Evolution of a Taiyoukai

By Danyealle

(MF/FanFiction/Angst)

Chapter 11

By the time they stepped back into camp Kouga had moved on and their supper was almost done.  Spreading out her bedding, making sure to stay downwind from the hanyou, no, he didn’t care that anyone knew she was his mate but he wanted to be the one to reveal the fact to them, he settled down on it with her once more in his lap. 

After supper she and the demon lord retired to the hot springs for a bath.  When Sesshomaru broke the news to the slayer that he had claimed her bathing partner she acted as though she were heartbroken but she was grinning and there was a twinkle in her eyes the whole time.  Of course Miroku volunteered to take the little miko’s place, an offer that was instantly declined.  But she was able to wrangle an assurance from the demon lord that if some serious ‘girl talk’ was needed he would allow her to ‘steal’ her friend for the night.

Once baths were finished, supper was cleaned up and the remnants of it disposed of the pack settled around the fire to play a few games before they retired for the night.  As had become the pattern, Kagome was planted on the demon lords lap and played while he held her.  Usually, he just held her and assisted her while she played but tonight he had occupied himself with something else.  He had brought her pack with them and was using something from it assemble something or other behind her back.  She seemed to know what he was up to because she would glance over her shoulder at whatever it was from time to time and giggle or talk to him in whispers, making everyone else wonder what he was doing.

When she had finished taking her bath she had dressed in her normal sleeping attire, sleep pants and a think spaghetti-strapped sleep shirt.  Now, because the weather was getting cooler at night, she would put on a flannel shirt as well.  Sitting close to the fire tended to get hot, especially when more wood was piled on it.  Combine that with Sesshomaru’s body heat and it tended to get hot enough that she would start to sweat.  About an hour into the game they had stopped for a few minutes while Sango poured everyone a drink.  Feeling hot, Kagome slipped off the flannel shirt and set it beside her in case she got chilled later on. 

Once the drinks were served play resumed as it had before.

About a half an hour or so later Sango had asked the little miko a question about one of the rules of the game.  After answering her without looking up, Kagome kept going with what she was doing.  Expecting a confirmation that she understood and getting none within a couple minutes, she looked over at her friend.  The slayer was looking at the little priestess’ right shoulder, wide-eyed, mouth hanging open. 

Seeing her friend look at her, Sango asked, voice almost a whisper, “What’s that mark on your shoulder Kagome?”  Because of her profession, she was pretty sure she already knew what it was but she wanted to make sure before she said anything, knowing the havoc it may well cause.

Curious, both Inuyasha and Miroku looked up to see what the slayer was talking about.  The monk didn’t know what it was or have any clue as to what it might be so he waited for an answer, curious. 

Inuyasha knew exactly what it was at first glance.  First, the color drained from his face as he stared at it then, when he looked at his half-brother over her shoulder, a red flush slowly crept upwards, indication his rising anger.

Looking up with a wicked smirk on his face, Sesshomaru knew exactly what she was talking about.  Wrapping both arms around his miko’s waist, he pulled her back against his chest.  Kissing her on top of the head he then looked over at Inuyasha, eyes twinkling.

Putting her hand on her shoulder, Kagome rubbed the mark affectionately and smiled but said nothing.  Instead she glanced over her shoulder at her taiyoukai.

Nuzzling her head affectionately with his he then asked, eyes still trained on the hanyou, “What do you think it is?”

“Well, from here, it very much resembles a youkai mating mark.”  Sango told him quietly, eyes overly large and bugging out slightly.

Looking down at the mark he then looked back at the slayer.  “It looks like one from here as well.”  He told her in a flat tone.  “I suppose that’s because it is one, mine to be more specific.”  He said, eyes twinkling a bit.  Sure what was coming, he braced himself a bit.

As he expected, Sango let out a loud squeal then launched herself at Kagome, hugging her tightly when she reached her.  The monk grinned from ear to ear and offered the couple his most hearty congratulations and blessings.  Babbling excitedly, Shippo attached himself to Kagome’s chest, hugging her so tightly it made it hard to breathe.

Once everyone had settled back down and moved away, Kagome glanced over at Inuyasha.  Seeing the look on his face, she flinched then stiffened up, eyes widening.  It was obvious from his body language and the look on his face that told he was livid.  Eyes widening, she said nothing but unconsciously pressed tighter to Sesshomaru.

Eyes never leaving his half-brother, the taiyoukai gave the miko a reassuring squeeze, hoping to calm her down a bit.  Calmly, he said, “Go on half-breed, say it.”

Not even looking at the demon lord, Inuyasha focused on the little priestess.  Honestly, he felt like someone had ripped his heart out and stepped on it.  Now she was lost to him forever and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.  Worse that than, in his mind anyway, was she chose his fucking brother over him!  Now that wasn’t right!

Glancing at Inuyasha, Miroku knew what was coning beyond a shadow of a doubt.  Quickly, he made his way over to his friend and quietly tried to talk him down but he was sure, knowing Inuyasha the way he did, that it wasn’t going to work.

Ignoring the houshi completely, Inuyasha glared daggers at both Kagome and Sesshomaru but it was the little priestess he addressed when he finally spoke.  “What the fuck Kagome?  You dump me then mate with Lord Asshole a little over a week later?  What the hell is wrong with you?  You run to him to ease your broken heart or some such crap?”  He yelled; face flushing a deeper red as his anger level soared.

“What I do with him is my business Inuyasha, not yours.”  She told him quietly, eyes locked on his face.

“Do you realize what you’ve done?  You’re stuck with that fucker forever!  Death is the only way out.  I can’t rescue you from this mess Kagome!”  He shouted.

With a resigned sight, she shook her head, “I’m well aware of that Inuyasha.  I knew what I was getting into when I consented to this.  Nor do I need you to rescue me from anything.”  She told him quietly.

“Why did you do this?”  He asked genuinely bewildered.  “If it was to hurt me you succeeded because it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch!”

“Now you know how I felt when I found out about you and Kikyo.”  She shot right back.  “But you, revenge, doing it because you did or anything else like that had nothing to do with it.  You should know better than to even think that.  I’m not about to commit myself to a life long partnership with anyone just to get even with someone!”

Inuyasha’s eyes slid from the miko to his baka half-brother.

Glaring back at the hanyou, Sesshomaru was tense; waiting for what he was sure was coming.  Only thing he hoped was that it wouldn’t escalate into something violent.  He didn’t want the happiest day of his life marred by an altercation.  Nor did he want to upset Kagome by getting into it with the half-breed.

Though he wanted to launch himself at Lord Asshole and pound the shit out of him as a way to alleviate some of the hurt he was feeling, Inuyasha didn’t.  Yes, he was stunned by the speed their relationship had progressed but like the others he could see what was between the two.  Now you could see something powerful in their aura’s that you couldn’t in the aura’s of other mated couples, even those who obviously loved each other.  It was like a raw, pulsing power that was almost blinding in its intensity.  That alone was enough to tell him, despite what he may have spouted, that this pairing had come about because of what they felt for each other.

Forcing himself to calm down, he settled back on the ground but kept his eyes locked on his half-brother.  “If I ever hear anything about you hurting her in any way I will pound the living shit out of you.  Understand me fucker?”  He bit out through clenched teeth.

Knowing that threat wasn’t a personal attack, but one that was meant to let him know that he would continue to protect Kagome to the best of his ability, Sesshomaru didn’t take it personally or to incite a fight, he just nodded but said nothing.

After congratulations and well wishes were passed around the card game continued on, though the atmosphere was a bit tenser and Inuyasha was obviously upset.

Just when Sango and Miroku were both starting to think about calling it a night in hopes that sleep would somewhat work to alleviate the tension and calm things down Sesshomaru managed to do just that.

Tossing the materials he had been working with back into Kagome’s pack he then announced, “It’s done.”

The rest of the pack looked at him bewildered but Kagome looked over her shoulder at him.  “That was quick.”

Eyes twinkling, he replied, “It wasn’t a difficult task.  Are you ready?”

“Yup!”  she said, sitting up straight, hands folded in her lap.

Pulling her back against his chest, he brushed her hair over one shoulder then he slipped a necklace like Inuyasha’s, though the beads were a lighter brown color, over her head.

The sight of that ring of beads around her neck was met with dead silence and four sets of very wide eyes were staring at the couple.

Ignoring the audience, Sesshomaru pressed on.  “Let’s see if it works, shall we?”  He asked looking down at her.

“Go for it!”  She told him, trying to suppress the giggles.

“Now, what was that trigger line?”  He asked in mock concentration.  “Sit.  No, that wasn’t it.  Down?  No, not that either.  Oh yes, now I remember…  Kiss me!”  He growled looking at her.

With a giggle, she turned a bit and kissed him softly.

Almost immediately Sango, Miroku and Shippo caught on to the joke.  A big grin slid over the slayer’s face, the kit giggled much the way Kagome herself had and the monk chuckled deeply, eyes dancing.

Sitting there, Inuyasha stared at the couple for a couple minutes before what had happened fully sunk in.  Then a huge smile crossed his face.  Hopping over the fire, he crouched down in front of the futuristic miko and pulled her into a big hug.  Looking over her shoulder at Sesshomaru, he whispered, “Good joke asshole.”

Smirking, Sesshomaru just nodded but said nothing.

Shutting his eyes, Inuyasha held Kagome tightly.  When he felt her arms wrap around him, he smiled.  Once more, with that hug, she had told him she did indeed still care for him and was his friend.  Just because she was lost to him in a romantic way didn’t mean she was totally out of his life.

Pulling away, he looked at her with a wicked grin on his voice.  “I guess this means that were related now, huh?  I always wanted a little sister.”  He heard a soft snort from Sesshomaru but ignored it.

Pulling away, he looked at her then asked quietly, “Are you happy Kagome?”

“Very.”  She told him.

“That’s all that matters.”  He said, nodding.  “If that asshole pissed you off let me know and I’ll handle it.”

After giving her another hug the hanyou moved back over to his spot.  Once settled in he said, “C’mon, pull your heads out, we have a game to play here people!”

~~~~~@~~~~~

After everyone settled down after the dramatics the mood in camp lifted quite a bit and things pretty much returned to normal.  Once again there was a lot of laughing and joking around.  Even Sesshomaru would admit it was far more enjoyable than things had been since Kagome’s return.

Bedtime was much the same routine as it usually was with Inuyasha perched in a tree, Sesshomaru and Kagome curled up together on the outer edges of camp away from everyone and the rest of the pack sprawled here and there near the fire.

Though they cuddled and kissed for a while, it had been a long, stressful day for the couple so once they relaxed sleep came fairly quickly for both the miko and taiyoukai.

All in all it was an easy, calm ending to a stressful day.  Well, until about 1:00 A.M. that was.

In the middle of a rather pleasing dream about what he wanted to do to his miko, Sesshomaru was rudely yanked back to the waking world by the object of his dream’s blood-curdling scream of pure terror.  Holding her tightly to his chest, he quickly scanned for danger, nerves jangled.  When he could find nothing he looked down at her.  Though her eyes were open the glazed look to them told him she was still asleep and in the middle of another nightmare.

Shifting her around, he held her to his chest and rubbed the back of her neck, trying to sooth and calm her down while trying to coax her gently into the waking world, away from whatever was terrorizing her.

Within seconds of the scream starting, the rest of the pack were on their feet, weapons ready.  Standing in his normal ‘battle crouch’ Inuyasha had his fang drawn, ready for battle, scanning for danger while trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes.  “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”  He asked when it couldn’t find anything that would be considered danger.

“Nightmare.”  Sesshomaru explained shortly as he tried to rouse her.  Like the last time he was finding it quite difficult to get her awake.  No matter what he tried he couldn’t seem to jar her from the dream that held her in its grip.

Finally, just when real concern was taking hold, she gave a gurgling gasp and sat straight up, eyes so wide they looked like they were going to fall out.  “I’m bleeding!”  She screamed, feeling all over her body for wounds that didn’t exist, panting heavily.

“No, you’re fine.”  Sesshomaru soothed, holding her close.  “It was just another dream.”

Eyes rolling wildly, waves of terror still rolling off her, she felt all over her body for wounds and looked for blood.  “Dream?”  She panted out in an uneven voice.

Holding her tightly to his chest, he gently rubbed her back.  “Just a dream, nothing more.  You’re not injured in any way.”  He reassured her.

Looking up at him, panting, she then nodded and pressed tightly to his chest trying to calm down.  Like the others she couldn’t remember much about the dream but knew it was the same one.

When he sensed she had finally calmed enough he asked her about it to determine if it was the same one and, if it was, what she could remember of it.

“Only new things is that I felt like I’d been torn apart by something that hit me.  “She told him quietly.

“Alright.”  He told her.  “I’m here and won’t let anything happen to you so go on back to sleep.”  He soothed.

“Thanks Sesshomaru.”  She told him, giving him a gentle squeeze.

Quiet, the other members of the pack waited until the priestess was once more asleep, curled up in the taiyoukai’s arms, then began asking questions.  Like the taiyoukai, none of them had ever seen Kagome have dreams where she woke up that scared or screaming.

Rather than keep it from them, Sesshomaru told them about the dream and the suspicion that it was a premonition.  He also told them what little she could remember of it.  Though there wasn’t much he figured it was best they knew because it might jog something later on down the line.

Of course, as usual, there was a lot of discussion about it before everyone once more returned to their beds and tried to sleep.

Once he could sense everyone was once more sleeping, Sesshomaru let out a deep sigh then leaned his head back against the tree he was propped against and shut his eyes.  For the first time in his entire life he now knew what pure terror felt like.  No, he hadn’t felt it for himself but he had hers through their mating bond and he never wanted to feel it again nor want her to either.  Though that was what he wanted he knew no way to prevent it.  How could you battle something that is in someones mind?  As far as he knew there wasn’t any way to do that.  All he could come up with had to do with that mating mark.  If he could feel her terror through it then, perhaps, he could send her comfort through it as well.  Also, he was going to try to see if he couldn’t catch a glimpse of part of the dream.  If he could maybe he would be able to figure out what it was or share it with the pack and see if they could help sort it out or at least have something that may assist.  If that didn’t help then he would try to come up with something else.  His rational mind told him that she had only had three of these dreams so far, that wasn’t something to get all worked up over.  But his instinctual side was telling him this was only the beginning.  From past experience, he tended to put stock in his instincts and go where they led him.  If all that didn’t work he would try to come up with something else as the situation presented its self.

Settling down, he held her as close as he could.  Stroking her back softly, he did another quick scan around for danger then allowed himself to relax.  With a mental sigh, he tried to slide towards sleep once more but quickly found that wasn’t going to come to him as easily as it usual did.  The memory of her terror was haunting him and was more than a touch disturbing.