InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ The End of One Journey ( Chapter 76 )

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

Chapter 76: The End of One Journey...

It had been a few months since the defeat of Ungai and Sosa, and life had finally settled down.  Kagome was most pleased with how things were going, though she was finding herself a little busier than she would have liked with this balance thing.

Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, had no problems with his new duties, and when Kagome would fuss about hers, would simply tell her to quite whining and do what she had to do.

It's not like it took her any real amount of time to do any of it.

She would loftily ignore him, of course.

Sugimi had eased back into his rule of the west quite easily, and things were running smoothly, at least on his end.  The business of the heir, on the other hand...

Inuyasha was fighting being domesticated and tamed with all of his might.  He wanted nothing to do with being the heir.

Sesshoumaru found the whole thing quite amusing and watched every bit of it like modern people watched half-hour sitcoms – snack food included.

After a while, Kagome had to admit, she joined in, and before long, the side wall of the cave had become like a big screen tv, watching the contretemps the half demon would get up to, all of her little family sitting around watching and laughing their rears off at his antics.

Everyone especially loved the shock collar – he really looked hilarious with his hair sticking out every which way.  With a sigh, Kagome mused that it was a good thing they had centuries, because it was going to take all of them to get the boy whipped into shape.

She had popped in to see her family a few times since their win, but only briefly, being well-pleased with the changes she could see in the future, and took a few minutes to muse over the twists and turns of time.  Even as a goddess, time was confusing.  After a couple of minutes, she shrugged it off – the whole thing was headache inducing, and it was just easier to accept everything as it came.

Sesshoumaru tried to explain it to her, once, the part that possibility played in the flow of time, but the whole thing got too complicated for her to want to even think about, and she quickly distracted him, changing the sheets on their bed to crimson, and laying across them naked.

It had worked – too well, as a matter of fact - and had led directly to where she was now... sitting in the hotspring in their room, staring at her mate as he caressed her belly with gentle, awed hands, and told her something that really, subconsciously, she'd known, it just hadn't kicked in consciously...

She was pregnant.

Tears filled her eyes as she almost stopped breathing for a moment, and then she sighed as he met her eyes, his own just as emotion filled as hers.

“He is strong,”  he said, and Kagome could feel what Sesshoumaru meant, the little life in her answering the flaring of her mate's aura with pulses of its own – very aggressive pulses, and she couldn't help but laugh - it was definitely male, and very definitely warning its sire away.  He was basically growling at his father and staking a claim on his mother.

Sesshoumaru responded back by growling loudly and pulsing his aura quite strongly, establishing exactly who was alpha, and immediately, their son submitted, his little aura softening and butting up against his sire's in apology.  Magnanimously, his sire also softened his in acceptance, his aura curling around his son's and soothing the pup back into a somnolent state.

Kagome chuckled once that was all over.  “Well, I guess you were right.  A boy it is.”

“Of course.  My line has always produced sons as first and second pups.  Daughters have only come as third and fourth – if then.”

Rolling her eyes, Kagome sighed.  “Gee, how boringly predictable.”

“It works well for planning heirs,”  he responded smoothly.  

“Hm,”  was all she said.  Silence fell for a few moments, and then... “I guess it's going to be a few centuries or so until we can go off and explore the universe together,”  she said, her nose wrinkling.  “And I was so looking forward to that, too.”

“We have plenty of time, mate.  It is not as if we have only a limited amount of it, after all.”  He sat back against the rocks surrounding the spring and gazed at Kagome, a contented expression clear on his face.

That expression reminded her... “I was rather surprised to see Kanna when we visited after Inuyasha and Nyoko finally did the deed,”  she said, laying her head back against the boulder behind her.  “But I'm glad that Nyoko managed to bring life to her... now, she has her own life, and her own will, and doesn't need to find a master to control her.  For the first time, she's happy.”

“Hn.  Indeed... she has earned her freedom, that is certain.  Kagura, on the other hand...”  Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as he thought about the kaze who was still a captive of his mother, unable to escape.  “It seems that she cannot be trusted with her freedom – she acts more of a child who is unable to order her own life dependably than Inuyasha.”

That reminder of the kaze had Kagome scowling.  As much as she disliked the woman, she still wasn't comfortable with what was essentially slavery.  After all, in her era, such a thing was illegal and considered heinous.  Here, though, it was just a fact of life.  

She was still undecided whether she should intervene on Kagura's behalf or not, but she was definitely leaning in the direction of freeing the female – after all, the time she'd been stuck dealing with Sesshoumaru's horrid mother was like a prison sentence, and she was pretty sure the whole thing could be considered time served.  

Sesshoumaru answered her thoughts calmly.  “I do not believe the situation is as you think it is, Kagome,”  he began, a sly look in his eyes.  “The last time I spoke with my mother, Kagura had no desire to be 'freed'.  I do believe that she and my mother have... bonded.”

Kagome blinked, then blinked again, shocked at what her mate was implying.  “Ummm... bonded?”  she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.  

“Yes, mate, bonded,”  he answered, amused.  “They seemed to be enjoying each other's company quite enthusiastically, actually.”

She blanched.  “Okay... that's too much information, Sesshoumaru,”  she said, looking queasy.  “Let's talk about something else, why don't we?”  

He chuckled, watching as she began washing – as though to wash away what her ears had just heard.  

“Very well... what do you wish to speak of?”

“Anything but that,”  she shot back instantly.  

“Then, since you are unwilling to continue that path of conversation, Kagome,”  he said, a certain glint in his eyes,  “perhaps you would be willing to help me with a rather... persistent... problem of mine.”

It took a moment for what he was alluding to to sink in, but when it did...

The only things to be heard after that point were sounds of passion...

… And a laughed,  “You lecherous dog!”

~oOo~

Kagome was just about getting to the end of her rope with Miroku and Sango, when, by fortunate chance – for them, anyway – they finally stopped pussyfooting around and got to the good parts.

To be straight about it, though, it was mostly Sango holding things up with her peculiar aversion to affection – especially in public.  Miroku had finally managed to convince her that she could at least show her affection in private, however, and that managed to keep an irate goddess off her tail.  

Barely.

In fact, Kagome was very tempted to go have a little talk with a certain taijiya's father, and then drag him back from the netherworld by his ear to make him talk to Sango.  She decided in the end, though, that would probably just send the poor woman into hysterics, and decided against it.

Barely.

At any rate, now that they were settled, she could strike one more item off of her 'end of the war' agenda, and was one step closer to relaxing with her own mate.

Of course, he pointed out with a certain suspicious blandness that they could already be relaxing together if she didn't feel such a need to meddle in everyone elses lives.

She ignored him.

He reflected that she was becoming quite good at that when what he was saying didn't suit her purposes...

And then there was Kisho and Kikyou.

Now that was an interesting mating – and an even more interesting family reunion when Kisho finally took his new mate home with him.

Youkai being what they were, his family had absolute fits that he had mated a human female rather than another fire elemental, and the fits quickly became fights – that rapidly began to spill over into the Western Lands when their own lands got too small to hold everyone that wanted in on the brawl.

That ended up involving Sugimi, Inuyasha... and her mate, since he was not about to let some pointless infighting scar his home.

Of course, no one was more irate than Kagome when she caught wind of just what was going on, and the new goddess on the block suddenly became quite well known overnight when she doused everyone's flames and ranted at them for most of an entire day.

While glowing.

Blindingly.

After she was through with them, Kisho's family, and indeed every member of the clan, was quite happy to leave them alone.

Once the dust had settled there, the two were quite happy together, and Kikyou was very quickly expecting.  

Kagome was interested to see what a human/fire elemental hybrid would look like.

She and Sesshoumaru had decided not to announce her own pregnancy, figuring it would become apparent in time with no need for get-togethers for the sole purpose of bragging.

Which it would be, reflected Kagome... Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to help himself and she just knew it, since he was already patting himself on the back.

Still, while things weren't perfect, they were a damn sight better than they had been, and Kagome was overall pretty pleased with what she and Sesshoumaru had done.

Mostly.

There was always Inuyasha to muck things up.

~oOo~

Visibly pregnant now and glowing with it, Kagome glared at her hanyou friend with every bit of her goddess-powered rage, and let loose on him.

Everyone in the vicinity covered their ears – except Sesshoumaru.  He wanted to hear EVERYTHING she said to his brother.  In stereo – and surround sound.

“What were you thinking!”  she shrieked first, hands planted on her hips as she chewed him out.  “What ever gave you the idea that creating another Shikon no Tama was a good idea!?”

He cowered at that, ears flat to his head as he looked guiltily back at his mate, who shook her head.  “Oh, no, you don't, Inuyasha,”  Nyoko growled.  “I warned you to stay out of my scrolls, but you didn't listen.  This is all on your head, you idiot.”

Fuming, Kagome held out one hand for the scroll, her foot tapping impatiently.  “Hand it over already, Inuyasha.  You had better be glad your mate caught you out in time – or else you'd be in a hole on the other side of the universe!”

Reluctantly, but not daring to argue, the hanyou handed the scroll over, and then Kagome looked at Nyoko with warning.  “Keep a leash on him, Nyoko.  He's too much of a child sometimes to let loose on his own.  If I have to interrupt my peaceful existence again to come stop another stupid idea of his, your mate will be wearing his ears on his ass!”

Sesshoumaru, who by this time was practically beaming – at least, for one as expressionless as he was, anyway – finally grasped his mate's arm, pulling her closer while trying to calm her a bit.

“Come, mate, this is not good for the pup.”  Then he looked at his thoroughly cowed brother and added his own threat.  “If you disturb my mate's quiet one more time for your idiocy, then I will do worse than what she is threatening – are we clear?”

Scowling now, Inuyasha just glared at his brother, muttering imprecations under his breath.

“Inuyasha,”  came a warning voice from an irate Kagome, and he finally subsided, taking himself back into the Western Palace to sulk in some dark corner for a while – at least until everyone had forgotten his latest stupid stunt.

Which might, admittedly, take a while, since Kagome had quite a long memory.  As did Sesshoumaru.

At that point, Nyoko wisely took all her scrolls and hid them away quite nicely – there would never be another hanyou-precipitated disaster in the making – at least, not by anything that could be traced to her.

~oOo~

As happy as Kagome was with her mate, that was not to say that everything was perfect.  

Sesshoumaru was, after all, still Sesshoumaru.

That was never more apparent than when he, his brother, and his father were caught by Kagome – via direct mate mind link with Sesshoumaru – harassing Touran, whom had been caught crossing one toe over the line between the east and the Western Lands.

Just after deadly insults had been exchanged, but before swords could be drawn, Kagome stepped primly out of the ether, looked at the now frozen tableau, and then decided to pin the whole mess on her mate.

After all, he was now a god, and should at least be acting like an adult... not out panther baiting.

“Sesshoumaru,”  she began ominously, fingers tapping out a dangerous rhythm against her folded arms,  “would you mind explaining just what you three imbeciles think you are doing?”

Touran watched with fascination – and glee - as her favorite enemies got called out – in front of her...

“I am defending our home from unnecessary encroachment by undesirable pests,”  he responded loftily, narrowing his eyes on his mate.

“Encroaching?”  she repeated darkly, her voice just screaming 'I am not impressed with your excuse'.  “The edge of her clothes barely drifted over the border with the Western Lands.  You want I should make it worse?”

Glaring at her mate balefully, then swinging that deadly gaze on Sugimi and Inuyasha, she reached out and grabbed Touran's arm, and deliberately pulled her over the border to stand next to her.  “How's that?”  she growled at the three males.  Pinning Sesshoumaru once more with that deadly gaze the minute he opened his mouth, she said,  “And even worse...”  and the two of them disappeared, and instantly, Sesshoumaru knew just what Kagome had done.

She had taken the panther to their home.

Now, as an invited guest, none of them could touch her, and Sesshoumaru, Sugimi, and Inuyasha were feeling rather put out about that.

Sugimi eyed his son.  “Your mate drained the entertainment out of my day, Sesshoumaru.  “And even worse, there is a panther in my lands that I cannot now kick out.  What are you going to do about this?”

“Keh,”  Inuyasha muttered,  “he's whipped.  What do ya think he's gonna do?  He's gonna go home and sulk until the stench of cat is gone – and then whine.”

He missed the glowing green whip coming at him, but it didn't.  Inuyasha ended up on his ass, and Sesshoumaru disappeared to trail after his mate and take her to task for involving herself in his battles.

She was waiting with a flat look when he arrived, and didn't seem in the mood to see things his way.

“Battles?  Haven't you had enough of those to last a lifetime just recently?”  

Her voice was rather blank, but Sesshoumaru wasn't fooled.  He knew she was very irate.

But so was he.  He really didn't want the reek of panther in his home – and he let her know that, in no uncertain terms.

Kagome got a stubborn look on her face, smirked, and said,  “Fine.  Then I don't want to smell the scent of dog!”

Within moments, there was no scent of Touran – but his mate was gone, too.

She'd taken and invited herself to Touran's realms.

Now, much as Touran really was enjoying seeing this play out, she wasn't prepared to have two feuding kami in her house, and really hoped the two would work things out – somewhere else.

Five minutes later, Sesshoumaru showed up, and Kagome was suddenly a crying ball of harmless fluff in his arms.

It seemed that even the kami couldn't avoid mood swings when pregnant.

With nothing more than glares at each other, Sesshoumaru pointedly ignored Touran, and gathering his mate in his arms, disappeared, headed for home, and a nice, soothing bath for her.

It appeared that if he were to ever desire to have any further entertaining run-ins with Touran and her group, he would have to find a way for his little mate to be kept ignorant of his plans.

That would not be an easy task.

~oOo~

As winter approached, Kagome decided, heavily pregnant or not, that she wanted to visit the Western Palace, and so hauled her family right behind her as she traipsed cheerfully through the ether only to appear in the castle courtyard, scaring a few soldiers into early deaths when they all popped out of nowhere.

Ignoring the fracas in the yard with grand indifference, Kagome sailed into the palace, and was soon seated in a nice warm room with a nice warm fire.  She made sure it was warm, and everyone in the place appreciated it, too – it was getting cold out.

It didn't take long for more stories of Inuyasha's recalcitrance when it came to the business of being trained for the position of heir was introduced into the conversation.

With a shake of her head, Kagome sat Sugimi, Izayoi, and Nyoko down, and making sure her mate kept Inuyasha out, had a little talk with them...

Inuyasha was not shaping up, and Kagome had decided it was time he accept his fate.  She had no qualms about lying to him to get him to do so, either.

With the agreement of the others, Inuyasha was called into the room, and Sugimi laid it out for him.

“Inuyasha, your mother and I have conferred with your brother and Kagome-sama, and we have made some decisions,”  he said to his rather nervous younger son.  “It was never hidden that I would at some point be naming you heir to the West – but you have fought us on this, and since you are so unwilling, we have decided that I will wait to name an heir until your Lady Mother has birthed me another son.”

Inuyasha's eyes had grown wide at that, and he smiled, relieved.  “Keh!  That's more like it!”

“But... once your younger brother has been named heir, you will have to submit to him as heir, and someday as Lord.  You will always be a prince of this house, and with that, comes submission to the alpha.”

Inuyasha's celebrating immediately came to a screeching halt.

'Wait... what?”  he yelled.  “Me, submit to some little yapper?  Hell, no - that's the craziest idea I've ever heard!  I wouldn't even submit to that asshole over there-” he pointed at Sesshoumaru, until Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, and he dropped his finger,  “-what the hell makes you think I'll do it for anyone else?”

And Kagome had him.  She knew he would never agree to something like that – Inuyasha was constitutionally incapable of submitting to another male... except his father, because he knew better there.  But anyone else?  No way, no how.

“Shut up and sit down, Inuyasha,”  she said coolly, surprising him with her serious tone.  “If you do not want to be the heir, then someone else will have to be, and you will have to bow to their will someday.  Get used to it.”

“But... Kagome, you know I can't do that!  I won't.  And you can't make me, wench!”  he hissed, and then hissed again when his brother's whip sizzled his skin again with warning to watch his mouth.

“Well, Inuyasha, those are your choices,”  she retorted.  “Either grow the hell up and leave your damn childhood behind, or be prepared to submit to a new alpha when that time comes.  You can't expect to be top dog, when you won't accept the responsibility that goes with it.  Simple.”

Inuyasha stared at them all, pissed as hell, but unable to do anything about it.  They had him over a barrel, and he knew it.

After a time spent fuming and trying to find an out, he finally gave in – grudgingly.

“Fine.  I'll do this stupid heir thing... but I really, really, hate you all right now,”  he groused as he stomped out of the room.  

Kagome giggled behind her hand at his attitude, and shook her head.  “What a drama queen,”  she finally said.  

Izayoi looked at her, chuckling.  “How did you learn to manage him so well?”  she asked.

“Lot's of liberal application of the kotodama.  Sometimes, getting something through his hard head is only possible by hitting it with something harder.  In this case, that happens to be the ground,”  she answered wryly, as the others all laughed – and Sesshoumaru thought back fondly to the many times he'd seen that particular method of persuasion practiced on his foolish younger sibling.

“Well, it worked, so I won't argue with it,”  Sugimi sighed.  “But it is going to get rather annoying if I have to call you in to bludgeon him into cooperating over every little thing.”

Kagome grinned, and everyone at the table looked at her sideways – that grin, on her face, was really scary.

“Oh... don't worry.  It'll only take once or twice, and then all you'll have to do is threaten to call me in.”  

Everyone – besides Sesshoumaru - laughed again, and the subject was dropped.  

It was time to move on to other things... because the end of this journey, simply opened the door for their next one.

But that is a tale for another day.

~oOo~

A/N:  YAY!  I FINALLY finished it!  Of course, there is a small epilogue coming to wrap things up all neatly, but for the most part this baby is done!

Amber



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