Chapter 10
One year later
Sesshomaru growled, flicking blood off of his sword in aggravation. Bodies laid around him, slain by his hand. So weak he hadn't even bothered to use his demonic abilities. Nakoa nickered, kicking a body with her hind hoof. Kneeling beside a body, Sesshomaru looked over the armor, seeing the metallic symbol pinned to each suit of armor. Outsiders.
"It seems, Nakoa, I have missed much." Sesshomaru stood back to his feet, once again looking at the carnage around him. This was a patrol, fifty demons huddled together to look for any hostages they could take. In the span of five years, the West had been invaded. The size of this patrol spoke volumes to the size of the army. The West was at war. "Kagome."
She traveled all over these lands helping others. She was a frail human, and if she came across the invaders, they would take her hostage, possibly kill her. He had to find her, to protect her. He loved her, and he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
He had already decided on his course of action before he realized what was happening. He was tired of waiting, tired of being a coward. He wanted Kagome. He wanted to love her, marry her, create whatever life they could have together. Running away because of the words of a single demon was unacceptable.
Yuna had gotten into his head, made him think that Kagome would reject him. That wouldn't happen. Kagome may be upset and angry with him, but she was his soul bonded. That alone would be enough to have her at his side.
With her heart, so kind and compassionate, so patient, he knew she was just waiting for him to be ready. She was waiting for him to pull his head out of the sand and to love her like he should have all along. She was too forgiving not to give him a last chance.
Looking up at the sky, Sesshomaru ignored that wriggling feeling deep inside of him. He refused to believe she would reject him. He loved her. He would apologize for the things he did, then he would have her heart just like she had his. She wouldn't turn away from that.
Nakoa bumped into his shoulder, and he reached up, rubbing her jaw. He needed to hurry. There was no telling how much damage had been done since the invasion. Kagome could be in danger and he wouldn't dawdle. She needed his protection.
Mounting Nakoa, he urged her forward, her hooves taking to the sky as they flew quickly towards the shiro. Several times they passed invading patrols, and Sesshomaru took them out quickly, making sure they were all dead before he continued on.
By the time he reached the shiro, night had fallen. The army was gathering at the front doors, and Sesshomaru knew his father was going to march out in the morning. War really was upon them. Jumping off Nakoa, he noticed the horse Kagome had been riding grazing not too far off. He raised his head, eyes narrowed as he looked at Sesshomaru. If he didn't know any better, Sesshomaru would think that horse hated him. Nakoa trotted up to the male, nudging his side. After a small hesitation, the two took off for a run playing and nipping at each other.
Letting them go, Sesshomaru rushed into his shiro. If Kagome's horse was here, then she was as well. Sesshomaru didn't see anyone until he reached the dining hall. His father was there, holding a crying InuYasha in one arm, Izayoi in another.
"Don't go, papa." InuYasha sniffled into his neck, holding on tightly.
"I must, InuYasha. I am the lord. I have to lead the army. I will return before you know it, this I promise." Touga's tone was a lie. With any war, especially a demonic one, there was no telling how long it would last.
"You're taking Kagome! I'm losing you both." InuYasha cried again, and Sesshomaru had heard enough.
"Kagome will not be going." Stepping out from the shadows, the entire family looked up at him, surprised he was actually there. "Kagome will stay here, with me. She will be my mate."
"Sesshomaru-"
Sesshomaru didn't give Touga a chance to speak, furious that he would even think of taking Kagome to war. "She would be in her forties at least, correct? Her body would be deteriorating. She would fall in war. I will take care of her here."
"Do you not know anything about her? She isn't fort-"
"Enough. Where is she?" Sesshomaru had no desire to listen to his father. He may have accepted Kagome as his mate, as the woman he loved, but he still detested humans. He still hated his father, Izayoi, and the runt they produced. That wasn't something that would ever change.
Lifting his head, he caught the scent of Kagome easily. Her smell was strong within the shiro, telling him that she spent a lot of time here. Time that he could have shared with her if only he had realized what he was missing. Following the scent eagerly, his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He was so close to having her, loving her. He would never let her go again.
"You must wait." Touga grabbed Sesshomaru's shoulder, pulling him back hard. Izayoi and InuYasha weren't with him, most likely heading onto bed or to wait for Touga. "There are things you don't know Sesshomaru. Thin-"
"I do not care. Be with the human and half breed. I am going after Kagome." Sesshomaru yanked himself from his father but didn't get two steps before Touga was in front of him. The look Touga gave him had Sesshomaru's heart seizing in his chest. Pity and sympathy.
"Do you not remember anything you did to her? I told you, I warned you so many times, Sesshomaru. You treated her horribly, broke her down into pieces. She carved your name from her wrist. What is your plan, boy? Tell her that you changed your mind? If that's all you have, she won't even look at you." Touga gripped Sesshomaru's shoulders, squeezing. "You're too late, son."
A dark chuckle came from behind Sesshomaru, and he turned, seeing a monk leaning against the wall. He had his arms crossed, looking out at the wall across from him. "I don't know, Touga. Maybe if he has a chance to speak to her?"
"Miroku." Touga pleaded, but Miroku didn't listen. He pushed off the wall, walking towards Sesshomaru. He didn't stop until there was about a foot between them, and then he bowed respectfully.
"I am Miroku, Kagome's brother." Miroku was smiling, but it wasn't kind. "I'll take her to you if you want."
"I can follow her scent on my own." Sesshomaru glared at the human, then his father. He hadn't even known Kagome had a brother. Miroku looked to be in his twenties. Perhaps they shared a father? It was the only feasible way Sesshomaru could see them being siblings. There were too many years between them for them to be full blood. Kagome's mother would have been far too old to birth another child nearly twenty years younger than Kagome.
"That's true. How about I come with you? My wife is already in bed, and I want to speak to Kagome before we depart for the war tomorrow." Miroku motioned that Sesshomaru lead the way. Something about the monk didn't sit well with Sesshomaru, but he didn't show his unease.
Instead, he continued walking, noticing his father didn't try to stop him this time. Touga's head was bowed, hands fisted at his sides. Whatever Miroku was doing, Touga didn't like, but he wasn't going to stop the monk either. It made Sesshomaru curious, but he pushed it aside. His focus at that moment was getting Kagome to agree to stay here at the shiro with him.
Walking down the halls was tense for him. Between his father's silence, and the smug air Miroku gave off, Sesshomaru couldn't pinpoint what was happening. When they finally followed Kagome's scent to her room, Sesshomaru hesitated. This was it. This was the moment of truth, the moment he would finally have Kagome at his side.
"Sesshomaru, please." Touga begged, his voice tight. Sesshomaru ignored him, lifting his hand and knocked on the door. He could hear shuffling inside, a new smell washing over him suddenly, one that was familiar, yet different. He couldn't place where he knew that smell from. Then the door opened, and Sesshomaru's heart shattered.
"If it isn't princy boy." Kouga grinned, leaning against the door frame. He was shirtless, his hakama untied and hanging low on his hips. The smell of Kagome lingered on him heavily. Kagome, and sex. Kouga reeked of it.
That dark laugh sounded again, and Sesshomaru couldn't help but to look at Miroku. The monk found this entire thing amusing. Stepping forward, he met Sesshomaru's gaze, eyes threatening. "You hurt my sister. You scarred her face. You destroyed her heart. Did you really think she would have anything to do with you? Did you think I would let her? She doesn't need someone as vile and disgusting as you. Now you know it. She's moved on. She's happier now than she ever could have been with you."
"Yea. I take real good care of her." Kouga laughed, grabbing his cock for emphasize. Sesshomaru ground his teeth together, emotional agony surging through him. He loved her. He wanted a life with her, but she had chosen another.
He had felt pain before, but this time… he could feel his heart snapping and breaking into little pieces. It was the worst pain he had ever felt before. It wasn't on the surface of his skin but taking up the entirety of his body. It started at his heart and expanded outward in a violent wave that slammed into him over and over again. His hand rose, gripping at the cloth above his heart. He really had lost Kagome.
Anger overtook his pain, and he growled, baring his fangs. A whore. That was all she was. A feeble human whore. She was nothing, worth less than the ground he walked on. Coming back for her was a waste of time. He had been right originally. Kagome was not for him. Looking at his father, Sesshomaru could see that this was no surprise to Touga. Touga had allowed it, welcomed it. Touga had taken his mother, and now the woman he had wanted as a mate. It was always Touga.
"I will go to war in your stead, father. There is nothing for me here any longer. Miroku and Kagome will stay behind." Sesshomaru spoke softly, but they all heard. Touga flinched, but Sesshomaru felt nothing but anger and pain. And then, a soft voice broke him that much farther.
"Kouga, who's at the door?" Kagome spoke from farther in the room.
Kouga stared at Sesshomaru for a moment, then looked back over his shoulder. "No one important, love. Get ready for me, I'll be there in a moment." He purred flirtatiously, and Kagome's laugh could be heard. Sesshomaru recoiled, realizing he had never heard Kagome laugh for him. Turning on his heel, Sesshomaru pushed past Miroku, their shoulders bumping and went straight to his room. Before the sun rose, he would be leading his army to war. He would leave behind the whore and the heart she had claimed. He wasn't sure he would ever come back.
…
Kagome rushed into the dinning hall, panting. Kouga had kept her up all night, and then let her oversleep. By now the army most likely already left, and she was supposed to be there with them. After yelling at Kouga, who seemed to be at ease with everything, she dressed and darted away.
In the dining room, she stopped, surprised to see Touga eating his breakfast with Izayoi and InuYasha. "I thought…" She was still panting, trying to catch her breath.
"Sesshomaru came home last night." Touga's voice was tight, and he wouldn't look directly at her. He was upset.
"Oh." Looking down at her hands, Kagome interpreted that the only way she could. "He's still avoiding me, isn't he? I'm sorry that I've come between you and your son, Touga. I can leave if that's what you want."
"No, Dear. It's not what I want. I've already lost a son, I don't want to lose a daughter." Touga finally looked up at her, pain clear in his eyes. Kagome walked up to him quickly, throwing her arms around his neck and holding him tightly. This was all her fault. If she had never integrated herself into this family like she had, Sesshomaru wouldn't have left. Even as she thought it, she knew she couldn't leave. She loved Touga like a father, Izayoi like a mother. She couldn't leave them behind. There had to be something else, another way for her and Sesshomaru to work it out so he could come home. Touga needed all three of his children.
...
Sesshomaru is hurt and lashing out. It's why he called Kagome a whore. It seems like a step back, but it's not. He is now forced to admit that his actions have cost him what he wanted. He doesn't want to accept it and that is why he is calling her a whore in his head. He doesn't want to believe that it's hit fault, and this is apart of his growth. Soon he will see that he was in the wrong, that this is the consequences of his actions. And then he will continue to grow from there.
Ya'll. Again, I gave you a goal, and you beat me with it. Twenty-five reviews in less than twenty-four hours. That's amazing! As promised, here is your highly requested chapter. I hope it didn't disappoint. I will post the next chapter on Monday!
