No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything Inuyasha.(sigh)
Chapter Eight
Inutaisho stares up at the modest home on the quiet street, checking the paper in his hand once more. The hastily scribbled writing verifies what he sees and he takes a deep breath, knocking on the door.
After several moments the light above the door turns on and a tall, slim woman opens the door. She studies the demon standing before her and slowly smiles.
"Why, if it isn't the Lord of the West himself."
As the sun dawns Kagome is awoken by a hand on her shoulder. Looking up quickly she sees Inutaisho standing over her, a relieved smile on his face. Behind him she can see a demoness studying the room, appearing bored. The door behind her is open and she can see Sesshoumaru sitting slouched in a chair in the hall.
"Kagome, go sleep for a while." Instead Kagome turns to Rin. Rin is still asleep, tossing slightly and moaning. Sweat beads her forehead and her breathing is quicker.
"Who is she?" Kagome asks guardedly. The demoness smiles, pushing Inutaisho aside slightly and extending a hand.
"My name is Suiki. I'm a demon midwife." Kagome shakes the hand and rises, giving Suiki room. Inutaisho escorts Kagome out and shuts the door behind him.
"Can we trust her with Rin?" Kagome asks quietly. Inutaisho nods, gesturing down to his son.
"She is the one who delivered Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both." Hearing his name Sesshoumaru wakes, stunned to see his father and Kagome standing over him.
"What happened? Is Rin alright?" He says hurriedly. Inutaisho smiles, pushing Kagome gently toward her room down the hall before guiding his son toward the stairs, his quiet voice explaining everything.
When Inutaisho comes back into the room the demoness midwife is sitting at Rin's bedside. A small incense burns at Rin's side, perched atop the bedside table. She does not look up at Inutaisho shuts the door behind him.
"You were right, someone or something is definitally manipulating her." Inutaisho sighs.
"Is there anything you can do?" She shakes her head.
"Only you and your sons can save her now. Find the one who is doing this to her and kill that being. That and only that will stop this."
"What does This entail?" He asks curiously, stopping at the demoness's side.
"I've only seen this done a handful of times before, even in my long years. I'm surprised anyone in this time era even knows of it." She says more to herself than to the dog demon beside her. Turning, she addresses him. "It is a five seal curse." He frowns.
"I've never heard of it." He states. She nods once.
"It was not widely used, even back in my day. What it does, basically, is it weakens the victim in five stages." She gestures to Rin. "The fever is the first. Four more stages will follow. If she can survive through all five it will be a miracle."
"What about the pup?" He asks quietly. She turns, placing a hand on Rin's midrif.
"Only it's father's blood protects it. This curse is based on using the victims blood. True the pup carries her blood, but it also carries the fathers. That almost nullifies the effects. But the more weakened the mother becomes, the weaker the pup becomes. It's a double edge." She says softly before rising. "The incnese will calm her sleep. Try to keep her cool as much as you can and wait. That's all that can be done. The five seal curses only last five days. Five days from now i will return to check on her." Inutaisho nods, following Suiki downstairs.
The group waits until Inutaisho has shown the demoness out before asking questions. Sesshoumaru immediately leaves, disappearing out the door without a sound.
Once outside Sesshoumaru heads for the garden. Standing under the tree Kagome and Rin had been sitting under the previous day, Sesshoumaru stares up into the tree boughs overhead, his mind racing.
Slowly he turns to the house, his eyes quickly finding Rin's window. The window is open a crack and he, without thinking, suddenly leaps up onto the roof, light footfals on the roof marking his passage to her window. At least my brother had something right back then. He thinks idly as he slides her window open. He slides though the window, sliding it shut before settling himself slowly on the bed beside Rin.
As his weight settles on the matress Rin's eyes open slowly.
"Hello my love." He whispers to her. She smiles slowly.
"Hi." Her voice, weak and slightly strained, gives him a small comphort. Reaching up he cups her cheek with his hand, his fingers threading into her hair. Her eyes close at his touch and her smile widens a little.
After a moment he lets go and rises.
"I'll let you rest now. i just came to check on you." She clutches his hand, her pale fingers wrapping around his hand.
"Please stay here." He hesitates, then nods. She slowly shifts over on the bed then pats the mattress beside her.
"Are you sure?" He asks. She nods. He sheds his outer shirt, draping it over the nearby chair before stretching out on the bed with her. Slowly he stretches out an arm, wrapping it around her waist just below the swell of the child within her. He rests his head against her chest, his forehead brushing her shoulder. Her hands stroke his shoulder and run through his hair slowly, lovingly.
"I love the child within me with all my heart, but i truly regret the weakness in me that is keeping us apart so much lately." She whispers to him. "Being with you, like this, gives me strength."
"Then i shall not leave your side until our child is born." He says to her, leaning his head down to kiss her belly lightly. She smiles and leans her head back against the pillows, her eyes drifting closed.
Sesshoumaru listens as his mate's breathing slows as she falls asleep and he has to resist the urge to cling to her like a frightened child. Inside, he felt like a frightened child.
I could mot bear to lose you, my love. He thinks in his mind as he follows his mate into sleep.
Sorry, another short one. I try to keep you all on your toes...is it working? LOL