InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Another Opens... ❯ The Acceptance ( Chapter 14 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Namiyo11 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 209 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 209 | Status: Completed
Chapter 14 The Acceptance
Recap: Kagome has sent a declaration to Ayami-that she would not be coming to the rescue of her packmates, and would instead usurp Sesshomaru as the ruler of the Clan with Kouga as mate. Does she mean it? What happens now? Read on!
No, I do not own Inuyasha.
At the Keep, Kagome scowled.
If only-if only she didn’t have to do this, if she had been with them, where she belonged. But no...she had done the same thing Kouga had, made the same mistake. She’d put her own interests before her duty to her pack, run off and not been there when they needed her. Now she’d been forced into this box. If she had been there, maybe Rin would not have been taken, maybe they would’ve been able to avoid capture. Her fault. And Kouga’s. And Inuyasha’s. Her baka. If he had simply remarked her, this wouldn’t be a problem now.
Like the caterwauling annoying her outside. Kouga’s idea of a romantic gesture.
Howling for her under the moon. Under her window. Kagome had to force herself not to throw a boot at him. Atae was right, though, if she wanted to keep Ayami off balance and enraged as they planned based on how Kouga had described her behavior, she had to do this. But it was getting harder and harder not to kill him. Every touch, every smile and embrace nauseated her now.
What had been irritation was sliding into hatred. It took everything she had to put up with him now. A waste of resources better spent in practice under Totosai and the Keep Armsmaster, Musha’s, direction, or closeted with Sango and Atae, or going over the reports Yotogi was feeding her on his searches. The faithful Lord was looking for every scrap he could find on the Temple they now knew her kin were trapped in. Instead, she had to waste time managing Kouga.
Kouga. He’d blackmailed her. He’d never listened when she tried to let him down gently. Never believed her when she said they were just friends. And now-Kagome knew why. Because he’d never respected a hanyou’s claim on her, and she’d never understood that Inuyasha was defending his right to have her beside him when they fought all those times. A hanyou was beneath him, after all, he was Kouga, Lord of the wolf tribes. Unless it was her, of course.
He was willing to overlook it to have her and seize her Clan when they needed help and were weak. Scumbag. Kouga was no better then the greedy youkai they’d fought for Shards all those times. Worse, actually. Even so, her stomach churned at what she’d have to do. Was she strong enough? Could she look at herself afterwards?
Kagome had to be ready to face that. But she had to a admit his behavior was making this a lot easier. She needed help-alright, tools, and the Wolf Tribes would do nicely. To that end they were trickling out of the mountains onto the land near the Lynx territories, supposedly to claim the edge lands that were Yotogi’s as part of her dower. But they were going to be sent elsewhere if she had her way. That meant keeping Kouga sweet, and with him happy, his warriors were hers to command.
Totosai had finished his work. To do the rest, she had to take a little trip, and take care of Kokuzoku’s pack on the way. Sango would go and put part of it in operation as well. She saw no other way to do it. But she needed to put the pieces in place. Sango...at least she could rely on her.
***
“Tajiya!” Sango looked up from polishing Hiraikotsu. A trio of strangers had arrived at Kaede’s village, their base of operations for now, three weeks after they arrived here. One of the local farmers led them forward, and she rose to meet them. The villagers were building them a hut, it was kind of them...though they’d welcomed Kagome home-they were more wary around her. Sango suspected that new wariness was part of the push to give them a place to live.
“Tajiya, these men are from a village to the east of us. They came to find you,” the farmer bowed, and she nodded.
“Thank you for bringing them to me,” Sango replied.
“Then you are Sango, the slayer we seek?” their leader asked and stepped forward.
“I am. What do you want?” she asked.
“Our village is tormented by a powerful youkai! We require your services, and the group rumored to travel with you. We can offer a small sum, and hospitality while you fight it, please, you must come!” A small pouch was offered, and she opened it, nodding.
“I see. It is a fair offer. I...no longer travel with them, well, most of them,” Sango temporized, “but I will come and see to exterminating your youkai,” she agreed.
“You do not? We are doomed, it is very powerful, one slayer may not be enough!” the men were visibly distraught. They’d come for four fighters and gotten one, a woman at that...
“That’s why you get two of us-and Kirara,” Kagome said from behind them. They turned, and saw a strangely dressed dog eared youkai female standing there, not exactly reassuring.
“So, you are the youkai who journeyed with the slayer? It was claimed you were a man with a powerful sword or a small fox. Er...no offence meant, of course, unless you are the kitsune? They play tricks, they say. It would be a fine illusion you have there, so please, take no offense! Er-” the man said, nervous as he eyed her. Youkai! Right in the village! A very strange place indeed.
“No. I’m not him. I’ll thank you not to bring him up!” Kagome said sharply. They just edged away from the jeans and sweater wearing hanyou.
“This is Kagome. She is my friend, and we fight together. Your youkai will be taken care of, by both of us,” Sango promised. She smiled at Kagome’s staunch support, even as the humans had muttered to one another and looked innocent-as they avoided her eye.
“We’ll do it,” Kagome agreed. It probably wasn’t much of one, but the tajiya liked the reassurance they were a team. Sesshomaru wouldn’t mind, she figured, he’d made noises about her having to fight more. With someone besides him and Sango, that is. Sango was wrong. It was not easy.
There were two of them, and strong at that. One a lesser bat, the other a large insect youkai. Both bigger and tougher than the usual sorts of their breed. Both from tribes that were normally antagonistic to each other.
Kagome fired her arrows from the Hamayami, the magical bolts were striking the bug, but not as deeply as she’d hoped! Sango threw her Hiraikotsu, and it finally sheered into it, gore flying. The problem was that until it came back, she was reduced to her swords.
“NOW, YOU FOOL!” the creature screamed and looked behind her. Sango didn’t have much chance to respond, but whirled.
The second youkai flying above and stooping to dive on them while they were distracted swooped in to take her with claws, and Kagome fired again to drive it off. She missed. A whip of golden light sheered through the bat, making them both whirl-and Sesshomaru, impassive, drew it back into himself.
“You were slow, and failed to properly scout and assess your target. You missed when you fired, after hesitating. You failed to properly check above for threats. Unacceptable,” he told her with a frown.
***
Slow? Yes, she had been, untrained and innocent still...dear Sesshomaru, he’d followed them to protect her, but always let her try first. The only way to learn was to do. And they did...
Kagome stood in front of her new pack leader nervously. He explained what she was to do, and she was a bit scared as they concluded the preliminaries he felt necessary. The former miko had always been-backup. Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha were the warriors, not her. Her job had been to find the shards, help as she could, use her bow at need and bandage the wounded. Important, necessary, but backup. Inuyasha did his best to make sure that the need for archery was minimal in any case. She never even practiced regularly, there hadn’t been time...well, it never seemed that important, she usually hit well enough when she had to.
It was important now.
“You must fight. Or you will die.” She gasped and he looked impassive-but under it...worried. Really worried. And not for himself. Kagome saw it. “The Clan will not welcome you, Kagome. They will reject you, not all, but many. They have the right...to challenge your place. We are their leaders, they must know we are strongest. Without a mate to fight for you, you will have to answer them.”
“You mean-they’ll want to kill me, don’t you?” she asked, toying with the Hamayami’s string. Without a mate, he said, her chosen had left her...no wonder he was so worried! Inuyasha could have-would have fought them, and gladly too, she knew that.
“You may choose to spare your opponents, should you prevail, though it would be unwise to do so. They-they must kill you. You must be ready for that. I cannot protect you from it,” Sesshomaru was honest, she’d give him that. He couldn’t protect her.
Only ready her.
Kagome had replied as a warrior, and forced herself to learn. That first time when she fought him, she could almost hear a gruff voice yelling at her to get up as she was thrown to the ground, that she was a lazy wench...her youkai blood had risen, and her bow held it back. His love for her gave her it the strength to hold it at bay, use it. Not be possessed completely. Kagome had felt it, and it tore at her even as it comforted her. Even if he’d hurt her, he loved her utterly. She knew it, and that she loved him just as much. The Hamayami was of both of them, their fangs were in it, and when she used it, he was with her.
She could face anything with Inuyasha beside her.
So, Kagome promised herself she would live. If she listened, if she worked hard, she would survive, do well...and he would come back and be proud of her. He would return to her, ask her forgiveness and she’d give it-and they’d be together again, somehow. She would have to be strong until then for both of them, and do whatever she had to. She would hide it from Sango to protect her friend. As time passed and blood was spilled, as she discovered what was needed to rule a Clan as Sesshomaru did...she did it to protect Sango’s good opinion of her. Kagome could admit it to herself now.
It was the first real wedge between her and what remained of her old life...that was of her own making. Not that her own family and friends hadn’t helped...like Shippo.
***
“If you can’t be polite to Sesshomaru, then you don’t deserve any candy!” Kagome scowled down at him, holding all of Shippo’s remaining lollypops over her head. Sango could see the sticks in her hand as the other rested on her hip. The kitsune was standing before her, and looking up in shock. Kagome had always been good to him, he thought of her as his mother in a way. As the person who forgave him anything.
Sango reflected that she and Inuyasha had become, well-the kit’s adoptive parents long before she’d joined them, when they’d come across him as an orphan. Discipline had always been Inuyasha’s job, Sango thought with amusement, a feeling that faded at her friend‘s expression. Kagome always protected the kit from the hanyou’s wrath. Now though...she was the hanyou Shippo had angered. He’d been deliberately rude to Sesshomaru, and nearly gotten whipped for it by the Lord.
“Kagome! You should go after Inuyasha! You belong with him, and shouldn’t be anywhere near that stuffy, stuck up old-” Shippo’s yelling was interrupted by a crunch in Kagome’s hand and he gasped.
“I said no more of that talk, Shippo,” Kagome glared. She’d crushed the candy-hadn’t meant to...but she was sick of it. It was hardly the first time he’d said that...either this or she’d hit him...a hand snaked out and picked him up by his collar.
Shippo hung in her clawed hand, trembling at her anger. He could smell it...and other things under it...things Kagome shouldn’t smell like, not his Kagome, the kind priestess who took care of him. Anger. Impatience. Sesshomaru. Youkai, a scent of power unlike her old, bright purity...and old blood. She’d been off with him again, and stuff was gone from her backpack. Clothes. Probably to hide whatever she’d been doing. He was sure of it, that Inuyasha should come back and stop it. Stop her.
“I-I’m s-sorry Kagome...” he quavered, and Sango intervened.
“Kagome! Let him go!” Sango demanded, crossing the worn ground to take Shippo back. Kagome released him, and her hands shook. He’d challenged her authority, it made her instinctively want to punish him-had Inuyasha felt that way? There were times she’d never understood why he took Shippo’s pranks and comments so badly, and had hit the kit, or yelled at him...until now, maybe.
‘Do not indulge him, Kagome. You must enforce discipline if he is to be near our pack. See to it, or I shall. You may not keep him as your ward if this is not seen to. I will tolerate nothing less,’ Sesshomaru’s order still rang in her head. She’d intervened on the kit’s behalf as she always had, and Shippo had run away. Rin was not permitted such liberties-so neither should Shippo. Inuyasha had again been right. ‘I’m trying to teach him a lesson, Kagome!’ He had been. Darn it.
“Don’t ever do anything like that again, Shippo. I’ll-get the firewood,” she said, leaving to wash her hands of the sticky mess the hard candy had left.
“It’s the new moon again in two days, Shippo. That’s all,” Sango told the kit, cuddling him gently as they went inside the hut she shared with Kagome.
“S-sure...the new moon,” Shippo knew it wasn’t. He wondered how Sango missed it. Since Inuyasha left...Kagome smelled sad even when she smiled. It fooled Sango, maybe, but not him. He’d heard what Sesshomaru had said to her, hiding in the brush. Why did the baka hanyou leave them to that monster??
Shippo didn’t understand. He wanted his family back. Sure, Inuyasha yelled and things-but the kit looked up to him even if they quarreled all the time. He was too little to be able to find him alone-or Miroku-both of them had abandoned them. The kitsune could never accept Sesshomaru in Inuyasha’s place. Even if it wasn’t, well, Inuyasha’s place.
There was no packbond between Kagome and Inuyasha, even a kit like him knew that. A mere half-youkai couldn’t form one, he’d thought, but Kagome had one now with the Lord. With Inuyasha’s enemy. He didn’t understand. Kagome was of Sesshomaru’s pack now, and that couldn’t change. Ever. That’s what Kaede told him later that evening, when Kagome spent her time with Sesshomaru at his camp in Inuyasha’s forest instead of with him and Sango. He ought not to be in Inuyasha’s forest. Inuyasha ought to be there, lurking, grumbling, making big eyes at Kagome when she didn’t see it...keeping them all safe.
Shippo had always known he was completely safe with the hanyou around.
***
Sesshomaru stood watch after she went through the well. It would be as last time, he understood that-his packsister would be home again before dawn. So he would guard her way back to him with patience.
He still didn’t like it anymore than his sibling had.
But when the now human girl landed at the bottom of the well, a bright light was shining on her, Kagome heard a gong and a hurried conversation. She glanced up just in time to see two figures, one juggling a flashlight and the gong as the other poured something over her head!
“Cleanse my granddaughter of this darkness within her!” Grandpa! The taste of the stuff now running down her face and soaking her hair was herbs and sake! Blessed and with stuff in it, she was sure of it! If he’d had powers, he could’ve killed her! Only her becoming hanyou had saved her when Naraku had gone down, and that darned snake had bitten her.
“Grandpa!” she yelled. Sputtering, she climbed the rope ladder, and furious, verbally laid into him and his assistant, Souta, tartly pointing out that if she was still human...she’d be dead, you know. Real nice, a sneak purification as a welcome home.
Drying her hair after a shower, necessary thanks to them, she came downstairs to face her Mother feeling a bit relieved. The good thing about showers, after all...was that you could weep and water hid the tears, and the sound covered soft sobs a bath would not. Darkness. Her Grandfather had tried to exorcize her. Like all the other mortals, he wanted her changed back. Or feared her powers. Like those villagers the night she’d lost Inuyasha, thinking Sango or Miroku kept them under control.
But Kagome wasn’t a mortal anymore. She never could be. In fact, she found it was better being youkai. She was stronger, faster, more powerful and in control. She wondered why Inuyasha would ever have considered giving it up for mortality, and completely understood his comments on becoming a full youkai. It was like the world reopened to her every month when she regained her powers. Never again to have to lose it, even for a night-it was like a dream. Only dear Sango didn’t fear her, or Kaede. All the other mortals...did.
None of it showed as she faced them.
Hugs, smiles, and supper was laid on already. She’d have time to eat before she did her shopping and went back. Kagome talked of Jaken, Sesshomaru, and Rin, even Ah-uhn, telling her family about her new family. All the while, her mother hid a pang. Her little girl was grown now...not even human...and this pack business. Now her daughter traveled with a youkai Lord, an Imp, a little human girl, of all things...and rode a two headed DRAGON? She wasn’t sure she really believed it.
But then, she’d asked for photographs of her old friends as she planned to ask for some now. As proof and reassurance. Inuyasha had never mentioned this brother of his to her in any kind of good terms, though. One short answer when she’d asked about his family. That yes, he had a half-brother, who was a fucking bastard. Then the boy had blushed and apologized for his language. Inuyasha, such a sweet boy, really.
“So, tell me, Kagome...how are you?” her mother asked. Seeing her daughter’s face fall for a moment, and hearing an impatient edge to her voice all evening, Mrs. Higurashi sighed to herself. She really didn’t have much in common with them anymore, or anyone here to see. Kagome just came back to get some shopping done. Perhaps it would be easier on her if they didn’t keep pretending she would ever be here for more.
Her daughter was all grown up, and she didn’t belong here anymore. Her life was there, most of her friends here had sort of drifted away after High School, after all. Before that, really...but graduation had sealed it. A ceremony Kagome had missed fighting in the Feudal Era, as she had so much else. She’d posed for a picture when the diploma had arrived in the mail, but had found it hard to smile. Just like now. The last photo her Mother had of her daughter in the sun, human. Normally, she would be moved out by now, to school or marriage, maybe a career. Which she had, apparently, just not one that had been expected, a hanyou now...but Kagome was answering her.
“Fine, really! Sesshomaru is a good person. And Sango’s a rock. Really.”
“I can’t believe Inuyasha just left, big sister, maybe he’ll come back,” Souta was stunned, he had been ever since he heard what had happened between his sister and the hanyou-the condensed, suitable for a child to hear version.
“Don’t blame him. It just went badly’s all,” Kagome told her brother sadly. No reason to have her family hate him-he might come home to her, after all. No! Would come home. She had her hopes. Every time she used her Hamayami, she felt them reinforced. He loved her. She loved him. It would happen.
Even so, night was wasting as they dithered. One thing her Mom insisted be added to the list was a camera. She wanted photos, wanted to see who this Lord was. Wanted to see what her daughter looked like most of the month now...and Kagome gladly agreed to ease her worry.
Returning near dawn as usual, she smiled at Sesshomaru, and hugged him when she realized he‘d patiently awaited her return, making the poor confused Lord flinch. Her unseemly display he put it down to her still having her mortal guise.
“Thank you,” she told him, and he looked puzzled. Kagome didn’t explain. Unpacking her customary gifts to everyone, she passed them out with a smile. Sesshomaru-blinked when she presented him with a pair of slim books. ‘The Prince’ and ‘The Art of War’. She thought he’d like them. Thermal blankets, and cold weather gear-they’d need them soon.
One other thing changed...Kagome didn’t bring Shippo any replacement candy.
He got coloring books and new crayons, well, half of the children’s things she’d brought back...but no candy. She had some-but it was for Rin, she said, he’d misbehaved and would not have any until next month. Punishment for his mouthing off. Kagome had also brought two duffle bags with her from her world with things from her home there at her Mom‘s suggestion, and her eyes were suspiciously bright as she changed back.
That wasn’t home anymore. Those people hadn’t changed though. She had. She still loved them, they still loved her-but Mom was right, it was time to accept that that part of her life would not be as it was. This was her family too, she was needed here. Unlike there. That night was the first time Shippo slept at Grandmother Kaede’s hut, and not Kagome and Sango’s. It would become a habit.
***
Kagome considered all this...and realized she really had changed. She had accepted it when the kitsune had moved in with the Priestess because Shippo had been unwilling to understand her life, her attitudes, and her goals and interests were different. Just like Grandpa. Just like Kouga.
Sango had understood. So had Sesshomaru and Mom. Even Jaken and Rin, heck, Souta was able to deal. Inuyasha...she believed he would come to do so, in time. He was pack, he’d see. As she sat listening to howls the hanyou realized she knew herself better now. Not only that, she liked who she was. Lady Kagome, lead female of the premier pack of the Clan Inu, daughter of Inutaisho...and soon, mate of Inuyasha, packsecond and Second Lord of the Clan. For that, she ought to thank Kouga. If he had been less of a jerk-she might never have realized so quickly who she was now.
She ought to be stroking those fuzzy ears of Inuyasha’s now, or playing backgammon and talking books with Sesshomaru, damn it. Not darn. Damn. Her beloved and her big brother. Miroku, her dear friend and husband of her best friend and partner all these months. They were depending on her. Kagome realized she didn’t have any doubts about what she was about to do. She could live with it. She would.
When there was a knock at her door, it was Onjou. He’d finally gotten back, and she’d rewarded him.
“A message, Lady,” he said. She took it-read it...and her eyes widened. Yotogi had done it. An end to his hunt at last. That was it, he was officially her favorite vassal now. A broad smile crossed her face for the first time in days, a real one. Who’d have thought it?
“Get me Lady Atae, have her meet me in Sango’s chambers. Now.”
And to think he’d found what he needed...from the few surviving Lynx, and old Mushin. Miroku’s mentor. Who was on the way with the youkai Lord along with Kaede and Shippo. Apparently, they’d need them if what he‘d dug up in his Temple‘s library was correct. Bless Hochi! He’d heard the Inu were out looking for information and brought them together. They’d get the rest of the knowledge they needed right here-from the only living youkai who’d set foot in that accursed place. Had been in on the raid that took the Monks who‘d ruled there down, no less! With her help, they’d be able to pull it off.
Kirara.
Two days later with much display, Kagome took a guard detachment out. She left riding on Ah-uhn with Kouga, ostensibly to take care of Kokuzoku’s pack. Sango and Kirara had left the day before, headed to the Lynx territories as the Samiyousho reported. What they missed, however, was an Inu packleader and an elderly Monk and a Priestess, all traveling with a fox kit in tow as they rode a large raccoon dog. They couldn’t see them, thanks to some clever work by Mushin and Kaede. Shippo, sitting on Hochi’s ‘back’...was practicing. It had to be perfect. No visible tail this time. It was tricky getting Kagome’s new ears right, though. But everyone was depending on him.
Author’s Notes- Whew! An interesting chapter, it was nice to pull some of the things that landed on the cutting room floor up and introduce them. That cut material will be in ‘Blood and Snow: a companion tale’, and will be posted soon. Thanks for reading!-Namiyo’
Recap: Kagome has sent a declaration to Ayami-that she would not be coming to the rescue of her packmates, and would instead usurp Sesshomaru as the ruler of the Clan with Kouga as mate. Does she mean it? What happens now? Read on!
No, I do not own Inuyasha.
At the Keep, Kagome scowled.
If only-if only she didn’t have to do this, if she had been with them, where she belonged. But no...she had done the same thing Kouga had, made the same mistake. She’d put her own interests before her duty to her pack, run off and not been there when they needed her. Now she’d been forced into this box. If she had been there, maybe Rin would not have been taken, maybe they would’ve been able to avoid capture. Her fault. And Kouga’s. And Inuyasha’s. Her baka. If he had simply remarked her, this wouldn’t be a problem now.
Like the caterwauling annoying her outside. Kouga’s idea of a romantic gesture.
Howling for her under the moon. Under her window. Kagome had to force herself not to throw a boot at him. Atae was right, though, if she wanted to keep Ayami off balance and enraged as they planned based on how Kouga had described her behavior, she had to do this. But it was getting harder and harder not to kill him. Every touch, every smile and embrace nauseated her now.
What had been irritation was sliding into hatred. It took everything she had to put up with him now. A waste of resources better spent in practice under Totosai and the Keep Armsmaster, Musha’s, direction, or closeted with Sango and Atae, or going over the reports Yotogi was feeding her on his searches. The faithful Lord was looking for every scrap he could find on the Temple they now knew her kin were trapped in. Instead, she had to waste time managing Kouga.
Kouga. He’d blackmailed her. He’d never listened when she tried to let him down gently. Never believed her when she said they were just friends. And now-Kagome knew why. Because he’d never respected a hanyou’s claim on her, and she’d never understood that Inuyasha was defending his right to have her beside him when they fought all those times. A hanyou was beneath him, after all, he was Kouga, Lord of the wolf tribes. Unless it was her, of course.
He was willing to overlook it to have her and seize her Clan when they needed help and were weak. Scumbag. Kouga was no better then the greedy youkai they’d fought for Shards all those times. Worse, actually. Even so, her stomach churned at what she’d have to do. Was she strong enough? Could she look at herself afterwards?
Kagome had to be ready to face that. But she had to a admit his behavior was making this a lot easier. She needed help-alright, tools, and the Wolf Tribes would do nicely. To that end they were trickling out of the mountains onto the land near the Lynx territories, supposedly to claim the edge lands that were Yotogi’s as part of her dower. But they were going to be sent elsewhere if she had her way. That meant keeping Kouga sweet, and with him happy, his warriors were hers to command.
Totosai had finished his work. To do the rest, she had to take a little trip, and take care of Kokuzoku’s pack on the way. Sango would go and put part of it in operation as well. She saw no other way to do it. But she needed to put the pieces in place. Sango...at least she could rely on her.
***
“Tajiya!” Sango looked up from polishing Hiraikotsu. A trio of strangers had arrived at Kaede’s village, their base of operations for now, three weeks after they arrived here. One of the local farmers led them forward, and she rose to meet them. The villagers were building them a hut, it was kind of them...though they’d welcomed Kagome home-they were more wary around her. Sango suspected that new wariness was part of the push to give them a place to live.
“Tajiya, these men are from a village to the east of us. They came to find you,” the farmer bowed, and she nodded.
“Thank you for bringing them to me,” Sango replied.
“Then you are Sango, the slayer we seek?” their leader asked and stepped forward.
“I am. What do you want?” she asked.
“Our village is tormented by a powerful youkai! We require your services, and the group rumored to travel with you. We can offer a small sum, and hospitality while you fight it, please, you must come!” A small pouch was offered, and she opened it, nodding.
“I see. It is a fair offer. I...no longer travel with them, well, most of them,” Sango temporized, “but I will come and see to exterminating your youkai,” she agreed.
“You do not? We are doomed, it is very powerful, one slayer may not be enough!” the men were visibly distraught. They’d come for four fighters and gotten one, a woman at that...
“That’s why you get two of us-and Kirara,” Kagome said from behind them. They turned, and saw a strangely dressed dog eared youkai female standing there, not exactly reassuring.
“So, you are the youkai who journeyed with the slayer? It was claimed you were a man with a powerful sword or a small fox. Er...no offence meant, of course, unless you are the kitsune? They play tricks, they say. It would be a fine illusion you have there, so please, take no offense! Er-” the man said, nervous as he eyed her. Youkai! Right in the village! A very strange place indeed.
“No. I’m not him. I’ll thank you not to bring him up!” Kagome said sharply. They just edged away from the jeans and sweater wearing hanyou.
“This is Kagome. She is my friend, and we fight together. Your youkai will be taken care of, by both of us,” Sango promised. She smiled at Kagome’s staunch support, even as the humans had muttered to one another and looked innocent-as they avoided her eye.
“We’ll do it,” Kagome agreed. It probably wasn’t much of one, but the tajiya liked the reassurance they were a team. Sesshomaru wouldn’t mind, she figured, he’d made noises about her having to fight more. With someone besides him and Sango, that is. Sango was wrong. It was not easy.
There were two of them, and strong at that. One a lesser bat, the other a large insect youkai. Both bigger and tougher than the usual sorts of their breed. Both from tribes that were normally antagonistic to each other.
Kagome fired her arrows from the Hamayami, the magical bolts were striking the bug, but not as deeply as she’d hoped! Sango threw her Hiraikotsu, and it finally sheered into it, gore flying. The problem was that until it came back, she was reduced to her swords.
“NOW, YOU FOOL!” the creature screamed and looked behind her. Sango didn’t have much chance to respond, but whirled.
The second youkai flying above and stooping to dive on them while they were distracted swooped in to take her with claws, and Kagome fired again to drive it off. She missed. A whip of golden light sheered through the bat, making them both whirl-and Sesshomaru, impassive, drew it back into himself.
“You were slow, and failed to properly scout and assess your target. You missed when you fired, after hesitating. You failed to properly check above for threats. Unacceptable,” he told her with a frown.
***
Slow? Yes, she had been, untrained and innocent still...dear Sesshomaru, he’d followed them to protect her, but always let her try first. The only way to learn was to do. And they did...
Kagome stood in front of her new pack leader nervously. He explained what she was to do, and she was a bit scared as they concluded the preliminaries he felt necessary. The former miko had always been-backup. Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha were the warriors, not her. Her job had been to find the shards, help as she could, use her bow at need and bandage the wounded. Important, necessary, but backup. Inuyasha did his best to make sure that the need for archery was minimal in any case. She never even practiced regularly, there hadn’t been time...well, it never seemed that important, she usually hit well enough when she had to.
It was important now.
“You must fight. Or you will die.” She gasped and he looked impassive-but under it...worried. Really worried. And not for himself. Kagome saw it. “The Clan will not welcome you, Kagome. They will reject you, not all, but many. They have the right...to challenge your place. We are their leaders, they must know we are strongest. Without a mate to fight for you, you will have to answer them.”
“You mean-they’ll want to kill me, don’t you?” she asked, toying with the Hamayami’s string. Without a mate, he said, her chosen had left her...no wonder he was so worried! Inuyasha could have-would have fought them, and gladly too, she knew that.
“You may choose to spare your opponents, should you prevail, though it would be unwise to do so. They-they must kill you. You must be ready for that. I cannot protect you from it,” Sesshomaru was honest, she’d give him that. He couldn’t protect her.
Only ready her.
Kagome had replied as a warrior, and forced herself to learn. That first time when she fought him, she could almost hear a gruff voice yelling at her to get up as she was thrown to the ground, that she was a lazy wench...her youkai blood had risen, and her bow held it back. His love for her gave her it the strength to hold it at bay, use it. Not be possessed completely. Kagome had felt it, and it tore at her even as it comforted her. Even if he’d hurt her, he loved her utterly. She knew it, and that she loved him just as much. The Hamayami was of both of them, their fangs were in it, and when she used it, he was with her.
She could face anything with Inuyasha beside her.
So, Kagome promised herself she would live. If she listened, if she worked hard, she would survive, do well...and he would come back and be proud of her. He would return to her, ask her forgiveness and she’d give it-and they’d be together again, somehow. She would have to be strong until then for both of them, and do whatever she had to. She would hide it from Sango to protect her friend. As time passed and blood was spilled, as she discovered what was needed to rule a Clan as Sesshomaru did...she did it to protect Sango’s good opinion of her. Kagome could admit it to herself now.
It was the first real wedge between her and what remained of her old life...that was of her own making. Not that her own family and friends hadn’t helped...like Shippo.
***
“If you can’t be polite to Sesshomaru, then you don’t deserve any candy!” Kagome scowled down at him, holding all of Shippo’s remaining lollypops over her head. Sango could see the sticks in her hand as the other rested on her hip. The kitsune was standing before her, and looking up in shock. Kagome had always been good to him, he thought of her as his mother in a way. As the person who forgave him anything.
Sango reflected that she and Inuyasha had become, well-the kit’s adoptive parents long before she’d joined them, when they’d come across him as an orphan. Discipline had always been Inuyasha’s job, Sango thought with amusement, a feeling that faded at her friend‘s expression. Kagome always protected the kit from the hanyou’s wrath. Now though...she was the hanyou Shippo had angered. He’d been deliberately rude to Sesshomaru, and nearly gotten whipped for it by the Lord.
“Kagome! You should go after Inuyasha! You belong with him, and shouldn’t be anywhere near that stuffy, stuck up old-” Shippo’s yelling was interrupted by a crunch in Kagome’s hand and he gasped.
“I said no more of that talk, Shippo,” Kagome glared. She’d crushed the candy-hadn’t meant to...but she was sick of it. It was hardly the first time he’d said that...either this or she’d hit him...a hand snaked out and picked him up by his collar.
Shippo hung in her clawed hand, trembling at her anger. He could smell it...and other things under it...things Kagome shouldn’t smell like, not his Kagome, the kind priestess who took care of him. Anger. Impatience. Sesshomaru. Youkai, a scent of power unlike her old, bright purity...and old blood. She’d been off with him again, and stuff was gone from her backpack. Clothes. Probably to hide whatever she’d been doing. He was sure of it, that Inuyasha should come back and stop it. Stop her.
“I-I’m s-sorry Kagome...” he quavered, and Sango intervened.
“Kagome! Let him go!” Sango demanded, crossing the worn ground to take Shippo back. Kagome released him, and her hands shook. He’d challenged her authority, it made her instinctively want to punish him-had Inuyasha felt that way? There were times she’d never understood why he took Shippo’s pranks and comments so badly, and had hit the kit, or yelled at him...until now, maybe.
‘Do not indulge him, Kagome. You must enforce discipline if he is to be near our pack. See to it, or I shall. You may not keep him as your ward if this is not seen to. I will tolerate nothing less,’ Sesshomaru’s order still rang in her head. She’d intervened on the kit’s behalf as she always had, and Shippo had run away. Rin was not permitted such liberties-so neither should Shippo. Inuyasha had again been right. ‘I’m trying to teach him a lesson, Kagome!’ He had been. Darn it.
“Don’t ever do anything like that again, Shippo. I’ll-get the firewood,” she said, leaving to wash her hands of the sticky mess the hard candy had left.
“It’s the new moon again in two days, Shippo. That’s all,” Sango told the kit, cuddling him gently as they went inside the hut she shared with Kagome.
“S-sure...the new moon,” Shippo knew it wasn’t. He wondered how Sango missed it. Since Inuyasha left...Kagome smelled sad even when she smiled. It fooled Sango, maybe, but not him. He’d heard what Sesshomaru had said to her, hiding in the brush. Why did the baka hanyou leave them to that monster??
Shippo didn’t understand. He wanted his family back. Sure, Inuyasha yelled and things-but the kit looked up to him even if they quarreled all the time. He was too little to be able to find him alone-or Miroku-both of them had abandoned them. The kitsune could never accept Sesshomaru in Inuyasha’s place. Even if it wasn’t, well, Inuyasha’s place.
There was no packbond between Kagome and Inuyasha, even a kit like him knew that. A mere half-youkai couldn’t form one, he’d thought, but Kagome had one now with the Lord. With Inuyasha’s enemy. He didn’t understand. Kagome was of Sesshomaru’s pack now, and that couldn’t change. Ever. That’s what Kaede told him later that evening, when Kagome spent her time with Sesshomaru at his camp in Inuyasha’s forest instead of with him and Sango. He ought not to be in Inuyasha’s forest. Inuyasha ought to be there, lurking, grumbling, making big eyes at Kagome when she didn’t see it...keeping them all safe.
Shippo had always known he was completely safe with the hanyou around.
***
Sesshomaru stood watch after she went through the well. It would be as last time, he understood that-his packsister would be home again before dawn. So he would guard her way back to him with patience.
He still didn’t like it anymore than his sibling had.
But when the now human girl landed at the bottom of the well, a bright light was shining on her, Kagome heard a gong and a hurried conversation. She glanced up just in time to see two figures, one juggling a flashlight and the gong as the other poured something over her head!
“Cleanse my granddaughter of this darkness within her!” Grandpa! The taste of the stuff now running down her face and soaking her hair was herbs and sake! Blessed and with stuff in it, she was sure of it! If he’d had powers, he could’ve killed her! Only her becoming hanyou had saved her when Naraku had gone down, and that darned snake had bitten her.
“Grandpa!” she yelled. Sputtering, she climbed the rope ladder, and furious, verbally laid into him and his assistant, Souta, tartly pointing out that if she was still human...she’d be dead, you know. Real nice, a sneak purification as a welcome home.
Drying her hair after a shower, necessary thanks to them, she came downstairs to face her Mother feeling a bit relieved. The good thing about showers, after all...was that you could weep and water hid the tears, and the sound covered soft sobs a bath would not. Darkness. Her Grandfather had tried to exorcize her. Like all the other mortals, he wanted her changed back. Or feared her powers. Like those villagers the night she’d lost Inuyasha, thinking Sango or Miroku kept them under control.
But Kagome wasn’t a mortal anymore. She never could be. In fact, she found it was better being youkai. She was stronger, faster, more powerful and in control. She wondered why Inuyasha would ever have considered giving it up for mortality, and completely understood his comments on becoming a full youkai. It was like the world reopened to her every month when she regained her powers. Never again to have to lose it, even for a night-it was like a dream. Only dear Sango didn’t fear her, or Kaede. All the other mortals...did.
None of it showed as she faced them.
Hugs, smiles, and supper was laid on already. She’d have time to eat before she did her shopping and went back. Kagome talked of Jaken, Sesshomaru, and Rin, even Ah-uhn, telling her family about her new family. All the while, her mother hid a pang. Her little girl was grown now...not even human...and this pack business. Now her daughter traveled with a youkai Lord, an Imp, a little human girl, of all things...and rode a two headed DRAGON? She wasn’t sure she really believed it.
But then, she’d asked for photographs of her old friends as she planned to ask for some now. As proof and reassurance. Inuyasha had never mentioned this brother of his to her in any kind of good terms, though. One short answer when she’d asked about his family. That yes, he had a half-brother, who was a fucking bastard. Then the boy had blushed and apologized for his language. Inuyasha, such a sweet boy, really.
“So, tell me, Kagome...how are you?” her mother asked. Seeing her daughter’s face fall for a moment, and hearing an impatient edge to her voice all evening, Mrs. Higurashi sighed to herself. She really didn’t have much in common with them anymore, or anyone here to see. Kagome just came back to get some shopping done. Perhaps it would be easier on her if they didn’t keep pretending she would ever be here for more.
Her daughter was all grown up, and she didn’t belong here anymore. Her life was there, most of her friends here had sort of drifted away after High School, after all. Before that, really...but graduation had sealed it. A ceremony Kagome had missed fighting in the Feudal Era, as she had so much else. She’d posed for a picture when the diploma had arrived in the mail, but had found it hard to smile. Just like now. The last photo her Mother had of her daughter in the sun, human. Normally, she would be moved out by now, to school or marriage, maybe a career. Which she had, apparently, just not one that had been expected, a hanyou now...but Kagome was answering her.
“Fine, really! Sesshomaru is a good person. And Sango’s a rock. Really.”
“I can’t believe Inuyasha just left, big sister, maybe he’ll come back,” Souta was stunned, he had been ever since he heard what had happened between his sister and the hanyou-the condensed, suitable for a child to hear version.
“Don’t blame him. It just went badly’s all,” Kagome told her brother sadly. No reason to have her family hate him-he might come home to her, after all. No! Would come home. She had her hopes. Every time she used her Hamayami, she felt them reinforced. He loved her. She loved him. It would happen.
Even so, night was wasting as they dithered. One thing her Mom insisted be added to the list was a camera. She wanted photos, wanted to see who this Lord was. Wanted to see what her daughter looked like most of the month now...and Kagome gladly agreed to ease her worry.
Returning near dawn as usual, she smiled at Sesshomaru, and hugged him when she realized he‘d patiently awaited her return, making the poor confused Lord flinch. Her unseemly display he put it down to her still having her mortal guise.
“Thank you,” she told him, and he looked puzzled. Kagome didn’t explain. Unpacking her customary gifts to everyone, she passed them out with a smile. Sesshomaru-blinked when she presented him with a pair of slim books. ‘The Prince’ and ‘The Art of War’. She thought he’d like them. Thermal blankets, and cold weather gear-they’d need them soon.
One other thing changed...Kagome didn’t bring Shippo any replacement candy.
He got coloring books and new crayons, well, half of the children’s things she’d brought back...but no candy. She had some-but it was for Rin, she said, he’d misbehaved and would not have any until next month. Punishment for his mouthing off. Kagome had also brought two duffle bags with her from her world with things from her home there at her Mom‘s suggestion, and her eyes were suspiciously bright as she changed back.
That wasn’t home anymore. Those people hadn’t changed though. She had. She still loved them, they still loved her-but Mom was right, it was time to accept that that part of her life would not be as it was. This was her family too, she was needed here. Unlike there. That night was the first time Shippo slept at Grandmother Kaede’s hut, and not Kagome and Sango’s. It would become a habit.
***
Kagome considered all this...and realized she really had changed. She had accepted it when the kitsune had moved in with the Priestess because Shippo had been unwilling to understand her life, her attitudes, and her goals and interests were different. Just like Grandpa. Just like Kouga.
Sango had understood. So had Sesshomaru and Mom. Even Jaken and Rin, heck, Souta was able to deal. Inuyasha...she believed he would come to do so, in time. He was pack, he’d see. As she sat listening to howls the hanyou realized she knew herself better now. Not only that, she liked who she was. Lady Kagome, lead female of the premier pack of the Clan Inu, daughter of Inutaisho...and soon, mate of Inuyasha, packsecond and Second Lord of the Clan. For that, she ought to thank Kouga. If he had been less of a jerk-she might never have realized so quickly who she was now.
She ought to be stroking those fuzzy ears of Inuyasha’s now, or playing backgammon and talking books with Sesshomaru, damn it. Not darn. Damn. Her beloved and her big brother. Miroku, her dear friend and husband of her best friend and partner all these months. They were depending on her. Kagome realized she didn’t have any doubts about what she was about to do. She could live with it. She would.
When there was a knock at her door, it was Onjou. He’d finally gotten back, and she’d rewarded him.
“A message, Lady,” he said. She took it-read it...and her eyes widened. Yotogi had done it. An end to his hunt at last. That was it, he was officially her favorite vassal now. A broad smile crossed her face for the first time in days, a real one. Who’d have thought it?
“Get me Lady Atae, have her meet me in Sango’s chambers. Now.”
And to think he’d found what he needed...from the few surviving Lynx, and old Mushin. Miroku’s mentor. Who was on the way with the youkai Lord along with Kaede and Shippo. Apparently, they’d need them if what he‘d dug up in his Temple‘s library was correct. Bless Hochi! He’d heard the Inu were out looking for information and brought them together. They’d get the rest of the knowledge they needed right here-from the only living youkai who’d set foot in that accursed place. Had been in on the raid that took the Monks who‘d ruled there down, no less! With her help, they’d be able to pull it off.
Kirara.
Two days later with much display, Kagome took a guard detachment out. She left riding on Ah-uhn with Kouga, ostensibly to take care of Kokuzoku’s pack. Sango and Kirara had left the day before, headed to the Lynx territories as the Samiyousho reported. What they missed, however, was an Inu packleader and an elderly Monk and a Priestess, all traveling with a fox kit in tow as they rode a large raccoon dog. They couldn’t see them, thanks to some clever work by Mushin and Kaede. Shippo, sitting on Hochi’s ‘back’...was practicing. It had to be perfect. No visible tail this time. It was tricky getting Kagome’s new ears right, though. But everyone was depending on him.
Author’s Notes- Whew! An interesting chapter, it was nice to pull some of the things that landed on the cutting room floor up and introduce them. That cut material will be in ‘Blood and Snow: a companion tale’, and will be posted soon. Thanks for reading!-Namiyo’