Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.
Chapter Thirteen: Honor, Love, and Duty
The two spent many hours in the woods merely holding or kissing one another. As the sun finally began to descend behind the trees, Sesshomaru and Megami walked back to the compound. As they drew steadily nearer the house Megami's steps slowed. "What is it, Megami?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I'm just a little nervous about what the others may say. We have been gone all day."
"Don't worry about it," he reassured her and gently took her hand.
She smiled while squeezing his hand slightly, "Why, my lord, you're acting as young and carefree as I usually do."
He chuckled. "You're right. I haven't misbehaved so much since I was younger than you."
"Now I just cannot picture that."
They turned to each other and Sesshomaru bent to kiss her again when a scream reached their ears.
"YOUNG LADY!"
Only it wasn't Totosai, Senkotsuke, or even Kintotsuke. It was by far worse … It was Jinkaru. Megami almost leaped out of her skin as she stuttered, "F-father!"
Jinkaru was red in the face with rage. He pointed a rigid finger at the house, "Inside! Both of you! NOW!" The two, despite the fact of being grown, ran at full speed rather than invoke his wrath further. They flew into the house with Jinkaru hot on their heels. "Go into the living room and wait for me!"
Megami grabbed Sesshomaru by the hand and pulled him into the living room behind her. She immediately plopped onto the sofa directing Sesshomaru beside her. He muttered to Megami, "What is he going to do?"
"I don't know! I haven't seen him this furious or heard him yell like that since Senkotsuke and I went out as our selves for Halloween two years ago!"
But they didn't have long to wait, for Jinkaru and Totosai marched in moments later. Jinkaru's aura seemed to crackle with the potency of his anger. "Young woman, I cannot believe how utterly irresponsible you have behaved today! And you!" He rounded on Sesshomaru, "You have compromised my daughter's honor! I don't care if you are the son of Lord Inutaisho. If you have violated my daughter, so help me Kami I will –"
Megami interrupted, "But Father, he has –"
And she was cut off in turn. "Megami, don't interrupt me! Go to your room!"
She stood with her fists clenched, "I'm not a child!"
Sesshomaru sensed danger from both parties and placed a hand on Megami's fist. "Megami, just go," he said calmly, "Please let me handle this."
She took a deep breath. "All right." She stormed towards the doorway. As Megami reached the door, she paused just long enough to release some of her rage by slamming her fist through the wall.
Once she was down the hall Totosai spoke. "Sesshomaru, I know that once upon a time you had a mighty short fuse on that tremendous temper of yours. I am not sure if it's intact, but please hear us out. We are truly concerned for Megami."
Sesshomaru nodded and Jinkaru continued. "First and foremost, did you," he stopped to think of a word that would not make him want to retch, "deflower my daughter?"
"No, sir. Surely you would have smelled it if I had."
Jinkaru relaxed considerably. "Not with how thick the scent of fear was upon her. And your scents are all over each other. What did you do to her?"
Sesshomaru slouched in his seat. Oh dear Kami. I never thought that this Sesshomaru would be receiving a lecture about my actions with a woman … "I held her."
"And?"
"Kissed her."
"And?" Jinkaru continued in a deadly tone.
"That's all."
"That's all?"
"Yes, sir," Sesshomaru affirmed.
Jinkaru rubbed his chin, "You and my daughter were alone in the woods all day and all you did was hold and kiss her?"
"Yes."
Jinkaru now began to massage his temples. "I believe you." He began to pace, and as he did he spoke in a grievous tone, "Sesshomaru, you are our ally. Your strength is greatly needed and appreciated to help this world be rid of the virus that is Naraku. But, your reputation precedes you. Your hatred and contempt of humans and half-breeds is infamous. With that said can you see why I am concerned for my daughter?"
Sesshomaru put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. "Yes."
Jinkaru stopped pacing and stood in front of Sesshomaru. "Can you give me any reason why I shouldn't forbid you from touching Megami ever again? Sesshomaru, she is my only daughter, and if you break her heart I'll kill you or die trying. Can you prove to me that you aren't going to use her for your whore and then leave her heartbroken in the dirt?"
Sesshomaru thought for a moment and he saw Rin and Kagome in his mind's eye. He remembered the devastation of Rin's death and his duty to protect Kagome, who carried the last of his bloodline. "Yes Jinkaru, I can. Totosai may recall a small girl who traveled in my company."
The old demon nodded. "Yes. Young Rin."
"Yes, Rin. I watched over her and protected her for nearly three years until that bastard Naraku murdered her before my very eyes! When I lost that girl I wanted to die. I have never admitted this aloud before but I loved Rin as if she were my child." Totosai had almost fainted from this admission, but Sesshomaru continued. "To you two this has lasted over five hundred years, but the pain is still fresh in my heart. I thank Megami everyday for the portrait of Rin that she drew. And if I didn't love Rin do you think I would carry this around?" Sesshomaru reached into the back pocket of his jeans and produced a folded up piece of paper. He unfolded it to reveal a crayon drawing of himself, Rin, and Jaken. "I have carried this ever since she gave it to me. Rin gave it to me for good luck the night before she died. Everyday I have sworn to avenge her, and I regret never telling Rin just how much I loved her. Ever since she died I haven't been the same. Now I have Kagome to protect. She carries my nephew. Despite the animosity between myself and InuYasha, I cannot allow something to happen to his mate or his son." Jinkaru and Totosai were dumbstruck. "Are you satisfied, Jinkaru? I do not think of your children, especially Megami, as worthless half-breeds. We are some of the last inu youkai."
"Indeed Sesshomaru, we are the last."
"What?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Sesshomaru, with the exception of my mother, Megami is the last female dog demon."
It was Lord Sesshomaru's turn to sit speechless.
"Didn't she tell you?" Totosai wheezed.
He regained his voice, "She told me our numbers were few but …"
Jinkaru sighed, "My daughter is a kind soul. She probably did not want you to feel more isolated and alone than you already felt. Don't be angry with her."
"I'm not."
"You have convinced me that you will not toy with my daughter. Can you forgive a concerned father for overreacting?"
Sesshomaru waved his hand. "It's fine Jinkaru. All is forgiven."
"Then, you have my blessing to pursue Megami … not that she thinks that I need to give my blessing but I'll sleep soundly knowing your intentions."
Totosai rose. "Well son, let's get back to the forge. We should be able to finish Sango's hiraikotsu by morning. Sesshomaru, go calm the little firecracker down while I tell Kintotsuke to repair this hole in the wall." Totosai stalked off, laughing evilly under his feeble breath.
All three men vacated the room and parted ways for the evening. Sesshomaru walked to Megami's room. On his way he passed the game room. The Game Room was Megami and Senkotsuke's main play area. The room had been outfitted with a surround sound system, 62" Plasma TV, bean bags, banana chairs, and it was all accompanied by every video game console known to man. (Can you say "Slacker's Dream"?) Sesshomaru peeked in the door to see if Megami had decided to blow off some steam on one of her numerous games. Instead of finding Megami, he dropped in on Senkotsuke and Sango. Senkotsuke lounged in a bean bag lazily pressing buttons on a game controller while Sango was seated in a banana chair furiously stomped her buttons trying to keep up. "You're not even letting me get a hit in!" Sango shouted at Senkotsuke.
"You know as well as I do Sango, that in a fight your opponent will not stand back and let you make a move," Sesshomaru interjected.
Sango and Senkotsuke turned to the door as they paused the game. "So," Senkotsuke asked, "How badly did my father flip out on you two?"
Sesshomaru chuckled. "He laid into us fairly well. Megami put her fist through the living room wall when your father sent her to her room."
Sango whistled and Senkotsuke laughed, "That's Megami. What did he say to you?"
"The usual fatherly machination: Hurt my daughter and I'll gut you alive."
Sango chimed in, "And you said?"
"That I wouldn't hurt Megami for the world."
Senkotsuke rejoined the conversation, "Well I'll call Tensuke in the morning."
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked.
"He called when Father was jumping out of his skin. When he was told about the situation he said, oh let me remember how it went, 'if he so much as touches my baby sister I'll tear his arm from his body and beat him to death with it.'"
Sesshomaru nodded, "Nice touch, but I imagine I'd be the same way if I had a sister. By the way, which arm? Mine or my brother's?"
Senkotsuke laughed, "He didn't specify."
"Well, have fun. I'm under orders to calm your sister down."
"Don't calm her down too hard," Senkotsuke winked.
Sesshomaru closed the door and muttered, "Hentai," before continuing to Megami's room. Within five feet of her door he could hear her growling, stomping, and prowling. I guess redheads do have tempers … He knocked on her door, not wanting to barge in with her in such a temper.
The door flew open and Megami barked, "What!" She instantly relaxed once she saw who begged entrance. "Oh," she smiled gently, "Come in, please." Sesshomaru crossed the threshold and Megami closed the door. "So, what did my father say?" she asked with anxiety heavy in her voice.
Sesshomaru reached for her hand and pulled her to him slowly. "He said," Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her and kissed the crown of her head, "That all is well and," he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "he will annihilate me if I break his little girl's heart."
Megami buried her face into his chest and her muffled voice reached his pointed ears, "I can't believe he did that."
Sesshomaru smoothed her hair reverently, "It's all right. I'm glad he confronted me. Now he has no reason to be distrusting of me. I didn't want him to wonder if I would merely toy with you. I reassured your father that my intentions with you were nothing but honorable."
Megami peeked up at Sesshomaru, and from the look of her eyes he knew she was smiling. He returned the smile for he knew it would please her. "How are you feeling then?" she asked.
"Relieved and," he looked down at himself, "honestly a bit filthy from romping about in the woods today."
"Filthy, huh?" Megami had an ornery gleam in her eye. "Well, my lord," she said as she took his hand, "Come right this way." She led him across her room towards a familiar door.
Sesshomaru arched a brow at Megami when he noticed that he was being lead to her private bath. I may be a demon, but I am a man … Megami ushered him into her bathroom and locked the door. She then turned and walked towards the extra-large jetted bathtub swinging her hips and swishing her tail. Megami flipped the switch to plug the drain and turned on the hot water. Sesshomaru watched Megami's actions as primal urges that he had not allowed himself to feel for centuries flooded his system. He licked his bottom lip as he imagined her bare body on his bed with her hair fanned out behind her. Sesshomaru pulled up his hoodie and t-shirt. He removed both in one swift motion while Megami was testing the temperature of the running water. She straightened and turned to Sesshomaru. Megami ran her eyes over his exposed torso with a slow, pleased, languid movement. "Are you ready for your bath, my lord?" she winked.
"Will you be joining me, my lady?"
Megami sashayed her way to him then used her index and middle fingers to walk a path from his navel to his lips. "My lord, while your pheromones are driving me absolutely wild, I am not throwing this dog a bone just yet. But I will treat you to a nice, hot bath accompanied by me wearing only skimpy panties."
He looked down at her, lust burning in his eyes and a scream of pent-up frustration begging to be let loose, "You're a downright tease, you know."
"Yes, but fair is fair."
"What do you mean?"
"You've already seen me naked. Now it's my turn."
Sesshomaru smiled and unbuttoned his jeans.
Sango turned to better face Senkotsuke, "You seem really calm in comparison to your brothers when it has come to Megami and Sesshomaru."
"Miss Sango, I have given the matter a great deal of thought," he spoke while turning to face her as well, "First of all I know how she feels when the others treat her as if she's still a child. As the two youngest, the two oldest treat us like this all the time because Mother and Father were always shouting 'take care of the little ones.' She is a big girl and can take care of herself." He set down his controller and continued in his explanation, "Don't get me wrong. If anyone were to harm her, or try to, I'd be right along with my father and brothers to tear them apart. But Megami has to run her own life. Secondly, I accepted the fact that eventually she would seek a mate many years ago. That is something the other three haven't come to accept as a reality. Would I rather have some lame-ass mate my sister, or grant my blessing and support to Lord Sesshomaru? I'd rather have him join my family, thank you very much!"
"You know if I had not seen his agony after Rin died, I would have never expected this to happen. He hasn't been the same demon since she died."
"Things like that do change a person, but not always for the better."
"What do you mean?"
"Kintotsuke is a prime example. He became very sneaky and very conniving after our mother died. Mind you we were all in our teens and twenties when she died, but he has never been the same since. He used to be very playful and relaxed; Tensuke, too. When Mother passed away Tensuke became uptight and responsible, and Kintotsuke became uptight and an asshole."
Sango looked at Senkotsuke. "How did you and Megami react?"
"Isn't that obvious? We've rebelled ever since and been the troublemakers."
Sango's aura dimmed as she sighed, "I've never had that chance. Whenever someone I loved has died, I have only had time to seek revenge. I cannot fully grieve or find an end to it until Naraku is dead. I cannot grieve for Father, Kohaku, my village, or even Mi – Miroku." Before she could stop herself, she was in tears.
Senkotsuke reached over and pulled Sango into his lap and hugged her tightly for he could not bear to see her cry. Tears ran down her cheeks and Senkotsuke whispered, "I'm sorry, Sango. I'm sorry for what has happened to you. It makes me hate Naraku even more to see that he tried to destroy something as beautiful and precious as you. But I will help you. I will be here for you as long as you need me. I swear to you, Sango, I will never turn my back on you unless you don't want me." Sango brought her head up, coming face-to-face to Senkotsuke. Their eyes locked, rich brown and amber gold, until Senkotsuke could no longer fight his instincts and he kissed her ever so tenderly. Sango relaxed in his embrace and reached her hand towards his jaw. Suddenly she stiffened, and her hand froze in midair. Senkotsuke pulled away and released Sango from his arms. Sango stood, covering her mouth, and backed away slowly.
"Forgive me," Senkotsuke choked in a pained voice.
She was crying again and mumbled, "I'm sorry," before fleeing the room.
Megami sat on the tiled floor beside the tub and ran a wide-toothed comb through Sesshomaru's hair. Sesshomaru leaned his head back over the edge of the bath as he stretched his legs out in the enormous pool of water. Megami began to hum a tune while carefully combing the tangles from his wet hair. Sesshomaru stretched his arms out along the edge of the bath and relaxed while listening to Megami's melody. He closed his eyes and felt his mind slipping through memories he thought were long forgotten. He saw himself when he was a much younger demon, no older than three, and he sat on the floor clutching a bruised shin while crying. He had been misbehaving and hurt himself. The young Sesshomaru heard a gentle voice as loving hands lifted him up. "Oh, I warned you about running on the stairs, son." The voice was soft, not chastising. Little Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around the neck of a tall, elegant, white-haired demoness. "It hurts, Momma. Sing to me," he half pouted, half demanded. The lady smiled indulgently at her son and began to sing a tune that matched Megami's melody. Sesshomaru smiled softly to himself and Megami saw it.
She stopped humming to ask, "What's so amusing?"
"That lullaby you were humming."
"You recognized that? I thought it was just something Grandmother made up to calm us down."
"No." He swished his feet in the water. "It is a very old lullaby. My mother used to sing it to me."
"I've never heard you speak of your mother."
Sesshomaru let out a deep breath. "Not many have."
Megami finished combing his hair and stood up. She put one foot into the water and left one foot out as she straddled the edge of the tub. She then reached for the soap and loofah sponge. Sesshomaru watched her movements as she soaped up the rough sponge. "What was she like?" Megami asked.
Sesshomaru snapped out of his daze. "Who?"
"Your mother." She began scrubbing his arm gently.
"Oh. I don't remember her much. She died when I was almost six."
"I'm sorry." Megami worked her way up his arm with the sponge as she spoke, "Well would you tell me what you can remember about her, if it's not too much to ask."
"She was absolutely regal, graceful, and loving. One thing I remember most of all is that she would sing to me. Her voice was beautiful."
Megami stood up, walked through the water to his other side, and once again straddled the side of the bath. While she was applying more soap to the sponge, Sesshomaru asked, "Do you remember your mother?"
Megami smiled softly. "Yes," she said as she began to wash his other arm, "She was beautiful, funny, and the greatest cook in the world."
"What happened to her?"
"We really don't know. One winter she just fell ill. She became steadily worse and worse until her body just finally gave out." Megami sighed and went on with her task. Sesshomaru watched her as she washed his chest. She scrubbed with care, as if she were trying to memorize every contour of his body.
"Megami?"
"Hmm?" she grunted, never halting in her task.
"Why didn't you tell me you were the last female of the inu youkai?"
This caught her attention. She looked him in the eye and saw that he was not angry. "Who told you?" Megami asked.
"Your father let it slip during our conversation."
"I see." Megami took a few breaths while she chose the proper way to voice her reasoning. "I didn't want you to feel isolated or obligated."
"Why would I feel obligated?"
"I don't know. I just didn't want to influence your choice. Sesshomaru, if you wanted me, I wanted you to want me, not the last dog demon bitch. That's why I kept my mouth shut."
"Megami, I do want you."
She sighed and went back to washing him. "I know that now," Megami said as she began to scrub his stomach. "I just didn't want some sense of duty to influence you to only want me for a brood mare."
"Do you not want children?"
"Of course I want children!" She sounded somewhat frazzled, as if this scenario had played out in her mind a thousand times, "But I am not bringing a child into a world that is infected with Naraku's deceit and treachery! I won't have it. I want to at least protect them from that."
"Megami," Sesshomaru said tenderly as he turned to her. He removed the sponge from her hand and tossed it aside. He gently laid his hands on her shoulders. "I can see that this subject has plagued you."
"You have no idea," she groaned.
Sesshomaru quickly rinsed himself off. Once the soap had been cleared away, he stood up. Megami looked somewhat confused at his actions. "What are you doing?" Sesshomaru grabbed a towel from the hanger and wrapped it around his waist. Without a word he picked Megami up bridal-style and carried her into her bedroom. "Sesshomaru, what are you doing?"
"I want to talk to you, and I think I'm done with my bath," he stated calmly as he strode to her bed. Sesshomaru laid Megami down on her bed and he crawled onto the bed next to her with the towel still clinging to his hips. He pulled her close to his side, cradling her to him, and said, "Now, tell me more about this. I want to hear all your thoughts on how you feared I would only want you for a 'brood mare'."
Megami went on a long rant about the nature of most men to put honor and duty before love and that she didn't want to go through that with him. "I was so frightened when I first saw you, knowing that I was the last. As time went on I became attracted to you, and the fear grew that you would only want me for breeding."
"This is completely unlike you, Megami."
"What are you talking about?"
"You are usually so confident. It's not like you to abuse yourself." He held her close as he reassured her, "Don't worry about that anymore. Put it out of your mind, and never think of it again. I am not seeking a woman to only bear me children. I want a fighter. I want a lover. I want someone who will back talk me once in a while, and I definitely know that you will do that. Perhaps someone who will even throw a vase at my head once in a while."
Megami laughed.
"Come on, Megami," he sighed, "Think you're up for it?"
She looked up at him, "We'll see, my lord. We shall see."
