InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ One Word ( Chapter 14 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: emmaren 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 06.29.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 319 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 06.29.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 319 | Status: Work In Progress
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INYUSHA AND COMPANY, NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ.
AN: Thank you to angelic memories and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
Chapter 14: One Word
Kuro repressed the shudder. That was utterly horrible. How did the great Inu no Taisho manage to sire two pups with this … this … this sack of rice?
He knew he was young and maybe had some unrealistic ideals about rutting, but come on. Was it really supposed to be this horrible, to prefer your own hand to the readily available female heat under you? This was just wrong, and now he felt the need to vomit.
True she was beautiful and intelligent, but the second quality was under scrutiny. How intelligent could she be if she could not figure out how to rut enjoyably? No wonder the great Inu no Taisho never elevated her above the status of breeder. There were not enough concubines to offset the horrible feel of this withered wench.
“Kuro-kun, do you believe the new breeder will bring glory to the West?” a voice broke through his thoughts of displeasure.
“Madoka-sama, do you not believe the lord would not choose wisely?” he was quite pleased with himself for not letting his disgust drift into his voice.
“Are not humans inherently weak creatures? How many things do they so easily forfeit their lives to?” her voice purred in what she probably thought was a seductive tone; nevertheless, Kuro had no desire to repeat earlier catastrophes.
“True, but that would be why the lord would guard his new breeder with extra vigor.”
“Do not delude yourself into believing the lord has any sense of pack,” the words dripped with venom. “He spent many centuries wandering alone, no sense of pack pulling him back. He was the sole cause of the massacre the night of the hanyou’s birth. He refused to aid his noble father the night the great Inu no Taisho fell. Finally, he has banished his own mother to exile. The great lord has no love for a sense of pack. Tell me, Kuro-kun, how can the West rise to greatness with such a selfish leader?” Madoka could almost believe her own little speech. The twit would do nicely; he was proving to be easily manipulated.
“How indeed,” Kuro repressed the urge to kill the bitch for her blasphemy. No, he would play his role as pawn for a while longer.
Kuro sent up a silent prayer that his new position did not require him ever to rut the wench again. Really, he was not sure that he had a strong enough will to overcome the feeling of revulsion.
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Sesshoumaru was restless within his own home. The scent of his bitch was driving him to the brink of insanity. It had been two days since his conversation with his brother.
It was a fairly uneventful talk. The miko had gone off to train immediately after the final battle. No one knew to look for her until she had already disappeared from the shrine she was training at a half a year before.
She had wandered through the Japanese countryside without youkai or human seeing her for over two and half years. He was not sure how many creatures alive could actually accomplish that feat. Inuyasha found her shortly after the reports of shadow attacks had started to appear.
Damn. He needed to have a talk with his bitch. Damn.
Sesshoumaru stopped himself from growling. In all honesty, he had been avoiding the infuriating woman, not willing to risk having to force her submission. However, the beast within Sesshoumaru wanted his bitch to challenge his status again, therein giving it the perfect reason to re-scent her.
He had not returned to the concubines; there was no true release or satisfaction to be found with those females. Really, how could any self respecting youkai female allow a lowly ningen to best her in bed?
Sesshoumaru turned towards the dojo and then allowed the growl to escape. He would find none worth his time there. His last itch had caused Inuyasha to be bed ridden for the next few days. Damn.
The scent was everywhere. Why? Maybe he could find another way to have his scent encase hers? Yes, then the damn beast would calm down. It certainly did not upset him that the female carrying his pup no longer carried his scent.
The bitch should be begging to be re-scented. Did she not know what an honor had been bestowed on her? No, of course not, she was still rambling on about her purity. Wait, not purity but virtue. Whoever instilled her values, he was going to enjoy watching them melt from his poison claws.
He was a lord. This should not be a problem. However, his beast ensured that it took him too much effort to attempt rutting any other female besides his bitch. Self-gratification had been, still was, and forever will be beneath one of his status.
She was his breeder; it was her right, her honor, her duty to tend to his needs. Did the human understand this? Obviously, she needed to not only be educated in proper submission, but also positioning of pack mates. A tiny smile crept across the inu-youkai’s face as thought of her proper positioning.
That was not going to happen. His bitch was more concerned with golden bricks, flying monkeys, jeweled slippers, and her shadow, Toto. He was still confused about these ideas, not to mention that it was more frustrating trying to understand how they all fit together.
What Kami did he cross? Sesshoumaru knew the answer to that question.
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Kagome was hiding. She could claim that it was something else, but in fact, it was hiding.
There was something incredibly humbling about being told of your own childishness from a person who your last memory is of that person of being a child. Rin had grown into a woman, not only in age but in maturity as well. It made Kagome wonder when she stopped trying to attain adulthood.
Toto had needed to feed again; Kagome shook the last set of memories from her mind. She needed to speak with Sesshoumaru. Tremors racked her body; the last thing she wanted to do was be in the same room as the arrogant dog.
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Mic hi stared at the back of the soldier before her. The nervous apprehension she felt when he arrived at her family’s home had yet to dissipate. Her father, her alpha, had nearly killed the youkai who came demanding her presence at the Western Citadel. It had been several tense moments before the soldier had explained that it was at the request of the lord, not the breeder: her grandmother, and then her father informed her she would be leaving.
“Tadashi-san, do you know why my presence is necessary?” she hated the fact that her fear was detectable in voice, but there was no avoiding it.
Michi had witnessed the deaths of the last ten of her siblings. There were two beings she feared: her mother and her grandmother. Her alpha had tried his best to limit her mother’s influence and interaction in her life. However, her mother was a true bred bitch, meaning that she believed her rank to be Kami sent.
Michi feared all females thanks to her mother and grandmother, and males did nothing to set her at ease. She had spent her entire life knowing she was nothing more than a pawn and as soon as her usefulness was expended, so would be her life. She only breathed now because she was the first-born female to her mother. Her mother never bothered to name any of her sisters claiming, “What is the point? They have no use or meaning in this life and will probably not be strong enough to live to see the world.”
All her sisters died before they were old enough to open their eyes. Another shudder went through her body as she waited for a reply from the tall soldier.
“No, Michi-sama.” Tadashi would never have believed that the lord’s niece was such a timid creature. She had managed to pull at all of his protective instincts. “I believe that it has something to do with the exile of Madoka-sama.”
He heard a gasp from behind him. “How is that possible? Unless … has the lord mated?”
He could not help but laugh at her child-like nativity. “No, the lord has found his own breeder. Your grandmother let her … disapproval be known.”
“Oh?” Michi was confused. Grandmother had gotten away with killing all her grand-pups except one. What did uncle do to upset the old conniving bitch that she forgot to cover her tracks? “Is there honor once again for the position of breeder?”
The last question caught Tadashi so off guard that his step faltered. He turned to stare into the pale lilac eyes of the petite female and saw that only scared honesty resided in those eyes. “The new breeder is not what many would have thought her to be. She is powerful, though there is much more to her than power. I have been witness to her compassion for complete strangers. Come little one, there is nothing to fear.”
The comfort that could be found did not only come from his words, his calm silver eyes imploring her to trust him. She stealthily scented the air. He at least believed what he was telling her to be true. At times, she wished there was good in the world.
“So I am to be kept at the Citadel. That way no one can use me to claim rights to the West. If I had known, I would have said good-bye to mother.”
“Why?”
“Madoka-sama has killed grand-pup after grand-pup to ensure her sole control over the great Inu no Taisho pure blood line, outside of Sesshoumaru-sama. Do you really think that she will view her own daughter’s life as any different from the lives of her grand-pups?”
“That is interesting, but why will you be spared?”
“Madoka-sama holds the right to name my mate. I am still a useful pawn.” Michi walked past the stunned soldier. The sooner the Citadel was reached the sooner she would know her fate.
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Ri n was enjoying her stay at the Western Citadel. She felt slightly guilty for her harsh words to Kagome, but it was better she correct the older woman than her lord. Besides, it was nice to be able to sleep most of the time and still have food prepared.
She had noticed in the past few weeks how tired she became after doing the simplest of chores. It was pleasant to be able to spend time with her husband; very soon, this would no longer be possible. Idly she speculated whether he would maintain his lecherous ways after the child’s birth. In all probability, yes.
A smile graced her face as she thought of her husband and his roaming hands.
“Ah my dear, I see you are awake,” Rin turned to see her husband smiling down at her.
“Have I been ignoring my husband? For if I have it is a very grievous crime, indeed.” She began the momentous task of beginning to rise from the floor. Once standing, she looked down. Huh, she could have sworn that she did have feet. Oh the joys of pregnancy.
“I find myself more than adequately watched within these walls. Though not as sweet as your attentions, there is ample here to occupy my mind while you rest.” Miroku began to guide his wife towards the dining hall. “In fact, I am quite sure it is game to see who can avoid the lord’s temper the longest. Alas, Inuyasha can no longer provide distraction, leaving the rest us as targets.”
“Hold your tongue, dear husband. Though I may be your wife, I will not let you speak ill of my lord.” She could not even finish that statement with a straight face. The game of dodge the pissed off inu tai-youkai was an old tradition passed down through the generations of the West. This entire jest about Sesshoumaru-sama’s moods brought Rin’s thoughts back to a subject that had considerable less levity. “Has anyone seen Kagome-sama?”
“I do believe that Kagome-sama has been taking lessons from Toto on how to move without detection. From what I have gathered even Yuichi has not seen her since that day in the gardens.”
“Miroku-kun, do you understand why she talks about a yellow brick road?”
The twinkle came back into her husband’s eyes, “I believe that she is referencing to a fable no one here has heard before. It was probably one she used as a child to overcome some tragedy,” so content in their conversation with each other the voice behind took them by complete surprise.
“It was my father and uncle’s death. They were lost in the same accident.” Kagome looked at the two of them and then smiled in Rin’s direction. “Have you been getting enough rest?”
“Hai, Kagome-sama. Have you been finding peace?”
“As much as to be had when in solitude with no real answers to reflect on. Just like you said Rin, time does not stop even if we lose ourselves.”
Kagome brushed past both the houshi and his wife. She was not angry with Rin for her words, but she saw no point in holding a private conversation publicly. “Come, there is another joining us this evening.”
Yuichi scampered after the former miko. He was happy to see that she was starting to talk to the others again.
“Who could she be talking about?”
“I have no idea, my dear. Let us attend dinner and find out.” Miroku approached this development with a beaming grin on his face.
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Mich i stared at the daunting stone wall of the Western Citadel; this was as good a place to die as home. She had not noticed that she was no longer moving forward until Tadashi turn back to see what was wrong. Maybe she wanted to live more than she realized.
“Today is not the day. Welcome to the Western Citadel, grand-pup of the great Inu no Taisho.”
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“Sesshoumaru-sama,” he turned to see his breeder kneeling before him with her neck bared. As much as he desired to suppress his instincts, he could not. She had become very adept at suppressing her scent. She would flood an area with her scent and then rein it back in so that no one could track her by this method. It was part of the reason he had itched within his own chambers. His beast demanded to know the truths that only her scent revealed.
Striding over to where she knelt, he reached down and scooped his hand behind the base of her head. In a swift motion, she was up on her feet with the tai-youkai’s nose buried in the crook of her neck. Kagome let off a strangled sound of surprise as the male continued to scent her.
Sesshoumaru was having a very hard time reining his beast back. The damn dog was reveling in the scent of their pupped female, and it also knew that the longer it stayed in physical contact the more of his scent she would carry. Even he was not opposed to drench the woman in his scent, both inside and out.
Kagome was starting to worry that maybe something was wrong with the baby. Why else would the Lord Ice Prick still be sniffing her? “Um … is everything okay?” The whisper was not audible to the others in the room.
Drawing in her scent one last time, he straightened his posture. Cold, calculating amber orbs stared into the sea of sapphire. Yes, his bitch would protect their pup with everything she had and she would devote the motherly affections that he had never received. Good bitch.
“The pup is healthy. Now it is time eat.” Sesshoumaru immediately went to take his seat. He was lord; he did not have to explain that display to any being.
Miroku found himself completely speechless. Had the stoic Western Lord nuzzled Kagome? Maybe Rin was right when she said that things were bound to get interesting. He had always been under the impression that a youkai of Sesshoumaru’s grade had more control over their baser instincts. Oh well, hopefully Kagome was not going to push Sesshoumaru too hard tonight. The display proved that he was already having trouble controlling his impulses.
Yuichi followed the two humans to where their cushions were placed. The kit had no desire to die this evening and if he risked mixing his scent on the breeder that might just be the outcome.
Kagome regained herself after only a moment of staring at the arrogant dog with an incredulous look. She knelt down beside her lord to serve him for the meal. She noticed that every time she came close to him, he would lean his head toward her and sniff. After the eighth time of this happening, she was just about to cause a scene when a familiar inu guard and an unknown female entered the dining area.
Tadashi noticed the awkward air in the room, his silver eyes scanning quickly trying to discern the cause. His eyes stopped and he audibly gulped as he noticed the red hue to his lord’s orbs.
Sesshoumaru and beast had been enjoying his bitch’s scent as she moved about him; it had been years since he had felt so relaxed. Of course this pleasantness was not to last. A not too familiar male entered into his room and then began to survey the room for weakness. Sesshoumaru, vaguely aware that he definitely knew this male, snarled at the brown haired inu.
Kagome had no idea what was wrong with the damn dog. She now found herself pinned to the over grown Chihuahua’s back. Placing her hands on his back, she gathered some ki within her hands. The ki released into the savage beast as she rubbed calming circles on his back.
‘Warm tingles;’ it was the only way he could think to describe the sensation that was overcoming him. His breeder was trying to sooth his overzealous protection of his bitch and pup. As his growls tapered off, she moved to step from behind him. No, he was not ready to release her yet. It was one of the few times that she had willingly touched him. He pressed her form more firmly into his body, a low rumble from his chest was meant to let her know his pleasure in her actions.
Instead of her relaxing into him, she stiffened and tried more fervently to pull away from him. This was not right. No, this open defiance of his affection would not be tolerated. Did she want him to prove to all in the room who it was that owned her?
The male was not a threat; he had submitted. Sesshoumaru turned to face his disobedient breeder and stilled. She feared him. No, this was more than fear; she was terrified. There was no trust in those expressive eyes.
In that moment, the world crashed down on him. He succeeded where all others had failed; he managed to make this Kami-created creature of forgiveness condemn him. The hollow victory rang in an echo across the abyss that was his soul.
Slowly his hand reached to caress her cheek. The female was so paralyzed with terror that she could not even flinch when he made contact. Wrong, this was so wrong. She was his, and he … he was hers. If their pup had any sort of a chance, he needed her. That was it. He needed her. Not for the pup, not for anyone else besides himself. She was his last chance for pack, for family.
Everything he had done was for duty and honor. He spent centuries in exile for the ‘good of the West,’ he killed his own for the human hime, he abandoned his father to die, denounced his brother, suffered his mother, and had broken this woman; all for the sake of honor. He broke the woman who stood strong against the dark Kami. He was the monster they claimed him to be. No more. His first act of contrition would be now.
Staring deep into those frigid golden gateways, Kagome noticed the subtle change. They were opening, and she was drowning. He bent his head towards her, and for a moment she was scared he was going to kiss her, but instead his cheek nuzzled hers. The action was so gentle and pleading it was heartbreaking. She wanted to surrender to the warmth it promised. Tears she had fought for years at the denial of home pricked her eyes. The outside world was no more, he was here, her heart stopped and her breath hitched. One word ghosted across the shell of her ear. One word that gave her hope and the only word that would cause her to amend previous thoughts of condemnation.
“Please.”
That was something that ‘this Sesshoumaru’ would not be repeating, but once was more than enough. If he could bend this far, she would begin to understand. Her acceptance of his offering was small, but monumental at the same time.
She stepped forward to lean into the strength of her alpha.
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AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily
AN: Thank you to angelic memories and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
Kuro repressed the shudder. That was utterly horrible. How did the great Inu no Taisho manage to sire two pups with this … this … this sack of rice?
He knew he was young and maybe had some unrealistic ideals about rutting, but come on. Was it really supposed to be this horrible, to prefer your own hand to the readily available female heat under you? This was just wrong, and now he felt the need to vomit.
True she was beautiful and intelligent, but the second quality was under scrutiny. How intelligent could she be if she could not figure out how to rut enjoyably? No wonder the great Inu no Taisho never elevated her above the status of breeder. There were not enough concubines to offset the horrible feel of this withered wench.
“Kuro-kun, do you believe the new breeder will bring glory to the West?” a voice broke through his thoughts of displeasure.
“Madoka-sama, do you not believe the lord would not choose wisely?” he was quite pleased with himself for not letting his disgust drift into his voice.
“Are not humans inherently weak creatures? How many things do they so easily forfeit their lives to?” her voice purred in what she probably thought was a seductive tone; nevertheless, Kuro had no desire to repeat earlier catastrophes.
“True, but that would be why the lord would guard his new breeder with extra vigor.”
“Do not delude yourself into believing the lord has any sense of pack,” the words dripped with venom. “He spent many centuries wandering alone, no sense of pack pulling him back. He was the sole cause of the massacre the night of the hanyou’s birth. He refused to aid his noble father the night the great Inu no Taisho fell. Finally, he has banished his own mother to exile. The great lord has no love for a sense of pack. Tell me, Kuro-kun, how can the West rise to greatness with such a selfish leader?” Madoka could almost believe her own little speech. The twit would do nicely; he was proving to be easily manipulated.
“How indeed,” Kuro repressed the urge to kill the bitch for her blasphemy. No, he would play his role as pawn for a while longer.
Kuro sent up a silent prayer that his new position did not require him ever to rut the wench again. Really, he was not sure that he had a strong enough will to overcome the feeling of revulsion.
Sesshoumaru was restless within his own home. The scent of his bitch was driving him to the brink of insanity. It had been two days since his conversation with his brother.
It was a fairly uneventful talk. The miko had gone off to train immediately after the final battle. No one knew to look for her until she had already disappeared from the shrine she was training at a half a year before.
She had wandered through the Japanese countryside without youkai or human seeing her for over two and half years. He was not sure how many creatures alive could actually accomplish that feat. Inuyasha found her shortly after the reports of shadow attacks had started to appear.
Damn. He needed to have a talk with his bitch. Damn.
Sesshoumaru stopped himself from growling. In all honesty, he had been avoiding the infuriating woman, not willing to risk having to force her submission. However, the beast within Sesshoumaru wanted his bitch to challenge his status again, therein giving it the perfect reason to re-scent her.
He had not returned to the concubines; there was no true release or satisfaction to be found with those females. Really, how could any self respecting youkai female allow a lowly ningen to best her in bed?
Sesshoumaru turned towards the dojo and then allowed the growl to escape. He would find none worth his time there. His last itch had caused Inuyasha to be bed ridden for the next few days. Damn.
The scent was everywhere. Why? Maybe he could find another way to have his scent encase hers? Yes, then the damn beast would calm down. It certainly did not upset him that the female carrying his pup no longer carried his scent.
The bitch should be begging to be re-scented. Did she not know what an honor had been bestowed on her? No, of course not, she was still rambling on about her purity. Wait, not purity but virtue. Whoever instilled her values, he was going to enjoy watching them melt from his poison claws.
He was a lord. This should not be a problem. However, his beast ensured that it took him too much effort to attempt rutting any other female besides his bitch. Self-gratification had been, still was, and forever will be beneath one of his status.
She was his breeder; it was her right, her honor, her duty to tend to his needs. Did the human understand this? Obviously, she needed to not only be educated in proper submission, but also positioning of pack mates. A tiny smile crept across the inu-youkai’s face as thought of her proper positioning.
That was not going to happen. His bitch was more concerned with golden bricks, flying monkeys, jeweled slippers, and her shadow, Toto. He was still confused about these ideas, not to mention that it was more frustrating trying to understand how they all fit together.
What Kami did he cross? Sesshoumaru knew the answer to that question.
Kagome was hiding. She could claim that it was something else, but in fact, it was hiding.
There was something incredibly humbling about being told of your own childishness from a person who your last memory is of that person of being a child. Rin had grown into a woman, not only in age but in maturity as well. It made Kagome wonder when she stopped trying to attain adulthood.
Toto had needed to feed again; Kagome shook the last set of memories from her mind. She needed to speak with Sesshoumaru. Tremors racked her body; the last thing she wanted to do was be in the same room as the arrogant dog.
Mic hi stared at the back of the soldier before her. The nervous apprehension she felt when he arrived at her family’s home had yet to dissipate. Her father, her alpha, had nearly killed the youkai who came demanding her presence at the Western Citadel. It had been several tense moments before the soldier had explained that it was at the request of the lord, not the breeder: her grandmother, and then her father informed her she would be leaving.
“Tadashi-san, do you know why my presence is necessary?” she hated the fact that her fear was detectable in voice, but there was no avoiding it.
Michi had witnessed the deaths of the last ten of her siblings. There were two beings she feared: her mother and her grandmother. Her alpha had tried his best to limit her mother’s influence and interaction in her life. However, her mother was a true bred bitch, meaning that she believed her rank to be Kami sent.
Michi feared all females thanks to her mother and grandmother, and males did nothing to set her at ease. She had spent her entire life knowing she was nothing more than a pawn and as soon as her usefulness was expended, so would be her life. She only breathed now because she was the first-born female to her mother. Her mother never bothered to name any of her sisters claiming, “What is the point? They have no use or meaning in this life and will probably not be strong enough to live to see the world.”
All her sisters died before they were old enough to open their eyes. Another shudder went through her body as she waited for a reply from the tall soldier.
“No, Michi-sama.” Tadashi would never have believed that the lord’s niece was such a timid creature. She had managed to pull at all of his protective instincts. “I believe that it has something to do with the exile of Madoka-sama.”
He heard a gasp from behind him. “How is that possible? Unless … has the lord mated?”
He could not help but laugh at her child-like nativity. “No, the lord has found his own breeder. Your grandmother let her … disapproval be known.”
“Oh?” Michi was confused. Grandmother had gotten away with killing all her grand-pups except one. What did uncle do to upset the old conniving bitch that she forgot to cover her tracks? “Is there honor once again for the position of breeder?”
The last question caught Tadashi so off guard that his step faltered. He turned to stare into the pale lilac eyes of the petite female and saw that only scared honesty resided in those eyes. “The new breeder is not what many would have thought her to be. She is powerful, though there is much more to her than power. I have been witness to her compassion for complete strangers. Come little one, there is nothing to fear.”
The comfort that could be found did not only come from his words, his calm silver eyes imploring her to trust him. She stealthily scented the air. He at least believed what he was telling her to be true. At times, she wished there was good in the world.
“So I am to be kept at the Citadel. That way no one can use me to claim rights to the West. If I had known, I would have said good-bye to mother.”
“Why?”
“Madoka-sama has killed grand-pup after grand-pup to ensure her sole control over the great Inu no Taisho pure blood line, outside of Sesshoumaru-sama. Do you really think that she will view her own daughter’s life as any different from the lives of her grand-pups?”
“That is interesting, but why will you be spared?”
“Madoka-sama holds the right to name my mate. I am still a useful pawn.” Michi walked past the stunned soldier. The sooner the Citadel was reached the sooner she would know her fate.
Ri n was enjoying her stay at the Western Citadel. She felt slightly guilty for her harsh words to Kagome, but it was better she correct the older woman than her lord. Besides, it was nice to be able to sleep most of the time and still have food prepared.
She had noticed in the past few weeks how tired she became after doing the simplest of chores. It was pleasant to be able to spend time with her husband; very soon, this would no longer be possible. Idly she speculated whether he would maintain his lecherous ways after the child’s birth. In all probability, yes.
A smile graced her face as she thought of her husband and his roaming hands.
“Ah my dear, I see you are awake,” Rin turned to see her husband smiling down at her.
“Have I been ignoring my husband? For if I have it is a very grievous crime, indeed.” She began the momentous task of beginning to rise from the floor. Once standing, she looked down. Huh, she could have sworn that she did have feet. Oh the joys of pregnancy.
“I find myself more than adequately watched within these walls. Though not as sweet as your attentions, there is ample here to occupy my mind while you rest.” Miroku began to guide his wife towards the dining hall. “In fact, I am quite sure it is game to see who can avoid the lord’s temper the longest. Alas, Inuyasha can no longer provide distraction, leaving the rest us as targets.”
“Hold your tongue, dear husband. Though I may be your wife, I will not let you speak ill of my lord.” She could not even finish that statement with a straight face. The game of dodge the pissed off inu tai-youkai was an old tradition passed down through the generations of the West. This entire jest about Sesshoumaru-sama’s moods brought Rin’s thoughts back to a subject that had considerable less levity. “Has anyone seen Kagome-sama?”
“I do believe that Kagome-sama has been taking lessons from Toto on how to move without detection. From what I have gathered even Yuichi has not seen her since that day in the gardens.”
“Miroku-kun, do you understand why she talks about a yellow brick road?”
The twinkle came back into her husband’s eyes, “I believe that she is referencing to a fable no one here has heard before. It was probably one she used as a child to overcome some tragedy,” so content in their conversation with each other the voice behind took them by complete surprise.
“It was my father and uncle’s death. They were lost in the same accident.” Kagome looked at the two of them and then smiled in Rin’s direction. “Have you been getting enough rest?”
“Hai, Kagome-sama. Have you been finding peace?”
“As much as to be had when in solitude with no real answers to reflect on. Just like you said Rin, time does not stop even if we lose ourselves.”
Kagome brushed past both the houshi and his wife. She was not angry with Rin for her words, but she saw no point in holding a private conversation publicly. “Come, there is another joining us this evening.”
Yuichi scampered after the former miko. He was happy to see that she was starting to talk to the others again.
“Who could she be talking about?”
“I have no idea, my dear. Let us attend dinner and find out.” Miroku approached this development with a beaming grin on his face.
Mich i stared at the daunting stone wall of the Western Citadel; this was as good a place to die as home. She had not noticed that she was no longer moving forward until Tadashi turn back to see what was wrong. Maybe she wanted to live more than she realized.
“Today is not the day. Welcome to the Western Citadel, grand-pup of the great Inu no Taisho.”
“Sesshoumaru-sama,” he turned to see his breeder kneeling before him with her neck bared. As much as he desired to suppress his instincts, he could not. She had become very adept at suppressing her scent. She would flood an area with her scent and then rein it back in so that no one could track her by this method. It was part of the reason he had itched within his own chambers. His beast demanded to know the truths that only her scent revealed.
Striding over to where she knelt, he reached down and scooped his hand behind the base of her head. In a swift motion, she was up on her feet with the tai-youkai’s nose buried in the crook of her neck. Kagome let off a strangled sound of surprise as the male continued to scent her.
Sesshoumaru was having a very hard time reining his beast back. The damn dog was reveling in the scent of their pupped female, and it also knew that the longer it stayed in physical contact the more of his scent she would carry. Even he was not opposed to drench the woman in his scent, both inside and out.
Kagome was starting to worry that maybe something was wrong with the baby. Why else would the Lord Ice Prick still be sniffing her? “Um … is everything okay?” The whisper was not audible to the others in the room.
Drawing in her scent one last time, he straightened his posture. Cold, calculating amber orbs stared into the sea of sapphire. Yes, his bitch would protect their pup with everything she had and she would devote the motherly affections that he had never received. Good bitch.
“The pup is healthy. Now it is time eat.” Sesshoumaru immediately went to take his seat. He was lord; he did not have to explain that display to any being.
Miroku found himself completely speechless. Had the stoic Western Lord nuzzled Kagome? Maybe Rin was right when she said that things were bound to get interesting. He had always been under the impression that a youkai of Sesshoumaru’s grade had more control over their baser instincts. Oh well, hopefully Kagome was not going to push Sesshoumaru too hard tonight. The display proved that he was already having trouble controlling his impulses.
Yuichi followed the two humans to where their cushions were placed. The kit had no desire to die this evening and if he risked mixing his scent on the breeder that might just be the outcome.
Kagome regained herself after only a moment of staring at the arrogant dog with an incredulous look. She knelt down beside her lord to serve him for the meal. She noticed that every time she came close to him, he would lean his head toward her and sniff. After the eighth time of this happening, she was just about to cause a scene when a familiar inu guard and an unknown female entered the dining area.
Tadashi noticed the awkward air in the room, his silver eyes scanning quickly trying to discern the cause. His eyes stopped and he audibly gulped as he noticed the red hue to his lord’s orbs.
Sesshoumaru and beast had been enjoying his bitch’s scent as she moved about him; it had been years since he had felt so relaxed. Of course this pleasantness was not to last. A not too familiar male entered into his room and then began to survey the room for weakness. Sesshoumaru, vaguely aware that he definitely knew this male, snarled at the brown haired inu.
Kagome had no idea what was wrong with the damn dog. She now found herself pinned to the over grown Chihuahua’s back. Placing her hands on his back, she gathered some ki within her hands. The ki released into the savage beast as she rubbed calming circles on his back.
‘Warm tingles;’ it was the only way he could think to describe the sensation that was overcoming him. His breeder was trying to sooth his overzealous protection of his bitch and pup. As his growls tapered off, she moved to step from behind him. No, he was not ready to release her yet. It was one of the few times that she had willingly touched him. He pressed her form more firmly into his body, a low rumble from his chest was meant to let her know his pleasure in her actions.
Instead of her relaxing into him, she stiffened and tried more fervently to pull away from him. This was not right. No, this open defiance of his affection would not be tolerated. Did she want him to prove to all in the room who it was that owned her?
The male was not a threat; he had submitted. Sesshoumaru turned to face his disobedient breeder and stilled. She feared him. No, this was more than fear; she was terrified. There was no trust in those expressive eyes.
In that moment, the world crashed down on him. He succeeded where all others had failed; he managed to make this Kami-created creature of forgiveness condemn him. The hollow victory rang in an echo across the abyss that was his soul.
Slowly his hand reached to caress her cheek. The female was so paralyzed with terror that she could not even flinch when he made contact. Wrong, this was so wrong. She was his, and he … he was hers. If their pup had any sort of a chance, he needed her. That was it. He needed her. Not for the pup, not for anyone else besides himself. She was his last chance for pack, for family.
Everything he had done was for duty and honor. He spent centuries in exile for the ‘good of the West,’ he killed his own for the human hime, he abandoned his father to die, denounced his brother, suffered his mother, and had broken this woman; all for the sake of honor. He broke the woman who stood strong against the dark Kami. He was the monster they claimed him to be. No more. His first act of contrition would be now.
Staring deep into those frigid golden gateways, Kagome noticed the subtle change. They were opening, and she was drowning. He bent his head towards her, and for a moment she was scared he was going to kiss her, but instead his cheek nuzzled hers. The action was so gentle and pleading it was heartbreaking. She wanted to surrender to the warmth it promised. Tears she had fought for years at the denial of home pricked her eyes. The outside world was no more, he was here, her heart stopped and her breath hitched. One word ghosted across the shell of her ear. One word that gave her hope and the only word that would cause her to amend previous thoughts of condemnation.
“Please.”
That was something that ‘this Sesshoumaru’ would not be repeating, but once was more than enough. If he could bend this far, she would begin to understand. Her acceptance of his offering was small, but monumental at the same time.
She stepped forward to lean into the strength of her alpha.
AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily