Author's Note: Be warned that the last section of this chapter contains mature material.
"Would you like more tea…Sesshomaru?" Kagome was slightly on edge as she offered the passive taiyoukai another round. He continued to sit passively against their wall, ignoring her. Yuki was coloring with Rin. Outside, the sky continued to pour itself onto the landscape. The river had already risen considerably in the past few hours. With Sesshomaru's presence, Yuki was not even bothered by the occasional thunder.
Inuyasha sat across the room from his sibling, arms crossed. Kagome had been doing her best to ignore her husband's mood. Sesshomaru was furious that they had allowed his son to be taken hostage. Inuyasha was unhappy that Sesshomaru had moved in. But the children were.
"Look, Sesshomaru-sama! It's Ah and Un!" Rin giggled, holding up her paper.
"Inuyasha, would you bring in more water? It's so warm." Kagome was sweating. The storm had swept humidity in with a vengeance. Even the baby was fussing to be free of her wrappings. Only Sesshomaru appeared cool and unbothered.
"Keh—fine." Inuyasha shot his brother a dirty look as he ducked outside into the rain.
"Would you like something to eat?" Kagome smiled warmly as Sesshomaru finally turned his eyes towards her. He promptly returned to ignoring her the same way he had been doing for days. He had declared Inuyasha "incompetent" and remained within sight since.
"Me!" Yuki forgot the drawings.
"Always hungry." Kagome grinned. "Would you like some—" Yuki sneezed, startling her. Rin was already reaching for a piece of scrap cloth. She wiped his nose sweetly.
"Kagome? Do you have anymore of those sweet roots?" Rin looked up.
"Hn." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed in her direction.
"What?" Kagome's patience snapped. "What have I done now?"
"You are soft." Sesshomaru's hard gaze turned onto Yuki, who blinked.
The baby began to wail.
"I've got you." Kagome picked the baby out of her crib. She and Inuyasha had discussed possible names, but nothing seemed right. And Sesshomaru's presence wasn't helping. Inuyasha's elder brother did not make him feel particularly open and sweet.
"Here's yer water." Inuyasha ducked inside, setting down their bucket.
"Inuyasha? Would you color with us?" Rin waved one of Kagome's drawing sticks over her head.
"No thanks, kid." Inuyasha ruffled her hair as he went past, making her giggle. He dropped against the wall, rotating his shoulders. It had been raining all day long and showed no signs of stopping.
Yuki sneezed again, wiping his nose against his sleeve.
"Little brother, are you feeling well?" Rin laid her hand against the back of Yuki's neck. His cheeks were slightly pink.
"Uh-huh." Yuki pushed her hand away, seconds before sneezing again. Kagome winced as Rin wiped the boy's face clean.
"I'm sure it's only because of the weather. Don't worry, Rin." Kagome was already reaching for the herbs she would need to make Kaede's favorite tea. The last thing they needed was another reason to incur the elder inuyoukai's anger.
"Yes, Kagome." Rin wandered closer to watch the miko add ingredients to the pot of water. "Can I help?"
"Stir this while I take care of—" Yuki sneezed again, knocking over Rin's cup. Kagome was horrified to listen to the small boy cough fluidly into his sleeve. She froze. Sesshomaru was frowning.
"Gome?" Yuki whined.
"It's alright, sweetie. I'm not mad." Kagome desperately wanted to kick Sesshomaru for his judgemental glare. He wasn't the one who was going to take care of Yuki. No—he was going to stand-by and make snarky comments while she did the real labor. Ass!
"Sorry." Yuki reached for her. Kagome mopped the spilled liquid over with a rag. She cuddled him close, rubbing his back. She took the opportunity to rest her hand against the back of his neck. He felt strangely warm, even in the terrible humidity. She watched him gently wipe his reddening nose against her shirt.
"Poor baby," Kagome murmured. She kissed the crown of his head, now resting against her chest. "I think it's only a cold. You'll be fine."
"Yuki-chan is really sick?" Rin's eyes widened.
"Was he around any sick children, at the meeting?" Kagome was forced to question the taiyoukai.
No answer.
"I'll help little brother. What can I do?" Rin plucked at her sleeves.
"Pour yourself another bowl. I can watch after Yuki-chan." Kagome adored Rin's sweetness. The girl did as she was told, filling her spilled bowl with more of the cooling dinner. Sesshomaru's eyes remained on Kagome as she deposited Yuki in Inuyasha's lap, with a warning glare. The hanyou rolled his eyes, but cradled the kid. Kagome returned to tending to the tea over their fire.
"What were you like, as a child?" Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru. She was hoping to stop his bad mood, but he only narrowed his eyes in distaste. She did her best to bite her cheek, but it was too tempting. He was an ass who did not respect her at all. "Myouga told us about your adventure with that bull, when you were little. You were very bw-ave."
"Kag—" Inuyasha cussed under his breath. Sesshomaru's eyes swiftly turned onto the hanyou, who growled. "Bitch, what is wrong with you?"
"Did Mommy save you?" Kagome immediately regretted the words. Sesshomaru's mouth tightened severely.
"Kagome." Inuyasha crouched, ready to move. "Wench, why—"
Yuki suddenly convulsed against Inuyasha, making a retched, involuntary sound. Vomit soaked the front of his shirt as Yuki emptied his stomach, whining pitifully. The boy turned his head, inhaling heavily. The anger in the room dissipated. His breathing was heavy for several moments. Kagome's nose was assailed by the stench of Inuyasha's soiled shirt.
"Kagome?" Rin blinked, covering her mouth.
"I-It's fine." Kagome was more worried about Yuki. The boy was resting against Inuyasha's arm, breathing through his mouth. Inuyasha needed to change his clothing quickly, and bathe Yuki again. The boy had also partially covered himself in the mess. Inuyasha was already beside her.
"Yuki-chan? Rin's here." The girl brought Inuyasha the wet rag. The hanyou wiped the boy's mouth quietly, a frown on his face. He turned his head at the sound of clanking metal. The reed door swung closed on Sesshomaru's exiting form.
That fucker! Inuyasha's teeth drew back with the urge to chase after the bastard. There wasn't time. Kagome was already stripping him out of his haori in favor of the slightly-damp extra drying in its basket. She glanced at him worriedly.
"I'll kick his ass later—fuck!" Inuyasha couldn't hold it in. Their baby was fussing at the new scents in the air. Kagome was working as quickly as she could to dry-bathe Yuki's torso, stripping him out of his soiled clothing. The boy didn't protest. Yuki was sleeping against Inuyasha's chest.
"Why is he breathing like that? What's wrong with him?" Kagome asked. "Youkai aren't supposed to get sick."
"I dunno." Inuyasha was so angry. How could Sesshomaru do that? Didn't the fucker care? His son was sick and the bastard had just left, abandoning him? What the hell was wrong with him?
"We have to do something. Should we send for Kaede-sama?" Kagome had never needed to nurse Shippo. She wasn't sure what to do. Yuki-chan's symptoms were similar to the flu, except that he was youkai. Inuyasha was useless—he only shrugged his shoulder, watching her.
"How long has he been sick, Inuyasha? Why didn't we notice?" Guilt ran through the young girl. She was a miko! She was supposed to be a healer, yet she hadn't even noticed her own sick pseudo-son's symptoms!
"He's only been sneezing—it wasn't a big deal." Inuyasha grumbled under his breath about 'dick-headed assholes'. "The kid hasn't been doing…this."
Yuki's breathing was still raspier than she liked.
"You have to bring Kaede-sama here." Kagome knew rainy weather irritated the elder miko's bones, but there was no other choice. She couldn't risk sending Yuki with Inuyasha out into that weather. What if it made him worse?
"And leave you here, alone? Hell, Kagome—"
"I have my arrows. We aren't helpless." Kagome touched his sleeve, begging him with her eyes. "Kaede-sama is more experienced than I am. She'll know what to do."
"You can't watch over these kids by—what about the baby?" Inuyasha's eyes darted to his unnamed daughter. What if she became sick too? Children died all the time from unnamed diseases. If this was a youkai disease, their infant had already been exposed.
"The baby!" Kagome's eyes widened. She hurriedly pushed Rin into the other room, with the warmest of their bedding. Rin did not protest, nodding solemnly as Kagome gave her instructions about what to watch for, to call for her if the baby showed any sign of illness. Rin took Kagome's lamp—the one she had brought from the Modern Era long ago, which used precious oil for fuel.
"Oh, Inuyasha! What if—"
"Don't say it!" Inuyasha barked back. Fear was already coiling in his gut. He had lived through too many outbreaks in small villages. Women and children buried within days of falling ill. Men falling dead in the fields. Kagome's world had promised medicine and safety—what the fuck had he been thinking? "It's not going to happen, wench!"
"I still have the last of the medicine." Kagome retrieved the first aid kit, containing the few spare remains of its contents. Aspirin and some gauze, beside her sewing scissors, a solar thermometer, the twine, and a limited amount of painkillers. "This should help bring his fever down until Kaede gets here. Oh, please hurry, Inuyasha!"
"Keep them safe." Inuyasha gently passed Yuki over, kissing her on the lips. She could sense the same, frenzied fear that was filling her heart. What if they lost the children? The baby—she couldn't stand it if the baby fell sick too! And this was the Feudal Era. The common cold could easily kill. What if—
"I won't be long." Inuyasha removed Tetsusaiga from his hip, placing it beside her. Before she could protest, her husband was gone, racing for help.
"Ssh, ssh Yuki-chan." Kagome bounced him gently, to soothe his unsettling whimpers. "You don't feel well. Inuyasha has gone to bring back Kaede-sama. Will you take this for me?" The boy's eyes opened, focusing on the pill she held. She had never given him medicine before—and hopefully, she never would again. "Put this in your mouth for me, and drink some of the tea. Could you do that?"
Yuki didn't respond.
"Here." Kagome gently propped him upwards, settling him against her chest. She helped him to hold his head upwards as she placed the small pill inside his mouth. His nose wrinkled and he spit it out, pushing against her. "Yuki-chan. You will feel better if you listen to me." It took several tries. She was forced to hold Yuki's mouth closed while the boy weakly fought her. He did not like the strange little capsule.
"Good boy." Kagome pet his hair. Yuki's claws dug into her shirt as he slept against her, breathing in that odd way. She drew the dry sheet around him more tightly, kissing where she could. Guilt wracked her that she had been forced to send her baby into the other room. Warm as it was, she needed to see her own child. But they couldn't risk the baby catching this disease if it was infectious. She prayed that the baby had avoided this sneezing, wheezing disease that had appeared so quickly.
Oh, but that Sesshomaru! She was going to kill that bastard, for disappearing at a time like this! It was bad enough that he showed the boy almost no affection, but to abandon his own son when he was ill? She was going to wring his neck herself!
Kagome laid a damp cloth over Yuki's fevered forehead. She moved him to sleep in their bed, tucking him in neatly. The boy did not stir, not even when she kissed his hair. What did she need to do? Oh, if only Mama were here! Her mother would know exactly what to do for a sick child. She missed her mother dearly, and Ji-chan, and Souta. She didn't know how to take care of a sick baby youkai!
Kagome massaged the back of her neck. Thunder echoed outside, over the sound of the pouring rain. It worried Kagome more than anything else that Yuki did not even bother to be frightened. Yuki was too ill to be worried about thunder, his arch-enemy!
Warm air rushed into the room, blowing her hair around her face. Kagome turned to face the source of the aura, and her jaw dropped. Sesshomaru ignored her as he effortlessly gutted a small deer on her floor. He did not even seem to care that his silk clothing was soaked through. His hair was dripping wet. A puddle was growing around him.
"Come here, girl." Sesshomaru's fingers were bloody as he shoved one of her precious cooking pots at her, dropping organs into it. Kagome was too stunned to react. He was adding other things into the pot, that she didn't recognize.
"Is this…medicine?"
Sesshomaru's eyes slid sideways. She was slightly horrified to watch his eyes flash over her chest, and return to her face. Kagome inhaled deeply, preparing to hit him with all of the strength that she had. How dare he? Better yet, she would purify—
"Oh, shit!" Kagome crossed her arms over her chest as she realized that she was leaking again. Her face was on fire as Sesshomaru returned to doing whatever it was that he was doing. Kagome could not directly look at him as she tried to find a way to hide the growing spots on her shirt.
Sesshomaru ignored her, and for once, Kagome was grateful.
The thunder rang again. In the following quiet, she was suddenly glad for the elder inuyoukai's presence. Even if he was a jerk, she wasn't alone with Yuki. He hadn't abandoned his son. And he was doing something disgusting in her cooking pot. What exactly was he doing?
"Can I help?" Kagome asked quietly.
"He will drink this." Sesshomaru set the heavy cast-iron in front of her. Kagome held her breath as she examined the sickening, sloshing mass inside the pot. Sesshomaru had vicerated individual organs from the still-bleeding doe and added…other stuff. The smell was pungent. Sesshomaru watched her with his usual expression.
"That's sick." Kagome turned her chin away.
"It is necessary." Sesshomaru's tone was diapproving.
"Will you let me cook it a little? And do something with that, please?" She gestured to the dead animal lying in the floor. It was creepy.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.
Oh great. Now he was angry with her?
"What is your problem?" Kagome was so tired of his alpha-male, macho bullshit. "Am I asking you to do too much?"
"You are a human miko with a mixed breed child." Sesshomaru's voice was sharp and quiet. "You know nothing of my kind. Your ignorance tests my patience."
"Then why did you give Yuki to me? If I'm only—"
"I have not 'given' him to you. Fool." The taiyoukai corrected, flicking his bloody fingers towards the fire. The liquid sizzled when it hit the flames.
"If you hate me so much, why did you ask for my help? You kidnapped me." Kagome forced her voice to soften. "I know you can't stand me. Why not find someone else?"
"I do not ask." Sesshomaru unbuckled the straps on his armor. Kagome nearly choked as a mass of metal landed in her lap, soaking her legs. It was absoultely freezing. "Tend to my armor."
"Are you—" Kagome pushed against the enormous pile of metal. How did he walk with this thing on? "You're seriously not going to answer me?" Apparently, he wasn't. Sesshomaru's slender form was already moving towards her bedding, removing Yuki from his cocoon. He returned to the fire, turning Yuki onto his back.
"Sesshomaru, I can't move!" Kagome was literally trapped underneath the idiot's impossibly heavy armor. Her mood was not improved to see that Sesshomaru's white clothing was clinging to him in a way that outlined his form, and it was hard not to stare at him in the firelight. What a jerk!
"You have always been kind to Rin." The statement came so quietly that Kagome almost missed it. Living with Inuyasha had improved her hearing, so that she could hear his mumbled complaints over the years. It had also taught her when it was probably wiser not to respond. Kagome couldn't, however, refrain from smiling at how similar he was to Inuyasha, in some ways.
Sesshomaru was already pressing a cupful of the disgusting liquid to Yuki's lips. The little boy woke briefly, not daring to protest as Sesshomaru commanded him to drink.
Two days.
Kagome labored incessantly under Kaede's guidance. Inuyasha had made several rounds of his mother's cold remedy, although it did little more than clear Yuki's congestion for a little while. The baby was fussier than ever. Kagome was eternally watching the infant for signs of the disease. Rin helped Inuyasha to fetch water, and gather more herbs. Kagome said goodbye to the last of the aspirin as Yuki's fever grew worse.
He cried out for Kagome constantly, crying because he could not smell her. Small, purple bruising was beginning to develop underneath Kagome's eyes, despite Inuyasha's interventions. She was tending to their infant and a sick toddler, and she was not sleeping. Yuki was only starting to recover, and it was wearing Kagome out.
"You have to sleep, Kagome!" Inuyasha took the bucket away from her, beside the river. The girl barely glared at him. "You're going to make yourself sick, carrying on like this!"
"I can't sleep." Kagome tightened her jaw to prevent another yawn. "You don't sleep."
"I'm hanyou—I'm tougher than you!" Inuyasha sank into a crouch, beside her.
"But the baby…"
"If I tell you a secret, will you promise to get some sleep?" Inuyasha watched the girl's exhaustion battle her curiosity, and her maternal guilt. Kagome licked her lips, taking a drink from her hands.
"What secret?"
"Promise me. I'm serious." Inuyasha took her hand. "Kagome."
"…a few hours." Kagome's head was too weary to argue with Inuyasha's inexhaustible energy. Besides, the light in his eye suggested that her insane husband would probably force her to sleep if she refused…somehow. "What's your secret, Inuyasha? Did you take a bath?"
"What? You—" Inuyasha spluttered, angry. She frequently teased him that he did not bathe more often, given their proximity to the water. "No, wench! I didn't take a bath!"
"That would have been a miracle, not a secret." Kagome yawned forcibly, popping her jaw.
"Wench, I—do you want to hear the baby's name or not?" Inuyasha's ears twitched and rotated forward. The words' importance did not reach her for several seconds, while she stared at him through blurry eyes. She blinked, when she finally understood. Inuyasha smirked as her expression changed.
"The baby's name?"
"Yeah. She needs a name." Inuyasha looked away. Kagome could barely feel the aching fear in her stomach, but she understood. Their baby deserved a name. Inuyasha had used the past few days to name her.
Kagome's stomach turned.
"Misaki." Inuyasha looked up warily. "Her name is Misaki."
Kagome considered the name inside her mind. Their baby was extremely beautiful, and if she was anything like Inuyasha, she was likely to be a handful. Inuyasha's expression was blank, waiting her reaction.
"It's a lovely name, Inuyasha." Kagome accepted the grateful kiss he bestowed on her. His hand lifted to cup the back of her head, tilting hers. She was glad to have a proper name for their beautiful daughter—little Misaki. She let her head fall forward onto Inuyasha's shoulder, resting her face against the soft fabric of his haori. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly. It didn't take long until the young girl was fast asleep.
Inuyasha kissed her head. He gently lifted the girl into his arms and took her inside to sleep in the second room. The main room had been taken over for the sick children. Rin had developed a small cough of her own, and her nose was fairly congested. She was still assisting Kaede-sama take care of Yuki.
"Did Kagome-chan finally fall asleep?" Kaede turned her eye onto him.
"Yeah." Inuyasha held the girl closer. Their own baby was barely over a week old. Kagome was still recovering from the birth. "How's the kid?"
"Sleeping, thankfully. He is quite worn out." Kaede clicked her tongue against her teeth. Inuyasha made a sound in his throat and ducked into the other room. He gently tucked his wife into the makeshift bed Rin had been using for the past couple of days. The miko did not stir.
"We will need more meat soon." Kaede did not even turn when he entered the room. She only continued to brew more of the tea fighting Yuki's fever. None of them had the stomach to make more of what Kagome had dubbed 'Sesshomaru's brew'.
Rin sneezed into her own sleeve. The miko immediately handed over a clean scrap of cloth for her to wash her face. Inuyasha grumbled nervously under his breath. "Arigato."
Rin was starting to come down with the same disease Yuki had. Kagome was exhausted. He had a baby to take care of—Misaki.
Sango wanted to help nurse the children, but Miroku had warned her against it, and Kaede agreed. The taijiya was pregnant. She could not risk falling ill. Besides, the last thing Inuyasha needed was for this disease to get to the village. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he was the reason those humans all fell sick. He was supposed to protect the village.
There was a small family of deer grazing in the forest, a good distance from his home. Inuyasha landed silently in a tree overlooking them. There was a fat-looking doe with her almost-grown fawn, and another doe nearby. He could also smell a buck nearby, sharpening his antlers against a tree. The crick-snark of the grating bark got on his nerves, but it kept the does feeling safe. Inuyasha allowed the doe with her fawn to escape, but he did kill the second doe. She wasn't nearly as large, but she would feed the family for a few days.
Inuyasha carried the doe over his shoulder as he made his way back towards his home. He would have to bleed it and hang it up in a tree, away from the women. There was the skinning to do, the burying of the inedibles, the salting of the meat, the cooking—
Wait a minute. I killed two rabbits yesterday! Did Kaede give me a bullshit job, to send me away? Inuyasha cussed. He was going to give that old woman a piece of his mind.
His ears turned before he realized what he was sensing. The heady scent of blood filled his nose, too much to belong to a living being. A youkai was dead somewhere in the forest. Inuyasha tossed the doe into a tree within sight of his home and turned in the direction of the wind blowing their way. If there was trouble nearby, he had to meet it before it reached Kagome and the kids, or the village. Besides, he wouldn't mind a bit of a workout. It had been a while since he had beaten a real opponent in a battle, and his claws were itching for a fight.
Maybe we'll actually get to kill one of those weak bastards, eh Tetsusaiga?
Inuyasha clicked Tetsusaiga out of its sheath, in case he needed to draw it quickly. There was always some weak youkai hanging out in the forest, hoping to prey on one of his humans. Normally they would just wander away, once they realized they didn't stand a chance. But, sometimes an especially desperate or hungry demon would try its luck.
Keh, as if some weak ass demon will get past me!
Inuyasha drew his sword, ears twitching. He could only smell the blood of the dead youkai—oh, shit!
Inuyasha lowered Tetsusaiga without thinking, too stunned to react. A dark-haired woman had been thrown at the base of the Goshinboku. She smelled too fresh to have been dead long, and the body was lying in a puddle of its own blood. The throat had been cut. The woman's hair looked greasy and unwashed, and her skin was covered in dirt, cuts and bruises. It looked like the woman had been tortured.
Shit—she looks inuyoukai. These bastards are still at it? Inuyasha could see only one reason for this—it was a calling card for battle, probably to Sesshomaru. Miroku had told them about Sesshomaru's conversation with Yuki's bitch mother, but this? Who had done this? The bitch's husband? She didn't look noble, but what the fuck did he know about nobility? What was wrong with these people?
"Shit, shit, shit!" Inuyasha cussed under his breath. The last thing he needed was a body turning up, while Kagome was exhausted, the children were sick, and Sesshomaru was pissed and underfoot! He had buried enough people and dug enough graves over the past few years to last him a lifetime. Maybe he could get Miroku to help him. The monk was getting fat with his 'acursed house' routine on his own travels to provide for Sango and himself. The idiot could use a bit of physical labor.
Inuyasha kneeled, removing a dagger from the woman's abdomen. There were beautifully-crafted characters on the handle, which had a single golden blood-splattered tassel hanging from it. To Sesshomaru-sama with regards.
"Inuyasha." The voice startled him. Inuyasha glanced back over his shoulder, to see Sesshomaru watching him. He couldn't read the bastard's expression, but he knew that it didn't look good. He opened his mouth to explain. "Move aside, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha did, but only because Tetsusaiga shuddered at his side. Sesshomaru was already drawing Tenseiga from its sheath. He watched as Sesshomaru struck at something he couldn't see, and the woman's body twitched. Inuyasha was still amazed at the sword's abilities, although he had watched Sesshomaru use it several times over the years. He didn't know if the bastard still thought it was useless or not, but the sword was incredible. It would have been useful, whenever he and his friends had come across another village of slaughtered innocents.
"Who did this, Sesshomaru?" The woman was still stirring, but the look on Sesshomaru's face told him that he knew. "I don't want any more trouble from that bitch's husband. You should end—"
"Akiye-sama!" The woman was coughing, holding her hand against her stomach. Both brothers turned to watch the woman remember to breathe. "S-Sesshomaru? My lady, she has—"
"Who did this? Who are you?" Inuyasha wrapped his fingers around Tetsusaiga's handle.
"I…I am Mayu, milady's servant." The woman coughed into her tattered sleeve again. "She found out that I brought your son back to your humans, Sesshomaru-sama. She was furious with me."
"Yuki's mother killed her own servant? Sesshomaru!" What kind of mother was this bitch? "What were you thinking, asshole? Trust you to sleep with the only bitch more heartless than you!"
Mayu gasped. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed on Inuyasha.
"Either you finish that bitch or I will! I am sick of dealing with your mess." Inuyasha ground his teeth together. "Assassins, youkai—even your mother! Handle your shit already. I'm not going to let you put Kagome or those kids in danger."
"Milady has already fled the region. Tsuyoshi-sama is furious with her." The servant flushed underneath Inuyasha's angry glare. "His guard is in pursuit of her now."
"That doesn't mean this Akiye bitch won't cause any more trouble. Sesshomaru! I don't give a shit about your stupid politics. This bitch is putting Yuki in danger. It's not just about your stupid pride anymore! Do you understand? You're going to get him killed. And it's gonna be your fault."
"Are you a fool? Only an ignorant—"
"Listen to me!" Inuyasha yelled over whatever self-important statement his arrogant ass of a half-sibling would have spouted. "If you don't give a shit about your kid's life, just say so and Kagome and I will take him. But if you think I will stand by and let my family be killed because of this mess…fuck you. I know you, Sesshomaru. You don't want to be tied down by him anyway. No one gives a shit anymore. Just…go, already."
Inuyasha turned. Whatever Sesshomaru was going to do, he was going to do. He was so tired of this! Sesshomaru was the most selfish creature he had ever met. He had been stupid enough to let Kagome sweet-talk him into thinking Sesshomaru might have even slightly changed! What an idiot! Sesshomaru would never change. The bastard—
Inuyasha cussed loudly enough for Sesshomaru to hear as he marched back towards his home. He didn't even glance over his shoulder at his brother. Because of the idiot, he was going to be forced to hunt down some crazy she-bitch to protect his family. Shit! And she probably had an army at her disposal too.
"Milord?" Mayu folded her hands together nervously. Sesshomaru continued to gaze after his half-brother. "Will you go after him? To your humans?"
"Did your mistress give you a message?" Sesshomaru's eyes slanted towards her. She flushed beneath his angry glare.
"She wants you to kill Tsuyoshi-sama. She exiled me for betraying her orders." Mayu dropped her eyes to the forest floor. "And there—"
"What?"
"I have this." Mayu reached into her tattered sleeve, offering him the paper. Sesshomaru took it. She watched him quickly scan the markings. The paper in Sesshomaru's hand disintigrated.
"My son is staying with Inuyasha's woman, Kagome. He is ill." Sesshomaru tossed the ash in his hand aside. "You will assist her. The girl is ridiculous."
She nodded, reaching up to push her hair away from her face. "What will you do? If you go after her—"
"Go."
Mayu nodded, moving after Inuyasha's scent. She stopped at the edge of the forest, turning back. She held her hands behind her. "Sesshomaru-sama?"
He was already gone.
"Misaki," Kagome was outside with the baby, who was awake and drooling. They were sitting outside while Rin hung laundry to dry on the line. Mayu was inside with Yuki and Inuyasha, who refused to leave him alone with the woman. Sango had already sent word vouching for the inuyoukai but Inuyasha wasn't listening. Whatever had happened out in the woods with his brother had upset him more than she would have expected.
"The lady seems nice." Rin clipped the newly washed bedding to the line. "Yuki is feeling a lot better, although that stuff she's been feeding him is really gross." The girl shuddered at the thought, and Kagome agreed. Apparently, Mayu knew how to make that disgusting brew of Sesshomaru's too. At least it seemed to be working. The boy was no longer vomiting, and his breathing had normalized. He was still sleeping through his fever, but the situation was no longer dire.
"I don't know how she can stand to make it. At least Inuyasha caught that deer." They had been eating well from the little doe. The animals were fattening up for the winter and the nearby game was easy enough for Inuyasha to catch.
The baby began to cry. A bug had landed on her toes. Kagome hurried to soothe the baby, but the insect had already flown away. Misaki settled shortly, as Kagome wiped her toes, erasing the feeling of the insects' many legs. The baby's ears twitched against Kagome's arm.
"Miko-sama?" Kagome was surprised at the gentle voice. She looked up to see the servant woman standing outside with Yuki clinging to her hand. The boy waved tiredly, yawning. "Yuki-chan is awake."
"Yuki-chan!" Rin ran forward to hug the sluggish boy. He wrapped his arms around her neck, dropping his worn chew-toy. "Is Yuki-chan feeling better, Mayu-sama?"
"Please call me Mayu," the woman exhaled.
"I'm sorry. Yuki!" The girl giggled as the boy tugged on her hair, tilting her face better for his sniffing nose. "That tickles!"
"Take care Rin?" Yuki wobbled on his feet. Mayu swiftly caught him as he fell against her leg. She set him back onto her feet as Rin supported him, leading him towards Kagome. She pulled him against her side, happy to see him. "Take care Gome?"
"Inuyasha has taken very good care of us." Kagome promised into his hair. The boy sniffed, then sneezed into her neck. "You aren't as congested as your were. But why is he out of bed, Mayu-san?"
"He wanted to see you. He promised to sleep again after he 'got his kiss'." Mayu retrieved Yuki's toy, tucking it against her abdomen. "He was quite adamant about it. I was so reminded of Sesshomaru-sama that I did not dare refuse."
Kagome giggled, and Mayu's mouth twitched.
"Kiss." Yuki pouted, tilting his chin up.
"Of course you can have your kiss." Kagome pressed her lips against his soft cheek playfully, satisfied when he giggled. She always made sure to kiss Yuki—it was their special thing. Inuyasha rarely did it, although he showed his affection in other ways, and she was sure that Sesshomaru never did. Rin loved to kiss Yuki's chubby cheeks, but he always asked for hers specially. "Now, are you going to be a good boy? Will you go back to bed?"
Yuki's face softened, although the effect was lessened by his pink nose.
"No—not this time. You are not using that face on me when you're sick." Kagome made sure that her voice was firm. "Your cute, help-me face could move mountains, but you're not feeling well. Go back inside and do what Mayu-san tells you. Understood?"
Yuki tugged on her sleeve sadly.
"Keh. You've all been out here too long." Inuyasha leaned against the doorway, ears askew. "The wind's blowing cold this way. Kagome, you should come back in too."
Kagome watched her husband shift restlessly.
"Are you hungry, Inuyasha?" Kagome giggled when he rolled his eyes at her. He knew that she knew him too well. "All you had to do was say so. I would have fed you."
"You make me sound like one of the brats." Inuyasha grumbled.
Kagome rose to her feet. With Rin's help, they gathered the baby and their things. Yuki clung to Kagome's legs as she led them inside. While Inuyasha helped Kagome find what she needed, Rin giggled at their bickering.
"Gome?" Yuki stood forgotten.
"I'll sit with you, Yuki-chan." Rin patted the floor beside her.
"Just a minute, sweetie." Kagome was searching the shelf. "Where is the salt, Inuyasha? Do we have any left?"
"We should." Inuyasha gestured for Rin to dump the sliced meat strips into the stew. The girl came forward eagerly.
"Gome." Yuki pouted. "Gome have soldier?"
"You lost that hunk of wood again?" Inuyasha glanced around the room. "Eh, Kagome?"
"It's ok. You can have my doll." Rin held out her precious cloth doll with yarn hair. Sango and Kaede had sewn it up for her, and it was soft. Yuki sniffed at it hesitantly. "Sango and Kaede-sama wouldn't mind. You can borrow her until we find your samurai."
"Mayu-san?" Kagome exhaled tiredly. She crossed the room to look outside. "Ugh, I wish these stupid youkai would just come inside. Sesshomaru sits in the rain every time like an idiot—"
"Soldier!" Yuki sneezed, making Rin grimace and wipe her face.
"I know, sweetie. I think Mayu-san picked up your toy. Mayu!" Kagome called. Silence. "Ugh! She's going to make me go after her, and I really don't want to. Are all inuyoukai like this, Inuyasha?"
"How would I know?" Her husband frowned.
"Mayu!" Kagome whistled playfully. The sound echoed sadly. "Geez. Inuyasha, would you—"
"I don't know what you're so worried about. Here." Yuki squeaked as Inuyasha scooped him up with one arm. The boy caught hold of his rosary, tugging against it. "See? Forgotten already."
"Food," Yuki demanded.
"Yeah, I'm hungry too." Inuyasha gruffed. Kagome gave up, leaning against the doorway. Her dog-eared husband dropped beside their baby, swaddled warmly in her basket. Rin playfully reached for his ears, and suddenly he was being tackled by both children. "Hey, hey! What's the deal?"
Kagome giggled.
Baby Misaki squirmed, making sounds as she rested her feet against the basket.
"Miko-sama?" Kagome turned. Mayu stood with a handful of herbs, Yuki's wooden toy under one arm. "I found these herbs in your woods. I thought they would be useful."
"Oh. Thanks." The inuyoukai handed them over, with Yuki's toy. Kagome turned inward, placing the herbs on her shelf. There were several useful items that she normally had trouble finding herself. They would come in handy. And, she didn't have to find them herself, which was a bonus. She tossed the little wooden toy towards the marauding children, who were busy tormenting their protector. "Would you like some stew? It…" She was speaking to no one. "Mayu-san?"
Kagome stepped outside. The female was perched on the limb of a nearby tree, swinging one leg. The young miko caught sight of the woman's sandal and her ankle. She was combing through her hair with her fingers, oblivious.
"Mayu-san?" Kagome frowned. The woman turned her head. "…what are you doing?"
"I do not know what you mean."
"Why are you out here by yourself? Why don't you join us inside?" Kagome tucked her hair back from her face. "Dinner should not take long."
Mayu blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You must be hungry! Come eat." Kagome smiled. Somehow, this did not seem to appease the youkai's confusion. "What is it? Have I said something? Don't you eat?"
"You are inviting me into your den? Why?"
"My 'den'?" Kagome repeated dumbly. The female did not even blink, as if the word actually belonged in normal conversation. "I am just asking you to eat. I don't have a den."
"I'm confused, miko-sama."
"You were inside just a little while ago! What's the big deal now?"
"I was nursing Yuki-chan in your second room. It is a different matter to enter your den while you and your husband—it is not the same." Mayu folded her hands inside her sleeves. "Thank you for your kind invitation, but it is not appropriate."
Dumbstruck, Kagome turned to return to her family.
"Inuyasha?" The door swung on its hooks. "Is this a den?"
"What?" He was hunched over their brewing dinner with a cup in his hand. "What makes you say that?" She quickly told him about her conversation with the female outside. "I guess she's right. So what?"
"She won't come inside to eat with us, because it's a den." Kagome watched him refocus on their dinner. "Inuyasha?"
"What's the big deal, wench? So she doesn't want to eat with us. Let 'er sit out there by herself. S'fine with me." Inuyasha shrugged, pouring out servings of stew. "Man, I'm starving. Oh—I found the salt, by the way."
"We have a den?" Kagome repeated. She marched forward, grasping onto his ear. "Inuyasha, talk to me. It's a den?"
"I didn't think about it like that before, but yeah." Inuyasha twisted his ear out of her reach. "We're married, we've got a kid, a family…this is where we live, wench. It's a den."
"And she won't come inside because of that?"
"I guess not." Inuyasha handed Rin her portion, then Yuki. He poured another bowl, holding it out to her. Kagome stood still, looking at him. "What's your problem? Why does it matter?"
"And there's some weird rule that says she can't come in here?"
"Geez, Kagome. Just let it go." Inuyasha took a long swig of stew. He reached out to catch Yuki's bowl before he could drop it; he used his sleeve to wipe the boy's chin. "There ought to be some way to keep your dinner in the bowl, kid. You're almost as clumsy as Kagome."
"Inuyasha, I'm serious!"
"Yeah, well, you need to eat. Sit down already." Kagome huffed, but decided to listen to him. It was useless arguing with Inuyasha when he was determined not to converse. She picked up a wooden spoon. "You ought to be glad that some stranger doesn't want to cozy up in here."
"Inuyasha, she knows what's going on." Kagome lowered her voice, even though Yuki was distracted. Rin was watching. "She knows about who Sesshomaru was…you-knowing. She was there!"
Inuyasha stopped eating, staring at her.
"Yeah, Sango told me. Mayu was there when he was born." Kagome whispered so that Rin could not hear from across the fire. "Maybe if we're nice—"
"You'll think she'll just spill her clan's secrets over tea?" Inuyasha snorted. "Even I'm not that naïve, Kagome. She won't betray her own family, even if her 'lady' had her tortured and killed."
"She disobeyed already by bringing him home. Don't you think telling us what happened is easy compared to that?"
"I just know that she told me Sesshomaru was going to 'deal' with this Akiye bitch. Otherwise, I would have gone after her myself already." Inuyasha frowned into his stew. "He'd better bring back her head."
"Kagome? Are you talking about…um—" Rin tilted her head in Yuki's direction. The boy was still blessedly focused on his meal, and oblivious to everything else.
"Don't worry about it, Rin. There's nothing we can do anyway." Kagome sighed. "It isn't fair Inuyasha. I can just feel it—there's more to this mess. There are too many questions! I mean, can you imagine your brother wooing some—"
"Just…ok?" Inuyasha gagged. "Enough!"
Sesshomaru detested rain.
His boots were failing against the rising tide of water. Mud was beginning to creep into the leather, numbing the sensation in his toes. His tabi were rubbing irritably against the inside of his boots, causing friction on his heels. These were his considerations as he gazed upwards to the firelight inside the caves, where Akiye's traveling party had been forced to stop for the night. No doubt, she assumed that they would gain time, given that their trails had been washed away and turned to mud.
Sesshomaru permitted a snort of derision—satisfying, and yet not enough. He was tired of the bitch meddling in his affairs. She was a dishonorable fool, assuming that he would kill her husband. He would not be manipulated into doing her bidding. More importantly, he would prove what happened to any creature that dared target his son.
How dare she conspire to kill a child—his child? The bitch was a mother—had she any instincts? Did she really expect to rise to power, having violated one of their most natural laws?
His youki coiled, furious.
Sesshomaru leapt, easily landing on the rock. This roused Akiye's sleeping guardsmen, who were easily dispatched. He proceeded inwards, frightening the female attendants warming themselves by the fire. They fled outside, grateful that he wanted to waste no time on frightened sheep. Farther inside the cave a tent had been erected in the dark colors of the Second House. He was pleased that the duplicitous bitch was already emerging, wrapping her kimono around herself more securely.
"Sesshomaru." She lifted her chin. "You have come to kill me."
"You deserve no more."
"I never sent assassins after your boy—on my blood honor. I think I know who did, however. Someone who would benefit from your increased stature." Akiye kept his gaze. "If Tsuyoshi dies, you will become the undisputed leader of our people. By claiming me, you will earn the loyalties of my clan. Would that not please your ambitions? Your mother's desire for power?"
Sesshomaru thought. The bitch was probably spinning tales to save herself, but if so, she was convincing. His mother's schemes were well known, and she had a taste for complicated duplicity. She had removed her guards, before Yuki had been taken. His mother's character, the implications, weighed heavily on him. Mother could convince this fool that I would claim her…
His lips curled back.
"You pitted your mate against me, by your own words." Sesshomaru grasped the female by the throat, squeezing. "You have admitted that—"
"I was trying to help you! The rumors of you killing my husband…I wanted you to kill him, so that I could have you!" Akiye's eyes bore into his. Her soft hands brushed against his arms. "You are the most desirable, frustratingly aloof male I have ever met."
"You kidnapped my son."
"I sent Mayu to collect him. My husband has been talking about war against your humans, to take your son's life! I thought that you might consider me, if I protected him."
"You tortured your cousin and left her for dead in Inuyasha's Forest. She told me herself!"
Akiye's eyes widened and she gasped. "Mayu-chan? Where is she? What happened?"
He could not taste lies in her scent; he released her throat.
His mind was spinning, making connections about his mother's interference. The flying assassin, her arrival, her knowledge of the attack, the Gathering's convening on her territory, Itsuki's timely arrival on the ground, the convenient absence of her guards timed for Yuki's theft, torturing Akiye's cousin and leaving her body for him to resurrect—
Rage.
"My lord, I am sorry for this. But please…say that you believe me? I would never hurt your son. I know what it is to love a child. I could never harm a little one—no inuyoukai could!" Akiye shook her head.
"Have you spoken to my mother?"
"No more than greetings and politesse at the Gathering. She was interested to see Tsuyoshi-sama. She was excited to see you and your son. She bragged of your prowess, and how proud she is of you."
Sesshomaru's claws sliced into his hand forcefully enough to draw blood.
They stood in silence, as Sesshomaru considered his next move. The rain outside continued to beat against the mountain loudly, stirring his hair. Tenseiga hummed at his waist, and he lowered his hand to still it. Could he trust this fool? His nose could not detect if she was lying. Her arguments were plausible, if his mother was the catalyst. Would she threaten her grandchild's life in order to further his political control of the clans? His instincts churned, suspecting that she would. A strange grief gripped his heart.
She held my hand. She warned me that he was in danger, having orchestrated it!
"Sesshomaru." Akiye reached for his hand, prying his claws free from his flesh. The wound was deep, and she hastily pressed her sleeve against his palm. "Sesshomaru, I am sorry about your mother. I have seen your boy. He is the very likeness of you. He has the makings of a great leader."
Sesshomaru's eyes rested on her again, although he gazed through her. Thinking.
"Sesshomaru…" Akiye's purred, softening her tone; her lips curled upward. Her golden eyes were warm as they slid over his form. Her luxurious, thick hair was loosely bound up as she stepped forward, drawing attention to her pale skin. "I have always admired you, you know. You have the qualities I desire: strength, power, cunning, breeding…I would bear your children. Beautiful, powerful heirs. You enjoy little ones…do you not?"
"You are unworthy." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.
The bitch tilted her head, considering him. In one smooth motion, she cut through her obi. She allowed her kimono to slip from her shoulders. She gazed back with a confident expression, reaching up to undo the hairpin holding the majority of her hair back.
"I am far from unworthy, and you know it." The bitch's eyes lowered and she dared to turn away from him, sweeping her hair over her shoulder to expose her backside. An invitation. The spiraling blue marks on her shoulder attracted his interest against his intentions. The bitch was descended from power, the direct blood descendant of his clan's rivals.
He inhaled; she was practically thrumming with interest.
The bitch tilted her head back, elongating her neck. The motion called to him, inviting him. It stirred longings he had ignored for several years. She glanced back at him, eyes flashing in the dark.
She gasped at the cold as Sesshomaru's damp form pressed against her, trapping her against the wall. She moaned loudly, bowing her head as he began to trail his lips up her spine. His hands found her breasts, warming them. His lips ran over her shoulders until he reached the back of her neck, licking the sensitive skin. The skin of his hands was rough, making the sensations against her nipples both pleasurable and grating.
She shuddered when she felt him reach for his own clothing, dropping the white silk beside his abandoned armor. She braced herself against the stone as he buried his face in her hair. She moaned; she had invited the taiyoukai, and he was not gentle about it.
Tukiyo-sama's plan is working! I will give him a son and we will—sensation took over, drowning out thought.