A/N: Hey! Did I get your attention with all the bold? Yes? Okay! Well, I'm back from Japan! Yaaaay! I was just putting this up here to let you know that this chapter is a total rewrite of the last chapter! I would delete it, but the last time I deleted chapters, I confused people. Once an appropriate amount of time has passed, I will delete it. I hated how rushed the last one was! This one will be better! Promise! Okay! On With the tale!
The Missing Link
By:
Summary: Kagome is an archaeologist who's teams digging around Japan. In her search, she comes across the only known existing demon, frozen and preserved in the mountains. Once he's thawed up, it is up to her to attend to him, teach him the ways of the new world, and comfort his aching heart.
'Blah'-Sesshomaru's strange language
'Blah'-thoughts
'Blah'- Mental communication
Chapter 48
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. That is all…thank you
Finally managing to free is finger from his pup's gnawing gums, Inuyasha glanced toward his watch with a frown. "Oi, Kagome," he called loudly, knowing she would hear him though she was in the kitchen with Kikyo. "The hell is the prick doin'? He's not one to be late!"
Kikyo, who had stilled from the moment her beloved had opened his mouth, now slapped her hands on the counter and hissed, "What have I told you about using such language in front of Kazuo-kun?"
Ear flattening onto his head, Inuyasha replied, "Keh! H-he doesn't know what I'm sayin'!" Facing his son, he arched a brow, "Do you?"
The pup, who had taking to gumming at his own tongue since his father had removed his finger, looking up with wide, sparkling amber eyes. He stared at his father for a moment, as though he were trying to relay some sort of message to him without speaking. After some time, as though it became apparent to him that Inuyasha could not understand, and the pup lifted his nose and turned away, snubbing him.
"W-why you little!" he laughed, tickling the pup under his chin.
"Careful, now," Kagome cautioned as she entered the living room, a tray of tea cups in her hands. "You know they say if you tickle a child too often, they'll develop speech impediments."
"Oh yeah? And who are they?"
"…M-mothers, of course! I mean, I found this site where a bunch of mothers talk about things. A lot of them agreed on that point. And who would know if not a mother?"
"I dunno. A scientist, maybe," he scoffed at her gullibility. "I mean, any old group of people can get together and agree on somethin'. If you, me, Sesshomaru, and Kikyo say the sky is purple, is that gonna make it true?"
Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, "What time of day is it?"
Deadpanning, he turned away from her and peered down at Kazuo. "Women, huh?"
Instinctively, Kikyo reached down to remove her shoe and throw it at him but quickly righted herself. "You are lucky that you're so close to Kazuo. Otherwise, this shoe would have knocked you into the next life."
"What did I do?" He asked, mouth agape.
Kagome sighed and shook her head at him. Setting the tray on the coffee table, she mentally thanked God that she didn't have to worry about such things with Sesshomaru. She would, she realized, have to be fearful of his somewhat cold disposition rubbing off on their pup, as well as his slight inclination to violence. Shuddering as she recalled the number of fights, and near-fights, that had transpired between he and Inuyasha over the past weeks, she sighed. Perhaps she had more to worry about than she realized.
"So, what is that stuffy as-" At Kikyo's glare, he exhaled miserably and corrected with sarcastic emphasis, "butt brother of mine doing anyway?"
"Looking over some treaty or some other important document. They were delivered around midnight last night, and he's been holed up in his study ever since." Trying not to pout, she handed him his tea. Of course that stupid servant would come on the first night in ages where she had managed to talk him into cuddling her without any sex before or after. "Don't get so worried. Like you said, he isn't one to be late. He'll be down just in time to leave…I wonder if I should take him some tea upstairs."
"Well, well, look at you." Kikyo smiled into her tea cup. "Settling into your position of mate already?"
Flushing brilliantly, Kagome answered, "I can't help but think of him."
The older miko laughed. "It's not a bad thing, Kagome-chan. I find myself coddling this one more often than I should with his ego." Ignoring Inuyasha's interjection, she continued, "It's instinct when your mate is an Inuyoukai."
"So, that's what it is?" Kagome nodded thoughtfully. "Yori-san said something similar, but hearing it from someone who has actually experience with an Inuyoukai is a little more assuring. I was getting kind of nervous because of the way I've been acting."
Ears perked up, Inuyasha inquired, "Like what?
"Well, like growling. My growling is getting much better, and sometimes it comes out without me really trying to, you know? And nuzzling! I'm starting to enjoy that more than…" she flushed, "more than hugging. On top of that, I get jealous."
"Everyone gets jealous," Kikyo laughed lightly.
"No. It's weird. I've never been the type to get jealous, but now, it's like the smallest of things can set me o-" Her voice cut off as the aura of her lover filled the house, the youki thrumming pleasurably against her reiki. "Sesshoumaru."
Lifting his chin in acknowledgement toward the other occupants of the room, he approached his mate and graced her with a gentle pat on the head. Taking in her scent imperceptibly, he noted that, while she appeared healthy, her scent held the smallest trace of fatigue. "Did you sleep well?"
Kagome nodded quickly. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
Instead of answering her, he asked, "Rin is with Shippo and Setsuna, no?"
"Yeah. They left earlier. Apparently, someone in a lower council, I think Setsuna said, has prepared documents for you and Rin to help you blend in with society. You know, like identification and stuff."
"They have gone to retrieve them."
"Yes."
Nodding, Sesshomaru picked up Inuyasha's car keys from the coffee table and headed toward the door. The aforementioned hanyou quickly sprang up, going after him, "Oi! What're you doin'? Hey! Don't you ignore me! Sesshomaru, you bastard!"
Kagome massaged her temple and let out an amused sigh. "What are we going to do with them?"
Picking up her son's carseat by the handle, Kikyo joked, "I'll help you with yours if you help me with mine."
Though Kagome's rational mind knew that the older woman was very much in love with Inuyasha and therefore was not a threat, a darker portion of her bristled at the suggestion. Her mate wouldn't be handled by anyone, let alone some other miko! Calming herself, she forced a laugh, "I dunno about that." Brushing her jealousy away, she followed her out to the car, where the green eyed monster reared its head once again.
Kikyo handed her pup's seat over to Inuyasha, who buckled the seat in beside him, in the back of the car. Then, she made her way to the front. "Ah, Kagome-chan, I hope you don't mind. I get car sick in the back, and the front isn't safe for a pregnant woman."
Kagome cut her eyes to her mate at the steering wheel, then forced a smile, "Thanks for being concerned about me." Angrily, she buckled herself into the backseat and prepared for the long ride.
"I'm so excited for Kazuo's first check up! I've never known a youkai child, so I'm unsure about whether he is progressing the way he should. Are you excited for yourself, Kagome-chan?"
"Overwhelmingly so," she answered as she tried to calm herself by reminding herself that Kikyo loved Inuyasha. Smiling more freely, she elaborated, "It's still such a shock that I'm pregnant. I just want everything to go well, and I want to make sure that I do all that I can to ensure…that our pup is safe and healthy." She could feel the growl working up in her chest as she noticed that Kikyo had placed her arm next to Sesshomaru's on the armrest, their elbows brushing for an instant. 'It's okay!' she told herself, but the growl still worked forward.
As if sensing her unease, Kazuo gave a soft giggle, reaching his hand out and snatching a lock of her hair. When Kagome yelped, he cooed at her and tried to mimic the sound of her low growl, a sound only he had heard as he leaned over in his seat to look up at the woman who looked like his mother. He only succeeded, though, in filling his mouth with bubbles, drool dribbling down his fat cheeks and chin.
Kagome laughed warmly, surprising Inuyasha, who turned from where he'd been staring at his mate in a similar fashion to the way Kagome had been staring at hers. Grinning, he asked, "What are you doing? You're all wet, pup."
"He was being a gentleman," Kagome assured him, drawing her handkerchief from her purse and using it to clean his face. "Helping his auntie out." Leaning forward, she gave the pup a 'thank-you' Eskimo kiss.
"Sesshomaru-sama," the inuyoukai before them bowed lowly before raising to her full height. Sweeping her eyes to Kagome, she smiled and bowed again, "Kagome-sama."
Kagome quickly argued, "Call me Kagome-san please, Satomi-san." This woman was obviously no threat. Not only was she too docile, but she was elderly. Granted, as a youkai, the woman only appeared to be in her forties with the slightest of bags under her violet eyes and a thin gray streak in her short, indigo hair. Still, compared to Sesshomaru's youthful, almost adolescent appearance, that meant she was old.
Blinking in surprise, the woman looked to Sesshomaru and, at his expression, repeated, "Kagome-sama."
Turning to his mate, Sesshomaru explained, "Satomi delivered Setsuna."
"Sekkun? Really?" She asked excitedly, "Well, then, I trust you fully with my pup's life."
Surprised, Satomi allowed a grin to spread on her lips. "Thank you for your trust, but I was only one of several attendants. Shinmi-sama had a somewhat difficult birth." That was putting it mildly, but she didn't want to frighten the poor girl.
"Difficult?"
"Well, milady, whenever youki and reiki are present, there are difficulties. That is why, in rare occasions such as these, we have at least one youkai present and at least one miko." Raising her head, she called out, "Yuriko-chan!"
At her call, a young woman of about eighteen entered the room, dressed in full traditional miko garb. The instant she was before them, she bowed lowly and did not rise.
Startled by this, Kagome looked from Sesshomaru to Yuriko and noticed that neither seemed surprised. Scowling at this, she said, "Please rise, Yuriko-san. There is no need to bow for such an extended period." When the girl rose, her hazel eyes, which had been previously narrowed, wide, Kagome bowed quickly and smiled. She knew that Sesshomaru was unhappy with her for it, but she decided that she cared less whether he approved and more that the girl felt comfortable.
Sesshomaru made a mental note to speak to her later, then turned to Satomi. "You will watch over my mate while I hold counsel with another. Understood?"
"Of course, milord."
Wordlessly, he turned then, leaving Kagome to watch after him longingly. She had at least hoped for a pat on the head. 'He must be more upset about that than I thought.' Facing Satomi and Yuriko, she asked, "Is it alright if we sit?"
"Ah! Of course!" Satomi cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner. "Please, sit. Would you like a chair? So that you are more comfortable?"
"No, no. Sitting on a zabuton is fine," she assured her, moving to sit on one of the large floor pillows, then motioning for them to sit as well. "Would you mind if I asked a few questions before we begin? I'm a little nervous…"
"Please, feel free to ask either of us anything."
Smoothing her hands over her skirt anxiously, Kagome spoke hesitantly, "You mentioned earlier that it was rare for miko and youkai to conceive a pup. How many times has it happened?"
Satomi considered this, "In all of history? I can only say that I know of perhaps ten to speak of ."
"T-ten? So, there are ten miko-youkai out there?"
Yuriko shook her head. "There is one…and a half."
"A half?" She frowned thoughtfully, then gasped, "Sekkun? I mean, Setsuna?"
While Satomi stared in shock, Yuriko regarded her with somewhat cold eyes and nodded. "Ignore our surprise, milady. We were unsure as to whether our lord had told you of what happened."
"Yes. I know everything. Is that why he's only considered half? Because of that ceremony?"
"Yes. His spiritual energy was not erased but confined. It is dormant within him, or it was as a pup it seems. After centuries of not being used, they may be gone now."
Kagome nodded and licked her lips thoughtfully at the news. She wondered if Setsuna would like to access his spiritual energy now that he knew his mother had been Shinmi. "And the other one?"
"Prefers to remain anonymous. No one has even heard from her in ages."
"But she is still alive?"
"…yes. It is believed that she is."
"Mm. Last question." Leaning forward with a wide grin, she inquired, "Why are your eyes hazel?"
The girl was shocked by this, as was obvious by her once again widened eyes and her cheeks were stained with the slightest of blushes. "My mother...was American…and, if I am not overstepping my boundaries, I would like to know why your eyes are blue."
It was Kagome's turn to be surprised. In all her twenty-five years, no one had ever asked her that question. People had gawked, yes. Some had hinted that she was wearing contacts, but none had ever asked. Unsure of what to say, she spoke the first thing that came to mind, "I'm just that special."
Yuriko looked at her, as if expecting her to laugh and say that she was joking. When she did not, she simply smiled and stored the information away. "An appropriate answer. I would expect nothing less of the miko who attracted milord Sesshomaru's attentions."
Satomi found herself surprised again. In all the time she had known the girl, shy little Yuriko had never taken to someone so immediately. In fact, she often shrank so far into her shell that it would take days for her to even talk to Satomi again. 'It would be lovely if you could have the chance to be in this woman's presence more often, Yuriko-chan.'
Kagome wide grin turned down all too quickly as another question came to mind. "Wait. Ten miko-youkai have been conceived, and only one and a half are alive today. Were they killed?"
"No…" Satomi answered with a sad expression. She had hoped to avoid this. "One of two things happened to the other eight. If it were a miko who was pregnant, she purified her fetus. If it were a youkai who was pregnant, her lover's spawn purified her, killing itself in the process."
Fingers to her lips, Kagome could almost feel the blood draining from her face. "B-but why? How?"
"We don't know. We've studied it as best we could over the years, but with so few opportunities to study…" She didn't need to finish.
"So, there's a chance that I could purify my pup?"
"Yes. As you must know, youkai are pregnant for only three months. However, when a miko is involved, the duration tends to depend more on her monthly cycle. If you ovulate every twenty one days, then you can expect a three month pregnancy. If you ovulate every twenty-eight days, you can expect a nine month pregnancy. All other lengths are calculated with the same formula."
Kagome swallowed nervously. "Twenty five days?"
"Then you can expect a five to six month gestation period. As your pup develops more, we will be able to tell which. Also, considering the length of your pregnancy, you can assume that by month three, you will know your pup's chance of survival."
"And there's nothing I can do?"
"We'll have to inspect you before we say anything for certain."
Sesshomaru inclined his head in the slightest of bows as he entered the room where Yori already sat, sipping tea with a number of manila folders s[read out on the table before him. Wasting no time, he sat and asked, "What news have you?"
Were the news lighter, Yori would have taken the time to tease Sesshomaru about how concise he was, but he refrained. Taking a small sip of his tea, he gestured with his hand towards Sesshomaru's cup, which the daiyoukai declined. Nodding, he sat down his own cup and began, "Shuji has been jailed."
"…"
"As well as his grandson. It would seem that your suspicions concerning Shuji were right all along. He certainly did have a hand in the harming of your mate, each time. To what extent, we are still unsure, but we are investigating."
Sesshomaru willed away the red that tickled the corners of his eyes, ordering his beast to remain still. "I will see him."
"Not in this state of upset, you will not. You must calm yourself before you face him."
"Do you question this one's control?"
"When it comes to that woman in the other room? Yes, I do. And I know how much Shuji should suffer, but until we have all of the facts, and until we are sure you will not deal him a quick and painless death, nothing can happen."
"What do you know as of now?"
"There is very little that I am allowed to tell you in the middle of an investigation."
Again, his beast retaliated, struggling for freedom. Large jaws open wide, it bit futilely at the bars of its confines. "Then tell me what you can," he bit through clenched teeth.
"…when I arrested him, he was looking for the puppet that he used, or that his grandson used, to conjur up an image of Umichi. His grandson also has the ability to fuse his soul with another's for a temporary amount of time…"
"Could this ability be used to control dreams?"
"We are unsure. Someone with a similar ability has been contacted already, and we will have them to confirm or deny this. Also, it would seem that Shuji only reconnected with his grandson after we were informed of Kagome-san's existence. Before then, Tetsuo was disowned from the family and exiled from Japan."
"…You know nothing else?"
"That I am able to tell you? No. Though, I would like to apologize again, Sesshomaru-san, and assure you that unless I am killed, my decapitated head separated from my body, I will make Shuji pay for what he has done to her. Until the day he dies, he will regret aiming his transgressions against such a gentle, innocent creature."
"You suggest that he will live," Sesshomaru noted, brow raised.
Yori finally allowed himself to chuckle. "That is your pain speaking, my boy. You know as well as I that for him to suffer, he must continue to live with what he did and his punishment. Should he die, he will suffer none and your miko's suffering will have gone undefended."
"Hn."
Again, Yori laughed.
Kagome had thought that the gentle feel of Yuriko's timid reiki playing against hers had been a most pleasant feeling, but as Satomi joined in, her youki blending beautifully with Yuriko's reiki, Kagome felt like she was on a cloud. How could something that felt so good, and looked so beautiful, have been considered wrong for so long? Why hadn't more youkai tried to mate miko? And she could only imagine what this would feel like from a lover! From her Sesshou! He had always told her to maintain a tight rein on her reiki whilst they were in the throes of passion, and he always made sure to do the same with his youki. If just the loving brush of his aura made her stomach do somersaults, she was certain that a more erotic caress would leave her knees positively weak and her underwear soaked.
Flushing deeply, she willed away the thoughts, praying that Satomi couldn't smell what Sesshomaru always swore he could when she was thinking naughty things. It was strange how she didn't even think of making love as something naughty anymore. Making love was what had made her feel so close and connected to her Sesshomaru. Making love was what had put this lovely babe, or pup, in her belly. Her pup. A pleasant feeling fluttered its was from her abdomen to her heart, and she let out a giggle, her laugh halting when she heard two gasps.
Eyes snapping open as she felt both Yuriko and Satomi snatch back, she asked, "What? What's wrong?" Neither of the women spoke, which scared her. Pushing herself up into a sitting position, she inquired again, "What?"
Satomi held up her hands to calm her, then pressed her palm to Kagome's abdomen and released a burst of energy, feeling around. Once she was certain she felt it, she nodded slightly at Yuriko.
"What?" This time it was a whisper. Kagome tried not to list all of the things that could have gone wrong with her child. It was still there, alive. She could still feel it beating, and that was all that mattered. If they had bad news, she didn't want to hear it. She had just been attacked, then those dreams, and then Sesshomaru reinstating. She couldn't bear any more drama.
"Well, milad-" She paused as the shoji slid open and Sesshomaru entered. From the expression on his face, or rather, in his disturbed aura as his face was as placid as ever, he had felt how disturbed Kagome was and had come to sooth her. His aura burst out before him as he walked toward them, and it wrapped gingerly around the woman. "Milord."
He held up his hand to silence her, sitting down beside Kagome and inspecting her. She was unhurt, but her aura had definitely called out to his in distress. "Your report," he commanded, not looking away from Kagome.
Clearing her throat, Satomi began, "The pup is healthy, milord. It is developing quite quickly. You will be able to tell its sex soon. Within the next month. Milady Kagome is also very healthy, though somewhat tired and drained in her reiki."
"Why is this?"
Satomi turned to Yuriko. This was the miko's department, and, though young, she had a duty to perform. Nodding dutifully, Yuriko explained, "It would seem that the pup has taken to feeding off of her reiki."
Kagome narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Are you calling my pup a parasite?" She growled, catching the women off guard.
"Ah, no, milady! The pup is most certainly not a parasite. He or she is only doing this to make you stronger."
"I don't follow."
"While feeding off your reiki, it is also force feeding you its youki. Usually, this does not begin until much later in the pregnancy. However, the pup has chosen now to do so."
Kagome calmed slightly, smiling then. Placing a hand on her baby bump, she said, "Just like Papa, ne? You're not even out and already you're trying to protect Mama when she was weak." She had realized some time ago that she must have conceived when Sesshomaru had freed her from her torturous dreams, a period when she was the weakest she had ever been in her life.
Satomi held her laugh in as best she could, while Yuriko openly gaped and watched longingly. Was being pregnant really that blissful, or was her Kagome-sama just a special case. The woman looked unbelievably happy and radiant! Was that what pregnancy did for you? Or was it her lord? The way he sat over her lady, looking down on her like a loving, albeit somewhat cold and intimidating, hawk seemed like it may have also played a part in Kagome's brilliant smile. Yuriko sighed warmly. She couldn't wait to meet someone she loved and have their child if it was going to be like Kagome's pregnancy.
"Well, that explains a lot," Kagome finally announced, looking up at Sesshomaru. "All the growling and pride and the possessiveness, and how tired I've been. It's your protective, and a little bit commanding, pup emulating his Father."
"Hn."
Yuriko quietly cleared her throat, trying to, as politely as possible, guide them back to the task at hand. "While this is a very exciting stage, it is also a somewhat dangerous one. When the body realizes that something is feeding off of it, and emitting youki into it, it will try to retaliate, thus purifying the pup. The only way that we know how to even attempt to fix this, is to train the mother, you, milady, to control both your reiki and the additional youki being added to your body. If we can balance the forces within you, it will automatically transfer to the child."
"Okay, then. I'll do it. Whatever it takes, whenever."
The girl beamed. "I am pleased to hear that. If it would please you, milady, I will be your trainer, both in the ways of the miko and in the ways of the youkai."
"How can you teach both?"
"Believe it or not, they are actually one in the same. And if at any time you, milord, feel that I am doing an insufficient job teaching your mate, then you may take over and do as you see fit."
Sesshomaru nodded. He had not needed her to tell him that. He had planned to do so anyway. Still, he accepted it. "You will come to our home to teach her on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Those were day when he would not have to miss her any more than usual because he would be in meetings for the Cardinal Courts on those days already.
Yuriko bowed lowly. "Of course, milord."
Kagome clapped her hands. "This is turning out to be such an exciting day! To think that I was so worried earlier."
Satomi sighed softly. "Milady, the danger is still very real. While you must remain hopeful, you must also be prepared for the worst."
"I understand…It's just difficult to think that anything could take my precious pup away from me." She grinned and placed Sesshomaru's hand on her stomach. "I'm confident in the strength of myself, my pup, and my mate. No matter what happens, we will overcome it."
"You are a true inspiration, milady," Yuriko whispered shyly, blushing when Kagome faced her with equally red cheeks. "I-I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"No. No. It's just," she beamed, "that made my day. That was the extra little boost I needed. Now I really believe in us. And I believe in you too, Yuriko-chan."
"…Thank you, milady."
So, there you have it! Better, I think! Hope you enjoyed! Will try to update as soon as possible! Latersss!
