When Sesshomaru left their group the next day to gather together his distracted thoughts he was more than aware that there was a small pair of feet scampering after him. Sesshomaru paused long enough to realize that it was she who followed him. With something like amusement Sesshomaru adjusted his pace as he found the nearby water source.
She found him reclining against a nearby boulder as the water fell peacefully down the slope and into the small pond. Such a quiet place eased the anger he felt at Inuyasha and his noisy companions for placing such low value on being still. It was impossible to find any peace, between the monk's escapades with the taijiya's body and the human girl's fascination with her own limbs. Why did Inuyasha allow his mate to display herself as she did? It had not been difficult to decipher the lust shared by his half-brother and the miko. The two were making great efforts to shove their despicable trysts under his nose.
"Hi 'gain," Miyuki wandered near the water's edge as she peered at him curiously. She broke eye-contact with him in favor of the colorful fish that filled the water. "Why you leave? You no want 'Ome to give you food?"
Once again, the humans had insisted on stopping to rest and eat. It was beginning to wear down his patience, their weakness. Sesshomaru renewed his inner debate about the merits of allowing the fools to exist in his presence.
"I do not require that girl's food." Miyuki, however, would have done well to remain for their meal.
"Mommy 'Ome makes good food," Miyuki beamed at him as she kneeled by the water. "You sure you no want? She happy to make more."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously on his daughter. What is this?
"What do you call that creature?" Inuyasha's influence was to blame.
Miyuki seemed to be confused. After shrugging once the girl returned to following the colorful fish and their movements under the water's clear surface. In a flash of speed he did not expect, Miyuki's clothed arm disappeared as she tossed a yellow-and-black striped fish onto the grass nearby to flop helplessly. She brought the thing to lie on his leg.
"Present for you," she waved her hands encouragingly. "No want 'Ome food then I feed, see?"
Feeding me? I think not. It was strange that a pup would attempt to provide for him.
"You have been taught to fish." Obviously she would not answer his earlier question. He would take up this matter with the human, then.
Miyuki nodded. "Mama teach me," Her fingers poked at the fish gasping for air. "I old 'nough now. She promise teach me hunt big stuff too." Round eyes looked up at him expectantly.
I do not hear her speak of that woman unless we are alone. She does not speak to Inuyasha or the others about her. How curious. Perhaps she is aware that they do not have any knowledge of her. What is it that she seeks from me?
Sesshomaru began to contemplate what the girl sought.
The pretty little fish hadn't really impressed him. Miyuki removed the fish from Sesshomaru's leg morosely. He didn't seem to be interested in speaking to her anymore so she started to focus on her stomach. "Tall…" He don't like that name. Miyuki wet her lips again, "Um you busy? Will you take back to Yaya now?"
He didn't even seem to hear her.
"You 'ear me?" Miyuki gripped the fish in her hand as she rolled to her feet. "I want eat—let's go back Yaya now plea." Yaya never ignored her presents. She could show him instead. "You no listen to me. Let's go back."
Why he stare at trees? Maybe he not so smart as Miku think.
"Tall man!" Miyuki squeezed the fish in her hand tightly in her frustration. She eeked when she felt the blood began to ooze out of the small fish.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru's face betrayed his annoyance. "It is not necessary to—" The girl was in tears again. Did she always cry so? "You are being foolish." The girl dropped the fish with trembling lips as she showed him the messy auburn liquid on her hand.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened minimally as he realized that Miyuki was bleeding.
"How did you manage to cut yourself?" He was forced to move her so that he could put her hand in the water while he found a white cloth. Children are helpless—human or youkai.
"I dunno," she sniffled. The child seemed very disturbed.
Sesshomaru did not abstain from the small growl that eased from between his lips. Why was it necessary that Miyuki require so much attention? Was she incapable of watching out for herself? It did not take even the simplest of measures to prevent a fish of all creatures from cutting them. And yet, there was her blood mixing into the clear water, turning it a sickly pink.
"It hurts," Miyuki whined. He flattened her hand; it was not serious. There was a thin cut running from the joint of her thumb-and-forefinger across her palm. He could see how it might cause her discomfort. Especially since she would not stop flexing her hand muscles.
"Be still." The mix of blood into the girl's usual set of scents was disturbing.
"I want to go 'Ome," Miyuki shifted her weight. He lifted her small palm higher as Miyuki squirmed next to his legs. Sesshomaru ran his tongue over the pink skin once, twice. Miyuki stood stone-still as he allowed her hand to droop once more, holding her palm flat with his fingers as he waited for her response. His daughter tilted her little white head at him as her eyes quieted.
"Are you in pain?"
Miyuki paused before shaking her head. Satisfied, Sesshomaru released her hand as she stared at him in wonder. "What you do?"
The taiyoukai froze.
It was not uncommon, in his other form, to lick his wounds clean after a battle. It was a simple fact of his canine heritage: his saliva prevented a majority of his wounds from infection, it closed most lacerations. However, in his entire memory he could not remember ever doing so for another. He did not wish to ponder the meaning of doing so now. Or that he had done it instinctively.
Sesshomaru quickly erased his disquiet. "Your wound will not trouble you."
Miyuki nodded, blinking. "T'ank you."
His heightened sense of smell could detect traces of food in the air; the origins were not difficult to decipher. It was past time for Miyuki's stomach to be filled.
"Hn. It is past…" Miyuki's arms were suddenly round his neck. The pup's smooth cheek rested against his skin. Her scent assailed him with how very young she was; she still carried the scent of her babyhood, of grass and fish and tears. He could feel her hands grip the back of his collar gently.
"Mama use to clean my hurts too," Miyuki squeezed him. "I 'preciate it."
I have a daughter.
It was a foolish thought. Sesshomaru had known for several years that she existed; he had felt tremendous shock upon finding her. But, sitting here with the pup's claws so carelessly clinging to him he could not help but feel a muted sense of amazement that she was…real.
Ridiculous. He removed a small burr from her long hair silently.
The sound of wood snapping drew his attention to the growing scent of an adult human female. Sesshomaru was quickly able to determine her identity. The slayer.
"Excuse me, Sesshomaru." The modest woman had left her weapon with the rest of the group back at camp, it seemed. "Miyuki?" The pup squirmed around towards the woman's voice, "Are you hungry, Miyuki? Lunch has been ready for a while now."
"Yes, I hungry!" Miyuki's arms abandoned him as she ran towards the female. "Does 'Ome have bars? Yaya no eat them all did'ee?"
"There are plenty left, don't worry." The slayer couldn't resist a smile.
"I race!" Miyuki's voice squeaked with excitement as she darted into the bushes.
"Miyuki!" Alarm soared through the taijiya's scent.
"Do not concern yourself," Sesshomaru rose to tower over the slight woman. She seemed surprised to hear him speak. "There is no danger."
"Ah, of course." She nodded in agreement; her hands were folded together.
For a human, she is intelligent. Sesshomaru approved of her demeanor. Perhaps this one will be able to satisfy me. She continued to stand still waiting for him to step ahead of her.
"Woman, I have a question."
"All right," she answered slowly, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Does she speak of her mother often?" The slayer's mouth opened in surprise. I will take her expression negatively. Miyuki does not. "Hn."
"I…" the woman was visibly attempting to pull her thoughts together. "I believe she has spoken to Inuyasha before, but he doesn't talk about it with us. She's…very sensitive to it." Suspicion entered her eyes. "Has she been talking to you?"
"You are in my way." He began to stride forward ; the woman stepped out of his way spritely.
The silent taiyoukai continued to lead them, almost without pause, for two days.
He certainly does not say much, Miroku pondered to himself. Still, our situation could be worse. As long as he and Inuyasha do not speak to each other there are no brawls. Thank Buddha that Inuyasha hasn't picked a fight about taking the lead. Miroku felt something like pride for Inuyasha's good decision.
"Where the fuck are we going Asshole?" Inuyasha yelled ahead to Sesshomaru, arms tucked inside his sleeves. "We had better not be going around in circles for fucking nothing."
"Inu-yasha," Kagome scolded, elbowing him in the side.
Baka. Miroku winced as Sesshomaru's steps halted. I would not have recommended that you use such profanity to question your brother, Inuyasha—it provokes him severely.
"Oi, answer me already." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He was forced to dodge another of Kagome's swats. "What's your problem Kagome?"
"Be nice Yaya," Miyuki tugged on his drooping sleeve. "No mean words, 'member?" Miroku's eyebrows rose. The girl had been following her blood-father around with small gifts and little stunts to garner the elder inuyoukai's attention. And considering Sesshomaru's nature, she had done quite well.
And now she is defending him to Inuyasha. Hmm…
"Are you going to fucking answer or not?" Inuyasha's voice blared over the silence again. "Sesshomaru!"
Sesshomaru continued to be still. It was several more moments before anyone understood why.
Kagome gasped, attracting their attention. "I sense the presence of the Sacred Jewel!" Miroku felt rather impressed. How keen are Sesshomaru's senses?
"Can you tell how many shards Kagome?" Inuyasha's hand went to Tessaiga's handle immediately. "Is it Naraku?" Kagome's cheeks flushed bright pink as she met Inuyasha's concerned face.
"Just two," she mumbled.
Oh dear. Kouga, Miroku realized.
Inuyasha seemed to understand as well. His face darkened into a scowl as the whirlwind appeared in the distance, rushing towards them so fast that not even Inuyasha had apt time to react. The hanyou's face met with the ground as Kouga took Kagome's hands.
"Yo," Kouga shrugged smugly.
"Hi Kouga," Kagome winced. She attempted to remove her hands from Kouga's.
"You fucking wolf!" Inuyasha snarled, pushing himself upright. "Take your hands off her!"
"Hey mutt," Kouga ignored both of their looks: Kagome's discomfort and Inuyasha's jealousy. "I thought I'd come by to see my woman. Is dog-breath treating you right, Kagome?"
"This is gonna be good," Shippo sat down next to Kilala. The two-tailed cat mewed in agreement. "Do we have any snacks Sango?"
Inuyasha's fist aimed for Kouga's head. The speedy wolf ducked just in time, angling his body between Kagome and Inuyasha's. "I said let go wolf!"
"I'll touch her if I want to half-breed!" Kouga released Kagome's hands to focus on Inuyasha. There were several new crashes and imprints in the earth.
"She doesn't even want you here! Are you that stupid?" Inuyasha tried to sweep Kouga's legs.
"You don't know what you're talking about moron!"
"Who are you calling a moron?"
"You're both morons!" Kagome fisted her hands by her sides. "Inuyasha stop it!" There were more crashes. The ground was beginning to look pitted.
"How long are we going to withstand this?" Miroku allowed his weight to rest on his staff.
"It can't be long now," Shippo had found chips.
"Inuyasha, sit boy!" Kagome stamped her foot. As usual, the hanyou crashed to the ground with a loud yelp, lying still for several heartbeats.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha spat as he pushed his torso off the ground.
"Feh, nice going Kagome." Kouga quickly moved towards Kagome again to take her hands in his much stronger grip. "We both know you love me. There's no way you'd go for scraps like him."
"Kouga, stop it." Kagome was blushing underneath Inuyasha's hard scowl. "I wish you and Inuyasha could learn to get along." She was attempting to remove her hands.
"You fucking wolf! You'd better be gone by the time I get up!" Inuyasha cursed as he wrestled against the rosary's spell. Miyuki automatically ran towards Inuyasha to try to help him. "Oi, what are you doing?"
"Smelly stupid wolf," Miyuki scowled at Kouga too. "Bad."
"What? Miyuki, Kouga's not bad, he's just—"
"That's right," Inuyasha snorted in the back of his throat. "And Kagome wants to keep him around. You see what I'm fighting?"
"Inuyasha, don't tell her that!" Kagome shook Kouga's hands off in a second to place them on her hips. "That's not fair!"
"But this is fucking fair?" Inuyasha snarled up at her. "Planting me into the ground so you can hold hands with some flea-bitten wolf? I'm you're fucking mate bitch!"
Kouga's eyebrows lowered, confused. "What?"
"You don't own me Inuyasha! And you'd better stop calling me bitch!" Kagome stomped forward to grab onto Inuyasha's ear. "I am so sick of that word!"
"Yo, Kagome! What is this cur talking about?" Kouga folded his arms. "I claimed you first woman."
They both ignored him.
"Ow! Let go of my ear!" Inuyasha jerked his head sideways.
"Quit be mean 'Ome!" Miyuki turned to Sesshomaru. "Please Dad-man sir! Bad wolf!"
Dad-man? Miroku's snort of laughter earned him a staff in the knees from Jaken.
"You'd better not be flirting with my Kagome," Kouga's hands pulled Kagome back by the shoulders. He moved her aside. "I thought I'd already taught you better than that? You must have one thick skull." Kouga cracked his hands threateningly. "Well, while you're down there, I guess there's no better time to—"
White…something suddenly flew across the distance to envelope Kouga, flicking just as quickly to send him flying into the nearest tree. All heads turned to watch Sesshomaru wind his fur cloak around his shoulder once more.
"Um, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken managed.
Miroku relaxed his staff-hand. I did not realize that Sesshomaru's…cloak was prehensile. How interesting.
"Who are you? Another fucking mutt has a problem with me?" Kouga brushed a few stray pieces of bark from his dark hair. "Do you collect dogs?" he directed towards Kagome.
"Shut up Kouga!" Inuyasha finally peeled himself off the ground. "And you stay out of this! The wolf's none of your business!"
Sesshomaru fixed the pair with a steely look. "It is curious that a full-blooded youkai would chase after a human girl in this way. For one such as Inuyasha, with his tainted blood, she might be considered fitting. Why do you want the mortal?"
"Wasn't your old man the one with the taste for humans?" Kouga raised an eyebrow. "That's how we got landed with you," he snorted at Inuyasha. "Yep, we definitely don't want more of your kind running around."
"Kagome's mine, and you'd better not think you're gonna be the one to take out Naraku either!" Inuyasha was posturing.
"This is rapidly descending, Houshi-sama," Sango nudged his arm. "I'd like to find a place to camp before nightfall."
"Of course, Sango." Though, with these three, I will be lucky if I am not torn apart. "Do you mean to say that it is 'going to the dogs'?" I simply could not resist.
"I heard that monk," Kouga let out a small warning growl. To Inuyasha: "I'm sick of this." His hand snaked around Kagome's wrist to haul her towards him for a hug. It did nothing to improve Inuyasha's mood. "I'm gonna talk to my woman without you dogs making the place reek. I can't stand this fucking smell."
"Not gonna happen!" Inuyasha moved forward but Kouga was too fast. He leapt backwards before Inuyasha could reach him. "Oi! Kagome's mine you damned wolf!"
"Let me go Kouga!" Kagome pushed weakly against Kouga's chest. "You can talk to me here, ok? Just put me down."
"Don't worry Kagome, I'll get you away from all these pathetic mutts." Kouga hadn't heard a word she'd said. He shot her a very handsome grin before leaning down to nuzzle her hair. "You'd smell a lot better than usual if it weren't for that stupid…" Kouga's voice cut off. She was suddenly aware of Kouga's very hard arms tensing around her.
"Kouga, let go," Inuyasha warned.
"What the hell have you done to my girl?" Kouga brushed Kagome's hair to the side, earning a loud eep! from the miko as he pressed his nose to her neck. The others shot Inuyasha worried looks. The hanyou, however, merely stood tall as Kouga grew increasingly irate. "Fuck, Kagome. What happened?"
"Is your nose that bad wolf?" Inuyasha was smirking. "It's pretty obvious."
"Stop it!" Kagome was very red as she ducked away from Kouga's nose. "Kouga, listen. You're my friend and I l-love you, b-but I love Inu—"
"You scum-sucking hound." Kouga released Kagome suddenly. "You've been fucking her while I was away! That's low, even for you. "
"You're such an idiot, Kouga." Inuyasha's claw flicked Tessaiga out of its sheath. "No one's going to miss you when I wear your guts as a belt."
"Inuyasha," Kagome gasped. She stood with her mouth open, trying to gain his attention again.
"What? I've got a wolf to kill wench," Inuyasha sent her a glare too. "I don't have time to—" Inuyasha's arms dropped from Tessaiga. "Is that Naraku?" There was no mistaking the sudden evil scent rolling around them. "Fuck!"
"I'll deal with you later mutt!" Kouga cast a dust storm as he left. "Naraku, you're mine!"
"Do not follow me." Sesshomaru disappeared between the trees' shadows.
"Hey Jaken," Inuyasha turned towards the kappa leading Ah and Un. "Take Rin and Miyuki somewhere to wait for us, got it?"
"Come on you two," Jaken's chest swelled proudly as Kagome and Sango set both girls on the dragon. "If the stupid half-breed wants to follow Sesshomaru-sama and get killed, that's his problem."
"Shut up, would ya?" Inuyasha pounded the kappa's head once. "Heh, moron."
As they raced in the aura's direction Miroku could not help but to be struck by a sense of déjà vu. He looked away from Inuyasha's red figure to the village below, where the humans were going about their day.
"Inuyasha?" Miroku easily heard the nerves in his own voice. Why didn't I notice where we were before?
"What?"
"Don't you recognize the village down there?" The white head turned. Within moments Miroku watched recognition wash over Inuyasha's eyes.
"Fuck," Inuyasha cursed, pushing himself around a large oak.
Sesshomaru has been leading us towards the village where Miyuki's mother was buried. I remember vaguely describing where she was buried to him but…why? Why is this dark aura here of all places? I cannot imagine that this is simply coincidence. We're never that fortunate.
"Houshi-sama, you don't think that…" Sango's voice died away in the wind. Her answer was unneeded: if Naraku was involved, then the probability that he had done something with the woman's body was almost guaranteed.
Inuyasha dropped Kagome at the edge of the cave's clearing—Naraku's scent was fading. Sesshomaru stood motionless ahead of them. "Sesshomaru?" The bastard didn't react when Inuyasha moved forward cautiously to stand beside him. "Yo. What the—? "Yeow!" Inuyasha's face plummeted into the ground as Sesshomaru's fist met with his head. "What the hell was that for you bastard? You fucking wait. As soon as—" Inuyasha's voice died.
The makeshift grave that he and Miroku had dug weeks ago was empty.
"Naraku stole some bones?" Kouga snorted. "He's such a coward. Why would we care about some stupid grave?"
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice came quietly. He continued to kneel frozen as his eyes ran over the hole beside the mossy cave—no blood, no bones, only a faint scent of Naraku lingered. He could barely even sense the ominous aura that had been so prominent moments before.
"I don't understand," Sango looked towards Miroku. "Why?"
"It is certainly his style," Miroku spoke hesitantly. "Perhaps he did not want to reveal his presence to them both at the same time," he gestured his hand towards the two inuyoukai.
"He's never been shy about it before," Shippo squatted on Miroku's shoulder calmly. Sesshomaru's cascade of hair shifted as the taiyoukai looked back in their direction. Shippo ducked behind Miroku's head. "Um, n-not, um…"
"The fool," Sesshomaru's voice breathed softly. In a heartbeat there was a swirl of white; Sesshomaru was gone.
"What did he say?" Kagome was wiping dust out of her eyes. "Baka, that stings."
"Where the fuck is he going?" Kouga's legs tensed automatically.
Miroku turned in the direction that Sesshomaru had disappeared. "Inuyasha, something tells me that Sesshomaru knows something that we don't. I—"
"Are you coming or not?" Inuyasha swung Kagome onto his back without waiting for him to finish his sentence.
Sesshomaru's scent led Inuyasha on a winding trail through the trees. There were several trees newly lying on their sides. Somebody's pissed, Inuyasha leapt over them. He began to inhale traces of Naraku's scent as Rin's and Jaken's and that stinking dragon's grew stronger. Fuck, when that bastard decides to move…
Jaken was already unconscious by the time his group arrived. Inuyasha's eyes automatically scanned over the small campsite Jaken had built.
"Oh shit," Inuyasha's eyes closed for a second. Please be wrong, please be wrong…
"It wasn't Master Jaken's fault!" Rin's voice was high—Inuyasha was hit by the smell of the girl's panic. "That Kagura lady just appeared out of nowhere! She took Miyuki while we were playing hide-and-seek, I promise! Please don't blame him!"
Sesshomaru and the others had flocked to his aura just as he had expected. It had not even been difficult.
"That is enough, Kanna." The silent girl-in-white turned the mirror away. The reflective surface still pictured Inuyasha's group wondering about his intentions. It was surprisingly amusing—Sesshomaru was angered and Inuyasha was within big-brother's range.
"What will you do now?" Kagura leaned against the far wall. "That body wasn't particularly well-buried. Obviously they did not care for her."
"Did you retrieve the girl?" Kagura did not respond. Instead, she shifted her foot to reveal the small pink figure glaring daggers at them. "She does resemble them both." The golden-eyed pup scooted backwards to rest her back against the wall while a small warning growl entered the air. It was almost endearing to watch one so helpless threaten him. He laughed softly.
"A rotting corpse and a little girl," Kagura's tone related her cynicism. "This is your great plan?"
"That girl is Sesshomaru's own," Naraku explained to his minion. He felt particularly patient with the traitorous woman at the moment. "I have watched the mirror. He would be a fool to attempt to convince me that he does not care about her welfare."
Sesshomaru's daughter? Kagura did not reveal her surprise. True, her nose was not as perceptive as those dogs' but she could perceive details. Glancing down at the girl she could clearly see Sesshomaru's features in the girl, now that she knew. She had assumed that the miko's compassion had cajoled Inuyasha to adopt a second little orphan. How very…interesting.
"I did not know that he had a daughter." The stoic, harsh taiyoukai with a daughter? By sheer logic it meant that Sesshomaru had been having s—
"The power play shall continue," Naraku gently drummed his fingernails against his knee. "Sesshomaru is more intelligent than Inuyasha. The elder brother is our greatest threat. The wolf is a fool…but that girl—that girl is always a problem."
Kagura's eyes left Naraku's scheming figure to the miniature one at her feet. The girl had pulled her legs into her chest as she glared at both of them. Naraku…what plans do you have? She was not eager to participate in this one. Sesshomaru's strength was still her best plan to become free. Aiding Naraku in harming the girl would not convince him to assist her.
"Kagura, I have another job for you."