95Chapter One: Rise of the Beast : The Honor that Ties Us
Trees were uprooted and lay where they were thrown. Their roots pointing toward the sky like twisted fingers. The still form of Naraku was vast and lifeless, his body taking on the gray hue of death as his terrible miasma dissipated. Finally, the massive spider was dead. Kagome's aura was slowly causing the body of the spider to fade away and disappear, along with all the stones of miasma that had dropped to the ground.
Other prone forms littered the battle ground, but beginning to stir from the wreckage. The slayer and the monk were struggling with their injuries as they gasped and looked up at the sky before turning their heads about to find the other. They gave grateful moans before crawling toward each other, desperate arms wrapped around the other; grateful to be alive after having defeated the one creature they had worked so hard and used so many resources to destroy.
They had gone into this fight unsure of their own survival or the survival of the others. It was a desperate gamble that paid off; the monster was finally dead. Miroku was marveling over his naked right hand, the curse broken having left unmarked new flesh. Unscarred and unmarked. He was now without a curse. The Slayer's Village had been avenged.
Sango was looking around herself with something akin to hope in her eyes as she searched the wreckage for her brother. Her hand had not left the shoulder of the Monk she had traveled with for the last three years it took for them all to collect the shards and corner Naraku once and for all. She took in the destruction around them, and the green of the trees nearby.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the decayed pile of spider filth, Kagome was stirring back to life.
One shape moved and cried out in pain, her fingers curled in the mud as she struggled to sit up. Her whole body ached. She looked around, feeling lost and confused for several moments trying to figure out what had happened. Finally, she kneeled in the mud, taking in the carnage around her, she searched for her husband.
Spotting something red buried under a tentacle, she gave a strangled yell in anguish, and lurched to her feet. She reached Inuyasha's side and grasped his hand in one of her own while pushing the tentacle off of him.
Inuyasha coughed and his eyes fluttered open to meet hers.
"Ka-Kagome… I'm glad you're alright. Did we beat him?" He gasped.
She could not keep the tears from her eyes as she nodded her head.
"Yes Inuyasha; he's dead."
"Right on…where's the Shikon no Ta-Tama?" His breath came in panting gasps, as his lungs filled with blood that his regenerative abilities couldn't seem to patch up fast enough. She cringed as she lifted her fist.
"I've got most of it right here… but I shattered the rest so he couldn't use its power. That's what let us beat him." She held up the Jewel half in her fist. It was mostly true.
"I see… Kagome, get yourself home. Be safe. I'm afraid I can't protect you any longer." His voice was starting to fade, and Kagome looked at him filled with alarm.
"Bu-But Inuyasha! You've always protected me, you can pull through, you can make it again. Don't give up, Inuyasha!" She was frantic now, but he weakly patted her leg, then trailed it up to her waist.
"Not this time, I'm afraid. I can't protect you anymore, but my robe can. It will keep you warm and safe…" with that, his hand fell away, and his eyes twinkled one last time. "I didn't miss."
"Shit. What the hell am I going to do now?" A sort of numbness fell over her for a moment.
She felt pretty certain she was pregnant and had confided as such to Sango during their last bath in the hot springs, thinking about it, she knew that child would be one-quarter Youkai potentially, there was also a chance of it being born appearing completely human. There was no way they would be safe to grow up in her own world. She couldn't go back there. Even if they were hardly safer here, either. Her husband just died, who would defend her and her child?
Sesshomaru appeared close to her soon after, and had stared down at his brother's body in dismay at the outcome. Inuyasha's death had affected the stoic lord greatly and unexpectedly, even for him, and when Kagome had opened her eyes she saw his shoes in her periphery. She stood up and lunged at him. He let her cry against him, striking his chest with her fists, but after a time he caught her hands in his, and she fell against him; sobbing quietly.
"Why didn't you come earlier Sesshomaru? He… he's dead, now, can't you save him?" She cried to him plaintively.
He gazed down at the woman crying against him, and met her wet green eyes. The sorrow in his soul was so plain to see, Kagome stopped crying altogether.
"I am sorry, Miko. I cannot, I had already saved him once. The sword won't let me bring him back again." His deep voice calmed her, and helped her think more clearly. She sniffed and took a deep breath.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Sesshomaru. I wasn't thinking."
Realizing her proximity, she drew away from him.
His hand came up and caught the collar of her shirt, and peered at the mark on the juncture of her neck and shoulder with interest.
"So he did mark you." He grunted, and his lips curled with slight distaste, "this makes you my sister."
He released her collar, she was blushing furiously, then his eyes widened slightly. The sudden flood of blood to her face helped him catch her scent all too easily.
"You are carrying his child, too."
She looked down, "I know." She placed a hand over her womb protectively, "I would like to keep him."
"Hn?"
"Your father. He sired both you and Inuyasha. If you two share anything from him, it is likely it would be a boy."
He seemed to think about what she said, and nodded slowly.
"Such reasoning seems permissible. As you are the mate to my half-brother, you are to accept my request that you come to live with me at my castle, in Lysia. You will be safe there, and you can raise your pup there in peace."
It could help to atone for what he had done to Inuyasha in his youth.
She bowed deeply, though alarm bells rang in her mind. Why would he do this? Why not leave her be? Admittedly though, she was curious, thus she posed her next question. "I am honored, Sesshomaru-sama; but I know you have not been fond of humans or half-breeds. Why would you do such a thing?"
He turned his back and began walking away, when he saw she was not following, he stopped and turned his head slightly. Truly, he hadn't been intending to answer her. He didn't care if she knew nothing. It was not his concern.
But she wasn't following. Inwardly, he gritted his teeth.
"Honor." With that, he continued, Bakusaiga and Tensaiga slapping against his legs as he walked. Kagome began to walk after him, but stopped after a moment.
"Wait, Sesshomaru-sama! I need to bury Inuyasha! Please, let me do this!"
Without turning, he spoke. "What does it matter; the dead are dead, and have no concern for the living any longer. Why should we, the living, care for the dead?"
She stared at him, aghast. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. "Because…because if we leave him unburied, he won't be able to pass on. Because, if we leave his body in the open, it could harbor disease and sickness. It is unhealthy."
He turned his head toward her and paused, "You speak of unhealthy things? What would a human know of health. Humans are all the same, filthy creatures who are afraid to wash the grime from their bodies because of a dim-witted superstition."
"Don't throw me in with the rest of the humans of this time. I do know of hygiene, and don't take me lightly, ever!"
He stopped and turned toward her fully, a narrowing of his eyes displaying his displeasure. "Insolent girl."
Kagome paused abruptly, blinking as she took in his stance. She remembered her studying in Animal Studies, how Alphas stood, and she thought suddenly that if a humanoid were to adopt the Alpha stance, that would be it now. To look into his eyes would be a blatant threat, remembering that, she quickly lowered her own.
Inuyasha wasn't there to protect her anymore, so she had to be careful. Sesshomaru was displaying the classic signs of an Alpha feeling threat to his stature. She shivered, feeling the cold intensely. She blinked again, it wasn't that cold…It was late spring.
She lowered her head slowly, baring her neck slightly. Peeking up under her lashes, she saw Sesshomaru relax slightly. "Gomen nasai, Sesshomaru-sama. But please, let me bury my husband."
He watched her with consideration, then nodded his head. Relieved, Kagome turned back to the remains of her best friend and began the arduous task of laying his body out flat. When she saw Tetsusaiga, she took the blade and offered it to Sesshomaru. With a pained expression, he reluctantly accepted it and tucked it into his sash. The blade only crackled lightly, as if grumbling grudgingly it's acceptance of its new master.
With Sesshomaru's help, Kagome acquired a shovel and set about digging the grave, but when she collapsed from her wounds, he picked her up and laid her prone form in the shade of an uprooted tree trunk.
As he finished Inuyasha's grave, he turned towards the body. He carefully, almost tenderly, stripped Inuyasha of his fire-rat robe, until Inuyasha lay only in his under-hakama and haori. The white fabric was soft to the touch, and it seemed fitting that his brother be laid to rest in the white of purity and justice. So little justice had been met out for the boy's sake.
Maybe Inuyasha could rest in peace knowing that Sesshomaru would look out for her. A small twisted half-smile graced his lips, oh his brother would rather roll in his grave.
Over Inuyasha's finished grave, Sesshomaru stood silently. Contemplating recent events, and his future, as well as the future of the girl. Nay, he corrected himself; the woman. The girl had long ago been replaced by the jaded, and battle-hardened woman he knew today. He added soon-to-be mother to her list of titles.
All at the hands at the one she loved. He wondered if Inuyasha had really loved Kagome as much as she had adored him. But then again, he didn't care.
He could hear her stirring restlessly, as she struggled with exhaustion and blood loss. She needed help soon.
At the head of his grave, he thrust in a cherry tree sapling and willed it to take root with his own spiritual pressure. When the roots responded, and entrenched themselves into the soil and the body of his brother, he turned away and walked over to the Miko.
He was just approaching the Miko when the slayer and monk dragged and limped their way around the curled legs and body of the spider, they saw the robes draped from his hands covered in blood and the grave marked behind him and their faces fell.
"What happened? Did you kill him, now that Naraku is dead?" Miroku asked, his eyes darkening. The slayer grabbed the monk's shoulder abruptly and hauled him back. "Miroku! He just finished burying him, fool!"
"How dare you." His eyes raked them with contempt. "He was pack."
Sango turned back to Sesshomaru, "Forgive us. We spoke badly out of grief." She bowed down, and after an instant pause, Miroku did as well.
"Hn." He could forgive them this lapse in judgement.
Sango straightened at his perfunctory acknowledgment, "Have you seen Kagome-chan?"
He turned his head toward where the Miko lay, shivering at the base of the tree trunk. Sango cursed and rushed over to her friend. Miroku limped after her, wincing as his leg almost gave out under himself. Sesshomaru turned to follow after them, a frown settled on his face.
She was breathing shallowly, but quickly, and her brow was furrowed and fevered.
Not good.
"She's badly hurt. Miroku, have you seen Kagome's pack?" Sango asked as the monk crouched next to her.
"She left it behind, at the start of the battle. I'm afraid it's much too far now."
He looked around, "We're nowhere near our campsite, Naraku was traveling a great distance as we fought inside the construct he created."
"Help me then, find clean water and… we need something to stop the bleeding."
Sesshomaru watched them busy themselves, he eyed the wounds that were exposed on the girl's body. If they didn't act more effectively, she would die. Her injuries were poisoned by the miasma.
"Stop, slayer. Your efforts will not save her."
She turned on him with a snarl, tears welling in her eyes. "We have to do something! She doesn't deserve this!"
Miroku came back, carrying a bowl of water from the river nearby. "We're about two days' journey from Edo."
Sango turned eyes of dread on Kagome's prone form, "She can't make that distance. She doesn't have that long."
"We have to try, Sango. Inuyasha wouldn't want her to die here and now."
She could see that the wounds were poisoned. How come Kagome couldn't purify the miasma from her body? She must have been too weakened by the fight with Naraku.
Sesshomaru spoke, causing them to turn on him in disbelief at his words.
"I will take her."
Sango shook her head. "You are her best chance, Sesshomaru. But why would you help her?"
"She was the mate of Inuyasha. She is pack."
He bent and hoisted her into his arms. Miroku stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, which he hastily withdrew at the venomous look Sesshomaru threw it. "Where will you take her?"
"To my stronghold."
"When can we see her again?" He choked out.
Sesshomaru looked down at the little Miko in his arms. "I do not know."
It wasn't as if there were humans typically allowed in Lysia. It was better that they not try to visit.
Once in the air, he summoned his cloud nimbus and he shot off to the west, lowering Kagome down onto the cloud's firm surface carefully.
Ah-Un and Jaken were signaled to follow, Rin was secure on the back of the Dragoon and she looked up at him passing curiously.
The girl muttered amid her fever dreams, exhaustion making her slightly delirious. He refused to translate or even decipher her half-formed whispers.
Three hours later, they landed in the courtyard, Sesshomaru took the young woman into his arms and carried her inside. She was such a tall being, for a human, four heads taller than Rin herself. Four lower-class dog-Youkai came forward, hopeful looks on their faces as they sought to learn his will.
"You three, come with me. I'll need a room prepared for her as a place to stay. Make it the room across from mine, connecting to the nursery."
"Sire! Your will be done, Sire!" the Youkai said, saluting sharply. They looked askance at the human in his arms. Sesshoumaru had brought another human into the stronghold. Sesshomaru turned to the last dog Youkai, and the Youkai stiffened to attention, his eyes intent. "I need you to summon Tobiume to my room."
"Yes, Sire!" He saluted and shot off down the south wing. Sesshomaru turned down the north wing of the castle. The three followed him down the various connecting passageways down to his room, they left him at his door as they turned in through the opposite door to prepare the room.
Sesshomaru laid her down on his futon and began examining Kagome's wounds with a critical eye. A few serious gashes marked her left arm; starting at her elbow and traveling upward to her shoulder, her left side; dangerously close to her abdomen. There was a third deep cut traveling down her leg. All three had mild discoloration which meant poisoning. This required his expertise, since he was a Venomer Inu-Daiyoukai. The saliva of a Venomer such as he had amazing properties in healing and would act as an antidote for almost any poison or venom.
He began on her left side, wanting to remove all danger from her pup as soon as possible, the last of his father's bloodline, besides himself. He dug his tongue in and lapped at the cut, the blood was sweet but the bitter undertone expressed the poison, it was not pleasing. When he finished with that the gash stopped bleeding, leaving fresh pink flesh that had to knit together cleanly over time. Next, he cleaned the gash on her leg, moving on only when the wound sealed off the blood vessels, leaving his saliva inside.
Lastly, he cleaned her left arm, by now, his mouth was salivating thickly, and he only had to slather the thick healing substance over her cut before it cleared up completely.
The deathly pallor that shadowed her face lifted, and her breathing came easier. There was a knock on the door and some few seconds later it opened without any sound on the other side. A tall elderly woman entered, wearing the forest green of a healer. Her hair was long and white, brittle-looking in her old age, and her face was a mass of wrinkles. Her deep-set amber brown eyes peered out sharply from her face, and her mouth seemed set in a constant small smile, which was at odds with the rest of her stern visage.
"I am here now, my young prince. Let me see her." Few people in the world could ever have gotten away with using that tone with him, and she was one of them. The other two were dead.
She walked forward stiffly limping on one leg from an old injury, leaving her long staff against the wall and hefting her pouch of herbs. Sesshomaru nodded his head in deference to her and made room by crouching on Kagome's other side. Blood was smeared around his mouth from his efforts.
The old woman clucked methodically as she examined Kagome's injuries, when finished with her examination, she began stripping Kagome of her clothing. Sesshomaru huffed at the indecency of it all and left the room, telling her he would "be returning later."
The old woman continued working, Kagome's body open to her eyes as she probed, bandaged, and healed all of Kagome's wounds. When she discovered the child growing in Kagome's womb, she almost believed it to be Sesshomaru's whelp, but the mating mark was wrong; it was the second son of Inutaishou that was the father.
She hummed thoughtfully then, a soft smile on her lips. That boy had been such a dear.
'So, this was the girl who stole his heart? She ain't bad to look at, I'll give her that.'
When she finished with bathing the wounds and dressing them properly, she wrapped the girl in a white sleeping tunic and placed her under the covers. She had the old garments sent off to be burned. They were drenched in the taint of miasma, and no amount of washing would revive them.
She waited there in the room until the girl finally opened her eyes barely a day later. The first reactions of the newly awakened patients were always the most interesting. Especially those who had believed themselves to die. This girl was no exception; her consciousness was noted in the twitching of her fingers, and as she became more aware of her surroundings, she sat bolt upright and placed her hands over her stomach.
The girl looked around the room wildly, and spotted the elderly woman sitting in the chair near the bed, she opened her mouth to speak but the only sound coming out was a dry rasp.
She was floating, feeling warmth spread throughout her body. She ached, her whole body ached, but it was a delicious good ache, like the soreness in the muscles after a good workout, she wasn't in any great pain any longer. She felt content to just lie there and rest.
Rest.
Inuyasha and the others! Were Sango and Miroku still alive? She thought she had heard their voices as she slept, but felt uncertain if they had really been nearby or not.
I still need to complete the jewel! Her thoughts went racing through her mind, sending her exhausted body into overdrive.
Forcing her eyes open, she sat up and the world tilted around her. She looked around dazedly, uncomprehending her surroundings. She raised one hand to her head and spread her fingers across her forehead with her thumb bracing against her temple, a headache was lancing through her skull. Her other hand curled around her still-flat belly to protect her child.
Her eyes landed on an elderly woman sitting in a chair by her bed, and while she did, she remembered Sesshomaru helping her bury Inuyasha, telling her that she was to stay with him… then she remembered feeling faint and falling. And later, something warm and wet dabbing at her side, her leg and her arm…it was too soft to be a cloth.
As soon as that realization went through, her brain supplied her with another hazy image through mostly shut and sleepy eyes of long straight silver hair curtaining over a face she thought she should know. A firm hand that braced her, with magenta markings on the wrists.
'He' was…healing me…'
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out save a dry rasp.
"I…"
"Don't speak just yet, girl. Drink this, it's a restorative."
The old woman offered her an earthen cup of a pale-green liquid, and Kagome could smell some of the familiar herbs, but there were others she couldn't name, all for healing and rehydration, and acceleration of recovery.
She tilted the glass, and swallowed every last drop with barely a grimace, even now she could begin to feel the effects as her body welcomed the strong restorative. The woman remained sitting, watching her quietly. Kagome began to collect herself, her face returning to full color and finally she met the woman's eyes once again.
"Thank you…my name is Kagome Higurashi, um, where am I?"
Tobiume paused. Higurashi. The word had two definitions; the first definition, and was well-known, meant sunset. The second definition, and far less known, meant cicada. Both definitions were important, she could feel it. The first one was obvious, as the girl's name meant 'sunset' and that meant that she belonged in the Western Lands. The second one was more obscure, a cicada was a large winged insect. It spent sixteen to eighteen years in a wing-less, ugly brown pupae before finally reaching maturity and shedding the pupae to transform into a large and somewhat beautiful creature.
She wondered whether the girls name was a coincidence or not. With the Kami in their lives so often, as she was their ancestress, Tobiume thought not.
The woman's eyes twinkled, 'This girl's very name means sunset! What a strange coincidence that she was brought to the Western Lands!' Then she paused at that thought. There was something about this girl that tugged at her. Something she should be able to recollect. She would need to look it up in the old tomes of the History of the Western Lands.
"Welcome, Kagome, to my grandson's castle."
"Who is your grandson?" Kagome tilted her head to the side, fingering the empty cup. "You mean Sesshomaru-sama."
The woman nodded and stood up, revealing her full height of six feet, along with the magenta marks on her wrists and the crescent moon on her forehead, the stripes on her cheeks however were a deep bloody red in color.
Kagome gaped in awe, this woman stood so regal there, in her long plain green cotton kimono, her entire being spoke of a quiet power and dignity. 'now I know where Sesshomaru gets his attitude from, but this woman seems nicer… less cold.'
"Wow, it is an honor to meet you, milady, thank you for healing me." Kagome said with a bow of her head, but the woman waved it away.
"Worry not, little dove, my name is Tobiume Kageyoshi, but you may call me Tobiume. As for why I healed you, Sesshomaru sent for me, and seeing you're the mate to my grandson, I knew I had to heal you. Besides, you carry my great-grandson in your womb. That was reason enough for even Sesshomaru to help heal you."
"Sesshomaru-sama healed me, too?" Kagome squeaked, suddenly worried.
"He did, but don't fret. He did nothing untoward your person, he kept you mostly clothed the entire time, only healing what was necessary until I arrived to finish the job." She replied.
Kagome felt relieved to know her son was alright, and her hand came down again to rest over her womb, smiling softly. She looked around at herself, and then studied the room she found herself in.
"Is Sesshoumaru here?"
"No, he left early this morning. By the way, I had those old garments burned. No granddaughter of mine shall wear such questionable rags."
Anxiety was clearly present in her face, because Tobiume's face tightened sternly. She bulled on anyways. "I understand your concerns about the attire, but where I come from it is normal to wear those clothes. It's my school uniform, and it's actually quite expensive to replace."
"But it is not normal where we are now. Dressing like that is frankly dangerous in this land. Men would think you are advertising your body to be used." She paused, "You don't smell like you advertise yourself in such a manner, but it appears as a contradiction to those of us with stronger noses, when we take in your appearance."
She cleared her throat, "If you are to live here in Lysia, you will be part of court life and appearances matter as well as scent."
Kagome had clearly lost this argument before it even began, and what the old lady said really actually made sense, and so she hung her head in silence. 'it's for the best, I suppose.' Kagome laid back in her bed, and fell back asleep. "Alright, Tobiume-sama. I'll pay back mama somehow…again."
"Tobiume, such a thing is impossibly dangerous, she smells human enough; but if she even has the slightest drop of demon-blood running in her veins, she and the pup could perish. "
"And I tell you, her blood is pristine. There shall be nothing to worry about, if anything, her blood is so purely human, she might even be descended from the pristine humans!"
"You mean, she might be one of those? One of the Gedrishakrim here in that room, Tobiume, that is impossible. They are a reclusive sect, and extremely rare. Their blood is Omega, as the Royal Inu-Youkai is Alpha…to perform the ritual on one of the Gedrishakrim." There was a long pause then. "I see. Very well."
Kagome woke up some two days later to two sets of amber eyes looking into her own, one set was older-looking, and of a darker brown than the liquid gold of the other set.
"Um… hello Sesshomaru-sama, Tobiume-sama…"
"We have news for you, Sesshoumaru just returned from Edo. He said your friends made it there safely."
Kagome started, "Oh thank goodness! They're alive, I feared the worst when I couldn't see them after the battle." She smiled up at them eagerly, "Can I go see them?"
Tobiume shook her head, "That is another thing, you are recovered quite well. But we have something else to speak to you about. It could help you." She looked over at Sesshoumaru who nodded once.
"We have a preposition for you, Kagome-san. I have come to suspect that after running a sample of your blood through some tests, you are a good candidate for the Ritual of Adoption, to allow you certain attributes of the one who adopts you."
"What would it do to me? What do you mean by certain attributes?" Kagome asked, now purely confused and feeling more than a little caution.
"The Ceremony of Adoption, little dove. It would make you almost genetically a sibling of the one who adopts you, which would be Sesshoumaru. He has volunteered to participate." Tobiume said with a smile, "We can't have you pass away and die in two blinks of our eyes."
Sesshomaru nodded from his place on Kagome's other side of the bed. "It will afford you greater protection inside the city and out in the wilds." Sesshoumaru supplied.
"Is it dangerous?"
"Very. For any human with even one drop of Demon blood in their veins. But I've been running your blood sample through titers, and checking for the genetic markers of all the known Youkai, but yours is completely pure. There will be no harm to you or your pup."
Kagome frowned, the way Tobiume was speaking was like right out of her modern Chemistry textbook. Just where were they, technologically? However, she did sound like she knew what she was talking about, so she decided to go with it for now.
"Alright, I accept. What do I do?"
Sesshomaru turned away, and Tobiume smiled.
"Right this way."
Kagome was given a dark blue cotton kimono to wear and was led out into a large garden in the middle of the castle. The sleeves were too long, and the hem kept trailing on the ground, despite Kagome's efforts to preserve it.
Once they reached the center of the meadow; Kagome stared in amazement at the large stone platform set level into the ground, and she could see on the surface of the great stone that it was a single solid piece, and its surface was carved in a fanciful geometric pattern.
There were three low stone altars set on the edge of the circular platform in a triangle, and she thought she saw circular indents set in each one as she climbed up after them. Her fingertips brushed the smooth stone and realized it was obsidian. The well-raked sand that surrounded the stone platform was almost blinding with how white it was.
The two exceptionally tall demons turned and faced the diminutive human. Kagome swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. She had not realized just how tall they were until now.
Tobiume beckoned Kagome come close and laid her hands on Kagome's shoulders, "Now, are you sure you want this? This will affect your child as well."
As Kagome suddenly wrapped her arms around herself with a yelp and fearful look, Tobiume chuckled, "Not adversely, my dear, it won't hurt him, at least I dearly hope not."
"Okay…" Kagome would just have to trust them. "What kind of changes can one expect?"
"Well, it will change your gestation a bit. Probably a lot, now that I think about it. Your child could also carry some of the affects as you will, too. We don't know for sure, as it's never been completed successfully."
"What happened to others?"
Tobiume's face grew uneasy, "Well, they died. But their blood just wasn't as pristine as yours was, I've really never seen anything quite like yours, to be honest."
Reassured for the time being, Kagome just shakily nodded her head. If this worked, it could help her a ton in collecting the other Jewel Shards, and destroying the other Jewel Shards for good. If it didn't, well, she died. She just knew that she wouldn't be able to get it done on her own, though.
"Okay… okay I'm ready then. Let's do this." She summoned her courage as she stepped toward them.
"Now, repeat after me…" Tobiume said, all traces of her smiling face gone. Sesshomaru also seemed very intense about something. Power swirled around the aged Youkai-healer as she summoned her energy.
At the appropriate time in the high-chant, Tobiume grasped Kagome's hand and Sesshomaru's hand and placed them together; palms facing each other with a smooth double-bladed knife between them. Kagome curled her fingers around Sesshomaru's larger digits and his claws carefully did the same. Waves of power rose and fell around the three of them in splashes of gold and forest green, with a lightly blue tinge as Kagome's energy also flickered to life. The waves of power swirled around them like a strange wind, turning and twisting and weaving every fiber of it into something else, into a perfect blend. The patterns carved into the stone at their feet lit up with a bright blue.
Quickly, at the climax of the spell, the blade was turned and sliced into their palms and yanked down. They stood together as their blood seeped and mixed together, running down their arms when the strands of the magic slammed into Kagome and Sesshomaru. Quickly, the attributes that made Sesshomaru a fully blooded Inu-Youkai were drawn out from the blood that had been spilled and copied, then the magic released him from its hold and turned onto Kagome, who was the target.
The magic grasped her, and held her. Her back stiffened as fire seemed to flare up and lick at her skin. Then, she felt the power entering her through the cut in her palm, running up her hand, her wrist, then up her arm. She wanted to scream, if she could only remember how. All she was aware of was the burning. The world was dark to her eyes. The power reached her heart, then, as if it were similar to blood, it surged forward everywhere, it went racing through her brain, and she thought her skull might split. It rushed down to her abdomen, and to her legs and she wanted to fall. But her legs were locked, and she couldn't move them.
All she could feel was the fire.
The magic coursed along the body, changing and transforming everything it touched. Kagome's breath froze in her lungs as her muscle spasms clenched down uncontrollably. It was like lightning arcing through every neuron, every fiber of her being.
The power and magic behind the changing force left, and receded from the body of the targeted receptacle for the Youkai's blood. It had done all it could. It could not do more.
All she could see was darkness.
And then there was light. Kagome drew a sharp breath as a strange pain lanced across her body, soft aftershocks as the rest of the magic faded. The end of it all came swiftly, and when the light faded, Kagome found herself staring across at Sesshomaru, their eyes meeting evenly. Kagome blinked, 'how…?' All the pain was fading away from her body, small aftershocks continued to lance out with every beat of her heart. She stumbled when the magic released her legs and she fell forward. Sesshoumaru and Tobiume caught her by the shoulders and slowly lowered her down on the ground at their feet.
They both peered down at her with unbridled wonder and curiosity. They had actually done it, she was alive, and seemingly well. She was actually Youkai, now. Tobiume gave a soft whistle, "She is a lovely one, the shift suits you my dear!"
Kagome blinked up at them, her eyes focusing and blurring even as she tried to concentrate on everything around her. The world seemed a lot noisier than it was before. She wasn't quite sure it was this bright and colorful before, either.
She lifted one pale and slender hand to see it tipped with delicate and shapely claws, she snorted in surprise and the sound itself surprised her. A strand of hair slipped over her shoulder at the sudden jerk of her head and she looked at it, astonished. It was steel-gray instead of inky black. The blue kimono now fit her perfectly, the hems on her sleeves now resting midway down her thumbs.
"Wow…" Kagome breathed, her voice sounded strange to her ears, deeper and lilting. Kagome's hands lurched up to her mouth, her eyes wide in surprise. Tobiume was smiling as she gazed on Kagome, "Ah, you look dazzling, my dear." She glanced over at Sesshomaru, "almost makes you wish you marked her, neh Sesshomaru?" Sesshomaru grunted and slid his eyes away from Kagome to look at his grandmother dryly.
"She has taken well to the change." Kagome blushed; coming from Sesshomaru, that was the sincerest compliment in the world. She smiled suddenly, Sesshomaru was her brother!
"Hasn't stopped other brothers from claiming their sisters before." Tobiume snickered under her breath. But Kagome's eyes lit up as if she hadn't heard Tobiume's comment.
"Sesshomaru-niisama!"
Sesshomaru gave her a strange look, a sister might be a refreshing change, but she was such a strange creature.
Dog Youkai females were the more warrior-like of the species, they fought and roamed no matter how far along they were to whelping. His grandmother was a rare occurrence that happened only once every few hundred generations; a healer type dog-Youkai female whose greatest skills were in her own longevity and restorative powers, along with a more quiet personality, and not prone to blood-lust. She didn't have the urge to fight because she didn't feel the need to display her power, she didn't have the need to fight because she felt no need to prove her strength.
Her memories of life before were almost sketchy, and she didn't feel sure of everything. It was like looking back on her life through an almost two dimensional black and white lens.
She turned to look back at Tobiume and Sesshoumaru. "I need to see the place where we destroyed Naraku. I need to find my friends."
It might help cement her memories she still had. Make things feel more real again.
Sesshoumaru took a step forward. "They are alive, the monk and the slayer left back to Edo. I notified them that you had survived the injuries you sustained in the battle with the construct."
"Then I must go see them, and check on my son Shippo."
She lurched to her feet and stumbled only a moment before correcting her balance and walked almost blindly to the edge of a koi pond, Tobiume and Sesshomaru watched her walk away in silence. Sesshomaru moved to walk after her, but Tobiume stopped him with a shake of her head. "Let her go, She'll be back."
She felt a certain disorientation she never felt as a human. Scents and sounds, and sights were incredibly dazzling, and she could barely take it all in at once.
It ached in her heart to have lost Inuyasha, and she marveled at the world she was experiencing again as a Youkai. Was this what he felt, as a Hanyou? When he was overcome by his blood? Did the world appear this bright?
No wonder he had longed to become a full Youkai, it was like choosing to see life in color versus black and white. This was incredible.
Oh Inuyasha, I wish you could have experienced this like I do. With full control and perfect clarity.
But now Inuyasha was gone, and she was left with nothing. She paused, not nothing. She did have something; Inuyasha's son was right there inside of her, growing and alive. She had a piece of him. She smiled slightly, and something akin to happiness glowed in her eyes for a moment.
Well, Kagome had new resolve now alright; she had a son to live for, and half the Shikon to find. She stood up straight and flexed her hand, feeling the strength in her fingers. Her claws!
Yes, she was not alone; she had her son, she had Sesshomaru, and…she had her grandmother, Tobiume, and most of all; Sango and Miroku, she had to see them. She had her mama, and her brother Souta, and her Grampa too. She was not alone, never actually alone.
The two great Daiyoukai seemed sincere and welcoming of her, very receptive, and she would surely need help with this body of hers. That would come later, for now, she would go and find them. She turned toward the wall of the garden. Eyeing the wall skeptically, she jumped up onto the perimeter. The guard stationed there jumped and looked at her, he turned back to look at Sesshomaru, who just nodded his head. The guard pointedly looked away from her and looked out into the expanse of tall grasses and wind-swept trees.
Kagome stared out at the city nearby, and lifted her face into the eastern wind, taking in the scents. She looked out east and south, and found her path by instinct. Another leap, and she was on the ground and running through the trees growing in the cliffy area near the castle, and she saw that it was a rather impressively fortified stronghold.
She dashed around the city, too edgy to enter it, and made a beeline straight for Edo. She didn't know how she knew it lay that way. Her feet were just taking her. Kagome had worried that Sesshomaru would go after her, or send someone at least, so she moved even faster. Trying to widen the gap should he try to close it.
Her dearest and most beloved friend would not want her to be in such anguish over his passing. He would want her to find new resolve to live, and not let his sacrifice go to waste.
She could do this for him, she would carry his hopes and dreams onward; his spirit would live through her!
When it became clear no one was pursuing her, she slowed down to a walk and allowed her breath to even out from the quicks pants she was having before. She wasn't sure when she'd reach Edo, a lot of the landscape was familiar, but then the group had traipsed all over these grounds on the hunt for the Jewel shards in previous years.
Her memories felt unordered anyways, everything was kind of jumbled. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
It occurred to her that she was now a full-blooded Youkai. Miroku and Sango might not recognize her, what if they attacked? She ran her thoughts over, trying to work out a strategy on how to make them believe that she was who she said she was.
Maybe a security question? Would they go for that? She shook her head, not easily. Especially Sango, she could be very jaded and suspicious. Youkai and witches had ways of learning all kinds of things about a person.
Her feet continued to guide her, easing her along a deer trail through the woods. She stepped over a familiar upturned root, and found herself on the edge of the forest just on the north side of Edo. Her eyes widened, just how far had she run? She was barely tired.
She looked out over the huts, and saw the people going about their daily life. No hurry to their steps.
A fire had been lit in the middle of town, and Kagome's eyes flickered with the memory of what it meant.
It was a fire to honor the dead when their body couldn't be burned. The fire must be for Inuyasha. She squinted, she could just make out the swishing purple robes of a monk Miroku?—leaving the fire rapidly. Her eyes caught the quick movements of the pink and black Tajiya armor of Sango as she came circling the town toward her location.
Kagome was content to wait for them to come to her. If she came at them, they might become even more alarmed. Her fingers fidgeted in her sleeves. One fang hooked out to chew her lip, and she eased back a yelp with the sharp edge punctured her.
Sango was approaching her cautiously, hefting hiraikotsu in a ready position should she feel the need. Kagome eyed her brightly, and lowered her hands to her sides, leaving her palms open out towards Sango and trying to look non-threatening.
Kagome saw Miroku approaching, using his staff to help him walk up the steep incline.
"What brings you here, demon?" Sango spoke through her mask, her eyes narrowed.
"I…" Kagome opened her mouth, and looked again at Miroku who was now almost ten yards away. "I'm not here to hurt anyone, I wanted to see you both. I am Kagome, from…" She frowned, gosh, what was the name of that well? "I came from the bone eaters well, and on the other side my family is waiting for me."
Sango froze almost imperceptibly, "Kagome? Impossible! She's human, a human Miko."
Kagome raised her hands out at her, and Sango hefted hiraikotsu warningly and jumped back a pace.
"What proof would satisfy you, I can answer any of your questions." She frowned, tilting her head. "Uh, this new body takes some getting used to, though. I was just adopted today."
"If you are Kagome, did you sell your body to Youkai in order to gain power?" Miroku's question came with a deadly calm, her violet eyes bore up at her, and she could almost see his hackles raise. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Absolutely not, no. Not to my knowledge. I was put through the Ritual of Adoption, becoming Sesshoumaru's sibling."
Sango's sharp intake of breath made Kagome look over at her.
"He did what?"
Sango stalked closer, forgetting herself for a moment as she walked up to Kagome. She eyed her critically. "At the hot springs last time, what did we talk about?"
Kagome smiled, raised her hand to rub over her abdomen. "I confided to you that I was pregnant, I had just found out that morning." Kagome smile widened into a wide grin, "And you freaked out, wanting me to get out of the water…" She laughed out loud now, as the memory welled up rich and vibrant. "Because the baby could fall… out!" She chortled, covering her mouth with the other hand as her eyes leaked tears.
Sango grinned, her face lighting up beatifically. "Kagome! It is you!"
Miroku was just standing there looking at Kagome in absolute awe. "Y-you're with child! With Inuyasha's child! Oh, the things you two have been doing!" He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, and Kagome batted her hand at him and turned her face away, a blush coloring her cheeks.
"My dearest Kagome, you are simply radiant! I mean, it's not quite ideal that we allowed Sesshomaru to take you away to be healed, only to have you return as a Youkai. But, that is far from the worst outcome." He took her hand, and looked up at her warmly, "We are glad you have returned to us."
"Now," Sango ground out, her eyes going back to sharp slits, "What possessed Sesshoumaru to put you through that Ritual? Every time a Youkai ever attempted that horrid spell, everyone caught in it died."
She grasped Kagome's hands in a firm grip and pulled, drawing her into a tight hug. "You could have been killed, Kagome!"
She was letting go of her a moment later, and stomped away to growl out in frustration. "What was that man thinking! Is he a man?" She whirled around on Miroku, "What is a grown male Youkai called? Is it man? My god, didn't I go over this in my training?" She didn't wait for an answer, just stomped away again snarling under her breath.
Kagome's anxiety rose as she watched Sango get more and more worked up, and actually jumped when Sango spun around and stalked back toward Kagome, "And you, Kagome, did you consent to the Ritual? Or did he just drag you out and start chanting?"
Kagome's heart sank with chagrin, ah she will be upset.
"I… I consented, Tobiume told me of the dangers, and risks. Even the risk of death."
"Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, her face falling in misery and tears welled in her eyes. A pang went through Kagome, seeing her friend's fears in her eyes. Kagome came forward and stood in front of her, and grasped her upper arms in a firm grasp. "Sango."
"What?" Her eyes were staring up at Kagome like she was looking for something.
"Am I here?"
Sango blinked, "What?"
"Am I here?" Kagome asked, patiently.
"Yes, you are."
"Good observation, now, am I breathing? Do I have a heartbeat?" Wait, do I have a heartbeat? I should, shouldn't I? My word, what if I don't!"
"Yes, you're breathing." Kagome raised up Sango's hand to place it on her own neck, allowing Sango to place her other hand over her heart. "You do have a heartbeat. That's actually kind of incredible. Not all Youkai do."
Now it was Kagome's turn, "What?" Her head tilted to the side rather comically.
"Not all Youkai have hearts, their bodies run entirely on the energy of their Youki."
"Wow. That's weird, how come that's never come up in our talks before?"
Sango shrugged, "We don't usually discuss all the types and species and attributes of Youkai when we bathe."
Miroku continued to look at Kagome with just total amazement, sweet innocent and wonderful Kagome was with child. Inuyasha actually managed it. It was wild and strange, he had never thought Kagome would grow intimate with Inuyasha, she just didn't seem like she would do that.
She had seemed pretty focused on the task of the Jewel in all their travels, he had not anticipated that outcome. His hand gripped the staff more tightly, as his thoughts ran down a darker path. Inuyasha seemed just like the kind of person who would do that, mate with Kagome and then go on to fight and die. Leaving Kagome with the responsibility of a child to rear all on her own.
Now, though. Sesshomaru seemed to have shouldered that responsibility, lifting the worry from Kagome's shoulders. He had adopted her, at great risk to himself. Allowing her to join the family, and be under the protection of his blood, and also the protection her own body would allow. He had granted Kagome a gift of great magnitude.
"Kagome," He cleared his throat, and caught Kagome and Sango's attention from whatever they had just been talking around. "Did Inuyasha pledge himself to you? Was he intending to marry you?" He hated to ask her, but he wanted, no he needed to know for sure.
"He marked me." Kagome turned toward him fully.
Miroku frowned, "How did he do that?"
Kagome stepped closer to him and dropped to her knees so Miroku and Sango could see what she was talking about more easily. She pulled back the collar of her shirt to expose the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Miroku stared down at the rough fresh scar of fang punctures in her neck, and a pale blue mark nestled between the two scars.
"Did it hurt?" It looked painful. Kagome looked down, and nodded her head. "Hai, it did. A lot. We had been talking about it for a while, but I hadn't actually expected him to do that so soon. I thought we would wait until after the battle with Naraku."
His brow furrowed, "What happened to make him change his mind?"
Kagome shrugged. She sat on the grass and looked out over the village. "It was about two months ago, he had just gotten back from one of his trips he makes alone while I'm gone, I had just gotten back from my parent's house through the well. He seemed excited, and eager. He met me at the well, and helped lift out my bag. I was not expected back just then. I was trying to surprise him," Kagome laughed lightly. "He ended up surprising me."
Miroku glared out at the village darkly, he remembered that day. Kagome had been subdued, and quiet. She had been wearing Inuyasha's fire rat robe, and hugging it around herself. She had been so evasive that night. He had known something was off, but she had only hugged the robe tighter around herself declaring that she was just cold, and she was feeling perfectly well. He smiled bitterly, the blood blended into the robe so well. How could he not have seen it?
"I think I am a little confused on how this just… happened. Did he just walk up and bite you?" He was fighting hard to keep the sharp edge out of his voice. Just trying to keep it casual and light. But inside, his blood was beginning to simmer. He had a dark feeling that Inuyasha got impatient with precious sweet Kagome, and rushed her.
Kagome eyed him curiously, obviously picking up on something. "No, not really. He led me back to our tree, and…" She blushed, ducking her face away to look over at Sango settled next to her on the grass. Sango seemed to be coming to the same conclusions Miroku was. Her eyes held a still quality as her own alarms went off.
The rushed nature of Inuyasha's actions was just odd.
"Were you scared?"
Kagome became flustered, and shook her head. "Guys, this is—was—Inuyasha. I trusted him, I loved him. Completely."
Miroku blinked at her evasion. He turned his head slowly to look at her face, still red with embarrassment, "Were you scared?" He asked softly, slipping back into his role as a monk, a spiritual healer.
"Yes." Kagome whispered reluctantly, "I was nervous, and he was so… eager. But it was what we both wanted, it was just sudden, that's all."
"Did he ever give you a reason why he wanted to mark you so soon?"
"He put some of his own Youki in the mark, he told me it would allow him to know where I was and let him know if I were in danger or not. He said female Youkai would have been able to do the same for their mates, but as I was human, I could not. But he impressed on me that with us getting so close to cornering Naraku, he wanted to be able to find me and keep me as safe as possible."
Miroku thought that sounded rather one-sided, and more than a little controlling. He knew that most Youkai were possessive; but as he learned more about it, it gave him cause for speculation. He could see the benefits of it. If a female was in trouble, her mate would know almost instantly and be able to rush to her aid.
However, in the case with a human woman, she would not be able to reciprocate the mark. It made her almost a slave, like the Youkai was marking his property. The woman would never be fast enough or strong enough, and if she felt unsafe with her husband it would be impossible to escape with her life.
It made him wonder at Inuyasha's intentions. Perhaps there was a silver lining in all this. He considered that thought and smiled, his lips quirking up oddly as his eyes slid over to look at Kagome's dark silver hair.
It was incredible for both Sango and Miroku to hear about the mating mark. They didn't get to question very many Youkai about their marriage habits.
"Where is Shippo at? I haven't seen him at all." Kagome asked, as she craned her head out trying to spot his bright hair and fluffy tail. Sango shifted next to her. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
"He hasn't made it back yet, I was just getting ready to leave to try and find him, actually. We were held up for a few days trying to recover. And then you showed up, and we thought we were about to have to try and fight for our lives again."
Kagome looked at her, alarm growing and then falling. "What do you mean?"
Sango spluttered, "Y-you're aura, it flared out rather oppressively when you first got here, didn't you realize that? Even the villagers could feel something was up, and they can barely feel anything to do with auras."
Kagome's eyes widened, "Am I doing it now?"
Sango shook her head, "No, not anymore. As soon as I saw you look at me when I was approaching you it dropped down to almost nothing. I was afraid you were getting ready to kill us."
"Okay, good. I'm still getting used to this…" Kagome gestured to herself, "new me. I'm not really able to control everything yet. Is Kilala still gone?"
Sango nodded, "Yeah, I'm certain they are together. She wouldn't leave him behind."
Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "Alright, good. That's good. I mean, it's not ideal that he's missing, but I thought for sure he would make his way back here. I really hope he's alright."
Kagome stood up, dusting herself off. "Well, it's good to be back. I think I'll go to see my family."
Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, and she shrieked. Jumping up five feet into the air and away from Sesshomaru standing so close by. How he managed to get so close, she could not figure out. He was watching her, his whole person still. Sango and Miroku turned and saw him as well, and they also jumped to their feet, startled.
"Miko."
"When the hell did you get here, Sesshomaru?" Kagome shook herself, and Sango noted how characteristically canine it was. "You scared me!" Kagome accused. She huffed, flustered that she hadn't sensed him coming, let alone standing there so quietly.
"You're weren't paying enough attention to your surroundings, little Miko. None of you." He cast a disapproving glance on the two humans with her. He would have expected at least the two humans, after having spent their entire lives honing their skills, would have been able to catch his arrival.
"Have you come to fetch me back, then?" Kagome taunted. Sesshomaru growled at her, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Watch your tongue."
Kagome jutted her chin up defiantly, "Make me."
Sango and Miroku froze on either side of her, and Sango actually blanched at Kagome's words. Obviously, Kagome was upset with Sesshomaru having eavesdropped on her revelation, of which she was dead certain he had heard.
He gave her a cool and slow smile, "Perhaps I shall."
Kagome fought the urge to shudder at how dangerous he sounded. "So, what do you need?"
"We need to return, now."
"How come?"
He eyed Sango and Miroku. "I will tell you privately."
Sango could hear the clear dismissal. She broke out of her wooden stance and turned to Kagome. She embraced her, "Return to us soon, Kagome-chan. We will be here." She shrugged, "If I'm not out looking for Kilala and Shippo."
Miroku looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru, his brows furrowed. He looked at Kagome worriedly, Sesshoumaru looked tense. "Kagome-sama, it was lovely to see you looking well, we await your return." He bowed to her and then turned and followed after Sango's retreating form.
When the others were far enough away, Kagome turned her gaze back to Sesshomaru. "What's the matter?"
"Your Beast might potentially be waking up soon. When she does, she will challenge you for control of your body."
"What will happen then?"
"During that period, your body will be wreaking havoc. It is best you remove yourself from any who you might not want to hurt."
Kagome looked out at the village filled with people she knew and loved, and then immediately started sprinting back the way she came. She had to get away. Get as far away as possible. Don't look back, don't hesitate. She could feel Sesshoumaru coming up behind her, staying near but not too close. She knew Sesshoumaru was telling the truth. He had no reason to lie to her.
He had made no effort to stop her before, which meant he wanted her to have her opportunity to see her friends and update them on what had happened.
She slowed to a ground eating trot after she felt like she was far enough away and kept going. Sesshoumaru slowed down drastically, and kept pace with her. He was watching her sharply. She glanced at him, slightly confused over his sharp scrutiny.
After an hour, it started. It felt like a red and furious something was rising up inside herself. Arcing up under her skin and stretching its muscles. Kagome tripped and fell down hard to the ground, she caught herself, her hands outstretched. Her palms were cut by the sharp-edged rocks protruding from the earth.
She raised her head to look up at Sesshoumaru who watched her from the other side of the clearing. Her eyes were filled with fear, and Sesshoumaru curled his nose up as he scented it. But then his face went still as he realized she was not afraid for herself. She was afraid for him.
Sesshoumaru saw her head drop down again, and as he felt her aura rise he dropped into a fighting crouch. Bracing himself for her impending attack. Her low growl ripped out from deep in her throat. His skin prickled deliciously at the ferocity of it. His lips parted in a dark smile, such a rich challenge in her voice he had never heard before.
Her Youki rose up higher and higher, and her breath came in great heaves and growls. Her lips pulled back to reveal sharp fangs. She was all Youkai. She shifted her weight to her feet and hands, and her claws cut into the soil to help her brace herself before she leaped at the white challenger.
She lifted her head to stare him down with bright red eyes.
He took a step toward her, and she reacted by instinct. Her body snapped out of its position and began a slow stalk as she rose to her feet and changed tactics. She kept her gaze locked on him, saliva dripped from her teeth, as her continuous growl never let up.
"You're can't even speak, can you?"
She snapped and roared back at him. He'd take that as a no.
He took another step toward her, and she shot forward, lifting one arm to rake down at him. Her Youki was still rising higher. But now something else was curling in the vivid pressure as well. A bright blue was mingling into the Youki.
Is that... Purification?
He would have to be careful.
Suddenly the Youki plummeted, and instead seemed to condense on her body like another layer of skin. Covering her in a purple sheen. She lashed out repeatedly in earnest and he countered her rapid strikes. They moved swiftly around the clearing they stopped in. She came after him relentlessly, her clear red eyes never wavered from his. Challenging and furious.
She was moving faster and faster, almost matching him step for step. Her claws lashed out wicked and cruel and he was hard pressed to stay ahead of her. Her movements were wild and uncontrolled and as he had been schooled and trained as well as a seasoned warrior, it was his experience that kept him out of her reach.
She was wild and carnage incarnate. Sesshoumaru gloried in her form, and her wildness was beautiful.
They fought back and forth across the clearing, Sesshoumaru relying on hand to hand combat to keep her at bay, giving deflective punches and kicks instead of drawing Bakusaiga or Tokijin. He could feel Tokijin thrumming in anticipation.
His restraint surprised himself. The fight had gone on almost an hour, and more signs were taking root that she was losing more of herself. Her movements were no longer with any thought behind them. Her Youki was flaring, and less blue was tinging the aura now. It was more wild and untamed.
He cursed softly in his mind, it seemed she had lost the fight with her inner Beast. He would have to destroy her instead.
She locked into close quarters with him, and caught him off guard. Unable to shake her off as her jaws closed over his arm. He snarled at her as she raked him with her claws. He fell backwards and she landed on him hard. Her jaws gripped his right arm ferociously as she thrashed, he twisted them so that he sat on top of her instead. As his blood spilled across her teeth and into her mouth, her body seized up and froze and his eyes narrowed. His left hand found her throat and gripped it tightly. Now die.
For a moment she thrashed again before becoming still abruptly. He pushed down on her throat.
She stared at him, her teeth still locked onto his wrist. She gurgled roughly, and he could feel her hot breath on his arm coming faint and slow despite her great heaving. He eyed her carefully, his left hand still wrapped around her throat. The red was fading back to the gold flecked green, and he almost sighed in relief. She blinked at him, confusion and bewilderment growing.
Her tongue shifted, tasting the blood. Recognition filled her and she released his arm. She stared up at him in alarm. Her body began to shake with fear, and her eyes grew wide as she coughed hoarsely.
His hand slid away from her throat, seeing as she was no longer at risk for attacking him again. She stared at his bleeding forearm with growing worry, and then realized how she was laying under him. Whimpering, her face came closer with her eyes downcast as she began to bathe his arm with her tongue.
Right now, her instincts were more in control than her real self, but she was back. Her aura had dropped down to more calm and tranquil levels.
He lay still on the ground, and watched her as she tenderly cleaned his wounds she had inflicted. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to enjoy the attentions of a packmate. It was… comforting on a level he hadn't realized he craved.
"I'm sorry," She whimpered softly, tears starting to well up and fall down her cheeks and soak her hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you."
"It was good you came back in that moment. I was about to dispatch you," He admitted, looking to the side.
She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded her head. "Oh."
Kagome looked up at the swaying trees overhead and the cloudy blue sky. He almost killed me, just because I was taking too long. She shuddered, feeling a cold shiver go down her spine. But he didn't.
She looked at his painfully beautiful face to see him looking at her, "I'm glad you didn't." She spoke, her voice was heavily raw and hoarse. Marks were appearing on the fair skin of her neck in the shape of his hand. It was painful for Sesshoumaru to look at, but he told himself it had been necessary. It had almost been necessary. For a moment, he was about to completely crush her neck with his hand. He flexed his hand into a fist and then flared out his fingers. His hand could still feel her soft flesh, how pliant it was.
He actually felt palpable relief that he hadn't had to kill her. It would have been a…significant loss. He stood up and shook out his mane, Kagome sat up and gingerly climbed to her feet. As she took stock of her body, she hummed and then her fingers worked rapidly to pick out the stems and small leaves and tiny sticks that got caught in her hair.
There weren't many Inu Youkai around, not of the Royal bloodline. She had been inserted into it through magical means, the first to survive. She was to be protected.
They arrived back at the castle, skirting the city again. Kagome still felt edgy about entering. She still felt like they might recognize her human mannerisms for her to be perfectly safe there. Sesshoumaru seemed interested in keeping her away from the public eye for now anyways. She trailed behind him, her steps coming back the way she had come after leaping the wall.
Kagome followed Sesshomaru back to the hallway of the room she had woken up in, but instead of the room she had been in, they turned in to the door opposite and slid the doors open. The walls were a pale green, with leaves painted in various shades of green as the border. The futon was also green, but of a much darker color, with the floor being of dark hardwood. The room smelled as if it had been freshly cleaned, with the clean scent of rose oil, and lavender, and sage.
"This shall be your room for as long as you wish to stay here. I have something you may want back." With that, he strode forward to the freshly built armoire and opened the door, inside was Inuyasha's fire-rat robe, clean and perfectly preserved; not a stitch out of place. Sesshomaru placed his hand on it, feelings of nostalgia welled up inside him; it used to be part of his father's armor until the man had given it to Inuyasha's mother to keep her and the infant safe.
And now, Kagome will wear it; to keep herself and her child safe. He picked it up, and also picked up a soft golden-cream under-haori for Kagome to wear underneath. Turning, he saw Kagome regarding them thoughtfully, before a small smile graced her lips and she accepted them from him.
He left the room, the door sliding shut quietly. Kagome had a pretty good idea how the clothing went on, after having to bandage and care for Inuyasha's wounds enough times…and for other things, like when he claimed her as his mate a mere couple of weeks before the final battle. She swiftly shrugged out of the blue kimono, brushing away such soft memories, then she shrugged off the under-kimono, and pulled on the under-hakama, tying it securely around her waist. Then she pulled on the golden under-haori and tucked the hem into her hakama, followed with the red fire-haori itself, completing the assembly.
She stepped out of the room after she hung up the kimonos she had been wearing. Sesshomaru was waiting for her, and he appraised her with an unreadable expression. He turned down the hallway and Kagome followed him easily, her taller frame lengthening her strides to match his automatically, Kagome was astounded to realize that she now almost matched Sesshomaru in height. Then she smirked, she guessed that since Sesshomaru was the one to adopt her, she had 'inherited' his height, so to speak.
"What is so funny, sister?"
She started, and the smirk faded. She was not used to him calling her his sister, "Nothing, Nii-sama, I just never thought that I would ever be able to look you in the eyes without moving my head so far." She said. She slid her eyes to meet to meet his without moving her head for emphasis. She waved her hand distractedly, "It's just that I'm taller now. It's a bit... of a wild dream for me."
"Hn."
They turned a corner and walked down a long passageway. At the end of the hall, she found they had come to an impressive set of solid oak doors. Sesshomaru placed one hand on the handle and twisted, pushing with a smooth motion.
This chapter was updated very recently, on August 6, 2017 1:12am.
I encourage everyone to reread it. I'll post messages to those who have already read my later chapter posted yesterday. Well, I'll do that for those that reviewed! hahaha! (Because that's the only way I could let them know anyways).