Chapter Seven:
Silver moonlight streamed through Mitsukai's window highlighting, her slender form in glowing halo. She lifted her head weakly from the pages of her book, which she had been reading while waiting for her mother. Dull gold eyes flicked around the barren walls of her room. It seemed so empty without its usual clutter.
In a fit of rage, she had thrown away her drawings and packed away her books. It was as if she could no longer bear to look upon her own belongings. Tiny scraps of tape and paper still clung to the walls, remnants of the drawing's hasty removal. The walls looked beyond barren, they appeared wounded. Tiredly she rolled to a sitting position. She gulped as a wave of nausea flowed through her.
Eyes wide, she pushed away from the bed and bolted from her bedroom. She barely made it to the bathroom before retching what little she had in her stomach. Cold sweat broke over her body and her head pounded. Mitsukai had always been healthy, never catching the common aliments her family contracted, making this bout of illness extremely worrisome. That is, if this had not become an almost routine occurrence.
Lately she had begun to have headaches and bouts of nausea for no perceptible reason. It was only rarely at first, only happening when she was particularly stressed, but after her attack it became more frequent. She had never told her mother about the incidences. Mama would only worry.
She crumpled on the floor as if in supplication and clutched at her abdomen. She panted and took several deep breaths in the attempt to keep from vomiting once more. It had been over a day since she had eaten, making her stomach's spasms all the more painful. Her grandmother had tried to force her to eat and eventually she had relented. She had barely managed to finish her miso soup before throwing up. Grandmother had not witnessed the incident. She had already left to go look for Mama.
Eventually the pain and nausea eased and she managed to pull herself to her feet. A sour frown crossed Mitsukai's, features when she glimpsed herself in the bathroom mirror. She did not recognize the person that stared back at her. The girl, that could not be her, was pale, almost ghostly. The fine bones of her face seemed barely contained beneath ashen skin. Dim golden eyes stared back at her dispassionately from sunken sockets. Even the markings on her face seemed faded.
Mitsukai eyed her reflection as she filled the sink with warm water. She felt marginally better. She washed her face carefully, wiping away the sticky substance that clung to her lips and chin. The girl in the mirror mimicked her actions and watched her with bottomless eyes.
Mitsukai glared at her reflection, before like a viper, her delicate fist struck out. A shatter echoed throughout the shrine as the mirror cracked into a spider web pattern beneath her closed fist. She smirked at the shattered mirror, having chased her tormentor away. Her reflection was splintered into many panes; at least the girl in the mirror was no longer mocking her.
She felt extremely smug with herself, until someone rapped lightly at the bathroom door. Sniffing lightly she determined the identity of the knocker. Though she knew it was a trivial act, the person could be of only three people and knew it was neither she nor her mother.
"Mitsukai?" called a worried voice from outside the door.
Mitsukai closed her eyes and sighed. Her grandmother would not understand she had to break the mirror. She had too! Her grandmother knocked again this time louder and more urgent. Then the doorknob began to turn. With inhuman speed Mitsukai streaked across the bathroom and grabbed the knob holding it fast.
The room spun at her sudden movement and she swallowed the bile that rose to the back of her throat. Her grandmother pulled ineffectually at the knob. It would be of no use, Mitsukai was many times stronger than she. Mitsukai bit her lip as she kept her easy hold on the door. She heard her grandmother huff in annoyance as she attempted to turn the handle once more.
"I'm not dressed Baachan," she lied as she placed her foot on the corner of the door to free her hands so she could press them against her lips.
Her grandmother released the door suddenly. Mitsukai smirked, as she too released her hold, she knew this game well. The door opened, slightly with a creak and Mitsukai blocked it with her foot. She heard her grandmother sigh in defeat.
"I heard a crash are you alright, dear?" her grandmother asked worriedly.
Mitsukai looked over her shoulder at the broken mirror then back at the door. Dozens of her reflections stared back at her.
"I'm fine," she replied calmly, from beneath her hands.
"What happened?" her grandmother asked concern evident in her voice.
Mitsukai glared at the door, then back at the mirror. Her grandmother would not understand. How could she when she could not explain it to herself? Unable to think of an adequate lie she changed the subject.
"Did you find Mama?"
Asako frowned at the door and her granddaughter beyond, unsure how to answer. She had not found Kagome. Her employers had not seen her, nor had the few friends she had not managed to fully chase away. In desperation she had called the police, who had informed her, that unless Kagome had been missing over twenty-four hours their hands were tied. If Mitsukai knew, she would undoubtedly leave the shrine to begin looking on her own.
"She was called into work," Asako lied.
Mitsukai's expression grew dark realizing her grandmother had just lied to her. She was uncertain exactly how she knew. It could have been the way grandmother's pulse sped up slightly or the slight change in scent, but she knew.
"Oh okay," Mitsukai answered, doing her best to sound convinced.
Asako smiled slightly at the door, but could to fully squelch the nagging guilt. She did not approve of lying under any circumstances and lying to Mitsukai about her mother seemed doubly wrong. It was odd but Mitsukai did not seem all that upset that her mother was still missing. Perhaps she had truly believed the fabrication. Then again, when she truly wished to, Mitsukai could bury her feelings beneath a façade of cool stoicism.
"Can I fix you something to eat before I lay back down?" Asako asked in attempt to coax the young youkai from the bathroom.
"I'm not really hungry," Mitsukai replied softly.
The very thought of eating anything made her stomach twist. Mitsukai frowned at the door and sighed realizing she could not remain in the bathroom forever. Sighing she opened the door, she would have to explain the destruction eventually. She watched as her grandmother's eyes flicked briefly to the mirror and back at her as if expecting an explaination. Mitsukai remained silent and bowed her head.
Asako gazed at her one and only grandchild with a critical eye. Mitsukai for some reason, known only unto her had shattered the bathroom mirror. The girl always had bouts of destructive behavior. Her destructiveness occurred with less frequency over the years as the child learned her own strength and her extremely limited weaknesses. Rarely did she consciously choose to destroy something; destruction merely followed her like an ill begotten comrade. Mitsukai was a creature born into captivity and then forcibly caged for her protection.
She frowned at her granddaughter's willowy and painfully thin frame. The girl, like her mother simply would not eat enough to sustain her. It was something that always worried her and now slightly frightened her.
Asako touched Mitsukai's chin lightly causing the girl's flat gold eyes to meet hers.
"Please eat something." Asako pleaded. "For me, Mitsukai-chan." she added patting the girl on the shoulder
Mitsukai managed a weak smile and nodded in agreement. Victorious, her grandmother beamed a smile at her and dragged her to the kitchen.
**
Mitsukai lingered at the small kitchen table after her grandmother had returned to bed. Predictably she had only managed to eat a few bites of scrambled eggs before retching once more. Her grandmother had not mentioned the broken mirror or the piles of books on the curb. A part of Mitsukai wished she had.
She rose slowly from the table on legs almost too weak to stand. She licked her lips as she steadied herself, unsure why she felt so horrid. It was nothing, she assured herself. It was most likely just the flu or other common ailment. Just because she had never been sick before did not mean she could not be. Satisfied with her own logic she returned to her room and collapsed on her bed.
Hours later as the sun ate away at the night sky; Kagome trudged up the shrine steps. She was exhausted, sore and achy, most of which was not caused, by the long trek from the bus station. Her wristwatch chirped merrily, signaling she had two hours before work.
She groaned as she shifted her bags into one hand as she fumbled for her keys. She could shower and change before having to leave again if she hurried. She pushed the door open with her shoulder and set down her groceries just inside the entrance. Glancing around the house it was apparent that her mother and daughter were still sleeping. She would check on Mitsukai and leave her a note before she went to work.
Kagome winced as a hot pain, seared through her when rolled her shoulders. Confused, she pulled moved the collar of her knit sweater to examine her right shoulder. Unlike her left shoulder the right retained its smooth creamy perfection. However a dark bruise, accompanied by the unmistakable indention of Sesshoumaru's fangs, now marred that perfection. * 'As if I don't not have enough scars', she thought sourly as she covered her shoulder.
"Mama?" Called a voice from upstairs.
Kagome winced as she remembered just how sensitive her daughter's nose was. She had wanted to at least shower before checking on her daughter. Sesshoumaru's scent and that of their activities undoubtedly covered her completely. She planned to tell Mitsukai about him today and the nature of her existence. However, she did not wish to do so while she reeked of him. It could not be helped now. She could not very well ask Mitsukai to wait until she bathed, not after she had been missing for nearly twenty-four hours.
Kagome slowly pushed the door that led to Mitsukai's room. The door's hinges creaked ominously as she slipped into the dimly lit room. She stopped abruptly when she saw the dramatic rearrangement of the bedroom's contents. Mitsukai had moved all the heavy furniture against the far wall except for her narrow bed. That she pulled to the center of the room, directly below a low hanging light. The naked bulb swung back and forth as if it had just been struck.
The shadows grew thicker and danced around Mitsukai as she lay perfectly still on the narrow bed. Sensing someone had entered the room she rolled to her side allowed her golden eyes to drift open. Clutched to her thin chest was a stuffed animal she had not played with since she was a very small girl.
"Happy Birthday, sweetie," Kagome exclaimed as she sat beside her daughter on the bed.
Mitsukai smiled slightly as her mother pet her head. Her head throbbed and she was uncertain if her mother was truly here or if she were dreaming. She only wished, real or no, that Mama would not speak so loudly.
"Hi, Mama," she whispered, even her own voice was painful to her ears.
Kagome smiled down at her daughter. Kagome's gray eyes cast about the room and they froze when they saw yet another obvious change. All Mitsukai's careful drawings were gone; ripped away so that only the frayed corners dotted the walls.
"Where are your drawings?" She asked in bafflement.
"I was tired of them," Mitsukai explained in a pained whisper.
Mitsukai's eyes slid shut once more and she set her head in her mother's lap. She hissed when her mother's wristwatch chirped. The sound already annoying on its own seemed magnified to an excruciating level. Pain throbbed behind her eyes, the sensation akin to being stabbed with tiny pins. Mitsukai shuddered, prompting her mother to pull the blanket up under her chin as if she were cold.
Kagome frowned at the empty room, then down at her daughter. The room was creepy in its emptiness, almost tomblike. She bent down and pressed a kiss to the girl's temple and rose from the bed. Mitsukai's behavior was odd; Kagome was certain she angry with her and knew of no way to earn forgiveness. Regardless, it would have to wait until this afternoon. She had only minutes to spare before leaving for work. .
"Can you stay home with me today?" Mitsukai asked her voice barely above a whisper.
Guilty she winced has she stroked her daughter's hair as if she were a pet. She wanted to stay but could not she have missed too many days already. Considering her job did not know she had a daughter, she could not very well use her as an excuse.
Misty, I can't miss any more work," she began but stopped when Mitsukai's already downcast face fell.
"Okay," Mitsukai intoned softly and without emotion.
Kagome flinched at the tone. It sounded so much like Sesshoumaru. Guilt welled within her once more. There was no excuse for the way she treated him. It would be sore spot between them one that could make cooperation difficult. She ran her fingers down her daughter's cheek before saying with a sincere smile,
"But I tell you what. When I get off we'll do something fun just you and me. Okay?"
Mitsukai blinked rapidly to keep the tears that suddenly welled in her eyes from falling. She wanted scream at her mother to stay and hold her. Perhaps the pain would lessen if she did. When she attempted to voice her plea all that she managed to murmur was a feeble.
"Okay."
Kagome pressed a light kiss to her daughter's lips then her forehead. A concerned look flitted across her features when she felt her clammy her daughter's flesh was. Mitsukai rolled away from her and buried her head back into her pillows.
"See you this afternoon," she whispered rising from the bed, but not before giving her daughter one last pat.
Mitsukai managed a small jerky nod and listened for her door to close before sobbing piteously into her pillow.
**
The bus ride to the bookstore in which she worked had been quiet and uneventful. She even managed to take a small nap before reaching her destination. The moment she stepped off the bus she was grabbed around the waist and pulled on to the street. She squeaked in surprise, and then glowered when she realized the identity of the one who held her.
"Sesshoumaru put me down," she demanded.
The youkai said nothing but continued to carry her until the reached a rather nice convertible. He then unceremoniously dumped her in the passenger's seat then strode around to the opposite side. It took a few moments before she disentangled her limbs enough to glare at him.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" she yelled angrily as she attempted to climb out of the car.
Sesshoumaru grabbed her by the belt loop and pulled her back into her seat. Ignoring her furious glare he started his car.
"Dammit Sesshoumaru I'm going to be late for work," she screeched.
He spared her a bored glance before replying, "You have no other job than to care for our child."
Kagome rolled her eyes at him, and then sighed in defeat. "Please I need this job," she pleaded.
Sesshoumaru pointedly ignored her protestation as continued to drive in the direction of her home.
"Look, if you're upset about last night I'm sorry. I just needed time to think," she said as she chewed her lip and looked at him with a pleading expression.
"You have already apologized," he hissed through a clenched jaw.
Kagome paled under the realization that he was awake when she left last night and perhaps had been all along. She looked away from his clenched profile and stared out to the open road. Neither willing to talk about their shared intimacy.
They continued the drive in silence until they reached the shrine. Together they exited the car and glared at each other from across the hood.
"Take me back now," she demanded.
"Do not presume that you may make demands of me, simply because you bore my child," he hissed dangerously.
"That job is how I support our child," she sneered hotly.
Sesshoumaru's face returned to its blank stoic mask before he replied, "Unnecessary, I have means to support you both."
Kagome snorted and turned her back to him. "I don't need or want your help," she declared recklessly.
Sesshoumaru laughed low and dangerously causing Kagome to turn around in utter shock. He stalked towards her with catlike grace and entwined his fingers in her ebon hair. He ran one clawed hand down her cheek. Kagome's wary look faded as she sighed in content pleased that his anger had diminished. Then without warning his fingers, fisted painfully into her hair and she was pulled forward to meet his molten gaze.
"I care not what you want, bitch," he uttered in a seething hiss, moments before shoving her away.
**
A/N:
* Just to clear up confusion. He bit her because it was kinky and she bit him first. It's not some animalist claim. I am aware that the bite thing is a common mating thing in fanfics. But to me it makes little sense considering youkai don't really seem to scar. So would they have such a marriage symbol?
Yay! I gave Mitsukai a psychosis, not only that I gave her a mysterious aliment ™. Aren't I a sweetheart? Blah this is one of those icky transitional chapters I can't stand. I think this chapter has made me dipped back down into the mold category of like. Everyone is evil in this chapter except for Mitsy-chan whom I've deemed necessary to torment some more. It's all for a reason trust me.. And even if you don't be nice and pretend you do. Like usual this is proofed but unbetaed.
Usually I'm too lazy to do review responses but a few questions have been asked so I thought I'd answer them.
Why is Mitsukai so weak?
Answer: She's not. In fact she's demonically strong. She's not as physically strong as Sesshoumaru for several reasons. 1.) She's young, barely 16. 2.) She's female. Girls just don't have the upper body strength men do. 3.) Sesshoumaru has combat experience, plus he's most certainly done activity to build his strength, whereas the most strenuous thing Mitsukai has done besides kill her attacker in chapter one was probably move a bookshelf.
Does Mitsukai have Sesshoumaru's powers?
Answer: Yep, but she's doesn't know how to use them or that she even has them so in a way you could consider her not having them.
Does Mitsukai have Miko powers?
Answer: Nope. I stand by my belief that the nature of miko powers. (Purification of youki) would make it impossible for such powers to manifest within her.
Will Kagome get pregnant again?
Answer: At present time no. This may change. Considering having lots of unprotected sex with a demon lord (or anyone) may cause that. It's like a side effect. Maybe Sesshou should wear a warning label?=)