InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver-Haired Beauty ❯ Kisses in the Moonlight ( Chapter 14 )

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Week Two

Day Five

Sesshomaru smiled blandly and greeted yet another high-ranking official. After the eightieth one, he'd begun losing track of the names. 'No matter, as soon as I smell them, it will come back to me.' His indifference wasn't perceived because his answers to the politely asked questions was always perfect. However, a few noticed that his eyes tended to stray across the room as if searching for someone.

If only they knew how right they were.

'Where is she? I gave Midori express orders to make sure the servants had her ready to come to this gathering.' Since standing before this crowd of human and youkai officials and delegates was as far from fun as he was likely to get, he couldn't bring himself to call it a 'party'.

"Father, have you seen her?"

Pulling his attention from a small group of old generals turned land-holders, Yamatsu shook his head. The two of them made a striking image side by side. Sesshomaru had donned his dress clothes for the evening. An all white kimono accented with scarlet and white bordered flowers at the flowing sleeves and shoulders. Light armor with a band of spikes at the shoulders and smaller ones in front and back was secured by a wide sash of purple and gold.

Yamatsu wore white as well, but the accents for him were jet-black inlaid with shimmering dark blue clouds. His armor was also adorned by spikes, but these were thicker and polished to mirror bright perfection. His sash was knotted to the side and colored scarlet and indigo. Both father and son carried swords with an air of ease and familiarity.

On whole, they were probably the most dangerous men in the room.

One becoming more so because he felt he'd been stood up. "I will return shortly. Excuse me." Bowing to the startled emissary, Sesshomaru went in search of his fiancée.

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"Let go Inuyasha!"

"No, you have puked on me for the last time woman!"

"I said sorry baka!"

"You're going to bed, and you're not moving out of it 'til I say so!"

"BAKA!"

"BITCH!"

"SI…" *retch* "…sorry…"

"……I think I'd rather have been sat……"

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Sesshomaru hit the corner in a blind fury. 'How dare she stand me up? After all that talk of truces and compromise? She's just as flighty as before and tonight of all nights!' Turning sharply, he ran over a green girl who looked strangely familiar. The hiss of snakes from her hair placed it.

"Midori, where is your mistress?"

Picking herself up from the fall, she looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "Please sir, I don't know what's wrong with her!" A glance in the open door behind her made the young lord frown as he entered. Kuroi's body was slumped over in the middle of the floor.

Midori followed closely behind Sesshomaru, still in tears. "She was fine until just a few moments ago. I sent Ki and Aka for a healer, but they haven't come back yet!" As the young Lord knelt by the pale body she wailed, "Help her!"

"If you could be silent I will try." He pressed his fingers against her wrist, searching for a pulse and was alarmed by how erratic it was. For the first time he really looked at the prone girl. Her skin was white but hot to the touch, her body shivering and shaking as if deathly cold.

Gathering her in his arms, he laid her on the bed. Her heart could be seen pounding away beneath the delicate skin across her chest. "What has she eaten?"

Sniffling, Midori didn't answer until he grabbed her arms and shook her. "N-n-nothing! The Lady had a plate of spring rolls and some honey in her tea, but that was hours ago!"

Sesshomaru released her with the order to bring him a sample of each. Midori fled and returned quickly. A sniff confirmed no poisons or odd traces. Instead of hurling the pot and food away as he wanted, Sesshomaru handed it calmly back and dismissed the girl. By then, the healers had arrived. They conversed in hushed tones as they checked Kuroi over.

Someone had alerted Lord Yamatsu of the situation, so his son's absence from dinner would not be frowned upon. Sesshomaru was frowning enough for everyone in the building. One of the healers broke away and approached him.

"My most humble apologies, but there does not appear to be anything wrong with the Lady."

Looking over at the sweating and trembling form, the inu youkai hissed, "Are you blind? There is obviously something wrong with her and it is your job to correct it."

Glancing back at his fellows, the man bowed low, "We all know there is something amiss with the lady, however it is beyond our means to correct. Besides the obvious physical signs of distress, she is uninjured. She is also not poisoned, cursed, enchanted or any of the usual ailments that befall the wives of prominent Lords." the man spread wrinkled hands in supplication, "To be honest sir, we are at a loss."

A flick of a slim wrist dismissed them all. Hesitantly, Sesshomaru knelt beside her and laid a hand on her fevered brow. Kuroi whined softly and turned towards the touch. Pointed ears twitched as her heart gave a sluggish lurch before settling back to its frenzied beat. He stayed there for a moment longer before rising and going outside.

There was someone who could help her, or at least shed insight on her current state. Floating up, he turned and shot out in the direction of the miko who might be able to aid him.

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Sneaking outside, Kagome picked her way carefully through the darkened forest to the well. This was one of those times when she was glad the cottage wasn't too far from her portal home. A twig snapped in the moonlit distance and she froze. Sending out a faint tendril of her power identified a small rabbit in the brush. Relief flooded through her body, making her light-headed and giddy.

'Thank goodness it wasn't Inuyasha.' the hanyou had gone to wash himself after her last 'episode' and would have flipped if he knew she was sneaking back home without telling him.

'I would tell him but he's so damned over-protective!' she thought with a guilty blush. Clearing the tree-line, she made a quick dash for the lip of the well. He caught her within two feet of it.

"Just so it's no surprise, I'm going to spank you." the smugness in his voice was insufferable.

"BAKA!"

Setting her on her feet, but still holding a hand, he pulled her close and kissed her warmly. "I don't want anything to happen to you, koi."

Slightly mollified by the kiss, Kagome was still angry at the ease with which he'd caught her. "Then come with me."

"No, it stinks there!"

"Hold your breath then!"

"No, now come back!"

"NO!"

"NOW!"

"Inuyasha, I need the woman's assistance."

Blinking at each other as if to ask 'Was that you?', they both looked up. Sesshomaru flew down to land not far from them. Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsuaiga and braced himself for a fight. Sesshomaru just stared. "Little brother, I have need of the miko and I have no time for foolishness."

"Fuck you."

"No thank you." Gliding over towards them, Sesshomaru stopped within sword range and held out both hands at his sides. "I am serious little brother. I have need of the woman and the matter is urgent."

Baring his teeth, Inuyasha snarled nastily. "What the fuck makes you think I'll let you take Kagome anywhere?"

"Kuroi is dying."