A/N: Sorry for the super late post. I've been busy with my increasingly hectic life. Blah. Nobody cares about that, lol, onto the goods!
Nocturne - Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Right Choice
Rated - M (for extremely suggestive adult themes, references to harsh violence, and coarse language)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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As if on cue, the demoness alighted on the field in between Sesshomaru and Tsering. The small green retainer fell, barely righting himself in a comical fashion despite the severity of the situation off to the side, and shuffled over to his lord.
The demoness had likely brought Jaken along, or rather he had hitched a ride without her knowledge - refusing to be left behind, but she paid him absolutely no mind.
Her gaze took in all on the field in a graceful manner, lingering on Kagome for a second longer than necessary, causing Kagome to cast her eyes away. "You presume much, my dear child," the demoness chided in a matronly fashion.
All eyes fell on the demoness whose secret smile implied much. Miroku, Sango, and the rest of the taijiya had never laid eyes on Sesshomaru's mother - probably doubting the proud demon to have earthly parents - and were likely taken aback by her perpetual aloofness. She was only a shift away from Sesshomaru's constant cold demeanor.
The demoness kept her distance from the mortals, only allowing Kagome and Setsuna that pleasure out of respect to their status as family. She shifted her furs so that they settled below her shoulders and cocked her head slightly to the side. "By all means, do not let me hold matters up," she announced, dismissing any attention she'd brought to herself by her quick yet unexpected arrival.
Tsering had also turned and dipped her head to acknowledge the demoness' arrival. Perhaps the two had met at one point or another, Kagome pondered.
Tsering still stood in front of the hanyou army and its impromptu leader, Feng, whose eyes nearly bulged from his head in surprise to see another daiyokai appear.
"So, they come," Tsering said the words aloud, more to herself than to anyone else.
The demoness shrugged in a noncommittal gesture. Tsering kept a straight face, but it did little to hide her clenched fists. So, the arrival of the DaiOzuko must disturb her as well, Kagome thought. Perhaps the arrival of a group that upheld age-old tradition was not necessarily the best thing for anyone here. Who knew what they might decide and act on.
Tsering turned her attention back to the assorted army. "This is your one and only chance," she called out.
One of the hanyo, a young male with cropped hair, took his blade and sheathed it quickly. He did not look to any of his brethren before jumping off into the distance. Those surrounding him shuffled around in confusion, most looking to their comrades and coming to the same conclusion as the first, that it was time to leave.
Feng sputtered in disgust. "Fucking cowards…"
The demoness strode forward to Feng, walking elegantly past Tsering and closing the distance in short order. Her gait made it appear that she floated, and maybe she had as Feng jerked back an inch in surprise. The demoness reached out a hand and stroked his face while Feng was frozen in place after his momentary reaction. He must have just now learned that the she-daiyokai were just as capable and deadly as their male counterparts, and just because he had not witnessed this new woman's battle prowess, that did not mean she would not kill him if the urge struck her.
"I like the spark in this one," she purred. "Perhaps, I shall keep him if you lay no claim."
Tsering gaped at the demoness uncharacteristically. Her eyes flitted towards Sesshomaru as if his rigid countenance would afford her an answer to the unspoken question. Still, his raised brow was indication enough that the demoness' behavior was an anomaly to him as well. Tsering gave a brief nod, and the demoness allowed a coy grin to bloom on her face.
"This one reminds me of someone from long ago," she all but purred.
The hanyou glared at the demoness as she eyed him and spat towards her feet in contempt. "I belong to no one, and I am not anyone's plaything."
"Strange words from a being that was created for a singular purpose that has met an abrupt end," the demoness smirked at her words, knowing they were well aimed. "Think of it this way then. I am bored and will soon be lonely since my own darling son will likely route me from his estate. I am in need of a companion, and you seem interesting enough to fit that bill."
Feng scratched at his head, trying to comprehend the proposition before him. Tsering glanced around behind him. "Come. Your brethren have already abandoned you," she said.
He whipped around to find that his companions had all fled and left him alone to the mercy of those before him. The demoness chuckled in a light, tinkling voice. "I suppose they can be quiet when they want to. Regardless, your best option now is to retreat with me, or I can leave you here in the hands of the Taijiya, and from the looks of it," she gestured to the battleground, "you may be hard-pressed to survive on your own."
Feng seemed to weigh his options quickly, jutting his chin down in a petulant form of acquiescing. The demoness smiled, pleased with the outcome, and gestured for Feng to wait.
The demoness turned her head to address her son. "My darling child. I do hope you forgive my transgression as I abscond from here with your enemy."
Sesshomaru was well versed in being aloof, contending, "Hnn. Quite presumptuous to consider someone so beneath this one an enemy. He would first need to be a threat."
The demoness strode back towards her son and his family. "I suppose that may be true." She stopped a few feet away and turned to Setsuna, who smiled at her grandmother. "Well, my precious little one, I did tell you that I would be leaving, and now that time has come."
Setsuna's smile turned into a pout. "I remember." The girl glanced up at her mother through the corner of her eye, indicating there had been secret conversations of which Kagome was unaware.
"Be gentle with your mother, child. She is only human," the demoness concluded, her eyes raking up Kagome's appearance with only mild distaste. Whether that distaste was pointed towards Kagome's current physical state or her basic humanity was up for debate. However, it could very possibly be the former, given how long both demon and human had lived in close proximity for years.
Setsuna ran and wrapped her arms around the demoness' middle, giving her grandmother a start. "Tch, tch, child. You mustn't allow your baser human emotions to overcome all you've learned."
Setsuna laughed and stepped back, ignoring the poke at her mixed blood. Kagome grimaced at the jab but allowed a small wave of relief to wash through her knowing the demoness was leaving.
Her business concluded, the demoness strode past Feng and waved him along. "Come along now, Fe-Feh."
Feng bristled at the name and sputtered for a moment looking back at the demoness receding and the group of people who would kill him if he stayed. He quickly retreated with as much grace he could muster towards the demoness.
Once the pair was gone and out of earshot, all who remained relaxed. Miroku shook his head. "Poor bastard. She's going to drain him dry."
Sango smacked him half-heartedly while Sesshomaru turned his head to give the monk a look that would require the use of Tensaiga to bring him back.
With the tension gone, muttering could be heard from the throng of villagers and taijiya until one yelled above the crowd, "That's it?!" A man, a villager, barreled forward through people until he came towards the front of the group. "We have given our lives for what? So we could allow those half-breed bastards to flee?"
Kohaku stepped forward and put out a placating hand toward the disgruntled man. "Be at peace, fellow," he said in a calming tone.
"I've lost two of me boys, and you let the perpetrators run free?" The man had tears in his wide, angry eyes. "What about her?" He stuck out a jagged finger towards Tsering, who still stood outside from everyone, looking every bit the stranger she was.
Kohaku walked to the man and grabbed him by his shoulders. "If you want a pound of flesh, I cannot help. Many have lost friends and loved ones in this battle. If it is revenge you seek, you will have to find it out there and on your own. Or you can stay and help rebuild what ignorance and arrogance has torn down with those who remain."
The villager did not look satisfied but rose no more voice in protest before shrugging Kohaku's hands from him to disappear back into the crowd.
Kagome felt a deep pang of sympathy for the man. The battle had taken a harsh toll on the village inhabitants, and it showed on many. She scanned through the people and saw some nursing wounds or clinging to the bodies of fallen comrades and family.
Kohaku looked around the loosely assembled group of villagers and taijiya, sympathy and remorse etching his features. "The fighting has ended," he called out. "Return to your loved ones, and we shall ensure those who've fallen have proper rites."
A deft movement caught Kagome's eye and pulled her attention from Kohaku towards Sesshomaru. He gripped Tensaiga tightly and looked with intensity towards something no one else could see. She quickly understood and stepped back a few paces, pulling Setsuna along to give him room.
Sesshomaru pulled the sword from its nondescript scabbard, his eyes roving around. He made a singular upward slash and then back down in a fluid movement before re-sheathing the weapon. To the naked eye, it appeared as though he'd waved his sword around in some arrogant display, many people eyeing him suspiciously. But movement from those who had been rigid before tore the attention away.
One by one, villager and taijiya alike who succumbed to the hanyo army's hand began to rise, some gasping for air and others gaping in confusion. A low murmur broke out over the group, with exclamations breaking out here and there.
Sesshomaru's low tenor hushed them as he spoke with assertion. "This one has brought back those who were not beyond saving." He paused for a moment, waiting for many to settle. "Mortals lead such short lives, but this one has learned they are all the brighter for that small slate of time. It is not often one can be afforded a second opportunity with such great odds stacked against them. Take this chance as a gift from this Sesshomaru as repentance for ushering the calamity upon this mortal village by mine affiliation."
Many villagers rushed over to surround Sesshomaru, throwing themselves at his feet and grabbing at his clothes. He stepped back, a grimace on his face. "You disgrace yourselves. This one needs no thanks."
Jaken jumped into action, hopping in front of his master, swinging his staff back and forth to dissuade anyone from coming closer. "Back! Back! My great lord does not need your service or vows!"
People continued to bow, prostrating themselves at a more respectable distance, at least to the retainer's satisfaction. Jaken let out a humph and looked up at his lord, finding an irascible gaze. Jaken jumped a little and turned back to continue to shoo people away.
Sesshomaru left his retainer to it and turned back towards Kagome, giving her an unreadable look. She felt like sinking into herself and prayed for some distraction to take his critical eyes from her.
Setsuna shuffled from foot to foot next to her mother and watched with awe as people rose from the dead. "Father, you brought those people back to life?"
He nodded in affirmation. "It was necessary and the honorable thing to do."
Setsuna craned her neck and looked around, the villagers and slayers together were caught up in their reverie, but she noticed something missing. Kagome had noticed, too, and thought to tread lightly.
His body had been moved out of the way but left unattended through the duration of the battle after he'd been defeated. It was easy to pick out his red robes from nearly anywhere, and Kagome's eyes couldn't help but drift to his still form.
"And Inuyasha?" she almost whispered.
Sesshomaru looked over slowly, grimacing all the while. He had, for whatever reason, not revived his brother.
Sango and Miroku made their way to where Kagome stood, bringing their daughter with them and leaving Kohaku to tend to his clan and the other villagers. Miroku still needed some assistance to walk, and Sango also had a death grip on her child, as if she were to let go, the girl may be ripped from her once more. Together they approached and took tentative views of their comrade.
"Is he beyond your saving Lord Sesshomaru?" Miroku asked respectfully.
Sesshomaru continued to look upon Inuyasha's corpse. "No." He responded shortly.
"Then why…?" Sango began before Miroku shushed her. He must have sensed the warring inside the inuyokai. Perhaps he was pondering the resurrection of the smear upon his lineage and his father's supposed betrayal of his mother. Perhaps he was hesitant to bring back the former lover of his woman and was uncertain if she would remain by his side.
He took in a breath, deep but measured. His exhale was also smooth before piqued a brow at Kagome. "Would he want to return?"
The question seemed to floor them all, as none had once thought of what Inuyasha would want. It left more unspoken questions than it answered. Shizuka had lost her life most horrendously, and that happened after he had lost Kagome to his brother. It almost seemed selfish to wish him back to live in loneliness.
"But why wouldn't Uncle Inuyasha want to come back?" Setsuna asked, her innocence precluding her understanding of the situation.
Her ignorance of the gravity of the question left everyone balking. All but her father, who looked down at her and responded, "He died an honorable death. He may be reunited with those he has lost. It will be left to the miko to decide."
Everyone looked to Kagome now, and she felt the weight of the decision on her shoulders. She sucked in a staggering breath, shakey from the ache in her core. To bring back her first love? To let him rest in peace with his mother, Shizuka….and Kikyo.
"I…" she stammered. "Yes. Please. I owe him that much." She clutched her hands to her chest and allowed a tear to roll down her cheek; she had been fighting back many.
Sesshomaru looked at her for a moment, his face unreadable even to her. He must have already sensed the invisible pallbearers when he used Tensaiga, not looking as he did and returning the blade home just as quickly.
Kagome ran over to Inuyasha and watched for any signs of life. He stirred, jolting from the shock of his resurrection. He gasped and sat up, looking around in perplexion. "Wha?"
She threw her arms around him as gently as possible. He still seemed to process slowly, returning her hug tentatively. "What happened?"
Kagome released him and sat back on her heels. "You di-" He cut her off, throwing a hand over her mouth to prevent her from speaking.
"Don't you fucking dare tell me I died or any of that bullshit," he nearly groaned. His brow furrowed, and then he closed his eyes to take a steadying breath.
Kagome chewed the inside of her lip and stood up, allowing Setsuna to rush in and tackle her uncle in a bear hug. The young girl grinned into his shoulder and pulled back. "Uncle Inuyasha, Father has brought you back!" Her admission was matter of fact, Setsuna not understanding the heavy impact of her words.
Inuyasha grimaced and leaned his head back before exhaling and standing up. He thrust his arms together and did his best to look aloof. Setsuna shuffled back, releasing her uncle and retreating closer to her mother. Inuyasha looked over at his brother and stared. Sesshomaru paid him no mind, he had made his way over to Tsering carrying a serious expression, and they seemed to carry on a conversation amongst themselves.
Kagome felt a wave of unease course through her that she was urged to keep at bay. Seeing two beautiful daiyokai together gave her a twinge of guilt and jealousy all wrapped together. Her presence had denied them from a natural companionship, a future where the two could have been together, creating honorable, full-blooded children and avoiding the bloodshed of these past few days. But that is not what had happened, and nothing could be done for it now. Kagome needed to ensure Setsuna's safety now. She left Inuyasha to his own devices, Sango and Miroku coming to attend to him as he acclimated back into the world of the living and the knowledge of loss, kicking him all at once.
Kagome strode over, as best and gracefully as she could despite her wardrobe. Sesshomaru's gaze softened as she approached, but the rest of his features were unreadable. Kagome wondered what was going on behind that visage. She looked over at Setsuna, who had remained behind with the others and felt confident enough to inquire about the gravity of the situation. "What about this DaiOzuko? They will come now?"
Tsering, ever eloquent in her long robes, pushed her lips turned into a thin line. "They've come and gone." Her expression belied any knowledge she had on the subject.
"What?" Kagome called out in disbelief.
"Explain," Sesshomaru commanded softly. It seemed he had already been filled in and was now ordering Tsering to afford Kagome the same information.
The daiyokai woman dared to dawn a slight look of annoyance. "An envoy, only."
"What do you mean, an envoy?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you saying...that...that…"
Tsering nodded, "Yes, it is true."
Kagome's head snapped back to Sesshomaru. Jaken jumped to his lord's defense, literally jumping in front of Sesshomaru's legs and crossing his small arms. "It seems that my Master Sesshomaru's most honorable mother is a delegate of the DaiOzuko."
"You're kidding," she uttered in disbelief. "She has been living with us all this time, and she...she could have."
"Hnn, yes, this is so. It is quite unbelievable to this one as well, but not unexpected given the demoness's connections." Sesshomaru knew more than he had let on, likely having his suspicions from the beginning.
Jaken nodded sagely. "It is the business of those only who need to know. The DaiOzuko only share their business with a select few, bestowing clan membership upon only those whose bloodlines are pure and worthy."
Kagome eyed the small toad yokai with skepticism. He was obviously just spewing bullshit to look important to his master, which was something that Kagome would probably never grow accustomed to.
Sesshomaru sensed her incredulity and pushed Jaken out of the way. "The demoness has had centuries to cultivate a vast network of higher powers. It should be mentioned that she also hailed from the mainland and likely has familial ties to the DaiOzuko clan. However, when she aligned with my father, she fell out of favor, but not out of contact. It was through her that the alliance was made with Lady Tsering as an attempt to exhort their support for her ploys."
"So, you're saying this is all her fault?" Kagome asked.
"It would seem that her meddling has indeed caused this most unfortunate turn of events," he answered. He reached towards her in a comforting manner, but she stepped from his advance. It was strange enough that he had attempted something so intimate in front of Tsering and Jaken, and especially when he was always very private with displays of affection.
"No one is coming?" Kagome reiterated. It was imperative she confirmed that Setsuna was safe.
"No," Tsering answered.
Kagome let out a pent-up sigh. "Good." She turned away, done with this day and all the hell it had brought her, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and walked away.
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A/N: Where was Tsering? She was off tattling. It was probably the last card she had to play, but little did anyone know that Sessh's mum is affiliated with the mysterious club of InuDaiYokai. Well, there's a lot of backstory to that (in my mind) but I don't want to sully the story up anymore for Sessh and Kags. Now the next chapter will delve into how Kags is going to cope with the recent string of traumas and Sessh's foray into some strange new territories (feelings? lol, well, new feelings).