InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Suddenly, Kagome's eyes snapped open. Her entire body felt swollen with energy, as if it were just below the skin, waiting to escape. Tiny shocks ran along her nerve endings. She began to grow frightened.

"No." Nzinga sounded strained. "You cannot loose control of your emotions, or you could kill us all. I know this is frightening, but you have to remain as calm as possible."

Then more softly, "I'm sorry, honey…I never realized you would be this strong."

Kagome took deep breaths, and tried to remain composed. Inu Yasha was her anchor, broadcasting calm and giving her the strength she needed to maintain control.

Zi quickly realized she was in over her head. Kagome was far stronger in spirit than she, and there was no way the Kushite would be able to contain the other woman's strength on her own.

"Inu Yasha," Nzinga commanded. "Use the Bond to show her how you keep your own spirit under control. I can't do it, she's too strong."

Inu Yasha didn't bother to answer, instead opened the Bond enough to send her the technique that was drilled into him at a very young age. Learning it at that level meant that it would become second nature to her, and she would not have to consciously maintain it. Also, her power recognized him as her mate, and would not harm him.

Once Kagome assimilated the information, Nzinga felt an enormous pressure taken off of her. The tingling lessened, and she could breathe more easily. She heaved an enormous sigh and released her friend's hands.

"Well, I'm glad that's done." She rubbed her face, looking tired. "How do you feel?"

Kagome paused before speaking, considering the question. She thought she would feel completely different, but the low thrum of energy beneath her skin felt more natural with every passing minute. "I actually feel fine."

Nzinga smiled. "Good. Your energy does not recognize me as a friend, so it was all I could do to keep it from attacking me."

Kagome looked horrified.

"No, no, don't look like that. It was my fault…I really didn't expect you to be that strong." She looked at Inu Yasha. "After all this is over, you should really take her to your mother. She's the best person I can think of to train her in how to use her gift."

He nodded, then smiled faintly. "I think you're in trouble."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your brother?" At his nod, she stood up. "I should have known he would sense all that power…but I'm not in the mood to be scolded right now." She walked over to the balcony. "I'll be outside…somewhere."

Kagome laughed. "Are you running away?"

Nzinga pursed her lips. "He's not here yet…so at this point I'm just avoiding him. Once he gets here, it would be running away."

Inu Yasha snorted. "Whatever."

His sister gave him a rude gesture, then leapt from the balcony.

Kagome watched her, sighing. Inu Yasha felt her longing. "Well, we can do that if you want later."

"Really?" Her face lit up.

"Yeah," he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed at her open eagerness. "I'll just take you on my back."

Suddenly, all hell broke loose. Sesshomaru burst into the room a split second before Nzinga's triumphant whoop was heard through the window. Sesshomaru looked on in exasperated disbelief as he shot towards the balcony, prepared to leap after her.

"Calm down…I'm fine!" she sent to Sesshomaru, who was admonishing and reassuring her from Kagome's room. She grimaced. This leap was really more than she should have attempted after exhausting herself with Kagome.

She had downplayed the effects of awakening Kagome's powers, because she didn't want to worry her friend. But the experience of being buffeted by the same overwhelming power that she was trying to release was more than she should have attempted after her previous days of little sleep and food.

At the sound of her name being called, she looked up to see Miroku and Kirara heading her way. Miroku stretched out a hand and pulled her up in front of him, wrapping an arm around her waist when she sagged in exhaustion.

"You looked like you might have needed a hand." He spoke. "At least, that's what I assumed when Kirara tossed me on her back and took off after you."

"Thank you, cousin." She sent.

"That was the foolish act of a cub. And your mate is angered." Kirara scolded. Nzinga sighed. Her too?

"You know," she said. "This is a bad time for all this. I have a war tomorrow."

Miroku chuckled. "Kirara, maybe we should go to the main court." The large cat growled in assent.

"Why there?" Zi asked.

"Sesshomaru is in Kagome's room, is he not?"

She nodded, puzzled.

"Well, it will take him time to reach the court from there…which means I get to spend more time with a beautiful woman, and less with a murderous pack leader out for my blood." Miroku stated.

Zi patted the hand around her waist. "Well, Sango is only a little less frightening than Sess…and I see her down there, so don't think you're safe."

"Then I get to spend time with two beautiful women." He countered.

She laughed as Kirara set down gently. Sango ran over to her friends, concern on her face.

"Zi! Are you alright?"

Miroku helped her off Kirara. She turned to Sango and smiled. "I've had better weeks…but I'm not going to die. I guess I'm more tired than I thought."

Her two friends looked at each other, then back at her.

Miroku continued to stand with an arm around her waist for support. She sighed. "If I'm lucky, I can still get out of here before Sess shows up." She winked at her two friends and began to walk away.

"I don't know," Sango said. "She doesn't look ok to me."

Miroku smiled as Sesshomaru came into view. Against her loud protestations, he lifted his mate into his arms and walked back into the fort.

"Well, it is now out of our hands." He said. "I'm glad to see you."

Sango blinked. "Why?"

"I'm always glad to see you…and we have not really gotten a chance to speak after the other night."

Sango's eyes widened, and she immediately lowered her gaze to the ground. "Do you have to talk about this in public?"

"I apologize…but knowing that we go into battle tomorrow, I find my priorities have shifted." He looked at her evenly. "We can speak here or we can speak elsewhere, but we will speak."

Sango's head snapped up at his uncharacteristic forceful tone. Her first impulse was to argue, but after another look at his determined face she nodded her assent.

He led her into one of the smaller, little used meeting rooms on the ground floor. Closing the door behind them, he motioned her to one of the seats. Sango complied, waiting for him to speak.

Miroku ran a hand over his head, atypically agitated. "Sango, this may not be the time for it, but I need to say this in case I do not make it through the battle."

"What are you talking about?" Sango burst out. "Don't say such things!"

"Just hear me out. I do not require an answer today…but I must be realistic. I may not make it through the battle, and I cannot leave this world without telling you how I feel."

Miroku gazed at the woman who had become so important to him in the past weeks. Strong, caring, a fierce warrior and passionate beneath her reserve. She now watched with a look of concerned anticipation.

He drew in a deep breath. "I cannot expect you to…I know it is unfair of me to ask, but when this is over, and we have defeated Naraku---will you live with me and be my wife?"

Sango was frozen. Then her mouth moved, but no sound came out. She then found herself blinking back tears. She raised her hands to cover her mouth as Miroku knelt at her side.

"You…you want to marry me?" Sango managed to choke out.

"More than anything." He reached up and gently wiped at her tears.

"This is so sudden…" she brought her hands down.

"I know…and I am sorry not to give you more time. As I said, it is unfair to you." He took her hands in his own. "But I have no idea how long this war will last or what the outcome will be. I need for you to know how I feel. I cannot take the chance of something happening before I can tell you."

Sango could only look on as he spoke. Her thoughts were racing and she couldn't hold one down long enough for it to come out of her mouth.

Did she love him?

Did he love her?

Was she ready for marriage?

Was he?

Was he who she wanted?

How would she feel if she never saw him again?

The last thought ripped through her with a pain that was almost physical. The only other time she had felt anything like that was when her village was attacked and she awaited word of survivors.

"Miroku." His name from her lips stopped him short. "I understand why you're asking me now…but I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about you. And I need…I need to know one thing."

"Ask." He said, willing to give her anything in his power.

She took a deep breath, more nervous than she had ever been. Finally she forced it out in a whisper. "Do you…do you love me?"

He smiled. "With all that I am. I only hope you decide that is enough." His dark eyes looked into hers.

She raised her hand to his mouth, tracing the line of his lips. "Just now, I thought about never seeing you again…and I felt terrified. Terrified and empty. But since I have never felt anything like this before, I need time to figure out what it is, and how to deal with it." Sango framed his face with her hands and looked at him earnestly. "I'm not saying no…I just need more time."

Miroku smiled at her. "I expected nothing less from you."

"You mean you're not angry?"

He shook his head, still smiling. He then stood, drawing her with him. "How can I be angry?" He leaned down and kissed her warmly. Drawing back, he murmured, "You finally said my name."

About an hour later on in Nzinga's room, Sesshomaru was preparing to leave her. After bringing her back to her room, he had lectured her on the dangers of what she had done with Kagome. She did not have enough experience for the task, and she could very well have died. Then, seeing that his words were falling on dozing ears, he put her to bed. Upon her awakening, he spoke.

"I cannot stay with you tonight." Sesshomaru said softly.

"I know." Nzinga responded. "This war is more important than both of us." She met his gaze with a slight smile. Lifting a hand, she ran a thumb along the stripes on his cheek. "Don't look at me as if you'll never see me again. I have no intention of dying…nothing out there is worth losing you."

"And if you had to choose between my life and that of my brother?" Sesshomaru had no idea why he asked her that, but regretted it immediately when he saw the agony that flashed in her eyes. She exhaled softly, as if someone had punched her in the stomach.

After a moment, she said faintly, "I suppose that's the day my life ends…because no matter who I save, the woman you know will cease to be."

Unable to take the empty look on her face any longer, he dragged her onto his lap from where she reclined on the other end of her bed. He buried his face into her hair and neck, breathing in deeply of her scent, knowing it would have to sustain him until the next time they could be together.

"Don't worry so much," she murmured. "I'm Storm Water sept for a reason."

He looked at her quizzically.

"We're not born into our septs like you are in the Dog Clan. Storm Water is a warrior sept."

"I do not doubt your fighting prowess. But this is war, and I have no control over what can happen." He returned.

"None of us do." She turned to face him more fully, now straddling his lap. "We just have to do the best we can."

"I lost you once." Was his only response.

Tears welled up in Nzinga's eyes as she leaned forward to kiss him. He returned it ardently. His hands slid up her legs to her thighs, stopping just below her buttocks. She sighed into his mouth before pulling away.

Sesshomaru squeezed once before relaxing his grip. "Yet again you resist me." He said flatly.

She smiled into his disgruntled face. "I can't do it. I'm not strong enough to do this and be able to let you leave me tonight. Don't think I don't want to…"

"I am beginning to wonder," he grumbled.

He saw her dark eyes crinkle in mischief before she spoke. "Is that right?" She leaned forward, the breath from every word hitting his lips. "You believe that you are the only one who thinks of it? That I don't want to feel you inside me, stretching me, filling me?" She tightened her legs around his hips, running her tongue along his lips.

"I want to hear you groan out your release, as I feel it reaching my womb." Zi's words ran along her mates skin, leaving shivers in their wake.

She moved closer, whispering into his ear. "I want to release you from your breeches right this second and not leave this room until every inch of me knows your touch and carries your scent…but we don't have that kind of time." She kissed him again fiercely, loving the way his claws dug into her legs.

Sitting up suddenly, Sesshomaru knocked her on her back. Keeping his grip on her legs, he pulled her towards him. Looking down at her, he slowly lowered his body onto hers. Making sure to press himself against every inch of her, he savored both the intake of her breath and the heady spike of her scent.

"You forget yourself." He said, the softness of his voice not disguising the steel in it. "It is not your place to dictate when and if we rut. There is time if I say there is time."

Her eyes flew up to meet his in surprise and a low growl began in his chest. Suppressing her normal inclination, she lowered her eyes in submission and turned her head to one side. Giving a satisfied woof, he licked at her offered throat.

"I am glad I do not need to instruct you in the proper behavior." He said smugly. With all her willpower, Nzinga kept from rolling her eyes.

"I remember...Dogs fight enough that I had plenty of examples to learn from." She told him. Reaching up to toy with his ear, she suddenly bit his chin. He responded by pressing himself more firmly into her. Nzinga closed her eyes and purred in pleasure.

Unable to help himself, he began rubbing against her, just to hear those breathy cries he loved. Nzinga grabbed his head and began to kiss him passionately, moaning into his mouth.

When they parted, both panting from need, he told her, "Soon enough, you will find that I will choose not to accede to your every wish."

Nzinga simply smiled. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you." She traced the crescent on his forehead. "Go. I know you are needed."

With one last squeeze, she pushed gently against his shoulders. He rose, pulling her with with him. After one last long look, he turned to leave.

"Keep yourself safe." The words left her mouth unbidden.

He paused. "You are mine. I will always come back to you." With those words, he opened the door and left.

At the sound of the closing door, Nzinga's knees gave and she dropped to her bed, praying that the gods had not brought them together just to rip them apart again.