TW Gore
"Miroku!" Sango called to him as Sana opened the door, leading them inside the room where those with lesser wounds were kept. Sango ran over to him and knelt by him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Miroku smiled and rested his chin on her shoulder as he held her for a moment. He noticed the rest of their friends following behind, all with varying states of worry and Kirara rubbed against his side, purring comfortingly. "Are you alright? Sana told us what happened." Sango asked as she sat back on her feet and took him in. He had a bandage on his cheek and most of the dust had been washed from his face. His hair was a mess and she idly brushed it with her fingers, knocking out some of the dust.
"I am alright, Sango." Miroku assured her with a smile, "Especially now that I have a woman with your beauty here to nurse me to health." Sango froze as she felt his hand on her ass. Shippo winced at the sound of the slap that ensued. Sango didn't really mind him feeling her up, but she definatly preferred it to be kept private.
"Ah, young love." Sana laughed to himself quietly as he let the door shut.
"What the hell happened?" Inuyasha asked as he stopped in front of the couple, his arms crossed and folded in to his sleeves.
"Well, we had placed seals in the cells." Miroku explained. "If they tried to escape or someone tried to free them, they would explode, killing the prisoner and whoever was trying to free them."
"Do you think they set them off on purpose?" Kagome asked from Inuyasha's side, a worried Shippo in her arms.
"Why would they do that if it's just gonna kill them?" Shippo asked, his voice shaking.
"Where's my moma?" Takara's quiet voice called from her spot near the door. She stood next to Sesshomaru, one hand grabbing onto his pant and her other hand holding Rin's hand. The group turned to the trio. They had been so quiet they almost forgot they had joined them.
"She had some business to tend to." Sana told her gently. Takara looked up at him, just blinking. That answer wasn't good enough for her and it made the older man smile. "I'll make sure she comes to see you as soon as she can."
There was no light, but Noa didn't need it. Her bare feet padded up the wet stone steps as she slowly made her way up the steps and out of the dungeon. She didn't know if the wetness beneath her feet was water or blood, but the occasional feel of flesh beneath her told her not to question it.
She walked, almost dazed, through the surviving halls, leaving a trail of muddy and bloody foot prints behind her. The scene she had witness was unsettling. Noa had seen death, she had executed her own brother only days prior, but this was wrong. She had not been afraid of much in her life, and she couldn't remember the last time she had been so terrified. She felt cold, as though ice was pumping through her veins.
Noa felt warm tears running down her face and whipped them away, forgetting the blood that was on her palms. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to bring herself some comfort. Guilt ran through her. She had kept them alive this long for Asahi's sake. She had agreed to keep them alive, but this….she couldn't, not after what she had seen. After what they had done, could they even be considered people?
Noa and her people were demons, yes, but they had standards, morals, ethics. Most demonic cultures do. A chill ran down her spine. What happened?
When she found herself in the throne room, she looked at the chair sitting at the dias.
"Father, what has this kingdom come to?" She whispered into the night. The room was dark, dimly lit by the moon that had been obscured by clouds. Noa walked quietly to the dias and sat on the steps, looking out the window. She wished the rain would come and wash it all away.
"Lady Noa!" A voice called to her from the entrance of the room. Her head slowly turned to see Botan and Asahi. The two were frozen in place for a moment before they jogged over to her. She was covered in dirt and blood and her clothes were torn. Her hair was a wild mess around her having fallen out of the knot. Her eyes were wide as she stared at them, watching them approach, but as wide as her eyes were, they were dazed, unfocused. "Lady Noa, are you alright?" Botan asked gently as he knelt before her, looking her over. Who's blood was she covered in?
"I killed them." Noah whispered, looking at Botan. Asahi, standing behind Botan, stiffened and Botan tensed, looking at his queen. "I killed them, I had to." She explained, her eyes still dazed.
"You what?" Asahi growled and reached for her, wanting to shake her. Botan stood and pushed him back.
"Back off!" Botan warned, glaring at Asahi. "Calm yourself."
"She killed them!" Asahi roared. "After all the work we did to keep them alive, she just killed them on a whim!"
"You don't know what happened." Botan told him calmly, his voice firm.
"What's going on?" Itsuki asked as he and Sana escorted the group into the room. Sesshomaru stood front and center, the two guards flanking him. Takara dashed forward but Sana stopped her, picking her up. She didn't need to be anywhere near this potential fight. He looked at the other little girl and saw Kagome had lifted Rin.
"Step aside." Sesshomaru ordered as he approached Asahi, giving him a cold stare. Asahi didn't back down, letting his anger and grief over power his reason.
"I don't take orders from you, dog!" Asahi shouted.
"Asahi!" Botan snapped, yanking him back and tossing him to the floor. "He is a guest of our Lady-" Asahi cut him off as he sat up.
"She is not fit to be queen!" He shouted.
"Hey, who the hell do you think you are?" Inuyasha shouted as he marched forward. The guy had rubbed him wrong since they met.
"Stay out of this," Sesshomaru told him clearly, making his younger brother stop and glare. Noa watch this all unfolding from her seat at the dais.
"You all bow to a bitch who thinks she has the right to choose if we live or die on a whim!" Asahi shouted as he stood, looking around the room furiously.
"She is our queen and the current holder of the bloodline." Itsuki told him from across the room. "If she chooses to dispatch us from this world, it is her decision. You knew this when you accepted the position."
"They were our prisoners and held no threat!" Asahi roared in anger.
"They were eating each other." Noa spoke softly from her seat. All eyes snapped to the silent queen. Kagome gasped softly and held Rin tighter.
"You should take these two back to the west wing with your friends." Sana suggested, turning to Kagome. "This is not something the children should hear." Kagome nodded and as Sana set Takara down, she took the little girl's hand.
"But, mama-" Takara said, glancing in her mother's direction. Sana gave her a gentle smile.
"I promise she will come see you shortly." Sana told her and nodded to Kagome.
"Right." Kagome said, gently leading Takara and carrying Rin away.
"What the hell are you saying?" Asahi hissed at her. Noa slowly brought herself to her feet and stepped down off the dais.
"My lady," Botan said quietly, confused by her words, stepping back.
"They were eating each other." Noa told them, looking to Asahi and Botan. "Those who had survived had torn the dead apart, devouring them." Noa shivered at the memory and turned to Itsuki. "I thought we had fed them."
"We did." Itsuki nodded, "I have seen to it myself your wishes were followed."
"Then why-" Asahi rushed forward, grabbing her by her shirt, shaking her slightly.
"You lie!" He shook her and Sesshomaru stepped forward but before he could send the man flying out the window, Noa slapped him, the blood from her hand staining his cheek. Asahi released her and stepped back. He didn't really know what he expected, but it wasn't something as simple as a slap.
"Those who could reach the limbs and corpses devoured the flesh of their comrades." Noa explained to him, her tone soft. Asahi wouldn't meet her gaze. "Those who could not reach the bodies of others began to eat their own limbs." No one moved, all listening to what she had witnessed. "I saw a man who had bled out before he could finish eating his own leg. Asahi, tell me how these men were the same men we locked away." Asahi was silent. No one moved, no one spoke. They stood there, absorbing what she had told them and the gravity of it all.
"What the hell could make someone do that to themselves?" Inuyasha asked, breaking the silence.
"There is an old legend," Sana spoke, pulling the attention to him. "It describes betrayal to the bloodline and its consequences. Most simply go mad, but the older stories tell of a time when a city had been plagued by cannibals."
"So because they helped take over, they went nuts?" Inuyasha asked. "That doesn't make any sense. Why didn't this happen when they first locked you up?" He asked Noa as she stood there, thinking it over.
"Perhaps it is a gradual decline?" Botan suggested.
"I had heard rumors." Itsuki spoke. "Nobuo and his men eating the bodies of their enemies. I had dismissed them as gossip."
"It would explain the sudden madness for flesh." Noa nodded and turned to Inuyasha, "When one begins to devour the flesh of their kin, they must continue to do so. The cravings grow to strong and when not sated it can grow to madness."
"Those are just stories." Asahi hissed and Noa turned to him. This would continue no further.
"You are dismissed." Noa told him calmly and he startled, blinking at her in surprise. "Hand over your sword."
"What?" He growled. Noa stretched out her hand. "You just expect me to leave?"
"You have served your purpose." Noa told him. "I no longer hold you to this palace or those who dwell here. Hand over your sword."
"My family has done nothing but loyally serve this family-" Asahi began but she cut him off.
"Your father broke that tradition." Noa told him flatly. "You are no longer bound by it."
"If you think-"
"You. Are. Dismissed." Noa growled lowly, emphasizing her words. "Hand it over." Asahi glared at her for a moment before reaching for his sword. He ripped it from his belt and tossed it at her feet. Noa dropped her hand slowly as it clattered on the floor in front of her. "I dismiss you with gratitude. May you find peace in your new life." Asahi glared at her a little longer before storming from the room. They watched him go and Noa felt a pang of sadness. She had few close allies left and she lamented losing more, but he was becoming dangerous. It wasn't just the challenge to her authority. She often welcomed differing opinions. It was the lack of trust in her judgment, in Sana's judgment. It was the lack of respect for his comrades, his obsession with his traitor father's safety and wellbeing. He was too close to it all. She feared his rage would grow to resentment. She wanted so badly to tell him, but Noa couldn't bare to tell him the truth.
Noa did not kill his father. Asahi's father had been ripped to shreds. Noa had heard his screams as the monsters dug their fingers into his flesh, eating him from the inside out. When she arrived, he had bled out. She despised the man, but would not have wished that end on anyone.
"Are you alright?" Sesshomaru's voice called to her, bringing her back to the throne room. Noa blinked, startled at how close he was. Only a few moments ago he was halfway across the room. Now he stood next to her, his chest inches from her shoulder and her arms wrapped around herself once more. Noa nodded at him and looked to Sana and Itsuki.
"Itsuki, Sana, Botan." She called their attention. "I want this room and the west wing reinforced. Please have all surviving materials from the war room brought here and a table from the dining hall here as well." Noa began giving out instructions. "Until the palace is finished, I want as little people scattered as possible. We will eat and work here, as will our guests."
"Would you like us to have the sleeping wing reinforced as well?" Itsuki asked and Noa blinked. How had she forgotten this? Noa nodded and he bowed. "It will be done."
"Botan," She turned to the young man and she could see the sadness in his eyes. "I am sorry." She told him quietly. He offered her a small smile and nodded.
"Is there something I can do for you, my lady?" He asked her softly.
"Once everything is settled, please escort my daughters and Inyuasha's companions to their rooms." Noa instructed.
"It will be done." Botan nodded and began to leave.
"Sana." She called and her stomach growled. Sana gave her a smirk and before she could give an order he spoke.
"It will be done, my lady." Sana teased and she huffed, crossing her arms.
"I didn't even say anything." She argued and the older man shrugged before swiftly exiting before she could give a different order. Noa rolled her eyes and turned away but Sesshomaru gently pulled her back to face him.
"You need rest." He told her quietly, his voice hardly above a low rumbled.
"I am fine." Noa insisted.
"So what happens now?" Inuyasha interrupted and Sesshomaru resisted the temptation to roll his eyes as Noa stepped away.
"Well, Sana should be having food made." Noa explained. "You and your friends are welcome to join me. I apologize for the odd hour."
"It's whatever." Inuyasha shrugged. "You should really see your kid though."
"Takara?" Noa asked curiously.
"Yeah, she's been beggin' to see ya since she woke up." Inuyasha told her. Noa thought on this as she bent to pick up the sword, wincing in pain. Her hand rested on her side as she stood upright and walked over to one of the few work tables, dropping the sword on the table.
"Can you go get her for me?" She asked, looking to Inuyasha. The young man shrugged at her. "And Rin, can you bring her as well?" Inuyasha smirked at the queen before turning on his heel.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll bring your daughters." He called over his shoulder as he made his leave. Noa stared at him as he left and once he was around the corner and out of sight she let out a long tired sigh. Noa rest her hands on the table and dropped her head, letting her hair shield her face. Everything throbbed and ached. Her stomach churned at the memory and the smell that still filled her nose.
"You need rest." Sesshomaru's firm tone filled her ears as she felt him step close. Noa buried her face in her hands. She was so tired and he was right, but she couldn't stop now.
"I need a lot of things." Noa told him. "Rest, water, food, a bath." Noa stood and turned to him, finding they were only inches from each other once more. She looked him over and swallowed. "You have needs, too." She whispered, her voice failing her as she looked into his gold eyes. "You need my answer." Sesshomaru stared back at her, waiting patiently. Noa hesitated but opened her mouth to speak, to give him her answer, to tell him what she had decided.
Noa stepped back when someone by the door cleared their throat. Her eyes widened in fear as the little old lady stood with a small smile. Over one shoulder was a bag and in her hands was a large bowl of water with a rag hanging off the side.
"Oh, he would send you." Noa hissed and she tried to step back, but Sesshomaru grabbed her arm, stopping her. Sesshomaru knew who this woman was, and he knew how Noa would respond. Noa glared up at the father of her child with pure hatred. Sesshomaru began to drag the struggling queen to a cushion as the woman neared. "Traitor!" Noa hissed.
The queen sat and let the older woman care for her. Sana had sent her knowing this healer was the bane of Noa's existence. The healer would be the only one to be able to match the queen's stubbornness.
The healer began pulling out bandages and medicine from her bag, setting them on the table. Noa watched her, tense. The more of a fight she put up, the more pain the healer would inflict. She knew this but she still would fidget in her seat or swat the woman's hands away.
To Noa's dismay, she found herself beginning to relax. Noa was sitting on a cushion and facing the healer, turning her back to Sesshomaru who sat next to her. She could feel him behind her and resisted the urge to lean against him. His presence alone was obnoxiously soothing. The woman took the queens hand gently and Noa hissed as the warm, damp cloth scraped against some of her opened cuts.
"You should have let me bandage these." The woman tutted as she washed away the dust from earlier. "Whose blood covers you, child?" The healer asked.
"My own and the blood of those in the prison." Noa answered honestly. The healer nodded and continued to clean the queen's arms. With a fresh rag she cleaned Noa's legs and feet. Noa was surprised with how gentle the healer was with her, though it was probably because she wasn't putting up a fight.
Noa could feel the bags under her eyes growing heavier and her eyelids drooped. She was dozing off, being soothed by the warm water as her skin was cleaned. The smell of the soaps was soothing and the presence behind her calmed her. Candles and some torches had been lit in the hall, giving a soft, warm glow.
The healer grabbed a fresh rag and brought it slowly to the queen's face. The warm, clean rag touched her cheek and Noa's eyes closed as she leaned into it, nodding off. The healer giggled to herself quietly as she watched the queen struggle to stay awake.
"It's alright to sleep, child." She cooed gently and Noa pitched forward, her head resting on the woman's shoulder, fatigue of the days catching up to her. Sesshomaru, having seen her fall onto the woman's shoulder, turned and pulled her up and against his chest, Noa's head leaning back on his shoulder, allowing the old healer to continue her task. The healer smiled at her and flicked her eyes to the man that held her. The two sat in silence, not needing to speak for the moment. She knew who he was, having seen him grow over the centuries.
Sesshomaru watched as the healer's trained hands began to bandage and rebandage the queen's injuries, leaving the smaller ones to heal on their own. She had cleaned the cut on her hairline and whipped the blood from her face. With the queen incapacitated, the old healer was able to finish her work quickly. It was only when she was packing her things did she break the silence.
"I was the midwife when Takara was born." She spoke gently. Sesshomaru met the woman's stare as he listened. "There were complications. We almost lost the both of them, but the stubbornness of the three of you seems to even stave off death." The woman chuckled as she closed her bag. Sesshomaru glanced down at the woman leaning against him, unsettled at the possibility of losing her to death. They had been separated, yes, but he had assumed it only temporary. "Should you try for another," the woman spoke, pulling his attention back to her, "There is very little chance for success. Noa cannot carry another child."
"Is she aware?" Sesshomaru asked flatly. It made no difference to him whether or not they had children. He had not intended to have any, yet here he sat with two wards.
"Of course." The healer answered as she grabbed her things and stood. "I would not keep such things from her. However, I suspect it is the reason she has been so distant from you." Sesshomaru continued to watch the healer, listening. The healer rolled her eyes, clearly he wasn't getting it. "Lady Noa is strong, a formidable force and powerful mate, but a woman's heart is fragile. She missed you greatly. She fears losing you once more."
"She will not." Sesshomaru answered flatly and the healer giggled.
"I know this, and you know this." The healer nodded. "But she doesn't. There are too many questions in her mind, plaguing her. She knows mates are seen as child bearers in the mainland. She may think you expect more from her than she can give." The old woman eyed the two. "She knows she loves you, I doubt that will ever change." With this information given, the woman turned on her heel and left the two alone in the dimly lit hall.
Sesshomaru looked down at the woman resting against him, watching her chest rise and fall. He pressed his cheek to her head and rubbed gently as she stirred. I gave a low growl, almost a purr, encouraging her to rest longer. What good is a queen who works herself to death?
Noa sighed as she felt him rub his check against her. She could smell him and found peace at being wrapped in his presence. So much had transpired but she could not bring herself to care. Noa took pleasure in the brief moment they had to themselves, reveling in his tenderness he reserved for her.
The sounds of servants' feet walking towards them had her flutter her eyes open. She watched as they approached and left food on the table. It was simple food, but they didn't need anything elaborate. Noa sat up and looked around. The healer was gone and she turned to face the table, not oblivious to the arm that pulled her close to his side and rested on her hip.
"Sorry." She muttered to him and before he could ask why, Takara called to them. The two watched the two girls running across the hall towards them and Noa laughed, stretching out her arms. Takara crashed into her first and Noa gently pulled Rin into the hug. The little girl was startled at first but hugged the queen as well. "I am so sorry to wake you two." Noa told them. "But we have some snacks. Would you like to join us, or go back to sleep?"
"I want to stay here." Takara said as she crawled across her mother and planted herself in Sesshomaru's lap before reaching for some food.
"I want to stay as well, if that's alright." Rin answered and Noa smiled at her, pulling another cushion close and patting it, inviting her to sit with her.
"Those two have been itching to get back here since they left." Inuyasha told them as he approached, Kagome in tow. Noa chuckled.
"Why am I not surprised?" She asked Takara with a knowing smile. Noa turned back to Inuyasha and Kagome and gestured to the seat across the table. "Won't you join us?"
"Sure!" Kagome cheered brightly. "It'll be nice to be able to sit with you. I feel like we've hardly gotten a chance to meet!"
"Yes, I apologize." Noa offered, a little embarrassed at her neglect. Kagome and Inuyasha sat across from them. Noa reached for some fruit and popped it in her mouth.
"You got a lot of shit to fix, what else can we expect?" Inuyasha told her roughly as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Hey, I got a question." Inuyasha announced after some silence. "What happened to that one guy?"
"Asahi?" Noa asked as she swallowed her food.
"Didn't you say she dismissed him?" Kagome asked, looking at Inuyasha.
"Yeah, so what does he just walk out of here?" Inuyasha asked.
"Yes, I dismissed him from my court." Noa explained as she reached for a cup of water. "It was the best way to release him without further disgrace."
"I think you shoulda kicked his ass." Inuyasah commented, crossing his arms. "He needed to be knocked down a peg." Noa laughed a bit at this.
"Wouldn't make a difference." Noa told him. "I used to fight against him when I was learning. I don't think he ever beat me." Kagome giggled at this and Inuyasha smirked.
"Maybe we should go a round some time." He suggested, "I'm always looking for a good challenge."
"You would not stand a chance." Sesshomaru cut in, making Noa snort as she took a sip of water.
"Oh yeah?" Inuyasha challenged his brother.
"Yeah!" Takara jeered from her spot in Sesshomaru's lap. "My moma can beat you! She's stronger than you!"
"Hey, stay outa this, runt!" Inuyasha told her.
"I'm not a runt." Takara shouted and tried to climb across the table, only to have Noa pull her by her shirt back into her father's lab. "Take it back!"
"Takara, off the table." Noa told her as she kept a grip on her daughter. "You know how to behave."
"But moma!" Takara whined at her mother. Noa just looked at her daughter and Takara huffed, crossing her arms and sticking her tongue out at Inuyasha who mimicked the expression. Noa laughed quietly as Kagome huffed and rolled her eyes.
"You can be so immature." Kagome mumbled as she rested her cheek in her palm, giving Inuyasha a dirty look.
"He comes by it honestly." Noa explained as she swallowed more fruit. "I think it runs in their family." Kagome giggled at this while Inuyasha snorted. Noa turned to Sesshomaru and he glanced down at her. "Are you still beating up on Jakken or have you out grown that?"
"He annoys me." Sesshomaru stated flatly and looked away from her, not feeling as though he should be criticized and Kagome tried to hide her laughter, though Rin was less subtle. Noa sat in her seat, rather pleased with herself, knowing she had embarrassed him just a bit. She was oblivious to Inuyasha watching her, watching them.
Sesshomaru had never struck Inuyasha as a person who would have, let alone care for a family, yet here he sat. Sesshomaru sat across his brother with his daughter in his lap, the mother by his side, and the little girl he had all but adopted next to the woman. They looked like a family, and odd family, but a family. He watched as Noa gave attention to the two girls, making sure they were comfortable and happy, answering any questions. Inuyasha had noticed Sesshomaru's palm rested on Noa's hip, keeping her close, but said nothing. His older brother was silent, letting the little girl in his lap fall asleep against him. When had his brother gotten so soft?