Summary: A/U, loosely based around episode 124 where Naraku kills Kikyo. Sesshomaru instead saves her life and foils Naraku's plans. They both had joined forces in defeating their mutual enemy and it seemed more than an alliance was blossoming. SessxKik pairing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha; I'm just dementedly inspired by Sesshomaru and Kikyo being together. sigh Why Rumiko, why do you keep them apart! (Author sobs uncontrollably) You little teaser…sniff well, on with the story!
- Ice Is Not Unbreakable - Chapter 1
A strange sight it was. The priestess knelt before the changing form of the once priest Hakushin, whom she had help find redemption at last. The shadows that surrounded them cowered away before the intense brightness of the soul that was now being purified by the miko. The usually rambunctious Rin stared mesmerized at the strange display of lights and colors, her demon toad guardian, not wanting to show the same interest as the human girl, observed it with one eye opened, one closed and his arms folded, as if the matter was beneath him. Lord Sesshomaru simply stared at the gloomy mountain before them, perhaps impatient to continue on with the quest to find Naraku. In an instant the soul was gone and only dust and bones were left behind, like a butterfly that flies away and discards it now useless cocoon.
"You are now free Hakushin." She whispered into the wind.
Her ethereal beauty made her look like a sweet angel amidst the looming darkness of hell itself, delivering a soul back into the hands of the Gods. Her eyes seemed overwhelmed with emotion and they trembled softly as they stared at the remains of the once misguided priest. How could she not feel pity for a soul so much like her own? Once a man, repressed by the needs of others, repressed to become something greater than a simple human, but still with the heart of one. He had been corrupted, not by evil, but simply with the desire to live. The same desire that now plagued her existence. Kikyo remained deep in these unsettling thoughts until the taiyokai roused her.
"Are we done here?" said the monotonous voice of the demon lord, his eyes focused on the miko without a shred of interest on the corpse before her.
"Hai." She stood, brushing off the dirt from her red hakama. "Arigato Sesshomaru-sama. I will not hold us back any longer."
She made a courteous bow and replaced her weapons; the quiver of arrows on her back, the bow ready in her hand. The collected figure of the Demon Lord walked away giving no response but the usual void glance. Now the Lord, his servant toad, the human girl and the undead priestess continued their way on, deeper into Mt. Hakurei. She observed the walking form of the regal taiyokai, several feet now before her. She wondered if Sesshomaru was annoyed with her for stopping to help the lost priest. That couldn't be helped, but it did bother her that she could never tell how the demon felt, for his eyes remained forever in a stare that was as intense as it was empty. Her mind lingered on the image of those acute golden eyes that seemed to steal the souls right out of her, while a faint blush draped her usually serene features. She was not pleased by this.
"Why am I wasting time puzzling over his stare? She scolded mentally. "Let him be the one to drool over mine instead."
And with that, she placed the matter aside and concentrated instead on how she would face Naraku when he decided to make his presence known. Sesshomaru on his part was indeed thinking about the miko, but it had little to do with her gaze. The previous unforeseen event had not annoyed him, but instead it had sparked his curiosity. It was interesting to see the extent of the priestess' power, encased in such a frail body.
"To look at her one would not know", he thought "but her skills are as powerful as ever."
Indeed it had been wise to form an alliance with the famed miko Kikyo, even if she was human. Not only for her mystical powers and her ability to purify the shikon shards, but he also knew that Naraku desired her above all else and would not rest until he had destroyed her. So if Sesshomaru could stand in his way and foil his plans then he would do it gladly. He would not allow Kikyo to fall in the vile hanyou's claws so easily. But there was another reason for keeping her around, one not so "noble". It was simple, she was the perfect bait to make Naraku leave his hole and make his presence known to him. When he found the half demon, he would make him pay for ever daring to use the Lord of the Western Lands for his petty deceits. Although she wasn't such a burden to have around, he mussed. The beautiful and innocent gaze that the priestess wore earlier suddenly assaulted his thoughts. Such deep emotion, it was something completely foreign to the impassive yokai. She had changed since she was first resurrected. Hatred did not blind her anymore, but instead she transformed it from a blunt and awkward weapon into a tool of master precision.
"But she can feel more than just hatred now…" he reflected on this, still somewhat puzzled by the human's display of mercy towards a complete stranger. But what bewildered him the most, to the point of annoyance, was the fact that knowing this made him feel glad in some strange way. He turned to her, impassive eyes that pierced into her very soul, and challenged her.
"You care too much for the weakness of others; it will be your undoing." He stated as a matter of fact.
She was taken back by his harsh words, not expecting him to be so worked up about it. She did not wish to disrespect the proud demon, for their relationship as it was, stood on the edge of a knife. But she had to stand her ground nonetheless. The battle of wills was becoming now a more common ritual between them. For Kikyo, to win the argument was to challenge his position, to lose it was to show him weakness and lose his respect. But she always knew what to say to diffuse the tension and leave the both of them (their egos, that is) unharmed. The trick was either to leave it at a standstill or be as ambiguous as possible.
"I cannot help it; it is in my nature to help those in need." She humbly replied, a hint of sorrow in the faint smile that graced her face. She did not expect the yokai to understand. "Could he ever?" she wondered. "Could his heart ever truly feel anything more than just pride?"
To the taiyokai her answer was adequate enough, but he found the look she gave him to be quite unsettling to his spirit. As soon as he realized how he was being affected by her and how too many of his thought were drifting towards the striking miko, he trained again his sight upon the ominous mountain and carried on without sparring her a second glance.
…..,-----'''''-----,…o..,----'''''-----,…..
Hours passed, and still they continued on their way unmoved by the desolation that surrounded them. Even the little Rin seemed unaffected by the wretchedness of the place, for her pace was lively and a smile graced her face. As long as Sesshomaru-sama was around, fear could not cloud her little heart. She was also happy to have the pretty miko traveling with them. She would play with Rin and keep her better company than the grouchy toad ever could. She loved Jaken, but he was not all that fun to be around sometimes. Rin slowed down her steps until she was side by side Kikyo. She gave the miko a smile, but noticed that the maiden's brow frowned instead.
"Is there something wrong Kikyo-sama?" asked a worried Rin. Kikyo hadn't noticed the little girl by her side, but her heartfelt inquiry had swiftly caught her attention.
"No Rin." She gave the curious girl a peaceful smile and placed her hand over her head to reassure her. "Everything is alright." She lied. A content Rin accepted the miko's reply and returned to her previous place, closer to her mighty lord. But it wasn't alright. She had been walking peacefully down the trail when something moved around in the sleeve of her white hakui, as if begging for her attention. It was the lock of hair the bandit Rasetsu had given her to take to Mt. Hakurei. "How could I have forgotten?" she had reproached herself seconds before Rin had approached her.
"I cannot ask Sesshomaru to halt for this." She thought. "I could not bear another exchange of words like the one earlier." She could just imagine what the taiyokai would say…
"First Suikotsu, then Hakushin and now this Rasetsu fellow… tell me miko, are you so inclined towards lost causes, to become one yourself?" But as she stared towards where Sesshomaru stood, she couldn't help but agree that indeed she was.
"It's best if I leave on my own and rejoin them when I've finished. It shouldn't take long." She slowed her pace, to a gentle step, and when the group had gained on her a lengthy advance, she quietly made her way towards some private spot to fulfill her promise to the bandit and perform his last rites. By the time Sesshomaru noticed the miko's absence, she was already too far away for her scent to reach him in such a polluted place. He stared to the back where the figure of the miko should have been. Rin and Jaken, seeing their lord had abruptly stopped, followed his lead and did the same. Rin was shocked to find the priestess gone.
"Shimatta!" A curse he forcefully voiced in a deep whisper.
His previous desire to not think of priestess had made him unconsciously block her completely from his mind, to the point of allowing her to leave the group unnoticed.
"Kikyo-sama! Kikyo-sama where are you!" screamed the little girl, her voice laced with great concern. There was still some hope in her eyes as she glanced from side to side. She'd hoped the miko would emerge from her hiding place at any moment with a mischievous smile and tell her again that everything was fine. But she wasn't there.
"Kikyo-sama!" Her eyes trembled.
"Rin, stop shouting." said the tranquil voice of her lord, "She is gone."
"But where is she Sesshomaru-sama?" pleaded the now anxious girl.
But her lord did not answer her. He merely stood there unmoved, and held his gaze trained in the dark horizon. Perhaps he was trying to discern the sound or scent of the missing miko, the girl thought. So she decided she'd better keep quiet for now and not disturb him. And indeed, the taiyokai was doing just that, but he could find no trace of the priestess.
"Why did she do this?" he questioned himself irritably. A tinge of apprehension seized his heart and unsettled his usually composed disposition. As he stood there, he became engrossed in contemplation. "Could my antagonism have caused her to want to leave?" His guilt made him feel even angrier. "Weak human… If mere words defeat her so, how she expects to overcome the very demon that crafts them into the deadliest of weapons." But his guilt did not go away. His apprehension grew. All his senses where telling him that Naraku would soon make his move. Kikyo was in grave danger and he had no idea where she was. "Shimatta!" he cursed again in his mind, while he made his way back to where he had last felt the miko's presence.
…..,-----'''''-----,…o..,----'''''-----,…..
To be continued…
