A Fateful Reunion
:Kikyou's POV:
The maiden Kikyou made her way through a thick forest. The empty spaces between the branches revealed cloudy skies which seemed to be darkening. The sun was slightly visible, behind the trees it was setting, and the clouds were tinted with a slight orange-pink hue. On the other side, she could see the moon rising in the west, slowly making its way up into the sky, its silvery ashes drifting down, casting a gloomy light upon the shadows.
Kikyou reached a clearing that held a lone lake. The sun reflected it's last light upon it, making the water look like blood. Even the sun can bleed, but she was restrained from such feeling. She envied the sun. She no longer can feel its warmth caress her. Only the treacherous moon can match the undead miko now. It was a melancholy and cold night and that suited her just fine. Before, the maiden would stare into the night sky and watch the beautiful moon cascade around the stars thinking it to be mysterious and romantic, but now, the moon held no beauty. It was just a rock in the sky.
When the sun finally disappeared, Kikyou walked over to the shore to look into the murky lake. The waters were calm and she could see her own pitiful reflection in it. Her eyes were cold and empty orbs. She wore no expression, not even a trace of sadness though she had every right to be. Her miko garbs and raven hair blew in the harsh wind and would settle gently when the wind paused. She studied herself closely, looking for something, anything that would tell her she was more than a worthless existance and a rotting clay figure.
She missed her old life and its riches, the warmth of the day, and the smiles of the villagers who cared and depended on her so much. But she knew that she can't deny the unhappiness she held inside, even back then. The miko was content with what she had but somehow none of it was what she wanted. Kikyou would watch the village couples and secretly envy. Their love taunted Kikyou for it was what she longed for but could never possess. Someone to hold her, kiss her and love her, but because of what she was, no one would dare taint the pure priestess.
Atleast she had a purpose back then and that was to protect the shikon jewel. Now she has nothing and no one, not even a single place to go. She hadn't even noticed when she sat herself down by the shore, still looking into the lake searchingly. The scent of rain was in the air and the wind stopped its harsh blows. A single ripple disturbed her reflection in the water and soon, there were multiple droplets. The clouds finally released the rain they had been holding. Kikyou was drenched in minutes, watching the strange designs that the rain made upon the water's surface. She sat by the lake, oblivious to what lurked behind the shadows.
:Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru stood underneath a nearby tree, the branches and leaves keeping the rain off of his perfect figure, but perhaps the fearful droplets of water stayed away purposely. He observed what the miko was doing. Kikyou certainly must have noticed the rain but seeked no shelter. He observed how her eyes seem to stare through the waters, like she wasn't even there. Her raven hair and clothing stuck to her skin. He can almost see her bare figure through her white haori. The earth beneath her hands turned to mud, dirtying the miko's slender fingers. Even now, she looked as beautiful and elegant as she did fifty years ago, when she was alive. A slight sense of pity and regret washed over the taiyoukai but not enough for him to swallow his pride. He kept his blank expression and advanced towards the miko in his even pace.
He had left Rin in the protection of the others and in warm shelter to wait out the rain. He had sensed an intruder in his lands and decided to investigate. The scent he had caught was vague but familiar. It was that of graveyard bones and soil. On his way it had begun to rain and the aroma lessened, but still he managed to find his way to the source.
The miko still looked intranced in thought. Sesshoumaru was almost at her side when Kikyou suddently stood up and spun around, her wet raven locks flying in a spiral movement around her. Small droplets lightly dapped Sesshoumaru's already soaked haori. She drew out an arrow, aiming directly at his neck, doing this in one graceful movement. As she made her move, so did he. The taiyoukai prince, barely surprised, unshiethed his Tensaiga and the tip of it came just below her heart. 'That is of course if she had a heart.' Sesshoumaru thought and frowned inwardly at himself for making such comment.
It seemed as if time itself had stopped and the two were frozen in place. Kikyou's eyes weren't foggy like they were just moments before, they were much colder and unfeeling. He, of course, returned the same expression. His eyes glared menacingly into hers. The rest of his face remained unmoved, his lips neither forming a smile nor frown.
They stood still for a long while, trying to figure out what the other might be thinking and studying one another. Sesshoumaru noticed how her fingers began to tremble from the straining pressure of holding the drawn arrow in place. But she kept her intense gaze on him, watching him cautiously. Kikyou forced herself to stay the way she was. Sesshoumaru found no trouble in the situation, and held unto the Tensaiga firmly, waiting for her to falter.
Sesshoumaru couldn't help but feel something for the lovely miko, and he wondered whether perhaps she spares atleast one moment of her time to think of him too. Is it possible that Kikyou might still love him? He looked at her intently and already knew the answer. She couldn't possibly love him, the only thing that kept her 'alive' was her hatred towards Inuyasha.
Inuyasha . . .
How he despised that name. Silently, Sesshoumaru cursed Inuyasha and his very existance. It was Inuyasha that stole his precious Kikyou, the one being Sesshoumaru had ever loved and ever will love. That pitiful half breed will suffer for Sesshoumaru's loss. He is the one to blame.. but Kikyou had gone to Inuyasha instead of him. A low growl threatened to rise and escape his lips. He quickly took control of his anger and dismissed those pestering thoughts from his mind.
He shifted his attention to focus on the miko infront of him. Kikyou hadn't moved. She must be waiting for him to attack, but Sesshoumaru knew he wouldn't. He would wait until she gave in. The taiyoukai prince studied her features, she did not posses that refreshing scent of hers when she was alive. Her eyes were empty, dark, and unreadable. Though Kikyou always had a pale complexion, her skin was an unnatural shade of white, but Sesshoumaru still found her to be the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon.
Secretly, he missed and longed for Kikyou, though he would never admit it of course. He wanted to protect her from the cruelty the world had shown her and heal the wounds of her heart, but seeing her now like this, he had no doubt that the miko did not love him. Has she really forgotten him and their past?
:Kikyou's POV:
The taiyoukai continued his deadly gaze upon the miko. Such a blank expression, such cold eyes he held against her. Her bow slightly shook with the straining and her fingers continued their slight trembling. If she could feel, surely she would have felt the pain of the pressure she was putting herself in. Sesshoumaru seemed to have no trouble keeping his poise, which slightly irritated the miko. She watched as his golden orbs briefly studied her features and came back to meet her eyes. Kikyou couldn't help the curiousity that ran across her thoughts when she noticed this, but once again focused on her target and concentrated hard.
No matter how cruel he looked at the moment, Sesshoumaru still had his soft and angelic features. The rain appeared to magnify this. Drops of water fell magnificently down the locks in his front to his perfect face, outlining every beautiful detail and running to meet his strong, lean lips. Other droplets gently dripped from his chin or fell down his neck to meet the clothing that hid his flawless figure. His silver hair was soaked and hung down heavely. Kikyou could also see part of the two magenta stripes that were on his arm as his sleeve slipped away from his wrist. The rain only succeeded in giving him a beaming elegance.
Sesshoumaru still looked like a celestial being from the heavens. Nothing had changed of him, except his hair was longer and his eyes were unfeeling. He was so distant, surely this couldn't be the taiyoukai that Kikyou had once loved. She took in his every feature, memorizing every detail, for it may be the last time she would ever get to see him or anything else, if Sesshoumaru decided to rid himself of her.
Kikyou began to charge up her purification power, the tip of her bow beginning to glow a soft white, slowly turning pink. 'If he wants me dead, then I will bring him with me,' she thought bitterly. The miko knew that Sesshoumaru surely must have noticed the glow and felt the heat radiating from it, but he hadn't even flinched. Was he taking her seriously or just toying with her? He is the merciless murderer of the Western Lands. Sesshoumaru, who shows no pity nor compassion. Why would he spare her worthless existance? To him, she was a nuisance, surely he would want to get rid of her. She narrowed her eyes at him and the once pink glow turned into a violent maroon, outlining the youkai's chiseled features even more. His eyes gleamed evilly with the light.
Suddently, a thought crossed her mind. Why wasn't he attacking? He could have easily slain her from the start, even now. The Tensaiga could very well pull the few souls left in her clay body so that she would die, but Sesshoumaru made no move. 'It's almost as if he has no intention of killing me..' Kikyou mused. Gradually, the maroon glow at the tip of her bow faded to a shade of pink, then white, and eventually dissapeared. Her fingers still trembled, slightly more than before, but she kept in the same stance.
:Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru watched her for a few moments until she finally relaxed her arms and brought down her bow, the arrow now pointing to the ground. He was a little surprised, thinking that she would have shot, but didn't show it. His eyes remained steadily on hers but his arm slowly moved to shieth his sword. The taiyoukai watched as her dark orbs looked away for a moment but came back to meet his golden ones. 'She wavered..' Sesshoumaru thought.
"What do you want?" her voice came out louder in his ears than it should have, finally having broken the long period of silence.
He didn't answer right away, just continued his deadly gaze. "You are the one intruding upon my lands. I should be asking you that."
"I'm simply passing by, or am I banished from these lands, youkai?" she asked coldly. Her wet bangs hung lower than usual, covering half her face. He had the sudden urge to brush them aside to get a better view of those mahogany eyes.
"Hm. These lands are mine, it would do you good to bite your tongue, miko," his responce came out more cruely than he intented.
There was a long pause as they just stared emotionless into each others eyes. Sesshoumaru was deciding whether to leave or not, and just as he was about to, the miko spoke again.
"Why did you stop?" To any other person her voice would have sounded just the same, cold and bitter, but he heard a slight softness in her tone. He could choose to answer or just completly ignore her and walk away. In the end, he decided to answer her nonchalantly.
"I believe it was you who decided to lower your weapon. I gain nothing in wasting my time. My killing you will serve to be more troublesome for me, so be on your way and I shall be on mine."
"More troublesome for you?" Kikyou looked both warningly and suspiciously at the same time.
"I will not spare a quick death the someone who doesn't deserve even that." Sesshoumaru's gaze did not once faze as he spoke. He had said it with such ease, it nearly sent a shiver through his own body.
"Despicable demon," Kikyou said, angry eyes piercing his golden orbs. She clenched her bow tight, wanting so much to cry but knowing her clay body was incapable of producing tears. Instead, the miko walked past the taiyoukai and didn't bother looking back. He had turned his head to watch her, frustrated with himself for having said such a terrible thing but he did not allow that to be expressed on his face. Sesshoumaru remained as emotionless and blank as ever.
After she had dissapeared behind the thick brush of dripping leaves, he made his way back in the direction he had come from. The water began to fall harder than before, showering Sesshoumaru completly. It was a cold rain with a slight wind that caused a chill in the bones. He made his way throught the forest, losing himself in the reverie of his thoughts once again.
Sesshoumaru slowly approached the cave, seeing the light glow of the built fire illuminating the walls. He gazed at the lonely camp, quickly noting that Jaken and Rin were missing. He turned around and looked into the drizzling rain. His scent failed him, for the rain washed away all scent trails. A movement in a nearby bush caught his attention. He approached casually as he heard a harsh voice call out through the loud humming of the rain.
It was Jaken. Alone. Anger and worry was slowly seething into his thoughts. "Jaken." He managed to startle the small toad to attention.
"Ahh! M-Me lord. We had not thought your return would have been so s-soon. W-we had thought that you had found shelter elsewhere for the night to wait out the rain and return t-to us as soon as it has cleared," Jaken said, his voice shaking, it was easy to detect his nervous and panicky state.
"We? If there was a 'we', Jaken, I would see someone else at your side. What is worse for your case is that I do not see Rin," his voice came out more calmer than usual, a small smile playing at his lips. This frightend Jaken more than Sesshoumaru's anger.
"M-Me lord, please understand that Rin had worried and run off on her own to look- AHHH!" Jaken spoke quickly but wasn't allowed to finish due to the swift blow from Tensaiga slicing his throat. Jaken shrieked out in fear as Sesshoumaru ran into the forest. Using his keen eyes, he hoped to spot the young human child through the showers of rain.