AN: Hey guys! Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. First off, I want to apologize for failing to put a notice in last chapter about my holiday update schedule. I meant to, but I thought I had enough time to post it in the following chapter (i.e. this one)—but I mixed up my dates, so I couldn't. But we're back on track now! (Speaking of the holidays, I posted a SessRin Christmas fic called Erotic Exhibition, so if you haven't already checked it out, I recommend you do so!)
One more thing before we begin: although I caught my omission just a couple days after posting the last chapter, I know most of you had already read it by then, so I wanted to point out that I did go back and add a section to the shower scene I had forgotten to write. It's somewhat significant, so if you'd like to head back and read that (you can scroll down to where Rin's washing him—that's the scene), that may put some things into perspective.
Chapter 29: Some Modest Proposals
Sesshoumaru smelled him in the hallway long before even opening the door to the conference room. Kirinmaru turned in one of the swivel chairs to face him.
Sesshoumaru inclined his head. "Kirinmaru."
"Sesshoumaru," Kirinmaru answered.
Sesshoumaru made no move to walk over and shake the demon's hand. Instead, he took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
Kirinmaru considered him for a moment in silence. When Sesshoumaru didn't say anything—what more was there to say?—the beast demon said, "It would seem your mate has finally settled in with you."
Sesshoumaru's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Kirinmaru took a deep breath. "You wear her scent, as a mate would. Zero remarked a while back that you did not leave an overpowering scent on the girl, and she wondered if perhaps your relationship had taken an…unexpected turn."
Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth, recalling the day Kagome had come home smelling of Zero, even though Rin hadn't. "Zero should never have gone near Rin. We have an agreement."
"So I've heard. But she was quick to tell me she never touched your mate, as agreed."
Sesshoumaru could say nothing to that. "Nevertheless, she is clearly plotting."
"Assuredly."
"Do you know her plans?"
"I haven't the slightest."
Whether or not that was true, Sesshoumaru couldn't be sure. But Kirinmaru was a noble demon and would not wish harm on an innocent like Rin and the children, so Sesshoumaru was inclined to believe him.
Just then, Touga and Tsukuyomaru entered with Inuyasha bringing up the rear and shutting the door.
Touga immediately went over to his friendly rival and extended his hand. "Kirinmaru, welcome. I…was not sure if you would make it."
Kirinmaru stood and slowly shook it. "I know we have had our differences lately, but I can set those aside for the sake of removing Naraku from power."
"I'm glad to hear it." Everyone took their seats around the conference table, Touga sitting behind a laptop. He turned on the computer and projector, slipping in a USB stick. "Well, Myoga? What do you have for us?"
A little flea popped off Touga's head and bounced along the table, coming to rest on top of the laptop's screen. "Greetings, gentlemen. May I say, it is a pleasure to be back. It's been, shall we say, many long months of fieldwork."
"But your work has paid off, it seems," Kirinmaru said.
"Indeed, sir. And I found that the reason we have been in the dark for all this time is that the sanctuary—and I use that term loosely—is hidden behind a barrier."
Tsukuyomaru frowned. "A barrier? But I can assure you he never placed an order through me."
"He would not have, Tsukuyomaru-sama. It appears Naraku is capable of creating his own barrier."
Tsukuyomaru's eyes widened, and then he met the gaze of each table member in turn. "I do not mean to sound insensitive to the plight of humans, but it seems that like you, I now have direct competition for my business as well. For as ambitious as this Naraku seems, I doubt he will want to remain only in the hospitality industry."
"Indeed. There are plenty of other wealthy demons who could fund similar…enterprises for what Naraku has planned at his sanctuary," Touga stated, tapping the USB stick with a talon. "If he could replicate his barrier around theirs like you can, Tsukuyomaru, I can only imagine the horrors that would spread."
"Horrors that we will cover in depth shortly, my lords, if you'll allow me to continue," Myoga said with a polite cough.
"Please do," Touga said, setting up a presentation on the projector screen.
"As it was, once I discovered the barrier issue, I had to do some close undercover work in order to make it through. But Naraku does not only hide his sanctuary—he hides himself within a barrier at his residence as well, rarely coming out except for the most important meetings or to supervise his sanctuary. Mostly, his children carry out his work in the world. But he has so many of them, and they are so far flung, it's hard to keep track of all their comings and goings. I did manage, however, to discover their primary occupations."
The little flea jumped down onto the "enter" key, flipping to the first slide of his presentation. Sesshoumaru scowled when he saw the familiar face pop up.
"First, there is Kagura. She appears to be something of a messenger, secretary, and yakuza debt collector all in one. She is the one to first meet with clients and establish relationships before Naraku gets involved. And, if clients don't uphold their end of the bargain, well…let's just say this one's got a surprising amount of fire in her. Her victims usually end up in the hospital, their lives only just spared to deliver a warning."
He jumped on the enter button again, and a pale woman in white appeared. She was passingly familiar to Sesshoumaru, but he couldn't place a name.
"This is Kanna. She mostly works behind the scenes. The best I figure, she's Naraku's IT girl. She lives in a room full of screens, maintaining Naraku's IT systems. Very quiet—doesn't say or get out much."
He jumped again. A dandy man with dark lips and a long ponytail appeared. Sesshoumaru did know him, though they had rarely spoken. "Next is Byakuya," Myoga continued. "He's my rival, you could say: Naraku's spymaster and head of security. He literally has eyes in the sky. I've seen him pop an eyeball or two out of his head and send them flying. Most humans mistake them for bats."
With another bounce, a face Sesshoumaru had never seen before popped on screen. He had white hair and wore a mask, but there was only a question mark next to his photo. "This is Juuroumaru. Unfortunately, if Kanna hardly speaks, this one doesn't speak at all. I only discovered him when I finally made it into the sanctuary, and I wasn't able to get a full grasp on his part in Naraku's schemes. Best I could tell, he handles a lot of the grunt work, basically following orders from two others—one of whom lives in his stomach, hence the mask." The flea bounced again, and this time, a blurry photo—obviously taken incognito from a distance—appeared. He had the exact same head as Juuroumaru, but the rest of his white body was wormlike, save for a pair of praying mantis scythes. "It would appear Naraku has not five but six children. This is Kageroumaru. I consider him the brains behind Juuroumaru. He stays hidden, for obvious reasons, but he's vicious. Those scythes are not for show. He'll cut down anyone who gets on his bad side. Now, the other one Juuroumaru answers to is…."
Myoga jumped again, and yet another pale, white-haired demon flashed onscreen, similar enough to the previous two that their siblinghood was obvious but different enough that they could not be considered triplets. Sesshoumaru's nose curled as he looked over the man. He had spoken with this one on occasion, and this one wore arrogance like a king's mantle. "This is Hakudoshi. From what I can tell, he's Naraku's favorite and the second in command. While Naraku stays in his residence, Hakudoshi manages the construction of the sanctuary as well as its planned entertainment."
When Myoga hit "enter" again, a video popped up. "Now, I managed to hitch a ride on Naraku when he finally left his home and ventured to the sanctuary. I took some video, and here is the condensed version of what I found."
Touga clicked on the video. It began in silence as a gargantuan, Japanese castle rose up from its resting place upon an upraised bed of rock and earth in the middle of a forest—or so it appeared at first glance. While the structure itself implied the shape of an old Japanese fortress, harkening back to a time when demons had free reign, the building itself shone, the "tiled" roof composed of gleaming metal instead of clay and the walls a mix of steel and glass, giving the towers the appearances of skyscrapers rather than wood architecture."
"Clever—he's appealing to the old aesthetic but setting himself apart as uniquely modern compared to our sanctuaries, which have establishment and nostalgia on their side," Kirinmaru remarked.
"He's trying to show we're outdated," Inuyasha remarked, and Sesshoumaru was surprised by his brother's foresight. Then again, they had all worked to market Western Sanctuary over the last century and a half, so he supposed something had to rub off on Inuyasha after all that time.
And indeed, as the camera navigated through the courtyard, which teemed with crews carting painting supplies, appliances, and furniture, Sesshoumaru noted how everything seemed to be state-of-the-art and done in a palette of cold neutrals: blacks and grays with the occasional blue or violet to add a pop of color. When the video moved inside, Sesshoumaru took in the lobby: spacious with tons of natural lighting and the front desk cut in sleek, curved lines and metals. A spike-ball chandelier hung from the ceiling with large Edison bulbs reaching out like rays of light.
It would appeal to some, Sesshoumaru supposed, but he wasn't altogether impressed. After all, demonkind was long-lived, and he knew most of their clientele appreciated a reminder of the old days with just enough of the comforts of the modern era to satisfy them.
But as the virtual tour moved into the next room, Sesshoumaru wondered if Naraku was even appealing to the same clientele.
Screens took up one entire wall of the room. On the other, a massive bar that took its inspiration from trendy downtown clubs dominated the space. And throughout the room, state-of-the-art gambling machines were being lined up beside card and game tables.
"A casino?" Touga murmured in surprise. "Reminds me of Las Vegas."
"Indeed, Master," Myoga remarked. "This is its own Sin City."
There was indeed a club room as well as a stage boasting dance poles. More screens covered the walls in this room.
Kirinmaru frowned. "Pole dancers and strip shows? Well, at least we know this isn't a family-friendly resort. That's something to our advantage."
Is it though? Sesshoumaru wondered. Certainly, demons had children but at no where near the rate humans did. The vast majority of their long-lived kind were adults, many with centuries of money to spend on lavish obscenities.
"This is not the worst of it, my lord," Myoga added.
As he said the words, the video brought them into a glass elevator that quickly descended into a tunnel with running lights in the corners that gave riders something to watch before the space finally opened up. Through the back of the elevator, they looked down into the pit of a giant arena.
Inuyasha sprang forward in his chair to get a better look at the screen. "What the hell is that?"
"That, Inuyasha-sama, is the Kodoku Coliseum. The rest of the sanctuary sits atop it. This is the main attraction for Naraku's Sanctuary. Much like the Roman Coliseum, it is meant to provide all manner of entertainment. Guests can sign up to do battle against each other, but Naraku has also managed to somehow find a plethora of demons that, frankly…I thought were all extinct."
Upon exiting the elevator, the camera moved into a side corridor set up like a gladiator pen. Behind reinforced doors, beasts such as Sesshoumaru had not seen in well over a century lurked. Dinosaur-like demons with spiked spines and dagger-length teeth. Giant insects. Wild horses and bulls with insane red eyes and flames licking their legs.
"Where on earth did he find them?" Kirinmaru asked. "I have traveled the world over dozens of times, looking for the last remaining natural sanctuaries on this planet, and even then, I could not find demons of this size and ferocity."
"Wait but a moment, and your question will be answered, Kirinmaru-sama," Myoga stated. Finally, some audio filtered through.
"Have you come to make another deposit today, Naraku?" Hakudoshi's soft but cruel voice asked, and the camera panned toward him. Indeed, a smirk matched the cut of his words.
"Indeed. This one has been begging to come out," Naraku answered. Hakudoshi led him to an empty cage, and they walked inside. Naraku then lifted an arm. It bulged and twisted like some grotesque creature with a life of its own. Inuyasha gagged. Sesshoumaru frowned.
Lumps of flesh fell out of Naraku's arm, combining to form a serpentine dragon.
"Egads," Touga let out on a breath.
How is any of this possible? "I have never before seen a demon that could birth a completely new demon from its body," Sesshoumaru said. Rock demons could combine themselves, and plant demons could spawn through spores, but animal-based demons, though regenerative, lacked the ability to reproduce outside of the natural way. "Just what is Naraku?"
Myoga bounced on the mouse to pause the video. "I'm afraid I was unable to find that out, Sesshoumaru-sama," Myoga answered. "However, after observing Naraku's children, I do have a theory. You see, all of them bear the same spider-shaped scar upon their backs—as does Naraku. And as I never heard mention of a wife, mistress, or mother to these children, I suspect that they were created in much the same way. If you recall Kageroumaru, though his head was humanoid, his body was that of a monster. From what Naraku said, it seems as if he has multiple bodies inside him that he can feel yearning to escape."
"Are you saying he consumed multiple demons and is…regurgitating them somehow?" Touga mused.
"That is an excellent theory, Master," Myoga replied.
Tsukuyomaru fell back in his chair, slowly shaking his head. "This…is so much worse than I thought it would ever be. Imagine if he released these monstrosities out into the world. How many can he create?"
"Luckily, it appears he can only create them once a month. It must take a tremendous amount of energy, because after this, he returns home," Myoga said. "Still, I counted five beasts. Assuming the Coliseum was completed first, he must have begun filling the pens five months ago, and he will likely continue to do so. The schedule I found shows that the beasts are meant to fight each other. However…they are also meant to face off against humans."
"Humans?" Tsukuyomaru echoed.
"Indeed. A moment more of your time, my lord," Myoga said, jumping on the mouse again to restart the video.
Breathing heavily, Naraku ordered Hakudoshi, "Give it a taste of human flesh."
Hakudoshi left the cage. Ferocious as the dragon appeared and exhausted as Naraku seemed, the dragon made no move to devour its parent. When Hakudoshi returned, he carried a thin, naked, human male over his shoulder. He tossed the man into the middle of the cage. Sesshoumaru had thought he was dead, but the man groaned and jerked when he hit the floor, rubbing his joints.
"Hey, wasssss the big idea-r, t-treatin' yer elders this way?" he slurred. His eyes were bloodshot and rheumy over deep, puffy bags, his gray hair lank though not terribly greasy, as if it had been washed recently. Patches of black and white stubble covered his jaw.
"This one is too old to put on a decent show. But he should make a good snack," Hakudoshi sneered.
In a cold voice Sesshoumaru could just imagine bearing Naraku's smarmy smile, the demon said, "Eat."
The dragon did not hesitate, and it happened so fast, the man did not even notice it move from the shadows. The dragon snapped its jaws over the man's stomach, engulfing his entire torso. Blood spurted, and there was a faint cry from inside the dragon's mouth before the giant serpent tossed the bloodied body up into the air and let it land in its mouth, swallowing it whole. The video ended.
Inuyasha turned green. Even Sesshoumaru's heart quaked, and he was no stranger to killing humans—or watching them be eaten. But it wasn't so much sympathy as it was fear that gripped the organ in his chest. If Naraku ever got his hands on Rin or the girls…. His body went cold just thinking about it.
Tsukuyomaru's mouth had fallen open. "What is he thinking? Making humans go missing is going to set the authorities on him before we can get there," Tsukuyomaru said.
"It appears Naraku is taking humans that, for lack of a better term, society has forgotten. He picks the homeless off the street. The drug addicts with no one left to turn to," Myoga answered.
Ah, that explains the slur and eyes, Sesshoumaru thought.
"He keeps them here, under the influence of sanyosho venom," the flea continued. Photos of humans in plain but basic accommodations, appearing somnolent and drugged flashed onscreen. Then Myoga jumped again, and a photo of a giant, striped bee appeared. "These are the sanyosho, or hell insects. Their venom is toxic to demons, though it will only slow them down, given their metabolisms. However, it is much more potent in humans. Much like opium, it requires a careful balance to prevent overdosing. A single sting will kill a human; however, in a small enough dosage, it will keep a human drowsy and pliable—unable to run away. Naraku keeps a bee farm on the property, where he breeds the insects and harvests their venom. Of course, who else would administer it but a trained nurse?"
When Myoga jumped again, Princess Abi's photo appeared. "As promised at the gala, Abi is indeed supplying Naraku with human blood from the Red Cross." He jumped, and photos of industrial refrigerators filled with blood popped up. "But as I understand it, she is also his chief medic, though that isn't the word I would use. Certainly, she'll patch up a demon, but her main role is to procure blood and keep the humans sedated and in good physical health. Some of the humans, it seems, will be continually harvested for blood. Others will be used as entertainment. Still others…. They will be on the menu not just for Naraku's monsters but for the guests as well."
"This is barbaric," Kirinmaru spat. "The veneer of sophistication only makes it even more so." He turned to the others. "So, how are we going to put a stop to this?" He looked at Touga, and together they turned to Tsukuyomaru.
The bat demon noticed their stare. "What is it you wish to ask me?"
"Please do not take offense to this, Tsukuyomaru, but…surely you've heard the rumors," Touga began gently. When Tsukuyomaru only raised his eyebrows in question, Touga continued. "The ones that say you were the one to call in the Demon Slayers on Taigokumaru. If that is true, we'd like you to tell us. Rest assured that the information will never leave this room."
Tsukuyomaru considered each demon around the table before finally sighing and closing his eyes. "Until one confirms or denies a rumor, it remains just that. Be that as it may…this was certainly a poorly kept secret, given how long the rumors have been circulating. So yes, I admit it: I was indeed the one to call the Demon Slayers on my father." His fist clenched on the table. "I…he…."
"You do not have to explain yourself to us," Sesshoumaru interrupted, knowing full well the complicated feelings a son could have for his father.
"No…it's fine. I would rather you know the truth—if only for my own sake. I consider you all my friends, and I would hate for you to see me differently because of this."
"We have known the rumors for a century, Tsukuyomaru, and we have always understood that you must have done it for the greater good. Your father was not exactly…accepting of humans. We know you hoped then and now that humans and demons could live together in peace," Touga replied.
"You honor me with such words, my friend. But the truth is far more selfish than that." Tsukuyomaru's lilac eyes darkened as he stared at the table, looking back on a past that no one else had seen. "You are all aware that my mate, Shizu, was a human and that she died back in the feudal era." All the heads around the table nodded. "And you know that she fell ill. Given the lack of medical sophistication at the time, we could not save her. The fact that it was nature that took her—something I physically could not fight against to protect her—was the only thing that kept me from going insane with the loss."
Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth. He had never before empathized with Tsukuyomaru for his loss. Now, however, in being mated to Rin and knowing her so fully, he was amazed that the bat demon had carried on for this long without his mate.
I am not sure I could do the same.
"Having Shiori helped, of course. She too was grief-stricken, but we helped each other through the pain. And I could not in good conscience follow my mate and leave our daughter to fend for herself."
Sesshoumaru caught himself nodding with Tsukuyomaru's words. Yes: if something were to happen to Rin, their daughters would be his only saving grace.
But if something were to happen to all three of them….
I would not survive.
He knew it with a certainty that chilled him.
"During World War I, my father wished for me to join him in his battle against humans. He said it was my duty as a demon to keep our race from dying out. I understood, of course—I know none of us wants to see our kind wiped out." Touga and Kirinmaru nodded. "But my father has never seen the good in humans, so he was all too eager to kill them. I…could not bring myself to. Not when my mate was human. Not when my daughter is half human. So I refused. My father could not understand my reasoning. He would not accept it. And he was so furious…he let slip the secret he had been carrying for four hundred years."
"Don't tell me…" Inuyasha started.
Tsukuyomaru clenched his hands on the table. "I will never forget the exact words he spoke. He said, 'I thought getting rid of that human woman would make you strong again. Yet it seems to have only made you weaker.' I didn't understand what he meant at first. Shizu had died of an illness, after all. But my father was only too willing to brag.
"After Inuyasha saved my family and helped us run away from my father, I was in no shape to defend my mate and daughter. But winter was fast approaching, and Shiori and Shizu needed proper clothing and shelter. What little we had, Shizu gave to Shiori to keep her warm. As a result, Shizu came down with a cold, but she said it was nothing serious—that she would recover.
"But my dear Shiori was so worried about her mother. One day, she came back with some heavy kimonos. When I asked where she had gotten them, she said someone gave them to her. I didn't think to question it. I was simply grateful a kind person had given us what we needed to survive.
"But then Shiori got sick, and Shizu's illness took a turn for the worst. She had trouble breathing, and I couldn't sleep at all, for fear she would stop breathing while I rested. Shiori experienced only mild symptoms and managed to recover, but Shizu never did. She was gone within days. I couldn't believe it. I was so lost in grief, I never even stopped to consider what could have happened.
"It turned out that my father had indeed found us and approached Shiori when she was out looking for ways to keep us warm. He gifted her the kimonos, telling her he wished to make amends but that he was too ashamed to face me, given what he had done. He made her promise not to tell me or Shizu where she had gotten the fabrics. And my poor Shiori was so young and trusting, she didn't sense any deception.
"They were a Trojan horse. Bats are known to carry a set of diseases—ones we know now as coronaviruses—though they themselves don't manifest symptoms. However, as demons, or physiology is different, so when we contract a conronavirus, it appears as a common cold. I never thought of it as an issue. Apparently, though, various strands of this disease can kill humans. The kimonos my father gave Shiori came straight from infected bat demons. He did not even mind infecting Shiori as well, figuring that if she survived, it would only prove her more worthy of bearing our blood; if she died, it would be a good riddance. But he had always planned to kill Shizu with it. And so he did."
"Bastard," Inuyasha hissed, slamming his fist on the table. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."
Tsukuyomaru shook his head. "Do not blame yourself, Inuyasha. I asked you to spare him. Though he had attempted to kill me, I could not bring myself to bring about my own father's demise at the time. No doubt some of you see that as a weakness..." The bat demon glanced at Sesshoumaru as he said this. "…And you would likely be right. For if I had allowed Inuyasha free reign, Shizu could very well still be with us today."
Tsukuyomaru took a deep breath before he continued. "So, finding out that my own father killed my mate…that if I had been stronger and healed faster and simply more aware, I could have protected her…. That last barrier of love I held for my father shattered. I fell into a rage and grief as I hadn't experienced since Shizu died. And so I told Shiori what I was going to do. I approached the Demon Slayers and asked that, in exchange for sparing the life of myself and my daughter, I would get them past my father's barrier so that they could kill him. I knew they would take the lives of many of my brethren as well, but I was too consumed with rage to care. They agreed. You know the rest."
The room was silent for several heartbeats after Tsukuyomaru's confession.
"Tsukuyomaru…words cannot convey how sorry I am to hear that tale," Touga said. "For a father to treat his own son in that manner…I cannot imagine." He looked up at Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru with golden eyes full of love and gratitude for being the way they were. Sesshoumaru knew he was not the perfect son, and yet…his father loved him anyway.
The level of trust Sesshoumaru felt towards his father in that moment was one he had not experienced in many centuries. Not since he was a child. But now he knew better. The way his father had helped him in this situation with Rin showed him that. And even his mother…. She may not have approved at first, but at least she had never outright tried to kill his mate.
"Thank you. But it was a long time ago, and I have come to terms with it now," Tsukuyomaru answered.
"Even so, the pain of losing a loved one like that is something I imagine never leaves you," Touga replied.
"That much is true."
"Have you had any contact with the Demon Slayers since World War I?" Kirinmaru asked. "As you may have guessed by now, we asked you here to relay your experience with that, although much has changed since then."
Tsukuyomaru looked back at the screen displaying the photo of the sanyosho. "You wish to call the Demon Slayers on Naraku."
"Precisely," Sesshoumaru said.
"I see. Certainly, none of the original people I contacted are still alive. But given how the Demon Slayers thrive on record-keeping…it would indeed be safest if I were to approach them once more. I have a history with them, at least, that may prove beneficial."
"So, wait, is the plan to let the Demon Slayers do the dirty work for us?" Inuyasha asked in a tone a hair close to a whine.
A small smile twitched on Touga's lips. "Well, that is their job, Inuyasha. Why not put our tax dollars to good use?"
Inuyasha crossed his arms and slumped in the chair. "Here I thought we'd finally get to do some real fighting again."
"That isn't to say we will not be playing a part," Tsukuyomaru said. "Just as I had to lead them past my father's barrier, so will we too need to somehow bring down Naraku's barrier. However, I would have to analyze it myself to see if there are any weaknesses."
"Can spiritual powers not bring down a demonic barrier? As long as we direct the Demon Slayers to it, they should be able to handle it from there," Sesshoumaru interjected.
"Yes, but we also need to make sure Naraku will be present at that time. We need to capture all of his brood," Kirinmaru said. He looked at the flea demon. "Myoga, you said that Naraku goes to the sanctuary once a month to create a new demon. When was it that you went with him?"
"Only five days ago, sir. I came back as soon as I got what I needed from the sanctuary," Myoga answered.
"That gives us just over three weeks, likely, until he goes back."
Inuyasha frowned. "Wait a minute."
"What, son?" Touga asked.
"I think…we're going to have to let Naraku create another demon before we attack."
"And let him create another enemy to overcome? A foolish plan, little brother," Sesshoumaru retorted.
"Hey, just think about it. We've already seen that there's more to Naraku than he's letting on, right? We can't underestimate him—he may have even more up his sleeve. But Myoga said that once a month, he goes to deposit a new demon, and then he's used up all his energy. It's a weakness—one any enemy would want to exploit. Trust me—I know a thing or two about monthly weaknesses."
"You might be onto something there, son," Touga murmured. "Was the moon in a specific phase five days ago?" Inuyasha looked it up on his phone, but there was nothing special about it.
"Just because Inuyasha's weakness is tied to the moon does not mean that all half-demons' are," Tsukuyomaru said. "Shiori's weakness is tied to solar eclipses, so she experiences them for a much shorter duration and number of times during a year than Inuyasha does."
"Are you intimating that Naraku is actually a half-demon?" Kirinmaru asked.
"It's quite possible. Half-demon biology is so unpredictable. It could very well have given Naraku these powers we've never seen before," the bat demon replied.
"Whether he is or not isn't the point. The point is, he's got a period of weakness. We need to time this attack at that point and take him by surprise," Inuyasha said.
"But I have detected no rhyme or reason to this period. That will make it very difficult to plan precisely," Myoga answered.
"Then we shall simply have to keep a close eye on him and stay ready to go at any moment," Sesshoumaru declared.
Rin hadn't realized just how exhausting relaxing could be. The three girls started right off with the massage, which was perhaps the worst they could have done, because after that, Rin was so loose and relaxed, she didn't feel like doing anything. Following up with mani-pedis at least allowed her to zone out in a chair while she tried (and failed) to wake up, but then sitting in the sun by the pool sipping drinks (non-alcoholic versions for her) had her dozing off. She knew she made for poor company that day, but Kagome and Shiori didn't seem to mind. In fact, they told her it was for the best.
"Enjoy that sleep now—you're going to miss it when those twins come out," Kagome said.
Shiori yawned. "To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind taking a nap right now either. I'm pretty nocturnal myself."
Come evening, the men still hadn't left the conference room, so the girls broke to freshen up before dinner. Rin luxuriated in the shower, happy to finally get the lotion and oil from the massage out of her hair. They ate and chatted for a couple hours in the resort's dining hall, but once they started laughing at each other more and more for how often they were yawning, they decided to call it a night. None of the men had come to dinner; Izayoi had joined the girls, but Inukimi was nowhere to be seen. So Rin went back upstairs, fully expecting to go to bed alone. But when she opened the door, she found Sesshoumaru standing at the window, waiting for her.
"You're back! How did it go?" she asked, walking over and giving him a kiss.
"We have learned of Naraku's plans and laid out a counter strategy."
"So it was a success then!"
Sesshoumaru inclined his head. "I will only deem it a success when Naraku is in Demon Slayer custody."
Rin's eyes widened. "You're utilizing the Demon Slayers?"
"Yes."
"But how?"
"Tsukuyomaru will make contact with them."
Rin clutched his hand. "Isn't that dangerous? I know you can call in anonymous tips, but…."
"That is why we are leaving it to Tsukuyomaru. He has…a favorable history with them."
Rin frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sesshoumaru's jaw tensed, a sure sign of confliction. "He called upon them once. That is all I can divulge."
"He called them? But why—?" Rin stopped herself. Something resonated in her mind about Tsukuyomaru and the Demon Slayers. What was it…? Then her eyes widened. "Wait! Didn't Shiori tell us that her grandfather was killed by the Demon Slayers? Was that—? Did he…?" Seeing Sesshoumaru's grave look, Rin gasped. "I don't believe it. He called the Demon Slayers on his own father?"
"It was justified. But I will leave it to Shiori to tell you the story in her own time," Sesshoumaru answered.
Rin was still in shock. She couldn't imagine ever making a call to kill a family member, even a troublesome one. But given what Shiori had said about her grandfather, perhaps Tsukuyomaru had seen it as the only way to protect his family. Even so, going as far as patricide?
Despite how different demons appeared from humans when they were not in disguise, Rin had trouble reconciling those she saw with what the demons the Corps touted as vicious creatures that needed to be put down. For the first time, however, she could finally see what made the kind Tsukuyomaru a demon.
Still, the man had shown her nothing but kindness, and history or not, he was willing to put his life on the line to contact the Slayers again to bring down Naraku. How would Shiori feel, knowing her father was taking such a huge risk? She can't lose another parent. I know that heartache too well. "Are you sure you don't want me to make contact instead? I could ask Kaede to tell Kikyou, or I could even give Sango a tip."
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Even should you call in anonymously, I do not trust the Demon Slayers to keep from ferreting out who tipped them off and why." He placed a hand on her stomach. "I will not risk the Corps discovering our children."
Rin placed her hands over his, and she felt the pulse in her stomach beat against his hand. "You're right. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Oh! Speaking of the babies, let me show you what Shiori gave me today."
She went to her luggage and pulled out the set of bows and hats with their talismans. "Isn't it genius? Shiori was so kind to gift these to us."
"Extremely kind," Sesshoumaru said, picking up one of the ruby stones and examining it. "Even a small talisman such as this carries a high retail price. She honors you by gifting not just one but two."
Rin blushed. "We have such great family and friends, Sesshoumaru. I don't know what we'd do without them."
He grunted in acknowledgement. She put the gift away. Then he said, "If you are not too tired, I wish to show you something."
"What is it?"
"Come." He led her outside, and as soon as they were out the door, he scooped her up into his arms and leapt high. She shrieked in shock, wrapping her arms around his neck as he leapt over to the roof of the dojo. Rin gasped as she took in the view of the gardens from above, the summer stars reflecting in the still water of the pond.
"It's beautiful, Sesshoumaru."
"That is not what I wished to show you." He carefully set her on her feet. "Can you stand on your own?" Rin nodded slowly as she found her balance and removed her arms from him.
"Yes, I think so."
He floated off the roof and hovered before her. Her eyes widened. She hadn't seen him fly like this since the day he saved her from the wolf demons. She still had a hard time reconciling the demonic side of her husband with the human façade he wore so often. How else would he continue to surprise her?
"A few days ago, you said you had showed me all of yourself." She nodded. "Now it is my turn to do the same."
Rin blinked, his meaning not quite clicking yet.
"Do not be frightened."
Puzzled, Rin braced herself for…what exactly, she did not know.
Then Sesshoumaru's hair stood on end. His eyes bled red, as she had seen them do during sex, and his fangs elongated.
But then she saw something change she had never seen before.
His lips peeled back into a ferocious grin, and his skin sprouted white fur. In a cloud of smoke, he grew until what towered above her, even on the dojo roof, was a giant, white dog with a massive ruff curling around one shoulder. Moonlight glinted off the beast's back, making him appear almost regal. Then he turned his head, and a jagged tongue lolled out from a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth as long as her forearm. Bulging red eyes stared down at her.
But above all those vicious features, a familiar crescent moon lay on the dog's brow, and magenta markings created vees at the corners of his lips.
She gasped in amazement, tears welling in her eyes as she reached out to place a hand against his snout. "Your true form. Oh, Sesshoumaru, you're beautiful."
He whined in contentment as he carefully nudged his snout against her tiny hand, which lay comfortably on the ridge between his nostrils.
She couldn't believe just how big he was. She glanced down at his paws—easily the size of a trampoline—and recalled the day she fell into one of his prints in the forest. It was difficult to tell from up here, but those talons were probably as long as her legs….
Just then, he bent down so that his back was level with the edge of the roof. He motioned with his head to his back, but Rin didn't understand.
"Can you not speak?" she asked.
He barked in response.
She bit back a smile. "I see. Are you…asking me to ride you?"
This time he nodded. So at least he could still understand her.
Her heart trilled at the prospect of flying with him again. "Okay, let me find my way on here…." She grabbed some of the thick, curly ruff to use as a handhold while she gingerly walked off the roof and onto his back. It felt strange to walk upon a being of flesh like this, but he was so broad, she didn't topple over the ridges of his bones or anything. His fur was so springy and soft as she ran her hands through it. She finally made it to the crux of his neck and sat down, taking fistfuls of thick fur as reins.
"Okay, I'm ready."
Sesshoumaru stood, and Rin clutched him tighter as he moved. His shifting muscles beneath her felt both strange and familiar, making her sex tingle. Her face flushed. Goodness, Rin, are you that horny that you think of sex even when he's walking around as a dog?
Of course, that thought opened up a whole other room of dark ones, but the door slammed shut on them quickly as, with a graceful leap, Sesshoumaru flew into the air and she quite forgot all about her libido.
The balmy night air blew Rin's hair back in a stream, and she exclaimed in awe as she beheld the majesty of Western Sanctuary below her. Lanterns dotted the walkways of the garden and glinted off the pond. Beams of light streamed from the resort, making it appear to be a giant lantern from above. Rin then turned her attention to the surrounding landscape. The dark peak of Dog's Throne stood proudly against the backdrop of the heavens as Sesshoumaru flew in that direction. When he passed over that familiar peak, the lake and river below glimmered in the moonlight.
Finally feeling stable and a little daring, Rin let go of Sesshoumaru's fur and spread her arms out, catching the wind and whooping with joy as they soared over the forest. Sesshoumaru howled with her, his call echoing across the entire sanctuary.
"Sesshoumaru, this is amazing!" Rin cried out against the wind. Though he gave no indication that he heard her, she reached over and scratched gently behind his ear to further indicate his pleasure. Her demon dog mate whined, and a small shudder ran down Sesshoumaru's spine. Rin giggled. "Oh, you like that, do you?" She started scratching harder.
Now a low growl rumbled through the throat beneath her legs, and suddenly, Sesshoumaru made an about face, flying back towards the lake they had passed. Rin's heart thudded as she beheld the familiar scenery, and it only continued to do so when Sesshoumaru touched down on its banks.
She looked around at the lakeshore. Though nature had left its seasonal touches here and there, it remained largely the way it had been when they camped here in those final days together. She would never be able to look at this spot without remembering it as the first place they had made love.
Sesshoumaru lowered himself to the ground, and this time, Rin slowly scooted down his arm like it was a slide until her feet touched the dirt. She trailed a hand over his silken paw—yep, those talons were indeed as long as her short legs—even caressing one of his deadly claws. She looked up, finding she held his enormous red eyes in rapt attention.
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru, for showing me yourself and the world as you see it." His head was still just low enough that when she stood on her tiptoes, she was able to kiss the tip of his cold nose.
In a flash of light, he returned to his human form. "You are determined to seduce me this night," he said.
She chuckled. "Would that be so bad? Reenacting everything where it all began?" She rubbed a hand over her belly, feeling the fruits from that day kick within her."
Sesshoumaru pulled off his fur and laid it on the ground. Rin's heart leapt, and her sex practically drooled in anticipation.
Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and shook his head with a wry smile. "Very well, Rin. I will offer you a reward if you can pass a test."
"What sort of test?" she asked, walking over to him and already thinking of ways she could cheat.
He helped her down so that she lay part on the grass and part on his fur, staring up into the night sky. He settled next to her, their shoulders touching.
"What do you see?" he asked.
Ah, a constellation test. She laced the hands between them together. "This feels so nostalgic." As she looked across the stars, she frowned. "Especially the part where I have no idea what I'm looking at. Not many of these look familiar. What happened to Gemini?"
"Its time has passed."
"Oh, poo." After their date last month, she made sure to commit that one to memory. But everything else was hazy. She sighed. "I guess I fail my test." She looked over at him with what she hoped was a cute pout. "Is there any way I could earn some extra credit?"
A smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. "Perhaps."
She lifted up their entwined arms and pointed at the sky. "I'm ready to learn, sensei."
He grasped her wrist, directing it like a magic wand. "The entire myth of Perseus and Andromeda is in the sky. Look." He first pointed out a squiggly constellation. "That is Casseopeia. She was a queen and the mother of Andromeda—" He moved her arm to trace another constellation next to it. "—and proclaimed that they were both more beautiful than Aphrodite."
"Ah, that never ends well," Rin said.
"Indeed. Poseidon flooded the coast of their kingdom and sent the sea monster Cetus to terrorize it. Andromeda's father, King Cepheus, consulted an oracle on how to rid themselves of the beast. Cepheus was to sacrifice his daughter to it. So he chained Andromeda to a rock to be eaten by the sea monster."
"Oh, yes, I'm somewhat familiar with this myth. A hero came to save her, right?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Perseus. Here," he said, tracing the neighboring constellation with her finger. "He flew in on winged sandals, fell in love with Andromeda at first sight, and slew the monster. Then he took her for his wife."
"Maybe it's just our setting, but I'm sensing some parallels here."
"Are you?" he asked.
"I mean, I wasn't chained to a rock or anything…but Kouga did find me by a rock on the lake's edge and later tied me up." She turned to face Sesshoumaru, reaching her other hand across her body to caress his cheek. "And then my Perseus came flying in to save me. Although I can't say it was love at first sight for him, but…."
"But it was the moment he realized just how much his Andromeda meant to him," Sesshoumaru finished for her. He looked back toward the sky, and she followed his gaze, wondering what he was looking at. It was at that moment he deftly slipped his left hand into his pocket. "So only one part of the story remains to be told."
"And what's that?" Rin asked.
"The part where Perseus asks Andromeda to share the rest of his life with him."
Rin nudged his shoulder. "Silly. Andromeda has already consented to that."
"No, she hasn't."
Rin frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sesshoumaru finally turned to face her. "Rin, I forced you to bear my mark without your permission. While nothing will ever erase that tie, how we spend the rest of our lives I leave up to you." When he finally pulled his hand out of his pocket, it was with a ring. She gasped. "If you consent to marry this Sesshoumaru, I will make sure you never feel lonely or abandoned again. I will raise our pups alongside you. I will protect you from what harm and heartache I can. I will be your husband and your mate, and I will love you until the end of time. Will you give me the honor of calling you my wife?"
Hot tears streamed from Rin's eyes, and she nodded vigorously, afraid her voice wouldn't work. "Yes," she gasped out through a thick throat. "Yes, yes!"
He smiled then and slipped the ring onto her fourth finger of her left hand that still reached toward the sky. The diamond winked from within what appeared to be a flower—another star added to the constellations.
Sesshoumaru leaned over then and kissed her. She laced her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening their kiss, never wanting to part. But he did have to pull away to allow them to breathe, and when he did, Rin looked up at him in a daze. The moon cast a soft, glowing corona around his head. He looked like a dark angel, his hair glittering around them like a star shower.
"Make love to me, Sesshoumaru. Right here. Right where it all started," she murmured.
So he did. He was slow to divest them of their clothing, leaving kisses all along the skin he bared. She shivered not from the night air, which was pleasant, but from the searing trail his lips left upon her body.
Because of her girth, he spooned her from behind, pulling her leg atop his so that he had access to her center. He gently thrust into her in time with the lapping of the water on shore, running his fangs along her mark and sucking on it.
Her orgasm rolled over her like an earthquake—a gentle rumble that grew and grew until all at once it rocked her entire body, and in her aftershocks, as she clutched her mate—her chosen fiancé—between her legs, he erupted like a volcano set off from the shifting plates of her womb.
He held her for a few moments afterwards, staying seated within her and lazily running his nose and lips through her hair.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear, giving it a little nibble, and she was shocked not by the words but by the fact that he said them without any sort of prompting from her. She knew he was more prone to speaking after sex, but were these soft professions of love what she could look forward to all the days of her life?
She turned around, pulling him out of her (and she swore she heard a soft huff of regret from from him at that), and kissed his soft lips, hot and swollen from their playing along her shoulder. "I love you, and I always will, Sesshoumaru. Now and forever," she said, lacing their fingers together and staring at the ring on her finger.
Sesshoumaru froze.
Now and forever.
Why did that resonate so deeply with him?
Now and forever.
Forever. An eternity.
Towa.
His eyes widened.
Now and forever. In this moment and for eternity.
"I know what we will name our other daughter," he announced.
Rin's eyes widened at the sudden shift in topic, but then she smiled in excitement. "What is it? You sound so sure."
"Setsuna."
"Setsuna…." She rolled it around her tongue. "Towa and Setsuna. Setsuna and Towa…." Her eyes lit up. "Oh, I see! Yes, Sesshoumaru, it's perfect!" She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him to her. Though he welcomed the plump press of her breasts against his torso, he made sure to curve himself around her belly, not wanting to squash their now-named children.
"Now you will tell me why you chose Towa's name," he replied as she pulled away.
Rin bit her lip and glanced away from him. "Well…there were a couple reasons, honestly. I know I was still upset about you leaving, but at the same time…we had a bond. I felt our bond through your feelings," she said, placing a hand over her heart. "And I knew that bond would last forever. That's not to say I knew I would have eternity with you," she explained, smiling and tapping his nose, which caused him to blink in shock and her to laugh at his reaction, "but I did figure that our daughters would live fairly long lives. Perhaps not as long as yours, though I certainly hope so. But…it was a sign that the bond…the love we shared that day would last forever, even if it…well, even if it only felt like a moment!" She laughed again and sighed. "Yes, the more I think about it, the more I know their names are perfect."
He nodded, warmed by the knowledge that she had recalled him fondly enough months ago to want their daughter to be an eternal reminder of him.
Rin hummed happily and held up her hand in the moonlight to try to admire her ring. He wondered how well—or not—she could see it. The strong moonlight was enough for him to detect every facet and change in color, but she had as yet mentioned nothing of the design. Did she like it?
As if to answer his question, she asked, "Do you have your phone on you? I left mine at the resort."
He fished his phone out of his pants pocket and gave it to her. She clicked on the flashlight, and when she illuminated her hand, she gasped again. "It's a primrose!"
He nodded. "For a love I cannot live without." He gently plucked the ring from her finger so that she could read the inscription.
"'You are my sanctuary.' Oh, Sesshoumaru! Then I was right—that was the meaning of the Queen Anne's Lace you left me, wasn't it?" He nodded again. She turned the ring over in her hands, admiring the entwined bands of yellow and white gold leaves. "It's perfect, Sesshoumaru. It's like this whole ring was made for me."
"It was."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, do you mean it was custom-crafted?"
"Yes, by Hosenki—a demon jeweler and an old friend of my father's."
"A custom design? But then…how long have you been planning this? We only decided to come here a few days ago." When he didn't answer right away, she turned to look at him. "Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?"
He closed his eyes, resigned to tell her. "I purchased it months ago."
"Months? But…we only just found each other again last month."
"I originally went to see him about a design for Zero. I came away with that."
Rin's eyes widened, and she looked at the ring again, a flash of hurt in her eyes. "Then this ring was for her?"
"No," Sesshoumaru answered, lacing their fingers together and rubbing his thumb along the petals of the ring. "When Hosenki showed me some of his previous work, a floral design caught my eye. I could not help myself. The only woman on my mind as I designed this was you. I found a separate ring elsewhere for her."
"Are you telling me you bought what you thought would be a completely useless engagement ring just because?"
"Because I wanted another token of you. But it has found its true owner now."
Rin bit her lip, biting back a smile. "Sesshoumaru…before we get married, I think we need to have a serious discussion about your spending habits. Keep this up, and our girls will be spoiled rotten."
He kissed her hand, hiding a smile behind it. "They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Rin rolled her eyes. "Maybe. But I suppose I'll spend the next eternity trying."
"You already know how to be a wife, I see." But he did not mind in the least—not if it meant she would always be by his side. "I know it is your birthday, but I rather feel like I am the one who received the gift."
"Is it tomorrow already?" Rin's eyes widened, and she clicked on his phone screen again. It was just past one in the morning. "So it is." He watched her furrow her brows in thought and wondered if she was calculating when he might have proposed. He had waited until midnight for precisely this reason.
"Happy twenty-seventh birthday, Rin. I look forward to spending each one with you—now and forever."
AN: So ends Part Three: Lessons in Love—I hope you enjoyed it! We're in the final stretch now guys. Buckle up, because it's going to be a wild ride to the finish!