InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Mating Season ❯ What Lies Beneath ( Chapter 92 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: SplendentGoddess 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.07.2007 | Updated On: 09.27.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.2K | Visits: 8.1K | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.07.2007 | Updated On: 09.27.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.2K | Visits: 8.1K | Status: Completed
Blanket Disclaimer:
Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi, or VIZ Productions.
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Chapter 92 - What Lies Beneath
It was going to be a long and tedious trip into the fire-mountains, but after receiving the warning he’d just got from his father, no way in all the ten hells was Shippo going to risk allowing what had happened to Kazuki to happen to his own sons. It had never even crossed his mind, and honestly, Shippo felt almost as guilty as he was sure Inuyasha was feeling. At first Rin had protested, from a subconscious desire to hold onto her sons’ innocence, claiming that their boys were still too young to be receiving such weapons. In response, Shippo had politely pointed out how they’d each started training with blades themselves at around their age, not to mention the fact that their children’s own claws were sharp enough to cut through solid steel. Besides that, his sisters were only eleven, the same age as their sons, and they also each now sported identical daggers at their hips, Kagome having supported her mate’s decision 100% after Inuyasha had learned the hard way to not take any further risks when it came to protecting his children. Rin had still put forth a token argument over why his fangs needed to be made into weapons, wondering why a simple talisman wouldn’t suffice, but Shippo had merely patted the blade he wore on his own hip, and she’d rolled her eyes, muttering something about men and their swords. Chuckling, Shippo had gone on to explain that though it was true the blades had become such top priority over the realization of needing to seal their children’s youkai blood, that he was also concerned for his boys’ safety in the future, should they remain unarmed. While the West was safe, for the time being, he simply felt it would be unwise to assume that that would always be the case. It was his responsibility as their father to provide his boys with a means of defense, should trouble ever arise.
Rin had finally conceded, remembering well her own desire to learn how to fight at merely age twelve, but she’d at least gotten her mate to agree that their youngest, Hinata, was still too young for them to need to worry over sealing her blood just yet. The young hanyou girl in question, currently sniffling over Daddy’s departure, being merely the tender age of four. Kneeling before his daughter, Shippo promised that he’d return as quickly as possible, and also promised the young vixen that he’d bring her back a present, seeing as she knew that the trip he was taking was to forge enchanted swords for her older brothers. Feeling in his carrying pouch, Shippo nodded to himself that he had enough coins to get her a doll in one of the local villages. He could perform a very convincing human guise those days, so purchasing a doll for his daughter in a human market wouldn’t be a problem at all. Ruffling her hair, careful of her tan ears, he kissed Hinata on the cheek, before rising to his feet and kissing his mate on the lips.
Merely two days after receiving the letter from Inuyasha, Rin found herself bidding her mate farewell. She then promptly started worrying over how she was going to handle three kitsune-hanyou on her own for a few days. Fortunately, for her, salvation came in the form of a smiling wind-youkai. Kagura was more than happy to assist with her “grandchildren”, as the human girl obviously had her hands full for the time being.
Of course, it wasn’t exactly as though Kagura was out of the woods herself, in that department. Of their two children, Daichi was only one year older than Rin’s boys, while his sister, Suishoukaze, was currently at the wonderful age of fifteen. The demi-inu was prone to what Rin playfully referred to as “teenage-tantrums”, which gave everyone a run for their money. Sesshoumaru’s eldest born had started lashing out in recent years, failing to understand why her younger brother was higher than she was in rank, when it came to their positions in the pack regarding who was father’s first heir. Even Rin had tried to explain to her sister what she had quickly come to understand regarding her adoptive family, that Inu were simply a male-dominated bunch, which meant that it was only natural that the first born son would become the first choice for heir in his father’s place. Rin had even gone as far as to point out her own personal lacking in heir status whatsoever, possessing no rights of claim over the Western Lands, despite her publicly announced status as “eldest child” to Lord Sesshoumaru. Rin continued to explain how the exclusion hadn’t bothered her, because she knew it was not her place to be considered an heir to their father. She had always been an intelligent child, and therefore was in no way stupid enough to believe that a human could be permitted to rule a youkai’s realm. Of course, it was also for that reason that Rin’s argument fell on deaf ears, despite Suishoukaze’s exceptional hearing. She’d brushed Rin’s comparison aside, reiterating how she was merely “human” and also not their father’s true first child.
“You may hold the honor of being considered his first child, and my elder sister, but you are not Father’s first born, I am.” were her words.
Rin hadn’t known what to say to that, remembering the days when she used to play with the girl whom she still thought of as her little sister. She knew it wasn’t really about race, as Suishoukaze had never expressed any prejudice toward Rin’s human status, not to mention how the demi-inu appeared to absolutely adore her hanyou “nephews.” No, Rin knew it was about honor and status, and nothing else. She could have been a full-blooded inu-youkai not of Sesshoumaru’s blood, and Sui’s reaction would have been the same.
Recalling how the teen had gone on and on, on a tirade that basically translated as nothing more than “Me. Me. Me. What about ME?” Rin suddenly couldn’t suppress a small chuckle. She recalled well how she used to act at that age, despite her best efforts to not fall under the stereotype of a hormonal adolescent. It had helped that she was newly mated to a man who could handle her outbursts from having long ago accustomed himself to how a once teenage Kagome used to act, but still... Shaking her head, Rin amused herself with the realization that Sui’s behavior just went to prove how youkai and humans truly weren’t all that different from one another, after all. Teenage girls from both races could be little bitches when they wanted to be.
Muttering something under her breath about “baka teenagers” as Rin playfully reminded herself of the horrors that were soon to come as her own children continued to grow, she nearly missed the brief look of pain that seemed to flash itself in her adoptive mother’s ruby gaze.
“Okaa-san?” she asked quietly, catching Kagura’s startled attention. That did not go unnoticed either. “Is something the matter?”
Smiling gently at the young woman before her, Kagura assured her adoptive step-daughter that everything was fine, and that she had merely been distracted in her own thoughts. Rin nodded her understanding, as though buying the wind-youkai’s explanation, but after continuing to study her mother further for a few moments, Rin softly added “You know you can always talk to me, if something’s bothering you.” She knew something had been troubling her mother ever since their meeting with the South two days prior.
“Thank you, but I am fine.” was Kagura’s answer, as she gently bowed her departure and headed for her room, leaving Rin to wonder what on Earth had happened in that meeting.
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When Kagura had first realized that poor Rin was about to be overloaded with kitsune while her mate traveled to Totosai’s cave, she had jumped at the opportunity for distraction. She truly adored her “grand-kits” as Shippo playfully referred to his offspring in her presence, having completely forgiven her of her past discretion as an enemy to his pack. Everyone in the family had forgiven her. Sometimes it truly boggled her mind, wondering why more people didn’t hold her past actions against her.
Desperately trying not to think about her past, the wind-youkai fully submerged herself in play with Rin’s children. The youngest one, Hinata, had pacified her own desire for more pups, as she and Sesshoumaru both agreed that all things considered, they should wait a while before having any more of their own. Just because Inuyasha appeared determined to personally populate what they had come to understand would one day become known as the large city of Tokyo, didn’t mean that they needed to follow his example. For youkai, waiting “a while” between children could easily mean a couple of centuries, and no one would even blink. It was actually unusual to have children as close together as they did with their two, and the reason why was making itself apparent with Suishoukaze’s recent attitude problems. Because youkai were so long-lived, it actually took quite a while to outgrow the “adolescent” stage of life, at least mentally. Groaning, Kagura knew it was only the beginning.
But she loved her daughter, despite her occasional temper tantrums, and somehow, something in the way Rin had muttered “baka teenagers“ struck a nerve that she knew it really shouldn’t have. She knew the human woman hadn’t meant anything by the comment, but still, it had felt like a personal blow, somehow. She was, after all, merely the physical age of eighteen, herself. That is to say, she was “created” eighteen years ago, though she was “born” fully adult. She still recalled the time Naraku had had her capture a then nine year old Rin to use as leverage over Sesshoumaru. She shuddered at the memory. Had Rin truly forgotten? Had she truly forgotten what her “mother” was? Who she was? The way she was looking at her in that moment, with such genuine concern, such genuine love, made Kagura feel sick to her stomach. How could she confide in a “daughter” that was nine years older than she was?
Excusing herself, Kagura retreated to the sanctity of her and Sesshoumaru’s private chambers, knowing that he was busy for hours to come with mountains of paperwork in his study.
Why was this bothering her now?
Why now?
It was all that Lord Osamu’s fault…
She just wouldn’t think of it. She would push the thoughts aside. Pretend she had never heard his words, and stop letting them poison her, just as she had been ordered to do. Yeah right…
~Flashback~
Kagome’s words of warning still rang in her ears.
“Youkai don’t appear to still exist in my time. I know it seems unlikely that they all disappeared, but in my time, most humans have forgotten that youkai ever existed, believing them nothing but myths.”
Both she and her mate had found the miko’s news of the future…unsettling.
“If any youkai are still around, they have to be in hiding, disguising themselves as humans.”
Sesshoumaru had actually snorted at that, quite an uncharacteristic display. But the young miko had gone on unfazed, knowing that the briefing he’d called had been specifically for that purpose, to gain the knowledge that she possessed regarding things to come. She had warned that they couldn’t risk “interfering” with the flow of time, but had then proceeded to give a brief “history lesson” regarding the development of humankind.
“Humans will continue to grow in power, developing weapons far superior to anything you can likely imagine. I don’t doubt that the lower beasts will simply become hunted to extinction while men still believe in, and fear them.”
Kagome had seemed absolutely positive in her assumption that lower youkai, at the very least, were long dead by her century. She had gone on to state her unwavering conviction that she and Inuyasha fully intended to make it safely back to her time, and her long-lost family, by whatever means necessary. She had also given her word, submitting to Sesshoumaru’s status as prime alpha over their conjoined packs, that she would do everything within her power to make sure that they, and the Western Lands themselves, were fully prepared for all things to come.
Kagura knew that it had disturbed her mate to no end, to even conceive of a time when he would be forced to play human in order to merely survive in the world, but if that was what it was going to take, then she was sure that he would choose any necessary course of action over witnessing the downfall of his kingdom.
Hence the purpose for today’s meeting.
It had been easy to gain a treaty with the North, as Lord Kouga and Lady Ayame had actually approached them with the proposition over a decade ago. With their strong personal histories, it had been in everyone’s best interest to become allies, rather than enemies, as Inuyasha had paraphrased from a quote used long ago.
It was also relatively easy to repair the forfeited cease-fire that had previously been in standing between the West and the East, as Lady Tsukie had shared none of her deceased mate’s desires for glory or conquest. Her people were weak and vulnerable after so many were lost in the failed attempt at seizure, so the tigress readily complied when the West offered their support and protection, in exchange for unwavering allegiance.
Now, it was time to meet with the South.
Lord Osamu was a special case. Run mainly by bear-youkai, the South had always more or less kept to themselves. There was a cease-fire in effect between their peoples, but nothing beyond that had ever been negotiated. The Kuma were an arrogant bunch, and in many ways, believed themselves superior to Inu, though they fortunately held no desire for conquest. They weren’t foolish enough to even contemplate launching a physical assault after what had become of the East, although that didn’t stop them from openly expressing their less than flattering opinions. Still, Lord Sesshoumaru was never overly concerned regarding the subtle insults littering Osamu’s correspondence, as he knew the brown bear’s self-preservation instinct would be enough to ensure that the South never actually orchestrated an attack. Unlike Lord Daikomaru, with the South, it really was all words.
Now, it was the Western Taiyoukai’s hope that some form of an agreement beyond the centuries-old cease-fire could be forged between their peoples. He wasn’t running a campaign to personally take over all of Japan, and he knew that Osamu was aware that underhanded methods of domination were simply not his style. It may appear suspicious to an outside observer, how the West had already gained treaty with the other two compass lands, but those realms had either requested, or required his assistance. The South had outwardly scoffed at the news, jokingly boasting their belief that the other three lands feared their strength so much, that they believed three-against-one made them roughly evenly matched.
It was that belief that kept the Kuma’s spirits relatively good when he suddenly received summons to meet with the Western ruler in his domain. Just on the off chance that Sesshoumaru truly did think that he could somehow subtly take over his lands, Osamu merely chuckled to himself that the dog had another think coming. Osamu believed that Sesshoumaru had weakened greatly in his strength as a Taiyoukai over the centuries, both physically as well as mentally, if that missing arm was any indication, not to mention the fact that everyone knew it was that miko who had actually defeated the Tora no Taisho. The miko, he would not underestimate, but Osamu had heard enough rumors over the years to know that his people would be safe from assault so long as he didn’t physically breach the cease-fire first. Everyone knew that the miko mated to the late Inu no Taisho’s hanyou brat possessed a “compassionate” heart, and she would not agree to being the aggressor in a battle against those who had not made the first move of attack.
Armed with that knowledge, it was a cocky Lord Osamu who sought to call the Western Taiyoukai out on his hidden agenda.
“So, it has finally come down to this, eh, Lord Sesshoumaru?” he spoke almost too casually, not bothering to hide his all-knowing smirk.
“Do not presume to understand the intentions of This Sesshoumaru.” was his response, as the current Inu no Taisho then proceeded to explain his position, stating that it had been foreseen that the fate of all youkai was reaching a point of uncertainty, where their survival amongst the growing number and strength of humans was not guaranteed, and how it was in everyone’s best interest to join forces.
What Sesshoumaru was attempting, was to create one unified ruling force of youkai, under the command of a council which would consist of all the preexisting Lords and Taiyoukai of Japan, including himself and his brother, as well as the Ookami of the North and the Tora of the East. With the compliance and allegiance of the Kuma of the South, their stronghold would be complete, as there was simply greater strength to be found in greater numbers.
He had desperately wished to make his point clear, that he was not attempting to take over, but that they simply needed to become one if they hoped to survive in a future where all youkai would have a common enemy. If petty squabbles continued amongst themselves, referring to the race of youkai as a whole, then surely they would all perish. He had even gone as far as quoting his brother’s mate, when he stated “Humans will continue to grow in power, developing weapons far superior to anything you can likely imagine.”
For his troubles, Osamu had laughed, teasing Lord Sesshoumaru for apparently seeking the guidance of a human seer, as the bear was not privy to the knowledge of Kagome’s true origins.
His tirade didn’t stop there, as he chortled with gleeful surprise “The great general of the dogs…is seeking…help? Against humans?”
Flaring his nostrils, Sesshoumaru would not permit such insults to continue.
“I do not require your assistance.” he assured. “You require mine.”
Glaring across at the smirking face of his guest, whom was neither friend nor foe at the moment, the Taiyoukai added “Joining my proposed Youkai Alliance will ensure the survival of your people. However, if you choose not to heed my warning, it is of no concern of mine. The Alliance does not require the presence of the South in order to stand. If you choose to remain exclusive, that is your right.”
“And you claim…” Osamu wished to clarify, “…that if I fail to join your little party, my realm will one day fall at the hands of mortals?”
“That fate is uncertain, but most likely.”
Laughing again, the brown bear couldn’t help but to put his life on the line, as he snickered “If anyone is in danger of falling to the humans, it’s you.”
Before Sesshoumaru could respond, he continued.
“It all started with your father, that old dog. Mated that human wench who popped out a mongrel heir.”
Sesshoumaru growled, but otherwise said nothing.
Grinning, and showing off his rather impressive fangs in the process, Osamu stated “You were all right, when you disowned the hanyou. Everyone still respected you. Wasn’t your fault what your ol’ man did, after all. But now…?” He shook his head and tsk’d. “I dare say like father like son. Oh sure, you mated a youkai…sort of…” he shrugged, “…but accepting that hanyou brother of yours into the pack? Claiming that human bitch as your own and protecting her hanyou offspring? Where does it end?”
Kagura had been doing her best to stay out of it, but that “sort of” remark had not gone unnoticed, by either of them.
“You dare to insult my mate?” Sesshoumaru roared, apparently finding that the greatest insult, since the simple fact of the matter was that Rin was human, and her children were hanyou.
“Well…” Osamu continued, appearing to suddenly lack any sort of self-preservation instincts whatsoever. He knew Sesshoumaru could not kill him outright without breaking the cease-fire that had been in place since his father’s time. “…Isn’t her very presence as your Lady an insult to other youkai?” he finally asked in response. “I mean, think about it. She isn’t even a true youkai, born from the flesh of that creature Naraku, a self-made hanyou born of a human who accepted hordes of lower youkai into his dying flesh.” Shifting his eyes to face Kagura directly, he asked her point blank “What are you?”
In the past, Kagura would likely have snorted, and answered proudly “I am the wind.” but something in the way Lord Osamu had made his claims so matter-of-factly really got her thinking.
What am I? she secretly wondered to herself, in echo of his words.
“You will cease this immediately!” Sesshoumaru bellowed as he rose to his feet, his guards scrambling to open the doors as he ordered the Southern Lord gone from his sight. No future offer to join The Alliance would be made. He shall be happy to see the bear meet his fate.
Rising to his feet in a timely manner, and bowing with mocking respect, Lord Osamu knew there would be no direct repercussions for his little display, as he knew the true power in the West was that human miko, who was currently shacked up in her mortal village, carrying yet another abomination in her belly. All he had to do was sit back and watch, as the West became overrun by hanyou. It was all so very amusing.
Sesshoumaru glared daggers at Osamu’s back as the kuma made his departure, his breath coming out in hot pants through flared nostrils that suggested, had Sesshoumaru possessed the ability to breathe fire, smoke would have clearly been visible. Turning angry eyes on his mate after he could no longer scent the Southern Lord in their immediate vicinity, his crimson-rimmed irises instantly lost their flare, as softer and mildly concerned orbs of brilliant gold gazed across at where Kagura still sat, stock still on her cushion.
“You will cease permitting that vermin to poison you with his words.” he said, his tone as controlled as ever.
Glancing up with moistened eyes that sparkled like rubies, Kagura nodded to her mate, before slowly rising to her feet. He spoke only the truth. she thought to herself, knowing better than to voice any form of defiance to her mate’s command out loud.
Sesshoumaru kept his expression expertly schooled, his gaze as stoic and uncaring as ever, but had he possessed the ears of his brother, they would have been resting flatly upon his head. Never before had he witnessed his mate’s fire so easily extinguished, and it troubled him to know that there had been no falsehoods in the words spoken by Lord Osamu. He was briefly reminded of the traitor Neisho who had insulted his mate in a similar fashion during the presentation dinner where he’d first presented Kagura as his intended. Unfortunately, he had no drunken Inuyasha at his disposal to assist with raising her spirits, and he was truly at a loss of how to deal with the female youkai who currently had more emotions coming off her person in waves than his mortal daughter usually possessed.
Kagura, for her part, tried desperately to prevent her tears from falling, knowing that they would only add to her mate’s discomfort, as it was quite clear Sesshoumaru had no idea how to handle her in her current state. Doing her best to “suck it up” as she’d once heard Inuyasha say in reference to dealing with his own emotions, she offered her mate a reassuring smile, before proudly stating “That fool is not worth the time. I eagerly await the day the humans of the future dispatch of his people, and I shall seek out his corpse to mock the final expression plastered upon his visage.”
Nodding at her words, sensing her desire to appear strong in his eyes, Sesshoumaru turned to exit the briefing room, and Kagura silently released the breath she’d been holding, fearful that he wouldn’t be fooled by her act. Perhaps there was more truth to Osamu’s words than even she had originally realized. She had, after all, always possessed a strong itinerary of emotions. Was that possibly a result of her physical connection, however far removed, from the human Onigumo? She was temporarily pulled from her thoughts, then, when her bond-enhanced hearing easily picked up the sudden squawks of a rather frantic Jaken, stating that there was an emergency correspondence from Inuyasha for Shippo and Rin.
~End Flashback~
Staring at herself unblinkingly in the large mirror that stood next to her wardrobe, Kagura silently questioned what made her so different from other youkai.
Surely I am as much a youkai as any other… she thought, as she gazed at her reflection questioningly.
How she had come into existence didn’t really matter, did it? She was here now. She was real. She had to be real, she was mated to Lord Sesshoumaru, and she had bore him two children. Surely, if she wasn’t real, then…
She gasped.
Oh gods…our children!
Their children were part Naraku! It was true, wasn’t it? She knew, though the spider mark had faded from her back upon her resurrection via Tenseiga, that she still carried the same scent she always had. She still smelled like a mixture of wind and Naraku. She knew she did. She knew what that bastard had smelled like. A human’s nose would have been able to pick up his stench in the close-quarters she had often been forced to share with the man. Now, thanks to her blood-bond with Sesshoumaru, she could smell his scent in her blood, herself. Their children naturally carried a mixture of their combined scents, which meant that they smelled like Sesshoumaru and herself, which meant that they also carried the scent of Naraku. The stink of Naraku. Oh sure, Inuyasha’d been polite enough ever since she joined the family, but she still remembered well the comments he used to make, back when they had been enemies.
But then she tried to calm herself down again, realizing that if somebody like Inuyasha could come to accept her as a sister of sorts, then surely that meant that she was okay, right? But Naraku’s words still echoed through her head, having been recently brought to the surface in her tumult.
“You are nothing, Kagura. You will do as I say, or I shall return you to my flesh.”
How many times had she heard those words, or words similar to them? How many times had she been told she was nothing? That she was insignificant? Perhaps that was why, in all the time she had spent battling Inuyasha under Naraku’s orders, she never once had directly insulted his mixed heritage. She knew he had surely faced similar scrutiny his whole life, and in a very small way, she had felt a kinship to the hanyou, in their nothingness. She found hope in his ability to overcome what he was, believing that maybe…she could do the same. She acknowledged his strength, and had seen him as potential salvation, were he able to defeat her master. That was why she had never revealed the secret of his time of weakness. Her master had been a hanyou, as well, but Naraku was in a class all his own. He was a self-made hanyou, going on self-made youkai, once he would have finally found a way to permanently rid himself of his lingering human heart. He experienced times of weakness, as well, but merely used those times to his advantage, continually growing stronger. Always stronger. How many incarnations such as herself had she seen come and go? Maybe Inuyasha had sensed something within her, as well, which was why she was still alive today. He had joked during his speech at the presentation dinner that he had never been able to kill her, acknowledging her own strength in battle, but she knew that he’d had at least a few opportunities over the span of their battles to do her in. He had hesitated because she had hesitated; because he and his group had realized that she was as much against Naraku as they were. If it hadn’t been for that slimy bastard holding her heart…
She reached up and placed a hand upon her chest, reassuring herself that she still possessed her heart in that moment, feeling comforted by its rather frantic pounding within her breast.
“Do not forget that I hold your heart in my hands.”
“Yes, master.”
How many times had she been made to remember she could never escape him? How many times had he clinched his slithery fist tightly around the beating muscle, squeezing her heart until her very meaningless and miserable life flashed swiftly before her eyes?
An exasperated shout from somewhere down the corridor slowly gained her attention, but for a moment, the words seemed to blend within her turbulent array of thoughts and memories.
“You will do as I say!” was shouted, and for the briefest of seconds, the voice of her mate had been replaced by the voice of her ex-master. How many times had he said those exact words to her?
“You can’t make me wear them! I won’t!” was heard in retaliation, and Kagura slowly realized that what she was actually hearing at the moment was not her memories, but her mate and teenage daughter having yet another one of their spats.
So what else is new… she thought with forced amusement, as she stepped out of the bedchamber, and out of her thoughts, as she hoped to intervene before one of the raging inu managed to do some significant damage, either to each other, or to the castle itself. Whatever happened to the obedient little toddler that would collapse at her father’s feet?
“Do not take that tone with me!” Sesshoumaru bellowed, “I am your sire, and you will do as I say.” he said a little quieter, but with as much force.
“Do not take that tone with me! I am your master, and you will do as I say!”
Kagura shook her head, once again having difficulty separating her mate’s words from those of Naraku’s. Man, she was really losing it.
Get it together, girl.
Coming around the corner, she spotted the two inu, both of whom seemed unaware of her presence at the moment, as their auras flared angrily around them. The apparent trigger for this latest argument, an innocent looking pair of hair ornaments, lay snapped in twain upon the ground near Sesshoumaru’s feet. Suishoukaze always had preferred to wear her hair down, flowing loosely around her shoulders, rather than pinned up upon her head, as what was presentable for a Lady of the Courts. Apparently, Sesshoumaru had once again attempted to correct their daughter’s hairstyle.
“This level of disobedience is not acceptable.”
“This level of disobedience is not tolerable.”
Kagura blinked, and for the briefest of moments she thought she saw the crimson glow of her mate’s piercing star surrounded by cascading locks of ebony, rather than silver.
“You can’t make me wear them.” Suishoukaze repeated, defiantly crossing her arms in a stance that resembled her uncle too much for Sesshoumaru’s liking, as he closed the distance between himself and his daughter, slowly barking out
“There is nothing This Sesshoumaru cannot do.”
“Oh yeah?” Suishoukaze replied defiantly, eyebrow raised. “Clap.”
Growling fiercely, his mouth started to take the shape of a muzzle, his daughter’s eyes widening for the briefest of moments, before he managed to get his blood under some semblance of control, as he reached forward with his single hand and clasped her throat tightly, pinning her securely to the wall behind her. It was a game of dominance, and as such, he would not fail. His bitch of a pup would learn to submit to her alpha.
Suishoukaze scrambled far beyond what was necessary, her father applying no real pressure to her throat beyond what was necessary to keep her from successfully breaking his grasp. The force would easily be enough to crush a mortal’s windpipe, but the only part of Suishoukaze that was wounded was her pride. Clawing and snarling at her father, she attempted to jump at him, and earned herself being raised from the floor as a result, as he held her steadfast against the wall, a few audible creaks sounding from where the wood protested against the strain. She kicked her feet wildly, repeatedly making contact against her father’s legs, but he completely ignored what were actually fairly strong blows, as he ever so slowly dug his currently poison-free claws into her neck.
Kagura stared on in horror, the corridor before her eyes replaced by the filth of a dungeon. She saw herself, held by a slimy tentacle wrapped dangerously tight around her own throat. Her mate’s words became her captor’s.
“You will submit.”
“You will obey.”
“Your disobedience will not go unpunished.”
“Your disloyalty will not go unpunished.”
“It was foolish defy me.”
“You were a fool to betray me.”
“You will not challenge my authority again.”
She was standing in the snow-covered field, Kanna’s fallen body to her right. Naraku gripped her heart firmly in his hand, the pain nearly sending her to her knees.
“You will not be given the opportunity to betray me again.”
Searing pain burned through her chest, as she looked down, and stared with morbid fascination at her own blood, before swiftly falling forward into the snow.
The scent of their daughter’s blood reached her inu-enhanced nostrils, and she panicked.
“Don’t kill her!” she shouted madly, rushing forward to save her daughter from her attacker.
“Kill…her…?” “Kill…me…?”
Both inu froze in their power struggle, each of their noses easily able to pick up the genuine terror flowing off of Kagura in waves, as the wind youkai pulled madly at Sesshoumaru’s sleeve.
Neither moved, and after a moment, the wind youkai seemed to remember herself, as she stepped away, gasping in horror at her own actions.
“I…”
Turning, she ran, while throwing up the small feather that hadn’t left her hair in some time, as her means of transport transformed in the narrow corridor, its rider quickly escaping through the nearest window.
A whimper brought Sesshoumaru’s attention back to the matter quite literally at hand, as he still clinched the throat of his daughter, a few dainty trickles of blood staining the collar of her yukata where his still non-deadly claws rested just below the surface of her skin. Tilting her neck as best she could, under the circumstances, Suishoukaze finally submitted to her sire, recognizing that he needed to chase after her mother, but knowing that his pride would not permit him to leave her without her submission firmly in place. Another strained whimper escaped her lips, translating in the inu tongue as an apology and plea for forgiveness, earning her the harsh release of her throat, as she felt her feet drop to the floor.
“You will go to your room, and remain there, until I return. This is not finished.”
“Yes, father.”
Turning swiftly, Sesshoumaru leapt through the same window his mate had escaped through, instantly flaring his youki cloud around his feet, following her scent through the air. Fortunately, in her hysteria, Kagura hadn’t thought to alter the winds, and he was easily able to track her scent through the forest not far beyond the castle’s boarder.
Coming upon a small stream, he found her, sitting upon a large rock, almost as though she had been expecting his arrival. In all reality, she probably had been.
“Please forgive my earlier behavior.” she spoke without provocation, “I was momentarily not in my right mind. It will not happen again.”
“This Sesshoumaru would know why such a thing occurred in the first place.”
Sighing, Kagura managed to successfully stifle her tears, not that it truly mattered since her mate could easily smell her distress.
“I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to ignore Lord Osamu’s words.” she confessed quietly.
“Kagura…”
“Don’t say it.” she interrupted, breaking protocol by speaking to her mate in a manner that suggested she was issuing a command. “Just…don’t.” A single tear slipped down her cheek, staining her pale flesh.
Ignoring both it, and her words, Sesshoumaru approached his mate, and proceeded to say “This is foolish.”
Mentally wincing when he saw his mate visibly do so, he realized that she may very well still be remembering her past with Naraku, and that his commanding nature and way of speaking wasn’t helping matters any at the moment. He had thought that merely telling her to ignore that fool’s words was enough, but that judgment had obviously been in error. In all reality, it was actually a wonder she had so successfully put her past behind her in the first place, prior to Osamu’s reminder, considering how such a short time ago everything had actually occurred, from a youkai’s perspective. Inuyasha’s tortured childhood had happened over a century ago, and he could easily sense within his brother that some of his deeper wounds still remained, though the miko was healing them all, with time. Attempting then to take a moment to think about what he should say, then, Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth in preparation for the one of the longest strings of sentences he will have ever uttered to date.
“You are my mate, and as such, are due the honor and respect such a position bestows. Lord Osamu is a fool, and he has sealed his own fate. There is nothing ‘questionable’ regarding your origins-”
“I’m a spawn of Naraku!” she interrupted hotly. “And so are our children!”
Growling fiercely, his eyes flashed red for the briefest of moments, before a sudden spike of fear in his mate’s scent instantly had his eyes bleeding golden once more.
“Do not fear me.” he spoke quickly, softly, closing the remaining distance between them, as he placed his single hand gently upon her shoulder. Nothing was worse than feeling one’s own mate fear them.
“I am nothing like Naraku, and your believed disobedience to alpha protocol will not result in the sort of ‘punishment’ that I am sure you were forced to endure in the past.” he elaborated, earning himself a small gasp at her realization that he was very much aware of the physical tortures that had once been inflicted upon her person.
Kagura met her mate’s eyes, then, easily seeing the genuine concern he permitted to shine there. It also had not gone unnoticed that he had dropped his “This Sesshoumaru” routine in favor of referring to himself in the first-person; also a sign that he was lowering his shields for her. She knew very well that he possessed his share of emotions, but very rarely did he ever reveal them to such an extent.
“Have you not heard Kagome frequently state how all things in life have a purpose? Follow a path?” he asked her gently.
Nodding slowly in answer to his question, though her confusion was clear, Kagura silently waited for him to elaborate, which he did.
“It is clear to me, then, that Naraku indeed had a purpose. He provided both my brother and myself with our mates.”
At her gasp, Sesshoumaru actually smirked.
“Had he not killed Kikyou…there would have been no Kagome…” Kagura realized aloud, grasping what her mate had meant by including Inuyasha in the equation.
“Precisely.” he answered, adding “And had my brother’s mate not accidentally shattered the jewel, allowing portions of it to fall into Naraku’s possession, then he never would have become powerful enough to give you form.”
Chuckling darkly, she said “You say that as though I had already existed, merely without a body.”
“Do you not always claim to be the wind?” he asked her in turn, earning her attention once more. “No one can ‘create’ a soul, Kagura, and your spirit is very much your own. If you were not ‘real’ then Tenseiga would not have revived you. It is true that he made your body from his flesh, but if I can forgive Inuyasha’s parentage, why should yours be any different?”
“He wasn’t my father-” she started, but a single finger against her lips silenced her.
“That is precisely how you will think of his existence from now on.” he said softly, not wishing for the comment to seem too much like an order, at least right now.
“And with as vile as he was, you are truly undisturbed to have mated she who was born of his flesh? To have sired Naraku’s grandchildren? By your logic, your own pups are descendent from a hanyou.”
He actually shrugged. “I have since rethought my position on the existence of hanyou.” was his reply, and Kagura actually felt like slapping herself.
She’d seen the way he’d raised their children to bear no hatred of that type. She’d seen the way he’d treated Rin’s own hanyou children, and how their children treated Rin’s children, as equals. He had indeed overcome his previous prejudice towards those of human descent. The way he no longer referred to Inuyasha as his half-brother was testament enough to that.
Still…
“Naraku was not simply hanyou. He was a vile abomination, you used to say so yourself.” Kagura spoke softly, “I know I smell like him; a constant reminder. How can you even bear to touch me?” she asked, as more tears slipped passed the barrier of her lashes.
Stepping back a couple of feet, he slowly drew Toukijin for her inspection.
“The same way I can bear to touch my sword, also born of Naraku’s flesh.”
She gasped again, and he smirked.
“Surely you were aware of how I had Toukijin forged from Goshinki’s fang.” he commented offhandedly, while wondering to himself if Kagura had in fact ever been made aware of that small tidbit of information. “At the time, I had desired a blade proven strong enough to stand up against the Tetsusaiga, and as the oni Goshinki had successfully broken Inuyasha’s blade with his jaw, I felt such a strong fang could not be passed up. It mattered not that the oni was an offshoot of Naraku.”
“So…” Kagura finally started to realize, as she gazed lovingly at her mate, who gently sheathed his sword. “…It really doesn’t matter to you? You truly lo…accept me…?” she faltered, cursing under her breath.
She expected her mate to say something comforting, yet belittling to her question, like “I would not have mated you otherwise.” or something to that effect, spoken with an air of authority.
She was wrong.
Her fumble did not go unnoticed, and mentally sighing, Sesshoumaru begrudgingly relented that he likely needed to say something very specific. Something that to this day, he had never uttered aloud, even once, to anyone, his entire life.
“Yes, Kagura…” he started, “I love you.”
Instantly closing the short distance between them, Kagura engulfed her mate in a passionate embrace. Eagerly complying with his mate’s rapidly growing desires, Sesshoumaru’s lips crashed down upon hers with such ferocity, that a mortal woman would have experienced pain. Clothing was swiftly removed, while Sesshoumaru flared his aura to a point where he assured himself that no one would disturb them. One of his last lingering thoughts, before higher brain function gave way to the simplicity of carnal pleasures, was that his brother had apparently been correct, in his assertion that all females desired to hear such a trivial expression uttered aloud. Perhaps he would repeat it on occasion.
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A/N:
No, Kagura does not get “pupped” from this encounter, as she is not currently in heat. Also, Kagome has not somehow had yet another child, the reference to her being with-pup in this chapter merely a continuation of her pregnancy first mentioned in the previous chapter, as this one takes place in the same time period.
However, the next chapter will feature another time-jump, so be prepared.
Translations…
Though I’m sure I made it obvious enough, “kuma” means “bear.”
“Osamu” means “discipline” and I pretty much just picked it as a random name I found appropriate enough for the Kuma no Taisho.
Now, Hinata, on the other hand… “Hinata” means either “facing the sun” or “sunflower” and according to behindthename.com is actually a unisex name that can be used for either males or females.
Her name was not chosen randomly. Keep that in mind…you’ll see why later.
Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi, or VIZ Productions.
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Chapter 92 - What Lies Beneath
It was going to be a long and tedious trip into the fire-mountains, but after receiving the warning he’d just got from his father, no way in all the ten hells was Shippo going to risk allowing what had happened to Kazuki to happen to his own sons. It had never even crossed his mind, and honestly, Shippo felt almost as guilty as he was sure Inuyasha was feeling. At first Rin had protested, from a subconscious desire to hold onto her sons’ innocence, claiming that their boys were still too young to be receiving such weapons. In response, Shippo had politely pointed out how they’d each started training with blades themselves at around their age, not to mention the fact that their children’s own claws were sharp enough to cut through solid steel. Besides that, his sisters were only eleven, the same age as their sons, and they also each now sported identical daggers at their hips, Kagome having supported her mate’s decision 100% after Inuyasha had learned the hard way to not take any further risks when it came to protecting his children. Rin had still put forth a token argument over why his fangs needed to be made into weapons, wondering why a simple talisman wouldn’t suffice, but Shippo had merely patted the blade he wore on his own hip, and she’d rolled her eyes, muttering something about men and their swords. Chuckling, Shippo had gone on to explain that though it was true the blades had become such top priority over the realization of needing to seal their children’s youkai blood, that he was also concerned for his boys’ safety in the future, should they remain unarmed. While the West was safe, for the time being, he simply felt it would be unwise to assume that that would always be the case. It was his responsibility as their father to provide his boys with a means of defense, should trouble ever arise.
Rin had finally conceded, remembering well her own desire to learn how to fight at merely age twelve, but she’d at least gotten her mate to agree that their youngest, Hinata, was still too young for them to need to worry over sealing her blood just yet. The young hanyou girl in question, currently sniffling over Daddy’s departure, being merely the tender age of four. Kneeling before his daughter, Shippo promised that he’d return as quickly as possible, and also promised the young vixen that he’d bring her back a present, seeing as she knew that the trip he was taking was to forge enchanted swords for her older brothers. Feeling in his carrying pouch, Shippo nodded to himself that he had enough coins to get her a doll in one of the local villages. He could perform a very convincing human guise those days, so purchasing a doll for his daughter in a human market wouldn’t be a problem at all. Ruffling her hair, careful of her tan ears, he kissed Hinata on the cheek, before rising to his feet and kissing his mate on the lips.
Merely two days after receiving the letter from Inuyasha, Rin found herself bidding her mate farewell. She then promptly started worrying over how she was going to handle three kitsune-hanyou on her own for a few days. Fortunately, for her, salvation came in the form of a smiling wind-youkai. Kagura was more than happy to assist with her “grandchildren”, as the human girl obviously had her hands full for the time being.
Of course, it wasn’t exactly as though Kagura was out of the woods herself, in that department. Of their two children, Daichi was only one year older than Rin’s boys, while his sister, Suishoukaze, was currently at the wonderful age of fifteen. The demi-inu was prone to what Rin playfully referred to as “teenage-tantrums”, which gave everyone a run for their money. Sesshoumaru’s eldest born had started lashing out in recent years, failing to understand why her younger brother was higher than she was in rank, when it came to their positions in the pack regarding who was father’s first heir. Even Rin had tried to explain to her sister what she had quickly come to understand regarding her adoptive family, that Inu were simply a male-dominated bunch, which meant that it was only natural that the first born son would become the first choice for heir in his father’s place. Rin had even gone as far as to point out her own personal lacking in heir status whatsoever, possessing no rights of claim over the Western Lands, despite her publicly announced status as “eldest child” to Lord Sesshoumaru. Rin continued to explain how the exclusion hadn’t bothered her, because she knew it was not her place to be considered an heir to their father. She had always been an intelligent child, and therefore was in no way stupid enough to believe that a human could be permitted to rule a youkai’s realm. Of course, it was also for that reason that Rin’s argument fell on deaf ears, despite Suishoukaze’s exceptional hearing. She’d brushed Rin’s comparison aside, reiterating how she was merely “human” and also not their father’s true first child.
“You may hold the honor of being considered his first child, and my elder sister, but you are not Father’s first born, I am.” were her words.
Rin hadn’t known what to say to that, remembering the days when she used to play with the girl whom she still thought of as her little sister. She knew it wasn’t really about race, as Suishoukaze had never expressed any prejudice toward Rin’s human status, not to mention how the demi-inu appeared to absolutely adore her hanyou “nephews.” No, Rin knew it was about honor and status, and nothing else. She could have been a full-blooded inu-youkai not of Sesshoumaru’s blood, and Sui’s reaction would have been the same.
Recalling how the teen had gone on and on, on a tirade that basically translated as nothing more than “Me. Me. Me. What about ME?” Rin suddenly couldn’t suppress a small chuckle. She recalled well how she used to act at that age, despite her best efforts to not fall under the stereotype of a hormonal adolescent. It had helped that she was newly mated to a man who could handle her outbursts from having long ago accustomed himself to how a once teenage Kagome used to act, but still... Shaking her head, Rin amused herself with the realization that Sui’s behavior just went to prove how youkai and humans truly weren’t all that different from one another, after all. Teenage girls from both races could be little bitches when they wanted to be.
Muttering something under her breath about “baka teenagers” as Rin playfully reminded herself of the horrors that were soon to come as her own children continued to grow, she nearly missed the brief look of pain that seemed to flash itself in her adoptive mother’s ruby gaze.
“Okaa-san?” she asked quietly, catching Kagura’s startled attention. That did not go unnoticed either. “Is something the matter?”
Smiling gently at the young woman before her, Kagura assured her adoptive step-daughter that everything was fine, and that she had merely been distracted in her own thoughts. Rin nodded her understanding, as though buying the wind-youkai’s explanation, but after continuing to study her mother further for a few moments, Rin softly added “You know you can always talk to me, if something’s bothering you.” She knew something had been troubling her mother ever since their meeting with the South two days prior.
“Thank you, but I am fine.” was Kagura’s answer, as she gently bowed her departure and headed for her room, leaving Rin to wonder what on Earth had happened in that meeting.
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When Kagura had first realized that poor Rin was about to be overloaded with kitsune while her mate traveled to Totosai’s cave, she had jumped at the opportunity for distraction. She truly adored her “grand-kits” as Shippo playfully referred to his offspring in her presence, having completely forgiven her of her past discretion as an enemy to his pack. Everyone in the family had forgiven her. Sometimes it truly boggled her mind, wondering why more people didn’t hold her past actions against her.
Desperately trying not to think about her past, the wind-youkai fully submerged herself in play with Rin’s children. The youngest one, Hinata, had pacified her own desire for more pups, as she and Sesshoumaru both agreed that all things considered, they should wait a while before having any more of their own. Just because Inuyasha appeared determined to personally populate what they had come to understand would one day become known as the large city of Tokyo, didn’t mean that they needed to follow his example. For youkai, waiting “a while” between children could easily mean a couple of centuries, and no one would even blink. It was actually unusual to have children as close together as they did with their two, and the reason why was making itself apparent with Suishoukaze’s recent attitude problems. Because youkai were so long-lived, it actually took quite a while to outgrow the “adolescent” stage of life, at least mentally. Groaning, Kagura knew it was only the beginning.
But she loved her daughter, despite her occasional temper tantrums, and somehow, something in the way Rin had muttered “baka teenagers“ struck a nerve that she knew it really shouldn’t have. She knew the human woman hadn’t meant anything by the comment, but still, it had felt like a personal blow, somehow. She was, after all, merely the physical age of eighteen, herself. That is to say, she was “created” eighteen years ago, though she was “born” fully adult. She still recalled the time Naraku had had her capture a then nine year old Rin to use as leverage over Sesshoumaru. She shuddered at the memory. Had Rin truly forgotten? Had she truly forgotten what her “mother” was? Who she was? The way she was looking at her in that moment, with such genuine concern, such genuine love, made Kagura feel sick to her stomach. How could she confide in a “daughter” that was nine years older than she was?
Excusing herself, Kagura retreated to the sanctity of her and Sesshoumaru’s private chambers, knowing that he was busy for hours to come with mountains of paperwork in his study.
Why was this bothering her now?
Why now?
It was all that Lord Osamu’s fault…
She just wouldn’t think of it. She would push the thoughts aside. Pretend she had never heard his words, and stop letting them poison her, just as she had been ordered to do. Yeah right…
~Flashback~
Kagome’s words of warning still rang in her ears.
“Youkai don’t appear to still exist in my time. I know it seems unlikely that they all disappeared, but in my time, most humans have forgotten that youkai ever existed, believing them nothing but myths.”
Both she and her mate had found the miko’s news of the future…unsettling.
“If any youkai are still around, they have to be in hiding, disguising themselves as humans.”
Sesshoumaru had actually snorted at that, quite an uncharacteristic display. But the young miko had gone on unfazed, knowing that the briefing he’d called had been specifically for that purpose, to gain the knowledge that she possessed regarding things to come. She had warned that they couldn’t risk “interfering” with the flow of time, but had then proceeded to give a brief “history lesson” regarding the development of humankind.
“Humans will continue to grow in power, developing weapons far superior to anything you can likely imagine. I don’t doubt that the lower beasts will simply become hunted to extinction while men still believe in, and fear them.”
Kagome had seemed absolutely positive in her assumption that lower youkai, at the very least, were long dead by her century. She had gone on to state her unwavering conviction that she and Inuyasha fully intended to make it safely back to her time, and her long-lost family, by whatever means necessary. She had also given her word, submitting to Sesshoumaru’s status as prime alpha over their conjoined packs, that she would do everything within her power to make sure that they, and the Western Lands themselves, were fully prepared for all things to come.
Kagura knew that it had disturbed her mate to no end, to even conceive of a time when he would be forced to play human in order to merely survive in the world, but if that was what it was going to take, then she was sure that he would choose any necessary course of action over witnessing the downfall of his kingdom.
Hence the purpose for today’s meeting.
It had been easy to gain a treaty with the North, as Lord Kouga and Lady Ayame had actually approached them with the proposition over a decade ago. With their strong personal histories, it had been in everyone’s best interest to become allies, rather than enemies, as Inuyasha had paraphrased from a quote used long ago.
It was also relatively easy to repair the forfeited cease-fire that had previously been in standing between the West and the East, as Lady Tsukie had shared none of her deceased mate’s desires for glory or conquest. Her people were weak and vulnerable after so many were lost in the failed attempt at seizure, so the tigress readily complied when the West offered their support and protection, in exchange for unwavering allegiance.
Now, it was time to meet with the South.
Lord Osamu was a special case. Run mainly by bear-youkai, the South had always more or less kept to themselves. There was a cease-fire in effect between their peoples, but nothing beyond that had ever been negotiated. The Kuma were an arrogant bunch, and in many ways, believed themselves superior to Inu, though they fortunately held no desire for conquest. They weren’t foolish enough to even contemplate launching a physical assault after what had become of the East, although that didn’t stop them from openly expressing their less than flattering opinions. Still, Lord Sesshoumaru was never overly concerned regarding the subtle insults littering Osamu’s correspondence, as he knew the brown bear’s self-preservation instinct would be enough to ensure that the South never actually orchestrated an attack. Unlike Lord Daikomaru, with the South, it really was all words.
Now, it was the Western Taiyoukai’s hope that some form of an agreement beyond the centuries-old cease-fire could be forged between their peoples. He wasn’t running a campaign to personally take over all of Japan, and he knew that Osamu was aware that underhanded methods of domination were simply not his style. It may appear suspicious to an outside observer, how the West had already gained treaty with the other two compass lands, but those realms had either requested, or required his assistance. The South had outwardly scoffed at the news, jokingly boasting their belief that the other three lands feared their strength so much, that they believed three-against-one made them roughly evenly matched.
It was that belief that kept the Kuma’s spirits relatively good when he suddenly received summons to meet with the Western ruler in his domain. Just on the off chance that Sesshoumaru truly did think that he could somehow subtly take over his lands, Osamu merely chuckled to himself that the dog had another think coming. Osamu believed that Sesshoumaru had weakened greatly in his strength as a Taiyoukai over the centuries, both physically as well as mentally, if that missing arm was any indication, not to mention the fact that everyone knew it was that miko who had actually defeated the Tora no Taisho. The miko, he would not underestimate, but Osamu had heard enough rumors over the years to know that his people would be safe from assault so long as he didn’t physically breach the cease-fire first. Everyone knew that the miko mated to the late Inu no Taisho’s hanyou brat possessed a “compassionate” heart, and she would not agree to being the aggressor in a battle against those who had not made the first move of attack.
Armed with that knowledge, it was a cocky Lord Osamu who sought to call the Western Taiyoukai out on his hidden agenda.
“So, it has finally come down to this, eh, Lord Sesshoumaru?” he spoke almost too casually, not bothering to hide his all-knowing smirk.
“Do not presume to understand the intentions of This Sesshoumaru.” was his response, as the current Inu no Taisho then proceeded to explain his position, stating that it had been foreseen that the fate of all youkai was reaching a point of uncertainty, where their survival amongst the growing number and strength of humans was not guaranteed, and how it was in everyone’s best interest to join forces.
What Sesshoumaru was attempting, was to create one unified ruling force of youkai, under the command of a council which would consist of all the preexisting Lords and Taiyoukai of Japan, including himself and his brother, as well as the Ookami of the North and the Tora of the East. With the compliance and allegiance of the Kuma of the South, their stronghold would be complete, as there was simply greater strength to be found in greater numbers.
He had desperately wished to make his point clear, that he was not attempting to take over, but that they simply needed to become one if they hoped to survive in a future where all youkai would have a common enemy. If petty squabbles continued amongst themselves, referring to the race of youkai as a whole, then surely they would all perish. He had even gone as far as quoting his brother’s mate, when he stated “Humans will continue to grow in power, developing weapons far superior to anything you can likely imagine.”
For his troubles, Osamu had laughed, teasing Lord Sesshoumaru for apparently seeking the guidance of a human seer, as the bear was not privy to the knowledge of Kagome’s true origins.
His tirade didn’t stop there, as he chortled with gleeful surprise “The great general of the dogs…is seeking…help? Against humans?”
Flaring his nostrils, Sesshoumaru would not permit such insults to continue.
“I do not require your assistance.” he assured. “You require mine.”
Glaring across at the smirking face of his guest, whom was neither friend nor foe at the moment, the Taiyoukai added “Joining my proposed Youkai Alliance will ensure the survival of your people. However, if you choose not to heed my warning, it is of no concern of mine. The Alliance does not require the presence of the South in order to stand. If you choose to remain exclusive, that is your right.”
“And you claim…” Osamu wished to clarify, “…that if I fail to join your little party, my realm will one day fall at the hands of mortals?”
“That fate is uncertain, but most likely.”
Laughing again, the brown bear couldn’t help but to put his life on the line, as he snickered “If anyone is in danger of falling to the humans, it’s you.”
Before Sesshoumaru could respond, he continued.
“It all started with your father, that old dog. Mated that human wench who popped out a mongrel heir.”
Sesshoumaru growled, but otherwise said nothing.
Grinning, and showing off his rather impressive fangs in the process, Osamu stated “You were all right, when you disowned the hanyou. Everyone still respected you. Wasn’t your fault what your ol’ man did, after all. But now…?” He shook his head and tsk’d. “I dare say like father like son. Oh sure, you mated a youkai…sort of…” he shrugged, “…but accepting that hanyou brother of yours into the pack? Claiming that human bitch as your own and protecting her hanyou offspring? Where does it end?”
Kagura had been doing her best to stay out of it, but that “sort of” remark had not gone unnoticed, by either of them.
“You dare to insult my mate?” Sesshoumaru roared, apparently finding that the greatest insult, since the simple fact of the matter was that Rin was human, and her children were hanyou.
“Well…” Osamu continued, appearing to suddenly lack any sort of self-preservation instincts whatsoever. He knew Sesshoumaru could not kill him outright without breaking the cease-fire that had been in place since his father’s time. “…Isn’t her very presence as your Lady an insult to other youkai?” he finally asked in response. “I mean, think about it. She isn’t even a true youkai, born from the flesh of that creature Naraku, a self-made hanyou born of a human who accepted hordes of lower youkai into his dying flesh.” Shifting his eyes to face Kagura directly, he asked her point blank “What are you?”
In the past, Kagura would likely have snorted, and answered proudly “I am the wind.” but something in the way Lord Osamu had made his claims so matter-of-factly really got her thinking.
What am I? she secretly wondered to herself, in echo of his words.
“You will cease this immediately!” Sesshoumaru bellowed as he rose to his feet, his guards scrambling to open the doors as he ordered the Southern Lord gone from his sight. No future offer to join The Alliance would be made. He shall be happy to see the bear meet his fate.
Rising to his feet in a timely manner, and bowing with mocking respect, Lord Osamu knew there would be no direct repercussions for his little display, as he knew the true power in the West was that human miko, who was currently shacked up in her mortal village, carrying yet another abomination in her belly. All he had to do was sit back and watch, as the West became overrun by hanyou. It was all so very amusing.
Sesshoumaru glared daggers at Osamu’s back as the kuma made his departure, his breath coming out in hot pants through flared nostrils that suggested, had Sesshoumaru possessed the ability to breathe fire, smoke would have clearly been visible. Turning angry eyes on his mate after he could no longer scent the Southern Lord in their immediate vicinity, his crimson-rimmed irises instantly lost their flare, as softer and mildly concerned orbs of brilliant gold gazed across at where Kagura still sat, stock still on her cushion.
“You will cease permitting that vermin to poison you with his words.” he said, his tone as controlled as ever.
Glancing up with moistened eyes that sparkled like rubies, Kagura nodded to her mate, before slowly rising to her feet. He spoke only the truth. she thought to herself, knowing better than to voice any form of defiance to her mate’s command out loud.
Sesshoumaru kept his expression expertly schooled, his gaze as stoic and uncaring as ever, but had he possessed the ears of his brother, they would have been resting flatly upon his head. Never before had he witnessed his mate’s fire so easily extinguished, and it troubled him to know that there had been no falsehoods in the words spoken by Lord Osamu. He was briefly reminded of the traitor Neisho who had insulted his mate in a similar fashion during the presentation dinner where he’d first presented Kagura as his intended. Unfortunately, he had no drunken Inuyasha at his disposal to assist with raising her spirits, and he was truly at a loss of how to deal with the female youkai who currently had more emotions coming off her person in waves than his mortal daughter usually possessed.
Kagura, for her part, tried desperately to prevent her tears from falling, knowing that they would only add to her mate’s discomfort, as it was quite clear Sesshoumaru had no idea how to handle her in her current state. Doing her best to “suck it up” as she’d once heard Inuyasha say in reference to dealing with his own emotions, she offered her mate a reassuring smile, before proudly stating “That fool is not worth the time. I eagerly await the day the humans of the future dispatch of his people, and I shall seek out his corpse to mock the final expression plastered upon his visage.”
Nodding at her words, sensing her desire to appear strong in his eyes, Sesshoumaru turned to exit the briefing room, and Kagura silently released the breath she’d been holding, fearful that he wouldn’t be fooled by her act. Perhaps there was more truth to Osamu’s words than even she had originally realized. She had, after all, always possessed a strong itinerary of emotions. Was that possibly a result of her physical connection, however far removed, from the human Onigumo? She was temporarily pulled from her thoughts, then, when her bond-enhanced hearing easily picked up the sudden squawks of a rather frantic Jaken, stating that there was an emergency correspondence from Inuyasha for Shippo and Rin.
~End Flashback~
Staring at herself unblinkingly in the large mirror that stood next to her wardrobe, Kagura silently questioned what made her so different from other youkai.
Surely I am as much a youkai as any other… she thought, as she gazed at her reflection questioningly.
How she had come into existence didn’t really matter, did it? She was here now. She was real. She had to be real, she was mated to Lord Sesshoumaru, and she had bore him two children. Surely, if she wasn’t real, then…
She gasped.
Oh gods…our children!
Their children were part Naraku! It was true, wasn’t it? She knew, though the spider mark had faded from her back upon her resurrection via Tenseiga, that she still carried the same scent she always had. She still smelled like a mixture of wind and Naraku. She knew she did. She knew what that bastard had smelled like. A human’s nose would have been able to pick up his stench in the close-quarters she had often been forced to share with the man. Now, thanks to her blood-bond with Sesshoumaru, she could smell his scent in her blood, herself. Their children naturally carried a mixture of their combined scents, which meant that they smelled like Sesshoumaru and herself, which meant that they also carried the scent of Naraku. The stink of Naraku. Oh sure, Inuyasha’d been polite enough ever since she joined the family, but she still remembered well the comments he used to make, back when they had been enemies.
But then she tried to calm herself down again, realizing that if somebody like Inuyasha could come to accept her as a sister of sorts, then surely that meant that she was okay, right? But Naraku’s words still echoed through her head, having been recently brought to the surface in her tumult.
“You are nothing, Kagura. You will do as I say, or I shall return you to my flesh.”
How many times had she heard those words, or words similar to them? How many times had she been told she was nothing? That she was insignificant? Perhaps that was why, in all the time she had spent battling Inuyasha under Naraku’s orders, she never once had directly insulted his mixed heritage. She knew he had surely faced similar scrutiny his whole life, and in a very small way, she had felt a kinship to the hanyou, in their nothingness. She found hope in his ability to overcome what he was, believing that maybe…she could do the same. She acknowledged his strength, and had seen him as potential salvation, were he able to defeat her master. That was why she had never revealed the secret of his time of weakness. Her master had been a hanyou, as well, but Naraku was in a class all his own. He was a self-made hanyou, going on self-made youkai, once he would have finally found a way to permanently rid himself of his lingering human heart. He experienced times of weakness, as well, but merely used those times to his advantage, continually growing stronger. Always stronger. How many incarnations such as herself had she seen come and go? Maybe Inuyasha had sensed something within her, as well, which was why she was still alive today. He had joked during his speech at the presentation dinner that he had never been able to kill her, acknowledging her own strength in battle, but she knew that he’d had at least a few opportunities over the span of their battles to do her in. He had hesitated because she had hesitated; because he and his group had realized that she was as much against Naraku as they were. If it hadn’t been for that slimy bastard holding her heart…
She reached up and placed a hand upon her chest, reassuring herself that she still possessed her heart in that moment, feeling comforted by its rather frantic pounding within her breast.
“Do not forget that I hold your heart in my hands.”
“Yes, master.”
How many times had she been made to remember she could never escape him? How many times had he clinched his slithery fist tightly around the beating muscle, squeezing her heart until her very meaningless and miserable life flashed swiftly before her eyes?
An exasperated shout from somewhere down the corridor slowly gained her attention, but for a moment, the words seemed to blend within her turbulent array of thoughts and memories.
“You will do as I say!” was shouted, and for the briefest of seconds, the voice of her mate had been replaced by the voice of her ex-master. How many times had he said those exact words to her?
“You can’t make me wear them! I won’t!” was heard in retaliation, and Kagura slowly realized that what she was actually hearing at the moment was not her memories, but her mate and teenage daughter having yet another one of their spats.
So what else is new… she thought with forced amusement, as she stepped out of the bedchamber, and out of her thoughts, as she hoped to intervene before one of the raging inu managed to do some significant damage, either to each other, or to the castle itself. Whatever happened to the obedient little toddler that would collapse at her father’s feet?
“Do not take that tone with me!” Sesshoumaru bellowed, “I am your sire, and you will do as I say.” he said a little quieter, but with as much force.
“Do not take that tone with me! I am your master, and you will do as I say!”
Kagura shook her head, once again having difficulty separating her mate’s words from those of Naraku’s. Man, she was really losing it.
Get it together, girl.
Coming around the corner, she spotted the two inu, both of whom seemed unaware of her presence at the moment, as their auras flared angrily around them. The apparent trigger for this latest argument, an innocent looking pair of hair ornaments, lay snapped in twain upon the ground near Sesshoumaru’s feet. Suishoukaze always had preferred to wear her hair down, flowing loosely around her shoulders, rather than pinned up upon her head, as what was presentable for a Lady of the Courts. Apparently, Sesshoumaru had once again attempted to correct their daughter’s hairstyle.
“This level of disobedience is not acceptable.”
“This level of disobedience is not tolerable.”
Kagura blinked, and for the briefest of moments she thought she saw the crimson glow of her mate’s piercing star surrounded by cascading locks of ebony, rather than silver.
“You can’t make me wear them.” Suishoukaze repeated, defiantly crossing her arms in a stance that resembled her uncle too much for Sesshoumaru’s liking, as he closed the distance between himself and his daughter, slowly barking out
“There is nothing This Sesshoumaru cannot do.”
“Oh yeah?” Suishoukaze replied defiantly, eyebrow raised. “Clap.”
Growling fiercely, his mouth started to take the shape of a muzzle, his daughter’s eyes widening for the briefest of moments, before he managed to get his blood under some semblance of control, as he reached forward with his single hand and clasped her throat tightly, pinning her securely to the wall behind her. It was a game of dominance, and as such, he would not fail. His bitch of a pup would learn to submit to her alpha.
Suishoukaze scrambled far beyond what was necessary, her father applying no real pressure to her throat beyond what was necessary to keep her from successfully breaking his grasp. The force would easily be enough to crush a mortal’s windpipe, but the only part of Suishoukaze that was wounded was her pride. Clawing and snarling at her father, she attempted to jump at him, and earned herself being raised from the floor as a result, as he held her steadfast against the wall, a few audible creaks sounding from where the wood protested against the strain. She kicked her feet wildly, repeatedly making contact against her father’s legs, but he completely ignored what were actually fairly strong blows, as he ever so slowly dug his currently poison-free claws into her neck.
Kagura stared on in horror, the corridor before her eyes replaced by the filth of a dungeon. She saw herself, held by a slimy tentacle wrapped dangerously tight around her own throat. Her mate’s words became her captor’s.
“You will submit.”
“You will obey.”
“Your disobedience will not go unpunished.”
“Your disloyalty will not go unpunished.”
“It was foolish defy me.”
“You were a fool to betray me.”
“You will not challenge my authority again.”
She was standing in the snow-covered field, Kanna’s fallen body to her right. Naraku gripped her heart firmly in his hand, the pain nearly sending her to her knees.
“You will not be given the opportunity to betray me again.”
Searing pain burned through her chest, as she looked down, and stared with morbid fascination at her own blood, before swiftly falling forward into the snow.
The scent of their daughter’s blood reached her inu-enhanced nostrils, and she panicked.
“Don’t kill her!” she shouted madly, rushing forward to save her daughter from her attacker.
“Kill…her…?” “Kill…me…?”
Both inu froze in their power struggle, each of their noses easily able to pick up the genuine terror flowing off of Kagura in waves, as the wind youkai pulled madly at Sesshoumaru’s sleeve.
Neither moved, and after a moment, the wind youkai seemed to remember herself, as she stepped away, gasping in horror at her own actions.
“I…”
Turning, she ran, while throwing up the small feather that hadn’t left her hair in some time, as her means of transport transformed in the narrow corridor, its rider quickly escaping through the nearest window.
A whimper brought Sesshoumaru’s attention back to the matter quite literally at hand, as he still clinched the throat of his daughter, a few dainty trickles of blood staining the collar of her yukata where his still non-deadly claws rested just below the surface of her skin. Tilting her neck as best she could, under the circumstances, Suishoukaze finally submitted to her sire, recognizing that he needed to chase after her mother, but knowing that his pride would not permit him to leave her without her submission firmly in place. Another strained whimper escaped her lips, translating in the inu tongue as an apology and plea for forgiveness, earning her the harsh release of her throat, as she felt her feet drop to the floor.
“You will go to your room, and remain there, until I return. This is not finished.”
“Yes, father.”
Turning swiftly, Sesshoumaru leapt through the same window his mate had escaped through, instantly flaring his youki cloud around his feet, following her scent through the air. Fortunately, in her hysteria, Kagura hadn’t thought to alter the winds, and he was easily able to track her scent through the forest not far beyond the castle’s boarder.
Coming upon a small stream, he found her, sitting upon a large rock, almost as though she had been expecting his arrival. In all reality, she probably had been.
“Please forgive my earlier behavior.” she spoke without provocation, “I was momentarily not in my right mind. It will not happen again.”
“This Sesshoumaru would know why such a thing occurred in the first place.”
Sighing, Kagura managed to successfully stifle her tears, not that it truly mattered since her mate could easily smell her distress.
“I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to ignore Lord Osamu’s words.” she confessed quietly.
“Kagura…”
“Don’t say it.” she interrupted, breaking protocol by speaking to her mate in a manner that suggested she was issuing a command. “Just…don’t.” A single tear slipped down her cheek, staining her pale flesh.
Ignoring both it, and her words, Sesshoumaru approached his mate, and proceeded to say “This is foolish.”
Mentally wincing when he saw his mate visibly do so, he realized that she may very well still be remembering her past with Naraku, and that his commanding nature and way of speaking wasn’t helping matters any at the moment. He had thought that merely telling her to ignore that fool’s words was enough, but that judgment had obviously been in error. In all reality, it was actually a wonder she had so successfully put her past behind her in the first place, prior to Osamu’s reminder, considering how such a short time ago everything had actually occurred, from a youkai’s perspective. Inuyasha’s tortured childhood had happened over a century ago, and he could easily sense within his brother that some of his deeper wounds still remained, though the miko was healing them all, with time. Attempting then to take a moment to think about what he should say, then, Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth in preparation for the one of the longest strings of sentences he will have ever uttered to date.
“You are my mate, and as such, are due the honor and respect such a position bestows. Lord Osamu is a fool, and he has sealed his own fate. There is nothing ‘questionable’ regarding your origins-”
“I’m a spawn of Naraku!” she interrupted hotly. “And so are our children!”
Growling fiercely, his eyes flashed red for the briefest of moments, before a sudden spike of fear in his mate’s scent instantly had his eyes bleeding golden once more.
“Do not fear me.” he spoke quickly, softly, closing the remaining distance between them, as he placed his single hand gently upon her shoulder. Nothing was worse than feeling one’s own mate fear them.
“I am nothing like Naraku, and your believed disobedience to alpha protocol will not result in the sort of ‘punishment’ that I am sure you were forced to endure in the past.” he elaborated, earning himself a small gasp at her realization that he was very much aware of the physical tortures that had once been inflicted upon her person.
Kagura met her mate’s eyes, then, easily seeing the genuine concern he permitted to shine there. It also had not gone unnoticed that he had dropped his “This Sesshoumaru” routine in favor of referring to himself in the first-person; also a sign that he was lowering his shields for her. She knew very well that he possessed his share of emotions, but very rarely did he ever reveal them to such an extent.
“Have you not heard Kagome frequently state how all things in life have a purpose? Follow a path?” he asked her gently.
Nodding slowly in answer to his question, though her confusion was clear, Kagura silently waited for him to elaborate, which he did.
“It is clear to me, then, that Naraku indeed had a purpose. He provided both my brother and myself with our mates.”
At her gasp, Sesshoumaru actually smirked.
“Had he not killed Kikyou…there would have been no Kagome…” Kagura realized aloud, grasping what her mate had meant by including Inuyasha in the equation.
“Precisely.” he answered, adding “And had my brother’s mate not accidentally shattered the jewel, allowing portions of it to fall into Naraku’s possession, then he never would have become powerful enough to give you form.”
Chuckling darkly, she said “You say that as though I had already existed, merely without a body.”
“Do you not always claim to be the wind?” he asked her in turn, earning her attention once more. “No one can ‘create’ a soul, Kagura, and your spirit is very much your own. If you were not ‘real’ then Tenseiga would not have revived you. It is true that he made your body from his flesh, but if I can forgive Inuyasha’s parentage, why should yours be any different?”
“He wasn’t my father-” she started, but a single finger against her lips silenced her.
“That is precisely how you will think of his existence from now on.” he said softly, not wishing for the comment to seem too much like an order, at least right now.
“And with as vile as he was, you are truly undisturbed to have mated she who was born of his flesh? To have sired Naraku’s grandchildren? By your logic, your own pups are descendent from a hanyou.”
He actually shrugged. “I have since rethought my position on the existence of hanyou.” was his reply, and Kagura actually felt like slapping herself.
She’d seen the way he’d raised their children to bear no hatred of that type. She’d seen the way he’d treated Rin’s own hanyou children, and how their children treated Rin’s children, as equals. He had indeed overcome his previous prejudice towards those of human descent. The way he no longer referred to Inuyasha as his half-brother was testament enough to that.
Still…
“Naraku was not simply hanyou. He was a vile abomination, you used to say so yourself.” Kagura spoke softly, “I know I smell like him; a constant reminder. How can you even bear to touch me?” she asked, as more tears slipped passed the barrier of her lashes.
Stepping back a couple of feet, he slowly drew Toukijin for her inspection.
“The same way I can bear to touch my sword, also born of Naraku’s flesh.”
She gasped again, and he smirked.
“Surely you were aware of how I had Toukijin forged from Goshinki’s fang.” he commented offhandedly, while wondering to himself if Kagura had in fact ever been made aware of that small tidbit of information. “At the time, I had desired a blade proven strong enough to stand up against the Tetsusaiga, and as the oni Goshinki had successfully broken Inuyasha’s blade with his jaw, I felt such a strong fang could not be passed up. It mattered not that the oni was an offshoot of Naraku.”
“So…” Kagura finally started to realize, as she gazed lovingly at her mate, who gently sheathed his sword. “…It really doesn’t matter to you? You truly lo…accept me…?” she faltered, cursing under her breath.
She expected her mate to say something comforting, yet belittling to her question, like “I would not have mated you otherwise.” or something to that effect, spoken with an air of authority.
She was wrong.
Her fumble did not go unnoticed, and mentally sighing, Sesshoumaru begrudgingly relented that he likely needed to say something very specific. Something that to this day, he had never uttered aloud, even once, to anyone, his entire life.
“Yes, Kagura…” he started, “I love you.”
Instantly closing the short distance between them, Kagura engulfed her mate in a passionate embrace. Eagerly complying with his mate’s rapidly growing desires, Sesshoumaru’s lips crashed down upon hers with such ferocity, that a mortal woman would have experienced pain. Clothing was swiftly removed, while Sesshoumaru flared his aura to a point where he assured himself that no one would disturb them. One of his last lingering thoughts, before higher brain function gave way to the simplicity of carnal pleasures, was that his brother had apparently been correct, in his assertion that all females desired to hear such a trivial expression uttered aloud. Perhaps he would repeat it on occasion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N:
No, Kagura does not get “pupped” from this encounter, as she is not currently in heat. Also, Kagome has not somehow had yet another child, the reference to her being with-pup in this chapter merely a continuation of her pregnancy first mentioned in the previous chapter, as this one takes place in the same time period.
However, the next chapter will feature another time-jump, so be prepared.
Translations…
Though I’m sure I made it obvious enough, “kuma” means “bear.”
“Osamu” means “discipline” and I pretty much just picked it as a random name I found appropriate enough for the Kuma no Taisho.
Now, Hinata, on the other hand… “Hinata” means either “facing the sun” or “sunflower” and according to behindthename.com is actually a unisex name that can be used for either males or females.
Her name was not chosen randomly. Keep that in mind…you’ll see why later.