InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Longest Journey ❯ West Meets North ( Chapter 15 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 15: West Meets North

Myoga had spent four days searching for his Lord's oldest son, and trying to figure out how to come out of the meeting alive. Sesshoumaru had never been a kind or easy Master, and Myoga always stayed as far away from him as possible. Now, he was deliberately searching him out - and dreading it.

The first one he came upon was the strange human child that followed Sesshoumaru, followed quickly by his gami servant. Myoga had the crow drop him off on the little girl, knowing that for whatever reason, Sesshoumaru never let her get too far away from him, and knew that it was only a matter of time before he was noticed.

"Rin."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?" The young girl skipped to his side immediately, looking up trustingly into his face.

"Hold still." With a delicate claw, he reached out and grabbed Myoga from the girl's shoulder, holding him firmly by the head. "You may go play now, but stay close to Jaken."

She grinned at him and then spun away. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin will stay close to Master Jaken!"

Sesshoumaru's attention was already glued firmly to Myoga. "Tell me, flea, why I should not kill you for touching what belongs to me."

Myoga whimpered fearfully. "I didn't drink any of her blood, my Lord, honest! I am here to deliver a message, that's all, I swear!"

He raised a brow. "Well, what is this message, then? Do not waste my time, Myoga. Speak."

"My Lord, your father has returned! He told me to tell you that 'the sakura blossoms never fall at your mother's palace', and that you would know I spoke the truth."

Sesshoumaru was shocked. This was not something he had ever expected to hear again - but even still, he didn't lose his stoic expression. Squeezing the flea gently, he asked, "What, then, is the message?"

"He wants to meet you along the border between the Northern Lands and the Western Lands - near the place where he fought Ryuukotsusei. He said you would know of it."

"Hn. Why would he choose a place that was anywhere near that annoying fool of a Northern Lord? Ah, yes, he wouldn't know about him, since he was not around when this particular fool took over."

Myoga shook his head, and laughed nervously. "Well... that's not exactly true, my Lord. I'm pleased to inform you that your father already took care of that idiot - he made the mistake of challenging your father. The great and terrible Sugimi-sama is just as powerful now as he always was - and now he rules the Northern Lands."

At this Seshoumaru's brows both disappeared under his bangs. So his father wasn't wasting any time, was he? Things had just gotten very much more interesting.

"I assume father has sent for my idiot brother as well?"

"Y-yes, my Lord, actually, they are to meet you at the rendezvous in three days."

Sesshoumaru flicked the flea off his finger. "Jaken," he called.

"Yes, my Lord!"

"You and Rin will ride on Ah-Uhn. We will be moving quickly."

"Yes, my Lord. Rin, you annoying girl! Get over here - our Lord wants us to ride Ah-Uhn, so hurry it up. Don't keep us waiting, you foolish child!"

"Yes, Master Jaken," she carrolled, running up to Ah-Uhn and climbing up. "Rin is ready, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"Good. We leave now."

Myoga groaned as he peeled himself off the ground, then with a frantic cry, realized they were leaving him behind. Calling his crow, he hopped up and took off after the group ahead of him, keeping a safe distance back.

Better safe than sorry, and anyone who got too close to Sesshoumaru usually found themselves sorry.

---zZz---

Sugimi paced, finding himself a tad bit on the annoyed side. First, his youngest pup was really pushing his buttons with his stubborn belief that Kagome would be his. He was pushing all the buttons he could, without coming right out and challenging him, and Sugimi was ready to take him out for a 'sparring session', or in other words, an ass-whipping.

Second, his oldest had still not arrived, although he was en-route, as Sugimi could feel his son's aura touching his own around the edges, as if trying to determine that it really was him. He chuckled. That was Sesshoumaru all over, boy's left side didn't trust his right side... he wouldn't fully believe it till he'd arrived and tested it in every way he could think of.

He glanced over towards the fire, and watched his sweet onna smile and laugh, talking happily to Sango and Kikyou, with the fox kit and Kisho once again curled into her lap. She would make an awesome mother to their pups, and he couldn't wait to get started on that, he really couldn't. Every move she made was provoking him, and if she wasn't careful, she'd find herself flat on her back being mated in front of the whole group.

Speaking of which, he turned away from everyone, and adjusted himself with a wince... This is getting old, fast. There just isn't enough cold water to drown this...

Inuyasha was sitting, leaned up against a tree behind where the women were, and while he'd been staring at Kagome and Kikyou, his thoughts had gotten a bit on the dirty side as well, so it wasn't all that surprising that both he and his father caught each others aroused scents at about the same time, and the rest of the camp was caught completely off-guard when both males suddenly ended up in each others faces, eyes flashing red, and growling.

Kagome moved the two happily snoozing small furries out of her lap, and side-by-side with Kikyou, ran to the two, pushing her way in between them. Sugimi stepped back at first, but then pushed right back in when Inuyasha attempted to grab both women and claim "Mine!"

Kagome and Kikyou both smacked the hell out of the hanyou, and as soon as he let go in his startlement, Sugimi grabbed Kagome and moved back, holding her tightly to him and growling demandingly at his pup. He was ordering him to back down, now.

Just as Inuyasha snarled back, Sesshoumaru's amused tones broke in.

"Well, little brother, still a fool, I see. Father is ordering you to back down - if you do not, you will be challenging him for his status as Alpha." A brow raised into his bangs as he stared at his brother in amusement. "I would be more than willing to sit and watch father wipe you out, if you are truly stupid enough to keep pushing."

Sugimi growled louder, and glanced over at Sesshoumaru. "That goes for you, too, pup," he snarled, "I don't need you making things worse with your brother right now. This isn't the time for your antagonistic ways, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru stared at his father for a moment, no expression on his face, then bowed his head at him. "Very well, father, I will wait 'til later to antagonize the whelp." He faced him fully. "In the meantime, why did you call me here?"

Kagome tightened her arms around Sugimi for a moment, then let go and stepped back, turning to look at Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I am glad to see you. Is Rin with you? I would like to see her, I've missed her this last year."

Sesshoumaru stared at the woman who'd detached herself from his father's embrace, stunned. It was the younger miko, Kagome. When he'd been told that she'd died, he'd been a tiny bit saddened, he would admit it. She had turned out to be an acceptable ningen, unlike most, she was clean, smelled good, was smart, never gave up, and had courage. Rin had also been very upset, so to see her now, here, was very surprising.

"Miko, I had been told you were dead." He tilted his head towards his father. "And he was dead. This must be an interesting tale. I would hear it. And yes... Rin is with me. Jaken and she will appear in a moment."

At that, Sugimi groaned. "Not that obnoxious gami of yours, Sesshoumaru! Hasn't anyone in the two hundred years I've been dead managed to kill the stupid toad?" He had never liked Jaken, the bastard was a whiny ass-kisser.

Kagome kept her laughter internal as she smacked his hand. "Sugimi! Don't say things like that, Rin is somewhat attached to Jaken, and I won't have you upsetting her. Come, everyone sit down. This will be a long discussion - again." She rolled her eyes, thankful that this would be the last time they'd have to go through all this. It was getting old, having to keep re-telling the story.

When Ah-Uhn appeared with Jaken and Rin, Kagome ran out to meet them, and Rin squealed with joy when she realized who it was. After several minutes of joyous hugs and kisses, Kagome led her over to the fire, and introduced her to Sugimi.

"Rin, I want you to meet someone. This is Sugimi-sama. He is Sesshoumaru sama's and Inuyasha-sama's father." She turned to Sugimi, who was staring with fascination at the tiny child, and said, "Sugimi, this is Rin. She is the little girl I was telling you about. Is she not adorable? If we have a daughter, I want her to be just like Rin."

Rin beamed shyly at the handsome Lord. "Rin is pleased to meet you, Sugimi-sama. Are you really my Sesshoumaru-sama's father?" She leaned closer as Sugimi, enchanted, nodded, then smiled even wider and said, "You are lucky to have Sesshoumaru-sama as a son, my Lord. He is very special."

Everyone smiled, except Sesshoumaru, of course, and Inuyasha, who just huffed sulkily. "Yeah, special. Hmmph. Whatever." He jumped when a sudden slash across his chest caught him, and he looked down to see the sizzle, where his brother's whip had gotten him.

"No one asked you for your opinion, fool, and you will not speak derogatorily about me in Rin's presence, is that understood? I will not have her upset." He stared at his younger brother for a moment, then turned back to Sugimi.

"Now, father, is there a reason that you have been hanging all over the miko since I arrived?"

Trust Sesshoumaru to come up with a loaded question to start off the discussions.

Everyone got quiet at that. The world was well aware of Sesshoumaru's opinion of ningens, and he had hated the last one his father was involved with, so everyone was pretty sure things were going to get dicey over this one.

Sugimi just narrowed his eyes at his son and flared his aura warningly. "There is. She is my intended mate. Do you have something to say against it?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome, then back to his father. "For the Miko's sake? No." The group was surprised, and Kagome not the least. "However, have you forgotten mother?"

A dead silence met that.

Kagome turned to look at Sugimi suspiciously. "What does he mean, his mother? Is his mother still alive?"

He growled irritatedly at his son. "His mother is still alive, yes, but he knows full well that we were never mated." He got that out before Kagome could really start to get upset. "What we had was based on an agreement that I would provide her with estates and title of her own, to get her away from her abusive father, and in exchange, she would give me an heir. We never mated. We were friends, that's all."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "This is true. However, you know mother. While I do not have a problem with you mating the Miko, she will. It is simple jealousy for her, nothing personal, miko," he addressed Kagome, "to her, it is a hit to her pride that while he would not mate her, he would mate ningens, who she sees as beneath her." He shrugged. "Most, of course, are, however, she does not understand that there are some few," here he glanced at Rin, who grinned at her Lord, "that are worthy."

Sugimi shook his head, shocked. He would never have believed it if he hadn't seen it himself. Sesshoumaru had finally learned that there were some ningens worthy of being protected, and apparently, he found Kagome as worthy, as well. He was pleased that he would not have to fight with this son about the matter, one was enough.

Kagome blushed, not sure what to make of this approbation from the stern daiyoukai. With a tentative smile in his direction, she sat down next to her Lord, and held out her arms to Rin and Shippo, who both promptly curled up together in her lap, leaving Kisho to hiss in irritation, then stalk off and curl up instead with his sister.

Looking up at Sesshoumaru after the children had settled themselves, she asked, "So you really don't have a problem with me... and your father?"

He shook his head. "No."

"But I thought that you hated hanyou, my Lord."

"No, I just despise Inuyasha. He acts like a spoiled child a great deal of the time, especially when he doesn't get what he wants."

Kikyou and Kagome's eyes met at that, and they both rolled them in agreement, while Sango and Miroku just laughed. Sugimi, however, growled at his youngest pup, who was glaring at his brother.

"Indeed, he does, and it is something, in this case at least, that he'd better get over. I will only continue to be understanding for a short time, Inuyasha, and if you continue to challenge me over Kagome, I will fight you."

At that, Sesshoumaru turned and stared at his brother, visibly shocked. "Are you truly that foolish?! You would never be able to defeat our father in a challenge, idiot. You are playing with your life, and that makes no sense. Why do you care who father mates? You have your own."

Inuyasha growled at his brother, but before he could say anything, Sugimi spoke.

"He thinks to take Kagome as second mate, even though I already have courtship claim, and she has agreed to be my mate, the boy will not back down. He does not seem to understand that he cannot have her."

Sesshoumaru glared at Inuyasha. "I never thought you this dishonorable, half-breed. It appears that you have proven me wrong in that. If you have any brains in that head of yours, you will give up this insane idea, because father will never back away from an onna he wants - believe me. It doesn't matter to him what anyone else says."

Inuyasha stood and backed away from the group around the fire, head lowered, and bangs covering his eyes. Clenching his fists tightly, he said, "I would rather him kill me than live knowing he has Kagome - knowing that he puts his hands on her and takes her. I will not back down - and I will find a way to fight you if I have to, old man." He looked at Kikyou, and then the others. "Do not follow me. I'm going out on my own - and I will find a way." Looking longingly at Kikyou, then at Kagome, he finished. "I can't let you go, Kagome. I love you too much, and I know you loved me once, so somehow, I'll find a way to make you love me again."

With that, he turned and leaped off into the darkening evening, ignoring the calls of his friends and his mate, he disappeared into the distance, a bright spot of red that resembled nothing so much as blood to Kagome's teary eyes.

She looked up at Kikyou, sadness flowing through her aura, and cried harder. "I'm so sorry, Kikyou! I've tried to make him see, but he won't listen!" She broke down, hands covering her face, as she erupted into sobs... Rin and Shippo hugging her fiercely, trying to get her to calm down.

Kikyou, tears in her eyes as well, just shook her head. "It's not your fault, Kagome, so don't feel guilty. Inuyasha's causing this all on his own."

"Indeed, miko. Inuyasha's troubles in life have usually been brought on by his own actions - not those of others. You are not at fault in this." He glanced at his father. "Do you wish for me to bring him back?"

Kikyou interrupted that. "No, please. He will only sneak off the moment our attention is on something else. Maybe a few days away will get things in perspective for him."

Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at her, then glanced again at his father, who shook his head. "We will respect his mate's wishes, my son. Besides, she is correct. He would merely keep trying to get away - we cannot protect him from himself. However... Myoga." He waited for the squeaky voice of his retainer. "Follow Inuyasha. Do not approach him but stay near. If anything happens to him, find me."

Myoga nodded, then calling to his crow, disappeared into the cool evening air following his young charge.

Kagome had stopped sobbing, although tears still fell down her cheeks, and Sugimi stood and, asking the children to go sit with the others, he picked her up into his arms and said, "We need some time alone. We will be back later."

Not waiting for their acknowledgement, he turned and disappeared with his onna into the night.