Chapter 7
Moonlit Madness
This….was SO worth the wait.
Taking a deep breath through the nose, Kagome stretched her arms carefully above her head as she reveled in the cool night air. She had no idea how Kaede had managed to get her time outside but Kagome swore she'd never argue with her old mentor ever again if this was her reward.
Even the wind had a scent to it. Yeah, this was so, so, SO worth it.
When Kaede had come back to Kagome's room all serious and dower, Kagome had been terrified the woman's efforts had been in vain. However, she'd only given Kagome a quick lecture on remaining out of sight and returning as soon as the signal was given for her to leave. All of which Kagome was more than eager to agree to.
As soon as Kaede had decided it was time to go, Kagome hadn't hesitated to follow. And, after a convoluted run through endless hallways, Kagome was almost certain the older priestess was doing this on purpose.
However, when they'd reached a simple door, not even guarded as far as Kagome could tell, she'd clung to the hope that this just might happen afterall. When a tiny little figure hopped over, all bright smiles and eyes, Kagome had been speechless to see it was a kid.
He didn't bother introducing himself, though Kaede seemed to know him on sight, but just quietly opened the door and indicated that Kagome could go on through.
At first, Kagome had wondered if it was a trap of some sort. But, Kaede's nod was all the permission she needed before she stepped out into what had to be the most beautifully fragrant garden she'd ever seen.
The night was perfect. Cool and crisp and a gentle breeze carried the perfume of lilies and blooming vines through the air. The moon's full light filled the space with soft light that soothed and invigorated and Kagome couldn't remember the last time she'd felt better.
Probably before the shrine had been attacked. But, she refused to let those dark thoughts intrude on this. This was for her.
So, happily, relishingly, selfishly Kagome savored every deep breath, every step in the soft grass, every sweet sound that caressed her ears.
Whoever made this garden was a genius.
Of course, this was a garden in the Western fortress. Kagome doubted the Western Lady and her son would settle for anything but complete perfection anyway.
She could almost hear the necessary instructions now: 'These trees aren't blooming on command. Have them cut down immediately. Why are birds singing? That's not supposed to be for another hour. How do you expect me to keep my perfect composure if there is a random breeze?'
Trying to smother the giggle rising up her throat, Kagome just shook her head as she continued on her stroll.
The night was too nice to be worrying about those two. Even if the image of the Western Lady's face scrunched up in displeasure sent an unkind chuckle to bubble up Kagome's throat. But, she did have to admit, they had exquisite taste.
With every step, Kagome could feel her worries drifting further and further away. Inuyasha, the shrine, her necessary confinement: all of them left her as she breathed in the sweetened night air.
If she could possibly come out here from time to time then, perhaps her staying here wouldn't be quite so bad. Nothing motivated like something to look forward to and Kagome was sure she could stay in this garden forever.
As she started to hum the beginnings of a far-away tune, a flash of something in the corner of her eye caused Kagome to freeze.
What was—
However, no sooner had the thought entered her head when a hand wrapped tightly about her neck, pinning her backward against a nearby wall. The stone knocked the breath from her lungs, causing everything to struggle to work.
The hand tightened further, Kagome's blood pounding in her ears. Claws pricked into her skin as a warm breath brushed against her ear.
"What are you doing here?"
Recognition caused Kagome's stomach to clench as her eyes latched onto the cold golden gaze burning into her own. Terror twisted her gut further as she realized just how badly she'd slipped up.
'Oh, no.'
SSS
This had to be a mistake.
That was the only conclusion Seshoumaru could come to as he held the human securely against the side boundary wall of his father's private garden.
A human, of all things.
No, this was a mistake. One the human would pay dearly for.
"You will regret your intrusion," he stated as he tightened his grip about her neck, the delicate bones of her spine starting to give like twigs.
However, the female started to bat furiously at his hand, causing his mouth to lift in a sneer.
"Why my mother spared you, I'll never know," he ground out. "But, I don't care."
"You….. should…." the human gasped, her frail nails digging into his palm and wrist in the desperation to breathe.
Bored curiosity was the only thing keeping Seshoumaru from twisting his wrist and snapping the irritating female's neck. The slight movement was all it would take to end the woman once and for all. However, since he'd been shut up for days with nothing to preoccupy his time, he decided to indulge.
"Why?" he demanded as he loosened his grip by the smallest of margins.
The human gulped down air as if he'd released her altogether. Seshoumaru waited for the woman to get a hold of herself again but it was taking longer than he really thought was necessary. Were humans really so fragile that the slightest discomfort took them forever to recover from?
When the human finally decided she'd had enough time to fill her lungs, she blinked wide brown eyes up at him, as if trying to realize what had just occurred.
"Kami," she scolded. "I thought you were going to kill me."
Seshoumaru resisted the urge to quirk a brow at the woman's ridiculous comment. Did she not realize she could still die?
"Answer my question," he ordered, watching as the wheels practically turned in the woman's head.
"Question?"
Seshoumaru narrowed his eyes in warning as he refused to repeat himself. Why was this human being so difficult? It couldn't be this hard for her to keep up with him.
Thankfully, recognition flared in her dark eyes, saving him the trouble. However, instead of looking properly contrite or worried, the human looked absolutely put-out.
"What do you mean 'why?'" she demanded, her pert nose flaring. "You don't just kill someone because they're in the same space as you."
"You do when the other has no right to be there," Seshoumaru stated, watching as the woman's face went from irritated to furious.
"No right…." she muttered before her temper flared right before Seshoumaru's eyes. "I have about as much of a right to be out here as you do."
"You dare to compare yourself with me?" Seshoumaru asked, his tone belying some of the shock at the human's gall. "This is my home."
"Well, according to my deal with your mother, it's mine now too," the woman countered, her chin lifting in stubborn defiance despite the hand Seshoumaru still had about her neck.
"What deal?" Seshoumaru demanded, his fingers tightening for a split second in warning to the foolish woman.
Apparently, the reminder had the desired effect because the human quickly swallowed before lowering her defiant gaze.
"That's between me and her," she answered grudgingly before quickly adding. "But, you can't kill me. Your mother gave her word that I'd be safe."
"I doubt that deal involved permission to stroll around my family's personal gardens," Seshoumaru countered, feeling a moment of satisfaction when the human's eyes widened in terror.
"Personal…." She breathed. "I thought this was abandoned. That no-one was using it."
"That is correct," Seshoumaru answered.
"Then, why does it matter?" the woman demanded, some of her previous defiance returning.
"It matters because I say it matters," Seshoumaru answered, bringing himself closer to the irritating human. "And, as Master here, that's all that matters."
"From what I can see," the human countered, her face starting to flush. "You're not Master now. And, I'd guess you haven't been for a long time."
Every ounce of self-control prevented Seshoumaru from snarling at the challenge. Only the fact that any reaction would prove her point kept him in check.
"You should watch what you say," he warned, the scent of her fear belying any of her foolish bravado.
"Why?" the woman countered. "Because you don't like to hear it? Is that what everyone here does for you? Just tell you what you want to hear so you don't kill them in a temper tantrum?"
"You talk too much," Seshoumaru stated, his interest already fraying even as he acknowledged he wasn't going to kill her…. yet.
"And, you're hurting me," the human stated as Seshoumaru allowed her to swipe his hand from her neck. "Let go."
Seshoumaru watched as she rubbed her reddened skin, all the while glaring at him like he was a disobedient child.
"Do you always act this way?" she demanded. "Like anyone who surprises you must die? That's twice you've gone for my neck."
"You assume you surprised me," Seshoumaru stated stiffly. "I scented you practically from the gate. The reek of human is unmistakable."
"Well, you certainly didn't expect to see me when you woke up," the woman countered, her face flushing with her temper yet again.
How many times was her expression going to change? Seshoumaru could practically read every thought that entered her head. Of course, what did he expect of a human?
"You were the one who wielded Tessaiga," he stated, ignoring her foolish attempt to verbally spar. "How?"
The human blinked at him, again trying to catch up with his change of topic. She puffed a breath between her lips before shaking her head.
"You are impossible to have a conversation with," she declared before holding up her still wrapped forearms. "There are how I wielded the sword. And, apparently, the seal that held you in that sleep put up a good fight."
"You should be dead," Seshoumaru declared as he studied the wrappings up her arms. "How are you not?"
"I don't know," the woman answered with a shrug. "Just lucky, I guess."
Seshoumaru took a quick test of the air around them but only shook his head.
"I can't scent Inuyasha on you," he stated, catching the human off-guard. "You are not his woman yet he trusted Tessaiga to your hands. Why?"
"That's—" the woman started to snap but quickly brought herself up short.
Seshoumaru again waited for her to gather her thoughts, as humans apparently needed to.
"He was my friend," she said calmly, though there was a tightening about her eyes that spoke of pain with the subject. "He wouldn't trust it to anyone else."
"Even his own woman?" Seshoumaru challenged, watching the woman's eyes widen then tilt in anger.
"You leave Kikyo out of this!" she ordered, causing Seshoumaru to cock his head slightly.
"So, the female he whelped is called Kikyo," Seshoumaru stated coolly. "The continuation of my father's foolishness."
The woman suddenly stiffened, terror causing her breath to come in quick pants. How she could jump from one expression to the next was mind-boggling to Seshoumaru and looked absolutely exhausting.
"You can't kill her either," she demanded, snapping Seshoumaru back to the present. "Her life was part of the deal."
"I could care less what whore Inuyasha decided to rut with," Seshoumaru stated, watching as the human's nose flared with her temper. "Nor, what bastard line he gleaned."
"How dare you," the human declared. "He was your brother."
Seshoumaru glared in warning, causing the woman to step back. At least some her self-preservation wasn't completely forgotten.
"Half-brother," he stated crisply. "A mistake I've had to tolerate for far too long."
"He was still your blood," she said.
"And, now, he's dead," Seshoumaru replied. "So, you will tell me how Tessaiga, my father's most feared weapon, allowed a human to wield it."
"Maybe it just has good taste," the woman snapped out, causing Seshoumaru's hand to twitch. "It knows who should use it."
"You should watch your step," Seshoumaru warned. "Human."
"My name is Kagome," the woman said. Seshoumaru quirked a dark brow.
Did she wish to die? To give her name would only make him tracking her down that much easier. The human had no sense of survival, it seemed.
"Should I care?" he answered, earning another puff of air from her.
"It's called common curtesy," the woman, Kagome, snapped.
"For whom?" he asked. "For you, who gave it out of frustration, or me, who never asked for it in the first place?"
The woman sputtered in a mad attempt to respond but Seshoumaru was done indulging her with time. Instead, he simply turned his focus to the nearest blooming tree.
"Whatever value you think you have," he stated calmly. "It is greatly exaggerated."
"I was valuable enough to bring you back," she barked, snapping his focus back to her.
"You will never repeat that again," he ordered.
"Or, what?" she challenged. "You'll kill me? You can't."
"Can't I?" Seshoumaru answered, causing the human to go suddenly still.
"I have a deal," she stated after a moment's hesitation, as if the words were her only comfort.
"With my mother," Seshoumaru stated, feeling what could almost be a hint of satisfaction in the fear that started to flicker through her wide eyes. "Not me."
"You'd make your mother a liar?" the woman demanded, causing a small chuckle to leap up Seshoumaru's throat.
"I don't have to," he answered. "Once I am back as Lord of the West, my word will be law. My mother could assure your safety all she liked, but the one you should have tried to garner favor with was me."
With every word, the human's eyes widened further, and the beginnings of a sweat beaded the sides of her brow. Seshoumaru could practically feel the predatory instincts in him rising with her emotions, filling him with a growing satisfaction. Let her mouth off again after this!
"Listen very carefully, Kagome," he stated, placing all the emphasis on her name as he possibly could. "As soon as I am returned to my seat as Lord, the first thing I will do is hunt through this fortress and rid it of the infestation that has tainted its halls. I will throw every one of you humans out without a thought or care. Starting with you."
Seshoumaru waiting for the human to beg, to plead and grovel for mercy from him. He waited for her to realize just how much danger she was in and the grievous mistake she made. He waited for her to burst into tears and make any kind of offer she could think of for him to change his mind.
He waited for a lot of things.
Instead, the human went calm. Her face stared at him like a warrior preparing for battle and her eyes remained steady as they met his own cool gaze unwavering.
"Then, I guess the lines are drawn," she stated with a tone that could almost rival a noble. "You've said your goals and I've said mine. We both can't win."
"You deceive yourself if you think you have a chance," Seshoumaru answered. However, the human, Kagome, remained as calm as before.
"We'll see," she answered, taking a calm step from him. "Although, from what I can tell, you still have a long way to go. If you're so eager to throw us 'humans' out, you'll have to get stronger than this."
Fury surged through Seshoumaru, causing his claws to gather venom under the beds.
"You—"
"You can't get rid of us until you come back," she interrupted, causing Seshoumaru's fangs to clench. "And, you can't come back till you're at your best. Believe me, when I tell you, you'll need it. I won't go down easy."
"I will gut you for this insult," Seshoumaru stated, his fingers already twitching for it.
"Then get better," she countered with a smirk. "You won't get the chance otherwise. You'll be stuck in that room, a prisoner in your own home. With your mother holding the keys."
Seshoumaru was prepared to raise his hand to strike the female down where she stood. After the insult she'd just given him, he'd be more than justified. However, a sudden whistle, too sharp to belong to any bird, rang through the air.
The human, Kagome, stiffened at the tone.
"That's for me," she stated as she started to step away, keeping her wary gaze locked on him with every move. "Threaten all you want but, I'm not giving up without a fight. You want to get rid of us, then bring it. But, you should know, there's much worse than us you'll have to deal with. So, if your goal is only to kill a few human women out of frustration, then I feel sorry for the West."
And, with that, she was gone.
Seshoumaru wasn't sure how long he remained where he stood. He had no idea how many breaths it took for keep his racing blood from overtaking his control and go on the attack. All he knew was the final words the human dared to say continually rang in his ears as his clawed hand started to shake against his side.
'Then, I feel sorry for the West.'
Again and again, it echoed in his mind with all the subtlety of a clanging bell. Each louder than the last.
'Feel sorry for the West.'
Who was she to say such a thing? What insignificant little bug like her could possibly understand what was best for his lands? She intruded on his home, insulted him to his face, and now dared to instruct him on his power?
'Sorry for the West.'
With a fury Seshoumaru hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time, he spun sharply on his booted feet towards the nearest tree. Practiced precision that bordered on instinct sang through him as the familiar venomous glow of his whip flew from his fingers and in one smooth motion, split the tree from its trunk.
A crack and then a crash that filled the air, calming Seshoumaru's temper far more than it really should.
Lifting his hand to his face, Seshoumaru indulged once again in a cool smile. Apparently, he was recovering faster than he thought.
Glancing upwards towards the full moon's light, Seshoumaru made himself a promise. He didn't care how long it took, nor how much he'd have to push his body to do it, he would get stronger than he ever was before.
And, when he returned, that human, Kagome, would be his to deal with.