InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Slayer Sango ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter 22

 

Looking around, Sesshomaru was at a loss. He wondered at his senses-- had they failed him somehow? A distinct call from Sango had come and his youki responded as it had before-- it raged, demanding that he protect his mate from danger. Rushing across the countryside again to reach her, his heart had been pumping with fear. Was she alright? Had Jitsuo's people got to her? Was it another demon? And then all of a sudden and to his tremendous dread the call suddenly became silent, and it was as if she had not beckoned him at all. What happened? Had she been in danger and then the situation resolved itself? Was she out of danger? If so where was she? The demon lord had utterly lost track of her scent. A sense of worry began to grow within him. 'Where is she?', he thought while surveying the near valley with his cool, keen golden eyes.

 

He recalled the excuses Shinichi had given that morning when he had returned to the palace without Sango. Sesshomaru had posted the warrior at Sango's cottage to watch over her in his absence, and had been surprised to see his trusted warrior so soon back at the fortress.

 

"Huntress-sama left, my lord. I tracked her far into the forest, but she eluded me. I lost her scent and had to return. I have failed in my task, master."

 

"So you have. Give me a reason why I should not destroy you for disobeying me, Shinichi." Sesshomaru was alarmed. He was not necessarily surprised that Sango would try to escape her appointed guard. Sesshomaru understood that she was was a strong-willed creature and fiercely, even recklessly independent. What bothered him was that this loyal soldier had let her, a human female, outsmart him. She had effectively covered her tracks and prevented him from coming after her. And now she was missing.

 

"I have none, my lord. My only defense is that the lady did say that she would return. I should have followed her my lord but she was insistent that she go off on her own, with the neko."

 

Sesshomaru was furious, but his face did not show it. He spoke harshly. "Get out of my sight. You should die today, Shinichi. But I will spare you for now. We must find her."

 

"I will go out again, my lord."

 

"No. Ryuchi needs fighters to go against the rebels. You will rejoin your detachment. That is all, Shinichi."

 

"Yes, my lord."

 

It was shortly after this exchange that Sesshomaru had heard the call from Sango. She was in danger, somewhere. But where? Now he stood at the foot of the western mountains, scanning the atmosphere for any trace of her. He could detect nothing.

 

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Sango sat up and pulled against the tight ropes binding her arms and legs. She had been sleeping for what seemed like hours and now awoke to a depressing sight. Dark, dank walls surrounded her on all sides, and heavy cold air chilled her to the bone. She felt as if she were shut away in a tomb. 'I must still be in the cave,' she thought.

 

'Why has Sesshomaru not come?' she wondered. Looking around, she assumed he had been unable to locate her in the depths of this mountain-- perhaps it carried some sort of spell or enchantment that interfered with his ability to detect her scent. 'Surely that is what it is-- Sesshomaru would come for me if he knew I was in trouble.' Sitting up, Sango felt her head pounding. She had a headache and felt ill. The baby was growing inside her, and it had started making its presence known to Sango in some uncomfortable ways. 'I am hungry. I feel sick. I've got to get out of here,' she thought. 'If only I had my katana I could cut these damn ropes.'

 

Looking around for some way to help herself, she leaned back against the cave wall to think. Suddenly something pointy jutted against the flesh of her back. Wincing, she turned and saw an outcropping of rock that looked like it might be able to cut the ropes binding her wrists. Leaning back against the sharpest part of the formation Sango rubbed her bound wrists against the rock in an attempt to fray the threads of the heavy rope. It took a long time but eventually the threads began to disintegrate and she let out a great sigh of relief when at last she heard a 'pop' -- the rope finally breaking apart to release her sore wrists and hands. She rubbed them together.

 

'Gods don't let that damn Jitsuo show up...I've got to get out of here!' Working the bindings at her ankles, she soon had them loose and stood up to get her bearings. Feeling along the wall with her hands, she used touch as a guide-- it was too dark to see much of anything. Eventually coming to an intersection of passageways she saw three openings that led down three equally forbidding corridors within the mountain. 'Which way shall I go?' she wondered. Suddenly the sound of dogs howling made her breath catch in her throat. They had discovered her missing! She began to move swiftly, soon running as fast as she could. Far in the distance she could make out the dim outline of an opening, and made her way toward it anxiously.

 

"I'll get you bitch!" echoed the angry voice of Jitsuo. "Don't think you can get away from us that easily! I'll get you human whore!" Sango ran for all she was worth, now reaching the narrow opening only to find it too small to fit her body through. 'What am I going to do!' The sound of Jitsuo's footsteps were getting closer. Looking up she could see an indentation above her head, like a recessed chamber that went back into the cave. Perhaps she could hide from him there. Lifting herself with sore arms, Sango scrambled up onto the rock ledge and scooted back into the mountain. Jitsuo managed to track her to the small opening in the cave but growled at finding her gone again.

 

Rushing upwards, the demon slayer climbed a stair-like outcropping of rock, feeling with her hands as she went. She stumbled from time to time on the unfamiliar terrain and even fell a couple of times before collapsing, exhausted and spent before an underground stream. 'Sesshomaru!' Tears began to fall hotly down her face, mingling with the water of the stream that flowed at her feet.

 

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"I want you to talk to him, Inuyasha. I really think that deep down Sesshomaru isn't as evil as you think he is."

 

"How can you say that? You have seen yourself how heartless he is. He tried to kill you! He treats me like shit!"

 

"Yes, he does treat you that way. And that did happen. But it was years ago, and things are different now. I really think he is changing. I told him I'd speak to you about using Tetsusaiga in the war..."

 

"You what? Kagome!" The look of disappointment and anger that came across her mate's face caused the miko to cringe.

 

"Just listen to me for a minute..." handing Inuyasha the baby, Kagome sat back and began to make her case. She took a deep breath and crossed her arms. "Sesshomaru is not the same as he was before. Look at the little girl who is always with him, how he treats her like his daughter...and he is in love with Sango--"

 

"Please. He doesn't love her, how many times do I have to tell you he is using that wench?" He sniffed disgustedly. 'How can Kagome be so trusting?'

 

"Inuyasha he loves her. I have overheard some of the nobles discussing it-- it is all over the palace that he is in love with the 'human woman'. I don't think these demons would be going on about it the way they do if there wasn't something to it. Besides, I saw it myself in his eyes when I spoke to him the other day--"

 

"You what?"

 

She grinned sheepishly. "I sort of approached him. And he didn't strike me down either!" She shifted, and gave a pleading look. "My love, it kills me to wake up at night and hear you having nightmares about the past-- calling out to your father, your mother...there are holes in your memory I know. There is so much pain there..."

 

Inuyasha looked down. He did not know he had still been having those dreams.

 

"There is so much about the past that is left unsettled and unsaid...I just think that if you talked to Sesshomaru it might help. He knows so much about that time--"

 

Inuyasha shook his head. "Kagome, you have no idea what you are saying. Understand something-- that bastard has no interest in anything but preserving his own power and position. He does not care about you, me or anyone associated with us."

 

"He does. He cares about Sango!"

 

"Him screwing Sango does not prove anything-- look, if he is so in love with her why isn't she the one he's marrying instead of that other demon female...what's her name?"

 

"Kaiya..."

 

"Yeah whatever. He obviously isn't that serious about Sango if he's mating somebody else."

 

"I've heard stories about that too...apparently she doesn't want him."

 

Inuyasha chuckled at this. "Probably the first time any woman has said no to him. Good for her."

 

"Inuyasha we're getting away from the point."

 

He sighed and continued. "Kagome, the only reason Sesshomaru is putting us up here is so that his enemies-- those other inu demons, can't get at his throne. He is not doing it out of the goodness of his heart, trust me."

 

"I don't know...maybe you are right...but I think he does care about Taki. I really think that is part of the reason why he asked us here."

 

"He didn't ask, Kagome, he ordered."

 

"Well, just do this for me, Inu. Talk to Sesshomaru. Don't fight, don't trade insults-- talk to him. And if he asks to borrow Tetsusaiga at least consider it..."

 

Inuyasha groaned. He looked into her big, chocolate brown eyes and knew he was lost. He could refuse her nothing, and they both knew it. "For you?"

 

"For me." 'And for you, you silly hanyou,' she said to herself. Inuyasha got up and lifted Taki in his arms, holding the little quarter-demon up in the air to smile at him.

 

"Alright. I'll talk to the bastard. But don't expect anything to come of it. I sure don't." Kagome nodded with a serious expression on her face, but inside she rejoiced. For ages it had been bothering her that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru seemed utterly unable to overcome whatever barriers stood between them as brothers. They fought and argued constantly, and Inuyasha hated the very sight of his older sibling it seemed. Sesshomaru was no better, hurling insults at Inuyasha and treating him like dirt whenever he had the chance.

 

Kagome was tired of it. She saw no good reason why their feud should continue to come between them, particularly given the recent past in which they had all been on the same side in the fight against Naraku. Also, now that Takeo was here she didn't want him growing up in family where discordant emotions reigned-- she desired a pleasant atmosphere for her son to grow up in, with a family that loved one another. If that weren't possible at least he could have one where his father and uncle were not ready to rip each other's throats out at a moment's notice. Kagome knew it was something that could not happen overnight, and was encouraged at this first glimmer of change in her mate. She only prayed Sesshomaru would do his part.

 

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Kaiya sat alone looking out at the youths playing tag in the courtyard behind the palace. Her bedroom window faced the rear of the enormous structure, and she could often see and hear much of the informal activity that took place in the rear area of the palace. Tempted to pack her things and simply run away, she berated herself. 'We don't run from our problems, Kaiya," she told herself. 'Whatever happens from now on you must face head on. Sesshomaru-sama is the master, but he can't disregard your feelings completely. There will be a solution to all of this.'

 

Just then she heard a knock at her door. Drawing her silk robe closer around her she got up to see who it was.

 

"My lady."

 

"What are you doing here?" Kaiya looked up into two enchanting lake blue irises that smiled back at her with a hopeful expression.

 

"May I come in?" asked Shiro. Kaiya looked out into the hallway to see if anyone was watching.

 

"You have no business here...what do you want," she asked hurriedly. She feared Sesshomaru catching her talking to him again.

 

"It is utterly innocent, my lady I assure you."

 

"Come in then. And be brief." She showed him in to her space, directing him to a comfortable looking seat near the window. What could he possibly want with her, she wondered.

 

"You are looking lovely today, Kaiya-sama," he said. She blushed in spite of herself, and lowered her eyes to the ground. "You are a treasure, my lady."

 

"If you came here to flatter you are wasting your time Lord Shiro." She looked up to meet his gaze, determined to hold her ground.

 

"I come as a friend. I have noticed you seem very unhappy...if I may say so, it pains me to see you that way."

 

"It is not your business to feel anything on my account, my lord."

 

"Perhaps not, but I cannot help what I feel..."

 

"What you feel? You don't even know me."

 

"I know enough." He stood and went to her. The same electricity that she felt the first time they met reasserted itself, causing her heart to rise to her throat. 'What is this? Am I attracted to this demon?' she asked herself.

 

"You don't love him. I can sense it. You don't want to mate him, do you?"

 

Kaiya shook her head. "This conversation is going nowhere. You should go--" he grasped both her hands in his and pulled her close. Shocked, she began to panic. "I could scream-- the guards will come and drag you away-- Sesshomaru-sama will destroy you!"

 

"Is that really what you want, my lady?" He spoke in a near whisper, challenging her. His voice combined with the gentleness of his touch sent Kaiya's mind and body reeling. "Do you want me to be destroyed?"

 

She set her mouth in a frown. "You need to unhand me. Now!" Instead of obeying her the bold young lord wrapped the startled demoness in his arms and brought his face close to hers.

 

"Not until I have kissed you," he said boldly and leaned in to cover her mouth with his own. She struggled, pushing at him with her fists, but he held her fast, attempting to drown her in his own passion. Finally able to tear away from him, Kaiya touched her fingers to her swollen lips and stared at him in shock.

 

"What is this game? What are you doing?"

 

"It is no game, my lady. I now believe you want me as much as I want you. I felt you return my kiss. The question is, how will we make it a reality?" He kicked back, a smug satisfied look on his face. Kaiya then swung at him, and her fist connected squarely with his jaw. The young lord toppled over onto the ground, surprised and laughing. Kaiya did not.

 

"How dare you! Who do you think you are coming in here to touch me like that? Don't you know you could die for your recklessness!"

 

"That was quite a punch, my lady." He rubbed his jaw where a distinct red mark now appeared. "Beautiful and a fighter-- what more could a demon ask for?" He grinned and took a step toward her. "Calm yourself, my lovely. I am not here to do you harm...tell me honestly, Kaiya. Do you feel nothing for me?"

 

Kaiya looked at the ground, at the walls-- anywhere but at the handsome young demon standing before her. She admitted to herself that she did find him attractive. There was some kind of chemistry there, but how could she ever openly admit to something like that? Sesshomaru was officially courting her, and as far as anyone knew he still planned to make her his mate. It would be suicide to give Shiro any hope. She shook her head warily. "No. I feel nothing." Her voice was hollow, empty.

 

"I do not believe you."

 

"It doesn't matter what you believe. You are playing a dangerous game, Shiro. One that can only lead to ruin."

 

"At least be truthful with me. I know you feel something. I will leave you if only you will be honest."

 

"You will? You will leave me alone if I tell you?" He nodded. Somehow Kaiya was doubtful, but if it would get him away from her for the time being, she would do it. "Then, yes...I find you handsome."

 

"That's it? Handsome?" He laughed.

 

"What? I don't even know you..."

 

"It's alright. I mean to change that...I will keep my promise to you now and leave. But my lady--"

 

"Just go please. What is it?" Grasping her hands in his own Shiro stared deeply into her disturbed eyes, and thought her the most beautiful sight he had ever gazed upon.

 

"No one deserves to live life unhappy. If it is within my power, I will make it so that you never have to fear for your happiness again." With that he departed, leaving the demoness utterly dumbfounded.

 

'What strange luck I have with males,' she thought to herself, closing the door. She resumed her spot overlooking the courtyard, and returned to brooding over her strange fate.

 

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