In The Blood
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Eighteen
"How is the building coming?" Enki asked Kagome and Mukuro as he was going through the current reports for the building of the human meat farms within their territories.
"Well enough. Building has been progressing day and night. There is no shortage of volunteers to help after word started spreading about what we were doing. Prince Koenma has been in contact only to say that his father approves of the current co-operation. At least for now." Kagome replied with a slight growl at the thought of the Rekai's King.
"Your hatred is showing again, my dear." Makuro laughed lightly and Kagome smiled sheepishly at the older demoness.
"I will try to abstain, but how I feel about Rekai is no secret." Kagome conceded, having explained the deaths of her friends to the Council when the subject of co-operation between the two had been broached months before.
"Have you heard any word from High Lord Yomi? Planning for the tournament has already started." King Enki asked as he pulled the subject away from Rekai.
"Yes, we had hoped he would be back by now." Saizou said and Kagome knew it was mostly so that she wouldn't have to continue bearing the responsibilities of two massive territories that her friend even spoke.
"No, I have not. He did not tell me how long he would be away, but I think he will return by the day of the tournament. He cares for his people though he has an odd way of showing it." Kagome replied thinking about the day the High Lord had left.
"Hmph. Yomi cares for his power. The demons of Gandara are merely useful to him."Makuro said with a shake of her head, and Kagome nodded in agreement as she spoke.
"That may very well be so, but there are many ways to seek power. Having the loyalty of his people is but one way to bolster that power. Gandara, by far, has the most inhabitants who consume human flesh to live. It is because of their Lord's stance that they flocked to his territory. I only hope that he approves of what I have done in his place and that he views our actions to resolve the food problem favorably. We have our freedom and the co-operation of the Rekai for the moment. What we need now is a united front to keep it that way." She said as the door on the other side of the room opened and Kagome could see Hiei enter the room before coming up to Makuro to murmur into her ear so as not to interrupt the meeting.
"Do you think he will agree?" Enki asked both of them having not known the demon personally.
"We have no way of knowing until he returns." Makuro answered as Hiei stepped away to wait against the wall.
"I have only met with him twice, and so I could not say. I do hope he will because we will need him if things go wrong with Rekai." Kagome replied knowing that while the balance of power had stabilized for the moment that things could shift again if Yomi disagreed when he came back.
She had high hopes that it would all be fine as they had proved that the three of them could work together if they chose to when Yusuke had brought up the tournament. That was another thing that worried her. Yusuke would come back to Makai when his time in ningenkai was over. Would he be able to work with Yomi, Makuro, the Cardinal Lords, the Council, and whoever was the King or Queen?
Kagome loved her twin, but she was under no illusions. She knew if Yusuke returned to take over as High Lord of Tourin that she would be his First, but she also knew Yusuke didn't have the mind for politics, or the more subtle power plays. She would end up having many messes to clean up just as she had before the tournament.
He had also been a spirit detective for Rekai. She still wasn't too sure about who he would side with if things fell apart again. He clung too tightly to his humanity not understanding that his human life had ended. As much as she hoped he would side with her as his sister; Kagome would never be able to be sure until that day came.
"Something else has just been brought to my attention. Lady Kagome, it seems Hiei has managed to locate your son." Makuro stated as she watched Kagome's spine straighten unto her posture was even more stiff and formal than it usually was at these meetings.
"You've found young Shippo already?" Kujo asked as he stepped away from his position against the wall next to his sister.
"Hiei." Makuro called on her First to give his report as everyone's attention fixed onto him.
They had all been informed that she had been scouring the territories for her adopted son. That he had gone missing after an excursion, an old ally who had been looking after him in his mother's absence, hadn't had any word from the kit. There had been no information, and those they knew her instincts must have been playing havoc with her all this time. Still, she had proven herself to all of them when she was still able to carry through with the duties and responsibilities of not only her station but those of High Lord Yomi's as well.
"He is within the Alaric territory which is doubtless why you haven't been able to find him. I found him to be in a cell. It seems that Isami has been holding him there." Hiei responded and watched as Kagome's brow started to crease.
"Who is this Isami, and what do they want with my son?" Kagome's voice had turned glacial, and King Enki and the rest of the Council watched her with caution.
They knew Kagome to be a demoness who cared for her people and did what she could even to help the demons of other territories. None of them had ever seen her fight, but the fact was that she was still a Mazoku of Raizen's bloodline. That alone would have had most wary. While females may not have been as outwardly violent or confrontational as males; a mazoku demoness was just as built for battle as any male. They were only more dangerous when it came to their offspring, and while the fox kit had been adopted, there was no doubt in any of their minds that she loved him. It was something rare to see with demons, but it did happen.
"Isami is a hybrid spider demon who I have had my eye on for some time now. A minor irritant. He has lost a lot of the support he had been gathering since the tournament was proposed by your brother. There are rumors that he is the bastard son of one of Alaric's Cardinal Lords, but so far those have proven to be baseless. As for what he wants with your kit I cannot be sure. Given how long you have said it has been that he has been missing, I doubt it is because of his relation to yourself. What is the kit's condition?" Makuro informed her before looking back to ask the question to her first.
"Unknown. From what my eye could see, he looked to be alright for being held captive." Hiei informed them only for his eyes to follow Kagome's movements as she stood from her chair.
"High Lady Makuro, this Kagome would like to formally request safe passage into your territory for myself and one other as well as having you First act as our guide. I wish to retrieve my son and to take care of this 'irritant' for you. I swear no ill will or intention to create harm or unrest within your lands other than to this Isami and any allies he has." Kagome spoke formally with a slight bow of her head though her posture remained straight and formal as she spoke the words of entreatment from one Lady to another.
This had been something Raizen had taught her while Yusuke trained fervently to defeat him. It was similar to what Yusuke should have done when they had visited Yomi in Gandara that time. Her brother was never one meant for demon politics. Never meant for the subtle nuances, shows of acknowledgment or respect toward one's station, power plays, or formality needed to survive and avoid a declaration of war. Raizen had, and that was how the fighting had been left at a stand-still between the Three for so long.
"This one other you would have join you?" Makuro asked with a hidden sigh as she disliked these formalities, but knew they were sometimes needed.
Even more so with the High Lady of Tourin, and temporarily, Gandara. Raizen teachings were there to see for one who looked closely at the demoness, but she knew there had to be more to it. Lady Kagome held herself to an even higher standard of conduct than ever her sire had. All Makuro and Yoki had to do had been to look at her to know that there must have been someone else.
"Cardinal Lord of Gandara's Western Lands. Sesshomaru of the House of the Moon." Kagome replied to be greeted to sharp breaths from those in the room who didn't know of their association.
Not High Lady Makuro, though. No, her only response was the amused curving of her lips. She felt pleasure at the confirmation of there being another who had taught her. Lord Sesshomaru of the House of the Moon made sense. Makuro could see his proper and formal bearing reflected in the young demoness. How curious as it was well known that Lord Sesshomaru certainly lived up to his name, and was known for his cold attitude. How curious.
"I take it he is the ally you had left in your son in the care of?" Makuro probed further and was satisfied when she got her answer.
"No. I had left him to the care of Lord Sesshomaru's half-brother, Inuyasha. It is when he was killed with the raising of Rekai's barrier that Lord Sesshomaru took in my kit as his ward until my return. I owe him a great debt for that as well as training me before my father found me." Kagome replied with the surprising acknowledgment of a debt owed.
The reasoning was not what was surprising. That was understandable as the Lord had really had no responsibility toward her kit, but had taken him as a ward of his House anyway. What Kagome had said so blatantly was that she was indebted to him, and as High Lady, that Tourin was as well. If Lord Sesshomaru were ever to come under attack then he would be able to call upon her. She would then be able to call upon the Cardinal Lord of Tourin. Anyone wishing to attack Lord Sesshomaru and his lands would be a fool.
More so, how far did the web on connections this demoness had span? She'd said that he'd trained her before she had been found by Raizen. One thing Makuro knew was that she was glad their views and goals could align. Another was that she wanted to see just how powerful the dignified and proper High Lady was. Makuro hoped she would compete in the next tournament so that they could have a match.
"I grant passage into my lands to both you and Lord Sesshomaru, High Lady Kagome. I also grant you the assistance of my First, Hiei. I wish you luck in your quest." Makuro spoke the words with a tilt of her head with more formality than she usually cared for.
"King Enki, I would like to request my leave of the Council while I retrieve my son. I will leave my Firsts Natsume and Kujo in my place until I return from Alaric." Kagome said as both of her friends, who had been acting as her Firsts and helping her with both territories she was responsible for, straightened as she said their names.
"Of course, Kagome. Though I would like to meet your kit when he can have visitors. He is Raizen's grandson even if he does not share his blood." King Enki said with a smile that brightened at the small curve of her lips at his words as she bowed her head in thanks due to his current position as King.
"Natsume. Koju. Walk with me for a moment. Hiei, if you would, meet with me outside after speaking with High Lady Makuro? We will have a long run if we wish to make it to Lord Sesshomaru's castle before the end of the week." Kagome said knowing Makuro may have some instructions of her own for him.
She took his grunt as confirmation as she spun on her heel and left the room at a brisk walk with Kujo and Natsume right behind her. It didn't take long for them to leave the building. She spoke to both of them as she moved.
"Natsume, I need you to continue monitoring the building of the farms within Gandara. Keep an eye on the border with Ningenkai and make sure there are no rogues. If you find any trying to cross to hunt humans then they are to be killed. No exceptions. The same goes for you, Kujo. Though I'm not as worried about Tourin as Gandara. Kujo, I also need you to send a runner home to deliver a message to Seitei and Hokushin. Let them know that Shippo has been found and I am on my way to retrieve him. Tell them to prepare the room my father had set aside for him, and to have everything I'll need ready. Tell them to keep clear of his and my rooms after that. I do not know what kind of condition my kit is in, and I do not want to kill anyone if I am not in my right mind." Kagome said grimly as she issued out orders as she had become accustomed to doing.
"Of course, Kagome. Is that why you are going to have Lord Sesshomaru accompany you?" Natsume asked as they made it outside and Kagome looked up to where the Makai sun was waning; casting the red sky into purples and black.
"Yes. Sesshomaru is the only one I can trust with the life of my kit, and to know what to do if my instincts take over, and be able to survive." Kagome replied as the twins nodded in understanding.
They had seen enough of her fighting in spars to know that she was an S-Class, and that was without her reiryoku. If she had trusted Lord Sesshomaru and his brother with her son then the chances were that he would be the only one she would trust if the kit was hurt and she turned feral. They knew that she would probably give Hiei a warning as well, but since he already knew about her reiryoku, he would already know to be cautious of her in that state.
"I'll give the message to Seitei and Hokushin myself when I get back. It'll take you at least a month to return. We'll keep why you're gone quiet until you get back." Kujo said and Kagome gave him and Natsume a nod of thanks just as Hiei came out and joined them.
"Take care, Kagome. We can't wait to meet the little guy when you get back." Kujo said and Kagome shook her head as she moved away from them.
"You say that now, but remember that when he is causing chaos at the stronghold with his pranks. He is a kitsune, after all." Kagome replied with a light air of amusement before she looked at Hiei.
When he nodded, Kagome took off at a quick run towards Sesshomaru's lands. It would take a week of constant running to get there. Kagome couldn't help but be thankful she had inherited Raizen's bloodline. She would never have been able to do this as a human.
The trip was a quiet one with Hiei at her side.
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They managed to make it to Sesshomaru's stronghold in five days. Kagome would admit that the thought of her son being held captive had her pushing herself on her speed. She was starting to feel it by the time they reach the guards at the gates. No sooner had they come to a stop in front of the alarmed guards had Kagome started to speak.
"Notify your Lord that High Lady Kagome is at his gates on a matter of utmost importance. Quickly. I will not be kept waiting." Kagome's voice was steady with an underlying tone of steel that Hiei had not heard from her before, and his brow raised at the sight of the stammering guard.
"M-My apologies, m-my Lady. His Lordship left yesterday on a patrol of his lands." The guard spoke as he seemed ready to fall apart in front of the demoness.
"Send for Jaken, and let him know I am here." Kagome commanded to the other guard who had gotten his bearings in front of their unexpected guests a lot more quickly having recognized Kagome from the last time she had come to visit.
"Right away, Lady Kagome. Please follow me. My Lord has commanded that you are free to enter at any time. You are always to be welcomed by the House of the Moon. I will send my Lord's retainer to meet with you in the tea room." The demon said as he opened the gates to allow them access before leading them inside.
"What is your name?" Kagome asked though Hiei noted that the tone was still commanding.
"My name is Reino, my lady." The guard responded with a bow once they had reached the doors.
"Your prompt assistance is much appreciated, Reino. I know my way from here. Just send the imp to me." Kagome's tone held no warmth, but the guard didn't react as he bowed before darting off through the castle halls.
Her pace was brisk as she led Hiei down a few halls before they entered a beautifully decorated tea room. Hiei took a position against the wall as he looked around the room. He watched as Kagome moved to stand in front of the window as they waited. He noted how even after five days of non-stop running at his full speed she still appeared very much the proper lady she was. Not a hair stood out of place, her kimono a little dusty, but not rumpled or in need of fixing.
It didn't take two minutes before there was a gentle knock against the door before it opened to reveal a demoness who looked familiar to Hiei. It took only a second to recognize her as the demon who had left Kagome's stronghold in Tourin before the meeting with Koenma and the others.
"Would you care for refreshment, Lady Kagome?" The demoness asked as Kagome's eyes turned to her.
"Some livers for both of us as well, Kimi. I do not plan on staying long at this time." Kagome replied as she bowed and dismissed herself from the room.
"I hope you do not mind, Hiei. I find myself craving blood. We should replenish ourselves whilst we are able." Kagome said to him as her gaze turned back out the wind.
"Hn." Was her only response and Kagome couldn't help the small smile as he watched how the light of the moon cast a shadow across her features.
"You remind me so much of them..." She said softly, but his sensitive ears still managed to hear her.
"Who?" He asked as a pained look entered her eyes.
"Lord Sesshomaru, and... his brother. You have a cold air about you. You are very careful about letting people close, but I know you still have the capacity to care for others if given the chance. You would not be protecting Yukina from the knowledge you are her brother if you didn't. You are a lot like Sesshomaru in that way." Kagome replied quietly as his eyes turned back up to stare at the moon; it was waning and would soon disappear.
Kagome used to like the night of the new moon. Used to love being there for him on his human night. To be there for him in a time of weakness. Now, the sight of the dark and moonless sky left her with an ache she could not shake. How she hated the New Moon nights now.
"Your persistence when you wanted answers from me about what I am. Your brashness in attacking me when I was unknown to you. Your will is like the strongest steel, and your determination to protect what's important to you. You remind me so strongly of Inuyasha; my best friend who protected me so many times when I was still nothing but a weak human. An inu-hanyou who deserved so much more than this world gave him..." Kagome said softly as she tilted her face to look at him and Hiei froze at what she'd said as well as the glistening of tears in her eyes.
"Is there a point to your babble?" He growled defensively at her unspoken insinuation.
The insinuation that he, a forbidden child, had deserved more.
"We have not been alone around each other before now though I have heard much of you from Yusuke. I just wanted to tell you I'm glad I got to meet you, Hiei. I am thankful my idiot brother had you to fight alongside, and with him. I hope there comes a day we could call each other friends as well, though I would never push for it. Thank you, Hiei. For giving me back my hope by finding my son. Thank you for living and fighting long enough for me to meet you. You will never know how grateful I am for that."Kagome's said gently as she turned to give him one of her genuine smiles.
Hiei was struck silent at the image as the light of the moon gave her an ethereal glow. He couldn't help but be drawn to her at that moment. She was a powerful demoness, but there was so much more. Every time he encountered her; he learned something new.
He hadn't thought much of her the first time he had seen her sitting next to Yusuke across a table from Yomi. Quiet and too proper to have ever really struggled in life. Oh, how wrong he had been proved later as he watched her strike down Yusuke before storming out of Yomi's stronghold. Makuro had been so surprised when he had chuckled at seeing Yusuke laid into by the petite demoness.
It was before the tournament when he found she must have some intelligence. She had been the one to propose the restructuring of the way the rulers of Makai would do things. This continued after the tournament with her standing in for Yomi, meeting the demand of two-thirds of Makai, her proposals on how they could solve the problems that had followed Rekai dropping the barrier, and the meeting with Koenma. He couldn't stop his curiosity from growing.
He had needed to find out more. He knew that she was apparently Yusuke's twin sister, and so knew she must have some ability if she had managed to come back from a human death as a mazoku. It didn't take long for him to get a taste of the power she was capable of. It was then he had realized she was beautiful in her rage against Koenma and the Rekai for their action that had resulted in the deaths of her friends as her power and purity spiked and the Mark of the Mazoku shone on her skin.
She often appeared cold, but she was compassionate. She had taken in a kitsune kit when most demonesses would sooner kill an orphaned or abandoned stray than raising it as their own. She cared for those residing in her lands and acted in their best interests. Those actions had lead to Rekai allowing the barrier to be down. She had managed to get them to co-operate with them so those who ate humans wouldn't starve.
She was cursed as the Guardian to the Shikon no Tama.
Now, here she stood looking at him and telling him she was glad she had met him. Thankful that he had survived to meet her. Insinuating that he deserved more than what this world had heaped onto him since the day of his cursed birth. Telling him that she hoped a day came when he would think of her as a friend. Something he would deny having even now until the day he died.
"...Hn." Hiei responded as he was unsure of what he could say to that.
It was at that moment that the door flew open to admit a kappa demon into the room followed by the servant girl from earlier. While she set out the drinks and livers on the low table; the kappa rushed to bow low at Kagome's feet. All of the emotion she had shown him during their talk had slid from her face with the banging of the door. A grimace of disgust took over for a second at the groveling at her feet.
"High Lady Kagome, do forgive this humble servant of my Lord Sesshomaru. I should have greeted you at the gates-" The demon babble before Kagome cut him off with a sharp tone.
"Enough. I seek an audience with Lord Sesshomaru. When is he expected to return, Jaken?" Kagome suppressed her irritation and urge to kick the imp as she had in the past.
"My lord is not expected for at least a fortnight, Lady Kagome. I'm sure he wouldn't have left if he had known you were coming to visit him." Jaken spoke respectfully, but both Kagome and Hiei could hear the hidden barb in his wording.
"This is not a simple visit. My son has been located. I have come for his assistance in retrieving him. Seeing as he is not here we shall stay only long enough to replenish ourselves with what Kimi had prepared. Ready Ah-Un in the meantime, Jaken. He will help me locate his master. Once we have found him I will send Ah-Un back." Kagome's voice was clod with the demand as she moved away from the imp to take a seat and glanced at Hiei to join her which he did without acknowledging the other demon's presence as the servant girls stepped back to wait quietly in the corner of the room.
"Of course. I shall do so right away. Your ladyship is welcome to the hospitality of my Lord's House, as always." Hiei's eyes focused on the demoness's clawed hand and the slight sneer in the kappa tone.
"Now is not the time to test my patience with you, Jaken. Get out of my sight. Now." Kagome said in a voice like ice that held back the threat of violence as her fingers glowed pink and her youki flared and caused her clan Mark to brighten.
"Y-yes, your ladyship." He stuttered at the threat before dashing away in fear of his life to carry out her orders.
Silent fell in the room as the two drank their tea and finish the livers prepared for them. They finished at about the same time and stood to leave. It didn't take them long to navigate back through the halls and to leave the castle. Outside stood a double-headed dragon that had already been saddled and harnessed. Hiei raised a brow at the sight as Kagome approached the beast.
"Hello, Ah-Un. I need you to take us to your master. We need to get my kit back. Would you find him for me?" She asked as she reached out and gently pet both heads as they preened under her attention as one nodded.
After another few scratches behind their ears, Kagome jumped up into the saddle before turning to Hiei and glancing at the space behind her.
"Ah-Un will have a much easier time finding Lord Sesshomaru. I would rather not spend days searching his lands." Kagome explained as she waited before Hiei finally jumped up into the saddle.
"Let us go." She said as she took the reins and the dragon lept into the sky.
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Well, here's the chapter for you all. I hope you enjoyed it. Like I said, not sure what pairing this will be. I will add it when I do, but at the moment it could be either Kagome/Kurama or Kagome/Hiei. Personally, I prefer the fireworks of Kagome/Hiei, but I'm still not sure. I have the internet at home for the first time in a few years so hopefully, I will be able to update more often. It depends on how busy I get this summer.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter!
~Ryu