Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. The story and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. All I own is my character Asami/Miyako.
Chapter 20 -
Asami tipped her face to the sunshine and allowed it to warm her face. She sighed contentedly as she walked silently next to Sesshomaru. The branches up above chittered and chattered even though no breeze had stirred them. She listened in, hoping for some greeting from Bokuseno, but quickly ignored the noise when she realized it was just the usual gossip. Jaken had just agreed to take Rin off the path to pick flowers, promising to catch up quickly, so she and Sesshomaru were alone for the moment.
"If you could do anything you want, what would it be?" the usually quiet diayokai broke the silence, startling Asami.
"Hm? Oh, well, I guess I'm doing it. Traveling with you, Rin, and Jaken. I've seen more of the world than probably any other kodama, including the elders," she smiled up at him. "Even with the bad stuff that has happened," Asami dropped her gaze back down to her feet, thinking back on Mt. Hakurei, "I wouldn't change it for anything."
"Isn't there anything else you want?" Sesshomaru angled his head and looked at her questioningly.
Asami blushed under his scrutiny, "All I want is to be with you," she answered quietly. A smile hinted at Sesshomaru's lips. Shaking her head to clear her embarrassment, Asami turned the question back to him, "What about you? As a daiyokai, you must be free to do whatever you want."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and a shadow crossed his face as he looked to the horizon in thought, "Quite the opposite. Most of my life has been plagued by rules, duties, and obligations. This Sesshomaru has often had to set aside his own desires for the sake of responsibilities to the title of lord of the west."
Asami looked up at him, stunned by this revelation, eyes wide with shock. No wonder he always insists that Rin and I do as we please. "That must be difficult. What about now? Have you been traveling this whole time purely out of duty?"
"There are duties that I perform while traveling, but no, this has been something I wanted to do," he turned his head to the side, listening for Rin and Jaken picking flowers.
"What else do you want, if you could do anything, that is." The breeze picked up strands of Asami's hair, mixing it with Sesshomaru's as they walked on.
Raising an eyebrow at her, "At the moment, I want to fly with you." With a strong arm and mischievous grin, he pulled her close and took off.
ooooooooo
Asami awoke sensing something was wrong. Her foggy mind remembered finishing Rin's Bo staff. She had stayed up later than usual to put the final touches on it and instead of moving to sleep next to Rin, Asami had simply curled up in her spot next to Sesshomaru and fell asleep. She vaguely recalled mokomoko being wrapped around her because she had noticed the warmth and the scent of Sesshomaru in her sleep. Asami blinked and rubbed her eyes, trying to figure out what was wrong. As a chilled wind sent shivers down her arms, she realized mokomoko – and thus Sesshomaru – was gone. That didn't concern her as he sometimes left without telling them, but something else felt off. It was then that she heard the tinkling of a wooden flute somewhere in the distance.
Jaken ran through the bushes into the campsite, "Oh! Asami-sama! Rin is gone!"
"What?!" Asami sprang to her feet, "Where did she go?"
"I don't know, my lady," beads of sweat broke out on Jaken's brow, "I woke up as she stood up and started to walk off into the woods. I called out to her, but she didn't respond. When I followed, she seemed to just disappear!"
"No," Asami muttered to herself, recalling the sound of the flute. Running to the trees that stood in the direction Jaken had come from she cried out, "Where is she?" A roaring whoosh ripped through the leaves followed by a creaking and croaking of branched. Jaken looked on, dumbfounded. Asami's face darkened in horror before she turned back to the imp, "Jaken, we must act quickly. Rin was taken by a demon that sells human children as slaves. Do you know where Sesshomaru-sama went?"
"I can find him," he nodded.
"Good," she retrieved her Bo staff and slung it onto her back, "They say that Rin is Northwest of here. I will start tracking them in that direction and try to catch up to them. You go tell Sesshomaru-sama what happened."
"M-me? Alone, my lady?" Jaken squeaked.
"Yes, Jaken," she looked down at him in pity, "We must move quickly for Rin's sake. So it is best that I start off without waiting for Sesshomaru-sama."
"Okay, Asami-sama," Jaken gulped, "I will go swiftly." Jaken looked around the campsite and seemed to see some indication of where he needed to go, because he took off as fast as his little feet would carry him.
Asami raced off into the forest in the direction the trees had indicated. Brambles and roots drew back out of her way, keeping her feet from tripping in the dark. She was an excellent tracker and searched high and low for signs of which way the demon had taken Rin, but without an inuyokai nose the going was slow, even with the trees to help. The sun's rays were just beginning to creep into the sky when she heard a demon cry out and sensed a wave of spiritual power sizzle the air. Cautiously, she approached the nearest clearing, staying hidden away. A band of monks were leading many children out of a cave, the last one out had an orange and yellow checkered kimono. She was about to run out to collect Rin when a hand reached out to stop her.
"She must decide this for herself," Sesshomaru said darkly.
"What do you mean?" Asami snapped angrily.
"Rin is a human girl and she has a chance here to go live with other humans. It is her choice." He wouldn't admit to the ball of worry settling in his stomach over what Rin's decision might be.
"But," Asami squirmed in Sesshomaru's grasp, "She's ours." Her eyes pleaded with his.
"That is not our claim to make if she does not wish it. We wait." He maintained his grasp on Asami's arm, but shifted so he was holding her to him. Asami gritted her teeth as she heard Rin demand to be let go. It wasn't until she had called out their names that Sesshomaru let Asami go and they rushed out to help Rin.
"Master Ungai," one of the monks called out, "A demon and another creature!"
"Hm. That seems to be a tree spirit, though why it walks in human form I do not know. They seem to have bewitched this child and must be dealt with," an older monk pointed his shakujo at Asami and Sesshomaru, directing the younger monks to begin their chant.
The group of young monks surrounded Asami and Sesshomaru, running and chanting with their prayer beads. Sesshomaru watched them, but remained stoic and unimpressed with their feeble attempts. Asami turned and stood with her back to Sesshomaru, unsure of what would come next, she quietly called her power forth. The sutras they threw upon them stung her body and she snarled at the monks in warning. Ungai used his shakujo to send a wave of spiritual power at them. Asami blinked as a bright flash of light engulfed them. It sizzled and crackled in the air, but she didn't feel the expected pain. Instead, Sesshomaru's aura washed over her like a warm embrace, protecting them both and deflecting the spiritual energy.
The monks were surprised to see the demon and tree spirit still standing. Sesshomaru started walking towards Rin again, and Asami turned to follow suit. When the monks started running around them again, Asami began drawing up roots and vines to trip them. She was afraid to do much harm as they were not evil men. Ungai continued to throw sutras at each of Asami's plants, disintegrating them upon contact. The young monks were able to draw a containment circle that slowly closed in on Sesshomaru and Asami. She pressed her back into Sesshomaru's, fearful of another spiritual attack from so many monks. Without a sound, he reached out to her with his aura, comforting her and strengthening her. Her aura responded by slowly coiling around them both, offering what protection she could. Ungai, fearful of a demonic attack, struck with a great force of spiritual energy.
Asami gasped as the surge of energy smashed into them. Her whole body tingled and burned as the monk attempted to purify them. She heard Sesshomaru growl as he released more of his aura. Closing her eyes, she focused on her own power welling up within her and the feel of Sesshomaru at her back. Asami allowed her power to entwine with his, mixing and melding until they formed a green and red swirled barrier. It grew and swelled until at last it burst forth, lashing out at the monks surrounding them and blazing a path through the trees, away from the children. Rin ran forward to Sesshomaru.
"Rin," he looked down at her with serious eyes, "Do as you please." He turned, took Asami's hand, and lead her away from the clearing. Asami lagged behind a bit, worried that the monks would continue to restrain Rin from following. Sesshomaru rumbled to her in comfort, drawing her closer so she was walking right beside him. "You entwined your aura with mine," he commented, his voice soft but questioning.
"Only peripherally," she qualified, "It just seemed like the natural thing to do; that we'd both be stronger for it." Your aura makes me feel safe, even in battle. She thought, but didn't know how to say it. "Was I wrong to do so?"
"No," his voice thickened with warmth, "Anything that draws you closer to me is never a bad thing." Rin caught up to them and they all eventually found Jaken wandering and crying out for Rin. Sesshomaru found a glade to rest in, knowing Rin had not really slept much the night before. "Jaken," Sesshomaru commanded once Rin was settled, "Stay awake and watch over Rin as she sleeps. See if you can manage to protect her from any further calamity today."
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama," the little demon responded sheepishly.
Asami had begun to set up a pallet next to Rin's when she looked up to find Sesshomaru holding his hand out to her. "Asami, come with me." Taking his hand, she rose and allowed herself to be drawn into him. Though he did not smile, his amber eyes reflected a light that made her stomach flip and her head spin.
"Where are we going?" she blushed and glanced over at Jaken, but was relieved to see that he had tactfully turned his back on them.
Sesshomaru leaned down to nuzzle her neck, breathing in her scent. She softly gasped as his breath tickled her ear, "You shall see." Without another word, he formed his cloud beneath his feet and lifted them both off the ground.
ooooooooo
Asami's eyes grew wide with wonder as they touched down in a very familiar meadow. She spun in a circle, trying to take in every leaf and blade of grass. A giggle escaped her lips and her smile beamed as she turned back to Sesshomaru. "You have brought me home! But, why?"
"I have something important to ask you and I wanted you here, where you are most comfortable, when I asked it," he brushed his knuckles down her cheek and gazed deeply into her eyes. "I had told myself I would be patient and wait for this whole mess with Naraku to be over before I spoke to you, but after feeling your aura blended with mine this morning I realized that I'm not as patient as I thought."
Asami's breath hitched in her throat and she took a step back. Her lips quivered into a frown and she dropped her gaze, "Sesshomaru-sama, I love you, but I've known for some time that I could never be your mate." She looked up to see Sesshomaru's eyes widen in disbelief. "You see, kodama are made...not born. I-I may never be able to bear children. I cannot give you the heir that your title requires, so I cannot be your mate." Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
Sesshomaru tilted her chin up to him, "What I want with you goes much deeper than being a mate. I want to reforge the soul-bond that we had, but this time I don't want to break it." He wiped away a tear that still escaped her eyes then cupped the side of her face, rubbing his thumb against her cheek. "I want to always have a part of you with me, to never be separated no matter the distance between us." Asami laughed softly through the new tears that formed in her eyes. "But before you agree, there is something you must know, something that I keep secret even from Jaken for the sake of protecting what is mine." Sniffling, Asami became quite serious and nodded. "I can't ask you to become my mate, because I already have one and an heir."
Now Asami's eyes widened in disbelief as she took another step back, "What?!"
"As soon as I reached maturity I was required to take a mate," he began, knowing he was suddenly on shaky ground, "A childhood friend, who also had a family duty to uphold, became my mate. It was purely a political union. I respect her as the mother of my son and she runs a very efficient shiro, but we do not love each other and were only together the one time. She lives in another part of the shiro with the man she does love, who also happens to be my advisor. I keep the knowledge of them hidden to protect them."
Asami swallowed hard, trying to digest the weight of the information she just learned, "So she has a lover, which you're okay with, and you've been showering me with affection, which she will be okay with because yours is purely a political union?"
"We agreed when we became mates that our duty to our title should not preclude each of us finding happiness. She soul-bonded with her love shortly after having my son and has encouraged me to find love for some time," Sesshomaru looked pleadingly into Asami's eyes, trying to make her understand.
"What is her name," she sighed.
"Reiko."
"You really have no problem with her being soul-bonded with another?" Asami's eyes narrowed at him, trying to picture the life and responsibilities of a nobleman. Although a tree spirit has no social or political ties, she had learned and observed the social norms of other species around her.
"None. They keep their relationship discreet. We would not have to be as careful as them," Sesshomaru added.
"Wait," Asami's eyes filled with laughter, "Are you asking me to be your concubine?"
Sesshomaru's nose scrunched up, "I do not like the term. My grandfather kept many concubines, but they were nothing more than things to satisfy his pleasure." Sesshomaru's cheeks tinged pink at some memory. "You would be my world, but yes, the title that would afford you the most rights and respect within my shiro is that of concubine."
"And Reiko," Asami paused at his mate's name, "she would have no problem with you soul-bonding with and keeping a concubine?"
"No, it has actually been her mission for some time now," Sesshomaru waited, hoping Asami would see the truth of his situation.
Asami stared at Sesshomaru for a moment then burst out laughing. She laughed until her sides hurt and tears were once again streaming down her face. Sesshomaru looked on with a confused, cold stare. When she had regained her composure, she stepped back into him, "This is the most twisted tangle of vines I've ever seen, but I do love you. As I said before, I knew I couldn't be your mate. So," she reached up and held his face gently in her hands, "as long as I'm not taking another woman's place, then I whole-heartedly give myself to be soul-bonded to you...and be your concubine," she teased.
Sesshomaru swept her up into a crushing kiss. Asami's arms wrapped around his neck, holding herself close to him. His lips moved from her mouth, caressing her cheeks, eyes, and forehead. "Asami," he murmured, "My Asami." He knelt down in the grass, bringing her with him, and looked into her eyes. "Are you ready?" She smiled and nodded.
Sesshomaru bent down, kissed her forehead, then rested his forehead against hers. He allowed his power to slowly well up, reaching out to her with his aura. She felt the warmth of it caress her body as though his hand were touching her. Her power rose up to meet his, reaching out and surrounding them. Their auras wrapped and entwined together, blending until one could not be distinguished from the other. Asami reached out and grasped onto his kimono with both hands as the sheer force of their combined energy swelled around them. She could feel him deep within her soul, forever marked upon her heart; a part of his aura etched into the very fabric of her being. Sesshomaru leaned down and kissed her, sending tingling shocks racing through her system as their aura pulsed within them. He drew back from the kiss, breathing heavily, as their aura slowly quieted. Asami drew power back within herself, but felt the immediate change. It was no longer distinctly hers, it was theirs.
Asami looked up at Sesshomaru and was shocked to see that his eyes, red from exerting so much of his power, were streaked with green. She wondered if her own eyes mirrored his. She then looked around the meadow, expecting signs of damage like that which occurred at Mt. Hakurei, but found nothing harmed. "I'm glad we didn't destroy my home."
Sesshomaru laughed softly, "Last time I had to break my aura from yours. That is what caused the devastation there. This time our auras remain combined, a portion residing in each of us."
Sitting back, Asami looked concerned, "Sesshomaru-sama, I know you are on a quest to gain more power, will my weaker aura not weaken you?"
Tilting his head to the side, he took her hand. "You may drop the honorific," he said with a smile, "You are mine, and I am yours. Everything that you are strengthens me and makes me a better yokai." He drew her into him and laid down with her in the meadow, wrapping mokomoko around her as they stared up at the blue sky. They lay there for some time until the sun crept towards the horizon. "Come, we must get back to Rin and Jaken." Keeping her cocooned in mokomoko, he held his kodama close and flew them back to their pack.
A/N: Please don't hate me for making Asami be his concubine rather than his mate. Although this story is a romance, it is also set in feudal Japan where such practices were common among the nobility. Although a concubine held a lower rank than a wife, they still held a place of power and respect – depending on rank (at least as much as women received at the time). It doesn't mean he loves her or respects her less, it means that he had political responsibilities as lord of the west.