To Protect the Alpha Female | By : Sylean Category: InuYasha > General Views: 10682 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do not make a profit from this story. |
Chapter 8: To Deny an Unworthy Proposition
Like a piercing shock through his system, Sesshomaru suddenly sensed an aura he hadn’t felt in a long time. “Ryukotsusei has awakened?” he voiced unbelievingly, drawing the attention of those following him.
“Ryukotsusei? Milord, are you sure?” Jaken squawked but received no answer.
The seal was supposed to last for centuries more, and whereas he could break it himself, he was waiting until he was sure he would be victorious. He intended to slay his father’s enemy, the one that managed to inflict that fatal wound, to prove he had surpassed the old man in power, among other reasons. Since his father had expired from the battle with this demon, defeating him would be proof enough of having surpassed. This was part of the reason he sought Tessaiga to begin with, a weapon strong enough to obliterate the dragon. “It seems the time has come,” his cryptic words were all the confused imp could attain as they traveled in resumed silence.
The landscape became rougher; cliffs and pillars of stone. “I recognize this area. Milord, are we going to where that large dragon lay imbedded in stone?” Jaken asked, again receiving no answer. The aura had dissipated some time ago, so his entire entourage still followed, not needing to be left behind for safety. Landing on a specific pillar, he was able to view the scars in the land, surveying the entire area below where a fight had taken place. The gouges in the land were indicative of the Windscar, and he had been picking up the scent of Inuyasha, but he knew it would take more than the Windscar to pierce Ryukotsusei’s hide. His father was unable to with that attack, a more powerful version of that attack even, so how had Inuyasha managed it? This was quite the unpleasant happening. “Where is the demon that used to be sealed here? I was so sure it was in that very canyon.” Jaken spoke mostly to himself, disoriented at the difference. Sesshomaru turned and directed them towards one of the many scents that still lingered in the area, Totosai.
The scorching ground would not be suitable for Rin, and Sesshomaru did not want an audience for this conversation, so he left them behind. Barging in without concern for decorum, Sesshomaru called into the cave entrance made of a large demon’s mouth. “Totosai, did you send Inuyasha after Ryukotsusei?” he knew the smith was here; the telltale clash of metal gave him away.
Totosai became instantly terrified, but tried not to appear fearful knowing that emotion would do no good, “Upset that it was your brother that killed your father’s enemy instead of you?” Sesshomaru’s glare intensified, but Totosai continued, “There’s no reason to be. You and I both know you can defeat your brother anytime, yes?” That calmed his wrath, a bit at least. “So, any demon he can defeat, is your victory as well.” It made sense, at least enough for now. He would just have to defeat Inuyasha again to prove his status, easy enough. But that was not the only reason he sought out the smith, for this answer he just got could have been obtained from a number of different individuals. No, he sought the smith for his knowledge of something much more uncommon.
“You will tell me about Demon and Priestess relations. They are rare, but not unheard of. You already know of the claim I hold,” Sesshomaru gave the old man a chance to collect himself before answering. Totosai had let it be known that he had knowledge of this situation prior, and knew better than to tell anyone. The promise of death would keep his tongue silent. And with his age, came knowledge. There were very few examples of this type of pairing in the past; Midoriko and Magatsuhi, Tsukiyomi and Hoshiyomi, Kikyo and Inuyasha, and now possibly, Kagome and himself. What he was not aware of was the specifics. Were they mated as demons do, or bonded in some other way; did they bear half-breeds, or was such a dichotomous union impossible to produce offspring? Humans and demons procreating was one thing, he had personal, and unpleasant, experience with that in the form of Inuyasha, but priestesses were quite another matter. Their ingrained threat to demonic beings, their holy aura, was bound to bring rise to complications.
Totosai was understandably shocked to hear this “request.” Last he knew, Sesshomaru was still seeking to eliminate the girl. Had he decided otherwise already and was now seeking answers on how to go about it? “Oh, so you’ve finally decided she’s good enough, have you?” he remarked incredulously, then added quietly, “Never thought that would happen.”
“That has yet to be seen, now answer the question,” the threat in the air made Totosai snap to attention and spit out all he knew on the subject, careful not to make any more mistakes.
(A/N: Okay, another area I want opinions of how this union should be formed and the result of which.)
Naraku’s scent was all over the region, strong whiffs billowing towards him. Kouga sped along with his pack, finally having a destination, when he picked up on Kagome’s scent. Altering course, he dropped by to check up on her, and saw Inuyasha down on all fours in the dirt. He could have avoided him, but it was just too tempting, so he stepped square on his back before stopping in front of his woman. ‘I’ll win her over this time; she’ll see I’m so much better for her once I kill Naraku. Once she sees I’m stronger than that mutt, she’ll come running to me.’ he rationalized. Demon women only cared for strength, power, and status, so he assumed she would be the exact same. He had no concept of females not being interested in such things, and therefore, never even thought to ask her what she really wanted. He boasted on how he would prove himself by killing Naraku for her, as well as for his tribe, thinking that would be sufficient to win her hand.
Inuyasha and his group were not able to follow the scent however, because it just so happened to be his night of weakness. Instead, he found himself hiding in an isolated hut, battling those pesky human emotions. Recalling the encounter earlier today with Kouga had him feeling, strange, dare he say, almost jealous. He already knew he didn’t like the mangy wolf, but this was more than that and it was frustrating that he couldn’t just push it away in this state. Just as an argument was about to break out between himself and Kagome, a very welcome distraction barged into camp. It wasn’t that he wanted to help the flea-bag when his friends came begging for help, but it was better than stewing around in his own mind.
Kouga’s brash actions and overconfidence, charging in without knowing his opponent, only got him beat to a bloody pulp. Kagura took off with his shards, sparing Kouga’s life only because the fight got interrupted. Kagome rushed to his side, first aid kit in hand, and got to work tending his wounds. Even in his defeated state, she still cared about him, or so he saw it; it gave him the confidence to continue to pursue her. Inuyasha watched discontented, not only battling his own distaste, but also knowing her kindness was being misconstrued and his brother would not be happy about this scene.
Speaking of Sesshomaru, he had also followed the scent of Naraku, but not with intent to kill him, simply trying to determine the cause of such unease in the air. Cresting a hill, overlooking the distant valley below, he could see where the barrier lay. A presence was approaching, “His scent, is in the air.” Jaken very noisily sniffed around, then began babbling about how it was the scent of that rude demon, Naraku.
A strong gust announced the entrance of Kagura, “Yo.” Sesshomaru did not give her a response, only waited for her to declare her purpose. “Sesshomaru, I assume you have come here following Naraku’s scent as well.” Again it was Jaken that spoke up, stating the woman’s connection to Naraku.
“Wind Sorceress Kagura, I recall,” his harsh glare didn’t fade, letting her know he was not pleased with her arrogant manner towards himself.
“You remember me. I am very flattered,” her mock fawning only irked him further, shown by taking hold of the hilt of Tokijin. “Take your hand from your sword; I didn’t come to fight.” That did little to deter him, but the next words piqued his curiosity. “I have a proposition you might be interested in.” Her sultry tone spoke clearly of what she meant.
“Proposition?” he echoed, the sudden turn of attitude gaining her his attention.
“You know what these are, Sesshomaru; I’ll give you these sacred jewel shards. In return, I want you to, kill Naraku,” the literal meaning was soon followed by the under toned one. “Free me; release me from his grasp.” She was offering everything she had: herself, her body, along with the shards.
‘Does this mere incarnation honestly think I would hold any interest in her?’ her audacity was sickening. She still stunk of wolf blood, obviously from a recent battle, not even having the commonsense to wash herself before appearing before him and trying to barter herself. She was essentially of no higher status than a slave, and yet she sought a tryst with royalty. His discreet perusal caused not a single pleasant reaction.
She continued professing her bargain, explaining her plan, completely unaware of his thoughts, “You have the power to do it. Once you kill Naraku, all the sacred jewel shards he has gathered will be yours. Let’s use those shards and provide ourselves with a little amusement.”
“You intend to betray Naraku?” he asked with disgust. Naraku had created her, given her life. Not in any conventional way, but he was still the equivalence of her father, and she sought to plot against him. If for no other reason, this was plenty to dissuade him of any possible worth.
She scoffed, “It’s not as though I have chosen to live under his command.” Resuming an optimistic look, she inquired, “What do you think of my plan. Joining forces would be of mutual benefit.” She still thought he would not be able to resist her womanly assets.
“Unfortunately, I have no interest in the sacred jewel,” his declination was a clear refusal for her, as well as the jewel shards. “If you wish to become free, use those shards yourself and destroy Naraku.” Seeking assistance was a coward’s way out.
Kagura’s anger flared, not only for his refusal to help, but also at saying he had no interest in her. Just like her ‘father,’ she did not take rejection well, “Are you afraid of him?” She lashed out, scrambling for any way to make him help her since negotiations didn’t go as planned.
“I’m saying, I’m under no obligation to assist you,” she was really pushing her luck. “If you don’t have the resolve to go it alone, don’t even think about betraying him.” ‘If you wish to prove yourself, you must accomplish this on your own,’ was the secret meaning behind this. Whether she grasped it or not was uncertain since she was reacting emotionally now and not logically.
“Foolish coward, and you call yourself a man?” taking severe insult to being declined, she attempted to belittle his masculinity, for what kind of male would decline a woman when she offered herself to him, unless they didn’t swing that way. “I misjudged you.” She couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t even want to use her. Taking off into the sky, she hollered back one last time, “Pathetic fool.” He didn’t even react, not deeming her worth it.
Jaken had no idea the real conversation had just occurred in front of him as he ranted and raved over her callous disrespect.
‘Wind sorceress Kagura, I wonder if she can use the sacred jewel and defeat Naraku by herself. Either way, it doesn’t concern me,’ he turned and began walking away, ‘for she’d never hold the power, or the proper traits, to be considered worthy, even if she is a demoness.’ That was not an easy role to fill.
(A/N: Kagura’s insults at implying Sesshomaru is homosexual are in no way my opinion on that demographic. She was grasping at straws and throwing any insult possible, showing her desperation. I have nothing against homosexuals.)
Just as Kagura had decided to seek Naraku’s life, Kouga and Inuyasha’s group intercepted her. Even though she managed to escape, she lost the jewel shards she took from Kouga, but not before she caught a glimpse of Inuyasha in his human form. Strategy dictated her to keep it a secret, planning to use him to gain her freedom since Sesshomaru refused to help. If she told Naraku about Inuyasha’s weakness, he’d be killed before he could destroy her dark captor. ‘Inuyasha, you’re my precious trump card,’ she reminded herself in the dark of Naraku’s torturous grasp, even as she was emotionally struggling with Sesshomaru’s dismissal.
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