The True Holder of Shikon

Disclaimer - Don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter 26 - Karasu

XxXxX

After a few more questions, the room grew quiet. Then Sango looked at Sesshoumaru. She felt so shy and timid around him. Perhaps it was because this was his home and it made the reality of who he actually was startlingly clear. She noticed that he was dressed in something similar to his old attire. He had changed into something better suited to fighting an army when they were outnumbered before. She felt like looking at him was a crime. It was not a nice feeling. In reality, it made him seem further away. The door opening broke her reverie and she looked at the servants who entered. They were carrying trays of glasses and wine. Sango barely even wet her lips with it. Rin got a glass of milk. She drank it all almost immediately.

"Sesshoumaru-sama? May I be excused with Sango-chan?" The little girl asked boldly. The Taiyoukai's eyes went to Sango before going back to Rin.

"Yes, Rin. Wait outside for a moment while I speak to all of them."

"Yes, m'lord!" She got up and walked out. When the door slid shut, he looked directly at Inuyasha.

"If anything at all comes to your attention or it is happening to you, tell me. All of you. Is that understood?" They all nodded. "Sango." She looked up.

"Yes, Sesshoumaru. I understand." He nodded.

"You all may go. I have some things that need to be done anyway. Come, Jaken."

XxXxX

Inuyasha and Kagome went back to his room and she sat down on his bed.

"Everything is so different here. I couldn't have imagined being treated like royalty." She giggled and fell back, staring up at the stone ceiling. Inuyasha chuckled. "I feel like a princess. I've never even dreamed of a place that compares to this." The hanyou frowned.

"This isn't all fun and games, you know. Sesshoumaru knows what could and probably will happen. Especially to Sango. He's worried that someone will go too far. So am I." He gripped the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. "I ain't falling in love with this place so fast." Kagome sat up and stared at him.

"Can we go to the stables? I want to ride a horse." He sighed and relented quite easily.

"Fine. I'm bored as hell anyway."

XxXxX

Later that evening, Sango and Rin were returning from the courtyard. Their next stop was going to be the gardens but Sesshoumaru made an appearance. They stopped and Sango bowed to him playfully with a grin on her face. She was a little more comfortable than she had been because she did have fun with Rin. Though still dressed in their kimono, they went outside and walked around, went to a fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and watched Kagome ride a horse with Inuyasha teaching her.

"Good evening, my lord." He could see that she was merely playing so he let it go.

"The same to you, dear lady." He smirked at her and took her hand, brushing his lips against it. She froze and felt her face grow hot. Then she laughed it away before taking her hand from his. Rin smiled at them.

"It is time for bed, right, Sesshoumaru-sama?" The Taiyoukai nodded and she sighed. "Good night, my lord. Good night, Sango-chan." She ran through the hall to her room. Sango turned to Sesshoumaru to see him smiling at her. She smiled back.

"I did not get to see your gardens tonight. Will you show me?" He nodded and held his hand out to her. She took it and they began walking side-by-side.

"The garden is beautiful in the day but it is even more lovely at night, under the light of the silver moon." She looked over at him. "I was thinking about walking with you earlier. I needed to get away and be alone with you." She smiled and moved closer to him.

"I was hoping that you would come back to yourself. I felt...so out of place here. All of these youkai and none of them attacking me. I felt shadowed by them." She admitted quietly. "At first, I felt dirty compared to them."

"You are not dirty to me, Sango." He tightened his grip on her hand. "I love you the way you are." Tears came to her eyes but she forced them back down. She knew that if she said something, everything would just burst from her mouth. So she stayed silent until they made it outside to the garden paths. It was more beautiful than she ever could have imagined. Flowers of all kinds greeted her with moonlit faces so pretty that she felt she couldn't compare. Roses of red, white, pink, and yellow rested along the side of the walkway. Vines of morning glories and trumpet creepers climbed up cherry blossom trees. Snapdragons and azaleas rested beside a small pond with water lillies decorating the surface. Lilacs, peonies, and pink stargazer lillies came next. There were even some that she didn't know the names of. He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms. "I have been worried about you. This is one place where I know you are safe from most harm." Her natural scent of cherry blossoms mixed with the scent of the soaps only enhanced her scent so he did not have to bury his face in her neck. "I only want you to feel safe."

"But I do, Sesshoumaru. I feel safe from him when I am in your arms." He pulled back slightly and kissed her. She never experienced such a soft, sweet kiss. He deepened it, feeling her tremble in his arms. She felt tears sting her eyes and run down her face. The second he detected the scent, he pulled away and wiped them away with his thumb. She still had her eyes closed and was holding onto his sleeves tightly. "M-My legs..." He looked down and saw nothing wrong so he gave her a confused look. She gazed at him with wide eyes. "I-I can hardly stand." Her tears fell somewhat rapidly now.

"Why are you crying?" She buried her face in the fabric of his dark haori. He slowly began to rub her back.

"T-This place...and you... It makes who you really are seem so real. You are the Lord of the West and most of the inu youkai." She sniffled. His confusion faded.

"You do not deem yourself worthy enough, do you?" She shook her head and sniffled again. She tried to regain her composure but only succeeded in getting the hiccups. "You are worthy. You are the only woman who broke through to me and you love me for who I am not what I am. Sango, that is all I ever wanted." Her hiccups faded after a couple of moments and she got the courage to speak.

"I never envisioned any of this. I never could have beat it with a fantasy. My life has been torture and you and my friends are the only things keeping me afloat in this ocean of trouble." She looked back up at him. "If Naraku ever did get me and kill me, I would wish only to return to this point in time. I want to be with you as long as I can. I never want to leave your side." To hear her say those words made everything he was waiting for seem worthwhile. "It has taken us this long to finally fully understand each other... Now, we can be together. We passed so many tests and, even though it was a rough road, we made it through." As she stared at him, she felt a certain longing enter her mind.

"The test that was the hardest was seeing you in that state of mind." He said quietly. "You had just given up hope. You had given up on the ability to move forward. You were stuck." Her eyes widened. "The other test was seeing Naraku touch you. That time...I was too angry to be scared but I would have been if..." He never completed the thought but he didn't have to. She understood. If Naraku had gotten the chance to sink his teeth into her neck.

"I will never love another, Sesshoumaru. Never." She rested her cheek on his chest and closed her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Nor I, Sango." He whispered. They then separated and continued their walk through the gardens.

Sango stood in front of her door. She turned around and smiled.

"Good night." She whispered. He smirked before leaning down and kissing her deeply. She fell back into the wall and gripped his arms tightly. He broke away.

"Good night." The Taiyoukai walked away, heading toward his room. She watched him until he turned a corner then went inside her own room.

XxXxX

Breakfast went by quickly the next morning. Inuyasha glanced at Kagome as they walked in the hallway.

"Still bent on riding a horse, huh?" She glared at him.

"Yes, I am. Sango told me that she would help me."

"Did she really?" The hanyou raised a brow. "This should prove entertaining." She elbowed him before hurrying in front of him. By the time they got outside, Sango was waiting in a miko's outfit and had Kagome's ready for her.

"These are easier to ride in than kimono. I would drive myself insane trying to teach you to ride like that." Kagome had to admit that it was weird, seeing the taiji-ya in that outfit. But it somehow suited her.

"All right!" She went into a changing room while Sango put her hair into a ponytail. Inuyasha smirked at her.

"You really think you can teach an impatient, absentminded girl like her how to ride a horse? I'll warn you now, she's clumsy."

"Don't pick on her. I am sure that there are few horses in the future. Kagome told me the only time she rode a horse was when she was five and it was a pony that just went in a very slow circle." The taiji-ya stated as she looked at the horses. There was one that was almost pure silver except for black above the hooves and a black mark on its forehead with a black mane and tail. She selected the stallion and rubbed its nose. "What one did she use yesterday?"

"The mildest one in there. That one over there." He pointed to a cream colored mare with white specks all across its back and sides.

"She's pretty." Sango looked at the stallion she was next to. "But he is stunning." She looked at Inuyasha. "How is this one's temper?" The hanyou frowned.

"Hell if I know. We had one of the girls around here help Kagome pick one out." He snorted. "It didn't do much good in the end, anyway."

"Stop picking on Kagome." The taiji-ya slapped his arm. Kagome came out and went to her mare. One of the stable hands noticed them and walked over. After helping Kagome, he turned to Sango.

"Lady? I wouldn't choose that one, if I were you." He stated. She looked at the steed curiously.

"Why not?" She asked; raising a brow. He glared at her.

"He only listens to Lord Sesshoumaru. None of us can go near him." She looked at the beautiful stallion. Then she smiled and opened the door. She put the gear on the horse as he stood there, patiently waiting for her to get done. The stable hand stared at her.

"There, there." Sango grinned. "What's his name?"

"Karasu." A familiar voice said behind her.

"Raven..." She whispered.

"He flies like one." When she turned around, she saw Sesshoumaru standing there. "Let's see how you can handle him." She glared at him.

"I can handle any horse. It is not being able to ride. It's all about whether or not the animal can trust you." She got on Karasu and shifted a little before taking the reins in her hands and lightly tapping the heel of her foot onto the sides of the horse. He began at a slow walk then began trotting nicely along. Sango was always in control. She smiled and ran her hand down the shining neck of the horse. "Good boy!" She said cheerfully. Kagome followed Sango's example and felt the mare move forward. Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on Sango, finding himself glad that his stallion liked her. She raced Karasu around, leaning forward and grinning when he went his full speed. He was a magnificant creature. He ran as gracefully as the wind, his grace matching that of his namesake.

"She's something, isn't she, Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha asked; his smirk widening. "Full of surprises. She may always ride Kirara but that's different compared to a horse that she doesn't even know."

"Yes..." The stable hand watched his lord with slight surprise. A smirk rested upon the Taiyoukai's lips. "She is."

XxXxX

The next day, Sango was to be found at the stables. Kagome smiled at the hanyou next to her.

"In a way, I've never seen her so happy. At least...not since Naraku got her." Inuyasha blinked and looked at the miko.

"No? What about with Sesshoumaru?" She shook her head.

"That's different. In her mind, Karasu represents freedom. She's attached to him. And look at how he is with her." Once they stopped riding around, Sango got down from his back and fed him a carrot. He nudged her affectionately. She laughed and took his nose in her hands before reaching up and petting him.

"You're right." Inuyasha sighed. "I've never seen her like this, either." Sango got back on and they took an easy trot back to the stables, where she put him back and took everything off of him. Then she brushed him down before leaving. Karasu watched her retreating form. Inuyasha watched the stable hand approach him and reach out. The stallion got a sudden temper and leaned out to bite him. The stable hand retreated with confusion. Sango walked toward them with a bright grin on her face.

"That was so much fun!" Her cheerfullness made the two grin back. "Why didn't you join me?"

"Watching you from here was fun." Kagome stated; her eyes going to Inuyasha. Sango smirked and crossed her arms.

"You just wanted to sit together. Well, I will not bother you any longer." The two looked at each other then looked away quickly, their faces red. The taiji-ya walked away laughing.

"I think she set us up." Inuyasha muttered gloomily. "Damn taiji-ya." Kagome looked at him before laughing. He glared at her.

"I have never seen you blush so red in all the time we've been together! Your face matched your haori." She pointed and laughed harder. It made him feel worse.

"Shut up! Don't think I didn't see the color on your face. Someone two miles away could see that bright shade of red." He snapped. She nearly choked and felt her face grow hot. It was he who had the last laugh.

XxXxX

Sango walked around, exploring the castle. She only went where she saw servants, maids, and other people who helped out in the fortress. In her perspective, the place was a combination of a lord's castle and a strong fortress.

"Lady?" She turned around and saw a man standing behind her. He looked at her attire. It was a plain blue and black kimono.

Hmm... I suppose it will have to do.

"What is it?" She asked curiously. He looked up at her.

"Lord Sesshoumaru would like to see you." So, he led her through the halls until they came to a large door. She reached out and slid it open. "Lord? I have brought Lady Sango at your request." Sesshoumaru turned around and stared at her. She smiled at him.

"That will be all for now." He said; dismissing the servant. As soon as the man bowed and left, the Taiyoukai gestured to her. She walked toward him, a curiousness beginning to work itself into her mind. He then led her to a long desk where he sat down. She looked around. It reminded her of a small library.

"What kind of books do you have?" She asked; seeming innocently curious. He raised a brow before smirking.

"I will show you the library before we leave this place." She frowned; her mood suddenly dampened.

"When do we leave?"

"Three days, if I am not mistaken." She lowered her gaze to the floor. She knew one thing she would miss about the place and his name was Karasu. His smirk faded. "You are not happy."

"I cannot say entirely why." She stated. She really didn't know. But she knew that she would see this place again. "I mean...safety is not in this place."

"Are you having trouble with someone?" She shook her head.

"No." He reached out and took her hand, guiding her to him with a gentle pull. She sat down on his lap and rested her head against his shoulder. "I know I will miss Karasu." He chuckled.

"You are quite taken with each other." His voice was soft. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I feel so free when I am riding him. It is...a feeling I have not felt in a long time. I have not ridden Kirara like that since I was younger." She admitted. "Is that not the reason you brought him here?" He nodded.

"I have not ridden horseback in a long time. They let him out to stretch and run as he pleases and he always comes back...but he will not let another ride him." She smiled.

"Is it just coincidence that he will let me ride him?"

"Possibly. I have no influence over him." She sighed.

"I will miss riding when we leave." He hugged her closer to him.

"We will come back eventually." He stated softly. "When we do, he is yours. Completely yours." She gasped and looked up at him. A childish smile spread across her face.

"Sesshoumaru..." She leaned forward and kissed him. "Thank you." He laughed.

"Whatever I can do to keep you happy..." He trailed off. She smirked.

"Shut up and kiss me." Her blunt command made him laugh again before he kissed her. A knock at the door made Sango jump and nearly fall off of his lap. Sesshoumaru stood and set her down before going over and sliding it open. The young maid bowed to him.

"You have a visitor, Sesshoumaru-sama." Sango didn't know why, but her chest tightened. She had a very bad feeling.

"Sesshoumaru..." He turned around at hearing his whispered name. "I feel faint. I think I am going to lie down for a while." Sango left quickly, feeling almost like she was going to throw up. She ran to her room and closed the door quickly. She slid out of her sandals and curled up in bed, not even bothering to change. The sick feeling never left her until she fell into a deep sleep filled with horrible nightmares.

XxXxX

Who is the visitor that the maid mentioned? Why did Sango suddenly feel so sick?

Find out in chapter 27!

Note - The mention of the fitting of kimono in the previous chapter is because there are kimono for children's use as well and there are even certain kimono for men. The room Sango is in is a guest room so there were some for men and children as well as for women in there. I may have subconsciously added in a line about the way the kimono fit but...oh well. I'm not too used to writing about kimono so I may tend to mix things up. Anyway, sorry for the mix up and for not explaining better... I just felt like explaining myself...