InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 28

A/N: Shameless plug. I wrote a one-shot Inu Yasha fic the other day called "The only thing." Please take a look at it if you get a chance. It's me trying my hand at angst. I wasn't really very angsty, even as a teenager, so I'm not sure how well I write it. But I won't get better unless I try, right?

Description of Sango and Miroku's micro-honeymoon up ahead. You know what that means…

On with the story.

Chapter 28

The mood in the fort was tense. More and more of the army had left the campground to mill around inside. Order had to be kept, as everyone wanted to climb the walls for a view of the enemy and their bridge building project.

"We've apparently killed all of the stupid ones." Conn muttered. "They know what they're doing building multiple bridges. Just one would make them easy targets."

Sesshomaru nodded slightly. Naraku was no fool. The Domain fighters had been given a welcome respite, but their enemy had also been able to benefit. These bridges would turn out to be the least of their problems.

His father and stepmother were also watching, occasionally exchanging quiet words with Kagome's father. They grimly kept an eye on the now-empty battlefield while working out last minute details. Malia's face softened as she caught sight of her son and his mate. They seemed to be getting along better now than they had the last time she had seen them.

Inu Yasha stood behind Kagome, one hand resting lightly on Tessaiga's hilt. To Kagome's apparent disgruntlement, he was using her head as a chin rest, and pretending not to notice her growing irritation. As she turned to complain, he planted a kiss firmly on her mouth, cutting off any forthcoming tirade. She subsided with a blush, but not before reaching up to lightly stroke a fuzzy ear.

Miroku and Sango were nowhere to be seen, and no one expected them around for at least another hour or so. Their own sense of duty would keep them from staying away too long. No one could fault them for wanting to get married that day-there was just too much uncertainty in time of war to want to take chances.

Malia nudged her husband and the Commander, and saw smiles cross both their faces as they regarded the pair. Masaharu then looked surprised, and sneezed. A second later, Inu Yasha sneezed as well, shaking his head as if to clear it. He looked around and looked at Nzinga suspiciously.

The casual observer would notice nothing out of the ordinary about the woman lounging above them all on a high turret. To all outward appearances, she seemed casually alert, gaze fixed on the enemy like everyone else. After her talk with Inu Yasha, she had returned to her room to change and eat, then stationed herself upon that turret. It just so happened that Sasha was one of the people to squeeze her way through the growing crowd to catch a glimpse of the battlefield.

Zi had never responded to the other woman's barbed words and veiled challenges before she accepted Sesshomaru as a mate. However, she had no intention of letting any such behavior go unpunished from now on. Add her natural possessiveness to the oncoming tides of heat and battle-lust, and she decided to strike preemptively.

Pissing wasn't the only way to stake a claim. And hanging off her mate's arm was not her style. When she saw Sasha's gaze land on Sesshomaru, she amplified her scent so that it reached the other woman even from her position atop the turret. The redhead flinched, and limited her interaction to a simple greeting appropriate from a Dog Clan member to a pack leader. Sesshomaru responded politely, though Zi could feel his amusement at her possessive action.

Nzinga shrugged to herself. It was either this, or kill her during battle and make it look like an accident.

Noticing the sneezes, Zi tempered the strength of her scent to a more comfortable level. Her point had been made, and she relaxed once again.

*Was that truly necessary?* her mate asked her after the other woman had taken her leave.

*I guess I could have gone ahead and pissed on you, but I never really feel comfortable doing that in my human form.* She responded, deadpan.

Sesshomaru merely closed his eyes briefly in response, exasperated. "You seem energetic enough. Are you ready?"

Her response was to hop lightly down from the turret and join him at his side. Looking up into his face, she couldn't help but smile. Damn, this man made her happy.

"Let's go, then."

With a wave to her friends, Zi followed her mate out to the plain. As they approached the chasm, the air grew hotter and thicker, and the cacophony from Naraku's side grew louder as the creatures caught their scent.

Sesshomaru drew Toukijin. Zi looked at the blade for a moment. Not for the first time, she wondered where the hell he got that thing? Its aura was incredibly strong for a person, much less an object.

Almost quicker than her eye could follow, he leapt into the air over the chasm. She knew he would not burn--he maintained enough control over air to see to that. She was still worried though, since he had not told her his plan. Not wanting to distract him, she held her tongue and kept her eye on the enemy.

Sesshomaru knew she was strong enough to handle this, but as long as he was around, she would not have to. Pointing his blade at the lava, he channeled air around the sword. The energy grew and surrounded the blade, almost touching the lava even from his great height. He then drew the blade over his head abruptly, drawing the air with it. The lava rushed to fill the vacuum left by the departing air and erupted in a tower of red and orange.

*Now!* He ordered her. Zi nodded, then let her energy enter the tower of lava. Lava was one of the more difficult substances to work with. If one was not strong enough in both fire and earth, or had enough strength in spirit to make up for it, it was all too easy to lose control.

She allowed herself a moment to marvel in the wonder that is molten earth, before bending her will on the flowing mass, turning it on Naraku's forces.

She only had to use a relatively small amount to force to make the lava into a weapon. Gravity ensured its descent; her only task was to direct it.

Sesshomaru landed lightly behind her, still channeling the heat away from him to keep from burning. He watched as she guided the lava to descend in a crimson waterfall; burying the bridges under molten rock. They were all still on the far side of the canyon. It looked like they had been built in sections, simply awaiting assembly. He frowned. In order to assemble them across this divide would take people of incredible strength and skill-which meant they were dealing with more gifted than just Naraku and Kikyou.

The job was done with little fuss, unlike his own dramatic attacks. Zi was more concerned with the result, not the method. She wanted them destroyed. She didn't care what it looked like.

Sesshomaru was a joy to watch in combat, his grace and speed almost incongruent with the deadly result. Such flourishes never occurred to Nzinga. When she was in battle, her only goal was to beat the enemy, and she was unconcerned how she looked doing it.

He watched his mate with pride. He regretted that they would be unable to fight side by side in this battle. In her fertile state, she was too much of a distraction to him. Even now, her brow furrowed in concentration as she bent the lava to her will, his instincts clamored for him to finally claim her completely.

Sesshomaru would never have thought he would have to go this long without rutting with his own mate. The very idea would be laughable had it happened to anyone else. And he was more than a little put out that she did not seem to share his frustration. Her earlier show of possessiveness earlier actually soothed him, as he had been starting to wonder if it mattered to her at all.

He dismissed such thoughts as unworthy. He would not betray her trust in him again.

His ears caught the sound of an arrow streaking towards them from above. Some of the enemy could fly, apparently. No matter. Almost lazily, he summoned his whip and slashed the arrow in two. As their attacker turned in flight, he drew back his arm again, and the creature fell to the ground in two twitching pieces.

Just then, Nzinga cried out in pain. Something was trying to wrench control of the lava flow from her. She relayed this to Sesshomaru, who looked around for the person responsible.

"Can you tell who it is?"

"No…but the energy is filthy! Almost diseased! I don't know if I can-" she broke off with a grunt, needing all of her strength for the task at hand.

Sesshomaru felt helpless, an unfamiliar and hated sensation. He had no strength in earth or fire; all his strength lay in air and spirit. If it was enough energy to strain his mate, then he should be able to track down the source.

He extended his senses, not wanting to leave her side. He could feel the effort coming from her, and cursed whoever was fighting against her. The problem was that there was so much energy from the lava itself, it was difficult to distinguish that of a person.

Drawing back his awareness, he relayed the situation to his father, hoping a solution could be found. A moan broke through Zi's lips as the strain caught up to her. Sesshomaru pulled her to him, and began to feed her spirit to replenish her as she fought.

*Sesshomaru! We are sending help!* Masaharu reported. *How is she?*

Zi was standing a little straighter now, with the help of her mate, and she answered herself. *I'm too mean to die, uncle. This bastard won't get me.*

Sesshomaru smiled grimly.

A shadow hit them an instant before Inu Yasha and Kagome landed.

Kagome jumped off Inu Yasha's back and strung her bow, searching for her target.

"Can you find the source of the energy?"

"Yes, I can sense the direction, but I'm not sure I'll hit."

"It doesn't matter. Your arrow should be enough to startle them at least." Sesshomaru responded. He could feel his mate continue to struggle.

She looked at Sesshomaru questioningly, and he nodded. Turning back to the enemy, she fired her spirit infused arrow. It broke through the wall of lava, momentarily opening a hole through which Naraku himself could be seen. His faced contorted in horror as he saw the arrow streaking towards him. The Domain fighters watched as Kagome's arrow hit him in the side, dissolving his arm and part of his torso.

At his scream of pain and anger, Nzinga felt all resistance give way, and she let the lava drop back into its river, sagging against her mate in relief.

She turned to Kagome with a smile. "Good shot. Damn, girl, you get better every day."

Sesshomaru took her arm. "Are you well enough to get back?"

Zi nodded. "I can make it." With that, Kagome got back on Inu Yasha's back, and the four made their way back to the fort.

***

As the friends arrived, the forces were already gathering. To the right stood the fighters of Erin and Scotia, brandishing claymores and broad headed axes. The sun glinted off the steel-tipped spears of the Kushite soldiers, and the curved blades of the desert folk. The shifter nation was represented as soldiers used both their animal and humanoid forms.

It had been decided that with the reinforced numbers of the Domain fighters, they would take a chance on making this a battle instead of a siege. The wagon doors in the fort gate would be opened to let the fighters out onto the field. The objective was now to keep the enemy back from the fort. Archers would be left on the walls to pick off any enemies who made it through the army. Those with elemental gifts were also scattered among the archers in case of a magical attack.

Masaharu placed his sons at the front of the advancing army. Tessaiga and Toukijin could not be used to their full potential from the middle of the host. The energy released during one of their attacks was simply too great.

As demonstrated in the fight in the village weeks earlier, Sesshomaru's blade could kill without ever touching his opponent. His brother's blade also had that ability. Tessaiga's Cutting Wind could rip through one hundred men from a distance of one hundred yards.

Kagome would be on the walls with the other archers, and Sango and Zi would be part of the main army. Sango and Miroku had arrived a few moments earlier; she was wide-eyed and breathless, he looked tired, but utterly satisfied. Their friends had welcomed them back, forbearing from any pointed remarks on their abbreviated honeymoon. As short as it had been, Miroku couldn't imagine being more satisfied than he was at this moment. He closed his eyes briefly, thinking back over the last few hours.

His hands still tingled as they remembered running over her warm, smooth skin. She had been hesitant, but her eagerness more than made up for it. Her curious exploration of his body had strained his control almost to the breaking point, but he was determined to be mindful of her virgin state. After what seemed to him days of restraint, he was rewarded with the sight of Sango's head thrown back in ecstasy, as she cried out from the workings of his clever fingers.

He placed himself over her, as her chest heaved and her hair clung to her face with sweat. He captured her mouth with his before entering her. Even as wet as she was, there was still some resistance, preventing him from entering smoothly. He worked himself back and forth, entering her a little more at a time until she embraced him fully. Resting his forehead on hers for a moment, he savored the sensation, until Sango began to move restlessly beneath him. His powerful thrusts brought them both to completion more quickly than he would have liked, but he couldn't bring himself to mind too much.

Sango lay there afterwards, reveling in the feeling of complete and utter relaxation. Her husband lay with his head on her chest, and she could feel his labored breathing across one nipple, which quickly hardened in response. She absently ran her hand through his dark hair, slicked with sweat as she knew her own must be.

Smiling, he wound his arms around her and rolled them over, reversing their positions. As Sango lay listening to his heartbeat, she lazily drew circles on his chest with one finger as he dozed off. She was nowhere near falling asleep, but she knew what his restraint had cost him, and did not begrudge him the nap.

A completely wicked thought crossed her mind, and she decided that this gave her the perfect opportunity to explore her new husband without him distracting her with his all-too knowledgeable hands and mouth.

Running her own hand down his chest, she was pleased to feel his stomach muscles contract at her touch. She looked back up at his face, but he still seemed to be asleep. Still too shy to go directly to the object of her curiosity, she ran her hands down one powerful thigh, then back up and over his stomach to the other one. She smiled as she saw the results of her exploration; she had yet to touch his manhood, yet it was lengthening and thickening as she watched. She leaned over and kissed his flat stomach; it quivered, and a soft sigh escaped him. This emboldened her, and she continued to kiss and lick her way down his stomach and pelvis, stopping at the upper thigh.

Pausing a moment, she then bit his inner thigh, prompting a groan from him. His breath began to come faster, and Sango smiled as she felt the thrill from having him under her power. He had not even touched her, yet she could feel herself growing excited just by watching his arousal.

Speaking of which, it was making itself quite known, almost fully hard now. Seeing him lying there at her mercy, Sango decided she'd had enough play. Sitting up, she threw one leg over his hips and raised herself up on her knees. She wrapped a small hand around him, her swordswoman's calluses creating a pleasant friction on him, and brought him to her entrance. Smiling through a deep breath, she lowered herself onto him, letting out a deep sigh of pleasure. Her forehead furrowed slightly as she realized she didn't really know what to do now.

She shifted slightly, and moaned at the pleasure that brought. The answering involuntary thrust of Miroku's hips told her she was doing something right. She rocked forward once again, using her knees as leverage to lift herself up and down. She quickly became lost in the sensation as she found her own rhythm.

Miroku, in his dozing state, was aware of a pleasant haze woven by the scent and smell and feel of his wife. As a clinging heat surrounded him, warm pleasure turned to blazing need, and he brought his hands up to grasp his wife's hips. He ran his hands up from her hips to her breasts, squeezing them gently and drawing another moan from her.

The sound finally pushed him to open his eyes, and he was stunned and pleased to find his wife astride him, head thrown back, the long line of her throat bared to him. He ran one hand up to her face, and smiled at her. She tried to smile back, but her release came upon her, and she gave a long cry, while rocking on Miroku forcefully. The sight and feel of her was enough to push him over the edge.

The sudden force of his release took him completely by surprise. Eyes suddenly sightless, he could only manage a strangled noise before he subsided, chest heaving like a bellows. He only just managed to place an arm around Sango as she lay on his chest.

"Gods, woman." He muttered. "I won't get a chance to die in battle if you keep that up." He tightened his grip on her as he felt her smile against his chest.

Shaking his head, he dispelled his memories, only to see his wife looking at him with a secret smile on her own face.

His wife. He loved even thinking the words. His smile broadened and he gave her a wink. She turned her head slightly, but could not hide her blush.

Kagome watched her two friends, smiling wistfully. Looking over at Inu Yasha, her brows drew over her eyes. She was a bit puzzled. She had been able to feel his brain running a mile a minute all day long. He was able to block what he was actually thinking, but was unable to keep his intense concentration to himself. Even now as he spoke to his father and brother, she could feel it.

She shrugged. She had more important things to worry about-like the fact that her mate would be on the front line of the forces. She knew she could track and contact him even thought they were separated, but that didn't keep her from worrying.

Somehow, their disagreement seemed less important when she feared for his life. She turned away, not wanting anyone to see the tears that sprang to her eyes at the thought. Hitching her bow more securely on her shoulder, she looked up at the front wall, and decided to head there now.

Kagome raised her head, surprised to see Inu Yasha no longer with his father. She had just enough time for this to register, before strong hands gently spun her around, and she was looking into the amber eyes of her mate.

Inu Yasha didn't say a word, instead opening the Bond wide to a degree he had not since early in their joining. She gasped as the rest of the world fell away, all that was left was the two of them.

Inu Yasha looked unusually somber. A small spark ignited in front of him, quickly growing brighter and larger. The energy feeding it seemed to be drawn from his body. It detached itself and flew towards Kagome, who automatically raised her hands, forming a protective cradle. It was beautiful, shining with threads of red and gold and seemed delicate for all its strong and vibrant light.

She raised confused eyes to Inu Yasha, who continued to watch her.

"It's yours now." He said, looking at her seriously.

She continued to look at him, not sure what he meant.

"It's yours." He repeated. "You can do whatever you want with it." He suddenly looked vulnerable. "I meant what I said. I'm never leaving you. I never could."

Kagome's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Inu Yasha cut her off.

"I'm tired of always doing the wrong thing. I'm tired of being so fucking stupid. I can't promise it'll stop," he gave her a wry grin, "but I'm trying."

"Inu Yasha," she breathed.

He stepped closer to her. "I don't want to die out there without you knowing how important you are to me. I never could leave you. You're part of me now."

Kagome didn't know what to say. Her eyes were wide, and her hands trembled. She had the feeling that something very important was happening, and she was missing it entirely.

He stepped even closer, and took her wrists, gently pressing her cupped her hands back towards her, until the outer edge of the shining, pulsing mass came into contact with her body. She gasped as it spread across her chest, sparkling momentarily before being drawn into her. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt before. As it spread through her, she felt fierce protectiveness, a hesitant wonder and awe, and an unshakable sense of faith that left her feeling completely secure, cherished and loved.

She raised incredulous eyes to Inu Yasha, who waited expectantly and a little nervously for her response.

With a small cry, she threw her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. His own arms wrapped around her with a strength born of relief. She didn't fully understand, but she knew that she'd been given something immeasurably important.

"Please stay safe, Kagome. I wouldn't be anything without you." He whispered.

It was all she could do to keep from bawling, but she managed to say, "You stay safe, too."

Resting his forehead on hers, he let his aura surround her with a sheltering and soothing warmth. Hesitantly, she extended her own, and gasped in joy at the feel as they mingled.

Almost too soon, he stepped back, releasing her, and the noise from the rest of the world began to filter in again. She felt incredibly exposed, and blushed, even though no one was paying them any mind. In fact, it seemed as though the whole thing took no more than a minute or two.

After one last searching look, Inu Yasha left her to rejoin his father and brother. While he would be at the front, Sango and Nzinga would be on the flank. Hiraikotsu could be used in close combat as both a weapon and a shield, but she wanted the freedom to be able to use it as a throwing weapon if necessary. Nzinga just wanted to fight. She wasn't really concerned about where they put her.

As a monk with spiritual powers, Miroku was needed on the other flank. He didn't like being away from his new wife, but thought it might be just as well. He might not be as effective if he was always watching out for her. Their goodbyes were short and heartfelt, having said everything they needed to say back in Sango's chamber.

Zi waited patiently for her mate to finish speaking with his father. She met his gaze steadily, and smiled to ease his nerves. Scathach was strapped to Zi's back in her usual spot, while the morningstar was slung low at her hip.

Sesshomaru was dressed in white battle leather. White was not as impractical a color as one would think for battle. Blood could simply be bleached out, and there was no need to re-dye it. Zi privately suspected that he wore white because his father wore black. There was always a need to distinguish oneself from a well-known parent. Zi understood completely.

As if he felt her gaze, he looked up. Without changing expression, he gave her a slow wink. As her lips curved into an answering smile, he began to weave through the crowd towards her.

They stood regarding each other for a moment, neither speaking. She didn't expect an emotional parting; he was simply too reserved, and she too respectful of that. He drank in the sight of her as if he did not expect to see her again for a long time. And he might not; there was no predicting the flow of battle.

Sesshomaru knew he would feel more secure were it not for the fact that their Bond had yet to try to reform. He didn't know what else to do, and was worried that she still did not feel comfortable enough to allow it. Although they could contact each other, it was nothing compared to the constant awareness shared by a Bonded couple.

There was no room for personal feelings in a battle of this magnitude. Their individual strengths were needed in different parts of the battlefield. Raising a hand, she lightly traced the crescent on his forehead.

With a slight smile, he reached around her, and traced the matching tattoo at the base of her spine. He could do it without looking now, as he often found himself stroking it as she slept.

He let his hand slide from her spine to her buttocks, squeezing one cheek briefly before landing a firm slap.

"Do not do anything foolish, my mate. I will find you when I can." He turned away, relishing the look of surprise on her face. He so rarely was able to catch her off guard.

Hearing her chuckle, his mood lightened even further. As it turned out, he had no problem being at the front. Every creature he killed there was one less to reach her.

Zi started at a light touch on her arm. Sango smiled at her knowingly and said only, "Our company is leaving now. You and I are on point, along with the druid Padraig."

Zi looked up at the sky, and faintly heard the noise of the enemy growing louder. "Let's go then."

A battle song from the southern black tribes came to her mind. It had always been a favorite of hers for the simple defiance of its lyrics. She smiled as she began to sing. Sango picked up the words after the first repeat, and joined in. Soon others around them took it up, and the song swelled as the young fighters marched to meet the enemy.

You can wound us

But you can't stop us

We are coming

You can kill us

But we will live again

We are coming

Sharpen your spears

The war is at your door

We are coming

We are coming

We are coming

***

A/N: This is a translation of a song called "Nkonyane Kandaba" and it's from the movie "Sarafina," which is set in apartheid South Africa. The music is amazing, and the story is gut wrenching. Like Trigun episode 23 or end of Cowboy Bebop gut wrenching. I still can't watch those without getting mad. (It's all an act to keep from crying-ssh!)