InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Deception ( Chapter 24 )

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

Chapter 24: Deception

Inuyasha stared out over the meadow, face frozen, shocked.

Did she just... say... what I think she said? How...?

"What do you mean, who would I choose?" he finally managed to question, voice still wavering with uncertainty.

"That has been the basis for all your misfortune so far, has it not, my Inuyasha?"

His eyes dropped into his lap as he heard her words. Yeah... sure. I feel caught between the two of them - and it's still the same... I think, if I'm honest with myself...

"I think I always will be, mother. I really don't know as I'm capable of making a choice between the two." He shook his head, a frustrated sigh breaking free from him. "I... need time to think about what you've said."

"Time is something I have plenty of, Inuyasha," she said, amusement strong in her voice. "I will come to you again another time."

"Thanks... mother."

"Is it so hard to say, then?"

"I just miss you, is all. It's been so long since I've heard your voice, felt your aura - but yet it's like it was just yesterday... I haven't forgotten a thing," he said, sadly.

"I know. Life is never fair, you know. We don't often get what we want, but what we need - and sometimes what we need is not something we even considered. Just remember that, and think things over. I will speak to you again, Inuyasha. Be well."

With a slight gust of air, the eerie feeling disappeared, and he was alone again... with a mind that was still stuck in shocked mode.

Keh... if it hadn't been for her aura, I would have thought it was all a trick - but that was mother, all right.

What he couldn't understand is why she had come to him now - after all these years. Was his turmoil over Kikyou and Kagome so deeply rooted that it affected his mother - even in the other world?

He slumped down with a sigh, fidgeting with the ties to his haori, and tried to order his thoughts - but it was a losing battle at this point, and he decided to let it go for now. Maybe, he just needed to let his thoughts settle on their own - and then think it all through.

With that, he cast another quick glance around the meadow, and then slipped out of the tree, flashing into the forest.

Time to get to work - more stupid demons rampaging around and getting too close to my village.

No matter who I choose in the end, can't have this place messed up.

Kikyou, Kagome - I guess, in the end it doesn't matter, really, 'cause I'll still be here...

This place is the closest thing I've ever had to a home.

---wWw---

Nyoko yawned exaggeratedly, casting a bored glance at short, green, and smelly. They were finally approaching Sesshoumaru's position, and Mr. personality had been lecturing her on the proper way to address his master for the last few hours.

I wonder if he'd miss the pointy-headed pest if I fed him to a giant fly youkai? She snickered at that thought. How wrong is that - feeding the toad to the fly?

"Jaken."

The toad snapped to attention for one second, as the sorceress managed to imitate his master's voice quite well. When he realized what she had done, though, he screeched with outrage, and she sighed.

Now he's even louder. Damn.

"Let's just get a move on, sticky tongue - the sooner I can get to the pampered pooch the better - I can begin to annoy him, and I won't be stuck in your presence any longer." She cast a jaded eye at him. "I think we'll both be happier."

"You have no idea," he snapped, his little beak gnashing rapidly in his irritation.

Widening her stride, she headed in the direction she felt the demon Lord's aura concentrated, and flared her own, just enough so that he would know she was near. As she did so, a brow raised in astonishment - the group he was with contained two very powerful miko - and a monk with strong powers of his own. There were also several smaller demon auras, as well.

Hmm. Quite the group he's got himself there. I haven't felt that much concentrated power since Inu no Taisho, Midoriko, and the Lord of the East stood in battle together.

She slowed finally, allowing the annoying little green one to catch up as she reached an area with several deadfalls, and choosing one, arranged herself comfortably on it, ignoring the screeches from the servant about it being disrespectful to recline so in his master's presence.

"Jaken, shut up. It's also not wise to irritate me. I have a great deal more power than you, tadpole, so just shut your beak." She waved a hand languidly, and suddenly, Jaken found himself unable to speak, since his mouth seemed to be glued shut.

With an irritated glare, he stood by and waited for his master to show, thrilled that he was done with this task - and hoping that his next one didn't place him anywhere near this maddening wench.

"Nyoko."

The sorceress sunning herself so contentedly on the deadfall slowly opened her eyes at that emotionless voice, and grinned.

"Ahhh, Lord Sesshoumaru. Long time no see."

"Hn." He raised a brow. "I see that you still feel the need to state the obvious, however, your propensity for doing so is not why I requested your presence. I have need of your services. There is a former incarnation of Naraku - Kagura, the wind witch. She seeks your aid in harming that which is mine."

Nyoko stared at him thoughtfully, head tilted to the side. "I see. And?"

"I believe she will ask you to help her attempt a possession. Go along with her for now - let her think you are willing to do so for a certain, very high price. Her attempts to gain the funds to pay you will take time... and I have not decided how I wish her to die."

Eyes narrowing, Nyoko looked down at the ground, thinking rapidly. "That is rather short-sighted, Lord Sesshoumaru. You say she is a wind demon?" At his short nod, she continued. "Perhaps... a better use can be found for her than death. I can take possession of her mind - and force her to do your bidding... she would be little better than a slave this way - until you chose to free her. A sort of penance, if you will."

It was Sesshoumaru's turn to look down, considering her words. She hated the enslavement she endured at Naraku's hands - death she was willing to risk for her freedom, so it is more precious to her than life.

"Very well, Nyoko. Do so." He took a bag from inside his haori, and tossed it to her. It jingled sharply. "Your payment, woman. How long will it take to gain control of Kagura?"

"I have to gather what I need for the spell... and then the preparation takes several weeks." She frowned, brow furrowed in thought. "Within three weeks I will have her ready for you, my Lord. In the meantime, I can string her along with the price of her request, keeping her occupied away from you and yours. Is that acceptable?"

Sesshoumaru stared into the distance for a moment, then nodded sharply. "It is." He looked down at Jaken, then, and with amusement sparking in his gaze, said, "As nice as the silence has been, this Sesshoumaru would appreciate it if you would free his retainer."

Nyoko cast him a playful pout. "Oh, but why? Surely not having to listen to his squawking is a worthy gift to a demon of your stature?" She sent a sly glance his way. "You cannot mean to tell me that you enjoy his voice - or his buggy breath, Sesshoumaru!"

His stoic mask settled back over his face, and he waited, not saying another word. He would not allow her to bait him this time.

With a disappointed sigh, she relented. "Fine." She waved a hand in his general direction, and then flinched slightly when he immediately started complaining.

"Silence, Jaken. She warned you that upsetting one with more power than yourself is the height of stupidity - in fact, she has done so more than once. If you have not learned your place by now, then you will suffer for your presumptions, and I will not intervene."

With that, he turned, completely ignoring the toad, who was now sulking, and walked away.

"When you have the witch ready, you know how to reach me," came floating back as he disappeared into the trees.

She watched him leave ruefully.

Damn him anyways... looks like he's gotten even more controlled - it's gonna be harder to piss him off.

What a bummer.

---wWw---

Kagome frowned into the trees, wondering where Sesshoumaru had disappeared to. She was finding that she hated it when he just took off... it brought to life painful memories of Inuyasha going off and seeking Kikyou, and while she didn't truly believe that the demon Lord would do something that he would perceive as honorless, it still made her wary and uncomfortable.

It also made her feel guilty, because she knew she should never compare Sesshoumaru to Inuyasha.

They were nothing alike.

Both were honorable males, but what they saw as honorable was rather different. Inuyasha was torn between to women, unable to choose, and so, for his honor, he refused to take advantage of her or Kikyou.

Sesshoumaru would never fall into that mess in the first place.

Maybe it was the fact that he was whole, where Inuyasha was divided within himself - half human, half demon, he could never really reconcile himself, and that was probably why he couldn't choose between them. His heart was as divided as his blood.

Sesshoumaru didn't have that problem. He was not prone to being overly emotional - he never had been from what she'd understood. On top of that, he was a dog demon... meaning that once he did find someone to protect, someone to give his heart to, he was going to be completely loyal. There would never be any question of where his heart lay.

She knew all this with her head - but her heart couldn't help but doubt sometimes, especially in circumstances like this. She hated that her past with Inuyasha had made her so vulnerable.

It hurt.

With an irritated sigh, she stood, and ignoring the questioning stares of the rest of the group, she moved off towards the merrily chuckling stream that she could hear through the trees - she just felt a sudden need to be away from the rest of her friends right now.

When she reached the stream, she sat on the banks and ran her fingers in the water idly, thoughts buried in the past. All the times that Inuyasha had run off, all the hurt, and all the tears. For some reason, when Sesshoumaru had suddenly called a halt and taken off, it had triggered these memories.

With a deep frown, she wondered why this particular time had upset her so. What was different about this time compared to the other day? That day hadn't brought about all this angst on her part...

As her mind wandered once more to what had happened right before he'd left, something caught her attention. Just before he'd called a halt, she'd felt a very faint flaring of an aura - a feminine one. Whoever it was, had been close - but not too close.

So... the flaring aura thing - I bet it was like a call. Kinda like the soul-stealers Kikyou used to send after Inuyasha. The aura wasn't familiar, so it wasn't Kagura... but who could it be?

Hell, I just need to stop thinking about this. Sesshoumaru isn't like that.

Pulling her fingers from the water, she wrapped her arms around her knees and laid her chin atop them, staring absently out over the water, and into the trees on the other side. It was funny... in all her years here, she'd traveled all over her native land, fought demons, fought bandits, helped heal people, and reassembled the jewel - not to mention all the things she'd done on her side of the well.

And yet... she was still a virgin.

Other than Inuyasha, she'd never even had her emotions engaged by anyone, until now... and that made it hard. Because she didn't really know what to expect in a relationship - even with a human.

Of course, Sesshoumaru was as far from human as you could get and still even slightly resemble one. So where did that leave her? Bottom line was that she had no idea for sure what she was getting her poor, battered heart into... and all these damn thoughts of that baka she'd loved first were really getting her worked up.

It was apparent that Higurashi Kagome was feeling...

Inadequate. Again.

"Why did you leave the others and come here alone?"

With a shriek, she whipped around, eyes wide and hand held tightly to her heart as it pounded beneath her skin.

"Dammit, Sesshoumaru! Don't sneak up on me like that! I swear... you're gonna kill me one of these days - of a stupid heart attack."

"If you were not out here, alone, then I would not have snuck up on you, as you say." He sent her an annoyed, reproving look. "Why did you wander off?"

She turned back to face the stream, and shook her head. "I didn't wander off. I'm hardly a child, Sesshoumaru - for goodness sakes, I've been traveling the lands for years now."

"That was before. You are mine now. Now, you do not wander off."

She turned her head and glared at him, but before she could open her mouth, his poison whip flickered out over her head with a sizzle. He did not move his gaze from her at any time, and she slowly, eyes wide, turned around... to see a decapitated boar demon laying on the opposite bank from her - about five feet away.

She closed her eyes and pinched her nose between slender fingers. Go freakin' figure. The one time I choose to get away for a few for some private reflection time, and he catches me - along with a stupid boar that I was too preoccupied to notice. Come to think of it, she thought guiltily, I didn't exactly pick up on him, either. Sheesh.

"You were about to say, miko?"

She opened chagrined eyes, only to find him staring at her with a regal brow cocked into his bangs, and a very slight smirk gracing his lips.

She waved a hand, then stood up. "Never mind." She smiled innocently up at him, folding her hands behind her back. "Are we ready to continue on now that you're back?"

He stared at her for a moment. There was something in her voice that he didn't like. What is she thinking? When I arrived, she looked as though something was bothering her, and her aura was disturbed.

He nodded finally, flicking one last considering look at her before turning. "Yes. We will continue on now."

Kagome let her eyes linger on his back, watching as his beautiful silver hair swayed with every graceful step. I've gotta get some answers from him - it won't do to be keeping secrets between us... obviously, it will just cause problems if the way I'm feeling is any indication.

Sesshoumaru could feel her eyes on him, and it sent a shiver down his spine, though he didn't let it show. She does not even realize what effect she has on me, does she? he thought, with something akin to amusement. She is innocent of the ways of males and females, that is obvious - but not for much longer.

Soon enough, she will be a corrupted woman - my corrupted woman.

A wicked light flashed in his eyes for a moment...

Too bad Kagome didn't see it - it might have comforted her.

Then again, maybe not.

---wWw---

Kaede watched the young half-demon that she'd spent so much time supporting in the last few years, in his quest to gain vengeance for her sister's untimely and unjust death. It was obvious that something very serious had happened between he and Kikyou - or he and Kagome - one or the other, or maybe even both.

She wondered.

And now he seemed even more preoccupied, he had since he'd come back from the goshinboku. It was apparent that something had occurred while he was there - and equally as apparent that it had only caused more turmoil within him.

As if he needed any more of that.

"Tell me, Inuyasha, what troubles ye?"

He looked up at her jerkily, then looked back down at the fire. He stared into it, hard, as he settled himself more comfortably on the wooden floor.

"Kagome... she doesn't love me anymore. I guess... she got tired of waiting for me to choose - so she found someone else."

Kaede nodded, not really surprised in some ways, but yet, she was in others. It was hard to imagine the girl free of her feelings for the half-demon she'd loved for so long.

"I doubt that, Inuyasha. Her love might have changed, but it is still there, I am very sure."

"Maybe..." he trailed off sadly.

"Who is it that has won her heart in ye place, if I may ask?"

Inuyasha's expression warped into one of disgust, and Kaede's brow rose at the sour look he gave.

"My three-times damned brother, that's who."

She frowned. "But... is not the Lord Sesshoumaru dead?"

He cast her an ironic look. "Think about it, old woman. Kagome was dead a few days ago, too." He looked back at the fire. "She brought him back with her when she came."

"Ah." Kaede rocked back on her heels a bit, trying to find a more comfortable position for one with her old bones. "And this has left ye unsettled, I see."

"It's more than that." He flicked a quick look at her, then looked down again. "What would you say if I told you that there was a way for me to still have her heart - if I so chose?"

"I would say that it was a fool's hope, Inuyasha. If her heart is given to another, for ye to force it back to ye would be a false love, and it would never hold."

Inuyasha sighed a little, and his shoulders slumped. "Would it really? She used to love me... would it be so bad to have it that way again?"

Kaede tilted her head and considered the boy. "And what of my sister, Inuyasha? Have ye given up on her? Have ye truly chosen another?"

He shook his head despairingly. "No... I still feel caught between the two. What should I do?" he asked, voice choked.

She sighed, then smiled slightly at him.

"Inuyasha, what ye should do is leave well enough alone. Ye say ye cannot choose, correct? Have ye then considered that Kagome choosing another be a blessing in disguise?"

He looked up at her then, a surprised frown on his face.

"It takes the need for ye to choose away, Inuyasha. That burden no longer lays on your shoulders."

She chuckled.

"Perhaps ye should see this as a gift from kami - it is one less thing ye have to bear."

He stared silently at her for several moments, then nodded and looked back at the fire.

I never thought of that.