Always Doesn't Last Forever
Chapter 7: Dream of the PastDisclaimer: I own nothing off Inuyasha! Just the plot and any original characters!
Sesshoumaru was only half listening to Kagome and the elder council members talk as his eyes scanned the throne room for Haruko. He knew she was here and like any smart demon who doesn't want an absolute bitch for his mate, he wanted to keep an eye on her. That's when he spotted her; she was steadily making her way towards him with a slight smile on her face as she took a small sip from her full goblet. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly in distaste when he saw that she was drinking blood and would have turned away when some male barreled right into her, causing Haruko to spill her drink on herself and the man spilt his on her as well.
"I am so sorry milady!" He apologized frantically and used his hands to try and brush the spilled liquids off her dress, causing them to smear even more.
Finally, entertainment. Sesshoumaru thought darkly as he watched the unfolding scene.
"Get off of me you fool!" Haruko snarled and whirled around and would have stalked off yet somehow the clumsy male steeped onto the hem of her dress. The ripping of material was a beautiful sound to Sesshoumaru's ears as he watched a humiliated Haruko flee the throne room.
"Oh how horrible!" Kagome exclaimed softly in sympathy and probably would have gone after the bitch if Sesshoumaru hadn't held her back.
"Leave her be." He commanded, ignoring the shocked and angry look she gave him.
I really should find the man who embarrassed Haruko so and reward him. Hell, I might even give him half the Western Lands. Sesshoumaru thought maliciously.
"Hunter? Are you okay?" Kagome asked and waved her hand in front of his eyes, snapping him back to reality.
"Yes. Yes, of course. I thought I saw someone who looked familiar that's all." He answered and gave her a warm smile.
On the other side of the throne room a similar incident happened to Milina except this time the clumsy one was a beautiful young woman who looked like she was about to go into hysterics over the fact that she'd spilled the small tray of food and drink onto a Lady of the court.
After such embarrassing situations neither Milina nor Haruko would return to that night's festivities. The two siblings met up with one another again, carefully concealed from probing eyes yet able to see what went on around them. "Shall we go now?" He asked.
"I think so. The immediate pains are gone." She answered thoughtfully, carefully scanning the crowd for any as malicious as the two they'd just humiliated, finding none she smiled in satisfaction.
"Hey look, I think Hunter's getting suspicious." He said in amusement.
"Be nice you." She scolded. "Actually, he's pretty clever if you ask me. He's already figured that it's too much of a coincidence and he did glimpse you."
"Why do women always blame men?" He asked sorrowfully.
"Because it's so much fun. Come on. We need to get out of here. No sense in pushing our luck." She said and if anyone had been watching they would have seen the two vanish into thin air. A few moments later Hunter arrived at that very spot but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary and returned to the festivities.
It was nearly dawn before all of Sesshoumaru's guests retired to their chambers. Kagome looked like she were about to fall asleep standing up and even Hunter's usual boundless energy seemed to have been depleted. Sesshoumaru studied Kagome carefully as she bid the last guest goodnight. She'd held up remarkably well under the circumstances and still looked as beautiful as she had when the night had been young. He scowled then at his thoughts and would have shaken his head but refrained from doing so.
"Finally." Kagome said in relief and rubbed her temples.
"I find myself agreeing with you Lady Kagome." Hunter said wearily and moved behind her.
"What are you doing?" Sesshoumaru asked coldly, barely withholding the growl that threatened to come out of his throat.
"It's okay, Sesshoumaru." Kagome said and reached out her hand and touched his arm lightly, too tired to realize what she was doing. "He fixed my hair earlier and because he's a very cruel person, Hunter decided to make my hair up in a complicated way so now he's the only one who can undo it." She replied for him.
Hunter chuckled and pouted teasingly as his hands deftly undid all of his previous work. "And here I thought I'd done a very well done job!" He sighed then as the last of her hair came lose of its confines. "Humans are so hard to please." He added and placed the ribbons and golden bell chain in her hands. "I wish you both a good slumber." He said sincerely, bowed, and then left to seek his own bed.
Sesshoumaru paid no notice and looked down at the hand that was still touching his arm. "Aren't you going to bed?" He asked, looking back at Kagome, who at the moment had her eyes closed.
"Yes." She answered after a few long moments. Sesshoumaru waited, then a little longer, and then a little bit more before finally asking, "shouldn't you be going then?"
"I am."
It took a great deal of willpower not to roll his eyes as he scooped the exhausted woman into his embrace and carried her using his arm and tail. "What are you doing?!" Kagome grumbled half-heartedly and opened her eyes enough to glare at him.
"Putting you to bed, unless you prefer to sleep standing up in the throne room?" He answered coldly.
"No…" Kagome said softly and unconsciously cuddled closer to him. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru." She managed to say, yawned delicately, and then fell asleep in his arms.
Sesshoumaru stopped then and stood on the steps that led up to his private quarters where Kagome, Rin, Hunter, and the kitsune kit Shippo, all stayed and studied her. How could she trust him so completely? Did she truly not fear him at all? Why did he care… Sesshoumaru frowned and resumed his task of returning Kagome to her bedroom. Once there he looked around immediately for the kit but when he didn't see him he correctly assumed that he was with Rin, which meant that Jaken would be asleep yet still attentive to their needs.
After Sesshoumaru laid Kagome down on her bed he attempted to get her out of her unusual clothing without ripping the cloth with his claws but that option was soon discarded when his patience ran out. He did find a nightgown and put that on her so that her modesty would be protected and he pulled the covers over her and then turned to leave.
"Wait." Kagome cried in her sleep, her hand reaching out in the empty air. "Please…" He heard her whisper brokenly. "Please don't leave me."
Sesshoumaru turned back around and studied the young miko yet again. What was it about this human that for some odd reason stirred his sympathies? Why did he want to soothe away the pain that so obviously plagued her dreams. But who was she calling out to? His bastard of a brother? That thought made Sesshoumaru very angry and he glared at her; furious that she was able to cause him to feel so many emotions.
"Daddy… Please come back to us…" She whimpered and after a few long seconds lowered her outstretched hand with a whimper and curved her body in a protective fetal position. It was almost as though she were trying to protect herself from a pain that he could not see. "Sesshoumaru." He heard her whimper so soft that if he had not been a dog demon he never would have heard the soft plea. Against his better judgment he sat down on the bed and removed his shoes and heavy outer clothing. He left his light inner shirt and his pants on, just in case she awoke before him and started screaming rape. Then he peeled back the covers and slid his body under them gratefully. He too was tired and was still a comfortable distance away from the small miko, not that she took up that much room. And then Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and let sleep take him…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dream/Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Brother!" Inuyasha cried, delighted at seeing his older, and only, sibling. He quickly left his teacher and ran to meet his older brother.
"Hello Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru replied fondly as his younger brother wrapped his arms around his legs.
"Guess what?! Father said that we're either going to have a little brother or sister soon!" He said excitedly and then his little face wrinkled in disgust. "I hope it's not a girl though, they're useless!"
Sesshoumaru smiled faintly and rested his hand on his brother's head. "That is good news." He said yet inwardly he was snarling. So… By luck he had managed to come back in time to hear of Kirei's pregnancy, and in time to protect Inuyasha from Inutaisho's violent anger that was usually physical.
"Brother? Are you alright?" Inuyasha asked worriedly.
"I am fine." Sesshoumaru answered. "Inuyasha, how would you like to stay with me in my quarters while I am here? This way I won't have to carry you back to your room after you fall asleep during one of my stories." He offered.
"Really, Brother?" Inuyasha asked excitedly and hugged his brother happily when he received a nod in reply. "Yeah!" He agreed.
"Sesshoumaru!" The Lord Inutaisho called from the entrance of the castle, welcoming his first son and heir. The whore, Kirei, stood beside him; her hands clasped protectively over her swollen stomach.
"My Lord." Sesshoumaru answered formally and bowed to his father. He made no comment towards the human.
"Well come then! No sense in standing outside when there are things to do!" Inutaisho said joyfully and quickly ushered his sons in. Completely unaware of his eldest son's contempt for both him and his wife. You always act so joyful Inutaisho, until something does not go your way. No matter. I am here now and I, Sesshoumaru will protect my brother from you. He swore silently.
Three weeks later Sesshoumaru made good on his promise. After hearing the whore's screams of pain he quickly placed a sleeping spell upon Inuyasha, gathered his young brother into his arms, and leapt into the rafters that held up the ceiling. Almost as soon as he finished placing a concealing spell upon him and Inuyasha, Inutaisho stormed into his room snarling and yelling for Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru watched impassively as the Lord of the Western Lands destroyed his entire room before storming away, leaving the chaotic mess behind.
But Sesshoumaru did not move from their hiding place and all throughout the night Inutaisho would return, constantly yelling for one of his sons to appear. And Sesshoumaru began to hate the demon that was his father. For he knew that Inutaisho would have killed Inuyasha, and tried to kill him, had he gotten his claws on either of them. And the ice surrounding Sesshoumaru's heart and emotions began to grow even colder and stronger…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ End Dream/Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sesshoumaru jerked awake and sat upright in an effort to calm down his fast beating heart and very nearly panted in an effort to get his breath back. He had been terrified that night, unsure of whether his spells would hold or not, but not for himself. He'd been scared for Inuyasha, who was once his brother.
"Sesshoumaru?" He heard Kagome call out softly, still half asleep, and then she touched his arm and pulled him to her softly, silently urging him to lay his head on her shoulder. "It's okay. I'm here. You're safe." She answered, not really awake but still somehow managing too sense that he needed comforting and perhaps in her sleep fogged mind she mistook him for her brother. Souta had also crawled into bed with her many times so maybe it really was just her brother. "I'll protect you." She whispered and stroked his hair softly as sleep fully claimed her again.
Sesshoumaru was startled to hear the words he whispered many times to Inuyasha echoed back to him by this human girl. Yet… she was the first to ever tell him such things. Sesshoumaru shifted a bit and rested his head beside hers so that he could wrap his arm around her slim body and pulled her close to his own. For once he did not want to be alone and Kagome cuddled wonderfully against him. Again he closed his eyes and this time a peaceful slumber, one with no dreams, took him into it's embrace.
Lady Fate studied the two sleeping figures and smiled softly at them. At last she was finally beginning to sense a slight thawing in the ice that surrounded Sesshoumaru and as for Kagome, her pain at having been betrayed by Inuyasha was fading slowly. "Ah yes… Inuyasha…" She said aloud and her eyes darkened as she thought of the hanyou and the undead miko. Something was in the end, but what, she wasn't sure…
~ Next chapter that's out. No real updates quite yet. I hope you guys enjoyed this. Don't forget to review! It makes me feel special! *winks* Silver Destiny ~