A Cage of Flowers by Reverent Moonlight

A Cage of Flowers

Kagome walked the winding path towards the garden of herbs just outside the village. Her large woven basket bumping against her hip.

A cool breeze teased along her face, a gentle reprieve from the heat slowly losing strength as summer gave way to fall.

Another change. Though fully expected, it was still unwelcoming.

It was fitting, she supposed. It would match the feelings she had been desperately trying to hide.

Sighing heavily, she climbed the hill and looked upon the garden. A careful eye had her looking at all that was still left. Noting some would need a few more days, she hoped they would be ready before the first frost.

Bending down, uncaring of the state of her kimono, she got to work - her mind focused fully on her task rather than drifting off to other -

A pulse of youki garnered her attention, and she nearly groaned.

Not yet. Not now.

The aura grew closer, and if she hadn't known it was too late to run, she would have abandoned everything and took off into the forest, cowardly as it was.

She wasn't ready - would probably never be.

The sound of boots intentionally grazing the ground behind her just as her aura snapped in tight had her taking a deep breath, plastering a friendly smile on her face.

Whipping around, the forceful mask in place, she greeted her - guest - with a bow.

"Sesshomaru-sama. Here to see Rin?"

She ignored the painful squeeze in her chest, the way her breath felt like shards of ice attempting to work its way into her lungs, her throat.

"Indeed."

He stood there, the soft breeze playing with the ends of silk spun hair. He looked the same though something was different - she was different. The pure white of his kimono was unblemished as always, armor perfectly in place, black boots polished and shining as though they had never once touched the dirt.

Blue eyes drifted to his face and nearly flinched. His mask was flawlessly in place. Eyes calculating and observant as always bore into Kagome from where she still knelt on the ground.

No. Not her.

She squirmed as his eyes raked over the kimono she wore, the kimono he had gifted her.

The silence stretched too far, the unspoken words and uncertainty and utter soul-wrenching agony too much for her heart to take any longer.

"Well - I suppose I'll leave you to your visit."

She rose clumsily, feet staggering from her numb legs. Dusting off her hands, she fought the urge to glance at him from the corner of her eye, the urge to get one last look.

Bidding him goodbye with a minute wave and a smile that surely looked more like a grimace, she took off at a fast pace towards the woods.

She knew she was running - knew he knew she was escaping, but she didn't care.

Tears clung to her lashes as she attempted to keep the last bit of dignity she had left. She refused to cry in front of him, refused to let him see just how thoroughly he had destroyed her even as she fought against the pain in her chest - proving how much she still loved him.

xXx

Sesshomaru watched as she walked away, hands fisted so tightly in his sleeves he could feel the blood dripping down his arms.

He regretted having to end things - loathed it.

Ever since the Miko had returned seven years prior, he found himself entranced with her.

She had taken an active role in Rin's life and studies and thus had made herself an active role in his.

He had found himself drawn to her intelligence, but more than that, it was the woman she had become. The bold, stubborn, hard-headed girl still existed but had been refined - smoothing out into the tale-tell signs of maturity that seemed to cloak her in grace and respectability.

Her power had grown as well. When a dark miko had attacked the village a year after her return, she had engulfed the entirety of the village and Inuyasha's Forest in her reiki. He had not known that her reiki could purify those that were not of youkai blood.

It had been eye-opening - and arousing.

No longer had he seen to labeling her as Inuyasha's, but as unclaimed. Not that he would have seen to define her as the former regardless.

The pup couldn't decide when she returned if he wanted the miko in the first place or if he would rather wallow in depression over the loss of his first lover.

So, with nothing in his way, he set out to win her, to have her, to claim her.

And he did - nearly.

I can't imagine being a ruler. It just seems like a luxurious cage.

Instincts rattled, and he turned away with a growl slipping between his lips.

xXx

She stood at the riverbank, a quiet cough leaving her lips as she washed her and Sango's clothing.

She had offered to help, but Kagome had just waved her off, telling her she could handle it and to enjoy the small break while Miroku had the kids.

An appreciative smile had hit her lips as she had thanked her before handing her the basket and turning back.

Kagome grinned. She wouldn't ever admit it, but she bet sometimes she had less trouble being an exterminator than a housewife. Though Sango claimed it wasn't much different.

Rising to walk over to the line to hang the clothes to dry, she shook them out, flinging the excess water still left from when she had wrung them out in her hands.

A catch in her chest had her stopping before body-wracking coughs started assaulting her. She bent, hand at her chest while the other kept hold of the damp laundry. Tears stung her eyes, and her lungs burned as she tried to get a full breath.

A gentle hand on her back and muttered "what the fuck" caught her attention, and she peered her eyes open to see Inuyasha looking at her with worried eyes.

She opened her mouth to tell him not to worry, that she was fine when something hit her tongue.

She reached a hand up and grasped onto the foreign object, the smooth velvety texture causing her brows to crease.

At the sight of the flower petal situated between her finger and thumb, Inuyasha and his concern were forgotten. Blood drained from her face as she was faced with the harsh reality of what was coming - what was already here.

"The hell is that?"

Lashes fluttered as she looked at him. His face was drawn up in confusion, brows lowered as he tried to understand why the hell there were flower petals in her mouth when the flowers had died out weeks ago.

"Nothing. Just probably blew in when I was hacking my lung up. Don't worry."

"Keh, you need to go see the hag. I don't wanna be dragging your sick hide around when you pass out cause you were too stubborn to take some damn herbs. It's either that or I give you that stuff I made you before - "

"Nope! I'm going, see?" She turned and began walking towards the village.

Not that it would help, but if it put off Inuyasha giving her that mix of youkai parts then so be it.

xXx

Kaede frowned as she mixed up another mixture of herbs, trying to find a new combination that would ease the wet, chest-rattling coughs plaguing her body.

It had been three weeks since Inuyasha had forced her to go see the older woman, and in that time, nothing had helped. Unsurprising to her, frustratingly to Inuyasha, and concerning to everyone else.

They all sat in the hut hunched together like old times - though there was the addition of Sango and Miroku's children playing near the doorway with Shippou.

Kagome sighed, the sound causing what she knew to be blood to gurgle in her weakening lungs.

"Kaede, please stop."

The woman turned. Her one visible eye widened as she looked at the girl.

"Kagome..." Sango started.

"No, Sango. I... need to tell you something. All of you."

xXx

A month later, Sesshomaru arrived in the village once again for his weekly visits with Rin.

He had not seen Kagome since the first time he had shown up after their separation. She was avoiding him just as he was avoiding her.

It still ripped and clawed at his chest, but he was steadfast in his decision.

She did not want the life of a ruler - did not want to be caged.

And she should not be.

She was vibrant and passionate - warmth and light.

Caging her, keeping her at his side, would ruin her in the long-term view of things, and he would not be the cause of her demise. The thought of her spirit dimming behind the walls of his shiro sent a pain spearing through his body. The intensity stronger than the one that had yet to cease since the day he had driven her away.

Inuyasha met him at the village outskirts. Arms crossed and eyes sending so much hate and loathing, he rose a brow in surprise as he landed, boots crunching softly beneath the snow.

"I'm gonna talk, and you're gonna listen."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, causing Inuyasha to bear his fangs.

"You're gonna do one of two things. Either you are gonna turn around and leave and never come back, or you can take your brat and get the fuck out and then never come back."

A growl began working its way up his chest.

"You think to bar me from the village? From my ward?"

"Ya damn right I do. What you did was fucking shitty. So, you want to keep seeing Rin, take her then, but you ain't stepping a foot back in that village."

"You have no right -"

"I have every right!"

Sesshomaru blinked slowly at the roar that came from his brother.

"You have destroyed her, brother. So fucking bad that no one will be able to put her back together, and I'll be damned if I let you walk in there and watch as she crumbles into ashes."

Inuyasha's breaths came in ragged pants that spoke of the anger he was holding back - a first.

"I warned you. I told you exactly what not to do. I told you if you weren't sure, or if you had no fucking plans to let it go anywhere, to leave her the fuck alone."

Sesshomaru clenched his teeth and fought against the barrage of pain gripping his chest and throat in an attempt to choke the life out of him.

"You do not understand - "

"You don't understand, bastard! She's dying!"

That made him start. His eyes blew wide, and his breath halted in his chest.

The miko - Kagome... was dying?

Red began bleeding into his eyes, fangs lengthening to deadly points as acidic saliva started dripping down his chin to his kimono, utterly destroying his clothing as it dripped to the ground.

"Yeah, I see you're getting it now. Technically, it isn't your fault as she likes to point out. Fucking stubborn wench."

"Take me to her. Now."

Inuyasha regarded him for a moment. Ears swiveling on top of his head. Sesshomaru was about to pounce and rip them off along with the rest of his appendages when the hanyou nodded.

"Fine, but understand, bastard, I'm only doing this so you can see what we have. I don't think you should get out fucking free of the responsibility while we, the ones who love her, have to watch her whither."

Sesshomaru watched as his brother turned and began walking to the village, his booted feet following mechanically.

"Just warning you," he said over his shoulder, voice taking on an edge of seriousness that had his spine straightening, "it ain't a pretty sight."

xXx

The stillness of the village would have been eerie if he had been anyone else. The silence floated around the village like a specter. The only sign of life coming from the huts were the quiet sounds of flames licking at bundles of wood and the faint beating of hearts that echoed from within.

One hut, in particular, stood out vividly in all of its oddity, and the creeping tendrils in his mind recognized that was where his brother was leading him.

Inuyasha had told him, but he had not thought -

Vines and flowers poured from the hut. He could see them creeping and slithering as though alive - pulsing in tandem with the irregular heartbeat that came from within.

A cage of flowers.

It almost looked as though there was blood pumping inside the near translucent vegetation.

Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha's body seemed to deflate with each step they took. The heaviness of the atmosphere seemed to visibly press down on his form.

When they reached the door, the scent of death in the air had him hesitating. Fear clawing up his throat for the first time that he could remember.

Inuyasha turned to him. If he scented the panic in his scent, he didn't allude to it, simply gestured with his head to the hut.

"She's in there."

Sesshomaru gave the barest nod of his head. Reaching a clawed hand out, he opened the door and stepped inside.

xXx

Blue eyes slid open, consciousness prodding her awake. She would have groaned if she could.

For the first time ever, she wished she was dead. Not in a suicidal type of way, but for the reprieve death would bring her from this torture.

About a year after she had returned to the feudal era, a dark miko showed up at the village.

Tsubaki's sister apparently.

The dark miko was determined to destroy the village and her friends because Kagome had killed her sibling.

So, they fought.

Reiki pulsed and flashed and speared across the clearing, and eventually, in a monstrous display of power, Kagome won - though she had not escaped completely unscathed.

Just like her sister before her, the other miko was well versed in curses and sought to deliver one of her own.

It wasn't as fast-acting as the one Tsubaki had placed on her, but still effective.

Should she fall in love and the one who was the object of her love not return it, she would die - slowly.

Kagome knew when she accepted Sesshomaru's offer to court she would be risking more than her heart and her feelings, but she couldn't help thinking they were well placed.

How wrong that had been.

Yet, even as she sat there, vines curling out of her throat, her nose, her ears - she could not find it in her to regret it.

He was a male of quiet affection, though when alone, he burned with such passion and intensity it had left her aching and yearning for more.

The only regret she had was not asking him why.

When he had come to the village one afternoon, she had smiled and waved and rushed over to greet him only for him to sidestep her. Golden eyes were blank and completely at odds with the male she had come to know.

She had asked if he was okay - if there was something wrong.

I wish to call an end to our courtship.

Still to this day, her heart ached at the coldness he had issued those words. So blindsided and numbed by the pure shock she had just given in and then promptly fled.

Tears had stung and burned her eyes as she tripped and stumbled her way to the forest, uncaring of who saw or said anything.

She had made her way to an empty clearing and collapsed to her knees. Her heart pouring from her eyes as she screamed her ache into the ground.

Inuyasha found her later - worry and concern and anger snapping from his aura. 

It had taken her a few hours to convince him not to go after Sesshomaru, and even longer for him to be dissuaded from doing anything at all.

Then she got sick, and it came back in full force.

She had to beg him not to blame Sesshomaru. It wasn't his fault he had decided they weren't suited for whatever purpose. It most definitely wasn't his fault she had been cursed.

The sound of the door creaking open had her eyes canting to the side, her gaze widening as she viewed who stood before her.

Sesshomaru looked down upon her form, his own eyes blown wide at her condition.

She watched as he froze, his whole body becoming as still as marble as he took in what had been happening to her since that day.

If she had felt like herself, she would have been pissed at Inuyasha for letting him in. She had told them all she didn't want him to know, didn't want him feeling like it was his responsibility.

A tear leaked from her eye, so she squeezed them shut. Not wanting to see the way he gazed at her.

A clawed finger grazed her cheek, catching the traveling liquid as he leaned down.

"Look at me, miko."

Kagome gave the barest shake of her head, the vines jerking at her lungs at the minute movement and causing her to hack. She could feel them stretching and pulling her blood and life to feed their own, and she gagged as they grew. She could feel the new blood leaking from the corners of her mouth and nose.

"Kagome."

A small whimper escaped her lips, and she cursed the tears leaking steadily from her eyes.

She wanted him to leave. He shouldn't see her this way.

"Please."

The guttural sound that came from between his lips had her answering almost immediately.

He sounded as though he was in pain.

Blue eyes snapped open, and she immediately wished she could close them back, but the scene before her held rapt attention against her will.

This was the male she had fallen in love with.

His mask was gone, eyes vibrant and full of such deep, welling emotion it would have brought her to her knees if she could stand.

His lips were tipped in a frown, brows creased. Kagome couldn't help the way her hand rose to smooth the lines and shuddered at the way he leaned into her touch.

"Foolish female. Did you really think you could inspire anyone to cease caring for you?"

A shuddered sigh escaped his lips before he bent his head and grazed his nose along her cheek.

"I should kill Inuyasha. If he had not placed the skepticism you have on your own self-worth, this would have never occurred. You would have seen through my attempts to distance you, would have demanded answers that I would have eventually given into due to my inability to deny you anything, or... you would have done as I had hoped and feared and moved on."

His lips grazed her forehead, and she closed her eyes against the gentle hope welling inside of her.

"I had thought to save you from a luxurious cage, and then you dared to place yourself into a cage of flowers. I suppose it is my punishment for my lack of communication."

Recognition of his purposeful words bloomed in her eyes.

He had his own doubts and insecurities that she hadn't seen.

"I am not perfect, Miko, despite my given name. I am a beast bred for war and conquest," he paused, and she could swear she felt the hold the vines had on her weakened lungs loosening, "yet, I find the only thing I wish is to have you remain by my side, my home, my bed."

Kagome closed her eyes as Sesshomaru gently lowered his forehead to her own. A clawed hand had risen to sink into the hair on the side of her head, and she noted the slight tremble in the appendage, causing her chest to squeeze.

Though this time in relief.

She barely heard his whispered confession before blood started pouring from her mouth with every heaving cough that escaped her.

xXx

Sesshomaru pulled back sharply.

The sight of Kagome's body lurching had him near whimpering and growling all at the same time.

The scent of her blood threatening to drive him mad as it leaked rapidly from her mouth, nose, and ears.

The wretched sound of her lungs trying to obtain air grew in intensity, her head leaning to the side as she started curling into herself.

His hand shot out to grasp the back of her head, her blue eyes hidden from view as she fought to expel the vines clinging to her like a parasite.

The vines shook and stretched, the scent of dark magic that had clung to them seemingly fading with each violent cough she released.

Inuyasha barged through the doorway, eyes wide at the scene before him. Their eyes met as the wood holding the hut together began groaning as the vines slithered and coiled around anything it could hold on to.

Sesshomaru debated for a moment the possibility of moving her, the unknown possibility of it causing her more pain giving him pause.

Suddenly her reiki began filtering through the room, pink tendrils of her aura snaking their way along with the vines and deteriorating them into nothing even as they fought and thrashed and ripped at the hut - she still persevered.

In what felt like an eternity, but was in truth only mere seconds, all the vines had been reduced to ash, Kagome's heavy breathing the only sound in the room as she was finally able to take in the much-needed air her body had been screaming for.

"Kagome," Inuyasha asked hesitantly.

"I - I'm fine," she rasped.

Sesshomaru remained to kneel next to her, silently begging her to face him.

Finally, she lifted her head, blue eyes glancing around dazedly before settling on his.

He looked her over, noting the paleness of skin, the rasp in her breath, but what caught his attention the most was the hesitant, hope-filled gaze as she raked her eyes across his form.

Sesshomaru remained still, allowing her to come to her own decisions and conclusions.

Slowly, a trembling hand rose to his face. Each point where her fingertips touched sent sparks rushing through his system like a live wire that jump-started his whole being. His eyes drifted closed, and he breathed deep, ignoring the way the lingering scent of death clung to her as he relished her nearness after being so long without it.

He had been a fool.

"Please," she whispered. "Please don't ever make decisions like that - about us - again. I - I get why you did it, but please - "

He cut her off by gathering her into his arms as he pressed his lips to hers. Inuyasha's huff was audible in his ears. As well as the fact the hanyou was walking out of the hut.

He reveled in the utterly intoxicating feeling of her - her reciprocation. Her lips parted, and he took the invitation to slide his tongue along her own. The taste of her blood quickly cooled his own, and he began gentling the pace - slowing until his lips were nothing but a ghost of a whisper against her own, he leaned his head against hers.

"Words alone cannot express my regret. I had thought - I was wrong."

A huff that could have been a laugh escaped her, "you admit to being wrong about something? I guess you really do love me."

"Hn. Undoubtedly."

His arms situated so that he was cradling her and rose from the floor. Covering her with his mokomoko to protect her from the chill, Sesshomaru made his way to the door. He wanted her out of the evidence of how thoroughly he had nearly ruined everything, how he had nearly lost her - permanently.

"I love you too, you know."

His nose drifted to her hair.

"I know, miko."