Shit, sorry about that guy's! Laptop was acting weird, thus I had to get a new one!
Well that and I was trying to type the Smut part of the Requested Madara part from 'Because through lives, that's why'...
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I can't stop blushing...Which is ridiculous, but DAMMIT JUST STOP BLUSHING!
ANYWAY! sorry that it's short, but I wanted to get this out for you guy's!
ALSO I AM AWARE THAT IT WASN'T SNOWING DURING THIS PART! BUT LIKE THE WHOLE MANGA/ANIME ALL SEEMS TO BE IN THE SAME SEASON SETTING AND I CALL BULLSHIT! Like, the only time I remember seeing it snow in the Inuyasha universe is in one of the Movies, which is weird because it should take more then a year to travel through all of Japan? Because, like, they make some headway, but then they have to go back to the well because of Kagome going to school and shit, and then it takes even longer to go back to where they were to travel even farther...
Because danger danger
We had arrived at the sight where the castle disappeared, looking around there was really no trace of it ever being here except for the large patch of missing grass, along with some indents in the dirt. Then again there could be more, but it was slightly hard to tell with all the snow (Which Rin was currently rolling around in). There was still some demonic youkai in the area, faint, but still here none the less. Rin was running around, trying to find anything by digging up patches of snow, with Jaken following behind to make sure nothing happened to her.
Amanda's reaction caught my attention however, as instead of looking like this was her first time seeing this, she had a gleam of recognition and strode purposely towards a single spot near the edge of the clearing.
Now what are you doing I wonder? I mused as I followed her, curious as to what she was looking for. She stopped in front of a pile of earth, something sticking out of it, and when I got closer I could see it was armor and some weapons.
"Poor Sango..." she had muttered.
I narrowed my eyes at her, how does she know Sango? More importantly how did she know where this burial was? "And how does thee know of Sango?" I spoke, startling her. She whipped her head so fast that I was surprised she didn't snap her neck. Damn. I thought as her mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. She'll never find a husband with a face like that. I noted distantly, "Did you throw away the last of your brain cells with that movement, or are you naturally this stupid?"
She was doing that face at me again.
"RUDE." she stated, making me quirk a brow at her. She huffed, "A-And I've heard about her. Everyone knows about the Slayer village massacre." she explained, shifting her feet slightly and nervously clenching her fist.
She's hiding something. "Oya? Is. That. So?" I hummed, hearing Sesshomaru walking up besides me. "Hm, you see thats hard to believe, because after all I've heard about this as well from the villages we visit for supply's, and from what I've heard, there is no mention of anyone named Sango- nor anyone for that matter- surviving." I pointed out as she seemed to gulp. "So, from what I gather, and seeing as you are clearly lying, how could you possibly know that Sango was a demon slayer. They do not give out their names easily, there are some demons out there that could curse you with just your given name."
She paled, seeming like a deer caught in the headlights.
I waited for a few moments before nodding my head, "Hn. So you really are stupid then. Your poor mother." I sighed, turning to look at my lord. He was watching Amanda intensely for a few more seconds, before deciding that this wasn't interesting enough and instead looking at me.
"I've seen what I needed." he stated then turned around and started walking away from the sight.
"Rin, come it's time to go!" I called out as I followed him. A-Un made quick work in gathering both Jaken and Rin before trotting up to my side. "What did you find my lord?"
"Naraku resided here, his stench was mixed with that of a humans more so then usual, but he could not hide his hanyou blood." his brows furrowed slightly, "there is a faint trail of his scent going north of here..." he trailed off in thought. His head tilted slightly as he seemed to contemplate something.
I blinked, wondering what he was thinking about while staring in that direction. "Lord?"
"Hn,There is business I must take care of in that direction, an acquaintance of my Fathers who will have answers to my question about Inuyasha's blood."
"Inuyasha's blood?"
"you felt it did you not? When last we encountered him and his youkai changed." he stated.
"Yes...He felt...Like a pure blooded demon." I said, remembering the feeling as Inuyasha seemed to gotten a small boost in power, but he seemed more feral as well. "He...growled at you."
"Hn."
"Inuyasha's blood...?" Amanda murmured behind us. I saw Sesshomaru's eye's narrow slightly, showing that he was focusing on what the girl was saying. A snap of her fingers caught our attention, "Ooooh, this is the part about the tree demon." she muttered, but not low enough as we both heard her.
I looked at Sesshomaru as his youkai flared in suspicion.
How did this girl, a mortal from the future, know an acquaintance of Sesshomaru's father?
Sesshomaru did not trust the foreign mortal girl currently traveling with them. She was a liability, and could endanger the pack with how rebellious she was whenever he gave an order to her. Then there was the way he notice that she seemed to know things, things she shouldn't have known for she was not there. Like how she knew of Tenseiga when no one has said anything about the sword since she had joined, or the knowing look she had when he had mentioned Inuyasha's blood. She couldn't possibly know Inuyasha. He thought as he watched his pack settle for the night. As far as he could smell, she had never met his brother's pack.
"Nh? Another one my lord?"
Sesshomaru looked towards Kaname, she was holding a blue scroll that contained hand-to-hand combat instructions in her hand, making him nod his head. He thought leaving her gift on in her bag would be better then giving it to her right out, especially with the other girl seemingly watching everything they did.
"Oh?" she smiled, her cheeks reddening while her eyes gleamed. She opens it and still's, her eyebrows raise in surprise, unrolling the scroll further as she scans it. "Oh..." she whispers softly, glancing back at him as her cheeks warm up even more. She tilted her head curiously, seeming to wonder as to why he was giving her gifts that she would enjoy.
"It is customary." was all he said.
She blinked, seeming to think about what exactly was customary to give gifts to her, before seeming to realize something. "Oh." her face flamed, he could hear her heart pick up.
Did she finally realize it? He thought, watching as she seemed to have frozen in place. He noticed that Kaname wasn't very perceptive when it came to romance. Which became obvious when Sesshomaru had gotten her courting gifts nearly everyday, things she liked, and never seemed to question why he did until today.
It was fairly amusing.
"My lord...are...are you courting me?" she questioned slowly.
Instead of a verbal answer a small smirk worked it's way onto his face. "Rin has even caught onto why I was gifting you these items."
"...So that is why she was screaming and jumping for joy the other day?" she stated in embarrassment at being so slow. Then the implications dawned on her, making her snap her head towards him in shock and repressed joy. "you...you want me as you're wife?" she stated, before looking towards- who he was sure of- Amanda. The girl was clearly eavesdropping on their conversation, if her gaping mouth was anything to go by. So Kaname had gone up to him and they went into the tree line.
"Mate."
Kaname looked at him in confusion.
"Not wife. I desire you as my mate, it is more binding then a wife. It would ensure that no one would be able to take you from me without consequences." he stated.
"Surely your advisers and such will protest a Mortal- a Miko- such as myself being by your side, will they not?" she stated worriedly, "I do not want there to be distress in your kingdom because of me."
"Then be glad that they are only 'Advisers' and have no say in the matter, for ultimately it is my decision on who shall be my mate, is it not?"
"Any babe I give will be hanyou." she pointed out, clenching her fists. Sesshomaru raised a brow at her in question. "You made it clear some time ago that you...detest hanyou's...for their mortal blood." she sighed.
He narrowed his eye's at her, catching her chin and making her look at him. "I have already decided to court you, do you think that hanyou pup's would not have already crossed my mind when deciding on my mate?" he questioned.
Her eye's gleamed, "surely you remember my short lifespan? That these eye's of mine foretold my doom within the next few years or so?" she mentioned softly, her hand laying on top of chest and caressing it.
He moved his hand to her jaw, "We need only to break it within that time."
"I fear only a god may be able to do such." she leaned into his touch, "I doubt many would volunteer to aid us."
"Then another way will be found." he retorted. "Do not make me repeat myself, Kaname. I have chosen you, so you I shall have despite all of your warnings."
Kaname smiled, "Then, my lord, I must give you one last warning." she slid both hands to the collar of his clothes, "you best not regret this decision, for a Higurashi will never rest until they get what they've set their sight on. And now that you've chosen me to be your bride, I will never let you go, not until my death. We are possessive, my lord-...nay, my Sesshomaru, thus it is my right to slaughter all who try to take you from me." and with that, she pulled him down. Her lips met his in a searing kiss, one that was responded to immediately as Sesshomaru wound his arm around her waist. She pulled back with a small gasp and a coy smile on her lips. "I accept your courting, Sesshomaru." then she giggled slightly, "We will have to someday make our way back to the well. After all, we need mother and Grandfathers blessing's, do we not?"
It was a few day's later that found the company deep within the forest, the trees thick enough to shield them from most of the falling snow.
"Your Chichi-gimi's acquaintance is in such a remote forest?" Rin questioned curiously.
"Hn." Sesshomaru agreed, his head cocking slightly to the side as he heard something.
"I thought you'd be coming yo visit me sometime soon...Sesshomaru..." a voice echoed through the forest.
"A voice came from the sky..." Rin muttered, bewildered as she tried to find the source.
Jaken was also trying to find it. "Hn? There's nothing here?"
"Thats actually really fucking creepy..." Amanda muttered, adjusting the blanket she had around her shoulders. "So glad I have shoes..."
Kaname stared ahead, she could feel the youkai radiating off of the tree in front of them. She glanced at Sesshomaru, who was also staring at it, before looking back as a face appeared.
"You know why I've come...Bokusenou?"
"That you've come to see me means that, you've come about the swords, haven't you?" the tree sighed, the face of an elderly man becoming more apparent. "It's about your oyaji-dono'd memento, Tetsusaiga huh? Or is it..."
"Wah! The spirit of a tree!" Rin stated, jerking and almost falling off of A-Un.
"Sesshomaru-sama, who on earth is this...?"
"A 2000 year old Mangolia Hypoleuca tree." Sesshomaru stated.
"Thats...kinda cool..." The american muttered. She inched closer, tilting her head to the side, "But also very creepy...what the hell does he do to keep himself entertained?"
"Shush girl." Kaname said sternly. "My lord is conversing right now."
"-Bokusenou, you'd know wouldn't you. The connection between Inuyasha and Tetsusaiga that is." Sesshomaru stated, eyes narrowed in warning to the tree to not lie to him.
"Inuyasha..." Bokusenou hummed in thought, "You're younger brother huh..."
"The first time was when Tetsusaiga was bitten apart by an oni, the second time was when he relinquished Tetsusaiga in battle with me." Sesshomaru paused, remembering the incidents as clear as day. "Inuyasha's blood changed."
"His youkai changed as well," Kaname added in, the tree spirit looking towards her in interest. "It went from a hanyou to the youkai that only full blooded demons should have..." she crossed her arms in thought. "And yet...there was something...off...about it."
"'Off'?" Sesshomaru questioned.
She nodded, "Nh, it wasn't quite right. Normally hanyou's have the balanced aura of youkai and ningen, because they are only half-blooded, and yet when Inuyasha went into that state his youkai was overpowering the ningen portion." she explained. "I've never come across such a thing before."
"...Could it be he was becoming full blooded somehow then?"
The spirit hummed, gaining their attention again. "A hanyou suddenly becoming 'Full-blooded' eh...? I wonder about that."
"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru demanded.
"Inuyasha is a hanyou, and cannot become a true youkai. At any rate, Sesshomaru, there is something you as a perfect youkai can do, but that Inuyasha cannot."
"Oh?" Kaname hummed in interest.
"That is preservation of the self, you see."
"Preservation of the self...?" they both questioned.
"Indeed, for example Sesshomaru..." Bokusenou trailed off in thought, "when in the middle of battle, no matter how pressed you were, though your mind was cool...have you ever lost yourself?" he asked, gaining a raised brow from Sesshomaru at the question.
"Hump, being pressed is not something that's happened to me."
"Kukuku...maybe that's so." Bokusenou agreed, "But Inuyasha is different. When pressed, and his life is in danger, to protect himself his youkai blood controls his body and transforms it."
Then that's what had happened then. Sesshomaru thought, finally understanding what was wrong with Inuyasha's blood.
"Do they all become feral, or is it because of who his father was that Inuyasha became such?" Kaname questioned.
"You would be right in your thoughts, the blood of a greater youkai Inuyasha inherited from his oyaji-dono is far too strong for a hanyou's body."
Sesshomaru furrowed his brows at that, his eye's briefly flickering to Kaname and remembering her concern about hanyou children. Would my blood be too strong for hanyou pups? He wondered, "...What happens then?" he needed to know the consequences when they had pups.
"...you could say his mind would be eaten away by the youkai blood." was his answer, making Kaname stiffen slightly. "He wouldn't recognize anybody. He'd kill enemies and friends alike, and after transforming repeatedly his mind would eventually be lost completely. He'll be reduce to naught but a monster that just fights, and will continue fighting until that body's destroyed." he stated solemnly, "your oyaji-dono, didn't want that to happen to Inuyasha of course. Which is preciously why, as a sword of protection, Inuyasha was given the Tetsusaiga."
"I see." Sesshomaru stated, he saw the concern on Kaname's face, no doubt thinking the same thing he did. "Jaken."
"A-ah, yes my lord?"
"Take A-Un with Rin and the...girl...with you. Kaname and I have business that needs to be discussed with Bokusenou." he ordered.
"Yes M'Lord!" Jaken agreed quickly, "Come now, come now, let leave M'lord to his business."
"What about?" Amanda questioned curiously.
"None of your business girl! Now move!" he activated his staff, threatening to burn her as she yelped and quickly moved.
When they were out of sigh and hearing range, Sesshomaru looked at the curious tree. "I must know, Bokusenou if I were to have hanyou pup's, would my blood do the same as my father's."
"And if so, is there a way to contain it, like Tetsusaiga does for Inuyasha?" Kaname added, desperate to know if there was a method so she could have children. It was stressing enough to not know if her curse would transfer to hanyou's or not, but the possibility that her own children could destroy themselves because of Sesshomaru's blood being too powerful and overtaking their minds...
She wasn't sure if she could bear the heartbreak.
Bokusenou hummed in thought, "you're oyaji-dono has asked the same question, long ago when he was still an adolescent. So, I shall tell you what I have told him, for it is remarkable on how similar you two have chosen miko's for potential mates." this was news to Sesshomaru, "It is a very big possibility that your blood will do much the same, you are very powerful Sesshomaru thus you will need to commission Totosai for a sword made from your own fang and give it to the pup, it will contain your blood inside of them just as it did for Tōga-dono."
"What do you mean, what is this about my father considering a Miko for a mate?" Sesshomaru demanded. He had never heard anything about this, he had suspicions when Kaname had describe the dog demon from her family's story, but dismissed it because it was ridiculous.
"Ah, hundreds of years ago your oyaji-dono had come to me for advice. He had told me about a young miko he had found, wounded and on the brink of death, that he intended to take as his mate. He was concerned about the effects that strong youkai blood would have on any pup's of his if they should be mixed with a ningens. And not just any ningens, but a miko from a widely known powerful clan of miko's and houshi's. I had given my advice, along with the warning that even should they marry and she would willingly carry his pup's, that there was no guarantee that they would survive in the womb."
"Why..." Kaname started, only to trail of as realization came to her.
Bokusenou nodded at her, "You see the problem then."
Sesshomaru looked at Kaname, "What is it?"
"Reiki..." she said horrified.
"What?"
"Reiki, the power to purify youkai." Bokusenou nodded, "should she carry a hanyou inside of her, then she would not be able to use any reiki while in that state. Should she use it, conscious of it or not, to protect the life inside her or not, then it would purify the child in her womb. Her reiki would identify it as a parasite and destroy it immediately, thinking the child was going to harm her."
Kaname was crushed, her own power, the power she was proud of, was the very thing that was dangerous to having children with the man she loved. She could see Sesshomaru's hand clench in anger, seeming to try and figure out a way to keep any pup's of their alive and well.
"Is there no way to prevent this from happening?" he questioned through grit teeth.
"There is, she would need her power's to be sealed, for if she was with child and felt threaten then her reiki would react and notice the youkai inside of her. But should you do this, then you would be leaving her vulnerable, she would be confined to bed and barley be able to move. Her reiki is apart of her, thus you would be sealing a good portion of her away leaving her to feel almost empty. The weakest of poison that would give a normal ningen stomach problems would be a deathly poison to her, she would be no stronger then a babe." he didn't need to mention how other demons, such as lords who's daughter were rejected by Sesshomaru would take this as a chance to get rid of her for their own agendas, nor the fact that any enemy of his would take advantage of this should it be leaked. It was bad enough that she was human, but a miko that could not fight back? Demons would kill to get a taste of her.
"I am willing to risk it!" Kaname said with conviction, "If that is the price to have children, then I do not mind being so weak." she looked to the daiyoukai besides her with a smile. "I trust my lord's strength to protect us."
"Alas, I do not know how to seal your reiki. Although, your oyaji-dono may have found a way, I suggest checking one of his scrolls."
"Hn. Come Kaname, it is time to test Inuyasha." Sesshomaru stated as he turned and started to walk. After a couple of feet, he stilled as a thought came to him. "Bokusenou, the name of the miko father had chosen, what was it?"
"Higurashi Akane."
My ancestor, was in love with the great Inu-no-taisho. Kaname thought in slight amazement as they walked. She glanced towards a silent Sesshomaru, wondering on how he was taking the news that they could have been very distantly related. Thank kami that we are not. Not that she would have minded, the blood would have diluted over the course of 500 years, but she wasn't sure on his thoughts about such things. Then again, I've already accepted the courting, and I warned him that he would not get away from me.
Either way, she was going to marry him.
Sesshomaru himself was making plans on going back to the palace, he was going to try and find a way to seal Kaname's reiki, along with pillage his father's scrolls to find the full story between his father and Kaname's ancestor.
It had always been clear to him, even as a pup, that there was no love between his father and mother. They were married out of obligation as his father had no one he wanted to mate, and now he knew why there was no one. The miko died before he could mate her. It did bring the question on if the Inu-no-taisho looked for her, or if he was far too busy to escape to look. He briefly wondered how his mother will react once she finds out that he was courting Kaname.
She could either approve of her, because Kaname was strong, intelligent, scheming, and rather beautiful.
Or she could detest her because she was a miko, human, not much of a court lady, and would have trouble bearing pup's.
Oh well, he would deal with it when the problem came. ...Kagome will become my sister-in-law. He realized after a moment. He...didn't know how to feel about that. Sesshomaru was not very impressed with the girl, she did not leave a good impression the times they met. She would need to be trained if she is going to be associated with my clan. He decided. He had no problem with the rest of Kaname's clan, her mother courteous and could hold her own, if Kaname's story's of Emiko's demon slayer heritage was anything to go by. Her grandfather was...tolerant...and souta had potential.
And it's not like he would have to deal with them daily until 500 years passed, granted he would have to visit them from time to time with Kaname through the well, but that would only be for rare occasion's.
But, before he could think more on that, he needed to get rid of Naraku and deal with Inuyasha. Along with getting his answers about his father before marrying his mother. What else have you hidden, Father?