Otherworld - 13 - The Homecoming



Chapter 13 - The Homecoming

Otherworld, Present Time "He is coming home!" the Princess said as she looked out of Kaiba's tower. Today Kurama would go through the portal, and in three days time she would be holding him safely in her arms. "You won't be able to see him for another three days even from here," Kaiba said smiling as he watched her staring out of the narrow window. "I know, but at least I know he's getting closer." There was a small knock on the door and Kaiba answered it. A servant stood there, a young boy, trembling because he was in front of one of the great mages. "I have a message for the Princess," he said, not daring to look up at Kaiba. "There is an emissary at the gate. He says he is from The Four Gods World. From Suzaku." "Thank you. Have him shown to the study and I will come down shortly." "From Suzaku?" said Kaiba after the boy had scurried away, "They have never shown any interest in Otherworld before, and we have never been inside their borders. I wonder what they want." "Perhaps you should go with me when I speak to him." "No, take Bakura. He will intimidate much better than I will." Kaiba said with a smile. Bakura joined her shortly and together they went to the study. "Let's see what Suzaku wants with Otherworld." she said to him as they entered the study.
	The emissary was a young man, very handsome, with dark teal colored hair, which he wore in a long thin braid down his back, and large violet eyes. He looked up when they approached and if Bakura's look startled him he hid it well, bowing to the Princess. "I am Tamahome of Suzaku, speaking on behalf of our emperor, Hotohori. The Emperor would like to form an alliance with Otherworld. He begs that you travel to the city of Heika which is on the border between our lands to a meeting 11 days from today." He reached out his hand towards her, "You may use your power on me so that you may know that no harm is planned. And you may bring as many guards as you wish," nodding to Bakura, "Including the powerful Demon mage who stands besides you. We know of Bakura's power and we also know that you rarely travel without him." "Why does Suzaku want an alliance with Otherworld after all this time?" she asked. "I am not at liberty to say more than I have. The Emperor will explain everything at the meeting."
She touched his offered hand, looking into his eyes as she did. She noticed that on his forehead was a red rune. He was telling the truth about the meeting. There was no malice in the young man, but he knew more than he was saying. He knew the reason behind the request, but was pledged to silence. "We will leave in seven days. Until then you are a guest in my home." The Princess had Tamahome escorted to rooms and Bakura also took his leave. The meeting would be ten days from tomorrow. It would take her four days to get to Heika since she had to travel through the Northern Mountains. Kurama would arrive in two days. That would leave her only four days to be with him.

Three Days Later
It was late afternoon when the group arrived at the castle. A multitude of servants took their carry-alls and led them to wonderful, luxurious rooms. Kurama and InuYasha went to their own rooms. Sanosuke and Katsu were given a room together, which caused Sanosuke to raise an eyebrow. How did they know? Kenshin and Kaoru had their own rooms, but they were next to each other. Miss Megume was down the hall from Sanosuke. They were shown how to use the indoor plumbing and the first thing everyone did was take a hot bath. Kenshin was amazed. Hot water appearing at the turn of a handle. It was wonderful! At dusk, servants brought them all to the dining hall where the Princess was waiting. Kenshin was stunned by her. She was so beautiful! She was taller than he was, but not as tall as Sanosuke. They nodded greetings to Bankotsu, InuYasha, Hiei and a newly healed Kurama, and also to Kagome and Kouga.

	As they were being seated, the air suddenly grew heavy and thick with a feeling of power and energy. The two mages walked into the room. They were both young men, tall and slender. One of them looked very human, with long dark purple hair and intense blue eyes. He was Kaiba, the Otherworld-born mage -- the healer. The other's appearance was terrifying -- Bakura, the Demon mage. He had blue skin and wild, long black hair. His face had black Demon markings, but it was his eyes that were the most terrifying. His corneas were not white like humans, but deep yellow and his irises and pupils were blood red.

They nodded to the Princess who introduced them to everyone. Kaiba was seated next to Miss Megume, who immediately plied him with a thousand questions. He good naturedly listened to them and answered what he could. Bakura sat quietly between Hiei and Kenshin. As the evening progressed, Kenshin realized that the young mage was embarrassed by his looks and was extremely shy. Bakura would have been much happier left alone in his tower or covered by his black hood and cloak, but the Princess would allow neither. He had been feared since the day of his birth, when his own mother cried out in terror when saw her son. The Princess was the only one who had never shown any fear of him. Her powers allowed her to see the man inside and she saw his good heart. She refused to let him be a hermit in his tower and dragged him to most events. When she went out of the Castle, he usually went with her, not only because he could protect her from nearly every danger, but also because she insisted that he see the world around him.
	Bakura, for his part, had fallen hopelessly in love with the Princess. He almost wished that he had let her bind him just to become one of her males, but never would say anything about that to her. He felt he was far more effective unbound using his power to help and protect her and her lands. She needed him in that role, so he loved her silently.

Kaiba glanced at his fellow mage, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew that Bakura thought his love for the Princess a deep secret from everyone but the Princess herself. Since the Princess was an empath, there was no way he could keep his feelings a secret from her. When the meal ended, the group went to the library to talk. Kaiba found himself standing next to Kouga and Kagome. He accidentally touched Kagome on her arm and then suddenly put his hand on her stomach. Kagome jumped in surprise and Kouga began to growl. Kaiba's touch lasted only a moment, then he bent to her and whispered in her ear. She suddenly burst into tears. Kouga was now ready to kill him, mage or no mage. What had he done to her??? Kagome grabbed his arm before he could leap on Kaiba and pulled him to her, hugging him tight, whispering in his ear, "We going to have a baby!!" Kouga looked at her and then hugged her even tighter. Soon the whole room was congratulating them. Their stay at Kaoru's dojo had done the trick. Kaiba, the healer mage, had felt her pregnancy the second he touched her. He had touched her stomach only to be absolutely sure.

After everyone had gone to bed, the Princess made her rounds, checking each of them. Kurama was already asleep, worn out from the long day. Even though Kaiba had healed his wounds, his strength had not returned yet. She tucked him in and kissed his forehead. "Welcome home, my Love," she whispered.

	Hiei was just starting to get undressed. She went to him, running her hands over his well-defined muscles. "I will come back to you. InuYasha has been apart from me for a while now." "I will be waiting," he said, smiling at the promise. He preferred being second, because that meant that she would stay the rest of the night with him and he loved sleeping in her arms. Bankotsu was already asleep. She made sure the covers were tucked around him and then went to InuYasha's room.

The Dog Demon was sitting on the bed waiting. She had promised him earlier that she would come to him first. She picked up a brush from the dresser and sat next to him on the bed, brushing his long white hair. "You are so beautiful, InuYasha. White hair, fair skin and golden eyes." He blushed, and she hugged him. "And you have no idea how fair you are, do you?" "Sesshomaru is beautiful. Kurama is beautiful. Bankotsu is handsome. Hiei is cute." he counted them off. "And InuYasha is also beautiful." She put down the brush, stood up to help him pull off his nightshirt, then removed her own robe and slid into the soft bed. She held out her arms to her beloved Dog Demon.

Afterwards, InuYasha settled contently at her breast. She was gently rubbing his ears and between the two sensations, he was drifting contently to sleep. "So Kagome and Kouga are going to have a baby." she said to herself. She was watching him, his mouth working at her nipple, when a thought occurred to her. InuYasha had razor sharp fangs yet he never hurt her at all. "Your mother was human." she asked, "How did you nurse without hurting her with your fangs?" He stopped, wondering why she was asking, but answered anyway, "When my teeth came in, I did hurt my mother badly. She bled a lot and could not feed me. I remember crying from hunger. She put gruel on her finger for me to suck off. If I bit her, she would take away her finger. I learned not to bite because I was so hungry. Then after she healed, I nursed without hurting her. Why do you ask?" "Because Kagome is probably going to have a baby with fangs and I'm sure she would like to know." InuYasha sat up. "You're going to tell Kagome! You going to tell her that I ….I…" he blushed deep red. The Princess laughed at his blush, "I will leave that part out. I will just tell her how your mother trained you," she pulled him down for a kiss, "You know you are not the only one who enjoys a woman's breasts. And I'm sure Kouga himself has enjoyed Kagome's many times." And then laughed again as he turned even redder.
	Later that night, after a long hot bath, the Princess kept her promise and went to Hiei. He was patiently waiting for her, leaning on the balcony ledge. She went outside to him and slipped her arm around his shoulders. She reached down with her other hand and gently stroked him. He moaned softly and lifted his face to hers for a deep kiss. He loved her so much! He was completely happy. He would spend the night wrapped in his Princess' arms and he could think of no other place that he would rather be.

The Next Morning The Princess gathered her visitors and extended her invitation: come and live in Otherworld. She would have a replica of the dojo built at Kaede's village, next to Kagome's home. Katsu realized that was the reason behind the drawings he did for Kurama. This was Kurama's idea. Kaoru burst into tears. Kenshin could be free from his past. The officials that came begging him for help and the assassins who wanted to take his life would never be able to find him. She accepted on the spot, but Kenshin was full of doubt. Sanosuke and Katsu wanted to think about it. Megume wasn't sure - she could help the people here but she also could do the same in her own world. The day passed, each of them wrapped in their own thoughts.