Love's Consequences

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor do I make any profit from this story.

Warning: Spoiler alerts! Just make sure you've seen the whole series, Final Act and Movies included, for I touch upon pretty much everything at one point or another.

Warning: There will be lemons in this story later on. Full versions will be posted on Adult fanfiction under the same story name (Author's name Sylean). Summarized (a.k.a. butchered) versions of the lemons will be posted here. Also, there will be character deaths in this story at a later time.

Chapter 38: Accord

"It's huge; you can't miss it," Inuyasha explained what he saw of the Siamyosho hive. "From a distance, it looks like a mountain, even has trees growing on it, but… it hums." More accurate would probably be to say it buzzed with activity, but the sound was dulled by the underground origins. The resulting vibrations, both ground and air-borne, would make it easy to find. "The trick was getting by the guards; I wasn't able to get close."

"They are heavily armed, then," Naraku surmised. Otherwise, Inuyasha would have taken out an entire flank with Tessaiga and made no mention of it.

Inuyasha scoffed. " '100 for each of us'?" he repeated Naraku's previous estimate. "Try ten-thousand." It looked like night cast over their hive, even as the sun burned overhead, due the shear numbers flying every which way.

"How many can you absorb at once?" Kagome inquired. She'd seen him perform that ability before; he'd taken her with him on these special "hunts," but it was never more than a few thousand at a time. She was uncertain if he had a limit, or if that was simply all he could lure in at a time, using her as bait she might add.

"Not that many," he admitted. He was limited to only absorbing a quantity of demonic energy less than what he already had; if he took in more, he risked being overcome internally. Individual Siamyosho were infinitesimal, but as a whole, their power was imposing. It took several weeks to "digest" the energy he absorbed, far too long to wipe out the hive using that method.

"So, what now?" Kagome was the one to break the silence, but the tension remained.

All eyes looked towards Naraku, waiting for the strategy to form on his lips, but nothing came. Silence was all he gave them; he did not have a feasible scheme. Had it been 300 years ago, he would have simply gone into hiding; that was not an option today, not since he acquired a family to keep.

He had allies now; the Wolf Tribe to the east, Lynx to the south, and a few scattered, but powerful, individuals. But even with all those, victory was not assured. Many would surely be lost in the process, an outcome that would sadden his mate greatly. A sad Kagome meant and an unreceptive Kagome; unacceptable. Chances were not favorable that his own family would survive, either. The Siamyosho's numbers were simply too great.

His barrier could protect those he cared about, but they could not remain inside forever. Even demons needed to eat, even if it was not in the same context as humans, and they could not produce all the necessary supplies within for human survival.

From the outside, the hive looked unapproachable, even Inuyasha, reckless as he could sometimes be, dared not draw attention to himself. But perhaps from the inside he could find a weakness. It would not be the first time; he had taken on such a disguise before. If they were to stand a chance, he needed to find a flaw in their defense.

"Gather those you would be stricken to lose, and bring them here," Naraku finally gave a response. "Alert any who would fight and accumulate supplies should the Siamyosho besiege the barrier. I will-" Kagome heard the uncertainty in his voice, like he was grasping for a solution that wasn't there and rested her hand on his arm, "I will find their weakness."

Kiseki bustled about the castle, making sure everything was in order. Foodstuffs were stockpiled and stored away, but they would not be near enough to withstand a siege, a demon siege. Naraku must have known this, even as he and Kagome enlarged the barrier to include the village and not just the castle.

Trying to wait them out would be pointless, but the more time they could afford, the better chance of deriving a solution. What they needed was a plan of action to face the Siamyosho away from the castle. Getting trapped here would spell the end. But in order to do that, they needed a plan of attack, a way to fight the superior numbers.

It wasn't just numbers, either. The Queen was cunning. Kiseki only hoped her father would not be discovered, that his infiltration into the massive hive would not draw attention. But if anyone could fool them, it was he.

Meat was their lowest ration; she needed to hunt, but that meant letting her scent out again. A far greater danger lurked in those trees; a being that would not hesitate to kill every last one of her family the instant he learned just who she was. The idea of him finding them, while locked in battle with the Siamyosho…

They would die; her whole family, all because she once doubted herself. 'What have I done?' tremors quaked her body. She had condemned them; brought the killing perfection to their very doorstep.

She would go hunt, but not for food. She needed to face him now! Send him back to his own lands before they faced the Siamyosho, or else… they would not stand a chance.

Kiseki wandered aimlessly, weaving slowly between the trunks of great trees. She didn't have to search for him; he would find her. She was sure to place herself far from the castle, however; the last thing she needed was for him to get even closer to her family.

Waiting, it should have been natural to her, being half spider, but Sesshomaru was no helpless fly. Fingers trembled against rough bark knowing she was waiting for death personified to find her, and that she had no idea how to walk away with both her life, and her family's safety.

Why was he so insistent on finding her kin anyways? Did he recognize her scent? Did he connect it to who begat her? Inuyasha told her once, how her scent was nothing like her parents'. Naraku smelled like spice and poison (two things the half dog couldn't stand) and Kagome held the aroma of clean air and flowers. Kiseki's scent, Inuyasha had said, was more like clean spice, like mint, and nightshade flowers. She could only vaguely confirm these scents, lacking the heightened sense of smell that Inuyasha had. But as far inferior as her nose was to his, she could only image how dull his was in comparison to Sesshomaru's. Did the Inu Lord catch something Inuyasha could not?

She didn't think she had been waiting long, but when she finally felt the telltale vibration of his heartbeat nearing her location, the morning had already gone. The warming sun hung high overhead, dappling the forest floor with patches of light. Collecting her breath, she turned towards him and kept her steps even. This was not like the other times; she couldn't just blink away, otherwise he'd just continue to track her. She needed to bring this to an end, one way or another. Failure was not an option.

If he was surprised by her direct approach, he did not show it. Not a single deviation in his rhythm; pulse as constant as ever. A flash of white, a glimpse of silver slipped between trees, teasing her sight. What would her father say if he knew what she was doing, if he knew whom his daughter was approaching? She would rather not think about it; one problem at a time. But if she could not appease Sesshomaru, she would have no choice but to tell her parents of her foolishness. Where would she even begin?

Fiery gold, the eyes of a dangerous predator, caught her gaze, making her diaphragm quiver. Swallowing down the lump in her throat and schooling her features, the forest slipped away from between them and left the two standing in full view, not five yards apart, well within striking distance.

Kiseki waited for his demand, the same words he said every time along the lines of "tell me where your family lives," but he said nothing. His eyes spoke for him, the unwavering stare and slight raised eyebrow, indicating question. Apparently, he was waiting for her to speak, "Just saving you the trouble of hunting me down, again." She shrugged her shoulders despite feeling anything but indifference, answering his silent inquiry of "why." She knew what he wanted; he was intent on finding her family, and she could not allow that. He was far too dangerous. "Lord Sesshomaru, what's it going to take to get you to just leave me and my family alone?"

Was she giving into his demands? Surely she already knew what he would say, "An introduction."

She sighed loudly, shaking her head, "I can't do that." Despite attempts to hide it, the desperation leaked out of her voice. "How about a rematch or something? I hold no delusions about being able to defeat you now. So go ahead, redeem you honor or whatever you call it, and then leave us alone. We are no threat to you."

"Not interested," the short answer only brought more unease from the spider, exemplified by her shifting stance. 'No wonder she has no control over her demon blood, she doesn't even control her emotions,' he noted with hidden amusement. Seeing her so confounded was a pleasant change to the constant arrogance. He was not sure what had changed, but it was working to his advantage. She was eager for a solution; that much was certain.

Teeth worried the soft flesh of her lip and her eyes darted about as an answer avoided her. It's not like she could try to "buy" his leniency, he would not find interest in even the rarest of treasures she could procure. Even her silk would mean nothing to him. So lost in her own thoughts, she nearly missed his words, "You lack control."

She looked up suddenly. What did that mean? "Control? Of what?" she broached.

"Your demon blood," he continued, gaining the affirmation he needed in her unsettled expression. Did she really think she hid it well enough?

Her eyes widened before an indignant scowl replaced her minor surprise that he had caught on to her difficulties, "I'll have you know, I've only ever lost my grasp once and haven't since. I've even gone so far as to purify myself to keep it locked away!" 'Lack control,' a sneer escaped her lips in a quick burst of air. He didn't know her; it was not his place to criticize her.

"That is restraint, not control," his even voice admonished. Never once losing his calm even as she raised her voice.

Kiseki opened her mouth to rebuke his claim, but the words died on her tongue and she clicked her jaw closed. As much as she wanted to counter his claim, in all honesty, she didn't know that much about it. "Your point is?" she crossed her arms over her chest and jutted one hip to the side.

That tinge of familiarity about her rushed back at him, but he couldn't place its origin. Something told him he should know her; if she was important, why couldn't he recall? It cemented his decision, "You need assistance with your demonic side, and I want information."

Abyssal eyes bored straight into fiery gold. She was suspicious; what reason had she to trust him? Still, could this be the resolution she sought? Careful words formed on her tongue, "I'm not selling my family out for some measly training. I could get that from a multitude of other sources for much less cost. Why should I make a deal with you, The Aristocratic Assassin, of all demons?"

"You will soon be engaged in war," he recalled from her distraught ramblings, "time grows short to hone your skills." She continued to eye him as he paused. Perhaps she needed more? "I will grant my assistance in this matter."

A light sparked in her depths; a solution to two problems surfaced in her mind. With Sesshomaru on their side, the Siamyosho would be no threat. But he was still her family's greatest danger. She would have to get one more promise from him, otherwise it would all be for naught, "That's very generous of you, but there is still the possibility that you would be more of a hindrance than help, should you decide to harm my family." Her concerns washed over him; the reason for her reluctance was their safety. "Give me your word; swear on your honor that you will not cause them harm simply for being who and what they are. I will not agree to introduce you to my family unless I know they would be safe, and only after you have upheld your claims." Her grin had returned, a sly smirk that spoke of challenge. She did not think him capable; her blood was untamable.

From the start, he had no intention of killing her family, not unless they gave him reason, so her last criterion was negligible, "You have my word," she smiled as the words left his lips. "We have an accord."

Those words… It worked; they would be forever safe from him! That's really all she wanted, all she had been after. It barely even registered that she had accomplished something her father could not, and in the process, look at the additional boons she had managed! The war would be settled in no time, and she had a new "toy," until he realized her blood was a lost cause. What fun!

It was a little curious why he would offer what he had; his knowledge, his strength, and his clemency, all for one thing. What kind of information did he think she had? Should she ask? A single look at his expectant eyes and she pushed her curiosity for his motives aside, for now. There were more important details to flush out, "So, what now?" He was waiting for something, it looked like, but she could not read minds, especially not his.

Was it not obvious? She had already agreed, "Release your demon blood."

"How?" she gestured absolute ignorance for how to call that part of her out. "I 'lack control,' remember?" She honestly did not know how to bring it out of her, not just out of the blue like he expected. It required certain stimuli, and well… that was not going to happen.

'An inept half-demon child, fan-tastic,' Sesshomaru wondered over which method to use. He had seen her only moments from loosing herself; he knew she was capable, even if she doubted. Then, she had been consumed in sorrow and rage, two of the few intense emotions that could force a transformation, but they were not the only options.

Her vision laid elsewhere, a contemplative expression on her face. She was growing far too comfortable in his presence if she dared to remove her attention from him. Quicker than she could blink, his powerful hand caught her up by the neck. She gasped out in abhorrent surprise, "Y-you gave your w-word."

"Do not think to question my honor," he squeezed tighter, forcefully tilting her head back. "Your family will not feel my claws; I never said you would be given such leniency." Eyes wide, mouth agape and gasping, Kiseki realized her fatal mistake. Clawed digits grasped at his fingers as she struggled for breath. Legs swung at him, aimed for his body but not a strike landed.

Was this the end? Right when she thought things were turning around. Would she die by his claws?