Connections by sarhea
Hands Tied (Shield)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and company or InuYasha and company, I’m just playing with the characters.
AN: Dokuga’s bi-weekly One-shot theme challenge Jan 4-14; Prompt ‘Shield’, Min 500, Actual 1400. Edited and expanded from what was posted on Dokuga_Contest
AN: The hanyous/youkais from InuYasha are not youkais/bijuus in this cross; they have kekkai genkais (bloodline limits) that mimic their youkai powers.
Summary: Kagome and Sesshoumaru are reminded of a recent loss and make plans to ensure the guilty do not escape punishment.
AN: Few years after First Meetings (Imperial) and A Blooming Relationship (Flowers). Kagome and Sesshoumaru are married at this point and have children.
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...ooO Connections: Hands Tied (Shield) Ooo...
Kagome watched the man dressed in plain black clothing wearing a spiral orange mask writhe in agony on the stone floor. Her usually compassionate heart was restrained by righteous ire so she watched the man suffer with cold dispassionate brown eyes. Uchiha Madara deserved every bit of pain she had inflicted upon him. It was quite unfortunate he was not actually within reach of her arrows and blades. The shinobi before her was not the body of Uchiha Madara. The unfortunate nin was dead and his body was being manipulated like a puppet by the Uchiha nin from a great distance away.
Kagome could back-track and determine the bastard’s real location but by the time the household guard reached the Uchiha’s hidey-hole he would have escaped. She could only take some of the vengeance she craved via his puppet intermediary. It made her very glad she was a Sealing Specialist. Her esoteric knowledge allowed her to triple the degree of pain he was experiencing at that very moment in his safehouse. It was a pity few bothered learning the nuances and obscure aspects of fuuin jutsu nowadays.
“Times like this I count myself quite fortunate that you are my wife and not my enemy.”
The raven haired woman turned to the white haired male who had just entered the Interrogation Chamber. She smirked but did not falter. The trick to taking down high-class Uchihas was overpowering and ensnaring them in S-rank genjutsus. Usually Not an easy thing to do for a single nin, even a genjutsu expert. But for a Sealing Specialist on her own ground? Piece of cake.
Sesshoumaru watched his wife turn up the intensity of the genjutsu, overpowering each and ever sense and all conscious control. Uchihas were natural at genjutsu –identifying, using, and breaking– but what good was identifying one was trapped within a painfully real illusion if one had no way of breaking out of it?
Within minutes Madara broke in whatever hole he was hiding in. The jutsu he used to control his puppet and create the illusion of his presence fractured and ended leaving a corpse belonging to a Taki nuke-nin. A broken discarded puppet.
Kagome sniffed and turned to a blonde green-eyed slender male dressed in black, red and white accented samurai armour standing against one wall.
“Itoshi, please clean up and verify the identity of the corpse. If there is a bounty make arrangements to claim it. Destroy the corpse once you’re done.”
Harushin Itoshi, Second in Command of the Household Guard, bowed from the waist and moved to obey.
Kagome turned to her husband who was observing her with cool gold eyes. His attention was divided and distracted. With a faint smile she walked out of the chilly Interrogation Chamber knowing that he would follow.
In the privacy of their bedroom she stripped off all her clothing, dropping them carelessly onto the polished bamboo floor. Once she was completely nude she pulled on a yukata and walked into the master suite reception room.
Sesshoumaru was already there preparing two dishes of spiced tea.
Gracefully she knelt across from him and accepted the dish. She did not speak. He would speak when he was ready to listen.
“You were quite… vicious with Madara.”
The Western Lord noted the faint tremble in her hand as she set the fragile porcelain down and folded her hands on her lap.
“He taunted me.” Tears shimmered in dark brown eyes. “Maru, he claimed responsibility for the assassins. The ones who killed Hitomi.”
Tears spilled as raw barely healed hurts re-opened. Hitomi, her second child, her eldest daughter. Hitomi who died before she even reached puberty and truly experienced life. The daughter who she had failed to shield from harm.
Gold eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Kagome shrugged. “Not absolutely. But he knew too much; things only the one who ordered it or one who was investigating it could know.” Her eyes darkened with fresh grief. “He was trying to throw me off with the information.”
Thin lips pressed tightly together as Sesshoumaru considered the information.
“It is quite unfortunate Madara is an abject coward. Hiding and redirecting others to take out his enemies from a distance.”
The raven haired woman inhaled deeply. “It fits his pattern. He uses others, works through intermediaries to shield himself from detection.” A faint furrow creased her brow. “He would have gotten away with it if I wasn’t a Sealing Specialist. Ikaru and Itoshi are good at their jobs but even they were fooled.”
Satsuko Ikaru and Harushin Itoshi were respectively Captain and Second in Command of the Household Guards.
Her husband nodded slowly. “He will be added to our list of enemies. Kagura and Kanna will expand their information nets to track down Madara and his associates.”
Kagome wiped away her tears and nodded. “Madara is a threat. His pride will not tolerate this slight. His ego will drive him to erase the perceived shame of his loss to a civilian, a noble lady.”
Sesshoumaru snorted. “Let him try.” Red bled into gold eyes. “He tried when my grand-sire and sire were the Western Lords and was beaten badly each time. The only reason why he succeeded in infiltrating this time is his corpse puppet jutsu. Now that we know he will not be able to use it again.” He bared his teeth. “Security will be tightened to war-time levels until Kagura has a complete report on his activities, associates, and presumable goals.”
Thick lashes lowered to veil deep brown eyes. “InuYasha is not going to like it.”
Sesshoumaru’s half-brother used the Western Stronghold as a base, travelling out and crossing borders looking for nuke-nins and possible enemies. InuYasha was a front-line fighter who preferred cutting his opponents down with his sword and killing them. The subtle intricate dance of any Court did not suit his personality. He did not like being restricted to protocols and procedures.
Sesshoumaru snorted. “InuYasha doesn’t like a lot of things.” Citrine eyes narrowed a fraction. “If he doesn’t co-operate he’s moving to the Capitol. I will not tolerate any behaviour that could potentially put our children at risk.”
Kagome nodded solemnly. “Touga and Hikari are still shaken by the experience.” Her breath caught. “Kenshin needs a bodyguard. I can’t keep him with me all the time and a nanny is not enough.”
Her husband smiled faintly. “InuYasha is an uncouth ill-mannered whelp but he is loyal. Perhaps he could be persuaded to stay within the Stronghold for a few months. It will not hurt to have a few more skilled fighters to shield the children in case there is another assassination attempt.” His expression turned solemn. “Kagome, will you reconsider your request to delay training the children?”
Kagome inhaled deep and expelled her breath sharply. “Yes. But please be gentle with them.”
Her husband shook his head. “That I cannot promise. They will be hurt. It is inevitable. But they will heal.”
Kagome could not control the tears that escaped or the soft sob, a bare hiccup and catching sound in her throat. Hastily she wiped away the salty liquid.
“Must they leave?”
Sesshoumaru considered her unvoiced request. “Not immediately. The security risks are too great right now. But eventually yes. Hatsumoto and Tsukimaru will look after Touga. They will be able to help Hikari get better control of her emotions. Both of us are too soft to do what is best for her.” Quickly he headed off his wife’s protest. “It is our duty as parents to protect our children, to shield them from hurt and the worst of the outside world Kagome. But we cannot shield them forever. That is why traditionally training begins at an early age. I broke tradition by agreeing to delay Touga’s training for a year.” Gold eyes were very serious. “If I didn’t Touga would probably be with Tsukimaru-san right now. Safe because we know their primary manor is almost inaccessible. No one can traverse the Fujin Range without setting off the defensive wards.”
Kagome nodded and began crying soundlessly. She did not protest when her husband came around and picked her up and sat down with her in his lap. She buried her face in the hollow at the base of his throat, tears soaking the fine linen covering his chest.
Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her tight wishing he could ease the ache in her heart and shield her from the world and all who would cause her pain.
...ooOoo...
The End.
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AN: Fills in on some of the events referred to in Death and Life (Ink)
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