AN: Yay I updated!! Sorry for taking so long and leaving you with a
horrible cliffie. Hope you all enjoy the new chapter.
CH: 3 Remembering
Sesshoumaru led Kagome to their chambers. She knew he wanted to be in a secluded yet familiar area for whatever it was he was going to tell her. Sesshoumaru sat on their futon, but he seemed anything but relaxed. Kagome just sat next to him and waited for him to speak.
The room was so silent. Kagome could hear the light rustling of the branches against the wall outside, though her senses were greatly focused on the youkai sitting next to her. She heard Sesshoumaru take a deep breath and then break the silence.
"It all happened when I was only eighteen. Inuyasha was but a pup and his mother had just moved in with us. My father no longer gave my mother any mind. I would hear her constantly insult the ningen that had stolen her rightful place as Lady of the Western Lands. At the time I truly didn't see anything wrong with Inuyasha's mother. She was a kind woman though I was bitter at my father's infidelity." Sesshoumaru paused.
Kagome put a hand on his arm to give a sort of comfort. Sesshoumaru didn't even seem to notice her presence as he relived his memories. "My mother's bitterness grew with every passing day. She forbade me to see Inuyasha which is probably how the gap between us grew. And then one night her bitterness consumed her."
***flashback***
A tall female inu youkai gracefully walked down the halls silently. She had long red hair that trailed behind her as she walked. Sesshoumaru silently followed her. His head was slightly bowed as he followed his mother down the hall. He could sense that she was up to something. She had asked him to follow her.
The aura of evil hung heavily in the air. Sesshoumaru's breathing was heavy as it seemed to choke him. He couldn't believe that the aura was coming off his mother. No, not really his mother, not anymore, he reminded himself. She was no longer the sweet woman who had taught him about the world and would hold him close when something was wrong.
She was now so cold. He couldn't go near her without feeling a shiver go down his spine. She finally stopped walking and Sesshoumaru looked up to see that they were in front of his father's chambers. He raised a brow at his mother. She just looked back at him with her piercing green light blue eyes. "He's betraying me again." She said in a low voice.
Sesshoumaru listened and could hear the moans coming from the room they stood in front of. He was old enough to know what was going on inside the room. "Haha-ue, come I'll take you back to your room." Sesshoumaru said, but his mother wouldn't budge.
"It's gone on for too long." She made to open the door, but Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrist. Without warning she flung him back and he hit the wall. She then slammed open the door.
The two figures in the bed separated immediately and looked to see who had interrupted them. "What are you doing here Seijou?" Inutaisho, Sesshoumaru's father, growled.
She didn't answer; she only glared straight at them, her eyes like ice. She then used her speed which could rival that of Inutaisho. She slashed at Inutaisho. Inuyasha's mother wrapped herself in the sheets and ran from the room. Sesshoumaru was frozen in the doorway by the scene that was unfolding before his very eyes.
Inutaisho tossed Seijou from him. Instead of coming back at him like he thought she would do she ran from the room after Inuyasha's mother. Sesshoumaru finally found the strength to move and ran after his mother.
A five year old Inuyasha had been awoken by all the noise and ran outside to see what all the commotion was. He saw Seijou attack his mother. She turned and looked back at Sesshoumaru who had followed her.
"She has destroyed our family Sesshoumaru. She deserved to die." Seijou shrieked while looking at her son and standing over the corpse of the woman who she blamed for destroying her life.
Sesshoumaru was shocked that the kind woman who had once been his beloved haha-ue had become so bitter as to kill Inuyasha's mother. He knew he should have acted but he couldn't. As Inutaisho approached the grim scene, his mother fled. Inutaisho crouched down next to his ningen mate and turned accusing eyes towards Sesshoumaru.
Both Inutaisho and Inuyasha blamed Sesshoumaru for not acting when he could have. However, Sesshoumaru blamed himself the most. He left the castle after that and didn't return till news of his father's death had reached him and he had to claim his inheritance. In his time away he had known his mother was still alive. She kept showing up and ruining small bits of his life as her way of showing him that she had not forgiven him for what she had seen as a betrayal.
***end flashback***
Sesshoumaru kept his eyes averted from his mate's awaiting whatever she was going to say. He knew he wouldn't be able to take it if she too blamed him for Inuyasha's mother. Kagome on the other hand had tears running down her cheeks wondering how her mate could have gone through such turmoil.
Her hand brushed his cheek and turned his face so he was looking at her. He had scented and now saw her tears and brought up his hand to brush them away. Kagome moved her hand from his cheek to grasp his wrist. She turned his hand and laid a soft kiss on hiss palm.
"It wasn't you fault." Kagome whispered and stretched a bit to kiss his lips. Sesshoumaru felt his heart swell when she told him it wasn't his fault and although he still blamed himself, he took comfort in the knowledge that she didn't blame him. She kissed him tenderly and pulled him to her while she laid back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inuyasha walked the halls of the castle alone. He knew that Sesshoumaru had nothing to fear from Kagome and that she wouldn't blame him for anything. Inuyasha had lost his hatred for his brother over the years that had passed. His hatred had stemmed from what he had believed had been Sesshoumaru's inability to save his mother.
By now he had figured out that it wasn't Sesshoumaru's fault. He probably wouldn't have been able to act had he been in the same position. He had been so shocked to see the one woman he had loathed his entire life to appear in the doorway just before sunrise.
He had attacked with all his might, but his sword had refused to transform and he had been left to fighting with his claws. Unfortunately, Inuyasha had figured out quite painfully that Seijou had been training many years for this moment. Inuyasha had also decided like Sesshoumaru had that she had chosen now because Sesshoumaru finally had something to lose. Before he had nothing but his land which was a minute thing that would cause no pain to him had he lost it. Now, however, he had a family which he would fight to the death for. He knew that Sesshoumaru would die inside if he lost Kagome or any other member of his family just as he would if he lost Subayai or his daughter.
'Why didn't our swords work?' Inuyasha wondered. He was getting pissed that the Tetsusaiga seemed to no longer be working. He also was slightly upset that Sesshoumaru's Tenseiga had not worked either. He was relived subayai had not been one of the fallen or else he would have lost it seeing as though she would not have been revived.
He continued walking down the halls aimlessly and stopped when he heard some noises. He listened for a second and then turned and went back the way he had come with a blush on his cheeks. 'Well it would seem Kagome and Sesshoumaru are still getting along.' He thought as he quickly walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Where did she go now?' Rin walked down the halls looking for Sarah. 'I wish I had youkai senses to sniff her out with.' Rin rounded the corner and almost ran into Shippou. She would have had Shippou not sensed her coming. "Any luck?"
"Nope." Shippou answered. A messenger that had arrived had delayed the kitsune's searching. "Shinsetsu and Tsukino are arriving soon." Shippou informed Rin.
"How soon?" Rin asked.
"Very soon."
"Oh so your sweetheart must be coming as well." Rin said with a sly grin. Shippou clamped his hand over Rin's mouth and looked up and down the hallway to make sure no one was around. He finally released Rin and called down. "You're too jumpy. I'm sure Kagome-kaasan won't give you a hard time."
"It's not Kagome I'm worried about." Shippou said as they started walking down the hall again.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Rin asked.
"Her mother." Shippou stated simply and Rin nodded sympathetically. A small giggle pulled them out of their thought and they took off in the directions they heard it. Rin and Shippou entered the dining room and saw two little feet poking out from under the table cloth. Lifting a finger to his lips to signal Rin to be quiet, Shippou snuck up on the giggling little pup. He finally lunged and tackled the small girl.
Sarah wiggled and tried kicking to no avail, Shippou had her. "Finally." Shippou sighed and held his prey in his arms. "You're getting too good at this." Sarah just giggled in response.
"Where's haha-ue and chichi-ue?" Sarah asked.
"I think they're in their room." Rin said. "We probably shouldn't bother them." It was no secret to either Rin or Shippou that Kagome and Sesshoumaru were quite a 'loving' couple.
"Come on we'll go to the garden." Shippou said and the three left to go outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yukio was lounging under a sakura tree. He had decided to make the most of the day without his father training him. He enjoyed the peace that the garden provided. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. He enjoyed the light breeze and the warmth of the sun, and decided he must have gotten his love of peace from his father.
He sniffed and was greeted with the distinct scent of his siblings. Sure enough a few minutes later Shippou came out carrying Sarah, with Rin following right behind him. Shippou set the squirming Sarah down and she ran over to Yukio.
"Aniki!" Sarah ran over to him and climbed into his lap. He didn't mind and let her sit on his lap while he wrapped his arms around her waist. Sarah was always able to make Yukio smile just a Rin had been able to do for Sesshoumaru.
"Keeping Shippou and Rin busy again?" Yukio asked in an amused voice. Sarah nodded and then began to tell him everything that had happened. Rin and Shippou sat down as well and talked. Rin was mostly teasing Shippou about his crush.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome sighed while tracing patterns lightly with her fingertips on Sesshoumaru's chest. "The other lords will be here soon." She said sounding a bit disappointed.
"We could always make them wait." Sesshoumaru said and rolled over so that he had Kagome trapped beneath him. He began to nuzzle and lick at her neck.
"Mmm...you're insatiable." Kagome stated.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Sesshoumaru replied though allowed her to push him off her.
"Come on, we need to go meet with them and I would like to bathe first." Kagome pulled on a loose yukata to wear to the indoor hot spring.
"Why are the lords coming so soon?" Sesshoumaru questioned. They knew that the two of them would just be arriving that day and that whatever they had to say could probably wait.
"No clue, but we should talk to them about our...problem." Kagome answered. "Anyway, I would like to speak to Shinsetsu about something as well." Kagome said on a lighter note. Sesshoumaru gave her a quizzical look.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed?" Kagome asked. At Sesshoumaru's silence she figured he hadn't. "Shippou happens to have a little crush on Shinsetsu's daughter. He probably doesn't know I noticed though he is quite obvious." Sesshoumaru raised a brow at the news.
"Perhaps he will be mating sooner than expected." Sesshoumaru said as he rose and followed her to out after grabbing his own yukata.
After a leisurely bath the two finally emerged and went to the front room since they could already sense the approaching lords. "I wonder if Aira wants Shippou as badly as he wants her." Kagome said thoughtfully. Sesshoumaru just made a small noise to tell her he was listening. He found over the years that he greatly enjoyed listening to her. She was always optimistic and thought of things so differently than he did. "But then again who couldn't love Shippou?"
When they reached the front gates the lords were landing. Shinsetsu and his family rode on a giant bird of red and gold feathers. Tsukino, the lord of the North, was a lion youkai. He arrived on a pitch black dragon.
"Welcome to the Southern Lands, Lord Shinsetsu, Lord Tsukino." Kagome greeted. Shinsetsu walked over and kissed Kagome's hand. The old kitsune youkai always looked forward to visits with his dear friends. Tsukino walked over and bowed slightly to Sesshoumaru and Kagome.
"We come with tragic news." Shinsetsu reported.
"Of what?" Sesshoumaru questioned as they all walked inside. The four of them went towards the study while the families went off to their room.
"There is news of an army gathering in the North. I have searched but can find nothing. However, there have been recent attacks on my villages." Tsukino replied.
"Do you think it's...?" Kagome began and looked at Sesshoumaru. He gave a small nod. The two other lords looked at the couple expectantly. "It's...his mother."
"The former Lady of the Western Lands?" Tsukino said curiously. Shinsetsu remained silent. He had heard of her killing Inutaisho's ningen mate and that she had gotten away. He knew it was more than possible that she could still be around. "We should come up with a plan of what to do."
"Let us wait till tomorrow. We have only just arrived, Tsukino. I for one would not like to have talks of war after such a long journey." Shinsetsu stated. Kagome smiled at him.
"I have something I wanted to discuss with you though." Kagome said and pulled Shinsetsu to follow her after Tsukino had walked out of the room. Sesshoumaru was left to in the room to wonder as to what his mother could be up to.
"So what was it you wished to speak of, Lady Kagome?"
"Your daughter, Aira. Have you chosen a mate for her yet?" Kagome asked as they walked outside to where three of her children were.
"Iie, not as of yet. She has had many suitors though. Why do you ask?" Shinsetsu said with a conspiring smirk.
"I would like to offer Shippou as a suitor." Kagome said trying to remember what Giza had told her about making such arrangements.
"Your pup does seem of the proper age and would make a suitable mate. I shall speak to Aira about it." Shinsetsu offered. Kagome smiled at his words. She liked how he was kind enough to ask his daughter before going off and making plans that could change her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Shippou had picked up Aira's scent he left the garden to go intercept her on the way to her to the guest room. Rin watched him as he ran off and couldn't hold back the giggle that bubbled up. Yukio and Sarah gave her a questioning look, but she just waved her hand at them and said it was nothing.
Shippou followed the sweet scent of apples that he always attributed to Aira. He rounded a corner and saw the goal of his search. She gave him a sweet smile and walked up to him. "Hey Shippou-kun." Aira hugged him hello and Shippou practically melted in her embrace. She almost giggled at the goofy smile he had.
"Do-do you want to go for a walk?" Shippou asked and offered her his arm. She smiled and linked her arm with his. Shippou saw her mother watching and almost cowered from the hard look she was giving him. He knew it was her way of saying that if he even looked at her daughter in a manor she thought ungentlemanly she would make sure he regretted it.
He walked outside with Aira making sure not to go near his siblings. He knew they would make fun of him and probably give away what he felt for Aira and he wasn't really sure if he wanted her to know just yet.
"Your family really does have the most beautiful garden." Aira said as she looked at the various flowers and plants growing all around. Shippou watched her as she began to look around. She finally sat down on one of the stone benches and patted the seat next to her, telling Shippou to sit with her.
'Come on Shippou, don't be such a wuss.' He told himself. He walked over and sat next to her. He looked down at her hand that was holding the edge of the bench. He placed his hand over hers but didn't look at her.
Aira felt him place his hand over hers. She looked over to him and gave a small smile when she saw the light blush that was spreading over his cheeks. They stayed like that and talked until dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My lady, all four taiyoukai have gathered together." A cloaked youkai bowed before another in a throne.
"Then it would seem everything is going perfectly." The cloaked youkai left his lady to her thoughts. 'So my dear Sesshoumaru, will you turn to the others for help. Don't worry you will know the pain of loss as I have.' Lady Seijou winced and held her head in pain for a moment. The closer she got to her plans the harder it was getting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay finally everyone knows what's going on. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long.
CONGRATULATIONS AkxTP for being the only one who correctly guessed who the new evil was.
Review Responses:
Aira^o^: Yay I finally updated. Hope you enjoyed.
Kagomesirene: Sorry for taking so long, but now you know the secret. Sorry none of your and your friend's guesses were right.
VioletEyesSilverShadow: Hope the wait didn't kill you.
MysticalAngel: Yeah I figure I keep making Inu suffer so in this fic atleast he won't be an ass
Fawn the panther: Yes, I am evil! Inuyasha: She really is...uh-oh *Inuyasha runs away while being chased by Shichan*
Kit: Yay cookies!! Don't be afraid to write it's fun. I'll read your fics if you post some.
Tessa: I don't have any drawings of the kids. I wish I knew someone who could do them from me, but alas it hasn't happened.
Wildflower92490: I would never make Kagome seriously angry at Sesshou.
Angel B: Don't worry I have ideas for another Naraku/Kagome fic in the works.
Sesshy's Angel: Yes Kag will use the Shikon, but for what you have to wait and see.
Peach: Yeah, I wonder where I could have gotten the name Sarah from ^_^
Kitsune-Tenshi: Don't worry more lemony goodness will occur between Sess and Kag
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. The reviews really helped to make me get pass my little writer's block. Keep 'em coming.
~*Shichan
CH: 3 Remembering
Sesshoumaru led Kagome to their chambers. She knew he wanted to be in a secluded yet familiar area for whatever it was he was going to tell her. Sesshoumaru sat on their futon, but he seemed anything but relaxed. Kagome just sat next to him and waited for him to speak.
The room was so silent. Kagome could hear the light rustling of the branches against the wall outside, though her senses were greatly focused on the youkai sitting next to her. She heard Sesshoumaru take a deep breath and then break the silence.
"It all happened when I was only eighteen. Inuyasha was but a pup and his mother had just moved in with us. My father no longer gave my mother any mind. I would hear her constantly insult the ningen that had stolen her rightful place as Lady of the Western Lands. At the time I truly didn't see anything wrong with Inuyasha's mother. She was a kind woman though I was bitter at my father's infidelity." Sesshoumaru paused.
Kagome put a hand on his arm to give a sort of comfort. Sesshoumaru didn't even seem to notice her presence as he relived his memories. "My mother's bitterness grew with every passing day. She forbade me to see Inuyasha which is probably how the gap between us grew. And then one night her bitterness consumed her."
***flashback***
A tall female inu youkai gracefully walked down the halls silently. She had long red hair that trailed behind her as she walked. Sesshoumaru silently followed her. His head was slightly bowed as he followed his mother down the hall. He could sense that she was up to something. She had asked him to follow her.
The aura of evil hung heavily in the air. Sesshoumaru's breathing was heavy as it seemed to choke him. He couldn't believe that the aura was coming off his mother. No, not really his mother, not anymore, he reminded himself. She was no longer the sweet woman who had taught him about the world and would hold him close when something was wrong.
She was now so cold. He couldn't go near her without feeling a shiver go down his spine. She finally stopped walking and Sesshoumaru looked up to see that they were in front of his father's chambers. He raised a brow at his mother. She just looked back at him with her piercing green light blue eyes. "He's betraying me again." She said in a low voice.
Sesshoumaru listened and could hear the moans coming from the room they stood in front of. He was old enough to know what was going on inside the room. "Haha-ue, come I'll take you back to your room." Sesshoumaru said, but his mother wouldn't budge.
"It's gone on for too long." She made to open the door, but Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrist. Without warning she flung him back and he hit the wall. She then slammed open the door.
The two figures in the bed separated immediately and looked to see who had interrupted them. "What are you doing here Seijou?" Inutaisho, Sesshoumaru's father, growled.
She didn't answer; she only glared straight at them, her eyes like ice. She then used her speed which could rival that of Inutaisho. She slashed at Inutaisho. Inuyasha's mother wrapped herself in the sheets and ran from the room. Sesshoumaru was frozen in the doorway by the scene that was unfolding before his very eyes.
Inutaisho tossed Seijou from him. Instead of coming back at him like he thought she would do she ran from the room after Inuyasha's mother. Sesshoumaru finally found the strength to move and ran after his mother.
A five year old Inuyasha had been awoken by all the noise and ran outside to see what all the commotion was. He saw Seijou attack his mother. She turned and looked back at Sesshoumaru who had followed her.
"She has destroyed our family Sesshoumaru. She deserved to die." Seijou shrieked while looking at her son and standing over the corpse of the woman who she blamed for destroying her life.
Sesshoumaru was shocked that the kind woman who had once been his beloved haha-ue had become so bitter as to kill Inuyasha's mother. He knew he should have acted but he couldn't. As Inutaisho approached the grim scene, his mother fled. Inutaisho crouched down next to his ningen mate and turned accusing eyes towards Sesshoumaru.
Both Inutaisho and Inuyasha blamed Sesshoumaru for not acting when he could have. However, Sesshoumaru blamed himself the most. He left the castle after that and didn't return till news of his father's death had reached him and he had to claim his inheritance. In his time away he had known his mother was still alive. She kept showing up and ruining small bits of his life as her way of showing him that she had not forgiven him for what she had seen as a betrayal.
***end flashback***
Sesshoumaru kept his eyes averted from his mate's awaiting whatever she was going to say. He knew he wouldn't be able to take it if she too blamed him for Inuyasha's mother. Kagome on the other hand had tears running down her cheeks wondering how her mate could have gone through such turmoil.
Her hand brushed his cheek and turned his face so he was looking at her. He had scented and now saw her tears and brought up his hand to brush them away. Kagome moved her hand from his cheek to grasp his wrist. She turned his hand and laid a soft kiss on hiss palm.
"It wasn't you fault." Kagome whispered and stretched a bit to kiss his lips. Sesshoumaru felt his heart swell when she told him it wasn't his fault and although he still blamed himself, he took comfort in the knowledge that she didn't blame him. She kissed him tenderly and pulled him to her while she laid back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inuyasha walked the halls of the castle alone. He knew that Sesshoumaru had nothing to fear from Kagome and that she wouldn't blame him for anything. Inuyasha had lost his hatred for his brother over the years that had passed. His hatred had stemmed from what he had believed had been Sesshoumaru's inability to save his mother.
By now he had figured out that it wasn't Sesshoumaru's fault. He probably wouldn't have been able to act had he been in the same position. He had been so shocked to see the one woman he had loathed his entire life to appear in the doorway just before sunrise.
He had attacked with all his might, but his sword had refused to transform and he had been left to fighting with his claws. Unfortunately, Inuyasha had figured out quite painfully that Seijou had been training many years for this moment. Inuyasha had also decided like Sesshoumaru had that she had chosen now because Sesshoumaru finally had something to lose. Before he had nothing but his land which was a minute thing that would cause no pain to him had he lost it. Now, however, he had a family which he would fight to the death for. He knew that Sesshoumaru would die inside if he lost Kagome or any other member of his family just as he would if he lost Subayai or his daughter.
'Why didn't our swords work?' Inuyasha wondered. He was getting pissed that the Tetsusaiga seemed to no longer be working. He also was slightly upset that Sesshoumaru's Tenseiga had not worked either. He was relived subayai had not been one of the fallen or else he would have lost it seeing as though she would not have been revived.
He continued walking down the halls aimlessly and stopped when he heard some noises. He listened for a second and then turned and went back the way he had come with a blush on his cheeks. 'Well it would seem Kagome and Sesshoumaru are still getting along.' He thought as he quickly walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Where did she go now?' Rin walked down the halls looking for Sarah. 'I wish I had youkai senses to sniff her out with.' Rin rounded the corner and almost ran into Shippou. She would have had Shippou not sensed her coming. "Any luck?"
"Nope." Shippou answered. A messenger that had arrived had delayed the kitsune's searching. "Shinsetsu and Tsukino are arriving soon." Shippou informed Rin.
"How soon?" Rin asked.
"Very soon."
"Oh so your sweetheart must be coming as well." Rin said with a sly grin. Shippou clamped his hand over Rin's mouth and looked up and down the hallway to make sure no one was around. He finally released Rin and called down. "You're too jumpy. I'm sure Kagome-kaasan won't give you a hard time."
"It's not Kagome I'm worried about." Shippou said as they started walking down the hall again.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Rin asked.
"Her mother." Shippou stated simply and Rin nodded sympathetically. A small giggle pulled them out of their thought and they took off in the directions they heard it. Rin and Shippou entered the dining room and saw two little feet poking out from under the table cloth. Lifting a finger to his lips to signal Rin to be quiet, Shippou snuck up on the giggling little pup. He finally lunged and tackled the small girl.
Sarah wiggled and tried kicking to no avail, Shippou had her. "Finally." Shippou sighed and held his prey in his arms. "You're getting too good at this." Sarah just giggled in response.
"Where's haha-ue and chichi-ue?" Sarah asked.
"I think they're in their room." Rin said. "We probably shouldn't bother them." It was no secret to either Rin or Shippou that Kagome and Sesshoumaru were quite a 'loving' couple.
"Come on we'll go to the garden." Shippou said and the three left to go outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yukio was lounging under a sakura tree. He had decided to make the most of the day without his father training him. He enjoyed the peace that the garden provided. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. He enjoyed the light breeze and the warmth of the sun, and decided he must have gotten his love of peace from his father.
He sniffed and was greeted with the distinct scent of his siblings. Sure enough a few minutes later Shippou came out carrying Sarah, with Rin following right behind him. Shippou set the squirming Sarah down and she ran over to Yukio.
"Aniki!" Sarah ran over to him and climbed into his lap. He didn't mind and let her sit on his lap while he wrapped his arms around her waist. Sarah was always able to make Yukio smile just a Rin had been able to do for Sesshoumaru.
"Keeping Shippou and Rin busy again?" Yukio asked in an amused voice. Sarah nodded and then began to tell him everything that had happened. Rin and Shippou sat down as well and talked. Rin was mostly teasing Shippou about his crush.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome sighed while tracing patterns lightly with her fingertips on Sesshoumaru's chest. "The other lords will be here soon." She said sounding a bit disappointed.
"We could always make them wait." Sesshoumaru said and rolled over so that he had Kagome trapped beneath him. He began to nuzzle and lick at her neck.
"Mmm...you're insatiable." Kagome stated.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Sesshoumaru replied though allowed her to push him off her.
"Come on, we need to go meet with them and I would like to bathe first." Kagome pulled on a loose yukata to wear to the indoor hot spring.
"Why are the lords coming so soon?" Sesshoumaru questioned. They knew that the two of them would just be arriving that day and that whatever they had to say could probably wait.
"No clue, but we should talk to them about our...problem." Kagome answered. "Anyway, I would like to speak to Shinsetsu about something as well." Kagome said on a lighter note. Sesshoumaru gave her a quizzical look.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed?" Kagome asked. At Sesshoumaru's silence she figured he hadn't. "Shippou happens to have a little crush on Shinsetsu's daughter. He probably doesn't know I noticed though he is quite obvious." Sesshoumaru raised a brow at the news.
"Perhaps he will be mating sooner than expected." Sesshoumaru said as he rose and followed her to out after grabbing his own yukata.
After a leisurely bath the two finally emerged and went to the front room since they could already sense the approaching lords. "I wonder if Aira wants Shippou as badly as he wants her." Kagome said thoughtfully. Sesshoumaru just made a small noise to tell her he was listening. He found over the years that he greatly enjoyed listening to her. She was always optimistic and thought of things so differently than he did. "But then again who couldn't love Shippou?"
When they reached the front gates the lords were landing. Shinsetsu and his family rode on a giant bird of red and gold feathers. Tsukino, the lord of the North, was a lion youkai. He arrived on a pitch black dragon.
"Welcome to the Southern Lands, Lord Shinsetsu, Lord Tsukino." Kagome greeted. Shinsetsu walked over and kissed Kagome's hand. The old kitsune youkai always looked forward to visits with his dear friends. Tsukino walked over and bowed slightly to Sesshoumaru and Kagome.
"We come with tragic news." Shinsetsu reported.
"Of what?" Sesshoumaru questioned as they all walked inside. The four of them went towards the study while the families went off to their room.
"There is news of an army gathering in the North. I have searched but can find nothing. However, there have been recent attacks on my villages." Tsukino replied.
"Do you think it's...?" Kagome began and looked at Sesshoumaru. He gave a small nod. The two other lords looked at the couple expectantly. "It's...his mother."
"The former Lady of the Western Lands?" Tsukino said curiously. Shinsetsu remained silent. He had heard of her killing Inutaisho's ningen mate and that she had gotten away. He knew it was more than possible that she could still be around. "We should come up with a plan of what to do."
"Let us wait till tomorrow. We have only just arrived, Tsukino. I for one would not like to have talks of war after such a long journey." Shinsetsu stated. Kagome smiled at him.
"I have something I wanted to discuss with you though." Kagome said and pulled Shinsetsu to follow her after Tsukino had walked out of the room. Sesshoumaru was left to in the room to wonder as to what his mother could be up to.
"So what was it you wished to speak of, Lady Kagome?"
"Your daughter, Aira. Have you chosen a mate for her yet?" Kagome asked as they walked outside to where three of her children were.
"Iie, not as of yet. She has had many suitors though. Why do you ask?" Shinsetsu said with a conspiring smirk.
"I would like to offer Shippou as a suitor." Kagome said trying to remember what Giza had told her about making such arrangements.
"Your pup does seem of the proper age and would make a suitable mate. I shall speak to Aira about it." Shinsetsu offered. Kagome smiled at his words. She liked how he was kind enough to ask his daughter before going off and making plans that could change her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Shippou had picked up Aira's scent he left the garden to go intercept her on the way to her to the guest room. Rin watched him as he ran off and couldn't hold back the giggle that bubbled up. Yukio and Sarah gave her a questioning look, but she just waved her hand at them and said it was nothing.
Shippou followed the sweet scent of apples that he always attributed to Aira. He rounded a corner and saw the goal of his search. She gave him a sweet smile and walked up to him. "Hey Shippou-kun." Aira hugged him hello and Shippou practically melted in her embrace. She almost giggled at the goofy smile he had.
"Do-do you want to go for a walk?" Shippou asked and offered her his arm. She smiled and linked her arm with his. Shippou saw her mother watching and almost cowered from the hard look she was giving him. He knew it was her way of saying that if he even looked at her daughter in a manor she thought ungentlemanly she would make sure he regretted it.
He walked outside with Aira making sure not to go near his siblings. He knew they would make fun of him and probably give away what he felt for Aira and he wasn't really sure if he wanted her to know just yet.
"Your family really does have the most beautiful garden." Aira said as she looked at the various flowers and plants growing all around. Shippou watched her as she began to look around. She finally sat down on one of the stone benches and patted the seat next to her, telling Shippou to sit with her.
'Come on Shippou, don't be such a wuss.' He told himself. He walked over and sat next to her. He looked down at her hand that was holding the edge of the bench. He placed his hand over hers but didn't look at her.
Aira felt him place his hand over hers. She looked over to him and gave a small smile when she saw the light blush that was spreading over his cheeks. They stayed like that and talked until dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My lady, all four taiyoukai have gathered together." A cloaked youkai bowed before another in a throne.
"Then it would seem everything is going perfectly." The cloaked youkai left his lady to her thoughts. 'So my dear Sesshoumaru, will you turn to the others for help. Don't worry you will know the pain of loss as I have.' Lady Seijou winced and held her head in pain for a moment. The closer she got to her plans the harder it was getting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay finally everyone knows what's going on. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long.
CONGRATULATIONS AkxTP for being the only one who correctly guessed who the new evil was.
Review Responses:
Aira^o^: Yay I finally updated. Hope you enjoyed.
Kagomesirene: Sorry for taking so long, but now you know the secret. Sorry none of your and your friend's guesses were right.
VioletEyesSilverShadow: Hope the wait didn't kill you.
MysticalAngel: Yeah I figure I keep making Inu suffer so in this fic atleast he won't be an ass
Fawn the panther: Yes, I am evil! Inuyasha: She really is...uh-oh *Inuyasha runs away while being chased by Shichan*
Kit: Yay cookies!! Don't be afraid to write it's fun. I'll read your fics if you post some.
Tessa: I don't have any drawings of the kids. I wish I knew someone who could do them from me, but alas it hasn't happened.
Wildflower92490: I would never make Kagome seriously angry at Sesshou.
Angel B: Don't worry I have ideas for another Naraku/Kagome fic in the works.
Sesshy's Angel: Yes Kag will use the Shikon, but for what you have to wait and see.
Peach: Yeah, I wonder where I could have gotten the name Sarah from ^_^
Kitsune-Tenshi: Don't worry more lemony goodness will occur between Sess and Kag
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. The reviews really helped to make me get pass my little writer's block. Keep 'em coming.
~*Shichan