AN: Hello all! Please forgive the MASSIVE delay for this chapter. I have the next three already written, because this one was being a PITA like the last one and the others were flying out of my brain. It was important to lay a lot of groundwork for the upcoming chapters and I simply could not get this one going to flow the way I needed it to. As always, I appreciate your reviews and kind words. InuYasha and it's characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story is my own.
Stepping over the threshold into Sesshomaru's private domain proved to be less of an event than Kagome was expecting. His penthouse was large, tastefully decorated, if a little barren of personal effects, but she knew he wasn't one for mementos. Slipping her shoes off at the door, she allowed him to guide her into a large living area, with a dining room and kitchen tucked off to one side. Several doors were closed to her, but she assumed they were for his office and bedroom at the least.
"May I take your coat, Kagome?" his voice slid over her ears, sending a barely noticeable shiver down her back.
"Yes, thank you," she replied as she set her bag down and slipped out of it, not even needing to hand it to him as he was already prepared to assist her. "Is there anywhere you'd like me to put my bag?"
He shook his head. "No, anywhere is fine. Excuse me momentarily." He stepped into the kitchen and pressed a button on an intercom. "Raoul."
A brief moment and a cheery voice echoed through the speaker. "Yes, Tasiho-sama?"
"We have arrived. See that lunch is served within the hour."
"Of course, Taisho-sama!" the speaker went silent as Sesshomaru stepped back into the main penthouse.
Kagome was wandering around his sparse living room, her satchel in one of the over-sized cushioned chairs. While the entire penthouse was full of windows, the far wall was an open expanse of windows overlooking the Tokyo skyline. A large fireplace with a flat-screen TV was located on the western wall. Behind her was the open concept kitchen with the dining area tucked next to it along the eastern windows. To be honest, she was truly surprised at the lack of personality in the room, as nicely decorated as it was. She could feel that he didn't live here. He was just here.
"The view is magnificent," he said, coming up behind her as she approached the access door to the balcony.
"I'm sure it is," she turned slightly to smile at him. "It is also frigid out and I'd rather not be a popsicle."
Chuckling softly, he gestured to the sofa. "I've requested lunch be brought in. Raoul and his assistant work and reside in the penthouse below this one, so our wait will be short. He is well-trained in several culinary techniques. While we wait, would you mind telling me what happened to you when you returned here?"
Nodding, Kagome took a seat on the sofa. Her three years of history to his five hundred would be a good distraction until lunch. Sesshomaru took a seat at the other end, giving her space and a chance to become accustomed to him.
"Shippo told you of the choice Midoriko gave me, correct?" She was grateful when he nodded. "When our time was up, I found myself back on the future side of the well. I couldn't believe that they had taken everyone from me. I refused to be taken away from the well. I didn't eat, didn't sleep. It was completely beyond my understanding. Finally my body was taxed beyond itself and I collapsed. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and my mother was asleep next to me in a chair, one hand clinging to mine like she was the only thing keeping me with her. She was probably correct."
His beast rattled in his head, filling him with remorse. He knew where she was likely to grow up and fall into the well. He should have paid closer attention to the time, not wallowed in his grief and scheming and been there when she returned. One more slight against her, however unintentional, that he would need to correct.
"After that, I think I accepted that as much as I needed everyone else, Momma, Sota and Ji-chan needed me, too. So I turned my energies into getting back to health and back to my studies. One day when we were at the market, I found a flier for training miko powers. Honestly, I thought it was a complete scam, but I was desperate. There were times when I could feel my emotions controlling my reiki. I didn't want to hurt anyone unintentionally. I couldn't harm anyone directly, but I could cause things to fall off shelves or fly across the room. So far, we'd been able to laugh most of it off, but I was starting to constantly be afraid of it. My first summer back had me training at their shrine. Momma went with me for the first week, to make sure it was safe. The shrine was so like ours, except there was no break in their training, like ours where my father died and was unable to train me. They welcomed Momma and I, delighted that I had the power, although confused as to how one of their fliers ended up in our market."
He had his suspicions. The Kami were not above manipulating directly, he had proof of that.
"After the first week, they really began working me to my breaking point. I had to deal with all of the anger, sadness and hatred that still lingered after the final battle. While I was being trained in meditation techniques, Aita-sama, my sensei, discovered another seal on my soul. Working together, we managed to break it and suddenly I could control my emotions and my powers again. Aita-sama said we would most likely never discover who had set the seal, as it was evident it had been there far before Magatsuhi's seal tarnished it."
"When I returned home, Momma was so pleased that everything went well. I started to look at colleges and decided I needed to get a hobby to keep myself going so I joined the kyudo team. And now I've worked my way into the nationals," she paused, turning her head towards the door. "I sense someone approaching."
Sesshomaru stood and offered her his hand. "That would be Raoul and Kinta. Lunch will be served momentarily."
Taking his hand, Kagome stood as the door to his penthouse opened and two persons came in, one pushing a cart. The first was an odd little man, just over five feet in height with an exaggeratedly large chef hat adorning his head. She could sense his subdued youki, hovering just under the surface, concentrated around a ring on his right hand.
"Bonjour, Taisho-sama, my lady!" he sang out. "I have prepared the most wondrous of delights for you this afternoon!"
Sesshomaru outright snorted at his chef's antics. "Raoul, what made you decide to wear that monstrosity? Kinta, can you not control your sensei?"
Behind Raoul was Kinta, definitively taller than his sensei, but sadly wearing the same outrageous hat and his youki was also hovering around a ring. "I tried to tell him you would not appreciate his joke, Taisho-sama, but you know how he gets."
"Oh hush you! Taisho-sama never entertains at home, I must show the best of the best for my employer!" Raoul waved one hand in his apprentice's direction. "The young do not understand."
"Nor do I, Raoul, but you know you are far too appreciated for me to display my displeasure in front of honored guests. May I present Higurashi Kagome, the Shikon Miko," he gently tugged on her hand, still clasped in his, bringing her to his side. "This is Raoul, the best but most troublesome chef in all of Nihon and his assistant, Kinta, who vainly struggles to curb his sensei."
Kagome was slightly stunned hearing the playful introductions, but quickly overcame the feeling. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," she said, bowing.
Kinta was staring at Kagome in shock. He had heard tales of the Shikon Miko from his elders. But she was human, and the Shikon no Tama had been destroyed five hundred years ago! And he had allowed Raoul-sensei to talk him into wearing this ridiculous hat! Belatedly in his panic, he realized he should return her bow.
"A pleasure that is all mine, Miko-sama," was the reply from Raoul. "I was but a pup in Spain when you destroyed the Shikon, so I did not hear tales of you until arriving in Japan. Upon his lordship's retaining of my services, I learned much about you."
Sesshomaru was truly enjoying the sight of a surprised-to-silence Kagome. It came as no surprise to him, knowing of her personality, that being revered by all youkai in Japan would overwhelm her a bit. He doubted the girl truly understood all she had done for the world.
"Hnn. Please serve the meal, Raoul, and cease making our guest uncomfortable," he intoned, not unkindly.
"At once, Taisho-sama. Kinta, hop to it! Prepare the table while I finish the dishes," Raoul ordered.
Kagome, her hand still clasped in Sesshomaru's, watched as Kinta breezed around the table, leaving it set for two. The sideboard behind the table, alongside the one solid wall in the dining area, was quickly set with chafing dishes and baskets. Food was hurriedly placed on the sideboard by Kinta as Raoul set each out on the kitchen's island as he applied the finishing touches. A tiered dessert platter was placed in the refrigerator as Raoul finished filling a teapot, setting it on the unlit stove.
"Finished, Taisho-sama! Kinta, stop your over-analyzing and let's go," Raoul turned and bowed again to Sesshomaru and Kagome. "Again, the pleasure was ours, Shikon Miko-sama. Please enjoy our simple repast and your evening."
Kinta copied his sensei's bow and retrieved the cart he came in with, following Raoul out of the suite and shutting the door behind them.
Glancing down at Kagome, he tugged gently on her hand, guiding her to a chair. "Sit, please. Allow me to serve and then when luncheon is over, we will discuss the last five hundred years."
Allowing him to seat her, Kagome regarded Sesshomaru as he moved gracefully to prepare plates for the both of them. He had changed so much in the time they were apart, she felt as though she was back in his father's tomb, not knowing what he would do next. Nervously, she took up a stemmed water glass and took a sip, leaning back to allow him to set a plate of food in front of her.
"I had allowed Raoul free reign with lunch, I just requested he keep it tame until he became aware of your preferences," Sesshomaru said as he sat in his own seat, setting his plate down. "If anything is not to your liking, my apologies."
"No, no!" she hastened to assure him. "Everything looks great! I'm not a really selective eater. I don't like extremely spicy things, but that's really my only hang-up."
Cutting into the sirloin he had selected, he was pleased that everything on the menu should please her palate, then. She was a dainty eater, he noticed, when given the opportunity. Eating in the past was most often hurried and meant more in the way of sustenance than being able to take true pleasure in the food you ate. After having to adapt to the humans' ways, he learned to appreciate the finer delicacies the humans cultivated.
Taking advantage of her distracted state, he cautiously sniffed, trying to capture her scent. He had scented her apprehension and nervousness earlier, and was pleased to see it had abated. His beast rumbled at him again. The rest of the evening was still in front of them, and the information to be passed on was not pleasant in any manner.
"This is all delicious, Sesshomaru," Kagome said, smiling at him. "How did you find Raoul?"
"Raoul was here to learn Japanese cooking to add to his repertoire. He originated from Spain and traveled extensively in Europe before journeying here. I've granted him several sabbaticals throughout the years, and his greatest pleasure is spending a month in some locale, learning the origins of food. He, like Jaken, has made himself irreplaceable," he replied.
"Jaken? Indeed? Is he still with you?" she asked.
"He is, although not in the capacity he wishes. He adapted surprisingly well to the changes the humans wrought, and as our lands and fortunes altered, we discovered he had a talent for concealing businesses, as well as assisting in the needed relocation of youkai as needed," Sesshomaru said. "As we do not age as the humans do, our charms must be altered every few years to permit the illusion of aging, and when we have reached our 'limit', we acquire new identities and continue on."
"Sounds like he's still as important to you as ever," she noted. "Although you seemed to have solved the largest issue you would have - concealing your ages among the humans. What about Ah-Un?"
"Ah-Un is currently in hibernation," he caught a distressed look on her face. "Do not concern yourself. Every hundred years, their breed molts. Ah-Un prefers to do so in privacy and has a cave on my lands to allow the opportunity. A charm is upon them, as well, and they appear as a common horse now. They are permitted to fly at night, when their charm allows them to be completely concealed."
A smile lit her face. "I'm glad. Ah-Un was very devoted to you. Jaken as well, even though he could be the single most annoying creature," she was trying very hard to stay away from the topic of InuYasha and the others. Taking a bite of delicately seasoned fish, she savored the flavor before plunging into her next question. "Did Kouga ever mate Ayame? With their social standing, I thought you might have heard."
A soft chuckle drew her attention fully to Sesshomaru. "Yes, Ayame finally convinced the wolf to mate her. After he learned of your origins and that you had returned there, he realized that his best interest lay in their mating. I believe at last count they have twelve offspring and at least half are mated now. They live in Asahikawa currently. as they returned to Nihon just a few decades ago. Most youkai had fled Nihon, thanks to the information you left with Shippo," he set his utensils down, capturing her gaze. "Kagome, I believe you offering your book to me saved youkai here in Nihon. The few that stayed when the Americans dropped their weapon in the forties passed horrifically. It was widely believed that the youkais connection to the land itself caused the deaths more than the fallout itself. Our extensive studies since have confirmed this. Using your book, we were also able to extend our knowledge to reach youkai on other continents. It allowed all of us the chance to survive."
"I…I never thought that was the reason youkai didn't exist here anymore. I always thought it was because Naraku had won, before I was pulled down the well," her face was taking on that distressing look again, and her scent was beginning to alter to reflect her turmoil. "I didn't mean to upset the balance!"
"Kagome!" he took her hand. "You upset no balance. Have you not noticed since you returned, the air is cleaner? There is far more responsible resource acquiring, with as little destruction as possible. Yes, the wars still happened. Yes, tragedies were still permitted to occur. We youkai kept the knowledge to ourselves, to those who would be willing to work with humans. Those who wished to continue on the path of destruction, either with the humans or to them, were not privy to anything you left us. Now, we work to continue to preserve our heritage, and that means keeping this land healthy and keeping our people safe. The council ensures that any violence against humans in any manner is stopped. One day we may no longer have to hide, but for now, we adapted and we repay the blessing you left us by trying to make what we have better."
Kagome allowed him to comfort her. He was right, even though she had honestly not noticed until he pointed it out. Recycling was far more mainstream than it had been, and environmental footprint was the number one concern for businesses. She gave him a small smile.
"Sorry. I knew who I was entrusting that book to. I knew you would do what was right for everyone," she gave his hand a squeeze, releasing it to finish her meal.
His beast was preening like an absolute jackass. If Sesshomaru could reach inside himself and hit that creature with a rolled-up newspaper, by the Kami he would do it. She is pleased that we honored her offering so well, it echoed through his head. She will lead well by our side.
Sesshomaru agreed with it, for once in the bluest of moons. He saw that Kagome was nearly done eating, and he himself had polished off the delicious repast moments before. Standing, he gathered his used dinnerware and headed to the kitchen.
"Don't rush yourself," he called as he placed the dishes in the dishwasher before returning to the sideboard to move the dishes to the refrigerator. "Would you like anything else? Once you're finished, we can continue our conversation."
Shaking her head, Kagome also picked up her empty dishes. "No, everything was delicious, but I think my nerves are starting to fire up again." She smiled sheepishly at him. "Sorry if I start getting staticky. Can I help clean up?"
"Thank you, yes. The dishwasher is open, and the lids for the dishes are on the counter," he replied. Working together, they made short work of the lunch, saving the leftovers for later. With the dishwasher set on its cycle, he opened the refrigerator to place the last of the food inside. "Would you anything to drink? Water, or a Ramuni?"
"Water, please," she said, taking the offered bottle. "I, um… I guess this means it's your turn?"
"Hnnn," was the response, with a pregnant pause following. "Indeed it does. Allow us to be more comfortable. I believe the sofa would be best."
Kagome moved towards the sofa, resuming her occupied space. Sesshomaru was right behind her, setting down several bottles of water for himself before going to turn the fireplace on. Once satisfied that everything was comfortable, he resumed his place on the sofa next to her. Not knowing exactly how to begin, the silence stretched between them.
"Sesshomaru, I'm not going to break," Kagome said, lifting her blue eyes to his. "I can tell how considerate you're being, the news you have isn't all good. I spent weeks grieving over them when I came home. I just want to know they were happy after everything we went through…that it wasn't all a waste."
He fought to keep his expression the same; she still continued to surprise him. There was more strength in this slim human girl than he recalled. Was this why his beast was infatuated with her? Idiot, his beast scolded. You never see what is right in front of you when it comes to her. You didn't five hundred years ago, you don't now.
"You are correct. Not everything was as happy as one could wish, for anyone. For some, it was far more cruel than you could know" he paused, drawing a deep breath before returning his gaze to hers. "And now, with you, we have a chance to fix everything."