Chapter 26

A/N: I do not own Inuyasha.

This chapter was indeed fun to write!

Suddenly, she absorbed a push and with a forceful impact, her petite body collided with a cold steal. A pair of sturdy arms wreathed around her, preventing from incurring any additional pain as she and her saviour fell sideways on the hard ground. Flummoxed, Yuutsuki could not think of a valid reason why he would be there. With her eyes still closed, she recognised the familiar scent and the strong embrace of the lord of the west.

"Yuutsuki…" The girl opened her surprised eyes. The arcane light of the morning illuminated Sesshoumaru's face, presenting a bleeding cut on his cheek. She had never seen the expression he was wearing at that moment. His eyes were dilated, visibly concerned and they wandered about her face and body, checking for any possible injuries.

"Come." As unawares as his appearance, he clutched her hand and protectively kept her behind his back opening a path through the enemies by pulverising any that dared to stand in their way. "Please, I have to find Tadao's sister, she might be in danger…" Yuutsuki tried to stall their pace by pulling her arm, however to no avail. "That is of no priority to me." Sesshoumaru aloofly disregarded her request, attentive to any forthcoming peril. After a lengthy while there were no enemies standing. Numerous of them were lifeless on the ground; however, the major amount absconded to protect their lives. Sesshoumaru's grip remained tight, even while he dropped to the ground in transient enervation and a healer tended his wounds. She was fond of the mildly warm touch against her skin as they waited for the place to be cleared out of blood and dead bodies. The overall mood was rather grim, no one had expected a sudden attack, and to be truthful Yuutsuki had no idea who was the foe and why the western soldiers were here to aid.

Sesshoumaru's firm grasp ceased once she sat by a table between him and Tadao.

"There are things we need to discuss in private, lord Sesshoumaru." The wolf demon said quietly, directing his words forward.

"We do indeed." Sesshoumaru got up and raised his cup. The crowd's attention diverted, ceasing low murmurs of conversation. "To a victory!" The mood suddenly lightened, the demons and humans alike returned Sesshoumaru's toast with a cheering scream. Yuutsuki noticed Tadao's sister and her friends unhurt, visibly charmed by Sesshoumaru. She exhaled with a silent chuckle, unwittingly capturing the dog demon's attention. The girl was completely unaware of his attentive glance, her lips parted as she had mild breathing problems, her body was fatigued due to lack of sleep. Sesshoumaru's golden eyes remained fixed on the girl next to him as he uttered so quietly that she barely understood the words:

"It all happened because of your personal ineptness Tadao. She," Presumably, Sesshoumaru meant Yuutsuki. "Would have died. If I happened to arrive later, she would be dead and you are well aware that there is no possibility to bring her to life again."

"You do not have the right to say this." Tadao's voice was also dangerously low. "They were not rebels only. They were also southern soldiers. You were not able to control them, hence the perilous circumstances."

After a prolonged silence, Sesshoumaru spoke in a placid voice, a bit louder than before. "Yoko is on her way here and should arrive anytime now. This should serve as confirmation that west and south alike are not fighting north. The rebels will disappear with time, nothing but a mere group clinging on ideals, bereft of resources and support."

Yuutsuki kept her eyes hung high, but nervousness spread around her stomach. She was reluctant to see Yoko and her rounded belly. It appeared that Tadao's thoughts were parallel as he uttered:

"It will be a hard visit for Yoko. Her father's murderer and her mate's… Anyways, how is Yoko handing the pregnancy? She is a half demon after all."

Disregarding impression of being an intruder between two demons, the girl kept her glance boldly high, yet for imprecise reasons her pride suffered with each further word that Sesshoumaru uttered:

"It is not a matter of being a half demon or a human. My father's seed grew strong in a human. Hinowo's daughter is unwontedly weak, they say one of them; Yoko or the child will live and the other will die. The odds are even." Yuutsuki should have left before these words had been revealed, her thoughts run wild, serving as a distraction from the conversation's topic. Her large, dark eyes studied Sesshoumaru's irrefutably handsome face and in order to distract herself, she wondered what he had been doing for the past month and a half. Even though he had undeniably rejected any chance for their relationship to grow, her pride and stubbornness, eventually supplanted by painful solitude, urged to accept her own feelings. Moreover, she was fervently envious of the half demon from the south to receive Sesshoumaru's mate status along with all possibilities and privileges that it granted.

"If there is anything I can do to help, I remain at your disposal." Tadao swiftly moved to another topic. He smiled and placed his heavy hand on Yuutsuki's curled up shoulders, pulling her closely against his robust chest. "You look tired. I am sorry to have left you alone during the attack."

The girl's wavy hair shook in denial. "No, it was my fault, I decided to go out of the room."

"Well, one way or another we both should be grateful to lord Sesshoumaru." Tadao's strong arm forced her to bow her head towards the lord of the west. Yuutsuki was startled how comfortable she felt next to Tadao. His touch was consistently intimate, yet she had never been intimidated. He always gave her generous support and protection. Sesshoumaru accepted their gratitude with a slight nod of his head, nevertheless his glance remained impenetrable. The wolf demon abandoned his place to talk with generals and establish subsequent military actions, leaving Yuutsuki and Sesshoumaru in an awkward silence.

Upon grasping that the dog demon would not initiate a conversation, Yuutsuki cleared her throat and poured him a full glass of deep red wine. His weary eyes watched her questioningly.

"I wondered if you would come to pick me up."

For a while, he merely glanced at her indifferently, his hand cupped her pastel cheek and he spoke with a gloomy sentiment in his voice:

"Why would I? You proclaimed that you desire to go with Tadao." As if recalling that others can perceive and overhear them, he lowered his voice, his touch also ceased. "For weeks I was barely preventing myself from barging in here and taking you away, with your consent or without." He growled in annoyance. "And you are telling me you were waiting for me to come? Why would you come here then?"

"I did not want to be a hindrance to your obligations."

"And now you do?" Sesshoumaru looked at her sternly. "Later we will talk somewhere private." He abandoned his place, walked out of the room, visibly annoyed and his mind freighted with strange, vague longings.

Lady Yoko with her servants and several soldiers arrived at the location later during the day. Yuutsuki did not anticipate her to appear so meagre. The half-demon's face was skinnier than before and her skin turned greyish hue. Yuutsuki bravely regarded her rounded tummy, glad to discover that it did not shock her as much as she had initially thought it would. Yoko's bleak eyes sparkled upon Tadao's bright smile, the contempt was too apparent in her voice as she greeted the lord of the house. Every aspect of her features seemed to convey a haughty acrimony and harsh truculence.

"Lord Tadao. I am Yoko, lord Sesshoumaru's mate and daughter to late lord of the south, Hinowo."

Tadao smiled charmingly, ignoring the allusion. "Welcome. I am honoured to have the lord of the west's family as guests." Yoko's servants guided her inside for her to refresh after a long journey.

Nearly four hours passed before invitees sat down to a traditional table. There were not many of them to have a privilege to dine in a separate room, fifteen in total, including her, Misaki, Sesshoumaru, several generals form north, south, west and of course, Tadao. Yuutsuki regretted to have chosen such formal attire for the event, even though it was a beautiful, deeply blue silk kimono ornamented by wine red, tiny flowers and a white sash, it tremendously stood out. Everyone else had toned clothing, which had barely any ornaments. Misaki wore a mono-coloured, bleakly pink kimono and the only ornament was a blue pin attached to her hair. Apart Sesshoumaru, who had a dark brown attire patterned with bright brown oval shapes, the remaining party wore their regular uniform specific to their region. Tadao's shiny, blond hair was tied high, expounding his handsome face's features. Catching his glance, Yuutsuki smiled, unable to hide nervousness in her expression. He was sitting on her left, Misaki placed directly between them, whereas Yoko's empty seat was just in front of hers. Sesshoumaru's place was directly across Misaki, who was visibly content to have a perfect view at his habitually bored face. Everyone was done with the main course by the time Yoko joined the table, but she did not partake in any conversation, just as Yuutsuki. The girl listened to political conversations and discreetly regarded the guests, silently trying to figure out their identities. A particular individual snatched her attention, their eyes met coincidently yet both stubbornly refused to look away first.

A young human was sitting two spots away to her right, a woman at that, wearing west's military outfit. Yuutsuki wondered how she had not noticed her earlier. The woman's brown eyes remained fixed on Yuutsuki's face until Sesshoumaru's voice captured both humans' attention,

"Fukui Rie, follow me." The stranger's straight, shoulder-length raven black hair shook as she lowered her head towards Sesshoumaru who slowly walked towards the exit. Yuutsuki's eyes followed the dog demon and human as the door shut upon their disappearance. Tadao noticed her bafflement and beckoned her to come closer. She obediently sat on his left, partly where Sesshoumaru used to sit just a moment ago. The wolf demon put his face near her ear, so close that his lips touched her earlobes as he spoke:

"General Rie, the only human in lord Sesshoumaru's army. First daughter of the current human emperor, Fukui Shun, happens to be an excellent bow user and her spiritual powers are rumoured to be comparable with the legendary Midoriko priestess. Shame about her plain face." An inquiry seemed to dwell in her gaze.

"Her purpose here?" Tadao smiled and uttered even quieter than before:

"Yoko's bodyguard. Mind your actions around her." Yuutsuki nodded and returned to her original place, just when two human performers entered the room. One of them sang and played a three stringed instrument that seemed just slightly different from a regular shamisen, whereas the other one danced gleefully. General Rie and Sesshoumaru returned just after the first song had finished. The human general immediately approached Yoko and escorted her out of the room, yet before that Yoko had politely explained that she was exhausted after the travel and would rest. Advisor Kashi took Yoko's place and had an intense conversation with Sesshoumaru, regardless of her efforts, Yuutsuki could not eavesdrop over the music and the sound of buzzing conversations of already befuddled demons.

Once the party had gotten too loud for music to be distinguishable, the dancer and singer sat by the table and served the guests. The girl was abashed to experience sneering Tadao groping the dancer's bottom and after a while, both left while in a tight embrace. She had also observed Sesshoumaru's complete disregard to singer's attempts of starting a trivial chat. Floating in the clouds of reverie, he merely drank the wine and once their eyes met, he meaningfully looked at the exit's door and walked out of the room. Yuutsuki allowed about five minutes to pass and she also ventured outside.

They walked slowly in silence whereas he was tailing her with a distance of two steps. Once the door of her room shut behind them, Sesshoumaru's eyes slowly moved about her face, checking every bit of her was on its place. He swept her messy hair away, checking on both sides of her neck, subsequently grasped her arms and forced them to turn palms up, as if seeking something on the surface of her skin. The girl did not demur his actions and watched his reassured expression once he found nothing in the dancing light of candles.

"It would have been perfectly natural for Tadao to attempt mating you." Yuutsuki flinched, but his iron grasp prevented her from distancing. She did not lower her gaze when their eyes met, instead she uttered:

"I have cut the roots and stepped on any sprouts that appeared. Yet the tree is still green and craves for nourishment." Sesshoumaru's mouth twisted. "Lingering around me brings you no good. All I can do is wound you." The girl smiled, her dark, coal-like eyes squinted in a forced smile as she answered:

"I can say the same, yet you always come to meet me." Yuutsuki's dark pupils collided with his stern glare; nevertheless, she did not waver to continue daringly. "Shall we see who is more damaged in the end?" Sesshoumaru curved his eyebrow in wonder at her words. She had never ceased to amuse him.

His iron grasp entangled around her wrist, it was so strong that it seemed its frail bones might break anytime, but she did not mind. His other palm cupped her left cheek and the thumb of his hand pet her lips, parting it slightly and baring a row of her white teeth.

"I do not think you know what you are dealing with, human." Sesshoumaru duly regarded her panting chest, hot breath and rosy cheeks, he could no longer be indifferent.

"What am I to you Sesshoumaru?" Yuutsuki's words sounded so feeble, as if she had not eaten for weeks. He gently dragged her chin up and lowered his posture for their lips to meet. A shiver of desire run throughout his body and it only enhanced once the girl unwillingly moaned in pleasure.

"You are more than you think." Sesshoumaru discerned that one more kiss or that particular look in her eyes would prompt him to do irreversible things. It required a lot of inner effort, but he released his grasp, not supposing Yuutsuki to hug him with her face glued to his chest.

Suddenly a fear struck him, had he hurt her again? There was no smell of tears, yet her body shook slightly. Almost instinctively, he placed his hand on her head and passed his fingers through her silky hair. "This is not a place for you." The girl gazed at him with her large, moist eyes. Even though she was not a child, her face was rotund and impeccable. Small, nonetheless opulent lips smiled faintly, alluring Sesshoumaru once again.

Yuutsuki pouted her lips at his impenetrable glare, as she could not deduce his current mood. Her lonely heart was sugar coated with his benevolent attention and the taste of wine he drank lingered in her mouth.

To be truthful, last weeks had not been easy on him, constant battles exhausted him despite his sturdy body and regeneration speed. He could use some rest. Thinking that, he elegantly sat down and supported his tired back against a wall. It seemed like the girl also required sleep, her eyes were radiant on the surface, but dark shadows loomed out once her face was exposed to light. After gazing at the stars outside through her porch's ajar door, the girl lowered her head, she sat in a semi-formal way and rubbed her closed eyes, as if trying to ward off the exhaustion. Sesshoumaru speculated that she had intended to look dignified, even if so, her sluggish face expression captured his entire attention. He swept hair covering Yuutsuki's face, nodding with dismay at her defenceless pose and loosened robes slightly exposing her pale cleavage. Sesshoumaru averted his eyes from the view, yet he noted that lack of sword practise granted her some additional weight and her body could no longer be mistaken for an adolescent boy.

Yuutsuki met Sesshoumaru's gleaming, golden eyes and she smiled at his staid appearance, not remarking his tension. He pulled her close and inhaled deeply the scent of her neck's milky skin. It came as a surprise, but she did not flinch and permitted his hands to wander about her shoulders and spine. Her neck, collarbones and shoulders were bestowed with Sesshoumaru's kisses. The rush and vehement caresses clearly delineated the aim of his actions, nonetheless, Yuutsuki did not intend to object. She closed her eyes in content and pressed her body against his. Unanticipatedly, the girl felt a strong thrust, in result her shoulder and arm painfully collided with a wall. Yuutsuki exhaled loudly, trying to restrain a curse. With the unharmed hand, she inspected the aching place and it seared once she touched it, the surface of her skin felt slightly scraped, but it did not bleed.

Sesshoumaru was also breathing deeply, Yuutsuki noticed his clenched jaw and darkened eyes, he seemed to be furious, yet she could not recognize the reason of his aggravation.

The demon cursed silently at the startled appearance of hers. The inadvertent push was an impulsive resort to keep sanity.

"Leave…" Sesshoumaru's voice was stifled, as if not her, but he was in pain. The girl stood upright disregarding her ruined hairdo and bared shoulder.

"What happened?" Yuutsuki shivered in a spasm of uncontrollable fear at his red eyes appearing just in front of hers. The lord of the west's fist hit the wall behind her, emphasising his further words:

"Go."

"No." Her lip shook repeatedly whereas she nervously squeezed her aching arm. "You suddenly…" A treacherous throb of her voice revealed her state as she meaningfully pointed at her arm.

"I mean to keep you from harm." He scowled and walked towards the room's exit. Yuutsuki was aware of his difficulty in explaining his thoughts and actions. Her questions unnecessarily put the western lord in uncomfortable position. Sesshoumaru was merely fearful of hurting her, she should have apprehended it earlier. Yuutsuki's dignity counselled her to be silent, yet her face was lit up by a glow of resolve.

"Sesshoumaru, please…" The desperation in her voice caused him to stop. It was uncommon for her to plead for anything. "Do not go now." Her voice lowered. "Please."

A sudden shudder seized him, Sesshoumaru was half choked by a rising paroxysm of rage. Ren Yuutsuki had never bent her will, not even when due to his order Tadao whipped her to blood, nevertheless, she was apparently prepared to sacrifice her pride and forgive today's actions.

"What exactly do you anticipate, human?" Sesshoumaru was unable to prevent the display of his anger. He forcefully dragged her closer and with a brisk movement, he nearly took down the material covering her chest. He locked her body between the wall and himself. He expected her to be scared, shocked or at least visibly disturbed as he reached for the sash of her kimono. Yuutsuki smiled daintily and placed her hand on his chest, her watery eyes clashed against his agitated glare.

"What am I to you Sesshoumaru?" He looked at her slightly astonished. "I am not your friend. I am not your lover. I am not your servant, neither your family, but I am not no one. I want you to define what I am to you. I want to be something to you. Now and in the future."

Sesshoumaru's mouth tightened until his lips created a thin, straight line on his face. He was irresolute whether treading this topic was sagacious. Hesitating a bit, he covered Yuutsuki's bare shoulders and pierced her eyes with his golden, hypnotising glare. The habitually bored expression once more appeared on his face, as if nothing had occurred heretofore.

"Sesshoumaru…" The low whisper caused a bizarre shiver run across his shoulders; its tone clearly denoted that he had balked her hopes.

The dog demon closed his eyes, keeping the impenetrable expression. Previously, Sesshoumaru had deemed his behaviour as apparent and the motives forcing him to have had undertaken divisive actions, perfectly justifiable. Despite finding his intents viable, he could no longer abide self-established principles. Whichever way to proceed he seemed to choose, he suffered equally as the result, albeit for different reasons. Even with Rin around, Sesshoumaru did not know the extent of his capabilities to care. His own reaction to sorrow in Yuutsuki's eyes functioned as the concluding confirmation of the sensation he could not name. It instigated plenty of damage, yet also, an equal quantity of contentment. His tightened fist shook nervously as he suddenly felt apologetic that he was inept of bestowing Rin with similarly ardent affection.

"You should rest." Sesshoumaru's low voice appeared very distant, and it did not prompt any response. The dog demon glared at her face sternly. He placed his heavy hand on her cheek, wordlessly demanding her to comply. Yuutsuki could not comprehend the sudden conversion, yet she reckoned it irrelevant. She nodded her head in agreement and answered, not able to conceal the disappointment in her voice.

"Fine." The girl murmured a vague acceptance.

"Yuutsuki." She hoped it was not her imagination when she heard a hint of warmth in his voice.

"To me, you are someone I absolutely do not wish to hurt." Rushing thoughts clamoured for utterance whereas Sesshoumaru's tone assumed a certain asperity. "And regardless of what I do, I feel like I am constantly hurting you."

The night was cold, yet the full moon illuminated the landscape with such intense light that one could easily think that the sun would soon sluggishly climb over the horizon.

"Tadao said that even though you do have a mate, it does not mean that you are unable to make me happy. He said that he does not want to take this possibility from you and me." With a sad countenance, her gaze faltered and fell as tears brimmed in her eyes. A stifling sensation of pain and suspense poured into his heart, she appeared disheartened and in urgent need of solace, otherwise she would writhe in the grip of a definite apprehension.

Conscious of unchallenged supremacy, she exhibited no remonstrance to Sesshoumaru's peremptory touch as he forcefully caused their eyes to meet by pulling her chin up. Something within his golden eyes caused a faint, transient, wistful smile lightening her crestfallen face.

At that point, he was not cognisant whether he unexpectedly found her irresistible, maybe it was merely an urge for a woman or his yearning for her in particular, perchance all of them and more combined that drove him to admit defeat in his asseveration.