It was dark when Kagome woke, and she stretched against the bed. She was sore but in all the right places, and it quickly dispelled any doubts that the past twenty-four hours had been a fever dream.
The door creaked open, and perfectly placed candles came to life, illuminating the path to the bed. She'd planned on going back to sleep, having already rolled over and buried her face in his pelt, but the subtle scent of food lured her out of her cocoon of comfort. The bed dipped, and a tray of fruit, honey, and freshly baked bread was placed in front of her.
She blinked in surprise, expecting to see Shippou, or even Jinenji, but the eyes of the king bore down on her, and she plucked a strawberry from the tray. "I'm not supposed to say thank you," she said.
"You are not supposed to accept food or drink, yet here we are." He smirked, but it was warmer than before, and she swallowed the fruit audibly, then traced the marks on his face. He caught her hand, turning into the touch and dragging his fangs along the lines on her palm.
Kagome suppressed a shiver. "I was worried you'd leave again," she whispered.
"It was only down to the kitchen."
She shook her head, pulling herself up on her knees. The pelt moved with her, wrapping itself around her shoulders and shielding her from the night air. "I meant when I first arrived. You didn't know who I was."
Her heart clenched as his eyes went blank, and she cupped his face. Reiki teased his senses, brushing the tips of his ears before sliding through his hair. There was an odd resistance, but it didn't last long, and his eyes refocused.
"Stay with me," she whispered, continuing to coat him in reiki. Something about her power kept whoever was trying to control him out. She ground her teeth together. Now that the cloud of lust had lifted, she had some digging to do. She wasn't sure who'd be able to answer her questions, especially since the king still seemed to be affected, but Bokuseno was first on her list.
All thoughts of espionage splintered when claws bit into the back of her neck, Sesshoumaru's tongue easily sliding into her mouth. Muscles clenched for a different reason, and Kagome moaned, left breathless in mere minutes. "What was that for?"
"Your power always elicits that kind of response," he replied, nipping at her bottom lip.
"Does it?" she asked dazedly. She never had that kind of power over him before. But then again, she'd never used her power as anything but offensive before. She rolled her shoulders, trying to regain the upper hand. "Maybe I should use it more often."
"Perhaps you should." His hand found her hips, pulling her into his lap, but to her surprise, he offered up food instead of foreplay, ensuring she finished the entire tray. The honey was exquisite, and she knew there was a significance to it within fae lore, but she'd worry about it later, content to be manhandled in a different way.
"I like it here," she said, gazing out the window. The sky was clear, decorated with stars she didn't recognize, and she laid her head back against his shoulder.
"I like it when you are here," he echoed.
Kagome hummed in response, covering his hand with her own. Reiki buzzed under her skin, twirling around their fingers like ribbons, and she shivered when his power rose in response. She'd never asked about his heritage, not that she'd had the time, but she knew he wasn't fae. He paraded around as if he was, and the rest of the kingdom treated him as such, but the addition of the halfling children made her think there was more to his power than a simple youkai.
Shippou had mentioned marks equating to power. The moon proclaimed him king, and each of the stripes, now eighteen in total, signified he'd been alive for centuries. None of the others had any markings. Was that the reason for the spell? Was someone jealous of his power?
She shook her head. It couldn't be as simple as that. There were other kingdoms surrounding Meikyuu, and so far, she hadn't sensed any disquiet on the outskirts of the city. The only change she'd come across was the lack of power. The king himself hadn't felt off when she'd arrived, but the land certainly had. She'd fed him her reiki when he'd been ill, but there hadn't been any push-back, so she hadn't been worried about it.
Power definitely had something to do with it, considering his complete lack of knowledge of what was happening within the castle. She'd need to see if the areas falling apart were still in disrepair before visiting Bokuseno. Did tree demons sleep at night?
She let out a frustrated sigh. She was missing something.
"Was it not enough?" he asked quietly.
Kagome shook her head. "It was fine. Delicious."
"Yet you are troubled." Not trouble,but troubled. So much had changed in such a short amount of time.
"It's nothing you've done, I promise." He eyed her warily, golden eyes gleaming with power, and she turned her head, kissing him deeply. He responded immediately, arms tightening around her, but the embrace was unrushed, and for once, Kagome had no complaints. If he wasn't coming apart at the seams, then he couldn't be worried about her disappearing.
Which meant the likelihood of one of her doppelgangers showing up was also low. Were they tied to her in some way? Had they been manifested by her power? She slanted her head, keeping the kiss light and reassuring. "Are you going to let me get dressed?"
"I have not stopped you before."
"Liar," she said, chuckling at his mock outrage.
"I am fae. I never lie," he replied, running his claws through her hair.
'Are you?'
She'd gone in search of Shippou, hoping to have company on her outing, but had run into Jinenji instead. His role of healer came first, but he also cared for the gardens, harvesting the plants needed for his remedies.
He was all out of sorts when she asked him to accompany her, especially when she turned toward the king's personal hideaway, so she decided to prolong her time with him for a while, letting him ramble about new concoctions he wanted to try.
He fussed over her, noticing the new bruises on her arms. "Did you fall again?" he asked softly, applying a salve from a pouch from his basket.
"Not exactly," she mumbled, breaking out into laughter when the next one he found was in the shape of fingers.
Jinenji turned scarlet but continued to apply the salve. "You weren't forced?" There was an odd edge to his voice, though his shoulders were hunched, and she patted his hand.
"Not in the slightest." He worked in silence, leaving the ones around her shoulders and neck to heal for themselves. "Thank you for looking out for me."
His nod was subtle, and he went back to his herbs. "His Majesty has been out of sorts lately. I was worried."
Kagome's brows shot up. "You've noticed it too?"
He didn't look at her, moving to another section. "Plants don't lie."
"So I saw." She looked up to the castle. The vines and moss had regained some of their colour, but things still didn't feel as lush as before. She'd managed to inspect some of the crumbling sections of the castle before coming outside, but she couldn't tell if it had regenerated or been repaired by someone else—and she wasn't about to stick around to ask Jaken.
"Things are better now that you're here," Jinenji said, his large hands rather nimble considering their size. He only took what he needed, leaving the stems to regrow.
"So everyone keeps saying." Kagome sighed, leaning back on her hands as she tapped the ground. "How many times have I been here?"
He cocked his head to the side. "Shippou had said it was only twice."
"You haven't noticed anyone else who looks like me walking around?"
Bulbous eyes blinked in confusion. "Do you have a twin?"
Her giggle caused him to blush, quickly returning to his herbs. "No, but magic does funny things here. I swear I've seen copies of myself outside the castle." She kept it casual, not wanting to arouse suspicion. Shippou trusted him, but malice came in many forms.
"I think I would've noticed something like that." Even the top of his head was flushed. "But I don't venture into the city unless requested by His Majesty. There are other healers in the village."
"That's because he only keeps the best things for himself." She swore steam was coming out of his ears, and Kagome smothered her laughter. He was so sweet; he just needed more confidence in himself.
Jinenji bundled up another combination of herbs, adding them to his basket before peeking over his shoulder. "Yet you choose to stay."
She blew her hair out of her face. "Only because he stopped being an ass."
He gave her a panicked look. "You shouldn't say such things."
Getting to her feet, Kagome brushed the dirt off her clothes, then patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I have his favour now. It'll take more than a few choice words to lose it." The fact that he didn't look convinced proved that Jinenji had studied fae rules just as much as her. "Do you remember your time before Meikyuu?"
His hands stilled, gaze turned inward. "I remember loud sounds. And being hit." He unconsciously rubbed his arms. "Someone would scream at the others, but it wasn't enough to make them stop. And when the screaming stopped, the pain got worse." She wanted to hug him but knew it would be too much, and he eventually shook himself, as if coming out of a dream. "It was a very long time ago."
Not long enough to make him forget. Kagome squeezed his shoulder, thanking him for his time, then headed toward the meadow. Magic ran deep, but not everyone was in tune with it, and she needed answers. It flowed under the land like a river, and if it had dried up for some reason, she was going to get to the bottom of it.
She hadn't ruled out Hakudoshi and his unseeing sister, but she hadn't seen much of them since he'd tried to corner her in the king's room. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding her as much as she was him, which worked out in her favour. And now that Sesshoumaru could see her, standing up to the troll was that much easier.
"I had thought I might be seeing you soon," Bokuseno commented as she stepped between the trees. The shimmer of power slid over her skin, and she allowed it to pull more reiki from her hands, increasing its strength. "Having a good day, are we?"
"Depends on how our conversation goes."
The tree youkai's face solidified on its trunk, and he laughed. "You have been spending more time with His Majesty," he mused. "He's rubbing off on you."
"I meant no offence," she said, approaching his base.
"And none was taken by it, little one. Your salt adds vigour to these old roots." Branches swayed, showering her in leaves. "But you have always been as demanding as him." She wanted to argue, but it would only delay her questions. Plus, he seemed to be in a good mood, and she didn't want to spoil it.
"The spell you put on me—"
"—the one that you have broken," he mused. Her blush only amused him more. "It was not intended to be permanent, Kagome. It has fulfilled its purpose."
"What was its purpose?" she asked, placing her hand in his bark.
"To keep you hidden long enough for him to take notice."
She unconsciously rubbed the side of her neck. The marks he'd left were still visible, still tender. "From who?"
Bokuseno sighed, branches drooping in frustration. "Unfortunately, that is not something I can answer. Not because I won't," he added, cutting her off. "But because I don't yet know." He closed his eyes, and the ground rippled. "Meikyuu runs on magic, Kagome. We need it to breathe, but those too weak to notice will unknowingly suffocate if strangled slow enough."
She clicked her tongue. "Like the frog in the boiling water."
He raised an eyebrow. "Has the kit been teasing Jaken again?"
Chuckling, she shook her head. "Not that I wouldn't put it past him, but it's an experiment done with frogs. They won't go near boiling water by choice, but if you put them in a pot and slowly increase the temperature, by the time they realize something's wrong, it's already too late." It was a gruesome fate but an appropriate analogy.
He hummed softly. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
There was a flicker in the barrier, and Kagome looked skyward. "Your spell was for me specifically, right? What is it about my power that will make a difference."
Bokuseno blinked innocently. "What makes you think it's about your power?"
She scowled at him. "Fae are nothing but power. What else would it be about?"
"What, indeed."
"Don't make me set you on fire," she threatened, yanking on the nearest branch. "We don't have time for your riddles."
"It's not my fault you cannot see what's right in front of you," he said, snapping her fingers away. "It was never about any one's power."
She frowned, arms crossing over her chest. Her power was significant, but not by itself? She'd felt some of Sesshoumaru's, and that of the kingdom in general, but for the most part, they were still opposed. It was only when they were together that—
Her head shot up, eyes blown wide, and Bokuseno grinned. "There you are. I knew you'd figure it out."
"But that still doesn't explain who was behind the power being syphoned in the first place!" she said. And she knew it was being syphoned by someone. It was like a hole in a balloon—no matter how much either she or the king blew into it, it still leaked out, leaving the residents of Meikyuu gasping for air.
Kagome braced herself against Bokuseno as realization struck. Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was the hole. Someone was syphoning his power and draining the land of its magic. She clutched at her chest. Who would put the entire kingdom at risk? Who had something to gain? Even during her first visit, none of the neighbouring kingdoms had seemed like that much of a threat.
She looked up at Bokuseno, but his eyes were on the far side of the glade. "It appears you have a guest."
"Me?" she asked. "But this is your home."
"Surrounded by your power, little one." She turned in the direction he was looking and was given the second surprise of the day. The flamed horse from before stood at the treeline, eying her warily.
"Is it safe?" she asked, already stepping toward him.
"As long as you feel it to be." She nodded, keeping her eyes on the beast as she slowly approached it. Flames danced around its head and tail, dark eyes taking in every step. Kagome kept her approach steady, hands raised in silent offering. "It appears Entei is quite taken with you. Or at least curious."
"Hello," she crooned. "Have you decided to stay longer today?" Entei stomped at the ground, tossing his mane, and she stepped closer. She didn't make the first move, watching her reflection in dark pupils. "I won't hurt you." She wasn't sure how much he understood. He appeared intelligent enough but had yet to utter actual words.
She knew there were various levels when it came to fae—some having more human characteristics than others—but this creature's appearance was different. There was a darkness to it that she didn't like, but it felt malleable, like he hadn't decided if he wanted to embrace it or not.
She lowered her hands. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to," she said. "I can always bring you a treat next time." Keeping still, she offered up her hands again. "See? There's nothing here." The beast stepped forward, pressing his nose into her palm. Kagome gasped softly; she'd been expecting him to be as hot as the flames around his head, but he was cool to the touch.
He sniffed her, nostrils flaring as he trailed his nose up to her shoulder. He found something he liked, though she couldn't tell if it was her scent or hair, and he whinnied, stepping further into the glade.
"It's nice to officially meet you," she said, patting the side of his face as they walked back toward Bokuseno. The beast didn't feel malevolent, even in the centre of Bokuseno's clearing, where her power was strongest. Entei didn't stomp or nip or set anything on fire. He seemed rather curious about his surroundings, and since Bokuseno wasn't opposed to him being there—and her barrier had let him in—they spent the next few hours simply enjoying each other's presence.
She wasn't comfortable asking Bokuseno any more questions now that she had an audience, but she had enough to think about as it was. She wondered if the castle had a library and if any of Meikyuu's history was public record.
Had this happened before? Had Meikyuu always been the site of the king's thrown? What about Sesshoumaru's predecessor? He'd never spoken of anyone else, let alone family, but then again, she'd never been close enough to ask him about it in the first place.
She needed something to write this all down, she thought, leading Entei out of the woods. It would help her sort out fact from rumour.
"It seems you tame all beasts."
Kagome bristled, her hand clutching Entei's mane. Hakudoshi smirked, leaning up against the side of the castle. Had she been so focused on the beast that she hadn't sensed him? Or had he hidden his aura on purpose? "I'm friendly with anyone who chooses to be the same with me."
Hakudoshi narrowed his eyes, then pushed on the handle of his spear. "You were caught trespassing," he said, as if that explained his actions of throwing her into the dungeon without provocation.
"Still haven't heard an apology," she replied icily.
He shrugged. "If the king demands I give you one, I am more than willing." She wasn't about to tell Sesshoumaru otherwise; she'd rather spend as little time with Hakudoshi as possible.
"What do you want?" she asked.
He didn't beat around the bush for once. "I need a favour."
She would've laughed in his face if she hadn't been in such shock. After a few moments, she finally collected enough of her thoughts to respond. "And why would I help you?"
"Because a child will die if you don't."