InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Gone With the Wind. ❯ Goodbye Inheritance. ( Chapter 18 )

Gone With the Wind

Chapter 18

 

“Answer me!” Keiko demanded, brandishing her new-found weapon awkwardly, as she braced herself against the end table she had snatched it from only moments before. Inwardly she realized she had never used a weapon in her life, and while she was thankful the man across the room hadn't been able to spot her inexperience, she wasn't quite sure what she would do if he suddenly decided to call her bluff.

 

Unless the youkai-king needed an apple pealed, Keiko noted humorously, she was pretty much worthless.

 

“Keiko…” The demon lord offered in a calming tone as he attempted to diffuse the situation. “You are unwell?” He questioned with concern as he extended an arm but kept his distance. “Have the delusions returned?”

 

“D-delusions?” She faltered as she relaxed minutely.

 

“Do you not remember who you are?” The demon-king questioned in a soft a lilting tone. “Do you not remember who I am…my love?” He queried as he locked his soft golden eyes to hers.

 

“I…I don't…”Keiko's brain throbbed as she desperately sought the answers to his questions. She thought she knew who she was…but…then everything suddenly became confused. She was certain the demon lord had one arm too many…but…didn't most people typically have two? Why was it suddenly so difficult to think? Was she ill? Had she recently hit her head or something? Yes, she realized, she had.

 

“Gnah.” The taiyoukai grunted as he suddenly dropped to his knees in the center of the room.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” Keiko screamed as she haphazardly dropped the dagger on the end table again before rushing to his side. “What's wrong?” She questioned, her identity crisis momentarily forgotten, as she grabbed his left arm in the hopes of gaining his attention.

 

A soft smile curled the fallen demon lord's lip as he brought his free hand up to lightly caress the side of her face. “Do not concern yourself.” He reassured. “Please…help me to the bed.” He requested, slowly rising to his feet, as he leaned a good portion of his body weight against her.

 

“Of course.” She responded softly as she escorted the weakened taiyoukai to the large bed in the center of the room. “Are you okay?” She finally questioned, lowering herself to kneel on the hard wood floor, as her demon husband sat on the edge of the strangely Americanized sleeping structure.

 

“You are… so beautiful.” The taiyoukai complimented as he lightly stroked the side of her face again before locking his golden orbs with hers.

 

“You are so……observant.” Keiko teased as she lightly stroked the back of his hand with her own while offering up a weak smile. “It's easy to be beautiful,” she elaborated, “when you're dressed in…” Her voice trailed off as she looked down, and, for the first time, noted the change in her attire.

 

`Wasn't I wearing a large flowing gown?' Her foggy mind queried, recognizing the dress she was wearing as one that should be hanging in her closet back home. `Wouldn't I remember changing into it?' She wondered as she furrowed her brow at the familiar, deep red fabric in confusion.

 

“You seem troubled.” The demon-ruler pointed out as he stared at her confused, down turned face while hooking a clawed finger under her chin.

 

“I…Was I always wearing this?” She questioned inquisitively.

 

“I could …remove it… if it displeases you.” The mighty lord offered suggestively, casually sidestepping her question, as he shot the young woman a sensuous look.

 

Keiko's eyes widened minutely, a deep flush tingeing her otherwise pristine cheeks, as she turned away with a blush.

 

“Should I take that as a yes?” His deep baritone voice teased, his arms wrapping around the young woman's slender waist, as he delivered her quite unexpectedly against the bedding. He released a low playful chuckle at the startled expression of the girl beneath him.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” Keiko squeaked, suddenly finding herself laying with her back against the bed, as the demon above her easily straddled her hips. “What are you…?” She questioned dimly before her neck was suddenly assaulted by the demon lord's hot mouth.

 

“Oh Sesshoumaru…” The young woman moaned as she relaxed against her demon lover's advances.

 

“I burn for you koi.” The youkai king whispered against the trembling female's ear as an anxious clawed palm slowly worked its way under the hem of her dress to lightly caress the skin of her thigh.

 

“Oh Kami …I” Keiko began as she squirmed against the ache building in her center and her uncomfortably wet panties. At that moment all she wanted to do was forget everything she thought she knew and give herself up to the delicious sensations of her demon lover's claws……………… but something deep inside refused to let go.

 

“Keiko…” A deep masculine voice growled, sounding as if it was coming from somewhere miles away. “Do not …” It warned before releasing a painful yelp and drifting back into the nothingness of silence.

 

“Wait…” Keiko whispered as she suddenly felt compelled to seek out the voice; it's cry of pain causing her heart to twist with concern. “Wait!” She insisted a little louder as the hand under her dress continued to move upward.

 

“WHY?!” The frustrated, red eyed youkai-king snarled, peppering her face with small droplets of saliva, as he practically foamed at the mouth above her, obviously irritated with her reluctance.

 

“Something's wrong.” She answered softly as she flinched under his scarlet gaze.

 

“There is nothing wrong.” The taiyoukai snarled as he roughly nipped at the flesh of her neck again.

 

“This,” Keiko panted as she struggled against the youkai and her own bodies urges. “This can't be real.” She whispered softly as a realization suddenly dawned upon her.

 

Everything about this place, herself, her lover was slightly off, slightly wrong somehow.

 

She had first felt it when she looked into the eyes of the servants, Keiko realized, when she had looked into their eyes and found them devoid of personality or individualism. She had felt it again when she pushed herself into the room, the doors giving just enough to let her enter as they seemed intent on pushing her away. Again she felt it when she braced herself against the table next to the entranceway, she recounted, and then when she grabbed for the dagger to defend herself.

 

It was as if all of it was somehow manufactured…as if it were all a dream.

 

“Am I dreaming?” Keiko quietly murmured, the demon lord who had been savagely laving her throat with his tongue suddenly relenting, as he pulled back to look at her in surprise.

 

“It is a dream …” The youkai-king confirmed as he lightly brushed his lips against hers in a sensuous manner. “A beautiful living dream,” He stipulated, twisting her words, as he looked down at her with sparkling golden eyes, “a dream we need never wake from.” He whispered softly as he gently pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss full of need.

 

Tears slowly trailed down the side of Keiko's face as she sobbed brokenly against the taiyoukai's loving, warm mouth.

 

“Koi?” The demon lord questioned softly as he looked down at his bride with concern.

 

“It's not real.” She sobbed. “None of this is real.” She pointed out sadly.

“Of course it is …my love,” He corrected, “What reason do you have to question your reality?” His voice was gentle and slightly condescending.

 

“Because…” Keiko explained as she looked up into the beautiful golden irises of her lover with tears streaming down her face. “I left the dagger on the table…” She nodded in the direction of the dark wooden end table with a simple silver weapon still teetering precariously off its edge, waiting for the demon lord's head to swivel back in her direction, before continuing. “Which means this can't be real.” Her sobs became more violent as she stared into his beautiful golden eyes. She realized at that moment, how deeply her feelings ran for the great taiyoukai, and that her timing truly, desperately, and miserably …sucked.

 

“Why can't it?” The demon of her dream's questioned as he lightly caressed the side of her face before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

 

“Because…” Keiko sobbed as she looked at him with determined, apologetic eyes.

 

The sound of metal slicing through cloth, muscle, and then finally blood echoed through the chamber as a sickening, squishing noise reverberated in the young woman's ears.

 

“I'm still holding it.” Keiko whispered softly as she watched her beloved Sesshoumaru cringe above her in pain.

 

“Kami forgive me.” The repentant young woman whispered softly as she closed her eyes to blot out the disturbing image of her lover dying above her. She knew, at least on some level, that this Sesshoumaru was not her Sesshoumaru, and that the voices she was hearing were more then likely the real world occasionally slipping through. She didn't want to believe it at first. She supposed anyone would be reluctant to trade in their dreams for the harsh and often cruel reality of the real world. It had been the realization she was holding the dagger again, after willing it into her hands that eventually forced her to face the truth.

 

As happy as she might have been, she realized, she simply couldn't live a lie.

 

Keiko could only hope that whatever her real life amounted to, the real Sesshoumaru would somehow be a part of it.

 

“Bitch!” The demon above her growled, causing her eyes to pop open, as Sesshoumaru's face slowly faded away to reveal…

 

“Naraku!” Keiko screamed as a less then gentle clawed hand angrily squeezed at her throat.

 

“Bitch!” Naraku cursed again, his eyes gleaming red, as a second hand wrapped around her windpipe. “I will send you to HELL!” The deviant hanyou screamed as his nostrils flared with anger.

 

`I guess I'm out of the will.' Keiko's inner mind quipped, her head growing heavy from lack of oxygen, as the all ready fuzzy world around her slowly faded into nothingness.

 

`I wonder what happens when you die five hundred years before you're born.' She pondered with a smile, all ready visualizing the ridiculous explanation she would inevitably have to relay, as she silently surrendered to the abyss.

 

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

 

In the waking world, Keiko's heartbeat slowed, as the real Naraku closed real hands around her real throat. So intent was he in delivering his revenge…. that he did not see the blow that eventually led to his undoing……… until it was too late.

 

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

 

“….not gonna happen!” A gruff voice drifted through the darkness as Keiko groggily became aware that she was not alone.

 

`Are angels always this noisy?' She wondered as she made a futile attempt to open her eyes. `Oh…my head.' Her inner mind groaned; the slightest movements suddenly making her feel very dizzy.

 

“Over my dead body!” The gruff voice seemingly argued, its volume proving entirely too painful, as Keiko desperately wished she could just cover her ears.

 

`Over his dead body?' The young woman quipped, `Doesn't he mean over mine?'

 

“That bastard,” Inu Yasha continued, shooting his brother a distrustful scowl, “has fucking….fuck!” He groused, “We can just let him take her!” He insisted.

 

“But Inu Yasha…” Kagome argued in a lowered tone as she let her eyes drift to the unconscious woman and the demon lord that sat beside her. Even she had to admit she was more then a little concerned when she found out Keiko had been sharing the taiyoukai's company for a little under a month now. But she didn't look like she'd been mistreated, the miko theorized, and she didn't run from him when they first caught sight of her in the clearing. Maybe she wanted to stay with Sesshoumaru?

 

“Shut…up!” Keiko urged in an exhausted tone as she suddenly realized her `angel' had quite the potty mouth. “Do you have to be so loud?” She whimpered as she tried once more to open her eyes, immediately regretting it as a severe wave of nausea overtook her system. “Kami…I'm gonna be sick.” She groaned.

 

“Keiko?” Kagome questioned as a quick shuffling of grass, followed by a muffled flop, signified her close proximity. “How are you feeling?” She questioned in an exaggerated whispered tone as she hoped to spare the reclining female any further pain.

 

“Like I got hit by a bus.” Keiko groaned as she lay motionlessly against the ground. “I'm not dead?” She questioned as she silently wondered just how many times she was going to have to ask that question. This place was dangerous!

 

“Nope.” Kagome answered, smiling down at the woman despite the fact that she wouldn't see it.

 

“Awesome.” The young woman answered in a hoarse tone as she allowed herself a moment of bitter humor. “Naraku?”

 

“Dead.” A deep masculine voice beside her offered; causing goose bumps to sprout against her skin, as its close proximity startled her.

 

A long, ominous pause resonated through the clearing causing Keiko's next question to come out as a whisper.

 

“Are you sure?” She questioned as she recalled the last time she thought Naraku had been dealt with.

 

“Yes.” The deep voice replied.

 

“Mmhm.” Kagome's voice answered simultaneously before adding, “The Shikon-no-Tama is finally complete.”

 

“Huh?” Keiko asked as she tilted her head to the side ever so slightly, without opening her eyes, as she ignored the queasy roll of her stomach.

 

“Oh…” The miko blushed, “It's a long story.” She explained.

 

“Ah…” The young woman acknowledged. “Tell me in the morning then.” She requested as she felt herself slowly slipping into unconsciousness once more.

 

“It is morning.” Kagome pointed out helpfully.

 

“Tomorrow….morning.” Keiko corrected in a groan as she let out a heavy sigh before finally drifting off again.

 

Silence hung heavy in the air until the reclining woman's breath evened out, signifying she was slumbering once more.

 

“It looks like she's going to be okay.” Kagome offered with a smile, gazing at the demon lord quizzically, as she purposefully kept her voice low.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded once in acknowledgment, his eyes remaining on the unconscious figure before him, as he decided the statement required no further comment.

 

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

 

As it often does, time marched on. The early morning sun gave way to passing noon-time clouds, as it drifted effortlessly across an ancient, uncluttered sky. It was only when the golden-orb-of-life settled in against the horizon again; the noises of the waking world quieting themselves within the darkness of the night, that Keiko slowly began to regain consciousness.

 

“Good morning?” She questioned; the gentle tug of fingers working themselves through her hair slowly registering to her brain.

 

“Evening.” A soothingly smooth masculine voice corrected.

 

“Evening?” Keiko questioned, opening her eyelids to confirm the statement, as her tired eyes darted lazily around in the unending darkness. “Guess so.” She whispered as she turned toward the voice only to release a startled yelp.

 

“Ah!” She squeaked weakly as two glowing orbs stood out starkly in the pitch-blackness of the night. “Sesshoumaru?” She questioned as she noted her `pillow' felt deceptively like a certain demon lord's thigh.

 

“Hn?” He questioned, quirking an eyebrow, as his demonic vision easily picking up the young woman's subtle facial expressions.

 

“Your eyes are glowing.” Keiko whispered as if she weren't relaying something he was completely unaware of. “Did they….Do they always do that?” She faltered.

 

“Yes.” He answered back flatly, his smirk lost in the absence of light between them.

 

“Oh.” She answered, feeling slightly stupid, as she relaxed against his lap again. “How long have I been asleep?” She inquired as the silence between them threatened to linger.

 

`Why is he touching my hair?' Keiko wondered silently. `Am I still dreaming? Was it all a dream?' She questioned internally as her memories easily became confused.

 

“Almost two days.” The demon lord answered casually as he continued to run his fingers through the young woman's hair. He had been so concerned with losing her before that even the awkward conversation they were now sharing seemed like a blessing. She was safe, and close, he realized, and soon she would be his. It took an enormous amount of effort to restrict his gentle touches to simply stroking her hair.

 

Kami…… he wanted her so desperately.

 

“Where are we?” Keiko questioned again, completely oblivious to the restraint exercised by the great taiyoukai, as she continued to bombard him with questions.

 

“Inu Yasha's forest.” Sesshoumaru spat in annoyance as he turned to glare up into the trees before casting his eyes on the woman beneath him again. “They were taking you to their healer.” He practically grumbled.

 

Keiko laughed. “I see. Was that what all the fighting was about earlier?” She questioned as she remembered the commotion that had roused her the previous morning.

 

“Yes.” He answered in a similar tone of annoyance.

 

“You didn't want them to?” She quirked a brow quizzically.

 

“They implied this Sesshoumaru could not be trusted with your care.” He explained.

 

“Oh.” Keiko acknowledged as she furrowed her brow. She wasn't sure whether she should feel flattered or angry and eventually settled on indifferent. “Where are Rin and Jaken?” She questioned as she attempted to change the subject.

 

“They will meet us at the village.” Sesshoumaru stated casually.

 

The breeze had carried their scent to him a few hours ago, which suggested the toad youkai was undoubtedly tracking them. He could tell by the agitation which peppered the toad's normally submissive scent that he was annoyed at the ever increasing distance between them. Typically Sesshoumaru would have saved his tiny group the trouble by doubling back on his location, but he doubted the pack he currently traveled with would allow him to depart with the female he now viewed as his intended, and he would NOT be leaving her with THEM. He had toyed with the idea of dispatching of the irksome bunch, but such things, he realized, would only further bolster his brother's absurd claim that he had some intention of hurting the very woman he fought for, and so he reluctantly accepted their assistance.

 

Silence lingered between Keiko and Sesshoumaru for an extended moment as they gazed into each other's eyes.

 

Keiko was the first to flinch.

 

“I had some crazy dreams.” The young reincarnation understated, quickly breaking the awkward moment, as she stared off into the darkness of the night. “When you were fighting Naraku.” She elaborated as she fought to calm the rhythm of her heart.

 

“Do you wish to discuss them?” The taiyoukai quietly inquired as he hoped to lend the woman beneath him some comfort.

 

“Ah…no.” Keiko answered honestly as she nervously nibbled her bottom lip. Just how much had her mind fabricated? Was her memory of what they did together at the hot springs an illusion? Had she really come face to face with the great dog demon's true form or had that been another aberration of her slumbering mind? Was she still a virgin or had they…actually… “They were just silly dreams.” She explained in a forced casual tone as her heart began to ache painfully.

 

Another long silence resonated between them; several minutes passing before Keiko felt the need to fill it again.

 

“How long until sunrise?” She asked casually.

 

“Not long.” He answered as a trepidatious clawed finger hovered inches from her lips.

 

“I think I'll squeeze in a little nap then.” Keiko yawned in response, unknowingly turning away from his touch, as she closed her eyes and settled in. “You'll wake me up when it's time to get moving again won't you?”

 

Sesshoumaru's hand retracted as he eyed the subtle curve of her face. “I will.” He acknowledged, waiting for her breath to even out once more, before lightly caressing the silky curls splayed haphazardly in his lap. She needed her rest, he recognized reluctantly, and her well-being superseded any of his untamed urges.

 

`Kami let her recover quickly.' Sesshoumaru anxiously complained as he impatiently awaited the cresting of the sun on the horizon.

 

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

 

“I don't see anything wrong with ye child. Do ye feel all right?” The elder woman Keiko now knew as Kaeda questioned; poking and prodding at different parts of her body as if thumping an overripe melon.

 

“I feel fine.” Keiko admitted as she fidgeted under the strange woman's scrutiny. “Maybe a little headache but that's all.” She elaborated.

 

“We should probably take you back to Tokyo….just to be sure.” Kagome chimed in as she mimicked the actions of the elder miko while thoughtfully tapping her chin. “I'm no doctor,” she explained, “but I know being deprived of oxygen that long can do some serious damage to your brain.”

 

Keiko shrugged, opening her mouth in non-committal agreement, when a low growl just outside the hut suddenly caught her attention.

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “If you have something to say…” She raised her voice so it would carry to the dog demon she knew waited just outside as she moved to the entrance to confront the agitated eavesdropper. She was a little more then surprised when, instead of finding a frowning puppy-eared hanyou who sulked every time she even mentioned passing through the well, she came face to face with a rather angry demon lord.

 

“It is not safe for her to return.” Sesshoumaru growled out plainly; recalling their earlier conversation regarding the `lord of the land' and the agreement she had insisted she'd breached.

 

“It's safer there then it is here!” Kagome scoffed, not really sure she should be arguing with him, but too thrown off by his strange behavior to react appropriately.

 

“She,” He pointed at Keiko through the open doorway with a clawed finger, “does not go beyond the boundaries of my protection.” He informed.

 

“She,” Kagome mimicked him as she pointed to the woman who was now regarding them owlishly, “is her own person and can go anywhere she wants.” She argued; her current argument burdening her with a strange sense of deja-vu. `Are all dog youkai so possessive?' She found herself wondering.

 

“She,” Sesshoumaru argued again, “is none of YOUR concern.”

 

“She,” Kagome countered, resisting the urge to thrust her finger into the taiyoukai's chest, as she placed her hands against her hips “is not your property.” She pointed out.

 

Keiko huffed loudly as the argument reminded her of a set of foster parents she had lived with once upon a time. Without so much as saying a word, she squeezed past the arguing couple, before heading in the direction the demon lord had escorted her a little over a month ago.

 

“Where the hell do you think you're going?” Inu Yasha questioned from his place atop the small huts roof, voicing the question Kagome and Sesshoumaru had been too distracted to form, as he intelligently decided to stay out of their fight. He had been more then a little tempted to jump down from his makeshift perch and tell his bastard of a brother to stop barking at his Kagome, but he had to admit, Sesshoumaru had a point. How many times had he tried to explain to his miko companion the importance of staying close? How many times had they fought over her returning home? There was simply no way he was going to get in the middle of THIS fight…….That was, of course, until the subject of said fight began stomping angrily away from them.

 

“She,” Keiko bit out sarcastically as she pointed to herself and narrowed her eyes, “is going home,” she explained, “and if you,” her eyes locked with Sesshoumaru's, “are so concerned for my safety, and you,” she turned to Kagome, “are so concerned with my rights, then you,” she motioned to all of them, “should all come with me.”

 

“For Kami sake, you'd think I was a ten year old.” She mumbled in a scoffing tone as she turned from the, still somewhat stunned, group and headed in the direction of the ancient well.

 

“Keh….” Inu Yasha groused in amusement. “She shut you up didn't she?” He flinched as Sesshoumaru and Kagome shot him simultaneous scowls.

 

“Oiy wench!” The hanyou bellowed as he realized just how dangerous it could be to have his bastard half-brother and short-tempered miko join forces against him. “Wait up!” He practically squeaked as he leapt from the worn out roof to fall in step beside Kagura's reincarnation.

 

Kagome shot the demon lord a deadly scowl before running after her hanyou companion with a curious and frightful notion nagging at the back of her mind.

 

`Sesshoumaru wouldn't actually try to pass through the well …would he?' She questioned internally as her panicked mind supplied images of what would happen if the ancient time portal, for whatever reason, accepted him.