Disclaimer: What is this? The thirteenth time I've had to tell you I don't own the cute little puppy person? I don't own Inuyasha! Now read my menacing words!
Author's note before reading: I'm trying to be true to the story here, and it's not exactly my cup of tea, but Takahashi Rumiko wrote out Sesshomaru to be in love with Kagura. It's true! If you get far enough into the manga or series (jap with eng subtitles), you'll see it for yourself, and while it does give me the creeps, my first priority is to not betray Takahashi-san's story.
Chapter 13 A Love in Shadow and Wind
"Sesshomaru, I wanted to warn you of something," the yasha greeted as Kaira left the two alone. Sesshomaru glanced around and walked off.
"Not here, follow me," he instructed. The cloaked demoness obeyed. The two walked swiftly outside of the castle, past the overgrown garden, and into small quarters enclosed inside of a barrier. Within the smallish building was very little. A fire pit and kettle, a sake set and bottles... it wasn't much at all, but for these two...
The yasha dropped her hood and hugged Sesshomaru around the neck. The inu-demon closed his eyes, encircling her waste with his right arm. Most of his left arm had regenerated, but his left hand was still lacking, and thus he did not use this arm still. Though, it would not appear the yasha in his arms cared. She let out a faint sigh and pulled back.
"Sesshomaru," she voiced in a concerned matter. "I must tell you this now-"
"Where have you been all this time?" Sesshomaru interrupted smoothly. "I was wondering if I, too, threatened your freedom." Kagura averted her eyes.
"Never," she assured. "It is hard to get by Naraku. When he was dead...it was easy to come and go, but since his resurrection..."
"It is unimportant," Sesshomaru interrupted once more. "What is your concern?"
"Naraku plans on using Kagome to create something much like the Shikon no tama," Kagura said in a hushed voice. "But there's worse news. It seems that Kagome is with child for him."
"So a quarter demon child is to be born for Naraku?" he paused. "What danger is there in that?"
"It is no quarter-demon child," Kagura informed. "He expelled Onigumo just before the child was conceived." She shook her head and looked Sesshomaru full in the eyes. "You and I should know better than anyone how dangerous a half-breed can be."
"Even so," Sesshomaru began, "how would Kagome be able to make a sacred gem without being pure?"
"I overheard something about the Shikon's twin, a jewel born of complete darkness." Sesshomaru looked upon her blankly. "There must be something you can do to stop it, Sesshomaru." He puzzled silently.
"I'll have Kai look into this," he said with a tinge of resent. "He seems to know a bit too much about enchanted artifacts."
"Can you trust him?"
"Kai would never do anything to cross me," Sesshomaru stated matter-of-factly. Kagura pulled her cloak up once more.
"I should depart before I am missed," Kagura said lowly. As she turned away, Sesshomaru caught her by the shoulder and pulled her tightly against him. Kagura's eyes went soft and they kissed.
...At Naraku's Castle...
Kagome fell to her knees in her chamber from fatigue. At that moment, Naraku rushed in, kneeling at her side to help her up. She leaned against the cradle of his arm.
"My lord, please," she thought, "say what he told me wasn't true." She looked to Naraku's eyes, an unknown warmth burned deep inside of them. "Which side of the story is fact? Do you love me?"
"Kagome," Naraku began as the tired girl collapsed against his chest. "I wish I could make this easier for you."
"You can, Naraku-sama, just say that-"
"I love you, my Kagome," he said, interrupting her trailing thoughts. "I want it to be your choice to stay here." He tilted Kagome's chin upward with his index finger. "You are my prisoner no longer."
"Naraku-sama, I..." Kagome trailed. "...you are releasing me?" Kagome felt faint again, and fell back against Naraku's chest. Her liege pulled his arms around her waist and rested his forehead against the top of her hair.
"If it is what you desire, my Kagome," he cooed. Kagome felt a burning within the depths of her heart and stomach, it was a painful feeling however relieving. She began to cry. "No, my love, this is no place to shed your tears." She pulled back, keeping her hands on his shoulders. He was smiling very gently at her.
"I can't go, my lord," she sniffled. Naraku ran a hand along her cheek, catching tears on the backs of his fingers. "This is my place." She went to lay her head against his chest again, but he bent a little to stop her. Her eyes caught his, and she was still. Naraku stood straighter then, and her eyes followed his.
"I had hoped," he said leaning closer to her, his lips barely grazing her own, "you would make that decision." Kagome's breath caught as his lips pressed against hers. No matter how many times she had experienced it, Naraku's kisses were always catching her off guard with their odd mix of softness and firmness, gentleness and violence. This kiss -above all -made her heart jump twice. There was something entangled within it. Something that replaced the normal emotion underlying the meaning. For the first time, as Naraku held her flat against him, she felt his heart jump as well.
...In The Wilderness...
"Get down, runt!" Yoshi whispered harshly, jerking Shippo under the cover of the bush. Shippo began to object, but Yoshi shushed him, holding a hand against the demon's mouth. "This isn't right. Naraku wouldn't live in a place like this." Shippo shoved Yoshi's hand of his face and peeked through the leaves at the strangely built castle.
"No, definitely not his taste," Shippo surmised. Suddenly, Shippo's eyes went wide and he glared at Yoshi. "You mean we've been following the wrong-"
"Shh!" Yoshi demanded, cupping his hand in front of Shippo's mouth once more. "Someone's coming this way," he whispered. A tall, slender figure with long, braided hair emerged from the castle. His graceful stride gave off an heir of nobility, but his garments said otherwise. He was a servant, and he was coming directly toward them. "Don't move," Yoshi instructed, keeping his hand where it was.
Kai stopped a few meters from the brush where the two other youkai hid. Yoshi was casting a sort of masking spell that kept their scent from slipping into the air.
"Seizaburou!" Kai called in almost a whisper. "Seizaburou!" He looked about, but didn't seem to see the girl he was calling. Yoshi did. The neko-yasha crept behind Kai, flowers laden in her hair, and threw her arms about his neck. Kai laughed as he spun her in front of him, drawing her closely as their eyes met into a warm embrace. "Seizaburou," he paused, sighing in the last few syllables, his eyes smiled, "I have missed you so." She smiled upon him, her elf-like ears perking to his words.
"Kai-sama," she laughed. "How much longer will my lord continue with this game?" Kai grinned and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Great," Yoshi thought, "guess I'm going to have to sit through a show now..."
"I'm serious, Kai-sama."
"Don't call me that, Seizaburou," he requested lowly. "You know I don't like when you're serious about it."
"What happened to the great Kai, lord of the southern lands?" she whispered.
"He's still here," Kai answered. He smiled then, very softly. "And for you, Seizaburou, he will remain." His lips were suddenly close to hers, he let out a breath and kissed her. Seizaborou, his love with the trailing black hair and the enchanting laughter...
"Kai-chan, my Kai," she smiled as they pulled a short distance away. She leaned in and kissed him again, allowing her fingers to slide against the binding of his hair. She pulled the working loose, felt the silken strands slide against the length of her arm... "No kingdom will outweigh your heart." Kai smiled down at her.
"Let's go now, Seizaburou," he breathed, "before I am seen with you. My cousin waits for us." He pulled out of the embrace, but still held her right hand fondly. "It will be safer for us there." The two neko approached the bush where Shippo and Yoshi hid. Yoshi shoved Shippo to the ground and ducked. The two leopards passed by without noticing the scuffle, content with each-other's company.
...Kohaku's Journey...
"Is this the place?" Kohaku thought aloud as he gazed at the great stone structure. "There's something not right about it." He hid behind a tree as someone walked out into the courtyard. Her long black hair caught in the wind, and Kohaku recognized her. "Could it be..." Kohaku's mouth curved into a perfectly sad figure. "San...go..." he whispered, tears streaking down his face. Suddenly his memory rushed back to him as it often did. The memories that were stolen from him by Naraku...one by one they returned. "Is this a dream? Are you real?"
Shippo and Yoshi spotted the boy from their own hiding place. Shippo nudged Yoshi.
"That's Kohaku," he informed. Yoshi's eyes narrowed on the youth.
"Kohaku..." he repeated. "I've heard that name before." They narrowed slightly more. "Yes," he affirmed, his eyes widening a bit, "one of Naraku's men." Kohaku moved from his hiding place, his unconscious thoughts directing him toward his sister.
"Sango," he whispered to himself, "I'm here." Yoshi saw the boy stir.
"He's going to attack her," he surmised, shifting to a pounce. Shippo noticed too late.
"Yoshi! Don't!" he shouted seconds too late. Yoshi intercepted Kohaku, striking him to the ground. In the courtyard, Sango heard the rambling and shot her attention in that direction. She didn't know who the victim was, but she knew he was human. She sprang toward it, hurling her hiraikotsu forward at the demon attacker. It struck Yoshi violently in the ribs, and the hell demon hit the earth with a low thud. Sango reached the boy in a few more strides.
"Are you," she paused with a gasp, "alright?" She fell to her knees at his side. "Kohaku?" The boy looked up at her.
"Sango," he said, tears in his eyes, "I'm so sorry. Please," he began softly, then shouted, "please won't you kill me!" Sango started, tears pouring from her own eyes.
"Kohaku," she cried for a moment. She stifled her tears and looked to Yoshi. "You monster! I'll kill you!" Unsheathing her blade, she pounced at him, but Shippo intervened.
"Sango, stop!" he shouted, jumping a far distance to position himself between Sango and Yoshi. Her blade came a hairline short of Shippo's nose.
"Shippo?" she asked, barely able to recognize his now adult body. "Just why are you protecting him? You saw him attack my brother!" Yoshi stood.
"Brother?" he asked. "So you work for Naraku, too!" he accused. Sango's eyes widened. "Is this where he is!"
"Calm yourself, Yoshi," Shippo advised. Yoshi pushed him aside, stepping closer to Sango.
"Outa my way, runt!" he demanded. He glared at Sango. "Answer me, wretch!" Sango sheathed her blade.
"No and no," she allowed. "Naraku is my enemy," she turned and bent by Kohaku, "and my brother was his prisoner." Yoshi looked down at the siblings with no pity.
"Then he can take me to Naraku," he told more than figured. Sango looked down to her brother, then back up to Yoshi.
"I don't trust you!" she shouted. Yoshi's eyes narrowed.
"Ah, but you trust him?" he asked. "Brother of yours, he may be, but he murdered you twice," he paused, sizing up Sango's wide-eyed reaction, "in cold blood." Sango grimaced.
"Shut-"
"What makes you think he won't do it again?" he questioned. "What makes you think he can break Naraku's grip?" he shouted. Sango gritted her teeth. "Just let him lead me to Naraku's castle."
Author's Note: That was Chapter 13! Kai has a lover! Oh my! How exciting! Who is she! What did she mean by lord of the south lands! Why am I speaking in exclamations! Leave your reviews! Good-Bye! I love you all! SERIOUSLY!