Nocturne - Chapter Forty: Unexpected
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
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He would not follow the mother of his child as she disappeared inside the manor. The time for reconciliation had come and gone. The woman claimed to understand the necessity behind his frequent excursions yet acted another way entirely. She compounded the situation by blaming him for granting her countless years on top of her paltry mortal few.
Sesshomaru had laid the offer bare to her, and she had accepted enthusiastically. He was not to blame that she was unable to infer the duplicitous meaning.
He would not allow her to place guilt onto him. Not even her tears could sway him this time. Yet, the woman was as ephemeral as the sea-Crying one moment and becoming stoic with suppressed anger the next.
Sensing her emotions was child's play. The miko wore them on her sleeve, and even when she attempted to veil her feelings, Sesshomaru could sense them broiling just below the surface.
He knew that her distress, which had morphed to anger, was genuine. The miko would come to accept what had happened, and eventually, she would thank him. Besides, he had not wanted to instill her with false hope. There was no guarantee the ningyo would work.
Until then, Kagome lashed out as best she could. Her announcement to travel to the village where his brother resided did not resonate with Sesshomaru. It was too far from the Western Lands to effectively guard, which left her and Setsuna's safety in the hands of his hanyo brother.
Inuyasha seemed capable enough. The half-breed had managed to get this far in life despite the attempts of many enemies to put an end to him, Sesshomaru not included as he had not put his entire efforts into the deed. That, alone, did not ease Sesshomaru's worries.
Then, there was also the carnal part of him that wanted to rip his brother limb from limb for ever touching his woman, even before he could call her his own. Sesshomaru banished the thought from his mind before he sought Kagome out and forbade her from leaving. He knew that would not go over well, recalling a time in the past where he had made that same mistake and the weeks it took for the woman to come back after laughing and leaving anyway.
While it chafed his pride to watch her leave, it may be for the best. Sesshomaru had not yet disclosed to Kagome that the rumors he was investigating were true after all. The past few months, there had been sightings of strangers with silver hair skulking about. He knew this was not a coincidence or fabricated tales, and now it was only a matter of time before their enemy struck.
The ones who had been sent were scouts, conditioned to probe the enemy for weakness and breaks in the line. Sesshomaru had mounted a rigid detail to patrol the borders and ensure that none made it through. That was easier said than done. It was improbable to expect a scout not to slip through since the whole premise of scouting was to move around undetected by the enemy.
The time for leisure had come to an end just as quickly as it had begun. Sesshomaru would allow his woman this small victory. She could go to the village with their child. Let her think she was punishing him. Until he could deal with the threat, she was better off away from the manor.
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Kagome flew out to the village on the back of Rei with Setsuna tucked in front. The small nekomata had flourished in Kagome's care and was her close companion when Sesshomaru was not around. He didn't care for Rei much, being a feline and all, but he did well tolerating the nekomata for her sake.
Despite not being able to transform into his larger form when they first met, Rei was perfectly capable of doing so now, and Kagome knew that he was much larger than his mother had been. She would sometimes wonder how big he would have gotten had he not been the runt of the litter. Regardless, Rei was an excellent companion to both her and Setsuna.
The trip only took a couple of hours, and when they landed in the village, Sango was already outside with a hand shading her eyes and waving them in.
Rei dropped them off near the house of the taijiya and monk; he made a roar before transforming back into his smaller form. Kagome thanked him as he rubbed against her legs with a purr. He quickly ran inside the house, likely looking for the children to play with. He popped out just as suddenly once he realized the place was empty and made a beeline east. Rei sometimes seemed more like a puppy than a nekomata. His ubiquitous nature was an odd but cherished quirk.
Setsuna ran over to Sango and wrapped her small arms around the woman's waist. "Sango! Look at how big I've gotten!"
Sango laughed and squeezed the girl back before pushing her away and squatting to be eye level. "My, but you have grown since I've seen you last. You are nearly as tall as little Hiro, who is three years your senior."
"Ha!" Setsuna yelled triumphantly. "I knew it! Is he inside?"
Sango chuckled. "You'll find him with his sisters down in the training yard."
Setsuna immediately turned and ran off in the direction of the training fields towards the outskirts of the village. Since Kohaku had brought new taijiya, the town had all but transformed from a simple farming town into a thriving demon slayer haven.
It was much different than its predecessor, whose people were reclusive and secretive of their craft. Many of the recruits were people who had been slaying demons on their own for some time, looking to hone their skills or make a life with people of similar interests.
Kohaku and Sango took responsibility for training newcomers, some even who had been born and raised in the village. What made things exciting was the mixing of Miroku's spiritual training. There were a few people who had talents for both slaying and latent spiritual powers. Miroku and Sango's children were prime examples. All four had inherited Miroku's abilities, but only the twins were interested in combining that skill with their mother's slayer training.
Those who were skilled in both were renowned and held in high regard by their peers. Outside of the twins, only a handful of older people had sought the village out for training in both respects.
Kagome considered the village almost over-prepared if any yokai were to make the mistake of attacking. "Things seem to be going well here," she said, looking around.
People were coming and going about their chores, a number dressed in slayer gear either coming from or going to training.
"It's good to see you, Kagome. It has been too long." Sango pulled her friend into a brief embrace.
"Not that long," Kagome said.
Sango gave a friendly scoff. "A year is a long time, my friend."
"Has it really been that long?" Kagome questioned.
"A little longer, I'm afraid. But, come, let's go inside for some tea. I've only just come from training a bunch of youngsters, and I am sorely in need of a break."
They walked inside, and Sango prepared tea while they chatted to catch up.
"Kagome, you seem...troubled. what is it?" Sango asked. She passed a cup over to Kagome and began to pour from the kettle.
It felt selfish to unload her troubles on her friend after so much time spent away. "Let's save my troubles for later. They are not going anywhere." She gave her friend a beaming smile. "Tell me about you and everyone else. How are you?"
Sango sighed with contentment. "Busy." She took a long sip from her cup, continuing only after she relished the taste of her tea. "But some things have happened since the last time you visited."
"Oh?" Kagome leaned in, her interest piqued by Sango's expression.
"Well, you already knew that Inuyasha had taken Shizuka as a mate."
Kagome withheld a grimace. It was hypocritical on her part, but she had a hard time imagining her former love with anyone else. A selfish, darker part of herself wanted him to remain alone, but she made sure to shove that thought deep, deep down. "Yes, and it took him long enough."
"Shizuka could not be rushed into that. She needed time to heal from her internal wounds. I honestly think she needed more time." Sango nearly chided her friend.
Kagome did not know Shizuka as well as Sango, having not spent nearly as much time with her. She figured that if Sango liked her enough to defend her, she must not be that bad. Shizuka must be great if she could put up with Inuyasha.
Kagome warmed at the thought. "So, then what is different?"
Sango squealed with glee. "I'm going to be an aunt!" She said breathlessly. "It finally happened!"
Kagome grinned from ear to ear. "Really?! That's amazing!"
She and Sesshomaru had been invited to Rin and Kohaku's wedding a couple of years ago. At least by Kagome and Sango, their pairing was expected, who had seen the couple making eyes at each other when they thought no one was looking. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, had taken the news as well as he could. He reacted indifferently, and Kagome had to take him aside to question why he couldn't be happy for the children he had protected years ago.
He'd told her that he was as happy as one could be for mortals who were binding their lives together impulsively. Kagome had laughed at him, and he gave her a cold stare. The daiyokai viewed Rin as a daughter, it was clear, and no man was good enough for her. Even one he had commended and lauded with as much praise as could be expected from Sesshomaru was not up to par.
Sesshomaru would never voice his opinion aloud to Rin, nor even Kagome, but she knew the truth. Ultimately, he had come to accept Rin and Kohaku's decision to wed, also gifting Rin with an elaborate shiromuku for her wedding day.
Kagome wondered how Sesshomaru would react to the idea of Setsuna marrying in the years ahead. Hopefully, with more grace than he had mustered for Rin, but Kagome knew that was a lofty dream.
"How far along is she?" Kagome asked. She had given her friend a congratulatory hug and was genuinely excited to learn of Rin's pregnancy. Kagome knew she would make an excellent mother.
Sango put a finger to her chin in thought. "I'd say by the rise of the next full moon. Not long now."
Kagome tried to recall what it was like to be in the late stages of pregnancy but was instead assaulted with spotty but intense and horrible memories. She pushed them back down along with her ridiculous jealousy into the dark depths of her subconscious, hopefully never to rise again unbidden.
"That's great. I can't wait to see her." Kagome thought for a moment. "Perhaps I should stay to help with the delivery," she considered.
Sango gave her a strange look. "Stay? For over a month?"
"Yes," Kagome answered carefully. Sango still regarded her strangely. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What's the real reason you've come, Kagome?" Sango demanded in a level tone. "Over the past few years, your visits have tapered off to barely an annual nod to our existence."
Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but Sango held up a hand to indicate she was not done. "I understand being Lady of the West is a time-consuming honor, and I am not displeased with your unannounced visit, but you have never stayed beyond a week and even then not without Sesshomaru coming to drag you back after a few days."
All that Sango stated was true, and Kagome felt twinges of guilt for allowing her new life to get in the way of her old one. Maintaining her friendships had dropped to the wayside of maintaining her family.
Sango now gave Kagome a small, knowing smile. "Trouble in paradise? Can't keep up with daiyokai needs?"
Kagome's cheeks flamed to hear Sangos insinuation. She moved around uncomfortably, looking at her skirts and picking away non-existent specks of dust. "No," she responded sullenly. "Nothing quite so incendiary."
A grin formed on Sango's face-the woman knew she'd struck close to home. "Then what could possibly be so bad that would make you run off and hide away for over a month? That's some punishment you are doling out."
Kagome forgot her embarrassment, and her cheeks burned for a different reason. She crossed her arms and set her jaw. "Perhaps a demonstration is in order?"