InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Little Faith ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are created by Rumiko Takahashi, not me, but the new plots and the original characters (Akiyama, Katsuo, Natsumi, Shin, Isamu and Moriko) are mine. This fanfiction had been written for entertainment purposes only and without intention of infringing upon any copyright.

 

A/N: To HentaiVixen, Inuyashalover161, Angelgirl101 and Anonymous Angel, thanks for reading and reviewing the previous chapter. Yes, there will be lemons eventually, but not just yet, :P.

 

 

A Little Faith by elle6778 - Chapter 7

 

 

She was livid.

 

For Kami's sakes, how did this happen? How did she end up being the stoic demon's intended mate? HOW? She swung around to face said demon, who face was currently displaying a disinterested mask. How could he just stand there and say nothing?

 

“Sesshoumaru…” she gritted out through clenched teeth. Words failed her. What could she say to him to stress just exactly how angry she was feeling at that very moment? What had she done to deserve this?

 

The demon lord simply continued to stare at her with that infuriatingly blank look. However, Natsumi obviously sensed that something was wrong. Eyes wide in her face, the girl began to inch backwards towards the shoji. “I shall…uh…return when it's more convenient,” she declared unsteadily.

 

Kagome barely heard the door shut while she glared at Sesshoumaru. He would explain this.

 

“What did you do? What is this entire mating thing?” she asked angrily.

 

A muscle in his cheek twitched. “It means that you and this Sesshoumaru are mated,” he said flatly.

 

She gritted her teeth. “I can understand that much! And from the sound of it, you already know this for some time. When are you going to tell me?”

 

Sesshoumaru's expression remained unchanged as he regarded her thoughtfully. He seemed to be having an internal debate of sorts. She glowered at him. At the moment, she felt like strangling the reticent demon.

 

“Sesshoumaru!!” she snapped, further infuriated by his silence.

 

Then Sesshoumaru's lips tightened and Kagome saw a flicker of fury in his eyes. “It was your own doing, Miko,” he said coldly.

 

Kagome's eyes bulged. “What? How could that be possible? I don't remember agreeing or doing something like this!” she declared heatedly. “Well, you can call it off because I don't want to be mated to you!”

 

Sesshoumaru stiffened visibly. His expression turned harsh before he snapped, “Do not presume that this Sesshoumaru would desire one such as you for a mate.”

 

Her lips parted at his uncharacteristic vehemence. If she had not known better, she would have thought that he looked… offended at what she had just said. Surely he did not think that she was interested in him like that. Did he? She frowned, wondering if she had done something to give him that idea.

 

“Um…Sesshoumaru. Maybe this whole thing is just a misunderstanding,” she ventured with a frown.

 

“There is no mistake. You marked this Sesshoumaru as a mate,” he bit out in obvious disgust.

 

“Marked?” she echoed in confusion. What did he mean?

 

Wordlessly, Sesshoumaru swept towards her. Suppressing the urge to run away at the barely banked fury in his eyes, Kagome stood her ground. When he reached her, he stopped and reached up to yank the white silk of his kimono aside.

 

Kagome's lips parted at the sight of the reddish half-circle scar at the junction between his neck and his shoulders. She cringed inwardly when she remembered the time she had bitten him in anger and then passed out.

 

“With this mark, you mated this Sesshoumaru,” he hissed, his eyes flashing.

 

“Oh.” Her voice was weak. That was all it took to mark a demon? How was she supposed to know something like that? So it was her fault after all. Her anger fizzled out, leaving her with nothing but trepidation.

 

“Couldn't you have stopped it?” she asked in a small voice.

 

“That was not possible.” His tone was flat.

 

“What does this mean?” she whispered.

 

“This means that as long as the mark is present, we are bonded.”

 

“What do you mean we're bonded?”

 

His irritation clear, he explained impatiently, “The mating mark forges a spiritual bond between mates. A mate will know when the other is in distress or danger, and their general health. However, mates can never be separated for a prolonged amount of time without suffering pain.”

 

Kagome gasped. That meant that she could not go home? How was she supposed to escape when there was something like this tying her down? Also, she did not want him as a mate. Heck, she did not want anyone as a mate. Fifteen years old was way too young for anyone to commit themselves to another person. Not to mention she did not even belong in this era.

 

“Can it be removed?” she asked as her desperation grew.

 

He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, the golden orbs were calm again. “This Sesshoumaru will find a reversal method. The mating is only half complete, which should simplify matters.”

 

“What do you mean by half complete?”

 

Silence greeted her.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” she prompted impatiently. “Why is it so hard for you to just answer my questions?”

 

Directing a glare at her, he barked, “To complete the mating, this Sesshoumaru would have to mark you.”

 

“That's all?” Then she made a face. “I suppose the biting is still quite disturbing.”

“And rut with you,” he added stonily, not bothering to conceal his expression of distaste.

 

Rut? As in have sex? Kagome immediately blanched. “Ugh, you can't be serious! That's disgusting!”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered. “You dare insult this Sesshoumaru?”

 

“What? You actually like the thought of it?” she asked with growing incredulity.

 

His expression turned haughty. “This Sesshoumaru would not lower himself to rut with a human,” he declared.

 

She rolled her eyes. “What a relief,” she mocked. Then she sagged. “We've got to do something about it. There must be something we can do to reverse it.”

 

“Hn.”

 

“But how?” she asked, hoping that there was really some way to break the bond. Sesshoumaru was probably trying his best, seeing that he was just as distressed about this as much as she was. She could not imagine being stuck to him for the rest of her life.

 

He pointed to the wall full of rolled-up scrolls. “The answer will be in there.”

 

“I'll help,” she declared firmly. Then her brow furrowed and she muttered apologetically, “It's my fault anyway.”

 

She saw an expression of surprise flash across his face before it returned to its usual blankness. And then, he graced her with a curt nod of agreement.

 

Still shocked over the entire revelation, she muttered, “I think I'll go outside for a walk. I need to think.” Rubbing her forehead, she headed to the shoji screen. They would find a way to break this mating bond.

 

They had to.

 

Or else, how was she supposed to go home with this bond tying her to Sesshoumaru?

 

“Miko.”

 

His voice halted her steps and she turned about with trepidation. Was there something else that he had forgotten to tell her? “What?” she whispered.

 

“You will give your word that you will not speak of this to anyone.” His voice was tight, betraying his unease.

 

She blinked. Then she realized why he was demanding such a thing. “This is embarrassing for you, isn't it? Being marked by me like that kind of shows that you were not able to stop it,” she ventured uncertainly. “Your reputation…” she trailed off, realizing how angry Sesshoumaru must have been when he understood what had happened.

 

He simply stared at her. It was obvious that he had no intention of confirming her suspicion. But his silence was enough of an answer.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” Even though she did not do it on purpose, she could not help but feel guilty about it. She took a deep breath before she declared, “I won't say a word about this to anyone.”

 

“You will honor your word.”

 

She forced out a smile. “Don't worry, Sesshoumaru. I promise you that I won't betray you like that.”

 

“Hn.”

 

With that, she left the study.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

Kagome felt her lips twitch at flashes of the dream she had last night. She did not know that she had such wild imagination. Imagine her making a powerful demon her reluctant mate. The entire idea was so ridiculous that it seemed almost funny. Not that her dream self had found it funny.

 

She shrugged her yellow backpack, filled with food and drinks, into a more comfortable position. Now that she had stopped working, she could afford to lend her mother a helping hand with the household tasks.

 

Skipping up the steps to the shrine, she stopped by the wooden letterbox. The breeze threaded through her hair as she bent to retrieve the post, but she barely felt the whipping of her hair against her face as her eyes landed on a letter addressed to her. Her mouth went dry when she saw the small logo at the bottom corner of the envelope.

 

“Tsukuyo Medical,” she whispered, her voice trembling in excitement. It was one of the best medical facilities around. Privately funded, it spared no expense when it came to treatments and researches. Granted, as a paramedic, she would not be seeing much of the inside of the facility. But still, if she worked hard enough, maybe they would allow her to progress further.

 

Wait. Maybe it was a rejection letter.

 

Her heart immediately sank.

 

Gingerly, she tore open the envelope and pulled out the thick paper. Her eyes scanned through the contents and elation began to bubble up within. Clutching the letter against her chest, she squealed in excitement as she dashed to her house. She could not believe that they had offered her an interview.

 

“Mom!” she yelled as she ran into the kitchen, skidding to a halt in front of her surprised mother who was stirring something in the pot.

 

“I got an interview with Tsukuyo Medical!” she exclaimed with an excited hop.

 

Her mother beamed. “Congratulations! That's great news.” Then she clapped her hands together. “We should celebrate this.”

 

Kagome laughed. “Maybe we should wait to see if I actually get the job before celebrating.”

 

Her grandfather chose to make an appearance then. “She should be the shrine priestess instead of a paramedic,” he grumbled under his breath.

 

Kagome instantly rolled her eyes. Her grandfather was convinced that they all descended from powerful lines of priest and priestesses. It was probably another thing which had been fueling her dreams. She was certainly no miko.

 

Then she looked around. “Where are Sachimaru and Souta?”

 

“Souta has gone out with his friends and Sachimaru is playing outside near the Goshinboku with his bokken.” Raising a brow, her mother pointed to a miserable looking hole in the kitchen wall. “You know, Sachimaru is really strong for a six year old. It is a little worrying.”

 

Kagome grinned. “Must be all the good food you feed him.”

 

Her mother laughed. “Maybe that's it.”

 

“The boy is a demon,” her grandfather muttered, shaking his head. “His strength is unnatural.”

 

Kagome expelled a long-suffering groan. “Jii-chan…” Then shaking her head, she grinned and went outside to find her son.

 

The sound of a triumphant yell reached her before she caught sight of the boy. Wielding his bokken, Sachimaru had an intense look of concentration on his face as he swung at bush near the Goshinboku. His stance was wrong, she thought absently as Sachimaru swayed unsteadily at the momentum of his swing.

 

She immediately frowned in confusion when she realized what she was thinking. Her dreams must be affecting her more than she thought if a dream training session had stuck in her head. But her mind kept insisting that Sachimaru's stance was wrong and he could end up being vulnerable when attacked by an opponent.

 

She groaned inwardly, hardly believing what she was about to do. Closing the distance between them, Kagome called out, “Sachimaru.”

 

Grinning at her over his shoulders, Sachimaru gushed, “Okaa-san! Look at my attacks!”

 

Returning the grin, Kagome watched as he swung at the unfortunate bush again. Stepping closer, she called out, “Sachimaru, come here.”

The boy ran the short distance which separated them, his face wreathed in a wide smile. Kneeling down, Kagome gave him a brief hug before she repositioned the bokken in his hold. Then she stood up and placed her feet in a stance which felt strangely familiar.

 

“Look at my legs, Sachimaru. This is how you should stand.”

 

Sachimaru's eyes widened for a moment before he nodded. Emulating her stance perfectly, he held the bokken out in front of him. “Like this, Okaa-san?”

 

Smiling, Kagome nodded. “Perfect! Now when you swing, make sure that you twist your body with it, okay?”

 

Face scrunching up in concentration, Sachimaru attempted a swing. But it looked stiff and unnatural. Knowing what was wrong, she proceeded to correct him. It was bizarre how well she remembered the training from her dreams. Come to think of it, how did she know enough about fighting to dream about it?

 

Strange.

 

Shrugging it off, Kagome continued to `train' her son.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

It had taken Sesshoumaru less than one day to uncover the fact that Higurashi Kagome had indeed been temping at Inuyasha's company until two days ago. A copy of her file now resided on his desk, complete with the picture which confirmed her identity as the female he had seen at the carnival. Further investigations over the next day had revealed that she was currently searching for a permanent job as a paramedic.

 

It was then that an idea had occurred to him. He needed to find out more about her and her son without being too obvious. What could be better than having her as an employee in one of his subsidiary companies? That way, she would be more accessible to him.

 

He glanced out of his window, noting that the sky was already dark. However, he was certain that the person he intended to reach was still at work. Picking up the phone, he dialed a number from memory. When it was picked up, he did not waste any time on pleasantries.

 

“Shiori? I have a task for you.”

 

“And how are you, Sesshoumaru?” a female voice said dryly. “Do you know what time it is?”

 

Sesshoumaru ignored her words. Instead, he simply went straight to the point, “You have received an application for the post of a paramedic from one called Higurashi Kagome recently.”

 

“Ah! Yes. What about it?”

 

“You will employ her.”

 

A short pause followed. “Sesshoumaru, you know that I make that decision, not you,” Shiori said tightly.

 

“Is she unqualified?” Sesshoumaru asked pointedly. From what he had understood from his searches, this Higurashi Kagome was certainly not unintelligent. And if she was related to the miko of his dreams in any way, her sheer determination would compensate for any deficiencies in her intellect.

 

“That's not the point here, Sesshoumaru,” Shiori pointed out impatiently.

 

“Perhaps you require a reminder of the origins of your medical facility?” Sesshoumaru asked in a silky voice.

 

“There's no need for threats,” Shiori snapped irritably. “And besides, I've already sent her a letter asking her to attend an interview.”

 

“Hn.”

 

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked pointedly.

 

“No.”

 

With that, he ended the call. Now that he had set this in motion, he needed to concentrate on the recent demonic activities. If Inuyasha had heard rumors in the clubs, perhaps he should pay them a visit to see if he could glean more information.

 

Picking up his jacket, he proceeded to leave the office.

 

All this searching brought to mind the dream he had last night. By some strange coincidence or perhaps it was the result of his current activities, his dream self was also searching for something, as well as undertaking the ridiculous task of training a human miko.

 

As always, it did not take much for the dreams to reappear in his mind.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

With a flick of his wrist, his whip appeared.

 

Sesshoumaru noted the widening of the miko's eyes as his golden strand of whip headed straight for her. With a squeal of alarm, she jumped to the side, flinging her arms out as she did so. A bright flare of miko energy shot out wildly, missing him by a great distance.

 

“Miko,” he gritted out in irritation. “You will attempt to plan your attacks.”

 

Her powers were strong. However, even after two weeks of his training, the execution of her attacks was often flawed. It seemed to be affected by her emotions and considering her lack of success in maintaining her calm and detachment, her attacks were erratic.

 

When she propped herself up onto her hands and knees into an unfortunately suggestive position, Sesshoumaru forced his eyes to remain fixed to her dark head. His mind, however, refused to cooperate and decided to draw his eyes to her rounded behind. To add to the insult, he was presented with an imaginary image of said portion of her body unclothed.

 

Her voice broke into his unwanted thoughts. “I'm trying, alright! Your attack came without warning!” she snapped, her chest heaving with each breath she drew in.

 

His eyes narrowed. This was a waste of his time if the miko could not even grasp the basic concept of a fight. How had Katsuo been training her?

 

“Warnings will not be issued during battle,” he ground out.

 

She threw her arms up in the air. “This is not a real battle!” Then she frowned, wiping the sweat off her forehead. “You're not training me to send me into battle, are you?” she whispered nervously.

 

For a moment, Sesshoumaru considered allowing her to believe the notion that he, Sesshoumaru, would send one such as her to battle in the name of the Western Lands. Perhaps her concentration would improve if she sensed the need for improvement. However, he could not bring himself to say it.

 

“No,” he said flatly.

 

She closed her eyes briefly. Her relief was palpable as she released a pent-up breath. “Thank Kami for that,” she muttered.

 

It was obvious that she was exhausted and he could sense it through their bond. Although incomplete, their mating bond seemed to be growing stronger by the day, forcing him to resist harder. And from what he could tell, it was beginning to affect the miko as well. He had not missed the heated look as her eyes ran over his person during their time together.

 

A glance outside told him that the sun was high in the sky. “We will continue tomorrow,” he declared, understanding that it was pointless to push the miko while she was already weary. He had learnt from the past one week that her performance suffered greatly when she was in such a state. However, he had been gradually increasing the length of their sessions each day, and she had kept up surprisingly well.

 

With a slow nod, the miko left the dojo.

 

Knowing that she was heading to the hotsprings, Sesshoumaru suppressed the urge to follow her. He would cleanse himself in the cleansing chamber next to his sleeping quarters, away from her.

 

And perhaps it was time for him to resume patrolling his lands. With all the unexpected events that had occurred, he had neglected his duty for far too long. Although his warriors would have done their best, Sesshoumaru felt more comfortable if he personally patrolled his lands.

 

Patrolling would also keep him away from the temptation of the miko's person for a day or so, he decided dryly.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

Kagome sighed as she lowered herself into the water, closing her eyes against the bright sunlight. The weather was a little too hot for a hotspring bath but she needed the heat to soothe her aching muscles. Especially knowing that she had to go through another training session tomorrow.

 

She knew that Sesshoumaru was irritated by her slow progress, but she was just as frustrated about it. No matter how hard she tried, she just could not concentrate. Instead her mind kept wandering to places that it should not. It had never been this hard when Katsuo was training her.

 

Today, for instance, she had almost taken a hit in the face when her concentration was drawn to the indentation of Sesshoumaru's belly button. She knew that it was a hot day, but could he not have kept his kimono on? How did he expect her to concentrate on the attacks when he was flashing his toned torso at her?

 

Kagome groaned. Sesshoumaru had warned her about this. After some prodding, he had finally explained the side effects of the incomplete mating. The bond would continue to demand that they complete the mating ritual until they do so. Considering the way she simply could not keep her eyes off him, she was definitely suffering from it. Rather badly, it seemed, if the thoughts in her mind were any indication.

 

The wind suddenly picked up, jolting her from her musings. Flicking her damp hair out of her eyes, she glanced around warily, but noticed nothing out of place. Shrugging it off, she sank back into the warmth of the water.

 

Then, out of nowhere, she heard a loud exclamation before something streaked through the sky in front of her. With a large splash, it landed in the hotsprings.

 

Kagome immediately shrieked in alarm and threw her hands over her bare chest. What was that? Panic overwhelmed her as she tried to scramble out of the water. She was not waiting around to find out what had joined her in the hotsprings. Heart thudding wildly, she made it to the edge of the hotspring before a white blur streaked past her.

 

Sesshoumaru, she realized with increasing dread. Eyes widening at his presence, she sank back into the water, groaning as she did so. What was he doing here? And how was she supposed to get out now? And there was still something inside the water with her.

 

Another splash sounded and her gaze immediately snapped towards the source. Her eyes bulged when she discovered that her unwanted bathing partner was an inuyoukai warrior who was still dressed in full battle armor, sputtering as he attempted to straighten himself. For Kami's sakes, what was he doing in the hotsprings?

Before she could voice her thoughts, Sesshoumaru beat her to it.

 

“You will remove yourself this instance,” he snarled, his expression unusually contorted with fury.

 

Eyes wide in his face in obvious terror, the inuyoukai tried to bow and back away at the same time. His alarm was making him clumsy. Kagome bit her lips to stop herself from laughing as he stumbled on something and ended up being submerged again.

 

When he resurfaced, he sputtered nervously, “L-Lord Sesshoumaru! Forgive me.”

 

“Perhaps you wish to explain your presence,” Sesshoumaru bit out harshly.

 

Kagome gulped. This was the first time she heard that tone from Sesshoumaru. He sounded absolutely furious. And all this was because his warrior had accidentally landed in the hotsprings? Then her eyes widened in astonishment when she saw that instead of the usual golden hue, his eyes were now blood red.

 

Face pale and looking as if he might faint at any moment, the warrior stuttered, “T-The g-general…I was u-unable to fend off his a-attack. T-the force threw me clear a-across the walls.”

 

Sesshoumaru's red eyes narrowed. “Leave.” His tone was icy.

 

The warrior blinked.

 

“NOW!”

 

Half swimming, half running, the warrior finally made it out of the hotsprings and then disappeared through one of the shoji screens.

 

Kagome's breath caught in her throat as Sesshoumaru turned to face her. His eyes were still red and she could see the tips of his sharp fangs protruding between his lips. She knew that she should find it scary, but for some reason, the only thing she could think was…magnificent. And the possessiveness in those eyes was unmistakable, making her feel warm.

 

In a flash, he entered the water and went straight for her. Eyes widening in alarm at his proximity, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. When his arms went around her, she froze. She watched mutely as his head descended.

 

Then he nuzzled her cheek.

 

Her breath caught in her throat at the flood of warmth coursing through her. Her mind instantly clouded with something which could only be described as desire.

 

“S-Sesshoumaru?” she whispered huskily.

 

She felt a rumble against her chest as he growled. A pleasurable shiver ran down her spine at the sound, and she let out a strangled squeak. His hands tightened around her for a moment before he removed it abruptly.

 

Then he was gone.

 

Gaping, Kagome blinked at the empty spot in front of her.

 

What was that all about?

 

A sudden surge of annoyance coursed through her, making her clench her fists. How dare he do something like that to her, she thought indignantly. His actions were obviously the effect of their bond, but still, why did he have to tempt her like that? Did he not know how it would affect her?

 

She growled in her throat before smacking a fist on the surface of the water.

 

“Miko.”

 

Jumping at the sound of his voice, Kagome spun around sharply. What was he doing here again? Was he planning to continue what he had started? When she shot a glare at him, she suddenly noticed the direction of his now golden gaze. With a squeak of outrage, she sank back into the water.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” she admonished irritably.

 

She swore she saw a brief appearance of a smirk on his lips.

 

“Go away, Sesshoumaru. Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm bathing here.”

 

He quirked a brow. “So it seems.”

 

“Sesshoumaru…” she gritted out impatiently.

 

“This Sesshoumaru simply wishes to inform you that there will not be any training tomorrow. However, you will continue your search through the scrolls.”

 

Blinking in confusion, she asked, “Why no training tomorrow?”

 

“This Sesshoumaru wishes to patrol the Western Lands and will return at dusk tomorrow.”

 

“I see,” she muttered. Suddenly she felt a little dejected. There he was, going out of the castle while she continued to be stuck in the place. Scowling, she turned away from him. Why did he bother telling her? To rub it in?

 

As if sensing her unspoken question, he added, “It is best that you are aware of this Sesshoumaru's whereabouts. Otherwise your concern will disturb this Sesshoumaru through the mating bond.”

 

Comprehension dawned, but it did not make her feel any better. “Oh. Well, you can do whatever you want. There's nothing much I can do about it anyway, right? I've been stuck here for weeks now,” she mumbled before glancing over her shoulders at him.

 

He was staring at her, wearing a thoughtful look. Then, without another word, he turned around and left.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

Ten days had passed since the miko had found out about the mating bond and two days since he last patrolled his lands. Sesshoumaru's lips twisted in a grimace. The length of his patrols had grown shorter each time he departed and returned. He was not unaware of the reason behind it. Although it inflicted no actual pain on him, being distanced from the miko brought him a certain amount of discomfort.

 

And whilst he had been plagued by the unwanted reactions to their separation, the miko appeared to be unaffected. He had sensed no distress from her during his trips. Perhaps it was due to the fact that his demon blood reacted stronger to the mating bond.

 

Having exhausted the search through the scrolls in his study, he had directed the miko to the archive, where a library of old scrolls were kept. The miko had spent several days searching through the scrolls, each evening returning to him covered in dust and smelling of musty scrolls. And each time, her dejection grew as she failed to find anything useful. He, too, had begun to despair of ever finding a solution to their predicament. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Sesshoumaru exhaled heavily, barely glancing at the land treaties in front of him.

 

It was then that the sound of excited footsteps reached him from the hallway outside. The shoji screen to his study slid open abruptly and the miko entered unannounced. His reprimand died in his throat as he noted her excited expression and a roll of scroll gripped in her small hand.

 

Waving the scroll in the air, she declared, “I found it!!”

 

Unfolding his legs, Sesshoumaru stood up and walked towards her calmly, even though it was the last thing he felt. Taking the scroll from her, he unrolled it and began to read. With each black stroke on the parchment, Sesshoumaru felt his hopes rising. It seemed that the miko was correct. The scroll outlined a method which would break the bond, he noted with satisfaction. Anticipation began to build up in him at the notion that he would soon be free of this unwanted bond.

 

Then his blood ran cold as his eyes locked on a certain line.

 

It required the bond to be complete in the first instance.

 

He turned his attention to the excited miko. “Have you read this?” he asked carefully, wondering how she could be so cheerful knowing what awaited them should they chose to utilize the method.

 

She frowned. “I read the beginning. Why? Is it the wrong one?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then?”

 

“This only works on fully formed mating bonds,” he gritted out.

 

Her eyes widened in comprehension. “Oh.”

 

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes in resignation.

 

But it was the only way. And according to the scroll, there was no need for complicated spells. It simply required them to betray each other. Now that it was right in front of him, it was laughably simple, apart from the part where the bond needed to be completed. Idly, he wondered whether if it was his father or his mother who had betrayed the other. Not that it would have mattered much to either of them. After all, their mating had been arranged for political purposes. Their union had resulted in the expansion of the Western Lands and the birth of the heir of the Western Lands. The reason for the mating had been honorable, even if the end was not.

 

Unlike his own predicament. Being marked by a human miko was nothing short of disgraceful. However, he would ensure that this disgrace was rectified. Much as he detested the notion, he knew that they had no other choice but to complete the mating unless they wished to remain bonded to each other for the rest of their lives. The mere thought of it was intolerable.

 

He made a decision.

 

“The mating bond will be completed,” he intoned firmly.

 

The miko gaped incredulously. “WHAT? Why?”

 

“It is a small price to pay for the removal of the bond.”

 

“B-But…we have to…to…” she faltered uncomfortably.

 

His lips tightened. Yes, they would have to rut to complete the mating. But after that, the problem would be easily resolved once one of them carried out an act of betrayal.

 

“You have no choice in the matter, Miko. The bond will be broken.”

 

Her eyes were burning hot as she glared at him. “No choice? NO CHOICE?! This is my virg-” she broke of suddenly and slumped. “I'm doomed.”

 

Sesshoumaru glowered inwardly. It was he, Sesshoumaru, who should be protesting against the indignity of rutting with a human, however much his body chose to betray him.

 

“It's the only way, Miko.” His tone was flat. “The bond will be broken once an act of betrayal is carried out by one of us.”

 

“Betrayal,” she echoed, her voice strangely numb.

 

“Hn.”

 

“You mean, cheating?”

 

“Indeed.” His tone was dry. “Infidelity is certainly a form of betrayal.”

 

She blinked at him, and then with a weary sigh, she mumbled, “I can't believe this is happening. How many more things can go wrong?”

 

His lips tightened. This ridiculous situation only occurred as a result of her ignorance of youkai culture. However, it would be pointless to dwell on it.

 

“Miko, you will cease your sulking and accept what you have to do,” he bit out.

 

She simply gave him a reproachful look before she turned around and walked out of the room. As Sesshoumaru watched her departing figure, he could not help but feel a twinge of remorse at his harsh words.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

The look on the miko's face refused to leave his mind, even though Sesshoumaru knew that it was simply a dream and nothing else. He ground his teeth in irritation at his inability to control his thoughts on this one particular matter.

 

He needed to concentrate on the current situation with the demonic attacks, not ponder upon foolish dreams. Attempting to shut off the thoughts again, he directed his mind to his current destination. His car sped down the road, mingling with the nighttime traffic as he drove to the nearest venue run by his brother's company. It was not far from Taishou Securities, therefore it was not long before he pulled into the parking space marked `Private'.

 

Locking the car, he made his way to the entrance. Recognizing him, the demon bouncer bowed slightly and stood back to allow him to enter the club. Sesshoumaru immediately winced at the volume of the music when he stepped in. Although the frequency of the sound system had been moderated to a level which could be tolerated by the general demon population, it was still too loud for one with heightened sense of hearing such as him.

 

The venue was filled to capacity, Sesshoumaru noted as he scanned the interior. Couches surrounding low tables were scattered around the place, occupied by mostly drunk customers. Further into the venue, scantily clad female dancers were gyrating shamelessly on the raised platforms at four corners of the dance floor while the customers danced along and whistled at them.

 

Sesshoumaru's lips curled in distaste.

 

Sensing a familiar presence approaching him, Sesshoumaru turned around.

 

Wearing a stunned expression, Inuyasha exclaimed incredulously, “Sesshoumaru, what are you doing here?”

 

He simply gave Inuyasha a stony look. “This venue is part of Taishou Holdings, is it not?”

 

Inuyasha blinked at him dumbly before he recomposed himself. “Of course it is! But YOU don't normally turn up at these places.”

 

“And I was under the impression that you are running the administrative section?”

 

Crossing his arms over his red shirt, Inuyasha tilted his chin. “Keh! But who said I can't come here after work?”

 

“Hn.” Sesshoumaru had no doubt that it was the female patrons in the place which encouraged Inuyasha's presence. Deciding that he had would quickly scan the place and its patrons so that he could leave sooner, Sesshoumaru inclined his head at Inuyasha and turned to walk away.

 

“Oi! Wait!” Inuyasha called out.

 

Frowning at the uncouth manner in which Inuyasha had addressed him, Sesshoumaru simply continued to step away, ignoring the hanyou.

 

“Damn it, Sesshoumaru. I just want to tell you something.”

 

Without stopping, Sesshoumaru simply glanced over his shoulders. “Then speak.”

 

Inuyasha came up to his side, wearing a curious expression. “You remember that conversation we had a while back about pups?”

 

Sesshoumaru stilled. Then he turned to Inuyasha, raising a questioning brow.

 

“Someone saw a kid at the carnival with silver hair and golden eyes.” Inuyasha's frown deepened. “I thought that it might be a mistake, and then the demon told me that there was something on his forehead that looked like a crescent moon.”

 

It must have been the pup he had seen at the carnival, Sesshoumaru surmised.

 

“Hey, are you listening to me?”

 

“Do not concern yourself with the matter.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened in realization. “You know about this?” Then he paused thoughtfully before exclaiming, “Wait! Is he REALLY your pup?”

 

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as Inuyasha began to laugh. Doubling over, the hanyou clutched his stomach while guffaws wracked his frame, earning curious stares from several patrons. Sesshoumaru failed to see what was so amusing about the situation. He did not know if who the pup belonged to, but explaining such a thing to Inuyasha would be pointless.

 

Choking in on his laughter, Inuyasha pointed a shaky finger at him. “You lecture me about my rutting habits and you've gone and gotten some female with pup? What a hypocrite!”

 

“I did not do such a thing,” Sesshoumaru bit out irritably.

 

“Then explain why there's a kid out there who looks just like you.”

 

Sesshoumaru fell silent. He had his ideas, but he would not jump to any conclusions until he possessed more information on the pup and his mother.

 

“So?”

 

“Silence, Inuyasha,” he gritted out. “I did not come here to be mocked.”

 

“Keh! Fine. I suppose you're dealing with it.” Sobering, Inuyasha continued, “So what are you here for?”

 

“Information on the demonic attacks.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes bulged. “Wait a minute! You're going to question the customers?”

 

“No. I will simply listen.”

 

Inuyasha frowned and then he sighed. “I get it. Things are not looking good, is it?”

 

“No.”

 

Gesturing around them, Inuyasha said, “You can try to get as much information as you can. Do you need help?”

 

“No.”

 

“Well, I'll just tell everyone to keep their eyes and ears open, just in case.”

 

“Hn.”

 

Sesshoumaru eyed the crowd with distaste before he began his task.

 

 

…***…***…***…

 

 

The interview at Tsukuyo Medical had gone much better than she had ever hoped for. She had even been offered the job on the spot. Grinning like mad, she had run all the way home to break the good news to her family. Her mother, Souta and Sachimaru had been overjoyed, hugging her and congratulating her. Her grandfather had simply grunted, but she had noted the proud twinkle in his eyes. Perhaps now he would give up on the idea of making her a shrine priestess.

 

She glanced around the room, checking to see if everything was in order. The random beeping of various equipments surrounded her, while medics and nurses rushed past on the other side of the glass partition, intent on completing whatever tasks they had their mind on. It was her fifth day today and she was glad that so far, no one had any complaints. At the moment, all of the other paramedics had been called out, leaving only her and her partner, Moriko, on standby.

 

Growing bored, she had volunteered to help around the place and had just recently finished the task of tidying up a surgery. Making sure that all the surgical tools were in its correct place, Kagome nodded to herself and left the room. It was not a bad thing, being based in the medical centre rather than rushing around on call. Maybe in a few months she would work up the nerve to ask someone if she could further her studies.

 

Walking out of the room, she made her way to the staff recreation room to kill time. As she passed Shiori's office, she could not help but hear her boss's agitated words through the slightly open door. It sounded like Shiori was on the phone with someone.

 

“I can't do that. It's against policy.”

 

A short pause followed.

 

“Look. I know, but I have a medical centre to run here and I can't just override everything just because you call up. There might be a genuine case out there waiting for help.”

 

Another heavy pause filled the air before Shiori hissed her exasperation. “Fine. This is the last time I'm doing a favor for you.”

 

Uncomfortable with the fact that she was effectively eavesdropping, Kagome hurried past the room and turned around the corner. Reaching the staff room, she poured herself a cup of tea and sank down on the couch. A magazine caught her attention and she began to read it.

 

However, the beeping sound of her pager at her waist soon tore her attention away from the article. After a quick glance, she jogged towards the reception desk.

 

“I got an emergency call?” she queried.

 

The receptionist nodded before passing a printout slip to her. Taking the slip, she scanned the reception area, looking for her partner. Moriko should be here by now. Frowning, she wondered where the other paramedic was. As she waited impatiently, Kagome read the information on the slip. They needed to go treat someone who had an accident at their home.

 

She looked around her as she walked out of the building, making her way to the waiting ambulance. Where was Moriko? Kagome was growing increasingly worried at the absence of her partner. Although she had only known the brown-haired girl for a grand total of five days, it was not like Moriko to go missing when on call.

 

Turning to the driver, she asked, “Manten, do you know where is Moriko?”

 

The large man shook his head. “No. But we have to leave without her.”

 

Kagome's eyes widened. “Alone?”

 

Manten nodded, the three strands of hair on his otherwise bald head shaking with the motion. “Don't worry. I'll help if you need me to.”

 

Knowing that she had no choice, Kagome nodded. They could not afford any delays.

 

The drive to their destination outside of town took only twenty minutes at the speed Manten was going. When they finally arrived, Kagome gaped at the gate which towered before them. As Manten leaned out of the ambulance to flash his identity card at the security checkpoint, Kagome's eyes skipped past the gate to the stone walls surrounding the place. It was like a fortress, she thought, feeling awed.

 

When the gates swung open, her eyes widened in surprise. She had expected to see a mansion. Instead, what greeted her eyes were a large compound which was set up like a farm. In the distance, within the boundary of the stone walls, she could see several large structures which looked like barns. The homely building closest to them was built in the traditional Japanese style. How odd that the owners surrounded a farm with such high level security.

 

Once they pulled up in front of the main door, Kagome grabbed her heavy medical kit and went to the door. The door swung open to reveal a teenage boy with red hair and intelligent green eyes.

 

“Come in,” he said. “Ojisan is in the living room.”

 

His uncle was the one who was hurt? Barely glancing at her surroundings, Kagome followed the boy to the living room. When they reached, the teenager slid open the shoji screen and gestured for her to go in. It was obvious that he was not going in with her.

 

Nodding her thanks, Kagome stepped in.

 

Then her eyes landed on the sole occupant of the room.

 

Her breath immediately caught in her throat as her jaw dropped.

 

She must be going crazy. It was simply not possible, she insisted to herself. Blinking rapidly, she tried to dispel the image in front of her, but it remained there. As solid and real as she was.

 

She could not believe it.

 

For standing in front of her, appearing larger than life, was the modern representation of her dream Sesshoumaru.

 

…***…***…***…

 

A/N: That's it! Hope you've enjoyed that. Please review if you could. Thanks!