"It took many more months and many more dances before I convinced my Kawa to marry me. By that point I had dismissed all the others, refusing to even consider them as concubines when I was in the process of wooing the most… perfect woman. Eventually she conceded defeat and agreed to be my wife. It was hard as my council was against us. She was a commoner, one who resided in my village, but she eventually won them over with her quick wit and honest way of speaking, though no one ever knew of her mixed heritage." It had been difficult to keep the secret from a palace full of nosy people but somehow they had managed. "It was during that time when we were newly married, learning to love and respect each other, that I felt this… calling. As if something was trying to get my attention and one night when I could no longer stand this annoying, incessant whisper, I rose from my bed to seek out the source. It led me here, to this room, and after moving the dressing table and pulling up a loose floor board, I found a lacquered box still in pristine condition." It had been stunning in its black finish with the large white Inu howling at the moon.
"It was there that I found her papers, Izayoi-hime, of two hundred years past. She described everything. The mistrust between her family, this family, and the Inu to the west and all youkai in general, and how she had become unwilling to believe they were all evil. How it didn't make sense that someone who had been nothing more than their neighbour could be judged so harshly when no one had ever met the Inu no Taisho. Then she did and the way she speaks of him… her love, their love… was an eternal one. She describes how difficult it was to deny him the right to mark her as his mate but he would have been ridiculed for taking her as such and she knew this. She writes of finding out she is pregnant and of accepting assistance from someone she shouldn't have to try and get to your father only to be taken and held captive by her supposed companion and how, when the time came for your birth, this trusted man put a sword through her belly, thinking to kill her instantly, only she held on long enough to birth you." InuYasha was very still, almost eerily so, as Toyokuni related all he knew.
"His death, Touga's death, nearly destroyed her. The only thing she had left to live for was you but in order to do so, she had to return here. There was nowhere else she could go. The things she writes of, the degrading way she was treated, you were treated, it was beyond despicable what this family did to you both. But through it all you were her life InuYasha and she knew, if she held on long enough, she would raise you to become something incredible. In the end, she writes, that it was not a normal illness that took her life. She was heartsick, broken from losing her one true-mate even if they had never fulfilled the bonding and when Myoga finally appeared she made him promise to look after you and to help her with her goal. She wanted to change her family's view on youkai but only when one of us could do so with an open heart. Her uncle, the current head of the Yamana line had already expunged your existence from the family scrolls, and told her as much stating that he would not allow her… mistake… to stain the family tree. So you see, until I found your mother's words, I had no idea that either of you lived let alone belonged to this family."
Tugging on her father's kimono, Izayoi whispered, "Tell them about me!"
Chuckling at her antics Toyokuni watched InuYasha's eyes flick to her and soften. "Kawa was so moved by your mother's story that when our daughter was born she would not allow me to choose another name, nor would I have. I can only hope that my own Izayoi grows to have the same compassion, the same goodness and ability to forgive as yours did. She also has a youkai night but only one per month when the desire to race through the water of the river rises and I must sneak her away so she can dance along the rapids as her mother once did. And perhaps after the excitement of the past few months she will learn to be more suspicious… as her mother had been." Her cheeks flushed but his child nodded, determined to never be tricked like that again.
Kagome sat very still for InuYasha as he processed everything that Toyo had said. It was a lot to take in, in a very short amount of time, and questions swirled in a mass but one sat on the tip of his tongue and she nudged him gently so he would ask it. "May I see…" Was as far as he got as the emotions rose to choke off his voice.
The stoic and cold mask slipped for but a moment with his words. "I have kept the original safe in its box all these years. It is yours and you should take it with you when you go. I did have a copy made for I wish to keep an accounting so that no one forgets who she was or how you are connected to this family." Sighing, he knew he was pushing his luck but asked any ways. "I would make a request of you Lord InuYasha, son of the great Inu no Taisho, if you will permit me."
Stirred up and confused with all these revelations InuYasha could do little more than nod. "Ask it and we shall see."
He expected no less. "I am the last male of the house of Yamana. I will have no more children besides Izayoi for to take another wife after having had Kawa is not a possibility. I will not seek to replace that which was perfect. When I die, the titles will go to Izayoi's husband and though I will do my utmost to find her a good one, I would ask that you watch out for her and this village that was once your home."
The dragon's head lifted and her Inu gave a funny chuckle that had Kagome forcing back her own laugh as something was unexpectedly made clear. "InuYasha…" She whispered to him urgently before he said anything.
His brow rose slowly with her sudden understanding as tumblers fell into place and locks were opened on things she had not been able to see the answers to. "That one? Really?" Her thrilled laughter made him shiver when it shimmied across his mind. Having never taken his eyes from Toyo, he could see how his hesitation was making the man nervous. "This place was never my home." He stated softly, eyeing the human closely as his face fell. "Home for me is my forest to the east where I live with my mate and our pack or the valley in the heart of the west that is my brother's seat of power but never this place. This was a place that I learned hard lessons and grew up much faster than I should have had to. But… I can see all that you have tried to do. Your words hold no scent of lie in them and I believe your heart has changed. To have a partial youkai as your wife, to care so much for the child of that mating, it is clear to see you do not hold the same beliefs as those of the past. I will concede to your request Toyo-sama and take it one step further." Rising to his feet and placing Kagome gently on hers as the lord who was the last of his line scramble to stand as well, he made his pledge and had his words ring with authority. "I InuYasha as a Lord of the West hereby grant my protection to the village of Gāden Jōkamachi. Should the descendants of the Yamana line require my assistance it will be given, should the village come under threat you will have the right to claim my help. From this day until it is no longer needed, I will watch over your daughter as if she was my own and when the time comes for her to wed I will put forth my own candidate for her hand. From there it shall be Izayoi's choice."
He felt as if he had been stabbed with a katana his surprise was so great as InuYasha took his simple request and expanded it in a way he had not dared hope. "You honor us!" He managed to gasp before bowing to the Inu Lord. "You have been most generous." And he could not believe their fortune.
Waving a hand in dismissal, InuYasha shrugged. "Feh. We'll see how generous you feel it is when Sesshomaru wanders through the first time. Wouldn't be surprised if he just absorbs you into the west and expands our territory. If it comes to that I'm sure he'll send the toad." He chuckled when Toyo's eyes widened and filled with fear. "You're smart to fear him for he is what he is but if you show him the respect that is his right you will have no problems." They were family for him, distant but the blood was there, though he was not about to make the claim as openly as Toyo had done. He had done enough and wondered how quickly he would come to regret it. But glancing down at the beaming face of his mate as Kagome's happiness and overwhelming pride rose to wrap around him, he knew it was worth the irate 'hn' of disapproval he was likely to get from his brother.
"You leave Sesshomaru to me…" She chuckled wickedly as her alpha eyes gleamed with mischief. Sesshomaru wouldn't know what hit him when she was through. "Manipulating wench." He rumbled softly with his own laughter.
Looking at the two of them standing and staring into each other's eyes Izayoi sighed sweetly at the romance. She had read her namesake's account of her feelings for her departed mate and she couldn't help but think these two were a mirror image of his father and mother. Their love was almost blinding.
Feeling Kagome's strength wavering, InuYasha retrieved the page from his mother's journal and handed it back to Toyokuni to return to the others. Tucking Kagome in against his side he said, "We need to finish this now, free the megami quickly so my wife can rest. Where to first koi?"
"Shrine and then grotto." She said and leaned against him for support for but a moment when the stream of youki flowed in swiftly to bolster her lagging energy.
"I would see this to its finish if you will permit me Lady Kagome." Toyo could see just how tired she was as the circles darkened under her eyes.
"And me!" Izayoi blushed with her outburst as the adults all looked at her. "It was my error in judgement that started this. I would… be there… when it ended." She stated with hesitant words.
Pushing off InuYasha as his hand stroked her sleeve, Kagome held hers out to Izayoi. "Lead the way Izayoi." Smiling down at the girl when she gripped her hand tightly, Kagome couldn't help but laugh. Things had not turned out the way she had expected tonight. They had turned out better!
Falling in step beside InuYasha as they made their way back towards the guards waiting at the end of the corridor, Toyokuni glanced up at the hanyou. "We have heard a few stories about you and Kagome-sama. About what you did four years ago to defeat Naraku. Perhaps, if you are out this way again, you would be willing to visit with us for a time and speak with me and my old sensei? He is quite a fan."
Distracted as he was, still undecided as to whether or not he was going to squish the flea into oblivion, InuYasha made a noncommittal sound that had the scent of disappointment flooding his nose. Sighing, he came to the conclusion that though it was strange and slightly disturbing to be back here, these people were not the same ones that had lived here before. They were not his enemy and even the servants who would have once lashed out at him had been nothing but deferential. He was beginning to think that had he showed up here in his fire rat, without the titles and status that he had recently gained, Toyo would have likely treated him the same. The man had a similar spirit to him as Kagome did, able to see past the hatred of others and it was rather amazing that someone so tolerant could have grown up in this family. "We shall try and return in the future. I will likely be journeying back and forth between my village and the west on a regular basis." He couldn't see Sesshomaru letting him get away with less once he stepped into this role as the Inu no Taisho. "If I have the opportunity, I will stop." It was the most he was willing to offer. Excitement bloomed to snuff out the disappointment and he glanced sideways at the grin that spread across the man's face. Rolling his eyes he reached for Kagome. "Why are humans so weird sometimes?" He asked her, mildly exasperated with how everyone kept treating him. It wasn't like he asked for all these things to happen, they just did.
She only chuckled. Shortly after her return she had vowed to make him see his worth and it was constantly being shown to him in the way he was regarded now. First with the boys at Jinenji's, now here with all this new information. Sure there were some that continued to look down on him for his hanyou heritage on both sides of the species but there were more every day that saw him in the same way she did. Feeling his awkwardness with all this she looked back at him with sparkling eyes and grinning teased, "It's just because you are ever so special InuYasha!"
"Ha ha. You're so not funny wench!" But he smirked at her anyways and let her soft glide of laugher clear his head.
As Izayoi walked hand in hand with the miko, she squeezed the fingers of her hand gently to gain her attention. "Lady Kagome?" She asked in a soft hesitant voice, trying to keep her father from overhearing.
Smiling down at the girl Kagome giggled at the way Kirara was still tucked in the crook of her elbow for the little cat had turned onto her back and was napping quite happily where she was. Paws crossed over her chest and tails dangling, it reminded her of the times she had seen the neko do the same with Sango. "Yes Izayoi?" She replied just as softly, earning a flash of a grin and a glimpse of pale green eyes.
"Is Lord InuYasha really going to offer a suitor for my consideration?" The idea both thrilled and terrified her. Who would he be? What would he be? Would he be human or youkai? Would he be something like her? What if she liked him and he didn't like her? What if she didn't like him at all? The questions raced around her brain and were giving her a headache.
Laughing softly, Kagome released her hand to stroke her hair. "Izayoi, do not fret over something that is years in the making. He will be the right match for you if you wish it, nothing is set in stone." Though if she had her way…
Chewing on her lip she glanced back up at the beautiful miko. "What if he doesn't want me?"
"That will not be a problem. If things work out, he will love you for who and what you are. Never fear that he will be shocked by your nature for he is a kind boy and already hero worships my mate. He will keep your secret and protect you with his life." Tucking her hair behind her ear Kagome continued down the hall towards the guards only to be pulled to a stop when a hand grabbed her wrist.
"You know who he will bring! Will you tell me of him? What's his name? Is he handsome? Is he a Lord's son? Is he human or youkai?" Nervous excitement made her rock up on her toes and tug a little harder on the woman's wrist. "Tell me everything… please?" She said at the last minute remembering her manners.
Laughing fully and joyfully at the child's questions, Kagome shook her head as she knelt in front of Izayoi. "I will not." Her face fell as her lower lip poked out in a pout and Kagome couldn't help but hug her. "He is who and what he is. When the time is right you will meet and from there you will decide but until then I will not plant ideas of a future bridegroom in your head." Leaning back, Kagome cupped Izayoi's face as InuYasha and Toyokuni watched from a few steps away as did the guards awaiting their return. "Take this time to learn what you will need to from your father, learn everything you can even if you are told it is not done of women to be educated. Learn it all and when you wed you will become an asset to your husband that he will cherish. Then when you're daughters are born teach them, allow them to learn and be educated as you were, along with your sons, and instill in them how import that knowledge is. Don't ever let anyone tell you different." Stroking her thumbs over the soft pink blush of the girls face, Kagome felt her instincts stir as her smile softened. "Be blessed Izayoi, second of that name, be blessed in all things and find true love as your parents did. The line that comes from you will stretch far into the future and do great things." Rising up, she kissed her in the center of her forehead and released the small burst of power that was her blessing before sitting back. "Live your life child and do not fret the small things." Turning her head, Kagome looked long at the Lord whose daughter she held. "You will do these things Toyo-sama."
Her voice rang with command as InuYasha's own pride in his mate grew. Her alpha was fully risen and the authority she used was unprecedented. The man would not be able to deny her in this and the child would be educated and taught to run the castle and estate so that when they brought Ryo here and presented him as her bridegroom, the man would have someone to teach him. The boy may not be an ouji or the son of a Lord but he came from a very good and higher born family. A younger son, to make such a match, would bring much honor on his family but it was the love Kagome could see thriving between the two that had pushed InuYasha to make the offer. "Amazing koi… just amazing." Her eyes flashed his direction, the impact of her alpha hitting him full force, and had him rumbling an answering challenge.
"It shall be as you say Lady." Toyo bowed to her again and had the guards that were waiting snapping to attention. It would have been a shock for them to see him offer deference to another and a woman at that.
Rising to her feet, Kagome stroked a lock of Izayoi's hair, giving it a little flick with her nail, before continuing onwards. With Kemuri slipping around her leg to pace with a lowered head and whipping tail towards the men blocking the way, she had to bite her lip to keep from snickering when they swiftly removed themselves from her hound's path.
The trip to the shrine was a quick one as they picked up Kohaku and the others on the way past the dining room, knowing the taijiya wouldn't want to be left out. Heading outside and to the opposite side of the courtyard near the three story center structure, Kagome glanced up in time to see many female faces pressed to the windows of the second story. "Ah. I was wondering where the women of this court were being kept." It had seemed strange that all these girly rooms existed and she hadn't seen hide nor hair of another high born female besides Izayoi. Surly the advisors and council members had wives that lived at court with them.
Glancing up, InuYasha ignored the looks of admiration that were coming from the women in the windows. "Yeah. Probably thought it was the safest place for them what with the wani wreaking havoc." But when he turned his attention to the scent of interest and mild arousal that came off of Raiden, InuYasha wondered if there might not be a second reason the men had locked up their women. "Might be they want to keep their women away from the charm of that puppy." He snickered softly when Kohaku shoved Raiden hard from behind and whispered harshly to remember what had happened at the last village. A story he would have to get out of Kohaku another time as the group had arrived at the door to the family shrine.
It was a small building, not much bigger than the one Miroku had but this one had no monk waiting at the door to greet them. Striding past his mate, InuYasha thrust the doors open and stepped into the building. A couple candles burned and he stared at them in suspicion, resting his hand on Tetsusaiga. "You always leave candles lit in here?" He called out to Toyokuni.
"Candles?" Frowning, Toyokuni moved cautiously closer to his daughter. "No there should be nothing burning without an attendant to look after them."
Narrowing his eyes as he motioned for the others to remain outside, InuYasha paced slowly forwards, feeling with his youki and expanding his senses. The building, while small, could still hold the lot of them should he allow them entrance. Pillows were stacked against the wall waiting to be used at some point in the future, and the far wall held the shrine itself. Paintings of deceased ancestors, statues, candles and other assorted crap littered the table and shelves, and had him sneering at the foolishness of humans. It had never made sense to him why people brought all this junk to their dead family. Flowers to his mother's grave site was one thing, this was something else.
But sitting in the center of the altar, just as he remembered, was a large glass bowl filled with pretty stones and a few shells. They were offerings to the megami, something they believed a water goddess would appreciate, along with other more traditional items.
Cautious still as his demon snarled at the tension in the air and the way it made his hackles rise, InuYasha took another sliding step forwards. Scenting the air, he called for Kagome. "Can you see anything?"
Pressing a hand to Izayoi's chest, she made sure the child would stay put before approaching the door. "Dark energy hovers over the bowl." Something was waiting for them to make a wrong move. "Kohaku, Raiden, Osamu. Be ready." Glancing back at them she watched them take up positions to the sides of the doors.
"Miko-sama?" Raiden murmured when he stood at her side. "What is it?" Unsheathing his katana, he was surprised when her fingers traveled the length of the blade.
The wani had left them a parting gift. "If it gets past us, don't let it escape." Looking up at him, she saw the fierce determination of a cocky young man. "Don't do anything fancy Raiden. A single swipe with this will ensure it doesn't escape to terrorize the village." The edge of his weapon had turned pink with the slide of reiki she'd brushed down the blade though she knew he couldn't see it.
"If you say so. But what is it?" He asked as she only smiled and walked towards the opening.
Pausing at the threshold, Kagome sent the hound to stand near InuYasha. "Toyo-sama, keep everyone else away, no matter how much they may wish to assist." She looked pointedly at Izayoi as her hand slipped into her sleeve and the cool metal flashed up her arm. Flexing her fingers and walking slowly forwards Kagome approached the bowl as InuYasha shifted to a defensive position while drawing Tetsusaiga. "Alright. Let's see what she left us." Her gauntlet encased hand hovering over the bowl, Kagome searched for the wani's youki. The stone that was not a stone but in fact a scale, was doing its best to try and hide from her, sift its way lower into the bowl and making her snarl. Dipping her claws in, she allowed the handful of stones to trickle through, stirring up the pretty mix until the stubborn scale landed on the surface.
"Ain't no one more pigheaded than you koi." InuYasha chuckled quietly as the murky green scale landed on top of the others with a dull thud. "Careful…" He cautioned her when she reached for it.
Rolling her eyes his direction she gave him a perturbed look. "Always." As if she would be anything less. Using only the tips of her adamant claws as the youki swirled within, she lifted the scale out and away before squeezing down and snapping the thing in half. A snarl of incredible rage had her dropping instinctively as her dragon roared back and Tetsusaiga swept through where her head had previously been as it sliced through the specter of the wani.
The aura grew within the room as Kagome turned with the scale clenched between her talons. Snapping it, an ethereal figure burst upwards to claw at his mate as her instincts took her to the ground. His sword was in motion, slicing through the space that had seconds ago held her head and through the wispy white figure of the wani. Where he cut, the thing separated only to reform but never really solidify. "Kagome!" He snarled and her assurance that she was fine had him focusing on the ghost. "What now?"
Looking up, Kagome snapped her hand upwards to sink talons into the specter. It screamed as they pierced deep, thrusting her power through its form, and forced the ghost to this reality. "Do it!" She snarled for InuYasha as her powers pulsed a visible rose aura around her.
The see-through wani in its humanoid form suddenly solidified. "No! You will not succeed! I will never release my hold on this house. The megami's powers will be mine forever!" The priestess! She was the one who held her in this corporeal form and screaming in rage Gurīnsukēru twisted to snap her hand down towards the human's head. "I will not be defeated again! I will absorb her powers and yours and get my beautiful body back!"
Time slowed down for InuYasha as his alpha rose and his demon merged between one heart beat and the next. "That sure as hell ain't happening!" The flat of Tetsusaiga's blade met her downward strike, deflecting the claws heading for his mate and making the wani scream in rage and pain as she reared back. "Hurry!" Kagome's anxious voice spurred him onwards as her hold on the thing weakened. It was pulling against her grip, trying to drag her towards the door and freedom. "Kemuri!"
The hound leapt in a flash of silver flames to sink elongated fangs into strange flesh as he forced the thing to the floor. A fast bite and retreat, he avoided the flashing blade that was the downward strike of his alpha.
Her scream was all pain this time as the hound's poison spread swiftly causing her veins to blacken and form tracks along her skin. "What is this?" She moaned as the paws of the beast hit her in the back and forced her to the ground. The weight crushed her to her belly before suddenly lifting and she twisted enough to see the blade coming for her. "No!" Snarling, she threw out scales of youki with a snap of her wrist that had the Inu dodging to avoid them and whipped her body back at the woman, finally forcing the human's claws out of her tail. Unable to dissolve away thanks to the searing venom in her blood, she chose to escape and rushed for the door.
Kagome skidded backwards with the flailing of the wani's body. The unexpected move forced her talons out and sent her flying to slam shoulder first into the altar, overturning the bowl and ending up in a rain of colorful stones. The pain filled yelp was forced from her lips when she landed as InuYasha shouted her name.
Seeing her smack the wall and then the floor, feeling the pain radiate through his own body, InuYasha slashed at the fleeing wani, raking Tetsusaiga's tip up her spine as he rushed for Kagome. "Raiden…" She moaned and he snarled for the taijiya. "Raiden! Kill that thing!"
Already moving to intercept the fleeing spirit of the wani the three taijiya took up position just inside the door. Raiden had watched in open mouth amazement as Kagome had broken the scale and had all hell break loose around her. He'd never seen a spirit before, not something like this at least, where it went from insubstantial and kind of wispy to a solid, and familiar, figure of the wani with Kagome's powers. She glowed, her aura visible even to him in that instant as she and InuYasha worked together in tandem. It was like watching a choreographed dance so in sync were they with each other as they fought together in a way only true partners could until the creature shook Kagome loose and sent her skidding back into the shrine. Her cry of pain was sharp as the wani lunged to escape and he rolled his wrist, sliding his foot back to prepare for the attack as InuYasha sliced Tetsusaiga up her spine before rushing to Kagome. "She doesn't leave!" He shouted to the others as InuYasha hollered for him.
Three little humans. She could escape from them. "Prepare to die humans!" The poison from the hound was beginning to take its toll as her vision darkened at the edges but she need only make it to the second part of herself that she had left behind. If she could make the grotto, she could pour her strength into the second scale and shed this shell the priestess had forced her into, escaping the death the hound had infected her with.
Claws outstretched, she rushed at them, striking first at Kohaku, then Osamu, forcing them to block or avoid the attack. Raiden only waited. Kagome had done something to his katana, he was sure of it with the way InuYasha had directed him personally to kill the thing. When she finally turned her glowing yellow eyes on him, he sneered. "Come on! Come and meet your death!" He would not fail.
"Foolish human! So eager to die! I will grant your wish!" Rushing him, she slashed her claws at his head.
Ducking, Raiden stepped into the wani and thrust his katana into her gut, forcing it upwards, and ripping it back out near her shoulder. "I don't think so." He chuckled as the shock registered on the wani's face. The wound he'd made slowly began to glow and he leapt back as the light brightened.
Looking down at her glowing torso as her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed with her inability to comprehend what had happened, she slowly began to moan, then wail, and finally scream, throwing her head back to lament her ending to the heavens as the purifying light burned her from the inside out.
The light intensified as Toyokuni, Izayoi, and a host of guards stood witness to the power of one small woman. There was no mistaking that, somehow, Kagome had infused her own reiki into Raiden's weapon and in so doing destroyed the specter of the wani. It was incredible and frightening to witness such strength, and the whispers of amazement were spreading while the taijiya rushed deeper into the shrine. When the new master of his guard approached and offering a bow requested to know the name of such a powerful, if strange, priestess Toyokuni dropped his hand to Izayoi's shoulder, squeezing firmly to warn her to be silent, before answering his man. "She has simply been called Miko-sama. I do not know her name, nor will I ask it."
Izayoi glanced sharply up at her father but didn't contradict him. They had refused to give their names originally and it was clear that her father was still conceding to their wishes. Perhaps she would yet get to ask the Lady Kagome why they were traveling in such a secretive manner.
Crouched by Kagome, InuYasha ignored the chaos erupting behind him as the taijiya engaged the spirit of the wani. "Kagome!" The agony that was a sharp, throbbing ache in his own shoulder showed him where she hurt and he touched her carefully. A pained whine escaped her clenched teeth, furrowing her brow over her tightly closed eyes. "Saiai, I need you to talk to me…" He begged as she continued to fail to answer him.
"Ow…" She finally gasped out as her shoulder screamed with every beat of her heart. InuYasha's concern was a counterpoint rhythm to the pulsing of her pain and the combination was beginning to make her nauseous. That single though had him clamping off the concern, locking down the bond completely. Snapping her eyes open as the loss of him from her mind was worse than the nausea she gasped out, "Don't do that!" Forcing her body upright, she threw herself at his chest and had her sore arm collide with his armor making her yelp much like an Inu would. "Ow, ow, ow! Kuso!" She swore, cradling the painful appendage to her body as InuYasha held her carefully in his lap.
Ears slicking back, he purred against her cheek, rubbing gently. "I'm sorry mate. I just couldn't stand seeing my concern make you sick." He'd overreacted in his panic and this time, as he slid himself back into her mind, he brought only warm feelings of love and pride. She'd been amazing like she always was in a fight, even if it made his heart pound with fear every time she ended up in one of these situations. "You did so, so well!"
Sighing happily as the sickness settled even though the pain continued to pulse, Kagome wallowed in the warmth he'd created. "Could have done without the trip into the altar. I think I have stones down the front of my yukata." She snickered softly as he chuckled. "Can you look at this? It's not broken but it hurts… a lot." A wailing scream of denial came from the wani as the power she'd left in Raiden's blade purified the spirit left behind. InuYasha's nose drew lightly over her cheek, inhaling her scent and helping to calm the clawing of his demon.
Kohaku's scent deepened as the taijiya was the first to rush to their side. He was followed swiftly by Osamu and Raiden, but thankfully the others remained outside. "InuYasha?" Kohaku murmured as he dropped down beside them, his partners coming to stand at his back.
"I'll check you but you need to check the pups." He'd made a swift search through her for pain or discomfort besides what was radiating out from her shoulder and hadn't found any but she needed to check for herself. "I need to check her shoulder but we're fine. Well done Raiden." He hadn't had to see the blow to know the man had done well.
He beamed with the praise. After having watched InuYasha fight that afternoon to have the Inu praise his performance gave him a nice stroke to his ego. "I knew Kagome had done something to my katana. Thank you Lady." Raiden gave her a deep bow to show his appreciation. She could have chosen any of them but she had picked him to be her instrument.
She tried to smile at him but flinched when InuYasha shifted her to the ground. "If you can give us a moment?" The three men nodded and retreated to stand in the doorway, facing outwards, creating a living screen to give them privacy. Still, InuYasha shifted so his body blocked hers from view as he slowly worked the fire rat and her layers of yukata off her arm. She fought to keep the groan inside but screwed up her face as the bones in her shoulder ground against each other in the most unpleasant fashion. "Kami that hurts!"
It was clear once he'd gotten the sleeved down her arm that she had separated her shoulder. The arm sat rocked forwards in the socket and he could see the muscles twitch as they tried to pull the joint back into alignment. "Fuck… I'm sorry 'Gome, this is gonna hurt." Pain glazed chocolate eyes looked into his when she whimpered. "It already hurts. Can't get much worse..." But he would have to hurt her worse to get the arm back where it belonged. "Alright, we'll get it back where it needs to be. Just hold on to me ok?" Moving slow, doing everything he could to keep the arm stable as he shifted her position, InuYasha slid her arm the rest of the way out of her clothing. "Can you release your gauntlet?" The last thing she needed was to accidently claw him with it when he put her shoulder back in. Her power flared and the metal clanked to the floor before her hand slid up his chest and around his neck to clench in the fabric of his kimono. Her face pressed to his throat and he rose up on his knees with her draped around him.
Motioning to Kemuri, as the hound was pacing with his inability to assist, InuYasha had him press his body into Kagome's back. "Just resist if she tries to pull away." The hound's weight added to hers against him as he continued to support her injured arm at the elbow and clamped down on the back of her good shoulder. "On three Kagome." He felt her stiffen and began to purr, deep and heavy to force her to relax as best she could. Her pain was a constant throbbing that was stirring his demon to add his own heavy purr to the mix as the two of them shifted their grip on her arm to her bicep. "Breathe for me saiai… one… two… three!" Jerking hard, he snapped the bone back into the socket as her scream tore into the night, arching her spine into her hound as they kept her from moving.
Fire tore through her body in a flash of excruciating, crippling pain that lasted only seconds but still made her scream, then instant blessed relief followed as she collapsed forwards, limp onto InuYasha. Panting heavily against him, she clung to his neck as he held her upright, soothing and stroking her both physically and mentally as the prickling tears trickled over. "Thank you…" She breathed against his skin as he cupped her elbow and kept her arm from moving.
Holding her arm tight to her body, InuYasha eased her slowly down and back to sit on her heels. "Just hold still and try not to move." Swiftly he stripped her clothing down the other arm as Kemuri's back came gently up under her elbow to help support it, earning the hound a rumbled sound of gratitude from InuYasha. "Check the pups mate." He asked her softly, needing to not only shift her focus as shock was starting to make her shiver but also to be sure they were safe. The amount of power that surrounded them, both hers and his, would be nearly impossible to get through but he still needed to be sure. It was a few days yet before this first month would be over and he could be certain they would remain embedded in her womb for the duration. A snicker almost escaped him when he pulled the handful of stones out from where they had tumbled down the front of her yukata.
Nodding, Kagome closed her eyes and allowed him to do as he wished, letting him move her very much like a rag doll as she stayed soft and unresisting. Breathing out, she sank deep and found her way down to her sweet puppies. Three little souls leaned towards her as she touched each gently with a brush of her power. They made her so happy already that she couldn't help but smile, purr a quite caress to each of them, and send them her love. Each one danced, a quivering shimmer of light that made her sigh happily. 'Sleep well my puppies.' She whispered softly, unsure if they would even hear her but needing to speak the words anyway.
Once she drifted deeper, InuYasha moved quickly to get her sleeves over her arm in one move, jostling the appendage as little as possible. Though it was back where it belonged, the shoulder would continue to grind for a while as her body continued to heal the injury, and would still pain her if it was moved wrong. Pulling her clothes up her other arm, he made sure she was tucked and covered correctly. He was sure if she had been more cognizant of what he was doing she would have questioned his actions as he stripped her basically to the waist, but he never would have gotten her sleeves back up her sore arm without a struggle if he hadn't. His mokomoko was already moving as he reached to place it on her good shoulder. The tail wound under her arm and back up to twist together behind her neck and drape down her spine.
Finally, lifting his hands InuYasha cupped her face and waited until he felt her come back. When she blinked her eyes open, he swooped down and sank into a breath stealing kiss that made her whimper in surprised pleasure. Using his youki, InuYasha coaxed her reiki, lifting it up and into her shoulder, swirling it around damaged tissues and torn tendons, encouraging her body to heal itself but the damage this time was greater than just a bruise and would take longer to fix.
He was almost desperate with his kiss as he assured himself she was alright and poured youki into her system. Kagome could feel him, a slow sweep of his presence moving, touching, and caressing every inch of her as he made doubly sure that her arm was the worst of it. His emotions were kicking swiftly between relief that they were fine, to sorrow for having to hurt her, to anger for allowing it to happen in the first place. Reaching her right hand up, Kagome splayed her fingers across the back of his neck and drew her nails gently over his skin. The hum of surprised interest and the way his ears twisted forwards made her snicker against his lips. "You're not the only one who can shift someone's focus koi." When she did it a second time, she found her lip caught between his as he nipped her.
"Teasing little mate…" Her eyes lit with mischief as he released her to sit back. "How's that feeling?"
Turning to look at the arm encased in fur Kagome smiled tiredly. "Better. At least it has stopped throbbing." Shifting only a little, she had the bones grind together and yelped at the unexpected pain.
"Careful! It will still hurt for a while." He cautioned, holding the arm tight against her body as he helped her to her feet before retrieving her gauntlet.
Hearing them moving the three taijiya in the doorway peaked back over their respective shoulders and ascertaining Kagome was descent turned to wait for her slow progress towards them. Her scream had damn near stopped three hearts as they had all stiffened and winced, feeling it almost physically themselves when the loud pop had signified the bones going back together. Now to see her draped in InuYasha's mokomoko and moving with hesitating steps towards them was a second blow to their hearts.
"Miko-sama!" Toyokuni gasped as he walked swiftly towards her when she appeared. "You've been injured! We must return you to the house so you can rest."
Shaking her head Kagome smiled at Toyo. "I am fine. We need to finish this." InuYasha's arm tightened at her waist as a low irate growl rolled from his chest.
"No!" InuYasha stated firmly from between clenched teeth. "I will finish this but you are not going back into the grotto, not if this is what's waiting for us down there."
Sighing, knowing he was going to get like this and seeing the faces of the rest of, well, everyone looking at her with similar levels of disapproval Kagome bared a fang in an annoyed grimace. "And just how do you expect to find the last scale without me?"
He refused to be deterred. "I will manage but I will not have you getting hurt for a third time today!" It was too much. What if the next blow she took had her losing their pups? "I will not risk you, not again." Frowning at her, InuYasha sank his fingers into her hair. "Do what I ask for once mate." Tugging, he waited and could feel the war within her. She wanted to submit, truly wanted to do what he asked but she was going to fight him on this and his temper flared. "Why?" He snarled, dropping his face down near hers and snapping his fangs together with the word.
Alpha rising as he snapped at her, Kagome bared both fangs at him in her own show of aggression. "Because! You and I both know you need me there! If it was a simple matter of picking the damn thing up off the ground and crushing it between your claws I would happily leave you to it and go raid the kitchen but it isn't that easy! You need me there as much as I want to see this end." His grip on her hair tightened.
It drove him nuts when she did this, refused him this way, especially when her pain was still humming through his own body and her fatigue was an acid stench in his nose. "You are pushing too hard!"
"I am doing what's needed!" She hated hurting him this way but there wasn't another choice. The megami was so close to being free.
Stiffing, he pulled back. "And what about what I need mate? What about my feelings on the matter?" Her heart clenched painfully with his words but she was risking too much and he refused to try their luck a third time.
His words broke her anger and she stared up wide eyed into glimmering gold. He was scared, terrified that something worse was waiting in the grotto and truthfully, what if he was right? She was fighting so hard to go but what if… what if… Sighing, she reached for her own instincts and found them silent, simply watching, as if waiting for her to pass or fail some unknown test. Returning her attention to InuYasha, she searched his eyes, seeing and feeling it all before she gave in to the pull on her hair and bared her throat in total submission. Fangs closed around her lightly as his pleased purr caressed her like the hand that was stroking her spine. "I just want to help…" She whispered as the tears gathered.
Licking her gently InuYasha whispered his lips over her skin. "You are helping. You never fail to help but if you get hurt again, I don't know what I will do. I'm the one dragging you down into dark holes to deal with youkai, kami's and who the fuck knows what else, when you should be safe, protected, and pampered. There should be nothing for you to do but laze about and grow my offspring. This is not what a pregnant Inu female does during this time and seeing you fight so hard to continue makes me exceptionally proud of you and incredibly angry. You are always so selfless Kagome, putting others needs ahead of yours, but right now I need you to be selfish… for me." He knew how ironic his statement was, asking her to be selfish by doing this for him, but he was at his wits end with her.
The smile spread without her permission as she relaxed into him. It was just like him to figure out some way to get his way. He so rarely asked her to do anything with such heartfelt pleading that she couldn't have denied him if she wanted to. "Alright… for you I will be selfish." It made her snort out a soft giggle to utter those words and she bit at her lip when his head lifted from her throat. "But if I can be selfish for me for a minute, I would still like to come to the grotto." His mouth opened to protest and she pressed her fingers swiftly to his lips. "Hear me out before you say no." He sighed but nodded before the wicked mischief danced in his eyes and he nipped at the pads of her fingers and made her giggle. Quietly so the others wouldn't over hear she whispered her plan. "If I come to the grotto, I should be able to merge with you and help you find the scale. That way, I still get to help but I'm not down there with you getting into trouble." The only other person who knew where the scale was, was Izayoi and she couldn't see Toyo allowing his only daughter down there to point it out. "Besides, I think Toyo is nervous you'll want Izayoi to show you where she put it."
Humans could be stupid that way. "If I won't put you in danger why the hell would I put her?" Rolling his eyes and huffing out an annoyed sigh InuYasha nodded. "Fine but you stay at the entrance. Not one step through the opening or I will have Kemuri nip you." Turning to face the fascinated humans, InuYasha had his lips curl back to bare his fangs with all the staring. "Toyo-sama, this next part is for me to see to. You should return Izayoi to the house and stay there as well, along with your men." He didn't need their help and didn't want them as witnesses should he and Kagome need to share their aura. But when he turned to tell Kohaku the same thing, he was met with hard, determined dark eyes.
"Don't even go there." Kohaku said firmly as he crossed his arms and waited. He didn't stare at InuYasha, only near him, but he would not be left behind. They had started this together and together was how they would finish it.
Growling in frustration, he swept a hand over his ears. Was he destined to have to deal with stubborn, pigheaded humans for the rest of his life? "That's the way you like us. Otherwise you wouldn't have mated me!" Her laughter ran the length of his spine, deep and husky, and caused this body to react with a heated purr. "Feh, do whatever you want." He grumbled at Kohaku before turning to stalk away with a still grinning Kagome stuck to his hip.
"But… otousan…" Izayoi tugged at his sleeve. "Can we not go with them?" She had wanted to see this to its completion, not be sent home halfway through.
Watching them walk away as the kitten jumped from Izayoi's arms when Kohaku called to her, Toyokuni slowly shook his head back and forth. "As did I musume, but I will not put you in harm's way. We will do what Inu-sama has requested of us and speak with them in the morning. Come, it is past time you were in bed, I'm sure your ladies are anxiously awaiting your return." Patting her head as she pouted, he led her and his host of men back towards the house. Having heard Kagome's declaration, he decided he would have a servant take a tray of food to her room for when they returned along with the lacquered Inu box.
A/N: R&R as you like!