Back again. Wow, that didn't take long. Lucky for you guys, I'm really interested in this story, so as soon as I posted the first chapter, I got working on this one. Here I go!
Chapter Two
~ "There has to be a light, for there to be darkness." ~
A girl, no older than twelve, dressed a light blue kimono with a darker blue obi, traveled down the outer halls of the castle. If one were to ask her where she was going, or where she had been, she would reply with a peaceful "I don't know." She was utterly lost among the many hallways that lined the outside walls of the castle, but she was content with that. It gave her time to think. She was in no rush to get to somewhere, and nobody was waiting for her. Eventually, she knew, one of the many castle guards or servants would find her and lead her either to the room in which she was staying, or wherever she was needed. Until then, she was content to wander aimlessly amid the castle's many corridors.
That is, until she stumbled upon a decently sized garden, surrounded by a wall. It was the perfect little secluded area.
On the far side of the garden was a small pond, and even from this distance, she could see the crystal blue water had pink lotus blossoms floating lazily in it. On the opposite side of the pond was a large Sakura tree. The flowers were in full bloom, their delicate scent wafting over to her nose and unconsciously she took a few steps forward. A few paces away from the tree, but still beneath its branches, sat a stone large enough for one to sit on. Without really thinking, she walked over, avoiding the fragile white and pink wildflowers that dotted the stunningly green grass here and there, and sat down on the stone.
She was surprised to find the rock large enough for her to cross her legs comfortably, well as comfortably as she could in a kimono, and still have room. Closing her eyes, completely at peace in her new found area, she began to meditate, calling upon her powers that lay inside her.
After a few moments of careful meditation in which she had successfully reached the glowing ball of pink energy, she realized that someone was sitting beside her on the remaining room on the rock. She opened one eye and peered to the left of her, and gasped.
Kagome bolted upright in her bed, breathing heavily. She glared at the alarm clock which had inconveniently started beeping annoyingly at a very interesting part of her dream. That garden had been so pretty, she would have willing stayed dreaming just to stare at it longer. She could practically still smell the cherry blossoms. If she closed her eyes, the image of the garden remained imprinted, although it was dulled a little.
She wondered briefly who the young girl was. It looked for a second as if it could have been an older version of the young child that followed Sesshomaru around, but she dismissed that thought. Why would she dream of that?
'Perhaps it was a younger version of me? But that would be impossible, I've never been to such a place. Well, dreams do convey strange things.'
Only then did Kagome think to look at the clock that was still beeping loudly at her, and she screamed and fell out of bed in her haste to get to her closet.
"I'M LATE!"
Later that evening, Kagome stood in front of the stove cooking up some lunches for her friends. She had decided to return the following day instead of two days later. Inuyasha would certainly be happy.
It was more of the fact she couldn't stop thinking about her dream. She felt as if, here, something was making the dream leave. She wanted to see the garden again, it was such a pretty place. And she wanted to know who was sitting in the garden with her. If she went back to the feudal era, maybe they would chance upon the garden. She was certain it was there. Not only that, she just felt as though something was drawing her back.
"Kagome, the stove's on fire." Her mother told her, passing by the kitchen on the way to do laundry.
Kagome looked down at the stove in a daze only to realize, it was indeed, on fire. She jumped back, looked around, grabbed the flower pot off the table, and dumped it over the stove. Sitting down at the kitchen table, she rested her forehead against the hard wood.
"Inuyasha's right, I can't cook." She moaned.
"Nonsense. You just can't multitask." Her mother told, again walking past the door. Kagome moaned again, not knowing if what her mother was saying was supposed to be comforting or not.
"I feel bad for your friends Kagome, if all they get to eat is your cooking." Her younger brother, Sota, said, leaning up against the doorway to the kitchen. Kagome looked up at him.
"I'm a rather decent cook, thank you! Now I'm not going to buy you that video game you wanted for your birthday!" Sota looked at her in horror.
"But you promised! I'm sorry! You're an amazing cook! I love your food! Just buy me the game!" He cried. Kagome stood up smiling. She walked over and gave her brother a hug.
"Inuyasha rubs off on you." She said softly. She could feel her brother smile at the compliment.
"Kagome, I'm done with the laundry, how are the lunches?" Her mother asked from another room. Kagome let go of her brother to rub the back of her neck, laughing shakily.
"Ahaha, Mama, would you mind finishing up with that?" She heard he mother laugh from the hallway. "Oh and where are the candies? I promised that the next time I came back I'd brink cherry lollipops for Shippou. And Sango would love more chocolate."
"In the hall closet, dear." Her mother replied, already in the kitchen and cleaning up the mess Kagome had made.
"Thanks!"
}-{
Kagome tossed the large yellow bag up out of the well. She knew Inuyasha wouldn't be around to help her pull it out. He didn't even know she was coming back today. Oh well. She had brought extra ramen in case he got mad. Why would he get mad, you ask, if she came back early?
'Because a demon could get me, I could get lost, I could get hurt, etc. Yeah right. He has no faith in me.' Kagome sighed. She heard the thud signaling that the bag had landed safely outside the well, and began climbing up the vines.
She slipped a few times, but managed to pull herself up, stopping to sit on the edge to catch her breath. She took in a deep breath. She knew Inuyasha disliked her world, because it stank, and after being in the feudal era for so long, she was beginning to notice subtle differences in the smell. Here, it was much more fresh. The air felt more clean as she took it into her lungs.
Sighing, she hopped off the ledge of the well and stooped down to pick up her bag. She swung the bag over her shoulder and made to set off towards the village. Inuyasha would become aware of her presence shortly and would come get her, she was sure of it.
However as she took a step forward, a tickling sensation spread through her body. She dropped her bag to reach for her arrows and cursed, for she had left her arrows with her friends. Still, she stood tall and alert, breathing quietly, trying to locate the source that was causing her alarm. She could sense no strong demonic aura, but that didn't mean a thing.
It was extremely quiet, she realized. Not even birds were chirping. Everything was silent, and yet, she knew that there was something out there, something watching her. It was highly unsettling, but she didn't feel afraid. She felt more alarmed at the fact that she couldn't detect where it was coming from. She was uncomfortable with fact that she knew she was being watched, but that she didn't know by who.
She didn't realize that her eyes had settled on a certain section of the forest, a section the lay in the opposite direction of the village. She didn't know how long she had been staring at the spot, but for some odd reason she felt as if someone…was staring back.
Unconsciously, she took a step towards the place she was captivated by, almost as if it were drawing her in. The tickling sensation grew stronger, however minutely. She took another hesitant step, her hand half reaching out, both curious as to what was drawing her to this spot just beyond the trees, and hoping Inuyasha would arrive so she wouldn't have a reason to find out.
She took another few steps forward, feeling her eyes widen slightly as the sensation grew. Whatever was with her was definitely just beyond those trees. Why wouldn't it just show itself, instead of having her come to it?
'Saving himself the trouble, I suppose.' She thought. The idea almost made her laugh. If it was a demon she was so captivated by, it would have already attacked. It would not have bothered with the watching and waiting process. She stopped in her progress forward. She would make the watcher come out. After all, why should she have to do all the work?
Just as the tingling sensation was growing stronger, and she felt as if whoever was watching her was about to come forward, Inuyasha came bounding into the clearing.
"You're early!" He called out to her, before noticing how far from the well she was standing, with her hand still half reaching out to the forest.
"Kagome? Something wrong?" Inuyasha asked as he started to sniff the air. His eye twitched in concentration. "Someone's here. I can't tell who. Did you see anybody?"
"No. But… it felt like someone was watching me. It was weird. I didn't sense anything. Oh Inuyasha! I brought ramen!" Kagome said, turning away from the mysterious section of the forest. Inuyasha's ears perked and his eyes lit up.
"Feh. I knew you would."
"You act like I do it just for you!"
"Of course you do! Who else would you do it for?" Kagome clenched her fists. She shows one ounce of doing something out of the kindness of her heart for that selfish creep and he turns it into an argument!
"Inuyasha…" She said sweetly. His ears went flat against his head, knowing all too well the voice she was using.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that! I-"
"SIT!" Kagome picked up her bag and stormed away from the fallen hanyou, her stalker temporarily forgotten. Though, he was still watching this scene, a small amused smile on his face.
Kagome walked through the forest heading towards the village. She had been in Inuyasha's presence only five minutes and already she had sat him! Unbelievable!
She sighed and shook her head. This had to be a record with him. She didn't understand how anyone could be so dense, so irritating, so…
Right next to her.
"So how much did you bring this time?" He asked. Before she could reply, he stopped walking and sniffed the air. She turned to look at him, but he was concentrating solely on whatever it was that he could smell that she could not.
He growled and placed his hand on the hilt of Tessaiga. He glared off in the direction they had come from.
"Inuyasha, what is it?" Kagome asked, wishing more than ever that she had her bow and arrows with her. She tried to sense what was coming but could still sense nothing.
"My brother decided to pay us a visit. Go back to the village Kagome." He growled, though it was not aimed at her. Kagome nodded and dropped her bag, knowing she could run faster without it. She hated running away, but she really was no use without a weapon.
'I'll just get the others, and my arrows, and come back before he does anything stupid.'
}-{
"Sending the human away? How nice of you."
"What do you want, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha snarled at the older demon that had casually walked up to him as if Inuyasha was an obstacle in his way on his morning stroll. Sesshomaru peered down at the hanyou with little interest.
Inuyasha had already pulled out his sword and was aiming the giant fang at the daiyoukai. Sesshomaru, however, was unperturbed. He knew his half-brother could not defeat him not matter how hard he tried.
"This Sesshomaru is not looking to fight." He told the half-demon. Shock was evident in Inuyasha's eyes, and Sesshomaru was briefly annoyed at how easily it was to read him.
"That's bull!" Inuyasha yelled. "You always come here looking for a fight!"
"Why ask about this Sesshomaru's purposes, if you think you already have them figured out?" The daiyoukai questioned. Inuyasha faltered a bit, knowing his older brother had a point. Nonetheless, he pointed the fang at Sesshomaru and glared.
"What have you come for? The Tessaiga?"
"Your weak sword is of no interest anymore." Sesshomaru said glancing towards the village. Inuyasha missed his eyes darting in direction Kagome had just left in, however, and merely snorted.
"Then what would you possibly want?" He asked, irritation creeping so easily into his voice. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to kill his half-breed of a brother on the spot, knowing it would hurt her. Though it would bring him satisfaction, knowing he would not have to listen to them bicker anymore.
"Let us wait for your friends. They shall arrive any moment." And no sooner had he said that did three humans, a fire neko, and a shaking kitsune rush on scene.
"Oh good, nobody's hurt." Kagome said smiling. Sesshomaru cocked his head slightly at her inclusion of himself in her statement.
"Everybody's here now. What the hell do you want, Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha yelled, frustration clear in his voice. If Sesshomaru were the type to sigh, he would have. The hanyou's emotions were all too easily manipulated.
"An alliance against Naraku." There was a collective gasp from the group his was facing.
He could imagine their thoughts. It was quite amusing actually, because he was doing exactly the opposite of what they had always imagined him to do. 'Why form an alliance, he's always tried to kill us?' 'There has got to be an ulterior motive.' Things like that were no doubt shifting through their thoughts at this very moment in time.
"Sure!" An innocent voice chimed. To say the least, everyone in the forest was speechless.
"Kagome, are you insane? He's almost killed you on a few occasions, and we're not exactly the best of pals!" Inuyasha shouted at her. She pouted and turned away, smiling at the monk and demon slayer.
"Come on guys, it can't be that bad. We'll need all the help we can get. Who better than Sesshomaru right?" She said to them, smiling. Her friends looked uncertain. There was an awkward silence for a few moments, before her friend the demon slayer answered her.
"If you think it's okay, I don't see why not. You're always the first to object to something that doesn't feel right, circumstances pending." Kagome's smile shifted a fraction, and Sesshomaru, albeit admittedly confused for a moment, deducted that it was because of Inuyasha and that dead priestess. Certainly she wouldn't say it wasn't right to Inuyasha's face.
A little mewl from the fire neko indicated her approval, consenting now that her master and friend had consented.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I feel it would be an honor to have your help in this fight." The monk said at last, bowing to the demon lord slightly. Sesshomaru at least found one person among the group who gave him the respect he deserved.
"I don't really care who does what. Kagome thinks you're okay, so I think you're okay. Plus, you won't hit me like Inuyasha does." The little kitsune piped in, earning a glare from Inuyasha.
"Feh. Clearly I'm outnumbered." Inuyasha muttered and Kagome grinned. For once he wasn't arguing or fighting, or throwing stupid insults around. It was an improvement.
"So. Sesshomaru. Welcome to the group! Um… well when I got back we were going to set out to find some more jewel shards, so, here I am. Let's go!" Kagome said. At first, speaking to the newly inducted youkai, she was nervous and a little timid. But when it seemed clear he wasn't going to knock her head clean off with his claws or something, she gave him a brilliant smile.
"This Sesshomaru has items to retrieve."
"Right, you have that little… thing that follows you. Is it like a toad or something?" The kitsune asked from his perch on Kagome's shoulder. Kagome scolded him, but Sesshomaru merely ignored the little demon's outburst, much like he ignored the 'toad or something'.
"Don't you also have a human child?" The demon slayer asked. Sesshomaru turned his gaze from the fox demon and Kagome, to the slayer. She took it as a yes and smiled gently. She knew that he couldn't be that bad of a demon if he cared for a human child.
"Fine. You'll be able to meet up with us, I'm not stupid. Go get your little followers and catch up to us after." Inuyasha ordered. Sesshomaru looked as if he was going to say something insulting regarding the hanyou's intelligence, and ordering him around, but Kagome jumped in front of him with her hands up in front of her, as if in surrender. Though, from what Sesshomaru knew of the girl, she seemed like the last human on the planet who would ever surrender.
"Now Sesshomaru. We all know that Inuyasha has a big mouth. Don't keep the little girl waiting." She said, making shooing motions with her hands. The group was surprised to see Sesshomaru turn around and disappear in a ball of light.
"Kagome…did he just listen to you?" Kagome just looked at Sango confused. She hadn't really told him to leave, merely suggested it, in a heavily suggested fashion. Okay so maybe it was heavily implied…
"I think the more pressing matter is that we now have Sesshomaru in our group, no thanks to you!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Inuyasha, I would…use that word on you, but we need to get going." Kagome threatened calmly. Inuyasha's ears flattened slightly, but he turned and crouched down so she could climb onto his back. Miroku and Sango boarded the now larger Kirara, and Shippou perched on Kagome's shoulder. Inuyasha picked up the discarded yellow bag, and began to run, the others following close behind in the air.
}-{
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin called out as the lord stepped into the clearing. She ran up to him, close enough to be in touching range, but not touching him. She knew her place, and seeing her lord was good enough.
"Gather your things, Rin." Sesshomaru said to the child, a hint of a gentle tone in his voice.
"Are we going somewhere Lord Sesshomaru?" The child asked him.
"Of course we are, you impudent human! Don't question Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken screeched at her. Rin ignored him and continued to stare at her lord.
"Rin, if you have nothing to gather, then board Ah-Un." Sesshomaru told the girl. She nodded and hurriedly climbed onto the two-headed dragon. A cloud formed beneath Sesshomaru's feet, allowing Jaken to fly with him. It was less of a hassle for him, instead of listening to him bicker with Rin the whole way.
They were not traveling very far, and it was quiet for a few moments once they were airborne.
"So, where are we going milord?" Jaken asked, even though he had silenced Rin for asking such questions.
"Silence Jaken." Jaken stuttered out an apology, throwing glares at Rin who was giggling behind her hands. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to smile at his ward's obvious pleasure in seeing his servant's devotion being shot down. Simple things like that amused her.
He hoped it would be as simple with his other human.
And bada bing. Chapter two. No applause necessary. SO… reviews? That last bit I didn't like very much… but the rest I was okay with.