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She heard it all, the heavy booted footsteps of his movements coming up the wooden staircase. It wasn't typical, because his gait was always so light, almost as if he glided rather than walked. She let out a soft sigh as she sponged Akiyoshi's down; he was running a slight temperature and tossing restlessly.
While she focused on her task she could still hear his footsteps as they left the staircase and entered the landing coming closer. With the heightened awareness from her mate's youki inside her body, she could tell even though she had barely glimpsed him earlier that he was troubled. But darkness had somehow lit his eyes in a brutal type of euphoria, he was pumped, and something told her to expect the worse.
On a strictly spiritual level she knew that the day would come when their world would come tumbling down. It could not be avoided, yet in all the years that they have been together, through good times and bad times, she silently wished that day would never come.
She was much too aware of his presence that when he turned the door knob and opened the door she did not react to him. Without looking up she continued to wipe the small beads of perspiration on their son's forehead. Her thoughts were still on the events of the day, and she hoped that Sesshomaru would have an explanation for it all.
He came to kneel by the bedside looking down thoughtfully on his son. Kagome remained calm silently watching the interaction. He could see that most of the major injuries were almost healed, thanks to his mate's loving care. His crown was bandaged all around and his arm set in a sling. His touch was gentle upon the boy's cheeks and he sighed in sleep. He had a fever, but apart from that he was fine. The boy was stronger than he'd thought and would recover with rest in a matter of days.
He looked away from his son and on Kagome with a grim expression; she felt the cold chill although she had yet to face him. He held her firmly by the shoulders digging his claws in and pulled her stand. She winced slightly from the discomfort, and even with the firmness of his hold she still swayed on her feet as her heart felt like it would explode inside her chest. Something other than what she feared was going on, he was too quiet, and anger was the dominant element of his aura.
The hold on her shoulder glided to her hand without lessening the strength of his grip. The tug on her hand was forceful enough causing her to tilt forward as she became unbalanced. He didn't let go or look back for that matter, only continuing forward with her in tow like a small child that was to be punished.
He entered their bedroom which was unlocked securely holding onto his mate's hand who by now was crying silently. Other than their unusual first encounters he had never manhandled her. Using his shoulder he pushed the door shut, let her go and proceeded towards the closet for a fresh yukata.
Kagome let out a sigh as she sat on the bed. "Is there something wrong, what troubles you so my love?" She asked shakily.
He looked away from the closet after selecting a light blue yukata and gazed at her with intense eyes. Those burning eyes revealed nothing although it seared over her skin, making her swallow nervously as her throat closed up from the sight.
"You have never displeased me before now, so why?" It came out harshly, piercingly. "Akiyoshi almost died."
"What are you implying?" Kagome managed, shaking her head almost fiercely for fear that he might see what was in her eyes; the tears she was having to blink back hard so as to hide the hurt that she felt.
His expression changed and not a trace of sympathy or understanding was present. It was as if the Sesshomaru whom she had built a life and family with all these years had vanished, and in his place stood a cold and unfeeling monster.
She actually flinched back from his glare. 'How can he look at me like that? Like I was the most disgusting and undesirable thing he had ever seen.' She thought bitterly. It was frightening.
She reached out a hand to him as he came to stand before her now, she could hardly believe any of this was happening. Where did her mate go? The chill inside the room felt like it was the dead of winter, and yet it was the heights of summer.
He didn't care or desire her touch at the moment and so he moved away with his back to her.
"Sesshomaru please, what is going on…I don't understand?" She pleaded with him as her heart begun to break.
"You are responsible for our children and their whereabouts, and yet my son was almost killed under your care."
Sesshomaru said it easily and even though he knew that it sounded cold and distant, his voice harsh and rushed, he didn't have the energy to change it, he was too angry. It wasn't that he did not feel sympathetic toward her, but it was her responsibility, and it had been a long and trying day. Kagome was the last person he needed to see right now, especially when he was so angered and angry at her. But he could not avoid it, they lived in a small space and she was his mate.
That was the last thing she expected him to say. Her mate was actually accusing her of neglect and putting their children's lives at risk. How could he when they'd spent the better part of their lives together raising and securing their children's welfare?
She wasn't amused. Her fear turned to fury, tangibly enough that Sesshomaru could see the latter even before she cursed him.
"Damn it! What kind of an idiot are you?" She demanded. "How can you accuse me of something like that…I love all our children, and I would rather die than to see any of them hurt."
She drew air in and out as she panted with rage concentrating on his face as she cried.
"Nonsense," he rebutted. "I told you to dismiss the girl from our home but you did not care for my thoughts and kept her within our midst." His rage was the exact replica of hers as his pitch rose at least two decibels above its usual tone.
The voice of their parents quarreling carried to them and it was the most unusual occurrence, because they had never heard them lift their voices to each other before. Aiko started to cry, and Taizo held her trying his best to comfort her.
"Don't cry I am sure that they are just upset about Akiyoshi." He could only hope that was the case and that they would make up after Akiyoshi got better. But for now they could not help but to listen as their parents fussed.
"What…What are you talking about?" Her own panic muffled her ears as she was slowly beginning to understand.
He waved a hand dismissively and hissed in annoyance repeating one word. "Chou."
"Now wait just a minute, what does she have to do with Akiyoshi?"
Sesshomaru looked at his mate in disbelief. How could she not know? Akiyoshi was smitten with the girl from the first moment that he had seen her. He was on the cusp of manhood and wanting sex was at the forefront of his mind.
And as he watched her while she worried her bottom lip in anxiousness his anger soared. She should have known better, she was their primary care giver and was with them every day.
Some movements he made got her attentions and she looked up. His fingers tightened on her shoulders and she winced as they covered the same area that was already tender from earlier.
"What?" she cried.
He shook her once quickly. "You should have known better, any mate of mine should not be such a fool."
She was still shaken but not enough to just stand there and be called a fool.
She lifted a hand and slapped him hard, pushed at his chest and dropped it when it trembled.
"You arrogant ass," she hissed just before he let her go.
It took him but a moment to let it sink in. Kagome had slapped him hard across the cheek, and if the sting to his face was anything to go by, she had used her reiki to let it burn. He glared at her and took a menacing step closer.
"Stop this Sesshomaru, I know you and this isn't about our son alone. I am sorry I made a mistake."
Uncomfortable she shifted from one foot to the other while his piercing eyes settled on her face. Then he spoke crossly.
"The girl seduced Akiyoshi and he gave her his innocence. I found their clothes some distance away from where he fell. The girl is dead, and so are Ryoma's sons. Tomorrow I and my comrades will go to war to regain what is rightfully mine."
He didn't move, he waited and watched her reactions. Her lashes fluttered down, her lips parted but not a word was released. She winced inside as the dark thunderstorm broke inside her head. There was no denying it anymore; the predictions were going to happen whether or not she wanted it to. She tried to speak coherently but the words just tumbled out and she wasn't sure if they made sense or not.
"I knew that someday…But why…I do not fully understand…?" her voice trailed off, breathless, she took a seat on the bed. Sesshomaru remained standing; all the while his mind was on what he would do to hurt his family.
He couldn't find the strength that he needed to comfort her at the moment; he wanted to but thought better of it. Kagome made him weak at a time when he needed to be strong. Going to her now would be foolish. He wouldn't be able to withstand the sight of her tears, the way in which it made her lips quivered, and her eyes sunken filled with waters of despair stirred his conscience.
He glanced at her and knew that she was crying, the turmoil in his heart and mind filled him up with remorse, and yet it wasn't enough to cause him to stay. He went and took his swords from the closet, dressed himself in his armor and swords.
When he was done he stood looking down on her head, a head that was covered with the most lustrous black hair.
"Kagome," he called, his voice sounded rough and husky as if he hadn't used it in days. However, she did not respond. "I am sorry."
She heard him walk away; she heard when he closed the door. The last thing that she heard of him was when he made the descent downstairs. Without realizing it the sound of crying echoed inside her head.
The floodgates of her emotions finally broke and she screamed out loud. "No! No!" time and again as her heart shattered. He heard her cries and it pierced his heart just as strongly as if a sword had impaled it.
He stopped for a few moments listening to her pained cries knowing that her heart was breaking and he wouldn't be there to help her through the dark times. If he could show his emotions to her now she would see a heart that bled and was shattering into a million pieces. But destiny was knocking and he was powerless to stop it. He took one last look, straightened and headed into the direction of his regiment.
The children rushed to their mother's room except for Yuki when they heard her cries. They knew what it was about; their father had told them of his plans earlier. Without knocking they burst through the door and into her bed and arms where she welcomed the love. It was what would see her through in what was gearing up to be the most difficult period in her life.
Yuki strapped on her sword dressed in clothes similar to her father's except hers was black. She would follow him at a distance. He always knew that she wanted to be like him, so he wouldn't be too upset when she joined him on the battle field. She reasoned being hopeful.