InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ I'm Melting ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
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 10: I’m Melting
Kuro narrowed his pale green eyes. He watched the sutra lift slightly from the rock … or was it a pebble? He did not care at the moment; all he cared about was getting loose so he could hunt down the kit.
Kuro had enough problems getting the other soldiers to respect him, seeing how he had no family standing worth mentioning. Was it his fault that his father was lecherous? No, his father’s habits were no more under his control than the frequency of the falling rains.
His hands had fallen asleep a long time ago. He knew that he could not knock the sutra off with his feet. Several repeated attempts, that looked like he had been trying to scratch an itch behind his ear with his foot, had proven this. He knew for a fact that the rock or pebble tasted like shit. This was learned in a failed attempt to remove the sutra with his mouth.
Really, could the day have been any worse? He had gone to blow off steam and drink with his fellow soldiers. This did not seem like a bad plan at the time, though he should have known that the crowd that drinks in the middle of the day was not the kind looking just to unwind.
Turns out that he, Kuro, was to blame for their leader taking the miko as his breeder. Kuro could not follow the logic but he figured if he drank more, then it would make sense. Wrong. All drinking more did was to make him an easier target.
He had been run out after his final attempt to proclaim his innocence. In this state of drunken enlightenment, he had stated:
“I dare any of you to not take a powerful female that is nearly naked, panting, on her hands and knees. She was calling out for a male. The call was stronger than any bitch in heat I have ever encountered. If the lord had not been there, there probably would have been a battle for rutting rights.”
He immediately knew he had gone too far. The faces staring back at him ranged from horror to disgust. Not only had he told the group of inus that they would lower themselves to fight over who got to rut with a human, but he had impugned the virtue of the West’s breeder. Things had not gone well for him, and he had been so distracted trying to stay hidden from the pissed off soldiers that he never noticed the kit until it was too late.
He was wondering if he could actually sleep in this position. Just as he was attempting to find a comfortable spot on the pebble, he became aware of another’s presence.
“There you are.” Shit. “You have just been volunteered for a very important assignment.” The way the others were laughing, made Kuro question whether or not he was going to survive this assignment.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
When Inuyasha had shown up at his hut that morning, he experienced the same gut wrenching feeling that occurred the last time Kagome passed through the well. Really, the only reason for Inuyasha to visit him while wearing that facial expression would have to involve Kagome.
Miroku stood tall, and welcomed his pack mate with his trademark smile. “Inuyasha, to what do we owe the honor of the Regent of the West’s visit?”
The irritated hanyou just walked by into his hut. When Miroku reentered the hut, Inuyasha began to speak, “Feh, I got one word for you: Kagome.”
“Ah.” Miroku felt his stomach finally drop. There was no one else in the whole of Japan that could get herself into more trouble than Kagome. “Come Inuyasha, sit and tell me what our little spit-fire has gotten herself into this time.”
“Feh, the idiot has gone and gotten herself turned into Sesshoumaru’s breeder.” Inuyasha refused to sit; instead, he paced back and forth until he heard a feminine gasp from the corner.
“Sesshoumaru-sama would never take a human as a breeder.”
Inuyasha turned towards Miroku’s wife, “Don’t tell me what your precious Sesshoumaru-sama would or wouldn’t do. He took her. His exact words were ‘ She left this Sesshoumaru no choice, but to force a speedy bonding. Unfortunately, the miko also happened to be in heat at the time.’ So there you have it.”
Miroku rose to his wife’s defense. “Inuyasha there is no need to take out your frustration on my pregnant wife. She had no more control over the situation than you did. Now, what do you want us to do about this new development?”
Inuyasha deflated as he sunk down to his crouching position. “I dunno. The problem isn’t just that she’s pupped; it’s what she told me before she left for the forbidden island. The Shikon no Tama was never really destroyed.”
Miroku felt his knees go weak. “What do you mean, Inuyasha? The jewel was nowhere to be found after the battle.”
“Naraku made his wish, but before it could be completed Kagome somehow managed to kill him. The original youkai soul then merged with Kagome. She is the jewel, or the ‘living embodiment’ of the jewel. Kagome is no longer human.”
Miroku mulled over what Inuyasha had just told him. It now made sense as to why Kagome insisted on getting proper training and then disappeared afterwards. Miroku just shook his head. Poor Kagome, she thought she had to take responsibility for the weight of the world.
*Flashback*
Miroku approached what was once the center of the battlefield. His heart stopped as he saw Kagome kneeling before the crumpled forms of both Sango and Kohaku. He approached solemnly, placing his hand on her shoulder when he finally reached them.
The love of his life was dead. Kagome turned to him tears blazing paths through the dirt on her face. He fell to his knees beside her.
“With her last breathe she wished for your happiness.” Her voice was hoarse and broken; Kagome stared at the bodies of her friends as she spoke. “She wanted you to live your life freely, without the threat of the curse hanging over you. She knew Naraku was dead before she died. She knew her village was avenged. Please Miroku, find peace and happiness.” The last was said as she was walked away.
Miroku watched her leave. He could not shake the feeling that she was hiding the truth from him. His heart ached for his lost love, but more so for the little miko. She had lost on this day of their final victory. She had lost, and it seemed that she was lost.
*End Flashback*
“Well then, there is nothing left to do but go see Kagome-sama,” Miroku said as he stood to go retrieve Kirara.
It had only taken them a few hours to travel to the Western Citadel.
Miroku took in the sight of the Western Citadel. He was venturing on territory that very few humans had ever seen. He wrapped his arms around his wife praying that he was not a fool who blindly followed honor to their death.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
One of the servants had awoken Kagome. She washed her face and hands in the water provided. The arduous task of dressing went much more smoothly this time with the help of someone who actually knew what was supposed to be done. There was a small disagreement over the number of layers she would be wearing, but Kagome refused to go above nine. It was the middle of summer; she already knew that the innermost layer would be ruined.
When the time came to style Kagome’s hair, she tried to convince the servant that no one should touch her hair. Of course, the servant thought that the girl was just being stubborn.
“Breeder-sama, it would reflect poorly on the lord if you were not adorned in the latest fashion.”
“That is not the problem, it is-“ Kagome was cut off when the servant jerked back.
The shadow had made her presence known by swiping and hissing at the servant. The shadow was very annoyed from being woken up from her rest. She had gorged herself on the miko’s memories in order to ensure that the miko remained asleep until a place of safety was reached.
Kagome had almost laughed at the servant’s reaction. The servant had been so convinced that Kagome was to trying to demean Sesshoumaru-sama’s status, that the girl never realized that there were legitimate concerns with each of Kagome’s objections.
“I believe that my hair is fine.” Kagome had a hard time containing the laugh as the shadow hissed at the servant again, causing said servant to cower further in the corner. “Now now, Toto. We wouldn’t want nasty Miss Almira Gulch, to try and take you away now would we?”
Kagome exited the room, softly cooing and petting her hair. The servant had no idea what to make of the situation. All the youkai knew was the breeder must be powerful in order to withstand the influence of the shadow. Shadows were things told to pups in order to scare them into obedience. They were the things that nightmares were made from.
When Kagome entered the dining area, she came face to face with the one individual she had been hoping to avoid.
“Inuyasha…”
She had no idea what to say to him. She knew that she had, in a way, betrayed him, but she could not shake the feeling that it was her fault things had turned out the way they had. Just when he and his brother began to truly to rebuild their familial bond, she had to go and get impregnated by Inuyasha’s brother. That was sure not to cause any added stress between the two.
“Kagome, I brought an old friend to see you.” Kagome followed his gaze to where Miroku stood.
Miroku had that same smile on his face that always meant he was up to no good. No, she could not play the part of the doll in front of him. She had already sacrificed too much of herself to ensure Miroku walked off that battlefield without guilt. Besides, he had always seen through her false smiles.
She could hear Sango’s voice:
“DO NOT LIE. You are nothing but a treacherous bitch! All this time, your weaknesses have held us back. We would have won long ago if you had been more like Kikyou. Pathetic copy. There is no level of hell deep enough for the likes of you.”
Sango’s accusations swirling in Kagome’s mind.
“Did you even think about what that would do to him? … How? How could you do such a thing?”
Why did she fail them all so bitterly? Why would Sango not find peace?
“No. You will not find absolution from me, deceiver.” With that, Sango’s lifeless body fell over, draping across that of her younger brother.
The images and words of her ‘sister’ haunted the little sanity Kagome had left to claim. Miroku’s voice pulled Kagome from the suffocating abyss that was her mind.
“Ah, Kagome-sama, you look ravishing. I would ask to you bear my child, but that honor has already been bestowed upon my lovely wife. I believe you two have met before.”
“R-Rin-chan? What did you do in your previous life to deserve such a husband?” Kagome found that the room was no longer stationary. Just as she began to think that consciousness was far too overrated, a light laugh brought her back.
“Kagome-sama, we have not seen each other in years. Must you wound me so?” Miroku never let his smile falter. He knew that she did not mean it the way it sounded.
“I apologize, but I’m flabbergasted. I always accepted that you were a lecherous monk. However, Miroku, cradle robbing? Please tell me she was older than eleven before you asked her to bear your child.” Kagome shifted her gaze to Rin and smiled. Then she caught Inuyasha’s eyes and glared. How dare he not tell her?
“Kagome-sama, I do not know my exact age, but I do believe that I was far older than that when he first brought up the idea of child-bearing. In fact, he approached Sesshoumaru-sama for my hand before he ever uttered the infamous question to me.” Rin walked up to her husband and entwined her fingers in his. Miroku immediately brought the offered hand to his lips while placing his other hand affectionately on his wife’s swollen belly.
“Wow, I am sorry for every derogatory comment I have ever said about you Miroku. Where was I when this all happened? Oh, right. I was wandering around in the wilderness. Anyway, that is not important. When is the little one going to make an appearance?”
“It should be within the next month or so, Kagome-sama.”
“Rin-chan, please do not call me sama. You were raised with far more etiquette than I.”
“Kagome-sama, while it is true that I was raised as the ward of the Western lord, you are his breeder. That is a position of great honor. If any do not show the proper respect to you, then they are directly insulting Sesshoumaru-sama’s judgment.” The smiling, giggling, flower-picking girl had grown into an intelligent woman.
Kagome’s heart warmed when she realized the woman before her was the perfect complement to the amorous monk.
“Hn.” The baritone voice made Kagome’s stomach drop. She hoped that she had done nothing to piss off the youkai behind her. Kagome was well aware of the fact that Inuyasha would not stand by during one of Sesshoumaru’s ‘lessons’ in dominance. “I would have thought that a female of education,” Sesshoumaru’s eyes bore directly in to Kagome’s, “would be able to comprehend the simple rules of etiquette better than a monk’s wife.” Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to Rin and tested the air.
“As I stated to Rin earlier, she was raised with far more rules of etiquette than I, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Kagome bowed slightly to him, and then bared her neck.
“Hn.” Sesshoumaru did not turn back to his breeder. “Rin, you are well.” It was not a question.
“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Both Rin and her husband bowed to the tai-youkai.
“Inuyasha, I expect to be informed the next time the Citadel is to receive guests.” Sesshoumaru turned away from the group and began to make his way over to where he would sit.
Kagome felt like an obedient puppy as she followed him. She was not sure where she should sit in relation to the tai-youkai. She did not want to assume anything. She watched as her newest antagonist seated himself on his cushion.
“Breeder, you may serve this Sesshoumaru and then sit yourself in your place at my right.” Not once did he look at her, instead, his eyes were fixed on the door.
Inuyasha bit his tongue when his brother chastised him in front everyone, but he would not allow the asshole to treat Kagome as he would another one of his concubines. Inuyasha had just opened his mouth, when another beat him to the chase.
“Sesshoumaru, is the West to be infested so with filthy ningen and hanyou?” The entire room stiffened at Madoka’s entrance. None wanted to deal with the bitch. Yet, all knew she would not gracefully bow out.
“I am sorry to hear of your plight Madoka-san. Unfortunately, I have it on good authority that humanity is a worldwide epidemic that is only going to spread further.” Kagome’s voice was pleasant, her demeanor respectful. The only thing that she did to slight the old female inu was drop the title of respect.
“You will know your place and address my person with proper respect,” Madoka snarled. If someone did not curb this bitch’s tongue, Madoka might end up risking her son’s wrath just to have the satisfaction of the miko’s blood on her claws.
“I have. Tell me Madoka-san, what title do you hold now that I am the breeder to the Western lord?”
Sesshoumaru decided that she was defiantly worth the hassle. He had not seen anyone dare to and so effectively put Mother in her place. However, his bitch was seconds away from needing a protector from Mother.
“Strong words from such a useless little girl. Tell me: if you are so worthy of the title why then, has my son spent so much time in the concubines’ compound?” The growl she received from her son told her she was coming dangerously close to over stepping her bounds.
“Sesshoumaru-sama does not need to explain his actions to anyone, he is lord. I have no claim on his bedding habits. I did not come by my position by being a whore.” Kagome knew how close the female was to hitting her. Kagome just wanted her a little closer and then it would all end.
Inuyasha had left Miroku’s side. Miroku would protect Rin from anything this old bitch would be able to throw at the houshi. Inuyasha moved himself to a position that he would be able to reach Kagome in time if need be. He was not sure if Sesshoumaru would not use this as a way out. He knew his brother held no love for the old bitch, but he was not sure how the asshole felt about having a hanyou for an heir.
Sesshoumaru had remained seated. He was much faster than Mother, so he saw no reason to rise if there was no current threat. However, his bitch’s last comment might have pushed Mother over the edge.
Madoka would not stand by and let this filth call her a whore. She regretted that she could not make the miko’s death slow and painful, but the blood that was about to color her claws would ease that lament.
Before either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha had made it to Kagome, the little spitfire did something unexpected. Kagome had grabbed the pot of water for the tea and drenched Madoka. Madoka was stopped in her tracks, not from the scolding hot water. No, it was the fact that the miko’s reaction to a death threat was to throw water on it. Before Madoka realized it, Inuyasha had her restrained and he was calling for the guards.
“You didn’t melt. You were supposed to melt. The wicked witch of the west always melts.” Kagome’s hand went up to pet her hair, “I don’t get it, Toto.”
“Hn.” Sesshoumaru was quite sure that his breeder’s sanity was borderline. Still that had been … amusing. “Take Madoka to her ‘sanctuary.’ Those who upset the breeder are no longer welcome in the West.” Sesshoumaru turned and strode back to his seat.
Rin had watched the whole scene, and she decided that she wanted to know what the older woman was talking about. Carefully Rin stepped out from behind her husband. At his questioning look, she just smiled. Rin approached the spot where Kagome was still standing.
“Kagome-sama, what was supposed to happen?”
“She was supposed to melt.”
“Why would anyone melt when water is thrown on them?”
“Not just anyone, the wicked witch of the west.”
“Okay. After she melted, what was supposed to happen?”
“The flying monkeys would be free. They would go flying off into the night screeching their joy. Then we would return to the Emerald City. The Wizard was supposed to grant a heart, a brain, courage, and a way home in exchange for destroying the wicked witch of the west. Only it turns out that the Wizard is only a man behind a curtain. The Wizard is nothing but a character in a play. Anti-climactic, I know.” Kagome turned and looked at Rin. Rin could only describe the look on Kagome’s face is that of a petulant child. “But … but her not melting was anti-climactic as well.”
“Hn, it is often disappointing when people do not melt when they should.” Sesshoumaru’s monotone reply was in stark contrast to Inuyasha’s response.
Inuyasha had listened to everything; he had a good idea that Kagome was describing one of those “movies”. However, he could no longer hold in his laughter. He fell to the floor rolling in fits of laughter. Kagome had given the old bitch the perfect name, and to top it all off she had thrown water on the old witch.
Through peals of laughter, he managed to get out, “I would endure a thousand sits if we could have taken a picture of the old bitch’s face when you dowsed her.”
Miroku was not sure how to react. He wanted to be on the floor with Inuyasha, but the butt of the joke was Sesshoumaru-sama’s mother. Miroku walked towards his wife; he had noticed how both Rin and Kagome had hid their giggles behind their sleeves.
“Ah, my dear wife, shall we take our seats? I believe the entertainment portion of the evening is over.” Miroku guided his wife to where they were to sit. He helped his wife lower herself to the cushion. Because of her condition; Miroku had no qualms about breaking with traditional roles. Rin, however, patiently waited for the sign that she could begin to serve her husband.
Sesshoumaru had watched everyone’s reaction to the incident. His opinion of his brother as a brash idiot was reaffirmed, but it was the sound of his bitch giggle that gave him pause. She sounded so much like tiny bells on the wind. He enjoyed the sound, but knew it would not come about that often.
“Breeder.” Kagome turn to look at him with a questioning glance. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be serving him. Rushing to his side, she began to serve her lord. Sesshoumaru brought the cup to his lips; it signaled that others in the room were allowed begin their meal. “Breeder,” Sesshoumaru held her eyes with his, “In the future you will refrain from trying to melt others with water.”
Kagome saw the amusement in his eyes. He had allowed only her to know how much her little display had given him pleasure.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Yuichi did not like this. They had returned to the Western Citadel last sunset, yet still no one could tell him how the miko who saved him was doing. He knew that something had happened in the cave. The powerful inu-youkai had been very protective of her.
He had heard the other soldiers refer to her as the Western Breeder. He couldn’t understand why they said it with such distaste. She was an incredibly powerful female. Her aura rivaled that of the lord. True, hers fluctuated considerably more than he knew to be possible, but she had the power to destroy them all and didn’t.
Yuichi just needed to smell her scent again. Tadashi was nice enough, but all the inu was interested in was playing pranks. Yuichi never thought he would live to see a time when he did not have the heart to play another prank, but he did not want to play anymore.
The only thing Yuichi wanted was to feel a sense of home. He knew that the only way that was going to happen was if he could get to her. If Tadashi caught wind of what he was doing then there would be no way to reach the miko.
Yuichi would wait for the cover of night, then he would find her. Then he would find home.
*+*+*+*+*
AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily
AN: Thank you to SleepingChickenNugget and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
Kuro narrowed his pale green eyes. He watched the sutra lift slightly from the rock … or was it a pebble? He did not care at the moment; all he cared about was getting loose so he could hunt down the kit.
Kuro had enough problems getting the other soldiers to respect him, seeing how he had no family standing worth mentioning. Was it his fault that his father was lecherous? No, his father’s habits were no more under his control than the frequency of the falling rains.
His hands had fallen asleep a long time ago. He knew that he could not knock the sutra off with his feet. Several repeated attempts, that looked like he had been trying to scratch an itch behind his ear with his foot, had proven this. He knew for a fact that the rock or pebble tasted like shit. This was learned in a failed attempt to remove the sutra with his mouth.
Really, could the day have been any worse? He had gone to blow off steam and drink with his fellow soldiers. This did not seem like a bad plan at the time, though he should have known that the crowd that drinks in the middle of the day was not the kind looking just to unwind.
Turns out that he, Kuro, was to blame for their leader taking the miko as his breeder. Kuro could not follow the logic but he figured if he drank more, then it would make sense. Wrong. All drinking more did was to make him an easier target.
He had been run out after his final attempt to proclaim his innocence. In this state of drunken enlightenment, he had stated:
“I dare any of you to not take a powerful female that is nearly naked, panting, on her hands and knees. She was calling out for a male. The call was stronger than any bitch in heat I have ever encountered. If the lord had not been there, there probably would have been a battle for rutting rights.”
He immediately knew he had gone too far. The faces staring back at him ranged from horror to disgust. Not only had he told the group of inus that they would lower themselves to fight over who got to rut with a human, but he had impugned the virtue of the West’s breeder. Things had not gone well for him, and he had been so distracted trying to stay hidden from the pissed off soldiers that he never noticed the kit until it was too late.
He was wondering if he could actually sleep in this position. Just as he was attempting to find a comfortable spot on the pebble, he became aware of another’s presence.
“There you are.” Shit. “You have just been volunteered for a very important assignment.” The way the others were laughing, made Kuro question whether or not he was going to survive this assignment.
When Inuyasha had shown up at his hut that morning, he experienced the same gut wrenching feeling that occurred the last time Kagome passed through the well. Really, the only reason for Inuyasha to visit him while wearing that facial expression would have to involve Kagome.
Miroku stood tall, and welcomed his pack mate with his trademark smile. “Inuyasha, to what do we owe the honor of the Regent of the West’s visit?”
The irritated hanyou just walked by into his hut. When Miroku reentered the hut, Inuyasha began to speak, “Feh, I got one word for you: Kagome.”
“Ah.” Miroku felt his stomach finally drop. There was no one else in the whole of Japan that could get herself into more trouble than Kagome. “Come Inuyasha, sit and tell me what our little spit-fire has gotten herself into this time.”
“Feh, the idiot has gone and gotten herself turned into Sesshoumaru’s breeder.” Inuyasha refused to sit; instead, he paced back and forth until he heard a feminine gasp from the corner.
“Sesshoumaru-sama would never take a human as a breeder.”
Inuyasha turned towards Miroku’s wife, “Don’t tell me what your precious Sesshoumaru-sama would or wouldn’t do. He took her. His exact words were ‘ She left this Sesshoumaru no choice, but to force a speedy bonding. Unfortunately, the miko also happened to be in heat at the time.’ So there you have it.”
Miroku rose to his wife’s defense. “Inuyasha there is no need to take out your frustration on my pregnant wife. She had no more control over the situation than you did. Now, what do you want us to do about this new development?”
Inuyasha deflated as he sunk down to his crouching position. “I dunno. The problem isn’t just that she’s pupped; it’s what she told me before she left for the forbidden island. The Shikon no Tama was never really destroyed.”
Miroku felt his knees go weak. “What do you mean, Inuyasha? The jewel was nowhere to be found after the battle.”
“Naraku made his wish, but before it could be completed Kagome somehow managed to kill him. The original youkai soul then merged with Kagome. She is the jewel, or the ‘living embodiment’ of the jewel. Kagome is no longer human.”
Miroku mulled over what Inuyasha had just told him. It now made sense as to why Kagome insisted on getting proper training and then disappeared afterwards. Miroku just shook his head. Poor Kagome, she thought she had to take responsibility for the weight of the world.
Miroku approached what was once the center of the battlefield. His heart stopped as he saw Kagome kneeling before the crumpled forms of both Sango and Kohaku. He approached solemnly, placing his hand on her shoulder when he finally reached them.
The love of his life was dead. Kagome turned to him tears blazing paths through the dirt on her face. He fell to his knees beside her.
“With her last breathe she wished for your happiness.” Her voice was hoarse and broken; Kagome stared at the bodies of her friends as she spoke. “She wanted you to live your life freely, without the threat of the curse hanging over you. She knew Naraku was dead before she died. She knew her village was avenged. Please Miroku, find peace and happiness.” The last was said as she was walked away.
Miroku watched her leave. He could not shake the feeling that she was hiding the truth from him. His heart ached for his lost love, but more so for the little miko. She had lost on this day of their final victory. She had lost, and it seemed that she was lost.
“Well then, there is nothing left to do but go see Kagome-sama,” Miroku said as he stood to go retrieve Kirara.
It had only taken them a few hours to travel to the Western Citadel.
Miroku took in the sight of the Western Citadel. He was venturing on territory that very few humans had ever seen. He wrapped his arms around his wife praying that he was not a fool who blindly followed honor to their death.
One of the servants had awoken Kagome. She washed her face and hands in the water provided. The arduous task of dressing went much more smoothly this time with the help of someone who actually knew what was supposed to be done. There was a small disagreement over the number of layers she would be wearing, but Kagome refused to go above nine. It was the middle of summer; she already knew that the innermost layer would be ruined.
When the time came to style Kagome’s hair, she tried to convince the servant that no one should touch her hair. Of course, the servant thought that the girl was just being stubborn.
“Breeder-sama, it would reflect poorly on the lord if you were not adorned in the latest fashion.”
“That is not the problem, it is-“ Kagome was cut off when the servant jerked back.
The shadow had made her presence known by swiping and hissing at the servant. The shadow was very annoyed from being woken up from her rest. She had gorged herself on the miko’s memories in order to ensure that the miko remained asleep until a place of safety was reached.
Kagome had almost laughed at the servant’s reaction. The servant had been so convinced that Kagome was to trying to demean Sesshoumaru-sama’s status, that the girl never realized that there were legitimate concerns with each of Kagome’s objections.
“I believe that my hair is fine.” Kagome had a hard time containing the laugh as the shadow hissed at the servant again, causing said servant to cower further in the corner. “Now now, Toto. We wouldn’t want nasty Miss Almira Gulch, to try and take you away now would we?”
Kagome exited the room, softly cooing and petting her hair. The servant had no idea what to make of the situation. All the youkai knew was the breeder must be powerful in order to withstand the influence of the shadow. Shadows were things told to pups in order to scare them into obedience. They were the things that nightmares were made from.
When Kagome entered the dining area, she came face to face with the one individual she had been hoping to avoid.
“Inuyasha…”
She had no idea what to say to him. She knew that she had, in a way, betrayed him, but she could not shake the feeling that it was her fault things had turned out the way they had. Just when he and his brother began to truly to rebuild their familial bond, she had to go and get impregnated by Inuyasha’s brother. That was sure not to cause any added stress between the two.
“Kagome, I brought an old friend to see you.” Kagome followed his gaze to where Miroku stood.
Miroku had that same smile on his face that always meant he was up to no good. No, she could not play the part of the doll in front of him. She had already sacrificed too much of herself to ensure Miroku walked off that battlefield without guilt. Besides, he had always seen through her false smiles.
She could hear Sango’s voice:
“DO NOT LIE. You are nothing but a treacherous bitch! All this time, your weaknesses have held us back. We would have won long ago if you had been more like Kikyou. Pathetic copy. There is no level of hell deep enough for the likes of you.”
Sango’s accusations swirling in Kagome’s mind.
“Did you even think about what that would do to him? … How? How could you do such a thing?”
Why did she fail them all so bitterly? Why would Sango not find peace?
“No. You will not find absolution from me, deceiver.” With that, Sango’s lifeless body fell over, draping across that of her younger brother.
The images and words of her ‘sister’ haunted the little sanity Kagome had left to claim. Miroku’s voice pulled Kagome from the suffocating abyss that was her mind.
“Ah, Kagome-sama, you look ravishing. I would ask to you bear my child, but that honor has already been bestowed upon my lovely wife. I believe you two have met before.”
“R-Rin-chan? What did you do in your previous life to deserve such a husband?” Kagome found that the room was no longer stationary. Just as she began to think that consciousness was far too overrated, a light laugh brought her back.
“Kagome-sama, we have not seen each other in years. Must you wound me so?” Miroku never let his smile falter. He knew that she did not mean it the way it sounded.
“I apologize, but I’m flabbergasted. I always accepted that you were a lecherous monk. However, Miroku, cradle robbing? Please tell me she was older than eleven before you asked her to bear your child.” Kagome shifted her gaze to Rin and smiled. Then she caught Inuyasha’s eyes and glared. How dare he not tell her?
“Kagome-sama, I do not know my exact age, but I do believe that I was far older than that when he first brought up the idea of child-bearing. In fact, he approached Sesshoumaru-sama for my hand before he ever uttered the infamous question to me.” Rin walked up to her husband and entwined her fingers in his. Miroku immediately brought the offered hand to his lips while placing his other hand affectionately on his wife’s swollen belly.
“Wow, I am sorry for every derogatory comment I have ever said about you Miroku. Where was I when this all happened? Oh, right. I was wandering around in the wilderness. Anyway, that is not important. When is the little one going to make an appearance?”
“It should be within the next month or so, Kagome-sama.”
“Rin-chan, please do not call me sama. You were raised with far more etiquette than I.”
“Kagome-sama, while it is true that I was raised as the ward of the Western lord, you are his breeder. That is a position of great honor. If any do not show the proper respect to you, then they are directly insulting Sesshoumaru-sama’s judgment.” The smiling, giggling, flower-picking girl had grown into an intelligent woman.
Kagome’s heart warmed when she realized the woman before her was the perfect complement to the amorous monk.
“Hn.” The baritone voice made Kagome’s stomach drop. She hoped that she had done nothing to piss off the youkai behind her. Kagome was well aware of the fact that Inuyasha would not stand by during one of Sesshoumaru’s ‘lessons’ in dominance. “I would have thought that a female of education,” Sesshoumaru’s eyes bore directly in to Kagome’s, “would be able to comprehend the simple rules of etiquette better than a monk’s wife.” Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to Rin and tested the air.
“As I stated to Rin earlier, she was raised with far more rules of etiquette than I, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Kagome bowed slightly to him, and then bared her neck.
“Hn.” Sesshoumaru did not turn back to his breeder. “Rin, you are well.” It was not a question.
“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Both Rin and her husband bowed to the tai-youkai.
“Inuyasha, I expect to be informed the next time the Citadel is to receive guests.” Sesshoumaru turned away from the group and began to make his way over to where he would sit.
Kagome felt like an obedient puppy as she followed him. She was not sure where she should sit in relation to the tai-youkai. She did not want to assume anything. She watched as her newest antagonist seated himself on his cushion.
“Breeder, you may serve this Sesshoumaru and then sit yourself in your place at my right.” Not once did he look at her, instead, his eyes were fixed on the door.
Inuyasha bit his tongue when his brother chastised him in front everyone, but he would not allow the asshole to treat Kagome as he would another one of his concubines. Inuyasha had just opened his mouth, when another beat him to the chase.
“Sesshoumaru, is the West to be infested so with filthy ningen and hanyou?” The entire room stiffened at Madoka’s entrance. None wanted to deal with the bitch. Yet, all knew she would not gracefully bow out.
“I am sorry to hear of your plight Madoka-san. Unfortunately, I have it on good authority that humanity is a worldwide epidemic that is only going to spread further.” Kagome’s voice was pleasant, her demeanor respectful. The only thing that she did to slight the old female inu was drop the title of respect.
“You will know your place and address my person with proper respect,” Madoka snarled. If someone did not curb this bitch’s tongue, Madoka might end up risking her son’s wrath just to have the satisfaction of the miko’s blood on her claws.
“I have. Tell me Madoka-san, what title do you hold now that I am the breeder to the Western lord?”
Sesshoumaru decided that she was defiantly worth the hassle. He had not seen anyone dare to and so effectively put Mother in her place. However, his bitch was seconds away from needing a protector from Mother.
“Strong words from such a useless little girl. Tell me: if you are so worthy of the title why then, has my son spent so much time in the concubines’ compound?” The growl she received from her son told her she was coming dangerously close to over stepping her bounds.
“Sesshoumaru-sama does not need to explain his actions to anyone, he is lord. I have no claim on his bedding habits. I did not come by my position by being a whore.” Kagome knew how close the female was to hitting her. Kagome just wanted her a little closer and then it would all end.
Inuyasha had left Miroku’s side. Miroku would protect Rin from anything this old bitch would be able to throw at the houshi. Inuyasha moved himself to a position that he would be able to reach Kagome in time if need be. He was not sure if Sesshoumaru would not use this as a way out. He knew his brother held no love for the old bitch, but he was not sure how the asshole felt about having a hanyou for an heir.
Sesshoumaru had remained seated. He was much faster than Mother, so he saw no reason to rise if there was no current threat. However, his bitch’s last comment might have pushed Mother over the edge.
Madoka would not stand by and let this filth call her a whore. She regretted that she could not make the miko’s death slow and painful, but the blood that was about to color her claws would ease that lament.
Before either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha had made it to Kagome, the little spitfire did something unexpected. Kagome had grabbed the pot of water for the tea and drenched Madoka. Madoka was stopped in her tracks, not from the scolding hot water. No, it was the fact that the miko’s reaction to a death threat was to throw water on it. Before Madoka realized it, Inuyasha had her restrained and he was calling for the guards.
“You didn’t melt. You were supposed to melt. The wicked witch of the west always melts.” Kagome’s hand went up to pet her hair, “I don’t get it, Toto.”
“Hn.” Sesshoumaru was quite sure that his breeder’s sanity was borderline. Still that had been … amusing. “Take Madoka to her ‘sanctuary.’ Those who upset the breeder are no longer welcome in the West.” Sesshoumaru turned and strode back to his seat.
Rin had watched the whole scene, and she decided that she wanted to know what the older woman was talking about. Carefully Rin stepped out from behind her husband. At his questioning look, she just smiled. Rin approached the spot where Kagome was still standing.
“Kagome-sama, what was supposed to happen?”
“She was supposed to melt.”
“Why would anyone melt when water is thrown on them?”
“Not just anyone, the wicked witch of the west.”
“Okay. After she melted, what was supposed to happen?”
“The flying monkeys would be free. They would go flying off into the night screeching their joy. Then we would return to the Emerald City. The Wizard was supposed to grant a heart, a brain, courage, and a way home in exchange for destroying the wicked witch of the west. Only it turns out that the Wizard is only a man behind a curtain. The Wizard is nothing but a character in a play. Anti-climactic, I know.” Kagome turned and looked at Rin. Rin could only describe the look on Kagome’s face is that of a petulant child. “But … but her not melting was anti-climactic as well.”
“Hn, it is often disappointing when people do not melt when they should.” Sesshoumaru’s monotone reply was in stark contrast to Inuyasha’s response.
Inuyasha had listened to everything; he had a good idea that Kagome was describing one of those “movies”. However, he could no longer hold in his laughter. He fell to the floor rolling in fits of laughter. Kagome had given the old bitch the perfect name, and to top it all off she had thrown water on the old witch.
Through peals of laughter, he managed to get out, “I would endure a thousand sits if we could have taken a picture of the old bitch’s face when you dowsed her.”
Miroku was not sure how to react. He wanted to be on the floor with Inuyasha, but the butt of the joke was Sesshoumaru-sama’s mother. Miroku walked towards his wife; he had noticed how both Rin and Kagome had hid their giggles behind their sleeves.
“Ah, my dear wife, shall we take our seats? I believe the entertainment portion of the evening is over.” Miroku guided his wife to where they were to sit. He helped his wife lower herself to the cushion. Because of her condition; Miroku had no qualms about breaking with traditional roles. Rin, however, patiently waited for the sign that she could begin to serve her husband.
Sesshoumaru had watched everyone’s reaction to the incident. His opinion of his brother as a brash idiot was reaffirmed, but it was the sound of his bitch giggle that gave him pause. She sounded so much like tiny bells on the wind. He enjoyed the sound, but knew it would not come about that often.
“Breeder.” Kagome turn to look at him with a questioning glance. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be serving him. Rushing to his side, she began to serve her lord. Sesshoumaru brought the cup to his lips; it signaled that others in the room were allowed begin their meal. “Breeder,” Sesshoumaru held her eyes with his, “In the future you will refrain from trying to melt others with water.”
Kagome saw the amusement in his eyes. He had allowed only her to know how much her little display had given him pleasure.
Yuichi did not like this. They had returned to the Western Citadel last sunset, yet still no one could tell him how the miko who saved him was doing. He knew that something had happened in the cave. The powerful inu-youkai had been very protective of her.
He had heard the other soldiers refer to her as the Western Breeder. He couldn’t understand why they said it with such distaste. She was an incredibly powerful female. Her aura rivaled that of the lord. True, hers fluctuated considerably more than he knew to be possible, but she had the power to destroy them all and didn’t.
Yuichi just needed to smell her scent again. Tadashi was nice enough, but all the inu was interested in was playing pranks. Yuichi never thought he would live to see a time when he did not have the heart to play another prank, but he did not want to play anymore.
The only thing Yuichi wanted was to feel a sense of home. He knew that the only way that was going to happen was if he could get to her. If Tadashi caught wind of what he was doing then there would be no way to reach the miko.
Yuichi would wait for the cover of night, then he would find her. Then he would find home.
AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily