I'm sorry everyone for the long delay in updating... it has to have been like 2 years or so. O.o My life is much more stable now and although I am writing again, I cannot promise regular updates. I will get to it when I can though. So for now, enjoy and please R&R, it's been so long since I've written, I'm kinda rusty.
Chapter 36
Moonlight spilled through the open window and across the gleaming, polished paneled floor, leaving iridescent, blue kissed highlights on the room's furnishings. Tendrils of soft light teased and danced across the thick raven tresses of the woman sleeping peacefully on the futon across the room, her soft, steady breathing blending with the sounds of night drifting in with the gentle breeze, but that was enough for the tall demon standing in the doorway. He knew that if it was the only sound he heard for the rest of his ageless days that he would be a happy man. Although her voice stirred in him feelings he never knew he could feel, but for now he was content to watch her finally sleeping peacefully. The sheathed sword that housed Fubuki lay across the bed, but within reach, for once staying in sword form during the night. His soul was extraordinarily weak from the earlier exchange and would take much time to heal and completely re-bond with the metal, but he was at last whole again. Although he begrudgingly understood why the sword was in the bed with her, it pleased him immensely that she had chosen to lay it so far from her instead of holding it near. The lord still struggled with the idea that the miko held no romantic attachments to the sword, but he was beginning to let go of some of his jealousy and learn to trust the young woman. Golden orbs rested on the slight form of the neko demon sleeping at the side of the futon, her own breathing barely audible, though steady. The cat was also extremely weak from the exchange and though was now short a fang, she was in fairly good heath and would be back to normal much faster than Fubuki would. The taiyoukai surmised that it would be some time before the elemental was capable of utilizing the sort of power needed to materialize in his human form.
The inu rested an elegant hand on the screen and gazed over his shoulder at his intended mate once last time before sliding it closed silently and glided down the hallway. Curiously enough the taiyoukai swept right by his office as well as his personal rooms and continued down the dusky corridor, making turn after turn until he was in a section of the castle that was rarely visited. Knee length silver hair swished silently behind him, catching the occasional moonlight through an open window as he continued, his footsteps making no sound on the polished wood floors. A few more turns later he came to a stop before a certain door. Slowly and almost reverently he slid the door open and was immediately enveloped by the smell of incense, leather and ancient things. He stepped into the dark room, his perfect vision taking in his father's armor mounted to one side, his mother's carefully folded wedding dress, his own birthing clothes and dozens of other priceless family heirlooms until his eyes rested on the object of his interest. There, mounted across the room, perfectly preserved in all its glory though shrouded in shadow and set in a place of honor was his father's fang, the same that InuYasha's own had been used to fix: the Tetusaiga. It looked exactly the same as it had that fateful day Naraku had finally been defeated…at the cost of his brothers and Kagome's friends lives. A myriad of thoughts and ideas flowed through the demon's mind. InuYasha had been capable of wielding the Tetusaiga's power only when he did it in defense of a human: Kagome. Sesshomaru had never been able to use it without the aid of a human appendage because he had cared nothing for humans…then Rin and Kagome changed that. Now, like his father, he was in love with a frail and beautiful ningen. The sword no longer drew him to it with a desire for power or conquest, or even the desire to be stronger. These things had so consumed his very existence in the past that he knew not what made life worthwhile. These were the things that caused such callous words to come from him on the night of his father's death.
He didn't understand then why his father would rush to throw his life away and not leave such an important family heirloom in his greatest son's care. The young inu had known that night that his father would not be coming back, yet he'd acted like he didn't care, like his father was an imbecile for caring for a human woman. For caring for a woman at all. Now, above all else, he wished he could go back. The great lord Sesshomaru actually regretted something for once in his extensive life. He wished he could take words back. He had desired power above all else, even the wellbeing of his father, and even then, his father had his cold-hearted son's wellbeing in mind. The great Inu refused his son the sword that was rightfully his and gave him the Tenseiga in the hopes it would teach him some mercy. In the long run, the damned sword might have actually done a little bit of that, it was ultimately Kagome and Rin who had made the most changes in him, but the sword's presence and powerful effects may have broken some ground in him that allowed the little ningens inside. More than that even, his father had proven once again, to know his son's heart better than he had known his own. The great Taiyoukai had known that despite his callous nature that curiosity would get the better of him, that despite his hatred of the sword, he would one day use it. Simple curiosity. But it had been enough and Rin lived.
The demon studied the sword with an intensity that would cause a rose to wilt and die. Could the impossible become the possible? Could the sword that was before untouchable be the tool to protect his mate-to-be and future pups from harm he knew was fast approaching? Would it let him, or would it still reject him? Should he try it? He took a tentative step forward and stopped. No, if he was to be allowed to wield the sword it would be with Kagome by his side. This was also something that had belonged to her first love and it would be inconsiderate of him to just pick it up without first making sure she was alright with it. The sword in his half-brother's hands had saved her life more times than the inu would like to admit. The poor girl was lucky she made it as far as she had in the feudal era and it was largely due to the effect she had on those around her. The miko had made changes in the hanyou that he hadn't thought possible. He understood now that she hadn't made his half-brother soft, she had made him a better person and a better fighter. She gave him patience and a heart for both demon and human, thus making him accept himself more the way he was instead of being frustrated at his dual heritage.
Nodding to himself at his decisions, he resolved to speak with her about it later that day as well as discuss other things of import. Satisfied, he stepped backward out of the room and slid the door closed behind himself.
Deep blue eyes cracked open a sliver and were immediately squeezed shut. Why was it that the sun always had to be so inconsiderate and shine right through her window on her at such an ungodly hour? … wait… if the sun was that high in the sky… then that means… Kagome sat bolt upright in bed. Sesshomaru will be so incensed that she'd slept in! The sight of the sheathed sword across the futon brought her up short. Oh yea… Fubuki was fixed last night. The tiny miko looked over to the other side and studied the sleeping neko demon. The poor woman was usually up long before the miko was, but she must be so exhausted from the exchange that she slept in. And she deserves to, the little miko decided with a firm nod.
Throwing a plain set of miko garments on and swiping her hair back in a sloppy ponytail, she set out from her room to find the demon lord. Breathing deeply she closed her eyes and honed in on where the taiyoukai's aura originated from and headed in the direction of his study.
Padding softly up to the door, she lifted her hand to knock on the door and was told to enter before her hand reached the wood. Letting herself in quietly, she sat on a cushion by his desk and waited for Sesshomaru to finish writing, watching his long elegant fingers deftly moving over the paper with a quickness that betrayed his demon heritage and an accuracy gained over years. After a few more moments of writing, he replaced his writing utensil in the holder and looked up at his miko, his golden eyes dancing over her figure before resting on her face.
"I'm so sorry for missing practice this morning," she launched right in before he could say anything, "but with everything that's happened and all the excitement I guess I just overslept. Usually Akiko is there to make sure I get up but she's still recovering and was resting when I finally got out of bed..." Sesshomaru held up a clawed hand to stop her babbling, a small smile playing across his lips, making her stare.
"It is fine, little one. I had anticipated that you would be tired this morning, so I busied myself with other matters while you and your newly unburdened servant were sleeping," she nodded slightly, her eyes drinking in the sight of him sitting behind his desk like an elegant statue. "I wanted to discuss with you the reason for my tardiness in coming to dinner last night, or rather why I missed it completely," Kagome's head tilted to the side a little, her cerulean eyes trained on him in curiosity, the hair from her ponytail falling loose and curling appealingly around the pale expanse of her swan-like neck, his eyes snapped to her face again to focus, "I was sending messages to the lords who recently departed after our meeting about the holy group. Obviously matters are far worse than what we speculated about and the information was crucial to pass along as quickly as possible." The little miko nodded her head in solemn agreement. Gracefully he rose from his desk and moved to stand at the window, looking out over the gardens. She watched him in concern, it was not often he displayed his inner turmoil in a manner she considered openly. To an outside observer, the movement was something to be considered normal, but for the stoic Sesshomaru, it was not. Standing slowly and moving to his side, she put a gentle hand on his silk clad arm and looked up at him, her eyes entreating him.
"Sesshomaru, please tell me what is bothering you?" his eyes were focused far away, ordering his thoughts.
"It has not escaped my attention that this may be a fight that will end up being devastating to those involved," Kagome's eyes widened slightly, "nor have I forgotten the things we discussed and the information I learned while I stayed with you so long ago," his eyes fell on her face and she paled slightly. "My little miko, no matter what happens, no matter what the future has in store for us... for my people... I will always protect you. Nothing will ever harm you while I draw breath," the small priestess stirred uncomfortably.
"Sesshomaru, don't say things like that. The future is never certain, even the knowledge you obtained while spending time with me... we don't know what will happen, or why things are the way they are. It could be that there's more than meets the eye. Perhaps details did not reveal themselves because it would upset the balance of things, perverse the natural order. If all was to reveal itself before it was due time it would harm the flow of time even. Though I do not know if my involvement has altered anything, one thing I do know is that as long as we are together, it will be alright." The taiyoukai listened enraptured, her wisdom and knowledge never ceased to amaze him, especially coming from such a small, beautiful woman. Kagome smiled at the expression in his eyes, wrapping her small arm around his back and nestling her waist close against him, absorbing his warmth. His arm wrapped protectively around the little miko and they stood for a while, gazing out over the expanse of lush green gardens.
"A thought occurred to me while you slept," the little woman tilted her head back to regard the demon towering above her, "it might be a good idea if you were to visit Yoko's palace in the east," she looked at him curiously. "I have a lot I need to accomplish around here, to include hours of research as well as preparations and evaluations for my lands and troops. You as well have much you need to learn, though it cannot be from me. Demon society is vast and complicated and though you passed the banquet in certain victory, there are many nuances you do not know about. Better you do not inadvertently cause all out war between my house and another by saying the wrong thing," his eyes glittered in amusement at the scowl on her face. "This is not an insult," he interjected when he saw her draw breath to assault him, "in all seriousness there is much you will need to know as the head of a taiyoukai's household and though you've done an amazingly admirable job, Yoko, though her techniques are rather brusque, will be able to teach you better than anyone the things that you really need to know. I trust she will also leave out many of the more mundane things she deems not necessary. Yet another reason I send you to her, as I am sure she will cut many corners and leave your training not nearly as complete as a youkai female noble's would normally be, but perhaps that is a good thing." He couldn't help the small smile that surfaced at her grin.
"Somehow, my dear lord, you manage to insult me, compliment me, and make me giggle all in one monologue," she turned a teasing glare at him and he stared down at her in amusement.
"Of course I also have selfish reasons for sending you..." she looked up at him curiously, "Yoko can also teach you more about youkai mating and hopefully make you more comfortable with the idea," his hand slid tighter around her waist pulling her flush against him, dipping his head to take in her scent at the nape of her neck, his breath bathing her in warmth that quickly spread to other regions. "I promised you I would give you the time you need," he whispered against the back of her ear sending shivers down her spine, "though part of me is very impatient, I will continue to wait," he pulled away and she nearly whined at the loss of his warmth, the expression on her face bringing him an inward chuckle. The little woman was his and only his, body and soul, though he had to wait for the body and that was endlessly frustrating for him, especially his beast. He held out a slender, clawed hand to her.
"Come my lady, I have something I have wanted to show you for some time, though the time was not right until recently," she looked up at him, her curiosity shining through her lust clouded eyes and he suppressed another inward chuckle. Baiting her was just too easy. Curiosity got the better of her and she slipped her hand into his own and he led her from the office, shutting the door silently behind them.