Incomplete
- Chapter Six –
Rin tipped her head to the side and contemplated Kagome's sleeping form. Lord Sesshomaru's reasons for doing many things were a mystery to her, but the situation with the miko had her thoroughly perplexed. Why had his lordship taken her with them? And what about Inuyasha? Wouldn't he miss her?
"Rin!"
At Jaken's shout her shoulders tightened up around her ears in preparation for the scolding that was sure to follow.
"I seem to recall Lord Sesshomaru telling you to stay away from Inuyasha's human wench," the imp chided with a harsh glare. Moving with an air of self-righteous importance, he pushed past her and deposited a tray of assorted bandages and tea next to the futon the miko was sleeping on.
Feeling somewhat guilty for disobeying her lord, Rin hung her head and drew nervous circles with her big toe atop the wooden floor. "Yes, well..."
Her words faltered as she tried to think of a way to explain herself. Casting a sideways glance at the miko, she found her resolve, "But she looked lonely, Master Jaken!"
Rolling his eyes heavenward, the imp quelled an inward sigh of defeat. Humans!
"That's no excuse for going against Lord Sesshomaru's orders! Now hurry up and get out of here you silly girl or I'll tell him of your disobedience."
"Yes, Master Jaken..."
Head hung low, Rin skulked to the door. At its threshold she paused just long enough to call a desperate plea of, "Please don't tell Lord Sesshomaru!" over her shoulder before departing in a flutter of checkered silk.
With the girl out of sight the rotund green demon set to work changing the blood soaked dressings on the miko's chest. He grumbled as he worked about the neediness and stupidity of humans. They were such ridiculous creatures, especially that girl. She would be the death of him, he was certain of it!
Jaken frowned as he studied the weeping laceration on the miko's chest. Even Tenseiga's power had not been enough to heal it completely.
Perhaps the wound was slow to mend because the weapon that'd made it was a purification arrow. If so, then Tenseiga's demonic powers were not enough to dispel the arrow's power completely. In any case, unless he found a way to stop the wound from bleeding his Lordship would be mighty displeased.
Can you believe Lord Sesshomaru has asked us to do this menial task? Jaken bemoaned as he tossed the old, blood-soaked dressings away with a sound of disgust.
Jaken! The once great leader of an entire army, reduced to changing the bandages of a human woman!
"Honestly! The nerve of Lord Sesshomaru! Who does he think he is ordering me around like this?"
The imp made the grave error of muttering this last comment aloud as his thoughts spilled unimpeded from his head. The feeling of another demonic presence within the room forced him to pause and he slowly turned towards the door. Glaring at him from the threshold was the Lord of the West himself, looking less than impressed.
"L-Lord S-Sesshomaru!" Jaken managed to stutter while mentally beating his head against the wall for his impudence. Tossing the bandages in his hands away, he moved quickly to prostrate himself at his lord's feet.
Sesshomaru, for his part, said nothing, which was a very bad omen for the imp. With every measure of grace, the Lord of the West glided silently into the room and a moment later Jaken found himself having a very personal encounter with the wall on the opposite side of the hall. He peeled his face off the rough stone and fell back against the floor just in time to see the door snap shut behind him.
Mercifully alone but feeling irritated and inconvenienced, Sesshomaru watched the sleeping miko with cold eyes. His lips pressed together into a thin line as he noted the shallowness of her breaths and the laboured rise and fall of her chest. She was worse than the last time he'd seen her.
He lowered himself quietly to the floor and cast a glance toward the tray of bandages Jaken had left behind. Lacking the patience to tolerate the imp any more that day, he decided to dress the miko's wound himself.
The hole left by the arrow's shaft was still angry and red. It contrasted grotesquely with the otherwise pale skin of her chest and he found its presence distinctly distasteful. For whatever reason, Tenseiga had failed to close the wound and this made him uneasy. Rin's injuries, grave as they were, had faded instantly so why hadn't hers?
Everything about Inuyasha's human wench challenged his logic. The first time they met he'd tried to destroy her only to have her emerge unharmed moments later. Naraku, too, had given her a mortal wound and yet somehow she'd continued to breathe. It had taken a miko's arrow to steal the life from her body and Tenseiga to give it back, yet even now nothing was certain.
Perhaps the purifying arrow that struck her has somehow hindered Tenseiga's power?
Sesshomaru pondered such a possibility as he tied the final knot on the bandages wrapped round her chest. The girl stirred from her dreamless sleep and slowly opened her eyes.
"Inuyasha?" she murmured, trying feebly to push her body upright.
With a firm hand on her shoulder, he guided her back down to the futon. He held her there a moment, just long enough until she stopped struggling.
"Remain still."
Kagome blinked away the haze of sleep that'd left her feeling groggy and disoriented. At first she hadn't been sure, but the bored intonation behind his words confirmed it. Her mouth fell open in a tiny gasp as she gazed up at the demon, who was most definitely NOT Inuyasha, seated next to her.
"Sesshomaru? Where am-... What happened? Where's Inuyasha?"
He ignored her questions and held out a small clay cup filled with what looked like tea. "Drink this," he commanded. "It will ease the pain."
Her first thought was 'what pain?' but the moment she moved to sit upright she felt it pierce her chest from back to front. Wincing, she accepted the cup with trembling hands and took a tentative sip of the steaming liquid.
The odd tasting brew burned her throat as it travelled down and lit a comforting fire in her stomach where it settled. Within seconds a calming sensation washed over her and made the pain in her chest fade to a dull ache. She drank what was left of the tea and handed the cup back to him.
"The pain is much better now, thank you."
She hesitated before asking, "Where are Inuyasha and the others?"
"Your companions are none of my concern," he answered, setting the cup down on the tea tray.
She blanched and did her best not to panic as he calmly stood and headed for the door. The tea had left her senses dull. She could already feel sleep pulling at the corners of her consciousness but refused to surrender to it. She couldn't until she knew what'd become of the others. If they were hurt or dead-
"Please!" she begged, desperate for an answer.
He paused at the door and glanced back at her over his shoulder.
"They are alive," was all he said, but it was enough.
Relief flooded through her and she breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. Everyone was okay! They'd made it out alive - even Inuyasha! The arrow wound in her chest continued to throb but the pain was worth it. Knowing that her friends were safe and that she'd been able to protect Inuyasha was worth any amount of pain she could handle.
Fighting the drooping of her eyelids she lifted her head to thank Sesshomaru for taking care of her, but he was already gone.
Feeling both satisfied and relieved, she surrendered to the powerful pull of the sedative tea coursing through her bloodstream. Snuggling further under her blankets, she curled into a ball and allowed it to drag her into unconsciousness.
The next time she would open her eyes, everything would be different.
oOo
Three Hundred Years Earlier...
The heir to the Western Lands sat in an oversized arm chair next to the warmth of the steady fire in the hearth. The golden light of the flames reflected in his amber eyes, making it look as though they burned from within. It suited his mood perfectly - a roaring, violent anger that he was barely keeping suppressed.
Impatient, he looked expectantly at the door of his private chambers and waited for the person hovering on the other side to knock and formally announce their presence. He wasn't surprised when a timid young maiden quietly let herself in and shut the door soundlessly behind her.
He beckoned her forward with a nod and she obeyed after a graceful bow. Once she was within a few paces, he rose to his feet and collected her small, human hands into his own. It was no illusion or fantasy, she was flesh and blood and solid beneath his touch.
"Minako..."
He breathed her name and the violent rage he'd been keeping under thin control was subdued to a simmer. He would still make them pay and none would escape without suffering his wrath, but tonight he would grant them a reprieve. There was something far more important in his grasp and he had no intention of letting her go so soon.
Minako uttered a quiet sob of relief and threw herself into his arms. He held her tight, bending his head so he could breathe her in.
The night air clung to her hair; she smelled fresh and faintly, too, of rain. He could smell the salt of the ocean on her skin and the lingering bitter green of grass on her kimono. He had no idea they'd taken her so far, but of course it only made sense - had she been any closer, he would've found her himself.
It'd been far too long since her comforting scent had filled his room and the palace halls.
"Sesshomaru, I have missed you so much I thought my heart would burst," she bemoaned through her tears.
He dipped his head to her waiting lips and kissed her tenderly to silence her worries. She was such a delicate creature, so entirely dependent upon him for protection. His heart warmed in her presence, melting away what was left of the anger that'd been festering inside of him.
When she was in his arms, all felt well and right in the world. Embodied in her was his future and he wanted nothing more than that. This was what the philosopher's meant when they claimed that destiny chooses your path. He'd found his path, and it'd led him to her.
"They will not take you from me again," he vowed against her throat. He pulled back and met her wide-eyed gaze, determined to show his sincerity. "I swear it on my honour."
She smiled in acknowledgement and rested her head against his chest. One small hand boldly found its way into his kimono and he shivered at the cool touch of her fingertips against his heated flesh.
"I love you," she confessed, lifting her eyes to meet his. They were filled with adoration and trust, all the things he felt undeserving of following the events of the past weeks.
Just for a moment, he set his guilt aside and allowed himself to absorb her words. It was the first time another creature had ever uttered them in his presence and he wanted to remember their sound and the taste of them on her lips. His lips were soft against hers, but thorough, and he didn't pull away until she was nearly breathless.
He pulled back to allow time for her confession to sink in, for the both of them. The feeling was mutual. His affection for her had always been implied - in every touch, every caress and word, but having never heard such a thing spoken to him before now he couldn't find the words to express it.
"Will you stay?"
She looked surprised at his question and her head tilted to the side in the way it was accustomed to do when she was thinking about something.
"How will the others react if I do? Would they accept a human living here with you?"
"Their opinions are of little consequence."
She looked disappointed at his words and pulled out of his embrace to pace a few steps back and forth. She paced when she was anxious or nervous and it had always bothered him. Taking her by the shoulders he forced her to stop and look at him but she couldn't meet his gaze.
"You're wrong," she whispered. "Their opinions do matter because you aren't a regular demon, Sesshomaru. You are royalty in this place. They want what's best for you and I..."
She shrugged helplessly and he growled at her words.
"Enough of this."
She opened her mouth to object but he silenced her with a shake of his head.
"I desire two things in this world, Minako - you and my father's kingdom. Nothing else matters."
"What about heirs?" she sniffed, stubbornly lifting her chin.
"You would refuse to bear my children?"
The thought hadn't occurred to him. He'd always assumed the two would go hand in hand - Minako and his child, a strong creature that inherited his power and her everything else. They completed his image of the future and the sudden realization that perhaps she had no interest in such a thing caught him off guard. He wasn't used to surprises, especially not of this calibre. Stunned, he dropped his hands from her shoulders.
Seeing his reaction, she hurried to dispel his fears.
"Sesshomaru, I would be honoured to bear your children but I didn't dare think it was possible... Can humans and demons...?"
He hesitated, then nodded uncertainly. Truthfully he had no idea. Mating between humans and demons was practically unheard of, and only rumoured to happen here and there. There was no way to know for sure, but it was worth trying.
She surprised him with a kiss and wrapped her arms tight around his body, hugging him close.
"Any child of ours will be perfect," she determined with conviction.
He smiled as he took her by the hand and led her to the bed. They soon found themselves in each others' embrace, finally reunited after so many weeks kept apart. Eager and impatient, they quickly set about exploring the contours of their bodies.
Sesshomaru took his time memorizing her every curve and feature. From the softness of her skin, to the firm pressure of her fingers digging into the muscles of his back, and even the dark hair that hung long and loose around her tiny frame - he loved every bit of her.
Like a man long starved he devoured her, losing himself to the hypnotic rhythm of their love making. Bringing them both to orgasm only once hardly seemed enough. Their night of passion lasted well into the early hours of the morning and he poured himself into her over and over again.
Finally spent, they lay next to one another in contented silence. Minako nestled her body into the crook of his arm and laid her hand against his chest. Her fingers travelled lightly across his skin, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
"Sesshomaru?" she asked softly.
When he 'hmmm'ed a response she continued, "Do demons mate for life? Or...do they have many mates?"
He smiled inwardly at the self conscious way her fingers tapped against his chest. After planting a kiss against her forehead, he languidly combed his fingers though her hair.
"Some demons mate for life, others do not. Dogs, however, are an unusually loyal breed."
He gave her a meaningful look and a broad smile lit up her face. He tightened his arms possessively around her, determined to never let her go. Before long they fell into a blissful slumber and his inner beast was finally at peace.
oOo
He could hear nothing but screams after that. There was darkness all around and cries of pain. Someone was calling out to him, a woman, but he couldn't reach her. He couldn't find her in the dark. He called out to her again and again but received no answer. By the time he found his way through the maze of hallways and rooms it was too late.
Attendants walked by him with their heads lowered. A healer finally emerged holding a small bundle of cloth. She placed it in his outstretched hands and shook her head. The dog demon looked down and his amber eyes opened wide in shock. A perfect child had been placed into his arms. Suddenly it all came back to him and he looked around frantic.
"Where is she? What has happened to Minako!" he demanded.
Whispers surrounded him and the sound of sobs echoed in his ears. Were they his own? He couldn't tell for certain.
The back-handed comments snaked around him too, like a viscous viper, toying with him as he twisted and turned every which way to find the culprits.
"She would have been a beautiful girl," one said with disappointment.
"Serves them right for mating with one another. A human and a demon? It's disgusting!" exclaimed another with revulsion. Sesshomaru grit his teeth and brought out his claws.
"And to think…he lost them both! What a pity."
Hearing those words he paused and looked down again at the bundle in his arms. Using the edge of his knuckle he traced a line along the baby soft skin of the newborn's cheek. She looked the spitting image of her mother, with dark hair and full lips. His breath caught in his throat when he realized the child wasn't breathing. He stared at the floor in disbelief.
No... It's not possible...
Seeing a bed illuminated in the distance he ran towards it. With every fibre of his being he knew what he would find there. Minako... His love... His mate.
He collapsed to his knee at her side and took her hand in his own. The flesh was cold and he dropped it back against the sheets as if it had burned him. With his features contorted in grief, he looked down at the face of the woman he'd promised to love forever.
"There will never be another," he swore aloud with pain and bitterness in his voice. "I swear to you, I will never take another."
He laid the baby in her arms and walked a few steps before his legs gave out and he collapsed to his hands and knees on the floor. He punched his fist into the wood, again and again, until blood ran from his knuckles. He felt no pain, only anger and regret. This was his fault. He hadn't gotten to her in time. While he'd been out building up his empire and his army, his mate and child had died alone in this room. He'd failed them both!
Anger slowly seeped into his heart, replacing the grief. It was so much easier to be angry. He'd gone through hell and back to be with her and for what? All of the pain and ridicule, the ostracization - had it all been for nothing?
He stood and walked over to the bed. Bending down, he braced his hands on either side of the bed and placed a tender kiss against his mate's cold lips.
When he opened his eyes he drew in a startled breath and staggered backwards. The miko's face, and not his mate's, was the one staring back at him from the bed.
"Sesshomaru?" she questioned, looking up at him puzzled.
He stumbled backwards until his back met the wall. Even then it wasn't far enough. He couldn't tear his eyes from hers as he stared at her in wide-eyed shock.
"Impossible!-," was all he managed before the image faded from his eyes.
oOo
Sesshomaru sat bolt upright in bed, his every sense honed and aware. A cold sweat covered his skin in a glistening sheen and he tried unsuccessfully to will his racing heart into calm. He looked down with disgust to find that his claws had shredded the sheets. He hadn't dreamt of that fateful night in decades and now suddenly he was dreaming of her all over again.
Each night he dreamt of their courtship, the romantic nights they'd spent together and the pain of their forced separation. And each night his coup de grace was being forced to remember the crushing day he'd lost them both. After that day he'd sworn hatred against all humans, especially the women. He'd grown to despise their weakness and their mortality nearly as much as he regretted his own lapse in judgment.
With a soft sound of disgust, the tattered sheets were thrown off his body. The cool air that rushed in in their absence was a refreshing shock and erased all signs of his night sweat. He took his time pacing about the room, thankful for the quiet of the early morning hours. It seemed to be the only time he could think clearly anymore, unhindered by constant demands for his attention.
At the window he braced his hand against the wall and watched dispassionately as the sun crept over the distant horizon, giving light to a new day.
It was time for him to make a decision about the girl. He had to make a choice, and soon.
He hadn't only been having dreams of Minako these past few nights. The miko haunted him as well. He 'tsk'ed as he remembered the dreams where he took her passionately in the gardens…against the wall…in his bed. Every night he had her a different way, over and over again, and each time she cried out his name it sent shivers down his spine.
He tore himself away from the window and resumed pacing across the floor. He'd known from the beginning what he needed to do, but it was only now that he found his resolve. Jaw set in determination, he snatched a fresh kimono from the wooden chest next to his bed and dressed.