Falling Rain

Since Kagome had slept the whole evening the night before she was full of energy come nightfall, but unfortunately there wasn't much to do as she was to be confined in her bedroom with no hope of escape. After eating her supper she was dressed for bed feeling like a child that needed to be ushered into relaxing so everyone who was free and grown could go on to the enjoy their night. The princess felt sorry for Sango in those regards knowing the maid was being pressured to keep a sharp eye on her until she was no longer a threat.

"It was awful," Kagome shook her head as she sat at her vanity where her dutiful maid brushed out her hair, "not only was I embarrassed over and over but that cruel jerk went back to telling me what I can and can't do with myself. Apparently he didn't care for the braid you worked on this morning. This hair is a tragedy isn't it?"

"Tragedy?" Sango had been listening about what transpired in the city empathetically until Kagome used words like 'tragic', "it's just hair Kagome. You look beautiful with or without all the bells and whistles."

"He said it has to be free even for the wedding. That's the level of control he is putting on me. That demon man- youkai, is that depraved."

"No more braids?" Sango tried to hide the smile on her face, "that is a tragedy."

Sango wasn't satisfied with her current job as both protector and lady's maid for Kagome, but the worst of it had been having to learn all the popular hairstyles and warp the girl's untamed hair into something deemed acceptable by the noble class. Had Sesshoumaru saved them all from a nightmare unintentionally?

"I'm sorry Sango," Kagome tried to hide her own smile, "I know you worked really hard on them. He's just a monster. Plain and simple."

Sango sighed knowing Kagome was unintentionally speaking the truth, "The best way to not get devoured by a monster is to appease them sometimes. Alright no more braids, but a good hard brushing is always in order and then try to get to sleep okay? You need your rest."

Kagome looked to the collection of mangled and dehydrated baby's breath flowers that rested on her window ledge. All that had gotten accomplished that day was a dress and tulips. Tulips that she would be paying a heavy price for. Not only were they equivalent to the price of false freedom, but she'd have to muster up some gratitude to Sesshoumaru for solving the flower issue.

"I can't sleep," the princess shook her head pacing around her room, "I don't have much more time to get things in motion. Should I even have food prepared or a party afterwards? Will anyone even care or would I just be wasting it on them? I still need to focus on the actual ceremony itself and how it will be carried out so it can look somewhat meaningful."

Sango's eyes widened in surprise. She wasn't shocked that Kagome was refusing to go to sleep at a decent time, but she was worried about wedding planning? Shouldn't she have been pacing around with rage in her eyes still complaining about the nerve of Sesshoumaru for asserting his dominance?

"I can have you brought some books that could help you," Sango made it clear she wouldn't be leaving nor would Kagome, "you'll come up with something good."

"Something simple without all the bells and whistles like you said," Kagome continued to stare at the flowers and think on what they meant, "it's doable. I just need to come up with more plans before bed so I can get things done tomorrow. I know we need a cake at least. That can be done by castle staff. I wonder if Kaede will teach me how to make one."

"Teach you? Why would you make your own wedding cake? That doesn't seem like the best use of your time."

"Oh it's the best use," Kagome smiled as she gathered up the flowers and placed the stems in her decorative teapot, "Sesshoumaru once told me if I wanted to become a female baker he wouldn't get in my way. Seems like it's time to test him. At least my tea set is still here, but everything else?"

Kagome had been trying to avoid the subject of what had happened to her room after her father dragged her out. Just the idea of crooked men paid by her father taking away her possessions and going through her things had her feeling ill. Just ignoring the problem though wouldn't make it go away so she found herself opening the door to the storage closet rifling through chests and drawers finding them empty.

"They took everything?" rage filled fire built up in the girl's irises, "not everything here were things I took. I had a lot of jewelry over in this box here. This isn't good."

"Kagome it's done," Sango sighed, "at least wherever it is it's all organized now and might be able to see the light of day. It's all replaceable so don't get yourself worked up."

"Is it replacable? It's not Sango. I can't just go to the treasury and demand my stuff back without my father getting involved, and I don't want him involved at all anymore. If getting credit for flowers was this much of a bother how am I going to get anyone to even lend me a necklace or two? A couple sapphires or maybe a diamond to go with the dress I have now have no hope of getting. Are we even going to have wedding rings or do you think he'd dislike that? It's a human tradition after all."

"If you want there to be wedding rings I'm sure he'll put up with it," Sango was still surprised by the amount of thought Kagome was putting into the event she had previously feared, "the nice thing about having the power you have in all this is you don't have to be held back by tradition you can do whatever you want. I'm sure you'll figure out a way to get jewelry if you want. If you just get the gems I bet the castle blacksmiths can work as makeshift jewelers."

"That's not a bad idea Sango. It's something to work with. Even through all of this you always make things a bit better. There was something I was meaning to ask you- well it doesn't matter I guess. It's not up to me and he probably wouldn't allow it. I already got scolded because I consider you my friend."

Sango knew what Kagome was going to ask, "You're right he probably won't allow it. I don't think I could serve you well in your new life anyway Kagome. I've never been to a place like Winter Spiral and it'd take a lot of getting use to."

Sango didn't like lying to her friend, but if she wanted to keep her life it was best for no one to ever find out she was once a demon slayer that had been hired to kill Sesshoumaru. She'd been to Winter Spiral many times in her life, but she had no intention of returning there. Even if she weren't enemies with Kagome's betrothed she had serious doubt that man would allow Kagome to retain the same maid. It seemed Sesshoumaru was on a mission to purify the girl of the stink of her former kingdom and the wedding was nothing more than a grand goodbye.

"Sango," Kagome spoke softly with a frown, "you're the only reason I can stand up straight right now and focus on this wedding. You know what I really want to do is fall to the ground and cry about what they did to my room but I'm not, because my friend is here with me and understands what I'm feeling. I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either princess, but maybe this is what's best for you and your new life. You have to let go of the past sometimes, it clouds the way you look at people and yourself. You know that."

"You won't even let me ask him will you?" Kagome was hoping this wasn't goodbye.

"You're a princess and I'm a servant. I can't stop you from asking him and I can't stop you from ordering me to join you."

"But you don't want to go," Kagome faced the window still looking at her flowers, "so I won't ask and I won't order you to do anything. You're my friend Sango not my servant. Just don't forget that okay? This isn't goodbye."

Kagome's words were genuine, but she was a bit disappointed her friend couldn't read the distress signals and take the bait. If Kagome was going to get a chance to flee from Sesshoumaru after the wedding she would prefer not to do it alone, but when she realized what she wanted she had to accept how selfish she truly was. Sango would get punished for Kagome's treason much worse than she would and it was best to leave the maid out of it. If Kagome were going to betray her new husband to that degree she had to do it on her own. That was the only way.

"Running away still won't help Kagome," the girl told herself, "you'll still be his wife no matter where you are. Doesn't matter if you wear a ring or not. Is this still a good idea anymore? Is this really right?"

Kagome reached for one of the very small petals of her baby's breath, "I'll take a look at a couple of books and take a nice warm cup of tea before bed if you can make it happen. I'm not ready to sleep yet. Oh it's raining. Look Sango, even better."

There were low rumbles of thunder in the air as Kagome grinned at the pitter patter of water staining her window. Ever since she was a young child she'd always loved the sound and smell of rain as it did force her to relax and just enjoy what she had and the moment around it.

"For now let's just think about how to get gems. I'm sure there is a way to get them if no one will sell them to me. I know I shouldn't go back to that place and thinking it's okay to act that way, but Sesshoumaru said it himself that he'd embrace that part of me as long as I didn't steal from him. There is only one person I want to take from for the time being."

Stuck inside the teapot under the stems of her flowers was yet another key. This one she'd taken from her father's desk when he revealed the emerald bracelet he gifted her. She had no idea what it unlocked, but if Naraku was going to lengths to hide something it had to be valuable. She wondered if she'd get a chance to see what it unlocked before she left, but that wasn't what mattered. Her father had once been a mere bandit and now believed him to be the master of everything devious but it seemed she'd been able to finally take from him. It was a win. She could be the master of her own destiny now all she had to do was break away from the shackles that'd been holding her down.

Sesshoumaru also found himself taking a moment to enjoy the rain that littered the cobblestone streets with puddles. It did not matter to him that the volume of his white hair and fur were flattened or that his silks clung to his body for a youkai such as himself was not bothered by water or temperature. He did not need to look proper for a meeting with InuYasha of all people, but the rain did assist him in purifying the scent of blood and violence off of him.

In anger Sesshoumaru balled his claws up into a fist as he'd thought about what he'd done and how he'd fallen so far in such a short amount of time. He should have just ignored the scent of the young flower girl's pain and injuries and gone on his way, but that girl getting beat had become a question of honor at that point. He'd given the girl's adopted family a gold coin not for flowers but for peace of mind. Kagome didn't want to leave the flower shop unless she knew the pathetic little girl was going to be okay, so he'd paid for an understanding. Clearly the filthy commoners were too unintelligent to understand his gesture so corrections needed to be made.

He'd bounded up the stairs of the residence to discover the flower girl being beaten with a strap of leather while being maliciously screamed at. She'd deserved to be beat for being stupid and making the man's store look bad as well as daring to smile at the filthy demon foreigner that talked the ignorant princess out of doing additional business. The whole situation gave Sesshoumaru another reason to believe himself more intelligent than the unworthy peasants of Naraku's kingdom. The innocent girl had been beaten over receiving a gold coin worth more than the flowers. Beaten because she had a guardian that let himself fall to anger for his own failings. What a weak human man that Sesshoumaru had wasted his time with.

It took a lot more energy from the daiyoukai to not kill the man than it would've to end his miserable existence. Though the family he disrupted were just humans he couldn't go into the kingdom of another and start killing without possibly causing an incident that could lose him Kagome lawfully, so he'd used his fist slowly and carefully to make the man just as black and blue as he'd made the girl. He was sure after that he'd made it clear that he wasn't allowed to abuse the girl anymore as long as Sesshoumaru was in the kingdom with Kagome.

The mute had watched the whole thing. He hadn't expected her to run for where would she even go? However, he didn't believe he'd get another smile from her. It was probably that smile that set off a fuse in her guardian the first time, but yet she made the risky move of doing it again. Why? Shouldn't he have looked like a monster to her? Everyone else perceived him as one after all, and it wasn't too far off from the truth. Sesshoumaru needed to be cold and merciless at times to get his point across.

When Sesshoumaru went into the back alley of the INN he'd rested in after the journey he took the Tetsusagia he still carried with a cloth and let it fall into a thick pile of wet mud.

"There," Sesshoumaru carried malice in his voice, "father's blade sinking into the dirt does me better than it does in your hands InuYasha. You're pathetic."

While Sesshoumaru seemed unaffected by the rain soaking him InuYasha had been comfortably leaning against a wall under the shelter of an awning, but that all changed when he saw his prized blade. He quickly went for it returning the sword to his side not even taking the time to wipe away the mud.

"Tetsusagia?" InuYasha shook his head before letting out a very loud growl, "why did you have it Sesshoumaru? You know you can't wield it and you never will. What do you even want?"

InuYasha wanted to accuse Sesshoumaru of being the one who stole it, but had no evidence. After all he noticed it was missing before his brother even set foot in the kingdom. Of course, the younger brother was on the defense right away knowing that even the thought of losing his father's sword would make his reputation fall even further in the eyes of his older brother.

Before InuYasha could retreat from the rain Sesshoumaru coldly went over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his robes flinging him right into the mud almost effortly.

"You should stay down brother," Sesshoumaru growled, "that is your place. The place of pathetic half-breed bastards so weak they let a human girl steal their sword right out from under them. The mere fact you're even related to me by blood repulses me."

InuYasha attempted to claw at Sesshoumaru trying to get free as his older brother put a boot in his back forcing him to stay down. Sesshoumaru for a moment used his hands keep InuYasha's face in the mud wanting him to drown him in dirt before deciding he would not be the same as that abusive human man. He wouldn't let anger breed violence, at least not that day. Not while Kagome was still unsure of how much of a monster he really was.

"Ka-Kagome?" InuYasha coughed unable to even muster a snarl not wanting to taste the mud he'd gotten a faceful of, "she didn't do it. She's just a girl not a thief."

That received him an amused chuckle, "Just a girl? Seems I already know my bride to be far more than you do. It was her and without little effort. A human girl stood between you and the inheritance you are unworthy of."

Any look of amusement was quickly washed away as Sesshoumaru reflected on the swords more. He had been angry the evening his father died and they were given the blades. Angry that he was given a sword he considered worthless while his lesser brother got the better fang. Those issues had been put aside when Kagome uttered that she'd rather be dead than marry him as Sesshoumaru believed he had a purpose for the Tensagia now, but he had become angry all over again when he thought about her stealing the Tetsusagia. He wasn't angry that she'd stolen from InuYasha and his brother allowed it to happen, after all he'd called her skills a talent for a reason. He was angry that her brother had somehow managed to push Kagome to the point she became emotional enough to steal. Whatever relationship Kagome and InuYasha had needed to be ended and quickly.

"Leave me alone," InuYasha acted like a stray animal by wiping the mud off his face before shaking to get rid of excess water, "I did my job didn't I? You found father's sword and I doubt you or Naraku are going to invite me to your stupid wedding so I'm going home."

"You're going to the wedding," Sesshoumaru warned dangerously, "even if I must drag you there myself. I do not care if Naraku bans you from the whole kingdom because I need you to see it. I need you to watch as Kagome becomes mine so you understand how it will be moving forward. That girl is not your friend, your toy, or anything for you to protect. She's simply mine."

"Did I say I was going to do anything to stop you or care? No I said I'm going home. Everything was made clear to me when you told me to look into her. I knew from the moment I saw her what would happen to her when you found out about her blood. Just because I got along with her and care for her doesn't mean I can stop you does it?"

InuYasha was attempting to play Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru shook his head not knowing who the worst manipulator was, his brother or Kagome. Both were playing rigged games yet again. Kagome was obviously keeping her nose to the grindstone in regards to their wedding as a way of lowering his guard probably believing she could escape when it was all finished while his brother wanted to return home to prepare strategy to help the girl get out. Word of InuYasha's plan had come to him that evening in the very tavern Sesshoumaru first met Kagome while under disguise. One of the ship hand's said something about getting InuYasha back home to hatch a plan and Sesshoumaru had no problem hearing it no matter how lowly it was whispered.

"The only reason I allow you to breathe is because of father's wishes," Sesshoumaru made sure to tell him, "weak things like you so easily breakable is an insult to my home and reign. After this wedding you'll be lucky to even be allowed to step foot back in the castle. I wish to build my own legacy, but the foundation of my reign still has to be built on father's glory, power, and what he achieved. You're nothing but a walking talking reminder of his weakness and dishonor. I'll have another job for you when we return home and then another and then another. I will bestow upon you even the most frivolous of tasks to make you so scarce you'll be nothing more than a ghost in those halls."

"Get fucked!" InuYasha snarled, "that's my home to. Father made that clear. You can't just banish me with stupid missions. It don't work like that and I'll see to it. That wouldn't be good for Kagome either. I know she hates me but she needs a familiar face. Someone she knows won't hurt her. I need to-

"Protect her?" he mocked, "are you sure it's not you who needs protected from her? You will do no such thing InuYasha. I won't let you near her again. You were a fool to allow any emotions to get in the way of your task, but why am I surprised? It's that weak human heart of yours always in the way."

"My weak human heart and you always calling me a half-breed especially now in a place where that word is treason. You don't hate humans and you don't hate hanyou either Sesshoumaru you just hate me, or the idea of me. I know what you really hate. You want your own legacy built upon father's because you wish to crush it because he's the one you despise. Probably had no time for you always pushing his precious first born to the side because he was away creating his reign, but yet somehow managed to find time for a human woman. He picked my mother over you. It makes you feel weak and unimportant doesn't it? I can't imagine how someone as self absorbed as you can deal with that."

The hanyou's words earned him a reunion with Sesshoumaru's boot and the mud. The daiyoukai had reacted in anger for only a moment before a dangerous smile came across his lips. Oh how he loved treating his brother like he was nothing more than that silly little imp servant. It was so hard to not give in to violent tendencies for amusement when opportunity presented itself.

"So weak," Sesshoumaru smirked, "it'd take nothing to break you to turn you into nothing."

When InuYasha was freed his eyes showed nothing but anger. His getting entertained by torture and hurting others rather than looking inward was why InuYasha believed he needed to protect Kagome. There was something broken inside of Sesshoumaru, something that could never be changed or washed away by the rain.

"Weak?" InuYasha's voice became heavier as something within him compelled to stand up to his brother as though they were equals, "don't mistake me for a human or those idiot youkai that bow to you. I might not be as strong, but at least I know what you really are. You're a selfish beast that only cares about yourself and doesn't care who you hurt to get power. You can be the most powerful creature in all the world but it won't fix you Sesshoumaru. There is something rotten inside of you and I need to put a stop to it now. I'm not going to just stand by and let Kagome be hurt by you. I'm not going to let you cut into her and take her blood until nothing is left. I won't watch her die. You're not sending me away."

"Is that a challenge? Unfortunately you're not the one issuing it. Do go on InuYasha I enjoy hearing from that demon half of yours when it decides to show even if you are mistaken. Kagome is going to wish she'd be dead, but it'll only be a wish. My mother made it clear that draining her blood isn't how this is done. If it were I would not be marrying her and she'd be dead already. I'm not marrying the child of such a disgusting creature with intentions of having my own impure children simply for sport. What needs to be done will be done and you won't stand in my way."

InuYasha knew that Sesshoumaru needed Kagome for the magical properties of her blood, but had no idea how it needed to be extracted. All he knew was that Kagome was going to wind up hurt and if that happened it'd be all InuYasha's fault. He owed it to the woman whose heart he broke to protect her. He'd do that even if it meant finally losing control and allowing the demon part of him to do the job. InuYasha, however, for the time being was doing his best to not falter at that moment despite his gold eyes revealing flashes of crimson to show otherwise.

InuYasha's heavy voice revealed a chuckle of his own, "You don't even know what it's like to be weak do you Sesshoumaru? To be completely helpless and at the mercy of another? One day it'll be you who is easy to break and I'll enjoy every minute of it."

Sesshoumaru shook his head and turned around. He wanted to make it clear to his brother that there was no way to take Kagome from him, but there was no point in continuing the lesson when InuYasha was losing control to his demon. He wouldn't understand and it'd only result in a public fight in the streets. Sesshoumaru would rather not be involved in any drama until the wedding was finished and he was back home.

"Even if you could protect her she wouldn't want your help," the daiyoukai still felt the need to have the last word, "the girl is to stubborn to listen to me at the moment but I doubt your secrets will stay hidden forever. It should be obvious why you were more than happy to come here at my orders when anyone else could've done it, or why Naraku despises you so much. Will you be meeting with this kingdom's queen tonight? Or perhaps you two are going to take advantage of the wedding night festivities as excuse for celebration."

The powerful aura that had been growing around InuYasha weakened as the hanyou's eyes returned to solid gold.

"Kikyo?" he asked frowning, "Kagome can't know she-

"She will know what I will allow her to know," Sesshoumaru remarked taking his leave, "your weaknesses became clear to me InuYasha when I saw that woman in the throne room looking on to Kagome with dead uncaring eyes. Perhaps when Kagome realizes why I wanted her I will use that moment to tell her who gave me the idea."

Sesshoumaru had a lot to think on, but wasting his time wondering what Kikyo would be gaining in all of this would do him no good. She didn't seem to be doing anything to stop Naraku from selling her off, so whatever her plan or play in all of this was Sesshoumaru doubted it'd matter once Kagome was fully under his wing.

"Last time I saw that woman she was dead," Sesshoumaru recalled to himself, "her eyes had no life to them then and that's why they have no life now. You believe you can protect her InuYasha? You who have failed in the past. All of that had to have been more than a century ago, but yet the woman still clings to life and has positioned herself under the same roof as Kagome. None of it is mere coincidence. I will not be lowering my guard or allowing myself to be foolish for even a moment in all of this. When I obtain my new power no one can say I didn't earn it. Something rotten inside me? Perhaps, but what's the point in being anything holier than thou? Kagome you're nothing more than property to me. I'll use you for everything you have to give, but at least I'll reward you. Someone like you deserves to have the world destroy you before you can truly learn, but that is not how I shall handle you. I won't allow your eyes to be as dead and cold as that Kikyo woman's. If I were really as self absorbed as InuYasha believes I am than I should be expecting some gratitude, but I know you're too stubborn for that."

The only other business Sesshoumaru had that evening was sending his men off with his ship to go purchase a vast amount of tulips. The tulips wouldn't cost much only the act of quickly exporting and importing itself, however the humans in his service didn't really cost much. If it weren't for Sesshoumaru getting paid with his own gold he'd gifted Kagome he'd be gaining a small profit in all of this. He always did with his investments.

However, when it came to his investments he found that putting time into things could never truly turn out a profit. After all you could get gold back, but never time. Sesshoumaru was pretty much immortal, but was still bothered by any action that could be perceived as a waste of time. With that mindset there was no possibility he'd allow Kagome to be taken from him not when he was so close to getting what he wanted. InuYasha, Naraku, and Kikyo had no chance of standing in his way so really the wedding was nothing more than a formality, a gift to Kagome for which he'd receive nothing in return for.

If not for the falling rain Sesshoumaru would have been able to smell blood, but since he could not he would have easily passed a figure if he'd gone down any other narrow path of the back alleyways of the kingdom. He'd clearly chosen the wrong path as he was blocked by a limp body lying in the middle of the streets.

With no one to hear him or care Sesshoumaru released a snarl when he recognized the body. It was her, the girl who'd offered him flowers that he tried to pay no mind to. She lay there dead in the streets, body soaked with rain water that was creating puddles of crimson all around the dead girl. The dirty water flowed into her open mouth that was missing a couple of teeth, one lifeless eye remained open while another had been beaten shut. It was apparent that she'd taken several punches to the face before being stabbed in the gut and discarded into the streets like nothing more than garbage.

Time was something you couldn't get back. Sesshoumaru had not only wasted his time in giving the girl gold for Kagome's peace of mind but wasted it when he paid the family a visit and gave the man a beating. He'd tried to warn Kagome that no matter what they did the girl would wind up this way, so none of this should've been a surprise. Sesshoumaru should have just took a step over her and put no more thought into it. If she weren't around and alive on the streets Kagome would be forced to believe the girl was fine somewhere. Her knowing about this wouldn't help in Sesshoumaru's lessons at all. All that could be learned from it was that the world was a cold dark place, and Kagome was already learning that.

However, Sesshoumaru was able to force Kagome out of his mind for a moment. It wasn't about her anymore. After all she had no idea Sesshoumaru interfered with the girl's nightly beating. This was now between him and that disgusting human man. Her body had obviously been laid out there for a reason. It was for him to discover, and to make it even more apparent in the palm of the girl's hand was the very gold coin Sesshoumaru had given her.

"You don't even know what it's like to be weak do you Sesshoumaru?" his brother's words echoed in his mind.

"This is what weakness looks like," Sesshoumaru told himself examining the body once more, "something that wastes your time if you wallow in it."

It was a waste of time. He hadn't been able to do anything for the girl twice now, and all it bought him was the view of a dead body. There was only one thing at that point that made him stay with her.

"That smile," Sesshoumaru thought on it, "It wasn't the same as the ones I've rarely seen on Kagome or her thank yous. I only got those for giving her what she wanted. This was different. I can tell this girl wasn't simple like the man accused her of being just silent. She knew that smile wouldn't buy her anything other than pain but she gifted it to me anyway. Perhaps that's the only true gratitude I'll be receiving yet I find myself unable to go forward without paying it back. Everything has a cost. Even a smile."

Sesshoumaru had made his decision as he slowly unsheathed his Tensagia. The only thing he'd be getting for today after wasting his efforts was an opportunity to test his father's sword, and perhaps another smile.

(End Chapter)