Far Longer Than Forever
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Inuyasha.
*******************************************
Sayuri was in a room similar to a ballroom. There were a few hundred people gathered into the room elegantly dressed in their fancy feudal clothes. She noticed they were all demons, not one human was in sight.
She felt arms wrap around her waist from behind and she felt herself instinctually smile, a wave of comfort surrounding her the instant she felt the arms secured around her waist.
"Why do you have such a sad look upon you face?" a deep voice said, belonging to the same being whose arms were wrapped around her waist.
"I felt incomplete without my other half near me." Sayuri heard herself reply.
"Well, then, I am glad that I am not the only one feeling similar feelings, for I felt just as empty without your presence near me as well." She felt him nuzzle his nose into the crook of her neck. She smiled and leaned into the gesture.
She felt a purring sensation coming from her chest and his simultaneously. They were one.
"I doubt I have ever seen two people more made for each other than you two lovebirds." A voice interrupted them.
The man that interrupted looked regal and almost of royalty.
"Why, thank you Lord Inutaisho. I'm glad you approve." Sayuri heard herself say.
"Father…" the mad who had his arms around her warned.
"Now, now Sesshoumaru, you cannot deny it. She is perfect for you. I can see it in everything you two do when you are around each other. You two are soul mates. You complete each other." Lord Inutaisho explained.
Sayuri turned in the arms that held her and look into the amber eyes of the arms owner's. "Sess, he's just trying to pay us a complement." She raised up to her tiptoes and bit his nose playfully. "Be nice." She whispered to him.
Sayuri's eyes snapped open and she shot up quickly panting heavily. What in the world was that?
She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and noticed that her surroundings were not ones she was familiar with. Hadn't she passed out in the clearing near the forest?
She stood up from the bed and found something to change into before walking quietly out the room and into the hallway. She looked around in wonder and started to walk in order to figure out where she was.
She walked down several hallways. It's like a maze in here.
She sniffed and caught the smell of parchment, she was near a library. That's nice to know. She sniffed again trying to locate the garden. How she knew one was here she didn't understand but she finally caught the scent of daisies and tiger lilies and followed it.
She let a delighted gasp come from her mouth when she set foot out into the garden her nose led her to. There were a few weeping willows forming a circle around the garden. In the center there was an enormous oak tree. From the oak tree spiraled small dirt paths littered and lined with various flowers. There was a small lily pond at the back left corner of the garden. She walked slowly through the willow branches, a smile breaking across her face as they tickled her cheeks and under her chin.
When she reached the lily pond she kneeled down in front of it and extended her fingers of her left hand and delicately let them make small designs on top of the water. She heards some birds chirping and looked over to her left to see some finches perched on some branches. The finch was chirping at her. She giggled softly.
"What is it little finch? What disturbs you so?" Sayuri said softly as she removed her fingertips from the top of the water and extended her slightly damp fingers out to the finch. The finch momentarily stopped its chirping at her and twitched it's head looking at the outstretched fingers.
A smile formed on Sayuri's lips as the finch flew to her hand and perched itself comfortably on her fingers. It started to talk to her again.
"Well I am glad to see that I could be of some use." Sayuri said softly said. "It is too bad you cannot tell me where I am, little one."
The finch chirped in response. And flew off to Sayuri's right. It landed on an extended branch of a young sakura tree. It turned and faced her and started chirping madly.
Sayuri tilted her head at the finch and had a questioning look on her face. "Do you want me to follow you?" The finch chirped once in response.
Sayuri gracefully stood up and followed the finch as it led her back to the doors she came through to get to the garden. The finch started to fly it's way through the what Sayuri could only assume was a palace of sorts. She was led down a staircase and through corridors until the finch stopped and landed on her shoulder when she came upon large doors.
"Is this the main gate my little friend?" The finch chirped in response.
I never thought I would see the day when I would be talking to a bird. Why am I being so different in this place? Sayuri thought as she approached the doors and started to open them when she heard a voice that caused her to momentarily stop.
"Sayuri."
That voice. Sayuri turned around and saw the man from the clearing, Sesshoumaru, climbing down the staircase and towards her. He stopped when he was a few feet away.
Sayuri's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Your name is Sesshoumaru. That is what that other man, Manketsu called you correct?"
"Yes." the voice was devoid of emotion, lifeless.
Sayuri felt a pulse from her wrist and looked down at it. The color had changed again to a blue color but it was lighter and seemed to have a light hint of pink mixed in the blue making it turn purple.
Why is my bracelet doing this now? What's causing these changes? Sayuri thought back to each occasion that there was a noted color change. She though of all the people present. The only person present at each occasion was this Sesshoumaru person before her. Who on earth is he?
"Do I know you?" Sayuri asked carefully. She looked up and locked eyes with Sesshoumaru.
"Yes." Sesshoumaru said after a moment of silence.
Sayuri closed her eyes. Flashes of her dream slowly came back to her. When she opened them again, she noticed Sesshoumaru was moving slowly towards her. When he was directly in front of her she looked up at him and locked eyes with him again.
"I don't remember you, but I feel as if I should." She paused, noticing his face was slowly melting into a softer expression, like the one she saw in her dream. "Why do I feel as if I should know you?" her voice was barely just above a whisper.
"Sayuri." Sesshoumaru whispered as he leaned in closer.
The finch started chirping like mad from its position on Sayuri's shoulder. Sayuri shook her head and took a step away from Sesshoumau.
"Thank you for allowing me to recuperate her, Lord Sesshoumaru. I must be on my way." Sayuri said, turning and walking toward the main doors of the palace.
"There is no need for formalities between us, Sayuri. Sesshoumaru is acceptable when you address me." Sesshoumaru said. Sayuri turned her head back slightly and immediately noticed the emotionless mask was set back onto his face.
Sayuri nodded towards him. "As you wish, Sesshoumaru."
"May I inquire as to your destination?" Sesshoumaru asked, stopping Sayuri from exiting the palace completely.
"Higurashi is my charge. I have the mission of protecting her from any physical harm seeing as Inuyasha is incapable. I gave Higurashi's mother my word. I do not trust Inuyasha to protect her like she should be. Especially, now that I have gotten a taste of exactly what her mother was particularly worried about. This place, this Feudal Era, that Kagome said that we are in is very different from whence we came. It's dangerous. Higurashi has not had the proper training to preserve her life in such conditions. Therefore, I was assigned the duty of protecting her. I will take my leave now, for I cannot risk any more time of her lacking my protection from danger."
Sesshoumaru walked up to her side. "Come with me. I know where they are and I can aid you in a speedy arrival."
Sayuri nodded and followed him.
****************
Kagome looked around at her group. She felt guilty. When she had finally gotten Inuyasha back to where Sayuri was there were signs of a battle but no traces of Sayuri left. Inuyasha could barely even smell her scent. And, she felt responsible.
"Feh, don't worry about her Kagome. I'm sure she's fine. The irritating little-"
"Finish that sentence Inuyasha and I will sit you until you are dead!" Kagome snapped at him.
"Kagome, it's not your fault what happened." Sango tried to soothe her friend.
"I feel like it is." Kagome mumbled.
"Well, I wouldn't. She was the idiot." Inuyasha said, crossing his arms in a huff as if to say that his words made it true.
Kagome started to open her mouth to retort but another voice beat her to it.
"Do tell, Inuyasha. How was I the idiot as you called me?"
Inuyasha blanched.
Everyone turned to see Sayuri walking into the campsite, Sesshoumaru following her close behind.
Kagome released the breath she was holding in a sigh of relief. She smiled as she looked at Sayuri. "I'm glad, you are okay Sayuri."
"What in the heck did you bring him here for?" Inuyasha accused, glaring at Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru just gave Inuyasha a cool glance his way before returning his gaze upon Sayuri, as she spoke.
"I do not have to explain myself to you Inuyasha. The only reason I am here is because you can't seem to do your job right and keep Kagome from harms way. It's a shame, it is recognized that a female can do a man's job a lot more efficiently than could ever be dreamed of." Sayuri responded.
Inuyasha growled. "Why YOU-" he jumped at her.
"Gah!" Inuyasha gagged as he was caught in mid-jump and held in the air.
"Sesshoumaru, put me down!" Inuyasha yelled.
"You will not harm her." Sesshoumaru warned.
"What's it to you! She's all talk!" Inuyasha growled lowly.
Sesshoumaru growled back louder. "You will not harm her." he said more forcefully. He pushed Inuyasha hard into the trunk of a tree.
Inuyasha grunted and slashed at his brother's face. To avoid getting caught by the attack Sesshoumaru released his hold of Inuyasha and took a step back.
Inuyasha was angry and started to attack Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru dodged his brother's attempts at hitting him. He finally engaged in a solitary punch to Inuyasha that slammed Inuyasha back into a tree of the surrounding forest.
"Inuyasha you are becoming quit the nuisance." Sayuri said bored from her position at Kagome's side.
Inuyasha just turned and looked at her and growled. He raced towards her and Sayuri just sat still.
Inuyasha's eyes were starting to flash wildly to the red color. He pinned her to a tree by the neck growling lowly.
"If you think for one second that I am afraid of you, you had better think again." Sayuri said lowly, looking Inuyasha straight in the eyes.
Inuyasha started growling louder. Kagome stood up to do something but Sango and Miroku stopped her.
"Inuyasha, snap out of it!" Kagome yelled.
"Yea Inuyasha, stop being such a bully!" Shippo chimed in.
Inuyasha just put more force into his hold, causing Sayuri to be crushed a little more into the trunk of the tree she was against.
Sayuri's eyes narrowed as she raised her left hand and gripped Inuyasha's right arm that was grasping her throat.
"Insolent pup." she muttered as she just flicked her hand and he flew into the trees. She looked up and noticed Sesshoumaru shaking violently, his eyes that menacing red again. She glanced down at her bracelet and noticed the color change. She looked back up to Sesshoumaru but was suddenly knocked to the ground and pinned by Inuyasha, who now also had the death dealing red eyes. She was shocked.
"Sesshoumaru," she whispered suddenly. Sayuri was suddenly relieved of Inuyasha's hold and she looked to her left and saw Sesshoumaru growling lowly at Inuyasha who now had a giant gash across his chest. She noticed that Sesshoumaru had a few cuts on him as well.
Sayuri quickly looked over to Kagome. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku had fearful looks on their faces. They couldn't comprehend what was going on.
"Kagome!" Sayuri yelled. Kagome's head snapped over to Sayuri's direction.
"Take care of Inuyasha! I'll handle Sesshoumaru! We have to stop them from fighting." Sayuri ordered.
Kagome nodded quickly. Sayuri went over and took her hand and ran with her over to where the half-brothers were brawling.
"Ready?" Sayuri asked, taking a pre-charging position.
Kagome nodded.
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru rebounded away from each other and Sayuri automatically ordered, "Now!"
"Inuyasha, SIT!" Kagome yelled, as Sayuri sprinted over to Sesshoumaru.
Sayuri quickly put herself directly infront of Sesshoumaru, so close to him that she was almost completely pressed up against him.
Sesshoumaru was growling and glaring at the pit Inuyasha had made with his body from the subduing beads. He wasn't acknowledging Sayuri's presence.
Sayuri placed her hands on the side of his face and directed it toward her face. "Sesshoumaru, I'm here. I'm okay." she whispered to him.
He was still growling.
I have to get him to calm down. Sayuri thought as she stared into his eyes. Sayuri felt as if she knew what to do so she let instinct take over.
***************************
A/N: Hee hee...sorry about the sudden stop! Let me know if I should post more! :)