Supreme Conquest
By Danyealle
(MMF/FanFiction)
Chapter 8
The next morning Kagome woke to find herself once more curled up to Togaou’s chest. But this time she could feel Sesshomaru pressed to her back, arm draped over her side with his hand resting on her stomach. Though she stiffened up a bit at the realization he was so close she told herself that if he really had wanted to do anything to her he could easily have done so while she was asleep. Since she had woken with no injuries of any kind, nothing had happened. That realization helped her to relax a little bit.
Though she was awake she didn’t open her eyes. Once the fuzziness of sleep had worn off her mind circled around her current situation and what was to come of it in the future. But, like what had happened since the whole thing had come about, she really wasn’t able to do figure it out any more than she had up to that point. But then her mind skipped to a more current and pressing problem: today they were suppose to be going to her time.
First issue that came to mind was how they were going to get through the well. From what she knew only she and Inuyasha could manage that one. But that thought gave her an idea that might work. If it didn’t they would have to come up with something else.
Next thing that came to mind was all the havoc and chaos that could be caused by having Sesshomaru and Togaou in her time. It was going to be bad enough with her family, especially her grandfather when he found out Togaou wanted his sword back. Then, it was going to get worse when her mother found out that both the inus wanted to take her as a mate. Ok Kami, that wasn’t going to end well! Usually her mother was a sweet, quiet woman but when it came to her children she was worse than a rabid badger and 100% mean. No, she didn’t yell or scream, really she didn’t even raise her voice, but, by the time she was done with you, it was as though you had been through a verbal autopsy.
With a deep mental sigh of dread she thought that she really didn’t want to face the day that was ahead of her. Nothing good was bound to come of it. But she really knew of no way to put it off or change their minds about going. In fact, Togaou was very excited about this trip and was looking forward to seeing where she was from. She doubted there would be any way to dissuade him.
Once more she wondered what Kami she may have pissed off to have all this happened to her.
…kst…kst…kst…kst…
When everyone was up and moving they had a full breakfast preparations for leaving were made. First thing that needed to be handled was Sesshomaru had to turn duties over and give instructions to the being than would run things while he was away. While he attended to that Kagome made sure that she had everything in her pack and the list of supplies that would be needed. While she attended to that, Togaou stuck close to her. It seemed that he might be sensing how apprehensive she was and was taking steps to try to put her at ease. To an extent it helped a bit but it really didn’t work all that well. Her mind was too busy racing over the ramifications of what could come of all of this for any form of calming or comfort to work.
It didn’t take Sesshomaru long to attend to what was needed so within an hour they were ready to go. It was when they were deciding, well when Sesshomaru and Togaou were deciding, how to go about it when the first problem and something strange happened. Originally, Togaou wanted to do basically the same thing they had done to come to the fortress in the first place. She had expected this to be fine other than the half-brother’s animosity towards each other. Yes, she expected an objection from them but when Sesshomaru did object it seemed his problem wasn’t that, it was that Togaou would be carrying her. That was a bit startling and she wasn’t sure what to think about it. In the end it was decided that Togaou, in his true from, would carry them. That would work well because the older daiyoukai could move a great deal faster than his oldest son could.
Once he shifted to his true from Inuyasha jumped onto his back first. When her friend was on his father’s back Kagome looked up at the gigantic dog and wondered just how she was going to get onto his back. That question was answered very quickly when she felt Sesshomaru’s arm around her waist. “Come miko,” he told her gruffly then, with one graceful leap, they were on the massive furry back. Then the younger inudaiyouakai settled down, cross legged, on his father’s back and pulled her onto his lap. Holding her back against his chest with an arm, it felt to her as though it was an iron band that was intent on keeping her in place. After making sure he had hold of her tightly he said, “We’re ready father.” Then, after a soft bark, they took to the air and headed towards the old well.
Riding like she was, being held by Sesshomaru wasn’t the most comfortable feeling in the world for her. Part of it was he had a hold of her fairly tightly and it was making her a bit uncomfortable. But, as would be expected, the other part was that it was him. Though she couldn’t do anything about the latter, she could the former. “Please loosen up your hold a bit. It’s uncomfortable.” She told him softly, unsure what his reaction would be.
Loosening up his hold a bit, he said nothing. Really, he could let her go and she would be fine. His father’s gate was smooth enough that she wouldn’t be thrown off but he refused to let her loose. He wanted his father to know that she was his as well, not just his father‘s. Last night his father had monopolized her time and obviously became closer to her as a result of it. The way she curled up to him to sleep was proof of that. Then there was the way he touched her, she was allowing that and not reacting the way she did to him doing so. That was something he was going to have to remedy. He also couldn’t allow his father to keep being the first for things with her. It was him, not his father, that was going to be the dominate mate. That gave him special privileges and he was going to ensure that he got them. Though he wasn’t sure what the next few days would hold for them he wanted to get some time alone with his sire to discuss these things and a few others with the older male.
But, related to that, was the onna herself. Really, she didn’t know how lucky and privileged she was. There he, Sesshomaru-title holding Lord of the Western Lands, was sitting there with her, with his arm around her. He had slept next to her last night. She was to become his mate. All of those were things so many onnas, youkai and ningen alike, would you jump at the chance for. But she wasn’t. In fact, she wouldn’t even look at him! Oh, that irritated him to no end and was just plain wrong. Yes, he would admit that their first meeting wasn’t something pleasant but she should put that behind her by now. But it appeared she hadn’t. That made a whole lot of work for him. Nor, from the look of things, would he get any help from anyone in this area. Including from her.
Well, he had usually gotten what he wanted with just his word so he felt a talk with her and just his reassurances would work with her as well. Because, quite frankly, he couldn’t allow things to continue on the way they were. He was getting exactly no where with her, not something he could allow to go on. Her co-operation was needed in this and it was time she provided that for him.
Inclining his head, he told her, “You need to relax miko…”
“That’s not my name,” she interrupted. At this point he hadn’t even bothered to use her real name, something that irritated her to no end. Until he could learn to do that like Inuyasha had they weren’t going to talk much.
With an internal growl at her having the audacity to correct him, he stopped for a couple seconds then continued on. “I will not harm you. It’s time you relaxed around me.” He told her in his usual blunt, matter-of-fact tone.
A deep growl from the large dog they were riding on seemed to vibrate all those on his back. Togaou’s intent was to impart to his eldest pup his displeasure with the way he spoke to her and the tone he used.
Getting the message imparted by his father, Sesshomaru clenched his jaw and fought the urge to grind his teeth in frustration. It seemed that though his father wanted him to win her over on his own he also was keeping him on a leash that he had no problem yanking on. That irritated him to no end.
“You can say that all you want but it’s going to take me time to believe it. I can’t just take your word for it, sorry. I’ve agreed to give you another chance but that doesn’t mean I automatically trust you.” She told him quietly, eyes locked straight forward. “That’s all going to depend on you and will take time.”
All but growling, Sesshomaru bit out, “Look miko…”
“My name is Kagome,” she interrupted again, tone frosty enough that you should have been able to see her breath when she said it.
“Understood,” he bit out through clenched teeth.
“How can I build anything with you if you don’t respect me enough to even bother using my name?” she asked him quietly.
Once more he gave an internal sigh but filed away what she said. “I understand Kagome,” he said quietly.
…kst…kst…kst…kst…
Quickly after that they arrived at Edo. Before leaving the Fortress Kagome asked to stop and see the elderly miko before going home. She didn’t want Kaede to worry about her if she was gone for a long time.
Once all four of Togaou’s’ feet hit the ground the three of them piled off his back. When they were clear he shifted back to his humanoid form.
Seeing Kagome, Kaede hurried forward to greet her young prodigy. After greeting Inuyasha and introducing herself to the other two she made sure all the villagers were calm. Once that was attended to she hurried Kagome and Inuyasha into her hut so they could give her a rundown of what was going on.
Because of all the overwhelming smells that came from small villages like Edo both daiyoukais moved a bit away from the tiny hamlet so their ultra-sensitive noses wouldn’t be tortured. After giving them an hour they went to collect the two then made their way to the well.
When the quartet made it to the old demon eating well they stopped to try to figure out how they were going to do this.
Tucking his hands into his sleeves, Inuyasha looked at Kagome. “OK… any ideas on how we’re going to go about this?”
Blowing out a breath, Kagome looked at the well, thinking. After a minute or so she said, “I suppose we should try the easiest way first: one grabs each of us then we try. If that doesn’t work we can try something else.”
Nodding, Inuyasha replied, “Works for me! Let’s do it!”
Not wanting his father to be the one to hold her going through the well, Sesshomaru immediately scooped Kagome up and held her to his chest.
Though that caused Togaou to arch an eyebrow and give an internal chuckle he said nothing. It seemed that his pup’s possession and territorial instincts were kicking in. This was a good thing. He was willing to let it go on as it was for a bit or until it crossed a certain line anyway. Grabbing Inuyasha’s arm, he said, firmly, “Let’s try it.”
Before they made any kind of move Kagome reminded them of what she warned them about before they left the Fortress. “Remember: it’s going to be really loud and smell horrible.” Once that was said, with a bit of trepidation, she wrapped her arms around Sesshomaru’s neck. Then, after a bracing sigh, she said, “Let’s go!”
Needing no more encouragement, Sesshomaru took a graceful leap into the dark depths of the old, dry well. Honestly, he expected nothing to happen except to hit the bottom but, as he fell, a sparkling blue light surrounded him and he began some kind of controlled freefall. As he fell though the odd light he saw many things pass by them, mostly old bones and junk, but didn’t see So’unga as the miko and hanyou had said. Then, abruptly, his feel hit the ground. As soon as he touched the uneven, hard-packed earth he could tell he was no longer in his time. Breathing in, he took a whiff of air so foul it made his eyes water and his stomach roil in a most unpleasant way. If that wasn’t bad enough the cacophonous din that greeted his sensitive ears was almost deafening and made his whole head ring. The combination of the two was overwhelming and bordered on physical pain. Concentrating, he tried to let his senses adjust to the new things so he could get used to them. As that was happening he felt his father and Inuyasha’s presence appear by him. That told him it had worked for them as well.
While he tried to cope with all the new sensory input he heard his father complain about the air and noise then Inuyasha telling him he would get used to it. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to two male voices, one older and one younger, above them.
…kst…kst…kst…kst…
When they touched down in her time Kagome’s first instinct was to hop out of Sesshomaru’s arms then climb out of the well. But the daiyoukai’s iron hold on her made that impossible. After that she remembered what Inuyasha had told her about how the noise and air had bothered him. She assumed that such a thing was even worse for Togaou and Sesshomaru so she waited quietly for them to get used to it. Then she heard grandpa and Sota’s voices. When they started talking about some kind of get out of the well change she yelled up to them.
Immediately, Souta poked his head over the edge of the well. “Hey! Kagome’s back!” Then his eyes widened. “Whoa! Inuyasha’s with her and a couple other guys!”
“Who’s that?” Sesshomaru asked her quietly, a bit of a growl in his voice.
She could feel his body was tense and that he was holding her a bit tighter. Knowing how he was by now she was sure that he was ready to attack anyone that bugged them. “That’s my younger brother, Sota. The older one is my grandfather.” She explained. Then she looked back up. “Sota, you and grandpa back up so we can get out.”
“Okay Kagome,” he said with an enthusiastic nod. “But who are those guys with you?”
“I’ll explain it when we get out,” she told him with a sigh.
“Alright,” then her brother disappeared from view.
She then saw Togaou and Inuyasha jump out of the well. Holding on tightly to her, Sesshomaru then did the same thing.
When they landed, she squirmed out of Sesshomaru’s arms. Once her feet were on the ground she straightened the skirt she was wearing before looking at her two male relatives. Her grandfather was warily glancing back and forth between Sesshomaru, Togaou and Inuyasha, clenching onto sutras that were in his hand. Sota was hiding behind him, peering around at them as well but when he saw Inuyasha he smiled and said, “Hey Inuyasha!” though his voice quivered a little bit.
“Kagome…” her grandfather started, voice and eyes hard.
Before it could go any further, she quickly made introductions. That seemed to relax the old priest a bit but he was still on guard. Knowing him the way she did, she assumed he was ready to whip out one of his sutra’s and attempt to purify anything with youkai blood at a moments notice. Guessing what was bound to happen if they all stayed in the well house she started to nudge everyone outside, quietly warning both Togaou and Sesshomaru to prepare for the noise and smell to get even worse.
Once outside she felt a bit better about things since they weren’t in such close quarters. While Sesshomaru and Togaou adjusted once more and looked around at all the strange and odd things they were now confronted with, she sent Sota to get her mom. The way she saw it was it was better for her mom to meet everyone outside rather than be confronted with two large youkai in her kitchen without warning. At least with Sota going to get her she would be a bit prepared for what was to come.
While waiting for her mother she turned to her grandfather. “Grandpa, Togaou wants to ask you about one of the swords at the shrine. From the sounds of things it might be his.”
At the mere mention of that the old priest stiffened up and looked warily at the older daiyoukai. “Which sword are we talking about?” He asked, a stiff tone in his voice. He was very proud of the shrine’s collection of old katana’s and wasn’t willing going to give up any of them without a good reason or compensation.
Stepping forward, Togaou gave a short, respectful bow to the old priest. When she saw the old ningen do the same he launched in, ignoring the apprehensive look on the older man’s face. “We’re talking about my sword So’unga. After talking to your beautiful and charming granddaughter I think it may well be here.” Then he quickly described what it looked like.
From the description he was given the old priest was certain what sword he was being told about. “I think I know the one you’re referring to. Let’s go look at it then we can discuss it a bit further. Follow me.” Turning around, he headed towards the shrine’s steps.
Holding out his elbow to Kagome, Togaou said, “Come my dear… while we walk you can tell me about all the strange and unusual things around.”
Giggling, she linked her arm through his. “Sure, I can do that I think.”
Watching his father, Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed and he gave a long, low internal growl. Oh no, he was not going to allow his father to monopolize her around her family. Quickly, he caught up with her and his sire then fell in step beside them. Taking her other arm, he looped it through his then put his other hand over hers to keep it there.
She was busy telling Togaou about a couple things when she felt Sesshomaru’s hand on her. After feeling what he had done she glanced at him a bit shyly and gave him a small smile then turned her attention fully back to Togaou when he asked her another question.
Shooting his father a bit of a dirty look, the younger daiyoukai then began to ask questions of his own in order to get her to focus on him as well.
Though his facial expression never changed, inwardly Togaou was grinning at what Sesshomaru was doing. Though his pup probably still didn’t like the arrangement it appeared that he had fully accepted it. If he hadn’t the territorial steak he was showing wouldn’t be in play. This was a very good sign and a step in the right direction.
When they were about halfway down to the shrine Sota, Mrs. Higurashi and Inuyasha caught up with them. Quickly, Kagome made the introductions once more. Though she could see the look in her mother’s eyes that told her there would be a lot of explaining to do when they older woman saw her arms lined though the youkai’s, she ignored it for now, wanting to wait until later for all that.
By the time they finally reached the shrine Togaou had worked his magic with the older woman, making her laugh and giggle like a teenager. Though the old priest shot his daughter a bit of a strange look, he said nothing about it. Once he led them to the storehouse where the katana’s were, he unlocked the door and ushered everyone inside. Then he rummaged around for the case the old katana was in. When he found it he carried it over then laid it on a small table in front of everyone. Once he opened it, he looked at Tagaou and asked, “Is this the one you’re referring to?”
Reaching out, Togaou took hold of the sword, a smile on his face. Immediately Saiya floated up from the sheath. After a bow the little ghostly figure said, “My Lord… it’s good to see you once more.”
Nodding to the ghostly figure, Togaou then pulled the sword from its sheath, grinning. “Ah… So’unga!”
Eyes wide, Kagome’s grandfather looked the sword up and down, not believing the youkai had been able to remove it from its sheath.
Sliding the katana back into the sheath, the daiyoukai then slid it into his sash. Looking at the older Higurashi, he nodded then said, “Indeed, it’s my So’unga. Kagome says it is very valuable so I don’t want to take it without compensating you for it.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small bag and handed it to the old priest. “I hope that’s enough to compensate you for it.”
Not saying anything, the elderly man eyed the youkai warily then looked into the cloth bag. Immediately, his eyes lit up and you could practically see yen signs in them. Grabbing one of the gold coins in it, he pulled it out and examined it closely. Coins such as these were the rarest of the rare and were worth a fortune for just one. And he was holding a whole bag of them, something that was worth far more than the sword was. “This is fine,” he said with a nod, trying to keep the excited tone out of his voice.
Rolling her eyes, Kagome had to fight to keep from giggling. She knew that look well. Her grandfather was one happy camper and Togaou was now in his good graces forever and he would do practically anything for him and agree to most anything he wanted. Looking around at her mother, she saw the same look on the older woman’s face and about giggled out loud. “C’mon, let’s go to the house. I want a soda and there are things we need to talk about.”
Nodding, her mother stepped out of the storehouse. “Alright dear. Let’s go.”
Linking his arm back though Kagome’s, Togaou said, “Lead on Kagome.”
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