It was almost like Déjà vu when she woke again in a comfortable bed under plush covers. An arm gripped her flush to a solid chest while the other snaked under her pillow. Kagome's vision still swam and her thoughts had yet to sort out as she lay there. She felt unwell but considerably better compared to before.
Adjusting her position to get comfortable she sank back down and found sleep coming for her again. She could feel that something was trying to alert her to something but she just couldn't wrap her mind around it and submerged her mind back into the dark abyss.
Touga returned back to the Western Palace, he had caught Kagome's scent leading up to it before it disappeared, mingled with another demon's scent. Entering through the barrier he kept taking a whiff of the air hoping to locate her. When he landed on the palace grounds he could see his eldest son emerge from the palace with the demon that matched the scent.
He instantly recognized the symbol on his brow; it appeared he is from the Eastern Lands, most likely the Lord of them. Touching down several feet before them he studied the two of them, Kagome's scent was old but still she could be here, he imagined this demon helped her. Scenting the air again for her he could only smell her fading scent on them.
"Father," Sesshoumaru called, snapping the elder demon's attention to him, "she didn't make it here."
The simple statement made his blood boil, his eyes flashed red and he grabbed them both by their necks, surprising them at how much stronger he still is compared to them. "Her scent is on both of you; two powerful demons and she is gone? You better have a good explanation why her efforts and mine had led her right to you and yet she is not here."
There was no way he was about to admit to his father that not only was he defeated in battle but so was the Eastern Lord. He dug his clawed hands into the grip around his neck and forced his release. "It will take a combined effort. She fell ill shortly after they were forced to land by Takeshi, we battled him but she could do nothing even after her powers were unleashed. An illness like that I have seen wipe out an entire village,-"
"Don't you dare try and tell me she is dead. She is a powerful priestess and the jewel is linked to her, do not think I would fail to notice if that link was gone. She is among the living pup and you had best be ready to depart soon, I will have her back." His growl rumbled around them and his aura ensured everyone kept their distance until Sango was seen in the hallway ahead of him as he entered the building.
Her eyes hopeful as she studied his appearance, the weary sigh that left his frame had the gathering tears break free as she sank to the floor and wept for her friend. They had always been able to get Kagome back right away; she was never gone from them long enough for the reality of it to hit her this hard. Touga didn't have the heart to leave her there distraught; he could see the twins peaking around the corner from another hall looking upset as they watched their mom cry.
He kneeled down before her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, after a few moments her teary face looked up at his. "She is living Sango and he doesn't appear to have any plans to harm her. I will bring her back even if I have to rise from the dead again to do it. Have faith in her and have faith in us. Let me take you to your room to rest, I will find your husband to take care of the children." Her nod given, he scooped her up and took the weeping demon slayer to rest and bid her daughters to follow.
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red before his icy façade was back in place. He looked around the palace grounds, it was destroyed, and parts of the palace caved in, a total mess. They came from underground and attacked, it took him by surprise when he sensed them and before they could make a full attempt to destroy them, the ground and buildings were falling apart.
Demons slowly came back in the area to continue building; his feet took him to one of Rin's favorite gardens. It lacked her laughter and giggles. His father didn't know but he didn't have the words to tell him. The little girl was a granddaughter to him.
Touga refreshed himself and made sure he gave his body the nutrients it needed. This demon was stronger than any of them had imagined and it would take a lot to get her back. He couldn't fight the demon and save her at the same time without help he had realized. It would take him to keep the demon busy and he would need others to get in that castle and find her.
He settled down in his room to rest for the night. He had noticed the destruction of the palace grounds and had his mind coming to a solution with the weakness of the barrier, the weakness that lead to her kidnapping and this destruction.
When she finally awoke and sat up to stretch the realization of just what room she was in had her quickly searching for that demon. Her stomach hurt and her throat ached so much she doubt she could talk. The grit on her skin and the greasy hair had her deciding on a bath first. Her steps were weak but she managed to make it to the hot waters and sighed with bliss. At least if she was to be a captive she would still have a few luxuries.
"I hope you are enjoying yourself," he drawled out.
Just like she had thought, her voice couldn't come forth. Her arms covered her chest as she sank into the hot waters, focusing on Takeshi. He was leaning against the wall next to the entrance with an unreadable gaze.
"Your voice must be gone," he remarked, a long pause stretching in the silence. "Finish your bath; I will have tea brought into the room." Then he left.
Outside of kidnapping her twice, his history before being sealed, and the beasts roaming the land their really hadn't been anything that he had done for her to truly consider him her enemy. She doubted escape would be possible now so as she finished her bath and got dressed, she skipped any extra clothes this time.
The clothes were a bit bigger on her she observed, she must have lost weight. When she entered the bedroom the bed was made with fresh covers and a tray of tea was set on the table by the window that she hadn't paid any mind to before.
She ended up French braiding her hair to keep it out of the way and used a silky ribbon to hold it in place. Instead of dark colors she wore a magenta kimono with a light yellow design of dandelions blowing in the wind and a few butterflies. The tea tasted of honey and soon her throat felt better as she drank a few cups and sat in her thoughts.
Takeshi was apparently not coming back any time soon; she lacked any jewelry which reassured her that she could defend herself if needed. Taking a peak outside to the hall it was empty but lit with a few torches. A lantern sat right outside and with a quick decision she used a torch to light it and go explore.
She spread her aura out and went the only way possible which was down. As she went her aura continued to scan but soon after she sensed a small familiar aura. Her eyes widened and she began running down the stairs coming to a stop in the room with the large doors. The ones across from her opened and she approached sensing Takeshi and Rin in there.
"Lady Kagome!" The happy squeal came and she braced for impact. The small arms wrapped around her form and she fell on her back as she embraced the little girl happily. Apparently she wasn't the only one taken captive. The reunion was short but sweet and the happy little girl brought her relief.
Standing up her gaze found Takeshi looking at them from across the table. The demon was quickly becoming an enigma; she really didn't know what to think of him. "Why is Rin here?"
"Unless you wanted me to have left her to be torn into bits and eaten alive then I would say because I saved her." Rin's eyes grew distant, recalling the grizzly demise of her life the first time. She had risen from the dead twice now.
Stunned, her manners kicked in and she bowed in thanks before embracing the young girl again, taking away some of the fear. Soon Rin had straightened out her shoulders and held herself strong, giving Kagome one of her smiles before leading her down to the other end of the table for her to sit next to her and eat.
Rin began rambling about this and that before her mouth became too full of food. Kagome ate her food slowly, primarily going for the soup and tea that was prepared for her. Rin appeared to be quite at ease with this demon and she wondered what would take place. Sesshoumaru was sure to be coming for her and though she knew that she herself would not be allowed to leave, she wondered if it would be the same for Rin.
She finished eating and remembering the tea in the room she turned her attention on her captor. "Thank you for the tea, I appreciate it." She watched him nod and noticed for the first time that he was reading a few scrolls. "Umm, if I may know, what are you reading about?"
"You can know if you can read it," he replied and tossed one to her. She caught it and nodded, unrolling it as she read about the different royal bloodlines. She found that Akihito is from a line of fire elementals that have ruled the east in peace for the last few thousand years. She was surprised to find that the dog demon clan originally ruled the skies along with the firebirds. The west was under their floating palace and after years of it being war torn, Touga had been the one to claim it.
He wasn't of noble birth but his strength had caught the attention of the nobles and when he had accomplished taking over the west he was soon given a strong alliance with the floating palace if he sired an heir with their princess, who became Sesshoumaru's mom. It was quite interesting reading about this.
The weight of his gaze finally caught her attention as she looked up. "Has this land changed so much that a female can now be educated?"
"Well, no. I know that some female demons are not educated but it's mainly the humans. Men think it is dangerous for a woman to be educated and get ideas. Where I am from it is required for you to be educated if you want to earn a living and you usually have to seek more after you are done with the requirements to follow whatever your dream may be." This demon has been sealed away for 3 thousand years; it really shouldn't surprise her that he would need knowledge of what has taken place if he is going to rule the lands. Quite honestly she didn't want him to if it meant that he would take away the sun and the moon, plus those beasts. Those beasts really were not much different than lower level demons so that really didn't concern her.
"Come," he beckoned as he rose from his seat at the table. They had all finished eating so staying there made no sense. He led them to a hallway she had never seen before and carried on until he got to the door he was looking for. Opening it up it was so dark she waited outside with Rin as he steadily lit up the room's torches and started a fire. He sat in a comfy chair while Rin ran in and jumped on a pile of cushions.
Kagome looked at the drawers lining the walls, all labeled something different. Running her gaze across them she found it was information and history about the land and different species. Grabbing a few she made herself comfortable next to Rin and read to her quietly to pass the time. She wanted to demand her release and see what he plans on doing but refused to drag Rin into the middle of it so she waited and as the hours passed on Rin had fallen asleep beside her, not having any idea if it was night or day she asked where Rin's room is located.
Originally when Takeshi had broken the seal he had been looking for revenge. The strong auras gathered in that small village had lured him there. When that woman had come stumbling out of the hut his gaze could not be taken away from her, he did not know what drew him to her, she was under a barrier but there was something about her that made him watch her from afar as the days continued. It was during her transport that her power called to him and the purity enticed him.
He had decided she would be his after his goons reported their findings. He could care less about the jewel, he was already powerful, and the only one that worried him was that damn dog that seemed enamored with her. His instincts called for him to claim this female, he could care less about her being human. If he was to rule then he would rule with this powerful woman by his side.
He lead them to the child's room in a different tower watching her tuck the little girl in as if she was the mother but he knew that was not the case. He hadn't thought about continuing his line but at this time he really wasn't worried. He lead the woman back to his chambers, he could tell by her movements that she would need rest as well. His original plans to mate her were stalled by her illness, now her body needed to finish recovering.
It took him a whole moon cycle to make the cuffs to keep her from purifying him and if he couldn't seduce her before then he will just have to wait. Once she was marked his it would take them killing him to release her so that dog could have her. 'That mutt will have to learn to play dead,' his face tightened in irritation as he continued to lead her to the room. After they reached it he allowed her to enter first before he walked across the room and opened a door, disappearing in it for a minute before coming back with his armor gone, wearing a dark blue robe tied shut.
Kagome turned to him and forced herself to remain calm as she watched him. He walked to the vanity and grabbed a comb after he let his hair down from its top knot. He wordlessly handed it to her before sitting down on the stool, his silent demand irked her.
"What makes you think I am going to comb your hair, much less not purify you?" She stared at his reflection and met his bored gaze.
"If you were going to purify me I would think you would have done so while you were near the child. I'm sure you have also realized that it would be impossible for you to run away with a child in tow down that cliff. Even if you managed to make it down then you would spend most of your journey carrying the child and trying to cover both of your scents while also fighting since you don't have your crown right now," he drawled on.
She hated that he was right, escape was now basically impossible; Rin's life would be put in great danger. "As for your first question, I have already told you, you are my queen, it is common in demon customs for you to groom each other when you pick your mate, I assume that must have changed or it is a difference in species."
"Look here buddy, I'm not property. When someone wants to spend their life with another they have to woo them. I understand that it is traditionally called courting which is basically the same thing as dating from where I came. I'm not going to jump just because you command it," she shot back at him.
"And for the record, I haven't decided what I think of you so that is why I haven't purified you. You want to rule Japan, you have unleashed these beasts, you took away the moon, then the sun, kidnapped me, and I don't know what your intentions are with Rin. I'm not going tie my life to yours if I don't want to and I have feelings for someone else anyways."
He slowly got up out of his chair and closed the distance. His hand weaved itself into her hair before fisting and holding a firm grip on her head. "From where I came," he mocked, "a demon sought out a powerful female and mated her whether she liked it or not. Power is what rules demons, just like it does humans. If you are talking about that mutt then you better stop those feelings fast because I have already decided you will be mine. If I have to kill him then so be it but just remember that you brought this on yourself. You are mine and once we are mated he will have to kill me to have you. Don't test my patience or I will mark you right her and right now and then bring you that dog's dead body before I destroy all chances of him coming back from the dead."
Her cheeks flushed in anger before she pushed him away from her with a zap of her power and proceeded to the hot waters to dip her feet in while she tried to calm down. She could sense him by his aura and was thankful when she felt him leave via window, she wasn't sure if she made him mad or if he planned on it. Taking this breather she figured she should change in a yukata while he was gone and go back to relaxing in here.
Takeshi had left his castle to patrol the area for that dog; he hadn't been able to track him down. He had essentially taken the dog's bone and not just his bone, his son's as well. They were bound to be speeding his way soon. Before that happens he would need to speed things up on his end.
He was thinking about putting up a barrier the energy to maintain it just might be enough that he wouldn't be able to battle the two dogs. He had managed to drain the eastern lord enough that he wasn't a problem but by now he would be fully recovered. Something would need to be done and soon.
He ended up spending up the rest of the night away and located them still at the western palace. He watched things around there for a little while, seeing the destruction being repaired. Rising up into the skies he could feel an approaching aura and soon before him was what looked like a female version of the western lord.
This he assumed to be his mother that floated on her cloud before him. Looking at the demoness he could almost see the twinkle in her eyes that told him she had a knack for being mischievous and playing with her prey.