Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Modern Reality	By : Tassanaburrfoot Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Shichi'nintai (The Band of Seven) > Shichi'nintai (The Band of Seven) Views: 4216 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned Inuyasha. I will not recieve any compensation for this.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
The soft click of her seat’s belt assured Kagome that she was strapped safely into the driver’s seat of her car. She stared at the dash board, still stunned. “What happened back there?” she asked slowly.

Bankotsu scoffed as he counted the notes silently. “Unless I’m mistaken, I got a job,” he told her. “And some money.” He showed her the notes.

She glanced at him and frowned. “Sesshomaru isn’t known for his charity,” she said as she looked down at the notes. “Given how he had dismissed us yesterday, I was expecting him to turn us away again. It makes me wonder why.”

The mercenary shrugged as he leaned back in his seat. “Does it really matter? Part of being a mercenary is that you don’t really question your employers. You simply do what they ask of you and get paid,” he drawled.

“Isn’t not asking questions what got you and your men killed the first time?” she asked. She touched her bottom lip with her index finger. “Come to think of it, that’s kind of what happened the second time as well, wasn’t it?”

He glared at her. “What’s your point?”

As she pulled up to a stop light, she looked at him. “My point is, you should ask questions,” she stated. “It’s weird. I may not know Sesshomaru well, but I do know him. He doesn’t just hand out jobs or money without a reason.”

“He had a reason,” he argued. “He needs someone to guard over some girl.”

Kagome sighed as she turned down another street. “You saw that building. It was teeming with demons and half demons. He could easily hire any one of those people. So, why you?”

“Why not?” he shot back. “I don’t understand what you’re upset about, Kagome. We went there to get help from him and he gave us help. He offered me a job. If there are sinister reasons behind it, we’ll learn of them soon enough.” Bankotsu put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. “And my men and I were not killed the second time due to my lack of knowledge. I didn’t trust Naraku the first time I met him and I didn’t trust him when he resurrected me. And I don’t trust Sesshomaru, either. At least, not fully.”

Her eyes shifted to him momentarily. “Not fully?” she repeated in confusion.

He lazily looked out the window as they passed by buildings. “Sesshomaru is a man of honor,” he said. “I remember him from back when I was alive the first time, though I didn’t actually meet him until after my first death. He was the son of a powerful beast known as the Great Dog Demon, Inu no Taisho. My father used to tell us stories about Inu no Taisho when I was a kid. According to my father, Inu no Taisho ruled over the Western Border and protected it and the people who lived there. He fought with honor and, from what I’ve seen of Sesshomaru, he instilled that same sense into his older son. I reckon Inuyasha would have been taught it as well if Inu no Taisho had lived long enough.”

“Sesshomaru is a man of honor,” the miko agreed after a moment of silence. She sighed. “I also know he isn’t deceitful, so… I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Still, it doesn’t make any sense to me that he would hire you. He doesn’t even know you. I wonder what happened to make him change his mind.”

(II)(II)

Sesshomaru sighed in weary contentment as he felt his glamour melt away upon entering his home. It had been a long and brutal day filled with training and contracts. And then there was the mortal mercenary and his miko wife. The daiyoukai pressed his lips together in thought. By rights, both mortals should be dead. At least, that was what he assumed given they had lived 500 years ago. Her explanations had done little to appease the dog demon.

He entered his study and glanced at a statuette figurine of a dog that had been gifted to him some years prior. Perhaps Kagome’s tale wasn’t as farfetched as he thought, after all, he knew of the well she had spoken of and he knew it held a tremendous amount of power. But that wasn’t really his focus at the moment.

“Lord Sesshomaru, you’re home,” a young woman greeted softly as she entered his study carrying a tray. “I thought you might be hungry, so I had the cook fix you some steak and stir-fry.”

He watched the woman as she approached him and set the tray upon his desk. “We’ll have company tomorrow,” he told her.

She looked at him curiously. “We will?”

He gave a single nod. “I’m not sure if you would remember them or not. Unless I am mistaken, the woman is some sort of time traveler and the man had been resurrected recently,” he explained.

The woman tilted her head. “Time traveler? Is that even possible, my lord?”

Sesshomaru frowned. “It has to be. It is the only thing that makes sense,” he told her. “Even more, I’ve seen my long-lost brother.”

“Lord Inuyasha?” she questioned as she raised her fingers to her lips in surprise.

The dog demon grunted. “He is no ‘lord’ and I will not have you refer to him as such,” he growled.

“My apologies, my lord,” she said, bowing slightly and casting her eyes down in submission. “Hearing that your brother is alive just surprised me is all. Have you spoken to Inuyasha?”
Sesshomaru pressed his lips together as he walked over to the floor length window next to his desk. Looking out into the gardens, he sighed. “I have,” he answered.

She nodded, but was careful not to smile, even though the thought made her happy. Curiously, she asked, “What about that girl he was with? You know, the one that caused him to disappear? Did he ever meet up with her or did you discuss that with him?”

The youkai’s eyes narrowed. “She’s the time traveler I spoke of,” he replied. “From what she had told me, she was able to transcend time through the use of an old well in her family’s shrine. The well transporter her to the Feudal Era where she came across my brother.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh!” she squeaked as realization dawned on her. Sesshomaru turned to look at her. She snapped her fingers. “It all makes sense now! I remember how she wore that clothing, she must have been a student. I’ve seen middle schoolers wear uniforms similar to what she used to wear. And, my memory may be wrong, but didn’t she used to ride around on a bike sometimes?”

A single nod from him gave her the answer she needed. “I’m surprised you remember. You were but a child at the time.”

She smiled. “I was,” she admitted. “But she was very kind to me. What was her name again?”

“Kagome,” he said as he turned back to the window.

Her smile grew brighter. “And the man? Is Inuyasha coming?”

“The man’s name is Bankotsu. Five hundred years ago, he led the Band of Seven, a group of murderous mercenaries who terrorized the villages and profited off the warmongering lords of the time,” he explained.

The woman gasped. “A mercenary? My lord, are you sure you want him here? How did he get resurrected?”

He glanced at her. “I’ve charged him to keep you protected,” he told her. “And I’m paying him well for your safety while you go to the city.”

She beamed at him. “You’re letting me go into the city?” she inquired hopefully.

He turned to her fully and reached out to touch her shoulder. “I’ve never minded you going into the city,” he whispered. “I just want you to be safe. Protected. The city can be a dangerous place.”

Excited, she jumped up on her toes and wrapped her hands around his neck as she kissed his lips. “Thank you, my lord,” she purred.

He allowed his hand to fall to her waist as he looked into her deep chocolate eyes. “All I ask is that you keep Bankotsu with you. He may have been a mercenary in the Feudal Era, but he is not a husband and father. Like you, he’s trying to find his place in this modern world,” he said softly as he rested his forehead upon hers. “I’ve already lost you more times than I care to admit. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

She reached up and touched his cheek. “You won’t have to find out, my lord,” she assured him.

He straightened up slightly and cupped her cheek. As she smiled up at him reassuringly, he dipped down to capture her lips with his. She was right. He wouldn’t ever have to find out.

(III)(III)

Kagome and Bankotsu had been bickering since they had left the I.F.A.D.. First, it was her persistent questioning of Sesshomaru’s motives for hiring the human mercenary. Then, Bankotsu kept pestering her about quitting her job at the coffee shop.

“You don’t even know how often Sesshomaru is going to pay you,” she pointed out as she pulled up to the McDonald’s for lunch. “For all we know, that hundred thousand yen could be per month, which isn’t a whole lot and certainly not enough for us to afford a home on your salary alone.”

He glowered at her. “The demon said we would be taken care of,” he repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time. “I may not know him, but even you have to agree that he is an honorable creature. He said he would make sure we had a home of our own. Do you really have that little faith in his word?”

She sighed. “Of course, I trust his word,” she said softly as she rolled down her window.

Bankotsu watched her as she ordered their food. It fascinated him as he listened to a voice coming from the little box they had pulled up next to. He blinked as Kagome ordered a couple of things called “Big Mac Combos” and wondered, briefly, what they were, but he remained quiet as she spoke to the box. The voice gave the little miko the total and informed her to pull up to the second window.

Rolling up her window, Kagome followed the box’s information, pulling up behind a minivan and waiting. “If you trust Sesshomaru’s word, then you should trust that we’ll be fine,” he said, quietly. “Once we have our home, you won’t have time to go to some job.”

“I’m not just some baby making machine, Bankotsu,” she told him. “I’m not interested in popping out another child every other year or so.”

He glared at her. “You’ll have as many children as we’re blessed with and be happy about it,” he ordered. “But that wasn’t what I was talking about. Aside from raising our children, you’ll have an entire manor to manage and land on top of that.”

“Land?” she questioned, looking at him.

He gave her a single nod as the car moved up one spot. “I’m not interested in half-assing shit. I plan on us having land with horses and maybe some other livestock, like chickens. And even a vegetable garden where…”

“This isn’t the…”

He snarled, “Don’t say it! Damn it, Kagome! Why the hell do you have to fight me on everything?”

“Japan isn’t as big as it once was,” she explained. “What you suggest sounds great, but it isn’t exactly feasible. Besides, why have chickens, or even a vegetable garden, when we have stores and markets where we can purchase the things we need.”

“Why purchase it when you can grow it?” he snapped back.

She took a deep breath as they finally pulled up to the window. Rolling down her own window, Kagome reached into her purse and pulled out a plastic card which she handed to the lady standing there. Taking the two cups of drink, Kagome handed them to Bankotsu before turning back to the lady and taking the bag of food from her. The lady handed Kagome her card and receipt. They thanked one another and Kagome pulled out of the line and began driving home.

“What am I doing with these?” Bankotsu asked, still holding the drinks.

Kagome indicated the cup holders between them. “You can put them there for now,” she suggested. “Normally, I would have gone into the restaurant to eat, but I thought it might be better for us to eat at home.”

The mercenary set the drinks in the holders and Kagome handed him the bag of food. “If you don’t mind just holding onto that until we get home?”

“I want a home where we don’t have to rely on other people to provide us with what we need,” he told her after a moment. He looked out his window, watching the passing buildings. “I haven’t been alive for five hundred years and one thing I’ve learned from death is how much we take for granted.” He clenched his jaw and glanced at her. “I would have done anything to care for you both during and after your pregnancy, Kagome. To hear our son’s first words and see his first steps. I’ve already missed out on so much and if it weren’t for the grace of Hachiman, I would have missed out on everything.”

“We’ll still have to rely on others,” she stated. “Or at least, on Sesshomaru to provide us with the funds.”

He huffed. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’ll work all the time,” he said.

She groaned. “We don’t know that,” she pointed out. “He hasn’t given you a set schedule or even a length of time you’ll be guarding this girl. We don’t even know who she is.”

“It’s probably his daughter or someone. Or maybe his wife,” he surmised.

Kagome scoffed. The idea of Sesshomaru procreating was laughable at best, though, a sobering thought crossed her mind. Why wouldn’t he marry and have children? He had been relatively young when she had met him in the past, but if she had any idea about demons, given the interactions she had with Koga and Shippo, Sesshomaru had to be at that age by now where he would be settling down. She frowned. Had he married? She hadn’t thought to ask him about his personal life.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll learn who it is tomorrow,” she guessed. “I mean, we’re having supper with him and this girl.”

“It doesn’t really matter anyway,” he drawled as she parked the car in front of the house. “Whomever she is, I’ll have to protect her. I just hope she’s not some cow.”

Kagome stared at him in shock. “What do you hope she is?” she asked as she could feel herself becoming angry.

Bankotsu shrugged. “Someone easy on the eyes would be nice. She doesn’t have to be a total beauty, but…”

“Might I remind you that you are married!” she hissed. “And to me. You don’t need to be worrying about if some other girl is beautiful or not.”

He snorted. “Relax, my little miko,” he said, waving her off. “You’re the only girl I would even consider having sex with. I’m not like that old monk you used to travel around with, you know? I actually have a sense of honor.”

“Old monk?” Kagome repeated in askance. The memory of Miroku clicked and she shook her head. “I know you’re not like him,” she stated. “He actually valued life.”

Bankotsu smirked. “Oh, I value life, love,” he assured her. “Especially if that life gives me access to a large sum of money.”

She shook her head as they got out of the car and made their way to the house. “Something tells me that you’ll never change,” she muttered in annoyance.

(IV)(IV)

“Why the hell does he need to know if we are actively seeking a second child?” Bankotsu asked later that night.

The mercenary and priestess were sitting on the bed in their room. He had a large, hard book on his lap that he was using as a sort of lap desk as he filled out the paperwork Sesshomaru had given him. They were both dressed down, with him wearing just a pair of shorts and her wearing a tank and skirt. She glanced over his shoulder at the paper.

“He might be trying to discover how devoted you’ll be to this girl’s protection,” she suggested. “I mean, if we’re trying to have another child and I get pregnant, that could cause a distraction.” She shrugged as she leaned back against the headboard again.

He glanced back at her. “Well, he already knows I have a wife and child. And the both of you can cause a distraction in my work,” he told her. “I am dedicated and loyal, but my family comes first. I would kill for her, no questions asked. It’s my job. However, if killing for her meant that you were the target, she would be dead before you would. The same could be said if it were Banryu. Of course, if I ended up having to choose between you and him…” He joined her at the headboard and gazed at her. “We can always have another child. For all I know, you could be pregnant as we speak given the amount of sex we’ve had since I’ve been back, but there would never be anyone that could replace you.”

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him. She could feel her throat constrict as her heart felt heavy in her chest. “I would…” she started at a whisper and had to catch her breath. She swallowed and straightened her throat. “I would hope that you would find a way to save us both,” she told him. “Because if such a choice should ever occur, it wouldn’t be a choice. I would die before I see my son do so.”

He gave her a small smirk. “And that’s why we do so well together,” he said, taking her hand in his. “See, Kagome. I know you. I know the kind of person you are. You would save him because you know that I would choose you over him. In the end, I would end up saving you both by default. Either way, you come first for me.”

She shook her head as she bowed it, closing her eyes. She fought the tears, forcing them not to fall, for she knew it would do nothing for him. “Children aren’t a commodity, Bankotsu,” she whispered. “They aren’t replaceable by having more children.” She looked back up at him once she was certain her tears were under control. “Banryu is our son, our only child. How can you put a price on him?”

He raised a single eyebrow. “Banryu is already at the age where he should start training. My first murder happened when I reached my thirteenth birthday,” he responded. “It won’t be long before he’ll be able to protect himself. My only true concern is you.”

She pressed her lips together. “It shouldn’t be,” she told him, looking down at their joined hands.

With his free hand, he reached up and touched her chin, pushing it upward so she would look at him. “I don’t know how to make all of this clearer to you, Kagome,” he whispered. “You are everything to me. You mean everything to me. Without you, I am nothing. Without you, there is no family. There is no life worth living without you in it.”

She sniffed, fighting the tears. “I would hope,” she hesitated, but then pressed on, “I would hope that if something were to happen to me that you would do everything you can to continue. To raise Banryu and any other children we are meant to have.”

“Nothing will happen to you,” he stated. “I won’t let it. I will kill anyone and anything who even thinks about touching you.”

She gave him an ironic smile. “Not all dangers are visible. We’re human. I could get an incurable disease that will kill me. I could die in a car accident, thru no one’s fault aside from me being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she guessed. “The house could catch on fire or there could be an earthquake or a flood or some other natural disaster. And you could find yourself alone with Banryu. I hope that never happens, but part of life is preparing for the worst while still trying to survive on hope.”

He frowned. “When did you become so cynical?” he asked.

She hummed as she gave a single nod. “When I woke up with a newborn child and not knowing what was going to happen next,” she answered. “My heart is filled with hope and optimism for the future, but Naraku taught me fear, to know how easily it all can be taken away. It’s a struggle I’ve been dealing with for years now.”

He sighed as he pushed himself forward on the bed and picked the papers back up. “Let’s finish this so we can get some sleep,” he said as he read the next question.

(V)(V)

Kagome checked her suit in the mirror, straightening her blazer and patting down her blouse. She had debated between wearing a skirt or a pair of slacks, but when she couldn’t find her slacks, she opted for the skirt. “It’s so strange,” she said as Bankotsu came out of the bathroom. “I woke up this morning and found all of my pants missing.”

He had a towel wrapped around his waist as he was combing his hair. “It isn’t that strange,” he commented as he walked to the closet. “Last night while you were asleep, I threw them all away.”

“What?!” she shouted, whipping around to glare at him. “Bankotsu, you cannot go through my clothes and start throwing things away like that!”

He was calm as he parted his hair and began braiding it. “Sure, I can,” he said, not looking at her. “I told you I didn’t want you wearing men’s clothes anymore.” He glanced up at her. “I wasn’t joking, Kagome. You represent the noble family of Shimazu. You are my wife and, once we have our home, you’ll be the lady of it.”

She snorted. “Some noble family we have,” she hissed sarcastically. “You don’t even like your family or the name that comes with it. In fact, you hate them both so much that you changed you name when you left your family.”

She hadn’t seen him move and she didn’t have time to react, but she grunted as he slammed her against the wall. He held her hands above them as he pressed his body against hers and forced one leg between her thighs. His cold cobalt eyes bore into hers in anger.

“You were the one who insisted I take the name,” he snarled. “You were the one who wanted me to assimilate into a world I have zero interest in. If I’m going to be a part of this world, then I’m going to do it right. You’re my wife, so you better start acting like it.”

He kissed her roughly as he grabbed one of her thighs and lifted it to hook around his waist. She moaned as she tore her mouth away from his. “We don’t have time,” she breathed.

He dipped his face into her neck and sucked on a soft spot there. “There’s always time,” he told her as he dropped her hands and reached between them to release his cock from its confines. Once freed, he pushed her panties to the side and sank into her moist heat in one quick, hard thrust.

She gave a loud moan as he pounded into her. It was quick and hard. She could feel herself being pressed against the hard wood of the wall and briefly wondered if she would get either splinters or a rash, forgetting that she was still clothed above her waist. He came with a growl, spilling his seed inside her and letting it drip onto the floor without a care.

Pulling away from her slightly, his cock slipped out of her and he glared at the miko. “That is why I don’t want you to wear men’s clothes,” he told her as he stepped away from her.

She shuddered as she watched him pick up the towel he had dropped at some point and wipe his cock off. “Clean yourself up,” he ordered as he threw the towel over his shoulder. “We leave shortly to drop off Banryu and then we have to head to the I.F.A.D.”

Flabbergasted, the priestess watched as her husband walked back into the bathroom to finish dressing. Taking a deep breath, she let it out with a frustrated sigh.

(VI)(VI)

“I see Mr. Taisho has agreed to help you, sir?” the raccoon demon commented in askance as Bankotsu and his wife approached the front desk. “It’s been three days now and you’ve returned each day.”

The mercenary cocked his head to the side. “Is it customary in this new age to mind other people’s business aside from your own?” he questioned, earning a glare from Kagome.

“She’s just curious,” the miko argued.

Bankotsu ignored his wife as the demoness hissed and reeled her head back at the insult. “You will learn your place here, human!” she snapped.

“Which is something you have yet to learn, Kimi,” Sesshomaru’s voice drifted from the hallway.

The humans and demon turned to look at the hall where the daiyoukai stood. He glanced over the two humans before turning on his heel and walking back down the hallway, knowing they would follow him.

“Have you been having a good morning so far, Sesshomaru?” Kagome asked curiously as she stepped in line beside Bankotsu.

The mercenary shot her a look while the dog demon ignored her. Bankotsu sneered, “I suppose my question has been answered.”

The priestess frowned and took a breath. “I think you two should get along nicely. You’re both dicks,” she snapped.

Sesshomaru froze and glanced at her. “The mornings never change, miko,” he answered her. “After as many years as I’ve been around, they become rather mundane and meld into one another.”

Kagome pressed her lips together. “See? That wasn’t so hard,” she commented as they entered the daiyoukai’s office.

After the door shut, Sesshomaru walked around his desk and sat down. “Sit,” he said to them. No one spoke as he pressed a button on his phone. “Kimi, send Taikoshi to my office.”

“Yes, sir,” the voice of Kimi rang out from the speaker.

Lacing his fingers and resting them upon the desk, he looked up at the humans. “Have you brought the paperwork?”

Bankotsu gave a single nod as Kagome pulled the file out of her purse. “I honestly didn’t think you would have done this much for us, Sesshomaru,” she said as she pushed the folder towards him on the desk. “I can’t begin to tell you how much we appreciate everything.”

Sesshomaru didn’t answer as he flipped through the paperwork. “You’re keeping the name Shimazu?” he questioned. “And you have a seven-year-old son named Banryu.” He glanced up at that. “Was that not the name of your halberd?”

Another single nod came from the mercenary as he stared at the daiyoukai. Sesshomaru’s eyes went back to the papers. “We have physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, gynecologists, and more here. Also, given what you’ll be doing, I would suggest sending your son to a private school, particularly the half-breed school we have here. He’ll get the training he needs and receive the highest level of education this country has to offer.”

Kagome hesitated. “Um, Sesshomaru,” she started, causing both men to look at her. She bit her lower lip. “Forgive me, but Banryu is perfectly content at the school he goes to now. I don’t want to uproot him.”

The dog stared blankly at her. “If you would like, I can have one of my assistants give you a tour of the facilities. You can even speak with the staff there as well. I assure you, he’ll be better suited here than he will at a human school.”

“But he’s not a half demon,” she insisted, her brows furrowing.

“Kagome,” Bankotsu stopped her, placing a hand on her arm. “If the school here is better, then this is where Banryu shall go.”

The priestess shook her head. “We came here to better your life,” she told him. “To help you get a good job and situated here in this era. Banryu already knows…”

“He’s already been exposed to demons,” Sesshomaru stated, drawing their attention. “He should be here amongst us. In time, he will gain much of the inherited abilities provided for him from his lineage. He’ll need some way to utilize his abilities. The human side of this world will not give him what he will need. If you want proof, ask Inuyasha how he is doing not wielding Tetsusaiga as he should.”

“Inuyasha is a half demon,” she reasoned. “Banryu isn’t.” Sesshomaru said nothing, which only angered her. She huffed. “There’s no reason for Banryu to go to a half demon school. He’s human. He should go to a human school.”

Bankotsu glanced down at his fingernails. “And, yet, I’m still his father, still the head of the house, and I say that if the opportunity to give Banryu an even better education presents itself, we should do so.”

Kagome threw her hands up in the air and stood up. “I give up!” she shouted. “There’s no discussion. No compromising with either of you.”

“Sit down!” Sesshomaru barked, causing the priestess to freeze and stare wide eyed at him.

A man entered the office at that moment and Kagome backed up slowly and sat back in the chair. The man was different from any she had ever seen before and she knew immediately that he was a demon. He had to be. His tanned, perfect skin revealed pointed, almost elfin features and the girl was instantly reminded of Lord of the Rings. Taking note of his long, silken blond hair and pointed ears, she imagined that he was what Tolkien had in mind when he created the elves. He wasn’t particularly tall, and she had a feeling that if Bankotsu were to stand, they would be the same height. His muscles were lean and tight and he wore a sleeveless tank and a black hamaka that he had tightened around his ankles. He bowed before the three people.

“You requested my presence, my lord?” he asked, his voice soft, furthering Kagome’s thoughts on elves. All he needed was a ranger’s outfit and bow and he would be set.

Sesshomaru stood and indicated that the two humans do the same. Yep, Kagome thought, this elf and Bankotsu were about the same height, though Bankotsu actually looked taller. “Shimazu Bankotsu, former leader of the Band of Seven,” the daiyoukai introduced. “Have you heard of them?”

The demon’s almond shaped eyes widened slightly. “The Band of Seven, my lord? But it’s been well over five hundred years since they’ve been alive,” he said. “And, unless I’m mistaken, they were all human.”

The daiyoukai gave the lesser demon a look. “You would be correct in your assessment,” he replied slowly. “Bankotsu was recently resurrected by the god Hachiman in order to fulfill his quest to raise his young son and be a husband to this priestess, Shimazu Kagome, formerly of the Higurashi family.”

“The priestess whom had destroyed the Shikon Jewel,” the demon whispered in reverence as his eyes lay upon the young woman. “I was but a young lad when you defeated that half demon, Naraku. How are you still alive? Were you resurrected as well?”

She shook her head. She opened her mouth to answer, but Bankotsu cut her off. “It’s a long story that I’m sure Kagome can divulge to you at a later date,” he said.

Sesshomaru gave a single nod. “Indeed. I have another task for you at this moment, Taikoshi,” he said, ending any more unnecessary discussion. “I would like for you to take Mr. Shimazu into training to learn how to wield the weapons of this modern age. He has an important role to fulfill and he needs to proper training to do so.”

“Yes, my lord,” the demon responded, bowing again. “It shall be done.”

Bankotsu’s eyes narrowed. “Come on, Kagome,” he ordered.

“The priestess stays with me,” the daiyoukai calmly stated.

The mercenary parted his legs and balled up his fists. “Like hell she does,” he growled. “Kagome is my woman and I’ll be damned…”

“There is no need to start baring your fangs at me, soldier,” Sesshomaru calmly stated. “My interests in her are purely academic. You have nothing to fear.”

“I fear nothing,” Bankotsu snapped. He pointed at his wife. “She’s still coming with me.”

The daiyoukai’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You will begin your new training today,” he reminded the mercenary. “Guns are not like swords. One wrong move and you could incidentally shoot your wife. Given her current pregnancy, that isn’t exactly practical at this moment.”

Kagome gasped as Bankotsu dropped his stance in shocked awe. “What did you just say?” the priestess asked, hoping she hadn’t heard correctly.

Sesshomaru turned to her. With a bored stare, he said, “I don’t repeat myself. You heard what I said the first time.”

Her eyes widened. “But…” she stuttered and glanced at Bankotsu who wore a smug smile.

“Well, since that’s the case, I suppose you’re right,” the mercenary drawled. “I would hate for anything to happen to my beautiful, pregnant wife.” He hesitated a moment, thinking over what the daiyoukai said. Drawing himself up to stand straighter, Bankotsu gave a single nod and approached the miko. Taking her hands into his, he kissed the back of her hand. “I’ll return soon enough. When this is done, we’ll celebrate.” His smile was genuine as he pulled her closer to him. He brushed her cheek gently. “I cannot begin to express how happy I am at this moment, my miko.” Dipping his head slightly, he captured her lips with his and kissed her deeply.

The loud straightening of Taikoshi’s throat broke the young couple’s kiss. “Well, this is certainly exciting news,” he commented awkwardly. “I’ll have to remember to get you a present to mark the occasion. For now, though, can we continue this later? I hate to be rude, but time is precious for mortals and we have a lot of work to do.”

Dropping Kagome’s hands, Bankotsu readily agreed. With one last quick kiss on the lips, he turned towards the door. Kagome stared at the door as the two men left. The loud bang of the door being shut made her flinch. Blinking, she glanced at Sesshomaru. “Is it true?” she asked. “Am I really pregnant?”

He simply looked at her, not bothering to answer the question. Returning to his seat, he picked up the brush he had been using and began writing something on parchment. “You may have a seat, Shimazu-sama,” he said. This time, it wasn’t an order, but rather a request. As she followed his orders, still staring at the door, he continued, “There is something I wished to speak with you about.”

She turned and looked at him. She dropped her eyes to her hands. “I guess I wasn’t pregnant yesterday, was I? That’s why it wasn’t brought up until today,” she sighed.

He simply stared at her. “Your pregnancy wasn’t brought up yesterday because your husband wasn’t going into training yesterday,” he explained. “It is not customary for me to inform human women that they are pregnant unless I need to. My exposure to the female half of your species is limited to those who grace these halls, usually as the mother of a half demon or the wife of a demon. It is none of my business what happens with humans unless their lives are at stake and they are under my protection.”

“Am I under your protection?” she asked.
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