As Death Gives Life

Chapter 19 – Getting Settled

As Sesshomaru watched his troops return to their normal routine, he began to feel the strain of what was happening to his life. How had he been so lax in his awareness? He was truly more angry with himself than anyone else. In all his long centuries he had never allowed himself to slip in such a way. He should have found out from the InuGod exactly WHO his intended was before accepting his offer. By the Fates he had made a grave error, and was now being forced to deal with it.

Once again his half-brother had managed to dismantle his normal existence in some way. This time it was his miko wench. How had Inuyasha managed to let her slip through his grasp anyway? He thought for sure that they would some day come together as mates, but now that idea seemed a bit far-fetched. If the two had feelings toward one another she would not be carrying another man’s child at the moment. That could only lead to one conclusion, and that was that the hanyou and miko were merely companions and nothing more. One other answer did exist, but it was highly unlikely; that the InuGod forced himself on the human female. Somehow that didn’t fit. Especially since Inuyasha did not seem overly aggressive toward Anubis, and neither did the miko.

He inwardly groaned. Just thinking of being forced to put up with that headstrong female was enough to make his headache. She was disrespectful, mouthy, and had deplorable dressing habits. His heart picked up a beat as he wondered at the effect her presence would have upon Rin. She was so impressionable at her current age. He simply would not allow the strange miko to pour her bad influence upon his unsuspecting ward.

Sesshomaru strolled back slowly to the manner deep in thought. There simply was no easy answer to this dilemma. He had made the agreement to protect the miko and her unborn child, albeit unknowingly, and he would honor his agreement. He could always hope that the InuGod would become desperate for his woman and return for her. That idea cheered him up somewhat. Perhaps he could manage to persuade the dog in some way? He was sure that Anubis would be keeping track of her, if only periodically, after he had returned to his homeland. If he could discover a way to detect the Gods presence then he could use those times against him. But how? What could he do?

Long moonlit strands of silken hair danced behind the taiyoukai as he made his way into his castle. His elegant nose wrinkled as he caught the scent of Inuyasha. He had to get rid of the wench if only to get rid of the hanyou. He simply could not tolerate his continued presence.

He stepped inside of his study, and closed the screen door. Inside was his sanctuary. The place that was his and his alone. No one dared interrupt him when he was closed within his study. Sesshomaru sank down gracefully onto a cushion in front of his low desk. He had a few things to take care of concerning his ruling affairs and sighed as he picked up the first of several scrolls addressed to his attention. He hoped that burying himself in work would free him from unpleasant thoughts of his new houseguest and her equally unwanted companions.

~~~***~~~

Upstairs Kagome sat on her futon trying to gain control of her runaway emotions. For some stupid reason she just couldn’t seem to quit crying. Anubis had been gone for some time, and she knew that she should go down to Rin’s room and let everyone know, but the tears just wouldn’t stop. She wasn’t even feeling that sad anymore, but nothing seemed to help. She finally came to the conclusion that it was from her hormones. Women were always emotional when they were pregnant. Right? Especially when they have been used by a gorgeous man, knocked up, and then dumped in the lap of another, highly ruthless, gorgeous man. Why had the Fates cursed her so?

A soft knock sounded on the door and Kagome looked up to find Rin standing in the doorway. She gave her a sad half-hearted smile, which Rin returned before stepping inside and joining her on her futon. The teen did not say a word to her, she simply sat down, leaned over, picking up and ornately carved brush, and slowly began to brush out Kagome’s hair as she softly hummed a sweet tune. Kagome became lost in the pleasant feeling of having someone pamper her in such a way, and allowed her eyes to close while she relaxed and enjoyed.

Rin had a million and one questions racing through her mind. She wanted to know more about the man who Kagome had shared her body with, and she wanted to discover why he left her? How had she met him and were they in love? She had always assumed that Kagome and Inuyasha were... close, but now... well, that was another question altogether! Right now, however, Kagome did not need a curious teenager asking hundreds of questions. Kagome just needed someone to help her feel better. Her old friend Umae had always sat silently and brushed her long hair when she felt down. Umae was the closest thing to a mother that Rin ever had. The elder youkai had always helped in her care ever since Sesshomaru-sama had brought her to his castle. Now Rin sat silently, just as Umae had done so many times before with her, brushing Kagome’s long wavy hair.

Kagome could not find the words to tell Rin how much she appreciated her quiet comfort. Her gentle ministrations to her scalp and hair had removed the terrible ache that was the source of her continuous supply of tears. Her tears were gone for now, and she turned to the young girl and hugged her closely. “Arigato Rin-chan.”

“Sumimasen (I’m sorry/Pardon me) Kagome-chan, that things have become so difficult for you lately,” Rin replied. Kagome released her from the warm embrace and the two smiled at each other.

Kagome felt a sudden wave of closeness to Rin, and for the first time, staying at Sesshomaru’s castle didn’t look that bad afterall. All she had to do now was avoid Sesshomaru until she and her baby could take care of themselves.

Rin could not hold it in any longer. She wanted to kick herself for it, but she just had to know. “Kagome-chan.... that man, Anubis, do you love him?”

Kagome sat back and sighed. She shook her head very slowly, and looked up into Rin’s eyes. “I... I... really don’t know, Rin. I felt... something, but whether it was truly love, I just don’t know. Our time was cut short, and I didn’t have the opportunity to find out.”

Rin felt like a baka for stirring up Kagome’s feeling all over again. The tear in her blue eye was a sign that she wasn’t ready to talk about him yet. Rin decided to change the subject a little. “So, you are going to have a baby!” She said this with much excitement. “I can not wait. I have never even been around a baby. Not since I came here to live with Sesshomaru-sama. Can I help you care for it, Kagome?”

Kagome smiled happily, nodding her head; thoughts of the painful good-bye put aside to talk girl talk about her unborn child. “Of course you can Rin. I can probably use all the help that I can get.” They both laughed at that and became a little more comfortable.

“Do you think it will be a girl or a boy? Have you decided on a name? When are you due to give birth?” Rin plowed the questions out rapidly in her excitement.

“Slow down there Rin! I only just became pregnant a few weeks ago. Anubis knew when it happened, so I have a long time ahead of me. I have no idea what it will be. I really haven’t thought much about that. I guess it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s healthy and safe.” Kagome replied with a smile.

Just then Shippo and Kat, followed by a grumpy Inuyasha interrupted the two of them. Kat made her way over and sat down on the other side of Kagome. She placed a soothing hand on her new friend. “Are you feeling a little better now, Kagome? I could feel your sadness even from Rin’s bedchambers,” Kat asked.

“Which are much too girly in my opinion,” Inuyasha added.

“No one asked you Inuyasha,” Rin snapped. She turned back to Kagome. “How you’ve put up with him all these years is a mystery to me.”

“It’s all in the necklace,” Shippo supplied knowingly.

Inuyasha looked ruffled by Rins words, but chose to ignore Shippo for now. “Me? You think I’m bad? You are the baka who’s been following my all-so-high-and-mighty half brother around for years! There’s obviously something wrong with your head!”

Rin jumped up from the futon and stood glaring at the hanyou. “Don’t you talk about Sesshomaru-sama like that! He’s better than you ever dreamed of being!”

“Oh yea?!” Inuyasha growled the angry question.

“Hai!” Rin growled in return.

“Hey you two. Knock it off!” Kagome pleaded. She watched as both Rin and Inuyasha folded their arms and turned away with their noses stuck high in the air. She shook her head and laughed then looked over to Kat. “Can’t you do something about this?”

Kat laughed and said, “All you had to do was ask.” Then she released her tightly controlled aura, sending soothing waves of comfort flooding the air. Rin immediately relaxed and sighed with a dreamy expression, but Inuyasha reacted altogether differently than young Rin. Kat gasped as the hanyou snatched her arm, pulling her quickly out of the room and back into Rin’s. He pushed her hard against the wall, and her breath caught in her throat as he pressed his hard body against her. His face was buried in her hair and he took his time inhaling her scent.

“Don’t do.... that... again,” Inuyasha breathed as he arched his throbbing member against her pelvis.

Kat stood really still; amazed at the effect that her aura had on the hanyou. It frightened her almost as much as it excited her. She had always used her power to get out of tight spots, and to overpower her enemy, but this was different. Inuyasha wasn’t an enemy at all, and she found that she rather enjoyed his strong body pressed against her own.

Her breathing became deep and fast as she felt his hardness pressing against her. His obvious arousal bringing about a strange feeling of heat coiling near her womanhood. She noticed that his own breath was coming in pants now as he shifted, seeking to ease some of his discomfort.

“Is everything alright in... oops! Sorry!” Kagome squeaked, as she quickly ducked back out of the doorway, now sporting a very red face. She had just caught Inuyasha and Kat in a very ‘friendly’ situation.

Kagome’s voice cut through the fog in Inuyasha’s brain causing him to jump back with wide eyes. A flush of crimson stole across his cheeks as he realized what he had been doing to Kat. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and found that she looked just as stunned as him. She too was sporting a rather embarrassed look. “Damn it Kat! Don’t do that shit anymore! It makes me crazy!” Inuyasha shouted before stomping out of the room.

Kat leaned against the wall, still somewhat stunned over the intense situation. Her breath was still a little erratic, and she found herself wishing that she had someone who could sooth her own burning emotions.

Kagome had returned to her room, still glowing several shades of red. Shippo and Rin looked at her questioningly just before Inuyasha leaned in the door. “I’ve had it with this fucking place for today. I’m leaving. I’ll come back in a few days to check on you.” Then he turned and stomped out before she even had the chance to say good-bye. Rin looked at Kagome with wide wondering eyes, as she tried to figure out exactly what had just happened, but Kagome just shook her head. No way was she telling what she had just seen!

Soon Kat managed to get a hold of herself and returned to Kagome’s sleeping chamber. She was still rather embarrassed and made a small attempt to apologize to her friend. “Kagome... I... I am so sorry that you saw...” Her words were cut off by a sudden burst of giggles from her friend. She opened her eyes to find Kagome holding her hand over her mouth and giggling so hard that tears were building in her eyes. Shippo was now aware that something very funny had occurred, but not exactly what. It didn’t stop his urge to join Kagome in her laughter, and he burst into a boyish chuckle. Even Rin became trapped by the contagious laughter, and soon Kat could hold it in no longer. She too began giggling hysterically at her own embarrassing moment.

Unknown to the giggling young women and lone fox child, Lord Sesshomaru was standing outside of his bedchamber door listening to the silly laughter. He had heard, or better, he had smelled, Inuyasha leave, and went up to his chambers to retrieve a scroll, but as he reached the door he became distracted by the female laughter. For some reason it did not annoy him in the least. It was rather... enchanting. Rin’s laughter had always warmed his cold heart just a bit, and listening to her now as she enjoyed this moment with the two other young females, made his heart swell for her just a little more. He would not intrude on their moment, but wondered what it was that the women found so humorous. He resigned himself to simply enjoying the melodious sound of their amusement.

~~~***~~~

Inuyasha made his way back to the village through the forest, high in the trees. This was his favorite way to travel, soaring high and fast, leaping with the utmost precision from branch to branch, using his own momentum to propel him through the maze with inhuman speed.

Thoughts of his recent episode with Kat played in his mind. What exactly did he feel for the demoness? At first her presence was merely a pain in the ass, but now that he had become used to her he had to re-evaluate his thoughts. The last weeks had passed by so quickly, and in that time he had been so focused on Kagome and Anubis that nothing else had been important. During that time Kat had somehow become a part of his pack. She had managed to squeeze in right under his very nose, and now that she had he wondered why? Why was she with them? Why did she effect him like that?

It was humiliating as hell to go all rock hard whenever she released her aura. If she planned on sticking around there was no way in hell he was going to let her keep doing that. Even though.... it was kind of nice. Another blush spread over the handsome face of the inu hanyou as he soared through the treetops. He remembered the swell of her breasts pressed against his chest. Her soft panting breaths in his ear and the smell of her scent filling his sensitive nose. Were his feelings his own? Did he really find her attractive, or was it just her fucking spell messing with his mind? Inuyasha growled as his speed increased. Damn it! He hated not knowing. He hated that his body might react even though he didn’t want it to! How could he ever really know whether or not he was truly attracted to her when she insisted on pulling stupid stunts like that?

Shaking his silver haired head angrily he turned his thoughts once more to Kagome. Would she be safe under Sesshomaru’s care? He hated leaving her there. He hated it as much as when she went home to her time, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it. If Sesshomaru even growled at her the wrong way, he vowed to take her far from there, whether they all liked it or not! He could hide her, and protect her until he could ally himself with someone equally as strong as Sesshomaru.

Anubis! That fucking prick had done this! Anubis had known from the beginning that his unborn child would attract dangerous enemies. He knew that Inuyasha would be unable to keep her safe in the face of an army. How could he have allowed this to happen? Why had the Fates chosen to torment him so?

~~~***~~~

He heard Rin promise to find the head of household staff and have her prepare a guestroom for the demoness and fox. Sesshomaru waited patiently, like a jungle cat stalking its prey, for the three of them to leave Kagome’s sleeping chambers. He had inadvertently overheard Kagome telling Rin a small portion of the story behind her recent ‘situation’. Sesshomaru found it rather interesting, though he would never admit it, that the InuGod had taken the time to seduce the young mortal onna. Actually spending weeks traveling at her side, protecting her from harm, even going so far to destroy Naraku single-handedly, in order to win the miko’s trust, before taking her to his bed.

Very interesting indeed. He could hear the miko’s sadness as she talked about Lord Anubis. It had obviously been a taxing affair on her mentally. Humans were such weak creatures. A demoness would have been proud to bear the pup of such a powerful being, and never once questioned the mans motives, but mortal women are much different. They expect some sort of heart swelling emotion to come from such a union. Bah. Such a waste of time.

To discover that the InuGod actually made the effort to consider her human emotions was a very telling piece of information. It spoke quite loudly of his affection for the miko, Kagome. If the dog cared enough about Kagome to bend his own nature to protect her brittle emotions, then he would more than likely be looking in on her somewhat often.

A smirk played on the taiyoukai’s strong elegant lips. That certainly increased his chances of implanting the seed of jealousy firmly in the mind of Anubis. If he could disturb the InuGod's possessive nature, then there would be a good chance that Anubis would retrieve Kagome from his castle of his own accord, therefore breaking their agreement.

Miko gone. Arm stays.

A perfect plan. A glint of amusement glittered in his golden eyes. Sometimes he even managed to amaze himself with his strategic planning genius. That proved to be just the ego boost that he needed to decide that he and his army of youkai warriors could easily defeat any foolish attack launched on his territory in sixteen years time. With the proper strategic planning, no one could defeat him. Sesshomaru felt confident that he could come up with a suitable plan of defense before the sixteen years were up. He had no need of aid from a god-child.

When he heard the screen door slide shut, Sesshomaru waited until his ward and the demoness had faded into the distance, then he stepped out of his own rooms and knocked appropriately on Kagome’s door. He remained stoically aloof, as he watched the miko look up in shock. It was obvious that she wasn’t expecting him to come knocking on her door. That would change soon.

“Ah... konnichiwa Sesshomaru-sama,” Kagome squeaked.

“Hello, Kagome,” Sesshomaru drawled. His voice as smooth as the softest suede.

Kagome was once again surprised at Sesshomaru, for never in the many years of her travels in the feudal era had he said her name. It sent a delightful tingle up her spine. His deep, soft, voice was enough to make a girl melt. Too bad he was such a cold fish.

He waited, for her to speak, but it became clear that she was in a state of mild shock, therefore he cocked his head slightly to the left and said, “May I speak with you a moment?”

Kagome snapped out of her haze of shock to slip into ignoramus mode. She looked at him strangely and said, “Eh? In... my room?” She silently chastised herself for acting like a complete baka. Kagome would have hit her forehead with her palm, but instead she just stepped back and said, “Sorry. Of course we can talk. Please come in.”

Sesshomaru found it quite amusing that the girl had become so flustered in his presence. Normally she was being defiant and fearless. It was a much welcome change. He stepped into her spacious room, and waited for her to close the door and join him.

Kagome suddenly felt as if her room was a broom closet. She was feeling somewhat claustrophobic at the moment. Being alone in a room with Sesshomaru staring at her, so close that she could reach out and touch him, was a bit on the suffocating side. He was a dangerous creature and her miko was sizzling through her blood stream in awareness. The feeling of it was rather euphoric, and made her feel strange, almost... edgy.

She looked as if she were about to panic and flee his presence. The thought of her slender form racing from him in fear played a very interesting fantasy swiftly across his mind. Sesshomaru stiffened at once. It was highly disturbing to think that some part of him found her mildly attractive. Memories of recent, vivid dreams of her writhing and moaning beneath him once again flooded his mind leaving him somewhat off balance. He managed to hide it well, as he was the master of the emotionless mask, but inside he was violently cleaning his traitorous mind of every single hentai thought concerning the miko.

Kagome waited patiently for Sesshomaru to reveal his reason for seeking her out, but he simply continued to stare at her. It was a little un-nerving, to say the least. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. Was he angry with her for some reason?

When the female cleared her throat it brought him back to reality, though nothing in his outward appearance revealed as much. Sesshomaru then said, “As you are new here, I must make a few things clear to you. First and foremost, you are not to leave the castle grounds without an approved escort. I have spoken to my chief commanding officer about your arrival, and he in turn will relay the information to the troops. I would suggest having Rin accompany you until everyone in the castle becomes aware of your stay and what that means. No doubt they are already aware of a miko presence. That, in combination with your human heritage, could invoke an unhealthy confrontation with any of the inhabitants of my castle who are, as of yet, unaware that you are here under my protection. Even then you should use the utmost caution, as some youkai may find you... less than acceptable. Do I make myself clear?”

Kagome wanted to scream at him for talking to her like she was a child, but since everything he said was supposed to be in her best interest she couldn’t. It would only make her look like the silly twit that he thought she was. So instead of acting on her sudden impulse to yell childishly she calmly replied, “Yes Sesshomaru-sama.”

Her unusually compliant answer caught him off guard for a brief moment. He was sure that she would be somewhat rebellious to his demands. As it turned out she did the complete opposite. Perhaps she would not be such trouble as he originally thought? He seriously doubted that. Her sudden polite demeanor would not last the day out, of that he was sure. He would continue with his plan.

“Good. I will take my leave. Rin shall accompany you to the dining hall momentarily,” Sesshomaru said as he began to walk to the door. Just before he stepped out he turned back and said, “Perhaps you will accompany me for a walk in the gardens afterward?”

Kagome almost choked on her tongue. Did he just ask her to spend time with him? Alone? Was she hearing things? After the embarrassing fit of coughing, Kagome finally squeaked out, “Um... Sure.”

After she answered, Sesshomaru did not say another word. He simply stepped out and slid her door closed. Once on the other side, an evil smirk played over his features. He was sure that Anubis would check on her before she retired for the evening, just to make sure that she was handling the transition. As a dog himself, he was fully aware of their own possessive nature. It would only be a matter of time before he was shed of the miko for good.

Kagome sat down heavily upon her futon while she desperately tried to sort through what had just occurred. It was so very unlike Sesshomaru to be nice, at least nice to her. So why would he ask her to walk with him after the evening meal? What could it mean? Finally she came to the conclusion that there must be other rules for living in his domain that he wished to make clear. That had to be it. He must have been busy and didn’t have time to discuss them with her at the moment.

That had to be the explanation. Right?