Chapter Twenty-Six – Threat
Sesshomaru once again scanned through the many scrolls that held concrete evidences of the Northern Lord's involvement in the assassination attempt.
Yet, something felt off.
Suspicion clouded his eyes as he found it odd that the cowardly Northern Lord would dare provoke the West. And even though the Northern Lord was foolish, Sesshomaru doubted a Lord could leave so many holes in his plan to leak. Sesshomaru stared down at the pile of scrolls squished onto a smaller desk compared to the one in his study.
Unable to leave her side, Sesshomaru had the scrolls brought into her room. As she slept, he made sure he was not far from her. Upon hearing her mumble, golden eyes turned to see her sleeping form shift in bed.
"..sessho..maru.." she grumbled weakly still half-asleep. He watched her slip out from under the blanket. As she moved to stand, her milky smooth legs were bare before his eyes. Her black midnight hair adorably out of place. Her blue eyes still glazed with sleepiness. As she neared him, her arms slowly reached out for him.
Entranced, Sesshomaru sat frozen in the chair with his eyes trained on her every action. Feeling her arms gently wrap around his neck, she moved to sit on his lap. The brush of her lips against his neck sent a shiver down his spine. It was as she began nibbling the area near his neck that he had to stop her.
Molten gold eyes glanced down to stop his temptress when he saw her fallen asleep. Slumping back against the chair, he released a silent sigh. Though she had stopped her seductive actions, the beat of his heart did not seem to cease. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer to his chest. He tilted her head upwards and scooped down to steal a kiss upon the slumbering temptress.
"Payback," he whispered with a small smirk. Tightening his hold on her a little more, he held her tiny asleep form as he continued to read through the scrolls.
As a peaceful air rested upon the two, a beautiful picture was painted.
No witnesses to see a large hand holding her tiny ones as his thumb tenderly brushed across her milky skin.
No one saw the difference in his golden eyes that usually remained burdened.
No one caught the subtle glances that reflected much love.
No, none saw the beauty of this moment.
Kagome naturally shifted closer to the source of warmth. Sensing that her position was off, she forced her heavy eyelids open to see a haze of white. Her eyes furrowed in confusion. Moving her hand against the white source of warmth, she tried to figure out what it was. But with her brain still asleep, Kagome didn't realize her hand was rubbing Sesshomaru's chest.
Placing a hand over her wandering ones, Sesshomaru hissed, "Kagome, stop."
Blue eyes, now wide awake, looked up at Sesshomaru in shock.
"Wha…What…Why am I here?" she voiced with confusion and accusation. Trying to hide her flushed cheeks, she glared at him thinking he was the one responsible for placing her here. Sesshomaru raised a brow at her accusation and said calmly, "At dawn, you woke up, sat on my lap and fell asleep."
"I…I did?" Kagome squeaked. A small smirk tugged on his stoic lips.
"Yes, along with this," tilting his head, he showed her the red mark she left near his neck. Kagome's flushed cheeks darkened the moment she realized that she had attacked Sesshomaru when she was half-asleep.
A tender look softened the features of his face as he found her flush adorable. Gently reaching to cup her red cheek, he leaned in to place a kiss on the other side. Feeling his lips touch her burning skin, it was as if the burning sensation was transferred to flow through his blood. The hand touching her cheek slipped down under her chin to tilt her head upwards.
Kagome closed her eyes as she felt his breath against her skin. His lips slowly shifted to brush against her lips. At the mercy of his touch, her heart trembled while her mind began to blank. A weak shudder escaped her lips.
Capturing her lips with his, he slid his tongue past her guard. Deepening the kiss, the heat shared between them seemed to soak through the thin layer of their clothing. Sensing her hands grip onto his haori he forced himself to stop. He pulled away and let their foreheads rest against each other. One resisted to dip down and kiss her again as the other was busy breathing in air.
Trying to escape his fervent stare, she looked away to see the pile of scrolls on her desk. The heated moment was completely replaced by a different type of heat. Warmth filled her at the sight of his worry for her. Blue eyes softened as she asked, "You've been looking for the one who poisoned me?"
Remembering her sickly state, his body stiffened as his eyes narrowed dangerously. He responded, "All evidences direct to the Northern Lord."
"But there is something missing?" she asked. Noting the suspicion in his voice, Kagome knew there was more. Recalling the night of the poisoning, Kagome added, "I heard a female voice chanting before I drank the poison. Perhaps there is someone working with the Northern Lord?"
It made sense. The Northern Lord may not be foolish enough to leak so much evidence, but he was foolish enough to order someone who may have accidentally leaked his dirty works.
Gently pecking her cheeks with his lips, he whispered in her ear, "That was the missing piece, my wise mate."
"M..M-M-mate?" Kagome said with a stutter as her blush once again appeared. Sesshomaru paused. Hesitating, his voice strained, "I thought…"
Unable to continue, golden eyes slightly dimmed.
"Sesshomaru," she called out lovingly with a hopeless smile, "I was only surprised that you suddenly called me mate. Would you say it again?"
Relief released the tension that held his heart captive. With a tender voice, he whispered out longingly, "Mate."
Tightening his hold around her waist, he called out again, "Mate."
"Yes, Sesshomaru?" Kagome said softly, showing him that she accepted the title and the answer to his unspoken proposal.
"What of Inuyasha?" he asked. Even though Inuyasha told him the engagement was broken off, he had to hear it from her.
He did not ask because he did not trust Inuyasha or her.
He did not ask because her confession was not enough.
He asked because it was his way of asking if she would belong to him alone.
If her heart belonged to only him.
"I am no longer his intended mate, but will remain his friend," she replied understandingly.
She was his.
A rare warm smile broke free from the burst of joy he felt within. Dipping down, his fangs scratched the surface of her skin enough to draw out a drop of blood and leave a temporary mating mark. But the moment his tongue tasted her blood, a growl erupted past his lips. He untangled his grasp from Kagome and made his way to the door.
Kagome silently sighed for she knew the reason for his distress. She could feel dark magic flowing through her veins. She was sure Sesshomaru tasted it in her blood. Not knowing what the poison could do to her, she was like a walking bomb. Helplessly watching him walk out the door, she saw his eyes harden with anger and worry.
What was it doing to her?
His footsteps quickened towards the Northern Lord's room.
What would it do to her?
Left with so many unanswered questions only increased his worry.
Swinging open the door, Sesshomaru spotted the surprised Northern Lord. He skillfully pulled out Bakusaiga, and held it against the Northern Lord's neck.
"What is the meaning of this, Lord Sesshomaru!" the Northern Lord barked out frantically. Narrowing his eyes, Sesshomaru threatened, "I hold several evidences on your assassination attempt against Inuyasha."
"I..I d-don't kno-ow what y-you are t-t-talking about!" he stuttered as the scent of his fear increased. Putting more pressure against the Northern Lord's neck, Sesshomaru continued, "You even go so far as to poisoning a Hime Candidate?"
Watching the Northern Lord begin to sweat, the coward blurted, "I do-do not need to answer to-o you!"
He had intended for the Northern Lord to confess his crimes. Unable to go any further unless causing war against the North, the court for all the Lords to judge the Northern Lord's crime would be needed.
"I shall see you in court then," Sesshomaru snarled. Reluctantly pulling his sword away, he saw the Northern Lord slump onto the floor in fear.
"You made a mistake in harming the Shikon Miko for she is my intended mate," his voice rang harshly. Leaving the bewildered Lord, Sesshomaru sent the news of the Northern Lord's treason to the other Lords.
Tomorrow.
Everything would be revealed tomorrow.
The unknown face of the Northern Lord's partner in crime would be uncovered.
The danger Kagome faced would be released.
Yet, Sesshomaru did not know that that the Northern Lord's partner had heard everything.
And in order to prevent from being found, she put into action the next move.
KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA
At dawn, the cry of a female voice echoed throughout the Western Castle. As Lord of the Castle, Sesshomaru approached the location from where the cry resounded; the Northern Lord's room. Upon arrival, he saw the Northern Lords lifeless body fallen in a pool of his own blood. Kura tightly embracing her dead Father, a sorrowful sob continued to echo through the halls.
Golden eyes hardened as he spotted a sword pierced through the Northern Lord's heart.
'Coward,' he snarled at the realization that the Northern Lord had decided to commit suicide instead of facing his crimes in court. An unmerciful glare glimmered past his eyes as he slowly withdrew Tenseiga. He would not allow the Northern Lord to escape his punishment so lightly nor withhold information of others involved in Kagome's poisoning.
Sesshomaru positioned the sword that returned life in front of the lifeless body; he waited for the sword's pulse. Yet as seconds passed, the sword did not pulse but instead glowed black.
Dark magic.
How was the Northern Lord able to cast a dark spell to prevent the Tenseiga to work?
When?
Recalling the ambush he encountered during patrol, he assumed the dark magic was to seal Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. Instead, the Tenseiga was now sealed. Although Sesshomaru's expression revealed nothing, a tremor of worry began to take root. He would not be able to use the Tenseiga until he visited Totosai. If anything were to happen to Kagome-
Halting in his thoughts, he mentally shook his head.
He would not allow any harm to fall upon her.
Golden eyes narrowed dangerously.
Perhaps, announcing to the demon society who Kagome belonged to is required.
None would dare to harm her.
Sheathing the Tenseiga, Sesshomaru voiced coldly to a nearby maid, "Burn him."
"N-NO! L-Lord Sesshomaru, my Father is the Lord of the Northern Lands! You have no right to be so disrespectful!" Kura screamed with tears running down her face.
Ruthless eyes bore into Kura's tear filled ones causing her to flinch. He said with an uncaring tone, "He has committed treason against the Western Lands. Unless you would like to replace him, I suggest you remain silent."
Walking away from the bloody scene, the feeling of dissatisfaction grew.
He would find all who tried to harm her.
They will not be as lucky as the Northern Lord.
No, their death won't be as light.
A promise of pain glimmered past golden eyes.
As the Western Castle continued to echo with sounds of Kura's cry, the soldiers extracted the Northern Lord's dead body from her grasp. After a few hours had passed by, the only figure that remained in the former Lord's room was Kura's slumped form against the floor.
No one neared the dead Lord's chamber or hallway.
So, no one noticed the sudden cease of Kura's cries.
"Ugh," Kura grunted as she got up from the bloody ground. Moving towards the full length mirror, Kura looked at her reflection in disgust. She ran her hand through the tangled strands of hair and voiced in annoyance, "The things I must go through."
Shifting her eyes to where her dead Father used to lay, she whispered, "I had to kill you off, old man. You would have confessed I was involved either way. But I must congratulate you…"
An evil smirk began to spread across her lips, "Well done on sealing the Tenseiga. Although you planned to seal the Tetsusaiga, things worked out even better for me. Now no one will be able to heal or revive the poor Miko."
Returning her eyes to her own reflection, Kura faked a sorrowful expression.
"Poor me, my Father is dead. No one will suspect me for anything."
Replacing her act with a malicious smile, Kura said to herself, "I am such a great actress."
Had one looked closely they would have seen the surprised expression on the dead Lord; surprised by his daughter's betrayal.
Had one looked closely they would have seen blood splattered over Kura's kimono; too much blood to be caused by just embracing the dead Lord.
"The Miko will be dead before I am figured out," a hateful voice resounded in the bloody room filled with dark secrets.
Author's Note: I wonder if my dear readers knew the second villain would be Lady Kura? Your thoughts of this chapter?
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