InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ As A Courtesan II: Saikou no Shu ❯ What are they to do? ( Chapter 2 )

Misera- Busy Busy little Bee!

Enjoy this chapter! (it's going to be filled with grammar problems, I just know it!)

--- Edited by (unable to find a Beta... please let me know if you're interested!)

As A Courtesan II:
Saikou no Shu
MiserablySweet

Chapter 2- What are they to do?

Previously...

Kagome smiled a serene smile. She felt truly content knowing that she was in love with him. He wouldn't lie to her now, right? In such a short amount of time, it feels as if she's given all of her trust to him. In just a short amount of time, she grew to love his silver strands, his bright markings and his warm eyes. Kagome brushed his cheek tenderly, and a question arose from her lips, "Did you love me?"

The handsome male in front of her stilled. Kagome felt a growing suspicion in her gut. "Did you love me?" she asked again, this time with a hint of desperation. She waited for his answer. Seconds felt like minutes to the ever nervous Kagome. She saw the confusion in his eyes and watched him open his mouth only to say...

"This Sesshoumaru knows not."

Present...

"How can you possibly not know when I'm already conceived with your child?" Kagome breathed out her words in controlled anger. The furious beauty ripped the sheets from his arms and wrapped it around her torso tightly. "How can you not know?!" She continued to seethe in unrelenting anger. "You said I was in love with you, and how can you not return my feelings?" Kagome sank onto the soft futon with her legs dangling off the bed. Confused, wasn't the word to describe her current emotion. No, it was out pure anger. Possibly at him for making her yield to his sweet, tempting words-- however, mostly at herself for giving in to his tantalizing touch.

"Kagome, it's not what you think," Sesshoumaru grabbed a feathered stuffed pillow to cover his naked hips. He turned his attention to the mother of his unborn pup after blocking her view of his instrument of love. Angering her would be back for her current state, and their unborn baby. It seems though, she is already angry-- past the point of reasoning with her. "Kagome," Sesshoumaru sighed troublesomely, "Listen to me for a moment." He reached out to grasp her biceps carefully.

"No! I'm tired of seeing you," Kagome slapped his reaching hand away from her being. "You don't have to explain. I know it all." Her small frame convulsed in multiple emotions-- anger, shock and severe disappointment. She was never the one to jump to conclusions, but there was something about the father of her baby that jeopardized her way of reasoning.

Sesshoumaru ran his hand through his sleek silver hair, "You are being irrational." That probably wasn't the wisest thing to say to an angry pregnant woman. He watched silently with a suppressed urge to pull her in his arms as she stared at him incredously.

Kagome turned hotly on her heels and headed for the door, "No. I am not irrational. If I'm being irrational, this baby will be in danger." Kagome pointed to her flat stomach and scoffed at Sesshoumaru's surprised gasp.

"Are you threatening the life of our pup?" Sesshoumaru sung his claws deep in the mattress, puncturing holes into the soft material. He would have never expected his chosen mate would say such a thing. "Answer me," he seethed through the tension in his jaws.

"Why should I?" Kagome gripped the handle of the door tightly in her hands, "I..." She paused for a brief moment to inhale a shaky and uncertain breath. "I answer to no one," she quickly exited the room with watery eyes, leaving Sesshoumaru in a state of confusion.

"... Kagome?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

The raven hair princess flew down the halls of the Western Palace clutching a rich crimson colored bed-sheet around her torso. She ran blindly down the halls, ignoring all eyes that bore into her back, ignoring the comments of gossiping servants. Her heart ached, ached for her unborn child... ached for her own future, ached for her own heart. Whether or not she is with child, she needs to confirm it with someone. Someone other than Sesshoumaru, someone... 'Someone like him.' Through blurry eyes and her pounding heart, she saw a gentle Inuyoukai's back with a robe that symbolized royalty, or something closely related to royalty.

"You there, please wait," Kagome cried out in desperation and willed her legs to run faster to reach the being in front of her.

The Inuyoukai stopped abruptly and spun around on his heels, "M-my lady?" It was no other than Jyunchi. He was utterly stunned at his best friend's chosen mate's apparel: a bed-sheet. The very bed-sheet she seems to begin to stumble over and within a few steps, has stumbled out of control and headed towards the ground for impact. "Madam!"

Jyunchi reacted quickly with his inhuman skills and cradled her racking frame in his safe arms, saving her from the hard floor. Her scent suddenly caught up to his nose: salty tears and Sesshoumaru's overpowering scent. 'Did he...?' He couldn't help but wonder if his old friend had done something irreparable to his chosen mate again. Jyunchi couldn't help but feel overprotective over his sobbing lady in his arms. "Did my Prince-- harm you?" He was quit reluctant to ask the already unstable female.

Kagome stilled in his arms for a brief moment to look into his eyes, "You... Are you close with Sesshoumaru?"

Jyunchi was stunned by her redden eyes and swollen lips-- she cried quite hard didn't she? Her lips were slightly swollen and marred with teeth marks, most likely from assault from her teeth. What made him realize Sesshoumaru has done something wrong was her tone of voice. It was of at first shock, then etched with curiosity, desperation and doubt.

"Madam, he is my closest and oldest friend," Jyunchi answered with no doubt crossing his mind. He looked deep into her tear stained cerulean eyes and tried to search for an answer to his question, "Did my Prince harm you... again?"

"A-again?" Kagome let the horrifying word slip through her swollen lips. "Again? Has he hurt me before?"

Jyunchi's lip twitched out of slight fear, 'What did I just do?' How, in this desperate time, could he forget that Kagome has lost her memory-- she had no collection of how Sesshoumaru as forced himself upon her just nearly days ago. "Nothing, madam," he tried to answer her question without looking overly doubtful... but it failed.

"Kind sir, please," Kagome gripped the royal silk sleeves of Jyunchi's garment. "Please, I need to know," she peered into his soul with her water-like eyes with desperation. "Please..." she whispered her plea with a light breath.

Stunned by her heavy anguish, Jyunchi had no choice but to give in to his lady's word. With a defeated sigh, he grasped his hands on each of her shoulders respectively and nodded, "I'll tell you madam." He inhaled a shaky breath-- he knew from what he's about to tell her, he might harm Sesshoumaru in more ways than he could possible imagine. And yet, he had no will to deny Kagome of a true answer that she deserves.

"Well?" Her eyes darted between his uncertain eyes to his teeth that gnawed on his soft lips. Reality escaped from her sense for a brief moment as she placed her nimble hand softly on his assaulted lips to ease it from its torture. "Stop," she commanded in an airy tone. "Stop this uncertainty and please do answer my question kind sir."

Jyunchi froze at her tenderness and felt his body stir and yearn for more of her touch. He thanked Kami that humans were unable to smell the things youkai's can or else he and his lady would be in a very awkward situation. "My lady," he brushed her hand gently away from his face. "My Prince, he has..." Jyunchi trailed off not knowing if this was the right thing to do. On Kagome's part he would be doing what was honorable, but on his childhood friend's behalf... would he be ruining his future?

"Please, let me know what is it that your prince has done to me," Kagome steadied herself on her feet and allowed some space between them before dropping her knees to the floor. "Please, kind sir..." her soft voice was muffled by her hair that cascaded around the frame of her face as she bowed her head low.

"My lady Kagome," Jyunchi has had enough of Kagome's begging. He had to do it, for her sake and his own. He crouched down to her level and guided her into a sitting position-- he knows she'll need some kind of support when he tells her. Jyunchi absorbed the pleading look of her face-- a face of innocence and regal beauty. True, she is beautiful, not enough to consider her as the most beautiful female in the land. Her beauty comes from deep inside her soul-- her pure soul. A soul so innocent and pure that he can not deny the information she seeks. "Madam, my prince has... forced himself upon you once. And I inquire if he has done it again?"

"What?" Kagome felt her stomach churn and spin in more than one direction. "F-forced? You mean?" She paused for a brief moment to look numbly at her flat stomach. "He raped me?"

Jyunchi grimaced at her choice of words, "His youkai was angered by your previous defiance... h-he regrets it deeply." He tried to speak nobly of his childhood friend, but to no avail Kagome shook her head with dangerous disbelief.

"Is-is that how I conceived his blood?" Kagome darted forward and gripped the sleeves of Jyunchi's robe once more-- determined to force out answers from him if she needed to.

"That I am unsure of milady, but rest assured-- know that my prince loves you," Jyunchi patted her shoulders endearingly, unaware of what conspired between Sesshoumaru and Kagome.

"Love? Your Prince does not love me," she hissed Sesshoumaru's title in sheer anger. "Your prince manipulated me to bed him claiming that my body was in need of his essence because I am conceived with his blood!"

"My lady, it is accustomed in Youkai society to do so. He hasn't manipulated you, Lady Kagome-- he is telling the truth. You have lost your memory and you are pupped with his blood," Jyunchi defended his friend as best he could. But the stubborn female before him wouldn't have it.

"Iie! He told me I loved him yet he, he claims he does not love me," Kagome gave in to the gnawing feeling of loneliness and launched herself into Jyunchi's chest. She clung to his robe as if he's her only source of sanity. Her tired body shook with racking sobs. What was she to do? It's confirmed that she is pregnant, and her unborn baby's father is someone who can openly lie and manipulate her with his skillful hands. What was she to do?

Jyunchi's metallic silver eyes hazed over as his arms wrapped around Kagome's shoulders to pull her closer into his chest. He whispered words of endearment and soothingly rubbed circles on her lower back, "It's alright, Kagome." He doesn't know what has given him the courage to do what he's doing now-- but he doesn't want it to stop. Not now, not that he has her in his arms. A sudden wave of possessiveness washed over him as he inhaled Sesshoumaru's overpowering scent mixed with her own. He has never felt this way about a female. Not ever in his life he would think that just holding them would satisfy his needs. But with Kagome, her soft body pressed against his was all he needed-- craved for since he has seen her in the brothel. If his friend was serious about denying her of his love because her memories were locked, then he'll love her. He'll love her-- indefinitely.

"If Sesshoumaru denies you of his love, then this Jyunchi will take his place."

-0-0-0-0-0-

Sesshoumaru clenched his eyes shut in mild regret-- he should choose his words wisely when speaking to a pregnant, angry and confused female. He has never seen this side of Kagome before. He has never seen her raw anger, her suppressed anger he remembers from when he took her in the eastern dungeon before her trial.

He knows he love her, he was sure he would do anything for Kagome and yet... he answered that he wasn't sure. Sesshoumaru dressed in a clean kimono and shook his head. "Just what are you pushing yourself into?" He stared at his reflection in his mirror. The regal prince looked almost tired and worn from the recent events, the countless nights of nightmares and inability to sleep. Tired-- that was an understatement.

Sesshoumaru had a very good reason to say that he wasn't sure if he loved her or not-- an extremely good reason that goes to show he is not lying. He walked over to a small locked chest next to his mirror and skillfully decoded the mechanic lock. Opening the top carefully, he retrieved the silver box and the five petal flower bloom his mother bestowed upon him. Seeing that the petal labeled 'Love' has not fallen off-- how can he not say he's not sure that he loves Kagome or not?

"What is this word, love... mother?" Sesshoumaru glided his finger tips against the smooth texture of the carved bloom. "You said the petal engraved with the character will fall off, enabling me to unlock this chest-- if I have the revelation of the character. Then do I not love Kagome?"

Frustrated by this enigma, Sesshoumaru gripped an engraved petal with one hand, the other clutching onto the full bloom, "Then let this Sesshoumaru break off the petal by force!" Sesshoumaru yanked, twisted and pulled as hard as he could, but the flimsy petal stayed intact with the bloom. "Then what is it that you want from me?!" Sesshoumaru roared with anger and hauled the bloom and the silver carved box onto his crimson futon.

Sesshoumaru stared at the inanimate box with a deadly glare, "If only looks can open this blasted box." Feeling rather embarrassed from his previous tantrum, Sesshoumaru picked up the box and set it on the dresser gently. He sank into the cushioned stool by the dresser and rested his elbow on the wood. "What is love mother? Is Love not the emotion we feel when we yearn for a creature? Is Love not something we get possessive over? Is Love not something we feel when we are willing to die for a person?" He stared at the non-responsive flower bloom, somewhere inside he hoped that by asking questions the petal will fall off.

He sighed dejectedly as the flower-bloom showed no signs of letting him unlock his chosen mate's memory. What is he to do? He proclaimed he loved his chosen mate and yet this tiny metallic bloom says otherwise. If love is not an emotion we feel when we want to protect, help and cherish... then what is?

Sesshoumaru shook his head with annoyance, "Just what am I to do?" He sighed once more before composing his emotions and headed out the door of his room. He has given enough time for Kagome to calm herself. He just prays she didn't do anything that could harm her and their unborn pup.

He glanced out at the corridor of his Western Palace and sniffed the air for his Kagome's scent. Disturbingly enough, the halls were filled with her salty scent of tears. 'Perhaps I should have looked for her sooner,' he made another turn in his palace. The scent of Kagome was getting stronger, yet scent was mingled with another familiar one. 'Jyunchi,' Sesshoumaru mentally grimaced at the situation. He remembered the comment his friend made about Kagome when they first met... it disgusted him that he felt that he couldn't trust his best friend around his chosen mate. 'I am thinking too much,' he had high expectations of Jyunchi. He knew his friend would never try to hurt him.

Sesshoumaru hurried himself to reach Kagome-- he can hear her heavy sobs... and another male's voice whispering in the hall.

"Iie! He told me I loved him yet he, he claims he does not love me!"

He heard her say. 'No Kagome, you misunderstood me,' he wanted to say as he rounded the corner. But his heart stopped and chocked his throat as he saw Jyunchi rubbing his hand lovingly on her lower back, whispering soft, comforting words. Sesshoumaru saw the love and longing gleaming from his childhood friend's eyes.

Could it be?

Was Jyunchi in love with his chosen mate?

'Impossible,' Sesshoumaru willed himself to believe otherwise. He trusts Jyunchi, he believes Jyunchi. He knows Jyunchi won't hurt him... not this way-- right?

Wrong.

"If Sesshoumaru denies you of his love, then this Jyunchi will take his place."

Sesshoumaru's vision blurred-- Jyunchi has betrayed him. How could he say such a thing to his distraught mate? Sesshoumaru felt his heart pound heavily and rapidly in his chest, 'What is this feeling?' He resisted the urge to grimace and look away when Jyunchi slowly pressed his lips against Kagome's forehead. with a loving kiss 'How could you...' Sesshoumaru's jaw clenched tightly, his muscles protruding and making itself look tense and fierce.

"Jyunchi," Sesshoumaru whispered the traitors name with a deadly calm.

Jyunchi gasped, his eyes snapped open and sprang back from Kagome as if it burned him to touch her, "S-Sesshoumaru!"

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Misera- Uhm, I apologize for not making this chapter longer... I just really didn't have the time to update and I'm so sorry that I deprived anyone of this story!

I will try to make more updates, even if the chapters are shorter... Does anyone mind? It's either longer time + longer chapters or shorter time + shorter chapters...

My lovely readers, you decide :