InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 16: Sesshoumaru: Karma's Bitch ( Chapter 16 )

Notes: There is not enough thanks in the world to suffice for my gratitude to Merith and Chris for their beta skills and to Everstar for her tireless brainstorming and never EVER complaining when I would ask her, "What do you think about this...?"

Chapter 16: Karma's Bitch

I grant I never saw a goddess go,

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground...

~William Shakespeare, Sonnet 130

Jaken stared at his lord in silence. They had left the den swiftly, and Sesshoumaru-sama had answered none of his inquiries. He knew only that they were traveling westward as quickly as possible, and that something was very, very wrong.

I knew that woman was nothing but trouble. She has clearly done something terrible to Lord Sesshoumaru for him to react like this.

Before much longer, they were at the seas bordering the western coast. Sesshoumaru turned to Jaken and spoke his first words since they had left the den.

"Stay here."

Without another word, and before Jaken could reply -- or ask how long his liege would be gone, Sesshoumaru contracted into a bright ball of light that whipped out above the ocean, hovering in the air for only a second before plunging into the water.

Jaken blinked at his sudden solitude. Glancing around him, he dropped to the sand and waited.

How long could it possibly take?

***

"There is talk of shark youkai to the south planning to overtake these waters for themselves." Wata-tsu-mi, god of the southern seas, folded great arms over his chest, and glared at the others sitting around the table.

Isora, god of the seashore gave an audible snort. "Shark youkai? Ridiculous. They are lone beasts -- unable to come together to form a single idea, much less stay united long enough to execute such a plan." Isora had little concern for the behavior of shark youkai -- the shore would not suffer, and neither would his devotees.

Ame-No-Mi-Kumari shook her head, long green tresses moving with the motion. "But even as lone youkai they are formidable forces -- what if they are able to unite? Unlikely though it may be, we must be prepared for the possibility." Like Wata-tsu-mi, she had great concern regarding the shark youkai. They were already present in her waters as well, causing far too much trouble.

Isora would not be persuaded. "These waters are too vast; they are unable of such cooperation."

"Would you so quickly underestimate such brutal killers?" Wata-tsu-mi snapped.

Heaving a sigh, Ryujin regarded the guardians and gods seated around the large coral slab that served as a table. The session had already gone on far too long; the great dragon usually assumed a human form for these meetings, but at the moment the sea-god was fairly itching to return to his true shape. Seated to his immediate right was Hoori -- his daughter's husband and most trusted advisor. Hoori's concerned obsidian eyes met Ryujin's restless ones and a moment of understanding passed between the two.

Hoori stood, preparatory to dismissing the council -- shark youkai was an old and oft-discussed topic, one that never seemed to get resolved, ironically enough -- when the doors to the session chambers were thrown open. The noise was sudden, startling the members of the council into silence. Several heads turned as the creature entered. It took only seconds for them to realize that he was a youkai. Not only was he youkai -- he was land youkai. A low rumble went across the table. Land youkai did not venture undersea.

At least, not as far as they knew.

If Sesshoumaru was aware of the reaction his presence brought, he did not show it. He was too intent upon locating the great dragon. He was scanning the room rapidly when a small sea turtle scuttled across the floor, out of breath. "Sesshoumaru-sama, please listen to reason -- this is a private--"

Ryujin stood. "Leave us," he said, addressing his council. "Lord Sesshoumaru has business with me. This session has extended past its limits." In a few moments, the youkai and the sea god were alone in the chamber. "Lord Sesshoumaru..."

Sesshoumaru stood frozen in place by the door, staring uncomprehendingly at the human form before him. There must be some mistake. "Forgive me, my lord, but--" Turning impatiently, he grasped the doorknob, pulling hard at it.

"Look at me, Lord Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru's hands curled into fists at each second spent in this castle, but he forced his eyes to the figure before him. The room's occupant was a man of indeterminate age with hair as black as pitch. He was tall, but solidly built. But when Sesshoumaru met his eyes, he saw that they were a brilliant red at the outside of the iris, moving inward to a green center.

There was something else -- something else about the eyes.

"Ryujin-sama," he breathed.

"My true form is not conducive to council meetings, I am afraid." Ryujin gestured at one of the heavy chairs vacated by one of the gods. "Please, sit."

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "I cannot, Lord Ryujin. I have only come..." he trailed off, his throat searching for the words. He knew what had happened, but could not articulate it.

Arching a dark eyebrow, Ryujin leaned forward. "You have only come for what?"

I haven't the time for these explanations. "I need to know how I may get to Olympus."

Ryujin was quiet for a moment. "You cannot enter Olympus, Sesshoumaru. Their rules forbid it." While the god's voice was not as loud in his human form, it was still deep and resonant. The words were spoken slowly; Ryujin could not believe he was the first to break this manner of news to the youkai. "Demons are forbidden from entering their realm uninvited."

The demon lord shook his head resolutely. "That is not acceptable. I must find a way. It is imperative I have an audience with the goddess Hera."

Ryujin blinked once. "Hera is the goddess who banished Teles."

"And she is the one who has stripped her of her immortality."

"She has... what?" Ryujin stared at Sesshoumaru in disbelief. "No, that is not possible. The Greek gods only take away a god or goddess' divinity for the most atrocious crimes..." the water god trailed off, suddenly understanding.

Sesshoumaru nodded once, confirming the god's fears. "We are mated."

Ryujin swallowed once. "While I cannot say that I am completely surprised at this revelation, Sesshoumaru, I am not comforted in the least to discover that Teles has been punished thus."

"Nor am I," the youkai lord replied.

"You will have the best luck if you search to the west. The journey will not be a quick one, I fear. I know only how to reach Poseidon's realm, so my directions -- unfortunately -- will not be as clear as they could be." Seeing no change in Sesshoumaru's expression, the sea god continued. "Head far to the west. Do not deviate -- Greece is a peninsula many miles away, but almost directly west of these lands."

Sesshoumaru nodded once. "How will I know it?"

"The land is lush, if mountainous. The waters are..." Ryujin paused. "You will know the waters, I assure you." Certainly he would recognize his mate's scent, as well as the color of her eyes.

The great demon lord blinked, but nodded, choosing that moment to end the meeting. "Thank you, my lord. Now, if you will excuse me..."

"Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru," the god replied, nodding. "Go."

Sesshoumaru left the kingdom, returning to shore to find Jaken, who had been growing increasingly worried. Though Sesshoumaru had been as quick as possible with the visit, he had been away from the surface for an entire day. He regarded Jaken, watching as the small toad youkai struggled to his feet. After a long silence, he said only one word.

"Come."

***

Kagome tried to concentrate on the book in front of her. She frowned; her eyes were skimming the words, but her brain wasn't retaining anything. It had been nearly two days since Sesshoumaru had left, and Teles had barely stirred at all in that time; frankly, it was starting to worry Kagome. Immediately after Sesshoumaru and Jaken's departure, Inuyasha had gone to collect Sango and Miroku. They had brought with them some borrowed miko robes, courtesy of Kaede. The robes were folded neatly at the foot of the futon-- Kagome didn't want to disturb Teles any more than necessary. The sheath was in shreds, so while Inuyasha was gone, Kagome had located an inner kimono made of heavy linen -- Sesshoumaru's most likely -- and had eased Teles' slack body into it before pulling the coverlet over her.

After Inuyasha had arrived with Sango and Miroku, the monk had stood over the unconscious figure, shaking his head slowly. "The magic has mostly subsided, but it appears to be lingering." After a brief pause, he continued. "Perhaps the spell lasts only as long as it takes for the transformation to be complete. Her human body may be fighting it, or maybe..." he trailed off, shrugging. "Maybe her human body is trying to adapt. The remnants of magic are very faint. I'm sorry, but I just can't tell. This is somewhat out of my realm of expertise."

Sango, Inuyasha, and Miroku had then gone to canvas the area, getting a feel for patrol routes. Though he hadn't been happy about the decision, Shippou had been left behind with Kaede. Regardless of the kitsune's pleas and arguments, Inuyasha had held firm.

Before they'd left, Inuyasha had fixed amber eyes on Kagome. "You'll be safe here," he said, casting an eye about the den's interior before slipping outside to patrol. Strangely, Kagome had indeed felt safe in the den.

Since that first night, they had simply waited, watching and waiting for some sign that Sesshoumaru's efforts were not in vain. No such sign had come yet.

Kagome sighed, setting her studies aside and standing. The main hall was eerily quiet; Rin, still upset about Teles' condition, had exhausted herself, falling into a restless sleep in her chambers, and Kagome was fairly sure that Miroku and Sango had gone off in search of game to roast - the lands were teeming with it. That left Inuyasha. The last time she'd seen the hanyou, he was stalking around the den restlessly.

It's probably strange for him, being here after so many years. Kagome stretched and started off for Teles' chamber, pausing at the doorway. She stared at the woman, concentrating on the unmoving form, trying to feel the trace of magic that seemed to be clinging to her. After several minutes of intense concentration, Kagome could feel no magic and was starting to earn herself a headache in the process.

There was a sudden movement and a quick glimmer of silver hair. Kagome looked up, startled; Inuyasha was crouching in a corner of the room, where he had been watching the sleeping woman silently. Ethereal golden eyes, enhanced by the flickering lantern-light, were now fixed on Kagome.

"Inuyasha," she whispered. "What are you doing in here?" She nearly winced; it was obvious he was guarding Teles. Duh, Kagome.

The hanyou sent her an incredulous look. "What's it look like I'm doin'?" he whispered back.

Kagome suppressed the sigh. Leave it to him to pick that up. "Well, it looks like you're sitting in the dark, alone."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes in response. "I'm watchin' her." He gave a quick jerk of his chin in the direction of the bed.

"Has anything happened?"

His shrug was an almost unnoticeable movement. "Not yet."

"Do you expect something to go wrong?"

"Can't rule it out," he replied patiently. "Hurt like that, magic's involved... who knows?"

Watching him for a long moment, Kagome took in Inuyasha's body language, the determined set of his jaw, and the resolution in his eyes. "So, how long have you been sitting there?"

There was a brief shake of his head. "Dunno."

Kagome shifted her weight to her other foot. "You should get up, stretch a bit... do something." Moving further into the room, she took a seat next to Inuyasha on the floor. He gave her a sidelong glance that she pretended not to notice.

Giving another noncommittal shrug, Inuyasha kept his attention on the futon. "Maybe I wanted to sit for a while."

Kagome shot him a glance. "Uh huh."

Snorting, Inuyasha turned his attention to her. "What, I can't sit quietly?"

The girl's lips quirked into a wry grin. "Quiet isn't really in your nature..."

"Keh." He folded his arms in his sleeves.

"Well, it's not," she replied reasonably, leaning against the wall.

"Look, I'm just doin' what I said I would."

"In fact," Kagome continued, "you're usually only this quiet when you're sulking about something..."

Sputtering, Inuyasha stared at her, insulted. "Sulking? I don't sulk!"

"Shhh!" she hissed, eyes widening at Inuyasha's raised voice. "And, yes, you do." She ignored the low growl he gave by way of reply. "So, what did you say you'd do?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Inuyasha waved a hand vaguely. "Watch over her."

Kagome blinked. "But we're doing that," she said, shaking her head slightly. At the sight of Inuyasha shifting uncomfortably, she tilted her head. "I mean, aren't we?"

"I'm the only one here who's not just human," he murmured, looking away suddenly.

"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked, her voice still a whisper.

Inuyasha's expression darkened as his jaw tightened. "It ain't gonna be just humans comin' after her, if anything does." After a tense pause, he shook his head, keeping his voice low. "I'm the closest thing she's got right now to kin, damn it." He stared straight ahead as he spoke the words, refusing to look anywhere as he expressed so personal a sentiment.

Kagome stared in silence at Inuyasha. The closest thing to kin... She glanced back at Teles, suddenly realizing something that for some reason hadn't struck her before. She blinked once, then twice. "And their pup is..."

Inuyasha was standing before she could complete the sentence. "Yeah. It's hanyou," he whispered, his voice flat. And it's my nephew. Or niece. Whatever.

Kagome stood, her eyes meeting Inuyasha's in the flickering lantern light. "I was going to say, their pup is... like you." At Inuyasha's rough nod, Kagome pursed her lips in thought. "But if Sesshoumaru can get her restored, then..."

"Then they'll kill it," he said, even more flatly. Inuyasha tried not to look at Kagome's ashen face. He didn't like the idea any more than she did. The damn pup hadn't done anything to anyone, and already its father was trying to change it into something that would get it killed sooner rather than later. At least the kid had a chance against mortal enemies. Humans, youkai -- those were things the pup could be protected against. Angry gods and goddesses -- a whole different story.

"But if... if it puts the pup in danger, why is he going at all?" Kagome asked softly.

Inuyasha shook his head, annoyed. "Fuck if I know," he breathed. "The dumbass thinks he owes it to her or somethin'. I dunno. I think it's because he can't cope with the idea of his heir bein' hanyou." Serves him fuckin' right, if you ask me.

"Or his mate being human." She paused, contemplating the situation. "Or both." Inuyasha nodded again, and Kagome swallowed hard, thinking suddenly of Sesshoumaru and the unborn pup. "You don't think he'd... if he can't get her changed... he wouldn't..." He wouldn't kill it -- not his own pup, not his heir. He wouldn't. Would he? She thought for a moment of the times he'd tried to kill Inuyasha and was not comforted by the memories.

Inuyasha was shaking his head, reading Kagome's fears in her eyes. "He said he wouldn't. 'Course, I don't exactly believe him." He swallowed, looking away again. After a few moments of silence, he whispered an abrupt, "I said I'd take it." He could feel Kagome's eyes on him, drilling into the side of his head, and a flush crept up his neck in response.

Kagome, for her part, was not thinking of the logistical impossibilities of raising a hanyou pup in the Sengoku Jidai while searching for the shards of the Shikon-no-Tama, nor was she thinking about whether or not Inuyasha was ready for that level of responsibility. She wasn't thinking about any of this as she contemplated his words. "Good," she replied, offering him a small smile.

Inuyasha stared at her, not sure he'd heard correctly. "Good?" he repeated, his voice a harsh whisper.

Kagome only shrugged. "If the baby would be endangered by staying with Sesshoumaru, then... why shouldn't you raise him -- or her?" she asked, her voice low.

Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something but snapped it closed, his eyes flitting away for a moment before darting back to Kagome's face.

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head, shrugging. "I just thought the kid'd be better off with someone who..." Inuyasha's normally gruff voice tapered off and he glanced at the unconscious woman's rounded stomach.

"Who'd love it?" Kagome supplied. Her voice was scarcely audible.

Swallowing hard, Inuyasha said, "Who wouldn't hate it." He was quiet for a moment before shaking off the melancholy thoughts. "Doesn't matter though," Inuyasha said, shrugging suddenly.

How can it not matter? This is a child we're talking about -- a child who could potentially grow up hated. No one deserves that. "It doesn't matter? Why not?"

The hanyou looked at her. "He said no."

Kagome blinked. "But... You mean to say he'd keep a child for the sole purpose of hating it?"

Inuyasha glanced at the floor. "She wants the pup. So he wants it." Never mind that he wants it for the wrong fucking reasons. He just wants it. No matter how much he seems to have changed, I guess it really hasn't been that much.

Kagome looked at the woman for a minute. A human woman, heavy with a hanyou pup. She didn't like to contemplate the possibilities when it came to Sesshoumaru's capacity for cruelty -- she wasn't sure anyone would like to. Sure, he cared for the child -- Rin -- but this was something completely different. This was the great demon lord of the western lands, mated to a human -- mated to the very thing he despised most -- and gearing up to be the father of a hanyou. While she might not have agreed with his reasons for doing so, Kagome was not surprised that Sesshoumaru had left so quickly. "But do you think he'll he still want her? I mean, she's... she's human."

Inuyasha shrugged again. "I tried tellin' him that if someone's your mate, they're your mate no matter what, but I'm not sure he was listenin'." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he froze. Instantly, Sesshoumaru's earlier words came back to taunt him. 'In that case, I also did not tell you that you're a fool for not claiming the miko.' Inuyasha closed his eyes and ground his teeth. Damn you, Sesshoumaru. Me an' my big fuckin' mouth.

Sadness reflected in her eyes, Kagome shook her head and looked away. "Mates no matter what, huh?" Her eyes went to the ground. "That sounds kind of nice. People change their minds all the time in my world." Divorce had become a convenient thing in the modern era. The idea that there could be a person -- one person -- you were meant to spend your life with... Kagome found herself blushing, and was glad for the room's dim light.

He looked at her, a bit incredulously. "They break up matings in your time?" He shook his head dismissively. "People probably just playin' at it, then."

"It happens a lot," Kagome replied. "People fall in love, think they're meant to be together forever, and then something happens, and they get divorced."

Folding his arms, Inuyasha shot Kagome a look. "Then they weren't with their mates."

She shook her head. "Isn't a mate the same thing as a husband or wife?"

A frown creased his forehead. "That's that human marriage thing, right?" When Kagome nodded, he shook his head. "Nah. Not the same thing at all."

"What's the difference then?"

Inuyasha cringed immediately. Aw shit. Shoulda seen that comin. He sighed and glanced at Kagome, trying to figure out the best answer. Suddenly he felt as if he'd been doused with frigid water. SHIT. I'm supposed to explain to... FUCK! Dammit! Fuckin' Sesshoumaru was right -- shoulda claimed her. At least that'd mean I wouldn't have to explain this. Hell... Chewing the inside of his cheek, he glanced at Kagome, who was still watching him patiently. After a while, Inuyasha cleared his throat and rocked back and forth on his feet a bit. "Okay." He licked his lips. "So. With youkai. Sometimes... they meet a bitch. And for some reason... she belongs to them. And... they belong to her." And I can't believe I'm fuckin' having this conversation...

Kagome frowned thoughtfully, trying to equate the concept with 21st century dating rituals and the different ways people went about finding husbands, wives, or significant others. "And... that's it? A youkai's just walking along one day, and then all of a sudden, wham -- here's your mate, have a nice life?"

"Believe me," Inuyasha replied dryly, "that's pretty much it." I woke up and there you were. Wham.

She opened her mouth to reply when Teles shifted on the bedding, giving a soft whimper as her body curled into the fetal position. Kagome's mouth snapped shut as she watched the woman's hands tighten and fist spasmodically in the covers, her eyes clenched tightly shut.

Teles' awareness was a slowly developing thing. The first things she became conscious of were the voices. She could hear two voices whispering fiercely in a language she'd never heard before in her entire existence. Her aching mind absorbed the words and attempted to process them. After a while she realized that, yes, she had heard the language before, but had never needed to learn it. Why learn a language when the language of the gods transcended the spoken word completely?

And why did everything hurt? Gritting her teeth, she clenched her eyes tightly shut, feeling her hands fisting in the coverlet. Suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder.

It had to be him -- it could be no one else. "Make it stop," she managed, a far-off part of her brain unable to understand why she could speak in this strange tongue, even if she could not fully understand it. The connection between the words in her mind and the ones she spoke was a muddled one. Another bolt of pain shot through her and she curled up more tightly, the whimper that finally escaped from her chest sounding more animal than anything else.

"She doesn't smell like she's bleeding..."

The voice, so familiar -- the words, not. Teles forced herself to listen, to comprehend. It only made her head hurt more. Gritting her teeth, she pried her eyes open. As the room began to lose its blurred edges, she saw a flash of silver hair, and relief washed over her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out at first. She swallowed -- her mouth felt as if it were lined with sand. "Seh... Sesshou...m-maru?"

Inuyasha froze, his hand still on Teles' shoulder, automatically looking over his shoulder for his brother. He glanced back at the figure on the bedding and swallowed hard, wincing. Dammit. For just a moment, he positively hated Sesshoumaru for not being there. Your mate needs you, you stupid fuck, and you had to go off tryin' to get killed. "No. It's Inuyasha." He glanced worriedly at Kagome, who was lightly touching the woman's forehead.

"Not feverish," she murmured.

That's one thing in our favor. On the other hand, she thinks I'm fuckin' Sesshoumaru. That don't bode well.

Kagome gnawed on her bottom lip as she knelt beside the futon, slowly running her fingers through the woman's hair in what she hoped was a soothing gesture. She could see the wild terror in Teles' eyes; it was obvious that she had no idea what had happened to her.

Closing her eyes, Teles thought hard. Not Sesshoumaru. The voice wasn't his -- not his, but still familiar. Wait... that name... Her brain struggled to comprehend the words. He said something that sounded familiar…. something... Inuyasha. The hanyou. Yes, that's it. She opened her eyes again. "Inu...y-yasha?"

He crouched next to the bed. "Yeah. Sesshoumaru's brother."

Teles blinked. The words -- other than Sesshoumaru -- were nothing but an intelligible jumble. She tried concentrating, trying to understand. Her hands slowly curled into fists, the movement sending more pain shooting up her arms. "What..." What are you saying? What the HELL are you saying to me?

Inuyasha's frown deepened. "You're safe now."

"Y-you're his brother," she managed. What are these words, and why the HELL can I say them?

"Yeah," he said, casting a quick glance at Kagome. "We brought you here -- you're safe now."

After a second, Teles shook her head, stopping when the room swam and sent nausea washing over her. "What... did you... say?

Kagome cleared her throat. "You're safe and you're going be okay." She swallowed hard when a pair of confused, frightened green eyes were turned on her.

"Slower?"

Sending a concerned look Inuyasha's way, Kagome repeated herself more slowly.

Teles closed her eyes, paying close attention to the words. They sounded strange on the surface, but began to process slowly. She blinked her eyes open and stared at Kagome and Inuyasha. Safe. I'm safe. The strange, tight sensation in her chest abated slightly. "Hurts," she murmured.

"We know it does," Kagome said gently. "Where does it hurt? Can we help?" She spoke slowly and carefully.

The priestess' voice was soothing and after a few seconds, Teles was able to comprehend what she'd said. Swallowing against the unfamiliar dryness in her throat, she said, "Head... body... everything." A sudden bolt of excruciating pain shot through her head; her hands clenched reflexively and she whimpered again, this one sounding more like a sob. "S-Sesshou...m-maru... where?"

Out of his depth, Inuyasha looked at Kagome, who only gave him an encouraging nod. Taking his cue from her, he too spoke slowly. "He went to try to restore you." Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kagome rummaging through her pack for something. She pulled out a small bottle and turned to him, mouthing, "Water?" With a nod, he pushed himself up and dashed out of the room. It was too much -- he couldn't handle this. Sesshoumaru was supposed to be here taking care of this -- not them. As he strode off toward the water supply, an angry growl tore through his throat. I told you, you stupid fuckin' bastard, she NEEDS you here.

Kagome sighed softly, having seen the look in Inuyasha's eyes. She turned her attention back to Teles, stroking her hair slowly -- it seemed to calm her a little bit before. "You're going to be okay. Do you understand? You're going to be okay."

Fighting back the surge of panic -- and losing -- Teles' mind nearly spun out of control when she finally understood what had been said to her. He's not here? He's NOT HERE? WHERE IS HE? Wait... restored? Restored to what? What the fuck is going on? She forced her eyes open and concentrated on Kagome. As she focused on the younger girl's voice, she slowly began to pick up every few words. Again, panic, uncontrollable and overpowering, flooded her system. Going to be okay? GOING to be okay? Why am I not 'okay' now? What is this? What in all of Olympus is wrong with me? What is this...throbbing in my head? Why do I hurt? And WHERE in the name of Hades is FUCKING Sesshoumaru? A distant part of her mind wondered why vulgarities were flooding her mind so profusely. Another sharp spasm of agony wiped away those queries.

Swearing silently, Kagome forced herself to continue the gentle ministrations, praying that Inuyasha would come back with that water -- soon. "Just... breathe deeply," she said softly. "You had," pausing, she considered her words. "You had an accident. You're going to be fine."

After a few more moments, Inuyasha reappeared with a ladle and a bucket of water. Kagome tapped a few aspirin out into her hand and gave them to Teles, instructing her to swallow them. Hoping that the woman understood her, Kagome handed her the ladle of water. Nodding slowly, Teles placed the pills in her mouth and sipped slowly at the ladle. The cold water seemed to awaken an unbelievable thirst, and she started drinking deeply from the ladle, draining it.

"Whoa, slow down," Inuyasha cautioned, gently pulling the ladle away and dropping it back in the bucket.

"I can't..." Teles replied, licking her lips as her eyes went back to the bucket. She was so incredibly thirsty, she couldn't stand it.

"Try."

Nodding, Teles relaxed back into the bedding. Her head was slowly clearing. She still hurt, but she was able to comprehend better, little by little. Perhaps, even if she hadn't made the effort to learn the language of these lands, hearing it often enough left some sort of impression on her. But why now? Once again she regarded Inuyasha and Kagome. "Where is he?"

"He went to see about helping you get better," the hanyou replied.

Kagome nodded once. "He said he'd be back soon."

Where IS he? Why won't you tell me? Where is my mate? Teles' frown was almost immediate. "Get... better?"

There was a long moment of silence. Finally, Inuyasha sighed. "You fell. We found you and brought you here."

Puzzled green eyes blinked. "F-fell?" She shook her head slowly. "Never fall..."

Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged a loaded look. After a few seconds, it was Kagome who spoke. "You weren't human before."

***

Sesshoumaru stared at the lands around him. Vibrant green trees and shrubs dotted the craggy, mountainous landscape. Lord Ryujin was right, the water lapping against the shore was a brilliant green-blue, and was in fact very familiar; he had seen that very color many times already in Teles' gaze. The shoreline was inundated with her scent. It was almost too much for him to bear.

Inhaling the salty breeze, the youkai lord shook off the maudlin thoughts. They had no use here and didn't aid him in the least. He was here with a very specific purpose in mind. Walking away from the rocky shoreline, Sesshoumaru made his way into the vast woodlands, Jaken waddling quickly behind him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru," Jaken spoke up from his side, "are these the lands you were looking for?"

"Yes, Jaken."

The small toad youkai gave a little sigh of relief. Since they had left, Sesshoumaru-sama had been giving him nothing but one-word answers to any and all of his questions. He took this latest response as a positive trend. Just then, a tuft of wild grass caught Jaken's foot and sent him falling forward. He had only just caught himself when a sharp rock jutting out from the soil snagged at Jaken's robes, causing him to stumble with a grunt. He turned to release his cloak from the jagged stone, making a small, annoyed noise as he did so. The cloth gave suddenly and sent him tumbling backward. Muttering an oath, he righted himself, dusting the dirt from his robes. "So, where are we going now that we're here, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

There was no answer.

"Lord Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken gulped against the rising swell of trepidation. "Uh... my lord? S-Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The only response was the wind in the trees; Sesshoumaru had vanished.

Sesshoumaru, for his part, hadn't realized anything was amiss until he had turned around to look for Jaken, who had been unusually silent. Strangely, he found himself alone in a quiet glade. No wind rustled the trees, no animals moved about the brush. Even the birds were eerily quiet. Suddenly, the clearing began to glow with a bright, otherworldly light. Swirls of blue and silver light danced around him, bouncing off of the ground and trees before it grew too bright for him to watch. The youkai shut his eyes against the glare, and when he opened them again, he found himself in a pristine white room with polished marble floors and walls. A petite blonde woman stood before him, regarding him coldly.

An eternity of silence passed between the demon and goddess; both of them watched the other, silently measuring each other up.

The demon lord looked at the goddess, noting the curl of her lip and the derision in her eyes. His jaw tightened reflexively. He knew -- he knew that expression; it was one he often wore.

This was Hera. He was sure of it.

The very thought made Sesshoumaru ill -- to defer to another, to this female. But this female was a goddess -- a queen among gods and goddesses alike. He wouldn't like it, but he would defer. His mate depended on him for it.

Sesshoumaru offered the goddess a deep, elegant bow. "Lady Goddess, I humbly come before you to--"

Hera interrupted him, sneering imperiously. "I know why you're here, demon. You," she spat, "attempt to appeal to me. I, Hera -- queen of the Olympians. You wish for me to restore Teles."

Reining in his sudden anger at the goddess' tone, he straightened. "That is correct."

"I will do no such thing."

The great lord's uneasiness increased. "Lady Goddess, perhaps you would be willing to reconsider your stance on the--"

Blue eyes blazed at him. "Enough!"

Sesshoumaru's mouth clamped shut, his teeth clenched painfully. He wanted nothing more than to unleash his wrath -- his helplessness, his frustration, his sorrow -- on this woman. He wanted her blood to stain his hands. He wanted her as helpless, as vulnerable, and as mortal as she had rendered Teles.

Hera's icy eyes narrowed disdainfully. "You dare to approach me, demon? You dare to come to the kingdom of the gods and, like a common beggar, beseech me to restore one unfit to carry the title of goddess? Your insolence knows no bounds, demon, and I will not tolerate it."

Sesshoumaru trembled with rage. I will kill you. I will see the day when you are thrown from your kingdom and rendered powerless -- and on that day, you will die.

The goddess paused and, noting the demon lord's silence, continued. "A goddess cannot be permitted to sully the blood of the gods. I refuse allow my line to be contaminated with demon blood. She has been marked. Like a common beast, she has been marked as your mate. Her behavior was inexcusable, and she has been duly punished."

The youkai stood completely still, save for a slight movement in his throat as he swallowed. "Then I release her as my mate."

A delicate sneer marred the goddess' lovely face. "And I thought 'youkai' mated for life."

Sesshoumaru's spine straightened and he inclined his head slightly, his bearing now regal. "Teles is human now -- weak, pathetic, useless. I have no need for her." The words made his chest contract, but he spoke them clearly -- he would release her if it meant her restoration.

"I am not surprised that your loyalties are so fickle, demon. Release her if you will, but you release her into the wild, where she belongs."

Anger flashed in the golden depths of his eyes. "I release Teles as my mate. Restore her powers -- she is no longer the mate of a youkai."

Hera laughed scornfully. "You silly creature. You think it's that simple? She is heavy with your brat, and you think that you can remedy the situation by releasing her from your blasphemous union? Go home to your human vermin and unborn mongrel, demon. I will have no more of this."

Sesshoumaru had opened his mouth to respond, but was blinded by the light that emanated from the goddess queen. He shut his sensitive eyes against the illumination and when he opened them, he was back amongst the brush.

***

Human?

Teles was completely still as the words sunk in. When they did, her eyes widened almost immediately. Anxiety and panic welled up in twin surges, tightening her chest and flooding her limbs. Her breathing quickened reflexively and she shook her head slowly at first, then faster, ignoring the pounding in her head and the dizziness that came with the movement. "No. No... I... no." She stared down at her hands, finally registering the bandages, the welts, the unfamiliar, foreign sensation of bodily pain. "No," she breathed. "Can't be..."

Inuyasha's jaw tightened. Damn it. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to Kagome so he wasn't towering over them. Teles' features had practically gone grey, her wide eyes unsettling points of color in her face. He watched, feeling suddenly sick as her eyes began to tear up, darting between him and Kagome, searching their faces, looking for any sign that this was nothing more than a joke -- a really bad joke. He swallowed hard. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a similar movement in Kagome's throat. This is my brother's mate. I gotta do something. Dammit, Sesshoumaru, why did you leave, you dumbass? Tightening his jaw, he put his hand on hers.

Teles jerked her hand away suddenly, the tears finally spilling over. "No. No, they didn't. They didn't," she said brokenly. Her normally serene expression was long gone; the green eyes were wide and a touch wild, her chest having with rapid breaths.

"They... did," Kagome breathed.

"I'm... sorry," Inuyasha said softly. "He's gone to try and get it reversed. He's... trying to get you healed."

When Teles heard those words, she felt herself break out in a cold sweat from the combined panic, fear, anxiety, and shock. "He went ... to get this reversed?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said, nodding.

Something hot and tight clutched at her chest as she sat up suddenly. Her throat closed up and breathing was nearly impossible. "No. NO!" she cried. Teles wrapped her arms around herself. "He can't. He can't."

Inuyasha's frown formed almost instantly. "He can't?" When Teles shook her head he blinked, feeling a sinking sensation in his gut. Maybe she didn't hear me right. "He can't get it reversed?"

Hot tears clung to her lashes, spilling slowly. "He can't."

Kagome bit her lip. I really, really don't want to ask this... "Are you saying they won't reverse it, or that... they... can't?"

Teles paused, mentally collecting the words -- they came more easily now. "The ritual is irreversible."

"Shit," Inuyasha growled.

Teles wrapped her arms more tightly around herself as if warding off a chill. "She's going to kill him," she said quietly.

Amber eyes narrowed to slits. "What?"

"Hera," Teles murmured. "She'll kill him. F-for being so... so..." -- audacious, insolent, impudent -- "...for going and asking... she'll kill him.

"Hera wasn't the... nicest goddess, Inuyasha, especially when it came to the women who she believed Zeus had..." Kagome stopped, searching for the most tactful way to put it. "The women who Zeus had been unfaithful with," she murmured, watching as the hanyou jumped up and paced quickly around the room.

"Damn it, damn it, fuckin' damn it!"

"Sh-she did this," Teles managed. "I know she did. And she'll... demons... th-they're like... bugs to her."

"I should've fuckin' gone with him," he growled.

The former goddess blinked. "She would have killed you as well."

Inuyasha shook his head. "Might've bought him time." He stopped pacing, glaring toward the entrance.

Kagome watched his movements. When he stopped and looked at the doorway, his jaw tightening, she felt her stomach drop violently. No. No, you are NOT going now.

"He... he should not have..." Teles struggled with the words and grit her teeth, making a small growl of frustration. "What IS this FEELING? Damn it, what IS it?"

He turned back toward Teles. "What feeling?"

"THIS!" she yelled hoarsely. "It's... it's here," she placed a hand on her chest. "And it's... I can't STAND it! It's tight, and it's hot, and... and I can't make it STOP."

Kagome blinked. "Fear?" She shook her head. "You... can't make it stop. Didn't you ever feel fear before?"

"Not like this," Teles answered raggedly. "I felt before, but this... I can't endure it."

"That's it," Inuyasha muttered, turning around abruptly and heading for the door.

Shaking her head, Kagome stood. "Inuyasha, no."

"I have to do somethin'!" he yelled.

"Inuyasha, SIT!"

"Fuck!" he swore, crashing indecorously into the ground.

"He's been gone for two days. He'd be there by now. He's TWO days ahead of you!" she yelled, ignoring him when he growled in response. "And," she added, "he can fly. Do you have ANY idea where Greece is?"

Glowering at her, Inuyasha muttered, "... I coulda figured it out." After a few moments, he pushed himself up off the floor gingerly. "You know, that really fuckin' hurts on stone."

"Well, I'm not apologizing for it." As Inuyasha settled back into a crouch, still growling, Kagome dug around through her textbooks, pulled out a geography book, and flipped to a world map, albeit a small one. When she found the page she was looking for, she thrust the book at Inuyasha, who glanced at it and shrugged. "That," she said, stabbing the illustration with her index finger, "is Japan. And that," the pointed to another section of the map, "is Greece."

"Doesn't look that far..."

"It's THOUSANDS of KILOMETERS!"

He sent Kagome a blank look. "So? How long's a kilometer?"

"Inuyasha, we probably travel roughly... sixteen or eighteen kilometers a day. Sometimes more, but usually it's about that much."

He blinked, mentally working the math.

"And let's not even talk about the water," Kagome added.

"I get it," he said grudgingly.

Teles sat quietly, listening to the exchange. In her heart, she knew the priestess was right -- Inuyasha could not go. Not only because of the distance, but because Hera needed no excuse to kill a second demon -- even if he was only half-demon. "I... I could not ask you to go," she said. No matter how badly I want you to go and drag him back to me...

"I wouldn't be goin' just because you asked me to," he responded gruffly.

"You're not going," Kagome interjected. When Inuyasha rolled his eyes, she added, "You're staying here, like you promised."

He leaned over, coming face to face with Kagome. "All right, all right," he growled. Standing and turning back towards the bed, he folded his arms over his chest, dropping down into a cross-legged position by the futon. "I shoulda just followed him," he grumbled.

Kagome's lips pressed into a line. Right. Followed him so you could both get killed. Stellar plan.

As the two argued, Teles tried to relax, pulling the coverlet up around her. She found herself trying very hard not to think about what Hera could do to Sesshoumaru, were she so inclined. For a moment, she allowed the realization wash around her. She was human, stripped of her immortality. She didn't like it -- she ached and was inundated with strange, unfamiliar sensations. But, worst of all, it was permanent. "I could have told him, if he had stayed," she murmured, her eyes going to a far spot on the wall.

Inuyasha shook his head. "He said he wasn't willing to find out if there was a time limit."

"He's a damned fool," she said, her throat tightening. Inuyasha nodded once in complete agreement. "I've told him about my people. I told him--" Panic clutched at her again and she closed her eyes, shaking her head.

Shrugging, Inuyasha's eyes found the middle distance. "Youkai get kinda crazy where their mates are concerned."

Kagome swallowed, trying to think of something remotely positive to say. "He'll come back, Teles. He's..." She paused. Yes, Sesshoumaru was a very powerful youkai, but against a goddess? Not only that, but one of the more unpleasant goddesses in the Greek pantheon? What was there to say? Kagome cleared her throat. "Sesshoumaru is very resourceful." Very good -- and you managed to sound remotely convincing. Also a plus.

Closing her eyes, Teles replied dully, "He has to come back." He simply has to -- that blasted youkai has no choice in the matter. He must come back. Anything else is--

At that moment, the tiny hanyou in her womb gave a kick, which, by youkai and hanyou standards, was somewhat on the weak side. On the other hand, the movement was much more intense than the mere flutter that would have come from a human child. The pup shifted restlessly in the womb, moving roughly against the walls that cradled him, creating a sensation that was not altogether pleasant for his mother.

Swearing violently, Teles winced, squeezing her eyes tightly shut until little bursts of color appeared behind her eyelids.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Inuyasha asked, lowering his eyebrows.

"I... don't know," Teles grunted. She placed her hands on her stomach, trying to figure out the location of the problem. "He just... "

Kagome's eyes widened slightly. "It's not... you're not going to... have it, are you?"

Flipping his ears forward, Inuyasha shook his head. "Nah. Sounds like he's just movin' around in there."

"It -- OW!" the woman yelped. "Didn't... feel like that before."

"You... were probably immune to it before," Kagome suggested. "If you didn't feel things the same way, then it makes sense that you didn't feel the baby either."

Inuyasha blinked. "Well, that sucks."

Teles felt the child move again and grit her teeth in response. "Oh gods, it... FUCK!" The sensation passed, leaving her breathing heavily, her brow doused with sweat. She slowly ran her hands across her stomach in what she prayed was a soothing motion. "Please, little one," she breathed. "You are displeased. I am as well." After a few seconds, her shoulders sagged as the child settled. "Ah, thank you." She glanced up at the other two; Inuyasha was watching her with an expression of horrified fascination while Kagome wore an expression that made clear she had no intention of having children. Ever.

"Uh, he calm down?" Inuyasha asked.

When Teles nodded slowly, Kagome cleared her throat, speaking up. "Do you think he might... feel your anxiety?"

"I suppose it is possible."

Inuyasha seemed somewhat surprised at this. "Really?" On the one hand, he wasn't entirely comfortable with the conversation, but he could not help but be awed a bit by the fact that there was a child -- a pup -- right there. His amazement overruled any squeamishness he might have felt.

Kagome shrugged. "I don't really know much about babies -- especially hanyou pups -- but... it kinda makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, he's... in there. And he's moving..."

A thoughtful expression on his face, he nodded. "Yeah, I guess so." Gods, did I put my mother through that?

Blinking, Teles looked at Kagome. "Hanyou." She was quiet for a moment. "Yes, he would be hanyou now, wouldn't he?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha replied stiffly, looking away. He folded his arms and lowered his eyes to the floor, preparing himself for the woman's disdain, disappointment, or disgust.

"I had not considered that," she said softly, her eyes still on the rounded stomach. She mused thoughtfully for a moment, her body slowly relaxing again. Her eyes flitted to Inuyasha. "The child, then... will be... like you."

Amber eyes never lifted from the floor as he gave a brisk nod. After an impossibly long silence, he glanced up at Teles, mildly surprised to see her watching him with a small half-smile on her lips. "I'll help it," he said quietly.

"Help it?" Teles asked.

Kagome turned her attention to the geography book still in her lap. She almost felt as though she were intruding on the conversation. While she already knew that Inuyasha's youth had not been easy, it was still hard to think about -- even harder to hear him talk about. She ground her teeth as tears pricked traitorously at her vision.

He shrugged. "Not youkai, not human. I understand it."

After a brief pause, she nodded once. "Thank you."

He moved his shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. "It can be hard sometimes," he explained, his eyes trained on a non-existent spot on the far wall. Don't want the kid to go through what I did.

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome and felt a quick lance of pain go through his chest as he saw the wetness clinging to her dark lashes. "Dammit, do you cry over every damn thing?"

"I'm not crying," Kagome replied quickly. "You know, I think Sango and Miroku are back. I'll go tell them Teles is awake." She pushed herself off of the futon and hurried from the room.

"Riiiiight," Inuyasha drawled at her retreating back.

Teles watched the young priestess leave. "She feels everything very deeply, doesn't she?"

"Tell me about it," he muttered. Kagome's tears always seemed to pierce him, whether he liked it or not.

"I do not understand how she stands it."

A wry grin curled his lips. "She likes to yell at me a lot. That seems to help."

Shaking her head, Teles regarded him. "Human emotions are... overwhelming. They're..." she stopped, contemplating her words. "I felt before, but... not like THIS. Every one of them seem to surge up inside of me, battling with each other. It is... frightening."

"I'm not sure I'm the one to talk to about feelings. I usually don't."

She gave a small shrug. "Perhaps that is the way to go. I don't like them. I can't seem to control them."

After a moment, Inuyasha frowned thoughtfully. "I don't like 'em either, but you... get used to them."

"I suppose I have no choice but to get used to them." A sudden yawn disrupted her words.

"Sounds like it," he said, looking at her. "Y'know, I used to think bein' human was the worst."

A wry, if exhausted grin curled at her lips. "I'm inclined to agree with you."

"But..." he continued, looking down at the ground, "it's kinda somethin' you gotta get used to."

Green eyes blinked slowly, struggling to stay open. "How do you know?"

Inuyasha gave a small bark of a laugh. "You'll hafta trust me on this one." He paused for a moment, choosing his words. "It doesn't completely suck." He watched as she yawned again, rubbing sleepily at her eyes. A small grin formed. "Maybe you should take a nap."

Teles nodded, pulling the covers up. "That is probably," she yawned again suddenly, "a good idea." Settling, she rolled onto her side, watching through half-closed lids as Sesshoumaru's brother stood and walked slowly toward the door. A sudden random thought flitted through her mind as she fought against encroaching slumber. "Inu...yasha?"

He paused, his hand on the doorjamb. "Yeah?"

Another yawn cracked her jaw. "When Sesshoumaru returns, please... beat him within an inch of his life for taking off like he did? I believe I'm quite angry with him."

A grin lit his lips. "You bet." I knew there was a reason I liked you.