InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Phoenix Blade: Time Lapse ❯ Reality Check ( Chapter 51 )

Disclaimer: Don't own…don't sue. Tormenting them purely for my own sadistic pleasure. All characters and most situations owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Shogakukan Publishing. Also don't own anything to do with the `Final Fantasy' franchise (How can it be `final' when it's up to what, edition forty-six? But I digress…wouldn't mind `borrowing' Sephiroth, however…)

 

A/N: The usual coarse language alert, plus some lemony activity in the last quarter of the chapter, so the underage or the squeamish may wish to avoid that section.

 

Bouquets to Kira-Jayde and Neko Lady for their suggestions, and to the House of Noko for their opinions on odds `n sods in this chapter.

 

The Phoenix Blade: Time Lapse

Chapter 51: Reality Check

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

Present Day

 

“Kagome! It's an emergency!” Mrs. Higurashi shouted across the courtyard, and the girl spun, hand on hilt, ignoring the twinges from her wounds and moved rapidly towards her.

 

“What is it, mom?”

 

Mrs. Higurashi stopped dead in her tracks, her hand flying to her mouth as she took in her daughter's rather tattered appearance. “Kagome…what happened?”

 

The girl ran her hand over her rinsed (but still demon-gut dappled hair), and winced, glad that her cloak covered up her injured arm. “Found a bit of trouble, mom. It looks worse than it is. What's up? You sounded upset…”

 

“Oh…yes…oh, my goodness. This is not good, not at all. I've been trying to contact Yashita or Lord Sessaki to tell them you hadn't arrived yet, but they have their phones turned off. You're expected…” Kagome noticed the thick envelope that her mother was worrying between her fingers, and reached to retrieve it before it was crumpled beyond recognition.

 

Glancing at it, she instantly recognized the weight and texture of the missive to be that of Imperial quality…and that it was addressed to her. With a puzzled frown, she opened it and pulled out the heavy, square card from within. Mrs. Higurashi watched her daughter anxiously as she scanned the flowing, deceptively casual hirigana:

 

The presence of

 

Lady Kagome Higurashi

Of

The House of the Western Lands

 

is required at the

Rehearsal Reception

in honour of

 

Yukihime & Shikoro

 

Tokyo Hilton, Shinjuku, at 7:00 in the Kiku Room.

Cocktails; Dinner to Follow

Informal dress

 

 

“Good fucking grief…is this for real?” she looked at her mother in disbelief.

 

Mrs. Higurashi nodded. “They expected that you would be home a couple of days ago; I've been fielding phone calls nearly every hour on the hour since noon today from Yashita, so I'm very puzzled as to why I can't reach him now.” She took a closer look at what appeared to be spatters of dried blood, and the half-destroyed grey leather tunic. “I'm sure that you'd be excused from attending tonight, so long as you're ready for the wedding tomorrow…”

 

Kagome had been re-reading the invitation, and her eyebrows abruptly disappeared into her hairline when she noticed the subtle way the hirigana had been written so that the usual `requested' became `required'. Instantly incensed, she tried to control herself in front of her mother, and gave that up in favour of a good rant… after the week she'd just had, she deserved it.

 

“Goddamfuckingarroganttaiyoukaiprick!”

 

Her mother blinked, and took a long step backward. Kagome's aura crackled around her, and silver spiralled into her irises. She crushed the invitation in her fist, counted to twenty, and snapped molten eyes on her astonished parent. “What time is it?”

 

“6:25…”

 

“Well, then it's `come as you are'. Could you please bring my helmet, gloves and keys? It appears that my presence is required by the House of the Western Lands, so I'll have to move it to make the festivities on time.”

 

Her mother eyed the glowing girl, and ventured, “Kagome…is this wise?”

 

There was a brief bark of laughter. “More than likely not…if I could, I'd send you. Some demons of our acquaintance really need a reality check.”

 

“Speaking of demons, where is Inuyasha?”

 

“He went back to retrieve the rest of our group; he'll be here tomorrow night, I expect. Will you go find my gear, please?” As Kagome whirled towards the shed, her cloak slid off one shoulder; her mother took one look at the gaping slice across the back of her tunic and gasped in horror.

 

“You're injured!”

 

Kagome shrugged and kept going. “Like I said before, not as bad as it looks,” she called over her shoulder. “Shake a leg, mom. I'll have to risk a speeding ticket as it is to make it on time. That hotel's half-way across Tokyo.”

 

“All right, dear…but please don't do anything rash.”

 

Kagome flashed a startlingly toothy grin. “Who, me?”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

A few minutes later, outside the shed…

 

“Please save some dinner for me? I'd love a long hot shower and then a bath to melt off all this crud, too. Grrr…can you help me with this?” Kagome squirmed on the saddle of her idling motorcycle, mentally cursing the limited mobility of her left arm. In the process of moving her sword from her hip to her back, she had managed to hook the strap of her quiver over the hilt but was now experiencing some technical difficulties while trying to poke the end of the scabbard into her obi. She reflected that she ought to perhaps feel greater empathy for Sesshomaru.

 

“Do you really need to take these?” Her mother tapped the quiver.

 

Kagome fixed her with a look. “Do you think I'm going into a room full of demons without packing weaponry?”

 

“I would think that the guests would be fairly harmless…”

 

The girl snorted. “They're demons, mom. Claws, fangs…bad tempers. Not taking any chances.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi clucked her tongue, and then nearly swallowed it when she spotted not only the split in the back of the tunic, but also the gash in Kagome's left sleeve. “Kagome, should you be driving with these injuries? I can call a taxi…”

 

The girl couldn't help but snicker. “Sure, mom. How thrilled do you think they'd be to pick up a client who looks like she takes `Final Fantasy' cosplay a little too seriously?”

 

“You could get changed first…”

 

“Forget it. I aim to be back in an hour and a half, tops. Shove the end of the scabbard into the obi for me, please.” Her mother complied, muttering darkly about public opinion, which Kagome ignored. The tails of her sash were already tucked in, so she exhaled and cautiously stretched over the gas tank, testing her arm. It wasn't painful at all; well, not if she discounted the general discomfort and mild throbbing it had settled down to. Her back complained loudly, since her sword was putting pressure on the cut back there; she ignored it, and pulled on her helmet.

 

Her mother laid a hand on her wrist, concern writ large on her face. “Are you sure you don't want me to try and contact your husband again?”

 

She revved the engine and fastened her chin strap before answering. “No. They're probably at the venue already, and will be expecting me. If Sessaki wants a situation report that badly, it's my duty to give him one.” She grinned cheekily at Mrs. Higurashi's doubtful look while pulling on her gloves. “See ya, mom!” Flipping the visor into place, she rolled slowly down the access road, weaving the tires to warm them up, then punched the throttle and roared out the shrine gates in a scuttering of gravel.

 

Mrs. Higurashi watched the red bike disappear, then heaved a small sigh. She wished Sota and Akagane were at the shrine with her; they were babysitting Akagane's two younger brothers for the evening, so she was alone except for…

 

“Was that Kagome?”

 

She smiled at the befuddled look on the old man's face and tucked her hand under his arm. “It was, father… looks like there might be fireworks tonight…”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

As soon as she hit the on-ramp, Kagome engaged her battle-sight and became a red-and-grey blur. Dodging in and out of traffic, riding the white line nearly exclusively, she left a silvery vapour trail behind her. The vibration of her bike set her arm to angry throbbing, but she gritted her teeth and ignored it, concentrating on reaching her destination in one piece. The passage of what appeared to be a small comet caused much consternation among the other drivers but only a few minor near-misses in its wake.

 

Twenty-one minutes later, a red motorcycle with a strangely-garbed rider pulled up in the porte-cochere of the Tokyo Hilton. The frock-coated, white-gloved, top-hat and earpiece-equipped concierge blinked at the apparition, then put his nose in the air and turned away, taking a close interest in the patterns of the marble sheathing next to his station. Kagome bit her lip inside her helmet. I don't have time to look for parking, or I'll be late as well as inappropriately dressed. Here goes nothing…

 

Are we there yet? I can't look…

You can let go now, Fenik. The Phoenix has landed.

Sorry, guys. Was that a little too fast for you?

Only slightly less reckless than going head to head with Sessaki.

With any luck, he'll throw us right back out, and we can go home.

You've had horseshoes up your ass for the last couple of days, Nixie. Don't keep counting on them.

I don't need luck; I have you, Fennie darling!

Crap. We're doomed.

What do you mean `we', Fenik?

Et tu, Riko?

 

She kept an eye on the concierge as she hopped the front tire onto the curb, revved the throttle slightly to bring up the rear, and then rolled the bike to a stop at the side of the large sliding front doors, angling the forks and putting down the kickstand. She slid off, unintentionally obscuring the snarling-dog logo on the engine cowling as she removed her gloves. She caught the flaring hem of the man's long formal coat from under her lashes, and heard the disdainful snort as he undoubtedly looked her over and found her appearance somewhat inappropriate.

 

“This is not a parkade, miss. Kindly move your machine.”

 

Kagome flashed the disgruntled concierge a dazzling smile as she pulled off her helmet and ran her hand through her hair, trying to think of an excuse for why she needed to park here. He opened his mouth to remonstrate with her, but then his jaw sagged and his eyes popped. Puzzled, Kagome followed his line of sight, and realized he had noticed the logo; she couldn't help grinning in relief. Maybe this will finally come in handy… “I really need to be at an event in the next couple of minutes, sir…I won't be here long.” She turned on the biggest puppy-dog eyes she could manage. “Do you think you could overlook it this once?”

 

“Yes…yes, of course, miss!” He bobbed several rapid bows. “You are welcome to leave your motorcycle in that spot for as long as you wish…in fact, would you like to bring it farther under cover? It looks like rain…”

 

Kagome cast a glance at the flawless evening sky and shook her head. “That's quite all right. As I said, I won't be here long. By any chance, could you tell me which floor the Kiku Room is on?”

 

“Absolutely, miss. Seventeenth.”

 

“Thank you!” She beamed at him, tucking her gloves into her helmet, and then they were fairly pulled from her hands.

 

“Allow me to hold these items for you, miss. There is no need for you to carry them.”

 

She smiled brightly at him again, noted the sweat beading his temples. “I do appreciate this, sir. I won't trouble you for long.” She inclined her head graciously, and headed through the sliding doors across the hushed, gleaming marble expanse towards the elevators on the far wall. Behind her, she could hear him talking rapidly into his earpiece, probably alerting whoever might care that she was on her way.

 

The elevator girls gaped at her; she smiled sweetly at the nearest one. “Going up, please.” The girl gathered her wits and jabbed the button; a set of doors opened immediately, and Kagome sailed in. Once inside, she punched the appropriate button and took a moment to check herself out in the mirrored wall panel. Pulling Fenikkusuken out of its temporary location on her back, she replaced it at her hip, wincing as her arm gave a painful twinge. She freed the ends of her obi, then straightened her tunic hem and flipped her hair back over her shoulders. Her dragon-hide was certainly grimy enough; she wondered how bad she actually smelled. At that moment, the doors `pinged' and opened. She squared her shoulders, fixed a polite smile on her face, and marched out.

 

A matched set of two tall, impassive bodyguard types, complete with dark glasses and earpieces disappearing under the collars of their matching dark grey tailored suits, stood sentinel on either side of a large door carved to imitate a silk screen directly opposite the elevators. Kagome stopped several paces away and bowed respectfully, her hand drifting to the hilt of her sword as she straightened up. “Good evening, gentlemen. I am here for the Court of the Western Lands reception.”

 

“Of course, Lady Kagome. It is a pleasure to see you again.” The slightly taller of the two nodded to her; she cocked her head on the side and eyed them narrowly, noting the faint youkai energy signatures.

 

“Have we met, gentlemen…?”

 

“Not yet, my lady…I'm sure you'd remember us if you had!” The other, slightly shorter demon grinned cheekily at her and opened the door, indicating that she should enter. She arched her eyebrows at them and then smirked.

 

“I get it…on the other end of time. See you in a few minutes.”

 

“You are not planning on staying, my lady?” It was said blandly enough, but there was humour in his voice.

 

She indicated her battered tunic with a chuckle. “I think I violate more than one section of the dress code…I'm here to give a report.” Both of the demons snorted, and then she entered the foyer as the door closed behind her. No one seemed to have removed their shoes, much to her relief, so she composed herself by taking a deep breath, straightening herself as if she was on the parade ground, passed through the coat check area, and paused on the threshold of the reception proper.

 

The high-ceilinged, elegant room was alive with murmured conversation, laughter…and crowded with humans and hanyous and humanoid demons in an amazing array of shapes and sizes. Kagome blinked as a willowy creature floated past, wearing a slinky coral-coloured gown that accented the delicate blue scales patterning the swathe of pale skin bared by the low-cut back. Refocusing her attention, she finally picked out the unmistakeable glimmer of silver on the far side of the room, and began to make her way through the crowd before she lost her nerve.

 

The rather strong scent of rancid demon guts caught the party-goers' attention, so much so that by the time she was half-way to her goal, she had a clear line of sight to Yashita and Sessaki as the crowd parted before her. Her husband and her brother-in-law broke off an animated conversation with Kogashu to stare at her in shock. Keeping herself as rigid as if she were parading before the Imperial Family, Kagome marched across the intervening space, her boots thudding on the carpets, leaving silence and a trail of dropped jaws in her wake.

 

Halting the exact prescribed distance away from the taiyoukai, Kagome bowed and then snapped off a crisp salute, noting as she did the way Sessaki's eyes narrowed. She turned and repeated her actions to Kogashu, then swung to Yashita. Distantly, she remembered from somewhere that she ought to have greeted her husband first…Crap. Too late to back out now…should have sent my mom...

 

Yashita seemed rooted to the spot, his ears slightly flattened, staring at her with a mixture of horror and disbelief on his handsome face. His silver mane was loose over his shoulders, and he looked rather delicious in a dark crimson silk shirt and pleated soft black leather pants. She quirked a tiny smile at him, then bowed and saluted before turning back to square up to Sessaki.

 

“Higurashi reporting, sir.”

 

You could have heard a flea-demon sneeze.

 

Sessaki took in the bloodied and heavily damaged dragon-hide, the full array of weapons…plus the slightest waft of a sour scent he recognized as hinting at infection... then made the only decision he could. “Follow.” He turned and swept away; Kagome fell into step at his heels, back straight, chin up. She sensed Yashita behind her, and gave a tiny sigh of relief. He isn't sending me in there alone…

 

A door opened, and she followed Sessaki into what was obviously a holding area for the canapés. The wait staff took one look and scarpered, leaving the three of them alone. The silence stretched; Sessaki was lightly wreathed in green vapour, which gave his oyster-grey suit jacket an eerie glow. Kagome powered up her own aura a little bit in response and waited nervously. Behind her, she heard Yashita shift slightly. Facing the music…here we go…

 

“Explain yourself.” His cold tone made her cringe, but she took a firm grip on her gibbering nerves.

 

“I was in the field less than an hour ago.” She flicked her glance up to meet his stern yellow gaze for a moment, then returned to `eyes-front'. “Since my presence was required, I made every effort to be here on time.”

 

“Tonight was to be your first official appearance as a member of this House.” Ice dripped; she tried not to squirm, as she could hear her mother's `I told you so' rather clearly in her imagination.

 

“I was under the impression this event was in honour of your daughter and her betrothed. Forgive me for not reading between the lines. May I present my situation report?”

 

“Irrelevant.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand and pinned her with an angry glare. “You disgrace this House.”

 

Stung, Kagome flared. “Disgrace…? To be blunt, sir, I'm in the middle of a war, and the bad guy doesn't take time off!”

 

Claws lightly touched her shoulders. “Sess, she's obviously just seen action…” A fierce growl was aimed over her head, and Yashita's hands dropped away.

 

“Her appearance is inexcusable and an insult.”

 

Kagome's jaw dropped, and silver roared up around her. “Excuse me for not rearranging the mission so that I could be available on your schedule! How dare you bitch at me for not making your damn House look good!” She ignored Sessaki's growl and forged ahead relentlessly. “In the last week, I've watched Inuyasha go full demon and wipe out a group of bandits, then kill Ryukotsusei to lighten the Tetsusaiga, nearly shot my husband while I was being controlled by Tsubaki, then to really put the cap on it, fought Kohaku hand to hand…and nearly lost. Forgive me if my appearance is inexcusable, my lord.”

 

The taiyoukai's face remained impassive, but his eyes were flaming; his voice was deceptively soft. “Many people in that room consider you a hero, because you destroyed Naraku. You gave no thought to their impressions of you.”

 

She kept her voice low; the flames died to flickers racing over her body. “Might I remind you, with all due respect, that in my reality the fucker isn't dead yet? He's tried to kill me twice within the last four days, and escaped unscathed each time, so I'm hardly a hero.”

 

“True…your behaviour is more childish than heroic.”

 

She flinched, waited in vain for Yashita to say something in her defence. When the hanyou made no sound, she ground her teeth and locked eyes with Sessaki. “If you do not require my report, I would like to be dismissed so that I may have my injuries treated.”

 

His eyes flickered to the slashes and cuts, lingering on the one on her arm; he said nothing about her condition, but his voice was a bit softer. “This occasion is important in the life you will lead after Naraku is dead.”

 

She began to seethe. “Until Naraku is defeated, I don't have any other life; I thought I made that clear months ago. This…this is all just so much fluff in comparison to the mission.”

 

“You will attend tomorrow,” Sessaki growled; a fair bit of fang was bared. “That is an order, Higurashi.”

 

She met him glare for glare, refused to back down, hardening her position. “I don't have time for this…”

 

His eyes flamed red, and then he drew a line in the sand. “If you refuse, then the Armoury will be closed to you.”

 

Kagome's eyes went very wide, her jaw dropped in astonishment…and the split second after that, silver roared around her, lifting her hair off her shoulders, her eyes narrowed to molten daggers, her power gathering to strike…and then she snapped her eyes closed, turned her head away and clenched her fists. After a nerve-wracking few moments, the spiralling energy twisted back on itself and dove inside her. The taiyoukai and the hanyou let out the breath they were holding.

 

Once her breathing was somewhat under control, Kagome's whole body straightened to a painfully rigid military posture, and she slowly raised her chin, then locked very dangerous eyes onto Sessaki. A long moment of silence followed. “For such a petty thing… you would jeopardize the entire mission?” Her voice was clipped, tight, hinting at the restrained fury simmering just below the surface.

 

Sessaki said nothing; in fact, he avoided her gaze. After raking him with a searing glance, she stepped to the side and turned slightly to address Yashita, who was standing with his head bowed, eyes hidden behind his bangs. “He just made the mission far more difficult and far more dangerous for us… for you, me, Shippo, Sango, Miroku. Not for him…but for us. Don't you have anything to say?” Please don't let him do this… please say something… Yashita avoided making eye contact, just stood there with his fists so tightly clenched she knew he must be piercing himself with his claws. The silence stretched, thickened and settled, miasma-like, into the room, and he still wouldn't meet her eyes. Kagome swallowed hard, and backed away from him.

 

“I understand. The Heir does not contradict the Lord of the West.” He gasped at the bitter tone, looking quickly up at her, but her face was turned away, her head bowed. After a very long moment, her left hand went to her sword hilt, grasping both the weapon and scabbard tightly. In a smooth movement, she pulled Fenikkusuken out of her obi, extending her arm above her head to free its length from the tattered sash, and then lowered the encased katana to her side. Both pairs of golden eyes were riveted on her as her head came up, she minutely adjusted her martial posture, and her eyes focussed past Sessaki at a point on the far wall.

 

Taking slow, measured, precise strides, Kagome marched up to the table beside the taiyoukai, lifted her sword and extended it horizontally at arm's length out in front of her, then slowly lowered it to the polished surface. Placing it down with a soft bump, she dropped her hand back to her side, her gaze unwavering, her now-empty fist lightly clenching, her aura crackling faintly around her.

 

Abruptly, she executed a precise right turn, clicked her heels, and snapped off a crisp, oh-so-correct salute to Sessaki, bowed just as correctly, then spun smartly on her heel to take three strides towards Yashita. She carefully kept her expression blank as she bowed politely to him before snapping her whole body even more rigid as she took one step back. Right-wheel-march, and she was moving briskly for the door.

 

“Higurashi!” She paused in front of the panel, bowed her head, but did not turn around. Aware of sharp ears outside, she kept her voice very low.

 

“If you'll excuse me, Lord Sessaki…I have a war to get back to.” The panel slid closed behind her, and she was confronted with a room full of eyes. She straightened up, fixed her gaze on a spot on the far wall, and began to purposefully move towards it, the guests parting before her like a bow wave.

 

“Kagome?” Rin stepped directly into her path, brown eyes questioning as they assessed her appearance.

 

Kagome managed to plaster a polite smile on her face and incline herself fairly gracefully. “A pleasure, Lady Rin.”

 

The other woman studied her carefully for a moment, alerted by the formality. She looked intently at the gaping hole in the sleeve, and the less-than-fresh bandage visible through the opening. Rin reached out elegantly manicured fingers and lightly touched the grimy dragon-hide. “When did you get back?”

 

“Less than an hour ago.”

 

“Yashita thought you would be back this morning, at the very latest…”

 

“He thought wrong.” She hadn't meant to snap. Rin looked deeply into her eyes for a moment, and then nodded before stepping in close and kissing the startled girl on the cheek.

 

“I'll deal with those stubborn dogs, Kagome,” she whispered before moving back and indicating she should proceed. Kagome smiled with genuine warmth, and bowed her head again before continuing.

 

Three-quarters of the way across the room, her name was called. “Kagome-sama!” She hesitated. Sama? No one calls me that on this side… Turning her head, she was met with a handsome smile framed by cobalt-blue cheek stripes, long blue-black hair falling over broad shoulders, and an elegant bronze silk shirt. Kagome blinked and came to a full stop.

 

“Gi…Gitoumaru-kun?” The smile became blinding, and the tall inu-youkai stepped forward, bowing gracefully. She returned the gesture, using the brief moment to gather her thoughts. “It's lovely to see you again…you certainly grew up into a fine-looking man, er, demon.”

 

“It is an honour for me, Kagome-sama…oh! Is this…?” His claws came up, almost but not quite touching her cheek, and traced the fine scar running down the side of her face; she brought up a hand to touch it, smiling lightly while averting her gaze.

 

“It happened only a few weeks ago, Gitoumaru-kun, on the other side…I'd forgotten about it, actually.”

 

“You…are not angry with me?”

 

“Not at all; I'm very glad you made it back to the fortress in one piece.”

 

The handsome inu-youkai grinned widely, showing his fangs. “I may have made it back in one piece, but I couldn't sit down properly for a few days after, even with demonic healing!”

 

Kagome's immediate thought was that Sesshomaru had not treated the then-pup very well, but Gitoumaru's next words firmly shunted that train onto a siding before she had time to become annoyed. “As you guessed, it was my father's sword…and he furious that I'd borrowed it without permission. However, Totosai-san saved me when we took it to him for repairs.”

 

She arched an eyebrow. “What did the smith say?”

 

“He sniffed the broken end of the blade, and then told my father he was a fool to challenge the Phoenix of Legend.”

 

“Oh, dear…” Kagome blushed furiously. “He didn't really say that, did he?”

 

“Coming from Totosai-san, it had the effect of a bucket of cold water on my father's attitude; he went straight from being furious to ordering a sword for me that very day. I still remember your advice about the proper grip, Kagome-sama.”

 

“So, all in all, the `sparring session' was worth it?” He nodded gracefully as they both chuckled. His dark eyes stilled as he studied her for a moment; to escape his scrutiny, she bowed slightly, and prepared to move away, but then paused and looked searchingly at him. “Gitoumaru-kun…do we meet again, in the past?”

 

She liked the way his cheek markings crinkled when he smiled, and she had to resist reaching up to ruffle his bangs. “Yes, Kagome-sama…we do.”

 

The girl smiled back, and it reached her eyes for the first time that night. “Good…then I have something to look forward to.”

 

“Will I see you at the wedding tomorrow, Kagome-sama?” he enquired softly, tentatively. Kagome's eyes instantly darkened.

 

“I…doubt it. Duty calls. Good evening, Gitoumaru-kun.” She smiled quickly and again the crowd parted before her as she forged ahead.

 

Almost outta here… “Aw, shit.”

 

“Kagome…what the hell happened in there?” Shimano's green eyes were suddenly at her level and uncomfortably close as he studied her face. “What did those fucking dogs do to you?”

 

She wearily shoved him in the shoulder. “Outta my way, runt…got places to go, food to eat, showers to have…I'm sure you'll hear all about it soon enough…” Her hand was caught in a grip of iron, and she couldn't help wincing as he hauled her rapidly into the cloakroom area.

 

“What did those fuckers do?” Shimano hissed.

 

She sighed heavily. “Sessaki hung me out to dry, Shimano. The Armoury is verboten from now on.”

 

“Just because you showed up in your work clothes? What the hell was he expecting? This is what you do, dammit!”

 

“Partially that, and because I pissed him off…”

 

“Fucking asshole...”

 

“Hey! Don't talk like that in front of your mother!” She tried to get a smile out of him, but the fox was having none of it. His brows drawn down in a formidable scowl, Shimano's lower lip pouted out as he thought. He gave her hand a little shake.

 

“Your authorization comes from the Emperor, and only he can revoke it, Kagome. It'll take weeks, if not months, to accomplish that bit of paperwork, if Sessaki is such an ass as to try. You tell your mom what you need, and I'll make sure you get it. I'm not going to let this happen without a fight…you can bet on it.” There was such conviction in his tone that Kagome almost felt a bit sorry for the two inu-youkai…almost.

 

“Thanks, Shimano…that means a lot to me. I'd better get going, since our planning just became a lot more complicated. G'night.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, then smiled a little sadly at him before slipping out the door into the foyer.

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

“You weren't kidding, ma'am! Done already?” Kagome looked at the guard who had spoken, then at the other one. Damn…are these guys twins?

 

“I have to get back to work. Have a good evening, gentlemen.” She gave them a small wave and a smaller smile as she punched the `down' button on the wall panel. She could feel their eyes boring into her shoulders until the doors opened; she gratefully stepped inside and tucked herself around the corner, next to the mirrored control panel.

 

Damn…was her first thought, upon seeing herself in the mirror. The tip of her bow and remaining arrows poked up over her shoulder. I forgot to hand this over, too…oh, well…I can leave it at the front desk…. She ducked her head and pulled the quiver off her back, holding it by the strap as she stared at it without really seeing it. I wonder if Totosai would make me a new sword…? I guess I'll have to borrow Kaede's spare long-bow…and order some arrows from the fellow in the village…

 

“Dammit!” She drove her fist into the elevator wall, not noticing that the door had closed, and the descent had begun. “Damn…” She brought up the hand still holding the quiver, and pressed the cool leather of the strap against her forehead, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her.

 

“You forgot something.” The low voice snapped her head around so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash. Yashita leaned against the far wall, his arms crossed over his chest. She started; how did he manage to get so close without her sensing him? Recovering, she mournfully turned her face away, while holding out the quiver. Its weight was lifted from her fingers, and she dropped her hand back to her side, clenching it into a fist.

 

“I'll send the armour and other gear back next week.”

 

“Why would you do that, koishii?”

 

“Don't you call me that!” Her anger, and her power, blazed up around her, and she fought for control. Yashita inhaled sharply when she turned to look at him; her eyes were molten steel. “My Inuyasha would have torn Sesshomaru's other arm off for threatening the outcome of our mission…who the fuck are you, and what have you done with him?”

 

“Kagome…”

 

“You look like Inuyasha, but he carries the Tetsusaiga on his hip, not sheathed up his ass.” She ignored his startled gasp, and kept on. “How could you let him do that? Treat me like an idiot, accuse me of embarrassing your precious House…when he and you have made me what I am. I'm a soldier, trained for destruction, not decoration…and you both seem so damn surprised when I act the way I've been made…fuck…just get the hell out. I've got a war to fight, and I feel like I've been handed over to the enemy bare-assed on a silver platter.” She smeared at the angry tears streaking her face, grimacing at the resulting sticky film on her hand.

 

“I'm in a difficult position…”

 

“Going up against Naraku without proper weapons is a difficult position… waitaminute…oh, shit….” Her eyes narrowed as a random thought strolled by, holding up a placard. “You're not only his Heir, but also his beta, aren't you?” she spat accusingly. Yashita didn't answer. Kagome wearily leaned her head against the cool metal of the wall. “Now I get it… fuck…you can't even defend me against him without it being considered a challenge …”

 

In an explosive moment, the control panel was punched, the elevator lurched to a complaining halt, and she was nose to nose with a furious Yashita.

 

“Dammit, wench! That's not it at all!” he roared, slamming the flats of both hands onto the wall next to her head. The pain from that seemed to steady him a bit; he ducked his head down, panting, and then carefully backed away to the other side of the suddenly-too-small elevator.

 

Yashita settled back against the wall, his head down and ears drooping. He kept clenching and unclenching his fists in the silence. Kagome remembered to start breathing again and moistened her lips while she considered her words very carefully.

 

“Yash…please tell me why?”

 

“It's because of you.” His voice was very soft.

 

“Wh-what did I have to do with it?” she stuttered.

 

“When the well closed, it was as if you had never been.” He shifted, and closed his eyes. “No sight, no sound, no touch, no smell…I nearly went insane. Sessaki kept me alive, because his aura had touched yours, and…”

 

“Are you saying that I've screwed your brother?” Her power flared violently as she recalled the only time she'd ever seen her aura fully mesh with Inuyasha's demonic one; Kagome felt nauseous.

 

“NO! Not even close! Dammit, wench…” Yashita ground the heels of his hands against his forehead, gnashing his fangs in exasperation. “In the final battle, our auras merged somehow, and after you were gone, being in Sessaki's presence kept me in control. Even Tetsusaiga wasn't enough… I had to stay with him. It was nearly a whole century before I could be away from him longer than a day without losing it.” Kagome was now watching him with wide eyes, noting his defeated body language. “Sessaki saved my life, so that I could have the chance to be with you again.” Kagome squirmed uncomfortably. So it's all my fault?

 

“And now that I'm here, what a prize, eh? I'll bet that I don't resemble your memories at all. I'll bet that in your memories, I'm prettier, sweeter, more perfect, and could be safely tucked onto a pedestal in a corner of your mind. Must be tough to be faced with my reality.”

 

“Not at all. Yes, I idealized you at first…no one could compare with what I'd lost, so it was easy to ignore all other women. Yes, you were the perfect mate; perfect for me, anyways.” She started to open her mouth, but he held up a warning claw. “But then the centuries wound down, and you were born…and then you were within my sight, my scent, my grasp nearly every day for four years…and your too-perfect memory was replaced by your reality. You're not on a pedestal, Kagome…you're in my heart and soul.”

 

Kagome's shoulders drooped as she listened to his quiet words, which rang with conviction, realizing that she might, just might be acting a bit of the idiot.  “What do you want from me, Yashita?”

 

“Quit pushing me away.”  She said nothing; he paused a moment, then continued, his eyes closed; his voice soft, but with an edge.  “You don't have any choice in who you get, Kagome.  The well will close, with the pup on the wrong side.  You'll only have him for another year or so…and then you have the rest of your life…”

 

Kagome shuddered violently at this reminder of the future; she took a few moments to compose herself before speaking quietly.  “You deserve something more suitable than a kid like me.  I took a look around that room tonight.  Among all those beautiful youkai girls, there has to be someone…”

 

A snarl erupted from the hanyou.  “Don't you dare even suggest that!  We are

mated…for life.  After all this time, do you think I can turn my back on you and walk away?”

 

She finally met his eyes, and a lump rose in her throat as she spoke her deepest fear.  “I don't fit into your life as it is now, Yashita, and tonight just proved that.”

 

His jaw dropped slightly, and then his eyes narrowed.  “You promised to stay by my side, even if I became a full demon, Kagome, and I'll hold you to that.  You never, ever backed down from a challenge…why are you running from me?”

 

Kagome sucked in her breath at this reminder of a promise made months before...centuries before, for him, and floundered for a response.  “I'm not sure I can meet your expectations…,” she finally murmured.

 

“My expectations…?  That I'll love you insanely?  That we'll have kids of our own to cherish and watch grow up?  That we'll be happy?  What the hell's scary about that?”  Unwilling to completely concede, but fully aware that her defensive walls were as full of holes as a sponge, Kagome squeezed her eyes closed, trying to think, but Yashita was relentless.  “When I told you you'd forgotten something, I meant your sword, Kagome.  Sessaki backed down.  You didn't give me a chance to explain.”

 

As he directed her glance to the corner where Fenikkusuken's familiar scabbard rested, he watched her jaw go slack, and then her whole body visibly slumped as she processed his words.  He regarded her intently for a long moment, then began working rapidly at the cufflink holding his right sleeve closed. The bright piece of metal slipped out of his fingers, ricocheted off the floor, bounced erratically twice and then skittered right up to her feet.  Kagome stooped to pick up the piece of jewellery, noting the ruby-chip-eyed dog's head carved deeply into the square of mother-of-pearl.

 

Jiggling it lightly inside her fist, she watched quietly as Yashita struggled awkwardly with the small buckles securing the unusual leather bracelet that he had always worn, the one that she had mistaken for a wrist-guard during her cadet career.  I'm punishing him again…the poor bastard…he loves me and all he wants is… she finished that thought in two strides and handed him the cufflink.

 

“Let me see that,” she murmured softly. Her slender fingers made short work of the finicky closures, and then she cupped one hand under his wrist as she undid the last buckle, aware of his breath ruffling her bangs. As she eased the leather band away from his skin, her heart skipped a beat and her stomach flipped when she saw what was hidden under it.

 

Two finely-twined, multi-looped bracelets, one gleaming black, the other a paired mix of midnight and moonlight.  A little bit frayed, but mostly intact. 

 

Kind of like our relationship…

 

“Koishii…you are my heart, my soul, my strength…it's been that way from the beginning.  Don't fight it, and don't fight me…on either side of the well.” His voice was achingly soft, and then he found a less-crunchy patch of hair to kiss.

 

Kagome kept her head bowed for a moment while she wrapped her courage around her. She kissed his palm, then raised her head, looked him straight in the eyes and smiled. “I know I'm filthy dirty, and that I don't smell very good right now…but I'd really like to give you a hug.” The next moment his arms were around her, drawing her tightly (although carefully) to him, and she returned the strength of the embrace in full measure. “Yash…I'm so…so…sorry…  I got quite a bit of exercise tonight jumping to conclusions…” Her voice was a little muffled in his chest.

 

“Oh, like you've never done that before where I'm concerned…”  She looked up quickly and caught the twinkle in his amber eyes, and the affectionate smile on his lips.  She ducked her head in embarrassment, but a pair of fingers slipped under her chin and tilted her face up.  “I apologize, too. We didn't cut you any slack for all the pressure you're under, Kagome. Sessaki wants you here as part of the family, and I want…well, I want some time with my wife, and I'm quite prepared to use any weapon at my disposal to get what I want.”

 

She studied his handsome face for a moment before dead-panning, “You never used to be a dirty fighter.”

 

“Nope …but all's fair in love and war.” 

 

She snorted at that, and then grinned up at him. “I do love you, Inuyasha… and I'm so very lucky to have you.” She raised herself on her tiptoes and kissed him with her entire soul.  They were both misty-eyed and panting when they came up for air; Yashita lightly traced her bottom lip with his claw, his eyes very dark, and then went in for another, deeper, more passionate kiss.

 

Five hundred years of iron control crack rather spectacularly when the woman of your dreams is pressing every curve of her body up against you, her soft lips parting and allowing you entrance.  Your heart kick-starts so hard that you can barely think over the blood rushing through your body and pooling in your groin…but all that's on your mind is seeing and feeling more.

 

He threaded the claws of one hand into the hair at the nape of her neck, holding her in place, while the other hand dropped to her waist and began picking at the knot of her obi. The kiss was soft and searching, and achingly sensual, reminding him of other caresses and gasped endearments as he rocked into her…he snapped back to reality when she broke the kiss, and he nearly snarled in frustration.

 

Kagome reached up one hand to cup his cheek; he kept her close with the grip in her hair and nuzzled her cheek, nipping gently along her jawline. She sighed and relaxed against him; he widened his stance, and dropped the other hand from her waist to pull her firmly into the cradle of his hips. She tensed slightly when she felt his erection, but then pressed back and heard his barely-repressed groan. Whatnow…?

 

She pushed away slightly from his chest, and brushed her fingers over the shirt, smoothing away the wrinkles, straightening his collar, aware of the ragged tempo of his breathing, almost afraid of being captured by his gaze if she met his bronze, desire-darkened eyes. “Your shirt's being ruined…”

 

“Fuck the shirt.” His voice was low, gravely, thrilling, and she felt her body respond, especially when he tilted her head to the side, and his lips and tongue began tracking their way down the side of her throat. Yashita nearly lost himself in her salty-sweet taste, her soft moan of pleasure, her scent…their scent. She's finally mine…

 

At that moment, as her body was eagerly responding to Yashita's touch, Kagome's conscience found a sharp stick, jabbed her rather hard, and she came down to earth with a bump.

 

Oh…what am I doing? 

Making out with a hot hunk of hanyou…and rather enjoying it.

Am I being disloyal…?

No.  He's yours; the century happens to be irrelevant. 

But…I…damn.  I do want to do this…to be with him…but…I feel…a bit…guilty…

It's the same pair of ears, attached to your husband.

But…he…oh…hadn't thought about it that way…

Figured as much. Now, hold on just a sec before you really get into it…the popcorn isn't quite ready…

OUT!

 

He picked up on her slight hesitation, and began rumbling deep in his chest while continuing to trace patterns on her skin, his hips pressing rhythmically against her, until he collided with the collar of her tunic, and this time, he did snarl. Kagome froze in his arms, and he mentally cursed.

 

“Koishii…take this thing off? I-I need you…to feel you…” He could almost hear the thoughts running madly through her mind. “I'll be careful of your injuries…” …andcarefulto keep myself under control.

 

She searched his face, her fingers stroking his cheek stripe; her injured arm she had kept close to her side this whole time, resting her hand on his hip with her thumb slipped inside the waistband of his trousers. Finally, she nodded, and went to step back, but he gripped her more tightly, and loosened the obi himself, letting the bright silk fall in red-and-gold wreathing coils around her boots. His claw-tips made short work of the clips on her tunic, and then he let her back up slightly, amused at her surprised look.

 

“Keh! I remember that day; even if you can't `sit' me anymore, I'm not going to yank on it.”

 

Kagome smiled back, blushed a little, and carefully slid out of the leather. She held it in her hand for a moment, then dropped it onto the floor. As she hesitated, he brought up his hand and ran the pads of his fingers down her left arm until they brushed over the bandage; she looked up quickly to see the darkness in his eyes. “If I hadn't been detained by that fucking golem…”

 

“You wouldn't have found out that Naraku was controlling Kohaku, and you might have killed him.”

 

“Still…coming right after that bitch Tsubaki…” He began to curve his arms around her, to bring her back against his heart, but she started to fumble one-handed with the buttons on his shirt. His lips curved into a smirk. “What're you up to, wench?”

 

“Same as you… I just… want to touch your skin, koibito.” Kagome peered up at him, biting her lip. “I mean, it is okay now, isn't it? Um…since we're…mated…and everything…” She looked so shy and nervous, but also endearingly hopeful, that he had to laugh a bit, before leaning in for a kiss.

 

“Since that night in the well, there's no difference in our scents.” Kagome turned bright pink and squeaked before hiding in his chest; he reached in between them and finished unbuttoning his shirt. “The only one who has a sharper nose, and might detect the tiniest difference, would be Sesshomaru… and I doubt you'll let him sniff you that closely. Besides, the delicate perfume of youkai guts hovering around you right now will disguise just about anything…ohhh…”  He sucked in air, and his eyes fluttered closed as her warm hands began to caress his skin.

 

Slender fingers left feather-light trails of sensation as she pulled the tails out of his trousers, then flattened her palms to run up his torso and push the silken fabric slightly off his shoulders. Just as she was about to lean in, he gently gripped her shoulders and held her away. She blinked up at his lopsided smile. “These are a little scratchy…” Immediately, she looked back down to see his claw tapping on the closures of her body armour. Her conscience twitched; she ignored it, and undid the buckles. Since I've gonethis far… the gauntlets came off and landed on the tunic, and then she carefully shrugged out of her vest, keeping her eyes averted, her cheeks quite pink.

 

Then she giggled; Yashita who had been doing his bit to help her out of the protective layers, arched an eyebrow. She finally looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes and a cheeky grin. “Here we are, in another small enclosed space, taking our clothes off…”

 

His fangs poked out of his smirk. “Keh… and we even had the fight first, too!”

 

Chuckling wryly, she stepped in close and fitted herself against him, kissing the divot in the centre of his collarbone, outlining his abdominals with her fingertip, watching the pulse jump in his throat at her touch. As her eye followed the path of her finger down his skin…she saw something that rather startled her. “Yash? What…?”

 

He looked down, just as she lightly brushed her thumb over a dark blueberry-coloured tendril that arched and curled up above his waistband like an exotic tattoo. The response was instantaneous; he shivered. Kagome felt him tremble and did it again; this time, he trapped her hand. “Another marking…that's all.” He tried to keep his voice steady, but it didn't fool the girl.

 

“You don't react like that when I touch your face…”

 

“It just isn't as…sensitive…” He tried not to gasp when she wriggled her fingertips against the skin.

 

Kagome arched her eyebrows and smirked. “I could have fun with this; how far down does it go, I wonder? Do you have them on both hips?” He squirmed away from her teasing fingers, trying to escape without jostling her injured arm. “But, the pup doesn't have them; I've seen him naked recently, too.” She danced her fingers over the area again; he caught her by the wrist, moved her entire hand up onto his chest and held her close to prevent any more attacks on his person.

 

“Um, you mean at the hot spring, after Ryukotsusei?” He was having trouble thinking, when her breath on his throat was very distracting, and the little bubbles of laughter in her voice were so appealing.

 

“Yes.”

 

“The markings weren't… permanent… then… wench, would you stop that? I-I can't think…”

 

“Stop what?” She nibbled on his collarbone again, and kissed his pulse.

 

“You make me crazy, you know that?” Her answering smile was soft and inviting. Yashita dipped his head, started at her lips, and began kissing his way down her slender throat, groaning softly when she pressed her hips against him.  While being careful of her back injury, Yashita continued to trace a path further south until he was placing open-mouthed kisses on the swell of her fabric-covered breasts, listening to the hitch in her breathing as first his cheek, then his lips, brushed over her hardening nipple.  Kagome squirmed in pleasure, giving herself up to the sensations setting every nerve ending on fire.

 

“Down.” His voice rumbled through her ribcage, and then he gripped her by the hips, pulling her with him as he slid down the wall. She ended up straddling his lap, his hands cupping her behind, her core pressed firmly against the bulge in his trousers. Kagome wriggled her hips a little bit, watching as he bit his lip to stifle a groan…and then fell into molten old-gold pools. His right hand came up to clasp hers between them; for a long moment, they both contemplated the sight of the bracelets that symbolized their union twining around their wrists, appearing as an endless loop.

 

Yashita raised her fingers to his lips to kiss.  Kagome slid her other hand over his chest, pressed light kisses to the soft skin under his jaw, and trailed her tongue-tip down the side of his neck.  His fingers tightened their grip, and his voice was hoarse.  “Ka-kagome…I'm…trying…not to…lose control…”

 

Kagome stopped what she was doing, paused a moment, then raised herself a little higher so that she could kiss the corner of his mouth and look him in the eye.  “Do you want me to stop?” She could see the opposing emotions warring in his expression, could feel his whole frame tensed and trembling, ready to explode…and waited, highly conscious of the throbbing desire that she had no doubt he was very aware of…

 

“I want you…so badly…but…”

 

“But what, koibito?”

 

“Sessaki…”

 

Kagome's grey eyes darkened; she averted them and blushed pink, then leaned in to kiss him heatedly before whispering softly, “Fuck Sessaki…well, not literally, I hope. At this moment in time, this is for us.”  She pulled back a bit, and flushed a brighter shade as she guided his hands to her breasts, then shyly met his eyes.

 

She couldn't look away.  They were as dark as melted honey, glimmering with golden flecks, an expression of wonder warming them as he gently moulded her tender flesh, running his claws lightly over her nipples as she arched her back. Holding his gaze, she rose up higher on her knees and cradled his face against her chest.  Claws slipped under the elastic hem and rolled her bra up over her breasts, and then it was her turn to moan as his lips closed over the taut flesh. She shivered, circled his shoulders with her arms and kissed his ear, just inside the tip where the shell-pink skin began and breathed very lightly on it.  His ear quivered and perked straight up, and she felt him tremble against her.  She repeated the action on the other ear and then slowly lowered herself back onto his impressively-tenting trousers, earning her a breathy moan mixed with a lightly-growled complaint that her breasts were no longer within reach of his mouth.

 

Her cheeks were still quite pink, but she began rubbing electric circles over his chest, slipping her hands down to stroke the dark blue striping at his waist and feeling him tremble, watching a flush spread over his face, slowly grinding her hips against his erection as he gripped her hips and pulled down firmly.  His hands trailed up her body and cradled her chin, pulling her towards him, and he kissed her tenderly and so meltingly that her embarrassment vanished, her resolve steadied and her whole being focussed on him. 

 

She became aware that Yashita was trembling, quivering like a tightly strung bow, and the realization of how much he was holding back struck her, hard.  His entire primal being must be demanding he seize her, to crush her against him, to pound into her until they both screamed their release…and instead, he was soft and tender, and allowing her to set the pace.  He needsme…and I wanthim… She was just considering how best to approach this, when Yashita suddenly snarled and pinned her firmly against him as he buried his face in her shoulder.

 

Kagome was aware that she was being rather firmly restrained, exactly how she had been held by the hanyou while Miroku stitched up her arm. One arm was wrapped tightly around her hips, and the other angled across her upper back, a clawed hand cupping her shoulder. She listened to his ragged breathing, noted how one ear was cocked straight up at the ceiling as if he was listening intently. Something's up… “Yash…what's wrong?” she whispered. After a long moment, he pulled back and kissed her, then gave her a wistful smile. “I think I can do better than the floor of an elevator for my first time with you in five hundred years.” He ran his fingers into her hair at her temples, stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones. “…and we're about to have company.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

A/N: There won't be an update next week, as I'll be out of town attending a dance convention with my small daughter. Pity me…five hours on a bus each way with a couple of dozen squealing girls...*goes looking for earplugs*