1650
The large hall is decorated beautifully, in the House of the Moon's traditional colours of blue and silver, as well as touches of red, with sakura blossoms scattered everywhere. It's filled with youkai from across Japan, some mildly pleased, some furious, but all are curious about the female the famed bachelor that is the Western Lord finally chose to mate.
Standing in the middle of the room, Sesshoumaru speaks quietly with some of the delegation of the Eastern Lord, his intended at his side, smiling gently. Kagome is bored, as she knows her intended is as well, and can't wait for the required banquet and ball to be done, so that they can escape back to their room and sleep. Their actual ceremony is tomorrow, with their friends and family, but due to Sesshoumaru's title, a large, ridiculous celebration is required of them- especially to allow challenges to be placed against the mating.
Scanning her eyes across the room, her smile goes from gentle and mildly forced to wide and beaming.
"Yo, gorgeous! There you are!" Kouga calls as he crosses the room towards the pair. "Hey, Sesshoumaru. Made it, finally. How's it going so far?"
"Kouga, I'm so glad you're here." Kagome says as she throws herself at him in a hug before stepping back and reaching for Sesshoumaru's hand.
"It is good of you to come." the daiyoukai greets quietly, tipping his head in small bow.
"As if I'd miss this by choice. Kags here is about to make a lot of peoples days really, really suck. And I. can't. wait." The wolf's fanged grin takes a decidedly evil tilt, his eyes glinting, when Sesshoumaru hums in agreement.
"Oh, come on. It's not gunna be that ba-" A sudden screeching cry echoes through the hall, silence ringing in it's wake. The trio all turn towards the source of the sound and find a gap forming in the crowd around a singular female inuyoukai.
"You whore!" the female screams, making many youkai around the room wince at the volume, Kouga and Sesshoumaru as well, though the latter's discomfort hardly shows on his face.
"Excuse me?" Kagome asks softly.
"You! You are a whore and you will not mate our great Lord!" she shrieks again.
" 'K, first, stop screaming, you're hurting folks ears. Second, I don't think that's up to you. Are you casting a formal challenge? Or are you just bellowing to make a scene hoping I'll run away and hide?" Kagome queries, her head tilting slightly, tone never wavering.
"Yes! I challenge you! You're a weak little human whore, cavorting with multiple males and trapping our Lord." Her declaration is met with several snorts- the two males next to her as well as several youkai near the female.
"She's slept with at least three people in the last two days." Kouga murmurs to Kagome, smirk firmly planted on his face.
"Cavorting with multiple males. Just to clarify, you mean that I've slept with them. Recently, while courting our Lord, correct?"
"Yes!"
"You mean like the three that can be scented on you? Anyone may scent me, tell me how many you find that are on my person intimately. I dare you." She steps away from her friend and intended, arms held out to her sides, "Tell me I am whoring myself. No? No one?" She tsks. "Pity. You stand there and throw accusations and won't even bother to confirm them. Very well, you wished for a challenge, you shall have one." Kagome throws up a barrier around the female and expands it, pushing back others to give them an unimpeded circle of a few yards. Stepping into the barrier, she wastes no time in flicking out her whip to grab the females wrists and drag her to the ground, eliciting yet another ear piercing cry from her as she sprawls across the floor.
"You wish to challenge me, yet you haven't even the faintest idea of what I'm capable of, do you? Do any of you even know who I am? Or did you see human on the invitation and ignore the rest of it?" Kagome looks around the room, seeing Kouga and Sesshoumaru smirking, standing back with their arms crossed. The rest of the hall is still silent, filled with wide eyes and gaping mouths. "I am the Shikon Miko. My power rivals that of our lord's. Do you all really wish to see my full power?" she calls out, her voice strong, using a touch of reiki to project it louder. The female on the floor in front of her whimpers pitifully, regardless that Kagomes whip is barely singing her.
The hall remains completely silent, save for the sound of feet moving away from her, desperate to get away from the display of power. "No one? Very well. There will be no challenges cast after this, fools. Any who dare will die. You," Kagome snaps as she drops her barrier and yanks her whip back, leaving mild cuts across the females wrists, "may keep your life. Be so foolish again, little whore, and you forfeit it. Am I understood." she demands, her voice steel.
"Y-yes, my Lady." the inu whispers, humiliated.
"Good, now leave." Scrambling up, the fool flees. Kagome turns back to her friend and intended.
"Dammit, I was hoping for more of a fight." Kuoga grumbles, slinging an arm around her shoulders when she steps close enough to. Her hand finds Sesshoumarus, and his thumb rubs small circles against her skin.
"No one was gunna actually fight me, you know. I'm in the same boat as Sess has been in for the several centuries- and especially the last century and a half. One good show of force, make them piss themselves and they all tuck tail and hide, whispering in dark corners instead of speaking outright." Kagome tsks once more, and then sighs wearily. "C'mon, let's go find Rin and Kimiko. I don't think anyone's gunna want to talk to us for the rest of the night. Too afraid I'll remove something." They all chuckle as they walk to where they saw their pack members last.
"You were brilliant tonight, koi." Sesshoumaru murmurs against Kagome's skin as he nips her throat lightly, his arms encircling her from behind once they are in their chambers.
"Mm, is a shame it wasn't more of a challenge, wouldn't have minded actually showing some of my impressive," she pauses to gasp as his tongue dances behind her ear, "might." she breathes.
"I am glad it was not. I could hardly control myself from taking you then and there. You are far too enticing for your own good, little minx." He turns her around and captures her lips tenderly, his hands travelling up her sides and shoulders to thread his fingers into her hair, pulling out pins as he does. Her own hands begin working on the ties of his clothing, his following suit shortly after.
"Remind me," she gasps when he releases her to breathe, "why we have," a moan escapes her as he pulls her kimono down and nips her collarbone, "to wait until tomorrow?" she groans out as he lifts her easily, transporting her to the bed to lay her down.
"We do not. The obligation has been met, tomorrow is merely for the private exchange. Much like a human wedding. The actual mating and tying of our souls," he drags his tongue up the inside of one of her breasts before nipping at the top of it, hands still divesting her of her clothing. "Can happen tonight." He looks up at her hooded cobalt eyes, his own golden ones shining with love and desire.
"Good, cuz I'm tired of waiting." She reaches up and pulls him down for a kiss, her hands yanking off his haori and smoothing down his bare shoulders before dragging her nails back up, eliciting a hiss and a soft bite to her lower lip. He leans back and tosses off his haori, then pulls her up and slides off all the many layers of Kagome's clothing, leaving her bare on the bed, and him in his hakama.
"One of us is still overdressed for the oc-" she gasps as his fingers find her clit, "occasion. Kami..." Her back arches as her eyes slide shut. They fly open again upon feeling Sesshoumaru's tongue flicking across her folds and a rumble vibrates from her apex, making pleasure skitter up her spine. Her hands reach down and thread through his silver tresses, holding him to her as her legs fall open wider. His tongue wraps around her clit, pulling it into his mouth where he sucks and nibbles on it wontonly, his fingers falling lower, teasing at her entrance before two fingers press inside of her.
Kagome is a mess of mewls and moans at the hands of the inu. A recurring thought dances across her mind then. I thought Kouga was good. Kami, had I had Sess first, I would have been ruined for anyone else. She barely finishes the thought when her body tenses and then shatters, a soft cry escaping her, her hands clenching almost painfully, still buried in his hair, as his tongue languidly strokes over her clit, drawing out her high. When she finally comes back down, he sits up, removes his hakama and slides up her body, her legs nestling his hips perfectly, her hands stroking down his shoulders and pectorals.
"You are sure, koi? There is no going back after this. Only death will part us." he whispers, hovering over her, eyes searching her own.
"I've been sure, Sess. I love you. I want this. Please don't make me wait." She leans up and presses her lips to his sweetly, that he deepens with a rumbling growl. His hand reaches down between them, lining them up, before he thrusts into her. They break their kiss to gasp, both resting their heads in the crook of the others neck.
"I will never get tired of this. Kami, you've ruined me, Sess." Kagome murmurs against his skin, feeling him smirk against hers, knowing his ego has just soared to never before seen heights, making her chuckle as her head falls back. He rolls his hips lightly, teasing her, and leaning back and shifting both of their hips, then pulls back slowly, before slamming home, right into her spot. Her back arches immediately, as her eyes fly open, her mouth open in a silent scream.
"And, I will never tire of this sight, my beautiful kioshi." He starts a fast and shallow pace, making sure he is always brushing that spot, and within a dozen thrusts, she is falling apart again, and again, and again, as he keeps his strokes even. After the fourth or fifth orgasm, Kagome is silently sobbing from the overwhelming pleasure he is inciting in her. Unable to move, she lays with her eyes closed, her hands thrown back near her head, her hair tousseled under and around her in a dark halo. Then, after what seems like forever for her, Sesshoumaru's thrusts begin to jerk, and she forces her eyes open to meet his blood red ones as he leans down and tilts her head to the side, pulling his own hair out of her way.
"Now, mate." he growls, just before his fangs sink into the crook of her neck, and he pours some of his youki into her. She cries out and reaches for him, drawing her reiki around her own far blunter canines as she sinks her own teeth into him, her created fangs breaking skin easily, as she lets her power slip into him. The climax they both reach is unlike anything they've ever felt before. The feeling of each others pleasure creates a feedback loop within each other as their fangs remain imbedded in the other. When it finally recedes, both are near the point of blacking out, collapsing in a panting heap on the bed.
After several long minutes, Kagome turns her head to her new mate and sees him panting, his eyes still closed. A flood of love fills her, and then she gasps as she feels an echo of the same love, but different, coming from the back of her mind, rather than her own body. She tilts her head a bit, as a feeling of extreme contentment rolls through her mind, settling itself around her.
"Is that..."
"The bond, yes. It will become stronger over time." he breathes out, shifting slightly, slipping out of her channel and gathering her body to his own more comfortably.
"I know we've talked about the basics of it, but what else does the bond do? Just emotions or?" she asks, turning to look at her exhausted inu, knowing he just wants to sleep, but she's too curious.
"It starts out with emotions, and a minor sharing of abilities. It is probable that I am now immune to reiki, though there were very few before that could cause me harm, regardless. I am unsure if you will notice much difference, since you already have most of my abilities, though you may now have poison, in addition to being immune to them. Mother will likely nag to test you tomorrow." he states, chuckling lightly as she giggles. "Over time, as we remain close and intimate, the bond will deepen. Most commonly found is the ability to locate the other regardless of distance or magics. That aspect does not usually take long to develop. When the bond is well matured, we may gain the ability to communicate through the bond."
"We can mindspeak?" she gasps.
"That is one way to refer to it, yes." he chuckles, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"That's so fucking cool. Anything else?"
"Those are the common aspects. Some mating bonds develop other quirks, but it is unpredictable. We will have to wait and see how it develops." Sesshoumaru nuzzles into her hair. "For now, sleep, koi. We still have to deal with the pack tomorrow, and mother will be insatiable."
"Mm, okay. Love you, mate." she mumbles as she allows the feeling of his happiness to coax her to sleep.
"And, I you, mate."
"You didn't wait?" Kimiko scoffs, before grabbing Kagome and pulling her collar down, then doing the same to her son. "Oh, how darling. A moon and a sun. It suits you, dears. Now, I presume you're now immune to her reiki, and all reiki, likely. Go on, test it. Show me." The lady mother nearly vibrates in her excitement. Kagome looks at her mate with a raised brow, which he responds in kind, holding out his hand to her. Letting a finger glow with her reiki, she presses and strokes down the back of his hand, smiling when nothing happens.
"Oh, wonderful. Our line will no longer have cause to fear from holy humans. And now, you, little human. You should be immune to his poisons, thus making you immune to all poisons." Kimiko says, her tone demanding a demonstration, which cause the newly mated pair to smirk as Sesshoumaru calls his poison to a finger and repeats the motion Kagome made upon his own hand, watching as it merely rolls off of her skin, sizzling as when it hits the floor.
"I do wonder… it is possible that you each can now use each others abilities. Imagine a youkai, a daiyoukai, being able to call upon a holy aura at will. Oh, the possibilities." Kimiko's gaze unfocuses as her mind begins to whirl.
"You weren't kidding about her." Kagome whispers to her mate, giggling at his mild exasperation that echoes through the bond.
"Indeed. She will hound us until we-" Sesshoumaru is interrupted by a shout inside, just as Kagome feels the tug of her power go off away from her. Both are up and sprinting at full youkai speed towards the power spike.
"Rin!" Kagome screams, when they arrive at the location. An entire wall has been demolished, a pile of rubble, smoking lightly, whirls of dust floating above it. "Rin!" Kagome calls again, dropping some of her restraints to flood the area with her aura, looking for Rin's soul in the rubble. Sesshoumaru begins throwing off chunks of the collapsed stone, intent on digging her out. Finally, Kagome can feel Rin and Matsu.
"Oh thank Kami. They're alive, Sess. They're injured, but they're alive." Kouga appears next to her at that second, eyes wide as he takes in the scene before him for a moment then immediately launching forward and helping Sesshoumaru remove the debris.
"What the hell happened?" he demands as he works.
"We don't know. We were in the gardens, and heard a shout, and then I felt the barriers go up. They're injured, but they're alive. We just have to get them out. Kami, I'm making necklaces for all of you now. This is ridiculous." Kagome announces as she spins to look around her. Kimiko has arrived and joins the men in unburying their packmates, and then Shippo as well.
Kagome finds a few bodies of some guards, ones who must have been on top of the wall when it was knocked out. Expanding her aura again, she searches for any aura signatures around her. She finds only two that aren't of her pack mates, and the handful of guards that are now helping dig out their young lady.
"And, who are you?" Kagome asks herself quietly, as she jumps up to the top of the wall that's still standing. She pinpoints and locks onto the auras, memorizing their feel and sending a tendril of power to probe each. When she makes contact with their auras, a shiver crawls up her spine at the malice in each. "Who..." she starts before she feels one of the auras shove back at her roughly, throwing her off balance. She loses them as she quickly rights herself, not wanting to fall off the wall. Even if it won't do any permanent damage, it'd still knock the wind out of her and hurt for the moment. Standing upright again, she searches for the auras again, and finds none. Frowning, she continues searching for a few more moments before a voice behind her catches her attention.
"Kagome! We found them, you have to release the barrier so we can get them out." Kouga calls up, and she turns to drop gracefully to the ground, stepping gingerly over the rubble to Rin and Matsu. Her barrier is holding up rubble from their bodies, though they are both bleeding and will have bruises regardless, likely from the initial blast. Reaching into the barrier, she grasps Rin and drags her up, dropping the barrier as she passes her to Sesshoumaru. She does the same with Matsu, passing him to Kouga, just as the debris that the barrier had been holding up collapses for the final time.
"What did you find, koi? I felt it through the bond, what was it?" Sesshoumaru queries softly, stepping close to run a hand down her arm, having passed Rin to her mate.
"I don't know. It was weird. There were two aura's, I'm pretty sure they were youkai. They were so dark. I haven't felt an aura that full of malice since-"
"Naraku." he finishes for her, making every head turn towards them.
"Yeah. It's not him, but," she shivers lightly, crossing her arms to rub them, "One of them felt me probing, and somehow shoved back at me, nearly making me fall over from the force. By the time I was able to check again without nearly tipping off the wall, the two auras were gone." Kagome frowns, sending out her reiki again, testing, and finding nothing still.
"You will know them if you feel them again?" Kimiko asks quietly.
"Yeah, I never forget an aura I've felt before, even if I can't automatically place who it belongs to, I always know if I've come across it before. These one's I definitely will not forget. Kinda hard when the only aura I've felt that was anywhere close to that dark before was Naraku. I still haven't forgotten how his feels." She shudders again, shaking her head lightly to dispel the unpleasant thoughts. She feels Sesshoumaru's arms wrap around her and leans into him, allowing his love to radiate through the bond and push away her worry.
"Well. We should find Jaken and see about having this security breach corrected. And, then we have a dinner to attend, my darlings." Kimiko comments with a forced levity in her voice. She brushes her hand across Kagomes cheek as she passes, nodding lightly before heading off.
"Daddy, Matsu and I are going to our rooms to clean up. We'll see you guys at dinner. And, Kagome." she pauses, reaching out a hand to the miko, who grasped it tightly. "Thank you." the girl breathes, voice quivering.
"There's nothing to thank, kiddo. You're mine. Nothing's getting you while I have anything to say about it." Kagome smiles lightly, stepping away from her mate to pull the girl into a nearly bone crushing hug. "Now, go with your mate, he's antsy and wants to worry over you." She smirks, seeing Matsu nod and smile appreciatively at her, before they too, leave.
"Yeah, I'm filthy now, gunna go bathe again and relax. Call me if you need me, otherwise, see ya at dinner." Kouga calls as he jogs off towards his room.
"Same, Mama. See you later." Shippo throws over his shoulder as he too disappears.
"Come, koi. Allow me to worry over you as well." Sesshoumaru murmurs as he gathers her up in his arm and orbs them to their rooms.
"I think it's a fine idea. I've always wanted to see more of the world, and learning the languages can only have benefits." Kimiko supplies haughtily, siding with her new daughter, as they discuss goals they have over the coming years while they eat in the private pack dining room.
"Thank you, I'm glad someone sees it my way. C'mon, Sess. What harm would it actually have to invite a youkai to teach us other languages? We'll need them eventually anyways. And my English is definitely rusty now, after a hundred years of not using it." Kagome giggles, as she feels the teasing annoyance through the bond, knowing he's not actually opposed, just wants to bicker with her. "You should be taking advantage of my 'fortune telling' and using it to get ahead of the curve, koi." she taunts as she sips her drink, eyes flashing with amusement at him.
"If we're the only one's who know the language, it'd be fun to confuse the court with our secret magic language skills, Daddy." Rin helpfully suggests, daintily taking a bite of her food after.
"See, another advantage! Ooh, we should learn a few of the dead ones. OH, like Coptic. That's dead even now, though... Does pose a problem about how to learn it. There's always Latin. Some folks still know and use it, but it's not spoken anymore. Mostly used as a unifying identification language for sciences and stuff." Kagome rambles, her eyes unfocusing as she delves into her memories of the future.
"We definitely need to learn Dutch, Portuguese and English, though. Those are the ones that came a few decades ago, and once this current shogunate falls, they'll come back in droves. If we don't want to get caught with our hakamas around our ankles, we need to prepare those. The others would be just for fun." Kagome finishes with a tone of finality and warning.
"Very well. I will procure tutors in the languages you specified and have our advisors learn them, as well as ourselves." Sesshoumaru nods as he leans back to nurse his sake.
"Hey, I know I don't have much to offer, but is it possible to get these lessons as well?" Kouga asks hesitantly.
"Of course. You may not be an advisor, but you are pack, regardless of your where your permanent residency may lie." Sesshoumaru says matter of factly, making Kouga gape for a second, before a wide fanged grin emerges.
"Thanks, man. Speaking of..." the ookami pauses, scratching the back of his neck lightly," Actually. I've been talking to my pack, and while we're not prepared to do it yet, we've noticed the humans encroaching on our territory more and more, and with what Kagome says, most of us agree that in a few decades, we'd like to move here. Swear fealty and such. If that offer is still on the table, that is." Kagome stares at her long time friend, and then looks to her mate. He arches a brow as he catches her eye, and she responds in kind, tilting her head slightly. They look at each other for a few more moments, before Sesshoumaru nods, and looks back to the wolf. Kagome beams from her seat.
"The offer still stands. Merely inform This One when you would like to do so, and we will find a place for your pack. You are, of course, welcome to stay here, if you wish it." the inu Lord agrees, making the wolfs grin grow even more.
"Great, I'll talk to the pack and let you know what's up next time I visit."
"If we're done with the chatter, I do believe we have a mating ceremony to perform." Kimiko drawls in feigned indifference, making Kagome smirk at her and pat her hand lightly, before turning to her mate.
"Shall we?" She stands from her seat to move to the small table they had set up before. Sesshoumaru joins her, as Kimiko moves to the other side. The Lady Mother picks up a small knife and hands it to her son. He reaches for Kagome's hand, turning it palm side up, and makes a small cut across her palm, the magic of the knife holding open the wound until the ceremony is completed. He holds out the knife to Kagome, and she repeats his movements, making a cut on his own palm. Placing the knife back on the table, they each hold their hand to the other, pressing their palms together, allowing the blood to mingle. Even though they have already mixed their blood and given each other their aura, they release some of their power into the open wounds of the other, completing the ceremony before their pack. The cuts seal instantly once they draw back their auras again. Kagome smiles as she entwines her fingers with his, bringing his hand to her lips to kiss his knuckles. Their bond floods with their love for the other, making Kagome's eyes water slightly, and Sesshoumaru's seem to swirl with the depth of the emotion.
Whoops and cheers echo from behind them, making them turn to see their family celebrate their union.
"Koi, there is someone here to meet you." Sesshoumaru calls into the study, where she is pouring over reports. She looks up to see her mate enter the room, followed by a slightly smaller male youkai with tanned skin, black hair, a sharp nose and peircing black eyes. "This is Breno. He is a raven youkai from Portugul." Sesshoumaru explains. Kagome bows lightly as she stands and offers the severe looking male a gentle smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Breno. I'm Kagome. I presume you are here to teach us your language?" she asks, waving a hand to point him towards a seat, before seating herself in hers once more.
"Indeed, senora, your mate explained that you wish to learn several of the Western languages. I wish to learn more of the great Oriental Islands that have kept themselves hidden from the world for so long. I believe we may mutually benefit the other." The male bows his head, a smile softening his faces sharp edges.
"Oh, that sounds like a great idea! I can't wait. Is it near dinner time, koi?" she queries Sesshoumaru quickly, and upon his nod, turns back to their guest. "Come, we'll introduce you to our pack over dinner, as I'm sure you must be hungry." She stands again, waiting for the two males to join her, before exiting the study.
Entering the pack dining room, loud laughs are heard and Kouga's defensive cries, making Kagome giggle as she leads their guest to a seat. "Guys, this is Breno. He's from Portugal, and he's offered to teach us his language in exchange for us teaching him about our culture." She sits at the head of the table on Sesshoumaru's left, feeling his hand brush her leg as she does.
"Really, that was quick, it has only been a few weeks since we discussed it." Kimiko murmurs before turning to Breno. "How did you come to learn our language, little bird?" Kimiko asks playfully.
"I have travelled to many corners of the world in my long life. I came originally a century ago on a human ship, and fell in love with the beauty of the islands, and so decided to stay. I hid as a human for many decades, learning the language, and have only recently attempted to learn youkai culture. It is much harder to do, however, as you guard your secrets so well." the raven smirks.
"Where else have you gone?" Kagome probes, curiosity piqued.
"I have travelled across the Western kingdoms, the deserts, the cold mountains, before coming here. Walking the land until I could step no further, stopping to learn each place I found."
"Oh wow. That's amazing. What languages do you speak?"
"I speak many, though some may now be antiquated variants, or even no longer used." he replies, tone laced with a bit of sorrow.
"Do you know Dutch and English?" the miko hedges softly.
Breno nods, "I do. Are you interested in learning those as well?" he queries.
"Yes, we'd like our pack and advisors to learn those three languages, specifically. I know some English, but it has been a very long time and I wasn't fluent in it." she explains, grin wide.
The raven looks at her, eyes accessing her, before he speaks again. This time in English. "You know English? How, no English have come here yet."
"And they won't for another century, at least." she replies in kind, her accent thicker than she remembers it being before. His eyebrows shoot up as he processes this new information.
"You are a fortune teller. You know the future."
"Some. Not everything, but certain events. And, no, I will not share my knowledge unless it is necessary." Kagome tells him, before taking a sip of her tea.
"Your English is very good, considering how long you say it has been since you learned it. Your accent could use work, but that will not take long to correct." Breno accesses, before turning to the rest and switching back to Japanese. "I will begin teaching tomorrow, to anyone who would like to learn. Is there a preference as to which you would like to learn first?" he poses to his hosts, looking to Sesshoumaru, who turns to look at his mate.
"Portuguese, then Dutch, then English, please. And then anything else you are willing to teach us. Though, I hope you do not mind if I use you to practice my English again, good sir." Kagome states kindly, barely concealed excitement bubbling in her voice.
"Of course, my Lady. If there is somewhere you would like me to work, please show me tomorrow. I do believe I would like to retire for the night, however. It has been a long journey. I thank you for your hospitality and the opportunity you are gifting me, my Lords, Ladies." Breno informs them as he stands and bows deeply to them all.
"A servant will show you to your rooms. If you require anything, you need merely ask." Sesshoumarua acknowledges, bowing his head to his guest, before standing himself, helping his mate, then leaving to their own rooms.
"Six months and you're already as good as me. I should have guessed you'd be perfect at this, too. You're perfect at everything else." Kagome giggles at her mate. They are seated on the veranda outside their rooms, sipping sake and conversing in English. Sesshoumaru, unsurprisingly, picked it up almost instantly, and having a mate who is mostly fluent to practice with whenever he wants, has made him just as fluent as her in a very short amount of time.
"Hn, of course, little mate. To be anything less than perfect would be-"
"May as well be heresy for you." she giggles again, leaning against his broad frame.
"I find I enjoy this language. It is strange, but interesting."
"Good, this will be one of the most widely spoken languages in the future. This and Mandarin. Though, you already have a grasp of Mandarin. Your mother would love to teach you more." She looks up at the scowling face of her mate, feeling the mild irritation through the bond. "Oh, come on, it's not that bad learning from her. And, eventually you'll need it. So, may as well get to learning it now and not have to worry about it later." she says, poking his chest lightly.
"Hn. Perhaps. Let us finish with the languages you have dictated first, then we may expand upon others that will be needed at a later date, koi." he answers as he dips his head to kiss her. She hums into the kiss, turning to straddle his lap and drape her arms over his shoulders, linking her wrists.
"You're right. I think I'm just excited being able to share my education with everyone and having everyone be interested in learning with me. It's been a while since I've learned anything academic."
"Indeed. I am not opposed to learning a language just for us, if you desire it. But, do not overwhelm yourself, or the pack. There are only so many things one can handle learning at once, after all." He nuzzles his nose against her mark, rumbling.
"You're right. Again. I still want to make you a necklace by the way. Everyone else has one now, you're the only stubborn one who won't take one. Hell, even I have one." she pouts, twiddling with the thin silver chain holding a silver medallion with a crescent moon and sun on it.
"Does it mean that much to you?" He leans back to look into her eyes.
"Yes. It does. We know you can break the barrier anyways, but it would make me feel better if you had one, just in case. You're unparalleled with your senses and battle prowess, but even you can be surprised sometimes. And all it takes is a moment. Please?" she begs softly, drawing her hands back to settle on his shoulders, her thumb rubbing against his mark. He stares into her eyes for a few moments before sighing and nodding lightly.
"Very well, you may make me a necklace." he acquiesces, kissing her gently before she jumps up, darting into their room then reappearing and settling in his lap again. In her hands is a long silver chain holding an identical medallion to hers. Lifting her hands, she drapes it over his head and pulls his silver mane through the chain. She touches the medallion with a finger, making it flare bright pink, before she tucks it into his haori.
"There. And, you can't take it off. You may be able to reach into and break the barrier, but I won't let you take this off, ever." she declares seriously, then leans to kiss her gorgeous mate languidly.
"I would not have otherwise, koi. It is a gift from you, to protect me and ease your mind. It is the most precious item I own." he divulges, winding his arms around her.
"Thank you, Sess. I love you, so much." she murmurs against his lips, feeling their bond swamp her with his own feelings of love. They stay like that for a while, as the sun sets before Sesshoumaru pulls back and looks down at the tiny woman he loves.
"Kagome," he starts, pausing to shift a bit and look out over the garden, "there is something I wish to speak with you about, though I know it will upset you." he says finally.
"What? Is everything okay?" she sits up straight, worry coursing through her.
"No one is in danger, at least none that we are not aware of already. It is..." he inhales sharply and then sighs deeply, his eyes sliding to hers slowly. "InuYasha wishes to speak with you. He has been asking every day for the last few months." He stops when he feels Kagome tense and their bond yaws with her suppressed anger and hurt over events long passed that should be buried and done with. "Koi, you owe him nothing. You need not do anything you do not wish to. If you do not desire to see him, he will be told no, and ignored. However, I did not want to hide it from you after I was informed yesterday." He brushes his knuckles down her cheek, eyes soft as he watches her struggle with her temper, misplaced guilt and sorrow.
"You only found out yesterday?" she whispers.
"His superiors did not feel it was important information to pass on. It was only when Haruto was told that he felt I should know, even though it has little to do with his progress." he replies, making her chuckle.
"Haruto would. I suppose it is important for us to know. If he's ignored for too long without official word from us that he's forbidden from doing something, he'll eventually do something rash and destructive." Kagome nearly snarls in her anger. "Do you know what he wants to talk about?"
"No. Haruto was not informed of such, it is possible he has not said beyond his wish to speak with you. If you would like, Kouga or myself could speak to him in your stead." he offers, hand settling on her shoulder to brush his thumb over her mark, attempting to calm her spiralling emotions.
"He won't tell you guys anything. Maybe if there's a way for me to be in the room, but where he can't actually talk to me." She bites her lip, thinking as she traces aimless patterns against the exposed skin of his collarbones. Then, she cocks her head. "Maybe I can. I could set up a barrier around him... seperating us and then I can control when I can hear him. Or you could. You've perfected the barriers, afterall." she teases, giving her mate a crooked grin.
"Hn, as you have mastered calling and manipulating your poison." he remarks smirking, then kisses her again. "Do you wish to speak to him, then?"
She sighs and leans forward to press her forehead to his mark. "No, but at the same time, yes. I do want you and Kouga there with me, though. I can hide you behind a barrier so you're just there for me. Cuz he'll get nastier if he sees you both. I want to know what he wants after a year and a half of being here, after nearly a century of not caring. Is that wrong? Am I being dumb again?" she mumbles quietly against his skin. His arms tighten around her and a hand threads through her hair to rub small circles on the nape of her neck.
"It is not wrong to be curious, and you are not 'dumb'. I will of course be with you, barrier to hide me or not. I will not allow you within a speaking distance of him alone. No doubt, Kouga feels the same. We shall ask him tomorrow, and we may then decide when to deal with the hanyou." He kisses her forehead lightly before shifting to stand, taking her with him. "For now, it is getting late, and I wish to make use of our bed." A peal of lilting laughter erupts from the miko as he lifts her as he rises and walks them back into their rooms.
"You sure about this, Kags?" Kouga asks for the fifth time in the last hour as they all sit together at the head of the table.
"As sure as I'll ever be. It'll bug me if I don't find out, and he's not going to know you guys are here. If he starts getting shitty, I'll slap a barrier around him and we'll leave. Simple as that. If he's serious about speaking to me about something, he'll not be an ass, otherwise, it's not important, is it." she tells the two males next to her. She erects barriers around them so that she can see and hear them, but no one else can, and then she hears a knock on the door, announcing the arrival of their 'guest'.
"Enter." her voice calls, as she smooths out her plain black haori and hakama's, having decided against a traditional women's kimono- not that she enjoyed wearing them over having a pair of pants, anyways. The door opens, and InuYasha is led into the room by a guard and directed to sit at the other end of the table. He is about to say something when she holds up a hand.
"Before you speak. There are ground rules, and consequences. First, you will keep a civil tongue while speaking to me or about me and my pack. Second, you are to stay seated. At all times. If you are incapable of any of these, I will put up a barrier that will render me deaf to your words and prevent you from leaving until I release you from the barrier. Do you understand, nod yes." she commands, her tone icy and dangerous. He nods and looks at her, taking in her narrowed blazing eyes, the grim set of her mouth, her flattened palms on the table and the tense straightness of her spine. "Good, now. I understand you've been asking to speak with me for several months. Why." she clips out.
"I wanted to apologize." he blurts.
Her eyes narrow further, then she feels Kouga place a hand on her arm and whisper next to her, "I don't smell any deceit on him, but his scent is weirdly flat." Sesshoumaru hums his agreement from her other side, his hand resting on her thigh under the table.
"For what." she states more than asks.
"For… what? For everything." His brows knit in confusion.
"Okay, for what. Just saying for everything means nothing. If you can't tell me what you're sorry for, and just want to give me a blanket apology to ease your guilt, then I'll just go now."
"I... I'm sorry! I'm sorry for how I treated you, for leaving when I did, for… for..." he stutters, frantically searching for reasons.
"You don't know, do you. You thought you'd just come in, say you're sorry for everything, and I'd magically forgive you like I used to a hundred years ago. Is that is?"
"No! I am sorry! I'm sorry I... I'm sorry I was rude to you! That I... I... That I called you a whore! Yeah, I'm sorry about that!" he yelps out, eyes wide.
She stares at him with a blank expression for a moment before tsking quietly. "You're pathetic. Go back to the barracks, and don't bother me again unless you actually have something to say. I will not just forgive you to ease your own guilty conscience when you can't or won't bother to discern the reason you should feel guilty. Try again in in another few years, maybe. Maybe then you'll have figured it out a bit, and maybe then I'll be willing to listen." With that, she stands, erecting a barrier around the hanyou, and dropping the one around her mate and best friend, and the three of them leave, instructing the guards to escort InuYasha back to his barracks when the barrier drops.
They walk in silence until they reach Sesshoumaru and Kagome's study, then the miko drops the barrier she's been holding around her one time friend, and erects one over the study, before slumping at her desk, her head falling into her hands in exhaustion.
"Well. That was a waste of time." she mumbles, sliding her hands down to prop her chin in her palms.
"Yep." Kouga says, popping the p as he settles onto his favourite cushion. "But, at least we know what he wanted, as pathetic as it was."
"Indeed." Sesshoumaru says as he crouches next to his mate, brushing her hair from her face. "You are alright?" he asks, probing their bond to test her emotional state.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Pissed off and exhausted, but fine. I could use some sake, though." she replies, shifting her chin to free a hand and brush her fingers across his wrist.
"I second that, sake sounds great right now." Kouga supplies, leaning back, his eyes closed and crossing his arms behind his head. "By the way, how is his progress going in the ranks?" he inquires, cracking an eye open to look at the inu.
"Haruto says he's proficient, though he still has trouble with his attitude and authority. If he were not so crude and combative, he would be finding himself promoted in the ranks, rather quickly. As it is, he is not, as he is incapable of following instructions for very long. He often ignores orders and causes others to become injured frequently. Thankfully, he is not cleared for actual combat, so this is all training spars." Sesshoumaru explains as he pours everyone a cup of sake, and then settles into his own seat at his desk, leaning back against the wall.
Kagome snorts loudly, downing her cup in a single gulp, then leaning against her own wall. "Well, that's hardly surprising. Has he been made to watch successful spars?"
"I am unsure. Haruto does not normally do so, but perhaps it would benefit him to see it done right, rather than just be told." Sesshoumaru cocks his head thinking it over.
"That's what I was thinking. He was more of a visual learner back then, so I can't imagine it's changed much. It's not ideal in a soldier, but with him, might be worth making an exception. Hell, if he wants, I'll even take on a squad. Give him an actual show of how it should be done." Kagome shrugs as she reaches for the bottle of sake to pour another cup.
"Added benefit to her doing it, he can see that she's not some pansy little girl anymore, and that her display last year wasn't a fluke. We know she can do it, worst she'll walk away with is a few bruises, maybe a few cuts, and those'll heal within about twenty minutes." Kouga notes, holding out his now empty sake cup to the miko for a refill.
"Perhaps. I will ask Haruto for his opinion on the matter. The generals are not pleased already with InuYasha's lack of progress and wish to have him mustered out. If no progress is made in the next year, I will have no choice but to allow them to discharge him from service." the inu lord reveals, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his desk.
"Well, if after two years he's not able to learn to work with a group, it's unlikely he will anyways. Can only beat a dead horse for so long before it's time to give up the ghost." Kagome remarks, downing her second cup of sake.
"You have the weirdest sayings, gorgeous." Kouga laughs, and the inu chuckles. "Oh, yeah. Meant to tell you when I got here a two days ago, but it slipped my mind. The pack's willing to begin moving to the West once we have somewhere to move to. The humans in my territory are getting too close and we've lost four wolves in the last two months. They're starting to get scared, and a pack of scared wolves is not a good thing." Kouga announces, his voice getting soft and quiet at the end. Kagome reaches for his hand, squeezing it tightly, her eyes mirroring his own sorrow.
"Sess and I picked out a spot for you guys, it's just waiting for your confirmation that it'll work for the pack." she tells him, as Sesshoumaru moves to pull a map from a shelf, unrolling it on his desk. His long finger trails down from the location of the Shiro to a nearby collection of large hills and caves. There's a river running around the edge of the location. Kouga stands to look at the map, trailing his own finger over the area.
"How far is it from the Shiro?" he ponders aloud.
"At your speed, a days journey. Two at your wolves speed." Sesshoumaru replies, and Kouga nods slowly.
"Do you mind if I go and check it out tomorrow? Give it a once over, make sure it's still unused, and intact?"
"Go ahead. I have not been there in..." he pauses to look at Kagome.
"Six years." she supplies easily, smirking, and Kouga chuckles at the two of them, making Sesshoumaru huff quietly.
"Right, well, I'll head out just before dawn tomorrow to check it out. If you guys do the live tutorial for shit for brains to watch, wait til I'm back? I wanna watch Kagome kick the crap out of the recruits." he quips, flashing a wicked fanged grin.
"Sure thing, Kouga." Kagome laughs brightly at his antics, her earlier upset having been fully assuaged.
"You guys ready?" The miko smirks, as she looks at the overconfident recruits, all equipped with blunted blades to match her own. "Ground rules, no special abilities. Only your speed, strength and claws. I don't want to hurt anyone, and if someone tries to zap or melt me, my reiki will react and you will be hurt. So, let's avoid that, shall we. Also, no killing blows. This is not a fight to the death, this is a training spar. Hits will happen, but if anyone tries to kill someone, you will be immediately discharged and sent to the dungeon. Everyone understand?" She looks at each of the faces before her nod their assent, and then she unsheathes her blade.
"Well then, come and get me." Her eyes flash with amusement as they all lunge to her at once. She ducks, twists, dodges and parries each blow, pivoting between and around them. She doesn't attack them, merely defends herself as they all attack singularly, wanting to be the one to be the one to draw first 'blood'. She parries a swing in front of her when she feels a blade close in on the back of her neck. Spinning faster than the human eye can see, she rotates her katana to catch the blow behind her, still locked with the one in front of her and swings a leg out to catch the knee of the front attacker, knocking them flat on their ass. Pivoting on her foot, she lunges to the left into a gap of her attackers, pivots and slams an elbow into anothers spine, sending them flying to the floor facedown.
Feeling a swipe of claws coming from her side, she crouches and steps under the blow, swinging the kashira of her katana into the solar plexus, hearing a strangled gasp as they crumble backwards. Blinking over behind the rest of the group whom were racing towards her, she stands still, and watches, waiting for them to realize she's no longer in front of them, her katana loose at her side, and a wicked grin on her face. I love sparring, especially when I have to try even a little bit. I should do this more often.
The first one to realize she'd moved, spins so fast that they almost fall over their own feet, before correcting and launching from the floor, sword out in front of them. She merely waits until it's within reach and parries it to the side, then backhands them into the wall of the arena. Only four were left standing, all having stopped to watch her warily. She lets them look, stance loose, and waits for one of them make a decision. Then, almost at once, they all drop their swords and kneel.
"Aww. I was having fun." Kagome pouts. "Oh well, maybe next time." She sheathes her blade and goes to help everyone up, before turning to the generals who were sitting in the stands "Shall we show them a real fight?" she queries, her head tilting to the side, a coy smile crossing her face.
The closest general, a black inu named Kenzo, smirks, looking at his three companions. Satomi, a red kitsune, Ichiro, an eagle, and Taro, a huge bull, all look to their Lord, standing in the royalty box watching the proceedings with the rest of their pack. Sesshoumaru's eyes lock with Kagome's, and she feels the pride come through their bond clear and thick. He nods to the generals, and Kagome whoops and tosses her blunt blade to grab her own beautifully crafted katana, a gift from her mate a few decades prior.
"Same rules?" she asks them as she steps back and unsheaths her katana. They all nod and begin to fan out, drawing their own blades, all live edged as well. She swivels her wrist, shifting her back foot back a fraction, just as Ichiro lunges. Her sword flashes up and parries, swinging it down and wide, as she sees Satomi jump high, sword held tight to her body as she falls towards the miko. Kagome pivots and ducks, forcing Ichiro to have to block Satomi's katana, as Kagome spins behind the eagle, and catching Taro's blade as it slams down above her head, her free hand pressing the blade up as she crouches below it. Touching her knee to the ground, she shifts her weight over it to tuck into Taro's legs before shoving her hands and blade upwards and flashing her leg out, catching the big bull's ankles as he steps back to catch his balance, making him fall, twisting to land on his hands and roll away. Kagome rolls to the side and flips to land upright again.
All five are panting now, Kagome watching the generals and they begin to circle her again, their eyes flicking to each others in silent communication. The miko stands, and waits, rolling her shoulders back before twirling on the ball of her back foot and smashing her front heel into the shoulder of Kenzo as he tries to catch her from behind, then flipping immediately to swing her blade wide against Taro as he lunges mid kick. Satomi darts low, making Kagome have to sidestep closer to Ichiro, who lashes his katana out. Kagome bends her spine back, barely missing the eagles blade as it slices the air just above her nose, and uses her momentum to backflip and kick a foot out at the eagles head, catching him and sending him flying.
When Kagome lands on her feet again, she's panting and sweating a bit, cursing herself lightly for letting them corral her like that. She stands straight again, tucking her sword arm to her side, twisting and letting herself fall before her hand catches her and she pivots, spinning like a top to lash out her feet and her blade before rolling a few yards away. Taro yelps as her blade knicks his thigh, and Satomi curses as she catches a foot to her sword arm, numbing it. Three down, one to go. She watches Kenzo circle her predatorily, before flashing forward and to her side, his sword twisting as it swings, aiming for her stomach. Kagome drops down flat on her hands, before rolling to one side, and snaking a leg out, catching the inu in the groin, sending him across the arena with a pained scream. Panting, Kagome stands slowly and looks at the generals, all laying on the ground around her, breathing hard and groaning slightly in pain.
Sheathing her blade, Kagome moves to each one and helps them up. "Thanks, guys. It's been a while since anyone's gotten that close to actually hitting me. Satomi, Ichiro, good job on crowding me into the attack, Ichiro's blade nearly actually got me." she chuckles as the generals groan, sheathing their own blades.
"Thank you, my Lady. It has been a while since we've been so thoroughly trounced. Perhaps we should make a habit of it, keep us in our top form." Ichiro laughs heartily, patting the miko on the shoulder before stretching his back.
"You're certainly a deadly little woman." Taro says as he reaches to shake her hand. "Always a pleasure to spar with you, my Lady." The other two generals hum their agreement as they turn to leave the arena, shouting at the recruits that they had better have been paying attention and learned something.
Giggling, Kagome walks over to where her mate and pack have descended from the stands to congratulate her. Kouga slings an arm over her shoulder, jousleing her.
"There's my woman, deadliest onna in Nippon!" he crows, his voice and laugh echoing across the arena. Then, she's tugged out from under the wolfs arm and into her mates.
"Very well done, little mate. Come, let us get you bathed and fed." he says, their bond flowing with his intense pride and love.