InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Across the Ages ❯ picking up the peices ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: inuyoukai8 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.17.2006 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 198 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.17.2006 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 198 | Status: Completed
Ten Sesshoumaru threw the door wide as he entered the room. Ayeka barely looked up from the book in her hands. "It's been two days." she muttered. The dog demon stared at her, "Are you speaking to me or the book?" he asked. She lifted her eyes to him. "You. Who else has the power to let me out of this room?" she asked in turn. He grunted and nodded. He turned to a large closet which was locked tightly.He withdrew the key from his robes and quickly opened it. Ayeka looked past him to see her uniforms and armor. "My armor!" she cried out, rising from her seat and rushing to the closet. Her fingers ran lovingly over her personal items. "You didn't get rid of them." she said softly looking up into a face that made her dizzy."You will return to the training yard with your men." he told her. She stepped back in wonder. "You did not strip me of my rank?" she asked. He turned from her, "I did not." he affirmed, "You are still my wife and though I cannot command of you those things that I wish, you are also my general and in these ways I can."She was already slipping her uniform from the closet. "Sesshoumaru?" she asked softly and he stiffened at her tone but didn't face her. "I was forced to win you once before and I shall see victory on that field again, for now...general... we have a war to prepare for. To win. I trust you haven't forgotten how." his voice ran over like cool mountain water.How very like him, she mused as she slid into her armor. He had demanded her submission in the last battle, but now, he was willing to earn back her affections. Sesshoumaru had no need to force, for he was capable of seduction with a look. She felt her own weight of guilt for all the battle's he'd seen, short a commander with no one to see him home. That was her fault. And she'd only learned of it later, through conversations with him across fighting space. She'd make it up to him somehow. If this was the only way, then so be it.Ayeka was on the field in less than an hour. Her men stared at her. They'd not thought she'd come back. And now nearly three hundred years later! She looked the same, she sounded the same. They had missed her, once young demon under her command were older and they recalled the glory of her battle cry.She drilled long and hard as though she'd never left at all. She lost herself in the familiar routine, finding solace there. High above her, from the battlements Sesshoumaru stood. He watched her, silver hair lifting in the wind. Golden eyes narrowed in concentration as he looked for any slowing, any weakness but he found none."Hey." Inuyasha called to him as he moved across the stones. Sesshoumaru did not lift his gaze and Inuyasha approached him. "You sparred with Sango?". Sesshoumaru nodded, "The Slayer was not a disappointment." he allowed. Inuyasha peered over the wall. There was a red haired woman ordering the strongest demons his brother's domain. "You got a kitsune?" he asked, sniffing, eyes gone wide, "Hey, she's human!""She," Sesshoumaru replied, "Is my lady wife, the general." Inuyasha watched her actions. She was now sparring with a large dog demon. She was winning....easily. "She ain't bad." Inuyasha admitted. Sesshoumaru slid his claws through his hair, "In battle, she is quite amazing. Our father thought so too." Then he turned and left the battlements and Inuyasha was left gaping at the tiny flame of humanity below. She knew his father?
That's right, Sesshoumaru had said about a hundred years before he was born. That meant that they had been wed long before Inutaisho ever encountered Izayoi. Sesshoumaru had fallen in love with a human first!He watched her for a long time, eyes following intricate actions. It seemed strange to him that she, of all people, had known his father. He was suddenly quite curious about this woman. He'd not missed the look of hunger in his brother's eyes.... after all he'd been feeling that himself alot lately. This was information was interesting and he knew the others must be curious. So he set off to find them.Ayeka drilled until her body ached, her mind in turmoil. She forced all thoughts away and concentrated her efforts on the demon before her. Her men had been a bit surprised to see her, but things like this were not questioned in the house of Sesshoumaru and so they neither asked the how nor why and merely greeted her as though she'd never left.Ayeka was grateful for the distraction of her men. Her mind was sharp and memory came swiftly but her body was slightly slowed from centuries without practice. She found this was not a permanent condition and let herself revel in the power of war.It was late in the afternoon when she at last called a halt to the stringent maneuvers. She was sweating but glowing. "Well done men, well done. I bid you good night, good drink, see you at dawn." The words so often said fell from her lips easily and it seemed the detritus of the centuries no longer clung to them.She was nearly to the bed chamber when a small green demon approached her. She stared down at him. "What is it?" she asked when he was silent. He pulled himself up and then bowed to her, "A message my lady from his lordship." he croaked at her. "Very well. Let's hear it." she instructed, the words could be anything, and she steeled herself."You are to join my lord and his companions of dinner in the great hall in one hour. He says it's time that you met the others." Jaken informed her. She cocked her head slightly, "And if I refuse?" she asked. Jaken appeared to be scandalized, "You cannot!" he said shrilly. She hung her head slightly, "I thought not. Very well. Thank you...Jaken was it?" The little demon blushed under her gaze, "Yes my lady. I am the lord's retainer. If I may add Lady Ayeka, a kimono has been left out by the maids for you."She nodded, turning from him. One hour. She felt the ball of nerves in her stomach tighten as she bathed. Who knew what she could expect? Her fear was perhaps unreasonable for if it was her death or imprisonment Sesshoumaru sought , he would easily have had it by now. So she finished her bath and moved to the bedroom.Draped across the bed was a shimmering kimono of sea green silk. Nearly the color of her eyes. Hmmm, so he recalled these things. She had no doubts that Sesshoumaru had chosen this one. It was simple and elegant and very much his taste. No maid was present and she was relieved for that. She had never liked simpering servants to help her dress, it always made her feel like an infant.She managed to comb out her hair and get it dried before she slipped into the robe. She tied the dove gray obi and with a resigned sigh, she pulled the door open. Better to get this over with right? She felt like she was moving on leaden feet through deep water, the steps agonizingly slow but she couldn't seem to make herself go faster.When she reached the tall double doors, she paused, hand raised to push them open. A stab of panic hit her stomach. What was in there? Would the council of generals be there? Staring at her? Hating her for fleeing? For showing that all to human weakness? Her heart beat thunderously and she vaguely wondered if the demon on the other side could hear it. No doubt they smelled her fear.She took a step backwards, her hand falling. She could run back to the room and tell Jaken she was ill. It wasn't that far from the truth after all. She was pale, her hands sweating, shaking. God, had she always been this weak?She took another step back and turned, bumping nose to chest into the one demon she had hoped she'd not. The white clad power of Sesshoumaru. She stumbled backwards from the impact and he caught her elbows to keep her steady. One word ran through her mind then, as she slowly lifted her eyes.... busted.He was remote, his face gave her no indication of his thoughts but she had a fairly good idea. She gave him a weak little smile that looked more like a grimace. She knew, because she saw her face reflected in the depths of clear honey burnished eyes."Not running are you?" he asked softly. Oh yeah....way busted. She sucked in a deep breath," No! Not at all." she said lightly, too lightly. He sniffed and his lips thinned slightly. "You never were a good liar." he informed her. She bit her lip to keep from uttering dark words, they were after all not alone. "I never gained your comfort with them." she whispered. His elegant brow arched, "This Sesshoumaru does not lie."She grunted up at him, "No, you don't but omission is tantamount to the same thing." He glared at her, "I never concealed my nature from you Ayeka. I am not a human and yet you expected that I should act like one, FEEL like one. I'm not, but you knew that." he said, his voice equally soft, free of reprimand, he simply stated fact.She stared at the ground, wishing that he didn't have the power to make her regret lifetimes. But he did, and she did and that it seemed was that. He moved past her to open the doors but she caught his wrist. Her movements fast and he raised an eyebrow at the look of fear in her eyes.She wouldn't look at him. "Who-who is in there? Are they there? Do they hate me?" she asked, a tremulous whisper. He stared down at the bright crown of her head, ahhh, this was the trouble. Pressing a clawed hand against the small of her back, he gave her a little nudge. "The council is not here. There are few of them left." he told her, "You have no enemies here Ayeka... if you did I would destroy them." His voice was calm, cool, collected.She gave him a small nod, and sucked in a deep breath as he pushed the heavy doors open easily. His hand gave her no quarter, no means of escape. She forced her expression to clear. Serenity, everything is fine. she chanted over and over. Oh yes, she was definitely busted.Seven pairs of eyes fell on the couple at the door. The tall Taiyoukai was framed in the doorway. A small red haired woman was framed by him. It was like looking at fire and ice. His demon rolled over them all as he entered, the woman walking just before him.Ayeka was more than a little surprised to see that the majority of guests at his table were human. Her eyes fell on the little girl that sat near the head of the table. This must be Sesshoumaru's young ward. She watched closely but the child showed no reticence about the powerful being. Her little face broke into bright smiles as she stared up at him.Her eyes then fell on the only other person with silver hair. Her eyes widened when she saw him and his narrowed fractionally under her scrutiny. She slowly looked up at Sesshoumaru, her eyes locking with his before they slid back to the other. This was clearly a half demon, his ears gave him away but they were so similar. It had been centuries, was it possible that Sesshoumaru sired a son?"My mate Ayeka. Ayeka this is my half brother Inuyasha, his traveling companions Kagome, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, and the lecher monk." he announced, gesturing to the others. He cast a meaningful glance at the monk, who smiled weakly and trust his cursed hand under the table. He turned her toward Rin, "This is my Rin."His Rin. So he saw her as so much more than a ward. He'd meant it.... she was his child! Ayeka remembered her manners as she nodded to them. Her gaze moving over Inuyasha time and again. Inuyasha was about to ask just what the hell she was staring at, when she spoke. "You look a great deal like your father." Her words gave him pause.Sesshoumaru led her to the place between Rin and himself. She settled and looked back up at the others. "You are Kagome?" she asked the modern girl and Kagome smiled and nodded. Ayeka felt at ease with her, "Judging by your clothing you have also come from the modern era. Did you use the mirror too?" she asked. Kagome shook her head, "Oh no, I fell through a well and met Inuyasha."Ayeka glanced at Sesshoumaru, "I see. Well that sounds like a great story, I'd love to hear it. Before we start seige plans.". Inuyasha looked at her oddly but Kagome was already telling the tale of his pack and he let it be. Ayeka listened enraptured to the tale. "So there is no curse for you when you passed through the well?" she asked. Kagome shook her head, "No. Not that I have noticed."She wanted to ask about the curse and where it came from but wondered if perhaps that was better to ask when she had Ayeka to herself. The meal was going smoothly but she could feel the tension. Most of it moving between the Taiyoukai and his wife. Kagome felt kind of bad for them both. It was clear that the caring was there... even after all this time.It was clear in the way that Ayeka cast glances at her lord, in the way that he watched her carefully and the way his face almost seemed to soften at certain things she said. Kagome cleared her throat and decided to test something. "So how did you two meet?" she asked.Ayeka smiled, a mischievous grin and Sesshoumaru was quick to see it. "You see," she began, "There was once an arrogant young demon lord." Sesshoumaru grunted, "That is not how the story goes, there was once a hot headed young woman.""There was once a stuffy prince.""There was once an irritating woman.""There was once an overbearing dog!""There was once a hellcat of a human." A soft growl."There was once a know it all Taiyoukai.""There was once a vile tempered girl." They glared at each other hard a moment and the others were struck dumb at the verbal sparring. It seemed as though these two were well matched and very accustomed to it. It was Sesshoumaru that broke the spell that held them all with his next softly uttered words. "She came to the village not far from here and my father took her as his general."Inuyasha leaned forward on his elbows, "Father chose her?" His eyes were wide and questioning. She smiled softly at him. She knew that Inutaisho was gone, but she didn't know how or why. Her sadness washed over her and both inu's felt it. "He was truly great." she murmured. Her eyes falling to her lap. Things would have been so much easier had he been here."My lord!" Jaken called from the door and the company looked at him. Sesshoumaru looked over at Rin, who had probably decided that if she were quiet they might forget about her and she'd not be marched off to bed. "Bedtime Rin" he announced softly."But my lord, I am so excited to meet your lovely lady wife! I can't possibly fall asleep! Please let me stay up?" she protested, coming to stand beside him. He sighed, she was still so very young. He said nothing but his eyes told her clearly 'NO'. She peeked up at him. "Five more minutes?". He ceased her complaints with a light tap of his claw to her nose. Like a pup reprimanded by father, she fell quiet. "Okay. I'm sorry." she mumbled, more at the ground than at him. He patted her atop her head bringing her smiles to the front once more. "Pleasant dreams Rin." he told her. She waved to the others as she passed.Ayeka was stunned. This was NOT what she remembered. She stared at him. This now put her in yet another undesirable position. She was rethinking the last few centuries all over again. Would he have been this way his own children? Warmer, more patient perhaps? Perhaps she would never know.Pain lanced through her, squeezing her heart like an unseen fist. Sesshoumaru heard the hitch in her breathing and across the table a white ear flicked. Inuyasha having also heard. She stared at the polished table top, not daring to look around. Her hands were clenched in her lap, so tight, that her knuckles were white.Beneath the table, unseen by all a tender thing occurred. Sesshoumaru, face blank as always reached his large hand to cover hers. Her grip relaxed and he released her. His demon flared around the room, and he knew that while he meant to soothe her, the other females were also affected. Inuyasha growled at the suddenly sappy look on his companion's faces."So tell us about the battle plans." he charged in. Sesshoumaru locked eyes with him, but it was Ayeka that spoke. Her voice firm and devoid of emotion, "This shall be a seige Inuyasha." she told him. He frowned, "What the hell is the difference?" Sesshoumaru traced his claws against the wood softly, "Battle is when you kill things, seige is when all is destroyed."
That's right, Sesshoumaru had said about a hundred years before he was born. That meant that they had been wed long before Inutaisho ever encountered Izayoi. Sesshoumaru had fallen in love with a human first!He watched her for a long time, eyes following intricate actions. It seemed strange to him that she, of all people, had known his father. He was suddenly quite curious about this woman. He'd not missed the look of hunger in his brother's eyes.... after all he'd been feeling that himself alot lately. This was information was interesting and he knew the others must be curious. So he set off to find them.Ayeka drilled until her body ached, her mind in turmoil. She forced all thoughts away and concentrated her efforts on the demon before her. Her men had been a bit surprised to see her, but things like this were not questioned in the house of Sesshoumaru and so they neither asked the how nor why and merely greeted her as though she'd never left.Ayeka was grateful for the distraction of her men. Her mind was sharp and memory came swiftly but her body was slightly slowed from centuries without practice. She found this was not a permanent condition and let herself revel in the power of war.It was late in the afternoon when she at last called a halt to the stringent maneuvers. She was sweating but glowing. "Well done men, well done. I bid you good night, good drink, see you at dawn." The words so often said fell from her lips easily and it seemed the detritus of the centuries no longer clung to them.She was nearly to the bed chamber when a small green demon approached her. She stared down at him. "What is it?" she asked when he was silent. He pulled himself up and then bowed to her, "A message my lady from his lordship." he croaked at her. "Very well. Let's hear it." she instructed, the words could be anything, and she steeled herself."You are to join my lord and his companions of dinner in the great hall in one hour. He says it's time that you met the others." Jaken informed her. She cocked her head slightly, "And if I refuse?" she asked. Jaken appeared to be scandalized, "You cannot!" he said shrilly. She hung her head slightly, "I thought not. Very well. Thank you...Jaken was it?" The little demon blushed under her gaze, "Yes my lady. I am the lord's retainer. If I may add Lady Ayeka, a kimono has been left out by the maids for you."She nodded, turning from him. One hour. She felt the ball of nerves in her stomach tighten as she bathed. Who knew what she could expect? Her fear was perhaps unreasonable for if it was her death or imprisonment Sesshoumaru sought , he would easily have had it by now. So she finished her bath and moved to the bedroom.Draped across the bed was a shimmering kimono of sea green silk. Nearly the color of her eyes. Hmmm, so he recalled these things. She had no doubts that Sesshoumaru had chosen this one. It was simple and elegant and very much his taste. No maid was present and she was relieved for that. She had never liked simpering servants to help her dress, it always made her feel like an infant.She managed to comb out her hair and get it dried before she slipped into the robe. She tied the dove gray obi and with a resigned sigh, she pulled the door open. Better to get this over with right? She felt like she was moving on leaden feet through deep water, the steps agonizingly slow but she couldn't seem to make herself go faster.When she reached the tall double doors, she paused, hand raised to push them open. A stab of panic hit her stomach. What was in there? Would the council of generals be there? Staring at her? Hating her for fleeing? For showing that all to human weakness? Her heart beat thunderously and she vaguely wondered if the demon on the other side could hear it. No doubt they smelled her fear.She took a step backwards, her hand falling. She could run back to the room and tell Jaken she was ill. It wasn't that far from the truth after all. She was pale, her hands sweating, shaking. God, had she always been this weak?She took another step back and turned, bumping nose to chest into the one demon she had hoped she'd not. The white clad power of Sesshoumaru. She stumbled backwards from the impact and he caught her elbows to keep her steady. One word ran through her mind then, as she slowly lifted her eyes.... busted.He was remote, his face gave her no indication of his thoughts but she had a fairly good idea. She gave him a weak little smile that looked more like a grimace. She knew, because she saw her face reflected in the depths of clear honey burnished eyes."Not running are you?" he asked softly. Oh yeah....way busted. She sucked in a deep breath," No! Not at all." she said lightly, too lightly. He sniffed and his lips thinned slightly. "You never were a good liar." he informed her. She bit her lip to keep from uttering dark words, they were after all not alone. "I never gained your comfort with them." she whispered. His elegant brow arched, "This Sesshoumaru does not lie."She grunted up at him, "No, you don't but omission is tantamount to the same thing." He glared at her, "I never concealed my nature from you Ayeka. I am not a human and yet you expected that I should act like one, FEEL like one. I'm not, but you knew that." he said, his voice equally soft, free of reprimand, he simply stated fact.She stared at the ground, wishing that he didn't have the power to make her regret lifetimes. But he did, and she did and that it seemed was that. He moved past her to open the doors but she caught his wrist. Her movements fast and he raised an eyebrow at the look of fear in her eyes.She wouldn't look at him. "Who-who is in there? Are they there? Do they hate me?" she asked, a tremulous whisper. He stared down at the bright crown of her head, ahhh, this was the trouble. Pressing a clawed hand against the small of her back, he gave her a little nudge. "The council is not here. There are few of them left." he told her, "You have no enemies here Ayeka... if you did I would destroy them." His voice was calm, cool, collected.She gave him a small nod, and sucked in a deep breath as he pushed the heavy doors open easily. His hand gave her no quarter, no means of escape. She forced her expression to clear. Serenity, everything is fine. she chanted over and over. Oh yes, she was definitely busted.Seven pairs of eyes fell on the couple at the door. The tall Taiyoukai was framed in the doorway. A small red haired woman was framed by him. It was like looking at fire and ice. His demon rolled over them all as he entered, the woman walking just before him.Ayeka was more than a little surprised to see that the majority of guests at his table were human. Her eyes fell on the little girl that sat near the head of the table. This must be Sesshoumaru's young ward. She watched closely but the child showed no reticence about the powerful being. Her little face broke into bright smiles as she stared up at him.Her eyes then fell on the only other person with silver hair. Her eyes widened when she saw him and his narrowed fractionally under her scrutiny. She slowly looked up at Sesshoumaru, her eyes locking with his before they slid back to the other. This was clearly a half demon, his ears gave him away but they were so similar. It had been centuries, was it possible that Sesshoumaru sired a son?"My mate Ayeka. Ayeka this is my half brother Inuyasha, his traveling companions Kagome, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, and the lecher monk." he announced, gesturing to the others. He cast a meaningful glance at the monk, who smiled weakly and trust his cursed hand under the table. He turned her toward Rin, "This is my Rin."His Rin. So he saw her as so much more than a ward. He'd meant it.... she was his child! Ayeka remembered her manners as she nodded to them. Her gaze moving over Inuyasha time and again. Inuyasha was about to ask just what the hell she was staring at, when she spoke. "You look a great deal like your father." Her words gave him pause.Sesshoumaru led her to the place between Rin and himself. She settled and looked back up at the others. "You are Kagome?" she asked the modern girl and Kagome smiled and nodded. Ayeka felt at ease with her, "Judging by your clothing you have also come from the modern era. Did you use the mirror too?" she asked. Kagome shook her head, "Oh no, I fell through a well and met Inuyasha."Ayeka glanced at Sesshoumaru, "I see. Well that sounds like a great story, I'd love to hear it. Before we start seige plans.". Inuyasha looked at her oddly but Kagome was already telling the tale of his pack and he let it be. Ayeka listened enraptured to the tale. "So there is no curse for you when you passed through the well?" she asked. Kagome shook her head, "No. Not that I have noticed."She wanted to ask about the curse and where it came from but wondered if perhaps that was better to ask when she had Ayeka to herself. The meal was going smoothly but she could feel the tension. Most of it moving between the Taiyoukai and his wife. Kagome felt kind of bad for them both. It was clear that the caring was there... even after all this time.It was clear in the way that Ayeka cast glances at her lord, in the way that he watched her carefully and the way his face almost seemed to soften at certain things she said. Kagome cleared her throat and decided to test something. "So how did you two meet?" she asked.Ayeka smiled, a mischievous grin and Sesshoumaru was quick to see it. "You see," she began, "There was once an arrogant young demon lord." Sesshoumaru grunted, "That is not how the story goes, there was once a hot headed young woman.""There was once a stuffy prince.""There was once an irritating woman.""There was once an overbearing dog!""There was once a hellcat of a human." A soft growl."There was once a know it all Taiyoukai.""There was once a vile tempered girl." They glared at each other hard a moment and the others were struck dumb at the verbal sparring. It seemed as though these two were well matched and very accustomed to it. It was Sesshoumaru that broke the spell that held them all with his next softly uttered words. "She came to the village not far from here and my father took her as his general."Inuyasha leaned forward on his elbows, "Father chose her?" His eyes were wide and questioning. She smiled softly at him. She knew that Inutaisho was gone, but she didn't know how or why. Her sadness washed over her and both inu's felt it. "He was truly great." she murmured. Her eyes falling to her lap. Things would have been so much easier had he been here."My lord!" Jaken called from the door and the company looked at him. Sesshoumaru looked over at Rin, who had probably decided that if she were quiet they might forget about her and she'd not be marched off to bed. "Bedtime Rin" he announced softly."But my lord, I am so excited to meet your lovely lady wife! I can't possibly fall asleep! Please let me stay up?" she protested, coming to stand beside him. He sighed, she was still so very young. He said nothing but his eyes told her clearly 'NO'. She peeked up at him. "Five more minutes?". He ceased her complaints with a light tap of his claw to her nose. Like a pup reprimanded by father, she fell quiet. "Okay. I'm sorry." she mumbled, more at the ground than at him. He patted her atop her head bringing her smiles to the front once more. "Pleasant dreams Rin." he told her. She waved to the others as she passed.Ayeka was stunned. This was NOT what she remembered. She stared at him. This now put her in yet another undesirable position. She was rethinking the last few centuries all over again. Would he have been this way his own children? Warmer, more patient perhaps? Perhaps she would never know.Pain lanced through her, squeezing her heart like an unseen fist. Sesshoumaru heard the hitch in her breathing and across the table a white ear flicked. Inuyasha having also heard. She stared at the polished table top, not daring to look around. Her hands were clenched in her lap, so tight, that her knuckles were white.Beneath the table, unseen by all a tender thing occurred. Sesshoumaru, face blank as always reached his large hand to cover hers. Her grip relaxed and he released her. His demon flared around the room, and he knew that while he meant to soothe her, the other females were also affected. Inuyasha growled at the suddenly sappy look on his companion's faces."So tell us about the battle plans." he charged in. Sesshoumaru locked eyes with him, but it was Ayeka that spoke. Her voice firm and devoid of emotion, "This shall be a seige Inuyasha." she told him. He frowned, "What the hell is the difference?" Sesshoumaru traced his claws against the wood softly, "Battle is when you kill things, seige is when all is destroyed."