A/N: Wow… you guys are gonna love me… That's all I'm going to say for now. evil laugh
The Broken Miko
Chapter 12: Sesshoumaru's Troubles
Kagome fidgeted, her fingers tying into knots and coming undone rapidly of their own volition. Her eyes wandered about the room, a grand hall that Sesshoumaru used for royal audiences and councils, such as this. Roughly two hundred youkai of all kinds were milling about, waiting for stragglers and the commencement of Sesshoumaru's speech. Nearly all of them were whispering, wondering what the taiyoukai would be saying shortly, and all of them were casting suspicious glances towards the hanyou.
Twenty feet to her right, Sesshoumaru sat in a rather understated chair on slightly raised platform. Rin and Washi were hovering at his elbow, chattering away about their first lesson with their new teacher. Kagome was pleased to see that they had expressions of extreme delight and continually interjected wishes for her to stay forever in the castle. Sesshoumaru, naturally, made no response to these requests.
"They are quite lively," came a voice. "I am glad Sesshoumaru-sama has found a female energetic and worthy enough to keep up with two children."
Kagome turned and smiled when she realized it was the skunk youkai, Ruri. Her eyes looked hollow and her voice was hoarse, but otherwise the demoness looked quite normal, only as if she had been suffering from a bad head cold. But then, Kagome reminded herself, demons never suffer from colds. They're resilient as kids. "I am glad to see you are looking well, Ruri-san. How are you?"
The beautiful youkai tossed her long, striped hair over her shoulder and looked at the hanyou with soulful eyes. "As well as can be expected, but you know of this feeling, do you not?"
The miko nodded and smiled wistfully. "You've been speaking to Nami-san."
"I have. Forgive us for gossiping, Kagome-san, but you are fascinating to us. Never has a hanyou entered this castle before and most that I have met outside these walls are so uncouth… You have truly shaken our views in a short amount of time."
Kagome gave an approving nod. "Good. It's always healthy to reevaluate one's values and conceptions. I just wish that everyone was so open to me as you and Nami-san." Her eyes flickered around the room, resting briefly on Machi, the acid demoness, who was sending her venomous stares.
Ruri followed her gaze. "Ah, Machi. You have met her then? She's so rude and so is her father. Thank Kami-sama that he has left court to return to his own lands. Unfortunately, the acid youkai clan must still have representation here in court. Especially since Sesshoumaru-sama is related to them."
The miko raised a red and black eyebrow. "You're kidding. I thought Sesshoumaru-sama was inuyoukai through and through."
"Oh, he is, practically," said the skunk youkai dismissively, "but you'll never hear the acid demons say that. The way they talk, you'd think they'd given birth to Sesshoumaru-sama themselves, instead of his own mother! In reality, his great-great grandmother was half acid demon and half inuyoukai, the result of a treaty sealed with an arranged mating. They'll never let any of the other clans forget it though. I expect Machi-san to be crowned Queen of Bitches any day now. Then she'll have more claim to the dog clan." She let out a long breath after her speech, as if she had been dying to say that for centuries.
Kagome chuckled, earning a sheepish grin from Ruri. "No, don't give me that look, Ruri-san! Say what's on your mind, I expect nothing less."
"It is good advice, Ruri-san," said Nami as she glided up to the pair of women. She gave a warm smile to both. "Some people in this court need a bit of brutal honesty from time to time."
Before they could begin to chat, however, Rin and Washi appeared at her side. Sesshoumaru was apparently ready to begin his talk and had sent them to her. As the taiyoukai rose from his seat, the dull buzz of talking ceased immediately and the youkai all turned their eyes to the Inutaisho.
"It would be fruitless for me to tell you of my whereabouts of the last five months," he began, his steady, deep voice reaching the back of the hall with ease. "It was my journey home that revealed important information that all subjects of the West should know and be made aware of.
"First, as many of you are aware, from either your own sources or the rumor mill, there have been rebellions in all parts of Japan. Many of these affected the Western Lands, many did not, but one man engineered them all. I do not yet know the identity of this youkai, but when I learn of it, he will be brought to justice for the blood he has spilled upon Japan's fields.
"Second, both the Southern and Eastern Lords have severed ties with us, refusing to remain our allies in this time of war. At this moment, many of their troops are gathered on the edge of our borders." He paused as this information, old as it doubtlessly was for the gossips, renewed whispers on the floor. "I need not tell you, especially the leaders of clan delegations, that contact with anyone from the South or East is forbidden, will be considered treason and punishable by death.
"Third and last, especially to those with children, the tengu have apparently appeared in our lands once again. Parties will be organized shortly to exterminate this menace from the West, but until then, do not leave any pup under the age of fifteen unattended. It might be the last time you see them." His cold amber gaze swept the crowd, expecting another outburst of talking, but everyone was enraptured by the news he was bearing. He doubted he would ever get this sort of attention again. "There is no more to say on this subject. I will entertain a few questions."
Two hundred clawed hands raised into the air, but Sesshoumaru remained unruffled, choosing a small green demoness in the front to speak.
She bowed, her nose nearly touching the ground. "Lord Sesshoumaru, we have heard many things during your absence. Is it true the Southern Lord has died?"
"Yes, his son was the one to sever ties with the West. A foolish move on the insolent pup's part."
Two hundred heads nodded in agreement with this statement as the taiyoukai chose another demon, a rather alarmingly large mouse youkai. "Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama, but who is the young woman you have brought home?"
"We are discussing the matter of the newest threat to our lands," answered the inuyoukai, without so much as a glance at the hanyou who was now attracting everyone's attention. "Old business will be discussed after the new business has been put to rest."
About one hundred and eighty hands were lowered and Kagome sighed under her breath at the nosiness of youkai. And to think she had once considered it a unique habit of Inuyasha's!
Much to her surprise, Sesshoumaru patiently answered all of the remaining questions, not once raising his voice, even though it was evident that the youkai were just looking for confirmation or denial of the rumors flying about. All of it was old news to Kagome, who let her mind wander a bit.
It was quickly brought back to attention, however, when the taiyoukai cleared his throat and gave her a meaningful glance. "It is time to discuss the demise of the Western Land's previous great enemy, Naraku."
An excited whisper filled the room, almost painfully loud before the taiyoukai raised his hand to silence them once again. "Yes, he is dead, but not without consequences. The battle was not entirely successful and this female," he nodded towards Kagome, "was the sole survivor. My half-brother, Inuyasha, was one of those that died."
Yet another flurry of chattering echoed inside the hall, but Kagome ignored it. What Sesshoumaru had said was wrong, untrue, a lie. She had known him to be many things, a royal pain in the ass usually, but never a liar. For she had not been the sole survivor. Kikyo and Kagura had survived as well. She understood why Kagura was not mentioned; her survival could very well depend upon secrecy if there was a spy in their midst. And there was always a spy.
But Kikyo? Kagome would have thought that Sesshoumaru would be warning the youkai about a deranged miko that could kill them with a touch or a single arrow. Perhaps he didn't see Kikyo as that much of a threat. He had never spent any inordinate amount of time with her, or with her memory hovering around like a particular blood-thirsty mosquito.
She shook herself and tried to concentrate on what the taiyoukai was saying. She would ask him about Kikyo later.
"…no Tama no longer exists, so anyone still pining for its power can stop," he ordered, a hard, steely edge to his voice. Kagome knew that he had never gone after the Shikon Jewel himself, although she wasn't sure why. Yet another thing to add to her growing list of questions. "I will inform this court of anything further. Good night."
He stepped off the platform and walked up to Kagome and the others clustered around her. "Rin, Washi, it is time for your training. Go down to my dojo with one of the guards. Your sensei is waiting," he said, only giving a quick glance at the other two women. "Half-breed, your own studies await you."
The miko made a very unladylike face.
He frowned at her silent response. "I must return to my work. I expect you to arrive in the library shortly." With that, he turned and walked out of the room, the children tagging along behind.
Kagome sighed and looked over at her new friends. "He's so warm and cuddly."
Ruri gave a noncommittal shrug; her contact with the demon lord had been restricted to two instances, when her mate was hired as head scout and when Sesshoumaru had told her that Sen had died. Nami just sighed, looking down at the floor.
To add to the sudden despondent air around them, Kagome's least favorite person at the castle sidled up to them at that moment. "Hello, Machi," greeted the hanyou with a dull tone. She began to look for nearby exits, as Sesshoumaru had taught her to do in battle situations. The only one was the main door, directly behind the acid demoness. Kagome sighed again and resigned herself to her fate.
Machi wasted no time. "Well now, half-breed, my cousin barely mentioned you in that speech of his. Why are you here when even your host does not recognize you? You stink up this palace with your tainted blood."
"Oh, how clever. I haven't heard that one yet," Kagome drawled, used to this from years of bickering with Inuyasha.
"Machi," pleaded the blue-skinned demon beside her, "please don't start this. She is Sesshoumaru-sama's honored guest!"
"Oh shut up, you weak little tart," snapped the acid youkai. "You're so pathetic that you should be called a half-breed yourself. You're a disgrace to demons everywhere!"
Kagome narrowed her eyes and decided quickly to hit the venomous woman where it would hurt most. "You know what's disgraceful, Machi? That you spend all your time trying to get into Sesshoumaru-sama's bed and I, a worthless half-breed with tainted blood, know him better than you."
"Like our great Lord Sesshoumaru would ever stoop to bedding a half-breed," the acid youkai scoffed.
"You're right," agreed Kagome, knowing it would throw off her opponent, "but at least he'll never use me for sex, like he would with you. You serve one purpose and it is not being Lady of the Western Lands. Nami has a much better chance than you'll ever have."
"How would you know?" Machi said, her voice dangerously soft and her eyes narrowing.
"Call it my inuyoukai instinct," replied the hanyou, giving her a malicious grin. "But then, you would know of that, wouldn't you? Being related to the Inutaisho after all." She shot a brief look at Ruri, who's eyes were wide with surprise with a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Now, if you would excuse me, I have to go work."
Ruri lit up. "Ah yes, Kagome-san! You don't want to keep Sesshoumaru-sama waiting!"
Kagome nodded vigorously, playing the part. "Of course, because if we stay up too late, Sesshoumaru-sama and I will be so tired in our other lesson tomorrow morning. Where does the time go?"
She waved good-bye to her friends and the furious Machi, and walked away, careful not to turn her back on the acid demoness for too long. Once out in the hall, she took a deep breath and pushed it all out. 'That felt good,' she thought, 'putting down that horrid woman. Those comments to Nami! I don't understand why Sesshoumaru keeps her around.'
Using her sense of smell once again as a guide to find where the taiyoukai had gone, Kagome wandered the castle, finally climbing the familiar stairs to the third floor and walking across the bridge into the East Wing.
Opening the door to the study, she heard what was sure to become a frequent saying. "You're late."
"Yeah, I know," she said, unapologetic. "I got into a tiff with Machi. That woman is really horrible, you know? Not just to me or Rin, but to anyone she believes is below her station."
"I am aware of Machi's unique personality traits."
"You should kick her out."
"I cannot. She is an ambassador here of her own choice. She must betray me to be exiled."
"Or executed?" asked Kagome hopefully, her demon blood rising ever so slightly.
Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at her. "Or executed," he agreed calmly, returning his eyes to his work.
Kagome wandered over to his bookshelves, her fingers running over the books' spines as she read them. "What should I be studying? Anything particular you want me to teach the kids?"
In the light of the fire, Sesshoumaru looked downright wicked as his eyes swept over his collection of manuscripts. "Religion. I have never taught Rin the ways of demon religion and it is time she learn." He pointed to a section to his left. "A few volumes should be over there."
The hanyou crossed the room and began to look, questions burning the back of her throat, waiting to be asked. She finally gave in. "Is Rin going to live with demons forever?"
She heard him set down his brush and could feel his gaze boring into her back as she searched for the books required. "She has not known any other life for many years. She has nothing in the human world and everything here," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I believe Rin will ultimately make her own decision however."
Kagome found a volume sporting the title Genji Shibukawa: Tales from the Kojiki, what she would have called 'mythology' in her era and pulled it out. "But, what about a family? Children? Will she have those in this world?"
Sesshoumaru fought the urge to growl at her intrusive questions. Questions that he himself had considered many times over the past few years, and had not yet found answers for.
The hanyou turned to face him and continued, "And what about her life span? You and I and Washi will live for centuries, but she'll grow old and die within decades."
"It is Rin's choice."
"So, basically, you have no idea."
The taiyoukai gave her a sharp glance, but her serious face and rather sad eyes told him that she was not mocking him. He sighed and ran his hand through his silver hair. "I do not know, which disturbs this Sesshoumaru, but I am searching for a way to keep her life preserved as well as ours. If she so chooses."
Her crimson ears twitched as she recalled her earlier questions. "Why didn't you come after the Shikon jewel then? It could have given her immortal life, and yet you never went after the shards."
"The answer to that, half-breed, should be apparent." A quick glimpse of her shrugged shoulders told him otherwise and he mentally rolled his eyes. "I have no desire to attain power by such underhanded methods and I possess an absolute revulsion to using them to give Rin a prolonged lifespan. I believe that it would have changed her in more ways than I had intended. As my late brother discovered, to use the Jewel for a selfish purpose would taint it and the effect of the wish."
"It didn't affect me adversely."
Sesshoumaru stared directly into her eyes and cocked an eyebrow. "Are you so sure of that, half-breed?"
She scowled and stuck her tongue out, although she was almost certain that the taiyoukai was teasing her. "I was just wondering. This didn't have to become about my personal failings, whatever you think they are."
"I trust that Rin will choose wisely."
Kagome sat down on one of the cushion on the opposite side of his desk. "Well… perhaps she'll fall in love with a demon," she said, her voice soft and airy. "And then she'll never want to leave this world." She wanted to add reassurances that Rin would never want to leave her precious Sesshoumaru, but wisely decided against it.
The taiyoukai nodded, his eyes remaining hard and emotionless. "Read your book."
Opening the text, the hanyou immediately allowed her mind to wander. The fireplace in the next room was crackling, sending a comfortable, heavy heat into the library. She yawned like a cat, revealing her white fangs.
"Concentrate, wench."
"Yeah, yeah. I know." She stared down at the first page of the book. The creation myth, naturally. Before the heavens and the earth came into existence, all was a chaos, unimaginably limitless and without definite shape or form. Eon followed eon: then, lo! out of this boundless, shapeless mass something light and transparent rose up and formed the heaven…
Inuyasha wandered onto the dark, bottomless plane, and spotted her. "Kagome! Thank Kami-sama!" He ran to her and crushed her body against his own. "I thought Sesshoumaru had gotten you."
"No," she said, relief washing through her body to see her mate alive and well. "He just disappeared. He came to the door but didn't go through. I don't understand it, but something saved me."
He hugged her tightly. "I'm just glad you're back with me."
"Me too," she mumbled into his haori, her own breath tickling her nose.
Pulling away, Kagome giggled as she let her fingers dance over the edges of Inuyasha's ears. His eyes slid shut and a small growl of pleasure erupted from his chest.
Over his shoulder, out of the darkness, a white object appeared. Kagome's fingers stopped their ministrations immediately. "Inuyasha…" she whispered in a terrified squeak.
He lifted his head and gazed into her wide brown eyes. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure… I think, I think it's Sesshoumaru."
Inuyasha snarled and whipped around, his hair grazing Kagome's face. "Get back! I'll fight him. Just make sure he doesn't get you."
The girl's eyes watered as she stumbled backwards. "Be careful. Please. You don't have to fight, Inu-kun."
"Yes, I do, Kagome. I won't let him take you." A whisper of metal upon wood, and Tetsusaiga was transformed in Inuyasha's claws. "Stay back," he warned. "I'm sure Sesshoumaru is up to his old dirty tricks."
Moments later, the taiyoukai touched down upon the nebulous ground. "Ah, little brother. We meet again. How surprising."
"What do you want, Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha yelled in return, his eyes blazing molten gold.
"Haven't you figured that out yet, Inuyasha? I want your death to be upon my hands. I want your blood to spill upon this ground," he said in his usual cool, dapper tone. His amber eyes, so much like his younger brother's, yet completely different with their indescribable chill, flickered to Kagome. "But most of all, I want her."
"Why?" screamed the miko. Her feet seemed to be planted to the floor, unable to listen to her brain, telling them to move, to run.
"To ruin it all," answered Sesshoumaru, his voice uncharacteristically high, as if the joy had addled his brain. "To allow demons to rule this earth forever, without the interference of vermin like yourself."
Inuyasha leapt in between the demon and female hanyou. "You won't do this. Not to her! Not to Kagome!"
They began to fight, so fast that Kagome could barely keep up. Her vision continued to blur, leaving smears of white and red. The whine of metal against metal echoed within her delicate ears, almost instantly leaving her with a skull-cracking headache.
She fell to knees, the pain wracking her body, sending chills of agony up and down her spine. Her mouth opened and a scream tumbled out, shrill and blood-curdling.
Inuyasha pushed back Sesshoumaru and turned to his mate. "Kagome!"
The girl opened her eyes and realized she could once again see clearly, just in time to watch Sesshoumaru plunge Tokijin into Inuyasha's back. The bloody blade came out the other side, directly below the hanyou's heart. Dark liquid seeped across the fabric of the fire rat robe and down towards his waist. An oppressive silence descended. Her heart had stopped.
Inuyasha blinked slowly and lowered his head to look at the damage. Lifting his clawed hand, he ran it along the sharp blade and covered his fingers with his own deep red blood. "Kagome?" he pleaded, looking up at her with child-like innocence.
Kagome choked back a sob and rolled onto her back.
The back of her head and spine hit the solid wood floor of Sesshoumaru's study with a crack. "Ow!" Blue and red spots danced in front of her eyes.
"I did advise you to concentrate."
Kagome shot up straight and scrambled backwards. Away from the taiyoukai and his scent of sage and lavendar. Away from the demon who had killed her love only seconds before. Where was Tokijin? She was surprised he wasn't cleaning off the blood. Why wasn't he laughing? Why wasn't he smiling or gloating about his victory? Most importantly, why wasn't he hauling her off to her own demise?
For a brief moment, the dog demon appeared confused. "What is the problem, half-breed?"
"Get away from me, you monster!"
Sesshoumaru passed his remaining hand over his face. "You must really learn to stop this foolish behavior, wench. It is quite tiresome."
"You killed him! You killed your own brother!" she screamed.
The inuyoukai growled, so deeply that it resonated through the floorboards. "You were dreaming. Now be quiet!"
"No, it was real! You're a murderer!"
Cursing his bad luck, Sesshoumaru stood up and approached the hanyou, who was cowering in the corner. "It was not real. It was a dream. And if this Sesshoumaru was a murderer, you too would be dead. Before you were able to deafen me with your piercing shrieks."
There was a sharp rap on the door. "Lord Sesshoumaru! We heard a disturbance. Is everything alright?"
Sesshoumaru sniffed. "Yes. Go back to your posts." He turned to the hanyou. "Those are the guards you so desperately wanted to look after the children. The same children to whom you gave lessons this afternoon. And, if your brain is not completely addled, you will be giving them lessons again tomorrow."
Kagome sighed and shook her head. "I'm so confused. It hurts."
"What pains you?" asked the taiyoukai. His nose told him that she was neither ill nor bleeding, but he had a sinking feeling that it would a bit more complicated than that anyway.
"My brain. My heart. Everything," she murmured, allowing her hands to cradle her head. "You killed Inuyasha but now you're being nice to me."
'Nice?' Sesshoumaru mused. 'The girl has lost her mind.' Out loud he said, "Once again, I tell you that I did not kill my brother. Although I tried many times, it was Kikyo who finally took that honor from me."
"Ki-Kikyo?" Kagome's face changed from an expression of wonderment to that of complete rage. "Kikyo! I remember now!" she snarled.
"Good." He returned to his desk and sat down once again. "Now you can return to your studies without further interruption." He silently asked Kami-sama to provide peace in his household, just until dinner. Even a brief cessation of the hanyou's ranting and raving would be a gift from the heavens.
"I can't study now!" screeched the girl, waving her arms about. "Maybe that dream wasn't real, but it sure felt like it. I've watched Inuyasha die again and again. And just when my dreams were starting to improve, they turn into nightmares." She stared at him, accusation in her eyes. "And it's always you. You're the one that always tears us apart. He warned me about you."
"I would apologize, but it was not actually me in your dreams."
"What're you babbling about? You'd never apologize to me," she scoffed.
"No, probably not," he admitted, shuffling through his paperwork.
Kagome shrugged and stood up. "If you don't mind, I'll just read this book in my room," she said, picking up the text she had let fall to the floor during her dream. "I'm going to turn in early tonight, since I'm sure you won't let me out of training tomorrow."
"I will not, but you will miss dinner."
"Are you kidding? Lunch was enough to feed a village and I ate nearly all of it. I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow morning." She waved at the taiyoukai, exited the room and nearly ran to her room, ignoring the guards. Once inside, the door shut tightly behind her, Kagome let out a breath and tried to still her heart.
What was that? She thought she had overcome those episodes of insanity. Of course, the last one had only been a few days ago, when she had discovered Inuyasha's empty grave… but still. That had felt like the end all, the final show before she began the true road to recovery.
She walked across the room to her bedside table and placed the religious text on the edge. She would read it later, when she wasn't feeling so stirred up and restless.
Opening the doors to her small balcony, Kagome stepped out into the warm black night. It was unseasonably warm, considering that they were headed into autumn. The hanyou guessed that it must be around the middle of September, by her era's reckoning. Soon the harvest season would end and the leaves would change to red, orange, yellow and gold. It was Kagome's favorite time of year.
Hugging herself despite the warm air, the hanyou looked up to the sky. A large moon loomed over the castle, so close to complete that many people would mistake it for a truly full moon. Tomorrow night she would have to stay inside her room. Perhaps she would get lucky and grab a bite to eat before sequestering herself, although it was unlikely. Sesshoumaru wouldn't allow her to skip out on studying for two nights in a row.
Soon, she would have to leave this place for good to exact revenge upon Kikyo and find out what new villain she had hooked up with. Kagome doubted that she would return from such a trip, due to either Sesshoumaru's refusal or her own death. She wasn't sure which would be more painful. Leaving the children, leaving the youkai who had become her reluctant friend… it would be so much easier if Kikyo dealt a fatal blow before Kagome killed her.
And he had become her friend, no matter how much both of them didn't want it to be like that. She hadn't been lying that night when he had saved her from the shadow creatures.
She sighed, deciding to not think about it for the moment. It was too confusing. There were too many issues and bouts of insanity to think clearly. One moment she was a wretched half-demon with a chip on her shoulder about a dead miko, and the next she felt almost human again, with children under her care and friends.
Either way, it was going to take a bit more time to figure it out. Whatever 'it' was.
A shooting star streaked across the sky, momentarily distracting her from the moon. Automatically, she made a wish.
'Please,' she thought, directing her desire to the heavens, 'let Inuyasha's last wish become reality. Let him rest in peace and let me live my life. I want to be happy, truly happy, once again. I don't want the shadow of my past hanging over me. Six months of torture is enough.'
With a sigh and the belief that her wish was futile, Kagome turned to go back into the room for what hopefully would be a dreamless sleep.
8888888888888888888888888888888Sesshoumaru watched her as she pored over the Tales from the Kojiki. Her dark brown eyes sped across the page as she mouthed the words. Every once in awhile a silent word would turn into a whisper, the only other sound beside the crackling fire.
They had reached an unspoken agreement to not talk about the incident the night before, but the taiyoukai still watched her. He wasn't completely certain as to why he kept his vigil, but he knew that he couldn't allow her to fall asleep once again during her studies. But luckily, it seemed as if she didn't have any more inclination to dream again than he did to allow her.
"I think the fire is dying."
Sesshoumaru glanced over at the fading embers. "I will put another log on in a few moments."
"Hmm." She kept her eyes down on the book.
It had been like that all day. A few words of no meaning passed between them and then silence. Even when the taiyoukai had berated her for her poor performance on a particular kata, Kagome had simply apologized and tried harder. No arguments and no true conversation.
He turned and looked out over his city and the dying sunlight. Even from across the mansion, he could smell the servants preparing dinner. Jaken would be supervising in the kitchens, making sure that his lord got the best cuts of meat after five months of foul human food.
"Dinner is ready," he stated, standing up and straightening the last stack of papers. It was still depressingly tall, but it was only a fraction of the work he had started with the previous day.
"I'm not hungry."
"The children will eat alone," he observed as he threw another log on the fire. It crackled madly as it hit the ashy, burnt pieces already resting in the grate. He made a mental note to tell Jaken the fireplace needed a scrubing.
She raised her head and gave him a sadistic smile. "You can eat with them if you're really worried, Sesshoumaru."
He walked past her and stopped at the door, quickly deciding to taunt her a bit. "You will join us. It is not up for negotiation."
The smile melted, replaced by a furious stare. Before she could open her mouth, however, Sesshoumaru stepped out of the room and closed the cherry wood door behind him.
"Hey! You jerk!" came a muffled cry.
The dog demon quickly made his way down to the dining hall, aware that the children were already back from their training and probably driving Jaken insane.
Upon entering the hall, there was a cry of "Sesshoumaru-sama!" and the pattering of feet. The taiyoukai looked down at the kids.
"Good evening, Rin, Washi. How was your lesson?"
"Wonderful, Sesshoumaru-sama!" exclaimed the dark-haired girl.
The eagle demon nodded his agreement. "The sensei said I had some real talent, Sesshoumaru-sama! He said I would make a great officer one day!" He puffed out his chest and spread his wings. "Could I join your army one day, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
The taiyoukai, well aware of the carnage seen on demon battlefields, nodded once. "We shall see."
Washi beamed and skipped over to the table. "Come on, Sesshoumaru-sama! We're starving!"
Rin began to follow her new friend but stopped and looked around the taiyoukai. "Lord Sesshoumaru, where is Kagome-san? Isn't she joining us for dinner?"
"I do not know. That is not my concern, Rin," responded the dog demon, moving towards the plate Jaken had prepared for him specially.
He glanced down at his dinner. Obviously the staff had killed one of the best animals in the stockyard for his first meal back with Rin. Given the general anti-human feeling among the nobles of his court, Sesshoumaru was constantly amazed by the warm relationship between his staff and Rin. They did not seem to care that she was human, but rather doted on her for that very reason. Anything associated with the little girl commanded their full attention.
The small human was, at the moment, pouting slightly and looking back at the door.
"Rin, stop that. It is unlikely that she will arrive."
Washi looked up, his wings rustling with his movements. "She has to be hungry though! We worked on math today and she said she really hates that. Her tummy was growling too."
Sesshoumaru glanced at both children and their unhappy faces before sighing inwardly. "I shall check on her after I eat. However, if she does not wish to be disturbed, you will respect that and not bother her. You will, after all, see her tomorrow morning for your lessons."
The children ate slowly, constantly watching the taiyoukai make his way through his meal. Many times, he had to tell them to keep their eyes on their own food.
"Mine would make you sick, Rin," he said evenly, his eyes giving her a hard look. "Neither of you have taken more than a few bites. Have my servants failed in their occupation?"
The little girl's eyes widened. "Oh no, Sesshoumaru-sama! They did a wonderful job, just like always. But we're worried about Kagome-san. Even I could hear her tummy growling this afternoon. And she spent her break outside with us in the garden."
Sesshoumaru set down his chopsticks. "Very well. I will check on her now."
Trying to ignore the phrases 'under her thumb' and 'leashed' that were floating around in his head, the taiyoukai set out to find the hanyou that had somehow changed his life with her mere presence.
As he drew closer to the staircase to the East wing, he noticed a definite increase in the volume of traffic. Several of his nobles, especially females, were moving in the same direction towards the east. Many of them were party to the group that had so strongly resented Rin's arrival four years previous.
The hum of conversation floated down the staircase as Sesshoumaru climbed to the third floor, so he was not surprised to find a large group of youkai clustered around the doors leading to the bridge across to the East wing. His guards had called for reinforcements from adjoining hallways and several of them were in heated arguments with the nobles.
"What is happening here?" intoned the taiyoukai. "I do not see anyone here that is permitted to go through these doors, save myself and the guards. Explain yourselves."
Unsuprisingly, Machi pushed her way to the front of the crowd. "Lord Sesshoumaru," she purred, bowing deeply. "How nice to see you in a non-official capacity."
The inuyoukai frowned. "Given your presence in a restricted area, Machi, this just became an official matter."
The acid demoness appeared unabashed, but remained silent.
"Now, someone tell this Sesshoumaru what is happening and why my guards have been pulled from their regular posts." He narrowed his eyes and looked at the mixture of guilt and defiance on the faces of his nobles. "Now!" he barked, making them jump.
One of sentries stepped forward, a raven youkai private whose name Sesshoumaru could not recall. "Sesshoumaru-sama, these lords and ladies came to your quarters demanding to be allowed in. They claimed that there is a human in the East wing and that it is not Lady Rin."
"It is a human, you common crow," spat Machi. "Any youkai with a half decent nose could smell it from a mile away."
Sesshoumaru lifted his canine nose to the air and the scent of mandarin oranges wafted into his senses. However, there was something distinctly different and something stirred in his memory of his past with Inuyasha. "It is just the half-breed. Go back to your own rooms."
"With all due respect, try again, Lord Sesshoumaru," whispered the acid youkai.
Snarling, the taiyoukai moved through the crowd, pausing briefly next to the guards. "Let anyone through these doors besides the children and your lives will be forfeit." He raised his voice, so that it would carry over the mob. "And anyone who tries to force their way in will face my own wrath."
Walking quickly, Sesshoumaru crossed the bridge and went through the doors on the other side. The guards in the hallway were restless. "My lord," one of them called, "please tell us what is happening out there. Do our comrades need assistance?"
"I do not believe there will be any further trouble," stated the dog demon. He once again sniffed the air, now pungent with the scent of several soldiers as well as the scents of the wing's occupants. "Has anything occurred here?"
A few guards fidgeted. "We don't know. Something has happened to the hanyou. We smell fear and depression, but she will not allow us to help, although we have tried."
"I have no doubt that she is being stubborn. Go to the dining hall and escort the children back here. I do not want them hassled by the crowd," ordered the taiyoukai as he moved towards the half-breed's room and knocked on the door. "I am coming in," he called.
"Don't you dare!" shrieked the girl from inside.
Sesshoumaru ignored this and walked into the unlit room, his youkai eyes automatically adjusting to the low light. Movement to his right attracted his attention immediately.
The hanyou came out of the darkest corner of the room and traveled along the far edge of her bed. She remained however, completely shrouded in shadow. "What do you want? I told you I wasn't hungry."
"The children missed you, but more importantly, you are disrupting the entire schedule of this court."
"What are you talking about, Sesshoumaru?"
"There is a large crowd hovering at the other end of the bridge, screaming that there is strange human in this wing. I have protected you, despite my desire to allow them to rip you apart. I want to hear the truth."
"Why? You know it already. I can tell." She retreated back behind her bedpost.
"Say it. For once," he hissed, "I would like to hear the complete truth from your mouth."
"Fine. Fine!" She moved quickly towards the curtained windows, which emitted the glow of muted moonlight. Throwing them open, she turned around to face the taiyoukai. "There? Are you happy? I'm human. I turn human every time there is a full moon. Now if you don't mind, I really hate this transformation and I'd like to be left alone."
Her river of solid black hair rippled in the soft light as she tossed her head in defiance. Her crossed arms displayed ten round, dull fingernails and Sesshoumaru was certain that her jaws housed normal human teeth.
He walked up to her, her mandarin orange scent surrounding him, and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Turning her head, ignoring her angry stare, he examined her human face for the first time up close. Smooth skin, dark eyes and long eyelashes made a fairly pleasing visage. "You aren't entirely unattractive, Kagome."
She gasped and backed away out of his grasp.
The taiyoukai blinked slowly and raised his eyebrows. "Is something wrong?"
"You… you called me by my name."
"I did."
"You've never done that before."
"I have not."
"Okay…" She returned to him, looking up to his stony expression. "So why now?"
Sesshoumaru smirked. "You cooperated. Had you done so earlier, perhaps I would have called you by name earlier."
"Oh. Well, you could have told me that."
"Would you have listened?"
"Probably not," she admitted.
The taiyoukai nodded and turned away.
"Wait!" she called, reaching out with her unclawed hand. "Where are you going?"
"I plan to check upon the children and then go to my own room," he replied, twisting his neck to see the girl bathed in moonlight, wearing a dark blue yukata that made her pale skin glow. He turned to face her. "Was there something else you required?"
Her brown eyes seemed to grow as she looked up at him. "Are they still out there?"
Sesshoumaru cracked open the door and pressed his ear to the opening. "Yes, although they have calmed down considerably." He closed the door again and watched her pace in front of the window. "Do not concern yourself. They will not cross the bridge if they value their lives."
Kagome smiled. "You threatened them for me? That's sweet."
"They do not belong here. It was not for you."
She winked as her smile spread, showing off her even, blunt teeth. "Okay. Sure, Sesshoumaru."
"Hm," he murmured in return, narrowing his eyes at her happy expression. He hated being teased by the hanyou, but at least it was an improvement on her usual moping. "Goodnight," said the taiyoukai, turning towards the door.
A frown replaced her smile. Had she said something wrong? He was leaving so abruptly. On the other hand, he had not called her 'half-breed' or 'wench' yet. Sesshoumaru was halfway out the door before she realized she didn't want him to leave. "Please don't, Sesshoumaru. Don't leave."
He gave her a strange look, but closed the door once again. "Was there something else?"
Kagome hoped that the dark room would hide her blush, although she knew Sesshoumaru would be able to smell her embarrassment. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I really would appreciate it if you stayed here tonight."
"My room is next to yours," pointed out the taiyoukai. "Why would you require my presence?"
"Think about this, Sesshoumaru. You're a demon, but once a month you have to become a half-demon for a night. During that time you have every feeling you suppress the rest of the time, things come back to haunt you. And, oh yeah, you feel completely and utterly helpless because of your decreased strength and speed." She sat down on the soft wool blanket that covered the end of her bed and leaned against the carved bedpost. "Do you understand now?"
There was a slight pause while Sesshoumaru considered her hypothetical situation. "No."
She sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. "Never mind. You can go if you really want to."
For a moment, he pondered escape and placed a clawed hand on the doorknob, but something held him back. Damning the moon and Kagome's human blood, Sesshoumaru turned back towards the girl in the dark room. "I do not understand, but I will stay." He noticed the moonlight shining off the whites of her wide eyes. "To protect you."
"Thank you," she whispered. "I feel so strange being human again. This will be the first time someone has stayed with me."
Sesshoumaru crossed the room, pulled the chair from out under her desk and sat down. "You must become accustomed to it. You made this choice and you must live with the consequences."
"I know…"
Silence fell and stretched out over the minutes. Kagome watched the taiyoukai's white form as he sat as still as a predator in waiting. Every once in awhile, a dull flash of gold told her that he had moved his eyes. She imagined the glow of red replacing the gold and she shuddered. No wonder the mention of his name received that glassy-eyed look, accompanied by rapid breathing when she had asked about his whereabouts.
She collapsed back upon the soft mattress of the bed and stared up at the leafy ceiling. Finding the taiyoukai had been quite a job. In the beginning she hadn't been sure where to look. Japan itself was a large enough area for one hanyou to search, but what if Sesshoumaru had been taken out of the country?
But she had to admit to herself that she would have gone to Europe on foot if necessary. Anything to keep her busy and away from Inuyasha's gravesite. The piercing pain in her heart seemed to fade a bit when she was on some sort of mission and a difficult search for an elusive dog demon did the trick. Adding in the rumors of a new, dangerous demon and Kagome should have been preoccupied enough to recover fully.
The dreams however, continued to plague her. Although she had abided by the unspoken rule and had not mentioned the previous evening's incident, the hanyou remained unsettled. It didn't help that she had suffered through another dream in her own bed, which featured a maniacal taiyoukai gloating over Inuyasha's death. Upon waking, it had taken her nearly a half hour to calm her heart and to remember that Sesshoumaru was not a killer, nor would he hurt her.
She closed her eyes, although she knew she would not be able to sleep. Which, in her opinion, might be a good thing.
"If you fall asleep, I will leave."
Kagome cracked open one eye to see Sesshoumaru leaning forward in his chair. "I won't fall asleep. I can't sleep when I'm human, especially with half your court out there. If you don't want to risk it, keep me entertained."
"I am not here for your amusement."
Kagome snorted. "Good thing too, because you suck royally at it." She heard the beginning traces of a snarl, and the grin dropped from her face. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. You're actually kind of fun to hang out with, even if you do spend most of your time ordering me around or telling me how worthless I am."
"Hm." His tail uncurled from his shoulder and pooled around his feet as he relaxed back in the chair.
Another long hush threatened to settle in as Kagome lay in the dark on the soft bedspread. She knew she would never fall asleep, being human and the dreams still looming over her head, but she did not want to spend the next eight hours in silence.
"Sesshoumaru."
"Hm."
"Do you have an immortal soul?"
Golden eyes flashed in the silver moonlight as he looked at her. Luminous brown eyes stared back, unblinking and utterly serious. "All demons have souls."
"So I haven't lost my own soul."
"No, you have not."
Kagome sighed and rolled over onto her stomach. "There are many other ways to lose one's soul," she commented. "Perhaps I have lost mine, and we just don't know it. Perhaps you've lost yours."
"Unlikely."
The girl propped herself up on her hand and gazed at him with a critical eye. "Are you sure? How many youkai have you killed? How many humans?"
"Many. I have lost count. But if you are insinuating that this Sesshoumaru could lose his soul for ridding the world of a few pests, you are mistaken."
"There are a lot of people who would disagree with you, Sesshoumaru. Being a killer, righteous or not, doesn't look very good does it?"
"I do not care."
"Sure you do. You should anyway." She began to toy with the fringe of her coverlet, braiding and unbraiding the short strands. "Haven't you ever regretted choosing to be a warrior?"
Images flashed in his mind. The training sessions with his father, the generals, the masters of various martial arts. His first battle and the aftermath, how he had stood in that field, looking out over the dozens he had killed. But, as his father had reminded him, that was the difference between victory and death. The former taiyoukai had been proud of his son that day. "I did not choose this path. I was set upon it."
"Fine then," she conceded, smoothing out her blankets. "Do you ever regret that? Get angry about it?"
"No."
"I don't believe you."
"That is acceptable," he said, smirking.
"Just because I'm human tonight doesn't mean I can't see that look on your face. I was being serious, Sesshoumaru."
"So was I."
She sat up and rested her chin upon her knee, lacing her fingers together over her shin. "Haven't you ever lost someone in battle? Someone you cared for so deeply that it made you question your life?"
"No. I am not you, Kagome. I mourn no one," he said, his voice not as harsh as he had intended.
"I know… but what about that painting? Then one we saw in Izo's castle? With your father fighting the humans and your mother-,"
"I remember the painting," he interrupted, causing the miko to start. "Make your point or be quiet."
"Well, you lost your father. Not to that specific battle, but to another one with that horrid dragon. Didn't that make you wonder?"
"Kagome," he gritted out from between clenched teeth, "you will find that my thoughts of warfare concentrate on two subjects. First, my expected losses and gains. And second, the strategy that will minimize those losses and maximize the gains."
"But don't you feel hurt when you lose your men? When you lost your arm? Your father?" she pressed.
"Kagome," he growled, earning her silence. Sighing from relief and exhaustion, he closed his eyes and, propping his arm upon the chair, placed his head in his remaining hand.
A rustle of silk told him that she had slipped off the bed and onto the padded mat between them. Just as he was about to open his eyes to see where the girl had gotten to, he felt her arms encircle his neck. His amber eyes snapped open, as his hand trapped the elbow that was half-way to the curve of his neck.
"What are you doing?" he asked, soft and dangerous, as he peered at the human face inches from his own. She was smiling, her dark eyes shining with shy mischief.
"I'm giving you a hug," she responded, trying to tug her arm out of his grasp. "Or at least I was trying to."
"Why?" he snapped, although he allowed her elbow freedom once again.
Kagome moved in fully, her thin, strong arms wrapping around his shoulders and neck and her weight resting on his legs and chest, so that she was sitting on his lap. She positioned her head on his collarbone, below his chin before speaking. "Because you needed one. I've never seen you sad before."
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, wondering what he had done to deserve this. "I was not sad. Are you sure that it was not you that needed this ridiculous embrace?"
The human girl pressed her cheek against the dog demon's warm silk-clad chest and shrugged lazily. "Maybe, but I still think this will be beneficial for you too." Her eyes fluttered closed as she sighed contentedly. "Besides, you have a very comfortable shoulder."
The taiyoukai rested against the back of his chair, allowing Kagome's mandarin scent to wash over him. A week ago, a few days ago, he would have pushed her away, demanding that she never touch him again. By permitting her to stay, he realized that he was accepting her friendship. Worse, he was returning that friendship.
Glancing down at the dark head of hair nestled upon his chest, he considered telling her to return to her bed, so that he could leave.
But she was asleep. Sesshoumaru stared at the way her even breathing ran through her small body. Asleep. Hadn't she said that she never fell asleep as a human?
Perhaps she was sick. No, his nose would have told him if she suffered from any illness. Perhaps he was boring. She had appeared quite distracted during his speech the previous day. He could be forcing her to over-exert herself in her training and in tutoring the children. But surely she would complain if that were true. No, it was far worse than either of those possibilities.
She found his presence comforting. Sesshoumaru's nose twitched slightly at the thought. Sighing in resignation, he looked down again at one of the two females who actually preferred his company, regardless of wealth or titles.
The girl was shivering a little, a side-effect of human frailty. The dog demon lifted his tail from the ground and wrapped it around Kagome's form as best he could without waking her. Immediately, she stopped shaking, shifting a bit to snuggled underneath the thick fur.
Noting that the girl was not muttering his dead brother's name, the taiyoukai relaxed his muscles and closed his eyes once again.
In the morning, the guards would stare and rumors would fly, but at the moment, the Lord of the Western Lands didn't care. Though he hesitated to use the word, the great taiyoukai was a friend to the least likely creature in existence.
Once more, he gazed down at the small, weak mortal in his arms, almost completely covered by the soft white fur of his tail. He recalled the promise he made at Inuyasha's graveside and smirked. Let them think what they wished, this was nothing new. This was simply a redefinition of that promise.
As far as anyone else would know, of course. After all, no one would believe that the great demon lord had a friend in a psychotic half demon.
Bending his head forward, his silver hair surrounded the two of them, human and demon. Minutes later, he was asleep.
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A/N: There you go. I hope you guys liked it. Basically, I combined two chapters here… not a plan I had started with but I quickly realized that the first half was not enough for a single chapter. So you guys essentially got chapter 12 AND 13. Aren't you pleased? Haha. Anyway, I tried very hard to keep everyone in character and not too mushy, yet romantic. Did I succeed? Comment, flame or whatever. Thanks for your patience!
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