Chapter 26
"I fear that there is no more I can do for him here… his Hanyou blood is not capable of healing the way his body needs… and the poison that infects him makes him weaker every hour that passes and I- I worry that he will not last another day without perishing first, my Lord."
Sesshomaru stilled as Karitei's shaky words hit the air between them.
He had often longed for InuYasha's death and had even attempted to be the one to deliver him there more than once, but now, as the reality of the situation soured on his mind, he didn't know how he was supposed to feel. He was getting his wish.
His brother was dying.
But why did that feel so utterly wrong?
"And you're sure that there is nothing more you can do?"
His voice was quiet and stony sounding even to his own ears. He watched her face shrewdly as her gaze lowered to the floor.
"Hai my Lord… I'm afraid that I have done all I can for the boy…"
Her tone was solemn, her expression speaking volumes as he could see sadness and defeat written there. He could sense her distress, and it only added to the heavy weight of mixed emotions that weighed on his shoulders.
"I see." He said after a moment of tense silence had passed. "Is there anything else?"
Brilliant sapphire clashed with steely gold as she looked up at him once again, the golden light that filtered in through the open windows catching on her many accessories and creating an ethereal look about her as she fidgeted beneath the harshness of his gaze.
"Perhaps… Lord Sesshomaru, though I lack in the magic needed to heal your brother, there may still be one who does possess the ability… if that is what you desire." Her voice was a heady whisper, and her eyes almost pleaded with him to consider her words.
"Of whom do you speak?"
"The ancient one, my Lord. The patron of your house…"
The crescent moon marking that adorned his forehead seemed to tingle, and he furrowed his brow in response as the name fell past his lips.
"Tsukuyomi."
/
It was the middle of the day and all around him, the palace was bursting with life. Court ladies dressed in their finery bustled about in gaggles of decorated Yokai, mostly all of them of Inu blood, chittering amongst themselves as their elegant robes swished across the floor. Servants of all manner of breeds hurried past with intent, some carrying various trays and baskets, but no matter who crossed his path they all bowed at the feet of this Sesshomaru. He ignored them; his sharp gaze trained straight ahead, passing over them all like ghosts as he glided down the hallway the led to the quarters where his brother was being kept.
As he walked, slowly did the hustle and bustle die down as he reached the area that was reserved for members of the royal family, a place that most assumed was empty these days. A place that no one had entered for quite a long time… at least, that had been the case until recently. Still, the servants had not yet been made aware of his brother's presence, and thus they had no reason to muck about here in the place of ghosts and shadowed memories.
He came to a tall set of intricately carved wooden doors, taking pause there as he gathered his thoughts.
He could feel it.
InuYasha's waning life force that seemed to pulse dully, a weak comparison to the bright flame it had once been.
Sesshomaru didn't know what this feeling that throbbed inside his chest was. It gripped at his heart in an icy hold that had him clenching his jaw in frustration.
Damn these emotions. They were unwanted, completely unnecessary and a waste of his precious time. He loathed them. Loathed this new weakness that had arisen inside of him suddenly and without warning.
Why did he care?
He didn't have an answer to that question, and that infuriated him.
After a long moment, he took a deep, calming breath and stilled, schooling his face into a cool mask of indifference as he pushed open the heavy doors. It felt like a stone was sat in his stomach as he walked down the wide hallway, his steps slow and precise as he drew near the pulsating energy his half-dead brother was putting off. It was sickly and weak, and it seemed to hang over the area in a fog, settling onto Sesshomaru's skin with a heaviness that disturbed him.
The hallway was wide, farmed by thick wooden pillars that had been painted a deep red many years ago, the walls paneled in a dark wood that matched the intricately laid flooring. He passed large, heavy doors that he knew opened up to reveal grand quarters, but all the finery was coated in a thick layer of dust.
That sick feeling only got heavier, pulling him down and finally, he stopped just outside one particularly massive set of doors that were at the end of the long hallway. The pale, dull Yokai energy was emanating from behind them, seeming to leak out from the cracks in a fine mist. The scent of sickness and death that smelled like dried flowers and acrid rot permeated the air around him, hitting his sharp senses like a brick wall as he paused there.
He wanted to turn back. He wanted to forget that he'd even gone through all this trouble for such an insignificant Hanyou in the first place, but for some reason, his feet wouldn't respond to the signals his brain was giving off.
Leave him.
Let him die.
He wanted to listen to those voices in his head. Kami, he wanted to. But there was another voice there as well. This one, however, was urging him to push those doors open, to not only face his dying brother but to save him.
Sesshomaru's brow furrowed as his mind was clouded with dark, stormy thoughts that swirled and churned like a tumultuous sea. He hated this decision that lurked there inside him, where previously he had always been completely and totally certain of every action he took, of every word he spoke. Now… he wasn't sure of anything at all.
Without further hesitation he pushed the heavy doors open, stepping over the threshold into a large, open sitting room. It was nearly empty, save for a few pieces of low furniture that were covered in dust. Thick columns colored a dark wood rose high above him, making the space feel almost cavernous. To the right of him, there was a fireplace that sat cold and empty, with not even the charred ashes of fires past to recant the memories. Arched doorways on either side of this led to what he knew was a personal bath and a small room that would have, at one time, been used as a nursery.
On the opposite wall was a set of shoji doors that opened into the main bedroom, and he knew just by his extra senses alone that behind them was where he would find InuYasha. He could practically see the illness seeping out through the cracks.
But Sesshomaru was not one to hesitate. No, not in the least.
He crossed the room in long strides and opened the doors with a flourish, unable to stop his eyes from widening just a fraction as for a moment, his mask slipped and fell away completely.
Smoke filled the room. Deep, fragrant and smelling of herbs and magic, coming from a golden incense burner that sat in the corner of the large room. It was dominated by a regal-looking futon, long, wine-colored sheer curtains draping around it as to provide privacy. It shrouded his view of his brother, so much so that he could barely make out his figure in the dim lighting.
"My Lord," Karitei said evenly, rising from where she had been kneeling on the floor after giving a deep bow. She was still wearing the blue kimono from earlier, her sapphire eyes seeming to glow eerily as they were accentuated by the smoky kohl around them.
Before he could speak, he heard his brothers voice. Faint, raspy and paper-thin.
"Karitei… who're you talking to..."
Her eyes darted over to him, lips twisting in a faint smile as a sad look shone in her expression.
"Your brother is here InuYasha, he has come to speak with you." Her voice was as gentle and smooth as honey, almost motherly in her way. She took a step closer to the futon, her brow creased heavily with worry as she looked him over, almost as if she'd forgotten about Sesshomaru's presence all together.
"Tell him… to... go… away…" InuYasha coughed and wheezed, cursing a bit under his breath.
Sesshomaru stiffened but still did not speak. He had expected as much. Even worse, if he was being honest. There was so much bad blood between them, so much that the Hanyou couldn't understand. But the Daiyokai had always imagined his death differently, oddly enough. Perhaps InuYasha would die in battle, unbeknownst to Sesshomaru or maybe he'd even perish at the end of the Daiyokai's own blade. But never did he expect to see him like this. And somehow, this was much, much worse.
"Hush, little Hanyou. If you lose your temper again it might prove fatal for you in this state… your wounds cannot handle being re-opened again…" She chided him quietly, wiping a cool rag along his forehead.
"Yeah, yeah…" InuYasha muttered, protesting stubbornly, though he could pick up on the defeat in his voice.
Sesshomaru walked around the bed slowly in even, measured steps, his eyes immediately landed on his brother's sunken form as the drapes were parted. Gold met gold and Sesshomaru could see animosity burning there, along with exhaustion that seemed to almost outweigh it, but not quite. His skin held a sickly, grey pallor and now the scent of blood and illness was nearly overwhelming, even through the thick smoke of the incense. He struggled to keep his reaction completely internal as he was finally faced with his dying brother, the image shocking him though he had thought himself mentally prepared.
"InuYasha." He swallowed the strange emotion that constricted his throat, keeping his tone indifferent and cool.
"Sesshomaru…" the Hanyou spat lowly, lips curled back in open distaste as he didn't bother hiding his animosity. Karitei hovered close by in Sesshomaru's peripheral, her hands clenched together in front of her as she watched their interaction worriedly. But the Daiyokai ignored her completely, finding himself at a loss for words as he looked down on the fading form of his brother.
Father… what would you have me do?
Could Toga have known that it would come to this, somehow? That he would have to make a choice… to either let the poison take its natural course and kill InuYasha slowly, painfully, or should he… save him? He wasn't sure. Logic was telling him one thing while his instinct was screaming another. The lines between them had been blurred, in his mind… and as much as he was at loathe to admit it, even to himself, he was starting to think that maybe the Hanyou was worth something.
His mouth settled into a hard line, eyes catching a hard edge as he drew himself back up away from his swirling thoughts.
"Karitei… I must speak with you, alone." Without waiting for her to respond he breezed out of the room, taking pause by one of the large windows in the sitting room that looked out over another one of the pristine gardens that decorated his expansive property.
He thought that perhaps… perhaps he had made up his mind.
"My Lord… how may I assist you?" Karitei's voice floated on the air like smoke, hushed so as InuYasha's Hanyou ears could not decipher her words through the thin walls. Her startling blue eyes were trained on the ground, head bowed as she waited for him to speak.
"Earlier… you spoke of Tsukuyomi…"
"Yes," She lifted her head, catching his gaze as he had turned to face her. "You are the heir to your house, my Lord, blessed by he himself who laid that mark upon your head when you were just a babe… I believe that if you call upon him, he will come." Her words held a solemn air to them, an unreadable emotion sparkling there in her eyes as she seemed to implore him without words.
He pondered what she had said for a long moment, the air between them seeming taught.
She was right, he was the heir… and after all these years, perhaps it was time he called upon his patron.
"What must I do?"
Relief shone plainly on her delicate face, her shoulders seeming to lose some of the weight that had been settled on them only a moment again. He didn't know why she cared, why she had gotten attached to InuYasha in the short time he had been here, but he dismissed it, deeming it unimportant enough to toss it to the side as he awaited her response.
"Take him to the temple of the moon and make an offering…"
"And then?" he pressed, not satisfied with her answer.
"If he favors you, he will make himself known."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Well…" her eyes drifted down to the Tenseiga that was sheathed at his waist. "I am grateful that if this fails, perhaps there is one more option for you to pursue..." her voice had become quiet and hushed, a low whisper that seemed to rush across his skin.
"Would it not be easier to let him perish and then revive him with my blade?" Sesshomaru asked blatantly, uncaring of how cold he sounded even to his own ears.
Karitei visibly flinched.
"My Lord…" she shook her head, causing the many ornaments that decorated her ornate hairstyle to jingle and sparkle in the dim lighting of the large sitting room. "I believe that would be most unwise. It would be more logical to seek the help of the kami-sama while we still can, lest he need the aid of the Tenseiga in the future."
She had a point. Once a person was revived once by thus blade, they could not be brought back a second time. It was a lesson he had learned the hard way with Rin. And knowing of InuYasha's brash tendencies, there was a decent chance that he would eventually need his help again.
"I suppose you're right." He said at last, after a long moment of pensive silence. "How long does he have?"
"That I cannot say for certain. Perhaps a day… at the most. He could pass tonight. His aura is so weak… I've never seen magic quite like this." Her eyes clouded over again, filled with unease and he knew that she was telling the truth. Not that she would ever dare to lie to him in the first place.
"Very well." He nodded, "Prepare him for the journey, we leave in two hours' time."
He turned to go, stiffening when he heard InuYasha's rough, wet cough through the thin walls.
"Wait, Lord Sesshomaru…"
He glanced sharply back at Karitei, pausing.
"The temple lies in the mountains… but his bones, he says that they feel like glass… he may not survive the trip." She swallowed thickly, sapphire eyes shining with emotion that was so pure and unbridled he had to look away, golden eyes focusing on the dark wood of the floor.
"So be it."
He pushed open the shoji doors and swept out of the room in a flurry of silken fabric and fur, leaving her alone with the sound of his brother hacking sickly in the background.
/
Hanako sat poised behind her human mistress, Rin, running a comb through the child's long, dark hair while she spoke to the girl of the lessons they would be learning that day. The snowy Inu styled Rin's hair simply, pinning half of it up with a comb while she let the rest tumble down the girls back. She had dressed her in a pink kimono today, the silk fabric patterned with flowers. The underlayer was a pale orange, and the obi tied at her waist matched it perfectly. Hanako could not help but to smile and look down at her handiwork in appreciation. The clean, well dressed little noble who sat before her now was certainly an improvement from the unkempt little girl she had met a few months ago, though the shining smile on the girl's face had always stayed the same.
"There, all done." Hanako smiled warmly, "I think it is about time for breakfast, yes?"
Rin nodded happily, her face practically glowing as she bounced to her feet, giggling. Her chest felt warm, filled with such love already for this small human, it still blew her mind. She had met humans before, here and there over the course of her two hundred something years, as her father was a merchant that dealt mostly in pelts and fabrics, and her mother was an acclaimed Inu seamstress and they had traveled across the countryside along with her siblings, but never had she felt such an attachment to one as she felt with her Lady Rin. Somehow, the girl had immediately wormed her way into the snowy Inu's heart, and Hanako was at a loss to stop it. But the child had a knack for that, she was learning.
Though the court had formally accepted her, behind closed doors the Yokai that lived in Lord Sesshomaru's realm were still more than leery of the small human. Some were downright volatile, and Hanako was certain that a few were even willing to risk the Lord's wrath and make an attempt on Rin's fragile life. But still, every day that she was here Rin managed to win someone else over. She was just warm like that. Her smile lit up every room she went into. And Hanako loved that about her. It was a trait that was almost unknown among her people, the Inu's who lived in the snowy mountains of the North.
They took their breakfast in the sunroom that morning, sitting at a low table carved of dark wood. She chose it because she knew that it was one of Rin's most favorite places to visit and she could see why. Around them, many different plants were artfully arranged in their pots and some even hung from the ceilings, sweet-smelling flowers and long, leafy vegetations that made the child's eyes shine with wonder. The walls themselves were made of strong wood, but every other foot or so a large, arched window was placed, leaving the room open to the outside air that floated in, a cooling breeze that was most pleasant. The table they took their meal at now was in the center of the expansive room, and from her years here at the court Hanako knew that it was mostly used by the female Inu's of high ranking. They would take tea here and gossip and play cards for hours. Though she had never been included in such activities, she had spent time as a handmaiden to a few of these well-bred women and had sat on the sidelines many times. Never in her life did she ever assume that she would be sitting here today, her position in the court having changed entirely all because of one very warm little soul who had seemingly chosen her.
She looked over at the child, whose mahogany eyes sparkled and glinted in the golden light of the late morning. Her chest filled with warmth; her heart seemed to expand and swell, melting and strengthening all at once. Hanako would have never expected to love a human, but she was so happy that she did. Rin's love was unconditional. She had seen that in the way the girl interacted with her Lord, the way she smiled and showed the powerful Daiyokai affection even though he only got colder when she did. She loved him anyway. And to Hanako, that's what made it so special. Priceless. Something she had never felt before and didn't know if she ever would again… unless, perhaps she birthed her own pups, one day. But even then, she vowed to herself as she looked down on the human softly, Rin would always be the first one to make a home in her heart, and Hanako would never forget that.
The snowy Inu shook herself out of her reverie, brushing a long strand of wavy, candy floss hair out of her face as she smiled prettily. She had to remember that not only were they having their morning meal, but she was to teach the child manners and etiquette as well. Such skills were vital when it came to things like banquets and parties, things that were a part of everyday life here in her Lord's palace. She had to force her thoughts away from him, too. But those striking golden eyes haunted her dreams. His heady scent still danced through her mind at night and it took everything inside her just to remain poised. Barely a whisper of his name dancing through her thoughts and already she could feel her cheeks flushing, just from the reminder of him alone.
But she shook those foolish thoughts away and focused on her young companion that was hanging on her every word. Hanako was determined to teach her everything she knew about this deceptive palace that held many wonders but also many things to fear, too, certain that one day Rin could find a real place here.
They had made it about halfway through their meal when the large double doors opened suddenly, and before Hanako even had time to react Lord Sesshomaru had swept into the room in a flurry of fur as the mokomoko on his shoulders swished around him with his sudden movement.
"Oh! My Lord, please excuse me. I didn't know you'd be joining us." Hanako blushed and hurried to bow while he only looked at her with his gold eyes flat, his expression unreadable.
"Hanako, rise. We must speak." His voice, though it was almost terse, sent shivers rolling down her spine and sent her heart fluttering erratically inside her chest. Bidden at his request, she rose gracefully up to her feet in one smooth motion, casting a glance back at Rin who only had eyes for Lord Sesshomaru. She waited politely for him to acknowledge her, a feat that had Hanako practically beaming with pride. They had been working for weeks on her manners, and it seemed like now she was beginning to learn.
"Rin, wait here a moment and I will return Hanako to you shortly."
The girl nodded happily, while Sesshomaru gave a sidelong glance to the two guards that always seemed to hover just on the edge of Hanako's vision. The pair of shadowed Inu's never made themselves known, but they were always there. They were clothed in matching black kimono and hakama of a deep grey, and deadly looking blades glinted at the end of the spears they carried, along with the swords she could see sheathed at their waists. She hadn't noticed them earlier, but as she followed Sesshomaru's sharp gaze over to the corner of the large room, seeing them respond to his wordless command and move subtly closer.
"Come." It was undeniably a command.
She nodded, folding her hands in front of her elegantly. "Hai."
He guided her to the door that sat on the opposite wall, the one that led out onto a covered patio that overlooked a gentle pond. She shut them behind her, following him as he walked away from the open-aired sunroom where Rin could easily overhear them and down to a more private area where they could not be listened in on.
When those honeyed pools of amber focused on her again she could feel her pale skin flushing with heat, her frosty lashes lowering shyly for an instant as she hesitated to meet his powerful gaze.
"I am certain that you've already been made aware of what is going on, Hanako. Of the fact that my… brother is here, in my palace."
He said the word with such distaste, his tone flat and otherwise indifferent as he stared at her coolly, his eyes always seeming so closed off even as they saw straight through to her innermost thoughts. But it was true, she had heard the servants whispering. The entire court had been sent into a state of shock when Atsunobu, the russet Inu with fiery copper eyes had announced it formally to the council. And since, the news had spread like wildfire. In just a matter of a few hours, the whole palace had known of the half breed's presence, though none could say exactly where he was being kept.
Wearily, she nodded. "Hai, Sesshomaru-sama."
His long, pin-straight hair lifted in the breeze, rippling silver that the snowy Inu could not help but to admire. Combined with the flurry of white fur that hung over his shoulder and the crest on the kimono he wore, he looked so regal to her. Powerful and commanding and a complete mystery. And yet, why did her heart flutter when he was near? It was especially pressing now because his scent was nearly overwhelming. Pure Inu male, alpha, her instincts shrieked. And… they were alone. Again. But this time felt different to her somehow, she couldn't place the reason. Before, when they had met in his private garden that night beneath the pearlescent moon, she had been so nervous. It had almost completely overwhelmed every other emotion and she didn't understand what her body was telling her, or what the scents that had lingered on the heady night air had meant, either. She hadn't matured fully, not yet. Though, the time was drawing near… when she would go into her first heat and be able to take a mate, should she choose to. Hanako was lucky, however, that her parents had bonded for love, and so she would not be forced to mate with some stranger from another clan.
But it had been weeks since that night. Rin was always with her, and now… he was so close. Close enough to make her head swim with his enticing masculine aroma. Woodsy, almost. Like pine.
"He is dying." Sesshomaru said suddenly, breaking her own internal monologue like fragile glass as her eyes went wide with surprise. His own eyes had dimmed, focusing somewhere off into the distance with an empty look held there.
There was a long beat of silence but Hanako was at a loss for what to say. Everyone in the court had known about the great Inu no Taisho and his weakness for human women. Though Hanako herself and the Hanyou InuYasha had actually been born around the same time, even she knew of the whole sordid affair. Servants were awful gossips and the various Yokai that were employed under her Lord were no exception. In the hundred years she had spent in this court she had heard all sorts of things. She wondered how Sesshomaru actually felt… and if he was saddened or pained by this at all.
"He is dying, but there is a chance yet that I may save his life. I am leaving in a matter of hours, and I wanted to inform you of this, so that you may take the proper precautions in my absence." He looked towards her very seriously then, his stark golden eyes stealing her breath away as he continued. "Jaken has already been made aware, and I've instructed him to stay close. I am not sure when I will return…" he trailed off, something that was completely uncharacteristic of him and it had her eyes going even wider, she was sure.
His gaze never left her. He was locked on her and for a moment she thought she saw an almost predatorial sort of gleam in his eyes but it was gone before she could place it, but for some reason, she felt her belly quiver, a tingle of excitement that spiked around her aura and she knew that he could sense it as well.
Hanako blushed even harder and shyly turned her head away from his burning intensity, feeling a loose curl fall over her shoulder as she did. Desperately, she wished she knew how he saw her at that moment. She was young… inexperienced. Especially compared to Sesshomaru, but… she didn't want him to see her as a pup. She'd earned some respect from him that day he'd seen her defend Rin from what Hanako had stupidly thought to be an assassin of some sort, but was actually just a harmless forest nymph, and she knew that he treated her differently than the other females. But she still was unsure.
If only her mother were here. Bashira was an Inu who would sugar coat nothing and always be truthful, even when it hurt, but she was also kind and openly showed her love. Hanako missed her. She would know what to do… but the young, snowy Inu girl from the mountains that stood there, before this almost all-powerful Daiyokai, in her fine court attire, was altogether clueless.
Her gaze was shifted away from him, out across the watercolor sky but she felt the shift in the air as he moved. Time seemed to stop as she could feel the glass-like tips of his claws through the layers of silk that were wrapped around her shoulder as he brushed the stray candy floss curl away from her face and behind her shoulder to lay neatly again. A fire burned inside her, and she knew that her pale skin had to be flushed a violent pink as her breath seemed to catch in her throat, but she daren't look at him still. Her violet eyes were trained firmly on the mountains, and she gulped thickly but otherwise did not react to his touch as he lingered there.
But she knew that he could taste her own feelings on the air just as well as she could… and though they were confusing to her perhaps he had expertly deciphered them already. The thought had her turning and locking eyes with him suddenly, shining amber pools meeting glistening violet. His pupils dilated a fraction, his face remaining absolutely stoic though she just noticed how close they actually were. She could just barely feel the gentle graze of the fur of his mokomoko as it rustled in the wind. He was so handsome. He towered over her petite frame, but for some reason that made him even more attractive to her. She held her breath, eyes tracing over the magenta markings along his cheeks and the mark of the moon upon his forehead while she waited for him to break the silence as she could sense there was more he wanted to say.
"And when I do return… do not expect to see me until your heat is over, Hanako."
His voice was flat, and the frankness of his words had her taking a step back, breaking the feeling of closeness between them as he straightened himself, blinking slowly.
"H-how could you know such a thing?" She whispered when she had gotten over the initial shock at his statement, cheeks burning as she once again cast her gaze far away from his, embarrassment pooling in her chest. She herself didn't even know that it was even going to come this year, let alone in the next few days.
"Do not be offended. I can tell simply by your scent alone… and I- "He broke off, seeming to silently seethe for a moment before continuing. "If you get too close to me when you are in heat, I cannot guarantee your… safety."
It was as close to admitting weakness as the Daiyokai would ever get, and she knew that there was a silent meaning to his words. Her belly tingled hotly as lewd images of him ravaging her danced erotically through her mind. Her lashes fluttered as her teeth tugged at her lips, she was fighting a smile as those dangerous thoughts played out and she couldn't help but to crave his touch again. Even the smallest brush of his skin against hers sent lightning racing down her spine.
"Oh," She swallowed thickly, managing to at last form some coherent thought. "I see."
But what she didn't say was that she wanted him… like that. He was the most beautiful and perfect Inu male she had ever seen, and she knew that though he was often portrayed in poor light Sesshomaru had a good heart… it had only taken her minutes after seeing him with Rin for the first time to notice that. And then there was his enticing scent. It haunted her dreams. It called to her sweetly and sung songs of seduction in the night when she lay alone. Usually, his scent would linger somewhere either on her own clothes or Rin's, as he made it a point to visit at least once a day. Cold and piney like freshly fallen snow on the forest floor, but then musky and laced heavily with pheromones that drove her crazy and comforted her all the same.
But the thought of her doing that to him? No, that was too foolish to even think.
All this time she'd been thinking he'd been standing there, watching as her emotions played plainly across her face. Sesshomaru could not help but take some measure of satisfaction as he scented her arousal on the air. She looked lost in her thoughts as she worried at her bottom lip, white hair flowing down her back in loose curls as it was pinned at the sides in her usual fashion, but today she had placed combs in her hair of silver, decorated by what seemed to be artfully made glass butterflies painted in shades of blue that matched the kimono she wore. It was not a color that he was accustomed to seeing her in, but he found he liked it, as it complemented the pink blush that spread across her lovely, ivory cheeks and the tip of her sloped nose. For a moment he thought that perhaps he had been too frank with her, she was delicate and shy, he knew. But on second thought, he determined that there was no easy way to bring up a subject such as an Inu female's heat, let alone her first. But he had to. There was no other choice. Because he was almost certain that if he even caught a whiff of her scent while the cycle had her there would be no stopping him. He would have to claim her, his instincts would demand it of him. Even now the heady perfume of Hanako's obvious want for him, mixed with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and flowers clouded his mind to the point where he was feeling reckless.
His eyes traveled down the pale expanse of her throat, down to wear her smooth skin disappeared beneath layers of fine Yokai silk. How he longed to sink his fangs into her flesh there, to mark her and make her his. She had the spark of an alpha female in her, he had seen it that day she had defended Rin like her own pup. She could be part of his pack… his mate. His body was drawn to her; he could feel it pulling at his gut. Magnetic. Electric.
There was no question.
He would have her.
But he didn't want to take her when he was driven only by his pure, animalistic instinct. It needed to be slow. Full of purpose and intent. She was young, after all. Compared to his nine hundred something years at least. But even so, she was the first female he had ever come across to capture his attention so raptly.
"It is absolutely necessary. Do you understand?" He made sure his tone was low and even but firm, willing her to meet his eyes again so she could grasp his seriousness. When she didn't, he threw his inhibitions away for just a moment and took a risk. Smoothly, he reached down to gently grasp her chin between his fingertips, guiding her gaze back to his.
He could hear the breath catch in her throat, could feel the thundering of her heart as it pounded erratically inside her chest when they finally locked eyes. Her perfect, rosebud lips parted, white-tipped lashes fluttered as he was consumed by the beautiful violet sea that was her eyes. They were the color of lavender fields, striking and lovely. He could easily see himself getting lost in them.
Almost as if of its own will, his hand moved to hold her jaw, his thumb lightly tracing the bone there almost absently before he realized just what he was doing. Even so, he didn't pull away immediately. They were so close. He could feel the thrum of her pulse beneath his fingertips as they had made their way down to her neck; could scent her female musk heavy between them and he could feel it pounding through his blood, clouding his mind with progressively lewder thoughts.
Her touch was feather-light, and for a moment he almost didn't realize she had even wrapped her hand over his own where it lay spread over her neck. He froze instantly; unsure of how to respond even though his instincts were screaming at him.
Her hand was so soft. Lily white and seeming so small laid over his own. It was the most intimate thing the Daiyokai had ever experienced. This simple touch while they shared a long, deep look. Hanako's eyes were searching his, and he wondered if perhaps he should let his mask slip again, to let her In and test those waters but his instincts were saying something much different… he didn't know if he could resist their call much longer.
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama. I think I understand." Her voice was barely a whisper, soft and musical to his ears. He could feel her sweet breath brush against his cheek, they had drawn so close to each other. Neither of them moved away, locked in a trance together while they steadily crashed against each other.
Their lips met at last. A fire burned along Sesshomaru's skin though the kiss was hardly more than the gentle brush of his lips against her own, a whisper of what was to come. He knew her body was responding to his just as he was reacting to her. Her mouth was incredibly soft, and he longed to taste her fully, but he restrained himself, pulling away after a lingering moment.
Hanako was breathing hard. Her blushing had intensified and the look in her eyes was all-consuming as their hands fell away from their shy embrace. He wanted so much more. He could admit that easily. But he had to be patient… he had to take his time with her.
"Call me by my name alone, Hanako. You've earned that. And when I see you again… we will speak of this further." His voiced was laced with intent and when her almond-shaped eyes widened a fraction, he knew that she understood what he meant. He took a small glimmer of satisfaction in that, feeling his lips twitch as a smile threatened to curve at them in a distinctly un-Sesshomaru-like fashion and that he could not allow. Solidifying his expression into one that was serious as he took a small step away from her as he breathed deeply of her almost dizzyingly sweet scent one last time before the distance between them shattered the intimacy of the moment.
The Snowy Inu female looked down, the paleness of her lashes laid against her pink cheeks looking almost like frost. She seemed almost embarrassed, but even still her lavender-colored eyes darted up to meet his again, a look held there that he wanted so desperately to examine further. To consume; to possess.
"Yes… Sesshomaru. I believe I understand you a bit more clearly now." Her voice was breathy, soft and lilted but with their gazes locked he could have sworn that he felt her words brush against his skin. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to show her how he felt, what lay ahead of her if she chose to allow him to court her.
But he didn't.
He gathered himself back up, straightening his spine and drawing his hands in front of him where they could not wander over her fair skin.
"Good. Now, let us go see to Rin before she becomes too impatient." He intoned, his voice cool and even again. A smile lit her face as she nodded, her violet eyes sparkling.
"Hai, Sesshomaru."
A warm feeling that was becoming all too familiar to him was pooling there in his chest; in the place that had felt so empty and bitter and filled with hatred for so many years. It was the way she said his name.
Killing perfection.
And yet she made it sound beautiful.
They walked beside each other, the edges of their draping finery and silk swishing against each other as a comfortable silence had fallen between them. He could feel her pulsating energy bouncing playfully against his own, often intimidating aura and it was making his lips twitch. But this Sesshomaru did not smile. The word was barely in his vocabulary.
When Rin spotted them gliding through the doorway her lips split in a beaming grin that lit the whole room with its intensity. She squirmed a little from her place on the ground, and he could see her big brown eyes darting over to Hanako, looking like she was doing her best to contain herself even though all she wanted to do was jump up and attach herself to one of the Daiyokai's legs in her usual fashion. The Snowy Inu beside him smiled at the girl, silently encouraging her to remember her lessons and Sesshomaru had to admit that he was proud of her. Rin waited until he addressed her before she spoke, and even then, she stayed seated with her hands folded neatly in her lap, looking very much like a young Hime dressed in all her finery.
But there was no time for him to waste entertaining the girl, though he wished that he could stay and visit like he normally would. He could still feel InuYasha's life force waning, fading slowly and he knew that it would be a miracle if the half-demon made it to sunrise in this condition.
So, with a curt goodbye and a lingering look at the Snowy female whose lavender eyes were wide and filled with an emotion he couldn't decipher he swept out of the massive room, off to find Karitei.
He found the Inu priestess in the massive room that served as her apothecary of sorts. In the center of the room sat a large cauldron, made of rough cast iron and was slightly sunken into the stone floor. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient-looking tomes, scrolls, and various jars. Herbs hung from racks, drying and perfuming the air with their death. At his abrupt entry she turned in a flurry of silk, sapphire eyes blazing as she addressed him.
"My lord Sesshomaru."
"Karitei, tell me what must be done." He spoke plainly, voice falling flat and cold on the air between them. She dropped the scroll she had been studying and it clattered to the floor, the sound bouncing off of the harsh stone walls.
"When the moon is at it's peak, he must be beneath the circle, do you understand? And then you must invoke the moon god's presence. He will demand an offering. If you shift into your true form, you should be able to make it there in time… I just don't know if the Hanyou will survive the trip." She seemed almost frantic; a few curls having escaped the ornate style atop her head to come loose around her face as she looked at him. "I-" She swallowed thickly, "I dreamt last night… for the first time in fifty years, I dreamt."
Sesshomaru studied the stones interlaid on the floor pensively, knowing that the weight of her last statement was not lost on him. Karitei used to be known for her dreams and visions, a gift bestowed onto her by the moon god himself, and then, without warning they had completely stopped, leaving her barren of the ability. But this, this was a sign. It didn't matter what she had actually dreamt. He didn't care and didn't want to know. He was not one to fall into the web of mysticism easily, even if he knew it was grounded in real power and knowledge. He preferred strength and skill.
"Very well then. Karitei, you will accompany us. Ready yourself, meet me in InuYasha's chambers when you've prepared."
He was already out of the room before she could even open her mouth to speak, disappearing down the long dark hallway with a brooding air surrounding him.
/
From his place in the next plane, Tsukuyomi watched through his mirror the events that were slowly unfolding. Every move that was made brought them one step closer to the end. For now, he was focused mainly on the Daiyokai, Sesshomaru, who was unknowingly fulfilling part of an ancient prophecy by delivering the Hanyou to his temple. InuYasha, his name was. His fate was tightly intertwined with Kagome's, and should he perish all could be ruined in one fell sweep. But Tsukuyomi would not allow that. And neither would the Hanyou's brother, he knew. Sesshomaru had been blessed by his own hand as an infant, brought to him by his father Toga, just as his father had done before him. The kami remembered the moment as if it had only come to pass yesterday, though it had been nearly a thousand years since. The child had been swaddled in white silk; the red crest of royalty embroidered across the fabric. He had taken him into his own arms, looking deeply into the strikingly intelligent gold that shined back at him. They stood beneath his light, bathed in silver and the warrior general Toga had stood, watching intently from the shadows as Tsukuyomi had woven his magic through the air. When the ritual was complete, he gave the child back to his father, a glimmer of sadness sparking across his features because in that instant when Sesshomaru had received his mark, Tsukuyomi had seen many different versions of the infant's future. And in every single one of them, his father perished.
But now, as the light of the Amaterasu prevented him from leaving his palace, he could only watch them all through the glass of his celestial mirror. Kagome and Hinata were training, and her powers were growing, she was close to unlocking the second gate. And in the same instant, Sesshomaru was shifting into his true form, a mighty white dog that would carry both the Inu priestess and the Hanyou to his temple in the mountains by the sea. It had been many years since he'd been called there. He wondered if any of them knew that there would be a price to pay for such a healing. Powerful magic always came at a cost, especially when performed on a host that possessed even a fraction of human blood.
His thoughts drifted to Kagome, and so like ripples on a pond the image in his mirror shifted, and he was looking at her face as it was schooled into a look of deep concentration. She was clueless as to the happenings on this side of the well, completely unaware that her love was close to death. And when they met again… InuYasha would not be the same.
AN:
Sorry for the super long wait! I really wanted this to be perfect. Drop me a review and let me know what you think!
