The Twelfth Concubine

By: AubreySimone

folder InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome

Rating: Adult +

Chapters: 39

Views: 20,381

Reviews: 54

Recommended: 3

Currently Reading: 9

Category: InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome

Rating: Adult +

Chapters: 39

Views: 20,381

Reviews: 54

Recommended: 3

Currently Reading: 9

Disclaimer: The anime/manga Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. The author, Aubrey Simone, makes no money from the writing or posting of this fic.

First Impressions: Part Two

Chapter Twenty-Three—First Impressions [Part Two]

"And that," Chiyoko murmured in Kagome's ear, "is Matsumoto Momoko, Lady Miho's daughter."

"She's…" Kagome floundered. "…very pretty."

Chiyoko's scoff drew her gaze away from the rotund figure in green silk, and the inuyoukai cast a disgusted eye in the direction of the Matsumotos. "They are a family of conniving, manipulative little insects," she said, not bothering to lower her voice nor mask the scorn in her tone.

Jiao-Long leaned close. "Mayhap the lady ought to categorize them differently? Insects are so…small." Kagome nearly choked on her tea. "Not to mention far more visually appealing," he added, and Kagome did choke then, sputtering and glaring and covering—or rather, letting be covered—her laughter with coughs.

'It's true,' a matter-of-fact voice whispered in her head when she'd caught her breath. 'They are much too large and unappealing to be insects.' She decided that she would avoid the Matsumoto women at all costs, lest she burst into extremely impolite laughter in front of them.

Forcing her eyes from the largest youkai in the room, Kagome looked around the long, low table. Women of all sizes—though none as tall as the Lady Asoka and none as round as the Ladies Matsumoto—sat conversing with their neighbors, relaxing while they waited for the last course to be served. Discreetly, she began to memorize names and faces.

At the head of the table sat Lady Asoka, scarlet eyes bright and dark hair piled atop her head, a myriad of colored jewels dotting the ebon locks. To her left sat Kimura Risa, and then Matsuo Nana, Nishimiya Junko, Hasegawa Hinata, Hirano Mizuki, the ladies Matsumoto, Taniguchi Ayame, Nakayama Miu, and then herself and Chiyoko.

Twelve in all, she tallied, and she was the only human; the only one who could see the sly glances but couldn't hear the equally sly remarks that likely went with them. With a sigh she muffled into her cup, Kagome thought of the morale boosting talk she'd given herself before she walked into this gossip-leaden dining hall.

'I will not let them intimidate me. They aren't important; the only people I have to impress are the ones on my side, the ones loyal to the West.'

She felt better—minimally—and glanced up just in time to see Matsumoto Momoko send a pursed-lip glare in her direction, bulbous, sickly pink eyes glinting with malice. Knowing that the lady was jealous because she had gotten a higher seat of honor than the plump demoness, Kagome smiled broadly just as the servants bearing the final course began to file into the room. The flicker of confusion that crossed the lady's face was enough to send her humor just a little higher.

The smell of sweet red bean paste and sticky, doughy balls of mochi drew her attention away from the befuddled Momoko, and she waited semi-patiently while Jiao-Long—who she felt was greatly enjoying his task—reached over her shoulder and lifted a ball from the platter nearest her.

As he sniffed and tasted, Kagome glanced once more around the table.

So far, no one had mentioned her earlier episode of fright, though she was sure that word had gotten around. She had lived long enough in the western compound to know that servants spread gossip just as their high born mistresses did, and all it took was a demand for said servants to tell all they knew to said mistresses for secrets to be spilled. Kagome wondered if she should have been more appalled at the thought that these women, who likely thought the mud a better companion than she, knew that she had been terrified for nothing not five hours earlier.

'Not for nothing,' her mind whispered, indignation coloring the soft, mental tone. 'If it was nothing, Chiyoko wouldn't have cut our walk short.' Kagome wanted to deny that, wanted to insist that Chiyoko had called off their stroll because she'd changed her mind about spending time in Kagome's company, but then the same voice murmured, 'If it was nothing, Lord Naraku would not have intervened.'

And she knew that Lord Naraku had intervened. It had taken little less than a questioning glance for Chiyoko to divulge what she knew of the handsome half-youkai—including, to Kagome's surprise, that he was indeed half-youkai and not whole—though her words had come as brusquely as Kagome had ever heard her speak.

Despite the fact that he was hanyou, Naraku was the heir to the South, declared so by Lady Asoka despite protests from her Court. His father, a human man who possessed a strange power to manipulate emotions, had passed his gift on to his son, and Lord Naraku's formidable power was the only thing that kept his enemies from killing him. According to Chiyoko, none could remain murderous in his presence, and resisting his compulsions was as difficult as forcing oneself to take one's own life.

His appearance on the walkway that afternoon had been enough for Chiyoko to believe that the threat Kagome had been aware of was real—it was well-known to all of demon society that Lord Naraku did not employ his talents unless he was positive that they were needed. And the fact that he had sought her out to ease her terror made Kagome very cognizant of just how significant her episode had been.

Jiao-Long reached over her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts as his sleeve brushed against her wrist, and selected a number of mochi, placing them onto her plate with great care. She could tell that he was inspecting them as he lifted, and when Yun-Qi had taken his own moment to sniff carefully at the treat, he touched her elbow, his quiet, reverent tone easily reaching her ears. "They are safe."

"Still afraid that someone is trying to kill you, Higurashi?"

The question came from Momoko, and Kagome, straining to remember her manners despite the chaffing disrespect coating the youkai's tone, smiled softly. "No, my lady, but Jiao-Long is ever mindful of his task."

"I'll not have Lord Sesshomaru taking my head for failing," the mainland youkai grumbled, somehow sounding proud and embarrassed all at once. Kagome hid her smile. Jiao-Long might have been rough around the edges, but she'd quickly found that complimenting his skills left him flustered.

Amusement at her guard's slightly agitated youki reminded her of the sweets sitting before her. She lifted a ball, bit into it, and then held back a moan of complete satisfaction. When she had swallowed, and thought that she might have given herself enough time to cool her anger at Momoko's seething dislike, she turned to Lady Asoka, who sat on the other side of Lady Chiyoko.

"My lady, your cook is an excellent addition to your staff; you chose well."

Asoka inclined her head. "I thank you, Higurashi-san." Her eyes glittered in amusement. "I see that you have a healthy appetite."

Her cheeks didn't flush too red, and she managed to reply; "Only when the food is as exquisite as this meal has been." She was trying so very hard to ignore the heavy press of angry eyes into the back of her skull, trying so very hard to remember her lessons and Chiyoko's express command not to engage in any verbal sparring. She took another bite of mochi, and this time made no effort to stifle her appreciative sigh.

Unsure of whether she should eat everything Jiao-Long had piled onto her plate—though gods knew she wanted to shove the sweet treats into her mouth with abandon and reach for more—she forced herself to eat slowly, feeling Lady Asoka's occasional glances and mindful of Chiyoko's ever watchful aura.

Yun-Qi served her a cup of water, and she sipped it, looking around the table once again. This time, Matsuo Nana caught her attention, and the dragon youkai—the only one Kagome had met besides Kotono—smiled. "So tell us, Higurashi-san; how has it been living amongst demon company?"

Her eyes—large orbs of brilliant orange—were kind, and the shimmering, deep black scales that teased at the corners of them somehow made her friendly expression all the more so. Kagome felt her lingering ire at Momoko's disrespect and her nervousness at being among so many high born demonesses fade away. "It has been…interesting," she began, smiling to make light of her pause. "I never knew that youkai society was so like human society."

"Oh?" The rest of the table had hushed, and though she realized that she shouldn't have worded her observation as she did, Kagome nodded and kept talking.

"The basic concepts are the same," she clarified. "Make do with what the kami have given you, and do your best to live a happy life."

"Too bad the kami have given you humanity," someone murmured. Kagome ignored it, as did Lady Matsuo.

"And your position in the West, Higurashi-san? You believe that this is what the kami have given you?"

Kagome would have answered immediately, but something in Lady Matsuo's tone gave her pause. It was not an idle question, not something that a gossiping lady would ask to get information. She swallowed, and in the back of her mind realized that the inquiry wasn't just to get her opinion; Lady Matsuo was telling her something. 'But what…?'

Yun-Qi's fingers pressed fleetingly at her elbow, and Kagome remembered that the lady had asked her a question. Forcing the flush to remain at bay, she pulled a pondering expression and hoped that her lapse was not too noticeable. "I do believe it," she answered at last, pouring as much conviction into her voice as she could while trying to push the confusion away. "If it were not so, would I be here?"

Something like expected disappointment flickered in the dragoness' large eyes, and then she smiled and the expression was gone. "No, I suppose you wouldn't be." A mischievous glint much like the one Kotono often harbored sparked to life in her eyes, and she leaned forward just so, hair ornaments tinkling in her black locks. "But there is one thing I simply must know," she whispered, feigning discreetness by lifting a hand to her mouth. "Is Lord Sesshomaru as capable a lover as I've heard he is?"

Instant embarrassment flared to life in her belly, but shocking both herself and possibly Chiyoko from the way her aura spiked, Kagome said, "I apologize in advance for my forwardness, Lady Matsuo, but that is none of your business."

And after a pregnant moment in which Kagome cursed herself for allowing her tongue to waggle before her mind had approved, Matsuo Nana glanced to Lady Asoka, looked back to Kagome, and then burst into laughter, head thrown back and ornaments tinkling.

Lady Asoka's chuckling soon joined, and as though her mirth had allowed it, the other ladies began giggling as well, until nearly the entire table had dissolved into laughter. Through tears of merriment, Kagome found her eyes drawn to Chiyoko's mildly twinkling gaze, and while no one was looking, while no one could see, the lady allowed a smile to cross her lips.

Kagome felt as though she had just been praised.

:..:..:..:..:

It came at her suddenly, and between one step and the next, between admiring a late blossom and looking up to see Lord Sesshomaru waiting nearby, Kotono was plunged into the Sight.

In her mind's eye, she stood in a damp underground chamber, its cavernous expanse eerily silent. Before her was a pool of water, and though its edges rippled as though someone had touched it, its center was completely still, glasslike and perfect. As she watched, a small flame, flickering in tones of oranges and reds and yellows, leapt to life just above the surface of the water, and she took a step forward. The flame grew.

A second step, and a third, and a fourth and a fifth, and then she stood before a fire that was as tall and as wide as she. The water was cool against the skin of her feet and the curve of her ankle, and the heat of the fire warmed her bare breasts and trembling belly. She took a moment to calm herself, and then she opened her mouth and spoke, and the Dragontongue flowed through her lips like water, a language long forgotten and forever remembered.

What is it that I must See?

The flame solidified and grew glossy, and a picture, an image of an event to come, stared back at her. For a moment, the image was frozen, crystallized just as the rest of the flame, and then Kotono felt herself falling into it, and she opened her mind to the Sight's influence.

She stood before a faceless, nameless demoness, soft candlelight highlighting of the swell of her breasts and the bulge of her belly. Clawed hands, delicate and slender, roved soothingly over the round protuberance, and the very same light that afforded Kotono the sight of her pregnant companion shifted to hide her face as she stepped forward.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking like leaves in the fall. "Please protect him."

Kotono knew that she spoke of the babe, and she knew that this demoness' fear was entirely dependent upon who the sire of the child was and the enemies that would stop at nothing to see the babe dead. Pup, she corrected, scenting the blood of an inuyoukai. The smell suddenly intensified tenfold, and abruptly she found herself kneeling between the birthing youkai's spread legs.

Blood…too much blood…

"Please! Please protect him!"

The birthing demoness held tightly to another set of small hands, these fingers blunt nailed and human, fragile from a sickness Kotono knew had recently ravaged the human's body. "Save her! You have to save her!" She recognized the voice and her heart ached at what she knew would happen.

And as the demoness' trial became too much, as the pup she had carried finally came into the world, knowledge flooded Kotono's mind.

And then she was gasping and falling out of the Sight, Sesshomaru's arm supporting her as she leaned into him. When she looked up, there was muted concern in his eyes, and she took a deep, steadying breath.

The time for an heir had come.

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