InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Little Faith ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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: Thanks for reading and reviewing this story. Apologies for not writing individual responses this time round, but work has been busy. This chapter is one day early because I'm not available to update tomorrow. And if you'd like to vote for this story in the IYFG second quarter awards for best serial, the voting is between 12 to 25 August 2007, and the link: groups. yahoo. com/group/iyfanguild/surveys? id = 1899179 (You need to remove the spaces between).

A Little Faith by elle6778 - Chapter 17

Sesshoumaru did not say where they were going, Kagome thought anxiously. Riffling through her clothes, she finally located a beige blouse and matching skirt, deciding that it would be fine for most places. She wondered if she should wake Sachimaru up now. Not knowing what Sesshoumaru had planned for them, the boy had been told to rest because she did not want him to be overtired.

Kagome groaned as she threw herself on her bed. She was nervous, and she knew it. Yesterday, she had been so frantic with Sachimaru missing that she did not have time to think when the truth had come out in the open. But now that she thought over it, she could not help but feel apprehensive. Where would they go from here? Would Sesshoumaru insist that Sachimaru went with him?

Or would the taiyoukai be happy with regular visits?

The moments the thought crossed her mind, Kagome had to stifle a snort. It was a ridiculous idea. As if someone like Sesshoumaru would settle for visits. His current interest in Sachimaru was a far cry from what she remembered from the past. He probably wanted Sachimaru permanently in his home now.

But where did that leave her?

She sighed heavily as she raised a hand to rub her brow. This question was one she had asked herself five hundred years ago and as of yet, she did not have the answer.

Kagome jumped up from her bed when her mother's voice filtered up the stairs. “Kagome! Your friend is here to see you.”

Sesshoumaru was early, was the first thought that crossed Kagome's mind. Then she frowned when she realized that her mother had only referred to the visitor as a friend. Surely her mother would have said it was Sesshoumaru if it was him downstairs.

“Kagome!”

“Coming, Mom!” she finally replied, dropping the clothes onto the bed.

Brushing her hair out of her face, she descended the stairs, wondering who it could be. When she reached the base of the stairs and turned the corner into the living room, she saw him.

For a moment, she could only stare wordlessly as the blue haired demon came into focus. Aside from his modern black clothes and the lack of the waterdrop which was part of his demonic heritage, he looked just the same as before,

Then she broke out of her stupor.

“Akiyama!” she exclaimed, bursting into a smile as she took a few steps towards him. Only then did she remember Sesshoumaru's warning. Her enthusiasm instantly dimmed. Then she bristled when she realized what she had done. She really should not allow Sesshoumaru to affect her so much.

The elemental gave her a small smile. “It is gratifying to know that you remember me.” His face took on a wry expression before he added knowingly, “I suppose Sesshoumaru has warned you off me.”

Her lips twitched at his words. He was blunt at times and sneakily manipulative at others, but always unerringly perceptive. “I wonder how you know,” she retorted lightly. Gesturing to the couch, she said, “Please have a seat. Do you want anything to drink?”

“No, I just wanted to see you.”

She bit her lips, feeling rather awkward when she remembered the dream last night where Akiyama had openly declared his intentions. And from what she could tell, her younger self had been somewhat attracted to the elemental, considering how she had responded then. Not that it was unexpected, considering the circumstances.

Once Akiyama sat down, he tilted his head questioningly. “So…” he said as he gazed into her eyes. “How long have you been back?”

Understanding what he meant, she replied, “Three years.”

“I would have missed you these five hundred years if I'd known of your existence,” he remarked casually.

Kagome could not help but grin. “Did I fall for you back then? Because you're doing an awful job of it right now.”

He chuckled. “It's better that you remember that particular an event on your own.”

“Oh, come on, Akiyama,” she cajoled. She was quite curious because it looked like his dreams had progressed much further than hers or Sesshoumaru's. It would be interesting to find out what had happened next. “What harm could it do?”

Shaking his head, he said, “I challenged Sesshoumaru this time round and I don't want the past to affect your decisions.”

“I'll remember sooner or later,” she mumbled as Akiyama's words played in his mind. Sesshoumaru had said nothing about Akiyama's challenge. Did warning her off Akiyama mean that he was trying to court her? What should she do if that was the case?

“Yes, you will remember, but nor for a while. In the meantime, I have every intention of pursuing you,” Akiyama declared good-naturedly.

Kagome laughed. His directness was oddly refreshing. “I think you've gotten worse over the years. You were a little more subtle at that time.”

“It's due to the lack of your calming influence, Kagome,” he rebutted swiftly.

Snorting inelegantly, she retorted, “Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?”

“Such a thing is impossible. You are too different from others.”

Before she could reply, Akiyama's expression turned hard as he stared past her shoulders.

…***…***…***…

From the sudden tension in Akiyama's form, Sesshoumaru knew that his presence had been detected. It was just as well, since he did not know how long more he could suffer through their revolting flirtation. The ease in which the miko and the elemental had conversed left a sour taste in his mouth.

Inhaling deeply, Sesshoumaru willed himself to unclench his fists before he stepped out of the shadows into the direct sight of the miko and the elemental. Regardless of how true it was, it would not do to allow Akiyama to witness his fury. Such a thing would only be taken as a weakness, a sign that he feared to lose this battle to the elemental.

“Sesshoumaru!” the miko exclaimed, her eyes widening.

Sesshoumaru inclined his head at the elemental before turning his attention to the miko. “Are you prepared?” he asked, keeping his tone measured.

She glanced down at herself. “Oh…”

Sesshoumaru's lips tightened in annoyance. The look she was wearing could only be described as guilt. Was she so absorbed with Akiyama that she had forgotten that he was coming? Had she forgotten what he had said to her just yesterday? Had she made her choice even before he was given an opportunity to show her what he could offer?

What exactly was it that he was planning to offer her?

While the miko's countenance remained troubled, Sesshoumaru pinned his gaze upon Akiyama, whose features bore the slightest hint of satisfaction. The air crackled with tension. Words were not needed. The mutual challenge was clear in the other demon's eyes.

Then miko finally looked up, glancing back and forth between them warily. “I'll go change,” she murmured.

Sesshoumaru did not remove his eyes from the elemental even after the miko's footsteps had faded away. Akiyama was the one who finally broke the silence.

“You're taking her out?” the elemental asked.

“Hn.”

“That is generous of you.”

“Do not mock me, Akiyama,” Sesshoumaru gritted out tightly.

A smirk crossed the elemental's lips. “I am simply stating a fact, Sesshoumaru.”

“You will do well to refrain from interfering in such matters, facts or not.”

“Surely I'm allowed to express my opinions.”

Sesshoumaru had had enough. Allies or not, he did not wish to be manipulated by the elemental. “You may express as you wish, but I will not tolerate your presence when it concerns the miko. Do so at the risk of dissolving our alliance, Akiyama,” he warned harshly.

The elemental was taken aback. “I see,” he said contemplatively. “This is a personal matter, but if you find it necessary to involve our alliance, then so be it.”

“Hn.”

Akiyama's expression hardened. “Still, you must understand that I have invested some… feelings in this. And I will pursue her, regardless of your threats.”

Sesshoumaru had not expected the elemental to retreat. However, he had underestimated Akiyama's drive to obtain the miko, considering that the elemental was willing to risk the dissolution of their alliance. Their courting in the past must have progressed far judging by Akiyama's responses.

It was then that Sesshoumaru heard the sound of a pair of feet padding rapidly down the stairs. Soon, Sachimaru appeared before him, gasping for breath. Sesshoumaru's anger evaporated, only to be replaced by warmth towards his pup.

“Okaa-san said you are here, so I came down to keep you company,” Sachimaru chirped.

Sesshoumaru held out a hand. “Come here.”

The pup ran up to him and then instantly grabbed his hand tightly. Pleased with the pup's obedience, Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes to pin a pointed look at the elemental. The miko would make her own choice, but she would take into account her pup's wishes, he told Akiyama wordlessly.

Blue eyes flickering, Akiyama glanced down at Sachimaru. “Sachimaru.”

Blinking, the pup gave the elemental a curious look. “Who are you?”

“You do not remember me?”

Akiyama sounded disappointed, much to Sesshoumaru's satisfaction. However, the smirk that had begun to form on Sesshoumaru's lips instantly fled when Sachimaru released his hand to step towards the elemental.

“But you seem familiar,” the pup added thoughtfully.

Akiyama nodded at Sachimaru. “It is unsurprising, for we happen to share a certain skill.”

The pup's eyes rounded with curiosity. “What skill?”

An enigmatic smile crossed Akiyama's lips. “Your mother will tell you in time.”

What skills were Akiyama referring to? Had he somehow interfered with the pup in the past? Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth, but before he could call the pup back to him, the miko stepped into the living room.

“I'm ready,” she announced, casting hesitant looks at both him and the elemental.

Sachimaru brightened. “We can go now!”

“Yes,” Sesshoumaru replied.

And it would be wise for them to do so before he gave in to the temptation to sink his claws into the elemental's flesh. Taking the pup's hand in his, Sesshoumaru began to make his way to the door only to pause when Akiyama's hands landed on the miko's arm. Sesshoumaru's eyes immediately narrowed, a warning which the elemental blatantly ignored.

“I bid you farewell, Kagome. And hope that you will have a pleasant evening.”

The miko reached up to squeeze the elemental's hand. “Thank you, Akiyama.”

The elemental smiled. “We will meet again.”

Not if he could help it, Sesshoumaru swore.

…***…***…***…

It had been horribly awkward when Sesshoumaru had walked in on her and Akiyama. Since then, Sesshoumaru had not spoken much to her, but it did not seem to affect his warmth towards Sachimaru, who was seated at the back of the car, watching a video on a small screen.

Sesshoumaru was so quiet that it was beginning to make her really uncomfortable. Glancing sideways at the taiyoukai's profile, she wondered what he was thinking. Her eyes traced over his aristocratic features, realizing that his looks had not changed a bit over all these centuries, apart from the lack of his demonic markings.

She glanced down at her lap, noticing that the hem of her blouse was hopelessly crumpled from all her fiddling. Why was she so nervous around him? Akiyama never had such an effect on her. Maybe it was because she knew what Akiyama was after, which was more than what she could say for the taiyoukai beside her.

“Is something troubling you, Miko?”

Kagome quickly shook her head and forced out a laugh. “Of course not.”

She saw him glance at her out of the corner of his eyes. “Perhaps it is time for us to be honest with each other.”

Kagome averted her gaze as a scowl slowly made its way to her face. How could he expect her to do such a thing when he was the one who had clammed up? Then she took a deep breath, deciding that someone should take the first step. But how should she voice the question without sounding as if she was asking something from him? Or making it sound as if she did not want him to see Sachimaru?

Her son saved her from having to reply to Sesshoumaru. “Where are we going?” Sachimaru asked, sticking his head between her and Sesshoumaru.

“To my home,” Sesshoumaru replied.

Sachimaru brightened. “We're going to the castle? The one with the hotsprings in the courtyard?”

Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's lips twitch with amusement as he said, “No, we're not going there today. The castle is currently under repair.”

“It's still around?” Kagome gasped. “After so many years?”

“The land around the castle remains private, and it is not far from Kyoto. It will be habitable once the refurbishment is complete. The place where I am staying now serves only as a temporary home.”

“Can I see it? The castle, I mean?” Sachimaru asked. “Is it like the one in Okaa-san's stories?”

Suppressing a groan, Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose. She really, really shouldn't have told Sachimaru all those stories. If only she had known back then that those dreams were actual memories, she would not have started it.

“I suspect they might be one and the same, Sachimaru,” Sesshoumaru replied smoothly. “And yes, you and your mother will see it one day.”

“A trip! When?” Sachimaru enthused, practically shaking with excitement.

Kagome blinked. That would mean that all three of them would be together, alone. Kagome snuck an uncertain glance at Sesshoumaru, wondering what he meant by the fact that both of them would see it one day. Sesshoumaru took his eyes off the road when the car stopped at a traffic light and turned to Sachimaru. Kagome felt her breath hitch as two pairs of golden eyes met.

“I will arrange it once the refurbishment work is complete,” he told the boy.

Sachimaru beamed. “Thank you!”

Kagome slumped back in her seat, realizing that her agreement was not required. Sesshoumaru and Sachimaru had only been reunited for one day and they were already excluding her. Scowling, she crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance.

Caught up in her thoughts, she paid no attention to the rest of the drive until they finally pulled up to a pair of massive gates, reminiscent of the one she had seen at Rin's farm. As if he was expected, the gates swung open and Sesshoumaru guided the car along the gravel driveway. Kagome's eyes widened as a large mansion loomed up in front of her.

“It's huge,” she remarked, noting the extensive grounds around it.

…***…***…***

Sesshoumaru glanced briefly at the miko as he parked the car in front of the mansion and stepped out. She appeared to be surprised by the size of the mansion.

“It is necessary for our privacy,” Sesshoumaru said as he opened the passenger door. “Come,” he invited, extending his hand towards her.

She gave him a hesitant smile before placing her hand in his. When she swung her legs out of the car, Sesshoumaru's gaze was immediately drawn to her long, slender limbs as her skirt hitched up her thighs. Unbidden, the memory how just how those limbs had wrapped around his waist returned to him in a flash. Reflexively, his fingers tightened on her hand.

That small action was enough to alert the miko of the direction of his gaze.

Gasping, she immediately pulled the hem of her skirt down before turning a pair of flashing brown eyes at him. “You… You… What are you looking at?” she finally hissed.

He quirked a brow. “Nothing that you're not freely displaying, Miko.”

Her lips parted in shock. Then she snatched her hand back from him. “Don't look,” she bit out irritably.

For the same of peace, Sesshoumaru decided that it might be wise to heed the miko's warning. After all, it would not do to alienate her, or give her reason to think that Akiyama was preferable.

Stepping around him, she opened the back seat to let Sachimaru out and then immediately held the pup's hands. Sesshoumaru could tell from the look on the pup's face that he longed to explore the grounds. Perhaps Jaken would show Sachimaru around later.

As the three of them stepped up to the mansion, the door swung open.

“Jaken?” the miko exclaimed in astonishment.

“M-My Lady…” Jaken stuttered, his eyes growing impossibly large. Then he turned to Sachimaru. “M-Master Sachimaru?”

“You remember!” Grinning, the miko bent down to wrap a hug around the tiny body, ignoring the small demon's astounded squawk. “It's nice to see you again!”

“B-But…”

Sesshoumaru's voice halted the little demon. “Jaken.”

Blinking quickly, Jaken straightened and turned his attention to him. “Yes, My Lord?”

“Dinner?”

Jaken nodded, then turned to look at her. The gleam of happiness in his round eyes told Sesshoumaru that his retainer had missed her.

“Follow me, My Lady, Master Sachimaru…”

Jaken led them towards the dining hall, where the cutleries and chinaware were already arranged on a large oval table in the middle of the room. Dinner was soon served with its usual efficiency by his staff, who unsurprisingly, recognized the miko as well. A rush of exclamations and embraces instantly ensued, once again reminding Sesshoumaru that his servants were rather fond of the miko and apparently, the pup.

Finally, it was Jaken who ushered everyone back to their task, much to Sesshoumaru's approval.

Dinner was a lively affair with Sachimaru talking continuously about his games and his bokken practice. The miko gave him amused glances each time the pup exaggerated. She had evidently forgotten her earlier annoyance with him. And for that, he was relieved.

Sesshoumaru could not dismiss the feeling of contentment which flowed though him as dinner progressed. As if by an unspoken agreement, he and the miko not speak of the past. It was better that way, he decided, considering their less than pleasant relationship then. Even though the miko had spoken of it to their son in the form of stories, he was not certain he wanted Sachimaru to hear the real, uncensored details. That discussion could wait until he and the miko were alone.

When he noticed that everyone had finished their food, Sesshoumaru placed his chopsticks down beside his bowl. Turning to Sachimaru, he asked, “Do you wish to explore the grounds?”

The pup's eyes lit up. “Really? Can I?”

The miko gave him a doubtful look. “Are you sure, Sesshoumaru? He tends to get a little… overexcited.”

Sesshoumaru inclined his head. “Sachimaru will not be alone. Jaken will accompany him.”

With a squeal of delight, the pup jumped off his seat and ran directly towards the alarmed toad demon. “You want to play a game?”

“My Lord?” Jaken squawked, giving Sesshoumaru a beseeching glance as he backed away from Sachimaru. “Master Sachimaru…”

“You will humor the pup,” Sesshoumaru intoned levelly. Then he added, “Within reason.”

Jaken gulped. And then his eyes widened as Sachimaru launched forward. Without hesitation, his retainer began to run while Sachimaru chased after him gleefully.

“No… not again!” Jaken yelled as he and Sachimaru disappeared from sight.

Sesshoumaru could feel his lips twitching in amusement as the miko giggled. He wished that he could remember what the pup was like when he was younger, but his dreams refused to cooperate. Still, he was certain that in time, the memories would return. Discussing it with the miko might speed it up.

Then they needed to agree on a way to tell Sachimaru the truth.

“Perhaps he should know that he's a demon,” Sesshoumaru mused.

The miko made a face. “You know, we should have suspected something long time ago, even before the dreams. He's too strong to be human.”

Indeed, he thought.

…***…***…***

The smirk which graced Sesshoumaru's lips could only be described as smug. She guessed he had the right to be proud of his son, but then again, Sesshoumaru had not had any first hand experience with Sachimaru. Not in the present time anyway.

Scowling at him, she pointed out, “Wait until it's your turn to discipline him.”

Then, realizing what she had just said, Kagome slapped a hand to her mouth. She had basically implied that she expected Sesshoumaru to be involved from then onwards. But he had not said anything to that effect. Maybe she had misjudged things. What if he didn't want to? After five hundred years, he probably already had a mate somewhere. Was that why he had not said much to her yesterday?

“Say…” she began uncomfortably. “Do you have a mate?”

He quirked an elegant brow.

“It's just that… you know… From what I could remember, I thought you'd want to be a part of Sachimaru's life. But if you don't…” she trailed off uncertainly.

“In time, Sachimaru will know me as his father,” Sesshoumaru declared firmly. Then he continued in a quieter voice, “And I'm not mated.”

She blinked. “You didn't mate again?”

“No.” His tone was clipped.

“Oh.” Her brows furrowed. That was a long time to be alone. “Five hundred years, Sesshoumaru?”

“This Sesshoumaru does not require the company of a female,” he declared haughtily.

She shook her head, a wry smile creeping up on her lips. He was as arrogant as ever. “If we didn't produce Sachimaru together, I would have read that the wrong way.” Then she frowned thoughtfully. “You didn't…um…change your preference, did you?”

He glanced at her sharply. “What exactly are you implying, Miko?” he asked tightly.

She quickly looked away. “Nothing.”

After a moment of silence, he remarked quietly, “It is possible to recall the past without the dreams.”

“How?”

“You simply need to will yourself to do so.” Then his brows furrowed slightly. “Though it seems to appear in a rather fragmented manner.”

“Oh.” If that was the case, she could try it to see if she could remember more. Maybe only she and Sachimaru got home, she would try it. “I'll try it when I get home.”

“You will attempt it now.”

She bristled at his imperious tone. “Don't order me around, Sesshoumaru. I'm not your servant.”

His lips tightened, but after a while, he inclined his head once. “It was not my intention to imply such a thing.”

Her eyes widened. He actually conceded, she thought. That was as close to an apology as she could get from Sesshoumaru. In the past, he would never back down from something like this. Perhaps he had really changed. She supposed she should meet him halfway then.

“It's late. Sachimaru needs to go to bed soon,” she ventured. “I guess when Sachimaru is in bed, we can sit together while I try to recall my memories.”

He gave her a nod. “Very well. We will return to the shrine.”

It would have taken her a long time locate Sachimaru in the vast grounds, but with Sesshoumaru's ears, they had been able to find the boy relatively painlessly. Soon, all three of them were seated in the car, returning to the shrine.

Her grandfather was in the living room watching television when they finally arrived. Souta was still on his camping trip, having been told that Sachimaru was fine. A while later, her mother went upstairs with Sachimaru, leaving them with a freshly brewed pot of tea in the kitchen.

Which left her and Sesshoumaru staring at each other across the dining table.

Thinking back to their conversation earlier, she said uncertainly, “I don't know if I can force the memories to return, Sesshoumaru.”

“It can be done.”

She sighed, twisting the tea cup around back and forth on the table. “I guess I should try…”

“What was the last dream you remember, Miko?”

Akiyama's imagine slowly materialized in her mind. They were seated beside each other on the wooden platform outside her room, facing the courtyard.

“Akiyama…” she muttered, noticing how Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at the mention of that name. She quickly said, “Look, we don't have to do this today.”

“Tell me what you remember,” he instructed stonily. “What was Akiyama doing?”

She was not sure that this was a good idea. The last thing she needed was for Sesshoumaru to blow up at further mention of the Northern Lord. Obviously, nothing had changed in that aspect over the last five hundred years, especially considering how the two demons had reacted to each other earlier.

“Miko…”

She shrugged in resignation. “Alright. We were sitting outside my room, just talking.”

“What was the conversation about?”

“I'm not sure you want to know.”

“I do, and you will tell me. It is the only way to find out the reason behind this memory loss.”

She supposed it made sense. Taking a deep breath, she began. “Do you remember the first time Akiyama visited since I got pregnant?”

A look of distaste came over his expression. “Yes. He stayed a few days, and was in your company for a significant amount of time.”

Kagome laughed weakly. He did not sound pleased at all. Surprise, surprise… “Yeah. Those visits kind of continued, right? Well, on the last day of one of his visits, he came to me when I just got back from watching Katsuo train. As usual, Inuyasha left once Akiyama appeared.”

“Watching the warriors train was something I specifically forbidden you to do,” Sesshoumaru pointed out flatly.

Rolling her eyes, she retorted, “You told me that before we mated, and you freed me, remember? What's wrong with me watching them train, anyway? It's not like I have anything else to do. And it was nice to see all the different moves.”

Sesshoumaru's expression displayed his disapproval. “You should have been resting. Your condition required it.”

“I was sitting down, Sesshoumaru,” she said dryly.

“Hn.”

“So…” She frowned, trying to remember what she had been saying.

“The Northern Lord visited you. In your chambers,” Sesshoumaru prompted impatiently.

Why must Sesshoumaru make it sound as if Akiyama was sitting on her futon? “We were sitting outside on the platform, alright!” she snapped irritably.

The corner of his lips tightened. “Continue…”

…***…***…***

Turning to give the elemental beside her a curious look, she remarked, “Say, that scent masking you were talking about. Can you teach me?”

“I do not possess such knowledge, Miko. The ways of the miko are foreign to me.”

Kagome slumped. So much for learning how to disguise her scent, she muttered inwardly. She supposed Katsuo might know how to do it if Akiyama's method was different. “So what if you want to mask your scent? What do you do then?”

Akiyama smiled. “It's not difficult for me.”

“But you're not going to tell me.”

“Listen, Kagome. It is not a wise idea to attempt escape in your condition. Furthermore, I gave my word to Lord Sesshoumaru that I would not encourage you to leave the Western Lands.”

She rolled her eyes. “Since when you care what Sesshoumaru thinks?”

“I have given my word, Kagome,” he said in a gentle, but uncompromising tone. Reaching into the folds of his kimono, he pulled out a small package. Holding her gaze, he extended the package out to her. “I have something for you.”

“This can't be another piece of my old clothing, right?” she joked, remembering how he had pulled out her school uniform from his kimono many months ago.

The Northern Lord shook his head. “It is simply a gift so that you will remember me until we meet again.”

Kagome blinked in surprise, her outstretched arm frozen mid motion. It sounded almost like Akiyama was flirting with her.

“Are you not going to accept this gift?” he prompted quietly.

She gazed at the package. Apart from Katsuo and Natsumi, Akiyama was the only other person who had attempted to give her something. It would be rude to refuse, she realized. Then, taking a deep breath, she reached out to take it. “Thank you,” she whispered as she brought it close to her. She could feel a hard box underneath the soft wrapping.

“Open it.”

What if she did not like it and her face showed?

“Kagome… Humor me and open it.”

Slowly, she peeled apart the soft wrapping to reveal a wooden box with a lid. Wondering what it could be, she lifted the lid up only to gasp in surprised at the movement within. What was inside the box could only be described as a mini fountain. Tiny jets of water shot up in beautiful patterns, its motion controlled by the small amount of swirling youki which she recognized as Akiyama's.

“It's… beautiful…” she whispered as she looked up at him, not knowing what else to say.

“I hope that it will entertain you.”

Kagome grinned as she reached over to give him a hug. “Thank you, Akiyama.” Then she gave him a suspicious look. “This does not have any meaning, does it? I mean, I'm not exactly familiar with demon customs.”

An enigmatic smile crossed his lips as he kept an arm around her shoulders. Strangely enough, she did not feel uncomfortable with his actions. It was actually quite nice.

“This particular gift doesn't have a specific meaning.”

Her eyes narrowed. She knew her well enough to tell that he had something on his mind with that look on his face. “So, are you planning to give me another one with a… um… a specific meaning?”

“Perhaps.”

She instantly bristled at his evasiveness. Shrugging his arm away, she groused, “I'm tired of being tricked, Akiyama. Just tell me what you mean, alright?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that I'm doing such a thing, Kagome? Have I not been honest with you?”

“I don't know.”

He regarded her thoughtfully. His voice was measured when he said, “I wasn't planning to tell you just yet, but I fear that you may come to the wrong conclusion if I don't.” He paused briefly before he continued, “I wish to court you.”

Kagome blinked, her lips parting in disbelief. Courting as in dating? Surely she must have misheard. How did this happen? “Uh… what?”

“I wish to court you, Kagome. And if you accept, I will endeavor to persuade you to be my mate. We spend enough time in the past weeks that I can be certain that this is what I want.”

He really meant it. What should she say? Akiyama wanted her as his mate. She had a bad experience with Sesshoumaru, but Akiyama had always treated her differently from how Sesshoumaru had treated her.

She forced herself to speak. “But… We… You and I…” she faltered, not knowing how to continue. “We're not in love,” she finally muttered. Not that it stopped anything when it came to what had happened with Sesshoumaru, she thought darkly.

Akiyama gave her a knowing look. “I know that this emotion called love is something humans seek in their mating.”

Kagome glanced up sharply at him. Surely he could not be telling her that he loved her?

“However, I am a demon. And although I understand the nuances of this emotion, I cannot claim to have experienced it. And I will not tell you that I possess such feelings for you until such time that I do so.”

“Oh,” Kagome exclaimed. His bluntness was unexpected, but at least he was honest about it. “Then… why?”

“I do have a reason for courting you. And it is not a dishonorable one. Firstly, I enjoy your presence. It is rare that I find myself looking forward to the company of a female in a… non-physical manner. I could only hope that you feel the same.”

“Are there other reasons?”

“It is to do with our territories. The level of power between the Northern and Western Lands are too close for my comfort. Although we are allies, that could change at any moment.”

“What has this got to do with me?” she asked in bewilderment.

“By mating the mother of the Western Land's heir, I'm assured of peace between my territory and the west.”

Kagome's eyes widened as comprehension dawned.

Then Akiyama smiled. “Your beauty and your exuberance for life simply add to the temptation.”

Kagome could not help but blush. Then she frowned thoughtfully. “I still want to go home, Akiyama,” she muttered. But what if she could not get back? What if her child could not pass through the well like she had done?

“In that case, I will try my best to persuade you to remain,” he replied quietly.

She bit her lips. What should she tell him? Would it be such a bad thing? After all, if she could not get home and had to stay in this era once her child was born, at least she and Akiyama got along quite well. And one had to be blind to not realize how good-looking the Northern Lord was. And the most important thing was, he had never hurt her.

“You do not have to make a decision now. And if you agree to the courting, it doesn't mean that I will force you to be my mate if you find that such a thing is not what you seek. In my culture, you must consent fully for the mating to occur and I could only try my best to persuade you.”

She bit her lips. “So, I can back out if it's not what I want?”

He nodded.

Kagome gazed into his blue eyes, not missing the sincerity in them. Then she looked down as he placed her hand in his, feeling the warmth of his skin. She could do much worse than to accept.

Deciding to take the risk, she nodded.

…***…***…***

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed upon the couple seated on the raised platform. The layout of the castle meant that the miko's chambers were visible from his study from across the courtyard. And at that very moment, Sesshoumaru wished that he had not had the misfortune of laying his eyes on distasteful scene before him.

The miko had her arms wrapped around the elemental shortly after she had accepted something from him, and even at such distance, Sesshoumaru could tell that Akiyama was pleased at her actions.

Her familiarity with the Northern Lord was revolting. And lately, from what he could tell, they seemed to be growing closer. Perhaps she was truly enamored with the elemental. Perhaps at that very moment, she was accepting the Northern Lord's proposal. An unfamiliar surge of something which felt like envy rose within Sesshoumaru. The miko had been strained around him ever since the mating incident and it was disturbing to see her at ease with the other demon.

Perhaps this was for the best.

Perhaps all these unwanted feelings would leave him if she left with Akiyama. Somehow, Sesshoumaru was not convinced that such a thing was true, considering the intensity of what he felt. He could no longer blame this upon their mating bond, for the bond had already been broken for many cycles of the moon.

A series of soft taps on the shoji screen drew his attention away from the miko and Akiyama. Glancing over his shoulders, he called out for Katsuo to enter.

“Lord Sesshoumaru?” His general sounded hesitant.

“Speak, Katsuo.”

Sesshoumaru turned around just as Katsuo inhaled a deep breath. “Lord Sesshoumaru, I wish to request for larger sleeping quarters.”

Not certain that he had heard his generally correctly, Sesshoumaru asked, “Is your current chamber insufficient?”

“It would be so once Natsumi and I are mated.”

Sesshoumaru frowned. Although he knew that his general and the miko's maid were close, he had not expected this. How would this event affect the pup the miko was carrying? He was still unable to tell who was responsible for impregnating the miko. Still, even if the miko was bearing Katsuo's pup, Sesshoumaru had no intention of forcing Katsuo to mate the miko, since his general had only been following orders.

This mating between Katsuo and Natsumi would happen, and they would resolve the issue of the pup once his parentage is confirmed.

“See to it that a new building is constructed at the northern end,” he instructed.

Katsuo blinked in surprised. “A new building, My Lord?”

“Do not make me repeat myself, Katsuo,” Sesshoumaru said impatiently. “However, if it is confirmed that you sired the miko's pup, you'd be expected to take responsibility.”

Katsuo's eyes bulged before he grew pale. “T-The miko's pup? My Lord… The miko is carrying the… heir to the Western Lands.”

“It is too early to confirm who fathered the pup, therefore, there is still a possibility that you are the sire,” Sesshoumaru gritted out. This conversation was most unsettling and he wished for it to end.

“B-But that's not possible.”

Sesshoumaru felt his hackles rise. He did not expect Katsuo to avoid his responsibilities. “Why are you so certain, Katsuo?”

“My Lord…The miko and I…We did not…rut,” he admitted haltingly.

Sesshoumaru froze as Katsuo's words rang in his ears repeatedly.

If they did not rut, then how did the bond break? Was Katsuo lying to him? For he was certain that they had rutted.

Was he?

Casting his mind back to that fateful day many moons ago, Sesshoumaru remembered nothing but blinding rage interspersed with the pain of the breaking bond. Katsuo had left the miko fully dressed and there was a distinct scent of arousal in the air. But he could not remember if there had been any signs of release. Was it possible that he had simply arrived at the wrong assumptions in the heat of his anger?

“Explain yourself, Katsuo,” Sesshoumaru demanded in a clipped tone. If Katsuo spoke the truth, it meant that he had neglected the mother of his pup while she needed him most.

“The miko explained the reason behind your orders, My Lord,” Katsuo said, looking uncomfortable.

Sesshoumaru's lips tightened at the thought that his general now knew about something he wished to be kept private. He could only hope that Katsuo had not spread the word to the rest of his servants and guards.

“But she took care to inform me only of the bare facts,” Katsuo finished quickly.

Sesshoumaru stilled. The miko knew him well enough to realize this? She was attempting to protect him? The thought was…unsettling.

“What do you know?” Sesshoumaru asked tersely.

Katsuo swallowed nervously. “That the mating was accidental and that you sought to break the mating bond.”

“You were given an order to rut with the miko,” Sesshoumaru bit out, swallowing down his revulsion at the words.

Katsuo took a deep breath. “That did not happen. The bond broke because she felt betrayed. She felt betrayed when you…” he faltered uncertainly.

“Continue,” Sesshoumaru instructed impatiently.

“Kagome felt betrayed when you broke your word to her and that you tried to force her into an act she did not consent to.” When he lifted his eyes again, his general added, “The bond broke because you broke her trust in you. And I expect to be punished for disobeying your instruction.”

A feeling of numbness took hold of Sesshoumaru as he digested Katsuo's words. It was all so evident now that Katsuo had said it. Betrayal came in all forms. All along, it had been him, Sesshoumaru, who had betrayed the miko. And his betrayal had continued in the form of his neglect of the mother of his pup.

Sesshoumaru turned away from his general, walking towards the low table at one end of the study. His eyes stared unseeingly at the kanji on the scroll. Katsuo's confession released a flood of unfamiliar feeling within him. Much as he disliked the notion, he had to admit that he had been wrong all this time.

Without looking at Katsuo, he said, “You will not be punished.”

“But-”

Sesshoumaru interjected tonelessly, “See to the new building.”

It was only when Katsuo had left the study that Sesshoumaru allowed himself to sag. Remorse, thick and heavy, weighed upon him. In addition to that, now that he knew that the pup was his, he felt somewhat incensed at himself for disregarding his duty. What should he do now?

Then a chill washed over him when something presented itself.

Akiyama.

In the past, he had been unsettled enough at the fact that Akiyama was courting the miko. Now it was worse. It was one thing to allow the elemental to court the miko in the midst of the uncertainty of the pup's parentage. It was another thing altogether to allow him to court the mother of his pup.

An instinctive part of Sesshoumaru urged him to remove the threat of the elemental and claim the miko. Although he should not hold such inclinations towards a mere human, Sesshoumaru could feel himself wanting to reestablish their mating bond. However, much as his instincts clamored to do so, he knew that he would not allow it.

He needed to speak to the miko.

And in order for him to do so, Inuyasha had to be out of the way. Sesshoumaru could not bring himself to approach the miko while the hanyou stood watching over them suspiciously. For he had seen the looks Inuyasha had given the miko. Whether he realized it or not, the hanyou had developed a sense of possessiveness and compassion towards the female. However, to confront Inuyasha about it would be tantamount to admitting that he was concerned enough to notice.

Sesshoumaru stood up.

There was one thing he could do.

Tetsusaiga's location was still unknown, and even though he had questioned Inuyasha about it, he was no closer to obtaining the elusive sword. It was said that Tetsusaiga was capable of bringing down a hundred demons in one swing. Such powerful blade would be worthy of being held by none other but himself.

He would send Inuyasha out to locate Tetsusaiga.

Mind made up, he strode towards Inuyasha's chambers. As he approached, his senses told him that Inuyasha was not alone. A muffled series of moans could be heard through the closed shoji screen, informing Sesshoumaru of just what Inuyasha was indulging in. Sesshoumaru grimaced when he recognized the scent of the female as one of the inuyoukai maids. It was a different one from the female Inuyasha had indulged in just a few nights ago.

Truly, Inuyasha should seek a better way of passing time than to rut with the females of the castle. It was abhorrent how he carried on with different females each week. Knowing fully well that he would be interrupting, Sesshoumaru allowed a smirk to cross his lips as he slid the shoji screen open abruptly.

“What the hell!” Inuyasha snarled, jumping up from the futon as the female under him screamed in alarm.

Ignoring the hanyou's state of undress, Sesshoumaru gave the maid a stern look. “Leave.”

Eyes rounding in fear, the maid scrambled off the futon. Pulling the sheets to cover herself, she rushed out of the room.

Throwing his red fire-rat robe over his body, Inuyasha yelled incredulously, “Are you out of your mind? Can't you see what I'm doing in here?”

“One had to be senseless to miss the scent and the noises,” Sesshoumaru remarked flatly.

Inuyasha's eyes bulged. “You KNEW what we were doing? Then why the hell did you come in then?” he shouted furiously.

“You will lower your voice, Inuyasha.”

Staring at him disbelievingly, Inuyasha ground out, “What do you want? If it's Kagome, she's with Akiyama.”

Sesshoumaru's lips tightened. Inuyasha's mention of the Akiyama only served to highlight the urgency of matters. He needed to mend things with the miko, and he needed it done quickly.

“You will leave the castle to search for Tetsusaiga.”

Inuyasha blinked. “You're still looking for that fang?”

“It is you who will search for it, Inuyasha. Then you will bring it to this Sesshoumaru.”

“We've been through this! No one has heard of this black pearl or whatever unseen grave thing, damn it!” Inuyasha snarled. “Go find it yourself if you want Tetsusaiga so badly. Keh! That blade is supposed to be mine anyway.”

“You are not worthy to wield such a blade,” Sesshoumaru scorned. “Therefore it will be put to better use. This is a task you will complete to redeem yourself, Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha's eyes bulged. “Just how many things must I do to redeem myself, huh? I thought looking after Kagome is supposed to be punishment.”

“Do you view it as punishment?” Sesshoumaru asked, knowing that in the past few months, Inuyasha had not begrudged the miko his company.

Inuyasha turned red. “That's it! You find it yourself,” Inuyasha declared. Then his eyes narrowed. “After that, I'll take it from you.”

“Impossible.”

“What? Do you think I can't bring you down?”

Sesshoumaru quirked his brow. Did the hanyou truly believe that he could succeed in a battle against one such as him?

“Is that a challenge, Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru asked silkily, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Do you wish to be convinced by physical means?” He deliberately flexed his claws, allowing his poison to seep out of the tips.

Inuyasha glared at him. “Keh! I don't want to waste my time.”

Sesshoumaru simply quirked his brow. “Will you accept your duty?”

“Hell! Fine! I'll do it!” Inuyasha finally snapped.

…***…***…***…

Kagome could not believe it. Akiyama had only been around on and off in the last few weeks but now that he was gone, she actually felt rather lonely. The water elemental had treated her well, she admitted. Although she sensed that he was very powerful, Akiyama did not flaunt his strength. Instead, he was almost…normal, even after he had announced that he meant to court her.

Katsuo and Natsumi had their own tasks to perform in the Western Lands and she understood that they could not spend all their time with her. And although Inuyasha was with her during most of her waking hour, he was not what she called a great conversationalist.

Come to think of it, she wondered where Inuyasha was. Deciding to find him, she padded through the castle towards his room.

He was in, she thought with satisfaction when she heard some sounds from inside. The shoji screen scraped against its track as she pushed it open.

“Inuyasha?”

Immediately a squeal of shock escaped her lips, only to be echoed by another feminine squeal. Kagome quickly clapped her hands to her eyes, trying desperately to erase the image she had seen of a naked Inuyasha lounging on his futon while an inuyoukai maid dressed hurriedly. It was obvious what they had been up to. Embarrassed, she realized that perhaps she should not have barged in like that.

“Damn it! Can't I just rut in peace? What the hell are you doing in here?” Inuyasha yelled incredulously. “First Sesshoumaru and now you? Did he put you up to this?”

She peeked between her fingers, only to find that he was still nude. “Put something on! It's disgusting!” she shrieked, ignoring the apologies of the inuyoukai maid who had just rushed past her.

“This is my sleeping quarters! I can be as disgusting as I want!” he shot back belligerently.

“Fine!” she retorted, stumbling backwards out of the room, and then quickly slammed the shoji shut.

Leaning back against it, she grimaced in embarrassment as she rubbed her heated cheeks. That was just so wrong, seeing Inuyasha like that. It was nothing like the way she felt when Sesshoumaru had stood in front of her naked so many months ago. She could still distinctly remember how her entire body had heated while her eyes roamed his sculpted torso down to his…

A helpless groan broke from her. Not again. She had to stop thinking about Sesshoumaru. The demon lord was not even speaking to her, and it would be mortifying if he found out what she was thinking. Maybe this reaction was simply caused by her hormone-laden pregnant body. Yes, that must be it.

A moment later, the screen slid open again to reveal a disgruntled looking Inuyasha. “I'll be leaving for a while, alright. So don't start lecturing me.”

“Leaving?” she echoed.

“Yeah, I have something to do,” he muttered irritably.

Kagome sighed. Inuyasha had kept her company for so long that she knew that his absence would hit her hard. “How long will you be away?”

He crossed his arms over the chest. “How should I know?!” he snapped.

Kagome bristled at his tone just as Katsuo approached down the hallway. The grey-haired general directed a glare at Inuyasha as he stopped at the gaping shoji screen.

“Watch you tongue, Inuyasha,” Katsuo warned in a tight voice.

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. “Butt out, alright. Kagome is my responsibility and has got nothing to do with you.”

Kagome groaned, burying her face in her hand. They were at it again. For some reason, the two half demons simply could not get along. And it always got worse when she was around. Katsuo had told her that he hated it when Inuyasha shouted at her, and it was something she could understand. But for as long as she knew Inuyasha, he only displayed two modes; annoyed or gruff, so she did not have the heart to tell him off.

“Actually, you're not responsible for her now,” Katsuo declared smugly.

“What the hell do you mean?”

“It means that I will be accompanying the miko whenever Lord Sesshoumaru isn't available to do so.”

Inuyasha sputtered, while Kagome gaped. Sesshoumaru was planning to spend time with her? Doing what? Staring at each other silently? That should be fun, she thought dryly. Maybe she should learn sign language or something.

Inuyasha pushed past them. “Do what you want,” he muttered irritably as he stalked down the hallway, leaving them to stare at his retreating back.

“He's finally gone,” Katsuo muttered.

Kagome rolled her eyes. “What is it that you got against him?”

“He's loud.”

“Yeah, I know. But that's hardly a good reason.”

Katsuo scowled.

At that moment, Kagome felt the approach of a familiar aura. Sesshoumaru. He looked as if he had every intention of approaching them. A stab of anxiety coursed through her.

“Lord Sesshoumaru,” Katsuo greeted.

“You will see to the warriors,” Sesshoumaru instructed tonelessly.

Bowing slightly, Katsuo left, giving her a small smile as he passed.

Kagome frowned as she turned her attention to Sesshoumaru. What was he doing still standing there? Surely he would not deign to lower himself to speak to her first?

They stared at each other silently.

Then again, maybe not, Kagome thought wryly. It looked like he was happy to stand there staring her down. Maybe he was waiting for her to talk first. Her eyes immediately narrowed. Not a chance in hell. She would not back down this time.

“Miko.”

Kagome blinked. He had finally broken the silence. Wait, maybe she was just hearing things. Holding her breath, she continued to stare at him.

“This Sesshoumaru assumes that you have not lost your capacity for speech,” he intoned flatly.

He had spoken. Sesshoumaru was really, really speaking to her.

…***…***…***…

“So, I was quite surprised that you finally decided to talk to me,” the miko finished, giving him a sheepish smile as she leaned back against the back of the dining chair.

Sesshoumaru's lips twitched as he recalled the expression on the miko's face when his younger self had spoken. On hindsight, he could tell that those months of silence had only occurred simply because both of them were too stubborn to relent.

“Why did you wait so long?” she asked.

“You could have simply spoken to me first, Miko,” he replied, knowing that it would irk her.

He was not disappointed.

Bristling, her eyes flared. “Now why would I want to do that? You're the one who insisted that I stay in the Western Lands until I gave birth. And then you gave me the silent treatment. You didn't even care that I was pregnant with your son for what…months?”

“The silence was mutual.” His voice was strained. He knew that he had made a mistake then, and perhaps it was time for him to correct her assumptions. “But I cared.”

She scowled, and then muttered under her breath, “I don't see how you could have cared, seeing that you don't even know what I'm up to most of the time.”

“Inuyasha informed me regularly of your progress.”

The miko's eyes widened. “That idiot! He was your SPY?”

Before he could reply, the sound of laughter from a television program filtered into the kitchen, drawing his attention. Obviously hearing the same thing, the miko frowned. Standing up, she yelled towards the living room, “Jii-chan! Can you turn the volume down, please?”

“I should really get in touch with that grumpy hanyou,” she said absently as she sat back down. “What about Katsuo and the rest? Are they around?”

“Shin, Katsuo and Natsumi work for me. A number of warriors had perished in the war.”

“What war?”

“The war between humans and demons.”

She gasped. “There was really a war? I thought Jii-chan was just making that up.”

The sound of shrill laughter from the talk show on the television grated at Sesshoumaru's nerves, but he forced himself to ignore it. It was important that the miko understood what had actually happened in the past since she was to be a part of his life, and that meant interacting with other demons.

“It happened four centuries ago when the human population had grown so much that the sheer number posed a threat to demons. Influenced by the demon slayers, humans began to form similar groups with the sole purpose of hunting and killing demons,” he explained.

The miko's expression twisted in horror. “That's awful. Why did they do it?”

“They fear what they do not understand. That is why demons conceal their heritage in the present time.”

The miko frowned thoughtfully. “I was wondering what happened to your markings.” Then she glanced again at the door leading to the living room. Pushing her chair back, she said, “I can't think with all the noise. I'm going out there to ask Jii-chan to turn it down.”

“Hn.”

Propping his elbows on the kitchen table, Sesshoumaru pondered upon the reaction of the other demons once they were informed of the miko's and the pup's presence in his life. He had no doubt that those who had not met the miko would be astonished at this particular development, as he had shown no inclination of mating with anyone in the past five centuries.

He instantly froze at the directions of his thoughts.

Mating?

He knew without a doubt that he wished to be with the miko and his pup. But was this the role he intended for the miko? For her to be his mate? If so, would she accept it considering their difficult past? Could he persuade her to ignore his prior mistakes? His head throbbed, and Sesshoumaru pressed his fingers onto the bridge of his nose. This matter required more consideration, but he knew that he did not have the luxury of time since Akiyama was also pursuing the miko. And he needed to find out what had happened in the past with regards to this issue, now that the miko remembered that Akiyama had been pursuing her then.

He could still hear the sound of the television filtering into the kitchen, even though it was softer now. The miko had gone to tell the disturbing old man to turn the volume down, but with his sensitive hearing, Sesshoumaru could still make out every single word that was being said.

The sound of footsteps reached him and he watched as the miko returned to the kitchen, muttering under her breath. Sitting down opposite him, she asked, “So where were we?”

“The war.”

The miko sighed. “How many died?”

“Humans or demons?”

She hesitated. “Both.”

“Thousands, at least. On both sides.”

“It all sound so terrible.” Then her eyes widened. “You mentioned demons slayers. Were they the same ones we met on patrol one day?”

“They were involved.”

She slumped. “I don't know what to think, Sesshoumaru.”

He declined to comment. After all, nothing would change the past. At the present moment, however, he needed her to confirm the situation between her and Akiyama.

“Did you accept Akiyama's proposal?”

Sputtering, the miko's eyes grew large. “What proposal? Are you remembering something I don't?”

“The courtship, Miko,” he clarified dryly. “Did you accept?”

“Oh…that proposal…” A moment passed as she frowned thoughtfully. “I guess in a way, I did. I mean, we do get along quite well. As far as I remember, I liked being around him,” she mused.

A growl escaped Sesshoumaru's lips before he could prevent it. She still spoke of the elemental fondly. Then again, he should not be surprised considering their earlier flirtations. However, it would not do for the miko to be interested in Akiyama. Certainly not in the present time considering his own intentions.

Before he could process the thought, the miko suddenly gasped. “S-Sesshoumaru?”

He frowned at her tone of bewilderment. “What is the matter, Miko?”

Wordlessly, she raised a hand to his face. Sesshoumaru felt himself stiffen with surprise as she ran her fingertips down the side of his cheek. Then, as she continued to touch him, a shiver of something he could not name went up his spine.

“Your markings,” she whispered.

“They are concealed,” he ventured quietly. Did she wish to see them?

Shaking her head vehemently, she insisted, “No. I can see them right now.”

Shock ran through him. The concealing spell had never failed and would never reveal his demonic heritage without his consent. He immediately glanced at the nearest window, only to find his reflection staring back at him, complete with his familiar magenta stripes and the crescent moon on his forehead.

“Impossible,” he hissed.

…***…***…***…

t.b.c.

…

A/N: That's all for Chapter 17. There are only five more chapters to go now. I hope that you've enjoyed it. Please review if you can. It'll be greatly appreciated. Thanks!