Chapter 1:
The Blue in their hearts
The blue sea .. their destination isn't a far travel in the sea, literally speaking and the weather is on their side.
House Higurashi.. or rather the remenants of it are departing from their kingdom, the one they have been ruling for nearly 500 years, moving under the protection of house Inutaishu after their territory was lost to the warlord Naraku in a vicious war.
The distance isn't far yet Kagome feels it vast and vast miles in her heart, memories and land and buildings that her family strived to build, a future that was already planned : marrying the respectable Shoji of court and being a counsel under her brother's Sota's reign .. things that always seemed clear and whilst she didn't always approve of those best laid plans, she now thinks they were far better than the insecure sea she is sailing now.
'Relax, this is just temporary. we will be back soon' her mother soothed
But Kagome feels it in her heart, they will never be back.
It has been three months.
He urges his horse to run viciously across the forest, to outrun its fatigue ...
Kikyo has been gone for three months, held captive by Naraku and he is doing nothing.
'Faster' he roars
He can hear her voice creeping along the swooshing trees .. 'Inuyasha'
And he can hear ... screams
He sees Red as in blood. He sees milk tinted with wine .. and oh he sees all the things that plagues a man's nightmare.
He also sees Blue.
The horse stumbles
'I will Kill you, Sesshomaro'
It falls
'Then I will kill you, Naraku'
He carries a tray and marches with heavy steps towards the secluded ward. He knows the dignified prince, ruler of the Northern lands shouldn't be doing this.
His hesitation even wins him over momentarily and he stops short of his hostage's door, considering to turn back and go his way, let any servant do this job for him.
He doesn't
'You yearn to see her,don't you?!' his mind mocks him 'You can't resist it'
And indeed he can't.
The heavy door screeches as he walks in with heavy steps
She is sitting down, her back is facing him. She is looking at the sky, the dark blue sky and he can't help but glance its way as well.
She never looks at the door, nor at him.
He lays down the tray
"Eat" he commands
Kikyo doesn't budge, she doesn't acknowledge him at all.
It further strokes his Ire
"Look at me when I speak to you"
He forcibly turns her around to face him.
She looks frail, paler than last time he saw her 2 days ago
Yet still, he shoves her to the nearby wall and whispers right behind her
"You look at me when I come here, you look me in the eye .. don't mistake my mercy for weakness. You eat, properly eat or I will shove the food down your throat. It isn't much anyway. I am keeping you alive the same way you kept me"
He takes a few steps back now, giving her room to turn and face him.
And this time she looks him in the eye a mere second .. The contempt in her eyes tells him all he needs to know
'If the clocks would turn ...'
Then she goes back to ignoring him like he is never there.
And he storms away.
"She really has resolve" Kanna singsongs, snickering as she watches her brother dragging his tail between his legs as he exits the room.
"Shut up, Kanna"
"Better keep your head together, brother" she reproached "Better keep your head, your heart and all your other things together until we get Kagura back"
"Don't let me repeat myself twice" he sniggered
The one who receives them at port is an advisor, a young man named Miroku and while he looked powerful and of status ... and he genuinely seemed nice kicking off with her grandfather almost right away but he had a certain creepiness and lewdness in his eyes that made Kagome and her mother slightly uncomfortable.
"You don't talk much, Higurashi Sama, Kagome-chan"
"We are just tired of the journey" the elder woman smiled politely
"Oh, I see .. we are almost there. Once we arrive, you can rest all you want before meeting Lord Sesshomaru"
"Of course"
Kagome peeked at the eastern lands from her carriage window, a lively place, a sea of people.
'It isn't so dissimilar from Home'
"We are here" Mirako Announced
Kagome and her mother stepped out in front of the palace.
'It is a new beginning'
Something in her heart whispered.