Disclaimer: Does anyone even read these things? I don't own it. If I did, it wouldn't be fan fiction.
Chapter 12
Capture
He awoke with a start several hours later, shocked he had falling asleep during her ministrations. He was strangely warm as he looked down to find his mate curled contently against his chest.
His anger at her previous disrespect completely alleviated, he realized just how foolish he had been. He had attacked his brother for no reason. In front of Rin no less. He had ordered her intelligent advise silent due to his own pride. He owed her an apology.
Her breathing was deep and she was clearly asleep. Smiling a rare smile of content he realized just how lucky he was to have a mate that understood him so well and had forgiving him for so many transgressions against her. A mate who had the honor to step up to him and accept her punishment for disobedience when so many others would have pleaded for forgiveness.
He was glad she had chosen to take her punishment in pleasing him. If she had chosen pain he knew he would never have forgiving himself for harming her when they had both been at fault.
He silently promised to make it up to her as he noticed the cave lighten, indicating dawn was approaching. He had originally planned on spending several days punishing her, but he truly did want to get back to Rin and it would be unfair to his mate to be punished for his jealousy.
He felt her stir as she awoke. She blinked open eyes to gaze into his golden one.
"Good morning, my lord." She said respectfully.
Sometime during the night she had pulled the other corner of the sleeping bag over them and she was the one pinned in the corner.
"Good morning." He responded, breaking his gaze from her and looking up at the ceiling. "I have decided we well return to the village, pick up the children, and return home."
She nodded her head in silent agreement.
"I also apologise for my unprofessional behaviour."
She blinked in shock.
He tossed the covers aside as he sat up, leaving her alone as he stood up and dressed.
"Clean this place up and be ready to leave come noon."
"As my lord wishes." She answered with a smile as she also got up and got dressed, setting to work picking things up and packing them away while he left.
(POV)
Kagome wondered what he did when he left like that and she could only assume that he either patrolled or hunted, or both. Humming a little to herself she got the place cleaned up and found that she no longer feared this cave, having new, more pleasant memories to replace the old.
He returned just as she stepped out onto the platform and picked her up without a word. She gasped as clouds seemed to form at their feet and they were lifted up than across the sky.
"Amazing." She gasped. "I never knew you could do this."
"I rarely do. It makes me an obvious target."
"Who would be stupid enough, minus Inuyasha and Naraku, to mess with you?" She asked.
"The other youkai lords. Assassins hired by them. Other youkai with no brains." He allowed a hint of a smile to light his face. "Human miko's who refuse to see their place."
She chuckled, than grew serious again. "Didn't we invite the other lords to our mating ceremony?" She asked confused.
"That was purely political. Many were there just to make sure their standing was assured and known. If I had a choice many would not have been invited."
"Like Kouga-kun for one." She asked with a smirk.
"Like the ookami." He agreed.
The trip was fast and she almost regretted its end. Rin screamed their names as she rushed up to them, Shippo right behind her and they launched themselves at Kagome, who caught them and swirled them around before setting them down, squealing with glee.
The others looked at her in concern and surprise, expecting a quite, fearful Kagome, not her usual cheerful self.
"Where did you go?" Shippo demanded.
"Not far away." Kagome evaded.
"How come you left us Kagome-sama?" Rin challenged.
"Sometimes adults just want to spend time alone away from loud, demanding children." She answered, tickling both of them before standing up and giving them both a little shove towards Ah-Un and asking them to see the dragon saddled and ready.
With the kids taking care of, Sango and Inuyasha walked up to them. Sango's eyes were on her as Inuyasha's were on his brother.
"Kagome-chan?" Sango asked.
"Let's go. I've got to pack a few things up before we head back to the estate." Kagome said with a smile as she led Sango to Keade's hut.
"What happened?" Sango asked. "You look okay."
"I'm fine. Though I must admit I was terrified at first. He gave me two choices for my punishment. My pain or his pleasure. Did you know Inuyoukai purr?"
"Purr?" Sango asked confused.
"Yeah. Sounds more like a content growl, but still I can't help but compare it to a cat purring."
"Why was he purring?" Sango asked confused.
"Well, I choose his pleasure as my punishment and proceeded to drag out a bottle of massage oil and gave him a massage. He resisted a little at first, but within minutes I had him purring."
Sango stared at her stunned.
"A massage?"
"I took lessons to help mother when she was pregnant with Souta."
Sango continued to stare at her friend in shock as Kagome packed up her stuff.
"Do you even fear Sesshomaru anymore?" Sango asked.
"Sometimes." Kagome admitted in a soft voice. "There are times when his mask slips and I can tell he's mad. That always puts a healthy bout of fear in me. The other night, I had never been so scared in my life. I have never seen him so angry and I truly did fear for my health yesterday, but I knew I couldn't run from him.
"He respects honor and obedience. When I walked up to him and calmly told him I was ready to receive my punishment for my disobedience, it showed I had great honor and obedience and his anger melted a lot. I was still afraid, but I knew he would never take advantage of me. He has too much pride to beat his mate and too much honor to punish someone acting in honor."
Kagome was staring out the hole in the wall as she spoke. Sango was looking at her in new found respect.
"Why did you cover yourself in Houshi-sama's and Inuyasha's scents?"
"To get his attention. He would have ignored me if I hadn't done something to catch his notice. I knew kissing Inuyasha would catch his attention, and I know he would never harm me so he couldn't attack Inuyasha while I was so close to him."
Kagome finished packing and stood up, Sango next to her as they walked over to where Ah-un and the children where playing. Sesshomaru was nowhere in sight and neither was Inuyasha. A distant crashing sound let them know where the two brothers were.
"At least this time they are not fighting in front of the children." Kagome sighed.
"Kagome." Came Keade's voice as she walked up to her, a bow over her shoulder and a quiver of arrows in her hand. "For you." Keade offered her the weapons.
"Thanks Keade. You have no idea how grateful I am to get these. I keep meaning to ask Sesshomaru for them, but I can never find the words to ask him."
She shouldered the weapons, told the kids to wait, got up on Ah-Un and directed the dragon to where the fighting was taking place. The brothers were a fair ways away from the village, she was thankful for that. It wasn't hard to find them. All she had to do was look for the circle of destruction.
She flew over the field, watching as the two of them fought sword to sword. She sighed as she watched, noticing that they seemed to be sparring more then fighting. Inuyasha was not using his Kaze no Kizu and Sesshomaru was not launching his own attacks.
"He is improving." She noted pleased.
Sesshomaru was not able to do as much damage as he use to, Inuyasha's defences now much tighter and he didn't just launch himself into battle anymore. No, he had improved considerably over the last four years.
She waited for a lull in the fighting then brought Ah-un down closer to them. Both of them looked at her.
"We are ready to leave whenever you are my lord." She said respectfully with a bow before turning her attention to Inuyasha.
She opened her mouth to say goodbye, but closed it again with sad sigh, remembering Sesshomaru's order to never speak to Inuyasha or Miroku again. She waved instead as she turned Ah-Un away and flew back to the village, tears streaming down her face.
She just wanted some time alone with him. To let him how she loved him like a brother and missed him, even when he was being rude. She slowed Ah-Un down as they got closer to the village.
Crying in pain, she turned the dragon around and sent him to a secluded glade where she sat down next to the little stream, curled up, and cried, her once cheerful mood now full of depression.
Ah-un lowed softly to her and nuzzled her back before curling up protectively around her, trying to offer comfort in their own way.
(break)
The moment Kagome left, Inuyasha turned his attention back to Sesshomaru, who had also broke his gaze from Kagome.
"Just what did you tell her to do that has her crying?" Inuyasha demanded as he sheathed Tetsusaiga.
"I ordered her never to speak to you or that houshi again." Sesshomaru answered simply.
Inuyasha's eyes widened in horror before narrowing in rage.
"You would deny her the right to talk to her friends?" He demanded angrily. "Damn it Sesshomaru, she is not an obedient dog. She's human. Humans need love and attention, not coldly giving orders."
"Do not assume to tell this Sesshomaru how to treat his mate, hanyou."
"Keh. You know what your problem is? Your problem is you think only about yourself."
"I let you live don't I?"
"You would get board if you didn't have me to amuse you and you can't kill me anyway. Kagome is so strong, yet weak at the same time. You have her loyalty at the moment, but if you are not careful, you will lose it."
"What do you suggest, hanyou?" He meant it rhetorically, but of course Inuyasha answered.
"First off, rectify that order of yours. Kagome is very forgiving and forbidding her to speak to her friends is going to tear her up inside. That grief is going to turn to anger and we both know she has enough power to floor you when she's pissed.
"Secondly, take her patrolling with you and damn well let her finish the Shikon no Tama. It would be better if you let her finish the quest with her friends, but I know you are too stubborn and pig headed to do that.
"Thirdly. Give her freedom. Let her go where she wants when she wants. Kagome is not the type to shirk her duties and she is extremely loyal. She hates being commanded. Try to ask her to do something instead of just commanding her to do it.
"Fourthly, let her visit her family at least once a month. Try to let her go alone if you can so she can spend time with her human friends and human family and can act like Kagome the human instead of Kagome, Lady of the Western Lands. In fact, let her be herself when the two of you are alone and drop the formalities.
"Fifthly…."
"Enough, hanyou. The question was rhetorical." He finally cut in, not liking being lectured, wisely nonetheless, by his brother.
"Than why did you ask it?" Inuyasha asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sesshomaru just turned his back and walked away as a silent way to end the conversation. Inuyasha just shook his head, but did shout out one last thing to his brother.
"At least consider what I said. If I ever feel you are unworthy of her, I'll hunt your ass down and Tenseiga or not, I'll kill you."
Sesshomaru did not respond to the threat, but did take it to heart. Inuyasha was hardly the wimp he was four years ago. He frowned when he got back to the village and noticed Kagome was not there.
"Sesshomaru-sama. Where is Kagome-chan?" Sango asked as she walked up to him, Rin and Shippo next to her.
"She did not return?" He asked simply.
"No. We haven't seen her since she left." Sango answered.
Suddenly worried he took to the air, searching for her scent. Unfortunately scent didn't adhere to air currents very well and it was firmly scattered. Snarling, he closed his eyes and concentrated his youki, trying to find the miko power source he knew was her.
He found it and was nearly floored at the grief that was radiating from it. He rushed towards it, but stopped short when he caught the scent of someone he had been hunting for years.
Kohaku. The human child who served Naraku. If he was nearby than so was Naraku. A flash of purifying light shot up into the sky from where Kagome was. He rushed forward again, the scent of many youkai coming to him.
A hoard of them appeared before him. He drew Toukijin and slashed at them as he flew past. They crumbled before his onslaught as more and more of them appeared around him, slowing him down.
"Kaze no kizu."
He barely dodged aside as Inuyasha's attack levelled even more of them. He landed next to his brother as Inuyasha launched another attack. For every hundred they destroyed, hundreds more appeared.
"Where does he find them all?" Inuyasha snarled as he launched another attack.
Sesshomaru didn't bother to answer as they fought the swarm, getting nowhere. Exhaustion started to wear in on first Inuyahsa. Than him. The scent of something familiar tickled their noses as the youkai hoard backed off a little, but still blocked their path.
"Shit." Inuyasha cursed as a black dome envelope them, cutting them off from the youkai. "This is the same crap he used last time."
Inuyahsa was coughing by now, knowing that if the scent disturbed him it must be killing Sesshomaru. He glanced at his brother and was shocked to see him on his knees, his hand over his mouth and looking very pale.
The dome rushed in around them until he couldn't see through the smoke. His head swam until something nailed him painfully on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.
(break)
The last youkai finally fled, leaving a confused Kagome behind.
"Is it just me, or did that seem too easy?" Kagome asked Ah-Un.
The dragon lowed in agreement, walking up next to her. Shrugging, she mounted the dragon and headed back to the village, thinking it best to warn Keade about Naraku's nearness. She was almost there when Kagura pulled up beside her on her feather. Kagome readied an arrow but held the bow lose.
"What is it Kagura? If Sesshomaru catches wind of you, you are going to die."
"Naraku wants me to give something to you." Kagura answered in a humph.
"I'm sure I don't want it." She stated, putting her bow up and her arrow away.
"I think you will." Kagura stated as she threw something to Kagome, who barely caught it as Kagura flew off.
"What the?" She asked as she looked at the two locks of braided hair in her hands. Both were white but one was silky and shinny while the other was duller and thicker. Her eyes widened in terror as she realised just where Kagura had gotten these from.
"Ah-Un, back to the village quickly."
The dragon went full speed. The village was fine and the others looked up at her in surprise as she landed.
"Kagome-chan. Sesshomaru went looking for you. Did he….." Sango caught off when she saw Kagome's eyes widen in horror.
"Sesshomaru and Inuyasha are not here?" She asked.
"No. Why?" Miroku asked as he joined them.
Shippo frowned as he noticed the hair in her hands. "Kagome, why do you have a lock of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's hair?"
She blinked at the kitsune. Of course Shippo's sense of smell would let him know who they belonged to.
"Kagura gave them to me." She answered calmly. "Shippo-chan, Rin-chan, get on Ah-Un. Sango-chan, you and Miroku-sama follow on Kirara." She ordered as she tied the two locks of hair to her belt before following the children up on Ah-Un.
Her friends stared at her in shock for several seconds but did follow her into the air as she flew back to Sesshomaru's estate.
"Where are we going?" Miroku asked.
Kagome opened her mouth to respond, than stopped. Sighing, she spoke to Sango. "Sango-chan. Sesshomaru ordered me not to speak to either Inuyasha or Miroku-sama. If Miroku-sama wants to speak to me you'll have to do the talking."
Her friends blinked at her in surprise, but Sango did repeat Miroku's question for her.
"We are going back to the estate. Chasing after Naraku won't do us any good since we don't know where to look. At least back home I can write letters and receive reports from those that answer to me. If Naraku is going to send his demands anywhere, it would be there." She answered, her voice firm.
"I don't think Sesshomaru-sama would welcome us in his home." Miroku stated.
"Houshi-sama is right Kagome. He accepted me, but…"
"He is not here to object now is he." Kagome interrupted Sango.
"Nor is he here to deny you the right to speak to me." Miroku pointed out.
Kagome sighed, then turned to talk to Sango, though her answer was directed at Miroku.
"I could do a lot of things behind Sesshomaru's back, but to do so would be dishonourable. While I am sure me screaming a duck warning to Miroku-sama in the midst of battle would be over looked, anything that can be avoided should be for the sake of my own honor and pride. You must remember; honor, pride, obedience. These are the things Sesshomaru respects. That is how come our little time together went so smoothly. My honor and obedience broke his anger and earned his respect." She explained as Kirara and Ah-Un raced across the sky. "Sango-chan, when we get there I would like you to help me write a few letters, and than deliver them with Kirara if you don't mind."
"Sure. Who are we writing to?"
"Lady Akio of the Eastern lands, Lady Terea of the Northern lands, and Lady Aleria of the South-eastern lands." She answered. "I also want you to get Kouga-kun moving. I would also like to see if Jenenji has anything to counteract that poisonous smoke Naraku used last time. It is the only thing I can think of he could possibly use to have brought Inuyasha and Sesshomaru down." She added.
"What can we do Kagome-sama?" Rin asked from behind her.
Kagome smiled.
"You can help Sekira get the rooms ready for our guest and then take care of Ah-Un so he's ready to go at a moments notice. Can I trust you two to do that?" She asked.
"Hai, Kagome-sama." Shippo and Rin answered, raising their hands in salute.
She turned her attention back ahead of her, her smile disappearing and a grim look crossing her face.
"There is only one thing Naraku would want from me. My half of the Shikon no Tama, and possibly me." She thought grimly.
The mansion came into sight sometime late in the night. They landed in the court yard and Sekira rushed up to her in a panic, followed by Jaken.
"Kagome-sama." Sekira bowed to her.
"Sekira. Get Rin-chan and Shippo-chan to their caretaker than join me in Sesshomaru-sama's and my study. Jaken, see to Ah-Un than join me. The rest of you come with me."
"Since when do I have to listen to you human. And where is Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken protested.
Kagome caught the toad by the throat and dragged him squeaking into the air, letting just enough purifying energy to cackle in her fingers to sting him.
"I am not in the mood servant. You will do as ordered or Sesshomaru-sama will have to find a new retainer. Am I clear?" She demanded coldly.
Jaken's mouth dropped open in shock, his eyes wide in fear. As he stuttered out a 'hai, Kagome-sama.' She dropped him to the ground and he ran to Ah-Un, grabbing the beasts reigns and leading him to the stable at double speed.
Sekira led the children away as Sango and Miroku followed her, Kirara de-transforming and following at Sango's heels. She led them to the office she shared with Sesshomaru and sat down behind the desk.
"Sango-chan, can you get Miroku-sama to write a letter to Kouga-kun asking for him to keep his eyes and ears peeled for anything suspicious and tell him what happened?"
Sango turned to Miroku and shrugged, than turned back to Kagome. "Sure. What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to write the letter to the Terea-sama, Kouga's mother. I'll handle the letters to Akio-sama and Aleria-sama.
She passed them some paper, set the ink in the centre of the table, and they set to work. Miroku finished first and left with Kirara to deliver the letter to Kouga. Kagome and Sango took a lot longer than Miroku had. When they were finished, she signed all three, sealed them with the signet ring Sesshomaru had giving her, and watched Sango leave, Miroku having already come back.