Chapter 10
(Beware this chapter has some gory bits. Also for you Jeken haters out there he gets his in this chapter. Thanks for all the reviews they really help. LadySesshoumaru41)
A few weeks later Sesshoumaru had visitors. Inuyasha had come with news of Kagome's pregnancy. She would have a son.
It was too much for Katame. As the others chatted she snuck out. She would go somewhere where Sesshoumaru's anger couldn't reach her.
She wandered some time in the wood above the palace. When she happened upon a group of men. "What have we here?" They leered at her. "A tender morsel for the boss."
"Leave me be." she demanded. "I'm the wife of Sesshoumaru and if you know what's best for you, you'll let me go."
"Sesshoumaru. The wife of the great lord himself. Well this is something the boss is going to want to know." With that they grabbed her and brought her to their leader.
Shogon was a demon lord in his own rank. He had taken human form in order to lead the group of humans who served him. He was fierce and dangerous and liked to eat young women when the mood arose.
"What have you brought me tonight?" He said licking his lips.
"She says she is the wife of Sesshoumaru." They said as they dragged her forward.
"Sesshoumaru,... Sesshoumaru my old friend. Hmmm... You have been much sought after woman." He leaned forward and sniffed. "Sweet." With that the demon rose and as he did he transformed into his true form. He was immense. He had embedded in his forehead three of the sacred jewel shards. He had six arms which he used to quickly remove Katame's clothing. He tossed them aside.
"You won't be needing those anymore." He sniffed again "Yes you will do nicely." He stuck out his great tongue and licked her from the toes to the face. "MMMM what is this?" He again stuck out his tongue again. This time he went between her legs and into her innermost parts.
Katame Screamed and kicked at the great tongue but could do nothing to get him to remove it. He began sucking and lapping at her.
"SESSHOUMARU!" She screamed again and again for her lord. She knew his demon hearing would pick up her cries but would he get there in time.
She struggled and kicked even harder when he stopped and looked at her.
"You're a bad little girl. You should be honored to have my attentions. I shall have to beat you now and teach you to behave yourself." Turning her over in his huge hands he brought down another on top of her she screamed in pain for his hands were full of barbs. He hit her again. But suddenly the demon himself let out a terrible scream and Katame found herself falling.
"Iron reverse soul stealer." Katame heard the call as she fell. It was Inuyasha's battle cry. Lord Inuyasha had cut of the demon's hand using his great sword, the tetsaiga. They had heard her cries.
She was caught in mid air by Sesshoumaru. He laid her by a tree where Kagome and Shippo were waiting.
"I am shamed, I am shamed. " Katame cried as Sesshoumaru covered her with his tunic.
Sesshoumaru took her face in his hands and told her. "No my wife, you are not shamed. I will take your shame and bury it in the demon's dead heart. I promise you. I will avenge your honour."
He ordered Shippo to hide her and Kagome and tore off to destroy the one who dared defile his wife.
This demon was extremely strong the jewels were adding to his power. Every time Inuyasha cut off an arm it would immediately grow back. He was growing tired. Shesshoumaru rejoined the battle and let fly with his poison darts as he transformed into the true dog demon that he was. He lunged for the throat of the demon. He grabbed hard and crushed his neck in his powerful jaws and tore off the head completely off the demon's body. Then Sesshoumaru tore open the chest of the beast and ripped out the still beating heart and crushed it in his great jaws.
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha stood for a moment looking at the hulk. Sesshoumaru looked down at the crushed heart and cursed himself. He had killed the demon too quickly. He would have preferred to make that one suffer for what he has done to his beloved wife. He picked up the heart and took it to Katame.
Shippo was watching the battle and had already removed the hiding spell he had put on Katame to protect her.
Sesshoumaru crouched down beside her and showed her the crushed heart in his hand. "Look Katame, your shame is no more as I promised." She looked up at him weakly and then passed out. It was then that the true damage became evident. The barbs that were embedded in her skin, were poisonous. They would have to work fast. Sesshoumaru scooped up his wife and flew back to the palace.
The great lord rushed her into the house yelling orders for water and special herbs to be made ready. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru worked hard to save the young girl's life. First removing the barbs then drawing out the poison. Bathing her repeatedly and finally soaking her in a bath of the special herbs.
Later...
Sesshoumaru sat watching his wife sleep the fever had finally broken but the babe within her was gone the demon had eaten it. She moaned in her sleep and cried out for him. He was instantly at her side bathing her forehead and whispering comfort.
"I'm here Katame. Don't be afraid little one, you're safe now."
Inuyasha knocked lightly on the door.
"Come." Sesshoumaru answered.
"How is she." He asked as he reached to feel Katame's forehead. It felt fine but she still looked very pail. "You should get some rest Sesshoumaru, it's been three days already and you haven't slept once. You will be no good to her if you are exhausted." He looked at his brother. "Let me watch over her for a while. I'll call you if she wakes."
Sesshoumaru was loathe to leave his wife. It was his fault she ran away. If he hadn't... "Very well, but call me the instant she wakes."
Inuyasha had been watching Katame for a day and a half when he noticed her eyes were open. "Good morning." He moved to come closer and reached out to touch her head. She cringed away from him and brought the bed covers up tight to her neck. "Don't worry." He said. "I can't see you. Are you thirsty? Here." He lifted her head so she could drink from the bowl he was offering. "There that's better."
"Sesshoumaru?" her voice was weak as she looked around the room for her husband.
"He's resting. I'll send for him." Inuyasha went to the door and called for Kagome to wake Sesshoumaru and then returned to sit by Katame. "You gave us quite a scare Katame we almost lost you. But your fine now."
"How long?"
"You've been asleep for four days. Here, you need to drink." As he gave her more water. Sesshoumaru came into the room, his face was full of concern. He crouched by his wife's head and felt her for signs of fever. 'Good.' he thought she is out of danger.
"How are you feeling, my wife? Are you in pain? Kagome has medicines that she says will help with pain."
"I'm alright, just tired." She laid back and was asleep again.
Kagome came in. "I've made a meal for you two. Go and eat, I'll watch her for you. Go on, you can't do anything for her now anyway. She just needs to rest."
Later that evening Katame woke to a familiar smell. Kagome had made some of her noodles. The ones that Inuyasha loved the most.
"Good evening. Come on let me help you sit up you need to eat something or you won't get better. She held the steaming bowl of noodles as Katame took a few tentative bites.
"It's very good. Are you sure lord Inuyasha doesn't mind."
"If he does, I'll hit him." Came her joking reply. They both knew that it would take more than a hit from Kagome to hurt Inuyasha.
Katame could only manage a few mouthfuls before she got tired again. "I'm sorry I just can't eat anymore."
"That's fine at least you ate something. Sesshoumaru will be happy."
"Where is he."
"He is outside, do you want me to get him for you?"
"No. I want to sleep." She laid down and was gone again.
The next morning she was feeling much better. She woke to find both brothers sitting by her. A knock came on the door and in walked Kagome carrying some tea.
"Good you're awake. Want some tea?" Kagome was bright and cheerful.
Sesshoumaru sat behind her propped Katame up against his chest. They were enjoying some tea when Jeken rushed in.
"Oh, my lady it is so good to see you well. Lord Sesshoumaru and lord Inuyasha had to work so hard to clean you of the poison darts and lady Kagome also. Always bathing your cuts and..."
BANG!! Inuyasha's fist came crashing down on the foolish servant's head. Inuyasha had seen the look of shock and shame on Katame's face. She would never show herself to anyone but Sesshoumaru. Not even the servants were aloud to help her bathe or dress. She was embarrassed that she had been seen without her clothing on.
Inuyasha immediately bowed with his head to the floor and said. "Forgive me, lady Katame I have seen what I should not have. I beg your forgiveness."
Katame was taken back by this. "Why are you doing this? You are so much more than me. You don't need to apologize."
"Yes I do. Do I have your forgiveness?" He had not yet raised his head.
"Yes, Yes of course."
"I must also ask forgiveness lady I too saw what I should not have." Kagome had taken up the formal apology position with her head to the floor.
"Kagome, Lord Inuyasha, Please it's alright I forgive you. You were only trying to help me. I'm very grateful to you both."
Inuyasha raised himself and said to Sesshoumaru. "With your permission I would like to take your servant and teach him the meaning of discretion." With a nod and a wave from the great lord he grabbed the squealing servant and stormed out of the palace.
Inuyasha hated having to humble himself to anyone. Especially to a human female. But he had a special affection for this one and he would not let this useless urchin destroy her honour like that. No, this one will learn and it may well kill him in the process.
Back inside the house, Sesshoumaru thought that Katame needed a change of venue, and having dressed her, he brought her out to sit on the steps of the palace. He had left orders for the room to be cleaned, the smell of sickness removed. It was nice to be outside and smell fresh air. She looked around her and noticed something missing. "Where is Inumouru?"
"He's napping thankfully. The little runt has really been keeping me hopping. I don't know how you keep up." Kagome laughed.
Sesshoumaru's ears pricked. "Pitter, patter." He said to Kagome.
"What does that mean?"
He smiled at her. "Little feet." He said. Inumouru was awake.
Kagome went inside and brought the toddler out to see his mother. He had not seen her for almost a week. He squealed with delight and crashed into his mother's breast hugging her fiercely.
She held her boy close and asked him. "Have you been giving your aunt Kagome trouble?" She gave him a wee squeeze. "You have to be a good boy for her, because she is helping me look after you." The little boy's big golden eyes looked up at his mother. He couldn't care less. He had his mom and that's all that mattered to him.
Days later they were again all sitting on the great steps to the palace. They had been discussing the past few weeks events when Katame thought she heard a cry. "What was that?"
"Inuyasha. He is still training Jeken to mind his manners." Sesshoumaru said with such indifference so as to make the blood run cold.
"Still?!? Oh no, you must stop him, Lord."
"Why? I gave him to Inuyasha. It is up to him how he choses to punish the troublesome imp."
"No!"
Just then Inuyasha came and sat with the group.
"Lord Inuyasha, please."
"Please? Please what. What's the matter Katame?" Inuyasha was confused.
"You have to stop hurting Jeken. I know your angry but..."
"NO!" Came an unexpectedly harsh response. "That stupid.... Ugh. He just wont stop babbling. He still hasn't learned to shut his mouth."
Katame would not give up although she feared his wrath she felt she had to try. "Lord." She started. "Lord, if his mouth is what troubles you... why not just take his tongue?"
Inuyasha's eyes turned brilliant red and Katame cried and pulled back to the safety of her husbands arms. "I'm sorry." Her voice barely a squeak as he looked at her.
He reached out to touch her lightly on the hand and said. "Don't worry my anger is not for you." and off he went.
Suddenly and scream was heard then silence.
Katame looked up at her husband and started to cry. "Why?" She asked.
Sesshoumaru held her close and whispered "It is just our way little one. You cannot help."
The next morning Jeken was about his usual tasks With Inuyasha watching him closely. He had been warned that one mistake would cause him great pain. Inuyasha has told him that his mistress wished mercy for him. So instead of continued pain he would ware his tongue around his neck. There on a string hung Jeken's dismembered tongue. A terrible reminder to all in the house to keep one's mouth closed and to beware of the wrath of Inuyasha.