Summary: Naraku is defeated, possibly for good. At the end of this great defeat both Kagome and Kikyo find that their usefulness is coming to a close. Then a strange new enemy attacks, meaning to wipe out anybody with unusual powers: that means demons, priests, monks, and priestesses. Stuck in her own time Kagome finds herself turning to an unlikely ally: future Sesshomaru. Can the two of them in their time with the help of Kikyo and Inuyasha in Feudal Day Japan take care of this malicious enemy?
A/N: Oh boy. For the longest time I was seriously apposed to the Kagome/Sesshomaru pairing. Mostly because I love Sesshomaru too much and like Kagome too little. In fact I find Kagome down right annoying. Then I started looking at Kag/Sess fanart and reading fanfics and… well, Fan!Kagome wasn't quite as annoying. So I decided to try my hand at a fanfic (haven't done an Inuyasha fanfic in a LONG time…) and this is what came out of it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor do I even hope to. I'm not quite as in love with it as I use to. I'm mostly interested in the fan created universe of Inuyasha which is actually much more appealing. But that's the point of fanfic. Also the title of the fanfic is a line from a song by Vanessa Carlson called "Twilight" which I feel fits the emotions of Kikyo and Kagome in this fanfic. Surora and some of the characters do belong to me.
I've Seen Twilight
A Kagome/Sesshomaru Fanfic
By Ravyn89
Chapter One: My Stained Role
"I've always found it interesting. Even in America, though my mom is a pure white woman, I'm still considered a black man. I'm only half African."
The words were some of the only that floated above the overall noise of the reception and caught Kagome's attention. She looked up at the man, noting his bad accent at the same time she took in his dark skin. But on more careful inspection she realized that though his skin was dark it was more of a brown than black.
Kagome paused, not really seeing the crowd of people anymore but instead somebody else that was only half. She saw him sitting on a cliff, sea wind blowing through his white locks as his troubled golden eyes watched the moon rise. At that time he had been worried about another little half demon girl knowing he wouldn't kill her, not even to make Tetsuiga stronger. Not even for a chance to kill Naraku.
She turned away, rushing past the figures clad in black toward the door. She yanked it open, hardly hearing her mother call her name, before stepping out into the late spring sunshine. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief when the door shut out all the voices and noise coming from inside. Outside she was washed in a sight of nature and beauty, no humans to be seen in miles.
Inuyasha got his chance to kill Naraku. He got it after so much work and now Naraku was gone. Kagome and her friends weren't ready to call him dead – he had proved them wrong before – but they were certain that after so many years they were finally rid of that evil monster. Kagome reached up to her chest and felt the small vial that held the three jewel shards she still carried. Other than those, the one in Kohaku's back, and the two in Koga's legs the Shikon Jewel was all back in one piece.
And with Kikyo.
The thought churned Kagome stomach just as much a month later as it had when Inuyasha had first told her. It had taken all the strength she could muster not to run back to the well right then and there. Instead she waited three days before returning to her own time.
Somehow the others still knew Kagome was trying to run away. Even now tears pricked at her raw eyes as she remembered Sango, Miroku, and Shippo taking turns giving her hugs while Inuyasha watched from a distance. He had looked sad, had looked hurt and sympathetic. But Kagome wasn't sure if she had wanted to try and talk to him at that moment anyways.
It had been rather relieving when Kagome returned home and her mother informed her that her Aunt Hoshi had passed away and they would be traveling to Surora for her funeral. Being that far away Inuyasha wouldn't be able to track her down. Leaving a note on her bedroom window, Kagome had felt a huge weight leave her heart as her family drove several hours to the small, almost unheard of town.
At first it had seemed like any other town thought perhaps filled with more Americans than most small towns. But as Kagome had wandered further away from society to find time alone she found little pockets of Surora that seemed like they could be from the Feudal Era. The Feudal Era untouched by war and filled with peace and beauty. And it seemed that without Naraku some parts of that time might actually end up like Surora.
I should go back, she found herself thinking as Kagome walked along the pebble laid paths through the garden. I should go back and give Kikyo my shards. But… as soon as she completes the jewel she'll go back to the world of the dead. Then I'll get my entire soul back. She doesn't think I'll be able to go through the well anymore if that happens.
It had been uncomfortable talk, the night after Naraku had been destroyed. Kikyo was surprisingly understanding, saying that Koga, Kohaku, and Kagome should all keep their shards of the jewel. Scattered the Shikon no Tama was actually safer. Apparently with the nearly complete jewel in Kikyo's dead hands its power was less noticeable to demons. Almost like it's aura was just as dead as the woman who held the jewel.
If she does go, though, Kagome continued to think, her feet stalling closer to the graves of the dead. When she goes… Inuyasha might go with. Then I wouldn't have any reason to go back anymore.
The wind whipped through Kagome's raven locks and several strands stuck to her damp cheeks. It was only when she realized she was crying that a sob escaped her lips. She bent over, clutching at her stomach and let the tears finally escape in full force. There had been times, there had been moments, when she knew eventually the day would come when she would no longer be needed in that other time. But now that moment was coming closer and Kagome couldn't pretend any longer.
Footsteps announced the approach of somebody. Kagome gulped in a breath of air, rubbing the palms of her hands across her cheeks and eyes, trying to push away the tears. The steps slowly halted slightly behind Kagome. She looked up, flashing a smile in case it was somebody she knew making sure she was okay.
The smile didn't fade from her face when she looked at the figure, it simply froze in place. The man wore a dark trench coat, his collar up and buttoned to cover all the way to just below his eyes. Over the top of his coat he wore an old fashioned cloak, the hood hanging over his eyes so the top part of his face was shadowed. It was over all impossible to tell who the person was.
"I'm sorry for your loss," said the man in a low voice when Kagome turned to look at him.
Something about the tone of his voice took not only the fake smile from Kagome's face but the breath from her lungs. She had a compulsion to tell him exactly why she was crying, all the troubles plaguing her simple, mortal, teenager girl mind. But as soon as the man had said the words he strode past and went to stand underneath a tree, looking over the graves. His eyes flickered to Kagome and she had a feeling that it was alright to approach. She shouldn't – he might be dangerous – but she did anyways.
"Did you lose somebody?" she asked when she thought she was within hearing distance.
The man crossed his arms and looked down at her from within his cowl. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, whether he was angry or sad. Somehow Kagome thought he was simply putting up with her, allowing her presence for the time being. As soon as he didn't find her amusing anymore he would leave.
"I am simply searching for a ghost," he said.
Kagome furrowed her brows in confusion, glancing around. But there was nothing and nobody around. Except for herself and the mysterious man.
"I'm Kagome," she said, trying to smile. "You don't have to tell me your name but it would be friendly. After all we don't know each other and, no offence, you don't exactly look friendly. I probably shouldn't be talking to you because you could be dangerous."
"Then don't," said the man, turning away.
"Wait!" cried Kagome, reaching out and grabbing his gloved hand.
She didn't realize what she was doing, let alone why, until the man turned. The grip in his hand was astounding. His hand crushed around Kagome's fingers, not trying to hurt her, but making her aware of what he could do. His other hand reached up and pushed back his hood slightly so his golden eyes glinted through the shadows. Then he reached out, running a hand through Kagome's dark hair before clutching a lock inches before the end. He held it up so she could see it.
"You're not my ghost," he said, dropping Kagome's hand and hair. He took a step back, readjusting his hood. But she had already see his eyes, the damage was already done.
"Shesshomaru?" gasped Kagome, her brown eyes wide. She couldn't believe it. It didn't seem possible, didn't seem right.
"Not the Sesshomaru you know," he said in a low voice before spinning around and striding off down the path.
Her vision spun as the realization hit. He survived. The dog demon, Inuyasha's half brother, the one who had tried to kill her several times and had also happened to save her… he had survived all the way to her time. She was suddenly jumpy, uneasy. How many demons had she passed down the street and not noticed. Were they all as uninterested in mortal lives as Sesshomaru? Or were there some that would get involved for good or evil?
No, she thought, shaking her head. Demons are too easy to pick out. Too many easy signs. Sesshomaru wore those clothes to guard against people seeing his golden eyes, his silver hair, and the marks on his pale face. If there were any more out there like him, which she doubted, they would try to stay hidden, stay behind the scenes. And if Kagome met any of them it was more likely she'd know it.
What had he meant? she found herself thinking. Kagome's hand unconsciously reached up to the vial of jewel shards again and she turned away from the spot she had last seen Sesshomaru. Not the Sesshomaru I know? Maybe he just meant that he's from this time and so a lot of time has gone by.
Kagome paused by a small pond and watched the ripples run away from a leaf that had fallen from a nearby tree. By some childish urge she started to count them but soon felt she had missed some, recounted some more, and soon gave up.
He's got to be pretty old by now, she continued to think. More than just a few thousand years old. The oldest man in the world and doesn't look a day past twenty.
Kagome giggled. It had been so long since she had laughed easily. She thanked Sesshomaru silently, strange as that was, for her small moment of humor. Then, realizing it was Sesshomaru she was thinking about, Kagome sobered.
And what did he mean he was searching for a ghost? He didn't mean an actual ghost… Kagome looked around warily again. She had already been well aware of the graves thanks to her aunt's death. Now she feared the bodies might rise from the earth looking for the jewel shards. Her hand twitched around the vial, one finger wrapping around a lock of her hair.
Not the Sesshomaru I know… there seems to be something more to that but I can't think of what! He recognized me, I'm sure of it. Back in that other time he hardly gave me a second glance. I was simply the human wench that hung out with his little half brother. Neither are worth the attention of the mighty Lord Sesshomaru.
An icy chill passed down Kagome's arm. She gasped as her wrist seemed to go numb. Then all at once three blasts of wind came in all directions. One pushed out on her hand until the vial and strands of her hair pulled loose. A second gust pushed her back, away from the edge of the pond, sending her off her feet. But it was the third blast that horrified Kagome the most as it forced her fingers to open.
Pain rushed through her, starting at her feet and ending as a cloudy blackness in her head. She screamed as she still fell before her body shut down and she remembered nothing.
It all happened within a few seconds. The vial of jewel shards and several strands of Kagome's raven black hair hung to the surface of the pond for a moment before falling below into an inky darkness.
Kikyo reached out a hand to the soul stealer, letting the white orb float down into her clay body. Then the floating serpent creature curled around her arm, its head resting on her shoulder. A second wrapped around her waist and she used her other hand to hold its head close to her face. Its nose was just a breath away from her lips.
The most intimate moment she might ever have as a walking corpse.
Save one. Kikyo flexed the fingers of her outreached hand, suddenly remembering when it had had warmth below it. She saw those golden eyes flying wide in surprise and felt arms wind around her when Kikyo flung herself against his chest. Then she had looked up into those caring eyes, the ones that still loved her. She had kissed him, had allowed herself that weakness.
She suddenly gripped her pale slender hand into a fist, swiping down through the air to dispel the vision. Inuyasha was lost to her, she did not need to dwell on it. Her soul stealers were startled from her, rushing off into the trees for more souls. Kikyo gave them no notice but merely spun around and continued her long, lonely, pointless journey from one spot to another. Just something to keep her moving. Something that might bring her somewhere near danger.
Near danger she would have something to do, people who might need protecting. The more dangerous the more appealing it was for Kikyo. It drowned out the monotony of her life, made her forget the emptiness. She did not go to look for death but would have welcomed it if fate decided it was time. In fact she had a sense that now that Naraku was gone Kikyo should leave.
Unconsciously Kikyo touched the nearly completed Shikon jewel hanging from a chain around her neck. It was her only real purpose in life, now. She found it strange when she had suggested to her reincarnation that the few shards out there should stay where they were. That way Kikyo still had a reason to walk the earth and gave her hourglass just a few more grains of sand.
There was a rustling in the trees and Kikyo paused, reaching out with her senses. She didn't feel a demonic aura. But something kept her uneasy and she slowly slipped her bow off her shoulder and into her hand. The bushes rustled again, this time closer. Kikyo debated whether she ought to reach for an arrow just as the bushes parted and a young child burst through.
The girl wore a worn out brown kimono nearly too small for a young teenager probably around fifteen. There were scratches all down her arms and legs and even across her face. A bruise circled one of her blue eyes and twigs were stuck in her shoulder length green tinged black hair. The girl gasped for breath, leaning heavily against a tree.
Kikyo could still not push her uneasiness away. Instead she suddenly felt like she was being surrounded by something evil. The thing chasing the girl? Kikyo could sense anything but the girl. The girl filled her senses, proclaiming how very simple she was.
"Priestess!" gasped the girl. "You must help me…"
"What is troubling you?" asked Kikyo, trying to keep her calm. "Is there a demon?" She took a deep breath though she didn't physically need it. "What is your name?"
"Fern…" muttered the girl, eyes downcast for a moment. "Fern Thornthrope." She looked up again and reached out for Kikyo. Impulse alone brought Kikyo an inch away from the girl's fingertips.
"Is there a demon?" Kikyo asked again.
"I need your help," said Fern, more forcibly. She reached out again and managed to grab a handful of material from Kikyo's kimono.
"Don't touch me!" cried Kikyo, taking a step backwards. When the girl merely grabbed her arm completely she tried to move again. But all her limps went stiff as if cut off from her mind. No matter how much she tried she couldn't move. "What are you doing?" she asked, horrified.
"Extracting your help, Lady Kikyo," said Fern. "Don't worry, you won't feel a thing."
Kikyo opened her mouth to speak and suddenly felt a mental shudder of fear as she realized she couldn't speak as well. A golden glow emanated from the girl's grip on Kikyo's arm, engulfing the two until all at once everything went dark.
A/N: Kagome did a lot of thinking… Sorry about that but there weren't exactly a whole bunch of people for her to interact with. I'm hoping that this is going to be a relatively short fanfic. Maybe ten chapters or something like that. Oh, I know Fern Thornthrope isn't a Japanese name. But she's a character of mine and some of this plot is connected to her. So I decided to just keep the name. It is slightly important… and Surora is obviously not a real place. I made it up.