'Oh Kami-sama... I can't believe what he told me... and I agreed to bond...' thought a rather shell-shocked Kagome.
Standing in the hall, outside of Sesshoumaru's study, the blue-eyed miko replayed everything that had just happened in her mind.
"So you're saying that I'm gonna be bonded to you. By blood. Tonight. Forever," choked out Kagome.
Looking at her flustered state, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but wonder why this slip of a woman amused him to no end. Calmly, he replied, "As I have already stated, this type of ceremony works only for a short time after the person has been attacked. Sakura has already been unconscious for more than a day. Any later and she may be lost forever."
"But... but... FOREVER?" squeaked a still hesitant miko.
"A blood bond cannot be broken, Kagome-san. I have already told you this," said Sesshoumaru, wondering how such a seemingly intelligent woman could be reduced to a bundle of nerves at the thought of a simple bonding. "All the bonding will do is connect us," he continued. "We will be able to feel each other's presence and emotions. It will also allow us to communicate telepathically."
"Can't you already do that? Unless I was hallucinating in the soldier's hall."
Restraining an exasperated growl, the demon noted that maybe the amusement of having the miko here wasn't worth the aggravation that she caused. Taking a silent breath, Sesshoumaru managed to say using his customary frigid tone, "A bonding of blood will not have the limits that mere psychic powers have. I have explained already."
Kagome stayed silent. It was true. He had explained it. Over and over and over again. But she still couldn't accept the fact that she would be linked to the demon who had tried to kill both her and Inuyasha numerous times in the Sengoku Jidai. Then again, this Sesshoumaru seemed so differently.
As the priestess mused, the demon decided that enough was enough and played his trump card. In a coaxing, almost chiding voice, Sesshoumaru said, "Kagome, remember that this is for Sakura's sake. We cannot allow our own inhibitions to endanger her life any further. You have undertaken the responsibility of keeping her safe. This must be done in order for you to accomplish the task you set out to do."
Seeing the guilt that flashed through the woman's expressive eyes, the lord knew he had won the battle. However, even he could not anticipate her next question.
With a sigh, Kagome nodded her head in assent. After he put it that way, there wasn't much she could say. Nevertheless, she needed to sate her own curiosity before admitting defeat. Praying that Sesshoumaru wouldn't kill her for her audacity, she blurted, "Why are you so determined to help her? I mean, it's not like you have a great love for humans."
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened marginally as he sat musing about whether he should tell the miko the truth. After all, no one knew the circumstances of the... event. So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice the fact that the woman who sat in front of him had gone deathly quiet.
Immediately regretting the question, Kagome's insecurities were only heightened as Sesshoumaru's silence extended further and further. Finally deciding that the oppressive silence was too much to bear, she opened her mouth to apologise when the demon began to speak.
"Rebellions are not as uncommon as one would think, Kagome-san, especially since Inu Taisho developed a preference for human women. The rebels seemed to only grow in strength and number as timed passed on. The worst battle occurred not so long ago. Inu Taisho was away on 'business', meaning that he was with one of his human whores, most likely the one that he now calls mate. My mother had just discovered his secret and was overwhelmed with grief.
"You must understand, Kagome-san, that my mother was not a typical youkai. She was powerful. I believe that she could have rivaled Inu Taisho in power. But unlike most with the magnitude of power that she possessed, she was kind. Incredibly so. And she loved Inu Taisho with a heart undivided..."
As Sesshoumaru described his mother, Kagome couldn't help but watch the emotions that played on his face. It was at this moment that she realized there was so much more to the frigid demon. There was an infinite amount of sadness and guilt swimming in his golden eyes. But there was an indescribable sense of pride and reverence as he spoke. Slowly, Kagome registered the fact that Sesshoumaru had gone back to explaining the aforementioned rebellion.
"...I was with her at the time, trying in vain to comfort her as she so often had me. A servant came running towards us, bearing news that the castle was under attack, urging us to leave. Even in her grief, my mother's sense of duty prevailed. She turned and embraced me, telling me to remember all that she had taught me. And then she walked away to defend the palace.
"I think that she knew it would be the last time we saw each other. Had she not been betrayed by Inu Taisho, I have no doubt that she would still be alive. No small army could have brought her down so simply. No, my mother didn't die on the battlefield. That would have been too kind. Instead, she died by the same manner that Sakura will eventually succumb to.
"Her body was ravaged, as was her mind by the lingering youki. Her already shattered soul combined with everything that had been dealt to her that day was her ultimate downfall... And I could do nothing to stop it, Kagome. They wouldn't even allow me to be with her as she passed."
Forlorn amber eyes met with shining azure.
"This is why I must save Sakura. A redemption of sorts." Dropping all emotional barriers, Sesshoumaru smiled wistfully.
Tears threatened to spill from Kagome's eyes. Damning all consequences, she closed the distance between her and Sesshoumaru, throwing her arms around his neck, wanting to comfort both him and herself. The tears that had pooled in her eyes now stained the white silk of Sesshoumaru's shirt, followed by many more.
The demon looked down at the silently weeping girl. Emotions still raw from the retelling of his mother's death, Sesshoumaru placed his arms around the distressed miko, saying softly, "Why is it that you cry, Kagome-san? It is in the past and no amount of tears will bring her back."
Looking up, Kagome's eyes resembled twin pools of water.
"I cry because you cannot, Sesshoumaru." Taking a calming breath, Kagome continued, "I agree to the bonding. For the both of you."
Deciding to push her luck further, the miko asked, "So is that why you hate Inuyasha so much?"
Sesshoumaru's eyebrow went up a notch at Kagome's audacity. 'Then again,' he thought, 'considering what I've told her, it's not surprising.' Then another thought struck him.
'How does she know the name of the hanyou?' Deciding to deal with that issue later, the demon addressed Kagome's question. Fighting back a sigh, he began to explain.
"I do not hate the hanyou. I realize that he is not at fault for his origins. It is his mother that I despise. However, his origins will undoubtedly spark an insurgence. The Western Lands are mine by birthright through my mother's lineage. Inuyasha has no ties to this land, yet his presence will cause so much destruction.
"Inu Taisho's choice of mate has already sent the Youkai Council into a frenzy. When they learn that he has kept the secret of a hanyou child from them, I have no reservations in saying that the Council will provide no assistance in the coming battles."
"How could he keep the fact that his mate is pregnant from a whole household?" Kagome cut in, still holding the not-so-cold demon lord.
"No one sees Mariko. Inu Taisho keeps the human wench under lock and key. There are many who wish harm upon her and quite a number would not hesitate to act upon that desire. I, myself, was told of her pregnancy only days ahead of the birth. To think, Inu Taisho told me to be cautious for months to come. I believe that he misjudged the length of a hanyou pregnancy."
Barking out a bitter laugh, the lord continued, "Despite everything that I've done to keep the Western Lands afloat, Inu Taisho's latest whim will be the land's downfall."
Pulling Sesshoumaru closer, Kagome replied, "No it won't."
Surprised at the amount of confidence in those three words, the lord asked, "And how would you know, Kagome?"
"Because I understand you enough to know that you would never allow that to happen." With a heartfelt smile, made more sincere by her remnant tears, Kagome added, "Trust me."
The miko's cheeks were tainted pink as she realized that she had remained in Sesshoumaru's arms until a servant had announced that lunch was being served. Although she had been hard-pressed to leave Sesshoumaru after what he had told her, her growling stomach demanded otherwise. After all, she hadn't eaten anything in the morning. Food hadn't been a priority between fearing for one's life and learning another's heart wrenching secrets.
Kagome swore that Sesshoumaru had looked amused as he told her to go to lunch, saying that he would be there shortly as her reluctance was obvious. It was then that she realized that Sesshoumaru was no longer the cold demon lord. Regardless of what he seemed to others around him, she considered him a friend.
So lost in though was she that only noticed too late that she was standing in what seemed to be a part of the castle with Inu Taisho's décor of decadence. Silently cursing herself for not asking Sesshoumaru for directions, Kagome silently prayed that she wouldn't bump into Inu Taisho. The looks that he had sent her in the Great Hall still caused shivers to creep down her spine.
No such luck.
The miko nearly jumped out of her skin as a hand grasped her arm. Spinning around, she came face to face with a seemingly human Inu Taisho.
"Why are you wandering in my hallway, miko-san? Was there something that you... needed me for?"
Kagome couldn't help but understand what the Western Lord was insinuating. Nor could she help the disgust that permeated her being. Thanking some merciful God, she was relieved that she hadn't eaten. Vomiting on one of the most powerful demons ever wasn't on her list of things to do.
"Err... no, actually, Lord Inu Taisho," she said hesitantly. "I was looking for the dining area and I got lost... How silly of me. Well, I won't be taking any more of your time." Chuckling nervously, Kagome prepared to make a dash to anywhere but where she was.
However, Inu Taisho seemed to have a different idea. Standing directly in front of the startled woman, he backed her up slowly to the wall and placed his hands at either side of her head. Leaning closer, he whispered, "Why don't you dine with me, miko-san? I'm sure we can think of things to entertain ourselves with afterwards."
Panicking, Kagome's mind didn't seem to be functioning. She couldn't even seem to stutter out a reply. Vaguely registering the fact that if Inu Taisho tried to kiss her, she'd no doubt try to purify him, Kagome prayed for another solution.
Her wait wasn't long as she heard Sesshoumaru, once again the frigid demon, say, "I'm afraid, Lord Inu Taisho, that the miko has already made previous arrangement with me. Kagome-san, I do believe that we are past due for our engagement." Holding out his hand, the young lord was inwardly amused as Kagome's head bobbed up and down rapidly; reminding him of a toy he once had as a child.
Thanking her lucky stars, Kagome zipped out of the awkward position that Inu Taisho had placed her in, grabbed Sesshoumaru, and dragged him in a random direction. Anywhere was better that being near Inu Taisho.
Seeing their departure, the Western Lord seethed, thinking to himself, 'You will not keep me from her, Sesshoumaru. I will have her, just you watch.'
Kagome dragged Sesshoumaru until they had once again reached the black and white marbled surroundings that described him so well. Finally letting go, Kagome slumped with relief.
"Thank you so much! If you hadn't arrived when you did..." The blue-eyed miko shuddered slightly at the train of thought.
However, Sesshoumaru's growl quickly ended the ease that Kagome felt. "What were you thinking, entering his area of the palace?" the obviously angry demon snarled.
"I got lost... This place is so big. Why didn't you give me directions?"
Slightly perturbed at how she made it seem like his fault, Sesshoumaru bit out, "Because I assumed that you knew the way. Especially after you just walked out."
Huffing, Kagome retorted, "Well maybe you shouldn't assume. Apparently, it makes an ass out of 'u' and me."
Ready to fire back a response, Sesshoumaru decided that it was pointless. Shaking his head, the demon lord said simply, "I do believe that we should be dining now. The noises that your stomach is making have the potential of causing me to go deaf."
Nodding in agreement, Kagome halted abruptly in indignation. "HEY! My stomach doesn't gurgle that much! And if someone had told me the way to the dining area, then maybe my stomach wouldn't be making any noises!"
Sighing in defeat, something he swore that he would never do with anyone else around, Sesshoumaru took the stubborn miko by the arm and dragged her in the direction of the dining area. Telling Kagome to allow her holy aura more berth, the duo stepped into the dining room.
A feminine figure sat in one of the many gardens that surrounded the Western Palace, a small red bundle cradled in her arm. Small tufts of white hair peeked out from between the folds of red cloth, along with two small triangular ears.
"One day soon, my little Inuyasha, you will become the Lord of the Western Lands," Mariko crooned. "We must get rid of that pesky Sesshoumaru first though, sweetheart." A twisted smile appeared on the woman's face.
"Don't worry, baby... Mommy's already seen to it."
Lunch had passed by without a hitch for the miko and demon. Mostly due to the fact that they had studiously ignored each other. Sesshoumaru was deep in thought, musing over what had happened in his study. Beside him, Kagome worried about the impending ceremony, allowing a thousand worst case scenarios to play in her head.
Servants arrived, taking away the trays that had served the food, replacing them with tea cups. Snapping out of her self-induced nightmare, Kagome sensed something that seemed out of place. Glancing over at Sesshoumaru, she saw that the servant who served him had an aura permeated with fear.
Although he was serving Sesshoumaru, which obviously warranted some of the emotion, Kagome thought that one who served demons all day wouldn't be so prone alarm. By instinct alone, the miko knew that something was wrong. The only thing that the servant had done was serve Sesshoumaru his tea. Lapis eyes widening in alarm, Kagome placed her hand on the lord's arm just as he was about to sip the beverage.
Snapping out of his reverie when he felt Kagome's hand, Sesshoumaru set the cup back down on the table and turned to her, ignoring the collective whispers over how familiar the miko seemed to be with the lord.
Sesshoumaru-sama, the servant who served you the tea is covered by fear. I didn't think that he'd be so afraid unless he had something to hide, Kagome told Sesshoumaru through the psychic link he had earlier established.
Turning eyes to the trembling servant, Sesshoumaru fought back the urge to wrinkle his nose at the stench of fear that was emitted. Silently beckoning the servant to return to him, Sesshoumaru lifted the tea and smelled its contents. It was then that the lord realized that he had been so lost in thought that he had not detected the subtle smell of poison that laced his tea.
The majority of those who were dining had already left. Those who remained sensed that something terrible was about to happen and made a beeline towards the door. When all had left with the exception of Sesshoumaru, Kagome, and the servant, the young lord rose.
Taking the tea in his hand, Sesshoumaru walked towards the cowering servant, face stoic and eyes frigid. Extending his clawed hand, Sesshoumaru snarled, "Take the cup and drink its contents."
The terrified servant prostrated himself in front of Sesshoumaru, begging to be spared, muttering about a family and having no choice. The demon stood unrelenting, still holding the teacup in his outstretched hand.
Seeing that the youkai lord was unaffected by his pleas, the desperate servant turned to the miko that stood silently behind his lord. Grasping her pant leg, the entreaties became frantic as death seemed imminent.
Kagome tried in vain to remain unaffected by the servant. Silently sending a pleading look to Sesshoumaru, she knelt down and helped the servant up. Intending on arguing for the servant's life, all her thoughts halted as he fell limp to the floor.
Walking to the corpse of the attempted assassin, Sesshoumaru glanced at the tea cup in his hand before setting it back on his dining table, saying in an icy tone, "Poison. He most likely took it before serving the tea."
Beckoning Kagome to follow him, he led her out of the room, motioning to a passing servant to clean up the "mess" in the dining room. Placing a hand on her arm, Sesshoumaru was puzzled as to why he felt the need to comfort her. Putting the thought away for later, realizing that it was most likely the same reason that he had told her of his mother, he returned to the task at hand.
Stopping in front of Sakura's room, Sesshoumaru turned to the slightly shaking woman beside him. Placing his hands on her shoulders, the silver-haired demon steadied Kagome.
The miko looked up at Sesshoumaru. Realizing where they were and knowing that she could not postpone the act any longer, Kagome simply nodded her head.
"I'm ready..."