The Portal

Chapter 25 – After the Battle

“Anubis, this is ludicrous! You can’t allow him to stay here,” Nebthet pleaded.

“Mother, what would you have me do? Like it or not he is my brother. I can not just put him out. He has been seriously injured. Father would have wanted us to take care of one another.” Anubis reasoned with Nebthet. He knew her feelings about Seth, and he had to agree with her. His brother was an arrogant tyrant, and he had no wish to keep him here either, but there was no choice at the moment. “He should be well enough to depart for his home within three days. Until then, we shall try to make him as comfortable as possible. That is all I have to say on the matter.”

“What of Lord Sesshomaru and his female breeder?” Nebthet asked of her son. “You have housed two enemies, whose quarrel could bring our temple to ruin!”

Anubis shook his head in frustration, as he fell slovenly into his throne. “Sesshomaru is injured, as well. Neither of the two are in any condition to fight. Besides, I’m not even sure Sesshomaru knows what he’s fighting for.”

“I just hope that you know what you are getting into, my son. That girl, she holds an awesome power inside of her. What we witnessed today was only a taste of it.” Nebthet finished weakly, before leaving the room in a rustle of blue chiffon.

Anubis watched as his mother departed. He knew her worries, but damn it, there was much at stake here. To refuse Seth shelter and care during his time of need would only bring his wrath, which could lead to a war between the inu and falcons. His other option was to turn away Lord Sesshomaru, but he had given the foreign lord refuge, and his word was binding. Not only that, but the human girl Kagome, had bewitched his mind. Seeing her in action, bravely facing a foe of immense power with no regard for her own well being, was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

Anubis propped his chin upon the palm of his clawed hand, as his sparkling blue eyes stared into nothingness. He remembered turning to see her when he felt a tremendous surge in power. There she stood atop the rocky incline, poised like a warrior princess. Her short wine colored skirt, flapping in the breeze. Her long ebony hair dancing around her shoulders. She had such a fierce look of determination set on her lovely face as she aimed her deadly arrow. By the Gods, he’d never seen anything more arousing in his entire life.

It was too bad she missed the heart of her target, for then he would not be troubled with Seth at all. He hated that bird with a passion, but as fate would have it, he was now honor bound to tend to the bastard’s wounds. He had to figure out a way to work this out.

Letting Kagome walk away was not an option at this point. He would not give up on her just yet. Sesshomaru had shown an interest in Nebthet, and if he had anything to do with it, Sesshomaru would take her as his mate. That would solve many of his problems. The main one being that his mother would then be safe from Seth’s obsessive attentions. Nebthet would return to Sesshomaru’s Western Lands, far away from the falcon king.

Anubis allowed a slight smile to turn his lip. With any luck he could convince Sesshomaru to give up his little breeder for the hand of Lady Nebthet, and a very handsome dowry. The taiyoukai would be a fool to turn his back on such an offer.

It was unfortunate that Kagome thought herself in love with her master, but Anubis was sure that it was only a deluded fascination. The inu had taken the girls maidenhood only the previous night, therefore she would obviously harbor strong feelings for the taiyoukai. Anubis chuckled softly, for after she was placed in his care, he would make her forget Sesshomaru ever existed.

She had felt desire for him when he kissed her lips. He could tell it in her scent. He could hear it in her heartbeat. Anubis had no doubt that the little human would return his affections, and soon grow to love him. Bliss would come, when he could taste her smooth skin. He had never wanted another as badly as he wanted her. As his breeder, she would produce strong pups, carrying both his power and hers. No one would dare to stand against his children, born with the power of purification. The house of Anubis would reign supreme.

~~~***~~~

He had taken a serious dislike to this place in the last few hours. Three days ago it was just an aggravation, but today it had escalated into a full-blown dislike. First that smooth talking dog, Anubis, openly attempted to steal Kagome’s affections from him, then some crazed flacon sibling of his attacked for no just cause. Sesshomaru sighed deeply, as he pondered the recent events. It was just not his day.

Kagome lovingly cleaned away the dried blood. The healer’s had just left, after a grueling hour spent sewing up the gash across her lover’s chest. After she and Sesshomaru arrived at their room, she began the task of removing his haori. The material was stuck to the wound, and it was difficult to separate it from his flesh. The wound was deep, and she felt her stomach rise to her throat. It wasn’t the first wound of this nature that she had tended, but it never seemed to get any easier. It was just the thought of someone she cared about having to endure such tremendous pain. Sesshomaru had lain there, as emotionless as ever, but occasionally she could see him wince, and that’s when she knew that he was hurting really bad.

The healers were top notch at their trade, and for that she was grateful. They said that with his youkai healing abilities, that there would not even be a scar. She certainly hoped that they were right. It would be such a shame to scar his perfection. Kagome looked up briefly, when she heard his breathing become slower. He had finally drifted off to sleep.

A sound from the doorway, interrupted Kagome’s musings. She turned to find Lady Nebthet walking toward her. Kagome bowed, as best she could from her perch atop the bed. The lady waved it off, and stepped closer with silent feet.

With the whisper of softness, Nebthet asked, “Is there anything that his lordship requires to make his recovery more comfortable?”

Kagome shook her head and whispered ‘no’. She waited for her to turn and leave, but found that the lovely demoness had no intention of departing so quickly. Instead she lightly took a seat beside Sesshomaru, and took his hand in her own. Kagome suddenly had to fight the urge to order her out of the room.

It was silly... wasn’t it, to be jealous of this inuyoukai woman? Sesshomaru would never return her affections... would he? His doting attention to Nebthet was all part of their plan to escape this world, and bring freedom to the human’s... right? Kagome tried, she really did, to repress the anger shooting through her body at the sight of that beautiful demoness holding Sesshomaru’s hand so tenderly. When she lost the battle to control the jealous rage, Kagome cleared her throat, before speaking, but her words died when the demoness turned to look at her.

Nebthet turned to the human girl. She had felt the girl’s anger when she took Sesshomaru’s hand. The girl’s pulse quickened, and she could sense the struggle to control it. When the girl cleared her throat, Nebthet also smelled her power spike. It made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Now, looking into the blue eyes of the female, Nebthet could see her jealousy. That just would not do.

“I am grateful, my dear, that you were able to save Sesshomaru from Seth’s death blow,” Nebthet said softly and with meaning.

Kagome regarded this queen of inuyoukai, trying to determine what it was that the youkai really wanted from her. She decided to be direct. “There is no need to thank me, your highness, as I only acted to protect the man I love.”

Nebthet watched her closely. The human really believed herself to be in love with Sesshomaru. “In the world of youkai, and men, there is only heartache when the two attempt to love each other. Do you know what you ask of Sesshomaru, little one? You, a mere human, would ask a powerful taiyoukai to return your love? You would wish for his humiliation amongst his clan?”

Kagome snapped her mouth closed at Nebthet’s questions. It hurt to hear her say them aloud, because it was true, what she said, even as much as she never wanted to admit it. She and Sesshomaru were from different worlds. In her world he was shunned, and in his, she would be. They would find no solace, except in each other’s arms, and unfortunately they could not hide from the rest of the world. Kagome’s heart plunged to a new low, when the majestic female before her released Sesshomaru’s hand to grasp her own. She looked up with saddened eyes to the sympathetic face of the inuyoukai female.

“I am truly sorry, my dear, for all things, great and small deserve to know happiness. I just think that your happiness may lie elsewhere.” Nebthet said, as she patted Kagome’s hand lightly before standing. With one last look at the sleeping lord, Nebthet took her leave.

Kagome watched her go with teary eyes. She placed the water bowl and cloth to the floor, and despite how badly her mind was fighting against her heart, she crawled up beside Sesshomaru. She pulled the new bed sheet up around them both and snuggled against his warmth. After only a few moments of listening to his peaceful breathing, she joined him in slumber.

~~~***~~~

The humans were frantic. They had looked everywhere but it was not to be found. It had stayed behind, rather reluctantly, but it had stayed. Now, however, it was gone. It had been missing since earlier in the afternoon. No one had actually missed it for quite some time, but eventually the children brought it to their attention. After a massive search for the last two hours, they finally gave up. It was gone, and they could only hope that it was not headed to the inu city.

~~~***~~~

Tala sensed the power surge of his mistress. Something had happened to her, causing her to release an attack. That wave of purification sent his hair standing on end and nothing would stop him from reaching her. Whatever was happening was dangerous, and she needed him. He would not leave his mistress to face the enemy alone. Without a second thought, Tala raced off in the direction of the power pulse he felt.

After all these years of wondering alone, of never belonging, he had finally found her. Oh, she was not the same, of that he knew. It had confused him for some time. The smell of her power was the same, but her scent was not. Only after traveling with her, and testing her scent, was he able to decide. It was the day the humans came bursting through the forest that he was made sure. Her fear spiked her power, and the smell of it was like the nectar of the Gods. That was when he set aside any doubts, and fully accepted her. She was the one. She was his mistress. He was pet to the Exalted One, and he would defend her with his life.

He appeared only as a blur to any that may have noticed his passing. A tan colored blur that raced through the dense foliage, occasionally shifting to swing through the trees.

Tala was on his way to find Kagome.