XXVII.
Comes The Inquisitor
Sesshomaru had been gone for less than five minutes when a whirlwind came bursting through the door of the library. It enveloped Kagome in a rush of activity, and suddenly she found herself being simultaneously stripped and brushed and pinned and then re-dressed almost before she could figure out what was going on.
"Wha – what! Hey!"
The whirlwind continued without paying her any mind. After a minute or so, the fury died down and she discovered that the robes she was now wearing were both beautifully dyed and elegantly embroidered. Their cut and style was more formal than anything she had worn so far. If she had known who her unexpected visitor was, she might have taken more meaning from their color and design. She had read of the High Houses, and the colors and crests that had once been born by the warriors of ancient days. She knew for a fact that Sesshomaru was always pleased to see her in his own colors; when she chose them for herself, for no particular reason, she was almost convinced that there was tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her.
This time, though, the hands she could not see had dressed her in Dragon-red and gold, layers of embroidered silk that she was sure no human could have walked in, they were that heavy. She blew a breath towards the veil that had been drawn across her face, and sighed; whoever it was that had showed up, obviously Sesshomaru was concerned that she present herself well – or why else the clothes?
And he said to relax, but I don't know...
Behind her, the doors opened again and she whirled to face...no one. A heavy, covered platter approached her slowly and slid onto the table, but before it could be uncovered she was distracted by a pair of scents that she actually knew.
Sango! Miroku! I didn't think they would come so soon -
But she realized as she thought it that she had not even mentioned to Sesshomaru that she had told them where she lived now – where they lived.
Oh no...
She didn't think he would hurt them, but he was scary without trying and they might not know they had nothing to fear. She did not consider that they might not be the only visitors – did not consider that Sesshomaru would never have dressed her so for them, or responded with worry to the presence of her human friends. The sound of low voices, two of which were very familiar, reached her ears – and she smiled a little and hurried to the window, leaned out to call down to them.
"Sango! Miroku!"
She saw them beneath her, standing behind Sesshomaru, and lifted one hand from the ledge outside the window to wave at them. Immediately, she knew it had been a bad idea.
She still didn't know her own strength. Her fingers tightened on the ledge outside the window to support her weight, but instead crumbled the corner off of the soft molding stone. She felt it disintegrate into dust in her grasp, and at the same moment felt herself toppling forward. As it happened, she almost let out a sigh of resignation. What had she been thinking? Could she, Kagome, do anything at all without it ending in the worst possible way?
No. No, of course not -
She tried, but there was no stopping, no leaning back. As if in slow motion, she fell head over heels out the library window.
She heard both Sango and Miroku give a shout of dismay, and heard their rushing footsteps – and then a strange thing happened. Though her eyes were closed, Kagome found that she still knew where the ground was; how far away, and in what direction. Without conscious effort, without even willing it, she turned in the air and opened her eyes in shock when she felt the ground under her feet, a sharp impact that went through her whole body and made her sway in place, almost fall backwards.
"Kagome!"
It was Sesshomaru who called out for her, trying to prevent something irreparable from happening before she even knew what was going on – but in just another moment it was already too late. Veil askew, eyes shining, Kagome reached out and drew first the woman, and then the Houshi into a hug.
"Sorry, you two, I didn't mean to scare -"
"Kagome."
There was ominous depth in Sesshomaru's tone. Irritated, finally undoing the pesky veil, Kagome turned, her smile fading, and then froze completely still. Sango and Miroku were not their only guests.
Someone else was standing beside Sesshomaru.
Oh – oh no. I didn't – I couldn't have – she isn't - !
But she knew, even as the thoughts crossed her head one after another, that she had, indeed, fallen out of the window – and she knew that the female staring at her with such cold eyes was, in fact, Sesshomaru's mother. He had not said anything about her, and even now had not made a move to introduce her, but she had heard Kinawai's taunts quite clearly – and never mind that, this female looked so much like her son that any other explanation was just silly.
Without waiting for introductions or another word from Sesshomaru, his mother stepped forward and stared at Kagome for a long moment. Kagome opened her mouth, but there were no words waiting – and even if she had found some, there was no chance for her to say anything. The female's eyes flickered up and down, and Kagome felt them linger at her forehead, which was strange, and then at her throat, which she had expected.
As swiftly as that, it seemed, the matter was decided.
"Clumsy, and disgraceful - absolutely disgraceful. Dragons!"
Her voice was scorchingly cold; her eyes flickered over to her son and then back to Kagome.
"And you - you wish to be lady over the House of Blades! You wish to take my place?"
Kagome drew in a sharp breath, but again she could not speak. Those cold eyes had dissected and dismissed her, it seemed, in a moment or less – but that was not enough. Her voice suddenly warm, mother turned to son, and spoke softly.
"Sesshomaru, kill her."
Miroku and Sango drew in a shocked breath as one; Kagome only felt numb, suddenly numb where moments before there had been prickling nervousness, perhaps fear.
Kill me? He – but he said he -
Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome looked at her mate, but he was completely still, his features masked, his eyes glittering with hardness. His mother must have seen something in his face that Kagome missed, however, because after a moment she spoke again, still in those same warm, persuasive tones.
"Come, Sesshomaru; is it that difficult? Surely you have not become...attached?"
"Mother -"
His voice was thick with a warning that she did not heed.
"Do it for me, my son; as a gift to me, after my long absence. Or is your mother not worth the spilling of such noble blood?"
It was then that the significance of the Dragon-colors finally made imprint on Kagome's dulled mind, but that no longer seemed to matter. This – this...Sesshomaru's mother was trying to get her killed! Trying to get him to kill her!
Why? What...what have I ever done to her? I've never even seen her before!
Numb darkness reached Sesshomaru, clawing its way along the threads that bound him to Kagome and a quick glance convinced him that he knew what was wrong.
She thinks I will do it! She really thinks -
The numbness became despair as his mother continued to speak.
"If you need...distraction, surely I could find someone better suited - "
"Enough, mother!"
But the female who had born him would have none of that.
"Do you think to silence me, Sesshomaru? Do not forget who I am -"
"Do not forget who I am! Lord of this House -"
"Lord of this House!"
Her voice was almost mocking, but his was low, serious, deadly.
"Yes. As my father before me. And if you are not silent now -"
But he fell silent at the pressure of Kagome's hand on his arm, and looked down at her. He had not noticed her crossing the space between them, but he was glad to see her there. Perhaps she did not think he would hurt her, after all. That was...good.
Yes.
She was wearing the strangest expression in his experience; overwhelmingly, there was pity written on her features, but it was not out of some strange concern for herself. He wondered what that was for, and then shook his head once, sharply, hoping she would understand. It did not matter what it was for - she could not show weakness; not now, not to his mother! But it was too late.
"What is that expression on your face? Who is there here for you to pity?"
His mother spat the word at Kagome, but finally his mate had something to say. Her words shocked him; he could not imagine what they did to his mother.
"You."
There was a moment of deep silence; Kagome took a deep breath to fortify herself before she continued.
"I understand, I think; I'm sorry, but you shouldn't hate me. I'm not...I'm not one of them."
Across from her, Kagome watched those cold, glittering eyes gain a whisper of red.
"What are you talking about, you - "
"You know what I'm talking about. I am not one of those who helped to kill the Inu no Taisho, mother of my mate. I am Inu now; I was never really Dragon, except for a moment between who I was, and...this. I'm sorry that you lost him, but you shouldn't try to hurt your son because of that -"
Sesshomaru was startled. His mother shouldn't try to hurt...him?
But she is after you, Kagome!
Red eyes flashed; wind rustled in his mother's bound hair, and Sesshomaru leapt forward only just in time to silence the words coming out of his mother's mouth.
"I Challenge - !"
Sesshomaru's hands cut off the words, one over her mouth and the other wrapped tightly at her throat. She stared for a moment, and had her second shock of the day, because the last time she had seen him...
"You will be silent, mother. You will be silent now, and you will listen to me. Kagome is my mate; she is Inu, and once she bore the Blood of Dragons; she owes her lineage to the House of Fire. Yet Kagome has never walked in a Dragon-den, or watched the Hatching under the light of the red moon. She was human, mother; she and her Blood were sleeping, and when I woke them..."
He felt that she had ceased struggling against his hold, and let go, took a step back.
"When I woke them, for that little time before she was mine, then there was a Dragon in her, chained as she was chained. Do not turn your vengeance on her, mother, if that is what you are doing. You will not live to regret it."
Sesshomaru saw something strange in his mother's face then; she held one hand at her throat where he had bruised it in quieting her, and for the first time in his memory she regarded him with respect. Only his many years of practice allowed him to control the cynical smile that threatened to creep up on his face.
So many pretty words, mother...but blood is all you understand. And I have learned...other things.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kagome shiver the tiniest bit; her silk rustled, and he realized then that there was no other sound around them. The garden had gone utterly still, and he turned back to his mother at the sound of her voice.
"So. My son has been tamed by a new-Awakened girl-demon, that is what you wish to tell me? Perhaps the rumors spoke more truth than you wanted, Sesshomaru."
She was smiling now, and there was something vindictive in her smile that made him uneasy.
"Well...I think I have heard enough. Girl-demon, despite the protests of my son, I have the right as Lady of this House to Challenge the one who seeks to supplant me – even in the absence of my mate."
Her lips curled; she sensed victory already in the sharp, bitter tang of fear that was accosting her nostrils. She did not notice that the scent did not belong to the girl-demon – that it belonged to her son. Kagome was the victim of another set of feelings entirely. She was silent, still as if frozen, no longer even trembling.
Challenge...but I don't want to...I only meant to...
"Well, girl-demon? Do you forfeit your right as mate of my son?"
Still, Kagome said nothing. Sesshomaru felt her fingers climbing into his sleeve, slipping towards his hand. It was foolish, but he could not help himself; he reached for her, pulled her against his body as if that could somehow protect her.
"Why don't you leave with your human friends; go back to where you came from - put plants in the ground, and live in a hovel."
Sango started forward at that, her fists tight and eyes flashing, but Miroku caught her arm and held her back.
"Or perhaps not? Perhaps you would just like to die, girl-demon."
She held up her claws, and they sparkled in the late-afternoon light – but she was once again surprised as Kagome finally spoke.
"No. I'm not going anywhere; I'm not leaving unless he wants me to."
There was defiance in Kagome's tone; Sesshomaru almost smiled to hear it, so familiar, and then could not restrain himself when he saw how his mate continued to discomfit his mother.
"I don't want to fight you; you're his mother, and I don't know you, and I think it's stupid that this is how youkai deal with their problems! But I'm not giving up my life – any of it. So you – you just wait here!"
Swiftly, too swiftly for Sesshomaru to restrain her, Kagome turned out of his grasp and walked back towards the main door; she did not look back even once.
"Houshi; Sango. You will follow me."
Sesshomaru spoke quietly, and swept them up into his wake as he followed Kagome; his mother was left alone in the garden, scowling at his back.
"How rude!"
Kagome made her way swiftly through the silent halls and up to the room she shared with Sesshomaru. Her fingers were shaking now, but she tried to ignore them and undid the knot of her obi, began to shuck the heavy robes.
Afraid, I'm so afraid...but I have to do this. I have to do this.
After a minute or so, the door opened slowly behind her; she thought at first it was Sesshomaru, but without turning she recognized the presence that was always kind enough to help her dress, and felt skilled fingers peel back the layers of robes deftly.
Shivering now, Kagome opened the wardrobe and sighed as she stared at them. She had been hoping for something she would actually be able to move in, rather than heavy robes or artfully embroidered yukata. Her thoughts were flashing with a hundred demon battles that she had seen; she did not think she or her clothes would escape unscathed...really, she didn't think she had much chance of escaping at all, but what choice did she have?
I don't have anyone else, I don't have anywhere else to go. Only Sesshomaru, now that...now that I'm like this.
Her fingers tightened reflexively and she let out a gasp, and then felt tears well up in her eyes. Her claws had cut her palm; it was not the pain that bothered her, there really wasn't any – but rather the very fact of the act itself. Everything she did in her new self was hard, and there were so many things to remember -
A hand touched her shoulder, cool and invisible, and Kagome drew in a deep breath. This wouldn't help; she couldn't make things any better by crying. Slowly, she let out her breath and then drew in another, and then again.
I won't let that – that – I won't let her do it! I won't let her!
The hand on her shoulder squeezed gently and then slid away. Kagome saw robes rustling and moving in the wardrobe, and then a long drawer pulled out and she took a step forward, surprised. The drawer held familiar clothes, the garments of a miko woven from soft and shimmering silk.
"Ah - "
She stared at them for a moment, and then drew out the long hakama without a word, stepped into them and began to tie them closed. As she did so, a thought occurred to her; carefully, intentionally this time, Kagome cut her finger with a claw and focused on the bead of bright blood. Almost immediately, she felt the rising threads of power, the thrum that she had once associated only with the hum of her bowstring. She knew, as she felt it, as it attuned itself to her fear and anger, that she could make it the purifying power, instead of the healing power – death, not life.
Almost immediately the thought occurred to her that she had been stupid to never trying anything like this before. Why had she thought that only a bow could channel a miko's strength? It had been Kikyou's preference, and in trying to impress Inuyasha, trying to win his affection, she had wanted to be so much like Kikyou – but...
The first time, the very first time...it was like this too.
She remembered with startling clarity the pain and the panic – the scream in her soul for someone, anyone to help, please, help...but she had helped herself. It was an encouraging thought. Sure, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku...even Sesshomaru had saved her, but the first time - that very first time, suspended in the darkness of the well, she had saved herself.
She could do it again.
When she was nearly dressed, the door opened slowly and Sesshomaru slipped through a space barely wide enough for his body. The hands that were tying her hair suddenly moved more quickly, and then disappeared. With quick steps, Sesshomaru came very close to her and stared down into her eyes. He was not touching her, but she felt like he was; it was...strange.
"Mate, you do not need to do this. At least...not now. Not like this. It is not -"
She interrupted him easily; she would not let him undo her resolve. Not now, not when she had just made up her mind!
"If I can't do it, she'll never stop, Sesshomaru. She doesn't believe in me, she doesn't think that I'm good enough for you. I'm tired...I'm tired..."
And suddenly she looked up at him, her eyes flashing.
"I'm tired of people always thinking I'm not good enough for the one I choose to be with, the one I want!"
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Kagome sucked in a great gasp of breath, and turned away from him. He could tell her cheeks were flaming red, could taste her discomfort in her scent...but her words! They were electrifying, her words. They were not the fullness of what he wanted, they did not contain his dearest desire, they did not contain...her love. But -!
"The one I choose to be with - the one I want!"
No matter if she tried to deny it, no matter how much she might later regret it, those words were burned into his memory, branded there, seared into his consciousness.
She wants to fight for me!
"I cannot dissuade you."
Kagome took a deep breath, and shook her head.
"No. No, you can't. But you could...you could tell me good luck."
"That will not help, Kagome."
She intended to protest, but instead he pulled her back and she found herself kissing him, holding him tightly and praying that this time, she was good enough; that this time, the dream could come true.
Through the crack in the open door, Sango and Miroku watched, one with translucent amusement and the other with a strange sort of awe. Miroku nudged the woman beside him with an elbow, and mouthed words that were barely even breathed beside her ear.
"See? I told you, didn't I – that he might even care?"
Despite the worry the situation had produced in her, for once Sango could not restrain her grin.
Whether the noise had alerted him or not, Sesshomaru stood straight suddenly and turned towards the door, pulled it open all the way. Like guilty children, the two humans started backwards, and he scowled at them magnificently. Kagome laughed.
"The two of you must stay here. I know - "
Sesshomaru held up a hand to forestall their imminent interruption.
"You wish to watch Kagome. You may do this from the window – sit, if you like, but touch nothing."
He fixated Miroku with a blazing glare.
"Nothing."
"Yes, Sesshomaru-dono."
Miroku tugged Sango gently into the room, and then stopped respectfully; Sesshomaru imparted a final, warning glare and then pulled Kagome with him out into the hall. As the door was closing, Sesshomaru looked behind him; the houshi stood still as stone, his expression not flickering – Sesshomaru approved. Beside him, the woman Sango held her hands over her mouth, and he heard her whispered words, almost a prayer - "Oh – be careful..." - but Kagome did not seem aware of her.
At the door to outside, Sesshomaru pulled Kagome aside again, but this time he was directing her, not stopping her. They made their way around half the fortress, and in the back, at the edge of a stone-bordered path, he stopped. His mother was just beyond, waiting impatiently in a cleared and silent courtyard. She was obviously aware of them, but still he hesitated. He did not want to admit it, even to himself, but he was...uneasy about this confrontation, about how it would end.
Kagome did not seem disturbed; her fingers slid out of his grasp and she took a step forward - and then stopped. She turned back, fumbling at her neck, and Sesshomaru was shocked beyond words when she pressed the shikon no tama into his hands.
"Here - hold on to this. I know she saw it, before – I want her to know it is my power she is fighting now, so she can't hold it against me later."
And then she was walking away from him again. There was a set to her shoulders that he knew well; as he stared at her back, his thoughts flashed backwards. He had seen her like this before; the image was like a shadow, white-and-red silk replaced by that obscenely short skirt...the angle at which the hair blew across her back was the same as some other moment in his experience and the color seemed to flicker before his eyes, black and then white again. He blinked, and the strangeness was gone, but even as he stepped up behind her, almost reaching for her, the situation spiraled beyond his control.
Kagome stepped forward, and his mother gestured to the space between them impatiently.
"Are you coming, girl-demon, or did you accept my Challenge with empty words?"
Kagome stopped three paces away from her and let out a breath, met the other female's eyes.
"I am here."
"Well then, girl-demon...it is Kimitsukiko who stands before you, most Noble Daughter of the House of Night, once mate of the Inu no Taisho, now Lady-Mother of Sesshomaru, Lord of the House of Blades. Name yourself!"
Startled, Kagome almost stumbled, and then stood straight, lifted her chin. She refused to be intimidated even though it would probably have been a good idea. She was silent for a moment, considering. How should she introduce herself? She remembered Sesshomaru standing in front of the little group of lords, the flicker of their eyes as she had said...what had she said? She smiled then; she knew what to say.
"I am Kagome, daughter of Mai; I am miko, guardian of the shikon no tama, companion to Taijiya, Houshi, Kitsune, and hanyou...I was Dragon, a daughter of the House of Fire, but now I am Inu, mate of Sesshomaru, Lord of the House of Blades."
Kagome watched her antagonist's eyes narrow almost thoughtfully, her lips silently shaping the words Kagome had used.
And then she moved.
Faster than the wind, almost as fast as Kagome had seen Sesshomaru move, she came, and Kagome dodged her reaching claws by a hairsbreadth. Instinct moved her, saved her life; but then the attack came again, and Kagome saw that the fame of Sesshomaru's father was one thing, but certainly his mother had given him some of the strength he prized as well.
Kimitsukiko must have seen something on Kagome's face, because for a moment she paused, her deadly claws a millimeter from Kagome's left eye. Kagome sucked in a breath; Sesshomaru, watching, was forced to abort a step forward.
Slowly, amusement showing clearly in them, Kimitsukiko turned her eyes on her son, letting him know that she had seen his lapse of control. His growl reached the ears of both females clearly, but his mother turned back to Kagome then and leaned close to her.
"Yes, girl-demon - I, too, am deadly."
After a moment, as if to deny her own words, she leapt back, and allowed Kagome time to lift herself away from the ground.
"Well, girl-demon?"
She gestured towards Sesshomaru, tilted her head in his direction.
"If that is the shikon no tama, should you not use its power to aid you? Even you might have a chance to defeat me then."
Her lip curled as if to deny her words as she spoke them, but Kagome barely kept a scowl off her face; her thoughts fumed.
I knew it!
"No! I am its guardian; I protect it! Someday I will purify it, but I don't use it."
Her eyes flickered towards him and then back to her opponent; Kimitsukiko bore a smile on her face that gave Kagome shivers.
"Ah, but what about Sesshomaru? You are its guardian, you say; should you leave it in the hands of such a killer as my son? He will taint it, wreak havoc with its power! Perhaps you should take it back from him; perhaps then this would be a Challenge!"
As much as the insinuation of her own weakness angered her, in the face of such a question about Sesshomaru, Kagome was serene, her voice and manner suddenly, utterly calm.
"He won't use it, either."
Kimitsukiko appeared to be amused.
"Tell me, how can you know? Surely, you are aware of his demonic nature, his coldness, his merciless cruelty? Do not let the fact that he keeps a small human deceive you; once, there were two of them following him around - perhaps he ate the boy."
She showed perfect, glittering fangs in a smile that mocked Kagome and Sesshomaru both.
"But I know my son; I have watched him tear the beating heart from a living man, seen him wrist deep in broken flesh - "
But it was now Kagome's turn to surprise them, not only Kimitsukiko but Sesshomaru as well. All through his mother's recitation of his acts of violence, Sesshomaru knew he could deny none of it. He would not lie, but he was waiting for Kagome's reaction - for her disgust, her anger...something.
Now, rather than any of those things, he saw her face contorting, taking on a strange grimace that he thought he had seen before. It was not a smile – that expression could never be a smile. It was macabre, pale humor with more than a hint of darkness as distortion. She let out a little snort, and shook her head.
"Wrist deep, that's all?"
Silence unrolled around her like a thick blanket.
"I've seen Sesshomaru elbow-deep in his brother's body, his brother that I...cared for. I've seen him in the shape of his Inu self, terrifying, magnificent, poisonous...I've seen him wade through the bodies of hell-warriors, and through Naraku's viscous flesh! Do you really think you can scare me off by talking about terrible things?"
For the moment, at least, Kimitsukiko had nothing to say. Sesshomaru was more than astonished, but Kagome was not through.
"For years, years, I slogged through guts and blood and...and nasty bits, picking out jewel shards from shreds of whatever was left over after Inuyasha was through killing things! And sometimes I had to clean out wounds that any normal person would have died from, and most days I was up to my shoulders in blood..."
She took a deep breath.
"Even before I was youkai, I was a killer, too. I know that some of the youkai I purified probably had families, parents...children. So I was already tainted! Now I'm a demon - no, now I know I'm a demon - and I don't taint the shikon no tama...and neither will he."
Kagome turned to face Sesshomaru then, and, slowly, almost unwillingly, his mother's eyes followed her movement. The light of the glittering pink stone was the same as it had been around Kagome's throat. For a long minute, all their eyes settled on the shikon no tama, but there was no change, no disturbance - the sky did not fall.
Kimitsukiko looked vaguely disappointed, and then shrugged.
"Well. Then we will finish this, girl-demon. Attack me, now - you who say you are a killer!"
Kagome had fought only Inuyasha since she had been changed into this new flesh, had hunted only a rabbit that she had not been able to kill. Slowly, from her reading, from watching Sesshomaru, from what he told her, she was learning to be youkai...but still, she had really been bluffing.
I don't know how to fight like this - with my bare hands, with claws. I don't know how to move -
But Kimitsukiko did not give her time to contemplate. Again, the lightning movements! Kagome could almost see it, as it was happening - the blinding speed of her footsteps, the precisely timed movements of each muscle in her body -
It was instinct, again, that jerked Kagome out of the way, but this time she was nowhere near fast enough. Kimitsukiko followed her backwards, continuing her blow, and suddenly all Kagome could think, all she could feel, was pain.
Pain!
She could feel individual muscles tearing, could count her ribs breaking - one, two, three. A gasp escaped her, and she felt her body bending backwards, taking her out of the range of the most dangerous part of the blow, allowing sharp claws to tear the flesh over her ribs but protecting her vital organs.
Blood welled to the surface and overflowed, poured down the front of her body, staining white and red silk to the same dark color. Instinctively, she staggered back a few steps. Her right hand came up to cover the wound and she experienced then the strangest sensation in her experience. The flesh was...she could feel it...sealing together. It itched, and burned, but both sensations were dull to her; the freshness of the pain was still too bright on her nerves. Things were moving inside her, the fractured edges of her ribs already beginning to realign, to knit together...but there was no time for her to be fascinated, no time to be distracted.
Her eyes dragged themselves up from the ground and focused on her opponent; Sesshomaru's mother. For a moment she almost laughed; she had heard that dealing with your mother-in-law could be difficult, but this!
And what do I do?
In answer to her half-panicked question, there was an answer; deep inside her, she felt the rumble of the wakeful Inu in her soul, and then reached out and touched it, like she touched her miko power. Red light woke in her eyes; bloodlust gorged in her veins and drew her lips back in a snarl that showed her real nature on her face.
There was something like approval in Kimitsukiko's eyes now, but only Sesshomaru was collected enough to see it and begin to understand. He had thought that telling his mother her opponent was little better than a pup-in-training might dissuade her from this ridiculous fight; Kagome's stillness, her wide-eyed disassociation from her own inner bloodlust were all too apparent to him. Now that his mate was red-eyed, desiring violence, his mother seemed pleased.
"Mother..."
His tone was low, warning; he knew she would hear him just as he knew Kagome could not. The Inu would give her strength, speed, would move her claws and fangs in a death-seeking pattern...but it was dangerous, dangerous to lose hold of oneself in the flood of that dark power.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and felt along the bond between them, felt the strong presence of Kagome's consciousness, her determination, her intent. He withdrew.
Good.
If nothing else, there was still the miko power burning in her blood. He looked down then, at the pink stone glimmering in his palms, and wondered at it. He had thought, at first, that his mother could not be other than right – but now... What was purity, really? What did it mean to be tainted – to be defiled?
Overhead, two people watched with a very similar question on their minds. At Kagome's first snarl, Miroku and Sango drew back half in horror, and then stepped forward again, pulled by a grim curiosity. Was this really their Kagome? Miroku had seen her violence against Inuyasha, even if dimly and from a distance, and Sango had accepted that Kagome's nature was youkai - but for both of them this sight was a reality check. Kagome's own words hung in their ears – I am a killer - silently, Miroku shook his head, and held Sango's trembling hand, and watched.
It had been true; every single word.
A/N: And...another really, really long time! The summer I thought I would have has dissolved into full time work and four classes – I'm an idiot for even thinking I would have free time, but...eh. At least I'll graduate faster. Anyway, ta-da! Chapter! Even if it took forever, the good news is that the next one is ALMOST done, miraculously. Really, this one partially took so long because I had to line it up with the next one, and some of the one after that. That should be encouraging! Anyway, thanks for waiting, and on to reviews!
clara954: Thank you! That dream of poor Kagome's is going to come back to haunt her relatively soon...and for some disturbing reasons. But then, Kagome has already figured out that she has the worst luck in the world when it comes to stuff like that. :D
Kouga's Older Woman: Sango and Miroku have really bad timing. Really bad. Ha! But I didn't want to put everyone in the middle because that would just have ended badly - and Sesshomaru wouldn't allow it. But its just so funny to have him interacting with the two of them...ah ha, humans he can't kill. :P
AMUTOLOVER09: Ahh...but if I answer all those questions, I'll give away all of what's coming! Mmm...let's just say, don't take everything Inu-mama does at face value. As far as Presentation goes, the only thing that will change for Kagome is she gets a crescent tattoo. Haven't decided what color yet...probably that magenta-red color that Sesshomaru's markings are - the ones he shares with his father. Heh. Anyway...read on! It will answer all - I hope! Oh! And other fic. Now, I would LOVE to use them, because I love trinity blood (apparently they've started serializing the manga again, but I've only seen one new chapter thus far) Anyway, the thing is that right now i have TEN different fics. I've got to at least get a couple of them finished; probably death note and yuuko and the last epilogue chapter of Ukime...and then I might start something new. So...wait patiently, ya? We'll see...:D
selene88sakura: Hopefully the answers to your questions got through; you still deserve thanks for your review, though! :D
RedWolf47: Ah...Ta-da! Heh. Kagome is definitely not going to take anything from Sesshomaru's mother...she knows that Sesshomaru is all she's got left, and, let's be honest, from her point of view that's still a pretty tenuous, remarkable thing. And really...its about time she stuck up for something she wanted!
lunarcat12: Hmm...well, Kagome's throat is safe for a little while, at least, because if she dies, no more story! Heh. But it is a pretty nasty dream, and it does have some further consequences. And Mommy meets mate...ahaha. Sesshomaru has just got so much trouble coming that he doesn't expect. Females on all sides are about to gang up on him - well, sort of. So funny! :D More soon, don't worry!
uchihacutie: much thanks! I do try :D.
Ichirei: Much thanks as always! Lost without internet, I would probably melt into a puddle of boredom - then again, lost without internet, no one would know I was missing :P. More soon - cause the next chapter is almost done, y'see. Heh. :D You sound like Kagome though, getting ready for Promotion (no idea what that is, but it just reminded me of Presentation :P) I decided on Inu-mama's name as it is for two reasons - one, I needed something I could remember, and two, I wanted something with a meaning that's close to her personality. Also I figured if I really named her Ignatius, someone would put a hit out on me, heh. Compound names definitely kick ass though!
Relyan: Woo! Much thanks! Good wishes are appreciated; finals are aced! Now, if I can just get through my summer classes in one piece!
1CarinoInu: Ally indeed! I hope so for Sesshomaru and Kagome's sakes - Inu-mama is NOT somebody you want to have after you. Kagome's presentation is basically just what the word means; she's being presented to the youkai Council and Sesshomaru's family as his mate. Next chapter will finally contain some hints as to what is actually going to happen in the presentation, so I won't give it away! Now, if I could only figure out what to do with Shippou...
Beneath The Shining Stars: Ha! Seems that way, doesn't it? When I try to write a summary for this fic or post it on new sites or anything I always run into that trouble. I have this feeling that if I put a couple of sentences that actually said what the story was about instead of some vague mumbo-jumbo, no one would actually read it! (Kind of like winds...poor winds. Scared everyone away with my pairings :P) Sesshomaru's mother is going to...well...she's going to not be too happy for a while. Look in the next chapter for some hints about the Ink and Presentation; more chapters soon!
Sesshomaruykagome4ever: thanks for the review! continuing! :D
Anime Lady PIMP: :D! Thanks! Me too! :P Sorry I'm so slow; classes and life keep interfering, but more will come soon!
Tales Reign: Much thanks! It's been taking longer to get chapters up lately since life interfered, but never fear, my ability to procrastinate is mighty! This means, when I should be doing my Psyche exam, I'm typing the next chapter. :D More soon!
Final Revisions...complete! Woo! And now...a new chapter! :D R&R!