InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Illumination ❯ New Realities ( Chapter 4 )

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

Chapter 4:  New Realities

Silence filled the clearing the kami had faded from, save for the tiny frightened whimpers of a very young Inuyasha.  Kagome soothed him, running her fingers through his hair automatically, not even thinking of what she was doing as she stared with worried concern at Sesshoumaru's rigid back.

No one could even bring themselves to believe what had just happened, despite Inuyasha's obvious reversion to childhood.  It was just too shocking, too strange, too different a fate than any of them had ever expected for the hanyou son of the Inu no Taisho.

But in a way... it made sense.  As Kagome ran the words of the kami through her mind, she knew they were right.  For if Sesshoumaru had taken up his duty to his only sibling as he should have after their father's death, things would have turned out very differently for all of them.

More than likely, she wouldn't even have been brought back through time, and she would not now be Sesshoumaru's mate.

Somehow, he seemed to pick up on that thought, for his voice rumbled through the clearing in negation.  

“You would still have come here, and still I would have taken you as my own.  A fate such as the one you have could not be turned aside by different choices.”  He slanted a glance at her from the corner of one golden eye.  “Even had I taken Inuyasha in, his fate with Kikyou would have played out in a similar manner, and you still would have been brought back to this world.  After all, you were made to be the mate of a youkai – the kami created you to be the biggest temptation to one of my kind that ever existed.”

Everyone listened, spellbound, to his words.

“Even with this rather... unexpected... result, I would not change things – for I am still the one that has you – you and your soul in all its brilliant glory are still mine.”

Kagome blushed, a small, pleased smile flitting over her features at his words.  She couldn't deny that what he had said made her feel happy, because it meant that he truly did care for her – her, not a shadow of someone else, and not for what she could do.  But she was still concerned about Inuyasha, and what was going to happen now.

She sighed and looked up at Sango, catching the taijiya's eyes on her, and smiled wryly.  “Well, the gods always did like messing with me, ne?”  she asked, and Sango choked out a surprised laugh, accompanied by Miroku.

Glancing around, even Kohaku seemed amused, and she shrugged.  “This is going to take some getting used to... I mean, I suppose I was used to playing mother to Shippo, but now Inuyasha, too?”  She shuddered after a moment as something occurred to her.  “Oh, lord... can you see those two now?  Shippo's going to have a heyday picking on Inuyasha!”

More hesitant laughter came then, and Kagome looked down into her lap at the now dozing child laying across it, then back over at her mate.  She was still so uncertain of his response.  Finally, she couldn't take the tension, and said,  “Sesshoumaru?”  in a small, worried voice.

After a few moments, he turned to face her, eyeing the child in her lap with a small amount of displeasure, but no real hatred, and Kagome breathed a little bit easier.

“I will not go against the words of the kami – it is pointless to do so even for one such as I, and I am not unaware of that fact.” His eyes lingered on the two of them for several moments, and his expression smoothed, something odd flashing through his eyes, gone as quickly as it came.

She shivered at the look, not certain what to make of it, but sighed, and turned her mind to dealing with practical matters.

“So much has changed in this one day,”  she said wearily as everything began to kick in,  “my whole future changed since just yesterday.  What are we going to do now, Sesshoumaru?  Where will we live?”

He didn't answer at first, walking over to where the Tessaiga had fallen from Inuyasha's hands, and picking it up, even as Kagome cried out in fear that the sword would once again reject him and cause him untold amounts of pain.

It didn't, instead sitting quiescent in his hands, and everyone blinked at that, save Sesshoumaru himself.  After a few moments of looking the tattered blade over, he slid it into his obi and turned back to her, motioning for Ah-Uhn to come forward.

“Why does Tessaiga accept you now?”  Kagome blurted, confused.

“Inuyasha is unable to wield it at this time, mate, and it will never accept the hand of anyone without my sire's blood, save you.  Since he cannot use it for now, it falls to me.  Most likely, once Inuyasha is of age and experience to once again bear it, it will once more work only for him,”  he responded easily.

He didn't seem to be upset by that, and Kagome understood – he had Bakusaiga, he had no need to rely on his father's strength, when his own was so devastatingly potent.  Nonetheless, he was not about to allow anyone else to gain the sword – it was meant only for ones who carried his father's blood.  

And Inuyasha would need it still to seal his youkai blood away.

She looked down at the little boy in her lap and sighed, eyes running over his childish form.  He looks so cute, but so scared and sad, she thought wistfully.  Is this what he looked like after his mother died?

She found it impossible to dig up the anger she'd had towards him – at least, the anger she'd had towards his adult form.  This child was still innocent, and knew nothing of any wrongdoings he'd committed in another life.

Shaking her head, she gathered him to her chest and stood, settling him gently on Ah-Uhn where he curled up in a little ball with a slight whimper and drifted deeper into sleep.  With a slight smile at his demeanor, Kagome let her eyes linger on him for a few more seconds, and then turned to face Sesshoumaru and her friends.

“So... what now?”  she reiterated to her husband, since he had not answered her previous question on that same issue.

“We will travel to join Rin and Jaken,”  he said after a moment, looking up at the darkening sky thoughtfully.  After a few seconds of pondering something, he looked over at the monk and taijiya.  “Where is the kitsune?”  he asked.

“Oh, um, Shippo's with Kaede,”  Sango answered nervously, not wanting Kagome to leave so soon, yet not knowing how to stop things.  Glancing at her brother, she shook her head – things had happened so fast.

Knowing what Sesshoumaru was about and grateful for his acceptance, Kagome smiled at Sango.  “Would you take me to go get him and say goodbye to Kaede, Sango?”  she asked, not noticing Sesshoumaru's disapproving expression.

Miroku did, though.  “Kagome-sama,”  he said, eyeing the daiyoukai uneasily,  “perhaps it would be better if Sango brought Kaede and Shippo back here?  I do not believe Sesshoumaru-sama is very happy with the idea of you going someplace he is not.”

Blinking, rather surprised, Kagome turned her head to look at the inu Lord.  “Sesshoumaru?  Why would you be bothered?  Naraku's gone now, and Inuyasha can't do anything to me...”  she trailed off curiously.

He tilted his head as he considered her, then said,  “Naraku is not the only danger, little mate.  There are many other dangers to be wary of.  I will not tolerate anything that would take what is mine away – or attempt to do so.  And at this time, there is a group of bandits lingering far too near this village for me to allow you to leave my sight.”

Kagome gasped in shock as did the others, and the first thing out of her mouth was,  “Bandits!  I can't leave them to go off and be safe while bandits are threatening my friends!”

He cocked a questioning brow at her.  “And what are you able to do against human bandits, Kagome?”  he asked.

She scowled at him, her temper heating.  “I'm not useless, Sesshoumaru!  I can fight – arrows work just as well against humans as reiki-infused ones work against marauding youkai.”

Miroku chuckled as Sango looked between the two uneasily, but neither paid any attention.

Sesshoumaru eyed his wife carefully, and then inclined his head at her, noting her determination.  “Very well, I will take care of this problem.”  He turned to Miroku.  “I leave her in your care, houshi – if she is not with you and safe when I return, there will be consequences.”

Miroku swallowed hard but nodded, immediately taking his meaning, and Sesshoumaru addressed Kohaku.  “Come with me.  With Inuyasha now a child once more, it will be your duty as the most experienced warrior along with the houshi and your sister to see to the defense of your village.”  With that, he walked away, leading the male taijiya in the direction the bandits were hiding, not another word crossing his lips.

Kagome stared after him, nonplussed.  Apparently, he did not want her fighting.  She'd have to have a talk with him about that when he got back.  As he disappeared from view, Kagome turned to the couple.  “I guess we should go down to Kaede's and let her know about all the strange things that have happened today,”  she sighed, resigned to a very long conversation.

Leading the way into the village, Kagome explained about Naraku's demise, filling the two curious people in on all that had happened just that very morning.

The story kept them busy all the way back to the elder miko's hut.

~oOo~

Kaede sat back, shifting her old bones as she listened to the tale of all that had taken place in the last few weeks of Kagome's life.  Her eyes continually wandered to Inuyasha, taking note of his determined clutching to Kagome – and Shippo's resentful glares at the hanyou child.

Kagome will have some trouble there – or would, she amended to herself,  if it were not for Sesshoumaru-sama's presence.  Shippo will not dare too much with the daiyoukai always watching.  Then again, it is most likely he will not allow Inuyasha to cling to Kagome so, either – he, I am sure, will want children of his own, and would expect them to take precedence.

Her thoughts were pushed aside as Kagome began to speak of Kikyou's fate, and Kaede could feel nothing but sadness at the young woman's hesitant words.

“I'm sorry, Kaede, but... I didn't think you'd want me to hide this from you,”  she finished up sadly.

With a sigh, the elderly priestess shook her head.  “I would not want ye to lie to me, Kagome, ye are right.  This fate was handed to my sister for her actions, and she brought it on herself.  There is no one to blame but Kikyou for this.”  Changing the subject,  she asked,  “Tell us more about Sesshoumaru-sama.  What were his reasons for taking ye as a mate, child, or did he tell ye?”

With a flush, and a glare at Miroku for his loaded chuckle, she said,  “He said it was for the same reason Naraku wanted me.  Illumination.”  She turned her hot face to the floor as she thought back to the night before.  “Naraku said that youkai have dark souls, and that mine is light.  He said... that youkai would always crave my light, because darkness always craves to be illuminated.  Sesshoumaru agreed.”

Nodding, Kaede considered that for a few minutes.  Then she spoke.

“Aye, he was correct, child.  Ye are a temptation to any youkai with your pure soul made of light, and it will always be that way.  It is good, I think, that Sesshoumaru-sama has claimed ye – he is honorable, and will care for ye, rather than one like Naraku getting his hands on ye.  Ye will be safe.”

“But... will there not always be youkai who come after her anyway, Kaede-sama, mated or not?”  asked Sango, a concerned expression on her face.

“Oh, aye, probably – but her husband is more than capable of defending her from them.  And as she is his lifemate, there would be no point in any others pursuing her once they were made aware of her status,”  the elderly woman replied.

An amused look passed through Miroku's eyes, then, and he asked,  “Tell us, Kagome – how did Koga take to this news?”

At that question, Kagome rolled her eyes, even as she sniffed the cooking meal appreciatively.  “That smells so good, Kaede!”  Turning to look over at Miroku, she chuckled.  “As for Koga, it didn't go over too well, as I'm sure you can imagine.  I finally had to beat him over the head with the news that I would never have been his even if it weren't for Sesshoumaru, that just because he said I was his woman, didn't mean anything, since I never said I'd be his woman.  I won't be seeing him again, that's for sure.”

Her attention was dragged down to her lap as the once more snoozing Inuyasha started to awaken, the smell of food pulling him from his sleep.  Everyone stopped and watched to see what the now small hanyou would do, though Shippo continued to glare just a bit in the child's direction.

The little boy looked around, suspicion writ large in his gaze as he eyed the strangers in the hut.  Kagome looked down at him.

“Inuyasha?”  she asked softly, and the child looked up at her with wide golden eyes that sparkled with unshed tears.  “Are you okay?”

He sniffled, then shook his head.  “My mama's dead,”  he whispered.  “People tried to kill me after she died.  Are they gonna try to kill me, too?”  He indicated Sango, Miroku, Kaede, and Shippo, fear in his gaze.

At that, Kagome's heart was almost ripped from her chest as she met everyone's solemn eyes, Inuyasha's words even making Shippo stop glaring at him.  After a silent moment, she pulled the young hanyou into her lap and cuddled him.

“No, Inuyasha, they won't, and I won't let anyone hurt you, anyway.  Do you know where your father is?”  she asked, wanting to see how much he knew of his family situation.

“He's dead,”  the little boy said softly.  “He died when I was born.”

“Do you have any other family?”  she prompted, wanting to see if he knew about Sesshoumaru.

“Mama said I had a half-brother,”  he replied slowly, clutching to her shirt,  “but I never saw him.”

“Well, you're going to be living with your brother from now on, sweetie,”  she said, smiling at him and trying to cheer him up.  It was pretty apparent that the kami had reverted him to the age he had been when his mother died – seven or so.  It seemed as if every bit of his life after that point had been erased.

“I don't want to leave you,”  he whimpered at that, clutching at her harder.  “You smell safe.”

I smell safe?  How does that work, I wonder?  she chuckled to herself.  “You won't be leaving me, Inuyasha – I'm your brother's wife.  He's busy protecting us right now from some bandits, but he'll be back soon, okay?  Until then, just relax – no one here will hurt you.”

The small hanyou eyed everyone in the hut for a moment, but nodded, and curled back up to Kagome, unwilling to be parted from someone who was guaranteeing safety.  His actions gave her a very good idea of the things he'd been through after his mother's death.

It saddened her, and she was suddenly very glad that his life this time around would be different.  

Shippo had watched Inuyasha, and was at first very jealous of the fact that his spot in Kagome's lap had been usurped by him.  But as he took in the small hanyou's fear and the shivers that kept running through his tiny frame, he began to feel bad for him, instead.

He was just as much an orphan as Inuyasha – but he was full youkai, and didn't have other youkai chasing him down and trying to kill him just because he was half human.  It made a big difference.  Sure, if other predator youkai had come across him, they would have seen him as prey, being as he was small.  But he wasn't deliberately hunted because of what he was.

Inuyasha, on the other hand, had youkai searching him out trying to kill him, and at this age, he was too young for any of his youki based attacks to work.  Other than his claws, he was basically defenseless, and suddenly, Shippo was pretty impressed with the fact that despite all the odds, he'd managed to survive everything to reach adulthood.

It said a lot – Inuyasha might play stupid, but he wasn't.

Oh, he was completely idiotic over the whole Kikyou debacle, no doubt, but his general intelligence couldn't be questioned – his survival from childhood to adulthood proved that.

After all, it took a great deal of intelligence to escape the assassination attempts of not one, but two races.

He looked down at his hands, hands that were idly playing with his little toy top, and thought about it.  Could he really begrudge Inuyasha Kagome's attention?  As it sat right this minute, some of her attention was already removed from him, as she was now Sesshoumaru's mate, and would be expected to pay most of her attention to the inuyoukai.   That was just life.

He was grateful for the daiyoukai's interference, that he had saved Kagome from Naraku.  It was worth losing some of her attention – at least this way, he didn't lose all of it.

When she had disappeared all those weeks ago because of Inuyasha and Kikyou, he'd been livid.  He didn't think he'd ever been so angry in his entire life – he'd wanted to burn the hanyou with his foxfire, smash him with his top, and stick him to a tree with his sweet rice.  And once Kikyou had joined the male, Shippo had refused to travel with them any longer, instead staying with Kaede and praying with all his heart for Kagome to be safe and to come back.

While he'd never have expected the manner in which the kami had answered his prayers, he couldn't deny that they'd been answered, and so he said a quick prayer of thanks under his breath while looking surreptitiously at his surrogate mother.

It wasn't like she didn't have a big enough heart for them all... but it was going to be hard getting used to not being the center of her attention any more.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Kaede.  

“Shippo, put away your toys, it is time to eat,”  she said, and he slipped his top back into his obi before going to sit closer to Kagome as the older miko began dishing out dinner.  

Kagome glanced down at the kit sitting as close as he could get to her, and smiled at him, then gently shook Inuyasha from his doze.  “It's time to eat, Inuyasha,”  she said, watching as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, then looked up at her for affirmation before sliding from her lap and shyly taking the bowl being held out to him by Kaede.  

“Okay,”  he said softly, taking the bowl and scooting as close to Kagome as he could get before he started to eat.  When he began devouring the food too fast, Kagome tapped his fingers with her chopsticks.  

“Slow down, Inuyasha, and use your manners.  No one is going to take your food away, so you can take the proper amount of time to eat.  See?  Watch Shippo,”  she said, gesturing to the small kitsune on her other side.

Eyes almost too big for his little face, Inuyasha took note for the first time of someone small like him, and he watched Shippo, fascinated, then copied his slower movements.  It was a heartbreaking insight for the adults into the terrifying, lonely life the boy had led after his mother died.

The thought that this time would be different echoed through everyone's minds, as long as Sesshoumaru cooperated, of course.  However, every person in that hut also knew that Kagome would make sure his life was much better this time around – Sesshoumaru, or no Sesshoumaru.

Somewhere high in the heavens, an inuyoukai and his human princess looked on with profuse gratitude to the kami for Inuyasha's second chance...

… and Kagome, for her open heart and bright, bright, loving soul.  

This time, Inuyasha would have the chance to fulfill his potential, and Sesshoumaru would finally become the daiyoukai his father had known he could be.

~oOo~

Sesshoumaru studied the small group of hardened deserters with contempt; it was beings like these that gave him such a disdain for humans.  Cowards, with no honor to speak of and filthy to boot, he wanted to do no less than erase them from existence, and had he been alone, he would have.

However, this would be a learning experience for Kohaku and so he restrained himself, allowing the taijiya to make the decision on the fate of the humans they were watching.

Flicking a quick glance at the boy, he wondered, not for the first time, how a species could produce such disparate specimens.  They, on the one hand, weak, with absolutely no worth, and Kohaku, his  sister, and even Kagome, his little mate, on the other.  He could not help but ponder on what the kami had been thinking when they created humans to be so confusing.

Now was not the time for such thoughts, however, and so he motioned to Kohaku, and they fell back a little ways from the group of rowdy, disgusting males – males that weren't even aware they were being stalked.

“What do you wish to do with them?”  he asked, wanting to know if the young man could make the correct decision – the one that seemed so harsh, yet was also necessary.

Kohaku stared at the ground thoughtfully, seeing the men in his mind's eye.  Disgust slithered through him – they reminded him of Naraku with their greed and vicious, dark souls.   After a few moments of contemplation, he said with finality,  “Eliminate all of them.  If any were to escape, they would only return, or find another village to target.  Ones like these have no light in their souls, and know nothing but thievery and murder.”

Sesshoumaru inclined his head approvingly, and with no further words between them, they ambushed the group.  Within a scant few moments, every last one of the males, who were covered in the dried blood of innocents, were dead, and Kohaku made sure they were displayed appropriately along the side of the road.  Such a thing, while gruesome, gave immediate and fair warning to any others who contemplated the same actions towards the village that lay near, that it was protected by competent warriors.  It might seem horrible, but in the long run, could actually save lives by discouraging others who might think that the small village would be easy prey.

The daiyoukai watched the young taijiya closely for any indications that he enjoyed the killing, and found none – in fact, it was just the opposite.  It was clear that he hated doing what he had, but just as clear that he was capable of doing what was necessary to protect what was his to protect.

Yes... he has honor, and much courage for one so young.  He will do well protecting this village and its inhabitants, and it is clear that his heart was not corrupted by Naraku's disgusting use of his mind.  I know that is is a fear that his sister has harbored – I will pass this knowledge on to her, and set her mind at ease before my mate and I leave this place.  

With that, his mind turned to his new circumstances – all of them.  It was clear that his previous thoughts of easy traveling around the world would not be happening – at least for now, while Inuyasha was still small.  He frowned a little, uncertain how he felt about the kami placing the boy in his care.

He could admit that he did, indeed, bear some of the blame for the hanyou's problems.  He should have taken him in after their father's death.  But he himself, had been little more than a young boy at the time of his sire's passing, as well, and barely able to be responsible for himself, let alone another.  Still, he knew his mate well enough to know that she would take the kami's words to heart, and until Inuyasha was once more an adult, she would mother him and make sure his life was completely different this time around.  

He could hardly blame her for acting as her heart and soul dictated – it was simply who she was, and he would not change her for any reason.

His eyes flickered slightly as he thought back to the picture she had made with the small hanyou clinging to her.   She would look just so with our own pup...  It was a visual that had actually aroused him, making him feel the need to procreate.   To procreate – with her.

That wasn't something he'd really thought about much – ever.  After all, he was still a young Lord, and had most of his life ahead of him – what need had he to worry over heirs?

But now... it was different.  It wasn't the creation of heirs that he was thinking on – but the creation of children – children born of his blood... and his mate's.  Children born just because he wanted them... not because he needed them.

Would they look like his half-brother?  Or would they be completely different?  There was literally no telling – they could look like him, or his brother, or even his mate.  That thought made him pause – if they looked human, would he be upset?  Would I...?  After a few moments, he admitted to himself that he would not mind them resembling his mate at all, though he would like at least one to carry his coloring – at least one pup to carry on the heritage of the Silver Inu.

But as he waited for Kohaku to clean himself up from the fight before heading back to the village, he reluctantly allowed that he would have to wait at least a few years for his little mate to become used to being a parent.  After all, she was still young, and already had several children to care for – Inuyasha, the kitsune child, and Rin, as well.  It was a great deal of responsibility for one who, until yesterday, had none but the kit and herself to care for.  And it wasn't like they wouldn't have plenty of time to raise their own children later, since she would be bound to him until death took him.  If he didn't get himself killed, he could easily live fifteen hundred to two thousand years more.  

Yes... we will have many pups, little mate, be assured of that, he smiled to himself, very pleased at that thought.  Even just imagining his tiny female swollen with his progeny made his breath catch in his throat.  Perhaps I had best think on something else, he thought wryly after a moment, as he once again began to become aroused with the direction his mind was determined to take him in.

It was also clear that he would be making many visits to this village over time – at least until the three members of the group that would be remaining here inevitably passed on.  It was not something he would ever deny the woman he had taken as his, and truthfully, he wouldn't mind keeping an occasional eye on Kohaku himself.

Arriving back at the hut, he was well aware of the silence that met him, and he eyed the small hanyou who was sitting crammed against his mates side staring at him with wide golden eyes so like his own.  He returned the gaze calmly, searching for any trace of the brash adult he had been in his gaze.  

He found nothing.

That is good, he allowed to himself, if I am to raise him this time, I would do so with no corruption already present in him.  It is best that he remembers nothing from his adult life.

“Inuyasha,”  he called quietly yet firmly to the young hanyou.  “Come, stand before me and speak your lineage.”

All those in the hut save Shippo and Inuyasha looked mystified, but Inuyasha, to Kagome's searching glance, suddenly looked oddly old as he stood and approached his brother, for once no trace of fear within him.

“This Inuyasha is a son of the Inu no Taisho, and the Hime Izayoi-sama of the House of Setsuna,”  he replied, and everyone was taken aback at his words – in that moment he sounded much older and more mature than he really was.   The words themselves were formally spoken, almost ritualistic – it was clear they were important.

Standing ramrod straight and proud before his older brother, Inuyasha returned the daiyoukai's stare with interest, and when Sesshoumaru finally inclined his head, he sat back down, for once since his transformation not clinging to Kagome.

At the groups interested but confused looks, Shippo explained.  “It's a traditional way for youkai males to introduce themselves to others that don't know them.  It shows your family line, and your place in youkai society, as well as your own power potential.  What Sesshoumaru-sama did with that question is to claim Inuyasha as kin, and take him under his wing for training.  It's also instinctive within youkai and hanyou when we hear that question to answer just as Inuyasha did.”

The Inuyoukai turned his gaze on Shippo with a questioning expression on his face, and Shippo mimicked Inuyasha's own stance of a moment ago.  “Speak your lineage, kitsune.”

To the intrigued silence in the hut, Shippo answered,  “This Shippo is a son of the Lord Kyousei of the Clan Chesnut, and the Hime Saika-sama of the Magnolia Clan.”   Kagome was shocked to learn her little kit was the son of kitsune royalty – and it showed.

“Shippo?” she said questioningly once Sesshoumaru had inclined his head to the boy.  “Why didn't you ever tell me...?”  she trailed off with a hurt expression, and Shippo hurried to soothe her.

“I just never thought about it, Kagome.  It really doesn't make any difference, since I'm too young to take my father's position, anyway.  Someone else in the clan will be Leader until I'm old enough to challenge for my father's former spot – if I decide to do that.”  The small boy took out his top again, nimble fingers playing across it as he talked.  “The only time my family line is important now is in situations where I get asked my lineage like Sesshoumaru did.  Otherwise, it really doesn't matter.”

Still shell-shocked but accepting, Kagome nodded, then met Sesshoumaru's cocked brow, and with a rather uncomfortable smile, stood, and began to gather their things from Kaede's floor.  “Shippo, make sure you get all your stuff – it's time to get going.  Thank Kaede for the supper,”  she reminded as she herself began looking the hut over to make sure she wasn't leaving anything of hers behind.

Sango, Miroku, and Kaede all looked a bit saddened at their departure, already missing she and Shippo, and even Inuyasha, but knowing that their new lives did not lie in the village.

“They will return periodically to visit,”  the daiyoukai murmured as he eyed the preparations to leave in the crowded hut, as well as the downcast expressions of the adults.

Miroku nodded gratefully, noting his betrothed's preoccupation with her young brother and his situation.  With Sesshoumaru and Kagome leaving, the extra set of bedding in Kaede's hut could be used for him, and Sango smiled despite her sadness at Kagome's departure, her brother's presence soothing the coming loneliness... somewhat.

She was surprised when the daiyoukai indicated his desire to speak with her, and stepping outside, she eyed him cautiously.

Sesshoumaru ignored her manner, deeming it unimportant.  “You have no need to fear that Naraku's use of your brother has corrupted him – he remains taint free, his mind his own and still honorable.”  His words were straight and to the point, but Sango knew what they meant, and something that had been wound tight in apprehension within her loosened.  Grateful, she bowed to the Inu Lord.

“Arigatou, Sesshoumaru-sama.  You have alleviated the only fear I had left on Kohaku's behalf.”

The daiyoukai merely nodded shortly and turned to stare off into the forest as he waited for his mate and the children to join him so that they could head back to Jaken and Rin.  He still wasn't too comfortable in villages, despite his acceptance of the fact that not all humans were low, dishonorable creatures worth less than nothing.

With that very thing in mind, Kagome quickly finished her goodbyes, and with promises to visit soon, stepped out of the hut to find her husband waiting with Ah-Uhn.  With Shippo and Inuyasha clinging to her, Sesshoumaru lifted her on to the dragon's back, and turned to head out of the village in a Southwesterly direction, eager to return to the other two members of his now greatly enlarged pack.

It had taken several hundred years, but Sesshoumaru finally had himself a true pack – he was no longer a loner in a breed that had always been pack oriented.

And against all his earlier beliefs, he was finding that he was, indeed, much more content than he had ever been when traveling alone...

Jaken didn't count.

Traveling with Jaken was just about as entertaining as traveling alone, after all – but more irritating.

~oOo~

They traveled slowly through the evening hours, not stopping, and Kagome was made aware that he wished to rejoin his retainer and ward before actually making camp.  That didn't stop the two young ones from drifting off to sleep in her arms, however, lulled by her heartbeat, and the odd, yet rhythmic gait of the dragon-youkai.

Heck, if I'm not careful, she thought ruefully, I'll be falling asleep, too, and then we'd all take a tumble right off Ah-Uhn's back.  I don't think even Sesshoumaru could avoid laughing at us if that happened.

The daiyoukai had been even more quiet than usual since what had happened earlier – his brother being placed in his care seemed to have engendered a highly pensive state in him.  That was probably a good thing – the more he thought about certain circumstances, the better off they would all be, or, so at least Kagome felt.

She stared up at the heavens contemplatively, her own gaze pensive and almost sad as she thought over all that had happened in these last two days of her life.

It's still so hard to believe that the well is sealed, Naraku's dead, the jewel is gone, and I'm Sesshoumaru's wife.  And now I'm mother to three children – human, youkai, and the bridge between them - hanyou.  Strange... one wonders if the kami are deliberately trying to tell Sesshoumaru something.  And even caring for them, all three, I can already see that their needs are not so different – children are children, and race doesn't really matter.

That little direction of thought brought something she had so far overlooked directly to the forefront of her mind – Sesshoumaru was her husband, her mate... and marriage, at least at some point, usually meant children.  Sure, he had mentioned that he no longer needed pure-blooded heirs, and that in her world, hanyou might actually be a boon, but she hadn't really thought about it.  And he probably hadn't truly considered it, either.

Their children would be what Inuyasha was.  Not human, not youkai, but both – and neither.  

A dark-haired girl-child's sweet smile flashed through her memory, and with a smile of her own, Kagome thought about the fact that Rin would probably be the biggest help in integrating Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and any children she and the daiyoukai had, into one cohesive family.  

Shippo, too, would be of great help – his easy acceptance of humans and hanyou would smooth the way for Sesshoumaru's own, as odd as it seemed.  As one of three full youkai in their new family group, he would help assure that their children would always feel welcomed and accepted.

She flushed a dark cranberry as she considered having children with the handsome Inuyoukai, and her imagination turned to what they would look like.  She wanted them to all look like him, with his beautiful silver and gold coloring – her own was so commonplace, except her blue eyes, that she would not want to condemn any child of hers to such a drab appearance with a sire and siblings that were so dazzlingly beautiful.

There would have been a great deal of surprise on her part if she had but known that her mate had thought on just those same things earlier – and that the thought of her carrying his children had pleased him greatly.  

It would have astounded her to know that he had not cared one whit if they had resembled humans completely, either – he truly did not care either way, as long as they were theirs, and healthy.

Still, it was a different thing to accept his own children, versus accepting his brother, at least in her mind.

Thoughts revolving around smoothing the transition from enemies to family, Kagome was quite glad when, just before midnight, the glow of a fire was seen through the thickening trees, and Jaken's usual bowing and scraping presaged their arrival into camp.

With a sigh, Kagome welcomed Sesshoumaru's assistance as he took the two children from her arms and settled them down with Rin, allowing her to dismount and stretch – she was quite kinked from sitting for so long in one position.

If she hadn't been so tired from such a long, stressful day, Jaken's shocked sputtering at sight of her, and instant obvious dislike would have been funny – as would Sesshoumaru's reaction to the kappa's dislike.  But she was tired, exhausted, actually, and so her patience with Jaken's mistreatment of her person was at a minimum, which was why her mate's violent response on her behalf did not strike her as wrong.

And as the kappa's face and body became acquainted with the mud, Kagome simply stepped over him, wearily laying out her bedding near the fire and then disappearing behind a tree to change into her nightclothes.  Within ten minutes of their arrival, Kagome was curled up with all three children and asleep, leaving Sesshoumaru to educate his retainer on her and her new place in his life.

Needless to say, Jaken did not have a very good night.

~oOo~

Sesshoumaru spent the entire night simply enjoying the peace and quiet, staring into the sky.  He was young, but patient – he could spend hours just enjoying the beauty of the night without really thinking about anything at all, or spend it pondering on anything and everything under the sun – or the moon, as it were.

This night was one such; content, even the duty to his brother could not upset his enjoyment of his newly-assured future.  He was certain that his easy acceptance of Inuyasha's new claim on him was due to Kagome's advent into his life.  She'd illuminated every corner of his soul, filling him up with lightness and contentment, leaving no room for darkness, hatred, anger, or jealousy... he'd changed since his claiming of her, it was easy to see.  

It was also easy to see that he did not care that she had changed him.

His eyes lowered from the sky, lingering first on his once again young brother, and he searched within himself – but couldn't find anything negative towards the boy whatsoever.  Even the anger he'd carried at Inuyasha's treatment of his mate was gone as though it had never been.   All he could feel at this point was determination to see the child grow up correctly, making sure that he was a credit to his powerful blood and his family name.

It was all due to the woman the child was curled against, and his eyes moved to caress her, wondering how such a tiny being could have such a huge influence, even on one as dark as he.  

There is not another like her in all of creation... a certain tenderness filled him as he gazed on her, and he wondered then, what he had done, that even though the kami had chastised him for his abandonment of his brother, they had still given a prize such as Kagome to him.  There are none worthy of her... no... but still, I was given the chance to hold her, to bask in her powerful soul's light, to be her lover.  For eternity.

Of all those in the world that could have been given that happiness...

Inuyasha... the kit, Rin... and any children we create together, they will also grow in the light of her soul, strong and proud... but none will be as close or have as much of her as I.  For that gift I would take on the raising of Inuyasha a thousand times over.

He chuckled to himself quietly.  Because the truth was, if this was the price the kami asked for the gift that was Kagome's light, it was an easy price for something so precious.  From his first view of his brother after the kami had returned him to childhood, clasped in his mate's arms, he had barely been able to see the boy as his brother... no, instead, he kept seeing him as a child of theirs...

It changed things – for the better, seeing Inuyasha that way, and he knew that as the boy grew, he would come to see him as a son of his own, rather than of his father – especially if any of their own children  resembled him in any way.

A few days ago, had anyone told me I would be sitting here thinking of these things, thinking of Inuyasha as though he were my own son, I would have killed them.  But Kagome... she changes things so easily with just her presence.  

And though you know you are changed, you cannot bring yourself to care.

My... wife.  His eyes lingered once more on the four beings curled together in the blankets... My family.  The family I have always longed for, in truth.  The one that father and mother never gave me... instead, Kagome has given me this most precious thing...

And something occurred to him, then – once he had taken his first steps on the path the kami had set for him, there were others to care for, as well – his little human, Rin, and the kitsune orphan, Shippo.

He breathed deeply of the cool night air, and his eyes flashed golden fire as he raised them to the heavens once more.

Inuyasha may have once been his father's son, but he was no longer.  The boy was his... as were the others.  He would never let go of any of them, protecting them with every skill he possessed...

… for the rest of his days.

And he would thank the kami for the chance to do it, too.  How different he was, even from just a few days ago...

It made him wonder how different he would be in a month, or a year spent in her presence.

~oOo~

Kagome woke the next morning at the center of a pile of growling bellies, and just had to laugh, even as Inuyasha blushed.  The other children simply giggled, and Kagome swore then to herself that Inuyasha wouldn't fear his hunger for very much longer – if she had anything to say about it, he'd soon be reacting just as the other children did.  

Freely, and openly.

With that in mind, she sat up, and looking over in surprise at the fire, noted that Sesshoumaru had already been hunting that morning – there was a mostly cooked haunch of deer roasting slowly over the open fire, as well as a full basket of berries.

She smiled, pleased, and looked over at her husband, who was watching her closely for her reaction.  Blushing, she said,  “Thank you, Sesshoumaru!  I'm starved, and the kids are hungry, too.  I'm grateful you did this for us.”

His eyes were warm as they rested on her, and he nodded.  “Is it not my responsibility to provide for those under my care, wife?”  he asked softly, and Kagome got the impression that it was a responsibility that he was pleased to have, rather than one he was discharging simply because it was expected of him.  It made a difference.

A large one.

As Kagome made to stand up so she could go wash up and dress to face the day, Sesshoumaru also stood.  As she eyed him curiously,  he turned a rather blank, yet still threatening gaze on Jaken.  He hadn't changed that much, after all.  “I expect everything to be the same when I return, Jaken.”

As the toad nodded frantically, knowing what that look presaged, Sesshoumaru walked over to stand behind his wife and nudge her in the direction of the river.  Picking up her bag, he motioned for her to follow him as he led her towards the water, smiling to himself as he thought of the delight she would feel at the cool caress of the liquid in the heat of the morning.

And perhaps she would enjoy another type of caress, he thought, the idea pleasing him greatly.  He had not been able to enforce his scent upon his wife since yesterday's impromptu mating after Naraku's defeat, and he was feeling the nearly irresistible urge to bask in her light again quite strongly.

With that thought in mind, he dropped her pack as she caught sight of the water with a happy squeak, and watched as she promptly began to disrobe – though she blushed when she realized he was watching.

“Sesshoumaru!”  she hissed, red-faced, motioning for him to turn around.  He chuckled as he stripped his own clothes, causing her to choke on her heated diatribe against his hentai ways, and he glanced at her over his shoulder, catching the drop-jawed expression on her face.

“All this modesty is pointless, little mate,”  he said.  “Have I not already enjoyed your beautiful body?  Do you think I did not see it?  I could draw every curve from memory, Kagome, so there is little point in hiding it from me.  Why do you insist on doing so?”  he asked, curiosity prompting him to question her.

She looked away, unable to meet his eyes as she answered his question.  “You... you're so perfect, Sesshoumaru – so beautiful, and I'm... well, not, if you know what I mean.  I'm just a human, and it's embarrassing to be naked next to someone who makes one look hideous just by existing.  Every flaw I have is just highlighted by being displayed next to you.”

Needless to say, the inu was astonished at her answer, not understanding what she was seeing.  Flawed?  He moved towards her, taking the clothing she had clenched in her hands to hide her nudity, and yanking it away, tossing it aside carelessly as he let his eyes wander shamelessly over her sweet body.

“I see no flaws, mate.  Perhaps you could point them out to me?”  he asked, honestly trying to understand what she was saying.  He just didn't see it.  “Do you speak of the lack of stripes upon your flesh?”

“No,”  she said slowly, hesitantly.  “Not just that... but your form – you are perfect.  I'm not, I'm flawed.    I mean, my breasts are small, my tummy isn't flat, and my hips are wider than most girls.  And my face!    It's just plain – there's nothing remarkable about me,”  she sighed, flushing with embarrassment.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head to look at her, confused, and showing it.  “Your breasts are the perfect size for your tiny form, your belly is not supposed to be flat – you will carry pups well, and your hips will allow you to bear them easily, also.  These are all things a male inu finds attractive, not ugly.  As for your face being plain... I disagree with you, I see your soul overlaid over every part of you, and it is simply beautiful.  I do not see what you see,”  he finished softly.

Shyly, she met his gaze, wanting to see if he was being honest with her, and from the look in his eyes, he was.  And then her gaze dropped and caught sight of another part of him that was enthusiastically showing its attraction to her, and her eyes widened in shock.

He chuckled again at the look on her face, and waded into the water to join her.  “If I were not attracted to you, mate, you would know it – a male's body is not designed to hide his response to a female he wants, or had you not noticed?”

“B-but, I thought guys would get that reaction towards just about any woman.  I mean, not if she was really ugly or anything but... that – you'd react that way to seeing Sango nude, too, ne?”

“I have seen the slayer in her nude state before, mate, and I can guarantee you, my body did not react this way, nor would it, now,”  he said as he reached for her, pulling her frame into him.  He lowered his head to nuzzle into her warm neck, inhaling her scent happily.  Warm, nude miko first thing in the morning smelled quite intoxicating to him, and he growled softly, seductively, letting her know it.

But apparently his words had not passed unnoticed; eyes narrowing, she pulled away and glared at him.  “Wait just a darn minute,”  she huffed,  “when did you see Sango naked?”

Ignoring the sound of her ire, he pulled her back into him and once more began nuzzling into her flesh.  “Some time ago – you were not there, and she was bathing.  I was passing through, and did not feel the need to embarrass her with giving away my presence.  I simply kept going, and I assume she finished her bath,”  he said, his tone screaming that he was not interested in pursuing that line of thought in any way.

Well, she thought, her mind beginning to go hazy,  he did say he wasn't turned on by her... I suppose there's no point in arguing about it, because even if he was lying, I'd never know.  And he's not prone to lying, anyway.  If that particular circumstance had not fit his need to explain things to me, he just wouldn't have brought it up.  She sighed as her head fell back, opening her up to the inu's exploration of her neck, and he let her know in no uncertain terms that she had pleased him, a soft nip against her pulse making her gasp, even as she slumped a bit, forcing him to hold her up.

Not that he was about to argue – she was right where he wanted her.  Dragging his nose upward along her softly scented flesh, he licked lightly along her jaw, and then pounced on her rosy lips, devouring her hungrily as though he hadn't had her in months, despite the fact that it hadn't even been twenty-four hours since his last foray into her body.

Kagome moaned as his tongue curled sweetly against her palette, making her legs even weaker as he gave off an oddly hungry-sounding growl at her response to his kiss.  Heat poured through her body, making her whimper with suddenly overwhelming need.  

Innocent until he'd taken her the day before, Kagome had been rather suddenly dropped in at the deep end of eroticism and sexual hunger, and though she'd only just been introduced to the heady world of sexuality, her particular partner ensured that she would quickly become a wanton, quickly become needy of his brand of desire.

And so she responded with fast-blooming want, not holding anything back as his hands swept over her naked form demandingly, and his mouth exposed her to sensations that would have made a courtesan blush.  She held nothing back, and her mate responded in the same way, giving everything of himself to her without concern.

Sesshoumaru was lost in a world of desire, his blood flowing thick and slow through his veins as the scent of his wife's arousal thickened in the air around them.  Both hands swept down her back, over her rounded buttocks, and clasped around her upper thighs, pulling them up and around his waist as his hands slid back up to cup her soft, yet firm rear.  

Mouth still conquering hers, over and over delving within her heated lips to sweep up all her sweetness, he moved back to the bank of the river, and laid her down atop mokomoko, so that her delicate, beautiful fair skin was protected from any rocks that hid in the sand of the little beach.

“Kagome... wife,”  he whispered hotly, as he pulled back from her mouth to eye her as she lay sprawled over his pelt.  “Beautiful,”  he murmured.  “And all mine.”

She reached up and dragged him back down to her, unwilling to let him go, and he took full advantage, enjoying her taste so much that he would be pleased if he could have kept kissing her forever.  He purred at her, and Kagome responded by smiling into his kiss, her sweet lips curling just slightly wickedly against his own, causing him to groan as he ripped himself away from her lips to trail his own across her burning flesh.

He was surprised to feel just how hot she was, if he had felt so much heat from her at any other time he'd have been worried that she was sickening for something.  But it was clear that the only thing she was needing was him, and he was more than happy to oblige.

Just as he wrapped his lips around an upthrust nipple, his fingers parted her thighs, and slid between folds of flesh already wet and hot, aching for him to sate their thirst with the heavy thrust of his own body into hers.  She arched against his invading fingers, her fingers threading through his silver hair and tugging wantonly as she begged for a completion he was only too willing to give her.  Pulling up and away from her breasts, he brought his fingers up and licked them both clean with an overwhelmingly erotic relishing sound, and Kagome felt the slickness of her body increase just from that.

She was ready, and once more pleading for him to join with her, she cried out in relief as he slid inside, her body wrapping itself tightly around his as her eyes fell closed in pleasure.  “Sesshoumaru,”  she whimpered, the sound a siren's call to her husband as he lowered his head to lean against hers.  He pulled back, and just that quickly, a deep, driving rhythm was established, the daiyoukai knowing immediately that this would not last long.  She called to him, everything about her called to him, spoke to his body and his passion, and he could no more deny her than he could deny his need to breathe.   

He ruefully acknowledged to himself that if he wanted a long round of bed play with his mate, it would have to be as a second bout, after he'd already released himself with her once, because the first time would always be too overwhelming for him to last long.

The things she does to me...

His body sped up automatically as his passion came near to exploding, and he was pleased that she was with him every step of the way – she would be coming within seconds, and he would follow right behind her.  He slammed his mouth down over hers just as she reached her peak and wailed out her completion, her body tightening down around him so much that he felt as though she had permanently trapped him inside her.  It was his turn to roar into her mouth as his hips jerked almost spastically into her, his seed spraying into her in several strong sprays fueled by his powerful heart.

The tension left him suddenly, and he collapsed down over her, pulling away from the kiss with one last tender sweep of her mouth.  Panting heavily, he soothed her with a soft caress, a slight smile quirking one corner of his mouth as she panted just as heavily as he.  

“Th-that was... wow,”  she whispered finally, sighing as her eyes opened to take in the glowing gold of her mate.  “I didn't know that could feel so good – though I think it has a lot to do with ones partner,”  she said shyly, flushing a little at the pleased look he gave her.

He chuckled, and she watched him breathlessly as he levered himself up and away from her, then held out a hand to help her up, as well.  

“I suppose you are correct, little mate.  For I can definitely say, never have I had more satisfying encounters – not until you entered my life.  Never will I desire to even consider another, unlike my sire...”

“... for you are all I could ever need, Kagome,”  he finished after a silent moment.

He smiled openly at her own bashful smile, nothing but honesty in his eyes.


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