Kryptonite
By Danyealle
(fanfiction/MF/HC/Abuse)
Chapter 3
It took an hour for the healer to finish treating Kagome. That was the first time that Sesshomaru realized just how long an hour could stretch out for because while he waited it felt like an eternity. All he could do was try to force himself to concentrate on something else. Finally, he retired to his room to try to relax.
While he was trying to do that he couldn’t help it, his mind drifted back to the miko and the shape she was in. Immediately his temper began to spike once more. It angered him on many levels. Firstly, because she didn’t deserve this. For as long as he had known her both as a friend and before that, she had pretty much been the same person, personality-wise. Though, like other members of the boy’s pack, he had changed and matured a bit. He would admit that she had calmed down and her temper had leveled out a bit. That’s why he couldn’t, on one level anyway, understand why Inuyasha didn’t start the abuse until after they had mated. The miko that had become his mate was a calmer, less volatile version of the onna the whelp had met. Then there was the fact that they boy had known for years what she was like so it wasn’t behavior that would have surprised him. His best guess was it had to do with power. The boy now had someone to lord over and it appeared to have gone to his head.
Yes, that always angered him when he saw such things as part of his life but it wasn’t the only reason. As he had told her she was friend and being that it brought out his natural protection instincts. He wouldn’t, if he could at all help it, allow someone to cause her harm because of it. It was a similar mentality that he had when it came to Rin.
But, he was sure, those weren’t the biggest reasons that this was bothering him the way it was. He was positive that it had more to do with Kagome herself. Kagome, despite all she had been through and all she had seen, was still very much an innocent and pure being. He was sure that she would remain that way until the day she passed from this realm to the next. It was doubtful that there was any power in the universe that could ever take that from her. There was no way that Inuyasha wasn’t aware of that as well yet the boy seemed to, by way of his actions-being conscious or unconscious of it, trying to strip her of it. It seemed the whelp wasn’t to drag her down until she was on level with him rather than appreciate her for what she was. Or maybe he had taken offense at it and was punishing her for it. Either way it was jut plain wrong. From his perspective that would be like stripping Rin of her nature and who she was. He couldn’t understand why someone would profess to love someone enough to mate with them then want to change part of who they were. That made exactly no form of sense to him.
The subject was making his temper rise even more so he mentally switched his train of thought to another topic: just what he was going to do with her and how to handle the besmirching on his and the family’s name and honor.
Quite frankly, the end dealing with Kagome and what to do with her was the easy end of the equation. As he told her she would now be traveling with him. He would also be in charge of ensuring her protection when they were traveling and when they weren’t. That was easy enough. In fact, it was probably easier than doing so with Rin because Kagome could defend herself and could wield a weapon that she was quite proficient with. Plus she knew to stick with the group and not to go wandering off on her own like Rin did at times.
While it would be easier in some ways there were factors that would make it more complex as well. Because she was the Shikon Miko and always had jewel shards in her possession there were problems. Then there was the fact that Naraku targeted her because of who and what she was. That was going to lead to him having to make a couple very hard decisions about a few things. Tossed into the mix was the fact that Kagome was used to a pack dynamics that were far different than his. That would probably lead to some adjustment issues at first. Coupled with that, she would probably miss her friends for the first few weeks or so. He was well aware that they were more family than friends so that was going to compound the issue. But he was sure that was one that would work it’s self out with jut a bit of time.
Though those were things he did have to consider they were only half the problem. The other half dealt with what he was going to do with her and how to restore what little family honor there was left to salvage. That wasn’t going to be easy. Yes, taking her away from the boy and not trying t cover up what he had done was a large step in the right direction but it was only the first one.
Normally, if the victim of the abuse was human the whole issue could be dealt with quickly and quietly. They could be set up in their own place then be cared for in a prescribed manner and that would be that. But in Kagome’s case it wouldn’t be that easy because of who and what she was.
Usually the only humans youkai bothered themselves with were nobility or those currently in power but almost all those in upper level youkai society knew who and what Kagome was. So he couldn’t just slip her away without anyone saying anything. With an ironic mental snort he thought that he doubted that Inuyasha realized the by mating with Kagome he had risen in the esteem of a society he ignored. Then, by abusing her, he fell to a depths few ever reached. Then he had left Sesshomaru with a problem of epic proportions to deal with.
One of the few saving graces of the whole thing was going to be the fact that he was going to have a whole year to deal with changes and decide what to do. Though there were a few things, such as introducing her to youkai society, that would need to be done, for the most part he didn’t have to decide right away on some of the bigger issues.
Sighing, he silently cursed the half-breed for what he had done and the mess he had pulled him into. At this point he was sure that it was going to be expected to take her as his mate to correct the wrong that was done to her. That raised a two-pronged problem: Kagome’s reaction to it as well as his own.
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he let out a soft, irritated growl. This part, as he well knew, was going to be a nightmare in the making. If he looked at it from the little priestesses end he felt a twinge of sympathy for her. She had just been taken from a nightmarish situation and she wouldn’t even be able to fully heal from her physical wounds let alone start to lick her psychological ones before he was pretty sure that those around her would start to bring up the topic of mating with her. Knowing her the way he did he was fairly certain that she wasn’t going to handle it well at all. Nor was she going to be ready to make such a big, life-altering decision just yet. For a youkai it would be no big deal. They understood what was the way things were done and would know the reasons behind it so they would accept it. All of this was foreign to her and, from conversations with her, he knew that this wasn’t the way things ere done where she was from. Plus, he was sure that she would be wary about once more putting herself back into the situation that got her into the nightmare to begin with. Topping that was it would be with the half-brother of the being that did the damage in the first place.
In that area he was going to be his own worse enemy. They had a good relationship at this point but that hadn’t always been the case and she knew that he could be just as violent as Inuyasha if not more so in some cases. Of course she also knew he had far more self control than the whelp and that he was honorable. He hoped that his word that the hanyou’s disgrace wouldn’t be repeated with him would be enough to reassure her. But he wasn’t sure if those weren’t going to be all her concerns. Others are bound to cop up as well. But he couldn’t prepare for what he didn’t know so he was going to have to wait to talk to her to get a feel for what her perspective was before he dealt with it on his end.
Shifting around, he made himself comfortable then focused on the sister issue to Kagome and the mating: how he himself felt about the whole thing. For the most part he wasn’t really sure but surprisingly he really wasn’t against the situation either. When it came to that he knew why he felt that way
As he was well aware he was going to have to take a mate soon or there were going to be problems with the other lords. Already he was barraged with offers of political unions with various relatives of other members of the nobility. None of which he had any interest in.
Long ago he had known he would probably take a mate for reasons other than he chose them he had feelings for them. Chances were that he probably wouldn’t know them well at all when the mating took place. If he took Kagome as a mate to rectify the debacle with Inuyasha that would change. No, they weren’t having any kind of torrid affair nor was he in love with her but she was a friend and he was quite comfortable with her. Mating with her was something he could easily deal with and was a far sight better than doing such with someone he barely knew. Because of their existing relationship there was a trust between them and he wouldn’t have the doubts about her motives. That was a big plus.
Another upside to it was Kagome herself. Yes, she had a power of her own that court and the aristocracy in general would respect to a certain extent but her personality would as well. As he well knew her personality and nature had a way of making people comfortable and winning people over. Add to that she was intelligent and well spoken and she was, theoretically, the perfect Lady of the Western Lands other than she was ningen.
From his perspective it wasn’t just her being suitable in the area of duties that held appeal. He enjoyed talking with her about many subjects. She was far from the ningen fool he had initially though her to be and he had come to respect her intellect. He was also comfortable with her around. Her nature and personality were such that he was at ease when she was near so he could see the merits and would be comfortable to an extent with her as a mate.
But it was best not to plan for such big things if you didn’t know the other party’s thoughts on the matter. So rather than go down that road he hooked a turn and began to plan out how he was going to broach the subject with her.
~~~~~@~~~~~~
As he was formulating a plan to broach the subject with Kagome he was drawn out of his thoughts by a quiet knock on his door. When he opened it the healer told him that they had finally finished. Nodding to her, he followed her while she explained what they had done and detailed the true extent of her injuries. Hearing just how badly she was hurt once more brought back the urge to kill the whelp but he fought it off.
When they were inside the little miko’s chambers she told him to have someone sit with her for the night because chances were she would need something for pain when she woke. Excusing herself, she left him alone then headed back to her chambers.
Like with many things in his life he was loathe to leave her care to his staff. The way he saw it she was his responsibility now and until she adjusted to the change in environment he would personally keep watch and make sure her needs were attended to. Having the two maids that were in attendance grab the bag she carried her bedding in, he picked up the little miko and carried her to his room. Once there he had them pull her pillows out and arrange them on the bed then he laid her down. Immediately, she flopped over and curled up to her body pillow.
When he had everything arranged he dismissed the maids then settled on the bed beside her, sitting up. Grabbing one of the pillows that she wasn’t using he put it behind his head and leaned back against the headboard and relaxed. One of the presents she had brought him at one time was a pillow from her time. He was pleasantly surprised to find out how comfortable it was so he wasn’t going to subject her to anything else. If they gave her added comfort then he would ensure she had it.
When he was sure she was comfortable and wasn’t going to wake any time soon he sifted around a bit. Being told what her injuries were and seeing them for himself. No, he wasn’t going to strip her or expose anything that he knew would embarrass her but he felt he had to see them. Gently, he lifted or pushed her clothes aside until he was sure he had the totality of her injuries. Of course the urge to kill the boy came back full force and it was a bit harder to fight off this time.
Finally, he leaned back and shut his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. It wouldn’t do to have her wake up then be assaulted with his inflamed aura. It would probably scare the wits out of her. She was bound to be a bit upset and stressed out because of what had happened anyway so she didn’t need to feel that kind of thing from him.
Sighing, he relaxed and tried to focus on what was to come and things that were going to need to be done.
~~~~~@~~~~~
Running at top speed, Inuyasha tried to keep an eye on the trail ahead of him and where the fire cat was in the air but that wasn’t easy. His min was spinning and racing all over the place. Combine that with the almost overwhelming feeling of dread enveloping him. Though he tried to convince himself that this was all for some other reason deep down he didn't believe any of it. He knew why the bastard had taken her and that things weren’t going to be pretty when they showed up at the fortress. In fact, he was dreading what would happen when they got there.
No, it wasn’t the confrontation with Sesshomaru that was bothering him, he could easily handle that like he always did. What he was dreading was the monk and slayer overhearing the reason for the abduction. Up to this point he had been able to successfully hide or explain away her injuries to them. Most of them he had been able to chalk up to her being a klutz. In the past they had seen plenty of examples of that. But he had been able to cover up his track in other ways. Firstly, he made sure Kagome covered up any injuries she had with either clothes or make-up. The clothes hadn’t raised any eyebrows but the make-up had. But he had dealt with that easily enough. He had made it a point to announce that he liked how she looked with the goop on her face so that ended any questions about it. Then he had made sure that she no longer took baths with Sango. He took baths with her instead, as everyone would have expected. But mostly of all he had made sure the dingy big-mouthed priestess kept her trap shut about the whole thing. No, he hadn’t threatened her but he had phrased it in such a way it could easily have been taken as such. And it had worked because she had kept her trap shut about it. He just hoped like hell she had kept her mouth shut and his bastard brother was only going on guesswork. If that was the case then he had some wiggle room.
While there was at least a glimmer of hope he began to kick himself for allowing her to go meet Sesshomaru alone yet again. He had understood for quite some time that she and Lord Fuckhead had some kind of weird friendship. Also, that part of the reason for that was Rin. She brought the brat stuff like she did Shippo. Yes, he understood the human child needed a human female influence in her life, and that Kagome was perfect for that, but that didn’t mean he had to like it! Because, quite frankly, he didn’t. he was always wary around Sesshomaru, never sure what he was up to. He was also aware about his sense of honor. If Sesshomaru found out what he had done to Kagome he knew the taiyoukai wouldn’t hesitate to take her away as societal laws dictated then he would play hell getting her back and there was no guarantee he would succeed.
On the heels of that came the thought that someone was going to pay for this shit! The time and trouble it was causing was bad enough but the humiliation of having someone taking his mate like one would take a toy away from a misbehaving child was out and out infuriating! Nor did they have the right to do that. And for that they would pay a dear, steep price!
Slowly, that feeling of dread began to morph into a pure fury. All he could think about was that someone had the balls to skip off with something that was his! Brother or not the fucker had no right to do this. He also had no right to stick his nose into someone’s private life and business. The fucker had avoided and hated him all his life, even now he wanted nothing to do with him, so what gives him the right to suddenly step into his life and basically dictate to him what he should/shouldn’t be doing? Yes, he understood Sesshomaru had to deal with youkai society and the rules/laws that governed that but he and Kagome weren’t associated in any way with that crap so they weren’t bound by all that bullshit. If the taiyoukai wanted to follow all that shit that was up to him but he sure as hell wasn’t going to. Nor was Kagome. Being hanyou, he wasn’t accepted by him anyway so fuck all that noise.
When he got to the fortress he would be getting his miko back one way or another. That was his mate and no one, especially Lord Asshole, had the right to interfere!
Giving another internal growl, je just hoped that the fucker hadn’t already started filling her head with all kinds of bullshit or started trying to convince her this was his ‘right’. But he forced himself to remember that, despite all his faults and the dumb shit he had pulled, that she loved him and would never leave him.
But on the heels of that came something else… When he got his mate back they would have to have a long talk. He would promise to change and knock off the shit. And he would do it too! No more hurting her. Between the two of them they would figure out some way to stop him before he got to the point of hurting her again. Between the two of them he was sure they could come up with something. On his end he would work on his self control. He could make sure he never did it again. Really, he loved Kagome with all his heart and would do anything for her. That’s why he couldn’t understand why he hurt her. She loved him and treated him better than anyone ever had yet he hurt her. Sure, he had hit women in the pas but they had been nothing but whores or stupid bitches that had deserved it. Kagome wasn’t like that yet he did the same thing to her. That wasn’t right!
Squaring his shoulders, he made the silent vow of never again once more. Never again would he hurt her. He would treat her better. With a renewed sense of vigor, he pushed himself to move faster. He needed to get there so he could get back what belonged to him faster. “Move your asses!” He shouted at the others over his shoulder as he pushed himself.