Rereading the previous chapters, I noticed I have gone from first person pov to eventually writing in third person pov. There are also times that Sesshomaru is referred to as "Lord Sesshomaru" and times it is "Sesshomaru-sama". Though it pretty much comes out to the same thing, I apologize for not having that continuation. At some point, I will focus on rewriting and correcting mistakes in previous chapters. Until then, I hope you continue to enjoy this story!
Please continue to leave reviews and give me feedback!
Also, my grammar check program is giving me issues with this chapter. It keeps trying to change words that makes sentences become meaningless and incorrect.
For example, the est in the word "questions" tries to correct itself to "the home". As far as I can tell, I caught the mistakes.
If you notice any issues I missed, let me know, please!
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The Lord of the West's study had always been a place that he always felt content. He was the main visitor to this large room filled with vast amounts of knowledge. Besides the occasional servant, Sesshomaru was mainly in solitude here. It was a place to escape from the annoyance of others. A place that he could relax and perform his duties in furniture that was tailored to his tastes. He leaned back in his chair and inhaled through his nose. The smell of books and scrolls that ranged from old and new filled his nostrils. It was another reason he enjoyed this room. There was something about the smell of all the literature that mixed in with his scent that helped to calm him. With his eyes closed, he inhaled once more. This time hints of vanilla and cherry blossoms appeared and slowly grew stronger. Normally, having someone else invade his sanctuary would bother him, but not with her. Though he would not admit out loud, this scent was also soothing. Another inhale and his hidden anger returned. Sesshomaru could smell him. He lingered on her. That damn mizuchi that had slithered his way into his castle and that dared try to toy with what belonged to him.
"Are you okay?"
The sound of her voice made his eyes open and meet her own. Altruistic, lavender orbs that he could read like a book gazed at him. Concern. That was all her eyes held, not that he needed to look there to know. Her whole face was a give away to any emotions she held. Mouth ever so slightly open with widened eyes that caused her forehead to crease as a result. Every little thing about her spoke volumes about her thoughts and emotions. The complete opposite of him. He made sure that his face and posture never gave away what was happening on the inside. Yet, here she was, asking if he was okay.
"Lord Sesshomaru?"
"This one is fine."
He wasn't. Not that he would ever honestly admit. Hundreds of things plagued his mind. It ranged from Naraku to the individuals inside his home. The new feelings that accompanied the two newest additions to his pack. The feelings that came with thoughts of her. Anger filled him anytime he thought of someone trying to touch her. The reasons behind it he could not understand why. It was different from wanting to protect those that duty required of him to do so. Imagining harm coming to his lands, to Rin, and to Kimiko, all had differing reactions. Anger was involved in the scenarios but to different degrees. If someone did something to harm the West and those in it, he would have justice. If someone was to harm, the two females, he would want them to die the most agonizing death. That was not what he had a problem with. He could see Rin growing up and having a mate. Another male touching Kimiko, that was a different matter. He had no interest in such things with her but he wanted no other male to lay a hand on her. Perhaps it was because she was his alpha female. An instinct to protect what was usually a mate that held that position.
She rolled her eyes and sat on the corner of his desk, facing him. "Deny it if you want," she scoffed. "I can tell you aren't." Kimiko took a deep breath and gazed at him with a sad expression. "I am sorry I keep messing up."
Golden eyes widened slightly in surprise. Before he could say anything, she continued.
"It was stupid of me to challenge him with real swords. Well, technically I didn't. It was all his idea, but not the point." She sighed and stared sadly at her hands in her lap. "I didn't listen to you and only thought about what I wanted to do. I didn't think of what could happen besides making you mad. Not only did I do that, but on the same day, I go and insult the same man's daughter! Yes, she did it first, but two wrongs do not make a right. I represent the West and need to act as such. I am not roaming the countryside as I hunt for sacred jewel shards anymore. I need to act more proper than I am accustomed to. Please, forgive me." With closed eyes, Kimiko pulled all her hair to one side and bared her neck to him.
Sesshomaru could only stare at the woman with disbelief. She thought he was furious with her. The daiyokai was indeed upset at her disobeying him, however, he was not furious with her. A lot of his anger was towards the male that had eyes on his alpha female. However, he could not lie and say the sight before him was not pleasing. She was submitting on her own will and acknowledging her mistakes for disobeying his orders.
"Since you seem to have realized your mistakes, you will not be punished, this time." A smirk lightly graced his lips. "Though uncalled for, the remark about buried treasure was amusing."
Kimiko's neck straightened as she gawked at him, "You aren't mad?!"
"Namika is second born to the Lord and Lady of the South. Though she stands to inherit nothing, not even the land she 'governs', her parents cater to her wants. As a result, she is spoiled and frankly annoying."
Gently, she bit her bottom lip in confusion as her brows furrowed. "If she governs a land, why would it not be hers?"
Without hesitating, Sesshomaru pulled out a large scroll from within his desk. As Kimiko hopped off, he laid the scroll down and fully opened it, revealing a map. He circled a small area of land with a finger as he spoke, "Namika holds the title Lady of the Southeast, however, it is in name only. The Lord of the East is a distant relative of Youko. Together they worked out a deal that Namika would 'have' a small area of the South and the East."
"Which explains the title, but..." Kimiko stared at the map as she further tried to understand on her own. It was just seconds before she began to laugh. "The agreement is not something that gives her the land is it?"
"That is correct. The South and the East still own and rule over their lands that she 'governs'. Namika does not have the mindset or skills to rule over anything." He began to put the map away, "She is not next in line to rule the South and has no mate that holds any power. To compensate for that, the role was created so she could be pleased."
She watched as he cleared his desk and sat back in his chair. As she did so, she couldn't help but dwell in her thoughts. This new amount of information made quite a lot of sense. Anyone could easily tell from the way she acted that she was entitled and spoiled. This helped to show how much. It did make her wonder about one thing, though.
"Youko," she began, "she brought up the idea of having Namika as a mate... They all showed up even though it was announced that the ceremony to present me would be postponed..."
"They are trying to take advantage of the situation while they can. It is uncommon to have an alpha female who is not a mate. It is even more uncommon to have one that is human. Having it postponed probably seemed as though I was hesitating, making them think there is an opportunity where there is none."
With a deep sigh, she walked towards the front of the desk and stared blankly at the door. "Simply put, Naraku is not the only one scheming. Lovely."
"Kimiko."
The brief utter of her name caused her to glance behind.
"You do not have to stay on bed rest. Your lessons will begin again tomorrow."
Shock quickly ran through her. The great Sesshomaru was compromising? She couldn't help but smile as she bowed and expressed her thanks.
"I'm not done," he declared. "Until otherwise informed, you are to always have a servant with you. They may be my guests, but do not let your guard down. Also, unless I am with you, do not go near Kaito. If you find yourself in his presence, leave immediately."
With a quick nod, she dismissed herself. She wasn't particularly happy about having someone with her at all times, yet, she understood the reason. Regarding the bit about Kaito, there were no objections to his instructions. Something about him creeped her out. As she opened the door, she was greeted by Maemi. Kimiko smiled at the maid. Perhaps having someone friendly following her wouldn't be all that bad.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
A hand covered her mouth as she hid out of sight. Her heart raced as she breathed heavily. Staying silent enough to not be found was difficult as adrenaline flooded through her body. Footsteps became louder as the hunter came closer to the prey. Kimiko's body froze as she held her breath. She knew any second they would find her and then it would be all over.
Ever so slowly, she peeked out from behind the maple tree she hid behind. Relief washed over her as she realized that one of her predators had turned to search in a different direction. She let out her breath, only to scream when a hand grabbed her from behind.
"Found you," Maemi sung with glee.
Having heard the scream, Rin came running from the other side of the tree and smiled joyfully. "We found you, Mama!"
The lavender eyed woman laughed as she ruffled her daughter's hair. "That you did! Helps to have a yokai on your side, though," she teased as she turned to the maid and stuck out her tongue. The maid giggled in return.
This was a moment that Kimiko greatly enjoyed. It was a great refresher from every serious matter she had to deal with lately. Plus, she was spending time with Rin and teaching her how to hide and hunt. Though it wasn't as drastically serious in this form as compared to the actual lessons that Sesshomaru had ordered them to receive. Both she and her daughter appreciated that fact.
"Okay," Maemi exclaimed as she clapped her hands together. "I was found first so I will be the seeker for this round."
The maid quickly left for the starting area for the seeker. Once she began to count loudly, Kimiko and Rin split up. Although she wanted to help Rin, those that are found have to help search for those that are still hidden. If Kimiko was found first, it wouldn't be exactly fair to her daughter. To be honest, Rin did not mind not receiving help. She was enjoying the little bit of independence this game offered her. If she would be the last one found, it would be because she hid well on her own.
As the countdown got closer to the end, Kimiko ran to the edge of the garden. She could faintly hear the numbers Maemi shouted and figured the bush she hid behind wouldn't break the rules of the game. They were to remain in the garden and a bush that laid on the boundary of it was technically the garden. At least, that is how she perceived it. It may seem silly to go to such measures to avoid being the first one found, but she had a valid reason for her methods. Any time Rin was the seeker, the maid went easy on the little girl. When it was Kimiko on the other hand, the maid enjoyed hiding in the toughest places, resulting in the woman searching for a long time. Maemi was incredibly nice and friendly, but she did enjoy messing with her lady.
A chuckle from behind her made Kimiko jump. Caught off guard, she frantically spun around, still crouched enough to be hidden by the bush. She couldn't help but gulp when her eyes met those the color of the ocean. Kaito continued to chuckle more as he observed her expression.
"I was enjoying a nice stroll when I noticed you were crouching behind this bush. What for, I wonder."
She remained silent as her mind panic at what to do. Her orders were to avoid him at all costs or escape if she encountered him. At the moment, he was much to close for her to evade him by going left or right. The fact she had hidden behind a bush meant that she was pinned from behind.
"Ready or not," Maemi shouted, "here I come!"
Quickly, he realized the situation and crouched. "Ah, I see! You are playing a game with the maid!" He grinned and kept his voice low, "Since you are waiting to be found, perhaps we can chat."
Without hesitating, she shook her head. "Maybe later. I don't think now is the best time to-"
"Nonsense," he whispered with a tone of voice that would make a mouse trust a snake. His face lit up more as the grin grew. Blue eyes never glancing away from hers. "Let's give the maid a challenge, hm? Come."
His hand grabbed hers and began to pull her away. Every bit of logic she held screamed to run, but she didn't. She couldn't. Her body felt as if it wasn't hers. As he continued to whisper about it being okay, she slowly felt it was. This noble she barely knew, that creeped her out on more than one occasion, for some reason she now felt she could trust him. Her mind felt hazy as he led her to a destination that only he knew.
Before her mind could even process it, she sat in a room alone with him. As he closed the door, she slowly could think clearly for a moment. She... She wasn't supposed to be here. Not with him. There was something... She was doing something before this... Rin.
Her eyes widened and she quickly stood up, "I need to go. I'm supposed to be playing a game with Maemi and Rin."
Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder and once more began to convince her everything was okay with that soothing tone. Again, her mind became hazy as she felt calm. She was in a safe place and with someone she trusted. Kaito slowly kept feeding her his lies until he felt she would no longer try for control. It was almost boring how easy it was for him. Almost.
"Who are the two people you mentioned," he asked.
Her lavender eyes were vacant of any expression as she stared blankly at the floor. "Maemi is the servant who attends me. Rin is my daughter."
Ever so slightly did this peak his interests. "Your daughter?" He smirked devilishly. "Have you laid with Sesshomaru? Or another man?"
"Never. She was orphaned and I consider her my own," she replied monotonously.
The mizuchi frowned at that. He was hoping he had accidentally stumbled upon something interesting. It was not a huge disappointment, however. There were different reasons for his actions. Her eyes. Not wasting another moment, he questioned her and demanded to know the reason for their color.
"I have distant yokai ancestry."
"I figured as much. Now tell me, what were they." He had met different types of yokai. More than anyone could count. While bat yokai had purple eyes, the shade was completely different. No other yokai had eyes of a pale lavender nor did any have a scent that was so... appealing.
"I-I," she hesitated. Though she wasn't in control, a part of her still knew something was wrong. Extremely wrong. "I don't know."
"Is that true?"
"Yes... No... Yes."
This time he greatly frowned. He was not accustomed to his prey having some resistance. Not after the large amount of work he had put in for her to trust him. Though he did not mind a challenge, he did not like facing difficulty when he was pressed for time. He was positive the maid had already noticed her absence. Once more he tried to coax her into giving the information he sought. Every bit of reassurance, beautifully woven lies, and sweet whispers were in vain. She was not letting go of her secret.
Sensing the maid getting closer, he grew angry. He was out of time and needed to quickly clean up his mess. He placed a hand on Kimiko's cheek and leaned in close. "When someone other than me enters this room, you shall remember nothing of this. You will only remember playing the game with the maid. To give her a challenge, you hid here."
After she confirmed what he told her, Kaito slipped out of the room using the opposite door he used to enter. It was not long after that Maemi rushed in. Her eyes frantically searched the room. When they landed on Kimiko, she rushed to her.
Kimiko smiled and laughed, "I hope you aren't too mad at me. You always gave me difficulty when I was the seeker. I was thinking I could do the same." Her smile faltered. Even though it had come from her mouth, the words did not feel like hers. A rule of the game was to not leave the garden and she knew she needed to stick to that. So why did she leave and why did she have this feeling that something wasn't right.
The blonde maid surveyed Kimiko for any sign of physical injuries. She knew what her Lady just said wasn't true even if she could sense no deceit. The scent of the Lord of the South had been mixed in with Kimiko's since the garden's boundary. The room she now stood in also smelled strongly of him. Something happened and she didn't know what. That frightened her.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
The word rage could not begin to describe what he felt. His claws dug into his desk as he fought the urge to throw the damn thing across the room. Crimson eyes burningly bore into the blonde maid. Sesshomaru wasn't sure who he should harm first; the damn serpent or the inane maid. He ordered to have someone to always be by Kimiko and Rin for a reason! Playing a game that requires you to hide with that given circumstance was the stupidest idea he ever heard of!
Maemi dropped to the floor as she begged for forgiveness. She had failed both her lord and lady and that killed her inside. When the game was suggested by Rin, she had thought the perimeter of the garden would be safe. The maid felt ashamed for not sensing that the mizuchi was even that close. Had she noticed sooner, she could have better protected the one she served.
With a wave of his hand, Sesshomaru dismissed her. "This one will decide your punishment later."
A moment after she had left the room, Jaken entered with Kaito following behind him. With a deep breath, Sesshomaru remained calm and collected. There was not a hint of emotion on his face. He would not give the serpent satisfaction.
"As requested, I have brought you the Lord of the South," Jaken declared with a bow. With no hesitation, he dismissed himself in a hurry.
"My, my, Sesshomaru. It would seem your little servant is terrified." Blue eyes closed as the infamous smirk appeared. "Is he always scared of you? Or did something happen-"
"Cease the act."
"Whatever do you mean?"
Tension quickly began to fill the air in the room. Each lord stared at the other unblinking. Had anyone stood in the room with them, they would surely have shaken in terror.
Sesshomaru leaned forward in his chair, "Kimiko was unaccounted for during a short time period."
"I fail to see what this has to do with me," the mizuchi shrugged. Soon after, laughter immediately rang out in the air. Kaito placed a hand to his lips, trying to quiet himself down. "Oh, I get it. The mighty Sesshomaru cannot keep an eye on one human girl! You cannot possibly ruin your reputation so it must be I who is the villain!" His laughter only continued as Sesshomaru growled in response. He may not have had the answers he wanted, but Kaito was still getting interesting information. The woman meant more to Sesshomaru than he was trying to let on.
It took everything for red not to appear in his eyes. His claws dug into the armrest of his chair. The damn yokai in front of him thought he, Sesshomaru, to be a fool. Images of snapping Kaito's damn neck played in his mind and it pleased him, slightly. If only he could do so at this moment.
"Your scent was mixed with the trail of her scent. The area she was found also strongly smelled of you. It is also widely known among nobles and servants that you can put humans and even a certain caliber of yokai in a trance. The questionable acts you do are also well known. Do not think this one to be stupid."
Eyes the color of the bluest ocean narrowed as Kaito's brow furrowed. Any evidence of his previous joyous demeanor was gone. "Be careful what you accuse me of, Sesshomaru. It would seem all you have is assumptions. If the room she was found in smelled of me, then perhaps I was in it beforehand. I did take a stroll through the castle today."
"This one never said she was found in a room."
For a brief moment, Kaito froze in shock. Though he recovered quickly, it was not missed by Sesshomaru. "As I said, you have no physical evidence to say I was in the same place as her. All you have are assumptions. And as far as I know, she could have been found in the bed of your father's half-breed bastard son." Done with the discussion, Kaito turned around without even a glance back at the daiyokai as he left the room.
The last comment made his self-control break. Red quickly took over his golden eyes. The moment he knew the mizuchi was too far to hear anything from his study, he punched his desk and broke it in half. Sesshomaru grabbed the pieces and flung it with blind fury. As he slowly calmed from his outburst, he dug his claws into his palm. Blood dripped down as he made a vow in silence. He refused to let himself fail anymore. He was Sesshomaru, the killing perfection. He was not going to let filth toy with what belonged to him.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"If he didn't already hate me, he does now."
"Mama," Rin adamantly shook her head, "Lord Sesshomaru would never hate you."
While her daughter was extremely certain on the matter, Kimiko couldn't help to feel the opposite. In such a short amount of time, the woman had caused an extreme amount of trouble. That wasn't even considering just the events of that day. She felt that she had just been an inconvenience for the yokai lord since he had taken her in. How could she not feel like he hated her? If your life was simpler before you took in someone who only caused issues and you had to constantly watch over the person, wouldn't you resent them?
"He may not show it through his expressions, but I believe what you think is him mad, is him being concerned." Rin gave her mom a reassuring smile.
The girl may have been young, but she had gone through a lot in her short life. Cruelty, hatred, and evil actions were things she had experienced in different ways. Her family was murdered by bandits and villagers beat and abused her for trying to survive. Yes, the daiyokai was powerful and strong. His expression, tone, and words could seem harsh, but Rin could see past that. It was his actions that showed his true feelings and intent.
"Lord Sesshomaru doesn't always seem the nicest. But, it is the things he does that lets me know he doesn't hate you, Mama. He wouldn't try so hard to protect you and wouldn't have worried about you while you were unconscious for so long if he did."
"I suppose you have a point there." Kimiko placed a hand on Rin's head and ruffled her hair. "It's not good for you to be wiser than your mom," she teased.
After smoothing out the girl's hair, she removed her hand and silently sighed. Lavender eyes stared at the bowl of rice in front of her. For the most part, she had only picked at the food Maemi had brought her. It was decided that the two of them would dine in the older one's room. Only certain people were permitted down this hallway of the shiro, which increased their safety. Using her chopsticks, she popped a piece of chicken in her mouth and set the sticks back down. Even though the food smelled and tasted heavenly, her appetite was not there.
The young child noticed this and frowned. A tiny hand grabbed her mother's and squeezed. "You would be upset if I hardly ate."
Had Kimiko been in a better mood, she would be proud of her daughter. She noticed Rin began to use first-person pronouns instead of referring to herself by name. There were moments that the girl slipped in her old habits, however, it was a great improvement. Hours of lessons were making progress where the woman's small attempts had failed. It also touched her heart that Rin was concerned about her. At the same time, it made her feel horrible. Kimiko had never raised a child, but she felt she was doing something wrong if the girl had to worry about her. Wasn't it suppose to be the other way around?
"I had a heavy lunch," Kimiko tried to give her best smile. A look at her daughter's brown eyes showed that the girl wasn't buying it. Sighing, she ate a bit more until Rin seemed pleased.
Anxiety only helped to make her more nauseous as the food settled in her stomach. The idea of the danger that lurked in their home was the only thing her mind could focus on. Kaito's ease to separate her from the maid and even cause her to forget what happened gave her such unease. It wasn't that she was worried about her safety, it was Rin's. Kimiko had fighting experience and she was no match for the mizuchi. How was a small girl suppose to be safe from him?
Echoes of hasty footsteps from the hallway went unnoticed by Kimiko as she was lost in thought. It wasn't until the door was briskly opened did she pull away from her troubled mind and focused on reality. Maemi stood in the doorway, her chest rose and fell rapidly as she let out loud breaths.
"Forgive me for disturbing you, my lady," Maemi spoke with urgency. "There is a situation at the front gate. Lord Sesshomaru is in an important meeting regarding recent events, so Master Jaken is tending to the matter at the gate. However, I feel he is making it worse."
Not knowing what to expect, Kimiko flew to her feet and ordered Rin not to leave the room. It took all of her effort to keep up with the speed of the maid. Maemi noticed this and lowered her speed to allow her lady to catch up. The issue with this is that it still required Kimiko to sprint. The sounds of their loud footsteps rang out into the air as they made their way to the gate. A burning sensation engulfed the area around Kimiko's lungs as she continued to push herself to impossibly reach an inhuman speed.
As they arrived at the front gate, Kimiko breathed heavily as she tried to catch her breath. It was a difficult task to accomplish as the feeling of surprise flooded through her at the sight before her. A familiar group stood in front of a small barricade of guards as the green imp stood behind them.
"Lord Sesshomaru is far to busy to deal with the likes of you," Jaken spat. "This is the last time I will tell you-"
"Let them through," Kimiko interrupted loudly.
The sound of her voice shocked both the imp and those that guarded the gate. All eyes turned to focus on her. Jaken's mouth opened to object, "They should not be allowed in. Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't approve." His eyes met those that glared back at him. A part of him wanted to hide. The look the woman was giving him was very similar to the looks he would receive from his lord.
"It wasn't a request. That was an order." Seeing that the imp was ready to object again, she quickly silenced him. "Last I checked, you are a servant of Sesshomaru. Considering he chose to make me the alpha female of his pack, I believe that also makes you answer to me, Jaken. It does not matter whether he likes my decision or not. I was promised I would have anything I want and right now, I find myself wanting the company of my sister and friends."
Jaken dropped to his hands and knees as he profusely apologized. It was truly not his intent to be disrespectful to Kimiko. In the time he spent with Rin and her, the two had slowly grown on him. A fact that he had not been aware of until she had fallen into a comatose state. When he saw her laying in Sesshomaru's bed, his heart hurt. He had worried for her, as well as for her child and his lord, who refused to leave her side. The pain was not something he wanted to experience again, for both them and him. That was why he had refused to allow Inuyasha and his pack to enter.
It was not as if the situation in the shiro was off to a good start. The lord and lady of a different land were current guests of the West, even though they had received notice to not arrive. Their daughter soon arrived after with aims to slither her way into his lord's heart. Not that it need be repeated once more, but Kaito had also made it known that he had in interest in Kimiko. His actions made them aware that she was not safe, causing Sesshomaru to quickly counter with new protocols and strategies. Eventually, even more yokai from other lands would appear and that would cause even more stress and concerns. The arrival of Inuyasha and his human friends was just something that was not needed. Not every yokai were kind and caring to hanyo and humans. Considering they were the Lady of the West's guests, their safety was now also a concern to the lord by default. Along with the potential of being treated as lower beings, came the potential of other yokai causing harm to them as a means to get to Sesshomaru or Kimiko.
Witnessing the sight of the groveling yokai before them, the guards bowed in apology and stepped out of the way. Without hesitation, Sango ran to her sister and threw her arms around the woman. Had Kimiko not expected the extremely tight hug, she was sure she would have lost her footing and fell backward. The two siblings stayed silent during the embrace. Both knew how much the other missed them as well as the worry of their safety during their time apart. As they separated, Kimiko asked Maemi to have meals for the group to be delivered to her room.
She then turned to her friends and smiled. "I'm sorry for the way you all were treated. Though, I am sure it won't happen again," lavender eyes glanced at Jaken. A loud gulp was audible from the imp as he nodded with understanding. Kimiko focused on her friends once more. "I have to admit, I am surprised you are all here."
"Keh," Inuyasha huffed with arms folded. "For the record, I was against the idea of coming here. But, between Sango and Kagome's nagging, I couldn't take it anymore."
"In other words, Kagome kept using that word until he gave in," Shippo laughed from Kagome's shoulder. The hanyo glared at the kit, who only stuck his tongue out in response.
"Well, you both see she is alright. Now, let's go. This place reeks of that bastard."
Kagome rolled her eyes as she walked through the gate. "Stay outside if that is what you want, I'm going in." The idea of entering Sesshomaru's home did make the miko nervous a bit. Despite everything, it was still Sesshomaru. Most of the woman's encounters with him were more negative than positive. Even if logic told her she didn't need to be scared about the idea, it was only natural that she was. They were also here unannounced which didn't make her feel all that better. The only positive about going in, besides Kimiko, was that she had the chance to sit down and eat a decent meal. Pain constantly radiated from her feet and back due to the time she spent walking and sleeping on the ground. That also helped to make the idea of brief comfort to be more tempting.
"I have to agree with Kagome, Inuyasha," Miroku stated as he followed her. "Kimiko has invited us in and had requested food to be cooked for us. Think of the trouble the beautiful maid will have to go through only to have it be in vain. It would be rude to leave now."
"The maid is what you mainly care about, perverted monk," Sango muttered.
Inuyasha cursed under his breath as he trudged along behind the monk. It took everything for Kimiko to hold back a laugh. After recent events, it felt nice to have their company once more. She had been so busy with different matters that she didn't realize how much she truly missed them. A smile still on her face, she glanced down at Jaken. "You should probably inform Lord Sesshomaru about our new guests."
"Let me escort you back to your room first, my lady."
She gently shook her head as she began to lead the group. "I have an entire pack, I am sure I will be fine on my way back." Kimiko paused at the castle door. Glancing behind her, her focus stopped on Inuyasha. Having her friends here was both a pro and a con. It wasn't exactly a secret when it came to the relationship Inuyasha had with his older brother. His disdain for the daiyokai was something he made clear. "Even though you are my guests, I still need you all to be on your best behavior. You need to show respect despite any personal grudges. Our hands are already full of enough issues, I don't need the trouble of trying to interrupt any fights and arguments."
A huff was her only response from the inu. The others had nodded in understanding. As they followed her into the shiro, their mouths dropped open. It was an understatement to say the interior was beautiful. Many times the group had helped to "exorcise" an evil spirit from a noble's home, so it was not exactly their first time being in a nice castle. It was the level of extravagance that was new for them. When the shiro had come into view during their journey, they could tell how large it truly was. They just did not expect the inside to look so luxurious. Sesshomaru did not seem like one to show his wealth to this degree.
Once more, Kimiko wanted to laugh after she saw the look on their faces. Though they didn't say anything, she had an idea of what they were thinking. "To my understanding, most of this has been like this since the previous Lord of the West. Everything was made to be near perfect for," she paused as she looked at Inuyasha. She had a small debate inside her mind on whether or not to finish her sentence. The talk of his family seemed like a sensitive subject for him sometimes. "I'm sure you get the idea... Oh, here we are!" Stopping at the end of the hallway, she opened a door.
Before the woman could even take a step in, Rin threw her arms around her mother and hugged tightly. "Rin was worried," cried Rin as she slipped back into her old habit. "With the way you and Maemi left, Rin thought something bad was happening again!"
Slender fingers gently ran through the girl's hair. The opposite hand rubbed her back in calming circles. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that. I'm okay, I promise. Your aunt just wanted to come to visit."
The small brunette pulled away slightly and turned her head. Relief flooded through her as her mind quickly processed why it was a situation Jaken couldn't handle with ease. After withdrawing from her mother, she ran and gave Sango the same tight hug. The taijiya couldn't help but smile as she hugged the girl back. As Rin pulled away, her words began to dawn on Sango. "Rin, what did you mean when you said you thought something bad happened again?"
"It's nothing. Let's go in the room," Kimiko spoke quickly.
"You're lying," accused Sango as she followed her sister. Had she not been filled with worry once more, she would have gawked at her sister's room. "Something happened. Otherwise, you wouldn't have said 'it'."
The room remained quiet as the rest entered. All eyes were on the two as tension grew in the deafening silence. Kimiko's brows furrowed as she stared at the ground. What was she supposed to say? Telling her sister everything would only cause her to worry more. The taijiya was more likely to attempt to stay if she knew about the incident with Kaito. Just the idea of her sister being anywhere near the serpent made her stomach twist. It was bad enough that her daughter had to be under the same roof as him.
"Something happened with my ability to... you know." Kimiko decided to be somewhat truthful. Even though they were in the privacy of her room, she decided to play it safe and trailed off. The last thing she needed was a servant overhearing and gossiping. It would be her luck that something like that would get overheard by the damn serpent. "I think it was a fluke, but somehow I was able to let Sesshomaru see it too. The whole situation was too much for my body to handle, I think. After it was over, I fell unconscious and didn't wake up for a week."
Sango exclaimed, "A week?!"
Miroku went to her side and tried to calm her down by rubbing her back. "Kimiko, I know you said you thought it to be a fluke, but... Is that something that is a known possible ability?"
She shook her head with certainty. "I was young when everything happened. As far as I can remember, no. I never heard of being able to let someone else experience it. I don't even know why or how it even happened."
Rin analyzed her mother as the woman spoke. A part of her wanted to tell them of the other events that had happened. Another part of her didn't want to. If her mom did not want to make that situation known, there had to be a reason. For that reason alone, she decided to stay silent. The girl had faith that her mother would make good decisions. Even if things did not play out well, she had faith that her lord would protect them.
A servant had knocked on the door not long after. A small group of maids had brought in trays of food. As they began to set the food before the guests, Maemi had placed a tray of food in front of Kimiko. When questioned about why she was given a second helping, the blonde pointed at the cold barely touched food from earlier. After grabbing the two food trays from earlier, the maids left the room.
Excited at the large amount of food, the group dug in. In between bites, they talked about different things that had happened during their travels. Kimiko expressed how she had missed traveling. Living conditions in the shiro were amazing, however, it was all the lessons that she had issues with. Some things of yokai culture coincided with the culture of humans, but for the most part, a lot of things were different. While things like that were good to know, she questioned the purpose of the "proper" ways to walk and other non-useful customs.
As the conversation slowed, Kagome stood up and walked around the room. She examined different things as she would pick them up or touch them. The fact that she was in the past still amazed her at times. There were so many things she had not known and it felt as if she was in a living exhibit at a museum. The miko couldn't believe the number of high-quality kimonos that were available to her friend. The quality of silk bedding was something she was jealous of as well. She couldn't help but wish that she could sleep on such things instead of the cold hard ground. Moving from objects, her focus changed to the two other doors in the room.
"Don't open that one."
The miko paused as her hand went to touch a door. Curiosity filled her even more like a child who was told no. "What's this lead to?"
"Sesshomaru's bedroom."
The girl flew backward with a loud squeak. Hand shaking as it pointed accusingly at the door, she turned to her friend. "Why does he have a door leading directly to your room?!"
"It's not that strange for an alpha to have access to an alpha female's room." Sango took a sip of tea. "The title is usually held by someone who is a mate or intended to be."
Miroku added, "If what I know is correct, yokai aren't like humans in the aspect of romance. They mate instead of marrying and find the natural body nothing to be ashamed of. So it is not uncommon for them when it comes to premarital-"
"MIROKU!" Kimiko glared at the monk as she motioned to Rin and Shippo.
As Rin tilted her head in confusion, Shippo smiled mischievously. "He is talking about when a mom and a dad share a bed."
The girl's face lit up in understanding. Excitement and glee filled her and she turned to her mother with a big grin. "Mama! You shared his bed before! Does that mean you two are going to be together?!"
Silence filled the room as everyone stared at the girl in shock. Embarrassment was the only thing Kimiko could feel at the moment. She just knew that everyone was misunderstanding the situation now. The image of Sesshomaru and her even taking part in such acts did not help her already blushing face.
Sango's brain felt like it was melting down as she stuttered, "You...You two shared a bed?"
"I was the only one in the bed," clarified Kimiko as her face was buried in her hand. "He was only at the bedside."
"It was when Mama was asleep for a week. Lord Sesshomaru was concerned about her so he took her to his room and took care of her. He didn't leave the room until Mama woke up."
As she thought over her daughter's words again, she pulled her hand away from her face. Mouth slightly hanging open, she turned to her daughter in confusion. "Wait, he never left for an entire week?"
The child's nod caused her mother's heart to pick up speed. The fact he had been concerned was not new information for her. Not knowing the reason why, the tad bit of information had already warmed her heart. The information regarding the fact that he never left her side, on the other hand, was new. Her face warmed even more as she dwelled on this fact. For some reason, it gave her a fluttering feeling that she couldn't understand.
"For a second, I thought she meant something completely different," Kagome exhaled as she held a hand to her head.
After the servants came back to clear the room of the food trays, Rin and Shippo left to play in her room. The conversation continued once more amongst the group as they realized the misunderstanding from the innocent minded child. Only the inu remained quiet as he stayed in his thoughts. The older inu occupied most of them. It was more so his behavior that Inuyasha was focused on. The fact that his brother was acting differently with her was plain to see. It was something he could tell before Kimiko and him left to come here. Knowing did little to make it seem less bizarre. Growing up, Sesshomaru had been one to never give a damn about anyone else. Now, it seemed it was changing and for Inuyasha, the situation felt unearthly. Even with the facts and proof in front of him, it still baffled him to a degree.
Sensing a familiar presence, Inuyasha strayed from his thoughts. His body tensed as his golden eyes glared at the door. When it opened, the conversation in the room stopped once the rest of the group realized who the new arrival was. Only one set of eyes looked at Sesshomaru happily while the rest held tense expressions. His golden eyes surveyed the group in the room before resting on Kimiko. Not giving the guests a second thought, he walked over to her side.
"It has been brought to this one's attention that you have not been eating."
She bit the inside of her cheek as she glanced away. It was true she was not scared of the daiyokai, but his gaze tended to make her feel unnerved. Her fingers played with the fabric of her outfit as her eyes continued to look at everything other than him.
"I did eat... Two different plates were brought to me."
"A mouse eats more than the amount you had taken from both plates."
"It isn't that big of a deal. I promise I'll eat more tomorrow. It has just been a rough day and I do not have an appetite."
His right hand shot up and he hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her face up. The action caused her to finally meet his gaze. "This one is fully aware of how much of a rough day it has been," Sesshomaru rebuked. Only the tone of his voice and the emotion in his eyes gave away the irritation the yokai felt. "It is not believed that you fully grasp the severity of the situation. For a week, you have been in a comatose state. A period of which any type of food could not be given to you. Humans are a species that dies if it goes without food for two weeks. You would have died a lot sooner if it was not for the fact that you were able to swallow water out of reflex. While you are now awake, only a day has passed since you have woken up. That is not enough time passed for you to be skipping meals."
Her muscles pushed against his finger as she swallowed. The simple task of breathing felt difficult as suffocating guilt took hold in her chest. Eyebrows arched outwards as the corners of her mouth drooped down. Her lavender eyes watered as she stared into gold and saw his anger and concern. For what seemed like the hundredth time to her, she had only made things harder for the daiyokai. She had continued to focus on a small part of a much larger image.
Upon seeing her expression, the intense look of emotions in his eyes soften. Lowering his hand, he exhaled a silent sigh and took a step back. "Rooms have been prepared for each of you," he said as he faced the group. "This one will allow you to stay until the ceremony where she is presented as this one's alpha female."
"Who the hell said we were staying here," Inuyasha yelled as he quickly stood up. "More importantly, why are you even having her do something like that?! You claim she isn't going to be your mate, so what does dressing her up and showing her off to other yokai accomplish?!"
"This one does not need to explain himself to you."
Seeing that Inuyasha was not calming down anytime soon, Kimiko walked forward with her hands up in a 'calm down' motion. "I know it doesn't exactly sound like a smart idea given my lineage, but it is important. Whether any of us like it or not, Lord Sesshomaru is the leader of an entire land. He holds more responsibilities than any of us. It is those responsibilities that require we do this to uphold the peaceful relations with the yokai who rule other lands."
A corner of Sesshomaru's mouth tilted upwards slightly as warmth radiated in his chest. The feeling was not one he was accustomed to, but it was one he did not necessarily mind. It was a pleasing sensation that made even his beast rumble in contentment. Even though it was something that was expected of a person of that role, he liked seeing her taking control of a situation.
"I get your concerns, Inuyasha. I do," Kagome said. "I also get what Kimiko is saying. Despite what any of us feel or think, it isn't our decision to make. If you do not like her decision and don't want to stay in a room here, then go sleep in the forest. I for one plan on taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy comfort."
Nodding her head, Sango spoke, "Personal feelings aside, it is a situation that is out of our hands. They are not children and most certainly are not dumb. Even so, I am staying until the ceremony. Not because I do not trust her to be safe, but for the fact that I will have a piece of mind seeing for myself that she is okay."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. Despite their certainty on the matter, he had a gnawing feeling that the ceremony was a bad idea. The hanyo had already felt uneasy from just being inside his brother's home. For so long, it was a place he did not feel he belonged. His brother's actions in the past had only ever confirmed the feeling. Even if the daiyokai was changing for the better, there had been so much anger and hurt for so long. It was not something simple to get over so quickly.
A gentle knock at the hallway door grabbed the room's attention. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal a maid, who bowed. "Forgive me for the interruption. The guest rooms have all been prepared as well as separate hot baths for men and women."
Hearing the words hot bath, Kagome squealed with joy as she jumped up and down. To her, the night couldn't get any better. Great food, comfortable place to sleep, and even heated bathwater was a dream come true. All the conveniences of home were currently in her reach in this era and she was not about to waste it. She was the first to leave the room and the others followed not long after. While they were not as excited, the group was thankful for a reason to leave the room. Sesshomaru's presence was still something they were not accustomed to.
Before leaving, Sango stopped at the door when she realized Kimiko was not following her. "Are you coming to bathe with us?"
"She can join you a different time," Sesshomaru said before Kimiko could answer. "There are things that the two of us need to tend to."
Deciding to not ask questions, Sango nodded, left the room and closed the door behind her. Lavender eyes looked at the daiyokai in confusion as she turned to face him. What did they need to do at this time of night?