Jackie: You think it's OVER? Geese, I haven't even BEGUN. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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Chapter 26; This is no where NEAR over.
Her bare feet crunched on the scorched earth. Her blue eyes were wide as Sesshomaru led her down into the pit she had insisted on seeing. As she looked to the horizon in all directions she could see the on the bare edges of it lay scattered black rubble and toppled trees, but there was absolutely nothing left of the grand castle that had once stood there.
Sesshomaru noticed that Miyoiki had paused, and he look up at her. Her skin gleamed in the early morning light, and her blue eyes soaked in the soft yellow sun making them look like blue glass. Her eyes looked up over the opposite edged of the hole where his grand estate once resided, and he knew the cause for her hesitation.
"It can be rebuilt," He said.
"I-I did this?" She stuttered, "Is Rin okay?"
"Yes, she is with Rootousi," He answered plainly, "Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes," she said.
Even she knew so very little about herself and her powers. She had mastered a few of her demonic powers but really had no idea of what her full potential was. She needed to know. She needed to know what she was capable of.
They continued down into the crater to its center. He pointed to the spot where he had found her. She nodded and knelt down touching the soot covered earth beneath her fingertips. She whispered, "Gods… How did I survive?" Was it her? The sad eyed woman?
"I do not question gifts," His baritone voice sounded behind her, "You are alive, and that is all that matters to me."
She smiled softly to herself. His voice was becoming so expressive towards her. Its deep tone sent shivers down her spine at the same time in warmed her heart. His voice was so cold to everyone else. When he used this new voice… It was just for her. She felt her wings starting to open and quickly clamped them completely shut. She gasped and said, "All the new clothes you had made for me."
Her hand went to her neck and she whispered, "And your mother's necklace."
"I'll say it again," Sesshomaru said plainly, "I do not question gifts."
She looked back at him and he stared hard at her. What was that look in his eyes? He had acquired some new expressions it would seem. However, she felt it highly unlikely that someone who didn't know him would recognize that he had any expression at all. She stood with the intention of asking him about it and a flash of light hit her eyes. She turned toward it and saw Tensaiga.
She walked over and picked it up. It pulsed in recognition. She smiled and turned to Sesshomaru saying, "This is a good sword. A powerful sword."
She presented it to him, and he took it. He let the light dance across it and thought it had never looked so impressive. He felt a debt of great gratitude toward his inheritance, and for the first time truly admitted its worth.
"Yes," He said softly, "A powerful sword."
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Rootousi played with Rin, dancing around the clearing like a pup gleefully playing with its master. He loved children and babies of all kinds. What was more adorable than innocence? Unfortunately, in all his long years and many wives he had not been blessed with one of his own. He was the babysitter, the favorite uncle, and the family friend that all the kids called buddy. He was never 'daddy'. Part of him didn't want to die simply because of that, and he joked that it was the reason he endured so long. He let Rin catch him and he mocked a horrid fall shrieking that he was caught by the world's best demon slayer.
"Mercy!" He cried, "Mercy, great slayer!"
"It's just me, master Rootousi," She tried to comfort him, "Just, Rin."
Rootousi blinked, pretending he'd just noticed. He rubbed his eyes and said, "Oh, thank the gods! I thought I was at my end!"
He grabbed her and tickled her mercilessly. Ah, the symphony of a child's laughter. Ah-Un, who had arrived just before dawn, purred at the sight. Rootousi wondered how Ah-Un had gotten away, but he was happy the dragon had.
The wind picked up and Rootousi could smell the new couple coming. He grinned mischievously. He could smell the chemical change in both of them. It was about time that stiff Sesshomaru loosened up and took a woman. He wagered Sesshomaru would be a far more inviting person now.
Rootousi stood, cast the couple a grin and said, "Greetings my lord, Sesshomaru, and my lady, Miyoiki."
Miyoiki smiled, but when he looked at Sesshomaru he found the lord no more inviting. Sesshomaru's eyes were cold as ice and his voice had none of the warmth that had sounded from it in last night's confession.
"Silence," Sesshomaru growled, "Do not dare to think I have forgotten your deception."
"Don't be stupid," Rootousi growled, "I saved your life. Besides, she's not even hurt!"
"Fool," Sesshomaru said coldly, "She was not in this state when I found her."
"Sesshomaru," Miyoiki started.
"No one deceives the lord of the Western Lands," Sesshomaru said as he sprang forward knocking Rootousi back against a tree. Rin started wailing with despair, Ah-Un groaned, but it was Miyoiki that acted.
Sesshomaru was so fast one could barely register his movement, but apparently Miyoiki was faster. She appeared between the two male demons, wings outstretched and erect with anger. Every line of her was sharp, but what stopped Sesshomaru was another glimpse of the body he so desired. Rootousi only saw her legs and wings peaking out beneath long silver-white hair and inwardly groaned. Oh man, I have NO luck.
Rin and Jaken blushed, turning away from the sight. Miyoiki looked into the eyes of her lord husband and the anger melted from her. She spoke softly, "I lived… You and Rin wouldn't have. I do not question gifts."
Her wings melted down into her again and she looked pleadingly up into Sesshomaru's amber depths. He turned form her and Rootousi and walked away. Rootousi harrumphed and said, "Well, I guess that means I'm pardoned. I thought he would change if he fell in love, but he hasn't changed a bit. Same stiff, cold-"
"But you're wrong," Miyoiki interrupted, "He has changed completely."
Rootousi scratched his head and said, "I think that's just the way you see him. Love has a way of changing the light around someone."
"You're wrong again," She said and turned to Rootousi, "Do you think you would have survived the old Sesshomaru? That first strike was not meant to kill."
She was right. Rootousi was thousands of years old but Sesshomaru was infinitely more powerful than him. Sesshomaru could have killed him with the first blow. Rootousi stood and said, "So, in spite of threatening my life he just meant to rough me up? It would appear, my dear lady, that I stand corrected."
"Thank you," She said, "For saving him."
Rootousi nodded in recognition and respect. Miyoiki turned and walked into the forest after her lord. Rootousi said softly to himself, "You are welcome, my lady of the western lands."
Rin and Jaken stared after the departing couple. Somehow everyone seemed to know that they wanted to be alone.
Rootousi took directly back to playing after they disappeared and Jaken merely grumbled about being left behind again. They went on for hours and were about to take a break for food. Suddenly, the whole party was nearly knocked over by a tremendous gust of wind. Jaken righted himself and shrieked, "YOU!"
"Yo," Kagura said, her eyes finding Rootousi almost immediately.
Rootousi stayed lying where he was, but he propped his head up on his hand and gave her an appraising look. He smirked and said, "Hiya honey, missed you."
"Infuriating man," She growled.
"I know," Rootousi shrugged, "But my rugged good-looks make up for it. So… Couldn't stay away huh?"
"I didn't come here to see you," She scoffed, "I came to tell Sesshomaru that Naraku still lives, and he sends his condolences on the loss of Miyoiki."
Rootousi coughed and leapt to his feet, "IMPOSSIBLE! No one has EVER survived a blow from the combined demonic and spiritual powers of a metamorph."
"Naraku did," She said, with a slight smile of satisfaction at ruffling his feathers.
"Well, I'll rain on his parade too then," Rootousi smiled back at her, "Miyoiki is alive and well."
"You're lying," She growled.
"I only lie when I have something to gain," Rootousi said honestly.
"Hmm, well at least you admit that you lie on occasion," She said drawing her fan, "I've done what I came for."
"Then why do you linger?" Rootousi asked stepping forward, "We both know how quickly you can flee."
"hmph!" Kagura growled and drew a feather from her hair, "Fine!"
"Wait, one more thing," Rootousi said, "Naraku is the master you can't escape?"
"That's right," She answered.
"I will hold you to your word, beauty," he said with a dashing smile, "When I kill him, I expect you to marry me."
"You're ego knows no boundaries," She scoffed, "If a metamorph couldn't do it, what makes you think YOU can."
"I have hunted and killed metamorphs," He answered, "Sometimes it's not about power, but cunning."
Before she could retreat into the sky Rootousi clasped her arm and pulled her to him. Her eyes widened with shock as he held her firmly against him. He smiled down at her and said, "I can see by your expression that you've never had a real man touch you. That will change."
Before she could yell at him, and she had sincerely intended to do so, he crushed his lips against hers. He asked no permission, he only divided her lips and concurred the inside of her mouth with his tongue. Kagura's eyes rolled back and shut from the intensity of it. His kiss continued, plundering what was there and demanding more. Just when she felt she might faint, he pulled away. He looked down into her eyes and traced her lips with his finger, "That is but a small taste of what is to come, beauty. Remember your own words and know that I will hold you to them."
He released her and she stood there, dumbfounded for a few moments. She brought her fingertips up to her ravaged lips and when it finally hit her she growled at him.
"You insolent dog of a man!" She howled, "You will pay!"
With that she flew off into the sky. He smiled after her and whispered, "With interest I'm sure."
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That night the newly weds finally returned, looking well put together but Rootousi could smell otherwise. Rootousi smiled and said, "You know, I can always watch these two at my place for a few weeks if you two would like to enjoy a real honeymoon."
Sesshomaru made no comment. He only gave Rootousi the same cold look he always wore on his placid features. Moyoiki's bright red blush was far easier to read, and Rootousi smiled. He looked back at Sesshomaru and said, "It's probably best you didn't do any vacationing yet anyway, kid. Naraku is still alive."
"You lie," Sesshomaru said plainly.
"His beautiful servant delivered the message this morning," Rootousi said just as plainly back, "I want to help you get him, and from what I've seen, I think we ought to enlist your younger sibling."
"I will not ask Inuyasha for help," Sesshomaru nearly growled.
"Inuyasha?" Miyoiki asked, "Wasn't he one of the people who helped when Naraku tried to take me the first time?"
"Yes," Sesshomaru answered.
"Then why not?" Miyoiki asked.
"He didn't help to save you," Sesshomaru said, "He just helped to settle his own score with Naraku."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Rootousi said.
"Yes, really," Miyoiki started, "I think maybe we should-"
"Enough," Sesshomaru said in almost a whisper. However, that whisper was punctuated with a swift lash of his right hand. Out sprang his poison whip, clear cutting five trees behind him. They crashed down, and he turned away from his now mute traveling companions.
Surely, the great lord Sesshomaru of the western lands needed no allies to defeat a half-breed like Naraku. He had just been unsuccessful at applying the proper tactic thus far. Still, if they wished to follow, they would, and he would lead them.
Sure enough, they fell in behind him and the hunt for Naraku started anew.
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Jackie: and another round of 'thank you's for your reviews!
(Lord Tatsu) Err… But I'm not done with one yet… Unless you want me to stop there? (shoujo) Thank ye, thank ye. I do try. (Princess) A lot of people seem to think it's over. Is it common for authors to write half of a story just to write a lemon and stop?
(Nordic) AWESOME! I hope you keep lovin' it! (Telekenetic) I am honored you think so. I put a lot of thought into it since everyone was so looking forward to it. NO PRESSURE JACKIE! (Raggies) But that would be too easy. (oblivion) he needed a woman… bad. (Lucifer) YAY! A happy dance! Happy happy joy joy! (Tenshu) I hope you kept reading past my spelling errors. I hope you're not really as bent as you sound about it. We're all fans here. (Bloody) Sure, I'll read your fic. Welcome back! (Neko) I knew a guy in high school named Neko. You'll just have to wait and seeeEEEeeee 'sings'