InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ Of Long Sleeves ( Chapter 9 )

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INYUSHA AND COMPANY, NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ.

AN: Thank you to SleepingChickenNugget and ktshabatie for beta-ing.




Chapter 9: Of Long Sleeves

The miko was taking her time. Sesshoumaru was not in the mood to wait for her. Just as he had deemed it necessary go and retrieve the female, she appeared.

Kagome could tell that he had a hard time keeping his trademark stoic facial expression. So she recapped the events in her head: she had woken up to find herself not in her own room, here she was no longer a virgin, the one who had deflowered her decided play a game of “Who is Alpha?” (she still wasn’t sure who had won), next she was told that she is pregnant, and finally the icing on the cake, she was left in a room to ready herself for an already pissy lord when she discovered that she had no clue how to adorn any of the clothing. She had never worn a kimono in her life. At all of the festivals she had attended, she was attired in the traditional grab of a miko; well, traditional, at least, for her family shrine.

That having been said, she stood before “Lord Stick up His Ass” in what probably looked like a three-year-olds attempt to play dress up all by herself. She had no clue how to properly to tie an obi; in fact, she had not realized they were that long!

“Miko, how can you have lived this long and still not know how to dress yourself?” The mirth in his eyes as he spoke made her want to stick her tongue out in retaliation.

“I, Sesshoumaru-sama, was not born to a family that required me to wear such pomp.” She moved to kneel before him; she refused to admit to failing in such a simple task as getting herself dressed.

Kagome moved to serve him tea from the available set, then served her own. She waited for him drink and begin the conversation.

Sesshoumaru found it very comical to be seated across from someone who held their person with such poise, while their clothing was in such disarray.

“In the future mi-Kagome, you will wear kimonos with longer sleeves. This Sesshoumaru will not have other males thinking his breeder is still available.”

Kagome almost lost control of her tongue and sent cup of tea flying across the room at him, but she reigned in her anger. She realized that there was no point in arguing with him about how insulting the comment was; he did not give a damn. “Hai.”

“You will now tell me where your village is.”

“I cannot and, as I said before, none can reach it now.”

“Unacceptable, you will not hide things from your alpha.”

“Fine. I used to be able to reach my ‘village’ through the Bone Eaters Well. However, that route has been sealed and I have not discovered another method.” Kagome stared him dead on in the eye; it was a challenge from him to call it a lie.

“Why would the well cease to work?” He did not detect any falsehood in her statement, yet she still had not surrendered anything of importance.

“I sealed it about two weeks before the final battle with Naraku.” Sesshoumaru could tell the she had become increasingly uncomfortable with the topic of the well. He, however, would not be deterred from the truth.

“Why would you choose to seal yourself here?”

“Arrogant ass,” it was said softly and meant to be a comment only for herself. “Inuyasha’s rosary was the key to the magic in the well. Upon my last trip home there was almost nothing left for me there. The only one of my family, who survived the attack, was my brother. My brother is the only blood relation I know of. He is staying with the woman we call our aunt; she was actually my father’s younger brother’s widow.

“Well I guess that doesn’t explain why I sealed the well, now does it?” Sesshoumaru continued to stare at her blankly. “My brother was too young to assume responsibility for the shrine, and the ones who were going to take it over planned on removing the gateway on that side of the portal.”

“Why?”

“The ones who were gaining control did not know that it was even a gateway. Before you ask; no, neither my family nor I ever told them. The reason that we did not share the knowledge was simply because they would not have believed it.

“So I did not believe that my duty would be completed before the magic of the well was negated because of the destruction of one of the gateways. Instead of waiting to see if we completed a task that we had been unable to finish for three years, I chose to seal it upon my return here.”

“So that none from your home would follow?”

“No. It was Inuyasha’s rosary that was linked to the magic of the well. Kami opened the well initially, but was Inuyasha’s beads of subjugation that kept the well open. The only way to remove the spell associated with those beads was to combine it with the magic of the well. The beads had to pass through the well alone from this side. Inuyasha is free from the spell of subjugation, the well no longer poses a threat to those on the other side, and all I had to do was abandon my only family.

“Do see you now that the purity I had left was that of my body? My ignorance left my family open for attack, my honor left my brother alone, my selfishness killed Shippo, my blackened heart cost Kohaku his life, and my duty allowed Sango no peace. All of this might have been worth his destruction, but he has not been destroyed. He now has the freedom to roam.” Her head hung in shame, “I failed. My curse is that I understand too late what it is I should do.”

“Miko,” he watched her tense when he refused to use her name. “You will cease this self derogation and inform this Sesshoumaru how he is to contact your brother. Your brother must be told of your new status within the West.”

“I’ll tell you: you wait about five hundred years. Then you go to the capital city of the humans of these islands. That is where I will be born, where my brother will be born. If you are not willing to wait, I am sorry but I do not know who my ancestors are in this time.”

“You expect this Sesshoumaru to believe that you are from the future?” He was tired of her refusal to tell of her origins. It had been less than an hour since he last pinned her to ground and already he wanted to pin her again. Absently he thought that he was going to have find a different method of discipline when her belly started to swell with the pup.

“I do not lie. In fact, I could not lie to save my life. Really Sesshoumaru-sama, you are willing to accept that the well is a magical portal, but not that the other side of the portal is the future? Either it is magical or it is not. From everything that I understand, the only thing that binds magic is power. If there is enough power then literally anything is possible.”

“Hn, you will tell me of the future.”

“This is why I did not want to tell you. I do not think I should.” Sesshoumaru’s growl made her realize that if she did not come up with an exceptional reason, then she would become intimately acquainted with this floor as well. “I do not understand the complications of time travel; however, I will not risk the destruction of the future because I became loose-lipped about certain events that have yet to happen.”

“You fear that if this Sesshoumaru uses the information given here that you will not be born.”

“No, I don’t think that my birth can be avoided. At any rate, if you changed history because of the information I give, then I still need to be born to pass the information. Wait…how can I tell you about a certain event if it does not occur? I am confused. If time were a line then certain events would have to occur before the others, however, time might not be a line seeing how I slipped from one present to another.

“I am not a Quantum Physicist or a philosophy major. I don’t care which came first, the egg or the chicken. I like to eat them both and want them to continue to exist. Therefore, I will not be sharing anything that I know about what happens in the future because I cannot even begin to understand what the possible repercussions may be.” Kagome finished her little speech and stared waiting for his response. She really hoped it did not involve the floor again.

Sesshoumaru had a headache. Somewhere in that incessant blabbering was a valid point, he was sure. He wondered if he truly wanted to try and sift it out. No, there was no point. If she had access to the details of history, she would have learned long before the final battle with Naraku where his heart was hidden. There was no way that she had previous knowledge of it, her reaction in that battle was too genuine.

As for her unwillingness to share, there were other ways around it. All he had to do now was pay attention to her reactions. If she held knowledge of the outcome of an event, it would carry into her body language. The girl before him was many things, but a deceiver was not one them. The problem with this plan was that he no longer could look forward to being rid of the girl. Truth be told, it would have been stupid to relinquish control of such a powerful miko.

The thought of her power made him question something she had said before. Naraku’s wish. “Miko, why not use your newly acquired power to unseal the well?”

Kagome’s skin itched. There were echoes of the voice taunting her to go home, that all she had to do was embrace the power. “Power when not earned is dangerous. You know this. It was Naraku who wished to become ‘all powerful,’ not I. If he had lived he would have been the strongest, most powerful being alive. So the question becomes: how would the jewel accomplish this? I don’t know, but every part of me screams to never find out. There comes a point when the correct question is no longer ‘could we,’ but ‘should we?’

“They were not my ruby slippers. Unfortunately, now I can’t quite get them off. Where would they be left in safety? The wish was not mine, so what I was left with was the temptation to make the prize my own.”

“Miko, cease the riddles. Is the power yours or not?”

“My power is my own; the power from the wish could never be utilized separate from the evil of the jewel. Now that I no longer carry the evil within me, I don’t know who has the power. I fear he does.”

Fine, all that aside, he had the answer to the question of the miko’s family. There would be none that could claim her and demand restitution. Good. The next thing that needed to be discussed was her elusive reference to the youkai soul.

“You will tell this Sesshoumaru why you refer to an ancient evil. Magatsuhi was destroyed nearly a decade ago.”

“Magatsuhi was his first attempt at freedom. Naraku was hard to manipulate to his whims. I believe that he manipulated the rest of us on the hunt to destroy Naraku so that he could gain his freedom.” Kagome was no longer paying attention to the tai-youkai, to whom she spoke. No, she was lost in her own mind. There were fragments there, pieces of the puzzle that she was having a hard time putting together.

Sesshoumaru’s ire was rising. He was not one to be ignored, especially by a human girl who had a propensity to refer to flying monkeys. “If he is not Magatsuhi, then who is he?”

“I do not know for sure. I believe that Midoriko did not actually trap any youkai soul in the jewel with her, but a Kami. Amatsu-Mikaboshi to be exact.

“Towards the end of my training, every time I passed the Komainu, the wind would seem to whisper: ‘Must be devoured.’ It was not until I began to wander, that it made any sense.” Her eyes were hazed, as she tried to focus on the inu-youkai before her. She hoped that he would be able to understand, for deep within her, she knew there would be no second chances.

Sesshoumaru noticed a plea within her eyes right before she collapsed before him. He was moving to see what was wrong with the most irritating female. Suddenly, she stood before him; her countenance was not that of a miko but a Kami.

“You dog, will listen to what you are told. Your arrogant interference has done more harm than any other being can hold claim to. We have decided, however, to offer you a chance at redemption ...”

Sesshoumaru was on his feet growling viciously at the thing that would dare posses his breeder. “None speak to this Sesshoumaru in such a manner and live. YOU will release this Sesshoumaru’s breeder, now!” His tone was deadly, and his body was preparing to follow through with the unspoken threat.

The one controlling Kagome paid no attention to his posturing. “She is not yours. She is ours. We designed her so that she could accomplish that which all before her failed to complete. Through many different parties’ interference she finally saw the path, or as she called it the ‘Yellow Brick Road.’ She followed her road, to her destiny. She faced it all with honor and courage.

“You ripped her back. For what, a perceived slight against your status? Dog, she is not a bitch. Your claim as her alpha has no more validity than your mother’s claim of being mate to your father. However, while your mother’s claim is a harmless folly, yours has threatened every living being.

“This ‘breeder’ was the one who could lead Amatsu-Mikaboshi to the shadow. There he would be devoured, thereby ceasing his influence over this plane. The shadow are able to hold him for eternity, it is why my sister, Amaterasu, created them.

“In your need to ensure that an unwilling female conceived, you gave him the opportunity to escape his personalized prison. Now you dare, dog, to command this Uzume. Kneel before those who are better than you.”

“This Sesshoumaru does not kneel to anyone, especially when he is in his own domain!” His eyes were completely red, and he was having a hard time holding off the transformation. In his mind, he knew there was no way to attack this interloper without harming the pup. His beast was willing to fight even this Kami, for his bitch.

“Your arrogance will be your downfall. When you survive this encounter, you will owe it to the girl. Even now, on the morning after your offense against her, she pleads for your safety. You do not deserve her forgiveness. Your sense of entitlement rivals that of Amatsu-Mikaboshi. Never again can you say that your mother gave you nothing.

“This girl, the one you had to lower yourself to bind, can no longer fulfill her purpose. She will be unable to sacrifice the babe within her. In addition, Amatsu-Mikaboshi will come to end her. She is the one that can destroy him; he will not let her go. He has already taken root within the life inside her.

“Know this, dog: if she is unable to cleanse the ‘pup,’ it will fall on your shoulders to ensure the ‘pup’s’ life is forfeit.”

The snarl released from the almost feral lord, nearly shook the room to the ground. “This Sesshoumaru will never kill his young!!”

With an equally commanding tone, “It would no longer be your pup, but Amatsu-Mikaboshi’s bastard.”

Then the room stilled as the miko collapsed to the floor once more. The smell of salt water hit Sesshoumaru’s nose. He knew then that she had heard all that was discussed. She knew the fate of their pup.

Kagome raised her head; she stared at the male before with deep accusation in her eyes. “Why? Why would you impregnate someone who is so obviously the toy of the Kami? Do you not see how weak I am that I cannot even keep my own child safe? Don’t come near me!”

Sesshoumaru pushed her up against one of the wood support beams in the wall. He hovered over her body in a very dominating way. “You are MINE.” He moved his clawed hand to cover her entire lower abdomen. “This is my MINE.”

“No, I am not your bitch. Apparently, I am someone else’s bitch, and in case you haven’t noticed their influence is far greater than yours!”

“No! MINE.” He was losing the battle with his beast. It was urging him to re-stake the claim, that way the female would remember whose seed she carried.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Madoka was not going to take any more insult. First, a human whore took her place as Lady of West. Fine. The little twit got herself kidnapped and killed within a few short years. It had taken her years, decades even, to silence the courts about that minor indiscretion.

She had tried for years to ensure that the second son was killed, before he proved to be more of a nuisance. The damn hanyou was far more resilient than she had thought possible. Every time he lived. She also ran into problems with the current lord, her son. It seemed as if he was dead set on proving she was behind the plots.

Honestly, how could he side with that abomination over his own mother? He took after his father far too much. She would have smothered him as a pup if she had known he would be this much trouble.

Madoka had put up with the miko bitch, she had only corrected the insolent girl a few times, and this was the thanks she received. Her rank, her title was being given to a human. No, her son would not do this to her, she would find a way to replace him.

Madoka knew that her daughter could be of use, as she had an unmated female pup. Madoka had ensured when she mated off her daughter that she had the right to ordain any match of female offspring.

Sadly, Madoka only had one grand-pup survive into adulthood. A wicked smile crept onto her face. It was such a shame that her daughter’s mate did not have strong enough blood to pass the immunity of poison onto his offspring. Oh well, maternal instinct was never hers nor her daughter’s strong suit.

The thing that needed to be done was to find a male that had ambition with very little means to accomplish it.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Tadashi had never imagined that pups, well kits, could be so much fun. It had been ages since he had someone who enjoyed playing tricks on drunks, and there were never so many drunks since the rebel threat had been eliminated.

Yuichi was very controlled in his fox magic. The kit had confided in the older inu that his foxfire had always been a problem for him. His honorable father was the youngest of his uncles and therefore had never been around when teaching another to control the talent. Yuichi also mentioned that his father had exceptional control over his magic from a very young age, so much so that he placed the highest for his age in the “exam.”

Yuichi would not clarify what the “exam” was; Tadashi just figured it was the way that foxes determined power level amongst themselves. Tadashi had never heard of a fox commanding a lordship, which made sense because by nature they preferred to hide and sneak around.

Tadashi began to notice how the kit would send worried glances towards the main compound. Yuichi was worried about the miko; even though he did not understand the intricacies of the inu packs, he had noticed the miko’s lack of submission. She was in a very dangerous position, and he had already discovered that the prior breeder would not bow out gracefully. All Yuichi wanted to do was be near his savior. She needed someone that would not judge her, to assure her that she was worthy.

Tadashi knew that if he did not find a way to learn of the miko’s condition, then the kit would do something foolish. The problem was the ferocity with which the lord protected his bitch. Whether Sesshoumaru-sama realized it or not, he was protecting the female more as a mate than as a breeder.

Tadashi never would have thought that Sesshoumaru-sama would follow the example set by his father. At least this human was powerful, and she had already earned the respect of the soldiers from the stunt she pulled on the battlefield against the rebels.

Tadashi shook his head; there was no way he could find anything out right now. Therefore, he needed to distract the kit. Kuro just so happened to step into Tadashi’s line of sight and he smiled. The possibilities were endless.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Inuyasha was not going to sit back and take this. “What the fuck: ‘She left this Sesshoumaru no choice’? What the fuck kind of answer is that?” he muttered to himself as he left the Citadel.

Inuyasha knew of at least one person he could turn to for help. He knew it was not a good time to go calling on the houshi, but damn it, the houshi owed her. Besides, maybe the letch could figure out the link between Kagome and the shadows.

Inuyasha itched with the feeling of uncertainty as he leapt from limb to limb. All he knew was the gut feeling to challenge Sesshoumaru. Damn, Kagome was pack! She was a sister that gave up everything for him, and always with forgiveness and a smile. She deserved better than the position of a glorified whore.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

“NO. I am not your bitch, or wench, or whore. I am Kagome. It is all I will ever be.” Her voice had fallen into a submissive whisper; the tears carved paths down her cheeks. She searched his eyes; she needed him to understand. “I was supposed to be forgotten, sacrificed. That is why everything over the years was done to break me.” Her head fell forward, searching for support from the being that deemed her worthy of salvation. “What being does not even have a complete soul? I am not worthy of any other fate than what I found on that cave floor. I have been tied to that evil for so long that it, he, has seeped into every part of my being. I am so weak that I allowed it to attack my unborn child. What kind or mother allows that?”

The beast within whined to soothe the distraught female. Sesshoumaru recognized that on some level, this was his fault; however, he would never audibly admit it. She should have told him what was to happen back at that island. It was his right as alpha to pass judgment as to whether or not the course of action was correct.

No, she deserved more than an eternity on a cave floor with only her memories of failure. She was stronger than most to willingly accept that fate, that duty. She deserved more from him. Yes, she was an annoyance, but so was Mother. If he had managed not to kill Mother in the last two and a half centuries since he had been back, he could offer respect to one who had proven her worth.

Sesshoumaru realized that Kagome needed to be protected not only from outside threats, but also from herself. It was his duty as alpha to protect her. It was his honor. She was worth more than the life growing within her.

Sesshoumaru moved his hand from her neck to cradle her face. He tilted her head so that she was looking at him, “You are pack.” He then pressed his hand a little more protectively over her womb, “This is family. This Sesshoumaru protects what is his. I do not surrender to impossible odds.”

He then picked up the woman, and carried her back to the futon. Tucking her in to rest, he turned on his heels and left the room. He would send a servant to help her dress for the evening meal. She must learn to dress in proper attire. No longer was she a shrine maiden.

*+*+*+*

AN: Thank you for reading please review.

Emily