InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Bokuseno ( Chapter 13 )

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

Chapter 13: Bokuseno

Myouga wiped an arm across his little head, thinking how lucky he was to have made it away from his young Lord in one piece - and into Bokuseno's presence. Not any easy feat, lately, what with all the demon's running freely through the lands.

"Ah, Myouga." A rustling of leaves, a strange swirling of the rough bark of the tree before him, and the face of the eldest appeared. "Your young Lord - he has questions that you are not sure you want to answer, so you bring him to me."

"Heh, heh, well... yes. He demanded it, actually." The little flea folded his arms into his tiny sleeves and sighed. "He is stubborn, much like the Master was, Bokuseno. He wants something returned to him from the after realms - and even though she doesn't want to be brought back, he insists."

""Hm. The younger miko. She is unique, yes, but she is not for him."

"Maybe not. He will not give up, however. That's why I came to you before he could arrive. What do we do?"

A creaking sound echoed through the dense woods as the demon tree settled, his boughs swaying slightly in the soft breeze.

"His interference is necessary. She will be returned whether we assist him or not." A soft chuckle came then. "As will the elder brother - the General."

"So... then you will tell Inuyasha."

"Yes." Another, stronger breeze flowed past his branches and he sighed in contentment, enjoying the soft caress. "The oath she swore to him will cause her to return at his summons. However, he does not know of the oaths between the two who travel together in death as they did not in life."

Myouga frowned at that, suddenly worried. "We know what would happen when he calls on her to honor her promise to him. But..." he trailed off for a moment, a deep sigh shaking his tiny form. "Sesshoumaru's promise to her notwithstanding, hers in return to him causes complications in the spell. Which bond will be deemed stronger?"

Bokuseno closed his ancient eyes contemplatively. "The bond between the miko and the demon Lord will not be broken. But the younger Lord will attempt to interfere in the spells when he realizes that she will not return alone."

"How can he interfere?" Myouga was surprised. "I didn't know that it was possible."

Another chuckle. "There are always ways to wreak havoc, Myouga, in anything. In even the most stable plans there are inherent possibilities for chaos. You should know this."

"Chaos." The little flea shivered. "I have always hated that word."

"Come, Myouga. Fear not. This is necessary. Lord Sesshoumaru must be returned. He would not come back without her. Inuyasha's brash actions are needed at this time." The demon opened his eyes and pinned the flea with a glance full of eons of wisdom.

"Their deaths were necessary as a means for them to come together without the actions of the rest coming between them, but it was always meant that they would return once they had formed the bond."

"So what will happen when she is brought back?"

"She will be returned to the young Lord's side." An amused gleam lit the eyes of Bokuseno. "The Lord Sesshoumaru will awaken somewhere... else, however."

Myouga stared at him, stunned. "But...! Bokuseno, that's a disaster! Her on one end of the lands, and him on the other. What will that accomplish save destruction across the breadth of the lands wrought by Sesshoumaru in his rage at her absence?"

"Come, flea. Do you really think that anything will distract the General from returning to the side of his woman, even rage? He will not waste time in empty anger - the ones to fall to him as he searches for her will be those that directly challenge him - or place themselves in his way."

"Still! And what about the young Lord - Sesshoumaru will kill him, surely?"

"The miko will not allow that fight to get out of hand. However, they will fight. Sesshoumaru will have to establish dominance of his brother, otherwise, the youth that carries the stubborn will of his father will never let go of the younger miko." A slight smile slowly spread across the strangely mobile face of the great tree.

"This next portion of time will be difficult, most certainly for the little priestess, as she is still learning the depths of her heart. To be separated from his side now will cause pain. However, it will only strengthen the bond that exists between them now - and the one that is to come."

Myouga sighed, and looked down. "Is there no other way?"

"No. While they were meant to die, they were also meant to be returned. For now, the Western Lands suffer under the loss of their true Lord - only he can free them again, and re-establish control. Once the two, Miko and Lord, rejoin, in this realm... only then can the lands heal and be returned to the glory they held before the loss of the Master."

"And what of Inuyasha?"

"He will finally be forced to grow up - that is why Kagome will be returned to him... for a small time. The time has come for him to say his goodbyes, in effect... to let go of her as a possible mate."

"Why is it he that must lose Kagome, Bokuseno? She deserves better than the cold Lord of these lands." Myouga, despite everything, was very fond of Inuyasha, and this whole situation upset him.

She was never fated to the younger son, Myouga. She is tied by the red cord of fate... to the elder. There is no fighting the fates, flea - you know this."

Myouga nodded despondently.

Yes... I know. I hate it, though. As if my master hasn't lost enough in his young life.

Bokuseno smiled indulgently. "Ah, but Myouga... Inuyasha already has his own miko. It is she who he is fated to."

At that, Myouga frowned. "And that is no better than being left alone, Bokuseno. The woman is not deserving of him."

The old tree just chuckled once more before closing his eyes to sleep.

What will be, will be, Myouga. It is not for the likes of either of us to argue with the gods.

---wWw---

Where did that damn flea run off to now! Fuck... he always does this shit! Can't count on him for crap. It's a wonder the old man didn't squish him to pieces centuries ago.

Inuyasha sighed, irritated more than angry at the tiny demon. Everyone knew he was a coward, but they were going to see Bokuseno - it's not like the tree would be trying to kill him. He fingered the thread he'd had the old retainer tied to, wondering how he got loose.

Keh... probably chewed himself free. Guess it really doesn't matter - I know how to get the rest of the way to the great tree. I can feel his aura from here, if it weren't for all these damn demons, we'd be there now.

"Is something wrong, Inuyasha?" Miroku held his staff before him as they walked, taking a breather from the rather punishing pace the half demon had set earlier.

"Just want to get this over with, that's all. I want her back, and I'm getting pissed at all the interference around here."

There was a distant look in the monk's eyes that Inuyasha wondered at. "Tell me something, my friend... I find myself curious. What purpose is there in bringing her back?"

He stared at Miroku, shocked. Purpose?! "What the hell do you mean, purpose? Does there have to be one beyond wanting her alive, instead of dead?!"

"You misunderstand, Inuyasha. What will you do with her once she is back? What does she have to look forward to? You, after all, now have Kikyou back in your life."

He scowled. "That can be figured out later, ne? You seem to think that there has to be a reason to bring her life back. I don't see it that way. Kagome is her own reason, without any need for anything else."

Sango broke in, then. "Everyone needs a purpose in life, Inuyasha. Kagome chose her reason for being - she chose her life's purpose, and made it an honorable one by giving her life for those she loved. It seems to me that this - forcing her to return this way, against her express wishes - only dishonors that sacrifice." She sighed as he huffed in anger at her. "It's like you're saying that her sacrifice was for nothing."

"You know better than that, Sango, and so does the wench. Stop trying to talk me out of this - it's not going to change my mind no matter how many times we argue about it." He turned a heated glare on Miroku. "And why do you all assume that just because I wanted to see Kikyou alive again, means that I chose her over Kagome? There's no comparison between the two - Kikyou is Kikyou, and Kagome is Kagome. I haven't chosen anyone, understood?"

Sango shook her head, but kept quiet. I don't think it's going to matter, Inuyasha. You took so long - I think she's chosen someone else.

It's your own fault, too. You just assumed she'd wait forever...

But forever is a long, long time - and not even the gods are willing to wait that long.

---wWw---

Kagome just couldn't believe that the stoic seeming Lord she'd known for so long was actually a closet hentai. She still couldn't look at him without blushing, and she was left constantly wondering just exactly what, and how much, he'd seen.

Peeping on me while I was bathing - even if it was only once, and accidental.

Gods know I would never have believed it if he hadn't said it himself - in fact, she thought with a slight frown, I'm not sure I believe it, anyway. This whole thing is really rather incredible, now that I think about it. All this time, I've just gone along with this situation, and yet... why would the incomparable Lord Sesshoumaru even look once at me, let alone twice... or... whatever.

She cast a furtive look in his direction, then looked quickly back down at the ground, another blush painting her cheeks.

And where is he taking me, anyway?

As the mists parted again, almost in answer to her question, she found a breathtaking sight before her. They stood on a switchback path halfway up the side of a towering waterfall. The force of the water plummeting down was such that the mists between realms, and the mists of the waterfall itself twined together, making it difficult to tell where one ended and the other began.

It was sunrise, and the way they were facing, the roaring waters were tinted a fiery red, while rainbows arced from one side of the falls to the other.

It was the most beautiful thing Kagome had ever seen.

Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, wasn't looking at the falls. He was too busy watching the tiny female standing before him, her face filled with awed wonder - and a blush. With a sigh, he led her upwards, finally reaching the top of the falls, and led her back towards the trees, settling on some boulders far enough away from the falls to at least be able to speak.

She is still blushing... as old as she is, yet still so innocent. I wonder if she will always be this way?

"Kagome... why do you still blush, and refuse to meet my eyes?" he asked. "Surely you are aware that I find you attractive - with everything that you have seen, everything you have heard - has all of that not told you what I want from you?"

"I find it... difficult to accept, I suppose, when I think of it. You - the always stoic and cold demon Lord, showing emotion? Speaking of it? And," here she flushed even deeper, "acting like a normal male... you know, like... like..." she just trailed off, unable to even bring herself to finish.

He turned a jaundiced gaze out towards the rapidly flowing water, and shifted his position a bit, moving closer to her warm body.

"So you see me as cold and sexless, is that it?"

That jerked her eyes to his face, for a moment, then she turned her gaze back to the ground. "Uhhh, well... sorta, I guess. At least, towards someone like me." He frowned slightly as he looked over at her. "I mean, I guess I always just thought of you as only reacting in such a way for some extraordinary woman, you know, some beyond beautiful demon female. Not someone like me. Average human. Heck, even other humans only see some plain jane ordinary woman when they look at me."

"You are blinded by the half-breed's words, miko. There is nothing ordinary about you. And as much as I have followed you all these years, I have seen many males, demon and human, show interest in you." He shook his head, a bit of a growl flowing up from deep in his chest at the thought. "Do you have any idea how many times Inuyasha had to chase off an interested male?" He paused for a minute, then said, "How many times I chased away a rival male?"

Kagome was astounded at that. She eyed him warily, not sure whether to believe him or not. Guys just didn't find her attractive - she had accepted that long ago. They always seemed to see her as 'just one of the guys'.

"You must have just misunderstood or something, Sesshoumaru. Males only seem to see me as another friend - you know, like any other guy. Those guys probably just wanted to make a new friend."

At that, Sesshoumaru, for the first time in his life, was tempted to throw his hands in the air and yell in disbelief and frustration. She really was that naive and oblivious. It was unbelieveable. The half breed had much to answer for, as far as he was concerned.

"No, Kagome. They did not want to 'just be friends'. They wanted to claim you - the humans in marriage, the demons as a mate. Inuyasha has spent far more time than you know chasing males of both races away from your rather intoxicating scent." He sighed as he watched the unchanging disbelief in her eyes. "For most demons, scent is far more important than looks, miko, and you have a scent that draws demons like bears to honey."

"Oh," she said, slowly. "Well... I suppose I could see that, maybe... if the demons liked my scent. I can't say anything about that, since I can't tell my own scent. But in the looks department... well, I wouldn't win any prizes."

He looked at her thoughtfully. "Tell me something. Do you truly see yourself as ugly?"

"No... not ugly, just... average. Like I said before. There's nothing about me that would make me stand out in a crowd. Not a thing."

"And it is this foolish belief on your part that makes you think that this Sesshoumaru has no passion in his soul? Your belief that you are not good enough to bring such a reaction from the cold Lord?"

Kagome began to wonder at that point if perhaps she'd offended him. "Uhmm..." she squeaked as she found herself suddenly pulled into a tight embrace, raising shocked eyes to his face.

"This Sesshoumaru has great depths of passion, miko - they are just hidden, kept masked. No one had yet managed to bring out that side of me - 'til you," he breathed, before he lowered his head to her and took possession of her mouth.

And Kagome's mind promptly shut down, leaving her unable to think, unable to do anything other than feel.

Oh, gods... his kiss! He's burning to the touch - how does such heat exist under so much ice?

He flicked his tongue out, swiping it along the crease of her mouth, forcing a gasp of pleasure from her, and giving him the opening he was looking for as he swooped in and took what was his. He tasted everything before pulling back, just enough to let her breath while he nibbled the corner of her lips, then once again moving in and conquering her mouth, dominating her in every way as his tongue twined itself sensuously with hers.

She tastes so sweet... better than I ever imagined. Better even than her scent suggests! This is mine - I will never allow another to taste her lips... or any other part of her.

When he finally withdrew, they were both panting heavily, and Kagome's eyes slowly opened, finding themselves instantly locked with the glowing gold eyes of Sesshoumaru.

"Do you still doubt your affect on me, miko?" Taking shameless advantage of her dazed state, he thrust his hips forward, showing her exactly what he meant. "This Sesshoumaru would never be so affected by anything ordinary," he said, disdain in his voice for the very idea.

"Accept the fact that there is fire in me that you did not know of, Kagome, because you will be seeing a great deal more of that side of me. You will always and ever be the only one to see that side," he finished, before slowly loosening his grip on her and stepping back after making sure that she was steady on her legs.

Kagome couldn't even speak, she was so stunned, so she just nodded, eyes wide as she stared at him. His face was still, calm, but his eyes...

It's always his eyes. No matter what, everything he is is in his eyes - if any ever bother to look.

I didn't... at first. It took a long time for me to begin seeing him as he truly is - and every time I think I've got him figured out, he does something to shock me...

Like that kiss. Is he Ice Prince - or Fire Lord?

I think... that he is both.

---wWw---

A slight breeze rustled through the boughs of the ancient tree demon as he considered all that had so far happened, and all that would soon do so. It had taken centuries, but the end was finally in sight.

The early death of the Inu no Taisho had thrust the lands into a period of instability that had not been alleviated by Sesshoumaru's presence, because for so long, he had paid no real attention to the health of his inheritance, instead focusing on amassing power, and his pursuit of Supreme Conquest.

Bokuseno chuckled at that thought, disdain in the sound, just as there had been in Sugimi's voice when Sesshoumaru had spoken of it the night his father died. The young Lord had never understood the one reason he would never attain such a goal...

The world was not meant to be ruled by one being.

But now, he'd finally realized that the pursuit of such a thing was a waste of time - he'd finally found what he'd needed to become the Great Lord his father had been. The thing he'd asked his son if he had - the one thing Sesshoumaru had scoffed at, and spent centuries continuing to scoff at.

Someone to protect.

He'd finally come to understand that true power was found inside - from within the heart - not from any external source, and now, he would, at last, be a fitting protector for the lands...

And all those that lived within them.

It was about time.

---wWw---

A/N: Bring on the fire, Sesshoumaru! Anyway, things are heating up...

Amber