DiSclAimeR: I don't own Inu-Yasha
JeniNeji Comments:
Thanks for the Reviews, Demon de Reves and Pandora of the south! I hope you like this installment too!
ENJOY!
Title:Sprite
Author: JeniNeji
Theme:Seasons Challenge - Spring
Genre: Angst, Romance
Rating: K+
Warnings: Character'sdeath
Word Count:1014
A/N: Part 2 of 4 of Wishless Serial
Chapter Summary: Kagome decides to move on,
without anyone's help. But she might encounter
something else…
xxoOoxx
It was the first time when the comforting and intangible presence of Inu-Yasha left her since weeks ago. That was unexpected and frightening; it was her only reassurance left, the only thing which kept her sane as she continued the hunt for the remaining shard.
Two months have passed since both Inu-Yasha and Naraku died, but a familiar youki had enveloped her a week after Inu-Yasha passed away. She was certain it was him, it felt very much the same, the same essence and she could even get a familiar scent. Yes, sometimes she wondered if she was losing it, but for now, it helped her. The presence chose that moment to return, she smiled relieved.
It was strange though, she hadn't seen a sole demon since Inu-Yasha's ghost appeared. It was mutual, they both missed each other. It was as if his presence somehow terrified others from approaching her, even when she carried the Jewel, minus a shard, on her neck.
Yes, that also unsettled her, but who was she to complain? That seemed suicidal, and she certainly wasn't hoping to die soon, not with that small heaven she had just come upon.
With little care or fear she raced towards a hot spring, taking off her shoes as she followed the path down, then went her socks, her book bag, skirt and the remaining clothes. A minute later she was soaked from head to toes on placid warm waters with a pink towel resting peacefully over a nearby rock. She had always loved these little luxuries. In her time, one had to pay a great sum to indulge in this simplicity.
Once again Inu-Yasha stole on her thoughts. He had died protecting her, as he swore he would always do. She guessed he was happily reunited with Kikyo, since he had already made clear he would love only her, even before he died. So, the only thing she had to do was to protect herself as best she could so he wouldn't have to worry for her anymore, she will be no one else's weakness anymore.
She dried, took her things and continued on her way an hour later, but…
Little did she know that every step she made was being mirrored by the silent taiyoukai who followed her, the blood of the last demon who had dared made a way for her Jewel dripping from his claws.
xxoOoxx
Finding the last shard turned out to be difficult, but not as much as she had imagined. Getting it seemed like a totally different story.
A week had passed since she felt the subtle calling of a shard and since then she had been following it almost non-stop. Almost, she had taken the life-threatening and laborious routine of sleeping merely two hours, using her noisy watch's alarm to awake her, to continue her chase. However, little by little, the shard became more silent, and it was escaping her.
She inwardly cursed her humanity and her lack of quickest transport, but there was little she could do. She was human after all, just a woman with meager miko powers.
Her legs were yelling their tiredness and her feet were sore, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep going much further. At least it was spring, she consoled. The flowery trees and the bird's songs eased her frustration a tiny bit, but did little against the annoying sweat.
As darkness fell she succumbed to sleep, content with her inexistent companion as he shared some of his support, with the alluring way his presence sheeted around her. This time, she decided against the alarm and for the first time in the week, slept her exhaustion away.
xxoOoxx
Three days have passed, and she finally reached the throbbing pulse of the last shard. Since the day she slept without alarm, the shard had maintained a static location.
She stopped and placed her hands on her hips. She looked up from the cliffs to have her mouth hang open as she came face to face with a gigantic castle. The castle was several floors tall and painted with blacks and grays, a real masterpiece. It held three watch towers, various storage towers and only one entrance.
Suddenly she felt very small and vulnerable, and she had to admit it had something to do with the massive youki which emanated from the castle. It was undoubtedly a youkai's castle, and nothing like the Wolves Den… this was, sophisticated.
But the pulsing was there, so there was no other way. Making a short test of her miko powers and raising a protective barrier a few times gave her enough confidence to begin the walk down to the imposing castle. It was a steep way and sometimes the passage became so thin that she felt like she as going to slip down to the cliff, but thankfully, she survived.
With a determined smile she finally arrived at the unbelievably high gates and called. After a few moments the gates came open and a youkai guard bowed with a hand over his heart respectfully. Kagome shrieked away from him, fearing the sudden formality.
"Welcome back, Sesshomaru-sama" he intoned with respect.
A surprised gasp escaped her and she turned around just to encounter the almighty Lord of the West walking towards her. With just a furtive glance her way, the inu youkai lord walked past her and inside the castle walls.
A few seconds later, she felt the Shikon shard move once again and she hurried to follow Sesshomaru. Ignoring the questioning stares, she followed until they reached the entrance. There, the shard was just behind the…
The door came abruptly open and a small human girl rushed from it, instantly colliding against Sesshomaru's leg. The girl blurted too many things and Kagome was unable to understand half of what she was saying… and not only that, the single Shikon shard hanging from the girl's necklace was distracting, of course, but what was more incredible was the bright pureness it emitted. There was no other way around; Rin was also a very special miko.
xxoOoxx
To be continued…
xxoOoxx
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