InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution ❯ Plural ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Absolution

Before

"SESSHOMARU!"

Kagome inhaled sharply and asked Hiroto briskly if she knew who it was. The walls of the doors rocked and Hiroto cried, her human, pale complexion whitened and she fainted in the floor, reeking of fear. Inuyasha sniffled urgently, his nose and ears working at full force, both twitching and moving incessantly.

It was when the very sound of silent was pierced by a heart-shattering howl that the inu hanyou muttered a name, in astonishment.

"Koga…"

Chapter XI- Plural

And the meaning, it gets left behind
All the innocents lost at one time
Significant, behind the eyes
There's no need to hide
We're safe tonight

I am mine- Pearl Jam

Kagome was suddenly jerked by a strong clawed hand to the side. His gruff voice ordered her to get dressed as he stepped harshly to the balcony to see what had caused such ruckus. A Taisho estate was a safe estate- anyone knew that. With an importance like the Taisho family had, not only the houses were guarded by dutiful moon soldier but all kind of spells circled and secured the perimeter. Therefore to Inuyasha it was oddly surprising to know that some kind of threat, one that had made the servants run and scream all around the main house, had broke through the barriers and defense forces surveying the house's security. He was not afraid, no. But as he heard the rustling of clothes behind him of Kagome's clothes climbing up and down her skin, not for the first time in his life he felt his muscles tense, knowing that he had to protect her at all costs.

Kouga was the one causing chaos. Although he had never liked the wolf demon- disliking was a very soft word to call to the feelings he nurtured for Kouga- for obvious reasons, he knew it in the rational part of himself that Kouga was not a man with ill intentions towards him or his family, on the contrary he was one of their biggest supporters. What would cause him then to come to the Taisho mansion in his true form - as Inuyasha coldly observed from the balcony- towering over the house, and to scare dozens of people? What would cause him to howl for his brother and ruler of youkai with such voice? Kouga's aura contorted when he saw him there, in the balcony shirtless and when, with a sniff, he discovered Kagome was there too. A new snarl was heard.

At the exact same time he heard a gasp of shock coming from inside the room and a sizzle. In the chaos, the time seemed to have grown slower and he moved as quickly as he could to find Kagome letting Sesshomaru's ancient scrolls drop from her, now sizzling in white, shaking hands. The hues of her aura circling her, twisting around her, and with a stab in his gut he felt it looking for his, as it reacted to Kouga's emotional distress. From outside came howl, he could feel Sesshomaru's youki rising and affirming and he guesses that would buy him time. Something in him compelled him to pull her to him, assure her of her security, as long as she remained near him. She was dressed already, and that was a good thing, seeing not only she was a remarkably distracting view as long as she kept only that fluffy towel around her, but she would also freeze outside. The cold in his very hot skin made him alive and alert. In his mind he tried his best not to think of how Kouga had interrupted the most important speech of his life, of how he most probably would never have an opportunity like that, ever again.

"Come on Kagome." He ordered almost snappily when he saw her reaching for the scrolls, on the floor. She was going to answer when her fingers closed around them, but he got there faster and grabbed her hand tightly pulling her to his chest.

Neither of them noticed how Kagome's power hadn't even teased her hanyou's hair body. His whole attention was focused on protecting her, his muscles tense and ready to snap in a run or in a leap as soon as it was needed, she was socked and distant, although she was trying a lot not to let go of her insistent power, which seemed to want to break free and expanse, she felt as if that invading sensations in her mind, those dark tendrils swiftly and viscously taking a hold of her thoughts were being burned away from hr purity. The discharge of power was not only external, but she could feel it coursing her veins like the potent power it was. She felt clean and unobstructed, as if a cage had been opened. Still if she didn't take a hold of the white force inside her she knew it would expand like an atomic explosion and affect every youkai in a wide range.

Inuyasha was leading her through corridors of the mansion hurriedly, the servants, as it seemed had abandoned everything they were doing in the kitchen, the bedrooms, the guest rooms and run, one or two still struggled to get out but ignored their master and the young miko at all as they passed by.

"Inuyasha! What are you doing?" she questioned almost coldly, as if snapping out of a trance. Trying to tug her arm free she was remembered once again how much stronger than her he was. His face was still set in cold ivory. He didn't even seem to be listening to her. She continued to contest his hold tugging hard on his arm- she wanted to be told where she was going damn it! She had the right to know why he wasn't running in aid to his family like she knew he naturally would, like he should.

"Will you fucking answer me, Yash? Where are we going?" he continued to drag her through a long corridor. In his hurry, and in her fury with it, she hadn't even noticed the course they had taken. She didn't know this corridor. He threw her a backwards glance with an annoyed frown.

"I'm keeping you safe." He told her swiftly, his tone was stone and that was when she dug her heels in the stiff wood. And although he could drag her anyways, heels dug in the floor and everything he stopped and eyes her apprehensive, anxious, a sense of urgency throbbing in his whole body.

"I'm going outside with you."

"No"

"There's no discussion." She told him, the lines in her face set as serious as his "I want to go outside. I might need to build a barrier."

"It's just Kouga" his eyes aflame when he thought that she would think for one second that he wouldn't be able to protect his kin or his employees for that matter. Her arm was tugged again and this time all her body hit his with a resounding thud. Sesshomaru's youki was now expanded throughout the whole expanse of the estate, and it urged him to release his own youki and to meet him, to defend, to protect.

Kagome was being an obstacle right now. And obstacles were solved by force. Hooking his arm around the back of her knees he threw her over his shoulder and released his youki overpowering her untrained aura and breaking into a run to where he knew that she would be safe and well accompanied by Rin. He knew his brother's first instinct had been to guard Rin and made sure she got to any secret door that led to the safe room. Seeing there was none in his floor she'd simply take Kagome there.

"Inuyasha! Put me down! Why do you have to be like this? I'm not a child! I don't need you to protect me!"

That ripped a growl from his usually uncouth being and he simply ran faster to a bullet proof, thick door, his fang quickly slashing some skin of his hand to slam it in the id recognizer beneath the keys to insert the secret code. When the door opened with a sound that greatly resembled a snort he pulled it completely behind and pushed Kagome inside.

"I'll come and get you later."

When she opened her mouth to answer, she was silenced by a definitive frown, his amber eyes telling her very precisely that there was no arguing about it… She was staying.

Kagome said nothing but for a moment they exchanged an agreement. Quickly having the need to protect her being relieved from his body and all the previous emotions slamming into him, the shame returned, the pain returned, the need for absolution did too. Humbly he laid his ears back and looked at her forlornly as the door closed.

In centuries of life Sesshomaru did not remember ever seeing the security around the Taisho estate being breached. Not that it was impossible, as it seemed with Kouga now in the main entrance snarling and howling with his wolf self to the sky it wasn't, but because no one had ever dared. Kouga was a good noble. The prince of the wolves could pride himself of having an obedient tribe, being a high rank noble and one of the closest to his family. So he was almost sure that the wolf was not here to cause ill to him, to Rin - whom he, nonetheless had already provided shelter- to Inuyasha or his intended. However, the twirl of anguish and distress in Kouga's distinctive youki was unsettling him too. What was wrong? Why did he howl for his lord in such a way?

As he now opened the doors he felt Inuyasha youki releasing matching his, extending and affirming. Through a rational point of view they both knew that Kouga was mostly harmless, and even if he tried something they both could handle him just fine, but the dog inside them by knowing their territory was invaded by someone who should not have breached it like that, rebelled inside them, affirmed their power over the intruder. Kouga's howl decreased when he saw the first Lord of the West. With a colossal head, as big, or bigger, as any car he faced his ruler. Big darker than usual cerulean blue eyes met Sesshomaru's much smaller ones, and Sesshomaru could see tumult in them.

His regal deep voice stopped all motion, even Kouga's that now had lowered his head to directly face the silver haired dog demon.

"What ails you to provoke such tumult in these lands, Kouga?"

The wolf, whose eyes had changed directions to behind the Western lord, snarled viciously at finding the youngest Western lord in the door, bare chested and walking toward his own brother and Kouga. With fangs as long as arms in front of him, Inuyasha limited himself to stand besides his older brother, a glint of hate in Kouga's eyes.

"Kouga." Sesshomaru tried to regain the huge dark brown wolf attention, but to no avail. The cerulean eyes of Kouga continued glued at the new arrival. Inuyasha said nothing and did nothing but it was obvious in his tense posture that he had no intentions to let Kouga pass. And with an irate snarl, a loud snarl that made the circle of moon soldier surrounding Kouga step backwards - although it didn't make the western heirs blink- his large head was thrown back and he grabbed something with his pointy dangerous fangs from his furry dark neck, and when his eyes met the Taisho brothers again, full of hate. Their eyes widened significantly.

At their feet laid the body of a young boy 8 years old, maybe 9. By his somehow much tanned complexion a dark straight hair with tiny dreadlocks it was clearly a wolf boy. His whole body lacerated with deep cuts, bones showing, guts sliding out of his flesh and skin to the green grass. His head was open, the skull out making a sick gory scene. What had been a beautiful boyish face was shredded. The scent of putrid flesh affected every dog demon's sense of smell to complement the imagery that was the only disturbing element for the few human elements that still remained there.

"Slaughter." his voice was strange, deeper, much, much deeper, solemn, anguished. But his eyes showed only hatred, a deep hatred that was corrupting him inside.

Sesshomaru seemed affronted. Although the wolves were direct subjects of Kouga they were all under his protections. They were his vassals. It had been years since such a happening. First the panthers revolting, and now the wolves killed? More than ever he was now sure that the panther's attack had not been planned by Toran and her brother and sisters. Someone was behind this. When the white Lord tore his eyes from the putrid dead body, he found Inuyasha's face contorted in shock.

"You will return to your humanoid form, Kouga, and we will talk inside," Sesshomaru's cold voice did not appease Kouga's need of comfort, not after having lost his all family and most of his friends. Not after returning home to find a bloodshed waiting for him. Although Kouga had not ever heard a different voice from the western lord he couldn't control the vicious growl thrown at the ruler who did not even budge. Inuyasha's eyes were still glued; a horrified look still glowing in his face, as he kept his eyes on that young boy.

"I came to warn you that no order of you will keep me from killing the responsible for this. I am alone now. I have no more responsibilities to anyone but to myself."

"Kouga return to your human form." The regal lord ordered the huge wolf. Inuyasha kept quiet, still fixed on the torn boy. Kouga snarled and began to turn away from the Taisho brothers. Inuyasha felt his brother sigh very lightly, and then a poisonous whip extended slowly from his right index and middle finger, only to, in a very swift motion, swirl and lock around a huge leg of the demonic wolf. And even in his humanoid form, a simple pull was enough to deter the blue eyed enormous wolf.

Sesshomaru's eyes turned hued red and he tugged the whip again the wolf was jerked forward.

"If you want to be helped killing this thing you will need my help. Whoever it is is plotting against me. It killed your tribe. We will join forces"

Inuyasha took his eyes from the little boy for the first time since its body first had landed on the grassy ground, surprised with himself to find his own eyes watery. The language his brother had used was enough proof that he was concerned with Kouga and what had happened. It was an ancient, primal canine tongue. It was only taught to royalty, seeing canines had lost the need to have it implemented in their mind. It had been taught to him years ago and he didn't remember it all that well anymore. Sesshomaru didn't want Kouga to wander off. No. He wanted to help him, but a ruler could never be weak in front of his vassals, and show any emotions exacerbated- at least that was what the older Taisho thought.

Kouga's eyes softened slightly.

Inuyasha saw a kind of understanding that was somehow muddled with all the pent up pain and anger. Maybe the wolf wasn't that dumb as the younger dog demon had always declared… but the fact that he frequently put his claim on Kagome to risk always made his hackles rise… in fact, he threw him off so much that he immediately decided thinking about it now, was not a good idea.

Kouga would probably end with one less element to his tribe: himself.

The younger of the west could feel Kouga's youki diminish in size, but not in power. The ookami's eyes had returned to Sesshomaru who was watching him wearily, afraid of another demonstration of power and insanity like the one Kouga had put off earlier.

Inuyasha felt slightly off. The body of the boy seemed bigger and bigger as Kouga's body returned to his humanoid form- he could see it through the corner of his eye. Kouga's wolves weren't far away… they never were. Certainly they would do something about the boy, right?

Kouga's face struck him. The prince of wolves and his Lord stood there looking at each other. Kouga stepped up. It was as if he wasn't Inuyasha's age but much, much older, his face was grooved by wrinkles that seemed to have appeared from day to night, he wore a frown that hung his features down. Over all the general appearance was of weariness… As if his all life had flashed slowly and heavily in front of him.

Inuyasha's amber eyes returned to the cadaver in front of him. His mind briefly flew to Kagome. He had almost spat all that weighted his heart to her this same morning. Kouga had interrupted. And now when would he have the time to tell her, to try to make her understand how sorry he was because of person he had been before, when she had loved him unconditionally? Kouga had just provoked a brief a not successful crisis that would surely, nonetheless, have repercussions that he and Sesshomaru would have to attend to. The counselors were in Tokyo, some in his estate, some in their own homes. There was another session of the council scheduled… And his sweet Kagome would hardly give him another opportunity… not after what she had been through, not when she was so enthralled in trying to discover more about her new found powers…

He sighed and bent over the form of the cadaver. Both his brother and Kouga looked at him suspiciously, their stances ridiculously alike. He ignored them, and took off his shirt that easily covered the body of the boy, and wrapped him in it. Honestly he didn't quite know what to do it, but he couldn't let it to lay there, abandoned. He'd been abandoned before, hadn't he? He had been without a protector and he'd been left to die at the hands of some twisted fucker who had stolen him of any friends and family he knew…

A growl stopped him.

When he looked back Kouga was fixed on the way the youngest dog gingerly, yet gently grabbed the fatally wounded body of that little wolf boy, wrapped in his t-shirt. Then his electric ice blue eyes fixed on the golden ones and the wolf prince murmured, avoiding his eyes, focusing his attention on the main entrance to the mansion.

"Take him to my wolves. They are in the outskirts of the property, where the barriers end to north."

The hanyou did not respond but turned around, remembering that his brother would probably put Rin in freedom before he got to more important matters. Still with back to his brother and unexpected guest he slowly and softly asked Sesshomaru if he could make Rin entertain Kagome while he delivered the boy, then he would join him in their duties to the Western lands.

Even if he had turned back he knew Sesshomaru would not understand but that he would do it. Kouga waited for the Lord of the West to start walking to his house before he followed him there, and therefore he resumed hi way.

Kagome looked wearily at the woman stuck with her in the reinforced room, calming the power within her hadn't been easy but it was done and sighed in relief. The room was exquisitely decorated, in a very western style that she hadn't seen in the house yet. The walls were covered with soft silk and beautiful flowery embroidery in it. The chairs were clearly originals from the eighteenth century, and chaise-long of the styles. Rosewood and gold lining covered some of the walls in the large room with shelves full of antique books.

It was oddly full, as if it as meant to distract people of the fact that it was a room meant to be used when in dangerous situations. It didn't calm her. It made her jumpy, it seemed to her to full and illusionist. And Rin wasn't helping at all. She just there, one of her elbows in the arm of the chaise-long, her body half lying on the soft fabric, and completely wrapped around what she knew it was a expression of her mate's power- mokomoko-sama, white, fluffy and regal it took over her entire form as she, very tranquil, read a copy of the pillow book, Makura no SÅshi, that although not as old as the original 11th century original was a very, very old copy, probably from the XVIII century.

And she was absolutely, quiet, and relaxed even. In no way she looked preoccupied with what was going on outside or with her mate for that matter. What was funny because every time kept thinking that something could be happening to Inuyasha she seriously thought she'd throw her guts out, besides he'd just come from the hospital… she knew he healed quickly but damn it! She didn't want anything to happen to him, and for that he had to be careful, what was almost impossible, what if something happened? She knew a lot of things had run between them but she'd probably put his life anytime in front of hers and…

"Dear, you're making a bit of a fuss."

She hadn't realized until Rin statement that she had been pacing furiously, her teeth worrying her bottom lip as her crossed arms tightened frequently under her bosom.

Blinking slowly and redirecting her attention to the other woman she narrowed her eyes to her. Rin had always been nice. But now in the crack of thaw and the morning melting some ice of the night around her she saw her in a different perspective.

Though she was officially around 18 or 19, she should be older than that. She knew that being a youkai's mate granted that. She did carry a look of wisdom and acted and spoke as if she was much older than she appeared. She knew she understood much of the things she felt for Inuyasha, and maybe she even understood their unequal relationship from his part, because Kagome was sure as hell that Sesshomaru was surely a possessive dog too.

But right now she was unnerving with all that calm and reading that obnoxious old book, and wrapped in that fucking fluffy thing.

"How can you be so freaking calm?" before she thought she blurted it. Then she realized she had disrespected the owner of the house and fell in an armchair grunting and squinting her eyes, and rubbing a hand in her face that then slid into her hair as her elbows perched in her knees. Rin didn't waver but closed her book and met Kagome's dulled grey eyes with a glinting cinnamon.

"Sesshomaru always comes back."

The first feeling that ravaged her was that must be nice then I wish he always came back to me too. Then she felt something dark gripped her on the inside and panicked. She couldn't exactly deal with a voice inside her head right now with Rin around and she still hadn't figured what it was. Then she recognized it for what it was and not for the stimulus that would normally have that disgusting sneering voice as an answer. It was simply pain. Unrequited love had merely merged in her flesh and tightening it with ache, like it had been doing for the last years.

Oddly it brought a kind of sense of relieve and comfort.

I am sick, she thought to herself.

"What if they get hurt?"

"They'll heal."

She grunted at Rin's plain answer. Well wasn't it nice for them. She wouldn't.

In Rin there was the dream she knew that in her life wouldn't become true- mating. It wasn't worth denying it, not to herself any ways. In a way she was fascinated by her, in other she felt slightly hurt by her presence, flaunting something she could never have in her face.

The room began to smother her.

"How is your research on miko abilities?"

Kagome turned briskly, after she had just gotten up from the chair. Her hair whirled around her as she glared at Rin.

"Don't you feel inferior when Sesshomaru-sama brings you in here and locks you? Why can't you protect yourself? Why do you need him so badly?" Vaguely she was aware that she had said something insulting to Rin again, and that she had also put her own feelings in words directed to someone else, in a different situation.

"I cannot not need him, just as he cannot. His duty is to protect me. I am sure I don't need to explain that to you. I do not feel inferior to him when he does what his instincts tell him to do. I have them too. Being the Lady of the West isn't as easy as one would think, Kagome." Her words were firm and yet not cold, as she expected after her outburst. She didn't mean it like that but the walls were getting closer to each other, and Rin's tranquility was fraying her nerves immensely.

The grey eyed beautiful young woman sighed and got up, hugging herself and looking up at the ceiling, sculpted. What beautiful art, where the hair of the women's heads sculpted on the bodies that filled the ceiling seemed like stalactites. She murmured an apology, humbled and ashamed.

Silence hung, and she decided to redeem herself by softly answering her question from before.

"It is going well, though there is little about how to learn. I am thinking about going to Nagasaki, visiting an old woman, a miko who could teach me."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. The idea of getting out of Tokyo was appealing and soothing… Rin's eyes widened a little then visibly downed and calmed.

"Maybe that's a good idea… there has been a long time since I've seen so near a priestess. A real, powers and all priestess."

"How is it? To live so long?" her claustrophobia had somehow morphed into nostalgia, something she knew wouldn't last. At least until she freaked out about something again, then she'd snap.

"I have only lived something like a hundred years. I am younger than Inuyasha and much younger than my haiguushaa but… I've seen incredible and horrible things. I've met Emperor Meiji and saw Hiroshima after the first bomb. It's hard and tiring, but I always had who I needed by me side."

Kagome felt the walls close again, her throat closed. What was it Inuyasha wanted to say this morning, again? These feelings were odd. She felt awkward listening to how Rin was happy as a mate to an inu-youkai. Angrily she remembered herself that she'd never have that. It wasn't worth it. Right now she just wanted to know if her ex-lover was okay.

Her eyes followed the patters of the intertwined hairs of what she now could see were mermaids in the ceiling.

"hm."

"I think someday you'll experience that too."

Before she could angrily chew her again for saying something so offensive by giving her hopes that didn't exist, Rin continued, almost monotonic like her husband.

"The key is to forgive. To have the wonderful gift to offer absolution, and have the person you offer it, accept it.

Kagome frowned, momentarily confused. When she opened her mouth to ask her what she meant by that. Leaving the hair of the mermaids, she saw the door open. Sesshomaru walked in with his usual cool demeanor. When he arrived his sentence wasn't directed. But Kagome knew it was for her. His long arms enveloped Rin, and Kagome felt a terrible emptiness eating her out. Loneliness.

"My brother went on a quick task. He'll be coming in half-an-hour to join me. Could you keep Kagome company, Rin?

"I…Thats not needed…" she mumbled as the smaller woman leaned into the tall demon and nuzzled under his chin, smiling softly and nodding. Sesshomaru's dark golden cold orbs found her sad grey and waited for a reaction out of that phrase. "Thank you Sesshomaru-sama"

"Let's get dressed," Rin informed and commanded, as she led us to the outside behind Sesshomaru, who followed a different path, not even saying goodbye "and get to know each other."

Kagome followed obediently.

Inuyasha was back home. To a very full and tiring day.

It had started not so well with the eclipse, then his encounter and heartfelt talk with Kagome, then Kouga's appearance, and now he was to travel to his brothers office, be updated in all there was to know, then have lunch with Sesshomaru and the ambassadors, then a council meeting… And what about Kouga? Abruptly, he stopped in the hall when a small female ferret youkai walked towards him. The thought of having Kouga in his house, and so close to Kagome nonetheless… he gulped and swallowed a loud growl that threatened to spill from his chest and that promised to have another ruckus provoked. But his hands tightened into fists, his claws painfully prickling his skin, a fang escaping his lowed lips to worry the bottom one…

"Inuyasha-sama"

A low bow obstructed the view of the ferret female demon and he blinked, slowly getting back to a more controlled state. He was suddenly aware of his bare chest and he wrinkled his nose, after giving the servant girl dressed in black and white average maid uniform.

"Yes?" he offered when the youkai girl still hadn't raised her head. When she finally did, her eyes did not meet his. He thought this rule was stupid, but it didn't bother him anymore. It was ancient, both Mayu-san and his brother had said. And Mayu-san would never stop teaching that to the new employees.

"His lordship asks that you get dressed and meet him in his office, as soon as you can, my lord."

"hm." He was going to start walking when he remembered that a servant had to be dismissed before going away again. Then just before he sent her away, however, he remembered asking.

"Has my brother opened the security room, already?"

"Yes my lord. The lady is getting dressed." It wasn't really Rin he was interested in. Without a second thought he stepped forward and his intense eyes burned in the coal eyes that would not meet him.

"And Kagome-sama?"

The girl gulped.

"Miko-sama is with milady. Dressing too. Appropriately."

"Give her permission to my mother's personal wardrobe"

His mother's wardrobe had been locked ever since she had died. It wasn't that he didn't like Rin enough to let her wear his mother's silks; it was just… somehow it felt painful to let those clothes wander the house again. But see Kagome in one of those beautiful uchikake, or furisode his mother wore ever since he could remember… Even though they were as old as time (it seemed to him at least) he knew it would give him pleasure to see her in them. It was as if she was acknowledging a place he should have given her ever since he knew her.

Ignoring the absolutely shocked expression of the girl, who knew for a fact that Rin-sama's beautiful silks were her own or Sesshomaru-sama's mother, and no one besides Izayoi-sama had ever even seen those clothes since her death not to mention wear them, he dismissed and started walking towards his own room.

His movements were almost automatic.

Years of tying hakama and composing his suikan had made it possible for him not to even look to what he was doing.

The violent burgundy of his juban and white hakama, though necessary for the council meeting later, were indifferent to him as he released his long silver hair from the collar of the nagajuban under the juban, and finally slipping in a pair of black tabi he turned on his heels to get out.

Meeting Sesshomaru was on top of the list he had to do, but not on the want to do list. He wanted to see Kagome.

His thoughts quickly changing to her as he walked through empty hallways, then his mind turned to how they had to find new employees, because of those who had fled… maybe they just needed to find them and tell them everything was alright, his mind returned to Kagome. He wondered what Rin would take her doing? What would she think of court? Usually Rin's work dealt with a lot of inu bitches and high ranked inu youkai… With Rin she would be alright, she knew how to handle them, and would know how to impose Kagome's presence without complaints. Thinking back to her this morning, made him waver and almost shudder. He gulped. She had been so close, and he had been so close.

Despite having smelled all those contradicting emotions, the pain, the despair and the fear he had never smelt oozing from her in such a way, he now felt his heart full of hope. She hadn't backed away, she had been concerned. In fact, he had expected she would be revolted with what had happened to her, he couldn't fathom how she must feel after diving locked in her car deep into the river- he was sure she had panicked. She had always been slightly claustrophobic. But it seemed she was fine with it, she didn't mention much about it… she didn't seem angry. Until he was almost in the eminence of his duty to his brother, he couldn't comprehend why the thought struck him as such an oddity.

When he neared his brother's office understanding struck him. The fact that she didn't demonstrate how she felt was such a Kagome thing to do… to hide how she really felt, to pretend she was okay with things. She wasn't. He knew she wasn't okay with their relationship before. But she was here right? She hadn't backed away as much as she could. She hadn't shut him off completely… Everything would change, he promised himself, and he would treat her like she deserved from now on- his princess… If she just gave him a chance.

Closing his eyes just as he stopped in front of Sesshomaru's office door and sighed, promising himself that he would try just like Miroku had told him to do, to at least tell her how he felt- how much he loved her. It was hard to open so much, but he needed her to know, he needed her forgiveness above all. After all it had been harder to go through the process of thinking she had died, recognize his mating bond- incomplete as it was- and deal with the panthers. Trying to clear his mind he took a deep breath a focused on his duties. Now those were for his household and for his oldest brother. Disgruntling.

As he pulled the shoji aside and stepped inside the very clean and minimalist looking room, two sets of powerful eyes settled on him. He crossed the tatami floor to sit, cross legged, to Sesshomaru's right and the lines that made his face look older and heavier straightened and he let his golden eyes fell stony, upon the wolf prince.

His face was harsh and deadly, he didn't seem ready to be here, inside the house- to talk and be civil. His whole body was tensed, he seem a minute length of bolting or transforming again. His electric blue eyes quickly left his as they bounced from wall to wall; he exuded symptoms of someone caged. Before someone could speak Jaken entered and behind him Kigatsuku closed the door, his orange eyes setting permanently on the important three men meeting around the low table. He, like Jaken, remained standing.

"Koga, this Sesshomaru will aid you in your revenge- your wolves were also my subjects." Sesshomaru's strong decided voice brought any lack of attention to any of the attending to an end. All eyes snapped to him. Regally he rested his forearms in the low table, no more of him moved. Kouga's yes were still rebellious, he still exuded homicide instinct- but he knew deep in himself that he had to listen to Sesshomaru, that he was his last hope. Besides he had vented a great deal of his animal fury since his run from the mountains. Hard as stone golden eyes fixed solely and solemnly on the young wolf prince "They will be avenged. Until further discussion you can stay in the shiro, as the other two youkai - the wolves however will have to stay confined to the forest territory." Inuyasha choked on his saliva, no matter how bad Koga's loss was (and it was), his priority was conquer Kagome, repent next to her, make her love him with no regrets or restrictions, erase Kikyo from his life, make Kagome his mate. Koga would ruin everything! He couldn't stay! His growl arose from the end of his throat, when Sesshomaru (without sparing him a glance). "If you mate, you should do it with a wolf youkai too Kouga- It will secure the continuation of the clan- I am aware that Ginzo of the eastern mountains wants you to marry his daughter perhaps you should reconsider it."

"I want Kagome."

A loud growl bounced in the walls, the younger of the west propelling his force against the tatami matted floor to face the wolf with murderous intuit. Sesshomaru raised a clawed poisonous deadly hand to his brother with the meaning of stopping his tirade, and especially his hand which had flown to the handle of Tetsusaiga. Just when he had calmed after understanding Sesshomaru's intent on suggesting the wolf to mate, the stupid prince of the north had to ruin everything.

"Maybe you want her. But her allegiance clearly does not lie with you." Cold eyes turned to similar frustrated angry ones, younger, scared. "Your priorities and your allegiance should too, rest with the ones who depend of you and with an entire clan that for the sake of your ancestors you should try to repair."

Kouga growled and turned his face abruptly, avoiding the cold and penetrating golden gaze, his long dark hair, loose as many times Inuyasha had seen in covered one shoulder. Electric blues hidden he murmured.

"You love your mate."

Surprise tensed for a fraction of second Sesshomaru's body. Then he dramatically released the surprise from his muscles and raised an elegantly shaped brow.

"Indeed"

"Mates are supposed to love each other not to bond in convenience- that would result in a weak meaningless bond."

The wolf was well measured. One part of Inuyasha's brain acknowledged that Kouga was saying the truth, that he was offering good arguments against what Sesshomaru had proposed. The other part of his brain (of him, really) revolted against the thought of him sustaining an argument with the more powerful ruler in the world just to assure that he could indeed pursue and court Kagome should she let him. She was his. The oddity and wave of discomfort of an old feeling invading him assaulted him. He felt like this since he had first seen Kouga laying a hand on his precious lover. But Kouga loved her too! That of course, didn't mean that she was his mate. There was no going around it. Kagome had been born to be mated with the youngest of the West. But he saw it all the time- People fooled destiny all the time. Who was to say though, that it wasn't fate way to fool them- tricking into thinking them they were the winners?

Surprising the rest of the attendants he kept quiet when his brother released a soft "hm".

"It is your choice Koga. As I said before, you can stay here- in fact I think that you should. There will be a council meeting this afternoon." His golden eyes traveled from blue to his similar again "and that is also why I wanted you to be here. I will give you a briefing. Listen too Koga." His eyes did not leave Inuyasha to address the prince of the wolves or, "Jaken."

"My lord," Bouncing on his two stubby green feet, the impish creature awkwardly- as anything else he did- walked to the royal dog and let a manila folder slip into an awaiting clawed hand. The Lord of the West didn't spare him the grace of his gaze, and the green imp stumbled away again. Sesshomaru retrieved the documents inside the folder and turned them for Inuyasha to read.

"It is my believe that the incident with the panthers were not an incident per se." selecting one specific page he directed it to Inuyasha's gaze. It was a transcription of what it seemed a confession of one of the dismantled panther ex-clan, when Sesshomaru had chosen a new leader. He spoke, in the confession, of a deal made with the panther clan, power in change of loss of credit of the Western clan, by someone he'd never seen. The word jyaki magnetized his eyes, and he read the passage with it - "I don't really know him, I have never seen him- but he exuded jyaki, not normal youki. Toran was the one to make the deal with him. He said he wanted them to make tumult in Tokyo, she readily agreed… of course…" it continued but he didn't read more.

His brows furrowed. Then the panthers insurgence was planned by another that not Toran? And now Koga's tribe…

"You think there's someone behind the attacks, the one with the panthers and the one to Koga's tribe…" with a grimace he fought the bile-rising image of that young boy ripped and tattered from the outside in, his guts spilling on the floor. Koga's eyes turned sharp and attentive to the brothers conversation.

Sesshomaru nodded curtly and selected another document, putting it in front of Inuyasha. An image of a man in his late thirties, illustrated the left top corner of the page. He clearly wasn't a dog demon, and therefore not a moon soldier, but he clearly was in some kind of rank… espionage. Sanman Okumuro, a spy. The one spying on the panthers, the one who was in charge of informing them of the panthers movements. Vaguely he was aware he had the same information of the human and of his mission on his own laptop. He had been in charge of many military actions the days before he had found Kagome.

"Sanman…" Turning the page Inuyasha found an image as disgustingly explicit as the memory of the boy that Koga had brought on his torso from the mountains. He didn't know why he was aware that that person was indeed Sanman. He was tore.

"Our infiltrated man was found like that four days ago in the Panthers lair."

"They found he was working for us?"

"Yes. But he was one of the bests. He would not betray us. My suspicions grow towards a spy inside our household, Inuyasha. The panthers or whoever made that deal with them had to know who he was and why he was there, and his whole material was tampered, the panthers had to know before attacking, that was also why they attacked later. This will be discussed today in council. However… We must be careful so that this doesn't get out- the western house cannot lose credibility near the humans or any other clan characterized by social tension. Diplomatic relations will gain …tension"

"What will you propose in the council, then?"

"To conduct an investigation… who knows what more confidential information does the spy possess?"

"Will they think it is enough?"

Sesshomaru seemed slightly offended by that. His nose twitched slightly and he almost thrust it in the air, affirming coldly and regally

"The last word in the council in mine. Besides, there is really not much more they can do."

"Borislav wouldn't be above proposing exterminating all the humans from our ranks, as well as eliminating all associations with the taijiya. You know that." His brows furrowed and he snorted arrogantly "You arrogant Bastard. Don't go thinking they'll just listen and accept. Well maybe Awiti, but-"

"Shut up whelp!" the older Taisho barked out the order and the younger snorted again. Rising to his two feet again, Inuyasha announced his leaving. Sesshomaru rose too, giving quiet indications to Kigatsuku on how install Koga and on having him ready at lunch, which would be held at Izayoi's garden. Since it was an inner garden it would not have the problem of the defrosting interfering with more important matters.

"My lord, is Lady Rin to attend?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, and turned his head (since he was already leaving), to look, slightly amused, at his servant.

"And since when does Lady Rin not attend some important matter like that? Make sure Mayu-san warns her too."

Kigatsuku nodded. Before Sesshomaru left however he remembered to make another crucial question, that if not done, could result in chaos.

"And miko-sama?"

Sesshomaru frowned slightly when he faced his servant again- he looked annoyed.

"That question should have been made to my brother, not to me. But if she wishes too… Yes she can attend.

I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been troubled by a variety of factors. Economic crisis, the death of democracy, the Egyptian liberation, my own pathetic studies and getting some cheap pot and free alcohol.

Keep reviewing, if you want to.

I don't remember what's written in there to the detail, this chapter was already on the 23rd page, and now almost 5 months after I last updated I divided it and now I'm posting it. Which means that the 12th chapter is already started.

-Chino