1581
"The frailty that blooms amongst the flowers on the moon will wilt while dancing. A bird of the sea hails the fangs of the mountain."
Kagome sits in Sesshoumaru's study, frowning at a scroll on her desk, rereading it for the eighth time, and still just as confused as to what the hell the letter is talking about. She's been his secretary for almost 20 years now, and has a good work flow with him, almost never needing to bother him with anything, but it looks like this is going to be one of those rare occasions. Good thing he's in a good mood today. She sighs heavily before turning in her seat to look at the daiyoukai who is writing a response to a trade request with a minor lord.
"Sess. I have a weird one here." she states, her brow still furrowed.
"What is it?" he asks, not looking up from his own letter.
"Well, that's just it. I have no idea. I thought it was some political gossip letter, but not only do I not recognise the sender, what's written here makes no damn sense. It's talking about flowers wilting on the moon, which is obviously impossible. Though... wait..." she stops and rereads the letter again, before looking up at Sesshoumaru's forehead and then his haori. Flowers on the moon, sakura blossoms in the House of the Moon maybe?
"It's a coded letter, isn't it." she guesses, eyes slightly wide.
He puts down his brush before holding out a hand for the scroll, silently demanding she pass it to him. She stands to move behind him as she does, to continue to reread it over his shoulder.
"Hn. It is indeed." he answers simply, rising from his seat and padding to the shelves of bound scrolls he kept, long fingers gently tracing across the spines of a few until he pulls one out and opens it, turning the pages delicately. Stepping back to his seat, he passes the small book to Kagome, pointing to a specific passage of a short poem. Reading it quickly, her eyes flicks from the passage to the letter on his desk to his face.
"It's a spy report. Why haven't I ever seen one before?"
"Because This One did not wish you to. They were to be delivered to my desk only, though this one seems to have grown feet." he says with the tiniest frown. Kagome barks out a startled laugh at his sudden joke. His humour still catches her off guard sometimes, but she always enjoys it when he does utilise it.
"Yeah, guess so. So, I'm gunna assume that I'm not allowed to know what it is, so I'll let you deal with it." she states, placing the book gently on his desk and turning back to her own space.
"I would not have given you the cypher if that were the case, Kagome. Go ahead, decode it, inform me when you are done as to what it says." he drawls, turning back to the letter he had been penning before her interruption, ignoring her shocked gaping.
"Uh. Okay, sure." she mumbles, collecting both the book and the report, before sitting heavily on her cushion.
About ten minutes later, Kagome stands again, report in her hand, and walks back to Sesshoumaru's desk. Her eyes are unfocused, though they appear to be reading the scroll, her brow pinched in thought, as she waits for Sesshoumaru to engage her.
"Is it done?" he asks blandly.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Um. I'm still not sure I understand, but from what your book says it should say, apparently you're being targeted. Well, more specifically a female you are close to, to cost you your lands. The last part is what's stumping me. I assume it means Rin, or maybe me, unless you've got some mistress I don't know about." She smirks, seeing his scowl.
"There is no mistress, This One has no need for a blithering idiot and their pitiful attempts to trap me into mating them." he growls, eyes flashing red for a millisecond. "I agree with your assessment, however, that it means you or Rin. What else?"
"Even decoded, it doesn't really make sense. There's a lot of filler that doesn't seem to matter, maybe to hide the actual message. I dunno." she muses aloud, rubbing the back of her neck lightly with her free hand.
"Indeed, it is likely. Is there anything that stands out as intelligible, even if it does not seem to refer to the threat?" His head tilts in barely disguised curiosity.
"Uh. Well... there's the dancing, a bird at sea, and fangs from a mountain." Kagome replies lightly, passing him the letter, along with the book, in case he needs it. She watches as he goes very still, gingerly picking up the scroll and scanning it quickly. Then his aura flares massively, without warning, making her reiki spike and surround her in a glow before she can tamp it down. "Sess? What's going on?" she demands, slightly panicked at his abrupt reaction.
The door to his study slides open as one of his generals bows stiffly. "My Lord?" he queries.
"Find Rin and her mate and take them to the pack wing immediately. Call Jaken and her former personal guards and station them with her. She is not to be left alone, under any circumstances. Dismissed." Sesshoumaru clips out, his eyes blood red now. He almost seems to be struggling to rein in his explosive youki.
"Yes, my Lord, right away." the general replies quickly before closing the door and dashing off.
"Sess." Kagome says, voice stern, brooking no argument that he will tell her what the hell is going on.
"It is possible it means you, however, you are lethal. Rin is not. A plot has been uncovered to have one of you murdered."
"Well, I gathered that. That doesn't explain why you nearly beasted out just now. What did the rest of the report say that set you off so bad?" she probes, fighting her desire to scoff at him.
"Because it is a plot from a Cardinal Lord and the deadline is this week. At the banquet, to be precise, in which-"
"In which we'll be hosting all of them, giving them free access to the Shiro and us. Fuck." Her expression twists in fury.
"Precisely. I wish for you to be with her as well. You have not trained as long as her guards have, but you are just as deadly."
"Why, Sess! I had no idea you thought so highly of me!" Kagome teases, hoping to lighten the mood a little bit and only marginally succeeding when he rolls his eyes at her antics, the red receding now.
"Why do I put up with you." he mutters to himself.
"Because, you'd be terribly bored otherwise. I'm useful entertainment for you." she comments in a joking tone, but her words ring true.
"Hn. You fast wear out your amusement. Now. Your answer." he demands.
Kagome does scoff this time. "Like I would say no. That girl is family. Of course I want to help keep her safe." She pauses, tilting her head, the corner of her lips quirking. "Though, that's means I can't be your secretary for a bit." she snickers, watching his eyes close in exasperation, a reaction only she seems to ever drag out of him, much to her delight. "She's not gunna be happy about it, though. Or her mate, for that matter."
"It is necessary, they will understand."
"So, we're telling them why you're going on lockdown?"
"Ideally, no, however, they will not obey if they are not told." He scowls again. Today's a 'lots of facial reactions' day it seems.
"And, by they you mean she. Even if it chaffed, Matsu will obey. Rin on the other hand…" Kagome trails off, head cocking to the side, smirk firmly in place. He sighs audibly, eyes closing again. He looks tired. I wonder why.
"Indeed. Now, go, tell her what she needs to know and stay with her. This One will find you later." he tells her evenly, betraying none of his prior ire or seeming exhaustion.
"Yes, sir." Kagome mock salutes, as she rises from her seat and moves to the door. Just before leaving though, she turns back to him, seeing his fingers pressing to his temples. "You know, if you need someone to talk to, or complain to, I'm all ears. It's hard running a kingdom and having no one to confide in or vent to when things are stressful. I hope you know that, but if not, here's me verbalizing it. I'm here for you, Sesshoumaru." She smiles warmly at him before exiting the room to let him decompress and plan.
"Kagome! Come on." Rin whines. Again. It had been four days of constant watch and room arrest, and Rin was now fed up, and making sure everyone knew it.
"Rin." Kagome clips, imitating Sesshoumaru's 'shut up' tone. It startles the girl for a only a moment before she rolls her eyes and flops inelegantly onto a pile of cushions. "You know why, and bitching about it doesn't make the threat go away or time speed up."
With a loud groan, the girl flails her limbs a bit. "I need something to do. Sitting here staring out the window is not something to do." Rin huffs. No longer was she the little girl who never complained and did as she was bid. Rin now knows who she is and what she wants and loathes being shut away in her room.
Kagome sighs loudly, falling back onto her own pile of cushions next to the girl. "I know. I'm bored as fuck too. Tell you what. I'll ask if some books and maybe a game of go can be brought to the room. How's that sound?" she asks the pouting girl.
Returning Kagome's loud sigh, Rin nods. "Yeah, sure. At least it'll be something to do."
"Sure thing. Help me up and I'll go ask now, so you're punitive boredom may end that much sooner, lady princess." Kagome states seriously, fighting a smile, and losing said fight when Rin devolves into a heap of giggles.
"Thank you, Kagome." the girl says, hugging Kagome fiercely when they were both standing again.
"Sure thing, kiddo." Kagome replies warmly, returning the hug in full.
"Sess," Kagome starts as she sits down in his study to report the day to him. "I have an idea."
"Hn." he replies, sipping a cup of tea silently.
"So, I had this theory, drawing from the kotodama, like the one your brother had, has, whatever, where reiki is infused and attached to an item, usually a string of blessed beads. If I could attach my reiki but instead of using a spell word to restrain the wearer, if it could be reversed, sorta." she pauses, her brow furrowing slightly, as Sesshoumaru stares at her flatly. "I'm rambling. Sorry. So, idea. Put my power into an object to protect the wearer by making it react to certain stimuli. Once activated, a barrier would erect around the wearer. It'd be cool if I could also restrain anyone that touches the barrier but I think that'd be too complicated, at least with the working idea I have right now... Sorry, rambling again." Kagome stops and sits quietly, waiting for the daiyoukai to respond, repressing her urge to squirm under his intense gaze.
After several minutes of an impromptu staring contest, he puts his cup down and steeples his fingers. "You wish to infuse a kotodama to summon a barrier around its wearer. It is an interesting idea." He pauses, his eyes flickering down to his desk briefly before returning to hers. "What would the trigger be? And how would you prevent it from harming allies caught in it?"
"Ah. Well. That..." She looks to the side, and then tilts her head, pursing her lips for a moment. "Actually, that's pretty simple. It doesn't have to be a purifying barrier, just one to keep things and people out. If I adjust it to sit just above the skin and expand from there, there's no chance of anyone else getting caught in it, since anyone there will just be pushed out. And, since it's my power, as the Shikon Miko, it'll be completely impenetrable and impervious to any attacks until either the threat is gone or I remove the barrier. Added bonus, I'll be able to feel the power spike when it initializes." Kagome explains, a wide, proud grin growing on her face. Sesshoumaru looks at her as he mulls over her idea, searching for any weaknesses or oversights. Finding none, should her idea work, he allows his own small smile to grow on his face, his eyes flickering triumphantly.
"This One would like to test this theory. If it does work, it is rather ingenious." he acknowledges, making Kagome openly preen.
"Why, thank you! I'll have something prepped to test tomorrow."
"Hn. Good."
"Yeah. I really hope this does work, if it doesn't, and Rin has to stay locked up, she's going to snap. And, either start being a menace to us herself, or she'll recruit Shippo next time he's home and you know how bad he can get." Kagome's smile twisting a bit into a slight frown, shuddering at a memory. She sees Sesshoumaru grimace as well, likely remembering the same incident as she. She's still surprised that the kit managed to escape with his life after he booby trapped Sesshoumaru's personal bathhouse.
"Indeed." the daiyoukai drawls. "When is he due back?" he asks in what she assumes is supposed to be a bored tone, but she can just about hear the concern underlying it- he is not looking forward to her kits shenanigans.
"Um, I think in about a month now. His last letter said he had two left and it's been a few weeks since then." Kagome shrugs, trying to remember exactly how long ago the letter arrived.
"Joy." he replies shortly.
Kagome giggles lightly, "I am sorry for what he did last time. It was a bit too far, even for me. But, I appreciate you not eviscerating him, and even allowing him to come back. It means a lot."
"The only reason he was not put to death was because you were able to correct his grevious mistake." he looks at her pointedly as he flicks a silver lock over his shoulder, making her have to bite her lip to not laugh at the memory of that same head of hair being decidedly not silver after Shippo's hodge podge dye job. Thankfully, dyes from this age are rarely permanent and a quick mixture of some herbs pulled the colour right out. "He is your kit. He makes you and Rin happy to see." Sesshoumaru interrupts her thoughts with that quiet statement, her mind coming to a screeching halt.
"He does." She gives a small smile. "Thank you, Sess." She reaches a hand out to pat his resting on his desk, before rising and stretching. "I should get back to the little princess before she makes her guards commit seppuku to get away from her."
"She is that upset?" he asks, his face almost showing his shock and confusion.
"Ah, nah, not really, I'm exaggerating. Though, she has upgraded her level of annoying just to amuse herself, especially when Matsu has to leave to do stuff." Kagome says with a tilt of her head, before flashing him a grin. "It'll be fine, though. I got her some books, a game of go, and working on getting proper painting supplies, so she has things to do. She hasn't been room bound since she was a little kid, and just needs things to occupy her mind. She's not 6 anymore where she can dance with herself to not be bored."
"I miss her being that small." he murmurs, gaze shifting to look out to the window overlooking the garden.
"Mm, she was a really sweet kid. Still sweet really, but it's different." Kagome's smile becomes a little sad, her own memories of days long passed surfacing, with gap toothed smiles and crooked side ponytails, bright red fluffy tails, surrounded in laughter. Looking over at the large Inu, she steps closer, resting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently. "She's not a kid anymore, but she's not going anywhere for a long time. And, she's still your little girl, always will be." He looks up at her briefly, his eyes showing his gratitude even if he can't voice it. "You should come and see her soon. I think it'd do you both some good. Now," she gives his shoulder one last squeeze and a gentle pat before retreating to the door, "I gotta go watch a not so little girl anymore and entertain her some more." Kagome flashes another smile as she slips silently from the room.
The grand hall was full to the brim with youkai to celebrate the summer solstice, which holds special significance to the many canines in attendence this year as a full moon lands on the same night- something about it heightening their power.
"Kags, come dance with me!" Rin bounces lightly on her feet in excitement. "Pleasepleasepleasepleaseple-"
"Alright, alright already!" Kagome laughs loudly at the excitable girl. She is supremely glad that her idea with the kotodama worked so well, otherwise this happy bubbly version of Rin would have been replaced with a downright murderous one had she had to miss the banquet and the ball that followed. Matsu, as one of Sesshoumaru's lieutenants, is with the other military heads, leaving Rin to Kagome's care, knowing how the girl gets and wanting to escape from the near non stop dancing.
Rin grabs Kagome's arm and drags her to the floor, giggling as they start to move across the room, laughing together as they chatter, ignoring the sneers from many of the youkai. While spinning Rin, Kagome spots Sesshoumaru across the room, reclining upon a cushion holding a cup of sake in one hand, his gilded gaze locking with her own cerulean for a moment before his eyes slide to the guest next to him. Kagome releases another lilting laugh as she collects Rin and drags her to a pile of cushions to collapse. "Time for a break, kiddo. I need a drink, badly." Kagome says as she reaches over and snags a bottle of sake and two cups.
"Kami, I love dancing." Rin announces as she holds out her cup for Kagome to fill. Her eyes are roving over the hall, soaking in every detail. Kagome's gaze is also travelling the room, but her gaze is decidedly less wistful and much more calculating. She knows many of the youkai here do not approve of Sesshoumaru's keeping of not only two humans, but one of those humans being a miko- the Shikon Miko- who has enough power even to go toe to toe with Sesshoumaru himself if she wants. Not that I do, or that we've really tested it. Kagome smirks to herself. Seeing nothing that piques her instincts, she loosens her aura just enough to prod the enchanted silver necklace Rin is wearing and infusing it with a bit more power. She's been feeding that necklace for the last week, even knowing it doesn't need more, the power isn't going to drain for years- decades now- but she can't seem to help herself.
"Kags, thank you again. I don't know what I would've done if I had to stay in that damned room." Rin says quietly as she settles back to sip her sake.
"Sure thing, baby girl. I do know what you would've done and I didn't want to be anywhere near that." Kagome giggles, prodding the younger girls arm lightly.
"Hey! I'm not and wasn't that bad." Rin tries to pout through a wide grin, glaring half heartedly at Kagome's snort.
"Nah, I get it. I'd've been the same way in your shoes, doting mate or no." Kagome flashes a Cheshire grin, her eyes still roaming the room. She's so intent on the minute details of people's stances, auras and expressions that she almost misses it when her eyes travel over a familiar set of sky blue eyes and black top knot, until the eyes lock with hers and she's caught in the look of shock that takes over the youkais face.
"Kagome?!" the youkai says, snapping her attention back to actually look at who it is. "Is that really you?"
"K-Kouga?" She sits up, her mouth gaping slightly, stunned at seeing the boisterous wolf in a formal kimono, and not his usual furs. She then shakes herself a bit and turns to the guard who's been shadowing them all night. Receiving a nod from the guard, Kagome stands to go to Kouga, but he instead flashes to her side, making her laugh. He reaches for her hands, pausing briefly, indecision in his eyes, before she launches herself at him to hug him.
"It's been so long." she whispers, as his own arms circle her, holding her tightly. Neither moves for what seems like hours, their auras twirling around each other slightly, reacquainting with the other. Kouga then chuckles lightly, pulling back to look at her fully.
"You've gotten a hell of a lot stronger. Your aura is fuckin' dense, and I'm betting that's not even a fraction of it." He gives her his famous fanged grin, his eyes twinkling as they soak in her form.
She laughs, "Yeah, that's just what kinda exists around me, the rest is wrapped up tightly. If I let any of it out beyond what I literally can't lock up, folks start freaking out." Her own grin turns wicked.
"Oh, I bet. Likely only Sesshoumaru can withstand it now." His hands are still on her arms, not quite ready to release her.
"Mm, probably. Haven't actually tested it, but I've beaten all his generals, so... it's a fair guess. Sess is too busy to spar most days." she tells him, her eyes flicking to Sesshoumaru a few yards away, who has since sat up slightly, his own gaze watching her. One day I am going to spar with him, just to see. Though, I'll probably have to catch him during one of his secret nighttime practice sessions.
"Gods, woman. It's been, what... 30 years?" Kouga's question brings her focus back to him.
"More or less, yeah." she answers, chuckling.
"How're the rest of the gang? What're you even doing here?" he asks, his smile turning down a bit, as he begins to look around for her former pack.
"They're not here." she tells him, his eyes snapping back to her immediately. "Sango and Miroku are, last I checked, in the old slayer village. As far as I've heard, they've rebuilt and have been training new people. Got a whole herd of kids and grandkids now, too. Shippo's studying at that kitsune academy. He should be back in about a month to visit. I've been here for about 20 years now. Ya know, doing this and that." She smirks at him, her eyes sweeping the room again, still doing her duty of guard. She glances over to see Matsu has returned to Rin's side, his arm slung over her shoulders as they both nurse a cup of sake. His eyes meet Kagome's briefly, and gives her a small nod that she returns, before shifting her attention back to Kouga.
"C'mere, let's sit and catch up. I've been dancing for hours, my human feet need a break." She laughs, knowing that she's not anywhere near exhausted, but she's more than willing to use it as excuse for youkai to hear so that she can sit and put up a barrier to let them speak without eavesdroppers.
"Sure thing, Kags." They move to cushions a handful of feet from Rin, slightly closer to Sesshoumaru, who looks curiously annoyed. Upon sitting, Kagome erects the barrier, that blocks sound from leaving but allows sound to enter- she refuses to not be able to hear if something happens. "So, this and that? Clearly, you've been training. Cuz holy shit, woman. I remember how your aura used to feel and it might as well have been a light breeze compared to the gale forced wind it is now."
"Yep." she says, popping the p. "Though, most of my reiki training was before coming here, it has grown since being here even from what it was." She then explains the seal that had been broken by Magatsuhi, followed by what happened when she wished the jewel away.
"Wait. So. It's not gone. It's just. You." he stutters, stunned.
"Yeah. It's basic physics really." She looks out over the hall as she speaks. "Energy and matter can't be created or destroyed, only changed. The power of the jewel couldn't just disappear, though why it didn't occur to me before I honestly have no idea other than I was an idiot. But yeah, so it needed to go somewhere. I didn't understand really why it fused with me until talking to Sess about it, nearly a year after I moved in here. He said that a vessel must be at least as powerful as the power it is containing, or said power would just bust out and make the vessel useless. In other words, the bucket has to be able to hold the amount of water you're putting in it, or the water just won't fit and will escape, making said bucket worthless. So…" she drags out the word before taking a deep breath, "So, when I wished the jewel out of existence, the power it held couldn't disappear, and the only vessel capable of holding it was me. And now. I am the jewel. Sorta. I don't do wishes." She smirks, turning back to look at the ookami, who is staring at her, brow furrowed slightly as he absorbs all the information she just dumped on him.
"I see." he accepts easily, nodding slightly. "I'm assuming no one but you, apparently Sesshoumaru, and maybe your pack know this?" he queries.
"Former pack, and yeah. So, discretion would be appreciated. He's gunna be pissed I told you, but," she shrugged as she tilted her head towards Sesshoumaru, "you're one of my group. Even if you weren't part of that group, I trust you wish my life. Though," she pauses again, her grin growing wicked once more, though her eyes flash sadly, "That appears to be impervious to everything as well."
"What're you talking about?" Kouga asks slowly.
"It means, as you've probably noticed, I'm not aging. On top of that, I heal stupidly fast. Nearly as fast as Sesshoumaru, even." She stops, debating if she wants to share this next bomb of information with the poor overloaded wolf. She glances at him, and sees his expression is shocked and thoughtful but not afraid or judgmental as she had received from certain others before. It matches closer to what Sesshoumaru gave her. Deciding that if he's not put off by what she's said so far, in for a penny, in for a pound.
"There's more." she admits, watching him intently, waiting for him to rebuke her, to be afraid of her, even a little bit. Instead, he turns his gaze back to her, his eyes almost sad, as if he knows how hard this has been for her. "As far as I, we, Sess and I, can tell. I can't die." She sucks in a breath and holds it, her cobalt orbs locking with his face.
His eyes trace her features for a moment. "Can't die how?" he encourages softly, his hands reaching for hers, to squeeze gently.
Kagome releases the breath in a shuddering sigh. "Well. Couple incidents happened. First one was a day after I wished the jewel away. I was walking with..." she stops, steeling herself to say a name she hasn't said in decades. "I was walking with InuYasha," she whispers, "we were going to test the well- which doesn't work by the way- and some rogue low level snake youkai caught us. Me. It caught me, and snapped my neck." she falters for a moment unable to continue, and looks out over the crowd of youkai, checking on Rin and her mate, and seeing Sesshoumaru still watching her.
"You died?" Kouga guesses quietly, his thumb rubbing the back of one of her hands.
"From what he said, I did. My heart stopped. Until it didn't. I woke up with a sore neck, but stood up to see him gutting the youkai. When he turned around, his face..." She looks down at their hands, torn between the desire to cry and a need to break something, but refusing to give into either impulse. "I've never seen him so scared. And he was scared of me. We didn't tell the others, they only know that I'm not aging and am stupid powerful. He left two days after that incident, though."
"And you haven't heard from him since." Kougas voice is cold, hard. Kagome looks up and saw his eyes flickering red, before he closes them and breathes deep.
"Yeah. Only four people, as far as I know, know about that day now."
"Sesshoumaru knows, as well then. You said there were a couple of incidents."
"Yeah. The other is why Sess knows about the first. I hadn't really believed the first one, thinking he just missed something." She shakes her head, shifting to sit closer to Kouga and lean against him, his arm automatically draping over her shoulder. "However... and he still gets pissy over this. Kinda was my fault, so I get it, though. So, Sess patrols his lands, right, it's an annual thing to remark his boundaries. Though, Naruku kinda turned it from a brief tour into a continual necessity at the time." She looks up at him, and seeing Kouga nod she smirks, now knowing he does the same to his lands.
"So, I was restless one year, I think it was about five years after moving here, and asked if I could go with him, stretch my legs, get some of the antsy-ness I had out of my system. He begrudgingly allowed it, but I was to fend for myself. Which, fine, I can hunt for and defend myself, only thing I ever needed help with was finding water sources, which he didn't mind pointing them out to me. Anyways, we had been out for about three weeks, maybe half way through his usual trail, when I was attacked. We were near a hot spring, and you know how I am." Kouga barks out a laugh, making her smile more.
"So, I was in the water, only marginally paying attention, cuz Sess was within shouting distance, well for him, anyways. Lesson learned, pay attention, cuz I didn't even get a chance to scream. Only reason Sess knew something had happened was because he heard the youkai that had attacked me cackling." She shudders, her hand ghosting up to her heart.
"Kagome. What happened." Kouga's voice is a barely repressed snarl, and without looking at him, she knows his face is taut with anger.
"Firstly, not his fault. He trusted me to be alert enough to have sensed something to give me the time to call for him if necessary. It was my fault, I got complacent. Got it? Now. It was some random youkai who thought that killing the human travelling with the great Western Lord would win him some points somewhere."
"Kagome. What. Happened."
"He ripped out my heart from behind me. Sess said he found me floating in the water. He shredded the youkai, I don't even know what kind it was, it had a humanoid form though. Sess said he pulled me from her water, and was going to use Tensaiga to bring me back, but it wouldn't respond. He said I laid there for an hour before I suddenly sat up, alive again. He wasn't afraid of me, though. Just confused, and curious. I don't even have a scar." She laughs humourlessly. "The only scars I have are all from before the wish, which is still a lot, but hey, at least I can hide them all with clothing. At least until the late 20th century." She chuckles to herself, and looks up at her friend beside her. He is staring at her with awe. Well, that's certainly better than fear.
"That's... you..." he shakes his head, before a wide grin pops into existence on his face and he gathers her in a hug. "Well, it's nice to know you won't be going anywhere, apparently ever." he laughs.
"I haven't tested decaptiation or removal of limbs, but yeah, seems I'm stuck here." Kagome wraps her arms around him in return and just basks in his easy acceptance of her weirdness. Kami, I've missed him. I didn't even realise how much.
"So, dog turd left you high and dry. The humans have their own thing and the kits off learnin', so you came here... to... what?" he asks lightly, loosening his hold a bit to let her relax into the cushions again.
"I needed to get out of Edo. Rin was the only one left there after Kaede died, and when Sess came to collect her to move her back to the Shiro, I knew either I had to go with them, or I was going to rot inside. I was already so angry and bitter. I... I think if I'd stayed, I would've done some terrible things." she whispers the last part, closing her eyes briefly.
"I find that hard to believe, but then, I wasn't there at the time. You're definitely different now. You're not as..."
"Naive, blind, immature?" she supplies with a wry grin.
"Innocent. You were a kid at the time, can't help that. And you definitely were not immature. What you went through, and put up with, would've broken most people. Of any race. Now, blind, maybe, but hey, you learned." He smirks at her, as he squeezes her gently, before his eyes turn serious again. "Really, though, you're more... shrewd I guess would be a good word, but not bitter. At least, not now, not that I can see." His smile is warm as his eyes scan her features. "You're still beautiful, still charming, much more confident, and a lot less self incriminating." His hand reaches to brush away a few escaped tendrils of hair gently, and her eyes soften.
"Kouga, I don't want to rehash old feelings. I'm still not into you that way. You're one of my closest friends, even if we haven't seen each other in about three decades, but I'm not looking for something romantic." Kagome confides softly, hoping he doesn't react poorly. She's then surprised when he laughs, and kisses her forehead.
"Don't worry, Kags, I'm not looking for it either. Truth be told, while I would absolutely enjoy you," he pauses, his eyes darkening as his smile turns sultry, "and I really would, I'm not looking for a mate. Most of my boasting was to piss off dog turd- which, I'm sorry for any and all hardship that caused you- and get Ayame off my back. She finally gave up and mated a wolf from her own tribe."
She barks out a laugh. "Well, appreciate the apology, cuz he was a definite fucking brat about it all back then. Would've been nice to know then, but I suppose I was too wrapped up in my willfull blindness that I called "love" for it to have actually helped any."
He snorts before leaning back again to look out over the hall, "Yeah, that was a bit annoying, cuz he treated you like shit." Kagome hums in agreement. "How's the elder dog treat you?" he prods.
"Great, really. Let's me do my own thing, so long as I don't cause issues. I train every morning with his generals, then help him with his paperwork in the afternoon. Some years I go with him on patrol, sometimes I stay back and keep the paperwork from being overwhelming when he returns. I spend time with Rin, I've made friends here, it's a good life." Her smile is one of utter contentment. "I'm glad I asked him to let me come."
"You'll have to introduce me to your friends then." He smirks, then heistates before turning to her again. "What about partners?" he hedges.
She flips a hand dismissively, "Couple here and there but nothing serious. Not looking for serious, though I'm not opposed to something coming along, just not gunna go looking for it. Last time I did, it got all fucked up. So, if it happens, it happens." She shrugs, still smiling.
"So. If someone were to... proposition you..." he voices it slowly, letting the implication hang, watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"Depends on the person. Maybe." Kagome's head tilts a bit, before sliding her gaze over to the wolf. "Why? Are you 'propositioning' me?" She flashes him a very bright, shit eating grin.
"Mm, possibly." He returns the grin, his eyes dragging down her body and back up.
"Hm. Maybe. I'll let you know." She turns to settle back against his arm, forcing her gaze to settle on the couples dancing, and ignore the feeling of his fingers gently grazing her arm.
"Hm, really?" he bends down to drag his nose underneath her ear. "And how long will that be, Kags?" His breath is warm on her skin as she fights a shiver.
"I dunno. Could be tonight, could be a decade, who can tell these things." Her voice has gone breathy, her eyes fluttering as he starts pressing light kisses down her neck.
With a small nip, he pulls back, as if nothing happened. "Who can tell, indeed." he states, voice husky, as he turns to gaze out over the crowd again. They both sit in silence for a while, before Kagome turns to him.
"Meet me in the gardens in about an hour." she tells him before pressing a light kiss to his cheek and standing. She drops her barrier and moves to where Rin is slowly falling asleep against her mate, and begins the task of shuffling them both, with their guards, back to their rooms, flashing one last look at Kouga before she leaves the room.
Humming to herself, Kagome makes her way to the gardens, her blood simmering with anticipation. Sure, she's had partners before, she isn't a virgin anymore, especially thanks to Rin's wonderful idea for birth control- a ring with a clever little bit of spellwork-, but something about Kouga feels different. Not in a "this is going to become something" sort of way, but rather "this is going to be amazing". And she couldn't wait.
Stepping into the garden, she giggles when she feels a steel arm wrap around her waist and lips press to her throat. "You're sure about this, Kags?" Kouga asks, giving her the option to say no.
"Yes, I want this. Sleeping with you isn't a promise of anything more than having fun, though. If you're hoping for more, tell me now. I won't tease you like that." Kagome explains, turning to look at him, pulsing her aura against his.
"I'm not looking for anything serious, Kags. I promise, but I'd be a fool to not enjoy you while I can when you're offering yourself to me." She studies his face for a moment, probing his aura and finds no hint of deception. Nodding, she slides her hands up his shoulders to drape behind his neck, pressing herself closer to him as his own arms twine around her waist.
"Well, little lady? Are we doing this here, or you got a room?" he jokes as he bends to nip at her jaw, eliciting a small moan.
"Follow me." she breathes as she extracts herself and grabs his hand, leading him to her room.
As soon as the door is slid shut, she erects another one way barrier, as he grabs her and crashes his lips to hers. A mess of lips, tongues and teeth, they stumble back to her bed, shedding their clothes as they go. When they reach her custom made raised futon, they fall back onto it, his mouth working against her throat as her nails scratch down his back, her legs spreading, letting him shift and settle against her hips. His erection presses against her heat, throbbing with need as his hands slide up her sides to cup her breasts.
"Gods, Kouga..." Kagome breathes out, earning a rumbling laugh from the wolf. He pulls up to sit back and get a good look at her. Her hair has come undone and is spilling across her sheets, her lips kiss bruised and dewy, her eyes glittering sapphires, as her breasts heave with each breath. He trails his fingers reverently down her sides, settling on her hips as her legs wrap around his waist lightly.
She own eyes are drinking in the sight of the wolf above her. His top knot has slipped, letting his long black hair to fall free into his customary high tail. His eyes are dark and hooded with desire. His lightly bronzed skin is perfect, his torso looks like it was carved from marble by Michaelangelo. A small dusting of black hair travels from his navel to spread into a small patch of hair above his very well endowed member. But then, all youkai seemed to be extremely blessed in that department.
She lightly trails her toes up his calf, watching enraptured as his eyes shutter closed and a groan escapes him, before he falls upon her again, kissing her deeply. One of his hands slide from her hip to her apex, as a finger trails over her clit, making her arch sharply, and slip between her folds. He rubs lightly, smirking at her mewl, before pressing his finger into her. Kagome arches again and moans loudly, rocking her hips to encourage him to move his finger more, faster, before he adds a second. His thumb finds her clit and presses lightly before beginning to twirl it in a circular motion, his fingers still rocking inside of her.
Kagome basks in the sensations, pulling her lips from his as she greedily sucks in air so that she can groan. Kouga's mouth moves across her jaw and down her neck to nip and suck at her throat, his other hand finding her breast. He plays her body like a well tuned instrument and before long, she's gasping out his name as she shatters in ecstasy. He slows his movements, but doesn't stop as he prolongs her ride.
When she finally falls back down to earth, panting, she grabs his face and kisses him, before rocking her hips up in a silent demand for more. Kouga chuckles as he shifts them to line up, the tip of his member brushing her heat lightly, earning a quiet keening sound from Kagome. Leaning over the gorgeous miko, Kouga thrusts forward and seats himself to the hilt, making Kagome arch harshly, and both of them to moan out deeply, overwhelmed momentarily by the exquisite pleasure.
When Kouga can move without feeling like he's going to explode immediately, he shifts Kagome, and rocks his hips back before thrusting forward again, head falling back at how damnably good she feels. "Kami. So tight." he grinds out between clenched teeth. "So good." He slowly thrusts, setting a shallow and slow tempo.
"Kouga," Kagome says, moaning and gasping, "either fuck me like you mean it or I'm gunna do it." she demands, voice too breathy to sound threatening.
"Oh?" he replies, smirking as he picks up the pace and begins to slam into her. "And how're you gonna do that?" he teases as he incapacitates her ability to think beyond how amazing he feels. He bends down and kisses her neck, leaving small bites and licks across her skin. He feels her inner walls begin to tighten, as her back arches a bit, her nails dragging harshly across his shoulders. He slides a hand down between them and flicks her clit lightly once, making her fall apart around him. He groans, and has to stop, or lose himself during her orgasm, and he has no plans to finish so soon. He's wanted this woman since he first saw her, romantic inclinations or not. She was gorgeous then, she's more than gorgeous now, and good Kami does she feel fucking fantastic.
"Oh god, Kouga, you feel so good. Don't stop, please..." she breathes as she presses kisses to his neck under his ear. His entire body shudders in pleasure as he starts to fuck her again.
Kagome doesn't want this to ever end, she's never felt this good before, even with her past partners. She almost wishes she'd given in to the wolf all those years ago, she could've been enjoying his talents all this time. Though still not interested in a relationship, she certainly thinks she'll try to keep the wolf around to play with for a while. He tilts her slightly just then, before ramming into her and hitting a spot she's only enjoyed when with someone else, her own fingers just not quite enough to reach it properly, and certainly not to ravage it as well as a man fucking her can. She releases a gasping cry when he finds it, her eyes slamming shut as pleasure skitters through her spine.
"Oh? There then?" Kouga pants out, shifting himself to make the angle more comfortable before pounding into that spot over and over, essentially shoving her over the edge. He doesn't stop hitting that spot throughout her orgasm, and as soon as she comes down, she's flying again. She's nearly convinced she'll never stop coming, when his rhythm becomes jerky suddenly, before he throws his head back and practically roars.
They both still, panting before Kagome collapses against the bed, and Kouga falls forward to collapse against her. Their arms and legs entwine, their sexes still connected, as they bask in the afterglow of their amazing fuck.
"Kami, Kagome." Kouga whispers.
"Uh huh." she replies, making them both chuckle. Kouga then shakily props himself up to slide himself from her channel, making them both groan at the sensation. Flopping to her side, he gathers her and pulls her to his chest, eyes closed the entire time.
"I'm sleeping here, hope you don't mind." he murmurs, shifting slightly as he gets comfortable, letting her do the same against him.
"Nope, I'm comfy. G'night then, Kouga." she breathes, resting her head on his chest.
"Night, gorgeous."
Kagome walks into the study the next afternoon- having just finished sparring with Kouga in the dojo, and then "sparring" with him in her private hot spring that's attached to her room- in an extremely good mood. She sits down at her desk without a word, and begins to sort through the small pile of scrolls she has. She's so lost in her own head that she doesn't hear Sesshoumaru stand from his desk, or move at all, really, until he's standing in front of her desk, looking down at her.
"Oh, Kami, Sess. You startled me. What's up?" She asks, hand pressing to her chest, waiting for her heart to regulate again.
"The wolf." is all he says, his face impassive.
"Is a good friend of mine. You should remember him from the shard hunt."
"Hn, he enjoyed riling the hanyou and pressing an unwanted suit on you."
"Yeah, turns out he didn't actually want to mate me, just wanted to irritate your brother." She smirks, still avoiding using his name, as much as Sesshoumaru did.
"It seems he did." Sesshoumaru moves back to his desk to sit again.
Kagome snorts once, and then she's giggling before she can help it. "He didn't want to mate me for life. Just a good rut. A damn good one." she murmurs, earning her a scowl. "Oh come on, I'm a grown woman, I've got needs. Same as anyone else, same as you. Don't think I don't know you see the concubines occasionally." Kagome says with a sidelong glance at him, watching his gaze snap to her.
"What This One does-"
"Not my business, I know. Vice versa. I don't judge you, don't judge me. I'm not leading him on, neither of us are looking for anything permanent. We were close before without the sex, and we will be after. Which, by the way, I've told him everything about me." She puts down the report she'd been pretending to read to rest her elbows on her desk and look over at him. "I know you don't want it getting out, but he won't tell, and I won't lie to him. I lie to enough people already. You two are the only friends I have that I can be completely honest with, without any reservations." She watches as his eyes flicker briefly with some emotion she can't name before it's gone, and he shifts in his seat to cross his arms on the desk before him- a rare show of relaxation that she's pretty sure only she has ever seen.
"If you are sure, I will not interfere." he says simply, his golden gaze locking with her own oceanic one.
"I'm sure. He knew everything about me back then and has never breathed a word about any of it. And..." she pauses, looking down, "He didn't judge me. Not once. He didn't look at me like I was a freak, or any differently than he's always looked at me. I need that. Not to say you did that, but you're very reserved. Which is fine, but sometimes I miss having someone who I can say anything to and get a snarky response from. I don't want to change you, or make you feel like you're not good enough. You are, you so are, and you give me a firm stability and an unshakeable calm that I depend on when I get in my own head too much. I know I don't say it very often, if I ever have in so many words, but I'd be lost without you, Sess. You gave me the tools, patience and space, even with your 'not hovering', to pull myself back together from the broken bitter mess that I was. He's just a different form of friend that I need as well. He gives me different things, and I'm not talking about sex." Kagome stops her long winded explanation, looking back up, and seeing a very rare expression on his face- compassion. She smiles warmly at him, standing to move over to him, and sitting next to him. He turns to face her, expression once more schooled blank, before she hugs him.
"I know you hate this, but humour me for a moment. I appreciate you so gods damned much, Sess, and I will never, ever, forget just how much you've done or me, trivialise it, or betray the faith and loyalty you've given me. You are my best friend, reserved as you are. Thank you." Kagome pulls back and presses a small kiss against his cheek before returning to her seat. "Now. Anything happen last night while I was distracted?"
"Hn. No. Rin and her mate stayed put until you escorted them to their room. They should both still be in their room now." he replies. "Kagome," he starts, voice quieter than before, "I am glad you are happy here. You deserve to be. Thank you for... thank you." Sesshoumaru murmurs before shifting picking up a scroll.
"Sure thing, Sess. I understand." Kagome gives him a small smile, knowing how uncomfortable he is letting anyone in, but appreciating just much he's given her in that respect. He may not be open like a Kouga is, but he is just as important, maybe even more so. She turns her gaze back down to her desk, allowing the companionable silence to surround them both. She would always be in his corner, just as she knows that he'll always be in hers.
Later, Kagome leaves Sesshoumaru's study and is walking down the hall towards Rin's room, intending to check on her, when her favourite wolf finds her, surprising her with a kiss.
"Hey, you." She giggles, looping her arm through his to steer him down the hall. "What's up?"
"Not much, took a nap in the garden while you were busy with the dog." Kouga teases.
"Man, I would've loved a nap." Kagome sighs.
"Mm, still got time for one before dinner." He waggles a brow at her, fanged grin plastered on his face, making her laugh.
"I don't think a nap is what you have in mind, ya big bad wolf. Also, if I take an actual nap, it'll throw everything off schedule. I'll just sleep really well tonight." Her own smile growing cheeky.
"Yeah, somehow I doubt that, at least for part of the night. So, where are ya going?" He switches topics quickly before she can smack him.
"Rin. Gunna go check on her. Usually I'd see her in the morning, but I hadn't trained in about a week, and needed to."
"Why- never mind, you can tell me later." he states upon seeing the look on her face.
"Thanks. Her rooms just up ahead, you wanna come with or scamper off elsewhere? I'll probably be trapped with her until dinner."
"Eh, I'll go with. Not much else to do here, really, especially by myself."
"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you though." she says, reaching to open the door, just as she feels a spike of her power. "Fuck!" She shoves Kouga behind her and rips the door open, erecting a barrier around Matsu, the guards and Kouga immediately, then yanking the chains off of her aura, letting it flood from her, roiling thick, and dangerous throughout the room. Grabbing her hidden blades, she throws two at the darkly garbed figure that had been thrown to the wall by Rin's barrier, pivoting to check the rest of the room before sprinting to the adjoining chamber. Finding no one, she steps back, dampening her aura to a non lethal level before releasing the barriers around everyone, save Rin.
"Someone better talk and quick." she snaps, stalking around the room as she does, checking every window, every door, and flaring her aura to snap it at Sesshoumaru's, who is already sprinting from his study.
He arrives about 30 seconds later, growling out, "Explain, now."
"Daddy..." a quiet call came from the girl still in her barrier.
"Rin, it's okay." Kagome says as she steps through the shield to hug the girl. "They can't enter the barrier until I release it, and I'm not doing that until we know the threat is gone." She rubs the crying girls back, looking back at the body against the wall.
"Kagome, report." Sesshoumaru clips out, his patience hanging a very thin thread, eyes having bled crimson.
"I came to check on Rin, and just as I got to the door, I felt the barrier go up. I shielded her mate and guards, and incapacitated the assailant. My senses didn't feel anything moving in the rooms, and I didn't see anyone in my perimeter check. Kouga was with me, so it wasn't him." she states quickly, tone even.
"Kagome, I was so scared." Rin sobs.
"Shh, it's okay, baby girl. You're safe now. You're safe." She holds the girls head to her shoulder, tightening her grip on her.
"I can't smell anything other than Kags power now, but if there was someone, they wouldn't have been able to leave with how fuckin' heavy she poured her aura out." Kouga says, his face stern, having gone into Alpha mode. He walks to the downed body, crouching to get a closer look, before looking at Sesshoumaru. "You know who he's working for, right?" he asks, voice deadly.
"Hn. We've known about the threat for nearly two weeks now. We expected the attack to come before or at the banquet, not the day after."
"We should have, though." Kagome fumes, having shifted the girl to sit on the bed and extricating herself to leave the barrier again. "Wait, don't say anything quite yet." Kagome interrupts Sesshoumaru before he can speak, and she erects a barrier around the room, soundproofing it. "So, which Lord is he working for?"
"None. At least, no sitting Lord." Kouga remarks, his face grim. "He's a dragon." he states, as Sesshoumaru's snarl makes the room shake. Kagome walks to him and places a hand on his arm.
"Calm down, beasting out won't help. So, the dragons are causing problems again. Annoying, slightly problematic, but nothing we can't handle. Now that we know, we can plan." Kagome says seriously, before tilting her head, remembering something. "Though, that explains the fangs of the mountain line."
"Indeed. We still do not know who the bird at sea is, however."
"I do." Kouga interjects, making everyone snap their attention to him. "It's the old family crest for the Southern house. You should know that, Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru locks up, his eyes closing before he spins and slams a fist to the stone wall next to him.
"Well. I'll say you just had a 'duh' moment. So, the south is working with the dragons to do... what? Kill Rin, but to what end."
"Kagome, can you let me out?" comes Rin's tiny voice from behind them.
"Oh, yeah, sorry Rin. Here." Kagome stretches a finger out to touch the barrier, and watches as it sucks itself back into Rin's necklace. "That should do it." she says as Rin throws herself into her mates arms. Kagome turns to the guards then. "You both haven't spoken yet. What happened prior to the barrier going off?"
"As far as we saw, nothing. She was sitting alone on her bed with the bound scrolls she has been reading for the last few days, when suddenly we were all thrown back by the barrier rapidly expanding. Then you came in." the female guard says, bowing lightly.
"So, he was using magic. Great. Just what we need. Not that it'll work against my reiki, but it does make this whole thing a bit trickier. I'm making a necklace for you as well then." Kagome points to Matsu, to which he nods. "I'm going to leave a barrier up around the room, you guys stay here until I come back. Sess, Kouga and I are gunna go chat in his study. You guys try to relax." Kagome instructs, pointing to Kouga to grab the unconscious attacker, and places a hand on Sesshoumaru's arm to guide him to the door.
Once in the study, Kouga dumps the body in a corner and frisks it for any weapons. Kagome creates handcuffs and a gag made of reiki to keep him bound and silent until they're ready to deal with him, and then puts a barrier over him for added security and deafen him to their conversation.
"Now. Ya wanna fill me in?" Kouga asks as Sesshoumaru settles behind his desk, Kagome leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. Miko and inu glance at each other, before the daiyoukai nods to her. She puts a barrier up around the room before sighing loudly and walking to her desk. Touching her reiki to one of the drawers, it flashes lightly before opening, in which she pulls out a scroll.
"We got a coded report from one of the spies saying that an attack was planned against a human female in the house of the moon." She hands the scroll, with its decoded notations, to Kouga. "We assumed it would be during the banquet or just before it. 'The frailty that blooms amongst the flowers on the moon will wilt while dancing. A bird of the sea hails the fangs of the mountain.' The rest is just fluff to pad the letter."
"So, the humans of your house," nodding to Sesshoumaru, "set to die when there's dancing happening, and the Southern Lord helps the dragons."
"That's the gist." Kagome comments, as the inu scowls mightily. "Evidently, we misinterpreted the dancing to mean that was the deadline. Who is still here from last night? I know most left this morning."
"Your wolf, a handful of western lords, a couple of the east, one of the minor houses from the north, and two from the south." Sesshoumaru supplies.
"Okay. So, we set the spies on the ones still here, and then interrogate our little friend here. Actually, hold on." Kagome drops the barrier around the still unconscious youkai, pulses her aura lightly, encompassing the assassin before flaring it once then pulling her reiki back, and replacing the barrier. "There. He had three spells hidden to kill himself if he were forced to talk. Now, he doesn't." Kagome flashes a deadly grin, making a Kouga shiver slightly at the lethal promises it made.
"Very good. How long do you plan to stay here, ookami?" Sesshoumaru asks boredly.
Kouga shrugs, looking at Kagome still. "Awhile, if Kags wants me to. I can't stay forever, but my Betas can handle the pack for a few weeks." He's still a little shocked at how feral Kagome looks, and by how much he likes it.
Sesshoumaru is also watching the miko, before nodding once. "Very well. Kagome, you may escort the failed assassin down to the dungeon.
"Sure thing, Sess. Might even offer to help old Yori with this one."
"Do as you please, but do not purify him. Or make too big of a mess."
"Oh, it was one time. Gimme a break." Kouga watches the exchange with a small bit of awe, at the fact that Kagome is definitely not the girl she was before and that the great lord of the West with no rival in power- except maybe the tiny slip of a woman before him- is allowing self same woman to speak to him like that. Then his grin returns as he fights to laugh at the exasperation he sees on the great inu's face.
"Well, let's go Kouga. We got a body to deliver, and then I have to make a necklace for Matsu and let Rin out of her room. See ya, Sess!"