Five days later, Sesshomaru sat in the throne room, Inuyasha at his side, standing with her hand nervously on Tetsaiga.
It was a sunny day- rays of light filtered through the east-facing windows and created pretty pools of warmth all over the audience. As usual, the throne room was filled with all manner of different yokai- mostly sheep and dog, but plenty of others as well. Many yokai called the palace home.
Sesshomaru watched until the doors closed. Many of the Zodiac representatives were here as well… not that he minded. He had not given away the purpose of the gathering but was pleased to see most had attended out of sheer curiosity.
As with any large crowd it was fairly noisy- talking, shuffling, adjusting of papers and bags.
A few yokai closer to the front noted Inuyasha's change in gender. She merely snarled at their interest, her nose wrinkling up with distaste. She was not about to be answering any questions about that.
"Silence."
Sesshomaru murmured, his voice scarcely above a whisper and still raspy from Youshi's training. It was taking his throat longer to heal than he thought.
Though he hadn't given an order the room went from noisy to relative silence in a matter of seconds. Most yokai waited with rapt attention- especially the common yokai, who were always eager to hear from Sesshomaru. They liked him as a ruler far better than Inukimi.
"I have called you here to inform the citizens of this Palace of an important development. It has come to my attention that within the next three moon cycles, the Palace is going to be attacked by a mix of cat and Dragon forces." Several gasps were heard from the crowd.
"They are not coming to attack the citizens of the Palace- they are coming for me, and my family. Therefore, I think it is only fair to offer those here an alternative, should the battle go awry. I would highly encourage the elderly, women, and children to leave for the accommodations I have arranged in the pig and sheep tribes. You will be well-looked after until this conflict passes. Those who wish to stay, understand that you will be responsible for your own should the barrier and walls be breached. Though I will be honored by those who choose to stay and fight beside us, I understand it is even more honorable to choose a path that will ensure your family's safety." Sesshomaru shifted slightly on the seat: Inuyasha's mark was throbbing on his neck. The hanyou's nervousness and anger transferring to him hotter than ever. Very annoying.
"I will now answer questions."
Hands shot up almost immediately.
"My Lord?"
It was a sheep yokai- a ram. His long grey horns curled gracefully around his ears as he dipped his head to Sesshomaru and went into a bit of a bow. The Foo-Dog acknowledged this with a slight incline of his own head.
"I wanted to thank you for giving us this choice. And… while I'll probably send my wife and child away, I'd like to stay and fight. Would it be possible for us to start setting up trainings every evening with the guards? I want to be as ready as I can."
This was met with murmurs of agreement, and Sesshomaru was pleasantly surprised. " Very well. I will arrange a schedule and post it outside the facilities by the end of today."
Sesshomaru spent a good-half hour answering to the best of his ability. Of course, telling them that Toshi was sight-blessed was out of the question, so he had to avoid certain answers involving how he knew the information was correct. Several times he was forced to send calming vibes to Inuyasha, who was wound tighter than anything and absolutely detested crowds. She seemed to calm almost immediately and he was relieved- now that she was receiving more of his emotions, perhaps it'd be easier to calm her than before.
Of course, she also looked quite confused, and glanced around the room as if expecting to see an answer. When really the answer was pasted on her own skin.
And his.
He hadn't told her about the mark yet. There was no need to just yet… and besides, he wasn't quite ready for whatever reaction she would have.
Inuyasha.
The hanyou jerked slightly. Hell! That had scared the crap out of her!
And… since when was Sesshomaru's voice so clear in her own head? It was as if he was speaking right into her ear. Not just a whisper, like before.
Her ears swiveled back on her head a bit in irritation. Stupid Sesshomaru using the damn mark to communicate. After she'd expressed her distaste for it. However, even Inyasha had to admit it was extremely useful for communicating something private.
When they start evacuating, I want to monitor their progress until they reach the border.
Inuyasha tilted her head for a minute, then suddenly asked-
You don't think they'd go so far as to go after evacuees, do you?
I simply with to ensure the safety of those I can. Would you like to accompany me?
Psh. Damn near anything that gets me outta these walls I'll agree to.
The hanyou huffed, crossing her arms a bit.
Afterwards when they were walking back to their home, Inuyasha mentioned casually, " Hey, is your neck okay? You were rubbing it during your little speech." Her hand reached out for him in concern.
She wasn't about to mention that her admiration for Sesshomaru had grown slightly. She hated that it was so, but there was not much she could do to fight it anymore. And a part of her was getting tired of trying. After all, she'd in some ways always admired Sesshomaru, though it had been tinged by anger and envy. Seeing the way he interacted with everyone at the Palace, giving them a choice to leave rather than accept the inevitable… He was a good ruler. Like, a really good one. Cold perhaps and calculating yes- but if things went to hell in a handbasket…
Why, he could have just saved hundreds, if not a few thousand lives.
He took her hand and gently returned it to her side, saying flatly, " I am fine. Just sore from overexertion. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be off to your own?"
She blinked in surprise. "Sesshomaru?" Though he appeared perfectly calm, his eyes were that alarming combination of red and blue that warned others to stay away. He felt painful nudges from his yokai, trying to surface, trying to change his words so he could take his mate back with him to their nest and-
Oh dear.
He shook his head until he felt that urge die down and opened his eyes once more. A calm yellow. " Go on, then. I will be expecting you for dinner."
And to her surprise, he took his leave of her.
One home, he flopped out on his bed clothes and all, and gave a low miserable groan.
Their yokai energies were bouncing off of each other in the worst way. It had only been five days but he'd never been so sexually frustrated in his life- well… save for when he was in heat in that awful woman's body.
It was mostly her fault, too. Though he could tell Inuyasha was doing her best to hide it, she'd been having more of those explicit dreams involving him. And now that their connection was closer, he'd occasionally get images along with those rushes of feelings that somehow made everything worse.
Problem was- he wasn't exactly sure how to have the talk with Inuyasha. It needed to happen soon before their yokai made the decision for them but…
What would he say?
How would he explain yokai mating to the hanyou? How, just before intercourse, it was normal for potential mates to initiate fighting, to make sure their potential mate-to-be was strong and healthy?
How, since it was the first time Inuyasha's yokai had marked another, she'd probably be aggressive as hell to ensure Sesshomaru was worthy of her?
It wasn't exactly an easy conversation to have.
Inukezi's light knock invaded his thoughts. He sighed and muttered, facedown, " Inukezi. Let me wallow in misery just a tad longer."
He heard a soft huff from Inuyasha's son, " Jeez. You can be just as dramatic as my old man. All right, I'll be back later."
I should pull her aside after dinner.
He thought. That'd be a decent enough time- the pups would be off to bed, and certainly out of earshot.
Maybe starting with a little training on how to block each other out wouldn't be a bad idea either. Sesshomaru rose to his feet, grabbing a whale bone shell comb off of the desk and grooming himself for a little while to calm down before heading back outside. No doubt he was probably late to something, or needed somewhere, as was often the case.
As he left he traced the mark on his neck. The warmth of his new mate was different than Diaozuan's to be sure; far more erratic. But calming in its own way.
Not that he ever wanted to give Inuyasha credit, but he was the strongest hanyou Sesshomaru had ever encountered in his many years of life. So perhaps this arrangement wouldn't be too terrible.
Still. No need to tell Inuyasha. Not yet.
He was not looking forward to her reaction, not at all.
He was rather taken aback by the whole thing- he could only imagine her reaction would be his, tenfold. It'd taken quite some convincing to lean the mark more in the direction of a familial mark of protection. But now that it was between both of them, the meaning behind the mark would certainly not escape the hanyou's grasp.
He'd like to say time was on their side, but that was not at all the case.
She would understand that by Daiyokai standards they were… married. And that though it had been her yokai who placed the mark, that fact was irrelevant.
Sesshomaru ran his claws through his hair. His beautiful swath of silvery-mercury hair shone like a beacon in the light as he passed under the sun before disappearing into the Palace.
And he wondered if there could possibly be anything more added to his plate.
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"Inukezi, pass the salt."
Inukezi lifted the tiny container of salt, passing it to Sesshomaru who was caught a little off guard. Inuyasha sat up, growling lowly, " Why you little-"
"You didn't say to who." Inukezi pointed out with a wicked grin. Rin, across the table, giggled behind her hand, which gave Inukezi a slight flush of victory.
Inuyasha hissed, "Obviously I meant to me, you – don't make me come over there. Or I swear to God-"
"Inuyasha. Catch. " Sesshomaru said, his tone indicating a slight warning, flicking the salt in her direction. She caught it deftly in her right hand.
"Inukezi. You know better." He added, his voice just a bit gentler for Inuyasha's male-pup. The boy was a quarter demon; the only traits that were demon were his claw-tipped hands, the golden-green of his eyes, and the slightly longer canines. His ego wilted a bit under Sesshomaru's stare and he muttered a soft, " Sorry, Sesshomaru." Going back to his food.
Sesshomaru's pups were watching the exchange as well, and Ame and Rin leaned close to each other, whispering something and giggling.
Their assortment of food was quite interesting: Inukezi, Rin, and Inuyasha's plates were human food, while Sesshomaru and the rest of the pups were all meat. Cooked, though near raw- bleeding quite a bit when cut.
The Daiyokai cut a slice of the almost-raw meat and set it gently on Inuyasha's plate. When he hanyou made a face, he huffed, " Inuyasha. It's essential for your diet. You're half-demon after all." She picked at it moodily, but soon ate after a very subtle growl from the other Foo-Dog.
Sesshomaru occasionally corrected the pups on etiquette, how to hold their utensils and so forth. But most of them were actually pretty adept which was a relief- except of course, for Inuyasha herself.
" Dad, I nearly teleported like fifteen feet today during one of our games! It was awesome!" Katsu said proudly, puffing out his little chest and emphasizing with a speared bit of meat. Katsu and the others often called Sesshomaru 'dad' or 'Sess', while Inuyasha was more recently 'Inu', 'Yasha', or when they were sassy 'mother'. Katsu seemed more like Inuyasha every day- his cheek stripes were darkening up the older he got into that mature deep blue. Golden orbs looked up at Sesshomaru, and he reached down, running a hand gently down his son's silver hair in approval.
"Excellent. It was a shame I was unable to witness it."
Ame piped up, " A lot of the kids in my classes were talking about leaving in the next few days. Are they leaving because there's gonna be some kind of attack on the Palace soon?"
Sesshomaru nodded. He had informed the pups earlier about the attack, and wasn't surprised that the news was spreading.
" I wanted to give them a choice to leave if they so desired."
She murmured thoughtfully, " Wouldn't it be easier for us to leave, if they're coming after us?" And Sesshomaru said softly, " Yes, little one. But it would be dishonorable to leave, because it means we cannot defend our own territory or family. Inuyasha, Diaozuan and I will keep you pups from harm."
She seemed confused by the answer, and sat chewing thoughtfully, kicking her feet. Inuyasha watched over her with some pride. Unlike Katsu, Ame was starting to look a bit more like Kagome – and think like her too. Perhaps someday, Inuyasha would tell her the truth about her real mother. But not yet.
"Can we start training more, just in case anybody slips through the barrier? I wanna kick some butt!" Katsu huffed, raising the meat again with his chopstick. Toshi raised his own, the crescent mark on his forehead shining.
"Me too! If we can't go outside the wall, then the least we can do is get as strong as we can, just in case stuff goes wrong." The fox it murmured, his purple eyes glancing over at Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Diaozuan's eyes. Now more than ever, Sesshomaru was glad they'd decided to keep the fox pup within the walls. The two yokai looked at each other before Sesshomaru said, " Well. Your classes will certainly be smaller, if not entirely cancelled, so we will have to find a way to pass the time I suppose."
"Yeah! Battle to the death!" The two touched their food together before sticking it into their mouths. Ame rolled her eyes, and Rin glanced over at Inukezi. " Are you going to join them?"
Inukezi nodded, his eyes glowing softly green in the dying sunlight. " I wanna be able to protect myself, the pups... And you."
Quite the blush snuck up onto Rin's cheeks, and she bowed, excusing herself from the table.
Inuyasha sat in shock, whispering, " Inukezi, what the heck was-" but was promptly stopped by a rather withering glare from Sesshomaru.
"May I be excused?"
Sesshomaru dismissed him, and Inyasha ran off after Inukezi. The Daiyokai rolled his eyes, and Toshi asked softly, " What the heck was that all about?"
" Inukezi and Rin are- courting. And for some reason, that surprised Inuyasha." Sesshomaru explained in an almost bored tone, finishing his own food and wrapping his tail over his shoulder, starting to groom the tip while the pups finished eating.
"What? But- why is she surprised? Haven't they been doing that for like, a while now?"The fox asked, making a disgusted face when Katsu suddenly shoveled the rest of his plate into his mouth.
Sesshomaru blinked, sighed when the pup struggled to swallow, and pressed his throat gently with one claw.
Katsu swallowed in relief, taking a few long grateful breaths. " My life flashed before my eyes." He whispered. Toshi and Sesshomaru shared a look of exasperation.
"That is the second time this week, Katsu. Must I cut your food for you, as if you were a yearling?" Sesshomaru murmured, raising a slender brow. Katsu shook his head and dropped his chin a little, " N-no, sorry." Before looking back up and murmuring, " Yeah, I mean, c'mon. Even I noticed it."
Sesshomaru shrugged smoothly. "Perhaps Inuyasha wished to not notice it." And they discussed a few more things that had happened during the day before he dismissed them all. The servants cleaned the plates and Sesshomaru waited for some time in his own quarters for Inuyasha. But when it became apparent Inuyasha had forgotten about their meeting, he went on a search for the hanyou.
It was easy enough to find Inuyasha when she was busy sulking.
She was resting cross-legged on the back porch.
Somehow she balanced herself perfectly on the railing, her sword's handle right next to her chin as she sat. One foot tapping angrily against the red pained wood. Obviously still a little riled about something.
Her hair waved gently in the wind and he saw her ears tilt in his direction when he closed the porch door.
"Inuyasha. We were supposed to meet."
She jerked a bit and turned around, her feet lacing into the railing. "Oh. Right. Sorry about that. Uh. What did you even wanta meet about, anyways?" She asked, itching the back of one of her ears with her claws.
"Before we come to that… you have talked to Inukezi have you not?"
Inuyasha eyed him warily.
" Talked to him about what?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, just a little. " About intercourse." Inuyasha nearly fell off the railing.
"WHAT!- I – Of course I have! I mean, I was a little vague in some areas, but-"
"That won't do. He's coming of age, Inuyasha."
The hanyou pointed a finger. "W- well what about you, eh? You should talk to Rin about-"
" I spoke with her after her first blood cycle. She is well-informed." Sesshomaru stated dryly, picking at his claws. It hadn't been the most pleasant conversation, but she seemed more comfortable talking to the Daiyokai about it than her human caretakers, so he hadn't minded too much.
"Look, I'll talk to him, all right? Can we just drop it?"
Sesshomaru nodded, and the hanyou gave a relieved sigh before saying, "Soooo? The other thing? What was it?"
Unfortunate. That would've been a great segway into what we actually need to discuss.
"You want to learn how to stifle our connection when needed, correct?"
She sat up a bit at that, getting to her feet and slipping Tetsaiga back onto her hip. "Heck yes, I do. So, what's the big secret?"
Sesshomaru blinked, " It is hardly a secret. You use the power of your mind to imagine the strongest barrier you can think of. No cracks, no way to get in. Then you practice opening and closing that barrier. Depending on the power of your mind you should catch on to it fairly easily."
She stood a little straighter. "That doesn't sound so bad. So uh… Okay. Hit me." She ordered, crouching a little and making motions with her hands, as if beckoning him closer.
"Pardon?"
Inuyasha huffed, " You know. Throw some emotions at me. Or thoughts or something. And I'll try to block em."
"Ah. All right." Sesshomaru leaned against the porch door and thought for a moment.
Suddenly, Inuyasha felt anger lacing through her, bleeding out from the crest mark on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, her hands balling into fists as she concentrated.
He felt her blocking and pushed, just a little harder. She stumbled and gripped the railing, barking out, "Hey! Hey, now, that's not fair! That was waaay to much…" and Sesshomaru just sighed.
"Inuyasha, you have done far worse to me multiple times. I struggle to block you out, and I've been practicing this with Diaozuan for years. Your emotions are extremely powerful. This is negligible."
She blinked in surprise.
"A… you're serious."
He nodded, and she looked rather guilty, and nervous at the same time. How much of her emotions had he been feeling, exactly?
" I'm … I didn't know." He waved a hand dismissively.
"Let us continue."
She got better, slowly. By the time the sun was setting she had stifled his emotions well, though she seemed unable to block any of his thoughts. That was hardly surprising considering their bond, so he didn't press the issue too much.
And when it was Sesshomaru's turn, he was displeased to discover that sealing their bond had made things harder, if that was even possible. Perhaps because they hadn't 'officially' sealed it, his yokai was teasing him on purpose to finish the act. Not entirely impossible, given its previous track record.
Inuyasha couldn't tell though, so at least he was granted that one mercy.
The Daiyokai got suddenly quiet. His bangs over his eyes and one clawed hand gripping the porch door, trembling slightly.
"Sesshomaru?"
The hanyou walked over to the other very quietly, crouching in front of him in order to catch his eyes. There was nothing for some time. But suddenly, Sesshomaru's mouth opened in one corner.
And Inuyasha saw the way his fangs were longer: much longer. The tips of the canines overlapping the bottom gums. The slight jaggedness to those normally perfect marks on his cheeks.
"Oh shi-" She jumped backwards, but her collar was snagged by a clawed hand. In one smooth movement Sesshomaru slammed the hanyou down onto her back and was atop her, both hands trapped in one of his arms. His iris's a glorious sapphire and his sclera blood red.
In a panic, she tried to jerk out of his grip- this only caused him to shift his weight slightly, to press down harder in all the right areas. Inuyasha yelped in pain, panting, heart racing. Oh fuck- he was sniffing her, sniffing a line up her neck like a damn dog- why?
Had she done something wrong? Fuck, his yokai was terrifying. So much so, that she was going to stay limp rather than try to fight him. At least until Sesshomaru was back at the wheel.
" Cruel little thing, aren't you?" A voice that was Sesshomaru and yet… not, emerged. Those terrifying eyes meeting his own with a glance of- what was it? Anger? Irritation?
Sesshomaru's yokai rarely spoke- it was an instinctual, occasionally violent thing, stunted from years of being suppressed by the Great Lord of the West.
And Inuyasha could not have been more confused by his words. "Cruel? I'm not-"
"Placing your mark on us, giving us those lovely dreams, yet suppressing our yokai mate when we need her the most. Cruel hanyou. Let me speak with her- not you. Let her free, and free yourself. Indecisive tease." Sesshomaru's yokai whispered, nuzzling a line up that tan neck, one clawed hand pressing down on the crescent moon on Inuyasha's neck.
For a moment, Inuyasha's eye colors flickered red and blue before she shoved her instincts down and snarled, "No. No! Sesshomaru!" calling out desperately for the Daiyokai she knew how to deal with. The Daiyokai she knew, not this… whatever this man was. She kicked at him, and was even more terrified when he dropped down atop her, pinning her with his body as well.
He's so heavy! So strong! God damn it!
He sat up on his elbows, and his teeth went to her ear, his hot breath fanning in the delicate fur as he snarled, " You are mine, hanyou. And you will give me the gift only that females can give. I –" He seemed to tense, suddenly. And then, Sesshomaru was back. His golden eyes blinking in confusion, then concern when he saw Inuyasha's face and her trembling underneath him.
Hesitantly, he set a hand on her cheek. She pressed it to her face in self-comfort.
"What happened. What did he say." The Daiyokai murmured, concerned for his mate. This was the first time she'd actually talked to his yokai… Actually, it was the first time his yokai had talked to anyone besides himself in many years.
Inuyasha's face reddened. Half of what the yokai had said she didn't much care to repeat.
And what the hell did he mean by 'placing your mark'? Inuyasha thought with a huff. "He's just mad because I've been repressing my yokai. But it's a damn good thing I do, because she's been acting like such a slu-" Inuyasha paused. " She's been acting strange."
And how.
Sesshomaru thought sarcastically. He sat up and offered Inuyasha a hand. She took it, and sat cross-legged next to the Daiyokai. Still slightly shaken.
"You're yokai's not… very friendly."
She detected a hint of amusement on Sesshomaru's end. " And you expected him to be? This is me we're talking about, Inuyasha."
Indecisive tease. Cruel hanyou.
Give us the gift that only females can give.
Inuyasha shuddered with mixed emotions and Sesshomaru murmured, "What else did he say?"
"Oh you know. Just stuff about 'giving us the gift only females can give' or something. Nothing important." She did her best to appear like she wasn't affected at all. Needless to say, the Daiyokai didn't fall for her farce.
" I am sorry he said those things to you, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru murmured.
However. He couldn't reassure her that it would never happen, either.
So instead leaned over, slipping an arm around her waist and tucking his head to the back of her neck wordlessly. She kept very still for some time before finally accepting the affection, and leaning into him. Still trembling just slightly.
And he held her until the shaking stopped.
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For the next week, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha kept a close eye on the larger droves leaving the Palace. There to make sure that the women and children of the Palace made it safely to the borders of the pig and sheep tribes. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha did not bother to hide their presence: indeed, the citizens seemed grateful.
Once, when Sesshomaru was resting in one of the taller trees, a snake yokai child waved at him. Well… more like a nest- once one noticed, the other eleven waved as well. Snakes were known to be prolific. It was a shame they'd lost the lottery rotation in their lands… their Daiyokai had been wiped out in one clean sweep.
"Hey, look, it's Lord Sesshomaru!"
He was quickly shushed by his mother, who shot the Daiyokai an apologetic glance. They were cute little things- corn snakes it looked like. Their scales were many different shades of orange, cinnamon, and the occasional red.
Sesshomaru blinked in surprise and after a moment, hesitantly waved a clawed hand.
The snake children high-fived and squealed with excitement before the line moved on, and Sesshomaru's tail wrapped around the branch he was sitting on in mild amusement.
Luckily, there seemed to be no attempts to impede their travels. And it made Sesshomaru even more certain that the dragon was disinterested in the average citizens… no. He cared only for the destruction of the Foo-Dogs themselves.
Well.
If it was a fight he wanted, Sesshomaru would certainly deliver.
For most of the morning, Sesshomaru parted from Inuyasha's side to go check on the other citizens heading in the opposite direction. Inuyasha's scent was well-covered by all the other demons so she'd be all right during that time.
As he'd thought, they seemed to be having no trouble either. During mid-afternoon Sesshomaru tracked her up to one of the outcroppings of a low mountain that one of the territories skirted. She was sitting on a lip, leaning over and keeping an eye out for danger.
Sesshomaru skirted up the side deftly and landed a few feet from her. He chucked a small item in her direction.
She caught it without looking, and gave the line of people one last glance before brining the object to her nose and sniffing a few times.
Looking over at Sesshomaru in surprise before opening the waxy cloth. A few slices of bread, some cheese, and two sweet buns.
" You require more food than I do."
"Aww, you packed me a lunch. Getting soft, aren't we?" Inuyasha teased, giving the Daiyokai a grin before slicing off a thin strip of cheese with a claw.
"Silence." Sesshomaru snarled, and Inuyasha saw his tail bristle slightly. "It was the pup's idea. And they originally only packed you about thirty sweet rolls. I had to modify it."
"Sure, sure." Inuyasha waved a hand dismissively and kicked her clawed feet over the lip of the rock outcropping. Letting them dangle in the midafternoon breeze.
"They do not require our assistance after today. The dragons would have come after them by now, if they meant to harm them. They are only after us." Sesshomaru murmured and the hanyou gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah… yeah, I know."
They both leaned back against the rock face. The sun was warm, and the rocky outcropping offered a nice view towards the tribe's territory. Though dotted by a few small yokai villages, there was a view of a larger town, full of black-and white buildings with curved gutters and cobbled roads. Off in the distance, a golden river snaked down from the blue mountains, slithering down the center of the valley in a glimmering golden band.
Inuyasha looked out at the view and her heart softened slightly. The calm before the storm. The view was beautiful and peaceful and serene. Her ears pricked forward and then back, letting the fur be gently smoothed by the warm wind.
"You're keeping something from me again." The hanyou muttered, giving a low glance at the Daiyokai. Sesshomaru blinked in surprise. Her intuition was a little more finely tuned in this female form… and that made him a tad uncomfortable. His body wriggled slightly in discomfort, and he wrapped his arms around the back of his neck, leaning back into the rock behind him and stretching his arms over his head slightly.
He's doing that thing with his neck again. The hanyou thought, her eyes narrowing.
He never used to do that when he was nervous.
"Yes. For you are going to overreact and we do not have time for that right now." Sesshomaru murmured and closed his eyes once more.
"So like… how much of an overreaction are you thinking here." Inuyasha huffed, poking his long ear with a single claw. Sesshomaru lifted a lip, his tail swatting away Inuyasha's hand. " Am I gonna cry? Or am I gonna be mad?"
"Seething. You may cry, a little. You seem more prone to that in this form than your male form."
"I do not!" She barked, and he gave a slight huff of amusement. But even so, that voice- the voice of Sesshomaru's yokai played in her head. He couldn't have meant that I 'mark' marked him. Like the mark he placed on me. Besides, where the hell would it even be? It couldn't be on his chest- that was already full.
Maybe when the mark is placed, it shows up in a similar location on the other's body?
Sesshomaru's crest mark is on Diaozuan's upper chest. And Diao's mark is on Sesshomaru's chest.
So… if I did, it's probably on or near the back of his neck.
Her ears slicked back, trembling slightly. A part of her desperately wanted to know the truth, but the other part wanted to remain in ignorance. These past few weeks had been too much of an emotional rollercoaster for them both. In some ways, Sesshomaru was right- if it was true, she would probably flip out.
Mostly because there would be no way he'd be able to explain away the meaning now.
Married. We would be married by common Daiyokai law.
And everyone- everyone, would know about it.
Nah. There's no way. I would've remembered doing something like that. Right?
But … then again. When she'd woken up after that visit from Totosai, there had been a godawful bitter taste in her throat. And, the metallic tinge of blood that tasted just a bit different than usual. She'd just chalked it up to Totosai's hard training, or maybe a small nosebleed. Her glance wandered over to the dozing Daiyokai.
Carefully, she wrapped up the uneaten bits of lunch to save for later, and put it in her pocket. Then she set a clawed hand on his shoulder to make sure he was awake.
"I told you, Sesshomaru. I can read you like a goddamn book." And before he had a chance to react, she grabbed the hair at the back of his neck, pushing it aside in just the right way.
Just enough to expose something dark and twisting on the back of his neck. He snarled and twisted away, gripping her hand and yanking it down but the damage was done.
She sat next to him dumbfounded. Too surprised to even be hurt.
"When the hell did I do it? I don't remember anything."
Sesshomaru was quiet for some time before finally muttering, " The night we returned from Totosai's. It was your yokai's decision- I saw her eyes, not yours. " rubbing the back of his neck and trying to smooth down the hair that she had yanked.
" Can I see it?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously and Inuyasha raised her arms in the air. " I won't yank it again. Promise. If I wanted to go after you, you'd fucking know."
And after a moment, he nodded. She scrambled over in a kind of fevered daze. Gently moving aside the thick, silky hair that shone like starlight.
Overall it was a handsome mark. Especially on Sesshomaru's fish white skin.
Inuyasha traced it in morbid fascination, and was amused when Sesshomaru broke out in goosebumps. It was a curling black Foo-Dog, howling in victory, its tail forming nearly half of the circle while its head, mane, and upper legs formed the other half. Its eyes were that deep terrible red, and the whole mark had a blue, glittery undertone.
"My old man's mark." Inuyasha said, very softly.
" You should be proud. It is not an act your average hanyou could accomplish." Sesshomaru said, his golden eyes slightly soft and almost thoughtful.
She gently let his hair loose. And like a good curtain, its thickness covered the mark completely.
Sesshomaru watched with mild interest as she started to wind up- her hair bristling, her ears flattening to her head. Her hands balled into fists at her side. Her anger ripping through his mark like wildfire. But… she certainly couldn't pin this one on Sesshomaru no matter how hard she tried. This was her fault.
For once, he'd done absolutely nothing wrong.
She let out a furious growl, ending in an almost catlike spit of anger. His claws gently met a few of her knuckles and his touch was cool and gentle. " Inuyasha. Reign yourself in. No one knows. It's just a slight… addition to what we had before."
And she was shocked to find that somehow his words were calming her. Her hands gently unballing and her ears lifting to their original position. The twisting anger in her gut dissipating and being replaced by his perpetual calmness. The crescent moon on her neck twinging slightly as his emotions filled her.
Before she even knew why she really was calm. Or at least, far calmer than before. Her golden eyes were wide as she searched his, and he met her stare levelly.
He'd been having to deal with her emotions all this time. And now.. she was finally feeling his as well.
" I…. I'm gonna take a walk." She muttered and stood, slipping Tetsaiga into her belt and scampering up the rest of the wall of rock, walking off on the other side.
He watched her go, and then turned back to the line of yokai. It was starting to taper off but Sesshomaru could tell it was going to be another long day. He glanced back at the tip of the low mountain and then sighed.
Best leave her be, for a while.
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Inuyasha sat in one of the taller trees, dozing. Ignoring the mark burned into her memory and burned into the skin of Sesshomaru's neck.
Maybe she should've asked how to take it off. But then… she kinda already knew the answer to that didn't she.
It would never come off.
Not unless Sesshomaru died somehow. And even though Inuyasha had tried in the past she couldn't imagine going after him to take his life, not anymore.
And she certainly couldn't take her own either. Not with Ame and Katu and Inukezi to look after. And even if that wasn't the case she knew that there had been a connection between them long before that.
Inuyasha.
She sat up, looked around.
That was Kagome's voice.
She sat beside him on the same branch. Her red hakama pants gently touching his own thigh. Hair gently lifting in a black cloud by the breeze. She was warm and alive and beautiful and his heart ached. And yes, his- for now, wherever he was, he was himself again. Proper gender and all.
"Kagome." He grabbed her, pulling her close. He didn't care if it was a dream or a nightmare and he never, never wanted to wake up. She smelled of honeyed rain and her black hair glittered in the sunlight. Her laugh was low and sweet, and he felt her tiny arms on his back.
It's all right Inuyasha, calm down. She was petting his ears back in those smooth, small movements that were so familiar and that he so ached for.
" Kagome. God, I missed you so much. So much has happened- I gotta tell you everyth-" He paused, feeling her finger against his lips.
I can't stay long, my dear one. She gently unwrapped herself, and took his clawed hands in her own. His ears perked, his eyes pricking, dangerously close to watering.
"I know what you're gonna say. And I'm trying really hard, you know? But that goddamned Sesshomaru…" He trailed off when he saw the look on her face. Her hand reached up, gently pressing against his cheek. Against that dark blue stripe, the stripe of the Foo-Dog blood in his veins.
Inuyasha. Why do you think I made you promise that Ame was taken care of by Sesshomaru? It could've been any other Daiyokai female.
"I-" He paused, perturbed. To be honest, he'd never really understood it. He'd assumed it was because Kagome knew Sesshomaru was one of the few Daiyokai who could protect their daughter from the demons that were constantly after her. But since it'd been her last wish he hadn't thought about it too deeply.
"Because you trusted him?"
She smiled just a little, soft brown eyes glowing in the sunlight. Yes. But… I knew he could take care of you, Inuyasha. She paused to tuck some hair behind her ear and his heart twanged once more.
And I mean that in more ways than one. She let out a big sigh before bringing her hands back to his. Lacing them and being gentle of his claws.
Inuyasha nearly fell from the tree.
"You- you what?"
Her eyes met his. Inuyasha- I love you. I love you enough to want you to go be happy with someone else. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life moping over me. Visiting my grave, and imagining what could have been. Because we both know that even if I hadn't died giving birth to Ame, you would have had to bury me either way. I'm only a human.
But Sesshomaru- he could be there beside you forever Inuyasha. I can't compete with him in that regard. She said, rolling her eyes and flicking her hair. At least with Kikyo, it was more of a fair match.
Listen, my love.
She leaned close, then, pressing their foreheads together. Their hair hung in two perfect curtains of black and silver and he was teary-eyed. Shocked. Never did he think she'd accept what was going on between him and the Daiyokai. Encourage it, even.
Being with someone else is not a betrayal to me, or our love. The only way you could betray that, is to spend the rest of your years not living. Stuck in the past. Sad, and alone.
Promise me. Promise me you will not wait for me. That you will live, and love, and find happiness.
He swallowed thickly. " If I promise, you'll leave." And she smiled weakly, giving him a long kiss.
I have to leave soon either way. Won't you promise me this, my love?
He bowed his head, his ears tucked tight against his head and trembling faintly. He grabbed her once more, tucking her head into his chest and muttering fiercely, " I want- I want you back. I want this back. Please. Please."
She comforted him for a little while, but soon, gently pushed him away, holding his hands once more. She couldn't rest until he'd promised. Couldn't be in the afterlife knowing that he was moping or suffering.
Inuyasha. I am your past. And I need you to have a future. Even if it's one that makes me a bit jealous.
She teased him, then, flicking his nose. You promise me, puppy?
He huffed and rubbed his nose before laying his head on her shoulder. " You kinda… planned this a little, didn't you?" and she nodded, shyly.
I could tell that something in him liked you. Otherwise, why would he have let you live after all this time?
"Oh, okay. Cool. So everybody knows except for me. Great!" Inuyasha fumed, tossing his head a bit and cursing under his breath. She chuckled, ruffling up the hair on his head and giving one of his ears a playful tug.
Cheer up and promise me. Or I'll have to resort to violence.
Inuyasha huffed, "Ooh, I'm so scared, ghost Kagome." But when she glared, he wilted just a bit.
"Yeah, okay, fine I promise or whatever. Just stop looking at me like that."
She smiled widely then, in the way that she used to. In the way that Ame smiled now. " She's doing great, you know. Both of them are. And even though she'd got the fancy silver hair and golden eyes… she's starting to look like you, Kagome. She -"
He set a hand gently on top of Kagome's. And she listened with rapt attention.
"She has a great fuckin' life. She has a warm bed and plenty of food to eat, and parents who love her. She's friends with damn near everyone. She has everything I never had and more and I know it could've never happened without him."
Inuyasha stared at his wife in silence for a moment before muttering, " I'll.. I'll never be able to repay him for that."
You don't have to. She whispered back. He blinked, then met her gaze once more.
That's what protectors do. Its just an instinct. And if it's recognized and thanked, that is enough. That's what you did for Inukezi and I, all those years. You never resented us.
Inuyasha spluttered, "No, but that was different because I had to protect you guys, I wanted to, and –And-"
And you think that he doesn't?
Inuyasha paused at that. Stumped. He'd never thought about it that way before. He'd always sort of pegged it as more of an obligation on the Daiyokai's part than something he wanted to do. But then again… no one had ever been especially good at making the Lord of the West do something he actually didn't want to do.
"Damn." He whispered, his silver hair lifting in the morning breeze like a silver flag.
Be good puppy. I love you.
She placed a kiss in the part of his hair and was gone. Just like that.
Inuyasha jerked awake. Looked around, then down at herself hopefully. Giving an annoyed groan when she saw her tiny girly hands. "Fuck."
It was a few hours later when Inuyasha finally tracked Sesshomaru back. The lines were now just a few stragglers… and most were heading into the hotels close to the edge of the border for the night. The sun was beginning to set, and shades of pink and orange were spreading over the low evening clouds.
"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru greeted without turning around. She went to his side, giving him a little bit of a side glance. Well. He didn't look mad… and it had been nice that he'd let her go off on her own. Sure, she'd had to slice up a few demons, but the scent of so many yokai in the area threw most of the bigger ones off.
She scratched an ear with a clawed hand nervously. "Hey. So, I don't remember if I told you this or not but thanks. For taking care of everyone I mean, especially the pups."
Sesshomaru paused. Then he raised a fine eyebrow and set a hand on Inuyasha's forehead. " Are you feeling well?"
The hanyou swatted it away with an angry growl. "Ya know what? If you're gonna be this damn ungrateful then –" but was stopped.
Stopped by a pair of lips. Surprisingly soft and warm and wonderful. Sesshomaru pulled away all too soon and Inuyasha was left in a cozy daze. There was amusement in his gaze as he straightened back up. And once again, she was reminded how much shorter she was in this form. Her eyes were about level with the middle of his chest when he was at his full height. His tail stretched out on the ground by his side and his silver hair absorbed the shades of the sunset, looking faintly golden.
His height pissed her off. Mostly because it did stuff to her heart… and also to stuff below her waist.
He smells so nice.
When did that start happening?
"That seems to be a fairly effective method of getting you quiet." Sesshomaru noted, before turning around once more and heading back in the general direction of the Palace.
"H-hey! You don't get to just walk off after doing that!" She growled and grabbed for his tail, but he lifted it out of her range. Then he took off at full speed, forcing her to chase her if she wanted to keep up. She did so- then, skidded to a halt. He'd gone around a tree in front of her, and… and simply disappeared.
Inuyasha walked around the base of the tree in confusion, sniffing, her hands on the bark and her nose twitching. Where the heck had he gone? She smelled him all around the base.
"I am the Lord of the West. I can do as I please, little hanyou."
She yelped in surprise and fell into her butt as he announced himself with his voice. He was walking down the bark of the tree as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His body was parallel to the ground- only his hair and tail seemed to still be obeying the laws of gravity.
"That's not fair!" She growled, sitting up a bit… only to lay back down again nervously as he got a little too close and smirked just a bit. Strands of his silver hair gently caressed her cheeks and neck.
"The only way to stop me is to catch me, Inuyasha."
I'm playing with her. I'm courting her. A voice in the back of Sesshomaru's mind murmured in morbid fascination. Yet somehow he couldn't bring himself to stop, not yet.
And then, he was gone again in a flash of light. She was on her feet in an instant, running at full speed. A flash of bright red in the green and golden forest.
"Get back here!"
Sesshomaru's hand appeared behind a tree, giving a lazy wave. "Over here hanyou. Try to keep up."
To his surprise and pleasure she got better at the game and fast. Stopped tripping over so many branches. Starting using all of her senses, rather than just her nose. Tracked him even when he went through water or used his super-speed, which left hardly any scent train for her.
He waited by the stream, one ear giving a twitch. He could hear her, all right. She was coming this way and fast.
His body tensed and he got ready to bolt again. But strangely, he heard her noise dissipate almost completely. Sesshomaru glanced around the trees in surprise. Had she lost him? Had she stopped for some reason?
Everything was just a little too quiet. It made his fur stand on end.
"Gotcha!"
All of the sudden, he was tackled from above. Inuyasha using the tree she'd been hiding in to launch herself at the Daiyokai with as much force as possible, before he got away.
SPLOOSH.
They both fell into the stream thanks to the force of her hit. An angry crane taking off from the spot, while a few panicked fish darted downstream.
Sesshomaru sat up, spluttering in surprise. He was soaked through and it was cold! But honestly he was more surprised with he fact she'd managed to sneak up on him than the chill of the water.
Inuyasha sat up second, breaking out into a full cackle when she saw a fish stuck in The Lord of the West's mouth.
"Hey look, you've got dinner."
Sesshomaru spat the silver fish out in disgust, wiping his tongue and picking out a scale from his teeth. Inuyasha was laughing so hard she was nearly doubled over, her face very red. And honestly… her laughter was so funny that Sesshomaru couldn't help but laugh himself at the ridiculousness of it all.
"I want you to laugh like this all the time." Inuyasha murmured, her eyes suddenly golden and very soft. Sesshomaru stopped at that, looking over at the hanyou in surprise.
She flushed and changed the subject, "Ah-betcha didn't think I could catch ya, huh?"
Sesshomaru chuckled once more, " I have to admit, I was pretty surprised. " his left brow raising when she grabbed him by the collar.
" What are you-" She kissed him, roughly. Her heart racing a bit at her own boldness. His shoulders relaxed and after a moment, an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close. Strange. The water wasn't bothering him nearly as much anymore.
Her body was very warm. And he appreciated the way her clothes clung to her. Skintight.
She pulled away then, but not very far. Her legs were tucked underneath her, pressing gently against his inner thighs. Somehow during the fall his legs had spread. Sesshomaru gently pulled her hair foreward, squeezing out the water section by section and then tying it up at the back of her neck in a loose bun.
She let him, her eyes barely open, occasionally meeting his gaze. A slight blush on her cheeks. The feeling of his claws in her hair was… nice. And he didn't yank it like Inukezi.
She wondered how those claws would feel on her skin and her cheeks darkened further. She wondered what it would feel like if they did have sex. What was it like in the body of a female? She couldn't help but be curious. Purely speculative of course. That'd never happen.
Sesshomaru could more or less sense these thoughts. And if she'd been looking a bit closer, she would've noticed a creeping pink blush on his ears and upper cheeks.
" There. Perfect." He murmured when he was finished and let a clawed hand linger on her cheek. They kissed once more very gently. Lovingly. And then leaned their foreheads together, closing their eyes and for once, opening their connection on both sides.
"This is fucking crazy. You know that, right?"
Sesshomaru chuckled once more. " I know. Believe me. I'm sure mother is rolling in her grave." But she didn't feel much fear or apprehension at this moment from him. Mostly she just felt… love and affection for a certain hanyou.
He wanted to tell her.
Needed to tell her about the yokai pairing. About the fact that their mating was inevitable, closer by the day. But he could not find it in himself to ruin this moment between them. Her gaze was like sunlight and it warmed him from the inside out. Her hair, plastered in a beautiful silver helmet. And her little stupid ears, pointed his direction to catch every one of his words.
The water dripping off the edges of her body, her clothing in rainbow orbs.
Endlessly flawed and utterly perfect.
He thought, and kissed her one more time before whispering, "We should be getting back, little hanyou." It was getting truly dark now.. the sky a pale, fading blue. Inuyasha groaned, " Uugh. Just when we were getting to the good part." Climbing out of the water and crouching down on all fours.
"Pardon?" Sesshomaru blinked, then flinched slightly when he was aware that he was in danger of being re-wetted.
"Inuyasha, wait-"
Too late. Her shoulders went one way, her hips the other. And Sesshomaru was sprayed in a low shower of cold water.
She paused when she realized what she'd done. " Oh-oh! Sorry!" laughing softly behind one hand. Suddenly a great white caterpillar grabbed her up, and dipped her lightly back in the water.
"Wait- I'm sorry- I repent- Nooooo!"
Sesshomaru set her back on the bank with his tail, utterly soaked. "There. Now we're even."
And together, making sure they were a decent distance from each other, they shook the water from their bodies. And then returned with some haste to the Palace and the waiting pups.
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Please remember to read and review! 😊
No Fan of Kikyo: Welll I hope that sort of answers your question. They'd definitely not be happy sitting around doing nothing, but at the same time Sesshomaru still would definitely never let them out on the battlefield. So they'll have to be content with this for now.