Chapter 31: Poison Master's Brother?
Sesshomaru woke up in the same place he passed out in. Hoping to find out that day was a nightmare, he looked around him. There was no Kaori. And he wasn't in a hut at all. It wasn't a dream. He had let Kaori drift downstream and did nothing. He leapt to his feet and startled a curious Kagome.
"Sesshomaru, you've awaken!" Kagome said.
"You!" Sesshomaru hissed. His claws extended and droplets of poison showed on each.
"Calm down. I was just wondering if you were all right. We found you passed out here. What happened?" Kagome asked.
"We?" Sesshomaru asked. He saw three pairs of eyes in the woods.
"Miroku, Sango, Shippo and I," Kagome said.
"What about Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked. "Does he not care about his older brother?"
"He's not around. He seems to have disappeared while hunting, but we have been looking for you. Have you seen him recently?" Kagome asked.
"No," Sesshomaru answered and turned from Kagome. "And I don't exactly care. I have other things to do than talk to Inuyasha's wench."
Kagome glared at him for that comment, but Miroku spoke up.
"He has been missing for a month and was wondering if maybe you had killed him or heard what had happened to him. And where is Kaori?" Miroku asked.
"You have not seen her?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No," Sango said. "Did you get into another fight?"
Sesshomaru bolted out of there. If they didn't see her, she might be in great danger. And it would be all his fault. He jumped tree to tree, looking for any scent of Kaori. But all he could smell was a recent storm and wet grass. He tripped on a branch, but didn't catch himself as he fell. His skull impacted with the ground, but didn't knock him out.
'Kaori's lost somewhere out there and it's all my fault. I didn't catch her. I didn't swim after her. I cared about only my life and getting myself out of the water. What kind of husband am I?' Sesshomaru thought hitting his fist against the ground after every sentence. He felt so guilty, it was unimaginable. He kneeled on the ground, his head against the ground. His fist was clenched, nearly cutting himself with his own claws.
Kaori woke up in a cave. She sat up, slightly dizzy. The entrance was open and she saw a clear day. No one was around her, but it looked like someone was living in the cave she was in. Just it wasn't her. Twigs that had their bark scraped off were in a pile off to the side and ashes were in the middle of the cave. Two piles of brown furs were in the room and Kaori was laying on one of them. She removed the furs covering her up and saw only her underwear was on. Covering herself up again, she looked around for her clothes. If she found out Sesshomaru stripped her without her acknowledgement, he was dead. She found her clothes in a corner and put them on quickly. They were damp, but it was better than nothing.
"I see you've awakened," a man said. Kaori looked at the entrance of the cave and found a man holding a pile of fresh sticks.
"Who are you?" Kaori asked.
"Yenkin, my lady," the man said. He put the twigs down and bowed.
"You were at the cave... with me and Sesshomaru," Kaori said dully. She felt drowsy. Might have been because she was fighting the current the day before.
"Yes, my lady," Yenkin said. He sat next to Kaori and brought a cup that was next to him. "You must be tired and thirsty. Have this. It should help with any of the water in your lungs."
Kaori nodded and took a sip of the drink. It didn't taste bad. She took another and lost feeling in her hands. The cup fell, but Yenkin caught it. Kaori looked at him, but her body was immovable. Her lips were parted slightly and Yenkin poured the rest of the drink down her throat. She couldn't cough it up and her body automatically swallowed it. Her eyes closed and she felt herself falling, but Yenkin caught her.
"Take a long rest. Sesshomaru won't be here for a long time," Yenkin told her, laying her down on the furs. Kaori couldn't open her eyes or move, but she wasn't tired. She tried to scream or yell, but her voice was not working.
She forced her eyes open with trouble and saw Yenkin was stripping her again.
"Keep your eyes close, my lady. Everything will be over before you know it," Yenkin told her. Her clothes were removed, but he left her underwear where it was. Her eyes closed again and she fell asleep again.
Sesshomaru gave up being guilty and was more determined than ever. He started jumping trees, looking for any sign of Kaori.
Near the beginning of the waterfall, he found Kaori's umbrella caught in a low branch hanging over the river. He removed it and caught Kaori's scent on the shore near there. Well, at least she didn't go over. Sesshomaru started traveling in land, but her scent just disappeared in the middle of no where. He looked around and sniffed, but it didn't have any of her scent. Nor the sweet one like a year ago at the well. He sat down and meditated. It would help him think better. What could make her scent disappear? Death, change of species, barrier... Barrier! He opened his eyes and stood. He placed his hands out in front of him and walked forward. He felt no resistance, confusing him even more. Suddenly, he smelt poison. Like Mukostu's. But that was a long time ago. And Sesshomaru was sure he killed the poison master. He walked through easily, lowering his hands to his sides. As soon as he did, an actual barrier showed up and shot Sesshomaru backwards. He landed on his feet with ease. So, there was a barrier?
Yenkin felt the intrusion and growled. Things were being sped up. He didn't even get his fun with Kaori yet! He quickly dressed Kaori and woke her up. Her eyes opened and saw the violet ones of Yenkin.
"Come, my lady. We will dance and be merry," Yenkin said, taking Kaori hands. She felt him, but she could not move still. She saw a small device at the side of the room sending poison gas into the cave. It was probably the thing making her paralysed.
She was twirled around the room, her hands being held by Yenkin.
"My beautiful lady, you are so lovely when you are dancing. I knew the day I met you, I wanted you to be my wife. But it seems you have already married, but I can at least enjoy you," Yenkin told her, pulling her close to his chest. He placed her hands around his neck and held her lower back. "My lady, is your name Kaori?"
Kaori just stared up at the man. She had spared his life at the cave and this is what she got. Yenkin laughed and looked down at her.
"I completely forgot you couldn't talk. One blink for yes, and two blinks for no," Yenkin said.
Kaori blinked once up at him and he smiled.
"My beautiful Kaori, you would have been a beautiful wife, but a demon took you before I could. I wanted to enjoy you as much as possible, but it seems I only get a kiss and then I must kill you," Yenkin told her. Her eyes went wide, but she couldn't push away or yell. She was stuck holding onto his neck, her face inches from his.
Outside of the barrier, Sesshomaru was trying to find out how to get through. He continuously fought with the Tokijin against the barrier, but he was only getting pushed backwards. Tokijin started acting up and was duller than usual and Sesshomaru put it away.
"Kaori, I wonder, are you safe?" Sesshomaru asked. Tenseiga pulsed and rattled and Sesshomaru drew the sword. "What is it, Tenseiga?"
Tenseiga rattled harder until it fell out of Sesshomaru's hand. It pulsed, even on the ground and Sesshomaru picked it up and held it with a tight grip. Using the Tenseiga, he sliced through the barrier and headed towards Kaori. Her scent was fresh and lively, so he knew she was close, and alive.
He showed up to find Kaori's arms around Yenkin's neck and he was holding Kaori. Kaori caught his eye, but did nothing.
"My beautiful Kaori, what is the matter? Why do you not wish to look at me?" Yenkin asked. "I promise your death will be as painless as possible, but you have been taken by a demon and there is no known cure for that."
Yenkin kissed Kaori and Kaori tried her best to struggle, but her body was still paralysed. She just stood there and had to let this man kiss her. She looked over at Sesshomaru and saw he wasn't moving. Must had been the poison.
It wasn't the poison. He knew that if he attacked now, Kaori might be injured as well. He stood there, his fists nearly shaking with anger. How dare this bastard kiss his wife!
Yenkin broke away and waved a hand in front of Kaori's mouth. Kaori got some released on her chest, but she didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize any plan Sesshomaru had.
"My beautiful Kaori, I will allow you to say your departing words. Please do not scream out or I will injure you and allow you to bleed out slowly, having a painful death," Yenkin told her.
"May I whisper it into your ear?" Kaori asked in a whisper.
Yenkin smiled and bent down next to her.
"Burn in hell!" Kaori yelled. Yenkin's ear rang from the loud noise and released Kaori. Kaori fell to the ground. He held his ear as he drew his sword.
"Bitch. I was going allow you to pass away nicely and have your soul go to heaven, but it seems that will not be happening," Yenkin said.
"Wait, can I explain?" Kaori asked, her eyes clenched.
"Try your best," Yenkin said.
"You see, I just wanted you to hear my voice at different volumes. I didn't exactly mean for you to burn in hell," Kaori said, her eyes still clenched.
"I guess I can except that, but you are too late, Sesshomaru. The poison just entered her system," Yenkin said, looking behind him. Sesshomaru was about to slice Yenkin in half and halted. Kaori gasped and her eyes were showing pure pain. Yenkin told the truth. "You are probably wondering why I wanted Kaori. One, she was a beautiful maiden I loved. But with her being your wife and mate was a bonus. You killed my brother, the only close relative of mine. And now you will suffer as I have for three years. He taught me all about poison and barriers. But I was rejected into the Seven Men Army. I still knew all the ways of Mukotsu and his poison. And I will allow you to watch your wife and mate die of poison. And from what I've heard from Inuyasha, you can't revive people who were killed by poison."
Yenkin was slashed in half as he finished his sentence. Kaori was still suffering by her eyes. Sesshomaru kneeled next to her and held her close.
"Kaori, stay strong," Sesshomaru told her.
"Get... us... out... of... here," Kaori stuttered. Sesshomaru was up and out almost immediately at her request. He got her near the river and held her close as her eyes clenched in pain. "Transform."
"Huh?" Sesshomaru asked. "At a time like this?"
"Human," Kaori whispered. Her eyes weren't clenching anymore and Sesshomaru started shaking Kaori.
"Kaori, come on, stay with me!" Sesshomaru told her. 'I want to give her, her last request. I want to be human.'
Kaori got the markings and sat up suddenly while she coughed. She coughed while she was bent over, but Sesshomaru was just happy she was all right. He embraced her while she coughed and she cried in his arms.
"I thought I would never see you again!" Kaori cried.
Sesshomaru was silent while he closed his eyes and embraced her. That was exactly what he was thinking.
"Sesshomaru-" Kaori started, but Sesshomaru interrupted.
"I am so sorry Kaori. I never meant for you to fall into the river. And I should have caught you. And if I wasn't so selfish, this wouldn't have happened!" Sesshomaru said into her shoulder.
"Sesshomaru, it wasn't your fault. I was the one who slipped. I was the one who wasn't strong enough to fight the current. It was not your fault," Kaori said. She felt pain in her stomach and thought about her pregnancy. Would the poison effect the child? What about her near-to-death experience?
Kaori pulled away from Sesshomaru and held her stomach. She would have to find out soon.
"Are you all right?" Sesshomaru asked.
"We need to get back to my time as soon as possible," Kaori told him.
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked.
"There is something I need to tell you, but this isn't the place or time," Kaori said. Kaori smelt a scent close to Sesshomaru's and looked at where it was. Was it Inuyasha?
A grunt was heard and Sesshomaru looked towards it. Kaori stood and headed for it. It turned out to be Inuyasha who just fainted into a pile of mud. Kaori kneeled next to him while Sesshomaru stood next to her.
"Sesshomaru, can you go back to Kaeda's village and get my backpack?" Kaori asked. She saw her claws decreasing to human ones.
"Yes," Sesshomaru said and flew out of there. Kaori got Inuyasha leaning against a tree and brushed some mud off of his face. She tapped his cheeks, but he didn't respond. She felt a pulse, so she knew he was still alive. But she didn't know for how much longer.
Sesshomaru returned with Kaori's backpack and Kaori pulled out a small pouch, her notebook falling out. Sesshomaru picked it up and held it while Kaori fed Inuyasha the antidote. He didn't exactly want Inuyasha to be healed completely, but he was going to be the only person to kill Inuyasha, not some poison master.
Inuyasha's eyes opened and found Kaori and Sesshomaru with him.
"Shit. I must be in hell," Inuyasha sighed.
Sesshomaru glared at Inuyasha, but Kaori assured Inuyasha he was not dead.
"What happened to you? How did you end up near Yenkin?" Kaori asked.
"I'm not exactly poison-proof," Inuyasha said. "He poisoned me, paralysed me, then tied me up, waiting for Kagome to come for me."
"She was worried about you," Sesshomaru said.
"You talked to her?" Kaori and Inuyasha asked.
"When I awoke today, she was nearby," Sesshomaru said.
"If I found you touched her-" Inuyasha started, standing up, but was in too much pain and sat back down, "- you're dead."
"You can barely even back up that threat, let alone do it," Sesshomaru said.
"Sesshomaru, shut up," Kaori told him. "Inuyasha, I'll help you find Kagome and your friends."
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice rang out. "Are you here?"
"Well, I guess they found you," Kaori said, scratching her head.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, embracing him. "I thought you were dead!"
"I thought so too," Inuyasha whispered. Kagome turned to Kaori, glaring at her.
"What did you to him? Did you take him hostage?" Kagome nearly spat.
"I saved his ass, girl. Why the hell-" Kaori started, but Sesshomaru took her arm.
"We are leaving. Leave them to be," Sesshomaru said. He helped Kaori to her feet and got her back to river and walked upstream.
They got to Kaeda's village to gather anything they might have left behind. It turned out nothing was left behind and they headed to Kaori's village.
Sesshomaru had tucked the notebook into his shirt. He would ask Kaori later of it. She seemed very worried and would not make eye contact with him unless necessary. They got to the well, and Kaori was about to jump through when Sesshomaru caught her arm.
"Tell me Kaori. What are you not telling me?" Sesshomaru asked.
"You mean what I said at the river?" Kaori asked. He nodded. She sighed and lowered her head. "It's hard to."
"How many times have I told you I will understand?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No, Sesshomaru. It's the biggest secret I hold. I mean, only two people know," Kaori said. "And neither are my mother."
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori sat at the edge of the well. Her eyes were to the ground.
"I was really hoping it was just something my doctor was kidding about, but she wasn't. And then with all the symptoms, I knew it was the truth. And I still don't know what I want to do," Kaori said, raising her gaze to the skies.
"What is it? Just tell me and get it over with. You know how much I hate when you hide things from me," he told her.
Kaori looked at him straight in the eye with tears nearly falling. "Sesshomaru, this is huge. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to tell you. And with you saying that stuff before, I didn't know what to do," Kaori said. Her gaze went back to the ground.
"This is huge," Sesshomaru finally got it. He kneeled in front of Kaori and held her hands. "Just tell me."
"I just have one question before I tell you. Did we get a crib in any of the gifts?" Kaori asked.
"Your mother said we did. Why?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I'm... Pregnant," Kaori finally let out. Tears were still edging her eyes and she finally looked at him straight as she told him the news.
His eyes went wide as his mouth hung ajar.
"No illness?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No illness," Kaori told him.
"Then why were you dashing out all the time?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori laughed and looked at him. If she decided to keep it, it would be a long nine months. He had no clue about pregnant women.
"Symptoms," Kaori told him.
"But... How? I mean, I know how, but, I thought Queen Kaori couldn't have children and weren't we supposed to follow in their footsteps?" Sesshomaru said.
Kaori was blown back. She had completely forgotten about that.
"Maybe this means I'm not supposed to follow in her footsteps," Kaori suggested.
"Perhaps," Sesshomaru said. He still held her hands and rubbed them with his thumbs. "So, when will you get large?"
Kaori laughed at him and sighed. He could be funny even when he didn't try.
"For a while now," Kaori said, smiling.
"I see. So, you'll blow up and then go back to normal?" Sesshomaru asked as they returned to the present.
"That's one way of saying it," Kaori said, eying him curiously.
"I see. This will be an experience for me," Sesshomaru said.
"Didn't you have to deal with Inuyasha's mother when she was pregnant?" Kaori asked, putting her backpack down.
"No, but my father did. He never complained, though. It couldn't be too hard, huh?" Sesshomaru said.
"Oh, well maybe for you. I'm the one who has to give birth to it. And you're going to be there to hear me scream, understood?" Kaori told him. His eyes went wide and followed her upstairs and both changed into some more comfortable clothes.
"But I need to find out if the poison effected the child at all," Kaori told him, getting the phone. "Would you like to come to the doctor's with me?"
"Yes. I would like to know anything I can about what will be happening," Sesshomaru told her and waited until she was done the appointment before they started talking again.
"Well, the appointment is tomorrow at one in the afternoon," Kaori said, writing it on the calendar.
"What do they do at the doctor's?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Usually, with me and my mother, they run tests to find out if everything is doing just fine. My doctor knows about all of my family, even you," Kaori said. "She knows you're special, at least."
"I see. Is there anything I should know about you? How you will be acting over the next... How long does this last?" Sesshomaru asked, leaning against the kitchen table.
"Nine months, but sometimes longer or shorter. Everyone is different," Kaori told him.
"Nine months," he repeated.
"And no more heats," Kaori said, smiling. She saw him frown at that. "What? You like smelling my blood?"
"Your scent is more exotic," he told her. "It smells good."
"Yeah, whatever," Kaori said, waving her hand at him as she passed him to go to the couch. He caught her wrist and raised an eyebrow.
"Are we still able to, um, 'interact?'" Sesshomaru asked, imitating an old friend of his father's.
"Yes, we can. Happy about that?" Kaori asked.
"Always," he told her, pushing her onto the couch. She laughed and sighed as he had his little bit of fun. At least he didn't react like she thought he would.