Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, its story or characters. I've just borrowed them to create this fanfic. Akiko is my original character.
Title: Haven
Chapter: One – Ghosts from the past.
Date: October 31st, 2005
This is an introduction to a story that was posted on 2002, which I'm editing now and reposting on an attempt at getting back on my writing tracks. Any comments will be highly appreciated. Thank you for reading.
Shihori.
Her hand felt warm while resting on the man's chest. She was told he would not make it, but either way she had to try. No matter his advice to her, she had to try. A white clad nurse came into the room. "Miss," She said softly, kneeling next to the girl that had slumped on the floor but kept her hand on the man's chest and her face against his hand. "Your mother has been called. She is on her way." The girl dressed in a white and green school uniform looked up. Her emerald eyes swollen with shed tears moved immediately to the paling face and bluish lips. She stood up slowly and leaned over to touch her forehead with the man's forehead. Closing her eyes, she recalled a moment of her life when he was life and pressed his forehead against her smaller one. "It's a promise?" She'd heard him say in her mind. "Promise dad!" She'd chirp while smiling at him.
Opening her eyes, she stared for a moment at his closed eyelids. "I'm sorry." She whispered and leaned back. Grabbing the white sheet, she covered his face.
The alarm clock's digital numbers read 7:00 just when it began ringing. The long, dark curtains were pulled to the corners automatically, allowing the first sunrays come into the bedroom through the roof high windows. Something stirred under the thick white quilt on the bed. A single hand slithered out patting around. Finally finding the alarm clock on the nightstand, it was turned off.
There was some more stirring under the quilt before the person under it decided to leave the bed. She kicked the cover to a side and stayed still in the middle of the king sized bed, eyes closed. Raven locks were spread over the white silk pillowcases. With a sigh, she opened her eyes revealing two green pools. Slowly she rolled on to the bed's edge and sat up, - her hair cascading down her shoulders onto the bed.
Yawning, she walked towards the bathroom, turning on the lights. Her slender, long nailed fingers raked through the long tresses and worked them into a messy bun held by a pin. She gave another sigh while looking at her pale complexion on the mirror while her hands massaged her shoulders. The tips of her fingers touched three lumps on the back of the left shoulder. Turning around, she stared at her back's reflection. From her left shoulder, going downwards to the right side were three long lumps ending before the right shoulder blade.
A glimpse of sadness showed in her eyes while looking at the strange marking. She seemed to discard some negative thought before turning away from the mirror heading to the clear walled shower. "Life must go on." She repeated to herself some sort of mantra in low whispers as she pulled over her head the light blue baby doll. "I must never look back." Turning on the hot and cold water keys, she stepped under the water, scalding her skin soon after.
Leaning against the shower wall, she slid to the white tiled floor, wrapping her arms around her body. "Why?" She questioned herself, "Why is it so difficult to take you out of my skin?" The locks on her head slowly slipped out of the bun, now completely wet. Her hair formed a curtain at the sides of her face. Her right hand reached back to the markings on her skin and caressed them slowly. She sat there for the longest time, hoping for the marks on her back to stop tingling; to stop reminding her of her past.
"Souta! Breakfast is ready!" The young looking lady called out as she placed the dishes on the table.
"Oh…that smells good!" An old man walked into the kitchen followed by a fat, white and orange cat. He took a seat at the table and stole a tempura shrimp while the lady wasn't looking.
"There you go Buyo." She patted the cat's head as it dug into its plate.
"Good morning." Souta took his seat at the table and yawned.
"You shouldn't have stayed up till late playing those videogames." His mother reprimanded him lightly. She sat down and they gave thanks for the food before having it.
There was a light sound coming from the house's entrance. Then a female voice called out. "Mother? Oujii-san?"
"We're in the kitchen sweet sweetheart!" The lady called out as she grabbed a small bowl and began serving an extra helping of rice.
The young woman, dressed in a navy jacket with a white blouse under it and navy blue pleated skirt over the knees, walked into the kitchen. "Good morning." She looked at the bowl on her mother's hand and said, "Not staying long."
"Oh!" She smiled and passed the bowl to the grandpa who dug in after finishing his first. "I thought you had come for that promised family breakfast."
"Sunday." The green-eyed woman answered her face blank while she looked at the members of the household gathered at the table. "Where is Kagome? Shouldn't she be ready for school?"
The three at the table looked at each other remaining in silence. Grandpa then answered, "Poor Kagome! She is in her room with a terrible sickness!"
"Oh." The newcomer feigned interest as she sat down. "Kagome seems to have turned very weak physically in the last months. What could possibly tie her to bed this time Oujii-san?"
The old man seemed to think hard for a while. Snapping his fingers, he answered, "Down syndrome! The doctor says it's contagious my girl. Our poor Kagome-chan!"
A nervous smile twitched at the mother's lips reacting at the hard stare the younger woman gave her. "Akiko, darling-"
Akiko stood up placing her hands on the table, glaring at her. "I'm not her mother; it is not my responsibility to force her to go to school. Yet, her tuition is and when the money I'm investing is going down the drain, it is of my concern."
"Why do you say that, Akiko-chan?" Oujii-san continued to play fool.
Akiko took a deep breath and exhaled before answered, calming herself down. "I'm tired of receiving letters from school. The last one said that if Kagome doesn't take the special tests they prepared for her, she is going to lose this year. I'm sure you have received similar letters mother, so I truly don't understand how you've allowed it to come to this point." She straightened her jacket and walked away from the table. "Tell her to go to my shop today, otherwise she is in deep trouble, because I won't cover up for her anymore." She left without saying good-bye, upset over the situation.
"Why don't we tell her the truth?" Souta asked looking worriedly at his mom. "Aki-neesan isn't happy at all."
"And she'll be even less if she finds out what Kagome has been doing all this time." Oujii-san pointed out as he popped another tempura shrimp into his mouth. "Don't worry. Akiko-chan wouldn't do anything against Kagome. She's just mad because she knows we are hiding something from her."
"It is a miracle that she hasn't found out about the well yet after the last visits she's been paying us." Mother said her thoughts out loud while staring worriedly at the kitchen's entrance. "I don't want to even imagine how she'll react if she finds out."
Grandpa shuddered, "Scary…" Buyo meowed as if agreeing with him.
Akiko walked down the short stone steps while speaking through the cell phone. "I'll be there in twenty Zan. Don't worry." She put the cell phone away right after ending the call in the white purse hanging from the left shoulder. Suddenly she felt a bone chilling wind surround her. She stopped on her tracks and looked around.
The trees' leaves weren't moving so there was no wind. Her eyes set for a moment on the sacred tree and then moved around to the other side. She frowned, placing a hand over her chest while staring at the Bone-eater well's shrine.
'Help me…' She heard a female voice cry. Something inside her told her it came from the small shrine. Akiko took a pair of steps towards it but the crying stopped for a moment.
She could see a man close to his thirties, dressed in white and blue yukata, speaking to a little girl donned in a white and red priestess kimono. "No matter what you hear Akiko," His voice echoed in her mind. "Don't go close to the well. Those voices aren't from this world. They are untrue. They are deceiving."
"Yes father!" chirped the image of her child self.
'Help me!' The eerie voice called again. Akiko sighed and looked away for a moment but looked back again, indecisive over going in or not. This time she saw her high school self, dressed in black skirt and white blouse. She was staring at the shrine as well, but did not hesitate to walk in.
Akiko shook her head and began walking away. "It is only my imagination. I sealed it myself." She muttered to herself and continued her way out of the shrine, down the long stone stairs.
Akiko drove down the highway in her shiny black Mercedes. Her thoughts were still set on the earlier events. 'Why? They had stopped after I sealed it. Why are they calling again?'
She stopped the car abruptly in the middle of the street earning many honks, insults, and finger signs, but luckily no accident occurred. Yet, she looked pale and disoriented. "I've been so stupid!" She yelled hitting the steering wheel with closed fists.
Taking control of herself, she did a U turn back to the shrine, and grabbed the cell phone from her purse hitting speed dial immediately. After a few words with the other party she found herself yelling into the phone. "No Zan! You'll have to figure it out on your own! I won't be able to do it! I'll call you soon!" She turned off the cell phone as she ran up the stairs as fast as the skirt and high heels allowed her to. She gave a quick look to the well's shrine as she ran by on her way to the Higurashi home.
"I can't believe them!" She fumed as she opened the door forcefully. "Mother! Oujii-san!" She called out as she kicked her shoes off before stepping in. She hurried into the kitchen where she found her mother washing the dishes. "How could you hide it from me?" She demanded as she stepped closer.
"Hide what?" She asked innocently while holding a plate on a hand and the sponge on the other. "Why you look so upset?"
"Kagome!" Akiko spat her name. "Kagome went through the well didn't she?" Mother's wide eyes and dropped jaw gave her in. "I knew it!" She yelled before storming into the hallway and running up the stairs. "Didn't I tell you to keep them away from it?"
Mother ran after her drying her hands on the white apron. "I did tell them not to go near it for any reason, but Kagome heard a voice one day and ended up being pulled into the well." She followed her to a bedroom, dark and slightly messy used as storage place. "What are you doing Akiko?"
She had taken off the jacket and perched it on the back of a chair. "Going in and bringing her back." She used an even tone although her face showed signs of still being very upset.
Brining out from a drawer in the closet a priestess kimono, she began unbuttoning her blouse when she remembered she wasn't alone. "Could you close the door behind you please?"
"Ah! Yes." Mother muttered and left the room as requested.
Akiko stripped out of her clothes and took off her jewels. After donning the priestess garments, she went to the closet and knelt at the floor. Knocking twice on a piece of wood, she lifted it by the risen side. In there was a kodachi in its sheath with a small bead rosary in dark blue, wrapped around the hilt. Hugging the weapon to her chest, she whispered, "Please protect me once again just like you did before, father."
She slipped the short sword into the back of the kimono keeping it in its place with the back of her brassiere. "If she sees it, she'll panic." She muttered to herself thinking of her mother. Taking a pair of wood sandals from the closet, she walked out of the room where Mother and Grandpa awaited.
"It is not necessary for you to go Akiko-chan." He said, "Kagome is safe!"
"How can you say that, Oujii-san?" She took off the pins holding the bun on place and let it fall down, curling at the ends, reaching under her waist. "You know the well. It reacts differently to every member of our family, but that makes it only more dangerous. It has a mind of its own." She turned around heading for the stairs. "You're not changing my mind."
They followed her back to the shrine giving her all sorts of excuses they could come up with, which she paid no attention to. Akiko ignored the pain in her chest as she entered the shrine. She noticed that the seals were broken just like she had guessed. She decided to scold that girl for undoing her job. "I don't know when I'll be back." She said as she climbed down the stairs to the well. Leaning on the border she looked inside the empty well frowning. 'It has changed of shape.' She thought, but made her worries aside.
"Akiko, it really isn't necessary. Kagome should be back soon." Mother insisted.
"Anyone calls, say I had to do an emergency trip and that I didn't say where." She gave them the excuse to use if asked for as she brought her legs into the well, and then jumped in not looking back at them.
"Akiko!" Mother called out but she had jumped disappeared suddenly.
Grandpa went down to the well and looked into it. "Gone." He said as if he had expected to find her at the bottom. "I didn't believe she'd have the guts to go back."
Mother smiled softly, still looking worried. "She may act as she doesn't care, but Akiko does love her siblings dearly." Grandpa nodded, agreeing in silence with her while frowning slightly at the turbulence he detected in the void space of the well.
Akiko climbed out of the well effortlessly. She sat on the edge taking in the view. It was in the middle of a clear in the forest. "I hope I'm in the same time as her." She muttered to herself as she stepped on to the bright, green grass bed. "Now…which way was that village?"
She began walking and entered the woods. Her senses were alert at any sound or movement. Minutes later she reached the arc over the stone stairs; -the same as the one back home. The brunette stood at the top of the stairs, looking at two kids playing at the end.
They vanished form her sight as an image flooded her mind. It was of her younger self, running up the stairs, clothes torn and dirty. Behind her a group of villagers threw rocks at her calling her monster. One of the rocks hit the back of her neck making her loose balance and fall face first on the stone steps.
Akiko looked down at her high school self as she looked up with tears in her eyes and blood gushing out of the fresh wound over the left eye. The image of Akiko in her early teens struggled to her feet and disappeared through the real Akiko. 'Let's hope this time it is different.' She climbed down the stairs. Her fingers balled into fists. 'Otherwise, the roles will be inverted.'
"Good morning." She said to the children who stopped playing. "I've come from far away. Could you indicate me where this village's priestess lives?"
"Are you a miko?" asked one of the boys.
"Of course you idiot! Don't you see she dresses like one? She must be one." The other boy answered.
"But she doesn't look like Kaede-sama." The other boy replied grinning and rubbing his dirt streaked nose. "This one is pretty."
The comment earned a smile from Akiko. "I am not but thank you for considering me so boy." She knelt in front of them. "I am a miko from the west, and I am looking for someone. That is why I need to have a word with your priestess."
"Follow me miko-sama!" beamed the dirty-faced boy who had said she was pretty. He ran down the dirt road.
"Wait for me!" called out the other and followed suit.
Akiko smiled and walked after them. 'If Kagome went this way, she must have passed through the village.' She reasoned. 'The miko must know if so. Kagome couldn't have gone unnoticed wearing normal clothes. I doubt she would be forced into a miko get up anwyas.'
"Kaede-sama!" The boys called into the hut. "A miko from the west is looking for you!"
"I heard you child! I heard you!" The old priestess walked out. "No need for yelling." She looked at the newcomer with questioning eyes. "Go back to play kids."
"Yes ma'am!" They exclaimed and ran back the way they had come, bidding good-bye to Akiko.
"Were you looking for me?" Kaede asked as she stepped closer.
"I was." Akiko nodded, "I am Higurashi Akiko, and I am searching for my younger sister, Kagome. "Have you met a girl in strange clothes that answers to that name?"
Kaede remained silent, pondering on the truth of the young woman's words. "Come into my hut." She walked back inside feeling Akiko right behind her. Kaede brought something out of a woven bag hanging at the wall. Turning around to show it to Akiko, she asked, "If you are really her sister, can you tell me what this is?"
Akiko was taken aback for a moment but replied promptly, "Crayons. What is she doing with crayons?" The later were her thoughts spoken out loud. With a sigh she explained herself. "Those are for drawing and coloring." She smirked, "She's going back to kindergarten."
Kaede half-smiled not knowing what she meant by kindergarten, "These are Shippou's, -a fox youkai child that travels with her." She sat down on a mat at the floor close to the fire. They left early this morning."
"Which way did she go?" Akiko hoped to catch up with her.
"It is strange. Kagome never mentioned having a sister; only a brother." Kaede ignored her question.
"Souta, our little brother, is closer to her than I." Akiko let out some information, knowing that Kagome had to speak of her closest family at least, and that this would convince the old woman of her honesty.
Kaede nodded, "I understand. They went down the road headed east. You can wait for them here. She always stops by before going back to her time."
Akiko bowed, "Thank you but I must get going." She walked out of the hut.
"Wait child!" Kaede hurried after her. "It is dangerous out there. There are youkai everywhere. Your sister is safe with-"
"I can take care of myself." Akiko informed the old woman, giving her an emotionless stare. "Thank you for your concern."
Kaede watched her grow farther. "Those eyes…" She muttered, "They gave me the chills. Is she really Kagome-chan's sister? They're…so different."
"I wonder which era is this." Akiko spoke to herself as she walked through the woods.
She had been walking for hours. The sun was already in the highest spot in the sky so it had to be noon. "If I'm not mistaken, there must be a creek nearby." She muttered, spotting some blackberry bushes. She picked out some, carrying them on a wide leaf from another bush, and continued her way.
Her ears picked up the sound of running water not far from there. She went on until she reached it. She saw a girl run and hide behind what seemed a youkai horse just when she stepped out of the woods. The horse glared at her ready to protect the girl, she guessed. She smiled at them. "I'm sorry I startled you." She walked to the creek. "I come only for a drink." She knelt on the creek's edge, setting aside the fruit, and cupped some water in her hands, drinking the fresh liquid.
The girl took a pair of steps away from the youkai horse looking at the woman. "Are you human?"
Akiko looked surprised at the question. "I am." She smiled. "Are you?" She knew she was but decided to chat with the peasant looking girl.
The girl smiled and nodded. "I am!" She walked closer to her. "But if you are human, why are your eyes green like the grass?"
"My mother's eyes are the same color." Akiko took a berry and put it in her mouth.
"Your mother was youkai? Only youkai have strange colored eyes." The girl sat close to her and looked at the berries.
"You may have some." Akiko offered, "And no, she wasn't youkai either."
"Weird…" The girl muttered as she grabbed a berry and popped it into her mouth. "What is your name?"
"Akiko." The raven-haired woman answered with a smile. "Yours?"
"My name is Rin!" The brown-eyed girl chirped.
"Ah…" Akiko looked at the youkai sitting under a tree shade nearby. "May I ask why you're alone here Rin?"
"I'm not!" Rin smiled and munched on a berry. "Ah-un is with me." She pointed at the beast. "And they'll come back soon. He promised!"
"They?" Akiko leaned over and had another drink.
"Yes! Se-" Rin reconsidered what she was about to say, remembering that she had been told not to confide her master's name to human and youkai alike. Her master was a very well known youkai and anyone could use her knowing she was his protégée or so she was explained by the toad servant, Jaken. "My master and his servant will come back soon." She said in a very formal tone she had copied from Jaken.
"Youkai I take it." Akiko looked at Ah-un who seemed to doze off for a moment. "Humans don't possess one of those."
"Yes." Rin nodded, "But they're not bad. They-"
"If he is taking care of you, I am sure he is not." Akiko rose to her feet. "I must leave now." She smiled at Rin and patted her head. "Be a good girl and stay here or your master could get worried if he doesn't find you here."
"Can't you stay and play with me?" The little girl asked looking up at her.
"I would if I had time, but I must find my sister soon." Akiko couldn't help think that this girl reminded her of Kagome. "Take care little Rin." She whispered and kissed her forehead.
"I will Akiko-neesan!" Rin chirped waving good-bye at her. "You take care too!"
Akiko smiled and waved back at her before stepping into the woods again. 'I hope she can be happy like I once was.' She thought. 'With the only difference that she won't have to leave this beautiful place; she belongs to this time.'
Her heart became heavy at that thought. 'Eight years... Nothing has changed except for the faces.' An image of her being kicked several times by town people flashed through her mind. 'The faces are friendlier.' She recalled the earlier events, Rin, the two village boys, and the old miko. 'Even so, I must get back soon. This isn't my world…Never was.'
"Don't you get it, you bastard?" Inuyasha growled at his opponent, their swords shrieking at the friction. "The Tetsaiga is mine! You can't even use it!"
"You are unworthy of such sword." Sesshoumaru jumped back taking advantage of Inuyasha's short distraction and swung his sword at him, releasing a mass of energy at his enemy.
Inuyasha jumped out of the blast's way, immediately sending an attack of his own. "Kaze no kizu!"
The canine youkai brothers were too busy in their battle that they couldn't pick up the scent of the young woman hiding in the woods that surrounded the newly created clear.
"Sesshoumaru doesn't seem to understand he can't have the Tetsaiga." Sango commented to her companions.
Miroku nodded, "Probably he prefers to have it in his possession even if he can't wield it, than knowing his hanyou brother has it."
"I thought he'd give up on the Tetsaiga after defeating the leader of the fire mountain cats." Kagome sighed. "I hoped to have a peaceful night tonight."
The fox child in her arms yawned. "This is getting boring."
Akiko watched as Sesshoumaru attacked Inuyasha over and over, his attacks became stronger with each blow. "I can't believe my luck." She muttered angrily. One of Sesshoumaru's attacks avoided by Inuyasha, headed directly towards the group of humans and youkai watching. "Kagome!" She gasped and grabbed the bead rosary at her neck.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried out as he hurried to block the attack.
"Behind me everyone!" yelled Miroku as he unwrapped the rosary form his hand, ready to suck in the blast into the vortex in his hand.
When the blast was about to hit them it was deflected by a shield that glowed with blue sparkles. The ball of energy went back the way it came, missing Inuyasha for a few millimeters. Sesshoumaru deflected it with little effort with the same sword that had released it.
"Show yourself!" His voice boomed through the clear spot and his eyes didn't waver from the specific place where the intruder stood. He had caught the scent of another human, one that seemed too familiar to him; however he had refused to pay attention to it before.
'Damn!' She thought holding tightly the rosary with her right hand. 'I should have known he'd smell my scent.'
Sesshoumaru had no patience left and sent a blast to where the intruder was. This time it destroyed the trees in the vicinity but his target remained unharmed, protected by the rosary's power.
'There is no way out of this.' Akiko thought as she cast of the shield and stepped on the small pieces of wood, all which was left around her, as she came closer to the battlefield. She ignored the piercing pain on her chest as she stepped closer. 'There is no way out of this.' She thought, keeping a poker face.
"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded, looking at her with distrust.
Sesshoumaru's golden orbs remained on the young woman several meters away from him. He felt his present rage flare even more with sudden memories he believed long forgotten.
Sesshoumaru turned around towards the woods, addressing his brother over his shoulder. "I've spared your life tonight. Be thankful bastard."
"Feh!" Inuyasha sheathed his sword and crossed his arms over the chest. "I'm ready for you any time!"
Kagome and the others ran to Inuyasha. The girl from the future stopped dead on her tracks when she saw the newcomer's face closer.
"Thank you for protecting our lives miko-sama." Sango bowed lightly.
"It was nothing." Akiko paid no attention to them or the grunting youkai. "Kagome."
Kagome was startled out of her thoughts with the cold tone of Akiko's voice. "Onee-san! What are you doing here? How you found me? How you got here?"
"Onee-san?" The others asked in unison with surprise in their voices.
Akiko wasn't disturbed by the quick babble of her sister as she explained the existence of an older sister. Deciding there was no point at lengthening this moment, she spoke up interrupting Kagome. "We're going home so say good-bye to your friends."
"What?" asked a suddenly angry Inuyasha.
"What? Why?" Kagome frowned, looking upset out of the sudden. "You come to the Sengoku Jidai, something I thought only I could do, and tell me to go back calmly as if this was a regular situation! You need to explain what is going on."
"It is too late for you to wander into the forest." Miroku pointed out. "This is youkai's time of the day."
"I can take care of us just fine." Akiko replied with a calm look on her face.
"Kagome is going no where!" Inuyasha growled and stepped in front of Akiko, blocking Kagome from her view.
Akiko noticed the pair of ears on the youkai's head, and the golden orbs. His face was younger but very similar to one she remembered clearly. She smirked, "This world is too little or life is a never ending sarcasm."
"What?" He asked not understanding her words.
"Inuyasha, it is alright." Kagome grabbed him by a sleeve of his red fire rat coat. She turned to her sister. "It is too late and dangerous out there like Miroku said. Why don't you better explain yourself while we set up our campsite again?"
A while later they were gathered around the bon fire except Inuyasha who sat at a branch of a nearby tree. "They're Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kirara. The one at the tree is Inuyasha." Kagome introduced her friends who said hi or nodded, or grunted like Inuyasha's case. "So will you explain why you're here Akiko?"
Akiko sat on a log by her own, her hands resting on her lap. "Your school's principal sent a letter to my shop saying you must take three exams this month or you'll lose this school year. I've come to take you back home."
"That's not good." Kagome sighed, "I can't loose this school year."
"If she does those exams, she'll be alright?" Sango asked.
"If she doesn't fail them, I suppose so." Akiko nodded.
"Then you should go back to your time Kagome-sama. You can come back after you're done." Miroku suggested the best way to go.
"I guess I'll have to. Don't want to do 10th grade all over again." Kagome muttered looking appalled.
"I'll be straight forward with you Kagome." Akiko said in such hard tone that Kagome braced herself for what was coming. "You've never been the role model of a student and you'll be lucky to pass two of those three exams with such short notice." She continued speaking before Kagome could reply. "You won't come back to this time, and that isn't a request Kagome. You'll do as I say."
Kagome gasped, "Onee-san! But-"
"Then she won't leave!" Inuyasha hoped down from his branch and stepped towards Akiko looking menacing. "I need Kagome to find the Shikon no Kakera."
Akiko stood up and looked coldly into his eyes. "You don't decide over her life."
"I-" Inuyasha began but was interrupted by Kagome.
"Neither of you do!" She yelled angrily walking to them. "You come here, pointing out the rights and wrongs, telling everyone what to do like always!" For first time she looked genuinely pissed off, even worse than when she bickered with him, so Inuyasha stepped back to safer ground next to Sango, Miroku and Shippou.
"Did you go home like every fifth day of the month to give mom a check and disappear from our lives till the next fifth day, and happened to notice I was missing?" Kagome asked in a defying tone.
"You're losing your point Kagome, if you ever had one." Akiko looked down at her uninterested on her childish complaints.
"My point is you are no one to tell me what to do or not. My family doesn't mind me coming and going through the well so I'll keep doing it until I wish to!" Kagome breathed heavily and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"You still haven't given me a valid reason Kagome." Akiko kept her poker face set. "I'll give you mine then. First of all, this isn't your time and you're tampering with it by bringing things from ours, not to mention traveling constantly through the well. Second, this place is full of dangers you can't even imagine." Kagome smirked at this. "Third, you ignored my orders of staying away from the well and broke my seal. Fourth, I care about you and what you're doing with your life is of my concern. And fifth, I pay your tuition and I hate to see my money go down the drain when it could be used on something equally important."
Kagome shook her head, "You don't care as much as a sister would. Never have. All you care is about your fortune and see it well spent. I won't go back and abandon my quest." She looked determined, "Even if it costs me a school year."
They stared at each other for a moment in silence, until Akiko spoke, "Well then, if it is your decision, I'll respect it. Just keep yourself safe." She turned away form her and began walking towards the woods.
Kagome couldn't believe her sister had just given in and stared at her in disbelief. 'Is she serious?'
"Wait Akiko-san!" Miroku caught up with her. "You must stay for tonight. It is-"
"I can take care of myself." Akiko answered coldly. She bowed courteously at him, then at the others. "It was nice to meet you all." –'And meeting you again.' She thought while looking at Inuyasha. Having said all she needed to, she departed from their camp site, disappearing in the dark woods.
"Kagome-chan, are you alright?" Sango asked holding her shoulders.
"Kagome snapped out of her shock. "I can't believe it." She whispered, sitting down on the dirt.
"Why you never told us about her Kagome?" Shippou asked as he sat on her lap.
Kagome sighed, "We've never had a good relationship."
"Just like Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha." Miroku commented as he sat next to the two girls. Inuyasha just grunted and went back to his branch.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that." She apologized for her outburst. "Actually we had never argued before, but then we've never had a long talk either."
"How did she find you and why is she dressed as a miko?" Inuyasha asked the most basic questions.
"She's the shrine's miko since father's death, although she rarely works at it." Kagome looked at him. "But I had no idea she could travel through the well. I thought the only reason I was able to do so was due to my connection to the shikon no tama. Much less do I know how she found us."
"Kagome-chan, shouldn't you go after her? She's an easy prey for youkai." Sango muttered.
"Feh! She can used\ that shield of hers. No need to worry." Inuyasha muttered, "It felt awfully strong for a human, but her scent is of one."
"I didn't know Akiko had any power at all." Kagome said softly, "She must be very upset with all I said."
"Hurt would be more accurate." Miroku pointed out, "After all she was worried for your safety."
Kagome sighed and rubbed the back of her head thoughtfully. "I'm such an idiot."
Akiko walked through the forest aided only by the full moon's rays coming through the thick foliage in small spots. 'I should reach the well by sunrise. Then I'll rest in my bed for days and forget this every happened.' She thought, 'And hopefully forget-' She froze on her steps when she saw the figure sitting on a fallen tree on a small clear a few meters ahead bathed in moonlight. 'Him.'
Sesshoumaru stood up and walked in his usual regal way towards her. His right hand set on one of his swords at the left side of his waist, unsheathing it as he stepped closer. His face showed no emotions but his eyes remained locked on those of his prey.
Akiko pulled out f her back the sheathed kodachi. She unsheathed it just in time to defend herself from the youkai's attack, using it as a physical shield. She was human, but not and ordinary one. Yet, she stood no chance against the great lord of the western lands.
The blue shield covered Akiko protecting her from the youkai's sword. Without it she would have been divided into halves. "I have no business with you!" She declared as her blade met his again. Her shoulders were in pain due to the force he applied on the weapon against hers.
"Is that so?" Sesshoumaru seemed enraged by her words and blasted her away. He saw her back hit a tree's trunk and heard her cry. Walking to where she had fallen he looked down at her limp form, already unconscious. A thread of blood trickled out through a corner of her mouth.
Sheathing his sword, he picked her up by the waist, leaving her sword behind. He walked towards the creek where Jaken and Rin awaited.
Jaken gasped at the sight, "Sesshoumaru-sama! Is that-" He stopped his question by the simple glare of his master. 'He's picking up filthy strays again.' He thought glancing at Rin for a second.
"We're going home Jaken." The youkai lord looked at Rin who slept on Ah-un.
Jaken took some seconds to process the information. "Y-yes Sesshoumaru-sama! » He stammered and ran to Ah-un shaking the sleeping girl.
Sesshoumaru looked down at Akiko. Her long hair was pulled over her head hiding her face but her neck and some of her shoulder was uncovered. His golden orbs were set on what could be seen of her markings that had begun to take a light pink color.
Taking his eyes off her, he walked to Ah-un laying her on her stomach over the beast's back. Rin was half asleep still, muttering non-sense at the back. Sesshoumaru sat on the saddle and then gave his order to the beast. "Take us home Ah-un." The beast floated up to the sky with ease, headed to the western lands.