InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Peace Treaty ❯ Love Letter ( Chapter 25 )

Morning drills at Nantai took place early, were loud, and happened to be located in a yard near the room which housed no-longer-sleeping Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

 

“This place is noisy,” she mumbled. He started tracing gentle patterns on her scalp, causing her to settle deeper into his arms. “Mmm. If I was cat, I'd purr. What's that rumbly sound you make in your chest that sounds so feline?”

 

“Not all growls are threatening; some indicate contentment. I've got to get up soon,” he said with resignation. “Inspections are an extensive undertaking.”

 

“I've a little headache…how do they make that liquor?”

 

“Just a little one? You drank your fair share last night. They use whatever is available that can be distilled.”

 

“I think I'll be fine once I get up. What am I supposed to do today?”

 

“What do you want to do?”

 

“I want…to stay in bed with you,” she said, running her palm along his bare chest.

 

His large hand enclosed hers. “Kagome, you have the most inconvenient sense of timing.” He quickly left the bed, before doing so became impossible. Nothing would have him shirking his responsibilities, he thought. Even an amorous mate…whom he hadn't touched in days. He hurriedly donned clothes and rushed out of the room, ignoring the urge to climb back under the covers and get between her legs.

 

Kagome watched him leave. Maybe he doesn't really like me after all, she thought sadly.

 

XXXXX

 

“And I have another friend, one you didn't meet last night.” Yukika was showing Kagome around, visiting some of the females to whom she was introduced at dinner. “She just had a pup a couple of weeks ago, but he's not doing well.”

 

“Oh? What's wrong with him?” Kagome asked with concern.

 

“No one knows. He cries all the time and isn't growing, if anything he's getting thinner. My friend, Mihoko is her name, is afraid he'll die.”

 

“Yukika, I'm trained in midwifery. I'd be happy to have a look at him,” Kagome said.

 

“Let me go talk to her first. She's weepy all the time and doesn't like anyone coming by. Understandably, of course. Keeps saying she's failing as a mother.”

 

They parted ways. It had snowed heavily the night before, and everywhere Youkai were shoveling. Kagome heard the sound of children at play and followed it into a side yard. There was a group of very young Youkai males having a snowball fight with their female counterparts. The females were sorely outnumbered. Kagome couldn't help herself. She ran to the embankment behind which the little females were hiding. “Want some help?” They looked at her first with confusion, then with joy when they realized she was serious. Kagome quickly formed a snowball, threw, and hit the largest male full in the face. She threw two more in a row, giving the other females the courage to rejoin the fight. Their play soon turned into a take-no-prisoners battle, all participants screaming and covered in snow, Kagome included. She couldn't remember the last time she had had such fun. Finally a truce was declared, and the males ran over, curious to see this interloper with the wicked arm. Soon they all had her throwing at different targets, testing her aim.

 

“Try to hit the tree next to the smithy!”

 

“Can you hit a moving target? Get that wagon as it goes by!”

 

“The stable door!”

 

“The stable door? That's kind of far away,” Kagome said doubtfully, “but I'll try.” She gathered a large amount of snow and packed it tightly. Taking aim, she launched, but missed the door and, instead, hit Sesshoumaru, who happened to be exiting the building at that moment, on the side of the face. He recovered from his shock after a moment and looked toward the children, instantly zeroing in on Kagome. “Oh shit,” she whimpered. Kagome spun and ran in the opposite direction. In seconds he caught up and roughly threw her over his shoulder. “It was an accident! I'm sorry!” she shrieked. “Oh gods, don't hurt me!”

 

He swatted her bottom. “Silence.” He marched to the nearest heap of shoveled snow and abruptly dumped her on top. The snow was loose, and she sank down so that most of her was buried. Her arms and legs flailed about, trying to find a purchase with which to pull herself up.

 

“Dammit, Sesshoumaru! I'm stuck. Help me the hell up.” She cleared the snow away from her face enough to see a highly entertained Sesshoumaru looming above. He laughed softly at her predicament and offered his hand to her. She grabbed it, but instead of letting herself to be drawn up, she hooked a foot around his knee, taking advantage of his awkward, bent-over posture, and pulled him into the snow with her. He landed heavily, half next-to, half on her, laughing in a rich baritone, a laugh so honest, so unguarded, a sound so appealing, that Kagome effortlessly suppressed her urge to gloat and, instead, laid her hands on either side of his face on kissed him hard on the mouth.

 

Sesshoumaru was surprised; of all the events of the past half minute, this was the least anticipated, but the most longed-for. “I guess I should heave you into a snow bank more often.”

 

Kagome shook her head lightly. “No, you should laugh more often.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, but without the spontaneous urgency. This time she kissed him slowly, deeply, with passion and tenderness that he returned eagerly. Their tongues touched briefly, and they paused, looking into each other's eyes, reconnecting. Suddenly the snowball-throwing, screaming ruffians piled on top of them. Sesshoumaru groaned, thwarted yet again. He shielded Kagome from the assault with his body.

 

“I see you've met the local urchins,” Shiratori's voice called out. “Alright, you lot, allow his Lordship and his mate their freedom.” The children slowly scrambled off the pile. Sesshoumaru stood and pulled Kagome up, brushing off as much as possible.

 

“Duty calls. I'll see you soon,” he said quietly, smoothing her wild, wet hair. She looked up at him, full of hope, yet fearful. The walls she had erected around her heart would not go down so easily.

 

XXXXX

 

“Lady Kagome, this is my friend, Mihoko.”

 

The Youkai was obviously part Ningen, Kagome thought. There were easily discernable differences, such as the almost rounded ears. But there was also something else, and Kagome could only describe it as a slightly less ethereal quality. “Hello, Mihoko. It's nice to meet you.”

 

“Yukika said you may be able to help us.” She sniffed loudly, looking nearly in tears. “Please, Lady Kagome, I'll do anything. I'm so afraid.”

 

Kagome smiled gently. “May I see him?” She was handed the tiny, sleeping pup. He was much smaller than chubby Ichirou.

 

“What's his name?”

 

“Seki.”

 

Kagome smoothed his dark hair. “How old is he?”

 

“Two weeks, tomorrow.”

 

“And has he gotten any bigger since birth?”

 

“No. He's thinner. Lady Kagome, he's my first. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.” She was openly crying now. “Please, I love him so much, but no matter what I do…”

 

“Mihoko, I'm sure you're doing everything you can. Don't blame yourself. How was the birth, any problems?”

 

She wiped her eyes. “Well, it hurt like anything, but he seemed so fine.”

 

Kagome peeked under the blanket. He was much too thin. He wouldn't survive the winter like this. “How well does he nurse?”

 

“He sucks for a long time, but always seems so hungry. My breasts never feel like he's emptied them. I started squeezing with my hand and draining milk into a bowl. Then I give it to him with a small cup. Most of it ends up all over him, but I know some makes it down.”

 

Kagome unwrapped the blanket to wake him up. “Let me see him feed.” Mihoko put the crying pup to her breast. He immediately quieted and started to suck, but quickly pulled off and howled. “Try him again.” Mihoko complied, with similar results. Kagome took him back and tickled his mouth with her fingertip. He immediately latched on, sucking vigorously, then cried with frustration. Kagome looked into his mouth and felt around with her finger. “Oh no wonder, he's tongue-tied, poor babe.”

 

Mihoko looked relieved that there was a thing that could be named, but apprehensive. “Tongue-tied?”

 

“The bit of his tongue that goes to the bottom of his mouth is too short. You can feel it on yourself, that flappy part. It's not common. I've only seen it once before, and Seki is much worse. He can't stick his tongue out far enough to effectively suck milk. He's probably getting a little, but nothing near like what he needs. It's a good thing you've been draining yourself and cup feeding him. It's probably the only thing that's kept him alive and your milk supply going. You've got very good instincts.”

 

“Is there anything that can be done?”

 

“I can cut that little flap. That should completely fix things, though I'll be honest with you, Mihoko. I've never done it before, not even seen it done. But it isn't a complicated process, and I'm quite certain it would be successful.”

 

“Please, Lady Kagome, do whatever you think will help him.” Mihoko hopefully clutched Yukika's hand.

 

“Alright,” Kagome smiled. “Unfortunately my own knife is far too big for his tiny mouth. The infirmary where I trained had many different-sized knives, some very small, but our challenge is to find a suitable one here.” Kagome thought a moment and had an idea. She glanced at Mihoko and Yukika's hands. “I'll be right back.” She returned Seki to his mother and left.

 

XXXXX

 

Sesshoumaru had almost completed inspections, a task he couldn't finish soon enough. He was pleased with the state of the troops of the outposts. For all the uproarious boisterousness of the night before, the soldiers were highly disciplined. The problem was the winter storm that was threatening to blow in from the west. He had consulted with Shiratori and decided it was better to leave unexpectedly, rather than risk getting stranded. The possibility of being absent when the three Houses arrived at the stronghold was unacceptable. He suddenly smelled Kagome as he was entering the armory.

 

“Sesshoumaru, can I borrow you for a few minutes?”

 

“Can it wait? I've almost finished. And as soon as I'm done, we're leaving. There's a storm on its way, and we need to get going within an hour. Gather your things, but only what you can carry. We're leaving the horses here and travelling by air.”

 

“But…it's important. I wouldn't ask otherwise.”

 

He sighed impatiently. “And what, exactly, is so critical?”

 

“A pup's life,” she said matter-of-factly.

 

“What are you talking about?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

 

She picked up his hand and examined his claws. “Would you mind if I filed one? It needs to be razor sharp. Mihoko doesn't really have any. I suppose because she's part Ningen, and Yukika's don't look long enough.”

 

“Miko, your requests become more vexing every day. What—”

 

“Just come find me when you're finished. I'll be in the married soldiers' dormitories.”

 

Sesshoumaru was sufficiently satisfied with the state of the armory that he didn't linger long. Crossing the main yard toward the residences, he contemplated what a pup could possibly have to do with the sharpness of his claws. He followed Kagome's scent and found her easily, but was unprepared for what he saw. She was standing next to a window, cradling a pup, whispering and cooing to him. He pictured her holding their own offspring, and almost growled with pleasure. He noticed Shiratori's daughter and an anxious Youkai female bowing to him and, remembering his position, nodded toward them.

 

Kagome looked up. “Oh good, you're here. Sesshoumaru, Mihoko's pup has a feeding problem I intend to fix.” She handed the pup to his mother and picked up a whetstone. After washing his hand, she honed a claw, testing the edge by lightly scoring the palm of her hand. She ignored Sesshoumaru's quizzical expression while she worked. “Someone needs to hold him down, and someone else needs to keep his head absolutely still.”

 

Mihoko laid her son on a pillow. “Will it hurt?”

 

“It won't feel good, but at his age, it shouldn't be too bad. The cut will be small. He'll certainly cry from being restrained, but I'll be quick.”

 

Seki started to fuss when he was confined, then screamed when Kagome forced his mouth open. She held Sesshoumaru's hand in hers and, guiding his finger, used the sharp claw to cut the bottom of the pup's tongue. The screaming increased in pitch, and Mihoko had tears streaming down her face. Kagome quickly let go of Sesshoumaru's hand and gently touched a pink glowing fingertip to the incision. Seki immediately quieted, and Mihoko picked him up.

 

“Try nursing now.” Kagome watched the pup feed. “That looks better. See how his tongue is peeking out? Make sure it stays like that. He's got some ground to make up. Nurse him every time he opens his mouth. I'm not exaggerating. Your milk supply will take a couple days to catch up with his needs. And make sure he empties a breast before you switch sides. The milk that comes out at the beginning of a feeding takes care of thirst. That which comes out later is thicker; it satisfies hunger. He needs both. I wish I could check on you two in a few days, but I'm told we need to leave. I think though, judging from the way his mouth looks, things will be okay.”

 

Mihoko watched as her pup sucked peacefully. “It's so much better! He's usually crying by now. Lady Kagome, I don't know how to thank you.”

 

“You don't need to, but you're welcome,” she smiled. “And just think, when he's grown he can say the Lord of West saved his life.” They all suddenly remembered Sesshoumaru's presence, though Mihoko was too happy to be embarrassed by her nearly topless state.

 

“Kagome, we should go.” Sesshoumaru had seldom been allowed access to this most private of female domains, and he felt sorely out of place. As they walked back across the main yard, he asked, “What would have happened if nothing had been done?”

 

“His mother was getting a little into him, but not enough. He never would have thrived. He would have stayed thin, vulnerable to illness, and in this harsh clime…” She shook her head. “I doubt he would have seen his first birthday.”

 

He stared at her fondly. “You're amazing.”

 

“I'm just happy to help.”

 

They entered their room and quickly ate the light meal that had been set out. “Wear all the clothes you have. It will be very cold. I've got some furs you can wrap around yourself. We'll have no problem beating the storm if we leave soon and should make it into the forest before it gets very late.”

 

“Do I have time to bathe?” she asked hopefully.

 

“No.” He paused. “But…I know of a cave with a hot spring. It's out of the way, but since we're leaving early, the time can be spared. We'll camp there tonight.”

 

“A cave with a hot spring? I was just hoping for a basin of tepid water. A hot spring sounds heavenly.” She couldn't believe her luck.

 

“Pack some food for yourself. If it's raining, you won't have a fire. We can light a brazier in the cave, but anything more is too smoky. Meet me in the yard in a few minutes.”

 

They left Nantai just as it started to snow.

 

XXXXX

 

Kagome was alone in the cave, exploring.

 

A half hour earlier, they had arrived at the destination without any problems, though they were both wet and cold. The cave opening was small and hidden, and led into a much larger chamber. Kagome asked how he knew of it, and he replied that he and Kintaro spent their youths running amok in Yamanashi Forest, and the cave was one in which they camped frequently while on patrol. Sesshoumaru had smelled Youkai in the area and went to investigate, leaving her with strict instructions not to get lost. Kagome had fired the brazier and spread her furs and skins out to dry. The inside of the cave was cool, but a lot warmer than the air outside. There was a neat pile of what looked like household items near the entrance. She found blankets and furs, bottles of wine, cups, another brazier, and several candles. She lit a candle and wandered.

 

She went down a passage that branched off the first chamber. As she followed, the smell of minerals became stronger. It opened into a huge low cavern, and, though the candle gave off little light, Kagome could tell this must be the hot spring. She stepped down into the chamber. It looked like a small underground lake, and she saw cave features hanging from the ceiling that resembled stony icicles. Despite the fact she was deep underground, she felt in an entirely unearthly place, so unseen, so untouched. It was silent and placid and dark, as though she had entered a giant womb. She sat at the edge of the water, wanting to test the temperature, but couldn't bring herself to disturb the perfectly still surface of the water.

 

There was a small ledge along the side, which appeared to have objects strewn on it. She crawled over and found a shirt, some coins, a key, and a knife. Under the shirt was a piece of parchment. Kagome gently unfolded it. The paper was old and heavily creased, like it had been reread many times.

 

My dearest Taro, it began. You have been gone two weeks, though by the time your eyes see these words, it will have been close to three. I'm running out of baubles and ribbons with which to bribe the courier to spirit my letters to you. Thank the gods he is courting a stubborn girl; if she accepts him, he may no longer need payment in trinkets. These longest, loneliest days of my life have seen me confined to a room on the first floor. I told my parents I would prefer death rather than face a life without you by me, and I would defenestrate myself if they forced us apart.

 

I know how it distresses you to hear about strife between me and my family, but please don't blame yourself. And I hope you trust I won't hurt myself, at least I won't before I can kiss you one last time.

 

Fortunately I think I may be sensing cracks in their armor, and an important development occurred yesterday. Sesshoumaru returned from the South; he'd been gone so long. I told him I was in love and Mother and Father were being so awfully unfair and asked if he would support me. He acted ignorant and said I must have found the bravest or the most foolish Youkai on Earth. That he'd have to be in order to put up with me, but if I had managed to secure the affection of such an individual, he wouldn't deign to stand in our way. He's always so serious; sometimes I forget he has a sense of humor. So much had happened since he left last year, but he knew it was you to whom I had tied my heart.

 

Taro, he's happy for us! I knew he would be. The irony is that my parents are so confident Sesshoumaru will take their side. I know him better than they. Blood is important, but some things are more so. To have someone precious, someone to protect, someone to love. I know he understands. I pray one day my brother will have her.

 

Gina sends her kind regards. She hopes my parents relent and you return from your self-imposed banishment soon. My sighing and moping are chipping at her nerves. I must tell you of the trick I played on Mother. I was visiting with Gina in the infirmary when she entered. I know she was there to spy on me. She thinks she's so sly, but I swear, at times she's as unsubtle as my father. Well, I started pointing at various herbs and asking Gina, loudly, how great a portion one would need to ingest before eliciting a fatal reaction. Hypothetically, of course. Mother didn't find it funny.

 

She is beside herself actually. Gina has spoken in the past of her wish to remain unmated. My parents accounted it to her peculiar independent streak, but she recently told them the truth. They were disappointed, mostly because they fear her eventual loneliness, but they agreed to abide, for now. Poor Mother. I'd feel sorry for her, if I were less angry. But I am angry. My parents and the rest of the world that seeks to deny me happiness can go to hell.

 

Kintaro, my love, I miss you so much. I feel the hurt will never go away, that I'll never be normal again. I so fervently wish that you were with me, to talk, to kiss, but mainly to simply be. I think of when you were here, before you left, when I couldn't keep my hands off you. And now all I want is to breathe the same air as you. I lie in bed at night, arms empty, and fear I'll go mad. I replay in my mind all the kisses, all the caresses. I try my best to conjure you, to imagine you next to me, but I'm too selfish; only the corporeal you will suffice.

 

The thought of separation, of your absence has become a torture. I can only trust that one day, soon, we will be together again. It must be. Me without you…you without me…it is intolerable. There is no existence without you. Until that day and ever after, dearest, I am yours, body and soul. Sumiko

 

Tears clouded her vision. Kagome knew they were eventually allowed to mate and be happy. Then she remembered they were dead. How tragic, she thought, wiping her eyes. She refolded the letter, tucked it inside her shirt, and picked up the candle.

 

Hurrying out of the cave into the cold forest, she hoped Sesshoumaru would return to her soon. She stood, statue still, peering out into the misty gloam. Then she saw, a silvery figure appearing from the darkness like a ghost, and she almost wept from the beauty of him. She ran and threw herself at him.

 

Catching her, he said with alarm, “Kagome, you're upset. What's wrong?”

 

She sniffed back tears and circled his shoulders with her arms. “Is it true, then? We can be together? Be happy together?” she whispered into the side of his neck.

 

He stroked the back of her head, then drew back, looking at her seriously. “Kagome, I can't be happy without you.” He brushed their tangled hair out of her face. “Kagome, I—”

 

She pressed her lips against his mouth to keep the words from forming. “Don't say it if you don't mean it,” she pleaded.

 

He spoke softly, deliberately. “I love you.”