Chapter 2
The Past Explained
Kagome felt so tired and drained it took all of her effort to stay awake. Reimei, who had been crying, was now calmed down in her arms and sleeping. She fought to stay awake; to pay attention to what was going on.
"The jewel shattered?" Sesshomaru asked calmly.
"It was destroyed. It was as if the Shikon no Tama was no longer able to hold the youkai souls in it and was destroyed, resulting in the release of the youkai trapped within." Akio explained as she sat on Kagome's left, still tending the exhausted miko.
"And that human Inuyasha found?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Human?" Kagome asked weakly.
"Hai. Inuyasha-sama found a human woman wearing very strange, outdated armor." Sekira reported, standing off to the side.
"Outdated armor?" Kagome asked weakly. "From the Shikon no Tama?"
"Hai. That is what we believe Kagome-sama." Akio agreed.
"Midoriko. It must be." She gasped.
"Midoriko? Who is that?" Sekira asked.
"A priestess from long ago who fought a hoard of youkai. They say they battled for seven nights and days before Midoriko finally sealed herself and the youkai she was fighting into the crystallization of her heart. Sango-chan knows more then I do." She finished in a whisper.
Her eyes started to flutter closed. She was losing the battle to stay awake.
"Kagome-sama, is Midoriko a Miko?" Akio asked.
"Hai. A powerful one." She confirmed in a whisper, the last word barely getting out before she lost consciousness once more.
There was several minutes of silence.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what should we do about the human miko?" Sekira asked.
"You mean my mate?" He asked coldly.
"No Master, I meant the one Kagome-sama called Midoriko." Sekira quickly bowed deeply.
"Let Inuyasha deal with her." He answered.
"As you wish master." Sekira bowed her way out, eager to get away.
"And Sekira."
"Hai, Master?"
"Get someone up here to clean this mess up."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-dono."
Sesshomaru turned his attention to Kagome, sleeping peacefully beside him.
"How long until she recovers?" He asked Akio.
"Some time Sesshomaru-sama. She has spent the last seven months keeping the jewel purified, and just destroyed it now. I would give her two to three days before even letting her out of bed, and another three days of light activity." Akio answered, standing up and bowing her way out.
Sesshomaru looked down at Kagome and Reimei, silently wishing that Kagome would, somehow, be able to remain by his side through the centuries. There was something calming about her presence that calmed him down and he did not want his daughter growing up without her mother.
He glanced at the two pictures on the table beside their bed. After much debating on what to do with the first one, he finally had it framed and placed there. Kagome had loved it and what little apprehension she'd had left of her situation had disappeared.
It was a picture of Kagome curled up against him with Shippo sleeping in her arms. Rin had gotten jealous and they took the second. It was one of all four of them sleeping contently together. Sekira had taken that one at Rin's request.
The little brats had planned it all out, waiting for a terrible blizzard and came running to them, saying they were cold and scared. Kagome, warm-hearted mother that she was, had, of course, invited them into their bed.
Sekira had snuck in and waited patiently for the perfect shot, which she had captured magnificently. Both of them were sleeping side by side with Shippo curled against her and Rin curled against him.
He couldn't help a small smile at that picture. It had been the first time he truly realized he was no longer alone, that he had a partner and a family, granted a strange one. He hadn't felt that warm since he was a child, and then it was more a remembered emotion then any true memories.
He tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. She moaned in her sleep and moved closer to him, mumbling something about a heater. He smiled down at her, his mate, his partner. The woman who stood next to him no matter what despite the fact she didn't love him. At least, not like a lover.
On reflection, he realized she did love him to some degree. Not in the way one loves their mate, but more the way one friend loves another. Like the way a sister loves and cares for her brother.
"Aibou." He thought.
That was what she was. She was his partner in all things. She stood beside him, supported him. He could not have found a better mate. Any of the other youkai presented to him had been timid and afraid of him, or had wanted to weasel his power away.
Not her. Not the woman who had thought her child would never be his heir, who assumed he would mate again after her death and take his heir from a full youkai woman. She never went behind his back, asking for his approval on things she knew little or nothing about. She asked for nothing in return but a little love, gained from the children, and the freedom to see her family and friends, easily suffered through.
He had work that needed to be done. He set her down, kissed Reimei lightly on the forehead, and went to hunt down his brother. He wanted to inform the hanyou he would be directly responsible for the Miko warrior that had unexpectedly appeared in their midst. It would be better for the hanyou to get fried in a fit of rage or confusion then him.
Inuyasha laid the strange woman out on his bed, stripping her of the outdated and battered armor. Sekira joined him shortly and he turned his back as the Kitsune changed the woman into something new and clean. Sekira left shortly after.
He sat next to her and studied her, trying to puzzle out how she had gotten into Kagome's room in the first place. Sesshomaru's estate was well guarded, his security having doubled since the time Kagome's pregnancy had all but knocked her off of her feet.
She was human, and a Miko. He could tell that much. Her clothes were ancient and her apparel was more of what a warrior would wear. He frowned as a thought suddenly occurred to him, even as he felt his heart flutter.
"A miko, ancient armor, came out of the Shikon no Tama. That could only add up to one thing." He thought stunned. "Midoriko." He whispered in shock.
"Hai?"
He jumped in shock as startling green eyes looked up at him, grinning like a maniac.
"Jumpy for a puppy aren't you." She chuckled as she sat up.
"I'm not a puppy." He growled defensively.
"Really?" Midoriko asked with a raised eyebrow.
Her hand struck out and the next thing he knew he was growling contently as she scratched him behind his ears. Snarling, he shock his head away form her and jumped back, glaring at her.
She laughed.
"I was wrong. There ain't no way Midoriko would act like this." He growled.
She laughed louder. "Then tell me, wan-chan, how does the great Midoriko, warrior Miko, act?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not a wan-chan." He growled.
"You're evading the subject."
"Keh." He turned his back to her.
She chuckled again, than stopped, her eyes darting to the door long before Sesshomaru walked in. She jumped to her feet, standing in a neutral position, ready to fall into a defensive or offensive stance at a moments notice.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked as he spotted his brother.
"Midoriko?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Who's asking?" She challenged.
Inuyasha's jaw dropped open in surprise. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't make a move to her.
"Jaken's right. Kagome and Rin have him whipped. Four years ago she would already be dead for offering such disrespect to him." Inuyasha thought stunned.
"I am Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands."
"Ah. Inutashio's whelp." She responded with a smirk, dropping her guard, but not relaxing. " You sure grew up from the last time I saw you. Still trying to steal Darene-chan's rice cakes?" She asked innocently.
Her statement had both brothers blinking at her in confusion.
"You knew my father?" Sesshomaru asked challengingly, skipping over her question.
"Who didn't?" She responded with a shrug. "I met him a few times. It was Reimei-sama who I associated with and reported to."
"You knew my mother?" He demanded.
"Reported to her?" Inuyasha asked shocked.
Midoriko smiled at Sesshomaru.
"I served her. I reported to her. I fought with her. You don't mean to tell me the world thought I fought Ankokukiki and his hoards by myself did it?" She asked with a laugh.
"Who?" Inuyasha asked stunned.
Midoriko sighed as she sat down cross-legged on the bed.
"This is going to be a long story, so please, make yourselves comfortable." She indicated.
Inuyasha sat down across from her on the floor. Sesshomaru just remained standing, not once dropping his penetrating glare that had caused thousands to tremble before him.
"Don't look at me like that mutt, or I'll put you over my knee so damn fast you won't know what hit you. I've done it before and I have no qualms about doing it again, or is your memory so poor you don't remember your old nurse maid?"
Sesshomaru looked furious and Inuyasha burst into laughter at the image of a baby Sesshomaru being spanked by a human Miko. Midoriko just grinned like a mad woman. The laughter drew Rin and Shippo, whose rooms were just down the hall.
"What's going on?" Shippo asked confused.
"Midoriko………………. Sesshomaru…………… Knee." Was all Inuyasha managed to get out through his gales of laughter.
Shippo looked shocked, then burst into laughter as well, four years of traveling with Inuyasha allowing him to un-crypt that message. Rin just looked at them confused.
"Come on Sess-chan. Don't look so mad." Midoriko jeered to him. "Who else did you think was your babysitter while Reimei-sama kept Inutashio in line?" She chuckled. "Speaking of your parents, what happened to them?" Midoriko asked, suddenly serious again. "And who is this wan-chan?" She added.
"That's Inuyasha. He's Sesshomaru-sama's half brother." Rin answered.
"Half brother?" Midoriko asked confused. "But, he's a Hanyou." She noted.
"Keh. So what?" Inuyasha demanded.
Midoriko frowned, a look of concern in her eyes.
"What happened to Reimei-sama?" She asked, her voice emotionally dead.
"My mother died years ago." Sesshomaru snarled as he stormed out.
Inuyasha, Shippo and Rin blinked after him.
"Still has that temper of his I see." Midoriko chuckled, all laughter and smiles again.
"You need to tell me more." Inuyasha said as he recovered.
"What's to tell?" Midoriko shrugged. "Reimei-sama and I were good friends and she asked me to raise him. When he got rowdy or rude, I would discipline him. Tell me, wan-chan, what happened to Reimei-sama and Inutashio?" Midoriko was depressed again.
"That, my lady, is a long story."
"Myoga-jiji, where have you been hiding?" Inuyasha scowled as the fleayouaki appeared.
"Myoga-jiji, long time no see." Midoriko chuckled. "Still running from danger I see."
"I was keeping Toutousai company. He gets lonely you know." Myoga interjected, jumping up and down.
"Sure you were." Midoriko scoffed.
"Wait! You know her?" Inuyasha challenged.
"Of course. Midoriko-sama, how are you back to the world of the living?"
Midoriko sighed, all serious again.
"That woman has more mood swings then Kagome does." Inuyasha thought.
"Kagome made a pure wish on the Shikon no Tama and it was destroyed, but not before the Youkai trapped within escaped. Ankokukiki is free." She scowled.
"Ankokukiki! Say it isn't so." Myoga cried.
"Who is Ankokukiki?" Inuyasha demanded, hating being left out of the loop.
"Ankokukiki was a very powerful Taiyoukai who aspired to rule all of Japan." Myoga started in his lecturing tone. "He conquered much of the north and a fair bit of the west. You father, Inutashio-sama, and his mate, Reimei-sama, fought against him and his evil hoards of youkai, hanyou, and human armies.
"Ankokukiki despised Inutashio-sama since he wanted Reimei-sama as his mate, but she refused him, going to Inutashio-sama instead. When Sesshomaru was born Ankokukiki was furious and attacked the rest of the west in an attempt to conquer it.
"During a final battle that lasted seven days and nights, Inutashio-sama and his loyal warriors fought against Ankokukiki with the aid of a powerful Miko warrior."
"Me." Midoriko interjected.
"During the battle, Reimei-sama learned of a planned attempted to assassinate Sesshomaru and rushed back to the castle in an attempted to stop the assassin. She did battle with a powerful snakeyoukai, who managed to poison her, and she died as a result, but not before killing the intruder.
"Inutashio-sama was furious, and left the battle to run to his mates side, at which point…."
"I used the last of my powers to seal Ankokukiki and his youkai hoard into what would become the Shikon no Tama." Midoriko finished, her face pale from the knowledge Myoga had just shared with her about the fate of Reimei.
"Wow." Rin and Shippo whispered in awe.
Inuyasha scowled.
"Keh. I'll kill him just like I killed every other villain my old man failed to." He snorted.
"This is no game wan-chan." Midoriko said coldly, catching him by surprise. "When Inutashio fought Ankokukiki, he was but a Taiyoukai, now he is a Kurokami. Ankokukiki no Kurokami was born from a fusion of Ankokukiki, Naraku, and many of the lesser youkai trapped in the Shikon no Tama."
"A Kurokami?" Shippo quivered.
"Hai. Ankokukiki no Kurokami is very powerful, however, he is weakened right now, his power is not up to full. He wont regain his strength for some time yet."
"Who is this Ankokukiki anyway?" Inuyasha asked with a snort.
"Ankokukiki was an Inutaiyoukai born on the night of Midwinter's eve during a full moon. His mother was an Inutaiyoukai, but no one knows who or what his father was, or if there was even one to begin with."
"Wait a minute? Ankokukiki is an Inutaiyoukai?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Was." Midoriko corrected. "Both Inutashio and Ankokukiki courted Reimei-sama."
"And she choose dad, which I take it, didn't settle with Ankokukiki very well?" Inuyasha interjected.
"Hai. Ankokukiki was furious and declared war on Inutashio soon after Sesshomaru was born." Midoriko finished. "The rest, you know."
There was a moment of silence.
"Now then, wan-chan, I want to know how you come into the story." Midoriko smiled at him, all cheerful again.
"Keh. What's to know? My dad was youkai and my mother was human."
"She must have been some woman to catch Inutashio's eye." Midoriko barbed, grinning like a fool.
"Keh."
"The lady was very beautiful and very kind." Myoga sighed in remembrance.
"Mated during Midsummer's eve huh?" Midoriko asked.
"Hai." Myoga sighed.
"Figured. Something would have had to push that stubborn Taiyoukai into action when it came to love. The baka had to be shoved into asking Reimei-sama to mate with him." She sighed. "Now then. I am tired, having spent the last kami knows how many years fighting Youkai and Ankokukiki no Kurokami. Naraku's interference didn't help any either. I am going to sleep."
"That's my bed you're in." Inuyasha pointed out.
"So come on in." She invited, crawling under the covers, giving him a suggestive wink, and then falling asleep.
(brake)
Inuyasha just gapped at her as Shippo left with Rin. He left his human friend with Sekira before hunting down Sesshomaru, who he knew would be with Kagome.
Shippo was right. Sesshomaru was with Kagome, and he still looked furious.
"Sesshomaru-sama." Shippo called hesitantly
Sesshomaru glanced up to look at him.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to know what Midoriko-sama and Inuyasha talked about?" He asked hesitantly.
Sesshomaru seemed to think for a few seconds, before nodding his head and Shippo dared to venture closer.
"What did they say?" Sesshomaru asked when Shippo seemed hesitant to speak.
Shippo relayed the entire conversation, his eyes caste down at his feet. Sesshomaru was silent before dismissing the kit, slowly digesting the information as he took a waking Reimei from Kagome's grasp before the child could start to cry and disturb her mother.
(brake)
Sesshomaru listen to Shippo's report before dismissing the Kit, who happily retreated. While living with him for eight months had helped to alleviate the Kit's fear of him, Shippo was still uncomfortable around him.
He turned his attention back to Reimei and Kagome. Reimei was giggling and playing with his hair while Kagome continued to sleep, dead to the world. She looked so vulnerable to him right then. Pale with black circles starting to form under her eyes. Her miko powers were so weak he could barely feel them and was only aware of them since he was looking hard for any traces of them.
Reimei eventually started to cry in hunger. Kagome awoke to the first cry, looking up at him with a hint of surprise.
"Have you been there the entire time?" She asked, her voice weak.
"Hai." He answered, helping her sit up and handing her Reimei.
Kagome smiled down at her daughter as she began to feed her, noticing how Sesshomaru seemed to find the far wall rather interesting.
"Men are just uncomfortable around a woman feeding her child, no matter the race." She thought amused.
"How long have I been sleeping?" She asked.
"A few hours." He answered.
She nodded her head.
"I'll have Sekira bring you up some food. Akio-sama has said for you to remain in bed for three days to recover."
"A good idea."
She was starting to fall asleep again, the mere act of being awake draining her.
Reimei finished eating and she pulled the child up to burp her. She barely managed to get that task done before Sesshomaru took Reimei again and Kagome was asleep, leaning up against the headboards and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Sekira." He called softly.
"Hai, Sesshomaru-dono?"
"Please remind Inuyasha of his task." He stated as he handed Reimei to Sekira before settling Kagome into bed again. "And when Kagome wakes up again, make sure she has eaten."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-dono."
Sekira bowed and left, holding a sleeping Reimei in her arms.
With Kagome asleep again, and unlikely to wake up, he retreated to his study and started ripping scrolls off of the shelves in an attempt to find anything his father might have left about this, Ankokukiki. It was a name he was unfamiliar with.
After hours of searching, he found nothing in reference to Ankokukiki. At some point Jaken had come in and started to clean up after him, returning discarded scrolls to the shelf and mumbling quietly to himself.
"This is frustrating. How am I supposed to fight something I know nothing about?" He snarled to himself, though his face showed none of his anger short of the slight tinge of red around his eyes. "There has to be something here. Father always kept full records of everything."
"Jaken."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama?"
"I want to talk to Midoriko come morning. See to it she is informed."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken bowed as he left.
"According to Shippo, she knows this Ankokukiki."
"Sesshomaru-sama?"
Sesshomaru stared down at Myoga in surprise; shocked the fleayoukai would even seek him out.
"What is it Myoga?" He asked coldly.
"Please follow me."
Myoga hopped away and Sesshomaru debated on killing the annoying flea, or follow him. The sheer fact that Myoga had dared to approach him and ask him to follow him spoke volumes on the importance of the flea's mission.
Sesshomaru followed the flea back to Kagome's room, shocked that Myoga would lead him there of all places. His sharp hearing picked up Kagome's steady breathing from their shared room, letting him know she was still asleep.
"Why are we here Myoga?" He asked calmly.
Myoga hopped into the bedroom and stopped before a wall.
"In here. The switch is on the wall there." Myoga pointed to a spot on the wall.
Sesshomaru once again debated killing the flea, but did touch the designated place on the wall. A door slid aside, taking him by surprise as a passage was revealed to him, spiraling down into darkness.
"What is this?" He demanded coldly, a hint of anger in his voice.
"This is a private library, guarded by the lady of the Western Lands for generations." Myoga answered. "I was entrusted with its knowledge so I might pass it onto the next lady after Reimei-sama's death." Myoga explained. "I came to tell Kagome-sama about it"
"Which is why you're here." He commented, suddenly understanding why Myoga had dared to come to his estate in the first place.
"Hai. That is correct." Myoga agreed before fleeing.
Sesshomaru let him go as he turned back to the reveled passageway. It was dark, even to his eyes. Still, he walked down the stairs calmly, ignoring the twinge of apprehension he felt.
Wan-chan A cute way of saying puppy.
Ankokukiki Dark crisis
Kurokami Dark god, I though Yamikami sounded funny and I couldn't find the turn for dark god, but I figured since they use Kuromiko for evil miko's, kurokami would work for evil gods.
Reimei Twilight
Wow, 45 reviews on one chapter has to be a new record. Thanks everyone. The answer to who the girl was was answered, so I don't need to answer that. More information on Ankokukiki's relationships with everyone will be comming up, next chapter I think, as will as more information on who he is. As for Kagome's wish, I don't want to give it away and I am curious to see who can guess it with the hints I will be dropping, though I willtell you in the end what it was.
The meaning behind the title wont be revilled for a long time I am afraid. Past chapter 10 anyway. At the rate this story is going, it is goign to be twice, if not more so, longer then Midsummer's Eve was. This time love will come into the picture, around chaoter 5 or 6 I think.
Expect to see more of Inuyasha in this one. I only have ten chapter or so of this typed so updates are going to be slow until I can get my laptop back. Sorry for delays and such.
