The Bone Eater's Well
Chapter Eight
Kagome fidgeted uncomfortably at her place at the low table. It was unusual apparently for a human to be seated at the head table, but even more so considering herself being a miko. Being the natural enemy of youkai, she received many unwelcoming sneers and snide comments.
Upon their arrival to the shiro, the Great Dog General took none of it as they trekked through the shiro. His golden eyes were sharp and his lips curled into nasty snarls anytime someone made an unsightly glare. The resounding youkai would snap straight and right their features into stoic masks to bow low in his presence until the two of them passed. Kagome tried to smile and politely bow her head, but she had the distinct sensation of daggers piercing into her backside when she slipped by.
Trailing the dog demon was a task within itself as he moved briskly, weaving through the shiro hallways like a whisk of electrifying air but also a full on powerful force to be reckoned with. She fought to maintain his pace, but his strides were too long and she had to stop herself shy of jogging to keep up.
He had periodically checked for her over his shoulder, a crinkle at the corner of his eye his tell all sign that he was amused at her particular situation. She sniffed indignantly when he caught her almost slipping on the finely lacquered wood as she rounded a corner too quickly.
Jerk, she had huffed.
Upon climbing the shiro stairs upwards of several floors, he finally paused in front of a looming sliding door. A nearby indistinguishable demon had quickly bowed and opened the door with a swift snap. The door slid wide to reveal the room that she was currently situated in. The servant youkai then darted in, lighting several lanterns mounted to the wooden pillars.
Chancing a peak at the room around her again, she studied the fine paper walls and marveled at the height of the ceiling. There were several low rectangular tables made of mahogany, three on either side of the room and the one she was seated at the far end of the room in the direct front center on a lifted step. The head table was fixated so there were three pillows facing the doorway.
When originally entering after she bowed to the surprised servant, the Dog General had led her to the front table. She had watched him curiously as he rounded the table and sat in the middle, the large pillow seeming dwarfed by his sheer bulk of size. He raised a dark brow at her when she stood awkwardly awaiting his direction.
He snorted at her before patting the pillow to his right side. She had flushed a pretty pink and sputtered, but he raised his defined chin and stared blatantly at her once again patting the pillow with a clawed hand. She raised her lip in a sneer and nearly stomped over to the pillow before falling into a heap when his large hand snatched her wrist to drag her down.
The massive pillow swallowed her and she fought to right herself properly, folding the pleats of her green skirt down to avoid flashing her undergarments in a haste. His resounding chuckle had her flipping her bangs out of her eyes to glare up at him and she huffed, stuffing the pillow comfortably beneath her folded legs. When she was finally settled, Kagome was startled when he grabbed the pillow edge, yanking her closer.
Her hands had plastered to the low table as she steadied herself and before she could bark at him to stop, he sat regally back in place with his posture stiff and forward facing as though nothing happened.
Kagome blanched irritatingly and forced herself to place her hands in her lap. She had sat here since, back aching from her uptight position and her chin leveled to stare at the entryway.
She could feel the presence of strong auras and youki proding around her senses and she nervously wrung her hands. Before long, a stream of youkai entered, elegant kimonos and hakamas of various shades and styles of black. Fingers clenching into her skirt, she watched as the men entered one by one over the span of twenty minutes. All of them curiously eyeing her, but bowing low to both parties once realizing her obvious physical closeness to the General.
He never nodded or returned their gestures, but Kagome openly did. Some were merely shocked by her kind show, but she could see the narrowing of eyes and tightening of claws of others.
Ignorant pricks, she thought.
Each youkai took to the farthest tables, closest to the entrance. Each table sat four facing inwards, so no youkai sat with their back to another. It reminded her of how business meetings and presentations ran back in her era. Once a table was full, the youkai would sit at the opposite table until it filled. So far the two furthest tables were full.
Her nerves were rattling in her chest and swimming in her stomach especially when Sesshomaru entered the room. His presence was overwhelming and stifling. His youki swarmed around him in thick waves and the youkai seated all seemed to sit straighter and still, not one a hair out of place. Sesshomaru paid them no mind as he entered, his uncovered feet pressing silently into the tatami mats. He took several paces in before his golden eyes bore into her.
Kagome froze. Her breath caught in her chest and she felt her shoulders naturally push back to appear taller and firm. Inside, her anxiety blossomed, riding her reiki to buzz in her chest. Sesshomaru stalked her with his eyes flickering to her own and down the rise of her chest as she tried to force herself to breathe in through her nose. She swallowed then, unused to his direct attention, and his gaze traced the movement of her throat.
A rumble beside her had her flinching and she realized the noise was from Inutaisho. His youkai spilled out like the floodgates lifting. Tidal waves of his energy blared from him and Kagome fought down a gasp, her mouth drying instantly. Sesshomaru's energy matched his father's until Sesshomaru finally looked at the General. A war raged between them for a moment and Kagome thought surely they would rise to a physical fight, but Sesshomaru calmly broke the tension with a flick of his silver locks over his shoulder. He approached the table silently before stepping up to her side.
Kagome felt small with his presence looming over her right side, but the youki Inutaisho produced was coating her left side like a heat wave. Sesshomaru paused, his white hakamas brushing her arm, and she could feel the weight of his gaze at the crown of her head, before he briskly passed behind her. The younger dog demon settled himself gracefully into the pillow to the left of his father, and the youki finally lifted from her.
With the air once again breathable, she parted her lips to release a slow breath. Inutaisho remained forward facing, his aristocratic profile never moving as if nothing transpired.
Fingers clenching into her skirt, she eyed the demon from the side, unable to see Sesshomaru from her angle.
What was all that about? Kagome bristled.
She felt a sudden relief though when the Captain and his wounded companion entered the room. She spied, as the Captain approached the head table, her backpack dangling from his claws. At least he isn't dragging it, she scuffed.
The Captain bowed low at his waist and, as he righted his posture, he openly stared at her position. He nodded at her after a pregnant pause before selecting a seat at the open table to her right closest to her. The redhead warrior followed suit, but at a slightly slower pace. She watched as his teeth clenched, his arm coming forward in his low bow, but she saw how he lightly pressed his arm to his chest. When the red headed warrior stood, he nodded to her unquestionably and sat at the closest table on the left side. The middle tables were left open.
Silence poured around them and Kagome tried her best not to make any noise. She was tempted to fill the silence herself, but she also didn't want to drag the attention to her. Kagome peaked at the Great Dog General again as he stared blankly ahead.
The servant youkai closed the door with a snap. Kagome grew restless, partially anxious and partially ready to deflate from the battle. Her emotions were a rollercoaster and she was exhausted and eager to rest.
What's taking him so long? She pensively thought. Why isn't he saying anything?
As if he could sense her turmoil, he rumbled in his throat. It was a distinct sound, one she had never heard quite before, but it garnered the attention of the gathered youkai.
"My son's battle was successful. His army fought valiantly and pressed the dragon clan back within their respective borders." He boomed, pride lacing his words.
The youkai all nodded respectively, heads turning to bow to Sesshomaru before meeting the Inu Lord again.
"With this battle, the stronghold remains firm, but we shall remain vigilant lest they attack us again." Inutaisho's hands came to rest on the table, palms fanning over the wood. "The battle has brought surprising gifts. One of which sits new among our tables."
Kagome sucked in a breath through her nose in surprise. The youkai murmured among each other, clearly unsure of how to take the news. She herself wasn't quite sure how to respond or if she even should. Biting her tongue, she tried not to flush as simultaneously all eyes fell to her.
"What does a miko gain from aiding a demon battle?" One dared question, red eyes narrowing at her.
Inutaisho finally turned to her, his own eyes boring into her. "And what say you, miko? What do you gain?"
"N-nothing." She choked out, blinking rapidly at the sudden scrutiny. "I just wanted to return the favor."
"Favor?" Another youkai gasped, chucking at her apparent audacity. The youkai flicked open a fan and clicked his sharp tongue. "You ningen and your ridiculous notions. As if a demon as high class as Sesshomaru-sama would even offer you a favor!"
"Hey now-" Kagome shot up, hands slamming against the mahogany wood of the table as she rose to her knees. "You listen here, you-you mongrel!"
The demon balked at her response, fan snapping closed as he fought his layers of his kimono to lean over his end of the table. "Mongrel?!"
Kagome continued, temper flaring. "You're right. I didn't have to help him and I have nothing to gain from it. I chose to out of the kindness-"
"Kindness?!" Another elaborate youkai laughed, claws waving excitedly. "As if-"
"Silence."
Inutaisho's command had the room freezing. The aristocratic youkai fell into place with face masks slipping over their growing anger and distrust. Kagome was once again uncomfortable, ice creeping over her skin. Her jaw clenched shut and she folded her arms over her chest in a pout.
"She has received no favors from this Sesshomaru and will not. This battle would have been won by my hands regardless of her intervention." Sesshomaru's liquid tone had her fighting the urge to roll her eyes, but Inutaisho's hands sliding from the table distracted her long enough.
"Miko have no place-"
"Tomaru," Inutaisho interrupted. He waited a breath to gain the undivided attention of the demon before speaking again slowly and deliberately. "This Miko has earned my favor and as thus is an ally to this clan. You will do wise to treat her as such."
The youkai dipped their heads slowly, spying through their lashes to view their lord. Kagome, confused and all the same surprised, turned to the General. He had yet to move his torso or his head, but she had the distinct feeling he was baiting her reaction. Her brows pinched together in a frown.
"Yes sire." The youkai muttered.
Sesshomaru picked this moment to unfurl his youki and Kagome felt swallowed again in its strength. The youkai all dipped low in their seats, heads nearly touching the low tables. Inutaisho's own energy spilled forth, this time mixing instead of clashing with Sesshomaru's.
"Go now and prepare your warriors. The dragon clan will surely recoup and we must be ready."
The youkai each stood and the sliding door opened to release the men. The Captain and the red headed warrior remained seated though, unaffected by the conversation. Once the door closed behind the last man, both the father and son duo's energy ceased.
Kagome released a breath she was holding and settled back down into the pillow with a whoosh. "Phew."
Warmth encompassed her thigh, and she zapped straight. Blue eyes widening, she dramatically turned her head to catch the fanged smirk of the Great Dog General. His large hand laid over the muscle of her thigh and she could feel the rippling heat spread over her prickling skin.
"My councilors mean no initial harm. They seek to know your truths is all." He blew breath fanning over her face as he leaned in to her. "As do I."
Kagome sputtered, skin flushing and hands nervously attempting to pry his off her. "Yeah, well, there aren't any truths that I want to share with you!"
"Hm. So be it for now." Inutaisho murmured, following the column of her throat with his burning gaze.
"Inutaisho-sama," Takeshi called, standing from his seat with her bag in tow. "I believe these are all her belongings."
Kagome blinked, finding the bag hanging from the Captain's claws. "Oh, yes. Thank you."
As she reached out to grab her bag, she found it snatched from her reach by the quick doing of Inutaisho. She frowned, muttering a small 'hey!'
The Dog General sniffed her bag with a delicate nose before grinning mischievously as he dangled the bag further from her. Huffing, she sat on her knees, one hand balancing herself on the table as she attempted to snag it from him. Inutaisho held it further, stretching his arm to Sesshomaru's end of the table and she grumbled, sliding closer to grab at it. A fang gleamed in the firelight of the lanterns as he waved it out of her arm length.
Suddenly slipping on the table, hand giving away under the stretch and the sweat accumulating on her palm, Kagome crashed with a huff. Her body smacked the table hard with a thud and he barked a laugh at her groan. Sitting up, she growled as she faced him. He laughed harder and Kagome shivered feeling his body rumble with the noise.
Sesshomaru stood in a rush, his father growing quiet as he rounded the table to depart the meeting room. "I wish not to play a part of your games, father."
Inutaisho watched his oldest son flee and Kagome chanced a look at the backside of the young heir. "What's his deal?"
Figuring it wasn't her place, she shifted her attention back to the inquisitive General in time to catch him opening her bag.
"Hey!"
She attempted to grab it from him, but the General was faster. With his son's rapid departure, he leaned away from her, settling the bag on the open pillow. Shuffling on her knees, she grabbed his shoulder, careful of his armor and she reached around him to grab it.
"No one said you could just go through my things!" Kagome yelled, fighting off his arm.
Inutaisho withheld her, and she clawed at his kimono top and grabbed at his armor plates. Pressing her weight against his shoulder in an attempt to topple him, Kagome growled again. "Hey! I'm talking to you, you know!"
He snorted, shuffling her things about in her bag before pulling out a long tube. He brought the strangely colored tube to his nose before openly sniffing it. He shook his head violently, his hair tickling her cheeks before he pushed her back. His claws began to glow green and she gasped.
"Don't you dare!" She yanked his exposed collar and he turned golden eyes to her. "That's my toothpaste!"
His responding frown was not reassuring as his poisonous claws began to melt the tube. "What poison is this 'toothpaste'?"
Kagome bit the inside of her cheek and groaned at seeing the mess. The tube had instantly melted into goop and dripped onto the pillow. The acid releasing a small vapor around it.
"It's to-" she waved nonchalantly. "Brush my teeth with."
"Brush your teeth?" Inutaisho mocked, bringing himself closer to her.
"You know-" Kagome faltered, stunned by his proximity. "To clean my teeth."
"Ah." He moved back to inspect her bag and she jumped up to topple him.
His form didn't budge, but she clawed at his collar again as he managed to grab the last thing she wanted him to see. He pulled on the lacy material and brought it out of the bag. Face inflamed, Kagome tried to shove his arm back down.
"Put that down! And stop touching my stuff!" Kagome felt totally embarrassed trying to free her lacy navy bra from his long claws, but went boneless when her nail accidentally scraped the side of his throat.
The mass of muscle under her jolted and a noise vibrated the air around them. Kagome, unaware of the situation, squirmed against him knocking the bra back into her bag. The noise vibrated again and this time she noted it when the steel band of his arm snaked around her thighs. She squeaked, limbs entangling in his armor as he shifted her.
She fell completely into him, chest sliding over the front of his breastplate and into his lap. Suddenly she was admiring the depth of his golden eyes and the jagged marking over his cheeks. His breath fanned over her lips and she swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Miko, do you not know what you do to me?"
Unable to think coherently, she did what she normally would; panic. She froze like a deer in headlights as his slightly red eyes darted over her features and to the exposed length of her neck. Kagome shoved her hands at his chest and nearly knocked her head against his while attempting to sit up. The arm still wrapped around her thighs, tightened and she wobbled in his lap.
Grabbing the front of his breastplate, she nearly dragged him down to her as she squirmed. She squealed as he shook her gently and she froze again. His nose brushed up from her collarbone and he inhaled her scent, his breath tickling her neck as he brought his nose up the underside of her chin to then finally bury in her hair.
A twinge in her lower abdomen had heat flaming over her skin and she tried to avoid shrinking in fear of stirring the demon more. He was breathing heavily in her hair and she stared wildly at the ceiling.
"Milord."
Kagome finally swallowed, head dipping back to peer at the forgotten face of the Captain and the redhead warrior. Oh dear Kami, Kagome thought. The urge to crawl into a hole consumed her and she squirmed again. The Dog General snarled in her ear, the sound booming in her skull, and she stiffened, panic rising into awareness as she felt a thick appendage press against the curve of her backside.
"Take her to the West wing where she may retire for now." Inutaisho commanded.
Kagome shuddered, his body unwrapping her slowly. Scrambling, she stood practically fleeing as she rounded the table to stand next to the Captain. Inutaisho sat, fisting the bag before extending it to her from across the table.
She snatched it quickly, hugging the bag to her front. Embarrassment cradled her and she couldn't find it in herself to meet him head on. Takeshi bowed low and the red headed warrior joined them. She nodded quickly in Inutaisho's direction before darting to the door. She skirted out and waited in the hall for the two demons. Fanning herself in the privacy of the hall, she shook herself.
Get ahold of yourself, girl!
Biting her lip, she fingered her hair and patted her cheeks.
The warriors met her in the hall with suspicious and knowing glances before leading her down the hall. She followed on their heels. A few more turns and down a few flights of stairs had her near an open garden. She paused, transfixed by the beauty of the flowers and lush green grass.
A cough had her jumping to and skidding to a halt in front of the duo. They stood in front of the door, with the Captain silently opening it. He stepped aside and nodded to it.
"Thank you." Kagome whispered, a small smile pressing her lips upwards.
She ducked in and slid the door closed.
The room was simple with ornate furniture. Setting her bag beside the futon, she ran a hand over the dresser. Finding another door, she carefully slid it open to reveal a small pit carrying running water through part of the shiro.
"Huh," Kagome muttered, watching the continuous stream of water. "Talk about a primitive toilet."
She closed the door and stretched her worn limbs. Stepping up to the futon, she rubbed her arm with a sigh.
"Miko."
Head shooting up, she stepped back to the sliding door and opened it to reveal Takeshi's frowning face.
"Kagome." She corrected with a nod.
He seemed to mull the information over and rolled his eyes. "If you head down this hall, there's an onsen you may use to bathe in. It will be the seventh sliding door on your right."
Kagome brightened instantly. She clapped her hands and beamed. The demon frowned at her excitement and stepped away from the door as she grabbed her things in a rush.
"Thank you again!" She laughed, zipping past him to dance down the hall.
Counting down the sliding doors, she peaked in the seventh door to find a changing room of sorts. She carefully managed to squirm into the onsen and made quick work of depositing her dirtied clothes into a pile. Kagome grabbed a towel and her bathing supplies from her bag, sure to leave her things to the side and quietly moved to the back of the room where another sliding door revealed the actual onsen.
Sighing, she settled in, dipping her toes in the water to test the temperature. Finding a bucket and a small ditch with running stream water, she filled the bucket to wet her hair. Repeating this, she washed her hair, lathering it thickly and dumping the water over herself as she leaned over the ditch. It carried the dirt and suds away. Once happy with her hair, she wet her skin and quickly scrubbed it clean.
Setting her shampoo and condition aside, she finally settled into the empty spring. The warmth enveloped her and she sighed, relaxing into the depths of the water. She didn't dare spend a moment to dwell on what emotions the Great Demon Dog swirled in her, opting to close her eyes and sink into the warm water.
She wasn't sure how long she had been there, but apparently long enough for her skin to prune as she drifted in and out of sleep. When she finally came to, she exited the spring and dried herself. She entered the separate room and changed into a fresh set of clothes mindlessly.
Kagome wrung her hair over her shoulder before braiding it. Stepping out, she could see the sun rising and she felt exhaustion crawl over her finally. Watching it for a brief moment, she trudged back to the room Takeshi had shown her earlier. Depositing her bag on the floor, she eyed the garden again.
"A few more minutes won't kill me." Kagome murmured.
Stepping back out, she closed the door behind her and stood on the porch for a moment, wrapping her arms around her torso. Admiring it for a moment longer, she lovingly stepped into the garden, burying her toes into the grass and breathing the crisp morning air in. Finding a tree to settle under, she laid her head back and watched as the breeze danced over the flowers.
It lulled her into a peaceful sleep and she prayed for more mornings like this one.