“No,” Kagome shot back. “Why should I expect to be intruded upon at all?”
Hirokin smiled. Leaving the window, he paused beside a lacquered table. Servants had already laid out Kagome’s dinner there, in anticipation of her return. Picking up one of the delicately-prepared morsels, Hirokin eyed it for a moment, before dropping it back to the tray with a purse of lip.
“You sure found me fast,” Kagome observed, crossing her arms. “I only stopped concealing myself today.”
“I had a general impression,” Hirokin replied. “Must one see the fish to know where it swims?”
Kagome scowled, not liking the comparison. One didn’t need to see the fish to catch it, either. But Hirokin left this insinuation unspoken, as he continued to nose about the room, occasionally testing the finery of its furnishings with just the very tips of his pearly-nailed fingers.
“These accommodations suit you better, my lady, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Whether I mind or not, you’ve already said it.”
Hirokin smiled again. “Your new suitor has decent taste, for a mortal. But if you’re aiming to be a lord’s wife, I daresay you can do better.”
Kagome’s lips thinned, her hackles rising. “Who said that I am? I’m Koshirou-sama’s honored guest here, that’s all.”
Hirokin’s glance was pure glittering condescension. “Of course, Kagome-sama. Forgive my presumption.”
Kagome glowered outright. “What are you doing here, Hirokin?”
“I could ask the same of you, priestess, with more cause—you do realize you reside within the Western Lands?”
“What of it?” Kagome said. “And I’m not a ‘priestess’ any longer, so you can stop referring to me as such.”
“Is that so, my lady? I must remember it,” Hirokin said blithely, inclining his head. “Yet, Sesshoumaru-sama remains lord of the region. Some might view your squatting here as an act of provocation, that you wish to expand your reach beyond the East. More than one inu daiyoukai have been eager to fan the flames of your threat—and to foment a general outcry against you. The petitions are becoming an increasing source of annoyance to Sesshoumaru-sama.”
Then he shouldn’t have tried to hold me against my will, Kagome thought coolly. But of course Sesshoumaru couldn’t let her go so easily. Even after such a calamitous falling out, his first move had been to try to pin her down. He was relentless, and Kagome couldn’t forget it.
“So I embarrassed a couple of his stuck-up lackeys, and now they’re embellishing to save face,” she grit out. “So what? If Sesshoumaru’s got a problem with me being here, let him come here and tell me so himself.”
Hirokin tisked. “Careful, Kagome-sama. As your humble advisor, I must caution you not to invite such an encounter lightly.”
“You’re the furthest thing from ‘humble’, Hirokin.”
Striding away from him, Kagome fumed. So Sesshoumaru refused to engage with her civilly, it seemed.
Very well.
Sharply, she turned on her heel. “Maybe I’ll marry him then—Tatsumi Koshirou. Why don’t you see what Sesshoumaru-sama thinks of that?”
“I dare not, my lady,” Hirokin replied, his mouth twisting. “The very mention of you is anathema to him.”
Kagome’s look and tone were hard. “You’re a clever guy—I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
Hirokin sighed. “You do love to torture me, Kagome-sama.”
“And you love to be tortured.” Her voice lowered as she stepped closer to him. “So it works.”
Hirokin’s eyes darkened, his slit pupils dilating slightly. He didn’t seem to be breathing as she passed him by. At the parting chafe of her reiki against him, his youki faintly writhed.
It was only a few days later when he returned, a rueful expression on his face.
“Well?” Kagome demanded. “What did Sesshoumaru have to say about my proposal?”
Hirokin’s blue eyes flickered, as he relayed the response: “Take as many ‘such husbands’ as you like.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
So, we are meant to assume that Hirokin is acting on his own accord here, yes? Presumably, Sesshoumaru couldn’t care less about the soldiers Kagome beat up or where she’s hanging out. The fact that he is indifferent to her impending nuptials is a little more surprising, but perhaps not given how they parted. I mean what did Kagome expect? She rejected and humiliated him to the fullest extent possible. She said there was no future for them, and made provisions to ensure it’s impossibility. Was he supposed to come running back to fight off her latest suitor? At this point I think she should just get married and try to live a happy life lmao. Sesshoumaru ain’t coming to save her, and she should give up trying to provoke a response. It is always a disappointment.
Sadly, Sesshoumaru has never expressed jealousy or possessiveness towards Kagome (at least within her hearing) and having been mated to Inuyasha, she probably equates these qualities with “love” for a demon. It’s hard to tell what Kagome really wants here. Clearly, she is not over Sesshoumaru, but she seems unwilling to forgive him and move on too. I just hope she doesn’t make her next choices out of a desire to get back at him. She has been living for others for too long.
Just wanted to add how amazed I am by the intricacy of your writing. I can’t imagine trying to keep track of all of these separate pieces and moving parts. Every character has a complexity to them that is gradually unveiled as the story progresses. You could write an epic novel just as well-fleshed out as any of the great novelists. Would love to know more about your process if you ever feel comfortable sharing. Thanks again, Char!
Aww thank you, Alex! “I can’t imagine trying to keep track of all of these separate pieces and moving parts.” – it has been a juggling act for sure! This has been by far the most intricately plotted story I’ve written – and publishing it serially in real time has been a crazy ride 😅
In a perfect world, I’d have drafted it all in advance lol, but as it is, I’ve kinda been operating in seat-of-the-pants mode the whole time. Would not recommend, haha! I’ve learned a lot writing this story, and for the first time with a fic, had to actually outline some stuff (not that I really stuck to that outline very well 😂).
I guess my main takeaways have been to 1) stay organized (which is still a huge struggle for me) and 2) stay ahead. I get “blank page syndrome” pretty badly, so if I don’t leave myself a little to go on after completing a chapter, I’m at risk of getting stuck. It’s a tiny thing, but it really has worked well for me to keep up the momentum and be a more consistent writer. 🙂
As Stephen King once said, “Never let the well run dry” …or something like that! Haha, sorry I’ve rambled on, but I’ve been thinking a lot about these things recently 🙂
Thanks so much for your feedback as always, my friend! Hope you enjoy the next part!! <3 <3 <3
Hirokin, you snake! I am so in a love-hate relationship with this guy. I’m excited every time when I see him plotting&co but I so want to choke him to death (but I think he will enjoy that haha).
So we’re gonna have a wedding? I kinda feel a bit sorry for Sesshomaru, that’s for sure a big nail in the coffin. Even if I don’t entirely trust Hirokin’s words I think his reaction was close to this.
But nobody is safe in your stories and I absolutely adore that! If the things start to get a tiny bit better for Kagome.. well she just have to brace herself for what will come to her.
🖤🖤🖤
“Hirokin, you snake! I am so in a love-hate relationship with this guy. ” – hahaha that makes me so happy! <3
"But nobody is safe in your stories and I absolutely adore that! " - thank you so much!! 😭
So appreciate hearing your thoughts, Elle! Thanks again for sharing & hope you enjoy the rest!! <3 <3 <3
I feel like Sesshomaru would let her marry, though, and then just end up killing them off one way or another lmao
🤣🤣 he is ruthless like that!
<3 <3 <3
Sesshoumaru doesn’t respect human marriage. He didn’t even respect her marriage to InuYasha. He definitely won’t care about her trying to shack up with some human lord because he can easily dispatch him if he needed to without even lifting a finger. Hirokin seems like he’s making that up though. He is a lying sneaky lil bitch so I wouldn’t be surprised but if Sesshoumaru really did say that, I’m sure those sentiments will be temporary.
You raise so many great points, Blackberry!! Hirokin is for sure a “lying sneaky lil bitch” 🤣 hahaha!
Thanks for sharing, as always!! <3 <3 <3
I wholeheartedly believe that Kagome is stubborn enough to follow through with marrying that guy just to prove a point. I’m also surprised Hirokin even brought Kagome’s petty response to Sesshomaru…if he actually did that is. For all we know, Hirokin never told Sesshomaru and is making this up in an effort to make Kagome mad enough to confront Sesshomaru herself. I’m sure he blames himself for Kou being attacked; if Sesshomaru and Kagome were still in sexual bliss in that tower, Sesshomaru never would’ve focused on Kou when he did. Jeez, now that I think about it, I feel like Sesshomaru was so brutal with Kou because he reminds him of Inuyasha. His previous half-brother’s wife just broke his heart for the 10th time and that wound is clearly still raw. Maybe he was taking all the anger and resentment he feels for Inuyasha out on Kou (can you tell that I’m a psych major 😅). I guess all we can do now is wait for Hirokin to work his matchmaker magic. Maybe then he can get plowed in piece 😂
Happy belated Valentine’s Day Char and all! 🧡
Happy Valentine’s, Lee!!
So love hearing your thoughts on all these recent developments! The psychoanalytical take is fascinating!! Lots to explore here with how these poor characters have been put through the wringer 😅
And just have to say that your last remark on Hirokin had me rolling! 🤣 Here’s to some plowing, for him and all the rest haha – thanks so much for sharing!! <3 <3 <3