Title: Tides Against Time
Rating: M (Language, Violence, and Adult Content)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Little Mermaid. All rights should go to Inuyasha Inc., Disney and Hans Christian Anderson.
Music: The song I have selected for this chapter is: "The Red Violin Soundtrack - Death of Anna #3" "The Red Violin Soundtrack – Anna's Theme #1" and "The Red Violin Soundtrack - Pope's Betrayal #13." I love to listen to music on YouTube while I read to add to the atmosphere. You are welcome to listen along with my music selection if you want. It is not required. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. When you see (xxx) this means to stop playing the music. It is important to pay attention to these marking as there is more than one song for this chapter. I do not have credit for these recordings or channels but I think it adds to the story.
Tides Against Time: Betrayal
Sesshomaru's eyes widened from shock when Sara suddenly jump over the desk and tackled him. Before he realized her intent she kissed his lips and he began to feel a burning sensation running from his gut and into his veins. It began to boil and burn inside making his heart race in his chest and his powers rise. Instantly realizing what she had done he cried out in pain and tossed her to the floor. He tried to counter act the poison running through his body with his own power but ended up hunching over in pain when it backlashed. At the same time his beast was clawing at his mind trying to kill Sara for assaulting them.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GIVE HIM?!" High Councilmen Shako screamed as he tried to help his Lord off the floor.
"A-A love potion!" Sara cried out as she watched her husband struggling to fight back.
"You foolish girl! He's a poison demon! He will fuse the poison with his own and his beast will kill you before your spell ever takes! You just sentenced yourself to death! Now somebody go grab a healer!" Barron Garcia yelled angrily making Miroku race down the hallway to find Tsukiyomi.
"I-I just wanted him to love me!" Sara cried as she sank to the floor and watched Sesshomaru began to wretch his stomach contents into a trash bin. It was black like tar and boiled within the bin. A rancid acidic egg smell filled the air making her head spin.
"Water…" Sesshomaru gasped out as he looked up at Shako with red blood shot eyes.
"On it!" High Councilmen Shako said as he went to the table in the corner and grabbed him the entire pitcher. "Here!"
Sesshomaru grabbed it and guzzled it down in a single gulp. To his relief it quenched the burn in his gut and allowed him to sit back on the couch. The Barron not knowing what to do was fanning Sesshomaru's face with a book.
"I'm so sorry!" Sara whispered over and over as she rocked on the floor with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry!"
"Where did you get this potion Sara?" High Councilmen Shako barked. He was pissed and didn't care to call her lady. She had lost that right as soon as she had betrayed their trust. Besides, with the divorce papers on the table she was already out the door.
"I-I got it from an enchantment store near the main square. The woman who sold it to me was named Maria!" Sara sobbed just as Tsukiyomi came in with Kaede.
"Escort Lady Sara to her chambers. She is to be under supervision until further notice." High Councilmen Shako commanded the guards as they shuffled a sobbing Sara out the door.
"We need to flush these toxins out of your system immediately. Witchcraft is nothing to mess around with. Who knows what this evil concoction will do." Tsukiyomi warned just as they heard screaming coming from down the hallway.
"What the devil is going on?!" Barron Garcia yelled as he, Miroku and Shako raced down the hall leaving Tsukiyomi and Kaede to care for Sesshomaru.
[Kagome's Chambers]
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Kagome screamed as she clutched her chest in pain.
"What do you mean what did I do?! This is all YOUR fault!" Sara screamed as the guards tried to force her into her room across the hall.
"MY FAULT?! I'm not the one who is trying to kill him!" Kagome screamed just as another race of pain shot through her heart. "YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US BOTH!"
"Lady Rin!" Sango cried as she caught her before she fell to the floor.
"Take me to him! I need to see him!" Kagome begged as she tried to escape the horrible pain that raced through her body.
(*** The Red Violin Soundtrack - Death of Anna #3 ***)
"Oh no! You're not going anywhere near him! He's mine!" Sara yelled just as the Barron, Miroku and Shako arrived.
"Oh my gods! Lady Kagome!" High Councilmen Shako shouted as he and Miroku raced to her side.
"(GASP) ….. Y-You… you can't be!" Sara gapped as she pointed towards Kagome with a shaky finger. "You're supposed to be dead!"
"I was dead..." Kagome said as she turned towards the Barron who was looking at her in disbelief. "and I've returned to take my rightful place at my mates side."
"Impossible…" Barron gaped as he took in the water demonness clutching her stomach. "You're trying to put your line on the thrown!"
"What are you talking about daddy?" Sara asked when she noticed Kagome holding her stomach. Suddenly all the pieces clicked together. The rumors around the castle, the secretes meetings, the divorce, the bizzar behavior from her husband and her unsettled nerves. They were all true and she burned with inconsolable anger. "YOU HARLET BITCH!"
"Kagome… I think it's time to visit your sister." Miroku whispered as he watched his wife quickly escort a hystarical Lorenzo into his chambers.
"N-No… I need to see him." Kagome gasped as she tried to work through the pain.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Sara screamed as she launched for Kagome.
"GRAB HER!" Shako shouted as he and one of the guards intercepted Sara allowing Miroku the chance to slip Kagome out the Patio doors.
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?!" Barron Garcia yelled as he raced down the stairs behind them. "I DEMAND ANSWERS!"
"You must get to safety!" Miroku panted as they raced through the courtyard and around the back garden. "Contact us through the shells... when you've made it to safety!"
"I-I can't!" Kagome gasped as she tried to work through the pain. "I think the potion... is breaking my bitch bond... with Sesshomaru! I need to be with him!"
"I SAID GET BACK HERE!" Barron Garcia yelled as he gained on them.
"You don't have a choice! You must get yourself... and the pup to safety!" Miroku shouted just as they reached the lagoon. "Quick! You must transform!"
"Help me into the water!" Kagome panted as they quickly went down the cobble steps.
Having at last reached the water's edge Kagome dove into the water. As she jumped her legs fused together into a long purple tail and her webbed fingers and ears became more pronounced. Gills formed behind her ears and she gulped in the bubbles when she hit the water. Being dragged behind by her night gown she quickly ripped it of. She was about to swim through the tunnel running along the wall when bars sudden slammed down, locking her in the lagoon. She could see through the murky water that someone was standing by the edge.
When she squinted her eyes she noticed it was Captain Okami and he was looking down at her with angry glowing green eyes. She was about to launch out of the water and attack him when Miroku suddenly jumped the wolf from behind and knocked him into the water. Seeing Miroku race to the lever she quickly made her way to the tunnel. As soon as Miroku lifted the lever and the bars were pull back she raced out of the lagoon and made her way towards the cove.
Kagome and her beast swam with all her might as she continued to work through the pain. She felt the further away she swam from Sesshomaru the stronger it became. When she swam past a patch of sea kelp she fastened herself a wrapped bra to cover her exposed breasts. She was almost to the cove when she noticed a gossip of newts playing in the sand fields. By this point her beast was gasping for air and her voice failed calling for help. As her vision grew dark she slowly began sinking to the seafloor.
Thankfully the newts seeing her distress swam to her aid. When they saw that she was unable to wake up, one of them went to get help. When help arrived however, all hell broke loose. The rescue party quickly carried her back to the cove and every able healer went to work. It was nearly noon the next day when Kagome at last opened her eyes. It was then she noticed her pain in her chest had vanished completely. What frightened her the most was the sense of emptyness and stillness within her heart and soul. What the hell was going on?
"Thank the gods she's awakened!" Eri cried causing everyone to come to her side. "Here drink this!"
"Thank you." Kagome whispered hoarsely as she tried to sit up.
"No, no. You must stay down. Your body went through quite a shock and until it is ready you need to rest." Kikyo ordered as she pressed her sister's shoulder back into the sand bed. "You had strange magic running through your blood. Whatever it was it was very strong."
"Did… did the pup…?" Kagome tried to ask on a quivering chin.
"Your pup is alive at the moment but is very sick." Kikyo warned making Kagome's heart rate pick up. "All we can do now is keep you strong and hope that it will restore its health."
"I can't loose my pup!" Kagome sobbed as her sister and cousins gathered around her.
"Shhhh… it's alright. Everything's going to be ok." Auymi soothed as she wiped Kagome's tears away.
"Is Sesshomaru ok?! Has he contacted anyone?" Kagome asked as she looked into their eyes desperately.
"Inuyasha tried to contact him but he hasn't responded. He's looking into it as we speak." Kikyo said as she ran her fingers through Kagome's bangs. "While we were healing you a strange blue light came from your heart. It grew hot and then slammed back into you chest. Do you know what that was? What happened?"
"N-No I don't know." Kagome answered nervously. "Do you think he's dead?!"
"If he's connected to your necklace he's not." Eri said as she pointed to the calling shell around her neck.
"That's right!" Kagome gasped as she pulled the shell to her lips. "Sesshomaru?! Sesshomaru are you there?"
"GOOOOOMMMEEEEE!" Lorenzo sobbed through the line. "GOOOO-OH-OH-MMMMM-EEEEE!"
"Lorenzo! Oh honey, don't cry!" Kagome whimpered as her family gathered around to listen. "What's the matter sweetie?"
"Why you g-g go w-way?!" Lorenzo cried making Kagome's heart break.
"Your mama found out about the pup sweet heart and became very angry. I had to leave to keep it safe and then a big bad wolf tried to hurt me. I'm so sorry baby that I didn't get to say goodbye! I had to go to keep the pup safe. I promise I'll be back as soon as everything is sorted out." Kagome said making Lorenzo growl.
"He's a bad wolf! I smelled him on Mama!" Lorenzo growled as he cried. "Everybody's mad! Grandpa's yelling at mama and Papa's not Papa!"
"What do you mean?! What's wrong with your Papa?" Kagome asked just as Inuyasha's head popped out of the water near the mouth of her healing tunnel. When he flipped the water out of his face they noticed him mouth and eyes were stern around the edges. Whatever it was he found out wasn't good.
"What is it Enu?" Kikyo asked as Lorenzo continued talking to Kagome through the shell.
"We've got a problem." Inuyasha said just as Kagome gasped and began to cry.
"What is it?!" Ayumi shouted as she tried to console a very upset Kagome.
"Apparently the potion Sara gave my brother had a delayed affect." Inuyasha sighed as he looked down at Kagome with pity. He hoped to talk with her first about what had happened but his nephew beat him to it. "His body despite being a poison demon was unable to fight against the magic spell."
"WHAT?!" Kikyo gasped in horror. "He can't be..."
"No, my brother isn't dead but he'll wish he was if he ever snaps out of this. Sara's enchantment spell worked too well and now my brother thinks he's in love with her." Inuyasha explained making everyone gasp in horror.
"There's got to be a way to undo it!" Yuka said. "What about Chief Kaguya?"
"Already ahead of ya." Inuyasha said as Kagome was passed over to Kikyo. "She's looking into a solution as we speak. In the mean time we need to get Kagome to calm down before she loses the pup."
"We'll take care of her." Eri said as she and her sisters gathered around Kikyo and Kagome.
"Good. I'm going to go and figure out what the hell is going on. I'll be back by sunset." Inuyasha said before he sank back into the water. He swam up the coast towards the meeting point he had set up with his informant. Having reached his destination he pulled himself onto some rocks to wait. About twenty minutes later a lone water creature slipped out from the darkness. "What's the damage?"
"I'm afraid it's quite serious." Daija sighed as he joined him on the rocks.
"What happened?" Inuyasha asked as he reclined into the rock with an exhausted sigh.
"After Princess Kagome escaped our Lord's beast went into a rage. The castle staff had to hold him back to keep from hurting himself and killing Lady Sara. Poor Lorenzo heard the entire thing and is quite shaken up over it. He's staying with Kaede until everything calms down." Daija explained as he took off his cloak and set it on the rock beside him. "Then in the middle of our Lord's demonic fit he simply passed out and strange blue lights burst out of his chest. We thought he had died but thankfully he woke up about 10 minutes later. He seemed to have completely healed from the ordeal besides a foggy memory. It shocked us when he asked to check on Sara's wellbeing and not Princess Kagome's."
"What happened next?" Inuyasha asked.
"I was told as soon as he saw Sara a glowing yellow fog clouded over his eyes. He walked to her in a trance and shocked everyone by kissing her and dragging her to his chambers. I've been told they have yet to leave and howling and growling has been heard coming from inside ever since then." Daija said making Inuyasha grab a nearby rock and chuck it into the waves.
"Damn it Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha yelled angrily as his throat tightened in his grief. "Kagome just came back! This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"It breaks my heart for the Princess." Daija sighed as he too picked up a stone from the beach and skipped it across the water's surface. "H-How is she?"
"Very upset as you can imagine. I just hope the pup survives this." Inuyasha said with sad eyes.
"He was her reason to return. Now he has betrayed her again and left her to pick up the pieces. She deserves better than that." Daija growled.
"I agree with you but we can't look at it like." Inuyasha sighed as he threaded his fingers through his hair. "My brother would have never chosen to be with Sara in the first place and only did it to save his people. Now, the choice has been taken away from him again but this time without his consent. I just hope he doesn't force his beast into having another pup. That would be the killing blow."
"When I was preparing their dinner I mentioned the same thing to Tsukiyomi. She said that Lady Sara had requested a cleansing tonic with her morning tea. Apparently she had been with a lover last night and didn't wish to carry his seed. We have one months time to come up with a solution before the tonic wares off. After that Lady Sara will become fertile again and we risk her conceiving another pup." Daija warned making Inuyasha's eyebrow quirk.
"She had a lover on the side and then forced my brother into her bed as well?" Inuyasha asked in surprise. "I would have never suspected that from her."
"Believe me the entire kingdom is upset over it; especially after learning that Lady Rin was in fact Princess Kagome. Both your brother and his wife were having affairs on each other. They are equally guilty of disloyalty. Now however little tiffs are popping up in regards to which female Lord Sesshomaru should be loyal to." Daija scoffed.
"Ridiculous!" Inuyasha huffed. "Kagome should be with him. She had him first!"
"Yes, she did... but some would argue she lost that right since she died. Sara married him and had his child first. The princess came back later making her the adulterous and their pup an illegitimate heir; not the other way around." Daija said making Inuyasha scowl.
"Well their marriage wasn't going to work out any way. Sesshomaru doesn't truly love Sara and denied her a relationship long before Kagome came back. Their entire marriage is fucked up. Just look at their kid! Lorenzo wasn't marked like I was meaning my bastard of a brother and his beast don't biologically claim him as their heir. True, I didn't have markings because Sesshomaru already had them but at least my parents actually loved each other! 15 years is a long time to be alone. It's no wonder Sara found a lover on the side. Their breakup was bound to happen eventually. Kagome coming back didn't split them up. It only helped speed the process along. Her returning to the living and becoming pupped is a miracle and Spain should feel honored to have their Lord's mate returned to them." Inuyasha argued.
"I agree but now your brother thinks he loves his cheating wife. It's like their marriage is stronger than before despite what happened. I am uncertain what will happen if he sees the princess or smells his pup. He might snap out of his spell, try to kill them or abandon them completely. We will need to proceed with caution and protect the princess and her pup at all costs. Also, Captain Okami has sent out search parties looking to capture the princess as we speak. I am uncertain if the Barron still plans to leave after Lorenzo's party on Saturday considering everything that has happened. If not, it will be very dangerous for the princess to venture far from the cove. She cannot go back to the castle, no matter what." Daija said making Inuyasha's frown deepen.
"I'll be sure to tell my guards so they can keep an eye on her. In the mean time, is there anyway we could get some of Sesshomaru's personal belongings to help the pup's aura?" Inyasha asked. "It's unstable at the moment and with Sesshomaru currently neglecting to provide for his pup it could still be lost."
"I'll speak to Kaede as soon as I return and bring whatever she suggests to the cove in the morning." Daija said.
"Good." Inuyasha grunted as he began to slip back into the water. "I appreciate your help."
"Send the Princess my support." Daija waved goodbye before slipping away into the darkness of the night. When dawn approached the following day Daija slipped out of the castle and stealthily made his way down the coast towards the cove. Climbing the rocks above the main cavern Daija called through one of the cracks lining the ceiling. "King Enuyasha! I have what you asked for Princess Kagome."
"Great! Drop them down." Inuyasha called back. Carefully unraveling the bundle Daija dropped two items through the cracks. "Perfect! I'll get them to her right away."
Saying his goodbye the water snake once again slithered through the darkness and returned to his duties without a passing glance. Inside the cove Inuyasha gingerly draped one of Lorenzo's blanket's over Kagome's shoulders and his brother's pelt over top of that. He watched it instinctively curl protectively around her waist and a sadness came to his eyes. Even if Sesshomaru didn't know where he belonged his beast sure did. He just hoped his demonic pelt would be enough to keep the little squirt alive. When Kagome awoke in the cove later that morning and found Sesshomaru's pelt curled around her she at first was confused and displaced.
When Inuyasha explained her new predicament she remained painfully quiet and it frightened everyone of what was running through her mind. As the days passed with no change in Sesshomaru's behavior the castle celebrated Lorenzo's party as planned and the Barron and his men returned to Italy. Realizing he wasn't coming for her Kagome fell deeper into depression. Despite everyone's best efforts to comfort her, including Lizy through her mental link, Kagome lost all spark in her eyes and slept most of the days away. After awhile they left her to her grief because they all knew there was nothing they could do. The love he once had for her… was gone.
(*** The Red Violin Soundtrack – Anna's Theme #1 ***)
She only ate and spoke when necessary and remained in solitude when given the chance. When word of Sesshomaru taking a trip with his family to Italy in a week's time was announced all hope of saving her pup was lost. Everyone was devastated at the news but none more so than Kagome. After that she avoided everyone and spent most of her days away from the cove in solitude. Everywhere she went she took his pelt with her and slept in a corner on Lorenzo's blanket away from everyone. She became sickly looking and had shadows under her eyes from hours of crying. It was ironic that the anniversary of her death was only a few days away now. How poetic would it be to loose his pup around the same time? Having already been away for nearly a month now her bump looked what a human mother's three month belly would look like.
It broke her heart knowing its little warmth would soon be leaving her. She could feel it's aura dancing behind her hand as she sat upon the rocks near the cove and knew it wouldn't be long now that its little heartbeat could be heard. Surprisingly her little pup had adjusted well to the pelt and remained relatively strong. For that she was grateful to have a chance to hold onto it just a little while longer. As Kagome looked out over the vast expanse of water she rubbed over her bump and hummed a sad tune from her broken heart. As she lightly sang her pup a lullaby the sun's rays were beginning to color the sky in vibrant reds and purples. Her once vibrant ocean blue eyes were nothing more than pale panes of glass. The joy that once glowed from her person was no longer existent and all life in her aura was gone.
She didn't smile or laugh anymore and didn't speak unless spoken to. She didn't bother to take care of her appearance. Were it not for the child growing inside she would lack the will to keep going but even then everything she had ever wished for and loved was leaving her. Lorenzo was hidden away in the castle, her little pup would soon be gone and the love of her life had forgotten her. Plus, he was rutting with someone else and from what she over heard appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Chief Kaguya had looked into every spell she could find but was unsuccessful in finding a cure. When Daija tracked down the gypsie who had given the potion she said there was one way to break the spell; Sara had to die. Inuyasha had made plans to send in an assassin but Kagome had stopped that.
As much as she disliked Sara she was Lorenzo's mother and she didn't want to risk damaging Sesshomaru's soul in case the spell backfired. Now, all she could do was pray and wait for a miracle that he would return to her. There had to be another way to save him from her spell and keep her little pup alive. Feeling a chill from the evening breeze blow down her back she shivered and curled her tail tighter around herself. Sensing her discomfort Sesshomaru's pelt instinctively curled more snuggly around her body and radiated a light heat from is energy coil. Feeling his pelt's warmth and tender embrace she lightly ran her fingers through the fluffy white fur and sighed. She smiled sadly when the tip of the pelt curled and rubbed over her bump like his hand used to do. It was like his spirit was still with her even though his mind and body were not.
Nuzzling her nose in its warm fur she took a deep breath of his scent. She could barley smell his cedar wood musk now and could feel his energy fading away little by little. She knew it wouldn't be long now to where her last connection to him would be gone. She felt like crying in grief of losing him forever but she no longer had tears to let fall. How had her life come to this? What did she do this life time to displease the gods? She knew she had been having an affair... but wasn't that why they had returned her in the first place? Wasn't she supposed to fulfill her vow with Sesshomaru and live happily ever after? Why did her choices have to affect her unborn child? Why was life so unfair? Seeing her sister poke her head out of the water she knew it was time to turn in for the evening. Sighing in defeat she reluctantly slipped back into the cove and ended another lonely day without her mate.
[Tashio Castle]
Sesshomaru was confused. Ever since he woke up on the couch three weeks ago everyones been treating him like he's infected with a life threatening disease. His castle staff speaks in hushed tones when he is nearby or avoids him entirely. Even his court officials speak to him like he will snap and avoids family topics all together in meetings. Lorenzo was upset with him as well. He kept going on and on about an imaginary friend called Gome. He would become angry when he didn't know who it was. He asked his wife about it and she said she had no idea either. They figured he would eventually grow out of it. Shrugging if off he continued on with his life and tried his best to ignore it. However, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake the tension of uneasiness in his heart.
He tried talking to his inner beast but he refused to speak with him, except repeating, "It's your fault" over and over. What was his fault?! He had even gone as far as to ask Kaede about it. She surprised him the most by turning her back on him. With tears in her eyes she told him he would have to follow his heart to uncover what was missing himself. That hadn't helped one bit and only confused him even more! What was he missing? Why did he feel incomplete? He had a beautiful wife, a strong heir, a bountiful kingdom and a land that was at peace! What the hell was wrong? He looked his castle from top to bottom in hopes of uncovering the mystery. He felt like a dumb dog who had lost his bone. It was utterly rediculous. He couldn't shake this feeling in his stomach that it was important and he growled in frustration. He even tossed and turned in his sleep when the nagging feeling wouldn't escape him.
No matter how hard he tried to remember he ended right back where he started... nowhere. When he began packing for Italy he discovered that his pelt was missing. He asked his staff if they had sent it to be cleaned but no one knew where it had gone to. Not remembering moving it outside of his office he expanded his aura and felt it pulling him south along the coast. Having not been in that direction in weeks and not recalling taking his pelt with him he scowled in confusion. Had someone stolen it? That thought made him frown. Only a fool would dare to steal from him. He had tried summoning it back using his demonic energy but for some odd reason it refused to come. He had tried again but continued to feel a resisting force. Could it be stuck somewhere or perhaps someone had locked it away? Seeing that it was nearly dusk out he decided he would search for it in the morning.
He still had two more days left before they departed for their trip. When he found whoever took it, they would die. He could feel that its power was waning and would be useless to anyone in a day or two. Lucky for him with it being a part of himself he could still search for it even when its power had vanished. If they planned on using it to get to him they were poorly mistaken. He wasn't so weak to be manipulated. Hearing his wife digging through his dresser behind him helped return his focus to the task at hand. As he folded another pair of slacks into his trunk he smiled. Sara had been so supportive through all of this and he felt extremely blessed to have her in his life. There were many days were he felt like memories had vanished from his mind and he felt unbalanced and lost. As soon as he had her in his arms and felt her lips upon his everything felt right again. There had been a couple times that the nagging feeling wouldn't go away but soon discovered when they were busy rutting it got lost in the background.
He could smell her heat cycle was approaching and smirked at the potential. The thought of having another pup with her had been heavy on his mind especially considering her age. He knew her womb would soon become useless having smell lesser eggs in her body. She'd soon go through menopause and grow weaker with time. The though of losing her made him frown. He loved his wife and he hated the idea of losing her to her mortality. He had looked into the subject many years ago for a friend of his who wish to mate with a human but unfortunately ran into dead ends everywhere they looked. Apparently the gods didn't like sharing their holy powers of granting life and refused for magic or demonic powers to manipulate the human life into obtaining immortality. No, he was bound to watch his wife depart from him just like anyone else who loved a mortal. As his thoughts drifted off to expanding their family he could still hear her digging around in his drawers. When she opened one particular drawer however, something inside rattled around.
"Sesshomaru? What is all this stuff?" Sara asked as she pulled the drawer further out to inspect the random items inside.
Curious to what she was looking at he walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder. It was loaded with random knickknacks and corroded junk. His brow furrowed in confusion as to why he had this crap in his dresser.
"I am not certain. I do not recall where these items came from. Perhaps they were my father's?" Sesshomaru suggested as he reached inside and pulled out a broken compass with barnacles growing on the back.
It was a mixture of exotic artifacts like colorful pieces of sea glass, large sea stones and exotically patterned seashells he had never seen before... or had he? As he watched his wife sift through the bizarre items a tattered braided rope caught his attention. Reaching over her shoulder he gingerly picked it up. When he pulled it from the shadows of the draw he noticed it wasn't rope but brittle silver and black hair braided together. Holding it in front of the candle light he noticed the silver hair looked very similar to his own. Growing curious he held a strand up to the braided strand and noticed it was a perfect match. Pulling it to his nose he found it held his own scent and he scowled in confusion. Perhaps sitting in the drawer near his clothes had allowed it to soak up his scent? Looking to the black strands he noticed they held a beautiful indigo and violet undertone to them when he held them against the candle light.
"Oh wow!" Sara whispered as she pulled out a beautiful butterfly comb from inside the drawer. "It's so beautiful."
As soon as Sesshomaru looked at the comb images of a beautiful woman dressed in an exquisite pink evening gown with black raven hair came to his mind and a burning sensation pinched his heart. He gasped from the sudden pain and clutched his chest.
"Sesshomaru!" Sara gasped as she caught him as he hunched over. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine Sara." Sesshomaru grunted out. He shook his head of the images and took the comb from his wife's hands to study it. "This comb… I have seen it before."
"Really?" Sara asked as she marveled at its vibrant diamonds and craftsmanship. "Do you think it was your mothers?"
"I do not believe so. I think it belonged to someone... a women I once knew." Sesshomaru said making Sara stare at the comb in thought.
"Well whoever it belonged to obviously no longer needs it." Sara said as she eyed the jewelry greedily. Thinking it might have belonged to Kagome she wanted it even more. "May I have it? It would be such a waste to have it hidden away."
"I will think about it." Sesshomaru said as he placed the comb back into the drawer making Sara pout. "I do not remember these items but obviously if they were kept they hold special value of some kind. I will speak to Kaede to see if she knows why they are here."
"What about that?" Sara asked as she wrinkled her lip in disgust. "It looks to like a dirty hair ball.
"That's because it is." Sesshomaru said as he smirked at his wife's obvious disgust. "It has caught my attention and I wish to study it."
"Whatever floats your boat dear." Sara joked as she went back to packing his trunk. "I swear your curiosity will get the better of you one day."
"Perhaps." Sesshomaru chuckled before tucking the strand of hair into his breast pocket and kissing her forehead. "I must finish some last minute details before we depart. Do not stay up for me."
"Alright." Sara sighed in defeat before wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him down for a kiss. "Will you check on Lorenzo before you turn in?"
"Hn." Sesshomaru hummed as he kissed her lips in a tinder kiss. "Sleep well wife."
"Goodnight husband." Sara smiled before reluctantly letting him go.
(*** The Red Violin - Pope's Betrayal #13 ***)
Walking past Lorenzo's room on his way out he peaked in to already be asleep. Walking over to his bedside he leaned forward and brushed his son's bangs back to kiss his forehead. He could smell salt lingering on his son's cheeks and could smell the damp wetness of his pillow from where he had been crying. He frowned at the though of his pup being so troubled and not coming to seek either he or his wife for comfort. What could have possibly upset him so and why was he pulling away? He noticed his son was tightly clutching his toy dog and a white garment of some kind. Carefully pulling it from his side he was surprised to find it was a nightgown. It had short sleeves and would be knee length when worn. It was made from Egyptian cotton and had little blue buttons running down the front. His brow wrinkled in confusion as to why his son would be holding onto a woman's nightclothes... that were clearly not his wife's.
His scowl deepened when the subtle smell of the ocean's breeze mixed with tropical flowers came to his nose. To his surprise the smell didn't just linger on the garment but all over his son's room. Following his nose he walked through the bathroom and into the connecting suite. The scent was the strongest here but was bare except for its bedroom furniture. He could tell that it had been recently cleaned and had been vacant for a while. As he looked over the room the sudden uneasiness in his stomach returned and he sat on the bed to try and figure out what was bothering him. Setting the nightgown on the bedspread glimpses of the same beautiful demonness he had seen while holding the comb came to his mind. As he tried to recall where he had seen her from he suddenly saw an enchanting image of her naked on the bed with skin as pail as whitecaps with endless curves like its waves.
Her hair was silky in texture and as black as ebony. It had various shades of blue undertones and was fanned out beneath her like a raven's wings. She had full breasts with skin as soft as velvet and nipples the shade of a blushing rose. When the image of her face came to his eyes he gasped in disbelief at what he saw. They were the deepest blue he had ever seen and looked up into his own with such love and adoration that it stole his breath away. A beautiful smile curved her full pouty lips and their soft coral pink complimented her complexion perfectly. She had a cute pert nose and a heart shaped face. He could see peaking through her luscious locks finned aquatic ears and he thought they made her look exotic and alluring. Sexy light blue markings lined her cheekbones, breastbones, fore arms, wrists, hips, thighs and ankles. Her entire image was breath taking and he began to drown in the vision she made.
When images of him making passionate love to her crossed his vision he groaned at the idea. He could hear her voice in his head calling his name and crying out to the heavens. However when image after image began to unload and memory after memory reconnected in his mind his heart began to race and his breathing drastically picked up. When a lace of pain raced through his heart and a foggy glaze cleared from his eyes everything he had forgotten clicked; their past love, their reconnection in his lagoon 15 years ago, their vow in becoming mates when she died, her return upon his private beach and her beast bonding with his own as he filled her womb with his seed. When the last of his memories crashed over him he clutched his chest and a burning blue light made him fall back onto the bed gasping for air. Tears began to roll down his cheeks as the devastating events came to the surface.
"What have I done…" he gasped in horror.
The last three and a half weeks played vividly in his mind and he raced to the bathing room to empty his stomach. How could this have happened?! He wanted to be angry and avenge Kagome but he still felt an emotional attachment to Sara. He guested it had something to do with the spell she had cast but nonetheless as long as it was there he couldn't hurt her. What was he to do?! His beast was in love with Kagome but his humanoid form was in love with Sara! He couldn't choose one over the other! He did know one thing however and that was he needed to find Kagome and make sure she and their pup were ok. Decision made he walked back into Lorenzo's room and tucked her nightgown back into his son's arm.
Now he understood why his son had been so upset. His pack mother had been taken away from him and he had tossed the memory of her away as if she were rubbish. He made a promise then and there that no matter what happened with he and Kagome Lorenzo would be with Kagome just as much as he was with Sara. He would understand if Kagome no longer wanted to be a part of his life but she needed to be in Lorenzo's. It would break his pups heart if she chose to leave him but he couldn't blame her if she did. He had broken their vow twice now, both of them with Sara. True, this time had been underhanded by Sara however, with the spell still holding his heart he knew if Kagome asked him to leave Sara he wouldn't, couldn't! UGH! He was so confused!
He knew him refusing to chose one female over the other would hurt them both but his heart was literally split in two! Why did fate have to be so cruel?! He wasn't sure if there was a way to break the spell and a part of him hoped it wouldn't. He couldn't bare the thought of losing Sara but he knew if he stayed with Sara he would lose Kagome! As he walked out his son's balcony door he looked up into the heavens and prayed to every god he could think of in hope for the strength and wisdom to fix this. Ultimately he knew one would be broken he just hoped that after everything was done his growing pup would survive the stress of it all. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves he transformed into his true self and raced across the evening landscape in search of his missing lover.
"Kagome… forgive me." He whispered into the wind and disappeared over the hillside.
[End of Chapter 71]
(I know this chapter is going to be hard for many of you. Don't worry! This isn't the end! IT WILL GET BETTER I PROMISE! More chapters to come. If you haven't followed this story yet, be sure to click the follow button! Thanks for reading.)