A/N: Wow… NEVER have I gotten so many angry reviews… threatening me and the characters. And believe me, I got some pretty strong threats… LoL. So, this is just to tell you to STOP WORRYING. Really… I promise.
I am APPALLED with myself for taking so long with this chapter, but after all those reviews, I wanted to get things just right. I hope I did it justice.
The Broken Miko
Chapter 14: Conversations with Demons
Kagome opened her eyes and breathed in the scent of faint mildew, hanging in the air after the storm. Dripping water echoed in her ears, dropping onto her small balcony outside. The entire castle was waterlogged, no doubt, but she knew that that would not stop Sesshoumaru's training session. Nor would the fact that she had caught him with Nami not three hours previously.
Rolling out of bed, the hanyou placed her feet upon the cool wooden floor and unsteadily stood up. Her head pounding, her vision swimming, Kagome felt as if she had a monumental hangover, but was painfully aware that it was not alcohol that had caused this. Although she hadn't shed a tear during the night, her brief snatches of sleep were plagued with horrifying nightmares with images of blood and demons that mashed together in her memory. When she had been awake, usually in a cold sweat, she envisioned Sesshoumaru's heartless expression before she had retreated back into her room.
Her heart was in pain, she could feel it beginning to pierce through her chest even harder now that she was awake and recalling earlier events. She remembered this feeling from when Inuyasha would run off to Kikyo, but she hadn't realized it had hurt this much. But then, one tends to forget pain when it's replaced with joy, and Inuyasha had done more than enough to heal her wounds.
She doubted Sesshoumaru would be so inclined to do the same.
She walked over to her wardrobe and began to dig through the virtual mountain of clothes Sesshoumaru had bestowed upon her when she had moved in. In the back, her demon slayer outfit and miko garb sat quietly among the silks and linens of the royal gifts. She pulled out the leather taijiya suit and began the struggle to get into it, despite the humidity.
After a five minute fight and success, Kagome strapped on the armor plates as quickly as possible and tucked Tetsusaiga under her sash. She realized that wearing her demon slaying outfit was probably unwise without the immediate presence of the taiyoukai, but she didn't care at the moment. Proving that she was strong and ready for anything was exactly what she wished to convey at the moment, and if he became angry, all the better. At least that would show that he cared about something.
She yawned, yet another sign of her terrible half-night of unrest, but refused to answer the call of her soft bed. Instead, she threw open the double doors to her balcony and stepped out into the damp autumn air. It was bracing to say the least, and even in her leather, Kagome wrapped her arms around her shoulders. The grounds were soggy, stained to a dark green by the rain. Two gardeners were attending to the remains of the bloody battle of the previous afternoon.
As she watched the pair of youkai, who were colored rather like Easter eggs, Kagome reflected that the battle had seemed to take place ages ago. And yet, the male demon, with his long lilac hair and seafoam green skin, was turning over the sticky earth fresh with blood. The female, with cream yellow skin and orange sherbet hair, was replanting the flowers torn up in the abduction attempt.
Perhaps that was her problem, she mused. Perhaps the opulence of royal life got to her brain and had tricked her into believing, even for a moment, that she would be worthy of the demon lord.
But in reality, she was no better than the gardeners tending to a little girl's obsession on a cold morning, hard work that would soon go to waste when the flowers would die or go into hibernation for the winter. Besides his promise, there was no reason that Sesshoumaru was keeping her around. Surely there were better tutors available for the children? Surely he had spies that could figure out everything she had told him?
Kagome sighed and walked back into her room. She wasn't going to get any answers waiting around for a tight-lipped taiyoukai to fetch her for morning lessons. She would go to him and tell him good luck and good life, but she would be going after the demon lord herself. His promise to her would be dissolved.
Firm with this decision, the hanyou approached her thick wooden doors leading out to the hall when she heard the murmur of voices. The guards were talking amongst themselves, she realized, something she had not heard them do since she had arrived.
Pressing her ear against the crack in the door, she frowned as she intruded into the middle of the conversation.
"…gone by lunchtime. Trust me, I was there last night," said one of the guards, a deep, throaty voice that spoke of used car salesmen and infomercial hosts.
"I would keep your voice down, idiot. She could be awake." The second voice was closer to her door, edged with nerves. He could probably hear her breath, heartbeat, even her stomach begging for breakfast.
"Who cares? She's got to know that she isn't wanted around here anymore. Which reminds me, Tadao owes me five gold pieces," the first one answered.
"Why?" A third voice joined, young and timid.
"Well, he lost the bet didn't he?" The used car salesman voice purred with amusement. "He bet that Sesshoumaru would take after his father and go for the half-human. I bet he'd choose anyone but her."
The young guard piped up once again, still scared of a demon that had seniority. "But he hasn't chosen. Sesshoumaru-sama hasn't declared a mate yet."
"Hey," snarled the first, "you weren't there, runt. I know what I saw and I'll swallow my sword if our general goes for a half-breed."
Kagome, who had been struggling against the urge to gasp in disgust, chose this moment to open the door and confront the foolish youkai who had been speaking so horridly. He wasn't hard to spot, the dark spots on his cheeks and defiance in his eyes gave him away immediately. Just the sort of look anyone, human or youkai, gave to someone they both hated and were frightened of.
She heard the collective beat of the guard's hearts speed up as they noticed what she was wearing and how she was running the tip of her finger along the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Keeping her eyes upon the offending sentry, Kagome walked down the hall slowly, letting her heels click upon the wooden floor. She finally paused before the youkai who was red-skinned and orange-eyed. Probably a cousin of the fire demons, she mused. In her experience, any demon with fire powers but without the prestige of the main clan had a major inferiority complex.
If she was going to leave, she would at least give the guards something real to talk about.
"What's your name?"
The defiance remained, but the color began to drain from his complexion. Speaking behind the back of an honored guest or the taiyoukai was one thing, but ignoring an order was considered treason. "Bunjiro."
Kagome crossed her arms. She had once learned that this was supposed to be intimidating, but since the youkai had about a foot of height on her, she found it difficult. She quickly switched to a different tactic, fixing Bunjiro with an angry stare. "Well, Bunjiro, if I hear about any more bets on my personal life or Sesshoumaru-sama's, he'll be the first to know." She arched an eyebrow. "And I suggest giving Inutaisho his proper title; he isn't your subordinate. And he's certainly not your friend."
She held his gaze for a few more moments and then turned on her heel to leave. On the way out, she spotted the kid that had questioned the fire youkai. Just like Bunjiro, he was easy to pick out, with eyes that danced in nervousness and clammy skin. Kagome made a mental note to speak to him later and to learn his name. Sesshoumaru appreciated loyalty, and would want to know this soldier's willingness to stand up to an insulting comrade.
Her stomach jolted as she remembered for the first time in five minutes that Sesshoumaru would probably no longer listen to her, much less take her advice. As she crossed the bridge, she decided it didn't matter. Today he would listen, regardless of what would happen later. She had to tell him what she found the night before, the real identity of the demon lord.
Yes, he would listen.
Before she could even steel her nerves to face the taiyoukai, Kagome was faced with yet another challenge. On the other side of the bridge, inside the warm main castle, Nami was waiting for the hanyou.
She looked terrible. Her blue hair was unwashed and tied back into a messy bun, her cobalt eyes were rimmed with red and her clothes were rumpled. Obviously someone had spent the rest of her night crying. Uncontrollably too, if appearances didn't deceive.
Kagome wavered between anger and pity for a moment, finally settling on cold indifference. "Good morning, Nami-san."
The water demoness bowed deeply. "Good morning, Kagome-san. I would like to speak to you, if you have the time. Privately, please."
"How about going out on the bridge?" clipped the hanyou, thinking that if conversation became too unbearable, she could escape by jumping down two flights to the ground. Without waiting for an answer, she turned and retraced her steps onto the damp wooden bridge.
Nami, hesitating for a moment, followed with her small feminine steps, her silk kimono whispering on the floor.
Kagome leaned against the railing, ignoring the water staining her leather-clad arms, as she waited for Nami to make herself comfortable as possible. Behind her and out of sight, the water demoness arranged her yellow silk garb so that the rain would not stain anything. Silk that fine was almost unattainable in times of war and it looked as if the West was heading that way. A war to end all wars of the demon kingdoms. "What did you want to talk to me about?" murmured the hanyou, once the rustling of cloth stopped.
"I have been awake all night, Kagome-san…" Nami began.
"I am aware of that." Annoyance began to take hold, making the hanyou's stomach churn with unease. She disliked becoming angry, but Nami was already well on her way to forcing her down that road. It had been almost a week since the last episode of what Washi affectionately called her "slightly strange" behavior, and Kagome wasn't looking forward to reviving it.
Heat radiated from the water demon's cheeks. "Of course. Forgive me. I meant to say that I have been thinking over the past few hours and I have come to a decision."
Kagome waited as a pregnant pause set in, finally prompting the conversation with a disinterested, "Oh?"
"I have requested a transfer, Kagome-san. I will no longer attend to the diplomatic needs of my clan. I have decided to return to my home and await reassignment," she said, the words tumbling out as if they burned her tongue.
"I see."
"I will be gone within a month. I have heard that Inutaisho is preparing to leave to hunt down the demon lord. He is rumored to be taking you with him. I will be gone by the time you return."
The hanyou turned around, placing the small of her back against the rail and staring at the youkai with dark, angry eyes. She hoped that the demoness wasn't implying what she thought she was implying. "Feel free to stay. I will not be returning."
Nami frowned. "But why not? This is your home now."
"I'll be dead. And if by some miracle I live through this, I will be leaving Sesshoumaru's company."
"Why?" pled the demoness.
"He has no need for me. Surely you can see that," hissed the girl, getting more annoyed by the second. "I have no right to be here. Sesshoumaru's new mate will take care of the children."
This was clearly not the path the water youkai had intended for this conversation, as she shook her head violently. "No, you don't understand! Please, Kagome-san, stay! I am leaving. I have no right to be here!"
Fury bubbled up within Kagome's chest, scorching her heart to a blackened crisp. Balling her hands into fists, she stood up straight and snarled, "Do you think I need pity from you? Do you think that I buy this act of yours? You wanted him, you got him! Stay and claim your prize, I will not degrade myself by fighting. Desperation is not my tactic."
Nami backed up against the other side of the overpass. "That's… that's not what I meant, Kagome-san! Please!"
The door cracked open and the guard poked his head out into the storm on the bridge. "Um, my lady?" he addressed Kagome. "Is there a problem? I sensed some anger and…"
"Get back to duty!" she snapped, barely giving the sentry a glance. "We're fine!"
The guard, much to Nami's distress, retreated instantly, clicking the door back into place. The pause did give her a chance to regain the floor of the rapidly deteriorating discourse. She knew it would be foolish to say once again make implications about pity, so the water youkai cleverly focused on something that would stop the hanyou in her tracks. Or so she fervently hoped. "Kagome-san, please listen to me. I'm not leaving because I feel sorry for you." She shuddered as this statement produced a growl from Kagome's throat. "I'm leaving because he loves you!"
The hanyou froze, her mask of anger sliding off and leaving her jaw hanging loose. That wasn't what she expected. "What are you talking about?" she whispered in awe.
Nami, frightened by the sudden change, pressed her back against the railing. "He loves you. He came to my room and he was so on edge, I asked what was wrong. He wouldn't tell me and I foolishly believed that it was the threat of war. I have been in this palace for years and I have never seen Sesshoumaru-sama as anything but calm and collected. Last night, it seemed as if he was ready to tear the city apart." She sniffed a bit. "I'm so sorry, Kagome-san. I didn't realize what was truly wrong until I went into the hall and saw you. Then I put the pieces together."
Kagome's heart began to beat once again, speeding up to incredible speeds as she began to read between the lines of Nami's little speech. "What pieces?" Her voice was becoming hysterical.
"You love him too, Kagome-san. I know you do!" answered the water demon, still unsure whether she should flee or stay.
The hanyou shut her eyes tightly, making her face scrunch up. "No! No, I don't."Shaking her head, willing her heart to calm itself, Nami nodded. "Yes, you do. Your face last night spoke of the ultimate betrayal. You were so hurt, your heart was breaking. I could see it. I could hear it break. It is hard to believe that I did not see it earlier."
"If my heart is broken, Nami-san, it happened when Inuyasha died." She covered her face with her clawed hands, but no sound of crying emerged.
"It's okay, Kagome-san," assured Nami, stepping a few feet closer. She held out a hand towards Kagome's bent shoulder.
But the hanyou spoke, her voice muffled, before Nami could come within a foot of her trembling leather encased form. "Please leave, Nami-san. Please."
Nami dropped her arm and her gaze. "Of course, Kagome-san." She blinked away a few tears, realizing that she may never have another chance at reconciliation with her friend. "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry, Kagome-san."
The miko kept her face covered until she heard the door open and close again, leaving her alone on the bridge. When she lifted her head once again, she realized that it was raining again, a soft drizzle that covered the grounds in a mist. Nami was gone, her scent quickly growing stale.
She slid down onto the ground. 'Why did I get angry?' she asked herself. 'I told Nami when we met that I had no interest in Sesshoumaru. And she told me that she did have an interest. But she's wrong. I am not in love with him!'
The guard from a few minutes previous opened the door once again and peered around the corner. "My lady? Forgive me, but is everything alright? Nami-san was crying."
Kagome sighed in frustration. She shouldn't have allowed herself to get so angry. She had probably just lost one of her very few friends. "Yeah, I'm fine. She will be too. Would you happen to know where Sesshoumaru-sama is at the moment?"
"I believe he's in the garden, my lady."
She stood up and walked past the sentry into the castle, thanking him quietly. Without pausing, without thinking, she made her way down to the ground level and out into Rin's garden. The gardeners were still there, digging through the sticky maroon dirt. The scent of dried blood still hovered in the air, like a swarm of flies.
As she wended her way down the path, the female stood up. Up close, Kagome realized how beautiful the youkai was with her knee-length sherbet hair and almond black eyes. Her smooth yellow complexion only crinkled slightly as she smiled and bowed towards the hanyou.
"Hello."
"Good morning, my lady." Beside her, the male nodded his head in greeting, coupled with a jovial smile.
"I hope that the battle didn't put you two out of your way too much."
The demoness shrugged. "It is our job, my lady."
"Are you friends of Rin?"
The female's grin broadened. "We are. How did my lady guess?"
"Rin would adore anyone who takes care of her flowers. And I've noticed the servants tend to adore her in return."
"We do," spoke up the male. "She is a good child. Not like many of the children here."
"Haru!" admonished the female, although she was still smiling. "That is not nice to say, especially in front of our lady. She may think they are sweet."
Kagome shook her head. "Don't worry about it. But I hope you don't think that about Washi?"
"No, my lady. He is a good companion for Lady Rin," answered Haru. "My cousin and I have often spoke of her need to have a friend. So many of the nobles' children ignore her, usually on their parents' orders, despite what Sesshoumaru-sama commands. Haven't we said she needed someone her own age, Asa? Someone besides the servants, that is."
"True enough," agreed Asa solemnly.
A flash of white attracted Kagome from the corner of her eye. Turning, she saw that Sesshoumaru stood on top of the defensive wall fifty yards away to her left, looking down upon them. She scowled, knowing full well that he could see her. "I think I have to go," she observed.
"Hmm, yes. I see that our lord wishes to speak to you," said Asa, following Kagome's line of sight. Before the hanyou could move, she stretched out her hand and touched her lightly on her arm. "Lady Kagome, we have faith in you. Haru and I do, that is. You will be successful on your journey. I can feel it."
Slightly startled, Kagome could only manage a nod. "Yes, yes… thank you," she finally croaked, before saying goodbye and walking towards the wall in the back of the garden. It was becoming a morning of strange encounters and she hoped that Sesshoumaru would not continue the trend. She just wanted to speak her part and get out of there. It was hardly seven in the morning and she already wanted to crawl back into bed.
She reached the base of the wall and looked up at the cold, pale taiyoukai. They stared at each other for a moment. He made no move or sound, so she sighed and leapt up thirty feet to land beside him. The broad wall was wide enough for four men to walk abreast and had quite a view of the forest behind the city and the fields to the north. Behind them and across the grounds, Asa began to sing something that sounded like "I've Been Working on the Railroad" but without words. It was rather strange.
Her heart was aching again, but she forced herself to look up at him. "Why do you have this damn wall anyway?" she said as way of a greeting. "Any half-decent demon can jump it."
"Its mere presence prevents invasion."
"Even though some demons can step over it?"
"Yes."
"Hmm… okay." She ran her fingers along the rough outer wall that protected the guards from falling. It was pockmarked and worn, doubtless from the countless battles it had suffered through. She was surprised it wasn't stained in blood like the garden. Sesshoumaru had told her that there hadn't been a major youkai war in centuries, only skirmishes between clans. Kagome wondered if the upcoming battles would stain the wall.
They stood atop the wall in silence for many long minutes, looking towards the north. To the east, the sun was finally cresting over the horizon, turning the dull gray of pre-dawn sky to a brilliant yellow. The light touch of rain remained for the moment, so gentle that Kagome could barely feel it upon her sensitive ears. The sun would dry her soon enough.
He spoke first, slightly surprising the hanyou. "Why are you wearing that obscene costume?"
She shrugged. "It looks good on me and I wanted to train in what I'll be wearing when I fight."
"I have provided you with several appropriate outfits," he argued, trying to keep his eyes away from her.
He began to chant inside his head, reciting the words of the demon clerics of the shrine. When he was very small, his father had sent him to a remote shrine for a year, to learn the spiritual ways of the youkai. It hadn't had much affect, since his own parents never reinforced his teachings after his return, but Sesshoumaru had picked up the calming techniques of the clerics. It was there that he had learned to control his emotions so adeptly.
The meditative strategy failed him today however. He still found her attractive and he could not calm the urge to fight the girl. He could not calm the instinctive drive to show her who was stronger, who should lead in this relationship.
On the journey to the West, he had occasionally noticed her slim, muscular form underneath the leather taijiya uniform. Now, he could barely keep his eyes off of her. The rain had encrusted her in diamond droplets of water that were glowing in the rising sunlight. She looked like a goddess.
Her words interrupted his thoughts. "I'll have you know that this demon slayer outfit has caused many demons to run from me. Just like this wall, its 'mere presence prevents invasion'." She paused and blushed. "Wait… that didn't come out quite right."
"No, it did not," spoke the taiyoukai, forcing himself not to close his eyes and show a sign of weakness.
Why did she have to say such things? More importantly, why did she have to wear such things? There was no way in hell that he would allow Kagome to wear that provocative outfit onto the field. It had been so hard to resist her lately, and the pinnacle had occurred just the day before, during the battle.
She had been so angry for that moment, when she struck down her opponent. Slicing the tengu's arm apart, drenching her hand in blood. She may not have been aware of it, but the feral look in her eyes spoke of a true demon, not a half-breed, in that moment. It was shocking to see her so wholeheartedly defend a pup that was not hers, that Sesshoumaru almost forgot to kill the bastard who tried to take Rin. To have a strong mate was the ultimate honor, and the taiyoukai realized that although she couldn't swing a sword to save her life, Kagome had an unbridled power that would be coveted by many males.
And so after the battle, he couldn't get out of there fast enough. He was horrified at his thoughts, at the actions he wanted to take. His eyes were still aching to glow, not in anger, but in desire. When Nami had announced the state of the guards, he used it as an excuse to get out of the garden, to leave the hanyou.
For the rest of the day, he locked himself into his study, but he couldn't have picked a worse place. The library was blanketed in her scent, urging his primal instincts forward. When she arrived to ask what the plan was, he gave her clipped, short replies. When she lingered, he ordered her to go pack her bag. Once she left, Sesshoumaru realized he had crushed his brush into dust and that his brow was slick with sweat.
It was then that he realized that this wasn't going to go away on its own.
How could he resist forever? His mind constantly returned to an image of them sharing a passionate kiss, his hand entangled in her soft, strong hair, pulling her towards him. The way her hands would hold his waist or shoulders sometimes caused the great taiyoukai to shiver. And that was one of his decidedly more tame images regarding the girl. The others concerned a definite lack of clothes. It was nothing short of pathetic in his opinion and something had to be done. After all, he had decided, it was just the desire for a female body to warm his. The fact that it was Kagome really had nothing to do with it.
So he had searched out Nami, travelling down into the depths of the nobles' residence and seeking her out. He requested her company in his chambers and turned away once she had hesitatingly agreed. It was only upon the return trip that Sesshoumaru realized why he had picked Nami, of all the females that were so desperate to get him into bed.
Kagome approved of her.
She said so herself not a few days before, when he had first thought of taking out his baser instincts upon another woman. She liked Nami and became her friend, and wasn't it said that friends tended to have things in common?
But in the end, the joke was on him. It wasn't enough. Nami may have resembled Kagome once upon a time, when the hanyou had been human and willing to let his brother walk all over her, but not anymore. She was too demure, too graceful, and although he quite appreciated her for those reasons, it hardly took the edge off of his true desires. He wanted Kagome. The stubborn, angular half-demon that would fight for power every step of the way. The one that would demand all of his attention. The one that would have boundless energy. Or so he imagined.
And he couldn't ignore the fact that he would have given half his kingdom to see Kagome's crimson and black hair spreading out over his bare chest instead of Nami's blue tresses, after it was all over. And he knew that had there been a girl with triangular dog ears in his bed, he wouldn't have let her go quite so easily as he gave up the water demoness.
He had half a mind to give up, to give in to this female that had captured his primal side, but he fought it. A hanyou would never grace the bed of the Inutaisho as long as he had anything to say about it. If necessary, he would sleep with every demoness in his castle to expel this urge.
He cast a sidelong glance at the hanyou, standing quietly and watching the sunrise. It would not be difficult, he assured himself, to think of her as just another female, another demon. From this moment, Kagome would no longer be the object of his sexual desire, and he certainly wouldn't entertain thoughts of anything beyond that.
"So I was in bed reading last night," began the hanyou. "Um… are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
Kagome shrugged. "I thought I heard you make a noise. Like… like a little mewing noise."
The taiyoukai bristled and fixed her with his golden stare. "This Sesshoumaru does not mew," he said rather heatedly. He certainly hadn't 'mewed'. He had suppressed a groan of frustration. Two completely different things, he assured himself.
"Right. Well, I was reading last night and I found something you might be interested in." Kagome wove her fingers together, silently reciting 'this is the church, this is the steeple…' It was what her mother did when her daughter was nervous, and the hanyou had never felt so terrified. Last night she was sure he would be pleased, but upon reflection, she realized he might just get angry when she told him. He didn't like being vulnerable. She took a deep breath. "I know who the mysterious demon lord is. I found the pendant's symbol in my book."
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened ever so slightly, but frowned when Kagome didn't continue. "Do you plan to keep me waiting forever?"
"Sorry. Of course not." She took another breath, trying to steady her voice. "Just don't freak out."
"Kagome…"
"Right. It's Amatsu Mikaboshi. That's who the lord is." She spoke quickly, stumbling over the name, looking up at him when she was finished.
Sesshoumaru remained silent. His mind immediately began to work at high speed, analyzing this new bit of information. It was a rather bleak picture, but a few bright spots would merit further research.
"Sesshoumaru! Are you listening?" Kagome asked, becoming increasingly frustrated. "Amatsu Mikaboshi! The august star! God of evil!"
"Your dramatics are not necessary," he responded. "I know who Amatsu is."
"But… how are we going to fight a god? A god, Sesshoumaru."
The taiyoukai looked at the girl. "I do not know, but it is possible."
"How?" she argued, shooting him a dubious stare.
"If the god was invincible, he would have already laid waste to this land. Something prevents him from doing so, and I therefore believe that he is weaker than a god normally would be." He combed his claws through his hair. "I will find this weakness."
Kagome took a few deep breaths. If he wasn't good for anything else, Sesshoumaru's stoic behavior had an unusually calming effect. "You have a shrine in this city," observed the hanyou after she had settled down a bit. "Why fight when we could ask the gods to help us?"
For a moment, it appeared as if Sesshoumaru would laugh. The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly and he gave her a bemused look before saying, "The gods do not concern themselves with affairs of mortals or demons. Only when they want something will they descend from the heavens."
"Oh. That sucks."
"Indeed."
"So what do we do now?" Sesshoumaru's lack of emotion at her announcement had rather thrown her through a loop. She had expected a much longer conversation about this, but she had once again underestimated his ability to take things in stride. "I'm sure you're planning now."
"Naturally."
"So… what's the plan?"
"We will leave tomorrow and find Amatsu. Since the East and South have turned against us, it is likely that he has set up his headquarters in that region."
"It's official then? We're at war with the Eastern and Southern lands?"
"No, but the West will declare war if they cross my borders and although they are hesitant, I believe we will soon be on the battlefield if we are not able to stop Amatsu." He was feeling considerably more comfortable at the moment. Talking about battle and strategy always calmed him and it certainly took his mind off the fact that the object of his sexual desires stood a few feet away.
Kagome smiled. 'We'. He had included her in the Western Lands. Perhaps not on purpose, but it lifted her spirits nonetheless. But no, she was still leaving him after Amatsu was taken care of. She knew she should walk away immediately, but it was too hard. She bargained with her logical side for a few more days, just enough to find and kill the god. Even in her mind it sounded like a pathetic excuse, but she didn't care. "Do you think it's wise to leave now? With battle imminent?"
"If we leave, battle is likely. If we do not, battle will be indeed imminent. I expect that once Amatsu is subdued, the East and South lords will be quite eager to renew their alliances with the West and North. If Amatsu is not stopped however, this could result in a total war of Japan's youkai clans."
"Oh good. And here I thought this was going to be bad," quipped the girl, rolling her eyes.
"Many questions remain. Answers could prevent war as well."
Kagome tilted her head. "What questions? The god of evil intends to wreck havoc. Not a big surprise."
"Why would a god intent on destruction keep this Sesshoumaru for five months? It would have been much easier to execute me. Additionally, the god is not announcing his presence. He is gathering followers covertly, which is unnecessary for a god that has worshippers all over Japan. Why does he need your blood? What does the undead miko have to do with this? How is Amatsu convincing youkai to work for him without letting them know he is a god? Why…"
"I get it… I get it. There are questions."
"A few."
"Okay, so who's going on this little expedition of yours?"
"The two of us, as well as the children, Jaken and Ah-Un. We will leave tomorrow by midday, after I inform my generals as to what they are to do in our absence." He nodded towards the northern horizon. "By the time we return, the Northern lord will have accepted our offer of alliance and provided more soldiers. Let us hope that we will not need them."
Kagome steeled her nerves before speaking, trying to ignore the dirge-like tune that Asa was now singing. It echoed in her ears, gaining an ethereal quality from traveling over the gardens. "I'm not coming back with you, Sesshoumaru."
For a demon who barely flinched when told a god was after his blood, Sesshoumaru certainly reacted to this bit of news. He turned his head, his eyes widened and scoffed. "Do not be ridiculous. This Sesshoumaru made several promises and they will not be broken. You are also obligated to teach the children." He didn't want to think about the way his heart had stopped.
"Don't be stupid. You don't need me, especially if you have to teach me everything and protect me. Don't worry about it," she said, sighing heavily, "I'll probably die in the fight anyway."
Sesshoumaru frowned. He was once again in uncertain territory. "You will not die. And you will not leave."
"You can't stop me," she whispered, crossing her arms and looking away.
"I suppose not, but you will not leave." Normally, Sesshoumaru would not fight dirty. He would never lower himself to the level of appealing to the emotional side of a creature. Normally. But he decided that this would be an exception, something that was becoming a less of a rarity lately. "Will you leave the children so easily?" he asked. "They are quite taken with you and they enjoy their lessons."
Kagome inwardly groaned. Why did he have to bring them into it? But one cheap shot could answer another. "You will have a new mate to take care of their lessons. I'm sure she will prove to be quite skillful."
"Are you referring to Nami?"
Her heart constricted and she cursed silently. "No… Yes. You know what I mean. When you choose a mate, she will take that job." She bit her lip. "Don't get me wrong, Sesshoumaru. I know you need a mate. I know Inuyasha is dead and with him gone, there is no heir to the West. Nami is a wonderful choice."
"She is…" he paused, searching for the correct word, "suitable."
Kagome turned her face up towards him and studied his countenance. "She's leaving the West."
Not so much as a tremor went through his expression, as he nodded. "Jaken informed me of her decision immediately. I have no control over her actions. I will find a mate."
"I'm sure. And will you sleep with all of them?" she said, almost before she could think. Her eyes widened as she slapped her hand over her mouth. "I didn't mean that."
Sesshoumaru's lip curled. "Of course you did. And that is a standard practice for choosing a mate. I do not have to answer to you."
Her lungs seemed to deflate within her chest. "I know you don't. I wasn't asking you to."
"Then you will leave me be. My choice of mate has nothing to do with you," he retorted, trying to regain his cold heart. But even as he said the words, the taiyoukai felt a pain slicing him in two and one word filled his mind. Liar.
Kagome didn't notice the dog demon's perplexed expression, or the way he shook his white haired head in at attempt to clear his mind. The girl just concentrated on a point in the distance, far beyond the horizon. Asa's song still rang inside her head, beautiful and sad. "I talked to her this morning," she finally said. "Nami, that is. I wasn't very nice to her, but she still was willing to talk to me. She said something that made me think."
"What did she say?"
"That's not important," insisted the hanyou, trying to control the blood wishing to rush into her cheeks. "But I think I know why last night bothered me so much. Why your search for a mate annoys me to no end."
Sesshoumaru shot her a curious, but undetected, gaze. "Oh?"
She took a few deep, quiet breaths and willed her hands and heart to calm the heck down. "I think that I…" she faltered, but recovered with a shaky laugh and a new thought. "I think that I get mad because you remind me of Inuyasha."
This hadn't been what he expected, and the taiyoukai nearly growled in frustration. "I fail to see any similarities between Inuyasha and myself."
Another shaky laugh. "Don't take it so personally, Sesshoumaru. You're brothers and you definitely share some traits. You both can be arrogant pricks. And then you surprise everyone with moments of kindness." Her cheeks became tinged with red, despite her best efforts. "Not to mention the physical similarities. Sleeping with Nami just made you seem like Inuyasha running off to Kikyo. That's all." She was now fully blushing. "Not that you conjured those feelings of betrayal or anything… it just reminded me of it. Memories I'd rather not remember, if you get my drift."
"Of course." He damned his brother silently. How could the dead interrupt life so effectively? "This Sesshoumaru is still interested in what Nami said to create this conclusion."
A third shaky laugh. It was getting tiring for both of them. "Ha… well, yeah, that was interesting. I must admit." She ran her hands through her hair, letting them rest at the base of her neck. "I mean, it was ridiculous really. She actually said that I was in love with you. And you were in love with me as well." She didn't laugh now, instead fixing him with an intent stare.
It took every memory of every lesson with the meditative monks to prevent the taiyoukai from sweating and blushing. "I see."
"Silly, isn't it? I mean, I was in love with your brother. And you… you…"
"Are not capable of love?"
Kagome shook her head vigorously, appalled at what she had implied. "I didn't say that."
"No, you did not. I said it."
"But you can't believe it?" she asked, aghast.
Golden eyes flashed in annoyance. "I do not know, nor do I care."
"Of course not," she whispered, turning her back on him and leaning against the wall. Liar.
Several long minutes stretched out, creating a cavernous distance between them. The mist finally stopped falling and the sun rose over the horizon. Kagome nearly wept as Asa's song swelled to a mournful climax. There were words now, but nothing that a human would recognize as words. Only her demon ears allowed her to hear the beautiful pitches and timbres that she sensed was an angelic language.
"I should go and pack, since we're leaving tomorrow."
The taiyoukai nodded once. "I will once again be too busy to train you today, but prepare to wake up early."
She stepped up to the edge of wall, but a thought forced her to turn back. "Nami mentioned something else. She said you were quite tense last night, like you were going to rip the town to shreds. Um… since we're quite clear on the fact that it wasn't because you love me or anything… why were you nervous?"
Kagome could have sworn that Sesshoumaru puffed out his chest. "This Sesshoumaru was not nervous."
"Then what?"
"I received a rather unsettling message from a scout. It is none of your concern."
The hanyou shrugged. "That's fine. I'll find out anyway from the castle gossip. You don't have to tell me anything."
He sighed deeply, accepting her statement as truth. Not to mention that he had used less than honorable tactics to keep her in the castle. "Very well. I shall tell you," he said. One more lie this morning wouldn't hurt too much. He had never been a very big proponent of karmic justice anyway.
A thoroughly pleased expression spread across Kagome's face as she took a few steps back and perched upon the outer edge of the wall. "Please do."
"The scout reported a youkai female living in virtual isolation in remote corner of the Eastern lands. Her name is Kaori. She should not be there. In fact, until last night, I had believed she was long dead. And yet the scout said that she was not undead, simply alone."
"In the East?" asked Kagome. "So this Kaori might have something to do with Amatsu then? Is she an old friend of yours?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head, droplets of water flying off of his icicle white hair. "I do not think she has anything to do with Amatsu, but she is in an unfortunate place at a dangerous time. And if it is truly the Kaori of my past, I do not want her there."
"Of course not. We can go check on her when we get to the East." There was a spark of mischief in her eye as she turned to face him. "So, who is she?"
"Clear your mind of such disgusting thoughts," he snapped.
She blanched and recoiled, her claws digging into the centuries old stonework. "Sorry. It was just a question. Really, I would like to know. Who is she?"
For a moment, the garden fell silent, as if the entire castle was waiting for his answer. Asa and Haru were cleaning up, Rin's flowerbeds repaired and clean of blood once again. The guards along the top of the wall, out of earshot, were leaning against their glaives and pikes, longing for the end of the shift. Just as the grounds took a breath of anticipation, it released it all at once when Sesshoumaru answered.
"My mother."
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A/N: I'm sorry this isn't too long, but I didn't want to pass the one-month mark of making you guys wait. Not to mention that this was a pretty good stopping place. Now, rejoice all my little chickies, because the next few chapters are the reason I wrote this story (i.e. faster updates). Yay!
And BTW… if you were confused about the song Asa was singing that sounded that "I've Been Working on the Railroad"… that was a tribute to my school, University of Texas. Our alma mater does indeed sound like that song but with different words, "The Eyes of Texas". Normally I'm not very school spirited but we're in football season. Our mascot is adorable too – I love Bevo. So, go Longhorns! Now on to the reviews!
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