InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Clash of the Titans ( Chapter 42 )

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

Chapter 42: Clash of the Titans

Sesshoumaru was livid.

He'd felt his miko's aura literally wash across the lands while he was talking with the demon portion of their growing army, and it had angered him beyond anything else. Just what did she think she was doing?

That action - releasing your aura in such a way, could be dangerous - and demi-goddess or not, she was his to protect - which meant not putting herself in danger, and not doing foolish things behind his back.

So, after he'd finished his meeting with the other demons, he'd left, immediately searching his mate-to-be out - and what did he find her doing?

Sparring - with people who he didn't know and hadn't assessed!

She was surely going to be the death of him, he mused, as he stared at her, and then her companions, and then back at her, eyes narrowed dangerously and flickering with red. It only took a few moments for the males still eyeballing her to get the message - and they all slunk off fairly quickly once they had.

Kagome stared at the for once uncontrolled visage of her demon lord, and blushed, looking down, she scrubbed a toe in the dirt at her feet.

Wait a minute... why am I acting like I did something wrong?

She looked back up at him defiantly. "What?" she asked belligerently, as she clenched both tiny hands into fists and matched him glare for glare.

"Exactly what," he gritted out between clenched teeth, "were you thinking when you opened your aura as you did?"

She blinked, opened her mouth to yell, then shut it, and frowned confusedly at him. "What?" Why's he asking me about that?

"This one will not repeat himself, miko," he snapped.

She looked taken aback, and he almost growled as he waited for her to start explaining.

"Uhm... what's the problem with what I did? I was meditating."

"Are you so untrained that you do not realize the dangers inherent in opening your aura in such a manner?" he asked coldly.

At that, her eyes narrowed and her face began to flush in rage. "Now wait just a damn minute, you arrogant dog. I wasn't in any danger!" she managed to ground out around a tight jaw.

He straightened, shoulders stiffening along with his expression, very much on his dignity as he replied, "Yes, you were, and that you were so unaware of that fact proves my words. From this point on, you will do nothing without speaking to me first."

As far as Kagome was concerned, that was the end.

She reared back in rage, and suddenly, Sesshoumaru noted that the entire region had just gone very, very quiet.

"Now, you listen here, buddy-boy. I am not a child, and you will not treat me like one." She seemed to be unaware of the fact that as she ranted, getting louder and louder, her skin also began glowing. He, however, was very aware as her divine aura began to open up as she lost herself to her temper.

"In case you had forgotten," she spat acidly, "I am now a kami - sort of - and if I have to deal with the ridiculous baggage that goes with that title, then I am damn well going to take advantage of the perks. Like... BEING ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT WITHOUT BEING IN ANY DANGER!!!"

His ears were ringing by this time, and he was more stunned than he'd ever been in his life.

No one, not one person, had ever spoken to him in such a manner, and he was so knocked off-kilter by it, he couldn't even speak.

Good thing Kagome could - there'd be no awkward silences here.

"Exactly who," she said softly, and because of the drastic lowering of the volume so suddenly, he almost couldn't make out her words, "do you think is going to be able to grab my aura and force themselves into my mind?"

She waited for a few seconds, and when no answer was forthcoming, she continued. "Exactly. No one. So there was no need for you to come out here, breathing fire, and scaring everyone off, and then staring at me as though you were gonna bite my head off."

She humphed and folded her arms across her chest, glaring up at him, and tapping one angry foot on the ground. "Men! Nuisances, all of them," she muttered to herself.

He continued to stare at her incredulously for a few moments, and then it was her turn to back up as his eyes flared red, and his crests began to go jagged.

He snarled at her, baring his fangs and raising his youki, he stepped closer to her, pressing his dominance on her. He could feel his beast fling itself forwards, wanting to make her back down.

"Bitch! You will not speak so to this one again! Submit, now," he snapped out, crowding her back until she was plastered to a tree.

That word, however, quickly brought back her ire, and she leaned forward, staring at him with fire in her gaze.

"What did you just call me?! My name is not BITCH!" she shrieked.

"You are my mate!" he roared. "That makes you a bitch - my bitch!"

Kagome's eyes widened at that, and she leaned back, eyeing him uncertainly, she opened her mouth to speak, and then snapped it shut. After a few moments of mulling that over, she nodded reluctantly. "Okay... I'll give you that one. I'm a bitch. But...!"

She stopped speaking when one clawed hand reached up and covered her mouth, and she watched, fascinated, as he struggled to regain his usually flawless control. After a few moments, his eyes went back to their usual bright gold, and his crests smoothed out.

"I am your mate, miko, and as such, it is my duty and my pleasure to protect you." He frowned, not best pleased with the reminder of her divine status, but reluctantly conceded her words. Indeed - who would be powerful enough to take control of her now?

"This change in your status," he said bluntly, "will take some time for me to become accustomed to. At any other time, had you tried such a thing, it would have been a great danger. That is what I was reacting to."

Kagome nodded, as much as she could, anyway, with his hand still plastered to her mouth. He stared down at her for a moment, then removed it.

The moment it was gone, she spoke. "I understand that, Sesshoumaru, but you really have to learn to calm down a bit with the protective stuff. I mean, it's sweet and all," she sighed, "but I'm not exactly helpless, you know."

"I know."

He didn't say anything else, and she looked at him, watching the breeze flirt with his silver locks. With another sigh, she realized she was glowing a tad bit too brightly again, and consciously dimmed the goddess glow coming from her skin.

It was way too embarrassing when people started dropping to their knees and praying to her.

He quirked a brow when he noticed the slightly disgruntled sigh she released, and realized it was due to the glow of her flesh, then shook his head.

This divine aspect - it raises its head even here. I do not like this...

"I will not lie to you, Kagome. While I am glad that you chose to return to me, I like not this divine power within you."

Kagome's jaw dropped open the moment those words left his lips. "Wh-what?" she sputtered. He doesn't like the power? Sesshoumaru?! The one who's always been crazy about power and clear about his desire for it?

"Uh, Sesshoumaru? Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, concerned. "You're worried about me having power?"

She was so concentrated on him, and he on her, that neither of them noticed the newcomer - until she decided to make herself known.

"Indeed, my son, I might ask you the same question. I have never known you to turn down power, and you have always shunned females because they did not contain enough power for your tastes - they were too weak, you always said."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes for a moment as his mother's dulcet tones broke over his ears, and inwardly his beast raged - he was closer to killing his own mother in that one moment than he'd ever been before.

"Mother. I had heard you say you would return for the battle - was I mistaken?" he asked tightly, his teeth clenching at her light laughter.

"I did qualify that statement, Sesshoumaru. I said 'unless I could find something interesting', did I not?" She moved her gaze from him to the little female looking at her with interest. "I do believe," she drawled sarcastically, "that I've found something 'interesting'."

---wWw---

Far away - or maybe not - Sugimi grinned wickedly and stared into the ether, watching as Sesshoumaru's obnoxious mother faced off with their son and his female.

This was going to be a titanic clash, and he wasn't about to miss any tiny part of it. Reaching out into the nothingness around him, he closed his hand around a small ornamental basket filled with ripe plums and peaches and set it down near him.

With another grin, he grabbed a ripe peach, and bit into it while he avidly stared at the confrontation currently going on.

If Sesshoumaru knew I was watching this and laughing, he'd be ready to kill me.

He watched the little miko turned goddess open up on his son's mother, and laughed.

But it is so worth it!

---wWw---

Kagome tilted her head and looked at the woman before her with curiosity.

So this is the mother-in-law from hell Inupapa warned me about, huh? She really does look like a right bitch... and then her eyes widened, and she giggled, trying hard to keep from bursting out into actual laughter, she pressed her palm across her mouth.

Oh dear... no pun intended on that thought. Because of course, she is a right bitch. Oh... I just want to laugh...

It took a few moments, but she managed to control her almost insane urge to laugh, and she settled her gaze back on the beautiful but contrary woman that was Sesshoumaru's mother. It was immediately obvious that the woman was weighing her - and that she was going to be found lacking.

For some reason, that thought only made her want to laugh more.

She didn't though, and simply stood, waiting for her to say something. Or for Sesshoumaru to do so.

After a few ice-coated moments, Satori moved her gaze from the female to her son, and raised a speaking brow.

"Well, Sesshoumaru? Couldn't you do any better than this? Even the wind witch I took as a servant would have been better," she said lightly.

Sesshoumaru speared her with a glance, eyes narrowed, and growled low, letting her hear his displeasure. But before he could speak, Kagome placed a gentle hand on his arm, and he looked down at her, wondering.

She met his gaze, and smiled, then shook her head.

"Don't worry about it, Sesshoumaru. It's not your fault you have a mother that's so uncouth. I think I'll have to have a talk with Sugimi the next time I see him - he really should have looked for better," she sighed, her insides quivering with laughter at the outraged look that settled on the woman's face.

Turning her back on Satori, Kagome kept her hold on the demon Lord's arm, and smiling up at him, began to lead him away. "We'll just go look ourselves up some privacy, since we do have much more important things to discuss - like what I found out earlier," she said, a serious look settling across her features.

Satori wasn't about to let that go. How dare the little bitch turn her back like that? Almost too fast to see, she burst into motion.

Sesshoumaru felt a rush of wind go past him, and he turned, enraged, towards his mother, only to see her held immobile, and Kagome standing before her, glowing like the sun.

"Just who do you think you are, bitch?" Kagome snapped, her voice sounding choral - as though she was many in the body of one. "You've obviously not learned the first thing about survival - and that is to never underestimate your opponent! And then there's 'looks can be deceiving'!"

After a few moments, Kagome stepped back a little from an astounded Satori, and let the light in her flesh dim once more. With a peculiar little gesture, she released the hold she'd had on the demoness, and turned away again.

With a glance at Sesshoumaru, she paused, and looked back over her shoulder. "You think because you're a demoness, and a powerful one, that there are no others stronger than you - so you think you can do what you want. I think that you just found out differently. There is nothing that you could do to harm me."

She looked over at Sesshoumaru. "I'll leave you here with your mother for a moment - but do hurry. There's some things I found out earlier that we need to talk about."

With that said, she continued on her way... until, with another sigh, she reached out and caught the irate females whip with her fingers, and yanked her forward by it.

When Satori landed on her knees before the tiny human-seeming female, she couldn't believe it. What was this girl? How did she grab a whip made of energy?

The first time, she'd had such a huge aura - as though she were a kami, but then it quickly faded, and she'd decided she must have been mistaken.

But now - the second time... "Who are you, girl?" she gasped out.

At that, Sesshoumaru stepped forward, and studied her, then looked at Kagome. "It is worth it," he decided, and finished when Kagome shot him a confused look, "seeing her brought so low. It is time she learned her place - and that is most definitely below you. That is why I did not interfere, although my instincts wanted to destroy her for daring to threaten you. But as you said earlier, you are not helpless."

She smiled at him, knowing that he'd not enjoyed admitting that last part - and that controlling his protective instincts had been hard for him. "Oh, come on, Sesshoumaru - you know you wouldn't much like it if I was helpless - you've never had any use for, well... useless females."

He tilted his head consideringly, and then nodded. "That is true." With a barely controlled growl, he looked down at his now very uncertain mother.

"Next time, you should be sure of who your opponent is before you attack. Kagome is no helpless human female, and will not be harmed by the likes of you. Now leave."

Satori stood slowly as her whip was released, and stared hard at the innocent seeming woman standing next to her son. "Not until I know who she is," she said stubbornly.

He stared hard at her, his claws twitching, and then a tiny, amused smile just touched the corner of his mouth.

"She is my mate-to-be - and your superior in every way. She is also the newest daughter of Amaterasu herself - in other words, she is one of the kami. Now do you see how foolish you were to attack her?" he asked, icily amused at the expression on her face.

Satori stared blankly at him, then looked at the woman standing next to him - and couldn't find a thing to say.

Without another word, she disappeared.

---wWw---

In that other realm, Sugimi was gasping for breath, laughing his ass off, and wiping tears from his eyes with both hands. When Izayoi stepped into his space, she looked down at him, and shook her head, amused.

"Oh! To see her brought to her knees before another! That must have just killed her pride," he gasped out, and Izayoi laughed.

She had to admit he was right - and the bitch had had it coming.

---wWw---

Touran moved like lightening across the ground, running just for the sheer joy of running.

There's nothing like running across the lands in my panther form - the power and speed of it is so intoxicating, she thought, thrilling to the feel of the wind through her fur, and the earth beneath her deadly claws.

She had left the area that they were all gathering in, and out of curiosity, headed in the direction of the planned battlefield, just to scope it out. She hadto admit, it would make a very good place to fight - especially for them.

It was a plain, flat and seemingly unending - but surrounded on three sides by rolling hills. Ungai and his army would be approaching from the only flat side, and then would be boxed in.

And they themselves would have the high ground advantage.

She wondered idly as she explored the land who had come up with this as the site of the battle - they had done well.

After a while, she reached the center area of the plain, and slipping back into her humanoid form, she sat down and stared towards the north - and the cloud of smoke that lay low on the horizon, clearly denoting the advance of the monks army.

It would be an epic struggle, she was sure.

The biggest concern for her was that they would be fighting users of holy reiki - and they would lose a lot of their allies in such a manner to purification. Depending on the strength and power of the monks, they might not even have time to defend themselves.

This was definitely a downside - and could easily become a rout. There had to be something that they could do to even the odds.

As she sat, lost in her thoughts, she almost didn't sense the youki signatures of the group of beings moving steadily towards her until the last minute, and then she stood, ready to defend herself if necessary.

Only it wasn't. Necessary, that was.

What greeted her eyes was a rather large group of half-demons.

She frowned, very surprised. In all her centuries, she'd never seen so many all in one place. There had to be close to a hundred, and that was unheard of.

"Halt!" she called out, and the lot of them stopped, wheeling around as one to stare at her.

After a few moments, one stepped out and moved cautiously towards her, eyes narrowed appraisingly, and said, "I am Taka. We are looking for the village that priestess Kaede calls home - the village where an army is gathering to fight the monk, Ungai. Do you know of this place?"

Touran's brow rose. Much as she'd never had much use for half-demons, unlike most full-demons, she didn't hate them at first sight, either, and this one was polite. And they were potential allies...

"I am Touran. Actually, I have just come from there - I was surveying the battlefield, you could say," she gestured to the plains of grass surrounding them. "If you wish, you and yours may accompany me back to the village."

Taka studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, Touran. We are grateful for your assistance."

And just like that, she found herself at the head of a large group of halflings.

Who'd have ever thought? she snickered to herself. You know what? Sesshoumaru's reaction should be hilarious, though. He never did deal with half-demons very well.

He's such a pompous ass. Hopefully, the former miko will be good for him.

---wWw---

A/N: And the half-demons arrive - they have an important part to play as we shall see in upcoming chapters.

Oh, and Satori? She'll be getting some more lessons in humility as time goes on...

Amber