Well, we've been inspired by Hikaritenshi's faithfulness in reading and reviewing. Hikaritenshi-san! These next two chapters are just for you, since you've been such a good reviewer!
We hope you all like these next few chapters!
Lyn & Rae
Chapter 6: Realisations
Firstbreaklineofthechapter
Kagome was pacing in her room, when Lyn, Usagi, and Sesshoumaru walked in.
"Shisuta-chan, is something wrong?" Usagi asked.
"We've never seen you this tense," Lyn added.
"Nor I," Sesshoumaru added. "What is it?"
Kagome stopped pacing, and looked at them. "What? Oh, I'm just worried… what if InuYasha discovers that I am still alive, and tries to take me from all of you?"
"Kagome-san," and Sesshoumaru looked at her, "Calm down. Please. Do you honestly think that we would let him?" Besides, Sesshoumaru added to himself, you have become a part of my family, and I don't let anything happen to my family. You may rest assured; I will not let InuYasha take you from me.
Kagome smiled. "Arigatou Sesshoumaru-san." She barely stopped herself from hugging him.
Sesshoumaru smiled. "Kagome-san, Princess, don't worry. I would be honourless indeed if I let InuYasha harm you."
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Sesshoumaru was sitting in his study, and he called for Jaken.
A few moments later, Jaken was in his study. "You called, my lord?"
"Yes, Jaken, I did. Please tell Lyn that I wish to see her for a moment."
"Yes, my lord." Jaken scurried out.
A few minutes later, Lyn knocked on the door, then walked in. "You requested my presence, Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes, Lyn-san, I did. I need you to do me a favour."
"What is it, Sesshoumaru?"
"I need you to take Kagome to the gardens with you. I want to meet her there, but I don't want her to know that I want to see her. Can you do that?"
"Of course I can, Sesshoumaru. May I go?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Lyn-san."
"Not a problem, Sesshoumaru." Lyn walked out.
Breaklineafter15minutespassbreakline
Kagome was resting, when Lyn, Usagi, and Rin walked in. "Konnichiwa, minna-chan."
"Konnichiwa, Kagome-chan," Lyn answered. "We were just going to go for a walk in the gardens. Why don't you come with us?"
"Sure. I could use some exercise, anyway." Kagome got up. "Let's go, minna!"
The quartet walked out.
Breaklinewheredideveryonego?
The trio of young women walked in the gardens, while Rin animatedly examined what seemed like every flower along the path.
"So, you did get all the letters delivered, right, shisuta-chan?" Kagome asked.
"Hai, Kagome," Usagi answered.
"Oh! That reminds me! Kagome-chan, Kouga sent a letter back to you," Lyn exclaimed. "Here you go."
Kagome read her letter from Kouga.
LetterfromKougaletterfromKougaletterfromKouga
Kagome-chan,
It's Kouga. I have a question for you.
May I come and see you? It's been such a long time, and I really miss you, Kagome. You have no idea how much.
Where are you staying? Are you all right? When the messenger delivered your letter, she wouldn't say where you were. I'd just really like to see with my own eyes that you are all right.
Hoping to see you soon!
From Kouga
Outoftheletterhecamehecame, outoftheletterhecameKagome looked at Lyn. "He didn't follow you back, did he? I wouldn't put it past him. He's relentless when it comes to me."
"Kikyou and I kept checking. He wasn't following us; I can guarantee it," Lyn assured her.
"Well, hello there, ladies," a male voice intoned behind them.
Kagome whirled. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Nice to see you."
"I might say the same. Lyn-san, Usagi-san, will you excuse us? I have a question for the Kagome-sama."
Lyn and Usa nodded. "Rin!" Usagi called. "Let's go play a game inside, okay? It's really fun, I promise!"
"Okay!" Rin ran up to her, and the trio left.
Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome. "Kagome, come with me, please?"
"Hai, Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru led Kagome to a secluded glade in the gardens, then turned and looked at her. "Kagome-san, this may be a tender subject, but… did InuYasha ever explain about youkai—"
Kagome silenced him with a glance. "Sesshoumaru, InuYasha never explained anything to me. If I needed to learn anything about youkai, Sango was the one who taught me about it."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I understand. Kagome, did Sango ever teach you about Inu youkai traditions?"
Kagome nodded. "At one point, we all thought I would end up mated to… InuYasha, so Sango taught me as much as she could about Inu youkai traditions. That," and Kagome nearly choked on the next words, "was before InuYasha started… beating me." She closed her eyes against the images flashing through her psyche and spirit.
Sesshoumaru felt his heart go 'thump', and replied, "It's all right, Kagome-san, he can't harm you while you're here… with me. I swear I won't let him." He sat down on the bench.
Kagome looked at him, and was stunned at the emotion she saw in his eyes. Can it… be? Sesshoumaru-chan looks as though he's… in love… with me? "Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked tenderly.
The Taiyoukai in question looked at her. "Kagome, how many times to I have to tell you, drop the –sama! It isn't required of you… it hasn't been for a long time now."
Kagome flinched. "Gomen, Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru smiled. "Kagome-chan…"
Kagome's eyes widened. "Sesshoumaru? I have one question for you." After he nodded, she went on. "Sesshoumaru… are you in love… with me?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, and was about to reply when an annoying voice yelled, "Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Kagome and Sesshoumaru turned to see Jaken running towards them.
Jaken stopped, then bowed. "Sesshoumaru-sama, a young ookamiyoukai has arrived at the front gate, and is asking for you and Kagome-hime.
"He says his name is—"
"Kouga!" Kagome interjected. "How can that be? I didn't tell him where I was!"
Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome at her outburst, and then looked back at Jaken. "Thank you, Jaken. Bring Kouga to the throne room in a few minutes, and Kagome and I will be waiting for him."
Jaken ran off. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru, I swear, I didn't tell Kouga where I was."
Sesshoumaru placed a finger to Kagome's lips. "Don't worry, I believe you.
"Now, we need to prepare." He handed Kagome a kimono. "Take this, and put it on."
Kagome ran off, and came back dressed in the kimono. "Shall we go, then?"
Breaklinehehehe
Sesshoumaru and Kagome walked into the throne room, and Sesshoumaru arranged himself upon the dais.
Kouga came in, led by Jaken, who quickly bowed his way out.
"Kagome!" Kouga started toward her.
"Kouga." Kagome acknowledged.
Kouga reached her and embraced her fiercely. "Kagome, I've been so worried about you!"
Sesshoumaru growled.
Kagome backed away. "Kouga," and her eyes narrowed, "do you remember the promise you made to me when we first met?"
Kouga replied, "Of course! I said I would protect you."
"WELL, GUESS WHAT, BAKA!" Kagome bellowed. "Do you know what you left me with every time you left over the last two years that I spent with InuYasha!"
Kouga backed away as her miko powers rose to a fever pitch. "W-what, Kagome?"
Sesshoumaru got up and stood next to Kagome, putting his hand on her shoulder, ignoring the pain that her miko purification powers caused him. "Kouga, you left her with an honourless hanyou who beat her every time you and Kagome's friends weren't around."
At Sesshoumaru's words, Kouga slumped to the floor. "Oh, Kami… No wonder you're so mad at me, Kagome… I never even noticed… I'm so sorry."
Someone knocked on the throne room doors, and then Usagi, Lyn, and Rin burst in.
Usagi turned to Sesshoumaru. "Forgive us, Sesshoumaru-sama, but we thought we heard Kagome shouting. What's wrong?"
Sesshoumaru was about to answer, when Kagome did that for him. "I did shout, but I'll explain it to you later, ladies. All right?"
The trio nodded, and Lyn and Rin left. Usagi, however, asked, "May I please stay?"
Sesshoumaru and Kagome nodded.
Jaken walked in. "Forgive me, my lord, but four more people have appeared at the entrance."
"Bring them in, Jaken."
Jaken scampered off, and brought the quartet in a minute later.
"Sango, Miroku! Shippou!" Kagome cried, falling to her knees.
Shippou ran to his adopted mother. "Kagome, Kagome!"
Kagome hugged him tightly, and felt him flinch. "Shippou? What's happened to you?" She examined him. "Oh, Shippou… InuYasha started beating you when I left, didn't he?" He nodded, and she embraced him lightly enough not to hurt.
Breaklinelet'sseethebrothersfight!Sesshoumaru looked at InuYasha. "What are you doing here, hanyou?" he sneered.
"I've just come to take what's mine," InuYasha growled, shifting Tetsusaiga from hand to hand.
Kagome stood, still holding Shippou. "I am not yours, InuYasha-baka. Oswarii!"
InuYasha hit the floor. He got up, and practically flew toward Kagome and Shippou. As soon as he reached them, he hit Kagome across the jaw line, and sent her and Shippou flying, knocking her out.
Sesshoumaru barely managed to catch them in time. He looked down at Kagome's face, which was already bruising. He set them down, and looked at Usagi, who immediately ran over and began tending to Kagome.
Sesshoumaru felt that rising cloud of red hatred, and fought to control it. He growled, "You would dare hit a woman, holding an innocent child? That was completely without honour," and he drew Toukijin. "Even for you."
"What, like I had any to begin with? Remember, Sesshoumaru, you told me that I, by simply being a hanyou, tainted the family name," InuYasha snarled.
Sesshoumaru threw up a protective barrier, and walked over to Usagi. "Kagome?"
Usagi shook her head. "Kagome-sama is comatose, Sesshoumaru-sama. I can't wake her."
At those words, not just Sesshoumaru, but Miroku, Sango, and Shippou turned merciless looks on InuYasha, who finally started to realise the danger he was in.
Sesshoumaru started toward InuYasha, only to be stopped by a voice, saying, "InuYasha, what dilemma be ye getting into now?"
Miroku and Shippou exclaimed, "Kaede-sama!"
"Kaede-bachan, InuYasha just knocked Kagome-chan unconscious a few minutes ago," Sango explained quietly to Kaede.
At that piece of disturbing information, Kaede turned red with a controlled vehemence. She then rushed to Kagome, and with a burst of spiritual energy, revived her former protégé.
With a moan, Kagome woke. She looked up at Kaede, Sesshoumaru, and Usagi.
"Minna-chan? Kaede-san!" She sat bolt upright.
"Kagome-chan, shh," Sesshoumaru whispered to her.
"Sesshoumaru-chan, what the hell happened to me?" Kagome queried.
"InuYasha attacked you and the little one," Sesshoumaru answered with a growl.
"Shippou? Shippou!" Kagome called, and the young kitsune ran to her.
"Kagome-mama!" Shippou buried himself in her arms, and then looked up, searching her face. "Are you okay, Kagome-mama?"
Kagome got up, picking up the kitsune as she did so. "No, Shippou-chan, but I will be." She looked at him. "Stay with Kaede-sama, for now, I'll be right back." She set him down, and then walked over to Sango and Miroku, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Miroku, Sango-chan, back off. This is my battle."
"Hai, Kagome-chan." They backed away, but kept a wary eye on InuYasha.
InuYasha had reverted to his normal arrogant attitude, in the meantime. He looked at Kagome. "Keh. Do you think you can beat me alone, wench?"
"Inu-baka," Kagome looked at him, "you do remember whom I am reincarnated from? I am just as strong as Kikyou."
"Keh! Remember that you, being untrained, could never tap into all the power Kikyou could," InuYasha retorted.
"On the contrary, InuYasha, she could very well exceed my power," Kikyou's voice intoned.
Kagome turned. "Kikyou! You're here!" She ran to her mentor, and hugged her.
Kikyou embraced her protégé, and looked at InuYasha. "InuYasha, what did you do to Kagome? Why is she here, with Sesshoumaru, instead of you?" Whispering, she said, "Kagome, I already know what happened, but I want to see if he'll lie, and try to cover it up."
InuYasha snorted. "How would I know, Kikyou? Kagome left me, not the other way around."
"Ahh, yes, that is true; however, I know Kagome better than you, and I know she wouldn't have left you unless you did something to her."
InuYasha looked around, then back to Kikyou. "Why do you care, Kikyou? You never did before."
"Actually, InuYasha, I have always cared about Kagome. She is my reincarnation, not to mention my descendent. She is my flesh and blood. I couldn't not care about her. I have watched over, even protected, her, particularly from you.
"I did not want her to end up like me, not from the way you treated her… not to mention, me.
"You played us for fools, and for that, I cannot forgive you."
With that, InuYasha started toward them.
Kagome and Kikyou yelled, "Oswarii!"
InuYasha fell to the ground with a thump twice as hard and faster than normal. A minute later, he jumped up, yelling, "What the hell did you do that for, Kagome?"
Kagome opened her mouth to answer, but Kikyou silenced her with a finger. "Do not explain this to InuYasha, Kagome-chan. If he cannot figure it out, then he does not deserve to know. Isn't that right, Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru, startled at being addressed by the miko, answered, "I believe so, yes, Kikyou."
Kagome ran over to Sesshoumaru, who embraced her, and she, him. "Well done, Kagome-ai," Sesshoumaru whispered to her.
Kagome whispered, "You're not doing badly yourself, watashi ai."
At that, Sesshoumaru made a silent vow to himself. I will never lose Kagome, ever. She will be my mate, and the mother of all my children. Then, he kissed her, in plain view of everyone, and whispered, "Kagome, watashi ai, will you be my mate, for now and forever?"
Kagome's eyes widened, and she burst into tears. Among all the crying, Sesshoumaru heard, "Yes, I will be your mate. I love you, Sesshoumaru-ai."
With that, Sesshoumaru kissed her again, and smiled.
Kagome ran over to Kikyou, and whispered, "I'm going to be Sesshoumaru's mate!"
Kikyou whispered, "Omedetou gozaimasu, Kagome-chan. All that I ask is for you to be happy together."
"We will be," Kagome whispered. "I promise."
InuYasha's bellow startled the two women. "Kagome, you can't be his mate!"
Kagome turned, and advanced upon him. "And who the hell says I can't!"
"This says you can't!" InuYasha moved a piece of Kagome's shirt, to expose a mark at the base of her neck.
Sesshoumaru trembled with rage. "You marked her? Without her knowledge or consent?" His eyes turned red as a cloud of hatred descended upon him. "InuYasha, you will die!"
"Keh. Bring it on, big brother."
With that, they clashed; Sesshoumaru used his Poison Whip, before drawing Toukijin and Tenseiga, and slashing InuYasha across the chest. InuYasha delivered a few blows with Tetsusaiga, before receiving a mortal blow to his stomach.
A few minutes later, InuYasha lay dead on the floor, and the mark on Kagome's neck vanished.
Sesshoumaru turned, his control regained. "Do any of you wish to have this dishonourable hanyou live?"
Everyone shook his or her head, except Kagome.
"Very well, then I shall have him buried, in a grave that befits a son of the Inu no Taisho."
Kagome turned to Usagi. "Usa-chan, can you go and fetch Jaken?"
Usagi nodded, and went to get Jaken immediately.
Finalbreaklineforthischapter
Baka - foolHanyou - half-demon
Kami - god
Megami - goddess
Oswarii - sit
Minna - everyone
Kitsune - fox demon
Miko - priestess
Watashi - my
Ai - love
Omedetou gozaimasu - congratulations
For those of you who may have noticed, chapters 6 & 7 have been combined, since we've received reviews about chapters being too short.
- Adraena Crystalia aka Rae
- Seira Lyn Crystalia aka Lyn
Namida sae mo niji
ni kaeru tenshi no hohoemi.
An angel's tears will turn even tears
into rainbows.
