InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hidden Strength Within ❯ Chapter 32 ( Chapter 32 )

OK MY UP MOST APOLOGIES FOR TAKING THIS LONG…HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY!!!!

Previously:

“You did not keep your word, Demigoddess.”

She raised her head at that confusing statement and questioned, “And what word would that be Lord Sesshoumaru?”

“You have disobeyed me.”

‘What is he talking about?’ she wondered as she raised one eye brow in response.

“You did not come to the Palace of the West and help instruct Rin on what to expect. You removed my claim as your protector. You left when you had not been dismissed.” he stated as he closed the distance between them with each word spoken; ending only arms length from her.

Chapter 32:

Kagome was taken back by what he was saying, ‘Surely he is not meaning what I think he is. I must be taking what he is saying way out of context.’

“Excuse me my Lord but I don’t understand what you are saying.”

“Did you not give this Sesshoumaru your word to come to his palace after you collected the jewel shards to instruct Rin on the duties and responsibilities on what being a young woman would be like?”

“Yes I did but that was before…” she trailed off as Sesshoumaru interrupted her.

“Did you not leave my presence when Onigumo and Naraku were defeated without my dismissal?” he asked as he closed off the gap between them more.

“Yes but…”

“Did you not remove my mark? My mark that was given to you freely to declare me as your protector?” he finished by caressing her cheek with his newly formed hand.

Kagome’s eyes widened in shock, ‘When did his arm grow back? It’s just like my…’

“Um…Lord Sesshoumaru, how did your arm grow back?” she meekly asked.

He raised an eye brow at her question and merely stated, “It grew back during the night. It was a very intriguing dream, which caused its regeneration.”

Kagome quickly picked up on the spicy scent that he emitted and covered just as quickly, which of course made her remember her dream.

All too suddenly Kagome realized how close she was to Sesshoumaru and the fact that he still had his hand on her shoulder.

Sesshoumaru noticed her tense up but removed his hand rather than have her shrink away from him again.

‘She’s still tormented.’ whined his beast.

‘So it would seem so. There is no telling what she has been through these past seven months. It will take time for her to come around.’

“Would you like to finally keep your word and regain your honor Demigoddess?” Sesshoumaru asked with authority.

She gazed at him through true confusion. ‘Surely he would not dare sully his name and reputation to take me into his home. I can not do that to him.’

“Lord Sesshoumaru…”

“Just call me Sesshoumaru when it is just the two of us, Kagome.”

“Sesshoumaru, I can not ruin your reputation or your name. If you wish for me to still teach and train Rin for what she is to expect then I will do so but I will not live in the palace; I’ll make a hut within the forest that surrounds your palace. I do not wish to be a burden.” she finished while bowing her head.

‘Still unworthy; must convince.’ his beast whimpered.

“If that is what you need to do to perform your services than so be it. I shall have the carpenters start preparing to build you a suitable hut to live in.” he stated.

“That is unnecessary. I can build one myself; please don’t trouble your servants for me.”

“Nonsense, you will be housing Rin and yourself there; therefore I will guarantee that your hut is suitable and presentable to be built on my lands.” his voice held a hint of finality to keep Kagome from protesting more.

“Um…Lor…Sesshoumaru, have you heard of anything from Miroku, Ayame, Inuyasha, Sango, or Koga?”

Again that meticulous eye brow rose and Kagome found her whole attention being drawn to that one thing.

“Last I heard the wolf Princess and Prince are expecting their first pup soon. As for the half breed and demon slayer they still reside in the village within Inuyasha’s forest. I have heard of nothing from the mutt, though he seemed curious in the earth nymph.”

Before Kagome could ask anything else, she noticed a strong aura around them. ‘This aura seems familiar but I can’t place it. How do I know this aura; where do I know this aura from?’ she questioned.

‘It is I, Egeria, my Lady. I have been with you these past seven months and have done what I could to protect you from what has happened. Forgive this humble servant for not being able to stop all that you have suffered.’

Sesshoumaru watched as a single tear escaped Kagome’s silver blue eyes. ‘Why does she shed tears? Surely she is not saddened by the news of her once companions.’

“When you come to the palace, you will be able to visit with your former companions; they visit quite often, for the exception of the mutt.” came his stoic voice.

She wiped the lone tear from her face and nodded her head as she suddenly noticed another presence; Virbius.

‘My Lady, why do you torment yourself so? What has happened is in the past; a time to move on is at hand. Why can you not lean on the one who wishes to help you? Why can you not take the support and help that we, your servants, are trying to give to you? Though I have been with this demon these past seven months I assure you that not a day or moment has passed that Egeria, Sesshoumaru, or I have not thought of ways to finish healing you. It is past the time for you to stop running from your destiny and embrace it like you have always done in the past.’

Egeria was angered with Virbius for what he had said and how he stated it to their mistress.

Sensing the anger building in the water nymph Kagome spoke, “I thank you Sesshoumaru for your hospitality and accept. I would also like to tell you, Egeria that it is not necessary to forgive you; I and I alone must deal with all that has happened and none of it was your fault or yours to stop from occurring and thank you Virbius for knocking some sense into me.”

Sesshoumaru raised a brow as he finally realized that the two guardians were in fact within the clearing. ‘How long have they been around without my knowledge?’

As Sesshoumaru stretched his hand out for the demigoddess to take a strong wind picked up from the east. Virbius moved to create a barrier of protection but was unable to as the trees bent to another force.

Kagome stood ready for the attack and positioned herself in front of Sesshoumaru, which surprised the hell out of him as well as insulted his pride.

Just as she was to launch her attack the wind picked up again only this time throwing a being, more precise, a wolf at them. Said wolf came to a screeching halt at Kagome’s feet.

Slowly the wolf stood and dusted himself off while yelling towards the east, “Damn it Kagura you can’t keep her forever. She has just as much right as I do to find happiness. Don’t punish her and make her miserable just because you can’t get the gods to make you a humanoid form to mate with.”

Kagome stood stock still until recognition hit her like a ton of bricks and she busted out laughing.

“Still chasing after the women that are well protected brother?” she asked with childish mirth.

Koga stilled instantly in his rampage upon hearing his long lost sister’s voice. Slowly he turned to her only to find a growling Sesshoumaru not too far away and a beautiful smile plastered to Kagome’s face.

As he moved to encase her in a hug a water barrier formed around her while a vine barrier formed around him; all the while the wind blew wildly between the two.

“You will not and can not touch her yet Wolf. Forget not what she has been through and what powers course through her veins. Though she may wish you no harm, she will truly rid me of you once in for all for her traumatic past.” Kagura’s wise airy voice echoed over head.

‘I suppose not even I could hide anything from the wind for it is everywhere?’ Kagome wondered silently. “Egeria release me, it is okay. It is good to see and hear from you three again; Kagura, Kanna, and Koga. How have you three been?”

“Feh, I would be better if Kanna would just accept my proposition to court her and Kagura would leave her be to make her own decisions.” Koga growled as the wind picked up a branch and hit the barrier around him in the back.

Koga whirled around at the noise only to find Kanna standing within the barrier with him with a questioning look.

“Why do you wish so badly to court me Wolf?”

“It is the nature of my beast! I am a wolf and a lover of the earth and all of her wonders; it is only natural that I would crave a being born of it and able to wield its powers for their own use.” he smiled confidently.

Kagura groaned as the wind tried to break through the barrier around him again. “Kanna get away from him and stop trying to protect his weak ass. You can do better; he doesn’t deserve you.”

“Kagura you are wrong, Koga is the prefect match for me; though he still needs to prove it!” Kanna said with a mischievous smirk. “However you need not worry Kagura I will never leave you, you will always be with us sister!”

Once that was stated Kanna collapsed her barrier and all within into the ground. Just as Kagome was starting to panic for her brother’s safety Kagura’s laughing voice was heard.

“Fear not Demigoddess, the Wolf is fine! My sister has simply taken him on a quest; if he succeeds he will have the right to court her, if not then he must concede that he is unworthy of her. My bet is on his failure!”

“You are wrong Kagura, the Wolf will succeed; all beings who place their heart and soul into their goal always come out victorious.” Sesshoumaru stated all the while staring at the back of Kagome’s head as it lowered to the ground.

With a huff Kagura rushed out of the clearing to track down Kanna and Koga once again. ‘It will be fun to make his mission even harder with the wind blowing against him the whole time!’ she mused.

“Sess…” Kagome started while staring at the ground. “Sesshoumaru I don’t know if things will work out or not, much less how long I will be able to stay but I will try.”

Sesshoumaru walked stealthily towards her only to turn her to face him by placing his hand under her chin once she was turned.

“Will you disobey me again? How many more months must I be tortured by visions of you at night?” he stated aloud unconsciously.

She gasped as she started to wonder if her dreams were being pushed into his mind as well. Suddenly a faint glow caught her attention and she slowly raised a shaky hand to his collarbone where she instantly found the necklace she had once given him; a trinket to allow him into her mind, her soul.

Shrinking back after her discovery she quickly gasped and covered her mouth while stating, “I am so sorry…”

“Don’t be!” he huskily stated as he swooped in for a kiss.

Shippo arrived back at the in time to see Princess Ayame and Prince Miroku, as well as Inuyasha and Sango be welcomed in by Rin.

“Hey guys! What brings you all here?” Shippo stated as he walked up behind Rin, unconsciously placing his hand on her shoulder as a sign of possession; which went unnoticed to none but Rin and Shippo.

Inuyasha smirked to Sango before replying, “Nothing Runt just heard that there was going to be a ball tonight for something or another and that I had to attend or die; same old threats that Sesshoumaru always spews.”

Sango playfully elbowed him in the ribs for almost ruining the surprise for Shippo.

“So Lord Sesshoumaru sent you guys the invitation for my ceremony tonight?” Shippo asked gleefully.

“Don’t tell me that stick in the mud ruined his own surprise?” Inuyasha asked.

“Shippo, why would Lord Sesshoumaru tell you early?” Miroku finally asked.

“Oh well while I was on my morning exercise run I ran into a problem by the south-eastern borders. A demoness was being chased into that area from the south by a lot of rogue low level demons, so I went to investigate and to help.” Shippo stated nonchalantly.

“Ah young Shippo is becoming a knight in shining armor!! Helping the helpless damsel in distress now are we Shippo?” Miroku taunted playfully watching the young Fox blush.

Rin visibly tensed at his statement. ‘He rescued a demoness from harm? Did he get hurt?’ she wondered as she turned to face him, only to find that he was not injured.

“So what happened, why did Lord Sesshoumaru feel the need to tell you his surprise?” Sango patiently asked.

“Well I got there and fought along side this demoness to kill the threat only for Lord Sesshoumaru to appear at the end and kill the rest. That was when I was able to meet the demoness I fought along side with. It was Kagome!”

As everyone’s face fell to that of shock and surprise Shippo continued. “Lord Sesshoumaru then told me about my promotion and told me to report back to the palace and get ready for tonight.”

“Wait, what? You left Kagome alone with HIM?” Inuyasha yelled disbelievingly. “How in the hell could you leave her alone with him after what she has been through? Who knows what that cold hearted bastard is doing to her right this minute.”

Rin smirked at that and silently walked towards the palace. ‘Who knows indeed!’


AUTHOR’S NOTES:

Okay again sorry for the long wait but hopefully this chapter was worth it!!! (hoping anyways) Keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t take this long for the next update but no promises as I am trying to figure out if I am about to close this story and immediately work on its sequel or continue with this one story and just go ahead and start working in the new villain? So many options and a lot of readers that wish for me to continue my story ‘The Curse: One of Life and One of Death’

Here is your challenge:

Should I continue with this as a very LONG story and just go ahead and start working in the new villain

OR

Bring this one to a close and start immediately on its sequel?

OR

Continue with this as a very LONG story and TRY and start the sequel to ‘The Curse’???

All I know is I am seeing green with my new villain…green monsters with very jealous driven intentions that will awaken a beast worthy of fear!!!! Enjoy and looking forward to the reviews and response!!! (Hope you all like my insight on the new villain/villains)