InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 58

Pride (In the Name of Love) 58 / ??
Written by Jezz-Ra
Warnings - Not all warnings apply to all chapters. Yaoi, Het, Rape, Lemon, Violence, Language, Torture, Angst, Incest, Dark (at times). It's a massive story, folks, it's got a little bit of everything.
Disclaimer - I don't own Inuyasha, don't make money off it. Wish I did.

Sidestories can be found under my author profile at any of my archive sites.
Archived at - inu.adultfanfiction.net, fanfiction.net, and mediaminer.org ::: Anywhere else, ask!
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - On an unrelated note, I hate my life. FML. Totally. That being said... I suppose I'll muddle my way through another chapter. I *MAY* or may not skip out on tomorrow's morning update - I've had a brutal week at work, my mother has seriously compounded my agony ((to make a long story short, she abuses me horribly but I have no where else to go cause I lost my house. Ugh..)) and...yeah. So I'm kinda planning on coming home tomorrow and just crashing, sleeping alllll day. I need it. But we'll see how I feel in the morning when I get home. Maybe I'll be up to the task after all? If there is no morning posting, that will be why.
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It was a long time before Sesshoumaru slid back into Toga's bedchamber. Toga herself was sitting in bed, propped against some pillows and gingerly dabbing at a deep scratch along one arm with a wet cloth. She paused and arched an eyebrow. "That took a bit longer than I thought."

Sesshoumaru sighed and set his sword belt down, plucking the cloth from Toga and beginning to tend her wounds himself. "After making sure the healers were taking care of Rin and helping take the injured wolves there as well, I tended to those that had been mortally wounded. I am debating simply firing the castle healers and taking over the position myself, with as much use as Tenseiga is getting and as much time as I have spent in the infirmary of late."

"Ah, yes, Sesshoumaru the Healer." Toga couldn't keep from smirking.

Sesshoumaru smirked himself. "I somehow do not think it would work out."

"Probably not. Although I'm sure the wolf prince is deeply grateful to you. He treats each and every one of his wolves as family, I've noticed."
"Indeed. My brother was rather profusely thankful as well...I gather that, despite their lack of official commitment, he and the wolf are something of an item."

"I believe so." Toga let out an abrupt hiss as Sesshoumaru switched to cleaning a gash on her cheek.

"I am sorry..." Sesshoumaru paused, apologetic.

"Not your fault. Minor wounds, all, even if some are a bit deep. That kitsune was a wild thing. I do hope something can be done outside of destroying him, poor little kit. How is Rin?"

"Resting. Outside of her broken arm, all she suffered were a few minor cuts and bruises. She was lucky. The healers expect her to fully recover, given time and proper care."

"Good, good...mm..." Toga felt her train of thought starting to derail. Sesshoumaru had abandoned the cloth and switched to gently licking her wounds, and it was proving to be quite a distraction. "My Sesshoumaru...?""Mmm?"

"I don't really care to be, but should I be stuck like this for a time...or even permanently...there is something you should probably know right now..."

Sesshoumaru paused. His own mind was growing pleasantly fuzzy from the delicious tang of blood wreaking havoc on his demonic senses. "What is that?"

Toga sighed, lightly combing her fingers through his long silvery h air. "Much as I love you and would not resist your...affections...you better be damned careful."

Sesshoumaru slowly raised his head, arching an eyebrow and peering at her. "Oh? Why is that?"

"Trust me when I tell you that I do not believe I would appropriately appreciate the irony of you fathering my pup."

Sesshoumaru blinked several times before bursting out laughing, shifting and leaning forward until he had her pinned on her back. "Well, when you come into heat, I will be sure to be cautious. I do not believe anyone in the palace could survive the mood swings pregnancy would bring you."

Toga snorted. "You'd be the first one I took out, I assure you."

"As if it would be entirely my fault."

"Of course it wouldn't. But I would be an irrationally hormonal female and blame you anyways."

Sesshoumaru paused to entertain a mental image of an irrational hormonal Toga destroying half the countryside and smirked. "This Sesshoumaru will not thus risk his life thus, I assure you. For the sake of the Western Lands as well as my own."

Toga snickered, although she rapidly began to lose focus again as Sesshoumaru resumed tending to her injuries. However, it was clear that such was not the only thing on the younger inu's mind, judging by the way he shifted from simply licking to gently nibbling and kissing a trail up to her sensitive ear, nipping at it gently. // I think...with Inuyasha's help, it would seem...we have created a monster. Although I can't say I mind overmuch... //

A sudden shocking desire sparked in her mind, although her logic warred against it. Never before had she considered even thinking of it, would have died first...but this was her Sesshoumaru. He would understand the gravity of this unspoken statement. With a soft sigh, Toga tipped her head, baring her throat to him and offering her submission.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sairex strode to the window and grandly gestured out of it after a moment. "Observe, Miroku...my murder."

"Your what?" Miroku hopped back in alarm. Sairex blinked, then smirked.

"My murder...oh, zilly monk, come here. Vhat did you expect to zee?" Sairex scooped Miroku up before the monk-turned-raven could retreat.

Miroku thought for a long moment and then abruptly felt sheepish. "Oh. Right. A group of crows is a murder...is it so for ravens?"Sairex smirked. "Yes. All ravens ARE crows...but not all crows are ravens. Rooks, zame ting. Rooks are ravens, ravens are crows..." He shrugged. "Whoever decided naming tings was fun had a bit too much time and too many ideas on their hands vhen it came to my race. Anyvay...I raise da birds here and have quite da murder. Dey live in da top level of da castle. Zome are normal ravens....others are not. Most of dem are not demons, however. And most are not quite zo intelligent as Ezkrai, even if I can understand raven-zpeak."

Miroku perched in the windowsill and looked up. The sky was dark, but he could still make out a massive number of small, shadowy winged forms circling the uppermost towers. "Dear Buddha...there are so many!"

"Mm, dey are my eyes and ears. I have learned more from dem dan any other source."

"I see. That is wonderful.""Indeed. One of da first tings I am going to teach you, if you ztill desire to learn from me dat is, is to speak da tongue of my clan. Your own language is not my native tongue. I can't cast my zpells vith it, and none of da books I vish to zhow you are written in it."

"Well, that certainly would make things more convenient."

Eskrai chose that moment to fly back in the room. She had a small black leather pouch clutched tightly in her talons and she handed it over to Sairex before perching on his unoccupied shoulder.

"Tank you, Ez. Actually, Miroku, zcrying is one of da first tings I intend to teach you besides my tongue...but not of da zort I'm going to do right now. Vhen I zhow you how, it von't be looking for a powerful enemy dat just might be able to ztrike me back in the process."

"You really think this demoness you see is that strong?"Sairex nodded. "If zhe didn't tink zhe might ztand half a chance against me, zhe vould not have revealed herzelf. I did not know zhe vas alive. And to be alive dis long after da rest of da clan...zhe is both intelligent and powerful. Zhe had to have had help, but ztill...powerful." As he spoke, Sairex flipped open the pouch and pulled out a set of small blue crystals.

"And those are?""Focal cryztals. Normally I vouldn't need dem, but if I channel my zcrying into dem inztead of zimply channeling it, dey vill take da first attack and give me time to back out vithout my identity being confirmed or zuffering any damage."

"Oh. Well, that's certainly convenient."Sairex nodded and strode calmly through his castle to a large set of double doors. He placed his palm on the center and murmured a few words. Distantly, Miroku heard a groaning rasp of stone on stone as some internal locking mechanism slid open. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the room.

Shelves lined both walls floor to ceiling and were stocked with too many different things to name. Bottles, jars, boxes, and vials were stuffed amidst sacks and baskets, all containing powders or liquids, leaves or...things.

"Wow...Sairex, what is all this?"

"My alchemy zupplies. I can't very vell carry EVERYTING vith me. Bezides dat, zome of it doesn't keep very vell when moved too much." As he spoke, Sairex had moved through the room and was shuffling through a stack of thick leatherbound books. "Ah, here ve go. I need to do zome research vhen ve get back to da castle."

Eskrai chirped.

"Er...vell, I'm zorry, Ez, you have to get used to it. I zwore my zervices to da House of da Inu no Taizho. I have to live dere. But I promise to come to visit more often, alright?"

The raven made an expression that Miroku could have sworn was a scowl before nodding. "Do not worry, my dear Lady Eskrai, I will watch over him for you."

"Vell, ve're off. It'll be a bit of a run and I vant to get back to da Vest as zoon as ve can. I have a feeling zometing isn't quite right."

Soon Sairex was back outside and dashing across the open terrain. Miroku was flying overhead, enjoying the freedom of flight. He had no idea where he was going, however, so he was careful not to fly too high or lose sight of Sairex. The raven-demon in question had a surprising amount of stamina and soon Miroku was settled in the crook of his arm, cradled against his chest as his lover continued his run.

"This would probably have gone faster for you if you had your wings still, huh?""Mm...yes, but I do not mind. I feel better having you zafe den I vould getting vhere I vas going a little faster."

"Where ARE we going?"

"Just a bit further...up in dese mountains is a cave vith an underground pool dat I have zpecially prepared and tended. It vill magnify my zearch and make tings easier."

"Oh."

Sairex looked fairly tired by the time they arrived, but he waved away Miroku's concern and headed into a carefully concealed cave. The cave was small and rounded, completely unimpressive. At the far end was a deeply carved and perfectly smooth basin. Tiny runes that glowed shades of blue and purple were etched around the outer rim.

Sairex set fire to a pair of oil-bowls that flanked the pool, providing a sudden burst of light, then kneeled before the water. "Vatch, but do not distract me..." As he spoke, Sairex dropped the crystal he had brought into the water. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, calming himself. Slowly his eyes reopened and he reached forward, murmuring softly. He gently tapped the surface of the water with one talon.

Ripples expanded outward in a ring, and as the surface returned to it's placid state, Miroku saw images forming clearly. Soon he was looking into the bedchamber of a sorceress, actually at Karalichala herself. The raven demoness was sitting at a desk and poring over a thick tome.

Sairex eyed her for a long moment, his expression hard and dark. "Hn...zo dis is da one dat vas zo bold and foolish..."

Miroku shifted uneasily, suddenly having the distinct impression that Sairex was about to do something he shouldn't. "Whatever you're thinking..."

"Hn. I changed my mind. I VANT her to know I am looking at her, and I am not happy." Sairex's eyes gleamed, glowing a bright yellow as he reached into the pool and plucked out the blue crystal. "Look at me..."

Karalichala's spine stiffened abruptly and she snatched a dagger from her sleeve - a familiar dagger to Miroku, who was almost ill at the sight of it. She looked around worriedly, before looking up.

The moment her eyes focused in Sairex's direction, her body jerked backwards harshly, slamming into the wall as blood began to trickle from every opening in her head. The crystal in Sairex's palm shattered, and the raven smiled in grim satisfaction.

"Alright...ve can go home now. Although it vill be a bit zlower going...I am tired."

"What did...what did you do to her? Not that she didn't deserve it and much more."

"A...varning zhot, if you vill. I ztruck her mind vith my own. Zhe IS powerful...but I am more. And I know vhere zhe is now. Jormandar is helping her. I zhould have realized." Sairex paused for a moment, then turned to look at Miroku. "I...have a very zerious question for you."

"Of course, anything..."

"If I do not kill her before da child is born...I do not tink I can bring myzelf to destroy it, no matter the potential risks. How...vill you feel about me raising it?"

"I can only hope you will allow me to adopt it and claim it as my own kin, even if they are not of my flesh or blood."

Sairex smiled and nodded. "Of course. Dat's zettled den. Come, let us go home. Dey couldn't have gotten into TOO much trouble vithout us, right? It vas only one day..."