Nocturne - Chapter Thirty-Eight: Time Waits For No One
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Time has a way of settling things. It moves for no one, always at its own pace, steady and sure, but never-ending in itself. Like anything, time has a way of feeling different for each who encounters it. For the impatient, it moves slow. For the zealous, it moves fast. For those with temperance, it can push on stoically.
Kagome could not fathom which group she may fall into. At any point in time, she felt her category shift.
It had been six years since she had first encountered Sesshomaru in a cave under a spell. It was magic that had turned both of their lives on end and pushed their paths to entangle. One may assume that their lives were bound by destiny, which may be true, for nothing happens without reason, even if it does not make sense.
In the beginning, Kagome had feared the retribution that their new nemesis, Fan Tsenpo, had promised them. Anxiety had her on edge for nearly a year. During that time, Sesshomaru had constantly urged her not to let her fear consume her. He assured her countless times that she had not only his protection but his love as well.
The land of the West was guarded by Sesshomaru, so nothing came in or out without him learning of it. He'd also advised her that a long-lived yokai would take their time putting any plan of vengeance into play. A yokai's idea of swift could be translated into something different in human terms. Kagome figured that might be true. A couple of years are nothing to a being that has lived centuries. That knowledge eased her fears somewhat and gave them the time needed to prepare for whatever may come.
As the months and years ticked by with no sign of their enemy, Kagome allowed herself to settle into a routine. It wasn't hard to do. The Sengoku Era was one of routine for its people. Daiyokai and their families were no exception.
Sesshomaru was a demon lord and had lands to maintain. Though he did not usually deal with humans directly, Kagome helped to bridge the gap. People trusted her due to her status as a miko more than a yokai who was beautiful and frightening to behold.
Most vassals assumed she was a retainer of the lord Sesshomaru, a servant, but that was to her liking. People had a way of becoming fearful or, at worst, disagreeable if they learned the truth. Much to Sesshomaru's chagrin, Kagome preferred it this way.
He had often attempted to convince her to dress her part as the Lady of the West, usually by bringing her clothes cut in the best fashion of the time, but she would turn her nose up at those items. They did not suit her. He would agree, almost begrudgingly, but yet continued to bring new items back from any journey. Kagome had developed quite the collection that sat unused in a spare room.
It had taken much more convincing for Sesshomaru to allow the people of their lands to even think of her as lower than her exact position. That was a much harder sell. It had taken nearly a year to wear him down, which was a fantastic accomplishment that in itself. Kagome had pegged him to hold out much longer.
Kagome's status not notwithstanding, Sesshomaru held steady with his opinion that his daughter would be held with the utmost regard. He refused to tolerate intolerance, which was a perplexing conundrum to deal with. She was to be treated with class and decorum, and any who did not comply would face the personal wrath of the Lord of the West.
Kagome had a secret thought that Sesshomaru felt regret over his younger half-brother's situation and his lack of involvement. It was something Sesshomaru would never admit, but it became increasingly evident in his actions. His protectiveness over their daughter could border on the extreme at times.
Sesshomaru was a very dutiful and doting father, Kagome learned. It made her heart swell to think about it. He ensured that Setsuna yearned for nothing while maintaining a structured learning regime.
As a mother, Kagome wanted to nurture her child, but Sesshomaru disagreed, stating that Setsuna would need to learn, and it would come easier if she started sooner than later. Kagome would begrudgingly agree since she always felt at a disadvantage with her miko training picked up later in life.
He had crafted a blade fit for a small child and began to teach her swordcraft, and they explored her other yokai abilities. However, being the child of a miko, she inherited other traits that her father could not help her with. Setsuna was, after all, half daiyokai and half miko.
Her powers were unusual and robust, much more potent than Sesshomaru could have anticipated. Kagome had nothing to go on, but of all the things she had seen and learned, Setsuna's abilities were not a stretch by any means. However, if Sesshomaru had cause to be amazed, then Kagome figured there was something worthwhile there. He must have assumed that she may be weaker due to her mixed heritage, but if his brother were to be used as an example, then there could be no telling just how capable Setsuna may be.
So their young daughter grew and learned in the ways of both her mother and father. Of course, it would be cruel not to count the things Setsuna learned from her grandmother, who had lingered on, deciding her time was best spent near her son's family.
Sesshomaru had done his best to banish his mother back to her palace in the sky, but the demoness would casually wave her son off and stress her interests in her only child and his family. What interests the demoness had was beyond anything Kagome could fathom. When she wasn't spending time with Setsuna, she would seek out Kagome while alone and henpeck her like a proper mother-in-law.
The woman was nearly impossible to get along with, and she constantly belittled Kagome in a passive-aggressive manner. On more than one occasion, the woman had hinted at overhearing Sesshomaru's and Kagome's overzealous lovemaking sessions and berated Kagome for her shortcomings. These particular conversations were always held far and away from Sesshomaru. He would not entertain such behavior from his mother and would promptly put her out. But Kagome would never tell him about it if she could help it. Her mother-in-law was a proud, indomitable woman whose beauty was beyond comparison, but inside she was lonely, and Kagome could sense it. On the bright side, she was an infallible tutor for court life and political intrigue, things that neither Kagome nor Sesshomaru had a care for.
On one such day, Kagome had an interesting altercation with her mother-in-law.
"Even throughout the years, I am surprised you can still satisfy my son. To be quite honest," she teased, "I am even more astonished to see you survived the ceremony. I have not told you that, girl.'
"You have told me that," Kagome would remind her, "many times before."
The ceremony the demoness was alluding to was nothing more than a commitment ceremony, similar to a wedding. According to her, the rites required some barbaric stipulations like bloodletting and marking. Kagome was sure that she was being lied to when her mother-in-law told her all this.
Sesshomaru had looked mortified when Kagome asked him to confirm, stating there was no way she would ever be allowed to participate in such a beastly display. He declared that the only worrisome part of the ceremony would be the lack of sleep she would get the night of the ceremony and the nights afterward. It would seem his inner demon had to be satiated as well, which was the core of the problem, but he was hesitant to harm her.
Kagome had learned that Sesshomaru had kept his yoki at bay and did so at great pain to himself. She had difficulty wrapping her mind around what he had meant. He was always in command of himself, so Kagome was not entirely sure what he had meant when he told her of this.
"Like you are able to access your spiritual powers within, I, too, access my yoki. Albeit in a different manner. It is a part of me in my duality," he had told her.
Whatever that had meant, she pondered. Sesshomaru had not yet hurt her in any of their sometimes violent lovemaking sessions. Why would that start now? She would be lying to herself, though, if she did not admit the curiousness from after those sessions. Often she would be so sure that some body part or the other would sport a bruise, but that was never the case.
Even after the ceremony and that evening when Kagome had finally been presented with Sesshomaru's red-eyed demon, nothing much had changed. Sure, she had expected to bear love bites and scratches, but there had been nothing outside of delicious soreness that accompanied hours of passion. She joked to herself that if she could withstand his constant stabbing, then she could withstand anything.
Something was different this time when Sesshomaru's mother teased Kagome. "For the years that have passed, I would have expected more from you, dear human girl."
Kagome was beyond rolling her eyes at the woman. It was easier to be patient and allow the demoness to grow bored and move on than attempt to bandy words. "What's that, mother?" Kagome asked sweetly.
"Ah, girl, you know I despise when you call me that," the demoness chastised, but even Kagome's subtle diversion did not stop her tirade. "I have watched my fine granddaughter spring up in the blink of mine eye, blossoming into a beautiful and capable child. However, I look at you, a mere human who has bespelled my only son, and I see nothing."
She could feel her patience being tested with the woman's trying words. "For that, I am glad that Sesshomaru is not as short-sighted as you, mother."
The demoness shook her head and gave a smirk that held a secret. "Hnn. You've been too long around our kind girl. Never questioning anything." She said no more and left Kagome to her thoughts.
The demoness was being as mysterious as ever, Kagome thought. The words were no more cutting than usual, but today they plagued Kagome enough to take action. She swiftly sought out a mirror in the large manor. There was only one on the premises as Kagome had a distaste for them for a singular reason. Anytime she looked into a mirror, she had thought there would be something she did not want to see on the other side. Often, the time in Fan Tsenpo's palace came to mind when he had tried to pit her against Sesshomaru by showing Kagome her deepest fears.
Kagome had been swiftly reassured when she once questioned Sesshomaru about that time. He told her that it had been a setup, a trick of the eye, and nothing had happened. As unbelievable as it sounded, she had no cause not to believe him, and he had never once given her a reason to doubt his words, but still, mirrors were also notorious for showing the truth, and for Kagome, that truth was of how time was a harsh mistress.
The only mirror in the manor was located in a guest room that received seldom use outside of a good cleaning, and the only reason Kagome had not requested it removed was its beautiful cast work encasing the mirror. That was a reason she had allowed herself, but she knew that deep down, she was morbidly curious to see, from time to time, what Sesshomaru saw. Knowing that she aged and he did not was a constant battle for her.
When Kagome walked into the room, she hesitated for a moment, afraid of what she might see. She was only 28 years old, but wrinkles and grey hair weren't necessarily discriminatory. Taking a deep breath, she held it and finally took a step in front of the mirror.
The demoness' prodding seemed to be getting the better of her. As she looked in the mirror, ensuring to move her head to see from different angles, she did not notice anything unusual. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips from a breath she did not realize she'd been holding. Kagome had nearly expected to see laugh lines or crow's feet, possibly even a crease in her brow from the occasional frown, but there was nothing. So, she stood in front of the mirror, simply looking and wondering. It was there, moments later, that Sesshomaru found her.
"You are still beautiful, beloved. Time has not changed that."
Kagome gave a small start, not expecting to be found examining herself in a mirror, like some vain woman. "Sesshomaru, you startled me." She quickly turned away from the mirror in guilt.
"Hnn," he said in mild amusement. "Do not be ashamed to behold yourself. This one is not." His lip rose in a tiny smug smile.
A/N: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the readers. First, to those who take the time to review, your words are always so appreciated and cherished. Second, to those who follow/favorite the story, just knowing that you care enough to click that button speaks volumes. Lastly, to those who just read, I know you lurkers are out there just trying to read a good story, and I am happy that you made it to mine.
I won't say I have a favorite (cough*cough*reviews*cough*cough) because each thing is a wonder to me. I know I am guilty of not reviewing or favoriting/following stories I enjoy, so no hate goes to people who enjoy a story without leaving a little something-something. Of course, I would enjoy it if you do :)
Until next time.