This disclaimer.. is actually proclaiming that I do not own Inu Yasha or any of the characters... I would also like to point out at this time that I SUCK at intrigue... so we will completely ignore all that... really...
Once In A Blue Moon
An Inu Yasha Fanfic by Hika-chan
Chapter 14(a): Musings At Midnight
Kagome stared at the twitching victim of Sesshoumaru, not sure how to react to the cruel fate of one who likely deserved it. Wait... did he? He was a cruel ruthless youkai, but then again wasn't Sesshoumaru the same in one way or another? She didn't want to think that this youkai deserved the pain and torture that would be involved in his death. If she let herself believe it then.. then that could mean that Sesshoumaru deserved a similar fate.
"Sesshou?" she whispered shakily.
The taiyoukai immediately went to her side, leaving the wretched creature to his slow death. "Are you alright Kagome?" he asked, seemingly oblivious to the carnage around them.
"Could you at least finish him quickly?"
"This is no less than he deserves."
"And you?"
The youkai lord seemed somewhat confused, "Me?"
"Is this the kind of death you deserve as well?" She asked eyes tearing slightly.
"Koishii? Why would you-" he stopped himself and nodded. He was youkai, his ways were naturally more than the average human could stand to witness. Then there was the compassionate nature of his beloved blue moon, she would never fully understand that side of his nature he knew, and he should have remembered. Unfortunately he had been blinded by his anger. He was willing to sacrifice some of his cruelty for her, after all he found little joy in it, for him it was a tool of vengeance, punishment and retribution. "As you wish." he said and swiftly ended the life of the offending youkai. Of course putting that thought into practice was going to take some work.
A wave hit the young miko and she covered her nose and mouth, turning away from the sight. Weren't youkai supposed to dissolve or turn to dust or something when they died? Regardless all she could smell was blood and death, and now she cursed her more sensitive nose. Even the sweet scent of Sesshoumaru's poison did little to help her, only because she knew what it caused. "Kagome?"
Another hand came up and she squeezed her eyes shut tight, tears beginning to form in the intense blue orbs. "The smell.." was all she managed to say for a moment.
"Kagome-chan?" Sango asked coming up behind her friend and taking hold of her shoulders for support.
"I can't stand the smell..." she whined softly, "all the blood..."
Sesshoumaru went to say something but Sango beat him too it, "Let me take you outside, Sesshoumaru-sama if you think it would be possible for you to revive the man over there I think Kagome-chan would greatly appreciate it." Bright blue eyes opened slightly and nodded to the tall youkai, before the taijya led her outside.
***
The moment she was outside the cave Kagome practically dropped to her knees in relief. There had not been enough circulation in the cave and now that she was away from the smells she felt she could take a deeper breath. This must be kind of like what Inuyasha went through when we fought all those ink monsters, she mused absently. "Kagome-chan...are you-"
"I'm fine Sango.. I just needed some fresh air."
Sango nodded silently to her friend and then looked up at their surroundings only to stop when she saw Yuki. Apparently the older sister was not quite as concerned with keeping blood off her as her younger sibling. While she was not covered in so much as to closely mimic a Stephen King novel there was just enough to make her look creepy. A splatter on her cheek there, a little on her sleeve and in her hair, and of course some dripping from her finger tips. To add to the eerie scene behind her stood the macabre decoration of her kill. A doll supported on a stand of roots his mouth open in pain and thick red tracks running down either side of his face below empty red sockets. The entire dark scene was illuminated by the blue light of the full moon that was partially covered by blue-gray clouds.
"Oh hello girls," she said simply, her usual jubilance gone, but neither was her voice grim and dark. She had spoke her greeting like a typical, casual observance. The wind shifted and the distinct smell of blood came upon Kagome's small form once again and she raised her head. A short strangled shriek left the girl's lips and she begged her eyes to shut. But once again they were cruel to her, refusing her the simple relief she so longed for.
Moments after the miko cried out the hanyous and Western Lord emerged from the cave, looking for any signs of danger. Yuki looked behind her and seemed to give a mock blush. "Oops, didn't mean for you to see that," she muttered before stepping infront of the display blocking it from the miko's view. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes slightly at his sister, though he was just as guilty, Kagome had seen a little too much blood today.
"Yuki, put the grotesque art away," he half growled.
"I never cared for it much myself," Yuki commented casually, chanting a moment as the roots returned to their home. It was such a strange scene to watch, like the strings to the top of the marionette were cut first then the support left the legs and it connected to the ground with a solid thud. Then the roots closed over the corpse and pulled it down into the ground and the grass innocently took it's place where it had been before the battle. It was as though the earth had become one giant venus fly trap waiting patiently for it's next victim.
Sesshoumaru turned away from his sister, who seemed to be studying how neatly she tidied up, and walked over to the young miko curled up beside her friend. "Kagome." She turned to him fear evident in her bright blue eyes, the youkai flinched unnoticeably and his heart twisted knowing that he was part of the reason for it. Not willing to speak for whatever reason, she glanced to Tenseiga at his waist and then back to his face, eyes questioning. "Gomen blue, he has been dead for too long. Tenseiga and I can do nothing for a body whose soul has moved on." Silently tears welled in her eyes and she threw herself back into her friend's arms. Another flash of pain shot through the youkai as the miko sought comfort elsewhere.
Yuki turned, her eyes widening slightly as she observed the surge of jealousy in her brother's aura. She turned then, looking to Inuyasha wondering on his reaction to the whole scene. Surprisingly the youngest sibling was not smug or egotistical, in fact the hanyou seemed rather... pensive. Something that had once been very unusual for him but she had seen him like that quite allot lately. "So," Inuyasha spoke up breaking the silence, "Where are we going from here?" Given the tone of his voice it was obvious that what he said was not what was on his mind.
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked, already knowing but asking the question for the benefit of those who did not wish to speak it.
"Well, someone has to go back to Sesshoumaru's castle to let Miroku an' the kids know we're alright, an' we have to give the guy in there a proper burial, and you," he said pointing to Sesshoumaru, "Need to get back to the western capital."
"His family," Kagome muttered, instantly all attention turned to her. "That youkai said he hurt his family also. Can you heal them Sesshoumaru?"
The taiyoukai looked at her for a moment, the fear in her eyes replaced with a reluctant hope. Sesshoumaru let out a low sigh and closed his eyes before opening them again and nodding, the softened look in his gold eyes clearing saying "Only for you."
"Did you hear that?" Nataku asked.
"Seems like someone broke free of his stables," Yuki grinned as Aun came out of the forest around them.
"The hanyou and taijiya will return to my home with Aun, Kagome and I will return the body since I must be there, and Yuki I will meet you back at the capital."
"I'm going with you and Kagome," Inuyasha said.
Sesshoumaru held back a growl, he was not accustomed to being disobeyed. "You will do as I say little brother."
"No," Inuyasha answered, "I will not. I will do what I think is best for my friend."
"What would a baka hanyou like you kn-"
"Now now boys," Yuki chided stepping between the two. "There's no need for that." Yuki turned her lilac eyes to the older of the two, "I think you should let him go with you, Kagome-chan seems a bit uneasy right now. She seems to need more the comfort of a friend than a lover."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "Am I not both?"
"Do not make me force my decision upon you Sesshoumaru."
"Fine the hanyou may come."
***
A few minutes later Sango was about to get on Aun when, "Excuse me but may I help you?"
The taijiya warily turned her eyes to flirtatious grin of Hikaru's older brother. "Sure, Thank you..."
"Nataku."
"Thank you Nataku-sama."
The white and red haired hanyou simply wagged a finger at her, "Nataku is just fine from any pretty lady."
The exterminator blinked and nodded. "I'm Sango." Behind them Hikaru looked like she wanted to gag.
Sango rode quietly on the dragon mount back towards the palace with the two hawk hanyou flying behind them. She was happy to know that Inuyasha was with Kagome right now. She was also happy to note that while they were ruthless Sesshoumaru and Yuki still seemed to care about her welfare. She just hopped Inuyasha wouldn't stick his foot in his mouth again.
"I cannot believe you aniiue," Hikaru hissed, "I swear you are almost as bad as that monk."
"The monk?"
"Yes though thankfully you are not so liberal with your hands. He actually asked me to bear his child before grabbing my butt! If I hadn't been so shocked I would have killed him before the taijiya beat him into the ground."
Nataku grinned, "I suppose he was a bit too worried to act so charming when I met him."
"Yes well I think he knows better than to try any of that with Yuki-sama."
"Ahh yes... Yuki-sama."
Hikaru rolled her eyes, "You are hopeless brother."
"I believe the term is more hopeful," he offered with a grin.
***
"Sesshoumaru," Yuki had said before she sped off alone to the capital, "We must talk once you return, I have news of your traitors." The white dog seemed about to leave then she spoke up again, "You may as well bring Inu-chan and Kagome-chan as well, they may be safer with us." She had left it at that, but knowing his sister like he did he knew she was not joking, nor would she joke about such a thing. Kagome, Inuyasha and he were now on the return trip to the mountains. It had taken little time to track down the man's family, who were fitfully sleeping in a miko's care. After a brief explanation and reassurances from Kagome the miko allowed Sesshoumaru to, for lack of a better word, treat her patients. They left Mikan's body with her and a note of condolences for the family, the miko gave Kagome some clothes to change into and they were on their way again.
Sesshoumaru tried not to growl as he looked at Kagome riding on Inuyasha's back parallel to him. Jealousy surged within him, more so then he had ever felt over the Tetsusaiga. Kagome was his love, his blue moon, not the hanyou's. And yet there she was riding on Inuyasha's back. But the way she looked at me, he thought. It reminded him of when he had her against the wall near the garden, she was so scared, now she was scared of him. Back then neither of them knew why, now the reason was clear. He was youkai, a creature whose ruthlessness greatly over shadowed that of man's. And she, she was far to pure and innocent to be exposed to such a thing, So much like Rin, he realized. Perhaps it was as she tried to hint earlier, she was not ready. Especially not for a relationship that was intense as he had in mind, not including the complexity of one between a feudal youkai and a miko of the future. Kami this was frustrating, in her time humans rarely married before their twenties, and here she was... not quite sixteen and he asked her to be his mate. It was mind boggling how grown up she was in many respects, but still so childish in others.
She'd fought off demons, risked her life many times, was on a quest and still tried so hard to maintain a normal 20th century life (he was still learning what that entailed). Yet when it came to a "lovelife" as she had called it she was so insecure. Though his attentions were not refused he had a feeling anything more than kissing would cause her discomfort...
He fought back another growl, still she should not be afraid to ride on his back! Seeking comfort from others when he was there for her. It grated on his nerves like rusted metal. He turned his eyes away from the two shard hunters and took a deep breath, he had to calm himself before he did something he would regret. Think about something else, he told himself, Yuki said she knew who the traitor is. She looked so angry, there must be more to it than that...
***
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered into his ear, "I understand what you were trying to tell me now. I'm sorry I dismissed it so easily but..."
"But it wouldn't have changed anything," the hanyou replied almost as quietly, not quite sure if his older brother could hear them. "You love him don't you?"
There was a moment of quiet before she answered, "I... I think so, but... I'm a little scared of him as well. Is that wrong? Can you love someone and fear them at the same time?"
Inuyasha nodded, "I love Kikyou as well, in some ways less than I did before, but I still do. I do have a fear of her Kagome, I didn't realize it for a long time, but I am scared of her. Partly because I can't destroy her, I couldn't bring myself to, and also what she's capable of. If she really wanted to she could probably kill all of us. What kills me most though, is the idea that I would probably stand by and let her."
"Inuyasha..." The miko tightened her hold on him, "I know you well enough, I know now you would never let her hurt us. Shinpaishinai."
"Arigato Kagome."
"Same here Inuyasha."
***
It was far too easy for Sesshoumaru to notice the increased closeness between the two (not to mention most of the conversation) and found himself once again biting back a growl. He wanted nothing more at that moment then to kill his half-brother but he knew it would do him no good. He blinked at the thought, when had he become so possessive? Little over a week ago she was a figment of his subconscious and he would have been happy to leave it at that. But since she became such a solid and real presence his control had begun to waver, many times they had been taken out on her even before he knew who she was.
Suddenly past memories seemed to flash before his eyes.
A young maid in a pale pink kimono. 'Sesshoumaru-sama?' 'You... you can just call me... Sesshoumaru if you prefer.' 'N.. no I cannot.' A smile, 'I would like it if you did.' Meetings under the moon. Soft unsure kisses. Blush tinted cheeks. 'You're so beautiful.' 'No... I'm not.'
A battle. Pain. Red. Something here. Meat, hello meat... It runs. Chase it. Chase. Run faster little meat. I'll catch you. Run run run. Chase you. Try to hide. Can't hide. Find you. Hello again meat.
Red vision and splashes of crimson. Burning blood and satisfaction. Red. A still form guarded by a growling little pup. White hair... firerat fur. Inu.. Inuyasha? Where? Wha? Sakura? He.. he killed Sakura. 'How could I?... When did I?' When did he loose control like that?
He slowed his pace, earning a glance from Kagome. They were such delicate creatures really, and he found himself doomed to love them in one form or another. He could protect them from others, but it seemed he could do little to protect them from himself. He stole another glance at Kagome only to see her looking at him, worry evident in her eyes, there seemed to be only the barest sliver of fear in them now, though now she seemed unsure once again.
She could see it, a kind of fear or desperation in his golden eyes. She knew what it was, he so feared losing control again, she had seen it before in Inuyasha. She smiled lightly to herself, the brothers were really so alike. She offered Sesshoumaru a slight smile, knowing it must have been obvious that she was trying to make it more comforting than it appeared. He nodded to her, thankful for the effort. He seemed to relax a little before tensing again, Kagome looked ahead and saw that they had arrived at the palace. She gasped suddenly in realization; this was the place she had seen in her dream, when he had saved her from the nightmare...
As they approached Yuki came up alongside them. "I did not wish to go in without you brother," she half grinned. Sesshoumaru only nodded his acknowledgement before Yuki spoke again. "Kagome, it would be best if you not reveal yourself as a miko. I'd suggest against revealing yourself at all but given that most of those here are youkai..."
"I understand."
"What about a concealment spell?" Inuyasha asked as they halted atop the crest of a hill both Sesshoumaru and Kagome found very familiar. "Like what they used to get into the castle?"
Yuki shook her head, "That will not last long enough, besides if they did find you, you could be found guilty of intrigue."
"So we're just walking in there?" Kagome asked.
Yuki simply nodded, "Well Inuyasha and I are Sesshoumaru's siblings us being there should be little surprise... But how to explain you Kagome-chan..."
"Good thing the you took normal clothes instead of a miko's," Inuyasha said, his head turned to address Kagome who was still on his back.
"Can't we just say I'm one of Inuyasha's friends? I mean if they mistake me for a quarter-youkai like Hikaru did, a hanyou befriending one wouldn't be all that strange would it?"
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes with a small sigh, "Hanyou are rare enough, but what you appear to be is almost unheard of, Kagome. You will not go unnoticed."
"Hey I just don't wanna get killed, attention or no, whoever's behind this is gonna figure out I'm here anyway."
Sesshoumaru gave Kagome a worried and warning look.
She just stared back confidently.
Yuki grinned.
Inuyasha knew he was missing something.
Sesshoumaru turned to Yuki, "Let's go." He turned and looked at his younger brother, "Coming?"
Apparently Sesshoumaru lost the silent argument.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hika-chan: Bet you thought I forgot about Sakura ne?
Sesshoumaru: It's bad enough you made want her *points to Kagome*
Kagome: Huh?
Sesshoumaru: But another human female, when I was younger?
Hika-chan: Think of it as going to college.. you know... experimenting years. *suddenly thoughtful* hmmm...
Sesshoumaru: I will slay you for this.
Hika-chan: Not before I do this *snaps fingers- author powers flare to life and Sesshoumaru is in a ninja outfit* hee hee BAI! *poof is gone*
Sesshoumaru: Must. Kill. All. Chibis.
Shinpaishinai: "Don't worry"
Koishii: Beloved, my love, etc.
Hika-chan: Oh yeah Sorry about the delay. I've just really had a block (anyone whose read the notes on Twist or my profile probably already knows that.) I wanted to get more done with this chapter. So this is kinda 14a... I hate doing that but you guys have waited long enough I have to give you something! and since this is a half decent place to end an installment what the hell right?