Chapter Sixty-One
Servants hastily moved aside as Kagome stormed down the hallway, trying to keep her powers on a tight leash. Turning a corner, her steps began to slow, gradually running out of steam. Soon she leaned against a wall, heart hammering.
Bringing a hand to her face, sigh bled into a groan.
"What the heck? You can't just say that kind of thing out of the blue to me," she mumbled. "Jerk. You're such a dumb jerk, Sesshoumaru."
Taking a few moments to collect herself, Kagome exhaled, cheeks burning red.
"I believe we should engage in casual dating."
His stupid silky voice kept replaying in her head long after Kagome wandered outside, darkening her features.
"Who spit in your soup?"
"Huh?" her head snapped up.
Jaken blinked, eyeing her in passing. "You look thunderous! A very unbecoming expression for a lady."
"Oh, I was just…" she shook herself, walking by the barracks to head towards the stables, "thinking. I'm fine. Nothing's going on."
"Hmnn," the kappa shrugged, heaving a sigh.
"What's up with you?"
"Mn? Oh it's that assistant- Nagisa. They keep barging in whenever I wish to perform a task for Lord Sesshoumaru! Outside the stronghold, I'm his retainer, but in here they're in charge. It's not fair! I have more than proven my competence!"
Kagome gentled with sympathy, crouching down. "You don't have any hobbies to do in the meantime before we leave the stronghold?"
"Bah! Of course I do! But nothing gives me more joy than working."
"Would you like to do something for me instead then, since you're bored?"
Jaken squinted, heaving a put upon sigh. "Only because I am woefully under-worked right now."
"Great," she smiled. "Can you find out anything about Sesshoumaru's mom for me? I have to spend tea with her but I'd like to give a good impression."
Kagome couldn't give one hoot about giving a good impression but she was admittedly curious about the enigmatic woman.
"Fine- I suppose this is what my life has come to," he grunted, waddling away and complaining about having to 'serve' a measly human.
Straightening, Kagome continued to the stables, meeting Kisho outside as he sat on a stool, cleaning his weapon.
"How is he?" she asked softly.
"About as well as can be expected," tiger-orange eyes flicked up. "Not great."
Kagome winced, peering inside. Within a stall, Inuyasha had curled up, Ah-Un nestled against his side.
Her heart melted. Good boys.
"Soo, I was wondering if you could play translator," she glanced at Kisho, noticing his distraction as he kept looking past her towards the barracks.
He snorted, running a cloth over gleaming metal. "You got any money?"
"No?"
"Maybe get some before dishing out more orders. Getting real tired of picking up after people around here," he soured.
Kagome winced, running a hand through her hair.
"Listen, I'll try to get my hands on some nice saké for you-"
"I like wine."
"Okay, wine. But as for right now- we could move this little translator session to that tree over there. It'll be a better vantage point for you to ogle the soldiers while they train."
Kisho jerked, lowering his naginata. "I wasn't ogling," he snorted with a charismatic smirk, rising. "Heh, that sounds better."
After trying and failing to encourage Inuyasha to stand, Kagome blinked as Kisho hefted the inuyoukai over his shoulders, wandering over the courtyard to settle him under a thin tree in the sun. A dusty sigh heaved from Inuyasha, head settling on his paws once more, ears drooping low.
Tentatively, Kagome settled beside him and lightly touched his shoulder blade. "Inuyasha..."
His nose twitched.
"Alright," she murmured. "I'll talk for now. You listen."
Resting her hands in her lap, Kagome gazed ahead at Sesshoumaru's soldiers as they moved into different stances, swinging their swords simultaneously every time their instructor shouted.
"I noticed your chest got burned where I struck you with reiki...and I won't apologise for that. You hurt Sesshoumaru while you were disorientated. You almost hurt me. But...we stumbled a little. That's all. You're different now, but we can start again. You'll get to grips with your inuyoukai form- I know you can do it. You unlocked the Wind Scar in the Tetsusiga, and saved our friends so many times-"
Inuyasha hissed out a low noise, grumbling.
"Before I killed them," Kisho translated.
Kagome sighed, reaching down and sliding her hands beneath Inuyasha's jaw. His muzzle tipped up, red eyes cracking wide as she gazed at him, managing not to tremble.
She took a breath. "We can go in circles about that all day. Yes, it happened. Yes, it was awful. It'll stay with me forever, and I'm sure the guilt will never leave you," she stroked her thumbs over white fur. "But you made your choice. You're stuck here now. Make the best of it with me. Get your shit together and learn how to be the best version of yourself. It's what I'm trying to do too."
Inuyasha whined softly.
"I'm scared. I'm really fucking scared, Kagome," Kisho uttered, running a hand through his hair, gaze slightly sympathetic.
"I know you are," Kagome whispered, letting herself shake. She still couldn't rid herself of the fear. "I am too. Let's start out small, okay?"
"Small how?"
"First off; you try walking around. I haven't seen you up and about yet properly without being feral. We start by literally getting you up on your feet," Kagome stood, gesturing for Kisho to help her.
Inuyasha squeaked as they guided him to stand, his ankles trembling like a newborn lamb. He took a few awkward steps, like a human crouching, trying to walk on all-fours.
Kagome tried to hold him up- but his mass was too big for her, and the inuyoukai slumped down.
"You're going about it all wrong," Kisho spoke up, chuckling. He flashed a toothy grin, lifting Inuyasha to stand once more- before pressing a palm under his chest and raising it- soon angling his hips up at the back.
Inuyasha jerked and snapped his jaws, growling.
"I'm just helpin' out," Kisho raised his hands, smirking. "Now try walking. Don't overthink it."
Large paws shifted, Inuyasha gingerly, awkwardly yanking his limbs forward. He took a few unsteady steps, ears perking. His tail lifted a little.
Kagome's shoulders relaxed, relief clogging up her throat as he walked, even managing to move in a clumsy trot around them.
"He's still got a long way to go," Kisho muttered, crossing his arms and smiling slightly.
"Yeah, but that's okay," she murmured.
Girlish giggles rang out every few moments or so, reaching Sesshoumaru's ears as he took the long walk down to Mother's old wing in the mansion. The giggles only grew in volume as he drew closer, climbing several flights of stairs- and sliding back the door to her chambers without expression
Mother lounged upon a chair, several giddy demonesses decorating her long silver hair or attending to her claws and toe nails. Inukimi whispered something to them, and more irritating, feminine noises assaulted his hearing.
Golden eyes narrowed, walking forward. "Mother. I wish to speak with you."
"Now?" she purred, watching her nails be painted. "You couldn't have mentioned it when we spoke earlier?"
"There is a private matter we failed to discuss," Sesshoumaru said pointedly, glancing at the group of women.
Sighing dramatically, Inukimi waved off the demons- most of whom weren't even servants. "I am sorry, my darlings. The pup is sour because he can't attract such lovely admirers- so he has to spoil my fun," she smirked.
The women sighed or blushed, expressing their wish to attend to her later.
With a reassuring smile, she dismissed them graciously, slanting a flat gaze to Sesshoumaru once they'd left. "Well, what is it?"
He inwardly steeled himself, still somewhat reeling from Kagome's rejection. However, there were more important matters to address. "This one spoke with Naoko a while ago-"
"Ohh~ how is dear Naoko?" Inukimi smiled, relaxing.
"Fine," he dismissed. "She encouraged me to..." Sesshoumaru winced, not wishing to divulge Kagome's personal information but needing to. "Introduce Kagome to you, since you share something heavy in common."
"Oh? What's that?"
"The Grey Shadow. More specially, the shadows cast upon you are from the loss of children."
Inukimi bristled, hair seeming to become static for a moment- settling as she calmed herself. "You wish for me to sympathize with her? She barely seems of age to have children."
"The miko cared for a fox kit like he were her own. The loss has affected her deeply," Sesshoumaru's gaze slid away. "I believe she clings to this one at night in order to recreate the feeling of holding another, as she did so with the fox."
Standing from her seat, Inukimi stepped across sleek wooden floors soundlessly, adjusting her furs. She stared outside, pensive for a moment. "If I speak to her about Hime what do you suppose that will accomplish?" she uttered in a calm, almost wistful tone.
His claws twitched, drawing against his palm. "I suspect Naoko felt it would bring comfort to the miko. Allow her to feel less alone in grief."
"Hm," Inukimi ran indulgent hands over soft furs, touching up her hair. "Perhaps I will be generous then," she allowed tonelessly.
Golden eyes widened, having expected her to resist the idea more. "Truly?"
"Indeed," drifting to her koto situated outside on a wooden balcony that overlooked the gardens, Inukimi lowered herself behind it gracefully, beginning to pluck at the strings with deft claws. "Leave me now. I await your little pet with bated breath," she drawled sarcastically.
Sesshoumaru blinked, ears twitching slightly. He remembered those notes being strummed gently. A nostalgic tune, one he could recall hearing while playing with Kisho as a pup.
He opened his mouth, struggling with what he'd been taught and what new impulses now plagued him. A demon lord did not thank others nor express gratitude. It was something he'd been doing lately. Would Mother appreciate it or think the words a weakness?
"...I thank you, Mother."
Her shoulders tensed, a string plucked too harshly- the note too loud. She then continued on as though nothing had occurred. "Do not thank me, foolish boy."
Taking a breath, Kagome climbed the stairs, warm lantern light guiding her steps. She admittedly felt a tad nervous despite her earlier resolve not to care much about Inukimi's lofty opinion of her. She predicated the demoness would be impossible to please.
Jaken's report hadn't been much to go off of. Apparently, Sesshoumaru's mother had a fondness for scandal and gossip. At gatherings or court meetings, she could insert herself into any conversation, balancing any demon's personal information, history and politics easily. She had no real 'friends' but always possessed admirers for how vicious, crafty and prideful she was. She valued art and opulence very highly.
With this in mind, Kagome had dressed the part. She'd grabbed a kimono Sesshoumaru had given her (usually reserved for mealtimes) and tried her best to tame curling black hair into an updo.
Lingering outside her door, she stopped, sensing old traces of familiar youki.
Was Sesshoumaru here earlier?
"Enter," Inukimi called.
Taking a breath, Kagome pushed the door aside, stepping inside the shadowed room.
Sesshoumaru's mother had arranged herself behind a low table, furs and finery cushioning her. Lamp light lit up the room slightly. Porcelain cups were already set out- not filled with tea- but a peach coloured beverage.
"Thank you for inviting me," Kagome smiled, inching closer and secretly feeling a tad constrained by the fine blue kimono peppered with illustrations of flowing rivers and exploding dandelions. She doubted she could project an image of poise but hoped she at least looked presentable.
"Of course, make yourself comfortable," Inukimi gestured to the flat pillow opposite, which Kagome awkwardly lowered herself to kneel on.
The demoness giggled behind her hand. "I said comfortable, dear. You look like someone shoved a steel rod down the back of your clothes. Relax," she lounged, grasping a bottle and pouring the peach drink into Kagome's empty cup.
Kagome paused, having not expected that. Maybe Sesshoumaru's mother wasn't so bad after all. Picking up the cup, she detected the fragrance of peaches, passion fruit and strawberries.
"I uh, thought we'd be having tea?"
"This is better than stuffy tea. I doubt you've tried it before- since it is a youkai drink," ruby red lips curved upwards as Inukimi took a long sip, leaving lipstick stains on the rim.
Kagome followed suit, a tantalizing taste flowing onto her tongue. Rich, mouth-watering, like sweet fruity honey without being sickly. She downed it much too quickly, blushing at the amusement dancing in Inukimi's eyes.
"It's good! Really good juice," she smiled, gratefully accepting Inukimi's offer for more. "So um- I thought I sensed Sesshoumaru's youki around here," Kagome tried starting a conversation.
"Mn, yes. He stopped by earlier," her companion leaned her chin upon a pale hand, picking up a fan and futtering it towards herself to fight off the somnolent evening's heat.
"Did his arm seem okay?"
Inukimi blinked, tilting her head slightly. "I did not ask. I am sure he is fine."
"Oh," Kagome shifted, taking another drink and feeling like her head had begun buzzing. A comfortable heat warmed her chest, making her body loose and relaxed.
An awkward silence punctuated the air, Inukimi studying her behind the careful flutter of her fan. "I may as well cut to the chase; Are you in love with him?"
Kagome choked on her drink, coughing and thumping her chest. "N-No! We're just friends."
"Friends, mn..." the demoness drawled, making no further comment.
"I believe we should engage in casual dating," played helpfully through her head again. "I-I mean it," heat rushed to her cheeks, and she drank again to try to steady her nerves. It had the bizarre effect of making her feel braver. "He's important to me, just like the rest of our group. We're going to defeat this evil enemy together- that's why we're travel companions. He's- he's done a lot for me..." she briefly recalled sobbing in his arms, trembling from a night terror, "but you don't have to worry, I'm not another Izayoi-"
Kagome bit her tongue, eyes widening. Holy shit, why the hell was she bringing Inuyasha's mother up? That was a sore subject around Sesshoumaru. She could only imagine how delicate it was around his mother!
Inukimi gave no reaction other than amusement, the fan causing silver strands of hair to gently dance.
"Izayoi was a sweet, if simple woman. At the very least, she did not revolve around Touga as I suspect you do my son."
"W-what?" offended, Kagome planted her hands on the table, only to wobble, dipping slightly to one side. She righted herself, dizziness clouding her head. "I don't orbit Sesshoumaru! I have waaay more things going on than just him!"
"Like what, pray tell?"
"I have Inuyasha, Rin, Kohaku and Jaken to think about!"
"All easily handed off to other people to manage."
"I train! I have a spear and bow and reiki powers that are gradually-"
Inukimi stifled a yawn, taking a drink. "I have seen no proof of those things. Though I did hear you attacked a demoness and severely burned her with unrestrained powers."
"Okay that is a lie- I never burned her. I just punched her a bit," Kagome seethed while Inukimi filled up the miko's empty cup. "Besides that demoness had it coming. I did the right thing-"
"No, no you did not," the demoness' voice sharpened, dropping her fan to gaze at her flatly. "Now the entire Western Stronghold thinks you a feral pet. Strong yes, but a woman to be kept on a leash."
Kagome blinked slowly, settling back into place and taking another sip. "Sessmaru-" she squinted. "Sesshoumaru, said I was justified in lashing out. That demons here would respect me for it."
"Of course he'd say that," Inukimi rolled her eyes. "He wishes to please you. That, and he's a male. They can afford to get into fistfights and no one bats an eye."
Putting a hand to her perspiring forehead, Kagome frowned. Her head started throbbing. Maybe another drink would help. She allowed the fruity flavor to soothe her, setting the cup down. "I...did wonder. I didn't blindly accept what he told me but I trust him."
"Sesshoumaru did not intend to deceive you. He is not incredibly intelligent when it comes to placing himself in other's shoes. He is respected and encouraged to be vicious because he is lord here. You cannot replicate his behaviour and expect to get away with it," she sighed, assessing her nails. "Such a pity. The situation between you two isn't surprising or juicy at all. It's exactly as I thought."
"What...did you think?" Kagome slurred, Inukimi's words blurring into one inside her head.
"I suspected he was such a lonely pup that he latched onto you because you allow him certain liberties. He can gain all the comforts of a mate without committing to you. He can justify his attachment because you are a bright and shiny miko. A weapon, not a useless woman. At least you have not given up your maidenhead yet."
"I...what?"
This isn't right. Why do I feel like this? My head is swimming.
"I mean honestly. Can you believe he asked me to discuss my stillborn daughter with you just because we share the same misery about losing children? A tone-deaf male. I do apologize for him. But, I suppose..."
Her lowly spoken words became muffled, out of focus. Kagome's tongue felt heavy in her mouth. She felt warm. So warm.
"M'xcuse me," she stumbled into a stand, wandering unsteadily outside onto the balcony. Humid air fanned over her skin.
"Are you quite alright, dear?"
"I'm-" her stomach protested, and Kagome's hands met the wall, managing to swallow a rush of bile. She panted.
"Oh my~" Inukimi's amused purr curled around the miko's head, swamping her like sticky vapor. "Can you not hold your liquor?"
"Liquor?" she hummed softly, drawing away and catching onto a wooden post. She swayed, looking down at the lush private gardens below.
Sesshoumaru, Rin and Kohaku stood in a loose circle. Rin clutched a letter close to her, while Kohaku kicked what strangely resembled a soccer ball.
She frowned, squinting.
The Daiyoukai reached out, accepting the ball. He talked to them but was too far away for Kagome to overhear. He then began demonstrating kick-ups, much to Rin and Kohaku's delight. He balanced the ball easily as though playing with kemari ball, stopping to pass it to Rin.
The little girl started kicking her knees up, grinning.
The mere sight of him bonding with the children had Kagome keening for some unknown reason. A rush of affection gushed through her drowsy system.
You jerk. I like you, her muddled brain whined. I like you so much but you're such a jerk.
The noise seemed to ensnare his attention, head whipping up. His gaze zeroed in on her location.
With a single bound, Sesshoumaru sailed into the air, heading straight for her.
Kagome gave a pleased hum, rocking towards his image dopily and feeling her balance go. She dipped head-first over the side of the balcony's short railing.
An arm wrapped around her- Kagome face planting into lush, cloud-like furs. Grinning, Kagome latched onto Sesshoumaru as he settled on the balcony, steadying her.
"Miko, what-"
"Sesshouuumarruuu~" she giggled, nuzzling mokomoko. "Mnn...jerk," she sighed happily.
His nose twitched, jaw clenching. Sharp teeth flashed, and a snarl coloured his voice. "Mother, what is the meaning of this?"
"Do not be so dramatic," Inukimi stepped onto the balcony, a lit kiseru balanced between her claws. "I just gave her something to calm her nerves. Poor thing was rightfully intimidated by an audience with her sweetheart's mother."
His chest rumbled with a low growl. "The miko does not drink," he grit out, stilling as Kagome pressed herself against him.
"You smell so good," she breathed, back arching as her arms looped around his neck. Glazed blue eyes looked up at him, voice bordering on lascivious. "Take me to bed, Sesshoumaru."
Golden eyes flew wide, and he caught her about the waist as she abruptly let go, bursting into a fit of giggles.
"I do not know what I expected," he uttered, glaring at Inukimi. "But it was not this."
His mother gazed at him dispassionately, taking a long drag from her pipe to exhale misty smoke. "Perhaps next time you should not ask me to bear my soul and pain to a stranger, foolish pup," she sneered, turning away.
Sesshoumaru reached down, holding Kagome under her thighs and lifting her up with the use of his single arm. "The miko has clouded my judgement, I should have known better than to expect anything from you," he snipped, leaping off the balcony without another word.
Kagome whined softly, holding on around his shoulders. Sesshoumaru tightened his grip, flying gracefully over night-drenched gardens.