InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Requiem of Time ❯ I Don't Know What to Say ( Chapter 8 )

A/N: -giggle- ... -snort- ... HA-HA!!! A-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-H A-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-H A-HA-HAAAAA!!!!!

 

OMG, I'm sorry for all those caps, but... -giggles painfully- But, some of your interpretations of my Author Notes just crack me up! -starts crying with laughter-

 

Okay, okay... Inhale, exhale... -giggle- Okay, I'm good now. Promise.

 

So, allow me to clear up some fears and regrets. First off, if this were to be the last, final, doozie chapter, I'd admit to two things: that I would cry, and that it would be really, really, really long. I'm aiming for about ten more chapters -eyes the number eight below- or maybe twelve... I am NOT ending the story right now. If so, I'd have wasted my time, and yours, and quite frankly, I'd feel more guilty about having wasted yours. :)

 

Also, yes, Chiro-(whatever affix you deem appropriate here, I've heard them all now) IS still a part of the story, though she sorta got hidden away for a little while. I really hope I wrote this earlier (will remember to do so anyway in The Big Edit To Come), but as a possible reminded, Chiro was originally a fairly direct servant of Sesshomaru and his mom (ooh, odd, it sounds so weird to just say 'mom'. They're both too -erm- dignified(?) for that...). She entered this story while tending to Sesshomaru's bath, and right now, her services have merely been focused on serving his mother first, or tending to things which her lady directs her to do. So, you can see how she'd be a behind the scenes character, unless the plot yanks at her chain again.

 

In regards to anything else... Well, maybe this chapter will dive into some more explanation for you. ;)

 

Sorry for that chapter quantity misinterpretation from the last chapter's final author note! I'd have changed the A/N, but in all honesty, I enjoyed repeating aforementioned gaffing every time someone worried about it. -grins like the Cheshire Cat- So, I hope that little matter is cleared up now. I'll probably bring it up again in the last A/N. ^__^

 

Gah! Look at me blather! :D Enjoy the chapter already!

 

Chapter 8

 

I Don't Know What to Say

 

The clouds were odd today, bearing the appearance of gouges; as though a thousand clawed beast dug through the painted sky in order to reveal the bumpy white canvas underneath. Sesshomaru noted this for approximately the one hundred and ninety third time, which means that he had been on a displeasing train of thought an equal number of times, and was about to resume it after thoroughly examining the sky in absentminded distraction; which obviously was not working for him...

 

What a bothersome day. Even Tenseiga had awoken for the first time in years to irritate him incomprehensively. Sesshomaru's side was about ready to go numb until the blade just gave up to recuperate.

 

He was on a large island, which was sparsely populated by humans, on a small hill, which was in a very generally unpopulated area. The only beings to occupy the surrounding land were minor yÅkai, who knew their place and decided that keeping their limbs was a far better idea than to come within scenting range of Sesshomaru. That must have been why he liked that place. He was a nearly annual visitor, for a variety of occasions. This time, he simply wanted to think, but it was not going too well.

 

The wind fancied a shift, and he picked up on his mother's scent. Sesshomaru continued with his upwards stare, quite comfortable on his back with his head on folded arms. Then the thought processed and he jerked upright.

 

The nasty woman was there, and was frowning. “You must be muddling to not have noticed my arrival, Sesshomaru.”

 

His unfavorable mood was spoiled into something even better. For the overall worse, that is. Deep down inside, he immaturely relished it. Perhaps he should invest some time in finding Jaken to practice his once signature disciplinary actions on. It would be an interesting search though, seeing as the toad probably got himself lost with trying to follow Sesshomaru's disappearing form. The little old yÅkai had had two choices, which were to either follow hopelessly, or be intelligent and return to his people as their long lost lord and savior. Sesshomaru had allowed Jaken to keep the Staff of Two Heads, seeing as it had fulfilled its purpose. Besides, Jaken was the only one able to wield the staff, so keeping it would do no good now. If anything, that oddly carved stick would promote Jaken instantaneously into a godly status amongst the numb minded minions he had abandoned, if he didn't wander into the middle of nowhere.

 

Anyway, kicking a toad would have to come later, seeing as Sesshomaru's mother was approaching. Her presence was innocent enough, no malicious vibes humming the air, yet she wouldn't meet his eyes as she nimbly sat a less-than-healthy two feet away from him in the grass. It was the closest interaction with nature that she had had for -as he would imagine- centuries, and it left her bearing a disgruntled look. Like she were tallying up the number of future grass stains. Her expression soon faded into the normal, self-possessed one which every noble inu yÅkai was expected to master by the time they could stand four feet high (which was at the age of about forty. Sesshomaru had simply excelled in the mastery of it by the age of five). Sesshomaru looked away from her and just stared forward as well, waiting to hear why she had come. The horizon was far more interesting than the sky, anyway. The minor demons, skittering deeper into a bush and popping beady eyes out another spot, were up to playing hide-and-find via visual contact with Sesshomaru; they just didn't know it to be a game.

 

Conversationally, the insults, judgments, and even crude comments stayed at their origins for a while. Since those were the three main categories of their mother and son social interaction, the lack meant a heavy, almost intolerable silence saturated the air. Neither of them were in the right mood to bicker. At least, not with each other.

 

Fortunately, his mother had an innate knack for directing his anger to herself.

 

“Thank you for not changing to go wreck havoc on a city.”

 

Startled, Sesshomaru blinked. He had fully expected an excellent reason to be annoyed with her, and instead she was thanking him? How dare she.

 

“Your father did that a lot, while he courted me,” she continued, never seeing Sesshomaru's slight part of lips, the result of a mostly slack jaw. “Despite our relationship being an arrangement, it grated on his nerves to wait for me to come of appropriate age. He always wanted more than I could give, and it did neither of us any good.” A slight smile graced her lips. It merely added to the evil effect she typically gave off. “Eventually, I went into a city he had mauled and bought a scroll from a popular artist, which showed soldiers bearing spears in the local majestic court and your peeved sire watching them from the clouds in his true state. The art was impressive, for a human. Your father appreciated it for all of three seconds before ripping it apart.”

 

“Why are you here?” Sesshomaru interjected. This was beginning to sound like a mother-son moment. In all honesty, the very thought chilled him. They had never shared anything of the sort, and he was not willing to change that fact.

 

A sigh slipped delicately from her, and he watched her hand move in his peripheral, then felt it pat his shoulder.

 

That action had a very, very wrong feeling to it. They never touched one another 'nicely'. Not ever since he learned how to discipline her for not keeping her nose out of his business.

 

The hand fell away.

 

“You are an idiot, my son.”

 

There was that long awaited insult.

 

“I am sorry for not having trained you better.”

 

... Dammit, she needed to stop apologizing. Even if it was accompanied by another insult. Because, really, what could he say to that? 'I am not an idiot, though you did screw up?' That was immensely contradictory. Telling her to shut her mouth was an option, but she still had yet to state her reason for being there, and repeating the question would be repetitive.

 

“Well,” she continued quickly, “if you are done sulking like someone more than half your age, then I advise yet off your ass and go propose to the confused thing you plan on having yapping puppies with.” She turned to see an absolutely baffled Sesshomaru. “What? Did you forget how to walk?”

 

For the first time in his entire life -his entire life- he had nothing to say. Was his mother ill??

 

She rolled her eyes impatiently as he remained absolutely speechless. “Well, really, what else are you supposed to do? By our traditions, yes, you would wait for her to drag you into bed, but she was not raised as one of our species and- Stop looking at me like that, you look like the fish I just ate for breakfast.”

 

He scoffed, which was actually a bad attempt to cover a chuckle. “Did you just say an inappropriate word?”

 

“Oh, shut up,” she ordered. “That was nothing compared to what Sheng has been exposed to for the last few months. Watching you and Kagome failing miserably at this mating thing is going to make me grow old.”

 

“You are already old,” Sesshomaru corrected for her.

 

His mother bristled. “Then I expect to see some grandchildren before I die.”

 

This time he gave a genuine scoff. “Perhaps. That depends on your future audacity.”

 

She began to click her nails together then, peeved beyond reasoning. “Alright. I am returning now. Perhaps it is easier to talk sense into Kagome.”

 

“Do not even think of it,” he warned as she turned her back to him, walking.

 

“I already have the conversation planned,” she fired back, then paused and turned her head so that she could regard him with her peripheral. “Do you even want to mate her, after all this time?”

 

The question was unexpected, and after the brief wonderment he glared at her.

 

“Oh, good,” she stated with a smile. “It shall be relayed. Enjoy the clouds.”

 

Sesshomaru lunged for her, but she was gone in a cherry blossom pink bubble of energy, and rapidly disappearing. He followed in the same fashion.

 

---

 

“Le!” Kagome hollered, having a heck of a time finding the jerk. Either he was patrolling the o-shiro, and keeping whole rooms in between them while traversing the opposite hallway, or he was being a royal pain in the neck. “Le! Stop hiding!”

 

“Hiding?” came a faded response. “Why would I do that?”

 

Kagome stopped, her ears telling her one thing while her senses said another. It was enough to give her a mild headache. “Get over here! I want to talk with you!”

 

In an instant he was gone. Well, gone in the way that a blip on a radar disappears. Then his aura popped up again, and she yelped while turning a jumping back.

 

“Really,” he began, a small smirk on his face, “all you have to do is ask.”

 

She blinked, and had a really strong urge to smack him five hundred years into the future, where she'd smack him back five hundred years and repeat the process… It'd be a splendid version of table tennis.

 

Instead, she quelled her pride, quirked her mouth at the thought of what she was about to say, then just spurted it out. “I want you to train me.”

 

Le lifted a solitary eyebrow, seeming entirely intrigued and not in the least bit surprised. “Why?”

 

“To better myself,” she stated.

 

He cocked his head slightly. “Why?”

 

Immediately she had the impression that he was one hell of an irritating toddler. “So I can protect myself.”

 

“From?”

 

“You,” she admitted first. “And from Sesshomaru's cousin. And from anyone else trying to assassinate me.”

 

Le's lips twitched, and half a grin emerged, revealing a well-developed canine. “You plan on staying here long enough for someone to make such an attempt again?”

 

She mimicked a statue.

 

“Because, really,” Le continued, beginning to walk to her side, then doing slow circles around her place of rooting, “it would be a lot easier to remain as you are, and live a productive life as a village miko.”

 

“I will stay as I am, no matter what I learn,” she defended herself, swallowing. She hated the circling, but was used to it, in an odd way. Her kendo teacher did it. She felt it was a way to intimidate, but it was also a way of `sizing someone up'. Just walking a circle around them, checking the way they held themselves to interpret certain aspects which are always subconsciously noted but not too cared about. Keiji, the boy Kagome would spar with and who she missed at times when there was nothing to really bruise, had tried the circling thing on her once. He was limping for a few days afterwards.

 

Le paused, behind her and to her left, then continued. “Everyone changes when they learn to love and trust another.”

 

Now she was just irked. He was playing games with her. Right? “Listen, I don't mind the consequences. I just want to be prepared.”

 

“For what?”

 

She about stomped her foot, and decided against it. “For the future.”

 

“Which will consist of what?”

 

Her foot stung with how hard it hit the floor. “Will you stop it!”

 

Standing in front of her again, Le laughed. It wasn't evil, or teasing. He just laughed.

 

“Just answer the damn question!” he said loudly.

 

“I did!”

 

“No, you did not.”

 

“Yes, I did!”

 

“No-”

 

“ARGH!!” she yelled, grabbing her hair as a means to avoid slugging him. If she could ever catch him, she would. “WHAT question, then?!”

 

“What do you want to do when you grow up?”

 

Her fingers loosened. Dear lord, he sounded like a parent from the twenty-first century! “… What?”

 

“That is an excellent question.”

 

Kagome whipped around to see Sheng, standing about forty feet back and bearing a thoroughly humored look on his face.

 

“Wh-? How long have you been there?!” she demanded.

 

“Answer, miko,” Le commanded, reaffirming his position in her attention span.

 

She began chewing air, wanting to talk but now able to. “B- I- Thi- … I don't have to tell you!”

 

There was a bark of laughter, and Kagome looked to see Sheng with his head flung back and hands on his hips.

 

“You are humiliating yourself,” Le informed her, which set her kettle boiling. “It is not a sin to be in love, miko. Even if it so happens to be with someone I take commands from…”

 

If the threat of blacking out and getting a few new cuts in her throat wasn't dangling in front of her like a set bear trap, she'd try to zap him. She'd zap them both. What jerks.

 

“Do you think your emotions are a secret?” Le asked, genuinely intrigued. It made her think of what hormones she was leaking, and it was a very disturbing thought. “Really, I am certain that those who have only heard rumors of you know that you are here for one thing. Yes, you appeared and challenged Sesshomaru to mend your honor, but you have been coming back and have been enjoying his attentions. It is so obvious that you wish to mate him that most of the members of the council are beginning to wonder what it is that is holding you back.”

 

There was a rustle of fabric, and the image of Sheng shifting passed through her thoughts before her eyes focused on Le again.

 

“Or do you merely want to fool yourself with lies at the cost of losing what you have?”

 

“Losing what?” she asked. A rock settled comfortably in the pit of her stomach. “Sheng?” she asked, turning halfway. “What does he mean? What would I be losing?”

 

Something went `click' in her head, and the rock began to vibrate to make her feel sick. “Where's Sesshomaru? Where did he go?”

 

A woman's voice answered that. “Presently, he is furiously `hanging around' outside the barrier, so our conversation will be brief.”

 

“Little Li Hua!” Sheng greeted merrily, earning quite the glare.

 

“Call me that again, and you'll be banned for a decade!” she yelled, not seeming to be in good spirits. She then turned a wonderful little smile onto Kagome, which was the scariest thing the miko had ever come across. Ever. “Come, dear. We have much to discuss, and very little time.”

 

---

 

Sesshomaru was going to wring his mother's skinny neck. How dare she block him from entering the o-shiro! It was a temporary inconvenience, seeing as it would only work for a short while once she was away, but it did nothing to keep him from seething.

 

---

 

Kagome had to admit, it was very unnatural to see Sesshomaru's mother sitting without a cup of tea in her hands. Their conversation had begun when she shut the doors, leaving Le and Sheng to do what they would so long as they weren't in the room, and Kagome wasn't liking it by the time the woman sat herself.

 

“What do you mean, `by spring'?” she asked.

 

“It is politics,” Li Hua supplied dismissively. “Regardless, I am weary of watching this game of yours. And besides, you have less time than that.”

 

“What game?” Kagome asked, her heart racing. What was going on? Why was everyone thinking about her and whatever relationship she had with Sesshomaru? Sure, his cousin just left after some drama, and Sesshomaru himself was gone, but was that enough to trigger things? … Maybe.

 

“The game you are playing with my son, what else would I refer to?” she demanded.

 

Kagome fidgeted. “What do you mean by `less time'?”

 

---

 

Sesshomaru was ready to begin yelling, seeing as occasionally beating a fist against the barrier did nothing but hurt. A lot.

 

---

 

“You need to make up your mind on whether or not you love him enough to trust him. Shockingly, trust is one of the first things you should have given by now…”

 

Kagome's fingers began hurting she was clasping them so tightly. “What do you mean?”

 

A growl filled the room. “You love him. It is obvious,” the terrifying woman stated, almost darkly. “How can you allow yourself to be in the same room with him and yet not want to remain at his side like your heart is screaming for?”

 

Kagome bit her lip.

 

---

 

Bakusaiga was not cooperating.

 

---

 

`Four years,' whispered a thought through Kagome's mind. `You spent four years cursing him, seeking revenge, and blaming him for not being able to find a decent guy.'

 

Sesshomaru's mother frowned in an almost ugly manner. “What are you thinking?”

 

Her lip slipped from between her teeth so she could purse them in anger.

 

The woman looked to weigh things with her eyes, and then she sighed. “You are both idiots… You look and definitely smell angry, but there is also self-blame deep inside.”

 

Kagome blinked. Hm. She had thought about her denying Keiji and not thinking of other men as date material as being her own decision. Every now and again, at least. Blaming Sesshomaru had always been easier, though now, after everything else they'd been through, it seemed a little silly to hold onto a grudge. Still, it's not as though it would just dissolve immediately.

 

---

 

Tenseiga merely refused to be unsheathed.

 

---

 

Li Hua lifted a hand to push against her temple. “Oh, really, I do not see how he manages to tolerate you and your emotions.”

 

Kagome opened her mouth to begin arguing.

 

“Well, if you do not choose to choose for yourself…”

 

---

 

Maybe he should just transform and overpower the damn thing…

 

---

 

“Engagement?!” Kagome squeaked.

 

“Of course,” the scary woman confirmed. “There are plenty of full blooded young ladies looking for a mate, and the appropriate season is approaching. If you cannot fulfill this position, then someone else will.”

 

“… But…”

 

---

 

That did not work.

 

---

 

“Kagome,” Li Hua addressed the miko in front of her firmly, the weight of the world backing her up. “Look at you. You were just angry, now you are sad and worried? You need to do everyone a service and make this simple decision. Now. Do you love him, or do you not?”

 

---

 

The hissing shun of the barrier disappeared, and Sesshomaru immediately passed through it. A lot of servants were shocked to see him running by, claws practically glowing. He was going to murder that woman. Nothing would save her this time. There was no force in the entire universe strong enough to change his mind.

 

“I love him.”

 

Sesshomaru stopped like he just ran into an immobile rock, mere inches from ripping the door out of its sliding grooves.

 

“What was that?” his accursed mother asked from within. “I could barely hear you. … Kagome?”

 

There were quick footsteps, and the door flung open, revealing a wide-eyed yet slightly smiling, beautiful young woman. His rage never even existed now.

 

“Um,” she stammered slightly, fiddling with her fingers and not looking away from him. “I- I said I loved him. Happy?”

 

“Immensely,” Sesshomaru stated before his mother could comment. He made a mental note to not kill her for at least another century, and Kagome's nervous giggle doubled the time.

 

“Ah, good,” she said through a grin, a shadow of worry cascading over the background of her eyes. “Is the… feeling returned?”

 

Doubt washed off of her in a jumbled wave of emotions. She was scared, hopeful, wanting, and needing. She did not need to hear his reply though. The need, bearing in itself an undisturbed strength, confidence, pride, and the scent that was merely personality, would be fulfilled by knowing.

 

He wanted to fulfill that need, that desire of hers to regain something lost innocently with time. She stood before him, looking weakened by an invisible, approaching force, but determined in bearing with what would come.

 

Reaching out, Sesshomaru enclosed her in his arms and drew her close, wondering how she managed to hold herself together with such a nightmare of indecisive nerves. She nuzzled into his shoulder, holding him tightly as the tension she felt eased ever so slightly.

 

“Yes,” he answered.

 

`Warmth', like ropes of emotion, spun thick through the air. He couldn't see them, but he could feel them, and it was a very, very welcomed sensation. Her hold around his torso strengthened briefly, and she muttered an `okay'. She loosened her hug, then pulled away just enough to look up at him. That shadow was absolutely absolved from her eyes, which were shining bright and strong in a gleeful face. “Don't think this means I want to have sex though.”

 

“Oh, for the love of-!”

 

Sesshomaru shut the door on his mother's exasperation. “That is fine.”

 

Kagome, absolutely stunning with a grin that would be hurting her cheeks soon, stared up at him in an almost lightheaded manner. “Alright. … Um, making out is still okay.”

 

A shrill giggle sang its way out of her when he easily lifted her into his arms. Kagome completely obstructed his view of the hall by grabbing his face and kissing him, an action which did not stop even after he managed to close the door to his quarters.

 

---

 

“I must admit,” Sheng began, arms crossed and feeling delighted, “I was not expecting such a wonderful outcome. At the very least, I assumed Sesshomaru would notice those faint new scratches on her, but that has been avoided so far.”

 

Le, straight-faced yet nonetheless pleased, nodded. “Little Kagome did not stand much of a chance in this. If the odds are not in her favor, then good should be expected.”

 

“You would be surprised,” Sheng replied, recalling the short time he had trained her. She had unlocked an element of her powers under his supervision, and there was much, much more she could learn. How to keep from being sealed, however, he did not know. Not only was he a demon and had not been willing to dapple in the other half, but he also had never cared to learn the technique himself. It was not that he was foolish, it was simply a matter of him being fully able to overpower anyone with the balls to even try it on him. “She can be quite strong. Are you going to accept her request?”

 

Le shrugged. “I will think on it.”

 

“If you do not, then I gladly shall,” Sheng opted.

 

His companion scoffed. “You? You made it easier for yÅkai to seal her in the first place. What other helpful tactics can you share?”

 

Sheng's grin faltered. “Me?”

 

Le offered an indifferent look. “Of course, you. Who else has both the knowledge to teach it and the chance to meet Kagome before she came to the o-shiro?”

 

“Ah,” Sheng chuckled. “You knew?”

 

“Obviously.”

 

Studying nothing, Sheng contemplated, then nodded. “I will train her every other day, seeing as your patience is limited as it is. It will also get Sesshomaru situated in his duties again.”

 

Le watched Sheng move for the room Li Hua occupied. “Meaning that I would have her every other day as well?”

 

“Yes, I accept. A generous offer on your part,” Sheng agreed, closing the room's door. He had a lady to calm. “I will begin tomorrow. Have a good evening, fellow councilman.”

 

Le, standing in the hall, had the impression that the old coot felt as though he had just manipulated him. If so, Sheng was wrong. Le had been planning of beating some talent into that young woman for quite some time now.

 

---

 

A/N: WOOT!! Updated in time for the weekend! (barely)

 

Okay, I've said it before, so I'll say it again. This story has a mind of its own. I had no idea it would fling in this direction. I'm as stunned as I would be if I threw a pebble into a lake and it skipped in circles rather than a line. Or, in my case, a solitary splash. :) Really, that little bit was going to come later, but it apparently wanted to be born now.

 

Well, overall, I have no complaints. I'm expecting a few of you to at least sigh in relief that Sesshy's bad mood was ripped from him with three of the most proverbial words of love there are, and I expect a few more of you to throw a little party and then threaten me if Chiro messes this up for them. Well, to the latter group, I say `no worries, this part is golden'.

 

Also, because it just came to mind, I recall quite a few people saying `don't focus on the lemon, the story isn't about that and doesn't really need it, so only write it if you'd like' (you know who you are, and yes, people have said that). I might have said this before (is too lazy to check), but any possible future lemons will not appear in the fanfiction . net story. There will be a notice (such as: <<Lemon>>), and then the story will continue. No plot will be involved in the scene(s), so it is skip-over'able. If you do want to read it though, then I'll try and provide the chapter link for it in my fanfiction profile page. The full, kinky chapter will be on mediaminer . org, and hopefully, for your convenience, the scene will be at the end of the chapter or at the beginning, so you don't have to go searching through the middle of the chapter on a foreign sight. :) Also, I'd say to not take this lemon info as a hint to the next chapter, but my muse just gave something of a giggle, so we'll see… -really wishes to have more control over the plot-

 

Oh! Last thing, I promise. I'm restating now that THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER. Haha, I still find it funny that some people misinterpreted the last author's note. I was getting hung up on actually thinking about the creating of the last chapter. I've been working on this story (and most of you have been patient with me) for almost a year now, so thoughts of actually finishing it in, maybe, a few months, is like an adrenaline rush for me. (Woohoo!!) Hehe, but, as disappointed as my future-arthritic fingers may be, I have another story planned after this one still, so in a way, this story's last chapter won't really be a `last' of much else… :P

 

Alright, I've blabbed enough. Please share your thoughts with me, and thanks for reading!

 

~AD