Notes: The latest chapter is here! I know I sound like a broken record, but I really appreciate you reading my story! I would not have made it this far without all the encouragement. Hope you enjoy! A HUGE thanks to BETA readers Ember Reverie, ruddcatha, and KarinaInuPhantom!
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Chapter 9:
Vitamin String Quartet - Hallelujah
White sheets placed with utmost care covered virtually every inch of the room, from the antique furniture to the frames adorning the walls, freezing every aspect in time. Two servants reverently lifted the material piece by piece, folding each sheet in silence. Their gloved hands were careful not to disturb anything more than necessary.
A swift intake of breath echoed in the tranquil room as the demons uncovered the bed, resurfacing the memories of late night girl talks Kaede and Izayoi shared during her monthly visits to Tessaiga. A tall rocking chair by the window was next, where the late duchess would sit at night nursing her pups before singing them to sleep. Even as the boys became teenagers, Izayoi loved that chair, often sitting in it and reading.
The sun was preparing to set, casting the room in an eerie orange glow. Shippo was with the new nurse in the nursery, leaving the two women to oversee the preparation of the bedchambers. Kagome surveyed Kaede, not oblivious to the old woman's hands that clenched her dress or her slumping shoulders. After spending the afternoon with her in neighboring estates to locate a willing wet nurse, Kagome felt like she knew the older miko well and grieved that her melancholy was at her own expense.
This chamber was meant to forever remain untouched, unoccupied – forever locked away like their recollections of Inuyasha's mother.
What was Inuyasha thinking? Was he thinking at all?
Another swoosh captured Kagome's attention as a sheet cascaded off an immense canvas that embellished the wall. It was as lovely as all the paintings downstairs, but this one made her heart ache. An elegant woman with long ebony hair sat poised on an upholstered chair, a young smiling boy with white ears on each knee. Her expression was one of pure glowing bliss, such as Kagome had seldom seen.
The toddler on the right Kagome instantly realized was Inuyasha. He must have been mischievous, even as a child, as he peered up to his mama - his chubby hands reaching up to touch her rosy cheeks. The other figure had to be his half-brother, Sesshomaru, who sat straight up and rigid – looking ever like a proper man than a youngster.
How could she ever reside in such a room that once held such joy, seeing how it now held such sorrow?
"Kaede," her throat constricted, her words almost inaudible, "I think I desire to sleep in the nursery." She cleared her throat, "There are two beds. I'll be able to better care for Shippo there."
"But these are the duchess' quarters, your grace," one servant said graciously. "If we had more time to prepare them maybe they would not disquiet you so."
While she was never one to suppress her emotions, being surrounded by demons that could detect her every mood unnerved her. Kagome glanced through the doorway to Inuyasha's chambers. "I doubt the duke will mind if I am slightly down the hall."
Not like I'll be needed in his chambers, or he in mine for that matter.
The tension eased as Kaede's shoulders lifted, "There is a spare bedchamber across from the hall from the nursery, not far from the library. Would that be sufficient until we get this sorted?"
"That would be most suitable, thank you Lady Kaede."
"Very well." Kaede took one final glance at the painting, her eyes misting. "I'll have the maids prepare yer room while we head downstairs for dinner. Inuyasha should be arriving shortly."
…
Kagome drummed her fingers absently against the smooth mahogany as they sat in the dining room. It had been at least an hour and yet the armchair at the opposite end of the table was still unoccupied.
"He said he would be home by dinner, but ye never know with Inuyasha. We should eat. My nephew is not one for formalities."
The same two servants who had assisted them in the late duchess' chamber were standing at attention against the wall. Kagome wondered how many other roles they were responsible for, as she had only seen a handful of staff since she arrived. "I will wait, but you are welcome to eat." Kagome rearranged the silverware set before her into the proper placement, "He seemed so elated to be home. Did he tell you where he was off to?"
Kaede shook her head, "Just business. He has much to attend now that he has returned."
Kagome jumped out of her skin as the door flung open, the familiar sound of confident footsteps treading across the floor. The noise ceased as he allowed a servant to collect his coat – Inuyasha instantly pulling at the cuffs of his shirt to loosen them.
The duke drew his chair backward and immediately collapsed across it, tossing a stack of papers onto the table. "Sara informed me of the eventful day in the village."
Kagome delicately adjusted the spoon again in preparation for the meal, a swift pang of jealousy coursing through her. Is Sara something to the duke?
"Aye, it was most eventful, she-"
"Forgive me Kaede." He narrowed his eyes at Kagome in her unbecoming red gown. "I was speaking to my wife."
Inuyasha sagged back into his chair, leaning his head against his palm as the servants withdrew to gather their meal – a meal that was no doubt going to be cold.
Kagome glanced up to Inuyasha's unreadable face. While she could abide being called her grace, the term wife struck a sour note in her - like when her fingers slipped on the pianoforte mid-song.
The two stared at each other in silence as the servants returned with carts, arranging the food before them. Every retort that sprang to Kagome's mind was too undignified to put into actual words in front of his staff.
"That will be all, thank you." He dismissed all the attendants with a wave of his hand. The door sealed with a reverberating thud, leaving them alone.
What has him in such an awful mood this time?
"As I recall, your grace, I am not a prisoner here."
The bowl of onion soup before Inuyasha revolted his senses. He thought about calling the servants back to return it to the kitchens, but he despised needing the staff for such a simple task in which he was more than capable. He couldn't smell her moods, leaving him to guess – a skill in which no man was ever apt. Furthermore, she was sitting much too far away. Inuyasha never understood these ridiculous long tables for intimate dinners. There were three people, not thirty. "Never a dull moment with you, is there? Where is this kit?"
Kagome squared her shoulders, tilting her chin. "In the nursery with his wet nurse."
"This is no place for a child. His place is in the village with his people."
She flinched, "His place in the village would have been in the damned ground. Shippo is not negotiable. He stays or we both go."
After the endless day he endured, he merely crossed his arms. Fight was usually something Inuyasha had in spades, but not tonight.
Sara said that she wasn't willing to take no for an answer. She's willing to risk everything for a child – a demon child. She's a walking contradiction.
"Keh. You would do well to remember that demons do not behave the same way as humans before you disrupt the ways of the village." The duke turned to Kaede before Kagome could reply, "Did you honestly think it was a good idea to bring the daughter of our sworn enemy? What if someone had recognized her?"
Kaede shrugged, "Ye may find, Inuyasha, that Lady Kagome can hold her own. Since ye can't confine her to this house, ye will need to explain matters to the village or there will be further unrest."
Inuyasha tilted his glass and gulped the dark whiskey, regarding the two women before him over the rim. "There's no need, Kaede, I already have. I went on my way back from the city and was surprised to learn of her visit. I was hoping to have more time, but I vastly underestimated the speed at which the two of you are capable of provoking trouble."
While Kagome was a problem solver, some disputes were best solved with a change of topic. "What was this important business you needed to attend in the city, your grace?"
"I went and got our license." Inuyasha tapped the papers before him, "Luckily the archbishop was receptive to our cause. It's backdated to yesterday morning in case anyone goes digging. Our marriage looks official, in the majority of human terms anyway."
In all ways except consummation. Kagome thought holding her breath. It was their way out, the way to an annulment once she found love. It was the reason the union was a ruse – it would never be consummated.
"All I need you to do is sign them."
It was so simple. Just scribble her signature on the papers. And yet the gravity was not lost on her. Her life goals were achieved – and it was all a lie.
"Did ye have issues? The archbishop of Shikon is merely two hours ride."
Kagome surveyed the duke's face, awaiting to see if he would betray any emotion. He had been gone much longer than they anticipated. Did he have a lover? Was that why he was so willing to let her court other men?
His tired golden eyes shifted as they glanced back down to his plate, "The carriage caught a flat."
"Carriage? Ye didn't take yer horse?"
Your own aunt doesn't recognize your actions. You can't even tell her where you've been all day without risking their judgment. Are you afraid of them, or who you've become?
Inuyasha gripped his head, yearning for silence and sleep. "With all due respect aunt, I don't interfere in your private affairs. Do not interfere in mine."
Kagome took a small bite of room temperature soup. He was lying to them, but why?
Kaede sat up in her chair, pressing her lips together. "Speaking of affairs, ye are both aware that it is customary to hold a ball after a marriage?"
"Keh, that won't be a problem. I will leave everything in your more than capable hands. Make sure no expense is spared if this is to be believable."
Is he out of his mind? While the villagers' homes are barely livable and their town marginally functional? He'd really rather focus Tessaiga's resources on maintaining our sham of a marriage?
Kagome thudded down her spoon. "No expense? What of the village? Surely they could use the funds more than a fake ball?"
She's making you think she cares. How touching. Throw her the frivolous ball and get her out of our business like your aunt. She will be so enamored with picking the perfect frilly dress that she'll leave the important matters to us.
A scoff resonated across the room. "You act as if your father was able to demolish our assets. Now that my most pressing matters are complete, restoring my village is the next priority."
It was a poignant reminder of where they stood. Ruining her family was Inuyasha's primary goal – more important than taking care of his own people. And now her mama and Sota were trapped with her father and she was trapped here.
Kaede looked between them, "Perhaps ye ball can wait, Inuyasha. Ye can claim a long honeymoon."
"No, Kaede, it can't wait." He cradled his head further into his hands, holding his ears to block out their voices that seemed unnaturally loud. "There is no time to waste. I will not give that wrench Kikyo more time to run her mouth spreading all kinds of lies. The only way to silence them is for our marriage to appear happy and legitimate as soon as possible."
Happy? Legitimate? How good of an actress does he think I am?
"And I want you to get new dresses made for her tomorrow."
Kaede turned to Kagome; her nephew was clearly a lost cause this evening. "How would ye like a new wardrobe, your grace? I have heard of the finest new silk from France, what colors would ye like?"
It took Kagome a moment to realize she was speaking to her. "I suppose red would be suitable, Lady Kaede." Getting a new dress was once the highlight of Kagome's day, but now it seemed like an inconvenience. Everything here felt like an inconvenience. She longed to leave and tend to the fox kit. Keep her mind and hands busy.
Inuyasha sat up properly in his chair, ears twitching. "No red. She can have any color but red." Anything but his house colors. "Or white...or green," he declared with a huff, recalling how she tempted him in white and the ball when she'd defied him by wearing sage.
"Heavens, Inuyasha. Are ye to forbid her from wearing every color?"
Kagome raised the spoon from her soup bowl, the soup splashing off the rim as her hands violently quivered. Setting the utensil back down hastily with an unladylike clash, she looked up to see if they had noticed, but neither were paying her mind.
She settled her hands in her lap, stilling them by entwining her fingers. Her skin slowly flushed, her cheeks heating to a discomforting level.
Must be too much wine.
She peeked at the glass she had scarcely touched, plastering on a smile as the older miko looked at her. "Use your best judgment, Lady Kaede."
Lady Kaede smiled back, proceeding to eat her dinner. Kagome untangled her fingers, quickly pushing them back down into her lap as they continued to shake.
"We need to talk about Naraku." The words slowly and carefully left Inuyasha's lips. "He is a high ranking demon lord. If I snub him by not giving him an invitation, it could threaten our ruse. But given what he did to you-"
I would rather rip him apart.
A burning, unpleasant sensation blossomed throughout Kagome's chest, making her stomach roll and heave.
Naraku. When she closed her eyes tonight, would he return to haunt her dreams? She could not bear what her imagination conjured, and the duke expected her to be in the same room – share the same space.
She needed to leave quickly and lie down. Some rest would do her well, even if her eyes remained open. Her lips parted to excuse herself as her stomach heaved again. The edges around Inuyasha began to blur and stretch, the color of his shirt fusing with the burgundy upholstery.
"But that bastard is up to something. If he comes, perhaps we could get some insight into what he is plotting."
His voice stretched and distorted, the syllables of his words jumbling together in a long incoherent string of sounds. The neckline of her dress constricted around her throat, the suffocating fabric squandering each attempt to get vital air.
Kagome stood, bracing herself with one hand on the dining chair as the other clutched her bodice.
It was then it assaulted Inuyasha's nose - much stronger than the scent of the onion soup - the putrid mixture of pus, blood, and demonic aura. How could her wound have not yet healed?
The chair screeched across the floor as he stood, moving towards Kagome.
"Inuyasha," Kaede declared, "what is wrong?"
Kagome yanked her dress loose, brushing her fingertips across her collarbone and holding her hand before her.
"Your grace..."
The color red swam in her vision as she fainted.
…
Notes: Please let me know what you thought of this chapter; I love reading all the comments! What would you like to see happen next?
