Nocturne - Chapter Thirty: Cold and Calculating
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
o - o - o - o - o
Sesshomaru followed his nose the rest of the way through the village to find Rin. He located her in a clearing at the edge of the village. She appeared to be conversing with a young woman. Upon further inspection, Sesshomaru was unable to locate the houshi, nor his brood, and his irk rose towards the taijiya for her false words.
There were many people in the clearing, most carrying belongings and supplies, looking as though they had just arrived from a long journey or were displaced settlers bearing all they owned. He noticed the now grown Kohaku among them calling out instructions.
Sesshomaru's arrival caused a hush among the group, who all immediately began to arm themselves with varying weaponry. He glared at them all, daring anyone to attack.
Kohaku noticed the disturbance and lifted a hand, instructing the people to lower their weaponry, but many continued to give Sesshomaru defiant looks. The young man ran over towards Sesshomaru with a wary smile.
"Lord Sesshomaru, it is good to see you well. My sister sent word to me, expressing distress, and asked that I come quickly. When I learned that the suggestion came from you, I thought it provident to bring a team." Kohaku gestured to his people, still giving Sesshomaru wary, sidelong glances.
Rin had taken the opportunity to approach and smiled broadly. "Lord Sesshomaru! You have returned, which must mean that you bring Lady Kagome as well." She saw the child, now awake and alert, in his arm. Rin looked around, trying to find Kagome, and then back to Sesshomaru. "She is not here?"
Sesshomaru ignored her question. "With your mortal caretaker dead, I wanted to ensure that you are provided for." He looked around again and back at Rin. "I will soon be away from here."
Still smiling, Rin cooed at the baby and placed a finger inside the child's grasping hand. "I am happy here, my lord," she said cautiously. Glancing up, she said slowly, "I only worry about you."
Sesshomaru noticed from the corner of his eye Kohaku staring at the girl with a particular fondness in his gaze. He figured that young Rin could do worse than the thoughtful taijiya. She may undoubtedly need his care in the time to come.
Satisfied that Rin would not be left wanting, he issued a brief goodbye. "Be well, Rin."
Rin grabbed his arm, a look of concern drawing down her features. "Where is Kagome?" she asked again.
"You may tell her I will be waiting."
"Of course," Rin replied obediently. She still seemed perturbed over the turn of events but would not question Sesshomaru.
He bid a final farewell to the pair and departed on a swift wind.
In-flight, he looked down at the child in his arms. She sat up and looked around in marvel, never having seen the world from this vantage. Her dark eyes alight with a quiet wonder. Those were the eyes of her mother, he knew. This was the only way to get her to see.
o - o - o - o - o
Kagome stepped inside her house again, for what she was unsure. Everything was exactly as she had left it, except for a layer of dust beginning to form. Funny how dust began to move at the moment that you stopped paying attention.
She sighed at all of the work she would have to do and nearly debated taking care of things now rather than doing them later with a child to care for.
Her desire to be reunited with Setsuna was too great. Kagome exited the house and looked around. A shaky breath escaped her, and she chided herself for thinking that he would be here. Not after she ran him off, she left the house and set down the path towards the village.
She had gotten a mile barely before she was pulled from her thoughts.
"Oi! Kagome!" A familiar voice called out.
Kagome turned on her heel. Only one person she knew would address her like that.
Inuyasha ran up to her, pulling her into a friendly embrace. "You're okay!"
"Ungh, not if you don't crush me first," she joked.
"Eh? Sorry." He released her quickly and took an awkward step back. "I, uh, I'm sorry you were kidnapped...again."
Kagome bit her lip and smirked. "There's nothing to apologize for. You saved Setsuna, and that's all I could have ever asked."
"I was gonna come and save you, too, but it seems Sesshomaru beat me to it. Where is he anyway? Surprisingly he isn't here threatening to kick my ass again."
"He's gone. I don't know where to."
"Oh."
There was an awkward silence. "So, you were going to come to save me, huh? Like old times? How did that pan out?"
Inuyasha scratched at his head, seemingly embarrassed, "Yeah, well, once Sesshomaru came and threatened everyone, we decided to come up with an alternate plan."
"Threatened you?" She asked.
"Well, yeah, he came here hours after you were taken and apparently told Sango to get her brother here. He basically implied shit was gonna go down."
"I see," she responded, thinking to herself.
"I guess that means he didn't kill that bitch or her badass brother, huh?"
Kagome's head snapped up, and her heart dropped. The danger was only gone for the moment with no indication of when it was to return. "No, unfortunately not."
"Keh, fucking figures. He drags you and the kid into this, and now he's bringing everyone else into his fucking mess, too. Then he takes off?"
"Likely to prepare," Kagome defended. "He was able to seriously wound Fan, and any counter-attack will not be immediate."
"Nah. Probably when we least expect it. He's a sick fuck that one."
"What do you know of him?" She asked suspiciously.
"A little."
"You've never even met him. How can you possibly know anything at all?"
"I uh…" he trailed off, and he looked behind her.
Kagome caught his glance and spun around to see a woman peeking out at her from behind a tree. "Who is that, Inuyasha?"
"That's um…" he stammered, "It's Shizuka."
"Shizuka?" Kagome asked, looking at the tree the woman seemed to be hiding behind. "Why is she hiding? Who is she?"
"Don't get mad."
"Why would I get mad, Inuyasha?" she inquired the guilty-looking hanyo.
He scratched at his head and looked up as he spoke, avoiding her stare, "Because she...she may or may not have been the one who snatched the kid."
"What," she responded in monotone.
When it seemed Kagome wouldn't blow up, Inuyasha called out, "Come on over."
Kagome seethed with anger at the fool before her. She stood silent while Inuyasha led a hesitant hanyo woman out towards her.
Her first inclination had been to lash out, but upon further inspection, Kagome instantly felt a surge of pity.
The woman was an inuyokai, just like Inuyasha. Her ears were turned down like she was a beaten dog, and she trembled so like a frightened animal. Inuyasha took hold of her hand and patted it reassuringly. "This is Kagome. She won't hurt you."
Kagome glared at him, but he was oblivious to her poignant stare. He only had eyes for this timid woman. Would the idiot dare attempt to pass off this woman as some kind of ally? Yet, Kagome could feel that there was nothing nefarious about her. Strange that she couldn't pick up anything at all, no sense of her yoki, nothing.
The woman glanced up, hesitantly, and back down. She began to tug on Inuyasha's arm, trying to pull away. Something about the way Kagome stared at her, causing her to feel discomfort.
"You're frightening her," Inuyasha pointed out. "Don't be such a bitch. It ain't Shizuka s fault."
"Are you serious right now! I haven't said one cross word as of yet! Maybe you are scaring her by pushing her into situations she's uncomfortable with."
Inuyasha snapped back, "Maybe she can see your dagger eyes!"
"So immature," Kagome groaned.
"Such a stuck-up whiny bitch," he snapped.
Kagome frowned. "I am not whiny. I know what I want. It's different."
Inuyasha scoffed, "Keh. Oh yeah? Then why are you alone again?"
Kagome gasped. "How dare you! I am alone because I have chosen to be alone."
"Lie to yourself, wench, but you can't lie to me. I know you too well."
Kagome thought that might be true to a point, but he was wrong about his opinion of her.
Shizuka looked supremely uncomfortable but said nothing. Kagome sniffed in derision, turning her attention to the newcomer.
"So, explain to me why she is sharing your company, and I shouldn't want to hurt her if she tried to steal my baby," she demanded.
o - o - o - o - o
Inuyasha explained on the way towards the village. He told Kagome how Shizuka had been a slave to Tsering and used everything from a handmaiden to a spy. They did not even know her real name; instead, giving her a new one.
How he had extracted all this information from a girl who was clearly mute was beyond her. Still, she gave this stranger the benefit of the doubt because Inuyasha assured her that Sango and Miroku would collaborate the story.
Kagome was skeptical but also hesitant to doubt her friend's astute judgment. It would be best to keep this woman as far away from her babe as possible, just to be safe, she thought.
Inuyasha explained that a lot had happened in the weeks she was gone. Kohaku had arrived, bringing with him his entire clan of taijiya. The lad was doing his best to rebuild that which he had taken away. His guilt was something he would battle for years, if not the rest of his life. Survivors guilt at its worst, Kagome knew.
Sango's summons prompted Kohaku to bring his foundling people to the village to settle. The old taijiya village was gone, decimated by an old enemy, its inhabitants eradicated except for two. Kohaku dreamed of making amends due to his guilt and began recruiting worthy apprentices and others experienced in exterminating demons.
The village seemed to attract yokai of all kinds. It seemed an appropriate place to settle and begin anew. Of course, many of the people Kohaku had recruited held a deep-seated hatred for yokai, no matter their affiliations, and found themselves unsettled by some of the village's inhabitants.
None of that seemed to bother Inuyasha. He held the woman's hand as they walked, occasionally running a thumb over her hand for reassurance purposes. Kagome felt an odd sense of jealousy wash over her when she noticed. She narrowed her eyes at the display and quickly turned her head before the lout could pick up on her mood. Kagome cursed herself for those twinges of envy. It's not as if she even wanted Inuyasha like that. Not anymore.
He had seldom been so tender and patient with her during their time together. Both of their stubborn tendencies clashed and caused many fights. Now, Kagome could see that what he truly needed to thrive would be someone demure. Someone who needed the protection he could provide. Someone to validate him after years of being nothing.
Kagome now knew that she was never the one for him, and it stung to see him look happy over someone who was a virtual stranger compared to their years-old relationship. She felt her throat catch thinking about her happiness or rather lack thereof.
It just didn't seem fair that Kagome had left her family and her entire life to come to the past for a boy that now seemed enthralled with someone else. She tried to discreetly clear her throat without drawing too much attention to herself.
"What's your deal?" Inuyasha asked skeptically.
Kagome noticed that he had an eyebrow raised and likely wouldn't be convinced by whatever she said. "I just miss her," she said quietly. That was true, and he wouldn't question her. She hoped.
His eyes suggested he had his doubts, but he didn't push the subject. Instead, going along with her. "Yeah, well, she's a brat. Just like her mom." His friendly smile trying to console her.
Kagome nodded and glanced over at the new woman being led along quietly by Inuyasha's side. She had not gotten a very good look at the woman and thought she saw some similarities to another. Odd similarities. The tilt of her eyes, even downcast as they were, held some disturbing familiarity. Kagome shook her head of the thoughts, clearing her mind of such notions.
Inuyasha stopped, and Shizuka tensed, hiding behind him. Kagome was puzzled at their hesitation but felt it herself and followed their eyes up. Up in the sky, there was a figure being swallowed in the clouds settling over the land. It was a queer sensation to have her heart drop lower into her chest than it had already done not long ago.
Did I make the right decision, she pondered, looking back at the pair whose eyes were still glued to the sky.
"Bastard is leaving again. Good fucking riddance," Inuyasha cursed. "He always rattles on about pride and honor, but he is a fucking hypocrite."
Kagome didn't respond, preferring to chew on her lip. For a second, she thought he'd come back for her. Not that it would change her mind. The idea of being an aging liability seemed unfeasible.
Inuyasha scoffed. "You're better off. Maybe one of the new guys that Kohaku brought would suit you," he suggested.
If looks could kill, Inuyasha would be 6 feet under. The best Kagome could do was one. "Sit, boy!" She commanded.
The beads around his neck glowed, and his face planted into the ground with a satisfying sound. Shizuka looked at Kagome with a mixture of perplexion and horror, eliminating any amount of satisfaction Kagome would get from the deed.
"He deserved it!" She defended against her wordless accuser. "He will be fine," she waved a hand.
Inuyasha lifted himself from the ground spitting dirt, "Dammit, wench! Don't fucking do that!"
Kagome grabbed Inuyasha by his beads, pulling his neck down, and looked at Shizuka. "Beads of subjugation," she explained. "If he ever gives you any trouble, let me know, and I will bring him down a few notches."
Shizuka continued to look horrified, emphasizing her fright by taking a step back from Kagome.
Kagome frowned and let Inuyasha go. He growled and rubbed his neck, muttering obscenities. He grabbed Shizuka's hand and marched off with her, leaving Kagome behind.
She sighed and followed.
The village was just a few yards away, and the trio made their way to Miroku and Sango's house.
Upon entering, Kagome was greeted with smiles and tight hugs from her best friend. Sango hiccuped, stifling a happy sob. "We were all so worried, but when Sesshomaru came, I knew you were okay."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. How had Sango seen Sesshomaru already? "Did he come here?"
Sango's eyes went wide with apprehension. "He did…"
Kagome looked around, noting the absence of her child, "Where's Setsuna?"
"He didn't bring her to you?" Sango questioned.
"Clearly not!" Kagome felt the blood drain from her face and turned to bolt from the door. Inuyasha stood with Shizuka in the doorway, speechless, and Kagome shouldered past him to get outside. He protested loudly, "Hey!"
Kagome ran outside, not knowing where to go or what to do. She could feel her adrenaline start to course as she stopped and looked in any direction. People were coming and going, working through their daily chores and errands, some looking at her strangely as she stood panting and looking around frantically.
Without having a set course in mind, she began running blindly, looking for anything. She could hear her name being shouted from behind her. "Kagome! Wait!"
She ignored whoever called, dashing through women running errands, children who were playing, and men returning from the day spent hunting and gathering. Kagome had a one-track mind at this moment where her instincts led her rather than her rationale.
Another voice broke through her, "Kagome?!"
She didn't stop running, but a pair of strong arms grabbed her and pulled her off her feet. "What's wrong?" she heard a frantic voice call out.
Kagome was able to see Rin standing in front of her, concern marring her features. "Kagome, please calm down."
She wrestled against the hands that restrained her, trying to pull free. "Let go of me. I have to find her," she cried.
Rin grabbed Kagome's hands in her own. "Please, listen. Setsuna is not here. She is with Lord Sesshomaru."
"He took her?!" Kagome yelled. She settled and quit trying to break free, finally noticing who had grabbed her up. It had been quite a while since she'd seen the young man, Kohaku. He'd grown taller, more filled, and masculine in his slayer clothes. He also looked concerned while holding her from causing harm to herself or others.
"Yes, that is true," Rin said. She looked sad for Kagome, like she felt pity for a child who didn't know the real way of the world. "He said to come," she said softly.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. "He said what?"
He allowed Kagome to go free, and she turned to look up at him in perplexion. Kohaku moved around to stand beside Rin.
"What are you saying?" Kagome asked. Come where she wondered.
Rin still held Kagome's hands and rubbed them in a soothing motion. "He wanted you to find them."
Kagome felt her heart fall. Now Setsuna was gone, too. Was it a punishment? Or was he using their child to bring her to him? Perhaps he did not find her capable of handling their child that would surely outlive her. "Find them?" she repeated softly. "Did he-was there anything else?"
"Yes, he said once you were ready, they would be waiting."
A/N: FYI, to any who may ask. No, Inuyasha isn't in insta-love with Keyuri/Shizuka. I'll just leave it at that.
Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope to see your thoughts (reviews) because they are awesome. See you next time!