Chapter 29-Balance of Power
No, I don't own Inuyasha.
It took the rest of the night to get things sorted. Police and ambulances, the mortals taken to the hospital and statements given. There were no charges, of course, because it was a case of youkai on youkai battle. One with human captives, no less. There were provisions for such things. Inuyasha had fussed over Kagome and hovered all the way to and during her arm being treated at the local Emergency room, growling at Doctors and muttering about damned mortals. Arm in a sling, she was released as the sun rose. Just a flesh wound...but it could've been so much worse.
"Anyone else want to sleep?" Kagome asked, yawning. They climbed into Shiori's compact again, Inuyasha and Kagome in the back, Shiori and Miroku up front.
"Hm, you're just showing your inexperience, Kagome. That was just a little job," Miroku grinned.
"Oh?" she asked with surprise.
"Don't let him fool you, Kagome. It was a lot hairier then this little batgirl likes! Hungry? Or shall I take you all home?" Shiori asked.
"Home," Inuyasha answered, watching Kagome closely. His mate was injured, he'd be all over her until she was mended. She yawned again, and nodded.
When they were brought back into the Keep, they all made their farewells...and Shiori smiled uncomfortably at Inuyasha as they got ready to go.
"Well. I'll see you next poker night," she managed, as they walked to one side, graveled driveway crunching under their feet.
"Yeah," he nodded. She wouldn't say anything...he knew it, but damn it! Plus the damned bonzu! Not to mention the damned healer Jinenji. The old man had seen to him, but...it was still scary. People knew.
"Inuyasha, you're my best friend. I-" Shiori hesitated as he winced, and leaned in suddenly, hissing, "third day after the moon's first quarter, sunrise to sunset. Fair's fair." She walked to her car fast and started it up.
He stared after her in shock as they drove off.
Third day after the moon's first quarter. Her time. Shiori knew when he was weak, now, well-part of it. And now...he knew hers. Fair's fair, she said! Damn. Gutsy girl, he'd give her that. Shiori had come a long way from the little kid who'd let everyone run over her when she was small, saying she was just a worthless hanyou. Inuyasha was touched and shocked, both by her trust and her innate Shiori blitheness. He didn't want to know that about her-but to her, it would be unfair for her to have that hold on him without equal leverage. They were both hanyou, members of the same kinship, after all.
He saw to it the servants who'd bundled Kagome off had tucked her into bed properly, though. She was already asleep when he went in, thanks to exhaustion and painkillers. Silly little mortal wench of his. Just as gutsy, though, charging after him into battle. Sesshomaru was right...she was a damned attack squirrel, more guts then sense. Although-he wasn't quite sure why his brother had decided to call her that. Exhausted, he stretched out next to her and fell asleep himself.
When Kagome awoke briefly in the morning, he was again curled up around her protectively. She sighed, and snuggled back into the soft bed. At first, she was largely confined there by her worried mate, who had another Healer, a youkai one, come and check on her. The miko just rolled her eyes, when the entire keep seemed equally well...fussy. Inuyasha treated her like she was made of spun glass, for kami's sake. Everyone had come by-with one notable exception. Miroku.
On the phone with her mother two days later, she did her best to downplay things. Kagome saw no reason to tell her all of it.
"No, mom, really, I'm fine," she repeated cheerfully, sitting up in bed awaiting breakfast. Kagome was supposed to rest and get better, according to her spouse, and stay in bed until she was healed up. He was off fussing at the cooks over her meal, she knew it. He'd hovered ever since she was hurt, and hadn't acted this possessive since well-Houjou.
"Are you sure?"
"Yep. Just a scratch! No biggie." No mention of how close it had been. That if she hadn't turned, it would've been in her chest, not through her arm.
"If you're sure. You and Inuyasha should come to dinner some night soon, you know. I haven't seen you since the wedding, dear, and I worry."
"Yep," Kagome answered as the door slid open. Inuyasha, carrying a tray and frowning with worry.
"Kagome, you ought to rest!" he frowned, and his ears twitched. "So. Who is it?" An attempt to be nonchalant that wouldn't fool a baby.
"It's mom. We're supposed to go over for dinner soon," she answered, holding the phone to her shoulder.
"Oh. Say hello for me. We'll go when you're better," he replied mildly. She made her goodbyes and hung up as he fussed, fixing her pillows and setting her tray in front of her. Kagome didn't miss the scowl at the phone, though...or his relief.
"Now, eat up. It's good for you and you need to get your strength back, Kagome," Inuyasha told her, sitting to watch her eat as he had for days.
"Inuyasha?" she asked.
"Hm?"
"Why did you look so worried when you asked who was calling me?"
"Wasn't. Just curious. Might've been...someone else," he said. Kagome put two and two together.
"Where's Miroku? I thought he'd come see me." His head snapped up at that question.
"Miroku?" Inuyasha's eyes went cold, and Kagome bit her lip.
"You aren't-" her tone was annoyed, "jealous? Because he was in my, um...shirt?"
"I'm not jealous. Why? Should I be?" he leaned over the tray and scowled, sniffing.
"Look, it was-I needed my hands free, and well, I didn't mean to put him there! He just sort of gravitated. Like a...chest seeking cockroach or something. I didn't-" she blushed.
"You didn't want him there?" Inuyasha asked, frowning as he considered how best to rend the bonzu.
"It-happened. I'd rather not think about it, alright? It's not like that's going to happen again. He didn't mean to, I'm sure," Kagome replied shyly, seeing the look on his face.
"I didn't like it. No one ought to...I..." he looked down and nodded to her meal. "Eat before it gets cold."
"Not till you finish the sentence, please." A resolute look.
"No."
"Yes! I deserve an answer!"
"I saw how-how, you're a mortal, he's a mortal...you liked...you touched my ears when you gave me the baka glasses too!" he yelled. But she saw his nervous expression.
"No. I'm you're wife, not his. Miroku doesn't chase married women, and you know it. Besides, he's sweet on Sango. You need to see Miroku, I do too, he's my friend as much as he is yours, and he's my teacher. Is that why you've hovered? Because I saw you as a mortal again...and you think I like you better that way?" she asked with a kind smile as he folded his arms and looked away.
"Course not."
"If you say so," she ate a few bites obediently, and smiled. "Of course, if you were thinking that, well...I happen to like you...no matter what kind of ears you happen to have at the time." He glanced back at that one, and looked interested.
"Good to know." Was all he said. Kagome took a spoonful of fruit, and chewed before she answered.
"Keh," she grinned, and it was returned.
"So, my youngest daughter is better," Lord Inutaisho smiled as his youngest son dragged him to the practice hall a few days later.
"My Kagome's stronger than she looks-for a mortal. Won't even leave much of a scar. Come on, old man, I've got something to show you!" he announced with a proud grin that hid fear. She would always have that little mark on her arm now, damn it, even all healed up as it was now. It pissed him off. Intrigued, his Father followed him inside.
But when Inuyasha triumphantly drew Tetsusaiga-he stared at it blankly.
"Yes? Besides not cleaning it lately, my son?" he asked.
"It worked! It did! I took out the tree with it!" Inuyasha complained, giving it a shake in his hand.
"It did? It transformed?" Inutaisho asked, holding out his hand. His youngest handed it over. The Lord held his old fang fondly for a moment, thought of a gentle, kind woman, and it transformed. Izayoi.
"Like so?" Inutaisho asked.
"Yes! How did you do that? I know you said you couldn't explain, that I had to feel it but-it did it once, damn it! Now it's-not."
"Hm. What happened when it changed?" he asked. At the patient question, Inuyasha was ten again, when his Father taught him tracking and hunting. He always did this, led him along and made him figure it out himself.
"Uh..." Inuyasha wasn't sure, and said as much, explaining what happened at the time.
"I see. Sit." He obediently did so, sitting across from his Father, who nodded to himself. Izayoi had worn the same expression when she was curious, he reflected.
"Well?"
"Hmp. You look so much like your Mother, pup."
Inuyasha looked down. He did look like her, damn it. The baka ears, no proper stripes...no Inu form. The damned glasses. Because of her. But he admitted to himself that the shape of their faces was the same, he had her coloring as a human too.
"Keh," the hanyou answered.
"Since you achieved this once...I suppose I may explain it to you, as I did Sesshomaru when he finally was able to use Tenseiga. You know why I gave you Tetsusaiga now, that it protects you because it protected her," the old man began, and frowned slightly.
A short nod.
"I do not believe we have ever discussed why I had it, and Tenseiga, created in the first place."
"To be stronger, right? To...look after-her." Something else he understood better now as he looked down at the sheathed sword in his hand. He worried and watched over his Kagome, and she was a warrior Priestess! How had Father managed, hell, how did Sesshomaru fucking sleep at night? Rin wasn't powerful on her own, anymore...than Mother had been.
"Not quite. It isn't my strength that allows me to use Tetsusaiga. It is hers." Izayoi, he meant, and the hanyou knew it. Shocked, he stared at his father.
"I don't understand."
"Izayoi, well. She was not strong as youkai view it. Not as Michiko was. Izayoi was strong in her heart, spirited and brave, but no warrior. A little noblewoman, not a sturdy, sensible peasant girl, safe with a pack to look after her, or a gifted little Priestess able to look after herself. My dear lady required more guarding than most, even when I brought her home. She named the kaze no kizu, did you know this? Said that it wounded the winds themselves in her eyes. You were well on your way when she said that." Meadows. She'd smelled of the meadows...ravishing perfection...the fire, wrapping their pup in the firerat to protect him, taking it off to cover him better.
The hanyou forced himself to say it, biting back the three or four habitual things that would get him the back of his Father's hand. That she was weak. That if she had been a little less brave, maybe it would've been better...the old man was right, she didn't deserve it. Without a working Tetsusaiga, that might be him one day, after all. Uncomfortable with the turn things were taking, he frowned, ears twitching.
"Father...I don't understand. Mother's-gone, and I don't see why you...what you mean."
"Your young mortal Lady...do you love her?" The bluntness made him blink. Inuyasha looked down-and winced. He realized he was going to have to answer.
A slow, nervous nod, met by a pleased smile.
"At least all of those phone calls during your courtship had purpose, then." At that, his jaw dropped.
"You-knew??"
"Little happens in my Keep or my Pack I do not know of, my son. The wonder is that it took so long for you to choose to speak to her, I was impressed at your patience, actually," Inutaisho's features lit with amusement at the expression on his face.
"Damn it. Fine! What does Kagome have to do with my Sword? Least you can do, since you probably laughed at me the whole time, old man."
"Not-that much laughter," Inutaisho grinned as his son made a face. "Tetsusaiga responds to the need to protect mortals, my son. When you felt the need to protect Kagome, a mortal woman whom you love, it awakened. Come." He had his son stand and relax.
"Draw it, and think of her. Think of your feelings for her, that you will protect her." Inuyasha tried. He thought of her. Wonderful scent, sparkling eyes...and an arrow going into her arm. No. Not going to happen again! Ever. He would protect her.
Tetsusaiga pulsed. He focused, concentrating hard...Urusue. Panthers. They would want to kill her. No. It pulsed again, and suddenly-the blade was awake! Yes! She was his, damn it! His mate, he'd waited a lifetime to find her, they were just getting used to each other, she would not be taken from him!!
Inutaisho sniffed-and looked alarmed. He'd wanted his son to get warmed up, yes...but-
"No one fucking touches her!" The blade rose as he raised it with both hands, power seemed to be sweeping...he could smell it, a sort of weakness before him-and knew. Sweet kami, he could taste it! Like her scar, he saw it in front of him. He'd nearly lost her...NO!
"Inuyasha!"
"KAZE NO KIZU!" he yelled and slashed. There was a burst of light, of fire...and crashes. Inuyasha looked up sheepishly as he saw-the wall of the Practice hall...and part of the roof...and-oh crap. A large swath of the gardens was now er...gone.
"Not. Inside," Inutaisho said as he gestured for him to sheathe the blade. He sighed, and viewed the wreckage, dusting himself off and casually shoving a roof timber out of the way.
"Oh, crap," Inuyasha was in shock as he realized what he'd just done.
"You always were a fast learner. Undoubtedly you will also learn exactly how much it costs to repair the Hall," a glance up, "or replace it...and replant the gardens as you pay for it. I except to see craftsmen here within the week." Inuyasha winced at the mild comments.
"Replace...uh huh."
"I'm still proud, though. Your first Kaze no Kizu."
"So much for Kagome's redecorating plans." The hanyou managed. An interested look met this.
"Oh...I am certain she will manage. She strikes me as resourceful. I feel like a snack. Shall we?"
"He blew up the Hall with the sword," Kagome repeated, shaking her head at Rin the next day, over the magazines, paint samples, and design catalogues spread out between them on the dining room table.
"I'm afraid so. Lord Inutaisho seemed rather pleased though. At least, he was..." she trailed off with a sigh. "Sesshomaru's still grumpy, isn't he?"
"Hm. He'll get over it," Rin sighed, and flipped to a new page. "Now this pattern, I like it for your sitting room curtains." Pearl grey-and maybe a rose, they'd decided to look for soft, muted colors. Pretty, lighter then it's current look, but not something that would make her spouse's skin crawl.
"Oooo. I do like that," Kagome leaned over, and made a face. "If we can afford it-he's making Inuyasha pay for the damage."
"As he should," announced a dry voice said behind them. Sesshomaru, who'd claimed indigestion last night to avoid the triumphant retelling of the Kaze no kizu versus the garden. Annoying as hell, that the sword he wanted was finally working.
"Oh! Hello, Lord Sesshomaru. You're right, actually. I just wish he hadn't done it," Kagome answered politely as Rin took his hand with a smile.
"What are you doing?" he asked, and when he heard, nodded once. A claw lightly tapped the rose colored fabric in the book. A note had been scrawled next to it. 'bedroom curtains?' So petty...so wrong...so very, very entertaining. Pink. It might say 'rose petal', but that was undoubtedly pink.
"Hm. This color. You plan to use it?" Kagome nodded.
"When we can, yes."
"Pleasing enough. When you do redecorate-I will arrange for your costs to be included in the Keep accounts. After all, this is for the Keep's updating, is it not?" he said, as Rin eyed him with a 'naughty boy' look.
"Thank you! But-you said we needed to budget. I wouldn't want to be pushy or anything."
"Admirable," he said with a nod of approval. "Consider it-a welcome to the family gift, Kagome," he managed not to start laughing until he was out of human earshot. Sesshomaru might not have Tetsusaiga-but he also would not have pink curtains. Delightful.
Author's notes- two more chapters, and it's done. In any case, thanks for reading!-Namiyo
