Chapter 15
Sesshomaru woke from the most restful sleep he had ever gotten to the sound of dripping water. Opening his eyes, he smiled when he saw the naked Goddess-like body curled into his. He looked up to see the water he heard was coming from a crack in the ceiling of the cave. He watched a drop fall and splash against the skin of Kagome's bare thigh. The droplet of water looked like an adamant falling from the cave and bursting into many pieces when it met her skin. The moisture left on her thigh glistened in the morning sun then fell away from view.
There was nothing more alluring he could ever wake up to see. Her naked body was only particularly covered by his Moko-moko. She was an angel. She was his angel. Sesshomaru thought about what he would get her for her courting gift. He wanted it to show how he felt but also something she could use."She needs something to protect her from humans," his beast snarled, replaying the scene when she was attacked. Sesshomaru growled quietly and held the miko to him tighter. She moaned softly and buried her face in his chest. Sesshomaru looked down and smiled again at the sleeping girl. 'I care for her,' he thought."We do not simply care for her, we love her," his beast stated. 'I don't know what love is,' Sesshomaru replied. "She is love, our love," his beast said firmly then returned to his cage. 'Hn,'Sesshomaru replied. He knew he felt strongly toward her. He did not wish to spend his life without her. He would kill anyone who tried to harm her. "Is this love?" he asked aloud.
The Lord felt Kagome's heart rate pick up then watched her open her eyes. The twin green orbs focused on him then she smiled. "Good morning my lord," Kagome said. Sesshomaru bent down and kissed her softly. "Today, I wish to go speak with someone," Sesshomaru said as he got up and got dressed. "Mmmkay," Kagome said while stretching then sitting up.
They were both dressed and ready to leave. When they stepped out of the cave into the cool morning air, Sesshomaru held his hand out to the little miko. "We will fly. It will be quicker than walking," Sesshomaru said. He would not have minded walking but wanted to be close to the miko so he chose to fly. Kagome smiled and took his hand confidently. As they were flying, Sesshomaru decided what he wanted to get as her courting gift. He hoped she would approve of it. They spoke comfortably as they flew. Kagome was easy to be near. She did not fawn over him, she did not fear him. She treated him like an equal. No one had ever treated him so and he respected her for it.
Sesshomaru started his descent to the ground when a volcano came into view nestled into a large mountain. Totosai's home was well hidden. The volcano kept demons and pests away as well as worked in his favor for his crafting. Sesshomaru's feet touched down just outside a giant demon skull that acted as a home to the old sword smith. Releasing his intended, Sesshomaru walked forward to the entrance. The demon skull was that of an oni that had a long snout. The entrance was made of the top half of its jaw.
When the couple approached the mouth of the home, Sesshomaru easily stepped through the barrier meant to keep those who intended harm out. "Ah, Lord Sesshomaru! To what do I owe the visit?" croaked the old sword smith. "Totosai," Sesshomaru said, tipping his head slightly in greeting. "This Sesshomaru presents his intended, Kagome, miko of the shikon jewel," Sesshomaru introduced. "It is an honor to meet you," Kagome said politely with a small bow. "Well Sesshomaru, I never would have guessed you to take a mate and let alone a powerful miko at that," Totosai complimented.
The old cowardly demon gasped and ran to stand next to Sesshomaru, grabbing his Kami gifted sword and examining it. Sesshomaru growled out his displeasure at the old fool's actions but allowed it. "Where did you get such a finely crafted sword?" Totosai asked in awe. "A gift from the Kami," Sesshomaru said proudly. "There is a power inside sitting dormant," Totosai said as he examined the blade and hilt. Sesshomaru looked at the man. "Explain," Sesshomaru commanded. "It is not something that I can explain. It is something you must learn on your own," Totosai half explained as he admired the sword. Sesshomaru growled in frustration but vowed he would figure out the mysterious sword.
While Sesshomaru and Totosai spoke, Kagome went to make them all tea at the fire further in the home. Sesshomaru made use of her absence and requested his gift. "This Sesshomaru wishes for you to forge a courting gift. A pair of sai. One blade will be white the other black. On the hilt of the black blade you will add golden leaves. On the hilt of the white blade you will add a blue crescent moon," Sesshomaru explained. "They will only allow Kagome or this Sesshomaru to wield them. They will also need to release an aura only this Sesshomaru can sense so that they are able to be found should she be taken." Totosai scratched his chin in thought at Sesshomaru's requests. "Alright that shouldn't be a problem but I'll be needing a fang from you and a large drop of blood from the miko," the old demon asked timidly. Sesshomaru pulled a fang from his mouth that grew back almost instantly and handed it to the sword smith.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru called to his intended. She came to his side right away. "Yes my lord?" Kagome asked. "This Sesshomaru requires a drop of your blood," Sesshomaru asked. He did not like the idea of his miko having to give her blood but it was only a drop. Kagome looked at him curiously but did not question him. He took her offered hand and pricked a finger with his claw. Totosai held out a small dish to collect the blood. When he had what he needed, Sesshomaru brought the miko's finger into his mouth and sealed the wound. Kagome's breath hitched and he could smell her arousal rising. Sesshomaru chuckled and gave the now healed finger back to his blushing mate to be.
"Come back in tomorrow, they'll be done by then," Totosai yelled over his shoulder as he went to his crafting station. "Come," Sesshomaru said. "There is a small human village at the bottom of the mountain. We shall rest there for the time being. The headmen sent word to my palace that they are in need of a miko." Kagome nodded and started to walk towards the entrance. Sesshomaru turned and gave Totosai a large sac of gold then followed after his miko.
*With Kagome*
Kagome was bustling around the infirmary of the village. Many men had returned from a battle wounded. She tended to the most fatal victims first. War brought with it so many casualties and even more injured. It was so sad to see the sheer number of people hurt. For the less injured or non-fatal, Kagome instructed a few women to help. They did small things like wrap wounds and apply ointments as well as herbs.
Sesshomaru had to go back to his castle to check on a few things. Kagome had also requested he check on Rin and pass on her love for the girl. It was late afternoon and small beads of sweat were forming on her brow. She had been working all day with no breaks and finally was finished. Kagome was now kneeling outside the infirmary washing her hands in a basin of water.
A sense of foreboding filled her while she was drying her hands. Kagome stood and walked to the center of the village. Closing her eyes she spread her senses and found the village was surrounded. There were hundreds of wolves closing in on them. Kagome ran to the head man's home and yelled for him to gather their men and weapons. She ran back to the center of the village where children played unknowingly. "Children, quickly go to your mothers and get inside!" Kagome warned just as the demon wolves arrived. Within seconds she was surrounded by screaming and snarling. Blood started to coat the dirt and huts blazed with fire forcing out its occupants.
Kagome summoned arrow after arrow, killing as many demon wolves as she could. For every one she killed three more would appear. 'There's so many!' Kagome thought, trying not to panic. The men of the village were dwindling, the women and children were gathering in the center of the village trying to flee the fires and demons. Kagome quickly noted she needed help to save everyone. She quickly summoned a ball of reiki without a message or specific shape to save time and filled it with her fear and worry then hurled it into the air and towards Sesshomaru's shiro. She hoped he would come soon. Kagome began fighting again. While she protected as many as she could she noticed a figure towards the trees watching.
'Koga! That's Koga!' She thought. "Koga! Please help! Please call off these wolves!" Kagome yelled while running towards the wolf demon leader, then freezing on the spot when she saw the eyes of her former friend. They were fiery red and full of malice. "Koga?" Kagome asked softly and fearfully. "Hello Kagome. How is my future mate?" Koga asked hatefully.
Kagome's ire rose. "Koga stop this! You promised to never attack humans again!" Kagome screamed. "My sweet Kagome, I promised myself to be your mate but you refuse. Why should I keep any more promises?" Koga asked. Kagome took a step back in shock. This didn't sound like her old friend. "Koga what's wrong with you?" Kagome asked while firing arrows to try to stop the still attacking wolves.
It was then Kagome sensed it. She could see a jewel that was cloaked behind a spell attempting to hide its presence. It was embedded in his chest right in front of his heart. "Koga, the shard you carry, where did you get it? It's cursed! Please, you must remove it, you aren't acting like yourself!" Kagome begged. She was growing tired, she had already used so much energy bringing back so many men from the brink of death. Now she was fighting hundreds of demons off. She didn't know how much longer she could keep them away from the remaining villagers.
"You took my shards, I needed more. A kind dragon demon gave this to me, along with another gift for you so that I may finally have you," Koga explained. "He understood my need for you and my claim. Now you will too." The wolf leader suddenly attacked and Kagome could no longer keep the wolves at bay. She heard terrible sounds of ripping and shredding. She cried out in anger and fought harder against Koga so she could help the innocent people. "Please Koga stop!" Kagome begged to unheard ears as she dodged and blocked him the best she could. There were no breaks long enough for her to attack the other demons.
There was so much blood. Blood everywhere. Kagome was breathing heavily. She had just picked herself off the ground after an attack she was too slow to stop. She quickly drew an arrow aimed at Koga and was about to fire at his heart when he held up his hand and said, "I wouldn't do that." Kagome watched in horror as a wolf came to stand next to Koga with a small child in its jaws.
"NO! Please Koga!" Kagome screamed, dissipating her arrow immediately. Kagome watched Koga take a gold amulet, with a large ruby hanging from it, out of his fur. "Come here Kagome, let me give you my gift," Koga demanded. A black aura seeped from the necklace. There was an evil curse placed on the jewelry and Kagome wanted no part of it. "I want nothing from you!" Kagome spat angrily, never taking her eyes from the frightened child. "Have it your way," Koga said and signaled to the wolf. The child screamed as the wolf youkai clamped down on its neck drawing so much blood.
"Wait, stop!" Kagome yelled, stumbling closer. Koga quickly signaled again for the wolf to halt. "Koga please don't do this! Look what you've done! Look at this massacre!" Kagome begged. She noticed there were very few left alive and they were struggling to stay that way. "Kagome you can stop this just except my courting gift and then we will mate," Koga said as if the decision was a simple one.
Kagome began to cry but couldn't let the child or any more lives be lost. She slowly walked to the wolf leader. When she was near he quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. While he placed the necklace around her neck, the child screamed then went quiet with a sickening snap.
Kagome stopped mid scream when the red ruby rested against her chest and melded with her skin. Her vision flashed dark and she felt something try to pry its way into her soul. "Hello Kagome," came the voice of an unknown man in her head. "So sorry we had to meet this way but it was inevitable," the voice was calm and happy. It felt evil, far more evil than Naraku could imagine.
The last thing Kagome was conscious of was one hand forming a whip of dark energy to kill the wolf with the limp child in its jaws. The other forced itself straight through Koga's chest grasping the tainted shard. Then she was consumed by darkness filled with evil laughter.
~End Chapter 15~
Dun dun duhhhh!
Yokai-Demon
Miko-Priestess
Ja ne, Peach