Inu-kimi is surprisingly hard to write for.
Which is not ok.
Why didn't we have more Inu-kimi in the manga.
WHY.
AND LOOK! A CHAPTER!
Have fun with it.
Because...Inu-kimi
Kaname could say, with confidence, that Inu-kimi was fast becoming her new best friend.
"-So, in retaliation to that, Sesshomaru decides- in all his brilliant 80 year old mind- to run out of the bath, stark naked, through the halls, knocking over guards, jumping out of of the third story window, and splash right into a fairly deep mud pit left over from the day before." Inu-kimi chuckled, showing the portrait she had done of the occasion to Kaname.
The miko was holding her sides, laughing uncontrollably, as she laid on her side. She hiccuped, lifting herself up to look at the portrait while wiping away a stray tear and coo'ed. "A-Awwwww~! H-He's s-soooooo cuuu- Hic! -uuuute!" she giggled. And there in the picture was a seemingly four year old Sesshomaru, pouting up at her, covered in mud as he hugged his tail to himself.
"Oh, you should have heared him!" Inu-kimi cackled, Ignoring the murderous twitching of her son behind Kaname. Her face serious as her voice pitched in height, "'Mother, Father, if you are goin' to be so unreasonable, then I have no choice but to become one with the mud and transform into a mud beast.'"
Kaname burst into more laughter, "A-AAAAAAAH MY S-STOMAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!"
"He seemed very regretful about telling us such grave news." The demoness smirked. "Would you like some water?" She questioned in humor towards the miko.
"P-Please-!" she gasped, trying to calm down.
Sesshomaru was quick to get her a cup of water, leaning her against himself and rubbing her throat as she drank. "Mother, is this necessary?" He growled to her.
"Of course! If you are to mate this female, then she must know what it is she is binding herself to, no?" she smirked, "SPEAKING OF BINDING!" she said loudly, interrupting Sesshomaru who was about to speak again, "Have I told you yet of Sesshomaru's first time in battle? It was when he was- oooh, about 500? well, he would have looked 14 summer's old by human standards. Anyway! Touga had gotten news on a pretentious demon group that thought they could take over the western lands, they had already attacked a few human settlements along with a couple of demons villages, and since it wasn't a great threat he thought it a wonderful opportunity for Sesshomaru to get a taste of real battle. So, he brought him along and they fought. Everything was going well, until Sesshomaru decided to test out a new move involving Sir Mokomoko. The idea- from what I heard- was to use his tail as a whip that would stop enemy movement for a brief second, allowing him to finish them off. Instead of that happening, he had- somehow- tangled himself up in his own attack, making lose his footing, trip on a rock, and roll down one of the hills." she cackled at how disgruntled Sesshomaru had looked when he came home that day, Touga having been the only one to witness the event and was still laughing about it. "He had actually rolled into a group of the enemy and knocked them down, making an easy kill for Touga."
Sesshomaru had decided that was enough. "Well, mother, as much as I enjoy you making me seem like a fool in front of my mate, I am afraid it is time to go. Kaname has not had anything proper to eat yet." he stated, abruptly standing up. He quickly bent over, picked up a silently laughing Kaname, and left the room before Inu-kimi could object.
"Tomorrow! ROYAL GARDENS! I SHALL SEE YOU THEN HIGURASHI!" She called out from the room, a cackle following him as he made towards his chambers.
He suddenly wished his mother didn't approve of Kaname.
Speaking of which, he glanced down at the amused miko he carried. "Not. A. Word." he warned.
"I've not said a thing." Kaname stated.
He grunted, skeptical, then looked back forward. "She has not said it yet, but I believe she approves somewhat. Not fully, but enough for now."
She smiled, "Enough that we can actually mate without having to look out for your mother trying to kill me?"
"Of course."
"Lovely," she said, "Now I found this...interesting journal in my possessions today while getting dress, that I am sure was not there before." She stated, looking pointedly up at Sesshomaru.
"Oho?"
"Hn, curiously this journal contains some information about Inu-youkai hanyou's and what to expect from them." she said in amusement. "And...from what I've read, I am expecting to have- at least- four children?"
"Fascinating." he smirked, "we may need to be careful. As, unlike my kin, mortal women seem to go into heat once a months compared to our once a year." he stated looking down at her, "because of that, we may have far more pups then we can handle."
Kaname made a humming noise, "You make it seem like I would have a problem having so many children with you, my Sesshomaru." she then grew serious as a thought came to mind, "Sesshomaru, Amanda needs to be dealt with."
This gained his attention, he raised a brow at her at the sudden declaration. "Oh? Had Rin finally gotten tired of the thing?" because Rin was the one who wanted Amanda to come with them, and was only alive since Rin still seemed to like her. Unless that has changed recently. He mused, what could the mortal have done to make Rin lose interest? "I had assumed she would have lasted longer."
"Nay, it is not that Rin does not like her anymore, it is because I think the girl is plotting something against us." Kaname said as they arrived to their chambers. She reached out and opened the door's since Sesshomaru was- for some odd reason- still carrying her. "Make no mistake, I do not think whatever she tries will actually work or harm me, but it is a nuisance and could affect Rin or our future children." she explained at the look he sent her.
He frowned, anger sparking inside of him at the prospect of Rin (his pup) being harmed in any way. "I see." He mumbled, setting Kaname down on the bed. "I must admit, I am surprised you bothered to tell me of this, I would have figured you would have killed it without my input."
She shrugged, "I would have, but Rin is your daughter as well, I figured you should get a say in this." Kaname then tilted her head in thought, "would you like to get rid of her? She has been disrespectful of your station then anything else."
He thought on this, admitting that it would be the better option. Especially if word ever got out of the incident to his...subjects, if they learned that a pathetic mortal child had disrespect him, and he did nothing in retaliation, then he would lose face. They might even try and blame Kaname for this. He thought with a small scowl.
"You do not want to kill her yourself?"
Kaname grinned, it was wicked and showed the malicious thoughts running through her head. "Well, I wouldn't be...opposed to 'educating' the girl before you killed her." she suggested, "If you would allow it, of course." a shrug, before a wicked grin worked its way up her face. "I am not very hungry at the moment...at least...not for food that is." Her eye's gleamed at him, making Sesshomaru stiffen. "Would you mind helping me with this hunger, My Sesshomaru?"
He was perfectly willing to do that.
Later found the two in Sesshomaru's study, both looking through scrolls to see what could temporarily seal Kaname's reiki.
"Oh!" Kaname exclaimed, blinking down at the scroll in her hand.
Sesshomaru peaked over his own at her, "What is it? Have you found something?" he questioned, they had started at the table near one of the windows but somehow ended up on the floor across from each other and near one of the shelves.
"I- well I think so." She mumbled, "A Kami or very powerful spirit can seal and un-seal my powers, and even another Miko can do it, provided they are stronger then myself." she said, looking over the scroll.
Sesshomaru hummed at this, eyes narrowing in thought as he put down his own scroll. "I do not think a Kami would be willing to help a youkai, and you are very strong. I doubt there are any Miko's stronger then yourself out there. And even if there were, then they would sooner try and eliminate me then help us with our pups." he scowled.
"Yes, I assumed so as well, but there is a third option. If we find a powerful object, something such as a blessed one for our purpose, then we only need to give it to the Miko helping us. It would boost her power tremendously, enough to probably overwhelm myself and seal my reiki."
"...A powerful holy object is it?" He mused, head resting in his hand as his finger tapped his cheek. He didn't know any location to any of those things, he never had a need before. "And it must be a strong object?" at her nod he grunted, "I see...Very well, I shall send out some scouts to locate any of these objects, and then we will see if any of them are worthy enough."
She smiled, body wiggling a bit in anticipation.
They were close.
So close to having children.
"I do not think we need to worry about the Miko, I am positive that Kagome will do it once I explain the situation." she said in excitement, a grin stretching across her face in happiness. "All we need to do is give her the object and teach her the technique." her grin became dreamy, eye's going distant as she relaxed. "Soon...We'll be able to have children soon, My darling."
Sesshomaru observed her, surprised with the longing he heard in her voice when she spoke. "...I did not know you longed for children so much."
Kaname smiled sadly, "I've always wanted children, someone to love and take care of. And while some could argue my siblings have already filled that, and they have to a point, it does not change that they have their own lives. They will grow, date, marry and have their own children, they will not need me any longer. And if they do need advice, they will go to mother first and foremost, or their friends..." she sighed, she could already see that Souta did not need her as much any more, and Kagome was growing into her own person. Gone were the day's her brother and sister looked to her in awe, like she created the sky and the day's changed because she made it so. "And I had feared...with this curse upon my family, that I would never have children then finding out about..." she gestured to the scrolls and records. "This, had practically dashed my hopes, so Kagome and Souta were the closest thing I would ever have to them." she paused, black eyes turning to Sesshomaru, worry still in them. "And while we have solved this problem, I still worry that..."
"You worry the curse would transfer to them as well." he concluded.
"Yes," she said, "I have killed many, I have tortured with a smile on my face, found comfort in my subjects screams...but knowing my children will die young? That they could go insane? Because of me? I-...I do not think I will be able to handle it." she confessed, her sadness turning to terror as she clenched her hands into fists and bent over herself. "I cannot bear the though of any of our children dying because of me! If my own Reiki doesn't kill them, then my blood will! Either from the curse or because of the scorn hanyou's receive!" she choked, eye's watering. "My Sesshomaru...I-I am terrified that I will ruin them!" Kaname cried, tears going down her cheeks as the implications of having children finally caught up with her. The reasons of why she avoided any talk about children with Kuro, why she stayed silent when her mother would look at baby clothes, why she only nodded a wore a smile when Kagome would talk about all her future nieces and nephews she would spoil.
What had she been thinking? Was she so blinded by love that she forgot the horrible things she would subject any blood child of her's through?
Worse yet she was going to subject this to the children of Sesshomaru?!
Before she could go deeper into despair, Sesshomaru had quickly gone to her side and forcefully turning her head towards himself. He was calmly looking down at her, a frown tugging at his lips at the sight of her tears, before staring into her eye's. "I believe I have said this already, but did I not say that I would find a way to break your curse? Do you think me incapable in this task?"
She blinked, opening and closing her mouth, "S-Sessho-"
"Do you?" he interrupted, stopping what she was going to say. "you think I would not do anything about this? That I would subject our pup's to this without trying to find a solution?"
"N-No-"
"Then you think I am not up to the task?"
"No! I only-!" she stuttered, eye's widening.
"Then why do you act like our pup's have already perished?"
He didn't like it. He didn't like how Kaname seemed to have accepted her fate, how the excitement and joy she felt about carrying his pup's turned into despair and heartbreak. And as he watched Kaname freeze at what he said, he resolved to cheer his mate up. We should still have some prisoners left, and she has not seen the weapons room. "Kaname, I will not let any harm befall our pack." he stated with promise.
Kaname chuckled, "Of course, how could I forget that my mate is the great Lord Sesshomaru." she teased, wiping away the tears. "The ruler of the west. He ran off those terrible Cat youkai you know?"
He huffed at that, silently thankful that she seemed to have calmed down. "Is that so?"
"Hn." she agreed, before leaning into him and burying her head into his chest. "...Thank you."
"Hmp. I dare say we've enough of reading for today." he mused, standing them both up and leading out of the room. "I have heard something may be causing a disturbance in the demon village east of here." he hinted.
Kaname smiled, "Then it should be dealt with, no?"
Rin was having a wonderful time with her Grandmother. They were in the garden again, with Inu-kimi telling her story's of her papa, and Rin making her grandmother a beautiful flower crown. Jaken was currently checking in on the castle staff, making sure things were running smoothly while Sesshomaru and Kaname took care of the disturbance in the villages.
"Papa was silly when he was younger, huh?" Rin questioned after a story of Sesshomaru overeating as a babe.
Inu-kimi smirked at her, "Yes, he certainly was." she agreed. Inu-kimi observed Rin, wondering how her mortal hating son now had a human pup and mate. "Tell me, Rin, how did you meet my son?"
Rin perked up at the question, "Papa saved Rin!"
"Oh?"
"Mhm! Rin's village was attacked by wolves and wolf demons, and Rin ran into the woods towards mama and papa for help." she frowned here, looking down at her lap, "Rin didn't make it. But papa found Rin and saved Rin! Mama was so worried that she cried, but papa said she didn't need to anymore since Rin was alright!"
Inu-kimi rose a brow at that, "And why did you think Sesshomaru would help you?"
"Because he asked about Rin's bruises." at the questioning look, she continued. "Rin was fishing in the reserve, the villagers found out and hit Rin to teach a lesson. But papa and mama were hurt and Rin knew they needed to eat to get better, so Rin thought it was worth it!"
"Hm, interesting." Inu-kimi mumbled. Her son had saved a mortal child to cheer up the miko. "And how does my son know your mama?"
Rin shrugged, "Papa has always known mama." she said with a blink. "Mama say's papa would stay and watch the stars with her when she still lived in the village."
The demon blinked at that. My son willingly went into a human village to gaze at stars for a mortal? She though in wonder.
Since when had her son changed?
She hummed again, resolving to go and speak with Kaname later. Well, if Sesshomaru isn't busy taking up her time. She mentally sighed, but was amused on how hard her son was trying to keep his mate away from her. She was honestly surprised they weren't mated yet, especially with the looks those two were throwing at each other, or that Kaname wasn't pregnant yet.
"Ah...But her reiki..." she mumbled, watching as Rin started to hum a song under her breath, occasionally holding up the crown at her and checking if the colors were correctly placed. She fiddled with the necklace Touga had left her in thought, "I wonder if they found Touga's solution yet." she mused. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Rin's stomach growling. "Hungry? We have been here since your mama and-" she snorted here, "papa, left you in my care until they came back."
She would never get over hearing Rin call Sesshomaru 'papa'.
Rin nodded, jumping up and going to deposit the crown on Inu-kimi's head. After a few critical looks, Rin puffed out her chest in pride, nodding to herself, and grinned at her grandmother. "Rin is very hungry. May we get something to eat, grandmother?"
Chuckling, Inu-kimi nodded and stood up. "Come, at least the cooks have more to do now that a mortal who eats regularly is here."
"Yay~! Thank you grandmother!"
As they walked down the corridor, they saw Amanda muttering to herself, not seeming to be paying attention to where she was walking. Thus, when they passed the oblivious girl, Inu-kimi immediately stopped where she was and looked coldly to where the girl disappeared around a corner.
Rin herself looked worried as well.
They had both heard what Amanda was muttering, along with feeling a foreign power surrounding the mortal.
"Mason is trying to kill mama?" Rin said in shock.
"It would seem so." Inu-kimi scowled. She patted Rin's head in comfort, "Do not worry little one, it shall be taken care of."
Rin hesitantly nodded, then they continued to walk. They had passed a guard, and Inu-kimi had ordered the capture of Amanda and throw her into a holding cell until Sesshomaru arrived back.
As much as she would like to kill the girl herself, this was Sesshomaru's duty, along with his right as it is his mate being threatened.
"Now, what you like to eat?"
"Hmmm, Rin thinks soup would be lovely!"
Kagome was blushing.
Kouga was grinning.
Inuyasha wanted to hurl.
The wolf demon had started to spend some time with the group, sticking around to woo Kagome some more, and teaching her key things she needed to know about youkai culture.
Currently he had explained the significance of the pelt he had presented her, showing her that he could provide for his mate to be. And seeing as it was the winter months, he had decided on getting her a bear pelt lined with feathers inside to keep her warm.
In return, Kagome explained what dating was like in her own time...
Along with explaining to him that she was, in fact, from the future.
He had been surprised, but ultimately not bothered by it beyond asking Kagome if she plans to go back and stay in the future after her mission was done.
"Well...I...I don't know." Kagome confessed, scratching her cheek.
"Huh? But, what about your family? I thought you'd be going back for sure because of them." Kouga said in confusion. "didn't you have a life before all of this? Don't you want it back?"
Kagome gave a wry smile, "Well, I did have a life, and I would have liked to have it back. But, honestly? After all of this, after meeting youkai's, seeing the devastation of a battle, burying whole villages, bandits, and finding my sister again?" she shook her head with a sigh, "I don't think It'll be the same ever again knowing whats out there. All of my friends from my time are...immature. Being here made me grow up quite a bit. You can't exactly stay naive when your life is in constant danger. Getting stronger and knowing how to act in certain situations is essential, nee-sama showed me that when she had taken on an incomplete wind-scar for Sesshomaru, and I thought I had lost her again." Kagome explained, frowning at the memory. "If I had been stronger, better, or had paid attention to the miko lesson my grandfather tried to teach me, then I could have made a barrier to save Kaname-nee-sama. I could have been a better healer, an actual front line fighter instead of standing to the side firing arrows."
Kouga thought on that, and admitted that Kagome probably wouldn't fit in if she decided to stay in her time. "Your time sounds...peaceful." because it had to be if her friends, and she herself, didn't know enough danger to have to fight for their lives like he did growing up.
Kagome snorted, "I mean, compared to this time? Yeah. It was pretty peaceful. We still had crimes, rapists, starvation, and such just-...just not to the degree of here. People are educated no matter your social class, most people have food and a roof over their heads, and if you don't there are buildings that can help with that. The most people my age worry about are exams, tests that are designed to show the amount of knowledge you've learned."
They were silent for a while, both looking to the cloud's as it started to lightly snow again.
"...Sounds nice." Kouga mumbled. "Which raises the question on why you would even consider not going back. You may not fit in for a while, but you'd adapt and you wouldn't have to fight anymore."
Kagome hummed in agreement to that, looking at him from the corner of her eye. "Well...I may go back-"
He frowned in dejection at this.
"-Unless," she looked fully at him, a blush on her cheeks that wasn't from the cold. "Someone gave me a reason to stay, that is."
He blinked, before grinning at her and walking a bit closer to Kagome's person. "Oh?"
She giggled, "Like, maybe a certain handsome wolf?"
He chuckled, "Handsome am I?" he quickly kissed her cheek when she gave him a beautiful smile. "Well, I may be handsome, but you- my dear Kagome- are the most beautiful creature in all the land."
And as the two flirted with one another, behind them were the rest of the group.
"Oh god, I think imma' be sick." Inuyasha said, face contorting into disgust.
Sango, who was smiling and coo'ing at the couple, viciously hit Inuyasha's arm. "Oh shut up! Look how cute they are!" she sighed dreamily, "I wish I had someone who would go through all this danger to court me."
"Danger?" Shippo asked, having taken residence in Miroku's robes to keep away from the cold.
"I believe Sango is speaking of Lady Kaname." Miroku clarified. "Kouga is in danger of dying the moment her ladyship catches wind of his intentions for Kagome." he then dramatically turned towards Sango, and tenderly held her hand. "And I would walk through hell itself if it meant you would do the honors of bearing me a child, Sango!"
"Miroku," Sango started, seemingly touched by his words, before quickly slapping him. "That would be far more believable if you didn't just try to caress my bottom." she stated dryly.
Miroku sweatdropped, "AH! THESE CURSED HANDS! WHY MUST YOU BRING SUCH MISFORTUNE ON ME?!"
"Pretty sure the only 'misfortune' brought to ya' is by your own actions." Inuyasha muttered.
The monk then grabbed Sango's hands again with both of his own, looking deeply into her eyes and smiled at her. "Yet, in all seriousness, I would gladly endure the poison of the Saimyosho if it meant seeing your divine face everyday, Sango."
Sango stuttered at that, face rapidly turning red as she didn't know how to answer to that.
Inuyasha quickly made his way towards the front of the group, with Shippo jumping out of Miroku's robes and onto him as he past, and gave a flat look ahead. "What the 'ell is with everyone today?"
Shippo, who was glancing back towards both pairs of couples in their own worlds, shrugged his shoulders. "Adults are weird." he then had a thought, "Do you think Sesshomaru and Kaname are like this too?"
The hanyou tried to imagine his asshole of a brother saying things like this to Kagome's sister, then snorted at the image. "Pfft. Yeah, right. Like Sesshomaru would do something as stupid as this."
Elsewhere, a certain Inu-daiyoukai became unusually irritated at his brother.
"...Yeah, I guess your right." The fox agreed.
He hoped he never turned out like that when he was older.