Thawing Her Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or it's characters but I do own this fic and the character Kotaru!

Chapter 9 Inquiring Minds

Kouga slid to a stop at the gates of Sesshomaru’s fortress. Leaving the monk and taijiya behind at the barrier he had promised to return with his news. A sentry recognizing who was there opened the gates to the inner courtyard. Stepping through he stopped when he caught Kagome’s scent off to the right. Instead of making his way up the stairs he turned to where he sensed her to be. After turning the corner he sighed in relief to see her playing with Sesshomaru’s ward and the young kitsune. Smiling he called out to her. When she turned to face him he was taken aback at the ice in her eyes even her smile couldn’t penetrate. Walking swiftly up to her he gathered her in his arms hoping to melt her emotions. “ Kagome Miroku told me what that bastard mutt did. I am here to take you to my home. You will be my mate and no one will ever hurt you again.” Rubbing his nose in her hair he was surprised when she stiffened and pulled away from him. “ Kouga as kind as your offer is I can not accept it. I will not be leaving here; Sesshomaru and I have come to an agreement. I will keep my word to him.”


Silently he watched her grab up the young girl and the kitsune and walk up the path leading to the estate. Suddenly remembering her friends he called out to her to stop. “ Kagome, Miroku and Sango wait outside the barrier for you. They came to take you back. What do I tell them?” Turning back to face him she kept her hold on the children and replied, “ Tell Sango I love her and not to worry I am in no danger. However I will not be leaving with them, I meant what I said I will keep my word. I will rejoin them in a few months time.” Turning back around she disappeared through the doorway.

Kouga sighed and made his way back around to the front where he came face to face with none other than Sesshomaru himself. Looking into the icy lord’s gaze he took a step back at the anger there. “ State your business here wolf.” Glancing down to where Sesshomaru’s hand gripped the handle of Tokijin he took another step back before replying. “ Why did you take Kagome? I came here to take her with me. I am also in time for the alliance meeting am I not?” He watched the hand gripping the sword lower itself slowly. He looked again at the eyes of the lord and watched as the anger faded. “ My business is my own. As far as the miko goes I believe she already gave you her answer so I will speak no more on it except to say that you will not try to take her from here. She is under my protection, and as for the meeting yes you are on time.” Turning on his heel he left Kouga to ponder how he was going to explain to the two waiting for him that they were not going to see their friend for some time.


Inuyasha was pissed! They had thrown him off! How could they have been able to leave without him knowing? As anger slowly built he violently leapt from treetop to treetop trying to regain their scents. Kagura also found herself in a predicament, as now she would have to return to her lord and tell him of her failure. She did not relish the pain she knew awaited her when she gave her report. Giving one last glance in the hanyou’s direction she silently prayed by some miracle he had caught a familiar scent. She was not surprised to see the anger on his face telling her he had found none. With a heavy sigh she once more lifted above the trees to make her way northeast to where her master awaited his news.

Naraku waited seemingly patient for Kagura’s return. His eyes belied his calm façade; he was actually looking forward to the game ahead. Sensing his prodigal offspring’s return he glanced towards the door. Just then Kagura entered stopping ten feet from where he lay lounging. Bowing her head she said nothing waiting for him to address her first. “ Kagura my dear what have you discovered?” Slowing taking a breath she could only pray that embodiment of evil in front of her did not end her existence when she revealed her failure. “ I have gathered that Lord Sesshomaru has taken the girl to the west to his own estates. However in following her friends I have failed. Losing all trace of them after the third day my lord.” The last was spoken in barely a whisper as she waited for his swift retribution. Instead she heard something that chilled her to the bone. He was laughing!! A small shudder swept across her body as she tried to keep it at bay and failed. “ No matter it just means that the hanyou Inuyasha has lost them as well. When Sesshomaru next ventures from his lands he will be followed so that I may learn the where abouts of his strong hold. Begone Kagura your presence is no longer required.” Turning she left swiftly and silently still shuddering at the remembered sound of his laughter.


Leaving the safety of her room Kagome slowly made her way to Rin’s door and knocked. Opening the portal she saw that Rin was dressed in her formal kimono that almost mirrored her own. In fact the colors of the kimono’s and the similarities in the two girls was so similar one might have mistaken them for mother and child in passing. Studying the kimono on Rin’s small frame she noted the differences in their attire. Where her kimono was patterned in light pink sakura blossoms on a background of almost midnight blue that faded into lighter, and lighter till at her feet it became white, Rin’s was colored with the darker pink coloring of lotus blossoms in miniature. Standing off and to the right was Shippo who was also dressed in his best for the evening. He wore an emerald green haori that paired with his white hakama set off his unique coloring. Giving one last glance at the pair Kagome signaled to them it was time to make their appearance. Grabbing each hand she ushered out the door and down the hall where they met Jaken. Turning he led them through the winding maze until they reached an archway that was nearly fifteen feet in height and at least seven feet across. Stopping he motioned them to join the tables set down into the room. Kagome could not help let her eyes wander around the room once they entered. The vast hall, which it could only be referred to, was nearly as large as a modern day theatre. Seated upon a dais of sorts Lord Sesshomaru presided at the head of the tables where they met in a U shape. Noticing the empty seats next to his she motioned the children towards him. Rin and Shippo sat to his left while she took her place directly to his right. Once she was seated her curious gaze took in the number of noble youkai gathered, sweeping the room she estimated that there had to be at least fifty male youkai gathered for this meeting. Suddenly her glance hesitated as it met a familiar gaze of aquamarine. Surprise flashed briefly in hers before she once again settled her gaze upon her clasped hands.

Sesshomaru noticed the miko’s slight hesitation in her gaze as she noticed the wolf lord staring intently. Tamping down his irritation at the wolf for his forwardness he finally took in her appearance. Though he had goaded her earlier that he would indeed make his final approval on her attire he had been unable to tear himself away from his work. He was pleased to see she had not disappointed him in what he deemed appropriate for her to wear. Satisfied he turned his gaze to Rin. He was surprised to find her attire to be almost identical to the miko’s. A slight frown on his face he once again turned his gaze to the lord’s gathered for this months meeting.

He would have been blind not to notice that the wolf lord’s was not the only heated gaze that was fixed on the miko. If he was anything this Sesshomaru was not blind, and he did not fail to notice just who it was gazing at her as he let his icy gaze fall on each until they uncomfortably shifted theirs elsewhere. When he was satisfied he had made his silent point he opened the floor of the meeting while dinner was being placed in front of all. “ We need to discuss the encroaching treachery of one who desires all power in our land. I am speaking of the hanyou known as Naraku. While in the past I deemed him to be of no threat to us his continued success in gathering the shikon shards has made him drunk on his own power and an ever-growing threat.”


He swept his gaze to the Lord who spoke next. It was Lord Kotaru of the South, a dragon youkai of great strength. His eyes were almost an ice blue while his skin was golden in color. His hair being a darker blue than his eyes fell almost to his knees. He faced Sesshomaru when he spoke. “ My lord you are correct in your assumption. This half-breed known as Naraku has already encroached upon my lands and my people. He has many incarnations and minions who carry out his wishes while I have yet to see him. I am frustrated in the fact that he has eluded us thus far.”


Sesshomaru nodded before speaking next. “ Seated to my right is a miko of some renowned who may be able to shed some light on Naraku’s appearance as well as his where abouts.” Noticing the slight gasp the miko had made he turned to her and motioned her to address his court. Kagome summoning the ice into her gaze once more, surprised the majority there with her cold conviction when she spoke. “ Naraku is a vile hanyou who should not have been. Once known as a human thief by the name Onigumo he was burned over most of his person before the priestess Kikyo found him over fifty years ago. She cared for him with pity and he lusted after her, calling out to hundreds of demons he made a pact that in return for his body and soul he would gain the Shikon no Tama. Having learned of the love between the priestess and the half demon known as Inuyasha he pitted the two against each other so that he would be left victorious holding the Jewel once they had disposed of each other. However he was thwarted in this by Kikyo herself who had the jewel burned with her body at it’s passing. I am her reincarnation, and as such the new guardian of the jewel. I am also searching down the shards of the jewel so that I may destroy Naraku and purify it. All I know of his appearance is that he took on the look of a young lord; he has crimson eyes and long flowing hair. He is signaled by the smell of sulfur and blood as well as the appearance of a burn mark upon his back in the shape of a spider. All his incarnations also bear his smell and mark, after the last encounter in which he tried to absorb Lord Sesshomaru he fled. Our only clue to his where abouts is that he headed to the northeast. It will take more than sheer numbers and brute force to attack him, as my lord has stated with each shard collected he grows stronger. Our only hope is for me to obtain his part of the jewel and fuse it with mine to purify it, once I have done so his strength will have diminished allowing for his easy demise.” Bowing her head once more she sat in silence.


All who were gathered had been entranced with her tale and the ice in her gaze that had mirrored their lords. One thought that seemed to pass through the majority of the room was that this girl was as emotionless as ice. Only a certain wolf, as well as the Demon lord who sat to her left, along with one other set of eyes knew the pain that lay hidden beneath her calm. The last pair of eyes who pondered this was of the clearest blue as to be icy in coloring. Lord Kotaru having heard the woman’s tale and witnessed the almost non-existent flashes of pain and grief that were as if he imagined them. He wondered what it was that had caused this beautiful creature to try to close her heart off so. His gaze flickering to his lord he realized he had been staring and quickly brought his attention back to his setting. Silently he promised that he would get to know this miko better and wondered what her name was.


“Miroku do you think Kouga is alright? I mean he’s been in there forever.” Miroku swung his gaze back to that of Sango when he replied. “ I am sure that he is fine, remember he said that tonight was to be a meeting of sorts, he will return to let us know what has transpired.” Although he himself began to worry that Kouga had spoken the truth when he had stated that the taiyoukai would not return Kagome. “ I am just glad we were able to lose Inuyasha, I don’t think Kagome could have dealt with him this soon.” “Your right Sango but I don’t think he’ll be so easily given the slip after this.” Sighing Miroku laid back against the rock behind him, Sango followed suit snuggling into his lap. Her eyes slowly drifted closed as they both fell into a much needed sleep. Needless to say this was how Inuyasha found them but one hour later……..


OOOOH I am Evil! Hey Subaru you are truly a loyal fan! ^_^ Luv that you have been with me the whole way!

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