V – A road fraught with dangers

While Kagome was being informed of her imminent meeting with the Inu-no-Taisho, back home, most of the villagers were waking up; the typical noises of a busy day filled the air and already the men had left their homes to start working and the women had followed suit.

In his hut, Ichiro watched his daughter-in-law trying to hide her agitation as she prepared a late breakfast and his nephew, who clearly hadn't gotten over his separation from his sister yet, nor had he really understood the motive behind it. Ichiro didn't fault him; he was trying not to be bothered too much by it and, in the meantime, was thinking about what to say when her absence would be revealed. He had promised her he would take care of his family and had every intention of doing so, however, he also didn't want to drag her name through more mud – even if he hoped she would never have to set foot in their damned village again. He clenched his fists on his knees, not looking up from his cup of tea, and thought back to what Kagome had begged him to say, heedless of the consequences.

According to her, the best solution would have been to immediately let the headman know of her disappearance to avert the possibility that the villagers might turn against them. He should have gone, worried, to the man and informed him that, during the night, she had put together a few essentials and fled without a word. It was the safest and also the most plausible solution; besides, no one believed that Kagome had really wanted to marry Onigumo. Still, there was a flaw in her plan, one that would have been all too obvious to the villagers as it was to Ichiro: a girl like Kagome, generous and always concerned for her loved ones, would have never left her family in the lurch or broken her word.

How many would have disputed the tale? How many would have believed it? Ichiro had never had trouble appearing credible, although there hadn't been many occasions in his life when he had had to lie. Yet, this time, there was too much at stake and everything could easily go wrong. Besides, he wasn't sure that even if they believed him no one would resent them. Most of the people there were afraid of Onigumo and had been more than content to throw Kagome to the wolves to please him and keep him quiet. But now? Now the man would be furious and Ichiro couldn't even imagine what damage he could perpetuate to the detriment of each of them, stirring up general discontent that would fall a second time on his family.

He took a deep breath and finally stood up, surprising his nephew and daughter-in-law, who had just arrived to give him breakfast. It would have been better not to waste too much time meditating on the many ifs of their complicated situation. Kagome had been right about one thing at least: the sooner he informed the headman, the more chance that he would believe him.

"Aren't you eating, Grandpa?" asked Kaori, worried and no longer hiding what was in her heart. It had been a hard night for her, and her weathered face suddenly showed many more years than she had.

Ichiro turned to look at Sota, who had stopped wiping away his tears but was still sniffling, and told himself that protecting them also meant making sure they weren't distressed or living in fear of what might happen to them or Kagome. "I have to go," he announced, "I don't have time to eat. Set it aside for me, Kaori, dear; I don't want your hard work to go to waste." The woman immediately understood what the elderly man wanted to tell her and nodded as the child grew alarmed at his words. "No need, Sota: I am going to talk to the headman. I hope to be back soon."


Walking down the road that would lead him to the old childhood friend he could no longer even call such, Ichiro didn't notice he was being followed, too agitated about what he was about to do and the well-being of his family. He also worried about Kagome. Although he was aware that he had left her in good hands, he also knew that the young girl would not find peace so easily, not if she was currently separated from them.

Therefore, the many thoughts that crowded his mind prevented him from perceiving a pair of suspicious eyes following his moves and the inquietude that accompanied them.

Onigumo had early on sent his son to investigate what Tsubaki had said the previous afternoon so that he could think up a suitable punishment without even rushing in and accusing Kagome without hard evidence. The boy had willingly accepted because, like his father, he never disdained a good opportunity to ogle the unsuspecting young girls around the village, one of them Kagome herself. After all, Susumu was in his early twenties and so much in need of venting instincts he too often had to repress. Sometimes favourable situations came his way that included innocent girls caught off guard, others he was content to spy on and imagine how he might otherwise take advantage of those naked bodies in front of him – for him. In short, being brought up by a mean and inconsiderate man like Onigumo had taught Susumu from an early age how to deal with women and that violence was the best way for them to understand how the world worked. He would have liked a girl like Kagome for him, who surpassed her in age by only a couple of years, but Onigumo was greedy and hadn't wanted to hear any objections. Susumu hoped that having her in the house would open the door to other favourable circumstances anyway.

Having to spy on her that morning, therefore, was a task he didn't consider an obligation, one he would complete without any boredom, on the contrary. However, on reaching her family's hut unseen, he immediately noticed that something was wrong. He knew that if he returned empty-handed, his father would find a very cruel way to punish him, thus, he decided to spy on the old fool. The decision finally gratified him when he overheard the conversation he had with the headman – the one Susumu deemed the biggest idiot of all. How else could he call a man who was not even aware of the various hiding places and traps he had sown over the years in his own dwelling? It also had to be said that Onigumo's son was a very cunning boy with a talent for deception, a skill that came in handy every day. But what he heard was anything but positive, and the happiness he had felt at having a chance to wander around and spy on girls vanished. Whether or not it was Susumu's fault, he already knew his father wouldn't hesitate to vent his wrath on him. And it wasn't going to be little.


Unaware of the dangers her family would soon face as soon as Onigumo was informed of her disappearance and drew his conclusions, Kagome wrung her hands in her lap as she awaited the arrival of Inu-no-Taisho. Standing there, Inuyasha wished he could have been so bold as to take them from her and reassure her with a touch, but the doubts he had discussed with his father still held him back, not to mention that he had no idea how to deal with a woman except through what he had seen his parents do. He only knew that seeing her so worried made him even more nervous and thought it was his job to reassure her.

His mother, on the other hand, oblivious to his fears and doubts, only had eyes for the young woman whose identity she didn't know yet. She did what Inuyasha would have loved to do and he couldn't help being jealous; why could his mother take Kagome's hand so freely and console her with a bright smile even though she had known her for less time? Why the priestess could reciprocate her smile without any trouble? Why, instead, had he only been able to argue with her so far? In the end, he shook his head, aware that these thoughts were completely out of place and senseless, and then lifted it as soon as the room doors opened, revealing his father's figure.

Toga was an even taller demon than Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, robust and poised; his face with its more angular features mostly resembled his eldest son – the youngest had inherited his mother's softer ones – but differed in the warm gaze and encouraging smile he displayed. When he entered a room, many were surprised by the confident and satisfied aura he exuded, which often infected the most helpful people; he had a jovial character and loved to joke, but was serious whenever the situation called for it and could be very hard on enemies and traitors. His long silver hair was usually tied in a high ponytail to prevent it from getting in the way of the sword he wore between his shoulder blades or the two-tailed mokomoko that started at the shoulders and split at the hips. With that hairstyle, he emphasised his pointed ears and purplish marks on his cheeks, a distinguishing feature of demons with particularly powerful blood usually called dai-youkai and which became rarer as the years passed. At one time, following his first meeting with his soulmate, he had carried two other swords forged from one of his fangs, now, however, both had been passed on to his two sons and he had returned to using only the one he carried hanging behind him. He had thought that gifting both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha with weapons of that calibre would avoid the feud between them, but it hadn't gone as he had hoped. Since then, his attempts to understand and approach the eldest son had diminished, replaced by those aimed at preventing him from hurting his half-brother or stepmother. However, the grimace that usually disfigured Toga's face whenever this last thought crossed his mind was absent that day. The happiness at knowing that Inuyasha had finally found his soulmate was too much to be overshadowed by certain problems, and as he entered the room where his family was waiting for him, he made no secret of it. Even Izayoi, still unaware of this discovery, was pleasantly surprised by the genuine feeling she immediately read on her mate's face.

She rose to meet him and greeted him with a light kiss before taking the arm he held out to her. Kagome stood up immediately before Inuyasha could reassure her and tell her that there was no need for formality; she bowed and her cheeks turned scarlet because in front of her stood the strong dai-youkai hero of many tales her father and grandfather had told her. She remained in that position for as long as it took, which for her meant until the Inu-no-Taisho gave her consent to do so. However, after a few seconds, instead of his words, she felt his large hand rest on her head in a loving, fatherly gesture – tears pricked at the sides of her eyes at the sensation she had not felt in years, but she stubbornly pushed them back.

"Kagome, you are welcome among us. Please stand up; there is no need," he spoke to her in a warm, thunderous voice that filled the entire room; as powerful and authoritative as it was, she was amazed at the very warmth it emanated. Lifting her face, she first noticed the love-filled gaze Izayoi was giving him and wordlessly admired the feeling that – she did not doubt for a second – was reciprocated by him. Later, when she'd find out that what bound them together was the same fate that awaited her and Inuyasha, she wouldn't be shocked, surprising the princess once again with her lack of prejudice.

At that moment, however, she quickly recovered and pushing back the instinct to bow again, she thanked the person who had first seen fit to send someone to the village to ascertain the situation. Of course, the one guilty of everything that had happened to her was his son, but so many other demons would have had no regard for a simple, poor farming community. "I thank you immensely for your hospitality and for what you were willing to do as soon as news of Hojo's death reached you," she began formally. "Both my family and I are extremely grateful to you."

"You don't have to thank me, Kagome," he replied, reserving her an even wider smile and leading everyone towards a small table. "Indirectly, I am also to blame for what happened since I couldn't inculcate the right moral values in my son and because I left certain gaps in his education. I knew I had to make up for it as much as I could. Unfortunately, I am unable to bring Hojo back to life – I assume he is the man killed by Sesshomaru – and sending Inuyasha was only the least I could do. Mind you, the least; I don't think I can really heal certain wounds."

The half-demon thought it was the right time to step in and interrupt his father to prevent him from continuing to take on blame that was not his own. "Don't talk nonsense, father; it's not your fault Sesshomaru grew up that way or that he hates humans."

Toga raised a hand to silence his son, giving him an unconvinced stern look, also to let him know that he did not appreciate the intervention. "Although he didn't inherit this hatred from me, my fault lies in not having been able to erase it but, rather, for unwittingly fuelling it. Therefore, I would like to be the one to formally apologise to you, Kagome." That said, he inclined his head, repentant.

Izayoi, who had been watching the exchange silently, was surprised by that gesture and, then, finally connected Kagome's presence in that room and the death of the human they had been told about the prior day. She brought one hand to her mouth in surprise while she stretched out the other to reach for Kagome's and squeeze it – the priestess had already realized that Izayoi was the kind of woman who loved affectionate gestures. "Oh, dear, don't tell me! Oh, but that's terrible. Inuyasha!" she exclaimed, turning towards him. "Why didn't you tell me right away? Now I understand the cause of your difficult days, sweetheart. You don't know how sorry I was to hear about what happened."

"I believe there is more that Inuyasha has kept from you, love, regarding Kagome's presence in this castle," Toga informed her. He was just about to urge his reluctant son to confess everything to his mother when the hall doors opened a second time, more forcefully, revealing a person that would disturb the young girl's dreams probably for years to come.

Sesshomaru was there, a fierce scowl on his face and his body tense; his furious aura had already contaminated the more relaxed atmosphere of the place and frightened Kagome to no small degree. Although she prided herself on being someone who wasn't easily intimidated or on her apprenticeship as a priestess, she couldn't help but notice how dangerous Sesshomaru was, even more than his parent, who surpassed him in power. This time, the cruelty in his gaze, the same she had seen two days ago when he murdered her betrothed in cold blood, was directed at his father and the woman next to him. A moment later, he spotted his half-brother and her, and he bared his fangs to frighten her more, having recognized her, even though he usually didn't even pay attention to inferior beings like her, let alone have memories of them.

Still, it had not been so long since their first meeting, and the demon with magenta-coloured marks on his face remembered well the presence of a priestess and the way he had boldly provoked her, daring her to attack him for justice. The smell of her fear had amused him at the time, but returning that morning and smelling it in the castle, permeating the air, had not only disgusted him but also infuriated him to no end. He had immediately spotted his father in the family room in the company of the girl and the two other beings whose presence he had had to endure for two centuries and had headed there without any hesitation. "I see, father," he exclaimed, spitting scorn on the appellation, "that you continue to gladly surround yourself with inferior beings."

"Sesshomaru," Toga stood up, immediately sensing Kagome's fear and indiscreetly trying to create a wall between them, "I see that you are always prone to showy entrances."

The other growled in displeasure. "I demand to know why on earth I have to be subjected to such a stench back in my rooms. I thought we had already hit rock bottom with the repudiated princess and the half-breed."

"Son, you only demonstrate how your beliefs are far from reliable as you continue this uneducated discourse of yours," Toga rebuked him while trying to restrain his own no longer serene aura to avoid frightening their guest further. "Just as you forget that this is not just your home and that you should have respect for your family."

Sesshomaru laughed maliciously. "The only members of my family are you and my mother, and you don't do much to earn my respect given the company you obstinately keep choosing."

"I will ignore your last comments and reserve a longer discussion for another time," hissed Toga, who was still not used to hearing his eldest son talk like that about his mate and youngest. "However, I would like to point out to you that you are the reason why Kagome-sama is in our presence. If you had not been guilty of yet another senseless crime, we would not be in this situation."

At that point, Sesshomaru again pointed his icy eyes at Kagome and smiled devilishly. "The priestess who didn't have the courage to face me, how could I forget her? I thought I had done you a favour; don't you? That weak human could certainly not have satisfied you, not to mention that according to human absurd beliefs, someone like you should remain pure and undefiled until death; am I right? Who knows what your people must have thought. See?" he turned back to Toga, waving a pale clawed hand in the air, haughty. "That's the way it is."

A low, feral growl announced Inuyasha's introduction into the conversation. "Stop spouting bullshit, Sesshomaru, and if things don't go your way, get lost. No one requires your presence!"

Sesshomaru reserved a frostier look for him, narrowing his golden orbs. "Do you still think anyone cares about your opinion, half-breed?" Then, noticing the way Inuyasha's body had stood to protect the girl, he widened his smile. "Oh, now I see what you meant when you said I was the reason the priestess is here, father. Have I been summoned to finish what I started the other day?"

Faced with that thinly veiled threat and no longer able to maintain his already feeble patience, Inuyasha made to attack his brother, not surprising him since he had foreseen everything. Besides, it wasn't the first time Sesshomaru had provoked the half-demon and it both amused and infuriated him; how could his father have contributed to the birth of such an unworthy being? He easily avoided his attacks and lunges as he kept laughing at the pitiful spectacle and goading him even more.

What made him think he would even be able to touch him? How could he even imagine he was his equal?

"Don't waste your energy, half-breed. Is that what you were able to teach him, father?" he then asked Toga, who was just waiting for the right moment to intervene.

Unfortunately, the Inu-no-Taisho knew that one of the things Inuyasha still lacked was cold blood, especially if it came to his brother, who was particularly committed to provoking him. He would have to learn to keep his irascible temper at bay, but wouldn't it have been too much to ask for more patience on this very occasion? Sesshomaru had just threatened his soul mate. Still, Toga restrained himself; he knew that by intervening, he would humiliate Inuyasha even more and unwittingly prove Sesshomaru right.

As he pondered the best course of action, the latter avoided yet another slow attack from Inuyasha, who lost his balance for half a second. By then, Sesshomaru was looking at him with disdain again, laughing bitterly. "What bothered you about what I said earlier? Do you fear for the girl?" Another laugh. "Aren't you sick of defending pathetic human women yet?" He then moved but maintained eye contact as he clearly showed Inuyasha what his next target was. Quick and graceful as ever, Sesshomaru didn't even give him time to open his eyes wide, startled, and a moment later he was already facing Kagome. He had ignored his father and stepmother altogether and had caught up with the priestess who, although immobile, was showing her fear in other ways, especially when malice was at its peak in the demon's aura. "Are you afraid I might hurt this fragile human pup?" he asked again, reaching out to caress her cheek with the back of his hand, feigning affection.

However, he had far too much underestimated Inuyasha; more importantly, he had ignored the limits of his mixed blood.

Inuyasha hadn't noticed the slowness with which Sesshomaru had moved his wrist or read the further provocation hidden behind his gesture; after all, he wouldn't have even dared to really hurt her, not in front of their father. Yet, Inuyasha had only seen his lethal claws, normally capable of secreting a poisonous substance, scratch Kagome's face or worse; his body had sprung uncontrollably forward, faster than before, and a moment later he had raised his clenched fist to strike roughly at Sesshomaru's cheek.

Sesshomaru, surprised by the half-demon's sudden agility, had just enough time to back away, but he couldn't prevent those knuckles from grazing him, leaving a mark of their passage, however slight. He growled, gritting his teeth at that affront as his eyes began to change colour, turning red with rage. He could imagine why Inuyasha had unexpectedly been able to strike him as he never had before and while he didn't fully understand, it didn't surprise him all that much that a being like him would stand up as the protector of the weak. Nonetheless, the insult he had suffered was too much even for him and he no longer seemed willing to play games or be content to watch the half-demon squirm over nothing.

At that moment their father decided to intervene, reading in his sons' new auras the combative and not at all peaceful intentions. Not only would that not have been the place for a confrontation and would have endangered the two women, but as a parent he always found it difficult to witness the feud between the two, not having yet accepted after two centuries that there was no hope for them to have a relationship that was not based on a feeling such as pure hatred. He stood between them and in a low, deadly voice hissed, "Think twice before continuing this conflict; I am certain that the eventual consequences would not please either of you."

Inuyasha growled in response, not even turning around and continuing to cast flaming glances at his half-brother as he straightened his body and erected a wall in front of Kagome. "I'm not the one who started with the threats," he blurted out angrily, although his sounded like the complaint of a child who must prove his innocence at all costs.

"There is nothing you can say to convince me not to remove that being and all the humans he insists on protecting from this world. What is it, Inuyasha?" he questioned him. "Why do you get so angry on her behalf? Is she the only one willing to have you despite your dirty blood? After all, you must suffer a lot of loneliness at that age." He sneered, unable to really stop the confrontation even though he knew it could go no further. Though he had lost almost all the respect he once felt for his father, Sesshomaru knew that he was unfortunately still inferior to him and that if he dared to attack Inuyasha or the humans, Toga would not hesitate to strike him to stop him. All said and done, therefore, he had only words left to anger Inuyasha and amuse himself. He saw his cheeks grow red with anger and continued, "I wouldn't trust her much anyway; that's the same woman who was to be given in marriage to another man two days ago. Are you sure she is as pure as you believe her to be? To me, hers seems an attitude more common to easy women… or – as humans prefer to call them – to a whore. But this type of woman is probably the only one who could ever warm your bed."

More things happened soon after.

Izayoi brought her hands to her mouth, scandalized, not believing it possible that Sesshomaru had used such a word, he who prided himself on his propriety of language.

Kagome stiffened, not only at being slandered like that but also at the pain that such truths concealed. How did Inuyasha feel, all his life, knowing that such was the common thought around him? Hadn't her grandfather been the first to make sure Inuyasha didn't ask for her hand for the same reason?

Inuyasha snapped forward again, seeing red, hurt more by those filthy words tainting Kagome's purity than by the insults to his person, to which he was, unfortunately, more than accustomed.

Toga had to decide at once whether to deal with the eldest or to block the youngest, but since the latter was losing his lucidity, he preferred to restrain him. As he held Inuyasha, who in blind rage was clawing at his arms to free himself, Toga turned his icy eyes towards Sesshomaru – and never had they appeared so similar yet so different from his. Disappointment was the feeling that most exuded from them. "You always overstep your boundaries, Sesshomaru, and you seem to enjoy this. You force me to take drastic measures. Go away now, but know that if you are not present when I want to discuss what just happened, I will act as I see fit without consulting you. And I am sure you will not like my choices." Having said that, he turned his gaze away, ignoring him completely and turning his back on him.

Sesshomaru clenched his teeth and fists, humiliated by his parent's gestures and feeling inferior and defeated again. If there was only one person capable of making him feel that way, it was Toga, and when that happened, the distance between the two only increased. The Inu-no-Taisho was aware of this and perhaps some would have said that his behaviour favoured the half-demon, but truthfully, it was always Inuyasha who needed a hand to get up while Sesshomaru would chase it away. Therefore, the latter stared at his father's back for a few seconds before showing his blatant displeasure with a growl that reverberated through the entire room, then left without adding anything more.

The meeting clearly hadn't gone as everyone had wished.

Silence descended on the remaining four, finally broken by Izayoi, worried about her son and angry about everything they hadn't told her. Given the way Inuyasha had behaved, it was obvious that something was still eluding her, and not because of any failing on her part. "Would someone have the good sense to explain to me what is going on without leaving anything behind?" she asked in an unyielding tone before turning more softly to Kagome. "And how are you, sweetheart? I'm used to my stepson's behaviour by now, but I know the effect he has on those who don't know him."

"I am fine," she replied weakly. "I wouldn't want you to worry too much about me; it's just the memories that-" She lowered her head, without finishing her sentence, but the two demons could smell tears in the air very well. Inuyasha would have run to her, heedless of everything else if his father had not restrained him with a hand on his wrist.

"Of course, dear, it's normal," Izayoi assured her.

"Love, I think it's best if I explain everything to you," Toga proposed, "and in the meantime, we'll allow Inuyasha to reassure Kagome. What do you say, son? We'll postpone the pleasantries and our meeting until another time since we've already been interrupted." He cast the half-demon a meaning-laden glance, intimating him not to waste such an opportunity, especially since he was saving him from a difficult conversation with his mother. The dead-end situation he had thrown him into, however, did not encourage Inuyasha, who had hoped to have a little more time before he had to talk face-to-face with Kagome, no longer hiding anything from her. The latter also seemed surprised by this development and, looking up, no longer hid the emotions on her face. But Toga ignored any denial they might have made even with their eyes and gracefully led his mate out of the room. "I'm sure you can manage quite well on your own. I'll leave some guards outside for safety reasons," he then added before closing the door behind him.

At that point, Inuyasha and Kagome locked gazes, knowing full well that there was no escape. Whatever unpleasant conditions they had met in or wrong foot with whom they had begun their relationship – or whatever it was – they had no way to escape anymore.

They had to set the record straight and prove their courage to each other, although, perhaps, it was in their feelings that they both lacked that quality.


A/N: Now, I'm sure you were waiting for Sesshomaru's reaction so I hope I didn't disappoint you. As for the mini cliffhanger at the end, it should be clear what I have in store for our main couple in the following chapter.

Thanks so much for reading and leaving behind your thoughts so far. Lots of love and I see you next time!