InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Persistence ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

My answer to Chapter 17 reviews: *shrug* This fic may end up longer than I had anticipated while I think about some comments and suggestions (and plot twists). I won't COMPLETELY cater to everyone's thoughts and suggestions but I *do* take them into consideration.

 

I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters except Jirou and Takeshi. All Star Trek references are for humor only and I have no association with the brain child that is Gene Roddenberry who is orbiting our great planet as I type this.

 

The rating of this fic has changed to M due to later chapters (yes, my pets, that DOES mean there will be a lemon sometime in the future!).

 

 

Chapter 18

 

Jirou walked into the room as Takeshi turned from the window and growled.  He had over-heard some of their conversation in the hallway and noted the sounds coming from the gathering outside and snorted.  "Why do you care?  She is a miko and can't produce full demon offspring anyway." 

 

Takeshi flopped down on a cushion and rested his chin on his fist, his brows twisted into a scowl.  "Then why is Sesshomaru pursuing her?  He must know something we do not about the girl.  That or he's simply a fool."

"Probably the latter," Jirou muttered.  "Following in his father's footsteps no doubt."

"That that still doesn't explain why he is risking his title by pursuing her.  She's just some priestess - I thought he'd be smarter than to choose her of all people.  If he mates her, he can't have a full blooded off spring and he'll have to give up his title anyway."

 

"Because he's foolish and stupid.  Why do you think I didn't object when he said he was going to court her?  She's still a human and, since she's a miko, there's no way her body would conceive a half-demon child; maybe we'll get lucky and she'll purify him during the act."  Jirou sat back in a luxurious over-stuffed chair, sucking gently on a thick, stout pipe.  Smoke curled around his head and snaked over his shoulders.  Takeshi nodded at his father's words but remained skeptical.  Everything he knew about miko and demon interactions was challenged by his cousin's behaviour.  Sesshomaru was widely known for his keen knowledge of the laws and customs of demon living - so why would he so blatantly disregard them?  Something didn't sit right with Takeshi.

 

 

---000---

 

 

Sesshomaru pretended to listen to the men discussing foreign affairs while he worked on the arm of one of them.  Shin and Li were two Chinese business men he knew through Saiko.  She had been taking notes at a meeting that her boss was having with Shin and Li.  Afterword she overheard them talking about tattoos and mentioned Eternal Ink, Sesshomaru's shop.  They both had scheduled appointments one after the other late Thursday afternoon.  Ignoring their conversation, Sesshomaru's mind meandered to tonight's concert.  He had resolved the night she called him that he would confess his feelings tonight.  He had brought along a change of clothes since it would take too long to go back to his apartment and then get back to Hakuju Hall by 7:00pm.  He finished with Li shortly after 6:00pm, bid the men safe travels, and cleaned up.  He glanced up at the clock above the door and saw that it was 6:30pm already.  Cursing under his breath not so quietly, he hollered to Shiori to lock up.  Shiori heard him from the front of the shop and began to laugh while shaking her head.  "He's got it bad.  B-A-D."

 

 

---000---

 

 

Kagome stepped off of the train four blocks from Hakuju Hall.  Her stomach was doing Cirque du Soleil acrobatics and she knew a short walk would be good to calm her nerves.  Since her phone conversation with him, Kagome had been even more preoccupied with thoughts of Sesshomaru.  How should she word her question when she asked him when he would finally ask her?  What will he do?  She glanced at her watch, noting that it was 6:53pm and quickened her pace to cover the last block between her and the concert hall.  Various groups of people made their way into the building.  Her eyes scanned the entry way but she saw no indication that he was there yet; no flashes of silvery white, no tall demon god waiting for her.  She decided to wait patiently just inside the main lobby area.

 

 

---000---

 

 

Golden eyes tracked her every movement once she stepped foot over the threshold like a predator stalking its prey.  Excitement pumped through his veins and he felt like he did 500 years ago when he followed her in the woods the time he accompanied her to the well.  So innocent, unsuspecting, and naive yet so powerful - and she had no idea.  If what he had discovered worked, she would bear strong, full demon pups.  A young man walked past Kagome and looked her up and down.  Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and his nose twitched just slightly.  Gracefully he made his way over to her, feeling the need to be near her and scare off any other males for tonight he was staking his claim on her.

 

Kagome ignored the boy that ogled her as he walked by.  The longer she stood, clutching her too-small-to-be-useful purse, the more anxious she was to see him.  She tried to look past the people coming through the double doors to see if he was out there.  While she was craning her neck to look out the door she heard a rustling and looked down to find a beautiful and fragrant bouquet of red and yellow tulips being offered from her left.  She followed the arm up to the man it was connected to and smiled; Sesshomaru smiled back.

 

"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady," he said, nodding slightly.  Kagome took the small bouquet of flowers from him and sniffed them gently.  She laughed when she got too close and her nose brushed against one of the cool, soft petals.

 

"Thank you, they're very nice," she said, blushing.  He offered her his arm as he did in the past and she, as usual, linked her arm with his as he led them toward the concert hall.  Sesshomaru handed her one of the two tickets and she looked at him with a confused expression.  The tickets were under my name so how did he get them?  Oh well, no matter.  It turned out that Li Chang had received some spectacular seats as they found themselves comfortably seated 5 rows back from the stage.  The seats were incredibly comfortable and capable of reclining back.

 

Sesshomaru watched her out of the corner of his eye as she brought the flowers to her nose again, eyes closing as she took in their scent.  Something in his soul had bloomed when she graciously took the bouquet from him; a feeling of acceptance.  He didn't think she knew the Victorian-era meaning of giving red and yellow tulips but knew that, by the time the night was over, she most definitely would know. 

 

The stage was set up with an array of instruments with dark scarlet pillows scattered about the floor for the performers.  Gamelan instruments were arranged along the front with two drums settled in the middle area and a tall structure holding several different sized gongs towering over it all from the back.  As time inched by, more people were seated and the room echoed gently with hushed whispers and murmurs.  Sesshomaru glanced at the two-page program that had been handed to him when they were ushered to their seats.  Several names were listed with the corresponding instrument that they would be playing and how long they had been with the performance group.  Turning the page, he saw that one man would be playing the antique Tibetan singing bowls.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kagome likewise looking at the program.  Her eyes held barely contained excitement as she read over everything on the two pages.

 

"Have you ever been to a Gamelan or Tibetan Singing Bowl performance,” he asked.  She turned toward him armed with a radiant and excited smile.

 

"No, I haven't.  Have you?"  Before he could speak she made a soft noise and laughed. 

 

"What am I saying?  Of course you have at your age."  Sesshomaru smirked and let out a gentle chuckle.

 

"I am quite familiar with the Tibetan Singing Bowls but have not heard Gamelan played. Like you, this will be my first experience." 

 

"Well, I'm glad we're getting to share this first."  He returned her intense gaze but turned away as the house lights dimmed and the stage lights brightened.  One of a long lifetime of firsts his mind purred.

 

The Gamelan performers were introduced by a portly man wearing black slacks and a black turtle neck. He gave a short history of Gamelan and told the audience that the set they would be playing on tonight was over 100 years old. Sesshomaru and Kagome exchanged glances and shared a secret smirk, knowing that there was something - no, someone - older than that in the room. The man held up Tingshas, bringing them together and allowing the pitch to traverse the room, resounding off the walls.

 

The performance began with a rather upbeat piece called “Kebogiro”. The pair sat side-by-side in their comfortable reclining theatre chairs, listening intently to the beautiful music. The pieces ranged from quick and upbeat to mainly of drums, and rhythmic pieces that had Kagome softly tapping her feet. The last piece they performed was a mix of upbeat and slow paced rhythm with a beautiful woodwind part that sounded like a bird calling out to its mate in the forest.

 

Kagome had her head resting against the back of her chair, her eyes closed and a soft smile spread across her lips as she listened. Sesshomaru felt a pull inside of him to lean over and kiss her soft lips - but it wouldn't be appropriate. Instead, he reached over with his left hand and covered her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. Her head rolled to the side and her eyes cracked open slightly to look at him. Sesshomaru froze when she turned her head, afraid she might scowl and rip her hand away from his. Instead she smiled at him as if giving him assurance that it was okay. A blush floated across her cheeks and she turned her head back with her eyes closed. Sesshomaru sighed but was unable to stop watching her out of the corner of his eye. The peaceful and happy expression on her face made him want to stomp up onto the stage when the performers ceased the last song and command that they continue. Instead he watched her sigh, her chest rising and falling in a delectable way.

 

A few short minutes later the Gamelan performers had cleared their instruments and cushions, allowing room for the multitude of Tibetan Singing Bowls to be arranged around a single flat cushion for the performer. Kagome watched two women arrange what looked like several different sizes of copper bowls. How could these bowls make music she thought to herself, enraptured by the mysticism of this new form of music.

 

To be honest, she was really trying to distract herself from the pale, slender fingers that were currently wrapped around her own. She had closed her eyes to heighten the experience of the music when she felt warm, smooth but strong fingers interweave her own. Surprised, Kagome chose to play it cool and wait to see what happened. I was so scared he was going to kiss me. She found herself looking over at him to see why he hadn't and remarked upon the intense and adoring gaze he was sending her way. It was so strong that she blushed, wondering what in the world he could be thinking at the moment. They hadn't really had much physical interaction at all - unless you counted him grabbing her face and catching her from almost drowning herself in the Koi pond.

 

Kagome was jerked from her thoughts when the first tones resonated from the bowls and reached her body. She could feel each and every bong, ting, and dong expand and flourish over and through her. It felt as if the resonating tones of the bowls were aligning with her soul. Sesshomaru gently squeezed her hand after noticing her aura suddenly spike in an unfamiliar way. Her body was relaxing in pleasant ways, he noted, feeling her aura change into extreme relaxation and happiness. She was enjoying herself. The tones were a bit much for his hearing abilities but pleasant nevertheless. Kagome felt pleasantly lost during the performance; she felt as one with the world.

 

The audience applauded politely as the performers took to the stage at the end.  The house lights illuminated and people began leaving their seats, Kagome and Sesshomaru also standing, their hands still joined.  They casually walked out of Hakuju hall among the throngs of civilians in companionable silence.

 

"I will give you a ride home," he said more than asked as they walked down the steps and she nodded.  They walked a few blocks to the where his car was parked.  Looking up, Kagome wished that they were in the feudal era so that they could see the stars; the pollution of modern Tokyo covered the sky, creating an eerie yellowish glow that prevented anyone from seeing the sparkling beauty of the heavens.  Their footsteps slowed as they neared his car, each hesitating and wanting to choose the perfect time to blurt their thoughts and feelings.  Kagome stopped first, her purse clutched in one hand and the other held in his.  She smiled and looked up at him.

 

"I had a very good time tonight.  Thank you for accompanying me to the concert."

"The pleasure was all mine," he said, looking back down at her.  He took a single red tulip from her bouquet, easily cut the stem short, and then placed it delicately behind her left ear. “You look very beautiful tonight, Kagome.” Again he hesitated, seemingly lost in her eyes.  Little did she know he was gathering his courage to tell her how he felt and has felt all these long years. 

 

All right, if he's not going to, I will she thought before she dropped her purse and reached her hand up.  She fisted her hand onto the collar of his button-up shirt and pulled him down to her level before leaning forward and catching his lips in a desperately passionate kiss.  After a millisecond of surprise passed over him, his right arm reflexively reached out and gently pulled her against him for the first time ever.  Having her pressed against him felt as good as he had always imagined it would.  Her lips were soft and pliant, pressed willfully against his own. The sweet tang of her lip balm floated into his nose and he felt a twinge of it on his own lips. Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears. Deep inside of her, a miniature Kagome jumped around and squealed with joy.

 

They reluctantly separated; his chin rested gently against her forehead and her hand slid down from his collar to pause against his chest.

 

"How long?"

"How long what?" he breathed above a whisper, relishing the feeling of having her against him.

"How long until you ask me to be your mate, Sesshomaru?"  He smiled at her question.  His right hand moved up from her waist to slip through her thick, black hair.

 

"I was thinking tonight would be a good time.  Would you agree?" he said.  She shivered, feeling his fingers pulling through her hair; the sensation caused goose pimples to form along her neck and back.

 

"Agree about tonight being a good night or are you asking if I agree to be your mate?" she murmured, her eyes closing to the sensations she was feeling running over her body.  His hand stopped roving through her hair and pulled gently on the strands, signaling her to look up.  She tilted her head back slightly and met his intense gaze.

 

"Kagome Higurashi, will you honor me and my ancestors by being my chosen mate and bearing the future Lord of the Western lands?"  Her eyes studied him for a few seconds contemplating, for perhaps the last time, her answer.  What am I thinking?!  I already know the answer!

 

"Yes, I would love t-," she responded before his lips covered her own.  A muffled noise passed through her nose but she soon gave in to his oral ministrations.  It started out needy and semi-rough then dissipated into a tender kiss which he broke, his lips lingering nanometers away from her own before he spoke.

"I decided after you called earlier this week that I would tell you tonight."

 

"Tell me what?" she said against his lips, her mind too fuzzy to understand what he was getting at.

 

"I have sought you out for centuries.  Of all of the allies and enemies I encountered, you were one that I desired to learn more about.  Your group's run-ins with me were not happenstance - I pursued you.  After the battle against Naraku was won, I decided that I would choose you to be my mate and Lady of the Western Lands. But you made the wish on the Shikon no Tama and disappeared down that annoying well."

 

Kagome considered all that he was saying while his hot breath coursed over her jaw and neck.  So when he was saying he wouldn't harm me, he didn't mean 'I wouldn't stoop to the level of harming a stupid human'; he meant it in a 'this is whom I choose to protect' type way?  Accompanying me to the well; asking about where I was from; protecting me during the battle; and listening to me ramble about what I had to decide about the jewel.

 

"I... I never realized that you felt that way about me.  I just thought you were curious," she replied, her fingers twiddling with the seam of his shirt, "but then Shiori told me about what all had happened and then Shippo sent me Rin's journal. That's when I found out the real reason for your curiosity."  She took a breath and leaned her body against his.  "At first I thought for sure you would never be interested in me to be your mate since I'm human and our baby would be half-demon and I would die long, long before you would."

 

"I would pursue you whether you lived 1000 more years or 10 more days.  Miyoga once told me about something Father had researched but was unable to test because of he and Izaiyo's sudden deaths.  I believe that he discovered a way to bind a human and demon's spirits so that their life spans would be tied together.  Father wrote it all in his journal which I found hidden in the castle library.  I have it at my apartment."  He pulled back from embracing her and looked down at her face. 

"Come to my apartment -"

"Whoa, down boy," she exclaimed.  He gave a deflated look.

"As I was saying... come to my apartment.  I've been studying my father's journal to try to decipher what seems to be like a mind meld."  Kagome looked sideways at him and grinned.

 

"Your dad was a Trekie fan eons before the show was created?"  He smirked

 

"Where do you think Gene Roddenberry got his idea for the Vulcans," he asked sarcastically.  She laughed and playfully scoffed.

 

"That explains the pointed ears, stoic disposition, and anal retentiveness when it came to logic and not showing emotions," she said.  Sesshomaru took a moment to consider her words before shrugging.

 

"Touché," he replied.  He felt proud that he had been the inspiration for a character on a wildly popular science fiction show.  If he hadn't been the piano student of Roddenberry's wife, Spoke and the Vulcan race would have turned out quite different.  Gene had been enamored with Sesshomaru when he had taken his lessons in their home for two years.  An inquisitive man, he asked Sesshomaru lots of questions.  Sesshomaru, too, found Roddenberry's curiosity interesting but sometimes overzealous.

 

"But... we would have hanyou children," she said, "and they wouldn't be able to rule.  Then Takeshi would challenge you and, although I'm sure it's unlikely, I don't like the idea of you getting hurt."

 

"That's where father's journal comes in.  I believe he found a way to combine, or meld, a demon's life span with that of a human's.  I found the journal by chance hidden in the castle library about 300 years ago.  I don't know how it's going to work because no demon has ever had an offspring with a Miko since they're traditionally enemies. Miyoga described Aura Melding as a ritual in which each being's aura possesses the other and they meld together, tying the life forces to one another. It looked like Father was planning on sharing his life span with Inuyasha's mother, Izaiyo.  He died before he got the chance to prove its success.”

 

Kagome thought about how much their father must have loved Izaiyo in order to do so much research and then how sorrowful it must have been to die before getting the chance. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go,” she said, letting go of his hand and jogging to the passenger side of the car.

 

 

---000---

 

 

Sesshomaru's apartment was a good 20 minute drive from Hakuju Hall. As they pulled away from the parking lot, rain droplets began to smatter the windshield. Hmmm, good timing Sesshomaru thought to himself though the idea of Kagome in damp clothes was a tempting prospect.

 

“Sesshomaru, I just realized something. What am I going to tell my family? This is practically marriage,” she said, worry obvious in her tone. Sesshomaru patted her hand gently and cracked a small smile.

 

“Already taken care of,” he said, his eyes flicking sideways to gauge her reaction.

 

“Taken care of?” she asked while raising an eyebrow. Hn, already taking on some of my attributes.

 

“I asked your grandfather and mother for permission to wed you the day I was at the shrine to return your cell phone,” he said airily.

 

“Hmmm… that sounds too planned,” she said, squinting at him. Sesshomaru grinned lopsidedly.

 

“I stole your cell phone so that I would have a legitimate reason to visit the shrine. I did legitimately forget to tell you about Suteki's birthday party though,” he admitted. They rode in silence for another minute.

 

“Well!? What did they say,” Kagome whined, frustrated with how he was toying with her. She knew her grandfather wasn't all too fond of demons but had lightened up with each time Inuyasha visited.

 

“Your mother was very open to my request. Your grandfather was not happy at first but when I reminded him that his lineage would be part of the Western Lord bloodline forever he gladly gave us his blessings.”

 

“Why did you wait so long to ask me, Sesshomaru? You do know you have a deadline, right?” Kagome was bewildered by Sesshomaru's confession. Why did he wait? Time was running out on him and he was pussy footing around asking for permission?! Sure, he gets brownie points for thinking of my family's wishes but time is running out! Sesshomaru glanced over at Kagome and saw her angry expression.

 

“I didn't want you to feel trapped, Kagome. I wanted it to be your decision,” he said softly, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. Her confusion and anger melted into affection and surprise. She threaded her fingers with his, new admiration and love building for the crafty demon next to her.

 

 

---000---

 

 

The car pulled into a parking spot near his apartment building.  Kagome let herself out of the car and once again joined hands with him as they ran to the door in the increasing rain.  Once inside the elevator took them to the fourth floor where he approached a very average-looking wooden door with 443-B above the peep hole.  He inserted his key to unlock it then pushed it open, leading her into his much more private domain.  The walls were painted off-white with framed photos or paintings sparsely hung here and there.  Some were landscapes while others were angular or abstract. Others were photographs that she would investigate at a different time.  He led her through a short hallway and into his small living room. 

 

By Tokyo standards his apartment was enormous with two bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room area, bathroom, and a small living room.  Kagome blushed, somewhat embarrassed now.  She had imagined him living in an expansive condo or an up-scale apartment.  Even after seeing his modest car she still imagined him living in a lavish domicile with a maid. But here she was, standing at the edge of his couch in his small but large apartment. Sesshomaru left the room and momentarily returned carrying a thick book with both hands. He and Kagome sat on the couch together and he gingerly set the book on the coffee table. The cover had a marbled red and gold pattern with jagged gold embossing around the edges. Kagome could smell the age from the book sitting in front of them.

 

The possible answer to their questions and the key to their dilemma sat in front of them, withholding invaluable knowledge within it's cracked and dusty pages. They both took a slow, deep breath and Sesshomaru reached forward, opening the cover as they began to look through his father's ancient journal.

 

 

---000---

 

 

I thought this chapter was going to be longer but I want to stick with my outline so I will leave a little anticipation-builder right here. I encourage you to check out

gradualwisd0m(dot)blogspot(dot)com

for YouTube links to videos/audio of the Gamelan songs and Tibetan Singing Bowls.

 

(note: in Victorian ages red tulips meant a “declaration of love” and yellow ones meant “hopelessly in love”)