InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ On Instincts ( Chapter 18 )

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

AN: Thank you to Nekette, Fallen_Tenshi8, TheMikoShivae, and ktshabatie for beta-ing this chapter. The question of how I came up with the idea of using “Wizard of OZ” was raised. The answer is as simple as I wanted to write a scene where Kagome sang “We’re Off to See the Wizard” in the middle of a battle. As you can read, it grew far beyond that.

Chapter 18: On Instincts

The imaginary three-foot chain that tethered Kagome to the over-grown Chihuahua really needed to break. Why didn’t he explain to her earlier that his instincts would not allow him to let her out of his sight? Not to mention that his armor was truly uncomfortable, well the pelt thing was very pleasant. No, this would not do. Here she was retching her stomach out in the bushes, and Lord Chihuahua could not even bother to hold her hair back for her. Yes, Fate was going to be one bald bitch.

Kagome wiped the corners of her mouth with her sleeve. Sesshoumaru had been convinced that, for the sake of travel, her attire should resemble that of a miko, but insisted that the sleeves covered her hands. It was a societal symbol that the humans would recognize her as a ‘married’ woman.

The others in the traveling party were being more than patient with her; she alone was the only reason that they had to stop at least three times a day for food. She was also the reason that the pace was so slow. While they did not stop at night, Kagome was carried by the tai-youkai; she walked during the day thereby slowing the pace.

Two days, two miserable days of this type of traveling, and Kagome was ready to kill something. She had never felt this kind of impotent rage before. However, if she had to look at mister ‘pristine pretty boy’ one more time after he refused to hold her hair back, she knew exactly what she was going to kill.

“Come Breeder, we must keep moving,” the baritone voice washed over her. It did nothing but to fan the flames.

“Let me shove my finger down your throat every twenty minutes, and we will see how well you keep to pace,” her tone matched the taste of bile in her mouth.

Sesshoumaru moved to his breeder and placed a hand upon her head. It was warmer than it should be. He had learned through his years of travel with Rin that if you push a human too hard, sickness was sure to follow. It appeared that his breeder’s status of immortality did not completely negate the weaknesses inherent from her human origins.

In a fluid motion, he had her nestled in his arms, moving his pelt to protect her face from the cool metal of his armor. This was the very reason why he wished to secure her safely within the Citadel. He did not fear she would befall the same fate as Izayoi. No, his brother would protect her, and the rest still recounted his night of vengeance for the former Lady of the West.

“What do you think you are doing?” she huffed from her cradled position, “It is a little late for chivalry. The true sign of devotion is when the boy holds the girl’s hair back.”

He turned his focus down to her, his eyes held mirth at the vision she displayed, “Kagome, you are ill. Sleep now, so that you do not endanger the pups.”

“Oh, so that is how it is going be. You are going to use them against me to get your way. Arrogant dog, I am doing the best I can, but I can only press so hard. I am exhausted. I never knew you could be both hungry and nauseous at the same time, and last but not least, Toto has been deciding to bring up the nicest of tidbits to feed on. What else do you want from me?”

Sesshoumaru bit back his instinctual reply. For one so strong, she still possessed a vulnerability that warranted protection. Gently, his fingers stroked her cheek, “This Sesshoumaru can think of many things that he wants from you. However, none of those things are proper conduct for the woods,” he could not resist. He had realized that he enjoyed the fire her ire ignited within him, “Sleep Kagome, this Sesshoumaru has you.”

She was about to snap back, when he began the rumble that soothed her so well. Before her eyes closed, she sent him one last glare. If he had been within the Citadel, he would have allowed the smirk to grace his face at his victory over her. However, such displays were dangerous. He was already risking much by traveling with his breeder while she was pupped.

Michi was the first to broach the silence when the stoic tai-youkai returned carrying a sleeping breeder. “My Lord, is she well?”

If any other had dared to voice that particular question, it would have meant their life. Michi, however, had proved her loyalty in the subsequent weeks since her arrival to the Citadel. While she did not die for asking the question, she also did not receive an answer.

Sesshoumaru’s only response was to quicken his pace, there was no point prolonging the journey.

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The sun was nearing the western horizon when the traveling party stopped again. Sesshoumaru was becoming increasingly worried about his breeder. Her temperature remained high, and while she had slept the entire time, it was not the most restful sleep.

Sesshoumaru situated himself so that he could better position his breeder. He hoped that in a more comfortable position, she would find sleep that was more restful. The others within the traveling party set about preparing a light meal for the pupped female. None had practice in preparing human food; however, they all had watched the steps that Kagome herself had taken to cook her meals.

One hour later, three youkai realized that the ease Kagome had shown with the preparation of her food was a trait acquired, like so many other things, through years of practice. All said and done, their efforts produced a palatable tea, and rice that resembled soup. Ashamed to present it to the tai-youkai, they had nothing else to offer, and too much time had already been wasted.

Sesshoumaru roused the slumbering woman and supported her into a sitting position. Michi approached with her head hung low. The silver-headed female offered the cup of tea and a pitiful bowl of rice soup.

The smile that graced Kagome’s face at the sight of the bowl set everyone back. Quietly she asked, “How did you know that this was the dish my mother always prepared for me when I was feeling sick?”

Michi could think of nothing else to respond with besides the truth, “I did not know. This is the result of none of us knowing anything about food preparation.”

A dry laugh escaped the ill breeder’s throat, “Well, be it a mistake or not, it is a very welcome meal.”

The remainder of the time was spent in silence as Kagome slowly consumed her nourishment. As she set down the bowl, Yuichi grabbed it. He returned moments later with a bladder full of water, and one clean bowl. The campsite was quickly cleaned, and covered over to leave to no trace that it had been occupied. Sesshoumaru moved once again to wrap his breeder next to his form.

Kagome pulled away from his embrace, “May I please walk for a while?”

“You are ill.”

“Hai, but I wish to keep down the meal that was prepared for me.”

“Hn.”

He allowed her to move forward at a slow pace. Twenty minutes later, she was too tired to argue when he again wrapped her next to his chest. She took a small drink from the bladder, and then she settled into a comfortable position next to her alpha. Moments later, she was asleep.

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None of this was any good. She would not be defeated by a mere insane miko. The rebel faction had lost not only its leader, but its direction as well. Many of the contacts that she had made within the rebels were turning up dead.

If things proceeded in this manner, then there would be no helping it, she would have to dirty her hands. One millennium of being able to work in secret, and all it took was one uncouth abomination and one crazed human to force her out into the open. Maybe she had just become too complacent after centuries of never being caught ticked by.

Madoka turned to see her young inu lover approach; it was time she found out how useful he could be outside of the pallet. However, before she tested his worth, she definitely was going to enjoy his skill in carnal pleasures one more time.

Kuro inwardly cringed when he saw the heated look the old bitch was giving him. Behind his smiling canines, he choked back the bile that rose in his throat.

With the tone of an infatuated lover he cooed, “Have you enjoyed peace within the gardens, Madoka-sama? Of course they are paled in comparison to you, my beauty,” his hand reached out to caress the shell of her ear.

“I can think of many enjoyable ways to break the peace within these gardens,” her voice rumbled with a lustful growl.

‘Enjoyable for whom?’ Never did he falter from his self-inflicted role of enamored lover. His hand dropped from her ear to the swell of her breast. Tracing the shape and form in feather light touches, his thumb and forefinger came to clasp around the nipple.

“Would you care to impart your wisdom?” he had bent over her, and flicked his tongue along the shell of the ear his hand had abandoned.

The horny bitch never detected his mental cringe. He prayed to every deity that he knew that this would be the last time he found himself trying to force his manhood into her sandpaper-like core. Could it be that as youkai aged, the response of their sexual organs faltered? Whatever the reason for her dryness, she flew into a rage when he suggested that oils might accentuate the experience. For now, he would do his best to remove his mind from his body …

When he came back to himself, he noticed the heavily breathing female beneath him. Gingerly, he removed himself from her death trap, careful not to allow the hiss of pain to escape his lips.

Madoka turned to look at the young soldier that had just gifted her with more orgasms than she could count. The great Inu no Taisho had never been this generous of a bed partner; the old dog had only sought the quickest means to his release.

Now in the afterglow of their carnal pleasures was the most opportune time to bend her current partner to her will.

“Kuro-kun, what are your plans for the future?”

Finally, the damn bitch trusted him enough to try to manipulate him, “I have no grander plan than any other. I search to find a way to secure my future.”

“Would that not be most easily done if the future of the West was also secure?”

“Hai, it would,” he settled on his back while he positioned the old witch to relax on his chest.

“There are those that wonder what kind of security the West can be guaranteed with a hanyou as the next heir.”

“There will always be those who wonder about the security of the West; the true question is whether or not they are strong enough to ensure it themselves.”

“Would not a full-blooded descendant from the great Inu no Taisho help in that endeavor?”

“Yes, but one leads us now.”

“True, however his heirs are now destined to be hanyou. Could you truly follow such abominations? What would half-breeds know of being alpha? With this is as our future, we not only risk looking weak in front of other youkai, but the humans would not be far behind the others. Have you not noticed how greedy the humans are? They would waste no time trying to take down the great dog clan of the West.”

Kuro listened to her, and while he had to agree with the risks that she stated, power was found in blood. There was no way that the current breeder was weak. Kuro had been blessed with the scent of her blood on the island of the forbidden. He had smelled it then, and knew that her offspring would be hard pressed to find their equals.

“Yes, but the only other option is your granddaughter, and she is not even capable of wielding poison. How much further would the blood be diluted in the next generation?”

“That is why a strong sire must be found.”

“How are you going to find a strong sire when you are not allowed off the island?”

“There is no need to search for that which has already been found.”

Kuro cocked his head to the side. Did she really believe him so simple that trite flattery would be all the encouragement he needed?

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< br> Tadashi stood on the bank, staring at the female in the middle of the stream. Her face showed her determination to conquer the scaled swimming beings below the surface. Kagome had offhandedly made a comment about fish, and Michi immediately took it as an opportunity to make up for her poor cooking skills.

In a lighting fast move, Michi speared four fish on her claws at once. The look of astonishment was not hidden on the inu-youkai soldier’s face.

“Though I do not possess the poison my uncle has, I still have the blood of the great Inu no Taisho running through my veins.”

“His blood truly was great.”

“My fishing skills should not be the proof of that fact. Inuyasha-sama should be all the testament to the strength of the blood, for it is in his veins that the great Inu no Taisho’s blood mixes with a mere human hime.”

“True, but Inuyasha-sama is male. It is in his nature to seek out and prove his strength and power.”

“Poor Tadashi-kun,” she shook her head ruefully, “you think that only males covet power? Females crave it just as deeply, if not deeper, than males. The difference is that we are not allowed openly pursue it,” she said calmly as she walked by the still stunned male.

Michi approached the camp with a triumphant glint in her eyes, her fangs poking out through her smile. Kagome noticed her, and immediately went to take a fish from her. It was not that Kagome did not trust her to clean the fish properly, much more that watery rice was simple enough to overlook, but not poorly cleaned fish.

The imaginary three-foot chain once again presented itself, as Kagome made her way back to the stream. It had been three days since she had first taken ill, and the tai-youkai was having a hard time allowing her the freedom of walking unassisted.

She smiled as he moved to take the knife she was using to clean the fish from her. Since her fever had subsided, her mood had greatly improved and so had her ability to observe those around her. Sesshoumaru was fighting to maintain his stoic façade, instead openly lavishing her with affectionate gestures. She did not know how much of it was just Sesshoumaru wanting to display these things to her, or it was his instincts insisting that he do them. After contemplating this quandary for last day, she decided that it did not matter. If it was him, then it was him. If it was his instincts, then that proved how much his instincts truly were a part of who he was. In the end the result would be the same: it was him trying to show her the value that she held to him.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, how much longer until we approach Oda’s camp?”

“We will arrive by morning.”

“Oh.”

He stopped what he was doing to look at her. She was nervous about something. She should know better than to hide things from her alpha. “What troubles you?”

“Ha! What troubles me?” she stared off towards the setting sun. “I could not travel more than two days without falling ill, and you ask what troubles me. How are we to defeat Mikaboshi if I am so feeble?”

“It was not weakness that caused your illness. It was your stubborn nature, and it will be that same nature that ensures our victory.”

It was still weird to have him offer her encouragement. Weird, but definitely welcome; she thought as she smiled to herself.

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The normal routine of the camp ceased when a miko and four powerful youkai strode in. The two silver-haired youkai were obviously very protective of the miko. The silver-haired male spoke when the traveling party stopped walking.

“This Sesshoumaru will speak to Oda Nobunaga, now.” None of the soldiers failed to realize the underlying threat if this youkai was denied.

Nobunaga had been enjoying activities that were far more pleasant than entertaining youkai; unfortunately, those activities would have to wait if he wanted his army to still be standing this afternoon. He rose and dressed himself.

When he exited, the sight that greeted him was one he was sure he would never see again. There amongst three adult youkai and one child youkai, stood a miko. Maybe she was not a miko. The sleeves were oddly long and there was a peculiar bulge in her lower abdomen.

“I am Oda Nobunaga.” He offered the same respectful titles to the youkai that had been offered to his person. He noticed how the three other youkai stiffed at his address.

Kagome was done with the proverbial pissing contest. “Huh, I thought you would have been taller. Well stature is not everything.” Now that she had both their attention, she began, “I am Kagome, the Shikon Miko, and this is Sesshoumaru-sama, tai-youkai of the West. We have come seeking emissaries to the foreign missionaries.”

“What is the benefit to this Nobunaga?” He crossed his arms staring at the petite female. She would be a fun one to break in the bed. The growling caused him to look back to the silver-haired Western Lord; Nobunaga noticed the red hue to the amber eyes.

“There will be no benefit discussed in public.” She would have continued, had it not been for the very large, growling inu youkai male that tucked her behind his back in an obvious sign of possession.

“If you ever dare to look upon that which is this Sesshoumaru’s with such intent again, you will no longer possess what is needed to carry through with those thoughts.” Sesshoumaru had been upset when his bitch did not state her place in his pack, but he understood her need to establish her importance in the human’s eyes.

Sesshoumaru glared down at the short human male before him, and one hand reached around to reassure his bitch. Kagome felt the clawed hand come to rest on her shoulder, and she decided that the best way to calm the enraged youkai was to remind him why they were here. Guiding his hand down, she could not control the subtle gasp that escaped her lips as his hand passed over the swell of her breast. She had not been the only one to feel the electricity of the moment; the tai-youkai and his beast reveled in the bitch’s first sexual response to their touch.

Kagome quickly regained herself, continuing the hand’s path down to the bulge that was theirs. The bulge that needed them to save it, Kagome nuzzled into his back while holding his hand to their pups.

“This Sesshoumaru does not care what you are supposed to do human, you will not live past this day if you press.”

Nobunaga had no idea what he had done to warrant the attention of the Western Lord, but if this was only his attention, he knew better than to risk his wrath.

“We may speak in private this way, Sesshoumaru-sama.” With a bow, the human male gestured for the youkai to follow.

When they approached the tent, both Tadashi and Yuichi stayed outside to ensure privacy. Kagome followed directly behind Sesshoumaru and Michi follow Kagome. When seats were claimed, Michi took one behind Kagome. Michi had smelled the other male’s lust, and decided visually to reinforce just whom Kagome belonged to.

Nobunaga observed the seating arrangements across from him. The miko sat just behind and to the right of the tai-youkai, a spot reserved for heirs and reagents. The female sat behind the miko, clearly displaying the miko’s status above her.

“I am curious as to why you would search me out when it is the foreign missionaries you truly seek.” He had never been one to mince words, often times they had a way of being turned back on the speaker.

There was a slight nod of the tai-youkai’s head before the miko answered, “It is no secret that while you have not converted, you are an open supporter of their occupancy here. Therefore, it stands to reason that they would be more trusting of your word then a stranger’s.”

“And what is the message that I am to play errand boy for?”

The reluctance in his voice pushed Kagome to reveal the threat without any preamble. “Amatsu Mikaboshi is hidden amongst them. They do not know he is there, and even if they did, they would not know how to deal with him.”

“Amatsu Mikaboshi? Come now miko, we both know that Mikaboshi is not a true entity as Amaterasu is. What game are you playing at?”

This small male dared to question Sesshoumaru’s breeder. He labeled her as nothing more than a common liar; this meeting was bound to end in bloodshed.

“I play at nothing. Mikaboshi is more than a will of chaos and malice, but I have no time to convince you. Right now Mikaboshi is bound to Louis Frois. If Frois does not take Mikaboshi to the island of the forbidden, then his purity will not be able to outlast Mikaboshi’s hate for long.”

Nobunaga laughed; this was too rich. The long-sleeved miko wanted him to sacrifice his best contact to the foreign traders. “Why would I lead a man to fate worse than death on the word of woman? Why would I risk my ability to easily trade with the foreigners because an obvious youkai whore said to?”

Was her hair hissing? No, it must just be a side effect of both youkai growling in such a small place. Nobunaga knew that he was pushing the bounds, but it was insulting that it was a female speaking and not the Lord. If the Shikon Miko traveled with the tai-youkai, then surely this regal inu did not think so poorly of humans.

Did the midget just call her a whore? Well that was not a very pleasant munchkin. No, he definitely was not part of the ‘Lollipop Guild.’ She might just let Toto bite him if he did not start responding how he was supposed to. He was supposed to be running around singing the ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.’ What was the midget doing? He was insulting her because she was a woman and calling her a whore.

“It matters not that I am woman, nor does it matter who I lay with. In the grand scheme of things, I do not matter. I am not the one who has land to lose, titles to maintain for future prosperity. As for what you risk in trading rights, do not tell me that you can find none among your countrymen who are intelligent enough to duplicate their weapon designs. The real question is why would you risk losing to Mikaboshi?”

Kagome’s voice never raised, her eyes never faltered from Oda’s eyes. She was staring into the eyes of a man who would order one of the most ruthless genocides Japan would ever see. It was a fine line between visionary and tyrant.

“A woman should know her place is beneath the man.” Damned, but he had not seen this kind of open defiance in a woman before.

“I have my alpha that I bare for. He is the only one that will ever find his place above me.” It was this blatant claim that ceased Sesshoumaru’s beast’s need for blood. His bitch had just sworn fidelity to only him, and he knew her to be a female of her word. “You called me a whore; you were wrong. Whores sell their favors; I have never sold anything.” No, she had been chaste before that morning in the cave, and the closest she had come to a sexual encounter had been her alpha’s touch of her breast. “Now, either you are the great strategist that will be hailed in history for centuries to come, or you are just a short man trying to make up for his inadequacies.” She actually rather enjoyed the shade of red he became.

Sesshoumaru almost smirked at his bitch’s audacity. She was more than capable of defending herself from the likes of this man.

“Would it not improve your standing with the missionaries if you handed them the perfect opportunity to prove their beliefs’ superiority to those on Mount Hiei?” She allowed the question to hang in the air. If this did not convince him that he should help, then they would seek Frois on their own.

“Why would the missionaries agree?” It would be a great bonus to remove the thorn of warrior monks without wasting too much of his own effort.

“They will because of what they are. They are missionaries, here to spread the word and convert as many as possible. What better way to convince the people of this land that their beliefs are correct, then to face one of the most fabled evils?”

“Indeed, and what better way to prove that the monks are not as fierce as they claim. Yes, this could work out quite well,” Oda said then quietly muttered to himself for the next few moments.

Kagome turned her gaze to Sesshoumaru. She bared her neck to him and then bowed her head. It was the sign that she would not speak again. It was Sesshoumaru’s place to determine how this human was to be used, not hers. The only reason she had been allowed to speak in the first place had been her knowledge of this human.

“You will be prepared human; we will leave within the next hour.” Sesshoumaru stood followed in suit by the two females, and made his way to exit the tent. He no longer wished to smell the foul stench of humanity.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, what would you have me prepare?” Nobunaga also knew the value of earning an ally in this youkai.

“That which eases the burdens of accomplishing this mission.” How could humans be so stupid? This was the best they had to offer as far as strategists? Pitiful.

Sesshoumaru decided that he and his breeder would spend the next hour alone. He could smell the shame radiating off her. She was far more than a youkai whore ... she was more than the Shikon Miko … she simply was and always would be … Kagome.

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Sesshoumaru had led her away to a small field of late blooming summer flowers. He did not force her to sit on his lap as his instincts demanded, but he did not allow her any true distance between his person and hers.

“You, Kagome, are no whore,” he brushed her cheek with the back of his clawed fingers.

Kagome’s gaze dropped from the field to the hands in her lap. “Hai,” was whispered with no conviction.

The hand that had been caressing her face dropped to grasp her chin. She was forced to stare into the eyes of her alpha. “You have proven your worth to this Sesshoumaru many times over. Do you think that this Sesshoumaru would take a whore to mother of his heirs?”

“No, but … “ she tried to squirm out of his hold.

“There is no exception to that statement. Now, what is upsetting you?” She could be beyond aggravating; however, she was also a rare female.

“Is all I am to you a mere possession?”

“You do not wish this Sesshoumaru to be your alpha?”

“No, that is not what I meant. I do not wish to be ‘this Sesshoumaru’s’ property, like some change of clothes or something equally as trivial.”

He could no longer allow her space; he needed her body in contact with his. Before she understood what had happened, she was in his lap and his nose was buried in the crook of her neck. Thankful that he had removed his armor, she reached her hand out to cover his heart.

The steady rhythm of the beating organ and his warmth lulled her into a comfortable haze. He had answered her without words. If she had been a mere possession, he never would have held her so carefully, in such a cherished manner.

“You are pack. Pack cannot be bought and sold, pack can only be protected.”

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AN: Thank you for reading. Please review.

Emily