The morning found the brothers sharing a quiet breakfast in the common room, opting for a simple broth and a platter of fresh fruits in anticipation of a later heartier meal at Inu no Taisho's mansion. Inuyasha, clearing his throat, caught the attention of a servant lingering nearby. With a subtle nod, he gestured for privacy, and the old demoness bowed out of the room, leaving them alone.
Fishing a piece of fruit from his teeth, Inuyasha broached the topic nonchalantly. "So, a priestess, huh?" He examined his claw for any remnants of fruit. "How'd you come across one? The common folk, especially the holy ones, are usually wary of our kind," he noted dryly.
Toga set his utensils down, his gaze fixed on the table as if conjuring a memory. "She was lost in the woods, searching for something."
"And that would be?" Inuyasha prodded when Toga fell silent.
Toga didn't know how to continue reciting the following events without revealing things he knew he'd be scolded for.
"A well," Toga replied, his eyes still not leaving the bowl in front of him.
Inuyasha's pupils flickered, but Toga missed it. Since their conversation the previous night, Inuyasha had clung to a sliver of hope that the woman Toga sought wasn't Kagome. But Toga's description matched her too closely. Now, he needed to understand the nature of their relationship, yet subtly.
"A priestess searching for a well?" Inuyasha mused, peeling a satsuma. "Sounds like a crazy old hag to me."
"She was young, and her mind was sharp," Toga corrected him, dispelling any doubt.
"I see." Inuyasha grinned, tossing a slice of fruit into his mouth. "A pretty one?"
Toga's reaction – a faint blush – confirmed Inuyasha's suspicions about his brother's feelings.
"Ohoo! She must be quite the looker," Inuyasha teased, noting Toga's reddening face. He pushed further, his tone playful yet probing. "So, did you do the nasties?" Inuyasha provoked him impishly. "Play a little slipping the eel in the cavern?" He's tone was riling, and he let out a grim laughter even though he was biting through the claw he picked his teeth with. Inuyasha was certain that Kagome was untouched in that way, evident by her maiden scent. But that didn't mean Toga hadn't tried. And by this point, Inuyasha was obsessed to know.
Toga's abrupt stand, bumping the table, signaled his discomfort. "No!" he shouted, his voice laced with both defensiveness and longing.
"But you wanted to," Inuyasha pressed, the playfulness evaporating from his tone.
"That's none of your business!" Toga snapped back, anger flaring in his eyes.
Inuyasha's own anger surged, but it was mixed with a deep-seated pain.
"You should know better! Of all the fucking people, you should know better!" His voice choked with emotion, the weight of his past grief resurfacing.
"I had no more choice in the matter than you did!" Toga's voice broke, his own torment evident.
"You think I did not resent myself for it! You think I didn't try to... to, resist."
Inuyasha's eyes grew larger, his heated temper giving allowance understanding. He knew all too well that a heart could not be persuaded once it found resonance in another. But he wasn't convinced that this ill-fated affection was mutual. The girl wanted to get back to her own time, to her own family. That left no room for romancing his brother. If anything, Inuyasha would save his brother from a soul-wrenching heartache if he could nip this, whatever this thing between those two was, in the bud.
"Take it from someone who's been through it. This won't end well," Inuyasha said, his voice now filled with concern rather than anger.
Toga turned away, his silence heavy with acknowledgment. He knew the risks, the inevitable heartache, yet the heart seldom heeded such warnings.
Another nightfall descended and blanketed everything in quiet murk. Since there were no birds or insects, the silence was almost eerie in the complete darkness.
Kagome, now familiar with her path to the tree, skillfully navigated the yard, avoiding servants and guards whose routines she had memorized. She picked up the hems of her uniform and trotted in her geta sandals across the field.
She whispered into the dark, "Inuyasha?" but only silence greeted her. A second, louder call yielded the same result, leaving her lips to pout in disappointment.
'Why didn't he come?'
Meanwhile, Inuyasha was still ensnared in an endless-feeling clan meeting. Centuries of life hadn't improved his patience, and the ongoing discourse felt like an eternity. Dusk had already fallen long ago and Inuyasha was anxious because he knew she was waiting for him. At least he hoped she still was. He tapped his fingers rhythmically against his legs, trying to focus amid the heated arguments and escalating chaos. The lords were occupied by heated arguments until the lieutenant of the south had had enough, stood up and lunged at the throat of the lieutenant of the north. A general commotion broke out. Scrolls and threats began to fly across the room.
'I can't take this anymore.'
Inuyasha crept to Toga who was still sitting in his seat, wearing a worried expression.
"Oy, bro!" he whispered to Toga who glanced behind his back and saw his older brother hunching there.
"Cover for me. I need to bail."
"Inuyasha!" Toga's stern voice followed him. "We're in a state of war now. You can't leave."
Inuyasha, paying no heed to the political strife, retorted dryly and made for the door.
"Yea, yea, tell me once ya'll are done with playing with your swords."
"Inuyasha!" His brother hissed at his retreating behind. "Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha bolted out of his father's quarters and made a quick dash to Kimiko's mansion. While he was flying through the air, he could feel droplets of water hitting his cheeks and forehead. He glanced upwards. The lords' tumultuous youki had stirred the heavens, eliciting an unusual downpour in the demon realm.
At their rendezvous, Inuyasha struggled to locate Kagome, her aura muddled by the deluge. The heavy rain confused his sense of smell enough for him not be able to pinpoint her location.
"Kagome?" He called her and circled around the tree trunk to find her.
A wet, hard piece of wood smacked him on the head, and he swallowed down a very effeminate yelp before it got out of his mouth.
"Has no one taught you it's not gentlemanly to make ladies wait?" Kagome's voice called from above, her figure barely visible on their branch.
Inuyasha grinned, retorting, "You're a pretty good shot for someone who can't see in the dark."
"I can still hear you," she boasted, lobbing her other sandal at him, which he caught with ease.
Climbing up to join her, he found Kagome shivering in her soaked clothes. "Silly woman, you shouldn't have waited in this weather," he chided softly.
Kagome tried to stifle a sneeze, her teeth chattering. "I'm used to the cold." All the baths the servants ever got to take were cold. Well, at least hers were since she was the last to bathe. She also remembered the nights she had spent under Toga's companionship, sleeping in her run-down hut in a bed of hay which was barely any better than sleeping in a cave or… Her thoughts were interrupted by the warmth of Inuyasha's fire-rat suikan draped over her shivering shoulders. The fabric, still holding his body heat, seemed to repel the rain, providing a cozy shelter against the chill.
"Is this okay? Won't you get cold?" she asked, even as she snuggled deeper into the coat.
"Keh, don't take demons for the same sort of weaklings as you mortals. I once slept in the snowy mountain peaks with nothing but a smile on me," Inuyasha bragged, a hint of arrogance in his voice. Kagome could not help but to smile and shake her head at him.
For a moment the human girl forgot that the darkness did not impair his demonic vision as it did hers. In the comfort of the darkness and the roaring rain, Kagome nuzzled her head into the sleeves of his suikan and breathed in his scent.
Yes. It was the same musky forest scent she had come accustomed while riding on his back on those countless demon hunting missions. There was something potently wild and masculine about it, something that was uniquely Inuyasha.
It brought a sense of peace, a fleeting moment of bliss amidst the chaos of her life.
Inuyasha had intended to probe into her relationship with Toga, but when he saw how she contently snuggled with his clothes, looking happy, almost blissful, whilst sniffing his clothes (odd, he admitted) he did not want to bring up his brother. He didn't want to know.
The night's relentless downpour showed no signs of abating, prompting Inuyasha to conclude their meeting quickly, concerned for Kagome's health. He deftly helped her down the tree and retrieved her forgotten geta sandals. As she slipped back into them and gently removed his suikan, he spoke decisively.
"Tomorrow. I'll have everything ready. Gather what you need and meet me here at the same time. I'll take you back to the human realm and help you reunite with your family."
Tears of overwhelming joy mixed with the relentless rain, washing her face fresh. It felt nice.
They exchanged brief farewells, and Inuyasha lingered, watching her until she disappeared into the glow of the outdoor lights and through the back entrance.
Alone, he brought the sleeve of his suikan to his face and inhaled deeply.
Thanks to the concealing rain, Kagome managed to make it indoors before being confronted by Fuyuki.
Kagome braced herself for a scolding that never came.
Fuyuki simply announced, with an eerily emotionless voice, that mistress Kimiko was expecting her.
Dressed in dry clothes provided by Fuyuki – not out of kindness, as she was quick to point out, but to avoid any mess in her mistress' room – Kagome found herself abruptly ushered into Kimiko's lounge. The shoji door slid shut behind her, leaving her alone with the enigmatic demoness. It had been some time since their first meeting upon arriving in the demon realm, and Kagome felt the weight of uncertainty about what this encounter might entail.
She hesitated, then took cautious steps towards Kimiko, who was serenely enjoying midnight tea at her chabudai, a very low traditional tea table. Another cup lay next to her, seemingly waiting for Kagome. Approaching, Kagome noted that Kimiko's attention remained fixed on her tea, giving no acknowledgment to her presence.
"Please, sit down and join me," Kimiko finally said, her voice smooth and almost purring, as she gestured towards an empty zabuton. "Forgive my lack of formalities, it's quite late," she added, pouring green tea into a beautifully crafted ceramic cup for Kagome.
Kimiko's next words were laced with a cool, measured tone. "You've become quite the temptress, attracting the attention of not just one, but two brothers." Her smile, though pleasant, lacked warmth as she handed Kagome the filled cup, her piercing golden eyes scrutinizing her reaction.
Kagome, caught off guard, could only gasp in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, hasn't Inuyasha mentioned his family ties during your late-night meetings?" Kimiko inquired, her eyes slanted slightly, studying Kagome's reactions.
Frozen in shock, Kagome stared back, feeling a sudden chill down her spine. "Toga and Inuyasha are brothers," Kimiko revealed casually, taking a sip from her cup, allowing the magnitude of her words to settle in.
Kagome's hand trembled, grateful that she hadn't yet lifted her own cup; otherwise, it would have shattered against the tatami, spilling over Kimiko's arguably expensive tatami.
Her mind raced, trying to process this revelation. How had she not known this crucial detail? Her encounters with Inuyasha, her complex relationship with Toga – everything took on a new, bewildering perspective.
She was astounded, not just by the revelation itself, but by Kimiko's apparent omniscience. The demoness seemed to have an all-seeing awareness of the events transpiring around her, likely aided by her loyal servants, such as Fuyuki. Kagome realized then that she knew very little about Inuyasha's past – he never spoke of himself, and she had never thought to ask.
Kagome was puzzled by her own lack of knowledge about Inuyasha. How had she not learned that he was Inu no Taisho's son? She realized she knew very little about him beyond what she had experienced firsthand. He rarely spoke of himself, and she had never thought to delve deeper into his past until now.
Kimiko seemed to sense Kagome had absorbed the shock of the revelation and was ready for more details. "Of course, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Inuyasha would set his eyes on the first and only human in our realm. Considering his general taste in women," she hinted, pouring more tea into her cup.
Kagome recalled Fuyuki's similar insinuations, which had left her unsettled. She hadn't had the chance to discuss this with Inuyasha, and now Kimiko's words added to her curiosity and concern. Though she was unsure of Kimiko's motives, she knew the demoness had never deceived her.
"What do you mean? What happened between Inuyasha and humans?" Kagome asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Kimiko settled back, her demeanor shifting to a more serious tone.
"Inuyasha was the first of his kind, an inu daiyoukai, to mate with a human," Kimiko unceremoniously revealed. Her idle tone made it sound like less of a scandal than what it had been at the time.
"Ever since he was young, he was drawn to humans, intrigued by their brief lives. This curiosity eventually turned into a more intimate variety," she explained, her earlier gaiety replaced by a somber sincerity.
"The first human woman he mated with was barren, which was fortunate in a way. Their union, while frowned upon, was tolerated since it posed no threat to the purity of the Taisho bloodline. He remained with her until her natural death. His next wife, however, was not barren. And much to his father's chagrin, was also a human."
Kimiko paused, her gaze reflecting in the still surface of her tea. Looking solemnly the stilled surface of the liquid that reflected her own, pure-bred, demonic features.
"When it was discovered she was expecting, tragedy struck. She and the unborn child died. I wasn't around at the time, but the rumors say Inu no Taisho showed no grief. Some whispered it was divine punishment, but others suspected a more earthly source for this misfortune."
Kagome's hands flew to her mouth in shock, absorbing the weight of these heartbreaks in Inuyasha's long life. To love beyond the boundaries of one's own kind only to face such loss and sorrow was a cruel twist of fate. She couldn't help but feel a deep sympathy for the elder Taisho brother, whose choice to love humans had led to such profound pain.
Kagome's voice trembled with apprehension. "You don't mean...?" The tightness in her chest grew, the implications of Kimiko's words turning her stomach.
Kimiko shook her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I cannot be certain of all the details," she admitted. "But this much is true: the Taisho family has been embroiled in internal strife. Inuyasha, once the heir apparent, is now seen as a pariah, a 'blood traitor.'" She spoke the term with a hint of spite, though it seemed directed more at the situation than at Inuyasha himself.
"As Inu no Taisho's son, he retains some standing, but barely. In our society, courting humans is frowned upon, and offspring from such unions are outright rejected."
Kagome's heart sank. Youkais frown upon human courting, but especially won't tolerate half-bred offspring, this much Kagome had already learned from Toga. But the extent they'd be willing to go for racial hygiene... It disgusted her.
"Why are you telling me all this?" she murkily asked, realizing the more she learned about this world, the more she resented it.
Kimiko's expression hardened. "You've ignored previous warnings. Think carefully about your involvement with either brother. Not just for your sake, but for theirs as well," she advised, her tone now stern and cold.
The tea before Kagome had gone cold, its once inviting warmth lost. The sweetness of the drink seemed irrelevant now, overshadowed by the bitter truth of Inuyasha's past and knowing the future that awaited him.
After Kagome's departure, Fuyuki entered her mistress' room and was given an order.
Though her lips parted slightly in disbelief, she dared not question her mistress.
"Yes, milady," she acquiesced, clearing away the tea set and leaving Kimiko to her thoughts.
The next day began as usual, with the servants immersed in their tasks. Kagome, relegated to the most menial chores, was sure of one thing – the lavatories had never reflected anyone's picture as clearly as they did after Kagome had been commissioned under Kimiko's service.
Nothing foreshadowed the events that would unfold later the day.
The amami rabbit, with the grace characteristic of a diligent servant, knelt upon entering Kimiko's room. "Master Toga has arrived. Shall I escort him here?" She announced, still curious as to why he had been suddenly called upon.
Kimiko's lips curled into a sly, lazy smile. "No, Fuyuki. He isn't here for me." Her eyes glinted with a mix of intrigue and amusement. In the game of chess she was playing with the lives around her, it was time to see how her human protégé would fare.
A/N: The original Inuyasha series is full of hints to the fact that hanyous are a caste of beings that feel not belonging anywhere. I really wanted to drive that point home in this chapter. It has been one of the driving forces of this fic since I began writing this. I wanted to underline why it really is such a _big deal_ that Toga's affections towards Kagome are really a big no-no.
And obviously we know why Kagome's affection towards Toga are also a no-no.
Alas, we are in a dire need of some smut. Whatever could happen when Toga is summoned to Kimiko's mansion? *feigns shock*