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Brows furrowed together in deep concentration, taking a shallow breath, quietly anticipating the priestess's solution to saving his mate's life, knowing full well that it wasn't going to be good or easy, he looked at her lovely face once more.
But regardless, any trials that he would have to endure to bring her back alive and well to him was worth the risks because he loved her. 'Mother you will pay for all this grief,' he thought assuredly while giving the priestess a cold glare with liquid golden eyes.
Taking a deep breath, willing her mind and body with the strength that she needed to deliver the grave news she responded. "Journeying to hell and retrieving your mate's wandering spirit is the only way," and with a grunt of disgust by the Daiyoukai the priestess paused and waited on him to be responsive again so that she could continue.
However, the wait was lengthy as Sesshomaru's mind was pre-occupied with something, and it seems that whatever it was gave him reason to pause with its severity. 'Rin?' the memory brought him back to the time when he saved her from the hounds of hell, and what a hellish and undesirable place it had been. 'Kagome, how could a pure spirit like yours ended up in such a place?' The thought was bitter enough filling him up with more guilt, causing another fracture in his already wounded heart leaving a wider gap behind.
"My lord," the reserved voice of the priestess called taking him away from the unsavory thoughts. "The journey to save your wife is twofold…Retrieving her spirit is the first part," stopping briefly she contemplated her next words, while the demon lord gazed at her with troubled eyes as his deep emotions of sorrow were reflected in them. "Even if you succeed and somehow return her inner self to her physical body, in sleep she will remain and the infant will perish." She finished off in a low key.
The priestess's disheartening warning sieved through his inhuman ears as he pondered on its meaning, her words bothered him greatly. He was never one to make emotions ruled reasoning and consequently prevented him from acting before, but his instincts were telling him to tread carefully because the worst was yet to come.
With quick movements he re-entered the space on the balcony overlooking the garden, watching the snowflakes that landed on the fading green grass below, with his mind unsettled by the healer's grim words.
Patting the priestess on the shoulder as she stared at the back of the demon lord, getting her attentions the demoness whispered close to her ear. "I will take it from here, let me be the one to tell him," with a twist of the lips in apprehension the priestess was quite ready to refuse her request, because the earlier assessment of the lord's mate was unflattering. But she thought better of it as she could see the pleading in her eyes.
"Okay," she said while nodding her head. The demoness stepped onto the balcony shortly afterwards and stood behind Sesshomaru, but kept her distance out of respect for his status and mindset.
Clearing her throat she tried to get his attention as he refused to acknowledge her presence even after she had adressed him by title and name. "My lord," she said softly trying her best to be sympathetic and to make amends for her earlier insensitivity. Shiny eyes met her gaze as he turned and faced her slowly, the sight was unexpected and was scary with its intensity, as blood red capillaries protruded from his periphery and seemed to seep into his irises slowly.
It was a disturbing sight causing her to gasp and take a step back, as he took a long stride and came to tower over and looking down on her with intimidation. Frightened eyes looked away from the lord's angry ones quickly as he walked away. Feelings of rejection and shame overwhelmed her while she stood motionless and watched as he approached the human priestess.
"Tell me of my mate's fate," he addressed the priestess, she swallowed harshly at his serious tone and weird eyes thinking that he looked like a feral animal which was understandable, because he had been mourning his mate's passing only to be told that she was alive and spiritless; a human who had ties in the underworld, and she felt a sense of regret and sadness for him.
"My lord, your mate will become whole again when the caster of the spell is dead and her spirit freed from its prison…I am sorry, there is no other way." And as he gazed at her solemnly with the red receding into the corners of his eyes, hiding away once more she remembered something very pertinent and told him.
"Take heed my lord, you have two weeks to do it all, retrieve her spirit and kill the caster of the spell, or both your mate and the baby will perish in the pits of hell." Her words were grave, and on some level she wished that she could have offered him more, because she could see that he loved the woman dearly.
A far away look occupied his eyes as dread descended upon him, the time he had to save Kagome and their child was numbered. Could he deliver her spirit from the bowels of hell and kill his dam in fourteen days? It was a humongous task and the image it presented was horrific, but he could not let her perish if he could save her.
Both females were shocked as a quick smile spread across the demon's lips fleetingly, and just as suddenly as it had appeared it disappeared. "Leave!" He ordered and the two women scurried from the room, only the priestess gave Kagome a quick glance in passing and thinking. 'You are truly blessed; you have the love of a male that would change the impossible for you. I hope he succeeds.' And with that she walked away as Sesshomaru went to sit by his mate's bedside, taking her hand where he stroked her palm.
The news that his mate lived was delivered to the great crowd that was waiting in anxiousness in the streets of the west to get a glimpse of their savior, but instead of sadness their was joy, instead of a funeral there was a celebration; but neither Sesshomaru or his children partook of the merriness as he was preparing himself mentally for his quest, one that he must do and do it quickly.
"Inuyasha?" his brother's name spilled from his lips.
'His sword the Tessaiga can open a portal to the underworld, which is the only way I can enter the gates of hell to retrieve what was stolen. And my dam, I cannot find her floating abomination if she doesn't want it to be found,' he thought as a plan formulated in his head. Nevertheless, with all the uncertainties, tomorrow he would plot a course of action to save his mate and to destroy his traitorous mother, and hence get back to the business of saving his species with Kagome and their children by his side.
Lying beside her still cool form he let the warmth from his body enveloped hers as he pulled her closer to his side, all the reservations he had when he had thought that she was dead deteriorated, and he kissed her cold and unresponsive lips tenderly.
Relieving her from the closeness of the embrace he caressed her abdomen, letting himself feel the life that grew within her womb, something that he needed to do because it gave him hope, when it felt like none was present, as all the air was suctioned from the room with its suffocating doom. Hissing his teeth in vexation from the displeasing sensations of gloom and hopelessness, he let her go completely and removed himself from the bed.
The light of the lantern flickered on her face as the flames danced in earnest by the wind, the sensation of being warmed like a pleasing soak in the temperate waters of an onsen overwhelmed him, and it wasn't just his body but his heart and soul that felt peaceful.
With his eyes fixed on the source of comfort; he watched as Kagome's body glowed and her soul's power reached out to him when he was at his lowest, and in need of such comfort. Reclaiming his place at her side on the bed, he continued to feel the little life that grew within and it brought him peace. "My love, I know that you would have been pleased by this occurrence," he said to her, whispering words of comfort in her hair while he continued to rub her belly.