I know... I know! It's been a LONG time. Long story short, I've graduated! And I had to work A LOT (I had no life ;_;) to pay off my debt (which I did yesterday! YAY!)
I'm going back to school in January but I have some free time on my hands before that don't I? Hehehehe. So hopefully I get some more chapters out and maybe even finish this story before then!
Thanks for all the reviews. They really keep me going! Anyways! On to what you've all been waiting for!
Kimi sighed as Natsuko helped pull on her beautiful royal blue dress. Her advisor raised her brow. Kimi sighed again.
"What is all this sighing about? You're about to celebrate your mate's return!" Natsuko commented as she laced up the back of the delicate dress. Sesshoumaru had the dress made for Kimi. It sort of resembled the dress he had made for her before she disappeared. Kimi grunted as Natsuko tightened the dress a little too tightly.
"You know how I feel about these large celebrations..." She muttered. Natsuko shook her head before patting Kimi's back.
"You'll be fine. Besides, I heard there was a surprise." Natsuko whispered the last part, fully knowing Kimi could hear. Before she could question her, Natsuko pushed her out the door. "Oo, isn't that Mizuki calling?"
Kimi pouted before walking down the hall to find her daughters. What surprise? She pushed opened the door in front of her to see Rin and Mizuki running around in their dresses. A small smile appeared on Kimi's face. Mizuki spun around in her flowing light pink dress when she noticed her mother. Her golden locks were held up in a messy bun.
"Mama! Mama! Do you like my outfit?" The five year old chimed. She curtsied as her and Rin practiced all day. Kimi giggled before nodding her head in agreement. Rin raced up for a hug from her mother before showing off her orange dress which hugged her tiny curves.
"I wanted to be more like a lady. Like you, mama." Rin smiled. Kimi blushed before gently placing a kiss onto Rin's forehead. Before she could get a word out, Mizuki stomped her foot twice.
"I'm a lady too!" She shouted her face turning red. Kimi inwardly sighed. Mizuki did always have a temper. And she knew exactly who she got it from (though her mate would say the opposite). Before it got out of control, Kimi took Rin and Mizuki's hands into her own and led them out of the room towards the celebrations.
"My pups, you are both growing up to be fine lady's in your own way." Kimi softly comforted then kissed the backs of the pups hands. Guards slowly led the trio to be announced.
"Where's Papa?" Mizuki quietly asked, unsure of what to expect but excited at the same time. Kimi reached up to fix the jewels that were holding her hair out of her face then flicked the rest over her shoulder.
"He'll join us in a minute. Are you ready?" Kimi smiled as the girls quickly nodded in unison.
Pale fingers twirled a thick lock of fiery hair. She watched intently as the mother and her two pups were announced to the party. She couldn't understand why the demons of the Western Lands enjoyed being ruled under the blonde idiot.
Akiho turned on her heel and headed out to the gardens. Her ruby eyes rolled in annoyance. She wasn't deaf. She heard the whispers that were about her. Why was she back? Revenge? Of course she was back for revenge... but she only smiled.
She found the tree that marked their meeting place. She smoothed her silky midnight dress when the coast was clear, the signal.
"Well, that is a very seductive dress, don't you think?" A shadow spoke from behind the tree.
"Enough with the games and let's get on with this. Are you sure this will work?" Akiho demanded. Ryo slowly stepped out of the shadows revealing himself. His dark eyes sparkling.
"Are you questioning my plan? Are you backing out already? My... I thought you were more... what is the word I'm looking for..." Ryo teased. Akiho rolled her eyes.
"I will go along as planned as long as nothing happens to Sesshoumaru. I could care less what happens to Kimiko or her filthy offspring." The fox demon quipped. Ryo darkly smiled as he pulled out Kaori's crystal ball from behind his back. It's light blinded Akiho before it settled onto a picture of Sesshoumaru being announced. Soon the silver haired demon joined his mate. Akiho noticed that Ryo didn't take his eyes off of Kimiko.
"Nothing will happen to the Lord of the Western Lands..." Ryo murmured, his eyes still stuck on Kimi. He slowly glanced at Akiho before continuing. "As long as you follow through with the plan."
Kimi couldn't help but blush while she observed her mate walk toward her. She wasn't sure how he manged to still make her feel this way after so many years. She kissed his cheek before entangling her arm with his own.
"I have a surprise for you." Sesshoumaru softly whispered. Kimi stared up at him with her emerald eyes.
"I heard... what is it? You know I can't stand surprises!" She pressed. A low chuckle erupted from his chest. She loved when he laughed.
"Uncle Yaya! Auntie Kagome!" Mizuki shouted as she jetted from her mother's side. There stood InuYasha, still grumpy as ever, with a glowing Kagome. Kimi couldn't put a finger on it until she noticed her best friends belly.
"I told you not to call me that!" InuYasha scolded, trying to stop Mizuki from clinging to his arm. Kagome glared at him before elbowing him in the side, hard.
"Kagome! Y-you're..." Kimi stammered while hugging her best friend who only laughed.
"Yes. I'm five months." Kagome blushed.
"Mizuki, behave yourself. Let go of InuYasha. Rin, take your sister to play." Sesshoumaru murmured. Mizuki pouted before slowly letting go of her favourite (only) uncle.
"Yes Papa." Rin responded taking her little sister's hand into her own and leading her off to the snack table.
"Bye Uncle Yaya!" Mizuki waved. InuYasha took a deep breath. He loved his niece but if she called him that one more time he would blow up. Kagome wrapped her arms around InuYasha's waist, knowing very well he needed to be calmed down. Kimi smiled up at Sesshoumaru, grateful for her surprise. She couldn't believe how well he was getting along with InuYasha.
"InuYasha, you watch your tone with my pup. She will address you anyway she pleases."
"To hell with that!"
...Or not...
"Why, if it isn't my favourite Lord." A voice sung. The small group turned to see a fiery haired woman wearing a tight dark dress. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm protectively around Kimi's waist. A soft growl escaping his throat.
"Lady Akiho." He said curtly. Akiho laughed, twirling her hair with her index finger.
"Is that the kind of greeting I get now, Lord Sesshoumaru? I don't think I deserve that."
"You're lucky you even got a damn greeting." InuYasha shot. Kagome pulled on his sleeve, not wanting him to get involved. Akiho placed her hand on her chest in mock disbelief.
"Well... isn't that rude. I only came to discuss business. Is that too much to ask, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kimi glanced up at her mate. She could tell that he was annoyed. Not only was he interrupted from a good argument with InuYasha (his favourite pastime it seemed) but it was Akiho who did the interrupting...
"I am going to dance with my mate. We can discuss you're said 'business' after." Sesshoumaru slowly led Kimi away toward the other dancing couples. Kimi glanced behind her to see Akiho giving her a confident smirk. For whatever reason, it didn't sit well with her.
She smiled softly as her mate placed his hand onto the small of her back and led her in a dance. He soon buried his face in the crook of her neck taking a deep breath of her scent. Kimi softly giggled.
"I don't trust Akiho, Kimi. Stay away from her." He quietly cooed. Kimi couldn't help but remember what happened before her disappearance. Did Akiho have anything to do with it? Shivers ran down her spine. "...Kimi?"
Kimi jumped out of her thoughts and stared right into Sesshoumaru's worried golden eyes. She softly smiled and lightly caressed her love's soft cheek.
"Don't worry about me, Sesshoumaru. I will be fine." Kimi confirmed before kissing her mates lips gently. She soon pulled away from him, her cheeks flushed pink in colour. "Go tend to you business." Sesshoumaru slowly nodded before heading off to Akiho.
Kimi sighed before turned away from her mate. InuYasha and Kagome were dancing together which made Kimi laugh. Natsuko was tending to Rin and Mizuki. The other guests were socializing... something the golden haired demoness hated to do. She turned onto her heel and headed out to her favourite place, the gardens.
The cool breeze signaled winter's approach. Kimi ran her fingers through her hair before taking a seat near her favourite flower bushel. She slowly closed her eyes. That's when the dread hit. A rush of negative emotions ran through her body. Kimi snapped her eyes open, only to be startled.
It was pitch black all around her. She could barely make out the flower bush she was beside. Her body tensed when she heard the voice again. The past was repeating itself. Kimi hugged herself when she heard the footsteps. She swiftly turned to her right to see the same hooded figure.
"Kimi..." the woman croaked. Kimi straightened herself. This was the same woman who caused her to run away. Why was she back. All she boasted was lies.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?" Kimi demanded narrowing her emerald eyes.
"Kimi... you have mated with Sesshoumaru... you've made a grave error..." The woman continued as if Kimi hadn't spoken to her.
"We mated five years ago. You are really behind... Besides what does that have to do with anything?" The blonde demoness crossed her arms in front of her and raised her brow. The strange woman slowly started disappear.
"Mizuki will be kidnapped... the end is near..." were her last words. Kimi blinked several times before racing back to the party. She didn't take notice to the darkness that disappeared. Once back into the castle, Kimi rapidly searched for any sign of Mizuki, but couldn't find her. She tried to find her flowery scent but it was no where to be found. Someone tapped Kimi's shoulder causing her to jump.
"Whoa, calm down! It's only me." Kagome laughed. Natsuko joined her. Kimi swiftly turned to face her friends with a worried look on her face.
"Have you seen Rin and Mizuki?" Kimi panicked. Kagome and Natsuko exchanged troubled glances.
"The last time I saw them, they were playing around the snack table. You know them... what is wrong Kimi...?" Natsuko questioned. Kimi didn't answer. She only raced to the snack table to see they were no where to be see. Kagome and Natsuko were quickly joined by InuYasha.
"I'm sure the brats are around. They couldn't have gone far." InuYasha blurted, earning hard looks from Kagome, Natsuko and Kimi. "W-what I say?!"
Kimi looked up to see Akiho speaking with Sesshoumaru. Looking at her gave her an uneasy feeling. Did she have something to do with this? No... she had been speaking to Sesshoumaru this whole time. It couldn't have been...
"Mama! Help! Please!" A shriek. Sesshoumaru jerked his head. That sounded like Mizuki. He started to look for his mate when someone grabbed him rather forcefully. He turned to see Akiho smile at him.
"Lord Sesshoumaru... we aren't done speaking. I'm sure Kimiko can attend to your... pups." She calmly spoke. Sesshoumaru only glared. No one dared touch him but his mate.
"Unhand me you filth." He sneered before roughly pulling his arm away. He gave Akiho a final glare before turning on his way. Before he could even follow his mate's scent, the fox demon jumped in front of him and planted her lips onto his. Many gasps were heard. Sesshoumaru didn't have time to process what was happening. He grabbed Akiho by the back of her dress and flung her across the room. He didn't look back. He ran. His family was in danger.
Kimi, InuYasha, Kagome and Natsuko had followed Mizuki's cries to the garden fountain. But there was no sign of her. The cold breeze was still gentle. Kimi couldn't take this anymore. She frantically searched everywhere, even in the fountain. A gasp caused the panicked blonde to freak out. "What is it?!"
"Rin! Wake up!" Natsuko cried as she shook the young teen. The group raced over to see Rin limp in Natsuko's arms behind a tree. The dark haired teen soon opened her eyes. She locked eyes with her mother "Rin! Are you OK!?"
"Mama... I'm s-sorry... I couldn't protect her..." Rin whispered softly. Kimi dropped onto her knees and brushed Rin's bangs from her bruised face. Her dress was shredded and dirty. Her body was full of bruises and cuts. Kimi gently kissed her pup's forehead. Whoever did this would pay.
"No, Rin. You did your very best. I'm proud of you." She softly cooed. Before she could ask what happened, a laugh erupted in the quiet garden. There was no telling where it was coming from. Soon, a blurred picture of Ryo appeared in the sky. His laugh only grew louder and louder. "Ryo..." Kimi growled.
"Yes, my sweet. How are you this fine night?" Ryo grinned wickedly. InuYasha pulled out his sword.
"You bastard!" He shouted before jumping into the air and right through Ryo. "What?"
"A hologram!" Kagome gasped. InuYasha instantly raced in front of Kagome to protect her. Kimi stood and stepped away from Rin and Natsuko, never taking her eyes off of Ryo.
"Kimi... I love when you give me that look..." Ryo chuckled.
"Where is my pup, Ryo!?" Kimi shouted. Ryo smirked widely.
"Clever as ever. Let's get down to business, Kimi, as I do not have time to waste." Ryo seemed to turn behind him then dragged something out. It was Mizuki who was bound and struggling. A cloth was tied around her mouth. Her golden hair had been let loose from it's bun. Kimi gasped. "Now that I have your attention, listen carefully to these instructions. You are to head south, alone. You will find a well house. Enter it. If anyone follows you, the girl dies."
Ryo squeezed Mizuki's arm causing the child to shriek in pain and fear. Kimi's growl grew in volume. She could feel her blood boiling. Her emerald eyes widened when someone familiar stepped out beside Ryo.
"Oh yes, I can't forget. I need to thank this wonderful woman for helping me." Ryo gloated. Akiho flipped her hair over her shoulder, her grin ever growing.
"You bitch." Kimi sneered. Akiho tilted her head to the side in pretend shock.
"My, how rude! You had better watch your language, Kimiko. You forget who I am with." Akiho informed while she pinched Mizuki. Kimi couldn't stand to watch anymore. Akiho's cackle was drilling her brain.
"Kimi, remember. Well house. Alone." Was the last thing she heard. She kept her head down, trying to even out her breath. This night was a disaster. Just like the woman had predicted. She had to make things right. She finally looked up only for her eyes to meet Sesshoumaru's. She didn't even noticed when he came. Before he could distract her, Kimi took off running only to be stopped by Sesshoumaru.
"It is a trap. You are not going alone." He ordered. Kimi only glared at him.
"I don't care if it's a trap! My pup is in trouble and I am the one they want!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around his mate tightly.
"Damn it all!" InuYasha shouted. Kagome slowly rubbed his back.
"We'll figure something out, Kimi. I promise." Kagome soothed.
"The woman was right..." Kimi muttered, pushing Sesshoumaru away from her.
"What woman?" Natsuko questioned, carrying the sleeping Rin. Kimi stared at her pup. Had she listened, Rin wouldn't be hurt and Mizuki wouldn't have been in danger. She clenched her fists trying to control her anger.
"This elderly woman I've met before. She warned me terrible things would happen so I ran away the first time... I saw her again tonight and... I should've listened!" Kimi yelled with tears still rolling down her cheeks. She roughly wiped them away. She couldn't be weak. She had to be strong for Mizuki and Rin. She would protect her pups at all costs.
"Why is this the first time I am hearing of this wench?" Sesshoumaru questioned. If this woman was the cause of Kimi's disappearance he would make it his mission to destroy her. No one caused his family grief.
"I didn't make the connection until now... please let's discuss this later. I need to clean Rin up..." Kimi muttered signalling to Natsuko. Kagome moved away from InuYasha and walked beside Kimi.
"Let me help." She offered with a smile. Silently the group headed back inside the palace, hoping Mizuki would be safe.
Later that night, Kimi couldn't stop tossing and turning in bed. She knew Sesshoumaru was only pretending to sleep. Ryo's word wouldn't stop repeating in her head. She also knew it wouldn't stop until she killed the bastard. Kimi closed her eyes at that thought. She never killed anyone or anything in her life... would she actually go that far and kill this man?
She flipped over to the other side and stared at Sesshoumaru. 'Sleeping' beside her was this majestic man... no... demon who could kill an entire country had he felt like it. Sometimes she wished she had his bravery. Maybe then none of this would happen. At that moment, Kimi decided to take matters into her own hands. She placed a gentle kiss onto her mate's soft lips. He slowly opened his magical golden eyes.
"I'm going to check on Rin." She whispered. This would be her sixth time checking on the young teen. There was no point for Sesshoumaru to argue. A worried mother was a deadly mother. He only nodded his head as he watched his mate leave the room.
Kimi slowly opened the door to Rin's room. She tiptoed in and knelt beside the bed. Rin was sound asleep. Kagome and Natsuko had helped her clean Rin and bandage her wounds. The young teen was going to be fine but was still in rough shape. She kissed her pup's forehead and stood up to leave.
"Mama... are you going... to get Mizuki?" a whisper said. Kimi slowly turned to see Rin sitting up in her bed. Kimi smiled before leaning over her.
"Yes. Please take care of your papa for me, ok? I'll bring Mizuki back safely. I love you, Rin." Kimi cooed before embracing Rin. Rin returned the embrace tightly, nodding her head.
"Please be safe, mama." Rin whispered before letting go. Kimi nodded before racing out of the room, not wanting Rin to see the tears that started to collect in her eyes. She shut the door and ran down the many halls before she exited the palace. She quickly realized Sesshoumaru was hot on her trail.
"No, Sesshoumaru! I need to do this alone!" She shouted, without looking behind her.
"It is a trap. We will go together." Sesshoumaru calmly stated.
"No! They want me alone!" Kimi cried, swiftly turning on her heel to face her mate. She stopped in her tracks and put her arms out in front of her. Sesshoumaru stopped in confusion a few feet away from her. Kimi slowly spread her arms apart creating a barrier. Once finished, she continued running.
"Kimi! No!" She heard Sesshoumaru roar. The raw emotion she heard almost caused her to stop and jump into his arms. But their daughter was in trouble. She had a mission to complete. She needed to save their family.
"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru..." Kimi whispered knowing he would hear. "I love you..."
Hope you enjoyed!
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Love, Snowy B~