Chapter 27 A Missing Piece of Her Once Future
It was now a race against time. Their battle had attracted attention, and Kenichi knew that the time for stealth was gone – it was the time for speed. Taking his now injured wife into his arms, he took to the air and moved as fast as he could for the border, not even caring if those on the ground - hopefully mostly slayers, which were human and wouldn't be able to fly to catch him - saw him. At the same time he chose to activate the beacon he carried for Touga, knowing that the Lord would instantly know that his presence was needed.
Hopefully, though the hour was awkward, it would mean that he wouldn't be long in arriving.
He could feel his youki flood his body with energy as he increased his speed, pouring everything he had into making it to the border – he could feel the auras of the soldiers and guards of Ryukotsussei's army heading for them, trying to cut them off, and he couldn't allow them to get in front of him.
"Kenichi!" came his wife's breathless voice. "There is one – he is too close... I think he means to get before us!" she cried, fear permeating her aura.
Cursing, calling on every bit of his power, he surged forward, the border fast approaching, freedom beckoning with outstretched arms just a bit further ahead. He could make out the smell of the demarcation line, his Lord's scent heavy along it and getting stronger, but he could also now see, from the corner of his eye, the speeding form of the soldier attempting to get into their path.
Just as the soldier seemed about to beat them to the border by bare seconds, his little wife let him know in no uncertain terms that there were still things about her that he didn't know, as just as the male stopped, barring their way across the border, vines shot from the ground out of nowhere, enveloping the startled soldier and keeping him immobilized for just long enough that Kenichi, despite his shock, was able to dart around him and finally, finally, pass over the border, his skin tingling as he broke the mild warning barrier set along it.
Once across, he turned to stare at the soldier being strangled by the vines, and then looked down at his wife, whose eyes had gone a dark green as her youki had spiked, a frown on his face.
"Mine?" he asked, confused.
Her eyes faded to their normal lighter color, and her youki once more stilled; she slumped against him, finally worn out and too tired to truly answer his query. The long night of running and hiding and fear, followed by the small battle and her injury, and now this, had finally taken its toll and she was clearly needing a bed and some rest. But their journey wasn't quite over – the slayers had, indeed, come out in force, and surprisingly, were watching them warily from below, though they'd done nothing threatening... yet.
As he looked down cautiously, his eyes lighted on a small firecat sitting before one of the men, and he frowned. "Kirara?" he called, to the obvious surprise of the men on the ground. The firecat mewed in greeting and took her full form, hovering up to meet them. She mewed at him again when she reached his height, looking at his injured wife, and knowing his circumstances she offered to take them to the hut prepared for them for safety's sake.
Relief flooding his body, he thanked her, and then floated both he and his still slumped wife aboard the cat, who promptly turned and made her way into the hill country surrounding this portion of the border, ignoring the calls of the taijiya she'd been with. She knew they'd be getting their answers soon enough, but her time with them was done – whether they, or indeed, Touga knew it.
For the first time since he'd heard Ryokotsussei's plans Kenichi felt safe, and the release of all that tension and fear had him going fairly limp, as well – he huddled into his wife's weary body and just held her, breathing deeply and normally for the first time in what seemed like years.
Kirara had them at the safehouse quite quickly, and she waited patiently as Kenichi gathered his strength and lifted his wife up to carry her within. He was surprised, however, when the firecat promptly went back to her smaller form and trotted into the small hut behind him with a dainty curl of her tails that said she had every intention of waiting there with them. He wondered at that, but then shrugged after a weary moment, thinking she had some information to impart to their Lord.
He couldn't have been more wrong...
It wasn't Touga who Kirara was waiting for – but the one who would be coming with him that she was wanting to see.
Purring quietly to herself, she curled up in a corner to wait – it had been a long time coming, and she was greatly looking forward to this meeting.
She'd waited long enough.
~oOo~
Startled from a deep sleep, Touga blinked, taking a moment to realize just what it had been that had awoken him. Still curled around his sleeping wife, his nose nuzzled into her sweet-smelling skin, he chased the sleep from his mind just as the signal he'd given Kenichi went off again.
Instantly awake, he knew it had to be bad for his vassal to be calling at this time of the morning, and with no choice he shook his little wife awake. At this time, there was no one around to stay with Izayoi while he went after Kenichi, and he wasn't about to leave her alone so soon after their arrival here. The only solution was that she would have to go with him, so, as much as he hated waking her, for he knew how weary she'd been, he leaned over and nipped her ear.
"Izayoi," he said, his voice low but not light, shaking her a little once more as she mumbled and her eyes fluttered. "Come wife, you must wake. There is a need for me near the border, and you must come with me." He looked into her now bleary eyes that were peeking back at him. "Hurry – we must make haste."
His manner and obvious concern had her wide awake in moments, and without question she rolled out of the bed and moved to one of her tansu, quickly yanking on her warmer miko robes. She reached out and grabbed her comb, running it through her tresses quickly to get them into some semblance of order, and then let him know in soft tones that she was ready.
He looked up as she said that, sliding his swords through his obi. He'd foregone his armor – it would take too long to put it on, and he figured that between he and Izayoi they could face whatever might come of this call for help.
"Grab your bow, my love – I don't know if it will be needed, but better safe than sorry," he said crisply, and Izayoi instantly complied, then waited for further instruction.
Ready to go, he had her follow him outside and then grasped her tightly before taking to the air, once more wrapping his pelt around her for her own comfort. They rose into the sky and then he formed his light orb around them both, turning and heading for the safehouse, which he could feel now being breached.
He was forced to call for me before even reaching the hut? His escape attempt must have gone wrong. But why did he flee now? Are things going to come to a head now, rather than later, as we'd thought?
Worried that they might be caught off-guard by an early attack, Touga sped across the sky, his wife gripped tightly in his arms as he headed for regions unknown to her.
It didn't take long for him to arrive at the small hut he'd set up to house Kenichi and his wife, and landing before it, he held on to Izayoi as she stepped from his arms for a moment until she was steady on her feet. He straightened, looking up the couple of steps to the shoji door that was closed - and would remain that way - until he uttered the correct word.
Staying that way for a moment, he studied the area to make sure nothing threatened. Though he could feel a great deal of activity along the border and movement from the slayers, nothing was too near and with a nod, he held out his hand for his wife to take. She did so with no comment, choosing to wait. Her questions would be answered soon enough, she knew.
Following him gracefully up the steps, she waited as he opened the door, muttering out a word she didn't catch and releasing the strong spell on it as he gripped it. With no resistance the door slid back, and Izayoi stepped into the hut behind her husband, curious eyes flying to the two people in the room – not noticing the small firecat curled up near the wall... for the moment.
But when she heard that first little mew, Izayoi stiffened and her eyes widened as other mews along with battle roars echoed through her memory; she looked down at the tiny firecat now sitting before her and patting her leg with a gentle paw in disbelief.
"K-Kirara?" she whispered, totally, completely shocked as she dropped her bow and quiver to the floor, the clatter catching the other's attentions. It didn't even occur to her that the firecat shouldn't recognize her, wearing a different body and in an earlier time.
Stunned, Touga stopped, mouth still open for the questions he was about to ask Kenichi, and turned to stare in incomprehension at his wife and the firecat.
The little neko mewed again and then looked at Touga, who stared at her, suddenly almost as shocked as his wife, before shaking himself and looking up at her with wide eyes. "Izayoi... Kirara knows who you are. She says she remembers that shared future that will never come again, remembers the girl that traveled through time named... Kagome." Stone silence filled the hut, the two bystanders to the reunion completely in the dark, but fascinated and bewildered at what they were hearing, tired as they were.
Kagome, finally hearing her name said aloud again, and from one of her companions on that fateful quest, no less, fell to her knees before the little kitten and sobbed openly, picking her up and hugging her to her chest. "H-how does she remember?" she gasped, looking up at Touga in question.
Kirara mewed and purred, and Touga's eyes softened. "She says that the kami allowed one of your companions to remember the past you shared as a boon to you. They know that they have asked a great thing from you, but it must be done, and no one else would even have a chance. Though you haven't found the right wish to this point, they know that at least your heart is in the right place since you do not covet the jewel for yourself. So Kirara was allowed to remember so as to be a small comfort to you so that perhaps you would not feel quite so lost." He paused as she mewed again, a dry sound, and chuckled, suddenly amused. "She says that she now understands how confusing it must have been for a young girl from so far in the future to be suddenly pulled to the past, and have to keep traveling back and forth and keeping track of the differences in each era. It's confusing to remember a time that hasn't happened yet and now never will, as well as this current one. She's glad she's not a kami, for she thinks it would be too bewildering to keep track of all the knots and ties that dealing with time would bring."
Kagome laughed, though it sounded little more than another sob, and just clutched at Kirara a little more, petting the purring feline with almost desperate fingers and cooing softly to her. It had been so long since someone had recognized her for who she truly was that the sheer feeling of relief inside was almost overwhelming.
After a few moments, though, Kirara butted her head gently against her arm and mewed up at her.
"She says that while she's glad to see you, and will more than welcome some more time together, right now someone needs your help." He stopped and turned back to Kenichi and the female with him. "I apologize to both of you. As you can see, something greatly unexpected has happened." It was then that he took in the smell of blood, an odd smelling blood he'd never noted before, and surmised it was coming from the small female that Kenichi was holding. "My love, I believe that someone needs your assistance," he said as Kagome settled Kirara gently back on her feet, wiped her eyes, and stood to look at those in the hut with them.
"Settle your wife on the futon, Kenichi," he said gently to the confused male, and without thought the elemental did just that.
Kagome crossed the little floor and knelt at the female's side, gently moving aside the torn obi and kimono and wincing at the painful looking gash. It had stopped bleeding, but because the female had been busy using her strength for other things, hadn't begun to heal, and with a calming murmur, she let loose her aura into her hands, infusing them with her healing energy.
Kenichi stiffened in shock and lunged forwards as he recognized the feel of reiki, though it felt strange. "No! What-"
Touga stopped him with one hand. "Have no fear, Kenichi, my wife-" he recognized the male's shock at those words despite his fear with amusement, "-will not harm yours. She is merely going to heal her. She will be right as rain in moments."
Indeed, before Kenichi's astounded eyes Mine's features smoothed out as the pain disappeared
and her eyes opened, once more sparkling with renewed energy as she looked up at the smiling face hovering above her with gratitude. She moved to sit back up and retie her obi as best she could with a heartfelt thanks.
"No thanks are necessary, but I ask forgiveness - I'm sorry I didn't realize your need sooner," Kagome said softly, then opened her arms to Kirara, who once more climbed up into her friend's lap and nuzzled her as the green-haired female demurred sweetly. She looked up at Touga once more and mewed.
He sighed, though he smiled. "Well. I suppose I'm going to have to find someone to take your place with the taijiya, then, but it will be good to have another being to protect her, it's true." He met Kagome's questioning gaze. "She said that I will have to find another person to stay with the slayers because she refuses to leave you again. In this era, this life, she says that she is your companion, not Sango's, and will be remaining by your side permanently."
Hugging the firecat in happy yet guilty gratitude, she looked down into the large eyes that were smiling at her. "I'm sure you miss Sango, and I'm so sorry I failed to find the right wish to get rid of the jewel that time, so that you could all be together."
Kirara purred, and Touga shook his head. "She said that she does miss Sango sometimes, but that in the end this way is better, because if you manage to find the right wish, then her friend from that time will have a much happier life, as will Miroku and all the others." Touga looked intrigued at the mention of all these people he'd never heard of but from Izayoi. Not that he'd ever doubted her word, but to hear the future she'd spoken off being confirmed by someone else – someone he knew and trusted - added a new dimension to things that really brought home to him the reality of the woman he'd chosen to wed. He looked at her with a new understanding. It must have been a desperate relief to have one of her companions returned to her.
After a few moments, he shook his head again and sighed. As strange as all this was, there were other things that needed said and he turned to Kenichi, who was simply looking confused and uncertain, though glad that his wife was healed and no longer in pain or weary. When he saw Touga meet his eyes, he said, "My Lord?" in questioning tones.
"It is a long story, Kenichi, and better told later. First... what has happened?"
The two men sat down at Touga's gesture near their respective wives while Kenichi began to speak.
"Yesterday afternoon, Ryukotsussei suddenly became irritated and threw everyone from his 'throne room', as he calls it, and so, while pretending to leave as all the others did, I instead hid myself and waited to see what he would do. I had noticed that he seemed preoccupied lately and wanted to see if I could find out why... and I surely did. He has allied himself with twin dragon sorceresses named Koume and Kotake. Very powerful, and no male's fools. They have their own agenda in this, it's clear. Still, for now they are allies. He wanted to know if they could help hide the size of his armies as he begins to move them into formation. They said that they possibly could, though there were many things it would depend on." His face took on a disgusted cast, for most youkai were as Touga had told his wife – monogamous once wed. The disgust was for the dragon's serial promiscuity. "It was clear he was attracted to the two females, one which is fire, and the other ice, and then, after studying them as they played idly with their elements, a peculiar and disturbing look crossed his face."
Kenichi paused to take a drink from his waterskin, his throat a little dry. Touga nodded encouragingly when he finished.
"As I was saying, this look was one that could presage nothing good. His next words were that with their power and his own, any offspring created between them would be most powerful, indeed. The females seemed to freeze and look at each other-" he broke off for a moment, then said in an aside before going back to the main story, "-I believe the two are telepathic between each other - before saying that perhaps that was true, but that they would never agree to bear children for a male who already had wives and children when their more powerful children would be forced to bow to ones so far below them."
Touga hummed at that. "Well, that is certainly understood. But what...?" he asked, still not certain why this would have caused Kenichi to flee.
The male grasped his wife's hand, exchanging a glance with her, then once more faced his Lord. "Ryukotsussei was silent for a moment, and then this truly evil, disturbing smile split his face, and he said that just because one had wives and children at one point, didn't mean that they couldn't be... disposed of. When the two females looked interested, he made a most hideous suggestion." He noted the dawning expression of disgust on his Lord's face, and nodded in affirmation. "He told them that if they would agree to bear him a son each he would get rid of the worthless brats he already had, as well as all his wives and concubines. There was no offer made for the two to become his mates, and I truly think that once they have borne his young, weaned them and he has no more use for them, he means to kill them, as well."
Touga was truly stunned, as was his little wife, whose eyes had opened wide as she shuddered. "What a depraved monster," she whispered, and Touga patted her arm after getting himself under control.
"Now you know one of the reasons why I oppose him so strongly, my love."
As she nodded, Touga prompted Kenichi to continue. "I could tell as the females left after requesting two days to think it over that they really didn't need those days – they were going to agree – but as I said, they have their own agenda, because all of them smelled of cross and doublecross. Why they would wish to breed young from that monster I don't know, but they do. At that point I was thinking that it was time to leave – but it was what happened next, at dinner, that firmed my determination. I knew then that we had no choice but to get out immediately."
"What was it that happened at dinner?"
At that question, Kenichi looked uneasy, and glancing at the two females, he said, "I would rather tell you that alone, my Lord. It isn't something our wives should hear."
Kagome was surprised at that, but after what she'd already heard, she was pretty sure that if it was that bad that this male was saying that, she most certainly didn't want to know.
Mine, however, looked at her husband with a frown. "There was more that you didn't tell me?" she asked. "I don't remember him doing anything at dinner – except that he didn't eat, all he did was drink his sake."
"Trust me, little wife" he said earnestly, looking down at her, "you don't want to know. I wish I didn't know."
She looked at him with worried eyes, but then nodded, acquiescing to his wisdom. With her sire, she probably wouldn't want to know – especially if it was something that had upset even her normally imperturbable husband.
Touga glanced down at his already disturbed wife and nodded. Standing to his feet, he motioned for Kenichi to follow and then stepped outside, moving down the steps and off away from the hut a little so the females inside would not overhear. While his wife would not be able to hear with her human hearing, Kenichi's might, so they stepped a good distance away.
"It must be terrible to so disturb even you, Kenichi," Touga said in a low tone, his eyes serious.
The elemental nodded even as he shuddered. "Yes. While at dinner, I noticed his actions as he sat and watched his wives and children eat. He was imagining killing them right there at the table. But that wasn't even the worst, Touga-sama – he was being sexually excited by it! The final straw for me, however, was when his gaze fell on my Mine – and he licked the tips of his fingers with an almost orgasmic look on his face, imagining the taste of her blood. I am sorry I returned now, when things are so critical, my Lord, but... not only would it have been fruitless to stay at that point, as he would have killed me as well, but I could never expose my little wife to that level of depravity, let alone death, especially at his claws. She's been through enough at his hands already."
Touga couldn't deny he was thoroughly sickened by Kenichi's tale, and he shook his head, clapping the male on the back. "Do not apologize. As you said, there would have been little point in staying only to die, and I don't blame you a bit for getting out when you did. What went wrong in your escape?"
Kenichi pushed a lock of his hair over his shoulder. "We were fine until we got near the border – and then several of Ryukotsussei's border scouts caught our trail and attacked. Once we were flushed and had to fight, his soldiers knew we were there and tried to cut us off. We had to fight a bit to get through, but we made it, and thankfully, the altercation drew the attention of the Taijiya – and I saw Kirara. She helped me get Mine here."
Nodding, Touga looked thoughtful as he led the way back inside the hut, sliding the door open to find their two females in light conversation.
He took a deep breath, wondering why the little dragon didn't have the unpleasant scent of cold blood– instead, Kenichi's female smelled of earth, and growing, green things. Not at all unpleasant, and he was actually grateful; it was a very difficult endeavor for an inu to get past the dislike he would instinctively have for something that smelled bad to him. While her scent, at least to him, wasn't near as beautiful as the one his wife carried, he would not be forced to fight his own instincts when it came to dealing with this female. He wondered what her mother had been, because it was clear that she couldn't have been wholly dragon. Perhaps an earth elemental hybrid?
Possibly... but those thoughts are better left for another time. The news he brings me of what that bastard plans...
It was clear that this news would send shockwaves through the citadel, because there was no doubt that news of a bloodbath would soon be reaching them once those females agreed to Ryukotsussei's plans.
"Did you leave warning to his other children and wives that this was about to happen?" he asked as he stepped back inside and moved over to sit near his wife once more.
"Hai. As we escaped, I left notes in several of the children's quarters and his chief wife's, as well." He frowned. "As much as I detest all of them, I tried to warn them... but I don't think my warning will do much good – I mean, even forewarned, what are they going to do when he comes after them? He is much more powerful than they are... I think they are all doomed."
Mine's face dropped as she heard her husband's words, but she nodded. "Hai, I agree. I don't see how they can possibly get away from him. Much as I hated my family for the evil in their hearts... I can't help but feel bad that this is their fate."
Kagome looked the male that followed her husband back into the hut over with a quietly weighing expression. He was beautiful as most youkai were, but in an... odd way. He looked nothing like any other youkai she'd seen, at least, in coloring. His hair was the strangest, but most gorgeous part of him – it was black, and yet not. It was like the black pearl that her father had given her one year, set on a pretty hair clip. She'd used to love to take it out of its little box and stare at it for hours, the shifting rainbow of color that moved across its surface when the light moved was mesmerizing to her. This male's hair was the same, and it was almost obscenely beautiful. His eyes were a lighter silver – but the rim was a charcoal gray that only emphasized their beauty. He had no visible markings except a four pointed star beneath one eye in a stunning shade of deep silvery-blue.
His aura, on the other hand, was what truly caught her attention. He was completely, totally loyal to Touga, and it showed – he came very close to actually worshiping the ground her husband walked on, and just that fact alone made her instantly trust him. As he glanced at her, she smiled warmly, the usual reaction of a blink, then a returned smile coming from him as he sat down once more next to his beautiful and friendly wife, and met her gaze. He bowed after a moment.
"My Lady," he murmured. "Thank you for healing my wife. I'm sorry I doubted and reacted badly when you attempted to do so."
Her smiled widened and she waved a cheerful hand. "Don't worry. I would have reacted badly had I not known, too. You only wanted to protect your wife, and no one can blame you for that."
He blinked again at the brilliance of that smile, looking his Lord's new wife over. She was tiny, just as tiny as his Mine, with glossy ebon locks waving down her back and glowing with life. He was almost willing to bet that it was soft as silk, too – it looked it, the sheen it gave off practically screamed it. Her features were fine and delicate, and so far beyond just beautiful it almost made a person ache. Her eyes were the strange thing, however, for a ningen of this land – they were the most gorgeous shade of blue he'd ever seen, and in the shifting light of the hut, they almost looked like twilight, before changing to the deep, clear blue of fathomless lakes as she moved. Her nose was aristocratic and straight, and her lips sweetly bowed and plump. She had an oval face, set above slender shoulders and a truly tempting body and personal scent and Kenichi had to admit – he'd never seen a more beautiful human. She was the type of female whose beauty brought down dynasties – a castle destroyer, as they were called... if he'd not met his Mine, he'd have wanted her, too.
"The kami have blessed you in your choice of wife, my Lord," he said after a moment, meeting Touga's gaze. "Congratulations on your marriage. How long...?"
"A few weeks," Touga answered with a pleased smile at his bride. "Her name is Izayoi, and she is the hime of Setsuna. And yes... I have been most blessed in my choice of wife. Not only is she soft-hearted and beautiful enough to make a male cry-" he chuckled at his wife's deep blush and fierce denial, "-but she is highly intelligent, an up and coming warrior, and a most powerful priestess. She is at least as strong as Midoriko was – with greater skill and control." He smiled quite fiercely, casting a glance towards the border and Ryukotsussei. "That hellborn snake won't know what hit him."
Kagome elbowed him discreetly and gave him a disapproving glare, flashing her eyes at the pale face of Kenichi's wife, and Touga immediately began to apologize.
"I am sorry, Mine-san, for the enmity towards your father, but I am sure it comes as no surprise to you," he said with regret. "I'm most positive you grew up hearing him yell and curse my name on a regular basis."
Mine put a dainty hand to her mouth as her eyes sparkled with laughter for a moment, and she nodded. "Ah, yes, my Lord," she said hesitantly, as this was the first time he'd directly addressed her. "I would never dare to repeat even the kindest things he said of you. And there is no need to apologize," she said after a moment, her sweet voice sobering and her face saddening. "Ryukotsussei is evil, there is no denying that. I have no filial love for him – only a formless regret that I didn't have a family I could love as one should."
At that, Kagome felt a thrill of guilt go through her – she'd truly been blessed, at least in her lives as Kagome and Izayoi, because she'd had wonderful families. This poor girl had been trapped in hell, it sounded like.
Touga looked sympathetic. "You are welcome in the West, Mine-san. Here you will find shelter and peace, and someday you will be able to look back on your years there and feel little more than a mild sadness that you came from such a place." He studied her blushing features for a moment longer, and then smiled at Kenichi. "You also, my friend, were blessed in your wife. But come... there is much to do. We must get you away from here, but first we must decide where you will go."
At Kenichi's surprised look, his voice sobered. "Remember, Kenichi, this is war. I've no doubt that snake has spies in the palace, besides the one on my council. I fear that if you are taken to the citadel, that bastard may decide to send an assassin after your wife – just to make sure all his children are dead, of course. And then there's Takako..." he trailed off.
"Takako," Mine murmured, her face sad. "I'd forgotten she was here, in the West."
"She was here to spy, of course," Touga answered.
"Takako could be unbearable at times, and arrogant, but she was actually the most decent of my siblings," the little dragon female said softly. "She wasn't really deliberately cruel – but she was terrified of our father. He... he abused her terribly, in ways I refuse to mention. I think she feared him more than she feared death – and she knew that if she failed in her ordered duty, which was to spy for father, that he would torture her to it. I know for a fact," Mine almost whispered, "that if anything went wrong, and it looked as though father were going to come after her, she had planned to take her own life to escape such a fate."
That information changed his thoughts on Takako just a bit – perhaps he should just keep her safely in the dungeons until this war was over and then let her go – she could disappear somewhere into the West, and maybe in that way she could get away from the monster that had sired her, and then proceeded to make her whole life a living hell. She wasn't working for him because she really wanted to – it was a bit different when a being had been forced to do what she had been... and especially when the consequences for refusal were so dire.
But that was a matter for another time. "Worry not for your sister, Mine-san, for we will see what can be done for her later. For now... we must needs worry for you. It would be dangerous if you were to be found out as a daughter of Ryukotsussei's – but after all, we do have other dragons - those with earth elemental affiliations - living in Kangetsu, so your species alone would not condemn you. Your blood might, however, and I would not wish for anything untoward to happen to you. And if we were to place you in the palace openly declaring who you were, the spy higher up in my council would definitely let your father know where you were – and then you would be in danger."
He stopped speaking as Mine looked nonplussed; she blinked at him, then turned to her husband. "You mean, you don't know who the spy my father seduced with promises of power if he were to deliver the Shikon no Tama is?"
"No... though I know his voice," Kenichi answered. "Why?"
"Hm. Well, while I can't tell you the male's name, I can tell you what father offered to get him to turn coat, Touga-sama," she said, turning to look at him. "Father bragged about it one day – not too long ago, maybe a week or so ago. He promised this traitor that if he could find out where the Shikon no Tama was and deliver said information to my sire, when he had it in his grasp and had eliminated you, the West would be this male's to control." She snorted delicately. "Not that Ryukotsussei would have kept that promise, but apparently, your traitor wants your lands. He wants to be Lord in your place, and he'd offer his soul to the devil my father is to get the chance."
Touga's eyes rimmed red with rage, though he didn't react otherwise, and no one said anything, though Kagome encircled him in her aura to keep him calm. After a few moments, he said, "I will leave the choice to both of you, where you wish to go." He glanced at Kenichi, his gaze sympathetic. "I am sure you wish to return home, after so many years away."
The elemental nodded. "But Mine's safety comes first."
Looking thoughtful, Touga stared at the floor for a time, then slowly said, "It is not as if you are not known in the city and even the palace. You are, after all, a lesser Lord in your own right. You could simply put it about that the coming war has drawn you back from your estates where you have been living. That your wife is a dragon will not cause much comment – it's not as if anyone there besides Takako would know that she was Ryukotsussei's daughter. You could return to the palace and Mine could become one of my wife's ladies, as would be her right. There would be some danger, but there will be that no matter where you go as long as Ryukotsussei lives, unfortunately," he said, looking at Mine once again apologetically.
Kagome didn't say anything, still petting a purring and content Kirara as she listened to the other three talk. She patted back a yawn, still tired after her long day yesterday and then this morning's excitement already. Sighing inwardly, she ran Kirara's fur through her fingers affectionately, surprised when her husband addressed her.
"Hm?" she started when he nudged her. "I'm sorry, I momentarily got lost in my weariness, I'm afraid," she blushed when she realized that they were all looking at her.
Her husband frowned, taking in her still tired state, and said, "I just wanted to know your opinion on that plan. Would you be willing to have Mine-san as a Lady, like Nami?"
"Oh!" she smiled sweetly at the other female, who was smiling hesitantly at her, uncertain of her ultimate acceptance. "Of course, you are most welcome! I think we will be great friends, Mine-san. And we can both be lost in the citadel together – I just arrived there yesterday myself, and it is a huge, though beautiful, maze."
Touga looked at Kenichi, who nodded after a moment, his wife smiling just a little in agreement as well, and then he stood. "Good, then it is agreed. Come... we should get moving, for I still have to go to the slayer's village and let them know of Kirara's leavetaking and that I will send someone to take her place sometime this day."
Within moments the little hut was once more dark and empty, and Kagome pleaded sweetly with her husband to allow her to ride astride Kirara. Despite his disappointment at no longer being able to hold her, he couldn't help but smile at her pleading face.
"If it pleases you, my love, then do as you will. I want only to see you happy."
She beamed at him as Kirara once more took her large form, and when Kagome was once more astride she purred, just as pleased as Kagome was to have her as a passenger again.
The meeting with the slayers did not take long; Touga was interested to find that Ryukotsussei's soldiers were still milling and roiling along the border in agitation, though they weren't daring to cross. He left them with the same instructions – to keep heavy watch and not let anything cross the border, and then after promising a new special messenger would arrive within hours, they took their leave and headed back to Kangetsu.
It took longer this time, as they were not moving at the speed of light, but it gave them time to firm their plans – Kenichi and Mine would go to an inn for a few hours, then as the day at the palace officially began they would make their way there, and he would present himself and his wife as though he really were just returning from an extended stay at his estates. In this way, suspicion would be alleviated.
Right before they arrived at the city, Touga landed along with the others. Just out of sight of the gates, he gave Kenichi a little coin, just enough to get by until he could once again access his own money, and then Touga and Kagome took to the air and went back to their rooms so that the gate guards never even knew they'd been near.
Once Touga and his wife were out of sight, Kenichi also took back to the air with his own wife for the short distance to the gates so the guards could see them coming. Landing before the humongous gates, noting with lighthearted amusement his wife's completely shocked awe, he showed his citizen pass to the guards and was waved through after claiming his wife. She would also have to get a pass from Touga so as to identify her as a citizen of Kangetsu and the West, but for now he was content – he was home, and as he looked around, he felt an ease and a happiness he hadn't felt in the almost five years he'd been stuck living in Ryokotsussei's palace.
He was finally free once again...
And home.
It was an unbearably wonderful feeling.
~oOo~
"I've been meaning to ask you, Touga," Izayoi said as they came in to land in the private garden outside their rooms, "how you keep the temperature here so high on the mountain so temperate. It feels like early summer within the confines of the city and palace."
Touga glanced at her distractedly as he entered their rooms, his mind already on the day's agenda and what he would need to deal with. It took a moment for her question to penetrate, but then he said, "Oh. As to that, there is a barrier all around the city and palace. While youkai can withstand much colder temperatures than humans, hotter as well, it doesn't mean that we find it necessarily pleasant, of course. We prefer the same temperatures that most humans find acceptable. And there are humans that live here and there within the city and even the palace – mostly merchants and the like. This way, we can all be comfortable."
"Well, that makes sense," she yawned, bending to pick up a once more tiny Kirara and stepping inside the shoji to gaze longingly at the bed. "Should have figured that out on my own, so now I feel a bit silly."
He chuckled at her as he moved to dress himself in his full regalia for the day. Looking at her, he took note that she was indeed still quite tired, and with an assessing gaze at a clear-eyed Kirara, he decided to let his little wife sleep in. Breakfast would not be for several candlemark yet, so she could easily sleep for another one and a half or so before she would absolutely need to be awake. And with the firecat in attendance along with the barrier around the room, he felt much safer leaving her to rest. Once he reached his study he would send for two of his most trustworthy guards, ones who had protected his heir when Sesshoumaru had been but a pup, and have them also guard the outside of his rooms.
"So what will I need to do first, today?" he heard his little wife ask as she watched him dress.
He turned a smiling gaze on her and shook his head. "Nothing, right now, my love. You may still sleep for a little while before you will need to wake for breakfast. Kirara will stay with you," he said, his smile turning wry as the firecat blinked at him, "as I get the feeling she will not be willingly parted from your side again anyway, and I feel much safer with leaving you here to rest with her by your side."
Tired eyes brightening a little, she looked over at the futon longingly, then back at him. "Truly? I won't be setting anything behind were I to sleep a little more?"
He shook his head. "No, Izayoi. Go to sleep. If you do have need of me, I will be in my study, and Kirara knows the ways around. But I would prefer you to stay here until I come for you to escort you to breakfast."
"But what about a bath?" she asked sleepily as she disrobed, slipping into her sleeping yukata.
"Your maidservant and Nami will attend you when it is time to wake and ready yourself for the day, love," he said fondly as he watched her crawl back into bed.
"Oh, okay," she said softly, already half asleep. "I love you..." she trailed off as her eyes fell closed, lashes laying thickly against pale cheeks, and Touga's heart melted as it always did whenever he looked at her.
"And I you," he returned just as softly, before sighing; turning his mind to his duties he left the room, making sure the barrier was up and at full strength before he made his way to his study, ready to start the day.
He wasn't surprised to find Kenji already awaiting him at the door to his study, and sliding it open, he entered followed by the kitsune, who then slid the door shut and threw up a soundproof barrier. Touga took his seat and waited for Kenji to do the same, knowing that the male must have had something good to report if he was making sure no one else could possibly overhear it.
Still, he had something to attend to first. He held up a hand as the kitsune began to speak. "I need you to send for Dai* and Haru* and have them guard my quarters. Izayoi sleeps within, and though Kirara is with her I would have additional protection for her."
Kenji nodded, standing immediately and summoning a servant to have the two named sent to Touga's quarters to guard the doors.
Once that was done, he sat down, a brow cocked as he took his seat. "Kirara?"
"Kirara. It turns out that Kirara was also a companion of Kagome in her quest to gather the shards of the jewel, Kenji. She remembers her and knew who Izayoi was. When questioned," he told the stunned kitsune, "she said that the kami had deliberately allowed her to remember that future that will never actually happen again so that she could ease Kagome's heart and be her companion once more. So she is here with her, and told me point blank she will not be leaving her again."
The kitsune sat back with a surprised look on his face that morphed into one of wry acceptance. "Well... that is something, isn't it? Izayoi must have been so happy to see one of her former companions – and even more, to be remembered. Sometimes..." he trailed off, his expression going troubled, "I wonder how she has withstood such a terrifying fate. How horrifying it must be to not be remembered – to be forgotten by all those you knew and loved. I am glad that the kami at least gave her this."
Touga nodded, a pang in his heart at the thought of what his wife had gone through since the day she'd fallen down that well she'd spoken of. It occurred to him in passing to wonder about that well... but he pushed the vague thought away after a moment and brought his attention to whatever it was that Kenji had wished to speak to him about.
"So what was it that brought you here so early?" he asked.
Kenji slid a small piece of parchment over to his Lord. "The three we spoke of yesterday that I set my spy on?" Touga nodded. "They are indeed guilty of wishing to get their hands on the jewel. But they definitely weren't a part of the traitor's idea of going to Ryukotsussei – yesterday's revelations left them terrified and in quite the uproar. They met secretly by themselves yesterday, and were desperately trying to figure out a way to cut their ties to the true traitor so that they could distance themselves from him."
"Did they give a name?" Touga asked, though he didn't really expect it to be that easy – if Kenji had truly found out for certain who they were dealing with, he would already have said so.
"No. But... they have always been part of the faction run by the one you suspect-" he smiled grimly at his Lord, who simply cocked a brow at Kenji's knowledge of his thoughts, "-and now they are trying to change alliances, aligning themselves with Fumio's followers, instead," he named one of the quieter factions within the council.
Touga chuckled, his voice heavy with irony at that. "So they go from the loudest, most insular faction, to the quietest and most open-minded – those whose ideals are actually closely aligned with Tsutomu, to hide themselves. Keep watching them. There's no telling what they'll eventually let out – especially if we keep heat on them." He sat back, frowning thoughtfully. "In fact, make sure they know they are being watched. Poke at that wasps nest, and we will see what comes flying out."
Kenji nodded. "There is another matter, a more... excitable matter we need to speak of," he said next, his voice full of laughter when his Lord looked at him enquiringly. "There is a certain little kitsune that is dying of impatience to see Izayoi-sama," he said, "and he is making a nuisance of himself about the matter, too. I fear he will drive your servants crazy if his wish is not granted."
"Ah yes, little Aki. I am sure Izayoi will be pleased to see him. I think we can allow them a visit after breakfast." Thoughts of his wife brought thoughts of her new companion once more, and the reminder to send a new messenger to the taijiya village – someone that could move quickly if something happened and he was needed there. He pursed his lips for a moment, thinking. "Send Shinobu* to the slayer's village," he finally said after thinking for several minutes. "He is to stay there as a messenger between the headman of the village and I. He should leave immediately."
Kenji nodded and stood to go take care of that just as Shiisaa knocked on the door, and as Kenji stepped out Touga beckoned him in.
"Have you placed spies with the females you mentioned yesterday, and their families?"
His assistant bowed. "Yes, my Lord. So far there is no sign of anything, but of course, it is far too soon. Right now, shock is keeping them all from really acting on their anger, though I've no doubt that will change. But... just by watching for myself, I think that Teruko will be your biggest problem. She's not going to give up. She had always been so certain that since you had dallied with her she would eventually be chosen as your lady, despite your warnings to the contrary. This whole thing has blindsided her, and she is dangerous, as I'm sure you know. But I doubt that she will attack outright... her style is more insidious and therefore harder to protect against," he sighed.
Growling inwardly, Touga once again, as he had many times over the several years since he'd bedded Teruko, took himself to task. He should have known better – and he had. But she'd been persistent, and he'd decided... why not? This was well before he'd decided to offer for Izayoi's hand – she'd still been little more than a child at the time, and this whole scheme hadn't even occurred to him yet.
And despite the fact that Teruko was skilled in the art of pleasure, he couldn't say it had been worth it. Especially not now, with circumstances as they were. His warning to her at the time against taking their liaison as anything more than it was hadn't sunk in, and really, it was a foregone conclusion that it wouldn't have. That was just the type of female the bitch was.
All that brief period of time had brought him was trouble, because now she was going to do everything in her power to kill his wife – he was tempted to track her down right now and just run his claws through her to keep her from even trying. However, that wasn't truly an option at this point though his blood wanted to argue the point, and he growled aloud this time, irritated and with his eyes bleeding red at the trouble she was sure to cause.
"So how do we combat her attempts? What ways and means could she try?" he asked, his eyes narrowed, assessing.
Shiisaa blinked, then drummed his fingers against his thigh as he thought it over. "Poison, hiring an assassin – the demon ninja clan comes to mind, and her family certainly has the means for such – perhaps inciting another to attack her. Knowing Teruko, she would want it to be in some spectacular manner, but one that couldn't be proven that she had a hand in. That way, others would fear to accept an offer of marriage from you, because they would know that they would also be killed, yet no one could actually touch her for any blood spilled." He sighed. "I'm afraid the dangers are just too numerous to name, my Lord. Or completely protect against."
This issue left Touga with a dilemma. Normally, he was a fair and just ruler that did not care for assassination. But in this instance... Teruko would try. There was no doubt about it, no two ways around it. If he chose not to act, not to take out the threat beforehand, then he was leaving his wife in terrible danger. The woman he loved, the one he'd sworn to protect. And that left him with only one answer.
"Trap her. You know what to do. Allow her to plan... but once she's committed herself to the attempt, come to me. At that point, her life is mine, and I will not hesitate to take it. I warned her, in public no less, so if she chooses to be a fool, she will be a dead one," he said with finality, no remorse in his face or tone. She was just lucky he wasn't going to outright kill her – that he was at least giving her a chance to live. But inside, he knew... he would soon be cleaning her blood from his claws. All that really remained was to see just how she was going to go about her attempt – and who else she'd involve.
"Damn!" he slammed his hand down on his desk in anger. "With this war with Ryukotsussei, we really don't need this right now!"
"Ah, my Lord?" Shiisaa interrupted mildly, submitting immediately as Touga's aura flared.
"Speak."
"I do not believe that she will act now. I think that she plans to watch – that she hopes this coming war will do the deed for her. Most of the citadel has figured out why you married a human priestess. I'm pretty sure that she will hold her hand until after the war has been fought. If the Lady survives, that is when she will act. After all," he said dryly, "why stick her own neck out to kill someone, when some nameless soldier in some easily forgotten battle may do it for her – and then there is no stigma attached to her for the death? If that happened, you would have no reason to be angry at her or suspect her of wrongdoing. She would be innocent."
But that gave Touga an idea. He smirked, his eyes going dark and predatory. "Hnn... Teruko usually does not participate in battles, does she? She is lazy and does not like getting 'dirty' as she calls it. But," here, his face took on an almost devilish cast, "this particular war... it isn't some small skirmish. Everything is at stake. I wasn't really planning on doing this, but I think that we will make this a mandatory event for all those who are of age, healthy, and not whelping. And perhaps some nameless soldier in some easily forgotten battle will take care of our problem for us," he stole Shiisaa's words and turned them around.
Shiisaa couldn't help the matching smirk that hit his face. Such a thing would be poetic justice...
He watched as his Lord took up his writing tools and wrote out a proclamation requiring that all those able to bear arms were to do so in defense of their city and homes. When it came time to march, all those not already in the regular army that would be joining the fight would answer to him as General. In truth, as drastic as this action seemed, it really wasn't. There were very, very few that were capable of fighting that would refuse to join in when the time came, anyway, so there wouldn't be much of an outcry against this – except by Teruko, and maybe Chiaki, and a few, insignificant others.
Once it was written, he handed it off to Shiisaa to make copies and gave the order that it was to be posted all over the palace and citadel by the next day, and that he would undertake signing all the copies once they were finished later that evening.
With that, he stood and dismissed his assistant to find his way to breakfast, while he made his own way to his rooms to escort his wife.
Forcibly ejecting thoughts of Teruko and her infernal plotting from his mind, he moved faster through the halls to his rooms, eager to be once more in his wife's pleasing presence. Her aura always managed to calm his upset, and after dealing with thoughts of that bitch, he certainly needed her soothing aura around him.
Opening the barrier around their rooms with a deft touch of his youki, he slid the heavy door open and entered to find Nami already there, along with the woman who had apparently been chosen as his wife's maid, just finishing grooming her for the day.
He stopped, stunned.
She was...
"Beautiful," he breathed, moving forward towards his softly glowing wife as though he couldn't help himself – and indeed, he couldn't. The kimono they'd chosen for her second day in attendance in her new home was one he'd had made for her before he'd ever left to spend the summer with her, and it suited her more than he'd even imagined.
The first layer was a brilliant white, over which a heavy silk in a deep wine was draped. The wine color suited her complexion and coloring so perfectly he made a note to buy more cloth in that color for clothing for her. When the kimono was fitted just perfectly and then tied with the black obi, the front of her kimono, from the obi down, showed him in his true form, slightly crouched atop a rocky promontory and howling at a silvery full moon wisped by clouds. This kimono was made of kumo-youkai silk, and dyed perfectly by its maker in ways that human clothmakers could never imitate. This wasn't a kimono that a human could have made – at least, not with this level of detail.
His instincts purred to see her wearing something that marked her as his to anyone with eyes, and a deep rumble left his chest as he came to a halt before her. "You are beautiful, my Izayoi," he said softly. "Do you like it?"
A blushing Izayoi nodded, glancing down at herself and smiling. She really liked the fact that she was wearing something that proclaimed so loudly just who she belonged to, and the work on the fabric was beautiful – it looked just like him. Honestly, she wouldn't mind having more just like this in different colors.
"Yes," she said shyly, blinking up at him after a moment. "It's beautiful."
"I had it made for you as a welcoming present before I ever left to court you – in the hopes that you would agree to wed me, of course. It suits you more than I could have ever thought."
The two were shaken from their preoccupation with each other by a rather demanding mew, and Izayoi, recognizing that mew from the many times she'd heard it on the quest for the shards, giggled. "I think we should go, Touga – Kirara's hungry and wants her breakfast," she said, her face alight with happiness as she looked down at one who had been part of her missing and long gone future – and was now restored to her.
To Touga, it really was apparent that the two would not be separated again, and he was fine with that. Kirara was one part of Izayoi's stolen future that had shared it with her, remembered it, and could ease that part of his little wife that had been broken, lost, forgotten, and sad.
The part that was...
"Kagome," he said slowly, letting the name roll over his tongue as he attempted to get used to it. He didn't miss the shock on her face as she looked up at him, and smiled with a wry twist. "It is who you truly are, is it not? I can understand your desire to honor your father by using the name he gave you, but... here, I will call you by Kagome if you so desire, when not in formal surroundings, as you asked Nami to also do. Or at least, I will try," he offered, "since it has been your nickname in this life, as well, little maiden of the bow. It is certainly apt, at least."
Tears of relief flooded Kagome's eyes, and she hurriedly wiped them away. "Every time someone calls me by my true name, it is as though I've been suffocating and can finally breathe again. Thank you, Touga... for at least trying. I will welcome hearing my name spoken more often."
He nodded. "Then come, Kagome – it is time to break our fast. It will be a busy day, so you will need your strength," he smiled, and Kagome followed him from the room, Kirara curled up in her arms as she walked at his shoulder.
This day had already been one of the best she could remember since the darkness had swallowed her inside the Shikon no Tama, and no matter where it went from here, she no longer felt as though she were suffocating.
Finally, there was someone with her who knew who she was...
Watashi no na-ma-e wa Kagome desu!*
~oOo~
A/N: I have been planning on bringing Kirara back in this manner since the time I first introduced her into the story, and so writing it finally, reuniting the two was quite satisfying. I hope everyone enjoys this little twist that I'm sure most weren't really expecting!
Also, a great big CONGRATS to HyperFoxChild, who was the first to guess the origin of the names Koume and Kotake! The twin sorceresses are from the Legend of Zelda series, and are the adoptive mothers of the evil Ganon.
Amber
*Aki-bright autumn
*Shinobu-endurance
*Dai-great, large
*Haru-spring
*My name is Kagome!
Edited 12/18/13
