Chapter 39
Kagome was swept away from InuYasha, Hanako effortlessly gliding out into the expansive hall where there were a group of demure ladies waiting, their gazes cast respectfully to the dark wooden floor. Almost eerily in sync they all dropped into a deep bow, and her stomach filled with unease. Six Yokai women in total she counted silently, all dressed in plain colored robes that essentially marked them, setting them apart from the higher classes.
No words were exchanged as Hanako kept walking without missing a beat, her steps light and dainty as she took her deeper into the castle. The women fell in a quiet line behind them, trailing a few feet behind but never wavering.
Anxiety tightened and twisted in her belly but she grit her teeth and forced herself to mimic the snowy Inu's effortless grace.
Hanako seemed to hold herself as if she was born to be royalty, her back straight as a bone and chin held high towards the arched ceilings. Her illustrious kimono billowed out from her tiny waist, the fine fabric trailing behind her on the floor. Kagome took care not to step on the train as she tried to maneuver in her own set of robes. The obi in the middle was tight, and almost forced her to keep her back straight, which she was thankful for in that moment as she could feel countless sets of hungry eyes staring at her as they strode down the wide hallway.
She fought to keep her gaze straight ahead, though it was impossible to keep herself from looking at the court as they gathered silently, watching. Whispers floated in the air but they kept walking. Again, Kagome noticed that almost all the nobles she came across were of Inu blood, and their relentless animalistic eyes chewed her up and spat her right back out, seemingly unimpressed.
Eventually, after a few twists and turns through the opulent halls, Kagome found herself in a large, open sunroom with floor to ceiling windows. sunlight poured in to dapple the floor, beaming over the foliage of the many plants that were hung around the massive space, the air perfumed by the flowers that grew from the clay pots along the walls.
"This is my favorite little hideaway." Hanako smiled with an easy shrug, "Not many come here, but Rin and I enjoy it."
"I can see why." Kagome walked deeper into the room, noticing an extravagant sitting area hidden behind several huge leafy vegetations. "It's so lovely."
Through the open windows she could really see the city below. The air was crisp and clear, sending a pleasant breeze through the room and she admired the view, walking closer to the archways.
"Wow." she breathed, her hand touching the wood gently as she leaned over, feeling the magic woven into the grains.
The blue sky was streaked with thin, curling white clouds and the city beneath them burst and moved with life. She could see the buildings almost stacked on top of each other, the cobbled streets turning and carving through the landscape that eventually gave way to fields and crops before the stone wall jutted up, blocking her view of the forest beyond. There was a thin balcony wrapping around the outside of the room and she made a mental note to get a bit of a closer look later if she could. The castle reminded her almost of the tower of Babylon with the way it was stacked, though some of it was carved into the landscape itself.
"Tea will be served shortly, my Lady!" The unmistakable voice of Jaken pierced the air and she couldn't help but wince, turned to face the little imp with a forced smile. Hanako nodded, thanking him.
"Well," The snowy Inu clapped her hands together eagerly, "shall we begin?"
The day wore on, and Kagome was thrown head first into the confusing, fast paced life at court. Hanako taught her how to walk, talk, and hold herself like a true noble lady. Though she herself was not of noble descent, she'd spent many years working under the high borns, and had learned exactly how to behave properly in such a high tension setting. She learned how to carefully keep her kimono from dragging in a way that was not flattering, how to balance herself on the small shoes that were little more than a wooden platform with a strap, even how to drink her tea like a lady. She quickly grew bored but she forced herself to stay focused as Hanako, along with the imp Jaken, began to explain the finer details of the ceremony that would be held tomorrow, and the day after.
Much of it was easy enough to remember. Stand here, don't stand during this part, move there, smile politely but not too much eye contact either. She sent another silent thank you to her oji-Chan who had drilled the old history into her head as a child living at the temple. The information had seemed useless to her then but it was very much coming in handy for her at that moment.
It felt like hours they'd been sequestered off into the large atrium. The breeze floating in through the open windows was pleasant enough, and Hanako had a way of gracefully commanding attention that kept Kagome's mind from wandering away from her too much.
It was a little overwhelming. Honestly, becoming a member of the royal family had been the last thing she'd expected when she had arrived here. Mostly, she'd been bracing herself for a fight, but this was turning out to be a very different kind of battle. One that required far more of her mental strength than she had anticipated.
After Kagome had been thoroughly educated, Jaken insisted that she select a ladies maid. Eager to get it over with and cease his screeching, she agreed and stood stiffly as three Yokai women were led before her.
All of them were dressed almost identically, in plain cotton kimono that marked them as the working class. Kagome sighed and turned to the women, gently asking their names.
"Chiemi." The first one said, her voice as rough as gravel. She had dark, inky black hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail with a bit of leather chord. She didn't look up to meet Kagome's eyes, as if her spirit had been snuffed out long ago. But she could see that she had a small, pointed face and her features were sharp.
"I am Matsu, my lady." The second woman seemed more stoutly built, shorter than the other two and stockier. She looked like she had been working all her life. Her eyes were a common shade of brown and wrinkled at the corners, as if she had spent much time laughing in the sun. Her plain black hair was dull, pulled back tightly into a bun that seemed to sit stiffly at the top of her head. It was the closest Kagome had ever come to seeing a Yokai who looked old. Every other demon she'd crossed paths with had the quintessential impenetrable youth that she'd assumed all of them possessed. Even Sesshomaru, who was well over a thousand years old, barely looked twenty, at best. She wondered what exactly she was, for lack of better terms. Clearly, the woman was not of Inu blood.
Lastly, a thin, meek looking girl with her head down, gaze set firmly into the floor. Her hands clasped together in front of her tightly. Light brown hair, almost painted with a strawberry tinge, hung freely past her shoulders, the tresses holding a bit of a slight curl to them.
"Tsunade, Lady Kagome."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, light and timid sounding. As she looked at her a bit closer, Kagome could see warm brown freckles splattered over the girl's skin like paint. She didn't look up, even as she addressed her.
Around her, her aura was a halo of light orange spreading all around her, healthy and bright. If flicked like a candle flame, and Kagome could tell that beneath her meek exterior lay an entire inner world. Something about that called to her, and it seemed right.
After a moment of silent deliberation, her eyes flitting between the three women, she cleared her throat, making her intention clear.
"Tsunade will be my maid."
"Very well." Jaken thumped his staff loudly against the wooden floor, his huge yellow eyes slitted like a lizard. "You may leave!" He barked, and almost instantly the two women who were not chosen led themselves out with a quiet swiftness.
The girl who had been named did not look up, only continued to twist and pick at her own fingers.
Kagome was so completely not used to being in a position of power, in any capacity really. She swallowed the lump in her throat, unsure of how to even go from there.
Sensing tension, Hanako breezed over to her, clapping her hands together with excitement.
"How wonderful! I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine. Tsunade is a very capable girl." She nodded matter of factly.
Even at the praise, Tsunade did not lift her head.
Kagome spent another tense moment wringing her own fingers together beneath her billowing sleeve, picking at the skin there almost compulsively as the uncomfortable silence weighed heavy in the air.
Hanako cleared her throat daintily, a knowing look held in her lavender eyes as she carefully draped herself down over a silken cushion.
"We will be needing the kimono, if you don't mind."
The snowy Inu addressed Kagome's new maid, and the girl's pointed ears twitched where they rose from her mousy hair. She quickly got to work, deftly bowing and turning to fetch what she'd been bidden.
"This is the most important part." Hanako said with a glimmering smile, though no lack of seriousness. "Come, sit." She patted the spot beside her with a gentle, elegant hand.
Breathing a silent sigh of relief that the focus was no longer completely on her, she sat next to the ethereal Inu girl, feeling plain in the presence of such an immense beauty.
A moment later, Tsunade returned, carefully laying out the choices of Kimono before the two women.
The garments were beautiful, but to her untrained eyes she couldn't bring herself to choose. Instead, she let Hanako take the lead and the girl happily chose her robes and accompaniments for the following days ceremonies.
"Eyes will be on you, many eyes…"
The thought sent a stone spiraling straight into her gut.
"It's important that you look the part. I think this will do nicely, sister."
She had taken to using the term affectionately, Kagome noticed. It seemed light and formal almost, falling from her perfectly shaped rose-bud lips. Her reiki had grown used to the snowy Inu's breezy flickering of energy, her intentions wholly pure, she could sense that easily enough.
So she let herself be fretted over, poked and pulled and cinched until everything on her lay just so. It wasn't fun anymore, it didn't feel like a game of dress up. There was a layer of seriousness beneath the surface, as Hanako seemed to carefully piece together what would be her debut into the Yokai court.
Her stomach flipped, heavy and twisting as it really began to sink in what lay ahead.
Knowing herself and her ability to lose herself in her emotions, she quickly locked those feelings away. The fear and doubt would gnaw at her later, at night, when she could allow herself a measure of vulnerability.
That line of thinking only drew her back to longing for her mate. They had been apart far too long. A few hours felt like days and that was too much as far as Kagome was concerned. She needed to be pressed against his chest, where she could feel the reassuring thump of his heart and know that she was truly safe.
A while passed, Hanako flitted about the room, snipping flowers and in the lull in conversation Kagome found an opportunity to ask about something that had been plaguing her thoughts ever since they'd arrived.
"I'd like to see my fathers temple." Ever since InuYasha had mentioned his brother bringing him there to be healed, the thought of it had not left her mind. She felt a pull deep in her chest, driving her towards it.
Hanako turned to her with her pale brow arched over her shimmering violet eyes, an incredulous smile on her full mouth, her arms full of fresh blooms.
"Tsukyomi's temple lies deep within the mountains. It would be a very long journey for you, sister. And anyway, it has been abandoned for years now. There isn't very much to see."
There was a deep red vase sitting on one of the side tables, it shined the color of blood with its thick lacquer; the snowy Inu began delicately arranging her flowers into the stout pottery. Her long, pale fingers filed down to sharp nails that ever so gently moved the lush green stems, careful not to puncture the delicate petals of the vibrant petals that would wither quickly beneath rough handling.
"Abandoned?" Kagome's brows scrunched together in confusion. "Why is that? That doesn't make sense…"
Hanako, seemingly satisfied with her floral arrangement, turned to sit at the low table that had just been filled with a spread of tea and light cakes. There was a breezy look on her innocent, doe eyed face as she poured them both a cup.
"It's a bit of a tale." She chuckled, the sound as bright and fresh as a summer rain. " you may want to sit." She gestured gracefully over to the silk pillow on the other side of the table. Kagome nodded slowly, her expression fallen into an apprehensive, stormy look. She took the cup of tea offered to her, the steam curling up into the air, perfumed jasmine.
"It was before my time at court, I came a few years after everything had settled down. But even then, I still heard the stories." The snowy inu gave her a pointed look over the rim of her tea cup, her lavender eyes seeming almost to glow with their vibrancy, framed by thin white brows. "Gossip runs rampant in these halls, it seems there is nothing better to do. But I digress," she set the cup down gently, the porcelain barely making a sound. "From what I heard, it had something to do with the Tatsu in your company…"
Kagome felt herself still, her breath catching for a moment.
"That can't be right…" she said breathlessly, her fingers ringing themselves together in her lap as an uneasy feeling twisted in the pit of her stomach. It would explain why Sesshomaru had seemed so put off by his presence… and how he'd known how to enter the island's impenetrable borders with such ease.
"I did not mean to upset you," Hanako seemed genuinely concerned, her wide, unnatural eyes reflecting the soft light that filtered in through the open windows. "Perhaps you should ask your friend instead?"
"No it's alright." Kagome shook her head, fighting to clear it. "Please, keep going."
At her urging, Hanako reluctantly continued, tucking a wayward strand of her white hair behind her pointed ear.
"An object of great power was at the center of the temple for many years, A celestial orb, fallen from Tsukyomi's kingdom in the sky during his battle with Amaratsu. It was entrusted to a new high priestess every generation, and it went on like that for centuries, more, even. The first of the Inu's began to worship it, and slowly the city was built on the island." She explained, knowing that Kagome had no knowledge of her people's history. And she hung on every word, soaking up the information eagerly.
"So, around maybe a hundred years ago, a new head priestess was selected. She was extremely skilled in healing, and had been blessed with the gift of dream walking."
The hairs on the back of her neck rose, prickling at the mention of her power.
"But, she broke her vows."
Hanako sighed, shaking her head as if she herself was disappointed in the woman.
"As a priestess, one is bidden to stay..well, you know, a maiden. They must never take a mate, or produce an heir." The snowy inu blushed, the pinkness in her cheeks giving away her innocence. "The Tatsu had gotten close to her, through his own devotion at the temple or whatever else, who knows really… but it had soon become very clear to any who were privy to it that the two of them were smitten with each other. One night, the orb went missing, along with the Tatsu… the priestess, Karitei, went after him, but she returned empty handed. By the time a tracking party was sent after him he had already fled the island, his scent lost over the sea."
She ended the tale with a solemn, matter of fact tone, taking another dainty sip.
Kagome sat in baffled silence for a long, drawn out moment. She sputtered, looking for any words but her mind was racing so fast it may as well have been blank.
Weeks spent training, and more traveling together with nothing to do but talk, and Mamoru had never once thought to mention such a thing? Foolishly, maybe, she had thought they'd become close… but perhaps she had been wrong. He was a Yokai after all, a Tatsu, the serpent… was she wrong to place her trust in him if he could not do the same? A fraction of honesty was all she asked.
But her fathers words rang in her ears just then, reminding her of all he had done. Explicitly, Tsukyomi had said that she could put her faith in Mamoru, and he hadn't been wrong yet, though her stomach flipped with unease.
She didn't like secrets, and he seemed to be full of them. The web only got more complex as time went on, tangled strings twisting and grasping onto each other, intertwining as new information spilled out.
"He was lucky that Sesshomaru did not execute him on sight, really." Hanako said lightly, as if it were regular tea time conversation to be having. The jewelry in her hair sparkled as she tucked a loose curl behind her ear, catching the sunlight filtering in through the massive windows. "He had some nerve showing his face here, using your bloodline as a shield."
Her tone was matter of fact and without malice, but still, Kagome found herself stiffening in defense.
Frozen, the words rolled over her and she could feel her face drop into a serious scowl.
Her mind was racing a million miles a minute, and she could feel Hanako's violet eyes studying her, settling on her skin with concern.
"I believe that is enough for one day, I think you will do just fine with the ceremonies." She set her tea cup down abruptly, but she was still careful not to bang the delicate porcelain onto the hardwood of the table. Kagome didn't protest as the snowy inu gracefully rose to her feet, the sound of silk falling against itself filling the air delicately as she did the same.
She was still unused to the tightness of the obi pinning her waist into a perfect hourglass, it forced her to carry herself with an upright posture that she was getting annoyed with the longer she focused on it. Just like any other normal teenager she was accustomed to slouching, and that was nearly impossible when she was dressed this way.
"Tsunade will show you the way back to your quarters." Hanako beckoned the girl from where she'd been quietly posed in the corner, so quiet that Kagome had nearly forgotten her new handmaiden was there altogether.
Coming up to her shoulder, the Yokai looked so tiny compared to her, who was even considered small by most.
"Thank you for helping me today, sister in law." Kagome said formally, bowing at the waist to the Yokai who was soon to be the new Lady of the West.
Hanako smiled warmly, reaching out to grasp her hand in her own. Her skin was surprisingly cold, though it was soft and smooth like touching a fresh flower petal.
"We are family, there is no need for thanks. You may call on me anytime."
They parted ways with a simple goodbye, and she let her new ladies maid lead the way. A part of her felt a sense of relief that it was over, that she'd passed some nameless test. But now after what she'd learned, her thoughts were cloudy and swirling with doubt. She just needed to be back with InuYasha and maybe she would start to feel a bit more clear headed.
Miroku found himself hovering just outside of the paper thin shoji doors that separated him and the Tajiya. He hesitated in the hallway, his hand raised to slide the frame open, lingering there in the air, undecided.
She'd seemed irritated when she'd breezed past both him and InuYasha, saying that she wanted to lie down. That was unlike her in itself. The girl was a hard worker. She was bred to labor from dusk till dawn, if need be. Her lithe body was stacked with muscle and hidden strength, she was made for it.
InuYasha had left him with Haru, whom he liked well enough, but he figured he could leave the copper inu to entertain Shippo for a while so he could at least check on Sango. He didn't know why he was taking such a pause now.
Finally, he slid open the door, silently stepping into the darkened room. She had pulled the widow shades closed, but even in the shadowed darkness his eyes instantly locked onto her, laying there on the tatami mat.
She lay on her side, one hand beneath her head and a river of dark hair spilling out across the floor like dark ribbons. She had a thin sheet pulled loosely over her, and nothing else. Her kimono was folded neatly beside her.
The sheet was pulled up just enough to barely cover her breasts, which were squished together between the hard mat and her arm, tangled up around her calves where she had kicked it loose. For the first time, he could see so much of her skin. He knew he shouldn't look, but he couldn't stop.
Quickly, he stepped fully into the room and shut the door behind him softly.
It was even darker then, but his eyes adjusted quickly and with his heart jumping in his throat he took a step closer, eyes tracing over the valley of her curves. That sheet may as well have been paper thin.
Her eyes raced back and forth beneath her eyelids, her lashes fluttering and lips parted in sleep.
She took a deep breath, shifting restlessly and he froze, certain for a moment he was caught being a total pervert. And that was true enough, he supposed as his eyes traveled over her milky white skin once more, basking in such a rare sight. Sango let out a breathy sigh, mumbling incoherently as she turned over to lay flat on her back.
Sometimes, on the road, she would talk in her sleep. They would take turns on watch, though it was either him or InuYasha most of the time. He'd heard her say some pretty crazy things in the middle of the night before, without ever opening her eyes. So he wasn't too alarmed to hear her muttering.
The sheet went with her as she turned, tangling up even further and wrapping around her torso tightly, sticking to her curves. Miroku held his breath, but her eyes remained closed.
He let it out when she seemed to settle again, her breath deepening into a rhythm. "Please," Sango whispered, her voice thick with sleep. "Miroku,"
Instantly all the blood in his body seemed to race straight to his cock.
She was dead asleep. And his name was falling from her sweet lips so tenderly, hell, she even said please.
His heart seemed to beat faster, pounding against his chest. He was trying to summon up every ounce of self control he possessed. Which, admittedly, was not his strongest trait.
"Miroku…"
She said his name again, tossing her head to the side, her dark hair spilling down wildly over her chest as her hands fisted in the thin sheet that may as well have been but a scrap of linen.
He grit his teeth.
He was only a man, dammit. A very, very weak man with famously very little resolve. He swore he could feel sweat beading along his forehead and he let his eyes hungrily travel over her, drinking in her splayed form as if he were dying of thirst. He may as well have been, the way his throat tightened at the sight of her.
Why was she calling for him? What was she dreaming of, with her hands writhing in the blankets as if she were tormented by some sweet nightmare?
Her thin brows were drawn together, her lip pulled between her teeth as she tossed her head again, mumbling.
He didn't know how much longer he could take this.
Beneath his robes his cock strained almost painfully hard, longing to be free. Without thinking, he found himself kneeling beside her carefully, so as not to startle her too much. But he was no longer concerned with whether he woke her or not.
His fingers fisted in his robes, fighting the urge to creep towards the thin linen and peel it away from her fair skin. Her breathing was slow and deep, while his own was coming fast and hard, his heart pounding.
"Help… help…" she whispered pitifully, and at last he broke.
The last of his resolve withered away and he instantly went to her, his hand sliding across the smooth expanse of her neck to cup her jaw, fingers twisting into the dark locks of her hair.
"Sango," gently, he brushed his other hand over her forehead, down her cheek, past her neck, then her lovely collarbones, a weak attempt at rousing her as he drank in the intoxicating feeling of her skin.
If he said it again she would wake. He knew that. She was not a heavy sleeper… he had a chance, he could still slip away, though he could feel her slowly coming back to consciousness beneath his fingertips. He could still pretend this had never happened, maybe, if he tried hard enough. But if he stayed there would be no going back.
He swallowed thickly, licking his lips as his fingers itched to pull down the sheet and expose more of her creamy skin. He could see the hardened peak of her nipples, pushing up through the thin fabric and it was driving him mad.
That was all it took.
"Hey," he said a bit louder, "wake up Sango, you're having a nightmare…"
He moved his fingers along her shoulder, tracing her surprisingly delicate collarbone. His breathing was coming hard and fast, he licked his lips to wet them, watching her dark eyelashes flutter against her pale cheeks as she began to wake.
He leaned down, close to her ear, letting his breath whisper against her skin as every part of him fought desperately to keep himself from dragging his lips over her neck.
Somehow, he'd moved himself to where he was hovering over her. His hands were on either side of her head, but even in his state of delirium he'd managed to keep his knees together on one side of her body, not bold enough to put himself over her completely.
Miroku stared down at her, his hair falling into his eyes, chest heaving. His mind was clouded by her dizzyingly lewd body, almost naked but not quite. But even in that haze, one thing was not lost on him, and that was this woman's effortless ability to have him weak in every meaning of the word.
He loved her.
Fuck, he loved her.
He was not one to curse often, even under his own breath, but there was no woman that could compare to the girl who was beginning to shift restlessly in her sleep beneath him. Her hair spilled out around her, silky straight and inky black in the near darkness of the room, her eyes started to open.
He froze, breath caught in his throat.
"Miroku?"
Her voice was thick and laced with sleep, confusion tilting at the edges as she gazed up at him with heavy brown eyes.
"You were having a nightmare, Sango… I was trying to wake you."
Her dark brows drew together, as if she was swept back up in it for a moment.
"It was a very bad dream…" she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, and his eyes followed the movements with rapt attention. "I always have bad dreams." A heavy sight left her and she rubbed her eyes sleepily.
He felt a deep pang in his chest at her words. She had seen so much death. Been through so much pain and come back just to do it all over again. More than anything, he wished he could take that pain from her.
Her dark eyes glimmered in the low light, growing wide as she looked down between them, finally seeming to realize her state of undress.
Sango swallowed thickly, a tingle sparking low in her belly as the fog started to clear from her mind and she saw the way Miroku was looking at her.
His indigo eyes, framed by beautiful dark eyelashes seemed to swirl with a hunger that she was not unfamiliar with. His strong arms were propped up on either side of her, caging her, his inky hair spilling down where it had come loose from its usual ponytail. He looked beside himself, his breath coming in rough and heavy as she could feel him nearly shaking.
Without thinking, she brought her hand up, running her fingers along his chiseled jaw.
She had to make sure this wasn't a dream.
But his skin was warm beneath the pads of her fingers, and at her touch he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment.
Sango could only watch in fascination, compelled by the look of pure want on his face. He was begging without words. Saying more than either of them could articulate at that moment without ever moving that silver tongue of his.
"Miroku.."
she murmured his name softly, enjoying this rare moment of intimacy. It felt so good to not worry or think about anything else but the way he felt just then, the way he looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.
That was one of the things that she loved about him the most. He had an ability to see straight through to her very core, down to the center of what made her whole. And he never turned away. Not once. Not even When he had seen the slivers of darkness that pierced her heart. When his eyes were on her, those indigo prisms filled with so much warmth, she may as well be the only woman in the world.
Her fingers trailed down his neck, feeling the stubble and roughened skin there. It was the first time she had touched any man in such a way, and she couldn't help the twinge of nervousness that twisted in her belly.
"Just kiss me? Please."
As soon as the words had passed her lips his mouth was on hers, surprisingly gentle at first. The nerves melted away. One of his large hands cupped her jaw, holding her there as he kissed her deeply, his tongue gently coaxing her lips open.
They'd kissed before, a few pecks here and there and one more passionate instance on the hill that night that Kagome had been missing. But nothing like this.
Every nerve in her body seemed to come alive, her hands began to grasp at the robes on his shoulders desperately searching for anything to hold onto that would ground her.
There was so little separating them. Just a thin sheet, nothing else.
It was all she could think about as his mouth ravaged hers with a wanton passion.
She'd been feeling a bit unwell the whole day, her cheeks flushed and it had seemed like a good idea at the time to take a brief respite without anything keeping the air from her skin.
But now she didn't know if that had been such a good idea at all.
Her head was swirling with mad thoughts, urges she didn't know what to do with. Fingers twisting in his dark hair, she tried to take a deep sobering breath between kisses. But his scent filled her nose, his own natural musk that was almost smokey and woodsy, and she found herself clinging closer.
He groaned, a deep sound low in his throat that sent shivers straight down to her belly where she could feel a wicked tingling building. Sango squeezed her thighs together, trying desperately to alleviate some of the pressure that was growing there as her head spun.
"Sango,"
He panted her name, his voice rough and more measured than she'd ever heard it, like he was trying very hard to keep himself together.
"If you want to stop, tell me now, otherwise…"
He trailed off dangerously, and the implication in his words was enough to spark another tremble deep within her. His eyes caught hers, sparkling in the darkness, and for a moment it felt like all the air had been sucked out from between them and she was left sputtering, staring back up at him.
I don't want you to stop
She didn't.
It felt too good beneath his hands, his mouth… if he stopped now she might go mad.
It was all she could do to run her fingers across the sharp cut of his jaw, leaning in for another scorching kiss.
"Please…"
That was all the acceptance that Miroku had been waiting to hear.
His kisses seemed to hold tenfold the passion behind them as they did a moment ago, as if he had been holding back. How he'd held onto a thread of self control this whole time she had no clue, but she was honestly a bit impressed.
Without warning, he swung his leg over her body, straddling her, as he had been almost awkwardly leaning over the whole time to have a semblance of respect. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest but her head was swimming with his kisses and his hands were everywhere.
The man must have an extra set of hands that she didn't know about because this felt like magic.
Or maybe she was imagining that, but it felt like she was getting gently caressed over her arms, her breasts, her thighs… all while he slowly pulled down the thin sheet, lapping at her lips sensually.
With the way he was kissing her, she didn't even notice that all the fabric was pooled around her waist now and her chest was exposed. She felt so dizzy and hot, her cheeks flushed and her body aching for something she couldn't put a name to.
Miroku pulled away from her swollen mouth to get a good look at her in the dusky room, and she cast her eyes away, sneaking a glance at him through her dark lashes.
She watched his expression glaze over with something unnamable to her, one of his hands immediately coming up to stroke the soft skin of her pale breast.
"You're so beautiful."
He said breathlessly, the words hanging on the thick air between them.
She arched into his touch, gasping softly at the feeling as he lightly brushed over her nipples with the rough pads of his fingertips.
It was a shot of lightning straight down between her legs, a jolt of pure arousal she had never truly felt before. Miroku had her pinned there, a leg thrown on either side of her waist and his hands doing what they pleased to the rest of her body.
One of his large hands came up to hold her jaw, gently urging her to look at him.
"I love you,"
His voice was rough as quarry stone, and he kissed her deeply. His thumb rubbed soothingly over her cheekbone, as if to cement his confession.
"Kami, do I love you."
His eyes spoke more than he could ever say, and as his lips found hers again something inside of her broke.
A wall that had been built a long time ago, a defense she'd put up to protect herself. Because really, behind it all, there was a little girl who wanted nothing more than to be safe and loved again, reunited with her family.
And while she may never see her parents again, she felt the pure and genuine love radiating out from the hoshi in that moment; it was a buzzing pulling her in, knotting their souls together even more tightly.
She melted into him, her hands finding purchase on his shoulders, pulling at his robes. She wanted his skin on hers, wanted to slide her fingers across his chest and do some exploring of her own.
He seemed to get the idea, breaking away and quickly working at the ties on the dark fabric.
He stood up with a grunt, having to toss away a few layers before his skin was finally on display to her.
She sat up on her elbows, eyes going round as dinner plates.
It was her first time ever seeing a man in such a way, and her first thought was he's so tanned.
Her second thought, as he turned towards her, was is that supposed to go inside of me?
His whole body was lean and stacked with muscle that was usually hidden beneath the monk robes. But her gaze was immediately drawn between his legs, where he was hard and straining.
His dark hair fell into his face as he stood there a moment, looking down at her with a slow smirk curling across his lips.
He watched her taking him in, and her heart started beating fast again. She was frozen there and he easily crossed the space between them in two long strides, tearing the linen that had puddled up around her middle and tossed it away.
Sango gasped, going to cover herself automatically on instinct but he was already on her. Gently, he nudged her legs apart, his skin so incredibly warm where it touched hers. He had one large hand on each of her thick thighs, and she didn't know what she had expected, but quickly Miroku had pushed her legs wide open and moved his head down between them.
He wasted no time, while she herself could only lie back, slightly confused, trying not to tremble and twitch as she felt his hot breath hover over her most delicate parts.
"What're you-"
His tongue let out a white hot stroke, long and languid, as if she was a meal to savor.
Oh
All at once all the breath left her body in the form of a low moan, her hands wildly tangling into his mess of dark hair, the only thing she could reach. His arms were wrapped around her legs, pinning them open with his impossibly large hands squishing down into her tender flesh. His mouth was so, so hot, and Sango was shaking, arching into him. Desperately, she held onto his inky black hair as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
And maybe it was, at that moment.
Whatever he was doing, it felt too good. It had to be sinful. His slick tongue was lapping at her slow, and hard. Waves of pleasure washed over her again and again, and her only coherent thought was,
No wonder Kagome and InuYasha are constantly sneaking off to do this…
Rhythmically, he licked her until she was a trembling mess. She gasped his name, barely even able to get it out. Fire raced over her skin, her fingers felt numb and her legs twitched where they were pinned open on either side of his wide body. Wetness leaked down her thighs. From his mouth or her center, she didn't know. It was a sloppy mix of both, dripping down to a puddle beneath her.
She didn't know how much more she could take, but he kept going. Leaning into her, drinking up every moan and gasp and cry that escaped her lips. Clearly, he was taking some pleasure from this as well.
He slowly pulled away from her center, kissing up her body until he got to her breasts. He dove immediately in and began lavishing attention on her nipple with his tongue, the slickness of it driving a guttural moan out from deep within her. Not wanting to leave the other one out, he took his hand and lovingly kneaded the soft skin there. She shivered, the feel of the wrappings and the beads of his rosary providing a new and tingling sensation.
Sango murmured his name, it fell from her lips uncontrollably. She couldn't stop her fingers from tangling further into his hair, traveling down to desperately grasp at his shoulders. It was all she could do to just hold onto him and whimper under his mouth, licking, nipping playfully at her sensitive skin.
She couldn't think. Couldn't even try to quiet her gasps and moans as her body bucked hopelessly against him.
She looked down between them through heavy lidded eyes and saw him stroking himself with one hand, his other trailing down her body to grip at her hip. Her heart jumped up into her throat then, skipping a beat as she felt a hot pulse of arousal strike like fire down between her legs. A glimmer of nervousness tingled in her belly, and she turned her gaze away shyly.
Sensing her movements, Miroku pulled away from her full breasts both an obscene noise. His hand cupped her jaw, forcing her to meet his intense indigo stare.
"Are you sure you want this?"
His voice was rough, laden and heavy with lust. It sent shivers racing down her arms.
He loomed over her, drawing his full lip between his teeth as he looked her up and down hungrily.
Sango took a deep breath, trying to center herself as much as she could in that moment and give him a true and honest answer.
She lay her hand lightly over his where it rested on her cheek, stroking her thumb across his knuckles.
"I really do, Miroku."
If she were being honest with herself, she'd wanted it for a long time. Since they'd kissed on the hill that night, and even more with every little moment that had built up since. The way he moved, wiped the sweat from his brow, looked down at her like he was starving for her.
She wanted to be his. All this time.
But she had suffered so much, her heart could take no more pain. And letting him in meant that she was opening herself up to that possibility again, she could lose him and it would hurt more than any blade. It would be a part torn away from her forever, just like kawagi castle.
But he was kissing her and she felt the tension and fear begin to melt away. His lips were soft, warm, seeking, his tongue lightly brushing up against hers as if he was asking without words. In response she feverishly bloomed into him, her legs moving to wrap around his waist, anything to bring him closer.
His hands brushed away the shadowy thoughts and whispers of death that always seemed to linger at the edges of her mind, his lips erasing the imprint that was left on her insides.
Within her, something finally broke.
A dam that has been cracking steadily beneath his attention, now shattering with an echoing sigh of relief.
I love you
She wanted to whisper it against his lips, but he didn't give her a chance. Breaking away, he planted hot, wet kisses down her jaw, trailing down to the sensitive skin of her neck. Goosebumps erupted over her and she shivered, arching into him even further as she ducked in a rough breath. She could feel his tongue flicking out to taste her, teeth scraping and nibbling all the way down to her collarbones, then lower…
She moaned lowly as he finally took her breast in his mouth again, gently sucking and rolling the bud of her nipple between his teeth.
"Miroku!" She gasped his name, head spinning with the sensation that shot straight white hot fire down to her core.
Her legs came up to wrap around his waist of their own accord, her heels digging into his hips and shoving him closer without her even realizing.
A low sound of approval tore from his throat, his hands running down her body to feel just hot wet she was for him. She jerked against him, writhing and moaning with abandon as his fingers found her sensitive center and played with her.
Her skin seemed to buzz with anticipation, her body preparing itself for what it knew was about to happen. She could feel his breath against her, brushing over her and sending chills down her body.
"Are you ready?"
He pulled away from her chest, his eyes meeting hers in the darkness, his gaze searching.
"Yes," she nodded breathlessly, fingers grasping at the back of his neck. "I want you…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper, her cheeks flushed and chest heaving with heavy breaths.
At her words he groaned, leaning down to kiss her intensely.
"That's all I've ever wanted to hear you say, Sango."
He leaned up suddenly, one hand pressing back on one of her thighs to push her legs up to her chest. Unsure, she let him move her and watched with wide eyes as he lined himself up with her entrance.
"It may hurt a bit." The hoshi said apologetically, "I promise I'll be gentle…"
Slowly, he pushed into her, and she couldn't help but to cry out at the feeling of him filling her. It was unlike anything she'd ever felt before, the tightness, her body squeezing around him as he intruded where she had never before been touched.
Clinging to him, she wrapped herself around him, bringing them as close as possible. He gasped sharply, sucking in a heady breath.
"Kami, you feel so good." moaning, he pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. "Are you alright?"
He had stilled himself inside of her, holding himself there to let her adjust a little before he gave a light stroke.
"Im fine," she reassured him, wanting him to keep going. She was reveling in the sounds he was making and the feeling that was slowly building within her, slightly surprised that it didn't hurt much like she had expected it to. It was just a pinch really, and then adjusting to the sensation of being filled.
He kissed her, and her fingers wove into his dark hair as they slowly melded into one another, the room gradually filling with sighs and gasps.
Sometime later, they lay there, tangled up together on the tatami mat, the aftermath of what they had done sinking in. Miroku looked down at her, tucked so prettily against his chest. She looked delicate just then, vulnerable and small. With the hand that was not wrapped around her, he brushed a stray lock of dark brown hair away from her forehead that was stuck there, dampened with sweat, thinking.
It felt like every moment in his life had been leading up to this, to the feeling that passed between them as he had sunk his seed deep into her belly.
She was everything to him.
His thumb traced along her strong jawline, feeling her blood pumping beneath his fingertips.
Beautiful, powerful, sometimes illusive and strong willed most definitely. the Taijiya was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, he often found himself in awe of her, especially in that moment when they were both so vulnerable.
Her dark eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him with a smile, curled up on his chest.
"I love you, you know." He said softly, eyes tracing over every curve and slope of her face carefully, wanting to imprint them onto his brain where they could live forever in this moment.
Her eyes shone with warmth, her hand reaching up to cover his own and give it a comforting squeeze.
"I know."
She crawled up to kiss him, sighing at the feeling. When they finally broke apart they just rested their foreheads against each other, wanting to be as close as possible.
They would've stayed like that for hours if they could have, but reality soon came crashing back down on them. Through the thin walls, Kagome's voice was barely muffled, getting closer as she walked down the hallway, shattering the tender moment.
"We should get dressed." Sango pulled away reluctantly, dark hair falling over her shoulders. "Kagome will wonder where we are…" worry creased her brow.
Let them all wonder
He wanted to say, but wisely he decided to keep that thought to himself.
"If you say so, my lady." He kissed her cheek before she hastily started to gather up her clothes.
Unabashedly, he drank up her curvaceous form as they both dressed. He didn't know when he'd see her like this again, and he wanted to burn the image of her into his memory. Every inch of her pale skin needed to be immortalized within him because she was heavenly, even better than he could have imagined.
"One last kiss," he purred, pulling her into his chest. A dark blush colored her cheeks and she shyly batted her dark lashes up at him, unable to resist as he captured her mouth again passionately.
When he pulled away she was breathing hard again, her stomach fluttering with what felt like a million butterflies.
"There will be many more." She promised softly. He smiled, wide and happy. His hand came up to cup her face affectionately, moving some hair off of her brow as he did so.
"Yes, many. " Miroku agreed, indigo eyes shining with adoration that she shyly basked in. "Let us join our friends for the evening, yes?"
He kissed her again, and they both tried to make themselves presentable. Her hair was a mess, she would need to brush it thoroughly but for now she threw it into a messy braid and straightened her kimono before quietly creeping out of the darkened room. It was still stuffy and had the air of sex, the tatami mats messy and crumpled from their lovemaking.
She threw one last look at Miroku, the monk smiling devilishly with his dark hair mussed and free around his shoulders. The sight of him sent a hot pang straight to her center, he was so erotic to her. Never before had she understood why people were so obsessed with sex, but now she was starting to get it.
Blushing heavily she breathed a sigh of relief seeing no one was in the hallway. She went off to find the rest of their group, thinking it best if the two of them came separately to avoid suspicion.
Kagome and her new maid, Tsunade, made their way back to InuYasha's part of the castle in silence. She felt a bit awkward with the girl leading her, but she was admittedly grateful for the guide.
The halls were still a maze and the Yokai that lingered in them stared blatantly. She did her best to seem elegant, keeping her head and shoulders straight while the weight of the heavy silk kimono seemed to weigh her body down, the fabric trailing behind her on the glassy dark floor.
The weight was more than physical. It sat on her chest, feeling heavier with every step she took closer to the east wing. Hanako's words sat heavy on her mind like a stone, the retelling of Mamoru's story.
He'd made himself scarce since their arrival, and she could take a few guesses as to why. InuYasha being one of them.
That had probably been smart on his part, to avoid her new mate while he was especially territorial over her still. But she needed him now. He was her guardian, she had to speak with him. Urgently.
Finally, they came upon the massive wooden doors that had become familiar to her, framed by thick red pillars. She felt a sense of relief, her energy calming and she could sense her mate close by. The girl, Tsunade, quietly opened the doors with ease, standing to the side as Kagome passed through.
Sensing her as she had sensed him, InuYasha rushed to meet her, a big sloping grin on his face that made her heart skip a beat. She instantly forgot her worries as he swept her up in his arms, giving her a lingering kiss.
"How did it go?" He murmured against the top of her head, nuzzling into her dark hair and bringing her close against his chest.
Warmth spread within her, and for a moment she felt like she could physically feel the cord that bound them, tingling as it wrapped around her psyche, tied in a direct line to his. She could feel his happiness, his love. It was beautiful.
"It went well," she sighed, breathing in his heady scent that rose goosebumps along her skin. "Kind of exhausting to be honest. I missed you."
He chuckled, she could feel the sound vibrate against her cheek. "I tried to warn you, court can be overwhelming."
"And who's this?" He pulled away, nodded to the demure Yokai who had silently been standing off to the side this whole time.
Kagome felt her cheeks grow red and hot with embarrassment. She put a little space between her and InuYasha, smoothing over her garments.
"This is Tsunade, my… handmaiden." She cleared her throat, watching as the girl gave a low bow to the Inu beside her.
"Hello, Tsunade. I think it's safe to say you are dismissed for the evening."
InuYasha bowed back to the mousy girl, and though she did not look up there was a small smile on her face, just barely ghosting over the corners of her lips.
"Hai my lord, my lady." After another curt bow the thin Yokai scampered away, quietly shutting the door behind her.
InuYasha reached for her hand, running his thumb along her knuckles and looking at her lovingly with his flickering golden eyes.
"Where's shippo?" She peered down the hall, half expecting the kit to pop up at the mere mention of his name.
"In the courtyard, Rin came to play with him for a while. Harusuke is out there with them, along with her maid, so don't worry." He said reassuringly, pulling her in for a gentle kiss.
She melted against him, her worries temporarily assuaged.
"What about Sango and Miroku?" She said once he'd pulled away, her brow raised incredulously.
Inu merely shrugged, smirking.
"She went to lie down, Miroku went to check on her… he's been checking on her for quite a while now. I'm sure they're just fine."
Seeing the look on her face he chuckled, shaking his head. A blush colored her cheeks and he couldn't help but giggle along with him, wondering what they were up to in there. She wanted to talk to Sango, too. The girl had been acting aloof and distant since their arrival in this realm, not that Kagome couldn't see why. The Taijiya must feel out of place here, even more so than Kagome did herself.
"Had to happen eventually." He took her hand, pulling her towards their quarters. "Come on, let's get you out of that."
His lascivious grin sent shivers straight down to the out of her belly and she let him guide her to their room, butterflies fluttering within her and banishing the last of her worrisome thoughts.
It had been a long day, and she wanted nothing more than to get out of the obi that restricted her and take a hot bath.
So she let him undress her, shivering as the cool air touched her skin. He pressed kisses along her shoulder blades, the heavy silk of the kimono slipping down to pool at her feet as he deftly pulled at the ties that bound it in place. He pressed into her from behind and she could feel his hot flesh against her, his arms wrapping around her as thick as tree trunks. She didn't know when he'd managed to disrobe too but she wasn't complaining. The inu nuzzled down into her neck, making a sound of contentment that vibrated through his chest and into her own, pulling her ever closer even as she arched herself into him.
"Let's bathe, then we can join everyone for dinner."
He pulled her towards their little onsen, uncaring of their nakedness, though she blushed and giggled as she all but ran through the arched doorway attached to the sitting room.
They took their time, not rushing as they poured the steaming, scented water over each other with lingering touches glazed with lust.
She loved the way they looked beside each other in the water, especially when the silver and black of their hair mixed and swirled together against the stark paleness of her own skin, versus the golden tan of his own.
She sat on his lap in the rugged stone tub, fingers interlocked with his beneath the water, captured by his gaze as they shared a long and tender look that said so many things. His eyes, the color of warm honey, shone with affection. She wondered what she looked like to him at that moment, her hair wild and slicked to her forehead with water droplets dripping from her eyelashes. He kissed her feverishly, his lips slowly devouring her and she could only grasp onto his wet shoulders and desperately try to hold on.
They took dinner with everyone in the room she was now referring to as the 'den' of their quarters. She couldn't help but notice that Sango and Miroku seemed quieter than normal, the monk sporting a grin that said he was positively pleased with himself while the Taijiya had flushed cheeks and wouldn't meet anyone's eyes. And Mamoru was still absent, which annoyed her more than she wanted to admit at that moment.
"See," InuYasha elbowed her lightly, sniggering and covertly gesturing to the couple who couldn't stop sneaking glances at each other from the other end of the table. "Told ya." he chuckled, stuffing his mouth with skewered meat and wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. She rolled her eyes, giggling along with him.
"Hey, what's so funny Kagome?" The red-headed little kit blinked up at her innocently, his mouth covered in crumbs from his meal.
"Oh, nothing at all, Shippo." She patted him on the head, trying to quell her laughter so she didn't embarrass Sango by making a big deal out of what had obviously happened between the two of them. Though, she was sure she would get all the details from her friend later, when they were alone and could speak freely. The two of them hadn't had a chance to talk in days, and Kagome hated the feeling of a rift forming between her and her dearest friend. Hopefully she could find a moment to sneak her away before all the ceremonies tomorrow and actually get back to normal with each other.
Later that night, as Kagome and InuYasha lay together on the thick, luxurious futon in his quarters, sleep evaded her. Her stomach twisted with a nervous energy that vibrated over her skin more intensely with each hour that passed.
InuYasha had his arms wrapped around her, and he held her close, nuzzling into her hair. The warmth that radiated off of him and the rhythmic pull of his breath going in and out was eventually enough to lull her into a fitful rest.
When her eyes snapped open again she was falling. Tumbling through a black void, it was pure nothingness. It felt like water, holding her and supporting her in a strange and viscous way even as she seemed to fall forever and ever.
And then suddenly it stopped, and with a violent jolt she was standing with her feet firmly planted in dry, brittle grass that stabbed at her tender soles. Everything seemed to spin, the world around her finally settling as her body acclimated itself to the realm it was now thrust into.
Looking around, she felt an eerie feeling come over her as she noticed the dark, lifeless trees that twisted up into the skyline, branches gnarled and twisted, almost reaching for her like bony fingers. A shudder rolled down her spin and she swallowed thickly as she noticed a path leading off into the thicket ahead.
Knowing this was a dream, and knowing what happened last time she was here, she felt a strange sense of familiarity coiling around her, beneath the heavy sense of doom that she couldn't seem to shake, while she scanned the tree line. Unfortunately she was getting used to this. She was looking around for the one of the grotesque shadowy creatures she'd encountered before, her heart pounding against her ribs. A Yurei, Mamoru had said. A shade of a soul trapped between realms, forever cursed to wander without aim.
Though the creature had been somewhat helpful in guiding her, it had led her straight to Naraku last time, and that was the last thing she needed now.
Something snapped in the distance, a twig, a branch, a bone… her mind ran wild as the sound vibrated ominously through the trees, startling her.
Clutching her chest fearfully, her fingers tangling in the fabric of the kimono that was wrapped tightly around her, she spun around, breathing a shaky sigh of relief when there was nothing behind her except for more dry and lifeless fauna.
She couldn't stay here.
She knew enough by now to understand that if she was here, it was for a reason. She needed to follow the path.
She forced herself forward, planting one foot in front of the other with gritted teeth. There was no use in fighting it.
It was a lesson that she was hard pressed to accept. No matter how she felt she had to keep going forward, following the twists and turns etched into the path that only seemed to lead her deeper and deeper into the dark wood. Tendrils of the black gnarled brush snagged at her kimono, nearly tripping her. She barely caught herself with a gasp, breathing hard as she turned to tear away the fabric from the branches.
Taking a deep breath that was supposed to be calming, she kept going, trying to ignore the way the back of her neck began to tingle, the hair there rising to stand on end. Unease settled over her like a thick film, she could almost taste it on the edge of her tongue, bitter and acrid.
Another presence sparked along her reiki.
Something was there with her, she could sense it.
Emboldened by the feeling of her own power rising beneath her skin she drew herself up along with it, standing with her back pin straight.
"Show yourself."
The words flew out of her like knives, piercing the dark night.
She was the daughter of a Kami, a dream-walker, nothing in this dreamscape could hurt her.
Though she wasn't entirely sure of that last bit, that's what she told herself.
A long, drawn out moment passed and there was nothing but silence. She listened hard, waiting for another branch snap, only closer. Every second felt like a hundred here. Time moved slower, inching forward like she was trapped in thick molasses.
Then, appearing in the shadows a figure came forward, its too-long limbs crunching over the dry grass. A grim and draining feeling came over her as she could feel the Yurei's sadness, palpable on the air. It's hollow eyes stared at her, pleading. There was no malice in the things energy that curled around it like smoke, it silently called out, reaching its twisted black fingers towards her.
Please
It seemed to whisper wordlessly, it's empty mouth permanently stretched into silent scream.
Remembering Mamoru's words, and knowing the being was altogether rather harmless, she sighed heavily, taking a step towards it.
"Show me whatever it is that I need to see, so I can go home please."
Creakily, the thing turned, hopping off down the path that twisted into the thicket of black trees.
Resigned, she followed it, wanting more than anything to be back snuggled under the furs with her Inu and not here in this empty place. The sky hovered with a dark smoke, blocking out where the stars were supposed to be. It felt suffocating and strange, her skin beginning to crawl the further along they went.
Finally, the Yurei stopped, looking over its wrinkled shoulder with its permanently horrified expression. If it's eyes had any substance it would have wept, she could feel its energy crying out. It lifted a black finger the color of soot, pointing off into the distance. It seemed to be telling her that it would go no further, it had led her where she needed to be.
"Thank you." She said to the thing, gathering up her skirts and trudging forward, where the trees arched into each other and swallowed up all the light.
It watched her go, silent as ever.
Stepping through the thicket she could immediately feel the shift in the air, her feet landing on smooth stone in way of brittle grass and hard packed dirt.
Around her, a cavernous room seemed to materialize, blocking out the still night sky as she took another early step deeper. It was like stepping through an open door, a rush of cold stale air hitting her skin and making her wrinkle her nose. Hesitating, she clung to the shadows and crept along, not knowing what lay ahead.
She was painfully aware of every crunch of the loose stone beneath her feet, every rustle of her skirts seemed so loud even in the huge rocky space. Large pieces of stone jutted out from the floor and she used that to her advantage, hiding still in the shadows behind them.
She could hear voices, bouncing off of the cave walls and she stopped dead in her tracks.
"I wanted that Hanyou…" Came a feminine whine. "Where did he go? It doesn't make any sense." The voice spat.
Kagome's skin crawled and a sudden wash of cold dread came over her all at once. She froze behind the boulder, her hand going over her mouth to stifle her breathing.
"That bastard took him. it is a shame… we'd almost finished him off. You'll have to get over it, Jakotsu. We've got bigger problems."
All at once it was like every ounce of breath was stolen from her lungs in a massive rush.
That voice… it brought forth a wave of nausea that crashed over her and made her stomach flip inside out. It sent horrified shivers racing over her skin and it took every ounce of self control she had to stifle her sound of alarm.
"Naraku wants us to keep collecting jewel shards… we have plenty to keep us busy." The voice continued casually.
"Would've been nice if we could have kept that girl around a bit longer… could've used The company." A gruffer, more ragged voice griped. Her blood ran cold, instantly knowing they were talking about her and InuYasha.
The band of seven…
She knew without even having to see them. Their voices had made an imprint on her brain, branded her and she would know them anywhere. Especially Bankotsu.
She wanted to puke.
At this point she wasn't sure if this was a dream or if she had stepped through the veil and landed in the den of lions once again. Everything inside her was screaming at her to run.
Her reiki responded to her sudden surge of emotion, cracking like lightning beneath her fingertips.
"Whatever came for her was too much…" Bankotsu quipped back, his tone layered with annoyance. "It was too old, too powerful even for us. It broke through Renkotsu's barrier like nothing."
Kagome remembered that night in stark detail. It seemed so long ago, but really it had been a few months at best. So much had happened in that short time; if she'd known then the power that she had, all of the half-dead men who stunk of the grave would already be no more.
"Forget about her, too. Too much trouble. For now we're gathering the last of the shards."
The specters seemed to hum in agreement, though there was some disgruntled grumbling. Probably Suikotsu, she surmised. The doctor had taken a sick interest in her that made her want to crawl out of her skin.
She could hear buzzing, instantly knowing that meant that the saimyosho were nearby.
Frantically, she crouched down even further into her hiding space, looking above her to the cave ceiling, unsure if she was even able to be seen when she was passing through realms like this. But it was better to be safe rather than get found out. Especially since she was hundreds of physical miles away from anyone that could help her, she couldn't take them all at once. She had a feeling that in the end it would take all of them to defeat Naraku and his murderous band.
"Jakotsu has heard of a wolf tribe led by a Yokai who possesses two of the shards."
Her heart sank.
Koga
The tribe would be utterly defenseless against the demon's forces.
"We leave tomorrow. I have a few stops I need to make along the way…"
Bankotsu chuckled darkly and she could feel the sound.
She'd heard enough. She needed to wake up. But she found herself creeping closer to the edge of the boulder she hid behind, needing to get just one look at the man who had very nearly killed her, and worse.
Her fingers shook where she gripped the stone, her knuckles going white.
A cold chill washed over her as her eyes finally settled on his face.
A cruel smirk twisted at his lips, dark eyes glinting with malice. He stood with the rest of his band loosely gathered around a small fire , the light glinting devilishly off of the malicious looking weapon that he slung over his shoulder. The Banryu was so massive she didn't know how he was able to hoist the thing over his shoulder without crumbling beneath its weight.
Her stomach twisted sickly at the sight of him, unwanted memories flashing through her mind. His hands grabbing her, the acrid smell of his breath, the way he viscously humiliated her. If things had gone according to his plan she would've been his perfect little prisoner, his to use up as he saw fit.
She would sooner die than ever become anyone's plaything again. A spark of anger lit in her chest, and for a moment all she could feel was a deep and burning hatred.
Not only had this shade of a man assaulted her and tried to rob her of her dignity, he and his men tried to kill InuYasha too. It was the whole reason he'd ended up on the island to begin with. If not for Sesshomaru, he'd be lying dead in the forest somewhere. She was grateful to the DaiYokai, though she still didn't quite understand his motive.
Silently picking her way back across the rocks, Kagome went back the way she came.
She walked into the darkness calmly, welcomed it as it swallowed her up and spat her out on the other side.