InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ Tin Man and the Lion ( Chapter 24 )
[ 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: 10.09.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 382 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.09.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 382 | Status: Work In Progress
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND CO., NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ
AN: Thank you to Fallen_Tenshi8 and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
*On ff.net two chapters were added at once. On mediaminer 5 chapters were added. Please back up to the correct chapter.*
Chapter 24: Tin Man and the Lion
Sesshoumaru had been awake for hours before the sun signaled the new day. He had been carefully and gently roaming his hands over the exposed flesh of his female. There was now a new appreciation of her breasts, and while he could not fondle them the way he wanted to without waking her, he enjoyed the way the nipples would occasionally pucker under the lightest scrape of his claws.
Her skin was the color of palest ivory while the nipples would darken to a rich pinkish, tawny color when beading up to form the succulent buds. In his many years, he had never known any part of the female body to test his will or inflame his passion. She, however, was extremely addictive.
As the sun crested the eastern horizon, he noted the increase in her heart rate and breathing. His beast was practically straining in anticipation. Soon, yes soon, she would be awake and his hours of self-made purgatory would end leaving him to find salvation. Although she burrowed further into his warmth in a vain attempt to remain asleep, it was the vibrations of his approving growl that brought her back to the conscious plane.
Sapphire eyes focused and a voice heavy with sleep greeted him, “Good morning.”
“Hn,” was his response as he moved in to lick her sensitive neck.
Her aroused moan was the most gratifying responses he had ever received in his long life. He swam in the scent of her arousal as he carefully rolled her onto her back. The taunt peaks of her breasts demanded his full attention; far too many long mouth watering hours had passed being denied his favorite treat.
The homage he paid to her chest lacked nothing; he licked, teased, nipped, pinched, massaged, sucked, and caressed every centimeter of her breasts. The symphony that she created with her cries and moans was the best music the inu had ever heard. Her hands danced across his back and arms, scratching paths and patterns while she encouraged his adoration of her body.
However, this lovely morning activity was suddenly stopped as her voice rang out in a completely new tone.
“Oh!”
Sesshoumaru looked into the face of his female to find a smile and twinkle in her eye that was devoid of any lust or heat. No, what was there was sheer joy. Kagome grabbed one of his hands and brought it down to rest over her swollen womb. Slight confusion clouded Sesshoumaru’s mind until he felt the movement.
His eyes quickly focused on the protruding abdomen that held their pups, while his hand again felt the movement on his pups again. He moved his body so that his head was directly over their young. A series of low growls was issued from the tai-youkai. Kagome almost laughed when she realized that he was talking to them in a tongue that she would never truly understand, and then there was sadness. She realized that her children would have a bond with their father that she could never be a part of.
“You did not tell this Sesshoumaru that the movement could be felt.” His rich voice brought her back from her saddening thoughts.
She smiled at the frustration in his eyes; ironically this was a bond with their children that he would never be a part of, “I was not completely sure before that it was the babies. Would you have liked me to place your hand on my stomach for mere gas?”
Sesshoumaru was not overly pleased with her answer, but he truly had expected nothing less from her. One part caught his attention, though, and it was her reference to ‘babies.’
“There is a good chance that our pups will be born in their true form. It is how all youkai are born, and I do not see your being human making any difference.”
“My being human will make a difference on many things…” Her eyes were distant, he knew that there were fears and thoughts that she was not sharing with him. “However, I will still be their mother, even if they come out as little fluff balls.”
Kagome tried to picture them as puppies inside her, but she could not quite make it work. This was just one more thing to accept. She seemed to being doing that a lot these days. It was amazing at the things that one could accept in the name of survival.
“Do not hide.” Sesshoumaru had moved to sit up, pulling her into his lap.
“I’m not hiding, I’m thinking.” She frowned at him while moving to find a comfortable spot as she took his hand and studied it. “I would share my thoughts with you, but right now they are so jumbled that it would be hours of non-stop babbling. Would you really prefer that to the silence?”
Sesshoumaru noticed that she was comparing his hand to hers, noting the different placement of his calluses to hers, the clawed fingers verses her blunt nails, the size, etc. Finally, she broke her silent examination, “I won’t understand them…. In their lives there will be things that I will never understand, and can never have a hope to understand.”
He took her hand in his and placed it over their pups. This was not what he had wanted this morning but it was something that needed to be addressed for the good of their pack. “Does that mean you will love them any less?”
“No!”
“You will understand the important things; the rest can be explained with patience. You already know, understand, the most important thing to all inu-youkai, loyalty. Kagome, our pack will be strong. You have granted this Sesshoumaru pack, and I will allow nothing to hurt that pack. This I swear to you.
“Besides, if you have proven your worth to this Sesshoumaru, so much so that I offer you the patience of explanation, then how can you believe our pups will grant you less?”
Her laughter filled the room. She twisted in his lap, kissed him on the lips, long, and slow while barely able to suppress the grin.
“Thank you.”
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Kuro would have cursed if the witch had been out of earshot. How in the seven hells, did she expect him to be able to walk back into the Citadel with any creditability at all? He was nothing. A pup of no birth, no rank within the army, nothing.
In fact, the only thing that he could claim as any distinction to his person was that he was a male-concubine to a sadistic bitch. Yes, he had gone far in life.
Kuro lifted his eyes to the bane of his existence; he would revel in the bitch’s blood when she fell. A quick nod of his head, and then he was on his way back to the Citadel. He would find a way to contact Miyu, the favored concubine of the Lord, and enlist her into the plot.
If she fell into the ploy then he would be doing a service to the West by routing out another treacherous female. His mind wandered for a few moments and then it hit on a thought that made him think that there was a possibility of success. If he had managed to convince the former breeder that he was a contented, no… amorous, lover then the task before him should be easier by comparison.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
The morning bathing had been interesting. No, it had been wonderful even though it was not the most efficient.
Sesshoumaru had insisted on joining her, though now she was sure it was just to finish what had been interrupted in their room. A goofy grin crossed Kagome’s face as she could still feel the phantoms of Sesshoumaru’s hands rooming her body.
She knocked softly on the door and entered after Rin’s voice called from within. Kagome’s goofy smile faded to a face flush with embarrassment as she noticed Michi’s nose twitch and a knowing gleam in both females’ eyes.
“I think I will be leaving now,” Kagome said as she made way to retreat the way she came.
“No!” it was cried in unison by both females.
Michi quickly stood to head off the embarrassed woman. Sesshoumaru’s scent was very strong, so it calmed Michi’s mind considerably.
“There is no offence meant, but surely you know the entire Citadel knows what occurred last night and obviously this morning.” Michi could not repress the grin that played on her face.
Kagome paled, “The entire Citadel?” It was barely above a whisper.
Rin laughed, “Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama was quite loud in his announcement.” Her brow waggled in her best imitation of her husband.
“If you are not careful, Rin-chan, your son will turn out with the same afflictions as his father,” Kagome mock scolded in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.
Rin turned to the sleeping face of her son and then back to Kagome. “And what affliction could any accuse him of; expect in his youth he was rather zealous in showing his appreciation of beauty?”
Kagome joined Rin’s laughter, “Yes, Miroku, the pious monk, who is more than happy to personally demonstrate some of life’s more tempting sins.” Kagome moved over to whisper to Ichiro, “But there are few who could ever hope to claim to be a better friend.”
“Yes Kagome-sama, we will be sure to visit often so that you can regal Ichiro of his father’s valor.”
Kagome’s head snapped in Rin’s direction and she moved quickly away from the sleeping babe. “Rin-chan, you are leaving the Citadel?” The pain of losing such a dear friend was evident in her voice.
Rin smiled sympathetically at the older woman, “Yes, Miroku and I believe that it will be for the best. Soon, perhaps in another month and half, the West will be welcoming its heir. It would be best for all if Sesshoumaru-sama did not have to worry about the tension of having more humans within his walls. However, with Kirara it will be easy to come and visit.”
Michi noticed the crest-fallen look on Kagome and at the same time, she noticed that she bore no mark. As it had been proven many times before, Michi could not contain her curiosity. “Kagome-sama, you do not bare the mark of a mate?”
The crest-fallen look was replaced with one of confusion, “Why should I?”
“The loud announcement that Sesshoumaru-sama made last night lead me to believe that he was announcing the claiming of mate.”
“Oh,” Kagome turned from Michi to Rin, “and has Sesshoumaru-sama always done things in a predictable way?”
Both humans giggled at Michi’s dismay. She was a good-hearted youkai, so it would have been cruel to leave her in dark for long. Kagome simple stated, “Sesshoumaru-sama and I have found an understanding. I will not question why he does and does not do things a certain way. I implicitly trust my alpha.”
Michi was amazed at the human’s ability to state things in such a youkai way, but further confused by the next statement.
“Besides, my ruby slippers have taken me home.”
Rin was confused as well. “Do the ruby slippers have anything to do with melting people with water?”
Kagome smiled at both her friends, “Hai, that and flying monkeys.”
The further look of confusion was worth it, yet it was Michi’s comment that almost caused Kagome to pee herself in laughter.
“Kagome-sama, wouldn’t ruby slippers be most uncomfortable?”
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~ _~
Madoka was not pleased; well, that was not really true. She was upset that she had to rethink her plans. If Kuro was as good convincing people to their side as he was a lover, then she had nothing to fear.
Madoka wonder if she was putting too much trust into the young inu, but then she really did not have much of a choice. Besides, who would not do anything to become lord of the most powerful province? Yes, that was what the males worried about most, power.
While she would admit to being slightly enamored with power, it was the male of each species that was absolutely hungry for it. It was this trait that opened her newest opportunity, the general scorned by her son.
The general, whatever his name was for she really did not bother herself with such trivial matters, had merely been indulging in what her son offered and for that said general was humiliated in front of the human, that abomination which currently carried the heir of the West. Yes, her son was quickly burning bridges the same exact way his father had done when he marked a simple human hime.
Madoka laughed to the empty room, it echoed throughout the room and down the hall. It was the kind of laugh that made one’s skin crawl with a sickened feeling. Her son was going to suffer the same fate as his father, only he would not be able to ensure that the bitch and her whelp lived.
The great Inu no Taisho had proven his worth to the West for over six centuries before claiming a human. Sesshoumaru had neither the time nor the feats that his father had. Add to that his natural ability to push away all, friend and foe alike, and there would be no allies to stand by as he watched his bitch and pup fall to her claws.
Yes, it was a risk to kill the insane miko and hanyou pup before the sire was dead, but a grieving inu was a stupid creature. His power and strength would not be used to his advantage, while their levels would give him a false confidence. She could take down her son and then no one but pawns would stand in her way of her rightful place.
But really, one could say she was not power-hungry.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Inuyasha had been passing by when he heard Michi’s statement. He abandoned his search for the houshi in order to find his brother, his bastard half-brother.
It was not a hard task, for within the Citadel walls Sesshoumaru was a creature of habit. Inuyasha soon found him bogged down in the many scrolls that required a lord’s attention.
Inuyasha paid no mind to the pleasantry of knocking; instead, he barged in flinging insults.
“Oi you bastard, you did not mark her? I told ya before, she ain’t no bitch, and she sure as hell ain’t no whore!” Even with the Tessaiga strapped to his hip, the hanyou’s eyes were bleeding red.
Sesshoumaru had been having one of the most pleasant mornings his long life. He had awoken to a naked Kagome by his side, curled tightly into his warmth, and had the pleasure of observing the reaction of her body to his touch.
Then he had felt his pups sure movements within her for the first time, the strength of their movements spoke of the promised strength of his pack. While other activities had been put on hold to revel in the budding life within his Kagome, those activities had been recommenced while bathing.
Though his beast was slightly displeased at her need to wash away his scent, he had understood how fastidious of a creature she was. The question of how she maintained this need while wandering the wilderness would be posed later. However, the mutual bathing provided him with a perfect way to ignite the fire within her body. It was in his not so humble opinion the perfect balance to both their needs….cleanliness and intercourse in one fell swoop.
Really, what was wrong with him? He had not had this level of libido even when he was between pup hood and adulthood. Kagome drove his beast wild and left him dying of thirst. Her inexperience showed through, but she definitely was willing to learn. When she learned she would be perfection….and she would still be his.
Nevertheless, his pleasant day had ended abruptly and rather early in the morning. Couldn’t his half-brother have graced him with one more hour to revel in this...contented feeling? “Watch yourself, hanyou.”
“Watch myself?! Watch myself?! Just because you are alpha of the West does not mean I will bend down and let you treat her like trash. First you take her off to trek across the whole of Japan, second you rape her in front of human soldiers, and then third you bring her back here where you take her loud enough for the entire West to have absolutely no doubt what you’ve done, but you do not mark her?!”
Sesshoumaru flew at his hanyou brother, pinning him to floor. Both were now red eyed and the elder snarled, “You have no place to question this Sesshoumaru.”
“Kagome is my place. She is my acceptance, my strength, my forgiveness, my salvation!” Inuyasha snarled right back.
“Yet, you abandoned her how many times for the walking dead?” Sesshoumaru was finished listening to his brother’s moral high ground.
“Kikyou has nothing to do with this!” Inuyasha lost quite a bit of his venom as he was reminded of his many transgressions against his Kagome.
“Listen well brother, for I will only say this once. Kagome is mine. There will be no other. What I choose now, is not to force her hand into anything, ever again. I will not place her into responsibilities she does not know or understand.
“In a rash fit of passion, Father marked your mother. She knew nothing of what it meant to be the Lady of the West and all suffered for it, including you. This Sesshoumaru will not let his pack, his family, or his Kagome suffer. Know this hanyou, that my mate and pups will not be plagued by problems of rash acting.”
Inuyasha’s eyes had drained back to their normal yellow color, his ears plastered to his head. His voice was small as he asked the next question, “Ya wouldn’t care that your heir was hanyou?”
Sesshoumaru backed off the submissive pup, “Inuyasha, you have proven that it is not such a disgrace to be hanyou, though uncouth and vile at times, you are not weak.”
Sesshoumaru’s amber orbs watched the hanyou pup lift himself off the floor. There was pride in the amber gaze as the elder inu realized that his brother would have died defending Kagome’s honor. She inspired many to be loyal; it did not matter if they were human, hanyou, or youkai.
Inuyasha was almost out of the door before he threw one last question at his assholic brother, “Do you love her?”
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
AN: Thank you for reading. Now please, please review. I really enjoy the feedback and it helps motivate me to write. Elegant Paws says it best, “Reviews are fuel.”
The next chapter is mostly written and this story is rapidly approaching its end.
Emily
AN: Thank you to Fallen_Tenshi8 and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
*On ff.net two chapters were added at once. On mediaminer 5 chapters were added. Please back up to the correct chapter.*
Sesshoumaru had been awake for hours before the sun signaled the new day. He had been carefully and gently roaming his hands over the exposed flesh of his female. There was now a new appreciation of her breasts, and while he could not fondle them the way he wanted to without waking her, he enjoyed the way the nipples would occasionally pucker under the lightest scrape of his claws.
Her skin was the color of palest ivory while the nipples would darken to a rich pinkish, tawny color when beading up to form the succulent buds. In his many years, he had never known any part of the female body to test his will or inflame his passion. She, however, was extremely addictive.
As the sun crested the eastern horizon, he noted the increase in her heart rate and breathing. His beast was practically straining in anticipation. Soon, yes soon, she would be awake and his hours of self-made purgatory would end leaving him to find salvation. Although she burrowed further into his warmth in a vain attempt to remain asleep, it was the vibrations of his approving growl that brought her back to the conscious plane.
Sapphire eyes focused and a voice heavy with sleep greeted him, “Good morning.”
“Hn,” was his response as he moved in to lick her sensitive neck.
Her aroused moan was the most gratifying responses he had ever received in his long life. He swam in the scent of her arousal as he carefully rolled her onto her back. The taunt peaks of her breasts demanded his full attention; far too many long mouth watering hours had passed being denied his favorite treat.
The homage he paid to her chest lacked nothing; he licked, teased, nipped, pinched, massaged, sucked, and caressed every centimeter of her breasts. The symphony that she created with her cries and moans was the best music the inu had ever heard. Her hands danced across his back and arms, scratching paths and patterns while she encouraged his adoration of her body.
However, this lovely morning activity was suddenly stopped as her voice rang out in a completely new tone.
“Oh!”
Sesshoumaru looked into the face of his female to find a smile and twinkle in her eye that was devoid of any lust or heat. No, what was there was sheer joy. Kagome grabbed one of his hands and brought it down to rest over her swollen womb. Slight confusion clouded Sesshoumaru’s mind until he felt the movement.
His eyes quickly focused on the protruding abdomen that held their pups, while his hand again felt the movement on his pups again. He moved his body so that his head was directly over their young. A series of low growls was issued from the tai-youkai. Kagome almost laughed when she realized that he was talking to them in a tongue that she would never truly understand, and then there was sadness. She realized that her children would have a bond with their father that she could never be a part of.
“You did not tell this Sesshoumaru that the movement could be felt.” His rich voice brought her back from her saddening thoughts.
She smiled at the frustration in his eyes; ironically this was a bond with their children that he would never be a part of, “I was not completely sure before that it was the babies. Would you have liked me to place your hand on my stomach for mere gas?”
Sesshoumaru was not overly pleased with her answer, but he truly had expected nothing less from her. One part caught his attention, though, and it was her reference to ‘babies.’
“There is a good chance that our pups will be born in their true form. It is how all youkai are born, and I do not see your being human making any difference.”
“My being human will make a difference on many things…” Her eyes were distant, he knew that there were fears and thoughts that she was not sharing with him. “However, I will still be their mother, even if they come out as little fluff balls.”
Kagome tried to picture them as puppies inside her, but she could not quite make it work. This was just one more thing to accept. She seemed to being doing that a lot these days. It was amazing at the things that one could accept in the name of survival.
“Do not hide.” Sesshoumaru had moved to sit up, pulling her into his lap.
“I’m not hiding, I’m thinking.” She frowned at him while moving to find a comfortable spot as she took his hand and studied it. “I would share my thoughts with you, but right now they are so jumbled that it would be hours of non-stop babbling. Would you really prefer that to the silence?”
Sesshoumaru noticed that she was comparing his hand to hers, noting the different placement of his calluses to hers, the clawed fingers verses her blunt nails, the size, etc. Finally, she broke her silent examination, “I won’t understand them…. In their lives there will be things that I will never understand, and can never have a hope to understand.”
He took her hand in his and placed it over their pups. This was not what he had wanted this morning but it was something that needed to be addressed for the good of their pack. “Does that mean you will love them any less?”
“No!”
“You will understand the important things; the rest can be explained with patience. You already know, understand, the most important thing to all inu-youkai, loyalty. Kagome, our pack will be strong. You have granted this Sesshoumaru pack, and I will allow nothing to hurt that pack. This I swear to you.
“Besides, if you have proven your worth to this Sesshoumaru, so much so that I offer you the patience of explanation, then how can you believe our pups will grant you less?”
Her laughter filled the room. She twisted in his lap, kissed him on the lips, long, and slow while barely able to suppress the grin.
“Thank you.”
Kuro would have cursed if the witch had been out of earshot. How in the seven hells, did she expect him to be able to walk back into the Citadel with any creditability at all? He was nothing. A pup of no birth, no rank within the army, nothing.
In fact, the only thing that he could claim as any distinction to his person was that he was a male-concubine to a sadistic bitch. Yes, he had gone far in life.
Kuro lifted his eyes to the bane of his existence; he would revel in the bitch’s blood when she fell. A quick nod of his head, and then he was on his way back to the Citadel. He would find a way to contact Miyu, the favored concubine of the Lord, and enlist her into the plot.
If she fell into the ploy then he would be doing a service to the West by routing out another treacherous female. His mind wandered for a few moments and then it hit on a thought that made him think that there was a possibility of success. If he had managed to convince the former breeder that he was a contented, no… amorous, lover then the task before him should be easier by comparison.
The morning bathing had been interesting. No, it had been wonderful even though it was not the most efficient.
Sesshoumaru had insisted on joining her, though now she was sure it was just to finish what had been interrupted in their room. A goofy grin crossed Kagome’s face as she could still feel the phantoms of Sesshoumaru’s hands rooming her body.
She knocked softly on the door and entered after Rin’s voice called from within. Kagome’s goofy smile faded to a face flush with embarrassment as she noticed Michi’s nose twitch and a knowing gleam in both females’ eyes.
“I think I will be leaving now,” Kagome said as she made way to retreat the way she came.
“No!” it was cried in unison by both females.
Michi quickly stood to head off the embarrassed woman. Sesshoumaru’s scent was very strong, so it calmed Michi’s mind considerably.
“There is no offence meant, but surely you know the entire Citadel knows what occurred last night and obviously this morning.” Michi could not repress the grin that played on her face.
Kagome paled, “The entire Citadel?” It was barely above a whisper.
Rin laughed, “Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama was quite loud in his announcement.” Her brow waggled in her best imitation of her husband.
“If you are not careful, Rin-chan, your son will turn out with the same afflictions as his father,” Kagome mock scolded in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.
Rin turned to the sleeping face of her son and then back to Kagome. “And what affliction could any accuse him of; expect in his youth he was rather zealous in showing his appreciation of beauty?”
Kagome joined Rin’s laughter, “Yes, Miroku, the pious monk, who is more than happy to personally demonstrate some of life’s more tempting sins.” Kagome moved over to whisper to Ichiro, “But there are few who could ever hope to claim to be a better friend.”
“Yes Kagome-sama, we will be sure to visit often so that you can regal Ichiro of his father’s valor.”
Kagome’s head snapped in Rin’s direction and she moved quickly away from the sleeping babe. “Rin-chan, you are leaving the Citadel?” The pain of losing such a dear friend was evident in her voice.
Rin smiled sympathetically at the older woman, “Yes, Miroku and I believe that it will be for the best. Soon, perhaps in another month and half, the West will be welcoming its heir. It would be best for all if Sesshoumaru-sama did not have to worry about the tension of having more humans within his walls. However, with Kirara it will be easy to come and visit.”
Michi noticed the crest-fallen look on Kagome and at the same time, she noticed that she bore no mark. As it had been proven many times before, Michi could not contain her curiosity. “Kagome-sama, you do not bare the mark of a mate?”
The crest-fallen look was replaced with one of confusion, “Why should I?”
“The loud announcement that Sesshoumaru-sama made last night lead me to believe that he was announcing the claiming of mate.”
“Oh,” Kagome turned from Michi to Rin, “and has Sesshoumaru-sama always done things in a predictable way?”
Both humans giggled at Michi’s dismay. She was a good-hearted youkai, so it would have been cruel to leave her in dark for long. Kagome simple stated, “Sesshoumaru-sama and I have found an understanding. I will not question why he does and does not do things a certain way. I implicitly trust my alpha.”
Michi was amazed at the human’s ability to state things in such a youkai way, but further confused by the next statement.
“Besides, my ruby slippers have taken me home.”
Rin was confused as well. “Do the ruby slippers have anything to do with melting people with water?”
Kagome smiled at both her friends, “Hai, that and flying monkeys.”
The further look of confusion was worth it, yet it was Michi’s comment that almost caused Kagome to pee herself in laughter.
“Kagome-sama, wouldn’t ruby slippers be most uncomfortable?”
Madoka was not pleased; well, that was not really true. She was upset that she had to rethink her plans. If Kuro was as good convincing people to their side as he was a lover, then she had nothing to fear.
Madoka wonder if she was putting too much trust into the young inu, but then she really did not have much of a choice. Besides, who would not do anything to become lord of the most powerful province? Yes, that was what the males worried about most, power.
While she would admit to being slightly enamored with power, it was the male of each species that was absolutely hungry for it. It was this trait that opened her newest opportunity, the general scorned by her son.
The general, whatever his name was for she really did not bother herself with such trivial matters, had merely been indulging in what her son offered and for that said general was humiliated in front of the human, that abomination which currently carried the heir of the West. Yes, her son was quickly burning bridges the same exact way his father had done when he marked a simple human hime.
Madoka laughed to the empty room, it echoed throughout the room and down the hall. It was the kind of laugh that made one’s skin crawl with a sickened feeling. Her son was going to suffer the same fate as his father, only he would not be able to ensure that the bitch and her whelp lived.
The great Inu no Taisho had proven his worth to the West for over six centuries before claiming a human. Sesshoumaru had neither the time nor the feats that his father had. Add to that his natural ability to push away all, friend and foe alike, and there would be no allies to stand by as he watched his bitch and pup fall to her claws.
Yes, it was a risk to kill the insane miko and hanyou pup before the sire was dead, but a grieving inu was a stupid creature. His power and strength would not be used to his advantage, while their levels would give him a false confidence. She could take down her son and then no one but pawns would stand in her way of her rightful place.
But really, one could say she was not power-hungry.
Inuyasha had been passing by when he heard Michi’s statement. He abandoned his search for the houshi in order to find his brother, his bastard half-brother.
It was not a hard task, for within the Citadel walls Sesshoumaru was a creature of habit. Inuyasha soon found him bogged down in the many scrolls that required a lord’s attention.
Inuyasha paid no mind to the pleasantry of knocking; instead, he barged in flinging insults.
“Oi you bastard, you did not mark her? I told ya before, she ain’t no bitch, and she sure as hell ain’t no whore!” Even with the Tessaiga strapped to his hip, the hanyou’s eyes were bleeding red.
Sesshoumaru had been having one of the most pleasant mornings his long life. He had awoken to a naked Kagome by his side, curled tightly into his warmth, and had the pleasure of observing the reaction of her body to his touch.
Then he had felt his pups sure movements within her for the first time, the strength of their movements spoke of the promised strength of his pack. While other activities had been put on hold to revel in the budding life within his Kagome, those activities had been recommenced while bathing.
Though his beast was slightly displeased at her need to wash away his scent, he had understood how fastidious of a creature she was. The question of how she maintained this need while wandering the wilderness would be posed later. However, the mutual bathing provided him with a perfect way to ignite the fire within her body. It was in his not so humble opinion the perfect balance to both their needs….cleanliness and intercourse in one fell swoop.
Really, what was wrong with him? He had not had this level of libido even when he was between pup hood and adulthood. Kagome drove his beast wild and left him dying of thirst. Her inexperience showed through, but she definitely was willing to learn. When she learned she would be perfection….and she would still be his.
Nevertheless, his pleasant day had ended abruptly and rather early in the morning. Couldn’t his half-brother have graced him with one more hour to revel in this...contented feeling? “Watch yourself, hanyou.”
“Watch myself?! Watch myself?! Just because you are alpha of the West does not mean I will bend down and let you treat her like trash. First you take her off to trek across the whole of Japan, second you rape her in front of human soldiers, and then third you bring her back here where you take her loud enough for the entire West to have absolutely no doubt what you’ve done, but you do not mark her?!”
Sesshoumaru flew at his hanyou brother, pinning him to floor. Both were now red eyed and the elder snarled, “You have no place to question this Sesshoumaru.”
“Kagome is my place. She is my acceptance, my strength, my forgiveness, my salvation!” Inuyasha snarled right back.
“Yet, you abandoned her how many times for the walking dead?” Sesshoumaru was finished listening to his brother’s moral high ground.
“Kikyou has nothing to do with this!” Inuyasha lost quite a bit of his venom as he was reminded of his many transgressions against his Kagome.
“Listen well brother, for I will only say this once. Kagome is mine. There will be no other. What I choose now, is not to force her hand into anything, ever again. I will not place her into responsibilities she does not know or understand.
“In a rash fit of passion, Father marked your mother. She knew nothing of what it meant to be the Lady of the West and all suffered for it, including you. This Sesshoumaru will not let his pack, his family, or his Kagome suffer. Know this hanyou, that my mate and pups will not be plagued by problems of rash acting.”
Inuyasha’s eyes had drained back to their normal yellow color, his ears plastered to his head. His voice was small as he asked the next question, “Ya wouldn’t care that your heir was hanyou?”
Sesshoumaru backed off the submissive pup, “Inuyasha, you have proven that it is not such a disgrace to be hanyou, though uncouth and vile at times, you are not weak.”
Sesshoumaru’s amber orbs watched the hanyou pup lift himself off the floor. There was pride in the amber gaze as the elder inu realized that his brother would have died defending Kagome’s honor. She inspired many to be loyal; it did not matter if they were human, hanyou, or youkai.
Inuyasha was almost out of the door before he threw one last question at his assholic brother, “Do you love her?”
AN: Thank you for reading. Now please, please review. I really enjoy the feedback and it helps motivate me to write. Elegant Paws says it best, “Reviews are fuel.”
The next chapter is mostly written and this story is rapidly approaching its end.
Emily