The Missing Piece of Time's Puzzle

by FauxHumanity

Why are things the way they are? What creates people or demons dispositions? Nature over Nurture, or possibly time? In a puzzle of time, where there is a missing piece that completes the picture, we find out the reason for actions or beliefs of individuals. Some people say it takes time to finish a puzzle but what if reversing time is the only way to put it together.

1. A Burden No More

THE MISSING PIECE OF TIME'S PUZZLE

CHAPTER 1

A BURDEN NO MORE

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"Thoughts"

"Speech"

"Sarcasm or emphasis"

"Beast speaking"

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Kagome screamed as an (all be it small but still deadly) scorpion Yokai attacked her. She jumped from her position, dodging to the side. Not quick enough the pincers barely grazed her exposed thigh; slicing a shallow cut which bleed profusely. She tried to land on her feet so she could imply her master plan of bolting into the surrounding forest, screaming at the top of her lungs for InuYasha. However her ever present graceful footwork decided to leave her, and she promptly slipped on the smooth river stones and landed in the water, her shorts and tank top soaked. The cold water burned her new wound, though she had little time to dwell on this as the demon rushed at her, stinger raised. Sear terror griped her heart as she closed her eyes and raised her hands in a meager attempted to shield herself.

A large splash doused her even more thoroughly. She cracked one eye open to see the severed head of her almost killer staring lifelessly at her with its multiple eyes. She looked up shocked at the bank of the river were her silver haired savior stood.

Sesshomaru…ruler of the Western Lands and powerful Inu-Yokai retracted his claws, flicking the blood off them.

Kagome almost swallowed her tongue, "Sesshomaru saved her…..Sesshomaru SAVED HER!" She realized she was staring slack jawed at him while he stared back with a disinterested look. She blushed, snapping her mouth closed with a click.

"He probably thinks I'm some unmannered simpleton gaping at him like that." She thought.

"T-t-thank you for s-saving me Lord Sesshomaru-sama." She hurriedly stuttered.

She made a move to stand but the cut on her leg protested by beginning to sting sharply. "Ow-ow" She whined in pain tears prickling on the edges of her vision. The adrenaline in her system slowed its course through her body and the weight of her near-death experience began to set in, ensuing tears.

"Pathetic."

That one word stopped her chocked sobs. She looked up with tear stained eyes. "W-what?"

"This Sesshomaru does not repeat himself, but I said you are pathetic."

There was a pregnant pause

"W-why would you say that." Kagome said aghast.

"You are a helpless and defenseless human onna who cannot even protect herself from a weak Yokai nor can you brush off a meager wound such as the one on your leg. You sit there and cry like a child, wallowing in self-pity, it is disgusting.

Kagome was shocked. Never had the stoic Demon Lord ever spoken this much to her let alone insult her. Her anger began to raise, "How DARE YOU!" she shrieked. "I'm a miko I can protect myself just fine!"

A single silver eyebrow was raised. "Oh, yes how could I forget your pitiful excuse for marksmanship with a bow and your measly amount of untrained and wild purification powers." He said impassively. "So tell me where is your bow or any other weapon you decided to bring with you to protect yourself with? If you are capable of defending yourself with a bow don't you think you should bring it when you go off by yourself in such indecent clothes? Did you forget it once again?"

Kagome felt as if she had been slapped by Sesshomaru's words. What made it worse was the realization that all he said was true. She didn't have her bow, she had left it at camp when she went to go cool off in the river.

"No, you don't have it with you do you. Because you are too senseless to remember to bring your only weapon with you while you trapezes about the demon infested forests with no means of protection; are you really that stupid, or do you think your friends will come and save you every time you get yourself into trouble? Do you think if you just call out his name like you do every time InuYasha will come to your aid?" I do not know what is more repulsive, your faith in him or your own idiocy."

Kagome's breath caught in her throat as she held more tears back from such harsh words. Her eyes were trained on the river flowing by her. The red color of her blood swirling within the clear water as it seeped from her cut; it almost looked like it was dancing; twisting, flowing, and then dispersing, before being carried downstream. Her mind was numb, she could only see the churning red color.

"You are attacked, and captured time, and time again but do nothing to train yourself to stop it from happening. "Even the Half-Breed knows this and tells you frequently, especially after he has met with the dead miko." Sesshomaru continued. To Kagome his voice was colder than the water she sat waist deep in.

She remembered the insults InuYasha had berated her with over the time they had spent together. Her mind echoed the Hanyou's words. "You're just a shard detector….You're so weak….Keh, can't even go five minutes without being kidnapped…..Kikyo is a better archer than you'll ever be…..Kikyo is a better priestess than you'll ever be….If it wasn't for you, the jewel would have never been broken…...Kikyo would have never let such a weak demon get a hold of her jewel shards….Kikyo…Kikyo…Kikyo."

"Despite her being nothing more than a walking corpse the Half-Breed even knows who is a better female."

"B-b-but I'm like Kikyo." She said quietly in a feeble effort to try and defend herself. A small part of her mind had turned against her as well, "You're such a hypocrite. You say you hate being compared to your past incarnate, but when faced with the fact that she is better than you, you have the nerve to say you're like her; such weakness." It whispered in her mind.

"You are not like the dead Miko, while she may be dead and hell bent on going to hell with the Hanyou she can defend herself, she knows when to not run off her mouth and does not dress lewdly.

Her chest felt numb, like a void where her heart should have been was sucking her in, consuming her. She remembered just yesterday while in a village, a group of men had been laughing and commenting on her clothes, asking how much a night with her would be. She being as hot-headed as she was, screamed and insulted the men before they attacked her; InuYasha had been the one to save her hide that time.

"You try and gain the Half Breed's attentions while in the misted of a struggle with a powerful enemy. The dead Miko does not let her emotions on the battle field. Unlike you she is a warrior first and a woman second."

His steps made no noise as he began to walk back into the forest, leaving the catatonic Miko to her thoughts.

"T-then will you help me?"

Sesshomaru almost didn't hear the plea, he halted in his step and turned back to the girl in the water.

She still sat her eyes trained on the water her voice rose in volume becoming firmer.

"I-I want to get better…I w-want I…" She took a shaky breath in. "I WANT HIM TO NOTICE ME!" She almost shouted. Her fists were clenched so tightly they were shaking.

The river trickling was the only sound as silence overtook the area.

She knew her request would go unheard, why would Sesshomaru help her, he hated humans, especially weak ones. She just…she just felt so helpless sitting there she wanted to do something.

"Then you shall learn."

Her head shot up watching the retreating back of the Inu-Yokai. He had agreed to teach her. She would not be weak, she would fight for her place in the group, and she would not be a burden, never again.