InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A New Twist ❯ Choices Made ( Chapter 30 )

Disclaimer: If you are seeing this, that means I do not own anything related to Inu-Yasha.

 

A/N: If you are still reading this that means I got the reviews I wanted.

 

Chapter 30

 

Kagome sighed as she wandered the halls of Sesshomaru's overly large castle. If she didn't know any better, she would say he was trying to compensate for something. But she knew better.

Of course at the moment she was completely lost. She had meant to head back to hers and Inu-Yasha's room to talk to him about what he wanted to do, but she must have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way.

Kagome had even turned around to head back to Sesshomaru and ask for directions, except she had gotten lost again. Now she was getting desperate.

“This is so not good,” Kagome said out loud as she attempted to get her bearings.

“Is something wrong my lady?” A voice said a little ways behind her. Kagome turned around and almost sighed in relief at the sight of another person. But as the mysterious savior came closer, Kagome felt like shrinking back. The person was a spider demon.

“I'm just a little lost, hehe,” Kagome said, laughing nervously. She knew there wasn't anything to be really scared about, but spiders creep her out.

Lily smiled at the young girl. “It happens to new comers.” Lilly paused and then looked at the kimono the girl was wearing. It had been one she had designed for Ether's sister. “You must be Kagome, Ether has told me much about you,” Lilly smiled pleasantly.

Kagome smiled and started to relax. “Yeah that's me.”

Lilly smiled and then turned. “Where are you headed my lady?”

Kagome shifted from foot to foot. “Please don't call me that.”

Lilly paused. “You two really are a lot alike.” She commented as she turned to look at Kagome.

“Why do you say that?” Kagome asked as she closed the distance between the two of them.

“Ether told me to never call her lady. I told her I had to call her Lady in public or it would be disrespectful towards Lord Sesshomaru.” Lilly explained as she waited for Kagome to tell her where she needed to go.

“Oh…” Kagome looked surprised. “Um…well…ok. I'm trying to find Inu-Yasha. I really need to talk to him.”

Lilly nodded and began walking. “He isn't far. If you had just turned around and taken a couple rights you would have found him.” She smiled gently.

Kagome sighed and felt rather stupid for getting lost so easily. “Thanks for the directions.”

Lilly smiled softly and bowed lightly. “It was an honor to meet you Lady Kagome,” With that Lilly turned and headed down the hall and off towards some place Kagome had no idea about.

Kagome sighed again and shook her head Lilly had made the directions sound so easy. It took her a minute to realize what Lilly had said. “And don't call me Lady!” Kagome said. Off in the distance she could have sworn she heard a light giggle.

Following the directions given to her, it didn't take long for Kagome to come to a large door. Kagome didn't hesitate as she pushed the door open. Beyond the door was what looked like to be a small, fenced garden. And there, crouching next to a small pound, was her mate Inu-Yasha.

“Inu-Yasha…I…” Kagome blushed as Inu-Yasha looked up at her from the pound. Kagome wondered what he had been thinking about just then.

Kagome hesitated to say what she was going to say as Inu-Yasha rose from his crouch and walked over to her. She blushed as his arms went around her, pulling her flush against his chest.

“I need to tell you something Kagome,” Inu-Yasha said, his lips pressed against the top of Kagome's head. “Please don't say anything until I'm done.”

Kagome nodded mutely.

Inu-Yasha took a deep breath. He'd been thinking and thinking about it and he'd come to a decision. He knew Kagome couldn't live in the past. No matter how much she would support him and try, Inu-Yasha knew she would never be completely happy.

“Kagome…let's go back to your time.” Inu-Yasha said, his arms wrapped tightly around his mate.

Kagome gasped in surprise. “Inu-Yasha…you mean it? You don't mind living in my time with me? I can stay in this time, I wouldn't mind.”

Inu-Yasha shook his head. “No. You wouldn't be happy here Kagome. And I don't want to live with an unhappy wench the rest of my life,” He said as he pulled back slightly to ruffle her hair.

Kagome grew a little annoyed as she felt her hair tasseled. “I wouldn't be unhappy Inu-Yasha!” She stood there with her hands on her hips.
Inu-Yasha laughed and shook his head slowly. “You wouldn't be completely happy Kagome. You'd miss your family, your home, and everything about your time. You wouldn't have any of your future things here anymore once the well closed up. No hot baths every night, no ramen, nothing.”

His words hit Kagome hard. Up till then, she hadn't really thought about what she would lose if she were to stay in Inu-Yasha's time. But then again if she were to go home, she'd miss her friends here. “But what about Miroku, Sango, and Shippo? I can't just leave them!” Kagome said in frustration.

Inu-Yasha sighed softly. “We'll take Shippo with us. Can't expect to leave the kit behind. As for Miroku and Sango, I'll miss them too.” Inu-Yasha grew quiet and pulled Kagome into his arms and against his chest. “But at least now they can grow old and have a large family.”

Kagome sniffled and nodded. They had given both Sango and Miroku a future that before the death of Naraku, wouldn't have come true. “So…we're going back to my time then?”

Inu-Yasha nodded and cupped her cheek in his hand. “We'll say our goodbyes first. I want to have one last fight with my prick of a brother.” He smirked and Kagome lightly slapped him on the cheek.

 

Kannin and Kouryou were walking side by side down one of the guest hallways. “What shall be done now?” Kannin asked as he looked over at the other demon lord.

“Let us wait for Lord Sesshomaru before we decide the fate of this land,” the half dragon Lord stated as they continued walking.

Kannin stayed silent for a few minutes. “Sakura will be found and punished.” It was more a statement then a question.

Kouryou nodded silently, his hands clasped behind his back. “I already have hunters searching for her. They are instructed to find and capture her, but not to kill,” he glanced at the bear Lord of the east. “I believe Sesshomaru will want to order her death.”

Kannin nodded sagely. “It is within his rite. His mate was the one that was kidnapped and injured. Sakura must be brought in for her punishment, if not her execution.”

“I do hope my Juushimai will heal alright,” Kouryou said sadly. “Sesshomaru will have a lot on his hands for awhile…I wonder…” the Chinese Lord frowned as he started to ponder something.

“And what are you thinking?” Kannin asked.

“Perhaps a visit to my clan would do her some good. There are a few dragons that reside there, and traveling would be a good distraction.” Kouryou said, one hand on his chin as he thought. “She'll need another dragon to assist in the birth of her children.”

Kannin too thought of the possibility of the young Ether traveling. “Sesshomaru will not let her out of his sight I bet. He'll want to go with her,” he paused. “If he does decide to let her go, I'll be more than happy to watch over his lands for him.” Kannin chuckled softly. “Just like I've been doing whenever he goes out on his patrols that last for several months.”

“We'll see what we'll see.” Both Lords were silent as they walked out of the palace and towards one of the many gardens on Sesshomaru's land.

 

Ether moaned softly as she snuggled into the warmth that surrounded her. She sighed softly as the arm that had been holding her waist moved to give her room to move into a more comfortable spot. Suddenly, she jolted awake.

Ether shivered with the realization that someone's arm was in fact around her.

“Calm yourself mate, it is only me,” a soft, commanding voice said in front of her.

Ether blinked and calmed as she realized she was looking at Sesshomaru's chest, and that it was in fact his arm that was around her. She relaxed slightly, and closed her eyes in embarrassment. Was she going to be this jumpy every time she woke up or when she was touched by another?

“Relax Ether,” Sesshomaru said as he pulled his mate closer to him. He frowned slightly. Her body was shaking gently and her aura was fearful. “I won't hurt you.”

“I…I know that…it's just…” images from what Naraku had done to her floated into her conscious thought and she began to shiver harder. Ether KNEW Sesshomaru wasn't going to hurt her, but after being hurt so much her body was afraid of being touched.

Sesshomaru frowned and started to rumble deep in his chest, the canine equivalent of a purr. Slowly, he felt his mate relax in his arms.

`I have to find some way to heal her.' Sesshomaru thought sadly as his mate fell back to sleep.

 

Ether floated for a little while, half dreaming and half awake. Her mind started to dream, only for the dream to abruptly end. Finally, her mind was able to settle down enough and begin a true dream.

Ether was standing in a field of flowers, similar to the one she and Rin would go to most days. She sighed as the sun warmed her wings. If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake up. Things were just so…peaceful here.

Ether sat down slowly, her tail curling around her legs as she did so. Even in her dreams, she was pregnant it seemed. She closed her eyes for awhile, just enjoying the warmth of the sun.

A cloud passed over the sun for a moment and the temperature dropped by several degrees. Ether shivered and opened her eyes. Everything was different. One minute everything was beautiful and calm, the next everything was dank and dark. The flowers were gone and the light warm breeze had turned into a chilly wind.

She quickly stood up, her arms wrapped around her chest. Ether shivered in fright as she felt something slide against her leg.

Ether jumped back and spun around. She whimpered in fright as her eyes met with the purple eyes of the man that had hurt. “Leave me alone!” She yelled in fright.

Naraku grinned evily and reached out with his tentacles towards Ether

Ether shrunk back and felt tears roll down her cheeks as she found her feet were stuck.

His tentacles caressed her cheeks and then started moving slowly lower.

Ether whimpered and tried to pull away.

“Where are you going pet?” Naraku asked as he stepped closer.

Ether tried to say something, anything, but no words left her mouth when she tried. She began struggling harder and harder with each inch that disappeared between them. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, a clawed hand grabbed onto Naraku's shoulder and wrenched him away from her. She fell backwards and landed heavily.

Ether distantly heard yelling but her eyes were downcast as she shivered in revulsion and fear. She knew that hand that had ripped Naraku from her. It was her mates regenerated hand.

Silence filled the area after a few minutes, forcing her to slowly look up. Tears fell from wide eyes as she looked up into the concerned face of her mate.

“You're safe now.” Sesshomaru said as he knelt in front of her.

Ether shook her head hard. No, she would never be safe again. Not when Naraku continued to haunt her even after his death.

“I'll protect you from him.” Sesshomaru said as he laid a hand gently on her cheek.

She shivered at the contact, but didn't shrink away. His hand was comforting, but at the same time she felt a renewed fear. What if he would reject her after the pups were born.

“I'll never let you go again.” He whispered as he gathered her carefully into his arms. Ether closed her eyes and tried to relax.

Time held still for some time while her eyes were closed. When she opened them though, instead of her mate, her eyes met those of her mother. Ether gasped and reached up hesitantly to touch her mother's cheek. She paused as she looked at her hand. Instead of the hand of the adult she was, it was the hand of the child she used to be.

“Darling, why are you so afraid?” Cassandra asked as she held her daughter.

“I'm afraid Sesshomaru will leave me…” Ether whispered, her voice so tiny and afraid that Cassandra had to lean close to hear her.

“He won't leave you dear heart. He would never leave you.”

“How do you know that? You left me…” Ether said with a sob. “Everyone I love leaves me…Kagome will leave me too.” She started rubbing her eyes to wipe away the tears.

“Shhh, darling. Everything will be alright,” Cassandra said, rocking the child form of her daughter. She looked up into the sky of her daughters dream. It was starting to look faded and blurry. She was running out of time to speak with her daughter.

“How do you know?” Ether demanded, her voice wailing as her sorrow from all her life welled up and poured from her.

Cassandra sighed and rocked her daughter gently. “Because he is your mate. He loves you deeply,” She kissed her daughters forehead. “And He won't leave you. Just as I never really left you,” She touched Ether's chest over her heart. “In here.”

Ether slowly calmed down. “But Kagome will. She and Inu-Yasha are returning to the future.”

Cassandra smiled. “Then you'll see her in five hundred years. By then so much will have happened you'll have a lot to talk about with her!”

Ether smiled slowly. “But…Sesshomaru…I can't help but feel he won't care for me now that I'm…” She swallowed heavily.

Cassandra sighed. She had hoped she could talk her daughter out of those feelings during her dream. Heck she had hoped showing Sesshomaru protecting her would help heal the wounds. “I know why you feel that way my little light, but you have nothing to fear. Naraku did those horrible things to you, Sesshomaru knows you couldn't do anything to stop them. He knows you did everything you could at the time,” Cassandra kissed her daughter gently. “He loves you and thinks no less of you. And if he does, I'll find a way to punish him!” Cassandra nodded vehemently.

Ether giggled softly, wearily. “So he won't leave me?”

“No my light. He won't leave you, just as I have never left you,” Cassandra began to fade.

As she faded, Ether turned back into her adult self. “Mother! Please stay!” she cried out as she grabbed her mothers hands.

Cassandra smiled and held her daughters hands for a moment. “Everything will be alright now. I'll come back once the babies are born.”

“Promise?” Ether begged.

“Of course I promise.” With that Cassandra kissed her daughter good bye and faded completely away.

Everything started to get dark and Ether felt a pressure around her again. Her mind started getting confused and distorted. She twitched and a purr started up just in front of her. She frowned. She only knew one person that would purr….

 

Sesshomaru had intended to stay awake while his mate rested, but with her gentle breathing and soft heart beat filling his ears and her scent filling the air around him, he drifted off into a deep sleep.

He sat in his favorite garden, resting peacefully beneath the swaying of the trees.

“It's about time you showed up.” His eyes snapped open and he looked over to see his mother leaning against a tree.

“So I am dreaming then?” he asked his mother. She nodded, but continued leaning against the tree.

“What do I owe this…pleasure?” He asked calmly.

“Your mate needs to heal, and heal quickly.” She said as she inspected her claws.

Sesshomaru growled softly. “This Sesshomaru knows that.”

“Well you're doing a poor job on helping her heal!” His mother said with an elegant huff.

Sesshomaru growled softly and stood up in anger. “Oh? And how would YOU suggest I help MY mate heal?”

She looked almost happy at the thought of her son asking for her advice, all though he asked rather rudely. “Do you know why she is afraid right now?”

Sesshomaru had to suppress the urge to dismiss his mother from his dreams. “She is afraid I will abandon her.”

“And do you know why?”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Because Naraku hurt her.”

His mother sighed and shook her head. “There is more to it then that my son,” She said as she flicked open a fan. The black jewel around her neck glimmered slightly. “She feels she is not deserving of you, that because of what happened she is a burden to you,” Her eyes watched her son from over her fan. “Do you have any idea how you can remedy this?”

Sesshomaru thought for a few minutes. Although his mother grated on his nerves, ever since the incident with Rin, she had a point. He continued to think until it suddenly dawned on him. “She would never agree to what you have in mind.” He stated calmly.

InuKimi rolled her eyes. “How do you know that?”

“Because she is a proper mate.” Sesshomaru stated with confidence.

InuKimi shook her head. “It matters not at this point,” She stated. “You must show her just how much she means to you. Just how much you love and trust her. You must do what is needed.” InuKimi began to fade.

Sesshomaru was glad to see his mother go. “I will consider what you have said.”

“You do that my son, for there is little more you can do unless you want to wait several centuries before she is completely healed.”

With that his mother was gone. Her words rattled him slightly. What if it did take centuries for his mate to recover from what had been done to her? `If this is the only way…then I have no choice.”

Like previous vision dreams his mother would send him, he woke slowly, first going into darkness and then his senses returning to him one by one.

He could feel Ether starting to wake as well. Fearing she would become frightened again, he started the deep, purring rumble in his chest he knew she relaxed too.

“Sesshomaru…” her voice was soft, hesitant, as if afraid speaking to him would ruin the peace that was between them.

Sesshomaru looked down at his mate. She looked so fragile laying there in his arms. He looked at the arm she had restored for him. The arm he thought he wouldn't have for another half a millennium or so. He glanced down at her growing stomach and then back to her eyes. She had given him so much, tried to be the best mate she could be, and now she feared he would leave her. `I really have no choice,' he thought calmly.

The choice he was about to make wasn't a hard one, it made sense in a way. It was just something that many demons thought to be something that was not done between a strong youkai and his mate.

“Sesshomaru?” Ether's voice was softer now. He was so quiet. His eyes watched her closely and his arms prevented her from moving.

“This Sesshomaru loves you Ether…and I believe there is only one way I can truly show you that love.”

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A/N: Ok, here's the next chapter. I know it's been like FOREVER since I updated and there is a good reason. It's called college. You know, that evil institution that comes after high school and costs big bucks? Well I'm now paying my tuition myself while my mother pays for my books. So the point is, I'm not wasting my money on bad grades. I've been focusing almost strictly on my school work. It's finals week now (summer quarter) so I've had some time during my breaks to finish this up.

 

On a side note: Sesshomaru's mother's name has not been revealed (as far as I know), so the fan given name is InuKimi (or fluffette, but that didn't seem right for this story). InuKimi is not her given name, but for now I'm using it. If anyone DOES know what her name is, please tell me! I've been killing myself trying to find her name.