The Perfect Mate by BelovedStranger

Forgive Me

Prompts from Stella Mira's Latin Challenge:

Qualibet—wherever you like; in any way you please

Genitaliter—in a fruitful manner

Vaticinus—soothsaying, prophetic

Zephyrus—a warm west wind, zephyr 

Sesshomaru gazed down at the pitiful display at his feet, his brother kneeling on the floor, with the newly embodied but no less dead Kikyo cradled in his arms. Though Inuyasha made not a sound, the salt of his tears reached Sesshomaru’s nose. Normally, he would have sneered at such an emotional display, but all he could think of was Kagome. He couldn’t help but wonder, if she were here, would he be in a similar pose of despair as his brother?

He had to turn away or be consumed by the grief that was beginning to well deep inside him. He couldn’t have lost her. Not now. Not after all they had… Or could have had.

For long moments, no one spoke, but all were thinking the same thing. Was Kagome dead, too?

No! he silently snarled.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten one thing, even Sesshomaru, until a ray of hope reminded him that perhaps not all was lost. Turning back to his brother and the miko Kikyo, he reached across his body, and gripped the hilt of Tenseiga decisively. If what the taijiya said was true, then the two miko were linked at a spiritual level, a bond obviously strong enough to reach across time and space to influence one another. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes on what he could see of Kikyo, her face hidden in Inuyasha’s chest. Though dead, her new body was hanyou. Did that mean Kagome was one, too, instead of a full-fledged demon as he had been hoping for?

He’d never allowed himself to even think of the possibility that Kagome would convert into a half-breed, because then he could not have her as his mate without possible war breaking out. A hanyou could not take over the West. There were some rules and conventions not even he could break.

Right now, did it even matter what she was so long as she lived? Sesshomaru no longer cared if she was a human, half-breed, or demon. The thought of living in a world without her in it was not one he wished to contemplate. No matter what she was, he would make a life for them together…somehow. His late father seemed content with Izayoi, Inuyasha’s human mother, as his human consort, but would Kagome settle to be his paramour while he still had to find a mate and have an heir..? 

Right now, it hardly mattered. The only thing that did was that he saved Kagome.

He stared down at the dead woman with his resolve strengthened. If there truly was a connection between this miko and his, one so deep and powerful that it was capable of affecting both of them to this extent, then he could return them back to life with Tenseiga. He tightened his hand around the pummel, ready to unsheathe his heavenly blade when he paused.

Supposedly lifeless fingers twitched on the floor. A sound reached his ears. A slow heartbeat quickly gaining speed. The dead woman’s body shuddered with an inhalation of breath before it rushed out of her in a soft sigh. Another breath. Then another.

Inuyasha jerked back, gazing down at Kikyo with wide eyed bewilderment, tear tracks staining his cheeks. He heard it too, and no doubt Yasuhiro could as well. A steady heartbeat, strong and sure.

“Kikyo..?” whispered Inuyasha with a catch in his voice.

Her mouth twitched, a frown scrunching her brows closer together, before her lashes fluttered. Then her eyes opened slowly, blinking in confusion as she stared up at Inuyasha. But they seemed too heavy for her to keep open, and they settled closed once more; however, she continued to breathe, her heart continued to beat.

Inuyasha shouted her name fearfully, perhaps afraid that she would die again.

“So tired…” Kikyo murmured barely above a whisper.

She slept with a peaceful expression, the pain of her conversion leaving no sign of strain, death chased away by the rising color in her cheeks, giving her pale flesh a healthy pink glow.

“Impossible,” Yasuhiro muttered.

Miroku stepped forward and knelt in front of Inuyasha, and reached out to touch Kikyo, checking her over the best he could when his friend refused to relinquish his hold. Sango was swift on his heels but remained standing, a hand settling lightly on his shoulder.

“She’s alive…” she whispered the obvious, wonder lacing her voice.

Sesshomaru had already released his sword hilt, a feeling of relief washing over him when he realized the woman yet lived. He did not know how or why, but it gave him renewed hope that his miko yet lived. Bewildered questions went back and forth between Inuyasha and his companions, while he remained mute. So many questions, but no one had a definitive answer. However, there was one question that needed to be known.

Was Kagome alright?

Before he could turn and leave, no longer caring if the rest followed or stayed, Inuyasha spoke up, stalling him.

His brother stood with his woman cradled in his arms and leveled him with a steady gaze with eyes so much like his own.

“I have to stay here to make sure Kikyo is alright,” he said gruffly. “Go find Kagome and bring her back safe.”

No one stopped him as he walked towards the doors to leave, probably towards his or Kikyo’s room, but as he passed Sesshomaru, he left him with a murmured statement.

“Thank you.”

Their eyes met for just a moment, a silent message unuttered between them. Inuyasha knew that he had reached for Tenseiga, understood his intentions, and was grateful. Then he was walking past and out of the room.

Everyone left in the room, the taijiya, monk, and kelpie, stood staring at him with the same determined expression.

“We’re going with you, Sesshomaru-sama. Though human, Sango and I can be of assistance to you and Kagome. If it’ll save our friend, use us in any way you see fit,” the monk stated.  

Sango went over and slung her hiraikotsu on her back, signaling that she would not be left behind.

“I will be coming, too,” stated Yasuhiro, moving to stand by Sango’s side.

All Sesshomaru could do was nod his head regally. There was no knowing what they would encounter before or during their journey to find one, brave miko, but he was not about to snub their aid when Kagome’s safety rested in the balance.

“Keep up with me.”

Sango opened her arms for Kirara to jump into them. “We will,” she promised.

And they were off, travelling towards the last known location that Kagome was sighted. Sesshomaru could have easily outrun them all, but he forced himself to remain close to the ragtag group, telling himself not to be hasty. He was in the lead, with the humans atop the fire cat not far behind, and Yasuhiro running alongside them. Though he travelled at a slower pace than he was capable of, they were making good time, when out of nowhere, a screech of “Dance of Blades” echoed around them, and deadly projections flew at them fast.

They split apart, dodging the attack, where it harmlessly crashed into the ground, cutting into the earth, dust flying everywhere.

“Kagura!” spat Sango, hefting her hiraikotsu, intending to fling the deadly weapon at the grinning wind sorceress, who hovered in the sky on a giant, white feather.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Kagura chided, reaching behind her to bring Kohaku into view.

Sesshomaru noticed the boy had a glazed quality to his eyes as if he had no conception of what was happening around him. Regardless, the boy welded his kusarigama in a threatening manner.

“Kohaku!” Sango wailed when she saw her little brother, but he did not respond to her call. In fact, he didn’t seem to recognize her, and she knew with a heavy heart that Naraku was controlling him.

“How touching. Brother and sister once again reunited,” Kagura said with a devilish smile, tapping her painted red lips with her fan. “Although, I don’t believe it’ll be the happy reunion you are expecting.”

“Sesshomaru!” Miroku called, though his eyes remained glued on their enemy. “Find Kagome. Sango and I will handle these two.”

“As will I—”

“—Go with Sesshomaru-sama, Yasuhiro,” Sango interrupted. She glanced over at the kelpie and gave him a small smile, though he could see the sadness in her eyes. “We’ll catch up to you afterwards, I promise.”

“You won’t be able to keep that promise,” shouted Kagura, swirling her fan in the ningens’ direction. “Dance of the Dragon!”

With trepidation, Yasuhiro watched as a few wind storms formed, lashing out with deadly intent towards the woman he was coming to cherish. He took an unconscious step towards her even as Kirara easily dodged around the swirling vortexes. What kept him rooted to the spot was the realization that he might just have lost her to the monk sitting behind her. The thought made him frown, but he wasn’t given the chance to dwell on the less than joyous insight.

“Follow me, kelpie, if you so choose.”

Glancing over at the Western Lord, Yasuhiro hesitated for only a second, before he raced off in Sesshomaru’s wake, hoping that Sango survived so that he could press his claim. He desired her for himself. He would not let the monk have her without a fight.

Without the fire cat, who was burdened by her two riders, the two youkai made better time, travelling the lands towards a woman Yasuhiro had never met. It felt wrong to leave Sango in such danger to save this faceless miko; however, there was a possibility that Naraku was at the end of their destination, and he fully planned to avenge his son’s death with Naraku’s life. Though it had been the futa-kuchi-onna who had devoured his son, his boys had been captured by Naraku and put in the onna’s ‘tender’ care.

They were closing in on their destination when another stepped in their path, a small child dressed all in white, but what really got the two males’ attention was the creature that stood behind the girl with no scent. Yasuhiro knew who the girl was even though he’d never laid eyes upon her before. Sango had told him, while they journeyed towards Sesshomaru’s castle, that Naraku had two incarnations; the wind sorceress Kagura, and a small child named Kanna.

The child was little threat to him, save for the mirror demon standing behind her. Yasuhiro knew what the creature was, understood that it had once been a small mirror with great power, now turned into the hulking being that stood guard over Kanna.

“Step aside,” Sesshomaru demanded with a hand on the hilt of Bakusaiga.

At his threatening stance, the mirror demon moved in front of Kanna. Though it did not speak, it was obvious the creature was to be their opponent.

Sesshomaru was about to charge, having no patience for their interruption. Considering both of Naraku’s incarnations had appeared, trying to block their path, it was obvious to him that Sai was not the only one who guarded Kagome. Naraku was involved, most likely the reason behind Kikyo’s conversion and not Sai as they had previously thought. His miko was in danger, and this creature dared to get in his way. But before he could attack, Yasuhiro stepped forward.

“Save your woman, Sesshomaru-sama. I’ll join you shortly after dispatching this creature.”

Glancing at the kelpie from the corner of his eye, he nodded his head once in acknowledgement, staying only long enough to watch Yasuhiro take his place and charge the mirror demon. As he raced the last few leagues towards his destination, in hindsight, he was thankful for Inuyasha’s ragtag team for their aid. Because of them, he did not have to waste time in reaching Kagome.

Naraku’s scent hit him first. It permeated the air with his vile stench, but underneath was the smell of the woman he searched for. With another burst of energy, he ran faster, his senses open for any attack that Naraku might try to surprise him with. When nothing continued to happen, no enemy coming out to stop him, he knew Naraku waited for him, taunted him to come closer.

The trees parted, revealing a small clearing. Mountains rose high before him, with a tiny cave at the base, but that was not what caught his eye. It was Naraku, standing before him with an insolent grin plastered across his face, crimson eyes watching him as if he’d known about his approach. Looking around, while keeping the hanyou in his sight, Sesshomaru didn’t see Kagome, but he could smell her. His heart thudded harder in his chest when he realized her scent was different, but there was no doubt that it was hers. More disconcerting was the scent of blood. There was a lot of it, but at least one he did not recognize. It wasn’t Kagome’s. That’s all that mattered to him.

“So, you’ve finally arrived, Lord Sesshomaru,” Naraku said conversationally. “And here I thought you’d never show.”

“Where is Kagome,” Sesshomaru demanded, unsheathing Bakusaiga without preamble, and pointing it at Naraku threateningly.

“Kagome, is it? Can it be that the great and terrible Lord of the West has fallen for a human priestess?” Naraku taunted with a chuckle of amusement. “But I suppose I shouldn’t be calling her that anymore, should I? Come, Kagome. Greet your latest suitor. I’m sure he’s missed you.”

Movement caught Sesshomaru’s eye at the mouth of the small cave and out stepped a woman dressed in a kimono he recognized, but it was covered in blood. The ruby stain was likewise painted across her face, her black tresses matted in places with even more drying blood. No wound was apparent on the woman he knew so intimately. Perhaps seeing his confusion, Naraku spoke.

“Don’t worry, my lord. The blood is not hers. I fear you are too late if you wished to see Sai, however. We had a…disagreement, if you will.”

The spider’s insinuation was not lost on Sesshomaru. Though he knew not why or how, Sai was dead. So much blood covered Kagome that Sesshomaru wondered if she had been the one to slay the demoness. He didn’t dwell on the possibility, not when his eyes devoured the physical changes in the woman he cherished above all others. Though her features were recognizable enough, they were altered. Kagome’s face was more angular, her cheek bones high and more defined, and her skin had become as alabaster as his own. She was beautiful, more so than before, even covered in drying blood as she was.

But her eyes. The dark brown he was accustomed to gazing into did not stare back at him. Instead, the whites of her eyes were bathed in crimson, her irises slivers of blue as Kagome gazed back at him without recognition, a feral glint nailing him where he stood, as if she wished to tear him apart. Even the new markings on her cheek bones were jagged, and her fangs were long when she bared them at him, her lips curled back in a soundless snarl. She was tense, crouched over so slightly, her knees bent in preparation to strike.

It was impossible to miss how she looked at him, as if he were the enemy and not the hanyou she stood so close to. What had happened to her?

“What have you done, vermin?” he demanded of Naraku, his voice laced with anger.

“Me? Do you not like the new and improved Kagome, Lord Sesshomaru? It was not just my influence that made her this way, or can you not see how she resembles you? Our dear Kagome has even transformed into one of your species, an inuyoukai.” Then he turned to Kagome and spoke sympathetically to her. “I fear he is displeased with you, little bird. Perhaps he needs a demonstration of your powers to appreciate your beauty.”

Kagome snarled in answer, swiping the air before her with sharp claws, her animalistic gaze never once leaving Sesshomaru.

Before he could deduce what exactly had happened or why she seemed to view him as the enemy, Kagome charged. Moving his sword between them, her claws rang loudly against the metal, sparks flying as she lashed out again and again, forcing him to deflect the deadly blows with Bakusaiga.

Was she in bloodlust? What other reason could explain her behavior and the crimson eyes staring back at him with malice? However, that did not explain how Naraku was able to control the beast that ruled her.

“Cease, Kagome.”

As if she hadn’t heard him, she lashed out with her leg, and he jumped back, dodging her attack, if barely. She was fast, and he had no doubt that her strength had increased tremendously.

“Miko!”

She roared at him. Ignoring his blade, she lunged for him with claws outstretched, intending to tear him to shreds if given the chance. Fearing hurting her, he sheathed his blade even as he jumped over her, summersaulting in the air, and landing almost soundlessly upon the ground. She was on him in a flash, and he grabbed her wrist when she tried to slash at his chest. His grip was brutal, but he did not try to break her bones. He couldn’t hurt her, never her.

“Listen to me,” he grated, trying to reach her with words.

No response other than a kick to his stomach. Kagome freed herself and bounded off his armor with an elegant backflip, landing in a crouch feet away from him. Her claws bit into the earth as she tensed for another charge. She seemed to care nothing for her safety, attacking him wildly, and without a defense. He could easily take her and strike her down. This was no warrior he fought, but a beast out for blood, an animal without conscious or reason. He knew she would continue to strike at him until she could no longer rise. Probably fight to the death.

Behind him, Naraku taunted him.

“Save your pretty words, Sesshomaru-sama. She cannot hear you, or have you not realized that yet?”

“Silence!” he commanded even as he stepped forward, meeting Kagome’s lunge, and punching her in the face, sending her careening to the side and to the ground.

Though he did not wish to hurt her, Sesshomaru had to stop her. Perhaps if he rendered her unconscious, she would wake later clearheaded. If not, at least it would give him time to figure out a way to banish her bloodlust. However, there was something different about her, more so than the obvious change to her species. A darkness permeated around her, demonic energy pulsing from her in waves. He could detect no pure light in her aura. Had the change completely wiped out her spiritual powers? But how was that possible if her purification was a part of her very being?

She came at him again, and he was forced to defend himself, blocking her wild attacks. It was then he felt it. The darkness surrounding her was not just that of a youkai, but the aura of a dark miko. Her spiritual light was tainted, twisted and corrupted. Was this a side effect of her transformation?

Her claws came at his face. Blood spilled down his cheek from shallow cuts. But they were already healing, the injury too small and insubstantial to actually hurt him. Dread filled his gut. He had done this. He’d been so consumed with changing her human nature that he hadn’t realized the consequences of his actions to her pure light. It all made sense to him now as he fought the woman he cared for, a woman he might even love.

Bokusenou had been correct. Once the youki within Kagome had been awakened, there was no stopping it from spreading like an infectious disease. A human could not possibly contain both spiritual and demonic energies without tearing the host apart. However, Bokusenou—even he—had been wrong as well. A demon could not possibly survive while holy powers ran rampant inside the host’s body without trying to purify itself. Demonic and spiritual energies would always be at odds. They could never coexist together inside one body.

Gazing at Kagome even as she continued to attack him, Sesshomaru understood with a sinking heart that a miko could not hope to stay pure when corrupted with a demon’s energy. But dark miko could, for their auras were more witch than priestess, their soul black and tainted. It was the perfect correlation to combine Kagome’s two auras without killing her. She was a demon with the added powers of a dark priestess.

A dark miko, he thought with sadness. He had done this to her. In his quest to make Kagome his, Sesshomaru had neglected to ponder what might happen to her pure light. He’d wanted a demon, and that’s exactly what he got. Kagome’s humanity was gone, her spiritual powers blackened.

Kagome jumped him, but right before she tackled him, Sesshomaru caught her, then threw her across the clearing, and watched her sail through the air, only to land gracefully on her feet.

I did this to you.

“Forgive me,” he murmured quietly. It was the first time he’d ever uttered such a phrase, let alone thought it, but seeing what his actions had wrought, he knew without a doubt that what he had done was wrong, that he’d committed a grievous crime against her.

If Kagome understood him, she gave no indication as she came at him again.

“Isn’t she magnificent, Sesshomaru-sama?” Naraku called over Kagome’s snarls. “Isn’t she everything you had hoped for?”

Never before had an enemy’s words struck home, and yet Naraku’s cut like knives.

Just then, a small vile tumbled from the folds of Kagome’s kimono. He knew what it was, the container she held her Jewel shards in, but it was empty. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes even as he danced around Kagome. There had been two shards within the vile, so where were they? Had Naraku taken them for himself or…

He caught Kagome to him, wrapping his arms around her to keep her close even as she clawed at him, tearing his flesh apart along his arms. Her back was to him, so for now, his head was safe from her vicious flaying. He sent his aura out and into her, searching, searching…

There!

The jewel’s taint. He’d felt it before. He knew not where they were bedded inside her, but there was no doubt that the black shards were somewhere inside her, controlling her bloodlust. That’s how Naraku was controlling her.

Kagome’s elbow cracked against his jaw, splitting his lip, blood sliding down his chin, the coppery taste on his tongue. His head jerked to the side with the violent blow, and he released her, jumping out of her way when she turned to slash him with her claws. Perhaps if he could find and extract the tainted shards, Kagome would awaken from her bloodlust. But how was he to find them? He did not have her powers of sight when concerning the shards, nor could he sense them like she could.

She was the Shikon no Miko. Or at least she had been before he had interfered in her life. What did that mean for the Jewel of Four Souls if its guardian was unable to purify its taint? He’d changed her species, taken her miko powers, and now it seemed he might just have stolen her duty to the Jewel. He’d taken everything from her. How foolish he had been, how arrogant. 

I would take it all back if I could, he silently told her, knowing speaking the words would do no good. Kagome was past understanding.

A warm, westerly wind brushed past Sesshomaru, rustling his garments as he stood facing off with the woman he had so wronged, vowing to save her, and hopefully make amends.

Kagome…

CLIFF NOTE #1:

Kagome’s reiki was corrupted into that of a dark miko. Why? It is impossible for reiki and youki to coexist inside a host. The reason why Kagome didn’t die on the spot when her youki (leaked from the Jewel) began growing was because, one, her body was human, and two, it continued to lay dormant inside her when not in use.

Why her new demonic body cannot have reiki ‘dormant’ inside her is because her body is that of a demons, so her reiki would aromatically lash out and kill her.

A dark miko’s powers are different from reiki. It is corrupt, dark, and not pure light/energy. It’s more like power, another energy source that differs from youki.

Example: A witch’s power. It’s neither youki or reiki. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Awww My heart goes out to Sesshomaru when he broke down emotionally after realizing what he had done to Kagome. He had not only changed her species, he STOLE her miko powers/reiki. He took everything from her.