Chronicles of the West

Chapter Eighty Seven

Sesshoumaru surveyed the members of his parties. Full demons had pulled others to them and curled in upon themselves. The fastest mode of travel to leave the castle that appeared ready to crumble in upon itself. The added bonus to this mode of travel was that the winged creations could not keep up with them.

They were beyond the site of the barrier now and Sesshoumaru called a short halt. The barrier was gone, and scent returned to the area. He let his senses spread outward, but could detect no pursuers. He looked at the others. Satoru was in need of medical attention. His wounds not healing as they should.

Josin was up to something. Ryu had refused to let go of Silvana, keeping her close, nuzzling her hair and face. Layering his scent on her once more, ridding her of the taint of the maker. Toga looked perplexed. Most likely wanting to have stayed to make certain the castle fell. That was of little use however, for Josin and Sero had escaped them, for the time being.

"We will return to the west after we meet our forces" he decided. Inuyasha nodded his agreement, "Have the others return to that castle and burn it down" he muttered. Sesshoumaru grunted. "Without their equipment they will be slowed in their efforts to produce more fighters" Satoru said.

Inuyasha moved to crouch beside his son. He understood the pain of having to fight against an old love. Especially one that blamed you for their untimely death. "Your wounds don't look so good" he said. Satoru eyed a large slash on his arm, "They will heal father".

Inuyasha grunted, "He hit you with more than purification" he commented, "You know that don't you?". Satoru nodded. He could feel the dark resentment curling through him. This came from Reny. An emotional poison spread through the bond that they had shared in life.

"It will not kill me" Satoru assured his father, "I will need mother however". Kagome could force the tainted energies from him fully. She was purely miko and therefore carried no emotional or demonic darkness. Inuyasha nodded and looked back to Sesshoumaru. "I'll go and relay your orders to the men, I'll see the place burned out. You go ahead to the west".

Sesshoumaru nodded and ordered the others onto the waiting oni mounts. Satoru and Toga would go ahead of them, since he wanted his nephew at full strength when the battle came and it would come. Toga pulled his cousin against him, "Let me do it, you need all your energy at the moment" he snapped as Satoru tried to curl upon himself. Sesshoumaru watched the orb rise and shoot westward.

Silvana leaned back against Ryu's chest, his arms tightening around her. She reached down and laid her hand on his thigh. "I was so afraid" she whispered to him. Ryu pressed his cheek against hers, "I am sorry it took so long to reach you. We felt your power. That must have exhausted you. Rest now. When we get home I'm claiming you". She nodded and nestled closer to his warmth.

Behind them, Elda sighed with relief against Madu. Silvana had been saved, and she had as well. She peered up at the handsome wolf. Reaching her fingertips towards his face, she hesitantly touched his jaw.

Aqua eyes lowered to settle on her face. Elda wondered if Madu had ever looked more handsome to her than he did at that moment. Lifting her head she surprised him, pressing her lips against the corner of his mouth.

Madu growled softly, tapping her tongue with his own. He nipped her lower lip and pulled away, "That's enough of that woman" he said gruffly but his tone said he didn't mind, "Plenty of time for that later". She pressed her face beneath his chin and smiled.

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Taima paced her rooms. She was rarely so active as this, she hadn't slept in days. Something was wrong. Something was coming. Something good, but evil and she was trying to untangle the webs of her visions.

"Taima" Tohru called, "You must rest". Taima eyed the younger demoness for a moment. "I cannot" she said simply, "I must know, must know what this means". She growled in frustration. Tohru watched her pace for a quarter hour more.

Suddenly Taima's head snapped up, "Satoru has come. Tohru you must bring my brother to me at once" she commanded. Tohru swallowed, rarely did Taima demand things from others. She rose and rushed up the steps, glad her father had allowed her entrance to Taima's shadowy domain.

She rushed into the courtyard as Toga and Satoru took humanoid form. "Satoru!" she cried out, "You must come at once. Taima demands you come". Satoru blinked and slowly straightened. Taima demanded? "I will come Tohru"

He made his way down the steps of stone, letting the comforting dark of his sister's world envelope him. He reached the base of the steps and saw her. Like the moon, she glowed in the darkness. She approached him slowly, her aura flaring. She felt it. The blot lingering within him.

"Lie down Satoru" she commanded, pointing to her bed. He made his way there, and her heart ached. He looked terrible. "No Satoru" she said softly, "You must take your true form". He gritted his teeth and let his control fall. His angelic features stretching as his muzzle elongated.

He was not yet as large as Sesshoumaru, and so he fit easily into the large bed. Most times Taima preferred true form, it was not restrictive. She approached the bed slowly, holding her hand out to her injured sibling. His pristine fur marred by bloody wounds and blackened fur.

She saw her human face reflected in one large eye and slid her hands over his muzzle. "This will hurt Satoru" she whispered, "I am sorry". He blinked once and then the pain began. His sister stroking her hands over his form, purification rippling through him.

He whimpered softly as it entered his wounds, he felt the sizzle and sting of pure meeting impure. Taima was using a great deal of her energy to heal him. As she cleansed his body of the darkness, she soothed his soul, calmed his mind. "Sleep now".

Taima winced as the dark entered her body, she was killing it off within herself. It would cause him less pain this way. Her mother could not handle this. She would be able to heal her son, but she would not be able to arm him with that thing he so desperately needed to fight the coming battle. "Forgive me" she whispered.

Taima squeezed her eyes shut and forced her soul to split. This would kill her eventually. But she had to fight with the rest of them. This was the only way she knew how. Satoru would not know until it was too late, that is how she wanted it. She was tired of a half life and the haunting of her visions.

She forced half of herself into her brother, sealing it away. It would be his weapon. Her greatest strength, and he would need it more than she soon. She let her hands fade and exhaustion overtook her, she slumped forward and fell against her brother's soft and once again spotless fur. In his forced slumber, his large paw tucked around her smaller body protectively.

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Toga sought out his mother after giving Satoru over to his younger sister's care. He would be fine. He didn't have to look far to find Ayeka. She was perched in his father's study on the large chair that seemed to fit his father. She was dwarfed by it.

She was currently reading the latest reports, her brow furrowed in thought. The shadows beneath her eyes gave testament to her exhaustion. Toga watched, wondering how long it would take for her to notice him.

"You are far too tired to be checking reports mother" he announced. She blinked and lifted her head, "Toga?" she whispered. Her son was quick to catch her as she came around the large desk and threw herself into his arms. "I was so worried".

He kissed her hair and she leaned back to look at him, her tired eyes searching his features. "Where is your father? Your brother? Inuyasha?" she asked. He chuckled at her stream of questions. "They are returning to the west as we speak" he assured her.

She sighed and nodded, "Good, that's good. Are they safe, Silvana and the wolfess?". He gave her a nod, "Of course, failure is not an option to us". She smiled, "Ah, I nearly forgot" she teased him. Toga watched her move back behind the desk. "You should rest" he told her. She eyed him, "Why is it that every male in this compound wants to order me about?" she asked.

Toga grunted, "Satoshi been nagging at you too?" he asked. She rolled her green eyes. "Like a mother hen. And don't you start" she warned, holding up one finger. Toga growled softly but held his tongue. Father could deal the hellcat that birthed him.

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Sesshoumaru arrived at the palace later that night. He had been briefed on Satoru being taken to Taima. He descended the steps to the subterranean chamber and looked to the large bed. The massive white dog that was Satoru was curled around the human form of his frail sister.

Sesshoumaru sensed their exhaustion and let them be with orders that a guard was to remain posted in the event that Satoru woke and wished to be released. Once he was certain that all was well, he strode to his study. There were several missives that must be written. As he had no doubts that Ryu would be claiming the elemental with all haste.

Toga would probably wish to follow suit, he would deal with that tomorrow however. He paused in the hall, noticing Satoshi outside his study door. His subordinate seemed quite pleased to see him. "Satoshi" he said by way of greeting.

The captain bowed, "My lord I am glad that you have returned". Sesshoumaru grunted, "The borders?" he asked. Satoshi shook his head, "Water tight, Lady Ayeka has been most aggressive in the protection of the west". Sesshoumaru nodded, "Why is that you are guarding my study?" he asked. His nose told him that his mate was inside. She would have been in bed.

Satoshi blinked, "I am to guard your wife my lord" he said plainly. Sesshoumaru nodded, he could take issue with his stubborn woman later. "I must pen two missives, Satoshi, I want them taken to the recipients in all haste. I shall give them to you momentarily". He pushed the door open slowly and stepped over the threshold.

He spotted his wife at once, asleep at his desk, a brush still in her hand. He crept closer to her and knelt beside her coming level with her face. She was pale, purple smudges under her eyes. He frowned, his golden eyes scanning the desk. She'd been very busy obviously.

He plucked the brush from her fingers and she shifted, blinking as the sound of shuffling parchments roused her. "Sesshoumaru" she sighed. He did not bother to look at her, he was completing the missives he'd come about. "You should be in our chambers wife" he admonished gently, "You haven't been resting". He signed his name with an elegant flourish and sanded the ink.

She lifted her head and pushed her bangs from her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked him. He looked at her, "Time for good wives to be in bed" he replied. She smirked, "Have you more than one my lord?" she asked. He blinked. "More than one wife? Of course not" he replied offended by the very idea.

Ayeka rose unsteadily to her feet, "Then your good wife is not in bed". He handed her the missives and lifted her into his arms. She didn't protest, just leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was asleep almost instantly.

He strode from the room then, Satoshi blinking at the sight of his lord and lady. "The missives" Sesshoumaru told him. Satoshi plucked them from Ayeka's hand. "Good night my lord" he said, "I shall see to these at once".

Sesshoumaru continued upwards and down the long hall to the tall double doors that guarded his most private realm. His tiny wife curled in his arms like a contented kitten. He set her on the bed and then began to remove her elaborate uniform.

She woke and rolled over, "Uhg, no…. need bath" she muttered half asleep. Sesshoumaru took his own travel stained state. He might not look it but he did feel it. Shrugging out of his clothing he scooped his wife up again and headed for the steaming baths.

Ayeka was more awake now. "What did you find?" she asked him. Sesshoumaru was currently soaping his shining fall of hair, "No greeting wife?" he asked lightly, "Pestering me with questions instead. I should make you my interrogator".

She moved to stand behind him, pressing herself against his back. "I ask because I care, because I worry and when we leave this bath, I don't want to talk" she whispered. Sesshoumaru spun in her embrace, lifting her against the solid plane of his chest.

His lips found hers and she opened her lips for him on contact, needing him. He growled low in his throat, and ravaged her mouth. Her hands tangled in his silver hair, her tongue sliding against his. She moaned into his mouth. He shoved her against the side of the bath and lifted her from the water.

She cried out seconds later as he buried his face between her pale thighs, teasing and caressing her slick folds with his wet tongue. Ayeka had missed him too much, needed him too greatly. Her release shattered through her a very short time later.

Sesshoumaru growled as he rolled her onto her stomach and pulled her back against him, impaling her on his length. His head fell back at the feeling of her body, wet and tight around him. She moaned loudly as he filled her. The coupling almost violent in it's intensity.

Sesshoumaru fisted his hand in her long, bright hair, pulling her head back as he began to pump into her. His thrusts hard and measured. He grunted, covering her body with his own. His long hair falling forward to pool around her on the hard wooden floor.

Feeling his release closing in, he slipped his hand between her thighs and pressed on her pearl. Each thrust causing that delicious friction. Sesshoumaru listened to her pant and whimper and growled loudly. He nipped her ear, "Come for me bitch, you are mine". His words were followed by the eruption of his seed within her. She cried out his name, feeling that warmth flood her womb. It triggered her own orgasm and she clamped hard around him, making him hiss in pleasure.

Long minutes later, he pulled her trembling form back into the water and tenderly bathed their combined fluids from her and then himself. When he settled her into bed, he came down atop her and kissed her deeply. "You should have rested" he told her, taking in her tired expression. Tired but blissful.

She brushed his silver hair over his shoulder, "I can't rest when you are away" she told him. Sesshoumaru nuzzled her ear and shifted his weight to the side, leaving her pinned under half his muscular length. "I am home now wife, you can rest and I will make certain that you do. We have much to see to tomorrow".