A.N.: Again I am sorry for this long wait; if you look into my profile a notice has been posted there about the reason why I was unable to write for such a long time; despite the traumatizing even that has happened I have struggled through this chapter and I can only hope that my harrowing experience did not affect my writing too badly. Please stay tuned for the chapter next to this which shall not be long in posting; I only thought this chapter was long enough so I posted it here but this arc is still not finished; have no fear I am still loyal to this fic and to all of the people reading this.
My sincerest apologies and heartfelt thanks to you all; you can have no idea how much I missed you guys...- Kotei-Heika.
Please enjoy ^_^v
Chapter 25
Yuuri couldn't sleep.
He could hear Wolfram snoring away beside him in his sleeping bag despite his earlier complaints and the steady murmuring of the forest creatures as they all lay asleep but even as he stared at the clear night sky filled with countless stars he just couldn't close his eyes and dream away.
His mind was filled with images of Kagome kneeling down in front of Inuyasha and Kikyou and how she reacted when they ran away. His brain overflowed with Kikyou's condition and the poison in every word that came out of her mouth. He was angry that Kagome was so obsessed with Inuyasha that she was willing to meet with Kikyou to sell her soul! Did he not matter to her at all? Didn't Mom, Dad, Shouri, Souta, Aunt Aki and Grandpa matter to her? What was so great about that stupid dog? His fists were clenching at the very thought.
"Can't sleep?"
Yuuri turned and saw Conrad sitting casually against a tree near his head, his sword across his lap. His eyes were closed but when he felt Yuuri's eyes on him, he opened them and smiled gently at his Maou.
"Oh, sorry, Conrad, did I wake you up?" Yuuri asked, feeling guilty. Lord knew Conrad needed all the rest he could get what with constantly guarding him and all.
"I was already up," the knight shook his head at him. "I was just resting my eyes."
"Do you even sleep?" Yuuri sweat dropped; he will never get used to Conrad's habits.
"Sometimes," his guardian chuckled. As always Yuuri never failed to amuse him. When he stopped laughing, he turned his smile at the younger half Mazoku. "Are you still thinking about 'that'?"
Neither of them had to ask what 'that' meant. Both of their minds were still fresh from the memories of all the revelations and events of the day. Both of them struggled with their own frustrations.
"I can't help it," Yuuri sighed, turning his eyes back to the stars. "Why is she being so… so ridiculous? Why is she willing to die for that idiot? Don't I matter to her? I can't understand what she's thinking!"
Conrad's smile turned sympathetic, hearing the jealousy in the Maou's voice. "Perhaps it would be better if you thought of yourself in this Inuyasha person's position."
"Wait a minute are you actually on his side?" Yuuri sat up staring at his most trusted retainer with disbelieving eyes.
Conrad didn't backpedal as most people would have probably done. Instead, he looked Yuuri straight in the eye. "As far as I can see, this place is not very charitable; any form of civilization and order here comes from Kagome and her leadership. She might not notice it but the people here treat her as a leader more than the elders. They emulate what she says and do and still they are buried in a lot of danger. If what everyone here says it true and this poor little village is actually thriving more than the other villages around can you imagine what kind of world this is? It makes Suberera look like Shin Makoku."
Yuuri was silenced. He knew exactly what the older half Mazoku meant by this since he had had an opportunity to study the era. He knew how a sickness as slight as influenza could kill an entire village without mercy and how desperate these times were. Kagome's village must look like some sort of paradise.
Conrad nodded in approval at the recognition on his face. "Imagine if it were us instead of Inuyasha living here. With this kind of environment I doubt a lot of people would tolerate half demons like that. We might even end up like Inuyasha; suffering and cold and hated by both sides of the races.
"Also, from what I have observed of Kagome she does not seem to love him out of pity; she truly, earnestly loves him," a wistful twist of the mouth accompanied these words and Yuuri blinked at that. It almost sounded as though Conrad… liked his sister. Interesting. "But I also see her as too self sacrificing; above all she views Inuyasha as a special friend. I think she is doing all this to… protect his happiness."
"By sacrificing herself?" Yuuri shook off the dawning realization forming in his head as his own compassionate nature dug its claws into his conscience. "That isn't right! What about us? Her family? We need her just as much as Inuyasha needs her!"
"But Kagome knows your family have each other," Conrad kept on meeting the king's eyes earnestly. "She knows Inuyasha only has her."
Yuuri sat back, numb as he absorbed the entirety of his twin's compassionate nature into his being and realized he would do the very same thing had they exchanged places. He never gave up on the people he loved; the reason why he became king was so he could protect them. It was the reason he agreed to become Maou; the reason why he never gave up on Conrad who everyone had thought had betrayed him once.
Because he wanted to protect everyone's happiness.
"Aw, crud…" the Maou finally gave up.
Reluctant as he might be he can now understood even if it was just a bit. He was disappointed in himself. He who claimed to know Kagome better than anyone in the world had failed her. He had failed to open her heart which was the other half of hers and listen to the voice of her reasoning. They were truly alike in so many ways it scared him sometimes…
Yuuri lay back down on his sleeping bag, listening to Wolfram snort as he threw a leg over the Maou's stomach before going back to snoring. He sighed at the stars that now seemed to be laughing at his foolishness. He scowled right back at them.
"Fine, I get it now, I think," he started to say to the knight who had returned to resting his eyes against the tree. "So help me save her, Conrad. Help me protect her from herself."
A bitter smile twisted at the corner of the knight's mouth as he thought of the Royal decree he has now committed himself to. He wondered where the Great Sage was at that moment; the moment he left the clearing he had not been able to find him again. If it were him he would find a place of solitude and weep.
"As you wish," he muttered softly. "…Your Majesty…"
Conrad was acting strange, Yuuri thought silently. He should ask him what was wrong. No matter. He'll see him in the morning…
/*****/
"Oh! Kagome-sama!"
"Good morning, Kagome-sama!"
"Have you slept well, Kagome-sama?"
"Good morning, everyone; yes, I slept fine, thanks," she returned their greetings with a cheerful smile and a wave. Not one of the people greeting her even suspected the churning emotions hidden beneath her smile. "Can you tell me where Grandma Kaede is?"
"Kaede-sama is tending to the fire overseeing the cooking." one of the women eagerly supplied her with the answer.
"Oh, okay, thanks." Kagome politely bowed and then walked away.
She had woken up alone that morning wondering where the children all were. Usually, she woke before any of them as per her habit but she guessed she must have been a lot more tired than she had anticipated.
Making her way towards the camp fire and returning reverent greetings from the other villagers she was passing, she was about to pass through one of the clearings where the villagers would usually gather firewood when she heard familiar childish laughter. Blinking, she came closer and took a peak. What she saw made her smile.
All the children under her care along with their playmates were there crowding around a surprisingly calm and stoically delighted Gwendal who was carefully carving out little animals from pieces of wood the children must have been about to take to the camp fire for fuel. His carvings ranged from little wide eyed kittens to waddling ducklings. The children were ecstatic.
"Gwendal-sama! Gwendal-sama!" Little 5 year old Chihiro cuddled in the large Mazoku lord's lap holding up another piece of wood. "Will you make me a doggie next?"
"No fair," seven year old Tomasu pouted at Gwendal's right. "I said I wanted a fox first!"
"Yes, yes, I'll make them all so don't fight." Gwendal calmed them down effortlessly.
The children cheered. A faint smile appeared on his face, softening it into something younger… something a lot less tired…
The sight made her heart stumble and her dark eyes widened before she forced herself to shake off the thoughts in her head. He was just a friend. It was just that he looked so kind and loving… It amazed Kagome how he could handle so many children all at the same time and still keep such a regal composure. Usually men like his type would flail in the presence of such small children but Gwendal was fearless. And the children obviously adored him. He would make a great father.
If he's around then she knew she could be assured Shippou will grow up into something great.
Deciding to leave them alone, Kagome went on to find Kaede. She found her old mentor exactly where they told her she would be. At the camp fire she saw the old woman already holding court in front of a cook fire with her biggest cauldron over the heated stones. The women were dropping sliced vegetables and meat at her feet while others dropped off various herbs off to the side. Seeing her, some of the villagers greeted her respectfully and cheerfully, even reverently and again the young miko was reminded of the reason why she treasured these people so much despite their ignorance and earlier prejudices.
"Good morning, Kagome," Kaeded greeted her as she came close and sat beside her in front of the large cook pot that morning. "I trust you slept well?"
"Good morning, Grandma Kaede, and yes I did, thanks."
"You were using quite a bit of power yesterday; usually you would have collapsed immediately after the attack with the Tengu." The old woman commented, never looking up.
Kagome's eyes widened at that as she looked back at the unassuming old woman. "Really? I hadn't even realized!"
Kaede merely nodded as though this was to be expected. "Your powers have grown again."
Kagome frowned thoughtfully and lifted her hands in front of her face, examining her palms. "Well I have been feeling differently ever since I got stabbed by a dark miko's ceremonial dagger back in Shin Makoku where Yuuri is ruling."
At that, the old miko looked up at her sharply. "What do you mean?"
Kagome explained what happened at Elu's birthday party. Kaede was, of course, concerned; but now that she knew what the younger miko's reasons the fact that she had brought a dark miko's dagger with her would hardly be surprising if she thought it would help her achieve her objective of freeing Midoriko from the jewel. It would make sense that she would want to seek out alternate ways.
"I see," Kaede finally said after her story. The cook pot was now emitting a very edible aroma of stewing mushrooms and wild boar meat. "Do you have any idea who could have managed to seal the dagger?"
"No," Kagome replied despondently. "But I'm hoping the jewel would leave me enough time so I could go back and fix the problem. As long as that person is out there, my brother and friends are in danger. And so are Shippou and Kirara."
"Child, what is it about you that makes you attractive to such troubles?" Kaede asked her with a sigh.
Kagome winced wryly. "I wish I knew."
"It does not matter," Kaede now smiled a little knowingly. "I'm sure your demon would know how to protect you if worse came to worst."
The younger miko blinked. "Huh? My demon?"
Kaede shook her head at the girl's cluelessness and jerked her round chin over a pile of neatly folded miko robes laid on a tree stump a distance away from the fire. "You should wash and change into something comfortable before you leave for Sango and Miroku's village."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Kagome said wryly, standing up and gathering her miko robes to herself. Kaede's words kept rolling around in her mind reminding her of something she was missing so she turned back to the old woman before leaving. "Say, Grandma Kaede, have you seen Yuuri?"
"I believe they woke up sometime ago," the old woman replied. "I believe your friend— Murata, you said his name was— was talking to him about something."
Kagome almost winced. She would bet anything he was still trying to calm Yuuri down about what happened last night and gave herself a silent note to thank her bespectacled friend if he ever succeeded. "Oh, okay; I'll go to the springs then."
"Your demons are quite strong, child but I sense a barrier preventing them from using their full powers in this world," Kaede commented. "Given some time, though, there's a strong possibility that that barrier can break."
Remembering how Wolfram used his flame last night, Kagome had to agree. "Yuuri is supposed to be the only one who can use his powers here with any amount of competency, but yes I think you're right. Don't worry, they won't hurt anyone, Grandma Kaede; they're good and honorable men."
"I believe you," Kaede nodded. "They are also… quite protective of you."
"Of course, my twin is their king; and Yuuri is a bit…" Kagome grimaced at the thought of the Maou. "Paranoid when it comes to me. I think it's Shouri's fault."
"It is most unusual for a demon king and a priestess to have ended up being born from the same womb," Kaede commented thoughtfully. "Be careful, child; I think there is a mysterious force behind the circumstance of your birth. One does not birth two great powers at the same time for no reason."
Kagome perked up seriously; she had learned to listen very carefully to Kaede's advice over the years. "I'll keep that in mind, Grandma Kaede."
Kagome mulled over the older miko's words but didn't really know what kind of motive anyone would have for wanting to have her born as Yuuri's twin. Maybe Kaede was just over thinking all this. She understood the circumstance of Yuuri's birth. How Suzannah Julia sacrificed her life to be the soul which will connect the next Maou to Shin Makoku and how Shinou planned all this in order to defeat the power that was Sousho back then. She saw absolutely no reason for her to be connected to this circle in any way.
She decided to forget about this new piece of brain candy and was smiling as she walked away to the man made hot spring that Sango and her 'convinced' Inuyasha to make a couple of years ago.
It was situated near the caves with a half demon made waterfall from a cliff and a small clearing surrounded thickly by trees. Inuyasha made the falls using Tessaiga, making a trench over the mountain to make the water fall to this spot from the cliff and then dug around the place to form the spring it fell into. Then he burrowed his way from a small underground volcano and led the lava right under the spring to keep it hot even during the winter before breaking off huge chucks of solid rocks to surround the bath. It instantly made him the hero in every woman's eyes in the village. She had always wondered ever since what had happened to the spring since it didn't exist in the future anymore every time she went back home to the shrine. Ken told her once that the volcano may have erupted and destroyed the spring. If so, why didn't Inuyasha repair it? She didn't want to think of the possibilities; she didn't think she could take it right now.
Kagome took off her clothes and neatly laid them in a folded pile on one of the large rocks surrounding the bathing area right beside her miko robes. As she delicately walked over to the edge of the water she had had to close her eyes against the memories.
Everywhere she looked, the shadow of the hanyou's existence flooded every spot of the Feudal Era for her. Every little nook and cranny was filled with his presence and after what happened last night she couldn't help but feel trapped by them now. If he were with Kikyou under his own power she would have left them alone; if he were doing all of these horrible things because he wanted to she would have tried to reason with him and not confront Kikyou at all; but the undead priestess had pushed the bar high and now she had to jump to reach it to get to Inuyasha and bring him back to himself. She will try to reason with Kikyou again and as soon as she got through to her she would be able to see him and Inuyasha happy and then…
Kagome sank into the hot spring reaching up to cover her chest with a hand as she remembered everyone she would leave behind. Her mothers. Her father… Grandpa, Souta, Shouri and Buyo… Her chest ached at the very thought of it but she needed to be strong. She was doing this for them. For the future that awaited them beyond the Feudal Era…
Her only guilt was the fact she couldn't tell them goodbye herself.
With that Kagome took a deep breath and dove into the hot water, relishing the feel of it against her skin this cold spring morning. She was in the middle of standing in the middle of the spring right in front of the waterfall, trying to fix the worst of the tangles in her hair by running her fingers over her locks when she felt it. That was when she heard a slight noise from beyond the bushes.
"Who's there?" she asked, a bit frightened.
For a minute she thought Miroku found a way to come visiting.
"…It is only me."
Kagome blinked a few times before her mind registered who the voice belonged to. "Gwendal?"
"Yes."
Another set of rustling and Kagome began to panic, thinking he was going to burst into the spring and see her buck naked. "No, don't come here!"
The rustling stopped; there was silence; and then he spoke again. "His Majesty wanted someone guarding you at all times. It is my turn for the moment. Is there something wrong?"
Kagome sweatdropped and deadpanned. "Of course he would. He wouldn't be Yuuri if he didn't bother someone over me. I'm going to have a little talk with him later. And no, nothing's wrong, Gwendal, I'm fine."
It was silent again and it made Kagome curious as to what the tall Mazoku was doing. Since the towering demon lord usually could be seen with his head and shoulders over and above tall bushes she could safely assume he must be sitting outside the copse of trees that led to the springs to give her her privacy; something for which she was thankful for. Still, with him within hearing distance Kagome couldn't help but feel self conscious, wrapping her arms around her naked chest and keeping her shoulders well below the water.
"…He is merely worried about you," she heard Gwendal break the silence. "I— We are all worried about you."
Kagome blinked for a moment, letting what the stoic lord was saying sink into her brain. When it did, her panicked expression melted into a soft smile. This was the kind of person she wanted so much to live for so badly. People who actually cared for her; people who thought she mattered.
"I know," she said after a while, her voice soft. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"But everyone has been so kind. You and the others have even been helping the villagers," her smile turned a little wry at how she got that information. "The children are already in love especially with you. I saw you making them wooden carvings earlier."
A seemingly sheepish cough sounded from where he was. "It was no trouble."
Kagome forced herself not to laugh. "I didn't know you were great with your hands."
The next rustling sound seemed to announce his fidgeting. "…My brothers enjoyed them when they were younger. Conrad was a quick learner but Wolfram… well let's just say I would rather have him paint than let him lose any of his fingers."
She chuckled at that. "So Conrad can make wooden carvings too?"
"He's been giving our mother wooden Bearbees since she demanded we celebrate Mother's Day in Shin Makoku."
At that she laughed. "And how about you? What do you give her?"
There was a pregnant sense of hesitation that followed the silence between them before she heard him answer. "Poetry. My mother loves poetry."
Kagome's eyes shone with intrigue. "I never took you for a poet; will you read me one?"
"No!"
His abrupt answer hurt her a bit. "Why not?"
"Because!" she heard him sigh before continuing on in a milder voice. "I always wrote her original works; none of them I can recite from the top of my head."
"Oh…" Kagome felt shy and foolish for asking. Obviously Gwendal would only do such a thing for someone he cared deeply for. How arrogant of her to think she would ever be on the same level as his mother. "I see."
There was another pregnant pause between them; Kagome wanted to get up and get dried and dressed so bad but she felt shy at the thought that Gwendal was present even if he was hidden. There was something decidedly risqué about this whole situation that wouldn't let her blush disappear.
"Are you…" his voice nearly made her jump; so unexpected were his words. "Alright now?"
Something about the boyish wistfulness in Gwendal's tone made something clench in Kagome's heart. He sounded like a little child asking whether his mother was alright after seeing her cry. It made her ashamed of what they had witnessed of her life last night.
"I'm sorry." She managed to whisper.
"…About what?" she could practically feel his confusion.
Kagome hesitated for only a moment before speaking again. "About Inuyasha."
Silence met her. She could practically sense his disapproval but he was gentleman enough not to say anything that might offend her. She felt defensive against it. "I wish you've met him under different circumstances. He's a good person."
She heard him take a deep breath as though he was praying for patience and Kagome wondered what was on his mind. She looked up to Gwendal since he had always been so stable and secure person in the whole of her brother's statesmen aside from the other nobles so to her, his opinion was the most important outside the ones of her own family. His wisdom made her second guess herself and he had never failed to make her see reason whenever she was getting out of hand. She was almost afraid to hear what he had to say.
Suddenly, a disturbance in the wards she had spent so much time setting up yesterday made her gasp in surprise.
She felt the presence slip through her barriers with near frightening ease and began moving quite swiftly. Since she set up her wards in a special way that allowed allied demons through and kept unfriendly demons out, the ease in which this demon's presence penetrated her barriers could only mean an ally had arrived. Deciding to see which one it was and what they wanted she started stepping towards the rocks that held her clothes. However, she was not expecting someone to break into the tree line leading to the hot springs with such speed everything became a blur to her… Until it came to her semi dazed attention that she was now held against the wide, hard body of a large Mazoku lord dressed in yesterday's jeans and white shirt and had a sword pointed out towards anything and everything that might harm her.
"G-Gwendal…?" she croaked, slowly looking up at the dark haired Mazoku in dazed shock.
"I felt a presence nearby all of a sudden," he responded to her open ended question distractedly, his Prussian blue eyes hard as steel, rolling left and right to find the threat and prevent it from coming near her ignoring the fact that he was up to his knees in hot water. "Do not worry; I will not let it near you!"
Given any other situation, Kagome would hardly have minded his actions. He was an honorable general and a lord in his own right. He was just doing this because he was sworn to protect her by extension of her relationship with Yuuri, after all. Truly, she would have applauded his actions under normal circumstances…
If she were fully dressed instead of standing here against him stark naked.
She was molded against him tightly and only the instinctive reflex of her hands throwing themselves in front of herself when he appeared saved her breasts from getting crushed by his very broad, very masculine chest. She could feel his hand holding her to him by the small of her back, feeling as though an electric current was travelling from his every fingertip to travel all throughout every sensitive nerve of her body making Kagome fight with the sudden desperate urge to shift against him uncomfortably. She stared at his shirt which was now as wet as she was and the colors on her face heightened even further at the way it outlined every curve and muscle underneath it that was ordinarily concealed by his thick green great coat back at Shin Makoku. The sight was sinful and erotic and belonged on a billboard somewhere.
As though responding to her thoughts, Kagome felt the large, warm fingers at her back twitch a little making her bite her lower lip to fight off a moan at the sudden movement. Her thighs rubbed against each other making the feeling worse. Goodness, she didn't even know she was that sensitive. Kagome didn't really understand it. She had been hugged by her family and friends so many times. Kouga had even literally swept her off her feet, swearing he would drag her away and mate her. Hell, she and Inuyasha kissed but she had never felt this kind of sensation during all of them!
Like her body had become hungry and the only thing that could satisfy it was getting closer to that touch…
Swallowing hard and deciding she should end this before it got any more awkward, Kagome nervously spoke, hoping against all hope that she could push a fast forward button away from the awkwardness that was sure to follow.
"U-um, Gwendal...?" she whispered nervously. "Um… it's fine. If they managed to get passed my wards it means they're allies. They're friends so…"
"How could you be so sure it is not Inuyasha?" he growled at her distractedly, spitting the hanyou's name as though it were poison with his sword arm seemingly tireless as it held his weapon warningly in mid air.
The question and the name that came with it doused her like a bucket of cold water. "Because if it is I would know."
Stormy blue eyes flashed from their immediate surroundings to glare down at her. The Mazoku lord was opening his mouth to speak but he froze when he realized just what kind of situation they were at that moment. And before her eyes the hardness of those blue eyes melted into something so hot and so potent Kagome felt like she was being singed to her very core.
Neither of them was conscious when his arm lowered his sword down as they looked into each other's eyes. For Kagome time had stopped as the awkwardness she was expecting to happen retreated replaced by this blazing atmosphere of… something she couldn't put a name to. All she knew was that it reminded her so much of that night back in Cabalcade. Just like that night something in her shifted in a way that left her drunk in the presence of this man; a sensation that— due to several circumstances after the incident— had not allowed her time to dwell on. All she knew was that there was something between them that made them ignite like a firecracker every time they were near each other but… That couldn't be possible, couldn't it?
How can a Mazoku as noble as this one feel anything other than friendship for someone like her? Her who could not even gain the heart of the first being she loved…?
The sudden twitch of Gwendal's fingers at the small of her back surprised a breathy moan out of her before she knew what she was doing. Kagome's eyes widened in realization of this and she bit her lip in a futile attempt to swallow it back. And then the slow twitch of his thumb moving minutely over her skin made her writhe against him wantonly for a second. The moment she regained her senses again she was forced to bury her face into his chest in shame missing the hungry, obsessed look on Gwendal's face as he stared down at her, savoring every reaction she had to a single touch from him. She was so aware of everything about him all of a sudden. Every muscle she was in contact with, the roughness of his denim jeans… the cotton of his wet shirt… and that musky scent of fresh musk and earth that he had always carried around with him like a shroud.
Kagome was so ashamed of herself. He must think she was such a slut.
"I'm so s-sorry…" Kami, was that breathy little whisper really her voice just now? "M-maybe I should turn around and get—"
Another twitch of his hand on her skin sent her sense reeling in four different directions and Kagome couldn't stop from throwing her head back in a small strangled moan as she arched closer to his body, Gwendal's eyes seemingly drinking in the sight of her in a heated haze…
"KAGOME-SAMA! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"
Faster than she could blink, Kagome found herself hauled behind the Mazoku lord and his sword was pointed straight at a familiar young man and a raccoon demon that had just broken out of the tree line and stood angrily frozen on the spring's shore.
"Halt and identify yourselves!" Gwendal demanded, his deep voice seemingly making the ground tremble.
"Kohaku? Hachi?" Kagome asked, peering from behind Gwendal's large body. She was mortified to see Kohaku still frozen and wide eyed on the shore in shock and his face was red with embarrassment. "What are you guys doing here?"
"I told you she was busy." Hachi's nonchalant voice muttered from behind the young demon slayer, immediately turning his back on the miko and her protector.
Kagome burned in mortification. "This is not what it looks like!"
Her words seemed to have slapped some sense back into the young demon slayer because in another heartbeat, he had his sickle and chain from his back and into his hands, his body taking on an offensive stance. Despite what Kagome just said his keen eyes assessed the situation logically before him.
A naked Kagome being held close by an imposing, unfamiliar looking demon. Kohaku's mind put two and two together and came up with…
Five.
"Let her go, demon! How dare you defile that which is sacred and holy?" the young demon slayer demanded.
Gwendal looked down at the young man from above his nose coldly. Clearly he was not very happy with the young demon slayer. "Know your place, boy."
"Why you…" Kohaku was about to attack when Hachi pulled him back in a panic.
"Are you insane?" he cried out. "Can't you feel his youki? His power is on par with Sesshoumaru-sama's!"
"I don't care, let go, Hachi!"
"You're brother in law is going to purify me if something bad happens to you!" Hachi cried, now embracing the demon slayer from behind.
"No! I need to protect Kagome-sama!" Kohaku yelled back at the raccoon demon over his shoulder. "What Miroku will do to you is nothing to what my sister will do to me if I let Kagome-sama get hurt!"
"Well," Hachi stopped and looked thoughtful for a minute. "I guess that's true…"
"Okay, this is ridiculous, stop it!" everyone stared at her blushing, fuming face even as she curled under the water with her arms over her chest glaring at them. "Everyone OUT! I'm not going to discuss anything without clothes on so get out or I will seriously hurt all of you!"
Everyone paled at her growled threat and wisely rushed out of the clearing. Kagome sighed and buried her face in her hands for a moment trying to get a hold of herself.
"Why is everything such a mess?" she muttered and then blushed some more at the moment she had with Gwendal; the moment Kohaku interrupted. She wondered what would have happened if the young demon slayer had no interrupted. "No don't think about it! This is Gwendal for the love of Kami! A refined man of that stature would never go for someone like me! Besides…"
He is kind… He's just kind, Kagome; just as Inuyasha was kind. That's all there is to it… What man would love you like that…?
And with that firm belief in her head, Kagome started finishing up her bath getting ready to talk to Kohaku and Hachi. Dressed in her miko robes she addressed the fidgeting boy and raccoon demon with every shred of dignity she had left while trying to ignore Gwendal's presence all together.
"Now tell me what the rush is all about." She finally asked.
Kohaku, blushed but gathered enough courage to look up and look at the woman who become a sister to him all these years. "We need you to come with us; it's the wolf tribe princess Ayame."
"Ayame? What about Ayame?" Kagome furrowed her brow at his words.
"It's bad," Hacchi said from behind the young man. "She's declared war on the humans."
/*****/
War.
Gwendal reached out towards Kagome to assist her from climbing down a transformed Hacchi's furry back. She looked a bit surprised at the gesture but then reached out to him willingly after a second. The moment her skin touched his hand Gwendal could feel that same invisible current he had felt from her the first time he touched her skin and accused her of using her powers against him. Now he understood what it meant and he struggled against the urge to crush her against himself protectively and take her away from all this violence; this constant struggle for peace and survival.
How could one so delicate and small be involved in things such as wars? What was she expected to do? What are they to demand of her? He had been a veteran of countless wars before and knew how endless it could be; he didn't want Kagome to be in the thick of everything he found ugly and hateful.
But as she passed him by, her back straight and her face set in determination as any queen or king he knew he had no other choice but to obey. All he could do was follow. Because he loved her; and his love was absolute.
Gwendal eyed the throng of barbaric looking demons wearing what seemed to be wolf skins and disliked how they seemed to be leering at his Kagome. At second glance, though, he noticed these animal skins were more than just clothing but a seemingly a part of themselves.
The Mazoku lord nodded over to his younger brothers and Conrad and Wolfram's answering nods told him they would protect the Maou and the Great Sage. He had already devised a strategy with Hacchi and Kohaku and though the boy and raccoon demon seem to find his worrying ridiculous he didn't care. When it came to Kagome he will risk nothing.
A gentle squeeze on his hand told him he had not let go of Kagome yet and he looked into her gentle face to see her smiling at him reassuringly. "Don't worry; I'll be fine."
Again the overwhelming urge to grab her and shelter her in his arms seeped into his very soul like a need. It was similar to the aching need and want he had felt for her in the springs that morning when he finally noticed she was naked under his touch.
He wondered if she could see it on his face; hear the beating of his heart? He wondered what she would do if she found out he had finally given and admitted the inevitable to himself?
He was almost afraid of the answer.
She let go of his hand and he fought the urge to grab it back, wondering when her warmth had become his strength and reassurance.
But she trudged forward fearlessly and he was reminded of all the times when their Maou had nearly given him heart attacks whenever he trudged onto enemy territory to pursue his ideals. Truly, she was their king's sister.
"Hi, guys," she greeted the wolf demons with a grin. "Long time no see; how's it going?"
"Kagome-sama!"
"It's Kagome-sama!"
"It's been so long!"
"Kagome-sama, why are you here?"
Gwendal blinked at the reverence and fondness these demons were exhibiting towards the dark haired woman. They acted no different from how the villagers in Kaede's village acted towards the girl.
"QUIET!"
The sound of a fierce, feminine growl silenced the entire pack and the trong parted to reveal a beautiful red headed demoness wearing white fur around her. Her forest green eyes glared at Kagome accusingly but Kagome met this with a warm, calm smile.
"Hey, Ayame, what's up?"
Ayame seemed taken aback by such a casual greeting and tried to regain her composure. "...Why are you here?"
Kagome's smile melted off her face. "I should ask you the same thing."
"Hah! I suppose that raccoon and the boy already told you," she tolf Kagome imperiously. "I am going to war."
"Don't."
"And why not?"
"War is not the solution to everything," Kagome reasoned with her. "Tell me what happened so I can help you."
"What can you possibly do?" she snarled back at the miko; resentment clear in her voice. "You who can't even keep the man she loves to stay with her?"
Kagome's face turned serious. "Is this because of the fact Kouga keeps refusing to marry you?"
Ayame bared her fangs at her. "You know nothing!"
"Then help me find out!" Kagome yelled back at the wolf princess. "Fighting and being angry is all well and good but you are dealing with humans, Ayame; what better way to get what you want than to understand them through me?"
"I've had enough of this! Seize her!" she commanded the wolves around her.
Gwendal and his brothers immediately had their hands on the hilt of their swords, ready to protect the royal trio from harm however he blinked when the wolves seemed to be... hesitating.
Apparently he was not the only one who noticed.
"What are you waiting for?" Ayame yelled almost hysterically at her tribe. "I said seize her!"
Again none of the wolves moved and seemed even torn as they looked between Kagome and Ayame. The wolf demoness' face turned red in rage as she turrned to the former. "This is all your fault!"
She charged towards Kagome with a murderous aura surrounding ehr and Gwendal was about to unsheathe his sword and shield Kagome from the redhead but Kagome's raised hand prevented him from doing so.
The miko waited as Ayame rushed towards her, fangs bared and claws sharp and Gwendfal had to hold his breath in.
"KAGOME!" he heard Yuuri yell from behind him.
However Kagome merely held her arms out to Ayame gently much to their horror but what amazed them was Ayame's reaction to the welcoming gesture. Her head on rush faltered and slowed down until the ferocious expression on her face broke down into one of pure despair. And then she fell into Kagome's arms and cried.
He watched as Kagome held the demoness tightly, saying nothing but her hands and her warmth were given in a gesture to comfort. And when the miko decided the red headed demoness had cried enough then she posed her question once again.
"Ayame," her soft voice called out to the young man who gazed at her with no little affection. "You know I would never hurt you willingly; please let me help you."
She sobbed and clutched at the front of her robes angrily. "If I do that then how can I ever be worthy as Kouga's mate?"
"You already are worthy; more than that, even," Kagome started as she combed back the redhead's hair. "If Kouga can't see that then he's the one not worthy of you."
The demoness winced but bravely struggled to hold back her tears. "They got him, Kagome."
Kagome's brows furrowed at this. "They got who?"
Ayame's face attempted to crumble again as she answered. "Kouga...!"
Kagome's breath hitched at this even as she clutched the wolf demoness tighter. "What? Impossible!"
"It's true!" Ayame answered sorrowfully. "He was heavily injured and then Ginta and Hakakku came back heavily injured and they said a young lord took Kouga away!"
"Ginta and Hakkaku?" the miko's eyes widened in worry. "Where are they? What happened to them, Ayame?"
The redhead looked up and met her eyes with her green ones. "I think it's better if I showed you."
The exchange made Gwendal more than curious. He wanted to know who exactly this Kouga was and why he was important to Kagome. They were all led towards the caves Kagome rushed inside in dread, stopping at the sight that met her there.
"W-what's going on…?"
Gwendal's heart almost broke at the trembling note he heard at the end of Kagome's question as she stared down at two badly beaten wolf demons lying on a wide cot inside the caves that were the demons' territory. Ayame stepped back.
He watched as she tried to shake herself out of the shock and knelt beside the demon with a Mohawk and tried not to feel envious when she reached out to hold his hand. "Hakkaku… what happened…?"
"K-Kagome…san…" he managed to breathe out, even managing a grin as he clutched at her hand for all he was worth. "How are you…?"
"I-it's been a while, Kagome-san…" Ginta smiled through his closed eyes as well, his dimples showing. "We've missed our sister…"
Kagome's tears fell on Hakkaku's hand before she sucked in a deep fortifying breath to stave off more of them from coming. "What's going on? Who did this to you?"
Ginta chuckled painfully. "Same old Kagome-san…"
"Yeah… Always so concerned about others…"
"You are the pride of… our pack…"
"Has Kouga not proposed to Ayame yet?" the priestess asked gently.
Hakkaku laughed with a wheeze at that. "As soon as he found out Inuyasha chose Kikyou over you, he stopped considering Ayame-hime as his mate."
Gwendal saw Ayame wince and sulk at this but stayed silent. He couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for the rejection the girl must have gone through.
"We told him you wouldn't be his mate but he wouldn't listen…" Ginta snorted. "All the same, he was about to come to you…"
"We met Kikyou and Inuyasha along the way… they made you cry again…" Hakkaku sounded sad now; Kagome gasped in horror. "We could smell your tears all over them both..."
"It made Kouga mad as hell…" Ginta breathed. "He attacked Inuyasha but… he was so strong… and then… we noticed something else…"
"His blood beast… it was out…" Ginta shivered as though recalling the moment still horrified him. "Kouga didn't stand a chance… we tried to help him out but…"
"Then how did you get here?" Kagome asked in amazement.
The boy they now knew was Kohaku stepped forward and filled in. "I was coming back from a border patrol duty for Sesshoumaru-sama when I saw the two of them wounded along the way. Since Hachi was nearby I asked him to help me out so I brought them back here. That was when Ayame-hime declared war."
"But where's Kouga?" the priestess sounded a bit horrified. "Why isn't he with you?"
"A young lord came by with a lot of escorts and took him…" Ginta replied, wincing as a particularly harsh pain threatened to split his side. "He seems to have recognized Kouga and that he has an association with you… Because he told us he'll be taking Kouga with him and that we need to tell the Priestess of the Shikon no Tama…"
"And he says to tell you…" Hakkaku wheezed. "That if you don't come to Sumpu Castle… he'll have Kouga killed…!"
"Please…" Ginta swallowed hard. "Help him…!"
"Please…" Hakkaku cried. "Save him…!"
"Wait a minute, just what are you guys talking abou—"
Wolfram's protest was cut off when Kagome stood up all of a sudden, determination etched into every line of her body.
"Kagome…?"
"Hacchi." She suddenly spoke, ignoring Ken completely when he called her name.
"Ah! Yes, Kagome-sama?" Hacchi piped up, startled at having his name called all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry, but could you fly me over to Sumpu castle today?"
"Oh, of course! It would be an honor, Kagome-sama!"
"Thanks. Ayame, can I talk to you for a minute?"
The demoness nodded and then they watched as both females exited the cave, Kagome passing a straight backed Yuuri without even batting an eyelash. No one but Conrad noticed how the twins were grimly interacting with each other and he carefully watched his Maou for what he might do next.
"Whipped." Wolfram sneered at Hacchi, turning his nose up at the raccoon demon.
Hacchi rolled his eyes at him. "I didn't get this old by angering goddess level miko."
Everyone stared at the raccoon demon with wide eyes.
"Goddess level?" Yuuri asked suddenly.
"D-didn't you know?" the raccon demon was practically quailing under the weight of the Maou's unusual youki and didn't hesitate to answer. "She was able to break and control the power of a celestial item; a veil taken from the celestial being Princess Kaguya a few years back; everyone knows it. It takes a special kind of power to break a goddess' hold over you; she even broke the one Princess Kaguya had over Inuyasha that time, it was pretty amazing. Harnessing that power now she need not fear any demon. She is even strong enough to purify daiyoukai if she wanted to. So although the humans are still in turmoil the demons are still in order. With Sesshoumaru-sama as an ally the Shikon no Miko is an unbeatable force of nature."
"It's true," Kohaku nodded. Now that he had confirmed these mysterious demons' affiliation with the priestess, he was a bit more inclined to open up to them for business. "I remember that; Naraku used my body to hide in so he could absorb Princess Kaguya's immortal body too but they stopped him."
"That's right," Hakkaku chirpily added despite the hoarseness of his voice. "That's why Kouga wanted her as his mate."
Kohaku nodded. "Strength has always been an important factor to demons when looking for one."
"I keep hearing that word; what does it mean?" Wolfram asked curiously.
"I think the human equivalent of it is 'wife'," Kohaku answered and Gwendal started at that answer, a mound of possessiveness wrapped in his gut. Despite the apparent danger and suffering it brought, even demons from this era and place were drawn to her? "But what's more confusing is why a demon like you wouldn't know something like that?"
Gwendal ignored this question.
"She is truly amazing," Hacchi nodded proudly. "Inuyasha was a fool to choose Kikyou-san over her; not that I would ever say that in her face. Though Kagome-sama has surpassed her Kikyou is still a formidable foe."
Kohaku nodded, his dark eyes seemingly glazing over at the memory of this event; from Gwendal could see the boy must have had a lot of dark experiences that he wished he could forget. He could only imagine what they were. He was fast coming to understand that this place is neither smooth nor kind and it never cared whether they were women or little children. This land right now was as savage as nature itself.
"I remember…" Kohaku spoke, his eyes still with that faraway look in them. "Inuyasha was also in his blood beast back then because Princess Kaguya wanted him as a servant. But all Kagome did was trust him… kiss him… she saved him from himself."
As though by reflex. Gwendal found himself clenching his fist tight around the hilt of his sword and gritting his teeth at the narration.
Why? His mind raged. Why would she go so far for him?
'He's a good person…'
How can that Halfling be good if after all she had done he still had the audacity to betray her…?
"Yuuri, what are you doing?"
"I need to talk to her," Gwendal saw his king was shaking slightly. Apparently he was the onyl one having the same thoughts. "I... I can't stand this anymore."
"Yuuri?"
"It's too much, Conrad!" Yuuri turned towards them, his ebony eyes glistening with pain and confusion and a hurt so deep in might as well have made him blled. "He's hurting her... Kagome! MY Kagome! I don't understand why... WHY WOULD SHE KEEP LOVING HIM?"
And with that he stormed out of the room leaving all of them behind.
Kohaku was the one who finally broke the silence. "Who was that really? Why does he look so much like Kagome?"
"He's her twin brother," Wolfram replied arrogantly at the demon slayer with all his princely arrogance. "And he is our king. Ordained by our Founder."
Kohaku huffed, arms crossed over her chest. "Don't fool with me; that person was no human but a powerful demon; how could he be twins with Kagome when Kagome is obviously human?"
"He is more than just human," Conrad smiled at her warmly. "He is our Maou."
"M-M-Ma-MAOU?" Hacchi, Kohaku, and two wolf demons stuttered.
"Hey, that's not funny," Ginta snarled. "You could get killed spreading out jokes like that!"
"IMPERTINENT!"
"Wolfram, please!" Ken tried to calm down the von Bielefeld prince, finally breaking his silence since they started out for the wolves' den.
"Look, kid," Hacchi spoke. "It's all fine and dandy to be as powerful as you are but these are the Warring States. It's bad enough that any youkai would want to get their hands on you because of your abilities but to proclaim yourself as Maou means you're practically waging war against every demon lord in existence. You ought to be careful with what you say especially with a sister like Kagome."
"Why are you so surprised?" Ken asked, crouching beside Hakkaku to peer at the patients in interest; entertained at their reaction to Yuuri's title and taking note of every single information he was being given. "Is it really that strange to think of a single demon as Maou?"
"Nu-uh, youkai don't have masters but themselves and their lords," Ginta explained. "If a youkai acknowledges a lord then they form a pack. Where their lord goes, everyone follows. The strongest will outlive the others; it's the law of survival."
"You're worried about her, aren't you?" Ginta looked at him knowingly and he was met by a surprised stare from the young great sage. "If Inuyasha is in the state he's in last night then there's no doubt Kagome would save him no matter what. He'd do the same for her if they switched places, after all. If I were you, I'd just let her do what she wants. If you can't understand her now then just watch her. That's how we learned."
Gwendal was an intelligent person; in his mind he knew he could not fully blame Inuyasha for making Kagome fall in love with him when he knew his first lover was already dead. In fact, if he took the time to look at all of this objectively, Kagome's main problem was that she would not let go of her feelings for the hanyou. However the Mazoku lord could not help but feel that, through his kindness, Inuyasha kept stringing Kagome along and like a willing fool Kagome allows him to do that because her love was strong.
He understood somewhat but he could not quite get the big picture in his mind.
He could not understand the feeling of such unrequited love when it was better to keep on living and loving the same way his mother did after his father died. But then again, if it were him, would he want to be simply forgotten by the person he loved when he died…?
Argh, this was why he hated love issues; he was never adept in understanding it!
"You're probably angry, aren't you?" Hacchi started, looking at Yuuri knowingly. The Mazoku lord looked up at the raccoon demon that had his arms crossed over his chest. "You have that look about you. Like an overprotective parent about to lose their little girl."
"And how would you know that?" Kohaku asked him with a skeptical glance.
"Because your brother in law has the same look on his face whenever I mention how his little twins will end up fending off a battalion of suitors when they reach their first heat." He dead panned. "Anyway, you probably have the right to be angry. Personally, if it were my sister I'd probably tear Inuyasha limb from limb; just remember, though, that Kagome-sama is no fool. It would be different if she were constantly trying to make Inuyasha miserable because she was unhappy, but that girl is unlike the humans here. She wants her loved ones to be happy; and she would never act to take that happiness away."
Kohaku nodded in agreement reluctantly, looking none too happy with this truth. "She would protect it jealously; that is her love."
Gwendal ignored the silence that came with this announcement and followed Yuuri as he should have done earlier.
He too wished to know the reaons behind Kagome's constantly loving heart for a man who obviously did not want her.
He too wanted to know about her love.
/*****/