Notes: I have exciting news! I was nominated by a reader for the 2021 FeudalConnection 2nd Quarterly Inuyasha Fandom Awards in the "Best Plot Twist" category! Voting will take place between April 29th and May 13th, and the links to vote can be found on the feudalconnection Tumblr page. I'm super excited! A HUGE thanks to BETA readers Ember Reverie, ruddcatha, and KarinaInuPhantom! Thanks so much to all the readers who continue to read, reread, and comment. I read each comment and they encourage me keep writing. I'm sorry this chapter took so long to write, as life got a bit busy. I will try to post the next chapter soon! Hope you enjoy!
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Chapter 8
(Vitamin String Quartet - Shallow)
"Welcome to Tessaiga, princess."
A sprawling estate suddenly loomed in Kagome's view, encompassing the window of the carriage in its entirety. Before her was a vast sprawling lake large enough to swallow her former neighborhood. The rectangular structure towering behind it was immense, built to intimidate. As Kagome's widened eyes gazed over the estate, she endeavored not to allow her mouth to fall open, less a certain duke presume her to be impressed.
It was no wonder the duke had overthrown her father so easily.
The ride to the estate had been one of reflection for Kagome, as few words were spoken between the two people sharing the carriage. It was most difficult to hold an appropriate conversation when one could not look the other in the face.
Inuyasha shifted in his seat. He had spent the majority of the ride staring out the window, but every once in a while he would make the mistake of glancing at Kagome, remembering her warm body pressed against his, the feel of her soft breasts against his chest. The resulting thoughts made the ride most – uncomfortable.
Had she given in to her arousal, they would have spent the entire day at the inn and he could have gotten his lust for her out of his system. Maybe then he could think straight and focus on what needed to be done.
He pondered if dressing the woman before him in a potato sack would help, which only resulted in a vision of her long legs fully exposed. Legs that had held her body against him last night. With a groan, his nails dug against the palm of his hand; he was desperate to get out and walk.
Damn her and her stupid vows. At least I'll be free of her for most of the day. Might be the only way I'll survive.
Abruptly, the carriage halted and Inuyasha opened the door before the footman could dismount. "Come, your grace."
I take no joy in reminding you that you agreed to this.
Keh, you can fool yourself all you'd like. You take utmost joy in my torture. Otherwise, what would your purpose be?
To keep you safe. To guard what we hold dear – well, what's left of it anyways.
The grand manor before them looked built to house hundreds of people, yet the only noises were the crunch of gravel beneath the footman's feet as he stepped towards them and of the birds twittering overhead. Long leafy vines concealed most of the sandstone that comprised the imposing walls, with overgrown trees flanking each corner.
Kagome was grateful for the long sleeves of his red coat as she wrapped her hand around his arm. Lifting the hem of the simple light blue gown the innkeeper had procured, Kagome gracefully stepped down. Once her feet touched the ground, she took a better look at the grounds before them.
How long has Inuyasha been gone?
It was good for him to be home, in a place that felt so familiar and yet so foreign. The memories of the darker days more than rivaled the happier ones, but it was his birthright to run the estate and he would not abandon it. His father had a certain way of managing everything and he had no plans of disappointing his memory. "What do you think?"
Kagome met his eyes – eyes that for the first time were churning with uncertainty. For a moment, the intimacy made her want to abandon his arm, but she dared not endanger their façade until they were inside. Why does he care what I think?
"It is breathtaking, your grace." Kagome glanced over the estate once more, seeing the beauty beneath the moss and mildew. "Maybe the most beautiful place I've ever seen." The duke smiled wistfully, and Kagome couldn't help but smile back. Perhaps this wouldn't be an unpleasant arrangement and her fears were unfounded. "I look forward to assisting you with managing it."
Inuyasha cleared his throat, dismissing the attendant and watching as he strode out of earshot.
Still think this is a good idea? How your father would feel about a Higurashi running his estate? Her father certainly did an excellent job of running it into the dirt.
The duke crossed his arms, his muscles becoming rigid under her hand. "I hardly think that will be necessary. You are only masquerading as the duchess and have no need to concern yourself with such matters. Your time will be your own."
He inwardly cringed as her hand slipped from him, creating a disagreeable distance as her scent soured.
"Oh, I see." Kagome tried not to sound like a scolded child as she followed him towards the entry. Being idle was not one of her strong suits. This would not do at all. She would need to find something of meaning to occupy her time, and quickly. What the duke did not know would not hurt him.
She stepped past him without fuss as he opened the door to the manor. This is one of the richest dukedoms in all of England. Where are his servants?
Inuyasha strode across the floor with sweeping, confident steps as Kagome tentatively followed before halting, her mouth falling agape. A huge staircase stood before them, dressed in a red runner and skillfully crafted railings flanked on both sides by walls with floor to ceiling windows. Above them was a huge crystal chandelier shrouded with dust and cobwebs. But it was what was behind it that caused Kagome to gasp.
There were breathtaking paintings, that which she had only seen the likes of in the richest churches, each illustrated throughout the gold-framed ceiling panels. But unlike the plump cherubs and celestial beings of the churches, these depictions were of demons. Demons that had golden eyes and resembled Inuyasha's likeness.
"Your grace!" A female voice greeted them, her warm tone echoing up to the thirty-foot ceiling. "How delightful to have ye home so soon! How was your business with Lord Higurashi?"
Inuyasha stepped aside to reveal Kagome, complete with all her bruises and injuries.
"Bless my stars!" Both the woman's hands clutched her heart in shock, "Are ye Miss Higurashi?" The woman waddled forward, clasping both of Kagome's hands in hers. "Did Inuyasha kidnap ye?" The stout older woman turned back to the duke, "I'll be having yer head boy if ye kidnapped her!"
Kagome stared on in bewilderment as the servant dropped one of her hands, wagging her finger at Inuyasha. Part of her quickly and silently prayed the elderly woman wouldn't lose her life for her brazenness. The other part wished to burst into laughter.
"Relax, old hag," the words were venomous, but his tone was nothing shy of adoring, "Her father kicked her out and she needed my protection." He emphasized the word with a pointed look, "I don't need your yapping."
Her brown eyes softened as she looked between them, "I see. But if ye get any ideas, boy, I know where ye sleep."
Oh, I've already got ideas. Many ideas. For example, in the carriage we could have lifted her skirts, set her on our lap then -
Golden eyes rolled into the back of his head, "Yes, Lady Kaede, I'll keep that in mind."
The old woman shifted to better study Kagome, her eyes intense, but kind. "And who caused ye injuries?"
Kagome wrapped her arms around herself. Had she thought Inuyasha had hurt her? "It was Naraku."
"Aye." With a gentle pat on her hand, Kagome felt her muscles release. "Well, ye are safe here, my dear. And if Inuyasha behaves in any way disagreeable, ye come to me. I'll set him straight."
"Thank you," Kagome looked between them, unable to hide her smirk. While she couldn't quite say why, she knew the woman was a kindred spirit. "I daresay I may require you rather often, as the times his grace are amiable seem few and far between."
Kaede's eyes twinkled, "I see the two are you are already well-acquainted."
"Good Gods," Inuyasha's ears twitched, "Please prepare my mother's old chambers for her grace." Inuyasha gave Kaede a knowing glance as a housemaid entered the room. "And I need you to watch over her today. I have business I need to attend."
"Of course. I require a word with Eri over there, she's preparing the village baskets for this morning. After I go to the village, I will get right on it. I'm sure her grace will preoccupy herself here until my return."
Kaede crossed the entry to speak to the servant as Kagome frowned up at Inuyasha. They had only just arrived. Why was he already leaving? She did not want to be alone, but asking him if she could join him was out of the question. He had made it clear he did not desire her company.
"Keh, she is my mother's half-sister, my aunt." Inuyasha revealed, motioning to Kaede, "Only reason I permit her insolent mouth. Don't fret, she will take good care of you. Just don't let her rub off on you overtly much. I'll return by dinner."
Kagome watched as all the usual rigidity left his body, an unfamiliar lightness presenting in his step as he left the room. Did Inuyasha actually care for someone other than himself?
"I need to visit the village and deliver some rations." Kaede's calming voice washed over her as she watched the maids bringing in baskets of bread, setting them on a table. "There is a pianoforte in the drawing room or a library in the east wing. I can have a maid settle ye in until I return. I think that-"
"Could I come?" Kagome blurted out before she could finish. The idea of being an ornament in the duke's home bothered her to no end. If she was going to live here, she would make herself useful and there was no time like the present to start. There would be plenty of time to get acquainted with her new home when they returned. While the duke might not trust her with major matters, she could start small and earn his trust.
Surely she was capable of handing out bread.
"Oh, well," Kaede grabbed a basket of warm loaves off the table. "Aye, I suppose ye could come, long as ye don't tell anyone yer last name. Here, come help me with the baskets."
…
"How long has Inuyasha been gone?"
Kagome could no longer hide the question as she assessed the village from the carriage window, silently noting tasks that needed to be done : patching the roofs on the villagers' homes, fixing dilapidated livestock fences, and most importantly : providing food to the slightly malnourished tenants.
Fixing everything her father had broken.
"Five years." The old woman glanced around wistfully, recalling the once vibrant village. "Parliament only restored our funds last year. Some estates returned more hastily than others, but ours lacked its master. He was sorely missed. Nevertheless, I needed to be sure it was safe for him to return. After all, he's the last of the Tashio bloodline. I feared someone would assassinate him upon his return to take his estate. I did what I could, but as ye can see, it was not enough as our crops continue to suffer."
The thought of Inuyasha dying made Kagome's stomach turn. "They were lucky to have you, Lady Kaede."
"Aye, but I am no lady, merely the bastard daughter of our father's indiscretions with a maid. Lucky for me, Inuyasha's mother Izayoi loved me all the same."
Things among demons were different, just as Inuyasha said. If a bastard child was born to a human lord, the child would have been sent away in the dark of night, hopefully never to be heard from again. Kagome silently wondered if just because it was different, meant that it was wrong. The child that resulted from such improprieties certainly didn't deserve an unseemly fate. One had no choice in their parentage, as she knew all too well.
Once they stopped and stepped outside, Kagome held the basket of bread beside Kaede, wondering how many they could feed with the food they had brought. Her modest crimson dress blew in the breeze, effectively covering her neck and injuries. Kaede had insisted she change before they left, giving her a gown she had stored away for emergencies.
The buildings around them looked like the manor, on the verge of being restored or crumbling into dust. But it wasn't for lack of effort, as every villager was hard at work. What they lacked was money and enough able bodied people.
Kagome was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize the tenants had stopped their tasks and were walking towards them. Every muscle in her body froze, remembering the mantras her father had instilled in her to keep her safe. Never turn your back. Don't go outside after dark, that's when their powers grow. Never let them see your fear. Safety in numbers.
But they were vastly outnumbered. "Are they all demons?"
But so is Koga. So is Inuyasha. Neither are bad," she reminded herself. One is just a tad insufferable.
And despite her logic, her fear surged forward like the night in the inn, overwhelming all sense of reason.
"Aye," the edge of panic in the young woman's voice was a cause for concern. The villagers would smell it. "Some are half-human, like Inuyasha."
"Half-demon? Inuyasha is human?" Her breathing quickened as the demons grew closer, her hands icy. A deep breath filled her lungs, calming her before her powers lashed out.
"Aye, on his mother's side. Are ye alright, your grace?"
The closest female demon smiled, flashing her fangs, before giving Kaede a slight bow. "Good morning, Kaede. And who is this?"
She gestured to Kagome, rooted to the spot. Her hands tightened on the basket, clutching it like a weapon that would save her should things go south.
"This is your new duchess, Sara. Her name is Kagome. She wished to come and meet you all."
Sara appraised her, eyes clouding with confusion as her nose scrunched. "Your grace." The words were bitter, calculated.
Kagome waited for her to sweep into a curtsy, but her spine remained stiff, unbending. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
They knew their duke well. Their noses smelled her for what she was – a human. While Inuyasha was half-human himself, his demon blood from his father was unmistakably strong, worthy of a leader. Inuyasha vowed to never marry after what had transpired with his mother. Why would he choose to taint his blood by mating a mortal now?
A small tendril of power began wrapping itself on the weaved handle as Kagome awaited a reply that never came.
Kaede placed a wrinkled hand on top of hers, emitting a scarcely visible light, causing Kagome's magic to slither back into her body. The younger miko's eyes widened at the gesture as a soothing warmth filled her, but the older miko merely took the basket from her and set it on the ground like nothing was amiss. A topic change would do them well. "Come, take some bread." Kaede gestured graciously to the baskets in the carriage as the tenants walked forward and started grabbing them. "Are there any injured?"
A small girl with long straight black hair stepped through the crowd, holding a swaddle of torn material, a wee fluff of orange hair sticking out from the top.
Instinctively, Kagome's feet strode forward without thought, lifting the small bundle from the girl.
"He hasn't been eating since his mama died from fever two days ago."
Her heart practically stopped as she pushed the blankets back, peering down at the nearly dead fox kit in her arms.
"His name is Shippo. He has no other family and we have no other mothers to sustain him right now," Sara said ruefully. "And we can't find a willing wet nurse." The cat demon stepped next to Kagome, reaching out for the kit, "Perhaps it is his time."
Kagome looked down at the tiny fingers clutching the blanket that seemed to weigh more than the infant. Before, the only baby she had ever held was Sota, bright eyed and chunky and beautiful. This child had never experienced his first smile, his first steps, his first word.
"His time?" She grasped the bundle tighter, holding her eyes wide so the tears wouldn't slip. "He has not even begun to live. How can it be his time?"
Sara did not drop her arms, her ebony ears flattening back against her head. "You know nothing of life here, your grace. We have already tried to save him. He refuses to eat. What can you do that his own people can not? Let the kit go in peace."
Kagome glanced to Kaede, who kept a neutral expression on her face. Her eyes darted to the villagers as they shifted, ready to interfere if needed.
You're nothing but an outsider and they know it. But if you leave him, they will be burying him by morning.
"I will take him." Kagome swallowed, "Please – let me try."
Sara's tail jerked back and forth, her mouth opening to retort.
"Let her try, Sara." Kaede waddled over, "She can not help but try to mend things. She has miko blood."
Yellow eyes widened, appraising Kagome in a new light. "Very well, Lady Kaede. Take the kit, your grace."
Kaede gave her a kind nod, distributing the rest of the food. "We will be returning in a few days. Inuyasha wants to get to work on mending the fences. I will update ye on the kit's progress."
Kagome barely heard her words as she held the baby, following Kaede back into the carriage.
"Trust here must be earned, your grace," Kaede whispered. "Give them time. They have been through a lot. They will come round."
Kagome looked up from the bundle, staring at the children as they chased each other between taking bites of the bread, "All these years - why did they not leave?"
"They are loyal to the Tashio family, despite all that's happened. They respect Inuyasha."
Kagome brushed back a tuft of hair from Shippo's eyes, remembering the way the dark magic flowed through her without her consent. "It was not my intention to hurt them. I-" Her shoulders sagged as she slumped around the kit, a tremor running through her.
You can't even control yourself.
"There was a lesson I had to learn long ago. No matter how hard we may try or wish, as mikos, we can not fix everything." Kaede lifted Kagome's chin. The young woman reminded her so much of her nephew. "But a broken tool does not stand a chance to mend broken things. Ye are troubled and must find peace."
Kagome clutched the bundle to her, staring down at the fitfully sleeping kit, silently wondering if some things were too broken to ever be remedied.
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Notes: Please let me know what you thought of this chapter; I love reading all the comments! What do you think about Kaede and Shippo? Where do you think Inuyasha has gone?