Sesshoumaru had never been more humiliated in his entire life. Not only was he terrified, that he would never admit, but he was also confused and half-naked as well. He was left a pair of old scraggily pants, his hair was matted and he stunk. His guards weren't very lenient on him bathing either. Oh well, at least he couldn't die again.
It all started with Naraku. He had to do something stupid and tried to use him. Sesshoumaru would have none of that. So in the end, when all was said and done, he had teamed up with his wretched brother and gone to defeat the half demon. What was worse was that he didn't even die in battle, it was the wounds from the blasted battle that he died from. The worst part of all, Sesshoumaru decided, was that the last thing that went through his mind, and was still stuck there now, was "What about Rin?"
He mellowed at the thought of Rin and barely noticed his angelic guards lead him into another room. He had failed her, the one person that trusted him most. He failed her.
"Sesshoumaru Nishi of the Western Lands." A voice rang out. He looked up from his seat. He was in a large cathedral looking room. The ceilings were incredibly high. There were no windows or doors that he could see. He sat in the center of the room looking towards a giant platform, his angelic guards on either side of him.
Behind the platform sat three beings of divine power and age. On the far left was an old man, his beard long and white, his eyes a kind brown color. In the middle sat a young girl of surpassing beauty. Her hair was long, flowing over her shoulders and behind the platform. It was blacker than the deepest night. It held stars in it faintly and had hints of midnight blue. Her eyes were the deepest shade of cerulean he had ever seen, deeper than that of his ocean. At the far end of the platform sat a being who's gender he could not distinguish, nor could he the age. The being's hair was a cyan blue. Their eyes constantly changing colors. All three wore the same black robes, hoods back. All three had glowing skin and all three were looking right at him.
"You stand here before us." The young girl continued. "Past." the old man nodded, "Present," she pointed to herself, "and future." The other being nodded. "We are the fates, masters of the world of the dead." She sat back down. "You, Sesshoumaru, find yourself in a very sticky situation."
"What do you mean?" Sesshoumaru asked, confused.
"You have died." The old man said. "Your past transgressions and prejudices bring you here before us. We rule over the world of the dead."
"What of heaven and hell? Would I not just go to hell and get it over with."
"There is no hell." The girl continued. The other two fell silent. "There is no heaven. You are in death. All go to the same place and are judged by us. Depending on their lives they are rewarded or punished." Sesshoumaru considered this for a moment.
"What is my judgement?"
"That is what we are here to discuss." She said.
"In your past." Past said, "You were greedy for power. You hated humans and half-breeds. You killed mercilessly." Past stood. "You gave no regard for life you pillaged, conquered, raped, you were black-hearted and racist." The old man's aura crackled and sparked around the room "And yet!!" he boomed. A small sphere of light circled around in front of Sesshoumaru, a small girl crying over his body.
"Rin..." he whispered.
"She holds you dear, Sesshoumaru." Present said. Sesshoumaru's expression softened and he looked up at future wearily.
"Will she be okay?" they remained silent. Sesshoumaru stood, desperate, "TELL ME!"
"What have you done to deserve to know?" he wasn't sure which one spoke. With their words, though, he threw his pride to the ground and dropped to his knees.
"All is lost for me." He said, tears brimming, "and I have given up my life so that others may live. I love that child as my own. If I only receive one kind word from you, let it be her safety and happiness now that I am gone." Sesshoumaru couldn't understand why he wasn't able to contain his emotions. Here in this place, this after life, you were stripped of your emotional walls and exposed. He felt naked there, crying, he, the lord of the West, crying in front of the fates of the universe.
"She will die." Futures ethereal voice rang through the hall. The gender was indistinguishable. Sesshoumaru looked at the creature. It was standing now and the other two were looking on in wonder. "She dies when she is but 12 years old. The day after her lord dies she wonders into the forest. Her eyes are vacant and dead. She smiles and reaches up into the air for nothing calling 'daddy, daddy where are you?' She comes to a cliff and—"
"NO!" Sesshoumaru stood, his anger apparent. "NO! How dare you tell lies to this Sesshoumaru! How dare you say my daughter die! How could you kill such innocents!? HOW!? NO, I won't have it. I'll protect her, take my life instead, wipe me from existence if you must but do not let her die like that!"
"If we were to save her." Past said. "We would have to wipe her memory of you. You are embedded in her thoughts and heart. She loves you dearly."
"If she be safe and happy wipe me from her memory then. As long as she is well." The three smiled down at him in unison.
"We wanted to hear that." Present said. "We have a condition for you. Naught but a heartbeat has passed since your death in the mortal world. Not even the hanyou has sensed it yet. Only the child knows. You will be given your life back for ten years. You are to repent for your sins. You must obtain, even in a small measure an appreciation for life. A decade you have. When you return, which you will, one way or another, we shall judge you again based on your deeds from this second chance and not the life before."
Suddenly everything went black and he started falling. A terrible tingling sensation that made him queasy spread through his body. He felt light headed and sick. His pulse pounded away in his ears and behind his eyes. He felt weightless and like a hundred tons at the same time, his body was pushing and pulling against itself all at once. His hair stood on end. He was going to explode...
WHAT HAPPENED TO SESSHOUMARU!? Well, I have the next chapter written and would appreciate a few reviews. I want to know if you liked it or not. I posted it once before but I wasn't able to update so I deleted it. Anyway, I hope you liked it.
Song to listen to while reading this chapter: none for this chapter
Song listened to while posting: Almost by Bowling for Soup.
SIF