Work Text:
Illumination
Sesshōmaru had always felt that he didn’t belong, especially amongst his peers. He was cunning, intelligent, and driven to a fault. While other children were playing or being coddled he’d been handed swords, and scrolls and told to study. If there was a game to play it should only be Go. He got rather tired of playing Go; especially with his father's advisors.
As Father was often off at war, and his mother was often off in her palace in the clouds, it was just Sesshōmaru and the servants and the concubines. Though the servants' children were of the same age as he, he was forbidden to play, and instead only watched from his room, or the library, or his father's study.
As he grew he became adept at swordplay, knowledgeable in all subjects, and unbeatable at Go.
Sesshōmaru’s mother had come down from her palace in the sky during a mild winter, where snow had blanketed the earth, and the servants' children were playing. His mother had scoffed, annoyed at the noise. “Look at my son, quiet and poised, as you should be,” she praised, but all he’d felt was ice in his veins.
His father came home soon after, took one look at him, scoffed, and took his mother to bed, along with four of their favored concubines. Sesshōmaru shrugged it off but felt burning rage at being dismissed.
So it went on for centuries, nary a glance in their son’s direction. He grew, so too did his yōki, and his great power.
His father finally took notice, but instead of praise, there was fear and anger. His only son had garnered the rank Dai-Yōkai in his adolescence far earlier than either of his very powerful parents.
Neither one praised him.
His peers feared him.
Sesshōmaru continued to grow.
|~|
Centuries past once more and Inu-Yasha was born. Right as he’d been on the cusp of adulthood. The human female had popped out a hanyo who was suddenly the apple of everyone’s eyes
His father doted, his mother cooed, and Izayoi was praised. The human princess had gone from concubine, to wife, to mate, and then bearer of Toga’s second child.
Sesshōmaru seethed.
He’d never gotten such adoration, never been coddled as such. Handed off to nursemaids the moment he’d been born, left as an afterthought.
Watching his parents fawn over the newborn half-breed Sesshōmaru felt he was on the fringes of pack. No longer welcome in the home he lived in. So he left the House of the Moon.
Soon after he’d heard how tragedy struck. His father was gone. All because of a jilted general who wished to have his father’s prized human female. Ridiculous.
Sesshōmaru shrugged it off but was summoned to take over his place as head of house. He ignored it. They had forgotten about him, had not wanted him, he would never go back.
Now, he searched for his father's favored weapon, Tessaiga. It was his by birthright. Now only to find it. He’d gotten the paltry one, the one that did not cut. It was not enough.
|~|
A few more centuries past as Sesshōmaru traveled, anywhere, everywhere searching, always searching. When a missive from his mother found him. Stating that Inu-Yasha had been pinned by a priestess and was cursed to sleep forever. She’d been so upset there had been tear stains and the paper smelled heavily of salt water, soured plums, and wilted, rotted camellias.
Sesshōmaru sneered, dokkaso destroying the missive. He did not care.
A handful of decades past when rumor of a terrible power had been unleashed, and his brother was not sleeping, but awake and currently traveling with another priestess.
Sesshōmaru ignored it, until an advisor he’d happened upon mentioned the location of his father’s great sword and where to find it. Jaken, could stay.
At the mention of his half-brother's name, he’d been filled with rage and malice towards the more adored one.
He persisted, searching for the ridiculous excuse of a brother, easily controlling the mindless beast he rode upon, sighting the pathetic half-breed.
Only to be unable to breathe.
She was glorious. Curly raven hair, blue eyes wide, and innocent; kind. Though she was young the outline of the woman she would become was there. Her aura was pink, so pale pink it was almost white, and her scent: fuyu persimmons covered in rain an electrical storm brewing on the horizon. She was lovely. She was powerful. He would have her.
He did snarl when she yelled his brother's name.
Once again he was forsaken for the half-breed whelp.
He raged.
The sight of his fathers' corpse did nothing, the bones, the sword, nothing. She wanted his brother so much she could have him in hell!
Sesshōmaru reacted first, covering her in his poison, he oddly felt regret, and then nothing but sadness.
He snarled, closing in on his brother. Inu-Yasha wanted her so much he could-
Her scent came back to him, distracting him; he turned, how? How was she still there, alive and well, holding the damnable heirloom that had forsaken him? Who was she? What was she? He asked as much, but nothing. Nothing but a name, Kagome.
And then he lost himself.
The beast he’d kept so tightly contained within him was let loose. A limb was lost. He was broken, but not defeated.
Kagome.
Her name whispered through his mind.
He had a need he’d never felt before.
Something within him prowled, as it whispered her name, Kagome.
He scoffed. Just like the rest of his pack, she did not want him.
The beast within was hungry, angry, and whined against the leash of his control, but Sesshōmaru shut himself off, shut himself down, and lay there to heal. Lay there to plot.
He could win her.
He would win her.
He would crush the half-breed.
He did everything wrong, multiple arms wrong, falling for Naraku in his haste to have her for himself; wrong, and idiotic. Why did she make him so insane? How could she manipulate him in this way?
Gods, he just wanted her!
Why couldn’t she see him!
He lost to Inu-Yasha once again; distracted by the powerful female at his side. Kagome.
He did not know how long he lay there, but the scent of musk, dirt, mud, blood, and decay had Sesshōmaru wrinkling his nose in distaste. He opened his eyes, and another female, this one was far too young, staggered near, afraid, but not. Limping and hurt, she lay the fish near him. He scowled. A young one? An injured young one.
Sesshōmaru glared, but she limped off, and he left the fish to rest.
She returned three more times, and then she did not return at all.
The scent of wolves assaulted him as he searched, and searched, and searched.
Finally, he found her. She was broken, but not gone. He looked down at the battered little body and felt the thrum from his fathers sword. He glowered, but did as it bid. Eyes opening to the pallbearers of the underworld he killed them with little effort, and she breathed once more.
His obligation complete. He left. She followed. He did not care.
Days went by, Jaken argued, Rin chirped incessantly and then she was there. Kagome.
She seemed to be washing something. “Ugh, this blood will never get out. Mama will be so mad,” he heard her bemoan, and he yearned.
He turned away, thinking, plotting, trying to figure out a way to keep her by his side, instead of the half-breeds.
The next time he came upon her covered in fear, blood, her blood, his brother’s blood. Inu-Yasha was feral.
Sesshōmaru helped. Eyes only on her, only for her. He did it. He won. She would be hi- “Oh thank goodness, Inu-Yasha, Inu-Yasha!” He turned to leave. Shunned once more.
“Sesshōmaru, wait!” He froze, his name on her lips had never sounded sweeter. He wanted.
“Thank you, thank you for bringing him back,” he bristled, angry at himself, once again, for falling for her trap! He didn’t do it for her. He told her as much, and then he left. More resolute than ever.
Sesshōmaru would not fall prey to her charms, he would leave her behind. He would… stop.
So he did.
Until he couldn’t.
The scent of her tears drove Sesshōmaru mad, dishonorable asshole of a brother to have her hurting like this when all she wanted was him! It was not fair. He would not have ever done something like this to her.
Inu-Yasha in another woman's embrace, Kagome in tears, and him full of rage.
Sesshōmaru had not meant to see. He hadn’t meant to come upon them, but he almost cut the other female down, and almost, almost, presented the interloper's head to her. Kagome.
He knew she would not appreciate the yōkai way. So he did not. But he wanted.
But he left.
He was not who she wanted and so he left. Rage simmering under his skin as his chosen hurt, hurt, hurt. He put as much distance as he could before he felt like she no longer had a hold on him.
Then he hurt, hurt, hurt, once again.
Weeks past, Naraku interfered.
The scent of her came to him on the wind; it smelled off, something was wrong. The scene he came across was one he never would have subjected her to. A male, ugly, smelling of foul poisons, and even fouler intentions. He cut him down; none would dare hurt her; not under his watch. Her companions had gotten the worst of the poison and it was just short of a phenomenon that she had even been coherent enough to try and fight back, but she lay there looking so vulnerable.
Resisting every urge to pick her up and take her somewhere safe he left. Every footstep heavier than the last.
Naraku had gone too far this time. Sesshōmaru was no longer in the mindset to sit back and watch; he would hunt.
Months past and Naraku had torn the jewel apart and Kagome, his everything, was lost. He ravaged and raged and wanted, wanted, wanted, but could not have. Hordes of scum, hordes of pissants, hordes of nothing. He would defeat them all. He would go after her, he would- And there she was sparkling and beautiful and alive.
“Kagome, fuck, you’re alright, you’re alright, we’re alright,” Inu-Yasha was panting, sweating, and all over her. He turned away.
Once again he was nothing, and then the softest touch, the scent that drove him mad, blue eyes wide and lovely and mouthwatering, “You’re safe too, thank the Gods.” Kagome had touched him, had looked at him.
Her eyes were so blue, so big, so beautiful, he looked away. Scoffing he told her of course he was fine, and then he left, but he could still feel her eyes; those damnable eyes upon him. A limb may have been regained, a sword forged of his own abilities now at his side, but his soul was dimmed.
For days, weeks, months, he felt her lovely eyes ever present on his person. Until the itch became a need and he had to see her again.
He came upon the village but there was no scent of her. The remnants of her scent was months old, so, so, so old, and he searched until he found the well.
Her scent was strongest here, but it was still stale and old, and he hated it.
Where was she?
Where had she gone?
Was she… coming back?
Sesshōmaru scowled, angry at himself once again for hoping, for wanting, for needing. He left and hunted, and raged, and wished. Wished her home. Even if it was not for him. Even if she was never his. He wanted her here.
|~|
A year past, and Rin needed more care. More care than he could give. She would be fertile soon, and his species did not have a cycle like a human. She would be hunted were she to stay with him.
He left her in Inu-Yasha’s village. Sneering at the half-breed after he’d spoken to the elder Miko in the village. Jaken squawking behind him, his scent changed between water, relief; bog water, regret, simultaneously until he begged to go back to her. He let him. He released the dragon as well. No need to keep a beast that was not needed.
But it stayed.
Followed him everywhere, stayed with him through the harshest of weather, until, every handful of months, the dragon would lead him to Rin.
Rin, and his brother, Rin and the village, Rin discovered as miko. He provided the garb, and she refused. She could not do it. She would not hurt one of his kind. He was proud.
Kagome’s kit. Her kit, came to him often. Begging to be taught the way of his kind. Sesshōmaru could not answer, but he found out. Kitsune’s his age go to school, so Sesshōmaru sent him to school. It was what she would have wanted.
Her kit came back for every break and talked, non-stop. Sesshōmaru thought Rin’s chatter was obnoxious. He would be getting Rin all of the wildflowers she wanted in apology.
“It’s just… the air is different, her spark is gone. Y’know, the way Kagome’s used to get-” the sudden influx of yōki at the mention of dishonor, at the mention of her hurt, at the mention of her name. Kagome.
Sesshōmaru glowered at the terrified kit as he reigned in the excess, feeding it into the earth so that it may take root and thrive. He sneezed at the influx of dust and debris hitting his sinuses. He snarled, the kit had the decency to act like prey when he’d caught him by the tail before Shippo tried to tuck and run. The poor thing fainted.
When the kit awoke Sesshōmaru made sure to double his portion of food and check to make sure he was being well-fed. Inu-Yasha would not deprive a young one in need of nourishment. Not if he had something to say. And he did, many things; in fact, a lecture on yōkai feeding habits and how it is the young ones who need more nourishment to thrive. And some backhanded slaps to the head. He would drill it into the half-breeds skull if it was the last thing he did.
The monk and Slayer looked on with interest and seemed to have soaked up the information they received as they discussed the implications of their power rate and energy levels, depending on the intake of meat. They weren’t thinking of the quality. The quality was just as important. They both looked surprised at him and then laughed, of course, it would; how silly. They chattered between them once more and Sesshōmaru wondered about these strange humans his brother kept around.
“Keh, I get it! I didn’t know! For me it ain’t like that. Whatever meat is fine, s’long as its blood, muscle, and bone my body will store it. Ya sure it’s not just you who needs the fancy quality?” He was going to choke the half-breed to death. Mouthy Sonfoabitch!
“I am sure. He needs lean and fat. Venison is perfect for spring or summer, and bear is good for winter. Depending on good hunting, wolf for either is ideal. We are canine we need both. The kit more so.” He explained further willing his half-brother to understand. These were lessons Mother should have taught him!
“Shippo never said anything about the quality before. Why’s it important now?” Sesshōmaru imagined seeing how long Inu-Yasha’s tongue was, by ripping it out of his skull for being so obtuse!
“He is going to grow soon. He needs it all. With the growth spurt an influx of tails, fur, and yōki will come as well.” He was so tired of having to explain everything.
“So you got it all figured out. Which one of your fancy smancy tutors-” Sesshōmaru growled, cutting the half-breed off as the humans looked on, suddenly wary.
“I did not have tutors. I was given scrolls, and swords, and Go. Nothing more. I taught myself surrounded by courtesans and concubines, scholars and generals, advisor after advisor, servant after servant. Only me. There was never time for me. I did what was expected, and then I was feared instead of -” he snarled in the hanyo’s face, gone within a blink.
Frustrated that he’d gotten so close to the insipid half-breed, and the insipid half-breeds pack. To everyone connected to her. Being a pack animal was not worth this. This bullshit sense of responsibility, to make sure the pack thrived under him. He glowered staring into the river he found himself in and he huffed. Raking claws through rushing water as if it were the same as flesh.
He sighed.
He would have to go to the House of the Moon if this persisted. Damn it.
Inu-Yasha found him two days later with a cheeky grin and an apology. Fresh wolf. Sesshōmaru hated how he didn’t even want to smack the stupid smile off Inu-Yasha’s face.
Sesshōmaru told himself he hated a lot of things that he actually didn’t.
He made the trip to the House of the Moon and proclaimed the parcel of land Inu-Yasha's pack had settled on, and its surrounding area, under his protection. Under his watch. None spoke a word. They bowed and then they left.
Sesshōmaru glared at the finery of his father’s office, everything kept as before, when his father had still lived. He lashed his whip around the room. Cutting tapestries, and drapes, pillows, tables nothing survived his wrath until there was nothing but paper, silk, ceramic, feathers, and wood. He left and made sure to order no cleanup and no one to touch it. It would never be opened again.
He moved his rooms to the East Wing, refusing to stay in the West. Having only him in the wing for centuries. He would not be able to bear it. The servants adjusted.
As days past advisors came by the droves and had Sesshōmaru so busy with paper; he almost destroyed all the furniture he’d just replaced.
Land acquisition, no, treaty negotiations, maybe, council approval, he snarled, will be dealt with, mating arrangements, Sesshōmaru gleefully melted those while, staring at the advisor who dared hand these to him. The advisor gulped and began sweating; good. Never.
A missive from his mother, he let rot on the corner of his desk. Turning his nose up, and leaving the scent of japanese camellia blooms and sweet plums behind with every step he took.
A month later he went to check on Rin. She needed new clothes, so he bought new clothes.
Shippo looked healthy, he’d grown a smidge taller, another tail had grown, and his power thrummed a steady beat, Sesshōmaru coaxed his yōki out to play. The kit showed him new tricks with fanged grins and laughter. The humans had welcomed a new little one, this one male. Sesshōmaru was pleased. The pack was thriving.
Days past and as he readied to leave power flooded the area, pale pink, and fuyu persimmons drenched in rain flooded his nose, and he breathed her in as deeply as possible. Eyes bled red, and he hunted. He reached the well as she pulled herself out. He hid in the shadows, watching, watching, watching. She’d grown older, her body fuller than it had been, his mouth watered; he wanted.
Her brow furrowed looking, searching, eyes and neck roamed the area. She opened her mouth to speak, “You sure took you’re fuckin’ time, Bitch!” Inu-Yasha bound into the clearing and wrapped her into his embrace.
Sesshōmaru snarled; turned and left. He would not… Her eyes found his and his breath caught, she smiled at him, giving him a little wave, he frowned and nodded. Leaving them to their reunion, he was rejected once again.
He returned to the House of the Moon. To servants, and paperwork, and his long, lonely exisitence.
Sesshōmaru glared at the missive from his mother. Tearing it open eyes bleeding red, he destroyed it. I have found you a mate. She awaits in my palace. He wrote back, imbuing his yōki within the paper: I do not want her. I will not have her. Release her to someone else. He went to Ah-Un and sent the beast off to deliver his missive.
He was not his mother’s pawn. He would deny her until his death.
The next time Sesshōmaru checked on the pack he was called Onii-san. He almost fell from the sky in his surprise. Rage simmered as she giggled when he met them back on land. Though she called him Onii-san there was no scent of Inu-Yasha, or another male on her. In her. Good.
He could still win her.
So he observed other courting humans. There was no father to ask for her hand so he observed the men who sought out females without one.
He left flowers, arrows, silk, furs, tea, with each visit hoping to sway her towards him. He bristled when she gave all but the arrows away. He almost sought out Totosai to gift her something made of his fangs, but refrained. She clearly didn’t want his attention. Smiling nervously, and then thanking him as she handed out what was meant for her. He almost snarled, instead he turned away. He should have known better than to try.
He returned to the House of the Moon. His mother awaited, disdain dripping from her gaze, before a fake smile plastered across her face, and she presented the female. Sesshōmaru ignored them both.
His mother raged, “We will both stay until you concede!”
“Do as you please, but I will not take her,” Sesshōmaru told her, leaving her in his study to wander the wilds. The House of the Moon, once again, suffocated him.
Months past when tragedy struck, the slayer lost an unborn pup. She wept, she raged, she grieved; her mate fell to pieces. Kagome glued them back with words of encouragement, love, and her own grief at losing a loved one. She stayed with Sango for months helping with the pups, and taking care of the slayers chores, as well as her own responsibilities, so the other female could heal.
Sesshōmaru provided what he could.
Two years past, the slayer and the monk broke. They did their duty to their three surviving children, but the damage was done. Miroku drowned his grief with other women, and sake. Sango did not care.
Kagome could not fix this.
Sesshōmaru watched the pack fracture unable to help. The monk would be ousted the moment the pups were of age. Infidelity would not be tolerated. He told him so. Miroku left, Sango watched him go. Tears left unshed, but sadness clung. Inu-Yasha stepped in. Taking care of the slayers pups. Rin helped, and Kagome offered her love and encouragement. A pillar of strength for the slayer.
Days past when a wolf yōkai arrived, declaring Kagome his. Sesshōmaru raged. He threw the flea riddled, musky, lowlife away from his village, from his pack, from his Kagome. Because no one else could have her! She was already… taken.
Though male scents were on her, none were in her, and he wondered why Inu-Yasha did not claim her for his own, but he said nothing. He was still scorned, but he would always watch, would always take care of her. Kagome.
Once the slayer was settled, Sesshōmaru returned to the House of the Moon, upon entering the female his mother brought him, smiled demurly and welcomed him home, he turned and left.
He smelled her disappointment. He smelled his mothers rage. He didn’t care.
He yearned. Kagome.
He took to the skies, if his mother was going to invade his home, he would invade hers. The servants ran to greet him thinking it was his mother, her court came bustling around to see why he was here. He dismissed them all.
He had all his work forwarded until his mother left the House of the Moon to scream nonsense at him.
“How dare you dismiss her! She has been bred for you! How dare you invade my ho-”
“You invaded mine, I thought we were switching residences. I told you I did not want her. Bring her back here, breed her with one of your court, you keep her if you like her so much,” his mother flinched at his biting tone, but she snarled.
“I would never dishonor your father, or Izayoi in such a way! I am widowed twice over and you-”
“You chose not to follow Father in death, you chose to stay.”
“Izayoi needed me!”
“And yet she left you.” It was as if he’d smacked her with how she jerked away from him.
“Both of my mates were gone! My second pup ripped from me! How dare you treat me this way! What disrespect you show for your mother!”
You were never my mother just the bitch that bred me, whelped me, and left me.
Sesshōmaru said nothing in light of his mothers tears, as she curled herself into the corner of her office and cried for those she lost.
“I want you and the bitch out of the House of the Moon in a fortnight, if you are not I will claim this palace as mine,” he commanded her.
He left, uncaring of his mothers heartbroken plight. She cried harder. It did not concern him. A bath was in order. He had to wash off the scent of salt water, soured plums, and wilted, rotted camellias.
A fortnight past, his mother left, but left behind the bitch. He snarled in agitation scaring the poor female into fleeing to her rooms. Sesshōmaru didn’t care where she went, so long as she stayed out of the way. He completed his paperwork, and left.
|~|
Wandering, wandering, wandering, and then coming upon the scent of her. Kagome. She was by herself, no Inu-Yasha, no Rin, no slayer, no monk, no kit, just her. And him. Alone in the wilds...
He wanted.
He came upon her in a flash, and his breath caught. He hadn’t realized she was bathing, hadn’t realized there was an onsen here. The only scent he’d focused on was hers.
“Oh!” Kagome splashed back into the water, but the image of her naked skin burned into his pupils, the scent of her coiled around him and she was there in his reach and he-
“Sesshōmaru, thank goodness I found you! There’s something wrong. Sango and Inu-Yasha… They’re sick,” she was trying to cover her breasts with her arm, but he could still see her below the depths. Her thighs, her belly, the soft curls of her…
He turned from her. “We will travel back together,” he said trying to get himself under control. Kagome’s scent brightened, and he almost fell to his knees with the strength of his wanting. His control was slipping.
Travelling with her proved to be torture. Surrounded by her scent, her reiryoku, her sunny disposition, it took all of his control to stifle the burning need in his veins. Nervous energy encompassed her, setting his teeth on edge, and her chatter was as incessant as the kits.
Kagome followed him, chattering sweetly, apprehension still coiled all around her. She told him of Rin’s desire to take a mate, what?!, of Sango’s pups thriving under Inu-Yasha’s budding fatherhood. Suddenly, he knew why they were sick. Damn-it Inu-Yasha.
He scooped her up in one fell swoop rising onto his cloud, hurrying to the village. Wind whipping her scent away, but he almost rumbled in contentment at the way she clung to him. Molding herself to him, anchoring herself to him. She buried her face into his waist, and she was so close to the place he wanted, needed… he pulled her from him and settled her against his back. His hands on her thighs was just as bad of an idea. Fuck.
Moments later he landed in the village he helped her down, feeling her breasts drag along his back and he almost whined at the contact. The moment her feet were on the ground he left for the slayers hut, Kagome hot on his heels.
Sango was ashen, Inu-Yasha was near transforming, and Sesshōmaru took it all in with a frown and a sigh.
His yōki exploded around them forcing Inu-Yasha under his will, quelling the half transformed beast to transform back to his self. “You will come to my home, we will fix this,” he announced as Kagome entered the hut. Inu-Yasha swayed into Sesshōmaru, who caught him, eyes blinking rapidly as he tried to catch his bearings before losing consciousness.
“Miko, get the nekomata, you and Inu-Yasha will have to ride her, I will take the slayer. She is too fragile.”
“What about the children? Rin has them now, but they’ll want Sango soon.”
“I will have Ah-Un retrieve them on the morrow, along with Rin. The pack stays together.”
“To fix this?” Kagome’s question hung in the air between them, as he thought of an answer. The truth would be better.
“No.” He dragged the deadweight of his brother outside where the nekomata had transformed. Kagome climbed up and he set the halfbreed in front of her. “You will follow me to the House of the Moon,” he told the feline yōkai before walking back inside and gently picking up Sango. The slayer was drenched in cold sweat, her face was hollow and had lost so much color. He tried to control his breathing. Damn Inu-Yasha for acting so brashly!
He hoped that the situation could be salvaged. The smallest tendril of yōki wrapped around Sesshōmaru and he nearly went feral. Damn it. His yōki lached onto the spark of life and he pushed yōki into her. Not too much to overwhelm, but enough to help.
He left the hut, holding the slayer close, and rose with his cloud. He waited for the nekomata before he flew as fast as he was willing, so the feline did not lose him. He breached the barrier of the fortress and left it open for Kirara. He paused scenting the female just in the entry way, and he snarled.
Everything clicked. Inu-Yasha wanted a mate, his mother knew.
He gnashed fangs together furious at his happiness being left behind once again. It was all for someone else. Nothing for him. No one ever had time for him.
Kagome jogged infront of him, nervous energy surrounding her, but before he could tell her to stop, and not open the doors, she had. There the bitch stood, as well as his mother.
They looked at Kagome, who gasped, but turned away looking at him with a sheepish smile, embarrassment blooming in her scent.
He snarled at his mother, “I told you to get out. And you, grab your things, I want you gone by morning.”
“My lord-” She tried to assuage him, but his patience had left him long ago.
“Out!” The female’s bottom lip wibbled and tears tracked down her face, as she turned to go back to her room.
His mother ignored him, trying to fret over the slayer. “Oh, no, no, no, no…” He growled at her, but she turned from the slayer and ran outside. “No! My puppy! Inu-Yasha! Oh my, Inu-Yasha! Oh, my pup, what have you done!” He heard his mother dissolve into sobs, as her yōki poked and prodded and tried to fix the damage that had already been done.
Kagome looked between them, and shame filled Sesshōmaru. Not for his mother, and not for the female, but at the loss of control in front of her. She should not have been subjected to this.
“What’s going on?” Kagome’s scent was changing too fast, she was too nervous, her power was building wildly. It made him dizzy.
“The physician will know for sure how much damage has been done.”
“Damage? What do you mean?” Kagome’s nervous energy engulfed him, distracting him from what was important. Slayer first, easing Kagome’s tension would have to come later.
“Sango is with pup, Inu-Yasha tried to mate her, the binding is incomplete. The consequences are dire.” He had to get Kagome under control or he would be too distracted. Every instinct screamed at him to comfort the female he wanted, but it would have to wait.
“But why? I don’t understand. I thought it was a good thing they were going to be mated… I don’t...” She knew Inu-Yasha wanted to mate the slayer? Why didn't she tell him!
“I am the alpha. I am unmated. Inu-Yasha did not seek approval, and took a mate before me. The binding is incomplete because of those two factors. If he had sought me out before trying to mate the slayer the ceremony would have been completed correctly. Instead their souls hang in the balance and the pup could be lost.” This would have been so much easier if Kagome had been yōkai. She could have blessed their union and instead they were in this mess. Fuck. Stupid half-breed! Why couldn't Inu-Yasha just think before listening to his instincts!
“But your mother…” Kagome tried to ask. His irritation rose.
“What of her?” Sesshōmaru knew he needed to reign in his temper, but his patience was worn thin, and he was hurt. Once again, he’d been disregarded, only this time it was in front of her. Kagome.
“She’s out there with Inu-Yasha, I don’t-” Kagome was trying, trying, trying to understand, but Sesshōmaru knew she would not be able too until she calmed. She would not be able to calm until her friends were fine. Or a bit of good news was told. Sesshōmaru sighed.
“The situation will be explained once Sango and Inu-Yasha have seen the physician. Come.” Kagome went to turn to the West, but paused as Sesshōmaru turned right and headed down the East. He opened the door three rooms away from his. In scent and hearing range, should he be needed.
Sesshōmaru bid her to take two futons out of storage, and once one was placed, he lay Sango down. He helped Kagome get the second one ready as he smelled soured plums, and salt water rushing towards them. His mother cradled Inu-Yasha against her, tears streaming down her face as she tried, tried, tried to get him to respond.
“You are getting in the way. Lay him down and leave. You will only make matters worse,” he chided as she laid his brother down next to the slayer.
“But, your father-”
“Is not here! I am alpha of this pack, I have taken care of it. I have nourished, and provided, and it has thrived until now! If you are going to stand in my way they will be lost! Is that what you want, Mother?” he spat at her.
She recoiled, and then struck with her hateful words, “You cannot blame me for being overprotective! He’s my puppy, Sesshōmaru, how can you be so cruel to deny me of my right to see him!”
“You are only going to be a burden. Leave or I will make you.” He would not be treated like this in his home; not any more.
“If you had just mated the bitch none of this would have happened!” His mother raged, and he snarled in her face.
“If you had told me what was going on, instead of leaving him and I in the dark we wouldn’t be in this position, Mother. This is as much your fault as it is mine. This is your last warning. Leave this room, or I. Will. Make. You.” They were nose to nose, both red eyed and angry.
Kagome intervened. Her power coiled around him, calming frayed nerves, his eyes shuddered closed. He breathed deeply trying to find his control.
“Take your well bred bitch and get out. I will keep you apprised of the situation. Once I know the details,” he conceded. Embarrassed that Kagome had seen their spat. Shame engulfed him once more.
“I am moving back in,” she growled out turning her nose up at him.
He bared his fangs, “My earlier threat still stands, Mother. You move back in and I will overtake your castle in the sky so fast your head will spin. You may stay for the duration of this situation, but your bitch will leave. I told you years ago I did not want her and I do not need her.”
“You need her now! Why throw her away when you know very well how to fix this situation.”
“You would have me bind myself to an unwanted bitch for the rest of my life to save your precious puppy!”
“Yes I would!”
Kaogme gasped, “I’ll do it. I’ll mate you, Sesshōmaru.” tears ran down her face and Sesshōmaru wanted to kill his mother, wanted to rip her to shreds for her interference.
“Oh, little miko, you are far too sweet for the likes of my cruel first born. I had hoped my Inu-Yasha would have taken you as his mate since asking for his brother’s permission would have been null and void.”
Kagome bristled and Sesshōmaru looked at her confused at her sudden ire, “Sesshōmaru is not cruel. And how would Inu-Yasha’s mating me make seeking his approval invalid?”
“Because you are the alpha female of the pack, little miko. Your power rivals that of Sesshōmaru, and because of your status in the pack you would be within your right to mate whomever you wanted,” his mother informed, and Kagome blushed.
“Whomever I wanted?” Sesshōmaru watched how Kagome hopped from one foot to the other in nervousness and he found himself very curious on who Kagome was thinking of.
“Yes, the wolf prince, the horse half-breed, the slayers brother, even the ousted monk if you so chose to. Sesshōmaru would have no say over who you bred with,” his mother explained further.
“Even if I choose him?” all the air in his lungs left and he almost fell to his knees in astonishment. Did she want him? Did she need him like he needed her? He-
No.
No. She did not. This was her just being curious. That was all it could be.
“If you chose me, Kagome, that’s an entirely different discussion,” he interrupted.
“How so?” she was chewing her bottom lip, and he was transfixed.
He could feel hair on the nape of his neck rise, and he almost purred out, “Because you would have to submit to having my authority overrule yours.” the thought was tempting, oh, so, so, so tempting.
“So?” Kagome shrugged and Sesshōmaru exploded with how badly he wanted. Fuck he had to get under control. She did not know what she was asking of him. She gave a breathy gasp as his yōki surged, and she stood back from him, her eyes downcast, a frown marring her brow. He sighed.
“Oh, sweet little thing, it is not so simple. Sesshōmaru would fuck you into submission; until he could control you,” he glared at his mother.
He would never control Kagome, he didn’t think he could. Fucking her into submission was a delicious fever dream, but to control her… Never!
“Wrong. If you chose to mate me, I would have to fuck you until your power conceded to mine, not to control you, but to show others of power that we are a united front.”
“Ok, so what's the problem? Mate me, and it saves them, correct?” her spine was straight, arms akimbo, and her chin jutted out, it was her battle stance. He’d seen it so many times throughout the years. He closed his eyes trying to reign in the need burning in his veins at her questions. At her insistence.
“Yes it would, but-” his mother tried but Kagome bulldozed over her.
“Then do it. Mate me.” Kagome's soft words had him hard, left him breathless, made him want to throw her down and show her all the ways he’d play her body until she screamed for completion.
She stared at him. Oh.
Oh.
“You would bind yourself to me, for the rest of my lifespan, to save them?”
“Of course.” Her answer chafed against his skin.
“And what of your happiness? Hmm?” He needed to know for himself if she would sacrifice what she wanted in order to save them.
“What do you mean?” Her blues eyes wide and curious. His mouth watered in response.
“You would be bound to me. What if you found another? What then?” she sputtered at his question. “What about your happiness, Kagome? You think I would disregard your wants and needs to further my own agenda. I think not.” He huffed; agitated that she would even think to sacrifice what she wanted. Not on his watch.
“Sesshōmaru, I didn’t think-” Of course she hadn't!
“No, you did not! I am not going to have you bound to me for the rest of my fathomless existence only for you to regret it, in a decade, or a century, or a millenia. You deserve happiness just as everyone else does. The physician nears. This discussion is over. Mother, go to your rooms.” The chain on his control was too tight, the beast prowled underneath his skin. She had rattled its cage, and he wished he could have her in all the ways he wanted. But she did not want him and he would not bind her to him. Not like this.
He watched his mother huff her annoyance and agitation at being dismissed, but she left growling under her breath about how horrid he was.
Sesshōmaru bristled.
“Sesshōmaru, please-” Kagome tried to reason with him, but he would hear none of it.
“We will speak after the examination. My study is in the next room. Go, please,” he beseeched watching as she nodded in acceptance and left.
He ran clawed hands through his hair trying to soothe himself as the physician entered.
The examination took, what seemed like, a lifetime, but with each hrm, and grumble, and mutter, and prodding, Sesshōmaru felt his hackles rise and his skin felt stretched too thin, and all he wanted was to know.
“It is favorable. Another week or so and it would not have been. Your yōki will be needed, as well as the herbs for the tea, and a blessing.” Tetsuo, the physician, commented after he had fully evaluated both Sango and Inu-Yasha.
“The pup?” Sesshōmaru probed.
“Will survive, should the binding stick. Although you could just take a mate.” Tetsuo needled.
He growled. He was over this discussion of taking a mate.
“She is pleasing?” Sesshōmaru did snarl at the physician.
“Not the bitch, the Miko? Her power is intoxicating,” he calmed. The physician smiled.
Sesshomaru huffed in annoyance. “We… shall see,” he conceded.
“Is she lovely?” Sesshōmaru froze at the unexpected question. He stayed silent, “The bitch is… like all others, but the miko?” the physician was beginning to grate on his nerves. This was not an interrogation about Kagome. This was supposed to be about the examination.
It seemed that the other yōkai wanted an answer, “It is her eyes,” he heard himself reveal.
“Oh?” curiosity coiled around the other yōkai, and Sesshōmaru was loathe to admit how jealous he was becoming over such innocent interest in her.
“Her eyes are as deep and blue and wicked as the ocean. I find myself lost in their depths. Her face is lovely, but it is her eyes that will keep you from turning away. See for yourself, come,” and then he led them to his office.
“Tell the miko what you told me,” he ordered the physician as he breezed into his office, to sit at his desk and read whatever paperwork was left to do. Another marriage contract, he ripped it to shreds, as the physician told Kagome that with a simple brew, some of Sesshōmaru’s yōki, and his blessing they would be well. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief, and thanked him. He saw the physician pause, unable to tear his eyes away.
Sesshōmaru would have smirked if it wasn’t annoying him.
“You were right,” he heard the physician spout, and Sesshōmaru rolled his eyes. Of course, he was. “Go tell mother.” Sesshōmaru didn’t look up from his work as he heard the physician leave, Kagome stayed. He took in a lung full of her scent and if she did not leave he did not know what he would do. She slouched against the desk and he closed his eyes trying to concentrate on anything but her.
“I’m so relieved. I was so scared when I saw Sango two days ago, Rin told me I had to come find you, that you would know what to do.” Pride bloomed in his chest that Rin had so much confidence in him.
“Do you have the necessary herbs for the tea?” Kagome wondered, teeth chewing her bottom lip once more and he wanted to taste that morsel of flesh. He looked back down at the land acquisition a neighboring daimyo was asking of him. The characters bled together as all he could do was concentrate on Kagome in his space.
“The servants will. It is their job to keep such things stocked.” Please leave.
“I could go to Jinenji and grab the herbs. He cultivates the best, and wouldn’t this be a situation where the quality would be important?” Her scent coiled around him, and he shut his eyes trying to regain control.
“The horse hanyo already supplies me. Worry not, Kagome. You must be tired, you can take the room next to mine.” The consort’s room, the one that was connected to his, he wouldn’t be able to rest if she chose anywhere else.
“The consorts room, but Sesshōmaru-” Her fluctuating scent was distracting him.
“You are pack, you need to be close.” It was not, not a lie. She did need to be close, should the hanyo or slayer need her comforting presence.
“Well, what about Rin, and the children should I just take Ah-Un and go get them?” He wanted to hide at her insistence to leave. Did she find his presence so oppressive that she wanted to leave his home? He would not keep her from leaving.
“Do as you please, Kagome,” he grumbled, his bad mood souring further. Was he truly so terrible that none could-
He felt her fingers on his jaw, and he froze, had not noticed she had moved, he followed the instance of her hand, and met her blue eyes. “I just have so much energy, my adrenaline has me so amped up, I have to do something or I’ll… fall to pieces,” tears had filled her eyes, refusing to let them fall. He placed his hand atop hers, offering comfort.
Her teeth were buried in her lower lip again, and a flush rose on her cheeks, her breath came faster, and he… he had to get out. His skin was already stretched too tightly, if she looked at him like that he wouldn’t, couldn’t… She was not prey. She was… He wanted.
He let his hand drop and moved his face away from her grip. She did not want him. Had shunned him over and over through the years.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something?” Kagome’s worry extinguished any restraint he’d gained.
“You need to decide on something, Kagome. My instincts are too close to the surface and my skin is stretched too thin, my patience is gone, and I am hungry…” For you, only for you, he refused to say aloud.
She opened her mouth to speak when a servant opened the door with his favored tea, and two portions of his favorite venison stew. He curled a hand into a fist.
“Ready the consort rooms, the miko will be staying there, should anything occur to the half-breed and his mate she needs to be close,” as soon as the tray was placed on the chabudai nearest the windows looking out the servant bowed and left.
He gnashed his fangs together as he motioned for her to take a seat and eat. He would wait until she was done.
“You must think I am the most obtuse woman you’ve ever met,” he heard her comment as she sat.
“I assure you, I do not,” he answered as he picked up another council request, he sighed, and got out his ink, and brush.
Kagome huffed in response before partaking in the food. Her slurping as she ate did funny things to his instincts as she praised the food his cooks had made. “You said you’d tell me about your mother and Inu-Yasha…” she trailed off and he sighed, hoping she would forget.
He did not want to speak of his mother. “Izayoi was given as a gift from a neighboring daimyo. She was a concubine who quickly became a favorite for both my father and my mother. She was then wed to my father, at my mother’s insistence to keep her, when she became pregnant she was mated to both furthering the bond between all three. Inu-Yasha thrived, and was adored. My father passed, my mother and Izayoi were heartbroken, but Izayoi couldn’t survive the bond breaking no matter how much my mother tried to keep her. She passed and then Mother wilted. Inu-Yasha was old enough to be left to his own devices. There is your answer.” he went silent once more, concentrating on everything but her.
“And you?” Kagome asked.
Sesshōmaru pushed the breath out only to breathe deeply. Trying to calm down at the question. She was just curious, “What about me?”
“Where were you?”
“Travelling,” he answered and then he let the paper drop. He wasn’t going to be getting any more work done tonight. There was no reason to keep trying.
“Oh,” it was a soft reply, but it felt heavy between them.
She took a deep breath and Sesshōmaru was suddenly curious at the scent of rotting persimmons, and lightning. She yawned suddenly and he sighed curiosity banished, she needed rest. “Go to bed Kagome. I will retrieve the pups and Rin shortly. Everything will be better soon.”
“But… I can’t sleep in those rooms! I can just stay with Inu-Yasha and Sango. No need for another room to be made, and-” the blush that stained her cheeks, and rushed downwards made him think very indecent thoughts. How far down did it go? And what would she taste like in that state… No. These thoughts were not productive.
“The room has already been prepared. You will be near enough that should either awaken you can attend them, or if Inu-Yasha’s yōki fluctuates you will feel it. You traveled far, you are weary in body and mind, you are safe here. There is no need to sleep in their rooms and worry yourself to an early grave.”
He knew why he was insisting she sleep there. He wanted her scent in that room, he wanted that luscious scent to leech into his room so he could get some relief after years of wanting only her. It would be pure temptation to have her so close, she would never be his, but as long as her scent was in those rooms he could cope. It would be easier to imagine that she would always be with him, so long as her scent remained. It would be the closest he would ever get to having her.
“Sesshōmaru it is indecent of me to sleep there. Your future wif- mate will be there and… it’ll just be easier if I were in the same room as Inu-Yasha and Sango, for me to be at peace, or I won’t be able to sleep and-”
“You are winding yourself up Kagome. Come, the room is yours,” he commanded as he rose from his desk, and gestured her to follow. That room would only belong to her. Always. Forever. None, but her would ever sleep there. He’d make sure of it.
She muttered obscenities under her breath, as if he couldn’t hear every word she spoke with his advanced hearing. He was not being unreasonable. He was, however, being incredibly selfish.
“Sesshōmaru why haven’t you taken a mate?” the question made him stop in his tracks.
She sputtered as she ran straight into him. She looked up making eye contact. Her eyes swirling with curiosity. “You’re certainly old enough. I’m sure you have females throwing themselves at you, and this is incredibly invasive isn’t it? I’m sorry just-”
“The female I want has rebuffed my affections.” She startled. Mouth opening, and closing as she tried to find words, he supposed. She should know. She was the one who had given his gifts away. All except the arrows. He looked away from her continuing to the room. Maybe the consort rooms had been a bad idea. It was too late to fix it now. He opened the door as she started at him dumbfounded at his revelation. He didn’t know why, she was-
“Who would refuse you? You’re, you’re-” he gnashed his fangs together, yōki swirling, skin taunt. Why was she playing this game with him? Why was she asking these questions? When she was the one-
Hadn’t she? Hadn’t she rebuffed him, shunned him, scorned him? Of course she had. She was being coy. Nothing more.
“I’m what, miko?” He wanted to know what she thought of him. Repulsive? Temperamental? Bothersome?
“You’re loyal, you’re kind, you’re steadfast, you’re beautiful-” He stopped listening after that.
“You think I am beautiful?” he asked, and her face shot up in flames. Embarrasment evident from her shy smile and downcast eyes.
“Handsome, obviously. I mean look at your gorgeous mother, and I’m sure your father was just as handsome as you are. Inu-Yasha clearly has great genetics as well-”
He strode toward her, bending down, a hairsbreadth away from her nose “You think, I am beautiful?” She was still red, but he had to know. He knew it would be too much for him to handle, but she would be the first to say so. Moreso, hers was the only opinion he wanted.
“Well, I mean, yes. Have you ever looked in a mirror. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man- male, look as gorgeous as you. And that hair, the fur, the stripes. the whole I’m better than you attitude can go, but otherwise you’re perfect,” she stammered. Face still glowing red, eyes wide and trusting, he found that he liked it when she looked at him like that.
He growled low, pleased that she thought so highly of him. “Why then did you rebuff my attentions?” He had to know. He needed to kn-
“I never!” Kagome’s eyes had widened in shock and his narrowed.
“You did so. I beat Inu-Yasha ten times over. I took care of your kit while you were gone. I put him in school and I made sure he was well fed. I gave gifts-” He tried to explain, tried to get her to understand, but the maddening woman interrupted him!
“You did not give me gifts!” Her face was flushed in her anger, and she was not playing fair, Sesshōmaru decided.
“I did so! Silks and furs, and flowers, and arrows, and tea. You gave them away!” He had! He had given her so much! What more could she have wanted?
“I thought they were for the village. Inu-Yasha told me you had been providing for everyone. I didn’t think, I didn’t know- Oh Sesshōmaru… Why didn’t you say anything?” He shut down at her question. He couldn’t hear anything past the rushing of his blood in his ears.
“And have you scoff at me while you walked away with my brother. I think not.” He finally huffed out. He would not have degraded himself like that. He would not have been able to handle her words of rejection when her actions had already hurt him so.
“I would never have scoffed at you, Sesshōmaru. I would never treat someone that way. Why would you-” she stopped herself and looked at him. Eyes searching and he went to stand straight once more, her eyes unnerving him. She stopped him, grabbed the front of his kimono, grip tight, knuckles white, and he stilled. “Why would you think I would do something so terrible, Sesshōmaru? I have never treated you as such before?”
“It does not matter,” Sesshōmaru wrenched her hands from the silk and turned his back to her. She didn’t need to know, she never needed to know.
“It does to me.” He paused at her soft admission. He wanted her to just let this go. She was too close to the truth, she was too close to knowing.
“Why?” He wasn’t worth it. He never had been.
“Because you aren’t replaceable, Sesshōmaru.” Sesshōmaru felt his world shatter beneath him.
“There’s no one like you.” He couldn’t breathe, he had to leave, he had to go, he had to-
“What would make you happy, Sesshōmaru?” This was not a question he could answer. He would not burden her like this.
“Sesshōmaru?” she was pressed against his back, her scent enveloping his, her power coiling around him.
The feel of her against him made every hair on his body stand on end, and he wanted. He wanted her breasts pressed against him, he wanted to taste her, he wanted to fill her with his power and seed until all she smelled of was him.
“Kagome-” He tried, tried so very hard to block out the feel of her against him.
“Tell me what you want, please,” she pressed further into him. He growled, low and threatening, and he was hard and his control was paper thin. The beast beneath his skin wanted, wanted, wanted.
It prowled, and scented, and his mouth watered with the need to taste and conquer.
The beast would not be denied any longer.
No.
No.
He couldn’t let it have her. He couldn’t, wouldn’t hurt her. He had to get away from her. The consort room had been a bad idea. Had been the worst idea. All he’d wanted was some relief. Not this.
“You cannot... Kagome…” The little bitch tightened her hold, his control snapped.
Sesshomaru grasped her wrist pulled her into his chest, and buried his other claw into her hair baring her throat, and licked from the hollow of her throat to the tip of her chin. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as her taste exploded across his tongue. He shuddered, she gasped at his rough treatment, and he froze.
He let go.
What had he done?
No, no, no, no, no.
She caught herself against him, and he gnashed his fangs together trying to gain the control, he’d let slip back. She, however, looked up at him with eyes so wide, and blue and beautiful that he rumbled pleased that she looked like prey he’d caught during a hunt.
Her blunt teeth buried themselves into her bottom lip and his control wavered again, he looked away, but almost lost his balance as the scent of her desire coiled around him. Lightning, electrical storms and budding persimmon blossoms, had his knees weak and he was helpless against her attack.
Sesshōmaru groaned as she struck, burying her lithe fingers into his hair as her lips met his in reckless abandon, she mewled as her tongue invaded his mouth, and he held onto her as if he had a thirst that could only be quenched by her.
He was dizzy, he was hard, she was soft and ready, and wanted. He broke away from her lips, and she panted against him. Her eyes were hazy, as she fought to breathe and she never looked more glorious. He traced her bottom lip with a thumb and he watched her take it into her mouth, her tongue curling around his claw as her teeth dragged across the pad of his thumb. Oh. Yes…
“Will you mate me now?” yōki exploded around them, as the beast became undone. Clothes ripped, silk shredded, desire became unbound.
He lost himself in her. In her cries, in her eyes, in the tight hold her body had over his. He let go of every inhibition he ever had. Of every thought. The only thing left was the need. He needed her. He needed this. He needed them.
She let him take, and take, and take until she shattered around him. Sesshōmaru thought the burn of her power against his skin was addicting. He wanted, wanted, wanted the tight pull of her inner muscles as he thrust into her with abandon. He needed to feel his yōki filling her, see his seed drip down her thighs, needed to hear her scream how much she wanted this, them, together.
Harder, faster, rougher he had to have her on all fours under him. She had to surrender everything to him so he could give her everything she ever wanted. And he would. He would give her everything, anything. All she had to do was ask. It would be hers.
She made that sweet mewl again as her knees lifted with every harsh thrust into her. Every sweet stretch of her inner muscles around him made him see stars, and he had never known it could be like this. Didn’t think he would ever have her like this.
Sesshōmaru changed the angle and she shattered around him again, clamping down around his cock and he threw his head back and hissed. Close; he was so fucking close. He could feel the tightening in his sac, his seed ready to burst forth into her, the knot ready to form but she had to tell him, she had to want this, had to want him if she wanted to be his forever.
Fangs scratched at the juncture between her neck and shoulder, the hand not at her hip tugged at a nipple and she sobbed. It was all music to his ears. The wet sound of her sex taking him, the sound of her cries, the thrum of his growls. If she was his reward for being ignored all his life then he would take her and keep her and cherish her forever.
“Please, Sesshomaru! I want it, I need it, please!” Her power fluctuated with every thrust and grind to the spot inside her that made her go wild beneath him and he was left breathless at her passion.
“What do you want?” He slowed down his harsh thrusts into a smooth slow glide, savoring her. She writhed underneath him, begging, “You, I need you. I want you. Only you. Sesshōmaru! Please!” The sound of her begging put his instincts into overdrive and then she was his.
Sesshōmaru’s fangs were buried in-between her shoulder and neck as his hips lost the previous rhythm he’d had as he fucked her into the tatami. Hard and unforgiving, his power built, her power built, until they merged as one, and he howled as his seed shot forth into her womb, the knot forming at the base of him keeping her stuck to him, as she screamed her completion into the air.
He rolled them over before he collapsed on top of her, holding her to him until the rhythm of his heart calmed. He took in lungfuls of their combined scent and the reality of the situation hit him full force. He’d taken a mate. He’d taken her as his mate. Something thick like bile climbed up his throat. He lost all control, he could have hurt her. He probably did hurt her. He tied them together for all his life. She was going to hate-
“I’ve wanted this for years. I’ve wanted you for years. Can we go again?” Sesshōmaru’s breath caught at her words, and he purred. He never thought she would want him. He never thought he would ever have her. He almost, almost wept with joy. It was a near thing.
“Sesshōmaru what about the ceremony? Won’t our bond be unstable?” He couldn’t help it, he let out a bark of laughter.
“We are alpha, the ceremony does not apply to us. Though, if you wish to partake in the tea we can. It is easy enough to be brewed and brought in.” He couldn’t get enough of the feel of her skin against his.
Something akin to lightning struck his spine as he thrust up into her again, more of his seed shooting into her womb and she moaned low and long, her face flushed with desire, blue eyes hazy. He could get used to seeing Kagome look like this.
He wanted her to always look like this.
She yawned, burrowing deeper into his skin, into his warmth, and let out a sleepy sigh. He trailed claws through her hair, scratching lightly at her scalp, listened as her heartbeat slowed, and her breathing evened out. He let himself smile.
The satisfied rumble in his chest thrummed and he felt himself relax. Felt himself go boneless beneath the weight of her. “You made me wait so long for you, Kagome,” he muttered against her hair, as he shifted from his back to their sides, holding her against him while he curled himself around her.
Her sleepy hrmm, before she settled against him again made him feel warm, cocooned in her scent and power he drifted off in a light doze. Yōki and cum filling her every so often until his knot relaxed, and then his yōki strummed around them, sheltering her, encompassing her. He felt at ease for the first time in his very long life.
Before the sun rose Sesshōmaru nuzzled Kagome as he extricated himself, summoning a servant to prepare her tea and food, as he went to his rooms to dress for the day.
He could feel Inu-Yasha’s yōki evening out, feel the thrum of it getting stronger. The physician was in there now checking the slayer and the pup. Already he could feel their bond mend, and become stronger. Could feel the pups’ yōki seeking its fathers. All would be well soon.
After he dressed, he left as he’d promised Kagome last night, and picked up Rin and the slayers three other pups. He transformed into his beast and raced back to his sleeping mate. Unable to leave her for too long. The bond was new it would be years before he could be without her for extended periods of time, but for now he was content to be near her; always.
Once back at the House of the Moon the servants readied the dining hall for the pack, and he let Rin feed the young ones as he made his way back to the consort’s room; no, Kagome’s room.
She was awake when Sesshōmaru entered, a small frown on her face, he was beside her in two strides, hungry lips meeting hers, he had to have her taste on his tongue. She moaned against his onslaught, her tongue traced his fangs and he wanted her all over again.
“Do we have time?” His hair stood on end at her question, and the scent of her budding desire and the sight of her shy smile left him wanting. He would make time.
Before he could undress her, savor her with his eyes, and lips, and teeth, Inu-Yasha’s yōki surged. He nearly whined as Kagome pulled away from him. He caught her wrist right as she turned from him, bringing her back into him and giving her another savage kiss full of promises for later.
Kagome hummed against his lips momentarily distracted and he thought she was lovely like this.
The doors burst open as Inu-Yasha’s scent and erratic yōki encompassed the both of them. Sesshōmaru sighed, as Kagome giggled, “What the fuck, is going on?”
“You’re an idiot that’s what,” Kagome huffed, and Inu-Yasha’s face became red with anger. Sesshōmaru shook his head.
“Bitch! How-” Before any uncouth insults could be hurled at Kagome, Sesshōmaru intervened.
“You did not follow proper procedure, Inu-Yasha. You and your mate almost died; not to mention the pup.” He informed his idiotic half-brother.
“Pup? Sango’s pups where are they? She’s gonna freak when she wakes up, and-”
“They are in the dining hall with Rin, eating. The unborn pup you and Sango have yet to have imbecile. You did not seek my blessing to take a mate, your souls hung in the balance,” Sesshōmaru explained further.
He was getting rather tired of having to explain instincts that should have come naturally to his half-brother.
“I had to do what?! I wasn’t going to ask you if I could fu-” at Kagome’s glare and rising reiryoku Inu-Yasha coughed and sputtered, “Mate, Sango. It’s none of your business who I do that with!”
“It certainly is when you want to mate them. Sex is entirely different and you know that. If this had been a mere dalliance I would never have gotten involved. What you do with whomever behind closed doors is none of my concern until you decided to take a mate, before I was mated.”
“What does your unfuckable status have to do-” Kagome’s reiryoku lashed out, and Inu-Yasha growled at her. Sesshōmaru stepped between them.
“My previous status as an unmated alpha means that if you were to take a mate before me a ceremony was to be done. You needed my blessing to do so. Instead, you acted brashly, per usual, and mated Sango putting her soul at risk. What then if I did not make it in time to save your sorry ass?” Sesshōmaru watched as dawning crossed the half-breeds face.
The hanyo had the decency to blush in embarrassment before looking away, “Keh.”Sesshōmaru smirked as his brother began to fidget under his gaze, “Is she… is my pup… they gonna be ok?”
“They will be fine, you were both given the tea in the early hours before dawn. I do not need to give a blessing anymore,” Kagome flushed from the roots of her hair down her neck, and he was pleased.
“Wha- why?” Inu-Yasha sputtered looking between him and Kagome. Sesshōmaru raised a brow wondering if he would figure it out on his own.
“I took a mate,” he said before the half-breeds poor brain melted from exhaustion.
“Oh gods, finally! I was getting sick and tired of waiting on you to do something! Kagome’s been pining for years and you haven’t done anything! I didn’t know I had to almost die for you to get your ass in gear!” Sesshōmaru’s eyes narrowed. If the hanyo knew why hadn’t he interfered?
Sesshōmaru bristled as Kagome’s flushed face darkened as she hid her face in her hands groaning into them. “I gave gifts, I defeated you multiple times, I took care of the kit. I tried-”
“Not with words. Humans can’t understand us like that, Sesshōmaru. They gotta have words. Jackass. You made her wait so long!” Inu-Yasha stamped his foot, and Sesshōmaru growled low. Agitated.
“Why didn’t you inform me-” Distracted by Inu-Yasha he hadn’t even scented their mother’s approach.
“My puppy! Oh my puppy. You’re alright! Thank the God’s! I was on the verge of meeting your great father had you not survived!” Sesshōmaru rolled his eyes, as their mother picked the half-breed up and cradled him like a pup. Ridiculous.
Inu-Yasha just whined, “Mom,” knowing he’d be unable to break away from her hold. “I’m not a fuckin’ pup anymore ya can’t keep treating me like this!”
“You’ll always be my puppy…” after his mother’s loud swooning over the half-breed, Sesshōmaru stopped listening, and trailed a hand through Kagome’s hair before leaving. His good mood was effectively ruined, by his own mother, no less. Kagome looked at him confused, and he shrugged giving her a soft smile before closing the door and heading to his office.
He heard his mother speak as he walked, “Oh miko, you shouldn’t have had to sacrifice your happiness for my wretched-”
“Sacrifice what sacrifice? You told me I could choose whomever I wanted. I chose Sesshōmaru, simple as that.” He heard Kagome interrupt, and he felt pleased at the admission from her. The pleased growl thrummed through him. She did choose him, and it wasn't in the moment. She wanted him, as embarrassed as she’d been, she hadn’t contradicted Inu-Yasha’s words and that made it all the more better.
“And what of the village? Certainly you won’t give up your place as miko-”
“Rin has decided to take my place. I was planning on travelling before this disaster happened. A villiage in the southern wetlands had asked for help regarding a plague. I was waylaid because of Inu-Yasha’s brash decision.” Kagome had planned to leave. That was news to him. Now that they were mates he would have to go with her.
“Hey! You can’t blame me for shit I didn’t know!”
“For weeks you told me something was wrong and I told you to go speak with Sesshōmaru about it! But you refused!”
“Himiko was sick, I couldn’t leave Sango with 2 pups, and a sick one! She needed me!”
“Ugh, Inu-Yasha you could have gone to him after she put them to bed, and don’t lie you didn’t want to because you’d miss out on being alone with Sango!”
“Keh! What do you know!”
“I know! You basically broadcast through the entire village!”
He could smell the hanyo’s discomfort and embarrassment, “So what if I do! Sango ain’t got no complaints, and I don’t see you complaining either! Covered in my brother’s scent like you weren’t fucked into the tatami hours ago!”
Kagome’s breath caught, anger laced through their bond, and the scent of lightning, and ozone, and thunder, and the hint of budding persimmons gave him pause; the need to go back to her was almost allconsuming. He had to see her with her power coiled around her, anger rolling off her, just like that first time.
God’s his mate was glorious!
“I saved your life you ungrateful bastard! Sesshōmaru saved your life! How fucking dare you! And what business is if of yours what I do behind closed doors! You never had a problem with it before!” Sesshōmaru did pause before reaching his desk. What was that?
“I didn’t have a problem with it because I was too busy running everyone off!” Inu-Yasha had done what? This bit of conversation was far too interesting to miss, as he sat at his desk and grabbed the nearest scroll that required his attention while keeping his ears open.
“What do you mean ran everyone off, I didn’t have any suitors?” His mate’s anger was gone. Her scent was laced with petrichor and unripened persimmons in her confusion.
“Keh! there you go again being a baka. You think I’m stupid. I saved so many lives because if there was a hint of another, outside of pack, in, or around, you Sesshōmaru would have gone on a fucking rampage! You’re so fucking dense, Kagome.” Kagome’s agitation was back and he chuckled as he read over a land agreement.
“That is not true!” Kagome yelled.
“Oh no, what about Koga?” Inu-Yasha growled back.
“Koga was flirting with you!” Kagome’s words made Sesshōmaru chuckle. Posturing wolves.
“The human prince that all but followed you around like a puppy!” That gave him pause. Who had?! What manner of human had dared put his sights on her?
“Inu-Yasha, he was showing me around the shiro, I had to heal more than half his staff. He was just being kind,” Kagome huffed clearly exasperated by Inu-Yasha’s explanation.
“That’s not what he smelled like!”
“Oh my gods! Now you’re just making things up! There was-” Kagome sounded putout.
“You’re stupid human senses couldn’t compare to the shit my nose tells me on a fucking daily basis!” Inu-Yasha had a point.
“Children! Children! That is no way to behave! Now Inu-Yasha you owe the miko an apology.” Sesshōmaru huffed at his mothers’ interference.
“Keh I don’t owe this silly bitch nothing!” Sesshōmaru was about to lash out with his yoki, an insult against his alpha bitch would not be tolerated in their home, befroe he stopped as Kagome’s voice got louder.
“How dare you! I should never have wasted my time trying to save your sorry hide!” Kagome’s power was reacting with her anger, and he rose to stop the fight, or else he’d have to stop himself.
“Oh yeah!” Inu-Yasha was being ridiculous Kagome would purify him if he didn’t stop.
“Yeah!”Kagome’s power swelled higher and Sesshōmaru leaned aginst the desk trying to calm himself down. It would not do to go into her room with an obvious erection.
“Enough!” Sesshōmaru felt the pulse of his mother’s yoki and the answering swell of Kagome’s reiryoku. His eyes shuddered closed at the scent of his mate’s power. If she didn’t calm down he wasn’t going to be responsible for his actions.
“Miko, let us call a servant and get some tea and resolve this like the adults most of us are," the pointed barb at Inu-Yasha had him growling low; furious at being labeled a child.
“Fine by me, so long as Inu-Yasha can agree that he’s wrong.” Sesshōmaru sat back down, obviously this would be handled by Kagome and his mother. No need to interfere and cause Kagome to turn her anger on him.
“I ain’t wrong! You don’t smell shit like I do; you don’t know. Koga’s a flirt sure, but all those others were trying to fuck you into the ground; you just didn’t know cause you’re so fuckin nice to everyone!”
“Inu-Yasha have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, some of that attention was towards you as well?”
“Keh, you’re mad.”
“Hey!” Kagome interrupted.
Inu-Yasha continued on with his tangent, “I always knew you were. Holdin’ out for Sesshōmaru when there was plenty attention comin your way. You act as if everyone around you is blind.”
“There you go again being ridiculous I didn-”
“You think no one else noticed your fat tits and pretty face!” Sesshōmaru snarled, snaping the brush he was using into pieces; she was his! Those tits were his to enjoy! Only his pups would suckle from them; only he would worship them!
“Gods, Kagome it took everything in me not to murder the village men who would sneak out to try and get a free show when you went off to bathe!” Sesshōmaru growled low, unable to concentrate on his work as his listened to his brother’s tirade. Trying to keep his yoki from responding as he listened in.
“You know how many males I had to threaten that I’d tell their wives, or mothers, if they so much as tried to spy. I thought those early days with Miroku were bad; this was so much worse! And don’t get me started on all the shit they’d say when they were drunk! All those men would talk so much shit about the pretty shikon miko who was holed up in Mushashi. Why do you think travellers visited us so often? Sango is just as pretty, but nobody’s got your eyes. Don’t you stand there trying to argue with me about shit you don’t know!” Sesshōmaru wasn’t going to be able to get any work done. Not with all this new knowledge. He would never leave her side when they were out of this home.
Sesshōmaru would also be visiting each and every one of these men to let them know their attentions were not wanted. Kagome was his. Regardless of how correct they had been about her form. They would forget they had come across the pretty miko with uncommon eyes.
“Inu-Yasha-” Kagome started.
“No! You gotta understand-”
“Inu-Yasha! Sango’s awake!” Kagome’s interruption had Inu-Yasha unable to breathe for just a moment before the half-breed was out of her rooms and into the one his mate was being kept; all within two heartbeats. Sometimes Inu-Yasha could be just as quick as Sesshōmaru.
True enough, how Kagome knew he’d never know, but Sango had began stirring and making grunts and groans and he’d been distracted by the conversation enough not to intervene.
“Let Inu-Yasha settle the slayer, Miko. I will get refreshments brought up,” his mother’s easy words, and sweet tone grated on him.
“Before you go, a word,” This would be interesting. What would Kagome have to say to his mother.
“Of course, Miko,” she said it so sweetly. So unlike the cold mother he’d always known.
“If you'd like to be involved in any part of my life or the pups I will inevitably have,” Sesshōmaru’s hair stood on end just thinking of Kagome swollen with his seed, and a pup on her hip.
He needed to calm down, “You will show your son some respect. Sesshōmaru is honorable and deserving of at least that much from you. I do not need to know the specifics of why there is such… bad blood between the two of you, but you will learn to hold your tongue, or you will find yourself without one. I will not tolerate anymore insults being hurled at my mate.”
The need to see Kagome nearly overwhelmed him because none had ever tried to intervene on his behalf. The courtesans, and concubines of old held their tongues, his fathers generals, and advisors spoke no word of the treatment he’d recieved as a young one, the scholars and servants hid when he was near as if he would strike out at anytime, though he never had.
The threat of keeping future pups from his mother was interesting. Would his mother fall in line, or would she ignore his pups as he’d been ignored? He highly doubted that Kagome would let such things happen to her, their, little ones.
Pups.
Pups with Kagome.
What a concept. A delicious one, one he thought would never come to fruition. The possibilities were suddenly endless. They could have pups, they could save more pups, they would be together with pups.
He hadn’t realized that he was willingly depriving himself of such options.
This new trajectory of his life suddenly held so much more promise than his vast existence alone had.
The silence stretched between Kagome and his mother, neither willing to back down. Until his mother moved. The fall of her footsteps leaving Kagome’s rooms echoed through the halls though, they were not silent with servants bustling about, to him the weight of each of her steps were far heavier than he’d ever heard them before. He felt his mother pause in front of his office, weighing options, before shuffling away hurriedly.
He felt both heavy and light all at once.
Suddenly his mate’s scent was on the move, hurrying toward Inu-Yasha and Sango’s room; eager to check on the slayer. He breathed slowly, trying to get his wits about him. He had work to do, but Kagome was here in his home smelling of him, and suddenly work was no longer important. What she’d done, what she’d said; it made him dizzy with need.
He moved before he thought too hard about it , snatching her by the waist and rushing back to his office in a fluid moment. “Sesshōmaru wha-”
“The slayer and Inu-Yasha need time alone. The bond needs to be… strengthened. In a few hours you can visit, for now it is time for just them,” Sesshōmaru explained. Also true. Despite his wanting to be close with Kagome.
“Oh I had no idea,” she flushed sweetly in her slight embarrassment and peeked beneath lashes to look at him. His hands at her hips twitched before he pulled her into him laying a savage kiss full of desire onto her lips.
When he finally let go of her lips so she could breathe, she asked, “Does our bond need to be strengthened as well?”
He whined, and tried to banish thoughts of splaying Kagome across his desk with her at his mercy. “Our bond is not damaged. If you have another desire, you need but ask, my mate, and I will provide,” he muttered, nose nuzzling hers, and she giggled.
“I think it wouldn’t hurt us to indulge, so long as I am not distracting you from work?” her eyes sparkled playfully which made him smile.
He played with an errant curl before replying, "You will only ever be a distraction, but one I will always welcome.” He heard Kagome’s breath catch and he kissed her again.
Wrapped in Kagome’s bright soul, and simmering power Sesshōmaru thrived.