InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dr. Miko ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

AN: Gosh, I am soooooo sorry about not updating for so long. As punishment, I will be posting another chapter tomorrow- gotta make me work hard or I slack off. Anyway, thank you all for your patients and here we go…

~~0.o~~byrd

Chapter 8:

Sesshoumaru was on every `A List' in town, taking Kagome to the most exclusive new bars and nightclubs, never waiting in line, even if the clubs were overcrowded for a Saturday night, and never staying more than a half an hour at each place. He wined and dined her, placing delectable morsels into her mouth and tantalizing her with expensive and exotic drinks. About the third bar they arrived at, there was an entarage awaiting their arrival.

"Good evening, Mr. Taiyoukai."

"Good evening Janken. Is my table ready?"

"Of course, sir. And might I add, she is as beautiful as you described her to be." Kagome flushed a deep shade of crimson, making Sesshoumaru chuckle slightly before placing an arm across her back and ushering her into the club. The interior was cleverly designed in what appeared to be interlocking circles. The main bar was like a sphere located in the middle of the dance floor, which was also circular. There were cages and platforms everywhere and Kagome was also surprised to see a few shadow boxes where couples were grinding to the music in silhouette.

The dim lights and the thumping from the speakers started to take affect on the young woman; she slowed her pace, allowing her hips to move in time with the beat. Her eyes closed momentarily and she was lost in the sounds and vibrating atmosphere all around her. She felt the energy of every person in the building, like tiny candles burning to create one enormous inferno. Her body began to turn, slowly, gravitating towards the brightest flame. The energy was intoxicating, swirling in a yellow firestorm around one person. She let her mind's eye examine it for a moment, mesmerized by the movement of the flames, and then opened her eyes. She gasped suddenly; it was her consort whom the fire had been encircling. He stood before her now, eyes hard and cold despite their warm hue. His gaze was fixed on her, his face giving her no clues to his thoughts. Then, he relaxed, tightening the arm that was still around her back. He flashed her a sexy smile and leaned in close to her ear.

"See anything you like?"

"Perhaps," she responded carefully, not knowing how many levels the question actually held. He led her into a back room, away from the crowds and noise. It was extravagantly furnished with rich fabrics and overstuffed couches. There was a small bar, tended by a single man in the corner. He left her sinking into the cushions of a red velvet couch and ordered two drinks.

"Martini? I believe your drink of choice is a Cosmopolitan, if I remember correctly." She nodded and took the offered drink, enjoying the tingle the liquor brought to her lips.

Kagome was speechless. She had dated before, though not much while she had been in school, but she was sure that she had never been treated so well. This mysterious, cold, businessman was quickly making his way into her thoughts, though the scene she had witnessed a few moments ago was still fresh in her mind. Her brain began issuing disclaimers to every move he made; sliding closer to her on the couch, telling her how beautiful she looked; she tried to listen, but her resolve was fading fast. Watching him sip his martini, she began to wonder she would be able to taste the vodka on his lips, and without warning, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, running her tongue over the soft flesh. She smiled as she pulled away, meeting his startled yet hungry eyes.

"I was right," she said in a low, sensual tone, "Vodka." He cleared his throat, shaking off the surprise.

"Best martinis in town." He slid even closer to her, "mind if I try yours?" Before she could even respond, his mouth crashed down on hers, lips locked in battle and breath swirling between them. He set his glass down, as carefully as he could without seeing the table, and wrapped her tiny frame within his arms. She whimpered against him, letting her bottom lip to slacken a bit. It was just enough, however, and Sesshoumaru took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue across the barrier and into her mouth. She moaned and dropped her head back, her mouth opening even wider to allow him more access, which he quickly took advantage of. When he finally pulled back, both were panting. Kagome's resolve was long gone; having been deprived for the past 4 years while she finished her degree, and the recent disappointment from the man who looked remarkably like the one beside her. She lowered her head, hiding her stormy blue eyes behind her thick bangs. `Am I really going to do this? Do I really want to? Ok, yes, I want to… but am I ready; I mean I've only met him twice.' Her mind was moving a mile a minute, thinking over all the possibilities of the way the evening might end. Sango's words floated back to her, "Com'on Kag! You have to ogle a man like that. Its proper female etiquette, didn't you read the manual?" A tiny smirk raised the corners of her mouth, a mental picture of Sango's jaw dropping off Monday at work when she heard about how she spent her weekend played over and over in her thoughts.

"Sesshomaru, I'm a little tipsy and getting tired, will you take me home?" She looked up with sparkling eyes and the remnants of the smirk still on her face. His eyes clouded with lust and he grinned knowingly.

"Of course, my dear, whatever you say."

~~0.o~~

Inuyasha and Shippou sat quietly on the couch of the cozy two-bedroom apartment, watching TV. Inuyasha hadn't said more than five words to the young puppy since Kagome had dropped them off over four hours ago. His grief had risen and taken over his mind, replaying the way Kagome had moped about all day and snapped at her coworkers and staff haunted his thoughts. He knew it was his own fault, he should never have followed her, never have danced with her, and most of all, never have kissed her. Now they both had to live with the consequences of his actions; she would go on wondering what happened to him and he would have to sit by and hide his feelings and the truth for her, a fact that ate him up inside more than he could admit.

"Big brother?" The small voice startled him out of his reverie. "Where did you go last night, when you were human?" It was the question he hoped would never come.

"I… went out, down town."

"Did you see Mommy?"

"Yes…"

"Is that why she has been so depressed?" He hung his head low, not knowing exactly how to tell his newly adopted brother of the encounter. "Did you tell her the story?" Inuyasha sighed, dejected.

"No, I didn't even tell her it was me. I made up a name, I spent the night getting to know her as a stranger, and at the break of dawn, I ran away, leaving her standing alone in the street like fucking Cinderella- only I came back with both of my shoes." There was anger and hurting in his voice that did not escape even the attention of the young pup, who scooted closer to him.

"Are you ever going to tell her?" came his cautious question. Inuyasha sighed heavily, mulling the inquiry over in his head. Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires diverted both's attention. Two slamming doors and two sets of footsteps headed for the upstairs apartment. Inuyasha growled low in his throat, his heckles rising up, creating a Mohawk down the center of his back. His nose identified one of the footfalls as Kagome, as well as the tiny giggle he could faintly hear in the hallway. The other was yet to be identified; though there was something familiar about the scent it held. The sound of the key in the lock set the enormous dog off, barking and bared teeth and foam building in the corners of his mouth was all the greeting Kagome received when the door opened.

"Inuyasha no!" The command barely left her mouth as the canine leapt through the air, tackling the figure behind her. Sesshoumaru was taken by surprise, falling over backwards from the impact of the great beast. They rolled around in the hallway, Inuyasha doing his best to keep the intruder pinned as Kagome tried to grab hold of his collar and pull him off. She finally got a hold of the leather collar and pulled him off Sesshoumaru, wrapping her arms tightly around his thick neck. Her breath was ragged and Inuyasha could smell the salty tinge of tears though his back was to her. Sesshoumaru got to his feet, dusting off his expensive suit, and stood before the enraged canine once more.

"I should have guessed. After all this time, this is the way you greet your older brother, Inuyasha?" Both dog and woman fell still. `Brother'? Amber eyes met their likeness as the two males stared each other down. Memories flooded Inuyasha's mind and he saw an image of his brother the way he was the last time he had seen him. They had been hiding in a barn, high up in the Northern Mountains. The man before him cleared his throat, erasing the picture in his mind, but raising the question… was it really him?

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome gasped when the name was spoken. "What the hell is going on?" She was shaking with emotion, arms still clutching Inuyasha's neck and chest. The tears were flowing freely now, frustration, confusion, and fear swirling around her aura and burning both brothers' nose.

"I see you haven't told her, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru moved in closer to the two, his heart clenching slightly when he noticed Kagome stiffen at his advance. "It's alright Kagome, why don't we go inside and discuss this properly." He walked past them, opening the door again and holding it open.

Kagome and Inuyasha sat on the couch as Sesshoumaru busied himself with making a pot of tea to calm everyone's nerves. Shippou had cautiously climbed into his mother's lap and now sat there, cuddled close to her chest and making a slight purring sound in attempts to sooth her. Moments later, her guest appeared with two cups of chamomile tea, passing one to her and then taking a seat on the floor, across the table from Kagome and his brother.

"So, Inuyasha, it has been a long time. Not that I am surprised to see you here, you always did have a taste for women out of your league." A fierce growl filled the apartment and Kagome placed one hand on his head, calming the giant dog immediately.

"What do you mean, how do you two know each other, and how can you hear what Inuyasha says? Do you have the gift too?" Sesshoumaru chuckled lightly, locking his intense golden eyes with hers.

"He is my younger brother. It has been more than 400 years since I last saw him. We were in the Northern lands, searching for a powerful stone when he was captured by the priestess' men and made to serve in her temple. I stayed around, keeping an eye on him and waiting for the perfect opportunity to free him, when I began to notice a change. He began to fall in love with the pathetic human girl, hiding his feelings by working harder than he ever had when we had traveled together. He forgot all about our quest for revenge, living only to serve the girl. But it all changed, didn't it Inuyasha, when she learned about those feelings you hid down inside."

"Don't," Inuyasha interjected, emotion filling his voice.

"She didn't return those feelings, did she?"

"Sesshoumaru, please."

"No, she was disgusted. She turned you away, placing a curse on you, turning you from your true form into this beast to live for all eternity with your shame and guilt. A fitting punishment, I suppose, since you had abandoned your honor and betrayed your oath of revenge for our family."

"It wasn't like that! I thought you had left me. I had no where else to go." The pain in his voice was too much for Kagome and she burst into tears again. "Damn it Sesshoumaru, why now? Why here?"

"This had nothing to do with you, little brother. The fact is that at my age, it is about time that I took a mate and carried on the name of the Crescent Moon. Our heritage may not mean anything to you, but I have sworn an oath to keep the Taiyoukai blood flowing through out the centuries. Kagome is the first woman I have even considered bringing into the family, even if she mostly human."

"What the hell does that mean?" Her tears halted momentarily at hearing his callused and confusing remarks concerning her.

"I, my dear, am the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, as you had jokingly remarked a few weeks ago at dinner. I am a full-blooded royal youkai of the house of the Crescent Moon, the family that ruled the west for centuries since the beginning of the youkai race. I have built my empire with money instead of blood, as those who had come before me, and I will carry the name of Taiyoukai on into the centuries to come. After meeting you at the hospital, feeling your energy and your miko power, I decided that you and I would make perfect mates, combining our power, ending the struggle between our races and helping me carry on the legacy my brother abandoned so long ago. I will make you a living legend, miko Higurashi Kagome." Kagome's heart raced within her chest, she had never heard such things except in the stories her grandfather had told her growing up. He had often spoken of the battles between youkai and priestesses, how members of their family had sacrificed themselves to protect the family heirlooms from those who wished for power and world domination, writing it all off as the senile delusions of an old man. Tales of good versus evil, demon versus priestess, corruption versus purity, these couldn't be real stories he had told her as he tucked her in at night.

"Yes, they are real," he said as if reading her mind. "Our families have been locked in battle for hundreds of years, yours protecting the Shikon no Tama, keeping the power hidden away, and mine working to possess it." Inuyasha looked on in disbelief, not wanting to believe what his brother was saying.

"You, my lovely Kagome, are the last remaining miko in the Higorashi family, and I am the last remaining True heir to the Taiyoukai throne; and we, my dear, are in fact mortal enemies." Horror filled the silver dog's face; she was the ancestor of Kikyo, the last of her blood line, the woman he had loved so long ago, and the woman he loved now were of the same family, the family his brother had sworn to bring down even with his last breath.

"I will not let you hurt her, Sesshoumaru. Stay away from Kagome or so help me…"

"So help you what? Will you stand against your only remaining family for this woman? She is human, Inuyasha."

"I don't care!"

"She doesn't love you, brother. She cannot break the curse even if she did. The jewel disappeared about 50 years ago, no one has seen or heard of it since- believe me, if it was anywhere to be found, I would have found it."

"I… I don't understand," Kagome sobbed from her seat on the couch. She held a tiny, shivering Shippou in her arms still, clinging to him as if he were the only means of keeping her grounded and not crumbling under the intense gaze of the man across the table.

"Kagome," his voice softened as he felt how afraid and confused she was. "My quest for revenge on my family has been the only thing keeping me going all these years. I am sorry if I have frightened you, but it has been my all consuming desire to regain the honor my family lost the night we were attacked and our lands were overrun. I never meant for you to find out this way, I believe I have grown to care for you in a way that is wholly unfamiliar to me, and I planned on telling you most of my story… just not until we were mated."

"MATED? What were you just going to mark her and not tell her, Sesshoumaru?"

"Do not raise your voice to me, little brother. I have more honor than you, I would have told her when the time was right. You know the mating isn't successful unless it is consensual."

"Will you two stop speaking in riddles and tell me what the Hell is really going on." Kagome's temper was beginning to drown her fear and she had to concentrate on taking deep breaths so as not to fly across the table and strangle the business man who had deceived her into believing he felt something close to what she felt for him.

"Youkai mating is a sacred ritual in which the female is marked and blood is exchanged. The bond is everlasting and unbreakable once completed, fusing the life spans, the mind, and the bodies of the bound couple. I would feel pain from your body in mine, I would feel the anger, fear, joy you feel within my soul, I would be able to sense any danger near you through you and protect you for all eternity. We are a good match, Kagome, even with out the Shikon in your possession, I would be lucky to be bound to such a unique spirit as you have proven to be, as you would to be bound to a youkai like myself. There are obvious advantages to breeding with a choice male, rather than a flea bag half breed, hmm, Inuyasha?"

"Why you arrogant bastard! Do you honestly think she would mate with a stubborn, cold, power hungry beast like you?" Sesshoumaru smirked at his brother's obvious anger and jealousy.

"She brought me home with her, didn't she?"

~~0.o~~