PLEASE READ: I did some of the formatting a little different than in previous chapters. The paragraphs in full Italics are a flashback. The sentences in full Italics and Bold are Sesshomaru's Beast talking. Remember his Beast talking is in Sesshomaru's head. There will be a lot of breaks but every break means a time span (if written how many hours) or a perspective change.
Because it's been awhile...
DISCLAIMER: The work of Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, I only own the basic plot and these characters: Lord Valcrin (Chapter 1), Mirla (Chapter 7), Lord Lear, Lord Ariod (Chapter 9) Akane, and Lord Tupol. I own nothing else!
Mini-Corner - This chapter is dedicated to "I love the whole Inu gang". Your review, while short and to the point, kicked my a** in gear. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 12 - Instincts Are Never Wrong
They continued their shard hunt the next day. The walking arrangements were similar to yesterday except Lord Tupol walked with Kagome and Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru and Tupol talked quietly of battle tactics while Kagome thought about that morning.
Flashback
Kagome woke up with her head and half her body draped over Sesshomaru. She blushed but remembered that she'd done it before and it was alright. She looked up at him and was surprised to see he was still sleeping.
His expression was sweet, a mix of innocence and sensuality. He was so beautiful.
She reached a hand up and lightly traced a magenta stripe. His eyes opened and she blushed, having been caught. She was about to pull her hand away when he grabbed it and held it to his cheek. She blushed deeper.
"Good morning." He whispered.
"Good morning." She said back. He leaned up, bringing her with him and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She sighed in pleasure as he kissed his way to her lips and touched her hair. The kiss was unbearably sweet and brought forth her attraction to him. She pressed closer, only to be bewildered when he pulled away, a chuckle escaping his lips. He kissed her cheek, then right under the lobe of her ear before whispering softly.
"We have an audience." Which shot Kagome's eyes around the clearing, landing on the kind smile of Lord Tupol. Her blush flared back with a vengeance and she cleared her throat, scrambling from out of the sleeping bag, to make breakfast. There was laughter from both Tupol and Sesshomaru and Kagome's blush stayed with her until breakfast was done.
End Flashback
Kagome's blush came back at the thought of the kiss they shared. A flush infused her body remembering the tingle it had caused.
It had been so...tender. It caught her breath and the emotions brought on by the kiss swamped her again. She felt so close to him.
'Kagome you don't even know him.' She told herself. 'What you feel is just a reaction to his sweetness.' Which he didn't do often. She frowned.
It was true that Sesshomaru never did something without meaning and he had yet to lie to her by omission or otherwise. Did the kiss mean more than a kiss? Was the tenderness a way to express something else? And why was she reading so far into it?
'Gah!' She thought. 'My brain hurts.' She wanted, so much, for it to be something more, because... she felt something more. Was it possible she... loved him? So soon? 'I don't know him.' She repeated fiercely but...did it matter?
She knew this fluttery feeling, having felt it before for Inuyasha. It was the warm-up to the real deal. It frightened her. How could she fall so fast?
'It's actually been over a month and you've known him for years.' Which was probably why it was so frightening. Having known him so long she never actually thought about him romantically. Of course she'd always thought him handsome, but what girl in their right mind wouldn't? She was sure she'd probably dreamt of him but never would she have thought this would be happening. He was devastatingly beautiful and powerful and thus if it wasn't for his Beast this wouldn't be happening. That thought hurt so she pushed it away. It crept back minutes later.
'Is any of it real?' She asked herself. She thought back and all their encounters ending on their conversation yesterday morning. It calmed her. 'He wouldn't lie. If he didn't want me, nothing could make him pretend to. He's too honorable for that.' With that thought, happiness floated back and she continued, lighthearted.
4 hours later
Kagome's feet hurt and when she called to Inuyasha to ask for a rest she was pleasantly surprised by his easy 'yes'. The group settled down at the sides of the road, which was quite large, she assumed it was for carriages. Sesshomaru stopped Kagome before she sat and pulled her in his arms, leaping away from the group to talk to her privately. Kagome didn't argue or grumble, figuring it important if he didn't ask.
Sesshomaru had felt Kagome's tension earlier while speaking with Lord Tupol. Though it hadn't lasted too long it had been strong enough to alarm him and thus the departure. He hoped to pull it out of her.
When they settled, Kagome spoke.
"What's up?" Though unfamilar of the phrase, Sesshomaru assumed it's meaning was 'what's wrong'. **
"Earlier you grew sad and tense. If I may inquire as to why?" Kagome looked at him in surprise.
'He just wants to know if...I'm okay?' She thought and couldn't help but beam at him.
"Earlier," She said. "I was thinking about things that were confusing me, so it sort of upset me. That's all." He nodded.
"And what may these things be?" He asked. She blushed and looked at her hands.
"Umm..."
"Kagome," She looked back up at him. His expression was somewhat soft. "I mean to know you, your thoughts are part of you. It would calm me to help you sort through anything confusing." With the look on his face and the sweet words he spoke, Kagome didn't know how to NOT tell him. She sighed.
"That's confusing." She said. He looked a little puzzled. "You. You're confusing. It's new to see you act so sweet and...this morning, the kiss was..." She stopped, unable to accurately describe it.
"Beautiful." He finished. She blushed but nodded.
"Yes. It was beautiful and I'm struggling with what I feel for you and I..."
"What do you feel for me?" He couldn't but to interrupt needing to know.
"I..." Feeling emboldened she spoke truthfully. "I think I love you. I've known what it feels like and I'm almost there." The expression on his face was quite priceless.
"Truly?" He asked, his voice surprisingly tentative. She looked at the warm, heartfelt expression on his face and smiled softly.
"Yes." She said.
Sesshomaru looked at the ground. Hearing Tupol's insight and hearing her say it were two very different things. Both knocked the breath from him and both made him feel even more strongly for her.
"I don't know what love is Kagome." He suddenly said, speaking carefully. "I was never taught. I'm not sure how I feel exactly. I've never felt this before. You make me feel so different than any thing I've ever encountered but...if I were to put a name to this emotion, I'd have to...call it love." Kagome smiled even more sweetly and leaned over to touch his cheek. He looked at her and the dazzling glint in his eyes made Kagome melt.
"Love makes you both feel weaker and stronger. It makes everything brighter when the one you love is there, while the world is just a bit dimmer when they're not around you. It's sometimes painful but it's always strong and breathtaking." Like he did that morning, he held her hand to his cheek.
"Is it overwhelming?" He asked anxiously thinking of the ball of feeling in his chest. She laughed, her voice tinkling merrily.
"Always." And he kissed her, her laugh still sweet in his ears, and her confession (and his) still warm in his heart.
Her lips were soft and pleasant and the surge of lust when his touched hers took his breath and made his heart beat extremely faster.
He managed, somehow, to pull her smoothly into his lap. They continued to kiss, her hands sliding into his hair and his swarmed around her waist. The kiss grew more passionate the longer it continued until he couldn't help but kiss to her throat and suck at the skin gently. Her soft moan of pleasure fueled his desire and his hands began to wonder.
He trailed them under her shirt, tracing a path up her spine, marveling at the way it made him feel to touch her. Her skin felt like electricity over his fingertips; hot and smooth.
She didn't remember how it happened but somehow she ended up on the ground with his weight pressing over her. Her shirt had disappeared and his mouth seemed permanently attached to her throat. His hands elicted a flurry of emotions in her, all revolving around the new sensations in her body.
His touch inspired heat that spiraled from his fingertips to the untouched part of her between her thighs. It ached there, a pleasant throb with every pull of his lips upon her throat. She felt somewhat feverish and a haze began to cloud her mind, blocking out pesky thoughts of fear and embarassment.
When his hand cupped her breast she let out a loud moan that made Sesshomaru growl, which made him pause. Her vocalization aroused him but the unexpected sound of possessiveness made his conscious rear up. He was getting too close to loosing control if he could make that noise without thought.
Remembering his promise, a couple of days ago, to wait, made him pull off her throat. He drew on his formidable self-control and pulled up enough to see her entire face. He was jolted by her lidded eyes and parted lips and it took everything in him to pull into a position where he barely touched her.
"Kagome," He said his breath ragged and his voice deeper than normall. "We must stop or I don't know if I'll be able to." She licked her lips, blushing and he nearly groaned at the erotic sight she made. She nodded and he helped her put her shirt back on. Unable to help it, he held her in a comforting embrace for nearly an hour before lifting her into his arms and flying to rejoin the group.
After Kagome and Sesshomaru rejoined the group, the gang continued their journey once more. Sesshomaru dropped to the back of the group and let his mind wander as Lord Tupol struck up a conversation with Kagome.
'Being around her is wonderful.' His Beast said in a contented tone. His Beast brought forth their earlier physical encounter with Kagome and Sesshomaru felt lust creep back into his veins.
'Yes it is.' His Beast made a purring noise at Sesshomaru's thoughts.
'She smells so tantalizing when she's aroused.' Sesshomaru took a deep breath and, once again, agreed with his Beast. 'When will you court her? I want to make the mark.' Sesshomaru was a little taken aback by this.
'Already?' He couldn't quite believe it. His Beast snorted.
'She is my female, my mate. The one I've been searching for, the one I need and want. I have no hesistation. Youare the one who wishes to hold back. You are the one with doubts.' Sesshomaru felt outraged.
"I do not doubt her!' He snarled. 'You may speak all things vile of me but never think I pause out of doubt.' He felt his Beast's apathy.
'You pause because she's human, because you believe she is unworthy. You believe...'
'Do not tell me what I believe. Her mortality is not an issue. She is a strong, proud female worthy enough of this Sesshomaru. DO NOT TELL ME I BELIEVE OTHERWISE!' Sesshomaru could barely contain his rage. How dare his Beast insinuate such things? There was a pause before his Beast spoke again, its' voice gentle.
'Then why ask me if I am sure? Why not speak of Demon Rituals with her?' Sesshomaru realized by the tone of his voice, that his Beast had riled him on purpose. But why? For what reason? 'To make you see.'His Beast offered with wisdom. 'To make you understand that you fear the change a bond will bring.'
In all honesty his Beast was correct. While it galled him to agree he did fear.
'How can I fear the Mating Bond? It is a natural course of demon instinct.' His Beast could only shrug.
'Perhaps it is because you've been alone for so long. Centuries, with only me to converse with, who you've ignored.' Sesshomaru wondered why that made him feel guilty. 'It is only natural to fear change. Only natural to have trepidation on taking on the responsibility of caring for a mate.' Sesshomaru was thoughtful for a moment.
'I don't believe that is the reason. What of the differences between our traditions?'
'What?' Sesshomaru felt little patience but forged on.
'Humans and demons are different. We do not think the same and have different ways of doing things. Therefore our rituals of bonding must be different.' His Beast pondered this, then spoke.
'You have a point. Why don't you ask her?' Sesshomaru balked.
'Just ask her of our cultural differences? Like an ignorant child?' His Beast rolled its' eyes.
'You don't know her traditions. It is common logic to ask if you want to know something. The best way to know her culture is to ask.' Sesshomaru frowned.
'How am I to bring such a delicate subject up? How to ask such a question?'
'Gently?' His Beast suggested. Sesshomaru scowled.
'Yes,' He drawled. 'Because I was going to be insensitive and overly blunt about it.' He sneered.
'Well...you can be.' Sesshomaru really didn't know what to say to that.
Kagome drifted in thought as Lord Tupol opened up an enthusiastic conversatino with Sango on the various ways to conquer an opponent. Kagome found it funny that they began talking of demon slaying tacts when Lord Tupol, was, in fact, a demon himself. Even more humorous was the way he took it all in stride and seemed to separate himself from the possible slaying category, as if he wasn't a demon.
Her thoughts wandered off their conversation to the silver-haired Demon Lord that trailed at her side, their hands brushing against one another's every so often. Her feelings, completely cleared of confusion, brought her to the thought of where do we go from here?
She thought of the next step. Of what the next step would be if it was a normal relationship...Normal... What an odd word for her. What part of Kagome's life had been normal since she first fell down the well? It wasn't all that surprising that her choice of companion would be as different as she was.
She smiled, both amused and sardonic.
'I have no relationship experience to speak of, so what do I know of normal?' and how true that was. 'So what comes next?' She thought. A vision of her mother's smiling face popped into her head and Kagome realized how long it had been since she'd been at home. 'Momma doesn't even know about Sesshomaru, maybe...the next step is to go home and tell her?'
The more Kagome thought about it, the more it made sense.
Whenever something new had happened, the first one to know had always been her mother. Having realized the length of time she'd been away from home, Kagome felt guilty. So much had happened. She frowned and her mind trailed to Sesshomaru briefly.
'If we're going to be together, than I have to tell Mom. If we're going to be together than I have to stay in the Feudal Era...' The thought was a little frightening. Especially the thought of telling her mother. Confidence grew and Kagome knew it was right. 'I love him.' She thought with a sweet smile. 'I want to be with him, so I'll stay.' Something occurred to her and it made her breath catch and panic tighten her stomach.
Without the shards she couldn't cross the well. What if, when they'd made the wish, it sent her back to her time and she couldn't come back?
Her eyes filled with tears at the thought that she'd never be able to come back. She took a deep breath and forced back the thoughts of failure and loss.
'Cross that bridge when you get there Kagome. Don't go inviting depression with thoughts of what might be. Just...focus on the now.'
She'd go home. That thought was correct and she'd tell her mother, her grandfather, and her brother her choice. That, if she could, she'd stay here in the Feudal Era with Sesshomaru. That, if she could, she'd come back and visit whenever every couple of weeks..
Her thoughts turned to all the things she'd need to grab, just in case, to stock up on supplies.
'I could grab some extra stuff for here. If I get sent home because of the jewel at least everyone here will have some extra supplies and... I could get something for everyone, something special for each one of them to remember me by.' The thought comforted her.
"Hey," She spoke up. "Everyone, can I talk to you guys about something quick?" Everyone stopped and moved closer to hear what Kagome had to say. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and she turned and smiled at Sesshomaru who looked a little worried.
"Is everything alright?" He asked having felt her anxiety again.
"Everything's good," She said. "But I think it's time I go home for a day or so."
"WHAT!" Inuyasha screeched. He stepped closer to her and gave her a fierce scowl. "We've got a rumor of shards and you want to run off home?" She frowned at him.
"Inuyasha!" His ears flattened at her tone. "It's been over a month since I've been home. My family's probably worried sick! Plus our supplies is running low. We have only a couple of ramen cups left." Watching the slight panicked look on Inuyasha's face, Kagome knew it was a good idea to mention the ramen. He sighed in long suffering and grumbled reluctantly.
"I guess you'd better go home than." She grinned at him.
"Thank you. I'll bring your favorite flavor back with me." Inuyasha looked less put out and more hopeful.
"Shrimp?" He asked his voice more like a kid's than an adult's. She giggled and nodded. He looked gleeful.
"Well, we're only about three or four days away from Kaede's village and the well. That's if we start that way now." Miroku said, ever the one thinking.
"Is it okay with everyone?" Kagome asked looking around at the group. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Lord Tupol, Inuyasha, Kirara, and Kikyo nodded. She turned to Sesshomaru to see a frown upon his face.
"Sesshomaru?" She asked softly.
'She needs the comfort of her mother.' His Beast said thoughtfully. Sesshomaru nodded.
"Of course." He said because, really, what else could he say? Kagome smiled brightly and laid her head tentatively against his bicep. He thought it almost worth a short absence from her for her public affection.
As they made their way to the well, Kikyo could barely contain herself. Everything was falling into place. All she needed now was to talk to Akane and Lord Lear and inform them it was almost time. Just a couple of days and Kagome would be dead, Inuyasha would be hers, and Sesshomaru would be blamed.
That evening, as the camp was set up, Kikyo left the group to their preparations and traveled about a mile or so away.
Using the same spell as before she pulsed her aura and called out to Lord Lear and Akane.
Akane was the first to arrive, having been following them from a safe distance away.
"Is it time?" He asked, a look of anxiety on his face. She nodded and he put a hand lightly on her back, and pressed a kiss to her hair. They stayed that way for the ten minutes it took for Lord Lear to arrive. Akane for comfort and Kikyo for pretenses.
Lord Lear arrived with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Akane grit his teeth at the mocking look on his face and turned to Kikyo for her reaction. She looked indifferent and Akane felt a start at the nearly dead look in her eyes. Unnerved, Akane looked back at Lear.
'What was that?' He asked himself.
"Is it finally time?" Asked Lear.
"Yes," Kikyo said. "It is time to enact our plan." She pulled a small blue bag out of her sleeve, filled with five jewel shards, ones that she had hidden from Inuyasha and the rest of the gang. She pulled out the three shards hidden in yet another blue bag inside the first and tossed it to Lord Lear. "There are the three shards. You must create the problem at Lord Sesshomaru's palace tonight and find the demon to distract the group from Kagome. It has to be ready to attack as soon as she leaves to the well within four day's time."
"Of course, I know my part in this." Lord Lear said with a cocky grin. "But don't forget about your part." Kikyo nodded but didn't turn to Akane just yet.
"Do you have an idea of what you will do to send Lord Sesshomaru's retainer to him? And what of the demon you need, what kind is it and where do you plan to acquire it?" Lord Lear cocked his head to the side.
"The demon is a large bear. It lives on the edge of Inuyasha's forest. It is usually docile but with jewel shards that should change quite fast. Especially when I tell him that Inuyasha and you have some more." He seemed to pause and think. "I, unfortunately, don't know what to do about Sesshomaru's palace." Akane stepped forward.
"I had a thought for that. Jaken is basically incompetent when dealing with Lord Sesshomaru's affairs at the palace. If you set fire to the garden, stables, and put this," He threw a vial to Lord Lear. "near the flames that should send Jaken running to Lord Sesshomaru. Be careful not to set the contents on fire or else it won't work." Lord Lear lifted the vial to eye level, seeing a dark patch and mixture of fur, blood, and flesh in it.
"What's in it?" Kikyo asked looking at the vial and then at Akane.
"It's part of a panther demon that I found on the lands. Most of the panther tribe is dead but...some aren't. Jaken knows that Lord Sesshomaru and the panther tribe have a violent history. He'll panic at the thought that the panther tribe is trying to avenge their fallen comrads again." Kikyo smiled evilly.
"Perfect." She purred and gave Akane a slightly seductive look. He blushed a little and brushed his fingertips against her collarbone.
"Not that this isn't touching or anything but what about Akane's part?" Lear said quickly interrupting their moment. He had no desire to see them make eyes at each other. In fact he almost felt sick at the smell of Kikyo's fake arousal and Akane's bright need.
'Disgusting.' He thought. 'How in the hell does he even stand touching her when she smells of death and lies?'
Akane scowled at him and Kikyo spoke.
"While rude, you're right Lord Lear. Akane," Akane looked quickly at Kikyo when she spoke his name. "Here are the two jewel shards, in case you need them, though I doubt it. Kagome is a very weak priestess." She gave him the little bag that held the last of the five shards she'd kept a secret from Inuyasha. "When you leave, head to the well, and stay on the edge of the clearing. The bag should hide the shards while still imbibing you with their power. Wait until she comes out into the clearing. Make sure to catch her before she gets too close to the well." Akane nodded.
"By sword, right?" He asked trying to sound as if the idea of killing Kagome meant nothing to him.
"Yes, by sword, try not to touch her any other way." Kikyo carefully pulled another bag out of her sleeve, this one green. "This bag, has sand in it, with a spell weaved through the grains. Once poured upon Kagome, it should take the smell of Sesshomaru and apply it to Kagome's body. It will smell as if he was furious and blood thirsty. Don't worry, the sand will disappear." Akane took a deep breath and took the bag from her, placing it and the jewel-filled bag in his sleeve for safe keeping.
"It sounds simple enough." Akane said with a confident air he did not feel.
"Do not kill her by claw." Kikyo warned. "If you do, the toxin in the tips will make the spell from the sand unable to work. It will smell as if you killed her instead of Sesshomaru." Akane nodded.
"Sword, not claw." He repeated to help reassure her. Lord Lear shook his head at the couple, feeling amused.
'She treats him like a child.' He thought. 'How pathetic. How does he stand her?' He would never understand. Kikyo was pretty enough but some things could not be overlooked. Such as her eyes, dull and lifeless, or her smell, atrocious as it was, could not over ride the fact that she could not bare pups. He admitted he wouldn't want pups at this time but to never be able to have them? No, that was too much.
"If that is all, I shall take my leave to Sesshomaru's home." Lord Lear said feeling bored with this pretense of alliance. Kikyo nodded and Akane gave him a distrusting glance.
"Yes that's all." Kikyo said. "Hurry to his home. If this all works out, you'll gain three shards for your trouble." Lord Lear grinned.
"Three shards? Why not the whole jewel? You'll be going to hell so what will it matter if the jewel is mine." Akane growled and Kikyo flicked a piece of her hair behind her shoulder.
"You are mistaken Lord Lear, I have no plans on leaving this plane. I will send Inuyasha to hell and stay with my love." She turned to Akane and gave him a sultry, secret smile as if he was her world. Akane pressed closer to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She leaned her head back and turned her face into Akane's chest.
"Of course, how could I not realize." Lord Lear said inwardly condemning Akane as a fool. "Three shards will, of course then, be perfect." She nodded.
"Carry the bag with you as you set Lord Sesshomaru's palace aflame. It will hide your scent and aura."
He bowed to them mockingly and left.
"I don't trust him." Akane said. Kikyo sighed and pulled away from him.
"Have we not talked of this?" She asked. Akane frowned and nodded.
"We have but... It's still true. I don't trust him. He's shifty and I feel like he's planning something." He said. Kikyo placed a hand over his heart.
"He probably is." Kikyo said. Akane puffed up, fearing for Kikyo. "But it's probably with the jewel shards he'll earn. Even if he does try to hurt us, he won't be able to. I am a very powerful priestess and you are a powerful demon warrior. If anything happened, I'm sure, together, we'd be able to protect ourselves." Akane stared into her confident but dull eyes, and a sense of foreboding spiked his thoughts. When she kissed him he let himself be distracted but it lingered... that fear.
'What if he betrays our plan?' He thought feverishly.
Akane was a coyote demon and therefore had a strong sense of danger. If only he would have listened to it.
Authoress Corner:
** He wouldn't be familar with modern day slang.
This took a long time to write and I'm so sorry. It's actually a little longer than usual for my chapters. Chapter 13 will be out in about a week (no lie). I've got only about a page left to write but I figured I'd hurry and post this for you guys because it had been so long. This chapter and chapter 13, so far, have gone exactly as I planned. In this chapter I was a little surprised by Lord Lear's disdain for Akane but in a way I understand.
Be updating soon,
POASO