Chapter 9:

Kaoru

"How," he whispered quietly as her breathing changed from sleeping to awake.

She opened her eyes to his staring down at her, a yellow more warming than the sun. She stretched and replied, "Took a lot of work. Really, I'm not even sure how this finally worked." And she told him about everything that how happened in her in her exile—about her escape and the fairies, about her daily transformation and the embarrassment experienced at the hand of Kitsune. She was relieved that he would still have her despite the ordeal she'd been through.

"I did try," he said after she was done.

"What do you mean?"

He shifted under the covers, the muscles in his chest rippling in the light under his taunt skin. "I did try. I tried everything to get you out of there—but in the end. I just couldn't."

She smiled. "There wasn't anything you could have done."

He looked away. "I should have been able to. There wasn't anything I didn't try."

"Sesshomaru," she said lightly, caressing his face, "the witch told me there wasn't anything you could do. Only I could break the curse. Only I could."

He nodded, processing. It seemed to calm him, though another thought darkened him mood again. "I couldn't visit you."

"What do you mean," she asked again.

"When there was nothing else I could do to save you—I couldn't visit you. It made me weak. And by then, after Father had died and I was put in charge of the West, I couldn't afford the weakness. And then—" He paused.

"And then what?"

He was quiet again, not even breathing, and then he turned to her and smiled. "Nothing. I'm just happy you're back."

"You? The great Lord of the West? You're happy? Is such a thing possible?"

"Ha," he said bluntly and pushed her back into the covers.

The rest of the day they spent curled up together, remembering the curves and lines for each other. And when night came, they huddled together and didn't let go.

She knew it was a dream. She knew it wasn't real. But when she opened her eyes, she was back in Kitsune's cottage, in the living room next to a hearth. She was still in her human form and there was Kitsune, in her chair covered by shadows.

"Hello, my dear," she said sweetly, leaning out into the light.

Kaoru tried to pull herself off the ground, but she was weak. She managed to get to her feet, but she couldn't walk. She wobbled, bracing herself against the hearth.

"Oh, of course you can't move, dear. I've had to use as much magic as I could gather to get you here. Did you really think I'd let you move? No. I have a message for you and you'll listen."

Kaoru nodded. She was quivering with fear.

"I'd like to congratulate you," Kitsune began, "And I'd like to invite you back."

Kaoru laughed. "Why would I come back?"

Kitsune shrugged. "It'll be easiest on you now if you just come back. You won't have to go through all the horrible things you'll have to go through if you stay."

"What do you mean?"

"Ask Sesshomaru."

"Ask him about what?"

"Ask him to tell you what he wouldn't before."

Kaoru shook her head. "He isn't hiding anything from me."

"Alright," Kitsune replied, "Figure it out yourself, but just know… once you learn the truth, I can't stay with him or it will mean war."

"War?"

"Yes. War. And then, when everyone you love is dead, you'll be mine again."

Kaoru shook her head and turned to run as Kitsune laughed. When she reached the door, she felt her bones cracking as she morphed down to the ground. And as she became the dog she'd been trapped as for a hundred years, she watched Kitsune laugh and laugh and laugh.

Kaoru jerked awake and up in bed. Sesshomaru was in bed next to her and instantly sitting up with her.

"What's wrong," he asked, gripping her shoulders.

"Kitsune," she choked out, "she said there's war coming unless I leave you."

Frowning, Sesshomaru replied, "That's ridiculous. You're staying here and we will never be apart again."

She smiled wearily. "Is there something you should tell me?"

Sesshomaru stiffened. He stood and wrapped himself up and said, "Wait here." And he walked out of the room.

She sat there, gripping her knees, and catching her breath.

Less than a minute later, he returned. He sat on the bed next to her and took her hand. He pulled out a ring and slid it on her finger. She held it up into the moon light and gasped. It was the ring worn by the Lady of the West and it was beautiful.

"Sesshomaru," she said lightly, "we aren't married."

He smiled. "The last time you were taken from me, we were just one day from married and I couldn't protect you. Now that I have you back, you will never take this off. It is of no importance to me what anyone says. You are my wife and I will always protect you."

Tears welled up in her eyes. They lay back down together and, in his arms, she slept more peacefully than she had in one hundred years.