DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!
The Sword Smith's Secret
By MissKatt
Chapter Twenty-One: Past Promises
As Sesshoumaru turned to address the miko, he felt the beast within the darkest part of him nearly howl at the scene. In a blur of color, he appeared at the side of them and lifted Inuyasha from her by his neck.
Kagome gasped and inhaled loudly as the pressure of his person was relieved from hers. She sat up before she looked down at her throbbing arm and raised her hand to cover the five bleeding puncture wounds from his claws. She raised her eyes when a loud snarl reached her ears and looked at the two.
Sesshoumaru dodged the bloodied claws of his brother and pushed him far away enough to send a kick to his chest, pushing his brother back. "You over-step yourself, Hanyou!" He growled, lip lifted to reveal a deadly set of fangs. He lifted his hand and cracked his knuckles as he prepared to fight.
Inuyasha simply snarled once more as he leapt to his feet, his crimson eyes screaming the desire for blood. With a flare of his youki, he charged at the male in front of him. He did not care who or what was in front of him; all he wanted was blood. Sweet, sweet, blood. He wanted it to coat his hands and drip from his claws down into a puddle of crimson beauty.
Sesshoumaru waited until he was closer and easily deflected the attack. He could not believe the youki in Inuyasha had over powered his human side again. As Inuyasha attacked him once more, his caught his hands within his own, the two now pushing against one another, he was reminded of when it had happened during Inuyasha's adolescent years.
A loud snarl rang out through the castle, causing Sesshoumaru to raise his head from his studies. He raised his brow at the interruption, but then lowered his head back down to his scroll of Eastern trade routes. It wasn't until he felt a surge of youki did he rise to his feet. The youki was familiar, yet undistinguished at the same time.
"Young Master Sesshoumaru?"
He cast his amber eyes towards his instructor. "Who was that?"
"I am unsure, but your studies are not complete for the day. Please sit and resume."
Sesshoumaru went to do as told, but froze when he felt his father's over-powering youki swell in the air around them. Much to his instructor's protests and dismay, he bolted out of the door and down the hall to where he felt his father's aura. As he neared the throne room, the scent of his kid brother's, as well as others', blood invaded his nose. He stopped as he entered the entryway to the great room and felt his mouth drop open in shock as he saw the scene before him.
Several soldiers, including Inuyasha's personal guard and mentor, lay dead on the wooden floor in pools of their own blood. Inuyasha stood before them with bloodied claws, his eyes gleaming red with desire. What could have caused this change in his brother? It was almost as if he was…youkai. He then let his eyes fall on his father, who was standing very still in a seemingly calm position. Sesshoumaru knew better though; his father was anxious, almost distraught.
His pointed ears picked up the sound of slapping sandals on wood, and turned to see Izayoi and his mother running down the hall towards him and the room. They stopped next to him for a moment and took in the scene.
"Inuyasha!" Izayoi cried and went to run towards him, but Sesshoumaru grabbed and pulled her back.
Inuyasha, hearing the new comer's voice, turned slowly towards them. His lip lifted into a snarl and his fingers twitched with need.
Seeing his son about to attack his pack, and also distracted for the moment, Touga charged at his youngest. He swiftly lifted his hand and used the side of it to smack Inuyasha hard in the back of the head. He easily caught him as he fainted and kneeled down to cradle him. His loose silver hair fell over his shoulder in a silky wave as he watched the blue stripes disappear from his son's face.
Deeming it safe, Sesshoumaru released Izayoi and followed her over to his father's side. "Otou-sama?" He questioned.
His father did not look at him as he spoke. "His youki side finally over powered his human side," He explained. "I knew this day would come."
"Did it occur at random?" He asked, ignoring Izayoi's questions and cries.
"No, he was severely wounded in his training session. His instincts took over and thus triggered his transformation." He shifted slightly and pulled Tessaiga from his obi. He then placed it on Inuyasha's chest before he stood, lifting his son into his arms. He met the honey orbs of his eldest. "Son, I know you had your sights on Tessaiga, but I had it made for your brother. It balances your brother's blood."
Sesshoumaru's brows furrowed. "Then…Tenseiga is to be mine?"
Touga did not miss the severe disappointment in his son's tone. "Hai," He replied. "But Sesshoumaru, do not let this cause another reason to hate your brother. You must promise me that you will make sure Inuyasha will have this on him at all times." When he remained quiet, he let a soft growl rumble in his throat.
What an unfair request; to make sure his brother kept hold of the item he wanted most. With bitterness that could rival a lemon's, he responded. "Hai, Otou-sama."
"Good," He retorted. "But, should anything happen to Tessaiga or should he be separated from it, I am holding it to you to take care of him and bring him back to his right state of mind."
"Hai, Otou-sama…"
The Western heir narrowed his eyes at the memory and pushed back hard against the hanyou and released one of his hands. He drew it back into a fist and swung it hard into his face, knocking his brother to the side. He watched as he landed on the floor in a cloud of dirt and almost willed him to stay down. He enjoyed fighting his brother, yes, but not when lacked recollection of himself.
The assistant rose to her feet and watched the scene with furrowed brows. She heard a series of gasps and looked around to see that the South has retreated, the Western soldiers standing around to witness the fight between their lord and prince. They began to whisper amongst each other, their faces twisting and turning with disbelief and concern.
Not wanting any disrespect to come to either male by the creation of rumors, she turned towards them with a strong resolve. "All of you! Head back to the Western Palace to make sure we were not infiltrated!" She ordered, her voice firm. When they just glanced at each other and then back at the scene before looking at her once more, she narrowed her eyes. "Did you hear me? I said get back to the West! Do not make me purify you, so help the Kami I will!" Their faces dropped and flushed as they lowered into bows before turning and disappearing in blurs of black.
With a sigh, she turned back to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. She sucked in a breath and winced when the lord swung his leg hard at Inuyasha, sending him into the nearest tree and then through it. "Sesshoumaru," She said softly, but kept her spot a few paces away from him so she wouldn't get in the way. "Will he come back?"
He looked over his shoulder at her and took in her concerned look. "Indeed, Miko," He replied. "I simply need to beat him enough."
She frowned at his answer. "Just don't kill him…"
*~~~SSS~~~*
Kagura stepped into the dimly lit room and slid the shoji door shut behind her and Kanna. She tried to ignore the girl that was currently draped over her lord, her lips nearly attached to his neck as she kissed and suckled at his pale skin. She stepped forward and lowered down onto one knee in a bow. "Naraku-sama, we have done as you asked."
The hanyou slowly lifted his eyelids, revealing pleasure glazed eyes. "And? What did you gather? And where is Goshinki? I wish to hear what he found in her head."
She bowed her head. "I am afraid he was easily defeated. Perhaps you should make your next spawn stronger," She replied dryly. She, like Goshinki, Kanna, and Hakudoushi, was also a spawn of the man. Would she so easily be cast aside as well? "Unless you intend to fight for yourself next time?"
His eyes swiveled towards her, bearing down on her with the weight of his disapproval. "I did not ask for your attitude, Kagura," He hissed. "Still, he was simply made for informational purposes."
She snorted, but bowed her head. "My apologies."
He narrowed his eyes. "What did you bring me?"
Kanna stepped forward and tilted the mirror in her hands. The glass shimmered for a moment before the image of a woman appeared. "This was the only female on the battlefield." She reported with a soft, whispering voice.
Naraku ordered the girl to leave and urged Kanna closer. "And what did you find out about her?" He asked, looking at the raven haired girl in the mirror.
"I found no proof that she was a miko," She replied. "This is her fighting Goshinki. The Western Prince is the one who defeated him."
Naraku narrowed his crimson eyes at the glass and then looked at Kagura. "You were there, did you sense any reiki?"
She shook her head. "No. I was too busy dealing with Sesshoumaru," It wasn't a lie. "But, she does not look like much. The other miko I have destroyed at least flared their power in defense, yet this girl did nothing."
Naraku rested his arm on his bent up knee as he thought. "Did you ask the monk and Taijiya if this was her?"
"Hai," Kanna replied, lifting her black eyes to look at her lord. "They confirmed that it was."
"This is also the female that was reported as the one who caused uproar in the West?" He asked again. She did not seem like much. Even staring at her in the mirror, nothing stood out that would differentiate her from any other human. She didn't look like she had any power at all.
Kagura nodded. "This is the one we were messaged about."
"The Harlot," He mused, remembering the word all too well. "We will continue to study her. If she shows any sort of power, I want an immediate update."
"Hai, Naraku-sama." They responded and bowed low to him.
*~~~SSS~~~*
The Western Guard stood at the entrance of the palace gate, his jaw clenched tight in anticipation and loathing. Crimson eyes scanned the land before him, searching for any sign that would indicate an arrival. The troop that had gone out with his lord had returned a while ago, but Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and his miko had not returned yet.
To say he was upset was an understatement.
He had let his possessiveness get the better of him and it caused them to leave on bad terms. He clenched his hands into fists, his claws digging into his palms. It was a horrible dragon trait, he knew. Whenever a dragon found anything deemed as a treasure, they made sure to keep it safe and near them at all times. They did not allow it to get into harm's way in fear of losing it forever.
Kagome just happened to be a living treasure that did not believe in being one's object. He couldn't blame her, really. He knew about her fiery and defiant attitude from the moment he met her; it was what drew him to her. He liked that she was not of normal mate potential. She was not well educated in youkai traditions, nor submissive in any way. Most importantly, she was a human, and an untouched one at that.
She was so, so different from him, from youkai in general, that he wanted to keep her all to himself like the treasure he knew she was, but knew he risked losing her if he did. He took a deep breath and swore to himself that if she returned to him, he would redeem himself and make amends with her.
If she came back.
He frowned and shook his head. She would! She had to. He had not found a potential mate since his War Kami years and even then, he did not pursue it. He could not, would not, let this one go.
The sound of footsteps reached his pointed ears and he lifted his head to see Sesshoumaru caring an unconscious prince slung over his shoulder, his little miko walking alongside him. His lips instantly tilted into a smile at seeing her alive and well. He hurried to meet them and bowed to his lord, but he could not keep his eyes off the miko.
"Welcome back, Sesshoumaru-sama," He said and then smiled at Kagome. "Kagome-chan."
She smiled back at him tiredly. She wasn't mad at him anymore, no, but she did think they needed to talk about their fight. "Konban-," She cut herself off and looked at the sky to see the faint traces of the sun painting the sky a soft hue of purple and pink. "Ohayou, Ryura-kun."
He flashed her a brilliant smile when he sensed no hostility and looked at his lord when he growled annoyingly. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Take Inuyasha to Jinenji to be healed," He handed his half-brother over to the guard. He then nodded at the broken Tessaiga in the miko's possession. "Make sure Tessaiga is by his side."
Kagome had managed to place the broken blade in pieces in the sheath and tied it shut to make sure it would not fall apart. She placed the sword in Inuyasha's obi and looked at Ryura. "Be careful with the sword, any wrong move and the sword will fall out from the sheath in pieces."
He nodded and, with a disappointed look, stepped away from the two and quickly made his way to the healer.
Cerulean eyes found Sesshoumaru's as she felt him looking at her. "I will venture home tomorrow with Tessaiga and see what I can do to fix it. I may need Inuyasha to come with me though."
He nodded. "It is understandable," On a second though, he added, "I will join you."
She blinked. "Eh?"
"You heard correctly, Miko. He is wounded and weaponless; should he be engaged in battle, he would be useless. What would happen if he would lose sight of himself once again?" He asked, walking towards the Western Palace.
She fell in step beside him. "I understand, but will it truly be okay for you to leave the West for a certain amount of time?"
"Ryura shall stay here to watch over everything. He is the only one with skills I trust." He answered.
"Why doesn't Ryura just come with us? Would that not make more sense?" She asked, stretching her sore arms over her head before placing her hands behind her head.
He glanced at her before looking forward once more. "Perhaps," He agreed. "But I must honor a promise I made many centuries ago."
She looked at him, but the look on his face made her silence her questions. If he wished to tell her, he would have. She had pried enough into his life before and suffered the wrath of his tongue. Speaking of getting too close and punishments, "Oh, Sesshoumaru, I have a request."
He turned his head slightly to look at her once again, his brow raised in question. "A request?"
"Hai," She paused her walk before they entered the main hall. "I was talking to Eri-san earlier about court relationships."
"Court relationships?" What was it about this female that always had him asking questions? Why could she not just elaborate all at once?
"Hai, like servant relationships with those in higher positions. She said that Asano-hime refused to allow friendships between the two. Did you hear about that?" She questioned.
"It is the first time I am hearing of it." He admitted, though he could vaguely remember his intended rambling on about her being 'made a fool of' by her attendants.
Kagome frowned. "That is what I assumed. She had also taken the liberty of punishing your servants if caught talking too familiarly with those in higher ranks." Kami, she felt like a tattling child. "I do not mean to meddle, but I do not approve of it. I consider Eri-san a friend of mine and I do not want to hide our friendship."
Sesshoumaru mulled her words around for a moment. "I understand. I will rectify these rules that were placed without my consent."
She smiled at him. "Arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama." Her grin faltered for a moment. "Um, however, how you bring it up…"
"Do not fret, Miko, I will mention it discreetly." When she smiled at him again, he felt his beast stir in pride.
'Time alone with our Miko is exactly what we need.'
A/N: Errr, sorry for the delay D: I'll try to be more productive ^^;; RL has been hectic!