A/N: A huge special thanks to my love Kayelyn! She has helped me so much with sorting out how the next couple chapters will go! You're the best, Kaye, thank you!
Also, the first part has a very soft lemon, nothing is really described, but still, it's a lemon. It's marked :3
-MissKatt
DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!
The Battle of Heart and Land
By MissKatt
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Orders
Kagome shifted on her cot, trying to get comfortable. She had been tossing and turning ever since she had laid down what felt like hours ago. She just could not sleep. It felt odd sleeping in a foreign room, especially without Sesshoumaru next to her. She couldn't go back to her original room for it had been given to Sakura. The girl had demanded she have the miko's room when Sesshoumaru refused her his bed; not that Kagome minded.
"This is impossible," She sighed frustratingly and she sat up on the bed, running her hand through her tress. She brought some of it over her shoulder and looked it over. It had grown so long. She almost couldn't believe it was the length of Inuyasha's. She looped it into a loose braid and grabbed the ribbon next to her bedside to tie it. She slipped out of bed and made her way to her door.
She walked down the hall, heading towards Sesshoumaru's room. Maybe if she just saw him before she went to bed it would help her sleep. She knocked on his shoji door and smiled when she felt his aura pulse reassuringly, his youki almost wrapping around her in a warm, beckoning way. Complying, she walked into his room, sliding the door shut behind her.
Sesshoumaru offered his mate a small smile, he had gotten used to the fact that he could not control his facial muscles when she was around him and it no longer bothered him, as she walked in. Her presence itself soothed his stress and eased his nerves. He knew her own nerves were on end and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru, I couldn't sleep," She whispered, leaning back against the wooden wall of his room. "I know I'm not supposed to spend the night here, but I wanted to see you."
He rose from his bed and made his way over to her. He took her hands within his and looked into her endless blue eyes. "I could not rest either. I have grown accustomed to your person next to mine."
She smiled up at him and tightened her hold on his hands. "Sesshoumaru, I've been meaning to ask you something," When he nodded, she continued. "I've read in countless history scrolls about the Elders and their role, but, why? Why do they have so much power over the West? Isn't the Lord supposed to have all the power? They act like they are Kami themselves. They make all these rulings and can overpower anything you say."
He let out a short sigh. "The Elders are the first Lords and Lady of the West. The three of them were the first ones to rule in the West. They have a say because they, in essence, created the West."
"But," She furrowed her brow. "That's the past. You are the new ruler!"
"Indeed." He released her hands and pulled back from her slightly. "My father had made the same argument with them. But it did little for him.
"My father was the most powerful inuyoukai at that time. The Elders' feared his power, especially after he created Tessaiga and came into possession of So'unga. They tried to keep him under a tight lock, giving him many rules he had to follow. They chose his mate, despite the fact he had fallen for a different inuyoukai female-"
She interrupted him. "Inukimi-sama was chosen to be Touga-sama's mate? Did they love each other?"
He thought for a moment. "I know my mother grew to love him immensely, but I think my father only grew to be fond of her. I believe he resented the Elders too much to open his heart to her, much like a pay back."
She gasped softly. Poor Inukimi. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as Sesshoumaru continued his story.
"After I was born, they had me trained at very young age. It is a father's pride to teach everything he knows to his pup, but they refused to let him train me, saying he would corrupt his only pup." He clenched his hands slightly. "When he had found love again and brought her to the castle they banished her from the West, saying having a human concubine would disgrace everyone in the kingdom. By then, he had had enough of them."
"What did he do?" She asked, awed at the way Sesshoumaru talked about his father. She could tell he held great respect for him, but there was a tint of animosity.
"Nothing," Sesshoumaru replied, looking at her. "You see, he could not defy them for they are his great-grandsires. He had told them that there needed to be a change; said that as a Lord, he should have the right to deem what was acceptable and what was not for him and his lands. They ignored him, saying this was how it had, and always would, to be.
"My father was praised by his subjects, adored even, even though his father and his sire were not. He hoped it would help them realize his capability to decide, but they were blinded by their old ways."
"So, they are your great-great-grandsires?" She asked, blinking. Just how old were they? "They can't be defied because of pack dynamics, right?"
"Indeed. The Lord of the West is not Alpha of the lands, despite what one may feel. The Elders are Alpha, the Lord merely a Beta." He growled in response, clenching his hands once more. "That is why I could do nothing when they deemed your fate."
Seeing the ager of defeat in him, she put her hands on his shoulders before sliding them up to rest on the sides of his warm neck. "It's okay; I don't blame you. We will get through this, Sesshoumaru."
He nodded once and looked down into her eyes. "I will make this right."
"I hope so," She stuck out her tongue, trying to lighten the mood. "Because I doubt I can sleep without you, my Alpha."
He marveled at the way she could flip the feelings within him and boost his confidence at the same time. "I will be difficult to get adapted to."
She nodded. "I wish I could sleep next to you one last time," She paused and let a wicked grin come across her features. "But, I can settle for staying here all hours of the night."
He didn't miss the devious tone in her words. He smirked and bent down to brush his lips against hers. "Indeed. You are my personal servant after all." He replied, his hand brushing up her side to cup her breast.
She inhaled sharply as she felt the familiar tightening in her stomach as her arousal hit. "Oh? You'll have to remind me."
He untied her sleeping yukata and lowered his hands to her rear to cup either one of her cheeks, hoisting her up and pushing her firmly against the wall. Her arousal drifted into his nose and he couldn't help but feel as if there was something different about it. There was an extra sweet tint to it that he couldn't quite place. Pushing the thought aside, he hungrily captured her lips as she pulled on his obi and pushed down his hakama.
*~~~One super, tiny, barely described, soft Lemon~~~*
As he took her, pushing himself into her and filling her completely, she couldn't help but feel something different about the experience. It was in no way bad, quite the opposite, just…different. She ignored it as his thrusts became needier, both their youki coming out in feral growls and moans. Many moments later, when they neared their peaks, they each bit into each other's junction of their shoulders, heightening their climaxes. She clamped down hard on him and he spilled his seed inside of her.
*~~~Doneee. See? Tiny.~~~*
After they finished, they made their way to his bed, letting themselves bask in each other's company before she had to leave.
"I'm just going to rest for a moment. I'll wake up in time to leave." She murmured as her eyelids began to droop. Without fail, she always felt exhausted and drained after their sex sessions.
Sesshoumaru nuzzled her hair, secretly knowing otherwise. He smiled as he inhaled her scent until the splash of sweet tickled his nose again. Was this from a product she used from her time? He had never smelled it on her before. But, licking his fangs clean of her blood, he knew it was not some scented substance. Even her blood tasted a bit sweeter. As he felt her doze off, he pressed a kiss to her bond mark, letting the thought disappear.
*~~~BHL~~~*
As she woke, she stretched comfortably and rolled over to snuggle up to her mate. Except he wasn't there. Her eyes parted open and she frowned to see she was in her new room. He must have carried her back to her room so she didn't get in trouble. Sighing, she got out of bed and walked over to the small table in her room. There sat a cream colored yukata, the exact one that the female servants of the Western house wore.
Knowing this was Sakura's doing, she furrowed her brow as she dressed into it, biting her tongue. Really, it wasn't the clothing that was the issue. She honestly didn't mind the yukata, but it was the fact that Sakura was making sure her lowered status was apparent for everyone. As she walked over to her mirror and put her hair into a low ponytail, she felt queasiness in her tummy. She realized she hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday and decided to go to the Throne room for some breakfast.
As she walked in, she smiled as she saw Sesshoumaru sitting at the small table, a scroll in one hand, a cup of tea in the other. She ignored the smirk from Sakura and made her way over to the table before she was stopped by Kaname. She turned to face her and lifted a brow in question.
"Kagome-sama," Kaname said in a hushed tone, making sure Sakura didn't hear her. "Since your status has been lowered, you cannot just go to the table without being summoned. Also, you will eat with us in the kitchen from now on."
Kagome studied Kaname carefully. She was right, she had momentarily forgotten. She nodded and ignored the queasiness in her stomach. She would eat later. Now, though, she would approach her mate despite what Kaname said. "Thank you, Kaname-san, for reminding me. Also, since my status is the same as your own, please regard me as such."
Her once personal servant shook her head. "You will come to see that everyone will still honor you with your title. We do not agree with what has happened."
"Thank you." The miko repeated and gave her a kind smile, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder before making her way to Sesshoumaru, much to Kaname's chagrin.
As her aura and scent neared him, he raised his eyes from the parchment to look at her. He had known the moment she had entered, the bond telling him as much. With his stoic mask in place, he gave her a nod as she walked over to him. "Kagome."
"Sesshoumaru." She replied with a smile. She knew why he had his mask on, but his eyes revealed everything to her. She could clearly see all his emotions and the glint in his eye that came only when she was around.
"Kagome-san," Sakura snapped, slamming her empty mug on the short table. "You will refer to my intended by his proper title. It was a disgrace enough that you did not address him as such as your mate and the time before, but I will not allow such dishonor in my kingdom."
Biting back a witty comeback, she bowed respectfully. "My apologies," She turned back to Sesshoumaru, a humorous glint in her eye as she bowed dramatically to him. "Sesshoumaru-sama, may I get you anything else?"
He, however, did not find it funny. It was one of the things that made Kagome…well, Kagome. She had never addressed him with a title before and he did not like it now. "This Sesshoumaru requires nothing." He answered before turning back to his scroll.
She bristled at the formal way he spoke. He hadn't spoken to her as such since they were first bonded. "As you wish," She replied with another bow and went to turn away until she heard Sakura clear her throat. She turned to look at her, a small, fake smile upon her lips.
"Kagome-san," She started and held out her tea cup. "More tea."
"Of course, Sakura," She caught herself. "-Sama! Sakura-sama." She grasped the handle of the kettle given to her by Kaname, as well as a small cup of herbs. She kneeled down next to her as she strained the leaves to make the tea, the smile never leaving her face. She would not give Sakura the satisfaction of seeing her annoyed by this.
Sakura studied her carefully, a scowl upon her face as she did. She didn't like the way Sesshoumaru looked at her. Despite his indifferent mask, she saw the look in his eyes when she approached. Did he honestly feel something for this miko? The witch must have cast a spell on him. She would break it once they were bonded.
"Thank you, Kagome-san," Sakura replied once the miko stood. She sipped her tea and, despite how perfectly it was made, spit it out and tossed the cup to the floor. "Horrible! If you are going to be a servant of the West, then you need to learn how to make a decent cup of tea! Now, clean up this mess!"
Sesshoumaru growled deeply, but cut it off when Kagome shot him a look. Was she serious? Kagome had made him many cups of tea during the time they had been mated and he knew they were delicious and perfectly made. Sakura was doing this on purpose and it infuriated him. He had to do something with the Elders. He would be the one to abolish them, just like is father had always wanted.
The miko-youkai waved away Kaname when she tried to clean up the mess, but took the rag that was in her hands. She then kneeled down by the mess and began to wipe up the splattered tea. She accepted another rag from a different servant and let them take away the soaked one. As she finished cleaning, she rose back up and plastered a kind smile on her face. "Anything else, Sakura-sama?"
"No, you're dismissed," As the miko turned, she quickly thought of something. "Actually, I need you to go to the village and see if anyone needs your assistance." She said, running her hand through her short hair and examining the ends of it. Surely the inuyoukai of the village would take advantage of her lowered status. They would drive her into the ground with commands! They could now express their relief that a human was no longer ruling them.
Trying to feign distress, she forced herself to stammer. "O-of course, Sakura-sama, I will go as soon as I have my breakfast."
"Breakfast? No, you will go now. It is your own fault that you did not rise early enough to feed yourself." She snapped.
"Sakura, she must eat." Sesshoumaru glared at her, amber eyes like that of the burning sun.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, my dear, she is mine to order during the day." She reminded him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Go." She ordered.
"Its okay, Sesshoumaru-sama. I will eat later. I will see you tonight." She smiled happily at him and bowed to the three before leaving the throne room, leaving a fuming Sakura in her wake.
*~~~BHL~~~*
"Kagome-sama!" A chorus came as she stepped into the village. They were so happy to see her! It was always a delight to have their Lady in their lands. Title or not, she would always be their Lady.
"Everyone!" She cheered with a smile. She took flowers from a few of the pups and patted them on their heads for their kind gestures. As she walked, a few women came up to her, asking for advice on medical herbs and what ailments needed what. She kindly responded and described what they looked like, what they would do, and where they were most likely to be found.
"Kagome-sama!"
She looked away from the women to see Yukito running towards her. "Yukito-chan!" She called and let out a laugh when he stopped suddenly and bowed to her, pulling back the urge to hug her. "It's okay, Yukito-chan. I'm not the Lady anymore, remember?"
He bristled and let his brows furrow. "I do not agree with that! You are the rightful Lady!"
The miko smiled sadly, "Thank you, Yukito-chan, but there is nothing I can do about it."
"What if we all complain? What if we rally up against the Elders? None of us like this, Kagome-sama!" He shouted, his hands clenching into fists.
She kneeled down in front of him and drew him into a hug. "Thank you," She whispered again, truly thankful that they still had her back. "But, I can't allow you or anyone else to endanger yourselves that way. Who knows what the Elders will do?" She pulled away from him and smooth out the hair on his head. She then stood back up as she continued. "We will just have to see how it plays out."
"B-but what if it does not play in your favor?" He asked, frowning.
She sighed softly. "Then that is the will of the Kami." She replied and gave him another smile as Taku approached her side.
"Kagome-sama, if you would kindly join me for breakfast?" He asked, smiling at her as he led her away from the child.
She waved at Yukito before following Taku. "I'm guessing Kaname told you?" She asked, a smile turning up her lips.
He nodded. "It is cruel for her to deny you a meal."
As she entered his hut, she was a little surprised to see Inuyasha and Tekkan sitting around the small fire. "Inuyasha, Tekkan-san!" She said merrily and took her place next to Inuyasha, a smile on her face.
"Keh, you seem pretty happy for someone who lost her lands and is about to lose her mate." Inuyasha remarked, scooping another clump of rice into his mouth.
"Inuyasha!" Tekkan scolded before looking at his former lady. "Sorry, Kagome-sama, you of all people should know he does not know how to control his mouth."
She let out a soft laugh. "It's alright, Tekkan-san," She looked at Inuyasha and shrugged. "What else am I supposed to do, Inuyasha?"
He was taken aback by the question. "I dunno, I mean, you're not even fighting them back about this!"
She clenched her cream colored yukata tightly in her fist. "I can't fight a battle I can't win. The Elders have decided. They are the law here."
"Yeah, but-"
"If I could do something about it, I would!" She snapped. Pink flared around, a purple and green spark cracked around her as she spoke, making the hanyou flinch away from her. She immediately regretted it. "Ah, I'm sorry. I'm just…"
"Stressed?" Taku suggested, coming up to her side to offer her a bowl of rice and dried fish.
"You seem to know me too well." She gave him a half smile and took the bowl from him after giving him a short thanks. "It's just hard, but I'm taking your advice and staying passive."
"So I can see. That's good, Kagome-sama. You look like the bigger person this way." He answered as he sat down next to her, his own bowl of food in his hands.
"I hope so." The former Western lady responded and looked down at her food. Normally, she would have been happy with this food, but at the moment, just looking at it made her stomach churn uncomfortably.
"Just stay strong, Kagome-sama." Tekkan offered, smiling at her before taking a bite of his food.
Kagome flinched as she felt bile enter her esophagus. Why did she feel so sick all of a sudden? Trying to shake it off, she gave him a shaky smile. "I'm trying."
Inuyasha regarded her carefully as he noticed the quiver in her voice. "Keh, what's wrong with you?" He asked with a large chunk of fish in his mouth.
Taku set his bowl down and moved closer to her. "Kagome-sama?" He furrowed his brow when he saw how pale she was, all color gone from her face.
She dropped her gaze to the floor as she felt her chest heave with the impending motion that was coming. She jumped to her feet and tried to quickly scamper out the hut, but only made it half way before she threw up all over Taku and Tekkan's floor.
"AH! What the fuck, wench?!" Inuyasha shouted, the foul smell automatically attacking his sensitive nose.
"S-sorry," She tried to reply, her hands shaking as she leaned against one of the walls. She tried to push the next wave down, but it didn't work. Another one came up and spilled out of her mouth and onto the floor.
"Kagome-sama! What is wrong?" Taku asked, getting on his feet and moving to her side, his hand on her back.
"I-I-I don't know," She murmured. She looked at Taku with glazed over eyes. Slowly, she could see the darkness begin to seep into her eyesight from the sides, her legs tingling as they struggled to support her weight.
Taku saw her glassy look and supported her as she began to slump to the ground. He lifted her into his arms and looked at Tekkan. "Hurry! Get the healer!"
"Hai!" He rushed out of the hut, his voice could be heard from inside the hut as he yelled for the healer.
"Inuyasha, clean up the mess and prep a bucket of warm water!" He saw that the hanyou was about to retort so he silenced him with a growl. "Now!" As he left, her laid her down on one of the tatami mats and removed his outer haori, folding it to place under her head.
"I-I'm sorry." She breathed as unconsciousness began to consume her.
"Everything will be alright, Kagome-sama." Taku replied, his ice blue eyes looking at her pale face. "Worry not, I will call for Sesshoumaru and-"
"It is unnecessary," His velvety voice came. He had been in his study, reading a scroll from the East concerning a neko problem when he felt it. He felt the urge to regurgitate his meal, his head spinning in circles. He felt the heaving of her chest through his own and could see the darkness clouding her vision. Without hesitating, he sped to the village to find his sick mate.
The general turned around and nodded to his friend. "Sesshoumaru, I am not sure what happened. She sat down to eat with us and suddenly got sick before she collapsed."
The taiyoukai kneeled down next to his mate, looking at her face. Her markings looked vibrant in comparison to her colorless flesh. He ran his claws through her bangs and pushed them back from her damp forehead. He glanced at the door as the healer walked in, Tekkan at her heels.
"Oh dear, our little Miko-sama seems ill," She cooed, her kneeling down on the other side of Kagome. "Hanyou, the water!"
"Yeah, yeah, here it is," Inuyasha replied, setting the pail down next to her. He looked at the pile of vomit with disgust before getting to work with cleaning it up.
She dipped a rag into the water and rung it out before placing the damp cloth on the girl's forehead. "Let us see here," The healer murmured, lighting her fingers with her youki before prodding the miko's flesh. She started at her head, massaging her scalp as her special youki looked for any kind of distress. She moved to her shoulders, then her chest, ribs, and stomach. Nothing stood out to her. She continued down to her abdominal and felt around. Pausing, she put her chin in between her fingers and 'hm'ed thoughtfully. "Boys, leave."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "You dare order me to leave my mate in this condition?"
She clicked her tongue at him. "I need to examine her further." When all three of them continued to stare at her, she sighed exasperatedly. "I need to examine her 'down there'."
The twins shared an identical blush as they comprehended what she was saying. "H-hai!" They got to their feet in a hurry and exited the room, taking the hanyou with them.
"Well?" She asked, looking at her lord.
"She is my mate. I will not leave her." He responded sternly.
"As you wish," The lady responded before pushing Kagome's yukata up her legs to her thighs. She then lifted each of the miko's legs so that they were bent up and spread apart. The healer then pressed on her lower abdominal once more, 'hm'ing as she pressed. Then, much to Sesshoumaru's shock, she moved her hand and inserted two, facing up fingers into the miko's entrance.
"What are you-!"
"Hush, boy," She commanded and pressed up into the miko's walls. She felt around the swollen uterus a few times and smiled triumphantly before she withdrew her digits. Dunking them in the water to cleanse herself, she looked at the furious youkai and grinned at him. "You may be as mad as you want with me, but I have good news."
"And what is that?" He asked, his voice dripping with venom. He did not allow anyone to touch what was his, especially in such a way! This woman had over stepped her boundaries!
The healer laid her former lady's legs straight and pulled down her yukata so that she was modest again. She smiled up at Sesshoumaru and placed her hand on Kagome's groin. "You are to have another heir."
A/N: Wooo! Long chapter :3 Thanks so much for the support, everyone!
Edited on 12/5/15