InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Vying for Dominance ❯ Riches and Rags ( Chapter 16 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Riches and Rags
Kagome had enjoyed the walk through the trees with the shadow demon, the time apart from the unrelenting burn of so many youkai presences a welcome relief. But now, with every step that brought her closer to the springs, she grew more and more anxious.
Sensing the miko's growing unease, Shaeda sought to soothe her. “It is not far now,” she told her pleasantly.
But Kagome didn't need to be told of that. It was impossible to miss the resonating hum of the barrier that sheltered the springs, and even more impossible to ignore the fact that she knew whose power had created it.
“Of course,” the shade added with a light giggle, “You need not know how I managed to chase all those silly dogs away from their baths.” She paused for a moment, her head tilting slightly as she seemed to puzzle over something. “Strange though, it was far easier than I would have imagined to convince brother dear to place a barrier around it for your protection.” But, shrugging off the thought, she turned to Kagome and smiled brightly. “I suppose every dog has his days. Let us just hope that it shall be one for young Inuyasha, as well.”
“Inuyasha?” Kagome turned her complete focus to Shaeda immediately. “You know him?”
With another light laugh, she replied, “Of course, dear miko. Who else do you suppose kept the poor boy out of trouble all of those years? But,” she said quickly with a vague gesture to the tress surrounding them, “Let us not speak of such things now.”
The trees have ears…
Nodding in understanding, Kagome let the matter drop. Inuyasha was not known here, and perhaps it was better that way. He was already shunned and ridiculed because of what he was, she could only imagine what more conflict would arise should it be discovered whose son he really was. And not only him, but Sesshomaru as well. He would pay the price for his father's actions. He would be the one to bear their scrutiny. And what of Rin, the little human girl that so dutifully followed him? Would she be put in danger just because of the narrow-minded prejudice of a few?
No, she wouldn't bring that fate to any of them if she could help it; and by her silence, she knew she could.
“Ah, here we are.” Shaeda's voice pulled Kagome from her thoughts. She turned her attention to the demoness, finding her looking curiously at a large section of dense brush, her cherub features scrunched tightly in a look of intense contemplation. “Now if only I could remember where that entrance was…”
Not quite being able to contain it, Kagome snickered at the sight. Shaeda's happy and carefree nature made her seem the eternal child. Even having seen the fierce edge hidden so well beneath the shadows, it was still hard to believe that this sweet and joyful youkai could hurt a fly.
“Shaeda,” Kagome called her away from her careful scrutiny of the shrubbery. “That really isn't necessary.”
Lifting her hand, Kagome stepped forward until it came in contact with the barrier that blocked the path ahead. The reaction to her touch was immediate; and even though she tried to make herself hard against it, she still shivered when the heat of the crimson fires washed over her senses. Shaking herself firmly, she blocked out the sensation, focusing instead on coaxing the barrier to part as it had for her once before.
Though it was no surprise to Kagome when the barrier gave way to allow her passage, Shaeda gasped in astonishment. “Incredible,” she whispered. “How did you…?”
“It wasn't me,” Kagome interrupted quickly. She gestured for the chameleon to follow her past the barrier's perimeter, waiting for it close behind them before she spoke again. “He is waiting.”
And she didn't plan on letting him wait long. She had a few very choice words to share with that pompous dog.
“I knew it was too good to be true,” Shaeda sighed ruefully as she fell in step with Kagome. “And I was having such fun at the party.”
“What do you mean?” Kagome asked curiously.
Sighing again, Shaeda shook her head. “You will see soon enough, miko.”
“Kagome.” When Shaeda turned to her, Kagome smiled. “My name is Kagome.”
When Shaeda returned her smile, however, she did so with a mischievous wink. “I know, Miko Kagome. My Rin girl speaks quite highly of you.”
“I should have known,” Kagome laughed in return. “Another doll for you to play with.”
“A very special doll.” Shaeda's voice had softened, becoming wistful and distant in her reverie. “An orphan just like me.”
“Oh, Shaeda, I'm so sorry.”
“I am not.” The chameleon replied with a trembling smile. “If I had not been lost, then my InuPapa would never have found me. I have a good life now thanks to him, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.”
“I know what you mean,” Kagome said softly. “I used to think that the Shikon was my curse, bringing me nothing but pain and heartache; but now I can't even imagine what my life would have been like without it. I guess sometimes we have to feel the pain of loss to really appreciate what we have.”
“How touching.”
As if hearing the cold measure of his voice wasn't bad enough, Sesshomaru's scathing comment made Kagome's blood boil with fury. She turned her head sharply to find the source of his voice, her eyes narrowed fiercely when they landed on him stepping out from the rising mists of the nearby hotspring.
But he only matched her glare and then some. “Perhaps, miko, you should be more concerned with what you stand to loose now rather than indulging in daydreams of the past.”
“And you would know all about indulgences, wouldn't you, Sesshomaru?” she spit back.
His fury was only conveyed in the marginal narrowing of his eyes. “Watch your tongue, miko.”
But she refused to be intimidated by him. “Bite me, you son of a bitch! I'm not one of your dogs that will just take to your orders! You have no power over me!”
The sharp glint of his fangs was revealed as his lip lifted in a silent snarl at the insult. “Insolent wench…!”
“Ahem.” Clearing her throat elaborately, Shaeda took a step forward to place herself between the livid miko and the Inu who was rapidly loosing his cool composure. “As productive as this little display is, I do believe we have much more pressing issues to discuss.”
With Shaeda blocking the object of his ire from view, Sesshomaru composed himself quickly from his lapse. It was one thing for the waif to think he was protecting his brother's miko, but it was something entirely different for him to give her any ideas that it his actions had nothing to do with the whelp and everything to do with her…Though, at the moment, he couldn't quite remember why.
Still, anger served its purpose. It was a distraction from the pain he inflicted on himself as he used his claws to rip out one of his back molars. His mouth filled with his own blood, and he spit it out in distaste before throwing the tooth to Shaeda.
She knew without it having to be said what he wanted of her; and the moment Shaeda held that small piece of him he had given her, she used it to augment her powers, shifting and changing them to correspond with Sesshomaru's. In an instant, she was surrounded by the dancing crimsons fires of his power, using them as they directed her to change.
Her hands flexed at her sides, and where she had had none, a perfect set of razor claws sprouted from her fingertips. Her lips parted as fangs too began to grow, and across her cheeks sharp lines of crimson cut their paths. When she opened her eyes, the black surfaces had turned to gold. And with only a shake of her head, her shadowy midnight tresses shimmered as they were taken over by moonspun silver.
Kagome watched the transformation occur in amazement, but when the fires had cleared from her vision and she saw the silver demoness that stood in the place of the shade, she gasped softly. “Incredible,” she whispered in quiet awe. “You look just like him.”
Ignoring the miko for the time being, Sesshomaru made a short gesture for Shaeda to take her leave. “Find the hanyou,” he ordered her sternly. “Drag him back here by his heels if you have to, but bring him.”
It truly was amazing how easily he could find ways to get under her skin. A hard scowl taking over the place of her awed expression, Kagome looked to Sesshomaru. “Why even involve him?” she asked hotly. “It's your fault I'm here. Why can't you just take me back?”
“Impossible,” he dismissed both her and her idea. “You have named the hanyou your champion, thus only he can take you from here.”
“You mean because he is the only one that would be willing?”
A low growl broke out of him before he could contain it. “Busy yourself with something more productive than trying me with your ignorance, miko,” he told her frigidly with a sharp gesture towards the spring behind them. “I need time to figure out how to rectify this incomprehensible disaster you have wrought.”
“It isn't her fault that bitch dragged her here, Sesshomaru. Perhaps a little more compassion is in order.”
“What are you still doing here?” he asked in a dangerously low growl as he turned stiffly to Shaeda. “You have a task to perform.”
Arching an elegant silver brow, Shaeda replied, “It is not like you to be forgetful, Sesshomaru. I must settle my debts before I take my leave.”
She held her hand out expectantly, not caring in the slightest that Sesshomaru had her pinned with a most frigid glare. Eventually, he released a short huff of breath and reached for his money pouch.
Smiling triumphantly once it was in her possession, Shaeda checked it for weight before turning to Kagome. “A fine price for a fine garment, miko,” she told her with a wink. “By the time young Inuyasha comes, he shall not even recognize you for the Lady you have become.”
Trying to force a smile, Kagome failed miserably. She shook her head. “You are far too kind, Shaeda. But no amount of fancy clothes could make me into a Lady.”
“We shall see, miko,” the chameleon replied with a grin. “We shall see.”
With that, Shaeda turned; and with the speed bestowed upon her by Sesshomaru's gift, she was gone in a flash of silver.
“You should be more grateful, miko,” Sesshomaru said once Shaeda had passed through the barrier and beyond any range of hearing. “Shaeda has gone to great lengths to see to your comfort.”
“Grateful?” She spit the word as she turned to face him. “Oh, I am grateful, alright. Grateful that soon I will no longer have to look upon the face of your deceit!”
Sesshomaru was at a loss. He had no idea where all her hostility was coming from. But that did not mean he would stand and take it. Not even from her. “You dare accuse me when it was my word that saw to it you would still be standing here, and money from my very pocket that would see you dressed in such finery?”
“You mean this?” Holding up the parcel that held her gown, she threw it angrily to the ground at his feet. “Take it then! I would rather dress in rags to be myself, than wear your mate's riches to be your whore!”
Her eyes were burning with unshed tears, of anger or hurt she wasn't certain. Even to look at him was unbearable; and so, unable to face him any longer, she turned towards the springs.
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Sorry! Sorry! I know I'm terrible to have told everyone that I would give them a treat in this chapter and then do that, but I just HAD to! I mean, come on! That's some powerful stuff right there. I couldn't go wasting it by letting it sit around for however long it takes me to have Sesshomaru redeem himself. Definitely next chapter though…lol I think ;P
Still, I hope everyone enjoyed. I'm off! Tata!
Shadow