A/N: This chapter took me a bit of time to write. It was kind of confusing because some scenes happen at the same time. And actually by Kagome's chronological standards the first and second scene should be switched around. But I guess that's what happens when you write a story with a lot of time travel and stuff like that. I hope it makes sense. I'm sorry there's not a whole lot of action. This is more of an "idea" sort of fanfiction.
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Inuyasha that this is roughly based off of. Nor do I own the song "Twilight" that I'm using lyrics from for my chapter titles. However the Thornthrope Clan does belong to me and so does the plot… to a certain extent. Who can really say they own a plot? No plot is original
Chapter Two: Show What Needed to be Shown
He heard the scream before he felt the evil aura. But to Sesshomaru the aura meant nothing. He had expected it. Instead he spun around and rushed back in the direction he had left Kagome. He watched as the jewel shards and a few strands of her hair fell into the pond before stepping forward and catching Kagome's limp body.
Her cheeks were red from fever and her body shook in varying extremes of spasms. Sesshomaru gently pulled open one of her eyelids and saw her eyes whiz back and forth, a cloudy film turning her brown irises a grayish color. He frowned, looking around to see if anybody that might know her was nearby. But he saw nobody. The graveyard had been strangely empty all day.
Just as he was lifting Kagome up in his arms, the ground started to rumble. Fissures cracked open, sending up steam into the air, and a few trees fell to the ground. Dark clouds rushed over the sky, blotting out the sun, and spinning into a great red vertex at the very zenith. Warm air blew up and toward the strange cloud formation grabbing at Sesshomaru's cape and Kagome's hair.
Everything started to slow down but Sesshomaru still cast a weary eye over his surroundings. Suddenly Kagome gave another cry, gripping the collar of his trench coat, her knuckles turning ivory white. The ground buckled and around every single fissure what looked like tree roots pushed up, sprouting nasty thick thorns with white tips. Sesshomaru shivered as the evil aura pushed in on him, nearly suffocating him.
"Inuyasha!" cried Kagome, filmy eyes opening and staring past Sesshomaru to something he couldn't see. "Help me!"
He frowned, gripping the human girl more comfortably in his arms, before launching himself into the air. His house wasn't far. In mere seconds he set down in his front lawn, noticing that the strange thorn roots had not reached this far. Sesshomaru recalled the vial and Kagome's hair falling into the pond. The evil aura was coming from there. He was certain of it.
But he didn't have time to think on that as Kagome seemed to start to spasm into a full blown seizure. A growl started in the bottom of Sesshomaru's throat and he quickly lay her down on a mat. Gently he applied pressure on her legs just above the knees and on her chest. Her body bucked for several seconds but couldn't seem to fight against his restraining hands. Finally with a rattling intake of breath Kagome's body stilled and she lay easily.
Sesshomaru looked at her for a few minutes, trying to judge if the crisis was past. She seemed to be breathing easier and her fever was already dropping. But she looked rather exhausted, her body spent after such short moments. He reached out and pushed a bit of dark hair out of her face.
He frowned and moved away. He would get her some water for when she woke up. She would probably appreciate that.
"Lord Sesshomaru," said a voice as he stepped out of the small hut. "So you did make it. How nice."
The boy appeared to be near Kagome's age but Sesshomaru knew better. His hand instinctively went to his waist before he realized he did not have his swords. A grin passed over the boy's face, spreading wider than what should be humanly possible, showing off pointed white teeth. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, pulling off his gloves and flexing his fingers.
"I see you've made it, Bevyn," growled Sesshomaru. "Five minutes ago you were still dead."
"Yes, well tricky thing time," chuckled Bevyn. "Especially when she exists."
Sesshomaru held up his hand and cracked his knuckles threateningly. The boy shrugged and turned away slightly. The red light from the cloud funnel caught Bevyn, changing his human appearance. His dark brown hair grew several inches, ending in spikes. Quills grew from his forearms and his nails sharpened into points. Golden eyeliner appeared just above his dark, black eyes.
"So is this about the time your ghost shows up?" asked Bevyn, smirking. "In the past, of course."
"Leave now," snapped Sesshomaru. "All goes right I won't need to waste my time killing you here."
"No?" said Bevyn, cocking his head to the side. "What makes you think you can? After all, I've lived through all these years too…"
Lightning cracked, blinding Sesshomaru for just a moment. When his vision cleared Bevyn was gone and in the distance there was a rumble as more thorn roots broke out of the ground.
"What is it?" asked a weak voice from behind Sesshomaru. He spun around and caught Kagome by the elbow as she leaned against the doorframe. Her face was especially pale and her eyes were almost entirely grey. They were fixed on the clouds.
"Time vortex," said Sesshomaru feeling slightly silly saying it. After all he only knew that because in the past somebody would describe it as such to him. "As long as what ever is happening in the past stays the same the future will continue to change. We can hope your friends change the past for the better."
"They do, don't they?" asked Kagome, pleading eyes resting on Sesshomaru's shadowed face. "I mean, you've been there…"
"When I went through it they did…" said Sesshomaru slowly. "But it is likely that it can change. With the time vortex there is always two tries to get the desired future. When the past is present and when it is parallel to the future…"
Kagome shook her head slightly then paused, putting a hand to her temple. Then slowly she seemed to become aware that he was still holding onto her elbow.
"You're right," she said in a quiet voice. "You're not the Sesshomaru I knew. Time has really changed you."
"People have changed me," said Sesshomaru in a low voice. "Time would have had me stay the same."
Kagome's grey eyes met his and she seemed to understand to a certain extent. At least she seemed to notice the spark of anger and hurt in his eyes. Likely she would never know, and never quite understand, what Sesshomaru had been through. Probably she only thought of Rin, the young girl he had once taken care of. He had watched her grow up and live a happy life with Kohaku. Forty-seven was a long life span even then but both Sesshomaru and Kohaku had agreed it was too young. The undead demon slayer had finally forfeited his life to follow Rin into the next life.
But there was more to Sesshomaru's change than one human girl.
"You should rest," said Sesshomaru gently. "I will get you some water."
"Thank you, Sesshomaru," murmured Kagome, eyes flickering shut and leaning against his chest.
Kikyo's body was thrown with force through the doorway. The girl, Fern, smiled at her.
"Enjoy yourself, Priestess," she said. "This is where you will stay for the rest of your life."
"What are you doing?" snapped Kikyo, glad to know she could speak and move her body again. Her hand went to her neck but was not at all shocked to notice the jewel was gone.
Fern merely smirked before shutting the door with an ominous bang. There was still light to be seen by but that would not have deterred Kikyo. She did not see in ordinary human ways. Still she got to her feet and looked around. There wasn't much to see except some oil lamps and a long hallway with several doors. One opened an inch and Kikyo noticed a pair of lavender eyes before the door shut quickly.
"Kikyo?"
The voice was so faint the priestess almost thought she hadn't heard it. But when she turned she faintly made out the outline of another human girl. She was just a few inches shorter than Kikyo with dark hair, grey-brown eyes, and wearing strange clothes she'd never seen before.
"Kagome? What are you doing here?" asked Kikyo, taking a step backwards and putting a hand to her chest again. Her failing to keep the jewel safe seemed even worse knowing that this girl now knew about it.
"I'm not really sure that I am here," muttered Kagome, holding up a hand and looking at it. Kikyo blinked as she noticed that the light seemed to stream through the girl's hand. "I think physically I'm still in my time…"
"Do you think you can go anywhere?" asked Kikyo.
"Let me check," said Kagome, turning around and walking through a wall. Even though Kikyo had seen the light pass through the girl she still couldn't help but be surprised. But a few seconds later Kagome appeared suddenly just to Kikyo's right. "Nope. I think I'm stuck with you."
"Odd," said Kikyo, eyeing her reincarnation. She wondered if perhaps she was the only one that could see the girl. Perhaps she was simply a hallucination. After all Kikyo was not receiving an souls in this place. Maybe her body was "starving" and her mind was playing tricks because of it.
"No, I don't think so," said Kagome thoughtfully. "After all you have a piece of my soul in you," she pointed out. "Maybe mine is attracted to you because of that."
Once Kagome said it the idea made perfect sense to Kikyo. She frowned and thought about it for just a few moments then nodded.
"It could also be my piece of your soul fighting to stay alive," she added. "I'm trapped here and am not receiving dead souls."
There was an uncomfortable silence between the two priestesses. But a small creak grabbed their attention and Kikyo peered down the hallway to a small boy with lavender eyes and dun colored fur. It was a small lynx demon.
"You should be careful here," muttered the demon. "This is a demon ward. I think the Thornthropes are trying to play a dirty trick on you."
"What do you mean?" asked Kikyo sharply. She caught Kagome sending her a dirty look. It didn't appear the lynx demon noticed the transparent girl. Kikyo sighed, trying to be nicer to a demon.
"They're half demons," said the boy, fidgeting. "They think half demons are the strongest species and plan to rid the world of everything but half demons and regular humans."
"If they do that half demons will go extinct," said Kagome with a gasp. The lynx seemed to think Kikyo said it because his lavender eyes flickered to the undead priestess's face.
"That's why we're not dead," said the lynx demon. "They'll keep the stronger, younger demons and mothers so they continue to breed half demons."
"Which is why they would keep humans," said Kikyo, frowning. Suddenly the demonic aura from earlier made sense. It had actually been Fern. She was a half demon. After all that time spent with Inuyasha Kikyo felt ashamed that she hadn't recognized that earlier.
"It's a demon holocaust," said Kagome with a deep frown.
Tears welled up in the lynx demon's eyes. Just as the transparent girl reached out, as if to comfort the small boy, Kagome completely vanished. Kikyo felt her absence like a terrible ache in her chest. She gasped, feeling icy air spread through her lungs and body. Her legs shook and she collapsed to her knees.
"Priestess?" said the demon boy. "Priestess, are you alright?"
Kikyo couldn't answer. It was up to Kagome, she suddenly realized, to save her. The once powerful priestess was suddenly reliant on a girl. A girl who had the power to steal the one man Kikyo could ever love. The thought came upon Kikyo so suddenly she curled in upon herself like it was a physical pain.
Of all her moments after death in that one she felt the most alive.
"Where is Kagome?"
The hanyou tapped his foot with gaining impatience. He had given Kagome an entire month at home. Inuyasha had hope that with that amount of time his apology wouldn't sound empty and half hearted. What he hadn't realized was that right away it would have been half hearted. Because he still thought he had chosen Kikyo. But after that month without contact from either woman he missed Kagome the most.
He'd never admit it and hated that the monk was giving him such a knowing look.
"Why don't you go and find her?" sighed Sango. She was absentmindedly polishing her giant weapon, her brunette hair completely down and cascading around her shoulders. It was the first time, Inuyasha realized, that he had seen her hair down. She usually had it bound someway, especially when they were fighting.
Naraku's death has brought everybody some relief, thought Inuyasha also taking in how relaxed Miroku was. Without the constant fear of his Wind Tunnel the monk had little to worry about. But it meant he had more time to analyze Inuyasha.
"I went through the well," snapped Inuyasha. "Nobody was home! I'm not going to go wandering around her time. Do you realize how mad she'd be at me?"
"True enough," said Miroku with a shrug. "Perhaps they have moved, though."
"She'd come back," said Shippo, sounding so confident. Then the small fox demon frowned and glanced at the faces of each of his friends. "Wouldn't she? I mean, she care about us right?" Nobody said anything. The answer was obvious: of course Kagome cared. But she cared so much it drained her of so much energy. They didn't blame her in the least. "She always came back before," said Shippo, trying to sound sure of himself again. But there was small hint of uncertainty.
"She came back because only she could sense the jewel shards," said Sango, pushing her weapon away. "We couldn't do anything without her. Now that Naraku is dead and Kikyo has the jewel…"
"Not the entire jewel," grumbled Inuyasha.
"Yes," said Miroku, nodding. "She'd have to come to return the jewel shards. But afterwards…"
"No," said Inuyasha, jumping to his feet. "Kikyo told her not to. Because if she gave up the jewel shards Kikyo doesn't think the well would let her through anymore…"
"How very kind of Kikyo," said Sango coldly.
Inuyasha frowned. Sango always seemed to have a way of sounding like a nastier version of Kagome. And lately her small remarks made the hanyou feel rather guilty. He wondered if perhaps that was how Kagome felt but she was too kind to even think such thoughts. With a small sigh he turned from the others and exited Kaede's small house. He needed to get away from the stuffy environment. Nobody spoke up to stop him.
Without realizing it his feet started taking him up toward the well. A few feet from it Inuyasha had a mad home that maybe Kagome was coming out at that very moment. Maybe he could surprise her and carry her giant bag without being asked. But as he stepped out of the trees he saw nothing but grass and the wooden well. After a month the wind, rain, and sun had all but taken away Kagome's scent from this place. The place that use to smell of nothing but her nice scent.
"Hey mutt," spat a rather too familiar voice. But Inuyasha didn't turn to look at the wolf demon. He simply walked over to the well and peered down inside it. "Where's Kagome?"
"Away," sighed Inuyasha.
There was a pause. It wasn't the response Koga had been expecting. But Inuyasha didn't quite have the energy to be indignant. In fact he couldn't blame Koga in the slightest. Suddenly Inuyasha thought that maybe Kagome deserved somebody like Koga that was going to love her completely. That certainly wasn't Inuyasha. He'd given too much to Kikyo…
"What do you mean away?" asked Koga. "When is she coming back?"
"I don't know," said Inuyasha. "Maybe never. I haven't had a chance to apologize yet."
"Apologize?" growled Koga. "What did you do this time?"
Inuyasha looked up, the horrible feeling Sango had given him already starting to disspate, and managed a small glare at the wolf. What did he care? Koga would jump at any chance he could make. The only reason he'd want to know what Inuyasha did was to make fun of him for it. There was no way Inuyasha was going to admit anything to that bloody wolf.
"Now if it isn't my baby brother."
There was a flash of brown fur as a slender woman jumped and spun out of a tree. She landed between Koga and Inuyasha, a smirk on her angular face and green eyes merely on the wolf demon. Her hair was pulled back into a waist length braid except for two locks on either side of her face. She had brown wolf ears with black tips but other than that looked perfectly human in a green kimono. The scent of roses quickly overpowered Inuyasha's nose and brought his sleeve up to try and block it.
The scent seemed to have a greater affect on Koga. The wolf stood shaking, his face pale and eyes wide in fear. The woman cocked her head to the side, her hair swaying slightly. The scent became stronger and Koga collapsed to his knees.
"You… you b-bitch," gasped Koga. "Rhosyn…"
"Awww… How kind, you've remembered your half sister," laughed the woman, bringing a delicate hand up to her mouth. "You, a full demon, deem to keep a half demon in your memory. I am honored."
"Half demon?" gasped Inuyasha. The scent of roses suddenly didn't seem to bother him anymore. Whatever it had done to Koga it had done it and wasn't needed anymore. Luckily Inuyasha was only a half demon. Luckily?
Rhosyn held up a hand, eyes flickering to the half dog demon. Around her wrist Inuyasha saw a bracelet of thorns and a charm of a rose wrapping around a sword. The scent seemed to emanate from it.
"I'll get to you in a moment, Inuyasha," said the woman. "First I must teach my brother what happens to those that do not accept the full power of a half demon."
Sweat was breaking out on Koga's face and something about this woman, Rhosyn, made Inuyasha uneasy. He pulled out the Tetsuiga, pointing it at the back of the other half demon's back.
"You're after the jewel shards, aren't you?" growled Inuyasha. The woman's back stiffened before she spun around and smiled at Inuyasha.
"But of course," she laughed.
Before Inuyasha could move Rhosyn had grabbed the wolf demon around the neck, holding him up. The bracelet moved and the rose scent overwhelmed Inuyasha's nose making his arms feel heavy.
"Perhaps this is not the time, dear Inuyasha," said Rhosyn with a smile that lit up her entire face. Inuyasha felt his face go red and his legs went stiff. But then he remembered the bracelet and scent. Could she be using some kind of magic? "But you'll wish to join the Thornthrope Clan soon enough. After all as a half demon you'd understand what we're trying to do."
Wait! thought Inuyasha, trying to force the words out. But golden light broke out of the ground, twirling around Rhosyn and Koga like the thorn vines of the woman's bracelet. There was a blinding flash and whatever had kept Inuyasha frozen in place faded away. The shock of it send him crashing to the ground. He lay there for a moment, shaking, before realizing the full implications of it.
They were after the jewel. Kikyo… she was in danger! So was Kohaku and Kagome… No, only Kagome was safe.
Inuyasha glanced once at the well before sheathing his sword and rushing back to the others. They could go find Kohaku while he searched for Kikyo. And hopefully, he found himself thinking, he wasn't simply leading the woman to the rest of the jewel.
When Kagome fell asleep again she almost expected to go back to Kikyo. The thought was slightly annoying because she hadn't felt at all rested after the last time. But at the same time she was worried that the undead priestess might fade away without Kagome. Instead she did seem to actually get some sleep, as if her body was resting in a great dark purple expanse. There was no pain this time, not like when her spirit had been called to Kikyo.
She wasn't being ripped from her body this time, she realized, but simply floating away.
The thought worried Kagome and she suddenly started struggling. But she felt like she was fighting against the strong current of a river and couldn't swim up it toward her body. Finally after a small sob she gave up and let the water take her where it wanted. When a bright light appeared and seemed to swallow her she realized that the "water" was actually time. It had been like traveling through the well except for it took longer.
But she didn't come up next to the well. Neither did Kagome look around and see Kikyo. Instead she stood in a clearing, the grass thick with dew, and saw a cheerful young girl running around with… Kohaku. Kagome gasped, eyes wide, as she recognized the girl as Rin, the one with Sesshomaru. With that realization Kagome spun around, searching for the golden eyes and silver hair of the dog demon.
He was standing right next to her, eyes peering down at the top of her head. There was a frown on his face but he had not reached for his weapon.
"Can you see me?" asked Kagome.
"Who are you?" growled Sesshomaru.
Kagome blinked, puzzled. Did he not recognize her? Of course he might not know her name but they had run into each other often enough. He ought to recognize her at least as the wench that followed his half brother around. After all he recognized her in the future…
A wind blew through the trees, violently grabbing at Sesshomaru's hair and clothes. He looked up, almost as if he expected Kagura, and rested a hand against a tree. Kagome felt nothing and suddenly realized that she was even more transparent than she had been with Kikyo. In fact the only reason she could make her body was from a strange grey sheen on her skin.
Rin screamed as something pushed a tree down into the clearing. Without a second glance at Kagome Sesshomaru rushed out toward the tree, pulling out his sword and using its demonic aura to explode the wood into hundreds of small splinters. Kohaku rushed forward, pushing Rin to the ground and guarding her against the brunt of the danger. But Kagome was watching the figure standing on the other side of where the tree had been falling.
There were quills on each of his forearms and he had golden eye shadow. Despite all of the obvious signs that he was a demon, Kagome couldn't help but think of him as her age. He honestly looked like he was only seventeen though something about him was slightly familiar.
"What do you want here, demon?" asked Sesshomaru, pointing his sword at the boy.
A glint came into the boy's eyes, as if he was amused by what Sesshomaru had said. He held up an arm, using it to push Sesshomaru blade to the side. Kagome felt her spirit sliding closer to him as annoyed anger passed over the dog demon's face. But before he could swing his sword to attack the strange boy the demon placed his other hand on Sesshomaru's chest.
A grin passed over the boy's face, showing off rows of pointed teeth.
"Half demon, actually," said the boy. "But I can understand your confusion…"
Kagome opened her mouth to cry out before she even knew for certain that Sesshomaru was in danger. A circle of gold energy descended from the boy's shoulder and down into his fingernails. The quills on his arms straightened out and suddenly shot away like missiles. They pierced through Sesshomaru's armor, shattering it, and through his chest. His mouth gaped open not only in surprise but in pain.
"Sesshomaru!" shouted Kagome, her voice mingling with Rin's. She found her arms wrapping around the dog demon's body and though they phased right through his body she found herself holding his quivering spirit. She was surprised when her arms hit something warm and solid. Looking at it, Kagome watched Sesshomaru's spirit take the form of a large dog. "Oh god…"
"Leave the girl alone," snapped Kohaku, dragging Kagome's attention away from Sesshomaru.
"Oh, I don't want her," said the half demon, rolling his eyes. "Just the shard in your back. No harm need come to her. She'll be more useful when she grows up."
Sesshomaru had collapsed to the ground but at the half demon's words seemed to struggle to get up. Kagome tightened her grip on his spirit hoping it would keep him from harming himself anymore. If the demon attacked Rin might get hurt. She hated risking Kohaku but there was little she could do, especially if he was willing to sacrifice himself.
"No, Kohaku," cried Rin, hugging the young demon slayer around the waist. "I don't want to lose you." There were tears in the girl's eyes and Kagome's heart wrenched at the sight. She nearly let go of Sesshomaru.
The half demon shrugged, striding the few feet to the two children. Kohaku quivered seeming to realize his weapon wasn't in reach. Nobody had been very prepared. With Naraku gone they hadn't expected a new attack. Kagome choked back a sob but still tears ran down transparent tears. The dog in her arms growled and struggled against her hold for a few seconds before whining and dropping his head to pant. Even Sesshomaru's spirit was tired. Kagome feared that the dog demon's strength was waning.
"Get back," cried Kohaku, throwing out an arm as if that could shield Rin. "I'm… I'm warning you."
The half demon sighed. "You just have to make things difficult for us. Very well, if you insist…"
"Kohaku!" cried a voice from the trees.
"Sango?" muttered Kagome.
The giant boomerang crashed through the trees aimed right for the half demon. But the boy only glanced at it before putting his hand to Kohaku's forehead. The young demon slayers eyes went wide in silent pain before they rolled back into his head. Then in a flash of golden light they were gone.
Kagome screamed as the light washed over her. Sesshomaru's spirit looked up at her, his golden eyes filled with… worry? No, not quite. But something. But Kagome felt herself fading and soon wrenched toward her own body. She felt like she was falling and when her spirit connected with her physical body all her muscles lurched and she lay there, panting.
Tears stung her eyes and her entire body ached. Her hand most of all. Kagome sat up, staring down at her clenched fist. There was something in it, she realized. Slowly she uncurled her fingers, gasping as her knuckles popped one after the other. Resting in her palm was one strand of silver hair.
Sesshomaru's hair.
She glanced up at the present day dog demon standing the doorway, arms crossed. He seemed to realize what she had just been through.
"I need something of Inuyasha's," she blurted out. "Do you have anything?"
Sesshomaru's gaze was unblinking and it was only then that Kagome realized that his cloak was off. His hair was pulled into a ponytail at the base of his skull but still just as long as ever. The usual crescent and stripes were on his face and he still wore eye shadow. Of course he wouldn't look much like Sesshomaru without it.
When he nodded and turned away Kagome almost forgot she had asked a question. She only hoped her theory was correct.
A/N: There's kind of an importance to the order in which I introduce the Thornthrope Clan in this chapter. Bevyn, Fern, and then Rhosyn. I'll let you think about that. Again, I hope you can try and figure out Kagome's chronology by the hints I give in the fanfic. But basically the three Thornthropes are going after the jewel at around the same time. I know the whole "Kagome Spirit" thing is a little weird. I'm messing around with new ideas. I hope the character aren't too out of character :S Read and review please! I'd love some feedback on what you think and how I could make it better.