For more than a week, Kagome languished on, merely existing in the wake of Sesshoumaru’s bitter departure from Edo village. His absence was glaring, all-consuming. The last words he’d spoken seemed to hang in the air around her, haunting her wherever she went. In this haze of guilt and exhaustion, her days and nights ran together. Her anguishes intensified. Each one weighed separately upon her, until Kagome felt herself hobbled beneath it all, unable to do anything more than the most basic acts necessary to function—and found herself marveling at her ability to do even that.
Inuyasha’s patience with her wore steadily thin. Eventually, he gave up on trying.
“That’s it,” he said through gritted fangs. “Tomorrow morning, I’m taking you to see your mother. Maybe she can talk some sense into you because I sure as hell can’t.” Arms crossed, he glared at her from the doorway. The stern slant of his shadow broke over her. “It can’t be good for the baby, all this laying around in the dark, day after fucking day.”
Clenching her eyes shut, the miko rolled over onto her side, away from him. Like everyone else, he was far more concerned for the one she was carrying than he was for her. She didn’t blame him for it. She didn’t blame any of them for feeling this way. It was only natural. Even though she berated herself for it, she still couldn’t help but resent it, her own insignificance in comparison.
“I can’t risk time-traveling, Inuyasha,” she said to him wearily. “What if something goes wrong? What if the baby can’t pass through the Bone-Eater’s Well?”
Inuyasha padded closer, pausing heavily just behind her. With a sigh, Kagome turned over. Her eyes lifted slowly to meet his piercing stare.
“Why shouldn’t our baby be able to go through the well,” he asked her narrowly, “when both you and I can?”
Shallowly, Kagome swallowed, digging her fingers into the blanket above her. “We still don’t know why we can, though,” she said carefully, willing her voice not to shake. “Maybe it’s something unique to the two of us? It’s just safer, I think, not to take the chance.”
“I guess,” Inuyasha grumbled at last, looking away toward the door. “But you should get some fresh air at least. Go sit on the porch while it’s still light out.”
Kagome nodded, even though a cold sweat broke out across her brow at the thought. Too terrified to protest after her near-fatal misstep, she pushed herself up onto her elbows as the curtain swung shut behind Inuyasha’s retreating form. Most likely he was taking himself off to Sango and Miroku’s place again—his go-to sanctuary against her. Annoyed at everyone, including herself, Kagome wrenched a shawl over her shoulders and trudged toward the porch.
Outside, the air was crisp but still. As dusk approached, the autumn light burnished to a rich, mocking amber. Kagome scowled, banding her arms about her. Huddled on the porch steps, she sat, raw-eyed and wretched. It seemed as if all the universe were conspiring against her, twisting ruthlessly at the thorn in her conscience.
Sighing, Kagome bowed her head, watched her breath mist faintly before her. Everything felt so heavy—her eyes, her chest, her limbs and her belly most of all. She felt as though she could sink right through the earth, straight down to settle at its fiery core, where at last she would melt away, untroubled and untroubling…
“Kagome.”
Sharply, she inhaled, glancing up as the world rushed back into focus around her. Before her Sesshoumaru stood, her miko senses alarming belatedly at his presence. Her eyes stung as she met his brilliant stare.
“Sesshoumaru,” she said, unable to keep the tremor from her voice, “you came back.”
Evenly, he regarded her. His amber eyes seemed to flicker though he didn’t move or blink.
“Did you doubt that I would?” As Kagome’s lips parted helplessly at this, Sesshoumaru continued on, “I’ve brought something which should be of use to you.”
Tucked against his side was a creature Kagome could have kicked herself for not noticing before—a magnificent, but rather peevish-looking bird. About the size of a large hen, it rested placidly enough in her arms as Sesshoumaru handed it over to her. Its long, iridescent tail feathers trailed like red velvet streamers over her sleeve. Cradling the strange demonic bird to her chest, Kagome looked between it and Sesshoumaru with a furrowed brow.
“…Thank you,” she said uncertainly, returning the bird’s critical look. “Is it…some sort of chicken?”
The creature ruffled its feathers indignantly as Sesshoumaru replied, “It is Taiyoutori, herald of the early dawn. Females of my kind often hunt for him when they are with child. His eggs are uniquely nourishing—or so I am told.” Not quite level with hers, Sesshoumaru’s eyes gleamed greenish-gold in the waning light. “Since you cannot hunt yourself, I have fetched him for you.” As his gaze flicked to the displaced, ill-tempered sunbird, his voice steeled. “He will stay with you, here, until the child is born.”
Warbling sullenly at this, Taiyoutori made a show of preening his ruby feathers, in pointed dismissal of them both. At a loss, Kagome studied her grudging companion. Her face heated at the thought of Sesshoumaru wresting this mythical creature down from the heavens just for her.
Smiling softly, she shook her head. “You youkai sure are weird. Who ever heard of a male laying eggs?”
Sesshoumaru’s eyes glinted back at her. “This, from the priestess who traveled five hundred years into the past, with the Shikon no Tama reborn within her?”
“Point taken,” Kagome said with a laugh. In her arms Taiyoutori now appeared to be dozing. “So how exactly does he, er…?”
“Each day at sunset, feed him a drop of your blood.” Sesshoumaru paused a moment in contemplation of her. “Do so now,” he advised, and Kagome grimaced, realizing just how desperately in need of supernatural aid she must look. “When you wake in the morning, the egg will be there.”
“Okay,” she said dubiously. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Chewing the inside of her cheek, Kagome adjusted her hold on the slumbering sunbird. The point of his tapered beak seemed sharp enough for the task. Touching her thumb to it with the slightest pressure, she gasped as a crimson droplet welled promptly up—and again as a blue forked tongue whisked it away in an instant.
“Kami,” she muttered, snatching back her hand and hiding it in her sleeve. “…This bird is kind of scary.”
Beak beneath his wing, Taiyoutori seemed to go dormant as the last light of day drained from the purpling sky. In Sesshoumaru’s gaze, the sun’s glow was still reflected. Kagome found herself suddenly unable to bear it, the simmering intensity of his regard. Sweltering beneath it, she’d started to turn away toward the door when the sound of his voice arrested her.
“I have thought upon it,” he said, some subtle softness in his tone commanding her attention more powerfully than Inuyasha’s snapping and snarling ever had, “and decided it would be best if I remained nearby, provided that is still what you wish.”
Kagome stared, as floored by his words as by the way he was looking at her—his considerable pride aside—in calm acceptance of whatever it was she would say. When so much was beyond her control, when so much weight had been placed upon her, by her own hand or not, she felt the freedom to make this choice like a breath of relief from the crushing toil of her circumstances.
In this decision, she felt a bit of her old agency restored. Not that she really needed to deliberate much about it.
“Yes,” she said, retracing her steps to stand beside him in the fading twilight. “Please, Sesshoumaru—I’d like for you to stay.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Revised 11/6/22
Ah! A new chapter!! I’m so happy (because it’s been almost a year), but not happy (because OMFG Kagome!!!). Sesshomaru missed her and that’s sweet and all, but Kagome honestly doesn’t deserve the nice treatment, nor the very affronred, but still adorable-sounding Taiyoutori. Annoyed because people are worried that your depression/lack of care for yourself will harm the baby you went out of your way to have with your brother-in-law? 🙄 Inuyasha is right to be exasperated. Everyone is. Kagome is being unreasonable and she still refuses to be honest. She loves Sesshomaru, but would rather mope instead of telling everyone the truth. By the time she maybe grows a pair of ovaries and tells him how she feels, the baby will be born and every bridge will be burnt in the process.
Ha, so many good points!! Oh Kagome…she’s a mess, isn’t she? Man, I’ve missed this story – so glad you enjoyed this long overdue update, girl!! 🙂
Absolutely LOVED hearing your thoughts!! Thanks so much for sharing and hope you enjoy the next installment! (I promise it won’t be another year LOL!)
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Good cap
Thanks!
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Ummm I see that this may be an unpopular opinion but I completely LIVE FOR these complicated, emotionally charged situations you are so expert at setting up (like dominoes, and I am simultaneously dreading and giddily anticipating the fall). The night I discovered this fic I stayed up ALL NIGHT reading it– the machinations in it are so beautifully layered, and I appreciate the way that while Kagome *is* asking for something terrible from Sesshoumaru, all she really did was provide the exact opening he’d been oh so patiently waiting for for years– I really think she’s been more manipulated by him than the other way around. I’m terrified and thrilled by the direction this is going– it feels like the tension has to burst, this stasis cannot possibly last. I also adore the way that Sesshoumaru is so cruel to her– that he can make everything about a million times worse by really leading the affair/seduction/pact, while also rebuking her for having fallen into the trap of an emotional affair. Gah I just love this to pieces and about jumped out of my skin when I saw the update. Thanks for writing!
Omg! Now that I think about it, you could be right! Author-chan’s portrayal of Sesshoumaru has always been manipulative, evil like the demon he is, and it wouldnt be far-etched idea especially that Sessh has beeing wooing Kagome for some time now even at the start of her marriage. Exhibit A: giving her a jewelry more beautiful than her ring, exhibit b: marking her when they were fucking & lying that it wasnt anything special. He’s been waiting for his brother for a chance to mess up & proving that he (Sessh) is a better mate for her.
Ahh, so loved hearing your take on the events so far – particularly your perspective on Sesshoumaru’s characterization in this fic! 🙂 So glad you’re enjoying the tension!! Gotta say, I enjoy the emotionally charged moments in fics the most too haha 🙂
Thanks a million for taking the time to share your thoughts, girl! And wow, all night – I’m flattered!! 😀 Thanks again, and hope you enjoy the updates to come!
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That’s true. He had been watching her since before her wedding. He even drank from her cup, exactly where she drank that day. Still mad at Kagome though.
While I do think that Sesshoumaru is manipulating the situation in his favor, I do think that it wasnt until Kagome asked for his help to conceive a child. He saw the chance & grabbed it. And I love how he’s soft towards her & yet will call her out on her denials and bullshits.
Inuyasha just pisses me off even if his intention is for the betterment of Kagome and ‘their’ child. It’s just that, you’re in the presense of pregnant female & yet you’re acting brash and disrespectful. Ugh, I hate him in this. He’s so toxic and abusive.
I can’t wait for the stuff to go down! Inuyasha will never take it lying down that his wife is pregnant with his hated brother, and Sesshoumaru will never let Kagome and their child go. How would the village react, I wonder, since they put Kagome on pedestal & fear/adore Sesshoumaru, who would they side on? Who would their friends side on? Since they saw Inuyasha’s abusive nature, and now Kagome’s infidelity is almost upon their knowledge, would they blame Kagome or Inuyasha?
I sure hope Kagome will wake up from her self-pity/hatred and do what’s best for her child now. Yes, she made a mistake but she shouldnt let it affect her baby. Better to start acting like a mother.
Anyways, superb chapter as usual!
Rain!! Thanks for commenting, girl! 🙂
“And I love how he’s soft towards her & yet will call her out on her denials and bullshits.” – YES. Haha, writing Sess calling out Kagome is one of my fav parts of telling this story LOL I dunno, it’s just vindicating somehow? Anyway, glad you like it too! 🙂
You raise so many good questions about what the fallout from this dangerous situation could be! Love it! Hope you enjoy the next chapter…..!!
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Love this! Great writing as per usual! Can’t wait to read more.
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it – and thank you!!
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I don’t want to be rude or pestering, but does this mean that you’ll be updating and posting regularly, like daily? It goes without saying that i love your fics, your superb way of writing in character, just wow… you have a captivating way of writing… i can’t even put in words…
Yes, another great chap. Please update more, soon. I’m begging!!
Aw thank you so much – you’re so kind! 😊
Now that my life has started to calm down, I’m looking forward to updating on a more regular schedule, with resuming daily updates being the ultimate goal.
So glad you enjoyed this chapter, and thanks again!! 💕
I couldn’t believe it when I checked today that you posted a new chappie! Ahhh! Thank you!
I am so curious as to what this Taiyoutori egg will do, and how it will affect her pregnancy (if that is what it’s supposed to do?). A great idea to utilize the many demons and odd creatures there sure to be back in the day in that IY Rumik Universe. I love the subtlety of how Kagome perks up around Sesshomaru; and likewise for him, she is the center of his universe when she is around. Sigh. I am dying to find out how this all inevitably ends. If Sesshomaru is going to have to end Inuyasha because he will most definitely blow a gasket once he finds out the baby is not his and never was. The Goody-Twoshoes in me is just hoping every little thing will be all right, and everybody gets along, but where’s the fun in that?
Again, thank you for updating! I hope your household is all settled and enjoying being back in the Dirty South 😉
Thanks, Mecca! 🙂 We’re settled for the most part – still just need to get some pictures up on the walls lol
So glad you enjoyed this update – loved hearing your thoughts and questions around the events of this chapter and what’s to come! The IY universe is just so much fun – I can’t resist pulling in some new demon characters 🙂
Thanks again and hope you enjoy where the story goes from here! <3 <3