InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Blowing Off Steam ❯ The Aftermath ( Chapter 2 )

Author's Note: By popular demand (at least on FF.net), here's the next chapter of Blowing Off Steam. Unfortunately, there is no sex in this chapter. I will try to work in a scene in the next chapter. If there is a next chapter, that is. Hint Hint.

 

 

~Start~

 

A few hours later, Kagome's eyes fluttered open. For a few moments, the furry pillow beneath her cheek had her disoriented and confused. As she moved to sit up, a sharp pain shot through her body and she bit back a groan. With the pain came memories of what had happened and she looked at the silver-haired Adonis beside her. She smiled at the sight he presented. The all-powerful Sesshomaru looked so young and innocent in his sleep. Kagome reached out a hand and ghosted her fingers down his cheek. Sleep-clouded golden eyes opened to stare at her. A small smile formed on the demon's lips and he sat up and pulled the miko close. He gently kissed her as his roamed over her body.

 

“Did you sleep well, my lovely mate?” Tenderness and love filled Sesshomaru's eyes as he looked down at her.

 

“As a matter of fact,” Kagome replied. “Yes, I did. I am a little sore, though.”

 

“I was rough,” the aristocrat admitted. “I'm sorry. Do you feel alright otherwise?”

 

“I think so.” The miko reached up to run a hand through her sleep-mussed hair and stopped short when she saw her wrist. Wrapped around her arm was a light purple stripe. When she lifted her other arm, Kagome found a similar stripe and her eyes widened. She shifted the makeshift blanket and found purple marks on her hips as well. She turned sharp, blue eyes on Sesshomaru and raised a brow. “Well? Care to explain?”

 

“We mated,” the demon stated simply as if that explained everything. When confusion was still evident on her face, he sighed and continued. “It turned you into a demon. It was to ensure that we remained together for eternity. A human would never live as long as a demon.”

 

“Okay,” Kagome nodded with some understanding. “Any other changes I should know about?”

 

“Your senses will be greatly enhanced as will be your speed and power. I am, however, unsure of how this affects your miko abilities.”

 

Kagome closed her eyes for a minute to draw on her miko power. When she succeeded, it felt much different from before. It was more powerful and even more refined. It wasn't just an explosive purifying aura concentrated through an arrow anymore. She couldn't quite grasp it, but it felt spiritually whole. Almost like her new demonic energy completed her. She opened her eyes and leaned against Sesshomaru. She was feeling a little overwhelmed and she decided to save exploring her new abilities for another time. As the pair lay in companionable silence, a light breeze ruffled the leaves and set Kagome's nose twitching.

 

“There's so many smells,” she remarked. “One of them is kind of familiar. It's an odd combination of dirt and ramen.”

 

“That is Inuyasha's scent. He must be coming to find you.”

 

“What?!” The demon miko jumped to her feet. “He's coming now? Sessh, I have no clothes thanks to you and your claws. What am I going to do?”

 

“Here,” Sesshomaru replied as he handed her his shirt. “Wear this for now.”

 

“Are you sure?” When he nodded, the woman wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him happily on the cheek. “Thank you so much, Sessh.”

 

The two clothed themselves quickly; she in his shirt that reached to her knees, and he in his pants. The miko fought the urge to drool over his smooth chest. This wasn't the time. In a few minutes, Inuyasha would come barreling through the trees. Kagome was sure he would immediately attack when he saw his brother, which would only serve to aggravate the elder sibling into retaliation. It was up to Kagome to keep them from killing each other, especially since Sesshomaru would be joining them.

 

“Kagome!” Inuyasha broke through the trees near the end of Kagome's mental scenario. He looked around for the miko, and when his eyes settled on her, they widened in surprise as they took in her appearance. They skimmed over the stripes and longer hair until they finally landed on the crescent moon adorning her forehead. The half-demon then turned to Sesshomaru with Tetsusaiga drawn and fury radiating from him. “What the hell did you do to Kagome?!”

 

“Isn't it obvious?” The aristocrat smirked at his younger brother. “Tell me you're not that daft.”

 

“What?! You jackass!” Inuyasha ran forward and was about to strike Sesshomaru when the miko yelled the dreaded three-letter word.

 

“SIT, BOY!” As Inuyasha came crashing down, Kagome moved to stand in front of her mate. “Inuyasha, behave. Don't make me say it again.”

 

“But, Kagome! He changed you!” The half-demon grunted as he pulled himself up.

 

“I know,” the woman replied. “He mated with me and it made me a demon.”

 

“You mated with him?!” Inuyasha shouted incredulously. “This is Sesshomaru we're talking about! He's tried to kill us more than once!”

 

“Technically, he's tried to kill you. And don't you think that if he really wanted you dead, he would kill you and be done with it?”

 

“But-but- You hate humans!” He directed this at Sesshomaru who raised a shoulder in an elegant shrug.

 

“Kagome is unique,” he said as if it explained everything. Before Inuyasha could respond, Sango and the others came through the trees.

 

“Finally!” Inuyasha turned to his companions and all but shouted at them. “Kagome's lost her mind! She mated with Sesshomaru!”

 

Kagome sighed when three pairs of shocked eyes swiveled to where she stood. She leaned back into her mate and closed her eyes. Why did they have to come find her now? If she had just had time to absorb everything, she would be ready to answer all the inevitable questions. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and the miko looked up into concerned amber eyes. She shook her head and looked back at her friends.

 

“Inuyasha, can you shut up for a minute and let me explain?” Kagome spoke in a tired voice. “Sesshomaru found me after I stomped off. I wasn't in the best of moods and I kind of pissed him off. One thing led to another and next thing I know, he was asking me to be his mate. I thought about it and then said yes.”

 

“Sesshomaru just happened to show up where you were?” Sango asked with more than a hint of skepticism.

 

“I was drawn here by a peculiar scent,” explained the demon. “I did not realize that it was Kagome's until I arrived.”

 

“You expect us to believe you?” Inuyasha demanded. “What do you really want with her? Is this because you can't have the Tetsusaiga?”

 

“You would compare my mate to a sword?” The growl underlying the words made Sesshomaru's anger evident.

 

“You just want something of mine!”

 

“Wait a minute,” Kagome broke away from Sesshomaru and walked right up to the half-demon, anger crackling in her eyes. “I am not yours. I've never been yours. You've always wanted Kikyou, and when you couldn't have her, you thought I would be good substitute. Well, I've got news for you, Inuyasha. I am not Kikyou and I won't be a replacement. I love Sesshomaru and you'll just have to accept it because he'll obviously be joining our search for Naraku. Got it?”

 

Stunned silence reined as the demonic miko stared at Inuyasha with flashing eyes. Sango and Miroku exchanged looks and then studied Sesshomaru. Shippou sat atop Kirara's head and stayed quiet. He knew it was better to let Kagome vent her frustrations. If he said anything now, she could turn on him. That was the last thing the young fox demon wanted. Sesshomaru stood back a little as he watched his mate fume. He was sure that even touching her was wrong right now. He would wait for her to calm down before he tried anything.

 

“Lady Kagome?” Miroku spoke with caution as he approached her and Inuyasha with Sango close behind. “Do you truly love Lord Sesshomaru?”

 

“With all my heart,” the woman replied, her eyes never leaving Inuyasha's face.

 

“What about you, Sesshomaru?” Sango asked as she focused narrowed eyes on him. “Do you love Kagome?”

 

“I do. I would not have mated with her if I didn't.” The demon slayer looked at the monk and nodded her head.

 

“Then we will not question your decision,” Miroku said.

 

“But know this,” Sango's words were aimed at the demon lord. “If you hurt Kagome, you'll have us to answer to.”

 

“I still don't like it,” Inuyasha said when Kagome finally moved away from him. “But, I can't really stop you, now can I? Just don't expect me to be all chummy with him or anything.”

 

“I wouldn't dream of it,” the miko quipped as she returned to her place in Sesshomaru's arms.

 

Shippou finally left his perch on Kirara's head and stood in front of the pair. “Kagome,” his voice shook with uncertainty. “So does this mean that Rin is coming with us, too?”

 

“I suppose so,” she answered. “Well, Sessh? Is Rin coming, too?”

 

“Of course,” the noble answered. “She is at my palace right now, but we will retrieve her before we continue on our quest.”

 

Shippou smiled brightly before hopping on Kagome's shoulder. “Yay! I get a new friend to play with.”

 

Kagome giggled as she moved over to her backpack that was resting on the ground where Inuyasha had dropped it when he'd shown up. She rummaged in it for another pair of clothes and sighed when she realized she had nothing but a silken kimono she'd seen in a village they'd passed through. She would have to go home to get real clothes before they set off. The miko slipped behind a cluster of trees, slipped off Sesshomaru's shirt, and slipped on the kimono. It was a dark blue with silver lines swirling across the edges and had a silver sash to complete it. When she returned to her friends, Kagome threw the shirt to Sesshomaru and he donned it without a word.

 

“Okay,” the miko said as she hefted the pack onto her shoulder only to have her mate take it from her. “We'll get Rin and then head for Kaede's village.”

 

“Why?” Inuyasha questioned. “Can't we just pick up the rugrat and then keep traveling?”

 

“I need more clothes. I can't go on with just this kimono.”

 

“What happened to your uniform?”

 

“Um…” Kagome's cheeks heated as she struggled for an explanation. “Well, let's just say it's not wearable anymore. In any case, I forgot extra clothes so I need to go home.”

 

The group made their way to Sesshomaru's castle in relative silence. Sango teased Kagome about what had really happened with Sesshomaru and would laugh when the younger woman blushed and stammered. Miroku walked behind the woman and remained silent as he watched their hips sway, his fingers twitching all the while. A growl and glare from Sesshomaru had the lecherous monk quickening his pace to walk beside Sango. Inuyasha kept glaring at his brother and demanding why he had to pick Kagome as his mate. Of course, the older sibling ignored the repeated question and watched the young woman as she interacted with her friends.

 

When they reached the magnificently built palace, Sesshomaru took to the front of the party and led them through a simply decorated courtyard. Contrary to the exteriors simple and coarse demeanor, brilliant paintings and ornate statues adorned the interior. Hand-woven rugs covered part of the stone floor and elegant floral arrangements added color to what would have been a dreary castle.

 

“This is beautiful, Sesshomaru,” Kagome said in awe. She had never seen such a fabulously decorated home in the feudal era.

 

“Thank you. My mother liked to have things look their best.”

 

“Will I get to meet your mother?” nervousness crept into the woman's voice.

 

“Perhaps,” Sesshomaru answered. “She will of course be invited to the ball.”

 

“Ball?” The miko looked at her mate with a questioning look. “What ball?”

 

“I must present you to the other nobles so that they know of your status and show you proper respect. It also allows me to show you off.”

 

“Lord Sesshomaru!” A gleeful shout cut off anything Kagome was going to say. The group turned to see Rin running down the grand staircase as fast as she could. The little girl flung her arms around the noble's legs in a fierce hug and she looked up at him with shining brown eyes. “Welcome home, my lord.”

 

“Thank you, Rin.” Kagome's heart skipped a beat as she watched a small smile appear on the normally stoic lord.

 

“Kagome!” The young girl instantly wrapped herself around the miko in a tight hug. “What are you doing here?”

 

“My Lord! You're back!” The group heard Jaken's screechy voice before they actually saw the imp. The green toady came running into the foyer as fast as his stubby legs would carry him. The Staff of Two Heads swayed as he ran and almost took out a statue before the imp came to a stop. Jaken caught sight of Inuyasha and brandished the staff as if to fend him off. “My Lord! What is Inuyasha doing here?! Shall I drive him away?”

 

“As if you could,” Inuyasha scoffed as he kicked Sesshomaru's vassal.

 

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru said before the imp could retaliate. “You will show our guests respect.”

 

“Guests, my Lord?” Jaken was clearly confused. He looked from Inuyasha to Sesshomaru to Kagome and Rin with a puzzled expression. When he noticed Kagome's altered appearance, including the moon on her head, his eyes got even bigger and the imp gave a series of odd squawking noises before looking back to his master.

 

“Yes, Jaken,” the noble answered before the sycophant could say anything. “Kagome is my mate now and you give her and her companions the appropriate respect. That includes Inuyasha.”

 

The look on Jaken's face was priceless. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air and he swayed on his feet. Nobody moved or even batted an eyelash when the imp fell over in an over-dramatized faint. Rin and Shippou giggled and Inuyasha nudged him with the sheathed Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru gave a sigh of exasperation and Kagome smiled. Miroku stood shaking his head while Sango tried to stifle her snickers.

 

“Lord Sesshomaru?” Rin looked up with hopeful brown eyes. “Does this mean Kagome is Rin's new mother?”

 

“I suppose it does,” Sesshomaru answered.

 

“YAY!” Rin hugged the miko even tighter.

 

“Will you still be my mama, too, Kagome?” The miko looked at Shippou and smiled at his wishful face.

 

“Of course, Shippou. Now, come over here and give me and your new sister a hug.”

 

The fox kit jumped into Kagome's arms and the demonic miko smiled warmly at her new children. When another pair of arms encircled her, she looked up to find Sesshomaru holding her and the young ones. It melted her heart to see such a pure love shining from his eyes and the woman leaned up to kiss him lightly. The others could feel the love radiating from the family and the monk and slayer smiled to each other. Kagome and Sesshomaru would be all right. Theirs was a strong love that would endure.

 

Inuyasha about gagged at the sight in front of him. He didn't think his brother would follow the family tradition of falling for a human. Nevertheless, there was the all-mighty Sesshomaru, lovingly embracing his mate and adopted pups. The half-demon had thought his brother was incapable of love. After all, he'd been treating Inuyasha, his own flesh and blood, like trash forever. It was just inconceivable that Sesshomaru willing mate with Kagome out of love. The younger brother finally shook his head and cleared his throat.

 

“Not that this isn't a pretty sight and all,” Inuyasha voiced with a bit of sarcasm. “But, shouldn't we get going?”

 

“Inuyasha's right,” Kagome agreed as she let go of her family. “I need to go home. I have to get more clothes and I'll probably have to explain what happened to my mom.”

 

“Can we go, too, mama?” Rin looked so hopeful that Kagome was a little hesitant to answer.

 

“I'm not sure.” She answered truthfully. “You see, to get to my home, you have to go through an empty well. But for some reason, Inuyasha and I are the only ones who can get through.”

 

“But we can still try can't we?”

 

“I suppose it can't hurt,” Kagome admitted.

 

“Can we go now?” Inuyasha was getting impatient and just wanted to get on with their search.

 

Sesshomaru glared at his brother. The half-breed had been disrespectful and troublesome ever since he had shown up. He would have lashed out, but the demon lord knew his mate wouldn't be pleased. He settled for a growl before turning to Jaken. The imp was still sprawled on the floor so Sesshomaru nudged him with his foot.

 

“Jaken,” frustration tinged the noble's voice. “We are leaving.”

 

“Y-yes, my Lord,” Jaken scurried to his feet and ran out of the house to get Ah-Un.

 

The group followed the imp with Shippou and Rin in the lead. They chattered on about nonsensical things as they skipped along. Once outside, Sango and Miroku climb onto Kirara while Kagome helped the children onto Ah-Un with Jaken. Sesshomaru then wrapped an arm around Kagome and the duo rose into the sky. Inuyasha ran after them and the others took to the sky as well. It was a surprisingly quick trip from Sesshomaru's palace to Kaede's village. When they reached the edge of Inuyasha's Forest, Sango and Miroku went on to the village while the rest went to the Bone Eater's Well.

 

“Inuyasha,” Kagome glanced at him suspiciously. “What are you doing?”

 

“I'm not leaving you alone with him,” Inuyasha answered with a gesture toward Sesshomaru.

 

The miko shook her head. Once the group was at the well, she moved out of Sesshomaru's arm and helped Rin and Shippou down. The demonic aristocrat sent Jaken to the village with Ah-Un. After the imp and dragon were gone, Kagome climb onto the well's ledge and Shippou jumped into her arms. Sesshomaru lifted Rin and settled her on his hip.

 

“Now what?” Rin asked.

 

“All you have to do is jump in,” Kagome explained. “If it works, you should get surrounded by bright lights and end up in the well in my time. Everyone ready?”

 

Sounds of assent answered her question and the miko took a deep breath and jumped into the well.

 

~End~

 

Author's End Notes: You know the deal. Review and you may get another chapter. Don't forget to tell others about this story either. And to you on AFF.net, more reviews!!!!! I might abandon you if you don't.