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Ripples in Time	By : Waterunleashed Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 7625 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
A/N: Okay so that twice a week isn’t going to work but I promise a steady flow of updates. This past week and a half has been crazy my sister gave birth to a healthy baby girl, she is so cute. So that is niece number two my sister has her hands full and I’ve been trying to help out. And my best friend is heading off to boot camp soon. Needless to say my free time is not my own.

Anyways on with the story I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you evilpinatang, Forgotten Echoes and Neo-Crystal for your wonderful reviews.

Chapter 7: Tests

I think I should correct myself, this week did not look to be very promising and we were only two days into it. I was done with the book on the Great Demon/Fey War in Japan. It was a very dry read and written by a human. Sesshomaru said because of this a lot of the insights were merely speculation but the events and results were true.

Now Sesshomaru sat in his office behind the large desk and stared down at me. He was dressed up today. His normal modern attire was nowhere to be seen, instead he wore the traditional kimono that he had worm in the past. He looked just like the scary demon lord I had met 500 years ago, yet there were still changes. The most obvious of course was his short hair, with his old outfit on it looked wrong without the long hair flowing behind him like a cape. Strange that the difference between two arms and one arm was not as apparent as long and short hair.

Maybe it wasn’t the lack of hair that bothered me but the reason behind it. While I was reading the book on the war Sesshomaru had pulled up articles on the web about Sidhe customs and one of them said that they had long hair and only Sidhe had long hair. A non-Sidhe that grew their hair past their shoulders was punished and the locks were quickly shorn.

Oh but that was only the beginning of the absurdity of the ruling class. I shook my head and met Sesshomaru’s tired but demanding stare. If demons could get dark circles and bags under their eyes I’m sure he would have them. He hadn’t slept last night or the night before, and from the look in his eyes probably the night before that. How long could demons go without sleep? Inuyasha could go a day or two only lightly dosing while keeping an ear open for trouble but what about a pure demon? It looked like his insomnia was catching up to him.

I slept on the couch for the past two nights, and though it was a very nice couch I would’ve preferred sleeping in a bed. Just not his bed, and certainly not with him in it, that would just be too uncomfortable for words. He had offered of course, the gentleman that he had turned out to be was appalled when I wished him goodnight and laid down on the couch.

But I just couldn’t ask him to switch places especially in his own house it just wasn’t right. So I slept on the couch, jumping at every sound and shift in the shadows until my body gave into exhaustion and I drifted off to sleep.

Last night I woke up when he came into the room and sat on the floor by my feet, he had told me to go back to sleep and I shut my eyes again without question. The night before I don’t know where he was or what he had done but the amount of coffee he guzzled in the morning clearly said he had not slept.

‘Kagome stay focused and answer the question,’ he demanded as he picked up his fifth cup of black coffee for the day. After two days of pouring over books and PDFs along with trying to pick apart his brain he decided that he need to test my ability to retain the information. Jackass he should know I despise tests and this one was oral.

‘Yeah yeah,’ his eyes narrowed, I hate you. ‘The peace treaty between demons and the fey was signed in 1856 after a fifty year battle. The treaty was signed the following month and stated that demons would no longer hold any place of power and became the serfs of the Sidhe. Five years ago it was decided that Demons would be given their own house in the Sithen and any demon that wished to join that house could petition their lord or lady to set them free.’ It was freaking barbaric and of course Sesshomaru wouldn’t tell me why he didn’t petition for his freedom, he would just say ‘I am your guard’. No he was an evasive pain in my ass.

‘Very good and when did we sign a treaty with the humans and what are the stipulations in the treaty?’ He asked.

‘We’ meant both the Sidhe and the Demons since the Demons already belonged to the Sidhe. ‘The treaty was signed in 1860, we aren’t citizens of Japan but if we decide to live outside of the Sithen we must answer to human laws. Like the Sidhe in America we aren’t allowed to use our glamour on humans, allow ourselves to be worshipped as Gods or start a war doing so will banish us from Japan. In return Mt. Matsumoto was given to us and became Sidhe land instead of a part of Japan.’ I recited these were easy questions they were repeated in everything I had read.

He sipped his coffee then set it down with a soft clink that meant it was empty, ‘does caffeine even affect demons?’

He glared at me, ‘yes though it does not last.’

I crossed my arms and looked at the demon in front of me with his slumped shoulders and dull gold eyes, ‘clearly.’

He growled, ‘how is the ruler of the Sidhe chosen?’

Oh yes not only did he look tired but he was grumpy, I think I discovered what the stick up his ass had been in the past; insomnia. ‘The Sithen chooses its ruler and can change at the King or Queen’s will. When Queen Celeste entered the Sithen it took to her immediately and she was declared Queen of faerie. Why don’t you take a nap I can continue to read while you rest.’

‘I am fine you are not getting out of this test,’ his golden eye bore down into mine. ‘Who is her Consort and what are his hands of power?’

Stubborn ass, ‘Consort Wynfor has the Hand of Reaching which enables him to pull someone to him from across any distance, whether it is across a field or through a mirror or any other reflective surface. His other power is the Hand of Claws which means he can manifest invisible claws at will. Before you ask they have no children or he would be King and not Consort. Queen Celeste had a daughter and lost both her King and daughter in the Demon/Fey war. Would you like another cup of coffee?’

‘No’ he said through clenched teeth, I don’t think he liked that I was pointing out that he needed sleep. Please like I was going to ignore that fact that he was tired. I stood and grabbed the empty mug. He jumped to his feet, ‘the test is not over. Sit down Miko.’

‘I’m just getting some coffee, but maybe I should get you tea.’ I stared up at his narrowed eyes, his face was so tense as he clenched his jaw. ‘Sesshomaru what’s wrong?’

‘I have a week to teach you the intricacies of court life and what it means to be Sidhe, I have already wasted two days on teaching you the history and the bare basics of your customs.’ He sat back down, ‘I don’t know what will be imperative for you to know, I don’t know what knowledge you need to pull this charade off.’

‘Am I really failing that badly?’ I had thought I was doing well. Celeste checked in yesterday and Sesshomaru gave his report on what we were starting with and what I had already learned. She had seemed pleased.

‘You are not failing Kagome, but I fear that I will.’ He said.

I walked around and leaned against his desk, he didn’t watch me. Throughout the past two days he didn’t look at me unless it was necessary ,it annoyed me but I wouldn’t bring it up yet. Once he got some sleep I’m sure he will be more amiable again. I looked down at the crown of silver hair, ‘I’ve never known you to fail at anything I don’t think this is going to break that record.’

He growled, ‘and that is the problem.’

‘What’s the problem?’

He got up and walked across the room to the large portrait of Rin, I had to turn around to keep my eye on him afraid that if I didn’t keep him in my sight he might disappear. He was moody enough that he might decide he needed space from me, again.

‘I didn’t think it would be this hard,’ he said softly. ‘I am not perfect Kagome and I have failed many times, I have even failed you before. But you don’t remember it, you don’t remember my fall and my faults. You see me as Lord Sesshomaru, a powerful demon that deserves respect.’ His shoulders slumped, I put down the mug and walked over to him.

‘What ever happened Sesshomaru you can tell me,’ I stood in front of him and stared up into his eyes. ‘No matter what happened you will always have my respect. You stood by my side and helped us defeat Naraku, you helped Inuyasha control his demon blood and have done so many other things nothing that has happened can change that.’

He shook his head, ‘I know I must tell you, I think it is the only way to make the history lesson more real to you.’

‘I’ll make some more coffee then you can tell me what you’ve been doing for the past 500 hundred years.’ I took his clawed hand in mine, ‘It isn’t just about learning about this new world Sesshomaru I want to know more about you.’

His lips twitched and threatened to smile but it never happened, ‘if that is what you wish.’

I frowned, it was close to his normal response of ‘if my lady wills it’. Over the two days I have heard it only a handful of times but I hated it, it meant he would do what I wanted even if he didn’t agree with it or like it. ‘What I really wish is that you would get some sleep.’

I was close enough to hear the soft growl, ‘I am fine.’

I took my hand back from him and went over to the desk, I picked up the large mug. I could feel his eyes on me as I left the study. I don’t know why he couldn’t sleep and why he wouldn’t talk to me but another day and I’d be looking for sleeping pills.

I filled the tea kettle with water and put it on the stove to boil the water while I pictured the drugged taiyoukai, oh yes that definitely had possibilities. The sound of chimes came from his bedroom, someone was trying to contact him through the mirror. It was the first call that hadn’t been from Celeste. The door closed and I waited for him to come and get me.

After a few minutes the tea kettle began to whistle and he hadn’t come out, a personal call. I quickly poured the hot water into the French press and put the cover over it. While it steeped I peeked out into the long hallway. At the end the door to his bedroom was still closed and there was a barrier over the door.

The barrier was probably sound proof so I couldn’t hear what was going on inside the room. I found myself walking down the corridor, what was so private that he had to put up a barrier? I brushed my hand over the barrier and it tingled under my hand. I pulled back my hand and turned around if he wanted privacy I would give it to him, maybe he didn’t want the person to see me.

Casting one last glance over my shoulder I went back into the kitchen and slowly began to push down the knob. A French press was a pain in the ass but it did make better coffee. I tried to listen for the door hoping he would come out soon.

Once the coffee was made I took the pot and mug back into the office and tried not to linger by the closed door. I set the pot and mug on his desk and sat back down on my cushion, my back was tensed and I tried not to think about what was going on in the other room.

After a few minutes of absolute silence I was ready to scream, I don’t know why it bothered me so much but the barrier had put me on edge, I needed something else to focus on. I looked over the various papers on his desk. There were two stacks of photos on the desk of various Sidhe that I was supposed to know. I picked up the smaller pile that we had already gone over.

The first was of Celeste and her Consort, it was a picture from a press conference. Both of them were dressed in designer business suits, Celeste wore a dark gray with a light green shirt underneath which I’ve come to realize is her signature look. Wynfor’s long white hair was pulled into a high ponytail so that it spilled around his white suit like a cloak. There wasn’t much color to him, his skin and hair were white as well as the middle circle of his irises. The inner circle was a pale blue and the outer circle was black. It was interesting to look at.

They made a beautiful pair to look at but according to Sesshomaru he didn’t think Wynfor would ever be King. In this culture you had to become pregnant before you could marry and after fifty years they haven’t made a child.

Their way of marriage was just so backwards, you were supposed to get married then try for children. But Sesshomaru had explained that birth rates among the Sidhe were low and we were not allowed to settle into an unfertile match, even if it was for love. Stupid idea if you asked me.

I flipped to the next picture, it was a picture of me with my cousin Amaya, the one who gave me many naughty clothes. She was thirty years older than me and since I reached womanhood had apparently attached herself to me as a constant companion. I was expected to call her tomorrow to say hello since she was my best friend in this time.

She was from my father’s side of the family and held similar powers. My father could grow plants from a seed to full bloom in minutes and performs a lot of fertility rituals at the court. Amaya’s power was a good match to his power. Sesshomaru said she embodies the suns power to give life and can use that power to heal wounds and aid in conception.

He also said that she could instinctively tell if a couple was fertile or not but she did not like to broadcast this ability because she didn’t like being the bearer of bad news.

She was beautiful and from the picture I could tell we had gotten along very well. Her hair was like spun gold that matched her skin her eyes were not the typical triple iris of the Sidhe, her eyes were dark pink and looked like flower petals. In the picture we were in a rollercoaster with our hands up in the air and large smiles on our faces.

Amaya lived in the Sithen and whenever she came to visit we would go out on the town so I could show her the human side of life. Sesshomaru said the nature of her powers made her more open to different ways of life. Like what? He wouldn’t answer.

The bedroom door opened and closed softly, I turned and watched him walk in with his head held high and his mask firmly in place.

‘Is everything alright?’ I asked.

He walked across the room and sat down by his desk his cold gaze seemed to stare straight through me and I couldn’t help but shudder. I hadn’t seen that look in a very long time, I had hoped to never see it again.

‘Everything is fine we will continue with your test,’ his words were clipped. ‘How many houses are in the Sithen and who are their heads?’

I put the photos back on the desk and rose to pour him coffee.

He growled, ‘I don’t need that stop stalling and answer the question.’

I sighed, maybe if I answered it he would ease up and I could ask him what the fuck was going on. ‘There are twenty Sidhe houses in the Sithen and then there are seven other houses, the Goblin court, the Demifey, the Demons, the Sluagh, the Dryads, the Dragons and the lesser Fey.’ I poured the coffee and placed it in front of him he just glared at me.

I shook my head I didn’t know all their names we hadn’t gotten that far. ‘Who was that at the mirror?’

‘Finish the question,’ he hissed.

‘We didn’t go over that yet, who was at the mirror?’ I refused to back down from him he wouldn’t hurt me he was my guard.

‘We did go over all of them apparently you failed to listen to everything I said,’ he growled low in his chest, he sounded so angry but it didn’t show. This amount of anger and it should’ve shown, his eyes should be narrowed, his hand clenched. His aura should’ve felt like a hot malevolent storm. Yet he sat there glaring at me with cold eyes, his aura compacted in on itself so I could barely feel it.

‘Why the barrier at the door Sesshomaru?’ I leaned on the desk and looked straight into his golden eyes. ‘Are you trying to protect me or hide something from me?’

His growls increased and he stood so he could tower over me, ‘that was your dearest mother,’ he sneered.

I felt the wind get knocked out of me; during my stay here we were dancing around the subject of my mother though I suspected it was for two different reasons. ‘What happened?’

‘She felt the need to check on you and make sure that you are safe,’ he replied.

‘Wouldn’t that require my presence in the room?’ I asked though we both knew I didn’t want to see her. I was hiding from her like a coward.

‘I told her you were taking a bath she will call again later to talk with you,’ he said.

‘And that puts the stick back in your ass?’ I looked up at him in shock, I did not just say that. His eyes narrowed, I can’t believe I said that.

‘Read the rest of the papers I gave you,’ there was nothing in his voice it was just hollow words.

I grabbed his arm before he could leave, I liked the new speed and strength I got from this body. ‘I’m sorry Sesshomaru I shouldn’t have said that, I can’t believe I said that.’ I looked up at him but he was very pointedly looking away from me. The muscles under my hand were like solid rock and I realized I had grabbed his left arm. ‘I trust you but your hiding stuff from me and it is pissing me off.’

His head whipped around and he looked down at me, ‘you trust me?’

I smiled, ‘if I didn’t trust you I probably would’ve been cowering in the corner afraid you would try and turn me into acidic goo.’

He shook his head, ‘you never cowered from me I don’t believe a lack of trust would change that.’

I shrugged, ‘okay so I don’t know when to back down but it doesn’t matter I do trust you Sesshomaru. Not just in this time either. We were allies in the past and though you didn’t want it I did consider you a friend back then. So stop the bullshit, something is going on that you don’t want to tell me about and it has something to do with my mother. I think I have a right to know.’

He looked down at my hand holding onto his upper arm, he could’ve escaped, my hand was nowhere near large enough to wrap around his large bicep, which flexed under my hand. I blushed and took my hand away.

‘That is going to be the biggest problem,’ he said.

‘What is?’ I asked but I didn’t look at him because my cheeks were still red.

‘Sidhe are very open brazen creatures, they are not ashamed if they find someone attractive,’ he put a finger to my lips knowing I would protest. ‘It is something we will discuss another day for now you want to know about your mother.’

‘And you,’ I mumbled against the soft pad of his finger. I looked up at him and waited for him to take his hand away.

His mask was firmly in place as he stared down at me with bored, cold eyes as his fingers brushed against my cheek leaving a trail of fire behind. I leaned into the soft touch but he pulled back and walked back to his cold cup of coffee and took a sip.

I closed my eyes, how did he do that? Every touch always felt like something more yet he held himself back.
His voice brought me back, ‘I don’t think your mother has changed as much as you believe Kagome. She is the perfect mother and wife. Caring and gentle to those she loves, the two of you are very close.’

‘It doesn’t seem that way,’ I mumbled and sat back down on my cushion.

‘When you talk to her tonight I’m sure you will find her to be your beloved mother, I will not be in the room.’ He said.

‘Why doesn’t she like you?’

He sipped the cold coffee, ‘she does not dislike me but she doesn’t trust me and there is nothing she can do about my proximity to you because I bear your mark.’ He looked down at me and there was a spark of anger in his eyes. ‘She cannot understand why her self-respecting daughter would mark a lesser being to be tied to her, especially a demon.’

‘I’ve tied a demon to our house and what she sees it as an insult?’ I asked, my mother loved Inuyasha he was like a second son to her. If she hadn’t changed as much as he said then she would not treat him like dirt.

He nodded, ‘essentially. She will probably bring it up tonight. A year after I became your guardian she told you not to mark me in the past.’

‘That’s horrible why would she say that?’ This was not my mother, he didn’t know her before all of this he couldn’t know how much she had changed.

‘Because it is the only way you could be rid of me,’ he put the cup down and curled his hand into a fist. ‘You showed me favor and have given me an honor that no other demon has and I have become a mark of imperfection on your house. You could exile me from your side Kagome but for your mother even that would not be enough.’

‘I would never do that,’ I pulled my legs up against my chest and stared up at him in his regal kimono. ‘My mother can kiss my ass.’

He looked down at me and let me see the pain in his eyes, the uncertainty he was feeling. Shouldn’t he be smiling, assured? I held out my hand to him and he stepped closer but he didn’t take it, he just stared down at me with pained golden eyes.

I leaned forward and took his limp hand in mine and tugged it lightly but he didn’t move. Who put that look in his eyes? Whoever it was I wanted to strangle them even if it was my mother. What they did to him was inexcusable. ‘Come here,’ I whispered gently and tugged his hand again.

He knelt down in front of me, ‘there was one other clause in the treaty between the demons and fey. Those that led the resistance against the fey were executed.’

I heard the ‘but’ and knew I was going to have to drag it out of him. I knew this was it one of those ‘you caused this Kagome’ moments. I had been a turning point and it dealt with my mother and Sesshomaru. ‘This is going to be a long story right? I mean you are going to tell me what you’ve been up to for the past 500 hundred years because little snippets are not going to make any sense.’

‘Yes it is long would you prefer to sit somewhere else?’ He pulled his hand out of mine.

‘Let’s go in the living room, I’ll make some more coffee and some sandwiches for lunch.’ I said.

‘I don’t need any more coffee,’ he sounded a bit annoyed.

I tilted my head, ‘so you’re going to take a nap?’

He growled and swiftly got to his feet, ‘I am fine woman and I don’t need your coddling.’

‘Fine you jerk, but you are not fine,’ I got to my feet and turned away from his arrogant mask. ‘You should just tell me what’s bothering you so we can move past it.’

He brushed past me and opened the door, ‘make the damned coffee I don’t care, I’ll be in the living room when you’re ready.’ He shut the door behind him.

‘Cranky,’ I said to myself and gathered up the mug and coffee pot, both were barely touched. If I made more the same would probably happen. I took the coffee into the kitchen and dumped the cold liquid down the sink and emptied the grounds into the trash. He probably wouldn’t eat anything either right now.

I leaned against the counter and closed my eyes, this was it the answers to so many questions I just had to walk in there and listen without pissing him off. It didn’t seem very possible at the moment, it wasn’t really fair that he knew my likes and dislikes, how to piss me off and make amends yet I didn’t know anything about him.

I couldn’t use my knowledge of Inuyasha to help, those two were always like night and day. So how did I apologize without actually apologizing? I shook my head and grabbed two packets of hot chocolate mix. Either he drank it or didn’t he couldn’t just have the mix here for me right?

I quickly made two mugs of creamy hot chocolate and walked into the living room. He was sitting on the far end of the couch with his back toward me. On purpose I’m sure. I walked in front of him and offered him the large brown mug I had found hidden in the back of his cabinet.

His lips twitched into a smirk and he took the cup from me. I sat next to him and blew on the surface of the steamy liquid. ‘What happened with the Lord of the East?’

‘He thought I was dead and sent the creatures back to hell, they were too dangerous and ambitious to keep around. After I healed the rest of my wounds and buried my daughter I flew to his lands and slaughtered him. I made sure he paid for her death with days of agony before I finally took his life.’ His eyes flashed red and he closed them for a moment.

I bit my lip, he had actually called her his daughter, something I’m sure he had never been able to say to her when she was alive. I stared at him over the lip of my mug as he kept his eyes closed. If he opened them now would they be crimson or gold?

‘So you became the ruler of the East and West?’ I asked and took a sip of the hot chocolate, I could feel the warm liquid spill down my throat and warm my stomach.

He nodded, ‘for a few years I ruled both territories. Then about twenty years later Inuyasha barged into my home in the West ranting about promises to overly sentimental mikos. It was not an easy road for either of us, we had hated each other for so long. But I suppose it happened to be the right moment. The monk and tajiya were about to become grandsires and the fox had gone north in search of a mate so Inuyasha was alone.’ He took a sip of the liquid and I smiled as he seemed to savor the flavor, I quickly filed this away for future nights.

‘As for myself I was still grieving over Rin, I was truly alone and the little light that she had brought to my life was gone and left me in total darkness. Despite my success in controlling half of Japan’s demons it was an automatic and stressful diversion. After a few years of mock fights and uneasy talks I decided that I would train him to be my successor for the East. Father had hoped he would make a good general and I did not have the will to contest it anymore.’

He was silent for a moment as he sat next to me wrapped up in his past, I took another sip of my drink and then set it down on the coffee table. ‘Lord Inuyasha heh? I bet that was a boost to his ego.’

‘Indeed, he was a good lord as well, better than I had hoped. He invited Miroku and Sango along with their family into his home and later Shippo and his mate lived with them. Shippo became his head spy while the humans flourished under Inuyasha’s care making sure that the family never wanted anything.’ He put his mug down next to mine and I realized his cup was almost empty, someone has a sweet tooth.

‘Did Inuyasha ever find a mate?’ I asked.

‘Yes, a distant descendant of your friends I don’t remember her name but they were happy,’ he said.

‘And what about you? You moved back to the West right? Did you ever find a mate?’ I tucked my right leg under me and turned so I could face him. My leg brushed against him and my right arm was on the back of the couch.

‘I moved back to the West, patrolled my lands and made treaties with the humans as they continued to multiply and cut down forests. It was harder when people started coming to Japan from foreign lands and Inuyasha was making noise about going into hiding, about how humans didn’t know about us in the future.’ He looked up at me and a light bulb seemed to off in his head. ‘Of course, I hadn’t paid too much attention to him since the Sidhe invaded a few months after and we were at war. It’s true, I believed you Kagome the sadness in your eyes could not be a lie but I feel so dense I had completely forgotten that Inuyasha also knew about your time.’

‘Of course didn’t he visit the future, I’m surprised my house survived if he came here and found you waiting for us.’ I said.

He smirked, ‘I was given to you a year after you fell through the well, Inuyasha had his place in your family already so I masked my aura and scent so that I could watch over you undetected by him.’

‘Oh of course and then you just stayed in my apartment while Souta kept him occupied?’

‘Or I stayed in the forest surrounding your house, I was never far from you if the hanyou just looked around he could’ve found me but he was too preoccupied with the strangeness of the future.’ He leaned back and my hand was caught in between the couch and his back.

He didn’t lean away from it but I pulled my hand out and then placed it on the back of the couch and hesitantly let my fingers play along his broad back. ‘So the Sidhe came and the war began, I know it lasted fifty years and both side had casualties.’

‘Kagome this isn’t a history lesson and this war was the turning point in our world,’ he looked down at me. ‘They came without mercy and with more magic at their fingertips then we held. The weaker ones fell quickly as the Goblins plowed through our ranks but we were able to hold most of them off and even damage their own army. It was a long struggle Inuyasha held out as long as he could but he was aging and past his prime. After years of skirmishes and long battles they cut him down. I was able to bring him back with Tenseiga and he stood by my side for another decade but as I said before Tenseiga cheats death and cannot hold it off forever.’

I grabbed my mug from the coffee table and drank a long gulp while tears trailed down my cheeks and gathered on my chin before going down my neck. He found happiness, a mate and a brother but he couldn’t keep it because of my people.

‘Don’t blame yourself Kagome, please don’t blame yourself for every death you learn of,’ he sounded like he was pleading with me.

‘Why not put the blame where it belongs? It is one thing to wonder but I know what I did, I should’ve gone home the moment the battle was over and never returned.’ My hands were shaking, ‘but I didn’t, I was selfish and stayed for months gallivanting around the countryside and changing history everywhere I went. Celeste came to Japan because of me, she came back because of me and a war was started because of me.’

The mug was taken out of my hand and I flung myself against Sesshomaru and sobbed into his silk shirt. I quickly pulled back and looked down at the wet spots on his kimono. ‘I’m sorry, I’ll get a towel maybe it won’t be ruined.’

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back against his chest, his arm wrapped around me and pulled me closer. ‘Don’t worry about the clothes Kagome it is not normal silk your tears will not ruin it.’

I wrapped my arms around his waist and cried into his chest while his claws made circles on my back. I didn’t deserve this, I had caused him so much pain in his life and yet he was comforting me, letting me cry against his chest about the things he had lived through, gods I was selfish.

When the tears started to dry I didn’t want to leave his warmth, I held him tighter and closed my eyes. ‘I know there is more, something happened during the war that made my mom angry with you.’

He tried to pull back but I wouldn’t let go of him, ‘very well though you may not wish to stay so close afterwards,’ I’ve never heard him sound so self-deprecating. ‘There are always casualties in war, we have not discussed your mothers hands of power. She was once worshipped as a goddess of battle. She has the hands of shadows and blood and was able to kill many of us. She was there when I tore apart your Grandmother and her sister.’

He was absolutely still under my hands as I took in what he said. ‘Grandma Ai and Aunt Miyaki?’

‘Your grandmother yes but not that aunt, Lady Miyaki is very much alive and well I slew your Aunt Reannon, your mother’s twin.’ He said.

I pulled back enough to look up at him, ‘my mother only has one sister.’

He shook his head, ‘Not in this time, I am sorry Kagome.’

I couldn’t mourn for someone I never knew but my Grandmother, I felt detached I just couldn’t picture my old grandmother who loved to sit and knit all day as a Sidhe warrior. ‘It makes sense that she would hate you for killing her family but you were defending yourself and your home.’

He looked down at me with guarded eyes, ‘I would understand your anger Kagome.’

I shook my head, ‘I can’t picture it Sesshomaru, no matter what you tell me it will just seem like it happened to someone else. I loved my grandmother but to me she was a human woman who used to sit in the living room or out by Goshinboku and knit everything under the sun. And this Aunt Reannon? I never knew of her.’

He nodded, ‘it makes things easier for me but your mother stills remembers that day and we will never move past it. She wanted my death.’

‘You said the leaders of the resistance were executed weren’t you a leader?’ I moved myself off of his lap and picked up my cooled mug and took a sip.

‘I was but during the treaty negotiations Queen Celeste noticed my mark, she demanded to know who the traitor was. When I mentioned your name her anger died and I realized she knew you but I didn’t know how. Because you marked me she said I could not be executed since I was yours. As long as I serve you I am allowed to live.’ He stood up and took our cups.

‘So you’re a prisoner?’ I followed him into the kitchen as he pulled two more packets from the cupboard.

‘It was a long time ago, Celeste used the mark to ease the tension between the two races when the demons were given their own court I was told I could petition to leave you once you finished your task in the past.’ He put the cups into the microwave and watched them spin slowly.

He was going to leave? ‘Is that what you want?’

‘I have not asked you Kagome,’ he said but he didn’t turn around.

‘You don’t have to stay, you could go and find a mate.’

He growled, ‘I have not asked you to release me so stop talking of such foolishness.’

His freedom was not foolishness, ‘don’t you want a mate and a life of your own?’

He spun around and glared down at me, ‘stop it woman don’t presume you know what is best for me. If I wanted to leave I would ask. You need me here, the Shikon is still very active inside you and you have no idea what is going on in this world. I will not abandon you.’

‘You don’t want to leave?’ I tried to quench the hope in my chest he was right I needed him but I wouldn’t force him to stay.

The microwave beeped signaling it was finished he turned around ant took out my mug, he handed it to me befre taking his own. ‘No Kagome I don’t want to leave.’

I took a sip of the hot liquid, I waited for it to burn my mouth and throat but the liquid just flowed down my throat and spread its heat through my body. I licked the foam from my lips and smiled up at him, ‘I’m glad. So what happened after the war?’

‘I know I promised you the whole story but I want to prepare you for the call from your mother,’ he sat down at the small table that was raised on a platform so that you could look out at the backyard. Celeste told my mother that she heard about a plot to take the Shikon no Tama from me and that she thought it wise to hide me away while she found the traitor. The nice thing about monarchs is that my mother couldn’t deny her but she hadn’t been happy either.

She wasn’t supposed to call just in case someone was watching the house, yet she had contacted us once today and now we were waiting for a second call.

I sat in the seat across from him and looked out at the vibrant colored trees that covered the mountains. The light blue sky seemed to stretch on forever it was such a beautiful day, maybe we could spend the rest of the day outside.

‘Should we tell Celeste that my mother called?’ I asked.

‘After you have spoken with her, I would like to know why she called before I contact the queen,’ he drank his cocoa.

‘You said she didn’t dislike you but then you said she wants your death, I don’t understand that.’ I said and watched him out of the corner of my eye.

‘She was robbed of her justice for the loss of her kin, over the years she has come to accept the decision but she does not trust me with you.’ He set down the cup and looked out the window. ‘When she asks you what you’ve been doing tell her you’ve been looking at different majors offered at the local university she will appreciate that you are spending your time wisely.’

‘But the Sidhe don’t lie,’ I sipped my drink.

‘Indeed,’ the way he said it made me wonder. ‘You can use my laptop and do some research when we are done then it won’t be a lie.’

‘Okay, I need to start looking at that stuff anyway. Was I leaning toward any specific major before?’

He smiled, ‘You seemed most interested in horticulture and chemistry.’

‘I must’ve been crazy I can’t do chemistry,’ I put the cup down and put my head in my hands. Chemistry? What the hell was I thinking I barely passed the class, then again I had spent a great deal of the class trying to keep up with Naraku, train my miko powers and keep peace between two very stubborn brothers.

‘You had thought about studying computer science but it wouldn’t have been any use in the Sithen,’ because technology doesn’t work but, chemistry?

‘Well horticulture doesn’t sound bad; it makes sense actually since Kaede taught me so much about herbalism.’ I could make salves and ointments, maybe I could cure acne, ugh but there is that chemistry again.

‘Both majors are a good match for when you return to the Sithen,’ Sesshomaru said.

‘So we are going to move back there now that I don’t have to time travel? What is it like?’

‘It is a whole world inside the mound, it has its own sky and climate, the Sithen is a place of magic that the Sidhe fear they will lose. The American’s Sithens are withering away to almost nothing but ours is still strong.’ He looked down at me, ‘your mother, father and Souta are returning to the Sithen in a month. Your grandfather has decided to stay behind while you go to college he enjoys his life at the Shrine.’

I laughed, ‘Yeah that’s gramps and people take his stories seriously now don’t they?’

‘The humans do, your family and I however are very aware that he is prone to exaggeration,’ he smiled.

‘Yeah that sounds like him, so it’s just going to be the three of us at the shrine?’ I asked, ‘what about Souta’s schooling?’

‘He will learn what he needs to in the Sithen and when he is ready he will go to college as well, you will live with your grandfather at the shrine.’

‘And what about you? What will you be doing through all of this.’ I drank some more of my hot chocolate.

‘I will be with you as long as you need me,’ he said.

‘So what you’re going to come with me to all my classes, take me everywhere I need to go? When do you get time for yourself is there anyone to relieve you?’

He stood up and growled, ‘no.’

Okay, now I’m confused I blinked up at the angry demon. ‘No what? What’s wrong Sesshomaru?’

‘I will not let you replace me,’ he growled.

‘I don’t want to replace you I but you must want sometime to yourself,’ I stood up slowly and kept my hands raised in front of me as I walked closer to him.

‘I don’t,’ he hissed.

The sound of chimes rang through the house and now I knew that was my mother at the mirror, I didn’t have time for this. ‘I’m not replacing you Sesshomaru,’ I slipped my arms around his waist and hugged him. He was so tense and he jumped at the contact even though I had made the movements very deliberate. I didn’t have time to ask him what was going on. ‘I have to go talk to her you said you weren’t coming in so why don’t you rest on the couch?’

‘I’m fine, go to your mother.’

‘Humor me,’ I said and pulled away. I walked down the hall before he could answer me, right now it was a choice between two evils a tense demon lord and my mother. I wasn’t sure which one would be easier to deal with at the moment.

I walked into the dark bedroom and closed the door behind me. My mother was sitting on her bed dressed in khakis and a pink polo shirt her long dark hair was in a large bun. ‘Hi dear how are you?’

I sat on the bed and tucked my legs under me, why did everyone have their mirrors in the bedroom wouldn’t it be better to have it in the living room where people couldn’t accidentally pop in on you changing or doing more intimate things? ‘Hi mom, I’m fine we were just having hot chocolate.’

‘Oh that’s nice dear I just wanted to call and make sure you’re okay it’s been such an ordeal for you and we haven’t had much of a chance to talk.’ She looked concerned, if we were in the same room she would’ve held me in her arms and rocked me gently while I cried all my fears away.

‘Yeah but I’m managing, Sesshomaru is helping me figure out what I’m going to major in when I go to college, it’s been helping me keep my mind off things while I get settled’ see it wasn’t a lie that was what we had been talking about.

‘I’m glad he is taking such good care of you,’ she didn’t sound glad. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to return with us back to the Sithen? I know Queen Celeste wants to be as progressive as the Americans but I’m sure she can find someone else to live outside the Sithen.’

‘No mom I want to go to college, I can’t wait. Besides I’ve already gone this far I want to see this through. I have plenty of time to return to the Sithen,’ an eternity to go there.

‘I admire your conviction Kagome I only hope it isn’t misplaced; your place is with your family.’ She stood and walked near the mirror so that all I could see was her, ‘we love you dear.’

‘I love you too mom,’ I said. Sesshomaru was right she was different when he wasn’t around, I’m sure if I was home she would be even more like my mother.

‘I hope Queen Celeste finds the traitor soon so that you can come back home,’ she said.

‘We probably shouldn’t continue this conversation just in case someone is watching.’ I said.

Her eyes narrowed a bit but she nodded, ‘your right goodnight my daughter I love you.’

‘I love you too mom and send my love to everyone else as well.’

She smiled and it was the most genuine smile I’d seen on her new face. ‘I will dear.’ The mirror was just a mirror again and I saw Sesshomaru open the door behind me.

‘Just seems like she wanted to see how I was,’ I said.

‘Hn,’ he closed the door. ‘I will report to Queen Celeste tonight on what was said.’

‘You heard? Of course you heard; super hearing,’ I sighed and leaned back on the bed. ‘So back to our conversation.’ I watched him stiffen, it was a neat trick watching a man with perfect posture go as stiff as a board, but I didn’t understand why he was so tense or why he thought he was going to get replaced. ‘Inuyasha was always very possessive of me, only he could protect me and all that jazz, is that what this is about?’

‘I am not Inuyasha,’ he growled though it wasn’t angry just a soft warning.

I pat the bed next to me and he ignored the invitation. ‘That wasn’t what I asked, do I only have one guard because you are possessive of your position as my guard?’

‘You have never wanted anyone else as your guard, my place is by your side and I will fight for it.’ Just like Inuyasha, stubborn, possessive dog demons.

‘You won’t have to do that I don’t trust anyone else Sesshomaru I don’t want to replace you so relax alright.’ I patted the spot next to me again and this time he sat down, the bed dipped slightly under his added weight.

We looked at each other through the mirror as we sat next to each other on the massive bed with just a breath between our bodies and yet at the moment there seemed like a thick wall between us, it was there in his tired eyes.

‘So I’ll go back to reading the rest of the PDFs right?’ I asked.

‘Hn’

Ugh, note to self find heavy sleeping pills if he represses any farther into his past self I’m going to be on the receiving end of death threats. I can’t believe I’m going to bring this up to try and get him to talk. ‘What about the test?’

He arched his eyebrow, ‘you passed Kagome.’

‘Really? Cool so um once I’m done with those PDF’s what are you going to make me study next?’

‘When you finish the PDFs you will find out,’ his eyelids were beginning to droop. I wanted to do a victory dance but I kept my mouth shut.

‘Okay wait here,’ I hopped off the bed and jogged out of the room grabbed the papers from the desk and went back into the bedroom he watched me enter with weary eyes through the mirror. I smiled at him and climbed onto the bed.

‘Kagome what are you doing?’ he asked.

I hid my smirk from him behind my hair as I made myself comfortable by the headboard and gave him plenty of room to sleep. ‘The bed is comfy I thought I would do some reading in here,’ I crossed my legs and leaned back against the headboard while I picked up one of the PDFs on the etiquettes at the court.

I peeked up at him over the paper he hadn’t moved and still watching me through the mirror. ‘Come sit by me Sesshomaru unless you have something to do,’ I knew he didn’t have anything to do but he seemed determined to stay awake and guard me. Did my mother threaten him that much that he was pushing his duties to the extreme or was there something else?

He mimicked my position on the bed but continued to stare at the mirror out of the corner of his eye.

‘The story about someone seeking out the jewel was just a story right?’ I asked. ‘You guys weren’t killing two birds with one stone by keeping me here?’

‘The Sidhe don’t lie Kagome,’ he looked over at me the bed was having the desired effect his lids were closed half mast and his body seemed to be going limp.

‘Is that why you haven’t slept? You’ve been keeping me safe at night?’ I whispered I wanted the answers but I didn’t want to startle him from the brink of falling asleep.

‘Hn,’ his eyes were almost completely closed and his head was dipping down to his chest.

‘Lay down,’ I whispered and moved the papers to the far side of the bed.

He tried to keep his head up but three days without sleep was catching up to him, I learned during my cram sessions that when you were pushing your body and keeping it from sleep if you got too comfortable you were done for. I waited a few more moments as the time between blinks became more pronounced.

I sat up and the soft bed dipped in the middle which caused his upper body to slump toward me, now he looked really uncomfortable but he only groaned softly apparently giving himself over to sleep completely. Nope he wasn’t Inuyasha at all, I rolled my eyes.

He was pushed up against the headboard and since he seemed so oblivious I could probably twist and turn him as much as I wanted and he wouldn’t wake up, probably.

I climbed off the bed with my papers and placed them down by his feet. Thank goodness I had strength now. I grabbed his ankles and yanked him toward me until his head was resting on a rumpled pillow. He growled and kicked his feet free, almost smashing my face.

‘You know we could’ve just done this the easy way and you could’ve slept a long time ago,’ I whispered to the slumbering demon. I didn’t bother trying to remove his swords though it was probably uncomfortable I knew it would wake him up.

His soft breaths were my only answer. I stuck out my tongue grabbed my papers and slipped out of the room. I’d wake him up for dinner and hopefully he wouldn’t fight me about sleeping tonight.

I sat down at the little kitchen table and stared outside, I didn’t want to go out there anymore. Well not unless Sesshomaru was with me. I felt so dumb they told me what they were telling my family about my stay at Sesshomaru’s and Sesshomaru had repeatedly told me that the Sidhe don’t lie. Their story should’ve immediately set alarms off in my head.

So now there was someone at the Sithen that wanted the jewel, I shouldn’t be surprised it was demons and Sidhe and they liked power. Sesshomaru should’ve just told me when he realized I didn’t understand that I was in danger.

I looked back down at the PDF and began to read, I needed to know more about this world. The more I knew the safer I’d be.

TBC

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Ripples in Time