Author's Note:
I'll be honest and say after chapter 6 I had no plan whatsoever for this story, it just went where my mind took me. I had an idea at the beginning of each chappie left over from the last and then wherever it ended up was just as much of a shock to me as it was to you ^_^ But I've plotted it all out now, I figured out pretty much what's gunna happen (muahahaha), wonder how long this fic'll last *wonders* We'll just have ta see, ne? ^_^ Okies, everybody seems to be happy with the story still, and you're all anxious to find whose behind the door so I won't keep you in suspence much longer XD Love ya All! *chu*
Just a little note here you might wanna read:
It might seem a little confusing but there's a bit in here where Kagome is talking to someone, and then it changes scene, and Inuyahsa walks in on the conversation, BUT a little more time has passed between the scene changes if that makes sense, and that's why when there is one person with Kagome when her scene ends, there is more when Inuyasha stumbles upon them. K? Hope that doesn't sound TOO confusing XD
Enjoy and review lovely people!
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Clandestine
Twelve
Sesshomaru sighed as he closed the door to his brother's chambers behind him, resting against it monetarily. That pup was such a handful! He growled a little, wishing only for his bed just down the hall. It seemed that his brother, half-demon or no, had a lot of energy…far too much energy for a pup! And it seemed, that his father and Izayoi always dropped him in his lap whenever they deemed possible. In fact, he was the constant baby-sitter! Izayoi seemed to just set the crazed little critter loose then send him (Sesshomaru that is) after him. He walked down the halls towards his room, Sesshomaru sighed again. Just when had this odd little family started to become so much to him, particularly that irritant little pup that demanded every ounce of his attention. Somewhere along the line he'd changed, his once frozen heart had thawed, warming up to his father's mate and their son.
"Sesshomaru?" the demon lord turned to the feminine voice, growling under his breath as he met the eyes of the demoness coming towards him – His 'intended'. Insufferable wench, he thought, forcing a sneer of a smile as she stopped before him. "Sesshomaru, dearest, where were you this afternoon, I didn't see you at all after that pup dragged you off with him after dinner." The demon raised a brow.
"You refer to Inuyasha?" she nodded, sneering slightly. "He is my little brother; I must indulge him in his childish antics. Children have insatiable appetites for love and attention." The demoness followed him as he turned to walk away, slipping her hand into his arm, not noticing how he growled quietly at the contact. How dare she presume she could touch him so casually?! Just because his father had introduced him to her as a suitor, and for the sake of pleasing his father, who'd only wanted him to take an interest in taking a mate, trying to get his eldest son to even speak to women not really thinking he'd ask this particular one, he'd accepted the notion of their engagement. Sesshomaru hadn't really cared. He had no intentions towards the simpering wenches of his species, they were all selfish and arrogant, so why not just choose one that appreciated his good looks and station in life, one who'd be loyal and have at it? He didn't really care for the romance side of life, but for tradition and all that, he might as well just go along with it.
"But you could have refused. Who said you have to be the one to play such idiotic games with that brat?" Sesshomaru didn't look at her. He had only just been thinking that, but what gave her the right to say it?
"Inuyasha asked me," he said simply.
"And?"
"And that is all. There is nothing more to it. Do not question my decisions." She clung tighter then.
"No My lord, of course not. It is just distressing to see you fritter away your valuable time for that half-demon, he is so greedy with your affection, I merely-"
"-Called my younger brother a half-demon brat? Use such words in regards for my own flesh and blood once more and I will make you eat those words." She pulled away from him, and he stopped, regarding her with warning in his eyes.
"He is a half-demon is he not?"
"Indeed, however this world is full of cruel beings who will constantly remind him of that, who will remind him how different from the rest of us he is, when in reality, he's not so different at all."
"Lord Sesshomaru-"
"-He is my brother, half-blood or no, do not presume to be in higher regard just because we're intended. Rest assured I would love a horse more than you – A selfish, preening whore!"
"Do you mean to say that you really do love that mongrel?!" She let out a little scream as he slapped her hard across her face, sneering with disgust upon her.
"It seems I've made a mistake with you, I hereby revoke our engagement. I have no wish to be mated to a wench who would hate an innocent little boy just because of the love a demon showed a human." Turning and stalking away from him indignantly. "And to answer your question, yes, I do love my brother," Sesshomaru growled, as she turned the corner, out of sight. Thankfully, that'd be the last he'd ever see of her. It was after that, he soon decided, he didn't want to take a mate just for the sake of it, he'd have to at least like her, and of course, he'd have to be sure she liked Inuyasha. Even if that meant he'd never find a mate…
Sesshomaru took another swig from his goblet, wondering just why that particular memory had come to him right then. Perhaps he'd never really imagined Inuyasha would find have his mating ceremony before him, or to be truthful not cruel, ever. Not many in this feudal era would love Inuyasha despite his faults, and yet, here he was celebrating the very fact that his little brother had found someone, and that he'd be expecting a niece or nephew not far from now. It was this fact, and the reality of the memory of his little brother's honest face, all the times he'd come to him for advice whilst growing up, and the secrets he'd divulged to him, it made him guilty for not divulging such secrets to Inuyasha in return, particularly the darkest secret, which lurked in his heart. No, not even to Inuyasha could he speak of it, it wasn't just his secret to tell, after all…
He frowned slightly as he smelt Inuyasha and Kagome coming closer. But hadn't they only just escaped? One would assume they'd be consummating their mating. What could be wrong? Getting to his feet, he excused himself from the conversation he'd been pretending to listen to, and headed through the doors out into the foyer.
***
Inuyasha's breath came out in short, harsh pants as he leapt down the stairs after Kagome, the girl descending the staircase several steps ahead of him. His mind raced. Who was it? What did they want with her? Did they want to hurt her? Where did they come from? He sensed the panic spike in her scent, she was afraid, anxious. Did she know who it was at the doors? No, confusion, that was obvious in her scent as well. She was just as clueless as he. Only he could tell, he was the more frightened of the two. Everyone she'd ever known or loved before coming here had been killed in that fire, the Revolutionaries burnt her village to the ground. Whoever it was, he could be sure they wouldn't bring anything but problems…
"Kagome!" The once priestess stopped on the final stair, looking up towards the voice, her eyes widening in confused disbelief, tears pricking at the backs of her temporarily crimson-lidded eyes.
"Y-You're…you're alive?!" she gasped, her hand over her mouth as the voice's owner darted towards her.
"Kagome! Oh my gods, thank goodness you're safe!" Inuyasha frowned in confusion as the woman wrapped her arms tightly around his mate, Kagome returning the embrace, and he could sense her tears. Who was this?
"When they took the village down…oh gods, Kagome I was so scared you'd been in there. But then we found out you'd come here, we've been travelling all night to get here…" Kagome pulled back in the hug, examining the woman's face closely. The woman's brow creased slightly.
"K-Kagome?" Her voice sounded confused, a little scared, stepping back from the once-priestess.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Your crests," Kagome turned to see Inuyasha descending the last few steps to stand beside her, his eyes trained on the female in front of her, suspicion in his gaze. "She wants to know why you've got the crests." Clearly only just remembering, Kagome's fingers ran unconsciously over the crimson stripes adorning her cheeks, "So," Inuyasha voice still sounded suspicious, slightly bitter. Well yeah, her mind supplied, the guy is missing out on his mating night…
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" the half-demon asked huskily. Sensing the threatening aura coming off her mate in waves, Kagome couldn't help but wonder…
"Umm, yeah, Inuyasha, this is Sango," she said, indicating to the obsidian-haired-woman in the demon slayer's garb, "Sango's my friend from back at my village-"
"-The Demon slayer's village?" he asked sceptically, Kagome not liking the tone of his voice – accusing.
"Yeah, the reformed one, remember?" She huffed slightly, Kagome smiled warmly at Sango, "she was more like a sister to me…" Inuyasha raised a brow at the woman.
"Really?" his voice, it was expressionless, careless, so like his brother's and so unlike himself it was frightening her a little, "care to tell your friend who I am?" Ah, thought Kagome, understanding a little of his 'discomfort', he thinks I'll regret it, thinks I'll leave him. He thinks I'm ashamed of telling my friend I'm in love with a half-demon…
"Sango, this is Inuyasha," she explained, wetting her lips slightly in apprehension of her friend's reaction to her next words, "my mate." Sango seemed knocked back in astonishment, her mouth moving soundlessly for a moment until she seemed able to form words.
""Y-You're mate? As in…an eternal bond of love and devotion, to this demon you met – what? – A few mere weeks ago?"
"Sango, it's not what it looks like-"
"-Kagome I…its okay I…I'm not mad that you love a demon, you know me, you know how I feel about all this," the demon slayer gestured to the halls around her, even Inuyasha for a brief moment. "It's just…with the crests and…that demonic kimono, it's…a little too much to-"
"-Inuyasha," the two humans the half-demon looked to Sesshomaru as he came towards them, offering them a slightly confused expression. "What is the matter, Little Brother? Why are you and Kagome not…upstairs?" Inuyasha flushed a little, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"This is Kagome's friend, Sango…she err…ummm…" Inuyasha huffed tensely, throwing Kagome a strange look. "Look, you and Sango probably wanna catch up, so I'll…I'll just see you later."
"Inuyasha wait!" Kagome frowned as Inuyasha ignored her words, stalking down the hall and out of sight, Sesshomaru bowing slightly to her, before following swiftly after his brother.
"He's a sensitive one," Sango commented, watching Kagome's different expression, "Kagome? Kagome are you alright?" The girl snapped out of her thoughtfulness, meeting her friend's gaze.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine I just…" she sighed softly, "tired and…I don't know…" The ex-priestess fell into silence, not sure of what to say, not sure what Sango wanted her to say, just staring blankly in the direction that Inuyasha disappeared. What was he so upset about?
***
Inuyasha growled under his breath, sensing his brother following him. He knew his brother only wanted him to be happy, only wanted to help, but honestly, he didn't want any help right now, not until he'd had a moment to cool off, he didn't want Sesshomaru to get the brunt of his bewildered anger. However, Sesshomaru's footsteps drifted away slightly, as if his brother had sensed his need for solitude, he'd taken off down a different corridor, allowing him his much desired seclusion.
The darkness greeted his senses as Sesshomaru stopped outside his destination, a closed door. Waiting a moment, allowing his effervescent thoughts to settle back into the dark recesses of his mind, he raised a pale hand to the wood, knocking gently. A soft, murmuring response came from the room beyond the door. Turning his head swiftly, he checked that no one was watching and he turned the knob slowly, entering.
"I admit I am surprised, how is it that you managed to escape the celebrations in the hall?"
"Lord Sesshomaru," that voice he knew so well cooed, greeting his senses, "I've been waiting for you…"
"Indeed," Sesshomaru replied wearily, "there is something you wanted to see me about, was there not?" The other person in the room nodded slightly. "I told you, that I would do anything within my power to assist you, providing my brother and father were not alerted of our allegiance, did I not?"
"Yes, My Lord…"
"Then, what is it that you want of me?" he asked with waning impassiveness.
"Are you sure you are up to the challenge, My Lord?"
"Your wish is my command… What do you want me to do?" he asked, closing the door behind him, stepping further into the room.
***
"And this…Lord Inuyasha…he helped you?" Kagome nodded, her mahogany eyes gazing thoughtfully at her reflection in the fountain's water, still slightly startled by her forged crests, but she wasn't really looking at herself, she was looking past it, wondering what had upset Inuyasha so much in those few brief moments. It seemed she always ended up in this garden, in this same place by this same fountain. This place, it gave her some…comfort. As for why it gave her such a safe, sheltered feeling, she didn't fully comprehend, and she supposed, it didn't really matter either.
"He helped me, Sango," Kagome said distantly, squeezing her friend's hand as if that would help her to understand. "He's a half-demon-"
"-A half-demon?" Sango looked surprised. "But…the crests he had were-"
"-No, that was…because of…our mating night…" she flushed slightly with her words, gesturing to the crests adorning her face. "That's why I've got them too, because we just completed the mating ceremony."
"Oh…" The demon slayer seemed embarrassed too, to think of what she might've interrupted by arriving when she did…
"And Inuyasha he's…he and, Izayoi, Sesshomaru and Inu-no-Taishou, they…they're good people, Sango, they're kind to me, they protect me…I think they care about me." Her friend offered her a sympathetic gaze, stroking her hair softly.
"Kagome-"
"-No, Sango listen. When I came here, Katsura tried to kill me before I told them about the Revolutionary spies; he tried to rape me Sango. But Inuyasha he…Gods, that Katsura, he tried to rape me, he tried to kill me, made me do things that I just…" Kagome shook her head slightly, as if shaking the thoughts from her mind. "He did all those things and yet during it all I…all I could worry about was Inuyasha – what he'd say, what he'd think of me – I'm in love with him Sango! I love him!"
"Kagome, you're-"
"-And he loves me in return. Don't look at me like that, like I'm still that stupid, naïve kid in our village that everyone had to protect, I know it's not been that long, mere days but its true! I don't know…Mama always used to talk about fate and…destiny. I never really believed her, until now… Mama, Sota, Grandpa…they only had to die for me to realise how right they were about everything …Five years, five, long lonely years without them, but I'm glad they weren't there to watch our village burn…" Sango smiled comfortingly at her friend.
"Your family loved you, Kagome; even death can't change that…" Kagome nodded, blinking back tears. "And there's nothing you could've done to save them, you know that, right?"
"I know…all this time, I've been so lost without them, we lived in the same house, ate the same food, drank the same water, breathed the same air. Why did they get sick and not me?" Sango gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Maybe it's just how things are meant to be, there's a purpose for all of us. You know that, right? You lived for a reason." Suddenly, Kagome's lips quirked into a warm smile, confusing the demon slayer slightly.
"I know…and that's just it, I think that…I think I'm meant to be with Inuyasha, to be here now, and…make a difference…"
"Look, Kagome," Sango said with a small sigh, seeming exhausted, "I'm not saying I don't believe you Kagome, I'm not saying he doesn't love you, or that you don't love him…I just think that…mating with a demon, half-demon whatever, it's a big choice, one you should take time to think about. It offers big compensations, but requires big sacrifices as well…" Kagome frowned slightly, not fully understanding.
"I know…I was aware of them when I-"
"-Have you used your powers since you've united?"
"Huh?"
"Your priestess powers? Have you purified anything? Used sacred arrows?" Kagome shook her head. "He put his mark on you – that affects both of you, he's inside of you. That's got to do stuff Kagome, that's why these rituals are rarely done between humans and demons, because the sacrifice on the human's behalf is often too great for either partners to risk."
"Y-You…you mean I don't have my powers anymore? Am I not human anymore? Am I gonna die what?" Sango seized her friend's shoulder firmly, steadying her, stopping her panic.
"I don't know Kagome, I don't know to what extent his blood may change you. I'm a demon slayer, I know about rituals, about their habits and habitats, but, they're still a mystery to me… I'd say the only person who can tell you these things is Inu-no-Taishou himself." Kagome swallowed hard at the prospect of asking The Demon Lord of the Western lands how much having sex and being impregnated by his son might've changed her human boy. Oh my Gods, that reminds me…
"Sango, I err…you know you said…'he's inside of' me? Well umm….you…you have no idea how close to the truth you struck with that one…" Tilting her head slightly in confusion, Sango's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?" As if to emphasise the point, Kagome released her friend's hands, holding them lightly over her stomach.
"I'm...Well I'm pregnant," she said simply, watching the other female's eyebrows arch in surprise. She remained that way for a few moments, not moving, not speaking. When at last she found her voice, it was astonished a lot higher than usual.
"Oh…" the demon slayer squeaked.
***
Sighing softly, Inuyasha headed towards the gardens, where he could sense Kagome's scent, along with the scent of that other woman…and someone else…Two 'someone-elses' to be precise. Descending the stairs, Inuyasha looked out through the archways that made up the castle's glassless windows, overlooking the gardens he'd spent so much time in during his youth. He could see what was happening, even hear their voices thanks to his demon-heightened senses.
"So this half-demon – Inuyasha did you say his name was?" Kagome nodded at the dark-haired-man dressed in indigo robes who stood before her, next to the demon slayer. "He helped you, protected you from Katsura and the 'Revolutionaries', and you somehow within the small span of time fell in love, and tonight's your mating night?" Kagome nodded again.
"And now you're saying you're pregnant?!" Another voice chimed in, a smaller, younger voice that came from the child on Sango's lap. "Cool…"
"Shippo, it is not cool," the man scolded lightly, causing Kagome to throw him an enraged look.
"Miroku! How dare you say tha-"
"-I didn't mean it like that," he said kindly, waving his hands defensively as she leapt to her feet, ready to defend herself against any possible accusations. "I just meant that…with this 'Katsura' and the others targeting you specifically for some unknown reason, it is unwise to let our guard down with this…"
"You mean…you're not angry at me?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"No…I'm just…worried for you…you've rushed into this and I just…I don't want you to be hurt, Kagome…"
"I agree," chimed in Sango, her arms wrapped loosely around Shippo. "I just feel that, we don't know anything about this 'Inuyasha', and we're worried you might've made a mistake in him. That's all."
Inuyasha growled softly, inaudibly, darting back up the stairs angrily. So they didn't approve of him did they? How dare they storm in here and ruin everything, just who did they think they were? It only enraged him more to see Kagome so desperate for their approval. Who cared what they thought? Then again, he thought, they're like her family, it'd make sense she doesn't want them to be angry with her. Nevertheless… That'd mean he'd have to work a little harder to impress them, which would be difficult to say the least. Still, it'll make Kagome happy, he though with a smile, walking along the halls towards his brother's chambers. He figured who better to ask for advice on how to impress people than the demon who should be awarded for the number of females (and even some males) that salivated at his finesse and good looks.
Not bothering to knock, Inuyasha opened his brother's door, noticing the little jump in Sesshomaru's muscles. He'd surprised him.
"We're a little old to be waltzing into each other's chambers before announcing ourselves, are we not Little brother?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes, not seeing the way Sesshomaru hurriedly tossed aside the cloth he'd been wiping his hands on.
"Whatever, it's not like you'll be doing anything." Sesshomaru smirked.
"Despite what you might think, I do have intimate liaisons with members of the opposite sex from time to time…I am just discreet about it, which is more than I can say for you, Little brother." Inuyasha flushed, his elder brother holding back a laugh as he sat on the end of his bed.
"Jackass…"
"Indeed, nevertheless, what is it you wanted Inuyasha?" Snapping from his embarrassment, Inuyasha came towards his brother, stopping before him.
"Kagome's friends don't like me too much."
"Hard to believe," Sesshomaru replied, sarcasm in his voice, only causing his brother to smirk at the comment.
"You prick. Just listen would ya? And they don't approve of me, or the pup much either, and their approval just seems so important to Kagome that I…I want to know how to impress them. And you, well people always like you, so I was wondering…" Inuyasha trailed off then, not because of embarrassment, or awkwardness, his nose twitched slightly, he could smell something…
Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly, and he got to his feet. "I will help you Inuyasha, but not right now. Right now I need to get back to father and the guests so I can-"
"-Blood."
"What?"
"I can smell blood…human blood…on you." Sesshomaru said nothing, watching his younger brother's eyes carefully as the half-demon approached him closer, his nose still sniffing the air. "What did you do? Answer me Sesshomaru! Why do you stink of human blood?!"
"Inuyasha."
"Don't 'Inuyasha' me – WHAT DID YOU DO TO GET HUMAN BLOOD ON YOU!!!"
"Inuyasha listen to me-"
"-What did you think that I couldn't smell it just because you washed it off? Oh, right, excuse me; I'm just half demon – half-demon half everything, right?" Sesshomaru sneered at his brother putting words in his mouth.
"They are NOT my words and you-"
"-DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT! I CAN SMELL HUMAN BLOOD ON YOU! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE!!!" His brother's cold exterior settled in to place, not a word falling from his lips. "Answer me, Brother…" Inuyasha growled dangerously, claws biting into his palm, drawing blood in his anger. Still, Sesshomaru said nothing. Snarling angrily, the half-demon stormed out the room, slamming the door behind him.
He couldn't believe it. His brother, his own flesh and blood – the one who he'd always counted on, always admired, loved, trusted – he'd betrayed him. Tears of anger spilled down his cheeks as he slammed his fist into the wall, the woodwork biting into his flesh, blood streaming from his knuckles. Why had everything gone so wrong? He growled again, his fist slamming repetitively into the wall, again and again and again. A loud, pained scream of fury tore from his throat and into the dim halls, echoing around him. The one person he'd trusted about all else…he'd betrayed him…that was what hurt the most, not the betrayal of everything they'd been striving for all this time, not that he'd taken an innocent human life, it was that Sesshomaru had done it, and Sesshomaru had been the one he trusted. The betrayal of his trust and love was what tore at his heart, making it ache. In all his long years of being tormented for being different, for the most part friendless, loved only by his family – even through all the anguish he'd suffered, he'd never felt so utterly, and completely alone…
TBC
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A/N: Hmmm, chapter 13 has 13 pages 0_0 Freaky... Neways, what'd ya think of the slice of Sesshomaru flashback at the beginning? I just thought that, as well as laying the foundations for another little surprise Me and Sesshomaru have in store (muhahahaha) I could show exactly why a gorgeous little slice of smex like Sesshomaru isn't 'mated' yet. Also, a guest appearance of some certain ppls some of you were asking about ^_^ Neways, Likey? Leave me a nice little review to encourage me, please? ^_^
Love Shigure
x chuu x
