Authors Note:
Hey guys, so here is a longer chapter. let me know if you prefer longer chapters compared to the shorter ones I've been doing and I can easily accomodate you. (Clearly lol)
also this chapter was a joint effort between the computer and my phone, so if you notice any random grammatical errors (which I will carefully comb through and attempt to fix) please pay it no mind!
Reviewers Responses:LEA: WOW! So I had already written this first part of the chapter where Naraku confronts Kagome and Mori and you pretty much hit the nail on the head with your first guess! You are very in tune with this story! I'm impressed! as for your other guesses, I can't spoil what has yet to be written so you'll just have to wait and see. ;)
LuluRavenCrow: I know, I know. I have a tendency to love dramatic cliffhangers. Your concerns/ questions shall be addressed this chapter. Enjoy!
Trigger Warning: So last night I was feeling especially lonely because of covid isolation rules and not being able to see my parents and younger sister. And my self-care method is to write out my emotions into the chapter. So this trigger is for whoever has ever been so lonely they have been depressed. I have been there and post-partum depression in a pandemic is no joke. I know loneliness can be heartbreakingly lonely. I love you. I'm here for you. Stay strong!
Kagome's heart was beating wildly, all lessons of schooling her features and hiding her emotions flew out the window when she stared at the man before her. How was it after all this time that he still managed to paralyze her in fear? His smoldering red eyes smirked when he saw the blatant horror on her face.
"What do you mean, my fiancé?" She finally managed to bite out. Naraku's grin widened and a dark chuckle escaped him. He took a step closer and Mori could feel her begin to tremble in fear as his large hands gripped her shoulders, he looked up sharply at the long curly haired sinister man before him. A fury welling up inside him that he had never before felt. A fury directed at him for having somehow made Kagome feel so much fear.
"Oh? Didn't your precious adopted father inform you?" Naraku replied vaguely, taking yet another step closer. He was only a meter away from them now, and she was subconsciously pressing herself into Mori in an attempt to back away from him. Mori stepped in front of her to shield her from this man.
"That's far enough." Mori glared at him, his words more heated than Kagome had ever heard him. She shot a worried glance up to her silent protector.
"Did you think she would be free to choose you?" Naraku's eyes narrowed in an evil sort of glee as he stared up at the taller male, not deterred by the height difference in the slightest. Mori said nothing but his glare intensified, his feet subtly shifting into a battle ready stance, hands folding into his sleeves to grab handfuls of shuriken in one hand, and his kunai in the other, his eyes never leaving the man before him. Naraku's eyes flickered down to Mori's feet as they shifted than back up to the rigid posture of the taller man. His smirk grew into a wide grin that elicited reactions from both people before him.
"She is not free to choose love. According to the tradition of the Taisho family, the heir's chosen comes from the winner of a mixed martial arts tournament. One which I intend to win."
Kagome sucked in a breath. That couldn't be right... could it? Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. Naraku grinned and pulled a folded piece of paper out to her. She eyes the paper, rightly wary, but after a few pounding heartbeats, she stepped to the side, stepping around her silent protector, and reached forwards hesitantly needing to know if it was the truth. knowing Naraku it was very likely,he had a habit of trying to manipulate with as close to the truth as possible. Mori stiffened in surprise at her willingness to approach the obvious bait.
As her fingers reached for the paper, his hand clamped down on her wrist and jerked her forwards. A startled gasp escaped her as he whirled her out of reach of Mori. A dark echoing laugh escaped his mouth as the world was a dizzying flurry around her. He pushed her firmly up against a stone wall, and his mouth claimed hers in a rough and hungry kiss. A kiss that left her feeling cold and dirty.
The whistle of something in the air, made Naraku jerk out of the way, leaving the kunai hurtling towards Kagome. Her eyes widened in alarm and she moved her head to the side just in time for the kunai to embed itself in the wall next to her ear. She stared wide eyed at Mori, who had thrown the kunai. Naraku still had a painful grip on her wrist.
Then two small throwing stars shot out from beside them, aimed at Naraku who again jerked out of the way, attempting to drag Kagome with him, only for her to plant her feet in a firm stance, and tear her arm out of his grasp.
A loud rip was heard as Naraku dodged the shuriken, as they whizzed past him, slicing two of his hairs away from his head in the process. He glared over to see Hani glowering at him, two more shuriken in his hands at the ready. Shippo and Rin were behind him, on either side of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. Both adults watching with cold and burning fury.
Naraku straightened, and glancing down at Kagome his eyes narrowed, glaring at the interference.
"Leave now, Imagawa." Sesshoumaru's voice was biting with cold fury as he adressed Naraku. Kagome flinched at his tone.
"Fine. I'll leave for now, but I will get what I want." He turned and only a few feet away from Kagome, who locked her eyes onto Mori, who was watching Naraku with barely veiled anger. Kagome, not daring to meet Naraku's eyes as she felt the obvious hungry stare, he whispered to her. "And you will be mine, Kagome. My family has come in second place only to the Taisho's for generations. But even then, females have never been allowed to compete. This competition will be mine." He promised, satisfied as he watched the barely constrained shiver course through her. Naraku's eyes flickered to Sesshoumaru and the others to find they were beginning to approach.
"Kago-Chan! Are you alright?" Hani asked in concern as everyone walked towards her. She looked up at Sesshoumaru, her eyes betraying the fear she felt as she stood frozen to the spot. Mori looked down at the discarded folded paper, and opening it his eyes narrowed on its words. It was indeed a tournament being hosted by Sesshoumaru Taisho for his daughters hand. He approached the father and daughter. Noticing the ripped sleeve on Kagome's beautiful yukata, frowning to himself because that evidence meant he had failed to protect her properly.
"Kago-chan! Your yukata!" Hani cried with alarm. She looked down to see where the sleeve now hung at an odd angle as the bare skin of her shoulder was exposed. She sighed, hoping that it was a clean rip on the seam that could be fixed later.
"What happened?" Sesshoumaru's voice was cold and demanding as he stared at Kagome.
"What do you think happened, bastard? Clearly the Imagawa's are trying to get back at you..." Inuyasha scoffed. Sesshoumaru ignored him, aware of Kagome's history with the eldest son of Onigumo Imagawa, which was long before his involvement in Kagome's life.
"He claimed he was my fiancé. Or at least that he would be based on a tournament." Kagome whispered. Hani's eyes widened as his head swiveled to look at his cousin who nodded at him grimly.
"What's that Takashi?" Hani asked, hand held out for the paper, Mori numbly handed it to him. Hani's eyes trailed over it quickly then he handed it to Sesshoumaru's awaiting hands. Sesshoumaru took one glance at the paper then his eyes narrowed.
"The whelp was correct." Everyone's head snapped up to Sesshoumaru in shock. "The tournament is a tradition within the Taisho family. However only the winner would become your fiancé. When the heir is male, the tournament is a test of his strength, however those from the Imagawa family have always retained the second place spot. And females have historically not been allowed to compete." Kagome spared a desperate glance at Mori and her eyes widened at the look of absolute ferocity that was there as he watched her.
"I had intended to speak to you privately after tonight's festival." The festival was now the furthest thing from her mind, and the drums were very faint in the distance. "Come. We have much to discuss." Sesshoumaru commanded, Inuyasha gruffly nudging the two youngest kids along, as Kagome and Mori watched each other for a moment, before she slowly turned and left.
Mori frowned, the small wooden box he had hidden in his sleeves still remained ungifted to the woman of his affections.
The next morning Kagome stepped into Sesshoumaru's study, kneeling patiently in front of the low table as she waited for him to speak. He was standing in front of the window, arms crossed as he was deep in contemplation. Finally he sat down across from her and molten gold met with stormy ocean blue. They sat in a terse silence, not breaking eye contact. Kagome broke the silence when she could no longer bear it.
"Is it true? Am I going to become betrothed to whoever wins this tournament?" Kagome asked him firmly. Sesshoumaru nodded.
"Yes." Her heart sank as a pair of grey eyes flashed through her mind."So then it's entirely possible that Naraku could become my fiance..." She frowned looking down at her hands. A cold feeling of dread settling through her. She didn't like not being in control of her own life. But worse than that was she understood the type of man Naraku was. And the thought of being forced to marry him dumped her heart into a bucket of ice cold fear.
Sesshoumaru looked again out the window in contemplation of his next words. "The idea of him winning your hand does not sit well with me." He murmured, elegant eyebrows furrowing as he frowned. She stilled at his words, peeking up at him. "This tournament is a tradition, and often a sign of goodwill. We cannot cancel it nor can we back down from what we have already promised as the winning goal... To do so would dishonor this families name and reputation." He spared her a pointed look before returning his attention to the window. " However, I have had dealings with his father, Onigumo, before... That family, while connected to royalty, is nothing short of a band of dishonorable thieves." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowing as he returned his attention to Kagomes distressed figure. His mind raced for a solution. And after a few terse moments of silence the solution came to him.
"In light of the news that Imagawa intends to compete... I believe there is a way to prevent him from winning." Kagome's head snapped up to meet her father's.
"What? How?" Her mouth hung open and her eyes were wide. Sesshoumaru had informed her of the competitions official rules, and they were strict and unmovable.
"Originally the competition was made as a sign of goodwill between samurai families. An opportunity to present strength, skills, and to foster friendships and alliances. It also served as a way to prove the heirs worthiness to lead the clan. Then one year the heir of the family was a female. Since it was not considered proper for women to have such skills, the father taught his daughter secretly, and held the competition in the name of finding a groom for his daughter. Those are the only possibilities for this competition. And every year it has been held since, it follows those functions. Never before has the heir been both female, and adopted. We also live in an era where it is no longer considered improper for females to be warriors." His eyes bore into hers.
"So… you're saying I could enter the competition to prove my worthiness as heir? Do you think it would be enough? To compete for my own hand if I were to win?" Her heart leaped into her throat. Could I do it? Could I win?
"It will not be enough. While you have picked up the style and progressed quickly, you have trained in the art for less than a year, whereas all of the competitors come from esteemed samurai backgrounds, and their traditions and techniques have been handed down since their infancy." Kagome's heart sank at his words. There was no doubt what he was saying.
"You don't think I'd be able to win..." That realization stung. Her shoulders dropped. Sesshoumaru's gaze remained unwavering and resolute as he regarded her.
"There is a reason why martial arts competitions are segregated. Women and men are inherently different. Men can build muscle mass in favor of strength much easier than females. However females can claim to be more agile then men. If you train and turn your style into something unique that compliments your strength as a female, you may have a chance." Kagome sucked in a breath.
"But that would change the family style... Wouldn't it?" She questioned. Understanding beginning to bloom in her mind.
"The family style was passed down from a woman at one point in time. Which means it was taught differently than that of a man. I suspect that the family style is already more focused on agility to compliment a female than it was originally intended. Every prodigy that ever lived was named as such because they developed and enhanced that which already existed. As long as the essentials remain the same, no one would be able to discredit your technique. Speed and agility can go a long way towards defeat of raw strength, if given the chance."
"So... if I can compete... What would it mean if I were to win?" She hedged, needing to hear him say it.
"If you win, I will allow you to choose your betrothed. But only out of the top three winners, of which you would need to be the first place competitor. Otherwise whomever wins first place is who will become your betrothed. Either way, if you entered the top three, I would consider you worthy to be heir given your lack of background to the style." He watched as her body sat straighter hope and determination flickering to life on her face.
"There are strict rules you must follow if you are to pull this off. Firstly being you are not allowed to date seeing as this competition is to determine your future husband. You are also absolutely not permitted to show any favoritism towards any of the competitors. To do so would put you in bad standing with the winner if they are not whom you chose to favor. Once word spreads of the competition, most media outlets will be keeping a close eye on you, to show favoritism will bring criticism upon you." A flicker of recognition and worry flashed through his eyes and after a pause he nodded to confirm her fear. "That also means you will no longer be allowed to attend the host club as a guest. To do so would be unseemly and draw negative attention towards your impending betrothal." Her hand raised to clench her shirt above her heart, the thought of not being able to see Mori and the rest of her newfound friends, creating a sharp and painful feeling within her chest. Sesshoumaru frowned, eyes narrowing. Knowing what she was thinking and feeling, but pressed on before he addressed that.
"After schoo,l and any after school activities, you will return home immediately to further train and develop your style. You have much work to do in order to develop your style, and then to enhance it to be formidable enough for the competition. Lastly, any extra curricular outings, outside of these parameters, must be approved by Jaken in my absence. I will repeat myself. You are not to go on any dates. That especially includes individual time spent with Morinozuka." She gasped lightly, feeling like her world, once more, was shattering around any happiness she had found.
Sesshoumaru truly trusted the boy to keep her safe, however his rule was made because he was keenly aware of her developing feelings for him. It was impossible not to see. And he hoped that the young man would, in fact, enter the tournament to fulfil his promise to protect her. He would see to it in fact. His gravest concern was what would happen to his beloved daughter should Naraku Imagawa get his hands on her. - After a long heavy silence, Kagome felt tears sting her eyes but she turned her head away, trying to hide them from her father's ever watchful gaze. Why am I being punished because of Naraku? What more can that demon possibly steal from me?
"Excuse me. I have studying to do." She stood and turned away when she felt her control over her tears slipping. She quickly fled for the door but Sesshoumaru stopped her, her hand outstretched for the door.
"Kagome. I will not repeat myself concerning your attendance as a guest of the host club. However, should it not interfere with your training or your studies leading up to the competition, you may attend the club as a member. Granted that you do not partake in the duties as a host personally." She gasped, tears falling. He had given her a silver lining. The great and immovable Sesshoumaru Taisho had relented on something he had said no to previously. Despite the growing attention this situation would push her into. She turned to look at him and was surprised to find him standing resolutely behind her.
"But, before you said-" he reached out a hand, palm up, cutting off her words and silently inviting her in. She stepped towards him and for the first time since her adoption, she gave her adopted father a hug. His arms wrapping around her back keeping her within his firm and resolute embrace.
"I was withholding my judgement of this club until I saw how it has been affecting you. You have been growing more spirited, and showing more emotions. I believe...that this is a good thing. Healing on your own cannot be complete without the help of those who reach your heart to show you your inner strength." He, the great and proudly in control and emotionless Sesshoumaru Taisho, was admitting that emotions had their place. "I will not allow Imagawa to undo the progress you have made to being fully healed." He murmured low, his own golden eyes reflecting a warmth that she could not see while he held her into the hug.
"My opinion regarding emotions will not change for during training, you must be resolute in your composure lest you give away crucial hints in battle. However it is because of your strength, and your heart, despite your circumstances that have led to my being willing to make amends with my brother." Kagome gasped. Ever since she had been adopted the mere mention of her adopted uncle was strictly taboo in the house. Such was the level of animosity between them. Because of me he was willing to let go of his grudge against Inuyasha? Her mind was racing, and the reality of this moment made her dizzy. She looked up at him, pulling out of the hug slightly. She gasped at Sesshoumaru with a mixture of awe and disbelief as molten golden eyes swam with warmth. She was speechless, emotion catching in her throat.
"Thank you... Father." She had called him as such before, but ever since the adoption this is the first time she had called him father and truly thought of him as such. And not just a father by title. Sesshoumaru kissed her forehead, then swiftly released her and gently pushed her out the door.
She stood in the crossroads of the hallway in a daze, staring at a blank wall, when Jaken found her.
"Lady Kagome. You have guests." He said sagely, his usually gruff tone almost gentle and knowing. Kagome focused on him, wishing the warmth from the moment she had just held with her adoptive father would not fade. She knew such expressions of emotions were rare for him.
"Guests?" She asked him distractedly as he led the way to the front door of their vacation house. Tomorrow they would be returning home to Tokyo.
"Yes." Was all he supplied, being unusually vague. They rounded the corner and she froze at the sight of Mori and Hani standing just inside the door.
"Kago-chan! How are you feeling today?" Hani asked with worry in his voice. Everything came flooding back and the realization she was not allowed to spend individual time with Mori came flooding back like a bucket of ice water dumped on her head. Remembering the harsh rules that she could no longer get close to the young man.
"I'm..." She started but then didn't know how to finish as her gaze travelled from Hani to his taller cousin. Her eyes were locked on Mori's as she stood there unsure of what to say. Hani looked between them, feeling that something quite serious had happened.
"We want to go see the Azuchi castle ruins before we head home! Wanna come?" Hani asked brightly. She bit her lip and looked away wondering why this suddenly felt so complicated to be near Mori. Jaken watched from a few paces behind her. Jaken, the crotchety old man who had been the first in the family to recognize how she had felt towards her 'intended' when he had first met the boy, and having spoke with master sesshoumaru before Kagome had, he had a pretty good guess as to why she was hesitating.
"I'm afraid that in light of certain events, Lady Kagome is not permitted to go out unless it is within a group setting." Jaken explained without revealing any details, Kagome caught his eye and saw the empathy for the heiress in them.
"That's okay! Tama-chan and everyone else wanted to go see it too! So it will be all of us!" Hani supplied, feeling for the first time, that he had to force his happiness into the mood.
"Then you may go." And without another word, he had shoved Kagomes sweater into her hands and all but shoved her out the door with the two boys.
Hani took her hand and led her into their limousine. She took up a spot up by the window and the entire drive she sat lost in thought, gaze locked on the slowly moving horizon while everything else was a blur of colors. She missed Hani and Mori's shared look of concern.
They made it to the ancient ruins of Oda Nobunaga's stronghold, Azuchi castle. Where the rest of the group, including Haruhi were waiting for them.
Kagome felt like she was on auto pilot, and she knew that Tamaki had approached her, but she stared blankly through him without hearing his excited exclamations. And then mid sentence, she slowly brushed past him. She moved to the booth and paid her admission fee, before walking ahead of them. Everyone staring after her.
"Whats wrong with Kagome?" Tamaki asked and looked over to Mori, only to have his eyes widen. There was a fierce concern and yearning in his gaze as he followed after Kagome.
Everyone looked to Hani, who could only sadly shake his head. Whatever was going on it felt deeper than merely the events from the night before. - Haruhi wondered if Kagome would be willing to talk but knew she likely wouldn't in front of the whole host club, so instead she tried to lighten the mood.
"The first person to reach the castle ruins gets to come over to my house for supper on Tuesday." She quipped. Immediately the twins and Tamaki perked up and a furious competition was born as the trio raced past Kagome and Mori to reach the top of the infamously long staircase of the castle ruins. Haruhi, Kyouya, and Hani followed after Kagome and Mori walking silently side by side.
"Do you know what happened, Hani-senpai?" Haruhi gently prodded.
"Kago-chan was attacked by someone at the festival last night. Takashi said his name was Naraku Imagawa. He claimed to be Kago-chans fiancé… He left after we came to her defence, and then her father admitted that there will be a competition and whoever wins will really be her fiancé. But she seems depressed. I think something else happened after she went home." Hani supplied.
"Really? I wonder what's wrong. She does seem really sad. I wonder what we can do to help her.
"Now you are beginning to sound like Tamaki." Kyouya grinned at her before pulling his phone out and furiously texting someone before snapping his phone shut and sliding his phone into his back pocket.
"Whatever the matter is, we should do more research before trying to pry it out of her. As well as make sure that Tamaki doesn't act too rashly and potentially mess things up." Kyouya supplied thoughtfully.
"In the meantime she might just open up to Takashi. At least... I hope she does... I hate to see her sad... She deserves to be happy..." Hani gave a sorrowful pout as he stared at his cousin and the girl he had fallen for.
"Yeah... She really has been through a lot. She pretends to be so stong all the time, it makes you wonder what her breaking point might be." Haruhi replied, kyouya looked from the brown haired girl beside him then up to the raven haired one who was still walking with her head down. He pushed up his glasses thoughtfully, a plan already forming in his head.
"I'll make a few calls, see what I can find out. " Normally he left the interfering to Tamaki, but Hani was right. Whatever was bothering her seemed more serious and deep. And he didn't doubt that whatever had happened last night was merely the catalyst of the problem. Hani and Haruhi both shot him a grateful smile as he nonchalantly pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.
After an hour of trekking up the vast staircase that was overgrown with forest on the mountainous hillside, Kagome found herself standing before an empty clearing that held a crumbled section of wall and then the partial remains of the main hall of the towering Azuchi castle. Evidence of where the grand halls towering pillars had once stood in the stone before them. They stood together in silence.
"Its sad... Isn't it?" Kagome spoke quietly for the first time. Mori looked down at her in silent questioning. "It's sad how something so magnificent and strong...how it can be reduced to nothing more than rubble and ash in an instant. How something that took years to build can be ignorantly enjoyed and then completely wiped away and forgotten so quickly." She could hear the bitterness in her voice and with a quick glance up at Mori, her eyes widened as she saw the concern in his eyes. She quickly diverted her gaze.
He took a step closer to her, his fingers twitching as they grazed her fingertips. Her reaction was immediate as she pulled her hand away from his, and a quick glance his way confirmed she was crying. She turned and sat down on a large boulder, her back to part of the still standing wall. She couldn't be near him, but she didn't want to run from him either. Technically right now she was already breaking the rules by being alone with him on the mountain side. She knew she would have to explain the rules to him, but she couldn't form the words on her tongue.
He approached cautiously, obviously afraid she might run, and kneeled down before her looking up into her sorrow-filled eyes. Even though he was kneeling, their faces were close together because of his tall frame.
"Kagome. What's wrong?" He asked, he needed to protect her, but to do that he had to know. He yearned to know, so that he could help her. He couldn't understand why she looked so heart wrenchingly lonely.
"I feel like no matter what I do... or how much progress I make, I'm just not allowed to be happy. My happiness was like that castle, crumbled and in ruins. I didn't know how deeply it was a part of my life until it was gone... Takashi... I just want to be happy again..." Her voice cracked as tears started flowing freely down her face. And before he could open his mouth, her head had dropped to his shoulder and she cried. She felt as though her heart was breaking. There was so much she wished had happened. She wished her family had never died so tragically. She wished she had never met Naraku. She wished she had somehow been able to know Mori without these restrictions on her, because she wanted to be free to love him. Her heart twisted painfully as she realized. She did, in fact love him.
And he would never be allowed to know it.
Her hand came up and gripped his shirt as he leaned forwards and wrapped his arms around her. Holding her close as gently as possible with one hand, gently cupping the back of her head as long strong fingers barely whispered across silken raven locks. He held her as though she might break. Afraid to hold her too close, or too strong as though she might break.
She didn't know how long she sat there, crying onto Mori's shoulder for, and the rest of the host club was suspiciously absent, but she didn't care. Once her crying was reduced to slow sniffles, that was when Mori finally spoke.
"If something is built strong enough, it can never be fully wiped away or destroyed. It will always exist." The proof of his words were in the ruins of the castle surrounding them. A symbol of power that time had left behind, shrouded in a forest that wasn't originally there, but that time had helped create into a quiet peaceful space. A place of solemn refuge to remind those that came after. But they both knew he wasn't talking about the castle. She sat up and looked at him, his hand falling away to his sides while he looked up at her.
"The wound is the place where the light enters you." He said, quoting a great poet. This at least, made her eyes widen in understanding.
"Rumi." She whispered, familiar with the quote and it's author. He dipped his head in a nod. His words somehow made her feel less broken. Less like some relic that would never be made whole again, broken and on display. She felt, instead, back on cusp of healing, filled with hope for the future. Naraku had certainly jarred her, as she was sure was his intention. But Mori was right. What was truly strong, could never fully be broken. And it takes pain to grow stronger. Determination filled her eyes as she gave a subtle nod. He smiled as a tension released from his shoulders. He stood, holding a hand out to her, which she took, allowing him to pull her to her feet. A pair of warm honey brown eyes smiling at them.
A distant shout from Tamaki running in their direction made their hands fall away from each other, fingertips grazing each other as they did. She turned and faced the host club, all of whom had different expressions of concern for her. She offered them a small, apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry..." No sooner were the words out of her mouth, then she was swarmed in the biggest most claustrophobic group bear hug of her life. It was mildly uncomfortable how they were all cooing over her, and Haruhi gave her a knowing and humored smile. Kagome got the distinct impression the other girl had been on the receiving end of such a hug on a number of occasions.
She closed her eyes and soaked up the hug. A genuine smile forming on her lips. Not aware that Mori was watching her, his eyes softening as he relished the moment that all of them were able to help comfort her. He could see the relief as a weight was lifted silently off her shoulders.
Good. She didn't have to bear the burden alone. And he was content in that moment to know she knew it now too.
Author's Note:
Oof! I am sorry for all the intense feels! Things are certainly picking up and getting more intense in this story. But don't worry. I love the fluff and will do my best to make sure there are still some adorable Mori and Kagome moments. ;)
As always review and let me know what you think! Your reviews really do help inspire me to get the next chapters out faster!