Authors Notes: Wow, I expected a lot of flames for this story and how I'm portraying Inu Yasha. It's awesome that I haven't really gotten any. (and I prolly just signed my death warrant with that one eh?)
Well, there's not much to be said about this chappy. Lemme think…Oh, I totally forgot, the link for the Shinto wedding information is going to be posted on my profile as soon as I post this chappy. I tried emailing it and it said your email didn't work. Please forgive me!
And something else, it will be awhile before the Sess/Kag stuff really gets going. I'm trying to make this a somewhat realistic fic(as realistic as demon lords get anyway) so please forgive me, but it'll happen. I'm just taking time on getting their relationship to that level. And as I always, always, always say, it only gets worse before it gets better.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Falls On Me
Chapter 2: Am I really That Strong?
Kagome woke to the two children stretching and yawning against her as they too woke up.
"Good morning you two," She half yawned as she hugged them both.
"Good morning!" They chorused. Kagome smiled and stood, then stretched some more. Within seconds Anei had entered and looked at her rumpled form in amusement.
"My Lady, last night I transferred some of your things to this room," He told her, not mentioning the fact eh had actually transferred everything. "Would you like me to take the children outside in the hall?"
"First off, my name is Kagome," She giggled. "Second, yes please, and thank you. I know it probably wasn't easy doing all that last night," She said.
"It is my duty my lady," He replied as he ushered the children out of the room.
For the first time in months Kagome carefully dressed herself and took delight in the act, once again acting like a teenage girl. She picked out a beautiful kimono that was made of beautiful white silk. Koi created a beautiful effect on the hem as it seemed they were swimming up the kimono. She had no hope of tying the obi, so she opted instead to tie it in a knot like a belt. Finally she pulled her hair into a low pony tail and then opened the door, smiling as she saw Anei doing a sort of magic trick to amuse the two children. When he saw her he straightened up and bowed.
"The children will spend the day with me," Kagome informed him. He nodded once and Kagome led the way to the kitchen, Shippou and Rin recapping the magic trick she had missed as Anei silently followed them.
When Kagome stepped into the kitchen Airon immediately smiled at her, then gasped in delight as Rin and Shippou appeared, smiling shyly.
"And who are these cute little ones?" Airon asked as she smiled gently down at the children.
"This is Rin and my son Shippou," Kagome responded.
"A cuter pair I never did see. I'm sure I have some shu cream left around here somewhere. Would you two like to help me find them?" She asked. Shippou and Rin nodded eagerly and the chef looked in random containers before she pulled two of the sweet rolls out with an "Aha!" Rin and Shippou sat in a corner nibbling on the custard filled treat as Kagome and the cook began to talk.
"I've gotten the accounts and records of our food stores from Lord Sesshoumaru, as well as the book that has who's stayed here and for what event and such. They're over there," Airon said, pointing to a nearby table that had several books and ledgers stacked on it.
"I hope you've got a head for numbers," The cook added. Kagome nodded and Airon continued.
"So you're not overwhelmed I thought we'd focus on the menu for this week."
"That's fine. I've been thinking about showing you a few new recipes from my land. Your cooking is wonderful, but I miss some of the foods from my home," Kagome told her.
"Well, aiji, if you can show me I can make it," Airon responded. So Kagome began to explain hamburgers to the woman.
A few hours later Kagome saw a kitsune servant rush in and look around everywhere before grabbing a cup and tray, then dashed for a chest and opened it, reading the labels on the bottles within carefully.
"What's going on Mako?" Airon asked as the kitsune searched the bottles.
"Inu Yasha has woken up and is demanding sweet sake!" Mako replied breathlessly as she grabbed a bottle of sake from the chest and quickly rushed out after closing it.
Kagome sighed. It had been a long time since Inu Yasha had gone a full day sober, and she blamed herself. After all, she hadn't gotten pregnant.
"Now none of that aiji," Airon said in a stern tone as she began to prepare some beef patties. "I hear you got a separate set of rooms last night. About time too. The servants were whispering about the blood every morning. It's not natural," Airon finished. Kagome blushed. Inu Yasha was often rough in his passion and easily hurt her. He used to apologize. Then he had started drinking.
"If that hanyou ever hurts you again you come to me, got that aiji?" Airon asked. Kagome nodded dumbly. She didn't know what she had done to be so accepted by the cook, but whatever it was, she was thankful to have a friend again.
"Oh, also in a few more days two of my friends are coming with the cat demon Kirara.," Kagome told Airon.
"Well that's good. Do you know how long they'll be staying?" Airon asked.
"I hadn't thought to ask them. They'll be here in six days. I suppose they may stay for a week, possibly more," Kagome said. "Sango was rather abrupt in her letter. I think she's angry I haven't seen her since the wedding," Kagome whispered. Airon nodded her head and hugged Kagome quickly.
"It's okay now. And besides, you get to see her now any time you want. You can take Ah Un if you asked Sesshoumaru, I'm sure. He's really a kind Lord," Airon said as she went back to making the beef patties.
"I used to think he was a bad guy, but he's always been civil to me. And yesterday he helped me," Kagome said thoughtfully.
"Oh he can be quite the closemouthed man, and very distant. He's been that way for a long time. But he's really very kind beneath that. He gave my niece a place here to work and to eat and sleep when her husband died and she was pregnant, and he didn't give her hard work either. When her time came he even had a doctor here for her," Airon confided.
Kagome absorbed the information. She had always viewed Sesshoumaru as being the cold hearted aristocrat, but little by little she was finding out things that just didn't fit the image she had created of him in her mind.
"Now, you said that it is best to cook these thoroughly, but is it okay to leave some pink in it, some of the youkai prefer some blood in their meat," Airon said interrupting her thoughts.
That night Inu Yasha sat at the dinner table, swaying even though he was sitting. Kagome tried to ignore his presence and spoke with Sesshoumaru about the hamburgers. Rin and Shippou both adored the meat patty on the bread. Kagome had put teriyaki sauce on the burgers and some onions, and even Sesshoumaru liked it(though he did say it was a bit over cooked). Kagome and the youkai lord listened to the innocent chatter of the children as they ate. Sesshoumaru also mentioned at one point he could eat this food easily while doing his own work.
"Sesshoumaru, I need to use a guest room for Miroku and Sango, but I don't know where those are at," Kagome began.
"In the east hall," He told her. For a moment Kagome was surprised. The room she had shared with Inu Yasha was in the east hall.
"Have Anei give you a tour of the castle tomorrow. How was your day? Airon came to give me lunch herself today and was gushing about how great it was to have you in the kitchens," Sesshoumaru told her. Kagome blushed.
"What? My wife was in the kitchens? Like some common kahi?" Inu Yasha snarled. "You will not go into the kitchens again Kagome," He commanded.
"Inu Yasha, I like going into the kitchens. I taught Airon the recipe for the food you're eating now," Kagome told him, her voice quavering. Since he had first mated with her she had not gainsaid his commands.
"What? Shut up wench," Inu Yasha snarled in a low voice.
"Inu Yasha, I can't quit what I'm doing, and I won't," Kagome said in a strong voice. Inu Yasha snarled and jumped across the table at her. Kagome closed her eyes and shielded herself from him using her arms.
She heard a hard thud and the cracking of bamboo. Reluctantly she opened her eyes and saw Inu Yasha pinned to the floor of the hall by Anei. The cat youkai had his claws extended and Kagome saw pinpricks of blood appear where the youkai's claws dug into the hanyou's skin.
"Do not ever think to hurt the Lady Kagome," Anei said in a cold voice. Inu Yasha growled and tried to throw Anei off of him, and failed. Anei merely dug his claws in a little deeper.
"Do not test me hanyou, at the rate it is going I will have your jugular in my hands. And I will not regret making the Lady a widow," Anei said in the same cold tone.
Inu Yasha stopped struggling after a time and Anei moved off of him. When the hanyou stood, he merely looked at Kagome with angry golden orbs.
"Find somewhere else to sleep from now on wench," He said as he stalked from the room.
Kagome sighed in relief. Shippou moved to sit in her lap and she hugged him to her tightly.
"Mama, does this mean you and Inu Yasha won't be married anymore?" The young kitsune asked.
"No, I'm still married to him," She sighed.
"He won't my papa though. He'll never be my papa," Shippou sniffled as he buried his head in Kagome's embrace.
"I know aisoku, I know," Kagome whispered sadly. She had wanted Shippou to have a real family again. But it seemed he never would. She just hoped that she would be enough for him.
That night Kagome was walked to her room with Anei as an escort and guard. Shippou and Rin had once again asked to sleep in her room. Once again they were allowed.
"Anei, thank you for tonight and last night. I know it's not pleasant to deal with Inu Yasha," Kagome sighed when they reached her door. Anei merely smiled down at her kindly. He was after all, as tall as Sesshoumaru.
"My La-" He began.
"Kagome," She interrupted.
"Kagome," He began again, "Since you came here, the servants saw many changes. At first you were happy and energetic. Soon after your wedding you became very sad and shut yourself away from people. It was not hard to connect his abuse of you and your behavior. You don't need to fear him, for he is as bad as his father is, and does not deserve to married to so kind a woman. Airon has not stopped talking about you and how much you remind her of Lady Akari, which is very good. Soon Inu Yasha will leave you alone, and it may not be the best of situations, but it will be better than him seeking you out," Anei told her.
"Thank you Anei. Do you think we could be friends?" Kagome asked. Anei seemed shocked by the question. He was friends with Lord Sesshoumaru, but unless it was one of those times when they relaxed in his study together and philosophized while drinking shochu, they kept a strict code of behavior. Sesshoumaru was his Lord and he was a samurai.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you," Kagome quickly amended.
"I am not offended my lady, it is just an unusual offer," He told her. Kagome blushed.
"Where I come from there isn't much of a class system or anything like that. People just make friends with who they want."
"I see. Well Kagome, yes, I would be honored to be the friend of so kind a person," He finally told her. Kagome smiled brightly.
"Goodnight Anei, I'll see you tomorrow!" She chirped despite the yawn that was trying to form itself.
"Good night Kagome," He said as she closed the door behind her.
The next five days passed in a flurry of work for Kagome. Sesshoumaru had kept the accounts very well, but it took her some time to get used to his way of keeping them, not to mention she had to recall almost all of the ancient calligraphy he had used.
But she surprised herself by working day and night, and actually enjoying it. The night she had finished sorting the accounts out, she had gone to him with some ideas to save money. Kagome knew it was rude to discuss business at the dinner table, so she had spent about half an hour in the study with him before he convinced her that it was her decision and that if she had found ways to save money, so be it.
Kagome sat at her table, finishing up the menu for next week, adding recipes for certain things and making a note to show Airon how to make them.
Rin and Shippou had already fallen asleep, and Kagome stretched and yawned. She knew Anei was standing outside of her door. Did the youkai ever sleep? She'd have to ask him sometime.
Suddenly Kagome heard the heavy stomping of someone, and then Inu Yasha's voice.
"I have rights to lay with my wife!" He slurred drunkenly. There was a crash and yelling coming from Inu Yasha. Kagome was almost too scared to open the door when the moving stopped. But she did it anyways.
The sight that greeted her made her want to sob in frustration.
Inu Yasha was knocked out on the floor; Anei was standing over the hanyou's still form, panting heavily. Blood dripped down his arm from a wound on his shoulder.
"Oh my god, Anei, are you alright? What happened?" Kagome asked, kicking herself in the next moment for asking about something so obviously apparent.
"He wouldn't leave. I asked him to, told him to, and then he attacked," He replied. Kagome sighed.
"Will you arm be okay, it looks pretty nasty," Kagome told him. He chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"I'll be fine Kagome. I have to take this miscreant back to his room. Don't worry about him for the rest of the night. He'll be out until morning at least," Anei told her as he picked the limp form of the hanyou up and threw it over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
Kagome nodded and walked back into her room. Surprisingly the two children were still asleep. Maybe her fear had magnified the noise in her mind, made it seem much louder than it actually had been. She sighed and quickly changed behind the shoji screen, then walked to her bed and slid in silently. Her last thoughts were of how the children were the most important things in her life, and all that kept her going. She would never forgive herself if they were hurt.
Authors Notes: Okay, so I'm prolly gonna get some flames. Such is life I suppose. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. And DC, Jpoey is a reviewer from Bad Day. You two sound a lot alike lol. On another, note, I already have over 20 reveiws. You guys have no idea how happy that makes me. Well, you might, but I'm one of those spazy happy people that babbles when I'm happy.
Thankies To: VampiricGoth, Guess Who(aka DC), Bluediamond-Hime, Bloddied Rose91, Fairie Mistress, Kyo-chan-gurl(and of course I remember you!), xsushix, Ladyofthewest15, windprincess342, Waxynixo, Hoshiko Megami, Me