InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dubious Relations ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 18 )

Dubious Relations

Chapter 17

Inuyasha found that leaving Sesshomaru alone to deal with the flowery smelling, could-be-threat he'd smelt strolling to the bastard's rooms had been extremely difficult. He'd stubbornly argued that he should stay as being Sesshomaru's mate and all meant he had an obligation to protect the jackass when he couldn't, but Sesshomaru hadn't wanted him present. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru's mobility was much better than it had been that morning and he'd proven that he wasn't against using his claws when he attempted to rip Inuyasha's entrails out for whatever reason he'd deemed worthy of such an act. It had provided a good reason to leave the bastard's side, along with another; Inuyasha really needed to talk to Kagome.

It was with a parting insult that Inuyasha leapt out the open window and made his way down to the forecourt. Kagome should have calmed down by then, so he should have been safe from any anger driven sits. However, as he began to hear the girl, he found that showing his face in front of Kagome was proving to be harder than he'd imagined. He walked slowly, his steps coming every few seconds, accompanied with the scratch of dirt against roughened, tough skin. His perked ears caught Kagome's voice much easier as he spotted the corner of the giant building he was walking around.

His friends were talking to a servant.

Inuyasha's courage failed for a moment, as he hastily halted and hid behind the same corner he'd just appeared from, like a mouse scampering from its burrow before seeking refuge as it was surprised by a clatter. He pressed his back against one of the plaster walls, simply listening.

“But Kagome got to stay inside the castle before!” Inuyasha heard Shippo whine with a high pitched voice.

Someone shuffled their feet, the servant was probably bowing, “I apologise, but these are the orders given to me. Lady Chiyo was very particular with them and she can't be disturbed. Miss Kagome will be staying with Kazuo and his family, for one night in the least. Arrangements have already been made.” The voice was strong, as though she were a general in an army. Yet a peek showed that she was wearing a plain, green kimono. She was probably the castle's nurses or sitters, Inuyasha reasoned, especially because of the calm, assertive tone she possessed.

“Do you know of the reason why our Lady has ordered this?” Miroki inquired politely. Inuyasha could just see the smile gracing the lech's face.

Again, Inuyasha peeked around the corner, finding himself feeling like a little kid watching something he shouldn't. The servant smoothly tugged her cool blue hair behind her pointed ears, “I can't discuss that.”

Inuyasha scowled when he spied Miroku taking the demoness' hand in his own. Did the stupid monk want to lose that arm? You didn't flirt with a demoness for a reason! “Come now, a beautiful demon like yourself? I am sure you know plenty.”

It was almost too much for Inuyasha's stomach as the demoness blushed and turned bashful, hiding her pink lips behind her clasped hand. Inuyasha could barely hear her when she leaned forward (motioning Miroku to do so as she did) and whispered, “You didn't hear it from me, but I believe she's worried about the masters. Lord Sesshomaru has been terribly ill and Lord Inuyasha has a horrid temper.”

`Horrid temper'? He'd give that wench, `horrid temper'! He had every fucking reason to be angry! How the hell was he supposed to accept sleeping with his fucking bastard of a brother every night simply because the stupid fuck couldn't take a bit of human blood? How did the hag and whoever else knew expect him to fucking bend to their every idea? Sesshomaru may have been the centre of their universe, their oh so mighty Lord who had to be obeyed and was cared for, but Inuyasha wasn't going to bend over to that bastard's every whim and wile!

“Uh, Inuyasha?”

The half demon blinked, finding himself being stared at by his friends and a worried looking servant. There was three feet between them, as though they were afraid he were going to lash out. “What the hell's wrong with you all? What are you fucking staring at?!” He snarled.

“You were growling so loudly we could hear you from where we were.” Shippo answered as he bounded from Kagome's arms and scaled the half-demon's haori sleeve, “Is there something wrong?”

Inuyasha snorted as Shippo settled himself on top of his left shoulder, the slight weight comforting though he'd never admit it, “Nothing's wrong, I was just thinking about something.”

Miroku chuckled, the links on his staff jingling in the slight breeze, “You will forgive us for not believing you.”

Inuyasha snorted again, his arms crossing as he turned his head and huffed, “Fuck you.”

The monk continued to chuckle , his voice being replaced with Sango's as she asked how he'd been and if Sesshomaru was alright. Inuyasha's story was bluntly stated; Sesshomaru had been ill, and now that the bastard was basically well again, he was as ungrateful as ever. Shippo joined in with a smart arsed comment here and there, only to be knocked off Inuyasha's shoulder or ordered to shut up. The servant only spoke when spoken to. However, Kagome was silent, her large, doe brown eyes glued to the ground. Inuyasha cut through the conversation already surrounding him.

Inuyasha's golden gaze locked with the top of Kagome's head. “What's going on with Kagome's living arrangements?” He asked gruffly, as he cleaned out an ear with his pinky.

The servant bowed, “Lady Chiyo has ordered that Miss Kagome stay with Kazuo and his family. I don't know why.”

“You just said it was because Sesshomaru was `terribly ill'. Make up a story and stick with it.” Kagome didn't look up, didn't scold him for being rude, didn't ask him to keep his voice down. He eyed her for a moment. Supposedly doing nice things for a woman softened them, made them easier to talk to because they'd actually listen or because they saw that you cared in some way. Inuyasha frowned and softened his brash voice, “If you want I can find you somewhere else to stay, Kagome.”

It was the first time he'd seen the girl's face in a little over a week and as she glanced at him, she stuttered, “Ah, no. No. That's alright. Chiyo must have a reason for me to not be in the castle! It's alright!” She turned to the servant, “Would you show me where Kazuo's home is?” She asked quietly.

The servant nodded and motioned to the large front gates, ushering Kagome to them with a bow of her head and a polite goodbye to the remainder of Inuyasha's pack. Kagome didn't look back, her form hunched as she hurried away, as though she were a child rushing away from their abusive father.

It made him feel like shit.

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The room was silent as each of its occupants examined each other.

Sesshomaru had never been one for surprises. Even as a pup, he'd preferred things were given to him straight, rather than him waiting and being taunted with the object or news' existence only to find that the surprised hadn't been worth the attention he'd given it or the torture he'd received whilst wondering. As he sat in his rooms, his back as straight as it would allow without causing him to collapse into a trembling fit, Sesshomaru found that this one was no exception.

By the closed shogi, Chiyo stood with another, younger demoness. She looked quite surprised to see him, her golden eyes wide as she stared at him unabashedly. It seemed his healer had been right in assuming the woman wouldn't listen to her or his orders to stay away. The woman was a dog demon, a fact that made Sesshomaru's mind run at speeds only he could master. She was obviously full demon and bore markings so alike his own that Sesshomaru was more than positive they were related in some way. This was only strengthened by the deep blue crescent moon that adorned her forehead proudly.

He'd been told on many occasions that he'd inherited his own markings from his mother. From colour to shape his relatives had echoed that he was very much a male version of his mother. Sesshomaru couldn't remember having any cousins with magenta stripes on their faces, nor could he remember any great aunts, uncles or great, great grandparents with moon markings. They'd each abandoned his father after he'd taken his human wench as a mate. He'd also born witness to most of their farewells, all of which resulted in a pitying or accusing glance at Sesshomaru. He could remember every one of them from his cousin Koshirou to his grandmother Akeginu, which is what worried him. By all rights, there shouldn't be a dog demon alive he didn't know or hadn't heard about. Despite his father's mistakes, Sesshomaru had been invited to meet new members of the family as soon as they were born and had their scents catalogued in his mind. He did not recognise the woman in front of him from sight, scent or sound and it worried the demon Lord immensely.

“Lady Chiyo,” Sesshomaru intoned as he eyed his healer, “I was under the impression you didn't want to anyone to visit me.”

The elderly demoness bowed, “My apologies, my Lord. But I'm afraid this matter is far too pressing to ignore.”

The demon Lord inclined his head and turned to the woman, before he motioned to the opposite side of the small table he was seated at. With Inuyasha gone, he'd attempted to read one of the few scrolls Chiyo had provided him. They were about male pregnancy and he was not pleased to see that there weren't any loop holes to be found amongst the garbled words. “Please, sit down.” He said.

Chiyo collected a silken mat for the woman to take her place on from one of the small niches situated on the east side of the room, easily and swiftly rolling it out for the demoness. The healer then stepped back, so she was standing behind the woman. Sesshomaru frowned. What was Chiyo doing? She was his healer, she was supposed to stand behind him. Sesshomaru chose to ignore the healer's disrespectful behaviour; he'd talk to her about it later, when they didn't have company and he could question her on the reason why everything seemed to be situated higher than normal.

“Your name and your purpose?” He stated blandly.

The woman was silent for a moment, as though she were scrutinising him, checking him for weakness. Sesshomaru ignored the heated thrum the pup was causing in his belly, idly rubbing the tips of his fingers over his swelling tummy, hoping it wasn't all that visible under the loosely tied yukata he was wearing.

The woman's voice was smooth and rich when she finally answered, “I am Lady Satori, and I would rather not discuss my business in front of the company we have.”

Sesshomaru noticed Chiyo's frown wrinkle her face further, immediately, “Chiyo will stay. It is you that has intruded upon me.”

The demoness inclined her head, her platinum white fringe tickling at the marking on her forehead, a sly smile gracing her pretty pink lips, “As you wish.”

The hiss of clothing sliding against silk, echoed throughout the room as Sesshomaru watched the woman stand gracefully, as though she were made of water and her sandals tapping rhythmically against the ground as she rounded the small table. Their molten eyes locked, as Sesshomaru tracked her, but didn't move otherwise. Her presence didn't intimidate him, though it did cause him to be curious. Who did this woman think she was to treat him with such disrespect?

“Do you know who I am, Sesshomaru?” Satori asked as she knelt beside him, her legs tucked beneath her. Her kimono was like that of the wind sorceress, Kagura, blue and red with the few areas or images made of white. Was this another of Naraku's tricks? Like the one he'd pulled on Inuyasha?

Sesshomaru's gaze sharpened, examining the demoness as he answered, “I have not heard of you.”

The woman looked vaguely surprised, but hid it quite well; the only indication being the slight widening of her own molten gold eyes. She frowned, her elegantly arched eyebrows drawing themselves together under the crescent moon, “Not at all?”

“No.”

She seemed angry with the news as her face darkened like a thundercloud and her heated gaze trailed to Chiyo. The elderly demoness was watching uneasily. “Who ordered that my son not be told of his mother?” The demoness hissed, “Why does he not know of me?”

Mother? Surely this Satori was delusional; his mother had passed on the night of his birth; it seemed that bearing him had been too much for her. He'd been told of her fate many times. This trick would not work. Sesshomaru watched carefully.

“You know of our ways-”

Satori cut her off, “I recall Tenzen being able to see his children once he was exiled, why has my name not been shared with him? I am sure it would not take much effort!”

“My Lady, you know I cannot go against any of the master's orders!” Chiyo's voice was raspy as though she were frightened, weary. She suddenly appeared to be her age in Sesshomaru's eyes.

Again, Satori's mouth opened to bark a reply, however, Sesshomaru would hear no more, “Enough. You will not insult my healer. Your trick is for nought; my mother passed away some time ago. Who are you really, Lady Satori. Or will you force my hand?”

“Dead? You told Sesshomaru, I was dead?” The woman looked scandalised, her face the expression of impending doom for the smaller woman.

“We were under the impression that you were, my Lady.” The woman seemed tired, extremely old. Sesshomaru watched with cold eyes as Chiyo turned to him, “My Lord, this is - she is most definitely your mother, Lady Sat-”

However, Sesshomaru wasn't listening. His ears seemed to have been filled with cotton, his eyes stuck open. He stared ahead, seeing and yet not watching as Chiyo's crinkled lips moved. His mother - His supposedly deceased mother was standing in his chambers. His mother was bickering with his healer as though there hadn't been a day between their last meeting.

“What happened?”

The women shushed as Chiyo scuttled to Sesshomaru's other side, placing a warm hand on his right cheek, before moving to his neck then chest. Satori answered, her voice sympathetic, “I was exiled.” She said. Chiyo's hand stilled, “I was wrongly accused by a dear friend of your father's and he took his side over his mate's.”

“You were not, child! Now be silent.” Chiyo frowned, “My Lord, please go to bed. You are suffering from the beginnings of a fever. You're still weak, Inuyasha should not have left your side.”

Sesshomaru pushed her hand from his shoulder, “Inuyasha has his priestess to converse with and I am no child. I'm fine.” He shared a brief annoyed, glance with Chiyo as she frowned and began to move back to her place, “Leave us, Chiyo.” She paused, as though she was waiting for him to take back his command. It took a moment more before she nodded and left.

It seemed like it took years until the shogi hissed shut, leaving Sesshomaru and Satori in silence. It sounded as though it were in a dream when it did, muffled almost. Sesshomaru remembered when he used to wish for a mother, wish that she was still alive and able to knock his young relatives around the head when they were being especially nasty and ward off the loathing glares he'd received from the older ones. But now that she was here…

“Prove you are who you say you are.”

“Cautious, aren't you?” She commented dryly, before she took to looking about the room, “You certainly didn't get that from your father.”

Sesshomaru inclined his head as acknowledgement, “We may look similar and you may be recognisable as `Satori', but there are many ways for you to change your appearance and scent.” Kagura's acting as Inuyasha's human priestess was the demon Lord's most recent example. Sesshomaru wanted to be careful. His eyes narrowed, “Show me something that proves you are who you say you are, something that no one other than you can do.”

Satori seemed a bit ruffled by his request, as she shifted the pelt hanging off her elbows and frowned. She stared for a few moments before she asked carefully, “Inutaisho told you about the Meidoseki stone, didn't he?”

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

Chiyo hadn't a clue what to do! And as she stood outside of Sesshomaru's chambers she could do nothing but frown and hope her Lord was smarter and not thinking with his long held desires. She knew very well about his wishes for a mother from when he was much younger, the elderly demoness simply prayed the boy had grown out of them enough to think with his head.

He'd done well so far in asking for more proof than her testimony. Sesshomaru didn't seem to believe Satori was actually Satori. Chiyo couldn't blame him for a moment; Satori should have been dead, she should have been buried whatever the distance under the ground Inutaisho had left her!

Chiyo was regretting not having told Sesshomaru of the real reasons of his mother's passing, about her treachery and punishment. At least now she would have had some advantage; Satori was filling the boy's head with lies! And even worse, it seemed Sesshomaru had known the Meidoseki stone had belonged to his mother and had heard of its less than desirable attributes and how to conquer them! And Satori had the stone! They were now talking of Satori's demise and how she had wanted to see him -

The elderly healer took in a calming sigh; it would do her no good to get all riled up; she couldn't think straight when she was. She'd have to conquer this with wits.

But by the heavens it was incredibly hard! Exiled! Bah! Had always wanted a son! Lies was what the demoness was spilling down the front of herself! Chiyo could feel her blood boil; She'd heard better lies from toddlers!

“Oi, Old Hag!”

The shout caused Chiyo's emerald gaze to snap up to the scarlet clad figure striding down the hallway immediately, as she hissed, “Shh! Inuyasha it is incredibly important that we stay quiet!” She whispered frantically. It was enough that her Lord and lady could hear her, without anyone outside Sesshomaru's rooms yelling and disturbing what little peace the castle had seen that week.

“Why? What the hell's wrong?” He knelt by the shogi, his nose twitching experimentally, “What the fuck! That's the woman Shippo and the others were warning me about! Is Sesshomaru in there alone with her?”

“It is best that you stay out here, Inuyasha. Your temper will only make things worse.” Chiyo attempted to reason as the half demon stood straight and moved to wrench the tea coloured door aside, “My Lord!”

Chiyo was greeted with the image of Sesshomaru's stomach being eyed curiously by a dangerous demoness. Satori's hands were poised on the table as though she were itching to touch, to feel the pup - her grandchild - move, but was far too polite to do so. Their quiet talk had halted as soon as Inuyasha had pulled the shogi open.

Inuyasha's rushing to his mate's aid was about as quiet and unobtrusive as the elephants Chiyo had been told of, as he stomped to the pair and glared with the heat of a raging bonfire at his mother in law and stepmother. He immediately growled `get the fuck away from him' when his claw bearing hands touched Sesshomaru's arm. The most amusing element to the scene would have been the way Inuyasha wrapped his arm around Sesshomaru's back and the way his right hand sought out the growing lump of his belly, as Sesshomaru frowned and glared and was completely ignored. Or it would have been had Satori's eyes not narrowed perilously and her hands not started to glow fluorescent green from their place in her lap.

“Listen lady,” Chiyo heard Inuyasha snarling before she'd managed to reach the table, “Sesshomaru's fucking pumped enough of that stuff inside me to leave me practically immune! I'm not scared, so piss off!”

Sesshomaru's voice sounded over the continuous, deep rumble reverberating from his younger mate as he continued his glaring, “Be quiet, Inuyasha. I do not care for your `protection'.” He said as he pushed Inuyasha's hand from its place on his abdomen, only to have to do so again a moment later.

Chiyo was content with watching as Satori and Inuyasha exchanged glares and Sesshomaru attempted to remove Inuyasha's hands without melting them off. Perhaps Satori would let her tongue slip as she growled and spat at Inuyasha? Perhaps the mystery of her being alive would be solved easily? Chiyo stood a few feet away from the group and rubbed her arthritis stricken hands together, easing her aged bones.

Satori didn't seem impressed as she eyed Inuyasha, her countenance was made up of a combination of disgust and interest; this would have been the first time she'd seen a half demon, “You're his mate? The half-breed, Inuyasha?” She asked slowly, cautiously.

Inuyasha scowled, his eyebrows drawn into the centre of his head, “Yeah, what of it?” He barked.

An elegant, ebony brow rose as Satori turned to Sesshomaru, “I hadn't thought my son would mate such a disgrace. I had thought you possessed better taste.” Chiyo could see the steam flying from Inuyasha's ears as he opened his mouth to retort, only to be cut off, “And he is rude also. How long have you been mated? Considering your'e pregnant, Sesshomaru, it would have been quite a bit, wouldn't it? You must trust him a lot to have allowed him to act as the dominant partner. Did you order him to do so?”

She seemed oddly calm as she asked all this, as though she knew some of the information she was asking for already. It was odd for a demoness of Satori's social stature to accept anything even remotely human. Chiyo frowned, “My Lady, please do not pry. It is personal.”

“Are you not curious at all, Chiyo?” The demoness asked as she turned her cool, golden gaze on her, “I am.”

“Just shut up! We hardly know you!”

Satori gained a stony countenance as she sat up straighter, “I am Sesshomaru's mother, Satori, Lady of the Western Plains. And I am now both your step mother and your mother-in-law, show some respect.”

“I'm afraid Inuyasha hasn't the slightest understanding of respect.” Sesshomaru commented idly, “But such things may be discussed later. We now have two participates for this test of yours. Which would you prefer? Chiyo or Inuyasha?”

Chiyo blinked with wonder as Satori thought, her eyes closing for a moment before she answered, “Whichever is brave enough to dare touch the stone.”

The elderly demon was horrified to see Satori lift the stone from her lap, where it had been hidden under a fluffy end of her magnificent cream pelt. The stone glimmered eerily in the sunlight. It seemed to call her.

“What the hell are you two talking about and what the hell is that?” Inuyasha asked crudely.

“This is the Meidoseki stone. It is a family heirloom that will be passed to Sesshomaru once I have died. It is lethal to those outside of my bloodline; it will kill you slowly and will start as soon as another has touched it.” Satori placed the gem on the low table, “Sesshomaru doesn't believe that he was born from me, should I find someone with enough courage to attempt to touch the stone, I will prove that we are related.”

The smirk that had found Inuyasha's face made Chiyo uneasy, “Inuyasha, it would not be wise to touch that; you are half human, I do not know how you will react to its powers. They may very well kill you far quicker because of it!”

Inuyasha scoffed, “I doubt that. I bet this stone's a piece of shit and your story's a fucking lie too.”

“Then I beg you to attempt to keep a hold of it.”

Chiyo's rickety legs moved her forward as Inuyasha picked up the sparkling, pale blue gem. He rolled the rounded stone in his hand and held it up to gain a good look; “You see that. I told you you're full of shi-”

Her legs propelled Chiyo forward as Inuyasha gasped and growled, his left hand clasping at his right wrist. His blood vessels had raised against the skin, attempting to pull themselves from the skin and into the stone. He bit his lip to keep from gasping again, simply swearing and cursing the stone as it started to turn his hand bright red.

Chiyo wouldn't dare touch it, her hands clasping the fingers that held onto Inuyasha's wrist. Thankfully, she found Sesshomaru's hand curling around the stone, before it was yanked from Inuyasha's hand, a loud and echoing `fuck!' having been released with it.

“Inuyasha, are you alright child?” The elderly healer asked as she aided Sesshomaru in laying Inuyasha down. The boy was completely white, so much so he was able to compete with Sesshomaru. The clattering of rare stone against wood alerted Chiyo to Sesshomaru's dropping of the stone, as she grasped Inuyasha's hand as gently as she could manage.

The damage wasn't as severe as it could have been; a layer of flesh had been torn from the bone (and was most likely still connected to the stone, had Satori or Sesshomaru not peeled it off yet).

“Sesshomaru, we must get him to bed and you must do as he has done for you this past week. He may be terribly ill for a few hours yet.” Chiyo informed the demon Lord, as she grasped Inuyasha by his feet. Her aged bones creaked as she tugged him over to the bed as gently as she could manage.

She ignored the words swapped between Satori and her son, finding that she was just about ready to scold the young demoness; she would do so out of her son's hearing. Chiyo settled Inuyasha into bed. It was a cumbersome task that she wouldn't allow Sesshomaru to help her with. Inuyasha's blood stained several areas of the blankets, the pattern irregular and the contrast high. Scarlet blood didn't go well with ultramarine blue sheets.

“My Lord, are you alright?” It was the first time she'd noticed Sesshomaru's clenched teeth, as she stilled in her puttered about Inuyasha and settled him.

“The mating mark is burning.” He stated blandly.

The demoness eyed him, “You didn't protect your mate. You should not have let Inuyasha pick up the stone; I warned you, did I not?” At the stony glare she received in return, Chiyo continued, “But it will ease as long as you stay with your mate. Lay down.”

It was with a great deal of duress that the demon Lord did, his yukata sliding from his shoulders as he did so. Chiyo found it oddly fascinating to watch Sesshomaru settle himself. He seemed about as keen as Inuyasha had when she'd mentioned this to him. “The mark will stop burning once Inuyasha is well?” He asked again. Chiyo nodded, Sesshomaru wrapped his arm around Inuyasha's torso and slowly laid his head on the half demon's shoulder.

Chiyo stood straight, her bones cracking and snapping as she watched with wonder as Sesshomaru frowned, “I will be back, Sesshomaru. I'll return with bandages and a healing salve. Be sure he doesn't move about.” She pivoted, “And please take the time to think about Lady Satori's appearance. I am not sure she holds pure intentions.”

She didn't get to hear Sesshomaru's reaction to her gut feeling, nor did she see his frown darken.

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Woffy: Satori's a manipulative bitch, isn't she? This will be edited within the next week; I went all angry, mad author-woman on the end of this chapter; I got a review that just annoyed the shit out of me and it made me go between being unable to write anything and writing OOC crap down.

Many thanks to my darling reviewers: Amanda Saitou, midnightwhispers (you're not! Stop saying so!) and sharkie. Your support is appreciated and cherished.

Reviews make this author write, write, write! So review!