InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elsewhere ❯ Elsewhere Nineteen ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor do I profit.


“He is not my friend, but he is with me
Like a shadow is with a foot that falls
His hand is on my back when I step from the sidewalk
Or when I’m walking down these darkened halls”

- Suzanne Vega, Thin Man


Chapter Nineteen

This was a troubling predicament. But somehow the relief told his mind not to care. Why could he only feel like himself in her presence? He stared at her and she looked back into his eyes. It seemed no walls could be between them.

How is it that this bond could prove to outlast the test of time? The blood he had shared in previous trysts did barely but effect him. He surmised it was this paternal attachment causing this grief and…endearment. No matter, only a few more days and this would blessedly pass.

But somehow, here and now, he felt comfort he had rarely experienced. If this were to continue being so… intense, meeting with her family was a must.

He craved to be of sound body and mind again. If he could only have this with her, so be it. Days of emptiness would be unbearable, with this newfound wholeness the situation would be overall manageable.

As the cab pulled up to the shrine Kagome hesitated. She didn’t want to face her mother. She just wanted to be near him, no interruption. Maybe sitting quietly, even sleeping, she didn’t care. This bond was starting to get to her and she knew he must feel the same.

He paid the driver from a small wallet. She never imagined him carrying a wallet. She smiled. He looked to her and exited the car. She followed suit.

Upon entering her house she turned to him and motioned for him to stand at the door. She went into the living room. Her mother was sitting quietly, reading a newspaper. She looked up and smiled.

“Kagome, you’re back early, where are your friends?’ she said looking towards the hall.

Kagome cleared her throat. “Well, I took a taxi home…” she said.

“A taxi? What’s wrong with the bus pass I gave you?” she asked and then realized her daughter had more to say.

“Mom, someone is here who wants to meet you,” she replied. Her mother’s mouth hung open. She knew who it was instantly. She hadn’t prepared to meet this ‘bringer of ill fortune’. She thought she never would have the chance. Her hostess manners kicked in.

“Well… goodness Kagome, invite him in!” she huffed then stood and headed for the front door. Kagome rolled her eyes. She really didn’t want to hear the questions after he had gone. Then a sudden thought seized her mind. What would she do when he left? She pushed it out of her mind and followed her mother.

“Welcome, come in and sit down, I’ll get you something drink,” her mother said impulsively. Seeing this lithe, gorgeous form standing in her door she just let the words fall. Any of the other things she wanted to say to his face faded away. He was godlike.

He bowed slightly. “Thank you, the hospitality of your house is quite pleasing,” and he made his way to the living room. Both mother and daughter looked at one another. The expression was much the same. Kagome followed her mother to kitchen.

His eyes rested on the newspaper on the coffee table, finding something extremely interesting he tore a small column from the bottom and placed it in his pocket. Kagome watched this from the next room with a questioning glance then looked to her mother.

“Mom, please don’t…” she let her words trail. Her mother gave her a sideways wink before leaving the room with a cup in hand.

Her mother offered him the tea and he took it politely. She sat in a chair to the left, unable to think of words to say. Kagome didn’t know where to sit, this situation was grating on her nerves. She ended up sitting adjacent to Sesshoumaru at the other end of the couch. She could tell he was wrapped in his own thoughts but amused yet again.

“I’ve heard a lot about you…” her mother was unsure what to call him. She had, however heard a great deal about him in the past and present.

“Seiitsu, please, call me by that name,” he finished.

She looked at him blankly. It was all to evident why Kagome was very struck on this young, or old she couldn’t possibly tell, Youkai sitting on her sofa. So polite, so handsome and elegant. She looked at Kagome and could tell she was very uncomfortable. She would try not to draw this out but couldn’t think of a single thing to say, thankfully Souta and Grandpa where busy in the shrine. He took the liberty of speaking himself.

“I would like to say I am very impressed and… grateful for your understanding,” he knew then he could produce the same deep blush from her mother. Was the whole family this amusing? “I haven’t been very punctual and concerned for your feelings in the matter, I apologize,” he finished. She thought at that time he didn’t know the scope of her understanding. She narrowed her eyes.

“Kagome is a strong willed young woman, I am grateful to hear you say that but she has a mind of her own. I can only worry and hope she makes the right choices in her life,” she replied. Kagome sunk down on the sofa and put her head in one hand. Sesshoumaru understood the situation completely at that point, however, he was unabashed and held her mother’s gaze.

“I too, have the same worry,” he stated coolly. Her mother turned her head. Something told her that he must care for Kagome but he was stupid to her feelings towards him.

“I’m glad we’ve come to an understanding then,” she replied. This was her daughter and however impressive he was, she would speak her mind. “Hopefully I will have less reason to be concerned in the future,” she said this turning to look straight in his eyes. He enjoyed this, another very challenging and unique human. However, this sounded a bit like a threat. Threats he could definitely deal with. He sat up to place the tea on the table and leaned toward her with narrow eyes. Kagome, seeing this, had enough.

Kagome stood suddenly unconcerned how this would affect him. He stood at the same moment and moved toward her. Damn the girl, why does she continue this behavior after being soundly warned? This surprised Kagome’s mother and she sat staring. This wasn’t a typical human response, she was a bit afraid of him at that point.

“Alright Mom…” Kagome began, but didn’t have the chance to finish.

“Yes, I must be going, it was pleasant to finally meet you Ms. Higurashi,” he said politely, stood then bowed and walked toward the front door. Kagome glared at her mother for a moment then took off after him.

“Are you leaving… so soon?” she asked as he was opening the door. He turned to look at her with an unreadable expression.

“Join me outside,” he replied and slipped out into the summer sun. She bounded after him. He walked to god tree and sat on the bench beside it. His motions were like poetry, she missed watching him move. She snapped out this momentary musing and followed to sit adjacent.

He looked into the sky acting for the all the world as if she weren’t there and this were a chance meeting of strangers on a very public bench.

“This situation has been difficult for me. Excuse my actions today, I am not feeling like myself,” he said while training his eyes on the clouds. He sure could have fooled her. This last couple of hours felt like he’d been trying to prove he hadn’t changed a bit, well, of course, with the exception of the restaurant. She laughed nervously.

“Oh, don’t worry about… well, I was looking for a quick way out of that situation anyway. I really hate to let Houjo-Kun down. He’s been following me around like a love-sick puppy since eighth grade…” she looked at him and could tell the last remark hit a nerve. “Anyway, I’m not very worried about it,” she sighed and put her chin in her hands. She felt like she was walking on pins and needles around him now. What happened to the happiness and relief?

“I am going now,” he stated, her heart sank. But he remained seated like he was waiting for something. He stood suddenly and walked away. This situation was becoming painful for her finally. All the nights spent in romantic dreaming seemed to crash around her then, she felt near tears.

He turned and looked at her as if he could feel the pain. “It seems more time is needed to work past this, I will see you again,” he stated and walked off. She let the tears fall. This one person she had put her hopes in, shared her mind and body with seemed to treat her like a fragile disease.

She laughed at herself. Maybe in a few days this would pass, like he said, and her senses would come back to her. Why would she long for something she could never have?

She sat there and thought about her life in retrospect. All she had ever done was long for something not meant to be. She stood and made the long journey back to her house and up to her room bypassing her silent mother completely. She felt a sudden tugging pain in her stomach and rerouted her course to the bathroom.

.

His longing urge seemed to ease after today’s activities. Aki was flitting about the house but being especially silent and wary of him today. She didn’t want to trouble him. After a relaxing and worry-free meditation he retired to his front room window for some writing. Ideas were coming to him now, things might be turning normal once more.

After writing he sat back and had some serious and calculative thoughts about everything that had transpired. This would be avoided in the future with refraining from physical contact and maybe an annual ‘tryst’ with the youkai females he had come across in the wilderness. Yes, they were part of a lowly wolf pack, but it would definitely take the edge off.

There was a pang in his heart suddenly. And just after he had thought things might be normal, no matter, this bond was slipping as the hours passed and soon enough his mind would be free of her.

Her.

He grieved for the loss of something in his heart, but his mind couldn’t understand what. He hung his head. He would have to see her again before this was all over. Before he could claim his mind for his own again.

He retired to his room, it was filled with her heady scent as old as it was. It was like a warm hand on cold heart. He expected this and curled into the sheets, wrapping himself like a child in the arms of her presence. He drifted peacefully.

.

He woke harshly from blood soaked dreams, panting.

He grabbed for the side table lamp as if in a drunken stupor and cursed at it hit the floor shattering into a thousand pieces. Sitting up on the edge of his bed, head in hands, he struggled to regain control of this breathing.

These weren’t the normal musing of bloodlust he fell into. This was thick and musky, dark and calling. It was Kagome. He jumped from the bed and threw his previous clothing on. Something was wrong.

He flew through the night and landed silently on her roof. Pulling back the window soundlessly he jumped in. She was sleeping peaceful. There was nothing amiss except for a lingering and dark scent.

He followed it.

He soon found himself nestling under sheets and resting his face on her stomach. This was the source.

It was her monthly cycle!

This was preposterous! He had observed many human females grow into these courses naturally, understanding the strange workings of the human body. This useless function rose him from his sleep with swiftness and urgency?

Then he slowly began to understand why as his own arousal gripped his body. At that time he knew he wouldn’t be able to leave her nor be around her. He fought fiercely not to seize her.

He jerked back and flipped the light.

“Get up,” he barked and stalked to her closet. She jumped out of bed instantly, ready to kill what ever mindless demon had happened upon the camp when she realized she was not in the woods, and that was not Inuyasha’s voice. She laughed and sighed all at once having not been jerked from sleep like that in a long time. Then she focused and found Sesshoumaru tearing clothing from her closet and piling it onto her bed.

“What…?” she was drawing a blank. He glared at her and started stuffing the clothing into a yellow bag he found discarded in a corner. He stopped and pointed to her desk.

“Leave your mother a note, you will come with me,” he stated and turned toward her underwear drawer. This was too much, she jumped in front of him.

“Why? What happened? Hey I can get my own underwear… but why?” she implored with sleep in her eyes. She was finally getting a good night’s rest too. This news was shocking but strangely wonderful, why the sudden change of heart?

“Write now, ramble later,” he barked as he pushed her out of the way to grab a fist full of her underwear and cram it into the bag. She felt a bit annoyed and planted herself firmly on the floor.

“Tell me now or I’m not going anywhere,” she tried to say with her sternest voice. He turned on her and growled. Feeling hair standing on the back of his neck he anted up, inches away from her face.

“You are becoming a loathsome nuisance and waste of my time human. Do not plague me with your mock defiance,” this was a whisper she could barely register. Instantly she began to do as he said, feeling dejected and near tears. Why no kindness, happiness to see her?

Anger began to rise in her mind like a forked fiery tongue. She had dreamt of him coming to her window, just like this, with tender words caressing her ears, beckoning for her to come away. This was a twisted nightmare mockery of her heart. She bit back tears until her bottom lip bled while stuffing more underwear into the worn school bag, then a pair of sandals, and hesitantly, her journal.

“What… should I write?” she said softly. She wasn’t in the mood for fighting, resisting, or anger. She could see him relax a bit, finding that she wouldn’t resist.

“That you will return in a number of days and where to find you,” he replied.

“How many days?” she asked, monotone.

“That depends, there is no tentative timeframe,” he replied coolly. She jotted something down on a slip of paper from her desk then looked up at him, bag in tow, and said nothing.

“Good then…” he breathed and grabbed her firmly by her arm. In a flash they were out the window and flying top speed. Clamoring yet again for solid ground she wrapped herself fully around his waist as he was lacking his pelt. He looked down at her, the touch was unsettling but he endured it with much self-control. Flying at a fast pace, thankfully, brings your mind to entertain one task only.

In a minimal amount of time they were at his doorstep. He moved quickly to open the door, pulling from her embrace and hopefully avoiding her touch completely. He stood at the door and motioned her in.

She stepped in and looked at him, eyes heavy with sleep. She looked exhausted. “Are you going to tell me why you’re being so rude and why I’m at your house at this time of night?” she said sullenly. He turned his back to her and walked down the hall turning into the kitchen. She followed leaving her bag at the closed front door.

He sat at his small table, she followed suit with a deep sigh. He looked out the window avoiding her eyes. She propped her hands on the table and laid her head in them, being very confused and frustrated. Somehow he couldn’t read her emotions so he began.

“Dancing around the subject will get us nowhere so I will be blunt.”

She breathed in deeply, readying herself for something horrendous.

“You have started your monthly cycle,” He looked at her now. Not understanding the words at first her brow furrowed then after realizing what he was saying she nodded absentmindedly, wondering why in the world he would bring something so personal up in this conversation. But he is Youkai after all, she would never understand him.

“Being as we are…’bonded’ and the fact that I am Youkai, it is my instinctual nature to protect you and mate you during this time,” she understood that completely and her jaw dropped bringing her instantly out of sullen behavior. He looked back to the window.

“These are ‘monthly’ cycles for humans. But for Youkai these cycles are few and far between. The correct term would be estrus. I know humans have a mocking term for it that I shall not use,.” he scowled slightly, training his eyes to the window as to not see her reaction. There was silence. He looked at her now with smoldering gaze.

“You will not leave my sight during this time. My instincts will not permit it, you will also not be alone with me. Aki is sleeping in the guest quarters and you will remain with her,” he stated coolly while laying down the rules. “I do not care if you use the telephone to speak with your family, however, I do not want any visitors,” she shifted uncomfortably. These rules were something she knew she couldn’t commit to, hell, wouldn’t commit to. This was completely ridiculous yet somehow, deep inside her mind, exciting. He looked at her as if reading her mind.

“I will be within speaking distance at all times. I will know your actions, please, I ask you for my sanity,” he stopped momentarily to look at her. She could detect the slightest reflection of pain. “Do not disobey me, I will not be… controllable if you do not comply with these rules,” she gasped a bit taking that statement to mean many things.

He stood suddenly and stalked off down the hall. She sat and digested this conversation. Her mother would be furious, her grandfather would be hysterical, her friends would consider her the luckiest girl on earth. She smiled a bit then mused about what kind of misfortune these next few days would bring.
-
-
-
A/N: I know this subject is beat like a dead horse by many fics, but I think it was perfect to throw them together for a bit. I understand it to be fact that female canine’s bleed during heat so I used it. I am aware of some discrepancies with that theory, my info is from a breeder but as this individual is a hillbilly it may not be the best to use him as a reference, he says his dogs bleed from the start to the finish always.