.
"I would not say such things if I were you, miko-chan." All allure dropped from his voice, leaving only anger and it chilled her to the bone.
"And why is that?" she shot back.
Suzaku walked behind her and stopped. He was facing away from her, and he gave a deep sigh.
"I would hate for anything to happen to your house. There has been enough tragedy here already."
Kagome stiffened and spun to face him. He still looked away from her as though the wall was suddenly terribly fascinating.
"You're a monster!" she hissed.
"The only exit from Akira's room is through my chamber, it would be terrible if that exit were blocked and a fire took the house."
Kagome stared at him in speechless horror, he stared back with lustful malice.
"Simple actions could be taken to prevent any possibility of such a tragedy happening. We must all cooperate and work together to be a healthy family."
"The council will never let you get away with that! Killing my child! The heir to the West?" She suddenly felt the urge to scoff at him and his ridiculous opinion of his own importance.
"Oh, but accidents happen all the time. I suppose I would be out with you milady, perhaps taking a palanquin ride about the countryside. So tragic, just when love was returning to the House of the Moon."
Kagome fought madly against the urge to smash his shitty face in.
Suzaku took advantage of her silence. "I would keep in mind miko-chan, the fate of your house rests in my steady guiding hand. I would hate for you to be deemed a danger to youkai society. I would have to become both father and mother to the poor lost pup." The phoenix turned to face her, triumph shining in his eyes.
"Miko-chan." he said the atrocious nick name in a sing song tone that made her hackles rise. "I do believe it's only logical to secure power and protection for your son. Since you cannot provide this for yourself you must ally with someone strong enough to protect the both of you." He turned toward her fully.
"The youkai council deemed me worthy of guiding your son to maturity and protecting the interests of him in his father's stead." He paced a few steps around her, scant centimeters between them.
"Perhaps you should not be so quick to reject the an ally that's not only powerful, but interested." he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Willing, even."
Kagome suppressed a shudder of disgust as his fingers slid over her clavicle and down to rest in between the layers of her kimono, his palm flat against her breastbone.
"You should think on it, Miko-chan." His voice a breath over her ear. "Think deeply and think hard." The heat of his body withdrew from her back. "I will speak with you on this again in two days time. I'm sure you will come to a sensible conclusion, my dear."
Suzaku moved away from her and called to the courtesans. They came in immediately, still nude and joined him on the bed. His yukata fell open and Kagome's view was immediately blocked by the youth from before who had been so reluctant to leave. She was shaking in mute rage and didn't trust herself to move without exploding.
"Oh Miko-chan...still here?" He withdrew his fingers from the juncture of one of the hummingbirds' legs and slowly slicked the digits while staring at Kagome. "Care to join us?"
It was more than she could endure.
Kagome turned on her heel and left the chamber, Shippo and Satoshi fell in step behind her and shadowed her steps back to her rooms. She was disturbingly silent. They arrived at her chamber and she waited till the doors were shut.
"I need Amaya here. She must get word to her brother tonight."
"Mama, why? What are you planning?" Shippo's question was an anxious one, it looked like his plan would have to happen earlier than he anticipated.
"I'm going to kill him Ship." she bit out. "I'm going to slice his deceitful throat myself!"
Shippo opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Satoshi. "Milady what did he say to you?"
She leveled the blonde kitsune with a hard look. "He threatened Akira, Kikyo and her unborn child in one breath and in the next told me I should allow him to be my...consort."
Satoshi snarled and spat a foul word.
"Exactly how I feel." she replied. "He gave me two days to decide if my son's life is worth me denying him." The bitterness in her voice wrenched Shippo's heart.
"I'll have Amaya contact Takeshi and gather the guards, you stay here and rest. This may take some time."
"It can't take too long Shippo, I only have two days."
He nodded curtly and bowed before turning and leaving the room. Satoshi followed after ensuring she would be alright. He caught up with the younger kitsune after a moment, and followed him to the room they shared.
"Ship-kun, aren't we going to find Amaya?"
"No." he replied. "Not yet, I need her to calm down before she orders a siege on the manor for Kami sake." The auburn kit shook his head. "No matter how justified, she can't declare all out war, she will not be able to win."
This assessment brought Satoshi up short. Shippo was right, he realized. By waiting a few hours before sending for Amaya, it would give Kagome the opportunity to calm down and think things over a little better.
"Think you could take the first shift for tonight?" Satoshi nodded and smiled down at the auburn kit.
"Just don't be late relieving me, boy..." Shippo answered with a sideways grin and stayed to contemplate his options.
Kagome emerged into the sunlight of the garden uncharacteristically subdued. She was deep in thought mulling over her options.
Suzaku had been diabolically successful in his maneuverings, encroaching on the Inu house and turning the council against her in one fell swoop. She felt so frightened and utterly alone, she knew Sesshomaru was alive, he had to be; there was no other explanation for her awareness of him. The other youkai did not understand. They thought her insane, clinging desperately to the vanished support of her dead mate. After all, a taiyoukai of Sesshomaru's stature didn't just vanish unless he was dead or otherwise unable to rule.
'It's all the same to them.' She thought with a despairing sigh. The youkai nobles were nothing but thinly veiled beasts waiting with gaping jaws for one of their own to fall prey to weakness so they could take their place and claim their holdings. Those who were loyal to her and her child were fierce, but essentially powerless to stop the events unfolding since the arrival of the firebird.
Suzaku had put on a perfect performance for all involved, except for Kagome herself. When he first arrived, he treated her like an old friend as opposed to the bitter resentment she had expected from his actions over the last century. The longer she held out, insisting that her mate still lived the less accommodating he became. The final crack in his polished façade occurring when she refused his offer of mating.
She had to admit that 'offer' was using the term loosely. He had all but threatened her youngest son and the well being of her pregnant sister-in-law, and she had not been impressed by his endearments nor his - accommodations as he called them.
The situation had become dire; the council was pressuring her to mate another youkai lord, and quickly. They implied if she did not and civil war broke out, she would bear the blame of youkai lives lost in the ensuing conflict. Her daughter was still in the custody of the Kami awaiting judgment for her so called sins, and she had no idea what had happened on the continent to Haruko and the others.
Two things she knew for certain; Sesshomaru was alive and she was quickly running out of time.
Kagome found herself sinking deeper into hopelessness with each passing hour. Kikyo kept close and silent watch over Akira and her own unborn child, something Kagome was extremely grateful for as it allowed her to counteract Suzaku as much as she could. She was nearing the end of the two day time limit set forth by Suzaku.
Shippo was near constantly and she knew it was needed. A sad day to be sure when she needed her bodyguard in her own home.
'Speak of the Devil.' She thought wryly as the auburn kitsune emerged from the shadows of the house and approached her. He seemed ill at ease as he crossed the sun-bleached flagstones to join her near the koi pond. She looked up at him as he came to a stop next to her. She still found herself amazed at the strangest times how tall he was. Shippo gazed down at her with troubles racing across his eyes, reaching out she put a small hand on his arm.
"What troubles you Shippo?" Kagome kept her tone quiet so as not to be overheard. Shippo shifted his weight from on foot to the other and looked at her askance, his turquoise eyes glinting. He turned toward her, covering her small fingers with his own graceful ones. The look in his eyes was almost sad as he opened his down turned mouth.
"Kagome-" a pause.
"Kagome do you trust me?"
"Of course." Her reply was immediate and solid, even though her mind was on alert and wondering what was coming next.
The kit's face scrunched into what could be called a tense grin. "Good, I promised Sesshomaru that I would protect you at all costs, even if it meant knocking you out and dragging you from danger." He paused, his eyes searching her face. "Please don't be angry with me."
Kagome opened her mouth to ask what was wrong with him, but before she could utter a single syllable Shippo deftly moved behind her and covered her mouth and nose with a pungent smelling rag.
Kagome struggled against him, but he was too fast and pinned her arms at her sides, waiting until she lost her battle with the drug and slumped senseless into his waiting embrace.
Shippo breathed a quick sigh of relief when the hard part was over. He wasted no time gathering her up in his secure hold and leaping over the wall on the other side of the koi pond. A fleeting smile crossed his face as her recalled the last time they fled from the House of the Moon. It had been an altogether different enemy, but his loyalty remained the same.
After what seemed like an eternity to Shippo as he carried his precious cargo through the forest, he arrived in a thicket high atop a plateau shrouded in the mist of the trees. He paused again and lay Kagome's limp form in a copse of low hanging trees, before scouting around to ensure they were not followed. Once satisfied, he returned and lifted her slight weight, cradling her head on his shoulder and moved forward into what looked like a wall of creeping vines.
The cave hidden by the greenery was larger than it seemed at first glance. Shippo stood still a moment, listening and testing the air for the scent he sought.
'Ah, there it is.' He thought and moved further into the cave, following the scent he picked out, the light from the entrance faded only to be replaced by the warm glow of a fire. As he stepped forward, the woman in his arms began to stir. He paused and looked down at her.
Kagome's emerald eyes opened and after a survey of the cave walls and the fire, and snapped back to Shippo's face glaring like she was trying to singe his fur with only her eyes.
"Where have you taken me Shippo?" she demanded. "What is happening?"
Instead of replying he set her feet on the solid floor of the cave and released her. Kagome took a step, and then a second one before cradling her head in her hands and groaning. The kit was quick to support her as she swayed on her feet. Angrily she snatched her arm out of his grasp.
"No! I want answers! Where is this? What has happened and where the hell is Akira?" Her voice rose in pitch throughout her tirade, ending on a note that made Shippo want to hold his ears. He opened his mouth to reply, but was saved the trouble.
"Okaa-san?"
Kagome whirled to see her youngest son peering at her from around a stone outcropping, his eyes were round and his face frightened. Automatically she opened her arms and he came running, colliding with her and throwing his arms around her middle. Kagome's face softened and she stroked his hair to calm him. He was followed by a slower and silent Kikyo who picked her way across the uneven cave floor to join them in the firelight and gave Shippo a short glance.
"I did not think you would be here for some time Shippo." Her tone was flat and she sighed in relief. "I thought we had been found."
Shippo flushed ashamedly, taking in her hands unconsciously covering her slightly swollen abdomen in a defensive gesture.
"I was able to get things going faster than I thought." He replied.
"Shippo, I will not wait any longer. Tell me what is going on." Kagome's tone was calm and oddly her face displayed a smile as she looked at him, waiting for a reply.
Shippo was not fooled, he knew she was simmering with anger underneath that façade of calm and he shivered imperceptibly remembering that Kagome was scary when she was angry. "I have reason to believe that you're in danger, Kagome." The auburn kit cleared his throat, glancing a Kikyo then back to Kagome. It was really amazing how much they still resembled one another, even after both their transformations so long ago.
Right now, it was the only thing they had in common. Kikyo was the picture of tranquility, which was rather impressive considering their situation, and Kagome was so wound up she was practically giving off small showers of sparks. Well, that was a little exaggerated, but her eyes did seem a bit lighter and Shippo was reminded of her temper yet again.
"Suzaku was able to have the council install him as regent for Akira, in the interest of preserving youkai peace. It's only a matter of time before he either forces you out or forces other things upon you." Watching her carefully, he continued. "And once you're gone, who would be there for your son?"
Kagome lowered her head in realization, her fingers threaded in Akira's pale hair. She knew he was right, she had seen the signs and Suzaku's aggressive actions since his arrival made her think he might be more than just an opportunist. His arrival had been too conveniently timed for her taste, the look in his eye oddly knowing in such an uncertain time.
Kagome shook her head to clear it, there would be time for these musings later. "Who else knows of this Shippo?"
"No one outside of this cave knows Kagome, but that will change soon and I must return before you are found to be missing."
Kagome met the brilliant turquoise eyes of her adopted child as she held her youngest tightly. Her face grew pinched and worried as she stared at him. She felt tears burn high in her nose and before she could completely disgrace herself and allow those tears to fall she nodded to Shippo, wordlessly thanking him for his risk.
Without a word, he turned and exited the cave.
Shippo arrived at the garden wall under cover of night, slipping silently over the top. Cloaking his youki he was immediately aware of a change within the manor. Moving quickly, he made his way to the chambers he shared with Satoshi. He was relieved to sense the blond reclining within the room. He knew there would not be much time and he had to warm him of what was coming.
Satoshi sat up with a start when Shippo slipped in the window, sat down next to him and leaned onto his bare torso nuzzling his lover's throat and gliding his fingers over the blonde's ribs.
"Shit, what are you trying to do, scare a few years off me?" Satoshi locked his fingers behind his head peered at Shippo and flexing his abdomen as a warmth began to spread to his groin. He felt a warm sigh escape Shippo's lips as they hovered at his pulse and was suddenly all nerve endings and tingles.
A roguish grin stole across his face. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were off in someone's bed at this hour." Shippo let out a small snort before sobering. He caught a glimmer of youki heading toward them, time was running short.
"Listen closely and listen well koibito." he began.
Satoshi picked up on his distress immediately and all jocularity vanished. He sat up and leaned in looking concerned.
"They will come and arrest me this night and you must not do or say anything aside from the proper response of a comrade in arms."
"Shippo what-"
"Don't argue I have no time, they are coming for me now. I have foiled Suzaku's grand plans and he knows it."
Satoshi's eyes were wide and his brows swept down into a scowl. "I will not let them Ship-kun!"
Shippo was already shaking his head. "No you must not show them I am special to you in any way! Toshi they will use you against me." Shippo reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair from his lover's face, hooking it behind his ear. The auburn kit smiled sadly. "Please..."
Satoshi opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the pounding of a fist upon their door.
Shippo's eyes widened and he silently mouthed it again. 'Please!'
They sat frozen for a split second before the pounding was repeated and Satoshi jerked his head round, breaking the spell and strode to the door. Yanking it open with a scowl, he surveyed the four hawk guards at the door scornfully.
"What?" he snarled. "It had better be good to wake me this late."
The larger of the group looked blankly at Satoshi and then blinked. "We do not come for you ranger." The disdain evident in his tone making both kitsune bristle. "We come for the other fox, the traitor."
"Traitor...?" Satoshi's voice trailed off as he swiveled his head to look back into the room at his lover, the look on his face was only for Shippo and the auburn kit almost choked at the intensity in the blonde ranger's eyes. "What are they talking about Shippo?"
His voice sounded severe and hurt as though this was all a surprise to him that his friend could have betrayed them and he backed up as the guards entered the room. The hawks advanced on Shippo and took hold of his arms, binding them tight behind him. He flexed his hands to test the bonds and found them to be quite sound.
Shippo opened his mouth to reply, but was cuffed roughly by the hawk nearest him. "The traitor does not have the right to speak." he said woodenly.
"You best be careful Hawk." growled Satoshi. "That is one of Sesshomaru's Ranger Generals you're disrespecting." The blonde kitsune was ruthlessly keeping his temper in check, he knew Shippo would not ask him to act only as a comrade if there wasn't a good reason for it.
"Not anymore." replied the hawk. "You keep your positions only so long as it pleases Suzaku-sama to let you.." the tall bird rounded on Satoshi. "You had best remember that." Hawk and fox stared at one another bristling with hostility, while the other three guards removed Shippo from the room.
It was easily the hardest thing Satoshi had to watch since he witnessed the temporary death of his mistress so many years ago. The same feelings of helpless anger welled up in him and he bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood.