Chapter 40: The Lights
That night had gone by so fast, Sesshomaru had completely forgotten why they were in that palace in the first place until the morning. He woke up and quickly dressed into his clothes. He brushed his hair quickly, but elegantly and looked over at his still sleeping princess. She grunted before turning to her side and unconsciously pulling the sheets over her. Sesshomaru smiled and then realized he didn't have his sash. He opened the door, untying it and putting it on, he left the room.
He found a servant and asked where the dining room was. The servant led the way and bowed at the door of the dining room. Sesshomaru entered and wished he didn't. Every lord from every land was sitting at a very long table, eating and drinking. One or two people noticed him, and went silent. Slowly, the room fell silent and everyone stared at him.
"Sesshomaru, I see you have some dealing with Myori's parents as well, huh?" One male said. Sesshomaru did not want to be here. Anywhere but here.
"I thought he was dead, like his father."
"I swear I've heard he married, married a human."
"I heard he can turn human."
"What demon would want that?"
Whispers were passed around and Sesshomaru had enough. He turned and left the room, never wanting to be there again. He found Myori walking down the hall his room was and Myori caught the angered look in his eyes.
"What is the matter, Sesshomaru?" Myori asked, stopping and watched him pass her.
"None of your business," Sesshomaru growled, opening his door.
"I wish for all of my guests to be happy. You obviously aren't. I can deal with it, if you want," Myori said.
"I don't want you to deal with it. Just have a servant send two meals to our room and nothing else!" Sesshomaru growled, slamming the door behind him. It awakened Kaori.
"Sesshomaru, what's all the noise about?" Kaori asked.
"I hate this place," Sesshomaru growled, pulling the desk chair out and sitting in it. His arms were crossed and he was glaring at the wall.
"What is it?" Kaori asked, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. "Did the servants hear us last night, or what?"
"No, it's not that. All of the lords of all the lands are downstairs in the dining room," Sesshomaru growled. He felt two tender hands rub his shoulders, but it didn't calm him down much.
"I see. Well, we'll stay in our room until Myori needs us and relax, ok?" Kaori suggested. She was still half asleep.
"No. I told Myori to send us two meals and then we'll ask her if she knows how to solve our problem. If she doesn't, we leave instantly. If she does, she solves the problem and then we leave instantly, understood?" Sesshomaru growled.
"Fine. Just what are we going to do until she comes up?" Kaori asked, her head resting on his shoulder.
"You can get dressed," Sesshomaru told Kaori, seeing her reflection in the mirror to the side of the room. She nodded and left his shoulders to change.
Just as she finished, a knock was at the door. The girl they had been seeing a lot of was there with two trays of food.
"Your meals," she simply said and Kaori invited her in to set them on the table. She shook slightly, but was steady with the trays.
"Where's Myori?" Sesshomaru demanded. The girl shook with fear even more, but bowed her head in respect.
"Lady Myori is eating her meal. I'll tell her you wish to see her immediately, ok?" The servant quickly said.
"Oh, don't mind him. He's just in a bad mood. Just please tell Myori to come up when she can," Kaori said. She thanked the girl and saw her run out there as fast as she had before. "She must really be scared of you."
"Ever think it was you?" Sesshomaru asked with anger.
"Chill, ok?" Kaori told him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I just don't want to stay here any longer," Sesshomaru said.
"Ok. But we still need to wait for Myori, so relax. And eat," Kaori said, placing the tray in front of Sesshomaru, on the desk. He took it and sat next to Kaori on the bed, eating together. They were silent, but both were thinking about Myori. Would she be able to save the child? What if she couldn't? If she could, would it be painful?
Sesshomaru and Kaori finished their meals just before a knock was heard and the door opened a crack. "Can I come in?" Myori asked.
"Yeah, sure," Kaori said, setting her tray aside with Sesshomaru's.
Myori walked in and closed the door behind her.
"So, I have some news for you," Myori said, sitting at the chair at the desk after turning it around to she could face Sesshomaru and Kaori. "I do have the power to have both of you to survive at birth."
"Is there a catch?" Kaori asked.
"Well, if it's a half-demon, which it probably is, it'll have to convert either to human or demon," Myori said. "Which would be very painful."
"Well, it isn't a half-demon. Surprisingly, we heard that it is a demon," Kaori said. "Is that good?"
"Yes. That's good. It's probably going to male then, since it is Sesshomaru's species," Myori said with a smile.
"It a girl," Sesshomaru said.
"Oh, it's going to be painful then," Myori said. "Probably not much, but some pain. But just be happy it's already demon."
"Painful?" Kaori asked to herself, her hands resting on her abdominal section.
"Can we meet you later after we discuss this?" Sesshomaru asked, looking at Kaori to Myori. Myori nodded and left the room. "If you don't want to do this because of the pain, I'll understand."
"No, I'm not weak. I'll endure the pain for the child," Kaori said, sniffing once and looking at Sesshomaru. A tear trickled down her cheek. It was silent between them and Sesshomaru knew Kaori was trying to not to cry. She finally couldn't fight the battle anymore and Sesshomaru pulled her to his body. His shoulder instantly was drenched. "I'm so afraid."
"Yes, I would too. Losing two scares you once you get this far. You're over the hump of danger that you usually had to endure, but another problem comes in the way. We'll get over this problem, ok?" Sesshomaru said, rubbing her back.
She nodded, pulling away from his shoulder. "Sesshomaru, I'm trying to stay strong. For you, for me, for this child. But I sometimes don't know if I can anymore. I don't know if it's worth it anymore," Kaori said looking up at him, her hands rubbing his shoulders like she was comforting him. It actually was calming her.
"It's worth it. Once that child is born, you'll probably go crazy, awing at her like crazy, we'll need to pull you from her. And you'll regret ever saying that it wasn't worth it to stay strong for her," Sesshomaru said, wiping the tears from Kaori's cheeks. "So, never say that, all right? She needs you as well as me. Well, her more than me, but you get my drift, don't you?"
Kaori laughed at that comment and she was pulled into a kiss.
"Smile more often, ok? I know it might be difficult, but smile in the roughest of times and it'll help. I promise," Sesshomaru said, pulling Kaori into and embrace. She nodded and kissed him under his chin.
"We need to find Myori to start. You did want to get out of here as soon as possible, correct?" Kaori said, pulling away. She was pulled into another kiss and Kaori had to massage Sesshomaru's hands away from her. "Later."
"Promise?" Sesshomaru said, standing up and offering his hand to Kaori.
"What, don't trust me?" Kaori teased, accepting his hand and getting off the bed.
"Of course I trust you, but you can sometimes turn the tables and change it to tomorrow," Sesshomaru told her.
"When have I don't that?" Kaori asked.
"My definition of fun on one day means when the actual passion starts," Sesshomaru told her, opening the door for Kaori.
"Can we have this conversation somewhere more private?" Kaori asked, walking out into the hall. Sesshomaru closed the door behind him and took her hand.
"Sure, dearest," Sesshomaru whispered into Kaori's ear, holding Kaori's hand. "Now let's find that princess."
"Sesshomaru!" A male called out. Sesshomaru was just about to start following Myori's scent, but turned to find a regal male running his way. Sesshomaru sighed, but turned to face the male. "Man, you've grown tall since the last time I've met you. Last time I saw you, you were this high," the male told Sesshomaru, indicating how tall Sesshomaru was, which was about half of what Sesshomaru was now.
"Rougo, long time no see," Sesshomaru said politely.
"Ah, so how's the old man?" Rougo asked.
"He's dead," Sesshomaru briefly said.
"Oh, really? Well, I've been away for too long. I actually wanted to be the one to kill that old man. Or you, that is," Rougo said. He then notice Kaori standing there with a puzzled look. "Oh, who is this lovely lady?"
"Kaori. Princess Kaori," Sesshomaru said.
"Ah, a pleasure to meet you princess. Just I imagined you older," Rougo said.
"Pleasure's all mine," Kaori said, nodding with a smile.
"Kaori, this is an old friend of my family's. The demon side, at least," Sesshomaru said.
"Inuyasha never met him before?" Kaori asked.
"Inuyasha?" Rougo asked. "Your son?"
"Uh, no Rougo. My half-brother," Sesshomaru explained.
"On your mother's side?" Rougo asked, raising an eyebrow. It was almost identical to Sesshomaru's.
"No, father's," Sesshomaru said.
"The nerve of that man! All he wanted was an heir, then goes off to another woman and gets her pregnant. I swear, if I was there, I'd whack his old hide and drag him out of that hut by his hair!" Rougo said.
Kaori was slightly shocked at how friendly this man was. He seemed so nice, but yet he was a full demon.
"Yes, so would I," Sesshomaru said, flicking some strands behind his shoulder.
"You are so much like your father, Sesshomaru. I truly hope you become the brave man he was," Rougo said, his hand outstretched for a handshake. "When we meet again."
"Yes, when we meet again," Sesshomaru said, reluctantly shaking the hand. Rougo walked away, humming happily.
"Odd man," Kaori said. "But nice."
"Yes, he was that type of fellow. Now, as we were about to do before we were interrupted..." Sesshomaru said, turning and heading towards Myori's scent. He found her walking down the halls, absent-mindedly, not a care in the world.
"Myori!" Kaori called out, running to catch up to Myori. Myori turned at the sound of her name and smiled when she saw Kaori coming.
"So, have you discussed it?" Myori asked.
"Yes. We've planned to do it today, now," Kaori told Myori. Sesshomaru walked up next to the ladies.
"Today? Sure. I need to get my mom, though. I'll take you to the hospital and then get my mother and get this all done," Myori said. "Right this way."
Kaori waited on a bed, Sesshomaru relaxed in a chair. It had been a while now and Myori hadn't returned yet.
"Perhaps we should check on her," Kaori suggested.
"And where do you wish to go? And how would you find your way?" Sesshomaru asked. "I would even get lost in here. Just sit and relax."
"Well, it's been a while and Myori hasn't returned yet," Kaori said, fidgeting with her hands.
"She's probably just having some problems finding her mother; that's all," Sesshomaru said, grabbing Kaori's hands to stop them from fidgeting. "Now stop acting nervous or you'll get me started."
"I've never seen you get nervous," Kaori said.
"You don't want to," Sesshomaru said, looking at the door. Myori walked in with her mother behind her with smiles.
"Sorry it took so long. Mother here was so hard to find," Myori said. "Now, we need you to know this most likely will hurt. We want a verbal agreement to this. We really want to make sure you want to do this."
"I really do. Sesshomaru and I both want to. We're sure of this," Kaori said.
"Well, dear, we'll try not to put you in too much pain. Just try to relax, ok? Now, lay down on the bed and focus on your breathing. Close our eyes and just relax," Myori's mother instructed. Sesshomaru just watched from the chair as Kaori laid down and closed her eyes, relaxed and no movement.
"Ok, you ready?" Myori asked. Kaori nodded. "Ok, tell us how it feels, ok?"
A blue light was shown over Kaori coming from Myori's hands.
"A tingling feeling," Kaori simply said. Sesshomaru stood up and stood on the other side of the bed from Myori and Myori's mother.
"That's good, Kaori. That's good," Myori said.
Myori's mother whispered into Myori's ear and Myori nodded.
"Ok, we're changing it now," Myori announced.
The blue light turned to purple.
"Still tingling, just more prickling than before," Kaori announced. Sesshomaru just stood and watched.
More whispering and then the light change to dark blue. Kaori's eyes clenched in pain and she moved her head to the side.
"Slight pain," Kaori mumbled.
"How? Precisely," Myori's mother ordered.
"Like a knife. Into me. Just in my stomach and not moving," Kaori explained.
"That's good. Good," Myori's mother said. She whispered again into her daughter's ear.
The dark blue light turned pink and Kaori relaxed.
"Soothing. Like a lotion. Like someone spreading lotion on my stomach. Sesshomaru," Kaori said. Sesshomaru was stunned she had said his name. "Sesshomaru's spreading lotion on my stomach."
She smiled and so did the other girls, but then the light change to yellow. Kaori made no movement.
"How about that?" Myori's mother asked. She got no response. "Kaori, are you still with us?"
Kaori had lost consciousness as soon as the yellow light hit her. Her entire world was a blur, just barely hearing Myori's mother's voice. She felt dizzy, though she was still lying still on the bed.
"Kaori, please respond," Myori said. "Mother, something's gone wrong."
"Perhaps not. Watch," Myori said, pointing to Kaori. Her eyes clenched and unclenched at random times.
"Is she in pain?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Not physically, but mentally, yes. We usually lose people at this stage for they see their worst fears in their head," Myori's mother told Sesshomaru. "Dear, change it."
The yellow light went brown, and Kaori seemed relaxed. Her head fell to the side and her mouth opened ajar, but Myori's mother didn't seem concerned.
"Is this normal?" Sesshomaru demanded. He hated the thought Kaori was experiencing pain.
"Perhaps. She's probably still knocked out in her mind. We'll need to wait for a while to find out if things went according to plan. Stay with her," Myori's mother said, placing at hand on Myori's shoulder. The light disappeared completely and Myori put her arms to her sides.
"If I talk, will she be able to listen?" Sesshomaru asked, brushing a strand of hair away from Kaori's eyes.
"Most likely. It might seem confusing for her, but perhaps your voice will bring her back to consciousness. We'll check on her in about an hour," Myori's mother said, leaving the room with Myori. Kaori didn't make any movements as Sesshomaru made his way next to Kaori in the bed. He pulled her into his arms, positioning her head on his chest.
"Kaori, what are you experiencing?" Sesshomaru asked out loud. Kaori's eyes clenched, but she then remained lifeless.
Kaori's world:
Everything seemed so dark. So confusing. Such a blur. Kaori couldn't even tell if she was alone or not. Or where she was. She could just see black whizzing around her. She tried her best to regain control of her vision, but the spinning never stopped.
"Kaori, what are you experiencing?" Sesshomaru could be heard saying. Kaori saw him standing in front of her, an average distance from her. She then realized nothing was spinning at all.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked, her hand reached out to him.
"I'm so sorry you had to experience this without me," he said.
"What are you talking about?" Kaori asked. Sesshomaru smiled and turned, walking away. "No, wait! I don't want to be alone!"
"You are never alone, Kaori. I'm always in your heart," Sesshomaru's voice could be echoing around her, like he said it into a microphone.
"Sesshomaru, I want you here with me. I want your arms around me. I want your tender kisses. I want your love," Kaori said, her arms wrapping around herself to substitute Sesshomaru's.
"You already have that all. You have my kisses, my arms around you whenever you need it, and my love. I'm always with you, no matter how far apart. Just look into that ring of yours and you'll see me, dear," Sesshomaru's echoing voice could be heard. Kaori smiled. He had a point.
"You're right. I always had your love, your kisses, you arms around me, you here with me. What type of fool am I acting like? Just, can you hold me now?" Kaori asked, looking up to darkness. She felt arms wrap around her and a head rest on her shoulder.
"Always," Sesshomaru said behind her. His hot breath ran down her shoulder and shook every bone in her body.
"I love you always," Kaori said.
"I love you as well," Sesshomaru said. "But now isn't the time to be dreaming, wasting precious time. I need you to wake up, to hear your voice again. Just open your eyes and see my concerned amber ones looking down at you. Just do that, for me."
"What are you talking about? My eyes are opened," Kaori said looking behind her.
Sesshomaru had disappeared. No longer did his arms wrap around her. She looked around. It was just darkness, loneliness and depression. She felt so low, so upset, she had no idea what to do. She looked around for anything that could help her, to see anyone to talk to, but it was just darkness. She couldn't even see her hands. She just wished someone was here; someone to show her the way out of this strange place. Sesshomaru had called it a dream, but dreams usually were good, would have something happy, but Kaori just felt depressed, unwanted, and rejected. Like she had for most of her life. Like no one wanted her; no one needed her; no one loved her. Well, now she had someone who loved her, Sesshomaru. She looked into her rings to find Sesshomaru holding her in his arms, stroking her cheek with one claw while his other hand held hers, slightly caressing it. He seemed concerned, worried, and somewhat scared. Kaori looked at herself. She didn't seem like she was even breathing. She was so motionless, so pale as well. What the hell had happened to make her like this? She only remembered doing that lesson thing with Myori and her mother, but then she blacked out into this place, watching Sesshomaru and Joo-yun die by Naraku's hands. She couldn't do a thing, and then the next thing she knew, she felt dizzy and confused in this black place. Sesshomaru seemed to light it up, but he was gone now, still holding her unconscious body in the actual world.
"Sesshomaru, I feel so horrible, making you worry like this. But I just need a little more time; a little more time to think. To just think. Just a little more time, Sesshomaru. A little more time," Kaori said, looking into her ring. He didn't seem to hear her, but she could hear his voice. It seemed distant and quiet, but the voice just brought her some hope. Some happiness. Some joy. He had always done that since the day they met, somewhat. The look he gave her sent chills done her spine, but in a good way. The way he had saved her when he really didn't need to. When he had helped her out, she still didn't understand why he had done that back then. Now that she thought of it, she never actually realized how nice Sesshomaru had been to her, even though she was a brat half the time. She smiled and just admired him in her ring. It wasn't much of a view, but she could still see the concern on his face. She just wanted to touch it, to comfort him, to tell him she was all right, but she didn't have the time. She didn't know how long she had to think in this place before something changed; if it would. She just looked at his face, his details in the markings on his face. They were one of his great looks. It was unique, she remembered. She had never seen markings like that on anyone else. Yes, she had seen the purple stripes on Inu no Taisho in pictures she saw and the moon on Sesshomaru's mother's forehead, but never someone who had both. They were just the right shade to stand out, but not too much. It somehow showed how pale he was, but not in an unhealthy way. He was just the right shade of skin colour. Same with his hair. One way it captured Kaori's attention was the colour, but then when she first touched it, it was silkier than most of her finest silks (though they weren't exactly the best silks). She just adored how it curled just the right amount and how it blew so elegantly in the wind. It showed how he was; an elegant person. Most of the time she could tell him, but the look he usually had before he fell in love with Kaori questioned her to the max. It was so sonic, unemotional, like it was trying to block people from reading his emotions. She remembered thinking he was trying to block her out, but he just didn't want everyone being able to read him like a book. But, over the months he stayed with Kaori, she realized how he began to smirk a lot more and even turn into a smile. She even had caught him laughing at her jokes or when she was acting like a fool, whether on purpose or accidentally. But he was never going to put her down and she knew she could depend her entire life on him. When he had asked her to marrying him, it had been an entire shock. She didn't even know he would had actually propose to her if he was taught. She never noticed how sweet he had become, going from the cold, human hater demon to her love, Sesshomaru. She smiled and looked at him again, tilting her head to the side to just see him at a different angle. But she still saw her darling Sesshomaru, worried over her because he had no clue how she was. Just like when she had disappeared out of Kaeda's village. She just wanted some time away, but she could tell as soon as she saw Sesshomaru on that bank, he was worried about her entirely. He probably had stayed up the entire night, never resting until he found her. She had felt like a total jerk at first, but then again, they had also gotten into a very personal argument and she thought some space would have been a good idea. Just thinking of it, Kaori was trying to think of a better way to leave without worrying Sesshomaru. If she told him in the hut while they were fighting or had gone out looking for him to tell him, he would probably just tell her he didn't care. If she had told a villager to tell him she had gone off with Ah-Un somewhere when he returned, she would probably never get any time alone. It made her realize that the way she had done it had been rational, even though it had worried him. But they had made up, luckily, before something disastrous happened. She smiled and closed her eyes, remembering all the times they had gotten into arguments. It hadn't been many, which could be good or bad, but enough to keep their relationship healthy. She smiled and then she saw a bright light. Opening her eyes, a door seemed to opened, a bright white light shining through. Kaori stood and walked towards it, waiting for the time she could feel his skin or hair again and to have the warmth, comfort and strength when she was around him physically. She smiled widely. This time alone to think had been good for her. It made her think so much of how much she loved Sesshomaru, more then just as a husband or lover. But more as her best friend.