The Island
Days passed. InuYasha could feel a slow change over take him as he began to settle into his role in the palace. It became more natural, being a member of the royal family. He felt respected, at the very least. The people seemed more…Open, to the idea of the forgotten son coming back to retake his title. Maybe not completely accepted quite yet, but it was a start.
His quarters seemed a bit homier, less hollow and more lived in. The portrait of Izayoi now sat on his mantle, brightening the space.
He fell into a routine, rising early to meet Harusuke for training. The two of them spent most of the days together, and some long evenings exploring the city's night district. He was figuring things out here, and exploring his new strength in the meantime.
Yokai court was different from how he remembered the humans being when he was a child. They shared similarities in the way that they heavily leaned on traditions and rituals in their everyday doings, but the yokai were more cunning and ruthless in their ways. Especially in his brother's city, where the majority population were the Inu's. Here, everything depended on your clan, your status and your relation to the daimyo, Sesshomaru. Other demons often passed through for trade and to serve, some ended up staying. It was a melting pot of energy and vibrancy that InuYasha was slowly falling in love with. He could see reflections of his people everywhere. In the architecture of the buildings, the beautiful chaos of the night market, the portraits of his forefathers that hung in the halls. He could see why his father had committed so much of himself to this place. Its rarity was worth protecting.
But often he felt himself thinking of Kagome, wishing she was here, experiencing this with him. He pictured her weaving through the hallowed halls with her beaming smile and his heart could have wept. Every day that passed, he felt his longing grow. It smothered him in the night when he lay alone, tossing and turning. He didn't need much sleep these days, but he missed laying with her more than anything. He loved to cradle her there against his chest, where he knew she was safe. Feeling their hearts beat in tandem, her breath a slow rise and fall as her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks. When they were together nothing else mattered.
He could lose himself in her too easily, and that scared him sometimes. When he thought of the time he spent rejecting her, it all seemed so far away. How it had even been a thought that they were anything less than meant for each other, he was completely clueless.
It was a complete 180 from how he felt now.
He was a wild dog baying in the night when it came to Kagome.
Scratching at the door, begging, searching desperately for scraps.
He was cruel, once.
Would coldly look away and pretend not to notice her tears as they glistened down her cheeks.
With kikyo it had been different. Wild and weary, only a bit younger that he was now, but it seemed a lifetime ago. He had felt little more than a bitter, lonely stray snapping at any hand that dared to reach near his foaming muzzle.
But now there was a deep yearning for softness where that dark part of him once resided.
InuYasha ached for the gentle press of Kagome's palm against his lips, her lily-white skin tender and yielding to his touch. Her spirit was so calming, her body drawn to his own by magnetic chemistry that was undeniable. He wanted her in every sense of the word. Wanted to wrap her up against him where he could keep her safe.
She was so small.
And the world had been unkind.
Soon he would have to leave this place, it had been too long he had spent without her, she was probably making herself sick with worry by now, knowing her. He just hoped that Tsukuyomi had passed along the details of his whereabouts, as he was the only bridge of communication between the two of them currently.
The unfortunate reality of the situation weighed on him. But as he looked out the open air window over his fathers lands, the ancient home of his people, he found it may be harder to leave than he had first thought.
The air was light, carrying a chill down from the mountains, a whisper of the autumn that could not quite reach them here, in this land that was heavy with enchantment.
The burgundy curtains that hung along his bed and walls lifted with the breeze that filled his chambers. His clawed fingers gripped the windowsill, knuckles white as his nails nearly splintered the wood. In that moment he wished for nothing more than to have her there beside him. It filled him with an ache so profound he could hardly stand it. A peculiar feeling that he was not unfamiliar with, however still unwelcome.
A knock came at the door, shattering the moment. He swallowed the lump in his throat, going to answer it.
The twin kitsune waited respectfully over the threshold, heads bowed as each of them carried a tray. "My lord."
Each of them greeted, their voices harmonizing pleasantly.
InuYasha fought the urge to roll his eyes, grunting in acknowledgment as he stepped aside to allow them entry.
This had become part of their routine. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to shake the formality out of the kitsune. So he gave up and just let them be, they seemed happier that way.
They set the silver trays down on the low table in front of the fireplace, one of them going over to stoke the low flames while the other set out his breakfast.
He eyed the buns and various meats hungrily, stomach growling as the scent of roasted pork wafted up to his nose.
He had noticed a multitude of changes in himself ever since he had left Tsukyomi's temple, but one thing that had definitely not changed was his appetite. If anything, it had doubled.
They took their trays with them, silently letting themselves out of the room with a low bow.
The embers crackled pleasantly as he ate, the tea steaming hot and warming him from the inside out. When he finished he felt slightly better, ready to start his day at the very least.
He had already dressed, wearing his black robes with the red crest embroidered on his left shoulder. The red robe of the fire rat still hung on the wall across from his futon, a reminder. He could not quite bring himself to hang it in the wardrobe out of his sight just yet.
After strapping his blade to his waist he was breezing out of his quarters, headed for the barracks just as the sun fully crested over the treetops. Time never seemed to matter here. No matter the hour someone was always awake. But the mornings were especially lively.
Sesshomaru's army was little more than an elite band of warriors from each clan, only the best were permitted to serve. The russet Inu's made up the majority of the men, along with the shadowed Inu's with their dark fur the color of soot, and the silver, his own breed. The fair golden, and the snowy white Yokai from the north were the fewest among them. Each wore the crest of their families on their armor with the uniform black hakama and yukata underneath.
They all looked the same to InuYasha.
Being thrown into this world, it was all a blur as he hurried to try and learn all of the different clans and ranks and customs among them all. It was a lot. And considering how he had basically introduced himself by savagely beating one of their companions, even if the Yokai was well disliked.
Nonetheless, he was becoming more familiar. It felt less forced, and he garnered much less attention this morning as he walked around the camp, only a few even bothered to toss a look his way.
"Oi! Over here!" Harusuke's voice broke his reverie, calling him from over a bit up the way past the several structures that served as the blacksmith and barracks. The pounding sound of metal against metal was ringing through the air, his sharp eyes quickly zeroed in on his friend walking towards him with a confident stride, an easy grin on his face as he waved him over. "Good morning sunshine." His copper eyes flashed in the sun as he met InuYasha and fell into stride beside him.
"'Morning."
They headed for their usual spot.
A small tucked off corner of the field where they could spar, away from the busy center of the garrison.
The sun shone idly down on them, moving slowly through the sky as the hours passed. He had barely noticed that it was well past noon. He liked sparring with Harusuke. The lithe Inu Yokai was quicker than most, easily learning InuYasha's flow and rolling with it rather than against it. It was fun, he found he enjoyed exerting himself, and flexing his newly acquired power.
He hadn't quite broken a sweat, but he had an appointment to keep, so they made their way back towards the interior of the palace.
He had a meeting with the royal seamstress, and Jaken had been most insistent that he be punctual. His measurements were required for his ascension ceremony, blah blah blah. He wasn't looking forward to that. It seemed so… unnecessary. Nothing more than a display for the court, another bid for them to accept him. But Jaken had assured him that it was indeed a very vital part of the process. This was the only way for him to be accepted fully. Every royal was forced to do the same. In a way, that did ease his worries a bit. It would be more abnormal if they didn't hold the ceremony. So whatever he felt about it he knew that it was best to just bite his tongue and endure.
The copper inu tagged along with him, talking his head off the whole way. Truthfully though, he wasn't quite sure where he was going exactly, so he was glad for the company.
They passed gaggles of well bred Yokai women, laden in finery that glittered in the sunlight that drifted in through the skylights in the ceiling. They attracted a lot of attention, the two of them. More than he had ever garnered in his whole life. He was sure he was beet red beneath their sharp demonic stares, fluttering behind ornate fans.
He felt, rather than saw his friend smirk beside him as he kept his eyes set dead forward on the dark polished wood floors.
"You're gonna have to get used to it eventually. You're next in line for the throne, my lord. Every woman here will be fawning over you." He chuckled, his long, rust colored hair falling over his eyes as he shook his head, obviously tickled by Inu's discomfort.
He scoffed, lips curling back over his fangs in distaste.
"I'm spoken for."
That was an understatement if he'd ever heard one.
Harusuke cocked an eyebrow amusedly.
"Oh? This is the first I've heard of such a thing."
The Inu rolled his eyes, sighing because he knew that now that he had spilled this information Haru was going to pry even further. Such was his nature, InuYasha was learning. The man couldn't help himself, he was incorrigibly nosey to a fault.
"What is she called?"
He couldn't help the smile that drifted across his lips as he said her name.
"Kagome."
He whisked it away almost as soon as it had appeared, but it had definitely not escaped Haru's notice.
"Pretty." He grinned knowingly, leading them deeper into the palace.
They found their way to the seamstress easily enough, and InuYasha was surprised to find his brother waiting for them outside the dark shoji doors, shuttered a deep green.
"My Lord." Haru dropped into a deep bow, his black kimono brushing the floor as he did. It was the most respectful InuYasha had ever seen him, and he could not help but cock an eyebrow up incredulously. Sesshomaru eyed him in his usual cold fashion, offering him a nod and beckoning him to rise.
Truthfully, he hadn't seen very much of him since they had met with the council of his personal advisers, when he had given him the portrait of his mother.
The older DaiYokai had been… busy. The thought brought a smirk to his lips. Even InuYasha was beginning to hear tidbits of gossip here and there, and from what he'd heard his brother had been quite preoccupied with his new mate, the Snowy Inu girl who he had yet to actually lay eyes on.
"InuYasha." Sesshomaru addressed him, gold clashing against gold as their eyes met.
"Brother." He returned, giving a stiff nod. It still felt a bit strange to him that they were not trying to kill each other, but Sesshomaru merely waved for them to follow him into the room, sliding open the doors with a firm hand.
Inside was a large space, with large windows that let the natural sunlight pour in over the rich wood that covered the walls and floors. Fabric of all patterns and textures were all rolled onto large spools, lining the walls and spilling over everything with an explosion of color. Shelves lined every space on the walls that was not occupied by the huge gleaming windows, filled with kimonos that were folded neatly and seemed to go on endlessly. Rows and rows of them, from floor to ceiling in some places. There was a long mirror propped up in the corner in front of a raised platform, and on the opposite side of the room there was an ancient looking loom that he could tell was threaded with fine silk.
It was a light and airy space, yet another part of the castle he was only just discovering.
A small door that was set off to the side opened softly, the shoji screen sliding away to let a trio of women drift through.
Two of them were obviously of the same clan, dressed similarly in kimonos in varying shades of blue, furs draped over them. Both shared the same stark white hair, piled into elaborate styles that InuYasha could not understand. One seemed older than the other, her deep purple eyes lined with kohl to accentuate them. She glimmered with jewelry and bells that dangled off of her, jingling when she walked.
The other snowy Inu was more demure, she wore very little adornments, her features were soft and plain. When her gaze darted up to meet his for a fleeting moment he could see that her eyes were powder blue.
The other female was a stark contrast to the others. Her hair was an inky black that was spilling down over her shoulders, messily pinned to the crown of her head with golden pins. Her features were sharp and painted, her eyes swirling black and shimmering like faceted jewels. Red lips pursed, hiding dainty fangs behind them. She was dressed in a sleek kimono the color of charcoal, gray smoke patterned over it and an obi of deep red around her waist.
InuYasha observed them passively as his brother introduced them.
"Lady Mineme is our palace seamstress." He gestured to the tall, dark woman who radiated a very interesting energy. Her thin brow was arched delicately, she met Inuyasha's eyes with no hesitation or fear. her chin was held high, proud of her title.
"This is the Lady Bashira of the mountain, the mother of my betrothed. She is renowned for her work across the land, it is a pleasure to have her here with us." Sesshomaru said the word casually, his tone as icy as ever, but the woman smiled warmly. "And this is..?" He gestured to the girl who seemed to shrink behind her companion, her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she trained her gaze on the floor.
"My dearest daughter in law, Kitsuyo." Bashira finished for him, touching the girl's shoulder affectionately. "Forgive her shyness, this is the first time she has ever come to the palace, my Lords . It is much different than our humble village." She punctuated her sentence with a curtsy, her skirts swishing along the lacquered floor.
"Yes, well, it is an honor to have you both." He said briskly, looking back over to the dark Inu who stood rigidly, her jaw sharp and angular in the bright light of the windows.
"Mineme, Lord InuYasha will be needing a set of robes for his ascension ceremony, as well as the royal wedding. Perhaps a few more for his daily… activities." He instructed after looking at the state of his disheveled kimono, covered with dirt from the garrison grounds.
He fought the urge to roll his eyes, throwing a pointed smirk over at Harusuke. If there was one thing he hated about court life it was the pleasantries. The droning introductions and traditions.
"Absolutely, Lord Sesshomaru, it will be as you say." Her voice was as even as her masters, cool as river flowing over smooth rock.
He was already bored.
It didn't surprise him that Harusuke slipped away as the women began to flurry around him, taking his measurements and pulling various rolls of fabric. Likely he was off to tease that doe Yokai he seemed to be a bit fond of. That would be an interesting pairing, to say the least.
"Aren't you getting robes too? For your, uh, wedding?" InuYasha asked Sesshomaru, being ushered behind a silk changing screen, to begin trying different garment styles.
There was a long pause as the DaiYokai seemed to decide whether he wanted to respond or not. The silence seemed pointed, and InuYasha reminded himself that they could not speak freely here. The women in the room were quiet, working, but he knew that they were listening as well.
"I will be having them tailored today, yes."
That was the end of that conversation.
The rest of the fitting was a bit awkward, but by the end he was standing in front of the large mirror, draped in luxurious black silk.
Looking at his reflection now he almost did not recognize the man standing there, staring back at him with his dark brow arching over fierce golden eyes that seemed lit from within, accentuated by the jagged purple strike across each cheek, the markings not unlike his father's. His silver hair spilled straight and smooth down his back, a bit more tame than it used to be even as locks fell across his eyes to frame his face. He stood more proudly now. There was an air of confidence there where once he had been unsure of himself and his position in this world.
After his accession was secured, no one in this land would ever question his place here again.
Her heart was pounding, rattling inside of her chest and she could feel her reiki pumping through her. Her aura swelled with her spiritual power, an iridescent pink that seemed to pull along with her heartbeat.
She could see the island.
Could see the waves crashing against the rocks and the massive trees rising up out of the thick fog that seemed to surround everything in a fine opacity.
Even from here she could tell it was massive. A great piece of Japan that had broken off many eons ago, drifting out onto the sea, evolving into its own entity.
She could feel the energy rolling off of the landmass, the spiritual barrier surrounding it was strong, almost overwhelming. The brackish water was the only thing standing between her and Sesshomaru's stronghold.
InuYasha.
Her heart felt like it had jumped into her throat. She felt her friends approaching, their presence at her back as she couldn't tear her eyes away from the foggy distance. They had traveled far to get here. Days. How many, she wasn't sure. they all blended together one after one, the same. She was tired. her eyes held that familiar dry feeling behind them, her bones aching beneath her skin as the hard ground had been no substitute for her Hanyou's arms. But those things seemed to fade the longer she looked at the misty tops of the heavily wooded mountains that lined the coast. The only thing she felt now was urgency.
"Think you can help me with this barrier, Miroku?" Kagome's voice was rough and gravely, her expression serious and full of intent as her gaze snapped to him. The monk's shoulders stiffened, the bells wrapped around his staff tinkling softly, the sound swallowed by the fog.
"It should not be a problem, Lady Kagome." There was a determined looking glimmer reflecting in his indigo eyes. His wrapped palms rubbed together, the bandages there a reminder of the curse Naraku had placed on him.
They had all felt the sharp sting of loss at the hands of the demon, in one way or another.
"Kirara can carry us across, she'll just need to make a few trips. Right, girl?" Sango gave the demonic animal a loving pat, who purred in response, her slow blink affirmation enough.
The air held a slight chill that carried out over the water, she pulled her jacket a bit tighter around her, readjusting the weight of her backpack on her shoulders.
Sand crunched beneath his feet as Mamoru stepped forward, an odd look in his glittering eyes, "I'll meet you guys over there. Go on ahead."
Kagome turned, her eyebrow arched quizzically. The Yokai ignored her, walking past her down the coastline and soon disappearing into the mist.
Miroku shrugged, turning to the Taijiya.
"You can take Kagome first, I'm sure she's impatient." He had a soft smile curving at his lips, his expression knowing.
The gesture was small, but definitely not understated.
"Thank you." She said softly as she passed him, offering a small smile.
Anticipation began to flood her as she clambered atop the large demon cat. She could smell the salt on the air from the sea, could feel the raw power that this place water separating them from the island was dark and choppy, reflecting the sky that was laden with gray clouds.
She gripped kirara's fur, letting Shippo settle between her and Sango, safely tucked away from the wind that was already beginning to pick up.
Miroku began chanting.
Words that were old and powerful; his voice held a deep velvet richness that she could almost feel tickling along her skin as they took flight.
She bid her reiki to rise, letting her eyes drift shit for a moment, taking a deep, centering breath. The air was brisk as it whipped against her face, holding a chill that seemed to grow stronger the farther over the water they got.
She could feel the barrier pulsating. Could feel it wriggle and bend underneath Miroku's influence. But his power alone would not be enough to even tempt the force field that had been programmed to keep outsiders at bay. It would take the both of them combined to coerce it into opening.
Sufficiently calmed, Kagome let her eyes fly open, instantly settling on the barrier that shimmered iridescently in the distance. The fog had thickened; the island seemed so much farther as they flew over the choppy ocean.
Kagome shakily let one of her hands release Kirara's fur, reaching back for her bow. She drew an arrow.
Somehow for a moment, she could hear Miroku's voice floating with a ghostly eminence around them. His words were ancient and charged with power, pushing the boundaries or the spiritual barrier enough for her to make her move as the drew closer.
She let loose one arrow, sending it flying through the air like a bullet, charged with her reiki. it glowed a powerful bright purple, shining as if it were a flash of lightning striking through the fog.
She held her breath.
Praying, hoping against hope.
Her hair was a wild mass whipping around her head in the wind. Shippo clung onto Sango, looking especially small there tucked away from the unrelenting wind. The three of them watched as her arrow struck true, finally hitting its mark.
It struck the barrier like lightning, sticking into it like a wall and wedging it open just enough so that Kirara could fly them through.
Immediately Kagome felt a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She could have cried with happiness. A massive sigh of relief left her, and she hugged Shippo a little tighter, the kitsune sensing her emotions, leaning back against her chest.
The demon cat flew them over a cold looking beach, the land falling away to water on jagged and unappealing rocks. They went a little farther up, to where the forest seemed to begin. Kirara landed, letting Kagome and the little kit slide easily from her back onto the wet and mossy ground. It squelched beneath her feet, making her glad she was smart and wore her high top sneakers on this trip.
"Wait for us here." Sango called out as they had already started to fly back the way they'd come to retrieve Miroku.
Kagome gave her a thumbs up that she was only half sure the Taijiya could see through the mist that slowly swallowed them up.
"Don't worry Kagome! I'll protect you!"
Shippo stood at attention, watchfully looking about the tree line and sniffing around with his Yokai nose.
She chuckled warmly, knowing that the kit's heart was in the right place. "I know you will, I'm not worried one bit with you standing guard." She gave him an affectionate pat on the head before walking around to get her bearings.
The trees here were old and thick, their roots clinging to the rocks and moss around them. Their branches wove a thick tapestry together, it was hard to tell what the landscape looked like past them.
A few hundred yards away the sea pushed at the shore. It all seemed so quiet, and normal. Though she could feel the essence of the land beneath her feet, could sense the deep and ancient magic that wove its way into every grain of sand, every pebble. It was an intense feeling.
The barrier opening she'd created wouldn't hold for too much longer though, hopefully everyone made it through in time.
Kagome stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jacket to ward off the chill of the sea, eyeing the kit as he marched along the "perimeter" as he was calling it. He was taking his self appointed job very seriously and it was adorable. Even though Shippo was a Yokai, he still somehow managed to pull at her maternal side, she couldn't help but to smile. She had missed him during her time away.
Just then, Kirara landed behind them with a soft thud, calling out a low meow.
Miroku and Sango dismounted as Kagome turned to acknowledge them.
"What do we do about the barrier? Is it okay to leave it open like that?" The Taijiya's dark brows were knitted together with worry, looking back at the flickering barrier still wedged open by Kagome's powerful arrow.
"Yeah, Mamoru can handle it I'm sure. We should go on ahead, he'll catch up." The priestess looked towards the dark woods that could be filled with all manner of dangerous creatures. They were deep in Yokai territory. No humans had been here in a millennia. Every being in the nearby radius was sure to have picked up on their scent by now. They needed to move.
"Kagome's right. We need to get off the beach, we're wide open here. Not exactly the most ideal position." Miroku nodded, taking a few long strides ahead and gesturing for the rest of them to follow.
Of course, they would need the Tatsu Yokai to direct them to the stronghold itself, but he shouldn't be far behind.
The hike uphill through the trees was arduous. At some point they had fallen into a single line, picking their way over thick roots and slippery rocks that jutted out of the earth.
Mamoru had slipped in behind Kagome at the back of the pack somewhere in that first hour, seamlessly adding to the chain they had created. If she hadn't been so focused on what lay ahead she might have questioned him on where he'd been, why he had chosen to linger behind. But she had tunnel vision. All she could think about was InuYasha. It seemed unreal that she was finally here, edging closer and closer to her beloved.
The light was weak here, filtering down between the tightly packed trees. The company was quiet. Hushed. There was a heavy magic that lay upon this forest; so much so that they all could feel it.
"Just up ahead, we'll reach a clearing. We'll stop there for the night." Mamoru broke the silence, his voice soft as Kagome whipped around to give him a dirty look.
"No. We keep going."
He eyed her wearily, shooting Miroku a look over her head.
"We're going to make camp." His tone held a sternness that she was not unfamiliar with.
"No."
Her jaw set stubbornly, eyeing down the much taller man without fear.
"Kagome," Sango cleared her throat gently behind her. "We've been traveling all day. We're tired."
Her wide brown eyes shone with concern, her hand light as it settled there on her friend's shoulder.
She stiffened; not breaking eye don't with Mamoru as she let out an annoyed sigh.
"Fine." She bit out, jerking herself away from Sango and marching up the path.
Her cheeks burned as she broke through the trees and into the meadow, tossing down her pack with a huff.
She knew she was being ridiculous. She had already waited this long. A few hours of rest wouldn't hurt.
She just missed him so much.
Missed him like he was oxygen and she was on top of a mountain gasping for air.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She looked up at the moon, hanging there so innocently in the sky.
She wanted to scream.
But instead she let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart.
The longer she spent away from him the more at odds with herself she had become. He was the one who kept her centered, who made her feel safe. Without him she was lost.
She just had to keep it together for a little longer, and then things would be okay again. Things would make sense.
She could feel eyes on her, her friends watching her carefully as they began to make their beds for the night.
"No fire tonight. No need to draw attention to ourselves." Mamoru was pacing along the edge of the clearing, moonlight reflecting off of his blue black hair that flowed down his back in obsidian ribbons. "I'll keep watch."
They all seemed to be walking on eggshells around her, no one daring to come near.
But she didn't blame them.
Her face was hot with embarrassment, knowing she'd made an ass out of herself.
Fireflies lit up around them, floating through the tall grass, leaving trails of light streaking through the air. Night had snuck up on them, she hadn't even noticed the sky darkening behind the heavy leaves. In an unknown land, Mamoru had made the right call, having them make camp for the night.
Kagome set out her tatami mat and laid down with a sigh. It took a while to get comfortable. She tossed and turned for a long time, the denim of her jeans feeling tight on her legs; the fabric twisting, making her hot and sweaty.
She could hear Miroku snoring, the breeze rusting the branches around them. She felt safe enough with the dragon Yokai keeping guard, and the light of the moon bathing her to finally drift off into a fitful sleep.
She was awoken abruptly, a pair of slender hands shaking her insistently in the near complete darkness. Drowsily, she opened her eyes, trying to swat away whoever had been shaking her.
"Wake up."
A low voice hissed by her ear, urging her to snap out of her sleepy state.
"Is it morning already?" Her tone was laced with confusion, rubbing her eyes with a wide yawn as she sat up. Sango had been the one trying so desperately to wake her, she was crouched down beside her, her brown eyes as wide as saucers.
"What's wrong?" Instantly as she had seen her friends expression Kagome had sobered, realizing that something was off. She looked around, her eyes straining in the weak moonlight, noticing the rest of their group all standing, facing the tree line.
"We have company."
Mamoru growled out lowly, never taking his eyes off of the trees.
Immediately she jumped up, reaching for her now out of habit. She felt safer with an arrow knocked between her fingers.
Just then, the leaves rustled, parting as a troop of armored Yokai stepped out to show themselves. There were six of them altogether, each of them wielding a deadly spear, swords tied at their waists. They moved to surround them, their footsteps so impossibly light that they did not make a sound as they walked over the long grass.
"No human has stepped foot in the king's land in a millennia. What business do you have bringing such ilk with you, Tatsu? Speak now."
The one who spoke seemed taller than the others, his expression hard and flat in the darkness, his eyes unnaturally reflecting the little light that filtered down into the meadow. His voice was rough and gravely, his words coming out like growls loosing themselves from deep within his throat. He addressed Mamoru only, not even sparing a glance back at the rest of them. Shippo clung to her, his tiny body shaking with fear even as he did his best to hide it.
"I am an acolyte of Tsukuyomi, I come to bring his progeny before the lord of these lands." He spoke plainly, his tone holding no malice and she could tell he was doing his best to remain peaceful, though his body language said something entirely different.
Immediately as the words left his mouth she could sense a change in the Yokai that surrounded them. They passed looks of confusion to each other, muttering as they began to size each of them up, trying to pick out which one of them was the demigod.
"Tsukuyomi-sama has no kin in this realm, if you think us fools you are sorely mistaken." The main one bit out incredulously, his lips pulling back to expose sharp fangs, a thinly veiled threat.
"You would be a fool to deny the god's will." She could not see his face, but she wished she could. His voice was cold and matter of fact, his shoulders squared, his head held high as if on cue, dark clouds parted to reveal the moon hanging so innocently there in the sky. It was waxing, much of it shrouded in darkness. But the sliver that did shine seemed to glow extra bright in that moment, it's light bathing the meadow they stood in.
The sentinels seemed to take pause then, the blades of their wickedly sharp spears glinting maliciously in the near darkness.
"Which one of you claims to be god kin?" The roughened InuYokai barked after a long beat of silence. When Mamoru didn't immediately answer he growled a low warning, "speak!"
Without thinking Kagome stepped forward, putting Shippo behind her as she did her best to draw herself up, holding her head high as she dared to declare herself.
"I do."
Her words rang out across the meadow, laced with a challenge. Mamoru stepped to the side, and though her friends were at her back in that moment, with all eyes on her, it felt like she stood alone.
With the clouds parted, and the moon weeping it's light into her skin, she felt the insurmountable surge of power tingle across her skin, her inheritance. The reiki lifted her hair on an invisible breeze, lit her up like a shining, pearlescent beacon in the night. She felt it inside of her, a vast and barren sea. She had closed her eyes for a heartbeat, breathing deeply of the air around them that was charged with magic. She was too distracted to hear the collective gasp, her mind going a thousand miles a minute as she seemed to almost float there for a long moment, her skin lit up light the moon itself.
When she opened them again the sentinels were on their knees, bowing.
Her gaze immediately flashed to Mamoru, who seemed proud, staring back at her with a small smile twisting at his lips, almost as if to say she'd done well.
"Now, will you lead us through the wood? We would like to speak with your master." His tone was smug, directed towards the Inu kneeling in the tall grass. The man's head slowly raised, eyes glimmering in the darkness. He held his spear in an iron grip, claw-tipped fingers wrapped around the wooden base fiercely. He drew himself up to stand slowly, Kagome could feel him looking at her even as the reiki around her had calmed slightly, her skin holding barely a glimmer of the light it did only moments ago.
"Come." The dark Yokai turned away towards the trees, signaling something to his soldiers. Immediately they moved like shadows to flank him, their swiftness unnatural and demonic. "We will take you to the palace."
Hesitantly, the four of them gathered up what little they had brought with them and followed the silent sentinels into the dark trees.
They walked for ages.
Kagome still had that dry, tired feeling behind her eyes, her body achy from having slept so poorly and so little. But she was on high alert nonetheless. She could sense them watching her the whole way; Yokai eyes may as well have burned a hole through her jacket with how hard they were staring. Mamoru walked closely beside her, never straying more than a pace away, and she knew he was watching them right back. His aura was riled and whipping around him like blue flame. It tickled her own, tingling along her senses in a comforting way. Though the soldiers had spread out to flank them with their leader at the groups head, she felt safe knowing the Tatsu was there to defend them should things go awry.
Her sneakers were scuffed and soiled with mud. She had fallen a bit over a particularly jutting root and subsequently the mud was now caked up to her knees, making her jeans feel sticky and even more uncomfortable. The wood was dark and eerie in the night, with little light from the moon to guide their path. Sango and Miroku in particular struggled, trailing along at the back of the group. Kagome kept Shippo close to her though, never letting go of the kits hand.
The night began to wane almost without her notice, giving way to a tawny blue sky that barely whispered with the first rays of sun.
Finally, the trees began to thin. It was less dense and rough terrain, the hard-packed earth becoming lush open grass that swayed with the wind. It seemed the end of the forest was getting closer and closer, she felt like she could almost see the outline of mountains in the distance, past the low hanging branches of the canopy that seemed to go on forever.
Her heart suddenly roared back to life, the fire there being stoked as she walked with a bit more speed and determination.
"Are we close?" Kagome asked Mamoru, her voice finally holding a shred of hope. She pulled her jacket tighter around herself, warding off the bitter wind.
The leader of the group flashed his gaze over to her and back again but said nothing, his ears perking up as she spoke.
Light dappled along the Tatsu's face as she looked up at him, his skin holding that blueish pearlescent tint, he seemed so ephemeral in that moment. Especially with his inky black hair spilling down his black and his traditional kimono and hakama. His eyes were too many colors to describe. Up close like this it was almost too much looking at him, they were a deep mosaic of blues and purples, glittering jewels fanned by thick eyelashes. His face was framed by thick, dark brows that made him seem so serious.
"Yes." He said finally, a weary smile on his lips. "Just past the trees, I think."
As soon as the words left his lips she was running.
Her impossibly long hair whipped wildly past her face. she flew past the sentinels, all but pushing past them. She didn't care. They didn't stop her.
She broke the tree line.
The early morning sunlight kissed her skin with a blessed warmth. At that moment it felt like a release.
The walls were the first thing she saw.
Massive and made of ancient stone, she could just barely see the roofs of buildings peeking out from the top of the structure. Green, emerald grass stretched out between her and the stronghold, the field going on for at least a mile.
She could've fallen to her knees then and wept with joy; could have screamed and cried. But she didn't, her steps faltered and she stood there basking in the feeling of seeing the end so close.
A soft sun had risen, its rays just barely reaching the timid sky. Kagome's fists tightened at her sides, her eyes filling with happy tears that she did not shed.
She whipped around as the rest of them came out of the wood, beaming. For the first time in what felt like forever she was smiling, a massive, wild grin.
"We made it." Sango murmured, her voice laced with disbelief as they all took in the impressive feat of the walls that easily stretched over fifty feet into the air. Miroku came up behind her, bells jingling as he walked, his indigo eyes sharing a similar look of wonder.
"It seems so, my lady."
It didn't escape Kagome's notice when he reached down between them and grabbed Sango's hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. They shared a look between them, something unspoken passing back and forth in their gaze.
Kagome looked away, over to Mamoru who was already turned toward her, his stare locking onto her own. There was a look there that she didn't understand, something deep and complex. He smiled wanly, but it did not reach his eyes.
The dark sentinels had walked ahead, and in the light Kagome could see them much better. They held similarities between them, beyond the fact that they were all clad in the same plain black kimono and hakama with swords strapped to their waists and spears in their claw-tipped hands. Each of the six had long, dark hair, drawn away from their face in various ways. Pointed ears and too-perfect features gave away their demonic nature, along with sharp eyes the color of honey, not unlike the other Inu's she had seen.
"Open the gate!" The taller one who seemed to be the leader of the soldiers yelled out, cupping his hand around his mouth to amplify the sound.
She threw one last look at her companions before jogging to catch up with the Inu's, breathless from excitement.
It almost didn't seem real. She was dizzy, her head spinning with a million thoughts that swirled there; her ears rang and all she could see was the massive wooden doors of the gate swinging open.
Sesshomaru watched his brother stand in the robes the seamstress had deftly prepared for him, the wooden platform in front of the tall bronze mirror only adding to the effect of his transformation. It seemed so plain to him now that this was as it should be. He would take Hanako as his rightful wife and mate to further solidify his rule and satisfy the ceaseless cawing of the council, and then the following day would be InuYasha's ceremony.
Logically, it made sense to lump the two events together. The heads of each clan were already traveling across Japan to watch InuYasha take his place as his second, and this way they would not have to make the journey again, for a time at least.
Jaken, however, was in a frenzy making the proper preparations. Hanako's family had arrived quickly from the mountains, and his betrothed had been spending much time with them. The flurry of her heat was over, she had calmed and they had begun to carefully explore each other when they met in their quarters each night. It was fluid, the connection between them, and tranquil. It felt right and whole. Even when they parted to tend to their duties he still felt her there, always with him, drawn together by an unbreakable cord. He looked into her eyes and he felt as though nothing had ever been so dear to him before, that she would be worth dying for.
And so he was content with suffering through these next treacherous days, of walking on eggshells to please the court and his people, to name her his Lady of the west. It would be worth it, the droning ceremonies and traditions. It was a day he had been most sure would never come. Never had he intended to mate, but he supposed fate had had other plans.
Even now as he stood vacantly, having his marital robes altered and pinned by his soon to be mother-in-law, his heart seemed to awaken as he thought of going back to their shared bed tonight. It had been dormant and cold for so long, but the frost had begun to melt from that very first night.
Admittedly, his plan was going shockingly smooth.
There had been no backlash from the council as the news of his brother's ascension and his own wedding had been dropped on them suddenly. The older members were shocked that he had chosen to mate at all, and as planned, it distracted them from InuYasha. It seemed less important to them that the former half-breed was going to be in a position of power over them when their Lord was solidifying his rule, and with a new wife in tow an heir was surely not far behind.
That, at least, he could agree with.
The wedding would be held in three days time, and InuYasha's succession the day after. Karitei had consulted the stars and assured him that it was a most auspicious date, the moon would be a perfect split, half darkness and the other half cast in the light. It was only appropriate that the rituals of his people were carried out under the velvet expanse of the night sky, when the power of the god they worshiped was at its peak.
Regardless, he was anxious for all of it to be over with. He was more than ready to settle into a normal routine with his mate, to have his kingdom peaceful and quiet once more. Usually, it was much easier for him to manage his affairs and still somehow skulk about in the realm outside of here, hunting his foe, Naraku. But as of late, for obvious reasons, his realm had been in a state of utter disarray that had taken him some time to repair.
But now that things were getting back on track, he felt a bit more relaxed. The time was nearing, everything was set in place. Soon, they could be alone. Truly alone.
Of course the heinous abomination Naraku would have to be dealt with soon, but he was certain that with the combined efforts of his brother they could easily destroy the beast.
All the while his mind was wandering, Bashira had been watching him carefully.
He knew his face was expressionless; his eyes vacantly staring as his mind raced colorfully with his plans of the future, with hope. But he could feel her gaze nonetheless. Her eyes were a much deeper shade of purple than her daughters, her skin not quite as pink or freckled, instead it was a smooth porcelain stretching over high cheekbones. They did share the same sloping nose and full rosebud lips, though there was a deep look in her eyes that gave away her true age.
"There, my Lord, take a look and see if it is to your liking." The Snowy Inu woman respectfully backed away after smoothing down the final layers of his sokutai, the special garment that was for the most sacred of ceremonies only. She folded her hands in front of as she lowered her gaze, slender, ring-covered fingers grasping each other, pleased with her work.
Sesshomaru was now standing in front of the mirror, InuYasha having slipped out of the room as he himself had been daydreaming, miles away in his mind. Layers of robes dyed a deep, pure, royal purple draped off of his tall frame, wide sleeves belling out to nearly drape along the floor. The shade the fabric had been dyed was highly coveted, reserved for only those highest in rank. And admittedly, Bashira had expertly put together the garment in a very short amount of time, she was very skilled.
"Excellent work, madam." His tone was flat and empty but it was as good a compliment as one could get from the Lord.
Bashira beamed, passing a look to the demure female who stood silently behind her, a smile twisting at her lips.
He was beginning to understand his in laws a bit more now, and could see the facets of them that lived in Hanako. They were a modest people, isolated away from the rest of his domain up on the mountain. Life was harsh there, they had to be skilled and hardy if they wanted to survive. He could definitely see that scrappiness in this wife to be as well. The mere fact that she had lasted in his court for this long on her own before he had ever noticed her was a testament to that.
The fitting was done and he found himself drifting back towards his wing of the castle. He knew Jaken could be found there in his study, and there was further business he needed to discuss with the imp.
He had almost crossed the threshold of his wing when a shout stopped him.
"My Lord!"
Sesshomaru whipped around, a flurry of silk and fur and silver hair, his eyes narrowed and striking like a cats.
Atsunobu ran to catch up to him, his footsteps banging against the intricate wood floors in a manner that was most garish in a place of such finery.
"My apologies, Lord Sesshomaru." He was slightly breathless, smoothing over his Kimono after bowing deeply to the DaiYokai.
"What has got you in such a state, Atsunobu, that you would disrupt the peace of my halls?"
The rust colored Inu bowed his head again, folding his hands at his sides.
"My Lord, the patrol located a group of outsiders wandering through the woods outside the eastern entrance. One of them is claiming to be a goddess and demands to speak with you." He said finally, matter of fact, though it seemed he was having a hard time believing it himself.
Sesshomaru's eyebrows quirked up incredulously over luminous golden eyes.
"Goddess? How many are in her company?"
"Six all together my lord. A Tatsu, a Houshi, Taijiya, Kitsune, the miko, and a demon cat… quite the ragged band, I was told."
Sesshomaru's ears immediately perked up.
Miko…?
He only knew of two that were of any interest these days. And if either of them showed up at his door… well he was certain InuYasha would like to be made aware.
"Send for my brother. Have the infiltrators brought in discreetly, I would like to know just how they broke through my barrier."
Atsunobu bowed deeply, heavy eyebrows set in determination as he was given the order.
"Hai, my Lord. It will be as you say."
The copper Inu was gone in the next moment, off to see to his masters word.
The DaiYokai was left there to contemplate what his advisor had told him. It was the worst possible time to suffer such a breach in security, with the heads of the clans congregating at the palace for the royal events in the upcoming days. Silently, he cursed his guard for not catching them sooner, as soon as they had set foot on his gray shores.
But it didn't matter.
It would be sorted before long, swept under the rug if at all possible.
He smoothed his long fingers over his fine robe, collecting himself.
Annoyed would be a good way to put it. He was annoyed.