Chapter 19

And So It Comes Together

Love…

Shinokiri could still smell her mate on his boa. The movement of air caused by her rapid progression through the landscape continuously wafted Sesshomaru's scent into her nostrils. In this quiet time, she contemplated Inuyasha and his love for a singular soul across bodies and time. He was so devoted to that one soul. Had she been there, would he have gotten the opportunity to grow fond of a mortal.

It was an interesting thought. Would she have persuaded him against it? Could she have? It was the cause of so much of his suffering. A suffering that despite being leading to his happiness eventually, was deeply regrettable to her. Embarrassing, even. Especially his being bound to Goshinboku for fifty years. She should have been there. In this, she saw a fundamental flaw with Inu no Taisho and his infernal need to school Sesshomaru beyond the grave.

Where would we all be now?

Perhaps, it was a futile exercise. She believed that it had never been about her protecting that koto. The purpose was for her to be out of the picture for sake of some sort of enrichment of Sesshomaru's character. Inu no Taisho was cruel in that way, yet it had all seemed to be for the better. No one changed, fundamentally, but adjustments were made. Shinokiri supposed that that was enough. Adjustments had been made. What more could one ask for?

Love…

Would she desire Sesshomaru as much if he were not the son of Inu no Taisho? She felt she could not answer her own question. It was a difficult subject for her to broach even in her own mind. Was it not the amalgamation of his life as Inu no Taisho's son…his experiences…his genetics that made him who he was? It could not be boiled down to just an essence—could it? How could you just want someone for their soul? She did know that after a century, she craved her mate more than ever. Shinokiri concluded that it was up to circumstance rather than destiny.

Regardless, it was clear that she wanted him and he wanted her. They now each knew that their companionship mattered, in a very real, practical sense. Their union brought balance. That was enough. It was only down to them accepting that they both, essentially, wanted the same thing.

Smelling the stench of swine, Shinokiri stopped in her tracks. She would not stand and wait. It was invigorating. Her new weapon thirsted for blood.

Totosai had not given it a name.

It would surely earn a name today.

The earth rumbled. There was a stampede coming. Snarling and snaggletoothed, each gigantic hog was uglier than the next. Sows and boars, all came, all drawn by the imposing aura of her yoki.

"How dare you intrude on my lands! You have come too far inu bitch. Turn back while I, Lord Inoshishi, still allow it."

The largest and ugliest proclaimed his great thinly veiled threat, spewing saliva at her. Shinokiri deduced that this was the leader. The only one with a humanoid form. He was the most powerful and, amusingly enough, the most frightened. His breathing was erratic and filled with violent energy.

"If borders are so important to you, it should be deeply upsetting for you to find out that your underlings have violated the borders you share with Lord Sesshomaru."

She looked around. They all looked weak. The land looked barren and burnt. A wildfire. Her guess had been close, they had no resources and were desperate.

"And what will you do about it?"

The swine leader grunted at her trying his best to put on a brave face.

"I, Lady Shinokiri, will annex these lands on behalf of my mate, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands," she made no effort to conceal that she was mocking him.

There was an uproar. Shinokiri grabbed the jade end of her new weapon, unsheathing it from its gold scabbard. It pulsed at the ready. What is your name? The blade glowed a pale green. Sesshomaru's claw.

"Yuudokuha."

She whispered this to herself as an indignant hog charged at her. With an effortless twitch of her shoulders she swiped as she side stepped the beast. Inoshishi let loose a full and satiated laugh that seemed deep from within his bowels. The attacking pig had skid into a turn to as it went at her again, bleeding only from a very shallow flesh wound. Not even paying attention to him, Shinokiri swiped at two more hops racing toward her.

She was surrounded now. Yet, though their numbers were great, they had little stamina left. By the looks of the horde, they were drawing energy from their bones. They could not have been a well fed one among them.

"You insult me with your meager effort!" The pig ruler's chortling was put to a stop when the initial attacker keeled over mid-charge. The other two followed and in shock the horde backed away from the inu demoness.

"You poisoned them!"

"Inoshishi-sama."

Shinokiri lowered herself to one knee.

"I have no desire to slaughter your tribe. Your land will be absorbed and your subjects will reap the benefit of the resources they've been so egregiously stealing from my lord. They will survive…you will survive. You may keep day-to-day control over them if you only pledge yourself to Lord Sesshomaru, and pay him homage once your land has recovered."

The soil would be very fertile in another two seasons. She knew this. The land was valuable, and it would be Sesshomaru's. She sheathed her naginata.

"Do you accept?"

"You mean to disgrace me."

"Look at them, they are starving."

They were. Most of the tribe was emaciated and too weak to even put on a brave face. She continued her case, "It is a small price to pay for the damage you have done already."

"Was it your lord that gave you that?"

The alpha pointed to her still quite bruised neck.

"Do not worry, he is a fair master.'

Inoshishi's body seemed to collapse within itself. Dejected he gave her a steady low bow.

"I accept."

Standing up, she puffed out her shoulders and unwrapped the boa from her body.

"Who is your swiftest subject?"

"Jinsoku," the great boar called out and a young boar stepped forward. Shinokiri wrapped the boa around Jinsoku, and it coiled itself tightly around his body. He trembled nervously.

"Find Lord Sesshomaru and tell him what happened here. Be quick or it will constrict you."

Jinsoku could feel it tighten and with intense purpose, he raced off into the Western Lands to find the demon lord. As she left she called back to the pig lord, "Maintain your honor swine or your entire pack will be exterminated."

Sesshomaru supposed that his father meant to remove a crutch from his life. Without Shinokiri, he would eventually be forced to learn how to be a well-rounded leader. Was her absence a gift then? Perhaps.

It was clear that he did still needed her, though. His inclinations always lied in absent-minded destruction, should it suit his fancy. His superiority as a warrior was balanced out by her level-headedness. Yet, she was aimless without a cause or a leader, having no desire to conquest on her own behalf like he did. Between the both of them, one could find a sort of balance.

Still, it shamed him that he was remiss in her needs. Heirs. His personal aversion to them almost came at great personal cost to Shinokiri. Though, unlike his father, he didn't jeopardize his life with pointless campaigns of goodwill…he still was rash in his actions…jeopardizing the lives and happiness of others.

Happiness…

It never occurred to him that she would have need of it. These were lessons he learnt with Rin…but Shinokiri? Did he need to give a fearsome demoness the same considerations as a human child?

Perhaps, it was that he ignored the elastic limit to her hardiness as an emotional being. She was a separate entity from himself that required different things—things that he'd need to provide should he wish to benefit from her loyalty.

Before, he imagined, she had no concept of him being able to provide such considerations to any living being. To come back into a world in which he had seemingly been handing out compassion to strangers must have been infuriating. If only she had rebelled earlier…

He supposed he had accomplished a respectable level of power thus far. It would not be an inconvenience to have her whelp progeny. Rin was burgeoning into womanhood at an ever quickening pace. He believed he could spare himself again in such a way to his own blood.

This act would restore Shinokiri's faith in him. He had decided this long ago—when she had first run off. However, at the time, it was a desperate measure. Now, he felt within himself a certain peace at the thought of her mothering his offspring. It seemed like the right thing to do.

Sesshomaru's thoughts were interrupted by and approaching pig oni. He faced towards the racing beast, readying his stance to quickly dispose of the creature. On closer inspection, he saw his boa coiled around its waist, visibly tightening, the loose ends flailing in the wind.

"You have a message for me."

Terribly pained and out of breath, Jinsoku halted and collapsed to the ground, fighting for air. Mokomoko-sama loosened and set free the pitiful oni from its grip, and flopped next to it. Taking his boa in hand, the demon lord commenced his pilgrimage to Shinokiri, searching for her scent in the air.

Pleased with her work, Shinokiri returned to Sesshomaru's lands with haste. At the edge of the forest, she was greeted by a lone Jaken returning from Kaede's village.

"Lady Shinokiri!"

"Imp. You will burn the bodies of the pig oni."

"But, Lord Sess—"

"What I say is his will? Is that clear Jaken?"

"Yes, M'lady"

Affrightedly, he scurried off to complete his task with no more questions. In the clearing, she made her way to the ground and sat in wait. She would not go to him like a puppy looking for approval. He would come to her. He would seek her out to thank her. That is what would give her pleasure.

Contentedly, she leaned into the warmth of the sun. She could smell his approach already. She adjusted herself so that she could get an eye on him. She could make out the red on his sleeves. Her heart quickened as he got closer and closer, even her ponytail seemed to swing in anticipation. His boa had taken its place back on his shoulder. He was grinning as he stopped right in front of his mate. His brow had a curios arch.

"Why did you not just kill them all?"

"They are indebted to you now for your kindness. Allies are an important asset."

"Have you named your gift?"

"Yuudokuha."

"Are you pleased?"

"Very."

He lowered himself to her level and sat down beside her. "How long will I have to support them?"

"Their land will return in bounty by harvest. It is a decently sized territory."

"Thank you."

Shinokiri's mouth opened in amusement. "What a foreign phrase."

Sesshomaru reached out a clawed hand to stroke her cheek, running his fingers along the markings on her face. It was such a warm gesture, despite the iciness of the rest of his demeanor. It was such a strange turn they took just to get to this point—like children with temper tantrums.

"Are you impressed by such things, Shinokiri?"

"Absolutely."

Sesshomaru wrapped her up in his embrace and they tumbled flat to the earth. He was half on top of her now. He nuzzled her jawline, causing a sort of purr to rumble in her chest. His delicate hands slipped to her belly. Out of reflex, she winced and squirmed in his embrace. He could see the panic cloud over her face.

Looking down into her eyes he said earnestly, "I'm sorry."

Shinokiri thought she would swoon to death. "Your humility is so becoming." Her eyes were alight as she cooed at him. Growling, he hungrily kissed her and she responded in kind. She bit his bottom lip and he went to fully straddle her.

"Is this where I get my reward."

Sesshomaru wordlessly answered by removing his armor. A century was indeed too long.