In The Blood
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Nineteen
Kagome stared down at the building Hiei had pinpointed as the location of her kit. Her clawed fingers clenched the edge of Ah-Un's saddle from where she and Hiei were seated as they hovered in the air alongside Sesshomaru. She could feel her blood heat in anger at the thought of her son being held there. Kagome inhaled sharply as she tried to control the emotion with a cool glance from amber eyes.
It was only once she had control of it that Kagome jumped from Ah-Un's back to fall sixty feet to the ground below. She landed on her feet as Sesshomaru and Hiei came to land on either side of her. Her spine straightened as she eyed the two guards at the front of what looked to be an old small castle. She knew they had already been spotted as the guards eyed the three of them warily even as the one to the right stepped forward.
"You are tresspassing. Leave now." He said bravely, and Kagome raised a brow at the order.
It had been a few years now since anyone other than her father had ordered her to do anything. In a way, she found it quite amusing. If she could see the guard trembling then she knew Sesshomaru and Hiei could as well. Glancing at Sesshomaru, Kagome noticed the subtle twitch of his nose.
So, the demon before them likely smelled of fear. It was a stench that annoyed Sesshomaru, she knew. Kagome could remember him telling her once that the smell was abhorrent. She couldn't help but be thankful her sense of smell was duller than a canine though still much stronger than a human.
"Oh? Trespassing upon whom? Is it the Lord of these lands?" Kagome asked in some amusement because she knew it wasn't; they would have recognized Hiei otherwise.
"Our Lord Isami has ordered that entrance inside is barred to all. Leave." The guard, an oni, bared his fangs and brandished his sword threateningly at her obvious amusement.
"I do not care what your orders are. Your so-called Lord has taken that which belongs to us; to me. Return that which is mine. Or die." Kagome growled as she took slow steps forward.
The guard's eyes widened before he and the other oni charged at her. Kagome was quick as she drew her sword. She finished them with a single swing of her blade that flared pink. The guards screamed before turning to ash as her reiryoku purified them.
Kagome paid them no mind as she passed with Sesshomaru and Hiei. She didn't bother sheathing her blade as she knew it would only need to be drawn again. Her blood felt like fire in her veins as she kicked the door; her youki-powered strength causing both the door and most of the wall around it to explode from the force of it. She continued inside through the dust of the crumbling stone and debris.
They entered to find a large front hall with several more guards who blinked stupidly at them for a second before they charged. They were easily dealt with between the three of them. Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru. His sense of smell was a lot sharper than hers, and she knew he would be able to locate her kit much more easily than she would. Retrieving Shippo was her first priority. They could deal with the rest after she had her kit safe.
Sesshomaru said nothing as he stepped in front of her. He led them further into the building before turning down a hall to the left. They encountered two more guards outside of a door. They were easily handled by Sesshomaru with a swipe of corrosive poisoned claws. The two fell to the floor choking as they died in writhing pain.
Kagome eyed the dying guards with a feeling of intrigue. She had always hated watching anyone suffer when she was human. Sure, she had killed her share of demons, but she had always done it quickly. Yet now, she could feel the beast inside her hum in pleasure at the sight. These two had been blocking their path to her kit and were assisting the one who had taken him.
Hiei followed the two as he watched them. It was obvious Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome were well acquainted. The cold mannerisms were the same though the demoness held more warmth; as he had witnessed a few times before. He could sense the anger boiling just under the surface, but one glance from the Lord was all it took for her to settle.
He had listened to her story that day she'd met with Koenma, but seeing their interaction now was telling. She had stormed into the Lord's estate in the West, issuing orders, and had been obeyed. Lord Sesshomaru hadn't said much when they had found him. All Lady Kagome had done was tell him that the kit had been located before the Lord had inquired with a short question of where and they were moving again. There had been no need for her to say anything else.
Mukuro had expressed an interest in knowing what the relationship between these two was. He knew why Mukuro had wanted to know. Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome were both powerful individually. Mukuro was being cautious. She wanted to know how strong the ties between Lady Kagome and her allies were if fighting between the territories were to start again.
Watching them, Hiei could tell there was something deeper than just an alliance. She had left her kit, whom she obviously cared for, in the care of Lord Sesshomaru's brother. The Lord had then taken the kit's care unto himself with his brother's death and had left the patrol of his lands with barely a few scant words between them to retrieve the child. Meanwhile, it had taken only a glance from him to quell the fires of encroaching bloodlust within the mazoku.
That should not be possible. Mazoku were demons born to fight. Yusuke was a prime example of what Hiei would expect of one of their race. Could it be because she was female?
It had been stated that mazoku females were rare. Yusuke had once made a sarcastic statement that his sister had been Raizen's princess. The King had obviously held a soft spot for her to have shielded even the knowledge of her existence from outsiders. An attachment that had been reciprocated from the way she had spoken of and defended him.
'He's treating her and her kit as members of his pack.' Hiei thought as he saw her calm with only a look from the alpha male as they moved down the stone steps into the dungeons.
"Shippo!" Kagome called as she moved quickly toward a cell where they could see a copper-haired fox kit, who looked to be about twelve or thirteen in human years, laying on the floor.
His wrists were bound with manacles that had a growl escaping her. The shackles connected between his wrists while another ran through the center link to trail down and connect with another set that looked to have been welded to fit around his slim, furred legs. The skin around the metal looked burned; red and raw. Brown eyes flickered with red when her kit didn't move to respond.
"He's been drugged." Sesshomaru stated with a brief flash of fang that showed his displeasure.
"They've put the manacles used on slaves on my kit!" Kagome snarled as she reached for the bars and yanked; dust falling as it gave way to her strength.
Hiei's brows raised as she whipped around to throw the bar through the chests of two guards who had just rounded the corner at the noise. Blood splattered as the bar impaled them into the far wall. The gentle demeanor Hiei had witnessed in her was nowhere to be seen. No, this was an angered mother lashing out at the pain of her child.
"Focus on your kit, Kagome. I will cleanse this place of the infestation." Sesshomaru said with a look before he walked away to do just that.
"I want the kumo, Sesshomaru." Kagome said as she pulled another bar from the cell to give her enough room to get through.
Sesshomaru gave no response as he walked away though Kagome knew he had heard her. There was a good chance he would kill the spider hybrid himself even with her claim. He had a right to the kill as much, if not even more than she did. She put it out of her mind for the moment as she slipped between the bars and into the small cell.
The stone walls were dirty and the ground disgusting, but Kagome paid it no mind as she knelt next to her kit. She shifted him gently into her lap and rested his head against her breast. Kagome brushed copper hair away from his face, but his green eyes were closed and his breathing heavy in a drug-induced sleep. From this close, she could smell the drug that he had been given and a growl left her lips.
"A valerian mixture." Kagome murmured as she lifted him in both arms.
Shippo had grown a lot since she had been taken from him. Kagome shifted him until she was able to hold him against her with one arm while being careful of his tail which was matted with dirt and grime. Her jaw clenched and her instincts flared with the need to rip something apart as he let out a whimper of pain. Shippo nuzzled into her neck as he unconsciously sought comfort in her scent and warmth.
Kagome turned to leave but paused upon stepping out of the cell. There, in the cell next to the one that had held her kit, was another child. This one was even smaller than Shippo; curled up on the floor. Glancing around, she could see that the other cells were also occupied.
There were both males and females of differing races. Most looked to be adults while Shippo and this one were the only ones that looked like they hadn't reached maturity. Shippo and the other child were the only ones unconscious while others watched Hiei and herself warily.
"Sesshomaru will have killed any he's come across. We can't leave them to starve to death." Kagome replied as she looked at Shippo who was resting against her before sighing.
She didn't want to wake him just yet. Kagome wasn't sure why he had been taken or what they had done to him. She would rather wait until they were somewhere safe where she could clean him up and tend to him. Glancing at Hiei, Kagome decided what she should do but first, she needed some information.
"You. For what purpose were you all gathered here?" Kagome asked, turning to a cell that held a relatively young wolf demon with black and grey hair who looked to be the least intimidated by her presence.
"The one called Isami gathered us here. He calls himself a collector. He gathers and keeps those he thinks of as beautiful. Comes down here to watch us, likes those who struggle the most when he... makes use of us. Once he gets tired of someone he sells them as slaves." The okami explained with a growl and Kagome's mouth pressed into a firm line as she suppressed the desire to hunt the sick bastard down.
She truly hoped Sesshomaru captured this Isami instead of outright killing him. She couldn't do anything about slavery rings in Alaric, but she could track any down in Tourin and Gandara. She hated the thought of anyone profiting off of selling others. Even more so now as she looked at the vile things someone had put on her kit, and what else may have happened to him.
"Has he touched the young ones? Why do they appear to be the only ones drugged?" Kagome asked with a growl as she shifted Shippo closer, and Hiei silently clasped the hilt of his blade.
"No... He was waiting until they were older. Said it wouldn't be any fun if they knew what would happen. That's why he drugs them so they sleep." The okami assured her at seeing the way she cradled the fox kit.
"Your captors are either dead or dying now. I will get you out but do not wander far. If you stray into Lord Sesshomaru's path right now I can't say that he would spare you." Kagome warned as she glanced down at her kit; the reason Sesshomaru even cared about this whole mess.
Kagome reached forward to grasp the door of the cell the wolf demon was being held in and pulled on it with her demonic strength until the hinges broke and gave way before setting the door to the side. The demoness was looking at Kagome curiously, and she just couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity. She looked like she wanted to speak, fiddling with the shackles at her wrists. Kagome softened a bit at the nervous movement.
"Ask, if you have a question." She said, and the wolf bit her lip before tracing Kagome's features with her eyes.
"You are... You are Shippo's adoptive mother, aren't you? Sister Kagome?" She asked, and Kagome froze at being addressed as a sister before nodding.
"My name is Mio. I am Ginta's daughter." The demoness said with a relieved smile, and Kagome relaxed at the familiar name of her father.
Hiei's brow rose as he leaned against the wall to listen. If Kagome wanted to release the captives then she could do what she please, but he had only come here as a guide to find her son and to gather information for Mukuro. This was something Mukuro would be interested to know.
"You are from Koga's pack, then. I see. You looked familiar." Kagome asked as she remembered the black and grey-haired wolf that followed after Koga.
Ginta and Hakaku had been the two that followed Koga, and both had called her sister when Koga had claimed her as part of his pack after kidnapping her.
"We will have to get you back to your tribe. How long have you been here, Mio? If I know Koga, he'll be looking for you." Kagome said, and that much was true.
Koga had wanted her for a mate, but Kagome had denied him every time. They had become friends, and he had eventually given up on her as a mate. She had some fond memories of the arguments between him and Inuyasha. The two had a rivalry between them that had never cooled completely.
Koga was a good leader. She didn't doubt he was looking for this girl. Not for a moment. He was very protective of those he claimed as packmates. Kagome knew that well.
"Five years. Shippo was visiting with the pack when we were taken." Mio told her and Kagome closed her eyes in pain for the two.
Five years in this hell.
"Alright. Well, let us get you all out of here. Could you hold onto Shippo for me, Mio? I need to free the others." Kagome asked and Mio nodded before holding her arms out for the kit.
It was almost painful for Kagome to hand him over for even the few minutes it took for her to free the other captives. She finally had him back, but now wasn't the time for her to coddle him. She needed to move quickly so they could all get out of there. Mio was from Koga's pack and was someone Shippo was familiar with. Kagome could trust her with him for the moment.
Kagome frowned as she entered the last cell. She could smell that the child had been drugged with the same valerian mixture that had been used on Shippo. Kneeling down next to the child, Kagome gently lifted him only for her eyes to widen as she gasped. He was an inu pup, maybe only a century old, if she guessed right. In human years he looked like a five-year-old.
That wasn't the only reason for the shock she felt at that moment though. No, what had shocked her was the silver hair that fell around pointed ears. What had wrenched the gasp from her was the purple crescent-shaped moon on his forehead. That marking was distinctive to only two other inuyokai that she knew of.
Quickly, Kagome removed the outer layer of her kimono, thankful that she had her nagajuban, hadajuban, and hiyoku on underneath so she was still modestly covered though Sesshomaru would consider it indecent. She wrapped the pup in the fabric gently as she cradled him to her body and slowly lifted him as she stood. Kagome growled soothingly as the pup whimpered and shifted; his little nose scenting her on the warm fabric.
"Sister?" Mio queried as she peeked in to find Kagome tucking her sword into her koshi himo; the obi discarded at her feet.
"We should get out of here. Hand Shippo here, and then we can go. Stay close to me, Mio." Kagome said as tucked Shippo into her arm, adjusted the pup so they were curled together, and motioned for the others to follow before walking over to Hiei who was looking from her clothes to the small pup and kit that had been wrapped in the outer kimono in her arms.
"Thank you for waiting, Hiei. We should find Sesshomaru. Could you take care of it if we run into trouble? Sesshomaru will most likely be waiting outside." Kagome asked; knowing that with the two of them in her arms it would be a bit more difficult for her to fight if it was needed.
"Hn." Hiei grunted before stepping in front of her to lead the way out.
Kagome needn't have worried. They had no trouble as they navigated through the halls and around the bodies Sesshomaru had left behind. Kagome felt herself relax a bit once they'd stepped outside to find the inuyokai already waiting; an unconscious form on the ground next to him.
"You have kept this one waiting." Sesshomaru said as she approached him, and held out a ring of keys to her.
"I apologize, Sesshomaru." Kagome replied as he eyed her state of undress and handed her the keys.
"Mio. Find the key to yours, remove them, and then help me with these two." Kagome instructed as she passed the ring to the wolf and waited as she unlocked her bindings.
Mio then turned to help Kagome shift the little ones to free them before they were wrapped back up in the fabric saturated with her scent. She was careful not to let Sesshomaru see what she held just yet. The last thing she needed was his beast to start snarling as she had done when she saw Shippo. Once that was done, she had Mio hand the key ring over to another captive.
"Pass that around, and then you can all go. Mio, use those bindings to secure the kumo before he wakes." She said before adjusting the pup in her arms and stepping over to Sesshomaru.
"I believe I have found something that belongs to you, Sesshomaru." Kagome said gently as she stepped close to him before turning and pulling back the color of her outer kimono layer to reveal the pup in her arms curled against Shippo.
Sesshomaru sharply inhaled, and she knew he must be feeling just as shocked as she had, if not even more. His hand moved to the small face before clawed fingers shifted silver-white hair away from the pup's forehead. Kagome remained still as red bled into golden eye's and Sesshomaru lowered his nose to scent the pup.
"Yes, this pup belongs to this one. He was unknown to this Sesshomaru." He release a rumbling growl when the pup squirmed, which appeared to soothe him as it vibrated through Kagome's shoulder and to both the pup and kit.
"We will return to the West with the pup and kit. Ah-Un." Sesshomaru called and picked Kagome up to place her and the pup on the dragon's back before turning to Mio.
Kagome didn't bother to argue. She knew that Sesshomaru would have already been driven by his instincts with the situation because of Shippo. The discovery of his pup would have amplified that. She couldn't say that she was much better as she was struggling with instincts she hadn't felt this strongly before.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had both told her long ago about inuyokai instincts. She also knew of the pack mentality of canines. There was a reason Sesshomaru had taught her demon etiquette while she was still human. Even then she had been considered the alpha female of his pack until he took a mate.
This was how she also knew that, in the absence of the mother, she would be the one expected to raise his pup as the alpha female of his small pack that now was only the four of them. Males in the pack protected and provided while the females bore and raised the young. It was considered an old-fashioned mentality in the human world now, but yokai were different. Different races had different instincts, but this was one that held true for canines especially.
It was the reason why Kagome had tended to Rin as well before she was forced back to this time, and why Sesshomaru had taken in Shippo when Kagome was unable to care for him.
"Wait a moment, Sesshomaru. Mio, will you be alright getting home?" Kagome asked as she turned to look at her.
"I should be fine. Would you like me to give my father or our alpha a message?" Mio asked with a smile as Kagome reached over to take her hand; a wash of healing reiryoku spreading over her, Shippo, and the pup to heal the damage from the bindings.
"I would. Tell them I have returned, and that I would like if they could all visit when they have time. I will be in western Gandara at Sesshomaru's castle for a while, but they are welcome to come to my home in Tourin. I am the current High Lady until my twin brother returns sometime in the next century. You are all welcome at the stronghold of my late father." Kagome told her, and Mio's eyes widened in surprise as she realized who Kagome's father had been.
"Of course. Hopefully, we will see you in a while then." Mio smiled as she moved to leave and Kagome turned to Hiei.
"Thank you, Hiei. I am grateful for your assistance in finding my son. I may be absent from any council meetings for a bit, but I can be contacted at Lord Sesshomaru's castle in western Gandara if I am needed. Give my thanks to Lady Mukuro for granting us passage." Kagome said with a smile of relief at having found her kit.
"Hn. What will you do with that?" Hiei asked as he looked at the bound form of Isami.
"He has information. If someone is trading in slaves in Tourin or Gadara then I want to know about it. Mio said that others were sold. I need to find out where. I do not know Lady Mukuro's stance on the issue of slaves, but I will send her any information that pertains to Alaric." She told him as she sent a side-eyed glare at the still kumo as Sesshomaru secured the shackles to Ah-un's harness.
The filth would be coming back to the castle hanging in the air. The manacles suppressed youki and sapped any demonic strength. They were a lot like the cable that Yusuke had used to secure her a couple of years ago. He would be placed in the dungeons where she would be paying him a 'visit'.
"I will let her know." Hiei nodded before stepping back to watch as they left.
Kagome tucked the outer kimono around Shippo and the pup to keep them both warm and adjusted them in her arms as Ah-Un rose in the air following Sesshomaru. It shouldn't take long for them to get back to Sesshomaru's castle. Once they were there she would get them bathed and settled into her rooms; hopefully before they woke. She didn't know the details of what they had experienced in that hole, but she would get them from the spider later so she wouldn't press them for information.
Kagome only hoped they could heal from this.
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I have been stuck with this chapter for almost two years now. Had the basic outline, but just could not get it out. I'm not good with fighting scenes and the like so I was having trouble. Sesshomaru's manner of speech also tripped me up for a minute until I watched a few clips from the anime. He does speak in third person sometimes, but he also addresses himself with I, so I'll use it both ways.
Yes, this story is still an active WIP! I would mark it as on hiatus or discontinued in the summary, if otherwise. I just got distracted for a while by my other stories and life so I do apologize that it took this long. Will be starting on the next chapter and hope it won't take nearly as long as this one did. Already know what I'm going to do, but who knows what my brain will throw at me later.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I still don't know where the hell Sesshomaru's pup came from, or what his backstory is, but I'll work with it. If you have any ideas or suggestions on where the mother is/what happened to her, and how he came to be in Isami's possession then tell me in a review. I may just use it or twist it to work with future events. Let me know what you thought!
~Ryu
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