InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ No Such Thing As Fate ❯ Expect the Unexpected ( Chapter 16 )

Title: No Such Thing as Fate

Genres: Adventure, Action, Drama

Pairings Represented: Sesshomaru/Kagome, Sango/Miroku, Inuyasha/undecided

Rating: R/Mature

Summary: Kagome has made the critical decision to leave the group after stumbling over Kikyou and Inuyasha one too many times. Now traveling in the feudal era and making it on her own with a fox kit and lessons learned on the way, life just got interesting.

AN: Yay, it's chapter 16. I just finished midterms so that's why this chapter is out so late. Yes, it has NOT been edited by anyone else because I feel bad bothering people when other people have lives. I sat at work (I have an awesome job) and edited the chapter so hopefully it's readable. Like always just point out mistakes and I will fix them when I have time. Thank you for the advice Lady Phantasmagoric.

Stop asking me when Sesshomaru is going to show up. He has not been appearing in the chapters very often for a reason. He is dealing with a war about to blow up around him and a bastard named Sagisoto. This is still a Sess/Kag story. I'm actually building a plot around them so they don't suddenly start slobbering all over each other for no reason. Jiji and Sin have not been dropped from the story. They are actually very important and will show up later.

I love all my reviewers and thanks for taking the time to give your input and/or advice.

Onward!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha for a very good reason! It involves vodka and really hot men who would all have dog ears. You have been warned.

Chapter 16: Married life: Expect the Unexpected.

XXXXXXX

“Kaa-san I hate math!” Shippou declared loudly.

“I see that, but this is something you need to know Shippou.” She sighed again popping a warm sweet roll into her mouth. Kagome smiled blissfully. Of all the things she hated about living in the castle, the one redeeming factor was that the cooks made awesome bite sized little rolls that she found herself addicted too.

“But I can count money really well now, you said so yourself,” he pointed rudely at her. She shifted on the floor mat until she was comfortable lying on her side.

“There are uses for math other than money,” she responded with a scolding glance.

Shippou shrugged the look off, “Like what!”

Kagome picked up a roll and stuck it in Shippou's mouth. The kit flailed in surprise before pulling the tiny bread roll from his lips to chew at his own pace.

“Like finding how many times you can set Taishi's robes on fire,” Shippou cackled in response and Kagome smiled.

“I guess,” he admitted going back to his work obediently.

“Speaking of him, has he been treating you well when I'm not around?”

Shippou glanced up warily before turning back to his work.

“He's really tolerant of me.”

Kagome raised an eyebrow; it still surprised her sometimes how observant and…mature Shippou was.

“He's not overly mean to me or anything; he leaves me alone, which is a lot better than what he could do to me…” Kagome popped another roll in her mouth silently agreeing.

Taishi wasn't stupid, he'd seen early on that bothering the kit made Kagome violent, at least more so than usual. He had been on the receiving end of violent temper tantrums involving sharp objects whenever he or anyone else harassed the kit. The one time she'd almost put a dagger through his leg was enough for him to learn his lesson.

Shippou grinned a bit and set his writing utensil aside, “What's it like to be lady of the house?”

Kagome picked up his writing brush and corrected a mistake on his division problem before handing the brush back to Shippou. He pouted and went back to work.

“It's annoying. It's as if the servants can't live without me to tell them what to do. I'm tired of yelling at them because they didn't clean the baths correctly or stupid things like that. They run around crying hysterically when they run out of some particular item for the meals. It's so stupid, all they have to do is ask for a guard to go with them to fetch more supplies, or better yet, make a different meal” Kagome gasped in mock horror as Shippou giggled.

She dropped her chin into the palm of her hand, a look of loathing on her face. “I feel kind of like a hotel manager.”

“What's a hotel?”

Kagome shrugged “A bigger version of an inn, you know, like the places we stayed at in villages.” Shippou paused in thought then nodded.

Kagome took the brush and corrected another math problem, much to the kits immense frustration. Shippou gave a moan, “Kaa-san can we stop, my head feels stuffy.”

She nodded absently, “Sure, we'll work on your calligraphy.”

Shippou smiled and reached for a fresh sheet of paper. The small ink box tipped over in the kits haste, spilling the murky liquid everywhere.

Shippou chewed his lip sending his mother a sheepish grin. She shook her head and rolled over so she could stand. Shippou moved his fresh paper aside to keep it from being stained by ink.

“Silly kit, you have to be careful,” she scolded lightly.

“But I suppose it's my fault too. Scraping powder off the ink block and putting it in the bottle wasn't a good way to keep things neat,” she shrugged a bit.

Shippou glanced at the strangely shaped wooden cup silently. He had wondered for days why she kept doing that, instead of using the ink blocks like a normal person. Dip in water, wipe brush against the block a few times and work, rather simple, but of course his Kaa-san seemed to loath simple and normal anything.

He only nodded. Kagome got to her feet slowly and dusted off her crane decorated brown and cream robes, after all this was her favorite set of robes. She shuffled across the floor to a cabinet in the corner where her art and work supplies were. Taishi always kept it stocked when he had found she loved art, now he demanded pictures from her. She had to admit, it was a small price to pay for all the supplies he had given her.

Prying the doors open, she paused and looked at the empty shelf where she usually kept her ink kits.

It was empty and actually a bit dusty.

Disappointed but not deterred, she searched every nook and cranny for her ink kits, or even just a bit of ink, and still found nothing. Kagome frowned in displeasure just as the door opened behind her. She glanced back to see a servant with the tea she had called for not long ago.

“Mora where are my ink kits, I don't even have any extra ink blocks or brushes?” The servant looked up at her mistress warily. Mora blinked a few times then smiled brightly.

“My lord had a meeting today and found his own stock short. There were two in there but I didn't think milady would mind” Kagome nodded absently and closed up her supply closet.

Tea appeared in her line of sight. Kagome nodded in thanks, took a sip, and then smiled brightly. “Very good tea,” Kagome praised ignoring the servant when she blushed. Shippou walked over and she passed the kit his own cup.

“What's with you and spice teas?” Shippou glanced up over the rim of his cup and smiled at Kagome.

“I like it.”

Kagome only shrugged, “I'm going to steal one of Taishi's ink kits so we can continue your lessons.” She murmured taking in the scent of green tea. Shippou looked at her warily and she shot him a glance.

“Is something wrong?”

He smiled “You really look like a hime kaa-san,” he gaze took in her appearance with an approving eye. Mid-back length hair she still refused to cut. Thick locks that would be her bangs flowed over both her shoulders being held back from her face by a pair of flower pins.

Her layered kimono, only worthy of a lady, made of fine silks that flowed behind her gracefully and long graceful sleeves that nearly brushed the floor made for a beautiful sight, like something out of a painting.

The seals in her ears added an odd twist to the look but she was very beautiful in her kimono. Her eyes glowed electric blue no matter the light in rooms. He missed her cloudy blue eyes but her new look was intense and elegant. People thought twice about what they were going to say to her, which Shippou had no problem with; they respected his Kaa-san, what was wrong with that?

Kagome smiled weakly but said nothing.

“How did your hair grow so fast?” Shippou asked absently sipping at some cinnamon tasting spice tea.

Kagome frowned, “Servants used some kind of herb, I remember reading about it in passing but Jiji never had it in stock so I didn't think much about it.” She sighed and walked from the room her robes bellowing around her as she moved gracefully.

“Ah! Wait milady, please do not disturb milord, he is in an important meeting,” the servant called pleadingly.

Kagome paused and raised an eyebrow at the young woman who cowered. Kagome was known for her cruelty and angry outburst to lord Taishi. She had never attacked or gotten very upset with a servant but that didn't stop the servants from fearing such a powerful woman. They had never met someone who would fight with men and think nothing of it.

“So what, I need ink. It's not as if I'll attack your master while he's in his meeting, though I admit, it would be funny” Kagome flashed a grin a hand inching for the necklace around her neck. The servant eyed the weird trinkets and … fangs. It was strange but she shrugged it off as a Miko thing.

Kagome turned and walked from the room.

“Shippou try to clean up a little of that ink. Have a servant replace the mats on the floor,” She called softly.

“Hai Kaa-san.”

The walk to the meeting room was a pleasant one with Kagome lost in thoughts of finding the maker of Jiji's tea.

“This is good but Jiji's is still the best” she nodded at her own observation.

“Speaking of him, I should probably make a message orb and talk to him. I miss him and I'm sure he'll probably want to know what's happened to me.” Her gaze drifted down to her large belly that put a waddle in her walk.

“I wonder if Jiji would kill Taishi for the bastard forcing me to marry him…I'll run away after my baby is born. That should be interesting.” She murmured quietly to herself.

“Can I even make the orb, my powers aren't stable because of this kid.” She stared at her belly sticking her lips out as if to obnoxiously kiss someone. “You're going to get me killed, can you stop messing with my powers.” There was no response, not that she's expected one.

She paused in the hallway and looked ahead in a bored manner at the heavily guarded meeting room door. She took a sip of her cooling tea and smiled before continuing her stride to the door. Kagome turned at the door and looked the two guards dead in the face. They shifted nervously seeing her bright smile.

“May I enter,” she asked sweetly.

“Milady forgive us….” Both guards were fighting not to fidget.

Kagome's smile widened showing a glimpse of white teeth and canines. “Let me through or I'll destroy your armor and any respect these visiting noble men have for you.”

They immediately scrambled aside for their lady. They both knew firsthand what she could do and had been on the receiving end of her powers months ago. Kagome snorted and slid the door open. She stepped into the room as all twelve sets of eyes turned on her.

They all sat around a low table covered in papers, plates of food, and sake.

Various levels of shock and disbelief crossed the faces of the rooms' occupants. Taishi only looked a bit peeved and interested as to what would possess her to barge in.

She leveled them with a cold stare.

“What do you think you're doing in here, get out!”

Kagome's gaze turned on one of the men who immediately stiffened but held her gaze with an enraged glare. She smiled, amused and the man who had spoken bristled.

“Where are the guards!?”

“I threatened to kill them” she lied easily. For all the trouble the guards caused for her, most of them were good men just following orders. She wouldn't purposely get them in trouble if she could help it.

“My dear,” her gaze turned on Taishi who had spoken his voice low a purr. “What can I do for you?”

Kagome eyed the men in the room again, “Ink”

Taishi raised an eyebrow but someone commented angrily for their lord, “You barged in here for ink!”

Kagome pouted, “Don't yell at little ole me, the stress is bad for my baby” she cooed.

The rage in the room was tangible and Kagome bit back a laugh. Taishi did not look impressed with her behavior.

“Why don't you go entertain yourself with the other women, they have come to visit their lady”

Kagome's eye twitched and Taishi almost sighed, though he didn't look angry. They had already had this discussion. The women were boring for Kagome to sit around and talk to and she was much more violent than they were. They were very often frightened of her and thought her behavior disgusting, even if they never voiced their opinion for fear of being gutted by a pissed Kagome. It wasn't as if their husbands could avenge them should anything happen, Taishi and Kagome were of higher status than they.

Kagome smirked at Taishi.

The man was a class `A' asshole at times but she had to give him his credit. He handled a lot of weird shit with ease and knew when to fight with her and when not to. Not to say he always won arguments with her when he did decide to fight, but he'd won a few which was saying a lot. He was smart but he had to take his time while she on the other hand was very smart and didn't need to take as much time to plan her actions…though it still got her in trouble more often than not. She still got what she wanted out of the deal and that was all that mattered!

A challenge she liked and a challenge he was, he hadn't done anything too stupid yet which was why he wasn't dead despite all the fucked up shit he did, like executing poor servants on the spot when he felt like it. She had power in the castle but not enough to stop everything, especially when she could barely walk. Taishi took full advantage of her inability to stop him and she made his life hell for it when she had the energy.

“I'm working on Shippou's lessons right now, he spilled his ink and all my ink magically vanished,” she sent Taishi an amused glance and he blinked. Kagome had the sudden urge to flick the top knot on his head.

“Close the door and come sit with me Kagome.” This time she blinked.

The tension in the room quickly vanished as everyone fell into amused murmurs. The men thought this was Taishi's punishment, after all what woman wanted to sit and listened to politics when they could be frolicking in the flowers, note heavy sarcasm.

Taishi's eyes were twinkling and Kagome's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Taishi wanted something and to refuse would be running from the challenge. With a sigh, she obeyed and went to sit at his side. When she was comfortable on a pillow by him the conversation started back up.

Kagome glanced around the room, absently taking in the artwork on the walls and the scrolls on shelves against the back wall. She glanced at Taishi who ignored her in favor of paying attention to the conversation.

Still, there was an odd gleam in his eyes that promised pain soon, she just didn't know to whom. She honestly didn't know if she was the reason for the rise in ire from the human lord, or if it was the conversation. That worried her. Taishi could be a calm person or he could be a violent person in the blink of an eye. They had gotten into nasty little fights at the beginning of her pregnancy so she knew exactly what he was capable of.

Very little completely pleased him and everything pissed him off. He absolutely hated stupidity that caused delays in what he wanted and was quick to beat a servant or execute someone if he was offended in such a manner, which presented him as a frightening and terrible man. In fact, she wouldn't put it past the bastard to execute a child just as Chimei said. Kagome blinked lazily, she would have to harass the bastard into checking in on the village Chimei lived in, he hadn't exactly been kind to the girl and Kagome hoped she hadn't been too badly hurt…she didn't remember much of that day.

Continuing on, this was partly why the man was obsessed with having her for himself. She was smart, smarter than him, and quick witted with a nasty sense of humor and a temper to match that seemed to have developed around the ending of her training at the temple. It was a sense of humor he shared and supposedly, he liked the fight in her and the challenge.

Kagome's temper, on the other hand, had been the source of his ire and suffering. He was very outspoken about her behavior and had often told her she was perfect if not for her bad temper and violent habits.

He one day hopped to make her submit to him and had voiced his opinions and plans plenty of times. Of course, she was never going to submit to him in this lifetime or ever if she had any say in the situation. She had also sworn she wouldn't marry him so of course she was noticeably wary of the human lord because, low and behold, she was married to him and very trapped while pregnant.

Kagome was, at that moment, the only person who would fight him about any issue that she didn't agree with. She was quick to correct him in a crude and blunt manner when such actions were needed and she didn't cower away like servants and soldiers. He loved her for it and she could care less.

She might have learned to love him one day, if he had come to her like a civil person instead of like a barbarian snatching women up as he went, but he didn't make it easy; a frightening thought considering how much of a prick he could be.

“…what do you think lady Kagome?”

Kagome's head snapped around at the sound of her name and she stared at the table of men practically grinning at her. She raised an eyebrow, they were trying to `put her in her place', funny…

“The north east corner of Taishi-sama's land is one big cliff, no lord would go that way unless they wanted their men to climb down the side of that monstrosity,” Kagome tapped her chin in thought. “Though that would be an interesting tactic,” the men looked at her stupefied.

“This lord Sagisoto is quickly gaining more men over in the eastern part of the western lands. He's taking down lords too quickly for this to be just his doing, He may be using demons and so that cliff can't be ruled out. Flying youkai are surprisingly plentiful. It just makes more sense if he came by the southeast but there are lands around us that are much easier to fight. We would have to be one of the last lands to catch his interest. He has little power right now but enough to take down a lower lord and gather men fearing for their lives.”

She hated these men and she disliked her husband more. The problem was she was pregnant and they were her protection as much as it pissed her off. If getting in their face and shooting down stupid ideas or even throwing in her own comments guaranteed that Shippou and her baby would be okay, she could put up with the fires of hell or her husband's complaints with a bright and annoying smile.

There were shouts of outrage, “They are samurai-“

“They are human men with fears just like the rest of us and they may no longer have masters to work under if the casualties over there are bad enough.” She reasoned with a bored stare. “If you're lucky and he's stupid he'll destroy too many crops and the Lord of the West will step in lest his own livelihood and the food for his men be threatened.”

There were gasps.

“Kagome…,” Taishi murmured both horrified and awed. Their reaction baffled Kagome and she suddenly understood a whole lot more about how Human lords worked. They worked around Youkai pretending they didn't exist unless it benefited them or said youkai lord actually paid attention to them. She still didn't understand a lot but she was learning.

“What would you know of the youkai lords? I'm surprised you even know he exists” somebody spat scathingly. Confirmation of her assumptions was never so satisfying.

“I know more about Lord Sesshomaru than you can imagine, but then I don't know enough to be of any use in this situation. I've never seen him work in a war situation between humans, it just makes logical sense he would step in to stop his food supply from being tampered with. Rice is as much a staple for them as it is for us.” Kagome yawned delicately and blinked owlishly at her gapping audience.

A tense silence fell over the room. They all eyed her warily as they quickly realized Kagome was an unknown factor thrown into their world of proper etiquette and their eastern standards of chivalry. She was mysterious and powerful, not a good combination to deal with for men in their positions.

Taishi was smiling, which surprised her and pissed her off.

She rolled her eyes and looked away. He `had' wanted something, to show off his clever wife.

“Ass” she grumbled.

Those close enough to hear shot wide-eyed glances at her but nobody said a word.

She turned back to Taishi, “Can I have an ink kit now!”

XXXXXXX

Kagome grumbled sleepily and rolled over pulling her legs closer to her body. She opened her eyes and scowled at the far wall as she silently willed her blankets to become warmer. After a moment of trying to warm her toes, she finally gave up and rolled over. Kagome cringed when bright light beamed at directly at her face, focused by the slightly cracked door.

Assured she wouldn't be falling asleep any time soon, she forced herself to get up. Kagome slid on a pair of geta with a yawn; she walked to the slightly cracked door.

“It's so bright,” she murmured quietly.

Sliding the door open, she paused and stared at what lay outside. She was standing up on a raised walkway and everything from the doorway to as far as she could see was covered in freshly fallen snow. Kagome gave a slight smile and stepped out onto the walkway not caring that the snow made her toes wet.

The moon was full, everything brightly lit, reflecting the light from the moon back on everything else. “Wow, when was the last time I saw the snow like this?”

She blew slightly and was somewhat delighted to see her own breath hang in the air. She pulled her robes tighter around her body and leaned against the railing simply watching the snowfall during a peaceful night.

“I would love some hot cocoa but that's back home and this is here,” She mused to herself.

Licking her lips, she bent down and scooped up a handful of the frozen flakes. She quickly packed the snow together tightly into a ball and grinned at her work. Looking around, she pouted once realizing she didn't have anyone to throw a snowball at. She sighed and added a bit more snow to her white projectile.

“Its days like this I miss traveling with the group.” She whispered as if speaking to loudly would shatter the peaceful atmosphere.

“I remember teaching everyone how to have a snowball fight, funny Shippou won the last time we played…” she tilted her head thoughtfully, “Maybe I should wake Shippou and show him the snow.”

She stared into the distance considering it before shaking her head. The kit needed his sleep and she wasn't going to wake him so he could complain about his exhaustion during lessons the next day.

Kagome tossed the snowball over her shoulder and a grunt sung in her ears. She turned and looked at her husband as he wiped the snowball from his clothes before it began to melt. “Is there a reason you're trying to sneak up on me `husband dearest'?”

Taishi made a face at her, standing cautiously at a distance. “I was on my way to my chambers for the night and you `my dear'.”

Kagome wrinkled her nose a bit. She was feeling playful and as long as he didn't mess it up by being an ass she would leave him alone.

“The cold woke me” she turned to him smiling brightly then looked back out over the landscape “Isn't it beautiful?”

Taishi seemed to realize she was in a good mood because he moved a bit closer and turned to look out over the courtyard, past the wall and into the forest.

“I suppose the snow is beautiful,” he admitted.

He smiled at her.

“But you are much more so” he grinned and Kagome stared at him a long moment. Her breath hung in the air with every breath and her cheeks were rosy from the cold. She was beautiful but she seemed to know he was forcing himself trying to whew her. He was a very cold and calculating man who would kill in a moment's notice, him as a slobbering fan boy seemed too out of character so he toned it down a bit.

“Watch it, I'm feeling good don't ruin it for me” she grumbled.

He grunted and leaned against the railing. Kagome scooped up another hand full of snow to mold. Taishi watched her absently. She flung her snowball at a passing samurai guard and the man let out a curse before quickly scrambling away before Taishi could see his face. Kagome giggled and Taishi shook his head. “You should stop; I can't always protect you from a samurai. I can punish them but it won't help after they've killed you.”

Kagome yawned again and nodded “Taishi why did you marry me?”

He glanced at her as she pulled her loose hair over her shoulder and began to braid it, looking expectantly at him. He looked back out over the area, “Because you were the only Miko I could get to quickly and you fought for your freedom. Of course you couldn't get away I would have chased you down.” Kagome rolled her eyes at his confidence but nodded indulgently. At least he was being honest because she really didn't care for lies at the moment.

“Didn't you want to marry some other hime that had been trained to be your wife?”

He shot her a stare and shrugged nonchalantly, “I needed a Miko or someone with spiritual abilities so I could have children who could fight demons. Disgusting things they are…” Kagome shot him a hard stare at the unneeded comment.

“I happen to get along with youkai who aren't retarded enough to try and eat me right off the bat.” He stared at her a long moment at the strange terminology and she sighed deeply. “…before they even know me.” Recognition flashed through his eyes and he gave a lazy nod.

“There is a lord that's causing problems for everyone. Sagisoto, is he close?”

Taishi waved a hand.

“If you would talk with the other ladies you would know the answer to that question” Kagome snorted and Taishi glanced at her, not at all caring that his wife was being pissy, as she liked to call it, with him.

“If you haven't figured it out yet I have nothing in common with them expect for the fact I'm married to some powerful rich guy I didn't want to marry. They probably did want to marry their husbands for honor and all that good stuff.”

She shook her head, “I honestly don't care about what they have to gossip about. Besides, they look down on me because I don't have the same `breeding' as they do. Why would I sit and subject myself to that?” she grumbled.

They stood in silence a long moment, “Why haven't you attacked me.”

She looked at him tiredly.

“Because I'm a fat pregnant woman with barely enough energy to stand,” he shot a glance at her stomach and grunted. Kagome wiped the snow off the railing and, not bothering to mold it, flung the snow at Taishi.

“Thanks ass”

He chose to ignore her; it wouldn't do to kill his wife in fit of rage though he had to admit it would be a lot easier with her unable to run as fast. He turned his gaze on her, eyes shining in thought.

“If you're thinking about killing me, I'll kill you first shit face,” his face twisted angrily and Kagome made a face at him.

He looked away and Kagome shook her head with a grin. So this is what it was like to have a husband? She laughed at the irony of it all. Here she was, a 21st century girl forced into a marriage with a ruler who simply demanded that she be his. She wanted to hate him but she couldn't. He could do worse and she was sure he had but he also had the common sense to not do it anywhere she could catch wind of his foul deeds.

She wanted to be ignorant just for the time being. She couldn't do anything to stop most of what he did unless it was in the castle, in her territory, as his wife. She was pregnant, powerless and she loved and hated it.

She eyed her husband warily. This was far from the normal marriage. She and Taishi were downright nasty to each other, but then they respected one another's power. Well at least he respected her a little, his upbringing made it difficult to simply share power with a woman.

“Taishi, I hate you”

He in no way needed to know she had even harbored the thought of liking him at one point, however brief it was.

He glared at her but didn't seem surprised.

“But as long as you keep your distance, at least until the urge to rip you apart every time I see you has passed, I may learn to get along with you. I'll never love you but I'm tied to you so we have to make this work until I can get away from you.”

He was silent a long moment before responding, “That is reasonable. I didn't expect much from a commoner or any woman for that matter, though I did expect a woman to cling to me for money and trivial things for her comfort.”

Kagome smiled woefully “I suppose you're happy you didn't get a money grubber then.” He only glanced at her.

“I'm hungry,” she announced suddenly.

He blinked as she waddled back into her room to call a servant. He shook his head tiredly and continued on to his room.

XXXXXXX

It was a soft glow that made her sleepy just watching as the colors swirled and danced. It was like watching illusions dance before your eyes, clouds and whatever else a mind could conjure up before you passed out into oblivion. Kagome smiled cheekily to herself and closed her eyes cradling the orb of energy in her hands.

It had been a while since she had been comfortable enough to sit and mediate or work with her powers, an even longer while since her powers had been stable enough to manipulate. She hadn't realized just how much being able to get rid of pent up energy helped her state of mind and kept her calm.

The energy cradled in her hands pulsed happily in tune with her heartbeat…or was it her baby's heartbeat. Kagome shrugged, not very concerned. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on holding the orb while directing as little energy as she could to her senses.

She had realized just recently that too much energy to her nose or ears only made them hurt. The problem was she didn't have the discipline to make the energy any smaller. She doubted someone with as much power as she had wouldn't have trouble controlling it.

So, to get around that issue, she had decided to waste energy doing one thing while also sending energy to her dull human senses. So far nothing was changing but she was fine with that, it was still practice she had been neglecting for a few months.

The power began to make her nose tingle and it felt as if some were prodding her ears gently with a q-tip. Absently she removed one hand from the orb and rubbed a hand over her belly checking her baby. Its heart was beating calmly and she smiled realizing it was probably asleep. Satisfied it was comfortable and not in danger she relaxed and focused on the orb.

“How are you in there baby, I'm so glad your calm today. Mommy doesn't like puking every few minutes.” She mused.

She cracked an eye open and glanced down at her belly before closing her eyes again with a smile.

“I still have to think of a name for you then harass that bastard husband of mine so he'll let me name you.”

Kagome paused and, as if having an afterthought, continued, “I really hope you're not like your Father when you come out.” She grumbled. She grinned wildly, “but you're my baby so I'm sure we'll get along even if you act like him.”

She opened her eyes and stopped let the energy she had gathered disperse. Satisfied she let her hands rest on her belly. “I don't know how to take care of a baby but mommy is going to try really hard kay.”

There was movement under her hand “Shippou probably wants to talk to you today, he'll show up in a bit. He usually has some outrageous made up story to tell you.”

Her thoughts jumped to another gear like a rabbit with a sugar rush.

“When are you coming out huh?” she asked her belly. After a moment of silence, she sighed and looked out the balcony.

Kagome stuck a hand out and jerked it to let her sleeve slide back. She pushed the silk back to look at the fading runes she had drawn on her arm.

“Its time to redo the spells or we'll have Naraku kicking the door down soon. We can't have that while you're still in me now can we? I'm sure if I find Jiji he can give me something more permanent than drawing on my arm every few days…why does he know presence suppression spells?” she frowned in thought then shrugged it off as something not to worry over. He'd taught her the spells and made her swear to use them, how he'd learned them wasn't important…strange though considering he was blind.

Kagome stood and moved toward the cabinet with all of her art supplies. She stood on the tips of her toes and searched lazily for an ink kit. Yet again, her ink kits were missing.

With a growl of frustration, she let her heels hit the floor wincing when her ankles gave a throb of protest. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared sourly at her art supplies. She had everything but ink and it pissed her off.

The sound of many voices talking and other noises caught her attention.

She turned to the door curiously. With a grunt, Kagome shuffled over to the door and opened it. She walked out onto the raised pathway that she often used as a porch or balcony. The wood creaked under her weight. She looked over the railing and was disappointed to see nothing.

She looked either way across the courtyard and still saw nothing but she kept hearing voices.

Kagome looked to her left, which was the shortest distance before she had to turn a corner and she would bet her life that's where the voices were coming from. She started in that direction and sure enough when she turned the corner, she could see a large group of people in the distance.

She spotted Taishi's dark robes along with the much lighter clothes of soldiers. Pressing her lips together, she rushed down the old wooden stairs and walked toward the crowd.

XXXXXXX

The fire raged savagely scorching anything it touched. People screamed and ran around searching for loved ones and trying to escape the flames. A house collapsed on a fleeing woman nearby. A demon swooped down and engulfed a young boy whole before taking off into the sky leaving his mother to cry in defeat.

Naraku sat on a tree stump under his baboon cloak looking on at the massacre in disinterest.

It wasn't fun anymore, if anything it made him angry. Sure he was getting energy from the agony around him and it was funny as hell watching a man roll past his tree stump flailing and on fire, but he wasn't causing the agony and death around him. In fact, none of these people knew he was there so the survivors couldn't curse his name.

He turned his gaze on Sagisoto who was laughing uproariously at nothing in particular. He turned away and looked around trying to see what was causing his partner in crime to laugh like an idiot. He didn't find anything so he only sighed and blocked out Sagisoto's laughter and the stench of burning flesh.

The burning man, still rolling around on the ground like a wayward dog, stopped at Sagisoto's feet and the human lord stomped on the man's neck, snapping it and ending the horrid screams. Naraku glanced at Sagisoto, it was unlike him to be merciful.

“My friend what's wrong with you, isn't this a blissful event”

Naraku's eyes narrowed and he shot a glance at the Shikon jewel shard pressed into Sagisoto's forehead. The shard swirled a dark purple, tainted with miasma from yours truly.

“Not really.”

Sagisoto frowned.

Naraku went back to his thoughts. He'd given Sagisoto that jewel a while ago as a means to amuse himself. To his credit, the human lord had the longest standing record for sane decisions made while under the jewels influence. Still, that intelligence was starting to fade and Naraku was starting to get bored with simply sitting and watching as Sagisoto leveled villages and slaughtered fellow lords.

The village Miko shot an arrow at a youkai lizard-worm hybrid that was dive-bombing the village. She shot the worm in the eye killing it, but it didn't have time to vanish under her purification energy before the corpse flew into her killing her instantly.

Naraku stuck his neck forward in interest; he had never seen that happen before. Then again, he had only been fighting Miko's with outrageous powers that could control the coveted shikon jewel. Normal Miko's couldn't pour out power on a whim and destroy youkai corpses in seconds like Kikyou and Kagome could. They could destroy corpses, but it usually took a few minutes and a lot of energy most didn't have to waste. He sighed in disappointment as Sagisoto fell into another laughing fit.

“I need more youkai hordes,” Sagisoto commented off handedly.

Naraku shot him a look, “There is an art to terrorizing and death Lord Sagisoto, too many youkai doesn't make it interesting anymore,” he heard Kagura snort in laughter behind him but he ignored the wind demoness. She knew not to go too far or she was handed over to be Sagisoto's play toy.

Naraku had thought one too many times to tell Sagisoto he was playing with a piece of Naraku's own flesh but he had refrained. It was too funny watching the human make a fool of himself. Besides, he didn't need to offend the human lord just yet, the man was useful despite how stupid he could be at times, unlike a certain wind demoness who could be deceitful, useless, and stupid all in one go.

Sagisoto stared at him a long moment silently admitting what a strange sight Naraku made sitting on a stump in his albino baboon cloak flanked by a wind demoness, a white haired child holding a cracked mirror, and a boy that had the creepiest dead stare.

“My lord!”

Sagisoto turned to one of his soldiers dressed in the white and brown uniform required of all his men. “The monk spoke,” Sagisoto's eyebrows shot up in interest.

Naraku glanced at the young soldier who glared fiercely at him. Naraku snorted, an untrained monk who thought himself powerful enough to glare at Naraku, the red eyed demon found the thought laughable. Soldiers like this one were only good for scaring off foolish youkai and maybe catching them, they were otherwise useless.

Still, human lords liked to keep boys like this close, maybe it was in hopes of finding protection from demons or maybe it was something else.

Naraku only found it funny, he'd actually laughed in the boys face at one point causing the boys to storm off.

He was content to let the boy think he was something special though, it would make it all the more amusing when he was eaten by some youkai in the heat of battle and his master fell with him. Although, for all the strange, irritating, and stupid things Sagisoto did, Naraku had never seen Sagisoto rely completely on his men for anything. That meant he probably wouldn't rely on one boy with spiritual abilities and wouldn't fall if the boy did.

Naraku stifled a sigh.

Sagisoto allowed himself one last look at Naraku and his group before turning and heading toward his encampment. As he was breaking through the edge of camp, he caught site of the monk being dragged toward him.

He was an emaciated looking old man with filthy yellow and white robes that hung off his form. All during his imprisonment the old monk had stayed strong and silent, the embodiment of a proper elder monk, protecting his own to the end. Now, as he was dragged toward Sagisosto, his feet dragging on the ground beneath him and his head hanging back limply, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened in the last few hours to leave the elder monk in this state.

Sagisoto frowned in disgust as the monk was sat before him slumped over and staring at the sky dazed, his eyes glazed over. He trembled and murmured under his breath. When he did speak up loud enough for Sagisoto to hear, his voice cracked and trembled.

“M-Master”

Sagisoto grinned as the old monk slowly but surely began to come back to himself.

“Elder Taisa” Taisa blinked a few times looking at the soldiers watching him warily. He looked to Sagisoto and froze.

Sagisoto smiled in amusement, “So that's how you find out if a Kami has returned to earth, Wait for its little pet to flip out.”

“That in no way meant he has returned to earth.” The old monk rasped tiredly as if his little episode had drained him completely.

“But you're looking for him or reacting to something that has to do with him”

Taisa's eyes narrowed but his face remained blank otherwise. Sagisoto didn't care; he had more than enough reason to go searching for the escapee Kami.

Sagisoto laughed aloud, “Bring the other monks, this one can't be trusted.”

Moments later, three other monks stood behind Taisa in orange and red colored robes. They sent Taisa a wary glance but they had no pity for him. Their lives were on the line and Taisa wasn't in any position to help them. He was as much a prisoner as they were and they were only men despite their devotion to their religion.

Of course, they didn't see the mark on Taisa that displayed him as an elder.

They turned to stare at the crazed lord that had demanded help from their temple lest they be a repeat of the temple of light and their members slaughtered for display.

“All of you can sense the Kami?”

Their nods made Sagisoto chuckle, delighted.

“We have been gifted with the sight of auras, we have been to visit a Kami before and so we can sense all the Kami's but only if we're close enough.”

Sagisoto pondered this. “And how close is close enough?”

“Five miles”

Sagisoto shrugged, he couldn't be too picky. “I want you to find a young Kami, he is most likely an infant and is of use to me. I'll be sending soldiers with you to `protect' you on your journey but if you betray me they will slay you.” The monks nodded warily. Sagisoto glanced at Taisa before bursting out in laughter. He walked past making sure to shove Taisa's head rudely.

“Life is good!”

XXXXXXX

“What are you doing!?”

Taishi turned around and glanced at Kagome absently. She rushed toward him as fast as she could ignoring the guards that tried to stop her but failed miserably for fear of hurting her and her baby.

“Taishi, what are you doing!” she snarled once in his face and pointed to the makeshift stage. It was only a floor of wood raised off the ground with holes in the floor the size of a bucket. It reminded her strangely of the gallows of Europe but lacked many of its key elements.

It was obvious what it was for after seeing the samurai with drawn swords standing on the bloodied platform and the holes in the stage.

Only Taishi could think of something like this in Japan and not realize a slightly more advanced version of this same system was used for the unfair execution of others all around the world.

Taishi sighed as if annoyed with her, “Go back to your room and sleep woman.”

Kagomes' eyes blazed in anger. She turned to yell at him but her eye caught the line up for the stage as they were positioned over their respective hole and forced to kneel. She gasped in horror.

“You can't!” she cried.

“I can, they are criminals”

“What did they do?” Kagome demanded her voice trembling as the last person was led up, a young boy no older than Shippou.

“That's none of your concern. Go back to your quarters or I'll have you punished. You cause enough chaos around here.” He huffed yanking away when she grabbed his sleeve.

“What did they do!” she demanded frantically grabbing him again and holding on tight. He tried to pull away and ignore her tear-filled eyes but she wouldn't let him. She only shrugged off servants and guards that tried to pull her away.

He glared at her in thought then responded, “Rape.”

Kagome flinched and gripped his arm tighter. “You liar, what have these people done to you, you dirty bastard. Let them go. You're disgusting what can-”

He yanked away and Kagome's head snapped to the side when he smacked her. Kagome stumbled back in surprise. She collapsed against a guard who quickly caught her before she could fall. Kagome blinked at Taishi, her face throbbing painfully as if he had punched her instead of smacking her. Tears slipped down her face of their own accord and she stared at him.

He reached for her as if to apologize but he quickly caught himself and scowled at her to cover the surprise of his own actions.

The guard helped her stand upright.

“I told you the reason why they are here what more can you want you stupid woman”

“That's bullshit and you know it. The little boy on the end, are you going to accuse him of rape also” she spat with all the rage she could muster.

“How would you deal with these thieves and people who go around breaking laws because they think they won't be caught? I am to lead these people and set an example, the commoners don't learn by simply scolding them. They are stupid and useless for all but farming, they,” he looked on in disgust at the people on the stage, “are beneath even those commoners, they are filth who don't pay taxes and steal their food or won't work for it. Why do you care about them, you are a lady living tucked away in a castle safe from them because I kill those foolish commoners when they are so stupid.”

He sneered at her stunned face “What would you do if they were rapist, plead their case and let them free” Kagome blinked stunned as he turned away.

“Grow up. This is not a matter for a woman to decide anyhow because you are emotional and foolish.”

It hurt, was Kagome's first thought, because as much as she hated him, he was right. This wasn't the future where everyone got a chance to plead their case this was the past where what the ruling lord says, goes. It didn't matter what they had done trivial things, even if it had been picking ones nose in public. The ruling class had a job, that job was to protect and punish the commoners, and in his own cruel sick way he was doing just that. Taishi was the law on his land; it didn't matter if he was right or wrong. She briefly wondered what she would do in his situation.

It was something she needed to come to terms with.

She could kill youkai who killed humans but she would probably feel a bit bad in a case where the opposite were true. He obviously hadn't meant it that way but it was still something even Jiji had scolded her about.

It made her so mad, and she realized the others of the group were a mix of wrong doers and those who were probably street rats without any other choice in life. Taishi had done this where she could get to him; this was to teach a lesson. He was in power and she was not. She was his baby machine and that was his only use for her. He'd done it at a time, in her face, where she could do nothing about it but scream like an idiot.

Her mind raced and finally she turned a fierce glare on her husband.

“I understand not everyone deserves to be spared. I haven't come to terms with it yet but I do understand. Someone stealing a bit of food to live or fighting to defend themselves does not deserve to die like this.”

Taishi turned his glare on her and Kagome scowled. “You still haven't told me what would warrant the death of a child. Did he steal some rice or maybe even snatch someone's money so he could buy food or help his family.”

Taishi spun around and Kagome jumped at the suddenness of the movement. “What, do you want the little bastard! Do you want a new pet Kagome!?”

He turned back to the stage, “give me the little cretin. She wants the disgusting little creature she can have him. Execute the rest and bring out the next group,” he bellowed.

The little boy blinked and the rest were frozen in various degrees of shock as they stared at Kagome in awe and some in thanks. The little boy was snatched off the stage as the other four were pushed to lean over the holes and their head fell through moments later.

Kagome felt something inside her go numb as she stared at the four bodies allowed to collapse on stage. Another five were brought out as the bodies were moved aside and Kagome gave a sob she couldn't stop.

The little boy was rushed over and tossed to land at her feet. She stood, staring at the child, trembling. The boy stared at her in return shaking, his face covered in mud, his clothes filthy rags, and his hair resembling a crow's nest. A strange odor wafted up to her nose and she flinched against her will at the state of the child.

“Milady.”

Kagome jumped at the gentle touch on her shoulders. The head guard, a surprisingly kind man, held her shoulders, she blinked at him and he smiled sadly.

“Come milady; let the servants take you back to your quarters. You should rest, the boy has been spared, and our lord is kind.”

Kagome shuddered at the last comment but let herself be pushed toward Mora who reached out urgently to Kagome. The boy gave a squeak and scrambled to his feet. He reached for Kagome afraid she would leave him to be put back on the execution stage.

A servant smacked his hands away before he could grab hold of her robes. Kagome was numb and continued to walk, oblivious to what had just happened.

“You are never to touch our lady foolish child you are so far beneath her. Now come, go to the servant's quarters and have them take care of you and then you will need to be trained to appear a half decent servant.” The boy nodded frantically and let another servant lead him toward the door he had come out of after being in a small hole in the floor, his prison, for almost 6 months.

Only dulled murmurs reached her ears as servants whispered soothing words to her and coaxed her toward her room. She started up the stairs refusing to come out of the fog that was her mind. Pain shot up her back but she ignored it as she continued up the stairs.

Something grabbed her leg tightly and she blinked at the strange feeling. She looked down to see she had made it to the top of the steps and Shippou was staring up at her wide-eyed clinging to her leg for dear life.

“Kaa-san are you okay?” His eyes were darting frantically and his nostrils flared with each deep breath.

The servants looked at him strangely and Kagome blinked lethargically.

“Kaa-san you smell strange, please tell me if you're hurting,” he gushed worriedly.

Kagome blinked a few times as the servants tried to shoo the kit and convince him to release their mistress.

She only put a hand to her stomach.

“My belly hurts” she murmured quietly leaning against the wall.

That was all she needed to say to have the servants shrieking in alarm calling for someone to help. They quickly drew attention and guards rushed toward them.

Shippou let out a sharp squeak of alarm and released his mother's leg. He blinked at his hand stunned to see it painted red with blood.

“Kaa-san you're bleeding” he choked. Shippou was stunned when a servant grabbed his wrist carefully her eyes wide in alarm. She shot a glance at Kagome before pulling Shippou away to get him cleaned up.

The guards crowded around them as a servant commanded them to help her to the room. Another servant rushed ahead to find the doctor. Kagome was aware of being scooped up before she was rushed back to her room. The samurai laid her down and Kagome groaned as her stomach twisted and cramped with pain.

The room was suddenly a flurry of movement and servants. The men were rushed out and Kagome gawked in offense as her legs were suddenly pried apart and the doctor's worried face appeared just over the swell of her belly.

“Milady do you feel any pain?”

Kagome clenched her teeth together and glared at the older woman. That was all the doctor needed to see before she moved away.

Another servant was suddenly by her side. “Come now milady, we have to get you cleaned up and dressed.”

Kagome licked her lips nervously “W-What, why?” she demanded.

“Your baby is on the way, Can you tell me what happened before the pain started.”

Kagome felt her heart skip a beat in fear. She reached for the doctor and dragged the older woman to her side, shoving the other servant out of the way in the process.

“My baby can't be on the way, fix it, it's too early, I'm not ready,” She babbled hysterically.

“We don't have a say milady all we can do is help you through the process.” The color flushed from Kagome's face as a group of servants hoisted her to her feet and helped her undress.

`Am I having a miscarriage?' she thought frantically.

She put a hand to her stomach vaguely realizing her stomach had dropped lower than usual.

`My baby is coming earlier than it's supposed to.' She snarled loudly and the servants blinked at her.

`I am going to fucking KILL you Taishi!'

XXXXXXXXXX

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