Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. Never have, never will. Though if I ever become really famous, I will buy it. But until then, I don't own InuYasha. Nor do I own "I've Got a Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.
--------------------------------------------------------Many thanks to Sugar0o for pointing out my mistakes. Thanks a million!--------------------------------------------------------
Last Time:
Kagome shook her head. "I'll be okay, Yui. I always am." She started walking again, trying to dispel the images of Sesshoumaru from her mind. I'm strong enough for this. I won't look back. I can't look back. Never again.
Good-bye, Sesshoumaru
CHAPTER 24: WHEN WE MEET AGAIN
Five months. 20 weeks. 140 days. 3360 hours. 201,600 minutes. 12,096,000 seconds.
And why did the great Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands know exactly how many seconds there were in five months? Because he felt every one of them passing slowly as he drifted through each agonizing moment. Some had called him heartless before, but now, he was even more so. Because as of five months ago, he truly had no heart.
His heart was with someone he had trusted, who had somehow managed to sneak through every defense he'd put in place. And then they'd rejected him.
And people dared to wonder why he didn't care?
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" He turned to see Rin beside him, dressed as a Princess of the West should be. "Are you well?"
Rin was the only one who could pull him out of his pain. It seemed she had learned a thing or two from that woman. The one whose name had been unofficially banned from the Western Palace.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Sesshoumaru refocused on his young ward.
"This Sesshoumaru is well, Rin." Sesshoumaru informed her.
Rin smiled brightly. "Okay, Sesshoumaru-sama. If you will permit me, Sesshoumaru-sama, I will go get ready for the reception banquet tonight."
Sesshoumaru nodded, almost smiling to himself as Rin bowed and left. At thirteen she was on the very edge of womanhood, and had matured so much. He already saw some of the men of his court eyeing her, and the thought of her mated and gone made him growl. She was his daughter in every way except blood, and he would protect her as such.
Rin's words finally registered in his brain, and he bit back a groan. The annual Loyalty Banquet, a week long celebration. The anniversary of the start of his reign two hundred and fifty eight years ago. The day when every member of his court came to once again swear a pledge of loyalty to the Lord of the West. He'd forgotten.
With a sigh, he turned to reenter his castle. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to forget, even for a moment.
!# Yui #!
They arrived at night, only an hour or so before the banquet was set to begin. The three figures rushed in out of the rain. Sarra, still the housekeeper of all the craziness, met them.
"By the kamis, it's good to be out of that storm." One of the figures threw back her hood to reveal Yui, a grin in place. "It's so warm here."
"It's good to see you dear." Sarra said with a soft smile. "You'll be in the same room as last time, and a servant will bring up your bags momentarily."
"You got my notice for extra rooms, right?" Yui asked.
"Yes, yes." Sarra said, waving a hand dismissively. "One for each of your companions, keeping in mind that one is male and the other is female."
"Thank you, Sarra." Yui said.
"May I ask who your companions are?" Sarra asked. She caught a drifting scent and frowned. She could swear she knew one of those scents. . .
"It's a surprise." Yui said quickly. She grabbed one of the hooded figures. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Yui and her companions hurried away, leaving behind a very suspicious housekeeper. "What exactly are you up to, Yui?" She whispered.
!# Sesshoumaru #!
"Lord Yuri of the Palace Guard." The herald intoned, and Yuri stepped forward, amusement in his eyes that Sesshoumaru knew was a result of the boredom Yuri saw on his face.
Yuri knelt in front of Sesshoumaru. "I, Yuri of the Palace Guard, do hereby swear my loyalty to the Lord of the West. I also pledge the loyalty of those in service to the Palace Guard."
"This Sesshoumaru accepts your pledge and the responsibility that comes with it." Sesshoumaru repeated for the hundredth time that day. "Join my allies and companions."
Yuri stood and bowed. "As my lord commands." He walked over to join Sarra, who had taken the pledge just before him.
Sesshoumaru looked up to the herald, indicating that he could continue. Now that the court was out of the way, only the representatives of each village were left. They were mostly human, and he wanted to growl in annoyance.
That is, until the herald spoke his next words. "Announcing the representative of the Edo region, Lady Kagome Higurashi, Miko of the Shikon."
!# Kagome #!
Kagome had been assured multiple times by Yui that she looked magnificent. She'd also been told that all she had to do was recite the words, last through the ceremony, and then go home. Simple, right?
Kagome waited for them to call her name, and practiced the meditation she'd learned from Kaede five months ago. Using the deep breathing, she placed a stopper on every emotion, every need. Anything that make her less than she needed to be in front of him. She felt slightly guilty at using Kaede's training this way, but she was desperate to keep her emotions in check.
A soft hand on hers made her turn to the man beside her. "It will be alright, Kagome."
"Easy for you to say, Kohaku." Kagome whispered. "You don't have to face him."
"Ah, but I do." Kohaku answered with a grin. "My sister would never forgive me if I didn't stand with you while you faced the terror."
The teasing of the ex-slayer did more to calm her than her meditations did. "Of course. You only care because your sister will slaughter you." She said in false hurt. "It has nothing to do with my own imminent danger."
Kohaku laughed, bringing a small smile to Kagome's face. The boy had changed a lot after his time with Naraku. Hell, he'd have had to have been a stone not to. Only Kagome, it seemed, could make him relax enough to smile. Sango held a small bit of resentment for that, which Kagome understood.
"Lady Kagome, you are about to be called." The herald told her.
"Thank you." She said, her nervousness returning. She quickly masked her scent, unwilling to let anyone see how truly nervous she was.
Kohaku stood next to his sister, a hand on her shoulder. "Just breathe. You know the plan."
Kagome shook her head. "Why do I get the feeling things are going to go very, very wrong?" She heard her name and stepped forward, Kohaku slightly behind and to the right of her. Her eyes met Sesshoumaru's and her breath hitched.
!# The Palace of the Gods #!
"YES!" The shout shook the entire palace. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes YES!"
Inugami raced to Amaterasu's viewing room to see her literally bouncing off the walls. "I knew it! It's about friggin time, you idiots!"
Then, as Inugami watched, Amaterasu began to sing.
"I've got a feeling (woo-hoo)
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good good night!"
Inugami was wondering if Amaterasu had finally cracked. "Amaterasu?"
Amaterasu laughed and hugged him. "Look!" She dragged him to the mirror, which for the past five months had remained frozen in two pieces. Now, it had only one scene. "They're finally together!"
Inugami glared. "For a week long festival. Hardly worth celebrating."
Amaterasu refused to listen to his pessimism. "A lot can happen in one week." She rushed out of the room. "Unmeikeirai! Where the hell are you?"
Inugami stared at the mirror and sighed. "Here we go again."
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Sesshoumaru could barely keep his usual mask in place. He wanted to stare in shock as Kagome walked down the aisle to stand before him. He expected a smile. He expected her to shout. He half expected a threat of purification.
What he got was Kagome kneeling before him like every other person that night had done. "I, Kagome Higurashi, Miko of the Shikon, kneel before the great Lord Sesshoumaru as a representative of the Edo region." He thought he heard a slight bit of humor on the "great Lord" part, but he might have imagined it. "As such, I offer the loyalty of the Edo region and all its inhabitants to the Lord of the West."
Time froze for a moment as Sesshoumaru hesitated. "This Sesshoumaru accepts your pledge and the responsibility that comes with it." Sesshoumaru repeated for the hundredth time that day. "Join my allies and companions."
Kagome stood and bowed. "It would be an honor, Lord Sesshoumaru." With all the dignity she could muster, she turned away to join the others, Kohaku trailing at her side. She didn't look back.
The rest of those presented to him were a blur. He barely remembered to respond to their vows of loyalty and invite them to celebrate. All he could see was the indifference printed on Kagome's face. That wasn't her face. Her face was always in a smile, or a frustrated scowl, or a turning red with anger. It never, never, just sat there with no visual performance telling the world every emotion that flitted through her. It wasn't right.
Unless. . . seeing him really did nothing for her. His heart, which had finally started to beat again, stopped dead once more. She didn't care whether she saw him or not.
Little did Sesshoumaru know the extent of the emotions the mere sight of him had caused. Kagome smiled as she greeted her friends, tightly hugging Sarra and Yuri. To them, she appeared calm and in control. She seemed happy, as if being around the youkai to whom she'd given her heart didn't bother her in the least.
Only Kohaku could feel the way her arm shook in his every time her gaze drifted to the silent taiyoukai. And he would keep her secret.
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Rin had spotted Kagome as she took her seat at the table and was starting to fidget. Again. Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to growl at her. Not only would she not understand what it meant, but she'd probably be scared. And he didn't want that.
She fidgeted again, and Sesshoumaru turned his glare on her. "Rin." Rin turned guiltily to Sesshoumaru. He was going to yell at her, but something in her expression made his resolve weaken. "You may greet the miko."
Rin grinned widely. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She jumped off her chair and raced for Kagome, heedless of the display she was making. Sesshoumaru nearly groaned.
Kagome felt her coming, and couldn't contain the smile that was stretching across her face. But she allowed Rin to place her hands over her eyes in the game she'd taught Rin five months ago. "Guess who?" Rin asked with a smile.
"Sarra?" Kagome asked.
"Nope!"
"Um. . . Marilyn Monroe?"
"Who's Marilyn Monroe?"
"Never mind." Kagome pretended to think. "Well, if it's not Marilyn Monroe, then I guess it has to be. . ." Kagome reached behind her and tickled. "Rin-chan!"
The sound of Rin's laughter, accompanied by Kagome's own, seemed to fill the hall. Sesshoumaru felt himself relaxing and reveling in the sound. As much as he loathed to admit it, he had missed the sound of Kagome's laughter intertwining with Rin's. Not that her laughter alone wasn't as addicting as the rest of her.
It took a few moments of squealing and girl talk before Rin had calmed enough to return. Kagome watched her the whole way, a smile on her face and in her eyes. When Rin reached Sesshoumaru's side, her eyes momentarily flickered to him before returning to her conversation. There hadn't been a single emotion in those eyes.
!# The Palace of the Gods #!
Amaterasu stared at the mirror, which was once again surrounded by gods now that something was actually happening. They watched as dinner was quickly finished, though the food itself didn't interest them. What did was the constant stares by both Kagome and Sesshoumaru, the sadness that clung to them, and the blatant want that both their thoughts projected.
As the meal ended and the court made their way to one of the many ballrooms, anticipating a dance. After a moment, Amaterasu stood. "Well, I've got work to do."
Inugami stared at her. "You're kidding, right?"
Amaterasu blinked innocently. "Why would I be kidding?"
"You haven't moved from this mirror in five months, and now that things might actually happen, you decide you have better things to do?" Inugami asked with a growl.
Amaterasu smiled. "Better things to do than watch? Yes, actually, I do." She disappeared from view, and Inugami returned to his spot in front of the mirror with a sigh. Really, he just didn't understand her.
And then it happened. The entire hall froze.
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Sesshoumaru noticed immediately the sudden immobility of his court. He tried poking the demon next to him, but it did not force him into movement.
He heard a snicker than, and a small flurry of movement. He rushed towards it, and saw one annoying goddess rearranging a passing couple into a rather. . . Awkward position.
He wasn't sure what annoyed him most. That this goddess had suddenly decided to get involved in his life again, or that she was interfering in the most obnoxious way.
"Oh, you know you love me." Amaterasu said with a smile. "Besides, these two are so not right for each other. The sooner she knows it, the sooner she'll get together with that guy-" She pointed to a demon in the corner. "And be mated."
"And you know this. . . How?" Sesshoumaru asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
"Because I'm a goddess." Amaterasu answered with a smile.
Sesshoumaru glared at her. "Do you have a purpose for this visit other than to annoy me?"
Amaterasu smiled at him. "Give her up."
Sesshoumaru froze. "What?"
"Don't pretend you didn't hear me." Amaterasu said with a scowl. "Give her up."
Sesshoumaru snarled. "Why?"
Amaterasu huffed. "Did you really think that she was yours? Come on, Sesshoumaru. She's a miko of the highest quality. You're a demon. Even opposites can only attract so much." She turned to another couple and sighed. "Really, these two don't work at all."
Sesshoumaru grabbed her hand as she moved. "Who are you to tell this Sesshoumaru who he may or may not take an interest in?"
Amaterasu turned her eye on him, and he suddenly found himself unable to breath. His lungs were literally frozen. "Do not think that you can defy me, little Sesshoumaru." Amaterasu hissed. "I am not some mere female that you can rule as you do here." She released him, and he gasped for air. "You would do well to listen for a change."
Sesshoumaru glared at the goddess. "This Sesshoumaru has chosen."
"Choose again." Amaterasu said, a smirk decorating her face. "The miko is destined for another. You will not mate her. Not now, not ever."
As she started to disappear, Sesshoumaru was returned to his place, frozen at Amaterasu's words. The room restarted, and Sesshoumaru had to force himself to calm before he put the room on edge.
He caught sight of Kagome twirling with the boy she'd entered with, and all rational thought left his mind, save one.
Fuck you, Amaterasu. Fuck you.
!# The Palace of the Gods #!
Amaterasu reappeared in her previous seat. "I'm back!" She announced.
Inugami stared at her, and he wasn't he only one who did so. "Are you utterly and completely insane?" He demanded. "I thought you wanted the two of them to get together!"
"I do." Amaterasu said, a smile stretching across her face as she turned to the mirror.
"Then why would you tell Sesshoumaru that he couldn't have her?" Inugami was completely and utterly confused.
Amaterasu giggled as Sesshoumaru started the dancing segment of the Welcoming Banquet by dancing with the Northern Princess. "My dear Inugami. There is nothing in the world that men want more than what they cannot have." She watched as Sesshoumaru's eyes followed Kagome's movements. "And this particular inuyoukai will never follow any orders given to him."
Inugami smirked as he realized what Amaterasu had done. "You are evil." He whispered.
"Why thank you!"
!# Kagome #!
Kagome watched the demons twirl and sighed in envy. "I wish I could learn to dance like that." She whispered. "I always trip over my own two feet."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me, Lady Kagome." Yuri teased, one arm around Sarra. Sometime in the past five months, the two of them had mated. Kagome smirked as she thought about. She had totally predicted it.
But she refocused on Yuri, pretending to scowl. "You are so rude, Lord Yuri. What if I were to take offense?"
"Then I would have to apologize by asking you to dance." Yuri said, eyes dancing. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Kagome pretended to shiver. "I certainly wouldn't. However, you could apologize by allowing me to watch you dance with your mate."
Yuri tried to protest, but Sarra jumped at the chance. "That would be a fitting punishment, Lady Kagome." Sarra said, her eyes dancing.
"Females!" Yuri sighed. "They're all against me."
"I don't think it's just you, Lord Yuri." Kohaku called as he left the floor with Yui and rejoined the group. "I think it's every male."
Kagome glared at him. "Oh, just wait till I tell your sister that, Kohaku." Amusement lit up her eyes. "I can't wait to see how many holes you have."
Kohaku cringed. "Kagome, you wouldn't dare." Kagome rolled her eyes.
Yui sat beside her friend. "Kagome, it's only a matter of time until you have to face him."
The somber words were just enough to return the sadness in Kagome's eyes. "I am going to do my best to ensure that that time never comes."
Yui coughed nervously. "Um, Kagome? One of the traditions of the Welcoming Banquet is that the hosting lord, if unmated, dances with every unmated female."
Kagome blinked. For a whole minute, a record by the kami's count, Kagome was silent. Then she finally spoke. "Shit."
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Sesshoumaru released the female he had just danced with and shifted his gaze to Kai. Kai grinned and nodded. Sesshoumaru barely held back a smirk as he ignored the females who now crowded around him.
The Welcoming Feast had one, very special dance. It was the longest of all, and the hosting lord was supposed to pick the one female he held in highest regard to join him in the dance. Sesshoumaru had always hated it, because all the females were the same to him.
Until now. With confidence, mostly because he knew that his chosen female would never be so rude as to deny him, he walked up to Kagome. Or rather, behind her, since she wasn't facing him.
Kohaku was the first to realize he was coming. He quickly took Kagome's hand and gave it a series of gentle squeezes. Two short. . . One long. . . Two short. To others, it meant nothing. To them, it meant trouble.
Kagome looked up at Kohaku, and he jerked his head. She turned slowly, and froze when she saw Sesshoumaru coming towards them. She turned away quickly. "I'm not ready." She whispered frantically, sure that Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to hear her.
"You'll be fine. It's just one dance. Three minutes at the most." Kohaku soothed. "When you're done, you can leave and head to bed."
Kagome's hand tightened as Sesshoumaru's aura came closer. Kohaku let her have her moment of fear. It passed quickly as she meditated, pulling her emotions into her core. When she opened her eyes again, she wore the indifferent mask that had adorned her face when she'd spoken before.
Sesshoumaru stopped behind her, and she turned to see him. "What can I do for you, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru wanted to flinch as he saw the emotionless expression she showed him, but instead he extended a hand. "I have chosen to dance with you."
Kagome bit her cheek, focusing on his hand and his words. "As you wish, Sesshoumaru-sama." She took his hand, and together, they walked to the center of the room.
!# The Palace of the Gods #!
"Oh yeah! I was right!" Amaterasu sat in her chair, doing a victory dance as the dance began. "Someone owes me!"
Inugami sighed. "Amaterasu, you didn't bet."
Amaterasu glared at him. "Are you kidding me? The one time I'm right, and I didn't bet?" Inugami shook his head. "Damn it!"
!# Sesshoumaru #!
He never had had much appreciation for Kagome's temperament until it was gone. It frustrated him to see . . . Well, nothing. He almost wished for her to stamp her foot and scream at him. If only to see her temper light up her eyes. He couldn't stand to see the blank stare that sat in front of him.
In a move so uncharacteristic for him, he wondered the sanity of it, he broke the silence. "Have you ever been taught this dance, Miko?"
Kagome was so shocked that he'd actually started a conversation that it startled her into speaking. "No, I haven't. And I don't understand why you'd pick me when there are so many other women in the room for you to choose."
Even in when she was trying to be border-line insulting, she was a honest. A quality that other females were lacking. "Perhaps I simply wished to amuse myself by watching you stumble, Miko."
He was teasing her, and she knew it. So she merely turned to him, placing one arm on his and the other on his shoulder. "A true gentleman would lead and help instead of letting his partner fail." She said calmly, as the music began. "And just as a side note, one partner's dancing reflects on the other."
Sesshoumaru nearly smirked at Kagome's subtlety. Obviously, someone had taught her a bit of diplomacy in the past five months. This is going to be fun. He thought as they began to
"I would have thought that you would have returned to your home." Sesshoumaru whispered. "After all, you had no reason to stay."
"Who says I didn't try?" Kagome answered, determined not to show him anything.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at that. The well would not allow her through? Interesting. "I fail to see how that would stop you."
Kagome gave him a confused look, and he almost jumped with excitement at the emotion. "I'm afraid I don't follow."
Sesshoumaru smirked. "You are not one to allow someone or something to stand in your way. No matter how foolish it is to try to oppose them."
Kagome blinked. "Thank you. . . I think." He shouldn't be talking to her. He should be ignoring her as much as possible. He should be cold and silent, like he'd been before. He shouldn't be trying to talk to her. She was slowly losing control.
They continued to twirl, and she caught Kohaku's look. It comforted her enough to regain control.
Sesshoumaru noticed the exchange, and pulled Kagome a bit closer as they continued to dance. The boy. He is the cause of her change.
WOAH! Cool it, lover boy. Maybe he's not the cause. He might just be someone who keeps her calm. . . HOLY MOTHER OF THE KAMIS! That is our job!
Oh, you finally noticed the problem.
We need to find out more about this dude. And, more importantly, get him the hell away from our Kagome.
He is not ours yet.
YET. The important word there is yet.
The song ended, and Kagome stepped back. "Thank you for the honor of this dance, Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome said with a quick bow. Even with Kohaku's gaze, she could feel her hands shaking. She needed to get away from him, and quickly.
Sesshoumaru surprised her by taking her arm and leading her back to her seat. Kohaku immediately stood as they neared and bowed. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama. I will take care of Lady Kagome from here." There was an unspoken challenge in his words, which Sesshoumaru would have been deaf not to hear.
Sesshoumaru turned his infamous glare on Kohaku. "And who are you to do so?"
Kohaku stood proudly, ignoring the fact that he was about half a foot shorter than Sesshoumaru. "I am Kohaku, of the Demon Slayer Village."
Now Sesshoumaru understood. The brother of Kagome's friend, the slayer. "I see. Well then, I will be sure to watch Lady Kagome quite closely. I would rather not have her end up like the rest of your village where her blood would foul my castle."
Kohaku's eyes turned dark, and his hand fisted before he could stop himself. "You conniving bastard! I'll kill-"
Kagome pushed Sesshoumaru's arm away and rushed to Kohaku's side. She took his hand, giving a gentle squeeze as she stood in front of him. "Look at me, Kohaku. See me. You're not there anymore. That wasn't you."
Kohaku was still for a moment, and the hall fell into a resounding silence. Then he sighed. "I know. I know." He started to turn away, but Kagome wrapped her arm around his.
"If you will excuse me, Sesshoumaru-sama, I'm feeling quite tired. I would like to retire for the evening." Her eyes no longer held indifference, but a fierce protectiveness that dared him to deny her.
Well, I wanted to see emotions. Sesshoumaru thought bitterly. "You may go." He said. "Try to get some sleep, as the week will be trying."
Kagome bowed, and started to turn away when the meaning of his words sunk in. Me. . . and Kohaku?. . . HOW DARE HE! She turned, eyes blazing. "Five months, and you're still an ass. I don't know how people deal with you." Then she walked away.
Kohaku stayed silent until they reached his room. "He's right. I can't protect you as well as he can."
"I don't want, nor do I need, his protection." Kagome snapped. "What I need is my friend and my brother to stand by me and help me finish this."
Kohaku smiled briefly before embracing Kagome tightly. "You know I'm here. That's not changing."
Kagome hugged him back before heading to her room. Kohaku stood for a moment, assessing the night. I wonder if either of them knows that they're still in love.
------------------------------------------------------------Author's Rant------------------------------------------------------------
Obsessive_Goddess: And so our love birds have returned to finish our story.
Horse Wolves: I almost had to kill you. YOu're lucky I know you wouldn't leave it like that.
Sesshoumaru: Damn you, woman! The story was perfect! Why would you ruin it?
Obsessive_Goddess: The nerve of you! How can you call this ruined. Keep this up, and I'll make sure you lose every ounce of pride before we're done.
Kagome: Don't push her, Sesshi. She might actually do it.
Horse Wolves: OG. . . don't be mean. :'-(
Obsessive_Goddess: Fine. But that's strike one!
------------------------------------------------------------End of Author's Rant------------------------------------------------------------
