A/N: heads up this one kinda bummed me out to write, but it was a neccessary evil. ALSO FOR ALL INUYASHA FANS- if you're not already aware, INUYASHA IS GETTING A SEQUEL! It's about Sesshomaru's twin half-demon daughters, separated by time! They're reunited, and with the help of Inuyasha and Kagome's daughter, the three girls set out to recover the younger twin's memories of her older twin sister! They have names and character designs already and a little more backstory, too. So in honor of this information, some details may change of this story as we proceed. Nothing drastic, obviously. Either way, we have a mystery on our hands, folks!
Love and Clorox
-Sploosh
"Finally," Shippou whined, and stilled immediately at the scent wafting from the bedroom. "Did you-" have sex? His tails frayed, easily identifying his mother's scent in the air, "Is that-" my mother in there? He already knew the answer and his eyes bulged when he realized his tact was lacking. Sesshou did not take kindly to being questioned, ever. One look at his dour expression, and he knew he shouldn't continue the line of questioning, but he had to ask, "Are you-" mated? But the words never made it out of his mouth. With a sharp jab to his ribs, Daisuke had caught up to him and swiftly shut him up.
"We need you to come see something, M'lord." Daisuke could smell it too, but he knew better than to question his Lord. There were more important matters at hand.
Entering the Lady's rooms, Sesshou couldn't scent out the panther any longer. Whoever had taken to cleaning the place had done well, but it left him feeling uneasy. The smell of death should still linger.
"Lord Sesshomaru." Takeshi greeted them, stepping aside to expose the panther's corpse.
"I don't understand." Sesshou admitted. If the body was still present, then so should a scent.
"We went to inform his parents, only to discover Akira was never here." Daisuke informed, "Toran and her mate arrived alone, and when we questioned the whereabouts of their son, they FaceTimed the kid. He's in Europe for school."
"You saw?" Sesshou asked, his eyes scanning the corpse.
"We did." Shippou came forward, having shaken himself from his earlier shock. Whatever happened between his parents could be discussed at a later time. "I checked the body for charms, and found none. This isn't fox magic."
"What about Tanuki?" Sesshou pinched the bridge of his nose, his head pounding. Just after foxes, the raccoon dogs were the next leading illusionists for demon blending, but for the most part decided to become educators for private boarding schools meant for demon young.
"Doubtful." Shippou suggested, "I can recruit one in the building to double check if you'd like. I'm sure Daisuke can sniff one out here."
"No," he dismissed the idea immediately, "The less people involved the better." Eyes still scanning the body, Sesshou wondered, "How many people know about this?"
"Aside from us, your mother, Akira's parents, and Lady Genko." Takeshi took to the back wall, leaning against it. "We can inform Ami and Jiyu in the morning. They had too much to drink last night."
"Hn." Sesshou turned then, stalking his way out.
"Where are you off to, M'lord?" Daisuke's voice stayed stern and stoic, but his inquiry was more for the woman left alone in bed.
"To question Toran." His silver head never turned to address them, but he hesitated, "What time is it?"
"Four-thirty, M'lord." Daisuke's disposition didn't waver, but he knew something wasn't right with him.
"Shippou," The fox stood at attention, ready for orders. "Stay with Kagome." His nerves were fried, unable to conceal the discomfort over asking, but Seshou had read him well enough. "Outside of my bedroom." Shippou sighed as soon as Sesshou had left. He wasn't sure how to behave in front of him anymore and it irked him.
"Anyone else sense something off about the ice king?" Takeshi pushed himself off the wall, glancing between the two shooting him daggers. "What? Like I'm wrong."
Sesshou sat across from Toran in his office, properly dressed once more. He had a guard send a summon with an hours notice and a threat to detain if she refused to comply. Thankfully, she was present.
"Lord Sesshomaru," Toran's teal hair sat in the updo she wore it in from the night before, if not a little disheveled. However, like most elder demons housed in the Western Castle prior to the gala, she wore traditional clothing. "You wanted to see me?"
"This one is aware you and your mate were questioned earlier about the whereabouts of your son, Akira." Sesshou explained, "Tell me, where is he now?"
"The kit already interrogated me, Lord Sesshomaru." She was annoyed at the accusation, but he didn't care. Eyes turning to slits, he waited in silence for her to continue. "Akira goes to Oxford. He was unable to attend, despite your request for every youngest son to attend, because he has finals soon."
"Which son accompanied you here?" His head was pounding now, and he tried to ignore it.
"None. My mate and I came alone. Our daughter, as you know, is here as our representative year round." Toran leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Her casual behavior was either a poker face she displayed or she was genuinely unconcerned with her family being accused of rape and attempted murder.
"What about nephews?" Sesshou inquired, recalling their old dispute. He had resurrected her siblings. Perhaps their families did not agree with his and Toran's decision to bury the hatchet.
"None in attendance." Toran yawned, "They're mated and raising families of their own."
"Your son has seventy-two hours to appear before me, or face detainment." Sesshou stood, and his vision blurred. Holding the edge of the desk, he tried to appear as if he was standing over Toran.
"Lord Sesshomaru, he has finals! You cannot disrupt his studies over false allegations. Clearly my son has nothing to do with the Shikon Priestess!" The panther demoness stood to argue back, raising her voice. Sesshou winced at the volume and disguised it with a grimace. Her eyes widened when she noticed his weakness. "Is there something wrong?" Her tone changed to concern. They may not be on the same side of an argument, but he was still her Lord, and he had revived her family. She grew to be loyal to him over the years.
"Your son." Sesshou bit out. His head was throbbing and he was beginning to sweat. Turning his eyes to her once more, he added, "Seventy-two hours, Toran." And with that, he fled.
Sesshou stormed through the halls of his home, avoiding all contact with others as he went, in hope of finding solace in an empty room that would go unperturbed. With so many guests in the castle, it was hard to decide where to flee.
Looking up once he arrived back at his personal family quarters, he paused. He couldn't very well go back to the Lord or Lady's rooms. By scent alone he could pick up that Shippou was inside the Lady's rooms, likely sitting at the connecting door that conjoined his rooms to Kagome's.
He caved, sulking down the hall in a sweat, until he arrived at his mother's door. Her scent was faint and Sesshou had a feeling she had taken to staying up with the drunks in the ballroom. It was nearly seven in the morning, but he knew from experience that there were likely still stragglers partying away. His mother never left a gathering of guests alone. It was one of the ways she often came to know things in rumor mills.
Sesshou entered her room and sat himself against the wall. He just needed to rest, he was sure. Just a few hours and he would return to normal. This was merely from alcohol consumption, he reminded himself, you don't often drink. With that bit of reassurance, he allowed himself to doze off.
Inukimi departed from the last group of demons that slowly made their way from the ballroom. They were old friends of her mate from a millennia ago, and she often took to staying up with them at the gala until they had their fill of alcohol and old stories. Plus, she was familiar in her time spent as a ruler, that a coup could be held from within, and oftentimes, led by drunks. She refused to have her son's mating disrupted by disloyal followers.
She smiled to herself, hopeful for grandchildren. Half demon or not, she wanted their reign to continue and thrive. They had a reputation to uphold and an entire demon population to protect.
Coming to her room, Inukimi sniffed before entering. What was her son doing in her room and not his own? She burst through the door, eyes immediately finding her son slumped over on the far right wall. The noise she caused upon entry roused him, but he was weak.
"My son, what are you doing?" She crouched in her ballgown, pushing his short silver hair away from his eyes. His skin was hot, and his face flushed.
"Mother," Sesshou didn't shy away from her touch, "I don't understand." He admitted to her. He was unwell, but the cause was unknown to him.
"Sesshomaru," Inukimi pulled him to his feet, bearing his weight over her shoulders, "You were supposed to stay with Kagome."
"She is sleeping." He explained, drooping his head to avoid the dizziness that overtook him upon moving.
"You didn't mate her, did you?" Her worry for his well being turned to concern for their mating. He smelled like sickness, mostly, but underneath the sweat and anxiety, she could smell the priestess on his skin.
"I did not mean to," Inukimi sat her son on the edge of her bed, sitting him upright. Sesshou steadied himself, his eyes finally searching his mother for any validation of concern, "We rutted."
"You fool," His mother scolded, her glare fierce, "You were supposed to mate her."
"Supposed to, Mother?" Sesshou stood, willing himself to regain control of his body. He stood taller than her, and despite their familial ties as mother and son, they often disagreed on many topics. Rin, Inuyasha, mating, procreating, and now Kagome. Inukimi turned her back on him, disregarding his irritation. "What did you do to this Sesshomaru?"
"It was only a little mating wine." She waved her hand back like it was nothing. Inspecting her fingernails, she attempted to display a more distant and uncaring disposition.
"You drugged us." Sesshou spoke through his teeth. Of course she did. Of course she would. His mother wanted him to have pups so badly, she absolutely would drug him into mating.
Mating wine, he knew, was often used for arranged matings from years ago. His parents had used it to consummate their mating and conceive him, and now…
No.
Sesshou wavered on his feet, choosing to get as far away from his mother as possible. His anger burned away whatever illness had overcome him. It was the wine that had weakened him; his will, the wine that made him rut with the woman he most cherished, and it was the wine that had drugged her too. She was going to be heartbroken. He had taken her, and now she was marked by his seed and scent.
He pushed past his mother, escaping her rooms and his quarters. He couldn't face Kagome, knowing what he'd done to her.
Kagome groaned, half asleep. Her mind was still caught in a dream, but her body felt like it was on a boat, swaying heavily in the tides.
"Kagome," It was that voice again, "When you go back, you have to stay." It was clearer now, but distant, and colder, "Do not stay here." He demanded.
"What do you mean?" She asked, but her voice wouldn't reach him.
"Trust me," He pleaded with her, and her heart ached at his tone, "You have to stay there, Kagome."
"Why are you telling me this?" She wanted to reach him, but her vision wouldn't form shapes. She could see greenery and hear chirping in the distance. "What happens?"
"We say goodbye." He said, "For now."
"And everyone else?" She asked, curious this time.
"I will take care of everything." He made an oath to her, and that solidified her decision, "Promise me you'll go and stay."
"Okay." She agreed, but her heart still ached.
Kagome's stomach turned. Curling into a ball on her side, the dream faded, bringing her closer to wakefulness, but not quite there yet.
"Kagome," She heard her name, spoken like a prayer, "Thank you." Her nausea subsided, but the swaying did not. Sesshou was on top of her, his lips brushing hers in the sweetest kiss. Then her mind went blank, and the visual melted, leaving her in darkness, but she could still feel him with her. "Kagome, I…" he trailed off, slowly, "am yours."
"Mama?" Shippou hated to do it, but he poked his head through the door from her room into Sesshou's. "Are you alright?" He was alerted to her wakefulness by her heart rhythm changing pace, and he worried over her having nightmares. She had confided once over the phone that she was prone to having frightening memories plague her in her sleep.
"Mm," Kagome turned over again, making herself open her eyes. "Shippou?" She knew he was nearby, somewhere. Holding the sheet to her chest, she sat up.
"Do you need me at all?" He spoke again, and she had a funny feeling he wouldn't enter the room.
"No," She rubbed her temples, trying to soothe the headache that gnawed at her brain. "I'm alright."
"I'll be here if you need something." He called back to his mother, nervously shutting the door. Kagome nodded in response, realizing too late he couldn't see her.
Nodding caused her brain to pulse, and she realized just how sore she was all over. Her neck ached and so did, well…
Kagome flushed, pulling back the sheets to find herself sticky and wet between the legs. Her thighs were slick with discharge from having unprotected sex. She tried to gulp down the lump in her throat and failed horribly. Her mother was going to kill her.
Forcing herself to stand and clean up, her vision spun with the change in position. Was this a hangover? She thought, steadying herself against the wall. She could remember the night well, but it felt disconnected, like she wasn't part of it. Is this what being drunk is like? Her headache pounded against her temples.
Sliding down the wall, Kagome let herself slump to the ground, holding onto her knees. She could barely move, she was so dizzy.
Sensing her distress, Shippou knocked.
"Mama," He called for her, "Genko is coming to help you. She's on her way."
Good, she thought, a woman. She was far too embarrassed to have Shippou come help her. He would be disappointed in her. Having sex so casually, and recklessly, without even being engaged.
Sesshou eventually found a safe spot to sleep off the remainder of the drug, and woke to find himself in his car down in the parking garage. Someone's car alarm was going off on another level, and while it was faint, it still roused him to wakefulness.
This time his headache was minuscule in comparison to the first, and his fever was gone. The poison in his blood must have burned off the remnants of the drug. Exiting the vehicle, he made his way back inside.
He knew what he had to do.
Kagome sat in the hot spring with Genko, allowing herself to wallow in her own self pity. The dark vixen beside her allowed her the silence to do so, even though internally she was silently fuming over Sesshou up and disappearing before Kagome had woken up.
"Don't worry, Kagome," Genko tried to give a reassuring smile, "He's going to come back when he wants to be seen. If anything, he's probably flipping out over the mark on your neck."
"Is it that bad?" Kagome blushed, clapping her hand over the bruise on her throat. What felt like the world's biggest hickey was in the crook of her neck and collarbone.
"To us, it's cute." The vixen reassured, "Like when two betrothed fall in love and can't keep their hands off each before their mating ceremony."
"To humans it's gross and disrespectful." She pouted. "Plus, it hurts."
"He did sort of bite you." Genko got closer, pulling the younger girl's hand away to look at the mark. "It looks like he really held back. Hell, if he lost control you would've been mated."
"Mated?" Kagome stammered, sinking in the water more. "You're kidding, right?"
"No, I'm not." Genko relaxed back into the stone bench. After a pregnant pause, she added, "Do you love him?" Kagome only flinched in response. "You don't have to put up a front, you know. We all know you care for him, as he cares for you. He would die for you, Kagome."
"Everything just happened so fast." Kagome pulled her knees to her chest, "It's not like we're dating. It just happened."
"I know." Genko could only nod, unsure of how this could have happened. If Sesshomaru decided to rut her, there's no way he would have just left her unmated, taken off, and not been obscenely obnoxious about making sure everyone knew she was his mate. He loved her. She was sure of it.
Sesshou made his way back to his room, ignoring his mother's door entirely and entered the fresh room. Someone had taken to cleaning it, but it didn't change the scent in the air. He couldn't deny that it was pleasing to smell their scents mingled together with sex. Eyes shooting to the bedroom door, he bet the scent was heavier there.
Genko, Kagome, and Ami were seated at a low tea table, all dressed in casual clothing in the front room. His eyes moved back to Kagome, and he felt shame and longing wash over himself.
"May we have the room?" Sesshou's gaze never left hers, even as he addressed the two vixens.
They only nodded before retreating into the hallway. Once the door was closed behind them again, he approached the priestess. Her eyes shot down to her lap as she fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
Sitting himself beside her, Sesshou reached for the timid girl and pulled her to his chest.
"I am sorry." His voice was thick with remorse. Kagome was shocked, sitting still. His voice carried through his chest and rumbled against her ear. "There is something I have to tell you." Kagome pulled away from his embrace, eyes wide and watery. She was preparing herself for the worst.
"My mother drugged us." Sesshou admitted, his expression forlorn. "The wine was tampered with a solution used to make arranged matings more comfortable."
"The wine..?" She asked, thinking back to the bottle. It tasted different than the other one from the party, but she thought nothing of it. Neither of them knew.
"I regret drinking the vile substance." The pads of his thumbs found her cheeks, brushing away stray tears. "I never meant to mark you in such a vulgar way."
"So it wasn't real?" Her voice was barely a whisper, turning her eyes downward to avoid his.
"The design of the drug is to encourage both parties of an arranged mating to desire one another so fiercely, they cannot control themselves, despite differences or lack of attraction." Sesshou explained, "It hasn't been used in a long time, as far as I'm aware."
That wasn't an answer. They both felt it, but neither pushed to call it. Kagome thought back to their celebration at the Sakai temple. Was it fake then too?
"Kagome," He brought her attention back to him, lifting her chin with his index finger and thumb, "I have a favor to ask you." Blinking back tears, she nodded in his grasp. "You have to stay at the Sakai temple with Jiyu and Takeshi."
"What for?"
"Whoever aimed to hurt you last night, it might not be Akira. Someone might have framed him." Sesshou pulled her closer, pressing his lips to her forehead, "I must find them and kill them." He spoke into her soft skin, kissing her forehead gently, "You'll be safe there, at the temple."
"Okay."