InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter Blood ❯ Chapter 8

Bitter Blood

Chapter 8

She found Sesshomaru standing on the balcony overlooking the garden, his eyes fixed on some far off point. "My lord," she announced herself.

"My lady," he acknowledged her.

She walked over to him and embraced his side, closing her eyes, burying her head into his chest.

He stared down at her as if amused, then placed his hand atop her head.

"How does this day find my lord?" she asked.

"I am well," he said.

She tightened her grip about his waist.

"Does something trouble you?" he asked.

She smiled up at him. "Not at all," she said. "I simply wished to embrace my lord as I haven't been able to in these past few months."

He seemed satisfied with her explanation, and again, turned his attention to the horizon. "Then my lady is well," he said.

She nodded, her head still to his chest. "If all is well with my lord, then all is with me."

"And our son?" he asked. "How is Daichi today?"

"He is colicky, my lord. Dokumi has just put him down for his nap. She said she would give him something for the pain, and I needn't worry over it."

He smiled to himself.

"She seems to dislike you a great deal," she said. "Our prized nursemaid."

"Prized by whom?" he asked.

"By me," she said. "And Daichi, of course. And she's been of great help to Jakken. Things seem to run quite smoothly with her here."

"And, yet, she dislikes me," he stated.

"You broke her doll," she said.

"'Doll?'" he repeated.

"When you were both children," she said for clarification. "She was playing in the garden, and you broke her doll. She asked if you wanted to play with it; you took it, threw it on the ground and stepped on it."

He put on a thoughtful frown. "I suppose I did do that."

"Why would you do such a cruel thing, my lord? Destroy a young girl's prized possession?"

He seemed to want to say something. But didn't.

"She was quite attached to it, I'm afraid. In addition to it being a valuable import from China, it was a remembrance of her mother."

Sesshomaru tensed, but she kept her grip on him tight. "And why is this my concern?" he asked. "A broken doll from centuries ago."

"You injured her feelings, and she still resents you for it."

"Is that so?" he asked.

"If I may trust what she tells me."

He laughed to himself. "And what would you have me do? Replace the doll that I broke?"

She smiled up at him. "That would be a good start, I think."

He glanced down at her, giving a slight smile, then returned his attention to the castle grounds. "If that is what you wish," he said.

"I wish you to be happy," she said. "And I wish the same for myself and Daichi. And all who live under our roof."

He stroked the back of her head. "That is a noble wish."

She gave him a gentle squeeze. "My husband is a noble lord."

His hand slipped from her head to her shoulders, returning her embrace.

"I spoke with Dokumi today," she began.

"So you've already said."

"Not about that," she said. "About my health, my recovery."

He looked down at her. "Are you not well?"

She smiled at his concern. "Quite the contrary, my lord. I am fully recovered."

His grip on her shoulder seemed to loosen. "I see," he said.

"And I know the sun is still up, my lord. But it's been months since we were last together. And the castle is quiet, and Daichi is asleep and . . .." She left the sentence for him to finish.

"And what?" he asked.

"Well," she laughed, "I thought I was being fairly obvious. But if I must say it outright, then--I wish you to return to our chambers," she said. "Your lady misses her lord."

He appeared unmoved. "That is unfortunate."

"But it doesn't have to remain so," she smiled.

"It does," he said.

She released him. "What do you mean?"

"I will not be returning to our chamber," he said.

She took a step away from him and shook her head. She must have heard him wrong . . ..

"Why do you stare at me with such an expression?"

"I know not what else to do. I--I think I may be in shock." She blinked her eyes several times, thinking perhaps she'd fallen asleep downstairs and this was but a bad dream, brought on by all of Dokumi's talk of 'bad blood' and such.

"You look pale," he said.

She drew in a deep breath and pushed it out. "My lord?"

His eyes focused in on her.

"Have I done something to displease you? Am I not still your wife? Are we not still mated for life?"

He was slow to answer. "We are," he said, finally.

"Then why . . . Does my lord intend to cast me aside? Am I of no further use to him?"

"You are the mother of the heir," he said.

The mother of the heir? "Is that all?" she asked. "Will you not share a chamber with 'the mother of the heir?'"

His face remained calm. "I will not."

She staggered from the blow, gripping the railing for support. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. "Is this . . ." she barely recognized the sound of her voice. It was so meek and muted. "Is this only temporary?" she asked. "Out of my lord's continued concern for my health?"

He seemed unmoved by her tears. "It is out of concern; it is not temporary."

"How can you say that!" She stumbled backwards and squeezed her eyes shut. She had to restrain herself. She had to act her part. She must behave like the Lady of the Western Lands. "You will no longer share a bed with me, then." It was a question, but she didn't phrase it as such.

"No."

She fought back fresh tears. "Then what am I to do with myself?" she asked. "Of what use am I to the Lord of the Western Lands?"

"You are the mother of the heir and should behave as such. Your only duty is to tend to the child. Care for him," he said. "Be a good mother to him."

The tears evaporated under the high heat of her blazing temper. "So he is 'the child,' now. 'The heir.' Have you forgotten his name as you've forgotten me!"

He turned a cold eye to her. "Remember to whom you are speaking."

"I do not know 'to whom I am speaking,'" she said. "I do not recognize this man before me."

He turned from her. "Have it your way."

The anger resurfaced. "MY way is for you to be with me!" she said. "MY way is to be a happy, LOVING family."

He kept his eyes fixed on the distant horizon, his jaw set, his posture erect. "There is no such thing," he said. "Now, I advise you to go see to our child."

She stormed back into the castle, slamming the screen closed behind her. "His name is DAICHI!"