InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ If You Love Something... ❯ Plots-A-Plenty ( Chapter 9 )

A/N: Hi everyone! Okay, first things first - I have NOT gotten the final go ahead from one of my betas to post… so this chapter may suck a little. I think its okay, but I wanted a final editing before uploading. But since the next installment is so long overdue, & I'm excited to have the blasted thing done, here you go! So no fussing if it's not quite right. I'll fix it later. This chapter is dedicated to knifethrower - I promised her this would be out in like January. Last but certainly not least, a huge shout out to the 2 people kind enough to stand in as betas since mine is still offline: Taiyoukai's Lady & Angelfighter! You guys totally rule! On with the show. Enjoy.

 

If You Love Something…

Chapter 7:

Plots-A-Plenty

 

Inuyasha winced at the feeling he lovingly - and the term was used as loosely as possible - compared to razors slicing open his right side as he moved the gearshift putting the truck into park. Slowly, he got out of his vehicle, all the while being extra aware and extremely cautious of his injuries. Practically making baby steps, holding his right side as he went, the hanyo made his way toward the house.

A week had passed since the Taisho brothers came face to face.

He groaned when his pocket began to vibrate accompanied by a musical tune. He completely stopped his advancement about halfway there to begrudgingly fish out the buzzing phone. After checking out the caller ID, he sighed. “Yeah?”

“Are you sure you don't me to come over there?” Kagome voice was hopeful, but concerned.

“I told you,” he paused to catch his breath and shift his weight, “I'll handle this. I'm okay.”

“You are not okay! You happen to have three broken ribs, two broken fingers, a fractured wrist, a twisted ankle, and a partridge in a pear tree! That's not okay, Inuyasha. And you're on painkillers. You're not even supposed to be driving!”

Believe me, I am well aware of everything wrong with me. Ow! Ugh. This fucking sucks. Only one thing gave him comfort in the face of nothing but sheer discomfort… if he was in this bad of shape, his lame ass brother must be pretty fucked up too.

“Look Kagome, just leave it alone. I'm here, I made it, and I'm fine.” He ignored her irritated huff.

Why is he so freaking hard-headed?! Sitting on her sofa, Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose and tried not to scream.

“I'll see you after I take care of this.” The half demon ended the call.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Ugh! They would be upstairs. A look of pure distain was evident as Inuyasha looked up the long winding staircase. Climbing those was not going to be pretty.

“It is completely unacceptable… young ladies do not fight!” Lady Izayoi's voice was tight when it reached her son.

His sister's retort made the hanyo smirk, “Young ladies may not fight, but bitches get beat down!”

Mercifully, Rin stomped out of her mother's bedroom and down the steps. About three quarters of the way down, she noticed her brother looking up at her.

“Ya-Ya!” She gushed, the joy completely eradicating the scowl that occupied her face a second earlier.

Horror choked his voice when the exuberant girl zoomed toward him. He knew, more than he knew his own name in that moment, she was about to pounce on him and probably squeeze him to death. Literally.

“Do. Not. Jump. On. Me.” Golden eyes narrowed and showed nothing of the fear housed within.

Rin laughed, “I wasn't going to, silly.” She halted on the last step beaming at him. “You look awful.”

“Keh. Well I feel fucking great.” He snorted. “What's up with that battle scar?”

The girl huffed angrily and stroked her purplish-bruised cheek.

“Your sister has been fighting at school.” Their mother appeared on the upper landing. “That is the reason I called you. She finds it perfectly alright to attack her classmates and get herself suspended.”

“And you called me?” Clearly his mother must've forgotten all the fights he'd been in, how many times she and his father were called in for meetings with the principal, and how he wound up suspended on the first day back from prior suspensions. In fact, he couldn't figure out how the hell he graduated on time.

“For the last time,” Rin turned to face her mother, “it was NOT my fault!”

“You struck that child for saying something you didn't like. Whose fault, if not yours, would it be?”

The small female turned red and her chest swelled as she prepared for a verbal attack.

Inuyasha stepped in, cutting off Rin's assault. “So what happened, short stuff? Do I need to kick some ass, or what? I fight kids, you know.” The half demon had recently decided that his sister wasn't half bad. Now, he could safely say he actually liked her. Oh, he never disliked her… he just didn't put much thought into the girl. But all that was different now… and all it took was Rin finally seeing that their oldest brother was nothing but a fucking asshole.

“Inuyasha!” Izayoi was horrified.

“Keh. Like you're in any shape to kick anything… besides the bucket.” The teen chuckled lightly.

Whose children were these? “Rin!” The lady of the house couldn't understand her reasoning for asking her son for help with Rin. It made sense when she'd made the initial call… now though… not so much.

The trio made their way into the closest sitting room. The hanyo was extremely anxious to get off his feet. The meds he had taken before leaving Kagome's were kicking in, making him dizzy. He listened to his sister explain what took place in her zoology class. The more he heard, the madder he got.

“And so then Mooom grounded me and took my car keys!” She finished dramatically.

Inuyasha had been waiting until she was done talking to speak. “Okay, help me understand why kids at your school are talking about us?”

“That is not the point, Inuyasha.” Interjected Izayoi.

“I told you,” both Taisho children ignored their mother. “it's been a madhouse ever since you guys fought! I am so sick of hearing about my brothers this and my brothers that! People walking up to me all day asking me stuff… I don't even know who half of them are!”

Her brother painfully shrugged and offered, “You always wanted to be popular.”

“Whatever. I can't walk by without someone whispering and pointing. And lunch is the worst! It's like nobody has anything better to do than stare at me. But today… today was the last straw.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“You can't be serious!” Kagura whispered conspiringly.

Seated in the salon chair next to the wind witch, Kikyo nodded matter-o-factly. “I am, indeed, very serious.”

Yura, who was meticulously putting hair pins in place to hold Kikyo's French twist, shook her head. “I don't see how you expect it to work.”

The only human in the trio was irritated. “I already told you! Just trust me… you two make sure you're in place when the time comes. This isn't going to happen over night, you know.”

“Fine, fine.” Kagura rolled her eyes and leaned back as one of Yura's stylists removed the remaining rollers from her spiraled locks. “Just remember, if it all blows up in your face… and my dad finds out, I know nothing!”

“Since when did you become such a wuss?” The hair demon's eyes sparkled at her friend.

“Tell me about it.” Kikyo muttered.

The wind youkai's temper flared. “I'm not afraid if that's what you're saying!”

“That's what it sounds like to me. What do you think, Yura?”

“Well that's not it! You guys know my dad's psychotic. Who in their right mind would want to deal with him on purpose? What you are talking about will have aftershocks that go way beyond that little twit… it could affect the business, not just their family and honor. And if the business suffers… you just don't get it. Being linked to something that messes with my dad's money…”

“Jesus, get a grip.” Yura scoffed. “You make it sound like we're trying to bring about the apocalypse or something.”

Kagura snorted, “Whatever.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kouga was perched on top of a picnic table in the seemingly deserted park. A piece of paper was clutched in one hand, the other appendage was balled into a fist, and his blue eyes stared at the cloud speckled sky… seeing nothing. A few strands of black hair had freed themselves from his long ponytail & swayed in the breeze.

How could this have happened?

A gathering of the clans had been ordered by the High Council. All current rulers, along with their elders and historians, were to attend. Judging by the abruptness of the summons, and the fact that it seemed to come out of nowhere, it could not be good news. One of the Great Houses was being called before the court to answer for something… and for the life of him, the young Northern Wolf Taiyoukai couldn't shake the feeling that it involved Inuyasha. Not so much the hanyo as his father and half-brother. But either way, if that was the case, Kagome would be thrown into the mix. The ookami wouldn't allow that under circumstance. If it cost him his title and dynasty, he would not see her hurt in any way.

Grinding his teeth and making a silent vow, the demon rose and strode away… his mind whirling with preparations that needed to be made.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“I'm in.” Hakudoshi nodded sharply.

“You don't even know what I'm going to say.”

“I don't care. I want in on whatever it is.” He always could tell when she was plotting. It was a passion they both shared.

“Okay fine. I need a way in.”

The albino demon narrowed his lavender eyes tapping a finger against his chin in thought. “Hmmm… let me think on it and get back to you. I'm sure I can come up with something.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

*Flashback*

“I can't take it anymore, Inuyasha!”

“Kikyo, please… please try to understand…”

“No!” The woman shrieked. “Understand?! Are you kidding me?!”

The hanyo's ears flattened against his skull. Suddenly he wished the walls of his bedroom were soundproof. There was no way every occupant currently on the estate didn't hear her screaming.

“For God's sake… you've been spending the night with her! And I'm supposed to `understand?!'”

He tried to interrupt by repeating something he'd been saying over and over in the past few weeks. “Baby, I swear, it's not like that. I'm not doing anything wrong-”

Kikyo blinked, “Not doing anything wrong?!” What part of this whole situation did he not comprehend? “You are sleeping over at your brother's fiancé's house!”

“Half-brother.” He muttered automatically.

His girlfriend, in her sheer rage and desperation, then seized one of the football trophies decorating his dresser and sent it flying into the wall while letting out a frustrated screech. She stomped her foot and glowered at him. “I don't care what he is to you! He is not the problem here, you are!”

“Me?!” The half demon took a defensive stance. “I'm the one cleaning up his fucking mess!”

“Cleaning up his mess? How? By fucking his dumped bride?! Give me a break!” She voiced what had been foremost in her mind since this stupid ordeal began. Their relationship started crumbling that very day... and it seemed like she was the only one who could see it.

Her boyfriend snarled at her then… actually baring his fangs. The action fueled her fire. He never got this worked up about her, but he now had the audacity to stand in her face and defend another female against her. The realization egged her on.

“And you're over there every night... it must be better for you than it was for him.”

“Kikyo…” the warning came out in a bubbled growl.

“Oh, you growled at me. Must've hit a nerve.” She cooed sweetly. “Let me tell you something right now, my darling, you're little escapade with that girl is over as of this second.”

“Wha-”

“I don't want to hear her name anymore, I don't want her calling you for any reason at all…”

“Kik-”

“I don't want you near her. If you feel the need to be with your friends, call ahead… if she is there, or plans to be, you won't be.”

The half demon's eyes widened as he listened to the words coming out of his girlfriend's mouth. Her voice was eerily calm, and her dark eyes flashed dangerously. Surely she honestly didn't expect him to just walk out on his best friend! She knew what was going on… she knew what his faggot ass brother had done. “You can't be ser-”

“And you most certainly, without a doubt, will never ever set foot in her house again. Let alone lay in her bed.”

Staring at Kikyo with an open mouth, Inuyasha tried shaking his head in an attempt to sort out the thoughts swirling inside his skull. Her jaw was set… oh boy, she wasn't going to let this go easily.

Just then the cordless phone to his personal line started ringing on the nightstand. The digital male voice of the caller ID announced, “Call from: Ka-go-me.”

Why, he thought predicting the female in his presence's outburst, the hell did I program the directory?

He stepped towards it only to be stopped by a sudden chill.

“Do. Not. Answer. That.”

The call forgotten, the hanyo turned to face the irrational woman. This whole `trying to control him' thing was for the birds. He may be half dog, but he'd be damned before he was ever put on a fucking leash!

“Look Kikyo,” he began, knowing it was a waste of time. Still, he tried to reassure her. “I swear to you, nothing is going on. I can't believe you would even think such a thing. All I'm doing, all I've been doing, is trying to make sure she's alright.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean `why?' She's my friend!”

“So?! And I'm your girlfriend!”

“She needs me-”

“I need you! She needs you?! Fuck her! What about me?! You say you love me… but you are actually sleeping with someone else!”

“It's not like-”

“And everyone knows it! I'm the laughing stock of the whole city!”

“Oh come on! You don't even know everyone in the city.” He really should've thought about that before it came out. But holy hell, she was being completely ridiculous! “And who give a shit what other people think?”

On Inuyasha's bed, his cell phone began to ring. He knew for certain that it was Kagome. He hadn't answered when she'd called his room so it stood to reason that he wasn't there. The problem was Kikyo knew it too.

Before the half demon had time to react his girlfriend snatched up the small device, activated it, and roared, “Stop calling you Goddamned WHORE!” Then she marched into the adjoining bathroom and dropped the phone in the commode.

“What the fuck?!” He didn't know what to react to first - the way she'd spoken to his best friend, or the fact that she actually threw his new phone in the toilet!

As the pair continued their verbal war, across town a tall - now very pissed - female stood in Kagome's kitchen gripping an inactive handset. Sango ground her teeth and resisted the urge to punch the wall.

Whore. That skank had called - or so she thought - Kagome a whore. Snatching the car keys off the counter she set the receiver back on its cradle. With purpose, Sango made her way to the front door intent on finding Kikyo and making her eat those words… through a straw.

“Did you get a hold of Inuyasha?” Her brother asked exiting the second bedroom of the apartment. Kohaku noticed the top of both her ears were practically flaming. “What's wrong?” He figured Sango wasn't able to reach the hanyo to ask him to pick a few things up from the grocery store on his way over. But that was no reason to set her blood boiling. Really, his sister had such a short fuse. Shaking his head, he laughed inwardly. He reached to take her keys. “Gimme those. I'll run out, you stay with Kay.”

The love and protectiveness Sango held for Kagome was the only thing that saved Inuyasha's girlfriend that day. The absolute only thing.

Kikyo never knew it wasn't Kagome on the other end of the line… or just how close to extreme danger that outburst put her in.

*End*

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Shippo's eyes bugged out further than he thought possible while listening to his pack brother's idea. It was ludicrous… absolutely insane… and to make matters worse, it mostly depended on him.

“Why me?” the timid little fox asked.

Kouga sighed. He knew getting the kit's help would not be easy. Shippo despised drama and avoided it at all costs. But if this had a cat's chance in hell of working, he was the only one who could pull it off. “Because you're the closest one to her.”

“That's not true!” he protested.

“She'll listen to you.”

“What about Inuyasha? Or Sango? Or anybody but me?! Why can't you just do it?”

“Do you honestly think he hasn't tried?” Bankotsu spoke up. “I mean seriously Shippo, he's been crazy about Kagome since we were kids.”

The kitsune placed his hands on the side of his red head and shook it vigorously. He should've known something was up when they invited him to workout with them. Those muscle heads never did that… it should've been obvious!

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Too late to get out of it. He was trapped in the weight room of Kahaku's dad's gym.

“The mutt's got his own problems.” The taiyoukai knew Inuyasha wouldn't be of any use in this matter anyway. “You've got the inside track here.”

B offered, “We've gone over this from all angles. And every time we come up with you getting the farthest.”

“What about Miroku?” Surely, Shippo thought, she would listen to him. He's the voice of reason around here.

“No way!” Kouga laughed. “Do you really think she'd take his advice on relationships?”

“Not if she were smart.” The fox agreed. He just had to find a way out of this! He couldn't be the one, he just couldn't.

Bankotsu looked over the pondering youkai's head at Kouga. They nodded in silent agreement. If reasoning wasn't going to work it was time for `plan B' - guilt.

“What's the real issue here kid, do you think I'd hurt Kagome?” Kouga lowered his head and sighed sadly.

Shippo's head snapped up. “What? No! That's not it at all.”

“Well what is it, bro?” Bankostu followed suit with a solemn look. “We only thought of you because you would be taken seriously. Out of all of us, if you went to her, she would listen… you know as well as anyone that he wouldn't hurt her. Despite the fact we'd kick his ass beyond recognition, Kouga genuinely cares for her.”

And Kagome cared for him… the same way she cared for all of them - like a brother.

“Bu-but she doesn't love him.” The kit stuttered.

The human was prepared for this. “But she can. She has always looked at him in a friendly way, no matter how hard he tried to gain her attention on another level. She hasn't given herself a chance to see anything else… to see him as a man, instead of a pack brother.”

“All bullshit aside,” The wolf demon pulled a folded paper from the pocket of his basketball shorts, “this is some serious shit. You know as well as I do what's going to happen. I'm just trying to protect her… and I can't do that if she doesn't let me. I need your help, Shippo. I'm asking you to help me protect her.”

“But-” the small demon knew Kouga was right about the situation. However, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. How in the world was he supposed to get their Alpha female to accept - or even consider - a suitor? Especially if the beau was Kouga? All the girls, except Ayame, saw him as just a cool guy, someone to hang with… someone to make them laugh from time to time.

Kagome was naturally a loving person. She did, if the fox was totally honest with himself, love Kouga… just as she loved Miroku and Hiten and everyone else in the crew. She was not `in' love with Kouga and Shippo just couldn't talk her into being involved with someone she was not romantically interested in. On the other hand, his pack brother was a good male. He was Crown Prince to his own clan - which was nothing to sneeze at - but more importantly, Shippo knew him to be an honorable individual. He would not hurt Kagome, there was no doubting this.

Shippo made a decision, “I will do it on one condition.” His heart was hammering out of control.

“Name it.” Kouga gratefully listened with intent.

The kit took a deep breath and spoke before he changed his mind. “I will try my best… and if it works, you have to promise to reevaluate your suit once the High Counsel has adjourned.”

“What does that mean?” B asked the two demons.

The taiyoukai explained, “It means that if she accepts me courting her, I have to back off once everything calms down.”

Bankotsu was a little confused. “But what if she-”

Shippo added, “If she wants to continue, then she will say so… the choice will be hers. Kouga must accept whatever she decides.”

The wolf stuck out his hand. First and foremost, he wanted to protect her. If something comes from their courting then so be it. If not, that was just fine too… after all, she would still be a part of his life. “I give you my word.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kikyo could barely contain her glee as her car pulled out of the underground parking complex belonging to Taisho Enterprises. Hakudoshi had really come through for her. She had been looking for a way to get close, but she never expected to be thrust into the inner sanctum. And so quickly!

She was so absorbed with mapping out her sinister movements that she didn't have time to feel the least bit guilty about using and deceiving Lord Taisho. The unsuspecting taiyoukai had done nothing to wrong her, but could now be considered as collateral damage in her private little war.

Never in her wildest dreams - which normally spelled nightmares for others - could she imagine how perfectly things were falling into place.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

After dropping the kickstand and cutting the engine, Sesshomaru dismounted his Ducati. He hadn't had a moments peace since the jet landed a week ago. On top of everything warring within him regarding his personal life, his father seemed hell bent on getting back to business as usual. In a normal circumstance, he would've had no issue with climbing back into the corporate saddle as was expected. However, his world had ceased to have any sort of `normalcy' since the day he acknowledged he'd fallen in love.

He pondered the situation while climbing a lushly green hill. When had it happened? Better yet, how? He did not know… it made itself clear one day… completely out of thin air, as it would seem. Another odd thing was he could recall the exact moment he realized she meant everything to him. More than status or title, more than wealth or respect… in that fleeting second, seeming eternity, his crown meant nothing to him unless she wore its smaller match.

Before his subconscious could conjure up that flash in time, on the sands of the Hawaiian island of Kauai so many years ago, his practiced control seized the reins.

It matters not. The statement held truth, and that was all he needed. She had rejected him, his father would see the claim dissolved before the council. Thinking on it was a waste of time. The dye had been cast.

But something else demanded to be heard within him. Then why does it plague you so?

He could not answer that… and though he would die a painful death before ever admitting it, even to himself, he had been haunted relentlessly since seeing her the night before the board meeting. He told himself that an explanation was pointless; he would not hear her even if she tried to justify her actions, and the lack of his fang did not bother him in the least.

Then why does it plague you so? Again, the echo sounded between his pointed ears. Why does she plague you so?

Molars ground together inside his mouth. Silence! Only a few more steps to the top of the hill … and then, absolute solace…

Without thought, Sesshomaru planted his left leg firmly on the ground before him… which wouldn't have been a big deal… if not for the fractured tibia he sustained battling Inuyasha. An injury that remained untreated. Demons, true youkai, were above medical attention - at least that had been the theory for the whole of his life. However, the white-hot needles currently piercing the pain sensors of his brain begged to differ.

The youkai prince's limbs bolted him rigidly upright like a soldier at attention. He practically slipped a disc in his back with the sudden movement. Due to sensory overload his pupils momentarily lost the ability to function. Eyelids squeezed shut, and jaws locked closed as a deep frustrated growl emanated from low in the inuyoukai's throat.

Sesshomaru's top lip curled back and he snarled through the pain. He had been careful not to aggravate his leg throughout the entire week. Although they were hidden from view, his golden irises tinted red. Inuyasha. Snapping the whelp's neck moved to the top of his `to do' list.

A cool breeze lifted the prince's platinum bangs revealing the crescent in the center of his forehead. Temples visibly throbbed as the dog demon slowly pulled a deep breath in through his nose hoping it would somehow ease the sting coursing through every fiber of his body. As oxygen filtered into his lungs and was distributed through his circulatory system, the pain began to subside. He could once again focus. The cleansing scent of grass, evergreen bushes, and chlorine treated water from the fountains seemed to calm him.

But there was another smell mingling in his nostrils… one normally foreign to these surroundings… the putrid smell of dehydrated greenery mixed with decaying flowers. Confused, Sesshomaru opened his eyes searching for the oddity. Cold amber passed over the kneeling limestone angel, not stopping to acknowledge the name in the massive polished heart. The source of the offending odor was emendating from the base of the memorial.

Who has dared…? Rage sprang forth. Someone had defiled his mother's grave! Someone had violated her, thus violating him and signing their death warrant.

The remnants of stems peered pitifully from the mouth of the brass urn. Petals, now crumbling and brown, littered the grass around the pedestal. Sesshomaru focused heightened senses on the fallen petals - roses and lilies, approximately one week old. This left him more confused.

Who…? The question was without anger.

Who would know his mother's favorite flower? Not only that… who would know the resting place of the true Lady Taisho? Well besides his father, of course… but it stood to reason the lord of dogs hadn't been to this place since he first bent Inuyasha's mother over, then elevated her to the head of the most powerful youkai clan in the world. The thought made Sesshomaru snort in disgust. His mind turned back to the mystery at hand. Judging from the evidence before him, he was looking at the exact bouquet he would've placed himself…

Jaken? Would his manservant have ventured here on his own thinking it was proper to come here in the master's stead? No, he wouldn't be so brazen. The toad was faithful… but he would not overstep in such a way.

Then who…? Who else would trespass here? Who would know the when's and where's of the situation? And who would know his mother so well to place her favorite flowers?

The same little voice the taiyoukai thought he chased away a few moments ago returned… only to laugh cynically at him. Who indeed? It seemed to mock him in a musical tone. As if “it” knew something he did not. How annoying.

Not one to do something so asinine as argue with himself, even in his own mind, Sesshomaru ignored… himself. Nor did he pause long enough to think on how utterly ridiculous that sounded.

He glared at the kneeling angel as if commanding her to answer his questions. Somewhere on the grounds a flock of sparrows played, their chirping was not acknowledged. Metallic gold coldly moved from the silent stone figure over to the enormous black marker baring his name.

Honored mother. His eyes closed slowly as he tried to conjure her face behind the lids. He wanted, more than anything, for her to tell him the identity of the perpetrator who dared come here. But that wasn't entirely true… he just wanted to hear her voice, no matter what she had to say. The name of the intruder would have been nice though. The dog prince could take out some frustration removing that individual's head.

He smirked at the carnage he would cause. He would be careful to make an example of the offender by strangling him with his own innards. Or perhaps he would make one thousand cuts, never hitting anything vital, to bring about excruciating pain? No matter what he chose, it was to be sure to be a glorious slaughter.

“Must you be so morbid?” His eyes snapped open at the unwelcome, familiar voice now invading his mind.

Dammit. This would simply not do, not now. He was not in the mood for the apparition of her. She seemed not to care as a conversation the pair engaged in many years ago came to the forefront of his brain.

“I mean seriously, were you always that way?”

He remembered asking her what way…

“Have you always felt anybody who annoys you must die?”

Sesshomaru had looked down at her, slightly exasperated by the question, and answered. Yes.

Deep blue had widened, threatening to swallow him whole. “And you're actually serious!”

Of course he was serious. Why would he not relay the truth?

“I swear, I don't know why I'm surprised. I still can't believe you killed that duck!”

Reality slammed against his chest and he stepped back slightly. The duck. The mallard he dispatched for biting her. That had been on the very same day that he…

Who indeed? His subconscious scoffed, seemingly highly amused.

There was only one. The answer should have been obvious. Kagome.

The thought of her here, in this place… his place, made his pulse quicken briefly.

He looked at the floral remains again. It wasn't possible… he shook his head to clear the lunacy. She had rejected him. The symbol of his pledge was gone from around her neck... The Inu no Taisho intended to have him tried before the Council. His claim would be dissolved.

All that withstanding, confusion made itself visible on his angelic face. Why would she…?

It was a very good, unfinished question. Why would she, she who refused him, come to his mother's resting place? What was her motive? Was she being sarcastic? Had she come to disrespect the Lady Taisho in some way?

The never-ending nagging voice in his mind chimed in. Do you honestly believe that of her? Of your Chosen? No, you do not.

And honestly he didn't. Then why…?

Why indeed?

Before turning to leave Sesshomaru decided that after he'd gotten to the bottom of this, he would commit himself to have electroshock therapy… the voice had to die… it annoyed him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~**~*~

A/N: Hope you liked! Next chapter - Kikyo sets her plan in motion, Lord Taisho thinks he's done a good deed, & Sesshomaru drops in on an old acquaintance.