InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ His Past, Her Present, Their Future ❯ Jealousy ( Chapter 26 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: No own.

This is a bonus chapter because I love you guys so much! THANK YOU for the reviews over the last day!!!



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His Past, Her Present, Their Future
Chapter 26 - Jealousy

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Kagome decided that being a catalyst wasn’t so bad as she held and wiped off the newborn pup of Lady Raku. Sure, it got her into trouble, caused her problems, and generally made her want to scream, but there were little moments that made it all worth it.

After Raku’s announcement of the onset of labor, Kagome had jumped up and sprinted for the castle, only falling flat on her face twice in her haste. She had told a guard to fetch his Lady and the palace healer to the gardens immediately, and ran back to Raku to try and make her as comfortable as possible. Her contractions were hardly beginning but they were painful nonetheless.

After working her out of several layers of her kimono, for comfort, Kaori had finally arrived frantically, “Iie! Bad timing, Raku-chan!”

The ookami gritted her teeth through a contraction and glared at her friend, “Oh, so sorry Kay. I didn’t mean to put you out.”

The inuyoukai kneeled beside her and stroked some stray hairs from her face, “I did not mean that, friend. There was a birth in town with complications, so our healer went to assist. She may not be back until morning!”

Raku grunted, “Well, the pup isn’t going to wait.”

Kaori turned her attention to the ningen girl ordering her guards to fetch water, “I think you’ll be fine, Raku-chan. Ne, Kagome?”

The black haired girl spun and smiled, “Yes?”

“What do you know about giving birth?”

The smile melted off Kagome’s face, “Nani?” she said slowly.

“Our healer is not here…and you are a miko, ne?”

Kagome gulped, “An untrained miko! But, well…where I come from, we understand a lot more, so I know the process…but still! You want ME to help her deliver her pup?!”

Kaori smiled, “I have the utmost in confidence in you!”

Kagome groaned loudly, but had set about doing all she could. Several hours, frazzled nerves, and a ripped up kimono layer later, she held the perfect little pup in her arms and was wiping the aftereffects of its birth from its wrinkled little face, “It’s a perfect little boy, Raku-chan!”

Kagome was amazed by the perfect bundle she held in her arms, a tuft of black hair flattened on its head. She traced the point of its little ear with the cloth and counted its fingers and toes. Flawless. She ran a finger over the little orange sun that adorned his head before she handed the baby to its mother and tied off the cord, “Kaori-chan, can you lend me a claw?”

The Western Lady nodded and smiled, leaning over and slicing through the thick umbilical cord. Now all that was needed was to wait out the after birth and Kagome’s job would be done. She had never felt so proud of herself. She had just assisted in bringing new life into the world. She grinned and watched mother and son.

She stood, intent on finding the father of said new life and alert him of the wellbeing of mother and pup, and was amazed at the weakness in her knees. It was after midnight, she was sure, and she was exhausted. She made it a total of five steps before she fell into the comfortable haze of unconsciousness.

--

Kagome awoke to fingers brushing aside her bangs, and she moaned and tried to open her heavy eyelids. Kaori was smiling down at her, “Finally you woke up, sleepy one.”

The miko blinked several times, “Wow, I passed out didn’t I?”

“Aa, you did. Gave us quite a scare, too. I am glad it was only exhaustion and not something more serious.”

Kagome smiled and stretched, “Have I missed breakfast? I am very hungry.”

“I am having someone bring you food. I am sure you don’t feel like putting up with the lords, ne?”

Kagome shook her head fervently, “No, that’s alright. I don’t mind breakfast in bed.”

“Well, lunch, but yes,” the inu said with a smile.

“Oh my, I slept so long?”

“Hai, but it is fine. Raku is very thankful to you, as is young Kouga I am sure.”

Kagome stared, dumbstruck for several moments. Then the mirth bubbled into her chest and she couldn’t stop the hysterical peals of laughter that poured from her. Tears streamed down her face as she laughed and she couldn’t breathe, but she still could not stop. When her food arrived, she couldn’t even look up to register that it was in fact Sesshoumaru who had brought her food.

After several minutes of breathing, she was able to calm down enough to answer the questioning looks on her companions’ faces. She grinned, “No I have not gone mad. Kouga you said? That is what they named the baby, right?”

Kaori nodded, and resisted the urge to check her friend for a fever, “Hai, it is. Why was that so amusing?”

Another snort broke through the ningen girl, “Be-because! I know him later! That annoying ookami chases me across the territories for five years telling me I’m ‘his woman’ no matter what I have to say about it. Kouga is a good friend, but he’s a little dense and is very obnoxious. He claimed me as his mate-to-be within minutes of meeting him, and announced his love for me in front of his pack. I just find it ironic that I helped to birth him!”

Kaori giggled, “That is rather ironic. Don’t you think so, Sessy?”

Sesshoumaru had remained silent and even now only nodded curtly. So, that wolf thought he could claim her, did he? He growled sub audibly and walked from the room.

Kagome looked after him, confused, “What’s wrong with him?”

“Well,” Kaori repressed a smirk, “I think it is what is called jealousy, my friend.”

The miko turned a fluorescent red, “Wha-what?!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” the inuyoukai winked and stood, “I’ll talk to him. You eat. I’ll come back for you, then we can go visit the new parents, ne?”

Kaori let loose her giggles once she was out of the room and instantly dashed to her chambers. She knew what was needed. Retrieving the small parcel she caught her son’s scent and followed it, finding him in the dojo. She was proud to see that he had gotten her whip after all, and pitied the poor guards he was currently torturing. She let him work off a little steam before waving to him and leading him to her own private gardens on the palace rooftop.

“My son, is there something you want to tell me?” she asked, sitting on a stone bench.

Sesshoumaru scowled, “No mother.”

Kaori forced herself to keep a straight face and pulled on his hand until he was beside her, at which time she began braiding a lock of his perfect silver hair. She loved his hair, and was glad he had inherited it from his father. He sighed but smiled sweetly at her as she giggled, leaving him in silence for a few minutes.

Once she was finished, Kaori sat back and pulled the small parcel from the folds of her obi, “Are you sure that you have no use for this, perhaps?”

Sesshoumaru’s jaw dropped and he met her eye with surprise but little denial, “But mother…”

“This is nothing. It is nothing permanent, nothing sure, it is simply to make your intentions known. And as your mother, I know your intentions even when you are not so sure of them. She is a wonderful girl, Sesshoumaru.”

He lowered his gaze to her hands, eyeing the bundle as she slowly unwrapped it. She had told him its purpose when he had first reached of age to mate, and had never assumed he would have any use for it. He eyed it warily. The seemingly inconspicuous little bauble would be the difference between companion and promised, and he wasn’t sure if he was willing to do that.

Yes, the girl was everything he had ever imagined in his perfect mate, other than her species. But it was that final roadblock that gave him pause. She was mortal, human. Not only that, but she had traveled through time to get to him. Would she leave? If she did, would he see her again? He shook that off, of course he would. He was inuyoukai, and according to Kagome he would be practically undisputed. He would surely live.

But could he bear all the time away from her he was sure to have? If he were to choose her, he would spend several hundred years at a time alone, without her, only to have her for less than a century. Was he willing to go through that? Well, he had been planning on staying alone anyway, so what difference would it make if he was alone but simply knew he had something to look forward to?

Kaori knew the things that held him back, “Sesshoumaru, my darling, using this,” she held up the necklace, “will not solidify anything. You will still have time to think of the answers to your questions, and you can always part ways. But it would be a good thing for both you and she to know what your intent could be and for others, perhaps rivals, to know as well. She is a special girl, do you want her to be swept out from under your nose? You heard her, in another time the young Eastern Prince will be after her heart. I have seen several of the guards eyeing her as well. She seems to attract youkai males like moths to a flame. Are you willing to lose her because you are afraid?”

Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw at the implication, but shook his head and sighed. His mother wrapped her arms around him and leaned into him. When had her pup become bigger than her? She sniffed away the sad thoughts and scrambled up to kiss his cheek, “Take it, and decide for yourself. I trust your judgment.”

She left him there, staring down into the crescent gem. It appeared black until the sun hit it, then it lit with a million facets of colors. The prismatic black gem was a contradiction, but it was more than just a beautiful rock. It symbolized the courted future lady of the west, and contained powerful protection enchantments and locator spells. He sighed and tucked it into his haori; he needed to get ready for yet another loathsome dinner; he would be very glad when the next day’s banquet was completed and his life could return to normal.

--

After Kagome finished her meal, she threw on a orange and crème yakuta. It reminded her of Rin, and she smiled and smoothed it over her legs. Before her baths and other preparations for the night she wanted to spend a few minutes outside with her book; it had turned out to be full of poetry in English. Though she could not speak it worth anything, she read it passably.

Clutching her book to her chest, she strolled leisurely to the entrance to the Western gardens; she was less likely to encounter any of the chattering annoyances that had invaded the palace. She soon found herself in the same place Sesshoumaru and she had sat the first night she had snuck out there, and began paging through the book. She laughed at a particularly bawdy limerick until a shadow passed over her book.

“You seem amused, my lady,” the smooth bass rumbled, a smile evident in the tone.

Kagome looked up. She didn’t know him, but even if she hadn’t been in a youkai castle and even if she hadn’t been a priestess she would have known he was too beautiful to be human. His hair, where hers was full and had a bluish shine to it, was black like nothingness and looked as if it would rival water in smoothness and silkiness. It was bound at the nape of his neck and hung down to his ankles. The crests adorning his cheeks were black as well but still stood stark against his bronzed skin. His eyes were the most shocking though - Kagome swore they glowed. She had never seen such pale green eyes!

She smiled politely and nodded, “Hai, European authors are rather vulgar sometimes, but it makes for entertainment.”

“May I sit?” the man said, and Kagome paused but nodded. He didn’t seem a threat. He glanced at the book in her hands and cocked his head to the side, “A mortal girl who can read is practically nonexistent, but a mortal girl who can read in another language and is not offended by coarse literature is one of a kind. May I have the privilege of your name, my lady?”

Kagome blushed for no reason known to her, “I am Kagome, and I am far from a normal mortal girl. Where I come from it is required we learn to read, write, do math, and vulgarities…well, I’m just used to them.”

He smiled dashingly, “I am Gyakusetsu, and it is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Kagome,” he snatched her hand and planted a kiss on its back, making the already flustered girl turn a luminous pink.

“Please, just call me Kagome,” she stuttered out, blinking away the butterflies attacking the walls of her stomach. It only took a split second for her to catch up, “Wait, Gyakusetsu? Aren’t you Lord of the South?”

He flashed her another grin, “That would be I, but please don’t treat me any differently because of it. I would normally demand respect but from you I would rather have a conversation. It is so rare to find any female no matter the species to have a real conversation with.”

Kagome couldn’t help grinning back and lost herself in a discussion on the philosophies of creation. Her scientifically based views were practically blasphemy in this age, but her companion did not seem to care. She didn’t notice the passage of time until he stood, holding out a hand to her, “I believe we both have a dinner to ready ourselves for, my lady?”

Kagome looked to the sky and blanched, it was already nearing dusk! She bowed and excused herself and dashed into the palace, tripping over herself to reach her chambers. Mizuki waited for her with a half smile, “Running late, Kagome?”

The overwrought girl groaned and allowed herself to be led to the hot springs and pampered for the next hour, until she was primped and proper. She wore a lavender outer kimono, with darker layers under. Darker cranes decorated the hem and sleeves. Her escort arrived and she smiled at him, he was dressed in a pale outfit that reminded her strikingly of the one she was used to.

Sesshoumaru led her through the labyrinth hallways, and glanced to her from the corner of his eye, “You look beautiful tonight, Kagome.”

She flushed crimson, “I think the same could be said about you, Sesshou.”

He made a face, “Men are not beautiful.”

“Perhaps not usually, but you are.”

He smiled a little and decided to take it as a compliment, stopping at the wooden door that led to the dining room, “Remember, tonight will likely be just as bad as the last. But though formal, feel free to speak with those you feel comfortable with, my family especially. Formality is no reason to be bored witless. Please, though, keep your…exceptional temper in check?”

Kagome grinned reassuringly and patted his hand that covered hers, “I will make no promises, but I will try. I would hate to have to purify anyone during a meal. I‘ll save that spectacle for the banquet itself.”

Sesshoumaru chuckled and opened the door. Instantly they were met with silence other than the announcement of their arrival. They ignored the heated glares they received from most of the assembled and went to their places at the already full table, sinking down beside one another adjacent to Kaori and Raku. Kagome grinned at them and sent a loving smile to Mattaki as well, who though he did not smile outright his eyes twinkled.

Kagome, braver than she had been the night before, glanced around the table. The Northern family was concentrated at the far end of the table, thankfully, and Raku and her mate on the other side from Kagome. On their side as well were the Southern daughters, with their mother and Lord alongside Kagome. Gyakusetsu was beside her.

“I see you managed to make up time, Gyakusetsu-sama?”

He grinned, “I did not have nearly as much to do. A change of kimono was in order, but I feel lucky I must not be adorned in layers as you ladies are. I fear they look uncomfortable. And what did I tell you about the Lord, my friend? We are beyond such formalities.”

Kagome smiled back and went back to her food, and only got a bite before interrupted by Sesshoumaru, “You know the Southern Lord, then?”

“Oh hai, we spent this afternoon in debate,” she said with a laugh.

“Oh but Kagome, shall we find a new topic of conversation? It would help this meal to pass for this Gyakusetsu,” the bass of the man on her left chuckled.

“My lord, I think this is a bad place for such discussions. Though you are not easily offended, I fear others might be. My views tend to be…controversial. Perhaps later we can continue?”

He smirked in an almost seductive manner, “It would be an honor, my lady.”

Kagome blushed and poked her food, not seeing her companion on her right snarling silently. Sesshoumaru was annoyed. Really very annoyed. Sure, the youkai was mated, but he was shamelessly flirting with his intended! Or…intended intended. He thought. Perhaps. Sesshoumaru scowled. Could this night get any worse?


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A/N: And more. Silly dinner party crap.

The stone I used for the necklace…heh…its called Mystic Topaz, and its GORGEOUS beyond belief. My favorite, even though its only a created stone of the last couple of years. But, for the purposes of this story it is natural, damnit, and it was found in Japan. XD Wheeee! Artistic license, I say!