InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Sesshoumaru Needs Not A Mate - ON HOLD ❯ PART THIRTY ( Chapter 30 )

DISCLAIMER - The ownership and general brilliance that is the original Feudal Fairy Tale remains the property of its honored and rightfully revered creator Rumiko Takahashi without whose brilliance, we would not have fodder.

 

Quotations: Shakespeare- Merchant of Venice - Portia, all other quotations J.R.R Tolkien - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 

Mature: Sexual content, you have been warned.

 

Reviews remain, fuel.

 

Edited By: Meara, check out her fabulous piece and I warn you not to drink anything while reading “The Courtship of Lady Kagome”, you will not regret it. It is charming, witty, and decadently funny with a refreshing, original, perspective. Personally, the Haikuat the end of each chapter is worth the read alone….

 

 

EP

 

Part Thirty - This Sesshoumaru Needs Not A Mate

 

 

“The quality of mercy is not strain'd,”

 

 

Sleepy, sun-kissed eyes remained hooded from the morning light streaming through the balcony. Thick lashes barely moved. He watched his Mate tentatively lower the silken covers to reveal alabaster skin and taut, rippling muscles for her viewing pleasure.

 

Kagome sighed and licked her lips involuntarily as she drank in the delectable, maroon markings gracing his lithe hips and the muscles of his abdomen. Sesshoumaru suppressed the smile that wanted desperately to come to his lips as he watched his Mate's hungry perusal of his body. Her scent of arousal was delectably prevalent.

 

From his current, prone vantage, the gentle swell of her breasts looked equally enticing as she moved the sheets lower with a lecherous, yet shy grin. Ruru quivered in greeting, giving his Lord's current wakefulness away. The Taiyoukai growled in frustration at his body's treachery under the circumstances, this bitch would always prove his undoing. He had planned a slow seduction of the Western Lady bringing her own body to peak, but that apparently was not to be. The element of surprise had been lost.

 

“Good Morning, my Lord. I believe it is my turn,” Kagome whispered seductively. Little teeth nibbled the lobe of the Western Lord's ear, her warm breath gusting over his cheek, causing the Taiyoukai to shiver.

 

“Miko,” he purred languidly in response, carding through the cool silk of her hair.

 

Kagome's fingers, feather light, caressed their way down his torso appreciatively. Sesshoumaru stilled, his muscles tightly wound as he released his breath with a deep guttural hiss. His claws gently grazed her back in assent, bidding her lower but first a kiss. A slow unhurried kiss, an exchange of tongues, breath and soft moans holding promise, the taste of the night before still evident on each others tongues. He noted absently that she literally was taking things into her own hands while she kissed a wet trail down his long, elegant neck, lips coming to rest over one pale nipple. Cool, silken tresses tickled his skin in descent, her warm, nubile body had Ruru's undivided attention as she slide down the Taiyoukai's body and between his legs.

 

The muscles of his thighs trembled with each pass of her hot tongue along the sensitive marks of his heritage.

 

Dragging her nails over the hot, supple skin of his inner thighs, Kagome could no longer ignore her own throbbing need, nor the glistening moisture seeping from her loins, neither could bright, ruby red eyes at half mast watching her progress with interest.

 

Sesshoumaru's nostrils flared as he reached for her hips to expedite matters. The Miko smiled coquettishly, caressing the firm muscles of his forearms and lifting one hand to her lips, kissing each of his fingers tips, suggestively.

 

“Not yet, my Lord,” she teased, while sliding his other hand over her abdomen to rest in her dark, moist curls. Kagome shuddered, as two sword roughened fingers delved within her, his thumb playing her expertly. The Priestess closed her eyes in bliss and moaned, rocking her hips into his gentle but persistent touch.

 

“Ooooooh Sesshoumaru….” she mewled, her hands sliding down her torso invitingly. They came to rest, over his biceps, kneading them in time to his fingers thrusts within.

 

She was the definition of beautiful, the Western Lord thought. Passion filled eyes gazed at the gentle rippling motions of her thighs as she rocked in time with each retreat from her moist sanctum.

 

Sooty lashes demurely downcast in ecstasy, a slow, lascivious smile graced her wet lips as she looked at her Mate, expression unreadable, timeless. Sesshoumaru could not breathe, he was transfixed. Never had he seen anything more alluring. She was his.

 

Dark, brown flecked with fiery amber met that of molten, feral ruby as she withdrew his fingers, and licked them clean before lowering her head to his much neglected sex.

 

“Now for dessert,” she murmured, her tongue tracing the path of the prominent vein that pulsed beneath her tongue. Sesshoumaru groaned raising his hips needing more of her wet caress.

 

His hands closing around her head just as even smaller hands firmly lowered his hips, one arched brow commanding the Western Lord to be patient. The tip of her tongue greedily licking the wetness pooled, moaning her approval, sending chills down his spine as the muscles of his thighs rose in response with each swipe of her tongue. Soft, warm lips surrounded him and all brain functions ceased for the Western Lord. His last sentient thought, not co-incidentally, that of whipped cream and its wondrous uses; something he had discovered he had a taste for while in her own time…especially if the Priestess' delectable body was involved.

 

sks

 

Kouga awoke with a stiff lower jaw and the pervading scent of sex in his nostrils. He growled his frustration, pent jealousy and rage.

 

“DOGS! I am surrounded by randy, rutting Dogs!” he roared, yanking the fur covers from his legs and rising to his feet, however unsteadily. The memory that first night when Kagome had returned, that sleepless night dealing with Sesshoumaru and his woman and now, now to top it off, the mutt was at it too with his Ayame! What was with the Taishou Dogs and his women anyway!?

 

His mind reeled as he tried to cope with the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he had finally lost and it was all his own doing. All he had left were the shards and they proved small comfort. It was just a matter of time before he would be forced to give those up to the Priestess for the coming battle. Only his and Kohaku's remained, aside from the paltry few she held in the little glass vile, lovingly nestled in her cleavage.

 

The sound of footsteps approaching his quarters made the Ookami face the shoji, shoulders squared. Someone was going to pay for his bad humor this morning. It might as well be Jaken. At least he thought it was Jaken's little clacking geta. Something was different.

 

Deceptively quietly, he bid the Kappa to enter. The handsome, tanned face greeted the little demon with a malicious grin. The toad would suffice in a pinch. Surely the Western Lord would not mind if he pummeled him a bit? He had frequently seen him do the very same thing. Perhaps he should strangle him with that pendant he was currently clutching around his neck.

 

Jaken did not budge. He did not quiver in apology for his existence, as per usual. No, he looked directly into the Ookami's eyes as the screen slid open. He appraised the Wolf Prince some what speculatively, his ophthalmic eyes narrowed. The merest hint of a grin was on his beak as his gaze lowered to Kouga's legs. There was something predatory in that look.

 

The Ookami flinched, barely suppressing the urge to retreat as Jaken approached.

 

sks

 

Like fire, he thought. Her hair was like dying embers in the morning light, mesmerizing.

 

Afraid to wake her, he withdrew the claw that had tentatively touched her cheek to see if she was real. Ayame was. She squiggled her little nose in annoyance, and Inuyasha smiled tenderly down at the female cradled in his lap. A stray hair was tickling the tip of said upturned, kissable nose. Though faint, Ayame had freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose. How had he not noticed? He watched her chest rise and fall in sleep, fascinated. She was his. Inuyasha finally had something, no, someone that was his. The hanyou's heart was filled to bursting, a single tear coursing down his cheek.

 

He cradled her closer to his body. His heart thrummed with possessiveness and despite himself, he smiled again, resting his head upon hers. He breathed her in as he rocked her and hummed a long forgotten melody from childhood.

 

Quietly a feminine voice answered his refrain, verdant, green eyes opening and looking up into his golden with the gentlest of shy smiles. A hand stroked his cheek.

 

“Good morning, my Lord,” she mumbled, sleepily.

 

Inuyasha had found acceptance and love where he had least expected it and in the process, a purpose.

 

sks

 

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that we are given.”

 

 

Worrisome dark clouds began to appear in the formerly blue skies above. It promised rain. The day had begun so well with the gentle trill of birdsong and the fragrant scent of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

 

Miroku watched from the small perch in Sango's chamber while she slept.

 

They had talked well into the small hours, finding succor in each others being. They found with no surprise, they were more alike than not. That had been the reckoning.

 

Below the windowsill, the tall, tanned guard, Masaru stood looking eastward along with several other youkai in the Taiyoukai's employ.

 

Miroku's eyes narrowed, willing the Priestess' personal guard to look up just as Kirara's small form came to sit at Masaru's feet, she too looking eastward and mewed.

 

Very little ever surprised the Houshi but Masaru's next actions did. He purred in response to Kirara's mew.

 

He stooped and picked the neko up, cradling her under one strong arm, then turned, piercing blue eyes looking up at the Monk. A smirk tugged at his lips, before setting off at a trot with his retinue towards the woods.

 

 

The skies opened in all its glory, as rain pelted the Houshi. He retreated back to the safety of the chamber, still attempting to piece together what he had just seen.

 

“Miroku?” Sango said sleepily, a silken sheet wrapped around her. “Miroku? Come away from the window. You'll get soaked,” she said one hand taping the palette. “It's early yet,” she yawned, tiredly. “No one could possibly be awake yet.”

 

Miroku chuckled, “I never thought to ever hear such an enticing invitation from you, dear Sango.”

 

Sango rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Monk. I'm tired and so must you be,” she said adjusting the pillow below her head, the priest forgotten as her eyes fluttered closed once more in restful sleep.

 

Destiny was a very capricious thing, when you were aware of its seeming mutability, thought the Houshi. Taking hold of his shojiku, he tipped towards the fusuma separating their quarters. He had to speak with Tatsuo before the others rose.

 

sks

 

“Oi! Wait up, pervert! Where ya goin' in such a hurry? Sango kick you out?” bellowed Inuyasha, looking decidedly confused at the Priest's back.

 

Miroku's lower jaw was set in an angry line. “Not now, Inuyasha. Attend Ayame, while you still have time together!” Miroku said breathlessly, picking up his pace.

 

The Hanyou reached out and attempted to stop the priest's forward motion, but his hand was shrugged off with far more force than Inuyasha had anticipated. For just a moment, violet eyes blazed with previously untapped fury as they looked into deep worried amber. Inuyasha retracted his hand. Miroku was pissed.

 

Sighing heavily, Miroku smiled sadly at his friend of years, eyes softening. “I wish to speak with Tatsuo and, for that matter, Lady Kaede. If you want to help, get Lord Sesshoumaru and Kagome in the study immediately and if you can, please find the Kappa and make sure he brings his staff.”

 

Carefully watching the mercurial reaction of the half-demon, he added. “If at all possible, do not include the children or Sango in the gathering.”

 

Inuyasha quirked his head at the odd request, but the desperate, unspoken plea he saw reflected in the houshi's eyes made him agree.

 

“'Keh…Whatever, he's already up,” Inuyasha sniggered at the sudden thought of interrupting his brother and the Western Lady. His pallid attempt at humor was met with an impatient sidelong glance from the usually prurient minded houshi.

 

“Grow up, Inuyasha.” Miroku admonished, “Be thankful you have a Mate. Sex is a beautiful and natural thing and not a subject for derision. I would venture to say you were up half the night yourself. Do not begrudge others sensual pleasure. You no longer have need for jealousy.”

 

Inuyasha blushed, droplets of water falling from his lashes. There was truth in those harshly spoken words.

 

The direction of the wind had changed and the courtyards awnings were providing little to no protection from the rising winds and pelting rain fall.

 

“Thank you, Inuyasha, my friend.” Miroku bowed formally and was off again at an even faster clip, sodden robes, squelching with every stride. The hanyou was left to ponder the sudden change in the priest's disposition as he headed towards his own chambers before that of the Taiyoukai's. Perhaps Ayame could help with Sango, keeping her busy. It was worth a try and by the scent of things Lord Lusty and his Miko might want a few more moments of privacy.

 

sks

 

Shimmering ruby locked with that of deep brown pools, tiny beads of sweat forming on the Miko's upper lip as she bit into the flesh of her lower lip. A long, agile tongue licked away the copper tasting fluid, as he ground his hips more urgently into the female writhing below him.

 

“Saaaaaaadist!” she growled in frustration, small hands tugging at broad shoulders.

 

Sesshoumaru's lips quirked upward in satisfaction, having finally regaining the upper hand in the morning's play. He studied her petulant lips, lowering his head to hers and softly kissed her. Her mouth opening eagerly beneath his, he suckled the still bruised lower lip, drawing it between his teeth, eliciting a groan. Sesshoumaru smiled against her lips and purred, deepening the kiss and muffling her groans of ecstasy and his own. He closed his eyes in rapture. Jaws clenched fighting for control as he entered her. She was so impossibly wet and gripped him so fiercely within her delicate walls that he already knew he would not last. The slow torture of the morning had taken its toll on the Western Lord.

 

“Two…Miko, can play at this game,” he murmured against her mating mark as he bit down and gave a final thrust within. Kagome's eyelids fluttered and she went limp from the sudden heat of his release and her own.

 

Panting softly, she slowly opened blurry eyes and looked up at a very sweaty and exceedingly disheveled Taiyoukai with a lazy smile.

 

“Mine,” she whispered against his lips, giving her Taiyoukai a chaste kiss.

 

“Yours,” he said in response, deepening the kiss.

 

“Oi! I've been pacing here trying to be patient with you two and enough is enough, for fucks sake!” Inuyasha said irritably outside the shoji, taping his feet.

 

Kagome had never seen Sesshoumaru move so fast. In less than a second, he was up and out, literally, having thrown on his yukata haphazardly and charged the shoji with Toukijin.

 

Interminable silence followed by a yelp.

 

“What the fuck!? Look Lord Lusty, Miroku wants to meet ASAP in the study!”

 

Another seeming endless pause…

 

“Sesshoumaru put that down! You're not thinking with the right head. I'm warning you, back off and cover that thing. Do I look like Kagome to you? I'm not impressed.”

 

Like a feline Kagome stretched and listened. More yelping and a brief scuffle marked the end of the discussion pertaining to the Western Lord's current attire, or lack there of. She smirked. Her eyes traveling across the room and landing on her quiver and bow. The smile faded as she touched the small vile about her neck in thought. The palette suddenly felt cold and clammy.

 

“Well Satori, your Uncle Yasha has managed to once again ruin a blissful moment. I hope your Daddy doesn't kill him, but who could blame him if he did?” Kagome snorted, “Even Mommy wants to pop him one.”

 

“I heard that! Call off your dog, woman!”

 

The alien fluttering sensation in her abdomen commiserated as she caressed the small swell that was their daughter.

 

“Right! What say we both get up and Mommy takes a dip in the hot spring and start this day? Suddenly, I'm starving.”

 

Sesshoumaru re-entered their private chambers and wordlessly placed Toukijin back in its saya, then pro-offered his hand to his Lady. Lest nutrition be forgotten, he eyed her speculatively with a twinkle in his citrine eyes and retrieved the bowl of fruit on the low table and led her to the hot spring.

sks

 

 

“Hmmmm….what did Inuyasha want, exactly?” Kagome sighed as the warm waters soothed her tired muscles and she happily munched a plum, waggling her brows suggestively at her mate.

 

 

The Western Lord's eyes narrowed in annoyance at her ill timed levity. This would be the second plum she had eaten with unabashed, lewd fervor, slowly licking the sweet juice from each of her fingers, amusement ever present in her eyes. Sesshoumaru cracked his spine and glared at his Mate with disapproval.

 

She smirked, blowing him a kiss.

 

“Miroku has requested an early meeting in the study,” Sesshoumaru responded blandly, still peeved at his brother's insolence.

 

“We all need to talk anyway. I wish to know what the others experienced while…while.” She was unsure how to finish the sentence, the fruit suddenly losing its appeal.

 

“Kagome, is there something you wish to share with this Sesshoumaru before we join the others?” Sesshoumaru asked with a paced, careful tone, wadding across to join her. She smiled nervously into citrine eyes that bore straight through her. “You were unnaturally quiet last night, Miko,” he added flatly.

 

“As were you, my Lord. Care to share?” she countered, clutching the vile to her chest protectively. She could feel him subtly attempting to probe her mind. Kagome blocked him with her force of will. Her father's final warning ringing in her ears; nothing before its time.

 

“Please, please trust me, Sesshoumaru,” she pleaded, caressing his cheek in an attempt to appease. His jaws stiffened beneath her touch. She was shutting him out intentionally, something she had been incapable of doing the day before. The Taiyoukai's countenance became glacial. Kagome could feel his repressed anger and hurt as he dressed in silence before exiting the doors of their private spring with not so much as a backward glance.

 

“Sesshoumaru, my love, I'm so sorry for what is to come,” she whispered to the stillness, feeling very much alone.

sks

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

They remained within the grounds of the Western Shiro on sufferance. Megumi's actions against the Lord's Mate having sealed their fate. Howls and jeers followed the four small boys as they hurried through the servants hallways towards the kitchen to have a sparse morning meal, before their long day of drudgery in the fields.

 

Some mornings required more fortitude than others. This was one such, as rocks followed in their wake. Norio, the youngest, unable to keep up with his brothers, stumbled and fell face first onto the gravel path. The eldest of the four stopped hesitantly, but Norio shook his head in effect pleading with him to go on without him. He was tired.

 

He would not cry, he told himself repeatedly while the other field hands surrounded him, muttering threats and laughing. His right eye stung, blood began to trickle from the cut above his brow. He had sustained worse wounds. They all had. A kick to his ribs made him tuck his body tighter in defense. They would eventually stop, they always did. There was no point asking why.

 

His brothers had reached the safe confines of the kitchens and the rain fall would hide his tears. All three watched the mob that had gathered around the boy with fearful eyes, sticks and stones in hand, ready to pounce; to their minds delivering justice. All knew the Western Lord would pay no heed to this act of retribution. There might even be extra rations for their families for taking care of this little inconvenience and the other three when time permitted.

 

None noticed the presence of the girl in the checked kimono who happily skipped towards the doorway of the kitchen, hands filled with white blooms.

 

Rin was well pleased with herself. Today she would beat the Western Lord to his private study and place her simple fragrant gift on the low rosewood table favored by the Taiyoukai.

 

“Look, Hitoshi!” she squealed with joy, thrusting the Shogetsu blossoms under his wet nose, “Lord Sesshoumaru likes them.”

 

The boy's fists clenched, eyes hardening for a split second at the mention of the Taiyoukai's name before returning his gaze beyond the doorway.

 

Rin's gap toothed smile faded, her ears suddenly attuned to the sound of angry voices without.

 

“Where is Norio?” she asked noting his absence, pushing between the three to see.

 

Without thinking, she ran towards the mob screaming, the cherry blossoms trampled underfoot, forgotten in her haste as the first stone was cast and the gray, malevolent mass moved in for the kill.

 

 

sks

 

The stone floor was cold, wet and slick against his skin. Kouga struggled futilely unable to loosen his bindings, the gag in his mouth stifling all intelligible sounds, chafing his skin.

 

She smiled down at him, vermillion eyes glowing with predatory glee, “Save your breath, Wolf. You'll need it to scream when the shards are removed, most painfully, by my Lord.”

 

Cobalt blue eyes glaring hatefully up the Wind Sorceress, promising all manner of ill to her person should the next opportunity present itself.

 

As though guessing his thoughts, she waved her fan dismissively. “You are such a fool, Kouga,” she chuckled, swiftly turning for the dungeons door. The Ookami growled his frustration.

 

“If it makes you feel better, Kouga, it will all be over soon,” she added, giving him a lingering look he could not quite read before closing the large wooden door and turning the key.

 

A cold shiver ran down her spine, he had followed. Kagura turned to face the blood red eyes and the malicious grin of her Master. His newest flunky hovered in the darkness.

 

“Very good, Sorceress. You did that well. I could almost believe you felt sorry for the pathetic wolf,” he said, raising a sharp claw, grazing her cheek. She steeled herself, allowing his repellant touch. He cackled mirthlessly, watching her flee up the dungeon stairway, his plans finally falling into place.

 

sks

 

She would return to their chambers and explain herself he thought resolutely, sliding open the shoji with the force of his conviction. Never mind her reasoning. The Miko had to learn her place and when he demanded an answer she was to give it forthwith or there would be…

 

Glazed, citrine eyes fell upon the rumpled sheets of their palette and the discarded clothing strewn about the tatami, some of which was his and currently underfoot.

 

Had he not known better one could have presumed a fight of epic proportions had ensued the night before, the chief battle ground the futon atop the palette. With something akin to smugness and the merest hint of a smile, Sesshoumaru sighed and picked up the amber silk kimono the Miko had worn the night before.

 

Raising the cool material to his nose, he inhaled. It still bore her scent.

 

“Impossible Bitch,” he muttered to the silence, carefully folding it and placed it in the tansu. The rest would be taken care of by attendants. Scanning the balance of the chaos that was their private quarters, Sesshoumaru's eyes fell upon Tenseiga, still resting on the low table where it had been discarded the night before.

 

Grasping its hilt, he carefully removed the sword from its sheath and inspected it impassively. To his mind it remained impotent, devoid of any real power, unlike Toukijin, forged for conquest.

 

`In all that is there must be balance, both darkness and light,' his father's words echoed within as he ran the cool blade across his palm. `Sometimes, the good of the many is paramount to selfish desires. I would have thought you would have learned this by now under the guidance of your Mate.' Sesshoumaru snarled at the unbidden thoughts, his eyes thin slits of anger. What was she hiding from him?

 

A gust of moisture laden air came through the balcony, the scent of blood on the wind interrupting his private musings.

 

“Rin” he whispered. Moving like the wind towards the distant scream that followed, his chest tightened in fear. Tenseiga unsheathed was at his side as he leapt over the balcony and ran towards her voice. He would rend first and ask questions later.

 

 

sks

 

“What the fuck is goin'on… ?!” bellowed Inuyasha. He, too, had heard the scream, arriving seconds after the white blur whose presence parted the now frightened gray throng revealing Rin and a boy cradled in her arms. He looked peaceful, though his hair was matted with blood and his clothing torn.

 

“Nooo… no… Nooooooo!” Inuyasha growled in anger, knocking a few of the `well meaning' out of his way, coming to kneel beside Rin. “Kid, let me have him. I'll take him to Tatsuo,” he said gruffly.

 

Like ghosts in the night, the gray mass crawled back into the damp darkness, suddenly unsure just how the Taiyoukai would take their act of feudal loyalty.

 

“There is no need, Hanyou.” was the indifferent reply. The Taiyoukai could not yet see the pallbearers of the underworld and even if he did…

 

“You cold shit…it's a kid! He didn't do anything but be unfortunate enough to be Megumi's son.” Inuyasha barked, speeding away towards Tatsuo's chambers. He did not have the heart to wrestle the boy from her white knuckle grip. It was probably too late anyway.

 

Sesshoumaru's features remained immobile, glacial. Few were privy to the slowing of his heart beat, nor the uncoiling of the muscles within his gut, nor the sudden breath he took. Rin was undamaged. Not so the boy she held with loving kindness. Death had come for him, a matter that was neither here nor there to the Taiyoukai now that he recognized his features. Rin was undamaged. Jaken on the other hand…he thought as his lips narrowed.

 

 

“Let me through, do you hear!? Move aside! I command you to… to…” Jaken stopped mid shriek. He was quite the sight awoken from a peaceful sleep by some damn underling because of the ruckus.

 

“Rin, come,” commanded the Taiyoukai, ignoring the Kappa's presence. He would deal with him later.

 

Clearing his throat nervously, the portly Kappa bowed. “My Lord…I can…” he began, sputtering, dribbling spittle down his chin.

 

“Jaken, why are Megumi's spawn still residing in the shiro?” Sesshoumaru inquired levelly, his eyes not leaving the dark head of his ward, not missing how tightly she held the small boy to her chest. She had yet to look up at him. His chest tightened.

 

“Because I asked him not to throw them out, my Lord. I am to blame, not Jaken-sama,” she offered quietly.

 

The Taiyoukai spun on his heels at hearing her voice. Kagome had dressed in full Miko attire and now lay face down for all to see in the still damp gravel at her Lord's feet. Sesshoumaru blinked, how had he missed her arrival?

 

A quiet hush fell on the few that still remained to observe the unthinkable.

 

 

sks

 

“Its power corrupts all who desire it. Only one has the will to resist it.”

 

 

Birdsong woke her and the quiet insistent warmth of a sunbeam caused her lashes to flutter open onto the new day. Groggily she raised herself and looked across the balcony's perch for signs of the Monk. She yawned and listened. Perhaps he had returned to his quarters, she thought, getting a good morning scratch in of her belly as she yawned again and looked about her and stretched. The Slayer had never slept so well in years. It was almost embarrassing for a warrior to be so indolent, especially considering…where was Kirara?

 

A quiet mew came from the tiny nook on the balcony in answer.

 

“There you are,” Sango said sleepily, patting the covers of her futon.

 

Kirara mewed again.

 

Sango sighed and wrapped herself in the thin linen cover and padded across the tatami to retrieve her neko. Kirara nuzzled her cheek as they both settled on the seat.

 

“It really is a beautiful view isn't it, Kirara? You can see all the way to the forest on a clear day,” the slayer whispered in the fire cat's ear and chuckled. Both looked to eastward in amicable silence.

 

`You have a choice.'

 

With furrowed brows the slayer gazed at the soft white bundle in her lap speculatively. Her father's words had sprung to mind. It was clearly her imagination that Kirara's almond eyes held hers without blinking, simply waiting.

 

Something metallic winked in her peripheral vision, just beyond the tree line. The forest floor seemed to move and close to three dozen youkai guards appeared, splitting off in several directions, swords drawn. Sango recognized a hunt when she saw one. Adrenaline began to pump through her body. A lone figure was moving towards the shiro, his gate familiar. Finally, he was close enough for her to see definition. It was Masaru, his braid undone, the sun's light casting a vague chestnut hue in the heavy fall of his mane with each step, broad shoulders glistening with sweat. She watched mesmerized the well defined muscles of his tanned thighs as he pumped effortlessly across the hilly terrain.

 

The Slayer gripped the balcony's railing, her knees suddenly unaccountably weak; an insistent heat coiling within her stomach, tighter and tighter with his every stride. She began to sweat. Nervous hands tightening the sheet about her, before beating a strategic retreat from the balcony's edge, but not before Masaru smiled secretively and continued through the Eastern Gates.

 

sks

 

 

Birdsong ceased, all movement stilled in the shiro as the Taiyoukai's angry roar echoed through the honmaru, reverberating the outer walls, warming all to keep their distance from the inner courtyard, all except the Miko's tachi.

 

Masaru cursed under his breath, keen eyes watching the small group of ningen and youkai. There was defensiveness in their collective stance as they hovered protectively around the prone female. He was not the only one who had an interest in the proceedings, the Houshi, and Tatsuo had joined him. Masaru felt the houshi's surreptitious gaze upon him and his jaws stiffened.

 

sks

 

“M-m-my…Lord,” Jaken whimpered pathetically, head obsequiously bowed, awaiting his punishment by the Miko's side.

 

Without lifting gilded slits from the prone female, the Taiyoukai hissed, “Leave.”

 

Jaken eeped as a firm gnarled hand grasped his shoulder. “Ye should go, Jaken-sama. We will take care of this,” Kaede reassured the whimpering Kappa. Her gimlet eye met that of the Taiyoukai's stonily, head unbowed in challenge.

 

“Do not presume, old woman,” snarled the Taiyoukai, showing Kaede a fair amount of fangs, returning his gaze to Kagome's back. She shifted uncomfortably, her arms beginning to tremble with the effort of keeping her midsection aloft.

 

“Miko, this is unseemly. Get up now and take the others with you. This Sesshoumaru will join you shortly in the study,” he said flatly, brooking no argument.

 

Kagome raised her head, giving the Taiyoukai a weak smile before righting herself and brushing off her red hakama as though nothing of significance had occurred in the last minute other than her possibly tripping on a stone. He felt the ephemeral caress of a ghostly hand across his cheek in apology.

 

“Go, Miko,” he breathed out between clenched teeth, barely containing his rage.

 

Glancing at Rin with sorrowful eyes, the Miko took both Kaede's and the little damp claw of the kappa. Jaken recoiled, defensively. No one had ever touched him in so personal a manner, other than his charge Rin.

 

“Come, Jaken-sama, Lord Sesshoumaru hasn't much time. They will be here soon,” Kagome reasoned quietly with the diminutive, green youkai. He looked up at the female with an apologetic expression.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes met the Miko's in sudden understanding as Tenseiga began to pulse beneath his claws. He had been aware of the quiet gathering of the Miko's tachi, what surprised him was Inuyasha's confused silence. The Hanyou had adopted his usual defensive stance, arms folded within his sleeves. Ayame was to his right looking at Rin with an empathetic expression. Her arm firmly gripped Inuyasha's waist, keeping him in check. Even Shippou remained silent, equally held in her white knuckle grip, his large green eyes filled with tears.

 

“Rin, come away from the body this instant.”

 

His ward had always been obedient to a fault. Why now did she choose to exert her independence, wondered the Taiyoukai? He could see them now, the ephemeral bearers to the underworld.

 

Sad brown eyes filled with tears looking to the Taiyoukai in sudden realization.

 

Sesshoumaru flinched.

 

The Taiyoukai for the first time in his life could not meet his opponent's eyes with calculated indifference.

 

“You are cruel…” was the bereft response as the small girl eased the limp body to the ground gently, giving the Western Lord one last look before taking to her heels, moving as fast as her little legs could carry her, away from the being she had placed so much faith in.

 

It took a moment for the Western Lord to register the words spoken; words that twisted his heart and stilled his breath. Fluid was Tenseiga's arch above his head, slashing the air in its descent.

 

Tatsuo smiled, releasing his breath. Kaede had been right after all and he had lived to see the day portend, the completion of the Taiyoukai.

 

Author's Note

 

::REVERENT BOW::

 

I hope you enjoyed. One Part to go and of course the epilogue (Sesshoumaru's Mate: A Valentine's Story - its next installment later this week). Thank you for taking this journey with me and for having the patience of Job.

 

EP