InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ At the End of Days ❯ Endings and Beginnings ( Chapter 10 )

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

10. Endings and Beginnings

It was not surprising that Sesshoumaru, his driver, and Houjou returned after only a brief time with a middle-aged human man with his arm in a sling. Although he had obviously been told the bare bones of the situation, he stared around at the assembled mix of beings filling the shrine’s courtyard with an expression of wonder: he had been reading old stories of creatures like these his whole life, and had always been disappointed that such things didn’t exist. To learn that the stuff of legends was alive and well and walking the world in broad daylight was more a dream come true than anything else.

After being introduced to the group assembled at the shrine, he sat quietly while the old miko and Higurashi-san examined his injured arm. He felt himself grow slightly drowsy, but not enough to actually put him to sleep. Despite his calm, he was more than a little surprised to see the two women glow faintly pink as a soothing warmth began to flow through him. After some indefinable time the warmth and glow faded away, and he was more than a little surprised to find that the throbbing pain in the appendage had receded, replaced by a faint, lingering tingle not unlike a low-voltage electric shock.

Staring from one to the other, he removed the sling, flexing the formerly broken arm in disbelief--exactly what was going on around here, anyway? “I don’t understand. What…?”

Higurashi-san smiled warmly, leading him to a seat at one of the nearby tables and asking one of Shippou’s kits to bring around a plate of food, as the man would be more than a little hungry after expending the resources necessary to regrow the broken bone in his arm. Sitting across from him with a cup of tea, she sighed softly. “Where should I begin?”

The man simply shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s just so much that I don’t understand about any of this.”

The woman gestured briefly at her daughter who was now sitting with her new husband, his hand in her lap while she gently rubbed his palm with a thumb. “You know Kagome, of course. The whole thing started a few years ago, on her fifteenth birthday.”

Kagome could almost feel the tension rolling off her soon-to-be-mate as she watched her mother try to make sense of everything that had happened in recent years. The good news was that the man seemed to be taking it all pretty well. The bad news was that she couldn’t now bring herself to leave these people behind when they left the city, and wasn’t at all certain how the hanyou would take to the idea.

------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a full afternoon, and Sesshoumaru approached the young couple, noting that the brilliant joint aura had receded back into their bodies. Looking at the sun beginning to set in the west, he said, “We should begin preparing for departure soon--travel is becoming dangerous after dark.” With a glance at their two unexpected human guests, he continued, “I have spoken to the man and his son. Their family tradition includes knowledge of herbal medicine that could be useful to complement the spiritual techniques possessed by the mikos. I have asked that they accompany us when we leave the city. They have agreed to do so, although they insist that they should remain in their present home until we are actually ready to depart so that they can gather together all of their materials and books before we collect them. They have also suggested a number of sites from which we might be able to salvage additional supplies.”

The pair nodded in unison, and Kagome was relieved that Houjou would not be anywhere in the youkai lord’s home when they held the mating ritual that night. Despite the assurances of both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, she was still a little nervous about holding the ritual with her family in the same complex, no matter how large it was. Houjou being anywhere within a mile would have just been too…weird.

Wrenching herself away from the distracting thoughts, Kagome looked up at the taiyoukai. “What do you need us to do?”

The youkai lord shook his head. “There is little that you need do except gather your possessions and place them in one of the vans. Kenji and his staff will take care of the remaining food and any of their equipment that needs to be moved. I rather doubt that either you or your family have a great deal of possessions to move.”

She nodded. That was true enough. “I think that we only have a bag or two of clothing each, plus the shrine records. I don’t think we’ll worry about moving all the artifacts we have in the storage--if things ever get back to normal, we’ll be able to return for them.”

“And the girl?”

“You mean Yuka? Mama and Kaede-baachan both think that she has a good chance of a nearly complete recovery if we can keep her from starvation or dehydration while her body repairs itself--even with miko healing, there’s only so much that can be done from the outside, at least with the amount of power we have available to us. The supplies we brought from the hospital will keep her alive for as long as necessary, I think. I can’t imagine that it will take any longer than that. If we start to run low on anything we may have to either salvage more supplies from somewhere else or try to think of something else that we can do.”

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly. He didn’t think it likely that the little miko would abandon her friend, especially since her brother had reported that the girl seemed to be making at least a small amount of progress toward recovery. He looked once again at the setting sun. “Let us prepare for departure, then. We can take your guests to their home when we leave here--it is not safe to travel as darkness approaches.”

----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final preparations for the trip were concluded quickly. Fortunately, at least to Kagome’s way of thinking, there were more than enough vehicles so that she and Houjou were not traveling together. She had still not quite gotten over the scene at her graduation/engagement party, and wasn’t about to cause her hanyou any more stress than absolutely necessary: she had a sneaking suspicion that his inherent shyness might cause them a few complications later on in the evening.

Still, Houjou and his father were dropped off at their home without incident. Miroku made a point of leaving the two several sutras that they could use to safeguard themselves from any youkai in the area that might consider the two lone humans an easy target. After making arrangements to meet the two at their home in ten days, the caravan proceeded on its way to Sesshoumaru’s ancestral home.

Kagome was understandably surprised to learn that the taiyoukai resided in an area that she had always known to be the exclusive haunt of the extremely wealthy. She was, however, shocked to learn that most of the palatial residences she had occasionally seen from a distance were in fact all part of a carefully crafted illusion designed to conceal the massive structure that was the ancestral home of the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands.

After five centuries, Lord Sesshoumaru had brought his family home.

------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------

Kagom e quickly came to understand that her new husband had not been exaggerating the size of his ancestral home. The palace itself covered an area nearly half as large as urban Tokyo, and the extensive gardens surrounding the enormous structure were even larger.

It seemed that her concerns about privacy were largely unfounded.

Her newly-acquired ability to create barriers made her aware of both the presence and the power of the barriers the caravan crossed to reach the palace of the Western Lands. There were three in all, the innermost being the strongest by far. While the outer barrier--the one containing the bulk of the illusion spell--was more than sufficient to discourage a random intrusion by either curious wildlife or a wandering human, it was obvious that the barrier just outside the physical walls of the palace would keep out both unauthorized youki and unrecognized spiritual power. As such, she was a little surprised that it allowed not only her hanyou husband but also herself and her human family to enter unchallenged.

The youkai lord saw the curiosity in her eyes. “You are wondering how the inner barrier recognized you and your family.” The couple across from him nodded in unison, and he almost smirked in satisfaction: they were becoming attuned to each other even more quickly than he’d expected. “The fact of the matter is that this inner barrier is quite recent. It was erected once we discovered the basics of Naraku’s plan, when we first realized that it would be necessary to leave the city. Those who created and even now maintain it are familiar with you all, so it was a simple enough matter to make it recognize your auras.”

The young woman shuddered at the reminder of what lay ahead of them all. “Do we really have a chance?”

The taiyoukai nodded. “A better chance than you would expect, actually. I have spent much of the intervening centuries studying that…creature’s tactics. He never takes an active role in his schemes unless he believes the odds to be overwhelmingly in his favor. By now, many of the few humans left in the city will have heard of your joining. By dawn, every youkai in the area will know that the most powerful miko in recorded history has mated with a ‘tainted hanyou.’ By the end of the week, Naraku--wherever he may be hiding--will know.” He paused, fighting down a most unseemly surge of anger, then continued, “I have long suspected that there is a spy somewhere in my household, though I have not made any great effort to find him. I have instead made it known that we’ll be departing for our new location in just over two weeks, on the day following the new moon, so that we might reach our sanctuary before my brother’s night of weakness at the full moon.”

He nodded in satisfaction as two pairs of eyes widened in understanding. He held up a hand to forestall any further questions, saying, “We can discuss this at length later. I expect that you have other matters to think about right now.” The vehicle glided smoothly to a stop. “Welcome home, brother--and sister.”

Kagome wouldn’t have thought it possible, but the massive structure was even more imposing close up. The taiyoukai led the group into the entry hall, where a small group of various youkai awaited. Sesshoumaru gestured, and one of the youkai moved forward to stand next to each of the newcomers from the Higurashi shrine. “These most trusted members of my staff will show you to your quarters. Once you have had a chance to get settled, they will show you where you can bathe, then escort you to a place where you can refresh yourselves. Should you have need of anything at all, simply inform them.”

Without another word, he turned and went down a long corridor to another wing of the palace, gesturing for his brother and sister to follow.

Kagome was glad--not for the first time--that her soon-to-be-mate was hanyou, as she would never be able to find her way back to the public area of the palace without his sensitive nose to guide her. She was naturally a little nervous, but that faint hint of anxiety was rapidly fading away at the feel of his arm around her waist as they were led to the place where--at least in her own mind--her destiny had been leading her for her entire life.

It seemed like forever before Sesshoumaru stopped at a massive wooden door. The taiyoukai turned to leave. “You will have privacy here. Not only had this wing been equipped with the finest in sound-deadening technology, but the door is warded so that it will not open from the outside until one of you first opens it from inside. Sleep until you are fully rested--there is a great deal of work ahead of us all.” With a slight nod to his only biological family, he vanished into the dimly-lit corridor.

Although neither of them had any real idea what to expect, it would certainly not have been what lay on the other side of the door. Despite what they had assumed, they had not been given a simple room in which to consummate their union. The suite was vast, even by modern standards. The living area boasted very expensive tatami flooring barely visible under the mass of cushions that covered most of the floor. A low table stood in the middle of the room holding insulated containers of chilled water and fruit juice as well as warmed sake. A higher table stood against one wall to display some fragile--and very old--pieces of porcelain. The sleeping area also possessed the same tatami floor, but most of it was again hidden, this time by the largest futon Kagome had ever seen. Much thicker than normal, the comfortable-looking surface was about a foot high, and covered in silk sheets in a deep red. The lightweight but extremely soft blanket was made of some silky fiber that almost seemed to glow silvery in the dim lighting.

Perhaps the most amazing part of the suite was the very large bathing room. In addition to the usual twenty-first century amenities (including a shower with six fully adjustable shower heads) there was a pool more than big enough for two people to fit comfortably. Closer inspection revealed that the pool was in fact edged in natural stone, with slabs of the very same stone making convenient ledges at various heights. Even Kagome’s human sense of smell could pick up the scent of the minerals in the water. “How do you suppose he managed this?”

Her answer was a soft chuckle as arms wrapped around her from behind. “It’s not a new feature. This whole place is built on top of an inactive volcano. There are two or three mineral springs here that have been diverted for bathing purposes, and steam from underground vents heats this whole mausoleum.” At her look of surprise, he continued, “My mother told me about it. She lived here with my father until she was pupped and some of the nobles in the court tried to kill her. She was sent to live with her relatives until the traitors were removed. Unfortunately, my father was killed before that could happen, and we were cast out.”

Not really wanting to talk about this right now, he bent his head to her neck, greedily drinking in her scent. He pulled her tight against him for a fraction of a second before releasing her. “Feel like a bath?”

----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------

As the two soaked in the gently steaming pool, the young hanyou breathed a sigh of relief. While he knew that his new wife had indeed seen him naked a couple of times, he was equally aware that circumstances had prevented her from actually seeing very much. He had naturally been more than a little self-conscious about stripping in front of her. He was, after all, just a filthy, worthless hanyou--how could she not be disappointed in what he had to offer?

As a result, he had been entirely unprepared for the soft gasp, wide eyes, fiery blush, or wave of spice that flooded her scent when he turned around. He went through the motions of showering with his mate in a daze, carefully soaping and rinsing each other’s hair and bodies until all that remained were the pure scents of each of them, unadulterated by even the faint overlying scents of their clothing.

As Kagome sat next to him, wrapped in an arm, she could feel the last shreds of nervousness dissolving in the warm water. Even though she was entirely inexperienced, she was not necessarily ignorant. Sex was pretty much acknowledged as a normal part of life in her world. Indeed, it was everywhere--in books, on television, even in the words of her more experienced classmates. All of these resources agreed on one thing: a well-endowed partner would make the experience much more pleasurable.

If that was the case, she decided, she was in for the time of her life.

Vague anxiety soon gave way to anticipation, and she began to wonder when her husband would make a move. Thinking about it, she remembered when he had confessed his lack of actual experience. While she had no doubt that his instincts would kick in to help once things got under way, it seemed likely that she would have to be the aggressor, at least in the beginning.

Reaching up, she gently stroked the velvety fur covering the outside of a triangular ear, well aware of exactly how sensitive the organ was. A deep groan tore its way from his throat, and he shuddered as the sensation of her fingers on his ear went straight to his groin like an electric shock. Pulling her firmly against his body he stood. “It’s time to get out now. We can come back later if you want.”

He pulled her into a fiery kiss, then reached for the stack of thick towels that had been set out on a bench near the pool. They dried each other carefully, the soft towels teasing bodies already sensitized by the simple presence of the other. A soft rumbling began deep in Inuyasha’s chest as he suddenly realized what had been wrong: the mineral-rich water had effectively masked the scent of his mate’s arousal.

The two stumbled to the sleeping area, neither of them willing to end the kiss that seemed to consume them both from the inside out. Finally breaking for much-needed air, the hanyou began to run his hands over the delicate treasure he held, hesitantly at first, then with more authority as both the spike in her scent and her soft moans convinced him that his attentions were not only accepted but greatly desired as well. Still, before he lost himself completely, there was one thing he had to do. Pushing her slightly away from him, he growled, “Are you sure about this?”

She leaned forward, capturing both ears. As she massaged the sensitive appendages, she whispered, “It’s all I’ve really wanted for a long time.” Releasing his ears, she wrapped her arms around his neck, grinding her body slowly against his in a futile attempt at easing the burning ache in her nether regions.

They met again in a burning kiss that almost felt as though each of them was trying to pour his (or her) very soul into the other. His eyes flew open as he felt a tiny hand wrap around his length, stroking gently. As she slowly stroked the heated flesh, he produced a deep growl that clearly signaled approval. The tiny part of her mind that could still think clearly was amazed that a single sound could convey so many different things.

Those thoughts evaporated as his lips began to follow the paths left by his teasing claws. She stiffened, crying out when his lips closed over the peak of a breast, the nipple hardening instantly when he grazed it carefully with a fang before soothing it with strokes of his velvety tongue.

Even the most basic, primal part of him was beginning to wonder exactly what other sounds he might be able to wring from her trembling form. As was so often the case in recent months, both of his sides were in complete agreement: his bitch needed him, and who was he to deny her?

Driven by instinct, he allowed her to guide him, her sighs and moans combining with the fluctuations in her scent to tell him exactly what she found most arousing. She moaned in something very much like disappointment when he pulled himself from her grasp, following his nose to the source of the intoxicating scent that flooded the suite.

He had been experiencing her scent in all of its nuances for a couple of years now, and had only recently come to understand the changes that came to her scent when he carried her, or sometimes when she slept. Still, he had never before sensed it as strongly as he did now that he was faced with the ultimate source of the compelling fragrance. Almost without thinking, he leaned forward, his tongue darting out to collect the pearly droplets sparkling like jewels in the dim lighting in their chamber. He groaned as the taste exploded across his senses--how on earth was it possible for her to taste even better than she smelled? Repeating the gesture, his eyes flew open as her hips jerked up off the futon and she produced a strangled sound that might have been some broken version of his name when his tongue brushed against a rigid little nub of tissue at the very end of the stroke. Deciding that he very much liked the reaction his actions had caused, he repeated the caress again, and again, and again, until her body stiffened in his grasp as she screamed through her release, pouring even more of the delicious fluid onto his waiting tongue.

As much as he would have loved to drink her dry, some primal part of himself warned him that these fluids could ease the way now that he was finally ready to make her his. Bending his head once again, he found that tiny bump again with his tongue, varying the angle and pressure until she was once again writhing against him. When it seemed to him that her fragile human body couldn’t take much more, he pulled away, placing the tip of his painful hardness against her opening.

Even a worthless hanyou with no hope in the world of ever taking a mate knew that a woman’s first time was usually a little painful, so he pushed forward slowly, ears flattening at the deep groan from the delicate creature in his arms as she gradually stretched to accommodate his size. Although his youkai side was screaming at him to pound relentlessly into the willing flesh beneath him, he forced himself to remain motionless, waiting for some sign that the woman’s discomfort had subsided.

That sign came in the form of a slight shift in position as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his thighs, pulling him fractionally deeper into her center. Although he began a slow rhythm that she was easily able to match, the tight wetness that gripped him inflamed his youkai self, causing him to thrust harder and faster until all she could do was hang on for the ride. He could feel her channel beginning to ripple around his hardness, and he pulled himself from her dripping orifice, heedless of the gasp of surprise as his mate saw the red eyes, facial markings, and prominent fangs of his fully youkai form.

Flipping her over onto her stomach, he was pleased that his bitch pulled herself up on her hands and knees, spreading her legs in invitation. Growling in satisfaction, he was pleased to note that no hint of fear tainted his bitch’s intoxicating scent. As he carefully placed his hands on her hips so that his elongated claws would not pierce the soft flesh, his bitch lowered herself so that her weight was supported on her forearms, pushing her delectable rear into the air.

With a sound somewhere between a rough groan and a possessive growl, he sheathed himself fully into her welcoming body, smirking a little at her gasp--he felt, if possible, even larger in this position. With a groan of pure need, she thrust her hips back at him. Reading his bitch’s desires, the youkai pulled back, then slammed forward while using his grip on her hips to rock her back and forth with his rhythm, allowing him to penetrate even deeper. With his youkai power and speed slamming their bodies together, it didn’t take long before her channel began to tighten around his pounding flesh.

As the burning pressure began to build in his loins, he reached around her shuddering body and found that very sensitive and extremely swollen nub he had discovered earlier. Rubbing it with the pad of his finger, he was rewarded by the amazing sensation of his bitch convulsing around him, pushing him over the edge into his own climax. As the jets of burning seed filled his bitch, he howled his completion along with the ragged scream of pure animal lust that was torn from her throat.

He held them in that position for a few moments before pulling them over onto their sides, his seed still pumping into his mate’s sated body.

------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------

Sever al miles away, dark eyes opened wide at the sudden feel of an enormous release of energy. Strangely enough, the energy felt in part quite similar to her own, although the tales of human women being able to wield that level of power were, in this age, just that--stories meant to entertain the simple or frighten the foolish.

Still, even though she doubted that the energy surge had anything to do with her enemy, it was worthy of investigation. Staring impassively in the direction of the fading golden light, she began to walk.Converting /tmp/phpgtdEay to /dev/stdout