The Portal

Chapter 26 – Finding Kagome

Darkness had fallen across the land, and most living things had retired for the evening. One thing however, did not feel the call for sleep. He was near... very near. Tala could smell her sweet scent, and knew that it would not be long now.

The massive inu pyramid rose from the jungle's edge. She was in there. His mistress was so close.

Whatever had caused her outburst earlier that day had subsided, as he could not detect any amount of her power being displayed. That was good. He had been so frightened for her. Being this close to his mistress gave him a warm feeling, and Tala became excited about seeing her again. He refused to turn back. He was so very close,

Tala crept out of the jungle, staying low to the ground. He scurried to a nearby hut, and then on through the shadow of palms lining the way. Closer and closer he silently made his way to the opening of the great temple. He was glad it was so late. There was no one about. Tala sat patiently, hidden beneath a huge ornamental plant, waiting until the guard began another round through the courtyard. He watched him with shielded eyes, ensuring their glow did not attract unwanted attention.

The moment the guard turned the corner, Tala made off. With lightning speed he pounced up the ramp and into the pyramid. The temple was silent, and dimly lit. Most of the candles had been extinguished for the night, which made it easier for him to find his way undetected.

The inu’s were smart, however, and Tala knew that if he came near one that he was caught. The darkest night could not hide his scent from them, and even he could not mask his scent completely. It was taking a tremendous amount of effort to quell it as much as he had.

Tala wound his way through the dark corridors, stopping occasionally behind some ornate statue or other to sniff for the direction of her scent. Once he had it, Tala wasted no time in scurrying toward his destination. He could feel his heart beating faster the closer he became. Her scent was heavenly to his nose.

At long last he made it to a long corridor. He could hear the nighttime noises of sleeping inu’s. Slowly Tala crept down the corridor. One room he passed by had a familiar scent. He lingered for a moment. It was only one of her companions. The dark one. He wasn’t sure why his mistress traveled with the dark one, but she seemed to feel no fear of attack from him. It was not his place to question his mistress.

At the end of the corridor, Tala almost felt his feet leave the floor with delight. His mistress was there, in that very room. She was there with the inu male who protected her. That gave the inu a special place where Tala was concerned. The protection of his mistress was his reason for living, and the inu was an ally in his task.

Tala shivered with anticipation. He crept through the beaded doorway, and on into the room. His mistress lay on the bed, sleeping peacefully with the male. He was a bit surprised to discover that she had mated with the inu, but again, it was not his place to question his mistress.

Silently the strange creature made his way on to the bed. He sniffed the air lightly. The male was injured. Perhaps that was what sparked the outburst of his mistress’s powers? She was however, uninjured, and for that he was thankful.

He made his way to her side of the low bed. He wanted to be near her so badly. Tala carefully placed a paw on the bedding, and then another. Soon he was curled up happily next to his mistress. He could feel her warmth and he allowed her sweet scent to bathe him in its intoxicating freshness.

Tala lay his head down upon his front paws and happily joined the other’s in sleep.

~~~***~~~

She was warm. Very warm to be exact. Kagome was lying in her side, and she could feel Sesshomaru’s muscular arm against her face. She nuzzled against it, smiling, and slowly slid her hand over his chest.

“It is about time that you woke up,” Sesshomaru teased. His voice was deep and gruff from his intense night of sleep and recovery.

Kagome grunted her response. She didn’t want to open her eyes just yet. It felt so nice just to lay there. She could lay there all day, if she wasn’t so damned hot.

“Miko, I believe you have a visitor,” Sesshomaru said, again in a teasing manner.

Kagome peeled her eyes open, “Huh?” She eased up on her elbow and glanced to the door. There was no one there. “Who... where?” Her questioning quickly came to a halt when the ‘who’ crawled over her legs and curled into her lap. “Oh my God, Tala!” Kagome hugged her furry friend and rubbed his fur vigorously. Tala’s long tail wrapped around her waist, and he nuzzled his head into her stomach. He was happy to see her, and she was surprised at how happy she was to see him. It was like her best friend had come home from afar.

Sesshomaru watched the display with a bit of amusement. He managed to part himself from Kagome’s side a bit, saving himself from receiving a stray foot in his wound. The two of them were obviously ecstatic to see one another, and he once again found it odd that they had grown so attached in so short of a time. That thought only brought him to laugh at his own ridiculous torment, for he too, had become attached to the miko in a short time.

Watching her lovingly stroke her pets fur made him feel a warmth deep inside. It was more than lust, and that realization was a painful one. He never meant to feel anything more for this little human female. He had not even wanted to feel lust for her, but somehow the primal body reaction had turned into something more. He huffed at himself. No, it was not love. Never that. He refused to accept that. He was Lord Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. He would not fall into the same trap as his father... would he?

Oh the Gods were cruel, to throw him together with this human woman. Had it been any other human female he could have easily resisted her charms, but not this one. She was different. An enigma. Her mysterious ways and tantalizing scent had clouded his mind, making him weak.

InuTaisho was probably having a round of drinks in the heavens right now, laughing at the sight of his son. His proud youkai son, who had called him disgusting for taking a human female as his mate. ‘Yes, father, Laugh it up you old bastard,’ Sesshomaru grumbled to himself.

Ah, and then thinking of father always brought about unwanted thoughts of Inuyasha. The hanyou was certain to see red when he found his precious little miko had been spoiled by his brother. He would also be very upset at the changes that he would soon face. Sesshomaru smirked a bit, thinking about it. That helped to lighten his mood once more, and Sesshomaru moved to sit up.

The pain was still there, but lessened, however, he did not get far before his companion saw fit to throw herself across his chest, mindful of the wound, but still making it extremely hard to move. He looked down, and asked with a hint of humor, “If you would like some more of this Sesshomaru my dear, you had only to ask.” He watched as her flawless face turned a bright crimson shade. He chuckled a bit, but decided that it was a bad idea as the pain increased ten fold.

“Very funny, mister! Just what do you think you’re doing? You can’t get up yet. Your wounds are still very bad. You need to lie still.” Kagome chastised as she pulled away. However tempting it was to take him up on his offer, she couldn’t risk reopening his wounds.

A noise at the door interrupted her train of thought, and she was shocked to find the Lady Nebthet standing there. She silently cursed those ridiculous beaded doorways, and wondered how long it would be before they figured out the usefulness of a full door with a nice handle, and lock.

The look on Nebthet’s face was certainly one of astonishment, but it was not spawned at the sight of Kagome nestled up to Lord Sesshomaru. No, that wasn’t it at all. Her bewilderment was caused by the creature so snugly nestled up to Kagome’s thigh.

“Oh great Horus, it is the pet. The pet... HER pet,” Nebthet stuttered with wide eyes. She took a step back, when the pet’s eyes flashed from green to solid black.

Kagome felt fear for a moment. Nebthet had seen Tala, which meant her cover had been blown. Tala reacted from her spike of fear, and was now hissing at the queen. Kagome quickly calmed herself and soothed Tala, by stroking his fur and whispering soft comforting words.

“Nebthet, please... do come in,” Sesshomaru requested calmly.

Nebthet made her way into the room, but steering clear of Tala. Her eyes never left the beast, and her mouth was still slightly agape. “Sesshomaru... what... what is the meaning of this?”

“Nebthet, I believe that we need to have a talk. There are some things that we have been forced to keep from you. When we first arrived here we were skeptical and uncertain of whom we could trust. I think that I can trust you. You have proven yourself a kind and noble woman. Can I trust you Nebthet?” Sesshomaru asked with narrowed eyes of molten gold.

She was confused and more than a little afraid. It had been centuries since Midoriko’s pet had been seen. Centuries since they had banished Midoriko to an unknown fate in an unknown world, yet here, in her very own home, sits the pet of Midoriko, and it is now protecting this young human woman named Kagome. Could she be sent by Midoriko’s dead spirit to exact revenge on them all?

Her mind was swimming with all of the possibilities, but Nebthet could only hope that Sesshomaru would reveal the truth behind it all. She slowly nodded her head, as she glanced at Sesshomaru before turning her sights back to the pet curled up at Kagome’s side.

Kagome interrupted before Sesshomaru could get started. “Do you think this is a good idea?”

Sesshomaru gave Kagome a slight nod before explaining the events that led them to the world of Karnak. He spoke of their confusion upon arriving in this strange place, and the moment when Tala made his appearance. He spoke of the humans, and the knowledge of Tala and Kagome that they bestowed upon them during their short stay there. Sesshomaru tactfully left out the human’s plea for Kagome’s assistance in gaining their freedom. He just wasn’t quite sure how excepting of that issue she would be. Better that Kagome fulfills her need to help the humans in her own time and way.

Nebthet absorbed this information, and sat back in amazement when Sesshomaru finished the tale. She looked to Kagome, and said, “So you are not a Breeder, but are actually the savior to the human race. How utterly unexpected.”

“You have our deepest apologies for our deception, but surely you can understand our reasons. Our wish is to return to our world, and to do so, we will have to use the portal here on Karnak.” Sesshomaru said to Nebthet.

“I see. The portal, as you call it, has not been used for centuries. The keys have been removed. In order to see this through, we will have to speak to Anubis.” Nebthet replied.

Suddenly a male shouting at the top of his lungs interrupted the conference between the three. He sounded infuriated and his bellowing rang through the great halls. “ANUBIS!!! Get my brother in here NOW! ANUBIS!!!”

Seth had awakened.