Sesshomaru was almost late for his meeting. But he took the time to scent-mark both Diaozuan and Inuyasha- nuzzling along their cheeks and jaw and leaving his scent strong on them. Diaozuan giving a little purr and Inuyasha growling lowly, pinning her ears.
Her anger amused him, settling a tiny smile in the corner of his mouth as he left.
The scent of her still in his nose as he met the dragon by the gate. The meeting was a bit unusual- but by now, Sesshomaru's guards were used to his erratic and strange schedule. So, they let him leave that morning.
Yuu was nervous around the Foo-Dog Daiyokai- and who wouldn't be?
He was a living, breathing legend. He'd kicked Ryuu's ass and no doubt, he'd continue kicking ass until the day he died…. If that ever even happened.
Sesshomaru brough Ah-Un, and Yuu's shoulders dropped a bit in relaxation when he saw the two-headed horse-dragon.
"Ah. So this is Ah-Un? I've heard stories, but I never thought I'd actually meet him. What a handsome dragon." Yuu said excitedly, holding his hand out for Ah-Un to sniff. The dragon did so, giving a huff and shaking out his dark green mane in approval. His breath fogged in little clouds around his nostrils in the cold morning air.
"Mm, yes. Get on." He ordered, and the dragon yokai did so. Stifling the urge to ask where the hell they were going, and when they'd be back. Because Sesshomaru didn't seem like the kind of guy who loved answering that kind of stuff.
" How was Rin, yesterday." Sesshomaru offered instead. To Yuu's surprise. He was busy trying to get his hair into some kind of ponytail so it wasn't smacking all across his face.
"Oh. Um- she seemed to cheer up after a while. She and Shippou are very helpful. If a little chatty. Seems like the two used to be friends when they were little or something." Yuu said thoughtfully. They had that kind of open, easy body language that only close friends had. Though, he noted that the fox seemed quite a bit more nervous than she did.
" May I ask… Your relationship, with her? It seems so unusual for a Daiyokai to have a human around them." Yuu said, instantly regretting it when he was met with a rather cold stare.
"You may not."
"Oh."
There was a silence, before the Foo-Dog sighed.
"You must understand. Any information I give you, you could use against me. It is nothing personal. But it is part of how I protect my family."
Yuu looked hurt, and said rather softly, "My Lord Sesshomaru. I would never-"
"It is not you I don't trust. It is the dragon yokai, and cat yokai, left behind. The same that poisoned my brother. The same that tried to send us both to the afterlife, together. What you know, or share, may make its way back to them. I cannot let that happen." Sesshomaru said softly.
Yuu's expression softened a little with understanding, and he said no more for a moment.
"Rin is bound to me, and I to her." Sesshomaru said rather matter-of-factly. His claws absent-mindedly tracing a part of Inuyasha's mark on the back of his neck. A self soothing sort of habit.
Yuu was fascinated, and quite surprised. He'd heard rumors of affection for a human child, but never expected it. Sesshomaru noted the shock on his face, and sighed.
"I suppose that must be surprising. Given my… previous opinion of humans. And the influence of my mother."
"Surprising is uh, one way to put it." Yuu said, softly. Shocking would be how he'd put it. Incredible. A transformation that he never expected from the lord of the West. But then again… Knowing there were parts of him that were merciful was somehow reassuring.
It took them a few hours to get to their destination. The soft, rolling hills and meadows of the palace soon began to change into vile, jagged rocks and hearty, tall trees. A strange ethereal mist began to filter in as well, despite it being far too warm for their to be any naturally occurring fog.
Suddenly the dragon started descending- Yuu had to grip the back of the saddle tightly to avoid sliding off. Or worse; sliding into Sesshomaru's back.
Yuu tensed further when he saw where they were going. The Mountains of Mist. Sesshomaru's territory. So haunted, they said, that anyone who stepped foot inside was never seen again.
The trees were enormous. And the minute they stepped under the canopy, hardly any light came through.
It was so quiet. Under the trees, it smelled faintly of soft dirt. Of earthworms and ferns and moss.
And of yokai. Not their kind; the mindless beasts. They made Sesshomaru's stomach growl faintly- he hadn't yet had breakfast. Perhaps if they had time on the way back, he'd snag something.
It did not make Yuu hungry at all. It mostly set a fear in him. Like Most yokai, he'd never hunted in his demon form before, and had no desire to.
"Um-"
"Be quiet. You will know our purpose soon enough." Sesshomaru said, barely above a whisper. And they made their way quietly to the lair of the last true dragon. Mai-Zei's great grandson.
Youshi.
The closer they came to Youshi's cavern, the more agitated Yuu became. He could sense a great demon lived here and he had no desire to face it.
Yet he was quiet, and followed Sesshomaru. Once they were at the rim of the cave, Yuu was trembling faintly. All around the gaping hole in the ground were bones; large and small. And he was pretty sure he could see a few yokai-sized skulls amid the rubbish.
And in the sand he could see the scraping of an enormous belly, and the deep holes of claws.
"S-Sesshomaru-" Yuu whispered, his voice wavering. Fear choking him. He felt as if he could barely breathe.
Sesshomaru went to the mouth of the cave. And roared. Yuu clapped his hands over his ears and winced in pain. It was a sound that Yuu had only heard once before, and had never wished to hear again.
As if it was no longer from the throat of a man; but from an ancient demon, crying out on a lonely moonless night.
Yet somehow- it was words? He could hear them, clear as a bell. They seemed to whisper through his bones, ringing, thrumming, vibrating.
I call upon Youshi, great-grandson of Mai-Zei, the Dragon of Chaos.
Cold sweat gathered on his neck as he muttered under his breath, "A-A language?"
Sesshomaru's eerily excellent hearing picking up the words. Without turning around, he answered, "A language only those touched by the chaos flames can speak."
There was a sound- a great scraping and dragging. The sound of something infinitely large unfurling.
Yuu cowered as Youshi emerged, unfolding to terrifying heights. A mane as red as blood and scales as dark blue as the bottom of the ocean. And as he shook his mane, a shower of bones picked clean fell, making hollow little sounds as they clinked onto the ground.
Did you bring me a snack, Sesshomaru the Undying?
Youshi joked, leaning down and blowing a puff of smoke in Yuu's direction. Yuu choked on the fumes and tried his best not to let tears run down his face.
" No. This is one of the few left of the dragon tribe. I think we have a mutual problem- and, a mutual solution."
Youshi tilted his head a bit. His enormous eye reflecting Yuu's image in almost perfect clarity.
"I see. And you think this little salamander is the one to do it?" He boomed, his voice moving the sand and causing rocks to skitter. Yuu flinched again, causing a stream of low chuckles from the huge beast.
"He has potential. And I have no desire to have any … direct impact on that throne." Sesshomaru said mildly. Looking almost bored, which absolutely floored Yuu almost to the point of hysteria. How – How could he be so calm around this dragon?
The dragon descended back into the blackness. Yuu tried to get some answers from Sesshomaru, but as always, the Foo-Dog was almost infuriatingly cryptic in his answers.
Youshi soon returned, carrying something so tiny that at first Yuu had a hard time seeing it. But then, he recognized it. A little drakeling!
What was it doing all the way out here? And with this gigantic terrifying dragon, no less?
Sesshomaru looked ever so slightly irritated. " You can remove the illusion, Youshi. Best that Yuu understands exactly what Haru is."
Youshi looked amused, settling the tiny drakeling on the ground a few feet from the Foo-Dog. He was dressed in his usual soft purples and blacks. He was a bit taller than before; clearly he was being well looked after.
Youshi blew softly on Haru's form; the color of his scales and horns changed abruptly.
He was a brilliant black; with dashing red markings on his cheeks and forehead. Haru, shy as always, looked down at his feet.
"A Daiyokai." Yuu gasped softly, crouching down so he wouldn't scare the little one too badly. " I thought- I thought Ryuu's line was the only one left."
Youshi and Sesshomaru shared a look. After a moment, the dragon said quietly. " Yuu. Would you take Haru? Would you raise him to be everything Ryuu could not be?"
He pushed Haru gently forward with his enormous snout. The little tyke's feet leaving marks in the sand as he tried to scoot back, nearly laying flat on the dragon's snout. Nervous of so many new yokai. He'd been alone his whole life after all; except for Youshi.
"Would you be the one to redeem what is left of our bloodline?" Youshi whispered. His voice a low deep rumble like the sea.
Yuu glanced from the Foo-Dog to the dragon, nervous. And then down to the little drakeling, who looked quite scared.
" Only if he wants to come with me." Yuu said, still crouched. Lifting a hand to the tiny drakeling who was still trembling. Clinging to one of Youshi's long, catfish-like whiskers gently.
Like Sesshomaru, the dragon hatchling sensed the kindness inside the older dragon yokai. And was drawn to it like a moth to the flame.
For Youshi could give Haru many things; but he could not give the drakeling the family that he needed. The clan. For he was not the drake's father, and unlike Inu No Taisho, carried only a distant kind of love for the little one.
Haru turned around, hugging tight to Youshi and hiccupping, " I-Is it okay? Are you gonna be mad?"
Yoshi snorted, "No, Haru. But I will miss you."
This seemed to calm the drakeling, and he slowly slid down the enormous snout, taking a few steps in Yuu's direction until eventually he made his way to the other yokai. Sesshomaru was doing his best to stay engaged in the conversation, but something was nagging at him.
A bad feeling in his gut. The crescent moon on his forehead tingling.
Something's wrong.
As the dragons kept talking, Sesshomaru zoned out slightly. What was it? Diaozuan was just fine; Sesshomaru could sense his connection, warm and stable like always. It wasn't aching or twinging; Diaozuan was unharmed, and well.
His hand wandered back to Inuyasha's mark. Resting silently just under that long silver waterfall of hair.
Inuyasha… where are you, right now?
He could feel Inuyasha's hesitation and that made him quite nervous. Yellow eyes narrowed, the pupils getting dangerously thin; barely a sliver in a sea of golden and silver. His lip parting just slightly and showing his left canine. Shining with acidic saliva.
Uh…
Are you outside of the Palace? The Daiyokai said, his words sharp and jagged in Inuyasha's mind. Demanding not only an answer, but the truth as well.
Far off on a hillside, Inuyasha winced, a hand going to her temple.
Um- Damn! Yes, okay?
Sesshomaru growled under his breath. "Hanyou-"
Looking around, lifting his nose to search for her smell. From his claws began to drip a viscous green poison that suddenly solidified- and as he flicked his wrist, his acid whip curled up obediently into his claws.
Droplets of it hissed as they hit the ground. The grass and moss underneath curling and blackening.
Youshi too, seemed to take pause. Raising his head high into the air before giving Sesshomaru a pointed look.
"Better go fetch your dame. I can hear them coming."
Yuu meanwhile, was totally clueless. Standing with Haru balanced on his hip and glancing around. "What? Whose coming? Who are we-"
"Take Haru back to the Palace. Use Ah-Un." Sesshomaru snarled at the dragon before darting off through the trees, nothing but a silver shadow in the darkness.
Youshi just seemed amused and let out a long puff of smoke. "Heheheh. He's got his hands full with that one."
Meanwhile, Inuyasha was… occupied. She hadn't meant to be gone for this long, nor to wander this far from the Palace. But she'd been doing one of her border runs, and gotten carried away tracking a demon back into the forest.
After all, she'd been cooped up in the damn Palace by herself for two weeks.
Her legs ached to run. And her heart had started to despair.
Like Sesshomaru she longed for the quiet of the woods and the thrill of the hunt.
Her heart did not belong to the Palace. It belonged to the gurgling streams, and the heartbreak of a cold morning, coated with dew.
It was supposed to be a quick, easy job. She'd slit it in half; some kind of horrific half-human, half centipede monstrosity. It had reminded her a bit of the creature that had lived in the Bone Eater's well.
Instead, she'd been struck by a sudden bout of intense nausea that left her reeling.
Pinned to the ground for far longer than she'd liked. Unable to move. For every time she did, she was punished with a bout of dry heaving unlike that which she'd ever experienced before.
After about ten minutes the intensity waned and she was able to get to her feet.
But by then, her scent had spread. And a great number of the forest's yokai were headed for her. Drawn not only to the scent of yokai, but also faint scent of a pup.
And there was no other flesh they liked more in the world.
Inuyasha, listen to me. If yokai come for you, do not engage them –
Sesshomaru paused again; feeling an unmistakable rush of adrenalin that meant Inuyasha was already engaged in battle.
A little late for that Sesshomaru.
The Daiyokai cursed and his form wavered. Becoming a tiny white ball of light as he reached his maximum speed.
On a hillside, Inuyasha was fiercely engaged with a menagerie of yokai. Her voice ripped across a hillside, "Wind Scar!" and a blast of fierce yellow light ripped through a great number of the creatures. Their bodies and limbs scattering on the ground. Blood and viscera raining down.
And if the smell of Inuyasha hadn't been enough to attract every yokai within miles, the smell of that much blood in one place certainly did.
A glowing, neon green whip emerged from the darkness of the forest.
Yokai gasped as they were relieved of arms and legs. Torsos, reaching up to dead space where their heads should be.
In seconds its owner emerged, flicking it this way and that as Sesshomaru made his way to Inuyasha. His steps were so light on the ground they barely bent the grass under his feet.
Moving more as if he were dancing than fighting.
Inuyasha gave a surprised sound when Sesshomaru was suddenly beside her. His warm back pressed against hers.
He was not happy.
"Fool! You've attracted them for miles!" Even as he spoke the whip was busy working. Out, and back; shearing them so cleanly. The acid cauterizing the wounds so that when they fell they did not create disgusting, seething pools of black and blue blood.
Not that it really mattered. She on the other hand was busy swinging, splashes of blood gracing her face and arms as she shouted back over the roaring of beasts; "They never came after me like this before! Not even when I was a pup!"
She then yelped in pain and surprise as one tore a hunk out of her forearm. Quickly slamming it to death with the butt of her sword, her nose wrinkled to the eyes in anger.
"It is because of our pup!" Sesshomaru said in exasperation. Noting the injury and feeling more uneasy. Sure enough, there were more, and in larger and larger sizes.
The markings on Sesshomaru's cheeks became suddenly jagged. A terrible, ripping sort of snarl slipping from between teeth like broken glass.
Stay underneath me. And do not move.
Inuyasha snarled, " Hey! You – Look, I can do this, okay? Just calm the fuck down!" not yet sensing what Sesshomaru could feel just behind the line of trees.
Sesshomaru's hair was bristling out, caught by an invisible wind. And as it always happened, she began to feel the crushing force of his demon aura, a precursor to him taking his true form.
"Sesshomaru! Go damn it-"
Shut up, and let me protect you.
The last part of her sentence died in her throat as she recognized those words.
Huge yokai were ripping their way through the forest. And not just animals now; the more cunning half-animals. Tearing down the trees as they went and throwing them at Sesshomaru.
Now in his Foo-Dog form. He deflected them easily with his paws or snout. He was crouched low to the ground. So low over Inuyasha that she could hardly see what was going on beyond his silver mane and the pillars of his four legs.
A spider to the right of him went first; taking a leap onto Sesshomaru's hind legs. Unfourtunately, it miscalculated terribly; and Sesshomaru swiftly kicked it into a nearby tree.
After that, they were all on him at once. Biting, scratching, spitting venom or poison. Doing everything they could to get at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha could scarcely see the battle for herself. Sesshomaru moved so quickly that it was a blur, like a mirage of water on a hot day. Several times he flung a yokai so hard into the trees that their bodies shattered like glass. He kicked and spun several times.
And not once, did any of them get close.
And then there was a sudden jet of flames. Inuyasha watched through a part in Sesshomaru's fur as a greenish flame poured from his mouth.
Not just flame; an acidic, corrosive flame. A flame that ate everything it touched.
The very grass inches from Inuyasha's face disintegrated right in front of her eyes.
Instantly she saw a change in the yokai; they were nervous. Scattered. Whining and jittering amongst themselves.
Sesshomaru roared out a challenge, and Inuyasha's ears rang. He banged his right paw on the ground. The earth itself shuddering, and several trees around them shedding almost all of their leaves.
The yokai slunk back into the forest.
Sesshomaru stood for some time to make sure they would not return. From his jowl's, thick greenish poison bubbled, slipping gently to the ground in smooth gelatinous strings. And whatever it came into contact with it destroyed.
Even the dirt itself became blackened and infertile, turning to frail dust.
It was so quiet. Except the sizzling of Sesshomaru's saliva, of course. The contraction and expansion of his fur as he breathed ruffling Inuyasha's hair.
Inuyasha wriggled her way out from underneath him, going around to his snout. Laying her hand on his muzzle very gently and doing her best not to let it tremble.
The bodies of dead yokai were piled all around them. Well… bodies, and blackened bones. Whatever had come from Sesshomaru's mouth had reduced the ones closest to him to fine ash.
"Hey." She murmured softly. A chill of something going down her spine when she was met with those orbs of silver and gold. Like little suns, trapped in a drowning pool of mercury.
He looked… sad. Tired.
Sesshomaru nuzzled against Inuyasha's side. She gently wrapped her arm over the bridge of his white snout, which was still stained with patterns of black and blue blood.
Does it amuse you. Seeing me like this.
Driven near to madness over you.
Inuyasha startled, a little hurt by the words. "No! No, I just… I made a mistake. I didn't know-"
She was moved very gently to her back by his huge mouth. And his breath was hot on her abdomen as he murmured,
You knew you were carrying when you went to war with us. Why?
" I didn't-"
Do you know how easily you could have been killed just now? Weak with pup-sickness?
"Look, I was just-"
Sesshomaru morphed out of his dog form, and suddenly Inuyasha felt arms around her. Tight. One around her waist, and the other across her shoulders. His long claws dug into her silver hair with a kind of desperation.
Damn you; and the moment I ever felt naught but contempt in my heart for human or hanyou. I've not known peace since.
What on earth possessed you to be so careless! To endanger yourself and our pup, no less!
Inuyasha went surprisingly quiet. For once feeling quite guilty. For though she didn't know the scent of a pup would draw out yokai, she known better than to go off on her own. Especially pregnant.
Sesshomaru was trembling faintly. She wasn't sure if he was crying and she didn't want to find out either.
"I… I really am… Sorry." Inuyasha murmured, her ears low and trembling and her skin pale.
I cannot lose you. Don't you understand that?
Sesshomaru's voice in her head was barely a whisper.
"Sesshomaru, I didn't… know. And I swear, I didn't do it on purpose." She muttered, but the excuse didn't make her feel any better no matter how sincere it was. She felt worse than before though the nausea had subsided somewhat.
She tried to peek up at his face, but his eyes were hidden behind his thick, slightly mussed bangs. However, she could see his mouth perfectly clearly. It was frozen in almost a snarl; as if he was still afraid another yokai would come after her.
His canines still a teensy bit too large for a human mouth.
Your intentions are irrelevant. What matters is your actions.
She flinched a bit, ears going so far down they all but disappeared into her hair. Sesshomaru was the only yokai in the world who could challenge her like this. And she hated the way he could pin her down, get right to the root behind all of her spitting and yelling and straight to whatever the problem really was.
"I just- I wanted to be free one more time, before-" She paused, feeling as if she'd said too much.
Before motherhood pins you down.
Sesshomaru finished for her, and she cowered, baring her teeth. " Yeah, so I guess that makes me a terrible person. Great. Thanks. So glad we had this conversation."
Sesshomaru leaned back a little, enough for their eyes to meet.
No. I did the same, and even more recklessly than yourself. All I'm asking is for us to run and hunt together. As a proper pair would.
His claw gently traced the bright blue stripe on her cheek; jagged as always. Her father's mark. She shivered and put her hand over his, lacing their fingers together after a moment.
Yes?
"Fine…"She agreed, blushing a little when he leaned in, nuzzling his cheek against hers in approval. He then took a little container of something out of his sleeve, rubbing it into the chunk that had been bitten out of her arm before wrapping the wound. Very carefully, and slowly.
"Hey. How come you're not talking?"
Sesshomaru looked slightly embarrassed, a hand going to his throat. My throat hurts. Inuyasha pursed her lips, looking at the steaming destruction all around them and said softly, "Huh. That's fair. Hey- when did you learn to do that, anyways?"
Just now. Sesshomaru stood and helped Inuyasha to her feet. She was still a little shakey, and kept an arm firmly pinned over her abdomen. Somehow, it made her feel a bit more in control of the awful- what had Sesshomaru referred to it as ? Oh- pup-sickness.
Well, it wasn't inaccurate.
" Should we try to make it back to the Palace?"
Sesshomaru glanced up at the sun, the light catching his eyes and turning them to seafoam.
No. I do not think trying to transport you with me at maximum speed is… the best course of action right now.
Her ears perked back up, one of them twitching slightly to the left. " Oh. You mean when you turn into that little ball thing? I didn't think you could transport other people when you did that."
Well it won't be… comfortable.
Sesshomaru paused, trying to think of the best way to word it.
Everyone I've transported in that state has… emptied their stomachs afterword. I think it'd be best if we rested for the night. There is a safe place nearby we can spend the night in.
And there was another reason too.
The Daiyokai wasn't sure he even could fly. A great many of those demons were venomous, and he could feel their poison in his veins. He wasn't entirely sure he could fly, truth be told. But Inuyasha didn't need to know that.
He just needed a night of sleep, and he'd be fine.
Sesshomaru paused as Inuyasha followed. He gave a little disapproving sound, his hand lingering on her cheek for a moment. She was porcelain; hell, her color nearly matched his. That was quite unusual.
You are quite pale. Have you been eating well?
She coughed and avoided his gaze pointedly.
"Uh- Yeah! Uh, huh! No problems here!"
Sesshomaru gave a little annoyed growl from somewhere in the back of his throat. His pupils narrowing into sweet black slivers, drowning in golden pools.
Inuyasha.
She avoided his gaze as they picked their way through the trees. Doing such a good job that she tripped over a root, and would probably have fallen if not for a swift arm around her waist.
As graceful as ever.
" If you were as 'pup-sick' as I was, you'd be tripping over stuff too!"
Sesshomaru looked mildly amused by this. If I was, I don't think I'd have wandered to the middle of the Mountains of Everlasting Mist. Certainly not without my mate.
She mocked him under her breath before muttering, " Bread and… stuff hasn't been settling well with me, lately. Not for lack of effort."
Sesshomaru offered her a slim, claw-tipped hand, and they continued their walk. Sesshomaru in front, Inuyasha to the side. She noted the way he slowed for her , and was embarrassed.
The Daiyokai blinked at this is if processing her words.
Bread? You've been eating human food?
" Well… yeah. That's what I normally eat? Aside from like, the yokai meat they sometimes add to my stuff."
And the servants allowed this?
Inuyasha's ears went down a bit. No, not exactly. Well… not at all really. They'd been switching her slowly to more and more yokai meat. But she always carefully, discreetly got rid of it. She never wanted to eat it- it made her feel… monstrous.
I see. Sesshomaru was a little exacerbated, but somehow he was keeping it under control. After all… Inuyasha was in that human world for so long. Sesshomaru imagined he would feel the same repulsion if forced to try and eat human food.
What about it repels you?
She was surprised, and relieved, that his answer was a question. "Um. I don't like how much blood there is. I was worried it was going to make me even sicker."
The Daiyokai paused suddenly. The fur on his tail puffing out as he growled from somewhere low in his belly. Inuyasha's hand going to the handle of her sword.
Sesshomaru finished his growl with an angry spit, letting whatever was ahead of them know he was in no mood for games. The hair on Inuyasha's neck and arms stood up.
Far off, she heard something large and slithery dart off.
His transformation from angry, feral beast back to his usual self was quite remarkable. It was absolutely instantaneous as well.
One moment he was nothing but fangs and slitted eyes: the corners of his mouth drawing back just a tad too far, his pupils nearly disappearing as they contracted. A display of aggression and intimidation that had sent Ryuu himself into spirals of fear.
The next, his expression was only ever so slightly frustrated. Normal, human face. Soft, golden eyes. Thick white lashes. Sesshomaru's pupils were wide when they looked to Inuyasha, wide enough to pass for human if you weren't paying too much attention.
Ah. Would you be willing to try some of it dried? It is salted and preserved the same way as humans store their meat. Perhaps this would be more suited to you?
"I mean, I'd be willing to give it a shot, I guess." She said grudgingly. Still reeling slightly from how fast her mate could go from feral to… soft. Kind. Talk about a dual personality. But then again, the same could be said for her. And she didn't even have the excuse of a seething demon under her skin.
Good.
The slight knot of irritation that had furled his brows smoothed. And Inuyasha felt relief.
What the hell is this? I'm happy when he's happy, and sad when he's angry.
So disappointed when I've displeased him. Hurts a hell of a lot more than a physical wound.
I want so much to please him. I want to see him smile.
Who the hell am I ? I don't even feel like the same person as before.
She looked at him sideways. His eyes were caught in a shaft of sunlight, and they met hers. Today they looked like gold, ripped straight from the ripest streaks of the earth. Beaten, rippling, and fine. A potion that when drank, surely granted the drinker immortal life.
Then again, he's changed a lot too. Maybe he feels just as confused as I do.
He did. It had been one of those moments when he could hear her thoughts. But instead of answering, and embarrassing or confusing her, he kept any retorts to himself.
Simply replying instead, We're almost there.
It was a little past noon when they arrived. Sesshomaru had been right; they wouldn't have made it home before dark.
It was a curious thing; a huge waterfall among jagged rocks. Accented by a pool at the bottom; probably a good three feet deep at its lowest point.
The water looked absolutely frigid. The faint, fine mist that filled the air soon coated her. She flicked her ears in irritation and have a huff.
" And how's this supposed to help us?"
Sesshomaru almost rolled his eyes. Aren't you supposed to be the expert on not judging by appearances? Now, come here.
She did so reluctantly. Giving a squeak when she was lifted, and he started wading into the water.
" Hey! Put me down! I'm not made of paper-"
"Shh." Sesshomaru hissed, giving her the tiniest glare. I know that. And you certainly seem determined to show me as such. This will only be a moment.
She squirmed a bit. But as they approached, she saw that one of the rocks in the center, which at first seemed to jut from a wall of water, actually was splitting the wall just the tiniest bit.
Just enough, perhaps, for someone sideways to squeeze though.
She was mildly fascinated, and her white ears perked all the way up. From afar, it'd looked impenetrable! A solid wall of ice cold water!
"How did you even find this?" She muttered as they ducked inside. It was perfect for getting damn stupid yokai off your trail; they couldn't smell anything around moving water.
And they were far too stupid to figure out where they'd gone even if the trail did lead right to the edge of the water.
Accidentally. I fell into the pool when I was a pup.
Sesshomaru said mildly, setting her on her feet. He started snagging things off those rocky, sandy ledges that made perfect natural shelves.
Inuyasha gave him a suspicious look. "As if. Come on. You never fall- I think I'd have a heart attack if I saw you trip."
I was not always graceful. I was still learning how to use my yokai form.
Sesshomaru explained mildly, stacking a few pieces of firewood and soft, dry moss in the center of the sand between them. Then surrounding it with little rocks, and snapping his fingers.
After a few tries a spark of light flew from his claws to the moss and lit. Soon they had a cozy little fire going. And best of all, their was a tiny gap in the rocks above. Not enough to let the weather in; but large enough to let the smoke out.
Inuyasha gave a sigh of relief, scooting close and warming her hands.
"This place is so cool. When the pups get older, we gotta show em." She whispered excitedly , looking around. Sesshomaru gave a glance around himself and said softly, It's only useful if not frequently used. High traffic might make even the dumbest demon examine it closer. Best not to… for a while.
He didn't want to introduce them to a hideout that became useless.
As he sat, he winced in pain. His left arm griping his right forearm for a moment in the low light of the fire. The fire of a thousand tiny ( and not-so-tiny) bites and scratches. And the pain of about a hundred or so different kinds of venom. All of which weren't lethal to him but… that didn't mean he was going to have a good time of it.
"Sesshomaru?" She said softly, closing the gap between them and touching his arm. Which he very gently pulled away from her.
"Sesshomaru. Come on. Show me." She snarled, her own silvery hair poofing a bit with irritation.
I am perfectly fine. Sesshomaru huffed, looking anywhere but into her eyes. Keeping his arms crossed, the very tip of his tail giving a little irritated flick.
Inuyasha clenched a fist, fighting down her own terrible temper. "Sesshomaru, I swear to God-"
He rolled his eyes and handed her his wrist, very lightly. Giving an irritated grunt when she yanked it close. Rolling the sleeve up and seeing just how many marks were on his usually perfect white skin.
She checked the marks very carefully, her lip curling up a bit. "Hey. Where's that salve you used on me earlier?"
He produced it from somewhere in his gigantic white sleeve. She sniffed it curiously, then asked, " Do you have any other herbs in here?"
Sesshomaru raised a brow and jerked a thumb towards one of the ledges near the back of the cave. Inuyasha stood, wandering over. Sniffing this and that.
Having to bite back nausea when one or two of them triggered sickness in her stomach.
Then, going back to Sesshomaru and examining the bites and stings and puncture wounds one more time before starting to make a little potion of her own.
What are you doing?
" My mom learned how to make all kinds of potions for things like this. When I got older, she taught me how to do it. I can make something that'll work much better what you have." She murmured, concentrating now.
Sesshomaru blinked, and scooted forward just a bit in interest. He certainly had not seen Inuyasha do much of anything that required precision or concentration. It didn't seem in the hanyou's nature.
Yet,she seemed to know the perfect little portions of this or that, occasionally chewing an herb or shredding it with her claws.
When she was finished, she held a palm out and curled a few fingers in. Indicating that she wanted his arm back.
The Daiyokai huffed, And you're sure this is going to work, hm?
But entertaining her none the less. He knew none of those herbs were too dangerous and it'd probably do no harm.
"I wouldn't do it if I wasn't sure. Probably get decapitated for harming the great Sesshomaru the Undying." She mocked.
Hardly. You may be one of the only ones to get away with it.
He mused. And was genuinely surprised when, after a few minutes of her rubbing it into his many scars, he felt a tingling, cooling relief. And that headache that had been forming from the venom was starting to fade to tolerable levels.
"Okay. You got any on your back?"
No?
She growled softly. "Sesshomaru-"
Fine. Do not act shocked, then.
He shrugged off the first layer of his kimono and then the second, letting them pool at his waist and flicking his hair out of her way. Sure enough, she did have to bite down a gasp of surprise.
He was… covered. Of course, it was understandable knowing how many had been out there… She remembered looking between his fur and being unable to see anything but demons. Even the sky had been full of them.
Her ears lowered, then pinned against her skull.This is my fault. I have to fix this.
And she got to work. Eventually Sesshomaru got bored, and decided to lay on his stomach until she was finished. Getting out the bedrolls he'd stored in the driest part of the cave for the both of them. He always kept three or four just in case in every one of his hiding places.
What was your human mother like?
She was so surprised by the question that at first she didn't answer, assuming she was just hearing things. When he asked again she was suspicious at first. Then, she muttered, "Well, she certainly wasn't anything like Inukimi, I can tell you that fuckin' much."
Sesshomaru's head was rolled to one side, and resting on his crossed arms. His eyes were half-lidded. Tiredness seeping into his bones now that the flames of the venom was being cooled.
Then you are most fortunate.
"Besides, wouldn't you know better than I would? You were around a few times, I think." Inuyasha said, still wary. She didn't want to talk about her…. Still quite bitter about that little trick Jaken had pulled with Izayoi being alive.
Not so much. Most times I saw you I was with father, or had snuck off on my own. Mother didn't approve of me fraternizing with a hanyou. After a while, I started believing that too.
" She was… very kind. She protected me from yokai. And from other humans, as best she could." Inuyasha muttered. She'd almost run out of the salve, but that was fine. All of his wounds had at least gotten a swipe with it. He'd be fine by tomorrow morning as long as he got some decent sleep.
Her eyes wandered to the mark on Sesshomaru's neck. Gently tracing it with her claw.
" I wonder what she'd think of this." Sesshomaru's tail fluffed out the tiniest bit.
If she was anything like father, the only thing she'd care about is that you are loved. And taken care of. And happy.
"Maybe that's why they ended up with each other." Inuyasha murmured, " It's all done. You should be good to go." Tucking the salve container into a corner and curling her knees up to her chest.
Thank you.
Sesshomaru sat up and started pulling up his robes. It was hard to see her in the low, flickering light, but his mark told him something was wrong.
Inuyasha?
He set a clawed hand gently on her knee. Claws glistening like glass and reflecting the orange of the fire. Inuyasha's silver hair was a soft yellowish-golden as the flames bounced.
"You know, I feel like there's something fuckin' wrong with me." Inuyasha muttered under her breath. This made her mate even more concerned, and he wrapped his tail gently around her. Not saying anything, but letting her know he wanted to listen.
Her arm drifted back to her waist, clenching the red fire-rat robes.
"I mean, I should be happy, right? Isn't that how I should feel? But… I buried him myself, Sesshomaru. I didn't trust anyone else to do it right. And I know I should be excited about this child but I just keep thinking about the fact they'll never even know him. It'll be like he was a shadow, or a ghost. He'll never live, and grow up. And have a family of his own. He's just…"
She looked up at him, yellow eyes rather… empty. Devoid of their usual fire. " I guess that makes me the asshole now, huh?"
And Sesshomaru's eyes were soft as he said, " Of course not. " his voice so low and scratchy that it hurt her to hear it. It sounded like his insides had been scraped with sandpaper.
In fact… I thought it was yet another defective reaction in me.
Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru. And very quietly, had a moment of realization; that Sesshomaru was more than aware of his own shortcomings emotionally. The Daiyokai continued;
I am somewhat relieved. I have been feeling similarly about my pups. Aki and Daiki… I was only beginning to know them, and now they are gone. Like mist fading in a harsh sun.
Inuyasha flinched slightly. Poor Diaozuan. She'd have to make sure to be kind with the fox, when she returned. " I…. If you need to be with him when we get back, I understand."
Sesshomaru set a clawed hand on Inuyasha's cheek, lifting her head and turning it towards him slightly.
I am going to be here for both of you. There is nothing wrong with grieving, and there is nothing wrong with you Inuyasha. We are going to conquer this together.
She leaned into his touch a little. Allowing herself just a moment of vulnerability.
And someday, Inuyasha, this pain will be only the tiniest memory. Crowded out by the joy of a thousand happy memories; and the dawning of an era of peace for yokai and hanyou that this world has never seen.
The arm that was across her abdomen seemed to tighten a bit more.
I never want this pup to go through what I went through. Ever.
Sesshomaru assured her, None of our pups ever will. I promise you. Pressing their foreheads together and purring slightly to calm her.
Have I failed you thus far?
Inuyasha pouted and huffed. She'd like to say that he did. But the fact was, she knew how hard he'd worked every day to make sure Inukezi was never left behind.
She knew that Ame would never have had this kind of life if not for Sesshomaru's interference. Hell, if he hadn't have moved them out of that human village, she might not have lived at all.
I'm fairly certain by now I would have heard about it, if I had. Sesshomaru teased her, gently. And somehow it worked; bringing a wry smile to her face. " Damn right ya would've."
Another thing only Sesshomaru could have offered.
Another reason she had fallen so incredibly hard for him.
"M' sick of this damn female body. Makes me feel way too many things." She muttered, and Sesshomaru leaned back, giving an amused look and a low snort.
I do not think you can blame all of this on that form.
"Well I can damn well try." She growled, her ears flicking a bit.
Excuse me a moment. She watched him grab a few hanging shadows and then return to the light of the fire, offering Inuyasha one of them.
It was yokai meat; dried and salted, as Sesshomaru promised. He'd also grabbed a rather large bone for himself. This totally confused the hanyou.
"Uh. Whatcha got there?" She said, sniffing along the yokai jerky cautiously. Well… the scent didn't put her off.
Sesshomaru paused, the bone halfway to his mouth. A bone, obviously?
And the hanyou watched in shock as he just… put it way back in his mouth, near the molars, and bit down. Cracking a bone that was as thick as Inuyasha's wrist in half.
She could hear the insane shattering and grinding as his teeth made quick work of the bone, turning it into harmless rounded fragments. Sesshomaru paused though, when he noted her open-mouthed stare.
"What the fuck?" She whispered under her breath.
He looked amused and explained, "It is a normal part of a Daiyokai diet, Inuyasha. And its good for the teeth. Ame and Katsu's teeth will be similar, once they get a little older."
She gave him an incredulous look and , very slowly, took a small bite from the dried meat. Still watching in fascination as he sucked the marrow from the bone.
In fact it took a moment or two to realize she'd eaten nearly the whole thing. And that unlike before, her stomach wasn't already starting to heave and quake.
"Huh." She sort of muttered under her breath. Her shoulders relaxing just a bit and her ears going sideways in their usual calm/relaxed position.
It is not triggering sickness in you, like that human food.
Sesshomaru noted mildly, and she huffed. The Daiyokai used a shard of the bone to pick at his teeth, his yellow eyes gleaming with that special, glittering layer that only animals who could see in the dark had as he murmured,
It amuses me that you were eating human food, Inuyasha. As if you were expecting a human.
Inuyasha squalked, " Hey! For all you know it'll be a hanyou, so technically, I'd still be half-right!" flushing a little with embarrassment. He wasn't wrong; she certainly knew it was no human that was inside her right now. It didn't feel that way… didn't feel similar at all to Kagome's first pregnancy.
A quarter right. A quarter human is still quite a bit more demon than you, Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru said mildly. Nearly completely finished with the bone that he'd grabbed; now, on the last stump of it. His eyes half-closed with concentration.
"Yeah yeah. Math." She huffed, deciding to finish off the rest of the jerky.
The light inside Kagome had been … timid. As had the warmth. This was much stronger; and already her abdomen felt a little warmer than the rest of her body.
Hot with Sesshomaru's fiery demonic blood.
Her hand went back to her abdomen, her silver ears perked, curiously listening. She hoped she'd be able to pick out the heartbeat soon; she'd been able to detect Inukezi's right around Kagome's third month of pregnancy. It excited and terrified her that soon, she'd be hearing that little sound inside herself.
I'm so sorry. She thought, her ears pinning with guilt. I put you in danger twice already. You don't deserve that. It's not your fault that you exist, right now, at this time.
But I promise, it will never happen again.
I'll keep you safe.
"What are you doing?"
Inuyasha jumped out of her skin, reeling back and snarling at Sesshomaru, who was crouched curiously less than a foot from her. He'd noted her intense concentration, and couldn't help but be curious.
He'd moved so silently she didn't even notice.
"Fucking! Don't- Do that Sesshomaru! Damn!" She barked, her cheeks rather red. Mostly from the question but also from the low, unintentionally seductive tone of his ruined vocal chords.
"You are avoiding my question." He said softly, curling his tail around his feet and giving her a slightly amused glance. Were you talking to the pup?
"No! Stupid- why the hell would I do something like that!" She snarled, grabbing her bedroll and yanking the top part over her shoulders to hide from her mate's prying, all -knowing gaze.
"I'm going to bed. So- so get over to your side of the cave already!"
She felt him near her for a bit, and then heard him move off to the other side. But through their connection she could feel his amusement very clearly. And it only served to make her more angry.
The fire crackled low in the night, popping and hissing merrily.
Soon, she slipped into an uneasy sleep. Waking up more than once, imagining noises outside. Feeling her skin prickle with fear and gripping tight to her sword.
It didn't help, though.
She felt nauseous, exhausted, afraid, and terrified. Too hot, too cold- never comfortable.
Terrified of this pregnancy, and this pup, and of fucking everything up. What if it died? What if she died, bringing it into the world?
What if her human blood wasn't strong enough to support a pup of Sesshomaru's? What if she had a miscarriage?
So many thoughts reeled. She sat up, and peeked through the sliver of empty space; the moon was high in the sky. A beautiful crescent moon, just like the mark on Sesshomaru's head only slightly fatter.
It helped illuminate the dark and terrifying night. Giving everything a soft, silver glow.
Her glance went to Sesshomaru.
He was sleeping with his arms tucked lazily to his chest, and his tail curled over his feet.
Inuyasha's expression softened, somewhat. He looked very… peaceful and calm. She didn't get to see him like this very often , and was grateful. His brow smooth, his bangs little silver slivers of light that cut over his eyebrows just so.
His pretty double maroon stripes; perfectly spaced and in even number. Precise and beautiful on his sharp cheeks.
Maybe the little runt will have the stripes, too. Though… it'd be nice if it got the moon, this time. Inuyasha thought in a dazed, far off kind of way. Katzu had the stripes; and Toshi, that beautiful crescent moon.
She got out of bed. Very carefully, very quietly, approaching Sesshomaru.
The Daiyokai faked sleep. He'd been woken up by her impatient tossing and turning some time ago. He watched her curiously, one eye barely open.
She seemed to think she was remaining undetected. Inuyasha crouched down, then got on her hands and knees. Moving Sesshomaru's arm bit by bit until it was quite a ways from his chest.
Then, oh so carefully, sneaking and wriggling her way up and under Sesshomaru's arm. All of the time, glancing up at Sesshomaru's face to make sure she wasn't waking him.
Sesshomaru played along.
Amused and touched when his mate curled up so tight against him. Pulling his arm tight to her shoulders. Her silver ears tickling his neck and chin area slightly as she nuzzled in, getting comfortable.
Letting loose a long, weary sigh when she was finally settled.
And then, just when she thought she'd gotten away with it, she saw his amused gaze.
"Don't you fuckin' tell a soul." She snarled, booping his nose with a thick claw.
Not a word. He assured her, his low purring starting up from somewhere deep in his torso. He wrapped both of his arms around her, his tail covering her bare feet and keeping them warm.
He groomed her ears in sweet, long strokes of his tongue. Leaving them warmer than before and shiny clean in the darkness. The repetition of it, the gentleness of his touch put a flush in her cheeks and she closed her eyes tightly.
He does love me too, doesn't he.
She thought in quiet wonder.
Sesshomaru would never do this. Never comfort someone. He wouldn't give them the time of day.
Her arms folded and her hands resting, open, on his chest. Feeling the vibrations of the purr/growl that was slowly and surely putting her to sleep. Surrounded by the smell that was only his; that lemony, pine-like, sharp smell.
His tail and blankets were heavy on her body and saturated with his scent, and she was glad of it. She wanted to roll in it, to be coated in it always.
So warm. How shocking it is that he could go from the ice prince, to someone like this.
She thought mildly.
Th one with icicle claws and a stare so shocking that it stole the warmth straight from your blood.
Sesshomaru was something different, now. Cold? Oh yes. But…
There were moments of wonderful heat, now. He was only cold when he needed to be, where there were still walls and scars and barren wastelands from war and strife.
But there was no mistaking that the heat in her belly was his, too.
The worries and fears that had set her writhing a moment ago being strangely forgotten. She felt him nuzzle along her cheek and pressed back, letting loose a tiny needy sound.
He tucked himself more around her. So much so that even if a demon had somehow looked inside, they would see and smell only Sesshomaru; so hidden was she with a mix of blankets and sleeves and tail.
I love you. I love you and I'm sorry.
She thought in a daze. Remembering with a flushed cheek exactly how the pup came to be snuggled inside her. Remembering the initial terror at the idea. And then, the pleasant surprise that despite the initial discomfort…
She felt whole when he was inside of her. Powerful. Joined not just physically but in that strange, spiritual, primitive way that she'd only ever experienced the male perspective on until recently.
And she felt embarrassed when she realized that a part of her craved that again.
Craved the biting and the scratching of his nails on her skin; so sharp. The tang of blood and sweat.
Craved that foreign, insistent warmth inside her, coaxing her into wave after wave of oblivion so complete she could scarcely breathe.
Craved the way he ruined her so completely, so deliciously, that by the time they were finished there was not a trace of her left that had not been tainted with his sweat, claws, or seed.
Taking Sesshomaru to bed was an entirely different experience than Kagome. An experience almost worth being trapped in this shitty female body for.
But not tonight. Tonight, she'd just enjoy him, and his warmth, and the warmth of the gift that was his child.
And she fell asleep against him.
Sesshomaru was awake for a while after that, feeling the heat of the pup in her belly and the ever-so-slight rounding of her abdomen.
She seemed… rather large, for only one pup and barely two moon cycles.
Well. We'll know soon enough, when we can hear the heartbeats a bit clearer. He thought, closing his eyes. It'd be another few weeks before even his excellent hearing could pick out a heartbeat inside Inuyasha for sure…
And yet. Knowing that damn hanyou's luck. He was worried.
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EatEmUp- Thanks! You too! I try to keep him in character if I can, but I also kinda want to show how much he's changed. I'm glad you think Im doing a decent job, because sometimes I'm pretty unsure of myself xD Like' Hmm, this time has definetely gone way too ooc, I've pushed it too far' so thanks for the encouragement! I'd just like to think there's actually someone under the mask, if that makes sense.
DMadukes-Awe. Well it looks like your begging has paid off, at least this week lol. Me being sick with pnemonia and being stuck inside definitely helped also. And don't worry, Diao will get plenty of love when they get back. I just didnt feel like writing that into last chapter because I was having a rough day. Anyways, hoped you liked this chapter as much as the last. And as for your question... ;) That's all I can say for now lol .