Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha
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Chapter 2: This is Where We Stand
Once everyone had been treated and had settled into their rooms, a servant came to inform them that Sesshomaru was expecting them for dinner. They all complied with the lord's wishes and was escorted to the dining hall. Once everyone was seated and served, they looked at Sesshomaru, who was seated at the head of the table, waiting for him to speak.
Sesshomaru had studied all of them carefully when they had walked in to see if they were mentally stable enough to relay the bit of news that he had. Finally, he spoke, "as you might be able to tell, the miko has now transformed into youkai." He paused, "she seems to be a ryu youkai, who have been extinct for a very long time." He watched their reaction, Sesshomaru could see the shock in Sango's eyes and how Miroku seemed to be pondering what he had just said. He then turned his attention to InuYasha, who showed betrayal and hurt in his eyes and Kouga, who seemed to be dumbfounded. Sesshomaru continued, "I believe it was not her doing though." He had caught everyone's attention once more, "when the two light beams had shot out, the red light that appeared in front of me took the form of Midoriko." He was surprised to see that almost everyone's face was in shock, Sesshomaru couldn't fathom why that would be, and after all they had all witness it. "Midoriko told me that the miko will be going through changes and that this is the Gods will." Sesshomaru finished and watched as everyone took in the bit for information he had just told them.
Sango was the first to speak, "I mean no disrespect Sesshomaru-sama but how is it that no one else saw Midoriko." Sango continued slowly, trying to offend the daiyokai, "all we saw was a red light hovering in front of you and a pink one hovering in front of InuYasha."
InuYasha spoke next, "you mean to tell me that none of you saw Kikyo?" Everyone, except for Sesshomaru, shook their heads.
"Maybe it was a trick from the Shikon no Trama?" Kouga chimed in, "after all, there are bad souls also trapped there. Maybe the two beings had tricked you two into that they were pure."
Sesshomaru was immediately offended that Kouga thought of his senses so low, he understood if Kouga was directing it towards InuYasha, but not to his person. Luckily for Kouga, Miroku spoke up, "I don't think that's correct Kouga-kun." Miroku was silent for a moment, "you see, I only felt holy power when the two lights had showed up."
Everyone was silent once more, "perhaps we should wait for Kagome-chan to wake up and we ask her ourselves?" Sango had broken the silence that was engulfing the group.
"Believe that would be the best course of action," Sesshomaru spoke finally, "I believe will have to wait for a few day before the miko rises again." They gave him a questioning look, "I believe that whatever powers are transforming her are not done yet. I could feel a swirl of power coming from the miko when I carried her in."
Everyone nodded, knowing that they could not continue any further until Kagome woke from her slumber. Though they were all worried, they had a feeling that she was going to be okay and they would just have to be patient. The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence, for everyone was lost in their thought about the events that had occurred that day.
Four days after the little meeting, Kagome finally woke up. Before Kagome opened her eyes, she realized that she could hear her heartbeat and one, which sounded to be much smaller than hers. She took a sniff, her memory telling her that it was Shippo that laid on top of her. Kagome finally opened her eyes only to have a pair of green ones looking right back at her. "Good morning Shippo," Kagome croaked as she tried to sit up, "where are we and how long have I been out?"
Shippo could hear Kagome's heart quicken, letting him know that she was going to be waking up soon; he waited intently for Kagome to open her eyes. When she did open them, he was taken aback, Shippo had been expecting Kagome's lively blue eyes but instead he was met with strikingly bright purple ones. Once Shippo had finally composed himself, he spoke, "we're in Sesshomaru-sama's castle and four days before you finally woke up." He fidgeted a little, Kagome took notice of his nervousness, "ummm, do you know that you have changed okaa-san?"
Kagome smiled a sad smile, "I do." Shippo stared at her expectantly, Kagome was hoping to explain to everyone at once but from the look she got from her kit, she knew that she had to tell him. "You see Shippo," Kagome tried to find a way to make it as simple as possible, "I was told that the Gods had chosen me to prevent the youkai from going extinct." Shippo slowly nodded, somewhat understanding, so Kagome continued, "and They felt that the best way to go about this was to turn me into a youkai."
Shippo was silent for a moment and then tears started to brim his eyes; Kagome could smell fear. "Does that mean you can't be my okaa-san anymore?" He was now fully crying at the thought of losing yet another mother.
Kagome shook her head and chuckled a little that caught Shippo's attention. She then gathered him into her arms and kissed him on the forehead. "You silly boy, the Gods themselves could never make me stop being your okaa-san," Shippo had stopped crying as relief washed over him. They sat there for a moment hugging as Kagome marked Shippo as her kit, their moment was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in." Kagome replied smoothly to the being kneeling just outside her door.
Kagome watched as the shoji door slid open as a petite tiger youkai stepped in, the youkai knelt down once more closing the door and then bowing to Kagome. "Good morning Kagome-sama, my name is Tomoyo and I will be your personal servant." Tomoyo introduced herself.
Kagome looked carefully at Tomoyo's aura, trying to find any traces of ill intent. Finding none, Kagome told Tomoyo to rise. Once Tomoyo was on her feet, Kagome spoke once more, "can you show me where I may bathe?"
Tomoyo nodded, "yes Kagome-sama, you have a personal bath just behind these doors." Tomoyo walked across the room a shut shoji door. Once she had opened the door, Kagome could smell the warm water, beckoning her to take a bath. "We keep a scent barrier around the bath, for your privacy." Tomoyo explained, already knowing that the question would arise. Many pervious guest who stayed in this room had asked about the scent barrier.
Kagome nodded and then turned her attention to Shippo, who was still in her arms. "Would you like to take a bath with me?" She asked, already knowing the answer. Shippo beamed and nodded quickly, he missed taking a bath with his mom, and after all, it was youkai nature to groom your young. Kagome slowly stood up, not wanting to lose her balance because of the small kit in her arms. Once she was completely standing, Kagome realized that even though she had been laying for four days, her legs felt fine. She didn't feel weak in the knees or shakiness in her legs. 'It must be the youkai in me." She thought to herself as she looked at Tomoyo, signaling for her to take Kagome to bathe.
Once Kagome and Shippo had been bathed, Tomoyo informed them that their companions were waiting in the dining hall for breakfast. Tomoyo led Kagome down a hall, the set of stairs, and down another hall before they reached the door of the dining hall. Kagome took a deep breathe in, she was trying to calm her nerves and trying to figure out the best way to explain things. However, before Kagome could formulate a proper plan of action, the doors opened and a very tall daiyokai stared down at her.
Sesshomaru stared down at a pair of purple eyes that swirled with nervousness and anxiety. "Calm yourself ryu, we merely want answers." His voice was quiet, cold, and stern; it was a command and Kagome knew to obey. She took inhaled deeply and nodded, Sesshomaru wordlessly led her to the table.
Kagome could feel all of her companion's eyes on her, she could feel Shippo shift uncomfortably on her shoulder. Kagome kept her eyes on the empty seat that was to be hers, she couldn't will herself to look upon them just yet. Once she sat down, the servants came and served them their breakfast, Kagome knew that once all of the servants finally left she would be bombarded with questions. The room was empty now, and contrary to what Kagome believed was going to happen, the entire room was quiet. Everyone was too scared of saying the wrong thing, offending someone, or didn't know how to begin, it had become an uncomfortable silence. Everyone was either picking at their food or fidgeting, even Sesshomaru had taken to staring at the wall, trying to ignore the thick air in the room.
"Why'd you do it?" Everyone's eyes shift to InuYasha, "why'd you wish to be a youkai? I thought that stuff didn't matter to you?" InuYasha's voice started out soft but became louder as he continued. "You're a fucking hypocrite! Telling everyone to be happy how they are and here you go wishing to something completely different!" InuYasha was fuming, in his rant he hadn't realized that he had stood at one point. InuYasha sat down, ears flat against his head as he whispered, "I thought you were my best friend." Kagome still hadn't said a word and that made him even more frustrated. "You knew I wanted to be a youkai, but instead you wish it for yourself!" InuYasha huffed as he tried to calm himself down.
Kagome stood from the table and looked at every single one of them in their eyes, with a hard, cold look. "None of you have any idea what I have had to sacrifice in order to your time," continued to stare at each of them individually, "before the final battle Midoriko told me that I had to give up my family back home" Kagome broke their gaze and stared down at the table, her voice continued in an icy tone. "I have sacrificed four years of my life, have had to sacrifice the family I once knew, and now, I had to sacrifice who I was and the rest of my years." Everyone was quiet, not knowing what to say to her, not knowing whether to comfort her or ask more questions. Kagome scoffed and looked at her companions once more, "Midoriko, Kikyo and Idaina Ryu told me that the Gods chose me to save the youkai race from extinction. As I told you all before that there are no youkai in my time, and the Gods want to change that now. They want to bring balance to the world once more and I was told that I had to be the one to do that." Kagome laughed bitterly, "They stripped me of my humanity when Idaina Ryu merged with me. Took everything I knew about myself and changed it completely, and now, I'm stuck with a task that seems almost impossible." Kagome looked InuYasha in the eyes with a cold glare and in a sarcastic tone said "yes InuYasha, I sacrificed everything I once knew just to be a youkai and to hurt you." Then turned her attention to everyone else, "I wish I could have a better explanation but I don't." She took a breath, "just know that this was the will of the Gods, not I." Kagome turned and bowed low to Sesshomaru, "no disrespect Sesshomaru-sama, the food smells delicious but I have seem to find self without appetite."
Sesshomaru merely glanced at her and gave her a slight nod, dismissing her from the table. Shippo started to leave his chair when Sesshomaru's eyes held him in place. "She is no longer unconscious," Sesshomaru's eyes never left Shippo's, "therefore, you must now stay in the nursery and learn that you cannot always have your mother around." Shippo nodded and sat back down, not exactly knowing what to say.
Kouga piped in, "Sesshomaru-sama, Kagome-chan seems to be very upset; maybe we should send the boy in to comfort his mother."
Sesshomaru's gaze cut into Kouga, "this my pack and I will do as I see fit for the benefit of my pack. If you believe that my ways are mistaken then I dare you to challenge me wolf but whether we were once allies or not, I will kill you for challenging me." Kouga swallowed and looked back at his food, Kouga was no fool, even though he was a powerful youkai, he was no match for a daiyokai, especially one as strong as Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru then turned his gaze the rest of them, "the boy must learn that his mother will not always be there and learn what it is to be independent." He waited for anyone else to question him, no one said a word and continued to finish their meals in silence once more.
Upon entering her room, Kagome could still feel the tightness in her heart when InuYasha spoke those words. Kagome concentrated on her surroundings, making sure no one was in the vicinity, she sat cross-legged on the floor in the center of the room. She closed her eyes and called on her Beast, upon opening her eyes, Kagome, could see a large cave carved within the mountain. Kagome knew that her youkai cloud would not be possible, because the realm she currently wondered was made by her youkai.
Kagome hated this trek, she sighed, and at least she had improved from her first day. Her first day being a youkai was extremely difficult. Sure, she had been out for a mere four days but to Kagome she had been a way for a few months. When Kagome finally opened her eyes, after the three had merged their power with her, she was greeted by what seemed to look like herself more youkai features. Not to mention the lines on the side of her cheek were jagged as well as her eyes crimson red with bright lavender pupils. "You are the one I am supposed to answer too," The being scoffed, laughed and sized Kagome up once more, "you are not worthy of the powers of a ryu! You are frail and week, you wouldn't even snack."
Kagome could feel her blood boil, but she quickly grabbed the reins of temper, she then hid her eyes under her bangs. She slowly placed her hands on to her sides, looking defeated, as her arms went down, one lightly hit the hilt of her sword. Small smirk crept on the Kagome's face making her look extremely lethal; it was the look of a predator. In one quick swoop, Kagome unsheathed her sword, jumped close enough to swipe down and trip the creature, and quickly placed her sword on its throat. "Who are you and where am I?" Kagome asked coolly, narrowing her eyes the thing in front of her. She heard it chuckle and in a blur, it was up and a couple of feet away from Kagome.
"I am your Beast and you are in my realm of our minds." It cooed at her, "Idaina Ryu created me when the merged with us, I am your youkai. However, he failed to mention that the one supposed to tame me was so fragile." Her Beast laughed wickedly as he started float up, "come to my lair and attempt to defeat me there, the winner gets the body." Kagome stared in awe as huge black and dark purple dragon wings sprung from her Beast's back, covered her Beast and then moved to reveal very large ryu.
Kagome felt like she had been travelling for days, maybe even weeks before she reached the ryu's lair. She slowly entered the cave, noticing that the moment she entered, lanterns seemed to light themselves along the dark cave walls. Once she reached the end of the cave, Kagome saw a large marble door, with two dragons intertwined with each other. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before opening the door, which revealed a field of flowers, as far as the eye could see.
"I see you finally made it," her Beast landed before her in a humanoid form, the original form Kagome first met this being in.
"I will not sacrifice my body so willingly to the like of you." Kagome bit out. It sneered at her and before Kagome knew it, she was sent flying into the air; the battle for dominance had begun.
The battle dragged on to what had felt like hours, but Kagome called upon her reiki in to the shape of a rope; tying the Beast. Kagome point her sword to the being on the ground, growling and snapping at her. Kagome raised a brow and pressed her sword into the being throat, "submit." Kagome's Beast rumbled, hissed, and went limp, showing its submission; Kagome nodded and retrieved her reiki. Kagome watched as her Beast stood once more, Kagome looked at her in the eyes, "may I have your name?"
The Beast looked at her, "I am you, and your name is my name." Kagome looked that the creature, showing confusion on her face. The Beast chuckled, "since you have made me submit, we are one now."
Kagome smiled and took her Beast's hand, "then we shall get to know each other batter." The Beast and Kagome talked for a while before mentioning that they had extensive training to do to make sure she keeps her reign on the Beast. Kagome looked at it inquisitively, "why must you train me to control you better? You are me and I am you, I don't understand why I need to be able to control you."
"I am nothing more than the darkness that lays in your heart and primal instinct." It stopped to look at Kagome, "You are logical. If you do not control at all times, I promise that I will run wild and many things will be destroyed in my wake." Kagome nodded her understanding and the training began the next day.
Kagome broke from her reminiscing about her first meeting with her youkai, and now she needed to talk to her Beast. "Hey Dakurifurekushon!" Kagome yelled the name that she and the Beast agreed upon; it only seemed fitting to name the Beast 'dark reflection'.
Dakurifurekushon appeared in front of Kagome and bowed, "what can I do for Kagome-sama?"
"I just need to rant to someone who isn't blind." Kagome huffed, Dakurifurekushon could tell her was very much upset about something. Dakurifurekushon gestured to a nearby tree and sat herself down beside Kagome. She waited for Kagome to continue on with her rant, watching her mater's face carefully. "How dare they think I brought this on myself? What do they think I like to sacrifice everything I knew once for a world I know nothing about? Do they think assume that I wished to become a full-youkai?" Kagome huffed again in frustration. "You know what? I think they don't think! I mean who wouldn't want to be held accountable for an entire race's extinction? No pressure right?!" Kagome's words dripped in sarcasm and hurt.
Dakurifurekushon growled, 'how dare these imbeciles upset my master?' She then kneeled in front of Kagome, she had always been nice to her, not that Dakurifurekushon knew any different. "Would you like to release me so may slaughter them?" She asked Kagome sincerely.
Kagome laughed at her youkai half and rested her hand on its cheek, "no because that would be counterproductive to what I am trying to do." Kagome smiled at her darker half and then took a deep breath, "I just needed someone who was going to listen instead of assuming." Dakurifurekushon nodded and then nuzzled her lighter half. Kagome giggled, "I should go back now."
Dakurifurekushon nodded, but before Kagome left, she spoke, "I will be closer to conscious to keep an eye on you." Kagome nodded once more, "that also means that you won't have to travel back her to speak to me, just think it and I will respond." Kagome smiled and hugged her youkai a thank you and returned to her conscious state.
When Kagome opened her eyes, she saw Sesshomaru standing just outside the barrier she put around herself. "What are you doing?" He asked in cool tone.
"I was talking to Dakurifurekushon." Kagome said flatly as she let her barrier down and made her way to her bed. Once she reached it, she sat down, noticing the every western style influence on the bad. Kagome knew that the World Wars had yet to happen and was quite confused to see such a bed.
"You were talking to a dark reflection?" Sesshomaru's brow lifted slightly.
Kagome shook her head, "no, I was talking to Dakurifurekushon, she is my Beast."
Sesshomaru eyed her once more, "you named your Beast."
It was more of a statement then a question but Kagome chose to answer it anyhow, "yes I named my Beast, did you not name yours?"
Sesshomaru looked at her evenly, "no, it is not customary to name your Beast."
"Oh." Kagome said, then turned to Sesshomaru once more, "I mean no disrespect, but why are you Sesshomaru-sama?"
Sesshomaru looked at the once you human girl, 'she has much to learn.' Sesshomaru heard his Beast chime in, 'she beautiful, we must have her.'
'No, our only mission is to aid her.' Sesshomaru thought in reply to his Beast. "I am here because Midoriko spoken to me when you completely the jewel." Sesshomaru spoke in a bored tone, "my job is to, apparently, aid you in the quest against our extinction." He saw Kagome nod, "you do not seemed surprised by this."
"I was told that the cause of the youkai extinction would be the youkai not getting along with humans." Kagome paused, "in the future, there will be great war of the world that comes to Nippon. In this war, youkai no longer exists, before that war, there is another that was not written in history." She shifted. "Midoriko told me that an ancient poison recipe will found and it alone, will have the power to extinct the youkai race. The poison will be deadly, claim it's victims in mere minutes, allowing no time for youkai to try and remove the poison. This poison will travel across the oceans, claiming more different types of youkai each day, within a two years of the poison's finding, all youkai with be extinct. Many will die, not just youkai, but human too." Kagome looked at Sesshomaru, "this poison with the cause of both World Wars in the future. Humans do not know how to take care of the lands, whereas youkai do. There needs to be balance, if the youkai wipe off the humans than the earth will cease to grow, you all live to long and will not return your bodies to the earth for a long time. However, if the humans win, they will destroy the earth and will not see the errors of their ways until the end is upon them." Kagome turned to face Sesshomaru, "I wasn't surprised that it would be you because I know I will someone on my side that has influence and enough of it to gather youkai from many different parts of the world."
Sesshomaru looked at Kagome seriously, "I assume then, that your job is to change the future completely?"
Kagome solemnly nodded, "I have sacrificed everything I know and love about the time I came from to try and fix the mistakes of my ancestors." She looked down at her hands as clenched them, "I will not allow my sacrifices to go in vain. I will stop this extinction, even if that means I have to try and make some hard-headed youkai and humans see."
Sesshomaru thought about what Kagome said once more, "I shall help you on your quest." Kagome looked at him, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "This is for my kind's survival and the survival of the Earth, I cannot ideally sit and do nothing to stop it." Sesshomaru stepped so he was in front of her, "what is your plan of action?"
Kagome fidgeted, "I have no idea, to be completely honest." She took a shaky breath, "I don't know where to being, there is much that needs to be done to stop this war."
Sesshomaru stared at her for another minute, "we will spar." He turned to on his heels and started to walk out of the room. He turned slightly over his shoulders when he did not hear her footsteps behind him, "you need to release frustration, and you will spar."
Kagome stood up quickly recognizing that this was an order and followed behind him. 'He is attractive,' Dakurifurekushon whispered in Kagome's head, "and so powerful. He can take care of us and provide for us.'
'Don't even think about it,' Kagome scolded in her head, 'he is a companion nothing more.'
'But he is strong and powerful, much more powerful than even you.' Dakurifurekushon cooed.
'I know that,' Kagome huffed in frustration, 'I can feel him repressing the true power of his yokai, even though it is repressed, it's still very over powering.'
'So then why not try and woo the man to be our mate?' Dakurifurekushon suggested, 'his beast likes us, I can feel it.' Kagome tried not to roll her eyes, 'he's beast caressed me briefly.'
Kagome could see Dakurifurekushon blush in her mind, Dakurifurekushon never blushed. 'You and his beast will have no luck, this purely business.' Kagome stated firmly.
'We shall see.' Dakurifurekushon whispered and said nothing more.
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