Chapter 4: Guilt
Taomaru woke up a while later, long after Kagome's pathetic attempt at waking him. He stretched and yawned, his power and energy repleated after his long nap. He'd been asleep for several hours, hiding away from people in his strange home, relaxing in the cavern's natural hot spring. He pulled on his discarded robes, ready to make himself known to the lords and troops. As Taomaru left the chamber, his sharp ears picked up a sound that was unknown to the cavern, something foreign that did not belong in the normally silent area.
Curious and a bit wary, Taomaru followed the sound, surprised when he came to one of the hidden passages scattered inside the cavern and castle. At first the youkai thought the rhythmic banging was a stuck servant trying to be heard and let out. But then, why weren't they crying out for help? Taomaru pressed the switch into the stone passage, watching as part of the wall slipped away. He gasped when he saw who was in the passage way, feeling guilt like a tidal wave wash over him.
Even though the wall behind her had moved away, Kagome remained curled against the wall to the left of the new doorway. She remained there, her back to Taomaru and continued to bang with her left hand, ignoring or not feeling the bloody knuckles that left streaks in their wake. She had her eyes tightly closed, her body curled up. Taomaru dropped to the ground and called her name, afraid to startle her. He moved until he could see all of her, noting her bloody nose and wondering what the hell had happened in the past few hours.
Taomaru knew that Inu Yasha wasn't anywhere close by. The youkai could feel the hanyou, could feel his distress and panic because he couldn't find Kagome. The dark haired youkai tried to track down Sesshomaru and only ran into a wall, a solid wall that held back some serious pain. He turned his attention to the girl in front of him, reaching out with his hand and his magic. He touched her shoulder and a taste of what Kagome was suffering from sent him sprawling on his back. Taomaru righted himself, shocked, and crawled toward Kagome again, carefully not touching her.
"Kagome, Kagome can you hear me?" Taomaru tried, grabbing her moving hand. The knuckles were completely raw, worse than the damage the fight a day earlier had inflicted. Kagome gave no response, wincing and feebly flexing her right arm. Taomaru knew she was in there, somewhere amidst the agony she suffered from, afraid to answer incase it brought more pain. She was fighting to stay awake, to fight back against an enemy that was in her head. Silently, Taomaru picked her up, feeling her curl against his chest as he carried her through the recently opened door and up a ramp to the bedrooms a few hundred feet above them. He wrapped his tail around her, mentally calling her back to reality. At last she responded, shielding him from the raging headache she and Sesshomaru were experiencing. I need my bag! She said firmly, emphasizing the order with images of a bottle of something called aspirin and a glass of water. The youkai got the message and took her to the quiet room where everything would be.
Inu Yasha, Sango, Miroku, Rin and Shippo had searched the castle from top to bottom. They had backtracked several times to the spot Kagome had vanished from, finding nothing useful and, more importantly, no Kagome. They had asked the servants to keep an eye out for her and wanted to ask Sesshomaru about hiding places of booby traps hidden within the castle, but he was in a meeting with the visiting lords, not to be disturbed under penalty of death. With nothing solid to go on and no help forthcoming, the group had turned its investigations outdoors and was combing the grounds for Kagome as well.
They'd been at it for several hours when the ground below them had suddenly lurched underfoot and pitched them all onto their behinds. The soldiers, both human and youkai, that had been practicing out doors also tumbled backwards, a call of alarm going through them and sending everyone into attack positions. A huge wolf dog appeared on the ground before Inu Yasha and the others, chocolate brown with its hackles raised. Its lips pulled back in a snarl, skipping over and then displaying its monstrous teeth. The canine's muzzle came close, a very loud growl issuing forth. One red eye looked over the stunned group while the clawed out socket faced outward at the other youkai in the yard.
"Taomaru!" Inu Yasha said in surprise. He had never seen his uncle in full form before and the hanyou had to admit the site was intimidating. The wolf dog's ears zeroed in on Inu Yasha and Taomaru snarled loudly. His tail whipped the air angrily, making a whipping noise that emphasized the raw fury coming from the massive animal. Inu Yasha was completely at a loss and took a step back, moving in front of the recovering Sango and Miroku.
Through out the yard the soldiers were regaining their footing and creeping toward the canine, spears raised. They roared and charged when they were in range, a coordinated effort executed perfectly thanks to Kagome's walkie talkies. Weapons sank into flesh but Taomaru paid them no heed. He continued to glare down at the five before him, to furious to even speak. The surprised soldiers stood there stunned for a second and then began hacking at the youkai's legs. Now he couldn't ignore them anymore. He used his tail to sweep the humans and lesser youkai away from his person.
"Taomaru, what's wrong?" Sango asked, Rin and Shippo hiding behind and clinging to her legs. She had her boomerang out and was ready to use it, Miroku right beside her with his air rip. Inu Yasha drew Tetsusagia, the sword transformed and ready for battle. None of them knew why the youkai was suddenly snarling and angry with them, but they would not allow him to harm them.
Taomaru took deep breaths and the effort to calm down showed plain as day. The red in his eye bled away partially but did not leave the orb completely. "You are to follow me. Put your weapons away and come peacefully." The words were ground out painfully, as if what Taomaru really wanted to do was scream and yell at them all.
"We will if you calm down." Miroku said reasonably, lowering his sealed hand and standing peacefully. Sango and Inu Yasha did not make any move to put their weapons away just as Taomaru did not calm down.
"I have found Lady Kagome." Was all the wolf dog said and promptly turned around, heading to the rear of the castle and the small mountain behind it.
"Where's Kagome-onee-chan?" Rin asked urgently, missing the elder girl.
"Kagome?" Inu Yasha said, his heart turning to ice. If the youkai was that angry then something must have happened to her. The others had been thinking the same thing, their expressions becoming alarmed and grim. Dread settling in everyone's stomach, the set off at a run to catch up with the large canine disappearing through a large door.
"Go back to your training," Miroku ordered, the last one through the passage and the only one sensing the surge of activity following them. "Taomaru is not a threat- hopefully. He's Sesshomaru's uncle." And with that the monk slipped through the doorway. The soldiers just stared after them. "Uncle?"
The troop couldn't keep up with Taomaru's fast pace down the winding corridors and eventually had to hitch a ride on his back. When all were aboard, the youkai ran down the passage ways until they reached the door he wanted. Inside he ordered everyone off, shrinking and changing back to his humanoid form. Wondering where the hell they were, Miroku and Sango voiced the question, each carrying a child in their arms. Inu Yasha growled; thanks to his nose he already knew where they were.
"Sesshomaru's den." The hanyou said, eyes flicking over the darkened area and hunting for his brother. Other than themselves, the room was empty. There was movement from the bed and Inu Yasha snapped his head that way, his senses on high alert. His jaw dropped when he saw who it was.
"Kagome!" He yelled and bounded toward her. He dodged Taomaru, who tried to stop him, and leapt onto the high bed. The futon under him bounced under his weight, jostling Kagome who opened her eyes in response.
"No!" Taomaru whispered fiercely, trying to pull Inu Yasha off the bed and away from the girl. The hanyou threw off the youkai's hands, grabbing hold of Kagome and pulling her toward him. Kagome resisted, the uncoordinated movements bearing her bandaged hand. Inu Yasha held her close, looking for any other damage anxiously and smelling traces of blood from her nose. Kagome continued to push at him, saying nothing but her eyes speaking volumes. Tears ran freely from them, not stopping even when he laid her back down and her eyes closed. Inu Yasha tried to reach her mentally, calling for her and demanding an explanation. He only got the impression of spikes and swords- sharp implements of all kinds- and watched in confusion as Kagome curled onto her side.
Taomaru grabbed him and dragged him off the bed, dropping the hanyou roughly on the floor. The youkai was extremely angry as he leapt back on the bed, looking Kagome over and helping her get comfortable. Shippo jumped onto the bed, curling beside the girl and running a tiny hand through her thick hair. Taomaru nodded to himself then leapt off the bed, landing lightly on the floor. He stood in time to prevent Inu Yasha from jumping up again. The youkai held Inu Yasha tight despite the hanyou's efforts to free himself. Sango looked between the bed and the hanyou, not knowing who to help first.
"Let me go!" Inu Yasha roared, kicking the air viciously. "Kagome! Kagomumphf!" The hanyou was cut off by Taomaru covering his mouth with his hand. Miroku and Sango rushed forward, ready to defend him and Taomaru used his tail to trip them. They opened their mouths to speak and Taomaru growled.
"All of you shut up!" The youkai ordered. "Screaming is not helping anything, especially Kagome. Now all of you be quiet!" He threw Inu Yasha violently and the hanyou tumbled to the ground several feet away. He growled, climbing to his feet to attack.
"Get out of my way!" Inu Yasha yelled and saw his uncle glance at the bed.
"Inu Yasha, curse you, shut that loud mouth of yours! Kagome needs to sleep and your yelling is going to wake her up again." Taomaru made no effort to move, barring his nephews path to the bed.
"What is wrong with Lady Kagome?" Miroku asked sharply.
"Where has she been for the last couple of hours?" Sango asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Taomaru opened his mouth to answer, shut it and looked toward the door in surprise. "Give me a minute and all will be explained." The youkai said, turning on his heel and fishing something out of Kagome's backpack. The youkai twisted open the bottle he retrieved, dumping a handful of pills out. A bronze eye quickly skimmed over the instructions as the others watched with curiosity. Taomaru turned his head toward the door again, lips pursed in thought. He looked over everyone in the room, a finger to his lips to silence everyone. "Stay quiet." He whispered to Inu Yasha and the hanyou looked at him in quizzically. It was then he heard and sensed Sesshomaru coming down the hallway.
Taomaru waved his hands and the lights dimmed, leaving the room in semi-darkness. The door opened a minute later and Sesshomaru stepped inside, leaning against the door after closing it. The demon lord rubbed his temples, his head bowed as he sighed. He raised his head, wincing visibly in pain. The youkai blinked unfocused amber eyes, blood dripping from his nose.
Inu Yasha gasped in surprise, looking at the strange state of his brother. "Sesshomaru, what the hell happened to you?" His brother turned toward him, eyes narrowed but unclear. He scanned over the room, Sango and Miroku stepping closer to Inu Yasha. They were both as surprised as the hanyou as they looked at the normally immaculate youkai before them.
"If you value your lives, you will l-" Sesshomaru was cut off by Taomaru, the dark haired youkai having seemingly appeared directly behind his nephew. He covered Sesshomaru's mouth, dumping its contents inside and held him tight as the pale youkai fought him.
"Swallow, Sesshomaru! Just swallow!" Taomaru growled and Inu Yasha's brother fought harder, wrapping his tail around Taomaru's legs and trying to jerk them out from under him. Sesshomaru clawed at Taomaru's hands, having limited reach because the older youkai had pinned him at the elbow. He bit, trying to use his teeth to remove the hand that prevented him from breathing. They continued to scuffle, each trying to pin the other. Inu Yasha and the others didn't know who to root for because they didn't know what was going on.
"Sesshomaru- sama!" Rin wailed and ran toward her struggling hero. She was stopped by Sango, the demon exterminator holding the child easily against her chest. Rin fought Sango but was no match for the older warrior.
"What's happening?" Miroku asked Inu Yasha as the latter continued to watch the pair. He did not respond to the question, watching in surprise as Taomaru shoved his fingers into Sesshomaru's mouth; he was bitten badly in the process but didn't pay it any attention. Sesshomaru gagged, choking a second before swallowing whatever Taomaru had forced into his mouth.
"We should help!" Miroku said watching the proceedings and this time Inu Yasha looked at him with a frown.
"Help who? Both of them seem pissed at the moment and are more likely to claw us than thank us afterward." It was a valid point.
At last, Sesshomaru's struggles became weak, his strikes less coordinated. He swayed and if Taomaru hadn't been holding him, the pale youkai would have fallen to the floor. His eyes fluttered and he sagged, still trying to claw his uncle. He continued to kick even as his head fell to one side, eyes closed, and Taomaru wrapped his own tail around Sesshomaru's legs. Only when Sesshomaru was completely limp did his uncle pick him up.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin screamed and broke free of Sango, running over to and then pulling on her caretaker's tail. Inu Yasha approached as well when his brother failed to respond to his ward's cries. Taomaru sighed heavily and righted Sesshomaru, holding him uneasily.
"Here, hold him." And Inu Yasha found himself holding his unconscious brother, under his arms, Sesshomaru's head resting on Inu Yasha's shoulder. Startled, the hanyou almost dropped the youkai, afraid that his brother would suddenly leap up and tare his throat out. But as Sesshomaru stayed limp and unresponsive, Inu Yasha began to worry.
"Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha asked softly as he watched Taomaru remove the other's armor. Brother? The hanyou tried tentatively, reaching out with a mental appeal. Brother, are you okay? Sesshomaru responded with hazy images, pain and sleep tinged. Inu Yasha gathered that his brother had been in pain, a very awful agony that was not entirely new to the youkai. Inu Yasha remembered earlier in the foyer when Kagome had rubbed her temples repeatedly much as Sesshomaru had done upon entering his bedroom. The hanyou concluded that Sesshomaru must have been the source of the pain Kagome had been experiencing. But, when she and I touched, she felt no pain. Why hadn't she stayed with him when the pain became unbearable?
Sango appeared beside Inu Yasha, touching Sesshomaru's face gently. She began whipping his bloody nose and this time Sesshomaru did react- it was slow but he did move. The youkai pulled back, away from the wet cloth she used. Easy Sesshomaru, Inu Yasha soothed. Sango's just cleaning up the blood. Sesshomaru's thoughts settled as Sango finished, changing from flashes of spiky alarm to a quiet hum. The youkai was asleep, succumbing easily to the drugs his uncle had slipped him, and would not be moving anytime soon.
Taomaru took Sesshomaru from the hanyou, dropping his armor on the floor, picking him up one handed and tossing the lord over his shoulder. Rin continued to howl, following the dark haired youkai as he walked and then jumped on the bed. Taomaru laid him on the bed a few feet from Kagome, letting the youkai settle as he would. Inu Yasha was not happy with that arrangement and hopped onto the bed also, about to move Kagome to the safety of a nearby couch. Taomaru put a hand on his arm, digging his claws in.
"Leave Kagome alone." Taomaru ordered, bronze eye flicking at Sango, Miroku and Rin as they settled on the bed. He looked completely serious as they frowned. "Both she and Sesshomaru have been drugged and need to sleep." Inu Yasha opened his mouth to protest that they didn't need to sleep so close and Taomaru held up a finger.
"She is fine where she is and safer here than she would be with you. You forget that you are on Sesshomaru's territory now and the rules are different. No one will come looking for her and they will stay far away from this room now that Sesshomaru is inside."
"What makes Sesshomaru's room such a safe place?" Sango asked, watching as a sobbing Rin continued to cry, laying her head on Sesshomaru's chest.
"The castle servants are on high alert. Some of the youkai who work here have been around since Sesshomaru was Rin's age. They know when to leave their lord be and when to bother him. The only one who could possibly come inside without facing a horrible death would be Jaken- and possibly Rin now." Taomaru said, running his hand through his hair.
"What is wrong with them and what did you make Sesshomaru swallow?" Miroku asked, folding his arms irritably. Inu Yasha had been wondering the same thing. He looked down at his mate, at Kagome and wondered if she would ever be normal again. He stroked a hand gingerly through her hair and watched her expression relax.
"Right." Taomaru sighed and laid back on the futon. "Loveable Sesshomaru suffers from extremely bad headaches-"
"A headache caused this?!" Inu Yasha yelled, pointing at the faint streaks of blood on Kagome's upper lip.
"Yes. The headaches are not normal, for youkai or humans, but there is nothing to be done about them. Kagome said they were similar to migraines, a sever headache that some humans get when under extreme stress. Anyway, Kagome brought a lot of medicine with her, including medicine to combat the condition and took some herself after I found her. It took her half an hour to get to sleep so I'm quite surprised that Sesshomaru rolled over so easily." Taomaru shrugged, his tail twitching in concern.
"If Kagome was in such pain, why did she run from me after they started? We established that when we touched she could block out Sesshomaru." Inu Yasha snarled, warily watching Taomaru sit back up and cock his head to one side.
"While touching you she could block out Sesshomaru?" The youkai repeated, puzzled. "But she ran from you and got stuck in one of the secret halls." The youkai fell silent as he processed this new information. In the silence that followed, Rin joined the conversation.
"Will," she sniffled and sat up. "will Sesshomaru-sama and Kagome-onee-chan be okay?" Taomaru was at a loss; he looked at the others and met stony gazes. His face fell and finally held his arms out to the child. In need of comfort, Rin crawled over and hesitantly into his offered lap.
The youkai held the child in a brief hug. "Of course they'll be alright! Sesshomaru and Kagome are sick, that's all. They just need to sleep, to go for a nap, okay?" Rin looked up at him, her eyes large and watery, her expression sad. Taomaru felt his heart tare at her pathetic attitude. He shook her gently. "They will be fine, just let them rest for the night."
"Is Sesshomaru sick because he has a new arm?" The child asked and watched in surprise as everyone looked at her in confusion. She shied back as they continued to stare at her.
"New…arm?" Inu Yasha asked, moving toward his brother. He poked the sleeve of his right arm and there was something solid under there when it should have been empty. Sesshomaru continued to sleep peacefully as his brother exposed the arm to everyone else.
Taomaru blinked, leaning in close to look at it. He trailed a claw very lightly over the palm of Sesshomaru's right hand. It convulsed reflexively, a fine lattice of red lines covering the skin all the way up the youkai's arm. The dark haired youkai frowned. "Pull up Kagome's right arm." Inu Yasha did as he was told begrudgingly, noticing again her bandaged left hand. Like Sesshomaru's right arm, Kagome's bore the same network of red lines.
Pennath here!
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