InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For The Last Time ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

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

You wanted an update? Well here you go!!

Chapter Dedication: S. T. Nickolian my favorite crossover author. I am so pleased that you are reading my works!! squeals and hides under the bed. all you can see is two blue eyes peeking out from the shadows and some red hair framing the eyes. Ahem...so ya, thanks soooo much!

Explanation: single quotes (‘’) are Beast talk, double quotes (“”) are normal speech.

Disclaimer: I don't own this show. But I do own this story line, what I am going to do to Hojo, and the new characters I have introduced.


Previously in For The Last Time...

The light blond picked up a vial, uncapped the needle, stuck it into the bottle and drew out the bit of liquid that was inside.

"Now," she said with a smile, "transform and this won't hurt a bit."

&&&&&

Allyson watched with mirth overflowing in her eyes as Stacey advanced on Sesshomaru.

"Wait!" Kagome cried, lunging at the vet and grabbing the arm that had the needle in it.

"What?!" Stacey snapped, her eyes glinting dangerously. "What is so important that you would latch onto my arm that has an uncapped needle in it? A needle that has a substance toxic to humans?!"

"Sorry! But if you think about it, Sesshomaru shouldn't transform right here. It could knock my house down and attract attention from the highway and traffic choppers!" the inu priestess protested. "Can't we take him to your office or something?"

Stacey sighed, really, pups could be so frustrating sometimes. "No, we can't take him to the office. Someone might recognize him and if he did transform in the clinic, he would definitely knock the place down."

"Isn't there anywhere else he can go?" the raven haired girl asked with a whine in her voice.

Allyson sighed, there was one place... "Stacey," she called, capturing the blonde's attention. "Can we take him to the ranch?"

"Perhaps, if I could move my arm," she growled.

Her partner laughed and plucked the young woman off Stacey's arm. "Better?"

"Much," the blonde snorted in an eerily similar manner to Sesshomaru.

“Now don’t start that again!” Allyson cried. “I only broke you of the habit of imitating Sesshomaru fifty years ago. It’s too soon to start back up.”

“Whatever. Fine, let’s go to the ranch. Itoko, do you need help getting down the steps?”

“Iie, I am fine,” Sesshomaru said, struggling to his feet.

In an instant, the blond haired girl was beside her cousin. She slipped an arm beneath his shoulder and around his chest.

“Right,” Stacey snorted softly. “You’re fine and I’m a horse.”

“Hey!” Allyson cried indignantly. “I take offense to that remark!”

The younger vet smiled to her friend and ally.

All this time, Sesshomaru had been watching his younger cousin, wondering. “Juumai, why did you cut your hair? Shukubo would be outraged.”

“Exactly, did you really think I would cut my hair? Honestly, you’re denser than I thought. That would leave me open for people to remove me from the family. It’s a spell, Itoko. When it is lifted my hair is down to my knees and is my natural color.” She sighed. “You do what you have to in order to fit in with the humans.” She turned her head away from her cousin’s inquiring gaze.

“Hn,” was Sesshomaru’s reply.

This elicited a laugh from both vets. “There’s the cousin I know and love,” Obsydian said, gently nuzzling Sesshomaru’s neck.

She was surprised when Sesshomaru returned the gesture, gently nuzzling her temple.

“Now stop that. You scare the crap out of me when you turn mushy. Come on, let’s get you down to the truck and to the ranch,” the young woman said, gently helping him down to the steps and to the truck. Good think Kyr got a king size cab, she thought as she opened the back door.

Gently and slowly, she helped her cousin step up and sit down on the back seat of the truck.

“Hang on, Sess, I’m going to go around and sit with you. I’ll be right there and I promise we’ll cut the music so we won’t deafen you,” Stacey explained, gently shutting the door and running to the other side. She opened the door, closing it behind her as she crawled into the backseat and sat beside her cousin.

Since when have I allowed her to call me ‘Sess’? Sesshomaru thought.

Um…how about now because you haven’t seen her in nearly six hundred years and you’re gravely injured.

She never called me that in the past…

Ya, because our parents we’re always around and it is definite that she would have been punished if she had referred to you in such a familiar manner in front of them.

Hn…

@@@@

Kagome was in shock. She didn’t know that Sesshomaru had family. If she had been pressed to describe possible family members, she would have said they would be as cold and uncaring as he. She would have been wrong, though. That much was obvious to her now. It was clear to see that Sesshomaru loved his cousin and she loved him. It made her wonder what they went through in their childhood to experience such a bond. The priestess decided that she would pump the information from Sesshomaru once they were back in the Feudal Era.

@@@@

Allyson watched as her friend and ally helped the Western Lord down the steps leading up to the Higurashi Shrine. She turned to follow her partner down the steps when she noticed the two kids still standing there, frozen in shock after the public display of affection Sesshomaru had just exhibited.

She chuckled to herself when she called out to them. “Hey, are you guys coming or not?”

“Hu? Ya, we’re coming!” the young woman called.

“By the way, I still don’t know your name. Who are you?” she asked as the two kids caught up with her.

“Oh, I’m Kagome and this is my little brother, Souta,” the priestess, Kagome, said.

“Kagome, eh? Weird, that name sounds familiar…” the dirty blonde mused.

“Ya, that is weird. I’ve never met you before today. At least, not that I know of,” Kagome shrugged the thought off. They continued down the steps in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

The two kids stopped when they reached the truck, unsure of where they were supposed to sit.

Allyson hopped into the driver’s seat, looking in the rearview mirror at the two in the backseat.

“Hey, Syd, where do you want the two kids to sit at?” she asked.

“Stick the boy in the backseat since he’s smaller and put the girl up front with you. Make sure they buckle up. We don’t need them getting hurt if you get into a wreck,” Sesshomaru’s cousin ordered distractedly while looking over his wounds once more.

“Hey!” Allyson cried in a wounded tone. “I’m not that bad a driver.”

“Let’s not get into how many times you’ve wrecked your car or nearly wrecked it,” Obsydian snorted.

“Nearly half of those wrecks were the other person’s fault because they were on a cell phone!” the horse valiantly tried defending herself.

Sesshomaru gave her a sidelong glance. “That does not assure This Sesshomaru of his safety.”

Stacey laughed aloud and Allyson pouted. “Whatever,” she mumbled and stuck her head out the window. “Hey, hop in. Souta, you’re in the back with Syd and, Kagome, you’re up front with me,” the horse explained before pulling her head back in the window.

The siblings looked to each other and shrugged before following the directions given to them. Each climbed into their respective seats, buckled up and hung on tight.

‘Hey, Kyr,’ Obsydian called in beast. ‘It looks like the pups have the idea of the ‘oh shit!’ handle down pat!’

‘That isn’t funny, Syd. I really am not that bad a driver,’ Kyra replied in kind.

“Hey, Sis,” Souta called nervously, eyeing the two youkai beside him. “What are they saying?”

“I don’t know, Souta. Sesshomaru hasn’t taught me Beast yet,” Kagome explained, glaring at her sensei who was studiously avoiding her gaze.

‘It’s funny, ya know? Pups, they always think that if they don’t want you to understand them then you won’t,’ Kyra said.

‘Especially human pups!’ Obsydian laughed heartily when Kyra joined in.

It is pretty funny, Sesshomaru thought with a smirk.

Twenty minutes later, Allyson pulled off the main highway and onto a small dirt road. She slowed down to ease the pain of any bumps they might hit. Another five minutes and the group pulled into a moderately sized ranch’s driveway.

“Here we are!” the vets chorused.

“Home sweet home,” Allyson sighed.

They all piled out of the truck, Stacey helping her cousin gingerly step out of the cab and across to a large pasture.

The white dog ground his teeth in frustration. He hated being so helpless!

Stacey stepped back and allowed her cousin to transform before opening her medical kit and extracting three syringes, a needle and stitching, as well as some iodine. She whispered an enchantment over them to help them penetrate the dog's tough skin and to speed the healing.

“Sesshomaru, this is going to sting…a lot. I’ll numb the area but first I need to clean it up and shave some hair off, okay? I need your word that you won’t turn around and snap my head off,” Stacey asked.

Sesshomaru dog nodded and lay on his uninjured side.

Stacey stepped forward and thoroughly shaved the area surrounding the gashes of hair before swabbing them in iodine. She felt him tense up with the first pass of the medicinal swab.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered soothingly. “I know it hurts, but I’ve got to do it. The area is becoming infected. It didn’t help that Uncle’s blade is enchanted, that is what is preventing you from healing quickly.”

It is. It is also why it took my arm so long to grow back. I was grateful when the priestess restored it for me, Sesshomaru thought.

“Don’t worry, Sesshomaru!” Allyson called. “Obsydian will fix you in no time! It’s one of her specialties after all.”

“And I’ll put you to sleep if you don’t shut up!” Stacey called, turning and shaking her fist at her partner.

Shock, horror and humor mixed on Souta’s and Kagome’s faces, creating a strange emotion within them.

‘What did the horse mean, Juumai?’ Sesshomaru asked in Beast.

‘Nothing. If I told you, you would kill her and I need her in the clinic. Plus I really don’t want to explain to anyone who comes sniffing around about her absence. Besides, it doesn’t matter now. I’m through stitching anyway.

‘The threads are enchanted, Itoko. They will help to speed up the healing process, and when you are completely sealed up, they will dissolve so you won’t need to seek me out again. You know, you could visit me more often,’ Obsydian said.

‘I am Lord of the Western Lands, Juumai. My duties do not present me any free time,’ Sesshomaru replied.

‘Ya, ya, I know. I know you don’t love me enough to visit or send for me,’ she joked weakly.

Sesshomaru growled deep in his chest, its meaning clear to the young woman.

‘Thanks, Itoko,’ she smiled, wrapping her arms around the giant dog’s muzzle.

The Western Lord reverted, wrapping his younger cousin in his own embrace. He stepped away from her a moment later.

“Come, Miko, it is overdue for us to return,” he said curtly.

“Fine, but, Sesshomaru, you’re not carrying me to the well. Your cousin can take us back in her truck,” Kagome huffed, indignant about being ordered around.

“Hey!” the vets chorused. “What makes you think that we’ll just drop everything to get you back to your home? And who said you could borrow my truck?!” Allyson seethed, eyes narrowed.

“Easy there, champ. Quit chomping the bit and let’s just get them out of our hair by dropping them at her place,” Stacey said, laying a calming hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Besides, I was going to take them anyway. I haven’t had a good run in quite a while.” She turned to her cousin. “You may transform, but no fighting for a week. I don’t think the stitches will rip, but if they do, you can either find me back then or come to me now. Are you up for a race?” she grinned.

“This Sesshomaru always ready to beat you,” Sesshomaru sniffed.

“What makes you think you’ll win in your condition?” Stacey smirked, her eyes turning red.

“Everything,” her cousin replied, shifting his form as well.

Soon, the two dogs stood side by side. Sesshomaru rose above his cousin by only three feet, a paltry amount compared to the difference between himself and Kagome.

‘Kyr, ask the kids who they want to ride on!’ Obsydian called to her cousin.

‘Why don’t you ask them yourself?’ Kyra responded.

‘I don’t speak human in this form, twit!’ the husky like dog huffed.

‘Your cousin can,’ Kyra teased.

‘Perhaps it is because he wants to, while I have no intention of doing that. Unless, of course, it is life or death. Even then, it would depend on who it was. I mean–‘

“Alright, Syd, I’ll ask. Just quit yapping!” Allyson laughed. She turned to the two awestruck siblings. “Each of you gets to pick which one you want to ride. You’re racing. So hang on tight when you get on. So who gets who?”

“I want Sesshou-no-niichan!” Souta cried.

“No fair, Souta! Why do I have to get stuck with the one who tried to get me when we first met?” Kagome whined.

“Quit, whining, kid. He called dibs first so he gets Sesshomaru. Obsydian isn’t a lightweight either. If I recall correctly, she’s beaten Sesshomaru a time or two in a race,” Allyson defended her friend. “Now, go. They’re waiting.” Indeed they were. Both inu youkai were lying on the ground, roughly five feet apart, watching the small group.

The siblings gulped and stepped forward, each walking to their respective rides. When they stood in front of the two dogs, Souta looked to his sister. “How do we get on?”

“That, my dear brother, is the question of the ages. Sesshomaru?” Kagome asked, turning to her intended.

The dog said nothing, reaching down and grabbing Kagome by the back of her shirt. He lifted her into the air and placed her on his cousin’s back, making sure she was secure before he withdrew his muzzle.

‘Follow suit, Obsydian,’ Sesshomaru ordered.

The bitch nodded and lowered her head, gently grabbing the boy’s shirt and placing him on her cousin’s back. She withdrew quicker than Sesshomaru had with Kagome.

‘Blech,’ she made a face and snorted. ‘Humans taste disgusting. I never could understand how you ate them.’

Sesshomaru said nothing. He stood and looked down at his cousin. ‘Are you ready?’

She jumped to her feet with a yip, Kagome hanging on in a death grip. ‘Am I ever! It’s been years since we last raced. Let’s see, it wasn’t too long before you were named heir.’

‘Alright then you two,’ Kyra called. ‘On the count of three. Ready? One, two, THREE!’ she shouted at the tops of her lungs, dropping the hands she had raised.

The two dogs took off at top speed, each vying with the other to gain the lead. They were nose and nose as they raced high over the city. Obsydian laughed, swerving to the side try and bump her cousin. She only succeeded in throwing herself off balance, stumbling in the air, she almost clipped a small grove of trees only to be saved when her cousin scruffed her and pulled her higher into the air.

'Thanks,' she said, giving his muzzle a soft lick.

Sesshomaru growled deep in his chest, causing the female dog to laugh heartily. He let her go and snorted.

A minute later they landed almost simultaneously. "We won!" shouted Souta from his perch.

The bitch shook her head and snorted. 'No, I won,' she corrected him.

'Obsydian,' Sesshomaru called in a reproachful tone. 'Let the boy have his victory.'

'Ah, you're only saying that because you want to win!' Obsydian pouted.

Sesshomaru sniffed haughtily, reaching over and grabbing Kagome before safely depositing her on the ground.

'Tell the kid he's got to sit on my muzzle, because I am not going to taste human again! They're too salty,' the black and white dog informed her cousin.

The white dog sighed internally. "You are to ride on Obsydian's muzzle," was all he said to the boy.

Souta nodded, a little curious as to why she wasn't going to pick him up like last time. Oh well, this way provided a better view of everything. Slowly, he stepped onto the awaiting muzzle, grabbing the short fur and hanging on with all his might.

Geez, this kid has a strong hold! Obsydian thought. She lowered him to the ground and he quickly stepped off while she reverted. Where a blond woman should have been was a woman whose soft brown hair flowed to her knees. A blue crescent moon rested on her brow above and between her eyes. Her bangs nearly covered the moon, parting only to reveal the lowest tip of the crescent. Claws tipped elegant fingers that were currently rubbing her sore nose. 'Ow,' she whined to her cousin. 'Next time you're getting them down. That hurt!'

Sesshomaru eyed his cousin's form. Indeed, she had grown to be very beautiful, it was a wonder she had not mated yet. Of course, she would have to have the suitor approved by him, tradition states, since her parents had long since died. Perhaps, in this future, she had brought men to him only to have them rejected? Right now, he did not know. But he knew he would find out one day.

Obsydian looked down at herself and sighed. “Geez, I really need to work on that darn concealment spell. It always does this when I transform and revert. I guess you have to go now, hu?”

Her cousin nodded once, still thinking of her love life. How many suitors did she have in one day? Surely there were many who vied for her attention. He could only imagine what they would say if they found out whom she truly was. The princess of the Western Lands, second in line for the throne. He decided that as soon as he reached his castle, he would send for her. She was a security risk to herself when she was not in the Western Lands, or at least somewhere close by where he or some of his men could bail her out of any trouble.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later. Bye, Itoko," she said with a sad smile.

Something, her smile perhaps, triggered another thought in his head. The miko often came back here, every few weeks or so, to restock on supplies from this era. He would accompany her from now on. One way to see his cousin was to make sure that she was there when he returned.

"Juumai," he called. "You are to watch over the boy. He is too young to remain here by himself. His sister returns every few weeks, but otherwise he is not to be left alone. She is my intended, not of my will," he said in a slightly hurried tone when he saw Obsydian's eyebrows shoot up to the top of her head. "If an enemy were to find such knowledge, he would be vulnerable, therefore making her and myself, as well as my lands, vulnerable to attack. To prevent such a tragedy, he is now entrusted to your care. Do not fail." With that, he turned on his booted heel and walked to the well house, opening the door and stepping inside. Carefully, yet quickly, he jumped into the well, allowing its old magic to flow over him and transport him to his own time.

"Whoa," the girls said as one. "Okay...so I guess you'll be staying with him or him with you?" Kagome asked the demoness.

"Hai..." Obsydian said slowly, still not sure of what just happened.

"Then the only thing you really need to know about the house, aside from the enchanted well, is it's really old so be careful when shutting doors and stuff. We don't need a cave in. It is a shrine, and Souta opens it up three days a week to try and bring in some extra money.

"If anyone calls wondering why I'm not at school, you are my relative and I have whatever illness you can concoct. Trust me, they'll believe it. If anyone comes by, I'm contagious and no one is allowed inside the house except for those who've already been exposed. There is one young man who is persistent in trying to date me, if he comes by with some 'gift' to help whatever disease I may have, thank him and take the stuff. Anything anyone gives you for my 'health' issues just put in my room and we can split it when I come back every two weeks. Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. Bye!" she ran off to the well house, following the youkai who was now her protector. Jumping down the well, she smiled. She knew Sesshomaru hadn't set his cousin there to protect Souta, he had done it so when she came back, and he did too, she would be there to see him.

Climbing out in Feudal Japan, she saw him standing there, waiting for her. Smiling a knowing smile, she walked up to him, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "You are a big softy," she laughed quietly.

What in the world? Sesshomaru thought, an eyebrow raised and his hand itching to touch the spot where her lips had just been.

She figured you out, bouzo.

"Hn," was his enigmatic reply.

&&&&

A few days later, Sesshomaru and Kagome were reunited with Rin and Jaken and were continuing their patrolling of Sesshomaru's lands when he suddenly stiffened. He lifted his nose into the air and took a light sniff.

I didn't think she would have arrived yet, he thought. Picking the pace up, the Western Lord lead his small group into a large clearing where his cousin sat in her true form, her ally standing on her nose. The horse was dressed in her customary blue hakama, black boots and blue haori. Her long hair flowed out behind her and her green eyes sparkled with a hint of fear.

"Okay..." Kagome said slowly, not sure why the two were here. "Sesshomaru, what's up?"

He said nothing, though. The dog had finally figured out what the two were doing. Obsydian had invented this technique hundreds of years ago as a way of building the trust between herself and the horse. He, of course, would never deign himself to doing it, no matter how often she begged and pleaded.

"Watch," he ordered.

Obsydian sat there, holding perfectly still while Kyra stood perched atop her nose, holding her hands out to gain her balance. Suddenly, she leapt off of the dog's nose to fall through the air. However, before she could fall very far, Obsydian reached down and snatched her up in her teeth.

Kyra wiggled uncomfortably in the teeth of the giant dog.

‘Be still!’ Obsydian ordered in a growl.

The horse instantly froze, not wanting to anger the youkai that held her tight between her teeth.

Kagome gasped at the sight. They were supposed to be friends, not enemies! What was Obsydian thinking, trying to eat her ally? The young woman stepped forward to give the dog a piece of her mind when she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder.

“Do not interfere,” Sesshomaru intoned.

“But she’ll eat her if we don’t stop this!” she cried petulantly.

“Iie, watch,” he ordered once more.

The priestess did as told, watching as the dog lowered her head and dropped the horse to the ground. The young woman stood there, brushing her clothes out and trying to get the knots out of her hair.

“Come on, Syd! Did we really have to do this right before we were supposed to see your cousin? Now my clothes are all ripped up. He’ll behead me for sure,” she whined.

The husky like dog lay down, her nose only a few feet away from Kyra, and snorted. Hard. The gust of air sent the demoness toppling end over end for several feet before she came to a stop. She sat there, her clothes and hair strewn every where, some sort of moisture covering her from head to toe nearly.

“I’m not even going to ask what it is I’m soaked in,” she said with a shaky voice. Kyra looked up at the approaching dog. “What do you want now?”

To her surprise and disgust, the dog reached out with her tongue and licked her.

“Oh now that is gross! You really didn’t have to do that you know! Ugh,” the horse bemoaned her current state of disrepair. “I cannot believe you just did that. Now I’m not going to see your cousin before I take a bath. You got that?”

Obsydian reverted and looked at her friend. “Too bad, Kyr, you don’t have a choice,” she said with a smirk. She tossed her soft brown hair over her shoulder, adjusting her white haori and hakama and shifting her feet in her gold sandals. The demoness fingered the locket hanging from her neck.

“What do you mean by that?” Kyra wondered, her eyes narrowed.

“See for yourself. My cousin has come to meet us.” She turned to the trees and bowed. “Welcome, Lord Sesshomaru, it is nice to see you again.”

The taiyoukai stepped out of the tree line and inclined his head.

“No!” Kyra screeched, running to hide behind some underbrush on the far side of the clearing. “I can’t believe you did that when he was around! Oh you little bitch!”

“That’s right, Kyr. I am a bitch, and proud of it too. Dog food,” she grinned.

“That isn’t funny!” the horse called out, a hint of panic in her voice.

“Hn. Obsydian, you have come earlier than expected,” Sesshomaru said emotionlessly.

“Ya, well, as soon as I received word that you wanted me, I dragged dog food over there out of bed and flew across the ocean in my true form just to reach you as quickly as possible,” Obsydian explained, a smile lighting up her face.

Kagome and the others stepped forward to stand beside Sesshomaru.

Obsydian squealed loudly when she saw Jaken, who blanched at the sight of her. “Little youkai!” she yelled elatedly. In the blink of an eye, she had the green imp in her arms, squeezing him tight against her voluptuous chest. “Oh I missed you the second most. I remember all the games we used to play together. Catch, fetch, bury the bone and everything else.” She sighed wistfully. “Ah, to be young again.”

The female dog held the poor imp at arm’s length to study him. “You seem different, now. More tired, as if you haven’t been getting enough sleep. Well, we’ll just have to fix that,” she said, deftly placing him on her hip while still holding him tight.

Jaken sent his master a pleading look. His master, however, was doing his best not to break out in fits of laughter at the ecstatic greeting his cousin gave her favorite play buddy, or toy, as Jaken so often put it.

Kagome and Rin, however, were not as emotionally controlled as he was. They were rolling in fits of laughter at the sight. Tears poured from each of their eyes as they knelt in the grass and held onto each other.

Sesshomaru finally decided to take some pity on Jaken. “Juumai, release Jaken. He is still of use to me.”

Obsydian sighed. “Hai, Itoko. Bye, Little Youkai! Don’t worry, though,” she stage whispered. “I’ll be around for us to catch up on old times.”

The little imp cried out in fear at this, running to hide behind his Lord’s hakama.

“I have yet to finish my rounds of the area, Juumai. You and the horse are to accompany me while these duties are completed. You are to learn every nook and cranny of these lands. This is your home, you should know it. Now, let us leave,” Sesshomaru ordered curtly, turning to leave the area.

&&&&&

A/N: Wheh! That was a long one, 13 pages on Microsoft word. It just wouldn’t stop. I have each chapter planned out, mostly, but I have to flesh them out on the keyboard. And well, let’s just say this one was fat. Oh well, now to your muse.

&&&&

Sess is tied to a chair while Kags and FL sit and stare at him

FL: Alright now, you promised. Who pushed Kikyou into the hole?

Sess: sighs; mutters She is so going to get me for this.

FL: softly Who, Sess? Who is going to get you for telling the truth? I promise, I won’t let anyone, other than me, harm you.

Sess: glares Gee, that’s comforting.

Kags: Quit your muttering and spill the beans already! I’m dying of curiosity over here!

FL: to Kags I didn’t know you were a cat.

Kags: Huh?

FL: Ya know, ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’

Kags: Oh, but do you know the other part? ‘Satisfaction brought it back.’

FL: Touché.

Sess: chewing on his ropes, trying to get free. Must…get…free!

FL/Kags: Oh now you don’t. Tell!

Sess: straightens up and looks them in the eyes Dreamish did it. Dreamish pushed Kikyou into the hole. There, ya happy now? Can I go now?

Kags: Wow, never saw that one coming.

FL: Yep, total curve ball. Where is Dreams anyhow?

Sess: Not telling.