OtherWorld 01
Chapter 18: Raizen's Request
It had been a very eventful week since the Princess' return with her fifth male. Tasuki was welcomed by all and Bakura was asked to find out about his Demon father. He suggested that they ask Raizen. The ruler of the Northern Lands would be visiting the Castle in two days and he might know something since Suzaku bordered his lands.
Princess Aara was very happy that she had done this last binding so well. Tasuki was very content because of it. She had finally learned how to bind! She only wished the other bindings had gone as well. Youko Kurama had been bound in heat and it had taken her years to be able to touch him without setting off a terrible need for her. Hiei had been bound in love, that was true, but she forgot to bind him to Kurama and had to rebind him after a jealous quarrel started between them a few days after. Before Tasuki, InuYasha's binding had gone the best. She remembered everything with his binding. Bankotsu's was a disaster and it had taken a total rebinding on her part to fix things. And he still felt the aftereffects which took the form of terrible nightmares. But Tasuki's had gone perfectly. She had bound him with a loving emotional touch and had bound the others to him so well that they all treated him as a brother immediately.
Three more visitors arrived when Miroku, Sango and Shippo came to the castle. They were usually helping Kagome and InuYasha with the search for the crystal shards, but with Kagome pregnant and InuYasha in the Human World helping Kenshin pack, the mages had asked Miroku to come to the Castle.
They wanted to look at his air void. It was a powerful weapon and they wanted to keep it. If they could break the curse of growing larger each year until it swallowed Miroku himself, Miroku would become a valuable Protector. Kaiba wanted to see it from a healing standpoint -- stopping its growth -- while Bakura wanted to make sure that they didn't lose the air void while trying to heal it.
Sango came along because she had never seen the Castle or the Princess and also because she liked being with Miroku. She had no idea whether Miroku felt the same. He was always flirting with every pretty girl that came his way. And always asking them to have his child! And Shippo wanted more than anything to meet the great Fox Demon of legend, Youko Kurama.
Sango and Shippo shared a room, although Shippo was male, he was only a child and usually slept in the same room as Kagome and Sango. Miroku was given his own room, but it was just down the hall from theirs. They were not used to the luxury of the Castle and, as it always did, the indoor plumbing awed them and everyone immediately took a long hot bath. Shippo got to meet Kurama at dinner, and although he tried to hide it, he was disappointed that Kurama was now human and not the tall, beautiful silver fox Shippo had heard so much about.
After dinner, while they were sitting in the cool gardens, Kurama changed to his Youko form just for Shippo. The whole garden crackled with energy and suddenly five foot ten Kurama became the six foot five Youko, long silver hair and tail gleaming in the moonlight and golden eyes reflecting the torch lights. Shippo was terrified and in awe at the same time. Youko went to a large magnolia tree in the center of the garden and touched it. Suddenly the entire tree was covered in beautiful fragrant blooms.
Shippo stood there in amazement. All his dreams of meeting the great Fox Demon had been fulfilled and he would never forget this moment.
Kurama returned to his human form shortly after; it was very taxing for him to remain in Demon form for any length of time. Shippo never left his side for the rest of the evening, sitting quietly at his feet, gazing up at Kurama in adoration and wishing that he were also a full-fledged Fox Demon, not just a Lesser Fox born in Otherworld.
Miroku was usually with the mages during the day, and Sango found herself just wandering around. By accident she ran into Serafin and soon became friends with her. She listened to her incredible story of how she was kidnapped by Hiten, the terrible Thunder Demon, and now was his mate and future mother of his child. Sango, who was Demon exterminator before she joined InuYasha's group, felt very strange surrounded by Demons here in the castle. All of them were very nice and she soon realized the difference was that these were higher class Demons. Demons ran from lower to high class. The terrors that she had faced were usually low-classed Demons. All the Demons in the Castle were high Demons, much more human looking and a lot nicer. Kurama reminded her that not all high Demons were nice -- Naraku was a high Demon and he was trying his best to kill them all. Raizen, who was arriving tomorrow, was very deadly, a fierce Battle Demon, but through the alliance with Otherworld was on friendly terms now, but it had not always been so.
When Raizen arrived, everyone came out to see the legendary Battle Demon. Few had ever met him and even the Princess had never met him in person. He was tall and muscular, but lean rather than heavy. He had wild long white hair and Demon markings on his face and body. He wore only breeches and boots, leaving his torso bare. He was spectacular! Raizen did not have the almost feminine beauty that many high class Demons had. He was definitely all male.
With him was one of his sons, Jin, the Wind Demon, whom Kurama and Hiei had meet during the Dark Tournament. Jin had inherited her powers, rather than his father's. Battle Demons were very rare and very seldom did their children inherit their powers.
The Princess wondered what Raizen could possibly want from her? She soon found out. After finalizing the alliance with Tasuki as liaison for Suzaku, Raizen came right to the point. He was not one for small talk. He asked her to bring Yusuke to Otherworld, and once he was here, to let him know that he was Raizen's son. Yusuke Urameshi, the Spirit World detective, who thought he was human, was a Hanyou, a half Demon and Raizen's only human son. Yusuke was very important to him. He was only one of his children who had inherited his Battle Demon powers and therefore was his heir. Raizen was afraid to approach him and lose his son forever. So he asked the Princess to tell him, using her powers. He would leave Jin with her and when Yusuke was ready, Jin would take him to meet his father.
The Princess readily agreed to help Raizen. She would contact Koenma, the Spirit World heir and who was also in charge of the Spirit Detectives, and ask him to send Yusuke to her. Raizen was grateful to her and promised his undying allegiance to her. She then told him about Tasuki's father and asked him if he could think of what type of a Demon he was.
Raizen was surprised, for he had realized immediately what Tasuki was, "I didn't realize you didn't know. In the mountains on the border near the Four Gods World, there is a type of cat -- no, what do they call them in the Human World? -- oh, I remember, bobcat. The Demon form is larger and fiercer than the Human World form, but it looks about the same. When the Demon is high class and takes a human form, it looks just like what you described in your tale, Princess. Tasuki looks like a short haired version. I tell the clan leader, Tekken, about Tasuki and perhaps he can find out who his father is. I will let you if I find out anything."
A bobcat! Tasuki was elated. If he had to be part Demon, at least it was a good Demon to be. He had heard about bat Demons, snake Demons, spider Demons, centipede Demons and he was worried about what his Demon half might be. He asked Raizen about the Demon bobcat's powers and found that they were similar to Kouga's and InuYasha's -- claws and strength. He had neither. Raizen asked him if he had any powers, and he replied that he had the power of fire but that was from being a celestial warrior. They ended with Raizen promising to talk to Tekken.
The next morning, Kurama went to the new dojo and pulled out a little bag of seeds which he had brought for this purpose. In the center of the dojo yard, he planted a cherry seed and then used his power. It grew to a full size tree, spreading it branches and bloomed, filling the air with the scent of cherry blossoms. He walked along the porch, spreading seeds as he went, which instantly grew into flowering plants. Climbing roses went up the support poles and across the roof. In the far corner of the yard, against the dojo wall, he planted a vegetable garden and the vegetables ripen at his touch. At the dojo gate, he planted two wisterias and they climbed over the archway, dropping their lavender blooms. He planted morning glories along the dojo wall, and purple blossoms sprang into being. What had been a bare dojo suddenly became a paradise. Kagome watched all of this in amazement. Kurama went to her, a small smile on his face.
"I have a few seeds left." he said. Kagome nearly jumped for joy and hurried him back to her home. He planted climbing roses near the entrance of her porch and a wisteria on the trellis at the end of it. He checked out the plants she had received from the Southern Clan and "fixed" some with his power. He then spread the rest of his seeds under the tree that Hiten had slept under his first night. A blanket of flowers sprang into life. Kagome ran to him and hugged him tight. His was the best power!
The next day, the wagons arrived with the new residents. Kurama and Kagome were waiting for them at the dojo gate, and Kaoru burst into tears when she saw how beautiful her new home was. She hugged Kurama gratefully. InuYasha placed the carved bench in the shade of the cherry tree. With the help of Wolf Demons, the unpacking went very quickly. Kaoru carefully unwrapped one special item -- the glass bell wind chime that had hung on the old dojo porch since Kenshin arrived there. InuYasha helped her hang it, simply by leaping on the roof and hanging it from that angle. Soon villagers arrived, bearing food and other gifts.
It wasn't until late evening when they finally had a chance to rest and take it all in. Kenshin and Kaoru sat on the bench, his arm around her shoulders. He was at peace. Kaoru lifted her face to him and kissed him gently. She couldn't imagine being happier.
A little while later, Kagome and Kouga came out of the dojo carrying containers of food, all from the generosity of their neighbors. Sanosuke and Katsu carried plates and utensils, sake and cups. They all sat on the ground and had a wonderful late dinner. Kouga and Kenshin were talking together about how Kenshin could help in the protection of the Village. Kouga explained that his wolves kept guard and if anything happened, one of them would run to tell him. When he wasn't in the Village, he would have the wolves get Kenshin instead.
Kaoru and Kagome talked about the coming baby. Kaoru was amazed that Kagome would more than likely have a child with fangs and claws and that she was so calm about it. Demons were the things of fairy tales and legends to her and to actually know someone who was mated to a Demon and having his child was incredible.
Sanosuke and Katsu said their goodnights, tired after a long day. Kenshin sat down next to Kaoru and Kouga laid down with his head in his mate's lap. The baby's scent was all around him, stronger than ever. He took a deep breath. His son - his daughter! Wait! He suddenly sat up, almost knocking Kagome over. Sitting next to Kagome was Kaoru. To everyone's surprise, he suddenly moved to Kaoru and sniffed her deeply. Kagome bopped him on the head, "How rude!"
"No, no!" he exclaimed, rubbing his head. "She's pregnant. I was getting both scents."
"Who's pregnant?" asked Kenshin, suddenly concerned. It was his wife that Kouga had been sniffing.
"Kaoru." Kouga replied, as tactful as ever. "I can smell your daughter."
"Daughter?"
"Yes. Female." His tact earning him another cuff on the head. "Ow!"
Kaoru burst into tears. She was pregnant? With Kenshin's child? Kenshin slipped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. A few minutes ago, she thought she could never be happier and now she was so happy she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time! She looked up into Kenshin's eyes and saw the joy in them.
Kagome and Kouga left soon after, leaving the happy couple alone under the blossoming cherry tree. Kagome admonished Kouga again as they walked home. "Learn to be more tactful! You just don't go sniffing women like that!" But she wasn't really angry and he nuzzled her cheek, reaching for a kiss. "Bad wolf!" she laughed just before his lips silenced her.
InuYasha had left the group at nightfall, before the dinner had started. He was in his usual tree. Tomorrow he would return to the Princess. He missed her, especially seeing everyone else was paired up around him all day. Now that Kagome was pregnant and Kouga would not let her traipse across Otherworld looking for shards, he could spend more time at the Castle. He sighed. If he left very early tomorrow morning, he could be in her arms by tomorrow night. He traveled so fast, bounding along the tree tops, that he always made the two-day trip in half the time. He settled against the bole of the tree, and soon was fast asleep.
Later that night, Kagome was in bed, lying on Kouga's shoulder while he drifted to sleep.
"Is the baby aware of us yet? Does he sense us like you sense him?" she asked.
"No, he's too young. You are only three weeks pregnant." he replied sleepily.
"I wonder why InuYasha left so early."
Kouga sighed, when he was sleepy and Kagome wasn't, she tended to ask him questions. "I think the fact that we were all pairs except for him got to him a little. He probably misses the Princess."
"He is really attached to her, isn't he? I think more than the others are."
"That's because she took him when he was so young."
"Young?" Kagome asked, "How old is he?"
"Ummm. He has been bound for 25 years and he was 17, so he's 42. That is very young for a Demon or a Hanyou."
She pondered that for a moment, then changed the subject, "Our son needs a name. It's the custom in Otherworld to combine the parents' names, isn't it"?
"Ummm," he really wanted to go to sleep!
"Well, I thought of one. Kome. Ko-me. It combines the first of your name and the last of mine." she looked at her mate. His eyes were closed, his breathing regular. He was falling to sleep. She gently brushed back the bangs from his forehead, and he opened his eyes. Those wonderful strange blue eyes.
"I was just thinking how much I love you." she said to him.
He smiled and pressed closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. "I like the name Kome." he murmured and then with a soft sigh of contentment, he drifted to sleep.
[Author's Note: Kome is pronounced "Co-May"]