InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taisho's Darling ❯ Understandings and Misunderstandings ( Chapter 17 )

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Disclaimer: I don't own these marvelous characters; they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I merely torture them at will and put them in uncomfortable situations whenever possible.

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Chapter 17

Understandings and Misunderstandings

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"The food at the restaurant was incredible, Ko-chan, but your taste in movies leaves a lot to be desired. That was absolutely the worst film I've ever seen," Kanna told her date.

Kohaku slung an arm around her shoulder carelessly. "It wasn't that bad," he argued, defending his choice as Kanna rolled her eyes. "Okay, so the plot was entirely predictable and the actors appeared to be reading their lines from cue cards - but you gotta admit, the special effects were great!"

"Yes, the explosion at the end of the car chase scene was spectacular," Kanna scoffed. "Next time, I get to choose the movie." She slipped her arm around Kohaku and they continued to walk down the avenue.

The large fountain at the center of the square was lit with a variety of colored lights, each flickering on and off in synchronization with the music playing from the storefront speakers. The couple found an empty bench near the fountain and sat down, enjoying the peaceful night.

"It's quiet," Kohaku remarked, lacing Kanna's delicate fingers through his own large, scarred digits. "I'm so accustomed to hearing sirens in the background that it sounds strange not to hear them. Kami knows the city's overdue for a break from all the rioting."

His companion shivered and pressed against him. "Such violence," she spoke in her soft, toneless voice. "It frightens me. Why does everything have to be so difficult in this world?"

"That's just the way the world is, I suppose," Kohaku answered. He cupped her cheek with his roughened hand. "Kanna…" he began. He really didn't want to continue. "Kanna, maybe…maybe we shouldn't see each other any more," he choked out. "This isn't right."

Kanna's large eyes filled with sadness. "Why?" she begged to know. "I like spending time with you, Kohaku! Why isn't it right?"

Kohaku refused to look away from her gaze; Kanna's eyes were her only avenue of expression. Her voice remained as toneless as ever, but the pain spilling from the dark orbs in front of him tore him apart. He wanted so much to take this fragile youkai into his arms and never let her go. "I enjoy your company as well, Kanna," he told her, "perhaps more than you can ever imagine. Being able to talk to someone who really understands me is incredible, and I don't want to let that go," he noted glumly.

"So don't let go," Kanna urged him. "Let's keep seeing each other and let the world take care of itself." She placed her palm against his chest. "Unless…there's someone else?" she asked hesitantly.

He gripped her hand tightly. "There's no one other than you," Kohaku assured her. "But I'm headed into an arranged match, Kanna! Your sister is lining up the potential females as we speak! Besides, you're going to catch all kinds of hell if anyone finds out about us." He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "You have so much more at stake than I do, Kanna. Your family, your friends, and your entire lifestyle - you could lose everything!"

"I'm willing to take that risk," Kanna insisted. She stood up, pulling the former demon-slayer with her. "Right now, I'm happier than I've ever been in my entire life. I know we're on a dangerous path, Kohaku, but I want to see where it takes us. Please?" She tilted her face up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Temptation, Kohaku decided, was Kanna in the moonlight. Normally, she lacked color, but out here in the peaceful surroundings she was glowing. She had so much to lose, it was true, but he had already lost everything, including his heart. Against the backdrop of the fountain lights, Kohaku bent his head and captured the petite youkai's soft lips, showing her just how far down the path he'd already traveled.

……

Miroku was awakened from his sound sleep by a dull, throbbing pain. Wincing, he jerked awake and rubbed his sore neck. He'd fallen asleep at his computer, and he was certain he had a severe case of keyboard-face.

Grimacing, he picked up the papers scattered around his chair. It was no great surprise that he'd passed out at his desk, given the amount of work he was trying to slog through. His flu-related absence at work, combined with the extra duties Taisho-sama had piled upon him, were all robbing him of precious beauty sleep. Not to mention the late nights spent helping his injured master…and the even later nights spent with a certain wind youkai.

For someone who was supposed to be a fantastic matchmaker, Kagura was certainly taking a lackadaisical approach to the matter, Miroku considered. It wasn't until late this afternoon, and only after a certain amount of nagging on his part, that she had even handed him the documents showing the latest potential suitors. It was almost as if she didn't want to earn Sesshomaru's hefty fee. Her actions were puzzling, for Miroku was convinced she'd overcome her initial prejudice toward the humans.

Shaking his head to clear the last vestiges of sleep, the former monk leaned back in his chair to read her synopsis. Most of the potential suitors were younger youkai and hanyou, looking for a well-financed mate. Money overcame a great many prejudices, Miroku thought wryly as he continued to skim through the data. Youngest of fifty-two sons…elderly youkai seeking to rebuild his financial empire…low-ranking politician in need of a human mate to appeal to the voters in his district…Oh, Daisuke, that feels so good!

He blinked, flipping back to the previous page. At first he thought he was imagining things, but no, the second page of the report was missing. In its place was a page containing a few paragraphs of explicit pornography. It was a rather well-written piece of smut, Miroku decided as he read it through. Twice.

Something bothered him about this, aside from the fact that his heart-rate had increased and he'd broken out in a sweat. He was reading soap-opera fan-fiction; he could tell by the names used. The style of writing was distinct and original, with biting wit and a tongue-in-cheek overtone. In short, he was reading the work of none other than WinDWitch.

A low chuckle began to erupt from Miroku's chest, quickly ascending to gasping laughter. Kagura, the haughty matchmaker of youkai society, was the queen of soap-opera porn! It was just too much! Recovering his breath, Miroku set the page down and stumbled to his bed. The sound-proof barrier he had erected earlier would guarantee a peaceful night's sleep, no matter how much of a disturbance was created. He needed the quiet rest in order to arrange his schemes.

He couldn't wait to see Kagura again.

……

"Kagura?"

The faint whisper startled her. Kagura jerked away from her computer, blocking the monitor with her body. "Kanna!" she gasped. "I didn't hear you come in!"

"That's because I'm trying to keep from waking Mother," Kanna said, making shushing noises. "I saw your light was still on and wanted to let you know I was back. What are you doing up so late?"

"Working," Kagura lied. She minimized her screen and turned to her sister. "How was your date? And what the hell is that spot on your dress?" she demanded to know. Kanna's appearance was far more rumpled than when she had left the house. In fact, she almost looked as if she'd been in a fight.

Kanna chewed her lip, a sure sign she was debating whether or not to answer the question. "Someone spit on me," she finally answered, dropping her head. "I tried to wipe it off, but the dress is ruined. Lizard-demon saliva is pretty destructive."

"Did you kick his ass?" Kagura hissed, her eyes turning a dark shade of red. "I can't believe someone did this to you! Where was your date when this was happening?"

"Her ass," Kanna corrected. "It was a female lizard youkai. And my date was busy shoving her mate's head into a fountain."

The wind youkai's jaw dropped. "So…you want to talk about it?" she asked. "Why were the two of you attacked? I'm going to be gracious and assume you did nothing to provoke them."

Kanna kicked her house slippers from her feet and sprawled across Kagura's bed. "Kagura," she asked as she stared up at the ceiling, "have you found mates for those humans yet? And don't lie to me; this is important."

"Why?" Kagura asked suspiciously. "And what's this got to do with you and your date getting into a fight? Has someone been gossiping about me?"

"Just answer my question, please."

"Okay," Kagura sighed. "There's nothing definite yet, but there are some prospects. Two of the women have asked me to stop looking, however. They've had some success finding someone on their own. Now answer my question, dammit."

Kanna rolled over and buried her head in Kagura's blankets. "You can stop trying to find a mate for Kohaku as well," she mumbled into the covers. "There's no way I'm giving him up."

A heavy stillness descended upon the room, for Kagura found herself shocked into silence. After a few difficult swallows, her voice returned. "Kohaku is this 'Ko-chan' you've been dating?" She groaned when the petite void nodded in the affirmative. "You're…you're really serious," she breathed. "Kanna…"

"Don't say it, please," her sister begged, lifting her head from the blanket. Kanna's eyes swam with tears. "I know how you feel about this, and I know what Mother's reaction is going to be. I just wanted you to know so you wouldn't waste your time trying to find Kohaku another mate."

"Kanna, why?" Kagura's mind was reeling with this new information. Her sister had fallen in love with a human. Their mother was going to explode.

"It just happened, okay?" Kanna replied, anger sparking from her eyes. "It's not like I went out looking for an unacceptable mate. I didn't get up one morning and say 'Such a lovely day - I think I'll fall in love with some human guy so my family can hate me!'"

"Take it easy, I never said I hated you," Kagura protested. When the disbelief shone through Kanna's eyes, she hurried to explain. "You're my sister, Kanna. I might think that what you're doing is wrong, but it doesn't mean I hate you!"

Kanna's shoulders were shaking by now, the white-haired youkai a picture of misery. Kagura moved to the bed and embraced her. "So that's what the fight was about, hm?" she asked the sniffling void. "A couple of lizard youkai decided to take a pot-shot at a mixed-race couple?"

A tearful nod was her only answer. With another sigh, Kagura patted her sister on the head and allowed Kanna to cry to her heart's content. It promised to be a long night.

……

As the first rays of morning light peeked through the window, Sesshomaru awakened to the feel of warm lips placing tender kisses against his bare chest. Kagome, his beautiful Kagome, was pressed against him, her mouth nibbling his skin, and the feelings it generated within him were indescribable. A groan rose from his throat, escaping before he was aware of its existence.

Kagome looked up at him, her eyes holding a dull glaze. "You enjoy my touch," she said in a low tone, her voice devoid of emotion. She moved her small hand, tracing his obvious reaction to her ministrations. "I can bring you more pleasure; I'm very skilled." She moved lower down his body.

He caught her by the shoulders and dragged her upward to meet his eyes. "What are you doing?" he asked softly, confused by her actions. Something about this was so very wrong. Sesshomaru cursed her new-found ability to block her emotions; once again, he was at a complete loss as to what she was feeling. "I have not asked this of you, Kagome."

As he cradled her head in his large hands, Sesshomaru began to understand what was happening. It seemed Kagome was trying to convince herself that she was of value to someone, if only for a vile purpose. She had changed in just a matter of hours from a vibrant, confident woman to a battered, hollow shell, believing she had no worth. How had this happened?

She answered him with eyes half-closed. "I'm only good for this," the slave whispered wearily. "I have years of practice at spreading my legs for demons." She pulled away from his embrace. "I suppose you don't like the idea of having a used, dirty slave."

"You suppose in error," Sesshomaru growled, yanking her back and pinning her beneath him. He descended upon her mouth hungrily, his hands traveling along her silken skin. "You see my reaction, Kagome," he rasped as he released her lips, briefly tracing the swollen petals with his tongue. "My blood is screaming for me to enjoy everything you have to offer."

He let go of her then, and rose from the bed. "I don't understand," Kagome complained tiredly, watching the inuyoukai hurriedly dress for the day. "If you want me, why don't you just take me?"

"Because it wouldn't be right, little miko," Sesshomaru told the bewildered slave. He grasped her chin and planted a kiss upon her forehead. "I want this. You don't, in spite of your actions that say otherwise." He drew back but continued to hold her face. "What in all the hells went on last night, Kagome?"

He was answered with silence and a wooden stare. "Later, then," Sesshomaru sighed. He tucked the girl back into the bed, wondering how he could possibly hope to help someone so broken.

……

Taisho grunted in pain as he rolled onto his back. The wounds weren't healing fast enough for his comfort, and he longed for the days when his youki would have sealed the cuts within mere hours. It simply wasn't comfortable to sleep on his side, although he enjoyed having Kaede's warmth next to him.

Kaede? His tired brain caught up with his body, registering the fact that his slave was lying next to him in the bed, wearing something black and silky. Hesitantly, he propped himself up on an elbow and touched her shoulder lightly with the dull side of his claw.

She broke off a snore and flopped onto her back, smacking Taisho across the face with her arm in the process. Taisho coughed, choking on the overwhelming scent that assailed him, the aroma of sake and…Toto-sai! That sly youkai had been with Kaede last night, taking advantage of her drunken state! Undoubtedly, the tricky metal-smith had dropped his disguise and allowed Kaede to see his true form…the sneaking bastard!

Snarling, he rolled away from her, his breathing harsh and labored. His golden eyes filled with crimson streaks as he tried to force from his mind the images of Toto-sai and Kaede locked in a passionate embrace. In desperation, he activated the signal that would hasten the guards to his room. He needed to get his wandering slave out of his sight, and soon, or there was no telling what he'd do to her in his anger.

……

"Taisho-sama!" Jakotsu cried as he passed through the barrier and charged into the room, ready to protect the dog-demon from harm. The sight before him caused him to stop abruptly. "Er, Taisho-sama?" he questioned uneasily.

In all his years of service to Taisho-sama, Jakotsu had rarely seen him so near to losing all control. The inuyoukai was slumped over near the edge of the bed, his features dangerously close to changing form. "Get her out of here," the youkai gasped, pointing a single claw at the slumbering form.

Jakotsu's eyes widened, but he quickly complied. Who was he, a humble guard, to question Taisho-sama? Scooping the unconscious Kaede up in his arms, Jakotsu quickly departed from the room. Whatever had happened, he decided, he didn't want to know about it.

As he moved down the corridor, the question of what he was actually going to do with the woman occurred to him. Ever ready to seize an opportune moment, Jakotsu grinned as a particularly tempting thought crossed his brain. He loved the idea of putting a wedge between Sango and his beloved Inu-Yasha. The previous night's tempest in the kitchen had not escaped his notice, but perhaps the former taijiya needed additional motivation to dislike the hanyou.

The security system had told Jakotsu of Inu-Yasha's current position; the half-demon was in his bathing chambers. After first checking to ensure no one else was around, Jakotsu snuck into Inu-Yasha's room and slipped Kaede beneath the covers of the bed. He was so preoccupied with stifling his giggles as he ducked out of the room that he failed to look at the security system and notice the presence of another.

……

Miroku stared in shock at the sight of the guard sneaking out of Inu-Yasha's room at such an early hour. He'd always known Jakotsu was gay (who didn't?) but he hadn't thought the brash hanyou would have welcomed the guard's advances. He mentally shrugged as he moved from his hiding place in the shadows. Whatever went on behind closed doors was none of his business.

……

"Were there any survivors?" Sesshomaru asked, his silvery brow arched in curiosity as he surveyed the damage to the kitchen. "Perhaps I should reconsider my habit of erecting a sound-proof barrier in my room." In truth, he'd kept the barrier up ever since the night he'd overheard the…noise…between his father and Kaede.

"I'm afraid there was a bit of commotion in here last night," Miroku answered him, entering the kitchen behind him. "I wasn't privy to the inner details, as I had also placed a sound-proof barrier at my door. From what I understand through listening to Koharu's hysterics, though, the girls are no longer speaking to Inu-Yasha."

"My brother is behind this, then? Why am not surprised?" Sesshomaru picked his way over the broken crockery, grimacing as he stepped into a dark, gooey mess. A casual sniff informed him the substance was chocolate pudding. "I believe I will be skipping breakfast this morning," he announced, wiping the offending goop from his foot.

……

Inu-Yasha stomped into his bedroom, ready to tear something apart with his claws. Last night had been the biggest nightmare of his life, and he could only hope he'd wake up and find it had never happened. He'd told Sango the truth, dammit, why wouldn't she believe him?

His ears lowered as he considered the possibility that she'd never speak to him again. Not that he'd blame her, really. He wasn't exactly some great prize of a male. He knew that sometimes he was nothing more than a grouchy, quick-tempered jerk, but he had actually dared to think that Sango had been able to see past all of that.

A sigh coming from the vicinity of the bed interrupted his wistful thoughts, just as a smell hit his nose. Kaede and alcohol and…Toto-sai? Revolted, he yanked the covers back from the slumbering woman and nearly fell over in shock at what he saw.

This couldn't be the old hag! Inu-Yasha tried to figure out what was happening, but as the lovely woman stirred in her sleep, her scent wafted across his nose once again. There was no question, this was Kaede! But why did she look so much younger?

He found himself shivering as he studied her face. Her resemblance to Kikyo was eerie. Inu-Yasha was aware that Kagome's elder sister Kikyo was the reincarnation of Kaede's elder sister, but he hadn't counted on the faces being so similar in build. He suddenly had a good idea of what Kikyo would look like when she was forty.

Well, the reason the woman was sleeping in his room didn't matter; he was getting her out of here. He didn't need some hung-over slave barfing on his sheets when she awakened. He scooped her up and carried her to her room.

The barrier at her door prevented him from entering, much to his disgust. He ran a fang across his lower lip, wondering where he could deposit his burden without causing too much trouble. He sure as hell wasn't going to approach Sango, Nazuna, or Koharu about this! And he didn't think Sesshomaru would be too cooperative, either. But he also didn't want to leave her in the hallway. If Sango found out, she'd run him through with a fondue skewer for being so disrespectful.

Wait…hadn't he caught the former monk departing Kaede's room the other morning? The letch had obviously been getting it on with the woman on the sly, so he'd be the perfect answer to this little problem. Having made his decision, Inu-Yasha carried the limp figure to Miroku's bedroom. He tucked the snoring slave beneath the blankets and left the room in search of breakfast, knowing this was one morning Sango would not be cooking.

……

Sesshomaru allowed his masking spell to drop once Inu-Yasha had left the hallway. He'd spotted his half-brother sneaking out of Miroku's room, and his curiosity had led him to disguise his presence. He felt a twinge of guilt, but he was glad he'd witnessed this.

It was no wonder that Inu-Yasha wasn't the least bit interested in Kagome, Sesshomaru realized, shaking his head. He'd been a fool in more ways than one, trying to match the two of them together. After all, his brother's interests clearly lay in another direction. Why hadn't Inu-Yasha told his family he was gay?

……

Taisho tossed and turned in the bed, too agitated to return to his sleep. Kaede's scent was all over his pillow and sheets, driving him crazy with lust and...and…oh hell, he couldn't keep pretending. He was jealous, plain and simple. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to run his claws through Toto-sai's throat, except that might make the demon's death come too quickly.

It was probably for the best that this had happened, Taisho admitted. Assassins were on his trail, his enemies were so numerous he'd lost count of them, and if any of the slaves were discovered before they'd gained their freedom, he was going to be executed. He could protect Kaede from outside dangers, but how could he protect her from the danger to himself? When he died, she would die.

Toto-sai could take care of her. He lived a quiet life, overlooked by a society that valued beauty and youth. Taisho often wondered if he should have done the same as Toto-sai, adopting a disguise to convince the world he was harmless.

Distracted by his thoughts, Taisho turned one time too many and fell from the bed. Cursing at the newly added pain to his wounds, he lay still for a moment to gather his strength. As he slowly started to move, his eyes fell upon the empty flask lying on the floor. He picked it up, his nose twitching at the smell left behind in the bottle. The scent of the potion was one he recognized.

He signaled for the guard once again, tapping his claws against the floor as he contemplated his next move. When a horrified Bankotsu arrived to find him lying on the floor, he silenced the guard mid-protest. "Don't worry about me, Bankotsu. I've got an errand for you."

"I'm always at your service, Taisho-sama," Bankotsu answered.Taisho handed him the empty flask. "Seal that in something to cover the scent and deliver it to Kikyo, Kagewaki's wife. Tell her it's a gift from me. She'll know what to do with it. I don't suppose I need to tell you to keep yourself from being seen while you're doing this. Oh, and you can help me back up into bed," he added gruffly. He despised being so weak, but there was no point in lying on the floor all day.

……

"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked the trembling human before him. As was customary, Hojo had delivered his reports to him as soon as he was settled behind his desk. This time, however, the man remained, obviously working up the courage to speak. Whatever the annoying human wanted, Sesshomaru wasn't in the mood to listen.

Hojo had found his voice. "I was wondering how Higurashi was doing, since she's not here at the office this morning," the man told him nervously. "After the incident at the club last night…"

Sesshomaru snapped to attention. "You were there?" he snarled dangerously. He stood up, towering over the smaller human. "I want every detail."

Hojo squeaked as Sesshomaru advanced toward him. "Honest, I don't really know the details of what happened! I was looking for Kagome so I could tell her that her date had to leave early, but when I found her she was being attacked by some guy!"

"Who dared to assault her?" Sesshomaru growled angrily. He gripped Hojo by the shirtfront, allowing his claws to prick the tender human skin beneath. "Why was this attack not reported to the police?"

At this, Hojo stiffened. "She immediately left with Yura. You'll have to ask her! And the man got away before I could get a good look at him."

The man was lying, Sesshomaru was certain. He played the part of a nervous human, but something about his scent was wrong. Beneath the air of innocent naivety, Sesshomaru could see something cunning. This human would bear watching.

Not wanting to tip his hand, Sesshomaru allowed his youki to settle. "Let me give you a warning, Hojo," he said in a low tone. "Whoever offends Higurashi also offends me. If you have nothing to do with her current state of mind, as you so claim, then you have no need to worry about your health."

Hojo bolted from the office, nearly sending Yura sprawling in his rush to get past her. "What's his hurry?" Yura asked, struggling to balance the load in her arms. She was carrying three potted plants. "I thought I'd put these in the windowsill," she explained to Sesshomaru. "This office needs some greenery. Whatever happened to the plants that were in here?"

"They were removed to another location," Sesshomaru answered smoothly. He wasn't about to tell Yura that the new location was the outside dumpster, where the shredded remains had been hidden. "Higurashi will not be coming to the office today, so you will handle any problems that arise in her absence."

"Great!" Yura beamed. A frown crossed her face suddenly. "Is she okay? I was kind of worried about her after dropping her off last night. She looked like death. And she refused to go to the police about the attempted rape, which really bothered me." She paused. "Er, she did tell you what happened last night, didn't she?"

"She will be all right," Sesshomaru answered vaguely, not wanting to reveal his ignorance of last night's events. "Yura, did you by any chance get a look at her attacker? Hojo claims he ran off before he could identify him."

Yura shrugged as she thought, her low-cut blouse slipping dangerously. "Um, nope. I saw a bunch of humans and demons I knew last night; the club was really crowded. Even Kagewaki was there." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Don't know what a demon-hater like him was doing, hanging around a mixed-race club. I guess he was slumming."

"Kagewaki was at the club?" Sesshomaru was shocked.

"Mmm, yeah." Yura worked the gum in her mouth. "His wife wasn't there, though, which kind of surprised me. I mean, she's the one who's related to Kagome, and I've never seen her husband away from her side. He seems like the jealous, possessive type. Can't imagine why a nice girl like Kikyo would dump your brother and marry him."

"Neither can I," Sesshomaru replied. "After all, Inu-Yasha has such a great personality." He rolled his eyes for effect before dismissing the gossiping Yura from his presence.

The office was quiet without his brother and Kagome in it. Inu-Yasha was out conducting some field studies, and Sesshomaru had looked forward to this day. He looked forward to any day in which he didn't have to work with his annoying brother. Stretching, Sesshomaru prepared to tackle the mountain of work in his inbox. At least he'd be able to get some work done in peace, without having to listen to Kagome and Inu-Yasha's bickering and tie-shredding antics. No, today would be peaceful, with no one to disturb him. He could focus without having to hear Kagome's soft humming and lilting voice, without smelling her scent permeating the room, tickling at the back of his senses and wrapping itself around his soul. He could concentrate!

Five minutes later, Sesshomaru finished snapping the pieces of his pencil in frustration. Who was he trying to fool? He couldn't concentrate for a single damn moment, not without Kagome beside him. Morosely, he wondered how he'd managed to find himself in this situation.

He was Sesshomaru, the acting officer of the company, son of Taisho! He was rich and handsome; he could have his pick of any of the thousands of females who worshiped at his feet. So why did he have to be so attracted to a human woman with an abusive past and unstable miko powers?

The heavens knew he wanted her, wanted her so desperately it made his body ache just to look at her. It was cruel that he could feel so strongly for a woman who was so emotionally raw. Sesshomaru knew that if he so much as made one wrong move, Kagome would push him away from her forever. And the thought of being without his little spitfire caused a pain he'd never felt before, somewhere in the vicinity of what he suspected was his heart.

……

A/N: What is Taisho up to this time? And what does our resident pervert, Miroku, plan on doing with his new-found knowledge of Kagura's activities? Hmmm…

Many thanks for the kind reviews! And many thanks to Wonder-Beta, TitianWren!

- Lavender