Chapter Eleven: Pack Mates Watch Each Other's Backs
InuYasha and The Great Lady were still in the Grove when dawn came and re-awakened his demon blood. As his nails and teeth elongated and his hair lost its onyx shine, she sat with him and told him of all she had foreseen.
"As much as it displeases me, my mate, The Great and Terrible Toga, InuTaisho of the Western Lands, has a hand in your human wench's disappearance with my son. I foresaw something a millennia ago and that caused him to go into a great fit. The future as it is today was in grave danger. He did what was necessary to prevent our races from extinction. The Shikon Priestess has a hard journey in head of her. She and you no longer benefit from the other's company. You have been relieved as her protector."
"WHAT! That can't be. I promised her. I promised!" He all but screeched while trying to remain somewhat respectful.
"And with the defeat of the pathetic hanyou, your promise was fulfilled. You are no longer her protector. The well has chosen someone different. The well has more power than what you believe. My son Sesshoumaru is now her protector."
"He will kill her. He won't do anything to help her. She is in danger just being with him! How can he be her protector? He doesn't even like humans! He will kill her the first oppurtunity. She will annoy him and he will destroy her. She won't even last a minute in his care."
"Your father, my Mate. You seem to have such little faith in your old traveling companion."
"Feh. That old man is always trying to ruin something while lying in his grave, isn't he? It's not Kagome I don't have faith in. Its your son. He isn't exactly known for his love of humans."
"My mate has made many fool hearted decisions, I will admit. However, I will not tolerate his being badmouthed by his own whelp." She almost let emotion slip into her face.
The boy sitting in front of her reminded her so much of his father.
"Feh. Who cares? The old man is dead."
"Silence, Pup."
InuYasha immediately fell into the requested silence. He knew better than to push The Great Lady. She was highly feared by many upper class demons as well as the rest of the populace in Japan. The Lady may not hold her place anymore, due to relinquishing her position to her son, but she was still as fearsome as she appeared.
"Half blood, what I am telling you is this. Kagome has her own destiny. Yours lies with the newly reborn Priestess. You owe her your life, where as the Shikon Miko is merely an acquaintance, or friend if you will. Which ever you prefer. You're fate never lied with her."
"So…I have to give Kagome up in order for her to find her happiness in the world?"
"Yes. For three, happiness depends on one. If the heart is selfish and sees only the mind's wants, three shall perish internally and live forever in tortured solitude. If the heart is free and undemanding, three shall become the greatest Triumphrate ever to live. If what I saw is true, this will be more amazing than Julius Caesar's Triumphrate"
"Who?"
"Just another future I saw a millennia ago. It ended in tragedy. However, this wouldn't."
"Oh…kay…"
"The future miko knows of what I speak."
"Figures…"
"It is time for you to leave, have you made your decision?"
"Yeah…I think I have. Thank you, Lady Kokoro."
"Don't come wandering here again."
"Yes lady."
Sango was still fuming. She just could not believe Kikyo was willing to help them. It was hard to believe, especially after she had put Kagome through. Kikyo was determined to hurt her friend. She just knew it.
She is up to something. There is no way she is being genuine in her concern for Kagome. It is just not possible. She is a conniving….conniving BITCH! She is up to something.
Miroku glanced at the priestess sitting before them. It just did not seem right for her to want to help Kagome.
"Why do you want to help her? You normally hurt Kagome." Shippo broke the tension.
"I am indebted to your Kagome. She has saved me a few times and has given me my soul, knowing I will try to steal InuYasha from her. Though I no longer desire his life in hell, I do desire what I have always."
"So this is about honor then?"
"Yes. This is about my honor, while I did many things when Onigumo turned Naraku was alive, I had my reasons for doing so."
"I still don't believe you." Sango of course, didn't trust the woman. That woman had done nothing to gain her trust. She didn't believe that the woman had any honor left. It just wasn't possible.
"I have nothing to prove to you, Slayer. Your words are unaffecting. I care not what you believe, but my honor is still intact."
"Sango. Let us discuss this in the morning. It is late and dawn should be arriving soon. We need sleep. InuYasha should be arriving tomorrow as well."
"You are right Miroku. Shippo?"
Shippo knew that she was offering a place to sleep since Kagome wasn't there. Shippo stood for a second and then relented. Laying down on Sango's pallet, Kilala and girl lay on either side of the young demon boy.
"Lady Kikyo, would you like to rest on my pallet, while I stand guard?"
"Thank you, Monk, but it is unnecessary."
"As you wish, Lady Priestess."
"Why is it that you still afford me my titles when your life mate doesn't?"
"I am sorry my lady but you are mistaken. Lady Sango isn't my life mate. She does not care for me in that way."
"I can see the soul thread attached to you. She is indeed your life mate."
"I wish it were true. However, the reason I still give you your titles, you were and still can be a highly respected priestess with amazing powers. The only thing preventing that is your jealousy and hatred of the Lady Kagome. Lady Kagome supposedly is to be your reincarnation, however I think it is merely coincident that she and you share similar physical attributes. There is a lot of difference even in those few similarities."
"Thank you, Monk." and after that, everything fell silent.
Back to the future, (;p) Sesshoumaru was having a hard time fighting his beast. His beast was unrelenting in its bloodlust. The girl before them tasted absolutely divine. She tasted of untold strength and power. Her blood sang for Sesshoumaru. Everything about it was enticing him. Left with very little sanity, he figured his captives knew he would go into a bloodlust with her blood. Her powers were purer than any miko before her and no doubt after her. Her blood tasted of Kami, themselves, it seemed. The poor girl had unimaginable amounts of bad luck.
Beast! Calm down. We need this girl alive. She is our only key to going home.
Master, don't want to hurt girl, just want to taste again. She has amazing scent and taste. She must be ours.
She belongs to this one's younger brother.
Master she has no claim on her besides familial claim. Half-breed has no intentions with what ours. Miko is ours.
BEAST! I will not claim the miko! Release your hold!
Master, we must claim miko as pack. She strong and worthy. Her blood tells us so. It calls for us. Can you not hear its song?
That means nothing beast. I will claim the miko as pack and she shall be omega under Jaken. That is the final time This One repeats himself.
Understood Master.
The crimson of Sesshoumaru's eyes faded back into the normal ring of honey colored gold. He started breathing meditatively again to calm himself further. Then the miko began to stir.
Master…her body is calling to us. She uses Inu Body Language. She is suggesting-
She is human and therefore does not know nor will This Sesshoumaru stoop so low.
She interest us Master.
That I will admit to. She is indeed an enigma and an anomaly for her kind. However, she is still ninjen and an onna as well.
She has delicious smell.
ENOUGH.
His beast finally relented as the miko whimpered her pains. Feeling her aura, the daiyoukai deduced she merely had internal bruising. Nothing too serious.
"Miko, awaken."Said miko groaned out Sesshoumaru's name as she came to full consciousness.
"Where are we?" her voice was laced with the sleep induced by chemicals.
"This Sesshoumaru knows not, however we are in enemy prisons. They were foolish to think that this Sesshoumaru would lose himself into a bloodlust after healing your wound and tasting your blood. Foolishness. This Sesshoumaru is not so weak."
"Thank you, for protecting me."
"While in This Sesshoumaru's pack, you will be taken care of Miko."
"Huh?"
"Our 'truce' as you called it, guarantees you This Sesshoumaru's protection and This One only protects that which is his."
"That makes sense….sort of…What information have you gathered on our enemies so far? I mean besides the insulting stupidity of thinking you to be weaker than you are."
They both knew she was kind of 'kissing ass' as it was put in layman's terms.
"This Sesshoumaru feels Naraku's essence, but not the half breed himself. It is almost as if he only holds control of one part of our enemies and the rest follow him either out of fear or loyalty, it is unknown."
"I can feel their auras. They aren't very strong. I can also sense jewel fragments. Naraku's essence may still be trying to complete his goals, even beyond the grave."
"Hn. Get some rest human. This One will guard you while you sleep."
"Thank you Sesshoumaru, I think if I were stuck with anyone else in this mess, all would be lost." and the little onna fell asleep again.
The little miko shivered slightly. Sesshoumaru took off his obi; after all, it was merely for appearance. His hakama and gi fit perfectly without it. It covered her like a blanket. She stopped shivering and fell further into a restful sleep.
This Sesshoumaru will protect you, Kagome. You are now a pack mate.
Using his obi to cover her, be was also able to scent mark her without bodily contact. It gave demons the recognition that she belonged to the Lord of the West, the current InuTaisho. His beast growled softly in satisfaction….for now…
Words: 1988
References: Julius Caesar...your common history book. Back to the Future...'cause who doesn't like that classic lol.
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