Meant To Be
By Onira
Chapter Eleven : "I Can Teach This Girl Of Yours"
A week had passed since the final battle. Sesshoumaru and Ishiru had yet to re-appear. Inuyasha-tachi had helped Kouga bury his dead. Kagura got her heart back, Kanna had died at some point during the battle. Hakudoshi was still about somewhere with Entei. Jaken, of course, was distraught at his master's disappearance. He ran about the countryside with Rin, who went with him courtesy of Ah-un. Rin was pretty bored during most of their wandering, even though she was quite worried about both Sesshoumaru and Ishiru. She frequently took her boredom out on Jaken, much to the bedraggled toad's dismay.
"Sesshoumaru-SAMA!" Jaken called, beginning to loose his voice after a week or so of shouting, save for when Rin was sleeping.
Rin was getting quite tired of his yelling. She turned to face backwards on Ah-un's back, watching the landscape retreat. She looked up, and out on a mountainside she saw a blue light flickering. It was too far away to see clearly. But Rin was sure she saw it.
"Ah! Jaken-sama! Look!" She said, pointing.
oOo
Sesshoumaru stirred into wakefulness, blinking away and odd, sleepy feeling that he hadn't had since he was a pup. He looked up, finding it to be dusk, the sun splashing gold and orange out across the sky. He moved to sit up, and felt a weight on his chest. Looking down, Sesshoumaru found Ishiru lying on top of him. Then, it came back to him, the battle, Erisa, Ishiru. He pulled said demoness into a sitting position in his lap. He heard her heartbeat and her slow, steady breathing. She was alive.
He felt his chest tighten, his throat closing up slightly. Finding it easier not to resist his emotions, Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. He stayed like that for some time. He wasn't sure quite how long. As the last dregs of orange and yellow faded from the sky, he felt the girl in his arms stir. Ishiru shifted slightly as she woke.
"Mmmnh... Sesshoumrr. ." She mumbled, still asleep. Ishiru instinctively snuggled against his warmth, her arms moving to curl around his torso. She then woke fully, her eyes fluttering open. After a moment, Ishiru realized what she was doing. She immediately tensed and took her arms from around Sesshoumaru, pulling back from him.
"Sesshoumaru I-!" She said, then gasped. Sesshoumaru watched as she pulled her arms in close to her torso, her hands together about level with her collarbone, looking downward as though shocked.
"It's alright Ishiru." He murmured, gathering her against his chest. "Naraku is dead, your life was spared." As he spoke he gently caressed her hair, comforting her.
"Sesshoumaru?" Ishiru said, her voice unsteady.
"Hmm?"
"I can't see."
oOo
About a month later, Ishiru had still not regained her sight. But she insisted she was getting better. She could see patches of light and dark. Although it was taking longer than the last time, her eyes were healing. On the morning of the new moon, Ishiru was in the dojo, training. Naraku's shouki had burned away a lot of her muscle structure, so she had to re-train them to usefulness.
"I swear. . ." Ishiru growled under her breath. "This happens," Hook kick, "Too many." Back flip, "Damned," Full force punch, "Times!" She struck out again, and was surprised when Sesshoumaru grabbed her kicking ankle.
"Ah, Sesshoumaru." She said, by way of greeting. The two of them had become much more informal over the course of time. "Glad to see you decided to join the land of the living." Ishiru teased. "Just how long did you sleep?"
"This Sesshoumaru was not sleeping." He said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "He was thinking." With that, he pulled her towards him, by the ankle he still had not relinquished his hold upon. Ishiru was pulled off balance and Sesshoumaru caught her, pulling her against him and nudging her into the proper stance.
"And what were you thinking about?" Ishiru asked, still teasing. She danced away from him, moving back into stance once she was out of reach. She stood a little ways off, waiting for his reply. It didn't come.
Sesshoumaru stood stock still, a slightly shocked look on his face. Ishiru's scent had changed, and not the way it had when her magics were strengthening. The hue took a firmer hold over her misty, earthy scent. Like lavender, ginger and red whine, combined into a thick, heady aroma. He resisted the urge to put his hand to his forehead. Her scent was getting to him, playing with his mind, and his instincts. Ishiru frowned worriedly, wondering if something was wrong. She snapped her fingers to gain a relay image. She saw Sesshoumaru's expression and startled stance. She had only a moment to wonder at it before she heard him move. The snapping of her fingers had startled him out of his odd trance.
"Nothing." He said, finally replying to her initial question. He moved to stand just behind her, nudging her back into stance with his body. But he didn't move away that time. Sesshoumaru took hold of her wrists and guided Ishiru's body through a complex, slow, fluid dance that we now call Tai Chi. Ishiru closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle, fluid movements.
Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was having… problems. His instincts were running rampant, unleashed by her scent. It took all of his willpower to resist them. He heard Ishiru sigh softly, tilting her head to the side in relaxation, still following his movements. Ishiru's yukata was loose-ish from her training, and with how he was tucked against her, the pale expanse of flesh on her neck was mere centimeters from his mouth.
Too much.
Ishiru felt his lips lightly brush the skin of her neck. She ignored it, thinking it an accident. But when his mouth descended fully, his mouth moving along her neck, tasting and nipping lightly, she froze. Sesshoumaru stopped with her and wrapped his arms possessively around her torso, lost in her scent. He licked hungrily at her neck, moving down to the firm muscle between her neck and shoulder. Ishiru felt him take the flesh in his mouth, biting down. The bite was not hard enough to break the skin, but enough so that Ishiru couldn't help but let out a soft moan in response.
The sound seemed to snap Sesshoumaru out of it and he released her, a little more harshly than he had intended. Without the support he had provided, Ishiru fell to her knees, finding her breathing to be quick and slightly ragged. Ishiru turned her upper body around, not really caring when the shoulder of her yukata slipped. She found Sesshoumaru several paces off, an odd look in his eyes.
Ishiru didn't have any idea what she was doing to the demon lord. It took every last shred of willpower he had not to grab the newly exposed upper arm and take her right there on the dojo floor. Ishiru was being drawn to him, the flame that was undeniably visible in his molten gold eyes tugging at her.
"Se. . . Sesshoumaru." She spoke, her voice breathy and soft, standing up and walking over to the demon lord. Sesshoumaru put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her approach at an arm's length away from him.
"You've trained enough for today." He said curtly, then turned around and left. Ishiru frowned at his retreating form. What had he just done? And why the devil did he stop?
oOo
Ishiru retired to the gardens, watching an overlarge koi fish swim about in a small pond as she lay on the surrounding rock garden. Its scales glinted red and orange in the afternoon light, charming Ishiru's eyes and keeping her attention from elsewhere. Without the training that ordinarily occupied at least half the day, the activities that took up the remaining time until dinner left her with far too much time on her hands. Her eyes rested at half-mast as she contemplated how Sesshoumaru had acted.
She watched as more koi fish of all sizes and colors joined the big one she had been watching. Her hair rested on the water, attracting them as they tried to nip at the black threads, only to release them upon discovering that they were not food. Ishiru smiled indulgently, trailing her fingers in the water.
"Delightful creatures aren't they?" An unfamiliar voice came from behind her, causing Ishiru to start and frighten off the fish with the sharp withdrawal of her fingers. She whirled around to face the stranger, who was still smiling amiably at her. In the bright afternoon light, she could see him with relative clarity, using sounds from all around to determine anything her eyes missed.
He his hair was almost sandy in color, hanging down his back in straight cords of pale yellow, tied off near the end. His eyes were soft gray, watching her in wizened amusement. The dark green markings about his eyes proved him to be a demon, and of high rank. Ishiru's senses told her that the demon was also of great power, just even with Sesshoumaru. But he looked a little too aged to match the formidable dog demon in battle. Laugh lines showed about his mouth and eyes, giving him an astute sense of age. His clothes were of varying yellow-green hues and devoid of armor, opting to the fashion atypical of the local shogun.
Ishiru stood slowly. This demon did not seem terribly hostile. But should he prove a danger, she was negligently devoid of any weapon. She straightened, looking at the demon with a level stare.
"Who are you?" She said, finding the direct approach much simpler than dancing about it with florid word patterns. The old demon smiled politely at her.
"I can see that the western lord has taught you well. You sound just like him. I am Ryuuji, Lord of the Southern Province." Ishiru bowed politely, as she was ought to given that she had no official title or lands to call her own.
"I assume you are here to see the western lord?" She said, turning slightly towards the fortress. "I shall fetch hi-"
"That is unnecessary Ishiru." Sesshoumaru said, already halfway down the pathway towards them. "Had you been paying more attention, you would already know as much." He scolded gently. Ishiru gave him a look, putting a hand on her hip.
"It wouldn't matter if I did or not since you constantly mask your presence, whether or not you're at home." She said wryly. A chuckle sounded from behind her and Ishiru turned to see Ryuuji standing just in back of her. The aged demon put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're quite right my dear. He is rather fastidious about such things." He said good-naturedly, then looked up at Sesshoumaru, who's expression had yet to change, par usual. "It is good to see that you are well Sesshoumaru. That retainer of yours could be heard searching for you for a week after the destruction of that insidious half-breed. If I did not know you as well as I do, I would have worried."
"Likewise Ryuuji. It has indeed been some time since I saw you last. However, I take it that this is not a social visit?" Sesshoumaru replied, Ishiru watching their conversation from her lower vantage point. (Lower because she was about a head and a half shorter than the both of them)
"Always to the point." Ryuuji said mildly. "Alas, you are right. I come on a business matter… Although, I suppose one might call it a matter of social business." Ryuuji gestured towards the rock garden that Ishiru had been reclining on minutes before. "Shall we sit?" When Sesshoumaru made no move to comply, Ryuuji approached the rocks and slowly sat down. "Suit yourself. I'm afraid in my age it is rather difficult to spend all of one's time standing."
'How the devil does he keep his position as lord if he's so weak?' Ishiru thought incredulously.
"Weakness of the body does not necessarily mean weakness of the jyaki." Ryuuji said gently. He chuckled at Ishiru's stunned expression. "Forgive me my dear but when you think so loudly it is quite difficult indeed not to overhear." Ishiru blushed and stepped back a pace, a new respect for the demon growing in her despite her embarrassment.
"Ishiru, go to the orchards." Sesshoumaru said, giving the gardens a brief nod of indication. "I will come fetch you when Ryuuji and I have finished talking." Ishiru nodded and hurried off, glad for the escape route. Once the demon girl was out of earshot, Sesshoumaru turned to his old friend.
"What social business have you come on account of?" He asked, moving to stand near the dragon demon, but refraining from sitting. Ryuuji sighed, running a hand through his slippery, almost water-like hair.
"The lords and ladies of the various regions are not blind to your actions here, however hard you try to conceal them. They have all felt various vexations from that hanyou you slew. And that young demoness of yours, she has drawn herself quite a bit of attention."
"What is your point?"
"They wish to hold a Gathering, to celebrate the death of that half-breed and introduce this demoness to their court."
"I do not attend court functions. Neither ought those who are under my household and rule." Sesshoumaru said, his voice for once showing his distain.
"They do not see it as simply as you do, my friend." Ryuuji said. "The island lord and Northern lord are both unmated. And the prospect of power in such a lovely package is hard for them to resist."
Sesshoumaru's hackles rose a fraction at Ryuuji's words. Ishiru was his! And only his! He had vowed to himself that he would make her his mate after the final battle with Naraku, but he had kept his emotions locked away for so long that it was hard to show affection even now when it was so crucial. There was no way he would let that impudent island princeling have her! Nor would he let her fall prey to the lord of the north, who was renowned for being even colder than the great Sesshoumaru, and still managing to lure any woman he pleased into his bed.
"Not only that," Ryuuji continued. "But that mountain princess and queen of cats are also after romance. Not with your demoness, her name is Ishiru yes? But with you my friend." Sesshoumaru scoffed at that.
"That is not news to me Ryuuji. That fire-headed feline has been a nuisance for longer than I would care to keep track of. And that mountain demoness has had her eyes on these lands for longer. Why should I pay any heed to it now?"
"Because they are aware of Ishiru's availability, and see her as a threat. It is their belief, as I understand it, that if they get her out of the picture you will settle for one of them."
"I shall attend no Gathering. Nor shall Ishiru." Sesshoumaru said curtly. "Let them squabble about themselves as they please. The western lands shall have no part in it."
"If it were that simple, my friend, I would not have come here to discuss it with you." Ryuuji said, looking at Sesshoumaru with a demeanor more serious than he had worn thus far. "Protocol explicitly dictates that you host the Gathering. It was your victory, and it is your ward whom is to be presented. You are already out of favor amongst your fellow lords. If you ignore yet another custom and favor you have within the east and northern lands will dissipate. They are traditionalists. They hate it that you shrug off their practices as if they were created to be tossed about at your leisure."
"Such is so. This Sesshoumaru does as he pleases."
"I know that my friend. I am not amongst the ranks of the traditionalists. I find their functions rather tiresome myself. I am only telling you the truth about how they see you. Should you disregard this custom, you will be but a step away from war.
"Now before you go about telling me that you could handle a war, I must tell you that I cannot. Should the lands go to war, I would have to choose a side as well. Neither my lands nor I could sustain bloodshed. We are not military folk. If you make this decision for only that reason, it would not be made in vain." Ryuuji paused before continuing, grinning slightly. "On top of that, you will be able to avoid at least three decades worth of further courtly functions if you host this one. Even longer if you stay in the background."
"Ishiru is not ready to be presented to court. She has been trained to fight, not to understand and dance about the various social graces of court. Gatherings are held during Midwinter and the first snowfall is due any day. She cannot be prepared by then." Sesshoumaru said, his eyes on the orchards off in the distance.
"I can teach her." Ryuuji said, following the younger lord's gaze for a moment. "If she is not prepared by then, two Gatherings shall be held. One for your victory, and a second in the following year to introduce Ishiru to court."
"Two Ryuuji? You do realize that I am barely willing to consent to one." Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at his friend and ally.
"Alas, backup plans are never as good as the primary." Ryuuji said in mock wistfulness. "I do realize that. But I am also confident that I can teach this girl of yours what she needs to know by that time. "
Authors Corner
And thats what Ive got so far. Instead of ending it sooner, Im going to extend the story a bit. I was tempted to make this a sequal, but it didnt seem to have enough of its own plot to sustain a full story. So itll be something of an epilogue, just with multiple chapters
Reviews are my lifes blood. The more reviews I get, the more encouraged I am to write, plus it gives me inspiration.