A/N: This chapter is M because of girls chatting about sex. It happens. So far, I've had more people requesting for the story get dirtier rather than asking for me to place breaks in between sex scenes. You freaky little darlings, oh, how I've missed you. I wanted to add more to this chapter, but I prefer giving you guys separate chapters rather than a huge one.
Disclaimer: I'm not making profit off of this.
The limbs in her body felt loose, brand spanking new, and thoroughly energized in a way that only earth-shattering sex could bring. Kagome rolled over, preening a bit in the stretch, and bounced up on the bed ready for the day.
And then she realized something crucial: nudity. Okay, she already knew that. But she was stark naked and stretching with her girls on display, with her breast fri- best friend, staring pointedly at her from the computer chair. And since they'd been friends for so long, of course, the first though Kagome had was that somehow Sango had managed to figure out the password to her computer… followed by trailing after Sango's pointed stare to... Oh right! I'm naked. Kagome let out an afterthought of an "eep" and quickly pulled up the covers.
"Like I haven't seen it before," commented Sango with a roll of her eyes at the show of modesty. "How many times did we bathe together?" Kagome began giggling against the covers with smug pinkened cheeks. "Such a pretty sound. I've missed that." Sango smiled, exiting off the computer. She'd only ever heard her friend's voice through gasps, laughs, and little cries now. Sango glanced about, as if she hadn't already seen an eye full stepping into the room and finding her friend cuddled up nude under the covers with clothes thrown about haphazardly. "Something happened last night." A forefinger lifted up a lone crumpled night shirt. Attention to detail was a new attribute for Sango since mating Sesshomaru. "No frilly bras, hmm? Musta been the heat of the moment." Kagome lunged for the shirt back with one hand all the while the other was holding onto the blankets. Sango lifted it higher until Kagome fumbled for it, dropping the covers with a squeak.
"Come on, get up, and go take a shower. We have things to do and people to see." Kagome unquestioningly sprinted into the adjoining bathroom, starting up the water and hopping right in. It was a relief to jump into water and it be nice and warm these days.
It wasn't just the convenience of heated water. Kagome just felt spectacular. Sex was quite a luxurious feeling. Great sex at that. Oh, she remembered what it was like having wild sex under the cold night air and the twinkling stars. Romantic, albeit a bit chilly and it tended to cause discovering a bunch of bug bites in the morning. Her late husband had been an open pervert who'd lavished attentions on her vigorously be it in the river, against a tree, under the bushes, wherever he felt the mood.
But, Kyoya. Wow. Just wow!
Thorough attention to detail, so mindful of her responses, and patient to draw it all out.
Her whole world had been shaken in that one moment being surrounded by him.
She felt like a different person entirely or, at least, more like she'd used to feel. Free and whole once again.
"Well, you missed another party last night," called Sango. The elder woman was modeling with a pretty pink floral dress plastered against her body in front of the mirror. Lips pouted at father time. Once, she'd been able to share clothes with Kagome. Child bearing had widened the hips, not that her devout husband minded. Those lips were silent outside of the bedroom, but he was most appreciative within. "Rin and Inuyasha had a healthy little girl last night."
The flowery plastic curtains crinkled back a little for Kagome to peek her shocked face out from behind it as if to say 'Really?!'
"Rin's thrilled to death. Honey and Mori were actually there. Can you believe Honey convinced her to name the baby Usagi?" The snort that made Kagome's nose squint up was delightful.
"There was some bad news." Kagome's face back popped out with shower drops trailing over the forehead as her eyes worriedly questioned Sango. "No. The baby was fine! Haruhi almost lost her father, though. Sesshomaru managed to save him with his sword."
Showering was abruptly over. Kagome sprung out with a towel and dove to find clothes in her closet. Hands blindly grabbed whatever was suitable and began speedily dressing in sweat pants and a random t-shirt. "Kagome! Kagome! It's okay. He's alright." The former hunter touched the priestess's shoulder trying to still her.
Bright blue eyes bore into Sango's as Kagome shook her head, mouth opening, wanting to speak but knowing no words would come out if she even tried. However, Sango knew. Friends took precedent over everything.
Silently, Kagome swept her long wet hair back into a pony tail, grabbed her purse, and opened the door with a motion for Sango to lead the way. Haruhi had needed her and Kagome hadn't been there for her. That meant something to Kagome after the brown eyed girl had been helping Kagome in school this whole time, trying to pick her life back up. Haruhi was the friend who'd brought her back, who'd given her the freedom to be herself again even though she'd been damaged. And now it was time for Kagome to be there for Haruhi.
Expectations and actuality were two different things. Like Kyoya had expected a small loan. Perhaps even paperwork to fill out with someone as neat and formal about borrowing money as Sesshomaru was.
The reality was, a loan wasn't even mentioned. Sesshomaru understood that a task was to happen and rather than whisk Kyoya away to a dozen shiny ring stores with outrageous prices, Kyoya was taken somewhere peculiar for this particular errand.
Standing in front of the door of a renown sword maker wasn't at all on Kyoya's list of places to be today. Weapons for the Warrior. This was one of the most prestigious shops for fighters everywhere. It stocked weaponry of many different eras. And if one wanted a weapon made in the present day that boarded along the olden style, they had to come to Totosai Dai. Not much was known about him, most doubted his last name was real, but all rich family's knew he was a master that was kept at beck and call for the Taisho family and he often commissioned their weapons for free for whatever bizarre reason. Most believed him a family member, perhaps the son of a mistress in the family who'd risen in renown with his craft to be respected by the family. No one knew. "I thought we were picking out a ring," murmured Souta under his breath. The grandeur inside the actual store made any man's mouth water at visions of fighting like ninjas or samurais. "Granted, swords and arrows seem right down sis's alley, but they don't exactly scream marriage proposal."
"Hnn, there is more to this craftsman than swords," responded Sesshomaru, who'd clearly heard the whisper. "He made my father's swords."
"Fat lot that did you and your brother," spouted an old man in a black haori with a forest green kimono underneath. "You spent most of your lives trying to figure out how the swords worked trying to kill each other with 'em." He used a cane to toddle at a slow pace. Age clearly made this master sword maker unbelievable as an artisan even in his current age; an age that predated Sesshomaru's own father. "Hell, it wasn't til you started falling for the demon slayer that I finally agreed to reforge Tessaiga."
The demon lord bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Totosai." Souta and Kyoya did likewise under such indeterminate circumstances. "You understand our appointment-"
"Appointment," spat the old man with a laugh. "You ordered me to open up my shop when I was planning on seeing your new niece!"
"You know the reasoning with which-"
"Pah! I'd do anything for that little scamp in the green skirt," he replied. "So, this here is the man." Wide bulbous eyes peered at Kyoya and for a moment the cool member of the host club felt that he was being weighed and measured like a sword to see if he had the right balance. Circling Kyoya like a buzzard the young man didn't know what to feel exactly. He held his ground and met those wide old eyes when every time they examined his face. "Hmm... old soul recast anew," said Totosai with a pleased click of his tongue. "You'll do."
"Aren't you supposed to have a flea?" The inquisitive Souta asked, breaking the silent stare down between the two men. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru had begun to play around with a sword on the wall, testing it's weight in his hand and swinging it around like a child giddy at a toy shop.
Totosai sighed, "Myoga's out grocery shopping. You can't expect two old bachelor's to eat air." He waved a hand at Kyoya as he walked towards a locked up door that led to his private smithing quarters. "Keep up now. We have work to do," stated the old busy-body, pulling out a long red string with a myriad of miniature keys from his pocket that had to have at least a hundred on them. He plucked the right key without even peeking at the ring. "If you keep swinging it so much, why don't you just buy the damned thing?" The aged man called out to Sesshomaru who stopped mid-swing and quickly replaced the sword.
"This Sesshomaru has two suitable swords." Practicality. That old demon never purchased the extravagant that he didn't need. The only one allowed to present him with gifts that had no practical need were his wife and child.
"Suit yourself. Anyway, we're going to need your help back here. Yours too, squirt," he said to Sota after pushing open the intricately carved door of lands and mountains that might've been Japan centuries ago. The wood hummed under his fingertips and gave away to a miniature volcano magically encased in a shroud to keep it from bursting out of the store. He preferred working with hot metal and nothing suited him better than actual magma and a crisp cool river running around the little beach of sand that the tiny volcano rested on.
"That's so totally cool," said Sota with awe.
"You should've seen how I got it in here," murmured Totosai.
The hospital doors gave way to Kagome's pushy hands. Sango decided this was one meeting that needed one person less and nodded her departure before stepping out to call her husband.
Haruhi sat inside the lavish room. An oddity in something so lavishly dressed screaming out money. The brunette was feeding her bandaged father a tray of breakfast that was of the likes neither he nor his daughter had ever been able to afford. The awe on his face might've been from the delicious tastes, but more likely it was from getting to spend so much time with Haruhi and not having to worry about work for once. Hikaru and Kaoru lay on either side of Ranka, making themselves very much at home on the large hospital bed. Hikaru tiredly flipped through the channels while Kaoru read a copy of what looked to be a battered copy of "Paradise Lost." Where had he even gotten that book?
Haruhi was the first to notice Kagome's approach. "Kago-" That embrace was a long time in coming from friend to friend. When was the last time the two had spent time together just hanging out? When had they ever taken a moment to themselves outside of school to just chat away from the Host Club? And here it was that it took Ranka's almost death to bring the desire for quality time. It could've just as easily have been Haruhi. And then what would've happened to the Host Club? To any of them. Kagome had forgotten how undiscriminating death and the brevity of life was. "It's okay, Kagome." Hands patted the priestess's back. The worry of possibly being an orphan was gone, but it had still shaken her. Luckily, Haruhi hadn't been alone. She'd had the twins. And she owed them so much. "My dad's fine."
"Hey Kagome," Ranka said with a weak cheerful wave. Stitches knit up the worst of his scratches on his face. It was really the shoulders down that had taken a brutal beating. Knowing Tenseiga, he'd be completely healed very soon. It was either luck or a miracle that Haruhi and Kagome knew each other well enough for Sesshomaru to perform such a task. "Dad's doing better than anyone they've ever seen." Haruhi held her friend in return a moment longer. Sometimes everyone just needed someone to just hold them and tell them everything was fine. She understood Kagome's meaning even if she couldn't speak. Was this how it had been for Kagome? Bloodshed and war on a daliy basis. Watching your love life torn asunder to the brutalities of dying. How had she carried on? Who'd hugged her in that time?
A nurse walked into the room to check on Mr. Fujioka and make sure he was finding everything to his satisfaction. It helped having an ace in the hole like Sesshomaru as incentive to treat a poor family like anyone else. "Is it fine if we take my dad out for a stroll?" Haruhi shouldn't have been surprised when they weren't immediately refused. Nor should she have been surprised when five medical staff came in to comfortably place Ranka in a very high class wheel chair that had to have silk seats.
Kagome raised a brow at Hikaru wheeling Ranka ahead of them with Kaoru running ahead to open the door. Both boys were whipped and whipped well into the service of Haruhi Fujioka. They belonged to her now as much as she belonged to them. "They're… they were, there," Haruhi replied with a shrug. "They brought me here faster than I could've ever hoped for. We might not have..." Her father might not have... Things happened for a reason. A gentle squeeze of the hand comforted Haruhi. "It's better not to think that way." The faint blush told a tale. "And Hikaru…" How did she admit to Kagome what she was terrified to admit to herself? If there was anyone to tell her truths to, it was Kagome. Not because of her inability to spill secrets, but because of who she was. Kagome was if anything the world's best oath-keeper. Running off to save the world just because she felt obligated and telling no one but her family. "He's nice, he's…" At the pointed look, Haruhi spit it out. "He's actually a really great boyfriend. I'd never thought I'd like... I'd care for someone this way." Haruhi had always just been determined to work hard and be like her mother. Fight civil cases for the poor. She'd never expected more in her life. Just thought that love would come after it all. Hadn't really thought that far. It might've been a good thing she hadn't planned it all out so she could make room for it all in her heart. "I like this feeling, Kagome."
To forge something great, it must have important materials. Totosai had used part of Inuyasha's fang to reform his father's sword. Something personal to use was always required. And this was a wedding ring! "Something must be exchanged for something so meaningful to make it stronger. Everything I make is made out of something, some part or piece. But I hazard that you already knew this." Kyoya had known from what he'd read in the scrolls. But what could Kyoya give that was so important to forge an eternal band for love? Was there anything he had?
"Don't look at me," murmured Sota. "I've only got a pack of gum in my pockets."
Kyoya shoved his hands in his own pockets and his fingers fumbled against something. A glint of recognition came into his eyes. "The only thing I have is what was given to me." His hand drug out the beads that clattered against each other in a tune very familiar to Totosai. "This was with me in my past life and made it to this one."
"Pretty damned meaningful." The old man gingerly retrieved the beads from Kyoya and held them in the palm of his hand inspecting their material. These beads had yet another purpose to serve. They'd kept destruction in once, but there was no need for that anymore. Like Miroku's soul, these beads needed to be reforged for a new purpose. Mayhap compose a set of rings with the wood. Perhaps infused with a strand of the robe of the fire rat in the core. Inuyasha would no doubt begrudge them a strand once hailed upon. "Call your brother and tell him to bring that damned robe," he said to Sesshomaru as he thought on. Past, present, approval from friends then and now. He'd forge one hell of a ring alright.
Deigning that Sesshomaru needn't bother actually talking to his brother, Sesshomaru merely texted a command to Inuyasha, followed by a kinder more detailed explanation to Rin. H'e never be the soft one on the half-breed.
Meanwhile, Totosai thought on about the most prevalent feature about a ring. Specifically, what jewel would bear the center of the female ring in the set?
Kyoya reached up and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, taking off his glasses and cleaning at them. He'd been doing that a lot of late since coming into this shop. Totosai could spot many a thing with his bulging eyes and this stood out. This young man wasn't just cleaning those glasses; Kyoya was peering through them as if in disbelief.
"Your eyes," stated Totosai, reaching out to snatch the glasses from Kyoya.
"What?"
"With these false eyes you've seen the real her and she's seen through to the real you." He blinked back at Kyoya with such large observing pupils. He noticed everything. The way Kyoya's black hair naturally swept aside over his ears for his eye ware, the lightness of skin where his frames had sat that only a demon could distinguish it was so faint, and the little depression on the nose too sharp for a human's eyes. "You've worn glasses all of your life, yes?"
Kyoya nodded. "Since I was a child. I tried contacts…" To stand out from his bespeckled family who'd made glasses a statement for who they were. "But they were not to my liking." Irritating waste of money.
"So, when did your vision correct itself?" The shocked silence passing through the men beside Kyoya was enormous. Sesshomaru was berating himself for having not noticed sooner.
"Since this morning." It had taken him a moment to realize it when he'd awoken. One moment he'd been able to see clearly through his glasses a sleeping naked goddess and the next he was getting minor headaches. By the time they'd reached the shop his eyesight was blurry when wearing the blasted things. "It just got better when we came through those doors," he stated.
A clear sign that fate was giving it's blessing. "All things happen for a reason," whispered Sesshomaru. "But something of this magnitude..."
"It's just my eyes," replied Kyoya. Honestly, he felt naked without them. After being so reliant on something for so long it was a little odd to have no need for them.
"No," stated Sesshomaru. "Haruhi's father, Rin's birthing, your mating…" Did all demons instinctively know when you'd been having sex or was his life just meant to be awkward around would-be-in-laws? "And now your eyes, the very moment you step in here." For a life binding commitment: a ring. "All blessings follow a pattern," stated Sesshomaru. His fingers drummed against the stone well. "Betrayal, trickery, bloodshed; those followed Naraku's influence on the jewel. But this, the patterns are too pronounced. Too good." Sesshomaru nodded to Totosai while flipping out his phone. "Begin forging the ring. The halfling will be here soon enough."
It was unlikely that much would change in a matter of days, much less a matter of hours. Kagome was the one who believed in miracles and believed that everything could change in a day. She was the optimist. Not he, Kyoya was the pragmatist in the relationship. But he could see the connections. Who was he to question facts that had all transpired within hours of each other and the way they strung together so perfectly? Wasn't this backroom a testament to stranger things existing in the world than what could be proven with science? "Who are you calling?"
"A human with knowledge of dark and light."
"Nekozawa?"
At the drop of that name, Sesshomaru's eyes flashed back to the once reincarnated man. "You know of him?"
Kyoya lunged for the phone and put it up to his ear just as a voice laughed eerily and said, "I was waiting for your call, monk."
"Nekozawa..."
"When a spell is broken and a miracle happens, it tends to have a ripple effect." Nekozawa had awoken that day with the strong need to stand in the sunlight. He'd been able to stand there for longer than five minutes. Surely that was a miracle preceding a broken curse.
The patterns were too strong to argue against. And hope was a merry beat in Kyoya's chest at the implications of breaking the curse. "Does this mean that Kagome can speak?"
"She has a new song to sing," confirmed Nekozawa.
"Can she speak now?"
"Yes, but her first song must be sung for you." And with a click Nekozawa hung up on the Shadow King. But for once it wasn't taken as an affront. If anything, Kyoya was grateful to that oddball over at the Dark Magic Club and was half tempted to advertise for his club when hosting.
"She can speak," he whispered, turning eyes upon the demons who'd overheard everything. "For me." He looked at the others, ready to bolt any moment to chase after and find his lady love. To have her speak to him and rejoice with her.
Just as Kyoya went for the door of the crafting room, Totosai hooked a gnarled wooden cane around his arm and yanked him right back. "Nope, you've got to finish this ring with us," stated Totosai. This task would undoubtedly prove it's link to Kagome's escape from Kikyou's wrathful hex. "But don't worry, all good things come with time." Kyoya didn't know if Totosai meant hearing Kagome's voice or the pair of rings being made.
A/N: So glad I got to update. Almost done! Woot! Hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far.