-Rousing the Lady Demon-
Sesshomaru and Inukimi sat at a low fold out table in the middle of Lana's main room, Aya lay in the corner of the room still sleeping.
Inukimi closes her eyes bringing her tea cup to her lips, she sips before muttering: so what do you plan to do about Uryen.
Sesshomaru looks at Aya saying: I cannot say yet.
The front door opens and Rin rushes in, she smiles saying: oh look what I found, she runs over to Sesshomaru holding up frozen cherry blossom petals.
Rin nods saying: Lady Ay will love them, Inukimi touches the petals lightly saying: but Rin they will be all shriveled by the time she awakens, Rin pouts saying: well then she'd better wake up soon. Lana comes out of the kitchen saying: Rin go and get Mio she knows it's her bedtime.
"Bedtime?"
Rin sighs walking out of the house.
"That Rin has gotten so big, it's a wonder she still can stand you," Inukimi mutters eyeing him coolly, he scoffs looking down at the table.
Lana rubs her head closing her eyes, she smiles nervously saying: uh could you please tell me how you wish to sleep because if it pleases the two of you I could have the children stay with a friend. Sesshomaru looks at her from the corner of his eyes saying: I am not sleepy, Lana gulps saying: oh ok. Inukimi stands saying: let the children stay…I shall find another place to lay my head, Sesshomaru frowns at her and she smiles saying: now you worry. He looks away and she laughs saying: I will return in the morning hopefully your mood will be better by then. She waves to Lana leaving the house, Lana opens her eyes saying: um well…Lord Sesshomaru would you like for me to run you a bath, he glares at her and she laughs nervously before backing into the kitchen. Sesshomaru looks at Aya again, she wore a purple and black kimono with pink petals scattered all over it. Not something you'd find in a poor human village, nothing Aya wore was something that could be found in Yurime.
Sesshomaru frowns when he spots a steel fan leaning against the wall in the corner of the room, this one was sky blue and white. Much larger than her usual red and gold pair, Sesshomaru stands walking over to the fan, he takes it in his hand feeling it's cool steel against the palm of his hand.
"Oh it's nice right," Sesshomaru turns to see Lana leaning against the door-sill of the kitchen, she nods and points at the fan.
"When she got here a bunch of the men were sent to retrieve her things. She was a wreck without them, she really treasured those fans."
Sesshomaru sets the fan against the wall and Lana smiles saying: she always spoke of her dislike for other demon's…it's surprising that she actually stuck around you. Lana shrugs saying: maybe she was also tired of being alone, Sesshomaru looks at Aya again.
"She said that other demon's were all the same, all just snooty and unreal. She's a bit a loopy in that sense, since she seems to love human's but still hold some sort of disdain for us. Like we're an accepted annoyance or something. It seems that Aya just doesn't like anyone ha."
Lana folds her arms saying: sometimes I just wish Aya would completely let us in…you know…one minute she's the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet and once you say something she finds offensive she becomes quiet and withdrawn.
"Maybe if I'd asked more questions…or not ask any questions at all…."
Sesshomaru looks at the young girl saying: keep asking, she gasps as if surprised that he'd actually spoke, Sesshomaru sits next to Aya feeling her forehead.
"She's cooled down."
Lana's eyes widen and she drops her arms, she rushes over saying: so she's getting better, Sesshomaru nods. Lana squeals hugging him around the neck, he growls pushing her away, she blushes saying: sorry. Lana gets to her knees next to him; she leans close to Aya whispering: wake up Ay. Sesshomaru sneers at the stupidity of her actions, she looks at him saying: she used to hate that said that my voice was that last thing she wanted to hear in the morning…but then she started to welcome it…. Lana sighs sitting back, Sesshomaru looks away when he smells salt in the air, Lana wipes her eyes saying: I wish…I wish I could help her the way she helped me.
"When our mother died Aya filled that void…made sure that we ate…that we finished our studies…. An education is what you human's need more of she'd always say. Sometimes it hurt my feelings but then I realized that she said it out of love. She did so much for us…and…we can do nothing for her. She won't even let me do anything besides bandage her feet."
Lana sniffles saying: I just…I'm just so angry…why am I so useless right now.
Sesshomaru turns away now, he was not interested in some human's tiresome drabble, Rin and Mio rush into the house and Lana hurriedly wipes away her tears.
"Took you long enough," she mutters feigning anger, she gets to her feet saying: into the bed you go, she pushes the girls into the next room before shutting the door behind them. Sesshomaru sighs looking down at Aya, even in her sleep she held the same expression. Aloof but seemingly happy, Sesshomaru brings his hand to the side of her face, it had been so long since he'd heard her normal voice, not the robotic strained voice she'd been talking in. Jaken walks into the house mumbling angrily to himself but his expression changes to a happy one when he notices Aya still out cold.
"Oh the peace and quiet…right Mi'lord?"
Jaken walks over to Sesshomaru looking up at him expectantly, Sesshomaru chooses not to speak, Jaken sighs walking over to a corner to sit in.
"I cannot wait until that Uryen is gone, then we can go back to our normal lives. You, I and Rin at the castle, and the lady demon here."
"She's coming with us."
Jaken frowns saying: b-but why, Sesshomaru glances back at him saying: are you questioning me, Jaken shakes his head saying: no Mi'lord I am just wondering what purpose she would serve while there. Sesshomaru brings his hand to one of Aya's strands of hair, he frowns when he smells the medicine man's scent on her body.
Jaken sighs saying: she's bad news Mi'lord, Sesshomaru growls and this makes Jaken clamp his hands over his mouth, Sesshomaru stands saying: I must go and dress my wounds…you watch her…if anything happens to her it's your life. Jaken gulps before nodding his head, Sesshomaru leaves out of the house. Jaken crawls over to Aya.
"Stupid woman, who do you think you are?"
Jaken glares fiercely at her, he punches the floor next to her head saying: you think that you can do and say whatever you want because the lord has fallen for you.
"You know you'd think that your intense love for Sesshomaru would bring you the same for Aya."
Jaken gasps turning to see Mio standing there, she shrugs saying: don't you love what he loves or something, Jaken glares at her saying: go to bed stupid child, she shrugs.
"I would think that his happiness would bring you happiness."
Jaken shakes his staff at her saying: go away, just then Sesshomaru steps in, he growls putting his fist deep into Jaken's head.
"Why are you yelling?"
Jaken whimpers saying: she…she…, Mio pumps her fist saying: quite the hit Lord Sesshomaru, she turns skipping into the next room.
Jaken turns away when Sesshomaru falls next to Aya again, he glances back. It was well known that Dog Demon's were rather difficult to shake off and that their loyalty ran deep, but the way that Sesshomaru kept close to Aya. Watching her every move, touching her and defending her even as she slept, Jaken sighs.
Maybe he'd have to accept this new found love of Sesshomaru's, besides when he squinted his eyes very tightly they were an attractive couple. Maybe it was time that he caught up to everyone else on the Aya wagon, Sesshomaru looks at Jaken saying: get her a blanket, Jaken glares at her again muttering: or maybe not.
It's so warm….
Do I really want to get up….
Nah….
Stay asleep Aya….
Dream some more….
…
Still awake….
But my body hurts….
Maybe I'm dead?
Not bad if this is death…really cozy….
…ah…whatever….
Aya yawns rubbing her eyes, she lay on her back toward a large wooden ceiling, she sneers muttering: where the hell. She tries to breathe in through her nose to catch a scent but it was all blocked up, she moans when a wave of pain goes through her head.
"Ugh why-…why do I sound this way."
She grabs her throat, she moans saying: sick but…but why…no…not again, she tries to sit up but the watery feeling in her head keeps her down.
She turns her head to see Sesshomaru sleeping against a wall across from her, she quirks a brow.
"Where did he come from?"
She studies the room some more until a pair of green feet move toward her, she stifles a cough when she smiles up at Jaken who glared down at her.
"You evil wench…."
Aya raises a brow saying: are you sure you should be speaking to me like that…I eat things like you for a snack. Inukimi walks into the house smiling when she sees Aya awake, Aya raises a brow when the woman closes in on her.
Yes, I remember that face but who is she?
I do know that she annoyed me a lot.
"How are you feeling?"
Aya shrugs saying: I can't get up, Inukimi walks around her saying: where do you want to go, Aya shrugs saying: depends on who I'm speaking to, Inukimi sniggers saying: so helpless yet so sarcastic, Aya raises a brow.
"I am Lady Inukimi, Sesshomaru's mother."
Aya frowns when Inukimi pushes her into a sitting up position. Inukimi smiles saying: nice to meet you formally, Aya nods saying: uh…mm hmm, she was too busy trying to make sense of the throbbing pain in the bridge of her nose. Inukimi folds her arms saying: such pretty blue eyes…you don't see that a lot here, Aya nods rubbing her eyes.
Mm…just like…wait.
What's happened.
This is clearest my mind has felt in forever.
Inukimi cocks her head saying: so you were tainted before your latest encounter with the Uryen stone, Aya frowns saying: what.
"That explains a lot…how are your memories…do you remember everything."
"Yes though some things are blurry…."
"What do you last remember?"
"Hmm…passing out here…but that feels so…distant."
Inukimi nods saying: it's been a long time since you've been yourself…Uryen must have tainted you a long time ago. Aya brings her hands to her head saying: who, Inukimi sighs saying: we've a lot to explain.
"Oh…that Shadow Demon…yes I remember."
Aya sneezes in her hands saying: yuck.
Why am I so sick?
Aya struggles to her feet saying: ah…we're in Yurime, she stretches her arms looking at Inukimi who frowns saying: you should lay down, Aya shakes her head saying: I'll be fine. She walks slowly to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror, she gasps saying: I'm so pale…but…still so…so beautiful, Jaken sighs saying: she has returned, Inukimi smiles saying: my son has truly surprised me, Aya peeks out of the bathroom saying: you and me both…he's still sleeping. She smiles lightly saying: time to change that, she stumbles over to him but she moves too fast, she gasps falling right into his lap, she laughs gently saying: ouch. She looks up grimacing when she sees golden eyes peering down at her, she goes to push away but he grabs her wrists.
"What are you doing?"
She sighs saying: I was coming to wake you up and…as you can see…I have, he drops her wrists studying her face, she clutches her throat saying: do you hear my voice it sounds horrible. He smirks and she frowns saying: this is funny to you, she turns away folding her arms.
"You need to rest," Sesshomaru says from behind her, she glances back at him saying: I'm fine, he stands and she falls onto her back.
"You're hungry."
She looks at her stomach saying: am I, he grabs her hand pulling her onto her weak legs, he looks at Inukimi saying: we will be back. Aya frowns saying: b-b, Sesshomaru leads her out of the house and into the dense fog that now covered Yurime.
Aya grabs his arm saying: so how long was I out, he frowns saying: too long, she smiles saying: aw you missed me, he shakes his head saying: my mother can leave now. Aya frowns saying: oh.
"How did she end up involved anyway?"
He looks at her saying: I needed her help to find you, Aya puts her free hand to her hip saying: mm hmm…for a second I'd thought you'd replaced me, he looks ahead not saying anything. She sighs saying: I jest…I remember everything that's happened…not that I understand all of it…but…the day we argued…I'm sorry. He doesn't say anything so she continues.
"I should have just accepted that your feelings for me are different…I barely understand mine for you…."
Sesshomaru grunts not saying anything to her, Aya sighs looking at the ground.
Is he still angry?
Once they enter the woods Sesshomaru unsheathes his sword saying: what do you want, she closes her eyes saying: mm…Crow sounds g-, she opens her eyes when a thud sounds before her. Sesshomaru holds a Crow Demon out to her, it's neck broken between his fingers, Aya takes it saying: t-thanks. She blushes saying: are you going to watch me eat it, he sneers looking away and she sighs saying: want some, he shakes his head jumping into the tree above her, he stands on a branch watching the sky. Aya sits below the tree going to work on the Crow Demon, once she's done she tosses it's remains aside.
"Well that was good," she whispers licking her lips, she looks up at Sesshomaru now saying: so update me…what happened…I know that I had the Uryen stone in me…but it's not there anymore-.
"That is not what I brought you here for."
Aya raises a brow saying: what, Sesshomaru jumps down from the tree and Aya frowns saying: what's wrong, he glares at her saying: you silly woman…you should have come for me when that shadow demon attacked you. Aya gasps saying: you brought me here to argue with me , she glares back saying: well I wasn't really liking you at the moment, she turns away folding her arms.
"And besides I don't need you..."
Sesshomaru glares at her now.
"You cannot do that."
"Do what," she asks turning to him, he scowls saying: put yourself into dangerous situations because you are angry with me…I am here to protect you. She purses her lips saying: tell me…when did I hire you as a bodyguard, he shakes his head saying: you didn't but I'm not trying to be your bodyguard. Aya cocks her head saying: eh, he brings his hand to her face saying: a mate's job is to protect and support, Aya touches her neck saying: you didn't, he shakes his head.
"Such a foolish woman," he mutters moving closer to her, she backs away saying: what, he pushes against her and they fall into the tree. Aya grimaces when he kisses her.
What…the…hell.
Aya moans grabbing his face, he wraps his arms around her but she yanks away.
"W-what are you d-d-doing!"
She now looked on the brink of tears, she moves around the tree saying: what is wrong with you, he comes around the tree pressing his body against her own, she shudders when he begins to stroke her face.
"Be my mate."
Aya puts her hand to her stomach trying to ignore the urge to puke.
"But why?"
Stupid question.
"You don't want to?"
"No it's not that! I uh…I…do you…do…you…have you…um…."
"Yes."
Aya fans herself with her hands saying: well…who would have thought…, Sesshomaru grabs her hands pushing them away.
"I'm so confused," Aya whispers when he leans close to her, he pauses at her lips.
"Yes or no?"
"Do you know what us being mates entails. Living together…sleeping together…making a family…," as Aya names off the list she feels the urge to cry grow more and more. Everything she wanted.
"This is madness," she whispers shaking her head.
"So its no."
"NO! I mean…Sesshomaru…I…I've felt so strangely about you for some time and-"
"So yes."
Aya sighs, she'd never felt the need to slap someone and kiss them at the same time.
"Something tells me I'm going to regret this…but…yes."
Aya shudders when he kisses her suddenly, her wraps his arms around her waist and she moves closer to him.
Fallen for everything I thought was boring.
Ugh!
Sesshomaru breaks the kiss pressing his lips against her neck, she closes one eye expecting the bite but he shakes his head saying: we will wait until we get home, she smiles when he says this.
"Home," she whispers bringing her hand to his chest, she sighs saying: I'm not dead am I, Sesshomaru drags her against him shaking his head.
"Oh god you got me," she whispers looking away, he cocks his head and she sighs saying: remember our first meeting…ugh I've yielded, he shakes his head and she cries out saying: this is madness.
She sniffles saying: this is…, she buries her face in his chest saying in a muffled voice.
"I never thought that this would happen. I guess all that flirting wore on you…and with this face…."
Aya smiles up at him saying: Lady of the Western Lands…how droll…and it'll be us and Rin…. He raises a brow when she buries her face in his chest again.
Mio sighs leaning against the bark of the tree she stood in.
"Love how…stupid."
She folds her arms saying: and what now…go have some pups and live happily ever after…yes sure, she smiles closing her eyes.
"You won't have it for long demon lord."
She snorts when Aya's laughter floats up through the trees assaulting her ears.
"Enjoy the short time that you do have."