"Explain it to me again," Sōten instructs.
She is leaning against the front of her desk, arms folded over her chest, and crimson eyes narrow. Sesshōmaru does not need to see her expression to understand the demoness is angry. Her yōki is flaring in furious waves around her.
"Kagome departed from school early in an attempt to speak with your mate about—."
"Not that," Sōten hisses.
Sesshōmaru glares at her. He does not take orders from lesser demons, especially not ones masquerading as mortals. A cursory glance at one of the framed paintings confirms he, like Sōten, is camouflaged. He can see himself in the glass reflection— without mokomoko, without his flowing hair, and without the markings of his house. He sighs.
"I was angry," Sesshōmaru confesses.
Sōten scoffs. "No kidding. You broke my equipment, not to mention terrorized the other fighters."
"They were vulgar. Their comments to Kagome were inappropriate. I will not tolerate dishonorable conduct. A dojo is a place of—."
"This isn't a dojo; it's a gym," Sōten interrupts him. "And it's mine. You can have your opinions— I may even share them —but you don't have license to act upon them. Am I being clear?"
"Yes," Sesshōmaru replies tersely.
She rubs her temples, mumbling about what a disaster he is.
It is then that Shippō enters the office, his green eyes bouncing between his distressed mate and an aggravated friend. "Eh, that bad, huh?"
"He tore a punching bag off the ceiling and sent it into the wall," Sōten answers.
Shippō shrugs. "That's not terrible, " he drawls, in an attempt to remain impartial.
"Into the wall," his mate clarifies, irritably. "It's still there, edged between concrete and stone so deep that even I can't pull it free. I had to rope the area off and cover it with an illusion to avoid any questions."
"Oh." The kit's face falls. He scratches the back of his neck nervously.
"I take responsibility for my actions but I will not apologize for them," Sesshōmaru declares.
Sōten glowers at him. Shippō moves to stand beside her and places his arm around her shoulders. She takes a steadying breath and then speaks, "I appreciate what you and your companions did for us in the earlier centuries. I do," she insists, "but things are different now. I can't let one demon risk the safety of everyone else under my care. I know you understand that."
"I do," Sesshōmaru responds evenly, "just as I know you acknowledge that you would have behaved the same in my place had it been your mate under scrutiny."
Sōten stares at him. Shippō blinks.
"Have you two—?"
"No," Sesshōmaru answers. "But I have made my intentions clear. My desires have not changed, despite the altercation this afternoon."
"She's mad at you," Sōten surmises with a smirk.
"She is clever enough to piece together the knowledge I attempted to conceal," Sesshōmaru confirms.
"Oh," Shippō says, his tail flopping down.
"Her ire is warranted. Deception is one atrocity we have both suffered many times. To have it exist in the early stages of courting is... unfortunate."
"So, what are you doing standing around here?" Sōten prompts. "Go talk to her."
"I doubt Kagome will speak to me," Sesshōmaru admits.
He cannot forget how icy her blue eyes became when she realized the truth. The various hues that once decorated her gaze disappeared until all Sesshōmaru saw was a blanket of frigid cold. She shut down. The warmth of her aura, the softness of her smile all vanished with his admission. Kagome withdrew from him, taking with her his hope for their future.
"Mates fight, you know," the kit offers.
"An argument doesn't mean you aren't good together," Sōten adds.
"And you are good together," Shippō insists. "We saw you two at the movies. You make Kagome smile. Your presence comforts her. That's what matters."'
"She does not deserve to be lied to," Sesshōmaru retorts.
"Then don't," Shippō retorts. "Don't make the same mistakes Inuyasha did. Be honest with her, even if you think it will hurt her."
"She'll respect you more for your honesty," Sōten agrees.
Sesshōmaru contemplates the way his brother treated the miko. He advised Inuyasha not to take her for granted.
After witnessing Kagome's ability to pull Tetsusaiga free, his curiosity regarding the mortal girl had piqued. He had never told her that his subsequent attack had not been to kill her. Sesshōmaru knew she would survive. The sword had chosen her. It would protect her from any assault. His actions had been propelled by his desire to see her reaction. Few had ever raised their voice to him and never a mortal, at least joke who remained among the living. It endeared her to him.
Sesshōmaru had kept his eye on her after that day, trying to unravel her puzzling behavior. Somewhere along the way, his interest took on a different meaning. As soon as he recognized the change, Sesshōmaru became more cautious in his interactions with her.
She had a knack for getting into trouble. He remained close to his brother's traveling party— though not close enough for either the hanyō or the kit to scent him. The distance had been both a blessing and a curse.
He was able to intervene when her life was in danger but each instance came at a cost. Sesshōmaru had to witness how comfortable she was with his brother and Inuyasha's petulant anger at his presence. It was an unpleasant consequence of his actions.
Then the final battle against Naraku occurred and the Meido drew him in.
Sesshōmaru cannot make sense of the strange occurrence. He has analyzed the moment countless times. No answer presents itself. It is an unexplainable phenomenon but one he is thankful for. Had he not been dragged into the vortex, he would have never gotten to spend time along with Kagome.
Or confront his feelings.
He laments that Sōten is correct. If he wishes to maintain a courtship with the miko, Sesshōmaru needs to be honest with her. She deserves that.
"I will," he tells the kit and his mate.
"Good," the Thunder demoness replies, smirking.
"You've got this!" Shippō says, giving him two thumbs up and an encouraging smile.
It is nice to speak freely with them. Sesshōmaru pauses at the door, turning to look at the pair. "I appreciate your guidance, friends."
The term is almost as foreign as expressing his gratitude. He has rarely had a reason to thank anyone. Relying on others opens himself to vulnerability. Usually, Sesshōmaru does not find others worth the risk yet when it comes to the kit and his mate, he values their support.
Shippō beams. "Good luck!"
Sesshōmaru exits the office with a nod.
He will need it.
Sesshōmaru stares out the window at the vast city. The metro squeals and jerks as it makes its way into the station. His view is obscured by the structure momentarily and then he joins the fray in the mass exodus off the platform.
It is not until he steps onto the sidewalk and into the open air that he picks up on the scent of ash on the wind. His brow creases as he places the smells lingering beneath the charred flakes floating by. There are the scents he expected— wood, parchment, and fabric. Then there are the more delicate notes of ink, muddy grass, pickled vegetables, and a familiar floral scent.
He stiffens, suddenly on high alert. Sesshōmaru recognizes this particular blend of smells. His ears sift through the layers of traffic, pedestrians, and electronic billboards until they hone in on the blaring sirens several blocks away. Then he is sprinting for the shrine.
With each step, a tightness forms in his chest. It constructs his airways, like a serpent suffocating the life out of his organs. This strange sensation is one he has only felt a handful of times before.
Fear.
It becomes painful as his senses focus on the horror that awaits his arrival. The scent of burning debris clogs his nostrils and the startled gasps of onlookers buzz in his ears.
When Sesshōmaru breaks through the crowd, he finds an odd assortment of men converging on the house.
The shrine's sacred components appear to be fine but the elder's garden and the entire house are engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke billows heaven-ward filling his nose with an acrid scent and his stomach with a sickening feeling.
"Oh, Sesshōmaru! Thank goodness you're alright!" Mayumi comes rushing over and hugs him.
He vocalizes his primary concern. "Kagome?"
Mayumi's eyes go wide. She staggers backward. "S-she's not with you?"
"Mama!"
They both jerk toward the sound of Sōta's voice. The young boy is being carried out by one of the peculiarly-dressed men.
"Sōta! Oh, thank God!" Mayumi cries, running over to scoop up her son.
His face is covered in soot and his clothes are tarnished with black marks all over but he appears otherwise unharmed. Sesshōmaru performs a check of his vitals based on his keen sense of smell and hearing. Other than an elevated heart rate, the child is fine.
"Mama," Sōta begins before pausing to cough, "Sis is still in there. She went to find Buyo."
Sesshōmaru does not hear anything after that. No sooner does the boy confirm Kagome is in the inferno then Sesshōmaru is darting toward the flames. Both Mayumi and Sōta cry out to him.
He will not be deterred.
He does not stop when the strange men yell at him. He does not stop when the front door collapses, blocking his way; he goes around. He does not stop until he latches onto the sound of her pulse.
"Kagome!"
There is no response.
He moves to the rear of the house. The damage is far worse. Flames engulf every spare inch of the roof. The walls are crumbling. Each of the windows is embellished with spiderweb cracks. The glass appears ready to shatter from the intense heat.
Sesshōmaru glances around. There is so much smoke and confusion that he doubts anyone will see him. He leaps up to her bedroom window, digging his claws into the side wall to hold himself steady before punching through the glass. As predicted, it fractures around his hand into hundreds of tiny pieces.
Smoke pours out of the newly created opening. He cannot see through the haze inside but he hears a choking sound coming from the corner.
"Kagome?"
"Sesshōmaru?"
"I am coming," he tells her, climbing inside.
"No," she wheezes. "It's too dangerous."
He ignores her warnings. He will remind her of the differences between demons and humans later. His only concern now is getting her to safety.
Sesshōmaru finds her curled up with the cat in her lap. Carefully, he gathers them both up in his arms. He opens his mouth to scold her for returning for the pet but finds himself unable to do so. The instant she is pressed against his chest, the pain eases.
He can finally breathe. Her coughing reminds him that she cannot.
He quickly navigates them through the window and down to the yard. Once they land, the damn cat leaps free, sprinting off into the night.
Kagome's face falls. Sesshōmaru is struck by how much the miko resembles her brother. She is covered from head to toe in soot and all of her clothing has been scorched by the flames. Her limbs are decorated with several cuts and bruises.
He can scent the cooper of her blood. It sends his mind into a frenzy of violence that he is forced to suppress. His fury is validated but there is no place for that now. His prerogative is to obtain Kagome the care that she needs. Sesshōmaru carries her around to the front where a medical team is waiting.
Mayumi descends upon them immediately, weeping over her daughter and giving him a tearful thank you.
Sesshōmaru does not reply. His entire focus is on the girl on his arms, on every tiny knick and discolored area of flesh. He blames himself. Sesshōmaru is not certain how he knows the incident is his fault but he feels the truth of it in his gut. His instincts have never been wrong before.
As if to prove the point, Sesshōmaru catches the glimpse of three familiar faces in the crowd.
He snarls.
The second Sesshōmaru sees them, he knows. He does not need to hear the firemen— as Sōta explains to him later —tell Mayumi that the ignition confirms this was an act of arson. He does not need to hear the other officials— policemen —explain that the incident is under investigation. He requires none of their words or attempts to reassure the terrified family that it will be alright.
He will make it right.
Because he knows who caused the fire. He knows who put their lives in danger. He knows who will pay for hurting his intended.
The three men slink back into the shadows, disappearing from view.
Sesshōmaru glares after them. They can run but they cannot hide. He knows their scents. He will hunt them down. There is nowhere within the city— within the country —where they will be safe.
"Where's Gramps?" Kagome asks as the medical team secures her for transport.
"An ambulance already took him to the hospital," Mayumi tells her daughter.
Sesshōmaru does not know what an ambulance is or a hospital but he understands the context. The modern healers will take over from here.
Mayumi glances up at him as if deciding something. Squeezing her daughter's hand, she says, "I'm going to ride over with Sōta. Sesshōmaru, can you stay with Kagome, please?"
Her eyes, no longer the color of ice, are peering up at him. She expects that he will refuse.
As if he even could.
"Of course," he answers.
Mayumi deposits a kiss on Kagome's forehead, gives her one final hug, and walks over to where Sōta is.
"Thank you," Kagome says softly. When he does not respond, she adds, "For saving me."
He considers telling her how crippling the fear was, how the thought of losing her— after he had only just gotten a chance to see what they could be— nearly destroyed him from the inside out. Sesshōmaru wants to be honest. He promised he would be but now is not the time for such talk. She needs rest and reassurance that she is safe.
"I will always be there to watch over you," he vows, sliding his hand across the stretcher to join hers.
Kagome's fingers lace through his own as she smiles up at him. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you. I was angry and—."
Sesshōmaru interrupts her apology. "Stop."
He does not think he can bear to hear her ask for forgiveness. Perhaps she had been a bit rash in her reaction but his actions were just as shameful. They are both to blame for the argument— him more than her. He will not accept an apology.
"We do not need to speak of it. For now, rest," he suggests.
Her lips curl upward. "I doubt I'll be able to do that, at least not tonight."
Her eyes stare past him to what remains of her former home. Sesshōmaru does not look behind him. From the strong scent of charred wood and burnt material, he surmises the house is beyond repair. It has been reduced to splintered timber and ash.
"Once your wounds are cared for, I will begin the hunt for new lodgings," he promises. "Until then, I will honor your mother's request and remain by your side."
Kagome squeezes his hand. "You're the best."
Her answer is not the three words he longs to hear but it fills him with warmth all the same.
The hospital is a cold, sterile fortress made up of stark white walls and attendants cloaked in colored cotton. Sesshōmaru struggles to breathe. The chemicals burn his nostrils to the point he wishes for the stench of humans on the metro. It is preferred to this.
"I'm sorry," the miko apologizes again.
She noticed how tense he became when they arrived but she has yet to let go of his hand. His touch grounds her as much as her proximity comforts him.
"I will manage," he tells her through clenched teeth.
Sesshōmaru tries breathing through his mouth. It is unpleasant but less irritating than continuously inhaling the vile synthetic scent.
The transport men escort them to a room where Mayumi, Sōta, and the family elder are already situated.
Sōta is in a bed by a large window with a view of the city. Mayumi sits between him and the elder, who is laying in a similar bed. They are both hooked up to thin plastic tubes that inject them with man-made solutions. Sesshōmaru's nostrils flare at this invasive process but it does not seem to bother anyone else. He decides it is commonplace for this time period.
Healers have made impressive advancements in the past five hundred years. Where once injured would be lying on reed mats, they now inhabit comfortable beds. The age of huts and clay bowls of medicinal herbs are gone. Now, machines are dispensing the treatments and alerting healers of their patients' needs.
Sesshōmaru admires the efficiency of the improvements, especially considering Kagome's state. However, he fears what this means for the rest of human society. If their health has made such great strides, what should he expect in terms of her weapons?
He has not forgotten his vow. Sesshōmaru will hunt down the filth who disobeyed him. He will have vengeance for their crimes against Kagome and her family. Then, he will speak with Shippō and Sōta about their open apartment. The Higurashi family requires a place to stay and he will ensure it is ready before they are discharged.
"How are you feeling Gramps?" Kagome asks as she is transferred into the final empty bed in the room.
"Fine," he rasps. "It's only minor smoke inhalation; nothing to worry about."
Sesshōmaru has to turn away as they insert one of the metal needles into Kagome's arm. He surpasses the urge to snarl at them. She squeezes his hand reassuringly awhile thanking them for their help. They bow and leave the family alone.
"Mama? Why aren't you in a bed with the rest of us?"
"I'm fine, Kagome. I was in the storehouse doing inventory when the fire broke out," Mayumi explains.
"Did you see what happened?" Sesshōmaru inquires.
"No. By the time I realized what was going on, the first wave of firefighters was already on the property. I think one of the neighbors called it in as soon as they saw the smoke."
"It wasn't the neighbor," Sōta reveals, pushing himself up to sit back against his pillow. "It was me. I was playing Sonic when I smelled something burning. I thought it was coming from the kitchen, so I went to check but there was nothing there."
Sesshōmaru feels Kagome's go stiff. He glances away from her brother to study her expression. Her creamy skin has faded to ghostly white and her eyes are shifting in and out of focus.
Her bedroom is— was —situated one floor above the kitchen. It was the ignition site.
A growl forms in his core, climbing out of his throat like a thunderstorm breaching the mountains. Everyone in the room stares at him— everyone except the miko who has a faraway look in her eyes.
"Where were you when the fire started?" he questions, already knowing the answer.
"My bedroom."
Her voice is nearly inaudible. She speaks so softly that Sesshōmaru almost believes he has imagined it.
Mayumi begins to cry again. "Who would want to hurt our family?" she croaks wearily.
Sesshōmaru scowls. He knows but he does not want to explain. The men who did this will suffer slowly, painfully. He will take them to the gateway between life and death, before yanking them back to begin anew. There will be no mercy shown.
Their heinous act will be their final one.
"Mama, don't worry. The police will figure out what happened. They'll take care of it," Kagome says soothingly.
Though her words are directed at her mother, Sesshōmaru knows she is mostly speaking to him. Kagome knows how he deals with these kinds of situations. She expects his retaliation.
There is a knock at the door. A man in a long white cloak stands at the door with a board in his hand. "The Higurashi family?"
Mayumi hastily scrubs her face clear of tears and stands to greet him. "Hello, doctor. I'm Mayumi Higurashi. These are my children and my father-in-law."
He shakes her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances."
"Thank you. I'm just grateful my family is safe."
"I'm sure," the doctor replies, nodding in understanding. He checks the paperwork tacked to his board and then scans the room. His gaze lingers on Sesshōmaru for a moment before he returns to his board. "And you are?"
"Sesshōmaru Taisho," he answers smoothly. "Kagome's inten—."
"Cousin," Kagome interrupts him.
Everyone stares at her.
After a moment's hesitation, the doctor clears his throat. "Alright, then," he murmurs, sounding unconvinced. "Will Mr. Taisho be staying?"
"Yes, I have my hands full," Mayumi answers.
"Very well. I'd like to begin with your father-in-law first and then your son and daughter," the doctor announces. "You may come along if you wish."
"Kagome, will you be alright in here with Sōta and Sesshōmaru?"
"Yes, Mama."
"Then I'll go with Gramps and the doctor," Mayumi decides.
Once the adults are gone from the room, Sōta turns on the television. The noise of a game show distracts him so Sesshōmaru has a chance to address what happened with Kagome.
"The men from the gym, the ones who confronted you earlier— they were at your home this evening," he reveals.
Kagome's eyes go wide. She begins to chew on her lower lip. "I kinda thought maybe someone was following after I left. I mean, I felt strange but then I told myself it was just because we fought."
"They do not appreciate how quickly I have advanced at the gym, nor do they enjoy how informal I am with Shippō and Sōten," Sesshōmaru explains. "I assume after they saw my reaction, they thought they could intimidate me by hurting you."
"Jerks!" she grumbles angrily. "Just because you're better than them doesn't give them the right to act that way."
Sesshōmaru has many terms for the men responsible, none of which are as mild as jerks. Of course, none of them are appropriate for Sōta's ears either. He considers this the reason why Kagome's ire does not often lead to swearing the way Inuyasha's frustration does. She has the discipline to filter her words.
"I will hunt them down and—."
"Sesshōmaru." Kagome's free hand joins the first until she is cupping his hand between both of hers. "You can't—."
"I can."
"It won't change anything," Kagome argues.
"It will prevent them from hurting you ever again," he snarls.
"And if you get caught in the process?" she asks. The fire in her eyes dims. "I can't lose you too."
His rage tempers. He gazes at the family surrounding her. Their somber expressions remind him of the time Kagome sacrificed while restoring peace to the Feudal Era. She protected those whom she was not obligated to care for. Her needs were not a consideration when she was fighting Naraku. She prioritized the greater good over herself. He realizes that she is asking him to do the same.
He does not know if he can. His base instincts demand he protect his intended mate. Leaving those three men alive cannot be allowed.
"Sesshōmaru, please," Kagome says softly. "Promise me that you won't kill them."
"I promise I will not kill them."
Her grip on his hand relaxes and the worry lines etched into her face disappear. She hugs him tightly. "Thank you."
Sesshōmaru strokes his clawed fingers through her hair, breathing in her scent. It calms his inner beast, if only for a moment.
He will keep his promise.
After all, Sesshōmaru never promised he wouldn't make them wish for death.