A Sister's Gift

Chapter 37 – Enemies and Friends

Onigumo studied this woman before him. She was perfect, and he wanted her with an urgency pouring through his loins. Her pure countenance and fiery spirit drew the darkness in him. Her petite figure full of womanly curves beckoned to his manhood.

A growl suddenly snapped him back to reality.

The taiyoukai at her side was growling at him. Her ‘mate’.

Hasun was a fountain of information, when carefully pushed. He had been anxious to share his dining experience with his cousin, who happily let him. One must know one’s enemies.

The mating mark could not be seen directly. She kept it hidden well from prying eyes, but Onigumo could smell it. He could smell the taint of the inuyoukai on this dainty little miko, and it infuriated him.

Onigumo flung a heated glare at the youkai slave.

Sesshomaru couldn’t believe what the arrogant bastard had just done. Instead of backing away from Kagome, Onigumo sent him, her mate, an inflamed look of hatred!

Hatred?

No matter, Sesshomaru had quite enough of the bastard glaring at Kagome as if she were a piece of meat on a hook, and he was a starving rat.

Another growl. An intense step forward. Clawed fingers stretch and flex, popping joints in readiness.

Hasun suddenly became aware of the deadly situation arising. The guards standing around the two noblemen also went on the defensive, coming to step between the Youkai Protector and the Prince, as well as the lord Onigumo. A look of horror passed over the face of the miko Kagome, and Hasun decided it was time he intervene. “My, my Onigumo, it seems Sesshomaru here, has taken a dislike to you.”

Onigumo stepped back, and quickly averted his gaze from the taiyoukai. It wouldn’t do to draw too much attention to himself. Nothing must interfere with his plan.

With a slight nod, Onigumo regained control of his rage. “Yes, my prince. It would seem so.” He turned his eyes back to Kagome for one last fleeting glance. “Though I can’t imagine why?”

Kagome watched as the guards followed the prince and his cousin away. She finally remembered to take a breath of much needed air. Then she turned on Sesshomaru, “What was that all about?”

Sesshomaru stepped back to his place behind her with a grunt, but refused to answer. His thoughts were on the ‘man’, Onigumo. Something wasn’t right about him, and it had nothing to do with his obvious interest in Kagome, although the mere thought of another man lusting after his mate sent him into a near fever to render much spilled blood over the land. He felt a foreboding deep inside, and it centered around the cousin of the Emperor.

Inuyasha watched the show with slightly veiled cynicism. The hell Sesshomaru gave him for showing his ass the other night was well due a counter attack for the shit he just pulled. “Damn, old dog, you act more like me than you want to admit!”

Sesshomaru was in no mood for Inuyasha’s mouth at the moment, and before anyone gained control of their senses, he promptly smashed the whelp against the nearest tree, resulting in the death of said tree, as it slowly careened over to land loudly on the ground.

“What the hell was that for?!” Inuyasha yelled. “You need to get a grip asshole, before I rip your liver out and eat it for lunch!”

Sesshomaru was seeing nothing but red as he tightened his hold on Inuyasha’s throat, making it impossible for the ignorant pup to utter another disrespectful word. “You would do well to keep your mouth shut half-breed!”

A tiny slip of a hand came to rest on his shoulder, sending a wave of warmth through his infuriated body. He turned to look into the face of his worried mate, and felt the remainder of his anger melt away. Sesshomaru dropped his death grip on Inuyasha’s throat, and the hanyou hit the ground with a thud.

Kikyo promptly rushed to his side with worry, while Inuyasha rubbed his throat. As Kikyo began feeling his neck for further damage, he muttered, “Just like old times. He gets pissed at someone else, and takes it out on me.”

Sesshomaru chose to ignore the mutterings of Inuyasha, instead allowing Kagome to sooth his frazzled nerves. Her gentle hand played across his chest calming the savage beast.

“Well, well, looks like ‘little miss perfect’ would like to sooth her taiyoukai slave in more ways than one. How utterly revolting.” Sadae said in a voice laden with disgust.

The sound of that ‘crows’ voice drew Kagome’s attention to the crowd that was now standing around them. Apparently this whole situation didn’t go un-noticed. ‘Just my luck.’ Before she could utter a reply, a male voice spoke up.

“He’s her mate, and right now you’d do well to leave him be, miko.”

All eyes turned to the ookami protector who spoke. His mistress shot him a warning look, and he promptly lowered his gaze in submission.

The eyes that were on the ookami, at once turned back to Kagome and Sesshomaru. Then a shrill round of laughter burst from the mouth of Sadae. “Mate?!” She laughed a little more. “Oh, but that is rich, indeed! A miko mated to a filthy youkai!” The mere thought of it sent her hurling into another bout of uncontrollable laughter.

In a flash of red and white, Kagome moved. Her action proved faster than that of any mere mortal, and before Sadae knew what hit her Kagome landed a hard blow, with her right foot, to the woman’s chest. The force of the hit knocked her across the courtyard to land with a ‘humph’ as the air was forced from her lungs on impact.

Kagome was more than stunned at what had just occurred. Had she done that? ‘Time to think later. Right now, deal with the crowd.’ Kagome sent a steel glare to all that stood gawking before her, and immediately she felt Sesshomaru’s warmth against her back. He was emitting a deep growl from his chest, and she knew without looking that his gaze of death was accompanied by the bestial baring of long sharp fangs. That thought comforted her somewhat and gave her the courage she needed to issue a warning.

Kagome forced the words through her mouth in a furious threat, “Yes, Mate. The mate of a taiyoukai, and you would all take care to remember that fact before angering me!”

She could have sworn she caught that ookami grinning.

The crowd around them soon dispersed after a few of them pulled Sadae back to her hut. Kagome relaxed in a slump, before returning to the Kikyo and Inuyasha. Both of them had a mischievous smile plastered on their face. She couldn’t help but to roll her eyes at the insanity of it all.

Inuyasha was speechless. Almost. “Damn Kagome! You kicked her ass good!”

“Hush Inuyasha, Kikyo chastised. You’ve got yourself into enough trouble tonight.” Kikyo turned to Kagome with a big smile. “You know, he’s right though. You kicked her ass good.”

Kagome laughed. She couldn’t help it. She did kick her ass, and it felt great!

The mistress of the ookami, stepped up to Kagome, followed closely by her protector. She smiled at Kagome before saying, “I would like to apologize for Tooru. He had no right to blurt out your status as the taiyoukai’s mate. Apparently all the youkai protector’s have been aware of your mating bond, but I guess everyone knows now.”

The ookami in question never raised his eyes, but Kagome could sense his regret. “Oh well, I hate keeping secrets anyway.” Kagome cheerfully added. “What’s your name?”

“I am the miko Tokie, and this is Tooru, my Protector. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kagome.” Tokie said with a warm smile.

Kagome turned to the others, “This is Sesshomaru, my mate as you know, and this little girl here is Rin. Over there is Kikyo, and recovering on the ground is Inuyasha.”

Kikyo spoke up then, shocking everyone with her boldness. “Inuyasha is my mate.”

Inuyasha was dumbfounded. She wasn’t marked, so why did she say that? “Kikyo, have you gone crazy?”

Kikyo only giggled. She was tired of hiding her relationship with Inuyasha. If Kagome can handle the abuse from others, then so could she. “Maybe I have, Inuyasha. Maybe I have.”

~~~~

A pair of red eyes watched the display, hidden from sight. The spy observed the actions of the miko and taiyoukai. The miko was fast and strong, taking out her opponent with little effort. The master would find this interesting.