InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Deeper Destiny ❯ Chapter 24

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha & Co., they belong to the highly esteemed Rumiko Takahashi. I do, however, lay claim to my plot, title, and any original characters.


A/N: Have I been forgotten? I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve been a horrible, horrible person to leave all my loyal readers. It’s been quite a long time, but I haven’t given up on this fic. And hopefully my readers haven’t given up on me? My deepest apologies, everyone. And so I give to you, chapter 24.


A Deeper Destiny: Chapter 24


Sesshoumaru frowned, watching Rin and Amaya cautiously. Rin had not yet come running to him to hug him, instead remaining next to Toyoharu’s granddaughter, both giving him smug looks. He turned his questioning gaze to Kagome, who merely looked up at him and shrugged. Toyoharu laughed deeply as he entered the main hall, followed closely by a grinning Sanyu. The Kitsune youkai scurried the girls indoors before greeting Kagome with a warm hug.

ÒIt’s about time, Sesshoumaru!Ó Lord Toyoharu clapped his hand on the younger Taiyoukai’s shoulder. ÒWe knew you had it in you!Ó Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the Northern Lord.

ÒWhat is the meaning of this, Toyoharu?Ó

ÒYou and Kagome have mated, have you not?Ó Kagome gasped, and a giggling Sanyu lead her inside, excitement obvious. At Sesshoumaru’s nod, Toyoharu grinned. ÒWell, congratulations! You’ve found yourself an unrivaled mate–in beauty, intellect, and power.Ó

ÒHn.Ó Sesshoumaru was aware that Toyoharu was keeping something from him. However, he would not push. The Northern Lord would do no such foolish thing. Glancing behind him, Toyoharu made sure they were alone.

ÒLet us go to my study, we have much matters of importance to discuss.Ó

XxxX

Kagome paused, letting the comb in Amaya’s hair go slack as she turned to face Sanyu, who, once again, was adorning her hair with blossoms. She and Sesshoumaru had come to retrieve Rin today, but had accepted an offer to stay overnight prior to their arrival. But things had been strange when they had arrived. It seemed Lord Toyoharu had wanted to get Sesshoumaru alone as quickly as possible, and Sanyu had been his accomplice. The conversation between Rin and Amaya stopped as Kagome waited for the Kitsune youkai to look at her. Hair no longer in reach, Sanyu put the sakura blossom back into the basket in her lap and lifted her jade eyes to meet Kagome’s.

ÒSanyu, is there something going on that I am not aware of? I didn’t even have a chance to greet Toyoharu-sama before you hurried me away.Ó Sanyu’s eye’s softened with guilt, and she gave Kagome a wry smile.

ÒLord Toyoharu had important matters that he and Lord Sesshoumaru needed to discuss.Ó Kagome nodded quietly, oddly unsettled by the situation. Deciding not to ruin the mood, she turned back to Amaya’s hair, brushing the ebony locks gently.

XxxX

Sesshoumaru was on edge. Toyoharu was never one to beat around the bush, but here he was, stalling for time. It was obviously news that Toyoharu did not want to be the bearer of. Whatever it was, Sesshoumaru decided enough was enough.

ÒToyoharu, this Sesshoumaru would appreciate that you not waste anymore time with this rambling.Ó The northern Taiyoukai sighed resignedly. Pushing scrolls forward, Lord Toyoharu regarded Sesshoumaru with weary eyes.

ÒWord of your mating has spread.Ó Toyoharu paused, choosing his words carefully. ÒThere isÉunrest. I do not doubt you and our Lady Kagome are the youkai and miko the prophecy speaks of. But this causes others to feel uneasy, and angry. We still have many who are power-hungry among us, despite the ending of the Great War, some centuries ago.Ó The northern Taiyoukai paused. ÒThere are methods of stealing power Sesshoumaru. I fear that youkai will seek the help of sorcerers and dark miko to steal the power you and your mate possess. There may even be attempts on Kagome’s life. Youkai that hate ningen with a passion still exist among our numbers. And if you two are really the youkai and miko in the prophecy, your pups will be in danger. Neither youkai nor ningen want a world together.Ó Sesshoumaru listened silently, processing Toyoharu’s words. ÒLet us work together, Sesshoumaru.Ó The western taiyoukai nodded.

ÒYou were worthy of my father’s loyalty, Toyoharu, and now mine.Ó The soft blue eyes of Toyoharu twinkled gently.

XxxX

Kagome sighed, sinking into pile of cushions behind her as Rin and Amaya shut the shoji screen behind them, perhaps on their way to find and torture Mareo. The girls were a handful, even more so than when Rin had been a young, albeit unusually energetic, child. Sanyu, standing above her, giggled, her jade green eyes twinkling. She seated herself next to the miko turned mate of Taiyoukai, laying back so that their hair mixed, her coppery locks contrasting greatly against Kagome’s ebony.

ÒKagome,Ó Sanyu began, turning on to her side to face the blue-eyed miko. Kagome reciprocated this action with warm eyes. Sanyu had dropped the formalities a long time ago, opting instead to call her by name. Kagome hadn’t noticed when it had happened, but the relationship between them had changed greatly. They were like best friends, sisterly even. It reminded of her of Sango. But these feelings were not bittersweet. Sanyu was no replacement for the taijiya, but something all her own. And Kagome was glad to have her.

ÒMhm?Ó

ÒIt is customary for the children and heirs of Taiyoukai to spend an amount of time fostered with another family.Ó Kagome nodded. It was a custom for royalty in many cultures across the world and across time as well. ÒAmaya has come to the age when she begins her fostering. And Lord Sesshoumaru has mentioned that you will be teaching Rin her lessons soon, is that correct?Ó

ÒYes,Ó Kagome smiled, ÒIs Amaya to be fostered with us?Ó

ÒLord Sesshoumaru has expressed that it is your decision, as Lady of the Western Lands.Ó Sanyu giggled as Kagome gasped. ÒYou’re mated to him now, Kagome. Surely you haven’t forgotten the responsibilities you would assume as his mate.Ó Kagome blushed, inwardly smacking her forehead. Sanyu began to laugh outright, holding her sides with one arm as the other tired to muffle her laughter. Eyes narrowing at the Kitsune, Kagome blanched once she thought about all the responsibilities she might have. Would she have to host formal affairs? Attend meetings? Wear fancy kimono? Sanyu had managed to calmed down considerably by this time and immediately felt sorry for Kagome. Putting an arm around her shoulder, she comforted the miko, ÒIt’ll be alright, Kagome. I’m going to be there with you.Ó At Kagome’s incredulous look, she grinned. ÒI have expressed my desire to attend to the new Lady of the Western Lands to Lord Toyoharu, and he has given me his consent.Ó

A slow grin spread across Kagome’s face.

XxxX

ÒYou’ll have to strengthen your barriers around your palace,Ó Toyoharu said quietly, Òbut you’ll need greater reinforcements. You’ll have dark miko and black magic to worry about as well, besides the threat of youkai.Ó

ÒKagome possesses complete mastery of barriers.Ó Toyoharu nodded sagely.

ÒYes, of course. Her powers are unrivaled, and, combined with yours, will prove to be a great defense. But I fear that this will not be enough. You’ll need to take offensive action as well.Ó

ÒHn.Ó Sesshoumaru groaned inwardly. He’d have to call upon his army again. ÒThis Sesshoumaru will commence the training of the Western army upon return to the West. Barriers will be placed in consecutive layers.Ó Toyoharu nodded, unrolling a large map on the table between them.

ÒYour strongest barriers will encircle the palace itself,Ó The Northern Taiyoukai drew a circle around the Western stronghold. ÒAnd more barriers placed beyond those.Ó Sesshoumaru drew four unconnected arcs around the western palace.

ÒThese arcs represent the villages where each squadron and their families reside.Ó Nodding, Toyoharu drew a larger circle encompassing the four villages. ÒKagome and I will have to determine how to erect our multiple barriers at these locations. This Sesshoumaru will discuss this with her later.Ó

ÒSesshoumaru, I ask that you rely on my scouts for information on rumors and threats. To send your scouts out would set off an alarm to your enemies and make this more difficult than it has already become. You have my full support in this endeavor.Ó

ÒIt is appreciated,Ó Sesshoumaru said evenly, though his eyes belied the intensity of his gratuity. Toyoharu smiled, wishing Inu no Taisho could see his son now.

XxxX

Mareo froze. He exhaled as silently as he could. Then he heard it again. It was faint, but there. The two girls had gotten better, but he could still detect the sound of their muffled footsteps. Grimacing, he noiselessly crossed the room to the open window, and leapt out. The sun was setting in the west, to his satisfaction. The evening meal would be served within an hour from now. He had opted for a smaller meal earlier to avoid the two teen girls, and their seemingly endless torture, and he had paid the price, his growling stomach a testament to that.

Sighing, he leapt high into the branches of a magnolia tree, hoping to resume the nap that Rin and Amaya had disrupted. He grumbled silently. He had it made here, at the northern Taiyoukai’s abode. He was free to do whatever he desired here, free from responsibilities and missions. The only worry he had was avoiding the troublemaking teens. Mareo closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, taking in the scent of the magnolias and a faint trace of something else. Brows furrowed, he realized it was sakura. Sakura, sunshine, and dew–the scent of a spring morning.

His violet eyes shot open, and he realized he sat level to the room Kagome was staying in. His form was obstructed from her view by the magnolias, and his aura was still masked from earlier. He watched, as she sat on the raised futon with her back to him, her hair wound up in a simple, pretty bun. His jaw dropped as she began to remove the white bathing yukata, watching as the white cloth dropped to reveal her strong, slender shoulders, the toned arms, and the creamy expanse of her back. He traced the shadowed depression of her spine, saw the muscles flex as she reached up to let her hair down. She turned to pick up a garment on her right, and his wide violet eyes, dark with lust, drank in the generous curves of her breasts. She rose then to slip into her simple Chinese dress, but her long, ebony hair hid her body.

Sanyu entered then, and he saw her nostrils flare just as her jade eyes shot up to his hiding place. He knew she had scented him, that was no doubt. He scampered away, heart beating uncontrollably against his ribs.

-End Chapter-