InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nothing Left to Lose ❯ Friends with Benefits ( Chapter 25 )

A/N: Okay, this one is wrapping up. I've got one more chapter and an epilogue, than the beast is done. *ducks a tomato* No panic, I've already started to plot a follow up for my little universe. I've even got a little outline going. Anyone got requests for the next beast? I'm going to be giving this story an overhaul this weekend, pretty much rewriting the first three chapters (who wrote those things? Honestly) so there will be some updates coming up. After that, it is on to the next project. Huge thanks to my betas, they really saved my rear end this time. Writer's block is not my friend. And a huge thanks to my reviewers, big hugs for all! And I own nuthin'.

 

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`Something must be wrong with Rin. The sun is up, and yet we are still in bed.' Sesshomaru looked over at his mate, still sound asleep. He brushed a kiss on her cheek before slipping out of bed and pulling a robe on over his hakama. He stretched slowly, loosening tight muscles from the previous night's fiasco. `It is tempting to bring them back with the Tensaiga so that I might kill them again, one death was not good enough for them. The bodies have certainly been destroyed by now, but it is still an appealing thought.'

 

Rin's room was dark and silent. Sesshomaru found the little girl still asleep, the blankets pulled up to her nose as though she were hiding from something. Her breathing was normal, so he let her rest with nothing more than a brush of his fingers against her cheek. The Captain was gone, most likely overseeing the clean up in the gardens.

 

`The koi pond is probably a complete loss, along with the path cut by Merkamou's attacks. Effective, certainly, but not appropriate for the gardens.' The youkai lord managed to slide back into bed with Kagome without waking her, pulling her back against his chest. `I should be questioning the remaining nobles, looking over the list of the dead and deciding who to torture, anything other then lying in bed like this.'

 

Kagome sighed in her sleep and pulled his arms tighter around herself.

 

`The lists can wait. It is still early, I will deal with the survivors at a more reasonable hour.' Sesshomaru's eyes drifted closed, listening to the steady heartbeat next to him. `I will only be a few moments.'

 

*~*~*~*

 

“Kagome-chan?”

 

The soft, hesitant voice still managed to wake Kagome, mostly from habit. “Jo-chan? Is it time to get up?”

 

“Rin did not wake up when she was supposed to. Everyone has slept too long.” A small sniffle came from the girl who looked positively distraught. “Rin is sorry, Kagome-chan.”

 

“Come here, Jo-chan. We all needed to sleep, especially you. It's not your job to wake up the whole palace.” Kagome pulled the little girl up next to her, giving her a big hug and hiding the grimace of pain that flashed across her face. “Since we are all still in bed, breakfast will just have to wait. I'm sure Merkamou-sama won't mind. He likes to sleep in.”

 

Comforted, Rin snuggled under the blankets with Kagome. Sesshomaru had woken up when Rin came in, and now gave Kagome a weird look. `What's his problem? He saved Rin in the woods, he let her follow him around everywhere, and now he doesn't want her in his room? At least he got to choose her, he's stuck with me. If he didn't need me for bearing heirs I'd probably never be allowed in here either.'

 

“What?” Kagome mouthed at him, turning her head to look back over her shoulder. “She's upset. She's had a hard night. Leave her alone.”

 

The gold eyes narrowed for a second, then relaxed. It was not worth fighting over. Rin had slept in his room on several other occasions after she had woken up screaming from a nightmare. She always curled up at the foot of his bed, trying not to wake him, and slipping out before the sun came up. Sesshomaru knew she was there, but had not stopped her. It was pleasant to have her sleeping quietly in his room, her soft heartbeat lulling his mind into sleep. She had never mentioned it, and neither had he.

 

The smell of blood was drifting from Kagome. Lifting Rin had opened her cuts, which were now soaking through her bandages again. Sesshomaru felt his jaw clench, concern for his mate destroying any chance of a peaceful morning with this little family. He climbed back out of the bed, pulling his robe back on. Kagome glanced up at him.

 

“You need the healer.” Sesshomaru was already out the door.

 

`Whoa, I really ticked him off. What would be so bad about having Rin in here?' The little girl in question was too busy playing with Kagome's hair to worry about the adults. Sesshomaru-sama would come back when he was done working. He always did.

 

“Come on, Jo-chan. It's time to get dressed and find some food. I'm starving.” Kagome opened her arms and let the little girl climb out of bed. Rin did not have her usual boundless energy, but the twinkle was coming back to her eyes.

 

“Hai, Kagome-chan. Rin will find Kumo. She will be worried since it is so late!” Rin trotted out into the hall, looking for Kumo.

 

`At least I got to sleep in.' Sitting up was quite painful, taking Kagome's breath away. `Huh, I think I'm hurt. Could be the big gashes in my side from that damn youkai. Go figure.'

 

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed made Kagome's head spin. Not a good omen for the rest of the morning. Determination and pure, brute stubbornness made Kagome carefully stand, her hand clamped to her side. A gray haze moved across her vision and her thoughts became rather vague and detached.

 

`Oh, good thing that I didn't go far, this way I landed on something soft. And Sesshomaru's already gone for the healer. All very convenient.'

 

“Kagome-chan, Rin found Kumo, she's waiting for you in . . . Kagome-chan!”

 

Tiny hands were on her arm, shaking her. “Kagome-chan, what's wrong? Why are you half off the bed?”

 

“I'm going to wait for the healer, Jo-chan. I don't think I'm supposed to be up just yet.”

 

Rin's sharp eyes saw the blood starting to seep through Kagome's clothes. “Kagome-chan, even Rin can tell you are not supposed to be up.”

 

Kagome gave her a one-eyebrow look that she had learned from Sesshomaru. “Really. You think so?”

 

“No more moving until Sesshomaru-sama comes back or he'll be mad.” Rin pulled the pillows over to Kagome, propping her head back up. “Rin is sorry that Kagome-chan got hurt. Rin was not fast enough.”

 

“Nani? Rin, Jo-chan, no! You were amazing! You saved my life! I was trying to save you, I didn't want you to have to fight anything. You're still so little.”

 

“Rin is not little! Rin is getting very tall, Kagome-chan said so!”

 

Chuckling, Kagome ruffled Rin's hair. “Hai, Jo-chan, you are getting very tall. Still, don't feel like you weren't good enough. You took on two grown youkai last night in your very first fight. You kept me safe. I am very proud of you, and I'm sure Sesshomaru-sama is, too.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Really, Jo-chan.”

 

“You tried to get up.” Sesshomaru was glaring from the doorway as the healer hurried in. `She is going to get herself killed yet. I will keep her in bed until she heals even if I have to put a guard on her at all times.'

 

“Are you surprised?” The healer was propping Kagome up as she glared at her mate, moving her hands out of the way so the healer could check her bandages. “I need to eat at some point.”

 

“You will eat here.”

 

Kagome was in no mood to deal with this routine. “Hai, my lord.” She gave him an icy glare before looking away and biting her lip. `Damn, that stings!'

 

“We are going to need to stitch some of this.” The healer was shaking his head. “It's just going to break back open if we don't, and you can't afford to lose much more blood. We should have done this last night, but there was no time.”

 

“Stitch? Stitch? Oh, no. I know you can't numb that out. You've never even heard of morphine, have you?” Kagome was trying to slide across the blankets to get away from the healer, but he wasn't letting her get away.

 

“I have no idea what you are talking about, my lady, but I do know that these could become life threatening if you do not let me stitch the worst of it up.”

 

Desperate eyes went to Sesshomaru. “I don't like needles.” Kagome had turned a rather nasty shade of green.

 

“You do not like the idea of dying either.”

 

“Do you have to be such a jerk?” Kagome glared at him before turning the glare at the healer. “You better have something in mind to knock me out.”

 

“I can make a tea for you that will calm you. I will get my supplies and bring the tea back with me.” The healer hurried out of the room.

 

“Kagome-chan?”

 

“Don't worry, Rin. I'll be fine. I'm going to send you down to breakfast, though. I'm sure Merkamou is starting to wonder where everyone is. I'm going to end up eating in here, so can you do me this one big favor?” Kagome gave Rin big puppy eyes. `She does not want to be here for this, I'll end up teaching her some new phrases.'

 

“Hai, Kagome-chan.” Rin trotted off, happy to have a new mission. Talking to Merkamou-sama would be fun, and then she could check on her friend.

 

“You are sending her off to eat with Merkamou alone?”

 

Alone with her mate, Kagome gave him a glare. “She had a bad night last night, and she does not need to be here while I'm being tortured. Merkamou will keep an eye on her and keep her company. He knows what she had to do last night, and he'll be careful with her.”

 

“She is not injured.”

 

“Are you trying to be annoying this morning?”

 

“Not that I am aware of. Rin is not what I am concerned about at this time.” Sesshomaru settled next to Kagome, brushing her hair back behind her shoulder. “You need to care for those wounds.”

 

“And you should not be giving me orders or giving me the silent treatment because Rin was in the bed!”

 

A genuine blank stare replaced the mask. “Miko, what are you talking about?”

 

“You just left after Rin came in, and you have been ordering me around since I woke up!”

 

“You needed a healer.” Sesshomaru studied her. `She is very upset, but why? She smells as though she is coming into heat, it is not time for the irrational mood swings. Is it the exhaustion?' “Are you still tired?”

 

`Huh? What the heck is he thinking?' Kagome took a deep breath, trying to figure out what he was feeling. Mostly concern, but with a lot of confusion mixed in. `Oh. Seems I should have done that earlier. I was expecting annoyance, maybe some disgust with the weak female ningen. I must be tired still.'

 

The miko sighed and slumped against him. “Sorry, Sesshomaru. I think I am just tired still. I'm not fond of having a group of youkai nearly kill me. I'm exhausted, I'm hurt, and I am more than a little worried about the healer that is about to come in here and sew me up with a needle. I think I've earned some comforting.”

 

Strong arms moved around her. “I am not fond of a group of youkai trying to kill you, either. The worst is over now. After today there should not be any fools left that would dare to touch you. Most of the fools are already dead and are being disposed of as we speak.”

 

“And you'll keep me safe from any surviving fools, right?”

 

“Of course. It is my duty to keep you safe.”

 

Kagome dropped her head on his shoulder. `Damn. He was doing great until he got to that last bit. Duty. Just for a little bit, I forgot that he didn't have a choice in this. I thought he loved me, maybe just a little bit. He did call me koishii, after all. Calling me `beloved' should mean he loves me. But now I'm awake and Prince Charming has disappeared and been replaced by this gorgeous guy who will protect me, desire me, and will be with me the rest of my life. Sounds great, doesn't it? But love? Not so much. Is my temper because I'm tired, or because I'm going through all of this and now the prize just seems so . . . empty?'

 

`Or is it because you are falling in love with him and you want to know if he feels the same way?'

 

`Oh, I really cannot deal with you right now. Take a hike!'

 

“Here is your tea, Kagome-sama. Just drink it straight down, it is not a pleasant taste but it will help you to relax.” The healer handed Kagome a cup of hot tea, watching as she held her nose and gulped it down.

 

“Blah! That's almost as nasty as the stuff you gave me last night.”

 

“You will feel better in a short while.” Humming to himself, the healer started to pull out his supplies and fresh bandages. Kagome looked away, refusing to see the implements he was going to be using on her in the near future. She turned her face so that it was buried in Sesshomaru's chest, waiting for the tea to do something useful.

 

`Anything that tastes that nasty has to work.'

 

*~*~*~*

 

“Good morning, Merkamou-sama.”

 

“I was beginning to think that Sesshomaru-sama's wing of the palace was under a spell! No signs of life, and my meal was becoming so very lonely.”

 

Merkamou was eating alone in the dining hall, the surviving retainers hiding in their rooms. He was tired from the previous night's battle, but otherwise none the worse for wear. The sight of the brave little girl cheered him greatly, adding a smile to his morning.

 

“The healer is taking care of Kagome-chan, so she is going to eat in her room. Rin is supposed to keep you company and have breakfast with you.” Rin settled into her usual spot down the table from Merkamou.

 

“And I can think of no creature that I would rather share a meal with. Come, there is just two of us, you should sit across from me so that we can talk with ease.”

 

“Merkamou-sama is silly. Rin will come and sit near him, though, so that Merkamou-sama can tell her stories.”

 

“And what stories would you like to her, little one?”

 

“Happy ones, Merkamou-sama.”

 

Merkamou's face sobered as he looked at the little girl. `No tales of battle today. Poor little merlin, she is still in shock. Her first battle, and she has barely fledged. Her innocence is gone. She knows how it feels to slam a sword through flesh and bone, and she knows how an enemy looks when the life drains away. I would give anything to give her innocence back to her.'

 

“Very well, little merlin, I have stories of your lord as a pup that I think you would find most entertaining.”

 

“Merlin? Rin thought Rin was a fledgling?” Rin tipped her head over, staring at the gold eyes. Similar to Sesshomaru-sama's in color, but the resemblance ended there. His eyes were the far seeing gaze of an eagle, and the fire that her lord kept locked away burned brightly for any to see.

 

Merkamou's smile returned at the blunt question. `I should follow Sesshomaru's example and find a mate of my own. I have enjoyed my time with this little one, and I will be reluctant to leave her. It is definitely time to start looking for a mate so that I can have some chicks of my own. But I will need to find a mate as entertaining as these two, and that will take some time.'

 

“The fledgling has grown into a brave merlin. Brave enough to attack any that come near her nest, even if they are much larger than she is (1). Now, little merlin, you must not tell Sesshomaru-sama where you heard this from, or I will be in a great deal of trouble.”

 

“Rin promises, Merkamou-sama.”

 

“When Sesshomaru-sama was just a pup, not much bigger than you, he managed to fall into the koi pond. While this is entertaining enough, the story of how he fell in is much more interesting. This is the story of how your lord became a very wet and angry pup. And no matter what he may say, I did not push him in. Not on this occasion, anyways.”

 

Rin was entertained for hours by Merkamou's stories. He skirted around anything that might upset her. The little girl had been through enough.

 

“Merkamou-sama?”

 

“Hai, little merlin?”

 

“What was your first battle like?”

 

Silence. Merkamou warred with himself on how he should respond. “It was very frightening, my little merlin.”

 

“You were scared?”

 

“I believe that everyone is scared when they first go into battle. It was very loud, and there were youkai all around. I was with my father and my older brother. A force was attacking from the east, trying to take part of my father's lands. I was very proud that my father would let me fight, but I had not expected this. I stayed near my brother, just as father said I should. I brought down several enemies that day, and even saved my brother when he was assaulted by many attackers all at once. And when it was all over, I went into the woods and threw up.”

 

“So did I!”

 

Merkamou nodded to her as he contemplated the meaning behind her shift from speaking about herself in the third person. “I have known some great warriors that never eat before a battle because they become sick afterwards.”

 

“I'm not a great warrior.” Rin looked down at her hands. “Kagome-chan still got hurt.”

 

A lone talon lifted Rin's chin. “You were very brave, little merlin. It was a good battle. The next time I visit I fully expect you to have some stories for me of your glorious victories in battle.”

 

Rin gave him a brilliant smile. “Hai, Merkamou-sama.”

 

*~*~*~*

 

“Whoa, this is weirder than the sake.”

 

“Kagome, you are supposed to be holding still.” Sesshomaru tightened his grip as the healer grumbled under his breath about stubborn mikos.

 

“I'm trying, but there is a youkai sticking me with a needle, and it's distracting. Ouch! What's the big idea!” Kagome wanted to take a swing at the healer, but her arms were being held by that damn arrogant bastard. The really cute one with the pretty hair. She liked his hair. There was a lot about him she liked. Sure, he was a damn arrogant bastard, but it kind of grew on you. Like mold.

 

`Besides, you can't hold the whole trying to kill me thing against him for too long. Inuyasha tried to kill me, Kouga tried to kill me, Mirouku tried to kidnap me, and Shippo tried to steal my shards. First impressions don't seem to be very accurate in the Feudal Era.' A sharp poke with the needle made Kagome dig her fingers into Sesshomaru's arm and bite her lip. `I've done weirder stuff. I mean, come on! He's hot! Models on posters have nothing on him. And I've seen him naked!'

 

Giggles were escaping the drugged miko. Sesshomaru could not even begin to guess why she was giggling, considering she was having stitches put in and her fingers were digging into his arm with each stick. Still the giggles were better than her trying to attack the healer.

 

`So, hot guy, hot sex, commitment, all good. Love? Not so good. But, maybe friends with benefits? Ah, now that fits. I could see friends here. That's progress, isn't it? Okay, friends with benefits. We do act like friends most of the time, even if we do piss each other off. And benefits. Lots of benefits. Good benefits.'

 

“Kagome, you need to stop giggling, it is making your body shake. What is so very amusing?”

 

“Sorry, Jo-chan.” Kagome held her breath, trying to stop the giggles, but they were escaping anyways. “Just thinking about benefits.”

 

A sharp glare from Sesshomaru made the healer pretend he had not heard the Great Lord of the Western Lands being called `Jo-chan.' The last of the stitches was tied off and the bandages were wrapped back into place. “We are done, Kagome-sama.”

 

The healer rushed out of the room as soon as his supplies had been gathered, not wanting to be anywhere near the lord and his rather drugged mate. He did not want to witness any other pet names or other behaviors that might be embarrassing to the tai-youkai. Eliminating the healer would be an effective way of stopping any rumors before they started.

 

A sigh of relief escaped Sesshomaru as he set his giggling mate back into the bed. “What is so entertaining now?”

 

“Benefits. We're friends with lots of benefits.”

 

`I should know better than to follow up on that since she is making no sense, but I cannot help myself.' “Friends with benefits?”

 

“Yeah. Don't you think? I think we've become good friends. You're definitely one of my best friends, right up there with Sango.”

 

`Friends? I have never thought of that relationship with her.' Sesshomaru tipped his head to the side ever so slightly. “We are mates, Kagome. However, I suppose that we would also qualify as friends. I do not have much for comparison. And the benefits?”

 

“Ah, the benefits are the part that makes us mates. Most friends don't do that kind of stuff, so we're friends with benefits. Lots of benefits. It's progress!”

 

`I suppose that could describe this. I feel as though we are something more, but if that is what she is feeling I should be thankful that she sees me as a friend. That would imply that she trusts me. I should be thankful that she is here at all, after my behavior towards her.'

 

Kagome interrupted his thoughts with some of her own. “Merkamou would probably qualify as a friend these days.”

 

“Keh. Loud, volatile, impulsive . . .”

 

“. . .friend that ran into battle with you to save your mate. Who risked his life to make sure that your mate was acceptable and to protect his lands. You may not like spending a lot of time with him, but I think we can upgrade him to friend after last night.”

 

A low growl escaped Sesshomaru. “I still wish to kill him on a rather frequent basis.”

 

“So? You don't actually do it, and from you I would consider that a definite sign of friendship.”

 

At the confused expression on her mate's face Kagome dissolved into giggles again. “Ah, Jo-chan has friends.”

 

“Why do you insist on calling me that?”

 

“I could call you Fluffy.”

 

“Miko, you are lucky that you are injured. Otherwise I would make you pay for that.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, you'll make me suffer later I'm sure. Isn't that what friends are for?” Kagome wiped tears away from her face as she fought to stop giggling. Her side was aching and the laughter was not helping.

 

“You should rest. I do not believe you will stop that giggling until I have left the room, so I will send Kumo to watch over you. Sleep, Kagome.”

 

“Yes, sir!” Kagome gave him the same salute she had seen her guards use, then dissolved once more into giggles.

 

Sesshomaru escaped into the hallway. In Kagome's room he found Kumo repairing a kimono, trying not to listen to the giggling in the next room.

 

“Watch over my lady.” The lord was gone before Kumo could even get to her feet. Kumo moved to the next room and found a half-asleep miko, still giggling very softly. The servant pulled a blanket over her, blew out the lamp, and covered the window. By the time Kumo had settled against the wall Kagome was asleep.

 

The lord caught up with the healer in the hallway. “What, exactly, did that tea do to her?”

 

“I am not sure, my lord. I have never seen a reaction like that before.”

 

“Have you used this tea on a ningen before?”

 

“Ah, well, not as such, my lord. . .” The healer found himself pinned against the wall by his throat, gasping for air.

 

“You do not endanger this Sesshomaru's mate. Do not make the mistake again.”

 

“Hai, my lord,” the healer wheezed. He was dropped to the ground in an ungainly heap. Bowing, he scrambled down the hall to put distance between himself and the annoyed inu-youkai.

 

`The miko is cursed. Everywhere she goes her life is in danger. What was she thinking, staying to be the mate of an inu-youkai? She is much too fragile for this life. But it is too late now, and I would not let her go even if I could. I need her, more than just the mate. I need Kagome. I will do what I can to keep her safe. Hopefully she will not regret her decision.'

 

 

A/N:

 

Merlin: A tiny falcon that lives in Japan (amongst other places). 30cm, sometimes less in length. Well known for their habit of attacking larger birds, including eagles. They live off of large insects and some small birds. Courtesy of Wikipedia