Chapter Four- Intuition
He sensed the presence of the youkai he was expecting.
"Come in."
The kitsune bowed before stating, "You called for me, General?"
With his back turned towards the kistune, he said, "I've met the owner of that book."
Green eyes noticed the worn out history textbook on top of the General's desk.
Immediately, the kistune went tense as Sesshomaru felt the waves of shock and disbelief emitting from his aura.
"She's here," he breathed out, perhaps doubting that this was all a dream. The dream he dreamt so many times over the centuries, of one day reuniting with Kagome.
"You will tell me everything now."
The kistune looked at the General who was now staring straight at him. Never had he questioned him about the history textbook until now. 'If Sesshomaru has met Kagome, then it was safe to tell him,' he guessed.
"How did you know the history textbook was from Kagome?"
Sesshomaru flipped the book to its last page. Pointing at a small scribble of words, the kistune read 'Kagome Higurashi'.
The kistune chuckled revealing his fangs.
Red and orange shades mixed in his hair as it was tied up in a high pony tail that reached his waist.
His chiseled face replaced the youthful appearance he once had.
No longer was his wide green eyes filled with innocence,
They were sharper and held wisdom that matched his youkai age.
"Shippo," Sesshomaru said sharply, demanding answers.
After a pause, Shippo's expression grew dark as he remembered the past. "Before the last fight with Naraku, I had a feeling she was going to leave the feudal era and return to her time. I could just feel it in my gut. So, the young and naive kitsune, that I was, thought that if I had one thing that belonged to her, it wouldn't hurt too much when she left us. I took her history textbook, not knowing what it truly was, and hid it near the Goshinboku tree."
Shippo neared the worn out book and grazed it lovingly as if stroking the face of the woman who loved him unconditionally. With dazed eyes, memories flashed before him. "I held onto this book for a hundred years, until I was old enough to realize how accurate the book was in predicting the future. I knew something like this was powerless in my hands."
Shippo stared at his General and finished, "That is why I gave it to you."
"Though I wonder why you never asked me about this earlier. It seems you are quite interested," Shippo said with a smirk.
Raising a brow, he simply said, "You looked like you'd rather choose death than reveal the secrets behind the book. I have no use for a dead kistune."
A cold shiver ran up Shippo's spine. He admitted that was the truth though. Kagome had once told him that the more people knew about her time travel, the more risk there was for something to change. That was why Kagome and Inuyasha never talked about the future. Not even after she left did Inuyasha speak of it.
"Also, that mission will be completed today." Cold eyes narrowed towards the kistune.
Shippo tensed and breathed out, "Who will be in charge?"
"The Miko."
##
Blink blink.
Kagome stared at the three members sitting on her office couch. Under her intense gaze, the female that looked so much like Sango and the male that looked identical to Shippo, began to shift uncomfortably in their seat.
"Shall we introduce ourselves?" A cheerful voice interrupted. Kagome stared at the owner of the voice. His short black hair and black suit contrasted against his pale white skin. Kagome saw the cheerful smile on his lips, yet his purple eyes seemed hollow.
"My name is Hikaru. I'm from the crow clan... well the last member of the crow clan. You can tell by my wings." Kagome gasped as black feathers spurted out from Hikaru's back and formed wings. Mesmerized, she whispered, "Beautiful."
A flicker of emotion passed through his face before a huge smile appeared on his lips. Hikaru laughed loudly and said, "Thank you, thank you."
With the ice broken, a shy voice said, "Hello, my name is Kannako. I am the descendent of the taijiya clan."
Blue eyes brimmed with tears, yet she refused to let them fall. Kagome stared at Kannako who looked just like her dear friend. Grabbing Kannako's hand, which shocked the poor girl, she shook them fervently. "I'm so glad we met, Kannako."
"I am Itsuki." The kistune youkai stood up from his seat and saluted towards Kagome. She watched his serious expression and smiled. She wondered how Shippo had changed.
"Ah, you're always so serious, my son," a familiar voice entered the room.
Her eyes flew towards the direction of the voice. "Shippo!" She exclaimed loudly and ran towards him. Wrapping her arms around him, she embraced the kistune that she had so much love for. Now in the modern times, she could no longer wrap her entire arms around him. With his height, she had to now stand of the tip of her toes. His childish scent now replaced with a manly one. His head no longer in reach for her to stroke it. Breaking away from the embrace, she held in her tears.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Itsuki said in surprise. Kagome's expression softened as she saw Itsuki's once serious face crumble into the look of awe before his father. 'Still his father's little boy,' Kagome thought.
"I thought you should know something about your team leader," Shippo informed the team members.
"Well, she is a new recruit. We don't know anything about her, neh?" A cheerful smile appeared on Hikaru's lips.
Kagome looked at Hikaru wondering if those words held a hint of resentment. The cheerful appearance hid whatever he wanted to hide well hidden.
Clearing his throat, Shippo said, "Yes, the General has specifically chosen Higurashi as the team leader, so pick your battles wisely." Shippo glared at the smiling crow before ordering the team members to leave.
One by one, each member bowed before exiting her office. Unable to look away from the grown kistune, she whispered, "I can handle my own battles, Shippo."
"I know you can, Kagome." His eyes softened towards only her.
She knew now was not the time to catch up on their past. Sucking in a breath, she asked, "So what is my mission?"
Shippo stiffened and furrowed his brows. He gave her the file he was holding and allowed her to look through the notes and pictures. "There is one youkai rebel I need you to bring back."
Her eyes landed upon a picture of a kistune youkai that appeared 15 years old and looked exactly like Shippo. Kagome looked up to see a father's face filled with sorrow. "He has a gentle soul, Kagome. Masaru, my second son, can be a bit irrational sometimes, but I fear I made him go to such lengths and join the youkai rebels."
Kagome held a hand towards Shippo and brushed his cheeks. "I'll bring him back. I promise."
Knowing that her promises were not lightly taken, he felt a burden lift from his shoulders. If anyone could save his son, he knew Kagome could do it.
##
On the second story office, through the glass walls, golden eyes remained glued onto her hand that rested upon the kistune's cheek.
Averting his attention, he walked over to his desk and opened up the book. As if memorized, he turned to the page that showed an ancient drawing of an inuyoukai and human girl. The folktale had been about a cold hearted inuyoukai, who slaughtered millions of innocent people, learning to care for a little human girl. Clawed hands brushed over the folktale that had been scribbled over with a pen. Beside it was a paragraph as if the folktale was rewritten.
The tale of Sesshomaru and Rin. An inuyoukai on a quest to find supreme power encounters a little human girl who teaches him unconditional love. Having travelled alone for many centuries, he was unfamiliar with emotions. Their silent interactions between him and the little girl allowed him to observe and feel what was once foreign to him. Those who feared him tried to kill him. Those who knew him saw the kindness buried deep down in his heart.
When he first read this, he scoffed at her fantasies about him. Then, he was furious that she made him appear so weak. Afterwards, he grew curious of the girl who acted like she knew his kindness when their only encounters were during a fight. As many centuries passed by, he acknowledged that the miko had a strong sense of intuition.
She was able to see what many could not.
Perhaps even what he could not see.
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Author's Note: That was intense. I hope you are ready for the next chapter!
Your reviews are cherished and appreciated.